A method for determining software errors in a virtualization-based integrated control system detects software errors for each partition (software of a vehicle controller) and recovers automatically. Thus, system reliability, which is an advantage of virtualization techniques, can be further enhanced, thereby providing an operator with stability, and software errors can be easily addressed by writing error information.

There are schemes for configuring an integrated controller. One scheme is to change a plurality of software logics (code change) suitable for one software platform in a hardware component. Another scheme is to partition a physical micro controller unit (MCU) into multiple virtual MCU using virtualization techniques without changing software platforms and software logic.
In existing virtualization-based integrated controllers, once software in a controller causes an error, the software is no longer able to operate normally.
That is, the existing virtualization-based integrated controllers are not able to detect an error in the controller software, and thus not able to automatically recover after the error occurs.
In particular, the existing virtualization-based integrated controllers are not able to identify which part of the controller software caused the error.

Method for determining software error in virtualization based integrated control system

KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION


A wall construction process including the steps of: providing a retaining mold for retaining a concrete slurry; installing reinforcing rods; at least partially filling the retaining mold with a concrete slurry mixture; allowing sufficient time for the concrete slurry mixture to solidify into a footing; constructing a reinforcing screen vertically oriented with respect to the footing; providing a plurality of spacers; placing the plurality of spacers to the reinforcing screen; providing a plurality of sheets of a foam insulating material having a first and second substantially planar surface; positioning one of the first and second surfaces against the spacers; providing a plurality of sheets of sheet-form lathe; positioning the plurality of sheets of sheet-form lathe against the remaining first and second surfaces of the foam insulation that are not against the spacers, providing a plurality of fasteners; fastening the plurality of sheets of sheet-form lathe, the plurality of sheets of foam insulation material, and the spacers to the reinforcing screen; and blowing a blown concrete mixture against the plurality of sheets of foam insulation material from a direction wherein the reinforcing screen is positioned between the plurality of sheets of foam insulation material and the nozzle from which the blown concrete is discharged.

Buildings constructed from concrete offer superior durability, safety and energy efficiency than other types of construction. Although concrete buildings have many benefits, they are more expensive to construct than building constructed from conventional brick and wood construction. This added expense is mainly attributable to the concrete forms that must be constructed prior to pouring or blowing the concrete that forms the walls of the building. Additionally, these forms must be removed after the concrete has cured calling for additional time and labor. It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a process for constructing the sections of concrete wall forming a building that did not require the construction and removal of forms for containing the concrete during the curing period.
Additionally, although concrete construction is energy efficient, concrete can be relatively porous and exterior concrete surfaces can absorb and transmit water into the interior of the building causing a musty smell and mildew. It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a process for constructing the exterior walls of a building from concrete along with a conventional outer wall surface such as stucco. It would of course also be desirable if such processes utilized readily available materials.


A bullet having a generally cup-shaped jacket, a core disposed inside the jacket, and partially divided into a plurality of segments by a plurality of slits formed therein is mounted at the front of the jacket. A tip is mounted in the core. The tip has a plurality of notches formed its forwardly facing ogival surface; each notch having a forward end adjacent the forward end of the tip, and a rear end rearward of the rearwardly facing shoulder and the front end of the jacket, so that material from the target can enter the jacket and help open the jacket and release the core.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Bullets are designed for various functions and uses. One desirable function is breaking up upon impacting a target, to form multiple channels in, and maximum disruption of, the target. This function can be particularly difficult to achieve in pistol bullets which are typically fired at lower velocities, and are thus harder to make to reliably break up. Furthermore, projectiles that do reliably break up upon impacting a target typically do not achieve the desired penetration of the projectile fragments for its intended purpose.


A heat sink system with reduced airborne debris clogging, for cooling power electronics, the heat sink system including a heat sink having a plurality of fins, a housing configured to direct air flow around the side, top, and/or bottom of the heat sink and then through the fins of the heat sink at a back of the heat sink, and an inlet airway passage formed between a wall of the housing and said side, top, and/or bottom of the finned heat sink to allow air to pass within the housing, wherein said side, top, and/or bottom of the heat sink comprises at least one of said plurality of fins disposed directly in contact with the inlet airway passage.

This invention relates to transportation vehicles that use high power electronics which require cooling systems and, more particularly, to a heat sink assembly for reducing airway blockage.
Locomotives and related transportation vehicles are equipped with power electronics whose cooling systems use finned heat sinks to aid in heat dissipation. These heat sinks are cooled by forced air. Previous heat sink designs have been used which employ typical fin arrangements with uniform spacing. The number of fins and spacing and the shape and size of the fins determine the cooling capability of the heat sink. An exemplary heat sink that is currently used in locomotives is one developed by Aavid Thermalloy.
In some situations, airflow is directed to flow through the heat sink. Such designs may be susceptible to plugging with airborne debris such as diesel fumes, dust, dirt, etc. When plugged, the heat sink's effectiveness is dramatically reduced, resulting in poor cooling of the power electronics and increased failure rates due to the excessive temperatures the electronics may experience.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method for desulfurization or acidic gas removal from a hot flue gas is provided that uses a dry sorbent injection technology with downstream sorbent reproduction based on a dual-alkali process. As such, lime and flue gas carbon dioxide are used in a process to produce the dry sorbent, sodium bicarbonate.

The conventional technique for commercial production of sodium bicarbonate dissolves soda ash in a spent reaction liquor from a prior reaction, consisting of water containing small quantities of dissolved soda ash and sodium bicarbonate. The solution is then carbonated to precipitate crystals of sodium bicarbonate. The sodium bicarbonate crystals are separated from the liquor and dried to yield highly purified, high density crystals. Disadvantages of the conventional method are that the procedure requires several steps, and necessitates using of separation equipment, drying of the product, and handling of large volumes of liquids.
Sodium bicarbonate may also be produced by various dry carbonation techniques. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 276,990 and 574,089, a sodium bicarbonate product is formed by placing hydrated soda ash in a revolving cylinder and then introducing carbon dioxide into the cylinder. Both patents teach reaction times of approximately five to six hours.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,365 teaches a process in which hollow sodium bicarbonate beads of low density are prepared in a multistage reactor from hydrated soda ash, small amounts of water and carbon dioxide. This process requires several steps and must proceed slowly, with carbonation times exceeding one hour and drying times taking up to eight hours. Further, the soda ash must first be hydrated in a separate step and the reaction must occur at a temperature above 95.7° F. to achieve a commercially acceptable reaction rate.
More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,272, discloses a process for the preparation of sodium bicarbonate by the reaction of a solid, particulate sodium carbonate-containing material with liquid water in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. The particulate mass is mixed in an internally agitated or externally rotated or vibrated reactor with the water and carbon dioxide. The reaction is carried out at temperatures from 125° F. to 240° F. under atmospheres containing from 20% to 90% carbon dioxide by volume. The process is carried out under reduced water vapor partial pressures to promote evaporation of water from the surfaces of the reacting carbonate particles, and to maintain high carbon dioxide partial pressures in the reactor atmosphere. Products formed by the process have apparent bulk densities as high as 50-60 lbs/ft3.
Each of the previously described dry carbonation techniques is subject to particular disadvantages. In each process, the carbon dioxide concentration must be high and the reaction temperature must also be high, or the reaction rate is prohibitively low. None of these methods can produce sodium bicarbonate at low temperatures and low carbon dioxide concentrations, at commercially acceptable reaction rates.
Sodium bicarbonate has also been produced, as well as utilized, in dry sorbent injection processes for removing sulfur dioxide emissions from the combustion gases of fossil fuel fired burners. Such techniques have commanded considerable attention recently, particularly since they present the lowest "first cost" alternative for removing potentially dangerous sulfur dioxide from flue gases. Sodium bicarbonate has been demonstrated to be a very effective sorbent for dry sorbent injection processes. However, the cost of pharmaceutical grade sodium bicarbonate, as currently produced, is a major drawback to its use for such purpose.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,846,535 and 4,385,039 disclose methods for regenerating sodium bicarbonate from sulfate-containing solid waste formed by dry sorbent injection with sodium bicarbonate. According to U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,535, a regeneration step is accomplished by forming an aqueous solution of the sodium sulfate containing waste, and treating such solution with ammonium bicarbonate to precipitate sodium bicarbonate. The sodium bicarbonate is then separated, dried and recycled for further use. According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,039, a regeneration step involves dissolving the solid desulfurization reaction product in a basic liquor, which contains borate ions and/or ammonia. Carbonation of this liquor results in a sodium bicarbonate precipitate. Each of these disclosed processes suffer from the use of complicated and capital-intensive equipment and solution operations.
An improved process for the production of sodium bicarbonate for use in dry flue gas desulphurization processes that does not require the multiple operations and systems required by prior art processes is needed. Further, a process to produce bicarbonate sorbent directly employed in the desulfurization of flue gases, that is efficient and economical, is needed.

