An apparatus for stretching and tensioning of a weft thread including a nozzle (6) for producing an air flow directed substantially transversely to a weft direction for deflecting a weft thread with respect to the weft direction; and a reception channel (8) for reception of a deflected weft thread, which is arranged at a distance from the nozzle with the nozzle (6) having at least one nozzle hole (14) and with the nozzle (6) being adjustably arranged in the weft direction relation to the reception channel (8).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for the stretching and tensioning of a weft thread for an air jet loom in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 and to a loom with such an apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In DE-A-32 00 637 an air jet loom is described having a weft thread monitor and a clamping apparatus for the stretching and holding taut of a weft thread up to beat-up. This apparatus has a body with a half open recess the one boundary surface of which has an air entry opening and the other boundary surface of which has an air outlet opening. The two openings lie opposite to one another and are connected to an air supply line and/or to an air suction line respectively so that an air flow can be produced in the recess transverse to the weft direction. Through this air flow the end section of a weft thread to be inserted is engaged after flying through the thread monitor and deflected into the air suction line. It has proved to be a disadvantage of these devices that only a directed air jet is provided for the thread deflection.
The invention is based on the object of improving the stretching and tensioning of a weft thread.

Device for stretching and tensioning a weft yarn


The present invention relates to glasses of high refractive index having the following composition of oxides, expressed in percentages by weight:. SiO.sub.2 27-36 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-9 Li.sub.2 O 1-5 Na.sub.2 O 1-7 K.sub.2 O 0-7 CaO 0-7 BaO 4-13 ZnO 0-8 La.sub.2 O.sub.3 4-15 PbO 4-27 TiO.sub.2 7-18 ZrO.sub.2 0-9 Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 0-8 with: Li.sub.2 O + Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O 6-15 SiO.sub.2 + TiO.sub.2 + ZrO.sub.2 42-55 PbO + TiO.sub.2 + ZrO.sub.2 + Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 29-40;. their use for the production of segments for multifocal corrective lenses; and multifocal corrective lenses incorporating at least one such segment in their structure.

A multifocal lens is constituted of a principal lens in glass and of several segments in glass which are fused onto it. These segments have a higher refractive index than that of the principal lens; this enables obtaining areas of higher corrective power. Said segment(s) is (are) normally soldered onto the principal lens during a heat treatment bringing the whole of the glasses to a temperature close to the softening point of the glass constituting the principal lens. Consequently, the segment glasses must have characteristics of viscosity close to those of the glass of the principal lens. It must also have close thermal dilation characteristics, so that the resulting soldering has a very low strain level.
The objective of the present invention was to obtain glasses of refractive index between 1.70 and 1.78, fusible particularly to an ophthalmic glass manufactured by the Applicant Company (Corning S. A. ), of index 1.6, of Abbe number 41 and which has the following physical characteristics:
thermal dilation coefficient: 100.times.10.sup.-7 K.sup.-1 (between 25 and 300.degree. C.), PA1 softening point: 610.degree. C., PA1 strain point: 460.degree. C., PA1 annealing point: 490.degree. C. PA1 high refractive index: 1.70.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.1.78; PA1 thermal dilation coefficient: between 90 and 110.times.10.sup.-7 K.sup.-1 (between 25 and 300.degree. C.); PA1 softening point: between about 570 and 620.degree. C. PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,651 (HOYA) describing glasses having the following composition of oxides expressed in percentages by weight: PA1 the Japanese patent JP-A-61 146730 (NIPPON KOGAKU KK) describing glasses having the following composition of oxides, expressed in molar percentages: PA1 for the US patent, glasses having a refractive index of 1.73 to 1.78. The dilation and viscosity of said glasses are not specified. These glasses have contents in PbO and, in TiO.sub.2 and in alkalis, respectively much higher and much lower than those of the glasses of the invention; PA1 for the JP patents, glasses having refractive indices and softening points close to those of the glasses of the invention. The thermal dilation coefficients of said glasses are not specified. The composition ranges of said glasses are very different to that claimed here: the glasses in particular contain neither any PbO, nor any TiO.sub.2. PA1 thermal dilation coefficient: 100.times.10.sup.-7 K.sup.-1 (between 25 and 300.degree. C.); PA1 softening point: 610.degree. C.; PA1 refractive index: 1.6.
Said glass of the Applicant Company bears the Code-name 8008. It was described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,672.
It has been determined that, in order to be fusible to said glass Code-named 8008, the glasses of the invention must have a thermal dilation coefficient between about 90 and 110.times.10.sup.-7 K.sup.-1 and a softening point between about 570 and 620.degree. C.
The technical problem to be solved within the context of the present invention has therefore been that of providing glasses having the specifications below:

High refractive index glasses, multifocal corrective lenses containing same


A powder composition for preparing aqueous coating agents, characterised in that it contains

