The present invention provides an offloading method and device for enhancing mobility, used for solving the technical problem of poor mobility in the current offloading and network construction solution. The present invention discloses that: a Network Address Translating (NAT) gateway is deployed in an upper layer of a Femto Node B; a dedicated tunnel for transmitting the offloading data between the Femto Node B and the NAT gateway is established; the NAT translation of the offloading data message is performed by the NAT gateway and the offloading data is forwarded through the dedicated tunnel according to a continuation relationship; when a User Equipment (UE) performs a handover across two Femto Node B's due to mobility, it is only necessary to modify the continuation relationship of the UE, without disconnecting and reconnecting the link of the offloading data stream, thereby improving the system's mobility.

In order to alleviate the pressure of the surge in the high-speed data services on high-cost wireless network, mobile operators urgently need effective means to offload the low-value data services from the wireless network as soon as possible.
In the indoor access scene, a typical offloading and network construction solution is as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the structure of this network is based on the flat architecture, the Femto Node B ends the air interface, and for offloading data stream, Network Address Translation (NAT) technology is used to process the data of the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) and then sends it to Gi interface. This solution is mainly used in 2/3Gnetwork, but conditionally restricted in the LTE network.
In this network structure, a Femto Node B is configured with offloading identification mechanism and a Gi interface protocol stack, so that the low-value business data can be identified directly in the Femto Node Band sent to the relatively low-cost fixed network transmission, while the high-value business data can be sent to the traditional wireless network transmission channel in which high-value business data can achieve refined management and service.
The protocol stack model of the offloading data stream is as shown in FIG. 2. This kind of network construction solution can quickly and easily deploy offloading strategy, but the problem is that the mobility is not high. Once the User Equipment (UE) is moved out from the initial accessed Femto Node B, the link of the offloading data stream must be disconnected and then reconnected. The reason is that: a UE is connected to the Internet with the Internet Protocol (IP) address IPue, when the message sent by the UE passes through Femto Node B 1, it will be replaced by the IP address IPnb1 of the Femto Node B 1 by the NAT module, while in fact the IP address linked to the Internet is IPnb1; when the UE moves to another Femto Node B 2, the NAT module of Femto Node B 2 can use the IP address IPnb2 of Femto Node B 2 at this time to replace IPue. Thus, the IP address interacting with the Internet is changed. For the Internet server, the peer IP of the same connection cannot be changed, because the connection is not the same when the peer IP address is changed. Therefore, there is a problem of the poor mobility in the current offloading solution.

Offloading method and device for enhancing mobility


Methods for print scheduling are provided. A representative method for print scheduling includes receiving user input identifying a time for printing a print job, and transmitting the print job to a printer at the time identified by the user input. Systems, computer-readable media, and other methods for print scheduling are also provided.

In many work settings, it is common for a team of people to work together on a project that involves producing one or more project documents. In such a setting, one or more team members may be in charge of electronically editing a project document and another team member may be in charge of printing the document. The team member in charge of printing the document may be responsible for printing a final version of the document after the document is finalized but in time for copies to be made before a certain meeting or deadline. One problem in such a scenario is that the document may be mistakenly printed and copied prior to being finalized. Another problem is that printing may not be initiated in time for the document to be copied and distributed prior to the meeting or deadline. Even if multiple copies are not necessary, the printing of a lengthy document may need to commence significantly before a deadline in order for the document to be ready prior to the deadline. However, if the document is printed too early, then it may be incomplete or non-final.
One approach to printing the document at the right time may be for the team members to communicate with each other to determine the appropriate time to print the document. This approach may, however, be unreliable since there may be times when a team member may forget or be unable to establish communication with other team members. Therefore, it should be appreciated that there is a need for improved systems and methods that address these and/or other problems associated with printing a document.

Systems and methods for scheduling print jobs

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method of adjusting display brightness, a light-emission control circuit and a display device are provided. A method of adjusting display brightness is applied to an light-emission control circuit, where the light-emission control circuit is configured to generate an light-emission control signal configured to control a light-emission of a display device. The method includes: adjusting, in the case that a display brightness of the display device is not within a predetermined brightness range, a duty ratio of the light-emission control signal, to enable the display brightness of the display device to fall into the predetermined brightness range.

The Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display device has many advantages such as self-luminous, ultra-thin, fast response, high contrast, wide viewing angle and the like, and is a display device which has been widely concerned at present.
When the OLED display device works, the driving circuit drives the light emitting element to emit light, thereby realizing the display function of the OLED display device. However, since the thin film transistor in the driving circuit is prone to be subjected to the electric leakage when the driving circuit works, the display brightness of the OLED display device may decrease during the display duration of one frame, so the human eye may observe flickering display images. Moreover, in order to reduce the power consumption of the OLED display device, the OLED display device generally works in a low-frequency display state. However, when the OLED display device performs a low-frequency display, the electric leakage of the thin film transistor in the driving circuit may be more serious, and the human eye is more sensitive to the flickering phenomenon during the low-frequency display. As a result, the flickering phenomenon sensed by the human eye is more serious when the OLED display device performs the low-frequency display.

Method of adjusting display brightness, light-emission control circuit and display device


A vehicle service system for interaction with the on-board electronic systems of a vehicle utilizing a cloud-based vehicle diagnostic system which is configured on-demand for the vehicle undergoing a service procedure. The vehicle service system includes a local processing system in communication with the vehicle and with a cloud-based vehicle diagnostic application service configured to establish an on-demand virtual processing system running a vehicle-specific diagnostic software application. The vehicle-specific diagnostic software application communicates with the vehicle undergoing service to present a service technician with diagnostic results within a graphical user interface of the local processing system. Upon completion of the vehicle service, the remote cloud-based vehicle diagnostic application service terminates the virtual processing system and vehicle-specific diagnostic software application, freeing cloud-based resources for subsequent uses.

