Provided is an electronic controller which enables visual identification of a portion applied with a small amount of a sealing material, which has a high possibility of air leakage from an area in which a joint is to be established. The electronic controller includes: an electronic circuit board; and a casing including a cover (1), a base (4), and a lid sealed with a sealing material (20) applied to surfaces thereof at which the cover (1), the base (4), and the lid are to be joined together. An area in which the cover (1), the base (4), and the lid are to be joined together is provided with a space (16) thereto for enabling an application state of the sealing material (20) to be observed with a naked eye.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic controller which includes electronic components mounted on an electronic circuit board housed within a casing.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic controller, which is used for controlling a vehicle or the like, includes an electronic circuit board, a plurality of electronic components, and a casing. On the electronic circuit board, connectors for electrical connection to the exterior are provided. The plurality of electronic components are mounted on the electronic circuit board. The casing is made of a resin or a metal. The electronic circuit board is housed in the casing for protection of the electronic components.
Among various types of electronic controller, an electronic controller provided in an engine room or directly mounted on an engine has a water-proof structure in view of a possibility of getting wet with water. As an example of the electronic controller described above, there exists an electronic controller disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-258454 (FIGS. 4 and 5).
The electronic controller described in Japanese Patent Application cited above has the following structure. A casing including vertically separated members, that is, a base and a cover, is used to interpose an electronic circuit board on which a connector is provided. A gap between a peripheral wall end surface of the base and a flange portion of the cover is sealed with a water-proof sealing material.
A sealing structure at surfaces, at which the base and the connector, and the cover and the connector are to be respectively jointed together, is as follows. A groove is provided on the connector. A projecting portion is provided on the cover at a position corresponding to the groove, whereas another projecting portion is provided on the base. A water-proof sealing material is provided in the groove of the connector. In this manner, the gaps between the cover and the connector and between the base and the connector are sealed.
In the electronic controller having the water-proof structure as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-258454 cited above, it is necessary to check a water-proofing property thereof by an airtightness test so as to ensure the water-proofing property after the assembly of the electronic controller.
In a case of electronic controllers using an adhesive or a liquid packing as a sealing material, when an electronic controller which does not meet a predetermined standard because of a small application amount of the sealing material is found in the airtightness test for the casing of the electronic controller, it is necessary to additionally apply the sealing material from the exterior to an area of the casing, in which a joint is to be established, and to conduct the airtightness test again.
In the case of the electronic controller described above, however, the application amount of the sealing material on the area of the casing, in which a joint is to be established, cannot be easily checked. Therefore, it is difficult to identify a portion from which air leaks, specifically, a portion which requires to be additionally applied with the sealing material.
If, for example, complicated tasks such as immersing the electronic controller into a tank storing water therein and feeding air into the electronic controller to identify the air leakage portion are performed, the air leakage portion can be identified. However, conducting such tasks in a fabrication line for the electronic controllers is not practical in view of a line space, capital investment, and fabrication cost.
As described above, the conventional electronic controllers have had a problem in that it is difficult to identify a portion with a small amount of the sealing material, which has a high possibility of air leakage, and to additionally apply the sealing material only to the identified portion at the location of assembly.
As countermeasures against the aforementioned problem, it is possible to conceive of additionally applying the sealing material over the entire periphery from the exterior of the casing of the electronic controller. In this case, however, there arises another problem in that the amount of the sealing material to be used disadvantageously increases, thereby increasing the cost of the electronic controller.


System and method used to provide fast and accurate retrieval of findings results from large amounts of report documents (the corpus), such as medical record documents. The system maintains a dynamic list of the characteristics of no-finding called no-finding descriptors, each identified by a tag. Upon entering the corpus, the sentences of each new document are searched, and each sentence the content of which is similar to one of the descriptors is tagged. When search is conducted, the user enters a word or phrase, which expresses the subject of search. This subject is searched for in the corpus and from which a list of all sentences that contain the subject—the initial result list. This initial results list includes both finding and no-finding results. The final result list is obtained by extracting from the initial result list all occurrences of the tagged no-finding sentences.

The computerization of medical records and medical services has opened the door to many IT innovations. This is true particularly in the areas of advanced and accurate text search engines. The importance of accurate results to a doctor and researches searching through medical documents like pathology and radiology reports, admission and discharge documents, nurses notes etc. . . . ) is paramount. As such, it is important to perform the search not only for the right results (say you are looking for lungs disease), it is also important to leave out of the search results documents that show "no pathological findings" in the lungs.
Current search engines find all documents containing specific words or phrases. These searches have high false positive results, i.e. they retrieve many documents that does not contain the required information. The search can also miss important data. The reason is that the search query does not cover all possible expressions of the requested data. However, medical searches require high reliability.
US patent application 2012/0179696 by Charlot et all "System and process for concept tagging and concept retrieval" discloses a system and process for tagging documents in order to facilitate later retrieval. The tagged concepts are well-defined clinical finding. Hence, well-defined clinical findings can be retrieved. However, the definition of clinical findings cannot cover all clinical findings, and therefore the retrieval of clinical findings may skip important information. This patent does note cope with the problem of false positive results, where too many non-relevant results are being retrieved.
Medical search needs to differentiate between findings and no findings—e.g. the difference between the following cases:
there is no parenchymal nodule or pleural effusion
no evidence of parenchymal lesions
there are parenchymal changes
Post-Radiation Changes of the Lung Parenchyma
Doctors and researches need to be able to ask to exclude all cases with no pathological finding, otherwise the system becomes unusable. It is of paramount importance to identify no finding of pathological concepts and tag it as no finding so they can be excluded from the result set, if the user request so. Hence, there is a requirement for a search method that will assure reliable and comprehensive information retrieval.

Method and system for retrieval of findings from report documents


The present disclosure provides a peroxide-modified polyethylene, related compositions, and wire-and-cable products made therefrom. The process for preparing the peroxide-modified polyethylene including the steps of: (A) preparing a first Ziegler-Natta-catalyzed polyethylene in a first reactor; (B) transferring the first Ziegler-Natta-catalyzed polyethylene from the first reactor to a second reactor; (C) admixing a first amount of an organic peroxide to the second reactor; (D) reacting the organic peroxide with a polyethylene composition made from or containing the first Ziegler-Natta-catalyzed polyethylene, thereby coupling the polyethylene components and forming the peroxide-modified polyethylene; and (E) collecting the peroxide-modified polyethylene.

Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) catalyst systems can be used to produce linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), and high density polyethylene (HDPE) resins having excellent solid state properties. However, the Z-N-catalyzed polymers have shown limited usefulness for wire-and-cable applications because the polymers can have poor extrusion performance.
On the other hand, chromium-catalyzed LLDPE, MDPE, and HDPE have proved useful in wire-and-cable applications. Those products have demonstrated both excellent extrusion capability and retention of acceptable solid state properties. However, the chromium-catalyzed products show slower reactor production rates than the Z-N-catalyzed counterparts, adversely affecting the cost of making these polymers.
Because Z-N catalyzed polymers have production cost advantages over chromium-catalyzed polymers, it is desirable to produce Z-N catalyzed polymers that retain their excellent solid state properties while demonstrating extrusion capability similar to that of chromium-catalyzed polymers. It is further desirable that the Z-N catalyzed polymers provide extrudate surfaces, melt strength, toughness, environmental stress crack resistance, and heat deformation similar to or better than those properties of chromium-catalyzed polymers.

Peroxide-modified polyethylene, compositions, and applications


Apparatus (60, 105, 115, 130, 150) for the separation of a fluid into permeate and retentate portions. Such apparatus provides a plurality of hollow fiber separation wafers (10), each wafer comprising a mat (25) of hollow fibers (18) arranged chord-wise of the wafer; and peripheral support means (11) encompassing the ends (19) of the hollow fibers and having inside (14) and outside (15) faces and upper (12) and lower (13) faces. The apparatus further includes vessel means (59, 121, 149) providing a first port (66, 132, 155) for receiving the fluid, a second port (69, 136, 158) for withdrawing the retentate and a third port (68, 135, 156) for withdrawing the permeate; means for compressing (73, 104, 111, 138, 161) the plurality of wafers in axial alignment; and permeate chamber means (71, 148, 164) within the vessel, separate from the feedstream and the retentate by the means for compressing and the support means. A method for the separation of fluid feedstreams into permeate and retentate portions includes the steps of feeding the fluid into a module containing a plurality of hollow fibers arranged chord-wise in parallel sheets, each sheet being oriented perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the module; providing separate chambers for the permeate, communicating with the lumens of the hollow fibers, and for the retentate, communicating with the areas between the hollow fibers; and removing the permeate and retentate from the module.