This application is a 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7371 of PCT/EP99/08505 filed on Nov. 5, 1999, which claims benefit of German Application Ser. No. 198 61 030.0, filed Nov. 10, 1998.
The invention provides a powder composition which is suitable, as an aqueous dispersion, for coating metal, wood and plastics substrates, in particular also steel and concrete substrates.
A number of coating compositions which can be used as aqueous dispersions for coating the substrates mentioned above is known.
According to EP-A 384 506, an aqueous coating composition is used which contains 15 to 55 wt. % of melamine resin in addition to polyols and fillers and also optionally urea resins and a polyacrylate dispersion, wherein the individual components are blended with each other with stirring and water is added. A water-dilutable acid is used as hardening component. The coating agent is used to coat wood substrates, mainly for finish-films and continuous edges.
Similar compositions, which may also contain OH group-containing polyesters, are described, for example, in EP-A 541 635 and DE-A 40 01 672. According to EP-A 279 441, a melamine resin dispersed in an aqueous medium is e.g. a constituent of an aqueous coating composition, in amounts of 5to 50 wt. %.
Substrates in the furniture and sheeting industry, including e.g. paper films, are substantially used as substrates.
The coating compositions mentioned are intended to provide resistance to water, specifically to moisture in internal rooms. In particular coatings for external use, however, may deteriorate under the effects of water and thus are not weather-resistant.
Other properties, such as stability under the effects of heat following application of the coating composition, in particular on wood substrates, but also on steel and concrete substrates, are not guaranteed.
Aqueous coating materials are conventionally prepared by slurrying or finely distributing the individual components in water. Stability problems or problems during processing of the aqueous coating materials may occur in the event of long storage times and/or in the event of large variations in ambient temperature during storage.
The object of the invention is, therefore, to find a coating composition which does not have stability or processing problems during long-term storage, in particular does not have frost-resistance problems, and which can be processed without great expense to give aqueous coating materials. In addition the coatings produced should have an increased resistance to the effects of moisture and also protect the substrates from rapid heating up and ignition under the effects of heat.
The object is achieved by a powder composition for preparing aqueous coating agents which contains
A) 15 to 30 wt. % of one or more melamine resins,
B) 3 to 30 wt. % of one or more polyhydric alcohols,
C) 10 to 50 wt. % of one or more phosphates and/or polyphosphates and
D) 3 to 30 wt. % of one or more chloroparaffins and/or melamine and/or melamine derivatives and/or dicyanodiamide.
In addition, additional additives such as, for example, wetting agents, emulsifiers, thixotropic agents, coloured pigments, fillers and agents for controlling the reaction may be present.
One or more melamine resins is used as component A according to the invention, as binder. Melamine resins are condensation products such as are obtainable by known processes by reacting an aldehyde, in particular formaldehyde, with, for example, benzoguanamine or melamine. They may be entirely or partly etherified with alkanols which contain 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Melamine/formaldehyde reaction products are preferred. Hexamethoxymethylmelamine resins, for example the commercial products with the tradenames CYMEL 300, 301, 303, are particularly suitable.
The melamine resins are used in an amount of 15 to 30 wt. %, preferably more than 15 wt. %, particularly preferably 15 to 20 wt. %, in the powder composition according to the invention.
Water-insoluble polyhydric alcohols are preferably used as component B. These may be polyhydric alcohols such as, for example, polyhydric, branched symmetric and asymmetric alcohols, for example pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol. In addition, carbohydrates such as oligosaccharides, in particular higher oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, may also be used. Examples of these types of carbohydrates are cellulose and starch.
Pentaerythritol and dipentaerythritol are preferably used.
According to the invention, the phosphates and/or polyphosphates which may be used as component C, and which can react in particular with component B, are, for example, ammonium polyphosphates.
Water-soluble phosphates, for example ammonium phosphate, may also be used up to an amount of 10 wt. % to 50 wt. %, with respect to the powder composition.
Ammonium polyphosphate is preferably used.
According to the invention, chloroparaffins, melamine and/or melamine derivatives, e.g., melamine phosphate, melamine cyanurate, and dicyanodiamide are used as component D. They are used to form non-inflammable gases under the effects of heat. The use of melamine and melamine derivatives is particularly preferred.
Further binders may also optionally be present in the powder composition according to the invention in an amount of up to 15 wt. %, with respect to the composition. These may be, for example, further cross-linking resins such as acrylate resins, alkyd resins, acetate resins. Furthermore, dispersion powders such as vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl acetate/vinyl ester copolymers, styrene acrylates, polyacrylates and styrobutadiene may be used. These are also used, inter alia, to improve the adhesion properties and the flexibility.
Optionally, liquid components A-D may also be used, in addition to powdered components A-D, provided they can be converted into the powder form by spray-drying prior to their use in the powder composition.
The powder composition according to the invention may optionally also contain expandable graphite, which expands under the effects of heat. This can be present, for example, in amounts of 0 wt. % to 5wt. %, with respect to the powder composition.
Further added substances such as additives are also possible, in addition to the components A-D mentioned. These may be wetting agents, for example Calgon, emulsifiers, plasticisers, thixotropic agents, for example silica, coloured pigments, for example titanium dioxide, film-forming auxiliary substances, defoamers, stabilisers, dedusting agents and other conventional additives.
Liquid additive components may be converted into the corresponding powder form by spray-drying.
A combination of the powder composition according to the invention and further added substances may also be used to prepare the coating composition. These types of added substances may be, for example, aluminium hydroxides and/or borates, e.g. zinc borate, and may be present in an amount of up to 10 wt. %, with respect to the composition.
The powder composition according to the invention may be prepared in equipment conventionally used to prepare powder mixtures. If required, these compositions may be milled to the desired particle size range in equipment conventionally used for this purpose.
The powder composition may be stored and transported in conventional vessels.
When required, i.e. immediately before application, the powder composition according to the invention is blended with water, with stirring. For example, a mixture of 40 to 80 wt. % of powder composition according to the invention and 60 to 20 wt. % of water may be used, preferably a mixture of 55 to 75 wt. % of powder composition according to the invention and 45 to 25 wt. % of water. Dispersant aids and/or other conventional additives may optionally also be used.
Application takes place using conventional processes and with conventional devices for coating, for example in a spray process or application with a brush or a roller.
The powder composition according to the invention may be applied to all conventional substrate surfaces as an aqueous dispersion. Metal, wood and plastics substrates, in particular also steel and concrete surfaces may be coated according to the invention.
The aqueous dispersion of powder composition according to the invention may be applied either directly to the untreated substrate surface or to the primed surface of the substrate. For example, the substrate surface may be provided with an anticorrosive paint before application of the coating composition.
The aqueous dispersion may be applied to the substrate in one or more layers.
The dry layer thickness of the coating is generally, for example, 200 xcexcm to 10 mm. It depends substantially on the type and shape of the substrate. Hollow sections generally require thicker layers.
Drying or hardening of the coating may take place at room or ambient temperature or by increasing the temperature.
Further layers may be applied over the layer based on a powder composition according to the invention to protect the surface from environmental effects. This may be, for example, a suitable topcoat paint based on PVC/acrylates, wherein the topcoat layer may simultaneously be used to provide a coloured design or a clear layer may be applied.
As a result of the powder composition according to the invention, it is possible to obtain storage- and temperature-resistant compositions which can be processed in the freshly prepared condition, in a simple manner and without a substantial time requirement, to give ready-to-use, aqueous dispersions. The powder compositions are thus independent of the storage time and the effects of temperature, in particular the effects of frost. This is especially important because the single-component system is only stable in aqueous medium for a short period. In addition, the transport costs are greatly reduced due to smaller amounts transported, because the powder composition according to the invention is mixed with the required amount of water to prepare the aqueous dispersion only at the site of application. It is particularly surprising that, despite the use according to the invention of melamine resins as binders, coatings can be produced which ensure a high degree of flame-proofing and at the same time very good moisture- and frost-resistance and thus are suitable in particular for substrates which have to comply with the requirements of fire protection.

Powder composition for the production of aqueous coating agents

Abstract: D) 3 to 40 wt. % of one or more chloroparaffins and/or melamine and/or melamine derivatives and/or dicyanodiamide.


An inkjet aqueous pigment dispersion which achieves high pigment concentration, exhibits favorable redispersion properties after drying, and does not exhibit changes in ink properties even when stored for a long time; and an ink composition using the aqueous pigment dispersion. The inkjet aqueous pigment dispersion contains a pigment, a liquid medium, and a polymer dispersion agent which is an A-B block polymer obtained by copolymerization using a mixture of an organic tellurium compound represented by formula (1) and an organic ditellurium compound represented by formula (2) as a polymerization initiator. The monomer for configuring the A block is at least one type of monomer represented by formula (3), and the monomer for configuring the B block is benzyl methacrylate and/or benzyl acrylate.

A recording method using an inkjet printer, which is a representative method among various color recording methods, is for performing recording by generating small ink droplets and attaching the ink droplets to a variety of record-receiving materials (paper, film, cloth, and the like). In this method, since the recording head is not brought into direct contact with the record-receiving material, less noise is generated and silent recording is achieved. In addition, since features of reduced size and increased speed are readily achievable, the inkjet recording method has been rapidly popularized in recent years. Accordingly, great advancement of the method hereafter is expected as well.
In the inkjet recording method, an ink composition prepared by dissolving coloring agents, such as various dyes or pigments, in water or water and an organic solvent, and also containing a wetting agent formed by a water-soluble organic solvent is generally used.
In the inkjet recording method, in addition to inkjet exclusive paper or glossy paper for inkjet having an ink-receiving layer, general purpose plain paper with a low water absorption capacity, and the like may be used as a record-receiving material in some cases. Such a record-receiving material does not actively include an absorbing layer and it is difficult to impregnate the ink into the record-receiving material. Therefore, drying takes a long time.
For example, in the case of high-speed automatic duplex printing in which second-face printing is carried out by instantaneously reversing a piece of paper after the first side has been printed in an inkjet recording device, a problem of contamination of reversing rollers due to undried ink may occur.
Furthermore, when a concentration of the coloring agent in the ink composition is increased in order to increase image density, it is known that the stability of the ink deteriorates. Furthermore, due to drying in the vicinity of a nozzle, the coloring agent is deposited and thus the nozzle may be clogged with the coloring agent in some cases.
Therefore, an inkjet recording method in which drying is performed rapidly even in the case of the record-receiving material having no ink-receiving layer such as plain paper, the image density is high, and the image quality is high has been desired.
There are two kinds of coloring agent which may be used in an ink for inkjet, that is, a dye and a pigment. They each are widely used as a coloring material for inkjet. In general, it is known that a dye has low endurance to light or ozone gas, and that since a dye is soluble in water, the record-receiving material after printing has low resistance to water. On the other hand, it is known that a pigment is excellent in terms of various types of resiliance to light, ozone gas, water, or the like. However, since the pigment is insoluble in water, there is a defect in that, if the pigment is dried once and then agglomerated, the pigment cannot be dispersed again in water, which is likely to result in a problem.
Hence, in order to expand the field of application of printing methods using an ink, high color development and improvement of various types of resiliance, such as light resistance and water resistance, are demanded in ink compositions for use in inkjet recording and the colored body colored with the ink composition. In addition, in the ink composition for use in inkjet recording, it is strongly demanded that the ink composition has long-term stability as an ink or the ink composition can be dissolved or dispersed in water again when the ink composition is dried.
In particular, it is demanded that a pigment ink be stable for a long period of time. It is known that, in the pigment which is not present as molecules in the ink but is generally present as particles in a dispersed state, sedimentation phenomenon temporally occurs due to agglomeration of pigment particles. Accordingly, a concentration gradient occurs in the ink and thus there is a problem in that initial printing characteristics cannot be obtained, or, in the worst case, there is a problem in that agglomerated particles are clogged at a nozzle and thus cannot be discharged.
Therefore, there is a demand for development of an ink composition in which various types of resiliance are favorable, the density of an image to be obtained by printing is high, and storage stability is favorable when the pigment is used in the ink composition. However, as the case now stands, as yet there are just a few ink compositions with sufficient performance.
As an inkjet ink composition using a pigment, an ink of Patent Document 1 is given as an example. This is an ink composition obtained by preparing a dispersion using a polymer dispersion agent. In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses an ink composition using a self-dispersion pigment.
In recent years, a microcapsule pigment using a self-assembling pigment has been widely discussed and extensively discussed as a means for solving the above-described problems. Patent Document 3 discloses a method for producing the microcapsule pigment. However, all ink compositions have not been provided as a product sufficiently satisfying a need in the market yet.
Furthermore, various types of dispersion agents have been discussed in order to obtain a coloring agent dispersion for inkjet. Patent Documents 4 and 5 each disclose a method for producing a dispersion agent using a block polymer and a method for producing dispersion using the same.
Patent Document 6 discloses a method for producing a block polymer by using an organic tellurium compound, but does not disclose the use of the polymer as a dispersion agent or application of dispersion for inkjet.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3534395    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 4016483    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent No. 4078679    Patent Document 4: PCT International Application, Publication No. 2010/013651    Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent No. 2675956    Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent No. 3839829    Non-Patent Document 1: DIC Technical Review No. 10/2004

