The present invention is a method for producing Ti or a Ti alloy through reduction of TiCl4 by Ca, which can produce the high-purity metallic Ti or high-purity Ti alloy. A molten salt containing CaCl2 and having Ca dissolved therein is held in a reactor vessel, and a metallic chloride containing TiCl4 is reacted with Ca in the molten salt to generate Ti particles or Ti alloy particles in a molten CaCl2 solution, which allows enhancement of a feed rate of TiCl4 which is of a raw material of Ti, and also allows a continuous operation. Therefore, the high-purity metallic Ti or the high-purity Ti alloy can economically be produced with high efficiency. Further, the method by the present invention eliminates the need of replenishment of expensive metallic Ca and of the operation for separately handling Ca which is highly reactive and difficult to handle.

The Kroll method for reducing TiCl4 by Mg is generally used as an industrial production method of the metallic Ti. In the Kroll method, the metallic Ti is produced through a reduction step and a vacuum separation step. In the reduction step, TiCl4 which is of a raw material of Ti is reduced in a reactor vessel to produce the sponge metallic Ti. In the vacuum separation step, unreacted Mg and MgCl2 formed as a by-product are removed from the sponge metallic Ti produced in the reactor vessel.
To explain the reduction step in detail, in the reduction step, the reactor vessel is filled with the molten Mg, and the TiCl4 liquid is supplied from above a liquid surface of the molten Mg. This allows TiCl4 to be reduced by Mg in the vicinity of the liquid surface of the molten Mg to generate the particulate metallic Ti. The generated metallic Ti is sequentially sedimented downward. At the same time, the molten MgCl2 is generated as the by-product in the vicinity of the liquid surface. A specific gravity of molten MgCl2 is larger than that of the molten Mg. The molten MgCl2 which is of the by-product is sedimented downward due to the specific-gravity difference, and the molten Mg emerges in the liquid surface instead. The molten Mg is continuously supplied to the liquid surface by the specific-gravity difference substitution, and the reaction is continued.
In the metallic Ti production by the Kroll method, a high-purity product can be produced. However, in the Kroll method, because the product is produced in a batch manner, a production cost is increased and the product becomes remarkably expensive. One of factors of the increased production cost is the difficulty of enhancing a feed rate of TiCl4. The following is cited as the reason why the feed rate of TiCl4 is restricted.
In order to improve productivity in the Kroll method, it is effective to enhance the feed rate of TiCl4 which is of the raw material of Ti, i.e., to enhance a supply amount of molten Mg to the liquid surface per unit area or unit time. However, when the feed rate is excessively enhanced, the rate of the specific-gravity difference substitution cannot respond to the reaction rate, MgCl2 remains in the liquid surface, and TiCl4 is supplied to the MgCl2, which reduces utilization efficiency of TiCl4.
As a result, the supplied raw material becomes unreacted generation gas (referred to as unreacted gas) such as unreacted TiCl4 gas and unreacted TiCl3 gas, and the unreacted gas is discharged outside the reactor vessel. It is necessary to avoid the generation of the unreacted gas, because a rapid increase in inner pressure of the reactor vessel is associated with the generation of the unreacted gas. There is a limit of the feed rate of TiCl4 which is of the raw material of Ti for the above reasons.
When the feed rate of TiC4 is enhanced, a precipitation amount of Ti is increased in the inner surface of the reactor vessel above the liquid surface. As the reduction reaction proceeds, the liquid surface of the molten Mg rises intermittently. Therefore, the precipitated Ti in the inner surface of the upper portion of the reactor vessel is immersed in the molten Mg in a late stage of the reduction reaction, which causes the effective area of the Mg liquid surface to be decreased to reduce the reaction rate. In order to suppress the reduction of reaction rate, it is necessary that the feed rate of TiCl4 be restricted to prevent the Ti precipitation in the inner surface of the upper portion of the reactor vessel. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-295955 proposes a countermeasure for suppressing the Ti precipitation in the inner surface of the upper portion of the reactor vessel. However, the countermeasure proposed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-295955 is not sufficient.
In the Kroll method, since the reaction is performed only in the vicinity of the liquid surface of the molten Mg solution in the reactor vessel, an exothermic area is narrowed. Therefore, when TiCl4 is supplied at a high rate, cooling cannot keep up with the supply of TiCl4 in the reaction area. This also causes the feed rate of TiCl4 to be restricted.
Although the feed rate of TiCl4 is not directly affected, in the Kroll method, Ti is generated in the particulate form in the vicinity of the liquid surface of the molten Mg solution, and Ti is sedimented. However, because of wetting properties (adhesion properties) of the molten Mg, the generated Ti particles are sedimented while aggregated, and the Ti particles is sintered to grow in particulate size of the Ti particles at a melt temperature condition during the sedimentation, which makes it difficult to retrieve the Ti particles out of the reactor vessel. Therefore, in the Kroll method, the continuous production is difficult to perform, and the improvement of the productivity is blocked. This is why the Ti is produced in the batch manner in the form of the sponge titanium by the Kroll method.
With reference to the Ti production methods except for the Kroll method, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,205,854 describes that, in addition to Mg, Ca can be used as the reducing agent of TiCl4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,339 describes a method for producing Ti through the reduction reaction by Ca, in which the molten salt of CaCl2 is held in the reactor vessel, the metallic Ca powder is supplied into the molten salt from above, Ca is dissolved in the molten salt, and the TiCl4 gas is supplied from below to react the dissolved Ca with TiCl4 in the molten salt of CaCl2.
In the reduction by Ca, the metallic Ti is generated from TiCl4 by the reaction of the following chemical formula (a), and CaCl2 is also generated as the by-product at the same time. Ca has an affinity for Cl stronger than that of Mg, and Ca is suitable for the reducing agent of TiCl4 in principle:TiCl4+2Ca→Ti+2CaCl2  (a)
Particularly, in the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,339, Ca is used while dissolved in the molten CaCl2. When the reduction reaction by Ca is utilized in the molten CaCl2, like the Kroll method, TiCl4 is supplied to the liquid surface of the reducing agent in the reactor vessel, which enlarges the reaction area compared with the case in which the reaction area is restricted in the vicinity of the liquid surface. Accordingly, because the exothermic area is also enlarged to facilitate the cooling, the feed rate of TiCl4 which is of the raw material of Ti can be largely enhanced, and the remarkable improvement of the productivity can be also expected.
However, it is difficult that the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,339 is adopted as the industrial Ti production method. In the case where the metallic Ca powder is used as the reducing agent, because the metallic Ca powder is highly expensive, the purchase and use of the metallic Ca powder leads to increase the production cost to be higher than that of the Kroll method in which the feed rate of TiCl4 is restricted. In addition, highly reactive Ca is extremely difficult to handle, which also causes the factor of blocking the industrial application of the method for producing Ti through the reduction by Ca.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,845,386 describes the Olsen method as another Ti production method. The Olsen method described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,845,386 is a kind of oxide direct-reduction method for directly reducing TiO2 by Ca. Although the oxide direct-reduction method is highly efficient, since it is necessary to use expensive high-purity TiO2, the oxide direct-reduction method is not suitable for producing the high-purity Ti.

Method for producing Ti or Ti alloy through reduction by Ca


A method of imaging a sample containing a target mineral species is provided. The method includes probing the sample with a pump beam and a Stokes beam having a tunable frequency difference, and detecting an optical response of the sample resulting from a transfer of said modulation between the pump beam and the Stokes beam. The probing is scanned spatially and spectrally, thereby obtaining hyperspectral data. Correlation with a known Raman resonance of the mineral species and with anon Raman-resonant contribution to said optical response allows building an image of the sample mapping different species within the sample.

In the mining industry, a number of automated mineralogy methods and tools are now widely used for ore characterization, process design and process optimization. The ability to microscopically image and rapidly identify mineral grain types in processed ore and whole-rock samples allows mining operations to maximize the return on their investment QEMSCAN, MLA and related automated mineralogy techniques developed for the mining industry use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with backscattered electrons and characteristic X-rays emitted upon impinging an electron beam on the sample. Together, these techniques are used for imaging the sample and to determine its mineralogical and chemical composition and perform mineral liberation analysis. Infrared, near infrared and other spectroscopy and imaging methods can identify minerals in dry samples whereas Raman imaging applies only to non-fluorescent samples. Optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction are also used routinely to determine accurately the minerals contained in a sample.
Existing methods (e.g. QEMSCAN, optical mineralogy, Raman etc.) for automated and/or quantitative mineralogy typically require extensive sample preparation in order to obtain accurate results. There is presently no viable approach to performing rapid-turn-around 3D mineral-specific imaging for mineral processing analytics. Current methods do not simultaneously yield particle size distributions and mineral deportment (chemical/mineral-specific analysis as a function of particle size). Existing methods involve extensive sample preparation (e.g. drying of the sample, embedding in resin, polished sections) which greatly increases turn-around time and modifies the original sample properties. Furthermore, 3D mineral-specific imaging is more valuable in mineral processing analytics than current 2D imaging methods.
There remains a need for improved optical microscopy tools and techniques for imaging mineral samples.

Optical imaging of mineral species using hyperspectral modulation transfer techniques


A system for communications on an extraterrestrial body may include a space-based component and an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body. The space-based component may be configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body over a satellite frequency band wherein the space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body. The ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body. Moreover, the ancillary extraterrestrial component may reuse at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to relay communications therebetween. Related methods are also discussed.