The use of membranes in various forms for the separation of fluids to obtain a desired portion of the fluid is well known. Generally, one or several components of the feed fluid permeate through the membrane and are collected as the permeate portion. The portion of the fluid that cannot pass through the membrane, the retentate, is retained and discharged as fresh portions of the fluid to be separated are supplied to the membrane.
Membranes formed as hollow fibers or tubes are particularly useful because they are inherently strong to resist filtration pressures, they provide high surface area to volume ratios and, they can be readily arranged in various mechanical mountings. Conventional separation modules are configured as long cylinders with the hollow fibers arranged in an axial direction and terminated by plugs of potting material. One or both plugs are sliced to expose the open fiber ends and permit the flow of the permeate from the lumen of the tubular fiber.
In the existing devices, the fluid to be separated may be supplied to the outside of a fiber and the permeate may be collected from the lumen of the fiber. Alternatively, the fluid to be separated may be supplied to the lumen of the fiber and the permeate drained from outside of the fiber.
Hollow fiber membranes may be conveniently mounted in annular or similar frames or retainers having a continuous perimeter and an open central portion. The fibers are strung across the open central portion of the frame and the ends are embedded in the retainer thereby forming a wafer. The ends of the fibers are exposed at the outside surface of the retainer, giving access to the interior of the fibers, while the outside surfaces of the fibers are accessible in the open central portion of the retainer.
In order to obtain relatively high volume separation rates, membrane wafers are generally stacked coaxially so that the retainers bear on each other in sealing contact. Tight sealing of adjacent wafers is essential to avoid contamination of retentate and permeate. To achieve desirably high volume separation rates, the pressure of the fluid being subjected to the separation process is as large as possible. However, the fluid pressure is limited by the mechanical strength of the fibers, so that they are neither crushed nor ruptured, depending upon the direction of the pressure differential. The operating pressure is also limited by the fluid forces that tend to force the wafers apart, threatening the sealing engagement of adjacent wafer retainers.
Such membranes and corresponding separators incorporating the membranes are disclosed in various patents and applications. U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,816, for instance, describes an apparatus in which the interiors of the hollow fibers are connected to the exterior of the container so that either fluid permeate flows out of the apparatus or, in the event of fluid exchange, a second fluid flows in through the interiors of the fibers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,305 provides a hollow fiber device for separating fluids and a related method. The device employs a bundle of fibers 11, oriented axially of the housing 10. The fluid feedstream is fed through the center of the bundle via distributor tube 12, one end of which is plugged. The permeate fluids flow out of each end, via outlets 39 and 40, while the retentate is drawn from outlet 35.
French Pat. No. 2,222,134 discloses a module separator wherein the wafers comprise a fabric placed in a tube perpendicular to the direction of flow so that the openings of the hollow fibers are located around the periphery.
Japanese Pat. No. 56-28031 discloses a hollow fiber membrane separator consisting of a hollow fiber tube plate formed by use of a synthetic resin which fixes and integrates the ends of the hollow tubes, and a channel for fluid flow outside of the hollow tubes. The tube plate is disposed such that the flow direction of the fluid outside of the tubes is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow fiber tubes.
Finally, in German Pat. No. 2,650,341 a hollow fiber wafer is disclosed for use in a separator in which the hollow fibers are arranged in planes with an essentially non-parallel arrangement, essentially perpendicular to the flow direction of the substance to be separated.
While the aforementioned art discloses some of the ways in which hollow fiber wafers may be employed in a separator apparatus, it is nonetheless desirable to provide simple separation apparatus employing a plurality of hollow fiber membrane wafers in which the seals between adjacent wafers in the stack are maintained. Furthermore, it is desirable that the apparatus respond to changes in the fluid inlet pressure by altering the compression forces applied to the wafer stack to aid the sealing engagement of adjacent wafer retainers.

Hollow fiber separation module and method for the use thereof


The present invention is a fire control system. The fire control system comprises a manually aimed gun having a sighting device and a device for acquiring a target. The acquiring device is disposed at a location remote from the gun. The fire control system also comprises a device for providing information relating to the target to the sighting device of the gun such that an operator of the gun can aim the gun with respect to the sighting device. The providing device is in communication with the acquiring device and the sighting device. The present invention is also a fire control method for a minor caliber gun. The method comprises the step of acquiring a target from a location which is remote from the gun. Next, there is the step of providing information relating to the target to a sighting device of the gun. Then, there is the step of manually aiming the gun in accordance with the information appearing on the sighting device.

Historically, minor caliber (<40 mm) weapon stations have been crew-operated with the crew providing both manual weapon movement and aiming. Sights generally were little more than iron reticles with gunnery limited by visual conditions. Such small caliber weapon stations offered no night capability and had limitations imposed by inclement weather such as smoke and fog, frequent conditions found in operational situations.
Recent advancements in day/night sights, laser ranging, stabilization, target acquisition and tracking and digital processing have led to a new generation of highly accurate weapon stations. These new weapon stations are capable of accurate target engagements twenty-four hours a day, even while being subjected to disturbances such as vibration and movement. While these performance improvements have been impressive, there has been a price to pay. That price has been an evolution toward remotely operated weapon stations with a significant increase in weight and complexity (cost). A typical control sequence for a remotely operated motorized weapon is shown in FIG. 5. In remotely operated weapon systems, target acquisition data, such as infrared imaging, laser ranging and stabilization are used to directly control a mechanical positioning device to automatically aim the gun. Because of the complexity and cost of modern fire control systems, they have not been used with minor caliber manually aimed guns. Since modern warfare is now dependent on twenty-four hour capability while providing superior fire control accuracy, it is necessary to develop a manually aimed gun having access to the sophisticated fire control technology of many remotely operated weapon stations.
The present invention utilizes modern fire control technology and provides (both day AND night) for manually aimed weapon stations.


A method for detecting solutions to a problem using content in online discussion sources. The method includes receiving a request, such request identifying a problem, and searching multiple online discussion sources for content related to the problem. Responsive to finding content related to the problem, the method searches the multiple online discussion sources for a plurality of solutions to the problem. Responsive to finding a plurality of solutions to the problem, the method forms groups containing the solutions from each of the multiple online discussion sources. The method then determines a likeliness to solve the problem for each of the groups and ranks the groups based on the determined likeliness to solve the problem. The method then determines that the rank of at least one group meets a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is based on a confidence in the likeliness to solve the problem.

Online discussion sources, including online discussion forums, email correspondence and message boards, are a popular way for people to communicate using the Internet. Online discussion forums, for example, include user generated content on a specific topic, including questions, discussions, problems and corresponding solutions related to the topic. Many companies provide online discussion forums associated with their products so that users, and potentially product support staff and developers, can communicate regarding problems encountered with the product.
A user encountering a problem may visit the company's online discussion forum when a solution is not present in a product manual or elsewhere on the company's website, such as on a frequently asked questions (FAQ) webpage. The user can search existing discussion threads, and upon finding a related topic, post a new message regarding the problem. The user may also decide not to search and can instead create a new discussion thread. As a result, online discussion forums contain a large number of messages within many discussion threads that may only correspond to a relatively small number of issues, which makes it difficult to determine main issues and their solutions.

Using content found in online discussion sources to detect problems and corresponding solutions

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of creating a graphical user interface having control(s) to direct any task through a computer system is provided. One application of the user interface is for manipulating a time based stream of information to create a presentation. The methods use a layered graphic file that is accessed by an application program to generate the user interface. Each layer of the graphic file contains a control object to an element of the user interface. The control objects are capable of being revised in order to make alterations to the user interface. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the graphical user interface are also described.