Aqueous coloring agent dispersion for inkjet, ink composition, inkjet recording method, and colored body


A ferroelectric energy generator system comprises an explosive unit, a ferroelectric element, a first and a second output terminal, and a voltage-controlled switch. The explosive unit may include an explosive charge and a detonator which in combination may supply a shock wave. The ferroelectric element may include a third output terminal coupled to the voltage-controlled switch and a fourth output terminal coupled to the second output terminal. Upon receiving the shock wave, the ferroelectric element may be compressed and depolarized and, as a result, may generate a pulse of voltage between the third and the fourth output terminals. When the voltage reaches a breakdown level, the voltage-controlled switch may close and quickly deliver electric current to a load coupled to the ferroelectric energy generator system.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to ferroelectric energy generator systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an energy generator that utilizes direct explosive shock wave depolarization of at least one ferroelectric element to deliver electrical energy to a load through a voltage-controlled switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
Explosive-driven pulsed power energy generators, such as ferroelectric energy generators, supply large amounts of electrical energy and may be used in many commercial and scientific applications. One exemplary application that may utilize a ferroelectric energy generator is a microwave transmitter system. The output of the ferroelectric energy generator may be coupled to an antenna that transmits microwave radiation when it receives electrical energy. Although conventional ferroelectric energy generators may produce a large amplitude pulse of voltage, they may not be able to quickly deliver electric current to the antenna. As a result, the antenna may not receive the rapid electrical energy pulse that it needs to oscillate and transmit microwaves.

Ferroelectric energy generator with voltage-controlled switch


The present invention provides a process for producing a cycloalkanone oxime by conducting a continuous ammoximation reaction in the presence of a titanosilicate catalyst with supplying a cycloalkanone, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia and an organic solvent into the reaction system, wherein the reaction temperature is from 90° C. to 120° C. and the supplying amount of the organic solvent is not more than 2 times by weight of that of the cycloalkanone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a cycloalkanone oxime by the ammoximation reaction of a cycloalkanone. Cycloalkanone oximes are useful as raw materials for lactams and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A process for producing a cycloalkanone oxime includes an ammoximation reaction of a cycloalkanone with hydrogen peroxide and ammonia in the presence of a titanosilicate catalyst (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,745,221, 4,794,198, 5,312,987, 5,227,525, 6,828,459, and U.S. 2004/204609 A). The ammoximation reaction is advantageously carried out in a continuous method in view of productivity or operationality, and usually carried out in an organic solvent as a reaction solvent.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,198 discloses a continuous ammoximation reaction of a cyclohexanone using t-butyl alcohol in an amount of from 0.1 to 100 times by mole, preferably from 0.5 to 10 times by mole of the cyclohexanone at from 60° C. to 120° C., and specifically it discloses a reaction using t-butyl alcohol in an amount of 2.1 times by weight of cyclohexanone at 83° C. and a reaction using t-butyl alcohol in an amount of 3.2 or more times by weight of cyclohexanone at 80° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,987 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,525 disclose a continuous ammoximation reaction of a carbonyl compound such as a cycloalkanone using an organic solvent in an amount of from 2.5 to 10 times by weight of the carbonyl compound at from 60° C. to 100° C., preferably at from 70° C. to 90° C., and specifically they disclose a continuous ammoximation reaction of cyclohexanone using t-butyl alcohol in an amount of 2.9 or more times by weight of cyclohexanone at 85° C.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,459, and U.S. 2004/204609 A disclose a continuous ammoximation reaction of cyclohexanone using an organic solvent at from 50° C. to 100° C., and specifically they disclose a reaction using t-butyl alcohol in an amount of 3.3 times by weight of cyclohexanone at 85° C.

Process for producing cycloalkanone oximes


A silicone rubber composition which has excellent adhesion to various substrate materials with which it is in contact during its curing. The silicone rubber composition comprises an adhesion promoter comprising an addition reaction product or a reaction mixture of (i) a carboxylic acid ester described by general formula ##STR1## where R.sup.2 is an alkenyl group and x is a number of 1 to 6, and (ii) an alkoxysilane expressed by general formula ##STR2## where R.sup.3 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group which does not contain aliphatic unsaturated linkage, R.sup.4 is an alkyl group, and a is a number of 1 to 3.

The present invention relates to a silicone rubber composition, and specifically, it relates to a silicone rubber composition which shows excellent adhesion to various substrate materials with which it is in contact during its curing.
Silicone rubber compositions comprising organopolysiloxane and organic peroxide cures quickly-to form silicone rubber when heated, but there has been a problem that their adhesion to substrate materials such as metal, plastic, glass, etc. is poor. To overcome this problem it has been proposed, for example, a silicone rubber composition compounded with diallylphthalate (JP (Kokai) 49-99650), a silicone rubber composition compounded with 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (JP (Kokai) 55-34993), and a silicone rubber composition compounded with triallyltrimellitate (JP (Kokai) 62-30151) as the silicone rubber compositions with improved adhesion to various substrates.
However, the adhesion of the silicone rubber compositions proposed in JP (Kokai) 49-99650 and JP (Kokai) 62-30151 is not sufficient, and also, the compatibility of diallylphthalate and triallyltrimellitate with the organopolysiloxane is low. In addition, there has been a problem that these constituents tend to bleed out of these compositions and cured silicone rubber during storage. Also, the silicone rubber composition proposed in JP (Kokai) 55-34993 has a problem in that its adhesion is not sufficient.
The present inventor has carried out intensive studies on the aforesaid subject matters, and as a result, reached the present invention. Namely, the objective of the present invention is to present a silicone rubber composition which has excellent adhesion to various substrate materials.


Provided are novel blocked polyisocyanurates to be suitably used as an adhesiveness providing agent, coating material, sealant and crosslinking agent for polymers containing active hydrogens. Also provided are polyvinyl chloride plastisol compositions comprising a polyvinyl chloride resin, the above blocked polyisocyanurate as an adhesiveness providing agent, plasticizer and a specific agent for accelerating dissociation of the blocked polyisocyanurate. These compositions have excellent properties such as high adhesiveness even cured at low temperatures and resistance to yellowing, and are suitably used particularly as sealants for car body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blocked polyisocyanurate and polyvinyl chloride plastisol compositions (hereinafter referred to as "PVC plastisol compositions"), containing the same as an adhesiveness providing agent. More specifically, the present invention relates to a blocked polyisocyanurate having resistance to discoloration and suitable for use as an adhesiveness providing agent, coating material, sealant, crosslinking agent for polymers containing active hydrogens and the like, and also relates to polyvinyl chloride plastisol compositions having high adhesiveness even when cured at low temperatures and resistance to yellowing, which contain the above polyisocyanurate as an adhesiveness providing agent and which are particularly suitable as sealants for car bodies.
2. Descriptions of the Prior Art
In recent years, PVC plastisol compositions have been used in a wide variety of fields, such as adhesives, sealants, covering materials and the like.
There are known PVC plastisol compositions, for example, one comprising polyvinyl chloride resin, a plasticizer and, as an adhesiveness providing agent, a long-chain alkylphenol-blocked polyisocyanate (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 41278/1987). According to the application, this plastisol composition has high storage stability under conditions of high temperature and high humidity, is free from foaming or discoloration and can form at high temperature a gel having high adhesiveness.
The above conventional PVC plastisol composition has, however, been found to be of poor adherence when cured at a low temperature in the range of 110.degree. to 130.degree. C. on electrodeposited base materials.
As a result of an intensive study to overcome this problem, the present inventors have found that PVC plastisol compositions, that can be hydrolyzed by moisture present in the system or in the air even at such a low temperature as the above range to be cured while exhibiting good adhesion to base materials and do not yellow after the curing, are obtained by using an adhesiveness providing agent comprising a specific polyisocyanate being blocked with styrenized phenol and being capable of dissociating by de-blocking even when cured at this low temperature, together with a specific dissociation accelerating agent. The present invention has been completed based on this finding.