Interplanetary communications are provided for various spacecraft being sent, for example to Mars. Communications for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission are discussed, for example, in the following Web publications by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology: (1) "Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Spacecraft: Surface Operations: Rover, The rover's antennas," marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/spacecraft_rover_antennas.html; and (2) "Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Communications With Earth: How the rovers can communicate through Mars-orbiting spacecraft," marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/comm._orbiters.html. The disclosures of both of these publications are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
In the on-going Mars Rover mission, a rover on the surface of Mars can communicate either directly with Earth or through a Mars-orbiting spacecraft. More particularly, a rover on the surface of Mars can transmit communications directly to one or more Deep Space Network antennas on Earth. A rover on Mars can also uplink information to a spacecraft orbiting Mars, and the information can then be passed from the spacecraft orbiting Mars to Earth. The spacecraft orbiting Mars can also send information to the rover on Mars.
Potential benefits of using an orbiting spacecraft may include: (1) that the orbiting spacecraft is closer to the rover than the Deep Space Network antennas on Earth; and (2) that the spacecraft orbiting Mars has the Earth in view for a longer and/or a more frequently occurring time period than the rover on the surface of Mars. Moreover, the rover may not have to use as much energy to send a communication to a spacecraft orbiting Mars as may be required to send a communication to an antenna on earth.
Improved communications systems and methods, however, may be desired to accommodate increasing communications to and from extraterrestrial bodies such as the Moon and/or Mars as more missions are sent to extraterrestrial bodies. More particularly, communications systems and methods may be desired that can accommodate increased communications between radioterminals on an extraterrestrial body and increased communications between radioterminals on the extraterrestrial body and a satellite orbiting a celestial body and/or transceivers on earth.

Extraterrestrial communications systems and methods including ancillary extraterrestrial components


A wafer holder is provided in which local heat radiation in supporting and heating wafers is kept under control and temperature uniformity of the wafer retaining surface is enhanced, and by making use of the wafer holder a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus suitable for processing larger-diameter wafers is made available. In a wafer holder (1) including within a ceramic substrate (2) a resistive heating element (3) or the like and being furnished with a lead (4) penetrating a reaction chamber (6), the lead (4) is housed in a tubular guide member (5), and an interval between the guide member (5) and the reaction chamber (6) as well as the interior of the guide member (5) are hermetically sealed. The guide member (5) and the ceramic substrate (2) are not joined together, and in the interior of the guide member (5) in which the inside is hermetically sealed, the atmosphere toward the ceramic substrate (2) is preferably substantially the same as the atmosphere in the reaction chamber (6).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to wafer holders for heating wafers on which predetermined processes are carried out in semiconductor manufacturing procedures, and to semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses furnished with the wafer holders.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of wafer holder structures for use in semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses have been proposed to date. For example, Japanese Examined Pat. App. Pub. No. H06-28258 proposes a semiconductor wafer-heating device including: a heater part made of ceramic, in which a resistive heating element is embedded, and that is provided with a wafer-heating side and is installed within a reaction chamber; a columnar support part provided on the side of the heater part other than its wafer-heating side and that forms a hermetic seal between it and the reaction chamber, and electrodes connected to the resistive heating element and leading out to the reaction chamber exterior so as substantially not to be exposed to the reaction-chamber interior space.
In another example, Japanese Pat. Pub. No. 2525974 proposes a structure in which tubular pieces are joined to a ceramic susceptor part (wafer holder). Specifically, proposed therein is a semiconductor wafer heating device including a ceramic susceptor part, a retaining part, installed in a reaction chamber, for supporting the ceramic susceptor part, and leads connected to heater terminals. At least one of the leads is surrounded by a tubular piece made of an inorganic insulating material, and one end of the tubular piece is joined hermetically onto the ceramic susceptor, while the other end thereof is inserted through a through-hole provided in the reaction chamber, where it is sealed hermetically.
With the transition to silicon wafers of larger diametric span moving forward in recent years uniform temperature distribution over the wafer support surface is in particular demanded of wafer holders. A drawback with the apparatus set out in Japanese Examined Pat. App. Pub. No. H 6-28258, however, is that, because the ceramic susceptor, being a wafer holder, is supported by a columnar support part that is hermetically sealed between it and the reaction chamber and that is in contact with the ambient air outside the reaction chamber, the temperature uniformity of the wafer support surface is compromised due to heat radiation toward the ambient air.
Likewise, in the structure set out in the above-mentioned Japanese Pat. Pub. No. 2525974, the tubular piece that houses the lead is joined to the ceramic susceptor part and passes through the reaction chamber, where the chamber is sealed off hermetically; therefore, the interior of the tubular piece will inevitably be at the atmospheric pressure, whereas the wafer-processing atmosphere within the reaction chamber is at reduced pressure or a vacuum. The consequent problem has been that the amount of heat that dissipates through the air at atmospheric pressure within the tubular piece to be greater than that elsewhere, reducing the temperature at the joint of the ceramic susceptor part with the tubular piece and spoiling the temperature uniformity of the wafer support surface. Moreover, the fact that the tubular piece is joined to the ceramic susceptor has meant that the escape of heat from the joint portion is significant, which has meant that the temperature uniformity of the wafer support surface is further compromised as a result.
What is more, the lead for supplying power to the ceramic susceptor part is exposed to the ambient air and toward the ceramic susceptor part its temperature grows due to the heating of the ceramic susceptor part. The problem has therefore been that the portion of the lead that has become temperature-elevated is more likely to corrode due to oxygen in the air. Another problem that has persisted has been that because the tubular piece is joined to the ceramic susceptor part and the interval between it and the reaction chamber is hermetically sealed costs rise owing to the low throughput in the joining.

Wafer holder and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus


A first end node obtains trace information in a packet switched network. The first end node sends a request message for setting up a test call towards a second end node. The request message includes a first request for collecting trace information. The second end node sends a first response message, to the first end node, that includes a trace request and trace information. The first response message is routed between the second and first end nodes via at least a first intermediate node that adds additional trace information relating to the first intermediate node to the trace information of the first response message. The first end node receives the first response message, which includes the additional trace information added by the first intermediate node.

An IMS network is an architectural framework for delivering Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia services. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is used for signalling within the IMS network; i.e. for routing request messages and response messages within the network. While designing, maintaining and/or servicing IMS networks, it may be necessary to analyse SIP requests and responses in the IMS network, traversing nodes or proxies such as a "Proxy Call Session Control Function" (P-CSCF), a "Serving Call Session Control Function" (S-CSCF), an "Interrogating Call Session Control Function" (I-CSCF), an "Interconnect Border Control Function" (IBCF), and other nodes.
It is known that when SIP signalling messages traverse an IMS network via the abovementioned nodes, signalling information may be generated by the abovementioned nodes, on entry of the SIP signalling messages in the respective node and on departure of the SIP signalling messages from the respective node. Such information may be in the form of trace records generated by the nodes, which may be sent by the nodes to a server arranged for collecting such trace records and assembling these records into a single trace pertaining to a single session establishment that took place within the IMS network.
With the advent of "IMS roaming" and "IMS interconnect", whereby SIP sessions may span two or more IMS networks, the number of SIP proxies that SIP sessions will traverse increases. As a consequence, the collecting trace information server, e.g. debug server, needs to perform extensive post-processing on collected trace records to retrieve the desired information belonging to the session to be analysed. Elaborate book keeping and a dedicated server is required to assemble the information for analysing a particular session.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Obtaining signaling information in a packet switched network


