A suture display cabinet having a plurality of interconnected suture display boxes and suture storage boxes. The boxes are connected to each other through integral dovetail connection members which secure suture display boxes to suture storage boxes and suture display boxes to each other in a side by side arrangement. Various modifications are presented to facilitate transportation of the suture display cabinet from place to place in a surgical environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display cabinets, and more particularly to display cabinets for surgical instruments or packages such as suture packages, where the cabinets are modular in construction and which may be provided with means for transporting the cabinets to and from and within surgical environments.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Display cabinets and racks for storing and displaying surgical instruments such as sutures and suture packages are well known in the art. These cabinets and racks generally comprise conventional shelving which may be separated into individual compartments and constructed as a large semi-permanent structure. Typically, the structures include a back wall which is generally positioned against a wall in either a free-standing position, or which maybe hung on the wall with mounting brackets or screws. A top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls usually complete the structure, and numerous horizontal and vertical partitions are provided to separate the cabinet into individual compartments. The structures are very cumbersome, and are usually provided as permanent fixtures in a surgical environment.
Also known in the art are modular-type suture display and storage boxes which generally comprise a plurality of small stackable boxes which may be arranged in rows or columns either as a free-standing structure or where the individual boxes are mounted in an array on a wall as individual components. The modular structures also become semi-permanent, in that they are generally not connected to each other and, therefore, cannot be moved without risk of toppling all or part of the structure. Since the structures are impractical to move, they require positioning near the surgical location to allow access to the surgical personnel during an operation. However, this creates a crowded working environment and reduces the freedom of movement which the surgical team requires to perform most operations. Locating the suture display structures remote from the operating table necessitates a surgical team member to be designated as the messenger for retrieving the sutures, thus reducing the efficiency of the surgical team.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 259,604 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 260,955, both to Schuler et al. disclose modular suture cabinet boxes which appear to be of the stackable type which are not interconnected to form a transportable unit. There appears to be no means for connecting individual suture boxes to adjacent boxes, other than mounting each box in an array on the wall through a plurality of holes formed in the back of the box.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,601 to Hlinsky et al. discloses a modular storage system in which two connected storage boxes are connected to each other by a hook and groove arrangement at the corner of each box. However, each box shares at least one wall with its adjacent boxes, so that individual boxes cannot stand alone. Furthermore, a drawer system is provided to create a closed storage system. Furthermore, the system does not appear to be portable, in that there are no means to move the connected boxes from place to place.
Modular storage and display racks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,763 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,553 to Franklin et al. These patents disclose display racks having a box-like outer container which is provided with a plurality of horizontal shelves and vertical partitions. These outer boxes are then stacked together in an upright free-standing display rack, with the boxes being connected only by the rack itself and not to each other. The racks do not appear to be portable, and are apparently constructed for displaying items in supermarkets or department stores.


A reversible locking device 1 for a tensioner 100 of a timing chain 20 includes a locking device body 3, integral with the tensioner 100 and protruding with respect to the body of the tensioner 100, which has a shaped slot 2. A perforated protrusion 4 is integral with the shoe 5 carried by the piston 6 and protrudes with respect to the shoe 5 so that its hole is aligned with the shaped slot. A rod 7 has a first part 8 with a shape complementary to that of the shaped slot 2 and a second part 9 bearing at one end a conical portion 10 adapted to couple it irreversibly to the perforated protrusion 4 integral with the shoe 5.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of tensioners. More particularly, the invention pertains to locking devices for timing chain tensioners.
2. Description of Related Art
The timing system of an internal combustion engine may be controlled by a chain transmission, in which the chain is wound on two or more sprockets, one of which is a drive sprocket and takes its drive (even indirectly) from the drive shaft to transmit it, by means of the chain and of one or more driven sprockets, to one or more driven shafts.
Since for reasons of adjustment, wear of materials and/or of take-up of the slack, it is often necessary to compensate for a certain slack on the chain, shoe-type tensioning devices are known in the art. In these tensioners, a shoe is biased with an adjustable force against a strand of the chain, generally known as the "slack strand".
The most frequently used tensioning devices are hydraulic or mechanical tensioners, in which a fixed element (generally a cylinder) is mounted on the engine block and a moveable element (generally a piston, moveable inside the cylinder) is slideable with respect to the fixed element and acts against the shoe placed in contact with the chain to tension it.
In these tensioning devices, the piston is biased out of the cylinder, towards the shoe disposed against a strand of the chain, by the action of a spring placed inside the cylinder.
When the tensioner is not installed, for example during transport and/or during possible replacement, the spring biases the piston (often with considerable force) out of the cylinder. To overcome this drawback, ways to lock the piston mechanically inside the cylinder at least during the transport of the tensioner have been developed (for example, a pin inserted in a through hole formed in the body of the piston and in a pair of holes made in the wall of the cylinder and aligned with the through hole formed in the piston).
This locking mechanism presents a serious drawback in that, when it is removed, the spring may violently expel the piston from the cylinder. This may make the installation of the tensioner difficult and may represent a source of danger for those carrying out the operation.
Furthermore, it is practically impossible, or at the very least, difficult and laborious, to re-install the locking mechanism before removing the tensioner for any reason including, but not limited to, carrying out the maintenance and/or the replacement of the tensioner and/or of the chain. The typically awkward position of the tensioner and the action of the spring on the piston may make this operation a source of danger for those carrying it out.

Reversible locking device for a timing chain tensioner


An overall plan for providing maintenance and technical services for businesses and plants, as broadly defined, includes generic procedures for the services written as a manual of standard practices. A knowledge base or experience database of data and people is utilized, and both hardware and software tools are selected and used in providing the services.

As global competition increases and supply chains become shorter, businesses are being forced to find new ways to increase plant performance while simultaneously reducing costs. Complexity of the business adds to the costs, and one area of significant complexity for manufacturing businesses is plant maintenance. In addition to adding complexity, maintenance can make up anywhere from 5-40% of the total costs of production. While maintenance is critical to the business outcome, it is often regarded as a necessary evil, and as a result it has been difficult to achieve sustained improvement in performance from an in-house maintenance group without intense management effort that detracts from the core business process.
For complete plants or, for example, production lines, it is known to provide (under classic maintenance contracts) fixed prices for a qualified status of the production means. The qualified availability is determined by the customer on the basis of his experience (which availability he must have).
Furthermore, bonus/penalty maintenance service is known; an availability variable is thereby determined (90%, 95%, 98%, 100%). If a better availability or 100% is reached, a bonus is paid; if less is reached, there is a penalty incurred.
According to the prior art, the following maintenance services, for example, are being done for the customer: Personnel, repair service/exchange service, partially including stock keeping, software update or suchlike.
The previously described prior art is not the best for the customer. The customer needs the financially, organizationally and technically best solution.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Plant maintenance technology architecture


A polyester resin container with improved weatherability as well as colorlessness and heat resistance, made of a polyester resin composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyester resin and (B) 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of a triazine ultraviolet absorber represented by formula (I):

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers have been widely used as beverage bottles and containers for cosmetics, medicines, detergents, shampoos, and so on because of high transparency, gas barrier properties, and the like.
Although food packaging containers are rarely left outdoors for a long time and therefore not required to have high weatherability, they are usually kept on the grocery or supermarket shelves under sunlight or fluorescent lights and are required to have weatherability enough to keep the product's appeal to consumers.
Among known methods of light stabilizing various synthetic resins is addition of additives, such as ultraviolet absorbers, phenol or phosphorus antioxidants, and hindered amine stabilizers. Triazine compounds are known as highly effective ultraviolet absorbers and are disclosed, for example, in JP-A-2000-238857, JP-A-2001-302926, JP-A-2003-192830, and JP-A-2003-261725.

Polyester resin container with improved weatherability

Abstract: wherein R1 represents a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms, which may have an alicyclic group at the terminal or in the chain thereof; and R2, R2′, R3, and R3′ each represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.


The present invention describes amines with dibenzofuran or dibenzothiophene groups in combination with carbazole, especially for use as triplet matrix materials in organic electroluminescent devices. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the compounds of the invention and to electronic devices comprising these compounds.

