This invention re-encodes encoded data (e.g., PackBits encoded data), which is expressed by a data format of a runlength code part indicating the runlength of the same data and a data part indicating the data, and a runlength code part indicating the runlength of a different data stream and a data part indicating the different data stream, to the same data format without decoding that encoded data, thereby improving a compression ratio. To this end, upon reception of data encoded by a PackBits encoding process, a data division unit separates that data into information indicating the runlength of data, and a data part, and outputs them as num and data. A data processing unit masks a predetermined bit in accordance with an instruction from a monitor unit, and outputs that result to a data combining unit. The data combining unit and a data output unit reconstruct and output data in the PackBits format in accordance with the masked data part and num data.

As one of data compression encoding techniques, PackBits encoding is known. PackBits encoding is one of runlength encoding techniques, and can decode information before encoding without any losses, i.e., it is also lossless encoding.
PackBits encoding will be explained below under the assumption that one data as a unit to be encoded consists of 8 bits (data is, e.g., 8-bit multi-valued pixel data). Also, data before encoding will be referred to as raw data, and a stream of raw data before encoding will be referred to as a raw data stream.
PackBits encoding separates a raw data stream into "continuous parts of the same data" and "continuous parts of different data", and appends "length information" of data to each part. Each "continuous part of the same data" is expressed by a pattern "runlength+data", and each "continuous part of different data" is expressed by a pattern "runlength of different data+different data stream". A data stream generated by this process is output as PackBits encoded data.
Assume that a raw data stream (24 data) expressed by:0,0,0,0,1,2,3,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,5,5,6,7,8,8,9,10,10  (1)is input. Each individual data is expressed by 8 bits (data ranging from 0 to 255).
In this case, this raw data stream is separated into "continuous parts of the same data" and "continuous parts of different data like:                0,0,0,0,        1,2,3,        4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,        5,5,        6,7,        8,8,        9,        10,10"Length information" is appended to each part, and in each "part wherein the same data continuously appear", a data part is compressed to only one data.0,0,0,0,(−4),0,1,2,3,(3),1,2,3,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,(−8),4, 5,5,(−2),5,6,7,(2),6,7,8,8,(−2),89,(1),910,10(−2),10  (3)
In (3), "length information" is put in parentheses. The positive and negative signs of "length information" are attached to discriminate whether the same data or different data continuously appear. That is, the negative sign indicates "continuous parts of the same data" and the positive sign indicates "continuous parts of different data". This "length information" is embedded in a data stream as "length code data" having the same 8-bit width, and the data stream is output. More specifically, the most significant bit MSB of 8 bits of the length code data is handled as a positive/negative sign bit.
Only one data like the value "9", which is present in isolation between continuous data, is defined as "run of one different data". For this reason, a minimum runlength of same data is 2.
The relationship (table) among the length code data, "runlength of data with the same value", and "runlength of data with different values" are as follows (note: "0x" indicates a hexadecimal number).
Runlength of data with thedifferent valueLength code data 10x00 20x01 30x00::1270x7E1280x7F
Runlength of data withsame valuesLength code data 2 (−2) 0xFF 3 (−3) 0xFE::127 (−127)0x82128 (−128)0x81
Therefore, when raw data stream (1) above is PackBits-encoded, an encoded data stream expressed by:FD,00,02,01,02,03,F9,04,FF,5,01,06,07,FF,08,00,09,FF,10  (4)is generated.
As described above, PackBits encoding can express a runlength of the different data from 1 to 128, and a runlength of same data from 2 to 128. Therefore, if the runlength of the same data is 129 or more, a code of a run of 128 data (length code data+data that run) is generated, and for the 129th and subsequent data, a code having that 129th data as a start point is generated. The same applies to a run of different data.
Note that PackBits encoding does not generate 0x80 as "length code data", as shown in the table above. Therefore, this "0x80" is often defined as end-of-list code data indicating the end of an encoded data stream.
In the following description, "length code data" in PackBits encoded data will be expressed by "length information" and a part indicating an actual data value or values output after the length information will be expressed by "data part".
As described above, PackBits encoding can reduce the data size after encoding as the frequency of occurrence of runs of data with the same values increases (to attain a high compression ratio).
In general, upon compressing data, compression encoding is often made while setting a target size like ½ or less (compression ratio of twice or more) or ¼ or less (compression ratio of four times or more) with respect to a raw data size. In case of PackBits encoding, the compression ratio is improved when three or more data run. However, when different data run, the data size increases in correspondence with "length information" appended.
Therefore, when a target data size cannot be attained by PackBits encoding, it cannot be attained unless a change is made to form runs of the same data.
If an arbitrary bit of raw data is fixed to zero, the number of types of values that can be assumed is halved, and the same values become more likely to run inevitably. Hence, upon compressing such data, a high compression ratio is obtained. For example, taking a multi-valued pixel as an object to be compression-encoded, if its LSB is fixed to zero, both pixel values expressed by 2n and 2n+1 (n=0, 1, 2, . . . ) are rounded to "2n". In case of a halftone image, since neighboring pixels have small density and luminance differences, the same values are easily obtained by changing the bit values, as described above. That is, as can be seen from the above description, a high compression ratio can be attained by executing the bit change process. Likewise, when two appropriate bits are fixed to zero, a still higher compression ratio can be attained.
However, in order to execute the aforementioned rounding process for each individual data of a set of original raw data (e.g., of multi-valued image data), processes proportional to the data size are required, and a high processing speed cannot be expected. Also, a memory that stores whole original raw data is required to attain such process.

Encoding method and encoding apparatus, and computer program and computer readable storage medium


A system includes a monitoring management server, a monitoring target server, and one or more monitoring clients. The management server determines monitoring parameters for each client. The monitoring parameters specify at least when a client is to begin a monitoring session with the target server and when the client is to end the session with the target server. The management server determines the monitoring parameters for each client such that a predetermined maximum number of monitoring sessions performed within each time period is never exceeded by the target server. Each client receives monitoring parameters from the management server in response to a request initiated by the client, initiates a monitoring session with the target server in accordance with the monitoring parameters, and reports results of the monitoring session to the management server upon the monitoring session ending.

Network performance has become an important issue with applications migrating to the Internet. Network performance can be generally described as the performance of data communications over a network, such as the latency and throughput of a network connection in accordance with one or more particular protocols. For example, a client may periodically connect with a target server and communicate data with that target server. The communication of this data is measured, for latency, throughput, and other factors, to determine the network performance of the client in relation to the server.
Many types of monitoring are performed by client initiation, instead of server initiation. This is particularly the case where ordinary personal computers (PC's) are employed as the clients. PC's may be behind firewalls, such that monitoring sessions with them cannot be initiated by servers. The PC's may also not be turned on all the time such that monitoring sessions with them cannot be initiated by servers. As a result, the common scenario is one or more clients initiating at various times monitoring sessions with a target server.
However, two particular problems may results in this common scenario. First, the target server may not be able to handle all the incoming monitoring sessions initiated by clients. For example, there may be a large number of clients. If by coincidence a large percentage of these clients all attempt to initiate monitoring sessions with the target server during the same period of time, the target server may become overloaded. The result is that the monitoring sessions are not performed correctly. A limited solution is to turn away some of the clients—i.e., have the target server refuse monitoring sessions initiated by some of the clients—but this can be inconvenient to the users of the clients.
Second, even if the clients know a priori to only initiate monitoring sessions at certain times. However, the clocks of various clients may not be set correctly, such that monitoring sessions are not initiated with the target server at the times expected by the target server. Various protocols, such as the network time protocol (NTP), and the simple network time protocol (SNTP), can be employed to ensure that the clients' clocks are properly synchronized. However, doing so adds complexity to the monitoring process, and can be difficult to have the clients achieve.
For these and other reasons, therefore, there is a need for the present invention.

Management of monitoring sessions between monitoring clients and monitoring target server

International Business Machines Corporation


One or more messages, such as an ad, is selected and played to potential passengers at a shuttle landing, such as an elevator corridor, waiting for a car to respond to a call, the ad being selected to play completely within the time estimated for the car to respond to the call. In an elevator or other shuttle car, one or more ads are selected having a playing time less than the time it takes to reach the next scheduled landing stop. Ads are arranged in groups of ranges of playing times or are selected in series until the time is exhausted, or both. The car load and the identification of the ads (if they are completed) are recorded for billing purposes. Ads are prevented from playing while passengers enter and exit the cars (except for passengers traveling in the opposite direction from those whose call started the playing of an ad). Other criteria such as time of day, day of week, load in the car, and landing (floor) of the system can be used to limit ad selection. A background program may be played when ads are not playing, if desired.