A steam-augmented gas turbine engine system generally includes a compressor 3), first and second combustors (4a, 4b), a compressor turbine (6) and a power turbine (7). A heat exchanging system (8b) removes heat from an exhaust product from the power turbine (7) and preheats water which has been desalinated by a water purification system (12). The desalinated water is provided to the first combustor (4a), as a predetermined quantity of water-steam mass, along with fuel and compressed air, and is used to efficiently power the turbine system. In one embodiment, a two-boiler system (8b) is employed in which first and second steam outputs are provided to first and second combustors (4a, 4b) such that a mass flow of the compressor turbine (6) is substantially constant from a Cheng point to a stoichiometric point of a predetermined power profile. This constancy of mass flow ensures that the gas generator operates on design from the Cheng point to the stoichiometric combustion point. Additionally, the free-power-turbine (7) always operates on design.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to power generation systems and more particularly to steam-augmented gas turbine engines in which the compressor turbine mass flow is nearly constant such that the compressor-turbine performance (isentropic efficiency) remains on design from a Cheng point to a stoichiometric point.
2. Description of the Related Art
In addition to the usual problems and restrictions associated with land-installed power plants such as fuel efficiency, cost, pollution control, and power, shipboard engines have special (i.e., stringent) restrictions as to space and weight. Further, the parameters of fuel efficiency and power are even more important in naval power plants, where conflicting requirements such as long patrolling range and high speed may each be achieved, as required.
To meet the above goals, various engines that have been developed for land-based power plants have been applied to shipboard power facilities. One system is a gas turbine based on a simple-cycle Brayton engine, designated the LM2500 and built by General Electric. Other engines have also been utilized which have serial compressors for increasing performance parameters such as power, fuel efficiency, etc.
Another type of system utilizes steam-augmented gas turbine (SAGT) engines which are extremely efficient and ecologically-benign. Commercial versions of this type of engine utilize steam/water flow rates up to 16% by weight of the airflow rate.
Steam-injected systems generally exhibit higher efficiency and increased specific horsepower than non-steam-injected systems. Such systems include many well-known gas turbines produced, for example, by Allison and General Electric. SAGT engines have been used for land-based applications in power-producing utilities and in manufacturing plants that require process steam. However, there has been only limited interest in shipboard application of the SAGT concept. The high efficiency of SAGT engines presents many potential benefits including a decrease in fuel consumption and extension of ship range and/or the time interval between underway fuel replenishment. Additionally, SAFT technology offers high power-turnup ratios for projected pulse-power weapon systems, and reduced stack weight, vertical moment, and IR signature.
An important concept used frequently in this disclosure is the Cheng point, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,841, issued to Cheng and incorporated herein by reference, which corresponds to a SAGT engine operating at the point of maximum thermal efficiency or peak efficiency point (i.e., the so-called Cheng point). The Cheng point occurs approximately when the steam generated by exhaust gases in a waste-heat boiler becomes saturated.
Another SAGT system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,324 issued to Urbach et al. on Apr. 9, 1985, and incorporated herein by reference. That system is based on a steam-augmented gas-turbine engine which includes a heat-recovery system (boiler), an intercooler, and a water-purification system.
FIG. 9 illustrates some basic concepts of SAGT systems wherein a first compressor 90 receives ambient air at its inlet, compresses the air and discharges the compressed air to an intercooler 91. The compressed air is cooled by the intercooler 91, which receives relatively pure water (i.e., having less than 0.20 parts-per-million solids) at a compatible pressure. The cooled compressed air is discharged from the intercooler 91 to a second compressor 92. The output of the second compressor is input to a combustor 93 and is used to burn fuel in the combustor in the presence of steam produced by a waste-heat boiler 94 and injected into the combustor by a steam injection means (not illustrated). The amount of fuel, steam, and compressed air introduced into the combustor is regulated in a predetermined manner to ensure operation of the engine system at a predetermined point (e.g., the stoichiometric point which is defined as the operating point where fuel and air are joined in a one-to-one chemical ratio so that all oxygen is consumed) and along a predetermined power profile curve. The use of steam in SAGT systems generally yields a specific power that is approximately threefold greater than the specific power of simple-cycle engines because a relatively negligible amount of energy is used to compress water in its liquid state. In the SAGT engine concept described above, steam/water flow rates up to 50% by weight of the air flow rate are utilized.
Thus, using up to 50% steam and/or water mixtures increases gas-turbine engine power by a factor of three or more, while maintaining the same air flow. Thus, at constant power, the total air demands are advantageously reduced and hence the size and number of gas turbine units for a given power requirement may be reduced accordingly.
The output of the combustor drives the compressor turbine 95, which drives the first and second compressors 90, 92, and a power turbine 96, which drives a load (not shown). The exhaust from the power turbine is cooled in the waste-heat boiler 94 which evacuates the exhaust to a stack and ultimately out to the ambient atmosphere. The waste thermal energy from the exhaust is used to generate steam to be input to the combustor. As discussed above, the source of energy for the injected steam and/or steam-water mixture is waste heat extracted from the effluent stack gas.
Since, as mentioned above, the energy required to compress the water is negligible, the available specific power of water is typically about 1000 hp-sec/lbm as opposed to less than 190 hp-sec/lbm for air in a simple-cycle engine. With maximum steam/water augmentation, a threefold increase in power output is achieved without any increment of air flow. At constant power, a threefold reduction in air requirements is realized. Consequently, the stack volume of intake and uptake ducts mentioned above can be substantially reduced in a SAGT engine.
Naval application of SAGT systems demands a large water-purification system, which had been considered a major technical impediment to development of a marinized version of the steam-augmented gas-turbine power plant. However, studies of water purification based on a reverse-osmosis plant have shown that less than 4200 cubic feet of space may be required to operate the SAGT engines for a destroyer with a 100,000-hp propulsion power plant. Thus, this is not a significant problem.
However, because of the wide range of mass flows necessary in the SAGT engine, difficulties arise in the previous disclosed engine from losses incurred by flow regimes which deviate severely from optimum design-point conditions. As a consequence, although the overall thermodynamic efficiency is always better than simple-cycle efficiency, the goal of high efficiency over the entire range of engine power is not always attained. This is a problem.
Further, the intercooler shown in FIG. 9 helps to increase specific power and efficiency by increasing the density of air entering the high-pressure compressor. Therefore, the annular flow area of the high-pressure compressor must be smaller to match the flow requirements. Since these changes significantly alter the characteristics of the new machine, it is very difficult to manufacture the engine from off-the-shelf components.
Further, while some commercial versions of steam-augmented gas turbines accept steam in amounts up to 16% of the compressor air flow, high levels of steam injection are avoided because commercial turbines, originally designed as simple-cycle machines with smaller flows, often undergo surge, hazardous overspeed, and serious off-design losses with greater steam injection.

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


Provided is a wrist guard designed to press the radial and ulnar parts of a wrist toward the center of the wrist by means of a compression pad, so as to prevent side effects, such as hand numbness and swelling and effectively provide a fixing force of the wrist, thereby preventing the wrist from being excessively bent and alleviating wrist pain. The wrist guard allows a user to adjust the pressure load on the radial and ulnar parts of the wrist. It is possible to smoothly insert and assemble the pressing member into a coupling body, therefore improving operational feeling, the wrist guard may be stably used, and damage due to interference can be prevented. A stable pulling operation prevents wear and damage. As an excessive pressure load on the radial and ulnar regions is attenuated, the wrist guard is more convenient and comfortable.

Regarding the joints of an arm of a human body, the radius and the ulna constitute the forearm, eight (8) carpal bones constitute the wrist, five (5) metacarpal joints by which pivoting, flexing, and extension are enabled constitute the palm, and phalangeal bones constitute each finger while providing a function of gripping an object to the finger.
Such joints may be injured by repeated and continuous excessive use thereof due to operations of holding objects with hands or due to activities. In some cases, injured joints may not be completely healed and chronic pain may occur.
Therefore, wrist guards respectively attached to a wrist of a human body to protect such joints and bones have been proposed and used.
In general, a wrist guard, together with an elbow protector, an ankle protector, a forearm protector, and the like, is attached to a frail joint portion of a person to protect the joint portion. The wrist guard is attached to athletes playing various sports games, workers, or children enjoying games.
A typical wrist protector of the related art has the shape of a band surrounding the wrist, and is placed along the outer surface of the wrist to uniformly compress the wrist and portions adjacent to the wrist. The wrist protector serves to protect the wrist by compressing the wrist and prevent the wrist from being excessively bent.
However, because a wrist protector of the related art uniformly compresses the entire area of the wrist, if the wrist protector has been attached to the wrist for an extended period of time, blood may not flow through the wrist artery properly, thereby causing the hand to tingle or swell, which is problematic. Due to such a problem, such as hand numbness, the use of the wrist protector is limited. For example, a user may remove the wrist protector during or before driving. Accordingly, the wrist may be exposed to the danger of an injury during a variety of exercises or activities, instead of being safely protected.

Wrist guard with improved operation performance


A hard copy print, method and system for producing the hard copy print. The hard copy print has a print side and a back side. The print side has information thereon which identifies the electronic location at which a digital record of the image can be accessed electronically. This information is preferably written in a machine readable form so as to allow automatic accessing of the digitally stored images. The system includes a digital storage device for storing of a digital record file of the image on the hard copy print.

In the typical photographic process, an individual exposes a roll of photographic film and forwards the film to a photofinishing lab whereby it is developed and hard copy prints are produced therefrom. The developed film and hard copy prints are then returned to the customer. Once having received the hard copy prints, it is often desirable to obtain additional prints for oneself or for sharing with others.
Typically this is done by giving the hard copy prints to another individual or by using the returned negative for obtaining additional prints. Using the negative is desirable in obtaining the best possible image as the original images were captured thereon. However, this requires significant amounts of work in that the customer must first bring the negative to a photofinishing store for ordering of additional prints and then take the time to complete the order form. Quite often if a long time has elapsed since the receipt of the film, the negatives are often misplaced or lost and the customer must then use the hard copy prints for obtaining of additional prints.
It has been disclosed in the prior art a system wherein images after they have been developed are scanned digitally for obtaining of a digital record of the images. The digital record of the images are forwarded on to a memory storage database whereby the images are stored and can be accessed by the customer or by authorized individuals. An example is the Kodak PhotoNet Online™ System. While this system has been extremely useful, this requires an individual to be authorized to access to the images and locate the images. Typically, this requires the customer to forward to the third party, a Universal Resource Locator (URL) in the form of a hyperlink for locating only the account containing the images. Additionally, the authorization must be provided with the third party being able to access the database.
Thus, there is a need to provide a system whereby access to the digitally stored images can be easily accomplished while still maintaining secure access to only authorized individuals.

Method and system for locating and accessing digitally stored images


A display method for displaying an image on a transparent display component of a display device includes receiving a display content, determining a background resolution of the image, selecting one of background images as a first background image based on the display content and the background resolution, performing image processing on the first background image to generate a second background image, adding the display content to the second background image to generate the image, and displaying the image on the transparent display component.

