Embodiments of a ticket burster employ a dividing wall that is movable between different positions to facilitate dispensing tickets of different sizes, and a sensor that detects and communicates the position of the dividing wall to a controller. The controller communicates with feed motors to selectively operate feed drive rollers independently or in unison depending upon the detected position of the dividing wall.

The present disclosure relates generally to ticket vending, and more particularly to lottery ticket bursting devices and methods.
Lottery tickets are offered in different sizes and may be purchased in different ways. For example, instant win lottery tickets of different sizes can be purchased in a traditional retail environment, where players enter a retail establishment that sells the lottery tickets and purchase the ticket(s) from a retail clerk. Regardless of ticket size, the clerk may tear the purchased ticket(s) from a roll of tickets that are joined by perforation, for example.
Self-service terminals, such as lottery ticket vending devices, permit players to purchase lottery tickets without interacting with a retail clerk. Self-service terminals can provide a menu of ticket options for a player, receive a form of payment and a selection from the player, and issue the selected ticket to the player from an exit area of the terminal. Typically, the menu of ticket options corresponds to different game tickets previously stored in ticket packs in the self-service terminal. Typically, the tickets in the ticket pack are connected in sequence by perforation. As a ticket in a given pack is purchased, the self-service terminal can employ a ticket burster to move the ticket toward the exit area of the terminal and burst the perforation, thereby separating the selected ticket from the pack for the player.


A transparent or translucent cosmetic composition in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion is provided. The composition includes an aqueous phase at a concentration, by weight, of about 50%-90%, based upon weight of the composition. The aqueous phase includes at least one amphiphilic compound selected from the group consisting of urea, sodium 5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (sodium PCA), hydroxyethyl urea, nicotinamide, sodium citrate, ascorbic acid, or combinations thereof. The at least one amphiphilic compound is at a concentration, by weight, of about 2% to about 50%, based upon weight of the composition. The composition includes an oil phase comprising at least one water-in-oil emulsifier at a concentration, by weight, of about 1%-25%, based upon weight of the composition. The water-in-oil emulsion is a transparent or translucent composition.

For various reasons associated in particular with greater comfort of use (softness, emollience and the like), current cosmetic compositions are usually in the form of an emulsion of the oil-in-water (O/W) type consisting of an aqueous-dispersing-continuous phase and an oily-dispersed-discontinuous phase, or of an emulsion of the water-in-oil (W/O) type consisting of an oily-dispersing-continuous phase and an aqueous-dispersed-discontinuous phase.
W/O emulsions are often stabilized with silicone elastomeric polymers. Silicone elastomeric polymers may have a nice cosmetic feel but W/O emulsions containing silicone elastomeric polymers are limited in terms of formula robustness and aesthetics.
Emulsions typically appear milky white due to the difference of refractive index between the internal phase and the external phase, leading to scattering of visible light. One approach to creating a translucent or transparent emulsion is to match the refractive index of the two immiscible phases. Generally, to match the refractive index, the refractive difference between the two immiscible phases is only allowed to be about ±0.001-0.005. One drawback of refractive index matching is that the matching requires a large amount of adjusters such as glycols or fluorocarbons, which may result in an undesirable tacky residue or feel when applied to the skin.
Another approach to creating a translucent or transparent emulsion is to reduce the emulsion droplet size such that the emulsion droplet size becomes smaller than one-quarter the wavelength of visible light (generally less than about 100 nm), resulting in a nanoemulsion. Drawbacks of obtaining nanoemulsion include a high cost due to the high energy and high temperatures required for processing to obtain the small droplet size to create the nanoemulsion. Generally heat or increased pressure is required to create nanoemulsions. Process temperature usually exceeds about 75° C., while pressure usually exceeds 1500 bars with at least 7 passages.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a translucent cosmetic composition in the form of an oil-in water emulsion that has a nice cosmetic feel that does not suffer from one or more of the above drawbacks.

Translucent cosmetic composition in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion


An air bag apparatus includes: a supporting plate; an air bag case mounted on the supporting plate such that a space is formed therein; an air bag cushion installed in the space and attached to the supporting plate; an inflator for supplying a gas to the air bag cushion, the inflator being mounted at the supporting plate; and a clamping device for clamping a middle portion of the air bag cushion, the clamping device being coupled with the supporting plate. The inflator may supply the gas to side portions of the air bag, such that the side portions expand for a predetermined time while the middle portion is clamped by the clamping device, and when the inflating force of the air bag overcomes the clamping force, the middle portion expands.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an air bag apparatus that smoothly inflates an air bag cushion.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A conventional air bag apparatus includes a base plate mounted on a steering wheel, a supporting plate mounted on the base plate, and an air bag case mounted on the supporting plate such that a space is formed therein. An air bag cushion is installed in the space of the air bag case, and is attached to the supporting plate. A gas hole is formed in the air bag cushion.
When an accident occurs, an air bag control unit (ACU) sends an accident signal to an inflator, which supplies gas to the air bag cushion. Thus, the air bag cushion expands.
Operation of an air bag apparatus is controlled according to collision type and collision speed. Generally, a time required from when a collision occurs to when the ACU determines that the collision has occurred is 10-30 ms, and a time required from when an accident signal is generated to when an air bag expands fully is 30-40 ms.
If an occupant sits abnormally close to the air bag apparatus or leans forward at a sudden stop, the occupant contacts the air bag cushion while it is still expanding. Therefore, the air bag applies a high load to the occupant, and thus, the occupant may be injured.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A multicompartment funeral urn has an ash compartment and at least one alternate compartment which can be used for putting in accessories such as a book binder that can include a signature registry, a photo album or any such items. A lid closes the ash compartment and can be either hingedly attached to the ash compartment or releasably attached to it.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to funeral urns but more particularly to an urn having separate compartments to store various mementos.
2. Background of the Invention
The increasing popularity of cremation as a way of handling the deceased has transformed the funeral industry which now designs numerous types of small funeral urns in which to store the ashes of the deceased. These urns have developed into ash storage containers of such varied shapes that the word <<urn>> barely applies anymore. Whether the ash containers—which for brevity will be referred to generally as <<urns>>—are kept at home or exposed in public places such as cemetaries or funeral parlors, people are looking for special designs which have some meaning to them. Besides the urn itself, people also like to display certain mementos such as photographs or poems. In fact some of the small cubicles in which an urn is displayed are sometimes filled with mementos.
The prior art does not show any urns having multiple compartments so that the ashes can be in one compartment while another compartment can be used to store a book of photographs or the visitors registry from the funeral parlor. Such an urn would help keep the cubicle clear of objects and would offer some form of protection to the contents.


An aspirator includes a plurality aspirator tubes, each preferably extending at approximately 70 degrees from a central axis and including a fin extending a limited distance below the aspirator tube outlet. The design improves mixing and gas contact, yet has reduced power requirements, by using a plurality of debris-shedding, finned aspirator tubes to inject approximately 35% more air than the best prior art designs at the same rotational speed. Further, the aspirator of the present invention improves motor life by reducing the average current draw on the motor. The aspirator is useful in many applications, including sewage and wastewater treatment, oxygenation, fermentation, aeration, hydrogenation, oxidation, and oil-sand separation.