The present application is related to the implementation of vehicle-specific diagnostic and system reset procedures typically carried out by vehicle-specific service devices operatively coupled to the vehicle electronic control modules during a vehicle service process, and in particular, to a method and system in which multiple vehicle-specific service devices are replaced by vehicle-specific software applications residing in, and operating from, cloud-based virtual computers, enabling a service technician to select, communicate with, and couple a vehicle to an appropriate virtual vehicle-specific service device at the time of vehicle service.
As vehicles have become increasingly computerized, many diagnostic and repair procedures require a service technician to interface with the vehicle onboard computer systems or electronic control units (ECUs) via a standardized data connection commonly referred to as an OBD-II connection. For example, proper operation of many advanced driver assistance (ADAS) components on modern vehicles, such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning systems, collision avoidance systems, and blind spot monitoring systems must be evaluated prior to performing mechanical adjustments on a vehicle, as well as after repair or replacement of damaged or worn vehicle components. Using a generic diagnostic device or scan tool, a technician connects to the OBD-II connection and reads out various fault codes from the onboard computer systems or ECUs during a vehicle service. In some cases, commands that conduct a calibration or other service procedure are relayed to the vehicle using the same device and connection. As vehicle complexity has increased, vehicle manufacturers have incorporated increased functionality in the onboard computer systems and ECUs, often requiring vehicle-specific or manufacturer-specific diagnostic devices or scan tools to access. (FIG. 1). These vehicle- and manufacturer-specific diagnostic devices or scan tools can be expensive, and are required in order to perform some service procedures on newer vehicles, representing a significant expenditure for independent automotive repair shops seeking to service a wide range of modern vehicle makes and models. In some cases, access to these specialized diagnostic devices or scan tools is restricted to manufacturer-approved dealerships or repair shops, leaving independent shops and do-it-yourself mechanics with few options to properly service a full range of desired vehicles.
Recent industry changes require that vehicle manufacturers make vehicle-required diagnostic and scan software applications available upon request, from an accessible software archive, enabling independent shops and do-it-yourself mechanics to service vehicles, as well as dealers seeking to service off-brand vehicles. These software applications, once downloaded via a network, are installed on a local personal computer (PC) and communicate with the electronic control modules of a vehicle undergoing service via a standardized interface. Typically, the local PC includes: (1) a monitor, or other physical means of displaying electronic graphic content; (2) one or more Human Interface Devices (HIDs), the most common of which are keyboards and mice, to provide a means to interact with the environment; (3) a network interface card (NIC) to connect to various network(s) providing data and applications; and (4) a transport bus, such as a universal serial bus (USB) to connect devices such as printers, diagnostic tools, or OBD port readers to the computing environment. Usage of the diagnostic and scan software applications, once downloaded, may be restricted to use during single vehicle service via an authentication or subscription service provided by the vehicle manufacturer. Different vehicle makes and or models require different software applications, thereby requiring a service technician to locate and install appropriate applications prior to performing a vehicle service or inspection. (FIG. 2).
While downloadable software applications enable more complete diagnostic and service of modern vehicles by a wide range of service providers, it has been found that installation of multiple downloadable software applications for different vehicle makes and models on a single PC often produces conflicts and problems. Hence, it often becomes necessary to remove the software applications following completion of a vehicle service in order to properly install different software applications required to service subsequent vehicles. Alternatively, a service shop may maintain a separate dedicated PC for each vehicle-specific software application. Failure to do so may lead to PC system crashes, failures, or improper vehicle diagnostics. Vehicle service technicians are generally not well skilled at performing software downloads, installations, and debugging procedures prior to or following each vehicle service.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide vehicle service technicians with a means by which multiple vehicle-specific diagnostic and service software applications could be accessed on-demand, without requiring vehicle-specific hardware or multiple PCs, eliminating the need for the service technician to perform any local software installation and/or removal procedures as part of a vehicle service process.

Cloud-based on-demand vehicle diagnostic systems


A system facilitates reporting product status information using a visual code. The system includes a code generator and a communication device. The code generator reports a product status with aggregate information in a visual code. In order to achieve this functionality, the code generator recognizes a status event trigger for a product. The code generator also compiles the aggregate information in response to the status event trigger for the product. The aggregate information includes product status information and product identification information. The code generator also generates the visual code representative of the aggregate information. The communication device facilitates communication of the visual code to a user.

Error reporting functions are often process intensive for operators of the failed equipment. When systems such as computer systems, televisions, and other systems fail, the reporting process for the failure typically encompasses calling the responsible company and providing a set of information to the company about the failing product (e.g., the serial, model number, etc.), the registered owner (e.g., required or provided for warranty services), and any error messages provided at the time of the failure. This conventional method of reporting is time consuming and error prone. Many conventional systems require the completion of personal identifying information as part of product registration so the information has been previously collected.
Some systems implement error reporting methods that utilize barcodes to transmit the error information to a user or customer service representative. Various types of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes exist. A quick response (QR) barcode is a 2D barcode that is capable of storing a relatively large amount of data, compared with traditional 1D barcodes. Some conventional systems propose reporting error message information using a QR barcode that is displayed to a user. The user can then take a photograph of the image and subsequently transmit the image of the barcode to the customer service representative, who is able to decode and retrieve the error message information from the QR barcode. While the use of a QR code may be helpful to consolidate information, the type of information included in conventional error reporting methods is limited to a collection of the failure information itself.