Blocked polyisocyanurate and polyvinyl chloride plastisol composition containing the same


A method and system are set forth for providing dynamic RF communication resources to a mobile unit as that mobile unit changes geographic areas such that RF communication resource use by that mobile unit is generally not forcibly terminated as that mobile unit roves to a geographical area not served by the RF communication resource where the mobile unit is presently located.

Roving mobile units utilizing cellular mobile communication systems are known. Typically, a mobile unit is provided with a communication resource, generally an RF (radio frequency) channel, that is usable for at least a first base site covering a geographical area. During periods of high RF communication system use, as the mobile unit roves to at least a second base site geographical area, the mobile unit may be denied continued assignment to a communication resource in the second base site geographical area, forcing termination of communication resource use by the mobile unit. Forced termination is a more severe problem than simply denial of initial assignment to an RF communication resource, and hence is highly undesirable. There is a need for a RF communication system that provides a next RF communication resource to a mobile unit that utilizes a first RF communication resource and roves from a first geographical base site area to another geographical base site area not served by the first RF communication resource.

Dynamic RF communication resource access by roving mobile units


The present invention relates to cultivated plant of the species Solanum lycopersicum comprising a myb12 allele having one or more mutations, said mutations resulting in production of a mutant myb12 protein, fruits of such plants exhibiting a pink appearance.

Skin color in tomato fruit is determined by the Y gene. Gene Y produces a distinct, yellow pigment suffused throughout the cell walls of the epidermis of the fruit, whereas its allelomorph, y, produces a transparent or colorless condition in the epidermal walls (E. W. Lindstrom, 1925, Inheritance in Tomatoes, Genetics, issue 10(4) pp 305-317).
Pink tomato fruit is very popular for consumption in Asia. The pink fruit was first described in fruit with a transparent epidermis lacking a yellow pigment (Lindstrom, 1925, Inheritance in Tomatoes, Genetics, issue 10 (4) pp 305-317). Genetic studies revealed that pink fruit result from the monogenic recessive y (yellow) locus present on chromosome 1, while red-colored fruit have the dominant Y allele (Lindstrom 1925). The Y gene has been identified as MYB12 (Ballester et al, vide infra).
The color of tomato fruit is mainly determined by carotenoids an flavonoids. The red color of ripe tomato fruit is due mainly to the accumulation of the carotenoid all-trans-lycopene, which is produced during fruit ripening. In addition to lycopene, tomato fruit contain significant levels of violaxanthin, and lutein. Tomato plants having mutation(s) in the carotenoid pathway have an altered carotenoid composition, which result in different fruit colors, such as orange (tangerine beta) or yellow (r) fruit (Lewinsohn et al. 2005 Trends Food Sci Technol., Vol 16 pp 407-415).
Additionally flavonoids play a role in determining the color of tomato fruit. Flavonoids accumulate predominantly in the fruit peel, since the flavonoid pathway is not active in the fruit flesh. One of the most abundant flavonoids in tomato fruit peel is the yellow-colored naringenin chalcone. In addition, up to 70 different flavonoids have been identified in tomato fruit.
Ballester et al. performed a phenotypic analysis of an introgression line (IL) population derived from a cross between Solanum lycopersicum "Moneyberg" and the wild species Solanum chmielewskii which revealed three ILs with pink fruit color. These ILs had a homozygous S. chmielewskii introgression on the short arm of chromosome 1, consistent with the position of the y (yellow) mutation known to result in colorless epidermis, and hence pink-colored fruit when combined with a red flesh. This same study revealed that the pink fruit lacked the ripening-dependent accumulation of the yellow-colored flavonoid naringenin chalcone in the fruit peel—which increased in the peel of Moneyberg fruit upon ripening-, while carotenoid levels were not affected (Ballester et al. 2010 Plant Physiology, vol 152 pp 71-84). In the same study Ballester et al. disclose (Ballester et al. 2010 Plant Physiology, vol 152 pp 77 right-hand column) that "the deduced amino acid sequence of the pink MYB12 alleles obtained from commercial sources was identical to the red Moneyberg allele", suggesting "that deregulated MYB12 gene expression", observed in all pink genotypes tested [by Ballester et al.], rather than aberrant MYB12 [protein] function is the primary cause of the pink phenotype. This cause of the pink color was confirmed using gene-silencing studies genetic mapping, segregation analysis, and VIGS (Virus Induced Gene Silencing) results.
Thus far, analysis of existing commercial non-GMO colorless peel (i.e. pink) y mutant revealed no mutations in the myb12 allele nor in its promotor sequence indicating that the y mutant phenotype is due to a mutation in a regulatory gene i.e. an additional mutant allele (Adato et al 2009 PLoS Genetics vol 5 issue 12 e1000777).
Despite the above, no alternative non-GMO pink mutants for tomato fruit have been found so far.
There is, thus, a need for alternative, non-GMO, cultivated tomato plants producing pink tomato fruit.

Solanum lycopersicum plants having pink fruits


A method for detecting heavy rain in images includes providing a series of images as input information, the images relating to a scene external to a vehicle viewed through a pane of the vehicle. A measure of blur is evaluated in an area of interest in the images. The method also includes analyzing the course of the measured blur values over time in order to detect transitions between images with low blur values and images with high blur values or vice versa. Heavy rain may then be detected from the detected transitions and information output in response to the heavy rain being detected.

Rain detection by means of image processing of images taken by a camera which is focused on a windshield is known. Such rain detection can be realized by looking for droplets on the windshield. A disadvantage of such rain detection is that the camera needs to be focused on the windshield, whereas cameras used as sensor for advanced driver assistance systems in vehicles are used to monitor the surroundings of the vehicle and are therefore focused to infinity or almost to infinity.
PCT publication No. WO 2006/024247 A1 discloses a method for detecting precipitation, especially rain and fog, on a windscreen, which is not based on an active illumination of the windscreen or a measurement of the reflectivity, but on a camera using a plurality of adjacent pixels for detecting an image of a target area. Said target area is located in the surroundings of the vehicle, and the windscreen is thus represented in a blurred manner. In the event of a blurred representation, raindrops or fog on the windscreen produce a soft-focus effect in the image. The sharpness of the image and/or the difference in contrast of adjacent pixels is evaluated and the presence of precipitation is detected therefrom, the image is then preferably subjected to a two-dimensional Fourier transformation and the spatial frequencies are evaluated. A first image is recorded especially for a low contrast target area, a windscreen wiper passing over the windscreen in the visual region of the camera or a heating process is activated, and a second image is then recorded, and both images are evaluated according to changes.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,860,275 B2 discloses a method for detecting raindrops on a windscreen, which uses a camera, which is fitted inside the vehicle opposite the windscreen and which is focused at infinite. The method comprises steps of acquiring images by a camera through the windscreen, camera preferably focused at infinite, retrieving the contours of the spots present on the acquired images, and realizing the histogram of the widths of contours of the spots. It has been proven that a spot corresponding to a droplet of water on the windscreen could be distinguished from other spots (corresponding for example to an object of the landscape outside the vehicle) due to its width of contour, which may be quantified by a certain number of pixels. The droplets of water on a windscreen indeed present a contour, which is relatively wider than other spots. Establishing a histogram of these widths of contour makes it possible to select the contour points corresponding to the droplets, then eventually "to reconstruct" these droplets in the images by processing, in order to characterize them finally.
German patent publication No. DE 102011055343 A1 discloses a method for the detection of rain from an image of a camera that is partially focused on the windscreen of a vehicle. The method involves detecting an edge in an evaluation area of the camera image, and determining a measurement of the increase of the edge. The edge with a steep rise is classified as part of the potential raindrop on the disk imaged in the evaluation area. The span width and standard deviation of intensity values (X-1 to X-9) inside a window are evaluated with adjacent pixels for determination of the increase of edge at a pixel position (p-11 to p-45), where the pixel position lies in the center of the window.
Tong, H., Li, M., Zhang, H., & Zhang, C. (Tong et al.) propose a method for "Blur detection for digital images using wavelet transform" in their paper of the same title presented at Multimedia and Expo, 2004, ICME '04, 2004 IEEE International Conference on (Vol. 1, pp. 17-20), IEEE.
Nashashibi et al. present in their publication "Detection of Unfocused Raindrops on a Windscreen using Low Level Image Processing", International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics and Vision: ICARV '2010, December 2010, Singapore, pp. 1410-1415, a method where the camera is focused at infinity and rain is detected via image processing. The detection of rain in this publication is based on local intensity of the pixels and number of edges change when there is a drop on the windshield.
Several disadvantages of this method are mentioned in the subchapter B. (Discussion) of the chapter V. (Experimental Results) of the publication.
As such, it is desirable to present a method to determine the quality of an image by detecting heavy rain on a windshield of a vehicle with a camera. In addition, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Determination of low image quality of a vehicle camera caused by heavy rain