Elevator cars and elevator floor landings provide a unique opportunity to deliver commercial messages to substantially captive consumers. However, advertisers are likely to be reluctant to advertise in a manner in which their entire message is not likely to be delivered, or to be charged for haphazard, partial delivery of messages, rather than only for delivery of complete messages. Due concern for safety will prevent messages from being played while passengers are entering or exiting a car since the distraction of the message could cause a passenger to collide with elements of the elevator, the sill, or other passengers. Good elevator service dictates that passengers should not be attempted to delay exiting or entering a car due to the their interests in a message which is playing. As used herein, "messages" mean dynamic, audible and/or visual messages, but not print or invariant graphics, but may include a constant video image played contemporaneously with accompanying audio.

Timed advertising in elevators and other shuttles


A water treatment apparatus including a housing comprising multiple housing portions and a plurality of treatment sections disposed within the housing, each treatment section comprising at least one distinct particulate layer. The apparatus is designed so that no water pressure need be applied to force the water through the apparatus, as gravity pulls the water down through the filtering layers. Water may also be force fed through the treatment apparatus; when the water is force fed, the housing portions need not be vertically stacked, but may be configured in any suitable arrangement. The treatment sections are distributed through the various housing portions in logical groups to perform various kinds of filtering. The housing portions are detachable and sealably stackable in multiple configurations, thus passing water through more or fewer treatment layers, depending on the quality of the incoming water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-stage water treatment apparatus. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-stage water treatment apparatus for producing potable water.
2. Prior Art
As disclosed in the above referred to co-pending application, a need exists for water treatment systems that remove organic, inorganic, radiological, and microbiological contaminants from water, thereby rendering the water suitable for human consumption. The co-pending application teaches a water treatment apparatus that removes these contaminants by passing the water through a housing comprising two chambers, each of which contains a plurality of layers of treatment materials; these treatment materials include silver impregnated activated carbon, activated carbon, iodine resin, and a mixed bed of cationic and anionic resins. While the water treatment apparatus of the co-pending application is efficacious, further experimentation has revealed that its usefulness may be improved by adding more and different layers of treatment material in different configurations, and by enabling continuous, as well as batch, filtration.
The present invention provides a water treatment apparatus which removes a broad range of contaminants and which may be gravity fed or pressure fed. The water to be treated may be derived from any source, including ponds, lakes, condensation such as that from an air conditioner, etc.
The apparatus hereof, generally, comprises:
(a) a first housing portion comprising:
(i) a top surface, the top surface having a water inlet formed therein;
(ii) a cylindrical sidewall integrally formed with the top surface and depending therefrom;
(iii) a bottom surface integral with the sidewall and extending therefrom, the bottom surface having a recess formed therein, the recess having a plurality of holes formed therein, the holes defining means for providing a long dwell time;
(b) a second housing portion comprising: a cylindrical side wall having an upper edge and terminating at a housing outlet;
(c) means for detachably connecting the first housing portion and the second housing portion such that the recess of the first housing portion is housed within the second housing portion;
(d) at least one treatment section disposed within the first housing portion;
(e) at least one treatment section disposed within the second housing portion;
(f) at least one porous separator disposed in each housing portion, the at least one porous separator removing impurities from water and regulating water flow through each of the treatment sections; and
wherein water flows into the water inlet, through each of the treatment sections in at least one of the housing portions, through the at least one porous separator, and exits at the housing outlet.
The claimed invention presents a water treatment apparatus that removes organic, inorganic, radiological, and microbiological contaminants from water.
In a first sediment hereof, in order to ensure complete treatment of the water fed into the system, the water treatment apparatus includes a plurality of housing portions, ranging from at least two up to about six housing portions, that are sealably, removable connected, the housing portions being separable depending on the quality of the incoming water. Disposed within each housing portion is at least one treatment section. In a two-housing portion array, preferably, a first housing portion includes a xe2x80x9cHalogen Removal and pH Neutralization Sectionxe2x80x9d and a xe2x80x9cMicrobiological Treatment Section,xe2x80x9dand a second housing portion includes an xe2x80x9cIodine Removal Section xe2x80x9d and an xe2x80x9cOrganic, Inorganic, and Radiological Removal Section.xe2x80x9d The first housing portion is separable from the second portion and, depending on the quality of the water to be treated, may be bypassed, thereby passing water through only the second housing portion, if there are few enough contaminants in water entering the system that the treatments of the first and second sections are not needed.
In a six-housing portion array, preferably, a first housing portion includes a xe2x80x9cPretreatment Sectionxe2x80x9d; a second housing portion includes a xe2x80x9cMicrobiological Treatment Sectionxe2x80x9d; a third housing portion includes an xe2x80x9cIodine Dwell Sectionxe2x80x9d; a fourth housing portion includes an xe2x80x9cIodine Removal Sectionxe2x80x9d; a fifth housing portion includes a xe2x80x9cpH Neutralization and Organic Removal Sectionxe2x80x9d; and a sixth housing portion includes an xe2x80x9cInorganic and Radiological Removal Section.xe2x80x9d The housing portions are all separable from each ether and, depending on the quality of the water to be treated, any may be bypassed, thereby passing water through only the remaining housing portions, if there are few enough contaminants in water entering the system that the treatments of various sections are not needed.
The source of water may be a water supply tank which gravity feeds the apparatus hereof. Alternatively, a forcing means such as a pump or a faucet attachment with a flow regulator may be used to force water through the treatment sections. Water is fed into the forcing means by a connection to any source of water, including a condenser of an air conditioner, a vehicle radiator, a natural source such as a lake or pond, brackish water, etc. The forcing means forces water from the water source through the treatment housings, where treatment occurs as described hereinabove.
In a second embodiment hereof, the housing portions are separate and distinct and are interconnected by fluid delivery conduits. In this embodiment, the water to be treated is forced through the system by forcing means, such as a pump, a faucet attachment with a slow regulator, or the like. As in the first embodiment, water is fed into the forcing means by a connection to any source of water, including a condenser of an air conditioner, a vehicle radiator, a natural source such as a lake or pond, brackish water, etc. The forcing means forces water from the water source through the treatment housings, where treatment occurs as described hereinabove.
In each embodiment, water flows into the treatment housing through the housing inlet, passes through the water treatment media, the filtering media, and the water flow control media, eventually passing out of the housing via the housing outlet.
The present invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts in which:


The personal watercraft vehicle (PWC) component multiplex communication system, as described herein, is configured to accommodate the exchange of information between PWC components. The system employs an engine electronic control unit (ECU), a multipurpose ECU, and a cluster ECU. Management and monitoring data collected from the various PWC components are transmitted to the corresponding ECUs, which process and multiplex the data along with control messages into an aggregate serial data stream and supplies the aggregate data stream to a system bus. System bus interconnects each of the ECUs and accommodates the bi-directional transfer of the aggregate multiplexed data stream to the ECUs and may be configured as a 2-wire interconnection. Accordingly, the ECUs receive and de-multiplex the aggregate data stream containing the data and control messages generated by other ECUs. The control message generation, multiplexing, de-multiplexing, and aggregate data stream transmission and reception operations may be performed in accordance with the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol. As such, PWC component multiplex communication system facilitates the exchange of data between PWC components without relying on cumbersome conventional wiring harnesses and networks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to personal watercraft vehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel multiplex communication system capable of exchanging information between components of a personal watercraft vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art and General Background
In an effort to improve reliability and increase operator comfort and safety, personal watercraft (PWCs) vehicles, much like their land and air counterparts, have recently included electronic systems to assist watercraft operations as well as to control and monitor key watercraft components. For example, PWCs may employ electronic mechanisms, such as, sensors, gauges, and controllers, to furnish trekking information, such as watercraft velocity, air and water temperature, travel distance, and directional/navigation data. PWCs may additionally employ such mechanisms to operational information, such as, indicate fuel, oil, and battery levels, engine speed, engine temperature, and engine status.
Generally, these electronic mechanisms are electrically coupled to specific PWC components, requiring dedicated communication paths or links therebetween. Such dedicated links are typically achieved by implementing a network of wired interconnections between the mechanisms and components. Naturally, the more features incorporated in PWCs, the more sophisticated the electronic systems, and the more complicated and cumbersome the wiring networks. In some cases, the wiring networks are configured as wiring harnesses, comprising bundled wires and cables, and conventional methods for configuring, installing, and maintaining wiring networks may prove to be difficult and cost-prohibitive.
Moreover, the drawbacks of conventional wiring networks are exacerbated by the fact that PWCs suffer from strict space limitations. By design, PWCs contain hydrodynamic profiles and contours that subject wiring harnesses to cramped spaces, odd angles, and complex routing configurations, which may require the bending, curving, and twisting of the harness and, hence, compromise the integrity of the harness""s bundled wires. Consider, for example, the cross-sectional side view of a PWC 100, as depicted in FIG. 1. PWC 100 includes an instrumentation panel or cluster 104, facing towards the operator as he or she is seated in a straddle-type seat 101, in order to display information to the operator. Such information may include display trekking and operational information, such as watercraft velocity, air and water temperature, battery levels, engine speed, engine temperature, and engine status. Cluster 104 is coupled to various electronic mechanisms via a conventional wiring harness 106. In particular, conventional wiring harness 106 comprises a plurality of wires connecting cluster 104 to the electronic mechanisms coupled to the PWC 100 components that furnish the desired information.
Cluster 104 may be mounted on a cluster mounting portion 108 on the bow portion 110 of the PWC 100 deck. The cluster mounting portion 108 may have a substantially slanted and streamlined profile from its aft end 108A to its fore end 108B. As illustrated in FIG. 1, such a profile limits the space available to route a large conventional wiring harnesses 106 that provides connectivity between cluster 104 and various PWC 100 components.
Furthermore, PWC 100 may include a bow storage compartment 112 used for storing items. Storage compartment 112 may be disposed in bow portion 110 of PWC 100, underneath mounting portion 108. In this configuration, mounting portion 108 may be hingedly-attached, via a hinge 109, to bow portion 110 and serve as a hood or lid to storage compartment 112. Mounting portion 108 may, therefore, be selectively opened or closed to provide entry into, or conceal, storage compartment 112. Such opening and closing of mounting portion 108 may, over time, compromise the integrity of the bundled wires within conventional wiring harness 106.
It will be appreciated that wiring networks are also susceptible to the harsh conditions typically experienced by PWCs 100. Wiring networks have to be protected from external influences, such as, moisture, rapid temperature fluctuations, salt, dirt, vibrations, and mechanical impacts. Given the strict space limitations noted above, it may be difficult to ensure the protection of conventional wiring networks from these external influences.
It will also be appreciated that conventional wiring networks limit the number of modifications and upgradeable options available on PWCs. Simple changes to cluster 104 displays, for example, may require identifying associated cables, untangling wiring harnesses, installing new cables, and test/troubleshooting new connections. The performance and expense of such tasks generally discourage PWC modifications.
Systems and methods consistent with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, provide for a multiplex communication system capable of exchanging information between components of a personal watercraft vehicle.
In one embodiment, the multiplex communication system includes an engine electronic control unit electrically coupled to a plurality of watercraft engine sensors in which the watercraft engine sensors are operatively coupled to the watercraft engine and generate watercraft engine-related data and the engine electronic control unit is configured to process the engine-related data. The system also includes a multipurpose electronic control unit electrically coupled to a plurality of watercraft operation sensors in which the watercraft operation sensors are operatively coupled to a plurality of watercraft components and generate watercraft operational data and the multipurpose electronic control unit is configured to process the operational data. The system further includes a cluster electronic control unit coupled to a cluster display apparatus in which the cluster display apparatus is configured to display the engine-related and operational data. The system also provides for a system bus configured to operatively interconnect the engine electronic control unit, the multipurpose electronic control unit, and the cluster electronic control unit and arranged to support the transmission of said engine-related and operational data. Each of the electronic control units communicate with each other and exchange data via the system bus.
Additional aspects of the present invention include providing the electronic control units with processing mechanisms and associated memory devices, wherein the processing performed by the electronic control units include computation of performance parameters, control message generation, and multiplexing/de-multiplexing and transmission/reception operations in accordance with the Controller Area Network transmission protocol.
Other aspects of the present invention include configuring the system bus as a 2-wire circuit and incorporating a terminating connector at one end of the bus to terminate the 2-wire bus circuit and incorporating a terminating resistor within the engine electronic control unit disposed at the opposite end of the 2-wire bus circuit to terminate the circuit. In addition, the interconnection of the electronic control units is achieved by arranging the system bus in a T configuration, such that the multipurpose electronic control unit is implemented as a bridge connecting the engine electronic control unit at one end of the system bus and the terminating connector at the opposite end of the system bus. The cluster electronic control unit is connected to the multipurpose electronic control unit between the engine electronic control unit and the terminating connector.

Personal watercraft vehicle component multiplex communication system


A semiconductor device and a mobile terminal are described herein. In one example, a semiconductor device is provided that includes: a power-source part; an interface part; a logic part; and a driving part. In the semiconductor device, the power-source part includes a power-source-cutoff-detection circuit operable to detect a first state in which supply of an external power source is cut off. The logic part includes: a data-cutoff-detection circuit operable to detect a second state in which supply of stream data accompanied by synchronizing signals from outside the semiconductor device is cut off undesirably; and a control circuit operable to perform control for having the driving part cope with the power source cutoff with the power-source-cutoff-detection circuit detecting the first state or the data-cutoff-detection circuit detecting the second state.

The present invention relates to a control technique for taking a measure against an undesired power source cutoff in a semiconductor device or a mobile terminal, which is useful in application to e.g., a liquid crystal display driver.
In the event of cutoff of an action power source of a driving type semiconductor device such as a liquid crystal driver, it is necessary to initialize or stabilize the driving state of the semiconductor device directed toward the outside. For instance, a liquid crystal display driver executes a response process for coping with the cutoff of an action power source by causing pixels of a liquid crystal panel to release their own electric charges forming information, or comparable means; and the response process is intended to avoid undesired charges remaining on the pixels of the liquid crystal panel after the power source cutoff and leaving a residual image or a display speckle on the panel. As the requirement for starting the response process, the detection of a voltage reduction of a driving power source (VDD2) for driving a liquid crystal panel as described in e.g., the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2011-170349 may be used. The process in response to the power source cutoff like that is controlled by a logic circuit working on a so-called logic voltage lower than a drive voltage. Further, in JP-A-2014-010231, an attempt to start the response process on detection of a voltage reduction of a logic power source is made in consideration of the fact that even if the attempt to start the response process is made based on a voltage reduction of a driving power source, the response process cannot be completed owing to the lowering of the logic power source in the middle of or before the voltage reduction of the driving power source. Still further, in JP-A-2014-202792, an attempt to start the response process is made in any of the event of a voltage reduction of the driving power source and the event of a voltage reduction of a logic power source. The means disclosed by JP-A-2014-202792 is arranged so that in the response process started owing to a voltage reduction of the logic power source, the voltage of the driving power source is lowered and used for the action power source of the logic circuit.
As described above, the patent documents JP-A-2011-170349, JP-A-2014-010231 and JP-A-2014-202792 have been considered prior to the invention hereof.

Semiconductor device and mobile terminal


A safety brake light for high profile vehicle including a plurality of lights. Two of the lights are secured on opposing sides of a trailer of a high profile vehicle at a level consistent with eye level of passenger vehicles and positioning two of the lights on opposing sides of the high profile vehicle at a level consistent with eye level of trucks and buses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safety brake light for high profile vehicle and more particularly pertains to providing additional warnings that a vehicle is signaling or stopping with a safety brake light for high profile vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of brake light attachments is known in the prior art. More specifically, brake light attachments heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of providing additional brake lights are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,471 to Lippert discloses a brake light attachment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,216 to Klaiber et al. discloses a brake light device for motor vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,823 to Hopkins et al. discloses a brake and turn signal adaptor for trailers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,938 to Bondzeit discloses a universal trailer lighting adapter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,453 to Bryant discloses a dual directional and brake light control for trailers.
U.S. Pat. No. Design. 345,023 to Janasiak discloses the ornamental design for a front end mounted vehicle brake light.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a safety brake light for high profile vehicle for providing additional warnings that a vehicle is signaling or stopping.
In this respect, the safety brake light for high profile vehicle according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing additional warnings that a vehicle is signaling or stopping.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved safety brake light for high profile vehicle which can be used for providing additional warnings that a vehicle is signaling or stopping. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Safety brake light for high profile vehicle


A feminine hygiene sanitary towel with fastening tabs arranged asymmetrically along the longitudinal edge of a sanitary towel, the adherent part of which is the inner part for the user of this towel and which is an integral part of the towel and a production process for sanitary products fitted with these lateral flaps, which consists of confining the absorbent pad made of cellulose pulp or of a sanitary towel composite, between a film of polyethylene and a layer of non-woven fabric or a film of micro-perforated polyethylene which is impermeable to liquids towards the outside, of sealing the two layers by sizing or heat-sealing, of cutting, along the strip, the material formed previously, constituted by the pad and the two protective layers of impermeable film to a wavy ribbon in the form of a garland, placing this garland on a single-sided siliconized paper, the inner side of which has been coated beforehand in a continuous or discontinuous manner with a glue, and placing a second single-sided siliconized paper, the inner side of which has been coated beforehand with one or more blocks of glue, on the lateral flaps which have been folded over the inner surface.