Reporting product status information using a visual code

International Business Machines Corporation


A process for the production of methanol is disclosed wherein the gaseous reactants of CO, H.sub.2 and optimally CO.sub.2 are reacted in a distillation column reactor in the presence of an inert C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 component, which is boiling at the reaction temperature within the catalyst bed. The inert component is taken overhead along with the methanol and separated therefrom for reflux of the inert component back to the reactor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the production of methanol from the reaction of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide with hydrogen in the presence of a copper/zinc/alumina catalyst and in particular in a catalytic distillation process. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of an inert component in a catalytic distillation column wherein the inert component is boiling and condensing around the normally gaseous reactants.
2. Related Art
Methanol is one of the basic chemicals and as such is produced at an annual rate of over 10 million tons. Conventionally methanol has been produced in two-phase systems: The reactants (CO, CO.sub.2, and H.sub.2) and products (mainly CH.sub.3 OH and H.sub.2 O) forming the gas phase and the catalyst being the solid phase. In a methanol plant, the reaction of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen is exothermic. Thus in a conventional fixed bed reactor design, heat control and removal is of prime importance. If too much CO.sub.2 or CO is present, the reactor can overheat and damage the catalyst. As a result, for a given catalyst, a liquid phase reactor was preferable under the prior technology, because the basic characteristics of a liquid phase reactor allow it to be cooled internally.
More recently a three-phase methanol synthesis process (now known under the trademark LPMEOH) has been developed. In that process an inert liquid phase is introduced into the reactor, mainly to absorb heat released during the reaction. Heat transfer between the solid catalyst and the liquid phase is highly efficient, thereby allowing higher conversions to be obtained without impairment of catalyst activity. The liquid phase allows for the removal of heat by use of an internal heat exchanger in the LPMEOH process. The solid particulate catalyst is introduced in a slurry of the inert liquid.
The following three equations may be used to empirically represent the reactions going on during the present process: EQU CO+2H.sub.2 .revreaction.CH.sub.3 OH (1) EQU CO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 .revreaction.CO+H.sub.2 O (2) EQU CO.sub.2 +3H.sub.2 .revreaction.CH.sub.3 OH+H.sub.2 O (3)
Catalytic distillation, in which reaction products are produced and concurrently separated from reactants by distillation, has been used successfully to control temperatures in exothermic reactions. However, the use of catalytic distillation has been traditionally limited by the fact that one of the reactants must be a boiling liquid at the conditions inside the reactor. In the earlier catalytic distillation processes both reactants were fed to the reactor as liquids. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,780 has shown that the catalytic distillation method is useful in a process wherein hydrogen is a reaction component. Inert materials have been fed to a catalytic distillation for various purposes, such as to provide a heat sink, but always one of the reactants has been a boiling liquid


An ultraviolet/infrared absorbent low transmittance glass is formed of base glass containing 65 to 80 wt. % SiO2; 0 to 5 wt. % Al2O3; greater than 2.1 to less than or equal to 10 wt. % MgO; 5 to 15 wt. % CaO wherein a total amount of MgO and CaO is 7 to 15 wt. %; 10 to 18 wt. % Na2O; 0 to 5 wt. % K2O wherein a total amount of Na2O and K2O is 10 to 20 wt. %; and 0 to 5 wt. % B2O3, and colorants including 1.25 to 2.2 wt. % total iron oxide (T-Fe2O3) expressed as Fe2O3; 0.001 to 0.018 wt. % CoO; 0 to 0.0004 wt. % Se; and 0.028 to 0.2 wt. % NiO, wherein the glass has a turquoise blue or deep green color.

The present invention relates to an ultraviolet/infrared absorbent low transmittance glass. More particularly, it relates to an ultraviolet/infrared absorbent low transmittance glass which has an almost neutral color such as turquoise blue shade and deep green shade so that it is useful for windows of vehicles or buildings when used in combination with a glass having green shade with high visible light transmittance, and which has low or middle visible light transmittance, low total solar energy transmittance, and low ultraviolet transmittance so that it is suitable for use as privacy glazing in a vehicle.
Recently, a variety of glasses with ultraviolet/infrared absorbability to be used as a vehicle windshield have been proposed with the view of preventing degradation of luxurious interior materials and reducing cooling load of the vehicle. In view of privacy protection, glass with relatively low visible light transmittance is preferably used for a rear window glass of a vehicle. Such kinds of glass include the followings.
For example, a dark gray colored infrared absorbent glass disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-29813 consists of soda-lime-silica glass including colorants consisting of 1.00 to 1.7 weight percent, Fe2O3 (total iron), at least 0.27 weight percent FeO, 0.002 to 0.005 weight percent Se, and 0.01 to 0.02 weight percent CoO. The glass exhibits luminous transmittance less than 32 percent and total solar infrared transmittance less than 15 percent at 3.9 mm thickness.
A dark gray colored glass disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Published Patent Application No. 8-157232 consists of soda-lime-silica glass including colorants consisting of 0.8 to 1.4 weight percent Fe2O3 (total iron), less than 0.21 weight percent FeO, 0.05 to 1.0 weight percent TiO2, 0.02 to 0.05 weight percent CoO, and 0.0005 to 0.015 weight percent Se.
A neutral gray colored glass disclosed in claim 25 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,593 has a base glass composition comprising 66 to 75 weight percent SiO2, 10 to 20 weight percent Na2O, 5 to 15 weight percent CaO, 0 to 5 weight percent MgO, 0 to 5 weight percent Al2O3, and 0 to 5 weight percent K2O, and colorants consisting of 1.00 to 2.2 weight percent Fe2O3 (total iron), at least 0.20 weight percent FeO, 0.0005 to 0.005 weight percent Se, and 0.010 to 0.030 weight percent CoO. The glass exhibits luminous transmittance less than 35 percent and total solar infrared transmittance less than 20 percent at 3.9 mm thickness.
A soda-lime-silica glass disclosed in Japanese Publication of PCT No. 8-506314 has a neutral color by including primary iron given by the following expression:FeO (weight percent)≧0.007+(optical concentration−0.036)/2.3and 0.25 to 1.75 weight percent Fe2O3 and at least one selected from a group consisting of Se, Co3O4, Nd2O3, NiO, MnO, V2O5, CeO2, TiO2, CuO, and SnO. The glass exhibits luminous transmittance more than 32 percent, ultraviolet transmittance less than 25 percent, direct solar energy transmittance at least 7 percent less than the luminous transmittance, and dominant wavelengths preferably less than 570 nanometers at 4 mm thickness. Certain embodiments thereof may be used as a privacy glazing.
In both the dark gray colored infrared absorbent glass disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-29813 and the dark gray colored glass disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Published Patent Application No. 8-157232, a great quantity of Se is used for providing a desirable color. Such a great quantity of Se is unpreferable for the environment because Se has toxicity and is easy to vaporize. The above dark gray glass including 0.05 to 1.0 weight percent TiO2 as an essential component is unpreferable because TiO2 is expensive to increase the batch cost.
The neutral gray colored glass disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,593 is also unpreferable because of the great content of Se. The great content of FeO is preferable in view of heat ray absorptivity, FeO is on the contrary not preferable because it selectively absorbs infrared ray in a wavelength from 1,000 to 1,200 nanometers so that in case the glass is produced by a normal melting furnace, it absorbs most efficient portion in flame luminance distribution so as to lower the temperature of bottom base of the furnace and then contribute to various defects.
Though the aforementioned glass with low visible light transmittance is superior in view of privacy protection, an occupant in a vehicle cabin sees outside quite unclearly through the glass. On the other hand, a glass with middle transmittance can be sufficient to some extent for both privacy protection and safety. These types of glass are chosen according to portions in a vehicle and circumferences.
The aforementioned glass includes selenium in high concentration to provide optical properties, without essentially including nickel.
The glass of Japanese Publication PCT No. 8-506314, which can be used for privacy protection, is provided with a neutral color by including colorants consisting all of nickel, selenium, and cobalt, just as described in this specification. However, it is necessary to add a great quantity of Se since the content of nickel is low.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ultraviolet/infrared absorbent low transmittance glass


