A method for realistic stitching and showing image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image wherein relative positional offset values of the image blocks recorded with overlap are determined in a co-ordinate system in directions x and y and stored in matrix format, and the image blocks to be presented are stitched together on the basis of the stored values the method comprising: subdividing the overlaps of the individual image blocks into smaller regions with fixed relative positions; picking up at least one region most useful for the determination of the stitching; determining the offset goodness value based on the similarity of pattern of the image blocks; stitching the blocks of the image so that first the two image blocks characterized by the best offset goodness values are stitched together and the two image blocks characterized by the worst offset goodness values are stitched together last, whereas only the co-ordinates of the images figuring in a table are modified in the course of the stitching process; and distributing the errors produced by the stitching process over several image blocks.

Present application relates to a method for realistic stitching and showing image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image wherein relative positional offset values of the image blocks recorded with overlap are determined in a co-ordinate system in directions x and y and stored in matrix format, and the image blocks to be presented are stitched together on the basis of the stored values.
In the area of electronic image recording, one frequently encounters the need to show image parts that can be recorded/scanned in several parts only due to their size in a realistic manner and with adequate speed. By way of example, one such priority area is photography, the recording of panoramic images, virtual microscopy being another professional application area. In the latter field, several proposals have been released lately as to advantageous methods for stitching together individual image parts and expedient methods for showing these to the user or transmitting them in case of remote utilisation.
US 2006/0045388 A1 proposes several systems and methods for stitching image blocks, to create seamless magnified images of a microscope slide. In a microscopy system, several digital image block regions are defined for every actual, physical, slide, and the slide is scanned/electronically recorded by region; the recorded image parts are stored with a positional index metric associated to each image's location in a mosaic representation of the entire physical slide; a normalised correlation search is performed on the adjoining areas of next neighbour regional image blocks; a set of relative positional offset values and a correlation coefficient is determined for a regional image block and a next neighbour regional image block; a portion of the regional image blocks is viewed as a field of view of a display, and a composite of the portion of regional image blocks is stitched together in accord with a set of relative positional offset values and a correlation coefficient, such that only the blocks comprising the portion are stitched.
One drawback of this solution is that matching/stitching is applied exclusively to the image blocks being shown, at the moment of showing them. Normalised correlation search between 2-2 image blocks is unacceptably slow and does not yield optimum result, due to the confusing interference of larger-size, empty, but noisy, areas.
An object of the present invention is to develop a solution whereas the entire slide image can be stitched together from the image blocks in a short time, at low computing capacity demand and in excellent quality, given the demand for remote retrievals and related data transmission problems, cf. bandwidth.
We have realised that the efficiency of image stitching and transmission as well as the quality of the images themselves can be enhanced significantly by selecting small but very high-quality image blocks, and constructing the image of the slide around them and, furthermore, by performing the various operations not on the large-size image blocks themselves, but on their descriptors only.
According to a first aspect of the invention a method is proposed for the realistic stitching and showing of image blocks of an image recorded electronically, in several parts, whereas the relative positional offset values of the image blocks recorded with overlap are determined in a co-ordinate system, in directions x and y, and stored in matrix format, and the image blocks to be shown are stitched together on the basis of the stored values. According to the invention, the overlaps between the individual image blocks are subdivided into smaller regions; at least one region most useful for determining the stitching is identified; on the basis of the regions, a main offset direction vector is defined in correlation with the relative positional offset value; in addition to the relative positional offset value, an offset goodness value is defined as well; the blocks of the image are stitched together so that the two image block edges characterised by the best offset goodness values are stitched together first, and the two image block edges characterised by the worst offset goodness values are stitched together last, whereas, in the course of the stitching, only the image coordinates figuring in a matrix are modified; and any errors generated at the joins are distributed over several image blocks.
According to a second aspect of the invention a method is proposed for realistic stitching and showing image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image whereas relative positional offset values of the image blocks recorded with overlap are determined in a coordinate system in directions x and y and stored in matrix format, and the image blocks to be shown are stitched together on the basis of the stored values. The method can, for example, include the steps of subdividing the overlaps of the individual image blocks into smaller regions with fixed relative positions; picking up at least one region most useful for the determination of the stitching; determining the offset goodness value based on the similarity of pattern of the image blocks; stitching the blocks of the image so that first the two image blocks characterised by the best offset goodness values are stitched together and the two image blocks characterised by the worst offset goodness values are stitched together last, with only the co-ordinates of the images figuring in a table being modified in the course of the stitching process; and distributing the errors produced by the stitching process over several image blocks.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the appended dependent claims.

Method for realistic stitching image blocks of an electronically recorded multipart image


Apparatus is provided for performing two stages of high-speed compression of vector data inputs. Two input channels of vector data are compressed and encoded through a vector quantizer encoder to provide a first stage of data compression. The output of the first encoder is further decoded then compressed and encoded in a novel high-speed computing mapping means which may be implemented in the form of a look-up table. Vector quantized encoded output is double the previous data compression of a single stage. The second stage of data compression causes very little degradation of the data from the first stage of data compression.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to extended or further compression of vector quantized encoded and compressed data. More specifically, the present invention relates to further compression by extension of the dimensionality of the vector space by a process of concatenation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vector quantization is a known technique or method which has been employed to achieve data compression. Design algorithms have been developed for a variety of vector quantizers and are presented in a scholarly paper entitled "Vector Quantization" by Robert M. Gray in the IEEE Acoustical Speech and Signal Processing (ASSP) Magazine published April 1984 @ pages 4-29 which includes a bibliography of seventy-seven (77) references. It is possible to approach a data compression system problem which involves speech waveforms and image data from the amount of distortion or degradation that will be permitted in the system. Having once decided on the permissible degradation or distortion, the amount of compression or the ratio of data compression may be calculated for the system being designed. Some data compression systems produce more distortion than others and different systems classified as vector quantization encoding systems will produce different amounts of distortion.
Heretofore, vectors representative of a matrix of 2.times.2 pixel blocks of 8-bits have been vector quantized and encoded to provide data compression of up to four to one with very good image quality produced at the decoder. Also, a single vector representative of a matrix of two 2.times.2 pixel blocks of 8-bits each could be vector quantized and encoded to provide the equivalent data compression of up to eight to one with very good image quality produced at the decoder. As will be explained hereinafter, the vector quantization system necessary to achieve this data compression of 8-bit pixels of information into an output of eight encoded bits to achieve an eight to one data compression ratio through the encoder requires an encoder with 2.sup.64 possible inputs with 2.sup.8 outputs. The hardward required to achieve such straight vector quantization is so large and massive so as not to be technically feasible employing the present state of the art technology.
It would be extremely desirable to provide in a single hardware system, a vector quantization and encoding system which would accomplish the aforementioned data compression and would be extremely fast and simple so that it could be packaged into a lightweight system which could be employed for airborne and satellite applications.


A method for charging an electric storage cell, in particular a lead acid battery, as the starter battery in a motor vehicle, involves the generator voltage being controlled, using the charge state of the accumulator as a controlled variable, the charge state being derived from a measurement of the no-load voltage of the storage cell at the instant of the zero crossing of the current flowing in the storage cell. The measurement of the no-load voltage is carried out within a period of from 0.1 ms to 1 ms after a zero crossing of the current in the storage cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to electric storage batteries, and, in particular, to efficient methods for charging such batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
The starter batteries in motor vehicles, generally lead acid batteries, are charged by the alternator, acting as a generator, whose voltage is limited by a controller to a preset maximum. The purpose of the controller is to limit the charging voltage applied to the vehicle battery, where possible, to a value below the voltage at commencement of gassing (gassing voltage), so that the battery electrolyte decomposition which starts when the gassing voltage is exceeded, and consequent loss of water and corrosion by deleterious overcharging, are avoided. Maintenance-free operation of vehicle batteries requires the electrical energy in the process of charging to be supplied at a voltage which if possible is below the gassing voltage. In any case, however, recharging of the battery should be achieved as quickly as possible.
Usually the controller is set so as always to limit the charging voltage to a fixed maximum value. Since, however, the gassing voltage of the lead acid battery normally designated as the starter battery depends on the temperature, and the temperature of the battery can fluctuate within wide limits, depending on the season and the operational state of the vehicle, a fixed preset charging voltage maximum does not guarantee recharging in the shortest possible time without gassing under all temperature conditions. To compensate for temperature effects, temperature-dependent electronic circuits have previously been incorporated into the charging circuit between the battery and the alternator.
Such an arrangement is described, for example, in German Patent DE-C-2056045. However, these customary control methods are unsuitable for ensuring the highest possible charge state of the storage battery at all times. Consequently, a great variety of devices for monitoring the charge state of a starter battery had previously been proposed; for example, German Patent DE-C-3330953 describes a device which involves drawing up the current balance in the overall system and thus allowing the exact charge state of the storage cell to be controlled. This known device is complicated, however, and has therefore hitherto been virtually ignored in conventional motor vehicles.