A multipurpose sensing system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes an optic (14) that is directed at multiple viewing areas (18). A vision sensor (16) is coupled to the optic (14) and generates multiple object detection signals corresponding to the viewing areas (18). A controller (22) is coupled to the vision sensor (16) and generates multiple safety system signals in response to the object detection signals.

The present invention relates to vehicle sensing systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for performing multiple sensing system operations utilizing a single vision sensor.
Various sensing systems currently exist for performing collision warning and countermeasure system operations, such as detection, classification, tracking, and relative distance and velocity estimation of objects within a close proximity of a host vehicle. Sensing systems also exist for performing other sensing system operations, such as windshield wiper and defogger operations, occupant sensing and tracking operations, and adaptive cruise control operations.
Collision warning and countermeasure systems operations include providing a vehicle operator knowledge and awareness of vehicles and objects that are within a close proximity of the host vehicle to prevent colliding with those objects. Countermeasure systems exist in various passive and active forms. Some countermeasure systems are used to aid in prevention of a collision, others are used to aid in the prevention of injury to a vehicle operator.
Certain collision warning and countermeasure systems are able to sense an object within close proximity of the host vehicle and warn the host vehicle operator, such that the operator can take precautionary steps to prevent a collision or injury. Other collision warning and countermeasure systems activate passive or active countermeasures such as airbags, load limiting seatbelts, or brake control whereby the system itself aids in preventing a collision or injury.
Windshield wiper and defogger operations include clearing a windshield to provide a clear view of an environment forward of a vehicle. Moisture sensors exist for detecting mist, rain, or condensation on a vehicle windshield. In response to the amount of moisture sensed within a given area of the windshield, wiper speed may be adjusted and defoggers may be utilized to clear the windshield.
Occupant related operations include detecting occupant characteristics determining which safety system countermeasures to perform and adjusting times and rates of the countermeasures. Example countermeasures that may be enabled are seat belt pretensioners and airbags. Occupant characteristics may include occupant positioning within a seat, occupant size, or other known occupant characteristics.
Adaptive cruise control operations include adjusting a host vehicle traveling speed to maintain a safe operating distance between the host vehicle and a target vehicle. Other similar sensing systems also exist, such as lane departure and lane-keeping systems, which monitor lane markers or roadway lane designating lines and provide warnings when the host vehicle is not maintaining travel within a current operating lane.
The various sensing systems may be ultrasonic, radar, lidar, or vision-based. In order to perform each of the various sensing system tasks many of the stated sensors are distributed throughout the host vehicle. Each of the sensors increases vehicle manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved sensing system that minimizes the number of sensors and related vehicle components, system complexity, and vehicle manufacturing and maintenance costs involved therein.


A sensor system for a wind turbine, comprising: a blade load sensor; a blade temperature sensor configured to provide a temperature measurement of an associated blade; a load calculation module configured to output a temperature-corrected blade load value; and a processing unit interfaced with the temperature sensor. The processing unit includes a temperature estimator configured to determine an estimated temperature of the wind turbine blade based on at least one wind turbine parameter; and a comparator configured to generate a fault signal based on a comparison between the blade temperature measurement and the estimated blade temperature. The invention also resides in a corresponding method.

The blades of a wind turbine experience loads during operation due to aerodynamic, gravitational and inertial forces. Excessive loads can damage the blades and also other components of the wind turbine, such as the generator drive train, for example, and so it is important to ensure that the loads experienced by the blades remain within acceptable limits. In order to monitor this, modern wind turbines are usually provided with a blade load sensor system. Such a system typically includes a load sensor provided in each blade to measure the load experienced by that blade. The load sensors are usually provided in the form of a strain gauge and more particularly as an optical strain gauge, for example similar to the one described in EP1230531.
All strain gauges are fundamentally sensitive to temperature due to thermal expansion of the measured object (i.e. the blade) being detected as strain by the gauge, or due to direct temperature effects on the sensor package itself. To accommodate this, blade load sensor packages are known that include a temperature sensor so that the load signal can be compensated for temperature effects using data from the temperature sensor.
However, if the temperature sensors malfunction, the accuracy of the measured load values will be adversely affected. It is therefore desirable to provide a blade load sensor system that provides reliable load measurements even if the temperature sensors are malfunctioning.

Blade load sensing system for a wind turbine


Apparatus for the non-contact measurement of the gage of a track comprises a machine frame equipped with undercarriages supporting the machine frame for mobility on the track and a wheel axle having wheels running on the track rails, and an optical sensor associated with each track rail and affixed to the wheel axle. Each sensor is mounted on the wheel axle and pivotal about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame, and each sensor emits a light beam capable of sensing the distance of the sensor from the associated rail without contact therewith. A stepping motor is connected to each sensor for pivoting the sensor about this axis, the stepping motor and connected sensor constituting a closed control circuit for calculating an angular position required for focussing the light beam on a location of the associated track rail having a constant vertical position and correspondingly pivoting the sensor with respect to the associated track rail into the calculated angular position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the non-contact measurement of the gage of a track comprising two rails having rail heads, which comprises a machine frame equipped with undercarriages supporting the machine frame for mobility on the track and a wheel axle having wheels running on the track rails, and an optical sensor associated with each track rail and affixed to the wheel axle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,038 discloses an apparatus for the non-contact determination of the lateral position of a railroad track with respect to an adjacent track. It uses a distance measuring device comprised of a laser beam emitter and receiver with coincident optical axes for emitting and receiving the laser beam, the axes extending in a transverse plane perpendicular to the track and the axis being pivotal in this plane by a drive. A limit switch is associated with, and actuated by, the measuring device to limit the range of the pivoting movement. As soon as the optical axis is pivoted above the rail head of the adjacent track, the distance measuring value changes abruptly. This sudden jump in the measuring value causes the last measured distance value to be stored and indicated when this sudden jump exceeds a selected mimimum value. At the same time the drive is reversed so that the optical axis is pivoted back towards the foot of the rail until the measured distance value jump is eliminated. In this way, the optical axis of the measuring device constantly senses the range of the rail between the rail web and the upper edge of the rail head. The minimal distance to the rail head is indicated and used for the determination of the lateral position. This apparatus cannot be used to measure the track gage or the camber.
Austrian patent No. 344,773 discloses an apparatus for the optical measurement of a lateral deviation of a rail from the desired line. For this purpose, a receiver and a projector are spaced from each other above each rail. The emitted light is reflected from the inside of the rail head. The two receivers and projectors are arranged on a measuring frame which is supported directly on the bearing boxes of a swivel truck. This apparatus is structurally complex and requires a special structure of the undercarriage.
Austrian patents Nos. 321,346 and 328,489 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,039 exemplify other optical track gage measuring apparatus but in none of them is the sensor pivotal by a stepping motor about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame.

Apparatus for the non-contact measurement of a track gage

Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.