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) provide a picturesque display of computer output and controls for a user to direct various operations of software. GUIs allow for endless possibilities of creating a user-friendly environment in which to view and interact with computer systems.
It is usually important for a user interface to have a look and feel that is comfortable for the user. For many application programs, e.g. word processors, database programs, Web browsers, development tools, editing programs, communication programs, etc., it is desirable for the user interface to be designed with a control panel that it provides for ease of use. For example, in editing applications simple GUIs are especially significant.
Some editing applications involve the manipulation of time based streams of information by novice users to create presentations. These time-based streams of information may be in the form of full motion images, e.g. video and movies; audio, e.g. music, sound effects, and voice/narration; motion graphics, e.g. animation; still images, e.g. text, pictures; and combinations thereof. The information is usually comprised of a stream of individual units, e.g. frames or blocks. Frequently, this information is in a digital format and resides on any of a number of conventional electronic mediums.
Some prior editing systems include Studio DV from Pinnacle Systems Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif.; Avid Cinema® from Avid Technology, Inc. of Tewksbury, Mass.; Adobe Premier® from Adobe of San Jose, Calif.; Dazzle* Digital Video Creator™ from Dazzle Multimedia of Fremont, Calif.; and DVgate™ from Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan.
Digital editing is typically performed in an editing processing system and involves random retrieval of information from storage, communication of the information, e.g. display on a monitor, and then manipulation of the information to produce the desired presentation. The presentation often appears as a seamless flow of the edited information.
Traditionally, editing of multimedia to produce presentations involved complex techniques performed by trained professionals. However, recently novice users have become interested in making presentations, as well. The processing of multimedia to produce sophisticated home movies, web sites, business presentations, marketing demonstrations, amateur movies, etc. has been gaining in popularity.
Given the currently diverse level of skills among authors of presentations, it is desirable to provide processing systems that are easy and convenient to operate. Such systems should have simple user interface displays from which a user may work.
In general, a user may direct software operations by employing tools, referred to as "control elements," e.g. buttons, menus, windows, text, etc, that are provided by a computer system. Typically, at least some of the control elements are displayed on the user interface. Control elements may be active in instructing the software to execute operations, such as output information, or may be passive to simply display useful information on the screen, such as windows showing stored data. Several attributes of control elements presented on the display, such as the control elements' presentation, behavior, function, etc., influence the overall convenience of the GUI.
Applications for the GUI often vary among users and in certain uses control elements may be more important than other controls. For example, different GUI's may be used to generate presentations for business talks, home movies, academic lectures, etc. However, most prior systems have fixed user interfaces that waste precious screen real estate on control elements that are less important for a particular application. It would be useful, then, for a processing system to provide a user interface that may be redesigned to emphasize only the desired control elements and to show them in a preferred manner. Designers of the GUI should be permitted to easily change the characteristics of the control elements.
Previously, GUI's have been created by first drawing the look of an image, e.g. the control element, with a graphic file and then converting the drawn picture into an intermediary format containing details regarding the image. The intermediate format is used to add various aspects of a control element, such its function, behavior, location, and/or the like. Such an intermediate format is any resource or file that is complementary to the application or built into the application that is required to fully describe a control element on a GUI. The intermediate format is picked up by an application program and depicted on a display. Since the user interface is a representation of the intermediary format, the user interface may not be altered through the graphic file without reconverting the entire file to the intermediary format. Thus, a control element may not be altered without recompiling the complete GUI.
Whenever any component of the GUI is changed, a designer of the user interface must patiently wait while for the entire interface to be reconverted. As a result, much time is wasted while the designer remains idle. The lack of immediate feedback is inconvenient, especially when multiple attempts are made at editing before the desired modifications are achieved. However, with these previous processing systems, the designer may not inspect even the most minor changes to determine if the edits are acceptable until after the intermediate format step is complete and then accessed by the application. By comparison, it would be beneficial for a system to permit the designer to immediately view any alterations made to the interface. Quick feedback of revisions speeds up the editing of the GUI and simplifies revisions.
Another drawback with these previous methods is that some of the details of the GUI may become lost in the conversion of the graphics drawing into the intermediary format. By contrast, elimination of the intermediate format step reduces the risk of lost details. Furthermore, by avoiding the intermediate format step, there is one less process that may provide bugs in the production of a GUI.
In light of the shortcomings of the various currently available systems, there is still a need for a quick and simple method of creating a GUI in a manner. In particular, there is an interest in a processing system that allows a designer to easily edit the display of control elements on a GUI.


A system is provided where the system comprises a plurality of optical sources, each optical source configured to generate an optical beam and direct the optical beam from each of the plurality of optical sources towards a target; a beam discriminator module configured to monitor a parameter for each optical beam generated from each of the optical source; and a position sensor configured to receive a feedback from the beam discriminator module based on the monitored parameter; wherein based on the feedback, the position sensor determines if any optical beam at the target is off-target.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to directed energy systems.
2. Related Art
Directed energy systems are commonly used in various airborne or terrestrial platforms to communicate with one or more targets. Typically, a directed energy system may emit, direct and transfer a selected amount of energy to a target for a desired effect. In this case, energy specifically implies energy that is transferred by the propagation of electro-magnetic radiation. An example of a directed energy system operating at a platform is a laser source emitting a laser beam.
The term "platform" (may also be referred to as "source") as used herein, includes aircrafts, helicopters, satellites, automobiles and any terrestrial or airborne vehicle. For purposes of this disclosure, a target may be an aircraft, helicopter, satellite, automobile, any terrestrial or airborne vehicle, a building or any other object.
Typically, directed energy systems use a direct, point to point architecture to communicate with targets. A direct, point to point architecture needs a clear line of sight for effective communication and a desired effect. In a real life situation, for example, in a tactical battle field, a clear line of sight between a directed energy system and a target may be difficult to obtain. This is one shortcoming of conventional directed energy system communication architecture.
Another shortcoming of the conventional architecture for using directed energy systems is that they are platform centric, i.e., the platform that hosts the directed energy system has to carry other equipment for effectively operating the directed energy system. For example, a laser system with a missile defense mission includes all the laser power for the mission within its payload. The system also includes equipment for illumination lasers, tracking systems, hardware for operating various components and a power source. A platform may not always able to support high energy equipment and the devices associated with a directed energy system. This may limit the overall application and effectiveness of a directed energy system.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a network centric directed energy system that is able to distribute functions and capabilities of directed energy systems while allowing individual sensing and control of the energy sources. Conventional directed energy systems fail to provide such characteristics.


An improved benthic microbial fuel cell for generating energy at the interface of aquatic sediment and seawater includes an anode electrode embedded within the aquatic sediment, a cathode electrode positioned within the seawater and above the aquatic sediment, a rig for maintaining the relative positions of the anode and cathode electrodes, electrical leads extending from the anode and cathode electrodes to a load, wherein the anode electrode comprises a bottlebrush electrode residing within a permeable tube. The apparatus is easier to deploy than previously-described fuel cells, while being lighter, more durable, and generating greater power density. Also disclosed are methods of generating power from such an apparatus.

Marine-deployed electronic devices such as sensors are typically powered by batteries. However, batteries eventually deplete and require replacement. Thus, long-term continuous function of deployed devices would involve periodic retrieval and replacement of their battery packs, which can be expensive, time-consuming, and dangerous.
One attempt at a solution to this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,854 which describes an apparatus referred to as a benthic microbial fuel cell (BMFC), which is a microbial fuel cell that persistently generates electrical power from the marine sediment/water interface to operate marine deployed electronic devices.
A benthic fuel cell generates electrical power by oxidizing organic matter (fuel) residing in sediment pore water with oxygen (oxidant) in overlying water. It includes of a non-corrosive anode (typically consisting of but not limited to graphite) embedded in marine sediment and connected by an external electrical circuit to a non corrosive cathode (also typically consisting of but not limited to graphite) positioned in overlying water.
The BMFC uses biofilms that spontaneously form on the electrode surfaces to catalyze the reactions. Because mass transport of the reactants and products is provided by natural environmental processes and because the biofilm catalysts continuously regenerate themselves, BMFCs are capable of persistent power generation. Thus, the BMFC is of interest for continuously recharging batteries for long-term operation of marine-deployed electronic devices. Such a hybrid approach is expected to allow persistent operation provided by the BMFC with ability to utilize short bursts of peak power provided by batteries as required, for example, by radio transmission of data.
However, prior BMFCs have various undesirable properties impeding their utilization, in that they are fragile, large, and difficult to properly arrange at the sediment/water interface. These problems have prevented BMFCs from replacing batteries in actual use in marine-deployed electronic devices. A need exists for an improved source of electrical power for such devices.

Advanced apparatus for generating electrical power from aquatic sediment/water interfaces

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


An automatic address distributing method, computer program and system for automatically examining addresses already assigned to terminals connected to a network without regard to the status of the existing terminals and removed terminals. An address may be assigned to a terminal by apparatus other than a DHCP server. After a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server has been started, addresses currently used in a network are examined by a duplicate-address examining unit and the status of the address are stored in an in-use-address database (DB). When a terminal makes a request for distribution of an address, the DHCP server distributes an address that is currently not used in the network. In the examination carried out by the duplicate-address examining unit, an inquiry about the entire name information controlled by a Domain Name Service (DNS) server is made to the DNS server. Results of the inquiry are also stored in the in-use-address DB. Then, a mobile-agent DB is examined for a mobile agent. An inquiry about information on movement status of mobile terminals is made to the mobile agent cataloged in the mobile-agent DB. Results of this inquiry are also stored in the in-use-address DB.