The present invention relates to the field of hygiene and more particularly to that of feminine hygiene.
A particular subject of the invention is moveable fastening tabs or wings placed on the outer surface of sanitary towels and arranged asymmetrically along the longitudinal edge of the sanitary towel.
In fact, it is known from European Patent Application 0,134,086 (PROCTER & GAMBLE), from European Patent Application 0,267,059 (BEGHIN-SAY) or also from International Patent Application WO 89/02729 that it is possible to provide, during the cutting of the outer lining of sanitary towels, lateral flaps of semi-circular or quadratic shape designed so as to form after use, by folding around the sanitary towel, itself folded, a disposable sealed package. According to European Patent Application 0,267,059, the presence of lateral wings or flaps in the area of the biconcave zone of the inner surface of the sanitary towel provides, in addition, improved lateral impermeability as well as excellent comfort.
In this Patent Application, the lateral wings or flaps contain, in addition, one or more layers, joined together, improving the lateral impermeability. The fixing of these wings is provided by the cutting method because they are an integral part of the towel.
It was however desirable to find a fastening device which provides a surface for fixing on the under-garment which is larger than that presented by the current devices with lateral flaps and at the same time, which guarantees surface eveness and therefore lateral impermeability without having recourse to complex industrial methods.
The example with asymmetrical wings defined in French Patent Application 92.10052 in the name of the Applicant already provides an initial solution.
The purpose of the device according to the invention is to obtain this desired new result.


Tool for giving remote indications, typically both a change in fluid pressure and a televised image, to check whether a device is in a desired position. The invention is particularly useful for checking whether a component, such as a pipe hanger, has been properly landed in an underwater well installation.

In completing underwater oil and gas wells of the type in which multiple strings of tubing are suspended from a single tubing hanger, it is necessary to orient the tubing hanger to a known rotational position, then land the hanger while preserving its specific rotational orientation since, if the multiple string tubing hanger does not occupy a known rotational position, it becomes impossible to mate the multiple flow passages of later-installed components, such as the production upper body, with the respective flow passages of the tubing hanger. Much work has been done in the prior art to provide for orientation of the tubing hanger or like component, as seen for example in copending application Ser. No. 36,659, filed May 7, 1979, by Michael L. Wilson. However, the uncertainties involved in remote installation of well systems, particularly in deep water, are such that it has been found desirable to check the position of the landed tubing hanger, or other components, to make certain that the position is precisely the position intended. Such a check must be accomplished remotely, by operations carried out at the surface of the body of water, and no completely satisfactory tool for this purpose has heretofore been provided.

Tool for remotely determining the position of a device in an underwater well assembly


The present disclosure encompasses three-dimensional articles comprising flexible composite materials and methods of manufacturing said three-dimensional articles. More particularly, the present system relates to methods for manufacturing seamless three dimensional-shaped articles usable for such finished products as airbags/inflatable structures, bags, shoes, and similar three-dimensional products. A preferred manufacturing process combines composite molding methods with specific precursor materials to form flexible fiber-reinforced continuous shaped articles.

In regards to fabric-related products, there has been continued difficulty in optimizing various combinations of properties such as weight, rigidity, penetrability, waterproof-ability, breathability, color, mold-ability, cost, customizability, flexibility, package-ability, and the like, especially with regard to fabric-related products such as clothing and shoes, camping and hiking goods, comfortable armor, protective inflatables, and the like.
For example, current market trends see the expansion of automotive airbag technology into many new applications including aircraft, bus, and train/high speed rail systems, and for personal head and neck support in sporting, motorcycle, motorsports, or military applications. This same technology has applications in emergency and other commercial floatation systems, emergency floatation vests and gear, avalanche protection, oil & chemical spill control, bladder dams, water bladder reservoirs for outdoor applications, backpacks, bivies (i.e., bivouac, meaning a small tent or shelter), and storage systems in general.
Trends in airbag technology put a premium on development of very lightweight, thin, high strength, multidirectional reinforced, pressure tight envelopes that are impact and puncture resistant. Controlled compliance and deformation can be used to absorb shock and manage impact impulse. Automotive applications for side curtain, in-seat and lap belt protection need to be very lightweight, packable into the smallest possible volume, and have the ability to be formed into the most advantageous 3D shape for optimal deployment and protection. The often complex 3D shapes must be strong, exhibit high burst pressure, impact and puncture resistance, and must inflate to their predetermined shape without bursting or failing at any seam/attachment. They generally need to have a high degree of pressure integrity and impermeability because of limited volumes of stored pressure inflation media. This is especially critical because many systems have operational requirements that the bags stay inflated 7-10 minutes after impact and/or deployment, and for some applications, it may be desirable for the bag to stay inflated much longer. An example of this is helicopter airbag crash systems where the initial deployment cushions the impact of the helicopter, but in water it is desirable to have the bags remain inflated to provide floatation to prevent sinking of the helicopter.
Another similar application where post-inflation pressure and reusability is beneficial is in aircraft airbags for over-water use. Airbags are desirable for crash protection in commercial airliners but weight and storage volume are at a premium for these applications. Airliners are already required to carry floatation devices onboard for emergency-over-water use, so if the function of crash protection for landing impact can be combined with secondary floatation applications, the utility of such systems is enhanced. This technology is equally applicable to the emergency egress slides of commercial aircraft and also to the over water non-crash airbag emergency egress and floatation systems.
For at least these reasons, development of new cost-effective fabric-related articles, having reduced weight and required structural performance, and new systems and methods of manufacturing fabric-related articles, would be a great benefit.

Systems and method for producing three-dimensional articles from flexible composite materials


A solid tire and wheel assembly for vehicle moving through a tubular conduit having excellent abrasion resistance particularly excellent uneven wear resistance is produced by forming a composition layer composed of (a) a diene elastomer, (b) .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, (c) a divalent metal compound and (d) an organic peroxide on the outer circumferential surface of the metal rim of the wheel and curing said layer by heating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid tire and wheel assembly for vehicle moving through a tubular conduit which is propelled by pressured air flow.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, when the abrasion resistance is demanded in the field as the solid tire and wheel assembly for vehicle moving through a tubular conduit wherein the carrying load is large, the diameter of wheel is small and the drive feeling is sacrificed, solid tires made of urethane rubber have been used. However, the use of urethane rubber has the problems in the high cost of the starting materials and in the uneven wear, so that the development of novel materials having a high abrasion resistance, which can substitute for urethane rubber has been demanded.

Solid tire and wheel assembly for vehicle moving through a tubular conduit


An interior system for an automotive vehicle comprises interior elements, actuators for the interior elements, and sensors. When a vehicle collision data reveals a vehicle collision, a passenger's behavior is estimated in response to passenger data and first vehicle data collected, and a second vehicle data stored. A characteristic value of each interior element is computed in a manner to minimize an impact to a passenger in accordance with the passenger's behavior estimated. Then, the actuators are controlled in response to the characteristic value computed.

The present invention relates generally to an interior system for an automotive vehicle and, more particularly, to a passenger restraint system for the use upon vehicle collision.
Various types of interior systems for an automotive vehicle have been proposed in past years. One of such interior systems is described, for example, in Manual of Automotive Engineering, 7th version, .sctn. 15, pp. 1-128 to 1-134, published by Jidosha Gijutsu Kai. Referring to FIG. 14, this interior system includes, as interior elements, a three-point seat belt arrangement which has a retractor 103 fixed to a center pillar 101 of a vehicle body at the lower portion thereof, a shoulder anchor 107 fixed to the center pillar 101 at the upper portion thereof, an outer anchor 111 fixed to the center pillar 101 at the lower portion thereof, and an inner anchor 113 having a buckle 115. A webbing 105 as drawn from the retractor 103, which passes through the shoulder anchor 107, then a through ring of a tang 109, is connected to the outer anchor 111. A passenger restraint is achieved by insertedly engaging the tang 109 accompanied by the webbing 105 with the buckle 115 of the inner anchor 113.
When developing the automotive vehicle, a vehicle collision test is generally performed to improve the passenger restraint performance. In this test, the vehicle, in which a dummy is seated on a seat and bound by a restraint device such as a seat belt, is made to collide so as to determine a behavior of each part of a passenger, G waveforms of a head, a chest, etc. thereof, and a load of a thigh, etc. thereof. Based on a result of the vehicle collision test, it is examined whether specifications of the vehicle are excellent in passenger restraint performance.
Additionally, a passenger's behavior simulation computation is performed so as to assist such vehicle development based on the collision test. In this computation, the passenger's behavior, and a G waveform and a load of each portion of the vehicle are dynamically calculated by using a microcomputer.
In that event, the microcomputer receives various data: geometric data such as a passenger's constitution, etc.; passenger data such as a passenger's seating posture, etc.; material characteristic data such as a shape, a load-displacement characteristic, etc. of passenger restraint devices and interlots as being in contact with the passenger such as a seat belt arrangement, an air bag, a knee bolster, a floor panel, and a dash board; and collision data such as a vehicle collision speed, a G waveform of vehicle body crush, etc.
With such known interior system for an automotive vehicle, the passenger's behavior simulation compute and the vehicle collision test have taken place so as to obtain a single valid solution to average passenger conditions such as a height, a weight, and a seating posture, and general collision conditions such as a collision speed, and a G waveform of vehicle body crush, thus determining specifications such as a position of each anchor of the seat belt arrangement, and a load-displacement characteristic of the webbing. Accordingly, the known interior system had its limit to provide an optimal passenger restraint performance for every passenger in spite of sufficient passenger restraint.