The structure of organic electroluminescent devices (OLEDs) in which organic semiconductors are used as functional materials is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,507, 5,151,629, EP 0676461 and WO 98/27136. Emitting materials used are frequently organometallic complexes which exhibit phosphorescence. For quantum-mechanical reasons, up to four times the energy efficiency and power efficiency is possible using organometallic compounds as phosphorescent emitters. In general terms, there is still a need for improvement in OLEDs, especially also in OLEDs which exhibit phosphorescence, for example with regard to efficiency, operating voltage and lifetime.
The properties of phosphorescent OLEDs are not just determined by the triplet emitters used. More particularly, the other materials used, for example matrix materials, are also of particular significance here. Improvements to these materials can thus also lead to distinct improvements in the OLED properties.
In general terms, in the case of these materials for use as matrix materials, there is still need for improvement, particularly in relation to lifetime and oxidation sensitivity, but also in relation to the efficiency and operating voltage of the device.

Materials for organic electroluminescent devices


An electron gun for a color cathode ray tube includes cathodes, a control electrode and a screen electrode which form a front triode, first, second, third, fourth and fifth focus electrodes which form a plurality of auxiliary electrostatic lenses, and a final accelerating electrode installed adjacent to the fifth focus electrode to form a main electrostatic lens, wherein vertically-elongated electron beam passing holes are formed on the fourth focus electrode, a predetermined focus voltage is applied to the first, second and fifth focus electrodes, a dynamic focus voltage lower than the focus voltage and synchronized with a deflection synchronizing signal is applied to the fourth focus electrode, a static voltage higher than the focus voltage is applied to the second focus electrode, and an anode voltage higher than the focus voltage is applied to the final accelerating electrode.

The present invention relates to an electron gun for a CRT, and more particularly to an electron gun for a CRT having an improved method for applying voltage to respective electrodes constituting the electron gun.
Usually, a CRT, such as that shown in FIG. 1, comprises a panel P on the inner side of which a shadow mask assembly SF is mounted, and a funnel adhered to the panel in which an electron gun G is installed in the neck N of the funnel and a deflection yoke D is installed on the outer side of the neck.
In such a CRT, even if all three electron beams emitted from the electron gun are optimally focused on the center of a phosphor layer formed on the inner side of panel P, the electron beams deflected toward the periphery of the phosphor layer by deflection yoke D differ among one another in their focal distances, when landed on the phosphor layer. This is due to the geometric curvature of the inner surface of panel P and the fact that the electron gun is disposed in an in-line form. Also, when the electron beams are deflected toward the periphery of the phosphor layer, the cross sections of the electron beams are distorted due to the non-uniform magnetic field of the deflection yoke, so that the cross sections of the electron beams cannot be formed regularly throughout the phosphor layer. This causes the reduction of the CRT's resolution.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional electron gun for a CRT which solves the above problem. Referring to FIG. 2, the electron gun comprises cathodes 2, a control electrode 3, a screen electrode 4 which form a front triode, a focus electrode 5, a dynamic focus electrode 6 and an anode electrode 7 which concentrate and accelerate electron beams. Vertically-elongated electron beam passing holes 5H and horizontally-elongated electron beam passing holes 6H are formed on projection side 5a of focus electrode 5 and incidence side 6a of dynamic focus electrode 6, respectively. Focus voltage Vf and anode voltage Ve are applied to focus electrode 5 and anode electrode 7, respectively. Dynamic focus voltage Vd, which, taking focus voltage Vf as a base voltage, is varied according to the vertical and horizontal synchronous signals of the deflection yoke, is applied to dynamic focus electrode 6.
In the above electron gun for a CRT, when electron beams emitted from cathodes 2 are deflected toward the periphery of the phosphor layer, dynamic focus voltage Vd is applied to dynamic focus electrode 6 to form a quadruple lens between focus electrode 5 and dynamic focus electrode. Specifically, due to vertically-elongated electron beam passing holes 5H formed on projection side 5a of focus electrode 5 and horizontally-elongated electron beam passing holes 6H formed on incidence side 6a of dynamic focus electrode 6, a relatively weak condenser lens and a relatively intense divergent lens as compared with those in the horizontal direction, are formed vertically. Meanwhile, a relatively intense condenser lens and a relatively weak divergent lens as compared with those in the vertical direction, are formed horizontally. The electron beams passing through the lenses converge horizontally and diverge vertically so that their cross sections become vertically elongated. Thus, the distortion of the electron beams can be compensated for by a non-uniform magnetic field formed when the electron beams are deflected toward the periphery of the phosphor layer by the deflection yoke, so that a circular spot of the electron beams can be obtained on the periphery of the phosphor layer.
Further, since focus voltage Vf and dynamic focus voltage Vd are mixedly applied to dynamic focus electrode 6, the potential difference between the focus electrode and anode electrode 7 becomes small to reduce the intensity of a main lens formed therebetween and to elongate the electron beams' focal length, so that the electron beams are focused on the periphery of the phosphor layer in a favorable form.
The conventional electron gun, as described above, can compensate for the electron beams' focus characteristic and astigmatism. However, the conventional electron gun has a poor withstand voltage because a high voltage is applied to dynamic focus electrode 6. Withstand voltage is defined as the maximum voltage which can be safely supplied to electrodes without causing the destruction of insulation in connection with the electrodes. The circuit for applying the high dynamic focus voltage is difficult to construct. Furthermore, since the variation of the focal length of the electron beams emitted from the cathodes and the shaping of the electron beams' cross sections are carried out near the high voltage portion adjacent to a final accelerating electrode for finally accelerating the electron beams, when the dynamic focus voltage is applied, convergence drift, in which convergence for focusing three electron beams is varied, occurs to reduce a convergence characteristic. Convergence drift is herein defined as the deviation of the focusing of the electron beams on the electron beam passing hole.
To overcome these problems, a low voltage driving method is adapted, in which a voltage for controlling the focusing distance of electron beams from the electron gun to the phosphor layer is lower than a fixed focus voltage. However, this method is disadvantageous since it greatly reduces the compensating effect of the focus characteristic.


An underwater anti-fouling agent contains as an effective component a hexacyano compound, preferably a hexacyanoferrate. The anti-fouling agent is useful for the preparation of an anti-fouling paint.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an underwater anti-fouling agent effective in preventing aquatic organisms such as algae, barnacles and hard-shelled mussels from attaching themselves on objects maintained in contact with seawater, such as ships, ocean rigs and fish nets, and also to an anti-fouling paint making use of the underwater anti-fouling agent.
b) Description of the Related Art
In general, ships' bottoms, ocean rigs, fish nets, fish preserves and the like are maintained in contact with seawater for extended time. During these periods, submarine organisms such as algae, barnacles and hard-shelled mussels attach themselves on seawater-contacting surfaces of such objects, leading to problems such as lowered running speeds due to increases in weight and stream resistance in the case of ships and significantly shortened useful life in the case of fish nets and ocean rigs. Accordingly, a variety of methods have been applied to date for the prevention of attachment of submarine organisms. Known chemical or biochemical methods include, for example, use of materials on which the above submarine organisms are difficult to attach and use of repellents, anti-fouling agents and the like for submarine organisms, such as copper plates, silicone resin paints and fluorine-containing paints. Among such anti-fouling methods, it is the common practice to coat the above-mentioned ships and the like with anti-fouling paints containing anti-fouling agents, because inter alia this coating method is applicable in a wide range of fields, can bring about high effects and can be easily applied. Anti-fouling paints have been available conventionally, each of which is formed of a binder component--which is composed of a seawater-insoluble polymer such as an acrylic resin, alkyd resin or chlorinated rubber and rosin--and an anti-fouling agent such as an organotin compound, organotin polymer or copper suboxide added therein.
A paint with an organotin compound or organotin polymer contained therein is designed in such a way that the organotin compound or organotin polymer in the paint is gradually eluted into water or the paint containing the organotin compound or organotin polymer therein is scraped off little by little to spread in water and always to expose a new paint surface. Despite its high preventive effects against the attachment of underwater organisms, it is accompanied by problems from the standpoint of safety and sanitation and also environmental preservation in that the organotin compound or organotin polymer is eluted into water.

Underwater anti-fouling agent and anti-fouling paint containing the underwater anti-fouling agent

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.


In an exhaust gas turbocharger turbine for an internal combustion engine with a turbine housing having an annular flow path, a control sleeve axially movably supported in an annular space formed in the turbine housing adjacent the annular flow path and having at its front end a flow guide structure with vanes for guiding the exhaust gas flow when the flow guide structure is disposed in the annular flow path, a ring is disposed at the front end of the control sleeve in front of the flow guide structure such that the annular space is covered and sealed when the control sleeve is fully retracted into the annular space whereby flow losses are substantially reduced.