The present invention relates to a network system, method and computer program constructed in a Local Area Network (LAN). More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic address distributing method, computer program and system having a function for distributing addresses each serving as identification information of each terminal connected to the LAN.
With the development of network systems, there have been encountered problems that the amount of work load in system construction and management increases and addresses each serving information for uniquely identifying each terminal connected to a network become obsolete. In order to solve the problems, there have been proposed methods of automatically distributing an address which can be used only for a fixed period of time to each terminal connected to a network.
A representative one of the methods is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) described in the DHCP Network Working Group Requests for Comments (RFC) by R. Doms, IETF, October 1993, information on standardizations open to the public. The DHCP allows the amount of work load in the system construction and management to be reduced and makes efficient use of addresses possible.
A point in the dynamic distribution of addresses according to the conventional technology to which attention should be paid is that the same address as one used for a terminal connected to the network must not be distributed to another terminal, that is, duplicate assignment of an address must be avoided. There are two techniques for addressing this problem.
According to a first technique addresses used in a network are examined in advance. The addresses found used in an existing network by the examination conducted in advance are never cataloged in a database used for storing addresses to be distributed by the server having a function for distributing addresses by the DHCP so as to avoid duplicate assignment of an address.
According to a second technique, in order to avoid duplicate assignment of an address by the DHCP, a packet is transmitted to an address to be assigned to a terminal prior to the distribution of the address. In this way, it is possible to determine if the address has been assigned to an existing terminal connected to the network.
The first technique has a problem that an additional work load for examining and cataloging addresses is introduced. Depending upon the size and complexity of the network, the problem caused by the additional work load may be severe.
The second technique has a problem that it may not be possible to examine whether or not a terminal having the same address as the one to be distributed exists due to the following reasons:
1) The terminal is in an off-line state due to, for example, the fact that the power supply thereof is turned off,
2) Because of network congestion, the transmitted packet is lost, and
3) The terminal is moved from the current network to another network with network information relevant to the terminal such as the address thereof left in the current network.
The shorter the period of time in which a distributed address can be used, in other words, the shorter the validity period of a distributed address, the higher the utilization efficiency of the address. However, a packet is required for requesting that the period of time or the validity period be extended. Transmission of such packets gives rise to a problem that the traffic of the network becomes excessively heavy.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic address distributing method, computer program and system for automatically examining addresses already assigned to terminals connected to a network without regard to the status of the existing terminals and removed terminals.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic address distributing method, computer program and system that eliminates packets for requesting extension of the validity periods of distributed addresses with the efficient use of distributed addresses kept as it is.
In order to achieve the objects described above, the present invention provides an automatic address distributing system having an address distributing server in a network system for automatically distributing network information including address information to terminals connected to the network system. The address distributing server includes a duplicate-address examining apparatus for automatically examining addresses already used by the terminals prior to distribution of an address and an in-use-address storing apparatus for storing examination results produced by the duplicate-address examining apparatus, thereby avoiding distribution of a duplicate address of an address already used in the network system.
The network system further includes a name server for controlling relations between terminal addresses and host names. The duplicate-address examining apparatus examines addresses used by the terminals connected to the network system by making an inquiry to the name server.
The network system further includes a mobility agent for monitoring as well as supporting a movement of a terminal from the network system to another network system. The duplicate-address examining apparatus examines an address used by a terminal having moved to another network system by making an inquiry to the mobility agent.
In addition, the present invention also provides an automatic address distributing system having an address distributing server in a network system for automatically distributing network information including address information to terminals connected to the network system. The network system includes a mobility agent for supporting a movement of a terminal from the network system to another network system and the address distributing server includes a storage apparatus for storing information on the mobility agent. The address distributing server receives a message transmitted by the mobility agent, wherein the message is used to obtain information on a location and movement of a terminal connected to the network system, and automatically stores information conveyed by the message from the mobility agent in the storage apparatus.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides an automatic address distributing system having an address distributing server in a network system for automatically distributing network information including address information to terminals connected to the network system. The address distributing server includes a storage apparatus for storing an initial validity period, a current validity period and the number of validity-period extensions of each distributed address, thereby dynamically modifying the validity period of a distributed address in response to a request for an extension of the validity period made by a terminal owning the distributed address.
In addition, the address distributing server notifies a terminal owning a distributed address of an extended validity period derived by extension of the current validity period by a product of the initial validity period and the number of validity-period extensions in response to a request for an extension of the validity period made by the terminal.
Furthermore, when an address is distributed to a terminal which used the same address previously, the address distributing server notifies the terminal of a current validity period of the distributed address which is derived by using the previous validity period of the distributed address.
The present invention further provides a method and computer program each having steps corresponding to the functions described above with respect to the embodiments of the automatic address distributing system.


A method of providing supplemental information synchronized with a piece of media content being played and related to a current state of the piece of media content being played is provided. The supplemental information may be transmitted to an electronic device in synchronization with the playing of the piece of media content on an audio/visual display interface. The method includes receiving identifying information from the electronic device and/or the audio/visual display interface, storing the identifying information in an active device table, receiving a viewing initiation notification, and transmitting the supplemental information to the electronic device in response to the viewing initiation notification. The electronic device may also transmit a request to begin playing the piece of media content. Transmission of the supplemental information may be paused, stopped, or resumed in synchronization with the piece of media content being played.

While the present invention is often described herein with reference to a digital video disc, Blu-Ray disc, and video game distribution system, an application to which the present invention is advantageously suited, it will be readily apparent that the present invention is not limited to that application and can be employed in article dispensing systems used to distribute a wide variety of dispensable articles.
The digital video disc (DVD) player has been one of the most successful consumer electronics product launches in history. The market for DVD movie video, Blu-Ray movie video, and video game rentals is enormous and growing. Millions of households have acquired DVDs since they were introduced in 1997. In the first quarter of 2003 alone, it was estimated that well over three million DVD players were shipped to U.S. retailers.
In 2003, brick-and-mortar stores dominated the movie video and video game rental landscape in the U.S. Statistics showed that two brick-and-mortar companies controlled nearly sixty-five percent of the home video rental business. One element repeatedly cited for success of certain brick- and mortar store video rental franchises was perceived high availability of new video releases. Consumers want entertainment on demand, and through stocking multiple units of each new release, successful brick-and-mortar companies meet this consumer demand.
The foregoing indicates that there is a significant market potential for aligning regular routines of consumers (e.g., shopping, getting coffee or gas or going to a convenience store) with their DVD, Blu-Ray, and video game rental activities.
One improved article dispensing machine is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The invention of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention can function as an article dispensing machine-based distribution system that will typically have multiple units of each new release per article dispensing machine. The dispensing machines of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention can stock up to two thousand DVDs, Blu-Ray, video games, or other discs (movies, games or other entertainment content), making the system competitive with existing brick-and-mortar video rental superstores.
The dispensing machine and system of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention distinguishes itself from such stores by offering major benefits not conventionally offered by such stores, including additional cross-marketing programs (e.g., promotional rentals for a certain amount of dollars spent at the retail location) and convenience (e.g., open always).
The dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention yields a competitive advantage in the DVD, Blu-Ray disc, and video game rental marketplace by offering consumers cross-marketing/promotional programs, convenience of selection (e.g., computer-based searches for movies and recommendations based on consumer profiles), and potentially extended hours. The present invention employs a more cost-effective, convenient platform than brick-and-mortar stores. In addition, with the present invention, dispensing machines can be situated in retail locations having high foot traffic, such as at a popular grocery store, restaurant, drug store, and/or other popular retail location.
The dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention can be operated at a substantial savings over the costs associated with traditional brick-and-mortar video rental stores. For example, the present invention does not require hourly employees manning the dispensing machines or restocking them with inventories, due to the ability of the article transport storage units to be delivered to/picked up from retail locations by third-party delivery services, such as traditional or contracted courier services.
Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, the dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention does not require an on-site store manager because all operational decisions can be made at a centralized location by a management team officed remote from the retail locations. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, the dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention does not require significant physical space. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, the dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention has low operating costs because no heating or air conditioning is required for the dispensing machines and they consume a relatively low level of electrical energy. In addition, the dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 has low maintenance costs and downtime.
The dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention addresses the shortcomings of traditional brick-and-mortar stores in a convenient and cost-effective delivery vehicle having the added bonus of serving as an effective promotional platform that drives incremental sales to retail locations. In addition, the dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention overcomes these disadvantages by at least offering more new releases and older selections for any given time period, and lower cost per viewing with significantly more convenience than Internet-based and pay-per-view services.
The dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention is a fully automated, integrated DVD, Blu-Ray, and video game rental and/or purchase systems. It preferably incorporates robust, secure, scalable software that provides a fully personalized user experience and real-time feedback to retail locations and advertisers, scalable hardware that leverages existing technologies such as touch screen, focused audio speakers and video monitors, technology utilizing the Internet through a system website or mobile/consumer electronics device application, and an article transport storage unit that facilitates the exchange of new discs for old discs in each machine with virtually no need for human intervention. These technologies and others fill long-felt needs in the art and give advantages over conventional video distribution options. The dispensing machine of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,609 and the present invention functions as much as a promotional platform as it does a rental kiosk.
By utilizing the dispensing machines and the fully-interactive, real-time, linked Internet website or mobile/consumer electronics device applications, consumers can rent one or more DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, video games, or other entertainment content directly from dispensing machines as well as indirectly by making a rental reservation through the website or application for later pickup at a conveniently located machine. These dispensing machines are preferably networked with each other, with the inventory control and/or supply office and with the system website or application by phone-line, DSL, wireless network, or other Internet connection at each retail location. Through this linked network, the rental experience for each consumer can be customized based on a profile for each consumer, such as via personalized home pages and rental screens.
Existing systems may provide access on an electronic device to bonus material related to a movie on a DVD or Blu-Ray disc, such as deleted scenes, trailers, and director commentary. However, the bonus material accessible on the electronic device is the same as the bonus material that already exists on the disc containing the movie. A user may access the bonus material on the electronic device but the bonus material is not synchronized to a viewing of the movie. In addition, the bonus material is limited to the static content on the DVD or Blu-Ray disc. Moreover, other existing systems may provide information related to a piece of media content on the same screen that is displaying the piece of media content. For example, an offer to purchase a product that is being shown in a movie could be displayed on a television screen that is also displaying the movie. However, information that is displayed on the screen may be displeasing to a viewer because of the distraction and clutter that the information creates on the screen.
The present invention allows for providing supplemental information related to a piece of media content to an electronic device. The supplemental information can be synchronized to the piece of media content and can be related to a current state of the piece of media content. The supplemental information may be transmitted to the electronic device automatically in response to the start of play of the piece of media content on an audio/visual display interface. Alternately, a user can manually start transmission of the supplemental information by simultaneously indicating that playing of the piece of media content has begun. Playing the piece of media content may also be requested by a user through the electronic device. The present invention overcomes disadvantages of existing systems by providing supplemental information that is not necessarily already available and by transmitting the supplemental information to an electronic device separate from the audio/visual display interface that is displaying the piece of media content. Moreover, the present invention transmits the supplemental information in synchronization with the piece of media content being played, and ensures that the supplemental information is related to a current state of the piece of media content. Other features and advantages are provided by the following description and drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for providing supplemental information related to media content