Shock absorbing interior system for vehicle passengers


A method of enhanced data compression rate for a CD player includes the steps of determining whether a skip is detected and setting a timer to a predetermined skip time-out period if a skip is detected. The method also includes the steps of determining whether another skip is detected during the skip time-out period, storing data from a compact disc at a predetermined compressed rate into a buffer memory if another skip is detected, and playing data at a playing rate from the buffer memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to compact disc players and, more specifically, to a method of enhanced data compression rate for a compact disc player.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recorded media is now generally available in a newer format of a digitally encoded optical disc. An audio disc is commonly referred to as a compact disc (CD). Similarly, a player of a compact disc is referred to as a CD player. The CD player reproduces an audio signal from the digital data stored on the CD as is known in the art. Multi-disc CD players are capable of storing a plurality of CDs for selection and playback. The increasing popularity of CD players in recent years has expanded their use as an audio component on a vehicle, and in particular, a motor vehicle.
A disadvantage of a CD player is its susceptibility to shock. A shock or vibration can cause an optical pick-up in the CD player to skip over some of the data encoded on the CD, resulting in a transient interruption of the audio signal. For example, a motor vehicle experiences a wide range of driving conditions, including bumpy roads. The resulting vibration of the motor vehicle from a bump in the road can cause the CD player to skip. In the past, mechanical dampers have been added to the CD player to reduce its susceptibility to shock. Another technique is to first retrieve the data from the CD at a faster rate than normal and store it in a buffer memory. The position of the data is checked within the buffer memory to detect a skip and the skip is masked out. The data is retrieved out of the buffer memory at a typical play rate. While these methods have worked well in the past for occasional shocks or vibrations, they are not as effective, if road conditions are poor, since buffer memory space is limited and an overflow can occur. Thus, there is a need in the art for a method of enhanced data compression rate to improve audio CD performance under degraded road conditions.

Method of enhanced data compression rate for a CD player


A method is proposed for measuring thickness and detecting double and missing sheets during the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, such as a sheet-fed printing machine. A corresponding monitoring apparatus has one or more sensing elements above or beneath the sheet stream. The sensing element can be displaced, with an actuating device having an actuating drive, in the direction towards and away from the sheet stream. The actuating drive has at least one piezoelectric actuator or it is formed by the latter.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine (e.g., a sheet-fed printing machine), in particular overlapping sheet feed. The monitoring apparatus has at least one sensing element which is disposed above or beneath the sheet stream and, by means of an actuating device having an actuating drive, can be displaced in the direction of the sheet stream and in the opposite direction. The invention further relates to a method of monitoring the sheet stream structure or the sheet stream during its transport into a sheet-processing machine, wherein at least one sensing element can be displaced in the direction of a back-pressure element, over which the overlapping sheet stream or the sheet stream having individual sheets is guided.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,433 (European patent EP 0 242 622 B1) describes a monitoring apparatus of the type mentioned here which has a sensing roller which is arranged above a feeder table and can be displaced in the direction of the feeder table with the aid of an electric stepping motor. Coupled to the sensing roller is a sensor which always transmits a signal to a control device when at least two sheets overlap each other. It has been shown that the monitoring apparatus can be used only to a limited extent and, in the cases wherein dynamic and very precise displacement of the sensing roller is required, cannot be used, among other things because of the relatively sluggish stepping motor.
The object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring apparatus which overcomes the above-noted deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this general kind, and to provide a method of monitoring the sheet stream wherein high functional reliability can be ensured.
With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a monitoring apparatus for the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine wherein a stream of sheets travel in a given sheet stream direction, comprising:
at least one sensing element disposed adjacent (i.e., above and/or underneath) the sheet stream;
an actuating device connected to the sensing element and configured to selectively displace the sensing element towards and away from the sheet stream, the actuating device having an actuating drive for displacing the sensing element, the actuating drive including at least one piezoelectric actuator (i.e., it is has or is formed by the piezoelectric actuator).
In other words, the apparatus has one or more sensing elements which is/are arranged above or beneath a sheet stream and can be moved in the direction of the sheet stream and away from the sheet stream by means of an actuating drive. The monitoring apparatus is distinguished by the fact that the actuating drive has at least one piezoelectric actuator or is formed by the latter. With the aid of the piezoelectric actuator, dynamic, that is to say very fast and precise, displacement of the sensing element is possible, which may be necessary in specific monitoring operations.
In a particularly advantageous exemplary embodiment of the monitoring apparatus, the piezoelectric actuator is constructed as described in German patent DE 196 46 511 C1 of the company marco Systemanalyse und Entwicklung GmbH. The disclosure content with regard to the construction and the function of the piezoelectric actuator of the German patent is herewith incorporated by reference. The piezoelectric actuator has a basic element which has a stack structure built up from ceramic lamellae layers.
By means of appropriate electrical driving of the piezoelectric actuator the latter can be pivoted or tilted about an axis lying at the area center of gravity of the basic element, so that the sensing element, directly or with the interposition of a transmission mechanism, can be displaced in the direction of the sheet stream or, respectively, of a support over which the sheet stream is transported, and in the opposite direction.
Further advantageous exemplary embodiments of the monitoring apparatus emerge from the dependent claims.
With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of monitoring a sheet stream structure or a sheet stream being transferred into a sheet-processing machine, which comprises:
transporting a stream of sheets across a back-pressure element and towards a sheet-processing machine;
displacing at least one sensing element in a direction towards the back-pressure element over which the stream of sheets is guided in the form of an overlapping sheet stream or a sheet stream having individual sheets;
detecting, with the sensing element set against the sheet stream, the sheet stream as it is transferred into the sheet-processing machine; and
thereby displacing the sensing element with respect to the sheet stream in dependence on an instantaneous sheet stream thickness such that a pressing force with which the sensing element is pressed against the sheet stream is maintained within a predefined range.
In other words, in order to monitor the sheet stream structure or the sheet stream during its transport into a sheet-processing machine, at least one sensing element can be displaced in the direction of a back-pressure element, over which the overlapping sheet stream or the sheet stream having individual sheets is guided, that is to say transported. The method is distinguished by the fact that the sensing element is set against the sheet stream, that is to say pressed on with a defined force, and detects the sheet as it is transferred into the machine, for example a sheet-fed printing machine. During the monitoring of the sheet stream, the sensing element is always displaced with respect to the sheet stream as a function of the respective instantaneous sheet stream thickness in such a way that the pressing force with which the sensing element is pressed against the sheet stream is kept at a predefinable value or within a predefinable value range. By means of a suitable sensor system, the travel is determined by which the sensing element is displaced with respect to the preferably stationary back-pressure element, for example formed by a feeder table. In this way, the thickness of the sheet stream can be determined or measured very exactly, so that double and missing sheets can readily be detected, which, for example, leads to the output of a fault signal. In addition, by means of the change in the distance of the sensing element with respect to the back-pressure element, including the respective instantaneous machine speed, premature, delayed and skewed sheets can also be detected. The method is distinguished by high accuracy and, in addition, exhibits high functional reliability. Moreover, it is particularly advantageous that, because of the pressing force of the sensing element on the back-pressure element being kept constant, the measuring conditions are constant, irrespective of the respective sheet stream thickness. Automation of the sheet thickness measurement or the sheet stream thickness measurement and/or the sheet stream monitoring is therefore readily possible.
In an advantageous exemplary embodiment of the method, provision is made for the pressing force of the sensing element against the sheet stream to be monitored and, in the event of the pressing force falling above or below a limiting value, for a fault signal to be triggered which, for example, leads to a visual display of a fault or directly to the machine being stopped.
According to another design variant, the distance between the sensing element and the back-pressure element is monitored by the relative movement of the sensing element with respect to the back-pressure element being measured/monitored in order to set a constant pressing force, it being possible here, too, for a fault signal to be output as soon as the distance between the sensing element and the back-pressure element falls above a specific upper limiting value or below a specific lower limiting value. This means that if, for example, a double sheet occurs within the sheet stream, so that at this point the thickness of the sheet stream is impermissibly increased, the sensing element will be moved so far away from the back-pressure element, with the aid of a suitable, preferably dynamic, actuating drive, that the pressing pressure of the sensing element against the sheet stream remains at a constant value. In this case, however, if the sensing element is moved beyond a maximum permissible distance from the back-pressure element, a desirable message is provided in the form of a signal.
There is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of monitoring a sheet stream structure or a sheet stream being transferred into a sheet-processing machine, which comprises:
transporting a stream of sheets across a back-pressure element and towards a sheet-processing machine;
displacing at least one sensing element in a direction towards the back-pressure element over which the stream of sheets is guided in the form of an overlapping sheet stream or a sheet stream having individual sheets;
detecting a sheet stream structure with the sensing element in contact at a start of the sheet transfer;
determining a height profile of the sheet stream from information obtained in the sheet stream detecting step;
setting the sensing element away from the sheet stream and, during a further transfer of the sheet stream, continuously displacing the sensing element in the direction of the sheet stream and in the opposite direction such that a clear spacing between the sensing element and the sheet stream is substantially constant; and
if a fault in the sheet stream is detected, outputting a fault message.
In other words, in order to monitor the sheet stream structure or the sheet stream during its transfer into a sheet-processing machine, provision is made firstly for the structure of the overlapping sheet stream or the sheet stream having individual sheets to be detected, that is to say it is determined how the sheet stream thickness changes. To this end, in a preferred embodiment, at the start of the sheet transfer, firstly the sensing element is set against the back-pressure element, that is to say brought into contact and pressed on with a defined force, in order for example to set the zero point and to determine the machine oscillations. The sheet stream is then transported into the nip formed between the back-pressure element and the sensing element, so that the sensing element is then pressed against the sheet stream with a preferably defined, in particular constant, force. Detection of the sheet stream with contact by the sensing element therefore takes place. From the information determined by the sheet stream detection, with the aid of a suitable device, for example a control and regulating device, the contour height profile of the sheet stream is determined. The sheet stream height profile is determined by the different thickness of the sheet stream, which may be overlapping and or have individual sheets arranged at a distance from one another. After the height profile has been determined, the sensing element is set away from the sheet stream, that is to say spaced apart from the sheet stream, and during the further transfer of the sheet stream, is always displaced in the direction of the sheet stream and in the opposite direction, that is to say away from the sheet stream, in such a way that the clear spacing between the sensing element and the sheet stream is constant or substantially constant. The sensing element therefore travels over the sheet stream structure without contact, the displacement movement of the sensing element for setting the constant spacing of the sensing element from the sheet stream being carried out as a function of the machine speed.
The clear spacing between the sensing element and the sheet stream is so small that, if there is a double sheet in the sheet stream, contact occurs between the double sheet and sensing element. This xe2x80x9ccollisionxe2x80x9d can be determined in various ways, for example by determining the force exerted by the double sheet in the event of contact between the latter and the sensing element. After the double sheet has been detected, constituting a fault in the sheet stream, a fault message is output, which, for example, leads directly to the machine being stopped. Further faults in the sheet stream are premature and delayed sheets, which therefore arrive too early or too late at the sensing element, counter to the idealized sheet stream determined by the height profile, and are therefore detected as premature or delayed sheets on the basis of the time of their contact with the sensing element, which can readily be monitored by means of a suitable device. Using this method of monitoring the sheet stream, although no missing or skewed sheets can be detected, this method has the advantage that on account of the essentially non-contacting detection of the sheet streamxe2x80x94except at the beginning of the sheet stream transportxe2x80x94marking of the sheets can be ruled out. The method can therefore be particularly advantageously used in the case of very sensitive sheets.
In a preferred embodiment of the method, the sensing element is displaced in an oscillatory manner as a function of the machine speed, in order to monitor the sheet stream without contact for double or multiple sheets. To this end, the sensing element arranged above or below the sheet stream is moved linearly or along a circular path section.
In order to be able to ensure a constant spacing between the sensing element and the top of the sheet stream continually, one advantageous exemplary embodiment, wherein the sheet stream has individual sheets spaced apart from another, provides for the sensing element, in a first end position defined by the height profile of a fault-free sheet stream, to dip into every clearance which is formed between a preceding sheet and a sheet following immediately, that is to say it is moved in. If the sheet stream is not fault-free and, for example, has a premature, delayed or skewed sheet, the sensing element is pressed against the sheet stream, which can be determined by means of a sensor system, for example.
In another exemplary embodiment, wherein the sheet stream is overlapped, that is to say at least two sheets partially overlap one another, the sensing element, in a first end position defined by the height profile of the fault-free sheet stream, is moved into every depression in the top of the sheet stream, between the trailing edge of a preceding sheet and the trailing edge of a following sheet. In the case of a double or multiple sheet, the sensing element makes contact with the sheet stream, which leads to a fault indication.
It remains to be recorded that, in the case of this method according to the invention, there is always contact between the sensing element and the sheet stream only when the clear spacing, determined with the aid of the determined height profile of the sheet stream, between the sensing elements located in its first end position and the back-pressure element or the sheet stream is reduced impermissibly on account of a double/multiple sheet or the like.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a monitoring apparatus for the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, and method of monitoring the sheet stream structure/the sheet stream, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Monitoring apparatus for the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, and method of monitoring the sheet stream structure/the sheet stream