Method for charging an electric storage battery


A solar power system for orbiting spacecraft includes a collector surface and attached mirror which is retained in a coiled position around the outer surface of the spacecraft in its launch mode. The system is deployed from the orbiting spacecraft by releasing restraining straps and permitting the mirror and attached collector surface to automatically uncoil as a result of the resilient spring characteristics of the mirror. During orbit, the deployed system extends from one side or both sides of the spacecraft such that the mirrored surface faces the sun. Heating pipes are pivotably disposed between the mirror and the collector surface to also function as spacing struts. The collector surface covered with photovoltaic solar cells made of silicon or Gallium Arsenide-Phosphide (GaAsP) in a first embodiment of the invention, can be replaced by a flat heat pipe for conducting heat energy to the input of an external heat engine electric generator in a second embodiment of the invention.

The present invention is directed to solar power systems for spacecraft, and in particular, improved, lightweight high efficiency solar energy systems for powering spacecraft during long missions in space.
In order to operate during long missions in space, spacecraft generally use solar cell panels to collect solar irradiance and convert it into electrical power to operate the spacecraft attitude control systems, communications, and payloads. Typical spacecraft in geosynchronous orbits (36,800 Km. altitude above the earth surface) require continuous solar power of 3,000 to 60,000 watts. Typical existing solar panels use silicon photocells arranged in two dimensional arrays on a lightweight honeycomb backing. These panels fold up accordion style during launch and unfold once in geosynchronous orbit, where the spacecraft remains above a predesignated geographical point on the earth. At geosynchronous orbit, the earth subtends only 17.5 degrees, and therefore blocks the sun for only 1.16 hours maximum during the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, and not at all during the solstices.
Silicon photocells used without optical concentration provide efficiencies of 12 to 15%, and degrade in output at increased temperatures and as a result of exposure to large quantities of Van Allen radiation. Gallium Arsenide Phosphide (GaAsP) solar cells provide higher efficiencies, but operate best when used in a solar concentrator.
At their present high state of development, solar panels for spacecraft are evaluated on so-called "Figures of Merit" such as watts/Kg. or watts/dollar. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a solar powered system for an orbiting spacecraft exhibiting significant advantages in such "Figures of Merit". This object is achieved by providing a lightweight, high efficiency solar power system for a spacecraft which automatically deploys from its launch to its operating mode, in a very simple and space-efficient manner, as will be discussed herein.


The invention comprises an application for recording and the playback of MPEG-2 transport-streams transmitted via DVB-systems with optical discs. Apart from audio- and video-signals, additional information (which describe the content of the DVB-multiplex) will also be transmitted in DVB-SI descriptors. These descriptors correspond to the incoming transport-stream-packets and can be used for comfortable features, like event-triggered start of a recording or automatic generation of play-lists.

The terms "Metadata" and "Essence" are defined as following: Metadata are data consisting of essence and of one-or-more links. In the semantic sense, these links describe a link between the essence and other content and can be of different kinds (e.g. an HTML-Link).
Essence consists of any data. These data can contain none, one, or more metadata (e.g. the essence of metadata can contain other metadata; also essence can consist of data, which do not contain any metadata).
Increased capacities for DVD and DVR-discs will provide the storage of much more movies on one disc than it is possible today. Broadcast-systems like DVB do not only transmit pure essence, but also descriptions about that essence, the so called metadata. This metadata contains all kind of content-information and allows the navigation through the essence.
VPS is a well-known invention for starting and stopping an analog video-recorder at a certain time. This information is being sent by the broadcaster of analog TV-systems in the Vertical Blanking Intervall (VBI). This principle is not supported by the DVB standard, because the performance of timer controlled recording was planned by EPG mechanisms.
Prior art only deals with the principles of DVB-related recording media. EP-A-1 103 974 describes a method and an apparatus for recording and reproduction, whereas the principles of starting and stopping a DVB-recorder are not taught.

Appliance-guided edit-operations in advanced digital video recording systems


For a self-powered marine lifting vessel or catamaran having static buoyancy, a working deck is forcibly raised or lowered by flexing or extending each of a plurality of articulated pairs of fixedly mounted support beams connecting each hull and the deck. One version uses locally applied forces at the joints from adjacent hydraulic cylinders, incidentally causing the hulls to rotate about their axes. Another version forces the hulls to rotate axially from a non-rotating aft inter-hull linkage. Applications include routine harbor maintenance and hull cleaning, then emergency marine pollution including oil cleanup at a polluted site.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vessel suited to lifting and lowering floating vessels and other loads while relying mainly if not entirely on static buoyancy, to transporting loads over bodies of water, and to an application of that vessel to marine salvage and cleanup operations including removal of oil from an oil spill.
"TOMCAT" as used herein refers to a utility catamaran as described, having a rigid deck, static buoyancy, and mechanical actuator means to raise or lower the deck with respect to the water line. For example a mid-range seagoing size has two 30 m hulls and a displacement of 30 tonnes. The dimensions of the TOMCAT may be scaled up or down, to suit any application.
Description of the Related Art
90% of internationally traded goods are carried on merchant ships that require periodic hull maintenance and anti-fouling treatment, and must be raised out of the water for such work to be done. In the same way, recreational vessels too large to be taken from the water on an automobile trailer require lifting and hull maintenance.
Marine salvage and clean-up further requires reliable means for carrying and lifting loads, often far from land. This presents the challenge of lifting loads from a floating platform whose stability is not assured. Existing means for marine lifting such as floating dry-docks typically use variable buoyancy. But variable buoyancy lifts inherently have poor stability, especially if the buoyant effect is affected by submersion pressure.
Many maritime events; deliberate or accidental, result in petroleum-related compounds polluting a body of water. Very large incidents are not uncommon. Spilled oil, lost containers, and other environmental threats demand an effective clean-up response. For example the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the 2011 Rena spill of oil and shipping containers off the coast of Tauranga in New Zealand. With increased interest in offshore drilling, there is a continuing risk of further spills. Much harm including to wild life and to the fishing industry is caused when spilled oil reaches coastlines. The current state of the art in oil recovery relies on very large vessels which are kept in remote countries, or use of relatively small skimmers.


The present invention is generally directed to a system and to a process for dispensing a volatile liquid fertilizer and particularly ammonia into a field. The ammonia is placed in a vessel under sufficient pressure to maintain a substantial portion of the ammonia in a liquid form. From the pressurized vessel, the ammonia is fed to a distribution manifold where it is ultimately injected into a soil through a plurality of dispensing tubes. According to the present invention, a constant pressure flow rate control device is placed at each dispensing tube for metering the amount of ammonia fed to the soil. In particular, the flow control devices allow ammonia to be dispensed from the system while maintaining sufficient back pressure within the distribution manifold to maintain the ammonia in a liquid form. By preventing vaporization of the ammonia within the system, uniform and accurately controlled flow rates can be dispensed from the dispensing tubes.