The invention relates to an exhaust gas turbocharger turbine for an internal combustion engine with an axially slidable control sleeve, which include guide vanes and is supported in an annular gap between the turbine housing and an annular guide structure and with an annular gas flow passage disposed in the turbine housing and leading to the turbine wheel.
DE 47 32 400 Cl discloses an exhaust gas turbocharger turbine for an internal combustion engine with an adjustable flow guide mechanism. It includes an annular control sleeve, which is axially movable for blocking the inlet flow cross-section between a guide channel and a turbine wheel. In this way, a throttling cross-section forming a brake gap for a motor brake can be provided.
However, because of its design, turbulence is generated within the housing of this exhaust gas turbocharger turbine which leads to a relatively low efficiency of the whole exhaust gas turbocharger turbine. In addition, the arrangement described in this reference will have gap losses caused by the escape of exhaust gases, which further decrease the turbine efficiency.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,986 discloses a diffuser structure for a turbo machine having a housing with a control arrangement including an axially movable control ring. The control ring includes flow guides vanes and is supported in an annular space formed in the housing. The flow guide vanes extend through openings in a guide ring into the flow path of the gas and are axially movable with the control ring whereby they are rotated for varying the stagger angle of the vanes depending on how far they are projecting into the flow passage.
This arrangement, however, has the disadvantage that, when the guide vanes extend into the flow passage, there is a gap between the control ring and the guide ring at the openings of the guide ring. As a result, insufficient sealing is achieved when the guide vanes are fully retracted from the annular flow passage. As a result, turbulence can occur in the area of the openings.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an exhaust gas turbocharger turbine for an internal combustion engine with improved flow conditions within the turbine housing and relatively low gap losses.

Exhaust gas turbocharger turbine for an internal combustion engine


A method for washing a car/vehicle/transportation device and a method for washing a braking device of a car/vehicle/transportation device are disclosed. The methods include spraying a detergent composition for washing automobiles, two-wheeled vehicles, bicycles, construction equipment, farm equipment, aircraft, railroad cars, ships, and/or various other types of car/vehicle/transportation devices, thereby washing the car/vehicle/transportation device or the braking device, wherein the detergent composition includes (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and HFE-type nonflammable fluorinated-type solvent, mass % ratio thereof ((Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene/HFE-type nonflammable fluorinated-type solvent) being within a range that is 30/70 to 99/1.

Automobiles, two-wheeled vehicles, bicycles, construction equipment, farm equipment, aircraft, railroad cars, ships, and various other types of car/vehicle/transportation means are such that car bodies, brakes, suspensions, wheels, and various other types of parts, devices, and the like are manufactured using metal(s) and/or any of various types of resin and/or the like. Furthermore, with the intention of reducing the weight and/or increasing the decorativeness thereof, members employing composite materials in which resins are combined with metals and so forth have in recent years also been used.
Such parts and devices employing metal are such that oily components, dirt, and the like adhere to surfaces thereof over the course of usage thereof, causing degradation to occur relative to expected properties and attractiveness. Furthermore, depending on what components adhere thereto, there may be corrosion of metal surfaces and irreversible loss of expected properties. Moreover, while grease and/or other such oily components are applied to necessary locations so as to smoothen the motion of respective devices in car/vehicle/transportation means, such oily components are subjected to flow of air, pelting by rainwater, and so forth during operation, as a result of which such oily components gradually flow to unintended locations and so forth; and furthermore, oily components and the like which flow thereto from other car/vehicle/transportation means are hurled up and so forth from the road surface together with dirt and adhere to respective portions of the car/vehicle/transportation means, which is a factor in the decrease which occurs relative to expected properties at the various parts and devices. In particular, in the context of frictional brake devices, often used in car/vehicle/transportation means, in which brake shoes outfitted with brake linings are made to act as braking elements with respect to brake discs, brake drums, and other such rotating bodies, because adherence of oily components thereto will cause reduction in the coefficient of friction, and because dust produced as a result of wear of brake linings will more easily tend to adhere thereto, which can cause reduction in the braking capability of the brakes, there has been a need to periodically carry out maintenance operations and wash metal members to which oily components and dirt have adhered.
Furthermore, during assembly and manufacture of various types of car/vehicle/transportation means, when applying resin, paint, or the like to metal and treating same, where small amounts of an oily component or the like continue to adhere to the metal surface, the resin or paint will not adhere thereto in stable fashion but will delaminate therefrom and deteriorate and so forth, causing dramatic reduction in product quality. Furthermore, at brakes, suspensions, wheels, and other such parts and devices that are particularly important for maintaining safety during operation, where small amounts of an oily component or the like continue to adhere thereto there will be decrease in the coefficient of friction, and where these are assembled while still in that state there will be loss of braking ability and so forth, making it impossible to provide expected properties in stable fashion. It is therefore desired during assembly and manufacture of various types of car/vehicle/transportation means that any small amounts of oily components adhering to metal surfaces of the respective parts be adequately washed off and removed therefrom in advance.
For this reason, as a detergent composition primarily for washing car bodies, brake parts, suspensions, wheels, and the like of various types of cars, vehicles, and transportation means, substances with good washability having trichloroethane as primary component have conventionally been developed and employed. However, the toxicity of trichloroethane is known. Furthermore, under the terms of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer which was issued under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, production and consumption of trichloroethane in signing countries were to be gradually phased out, being completely eliminated by 1996, and imports and exports with countries nonsignatory to the Protocol were also to be prohibited or restricted. For this reason, use of detergent compositions employing trichloroethane has come to be avoided.
This being the case, with isohexane, cyclohexane, and other such C6 petroleum-type hydrocarbons as base, it has been proposed that ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, other such alcohols be added thereto to manufacture detergent compositions whose washability, drying characteristics, and boiling point have been adjusted, and that LPG gas be used to make these into aerosol compositions or that these be made into aerosol compositions that make use of compressed air and employ simple mobile-type aerosol dispensers, widespread use of which have been adopted.
However, as the petroleum-type hydrocarbons and alcohols employed in the aforementioned detergent composition are highly flammable, they are subject to restriction as hazardous materials under the Fire Prevention Law. For this reason, as it is required for their storage that a hazardous material storage warehouse be provided, they have incurred cost for the provision thereof. Furthermore, even if there is a hazardous material storage warehouse at the facility where detergent compositions are used, there are restrictions regarding the amounts that may be stored therein. In particular, while most of the aforementioned detergent compositions are classified as class 4, type 1 petroleums, because the designated quantity of class 4, type 1 petroleums established under applicable ordinance as being capable of being stored in a single warehouse is low, there has been the problem that only small amounts thereof may be stored notwithstanding that the amount of detergent compositions being used is large, improvement with respect to which has been desired.
Moreover, while the hydrocarbons used in the aforementioned detergent compositions do not have toxicity to the extent that trichloroethane does, because there is a danger that inhalation of excessive quantities could result in hydrocarbon poisoning, it is necessary that they be used in an environment which is either outdoors or which if indoors is equipped with ventilation equipment or is otherwise ventilated, product also containing written warnings to this effect. However, inasmuch as aerosol products are being used, hydrocarbons are present not only at the workplace but are also vaporized and travel downwind therefrom, and so a danger remains that they will be inhaled by persons there, improvement with respect to which has been desired.
Furthermore, when operations are being carried out, if the detergent composition is splashed out or the aerosol product is vigorously sprayed or the like, it is sometimes the case that the gloves and/or clothing of the worker will be soaked by a large amount of the aforementioned detergent composition, which is highly flammable. Furthermore, to remove oily dirt that has adhered to the work clothes or the gloves of the worker, these are sometimes soaked in a large amount of the aforementioned detergent composition. However, because the aforementioned detergent composition is highly flammable, where the drying that occurs thereafter is inadequate, there is a risk that an accident will occur due to combustion as a result of a spark from static electricity or a cigarette. This being the case, even where safety has been definitively ensured at the working environment, improvement has still been desired so that use of such highly flammable components might be avoided.
While halogen-type solvents are commonly well-known as solvents that do not have a flash point, there being restrictions with respect to manufacture and use of chlorine type substances and bromine-type substances due to the harmfulness thereof, use of these in detergent compositions is problematic. An aqueous product comprising carbitol, alcohol, or the like has therefore been proposed as a product or detergent component having a high flash point that employs a petroleum-type hydrocarbon having a large number of carbons as a way to solve the problem of storage amount and ensurance of safety (see Patent Reference No. 1).
However, the drying characteristics of the aforementioned aqueous composition are extremely poor and slow, as much time as 30 or 40 minutes being required for drying thereof and so forth (see Patent Reference No. 1). For this reason, if such an aqueous composition is used as a detergent composition, there will be a tendency following use thereof for liquid from the aqueous composition to remain in regions around the brakes, and if the brakes are used with the liquid still remaining in that state, this will lead to a situation in which this has a very serious effect; i.e., there will be a reduction in braking force. For this reason, work operations in which the aforementioned aqueous composition is used have been made complicated by the fact that it has been essential that adequate drying be carried out following washing, improvement with respect to which has been desired. Also, because it aqueous, the washability thereof is inferior to conventional detergent compositions which are used as brake cleaner, and because, depending on the type of dirt, the washing capability thereof is not necessarily adequate, there have been limits with respect to the sites at which it may be used, improvement with respect to which has been desired so as to increase the universality thereof.
It so happens that (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene is known as a solvent which is capable of being used to wash metal materials. However, while (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene has washability with respect to metal materials, it is known that it has high erosivity with respect to materials other than metal materials, i.e., resins and elastomers (see Nonpatent Reference No. 1). For this reason, with (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, it is necessary to perform adequate examination of the site where this is used.
In particular, with respect to the various braking devices, lights, windows, and other such important components for which it is desired that safety be maintained to a high degree in automobiles, two-wheeled vehicles, bicycles, construction equipment, farm equipment, aircraft, railroad cars, ships, and various other types of car/vehicle/transportation means, while metal materials are in general use therein, it is ordinarily the case that materials comprising polycarbonate, acrylic, ABS, polystyrene, silicone rubber, natural rubber, HNBR, NBR, fluorinated rubber, urethane rubber, and/or other such types of resins and elastomers are simultaneously used therein in addition to such metal materials. For example, brakes are controlled by the hydraulic pressure of brake fluid, rubber hoses that interconnect devices typically being filled with this brake fluid at the interior thereof.
However, when (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene is allowed to come into contact with resins and elastomers, the high erosivity possessed by (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene causes occurrence of such serious problematic situations as the deterioration of resins and elastomers at important components for which it is desired that safety be maintained to a high degree. In particular, because polycarbonate, which is in general use in important components of the aforementioned car/vehicle/transportation means, would suffer devitrification; because acrylic, ABS, and polystyrene would be dissolved thereby; and because silicone rubber, natural rubber, HNBR, NBR, fluorinated rubber, and urethane rubber would undergo swelling (see Nonpatent Reference No. 1), there is concern that there could be a decrease in safety.
Furthermore, where this is used as a composition for washing it will be necessary to use the composition for washing to adequately moisten locations that are to be washed before washing this off therefrom, but because (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene dries extremely quickly due to its low boiling point, it is unsuited for operations in which it is to be used to moisten and then be washed off from some location. Where such moistening is carried out, there is concern that there could be a decrease in safety as a result of the fact that excessive amounts of (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene may come in contact with resins and elastomers at important components.
Furthermore, as fluorinated-type solvents of the HFE (hydrofluoroether) type, there is 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethane AE 3000/HFE-347pc-f), but because the molecule does not contain therewithin any chlorine such as might be highly effective in manifesting solubility with respect to various substances, it is known not to have high miscibility with respect to lipids (Nonpatent Reference No. 2). Furthermore, as a solvent in which a silicone compound used to lower the coefficient of friction of equipment is dissolved and which is for causing the surfaces of various items comprising metal, resin, and/or the like to be coated with such silicone compound, a substance in which 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)ethane is blended in (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene is known (see Patent Reference No. 2); however, great pains are in fact taken not to cause brake-related parts in automobiles, two-wheeled vehicles, construction equipment, farm equipment, aircraft, railroad cars, and various other types of cars to be coated with a silicone compound that would reduce the coefficient of friction and greatly reduce the braking force thereof.
Patent Reference No. 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication Kokai No. 2001-207199
Patent Reference No. 2: Japanese Patent No. 5648345
Nonpatent Reference No. 1: 1233Z, a Superior Environmental Performance and High Washing Power, Next-Generation Fluorinated-Type Solvent; Central Glass Co., Ltd.; catalog issued: October 2015
Nonpatent Reference No. 2: Properties and Applications of ASAHIKLIN AE-3000; Michiomi Nagase et al; Internet <http://www.agc.com/rd/library/2004/54-10.pdf>