An inexpensive, disposable device for collecting a mid-stream urine specimen from a female donor which device can be used by the donor herself without professional help. The device comprises a container having two chambers, one for collecting and discarding the initial, unwanted portion of the urine flow and the other chamber for collecting and retaining the later, cleaner, portion of the urine flow. A pivoted "paddle" valve comprising two conjoined paddles is disposed between the chambers and--controlled by the flow of urine, itself--directs the first, contaminated, portion of the urine to the discard chamber and directs the remainder of the flow to the specimen chamber. Initially, one of the paddles covers and seals the specimen chamber to prevent urine from entering that chamber. The other paddle is suspended over the opening of the discard chamber. As the flow of urine begins, the paddle suspended over the discard chamber in the path of the flow of urine is pushed downward by the force of the leading flow of urine. The downward motion of the discard paddle causes the valve to turn like a paddle wheel. As the valve rotates, the paddle initially disposed over and covering the specimen chamber opens that chamber and continues rotating until it intersects and is stopped by the wall of the discard chamber. Thus, the paddle which initially closed the specimen chamber turns and closes the opening to the discard chamber and at the same time redirects the flow of urine into the specimen chamber. In short, the initial flow of urine striking the paddle over the discard chamber is collected in the discard chamber. At the same time this initial flow turns the valve, opening the specimen chamber and closing the discard chamber thereby directing the subsequent cleaner urine flow to the specimen chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to urine specimen collecting means and more particularly to an inexpensive, simple-to-use, disposable device for collecting the mid-stream portion of urine from a female donor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Urine analysis is a simple and useful tool in diagnosing urinary tract infections which are more common in women. The usefulness of urine analysis for the detection and identification of these infections is lessened by the difficulty in obtaining a specimen which has not been contaminated by the bacteria on, and secretions from, the tissues past which the urine flows before being collected. As urination begins, the flow tends to be weaker. This weaker flow contacts more tissue area and picks up and carries with it more secretions and bacteria. The later, mid-stream flow, exits the body faster and with more force and is therefore fleer of contaminating bacteria and secretions. In addition, the initial, slower, flow serves to "clean" the tissues past which it flows, further causing the mid-stream flow to be less contaminated. Thus, in collecting urine specimens for purposes of diagnosis, it is more advantageous to collect mid-stream urine which is fleer of contaminating bacteria and secretions.
The simplest method for collecting a mid-stream urine specimen is to allow the urine flow to begin, wait a period of time and insert a collecting container into the path of the urine flow. Since it is difficult to stop the flow after it has begun, it is also difficult to catch the mid-stream sample without soiling the hands and the outside of the container. In addition, the individual, herself, must make a judgment as to the correct point at which to place the collector into the flow, thereby introducing anxiety and risk of contamination from errors in judgment by someone who is very likely to be unfamiliar with the procedure. Other means for separating and collecting the mid-stream flow include devices having separate chambers for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,503 whereby the contents of one chamber overflow to a second chamber when a specified volume is attained. In a different arrangement (U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,090), the mouth of a collection bottle protrudes into a larger container. The first portion of the urine is collected in the larger container. When the level of the urine reaches the mouth of the bottle, the urine enters the bottle. These prior art arrangements do not actually provide for the separation of the initial-stream and mid-stream flows. Thus, a portion of the initial flow may be mixed, perhaps because of turbulence, with the mid-stream flow as the level of the urine reaches an overflow level as described in the prior art or as in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,090 cited above, reaches the mouth of the collection jar.
The patent literature also describes devices, in other context, which employ valve-like devices in urine collection embodiments. The primary purpose of those valves is to prevent spillage after the urine is collected and prior to its being destroyed. For example, U.S. Pat Nos. 3,356,218 and 4,457,314 disclose valve-like devices in two different types of urine collectors. The valve in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,314 is described as an "anti-back flow mechanism" employed primarily to prevent spillage of the contents. Other U.S. patents that disclose one-way type valves for the purpose of preventing spillage include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,928,875; 4,095,124; 4,586,041 and 4,734,154.
Another class of valve urine collectors involve those designed to collect mid-stream urine samples. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,581 discloses a mid-stream urine collection device which describes, in FIG. 7 thereof, a mechanism in which a floating cork closes a valve after an initial sample of urine has been obtained so that the remaining specimen to be collected will be from the mid-stream.


The invention relates to a method for producing lipid-based nanoparticles using a dual asymmetrical centrifuge, products produced by means of said method, kits for producing said nanoparticles using a dual asymmetrical centrifuge, and accessories for carrying out the inventive method.