Acidic gas removal using dry sorbent injection


A pump having an improved fluid passage has an inner casing which houses at least one impeller and an outer casing which houses the inner casing. The pump also has a communicating pipe disposed outside of the outer casing for guiding a main flow of a fluid being handled from a space defined in the outer casing into another space defined in the outer casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pump having an improved fluid passage, and more particularly to a pump having an outer casing which houses a pump section or a motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have heretofore been known pumps having an outer casing which houses a pump or a motor. For example, a full-circumferential-flow pump disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 6-10890 includes an outer casing of sheet metal which encloses a motor therein.
The outer casing of such a pump holds a fluid being handled on its inner surface and also houses a pump or a motor for protecting the same. A sealing member is disposed on the inner surface of the outer casing for preventing a fluid under discharge pressure from leaking into a region under suction pressure. This structure is well suited to pumps which handle a simple fluid flow therein. Specifically, the main flow of a fluid which is being handled by such a pump flows only in one direction in the outer casing after the fluid is introduced into the outer casing until it is discharged out of the outer casing. Therefore, the pump operates highly efficiently without causing any undue pressure loss.
Furthermore, because the outer casing is of a relatively simple shape, it can easily be produced by pressing sheet metal.
However, the principles of the pump, which makes only the inner surface of the outer casing hold a fluid being handled, have resulted in a limitation posed on various structural possibilities. For example, if a balanced multistage pump were to have a fluid passage from a preceding stage to a subsequent stage within an outer casing, then the pump would be of a highly complicated structure, which would make it impossible to manufacture the pump as an actual product. Moreover, if a vertical multistage full-circumferential-flow pump of the normal type, rather than the balanced type, were arranged to discharge a fluid from a lower portion of an outer casing after the fluid has sufficiently cooled the motor, then it would be necessary to provide an annular fluid passage having a large passage area around the motor. Such an annular fluid passage would be undesirable as it would increase the outside diameter of the outer casing.
Further, there has heretofore been known a full-circumferential-flow double-suction-type pump which comprises a cylindrical outer motor frame disposed around the stator of a motor, an outer cylinder defining an annular space between the outer cylinder and an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical outer motor frame, and laterally spaced pump sections mounted on respective opposite ends of the shaft of the motor for introducing a fluid being handled into the annular space.
In the known full-circumferential-flow double-suction-type pump, a fluid drawn in from a suction port flows into the pump section in which the fluid is introduced into respective impellers. The fluid flows discharged from the impellers then flow into the annular space between the outer cylinder and the cylindrical outer motor frame, and are combined with each other in the annular space. The combined fluid flow is then discharged from a discharge port defined in the outer cylinder.
The full-circumferential-flow double-suction-type pump is effective in canceling out thrust loads developed by the fluid and providing a suction capability particularly when the pump is operated at a high speed. However, since the pump is of the double suction type, it is not suitable for use as a pump for pumping a fluid at a very low flow rate. One effective way of realizing a centrifugal pump for pumping a fluid at a very low flow rate is to reduce the width of blades of an impeller in the pump. If the width of blades is reduced, however, the efficiency of the pump is lowered, and the impeller is subject to the danger of becoming clogged with foreign matter. In addition, a double-suction-type pump as a pump for pumping a fluid at a very low flow rate is more disadvantageous than a single-suction-type pump because the amount of fluid that is pumped by the double-suction-type pump is the sum of amounts of fluid discharged from both impellers thereof.

Pump having first and second outer casing members


Actuation system for a door lock, where the door lock comprises a lock bolt driven by rotation of a lock pin that is functionally connected to the lock bolt. The actuation system comprises a cylindrical handle (5) with an outer diameter of between 6 and 9 cm. The system comprises a first pin receiver (8a) centred on the cylinder axis and a second pin receiver (8b) provided off centred between the cylinder axis and the cylindrical handle in order to be flexible with respect to post-mounting the actuating system on doors with already existing lock.

In order to facilitate the operation of door locks, electrical motors are provided for post-mount on existing locks in doors. Retrofit motors for electrical actuation of a door lock are disclosed in US patent application No. 2010 0011822 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,545 as well as International patent application WO2012 177609, where a bezel is used for manually opening the lock but which also has a number keypad for operating it safely in an electronic way.
Door locks that are operated electronically, for example via smartphones are gaining an increasing market share of electrical locks. An example is found on the Internet page www.August.com, disclosing a cylindrical electrical lock casing with a lock mechanism inside having a coaxial receiver for a rotating lock pin from the lock inside the door. The cylindrical lock has an outer cylindrical lock handle as part of the casing which when rotated opens the door lock. The diameter of the cylindrical lock handle gives a lower limit of the distance necessary from the centre of the cylinder, which coincides with the position of the rotating lock pin, and to the edge of the door. As compared to slimmer door locks, this lower limit for the distance implies that a specifically sized cylindrical lock casing, the size being determined for easy rotation of the cylindrical lock handle, it is only useful for certain types of doors and not for those door types, where the position of the rotating lock pin is close to the edge of the door. In other words the lock is not versatile with respect to different door types. The latter is a problem in case that the cylindrical door lock casing should be post-mounted on doors with already existing locks with a fixed position of the rotating lock pin from the lock inside the door.
Some door locks that are driven electrically, typically also have a manual lock handle in order to select a manual opening, for example in case that the electrical driving mechanism is not properly working. Such hybrid locks are disclosed in International patent application WO2005/024160 by Bendz et al, assigned to Aptus Elektronik AB, and in Danish utility model DK201000185U3 by Henning Overgaard, assigned to Poly-Control ApS.
The typical construction in such lock is a motor that via gear wheels drives a rotating lock pin that in turn moves the lock bolt. At the rotating lock pin, the lock handle is provided in traditional way. Typically, the lock handle not only has to be twisted against the friction force of the lock bolt but also the gear wheels and the motor. This, in turn, requires additional force, which can be difficult for children or with persons with reduced force in their hands.
Thus, there is a desire for door locks actuation mechanisms that are easy to use for people with reduced force in the hand and which at the same time also are versatile for post-mounting on existing door lock mechanisms.


The invention relates to a computer-implemented system and method for authenticating a customer of a business. The method may include the steps of: receiving from the customer at least one item of identifying information; confirming the identity of the customer; generating a token that represents an active session in which the customer interacts with one or more systems or personnel at the business; conducting a first set of communications between the customer and a first system of the business; inquiring with the customer as to whether the customer desires to transfer the active session to a second system at the business or to a third party system; and transferring the active session using the token to the second system or the third party system. The method may also comprise the steps of retrieving background information on the customer to assist a representative of the business in assisting the customer.

Often, a customer visiting a bank or other financial institution will need to conduct more than one transaction or make inquiries with different representatives or systems of the financial institution. For example, the customer may initially stop at the automated teller machine (ATM) to withdraw cash, but then may wish to speak with a teller to conduct a different transaction or make an inquiry. The customer may also want to meet with a different bank specialist about the features and benefits of other types of accounts or services offered by the bank. With each interaction, the customer may be required to undergo an authentication process to verify the customer's identity. If the customer conducts multiple transactions or inquiries with different representatives or systems, it may be somewhat irritating to the customer to provide identification, passwords, or other credentials in each instance. Moreover, the customer may perceive that the financial institution does not recognize or value the customer, resulting in diminished customer loyalty. These and other deficiencies exist with known authentication systems and processes.