Detergent composition and aerosol composition of same


Techniques are provided for updating routing tables of switch devices. At a first switch device of a first rack unit in a network, information is received about addresses of host devices in the network. The addresses are stored in a software cache. A packet is received from a first host device assigned to a first subnet and housed in the first rack unit. The packet is destined for a second host device assigned to a second subnet and housed in a second rack unit in the network. The packet is forwarded using the subnet entry and it may remain sub-optimal during a period before which an entry can be installed form a software cache. The software cache is evaluated to determine the address of the second host device. The packet is then forwarded optimally. This will ensure any-to-any communications in the network initially sub-optimally and subsequently optimally.

In data center environments, rack units may house many server devices that host physical and virtual host devices. These servers are connected to Top of Rack (ToR) switch devices that are, in turn, connected to other ToR switches via a spine-fabric. Packets of data communications between host devices in different rack units may be routed between corresponding ToR switch devices via the spine-fabric. In these data center environments, it is desirable for any host device to be able to communicate with any other host device in the data center, regardless of whether the host devices are located in different rack units. Such communications are called any-to-any communications. The ToR switches may be provisioned to send the data packets in the network along routing paths between host devices.

Ensuring any-to-any reachability with opportunistic layer 3 forwarding in massive scale data center environments


Systems and techniques for quality-of-service (QoS) in cellular information centric network (ICN) are described herein. An example system includes processing circuitry, and a memory that includes instructions, the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to obtain QoS characteristics for an ICN packet, apply the QoS characteristics to the ICN packet, and transmit the ICN packet over the cellular ICN in accordance with the QoS characteristics.

ICN is an umbrella term for a new networking paradigm in which information itself is named and requested from the network instead of hosts (e.g., machines that provide information). To get content, a device requests named content from the network itself. The content request may be called an interest and transmitted via an interest packet. As the interest packet traverses network devices (e.g., routers), a record of the interest is kept. When a device that has content matching the name in the interest is encountered, that device may send a data packet in response to the interest packet. Typically, the data packet is tracked back through the network to the source by following the reverse traces of the interest left in the network devices.
Cellular standards (e.g., as those promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)) generally define not only the radio access network (RAN) but may also define several core network protocols as well. The core network refers to the communications between components within a cellular carrier's network to support voice and data to mobile devices.
In Long Term Evolution (LTE) (e.g., fourth generation or 4G) cellular networks, the concept of QoS is based on bearers. An LTE bearer is a transmission path through the infrastructure and radio interface with a defined capacity, latency, and packet loss. A bearer may be allocated dynamically or statically (e.g., subscription-based). Dynamic control of QoS can be triggered by application servers using a 3GPP Rx interface, for example.
A QoS Class Identifier (QCI) indicates the prioritization in scheduling and queuing of admitted flows. QCI can have values of 1-254. Each value is associated with three attributes: Priority, Packet delay budget, and Packet error loss. QCI values are used for selecting scheduling weights, queue thresholds, link-layer configuration and IP transport Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) mapping. QCI values 1-127 are reserved for standardization and 3GPP has already defined some of these. For example, QCI 9 is used for the best effort traffic. Many current commercial subscriber flows are classified for QCI 9. QCI 1 and QCI 5 can be used for commercial voice (e.g. VoLTE) flows and signaling. QCI values 128-254 are operator-specific and their attributes are provisioned into the network elements because the standard does not define a mechanism to propagate such information with control signaling.
Fifth generation cellular (e.g., 5G) standards have a flow based QoS concept. A QoS flow is the finest granularity for QoS management in 5G Core network (e.g., 5GC). Granularity for QoS treatment (e.g., per flow) is different from tunneling (e.g., per protocol data unit (PDU) session), and it will enable more flexible QoS control. The concept of bearers is absent from 5GC but 5G Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) still maintains the radio bearer concept. 5G QoS flows are mapped to Data Radio Bearers (DRBs) in the NG-RAN, unlike 4G where the mapping is 1:1 between EPC and radio bearers. Thus, a PDU session may contain multiple QoS flows and several DRBs but only a single N3 GTP-U tunnel. Packets are classified and marked with QoS Flow Identifier (QFI) and the value is unique in one PDU session.
Similar to QCI in 4G, a 5G QoS Indicator (5QI) is used in 5G to describe the packet forwarding treatment. 5QI uses five attributes: Priority, Packet delay budget and Packet error rate, maxi data burst volume, and averaging window. Because of the flow-based transmission, user equipment (UE) (e.g., a mobile phone or other device accessing the cellular network), RAN nodes, and user plane function (UPF) are aware of the QoS configuration for each QoS flow, which is spread and configured during a PDU session establishment procedure. Therefore, QFI is enough for the RAN to determine the QoS flow and QoS profile associated with the received packet. It, in turn, may be used to determine the mapping between DRB and QoS flow in RAN node. QFI is carried in an extension header on N3/N9 in the general packet radio service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) user data (GTP-U) protocol, using uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) PDU session information frames. QFI could be configured equal to 5QI.