Field of Disclosure
The invention relates to a display method and a display device performing the display method, and more particularly, to a display method and a display device that can reduce computing power.
Description of Related Art
In the evolution of the manufacture and computation technology, it becomes possible to display real-time images and informative contents on traditional wearable devices such as smart glasses and watches. Significant attentions have been focused on such novel wearable devices for being applicable to various industries such as military, aviation, medical care, game, recreation, and sports.
However, taking smart glasses as an example, if it is desired to display clear images or words on the lens, effects of the ambient light source must be taken into consideration, while the light source varies with a situation of a user continuously. In general, a wearable device detects an intensity level of an ambient light source through a light sensor, and the intensity level of the ambient light source penetrating through the lens are adjusted by adding shading devices, such that the user may see clear images or information on lens regardless of the variation of the ambient light source. In other words, during the adjustment of the light source, the light sensor has to detect the ambient light source continuously, and the computation device embedded in the wearable device also has to compute a corresponding light adjusting value continuously, thus consuming a large amount of computational resources and power.
However, for taking wearable devices into consideration, weights and sizes of the wearable devices are strictly limited, i.e., the computing capabilities and energy storage of the wearable devices are limited. The existing display technologies consume large amount of power, thus reducing the usable time and product practicability of wearable devices. Therefore, how to use limited resources for displaying real-time information on wearable devices has become one of the major issues in the industries.


In a can seamer, after a control mode of a drive motor has been switched to a type-changing mode, if an action button is depressed, in response to signals issued from a rotational position sensor, the drive motor moves can seaming mechanisms one pitch by one pitch via a center shaft and stops at predetermined positions. At the stopped position, an actuator is operated to depress the top end of a seaming roll shaft. By this operation, a gap clearance is formed between a rotary frame and a seaming lever. Then seaming rolls are dismounted and replaced. The seaming lever connected with a seaming chuck via a bracket is removed, and thereby a type-changing work can be carried out. In addition, in the type-changing work of the can seamer, the vertical positional adjustment in a fitting between a seaming lever and seaming rolls is easily carried out. Furthermore, the knock-out pad can be replaced in a one-touch operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a can seamer in a can filling line, and more particularly, to a can seamer provided with means for facilitating replacement of seaming rolls, a seaming chuck and a knockout pad required as a result of changing the can size, or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At first, the construction and operation of a conventional can seamer in the prior art will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate a structure of the seaming chuck and seaming rolls in a can seamer in the prior art, FIG. 11 is a plan view of a seaming mechanism in a conventional rotary seamer, FIG. 12 is a side view of seaming rolls, and FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a seaming mechanism. In these figures, reference numeral 11 designates a first seaming roll, numeral 12 designates a second seaming roll, and numeral 13 designates a seaming chuck. In addition, reference numeral 14 designates a seaming lever, inserted around a seaming roll shaft 15 via splines (serrations) 15a, which seaming lever 14 can be extracted downwards, but which is fixed to the shaft 15 so as to be integrally rotatable therewith to the lever 14 is fixed a shaft 16. Each of the seaming rolls 11 and 12 is rotatably suspended at the center of the shaft 16 via a bearing 18 fixed to the shaft 16 by means of a screw 17. On the other hand, the seaming chuck 13 is mounted via splines (or serrations) 22 to the bottom end of a rotary cylinder 21, which is rotatably supported from a rotary frame 19 via a bearing 20 so that the seaming chuck 13 can rotate integrally with the same rotary cylinder 21. A knock-out rod 23 extends within the rotary cylinder 21 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. Reference numeral 27 designates a connecting bracket, which integrally connects the seaming lever 14 and the seaming chuck 13. More particularly, the bracket 27 is connected with the seaming chuck 13 via flanges 28 provided along its outer circumference, and is connected with the seaming lever 14 via a ring 29, and this ring 29 is rotatably fixed by means of a lock nut 30 engaged with the connecting bracket 27. In addition, reference numeral 31 designates a bolt for positioning the seaming chuck 13 in the vertical direction with respect to the rotary cylinder 21.
At the time of seaming a can, normally the can exerts a push-up force upon the seaming chuck 13 a push-up force, and the seaming rolls 11 and 12 also exert a reaction force generated upon pushing a can lid during the operation of seaming a can, and are thus pushed upwards. In addition, in order to prevent the seaming lever 14 from slipping out of the seaming roll shaft 15, a cam 35 rotatable about a shaft 37 mounted to the seaming lever 14 is provided. By rotating a lever 36, the cam 35 is made to enter a notch groove provided on the seaming roll shaft 15 to serve as a stopper.
On the other hand, the top end of the seaming chuck 13 butts against a flange of the rotary cylinder 21, and this rotary cylinder 21 is rigidly supported in the vertical direction with respect to a seamer main body via a bearing 20. Furthermore, with regard to the structure of the seaming roll shaft 15, for the sake of convenience, description will be made with reference to FIG. 1. Since the seaming roll shaft 15 is pushed upwards by means of a compression spring 43 via a cam lever 39, when the seaming lever 14 supporting the seaming rolls 11 and 12 is fixed to the seaming roll shaft 15, its top end butts against a washer 38 mounted to the rotary frame 19 (shown at E). Also, between the cam lever 39 and the rotary frame 19 is formed a gap space F.
By means of the above-mentioned arrangement, the vertical positions of the seaming chuck 13 and the seaming rolls 11 and 12 can be insured. It is to be noted that in FIG. 1, reference numeral 41 designates a cam follower, numeral 42 designates a seamer main body frame, numeral 42a designates a cam groove, and when a can seaming mechanism rotates, as a result of the action of the cam groove 42a and the cam follower 41, the seaming roll shaft 15 rotates, hence the seaming lever 14 swings, and the seaming rolls 11 and 12 alternately perform seaming operations.
Next, description will be made of operations for changing a type of cans. When it is necessitated to replace the seaming rolls 11 and 12 and the seaming chuck 13 in response to change in can lid diameter, under the condition where a can is not present, the can seamer is rotated to move the seaming rolls up to a position where working is easy, the top end of the seaming roll shaft 15 is depressed by means of a tool, and after a gap space has been formed between the seaming lever 14 and the washer 38, the bolt 31 is loosened. Simultaneously therewith, the cam 35 is disengaged from the notch groove in the seaming roll shaft 15 by turning the lever 36, and the seaming rolls 11 and 12 and the seaming chuck 13 are pulled down, gripped by hands. Then, since the seaming lever 14 and the seaming chuck 13 are integrally connected by the connecting bracket 27, the seaming lever 14 is disengaged from the seaming roll shaft 15 via the splines 15a, and the seaming chuck 13 is disengaged from the rotary cylinder 21 via the splines 22, and they are integrally pulled down via the connecting bracket 27.
Subsequently, when it is intended to mount a seaming lever having seaming rolls of changed sizes and a seaming chuck of changed a changed size, since the spline diameters are identical to those of the used lever and chuck, after the splines of the seaming lever 14 are aligned with the splines 15a of the seaming roll shaft 15, the splines of the seaming chuck 13 are aligned with the splines 22 of the rotary cylinder 21, and they are pushed in, the seaming chuck 13 is fixed by fastening the bolt 31, the seaming lever 14 is fixed to the seaming roll shaft 15 by turning the lever 36 to insert the cam 35 into the notch groove in the seaming roll shaft 15, and if a depressing force is removed from the top end of the same shaft 15, the mounting work is finished.
Another example of a can seamer in the prior art is seen in Laid-Open Japanese Utility Model Specification No. 54-9137 (1979), and in the following, this will be explained with reference to FIG. 14. In this figure, reference numeral 101 designates seaming rolls, which are rotatably mounted around respective shafts 103 and 104 fixed to a seaming lever 102. Reference numeral 105 designates a seaming chuck, which is threadedly fixed to a bottom end of a rotary cylinder 106, and a knock-out pad 109 is fixed by a screw 108 to the bottom end of a knock-out rod 107 which penetrates through the same rotary cylinder 106 in a vertically slidable manner. This knock-out pad 109 is projectable from a recessed portion 110 at the bottom of the above-mentioned chuck 105. In addition, the upper portion of the above-mentioned knock-out rod 107 is inserted via a ball bearing into a knock-out carrier 112. The same knock-out carrier 112 is guided by a knock-out carrier guide 111, and is prevented from rotating by means of an anti-rotation guide pin (not shown) which is parallel to a center axis of the knock-out rod 107. Also, to the knock-out carrier 112 is mounted a cam follower 113, and provision is made such that when the can seamer is operated the cam follower 113 may move up and down following a profile of a 114, cam groove and the movement may be transmitted via the ball bearing to the knock-out rod 107. Parallel twin faces for engagement with a spanner are machined on a shaft 107a at the top of the knock-out rod 107.
In order to remove the knock-out pad 109 from the knock-out rod 107 for the purpose of changing the type of knock-out pad as a result of the change of can sizes, the screw 108 is loosened while the top shaft 107a of the knock-out rod 107 is held by means of a spanner, the screw 108 is loosened, and thereby the knock-out pad 109 is removed. When a knock-out pad to be replaced is mounted, it is only necessary to perform the above-mentioned steps of operation in the reverse sequence.
As will be seen from the above description, the type-changing work at the time of changing can sizes in the can seamer in the prior art as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 has a shortcoming in that it necessitates a lot of time and labor because of the fact that a manually operated handle was used for rotating a seaming mechanism, and at the time of replacement of seaming rolls the top end of a seaming roll shaft had to be held by means of a hand tool.
In addition, mounting of a seaming lever and positioning in the vertical direction in the heretofore known can seamer as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 relied upon the method of aligning a horizontal notch groove cut in a seaming roll shaft with a cam 35 provided on a seaming lever and fixing them by inserting the cam plate into the notch groove. With such a structure, a lot of time is needed to adjust a clearance in the vertical direction of the seaming roll shaft when can sizes are changed. Explaining the reasons, a seaming chuck is spinning at a high speed and also is making rotary movement at a high speed along a circumference as accompanied by seaming rolls, and so if the clearance in the vertical direction of the seaming roll shaft should deviate from a predetermined tolerable value, baking would arise or unacceptable seaming, caused by vibrations would occur. Therefore, in a seaming process between a can and a can lid, the seaming chuck pressing the can lid and the seaming roll for carrying out seaming would necessitate a high precision in positioning. However, in the seaming lever mounting structure in the prior art, clearance adjustment involved problems such as requiring a lot of labor and time because each time the seaming lever must be extracted from the seaming roll shaft to replace or grind a shim.
Also, in the heretofore known apparatus shown in FIG. 14, since there are many seaming chucks mountable on a single seamer, if it is intended to replace the knock-out pad, each time the top end 107 the of a knock-out rod must be restrained by means of a spanner and the knock-out pad 109 must be disengaged by releasing the screw 108, and so there is a problem in that a lot of labor and time were necessitated for mounting and dismounting of the pad.