Anhydrous ammonia (NH.sub.3) is commonly used as a soil fertilizer, since it is the most concentrated practical form of nitrogen. In conventional systems, when applying ammonia to soil, ammonia is placed in a tank under pressure. The tank is placed on a trailer and towed by a tractor. Some of the ammonia in the tank vaporizes creating pressure. This pressure is not only used to maintain most of the material in a liquid form, but is also used to force or pump the liquid from the tank.
In particular, liquid ammonia in the tank is pumped through a pressure regulator to a distribution manifold which leads to individual lines. Each individual line is connected to an injection knife which plows through the soil and applies the ammonia. The ammonia, as it travels through the distribution manifold, undergoes a phase change forming a gas which is ultimately applied as a fertilizer.
In order to control application rates, conventional ammonia application systems typically include a controller which adjusts the flow rate of the ammonia in proportion to the ground speed of the tractor or vehicle. The objective of the system is to maintain a desired amount of ammonia applied per unit of land area, usually expressed as pounds per acre or kilograms per hectare. For instance, the vehicle speed can be detected with a radar sensor which sends the speed information to a microprocessor. Based on the ground speed data, the microprocessor calculates the proper flow rate of ammonia necessary to achieve a desired application rate.
The controller can also receive ammonia flow rate information from a flow meter, usually a turbine-type, placed in the supply line between the ammonia tank and the manifold. The flow rate is adjusted by the controller using an electrically-actuated regulating valve also installed between the tank and the manifold. The regulating valve is generally a throttling-type valve that simply closes to restrict flow by increasing the pressure drop across the valve or opens to increase flow by reducing the pressure drop across the valve.
A common problem with the above described system, however, is that the flow rate of the ammonia is difficult to accurately control and measure due to vaporization of the ammonia as it moves through the system. Vaporization of the ammonia can occur as a result of pressure decreases in the line due to emptying of the tank, as a result of warmer ambient conditions, and due to pressure drops that occur in the flow lines. Upon vaporization, the density of ammonia can change over a factor of 200:1. When the ammonia forms a liquid and vapor mixture, it cannot be measured accurately with the flow meter, which is designed only to measure liquid flow rates.
In order to remedy vaporization problems, the ammonia pumped from the pressurized tank can be chilled to a temperature so low that only liquid exists. This has been accomplished in the past by a refrigeration device that vents off a small amount of the ammonia (approximately 1%) flowing through the system. When the liquid ammonia is vented to atmospheric pressure, the heat of vaporization is absorbed from the system, cooling a heat exchanger which contacts the ammonia exiting the tank. The ammonia is then chilled and condensed to a pure liquid and thus can be easily metered. The ammonia vented to atmospheric pressure, on the other hand, can be directed into additional injector knives and applied to the soil.
The above described refrigeration system, however, only insures that the ammonia is in liquid form as it passes through the flow meter. The ammonia still vaporizes as it enters the distribution manifold creating other various problems. Specifically, pressure through the distribution manifold can vary between individual lines due to variable lengths and fittings. Pressure variations in the individual lines cause application rates of the ammonia to vary from knife to knife. This problem is especially magnified at lower pressures and flow rates where greater degrees of vaporization are more likely to occur.
Besides failing to maintain uniformity in the distribution of ammonia between the individual lines, the above described system also only operates within a narrow range of ammonia flow rates. The flow rate of the ammonia is directly tied to the pressure in the system. Specifically, the flow rate of ammonia is proportional to the square root of the pressure. Thus, in order to change flow rates, the pressure must be dramatically increased or decreased. For example, to achieve a 3:1 range of flow control, a 9:1 range of pressure variation is necessary. Pressure variation of the ammonia in the system, however, is limited to the range between the maximum pressure in the tank and the minimum pressure which can maintain the ammonia in a liquid state. Consequently, wide ranges of application rates are simply not practically possible.
Conventional systems as described above also have very slow response times due primarily to the slow actuation of the throttling valve used to control pressures and flow rates. Typical valves used in these systems can take between 1.5 to 10 seconds to change position.
Prior art systems have also failed to provide individual control of the flow of ammonia to each knife. As described above, the flow of ammonia is only controlled as it enters the distribution manifold, prior to the ammonia branching off into each individual line.
Thus, a need exists for an improved system and process for injecting volatile liquids, such as ammonia, into soil. In particular, a need exists for an ammonia application system that uniformly applies ammonia to soil, operates at a wide range of flow rates, offers fast response times when changing flow rates, and allows the ammonia application rates to be varied between the individual distribution lines.

System and process for applying ammonia to soil


Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and a server image capture direction recognition, a method and a system of surveillance, and an image capture device. The recognition method includes: extracting deep features of a target image captured by a camera; based on degree of matchings between deep features of the target image and deep features of a plurality of reference images, determining a matched reference image of the target image; obtaining a coordinate position relationship between the matched reference image and the target image; using the coordinate position relationship and direction information of the matched reference image, calculating the image capture direction of the camera at the time of capturing the target image. Example embodiments of the present disclosure may quickly and accurately recognize an image capture direction of a camera, improving processing efficiency of image capture direction recognition.

Video surveillance equipment is in widespread usage for supervision of public spaces, traffic management, location safety management, outdoor and indoor video recording, and the like. Video surveillance equipment primarily employs image capture devices, such as, closed-circuit cameras, dome cameras, mobile image capture devices, and the like. Due to the variability of image capture directions in the process of a camera capturing images, as well as the influence of time, weather and the like, acquired video images or still images captured at a same fixed point and a same elevation exhibit relatively large differences. Therefore, when using cameras to acquire video or still images for surveillance processing of security, traffic and the like, often the image capture direction of the camera at the time of capturing video or still images needs to be recognized.
Existing technology generally recognizes the image capture direction of a camera by panorama matching. In particular, through a panoramic camera or a method of stitching a circle of omnidirectionally acquired images, a panoramic image of a setting structure is utilized as a reference image, and panorama matching is performed on a video target image, and from the panoramic image of the setting structure an area corresponding to the target image is found, thus determining a coordinate position relationship between the target image and the panoramic image of the setting structure. Through the coordinate position relationship and the panoramic image of the setting structure the corresponding image capture direction at the time of the camera capturing the target image is calculated.
However, by the above-mentioned existing technology, panoramic images obtained through panoramic cameras or stitching a circle of omnidirectionally acquired images lack robustness, have high dimensionality of features, and exhibit low success rate in accurately matching the corresponding area in the process of target image matching. Furthermore, due to the variability of image capture directions, and the influence of time, weather and the like, the existing method needs to collect a large number of panoramic samples for matching, thus greatly increasing the workload and reducing the processing efficiency.

Image capture direction recognition method and server, surveillance method and system and image capture device


Systems and methods are described for a reduced peak EMI bus using variable bit rate spreading. A method for reducing radiated Electro-Magnetic Interference from a wire communication bus transferring data between one or more physically separate modules or units comprises changing a data clock period controlling a rate of data bits on a communications bus. A Distributed Systems Interface communication bus data transmission protocol includes: alternating a data bit-rate between a first bit-rate and a second bit-rate on a bit-by-bit basis; transmitting a bit over the distributed systems interface communication bus according to the alternating data bit-rate; and varying a difference between the first bit-rate and the second bit-rate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of communications. More particularly, the invention relates to the transmission of data over a wire communication bus.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Radiated Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) is a problem inherent to most communication buses which convey data between one or more physically separated modules or computing machines. It is caused by the generation and emission of unwanted radio frequency signals that can interfere with radio receivers. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set forth strict rules about the maximum amount of EMI that a communications bus system can radiate. Equivalent regulatory bodies have similar functions in other countries.
Meanwhile, strict limits on the EMI radiated by communication bus wires in a motor vehicle have been set by the major manufacturers of motor vehicles in order to avoid objectionable interference to the receivers in entertainment, navigation, and radio communications. As data rates and the number of communications busses between modules increase, EMI compliance becomes more stringent and difficult to achieve.
A significant amount of effort has been made to reduce radiated EMI in automotive environments. EMI testing is still one of the most difficult tests for a medium to high data-rate automobile wired communication bus to pass.
Automobiles may have dedicated high-speed communications circuits to perform specific tasks. For example, a Distributed Systems Interface (DSI) bus can link safety-related sensors and components, enabling the use of intelligent sensors and actuators such as airbags, weight sensors, seatbelt pre-tensioners and side-impact protection systems.
One unsatisfactory approach, in an attempt to reduce radiated EMI in a communication bus, involves utilizing balanced or shielded wires. A disadvantage of this approach is the high-cost and added weight of such wiring. Another approach, in an attempt to solve the above mentioned problem, includes utilizing a signal shaping technique. However, signal shaping techniques can limit the maximum data rate and are limited themselves by the required data rates.
Until now, the requirements of providing a wire communication system between physically separated modules that meets EMI emission standards without reducing the data rate and signaling margins, or adding to wiring complexity and increasing the hardware cost, have not been met.

Reduced peak EMI bus using variable bit rate spreading


The invention describes methods and agents for inducing in the skin one or more effects selected from stimulating fibroblast migration, stimulating elastin production, reducing expression of inflammatory factors and upregulating specific genes, thereby preventing skin cell aging processes and repairing skin damage. In preferred embodiments, the methods and agents comprise active extracts produced from fish eggs.

Skin is the first barrier we have against outside aggressions, and carries out both physical and chemical defenses. Vitamin D is produced in the epidermis under the effects of solar radiation. This vitamin is necessary for calcium to be absorbed in the intestine and then fixed on the bones, which enables the development and growth of the human body. However, excessive sun exposure leads to skin damage, DNA damage (including telomere shortening and reduced DNA repair) and potentially cancer. In addition, skin cells may become damaged by physical means, i.e., wounded, or damaged due to age. In addition, aging decreases the activity of skin cells, especially fibroblasts, the secretion of collagen from fibroblast, and fibroblast production of elastin. Thus, there is a need to identify compositions and methods for managing and improving skin health and preventing and treating skin conditions, and diseases, and maintaining normal skin appearance and restoring aged skin to a youthful appearance.

Use of cellular extracts for skin rejuvenation


A communication board mounted on an electronic device includes a plurality of antennas configured to transmit and/or receive a signal by electromagnetic induction, where each of the plurality of antennas is provided on a substrate, as a coil-shaped pattern, a semiconductor chip mounted on the substrate, the semiconductor chip including at least one of a transmission circuit which transmits a signal to the antenna and a reception circuit which receives a signal transmitted from the antenna, and an input-and-output end that is connected to the semiconductor chip via a wiring layer provided on the substrate and an electronic circuit of the electronic device. The communication board communicates with a communication board mounted on another electronic device via the antenna by electromagnetic induction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication board and particularly relates to a communication board that can perform high-speed communications, so as to easily transmit and/or receive large-capacity data between electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The applicant of the present invention had proposed technologies for adding and changing the function of an electronic device by mounting a removable block onto the electronic block, and changing the block and/or adding another block for mounting, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-333541. The above-described technologies facilitate adding and/or changing the function of an electronic device.