A cooling device is provided which is firmly connectable to a carrier. The cooling device includes cooling channels for guiding a coolant stream and which have at least one flat side for a highly thermally conductive connection to at least one electrical assembly. The cooling device may be mounted such that the electrical assembly can be releasably pressed against the flat side of the cooling device.

The present invention is directed to a cooling device for electrical assemblies for mounting on a carrier.
The development of more and more powerful electronic assemblies also makes high demands of the cooling technology. A number of concerns are thereby raised in addition to the optimum heat elimination:
(1) The structure should be modular and flexible, i.e. assemblies other than those originally provided should be capable of being mounted. Given the increase in dissipated power, which derives, for example, due to higher performance data, the cooling unit should be adaptable to the new demands without involved modifications. Modifications of a mechanical nature (for example, housing dimensions, fastening capability) should also be taken into consideration.
(2) Manipulation in assembly and disassembly should be simple, for example when replacing assemblies during the course of a repair.
(3) An electrical insulation between the assemblies and the cooling system should be possible with simple means.
(4) Problems with the electrochemical compatibility of the material through which flow is conducted should be avoided.
(5) Finally, the cooling system should be low cost.
Conventional liquid coolers satisfy these demands relatively inadequately in practice. An integration of cooling channels in the assemblies themselves is standard. This, however, is involved and problematical in the assembly or, respectively, disassembly of the assemblies. The cooling water connections must be parted in the disassembly of the assemblies, whereby, in particular, care must be exercised to see that cooling water does not come into contact with voltage-carrying parts. Particular precautions must there for be taken. Such precautions, however, are time consuming and expensive and serve to complicate manipulation. This problem can only be inadequately solved with quick-acting closures for the water management since such quick-acting closures have considerable disadvantages in terms of dead space volume, tightness, pressure loss and costs.
German Published Application 1 439 308 discloses a cooling arrangement wherein a transistor is screwed onto a cooling member that is mounted on a carrier. Cooling channels through which air flows proceed through the cooling member. A printed circuit board is provided on that side of the transistor lying opposite the cooling member.
DE 35 31 729 C2 discloses a cooling device wherein electronic components are arranged on a ceramic plate. For heat elimination, the side of the ceramic plate facing away from the equipment side is provided with pins by which heat is output to the ambient air that flows past. Since the ceramic plate distributes heat well, the temperature difference between the various pins is slight and the heat elimination into the air is efficient.

Cooling device for electrical assemblies


Among other things, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods for an elastomeric cross-linked polyester material. Such an elastomeric cross-linked polyester material, in some embodiments, comprises a plurality of polymeric units of the general formula (-A-B—)p, wherein p is an integer greater than 1; and a plurality of urethane cross-links each of which covalently links two polymeric units to one another, which two linked polymeric unit each had at least one free hydroxyl or amino group prior to formation of the crosslink.

Biodegradable elastomers have emerged as promising materials for their potential to mimic the viscoelastic properties of several tissues and exhibit compliance with dynamic environments without damaging the surrounding tissue. However, there remains a continuing need for new such biodegradable elastomer materials. In particular, the development of highly tunable biodegradable elastomers that can effectively and controllably present biological and physical signals and withstand repeated cycles of physiologic loads, has remained elusive.