The present application describes RGM A binding proteins, particularly monoclonal antibodies, and in particular CDR grafted, humanized versions thereof, which have the ability to bind to RGM A and prevent binding of RGM proteins to RGM A receptor and other RGM A binding proteins, and therefore neutralize the function of RGM A, for use in the treatment of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) degeneration as well as methods of therapeutically or prophylactically treating a mammal against RNFL degeneration.

Axonal regeneration after injury, inflammatory attacks, or neurodegenerative diseases within the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is almost always impossible; the outcome depends on the balance between the intrinsic ability of the nerve fibers in the CNS to re-grow, and the inhibitory factors within the CNS, localized in the microenvironment of the lesion or damage site, which actively prevent the re-growth, and thus the regeneration of the injured fiber tracts.
It has been established that CNS myelin, generated by oligodendrocytes, and the lesional scar are the most relevant non-permissive structures for axonal growth in the early phase of an injury, by causing growth cone collapse and neurite growth inhibition in vitro as well as in vivo, thereby resulting in direct inhibition of axon regrowth. RGM proteins, major inhibitory factors on CNS myelin and scar tissue have been identified (Monnier et al., Nature 419: 392-395, 2002; Schwab et al., Arch. Neurol. 62: 1561-8, 2005a; Schwab et al. Eur. J. Neurosci. 21: 1569-76, 2005 b; Hata et al. J. Cell Biol. 173: 47-58, 2006; for reviews see: Mueller et al., Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 361: 1513-29, 2006; Yamashita et al. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 17: 29-34, 2007). RGM proteins are up-regulated at damage or lesion sites in humans dying from brain trauma or ischemic insult, (Schwab et al., Arch. Neurol. 62: 1561-8, 2005a) and are up-regulated at lesion sites in rats with spinal cord injury (Schwab et al. Eur. J. Neurosci. 21: 1569-76, 2005 b; Hata et al. J. Cell Biol. 173: 47-58, 2006 for review see: Mueller et al., Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 361: 1513-29, 2006; Yamashita et al. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 17: 29-34, 2007). In addition, first data using clinical samples from Multiple sclerosis patients and healthy persons suggested that human RGM A is up-regulated in cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from MS (data not shown).
To evaluate the regeneration-promoting potential of an RGM A-specific polyclonal antibody, the antibodies were administered in a moderate-to-severe model of spinal cord injury, where approximately 60% of the spinal cord at thoracal level 9/10 was transected. The histological examination revealed that such a lesion severed all dorsal and lateral fibers of the corticospinal tract. The RGM A—specific polyclonal antibody given locally via pump for two weeks induced long-distance regeneration of injured nerve fibers (Hata et al., J. Cell Biol. 173: 47-58, 2006).
Hundreds of nerve fibers extended past the lesion site and the longest fibers regenerated for more than 10 mm beyond the lesion, whereas no regenerating fibers were found distal to the lesion in control antibody-treated animals. The functional recovery of the anti-RGM A treated rats was significantly improved in comparison with control-antibody treated, spinally injured rats, thereby proving that RGM A is a potent neuroregeneration inhibitor and a valuable target for stimulating recovery in indications characterized by axon damage or nerve fiber injury (Hata et al., J. Cell Biol. 173: 47-58, 2006; Kyoto et al. Brain Res. 1186: 74-86, 2007). In addition neutralising the RGM A protein with a function-blocking polyclonal antibody stimulated not only regrowth of damaged nerve fibers in the spinally injured rats but enhanced their synapse formation thereby enabling the reformation or restoration damaged neuronal circuits (Kyoto et al. Brain Res. 1186: 74-86, 2007).
The rgm gene family encompasses three different genes, two of them, rgm a and b, are expressed in the mammalian CNS originating RGM A and RGM B proteins, whereas the third member, rgm c, is expressed in the periphery (Mueller et al., Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 361: 1513-29, 2006), where RGM C plays an important role in iron metabolism. In vitro, RGM A inhibits neurite outgrowth by binding to Neogenin, which has been identified as an RGM receptor (Rajagopalan et al. Nat Cell Biol.: 6(8), 756-62, 2004). Neogenin had first been described as a netrin-binding protein (Keino-Masu et al. Cell, 87(2): 175-85, 1996). This is an important finding because binding of Netrin-1 to Neogenin or to its closely related receptor DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer) has been reported to stimulate rather than to inhibit neurite growth (Braisted et al. J. Neurosci. 20: 5792-801, 2000). Blocking RGM A therefore releases the RGM-mediated growth inhibition by enabling Neogenin to bind its neurite growth-stimulating ligand Netrin. Based on these observations, neutralizing RGM A can be assumed to be superior to neutralizing Neogenin in models of human spinal cord injury. Besides binding of RGM A to Neogenin and inducing neurite growth inhibition, the binding of RGM A or B to the bone morphogenetic proteins BMP-2 and BMP-4 could represent another obstacle to successful neuroregeneration and functional recovery (Mueller et al., Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 361: 1513-29, 2006).
The RNFL is the innermost layer of the retina and is principally composed of axons from ganglion cell neurons that compose the optic nerve. The axons within the RNFL are not myelinated until they pass through the lamina cribrosa of the eye. This structural characteristic of the RNFL makes it an ideal tissue to examine neurodegenerative processes within the CNS because RNFL thickness reflects the contribution of axons without potential structural effects of myelin degeneration (Frohman et al., Arch. Neurol. 65(1): 26-35, 2008) (See, also FIG. 19).
Frisén, L. and Hoyl, W. F. reported for the first time of thinning of RNFL in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (Frisén, L. and Hoyl, W. F., Arch. Opthalmol. 92: 91-97, 1974).
In healthy individuals, the RNFL is only about 110-120 μm thick by the age of 15 years and most normal individuals will lose about 0.017% per year in retinal thickness which equates to about 10-20 μm over 60 years (Kanamori. A. et al., Ophthalmologica 217: 273-278, 2003). Contrary to this about 75% of patients with MS who had experienced acute optic neuritis (AON) showed 10 to 40 μm RNFL thickness loss within a period of only about 3-6 months following the initial inflammatory event. It is also reported that thinning of the RNFL below a level of about 75 μm causes a decay of visual function (Costello, et al., Ann. Neurol. 59: 963-969, 2006). The potential utility of the RNFL for the purpose of modeling neuroprotection in response to MS therapies was suggested by Frohman et al., who also describe optical coherence tomography (OTC) as a reproducible imaging technique allowing measurements of RNFL thickness (Frohman et al., see above; and Frohman et al.; Nature Clinical Practice Neurology 4: 12, 664-675, 2008).
Degeneration of the RNFL is also observed during the course of numerous other diseases like; diabetic retinopathy, ischemic optic neuropathy, X-chromosome linked retinoschisis, drug-induced optic neuropathy, retinal dystrophy, age-related macula degeneration, eye diseases characterized by optic nerve head drusen, eye disease characterized by genetic determinants of photoreceptor degeneration, autosomal recessive cone-rod dystrophy, mitochondrial disorders with optic neuropathy, i.p. Friedreich's ataxia, Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) Parkinsons's disease, and Prion disease, i.p. Creutzfeld-Jakob, Scrapie, BSE (see also Sakata L M, et al. Clin. Experiment Ophtalmol. 2009, 37: 90-99; Morris R W et al. Optometry 2009, 80, 83-100; Kallenbach K. & Frederiksen J. Eur. J. Neurol. 2007, 14: 841-849; Trick et al. J. Neuroophtthalmol. 2006, 26: 284-295; Tantri A. et al. Surv. Ophtalmol. 49: 214-230).
There is a need in the art for a therapeutic approach allowing the direct treatment of RNFL degeneration. The problem to be solved by the present invention was, therefore, to provide means allowing the direct treatment, in particular neuroprotective treatment of RNFL degeneration as observed in a multiplicity of disease conditions.