The Stackable Open Front Grocery and Goods Bin with Air Cushion Mobility and its related conveyer together comprise a goods distribution system designed to deliver products ordered over the internet into special stores called Safety Malls which will lower the cost of everything you buy through the elimination of paper boxes and supermarket and department store janitors and stockmen. Goods ordered over the internet can be automatically be custom loaded into bins at the factory, sorted in a distribution center, and delivered to a store near your home without ever being touched by human hands. Empty bins can be nested, removed from the store, and put through a washing machine to keep the store hygienically clean.

None
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of carrying and distributing goodsxe2x80x94it is a type of basket that fits on a special conveyer for sorting similar baskets and bins.
2. Statement of the Problem
Designers of conveyer belts and automated distribution systems have long struggled to accommodate the infinite variety of paper boxes used to package goods. Dangerous material handling equipment such as pallet jacks and fork lifts must be used to handle fragile paper containers. Excessive manual labor is required to open, unload, then recycle corrugated boxes. Expensive store furniture such as shelving units are required to display goods once the goods are removed from their boxes. The object of this invention is to replace paper boxes and conveyer belts with a more efficient method of containing and sorting goods that can also be used to display the goods once they reach their destination.
Solution to the Problem
Shelving units made of Stackable Open Front Grocery and Goods Bins with Air Cushion Mobility standing one upon another (FIG. 7) are designed to ride on cushions of compressed air to slide easily across floors so that dangerous material handling equipment such as fork lifts are not required to load and unload trucks. By making the bins a uniform size, the conveyer and sorting mechanism is greatly simplified. Stacks of bins can be used to display goods for sale so that the goods will not need to be handled with excessive labor (FIG. 9).

Stackable open front grocery and goods bin with compressed air cushion mobility


A floor panel for use in an air handling unit that provides a thermal barrier to the passage of heat. The panel is reinforced internally so that it can support a heavy piece of air handling equipment inside the unit such as an air conditioner heat exchanger coil. The panel includes a reservoir for collecting moisture from the coil and rapidly exhausting the moisture from the unit.

This invention relates generally to an air handling unit, and in particular to a reinforced floor panel for use in an air handling unit that is capable of supporting a piece of heavy air handling and acts as a thermal barrier to the flow of heat into or out of the unit.
More specifically, this invention relates to an air handling unit having modular sections each having a framework containing structural elements forming perpendicularly aligned openings rectangular openings that are closed in final assembly by panels. The panels are constructed so that they have a low thermal conductivity thereby impeding the flow of heat into and out of the unit. Seals are provided that surround the inner periphery of each panel to further prevent air from passing around the panels.
Oftentime, particularly when the air handling unit is arranged to conduct conditioned air, equipment such as heat exchanger coils used in heating and cooling system are mounted inside the unit. This type of equipment is typically rather heavy and requires that the duct work supporting the equipment be reinforced. Heretofore this reinforcing was accomplished by external braces or brackets that were generally difficult to install and which considerably added to the cost of the unit. In addition, depending whether the air is being heated or cooled, the heat exchanger coil produced a good deal of condensate which collected inside the unit. This condensate causes corrosion problems and, if allowed to stagnate, can pose a serious health hazard.
It is therefore an object of the present inventor to improve air handling units.
It is a further object of the present inventor to provide a floor panel for an air handling unit that is reinforced internally so that a piece of relatively heavy air handling equipment can be supported upon the panel.
Another object of the present invention is to efficiently remove condensate from an air handling unit that contains a heat exchanger coil.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a floor panel for an air handling unit that is capable of supporting a heavy load while still forming a thermal barrier for impeding the flow of heat into or out of the unit.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained in an air handling unit that contains a framework having modular units made up of structural elements that form perpendicularly aligned rectangular shaped openings which are closed by panels having a low thermal conductivity. The panels are locked to the structural elements and sealed in place to provide an enclosed passage for conductivity air. A high strength self contained floor panel is contained in one of the modular sections for supporting a piece of air handling equipment within the unit. The floor panel provides a thermal barrier to the passage of heat and is arranged to collect and efficiently remove condensate from inside the unit that might be generated by the internally stored equipment.


A method and apparatus for manufacturing an air controllably permeable, water repellent, acoustic absorbing door water shield for attachment to a vehicle door. The water shield is formed of a first layer constructed of a water repellant, air restrictive non woven scrim which is joined to a second layer formed of a lofted, non-woven fiber pad. The first layer has an air permeability greater than zero. Varying the characteristics of the first and second layers optimizes the acoustic absorption range of the door water shield.

The present invention relates to door watershields that prevent water, sound, and dirt from entering into the vehicle passenger compartment.
Door watershields are made of a broad range of materials including stamped sheet metal, injection molded rigid polymer, and resilient closed cell foamed and non-foamed polymers. The watershields also may be combined with other acoustic materials within the trim panel to door cavity to provide sound attenuation in the vehicle passenger compartment.
Typically, prior door watershields were formed of a substantially solid non-porous sheet of non-water and non-air permeable polymeric material. Non-porous polymeric materials provide sound attenuation as a barrier by which reflects sound waves in direct proportion to their mass. However, a preferred sound attenuation method is by absorption, due to the lower mass or sound absorption materials. Sound absorption typically was provided by separate open cell foamed pads or fibrous pads fixed to selected portions of the polymeric sheet or trim panel. These absorbers were protected by the watershield from absorbing water.
It is known that typical acoustic absorber pad materials, such as open-cell foams and fibers, perform more effectively in response to an increase in thickness. However, it is believed that these absorbers can be further improved in sound absorption capability.
Combinations of polymeric sheets and fiber elements have also been used for various sound and water blocking areas of a vehicle, such as a dashboard pad in a vehicle passenger compartment. One such composition uses a polyethylene film and a lofted, non-woven microfiber pad sold commercially under the Thinsulate trademark by 3M.
It is also known that fabrics can be manufactured which are air permeable and non-water permeable for use in outdoor clothing, outdoor covers, etc
Such fabrics can be formed of a non-woven fabric or web in which a structure of individual fibers or threads are interlaid in an unidentifiable pattern. Non-woven fabrics or webs can be formed by a number of different processes, such as spunbonding and meltblowing. Spun bond fibers are small diameter, long strand length fibers, which are formed of extruded molten plastic material. Meltblown fibers can also be formed by extruding the molten plastic material through a die into a high velocity gas stream which attenuates the filaments and reduces their diameter. The meltblown fibers are then carried by the high velocity gas stream and deposited on a collecting surface so as to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers.
In a vehicle, it is important for occupant comfort that car component and exterior noise be attenuated, as much as possible, before entering the passenger compartment. Such noise spans a range of frequencies, such as 500-20,000 Hz, with engine, tire and road noise generally falling on the low end of the frequency spectrum in the 500-5,000 Hz frequency range and track squeal generally having substantially higher frequencies at the upper end of the defined frequency range.
When compared to more conventional methods of sound attenuation, it is preferable from a cost, weight and accosting performance perspective to provide an air permeable, water repellent, acoustic door watershield which is capable of blocking water and dirt ingress into a vehicle passenger cabin while at the same time attenuating noise over the broad frequency range of noise experienced in a vehicle. It would also be desirable to provide an air permeable, water repellent, acoustic door watershield in which the watershield can be easily conformed to vehicle door shapes and, further in which targeted acoustic performance and hydrophobicity can be optimized by selecting the air permeability of the door watershield.