A flame ionization detector having at least one combustion chamber, at least one conduit for directing a gas or gas mixture, and at least one electrode structure, and a process for forming the flame ionization detector by providing two or more green ceramic films, forming geometric structures in said green ceramic films, depositing at least a portion of an electrically conductive structure on at least one of said green ceramic films, stacking said green ceramic films, laminating said green ceramic films, and sintering said laminated green ceramic films to form said flame ionization detector.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for the production of a flame ionization detector, whereby the flame ionization detector has at least one combustion chamber, at least one channel for directing a gas or gas mixture, and at least one electrode structure. The invention also relates to a corresponding flame ionization detector.
Description of Related Art
Flame ionization detectors (FID) are used for the measurement of organic compounds, in particular volatile hydrocarbon-containing substances. The principle of operation consists in that the electrical conductivity of an oxy/hydrogen flame between two electrodes is measured. The medium that is to be analyzed is in this case directed into a combustion space with a combustion gas (usually hydrogen gas or a mixture of hydrogen and helium) and an oxidizing agent (in most cases oxygen or air) and ionized there. The ions are detected by a voltage being applied to two electrodes (measuring electrode and counter-electrode), which are arranged in the area of the combustion chamber, and the ion stream that is produced is measured and evaluated.
One advantage of the flame ionization detectors consists in the fact that the measurement signal over a wide concentration range is linearly proportional to the amount of the analytes, or more precisely to their hydrogen-bound carbon content. Therefore, for example, the concentration of a hydrocarbon can be determined without prior calibration.
A flame ionization detector usually has a combustion chamber, electrodes, channels for feeding in and drawing off gases or gas mixtures, and an ignition device. The openings of the channels into the combustion chamber are referred to as nozzles. In order to prevent leakage currents flowing through the system from being co-detected and thus distorting the measurement, in most cases a protective electrode is also provided.
If the combustion gas and the oxidizing agent are directed into the combustion chamber from opposite directions, the arrangement is also referred to as a counter-current burner. Counter-current flames burn in the immediate vicinity of a stagnation point, which because of the minimal heat loss accounts for the high ionization efficiency of such flames.
Since hydrogen is used in the measurement, flame ionization detectors are preferably configured to be small, so as to reduce the risk of explosion. Such a miniaturized flame ionization detector is referred-to as a μFID.
Flame ionization detectors that are produced with the method of the microsystem technique are known. The International Patent Application Publication WO 2009/036854 A1 or the related European Patent EP 2 191 263 B1 and corresponding U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0301870 A1, describe a flame ionization detector that is designed to be planar and that consists of at least three small plate-like substrates that consist of glass or silicon and that are connected to one another.
The German Patent Application DE 10 2009 035 762 A1 and European Patent Application EP 2 447 716 A1 describe a flame ionization detector that also consists of three layers (glass or silicon) and that is manufactured by means of the method of the microsystem technique, and said flame ionization detector is configured as a counter-current burner. The measuring and protective electrodes are applied in a thin-film technique to the bottom of a substrate, whereby the side walls of the combustion chamber form the counter-electrode. Moreover, a temperature-dependent resistor is also provided as a temperature sensor. Different arrangements of the channels for the directing of gases are discussed. Based on the fact that substrates that consist of different materials are used with temperature coefficients that are different to some extent, the detector can be adversely affected by thermal stress depending on the application, or the structures of the detector can be configured based on different expansion behavior as a result of temperature changes.
In the article "Development and Analysis of a LTCC Micro Stagnation-Point Flow Combustor" by Ming-Hsun Wu and Richard A. Yetter, J. Micromech. Microenc. 18 (2008), Number 12, a counter-current burner is described, which was produced by means of an LTCC method.
Low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) are used to produce multi-layer ceramic structures. In this case, unfired, so-called "green" ceramic films are structured individually, stacked, laminated, and subjected to a sintering profile at a peak temperature of approximately 850° C.-900° C.; below, the technical term "green ceramic films" is used to describe unfired ceramic films. At the maximum temperatures that occur during sintering, the LTCC method is distinguished from the production of high-temperature co-fired ceramics (High-Temperature Co-Fired Ceramics, HTCC), which are sintered at temperatures of between 1600° C. and 1800° C. In addition, thick-layer hybrid techniques are known, whereby strip conductors or resistors are applied using the silk-screen method on already-sintered ceramic substrates. The printed carrier is fired, whereby the applied pastes fuse to the layers. Subsequently, assembly of the discrete components takes place.

Method for the production of a flame ionization detector and corresponding flame ionization detector


Described herein are systems and methods for detecting a physiological response based on facial skin color changes (FSCC) recognizable in images taken with an inward-facing head-mounted visible-light camera (VCAMin). Some examples of physiological responses whose manifestation involves FSCC include emotional responses (which at times may be hidden to the naked eye), and physiological signals such as a heart rate, heart rate variability, and/or a breathing rate. In one embodiment, a system that detects a physiological response based on FSCC includes VCAMin that takes images of a region of interest (IMROI) on a user's face, which is illuminated by ambient light, and a computer that detects the physiological response based on FSCC recognizable in IMROI. Optionally, the system includes an outward-facing head-mounted visible-light camera (VCAMout) that takes images of the environment (IMENV), and the computer detects the physiological response also based on IMENV.