An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member, a line test image forming section for forming a line test image made up of a plurality of line images arranged side by side on the image bearing member, an image density detecting section for detecting the density of the line test image formed on the image bearing member or the line test image transferred from the image bearing member to a transfer member, and a setting section for setting an image forming condition based on the density of the line test image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of performing a calibration process for adjusting an image forming condition.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such a printer, copier, facsimile machine or a complex machine of these includes an image bearing member such as a photoconductive drum and a developing unit for forming an output image (toner image) by supplying developer (toner). The outer surface of the image bearing member is uniformly charged by a charger and exposed by the irradiation of a laser light to form an electrostatic latent image.
The developing unit is arranged near the image bearing member and includes a developer bearing member (development sleeve) for bearing the developer. The developer on the developer bearing member is excited by a development bias voltage to adhere to the electrostatic latent image on the outer surface of the image bearing member. In this way, the above output image is formed on the outer surface of the image bearing member.
Generally, an image forming apparatus has image forming parameters, which are operating conditions of the image forming apparatus influential to the density setting of the output image and adopted to ensure good image quality. These image forming parameters include, for instance, exposure conditions such as the exposure power of laser light to be irradiated to the image bearing member, charging conditions of the outer surface of the image bearing member and developing conditions such as a development bias voltage of a developer bearing member and a surface speed ratio (hereinafter, "circumferential speed ratio") between the developer bearing member and the image bearing member. These conditions change with time or according to a surrounding environment. Therefore, good image quality cannot be constantly ensured if the image forming parameters are fixed.
Because of this situation, a calibration process has been conventionally performed to properly adjust the above image forming parameters. An example of a conventional calibration process is a process for forming a solid patch image on an image bearing member, detecting the density of this image and adjusting image forming parameters such that the detected density satisfies a target density. It should be noted that the solid patch image is a toner image solid to have a fixed density in a specified area of the image bearing member.
On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H09-50155 (D1) discloses a calibration process in the following process of (1)→(2).
(1) A solid patch image is formed, the density thereof is detected, such a circumferential speed ratio (ratio between the circumferential speed of the image bearing member and that of the development sleeve) that the detected density is a target density is estimated and the estimated circumferential speed ratio is set as an image forming parameter for an image forming process.
(2) A line test image (image in which a plurality of line images are arranged side by side) is formed at the circumferential speed ratio set in the above process (1), exposure power necessary to obtain an optimal line width is estimated based on the detected density, and the estimated exposure power is set as an image forming parameter for the image forming process.
The image density is generally detected by detecting the quantity of light irradiated to a specified area of an image and reflected thereby. The density of the solid patch image detected by this method changes to a very small extent in relation to an increase in the amount of developer supplied to the image bearing member since the reflected light quantity saturates if the amount of the developer (hereinafter, "developer amount") supplied to the image bearing member exceeds a specified quantity by adjustments of the image forming parameters such as the development bias voltage. Thus, if the developer amount is mainly adjusted based on the detected density of only the solid patch image, the developer amount tends to be excessive to ensure the density of the solid patch image. As a result, there is a problem of degrading image quality due to image damage by the excessive supply of the developer upon developing images of characters or line drawings.
Thus, the image forming parameters need to be adjusted also in consideration of image qualities of characters, line drawings, etc. so that the developer is not excessively supplied upon developing images of characters or line drawings. However, no sufficient consideration is made on this point in the above D1 document. In other words, the exposure power is changed based on the detected density of the line test image according to the technology of the D1 document, but it is already known that a change of the exposure power is unlikely to be reflected on the developer amount. Therefore, it is difficult to solve the excessive supply of the developer by the exposure power.
The change of the exposure power also causes the following problem. For example, in a negative charging system, the width of line images (hereinafter, "line width") increases if the exposure power is increased. Thus, image damage is more unlikely to occur upon developing images of characters and line drawings, whereby image quality is further degraded. On the other hand, the line width decreases if the exposure power is decreased, but the density of the output image is simultaneously decreased to result in light images, wherefore good images of characters and line drawings are not formed.
Here, the circumferential speed ratio exists as the image forming parameter for adjusting the supplied amount of the developer to the image bearing member. If the circumferential speed ratio is excessively large, the line width becomes excessively thick in a sub scanning direction. If the circumferential speed ratio is excessively small, an opposite situation occurs.

Image forming apparatus provided with calibration function


A multiphase transformer rectifier unit for converting a three-phase alternating current supplied from a power distribution system to direct current supplied to at least one load. The multiphase transformer rectifier unit includes a magnetic core having a primary winding set and secondary winding set, and a rectifier circuit. The secondary winding set is arranged to generate N substantially equally distributed output phases, wherein N is an odd number multiple of 3, and N>3, and the primary winding set (17) is arranged to provide a positive or negative phase shift equal substantially to

When supplying electrical power to a DC load from a three-phase AC power distribution system a conventional six-pulse rectification of the AC will often result in unacceptable current distortion on the power distribution system and a low power factor.
Multiphase transformer rectifier unit is a known technology to achieve near unity power factor and low current distortion when connecting DC loads to AC networks. Conventional multiphase transformer rectifier units comprises a magnetic core with a primary winding set and secondary winding set, a rectifier circuit, and three input terminals for connecting said primary winding set to a three-phase AC power distribution system. The secondary winding set is further arranged to generate multiple three-phase systems at its output, which multiple three-phase systems are phases shifted with respect to each other to provide an increased number of output phases.
With increasingly smaller phase shift between each output phase, i.e. the more AC phases that are rectified, the current distortion decreases correspondingly. Hence, to further reduce current distortion of the power distribution system, more windings have to be added to the secondary winding set to provide more output phases. This will however result in higher conduction losses and increased weight of the unit as the secondary winding set becomes increasingly complex.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,578 B2 discloses an arrangement comprising two multiphase transformers that are configured to reduce harmonic currents in the power distribution network by a load specific installation of the multiphase transformers. The document discloses first and second multiphase transformer connected to a three-phase AC power source, wherein each of said multiphase transformers feeds an individual AC load. Each transformer comprises a primary having a plurality of sets of contact points for receiving power from a three-phase AC power source, and a secondary electromagnetically coupled to the primary having a single set of contact points for connection to a plurality of loads. Each set of contact points of the primary provides a respective primary-to-secondary phase shift, whereby contacts points of the primary of the first and second transformer are selected after installation of the transformers, such that a harmonic of a current from the primary of the first transformer and a harmonic of a current from the primary of the second transformer substantially cancel. The disadvantages of the arrangement described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,578 B2 are that the selection of appropriate contact points of the primary of each of the two transformers is a very complex task that requires suitable measurement equipment. Moreover, transformer cost increases when additional contacts points must be provided to the multiphase transformer.
There is thus a need for an improved multiphase transformer rectifier unit design that provides reduced current distortion on the power distribution system and an increased power factor.

Abstract: 360      (          8      ×      N        )  degrees of said output phases. Also an arrangement of two inventive multiphase transformer rectifier units for reducing current distortion in the power distribution system.


A metal halide lamp device includes a discharge bulb and a light filter. The light filter is constructed such that transmittance of about 436 nm wavelength light-rays passing through the light filter and transmittance of about 546 nm wavelength light-rays passing therethrough are made substantially lower, and transmittance of about 578 nm wavelength light-rays passing therethrough is made substantially high. Due to the provision of the light filter, a bluish color during a starting period of the discharge bulb is transformed into a substantially white color.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a discharge lamp, and more particularly, to a metal halide lamp of a type equipped with a light filter for removing incident light rays of certain wavelengths.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A metal halide lamp device has a discharge bulb which contains therein mercury and metal halides such as sodium halide, scandium halide and tin halide emitting light rays therefrom. During start-up period with several tens of seconds after the discharge bulb has been energized, light rays radiating from the discharge bulb have a poor color rendition. That is, light rays radiating from the discharge bulb have a bluish color which is characteristic of radiation from mercury. The reason for this is that the interior of the discharge bulb has a relatively low temperature during the start-up period so that light rays are predominantly radiated from mercury. As is shown by a solid line "a" of FIG. 1, a relative spectral distribution of light rays radiating from the discharge bulb during the start-up period is confined to four discrete wavelengths, i.e. 405 nm, 436 nm, 546 nm and 578 nm wavelengths, in the visible portion (380 nm to 720 nm) of the spectrum. It is noted that a plurality of monochromatic light rays which are 405 nm, 436 nm, 546 nm and 578 nm wavelength have colors of violet, blue, green and yellow, respectively. This combination of the four wavelengths makes light rays bluish in color during the start-up period.
In a steady state of the discharge bulb, i.e. after the start-up period of the same, as the bulb warms up, light rays are radiated from the above-mentioned metal halide molecules or from metals of the same. As is shown by a dotted line "b" of FIG. 1, light rays radiating from the discharge bulb during the steady state are composed of relatively many different wavelengths, i.e. a relatively continuous spectrum as compared with the spectrum of light rays during the start-up period. Therefore, light rays under the steady state of the discharge bulb which are composed of a combination of different wavelengths, have a superior color rendition, i.e. white or at least whitish in color.
In view of the above-mentioned characteristics of the metal halide lamp, there are proposals to improve color rendition of the discharge bulb, i.e. to give off light rays of a white color during its start-up period.
For example, Japanese Patent First Publication Hei-2-256153 discloses a metal halide lamp device which is equipped with a multi-layer interference film or a high-pass filter for radiating light rays of a low color temperature and for improving color rendition. However, this device is still unsatisfactory in improving color rendition during the start-up period. In fact, this device radiates light rays which are greenish in color, because the interference filter is designed to remove light rays of wavelength shorter than about 500 nm, and thus the filter can not sufficiently remove light rays of 546 nm (green) wavelength.
When the metal halide lamp device is used as an automotive headlamp, it is turned on and off frequently in some cases. That is, it is repeatedly and intermittently kept in the start-up period. Thus, if color rendition of the metal halide lamp device is poor, it makes the driver's eyes tired.

Discharge lamp having interference filter


The development of polymer composite liquid oxygen (LOX) tanks is a critical step in creating the next generation of launch vehicles. A composite LOX tank will weigh significantly less than conventional metal tanks. This benefit of reduced weight is critical to enable future launch vehicles to meet required mass fractions. The high strength and low weight of a composite tank allows for a lighter weight craft and/or higher payload capacity which results in lower costs per pound to place an object in orbit. The unique, nontraditional idea described here is to use resin-based composite materials to make such a composite tank or other oxygen carrying component such as a feedline. Polymer composites have traditionally been regarded as being more flammable than metals and therefore deemed not oxygen compatible. However, PEAR (polyether amide resin) composites, due to their low flammability and high toughness, could be made into liquid oxygen tanks.