Air permeable, water repellent, acoustic door watershield


An RFID cargo/storage container tamper seal consisting of a main insulating body, a locking rod and a circuit module is disclosed. The main insulating body has a helix-shaped antenna and a ring-shaped metal ring, wherein the inner surface of the metal ring has a C-shaped ring inlaid therein, and the antenna has an antenna probe extending and protruding from the metal ring. A first portion of the locking rod is cone-shaped and encapsulated by an insulating material, and a second portion thereof exposed from the insulating material has a ring-shaped groove disposed around its peripheral surfaces. The circuit module has an RFID chip embedded therein and is packaged inside the rod portion, thereby allowing an RFID reader to read electromagnetic waves/signals containing identification codes transmitted from the RFID chip of the RFID tamper seal via the antenna.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an RFID cargo/storage container tamper seal, and, more particularly, to a passive UHF omnidirectional power-free cargo/storage container tamper seal suitable for sea-going cargo containers comprised of a three-dimensional helix-shaped antenna.
2. Description of the Related Art
Container tamper seals commonly used in the current transportion or storage industry include mechanical tamper seals and active RFID tamper seals. By way of comparison, conventional mechanical tamper seals have the advantage of low-cost but are also known to have drawbacks in terms of scanning and management due to their inability to be read in a fully automatic way during customs clearance. Conversely, active RFID tamper seals are more costly but are capable of providing automation of container transportation; however, such tamper seals cannot realize long-distance transmission and also typically have a directional issue to overcome.
RFID tamper seals have been tested and employed in various ports under the American Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) initiative, and have been proven to be able to improve on and upgrade the automation of customs clearance over existing mechanical tamper seals. Moreover, RFID technology has become increasingly popular because it enables automation of container transportation, replacing manual operation to thus increase efficiency.
In practical application, an RFID tamper seal (Smart-Seal) is disposed at a place where the container is opened, that is, usually on the doorbolt lock latch. Typically, two tamper seals are disposed on a container assembly consisting of two 20-foot containers, one on the front-facing container and one on the rear-facing container, or a single tamper seal is provided at the rear of a full-sized 40-foot container. At a scanning distance of 3.5 meters, real-time identification can be achieved when the container vehicle is stopped or moving under the speed of 30 km/hr while passing through an RFID reader provided at Customs. In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 2007/0194025A1 discloses the foregoing smart-seal as shown in FIG. 1, in which an electronic tamper seal 60 comprises an insertion bolt 40 and a main body 30, the insertion bolt 40 comprising an antenna 45 and the main body 30 having an RFID chip 35, the main body 30 being coupled to the insertion bolt 40 on the door bolt latch 52. Upon customs clearance, the RFID reader 50 at Customs senses the electronic tamper seal 60 and automatically provides the electronic tamper seal 60 with an energetic electromagnetic wave 50a to enable the RFID chip 35 equipped therein to transmit an identification electromagnetic wave 60a comprising an ID code back to the RFID reader 50.
FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded diagram illustrating the foregoing RFID tamper seal, in which the tamper seal 60 comprises a main body 30 having a cavity and an insertion bolt 40 in a cylindrical shape. The main body 30 comprises a pair of conductive pins 35a, an identification chip 35 electrically connected to the conductive pins 35a, a pair of connecting pins 33 electrically connected to the conductive pins 35a, and a C-shaped ring 34 configured in the cavity of the main body 30. The insertion bolt 40 comprises a pair of antenna legs 45a electrically connected to an antenna 45 disposed on the top of the insertion bolt 40. The insertion bolt 40 further comprises a ring-shaped groove A adapted to combine with the C-shaped ring 34 when the insertion bolt 40 is received in the main body 30, and further allow the connecting pins 33 disposed on the conductive pins 35a of the main body 30 to be electrically connected to the antenna legs 45a disposed on the insertion bolt 40, thereby allowing identification signals from the RFID chip 35 to be transmitted therefrom via the conductive pins 35a and antenna legs 45a.
From the above disclosure and figures, it is noted that the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the antenna 45 has a directional limitation (as shown in FIG. 1) due to the planar configuration of the antenna 45 of the electronic tamper seal 60. Further, the radiated field pattern thereof, as shown in FIG. 3., is uneven in zones A, B and C due to configuration limitations of the antenna legs 45a, the conductive pins 35a, and the identification chip 35. As a consequence, it is necessary to install and fasten the RFID tamper seal 60 on the door bolt latch with the orientation depicted in FIG. 1 with the antenna directed at the reader to allow the RFID reader 50 to better sense the antenna 45 so that the reader 50 can receive the electromagnetic waves 60a conveying the identification signal transmitted from the RFID tamper seal 60 for access and customs clearance. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, application of the tamper seal also requires precise alignment in order for the electronic tamper seal to function properly when the antenna legs 45a disposed on the insertion bolt 40 are engaged with the conductive pins 35a of the main body 30.
In summary, while the foregoing RFID tamper seal improves on and has advantages over mechanical tamper seals of the prior art, such as convenience in usage and quick detection of any tampering, it also has the aforementioned structural and usage limitations involving inconvenience in application and usage, particularly with respect to the directional issue.


A leash assembly for training dogs includes a handle and an elongate strap connected at one end to the handle, the other end being adapted to be connected to a collar worn by the dog. An elastic element has a first length when in a relaxed state and is extensible four inches to a second length when fully extended. The elastic element is attached to the strap with the length of strap between attached ends of the elastic element being substantially equal to the second length. The force required to reach the fully extended state is about 5 pounds or 2.3 kilograms. The elastic element significantly limits the impact of strong, short correctional tugs or jerks on the leash by the trainer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of animal training leashes or leads, specifically designed to improve their effectiveness while making them less likely to injure animals. In particular, the present invention is directed to such a leash having an elastic section with a limited length of stretch.
2. Description of Related Art
Animal leashes with a shock reducing capacity are known in the art. None of these addresses the specific problem of alleviating the risk of injury to an animal during training exercises or casual restraint by means of an elastic device mounted, during or after manufacture, on a leash connected to an animal's collar, harness, halter, or other device (all referred to generally herein as a "collar").
U.S. Pat. No. 1,924,596 issued to Harry Davis on Aug. 29, 1933 discloses an animal leash having a single elongated cable formed of a strong flexible elastic substance such as rubber.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,275,701 issued to Charles Taylor on Mar. 10, 1942 discloses a dog leash having a tubular sheath encircling an elastic leash strap. The strap is nested in the tubular member which has a handle mounted on the top end and a clip mounted on the bottom end to engage a collar, harness or halter of an animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,154 issued to George Michonski on Mar. 6, 1956 discloses an expansible dog leash. The leash consists of a handle connected to an elastic cord, the cord having a clip mounted on its end for engaging the collar of an animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,911,947 issued to Nelson Kramer on Nov. 10, 1959 discloses a dog leash having a handle connected to a helical spring coil which in turn has a clip mounted on its end for engaging the collar of the dog.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,190 issued to Richard Gurrey on May 20, 1975 discloses a resiliently extensible coiled leash. The animal leash is self coiling and is comprised of music wire surrounded by a flexible sheath. A handle and a clip are provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,366 issued to Thomas Sager on Feb. 19, 1991 discloses a leash consisting of a non-elastic tubular member which houses an elastic bungee cord. The bungee cord is attached inside the none-lastic tubular housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,876 issued to Gregory E. McPhail on Sep. 15, 1992 discloses an extensible leash having a non-elastic handle connected to an elastic cord and a first non-elastic parallel line. The elastic cord is shorter than the first parallel line which is slidingly connected to a second non-elastic line to which the elastic cord is fixedly connected. The second non-elastic line connects by a clip to the collar of the pet.

Pet leash with length-limited elastic section


A method for manufacturing a bristle head for a brush is provided. The method includes a first step of obtaining a fiber bundle by reeling up a melt-spun synthetic fiber, a second step of obtaining a unit fiber bundle by cutting the fiber bundle in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, a third step of forming a tapered shape at a tip portion of each fiber included in the unit fiber bundle, a fourth step of forming a bristle head by isolating a part of the unit fiber bundle, and a fifth step of forming a conductive portion including a conductive material on a surface of each by immersing the bristle head in a treatment bath accommodating a treatment liquid.

In recent years, improved synthetic fibers achieving features close to animal hair have been used as alternatives to animal hair. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-109990 (PTL 1) discloses a method for manufacturing a filament having a surface structurally similar to cuticles of animal hair. According to the disclosed method, the filament is manufactured by mixing and melt-spinning inorganic powder and polyethylene terephthalate to prepare a filament and stretching the same. Further, PTL 1 discloses that one end of the stretched filament is immersed in an alkaline solution to obtain a tapered shape.

Method for manufacturing bristle head for brush


The present invention relates to an optical recording medium containing a first substrate, a first information layer, an intermediate layer, a second information layer and a second substrate in this order, wherein the first information layer contains a first recording layer disposed on the first substrate and the second information layer contains a reflective layer, a second recording layer containing an organic dye and a protective layer which are disposed on the second substrate in this order; and the second recording layer contains an organic dye which is at least one elected from the group consisting of the specified squarylium metal chelate compounds.