Lipid-based nanoparticles such as, e.g., liposomes, nano- and microemulsions, SLN (solid lipid nanoparticles), nanocapsules, nanospheres and lipoplexes are important auxiliaries for a multitude of technical processes and medical applications.
Liposomes are spherical entities consisting of lipides. In aqueous solutions liposomes are formed by a self-aggregation of said lipides with the formation of a lipid double layer, said lipid double layer enclosing an aqueous interior space.
Depending on physical parameters such as mechanical effects, pressure, temperature and the ion concentration and the present lipides and auxiliaries, unilamellar, oligolamellar or multilamellar liposomes are formed. Depending on the components thereof, said liposomes may carry a positive or negative excess charge.
Liposomes may also be loaded with substances which, depending on the lipophilia or hydrophilicity thereof, are predominantly enclosed in the lipid layer or predominantly enclosed in the aqueous interior of the liposomes. Such liposomes are used in diagnostic detection processes, as therapeutic agents for transporting active substances within the organism or as an active substance depot. In addition, said liposomes may also be used in the biological and biomedical research and in plant protection (e.g., for the transport of substances into cells). Also a use in cosmetics is possible.
The properties of liposomes such as, e.g., the stability or storability thereof, essentially depend on the substances existing in the lipid layer.
For the manufacturing of liposomes, membrane-forming lipids such as, e.g., phosphatidylcholine, phsophatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin, cationic lipides such as, e.g., DOTAP, DC-Chol, DOTMA, Inter alia, membrane-forming amphiphiles such as, e.g., block polymers, alkyl esters, alkyl ethers, alkyl amides of sugars, diols and polyols, amines, amino acids, peptides and sugars and cholesterol and other substances are used.
For the manufacturing of empty or substance-loaded liposomes being as uniform as possible various processes are known. These processes have been reviewed by Lasch et al. in a concise manner (Lasch, J. et al, Preparation of Liposomes; in "Liposomes—a practical approach", Torchilin, V. P. and Weissig, V., Ed., 2nd edition (2003)).
Many manufacturing processes start from so-called "hand-shaken vesicles" which may be formed by a simple rehydration of a lipid film and a subsequent shaking (In most cases in a flask). In most cases, said liposomes are very non-uniform with respect to the size and the lamellarity thereof. The liposome size may be standardized (usually reduced in size) and the lamellarity of said liposomes may be reduced using processes such as extrusion, the freeze-thaw method or ultrasonication:
Extrusion processes use an extruder and usually enable the manufacturing of only small amounts (manual extrusion) (Macdonald, R. E. et al., BBA 1061:297-303 (1991)). The manufacturing of large amounts involves high expenditures in equipment (pump, membranes etc.) and a cumbersome processing. Moreover, only low-viscosity media can be extruded resulting in a low inclusion efficiency. Due to the open manipulation of media, the preparation of sterile samples is cumbersome, and with radioactive substances there is a danger of a contamination of the environment. Moreover, prior to extrusion and hydration lipid mixtures have to be produced by a common dissolution and a subsequent evaporation.
Although injection processes and detergent processes are possible in industrial scale, the removal of solvents and detergents is problematic. High lipid concentrations cannot be obtained in a simple way, and the excess of aqueous media allows only low inclusion efficiencies to be achieved with hydrophilic substances.
Also freeze-thaw steps may standardize the size of non-uniform, often multilamellar liposomes and lower the lamellarity thereof. In most cases, an increased inclusion efficiency for water-soluble substances arises.
With the above-mentioned processes in particular the low enclosing efficiency for hydrophilic substances is a problem inherent in the system. The reason for this is that said processes can be carried out with only low lipid amounts and consequently the formed liposomes can enclose only a low portion of the aqueous total volume. Consequently, only low amounts of hydrophilic substances dissolved in the aqueous phase will be enclosed.
The enclosing efficiency may be increased, e.g., by a liposome manufacturing using high-pressure homogenization since considerably larger lipid amounts may be used in this case. As a result, a so-called liposome gel having a very high lipid content is obtained, wherein the aqueous outer volume approximately corresponds with the aqueous inner volume with respect to the order of magnitude. Then, the content of the enclosed hydrophilic active substance is correspondingly high. Another advantage is the possibility to manufacture high formulation amounts which is easily achieved using high-pressure homogenization. Moreover, the high pressure homogenization is advantageous in that it produces especially small vesicles which are especially interesting in the medial field, e.g., for a tumour targeting using the so-called EPR effect (enhanced permeability and retention). This effect is based on the vascular permeability of blood vessels in tumours which is strongly increased in most cases. Due to the leakiness of the vessels, small particles such as, e.g., liposomes (in particular if they are very small) may leave the vascular bed and enrich in the tumour (Yuan, F. et al., Cancer Res. 54:3352-3356 (1994)).
The economically especially advantageous properties of high-pressure homogenization (small vesicles, high enclosure efficiency, high sample amounts) is connected with a number of drawbacks:
The manufacturing of sterile materials absolutely essential for the use in humans and animals is problematic. Although a sterile manufacturing is possible, it is cumbersome since the necessary high-pressure homogenization has to be performed under clean-room conditions or the material has to be autoclaved subsequently. Moreover, autoclaving vesicular phospholipid gels (VPG) containing active substances often poses problems with the stability of active substances and/or lipides (Moog, R. et al., Int. J. Pharm. 206:43-53 (2000)).
With the use of high-pressure homogenization it is especially difficult to produce small sample amounts required, e.g., in medical or molecular-biological laboratories (if only a small sample amount is available, if radioactive substances are used etc.) or in the screening of a very large number of different lipid formulations (e.g., in the field of preformulation).
Moreover, the homogenization step heavily strains the sample which is critical with expensive and sensitive substances such as, e.g. biological materials (DNA, siRNA, antibodies, peptides, proteins) or with sensitive low-molecular substances such as, e.g., antioxidants, lipids containing specific highly unsaturated fatty acids, cytostatics (alkylating agents etc.).
The equipment required for high-pressure homogenization is expensive, bulky and unacceptable for many (in particular medical/molecular-biological) laboratories. Since each composition change requires the machine to be cleaned, the sample throughput is low; a screening of different mixtures is practically impossible and can be automated only with difficulties (e.g., in the field of preformulations).
Moreover, an outstanding technological know-how is required, not least to limit the danger for the environment resulting from the use of hazardous substances (e.g., radioactive substances or cytostatics).
The problems encountered in the manufacturing of liposomes have already resulted in the use of liposome gels for cosmetic purposes, said gels being formed only by a rehydration of a lipid mixture with a standardization of the vesicles being totally dispensed with (DE 10255285). Such formulations are not suitable for use in pharmacy, biomedicine and medicine and at least critical for use in cosmetics due to a low reproducibility of the vesicle composition.
SLN are nanoparticles having a size of from about 50 to 1000 nm. A review of SLN is given in Pharmazeutische Technologie. Moderne Arzneiformen. R. H. Müller und G. E. Hildebrand, Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 1998. Contrary to emulsions, the matrix material consists of solid lipides. Here, physiological lipides (e.g., corresponding triglycerides) or lipides from physiological components (e.g., glycerides from endogenic fatty acids) are predominantly used. It is supposed that this achieves a good in vivo compatibility (Weyhers, H. et al., Proc. 1st world meeting APV/APGI, Budapest, 489-490 (1995)). However, the matrix material is not restricted to physiological lipids, also waxes and non-physiological triglycerides being conceivable.
To date, SLN have been manufactured by high-pressure homogenization of water-dispersed lipides in molten or solid states (hot or cold homogenization, see Müller, R. H., Pharm. Ind. 49; 423-427 (1997); EP 0 605 497; Schwarz, C. et al., J. Controlled Rel. 30:83-96 (1994); Müller R. H. et al., Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 41:62-69 (1995)). This manufacturing technique by high-pressure homogenization is characterized in that the SLN size is very homogenous and, moreover, the amount of microparticles is very low. However, as in the manufacturing of liposomes, the expenditure for said high-pressure homogenization is very high.
Another type of lipid-based nanoparticles are droplets in emulsions, with submicron emulsions (SME) being meant here, that is, O/W emulsions having droplet/particle sizes below 1 μm (Benita, S. et al., J. Pharm. Sci. 82: 1069-1079 (1993)). So-called nanoemulsions having droplet sizes of from 50 to 1000 nm cannot be limited therefrom.
Said emulsions have been used in the parenteral feeding for a long time (Lucks, J. S. et al., Krankenhauspharmazie 15:51-57 (1994)), however, they may also be used as excipient. A review covering SME is found in Pharmazeutische Technologie: Moderne Arzneiformen. R. H. Müller und G. E. Hildebrand, Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 1998.
Among the SME manufacturing processes used today, the high-pressure homogenization (using piston gap homogenizers or a microfluidizer technique) is the leading technique. In the laboratory or pilot plant scale, also ultrasonic homogenization is used mainly because high-pressure homogenization is too tedious.
WO 02/09677 describes the manufacturing of a dispersion comprising a O/W or W/O emulsion and an active substance sparingly soluble in oil and water (amphotericine B). Said dispersion may contain an amount of the active substance exceeding the amount obtained by adding the maximum solubility in water or oil. However, homogenization is high-energetically, that is, by high-pressure homogenization accompanied by the above-mentioned drawbacks. Said process has also been described as the so-called SolEmuls technology (Müller, R. H. et al., Int. 3. Pharm. 269:293-302 (2004)). Here, by using high-energy high pressure homogenization sparingly soluble active substances such as carbamazepin, itraconazoles or amphotericine B are incorporated into emulsions by co-homogenization which results in a strong increase in particular of the dissolution speed but also has the above-mentioned drawbacks of a high pressure homogenization.
Hence, the problem addressed by the invention was to provide a process for the manufacturing of lipid-based nanoparticles kept as simple as possible, said process being milder and safer than high pressure homogenization, suited for screening and enabling the manufacturing of nanoparticles also and in particular in the laboratory scale.