Quality-of-service in cellular information centric network


A method of evaporable foam casting of metal articles, such as engine blocks for internal combustion engines. An evaporable foam pattern having a configuration proportionally identical to the article to be cast is positioned in a mold and a finely divided flowable material, such as sand, surrounds the pattern and fills the internal cavities of the pattern. A molten hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloy containing 16% to 19.5% by weight of silicon and containing a magnesium content in excess of the magnesium solid solubility limit, is fed into the mold and into contact with the pattern. The heat of the molten metal vaporizes the pattern, with the vapor being trapped within the sand and the molten metal filling the void created by vaporization of the pattern to provide a cast article. The high magnesium content in the alloy produces in the solid state a Mg.sub.2 Si phase in the eutectic and in the molten state an insulating magnesium oxide surface film which decreases the chilling of the molten metal front and prevents the liquid styrene defects resulting from degradation of the polymeric material.

Aluminum-silicon alloys containing less than about 11.6% by weight of silicon are referred to as hypoeutectic alloys and have seen extensive use in the past. The unmodified alloys have a microstructure consisting of primary aluminum dendrites, with a eutectic composed of acicular silicon in an aluminum matrix. However, the hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloys lack wear resistance.
On the other hand, hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys, those containing more than about 11.6% silicon, contain primary silicon crystals which are precipitated as the alloy is cooled between the liquidus temperature and the eutectic temperature. Due to the high hardness of the precipitated primary silicon crystals, these alloys have good wear resistant properties, and while alloys of this type have good fluidity, they have a relatively large or wide solidification range. The solidification range, which is a temperature range over which the alloy will solidify, is the range between the liquidus temperature and the invariant eutectic temperature. The wider the solidification range, the longer it will take for an alloy to solidify at a given rate of cooling. Thus, for casting purposes, a narrow solidification range is desired.
As a general rule, hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys are more difficult to case than hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloys because hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys are difficult to "feed" and this casting characteristic worsens as the silicon content increases. Thus, hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys containing 16% to 20% silicon have greater opportunity of finding commercial use than hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys containing more than 20% silicon (such as the class containing 21% to 25% silicon) because they have a narrower solidification range which produce less shrinkage microporosity and inherently a smaller primary silicon particle size. The smaller primary silicon size results in better machinability and is advantageous in wear applications. The absence of shrinkage microporosity in the cylinder bores of 4-stroke internal combustion engines is essential for low oil consumption.
Typical wear resistant aluminum-silicon alloys are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,665. U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,665 describes a hypereutectic aluminum- silicon casting alloy having particular use in casting engine blocks for marine engines. The alloy of that patent is composed by weight of 16% to 19% silicon, 0.4% to 0.7% magnesium, less than 0.37% copper, and the balance aluminum. The alloy has a narrow solidification range providing the alloy with excellent castability, and as the copper content is maintained at a minimum, the alloy has improved resistance to salt water corrosion.
It has also been recognized in the metallurgical field that the magnesium content of the aluminum silicon alloy should be maintained below its solubility limit, because there is no heat treatment response benefit in going to a higher magnesium content. Moreover, a higher magnesium content also has an adverse effect on melt handling, as well as producing a decrease in fluidity, which can contribute to making castings with defects.
The solubility limit of magnesium in an aluminum-silicon alloy varies with the chemistry. For example, the solubility limit of magnesium in hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloys that do not have other alloying elements, other than magnesium, is 0.80%. However, the addition of other alloying elements, such as copper. manganese and iron, to the alloy can reduce the solubility limit of magnesium to a value of about 0.70%.
If the magnesium content is above the solubility limit, the compound Mg.sub.2 Si is produced, which results in increased brittleness in the alloy, and it is well recognized that the insoluble Mg.sub.2 Si phase should be avoided. For example, the 9th Edition of The Metals Handbook, Vol. 15, September 1989, p.746, states "The hardening phase Mg.sub.2 Si displays a useful solubility limit corresponding to approximately 0.70% magnesium, beyond which no further strengthening occurs or matrix softening takes place".
Evaporable foam casting is a known technique, in which a pattern is formed of an evaporable polymeric material, such as polystyrene, having a configuration substantially identical to the part to be cast. The pattern is normally coated with a ceramic wash coat, which prevents metal sand reaction and facilitates cleaning of the cast metal part. The pattern containing the wash coat is supported in the mold and surrounded by an unbonded particulate medium, such as sand. When the molten metal contacts the pattern, the foam material in various fractions, melts, vaporizes, and decomposes with the liquid and vapor products of degradation passing into the interstices of the sand, while the molten metal replaces the void created by vaporization of the foam material to thereby form a cast article identical in shape to the pattern. In the evaporable foam casting art, it has generally not been recognized that the molten metal is in direct contact with the liquid foam decomposition products for a significant portion of the process, and therefore, if the molten metal is reactive enough due to its alloy content of reactive elements, the molten metal can react with the liquid foam products and alter the resulting volume fraction of reaction products.
In an evaporable foam casting process, it is desirable to slow the mold filling process by the permeability of the coating on the foam to provide ample time for the elimination of vapors generated by the decomposition of the pattern from the molten alloy. It has been found that when casting large articles, such as engine blocks, a defect commonly referred to as a "liquid styrene defect" can occur with hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys, that are not necessarily found with hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloys. The defect appears as elongated rifts and may extend through the thickness of the casting. It is believed the liquid styrene defect results because the liquid styrene that accumulates on the advancing metal front stays liquid longer than the metal, particularly when two molten metal streams meet in the far reaches of a complex casting and have lost a significant portion of their initial super heat. Even after solidification, the solidified metal continues to transfer heat to the liquid styrene, eventually causing its evaporation and creating a void in the space previously occupied by the liquid styrene. As an engine block is subjected in use to internal pressures, leakage can occur through the defect.
Attempts have been made in the past to eliminate this liquid styrene defect by using coatings of different permeabilities and by increasing the temperature of the molten alloy, but these attempts have not eliminated the defect. It has also been suggested to remove the copper from aluminum alloy 390 (16%-18% silicon, 4.5% copper), to eliminate the bottom half of the solidification range of that alloy and narrow the solidification range, but again, a change in the solidification range has not had an influence in controlling the liquid styrene defect. The use of reactive ingredients in the wash coating has been suggested, but the attempts have not been successful. The paradigm that exists with the evaporable foam casting process is that there is believed to be a vapor gap between the molten metal and the liquid products of foam decomposition, and therefore no chemical reaction is expected between the molten metal, even if it is reactive, and the liquid foam products of decomposition. In essence, it is generally not accepted that the liquid metal and liquid styrene are in direct contact as described above.