The present invention relates generally to an aspirator. In particular, the present invention is directed toward an aspirator that improves mixing and gas contact, yet has reduced power requirements, by using a plurality of material-shedding, finned aspirator tubes to inject approximately 35% more air than the prior art design of U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,705 at the same rotational speed. Further, the aspirator of the present invention improves motor life by reducing the average current draw on the motor. The aspirator is useful in many applications, including sewage and wastewater treatment, oxygenation of fish ponds and aquaculture tanks, and any other gas-liquid mixing process such as, fermentation, aeration, hydrogenation, and oxidation. The aspirator is also useful in for providing vortex generation and air lift in a chamber used to separate oil from the sand and water solution in the production of synthetic crude oil from oil sands.
Prior art aspirators of this type are typically found in the field of wastewater treatment. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,452 to MacLaren et al. discloses a wastewater treatment method which uses such a conventional aspirator design.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,705 to MacLaren discloses an aspirator design that is utilized to introduce air, oxygen, or other gases into a liquid. This design improved on the aspirator design of U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,452 with the ability to inject approximately 30% more air at 50% of the rotational speed. The aspirator included a 45 degree angle between the shaft and tubes to help shed debris that might otherwise collect on the aspirator and further included fins running along the entire length of the underside of the aspirator tubes to provide a larger profile for increased mixing. The present inventors consider this as the best prior art design for comparison purposes with the present invention, as detailed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,918 to MacLaren discloses a predecessor sewage aerator from the same inventor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,843 to Rajendren and U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,667 to Gross disclose prior art liquid treatment aerators.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,531 to Ebner, et al. discloses an apparatus with separate propeller blades and aspirator tubes for dispersing and entraining a fluid, particularly a gas, in a liquid. This patent teaches that the aspirator tubes should be at an angle between 35 degrees and 75 degrees, when compared to the vertical axis of the shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,360 to Langer, et al. discloses a gas dispersion stirrer comprising a rotatable shaft and at least one hollow, disk-shaped stirring/aspirating member. This patent teaches the inclusion of flow-inducing blades on both the top side and the bottom side of the disk-shaped member.
The Soviet Union patent SU 1,315,391 shows the utilization of swirlers 13 on the outer edges of the hollow vanes 5.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,531 to White shows some aeration tubes that are utilized at a downward angle compared to the vertical shaft.
The Japanese patent JP 63-028432 shows inclined aeration tubes in FIGS. 1 and 3.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,380,970 to Meridith-Jones shows the utilization of rods to break up liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,124,855 to Callow, et al. shows angled aeration tubes 13 in FIG. 1.


An apparatus and method for searching a database of web site functional characteristics to identify web sites that are compatible with designated functions are provided. With the apparatus and method, a database of functional characteristics is compiled and a search interface is provided. The database may be compiled in an automatic, manual, or semiautomatic manner by, for example, retrieving web site content with various functions of a web browser disabled and analyzing the resultant output through the web browser. With the search interface, a user may enter designations of the functional characteristics that the user is either interested in having or not having in the resultant list of web sites. Based on the user's designation of functional characteristics, the search engine associated with the search interface searches the database of web sites and identifies the web site entries in the database that are compatible with the designated functional characteristics. The search engine then provides a listing of these web site entries through a search output interface which may then be used by the user that requested the search.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining compatibility of web sites with designated requirements. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for creating and searching a database of web sites, identifying the functional characteristics of the web sites and typically enabled functions of client computers that make use of the web sites, and using this database to determine compatibility of the web sites with designated requirements.
2. Description of Related Art
With the rapid expansion of the Internet as a source of information and a medium for conducting business and other transactions, it has become more difficult to identify web sites and their functionality. In an attempt to alleviate the problem of identifying web sites, search engines have been developed that allow users to enter search terms which are used by the search engine to identify web sites in their database that make use of those terms as keywords. If the user structures his/her search terms appropriately, the user may be provided with a list of web sites that are of interest to the user, although such a list typically includes a large number of web sites that are not of interest to the user as well.
Search engines may be used to identify web sites that address certain subject matter. For example, if a user wishes to obtain information about leukemia, the user may enter the search term "leukemia" in a field of the search engine and be provided with a list of web sites that make use of this term and thus, are more likely than not to deal with this subject matter.
Search engines may also be used to identify web hosting providers with desired platform capabilities. For example, if a user wishes to obtain information about hosting providers whose platforms have a Linux version 4.2 operating system, a CGI interpreter, SQL database software installed, and redundant T3 links to the Internet backbone, one may enter these search terms in a particular search engine that specializes in this type of information, and get a list of hosting providers meeting the search criteria, their contact information, and prices.
Web sites deliver their content to web browsers using a variety of techniques, running the gamut from the basic HTML 1.0 standard (RFC 1945), to optional plug-ins requiring that browser add-on code be installed on the client in order to view the enhanced content, to active scripting techniques such as those described hereafter. The designer of web site content may always safely assume that every web browser supports the basic HTML standard. However, the user of a web browser may choose not to install a specific plug-in or may choose to disable active scripting or other optional browser features. Thus some users choose to forego an enhanced browsing experience for various reasons, including concerns about security exposures. Those users who choose to forego the enhanced browsing experience may miss information and content that would otherwise be made available to them.
While search engines may be used to identify web sites that address certain subject matter or have certain platform capabilities, search engines do not have any ability to perform searches of web sites based on the functional characteristics of the web sites, e.g., the types of browser plugin modules utilized by the web pages comprising a web site, whether and what type of active scripting is used within the web pages of a web site, and the like.
"Active scripting," as the term is used herein, refers to techniques such as JavaScript, Java, and ActiveX that download interpreted programming language statements or compiled bytecodes to a client workstation during the loading by a web browser of a specified web page. Such statements or bytecodes may be executed at the client workstation by an execution environment such as a JavaScript interpreter, a Java Virtual Machine, or a Microsoft Windows DLL ("dynamic link library"), respectively. The functions provided by active scripting technologies are typically used by web site designers to add interactivity and dynamic behavior to an otherwise-static web page.
In addition, to meet the varying security and privacy needs of users, browsers such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer allow an individual user to define specified "security zones" having different functional characteristics, such as disabling plug-ins, or disabling a particular active scripting technique. A user may associate a list of designated domain names with a given security zone. Thus when the user visits one of the designated domain names, the browser applies the user-defined properties of that "security zone." Ergo, the browser may disallow active scripting, plug-ins, cookies, forms, and so forth, with respect to specific web sites, on a site-by-site basis. As a result, any web content that is delivered exclusively using one of the techniques not supported or disabled by the browser would not be seen by the user of that browser.
For example, while active scripting offers many possibilities to the programmer and can make the user's web browsing experience more interesting, active scripting has sometimes been exploited by hackers as a way to deliver malicious software to a client workstation such as a Trojan virus program that allows a hacker to control the workstation remotely without the computer owner's knowledge and consent, invade the user's privacy by spying on personal information, or steal confidential data from the computer. Therefore some users choose to disable active scripting when accessing untrusted web sites, to reduce their exposure to security exploits of this kind.
Thus, it would be beneficial to have an apparatus and method for compiling information about the functional characteristics of web sites. It would further be beneficial to have an apparatus and method for determining the most probable client device enabled functions corresponding to the functional characteristics of the web sites in order to determine how information may be relayed to a user of the client device. It would also be beneficial to have an apparatus and method for determining the compatibility of web sites with designated requirements based on the functional characteristics of the web sites and the enabled functions of the client devices of the web sites' typical users.

Apparatus and method for determining compatibility of web sites with designated requirements based on functional characteristics of the web sites

International Business Machines Corporation


An image output system includes input section for inputting an image or data, instruction acceptance section for accepting an instruction of outputting the input image or an image generated from the input data, image output section for outputting the instructed image, and log-recording section for recording an image log, including at least the image to be output and the result information of an output process for the image to be output, irrespective of whether or not the output of the instructed image has been completed successfully.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to recording a log of an image formation process in an image-forming apparatus, and more particularly to recording the image read in the image formation process.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, enhancing security of information handled within a company, compliance, and protection of personal information are getting more important. For instance, companies are required to disclose business information, like based on what information business has been accomplished, according to the auditing. For this purpose, it is needed to specify what information is processed by whom, as well as when, where, and how the information is processed, by managing access to information in a log.
To strengthen security management of confidential information that is conventionally handled on paper medium, there is a technology of allotting a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) to the medium such as printing paper, and printing the UUID on the medium with a bar code or IC tag, or embedding it in the medium. If this UUID is used, management information concerning the medium may be retrieved to specify a confidential document, including an author who created the confidential document and time of creation.
Equal importance is placed on handling information in the form of images held and managed on paper medium and information stored on computer. Incidentally, there has been proposed a technology of transmitting an image read by an image-forming apparatus such as a copying machine or facsimile apparatus to a separately-provided document management system via a network, and performing document management. Combining the technology of retrievably recording the read image and the UUID would enable the UUID to serve as a key for specifying what document is formed by which copying machine, as well as when and by whom. Accordingly, even in the case where a confidential document has been created illegally or without permission, the author can be specified, by virtue of the ability to specify which copying machine has been used to copy the confidential document, when and by whom. Therefore, auditing may be completed correctly.
However, the above-mentioned technology retains only document images for which the image-forming apparatus has ended the image formation process normally, in order to improve convenience to the user; therefore, document images for which the image formation process ends abnormally and which are only partially formed are not retained for maintenance and management. That is, in the technology, when an image formation process is canceled during the course of copying a confidential document of tens of pages, such a process may provide important information, but the document is not recorded.