In addition to an optical recording medium, such as a reproduction-only DVD (digital versatile disc), a recordable DVD (e.g., DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM) is put to practical use.
The DVD+R and DVD+RW are on the way of improving the conventional technique for CD-R and CD-RW (a recordable compact disc) and for securing a reproducing compatibility of the DVD+R and DVD+RW with a reproduction-only DVD, the DVD+R and DVD+RW are so designed that a recording density (e.g., track pitch and signal mark length) and a thickness of the substrate are also compatible with those of CDs in order to attain the reproducing compatibility with DVD-ROMs. For example, the DVD+R is produced, like the CD-R, in such a manner that a substrate for recording the information in which a recording layer is disposed on a substrate and a reflective layer is disposed on the recording layer, is laminate with a substrate having the same form as the above-noted substrate for recording the information. In this case, the recording layer comprises a dye material.
With respect to the CD-R, the recording layer comprises a dye material and one of the characteristics of the CD-R is to have a high reflectance (65%) satisfying the CD standard; however, for obtaining a higher reflectance with the above-noted composition of the DVD+R, it is necessary that the recording layer can satisfy a specified complex refractive index at a wavelength of a light used for recordation and reproduction and the light absorption characteristics of the dye can satisfy the above-noted necessity. Also with respect to the DVD, the above-noted necessity is necessary.
With respect to the reproduction-only DVD, for enlarging the recording capacity, the reproduction-only DVD having two recording layers is proposed. For example, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a layers composition of the DVD having two recording layers. The first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 are laminated to each other through the intermediate layer 105 comprising an UV-curing resin. On the inner surface of the first substrate 101, the first recoding layer 103 is disposed and on the inner surface of the second substrate 102, the second recoding layer 104 is disposed. The first recoding layer 103 is disposed as a semitransparent film of a dielectric film or the like. The second recoding layer 104 is disposed as a reflective film of a metal film or the like. In the first recoding layer 103, a recording mark in the form of concavo-convex is formed and by an effect of reflecting or interfering a reproduction laser, a recording signal is read. In the DVD shown in FIG. 1, the signal is read in the two recording layers, so that the DVD can obtain a memory capacity of 8.5 GB at most.
The first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 have respectively a thickness of about 0.6 mm and the intermediate layer 105 has a thickness of about 50 μm. The first recording layer 103 as a semitransparent film is so disposed that the first recording layer 103 has a reflectance of around 30% and a laser light irradiated for reproducing the second recording layer 104 is damped in the first recording layer 103 through the reflection of about 30% of all light amount of the laser. Thereafter, the damped laser is reflected at the second recording layer 104 (as a reflective film) and after the laser is damped once again at the first recording layer 103, the laser gets out of the optical recording medium. By focusing the laser as a reproduction light so that the laser is brought to focus on the first recording layer 103 or the second recording layer 104 and by detecting the reflected light, a signal of each of the recording layers 103 and 104 can be reproduced. With respect to the DVD, the laser used for recordation and reproduction has a wavelength of generally about 650 nm.
However, up to date, with respect to a recordable DVD (e.g., DVD+R, DVD-R and DVD+RW), there is present only a recording medium having only one recording layer which can be read from one surface of the recording medium and for obtaining a larger memory capacity with using such an optical recording medium, it is necessary that the information can be reproduced and read from the both surfaces of the recording medium. This is because, since an optical recording medium in which recordation and reproduction are performed in two recording layers by irradiating a light to one surface of the medium, has two recording layers, when a signal is recorded by irradiating the laser which is brought to focus on the second recording layer (more distant from the optical pick up than the first recording layer), the laser is damped in the first recording layer, so that a disadvantage is caused wherein the light absorbance and the light reflectance in the second recording layer, which are required for recording the second recording layer cannot be compatibilized.
For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes an optical information medium which is constructed to be able to record in both two recording layers comprising an organic dye by irradiating the light to one surface of the optical information medium and the reproduction thereof can be performed also in both two recording layers by irradiating the light to one surface of the optical information medium. However, in this proposal, proposed is only an optical recording medium produced by laminating such two substrates to each other, as a first substrate in which recordation is performed by irradiating the laser to the surface of the substrate and a second substrate in which recordation is performed by irradiating the laser to the surface of the second recording layer, and the above-noted disadvantage in which the light absorbance and light reflectance in the second recording layer which are required for recording the second recording layer can be difficultly compatibilized, can not be solved. In this patent document, there is not disclosed a result of studying the recording signal with respect to the above-noted recording medium. Further, with respect to the second recording layer of the above-noted recording medium, since the layers composition around the second recording layer of the above-noted recording medium differs from the layers composition around the recording layer of a conventional CD-R or DVD+R, a disadvantage is caused wherein the recording mark can be difficultly formed in the second recording layer of the above-noted recording medium. This is because, since a conventional recording and reproducing medium having one recording layer comprises a substrate (to which the recording laser for the information is irradiated), recording layer (dye layer), reflective layer and protective layer in this order and the above-noted recording and reproducing medium having two recording layers comprises a laminating layer (to which the transmitted laser through the first recording layer is irradiated), inorganic protective layer, recording layer, reflective layer and substrate in this order, the recording mark forming environment (an adjacent layer of the recording layer) of the above-noted recording layer differs from that of the recording layer of a conventional recording medium. Therefore, with respect to the above-noted optical information medium disclosed in the above-noted patent document, there is a disadvantage wherein recording and reproducing properties, such as modulation factor and jitter, which correspond to a DVD system can be difficultly obtained.
Further, Patent Literatures 2 and 3 propose, with respect to the second recording layer of the recording and reproducing medium having two recording layers, an optical recording medium which comprises a laminating layer (to which the transmitted laser through the first recording layer is irradiated), inorganic protective layer, second recording layer, reflective layer and substrate in this order. However in these patent documents, there is disclosed only with respect to the presence of the recording mark (modulation factor) and the proposal thereof is the same proposal as that of the above-noted optical recording medium produced by laminating two substrates (first substrate in which recordation is performed by irradiating the light to the surface of the substrate and second substrate in which recordation is performed by irradiating the light to the surface of the recording layer) to each other, which is described in Patent Literature 1; therefore, by the above-noted proposal, the above-noted problem with respect to recordation and reproduction cannot be solved at all.
On the other hand, as a dye material used for disposing the recording layer of a DVD, a cyanine dye, azo dye and squarylium dye are put into practice. However, these organic dye materials have poor light resistance, therefore, in the case of disposing the recording layer using particularly a cyanine dye or squarylium dye, by using these dyes in combination with a light-resisting agent, such as an aluminum compound, a bisthiol metal complex and a formazane compound, the practical light-resistance of the recording layer is secured. For example, the squarylium metal chelate compound dye disclosed in Patent Literatures 4 and 5 is excellent in disc recording properties. However, for securing satisfactorily the light-resistance of the recording layer, it is proposed that the recording layer is disposed using the squarylium metal chelate compound dye in combination with various light-resisting agents (see Patent Literatures 6 to 9). However in this case, when a light-resisting agent is incorporated in the composition of the recording layer, the optical properties and thermal decomposition properties of the film as the recording layer are changed, thus a disadvantage is caused wherein while the practical light-resistance of the recording layer can be secured, the recording and reproducing performance of the recording layer is lowered.
Therefore, an optical recording medium comprising a first recording layer and a second recording layer; in which recordation and reproduction are performed in two recording layers and also in the second recording layer which is located more distant from the substrate to which the laser is irradiated than the first recording layer, advantageous recording signal properties can be obtained; and which is excellent in light-resistance, is not yet provided and the prompt development thereof is desired nowadays.
Patent Literature 1 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 11-66622
Patent Literature 2 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-311384
Patent Literature 3 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2003-331473
Patent Literature 4 International Publication No. WO01/44233
Patent Literature 5 International Publication No. WO01/44375
Patent Literature 6 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-370451
Patent Literature 7 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-370452
Patent Literature 8 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-370453
Patent Literature 9 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-370454

Optical recording medium, recording and reproducing method thereof, and optical recording apparatus


A folding tool includes a handle, a tool member and a tool member cover. The handle includes a first handle half and a second handle half. One end of the tool member is pivotally retained by the handle. A cover pivot pin is retained in the other end of the first and second handle halves. The cover pivot pin is inserted through a longitudinal slot formed through one end of the tool member cover. A substantially D-shaped slot is formed in the other end of the first or second handle halves. A guide pin extends from the tool member cover. The guide pin is sized to slide freely in the substantially D-shaped slot. The tool member cover is pivoted against the tool member in an open position and pivoted away from the handle to protect the tool member in a closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tools and more specifically to a folding tool, which includes a normal length handle.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Folding tools are well known in the art. However, some prior art folding tools have extra long handles to protect a cutting edge of an extra long tool member in a closed orientation. It is advantageous to have a folding tool to reduce storage space and protect the cutting edge of the extra long tool member. However, having an extra long handle to hold makes using the folding tool more difficult to use. U.S. Pat. No. 728,416 to Howland discloses a hunting knife. U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,466 to Steigerwalt (Steigerwalt) discloses a folding tool with lock. However, the Steigerwalt lock is an expensive portion of the folding tool.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a folding tool, which includes a normal length handle, and a tool member cover, which locks a tool member in an open position and protects a cutting edge of the tool member in a closed position.


A protective coating for a surface comprising a layer permeable to hydrogen, said coating being deposited on a catalyst layer; wherein the catalytic activity of the catalyst layer is preserved.