Various managed pressure drilling tools, systems, and methods are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining a model-based pressure prediction and sensor-based pressure measurements during borehole drilling operations. The method also includes determining a real-time learning calculation using the model-based pressure prediction and at least some of the sensor-based pressure measurements. The method also includes updating a formation pressure model based at least in part on the real-time learning calculation. The method also includes controlling annular pressure for the borehole drilling operations based on a pressure predicted by the updated formation pressure model.

In managed pressure borehole operations, the wellbore pressure is controlled using a closed annulus and a mechanism for regulating pressure in the annulus. The annulus may be closed during drilling through use of a rotating control device (RCD) or pressure control device (PCD), which seals the drill pipe as the wellbore is being drilled. Efforts to improve pressure and flow control during managed pressure borehole operations are ongoing.
It should be understood, however, that the specific embodiments given in the drawings and detailed description thereto do not limit the disclosure. On the contrary, they provide the foundation for one of ordinary skill to discern the alternative forms, equivalents, and modifications that are encompassed together with one or more of the given embodiments in the scope of the appended claims.

Borehole pressure management methods and systems with adaptive learning


Apparatus for use with a computer to secure the computer's stored data against malware in the computer's central processing unit (CPU). The apparatus comprises a keyboard and display. The keyboard is connected to the computer's central bus, and a secure connection to the computer's data storage device. The secure connection is operable independent of the CPU. The storage device comprises a file system to manage the stored data independent of the CPU. The keyboard is configured for displaying, on the display, the stored data independent of the CPU. The keyboard, storage device and secure connection operate to protect data and prevent the CPU from accessing the protected data. The computer may be networked and configured to authenticate the computer's user and securely communicate data between another network computer and the keyboard and/or monitor of the computer independent of the computer's CPU.

Computer malware (a shorthand term referring to "malicious software"), generally refers to computer software which enters a computer, typically without the knowledge or intention of a computer user, and when executed by the computer's central processing unit (CPU), causes damage to or disables, or otherwise compromises or interferes with the normal operation of that computer and/or the computer files and systems associated with it. Computer attacks by malware present an on-going and growing risk to computer systems and computer users. For example, in 2013, malware known as "CryptoLocker", a type of malware known as ransomware, suddenly and rapidly spread across a range of international and domestic networks, and effectively destroyed the files in memory disks/drives of a large number of infiltrated computers by encrypting those files so they could not be opened without co-operation from the malware perpetrator who then sent a ransom message to the computer user demanding payment for the decryption key for the now inaccessible computer files. Other types of attacks include malware theft of confidential information in respect of which the objective of the perpetrator may be to gain valuable intellectual property or publish such private information to cause great embarrassment to the victim.
Therefore, it is desirable to design computers, and computer systems, in such a manner that they can avoid such damage or compromise if and when attacked by malware.

Method and apparatus for protecting computer files from CPU resident malware


The present invention relates to novel bisazo dyes, a process for their preparation and their use for dyeing and/or printing substrates.

Azo dyes, including fiber-reactive azo dyes are known in the art. For example, WO 2007/039573 A2 relates to azo reactive dyes and mixtures of fiber-reactive azo dyes, to processes for their preparation and to their use for dyeing and printing hydroxyl- and carboxamido-containing materials.
However, there is still a need for novel dyes, in particular fiber-reactive dyes, with improved properties such as dye levelness (i.e. the uniformity of color shade along the substrate to be dyed), color fastness (light and wet/washing fastness, i.e. the resistance of the color to fading and running when exposed to light and/or wetness) and build-up behavior.


An apparatus for lubricating pipe joints is described which includes a generally cylindrical plug adapted to fit into a female box connection of a length of pipe. The plug has a first end, a second end, a circumferential exterior surface and a blind interior bore which extends through the first end and terminates short of the second end. The exterior surface has a network of channels. A plurality of lubrication passages extend through the plug from the blind interior bore to the network of channels on the exterior surface. When lubrication compounds are pumped under pressure into the blind interior bore, the lubrication compounds pass through the lubrication passages into the network of channels on the exterior surface of the plug thereby thoroughly coating the female box connection with lubricant. An end cap covers the first end of the plug. The end cap has a flange that extends beyond the circumferential exterior surface. That portion of the flange which extends beyond the circumferential exterior surface has a lubricating collecting peripheral ring groove. At least one of the first end of the plug and the end cap has a plurality of radially extending channels. When lubrication compounds are pumped under pressure into the blind interior bore, the lubrication compounds pass through the radially extending channels into the peripheral ring groove of the end cap thereby thoroughly coating an annular shoulder of the female box connection with lubricant.

An example of where an apparatus for lubricating pipe joints is used is in the field of earth drilling, especially for the petroleum industry. During earth drilling operations drilling fluids, commonly referred to as "drilling mud", are pumped down an annulus of a plurality of joined sections of drill pipe forming a drill string. Since the drilling mud is pumped at high pressure, each joint in the drill string must be perfectly sealed to prevent leakage. Leakage results in a washing action that can severely weaken the joint and cause it to fail. If the joint should fail, all that portion of the drill string below the failed joint is dropped down the borehole, and must be fished out at great expense.
Each joint has a male to female form of threaded connection. In order to prevent the joints from leaking they are screwed together under high torque. Two pieces of steel under pressure will not slide without tearing at each other and causing what is termed as "galling". Lubricating compounds form a thin gasket between the two pieces of steel forming the joint, which has a much lower sheer strength than steel. When the joint is made up the presence of the lubricating compound prevents metal to metal contact. When the joint is disassembled the lubricating compound is sheered, rather than the steel.
An apparatus for lubricating pipe joints which is presently in use has a generally cylindrical plug adapted to fit into a female box connection of a length of drill pipe. The plug has an exterior surface and a blind interior bore. A plurality of lubrication passages extend from the blind interior bore to the exterior surface of the plug. The exterior surface has a network of channels communicating with the lubrication passages. In operation, lubrication compounds are pumped under pressure into the blind interior bore. The lubrication compounds pass from the blind interior bore, through the lubrication passages and along the network of channels to thoroughly coat the exterior surface of the plug and, hence, the female box connection with lubricant.
The most important part of each connection is the mating shoulders. A weakness in apparatus used for lubricating pipe joints is that they cannot lubricate this critical portion of the joint. Of necessity the shoulders have been lubricated manually. This procedure is time consuming. Frequently, insufficient care is taken in the manual lubrication procedure and the lubrication proves to be inadequate.


An electronic device is formed at least partially from a deflectable material that generates an electrical signal in response to contact. The first material is integrated with a display module to provide a shaped feature on the exterior surface of the display module. The shaped feature detects contact with an external object on one or more contact points, where contact with the contact points corresponds to a defined input for a processor of the electronic device.

Typical input mechanisms for electronic devices and computers include button mechanisms and mechanical actuation switches. These input mechanisms can be subject to failure through repeated use. They require multiple components that can move relative to one another, and may require hinges, springs or joints that are subject to fatigue.
Another type of input mechanism is a digitizer. The digitizer can detect contact on a surface that is typically incorporated with a display. The digitizer may be a component of small computing devices, such as handheld computers, or personal digital assistants (PDAs). An assembly of the digitizer assigns identifying voltage values for different contact points distributed across the digitizer's surface. This allows the user to distinguish a communication by positioning an external object on a specific position of the digitizer.
Inputs such as gestures, taps, and drags are made on the surface of the digitizer through contact. Icons or other visual cues may be employed with the digitizer to give a user an indication that contact with a specific position on the digitizer will cause a processor of the device to perform a specific function. Digitizers are relatively planar, so that contact points on the surface of the digitizer are positions on the same plane. When users enter input through a digitizer, the user selects planar positions on the digitizer's surface for contact with the external object.
FIG. 10 is an illustration of a prior art display module 900. The display module 900 is contact-sensitive to produce electrical signals in response to contact. The electrical signals are subsequently converted to input. The display module 900 includes an exterior layer 910, a conductive layer 920, a substrate 930 and a display 940. The exterior layer 910 is a polyester (PET) film. The conductive layer 920 comprises a first conductive film 922, an air gap 926 formed by spacers 945, and a second conductive film 924. The conductive films 922, 924 are formed of Indium Tin Oxide material, which has a paste constituency. The spacers 945 are formed from glass or plastic. The substrate 930 is also formed from glass or plastic. The layers formed above display 940 provide a digitizer for the device. The combination of layers for the digitizer is clear to enable viewing of an image created by display 940.
Mechanical buttons are sometimes preferred for certain functions because they provide a better tactile feedback for the function being requested by the input. For example, navigation buttons for scrolling a display of a handheld computer are often mechanical buttons, because they provide a better feel of movement being created when scrolling the display.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Three-dimensional contact-sensitive feature for electronic devices

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Systems and methods for loading and delivering stalk subassemblies and yarn packages are disclosed herein. Such systems and methods can have at least one processor, at least one automated guided vehicle, at least one creel assembly, and an automated creel loading assembly. The at least one automated guided vehicle can be communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one processor can be configured to selectively direct an automated guided vehicle to engage a respective stalk subassembly. Upon engagement between the automated guided vehicle and the stalk subassembly, the processor can be configured to selectively direct the automated guided vehicle to move about and between the selected operative position within the creel assembly and a loading position proximate the automated creel loading assembly.