BIOCANT-CENTER OF INNOVATION AND BIOTECHNOLOGY


An epitaxial wafer for a light-emitting diode includes an n-type GaP single-crystal substrate, and at least an n-type semiconductor epitaxial layer and a p-type semiconductor epitaxial layer formed on the substrate. The substrate has a boron concentration of not more than 1.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3. A light-emitting diode is fabricated using the epitaxial wafer thus formed provided with electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an epitaxial wafer for a GaP, GaAs, or AlGaInP light-emitting diode and to a light-emitting diode fabricated using said epitaxial wafer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The low power consumption and long life of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit visible light have brought them into widespread use as a light source in various display devices and the like. In recent years technical innovation that has increased the brightness of LEDs and the introduction of new crystal materials that enable the emission of diverse colors have led to a further expansion in the range of applications and the numbers of LEDs in use. Among such LEDs, those using a GaP single-crystal substrate include GaP, GaAs and AlGaInP LEDs.
There are three types of GaP LEDs, categorized according to whether they emit red light, yellow green light, or green light. Each type is fabricated by the liquid phase epitaxial growth method. Since GaP is an indirect transition type semiconductor, in the case of red light or yellow green light LEDs, high brightness is obtained by the introduction of an emission center.
In structure, red light LEDs are comprised of an n-type GaP single-crystal substrate on which are grown an n-type GaP epitaxial layer and a p-type GaP epitaxial layer doped with zinc and oxygen. The Zn--O pair in the p-type GaP epitaxial layer forms the emission center, emitting red light having a wavelength in the order of 700 nm.
A yellow green LED comprises an n-type GaP single-crystal substrate on which, if required, first an n-type GaP buffer layer is formed, followed by the formation of an n-type GaP epitaxial layer, and, as the emission center, a nitrogen doped n-type GaP epitaxial layer, and a p-type GaP epitaxial layer, to form an LED that emits yellow green light having a wavelength in the order of 570 nm.
A green LED comprises an n-type GaP single-crystal substrate on which, if required, first an n-type GaP buffer layer is formed, followed by the formation of an n-type GaP epitaxial layer not doped with nitrogen, and a p-type GaP epitaxial layer. Since the LED therefore has no emission center, it is not as bright as the yellow green LED described above. The LED emits green light having a wavelength in the order of 555 nm.
GaAsP LEDs are fabricated by the vapor phase epitaxial growth method. GaP and GaAsP have different lattice constants, so first vapor phase epitaxy is used to grow an n-type GaAsP compositional gradient layer on the n-type GaP single-crystal substrate, and this is followed by the formation of an n-type GaAsP layer having a constant composition, grown by the same vapor phase epitaxy. A p-n junction is then formed by the diffusion of zinc on the surface of the n-type GasP constant composition layer. By adjusting the As and P component contents in the n-type GaAsP constant composition layer, emission ranging in color from red (in the order of 660 nm) through orange (in the order of 610 nm) to yellow (in the order of 590 nm) may be obtained. With a high P content the semiconductor becomes a indirect transition type, in which case doping with nitrogen as the emission center is used to achieve an increase in emission brightness.
AlGaInP LEDs are usually formed by the metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. In most cases a GaAs single-crystal substrate is used, but it is also possible to use a GaP single-crystal substrate. Because GaAs has a smaller bandgap than the AlGaInP comprising the active layer, it absorbs emitted light. However, GaP has a larger bandgap than AlGaInP, and therefore does not absorb the emitted light. It is therefore more advantageous to use a GaP substrate, since the fact that the portion of the light emitted by the active layer that is emitted on the substrate side is not absorbed means that brighter emission is obtained.
When a GaP substrate is used, since GaP and AlGaInP have different lattice constants, the MOCVD method is used to form, first, an InGaP, AlGaInP or AlInP compositional gradient layer, then an n-type AlGaInP cladding layer, an AlGaInP active layer, a p-type AlGaInP cladding layer and, if required, a contact layer or window layer. AlInP may be used for the cladding layer. The crystal of contact or window layer may be formed of GaAs, GaAlAs, GaP or the like. Moreover, vapor phase epitaxy or another such method may be used instead of MOCVD to form these layers. By adjusting the composition of the crystal components of the AlGaInP active layer, emission ranging in color from red, in the order of 640 nm, through orange and yellow to green, in the range of 550 nm, may be obtained.
The above GaP, GaAsP and AlGaInP LEDs are each fabricated using an n-type GaP single-crystal substrate doped with Te, Si or the like. However, even when the same process is used to form n-type and p-type epitaxial layers on substrates having the same dopants and the same carrier concentration, there will sometimes be variations in the brightness of the LEDs obtained. As far as is known, the cause was not elucidated.
Although the brightness of such LEDs has been improved through recent improvements in technology, the market is demanding still higher brightnesses. At the same time, with the increasing use of large numbers of LEDs to form large displays, there is also an increasing demand for lower variation in brightness.
The object of the present invention is to provide an epitaxial wafer for a light-emitting diode and a light-emitting diode using the wafer having high brightness and low variation in brightness.

Epitaxial wafer for a light-emitting diode and a light-emitting diode


A gene cluster has been isolated from an Acinetobacter sp. that encodes the enzymes expected to convert cyclohexanol to adipic acid. The entire gene cluster has been cloned and all open reading frames have been sequenced. Cosmid clones have been identified containing the gene cluster. Demonstration of conversion of cyclohexanol to adipic acid has been made with the recombinant E. coli host strain containing the cosmids.