Hydrogen gas is a clean, non-polluting fuel and chemical reagent, which is currently used in many industries. With the demand for hydrogen growing every year and the fact that hydrogen is explosive at only a four (4%) percent concentration in air, the ability to detect hydrogen gas leaks economically and with inherent safety is desirable and could facilitate commercial acceptance of hydrogen fuel in various applications. For example, hydrogen-fueled passenger vehicles will require hydrogen leak detectors to signal the activation of safety devices such as shutoff valves, ventilating fans, and alarms. In fact, such detectors will be required in several key locations within a vehicle—namely, wherever a leak could pose a safety hazard. Therefore, it is critically important to carefully measure, monitor, and strictly control hydrogen wherever and whenever it is used.
The real and perceived hazards of hydrogen fuel use, its production, and storage require extensive safety precautions. Local, state and federal codes must be put in place before any serious movement can be made towards a hydrogen based energy future. Currently, commercial hydrogen detectors are not practical for widespread use, particularly in transportation industry applications, because commercial detectors are too bulky, expensive, and dangerous.
There exist several hydrogen sensors having a palladium layer that is particularly attractive for transportation industry applications. These hydrogen sensors are termed Hydrogen Field Effect Transistors (HFET), thick film (e.g., incorporating a palladium alloy paste), thin film, and fiber optic. The HFET construction uses a thin film of Pd as the metal contact controlling the device. The presence of hydrogen results in the migration of atomic hydrogen to the interface between the metal film and the insulator, which results in a change in the output of the device that is scaled to the hydrogen concentration. The thick film device uses a thick film Pd alloy paste to form a four-resistor network (i.e., a Wheatstone bridge) on a ceramic substrate. The configuration is such that two opposed resistors result in a change in resistivity of the thick film material and a shift in the balance point of the bridge, which can be scaled to the hydrogen concentration. The thin film device is equivalent in design to the thick film, with only much thinner films (typically vacuum deposited) used as the resistors.
The fiber optic hydrogen sensor is a gasochromic-type (i.e., one that changes color when activated by hydrogen) sensor and is available in a variety of configurations with coatings, typically either palladium or platinum, at the end of an optical fiber that sense the presence of hydrogen in air. When the coating reacts with the hydrogen, the optical properties of the coating are changed. Light from a central electro-optic control unit is projected down the optical fiber where the light is either reflected from the sensor coating back to a central optical detector, or is transmitted to another fiber leading to the central optical detector. A change in the reflected or transmitted intensity indicates the presence of hydrogen. While the fiber optic detector offers inherent safety by removing the application of electrical power and by reducing signal-processing problems by minimizing electromagnetic interference, critical detector performance requirements (i.e., for all four configurations described above) include high selectivity, response speed, and durability as well as potential for low-cost fabrication. The optical senor is not necessarily limited to a fiber optic delivery system but may be included on any optical element.
Unfortunately, all of the conventional catalytic metal-based hydrogen sensors have the potential for degradation in their performance over time due to mechanisms that are inherent in their construction, a result of their cyclic interaction with hydrogen, or contamination from impurities in the environments in which they will be used. While various attempts have been made to protect the palladium or platinum catalytic surfaces, these attempts have not significantly improved sensor performance. Therefore, a need exists to limit degradation thereby allowing hydrogen sensors to operate over extended periods of time in the presence of contaminants.
Another application is in the proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. This fuel cell is an electrochemical device that produces electricity from a combined chemical reaction and electrical charge transport. The device uses a simple chemical process to combine hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing an electric current in the process. At the anode, hydrogen molecules are dissociated by a metallic catalyst (usually platinum) into hydrogen atoms, which eventually gives up electrons to form hydrogen ions. The electrons travel through an external circuit to produce usable electric energy while the hydrogen ions are transported internally to the cathode where they both combine with oxygen to form water. The platinum catalyst of the fuel cell anode is subject to degradation by contaminants similar to that of catalytic metal-based hydrogen sensors. Application of a protective coating to the surface of the anode of the platinum catalyst to prevent fouling and maintain the catalytic activity of hydrogen dissociation is advantageous to fuel cell performance.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawing.

Hydrogen permeable protective coating for a catalytic surface


A device and method of capturing a video frame using an electronic device to provide enhanced video. A first sub-frame is captured using ambient light, and a second sub-frame is captured using ambient light and a light source under control of the electronic device. A primary frame is generated based on a combination of the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame.

Electronic devices, such as cameras, smart phones, tablets, lap tops, and the like, include a camera function for capturing video clips. In favorable lighting conditions, additional illumination typically is not needed to obtain a good-quality video. However, when capturing video during low-light conditions, e.g., in-doors or during a cloudy/overcast day, the ambient light may be less than optimal and this can result in less than optimal video quality.
To compensate for less than ideal lighting conditions, most electronic devices include an auxiliary light source (e.g., an LED light source) to provide additional light during video capture. While such light source can improve the quality of the captured video, it can have drawbacks. For example, when using the auxiliary light source foreground features captured in the video may be enhanced relative to foreground features captured in video capture without the auxiliary light source. However, the background features captured using the auxiliary light source may not be enhanced, and in most cases the background features are darker than what would be captured without the auxiliary light source. Also, use of the light source may cause subjects in the video to squint, which is undesirable.

Enhanced video capture in adverse lighting conditions


An apparatus and method for an optical scanner comprises a mirror, a coil, a magnetic circuit, and a support connected to the mirror. The mirror has a reflective surface and a periphery. A coil of electrically conductive material consists of a plurality of windings around the periphery of the mirror. The magnetic circuit comprises a magnet having opposite poles generating a magnetic flux therebetween. A support is connected to the mirror, the support rotatably supporting the mirror in the magnetic flux with the magnetic flux intersecting the coil.

Ever since the field of galvanometer-based optical scanning became established approximately 30 years ago, this type of scanning has been accomplished in substantially the same way. A mirror is attached to the shaft of a limited rotation motor, often referred to in the art as a galvanometer or "galvo." As the shaft of the motor rotates, this in turn rotates the mirror. A light beam is reflected off the mirror and, as the mirror is rotated by the motor, the light beam is scanned. Often, two motors and two mirrors are used, and are arranged in such a way as to accomplish X-Y scanning. This is very well known in the art and can be found in numerous patents including Tanaka et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,838 and Montagu U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,904.
The first limited rotation motors (galvanometers) to garner widespread use in optical scanning were made by General Scanning (Brosens U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,119) and MFE Corporation (Burke, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. Re. 31,062). These were of the "moving iron" variety—named after the fact that the rotor is made from a solid or laminated piece of iron. Moving iron galvanometer scanners provided very respectable performance and were in use for approximately 20 years, before being replaced by more modern scanner types. Disadvantages of moving iron scanners are their limited torque to inertia ratio, and relatively high electrical inductance, caused by the fact that the coil is completely surrounded by an iron magnetic circuit.
From approximately 1986 onward, the company Cambridge Technology, of Cambridge, Mass., has manufactured moving coil galvanometer scanners—named after the fact that the rotor is a moving coil of wire rather than iron. Moving coil galvanometer scanners have a number of advantages. One of the advantages is that they have a very low electrical inductance, often being an order of magnitude lower than moving iron counterparts. Another advantage is that the torque-to-inertia ratio is far greater than their moving iron counterparts. However, there are a few disadvantages to moving coil scanners that have prevented their widespread use. One disadvantage is that current flowing through the coil to create the scanning motion causes the coil to get hot, yet there is no effective way to quickly dissipate the heat that is generated because the coil is essentially floating in mid air. Because of this problem, moving coil scanners cannot be used for applications that require a high duty cycle (i.e. constant, high frequency scanning). Another disadvantage is that the long, unsupported spans of coil wires lead to multiple low-frequency torsional resonances, which are highly undesirable.
From approximately 1992 to the present, several companies have manufactured moving magnet galvanometer scanners—named after the fact that the rotor consists almost entirely of a magnet. Examples of moving magnet galvanometer scanners are described in various patents by Montague, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,632 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,324. Moving magnet scanners have some of the benefits of moving coil scanners, such as relatively low inductance and relatively high torque to inertia ratio. In addition, since the coil is mounted directly to the scanner's back iron, heat dissipation is more efficient than in moving coil scanners. However, there is still room for improvement in optical scanning, particularly in the realm of eliminating torsional resonances that exist largely because of the fact that a relatively long rotor is driving one end of a relatively wide mirror, often times through a shaft whose diameter is relatively small.
As the field of optical scanning has continued to develop, incremental improvements have been made to overcome barriers to higher performance and faster scanning speeds. For example, when moving iron scanners were being used, the barrier to higher performance was the limited torque to inertia ratio and the relatively high inductance. The development of moving coil and moving magnet scanners has overcome those two problems but, currently, torsional resonances present the most difficult barrier to achieving higher accuracy and faster scanning speeds.
Since the current state of the art continues to rely on the "mirror on the end of a motor shaft" construction, there is a "wind up" effect that occurs due to the torsional spring characteristic of long scanner rotors coupled with the mass and inertia of the mirror. Other torsional resonances also occur due to the shape of the mirror and the manner in which the mirror is attached to the shaft. In all cases, these torsional resonances exist because the mirror is being driven from only one end, and because of the torsional springiness of the mirror and motor components.
In response to these problems, various techniques have been employed in an attempt to decrease the frequency of these torsional resonances, or to otherwise manage them, including novel rotor designs described by Montagu in U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,632 and by Brown et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,449, and also by shaping the mirror and the mirror mount as described by Stukalin et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,188. Nevertheless, despite these improvements, torsional resonances remain a significant problem.
Torsional resonances continue to be a problem since, most often, galvanometer scanners are used in combination with closed loop servo drivers. These servo drivers are disturbed by the presence of resonances, and if the servo gain is set sufficiently high to achieve fast scanning, uncontrolled oscillation is likely to occur. As a result, servo gain must be kept relatively low and the closed-loop, small-signal bandwidth (i.e. the speed of the scanning) can only be made a fraction of the lowest torsional resonant frequency. For example, many moving magnet scanning systems have torsional resonance frequencies around 8 kHz to 10 kHz, yet in order to maintain good quality scanning, the servo gain and thus closed-loop small-signal bandwidth cannot be made greater than approximately 2.5 kHz.
Yet another disadvantage to the "mirror on the end of a motor" construction is that a substantial amount of the torque generated by the scanner, is actually expended in moving the scanner's rotor itself. Since the rotor ideally has the same inertia as the mirror, this means that effectively half the torque is wasted moving the rotor. This disadvantage is often overlooked as unavoidable, something that "comes with the territory" of placing a mirror on the end of a motor.
A careful review of performance characteristics of the three types of optical scanners mentioned above shows that the torque to inertia ratio is actually highest for moving coil scanners. Likewise, electrical inductance is lowest for moving coil scanners. These are two highly desirable characteristics. However, as noted above the two main drawbacks with moving coil scanners has been inability to effectively dissipate heat generated in the coil during scanning, and multiple low frequency resonances of the scanner caused by the long spars of the coil wires.