Image output system having image log recording function, and log recording method in image output system


Systems and methods are provided for determining a successive interference cancellation (SIC) decoding ordering in a multiple input multiple output transmission (MIMO) system. Multiple decoding orderings for received codewords are identified. A performance objective, such as total throughput or total probability of decoding, is computed for each one of the orderings based on the position of the codewords in the ordering. A globally optimal ordering is found that maximizes the performance objective over the multiple decoding orderings.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors hereof, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
The disclosed technology relates to communication systems, and more particularly, to performing successive interference cancellation (SIC) in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems.
In a data transmission system, it is desirable for information, often grouped into packets, to be accurately received at a destination. A transmitter at or near the source sends the information provided by the source via a signal or signal vector. A receiver at or near the destination processes the signal sent by the transmitter. The medium, or media, between the transmitter and receiver, through which the information is sent, may corrupt the signal such that the receiver is unable to correctly reconstruct the transmitted information. Therefore, given a transmission medium, sufficient reliability is obtained through careful design of the transmitter and/or receiver, and of their respective components.
Successive interference cancellation (SIC) is one technique for improving the performance of a data transmission system. According to this technique, a received codeword that is associated with strong channel conditions is decoded before other codewords that are associated with weak channel conditions. Effects of the decoded codeword are subtracted from a received signal vector to eliminate interference due to the decoded codeword from the other codewords. In this way, the other codewords may experience less interference and are able to achieve a higher Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) than without interference cancellation.
The order in which codewords are decoded may have an important impact on the SIC performance. Conventional SIC methods decode codewords in an order that is based on channel parameters (e.g., channel quality) associated with each codeword. These conventional approaches provide a locally optimal decoding order because such approaches select, at each decoding stage, a best codeword for that stage. Furthermore, these approaches operate on the assumption of perfect interference cancellation, which is not always true. However, a codeword that is locally optimal at a given decoding stage may not guarantee the largest interference cancellation gain for the remaining codewords.

Methods and apparatus for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) successive interference cancellation (SIC)


The present application relates to a hydrogen ion transport membrane, which is formed by using a porous thin film having a plurality of holes which are regularly aligned, a membrane for generating hydrogen, and a method for manufacturing the hydrogen ion transport membrane and the membrane for generating hydrogen.

Hydrogen is used as a raw material for producing ammonia, methanol, and the like and also used as an essential material of hydrogenation for producing a saturated compound. Further, if used as a main material of fuel cells as one of clean alternative energy, hydrogen can be an alternative to current fossil fuel and thus has been highly anticipated as a future energy source.
Conventionally, hydrogen has been produced by a method of reforming fossil fuel such as naphtha and natural gas, a method of bringing iron into contact with steam at a high temperature, a method of making a reaction between alkali metal and water, a method of electrolyzing water, and the like.
However, these methods basically require a lot of energy and thus cannot be said as economical methods. In particular, the method of reforming fossil fuel has a problem of generating a large amount of carbon dioxide, and the method of electrolyzing water has a problem of short-life electrodes and a problem in processing oxygen generated. Due to the above-described problems, it actually costs much to complete the facilities for producing hydrogen.
Thus, in recent years, a method of directly converting water or organic materials into hydrogen with solar energy by photolysis has been studied as one of methods for producing hydrogen an alternative to fossil fuel. This method is a key technology capable of securing the most desirable eco-friendly energy system.

Hydrogen ion transport membrane, membrane for generating hydrogen, and method for manufacturing same


A holster which obscures presence and identity of the handgun held by the holster is disclosed. The holster comprises an L-shaped frame having a pin. The handgun is installed on the holster by inserting the pin into the barrel of the handgun. The L-shaped frame combined with the installed handgun collectively form a parallelepiped of thickness equal to that of the handgun. The handgun is disguised by visually meshing in complementary fashion with the holster, when concealed beneath a fabric of an article of apparel.

Holsters are used to support handguns on the body of a user of the handgun. In many situations, it is not desirable to have it known that the user is in possession of a handgun. Yet many holsters increase bulk and conspicuousness of a holstered handgun on the body.
In an emergency situation, it may be necessary for the user to withdraw the handgun from the holster very quickly. Holsters often interfere with rapid withdrawal of the associated handgun.
There exists a need for a holster which obscures the nature of the contained handgun, and which enables expeditious withdrawal of the handgun.


A short-range wireless communication device, utilized with a communication partner terminal that executes a cooperative application while switching between foreground and background operations when a predetermined protocol is established between the communication partner terminal and the short-range wireless communication device, and disconnects a protocol by changing the cooperative application from the foreground operation to the background operation, includes: a control device that determines whether a condition of returning the cooperative application from the background operation to the foreground operation is satisfied, determines whether the cooperative application returns to the foreground operation according to an operating status of an application in the communication partner terminal when the condition is satisfied, and transmits a request for establishment of the protocol to the communication partner terminal when the cooperative application returns to the foreground operation. When the cooperative application does not return to the foreground operation, the control device repeatedly acquires the operating status.

Up to now, for example, a vehicle communication system is provided in which a mobile communication terminal called "smart phone" portable by a user, and a short-range wireless communication device mounted in a vehicle establish a given protocol therebetween to provide a service in cooperation with each other. For example, the vehicle communication system provides a service in which the mobile communication terminal transfers voice data of an Internet radio received from a server to the short-range wireless communication device, and the short-range wireless communication device outputs the voice data transferred from the mobile communication terminal. Also, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration in which those applications can be executed while switching between a foreground operation and a background operation in the mobile communication terminal.
Incidentally, when the mobile communication terminal of this type is used to provide a service in cooperation with the short-range wireless communication device, if the cooperative application running in the foreground operation changes to the background operation, even if the cooperative application is not finished, the provision of the service may be interrupted. Thereafter, in the mobile communication terminal, if a condition in which the cooperative application changed to the background operation returns to the foreground operation is fulfilled, the cooperative application changed to the background operation returns to the foreground operation. However, the provision of the service may not resume in spite of a fact that the cooperative application changed to the background operation returns to the foreground operation.

Short-range wireless communication device


The present invention refers to a process for preparing indolinone derivatives of the general formula (VI) as defined in the specification and intermediates of that process.

A number of indolinone derivatives have been found to exhibit pharmaceutical activity. Due to the ability to modulate the protein kinase activity, they have been suggested to treat an number of conditions such as various types of cancer, mastocytosis, allergy associated chronic rhinitis, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, restenosis, fibrosis, psoriasis, von Hippel-Lindau disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, angiogensis, inflammatory disorders, immunological disorders, and cardiovascular disorders (WO 01/45689, WO 01/60814, WO 99/48868, U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,429, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,316,635, 6,133,305, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,771).
Among the indolinone derivatives those having an amide group on a heterocyclic ring condensed with the indolinone have been of interest. These compounds modulate protein kinase activity and are thus useful in treating diseases relating to abnormal protein kinase activity. A process for preparing the amide derivatives is disclosed in WO 01/60814. An appropriate pyrrole is formylated and subsequently condensed with a 2-indolinone to give a respective 5-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydroindole-3-ylidenemethyl)-1H-pyrrole. If an amide derivative of the pyrrole is desired, a pyrrole having a carboxylic acid group is selected. The carboxylic acid group is reacted with the desired amine in the presence of dimethylformamide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)carbodiimide and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. In example 129 a scale-up procedure is disclosed in which the amidation is conducted in the presence of dimethylformamide, benzotriazole-1-yloxytris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP) and triethylamine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for preparing indolinone derivatives which have an amide group on a heterocyclic ring condensed with the indolinone.