Not applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tanks for liquid oxygen. More particularly, the present invention relates to composite tanks for liquid oxygen.in which the composite materials include resins whose chemical structure contains ether and amide chemical groups.
2. General Background of the Invention
The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,056,367; 5,251,487; 5,380,768; 5,403,537; 5,419,139; and all references cited in those patents.
The following international applications published under the PCT are incorporated herein by reference: International Publication Nos. WO 97/18081 and WO 97/28401 and all references cited in those publications.
A fiber-reinforced composite is defined as a material consisting of fibers of high strength and modulus embedded in or bonded to a matrix with distinct interfaces or boundaries between them. In this form, both fibers and matrix retain their physical and chemical identities, yet they produce a combination of properties that cannot be produced by either constituent alone. In general, fibers are the principal load carrying members, while the surrounding matrix keeps them in desired location and orientation, transfers loads between fibers, and protects the fibers. The matrix material may be a polymer, a metal, or a ceramic. This patent focuses on polymer matrix composites.
The fibers can be made from a variety of materials. These materials include glass, graphite or carbon, polymers, boron, ceramics, or metals. Glass fibers include E-glass (electrical) and S-glass (structural) types. Carbon fibers include those made from different precursors, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or pitch. Polymer fibers include, but are not limited to, aramid (Kevlar(copyright)), polyethylene (Spectra(copyright)), or PBO (Zylon(copyright)). Ceramic fibers may include silicon carbide (SiC) or aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
For cryogenic tanks, the preferred matrix material is a polymer. The preferred fiber is carbon fiber, more preferably PAN-based fibers, more preferably high strength (over 500 ksi) and high modulus (over 30 Msi) fibers. The most preferred fibers are ultra high modulus fibers (over 60 Msi), specifically M55J fiber by Toray.
The development of polymer matrix composite liquid oxygen tanks is a critical step in creating the next generation of launch vehicles. Future reusable launch vehicles need to minimize the gross liftoff weight (GLOW) by reducing the dry mass fraction. The (dry) mass fraction is the weight of the launch vehicle without fuel divided by the weight of the vehicle with fuel. FIG. 1 is graph showing the effect of mass fraction on GLOW. Indicated on the graph is the RLV mass fraction target region as well as the mass fraction of the RLV without the weight reduction that composites could provide. It is clear that composite tanks are critical to enable future launch vehicles to meet required mass fractions.
The required mass fraction is possible due to the reduction of weight that composite materials can provide. Traditional oxygen tanks are usually made from metals. The space shuttle external tank (ET) has historically been made from 2219 aluminum and more recently 2195 aluminum/lithium alloy. FIG. 2 shows a comparison between these two aluminum alloys and a typical composite material for a liquid oxygen tank for a launch vehicle. The chart shows that a composite tank provides up to 41% and 28% weight savings when compared to 2219 and 2195 aluminum tanks, respectively.
In addition to meeting the required mass fraction, a liquid oxygen tank must be compatible with oxygen. The ASTM definition for oxygen compatibility is the xe2x80x9cability of a substance to coexist with both oxygen and a potential source(s) of ignition within the acceptable risk parameter of the user.xe2x80x9d It is imperative that materials are selected that will resist any type of detrimental, combustible reaction when exposed to usage environments. Typically, non-metallic materials are not used in these applications because most are easily ignited in the presence of oxygen. However, there are some polymeric materials with inert chemistries that may be used for this application and resist ignition. These chemistries were evaluated by fabricating coupons and testing them with various ignition mechanisms in the presence of liquid and gaseous oxygen. The testing performed reflected situations in launch vehicles that could be potential sources of ignition in composite. These tests included pressurized mechanical impact, particle impact, puncture, puncture of damaged, oxygen-soaked samples, electrostatic discharge, friction, and pyrotechnic shock.
Applications include liquid oxygen for future launch vehicles, such as the Lockheed Martin Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). They could also potentially be used in other aerospace applications, including but not limited to, RFP (rocket fuel propellant) tanks and crew vehicle cabins. Other industries that may be interested in composite oxygen tanks include the air handling and medical industries. The ability to resist ignition may also be useful in chemical storage tanks and NGV (natural gas vehicle) tanks.
The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided are composite tanks for liquid oxygen. The unique, nontraditional concept explored herein is to use fiber-reinforced PEAR composites to create liquid oxygen tanks. A PEAR material is one that is characterized by multiple ether and amide groups or linkages. An amide group is an organic group of atoms that is derived from a carboxylic acid and an amine. Ether is defined as any of a class of organic compounds structurally related to water in which hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic groups. See FIG. 3 for a reaction that produces ether and amide linkages.
Generally, there are two types of PEAR resins: hot melt and solution.
Several types of resins and composites have been subjected to an extensive battery of tests for their sensitivity to reaction in the presence of oxygen. Historically, the approach was to test the material in the standard mechanical impact test in liquid oxygen (LOX). If the material had an impact threshold of 72 foot-pounds, it was acceptable for use in oxygen environments, such as launch vehicle LOX tanks. If the material""s threshold was less than 72 foot-pounds, it typically was not used. Due to limitations in the testing as well as differences in the material structures between metals and composites, standard high strength composite materials have not been able to pass at this level at typical RLV tank wall thicknesses. The approach taken here, which was developed in conjunction with NASA, was to use the standard mechanical impact test to rank composites with respect to each other. Furthermore, an evaluation of the compatibility of composites in oxygen environments would only be determined after testing composite materials with respect to specific ignition mechanisms while in the presence of oxygen. The ignition mechanisms tested included pressurized mechanical impact, particle impact, puncture, puncture of damaged, oxygen-soaked samples, electrostatic discharge, friction, and pyrotechnic shock. If the material could withstand ignition in these environments, it could possibly be considered oxygen compatible.
Several PEAR materials are undergoing evaluation in the standard mechanical impact test. It is expected to do well in liquid oxygen testing due to its high flammability resistance. See FIG. 4 for a comparison of PEAR resin to a typical epoxy.
Another critical parameter for a composite tank is the ability to withstand repeated temperature changes (thermal cycles) without microcracking. One factor that contributes to microcrack resistance is toughness. PEAR resin is tougher than most standard epoxies. See FIG. 5. One effect of thermal cycling is a loss of mechanical properties. FIG. 6 shows how thermal cycling does not effect performance of PEAR materials.
The composite tanks can be made in accordance with any of the methods disclosed in any reference incorporated herein by reference. The invention could be made, for example, using the method of U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,537.
The interior of the tanks disclosed herein typically have a volume of at least 1 liter, more often at least one gallon, and usually have a volume sufficient to allow their use to contain liquid oxygen for typical aerospace applications.
A mechanical impact of at least 10+ ft-lbs at around xe2x88x92300 degrees F. (at around xe2x88x92350 degrees F. when densified oxygen (slush oxygen) is contained in the tank) is Preferred, but is not a requirement. Historically materials have been required to pass the Lox mechanical impact test at 72 ft-lbs or otherwise be shown to be safe for use in application. Lox compatible composite materials have demonstrated the ability to resist combustion when subjected to any potential ignition source. For a composite tank, realistic potential ignition sources were determined to include, but are not limited to mechanisms such as pyrotechnic shock, friction, puncture, electrostatic discharge, and particle impact. These tests are taken to extreme levels. For example, in the puncture test, a is sharpened serrated spike pierced a composite material while submerged in Lox without igniting the composite. This same puncture test has ignited Titanium, a material that is not oxygen compatible, and does not ignite aluminum. The pyrotechnic shock test was also an extreme test in that composites were placed in Lox and subjected to shock loads equivalent to existing metallic Lox tanks such as that on the External Tank. The friction test was extreme in that the composites were abraded to dust with a drill bit in pure oxygen without ignition. In the electrostatic discharge test, composites were subjected to energies that could far exceed any instrumentation or static build up; specifically, these composites do not ignite when subjected to 112.5 Joules from 5000 Volts.
The composite feedline of the present invention preferably has an inner diameter of around 1xe2x80x2to 36xe2x80x2.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cform of fiberxe2x80x9d means uni-directional tape, slit tape, tow, fabric, woven fabric, chopped fiber, or felt.


A silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is provided comprising (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl-containing organic groups, (B) a polyorganosiloxane comprising R23SiO1/2 and SiO4/2 units in a molar ratio of 0.5 to 1.0, (C) a polyorganohydrogensiloxane containing at least three Si—H groups, (D) a platinum group metal base catalyst, and (E) an adhesion promoting compound containing at least one recurring unit of formula (3) and at least one Si—H group.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) constitute one group of adhesives and are often used in the form of PSA tape, PSA label or the like obtained by coating PSA onto a substrate and curing. Such tapes and labels are typical of PSA articles familiar in everyday life. These articles are used as labels for identification, for packing of things, for binding a plurality of parts, and in many other applications.
Several base materials are known for PSAs and generally classified into rubber, acrylic, and silicone bases. Rubber base PSAs are general-purpose base materials which are known from the past, and frequently used as general-purpose tape and other products because of low price. Acrylic base PSAs are based on polyacrylates and have better chemical properties than the rubber base PSAs, and are applicable to higher performance PSA products. Silicone base PSAs are composed of high viscosity silicone gum and silicone resin wherein a multiplicity of siloxane bonds are contained in the backbone. Thus the silicone PSAs have a variety of excellent characteristics such as heat resistance, freeze resistance, weather resistance, chemical resistance and electric insulation.
By virtue of such excellent characteristics, the silicone PSAs are used as industrial high-performance tapes including heat resistant tape, masking tape, and flame retardant mica tape. They are often used in a rigorous environment since they exert their own characteristics even under severe service conditions. Recently the demand for silicone PSAs is expanding. This is accounted for by a rapid enlargement of the market of products having touch panels (or screens) mounted such as smartphones and tablet computers. Since touch panels are typically operated by directly touching with human fingers, a screen protective film is attached to the surface of a touch panel on use, for protecting the display from smear and flaw. The screen protective film includes a PSA layer which is mostly made of silicone PSA. This application is due to the characteristics of silicone PSAs including good wetting to adherends and ease of reworking.
The substrate for the screen protective film is typically plastic film. Among others, PET and other polyester films having transparency are used. However, the plastic films are said to be less adherent to PSAs than paper substrates. This is presumably because plastic films have a flat surface and weaken the anchoring effect of PSA biting into the substrate as compared with paper substrates having microscopic irregularities. Poor adhesion may raise problems, for example, back transfer upon winding in roll form, and that the PSA layer is left on the adherend when the PSA film is peeled from the adherend after the lapse of an ample time from the attachment of PSA to the adherend.
From the past, several measures were taken to improve adhesion. Typical measures are by using more adherent substrates, and treating substrates with corona discharge. Also primer treatment is on widespread use. Primers for silicone PSAs are developed as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3. While the primer treatment is quite effective for improving adhesion, its serious drawback is the addition of an extra coating step which is deleterious to the cost and productivity. One effective measure is to add an adhesion-promoting component to silicone PSA, whereby adhesion is established by a single coating step. Although such additives are known from Patent Documents 4 to 6, there is still a need for further improvement in adhesion. Patent Document 7 describes an additive which provides selective adhesion to organic resins. This additive is added to silicone rubber compositions. Patent Document 7 refers nowhere to silicone PSAs.

Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition having improved substrate adhesion and pressure-sensitive adhesive article


A method and an apparatus are provided for deploying a security access control policy in the field of network security. The method, executed by a cloud management platform, includes: determining, according to an application creation instruction, an application template used for an application that needs to be created and a security profile corresponding to the application template; instructing a virtualization platform to create, according to the application template, a corresponding virtual machine for each application component in the application, and obtaining an IP address of each virtual machine created by the virtualization platform; generating a group of security access control policies corresponding to the application according to the IP address of each virtual machine and by using the security profile; and delivering the group of security access control policies to a corresponding firewall. Therefore, a security access control policy is automatically deployed.

A firewall is a network security system that is used to strengthen access control between networks, and prevent an external network user from illegally accessing an internal network to access an internal network resource. The firewall checks, according to a security access policy, a data packet that is transmitted between two or more networks, to determine whether communication between networks is allowed.
In an actual application process, a data center network is usually divided into several security zones by using the firewall. A security zone is a logical area. Same or similar security protection requirements exist in the area, and a security risk of data flowing in a same security zone is relatively low; however, due to different security levels, access between security zones is usually prohibited by default. However, because there exists unavoidable interaction between security zones, a security access control policy between the security zones needs to be configured, so as to allow normal access between the security zones.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of division of a data center network and an access relationship between parts. An application component architecture of a common web application is used as an example for description. A typical web application includes a three-layer architecture: a web server, an application server (App Server), and a database server (DB Server). Specifically, the web server opens a web service port to a web browser, that is, the web browser may access a resource of the web server. The App server opens an application (App) service port to the web server, that is, the web server may access a resource of the App server. The DB server opens a database (DB) service port to the App server, that is, the App server may access a resource of the DB server. Only an App server in the application is allowed to access the DB, and another App server is not allowed to access the DB. Referring to FIG. 2, an App server 1 cannot access a DB in a DB server 2. Therefore, a security access control policy needs to be set for each application component.
At present, when the data center network is deployed, all the security access control policies need to be manually set. A user first deploys an application on a cloud management platform, that is, creates an application component and a corresponding virtual machine; and then obtains an IP address of a virtual machine corresponding to each application component in the application; and finally sets, on the firewall according to the obtained IP address of each virtual machine, a security access control policy corresponding to each application component. Generally, the security access control policy needs to be manually set on the firewall by an administrator; therefore, configuration work is relatively labor-consuming, a configuration process is relatively time-consuming, and there is a possibility of a manual configuration error.

Method and apparatus for deploying security access control policy

HUAWEI CLOUD COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.


An apparatus comprising a processor configured to receive a video teleconferencing image, wherein the video teleconferencing image has a background and at least one foreground, wherein the foreground has a boundary, determine the boundary of the foreground, overlay the boundary of the foreground with a drawing area, wherein the drawing area obscures the boundary, and replace the background of the image with a new background.

Telepresence, e.g., video conferencing involving multiple users at remote locations, is becoming increasingly popular. In telepresence applications, a video object may refer to an area of interest in a video frame that comprises a foreground, e.g., a human subject, and a background, e.g., a surrounding environment. Multiple video objects from different sources may be transmitted to a common location in a telepresence system, where they may be received, processed and displayed together with each video object in its individual background. Unless telepresence rooms or other artificial environments are utilized, conferences involving many individuals result in a cacophony of visuals and backgrounds. Such backgrounds can be distracting and/or disorienting to video conferencing participants and may detract from the immersive video conferencing experience. While a need exists to visually separate or segment human subjects from their respective surrounding environments, available techniques for image/video segmentation may result in generally unacceptable video conference rendering quality.

Visual conditioning for augmented-reality-assisted video conferencing


A business method for products and services. The business model provides for retail purchase of a product or service. The product or service is then transported from the retail point of purchase to a professional. The professional then activates the product or service for the consumer.

Generally, consumer products and services fall into one of two categories. First, the product or service may be sold over-the-counter and used without professional assistance or input. Examples of such products and services include common household goods, food, OTC medications, and an endless list of other items purchased in everyday life. Alternatively, consumer products and services may be purchased with professional help. Examples include prescription medications, haircutting and other treatments, automobile repairs, and another endless list of products and services found in everyday life.
Rarely is there an opportunity for a business to effect a purchase over the counter, followed by professional installation or activation. Such products and services do, however, occur. For example, one may purchase a common household faucet or electrical switch at the retail hardware store and have the faucet or electrical switch later installed by a trained plumber or electrician. Likewise, the consumer may purchase a cell phone at a retail source. Upon purchase of the cell phone, it is remotely activated by the carrier. However, in each of these cases, certain trade-offs occur. For example, in the situation of the purchase from the hardware store, the user has the option of installing the faucet or electrical switch without professional assistance and risking improper installation. In the case of the telephone activation, the activation occurs remotely and the consumer may feel a loss of control, particularly if the activation is not successful on the first try. The situation becomes exacerbated if, as frequently occurs, the user is not aware that a problem has occurred in the telephone activation. For example, the user may judge problems in making/receiving calls on the phone to be attributable to unfamiliarity with the new phone, being located in an area of bad reception, or due to other problems.
Frequently, activation of devices occurs without professional direction. For example, radio frequency identification (RFID) chips are known to be utilized with and installed in animals. While there have been several attempts in the art to do so, none provides the multiple benefits of giving the consumer plural choices of RFID chips from which to choose, the convenience of purchasing at a retail outlet, and the assurance of professional activation by someone having the proper training. Illustrative of the attempts in the art limited to simply utilizing RFID chips in pets, without all of the aforementioned benefits, are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,129, iss. May 18, 1993 to Taylor et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,409, iss. May 25, 1993 to Beigel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,326, iss. Aug. 10, 1993 to Beigel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,011, iss. Oct. 26, 1993 to Beigel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,017, iss. Mar. 12, 1996 to Beigel; and US 2003/0163141 A1, pub. Aug. 28, 2003, in the names of Malfanti et al.
Additionally, attempts to manage purchasing activation of devices relating to pets and other consumer products is known in the art, as each of these fails to provide the combination of retail convenience and professional competency needed by the consumer. Examples of such attempts in the art include U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,210, iss. May 8, 1990 to Matsui et al.; US 2004/0034575 A1, pub. Feb. 19, 2004 in the name of Oh; and EP 0 367 361 A2, pub. May 9, 1990 in the name of Parker.
What is needed then is a way to continually provide the consumer with a product or service, or more preferably, a selection of products and services at the retail level. It is also needed that the consumer utilize professional installation and activation of such products as needed.