Various biological processes cause facial skin color changes (FSCC). FSCC are typically a result of changes in the concentration levels of hemoglobin and blood oxygenation under a user's facial skin due to a physiological response that involves changes in the user's emotional state and/or changes in the user's physical state, and/or due to normal biological processes. These changes in the concentration levels of hemoglobin and blood oxygenation can cause subtle changes in the hue and saturation components of the user's facial skin color.
There are well known methods to infer the emotional state and various physiological parameters (such as heart rate and breathing rate) of a person based on FSCC. For example, US patent application 20160098592 describes extracting emotions based on hemoglobin concentration changes (HCC) from red, green and blue (RGB) video. As another example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,768,438, 8,977,347, 8,855,384, 9,020,185, 8,617,081 and US patent application number 20130215244 describe extracting heart rate and related parameters from RGB video, near-IR video, and multi-spectral video streams. As still another example, the following three publications explain how FSCC (resulting from concentration changes of hemoglobin and/or oxygenation) are related to emotions: (i) Ramirez, Geovany A., et al. "Color analysis of facial skin: Detection of emotional state" in Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Workshops, 2014; (ii) Wang, Su-Jing, et al. "Micro-expression recognition using color spaces", in IEEE Transactions on Image Processing 24.12 (2015): 6034-6047; and (iii) Jimenez, Jorge, et al. "A practical appearance model for dynamic facial color", in ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG). Vol. 29. No. 6. ACM, 2010.
All the prior art methods for detecting physiological responses based on FSCC analyze video of the face taken from a camera that is remote of the user, and thus these methods typically face challenges involving face tracking and image registration. Additionally, the prior art methods do not utilize measurements of illumination interferences (such as variations in ambient light), which may, in some cases, affect the accuracy of detections of physiological responses based on FSCC. Consequently, accuracy of the prior art may be susceptible to errors that degrade the performance of detections of physiological responses based on FSCC, especially in real world, less controlled settings where the user moves and the ambient light varies.

Eyeglasses that measure facial skin color changes


The method and apparatus of converting a sine-wave signal of one frequency to a sine-wave signal of a different frequency comprises a four port pass means that is controlled by at least two control signals. An error signal is generated by the difference between the rectified output signal and a locally generated reference signal. The error signal is compared to a high frequency sawtooth signal to provide a pulse width signal which generates a two state output signal. The first state is when the amplitude of the sawtooth signal is less than the error signal and the second state is when the amplitude of the sawtooth signal is greater than the amplitude of the error signal. The two state pulse width modulated signal is combined with the output from a polarity control means for obtaining the control signals.

It has been found that the most efficient way to convert an alternating current (AC) signal of a first frequency to an alternating current signal of a second frequency or to invert a direct current (DC) signal to an alternating current signal is to use pulse duration modulation techniques. Reference can be made to the National Technical Information Service publication of the U.S. Department of Commerce, No. AD-A036 027 published January 1977 entitled "Trade-Off Investigations and Detailed Design of Power Inverters" by W. G. Lawrence.
In most inverter or converter systems, the input signal is applied to an input conditioner which is used to reduce the electromagnetic interference, perform voltage transformation, and in some cases provide isolation, regulation and protection for the remainder of the circuitry. The output of the input conditioner, which should be a direct current signal, is conducted to what is commonly referred to as the inverter power stage which performs the basic functions of the inverter by changing the direct current signal into an alternating current signal and provides regulation when not accomplished in the input conditioner. The output of the inverter power stage is passed to the output conditioner which, in general, is selectable so as to provide a selection of voltages. In addition, the output conditioner includes output filtering and may include input/output isolation if it is not provided elsewhere in the converter.
Voltage selection and isolation can both be accomplished easily by the use of an output transformer. The transformer secondaries can be rewired in series or parallel to provide the desired output voltages. There are transformerless output conditioners also known in the art and the selection of either the transformer type output conditioner or the transformerless type output conditioner is based upon the design application of the circuitry. However, in cases of a low frequency output voltage, a transformer if used, would be extremely bulky and in this case, the transformerless type output conditioner might be preferable. However, for AC to AC converter applications which require isolation, the transformer is part of the input conditioner or the output conditioner in accordance with the higher frequency.
The inverter power stage, because it controls the basic functions, is what determines the efficiency, accuracy and response time of the converter system. It has been found that the most advantageous type of inverter uses the technique of generating a high frequency rectangular waveform which is pulse duration modulated to synthesize the output sinewave while simultaneously controlling the amplitude and frequency of the output. The output filtering requirements are greatly reduced in that the filter need only remove the high frequency switching frequency from the output signals. Filter design is, therefore, relatively independent of the output frequency and the same filter may be used for the 60 hertz and 400 hertz outputs or for any other reasonable frequency design. An additional advantage is that the filter impedance is lower at the output frequency thus reducing the phase shift across the filter and minimizing the problems of parallel operations and operations with unbalanced loads.
In the prior art inverters as well as the inverter disclosed herein, the inverter power stage acts as a power amplifier for signals developed at lower levels by a signal generator and controller. Each inverter power stage requires the generation of single phase and/or three phase outputs of closely controlled frequency and amplitude. Alternative sine-wave sources include sine-wave oscillators, square-wave generators with filters, quasi-square-wave generators with filters and digital-to-analog converters.
It is a generally held opinion that the prior art sine-wave oscillator has two distinct disadvantages; two sets of frequency determining elements are required for the two outputs and for three-phase generation, the three oscillators must be kept precisely 120.degree. apart in their phasing.
The square-wave generator source is simple to produce but filtering becomes a problem along with the need to maintain proper phasing with changes in component values. While the quasi-square-wave type signal generator reduces the filter demands, a three level logic signal is required which is not readily available from standard logic elements.
It is generally known in the prior art as can be referred to in the above reference publication that digital-to-analog converters are the most efficient signal generators. In this publication, it is stated that the digital-to-analog converter, while seeming more complicated at first glance, has distinct advantages over the other signal generator circuits. Each of the three separate phases may be derived from a common counter and control network driven by a single crystal controlled oscillator. The number of steps provided in the converter for synthesizing the sine-wave may be chosen to provide low distortion and minimum filtering and phase shift. By suitable selection of the oscillator frequency a single crystal oscillator can be used to provide 50, 60 or 400 hertz outputs just by changing the countdown between the oscillator and the digital-to-analog converter. The crystal controlled oscillator feeds a frequency controlled signal to the divider through controlled circuitry. This controlled circuitry may include synchronizing circuitry to synchronize interconnected inverters and/or synchronize the signal produced to a possible pulse duration modulator. In response to an input control signal, the counter decoder can provide outputs for the desired output frequency. DC outputs of the counter decoder are fed to the digital-to-analog converter to control the instantaneous relative amplitudes of synthesized sine-waves, and other outputs are fed to the polarity control circuits to control the polarities of the signals.
The main disadvantage of the above-described techniques and those described in the above-referenced publication, is that the AC output from the output conditioner is rectified and filtered to form a DC analog signal. Although the preferred embodiment of the prior art techniques previously described permit low output distortion using minimum passive filtering for steady state resistive loads, the closed loop frequency response in all of the above-described techniques is relatively low. This is because the limiting item in the loop is the low frequency filter associated with forming the DC analog of the AC output voltage rather than the AC output filter itself. Thus, even the D to A converter technique, as described, will generate high voltage transients in response to step load changes and, perhaps more significantly, will produce a distorted output voltage in the face of reactive or nonlinear loads. What is needed is a control loop which eliminates the necessity of forming a DC analog of the AC output voltage, thus permitting a frequency response fast enough to cause the various pulse widths of the pulse width modulated inverter to be individually modulated in accordance with the instantaneous load demands.