Process for preparing indolinone derivatives


A resolution proportional digital zoom system comprises a CCD imaging device with over a million pixels resolution. A standard fixed-1X optical lens is fitted to the imager. A communication channel with a limited bandwidth is used to transmit video. Such bandwidth is substantially less than the imager's full resolution times its frame rate. A user is provided with controls to pan and zoom within the imager's field of view. The pixel resolution is proportionally controlled such that video output data rate on the communication channel is optimal and held within maximum limits at any pan/zoom setting.

Modern digital cameras can produce very high resolutions at very affordable prices. Four megapixel imagers are now commonplace and eight megapixel devices will soon be commercially available. With 4-8 megapixels possible in every frame of video, thirty frames per second in a standard format can tax even a broadband communications channel.
Not every part of a picture frame is of interest, and sometimes the user wants to zoom in on some particular part. Optical zooming can be used to zoom in on a subject in the center of the imagers field of view (FOV), and digital zoom can be used to enlarge any area in a region of interest. Digital zooming can be done very quickly because it is electronic, but optical zooming can take some time because the lens must be moved. Optics have an advantage in being able to capture detail, but the very dense pixel configurations now available in image devices is taking away a lot of that advantage.
Complex and bulky optics are sometimes not appropriate or practical in extreme applications. Such optics can also be too expensive, too vulnerable, too heavy, or too big. This is especially true in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's) that use cameras to fly and spot targets in hazardous areas and situations. Large complex optics are impractical for a number of reasons in UAV's, and the communication channels also have very limited bandwidths.


An inverter unit including a converter, a transformer, a feedback circuit and an open lamp lock circuit is provided. The converter receives a drive signal, and outputs a duty voltage signal accordingly. The transformer is selectively coupled with a lamp of a display panel module, and receives the duty voltage signal. When the transformer is coupled with the lamp, the transformer outputs an output voltage to the lamp according to the duty voltage signal to light up the lamp. The feedback circuit receives a feedback signal from the lamp, and outputs a feedback voltage signal accordingly. The open lamp lock circuit is coupled with the feedback circuit, receives a control signal, selectively receives the feedback voltage signal, and disables the drive signal selectively according to the feedback voltage signal and the control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an inverter unit, and more particularly to an inverter unit using an open lamp lock circuit to determine whether to output a voltage to light up a lamp of a liquid crystal display panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Before a liquid crystal display panel module leaves the factory, an inverter is used to light up the backlight source and the lamp of the liquid crystal display panel module is tested, such that defective products are detected and product quality is assured. However, as the display panel modules have various sizes and are incorporated with different number of lamps, inverters are used in large amount and large variety as indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 1A shows a lamp of a display panel module is lit up by a conventional inverter with single-end output. FIG. 1B shows a lamp of a display panel module is lit up by a conventional inverter with dual-end output. The inverter 120 includes an inverter unit 121, and is used to output an output voltage to light up the lamp 111. The inverter 120 is only applicable to the display panel module 110 having only one lamp 111. When the two lamps 131 and 132 of the display panel module 130 are to be lit up, the inverter 140 is used. The inverter 140 has two inverter units 141 and 142, and is used to output two output voltages to light up the lamps 131 and 132, respectively.
When inspecting the display panel module having various sizes or different number of lamps, the inverter is exclusive to a particular display panel module, not only increasing the manufacturing cost of the inverter and the testing cost of the display panel module, but also adding inconvenience to the inspector for having to replace various types of inverters, reducing testing efficiency, and exposing the inspector to the risk of electric shock during inspection.
Therefore, how to develop an inverter which can be easily and safely applied to the display panel module having various sizes or different number of lamps has become an imminent issue to be resolved.


The Auxiliary Eyeglasses Support is a support arm that is firmly attached to a person's ear, and extends forward to support the front portion of the eyeglasses. This will prevent the eyeglasses from slipping down on a person's nose. The Auxiliary Eyeglasses Support maybe used singly on only one side of the head, or as a pair on both sides of the head.

This invention relates, in general, to an auxiliary support to prevent eyeglasses from slipping down the nose of the person wearing them. A common problem a wearer of eyeglasses has is the eyeglasses tend to slip down the nose in many situations. If the nose is sweaty, the glasses will slip down the nose. If the person is bending over while working on a task, the eyeglasses may slip down the nose. Many solutions have been proposed to remedy this problem, but they all have drawbacks to their use. Some require an arm to be attached to the eyeglasses, other require the eyeglasses be modified in some way.


The present invention relates to a luminescent device having a plurality of organic EL (Electroluminescence) elements in which at least a charge injection layer and a light-emitting layer are interposed between a pair of electrodes. It is a luminescent device in which plural sets of anodes and cathodes are arranged opposite to each other, and the charge injection layer and the light-emitting layer are formed between these anodes and cathodes, whereby a plurality of the organic EL elements can be controlled independently luminescence. The conductivity "sgr" of the charge injection layer is set such that a leakage current from the organic EL element is 1/100 or less of the current passed through the organic EL element.