Method of selling and activating consumer products and services


A dry vapor cryogenic storage container includes an absorbent core made from a porous material that absorbs a liquid cryogen and releases the cryogen in vapor form as the absorbed liquid evaporates. Fluid channels are formed in the absorbent core to increase the available surface area through which the liquid cryogen can be absorbed. The core can absorb the cryogenic liquid much faster with inclusion of the fluid channels. The absorbent core can be made by cutting a cavity and drilling holes in a stack of calcium silicate panels. The cavity holds a contents container or an inner core. The inner core can be part of an extractor and made from porous material including fluid channels for absorbing liquid cryogen. Contents containers can be housed in the inner core.

Advancements in cryogenic storage containers, particularly cryogenic shipping containers, include containers designed to minimize loss of liquid cryogen during shipping. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0343264 by McCormick represents one such advancement and discloses a dry vapor storage and shipping container in which a porous material is employed to absorb liquid cryogen into walls facing a storage cavity of the container. This prevents the liquid cryogen from coming into direct contact with the contents being stored in the storage cavity and from sloshing around inside the container during transport while also keeping the storage cavity sufficiently cool via release of vaporized cryogen into the storage cavity.

Dry vapor cryogenic container with absorbent core


An assembly for creating a fire display from a liquid fuel comprises a fuel receiving reservoir connected to a burner by a conduit, the conduit providing a flow channel for a liquid fuel from the reservoir to the burner. When a container of liquid fuel is placed in a bottle receiving tray the fuel is dispensed into the reservoir and in turn flows into the burner. Flammable vapors over the liquid fuel in the burner can then be ignited. The arrangement provides a continuous feed of fuel to the burner and allows safe replacement of the fuel container and replenishment of the fuel in the burner while the flame is present.

The invention relates to liquid fuel indoor and outdoor fire displays, particularly burner assemblies configured to burn a liquid fuel, such as an alcohol, paraffinic oils, plant oils, and flammable petroleum products, either in a liquid or gel form.
Historically, alcohol burning hearth products (fireplaces, stoves, log sets, vessels for containing open flames, etc) comprise a burner that is filled with alcohol, usually a denatured ethanol, or in the alternative, cans of flammable gelled alcohol, that are then lit to create the flame. Depending on the configuration of the burner and the size of the fuel reservoir, once ignited the fuel will burn until consumed, generally for 1-4 hours. Some burner configurations include a damper that will allow the flame to be extinguished prior to full consumption by covering the flame and restricting access to air. To extend the burning time the user typically has to wait until the fuel has burned completely, or the flame is extinguished, and the burner has cooled down before adding more flammable liquid or replacement can of gelled fuel into the burner and lighting it again. This procedure presents a number of problems which include:                a) The possibility of spilling a highly volatile and flammable fluid on the fireplace or stove assembly and log set, which presents the possibility of unintended combustion thus creating an unsafe situation;        b) Spilling the fuel on a person's arm, clothing or on the floor which can also create a fire hazard;        c) Because the fuels are highly volatile, and it is the vapors off the fuel and not the liquid fuel itself that is burning, these vapors present a very serious risk of accidental ignition. This hazard requires the user to wait for the flame to extinguish and the burner to cool down before refueling to prevent vaporized fuel from spontaneously igniting during the filling process;        d) Additionally, ethanol, unless specifically blended with additives to provide a visible flame, tends to burn with a nearly invisible color, especially in well-lit areas, causing spills to be very dangerous since it is sometimes impossible to notice that the fuel has ignited. Certain burner assemblies are designed to create yellower flames that are more visible, especially after the fuel has been ignited for some time; the conditions that make the flame visible in the burner assembly do not exist to allow visualization of burning fuel spills;        e) The fuel level inside the burner of an ethanol burning assembly is constantly changing as the fuel is consumed and thus is not always at an optimum level for aesthetics or for clean combustion of the fuel.
These liquid fuel burners in many instances are used as unvented appliances in unvented spaces. As a result, the emissions from combustion end up in the room. Thus clean and complete combustion is very important. An improperly designed or operated liquid fuel burner, or the use of the wrong liquid fuel, can release fuel vapors and carbon monoxide into the room. As a result, consumers have been reluctant to use the currently available ethanol burners.
One product provides for pouring fuel into a reservoir that is then slid into the fireplace assembly from outside the burner assembly. However, this design still requires pouring the fuel from an open bottle, allows for the release of flammable vapors and does not safely allow additional fuel to be added while the fuel is burning.

Automatic fueling of liquid fuel burners


A system having enhanced security includes: a plurality of components; at least one security circuit associated with at least one component; and at least one master circuit associated with at least one component and connected in communication with the security circuit. More particularly, the security circuit when in the virgin state is switchable to a desired enrolled state for the master circuit. The master circuit according to one aspect of the invention preferably determines if the security circuit is in the virgin state and switches the security circuit to the desired enrolled state. The master circuit also preferably prevents operation of the system responsive to a security circuit being in an enrolled state other than the desired enrolled state for the master circuit. A security circuit may be restored to the virgin state in response to a user token or a fingerprint of the user. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Vehicles, computers and other similar devices include a plurality of cooperating components. For example, an automobile includes body panels, an engine, various electronic modules, etc., that collectively define the automobile. Unfortunately these components may be stolen and resold individually for use in another vehicle. The entire vehicle may also be stolen, but the parts sold separately to avoid discovery. The value of the automobile components sold individually may be greater that the value of the assembled automobile. Similarly, a computer may have valuable components, such as a processor, plug-in memory module, display, etc. that may be stolen, while leaving the rest of the computer in place. Components that have a high value-to-weight or value-to-size ratio are common targets for thieves.
One approach for discouraging resale of component parts provides a unique marking on the component. For example, a serial number or other identification number may be permanently affixed to the component, such as an engine block or body panel. Unfortunately, such markings can be removed or the part sold to an unscrupulous buyer who has no concern for the authenticity of the component or the legal owner of the component. Irrespective of the markings on a conventional component, an automobile or computer, for example, will still function even with a stolen part or component installed therein.
Other approaches have been disclosed for discouraging the theft of components, or discouraging theft of the entire device where the stolen device is likely to be later sold as individual components. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,326 to Yamada discloses a car audio device including a main body and a front panel detachably mounted to the body. The car audio device will not operate unless a controller matches a code from the detachable panel to a code stored in memory in the main body portion. The secret code can be changed to any desired code by the owner via controls carried on the front panel. The secret code may also be generated and stored at the factory. Accordingly, the front panel and body portion may not be stolen and used separately.
Along these lines, U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,114 to Kaish discloses a lock-out security technique for microprocessor controlled electronic equipment. In particular, upon the occurrence of a disabling event, such as the removal of the equipment from its normal installation, and/or disconnecting of electrical power, the equipment will remain disabled until a code is manually entered via a keyboard. A publicly known code is installed at the factory and thereafter, the user installs his own private code. A secure factory initialization code may be used to allow for storage of the public code.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,648 to Sues et al. discloses a security system for a vehicle and includes a central processing unit that communicates with various components of the vehicle. If the codes returned from the components are incorrect, out of sequence, or missing, the processor will disable the components. An international database is used to approve any component changes within a vehicle. The database does not permit a part to be added to the active vehicle parts list unless a similar part is taken from a factory/dealer replacement parts list. Roadside service of a vehicle can be accommodated by using a portable computer and cellular telephone link to reprogram the processor to accept replacement parts. Encryption reduces the possibility of compromising the security of transmitted messages. Unfortunately, the tasks of maintaining such a comprehensive database and further ensuring its security may make this approach difficult to implement on a large scale.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,843 to Hauer discloses a security system for motor vehicles which includes an integrated circuit mounted inside vital accessories and which prevents these accessories from operating without the entry of a proper code by a user. In a maintenance state, a specific stored code word enables the starter permanently and no external code word is required for starting. This maintenance mode is used for delivery of a new vehicle, for service of the car and for replacement. The maintenance mode is ended by the user entering the code word of his choice.
Suggested improvements have been made in the area of security for devices and equipment such as vehicles and computers, which include cooperating components. Unfortunately, there may be substantial shortcomings associated even with these suggested improvements. For example, the management of a central database for all of the parts of all automobiles may be impractical. In addition, those systems requiring the user to remember a unique code or password for extended periods may also be impractical.