Conventional methods of using a tufting creel involve manual loading and delivery of yarn packages or stalk subassemblies to a desired location. Such operations are time consuming and labor intensive. Thus, there is a need in the pertinent art for systems and methods that reduce the inefficiencies associated with such manual loading and delivery operations.

Automated creel systems and methods for using same


An adaptive wind tunnel wall system for minimizing aerodynamic wall interference for slotted or perforated wall test sections. In the present invention, a plurality of continuous or segmented flexible strips may be deflected by a number of actuators to control fluid flow from the test section to a plenum or plena surrounding the test section. The actuators move the continuous or segmented strips toward and away from the slotted or perforated test section walls along the length of the test section to easily change wall crossflow resistance.

It is well known that aerodynamic testing of a model, or an article, installed in a wind tunnel test section never truly represents the flow conditions of flight, i.e., the test article in an unbounded fluid stream. The boundaries of the test stream (the flow conditions at the wind tunnel walls) in the presence of a test model, such as a body, lifting wing, or wing-body combination produce extraneous velocity components in the fluid flow around the model. These wind tunnel wall interferences in the test section perturb the fluid flowing past the model requiting test data corrections. At least four generations of experimenters have routinely corrected both the magnitude and direction of the nominal onset air stream, resulting in modifications to the measured aerodynamic characteristics of the model (lift, drag, and pitching moment as a function of angle of attack). See, for example, "Low Speed Wind Tunnel Testing" by A. Pope, J. J. Harper (John Wiley Sons, Inc. 1966).
A number of proposals for simulating interference-free conditions or for minimizing wall interference effects within wind tunnels test sections have been proposed. See "Self Correcting Wind Tunnels" by W. R. Sears, Aeronautical Journal, February/March 1974, page 80. For example, it is well-known to use adaptive wall wind tunnels wherein deformable flexible solid test section walls form a substantially interference-free streamtube. In the ideal solution, arbitrarily deformable walls would provide; a complete adaptation, with the interference velocity field being identically zero everywhere in the vicinity of the model.
For airfoil, or so-called two-dimensional, testing, wherein a wing of constant cross-section spans a wind tunnel from one sidewall to the opposite sidewall, this can be achieved by deforming the floor and ceiling in simple streamwise curvature. This is readily achieved using flexible walls and a multi-jack wall positioning system. For arbitrary three-dimensional models (airplanes, non-lifting bodies, swept or tapered wings, etc.) this strategy can be employed to approximate an ideal interference-free streamtube by providing for wall deformation in streamwise strips, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,748 issued to Jacocks, U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,358 issued to Wulf, et al., European Patent Applications 27,229A1, 365,799A2, and 572,787A1 of Wedemeyer, Amecke, et al. and Bouis, respectively.
Another approach for an adaptive wall wind tunnel includes the use of walls with controlled crossflow. In other words, instead of employing solid, or impermeable, walls, openings in the test section walls are provided to allow air to pass from the test section airstream into art external volume (i.e., a plenum) of nominally stagnant air, and back again depending on the pressure imposed by the model on the walls. Non-adaptive ventilated walls have been found to lessen wall interference, compared to closed wall non-adaptive tunnels, for an appropriate choice of global ventilation (meaning that wall openness is uniform throughout the test section). See Goethert, B. "Transonic Wind Tunnel Testing", AGARDograph 49, Pergamon Press, 1961.
There are two main types of ventilated walls in common usage: perforated and slotted. Perforated walls have a uniform pattern of holes, drilled either normal to the wall surface, or at an angle of up to 60 degrees to the normal. Control of wall openness can be effected by providing a sliding or translatable perforated backing plate whose position determines the degree of wall openness, or porosity. This concept has been implemented in the AEDC 1T Transonic Wind Tunnel for each wall separately, and in the T128 Transonic Wind Tunnel run by TsAGI in Zhukovsky, Russia, which uses 128 independently slidable perforated backing plates which can vary wall porosity of each wall segment from 0% to 10%. UK Patent Application 2,177,661A provides another means of varying the resistance of perforated walls by utilizing individual movable plugs for each hole in the wall.
As will be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art, modifying the flow through ventilated walls can be done in such a way as to approximate the interference-free flowfield (due to the model) at the walls (determined by calculation for the model in question), and thus minimize the wall interference. By controlling the amount of airflow through the walls (i.e. crossflow), for example, by throttling the wall openings to restrict fluid flow from the test section to and from the surrounding plenum, a substantially interference-free streamtube can be formed in an analogous fashion to the solid flexible wall technique. In one approach, walls with separate segmented pressure plena freely communicate with the test section through ventilated surfaces, such as slotted or perforated wall surfaces. Each plenum pressure and therefore the flow through the walls can be separately controlled. See U.K. 2,142,290A Cook et at. In another approach, the test section walls are provided with mechanical elements that can vary the wall openness over local areas of the wall independently of each other, with all wall openings venting to a common constant pressure plenum chamber. Examples of this type of wind tunnel wall include the aforementioned T128 Tunnel and United Kingdom Patent Application 2,177,661A of Heddergott, et al. and DE 3,404,696 C2 of Amecke, et al
In contrast to perforated walls which have perforations uniformly distributed over an entire wall surface, slotted walls have longitudinal slots in the walls separated by bands of impermeable material. The slots may be either open, or may have baffles, perforated inserts, or other flow resistance device within the openings. Wall interference of slotted walls is most simply modified by locally varying the width of each slot. The T1500 Transonic Wind Tunnel operated by FFA in Stockholm, Sweden, has provision for installation of slot inserts which provide the capability for arbitrary, but fixed, slot widths. There is no provision for automatic variability of slot width.
The present invention provides the means for adjusting the crossflow resistance of ventilated walls (either slotted or perforated) by utilizing a flexible throttle plate over each section of wall to be controlled. It has the advantage of providing a continuous variation of crossflow resistance in the streamwise direction, and thereby the ability for complete wall adaptation for interference-free flow, rather than being limited to a piecewise discontinuous approximation to the desired smooth variation of wall properties provided by a segmented variable porosity solution as in the Russian T128 Transonic Wind Tunnel.
The present invention has the advantage of fewer actuators, moving parts, and seals, providing a relatively simply and ostensibly more dependable operation than other controllable ventilated wall concepts, such as illustrated in UK patent Application 2177661A which requires a plug for each hole.
Adaptive ventilated wall tunnels with separate controlled plena have the disadvantage of requiring a complex pressure and vacuum air plant for plenum pressure control, rather than relying on the relatively simple mechanical actuation of the present invention.
The use of solid flexible walls for adaptive wall wind tunnels has been largely limited to two-dimensional testing, or to only partial adaptation due to the practical difficulty of bending a wall simultaneously in two directions, both longitudinally (streamwise) and laterally (cross-stream), which would be required for complete adaptation for three-dimensional models. This invention provides for lateral control variability by allowing adjacent throttle plates to be deflected independently.

Variable resistance ventilated adaptive wind tunnel walls


A shackle including a clevis (10) and a lock pin (12). Clevis (10) includes eyes (16, 18). Eye (16) includes ramps (30). Lock pin (12) includes a head portion (42), radial flange (48), shank (46), coil spring (62), and lock member (60). Lock member (60) includes detents (64, 66) adapted to engage ramps (30). Coil spring (62) biases lock member (60) toward flange (48) so that detents (64, 66) are in a "lock" position and engage ramps (30) when lock pin (12) is threaded into eyes (16, 18).