The present invention relates to a luminescence device having a plurality of organic EL (Electroluminescence) elements in which at least a charge injection layer and a light-emitting layer are interposed between a pair of electrodes.
Since an electroluminescence element (hereinafter referred to as an xe2x80x9cEL elementxe2x80x9d) using electroluminescence causes luminescence, the visibility is high and the element is a completely solid state element so that it is excellent in the impact durability. Accordingly, its use as a luminescence element in various display devices has attracted much interest.
The EL elements include an inorganic EL element obtained by using an inorganic compound as a luminous material and an organic EL element obtained by using an organic compound as a luminous material. Especially in the organic EL element of these, the driving voltage is quite low as compared with the inorganic EL element, and the element can further easily be downsized. Accordingly, studies and developments to achieve practical use have been increasingly conducted.
In order to achieve the organic EL element to practical use, the increase in efficiency of the element performance and the improvement in the life time are indispensable. For solving these problems, the improvements in the luminous material and the device structure have been carried out.
As the organic EL element, an element based on a multilayered structure of anode/organic luminous layer/cathode and provided on this with a hole injection transport layer or an electron injection transport layer as a charge injection layer, as required, for example, an element having a construction of anode/hole injection transport layer/organic luminous layer/cathode, an element having a construction of anode/hole injection transport layer/organic luminous layer/electron injection transport layer/cathode or the like is known.
The hole injection transport layer here has a function of injecting holes efficiently from an anode and transporting the holes to the luminous layer, and it is, in many cases, constructed of a hole injection layer and a hole transporting layer.
Further, the electron injection transport layer has a function of injecting electrons efficiently from a cathode at good efficiency and transporting the electrons to the luminous layer. The light-emitting layer has a function of emitting light by recombination of holes and electrons injected. By the way, this electron injection transport layer is sometimes constructed of an electron injection layer and an electron transport layer.
It is considered that such an organic EL element can also be applied to various display devices. In constructing a display device with an organic EL element, it is considered to employ a dot matrix panel in which a plurality of organic EL elements are capable of simple matrix driving.
At this time, as a method for producing a display device with the use of organic EL elements, a method can be employed in which a substrate which is made of glass and on which surface transparent anode electrodes formed of an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film are patterned in striped shape is used, predetermined materials are vacuum-deposited in order on the surface of this substrate to form a plurality of organic EL elements containing at least a charge injection layer and a light-emitting layer, and a metal is deposited thereon to form cathode electrodes.
Incidentally, in this method, the respective layers constituting the organic EL element, such as the charge injection layer, the luminous layer and the like, are generally deposited uniformly on the surface of the above-described substrate.
In the display device produced by such a method, the edge of the transparent electrode formed on the substrate, for example, the ITO electrode, is steep, so that the thickness of the film formed on the side surface of the ITO electrode tends to be smaller than that of the other portion and a defect of electrical shortcircuiting sometimes occurs.
Further, in a display device having a display ability with higher resolution, total extension of the ITO electrode formed on the substrate is increased, and the length of the steep edge is increased, with the result that possibility of causing a defect of shortcircuiting is increased.
For this reason, when a hole injection layer as a charge injection layer is formed, it is a common practice that the film thickness of the hole injection layer is increased and the ITO electrode is completely covered with the hole injection layer to conceal the edge of the ITO electrode with the hole injection layer whereby the defect of shortcircuiting does not occur even though the edge of the ITO electrode is steep. This is because a conductivity of a hole injection layer is usually so high that the increase in the driving voltage is controlled to be relatively moderate when increasing the film thickness.
Meanwhile, in order to realize an organic EL element with high performance, it is indispensable to reduce the dissipation power thereof, and to this end, the decrease in the driving voltage is attempted. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 145192/1992 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 45479/1997, it is proposed that the driving voltage is decreased by employing a conductive polymer having a high conductivity as a material of a hole injection layer formed on an organic EL element.
However, when a conductive polymer having a high conductivity is employed as a material of a hole injection layer, a film thickness of a hole injection layer is increased in the above-described display device. Accordingly, a DC resistance between a plurality of organic EL elements adjoined is decreased. There is a problem that when a voltage is applied to one organic EL element, a leakage current is passed through another organic EL element, and an unselected organic EL element is also ignited.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a luminescence device in which ignition of, among a plurality of organic EL elements provided, those other than the selected is prevented without impairing the decrease in the driving voltage.
The present invention is a luminescence device in which plural sets of anodes and cathodes are arranged opposite to each other and an charge injection layer and a light-emitting layer are formed between these anodes and cathodes whereby a plurality of organic EL elements can be emissive independently, characterized in that the conductivity a of the charge injection layer is set such that a leakage current from the organic EL element is 1/100 or less of a current passed through the organic EL element. In particular the conductivity a of the charge injection layer is set such that a leakage current from the organic EL element to the adjacent organic EL elements 1/100 or less of the current passed through the organic EL element.
In the present invention, the conductivity is set such that the leakage current from one organic EL element to another organic EL element(adjacent organic EL elements) among a plurality of the organic EL elements is satisfactorily small. Consequently, even though a voltage is applied to one selected organic EL element, an unselected organic EL element is not ignited.
Further, when the conductivity is set, as required, according to a size of electrodes constituting an anode and a cathode connected to an organic EL element, a gap of electrodes and the like, an organic EL element can be driven at low voltage even though employing such a conductivity that a leakage current from the organic EL element is 1/100 or less of a current passed through the organic EL element. Thus, the decrease in the driving voltage is not impaired.

Organic luminescence device with reduced leakage current


A cleaner impregnated towel comprises a flexible, porous substrate and a cleaner, the cleaner comprising a salt of the coconut fatty acid ester of isethionic acid, an antimicrobial compound comprising 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol and parachlorometaxylenol, and water.

Cleaners for cleansing the skin of humans and animals are known in the art. Likewise, it is known to combine premeasured amounts of cleaners with articles such as pouches or flexible carrier sheets.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,888 to Kiefer et al. discloses a detergent sheet, comprising an alkyl polyglycoside and a detergency builder impregnated into a flexible substrate. The detergent formulation disclosed in Kiefer et al., however, is harsh and unsuitable for prolonged contact with human or animal skin. Generally, the detergent sheets disclosed in the prior art contain detergents or other ingredients which irritate the skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,475 to Vlasblom discloses a cleaner impregnated towel that is shipped "dry" in order to reduce transportation costs. The dry cleaner impregnated towel may be activated with water or some other liquid at its point of use.
It would be desirable to develop a cleaner impregnated towel which is mild in contact with human and animal skin, delivers copious quantities of stable foam, and is ready for immediate use.


A steerable catheter control mechanism comprises a rotatable driver and a deflection device responsive to the driver to selectively secure a pair of control wires. The control wires are positioned such that rotation of the driver reduces the effective deflection device radius while loading a selected wire in tension, thereby maintaining a relatively constant torque acting on the driver and minimizing operator fatigue. The deflection device is also responsive to the driver to selectively place one of the control wires in tension while maintaining the other wire in a static state thereby minimizing control wire fatigue.

Physicians must often commonly access the interior of the human body to perform detailed tissue diagnoses or surgical procedures. As an indispensable tool for such procedures, catheters conveniently provide a means of access without the invasive trauma often associated with, for example, open heart surgery. Inserted within the body's vasculature, such catheters must be precisely controllable to position, as examples, ablation electrodes or imaging probes proximate specific tissues of interest.
To enable precision catheter manipulation within a vasculature, those skilled in the art have implemented control wire mechanisms that selectively "steer" the distal tip of the catheter while the operator inserts the device into the body. Such mechanisms typically include a pair of control wires with distal ends anchored to specific locations at the distal tip of the catheter body corresponding to predetermined deflectional movement. The proximal ends of the wires are mounted to a rotatable actuator that responds to the operator to place one of the wires in tension, pulling at the catheter end for deflection in a first direction, while simultaneously compressing, or buckling, the other wire. An example of such a catheter configuration incorporating such a control mechanism may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,852, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
While such devices generally provide a relatively high degree of directional deflection for the catheter tip, over a relatively short period of time the repetitive tensioning and buckling of the control wires may cause control wire fatigue. As a result, the operable lifespan of the device may be substantially shortened.
To address the problem of wire fatigue in a steerable catheter, one proposal, by Thompson (U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,478), discloses a rotatable cam formed with a first cam surface of a first radius on the right side of an asymmetric cam wheel. The left side of the cam wheel is formed with a second cam surface of a second different radius. The rotatable cam includes threaded holes to threadably receive adjustable stops. The proximal ends of the first and second steering cables pass through central openings formed in the respective stops and are attached to respective steering wire terminals.
During operation, by urging the rotatable cam to the left, the second steering wire stop bears against the left terminal block and cam surface. This movement tensions the second steering cable to deflect the catheter tip to the left, while the first steering cable remains relaxed. Likewise, urging of the rotatable cam to the right places the first steering cable in tension while the second steering cable remains relaxed.
While this device works well for its intended purposes, operators may experience fatigue in manipulating the catheter over prolonged periods of time. This may occur because the radius of the cam wheel with respect to the loaded control wire increases as loading increases. The additional loading causes more torque at the actuator, contributing to operator fatigue within a relatively short time.
A second proposal for addressing control wire fatigue, by Lundquist (U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,327), discloses independently tensioning a first steering cable while simultaneously keeping a second steering cable at rest. The device includes two separate cam wheels disposed in-line along the catheter body and attached to respective steering cables. The cam wheels are independently attached to separate operator knobs. During use, the operator rotates one wheel to place one wire in tension and bend the catheter tip accordingly. To effect deflection in another direction, the operator switches to the other knob. As loading increases on each wheel from the tensioning of the respective cables, the torque on the respective knobs correspondingly increases. As a result, operator fatigue can occur within a relatively short period of time. Moreover, because of the dual knob arrangement, operation of the device is somewhat more complex than a unitary knob configuration.
Therefore, there is need for an improved steerable catheter control mechanism which minimizes control wire fatigue. Moreover, a need also exists for a control mechanism capable of minimizing operator fatigue. The control mechanism of the present invention satisfies these needs.