Methods of treating retinal nerve fiber layer degeneration with monoclonal antibodies against a retinal guidance molecule (RGM) protein


A method of generating a markup language text template comprises identifying a variable text element in a source language text string and assigning a first predefined symbol to the variable text element, identifying a grammatical rule for the variable text element and assigning a second predefined symbol to the variable text element based on the identified grammatical rule, determining whether to assign supplemental information to the variable text element, wherein the first predefined symbol, the second predefined symbol, and the supplemental information if assigned represent a token, and repeating the identification of a grammatical rule, assignment of first and second predefined symbols, and determination of whether to assign supplemental information for remaining variable text elements in the source language text string so as to complete a markup language text template comprising one or more tokens.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of text translation and localization. More particularly, the invention pertains to systems and methods for generating grammatically correct strings in a target language based on context and a text template in a source language.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many products configured to display text to a user are used or implemented in locales wherein the language used is different from that of the origin of the product. For example, software applications such as computer games which display text to a user can translate the text for use at the locale at which the game is being played. Similarly, it is often desirable for Internet web pages to be presented to a user in their language of choice, where the text of the web page was originally written in a different language.
Localization of text typically includes translation of a word or phrase by persons familiar with the source language and target language. However, these translators often lack the contextual information they need to provide a grammatically correct translation. For example, translators often use the equivalent of s/he, his/her, and ambiguous passive voice to avoid contextual problems, resulting in a generic if not awkward translation. Unfortunately, grammatical rules are too complex and variable for totally automated software, and software application writers have a different knowledge and focus from that needed for localization of text.
Localized products with generic and awkward translations degrade the international user experience and reduce the overall quality of the product. This poor quality impedes penetration of international markets and leads to lost revenue potential for the product. Some attempts have been made at pure machine translation. However, machine translation is costly in terms of the required processing power and unsatisfying in output quality. In addition, pure static text without any variable content is inflexible. Static text for all possible alternatives is typically expensive, and the quality of the translation suffers by not being specific when there are too few alternatives.
Thus, a text localization tool which generates grammatically correct text in a target language is needed in the technology.

System and method for generating markup language text templates


A body spray configured to be supported within a shower wall. The body spray includes an outer housing and an inner waterway supporting a sprayhead for axial movement relative to the outer housing. Water pressure against the inner waterway causes the sprayhead to move axially outwardly from a refracted position to an extended position.

The present invention relates generally to a body spray that mounts within a shower wall and, more particularly, to a body spray that mounts with a low profile against a shower wall when inactive (i.e., not dispensing water), but extends outwardly therefrom when active (i.e., dispensing water).
It is known to utilize body sprays within shower installations. More particularly, it is known to mount body sprays within shower walls wherein the body sprays extend outwardly in response to water pressure.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a body spray includes an inner waterway received within an outer housing and configured for axial movement between a retracted position and an extended position. When retracted, a spray face is illustratively flush with the front of a face plate. When extended, the front of a bonnet nut is illustratively flush with the front of the face plate. Further, in the extended position the sprayhead may by pivoted about a pivot point positioned forward of the shower wall.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a body spray includes a valve body configured to be supported within a shower wall, and an outer housing fluidly coupled to the valve body, the outer housing including a chamber extending along a longitudinal axis. An inner waterway is fluidly coupled to the outer housing, the inner waterway including a longitudinally extending shaft having an inner end and an outer end. A water passageway extends between the inner end and the outer end of the inner waterway. A pivot coupling is supported by the outer end of the shaft, and a bonnet nut secures the pivot coupling to the outer end of the shaft. Water pressure causes the inner waterway to extend longitudinally outwardly relative to the outer housing from a retracted position to an extended position. A sprayhead is fluidly coupled to the pivot coupling of the inner waterway. A faceplate including a central opening is supported by the outer housing and is configured to be positioned external to the shower wall. The sprayhead is positioned within the central opening of the faceplate when the inner waterway is in the refracted position, and the bonnet nut is positioned within the central opening of the faceplate when the inner waterway is in the extended position.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a body spray includes a valve body configured to be supported within a shower wall, and an outer housing fluidly coupled to the valve body, wherein the outer housing includes a chamber extending along a longitudinal axis. An inner waterway is fluidly coupled to the outer housing, the inner waterway including a longitudinally extending shaft extending between an inner end and an outer end. Water pressure causes the inner waterway to extend longitudinally outwardly relative to the outer housing from a retracted position to an extended position. A sprayhead is fluidly coupled to the outer end of the inner waterway. A pivot point is supported by the outer end of the inner waterway and about which the sprayhead pivots. The pivot point is positioned rearward of the shower wall when the inner waterway is in the retracted position, and the pivot point is positioned forward of the shower wall when the inner waterway is in the extended position.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a body spray includes an outer housing, and an inner waterway received within the outer housing. The inner waterway includes a longitudinally extending shaft extending between an inner end and an outer end, and a pivot coupling supported by the outer end of the shaft. Water pressure causes the inner waterway to extend longitudinally outwardly from the outer housing from a refracted position to an extended position. A sprayhead is fluidly coupled to the pivot coupling of the inner waterway. The sprayhead is configured to be uncoupled from the inner waterway when in the extended position.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


The present invention provides a bearing housing (10) for accommodating a rotor shaft (33) of a wind turbine. The bearing housing includes a flange (12) for connecting the bearing housing to a main frame (30) of the wind turbine. The flange having a connecting surface (51, 52) to be attached to the main frame. Thereby, at least parts of the connecting surface, when seen from the top of the bearing housing, would be located below the rotor shaft.

Wind turbines provide a primary source of energy that can be converted into electricity and supplied to utility power grids. Conversion of wind energy to electrical energy is accomplished in a wind turbine by driving an electrical generator, commonly an AC induction generator. Recently, wind turbines have received increased attention as environmentally safe and relatively inexpensive alternative energy sources. With this growing interest, considerable efforts have been made to develop wind turbines that are reliable, efficient, and have increased availability.
However, at high wind speeds or for large wind turbines, the power captured from the wind by the rotor may lead to large loads acting on mechanical components. All components necessary for transmitting the loads to the tower are exposed to these large loads. Thus, components like the bearing housing and the main frame need to have a sufficient strength. Prior art systems typically increase the amount of material to withstand the loads. This may be considered an insufficient approach. Increasing the material strength, for example associates the disadvantage of an increased weight. Thus, there is a need to improve respective components.


A thin film capacitor comprising a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a dielectric film held between the top and bottom electrodes. The dielectric film is composed of at least cations Ba, Sr, and Ti and anion O. The concentration of Sr, Ti, and O ions are uniform along the growth direction of the dielectric film while the concentration of the Ba cation is non-uniform along the growth direction such that a reduced Ba-I region in which the average concentration of perovskite type Ba cations (Ba-I) is less than the average concentration of non-perovskite type Ba cations (Ba-II) exists at or near the boundary between at least one of the top and bottom electrodes, with ratio R=(atm % Ba-I)/[(atm % Ba-I)+(atm % Ba-II)] within a range of 0.1<R<0.2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a thin film capacitor, and more particularly, to a thin film capacitor using a perovskite type dielectric film with a specific distribution profile along the growth direction, which capacitor is capable of reducing electric current leakage and enhancing service life of devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thin film ABO3 perovskite type dielectric materials, such as barium strontium titanate (BST: (Ba, Sr)TiO3), are currently being investigated for applications in microwave and RF devices and as charge storage devices for decoupling capacitor and DRAM applications. For these applications a high capacitance density, low leakage current, reduced dielectric loss, and long service life are required.
One of the major problems impeding the use of polycrystalline high dielectric constant oxide thin films, such as (Ba,Sr)TiO3, in device applications is achieving capacitance densities sufficient for device applications while maintaining low leakage with good service life.
Japanese Patent Registration No. 2929435 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,253) discloses a technique for forming a dielectric film with improved physical and electrical characteristics, achieving a higher dielectric constant and smooth surfaces. With this method, a first BST film of a Barium composition x (BaxSr1-x) is formed, and then a second BST film of a different Ba composition x′ (x′=0.5) (Ba0.5Sr0.5) is formed over the first BST film. The first BST film serves to improve the surface roughness, and the second BST film serves to achieve a higher dielectric constant.

Thin film capacitor and fabrication method thereof


An electronic ballast for a gas discharge lamp includes an AC to DC converter for changing alternating current at power line voltage to direct current and an inverter powered by the converter and having a series resonant, direct coupled output coupled to the lamp. The inverter includes an AC switch having a diode bridge defining an AC diagonal and a DC diagonal and a transistor connected across the DC diagonal. The primary winding of a filament transformer is connected across the AC diagonal of the bridge and the transistor is coupled to the microprocessor for controlling current through the primary winding. The microprocessor is programmed to close the AC switch while the lamp is starting and to open the switch after the lamp is started, thereby cutting off the filaments from a source of power and reducing the power consumed by the ballast during normal operation. A resistor in series with the transistor is used to detect filament resistance and provide an indication of lamp type.