The invention relates to the field of molecular biology and microbiology. More specifically adipic acid has been produced from cyclohexanol by micro-biological means. The reaction is mediated by a set of enzymes resident on a 17 kb gene cluster, isolated from Acinetobacter sp.
Production of adipic acid in the U.S. was 1.96 billion pounds in 1997 with an estimated 2.0 billion pounds in 1998. Historically the demand for adipic acid has grown 2% per year and 1.5-2% is expected through the year 2002. Adipic acid consistently ranks as one of the top fifty chemicals produced domestically. Nearly 90% of domestic adipic acid is used to produce nylon-6,6. Other uses of adipic acid include production of lubricants and plasticizers, and as a food acidulant.
The dominant industrial process for synthesizing adipic acid employs initial air oxidation of cyclohexane to yield a mixture of cyclohexanone (ketone) and cyclohexanol (alcohol), which is designated KA (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,800). Hydrogenation of phenol to yield KA is also used commercially, although this process accounts for just 2% of all adipic acid production. KA produced via both methods is oxidized with nitric acid to produce adipic acid. Reduced nitrogen oxides including NO2, NO, and N2O are produced as by-products and are recycled back to nitric acid at varying levels.
Research has also focused on synthesis of adipic acid from alternative feedstocks. Significant attention has been directed at carbonylation of butadiene (U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,421). More recently, a method of dimerizing methyl acrylates was reported, opening up the possibility of adipic acid synthesis from C-3 feedstocks.
These processes are not entirely desirable due to their heavy reliance upon environmentally sensitive feedstocks, and their propensity to yield undesirable by-products. Non-synthetic, biological routes to adipic acid would be more advantageous to industry and beneficial to the environment.
A number of microbiological routes are known. Wildtype and mutant organisms have been shown to convert renewable feedstocks such as glucose and other hydrocarbons to adipic acid [Frost, John, Chem. Eng. (Rugby, Engl.) (1996), 611, 32-35; WO 9507996; Steinbuechel, AlexanderCLB Chem. Labor Biotech. (1995), 46(6), 277-8; Draths et al., ACS Symp. Ser. (1994), 577(Benign by Design), 32-45, U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,468; JP 49043156 B4; and DE 2140133]. Similarly, organisms possessing nitrilase activity have been shown to convert nitriles to carboxylic acids including adipic acid [Petre et al., AU 669951; CA 2103616].
Additionally, wildtype organisms have been used to convert cyclohexane and cyclohexanol and other alcohols to adipic acid [JP 01023894 A2; Cho; Takeshi et al., Bio Ind, (1991), 8(10), 671-8; Horiguchi et al., JP 01023895 A2; JP 01023894 A2; JP 61128890 A; Hasegawa et al., Biosci., Biotechnol., Biochem. (1992), 56(8), 1319-20; Yoshizako et al., J. Ferment. Bioeng. (1989), 67(5), 335-8; Kim et al., Sanop Misaengmul Hakhoechi (1985), 13(1). 71-7; Donoghue et al., Eur. J. Biochem. (1975), 60(1), 1-7].
One enzymatic pathway for the conversion of cyclohexanol to adipic acid has been suggested as including the intermediates cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, 2-hydroxycyclohexanone, xcex5-caprolactone, 6-hydroxycaproic acid, and adipic acid. Some specific enzyme activities in this pathway have been demonstrated, including cyclohexanol dehydrogenase, NADPH-linked cyclohexanone oxygenase, xcex5-caprolactone hydrolase, and NAD (NADP)-linked 6-hydroxycaproic acid dehydrogenase (Tanaka et al., Hakko Kogaku Kaishi (1977), 55(2), 62-7). An alternate enzymatic pathway has been postulated to comprise cyclohexanolxe2x86x92cyclohexanonexe2x86x921-oxa-2-oxocycloheptanexe2x86x926-hydroxyhexanoatexe2x86x926-oxohexanoatexe2x86x92adipate [Donoghue et al., Eur. J. Biochem. (1975), 60(1), 1-7]. The literature is silent on the specific gene sequences encoding the cyclohexanol to adipic acid pathway, with the exception of the monoxygenase, responsible for the conversion of cyclohexanone to caprolactone, [Chen,et al., .J. Bacteriol., 170, 781-789 (1988)].
The problem to be solved, therefore is to provide a synthesis route for adipic acid which not only avoids reliance on environmentally sensitive starting materials but also makes efficient use of inexpensive, renewable resources. It would further be desirable to provide a synthesis route for adipic acid which avoids the need for significant energy inputs and which minimizes the formation of toxic by-products.
Applicants have solved the stated problem by identifying, isolating and cloning a 17 kb nucleic acid fragment from Acinetobacter sp. that is responsible for mediating the conversion of cyclohexanol to adipic acid. Recombinant E. coli hosts with the DNA containing the 17 kb gene cluster conveys on the host the ability to convert cyclohexanol to adipic acid.
The invention provides-an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an adipic acid synthesizing enzyme selected from the group consisting of: an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an adipic acid synthesizing enzyme selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:26, or an enzymatically active fragment thereof; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes with (a) under the following hybridization conditions: 0.1xc3x97SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65xc2x0 C.; and washed with 2xc3x97SSC, 0.1% SDS followed by 0.1xc3x97SSC. 0.1% SDS; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that is completely complementary to (a) or (b).
In another embodiment the invention provides methods for the isolation of nucleic acid fragments substantially similar to those encoding the polypeptides as set forth in SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:26, based on the partial sequence of said nucleic acid fragments.
The invention further provides a method for the production of adipic acid comprising: contacting a transformed host cell under suitable growth conditions with an effective amount of cyclohexanol whereby adipic acid is produced, said transformed host cell comprising a nucleic acid fragment encoding SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:26 under the control of suitable regulatory sequences.
The invention additionally provides methods for the production of intermediates in the pathway for the synthesis of adipic acid from cyclohexanol comprising transformed organisms transformed with any one of the open reading frames encoding SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:24, and SEQ ID NO:26.
Additionally, the invention provides host cells transformed with all or a substantial portion of the 17 kb gene cluster.

Biological method for the production of adipic acid and intermediates


An installation for treating articles by radiation, the installation comprising a structure (1) having an article transport device (10) mounted thereon with a portion housed in a shielded enclosure (2) in the vicinity of at least one radiation emitter (3), the enclosure including a tunnel (40) having internal transverse partitions (51, 52, 53, 54) defining a baffle passage (50) through which there extends a segment of the transport device. The partitions are arranged in such a manner that the baffle passage extends in a plane that is substantially vertical.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an installation for processing articles by radiation and more particularly by electron bombardment.
Brief Discussion of the Related Art
It is known to sterilize containers by subjecting them to electron bombardment. Such electron bombardment is performed in a shielded enclosure seeking to confine X-rays in a zone from which operators are excluded.
To this end, an installation for treating containers by electron bombardment comprises a structure having a container transport device mounted thereon with a portion of the device housed in a shielded enclosure in the vicinity of one or more radiation emitters. The enclosure has an inlet and an outlet forming a passage for the transport device.
In order to attenuate the energy of X-rays emitted by the emitter and prevent them from escaping from the shielded enclosure, it is known to arrange shielded internal partitions in the enclosure that are arranged as a horizontal baffle between the inlet and the outlet of the shielded enclosure. The term "baffle" is used to mean that the internal partitions are arranged so as to prevent X-rays having a direct path from the emitter to the inlet or to the outlet. Thus, the X-rays produced in the environment of the emitter are reflected against the walls of the shielded enclosure and of the shielded internal partitions a number of times that is sufficient to cause them to lose substantially all of their energy before they reach the inlet or the outlet of the shielded enclosure.
Installing internal partitions makes it necessary to use intermediate container-transfer devices to enable the containers to travel past the baffles.
Although operators are very well protected by such installations, the presence of the baffles is very constraining. The installation presents the drawback of occupying a large floor area or "footprint" in particular because of the presence of the intermediate transfer devices that are of dimensions that have a direct influence on the footprint of the installation.