Rotatable control mechanism for steerable catheter


An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.

The present invention relates to upright vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to an upright vacuum cleaner having a floor cleaning nozzle and an above-floor cleaning nozzle and two motor and fan units as vacuum sources.
Upright vacuum cleaners that utilize two motor and fan units for providing sources of suction are known where one motor and fan unit draws air through the walls of a dirt collection bag, or the like, commonly called a clean air motor, and a second motor and fan unit is disposed in the cleaning head of the vacuum cleaner through which dirt laden air passes, commonly called a dirty air motor. However, some of these prior art vacuum cleaners turn one motor and fan unit off when the other is on since they are used for different purposes. Typically, the clean air motor and fan unit is used for off the floor cleaning with accessories for cleaning furniture and draperies and the like, whereas the dirty air motor and fan unit is used for floor cleaning, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,999. In addition, in some known prior art vacuum cleaners where there is utilized simultaneously both motor and fan units, there is also utilized a third motor for driving the brush roller in the cleaning head, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,752. In known prior art vacuum cleaners where there is utilized simultaneously both motor and fan units the operator can not selectively turn one of the motor and fan units off, if desired, for cleaning different surfaces.


Time required for location registration is reduced and concentration of location update signals caused when a group moves is prevented. Each mobile node and a mobile router sends a location update request to a local location manager near to the area in which it exists, so that time required for location registration can be reduced, and it is possible to prevent pressure on wireless resources and temporary increase in communication traffic within a mobile network, which may be caused by concentration of location update signals when a group moves as in the case of a train with a lot of passengers having mobile nodes. Thereby, even if location registration is not correctly performed by a mobile router, which sends a location update request on behalf of mobile nodes existing in the space of a moving body, due to the communication condition or a failure, it can be dealt with.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a local location manager, a home location manager and a mobile communication system, and in particular to a location management method in a local location manager, a home location manager and a mobile communication system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is well known, it is common in mobile communication services to store the location of each mobile node, such as a cellular telephone, in a location manager in order that the mobile node can receive an inquiry (incoming call/packet) wherever it is. Specifically, an area for which a mobile communication service is provided is divided in multiple registration areas, and when a mobile node moves from one registration area to another registration area, a location update request, in which a registration area after movement is identified, is sent from the moving node to the mobile network via a base-station apparatus, consuming wireless resources. In response to the location update request, the registration area of each mobile node, which is stored in the location manager is sequentially updated.
However, when there are a lot of passengers carrying a mobile node in a train, for example, a lot of mobile nodes move at the same time as the train moves, and if the train moves from one registration area across to another registration area (i.e. crossing the area), a location update request is sent to a mobile network from each of these mobile nodes via a base-station apparatus. This causes problems such as pressure on wireless resources and temporary, significant increase in communication traffic in the mobile network.
Techniques for solving these problems are disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Non-patent Document 1, for example. In these documents, a mobile communication system is disclosed in which a master-slave relationship is established between a moving body, such as a train, and a mobile node existing in the space of the moving body so that a mobile router installed in the moving body, which is a master, sends a location update request of the mobile nodes, which are slaves, to the mobile network on behalf of the mobile nodes, consuming wireless resources. In this mobile communication system, a mobile node existing in the space of a moving body registers its location with the above mobile router as a virtual base-station apparatus. When the moving body moves from one registration area to another registration area, the mobile router sends a location update request to the mobile network via a base-station apparatus. In this way, it is realized that the mobile router sends a location update request on behalf of mobile nodes existing in the space of a moving body.
(Patent Document 1)
Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 11-355835 (Non-Patent Document 1)
"A Study on Concatenated Mobility Management" by Yumiba, Sasada, Fujiwara and Yabusaki, IEICE Technical Report; IN2000-177, pp. 7-14; February 2001

Local location manager, home location manager and mobile communication system


Irradiating, with ultraviolet light, surfaces which contain thiol groups, epoxy groups, or vicinal diol groups, results in surfaces which exhibit a reduced adsorption of biomolecules. In the case of surfaces having thiol groups such irradiation also results in a reduced capacity for the bonding of heterobifunctional crosslinking reagents. Such irradiation may be carried out in a patternwise fashion to obtain patterned surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of surface modification to create areas resistant to the adsorption of biomolecules and the patterned and unpatterned surfaces obtained by this method.
2. Discussion of the Background
Biosensor technology has opened the doors for the incorporation of a wide variety of organic molecules, particularly proteins, into optical and electronic devices. In addition, there is increasing recognition of the potential for integrating organic molecules, including biomolecules and biomimetics, into optoelectronic hardware for improved speed, memory, signal transition, and miniaturization. As more complex devices are envisioned, these relatively large molecules must be selectively attached to surfaces such as glass and silicon. Previous methods used for patterning of biomolecules on surfaces include ink jet printing, standard microlithography followed by etching or lift off to remove preattached proteins, and attachment to photoactivated regions of a film. The first two methods are laborious, slow, and tend to damage the biomolecules. The last method is problematic in that most biomolecules are relatively sticky and will adsorb to the nonactivated regions of a silane film as well as to the activated regions.
Lowe et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,157, describe patterns of covalently attached biomolecules deposited on photoactivated portions of a silane film. However, the disclosed method does not overcome the problem of nonspecific attachment of biomolecules to unmodified portions of the silane film.
Schoen. P. E. et al, 12th Annual Meeting of the IEEE, Nov. 1-6, 1990, describe the deposition of proteins using thiol silane films and subsequent pattern generation using photolithography. However, the disclosed method does not overcome the difficulties of maintaining protein activity during the photolithography.
J. H. McAlear et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,064 and 4,103,073 disclose the attachment of thick films of proteins and subsequent microlithographic patterning using standard resist technology. The drawbacks of this method include: (1) many steps are involved; (2) there is no covalent attachment between the protein and the substrate; (3) many resists entail the use of organic solvents such as diglyme that are known to denature proteins; (4) the development of many resists require the use of alkaline developers which may denature proteins; (5) the crosslinking agent glutaraldehyde is known to denature proteins; and (6) exposure of the protein to harmful radiation.
Bhatia. S. K. et al, Anal. Biochem., 178, 408-413, 1989, describes the chemistry used for covalent attachment of biomolecules to a surface, utilizing heterobifunctional crosslinkers coupled to thiol silanes. This work does not demonstrate patterning of biomolecules.
A number of silane coating agents are known to reduce biomolecule adsorption (see: U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,196; and Arkles et al, in "Silylated Surfaces", D. Leyden, ed Gordon & Breach, NY (1980)).
Thus, there remains a need for a method of modifying surfaces to create areas which are resistant to the adsorption of biomolecules. There also remains a need for a method of producing surfaces which contain a patterned area or areas which are resistant to the adsorption of biomolecules. There also remains a need for surfaces produced by such methods. There also remains a need for a method for preparing patterned surfaces having areas which exhibit a reduced capacity to react with heterobifunctional crosslinking agents.

Method for surface modification to create regions resistant to adsorption of biomolecules

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Several embodiments of an automotive engine camshaft deactivator that smoothly disconnect and reconnect a camshaft from the engine driveshaft with a low level impact force between the parts, the connection being made through a slippage friction clutch type mechanism that engages the two members in a manner providing slippage therebetween while the camshaft is being brought up to speed, whereby the camshaft lags behind the drive sprocket allowing the drive sprocket to cam a locking pin into a positive engagement relationship between the camshaft and crankshaft.

With high Federal CAFE requirements and a desire to reduce pollution, fuel economy in a vehicle becomes ever more important. A known technique of improving fuel economy and reducing emission output is to deactivate half of the engine cylinders by deactivating the corresponding valves during part load engine operation when the output requirement is low. V6, V10 and some other overhead valve engine configurations have dual banks of cylinders, each with their own camshafts, and a firing order such that the firing alternates from bank to bank.
The invention provides on these types of OHC engines an alternative method of valve train deactivation by the selective uncoupling of one of the camshafts of one of the banks from the engine driven crankshaft sprocket during part load engine operation. The operating strategy includes startup on half the cylinders down to ambient temperature levels where half the cylinders can still sustain engine operation.