This invention relates to electronic ballasts for gas discharge lamps and, in particular, to an electronic ballast that shuts off filament current after starting.
A fluorescent lamp is an evacuated glass tube with a small amount of mercury in the tube. The tube is lined with an adherent layer of a mixture of phosphors. Some of the mercury vaporizes at the low pressure within the tube and a filament or cathode in each end of the tube is heated to emit electrons into the tube, ionizing the gas. A high voltage between the filaments causes the mercury ions to conduct current, producing a glow discharge that emits ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light is absorbed by the phosphors and re-emitted as visible light.
A fluorescent lamp is a non-linear load to a power line, i.e. the discharge current through the lamp is not directly proportional to the voltage across the lamp. Current through the lamp is zero until a minimum voltage is reached, then the lamp begins to conduct. Once the lamp conducts, the discharge current will increase rapidly unless there is a ballast in series with the lamp to limit current.
An electronic ballast is a small power supply having the fluorescent lamp as a load. The ballast typically includes a rectifier for converting alternating current (AC) from a power line to direct current (DC) and an inverter for changing the direct current to alternating current at high frequency, typically 25-60 kHz. Some ballasts include a boost circuit between the rectifier and the inverter for increasing the DC voltage, e.g. from approximately 180 volts (assuming a 120 volt input) to 300 volts or more.
There is increasing pressure on the lighting industry and by the lighting industry to improve the efficiency of lighting systems. The converter-inverter stages of a ballast have been refined over the last few years to substantially improve the efficiency of electronic ballasts. Lamp designs have also improved, including the recent introduction of a new family of "T5" lamps. The designation "T5" refers to the diameter of the glass tube of the lamp, as measured in eighths of an inch. In general, a narrower lamp is more efficient than a wider lamp at producing light.
In measuring the efficiency of a lamp, one could consider only the electrical characteristics of the glow discharge relative to the amount of light produced. However, it is the efficiency of the system that must be improved, which means that any power dissipation that does not directly contribute to the production of light must be eliminated or at least reduced. For many fluorescent lamps, including the new T5 lamps, this includes the power dissipated in the filaments. Lamp manufacturers are increasingly specifying a maximum terminal current into a lamp. Such a specification is difficult to meet without removing filament drive when a lamp is operating normally.
When a lamp is started, current is provided to the filaments or heaters in each end of the lamp. The filaments become red hot, which substantially increases the emission of electrons and greatly facilitates starting the lamp. When a lamp is operating normally, the filament current can be reduced and many circuits have been proposed for reducing filament current after a successful start; for example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,935,669; 5,015,923; 5,027,032; 5,179,326; and 5,256,939.
Another problem is that many lamps are dimensionally the same but are electrically quite different. Inevitably, someone will connect the wrong lamp to a ballast. One can provide a ballast that monitors lamp voltage as an indication of lamp type but there are ballasts on the market that can be connected to either one lamp or two lamps (of a particular type). There is a growing expectation in the market that all ballasts can be used with either one lamp or two lamps. Thus, lamp voltage alone is not enough. Further, fault detectors within a ballast must be able to distinguish the absence of a second lamp from a fault condition.
In view of the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide an electronic ballast that can distinguish lamp types.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ballast that can be used, without adjustment, for either a single lamp or with two lamps.
A further object of the invention is to distinguish different types of T5 lamps automatically.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic ballast that has higher efficiency than electronic ballasts of the prior art.
A further object of the invention is to provide an electronic ballast having a filament cutout circuit that consumes very little power compared to the filaments.

Electronic ballast with filament cut-out


A packet control component of an apparatus in one example monitors a data stream that comprises a plurality of data packets. The plurality of data packets comprise one or more first data packets associated with a real-time application and one or more second data packets non-associated with the real-time application. Upon a detection in the data stream of a data packet of the one or more first data packets, the packet control component initiates a network treatment for the data packet that is different from one or more network treatments applicable to the one or more second data packets.

A radio access network ("RAN") transmits a data stream to or receives a data stream from a mobile station. For example, the mobile station comprises a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant ("PDA"), or personal computer. The data stream may comprise one or more data packets. In one example, where the data packets are associated with a non-real-time application, the radio access network applies a general network treatment to the data packets. For example, the non-real-time application comprises an internet web browser, email, or a file transfer.
In another example, where the data packets are associated with a real-time application, the radio access network handles the data packets with the same general network treatment. For example, the real-time application comprises a voice over internet protocol ("VoIP") call, a push-to-Talk ("PTT") conversation, or a video teleconference.
A delay in delivery in one example results from the general network treatment. For example, the radio access network employs a radio link protocol ("RLP") retransmission system to retransmit data packets that fail to reach a termination point. The radio link protocol retransmission system may introduce delay in delivery of the data packets. The radio link protocol retransmission system prevents delivery of a data packet until previous data packets are delivered. Since the non-real-time application is not as time sensitive as real-time applications, the delay in delivery may be acceptable for the non-real-time application. However, due to the quality and temporal requirements of the real-time application, the delay in delivery in one example is unacceptable for the real-time application. As one shortcoming, the general network treatment applied to the data packets by the radio access network unacceptably interferes with operation of the real-time application. Such an interference with the operation of the real-time application decreases a quality of service provided by a network for the real-time application.
Thus, a need exists for promotion of an increase in quality of service provided by a network for a real-time application.

Initiation of network treatment for data packet associated with real-time application different from network treatment applicable to data packet non-associated with the real-time application


A disk cartridge including a lower case member in which a space portion to receive an optical disk is formed; an upper case member, joined to the lower case member, an opening portion to allow a reading/recording device to obtain access to the optical disk; a multi-shutter member, including shutters, installed at the lower case member to be able to slide, and to allow the opening portion to be exposed to the outside when the multiple-shutter member is moved in a direction of the insertion direction of the disk cartridge into a disk drive, such that the shutters overlap each other; and a locking member, installed at the lower case member, to fix the multiple-shutter member to the lower case member so that the multiple-shutter member cannot move arbitrarily.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk cartridge for accommodating an optical disk that is an information recording/reproducing medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a disk cartridge is intended to accommodate an optical disk that is an information recording/reproducing medium, and is to be loaded in a disk drive. An example of a conventional disk cartridge is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, in a disk cartridge 101, an upper case 111 and a lower case 112 are assembled into a main body 106. An optical disk 105 which is an information recording/reproducing medium is accommodated in an inner space formed by assembling the upper case 111 and the lower case 112. An opening portion 115 and an opening hole 117 are formed at the main body 106 to expose the optical disk 105 to the outside. The opening portion 115 is a space through which a reading/recording device (not shown) obtains access to the optical disk 105, and the opening hole 117 is a portion into which a spindle motor (not shown) to rotate the optical disk 105 is inserted when the disk cartridge 101 is inserted into a disk drive (not shown).
A shutter 120 is installed at the main body 106 to be able to slide so that the opening portion 115 and the opening hole 117 can be exposed to or hidden from the outside.
When the disk cartridge 101 is inserted into the disk drive, the shutter 120 is slid in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the disk cartridge 101 and is opened, and the opening portion 115 and the opening hole 117 are opened. After the disk cartridge 101 is completely inserted into the disk drive, the spindle motor obtains access to the opening hole 117, and the optical disk 105 is seated on the spindle motor. In addition, the reading/recording device obtains access to the opening portion 115, and while moving in a radial direction of the optical disk 105, the reading/recording device records information onto the optical disk 105, or reads information recorded on the optical disk 105.
The reading/recording device which records information onto the optical disk, or reads information recorded on the optical disk may be an slider carriage type one or a swing arm type one.
Since, in the slider carriage type device, the optical pickup performs recording/reading of information while moving linearly in a radial direction of the optical disk, the opening hole may have a narrow width, but must have a sufficient length in the radial direction so that the optical pickup may obtain access to the optical disk and may move linearly.
On the other hand, since, in the swing arm type device, a swing arm obtains access to the optical disk and performs recording/reading of information while pivoting on a predetermined pivot along an arc, the opening hole must be formed so that the swing arm can obtain access to the optical disk not only in a radial direction but also in a width direction.
That is, the opening hole of the swing arm type device must be formed to have an area greater than that of the opening hole of the slider carriage type device.
In recent years, while apparatuses and devices have become diverse as various technologies are developed, compatibility of one device with various apparatuses becomes important. Therefore, an optical disk needs compatibility so that the optical disk may be reproduced using various optical pickups.
However, since the conventional disk cartridge shown in FIG. 1 is configured so that only the slider carriage type optical pickup may obtain access to the optical disk to perform reproducing/recording of information, there is a problem in which the swing arm type optical pickup cannot perform reproducing/recording of information from/onto the optical disk, and therefore the disk cartridge is not compatible with the swing arm type optical pickup.


The present invention provides VFET device designs for top contact resistance measurement. In one aspect, a method of forming a VFET test structure includes: etching fins in a substrate (for active and sensing devices); forming bottom source/drains at a base of the fins; forming a STI region that isolates the bottom source/drains of the active device from that of the sensing device; forming a gate surrounding each of the fins; forming top source/drains over the gate, wherein the top source/drains of the active device and that of the sensing device are merged; and forming contacts to i) the bottom source/drains of the active device, ii) the top source/drains of the active device, and iii) the bottom source/drains of the sensing device. A test structure formed by the method as well as techniques for use thereof for measuring contact resistance are also provided.