System including separable protected components and associated methods


A kit for making decorative lawn ornaments has a set of rods and rod connectors that enable the rods to be connected together to form two dimensional shapes and three-dimensional structures. The rod connectors permit two rods to be connected end to end collinearly or to connect two or more rods together at a selected angle between pairs of connected rods. Light holders are also provided to enable strings of decorative lights to be attached to the rods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to decorative Christmas display ornaments that have a frame and decorative lights attached to the frame.
2. Description of Related Art
Many people decorate their houses during the Christmas season. It is quite common for people to string lights around the exterior of their house using hooks which are fastened to the walls, roof and gutters. Typically the lights are strung in straight lines along the edges or roof line of the house or around windows and doors. Various types of hooks are available to hold Christmas light strings ranging from threaded eyebolts to plastic clips. In my U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,192 I disclose one type of hook for hanging cords from a gutter or the like.
Another type of outdoor Christmas decorations are lawn ornaments. Christmas season lawn ornaments, both lighted and unlighted, and are available in many configurations, from Christmas trees to elves to manger scenes to Santa""s sleigh and reindeers. Some of these ornaments are molded plastic structures molded to look like a reindeer, Santa Claus or other holiday character. Usually these ornaments are hollow and contain one or more light bulbs inside of them. Another common type of holiday lawn ornament has a frame and one or more strings of decorative light bulbs attached to the frame. The frame could be formed from bent wire or plastic shapes, plastic or metal rods or wood. One example of this type of ornament is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,172 to Huag. Most of these ornaments are sold fully assembled or in a few pieces that are easily connected together. Consequently, these ornaments must be sold and stored in relatively large boxes. Nearly all of these ornaments are designed to have a single shape when fully assembled.
Another common lawn ornament is a Christmas tree formed with a pole embedded in the ground having multiple strings of lights strung from the top of the pole or a set of inclined poles and then staked to the ground. This pattern forms a conical shape that resembles a Christmas tree, especially at night when the strings of lights are lit up and neither the pole nor the strings on which the lights are carried are visible. This type of decoration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,366 to Korb et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,621 to Mauro; U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,270 to Laakso; U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,966 to Miller et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,002 to Rielly III. This type of tree typically is found in a commercial or public area, is over ten feet high, and was assembled by professionals. Some homeowners have created this type of tree in their yards. There are several kits available in the market that allow homeowners to easily create this type of ornament. One such kit is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,228.
Because many people enjoy creating holiday decorations there is a demand for kits that enable the customer to create holiday decorations. Those kits that enable the customer to create more than one design are preferred by many people. One such craft kit in which selected pieces are placed in a netting assembly to create a decorative shape is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,613 to Lin. Goodwin in U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,317 discloses a lamp support structure than is an elongated flexible strip with spaced apart pockets sized to receive a decorative light socket. Several strips can be assembled into selected shapes such as a star or a bell. U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,366 to Claude and U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,260 to Duncan disclose star shaped displays in which a string of decorative lights is attach to a star shaped frame. Another star-shaped display is disclosed by Leffel in U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,626. That display is constructed from connectors that have a long arm and a short arm extending from an angular section. Yet another star display is disclosed by Lee in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,206. That display is made from a set of mounting elements that hold lights from a Christmas light set. Each mounting element has a hole at opposite ends and a dowel pin on one face opposite a socket on the reverse side. The dowel pin of one mounting element fits into the socket of another mounting element. The displays disclosed by most of these prior art patents are flat structures made from a set of pieces that can be assembled in only one size and usually in only one shape. The three dimensional display disclosed by Huag is created from a large number of differently shaped pieces. Consequently, this display is much more expensive than the simple flat displays disclosed in the other references. There is a need for a holiday ornament kit that will enable the user to create a variety of both flat and three-dimensional shapes that can be easily assembled by a homeowner. Although the art has attempted to create such kits they have met with only limited success because the art has not developed a connector that will enable straight pieces to be joined at several different angles without breaking or becoming disconnected.
I provide a holiday ornament kit containing a plurality of rods having a limited degree of flexibility and a set of connectors that enable two or more rods to be connected together at a variety of different angles. The connector has two or more arms, each arm having a flat base and two spaced apart loops. The loops form two spaced apart openings on a common centerline, each opening having a diameter close to the diameter of the rods. A stop is provided at a selected distance from one of the loops and a bump or ridge is provided a short distance away from the second loop. The ridge bends the rod being held in the loops slightly improving the grip of the connector on the rods. The two or more anns are connected together at a permanent angle or are pivotably connected and thus able to be positioned in a number of selected angles. For some purposes, the arms are made of a flexible material to enable the ends of the arms to move relative to one another. I prefer to provide a flexible locking arm that will retain the pivotably connected arms at a selected angle. Some of the connectors may have holes of a diameter close to the diameter of the rods for connecting rods perpendicular to one another. The rods may have a circular, oval; or polygon cross-section. The rods preferably are fiberglass and xc2xc inch in diameter. Such rods have some flexibility. Consequently, the flexibility of the rods and the flexibility of the connectors enables one to create geodesic domes as well as flat structures. Tubular connectors can be provided to attach two rods end to end. After the rods are joined together by rod connectors decorative light holders are attached to the rods to hold one or more strings of decorative lights.
Other details, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings of certain presently preferred embodiments thereof.


Voice over data-packet protocol, for example voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), type communications in a network providing wireless packet data service are optimized by implementation of a mobile station initiated negotiation of radio protocol parameters adapted specifically to support the voice over data-packet application. Call set-up signaling for such a call utilizes a set of parameters for radio communication defined for a normal packet data service, for example, with packet retransmission between the base station and the mobile station. The mobile station recognizes the VoIP communication. When VoIP call set-up signaling over the robust link is complete, the mobile station sends a request to the radio network to modify one or more of the radio parameters, for example, to turn-OFF the packet retransmission; to facilitate the actual communication of VoIP packets.