A pressure transducer includes two plates of insulating, high strength low hysteresis material. At least one of the plates is thin so as to form a flexible diaphragm at the pressure levels to be measured. Both plates have a thin layer of conductive material on their facing surfaces. The diaphragm plate has a thin metallized layer fired onto its periphery on the opposite side from the conductive layer. The plates are bonded together and spaced apart by a peripheral layer of frit. This combination forms a capacitor which varies in capacitance as the diaphragm deflects. The capacitor is peripherally mounted to a shoulder within a plated fitting in a manner which allows fluid to enter a pressure chamber which applies fluid across the surface of the diaphragm. The peripheral mounting is accomplished by soldering the metallized layer to a shoulder on the fitting extending around the pressure chamber. Since the solder does not react with rubber deteriorating fluids, the pressure transducer may be used for measuring the pressure of fluids which deteriorate gaskets formed of rubber or similar materials.

Capacitive pressure transducers are frequently used to determine the pressure of gases and liquids for purposes of measurement or control. Some examples of prior art pressure transducers include a dual diaphragm differential pressure transducer as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,971 (the '971 patent) issued Oct. 14, 1986 and which is assigned to the assignee of the present application; a liquid capacitance pressure transducer as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,799, (the '799 patent) issued Jan. 17, 1984, and also assigned to the assignee of the present application; and a capacitive pressure transducer as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,668 (the '688 patent) issued Jun. 14, 1983, also assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
The '668 patent and the '799 patent each disclose a pressure transducer including two insulating plates, one of which is a diaphragm, bonded together and spaced apart by glass frit. The inside surface of each plate is coated with a conductive material. This configuration creates a variable capacitor which varies in capacitance according to pressure applied to the diaphragm.
The '971 patent discloses a capacitive pressure transducer having two insulating plates, both of which are diaphragms, bonded to either side of a central base plate also made of inert insulating material, and having one or more openings therethrough. The two diaphragms are coupled together, by means fluid between the diaphragms or by means of a rod extending through the central opening in the base plate and secured to the centers of the two diaphragms. The inside of at least one of the diaphragms and the facing surface(s) of the base plate are coated with a conductive material. With this configuration, the capacitance between the conductive plates varies when the two diaphragms flex together.
It is well known in the field, as is evidenced by the teaching of the '971 and '799 patents, that a fitting (or housing) around the variable capacitor can be used to direct the flow of pressure to the appropriate plate(s) of the capacitor. It is also well known that some means of sealing the capacitor to the fitting is needed.
The sealing means employed in prior art, as evidenced by the teaching of the '971 and '799 patents, is accomplished by using rubber rings or rubber gaskets to seal the fitting around the periphery of the outer surface(s) of the diaphragm(s). This practice works well with many gasses and liquids (hereinafter referred to jointly as fluids). There are, however, fluids including certain gases employed in refrigeration systems, which tend to accelerate the decomposition of rubber and like materials. In the event that pressure transducers using seals of rubber or like materials are used with these rubber deteriorating fluids they will in time deteriorate and leak.
Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an alternative transducer to be used with fluids that accelerate the decomposition of rubber and like materials.


A method for determining the availability of at least one target user for a specific type of communication is described. The method comprises: retrieving contact information of at least one target user from a memory of a requesting user terminal; sending a request for communication status information of the at least one target user to a status network element, the status network element being arranged to provide the communication status information regarding the availability of the target user for the specific type of communication, wherein the request comprises at least a portion of the contact information of the at least one target user and identifies the specific type of communication; receiving, as a response to the request, a response message from the status network element, wherein the response message comprises the communication status information of the at least one target user; and modifying at least a portion of stored contact information when the received status information indicates that the target user is available for communication via the specific communication type, such that the modified contact information indicates on the requesting user terminal the current availability of the at least one user for communication via the specific communication type.

In the past, there was a clear distinction between telecommunication and data communication networks. Telecommunication networks, such as Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) and Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN) carry voice and data over circuit-switched connections, where the 'circuit', e.g. a time slot in a wireless connection or a digital transmission line, is reserved for the voice or data call for the whole duration of the call, even during idle periods, i.e. when there is no voice or data to transmit.
Data communication networks, on the other hand, typically carry data over packet-switched connections, where network resources are reserved for a particular session only when there is data to be transmitted. When the session is idle, network resources are allocated to carrying data for other, active sessions. A vast majority of today's data communication networks are based on protocols that utilize the TCP/IP protocol stack. An example of such network is the Internet, which in today's language may refer to any one of a number of different networks implemented with different protocols, such as the Wold Wide Web (HTTP) or Usenet (NNTP).
Recently, technical development has been leading towards convergence of telecommunication and data communication networks, which means in general that both telecommunication and data communication applications use the same physical and/or logical network for carrying voice and data. This trend has many advantages both from a network operator's and a consumer's point of view. For example, a network operator needs to invest in and maintain only one physical network in stead of two parallel networks for telecommunication and data communication traffic, respectively. This reduces capital, operating, and maintenance expenses that the operators incur, which in turn should bring about lower call and data transfer rates for subscribers. In some countries this convergence of tele-communication and data communication may be slowed down by pricing policies of the network operators, which they may use to safeguard return on their past investments in telecommunication infrastructure.
In a network that is built to carry both telecommunication and data communication traffic, arranging the communication according to a packet-switched scheme is an advantageous design choice, as at least in theory serving the same amount of subscribers requires less capacity in a packet-switched network than in a circuit-switched network. This is due to the above mentioned fact that in packet-switched networks, a session consumes network resources only when there are data packets to be transmitted, and during idle periods the network resources are available for other sessions.
As already mentioned, TCP/IP-based networks are nowadays the prevailing type of packet-switched networks. Methods and protocols have been developed for carrying voice over IP networks so that the IP networks are capable of providing voice communication services. Schemes for carrying voice over IP networks are commonly referred to as Voice over IP or VoIP. With the advent of VoIP services and applications, consumers have been able to use their home computers as voice communication devices and make phone calls over their Internet connections at relatively low flat rates.
VoIP calls are also available over Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connections, and along with introduction of dual-mode or multi-mode mobile phones, which are equipped with hardware and software for connecting the phone to a WLAN network, the option for making a VoIP call perhaps at a lower rate as compared to that of e.g. a GSM call rate has become available also for mobile phone users.
Making a VoIP/Internet call from a mobile phone at a flat rate may require that the call is a VoIP call end-to-end, i.e. both parties of the call are available for a VoIP call. For example, if a calling party is available for a VoIP service, but the called party is not within a VoIP service area, the call may e.g. be transmitted through a VoIP gateway to and terminate in a GSM network, and the GSM leg of the call may be charged at a rate set by the GSM operator, which may negate the benefit of the flat rate of the VoIP leg of the call.
It would therefore be useful if the calling party knew before making a VoIP call or initiating another type of connection, whether the called party were available for the VoIP call or the other type of communication. Obviously, the calling party could contact the called party by other means, e.g. by making a telephone call through GSM or fixed line service, before trying to make a VoIP call to check that the called party is actually within a VoIP service area, but it is inconvenient to first make e.g. a GSM call and then the VoIP call, possibly dialling both telephone numbers by means of the mobile phone keypad, and at least one party of the call incurs the cost of the GSM call.
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate or at least alleviate the above described inconveniences.

Facilitating arrangement in a communication system


A quick attach accessory tool mounting frame is adapted to be mounted onto a quick attachment bracket and held in place. The adapter frame has plates mounting a hub to pivotally mount a powered auxiliary tool. The hanger is formed with spaced plates having upper edges that will abut against portions of the adapter frame to permit only limited pivotal movement of a tool supported by the hanger about a horizontal axis such that the operator can control the position of the auger after the hanger has pivoted against provided stops that limit the pivotal movement of the tool about one axis.