Evaporable foam casting system utilizing an aluminum-silicon alloy containing a high magnesium content


An audio encoding method and apparatus for electronic shock protection (ESP) function in an audio player. A method of generating a frame structure for an electronic shock protection function of an audio player, includes: encoding original data of a frame and locating the encoded data in a first area that is a start part of the frame structure; and encoding frame length information indicating a size of the encoded data in the frame, and locating the encoded frame length information in a second area that is an end part of the frame structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an audio player having an electronic shock protection (ESP) function, and more particularly, to an audio encoding method and apparatus by which when encoding audio data read from a compact disc (CD) is performed before storing the data, if a shock occurs, a point for linking valid audio data in a buffer can be accurately found and encoding is performed irrespective of whether the encoding rate of the audio data is a constant bit rate or a variable bit rate.
2. Description of Related Art
Recording media such as a CD and a DVD are widely used to store audio files because of their relatively low prices and large capacities. By using one audio player, a user reproduces an audio file, such as an MP3, WMA, or AAC file, encoded and recorded on a CD. In particular, in the case of a portable audio player or a car CD player, a protection against external shock should be provided for seamless reproduction. For this, usually a mechanical buffer or an external electronic shock protection (ESP) chipset is used. The ESP function is to output clean sound even when there is an external shock, and not to remove noise caused by a scratched or contaminated CD.
A conventional ESP function will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 1A through 1F. As shown in FIG. 1A, if an external shock occurs in a fifth frame, a servo becomes unstable and noise occurs continuously in the fifth, sixth, and seventh frames. As shown in FIG. 1B, until the servo becomes stable, audio data of frames in which noise occurs is stored in a buffer. As shown in FIG. 1C, a pattern unique to a frame in the fourth frame is selected and data after the unique pattern is discarded. As shown in FIG. 1D, the CD is rewound to the start point of the fourth frame and then audio data is read from the fourth frame, and the unique pattern to the fourth frame is found. As shown in FIG. 1E, immediately after the location where the unique pattern of the fourth frame is in the buffer, new audio data beginning from the fifth frame is linked and stored. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1F, noiseless audio data is stored in the buffer and even when a shock occurs, seamless clean sound can be output.
If the conventional ESP function as described above is set in an audio player, in a normal mode in which a shock does not occur, an audio output is generated directly from data read from a CD and provided to the user, and in an abnormal mode in which a shock occurs, an audio output is generated from data provided from the buffer and provided to the user. However, this conventional ESP function cannot perform its function when an external shock lasts for a long while exceeding a shock protection time. In order to extend a shock protection time, audio data read from a CD is encoded before stored. In this case, the shock protection time can vary depending on the size of a buffer and the encoding rate of data.
At present, when audio encoding suggested by MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 is performed, if a constant bit rate is employed, sync information is placed at the start part of each frame, and in case of MPEG-4, if the constant bit rate is not used, frame length information is placed at the start part of each frame. Accordingly, when a shock occurs and valid data is desired to be linked in the buffer, if the encoding rate is a constant bit rate, the length of each frame, that is, an occupying area in the buffer, is constant such that an area storing a frame before the frame in which a shock occurs can be easily found. However, if the encoding rate is a variable bit rate, the length of each frame, that is, the size of an occupying area in the buffer, is different to each other such that an area storing a frame before the frame in which a shock occurs cannot be found only with the frame length information recorded in the start part of each frame in the buffer

Audio encoding method and apparatus for electronic shock protection function in audio player


A toy system comprises a surface (1) provided with position encoding information; and a toy (2, 20) arranged to be movable across the surface (1), said toy (2, 20) comprising at least one sensor (4) for reading said position encoding information, and processing means (3) arranged to process the position encoding information read by the sensor (4) and to determine the position of the toy (2, 20) on said surface (1) on the basis of said position encoding information.

Powered toys with or without actuator driven appendages, lights and/or speech capabilities are well known in the art. Usually they are powered by motors and constructed to resemble figures, animals, vehicles and other common play items.
Typically the operation of the toy is predetermined, with little option for a user to alter its behaviour, so children may quickly become bored with it. Recognising this, toys have been described (e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,697,829, 6,012,961, 6,645,037, and 6,902,461) that can be programmed by a child for autonomous operation. Unfortunately this is a complex process requiring abstract thought to relate the virtual-world program steps with the real-world movements of the toy. This makes them unsuitable for many children, particularly younger ones.
Therefore there is a need for a toy that can be taught new 'moves' and other actions (e.g. arm/head movements, speech, etc.) simply by the child manipulating the toy in the real world and physically showing the toy what the child wants it to do. Such a toy has the advantages of being accessible and operable by even very young children, while also sustaining the child's interest by making their play more varied and more fun.
Such a toy also has advantages in the education of children. One way children learn about the world is by acting out scenarios and implicitly observing the results of their actions through games and other play. Often 'dumb' toys serve as props or actors in these scenarios, which for entertainment the child will often repeat over and over again. Such repetition further facilitates the learning process, allowing more to be discovered with each iteration of the scenario. So a toy which functions as an interactive, animate actor, which can quickly be taught its role in the child's game, and replay its part over and over again, supports and encourages this learning process.
A simple example of such a toy is given by Mr P. A. Frei in U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,842, which describes a rolling toy with motion recording and playback capability. In recording mode the user pushes the device through a path over whatever surface (e.g. the floor) it is placed on, rolling it on two wheels mounted underneath it. Optical encoders monitor the rotation of each wheel and the recording is made by storing these sensed rotations, as a time-sequence, in internal memory.
When the toy is set in playback mode, the onboard processor generates drive signals for the motors coupled to the wheels, to cause the rotation of the wheels (as measured by the sensor) to match the time-sequenced recording of rotations stored in memory. In this way the movement of the toy is reproduced.
Though this approach makes it easy for a child to 'show' a toy what to do, it has three key disadvantages.
Firstly, the positioning method used to determine the path of the toy is not based on an external reference. Because only the rotation of the wheels is monitored, the toy has no way of determining its position relative to its environment or other toys. This prevents the creation of toys that can autonomously interact with their environment or each other.
Because of the above, the position and orientation of the toy, at the start of a recording, cannot be known by the toy. In playback mode the user must ensure that the toy is placed in exactly the same starting position and orientation, or the ending position will not be the same. This can be an onerous task, especially for younger children, and prevents the easy exchange of recordings between users. Even a small angular deviation from the recorded starting orientation can cause a toy moving over a long path to end up significantly off-course at the end of the path. This leads to user disenchantment, particularly if their intention was for two or more such toys to meet or act in concert.
Thirdly, the toy is vulnerable to slippage between the wheels and the surface during recording or playback. Slippage causes the toy to think it has moved a different amount (by reference to the rotation of the wheels) than it actually has (by reference to the surface). These errors accumulate, resulting in a potentially large compounded error by the end of the path, leading to further disenchantment of the user.
Despite the above significant shortcomings, Mr Frei does not suggest any alternative position-sensing method. He does suggest the use of large 10-watt motors, batteries or dead weight to counteract slippage, but this is clearly disadvantageous for: the toy's portability, the effort required by the child to move the toy around in training mode, and the costs associated with manufacturing, shipping and stocking the toy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,955 a home-cleaning robot is described that uses an external reference means for positioning. However, the means described are costly, involving as they do either imaging (e.g. to use a building's ceiling-lights or shadows as navigational markers), or triangulation using radiation emitting beacons. This makes them inherently unsuitable for a toy.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,566 describes how a team of self-propelled slave robots may be controlled by a central-controller using centrally-obtained position-sensing information gathered by a Field Sensor. The relative expense of the means described for this Field Sensor—using a video camera looking down on the toys, or triangulation of radiation emissions—again makes them inherently unsuitable for the toy-market. Furthermore, this invention is entirely about the control of multiple toys by a user, using a central controller. No method is described (or even envisioned) for training the toys how to behave or allowing the toys to act autonomously using that trained behaviour.
For the purposes of the present invention, prior-art in the field of position-sensing using an encoded surface has a number of short-comings, primarily with regard to the cost of implementation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,377 describes how windowing-sequences can be used to acquire, track and recover positions on a single (one-dimensional) coordinate axis using a printed bar-code, sensed by the light reflected from it to a sensor, such as a photo-transistor. A windowing-sequence (a.k.a. deBruijn sequence, m-sequence, pseudo-random sequence) is a sequence in which every sub-sequence of W sequential symbols (W being the window-length), is unique in the overall sequence and thus has a unique location in that sequence. So if each symbol in the sequence represents a coordinate, then the position of a sensor in that coordinate-space can be determined simply by sensing W adjacent symbols.
Printing position-encodings onto a surface and sensing them with a single photo-transistor (or similar) offers a potentially affordable solution for position-sensing in toys, provided it can be extended to two-dimensions and provided the cost of the electronics to sample and digitise the sensor output are sufficiently low.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,147 describes how one-dimensional windowing sequences can be combined to form a two-dimensional array of values that can be encoded in a grid of coloured squares printed on a surface. The squares are sensed with three light sensors, each with a different colour filter, whose output is digitised by an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC). As the squares must be coloured in at least six colours (so that the sensor's movement can be tracked in any direction), the ADC must be reasonably high-resolution to discriminate and digitise the red-green-blue (RGB) colour components of light reflected from the multi-hued squares. These factors make the sensing device and associated electronics costly for a toy. Even more significantly, the method provided can only handle one-reversal (relative to a coordinate-axis) of the sensor, at least until that reversal is resolved, making it poorly suited for free-form play, in which a toys path may be reversed a number of times in rapid succession.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,553,537 and 7,079,112 both describe systems in which the colour or density of printed codes on a surface are used to directly encode coordinate positions. The key drawback here is that there must be the same number of densities or colours used as there are positions encoded. This complicates the printing of the codes and demands a high-resolution ADC capable of discriminating the fine deviations in sensor output caused by deviations in colour or density. Of course, the greater the coordinate space, the worse the problem becomes. Consequently errors in digitisation become more likely, particularly if, as the toy is moved over the surface, there is any deviation in the length of the light-path to the sensor, as this will affect the level of light sensed by the sensor. This may be caused, for example, by flexing in the toy's chassis, as the pressure on the toy of the user's hand varies as it is moved.
Other art, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,686,329, 5,343,031 and 6,032,861, and the many patents awarded to Anoto AB and Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd., use information-rich two-dimensional codes printed on a surface to encode position. These all require a complex array of multiple sensors to decode the codes such as, for example, one or more line-sensor-arrays or a charge-coupled-device (CCD) for two-dimensional imaging. The cost of such sensors and the electronics required to process their signals, make them prohibitive for the current invention.