In recent years, cellular or personal communication service type mobile telephones have emerged as a must-have appliance among mobile professionals and consumers alike, growing in popularity every year since they were first introduced. The public has come to accept that mobile service enhances business and personal communications and may contribute to personal security. Consequently, mobile communication is becoming increasingly popular, particularly for voice-grade telephone services, and more recently for data communication services.
The cellular wireless networks originally were designed to service circuit-switched voice communications. More recently, many mobile service providers have been upgrading the wireless networks to support packet-switched data communications services, which are intended to extend the common data communication capabilities of the wired domain to the wireless mobile domain. For such services, a node of the radio access network (RAN) provides an interface between the transmission of the packet data over the air interface of the radio network and the transmission of the packet data in the fixed network.
A packet-switched network routes each packet individually through the network, though not necessarily through a common path; as opposed to the traditional circuit switched approach to telephone service and the like that provides a path through the network for the duration of the communication session. Packet switching uses a standard packet protocol, such as the Internet Protocol (IP). The routing decision regarding each packet's next hop through the packet switched network is made on a hop-by-hop basis (typically between neighboring switching nodes). A circuit switched link provides constant sequential throughput with minimal delay caused by the network. In contrast, because they take different paths, different packets take different times to transit the network and may even arrive out of sequence.
The wireless data services, for example, support a range of communication applications utilizing two-way packet-switched packetized data, such as browsing, instant messaging, e-mail and the like. Wireless network operations for data calls are tailored to support traditional IP packet-based service applications. For example, the Radio Link Protocol (RLP) parameter set developed for packet services includes a retransmission feature. In an RLP network, if a packet radio device (mobile station or base station) erroneously receives a data packet, the receiving device sends back a negative acknowledgement (NAK), which includes an identifier of the erroneously received data packet. The sending station stores transmitted data packets in memory, e.g. until successfully acknowledged. Hence, in response to the NAK, the transmitting device will retransmit the identified (erroneously received) data packet to the other device. The retransmission insures that all packets of a communication are successfully received, because the common data communication applications are vulnerable to errors in received data and to dropped/lost packets. However, the need to retransmit increases the overall delay in communicating the effected packets.
In recent years, as the speeds of packet-switched communications equipment and the speed of processors have increased, a variety of applications have emerged that utilize IP packet transport as an alternative bearer for voice communications. Such applications are often referred to as "Voice over IP" or "VoIP" services. Although originally developed for wireline network transport through the Internet and through wireline intranets, VoIP services are now migrating onto the packet transport networks deployed for the wireless domain. For example, it is now being proposed to use packet communications and VoIP to provide a push-to-talk (PTT) wireless broadcast communication service (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,093 to Ross et al.).
A conventional push-to-talk (PTT) communication utilizes several radio transceiver stations, all tuned to the same channel. When not transmitting, the transceivers receive any signal carried over the channel and supply any received audio to the users. A user wishing to speak pushes a button, which causes that user's transceiver to transmit audio over the common channel to the other transceiver(s) that share the channel. A Voice over IP (VoIP) implementation of a PTT service application utilizes separate packet links for the user devices and a dispatch application on a server. The sender station uses its link through the wireless packet data service to upload the sender's audio information to a PTT server. Each station of one of the other member or members of the PTT group obtains the data from the server via its packet service link; and each receiving station converts the data back to digitized voice. The other stations on the PTT session may be similar mobile stations or data devices of various other types communicating with the server via the wireline packet data network.
VoIP service applications like PTT, however, present a different set of demands on the radio network than do traditional packet data service applications. Like normal voice telephone services, most VoIP services are more sensitive to latency and delay issues than are regular data applications. The end user is listening and/or speaking in real-time; and undue delays disrupt conversational speech. Differences in delay between packets, if large, produce an audible jitter. Unlike, data services, however, human users of VoIP services usually can tolerate some degradation of quality due to bit errors or lost packets.
In view of these aspects of the VoIP service, certain features of the wireless parameters on the radio link that have been optimized for data services may actually be detrimental or at least unnecessary on a VoIP call. For example, although it insures fidelity, RLP retransmission may cause perceptible problems with conversational audio communications, particularly as it imposes increasing delays due to needs to retransmit increasing numbers of packets in the presence of increasing noise levels on the radio link. Also, the bit rate on the fundamental channel may be too low to support an adequate encoding rate for the speech signal, in view of the overhead added by the encapsulation of the audio data in IP packets.
Hence, it has been suggested that the operational parameters could be adjusted for VoIP communications. Traditional data service calls would utilize the robust communication control parameters, for example, with the RLP retransmission feature. VoIP calls would utilize a different set of control parameters, for example, without activation of the retransmission feature. However, because many wireless customers would utilize both types of services, it would be necessary to differentiate between voice and data applications, on individual packet calls, in order to correctly set the communication control parameters for each and every packet call through the wireless network.
Several of the equipment vendors have proposed development of a proprietary 'Service Option' (SO) approach. A service option is a standard level of service offered for a particular type of call through the radio access network. A normal packet data call, for e-mail or browsing, for example, utilizes Service Option 33 (SO33). By contrast, a normal voice-grade telephone call utilizes Service Option 3 (SO3).
Although the parameters settings are negotiable for each Service Option, the mobile station and the radio network typically utilize a set of normal or 'default' parameter values in associate with each service option. The mobile station requests an SO33 call and sets its operations in accord with normal parameters, and the base station controller assigns resources (if available) to the call supporting those parameters. For packet data calls using SO33, the default parameters are optimized for data applications transported in packet form. Hence, the network typically sets the parameters for packet data service under SO33 to include the RLP retransmission mechanism, to provide reliable transmission of data over the air interface and minimize costly retransmissions at the higher protocol layer. SO33 packet data calls also typically use a radio channel configuration of RC3 or RC4, which provides 9.6 kbps fundamental forward channel, rather than the 14.4 kbps fundamental forward channel typically provided for digital voice calls (under RC5). On the reverse link, RC3 provides 9.6 kbps, RC4 provides 14.4 kbps. Technically, the network and mobile station can use RC3, RC4 and RC5 for packet (SO33) or for voice (SO3) calls, although not all of these radio configurations are deployed and available on both forward and reverse radio links.
The vendors propose to provide a different Service Option and an associated set of typical/default parameters specifically tailored to the needs of PTT and other VoIP services. The new Service Option, for example, would not typically utilize the RLP retransmission mechanism, and it would typically provide a 14.4 kbps fundamental channel to allow use of a higher rate vocoding and thereby provide better voice quality. Implementation of multiple Service Options, however, would require a standards body process to develop and implement the new option and would require some mechanism to select between the available Service Options (and possibly to negotiate the parameters) on individual calls.
As currently proposed, packet calls would normally default to SO33 and the associated typical parameter set. On VoIP calls originating from a mobile station, the mobile station would signal the radio access network of the desired Service Option and associated new parameters for each VoIP packet call. The signaling message, for example, would notify the network that the mobile is attempting to make a VoIP/PTT call. In response, the base station controller (BSC) function in the network would control the network elements to turn OFF the RLP retransmission and to provide a 14.4 kbps channel for the call.
Such an approach would involve an explicit indication from the mobile station that a call is a push to talk or other type of VoIP call. Since the standards bodies have not defined the new Service Option or the attendant signaling, each equipment vendor would offer a different proprietary implementation. This would require new handsets with the requisite signaling capability, and each vendor's network equipment and mobile stations would be different and incompatible with those of other vendors.
On incoming packet calls, directed to a mobile station with both normal data service and VoIP service, the terminating mobiles are not aware of the nature of the call when they send the Page Response. In the current proposals, to set the Service Option, the network would need to detect VoIP packets and set the radio protocol parameters to those for the corresponding VoIP Service Option. To do this, some node of the network, such as the packet control function (PCF) or the base station controller (BSC), would need to examine incoming TCP packets during initial set-up of packet calls, to determine whether or not they relate to a VoIP service. Upon detecting an incoming VoIP call directed to a mobile station, the PCF or BSC would control the radio access network (RAN) to set the VoIP Service Option and parameters. Packet sniffing is complex, costly and time consuming.
The Service Option approach would require establishment of a standard definition the new Service Option. As shown by the above discussion, this approach also requires proprietary signaling from the mobile stations to the network on outgoing calls and attendant processing capability in the radio access network. Furthermore, this approach would not be supported by the existing handsets. This approach also requires the network to sniff the packets for all terminating calls, before the call setup, in order to determine if the calls are VoIP calls. This is a very complex implementation. Also, some or all of the signaling of the VoIP call set-up would occur after the shift to the new Service Option and the associated change in parameters, for example, without the integrity assurance provided by packet retransmission.
Another approach might be to apply one set of parameters for all packet data calls, including PTT or VoIP calls. However, if the parameters are tailored to PTT or VoIP calls (e.g. without retransmission), this would have a negative impact on PTT/VoIP packet data calls, as the initial call setup would be done over an unreliable radio link without RLP retransmission. Furthermore, this would compromise the set-up and quality for all non-PTT/VoIP packet data calls, as those calls require a different set of parameters, such as RLP retransmission.
Hence a need exists for a more effective technique to readily adjust radio network operation parameters for the air link in order to meet different operational demands of the different types of packet service applications, for example, for VoIP calls as opposed to traditional packet data applications, which overcomes any or all of the deficiencies outlined above.

Implementation methodology for client initiated parameter negotiation for PTT/VoIP type services


Examples of account-specific security in an email client are disclosed. A master key can be generated by the email client. The master key can be used to encrypt account specific account keys. Email data in the email database accessed by the email client can be encrypted by the account keys.

Mobile devices are being used for access to enterprise computing systems and resources with greater frequency. The use of these personal devices can be associated with productivity gains and cost savings. The concept "bring your own device" (BYOD) for access to enterprise computing systems may have met initial resistance due to security concerns, but more and more companies are now looking to incorporate BYOD policies.
As a result, users may utilize a mobile device to access enterprise resources as well as personal resources. In some cases, users may use the same application installed on a mobile device to access enterprise or work resources that is used to access personal resources. For example, an email client installed on the user's mobile device can be used to access personal data as well as enterprise data. For example, the email client can be used to access a personal email account as well as an enterprise email account.
Enterprises might desire to separate enterprise and personal data on user devices. In some cases, separate workspaces might be utilized in which data cannot be shared between the workspaces. However, separate workspaces might degrade the user experience, as users are often multi-tasking between personal and enterprise tasks throughout a typical day.

Account-specific security in an email client


A method for adjusting color of images displayed in ambient light. A signal may be sensed from a plurality of spectral regions of an ambient light source to define a sensed signature of the ambient light source. The sensed signature may be compared to predetermined signatures of candidate light sources to identify a candidate light source that corresponds to the ambient light source. Images may be created so that the images are modified by a predefined color adjustment for the candidate light source identified.

Image display devices, such as projectors, rely on the additive properties of light to create colors in displayed images. Such devices generally project light of three or more different wavelengths or wavelength-ranges (such as red, green, and blue) onto a viewing surface in appropriate proportions to create a gamut of many colors perceived by a person viewing the surface (the viewer). However, ambient light also may combine additively with the projected light at the viewer's retina to alter the viewer's color perception of the projected light.
The ambient light may reduce and/or imbalance the gamut of colors perceived by the viewer. For example, displayed colors may be compressed into a reduced gamut, so that colors intended to be distinct are perceived as similar. Differentiating these colors in such a system becomes difficult. Such changes in perceived colors in response to ambient light are termed flare. Colors that are nearer white, that is, high lightness colors, may be more prone to flare, because their perception is more sensitive to any change in the white point of displayed images produced by ambient light. Furthermore, flare tends to be more pronounced in additive color display systems relative to subtractive systems, such as printers.
One approach to correcting color in displayed images may involve sensing the color of ambient light (its white point). The sensed white point of ambient light may suggest a suitable color correction to be applied to the images. Nevertheless, directly sensing the white point may have a number of potential disadvantages. In some cases, simple sensors may be employed to estimate the white point based on a small number of optical measurements. However, these simple sensors may provide a white point estimate that is too inaccurate. Alternatively, more sophisticated sensors may be used to provide a more accurate white point measurement from ambient light. However, these more sophisticated sensors may be too expensive to implement in most image display systems. In addition, even accurate white point information for ambient light may not be sufficient to select a color correction in some cases. For example, light sources with similar white points may have distinct spectral power distributions that interact differently with the surround within a display system.

Adjustment of color in displayed images based on identification of ambient light sources

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.