The present invention relates to a mounting for a power driven auxiliary tool such as an earth auger that will permit quick attachment to an arm, such as a backhoe or excavator arm, using an adapter bracket that permits limited free pivotal movement of the accessory tool about an axis during operation.
The use of earth augers or other powered auxiliary tools, such as a plate compactor, mounted on a skid steer loader backhoe or an excavator arm is known. It is generally desirable to have some free pivotal movement for the power tool about a horizontal axis, as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,217. Patent '217 discloses an auger mount using a slot to permit some pivotal movement so that the auger can come to a vertical position under gravity and also move as it bores into the ground. It is desirable to have control over the pivotal position of the auger, after limited pivoting has occurred.
The support shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,217 is pinned in place, which requires changing of pivot pins if a different attachment is to be coupled to the backhoe or excavator arm. With the advance of reliable, positive locking quick attachment brackets, it has become desirable to use a quick attachment arrangement for earth augers, compactors, clam shells and other powered implements as well.

Quick change attachment for powered auxiliary tool


A glass cylindrical or spherical double walled enclosure defines a containing envelope for containing an ionized gas discharge among dielectric pellets or beads. The double walls of the enclosure form a torus or hollow cylinder, sphere or other suitable shape and define an enclosed glass discharge area. The gas discharge area is formed by the double walls being filled with an ionizable gas. Electrodes are attached to ends of the enclosure and a constant current transformer is connected for supplying a high voltage sufficient to produce visible discharges in the gas discharge area. The center of the torus, or other suitable shape, is accessible to the outside and allows the application of an electrostatic grounding conductor of metal, or a conventional neon tube which acts as a double duty attracter and illuminator for the background of the display device. Traps are provided between the dielectric pellets and the electrodes to prevent the dielectric pellets from contacting the electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gas discharge display devices and methods of making the same.
2. Related Art
Technology involved in the present invention is an outgrowth of the neon sign industry. Early neon tubes, developed around 1909, consisted of a length of glass tubing which was fitted with electrodes at its extreme ends. These tubes were evacuated and back filled with ionizable gasses at lower than atmospheric pressures. These gasses were energized with a high voltage signal from a constant current transformer, the signal being of several thousand volts, alternating current, usually line frequency, for example, 50 or 60 cycles per second. The first tubes were filled with carbon dioxide. However, these tubes had to be recharged every few days because the carbon dioxide tended to break down. The tubes were improved by using rare gasses, such as neon. Neon, with its distinctive red color which pierces fog and haze, quickly became popular for providing a dramatic effect in signs and beacons.
Volrath describes a gas filled tube device, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,851,532 (issued Mar. 29, 1932), wherein a filling material was packed inside a conventional neon tube creating a multiple maze of paths for the discharge to follow. A 60 cycle current turned the discharge off and on forcing it to reestablish a path with each cycle and resulting in a dramatic visual effect. Various structures have been disposed inside gas filled tubes, such as porcelain ribbed dividers or multiple tubes, for creating multiple paths for the discharge to follow.


This disclosure generally relates to a system and method for dating. More particularly, this disclosure is a dating system and method that limits the embarrassment of rejection and minimizes costs of implementation based on a market recognition of an external sign to be associated with a dating status such as a color-coded bracelet.

Dating is a fundamental need of individuals and society. Dating methods are subtle and constantly evolving due to sociological conditions and changing tolerances. Dating methods and systems constantly adapt to trends. Individuals who desire to meet and date other individuals presently have a plurality of methods available to them, each with their own limitations. Known approaches to meeting other individuals include forced communications at dance clubs, social clubs, bars, on-line services, personal ads, networking, and the like. Often, however, conventional dating locations are flooded with loud music, which are costly and create difficulty communicating, especially if a person feel uncomfortable with his or her personal appearance.
Being present at such a location does not automatically convey the information that a person is available for dating. Today, dating is a guessing game. Individuals have to rely on conventional external signs such as the presence of a wedding band, sitting at a bar for a long period of time, and making sustained eye contact or being friendly with another person in the location. As a result, individuals may be disinclined to initiate communication with the intention of dating for fear of rejection or may be misled by social conventions leading to inaccurate assumptions about availability, sexual orientation, and the like. For example, men wearing a wedding band may still be interested in dating as long as the other person is interested in dating a married individual. Today, a married person resorts to removing the band to deceive prospective suitors. Another example is straight individuals who wish to join homosexual friends at their dedicated nightclubs and have no way to convey clearly to others an intention to meet members of the opposite sex.
Newspaper personals ads and on-line ads offer a little more flexibility. These potentially costly methods require dedication, patience, persistence, and the need to understand and decode a plurality of conventions to reach in a predetermined individual in a precise setting. These remote services typically lead to blind dates, which are often feared by shy individuals because it is nearly impossible to truly anticipate the other person's demeanor and empathy. Professional dating services or publications require the disclosure to a third party personal data, sexual desires, and other particular sexual practices that often must be held in strict confidence.
In contrast, attendance at bars, dance clubs, and other public places allows for better control of temporary and selective personal information that may not be intended for wider distribution, while on-line publications and newspaper personals allow for better screening of potential candidates before a first contact is initiated. Society tries awkwardly to accommodate these expectations by allowing individuals of similar interest to select certain times and locations where they may meet. Again, the secrecy of this expectation is often diluted by a flow of unwary individuals at the chosen location.
What is needed is a low-cost method and system that provides individuals to display and discern dating status information in an informal fashion in order to better initiate dating communications. This system and method may be used in public and semipublic places and allows an individual to temporarily and selectively display personal information based on prearranged social convention set up by a third party.


This invention provides a messaging interface between a Mobile Node (MN) and an Access Router (AR) that enables the registration of MN preferences with a current AR (AR_current) and, when appropriate, the notification of the MN of the discovery of an AR in the proximity of AR_current that matches MN-specified preference criteria. The notifying AR_current may be the one that the MN originally registered its preferences with, or it could be another AR that, due to movement by the MN, has assumed the role of AR_current. In this case the MN preference data set to be transferred from one AR to another in response to the movement of the MN. The presently preferred messaging interface has two main modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, a “Query” mode, the MN explicitly queries AR_current for information descriptive of the capabilities of nearby ARs. AR_current responds to the MN query after examining the information stored in its PNL. In a second mode of operation, an “Event Notification” mode, the MN registers a request with AR_current that AR_current notify the MN whenever an AR satisfying certain criteria is available in the proximity of AR_current. The request registered by the MN may be transferred from one AR to another during handoff of the MN.

At present, there is no suitable solution to the problem of informing a MN about the characteristics of network access in the neighborhood of the MN, that can best satisfy the preferences of the MN. As wireless mobile data networks evolve and proliferate, access networks employing different radio technologies (such as WLAN, WCDMA, GPRS, cdma2000, Bluetooth), as well as those belonging to different administrative entities, may each provide coverage within the same geographical area. In such a situation, a MN that is connected to an access router (AR_current) of a given access network may wish to locate an AR or ARs in the proximity of AR_current that can satisfy certain preferred criteria of the MN.
One suitable enabling technology for this type of operation is the Candidate Access Router (CAR) discovery protocol that is currently under development. Reference in this regard can be had to, for example, "Issues in candidate access router discovery for seamless IP-level handoffs", http://ietf.org/internet-drafts/drafts-ietf-seamoby-cardiscovery-issues-04.txt. The CAR discovery protocol enables the identification of the capability set of ARs that have overlapping coverage with that of AR_current. The information describing the capabilities of ARs in the proximity of AR_current, which is collected by using the CAR discovery protocol, is stored in a Physical Neighborhood List (PNL) of AR_current.
However, prior to this invention a need existed for a MN-AR messaging interface that enabled the retrieval of the PNL information at the MN.

Method and apparatus for alerting mobile nodes of desirable access characteristics