A deep learning algorithm is used for defect discovery, such as for semiconductor wafers. A care area is inspected with the wafer inspection tool. The deep learning algorithm is used to identify and classify defects in the care area. This can be repeated for remaining care areas, but similar care areas may be skipped to increase throughput.

Evolution of the semiconductor manufacturing industry is placing ever greater demands on yield management and, in particular, on metrology and inspection systems. Critical dimensions continue to shrink. Economics is driving the industry to decrease the time for achieving high-yield, high-value production. Minimizing the total time from detecting a yield problem to fixing it determines the return-on-investment for a semiconductor manufacturer.
Fabricating semiconductor devices, such as logic and memory devices, typically includes processing a semiconductor wafer using a large number of fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that involves transferring a pattern from a reticle to a photoresist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP), etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a single semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Defect discovery, or the discovery of critical defect types, is part of manufacturing semiconductor devices. Finding all critical defect types in the least possible time can improve yield during semiconductor manufacturing, and electron beam inspection is being relied on more frequently for such defect discovery. The faster that defect types are identified in a layer, the sooner that these defects can be fixed. Finding all critical defect types is often referred to as defect discovery. A defect discovery process typically involves an inspection review cycle in which a layer is first inspected using a hot scan, potential defect sites are sampled using various algorithms (e.g., diversity sampling), and then a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image is reviewed to confirm the defect sites. The flow might be repeated in case all defect types are not found by further tuning the inspection recipe.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a previous technique. This conventional method of defect discovery involves using a broadband plasma (BBP) inspection tool to perform a hot scan with various optical modes. Sites are diversity sampled based on BBP attributes to ensure a diverse sample set is obtained. The diverse sample set is then reviewed using an SEM to confirm various defect types.
This previous technique has disadvantages. First, it may take one to two days to find all the defect types using the previous technique. Multiple iterations may be needed to tune the BBP recipe that catches all defects. There is an extremely high nuisance rate in the BBP inspection scan, which can lead to difficulty when performing deskew when a design is not available. BBP has gaps for many defect types such as copper chemical mechanical planarization (CuCMP) bridge or voltage contrast (VC) defects. Optical inspection gap defects also cannot be discovered. There is no real-time intelligence to vary inspection or sampling based on already-identified defect types. The wafer needs to be moved on two different tools and their coordinate systems need to be matched. Inspection scans have a low defect count, leading to higher de-skew time on the SEM tool, which can be upwards of two hours. In the case of missing defect types, the whole inspection flow must be repeated including returning to the BBP recipe, SEM review, and classification.
Therefore, improved defect discovery is needed.

Defect discovery using electron beam inspection and deep learning with real-time intelligence to reduce nuisance


A door latch and in particular a motor vehicle door latch, which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a catch and a pawl, further having at least one locking mechanism sensor to determine the closing/opening state of the locking mechanism, further having a control unit for evaluating signals of the locking mechanism sensors, and having a trigger sensor for opening the locking mechanism in an electro-motoric manner. According to the invention, a multiple operation of the trigger sensor regardless of the state of the locking mechanism sensor is implemented for opening the locking mechanism.

The aforementioned door latch and in particular the motor vehicle door latch is a so-called electric latch. Such electric latches are increasingly used in practice because opening the locking mechanism consisting of a catch and a pawl occurs substantially in an electro-motoric manner, i.e. using an electromotor, if necessary having a downstream gearbox. As a result, such electric latches can be opened particularly easily, comfortably and quietly.
The generic state of the art according to EP 1 350 908 A2 concerns a control system for a motor vehicle door latch. Said latch has at least a sensor and an actuator or electromotor drive. A control logic is provided thereby. In fact, the possibility of operating an inner door handle multiple times with an associated trigger sensor is described, in order to be able to open an associated motor vehicle door. In this case, it is carried out in such a way that different functional states are derived from the multiple operation of the inner handle. First, a type of blocking mechanism is removed before the desired electrical opening is performed in a second operation. This is relatively complex. In addition, a locking mechanism sensor is additionally realized at this point, wherein with its help an incomplete closure of the locking mechanism is detected and displayed, i.e. signals of the locking mechanism sensor are included in the operation.
In another solution according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,318 B2, it switches to a mechanical operation in the event of a failure of the electrical opening mechanism. This requires additional mechanical operation elements including mostly flexible transmission elements, which increases the design and technological effort.
In principle, the state of the art according to EP 1 350 908 A2 has proven itself when it comes to the evaluation of signals of the trigger sensor as well as of those of the locking mechanism sensors. However, depending on the operation of the trigger sensor and its number, a distinction is made between different functional states. In practice, there may be misinterpretations by the control unit, for example, if the trigger sensor is triggered and operated in quick succession or not completely.
Similar problems arise in the event that the locking mechanism sensor does not emit a sensor signal or that it provides an incorrect sensor signal. For example, it is conceivable that the locking mechanism sensor communicates an open locking mechanism to the control unit, even though this does not correspond to the actual conditions. In this case, the operation of the trigger sensor is often ineffective, because the control unit generally suppresses an action upon the electromotor drive when the locking mechanism is open. The invention as a whole wants to remedy this situation.

Door latch, in particular motor vehicle door latch


A data packaging system is programmed to modify or otherwise manage a data stream from a data source prior to transmission to an intended recipient by applying an expressible intent regarding the data stream from the recipient in the form of a recipient signature. A data packager can apply a received recipient signature to modify the data stream based on the contents of the data stream. The modifications to the data stream can include prioritization of portions of the data stream identified as being the portions of interest to the recipient based on the signature. The data packager can then prioritize the transmission of these portions while delaying non-prioritized portions of the data stream.

The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Year after year, the amount of data handled by the world's computer systems grows at a phenomenal rate. While fiber optic networks might be able to send tens of gigabytes of data per second, many networks are far slower and can't transmit data instantaneously from one computer to another. In order to optimize the use of data, it is frequently preferable to prioritize data transfer such that more important data is sent before less important data.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,605 to Hinshaw teaches a system for prioritizing data sent through a network by sending priority information with a database query or by prioritizing the transfer of some data types over other data types. Data retrieved by a query with a high priority are transferred faster than data retrieved by a query with a low priority and prioritized data types are transferred faster than data of other data types. Hinshaw's system, however, groups all data types into a single priority or groups all data in a single request into a single priority.
US 2006/0074961 to Kongalath teaches a method for prioritizing data sent through a network by dividing up a database into sections of high priority data and low priority data. Data retrieved from high priority sections of the database will the transferred faster than data retrieved from low priority sections of the database. Kongalath's method, however, fails to take into consideration how the data might be used by a data gleaner in order to prioritize data sent through the network.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,821 to Yuan teaches a method for prioritizing data sent through a network by providing rules that prioritize streaming data sources over other data sources. Streaming data sources are identified, for example, by analyzing a server or client IP addresses and port numbers and inferring whether the data source is a streaming data source or a lower priority data source (such as email or web page data). Yuan's method, however, also fails to take into consideration how the data might be used by a data gleaner in order to prioritize the data sent through the network.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,154 to Bartfai-Walcott teaches a method of prioritizing data sent through a network by assigning data to a service, and by prioritizing one service over another service. Data requested by a high priority service is sent faster than data requested by a lower priority service. Bartfai-Walcott's method, however, also fails to take into consideration how the data might be used by a data gleaner in order to prioritize the data sent through the network.
Thus, there remains a need for a system and method that prioritizes data transfer prior to injection into a network by taking into consideration how the data might be used by a data gleaner or recipient in order to prioritize the data sent through the network.