Moving mirror optical scanner and associated methods


A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for managing electronic records on a computer network is provided. The method provides the steps of creating an electronic tag that uniquely identifies an electronic record, storing the electronic tag, and distributing the electronic record. The method further performs the steps of analyzing a network user's workstation specifications, analyzing a network user's user profile, and generating a reference code, wherein the electronic tag is generated from information analyzed in the network user's workstation specification, the network user's user profile and the reference code.

1. Field of the Invention
The Present Invention relates in general to networked computing systems, and more particularly, to a system for managing electronic records.
2. Description of Related Art
Communication by Electronic Mail (E-mail) is a fast and convenient form of communication in the workplace. It is universally transforming the way organizations—such as corporations, partnerships, LLCs, etc.—communicate, and is rapidly spawning court cases regarding workplace privacy and monitoring, intellectual property, network security, electronic commerce, freedom of expression, harassment and safety.
Electronically-stored data, such as e-mail, is often sought by opposing parties in litigation and by criminal justice authorities, since, in many cases, it may be the only record of a conversation or transaction. For purposes of evidence, both State and Federal Courts have concluded that e-mail is a special form of a computer record and can be considered an official "record" of an organization. Consequently, e-mail is rapidly becoming a critical information source in litigation. Recent cases have found "smoking guns" in old e-mail and early drafts of organizational documents. The early documents may not be binding, but may sometimes be used to establish intent on behalf of the organization, as well as the mind set of the author at the time the document was created.
Nevertheless, many organizations have no means by which to manage their e-mail. E-mail is a record. Most organizations, further, do not have in place a system to index their e-mail messages with other client-related documents. Finally, many organizations do not have a system to record, store and purge e-mail messages in the same manner as they manage their traditional records. Consequently, the lack of such systems are creating enormous risks for these organizations, and subjecting the organizations to liability.
Additionally, most organizations have no control over, and in some cases, do not have a record of, any documents sent as e-mail attachments to outside computer systems (and organizations). Employees often view e-mail as the equivalent to a private conversation. Furthermore, statements made in e-mails may or may not reflect the official position of the organization. Rather, these statements reflect preliminary thoughts or ideas that have not been reviewed by the organization, and typically only reflect the personal opinion of the parties involved. Yet, since employees of the organization create these communications, Court and Regulatory Agencies may conclude these records reflect the official view of the organization. In addition, personal e-mail messages created by employees may not be the type of e-mail messages an organization may wish to record and retain in their records management system. Currently, there is no system to separate personal e-mail from business e-mail.
Most organizations have not yet determined the records retention periods and procedures for e-mail, and have not established procedures to delete e-mail from back-up systems. Information System (IS) Managers (or Information Technology (IT) persons) generally develop elaborate procedures to backup and preserve e-mail records for many years. Some IS and IT persons believe that information should be baked-up, or saved, for long periods of time, believing that "longer is better." Even with short back-up cycles, messages may still be maintained due to poor procedures for erasing or recycling the various back-up systems. Further, even when back-up systems have been erased, overwritten or damaged, experts using sophisticated techniques may still be able to recover the information for litigation.
The concept of e-mail is still new enough that organizations who want to establish their own guidelines do so "on their own" or "a their own risk," since no industry standard currently exists.
Therefore, there is a need for an electronic records management system to track, sort, index, manage, authenticate, purge and store e-mail messages, along with other documents, in a database to insure that the e-mail messages retained in the database may be the e-mail messages an organization chooses to retain as their official records versus unorganized messages that may have the potential to create a liability for the organization. There is a further need for an electronic records management system that grants the senders and receivers of e-mail messages greater control over how their e-mail messages may be sent, received, tracked and purged.


The present invention relates to a composition, and a method for preventing or reducing contact dermatitis. The composition contains a polysaccharide; a low molecular weight, synergistic saccharide; a solvent; and optionally an additive material.. The present invention is further a dermatologically-compatible barrier film for preventing and reducing contact dermatitis which contains a polysaccharide; a low molecular weight, synergistic saccharide; and optionally one or more additives. The dermatologically-compatible barrier film is formed of a composition containing a polysaccharide; a low molecular weight, synergistic saccharide; a solvent; and optionally an additive material. The composition is a skin care product in a form of a lotion, a gel or a cream that is applied to skin of mammals. Once applied, the solvent in the composition evaporates, and thereby leaving behind a dermatologically-compatible barrier film containing a polysaccharide; a low molecular weight, synergistic saccharide; and optionally an additive material.

Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin and is an acute or chronic condition resulting from irritation by, or sensitization to, some substance in the environment. In mild cases, the symptoms are itching, burning, or reddening of the skin. In more severe cases, vesiculation and edema may be present and may be followed by weeping and crusting. The most severe cases may be accompanied by bleeding vesicles and gross edema.
Contact dermatitis is typically classified as primary irritant dermatitis or allergic contact dermatitis. Primary irritant dermatitis is the more common form of contact dermatitis. It is normally caused by irritating agents that will cause dermatitis in all persons upon sufficient exposure.
Allergic contact dermatitis may be caused by many substances which induce a reaction in some people upon physical contact. This reaction usually does not occur with the initial contact, but only upon subsequent exposures. More specifically, this reaction creates a hypersensitive state in susceptible individuals. Thus, upon subsequent contact, these individuals will develop contact dermatitis.
In view of the above, contact dermatitis is a serious concern to many people, including industrial workers. Therefore, the need for protection against contact dermatitis is apparent, especially when occupational allergic contact dermatitis can result in lost wages and discomfort to workers.
Attempts have been made to inhibit and treat contact dermatitis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,067 to Tomalia et al. disclose a method of treating and controlling dermatitis in humans who have been exposed to allergens produced by plants of the genus Rhus. The method of Tomalia et al. requires topical application of a polyamine polymer having a molecular weight of at least 5000. This does not suggest the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,453 to Lay et al. also discloses a method of controlling and treating dermatitis in humans who have been exposed to allergies produced by plants of the genus Rhus. The method of Lay et al. requires topical application of a cross-linked copolymer of isobornyl acrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, styrene, or alkylstyrene and one or more alkyl esters of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 alcohol and acrylic or methacrylic acid. This also does not suggest the present invention.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,961,044 and 3,981,990 to Kelly et al, and 4,137,301, 4,141,966, 4,144,319 and 4,160,818 to Willer et al. disclose compositions and methods for preventing or reducing irritation of the skin resulting from allergic contact dermatitis by applying a protective agent. The protective agent of Willer et al. is an organic compound having at least two polar groups separated by a chain of at least 15 carbons. However, these compositions and methods do not disclose or suggest the use of a low molecular weight saccharide that enhances the protection against contact dermatitis.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composition, a dermatologically-compatible barrier film, and a method for preventing or reducing contact dermatitis.

Composition, barrier film, and method for preventing contact dermatitis