Manufacture of lipid-based nanoparticles using a dual asymmetric centrifuge


A device for connecting a longitudinal support to a bone anchor having a rounded head includes a body defining a chamber for receiving the rounded head of the bone anchor and a first channel for receiving the longitudinal support. Further, a first sleeve is slidable over the body for compressing the chamber, a second sleeve is slidable over the body for biasing the longitudinal support against the first sleeve, and a fastener is operatively associated with the body for biasing the second sleeve toward the first sleeve. The forces exerted on the second sleeve by the fastener are transferred to the first sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. Preferably, the longitudinal support contacts the first sleeve at first and second contact points or zones and one of the sleeves includes at least one extended portion for contacting the other sleeve at at least one additional contact point or zone.

The present invention relates to spinal fixation systems and, in particular, to a device for connecting a longitudinal support to a bone anchor.
Several devices for connecting pedicle screws to longitudinal supports for purposes of vertebral fixation are known in the art. These devices offer the advantage that the individual pedicle screws can be affixed to and removed from the longitudinal support at any time without requiring disassembly of the entire fixation system. In addition, the locked relationship between the head of the pedicle screw and the connection device can be maintained while adjusting the position of the connection device relative to the longitudinal support.
One such connection device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,834 to Errico et al. The Errico patent discloses a coupling element that provides a simple connection between a pedicle screw and a longitudinal support rod while maintaining considerable angular freedom between the two components. Essentially, the coupling element consists of a generally cylindrical body defining an interior chamber for receiving a head of a screw at its lower portion and an external thread on its upper portion. Slots are formed in the external surface of the lower portion so that the interior chamber may resiliently expand to receive the screw head. The intermediate portion of the cylindrical body includes a side receiving channel for receiving the longitudinal support. A locking collar and a securing sleeve both slide over the cylindrical body and a locking nut is threaded on the external thread of the cylindrical body. The longitudinal support may be inserted through the side receiving channel between the locking collar and the securing sleeve. To lock the coupling element, the locking nut is tightened to provide a downward force on the securing sleeve, longitudinal support rod, and ultimately the locking collar, which compresses the interior chamber and thereby locks the position of the screw.
One disadvantage of the coupling element disclosed in the Errico patent is that the cylindrical body is bent upward when the locking nut is being tightened because of the geometry of the side receiving channel. Consequently, the tightening force applied to the longitudinal support is insufficient and the cylindrical body may elastically deform or the locking collar may warp because of uneven pressure distributed on it. When the cylindrical body bends upward, the longitudinal support tends to slip out of the side receiving channel and consequently the securing sleeve bends up too. This problem can only be solved by fitting the locking collar with a guide groove for partially receiving the longitudinal support. This groove, however, requires aligning the locking collar during assembly and creates a risk of assembly errors. Moreover, with regard to pressing the locking collar over the lower portion of the cylindrical body to lock the ball-head of the bone screw, there is a risk of warping the lower portion if the surfaces of the lower portion and the locking collar have imprecisely matching surfaces. Also, the geometry of the lower portion may change during tightening of the tightening nut and adversely affect the locking relationship between the coupling element and the ball-head of the screw.
It is therefore desirable to provide a device for connecting a longitudinal support to a bone anchor that distributes locking forces over the device and longitudinal support in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the locking collar, prevents warping of the cylindrical body and the locking collar, and prevents the longitudinal support from bending upward and slipping out of the side receiving channel.
The present invention is directed to a device for connecting a longitudinal support to a bone anchor having a rounded head. According to one embodiment, the device includes a body defining a chamber for receiving the rounded head of the bone anchor and a first channel for receiving the longitudinal support. Further, a first sleeve is slidable over the body for compressing the chamber, a second sleeve is slidable over the body for biasing the longitudinal support against the first sleeve at first and second contact points or zones, and a fastener is operatively associated with the body for biasing the second sleeve toward the first sleeve. One of the sleeves includes at least one extended portion for contacting the other sleeve at at least one additional contact point or zone such that forces exerted on the second sleeve by the fastener are transferred to the first sleeve through the at least three contact points or zones. The contact points or zones may be radially displaced about a central axis of the body such that a resultant force exerted by the first sleeve and the longitudinal support on the second sleeve is applied substantially at the central axis.
According to another embodiment, the portion of the body defining the chamber has an outer surface with a convex cross-section. For example, the portion of the body may have a substantially spherical outer surface. Contact between an inner wall of the first sleeve and the outer surface may be along a substantially circular contact zone.
According to yet another embodiment, the body defines an annular recess, and the first sleeve includes a protrusion received in the annular recess. The protrusion limits sliding of the first sleeve on the body such that the chamber cannot expand sufficiently to allow the rounded head of the bone anchor to be removed from the chamber.

Device for connecting a longitudinal support to a bone anchor


A composition comprising a coprecipitated magnesia-lanthana-alumina (MgO--La.sub.2 O.sub.3 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) wherein the MgO component is present as microcrystalline phase, having a BET (N.sub.2) surface area of at least 130 m.sup.2 /g, preferably combined with a catalytic oxidation and/or reducing promoter metal such as ceria, vanadia and/or titania.

The present invention relates to compositions which are used to control sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) operations, and more particularly to SOx gettering compositions that are capable of capturing SOx during the oxidative regeneration of FCC catalysts, and releasing sulfur as H.sub.2 S in the reducing atmosphere of the catalytic cracking reaction zone.
Compositions which have been used to control SOx emissions typically comprise magnesia, alumina and rare earth oxides.
In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,267, U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,304 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,305 disclose SOx control compositions which contain magnesia-alumina spinel supports in combination with rare-earths such as ceria and lanthana, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,993 discloses the preparation of magnesium aluminate (MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4) and magnesia-alumina composites that are combined with a rare earth and used as sulfur oxide absorbent in FCC processes.
While prior compositions have been successfully used to control the SOx emissions from FCC units, the industry requires compositions that are efficient for both the pick-up of SOx in the catalyst composition during regeneration, and the release as H.sub.2 S in the cracking reaction.
In addition, SOx control agents which are used in the form of separate particulate additives must have hardness and attrition properties that enable the additive to remain in a circulating FCC catalyst inventory.


When mutual authentication is effected between an IC card and a host device, key data and random number data transmitted from the host device are immediately subjected to the encrypting process without storing the same into a RAM of the IC card, and only authentication data obtained as the result of the encrypting process is stored. As a result, the memory area in the RAM can be saved and effectively used.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for effecting mutual authentication between a portable type electronic device such as an IC card having an IC (integrated circuit) chip enclosed therein and a host device or terminal device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to effect the mutual authentication between the IC card and host device, first authentication data and first key data stored in the IC card are transferred to the host device and stored therein, second authentication data and second key data stored in the host device are transferred to the IC card and stored therein, and the second and first authentication data are encrypted by use of second and first key data, and supplied back to the host device and the IC card, respectively, for authentication.
As described before, in the mutual authentication system with the above construction, memory areas for holding four different types of data, that is, first authentication data and first key data to be transferred to the host device and second authentication data and second key data transferred from the host device must be provided in, for example, a RAM of a CPU in the IC card. Likewise, memory areas for holding four different types of data must be provided in a CPU in the host device.


Highly chlorinated pyridines are prepared by reacting 2,6-dichloropyridine with chlorine at temperatures of from about 150.degree. to about 300.degree. C. in the presence of an aluminum, iron or silica oxide catalyst and under sufficient pressure to maintain the 2,6-dichloropyridine reactant as a liquid.

The present invention concerns the preparation of chlorinated pyridine derivatives.
The chlorinated pyridine derivatives of the present invention are known compounds having been previously prepared by a number of processes. These compounds, namely 2,3,5,6-tetrachloropyridine and pentachloropyridine, have uses such as herbicides, pesticides, etc., and are also employed as chemical intermediates in the preparation of other highly desired herbicide or pesticide products. Previous methods for preparing such compounds include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,100 and the prior art noted therein wherein pentachloropyridine and 2,3,5,6-tetrachloropyridine have been prepared by chlorination of liquid 2,6-dichloropyridine at temperatures of at least about 180.degree. C. and in the presence of a metallic halide catalyst.

Preparation of highly chlorinated pyridines