A portable hand held device for weighing and measuring the size of a luggage item includes a handle designed to provide support yet comfort with respect to the use of the weighing device and further includes a mechanism which enables recordal of the weight of luggage placed upon a suspension hook of the device.

In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a portable hand held device for measuring the size of and weighing luggage items.
With the advent of numerous restrictions relating to travel, and in particular, the items which a traveler can carry on airlines, it is necessary to not only be cautious about items which are being packed for purposes of travel, but also the size and weight of luggage items. Airline carriers have imposed numerous restrictions which are enforced with increasing rigor. Failure to adhere to such restrictions often leads to additional service charges and other penalties.
As a consequence, most airline check in facilities include apparatus for weighing luggage and measuring luggage. The airline consumer or customer, however, does not have the benefit of necessarily knowing the weight or size of a particular item of luggage prior to arrival at an airport. Thus, the customer or consumer is at somewhat of a disadvantage in efforts to comply with travel restrictions.
In an effort to resolve this difficulty, various devices have been proposed for the purpose of measuring the size of and weighing luggage items. A device for weighing and measuring a luggage item has been available, comprising a mechanism which will allow suspension of the luggage from a hook that is mechanically connected to a read out mechanism or dial indicating the weight of the luggage. A tape measure is also attached to such the device and may be utilized to measure the length, width and height of the various luggage items that are capable of being weighed by the same device.
While such a prior art device has been very useful, difficulties remain associated with such a device. In particular, the prior art device did not include a handle design which would facilitate ease of use. Additionally, such a prior art device required the user of the device to engage in some form of contortion in order to view not only the weight sensed by the device, while at the same time attempting to suspend or hold an item of luggage by means of the hook of the weight measuring device. Thus, the construction of such prior art devices, though useful, does not necessarily meet all the needs of the traveling consumer.

Portable hand held luggage weight and size measurement device


A method for providing network security comprising a step of configuring a remote network to engage network security negotiation with a local network. The method includes a step of configuring a first security policy of a security component within the local network to pass through a network security negotiating communication between the local network and the remote network, and a step of establishing a network security negotiation between the remote network and a security parameter generator via the security component. The security parameter generator can be located within the local network and configured to provide secure communication with the remote network.

Computer network traffic is normally sent unsecured without encryption or strong authentication by a sender and a receiver. This allows the traffic to be intercepted, inspected, modified or redirected. Either the sender or the receiver can falsify their identity. In order to allow private traffic to be sent in a secure manner, a number of security schemes have been proposed and are in use. Some are application dependent, as with a specific program performing password authentication. Others such as (TLS) are designed to provide comprehensive security to whole classes of traffic such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) (i.e., web pages) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP), i.e., files.
Internet Security (IPsec) was developed to address a broader security need. (See Demystifving the IPsec Puzzle, Frankel, S., Artech House (2001)) As the majority of network traffic today is over Internet Protocol (IP), IPsec was designed to provide encryption and authentication services to this type of traffic regardless of the application or the transport protocol. This is done in IPsec tunnel mode by encrypting a data packet (if encryption is required), performing a secure hash (authentication) on the packet, then wrapping the resulting packet in a new IP packet indicating it has been secured using IPsec.
Normally, the shared keys used by IPSec are established one of the two ways: manually or using the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol. In load-balanced or highly redundant networks where traffic can be sent and/or received through multiple paths, there are no single pairs of Policy Enforcement Points (PEP) that can perform negotiation or be selected as the source or destination in the tunnel head as required by IKE. As such, in highly complex mesh networks, for example, where there are a number of networks and endpoints, the number of the policy required on each PEP becomes extremely large and management become more difficult with increasing scale as the number of networks increase.
Therefore, some networks implemented data protection managing technologies to resolve these problems while maintaining the existing IKE/IPSec gateway functionality. An example of this is disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/813,766 filed on Jun. 14, 2006, the entire teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Such a data protection managing technology separates policy management, key generation and distribution from policy enforcement and handles extremely large number of network. This works either for multiple paths in a redundant network or for many networks in a multicast scenario. In addition, the data protection managing technology greatly simplifies policy generation by grouping networks and Policy Enforcement Points (PEPs).
Despite the advantages of data protection, and improved management of key generation and distribution, there are a number of situations where a user may need to interface with a standard IKE device for use in the secure network. In addition to supporting legacy devices, this may be needed to detect Network Address Translation (NAT) between a remote client and a gateway of the secure network. Also, it could be useful in applying IKE for authentication.
Standard IKE, however, is insufficient for distributing keys to multiple PEPs units. IKE works only with point to point connections, with keys installed on each endpoint. Furthermore, standard key distribution using data protection managers does not suffice because it does not provide an interface to standard IKE systems and cannot detect NAT devices.
Therefore, there is a need for a network security technique for creating a secure tunnel between a local network equipped with data protection managing technologies and a remote standard device so that encrypted packets can be exchanged without comprising network security.

Transporting keys between security protocols


A board game comprising: a board having marked thereon a plurality of positions representing features in a real and/or imaginary region of space and with paths between the positions. A number of playing pieces are provided for use by the respective players for movement along the paths in accordance with rules of the game. A randomly operable indicating means, such as dice, determines moves which may be made by the playing pieces. Randomly selectable indicating means, such as cards, are associated with at least some of the positions on the board for determining further factors associated with movement of the playing pieces. means for generating ramdom code and collecting of code by players to win the game.

Priority is claimed to British patent application Ser. No. 9922898.3 filed Sep. 29, 1999.
Not Applicable.
The invention related to a board game.
Entertainment or recreational board games in which a player throws dice or spins a wheel or used some other means for generating a random number which represents moves are well known.
The invention is directed to a board game and to a method for playing a novel board game. The playing surface used for the game is a two-dimensional generally rectangular board having a surface which includes positions representing real and/or imaginary regions in space. Paths are provided between various regions in space. Each player has a game piece which preferably represents a space ship or space shuttle. The player pieces are moved along the paths according to a random indicating means, such as dice, or a spinner, or a programmed random indicator.
Details of the board game are set forth in the following detailed description.


Apparatus for retaining a side edge of a tarpaulin along a side portion of an open-topped box such as a truck box, wherein the tarpaulin includes a rigid rod connected along its side edge. The apparatus includes a bracket for attachment to the side of the box. A clamp arm is pivotally mounted to the bracket for movement about a pivot axis between a closed clamping position for securing the rod and tarpaulin side edge in fixed relation to the clamp arm and side portion of the box and an open position for releasing the rod and tarpaulin side edge. A clamp arm latch is pivotally mounted so that it can be manually shifted between a latched position wherein the clamp arm is secured in the closed position and an unlatched position wherein the clamp arm is free to pivot to the open position.

This invention relates to a tarpaulin cover retention system for use with open-topped boxes such as truck and trailer boxes.
The prior art has provided a wide variety of tarpaulin cover systems for use on open-topped truck and trailer boxes and the like. Certain of these tarpaulin cover systems employ roller devices whereby the tarpaulin may be rolled up and stored when not in use and thereafter unrolled and stretched across the open top of the box and secured in place thereby to protect the contents of the box from the effects of weather and against loss due to air currents encountered during highway transportation.
While several of the previously known systems have enjoyed a measure of success, these systems present some difficulties particularly in the means which they employ for releasably securing a side edge of the tarpaulin along a upper side portion of the open-topped box. Many of these devices are cumbersome and difficult to use, i.e. they do not provide for rapid attachment and detachment of the tarpaulin side edge. Some of the prior art arrangements do not provide the necessary degree of security against unwanted release while others do not provide an adequate seal between the tarpaulin side edge and the top side portion of the box with the result being that there is excess air ingress into the space between the tarpaulin and the material being carried which can result in a loss of materials, particularly when light particulate materials are being transported.