Installation for processing articles by electron bombardment

Abstract: A packaging installation including such a processing installation.


An apparatus for determining a tax for a vehicle (20) includes a positioning device (80) operable to determine a plurality of vehicle positions along a route traveled by the vehicle (20). A memory (102) stores geographic information defining a plurality of taxing regions through which the route of the vehicle (20) passes. An odometer (109) measures the distance traveled by the vehicle (20). A processor (100) is coupled to the positioning device (80), the memory (102), and the odometer (109). The processor (100) receives vehicle positions from the positioning device (80), geographic information from the memory (102), and optionally the measured distance from the odometer (109). The processor (100) determines the tax for the vehicle (20) in at least one taxing region through which the route of the vehicle (20) passes in response to the vehicle positions, the geographic information, and the measured distance.

Mobile positioning technology has advanced substantially over the past decade. Many cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and other vehicles are equipped with devices that provide convenient and reliable mobile positioning using either networks of satellite-based and land-based transceivers or an on-board positioning sensor, such as an inertial navigation system or a dead reckoning system.
Many users of mobile positioning systems, particularly those operating commercial vehicles, also require an accurate determination of tax assessed by one or more taxing regions through which the vehicles travel. Previously, tax determinations were based upon manual reporting and charting of vehicle positions, or recreation of the miles traveled in taxing regions after a trip. For example, one way to determine tax for a vehicle is to estimate the number of miles traveled by the vehicle based upon a corresponding distance taken along a preferred route on a map. This approach, however, may not be suitable for particular applications that require more accuracy in the determination of tax. Consequently, a need has arisen for an apparatus and method that accurately determines tax of a vehicle. Furthermore, operators of commercial vehicles may also require a way of reporting this tax to a remote location. For example, a cellular telephone in a vehicle offers a convenient communications link to report a determined tax.

Method and apparatus for determining tax of a vehicle


A driving control apparatus for a vehicle is provided with an environmental condition estimating part including: a surrounding recognizing function that recognizes the vehicle's driving lane; and another vehicle driving on the driving lane; and a function that obtains the vehicle's moving state, a path generating part that generates a target path based on information obtained by the environmental condition estimating part, and a vehicle control part that performs speed control and steering control for causing the vehicle to follow the target path, and configured to be capable of executing an ACC function that performs a constant speed drive or a following drive, an LKA function that keeps the driving within the vehicle's driving lane, an override function that stops the ACC function by operation intervention of a driver, and a function that performs fallback control of the ACC function, the apparatus being configured to alter an ACC override threshold.

Various techniques aimed at load reduction and safety driving assistance for drivers, for example, an adaptive cruise control system (ACCS) and a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS) have been put into practical use. Further, practical use or international standardization of a partially automated in-lane driving system (PADS) based on these systems is in progress.
Such a driving control system is provided with an override function of switching the automated driving for manual driving by forced intervention of a driver during the operating. For example, JP 2016-088383A discloses a technique in which when characteristics of a steering angle detected by a steering angle detecting means and a lateral force detected by a lateral force detecting means differ from reference characteristics in a case in which a steering wheel is in a non-load state, a steering intervention by a driver is determined to be made.


Disclosed herein is the use of an extract from an Aster species for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation. The extract is extracted from fresh and/or dried roots and rhizomes of a Tatarian aster (Aster tartaricus) plant, in which the extraction uses water or 40-95% (v/v) ethanol as an extractant to obtain an extraction mixture. In some embodiments, the extraction mixture is then eluted with water followed by at least one eluent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC). More particularly, the disclosure invention relates to the use of extract from Aster spp. in the treatment of opioid-induced constipation.
2. Description of Related Art
An opioid, in its widest sense, refers to a compound that binds to opioid receptors, which are distributed widely in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. Opioids may be classified as natural, synthetic, or endogenous opioids. Natural opioids such as codeine and morphine are derived from opiate alkaloids contained in the opium poppy. Synthetic opioids refer to manmade compounds created by chemically modifying the natural opioids (e.g., oxycodone) or synthesized from non-opioid substances (e.g., methadone). Endogenous opioids are naturally produced by the body and include substances such as endorphins.
Opioids are commonly prescribed for their analgesic, or pain-killing, properties. However, opioid use carries several side effects, including drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, slower breathing, and a general depression of the respiratory system. Further, opioids often cause constipation, or more particularly, opioid-induced constipation. Accordingly, additional medicines are often required to be prescribed along with the opioid painkillers that cause the constipation. For example, laxatives and/or cathartics for use in the treatment of ordinary functional constipation are prescribed to treat opioid-induced constipation. A cathartic accelerates defecation, while a laxative eases defecation, usually by softening the stool; some medicines are considered to be both laxatives and cathartics. Although functional constipation and opioid-induced constipation share many signs and symptoms in common, treatments for functional constipation are not always successful in treating opioid-induced constipation. Therefore, targeted treatment for opioid-induced constipation has been pursued.
Oral opioid-receptor antagonists, including naloxone, naltrexone, and nalmefene have been suggested to be potentially helpful in ameliorating opioid effects in the gastrointestinal tract. However, these agents may be of limited use because they also cross the blood-brain barrier and can reverse analgesic effects of opioids, or induce uncomfortable opioid withdrawal symptoms. Methylnaltrexone is a newer agent that blocks peripheral opioid receptor. Therefore, methylnaltrexone may decrease the constipating effects of opioid pain medications in the gastrointestinal tract without affecting analgesia effects in the central nervous system. However, since up to 60 percent of opioid analgesia may be mediated by opioid receptors on peripheral sensory neurons, methylnaltrexone would increase pain under such circumstances.
In view of the foregoing, there exists in the art a need for a novel composition and method that treat opioid-induced constipation.