The application discloses new modes of changing the length of pinch roller fed wedge material that involves transmitting motive power from a power shaft to a driven pinch roller through a power train that includes at least one pivoting lever, the effective length of which is quickly changed by moving a pivot shaft which supports such lever. Power is supplied through a first link from a main drive shaft to a pivoting slider, and then to a rocker arm or a lever which rocks about a pre-selected pivot point. Power is transmitted from such lever to a rack or other driving mechanism which then supplies motive power to a pinch wheel assembly. The pivot for the previously mentioned rocker arm is adjustable, and thereby the relative effective lengths of the rocker arm on either side of the pivot may be selectively varied in order to change the extent of rotary movement of the driven pinch roller even though the first drive link continues to travel along a fixed path.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for making slot closure wedges for magnetic stator cores of dynamo-electric machines at a station where coils and wedges are axially injected into axial slots of such cores; and more particularly to apparatus for controlling the length of such wedges where such wedges are formed into a desired shape by rollers and fed by pinch roller action to a wedge cutting mechanism.
Numerous patents in the art illustrate methods and apparatus wherein wedges are made in a wedgemaker, placed in a wedge magazine disposed generally collinearally with axially extending coil injection blades or tools, and wherein the wedges subsequently are inserted axially into stator core slots along the trailing ends of stator coils that are also being axially inserted into such slots. The wedges then lie between adjacent side-turn portions of different winding phases, or sometimes lie adjacent to the bore of the stator and overlie the side-turn portions of the last to be inserted winding phase. When the wedges are adjacent to the bore of the stator, they effectively "close" such slots. A number of prior patents related to the type of apparatus just generally described are referred to and discussed in the above identified copending applications of Pieper and Koenig.
The Pieper and Koenig applications themselves relate, inter alia, to improvements in equipment wherein the shape of wedges is determined by a rolling action and the wedge material is fed by the operation of pinch feedrollers.
The equipment illustrated in the herein above referenced Pieper application and Koenig application is capable of feeding different pre-determined lengths of wedge material so that wedges of different pre-determined lengths may be provided. However, in both the Pieper and Koenig equipment, before the wedge length can be changed; it is necessary to stop the equipment, loosen a wrist pin, adjust a screw so as to change the affective "crank arm" of a slider mechanism at a drive cam assembly; and thereafter retighten the wrist pin to prevent slippage between the end of the main drive rod and the input of an unidirectional clutch. Moreover, when adjustments have been made as just described in the Koenig and Pieper equipment, it is necessary to actually check the length of wedges produced after an adjustment has been made, and then perhaps repeat the adjustment procedure in order to "fine tune" the relative positions of the adjusted parts before a pre-determined length of wedge having dimensions within an acceptable tolerance can be produced.
It would be desirable to improve the Koenig equipment and the Pieper equipment (discussed in the above incorporated by reference applications) so that changes in wedge length may be affected without requiring the manual manipulation or adjustment of adjusting and lock screws. Moreover, it would be even more desirable to be able to provide means and methods whereby equipment basically similar to that of Koenig and that of Pieper could be adjusted to provide wedges of different pre-determined lengths while the equipment continues to be energized. In addition, it would be desirable to provide new and improved apparatus whereby equipment of the basic type shown in the above referenced Koenig application and the above referenced Pieper application could be automatically adjusted to provide wedges of different pre-determined lengths.

Apparatus for controlling the length of wedges


The frame for the kite extends outwardly to side tips at a swept back angle and includes a pair of inwardly disposed extensions leading rearwardly at an angle directed to the opposite side of the kite. The extensions extend across each other at an angle to form the sides of a triangle and a closed reinforcing frame triangle is formed by these extensions in combination with a laterally extending spreader bar. Abutment and friction collars are associated with the frame portions for holding the latter together and for allowing the frame to be wholly or partially disassembled for handling and storage. The kite includes bridles and connecting fly lines to accomplish stunt flying either as a single kite or multiple kites in formation.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in kites and in particular pertains to kites of the type that are used for stunt flying.
Many forms of kites are in existence, including stunt kites, that are used for recreation, entertainment and contests. One desirable feature of stunt kites is that they be efficient in flight, namely, that they be highly maneuverable and particularly fast turning, readily responsive, and accurate under the control of the operator. Furthermore, it is desired that they be capable of stacking in a train arrangement for formation flying, that they be attractive in appearance, and also that they have structural rigidity to withstand the strain from wind forces and particularly forces of fast flying and turning. Furthermore, it is desirable that the kites be capable of withstanding repeated crashes and be easily repairable, also that they be collapsible so as to be made compact for marketing and storage.


A display controller device includes: a display data storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of display images; an operation unit configured to accept a page change operation for changing the display images; a page turning processing unit configured to update the display images; a working unit configured to update the display data storage unit by changing a display image to be displayed on a second display area to a second display image produced on the basis of a first display image updated by the page turning processing unit and stored in the display data storage unit; and a display instruction unit configured to refer to the display data storage unit so as to display individually the display images individually stored in relation to the plural display areas on the respective plural display areas of the display unit.

There exists data having a sequential structure including data formed by a plurality of pages given consecutive numbers such as a book, and data formed by a plurality of pages given consecutive dates such as a scheduler. Such data having a sequential structure is implemented on a computer by the use of a queue or a linear list. It is more convenient to display consecutive pages of such data using as many windows on a display than to display them by using a single window as the plural pages can be referred to at once.
Further, a page turning operation for updating a plurality of pages displayed on the windows can be introduced so that the pages can be read ahead quickly. The page turning operation can be implemented by the use of a page turning button, a trackball, a flick operation, etc.
A system which has a plurality of windows and implements a page turning operation for updating the plural windows at the same time is disclosed, e.g., in a following document.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-139399 discusses providing a displaying means having two display screens, for displaying an image of image data covering two facing pages on the display screens and for displaying images of following pages covering two facing pages on the display screens in series upon a page turning button being pushed.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. WO2007/030682 discusses displaying two separate pages of an electronic document on a graphical user interface, and replacing a first pair of displayed pages of the electronic document with a second pair of displayed pages of the electronic document upon being selected by a page turning control.
Navigation Techniques for Dual-Display E-Book Readers, ACM CHI 2008, pp. 1779-1788 discusses an example for which not only two consecutive pages of data having a sequential structure are displayed on two screens, but a bookmarked page is displayed in one window and any page being displayed another window is compared with the bookmarked page.

Display device, controller, method and computer readable medium


Acoustic noise suppression is provided in multiple-microphone systems using Voice Activity Detectors (VAD). A host system receives acoustic signals via multiple microphones. The system also receives information on the vibration of human tissue associated with human voicing activity via the VAD. In response, the system generates a transfer function representative of the received acoustic signals upon determining that voicing information is absent from the received acoustic signals during at least one specified period of time. The system removes noise from the received acoustic signals using the transfer function, thereby producing a denoised acoustic data stream.

Many noise suppression algorithms and techniques have been developed over the years. Most of the noise suppression systems in use today for speech communication systems are based on a single-microphone spectral subtraction technique first develop in the 1970's and described, for example, by S. F. Boll in "Suppression of Acoustic Noise in Speech using Spectral Subtraction," IEEE Trans. on ASSP, pp. 113-120, 1979. These techniques have been refined over the years, but the basic principles of operation have remained the same. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,243 of McLaughlin, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,404 of Vilmur, et al. Generally, these techniques make use of a microphone-based Voice Activity Detector (VAD) to determine the background noise characteristics, where "voice" is generally understood to include human voiced speech, unvoiced speech, or a combination of voiced and unvoiced speech.
The VAD has also been used in digital cellular systems. As an example of such a use, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,291 of Ashley, where a VAD configuration appropriate to the front-end of a digital cellular system is described. Further, some Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems utilize a VAD to minimize the effective radio spectrum used, thereby allowing for more system capacity. Also, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) systems can include a VAD to reduce co-channel interference and to reduce battery consumption on the client or subscriber device.
These typical microphone-based VAD systems are significantly limited in capability as a result of the addition of environmental acoustic noise to the desired speech signal received by the single microphone, wherein the analysis is performed using typical signal processing techniques. In particular, limitations in performance of these microphone-based VAD systems are noted when processing signals having a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and in settings where the background noise varies quickly. Thus, similar limitations are found in noise suppression systems using these microphone-based VADs.

Voice activity detector (VAD) -based multiple-microphone acoustic noise suppression


In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein raster scan of a laser beam is carried out to expose the sensitized photoconductor and the gradation is expressed with intensity modulation method, the duration of the light-emitting time for forming a dot is made smaller than the whole period needed for scanning a region assigned for a dot, while the maximum light intensity is changed according to a ratio of the duration of the light-emitting time to the whole period. Further, a plurality of modes each having a duty ratio different from each other may be provided and the maximum light intensity is changed according to the duty ratio so that the mean quantity of light for a dot is equal to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus such as a digital printer or a digital copying machine which is capable of precisely expressing gradation by using light intensity modulation method.
2. Related Art
In an apparatus of forming an image by modulating light intensity, an exposure process is performed against a photoconductor at a light intensity corresponding to a read-out image density signal.
On forming a half-tone image, the influence on the gradation characteristic must be taken into account.
As a whole, the density of image read from a document is not proportional to the density of an image generated on the surface of the photoconductor depending on the photosensitive characteristic of photoconductor, the physical characteristic of the toners and the environmental conditions including temperature and humidity. This results in the generation of non-linear characteristic which deviates from the ideal proportional characteristic to be realized. Conventionally, this nonlinear characteristic is called "gamma characteristic" or "gradation characteristic", which substantially makes up a main cause of deterioration of the fidelity of a reproduced image obtained especially from a document containing a half-tone image.
Then, a digital image forming apparatus preliminarly corrects the output characteristic against the input data of an image of the density of the document, and irradiates a light beam against the photoconductor by applying a light intensity corresponding to the corrected image density data so that the proportional characteristic can eventually be realized. This is called the gradation correction. In other words, at low gradation levels, the digital image forming apparatus outputs a power of light-emitting surpassing the read-out image density data, while at high gradation levels, a less amount of power of light-emitting in order to adjust the density of a reproduced image to be proportional to the gradation level.
Nevertheless, the light intensity modulation method available today generates quite noticeable nonlinear gradation characteristic. The non-linear gradation characteristic is generated by the photosensitivity of photoconductor, physical properties of toners, the light-emitting condition and the like. The light intensity of laser beam available for performing the exposure process has a Gaussian distribution characteristic, and a laser beam has for example 45 micrometer (in the main scan direction).times.75 through 84 micrometer (in the subscan direction) of half width. On the other hand, a dot has a size of for example 63.5 micrometer (in the main scan direction, 400DPI).times.84.7 micrometer (in the sub-scan direction, 300DPI). When performing a scanning operation against the surface of the photoconductor, the laser continuously emits a beam onto the photoconductor during a period corresponding to the length of a dot. As a result, each dot is formed by applying a light intensity corresponding to the magnitude of the read-out image density signal. Nevertheless, the electric potential of an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor is not uniformly distributed. Furthermore, as a result of the development processing, toner images of adjoining dots superimpose themselves.
In consequence, the greater the non-linearity of the gradation characteristic, the greater the amount of correction needed for properly adjusting the gradation of the read-out image density signal. When the gradation characteristic is affected by the scattering of characteristics or deterioration due to aging of components of the digital image forming apparatus, then, the precision of the gradation correction becomes worse and the gradation characteristic becomes unstable, thus significantly degrading the fidelity of a reproduced image. Accordingly, it is desired that the non-linearity of the gradation characteristic be minimized as small as possible.