As opposed to planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices, vertical field effect transistors (VFETs) are oriented with a vertical fin channel disposed on a bottom source and drain, and a top source and drain disposed on the fin channel. Following fabrication of the VFET device, top contacts are often formed to the top and bottom source and drains. VFETs are being explored as a viable device option for continued CMOS scaling beyond the 7 nanometer (nm) technology node.
Top contact resistance (Rc) is an important factor in VFET device performance. For instance, top contact resistance can impact the switching characteristics of the device.
Accordingly, techniques for accurately and effectively determining top contact resistance in a VFET device would be desirable.

VFET device design for top contact resistance measurement

International Business Machines Corporation


An assembly for feeding liquid to the inlet port of a gravity feed sprayer. The assembly includes (1) a mixing cup of a known type commonly used to mix paint with solvent that is of stiff polymeric material and bears indicia on its side wall indicating the levels to which a plurality of different liquids should be sequentially poured into the cup to achieve a predetermined ratio between the liquids; (2) a first adapter comprising a central portion having a through opening and a transverse portion including a peripheral part defining a groove along its inner surface adapted for sealing engagement with a top end of the mixing cup; and (3) a second adapter having a through opening, a first end portion of which second adapter is adapted to releasably engage the inlet port of a gravity feed paint sprayer. A second end portion of the second adapter and the central portion of the first adapter have connector parts adapted for releasable liquid tight engagement between the adapters with their through openings in communication.

Various liquid supply assemblies have been described for use with gravity fed liquid (e.g., paint) spraying devices or spray guns, including those described in the international application published as International Publication Number WO 98/32539 on Jul. 30, 1998, the content whereof is incorporated herein by reference. The supply assembly including a collapsible liner that is described and claimed in that application should provide advantages over the prior art liquid supply assembly also described in that application.


A new high-performance, compact microgyroscope is implemented using a microlaser such as a microsphere laser or a microdisc laser that can be easily reduced in size. The microgyroscope includes a pumping unit for inputting pumping light for optical pumping, at least one microsphere or microdisc for oscillating a laser beam by performing optical pumping using light received from the pumping unit, an output coupler for receiving the oscillated laser beam from the microsphere or microdisc, and a photodetector for calculating a beat frequency due to interference between beams output from the output coupler to measure rotation. The pumping unit and the output coupler are constructed using a tapered optical fiber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microgyroscope, and more particularly to a new high-performance, compact microgyroscope that can be easily reduced in size.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gyroscopes are inertial sensors that are widely used in airplanes, spacecrafts, and satellites and applications have spread to most industrial fields such as robots, automatic safeguarding equipment, remote controllers, and navigation assistants. Thus, there has been a demand for a lightweight, low power consumption, compact, and highly integrated gyroscope.
Gyroscopes that measure rotational movement of an object are divided into a mechanical type that uses an oscillator or the like and an optical type that uses laser or the like. Many studies have been made into optical gyroscopes since they can immediately start operation and exhibit a wide operating range. Optical gyroscopes mostly employ a ring interferometer scheme and a ring laser scheme. In the ring interferometer scheme, an optical fiber is wound into a ring and laser beams traveling in opposite directions in the optical fiber interfere with each other. Then, based on changes in the interference between the laser beams traveling in the opposite directions, a difference between lengths of paths through which the two laser beams travel as rotation occurs is measured to read the amount of the rotation.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a ring laser gyroscope. As shown in FIG. 1, in the ring laser scheme, a laser cavity is formed of a closed circuit and the interference between laser beams oscillated in both directions along the closed circuit is then measured. The laser beams are oscillated in opposite directions at different frequencies when rotation occurs and the difference between the frequencies is proportional to the amount of the rotation. Accordingly, the ring laser scheme exhibits high performance since the amount of rotation is measured by measuring the difference between the frequencies of laser beams based on interference between the laser beams.
However, application of optical gyroscopes is restricted since they are generally large in volume and also expensive.

Seoul National University Industry Foundation


A cosmetic brush for applying make-up which includes a brush member, a main body located at the lower portion of the brush member and a movable bar connected to an intermediate coupler and reciprocally disposed to generate air pressure and to discharge cosmetic powder from the main body to the brush member by pushing up the main body when applying the make-up, wherein the movable bar includes vertical grooves and a press-ring and can move up and down by pushing the main body combined with the intermediate coupler containing the movable bar, so that the cosmetic powder housed in the body is conveyed through a powder transport duct positioned at the top portion of an upper movable body through the vertical grooves in the movable bar formed on top portion of the intermediate coupler and then distributes the cosmetic to the brush member side in a desirable distribution, resulting in improved convenience for the make-up user with an easier and simpler operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cosmetics brush, more particularly, a cosmetics brush for applying make-up including a brush member, a main body located at lower portion of the brush member and a movable bar connected to an intermediate coupler and for moving reciprocally to generate air pressure and to discharge cosmetic powder out of the main body to the brush member by pushing up the main body for applying the make-up The movable bar which includes vertical grooves, can be moved up and down by pushing the main body combined with the intermediate coupler having the movable bar, so that the cosmetic powder, housed in the main body, passes a powder transport duct positioned on the top portion of an upper, movable body through the vertical grooves in the movable bar formed at top portion of the intermediate coupler 20 and then sprays the cosmetic powder out to the brush member side in a desirable distribution, resulting in improved convenience for applying the make-up by the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, cosmetic products are classified into liquid status, solid status and a mixture of the liquid and the solid cosmetics. In recent years, liquid cosmetics in the form of lipstick or foundation for convenient use of consumers has been developed, which usually comprises cosmetics charged in a housing in the form of a pencil and discharged toward an upper brush member of the housing when turning a part of the housing in the right or left direction. Various constructional forms of such pencil type cosmetics have been proposed and used in many applications.
Representative cosmetics brushes frequently used have been manufactured as a combination of a brush and a main body, wherein the brush is covered with cosmetic powder at the time of make-up. Because both the brush and the powder are separately held, it is inconvenient to both carry and hold these items and, in turn, it is a difficult to use the cosmetics brush.
A variety of cosmetics brushes have been recently proposed which have the desirable construction of storing cosmetic powder in the main body, formed as a housing, and discharging the cosmetics powder from the main body using air pressure, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, taken from Korean Utility Model Reg. No. 253672.
The cosmetic brush comprises a first body 102 in the form of a tube with open top and bottom ends for receiving cosmetics power 103; a second body 106 connected to lower circumferential side and having outlet hole 107 among central portion of the top side, and a brush member 108 communicating the outlet hole 107 at the front end; an up/down transfer shaft 109 comprising a spring 110 connected to the outer circumferential side of front end, the front end portion being connected to the outlet hole 107 of the second body 106 and the spring 110 supported on the outer circumference of the top end; and a top cap 113 connected to the top end of the first body 102 to extend the top end portion of the up/down transfer shaft 109 and support it.
With such a construction, the cosmetics brush 100 is used by pushing a button 102 which protrudes upward from the top end of the up/down transfer shaft 109 during make-up. The spring 110 provided at top end of the up/down transfer shaft 109 permits the shaft 109 to move up and down and, in turn, the cosmetics powder 103 received in the body 102 passes through the outlet hole 107 having a front end portion formed in the second body 106 and moves to the outside, that is, is easily supplied to the brush member 108, whereby the cosmetics brush can conveniently use the cosmetics powder.
Herein, the cosmetics powder 103 is provided to the brush member 108 through the outlet hole 107 by directly passing the top end of the up/down transfer shaft 109 through the outlet hole 107.
However, since such a conventional cosmetic brush mentioned above discharges the cosmetics powder 103 to the brush member 108 by the top end of the up/down transfer shaft 109, it difficult to achieve an even and/or uniform distribution of the powder 103 due to the inherent constructional limitations of the up/down transfer shaft 109. In addition, swaying of the cosmetics brush itself 100 which allows discharge of the powder 103 to the brush member side 108 also causes an inconvenience in the use thereof.
Moreover, a button 112 formed on a top cap side 113 always protrudes outside due to the repulsing force of the spring 110 and, in the case where it strikes any personal articles while being carried where an outer force is applied to the brush, the button 112 may move and cause undesirable discharge of the powder 103 to the brush member side 108, thereby resulting in spoilage and/or damage of the articles. Still further, when the cosmetics brush is carried in humid places or in a wet atmosphere or has not been used for a long period of time, the powder 103 contained in the body 102 and remaining in the outlet hole 107 becomes hardened due to moisture, creating difficulty in discharging and/or distribution of the cosmetics powder 103.


A method for generating a relationship of events includes: obtaining a statement of a first event and a statement of a second event; generating a word sequence vector with first granularity and a word sequence vector with second granularity based on the statement of the first event; generating a word sequence vector with third granularity and a word sequence vector with fourth granularity based on the statement of the second event; generating a first fusion vector based on the word sequence vector with first granularity and the word sequence vector with second granularity; generating a second fusion vector based on the word sequence vector with third granularity and the word sequence vector with fourth granularity; and determining a relationship between the first event and the second event based on the first fusion vector and the second fusion vector.

An event is a series of activities carried out around a certain theme with participation of one or more roles (event subjects) within a specific period and space. There is a relationship between events, such as, a causal relationship. The causal relationship between the events may logically or relevantly describe an evolution rule of the events. The causal relationship between the events may sum up the evolution rule of the events, and relevant reasoning may be performed based on the evolution rule of the events, which may also play an important application value in a forecasting scenario such as a finance scenario and a risk control scenario.
Therefore, it is an urgent technical problem how to accurately determine the relationship between the events.

Method, electronic device, and storage medium for generating relationship of events

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.