Pin and clevis-type shackles that include a lock for preventing unwanted disengagement of the pin from the clevis are disclosed by the following U.S. patent numbers: U.S. Pat. No. 2,097,465, granted Nov. 2, 1937, to William D. Morrison; U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,418, granted Aug. 28, 1973, to Peter B. Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,610, granted Jan. 3, 1984, to Judy L. Hart and William A. Munday; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,260, granted May 19, 1992, to Judy L. Hart and William A. Munday. These patents should be considered in order to put the present invention into proper perspective.
With pin-and-clevis type shackles, it is desirable to have a clevis that easily can be locked and unlocked. It also is desirable that the shackle be assembled easily, yet be durable in structure. The present invention is directed to such a shackle.
Our prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,260 discloses a pin-and-clevis shackle having a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a lock member that is biased into a lock position by a leaf spring. The lock member includes a pair of rounded side portions that act as handles to assist in retracting the lock member into an "unlocked" position, against increasing resistance of the leaf spring. The present invention is an improvement upon this design.


A projection device includes a projection unit configured to project a screen, a distance detection unit configured to detect a projection distance of the screen, and a control unit configured to control the amount of information on the screen according to the projection distance detected by the distance detection unit.

The present disclosure relates to a projection device, a projection control method and a program.
Recently, an imaging device having a small projector mounted therein has been proposed. According to this imaging device, since content acquired by imaging may be projected from the projector, it is possible for many users to view the content without using a display device (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-211409).
In addition, when an index screen for displaying a list of thumbnails of content is projected from a projector, it is possible for many users to enjoy a process of selecting reproduction content. In such a use case, more thumbnails with sufficiently viewable sizes are preferably included in the projected index screen.


A display device is provided. The display device includes: a panel assembly including: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of data lines; and a plurality of pixels defined by the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines. The device also includes a backlight unit including: a plurality of scan lines; a plurality of column lines; and a plurality of backlight unit pixels defined by the plurality of scan lines and the plurality of the column lines. The backlight unit is configured to: calculate an average grayscale level of an image of a first frame; determine a first grayscale level according to the plurality of pixels corresponding to the panel assembly pixels; and apply a weight value corresponding to the average grayscale level to change the first grayscale level to a compensated grayscale level.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display device having a backlight unit that operates in synchronization with a display image.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Flat panel displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are display devices that display images by varying the amount of transmitted light for pixels using dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal in which a twist angle varies in accordance with an applied voltage. These liquid crystal displays are advantageous due to their lightweight, small size, and low power consumption, as compared with a cathode ray tube which is a representative image display device.
The liquid crystal display generally includes a liquid crystal panel assembly and a backlight unit that is provided at a rear side of the liquid crystal panel assembly and supplies light to the liquid crystal panel assembly.
When the liquid crystal panel assembly is composed of an active liquid crystal panel assembly, the liquid crystal panel assembly includes a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the transparent substrates, polarizing plates disposed on the outside of the transparent substrates, a common electrode provided on an inner surface of one of the transparent substrates, pixel electrodes and switches provided on an inner surface of the other transparent substrate, color filters that supply red, green and blue colors to three sub-pixels forming one pixel, and the like.
The liquid crystal panel assembly is supplied with light emitted from the backlight unit and transmits or blocks the light using the liquid crystal layer so as to form the predetermined image.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Display device including a backlight unit and driving method of the backlight unit using an average grayscale level of an image


An authentication code for a diagnostic code is generated. In one aspect, the authentication code includes a timestamp indicating when the diagnostic generating the diagnostic code was run. In a further aspect, the authentication code includes a serial number for a computer system running the diagnostic. In a still further aspect, the authentication code includes a serial number for a component being diagnosed. The authentication code may be generated on the system being diagnosed, or it may be obtained from a server communicably coupled to the system being diagnosed. Additionally, the diagnostic code may be obtained from a file residing on the computer system begin diagnosed, or on a server.

Many vendors of computer hardware and software provide support for returning components that are suspected of being defective. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to properly identify a defective component. As a result, it is often the case that non-defective components are returned. This results in significant costs for the vendor because the vendor must ship the non-defective component back to the customer, or they may have already shipped a replacement component under warranty when in fact the original part was not defective. In order to reduce the return of non-defective components, a vendor may require a diagnostic code before a return will be accepted.
In order to obtain a diagnostic code, the customer may run diagnostic software themselves, or call a vendor's technical support representative to receive help in identifying a problem component. Diagnostic software can be an aid in identifying defective parts, but such diagnostic software must be used properly. Diagnostic software can take a long time to run due to the number of components that must be tested. Keeping a customer on the phone while the diagnostic program runs, while necessary, may irritate the customer. In addition, waiting for the diagnostic program to run may have an impact on the technical support representative's apparent productivity, as they cannot deal with other customers while waiting. As a result, there is a temptation for a vendor's technical support representative to guess at what might be failing rather than waiting for the diagnostic program to run its course. The technical support representative may then provide a known, perhaps previously used, valid diagnostic code that supports the representative's guess, without waiting for, or even running, the diagnostic software. Thus while the customer's wait time may be reduced, there can still be a significant number of unnecessary returns of non-defective components when the representative's guess is wrong.
As a result, there is a need in the art for the present invention.


A process for processing a feedstock comprising a major amount of olefinic hydrocarbons having 4 carbon atoms per molecule, including isobutene as well as but-1-ene and but-2-enes, wherein the process comprises processing said feedstock in a distillation zone associated with a hydroisomerization reaction zone located at least partly external to the distillation zone, said processing comprising drawing at the height of a draw-off level of the distillation zone at least part of the liquid flowing in the distillation zone, passing said liquid into the external hydroisomerization reaction zone to form a hydroisomerized effluent, and reintroducing at least part of the effluent from said reaction zone reintroduced into the distillation zone at one or more reintroduction level(s), so as to ensure the continuity of the distillation.

Isobutene intended for polymerization must have a purity level above 99% and it must only contain traces of but-1-ene and but-2-enes (a few hundred parts per million by weight, ppm). In fact, if the impurities of isobutene are too high, the resulting polymers are less good in quality and the polymerization yield is lower. As a result it is necessary to remove from a hydrocarbon cut containing isobutene other olefinic hydrocarbons containing 4 carbon atoms per molecule. Since but-1-ene and isobutene have very close boiling points, they cannot be separated by distillation, unless considerable means are used. The other olefinic hydrocarbons having 4 carbon atoms per molecule can be separated from isobutene by distillation.
The main problem that arises when producing high-purity isobutene is thus the separation of but-1-ene from isobutene. Several ways can be contemplated to carry out this separation.
The first way consists of sulfuric acid extraction: the isobutene is selectively hydrated and thereafter regenerated by treatment of the aqueous phase. If the temperature and the concentration are properly controlled, this process results in isobutene of good purity. However, the yield does not usually exceed 90% as extraction is not complete, and dimers and oligomers are formed, leading to the formation of toxic acid sludge.
The second way consists of cracking methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE): the isobutene is extracted from the C.sub.4 cut by reaction with methanol in order to form MTBE. The MTBE is then cracked into methanol and isobutene on an acid catalyst. The recovery yield is generally 96%. The isobutene produced exhibits good purity but the dimethyl ether that may form during cracking has to be removed.
The third way that may be contemplated is the dehydration of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). Methanol in the above process is replaced by water, and this leads to the formation of TBA. The isobutene is thereafter recovered by dehydration of the TBA. This way is not used commercially, mainly because TBA is very closely connected with the propylene oxide market. TBA can, depending on the processes, be a by-product of propylene oxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,283 describes a hydrocarbon conversion process comprising passing the feedstock into a fractionation zone, the top effluent being rich in one of the reactants and the bottom effluent being rich in reaction product, said process being such that a liquid flow is subjected to a side-stream draw-off, passed with a hydrogen-rich gaseous flow into a catalytic reaction zone, which gives rise to a reaction zone effluent comprising one of the reactants and the reaction product, a fraction of the gaseous part of said effluent being recycled to the reaction zone, the liquid part of said effluent being fed back into the fractionation zone, generally close to the point where it was drawn off. The hydroisomerization reaction of but-1-ene into but-2-enes is not mentioned.

Method for producing high purity isobutylene from a butane plus fraction containing isobutylene and butylene-1