Image forming apparatus having density control


A miter cutting arrangement for a cutting machine is provided to accommodate cutting work at an angle or a bevel for precisely cutting on a work piece. It includes a platform support arm longitudinally mounting to a cutting head support bracket, a platform pivot arm transversely extended from the platform support arm, a head platform pivotally connected with the platform pivot arm to support a motor, a miter supporting unit, and a locker device for selectively locking the cutting head at the normal position and the slanted position. The miter supporting unit includes a miter support provided at an outer side of the head platform and a miter stopper provided at an outer end of the platform pivot arm to block the miter support when the head platform is rotated at the slanted position.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a cutting machine, and more particularly to a cutting machine with a built-in miter cutting feature which is adjusted accommodate cutting work at an angle or a bevel for precisely cutting on a work piece such as ceramic tile, marble, and the like.
2. Description of Related Arts
A conventional cutting machine is commonly used in the construction industry for shaping and cutting material such as ceramic tile, marble, and natural stone. The conventional cutting machine comprises a cutting table supported on a table frame, and a cutting head overhanging the cutting table with a circular saw blade which is powered by an electric motor. The electric motor is directly mounted on the cutting head for driving the saw blade to rotate through a transmission means.
Conventionally, the saw blade is rigidly installed perpendicularly to the cutting table so that when a work piece is placed horizontally to the cutting table for cutting or shaping, the work piece will be cut and has a right-angled cutting edge. If a user wants to have a bevel cut on the work piece, the user must inclinedly support the work piece to adjust a slanted angle with respect to the saw blade by himself.
Some improved cutting machines provide a 30° to 45° miter block to inclinedly support the work piece so that the vertical saw blade can be positioned to the work piece at a slanted angle in order to provide a bevel cut on the work piece. However, the angle of the work piece to be lifted up is limited by the size of the miter block. Sometime, when the miter block fails to correctly place in position, an uneven bevel cut may happen or a permanent damage may be caused to the work piece. In general the work piece to be cut needs to be placed up side down for proper angle cutting, that may cause chipping at the work piece's cutting edge.
Alternatively, the cutting head can be rotated with respect to the cutting table such that the saw blade can inclinedly cut on the work piece. However, due to the mechanical connection of the cutting head such as screwing and welding, the cutting head may not be set and locked at exactly 45° degrees with respect to the cutting table. In other words, the bevel cut on the work piece will be deflected by the saw blade. Moreover, the movable parts of the cutting head will be worn out after a period of time so that the alignment of the inclination of the cutting head will be off so as to affect the bevel cutting performance of the saw blade. However, the conventional cutting machine fails to provide a fine adjustment to tune the inclination of the cutting head which is 45° degrees with respect to the cutting table.

Cutting machine with built-in miter cutting feature


The invention concerns a method for dry-pelletizing carbon black, allowing to control pellet quality and increasing the output of any particular pelletizing apparatus. The method calls for pre-compacting the material to be pelletized by means of vacuum before or during pelletizing. The invention also includes two apparatus to carry out the single-stage method version, comprising a pelletizing drum in which are mounted vacuum filter surfaces to pre-compact the powdery initial material in parallel with the on-going prepelletizing procedure. In one apparatus, the inside surface of the drum is a filter surface, in the other apparatus, bundles of stationary filter pipes are provided in the lower drum space.

The invention concerns a method for dry pelletizing of powdered carbon black with control of the pellet quality while increasing the output of a particular pelletizing machine. This is accomplished by pre-compacting the initial carbon black to be pelletized and pelletizing by means of rollers suited to implement one version of this method.
The carbon black obtained in the various production facilities is in the form of a finely distributed powdery material, giving rise to much dust. For the purpose of simpler and more economical handling, much of the produced carbon black is converted into free-flowing pellets.
On one hand, it is known how to wet-granulate carbon black. A specific amount of liquid is added to carbon black in a suitable apparatus, and granulation takes place by a constraining action on such a mixture. On the other hand, dry granulation is known for only very special types of carbon black compounds, whereby the carbon black is converted into granules by rolling motions of variable duration.
Even though almost the entire range of carbon black materials can be made granular by the wet granulation method, and even though the pouring properties, strengths, and flow properties of the pellets so made can be varied over wide ranges, there are significant factors which make wet granulation undesirable.
Mixing the carbon black with a liquid pelletizing medium requires an additional application of energy so that pelletizing can occur. Furthermore, if pelletizing is to be especially soft, which is frequently desired in specific fields of application, wet granulation will offer unsatisfactory results. The addition of binders in the wet granulation process often is a source of interference in subsequent processing. Lastly, a large amount of energy is required to re-evaporate the previously added pelletizing medium, which represents a comparatively uneconomical step.
Only a restricted number of carbon black compounds may be subjected to dry pelletizing methods employed heretofore, and most carbon black compounds could not be pelletized by it.
In the prior art devices, specific pellet parameters such as bulk density, hardness of the individual pellet, pellet size and the pelletizing capacity of the apparatus were largely predetermined relatively to the desired end product. The parameters could be varied only within very narrow limits. Controlled adjustment of the above cited parameters was substantially impossible.
The known procedures were too inflexible to allow an operator to control the pellet quality. They predetermined the pelletizing capacity, and this capacitY could not be raised.
The German Auslegeschrift No. 10 51 815 discloses a process for the dry granulation of powders in the absence of binders for the purpose of controlling the quality of the granulate (desired grain size, granulate hardness). This process compacts the pigment into a flaky intermediate product by compression. The intermediate product subsequently must be comminuted and sifted before the conventional pelletizing step. Accordingly, the procedure consists of: mechanical compression, comminution of the compressed material, sifting and granulation proper. This granulation proper therefore takes place on highly compacted cores obtained from the sifting step. Consequently, the core and the shell of the end pelletized product are compacted non-uniformly, that is, the cross-sectional compression density is nonhomogeneous.
Raw materials, such as carbon black which displays a characteristic particle structure, cannot be pelletized by the above-mentioned procedure unless the characteristic structure is altered. This is because the strong mechanical compression during pre-compaction causes degradation of the characteristic structure with undesirable consequences on properties which are important for further processing and applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,883,274 describes an apparatus and a procedure to pelletize and compact carbon black. The apparatus consists of a rotatable cylindrical drum mounted horizontally and a vertical weir mounted to the inside wall of the drum which divides the drum into a pelletizing chamber and a compaction chamber.
In order to move the agglomerated pellets formed in the pelletizing chamber over the weir and into the compaction chamber, use is made of shovel-like means mounted to the weir at the level of the overflow apertures. This shovel-like means communicates with the apertures, scoops up small quantities of pellets from the surface of the pelletizing bed during drum rotation. These scooped-up pellets are stacked until a specific overflow height is attained, at which time the pellets are discharged through the overflow apertures. The pellets fall into the compaction chamber wherein they are further compacted by rotation. When compaction is complete, the pellets are removed from the drum.
Accordingly, the invention described in the above-mentioned patent comprises a pelletizing step followed by a compaction step. This method produces pellets which are highly compacted by mechanical means.

Method for dry-pelletizing carbon black and equipment to implement the method