Use of aster extract in the treatment of opioid-induced constipation

Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry Technology and Development Center


A monitoring apparatus for the eye has a soft contact lens formed of a transparent substrate having an inner surface that faces the eye and an outer surface. A first arcuate pattern of resistive traces is formed onto the outer surface of the lens substrate and centered about the center of the lens. A second arcuate pattern of resistive traces is formed onto the inner surface of the lens substrate and centered about the center of the lens. One or more conductive traces connects the first pattern to the second pattern. A signal monitor is in signal communication with the first and second arcuate patterns of resistive traces and provides a signal indicative of the lens shape according to electrical current through the first and second arcuate patterns of resistive traces.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is measured as an indicator of glaucoma and other conditions of the eye. IOP indicates the pressure that is exerted by the ocular fluid called "aqueous humor" that fills the anterior chamber of the eye. Normal IOP is in the range of 10-21 mmHg. Elevated IOP is associated with loss of optic nerve tissue, loss of peripheral vision, and leads to blindness if not treated. IOP measurement, optic disc examination, and visual field testing are used for glaucoma diagnosis. Regular monitoring of the above three parameters is highly useful for disease detection and management. Early treatment helps to slow disease progression. However, early signs are detectable only by a physician.
Conventional quantification of IOP measures the resistance of the cornea to indentation or applanation, using a device such as the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT). The GAT measurements are accurate to within 0.5 mmHg for IOPs of 20 mmHg or lower. While this provides some measure of accuracy in measuring IOP for most individuals, however, the GAT device has a number of shortcomings that limit its effectiveness for diagnosis and monitoring purposes. The GAT can only be used in the doctor's office, making it unsuitable for overnight use or longer term monitoring. Central corneal thickness affects the measurement of IOP by the GAT device. A thinner cornea than normal would applanate to a higher degree than normal, thereby providing underestimation of the pressure. Similarly, a thicker cornea than normal would provide an overestimate of the IOP.
Significantly, the GAT device and other instruments that measure IOP are not suitable for continuous IOP measurement. IOP fluctuations are known to occur but are not readily detectable using standard office measurement practice. Thus, there is a need for a measurement apparatus that allows monitoring of patient IOP over a period ranging from a few hours to a day or longer.
There have been a number of attempts to address the need for more portable IOP measurement devices, including those using various types of contact lens or other wearable device for noninvasive measurement. One type of device forms a wire strain gauge on an intermediate medium, affixes the intermediate medium within a semirigid holder or contact lens, and obtains periodic measurements therefrom. The strain gauge may use a Wheatstone bridge, LC circuit, or other arrangement of devices to provide a signal that indicates changes in the intraocular pressure measurement of the wearer.
Although various types of wearable device have been proposed, however, significant difficulties remain. Even where the proposed solutions are workable, for example, high complexity in manufacturing leads to high cost. Significantly, the proposed solutions do not readily lend themselves to customization, so that lenses made using these methods are difficult to fabricate for individual patients. Fabrication of a custom contact lens or other wearable device for IOP measurement can thus take considerable time, causing delay in obtaining measurement data and further driving up the cost of the measurement device. Furthermore, the accuracy of existing strain-gauge solutions and their suitability for full-fledged diagnostic use has also been questioned.
Thus, it can be seen that there is a need for apparatus and methods for fabricating a wearable lens that can be inexpensively manufactured and customized to provide accurate, noninvasive 24 hour monitoring of IOP for a patient.

Contact lens for intraocular pressure measurement


In manufacturing a high-temperature superconductive oxide thin film by irradiating a laser beam onto an oxide target in an atmosphere of oxygen to form the high-temperature superconductive oxide thin film on an oxide substrate, the laser beam is irradiated from a back surface of the substrate and is transmitted through the substrate, and thereafter the laser beam is irradiated onto the oxide target.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manufacturing method for a high-temperature superconductive oxide thin film by means of laser. In this method, a laser beam 1 oscillated from a laser device (not shown) such as a YAG laser device or an ArF excimer laser device is obliquely irradiated onto a target 2 provided with an oxide for formation of a thin film to cut the bond of particles constituting the target and simultaneously excite the particles to a high energy state. Then, a luminous region called a plume consisting of active evaporated particles is formed, and when the plume reaches a substrate 3 heated by a heater 4 or the like, a high-temperature superconductive thin film is obtained.
In general, it is considered to be desirable that an oxygen partial pressure during film formation is made high from the viewpoint of improvement in Tc end of a superconductive oxide thin film. However, when the oxygen partial pressure during film formation is high, the plume is reduced in shape, resulting in a low probability of reaching of the active particles to the substrate. To cope with this, it is considered that a distance between the target and the substrate is reduced to allow the plume to easily reach the substrate. However, this method cannot be adopted because it is necessary to define a given distance between the target and the substrate so as to irradiate the laser beam onto the target.
Accordingly, as an adoptable method, the oxygen partial pressure is reduced during film formation, and after forming the thin film, a post-treatment is carried out such as by cooling and maintaining the thin film in the atmosphere of oxygen to incorporate oxygen particles into the thin film, thereby improving Tc end.
In this method, however, when a crystal structure is modified from a tetragonal system to an orthorhombic system by the incorporation of the oxygen particles into the thin film, a twin plane is formed to relax a strain of a lattice constant. It is known that the twin plane generates a magnetic flux trap to cause a noise in case of practically applying the superconductive thin film to a superconductive device.

Laser ablation method for forming oxide superconducting films

International Superconductivity Technology Center


A damper disc having an output-side plate between a pair of side plates, containing two torsion springs in series in rectangular holes made on the both plates, and disposing a float body freely movable in circumferential direction between the springs. The output-side plate is divided into inside and outside pieces. Each float body is connected by an annular connecting body in such a manner as not to be protrudable. The float body is made of plastic-based resin light in weight and small in friction coefficient.

Generally, it becomes necessary to suppress torsional rigidity while retaining a required torque and enlarge a torsional angle range of second stage in order to minimize booming noise during low speed running.
On the other hand, it is necessary to secure an extremely low rigidity and an extremely small hysteresis torque in order to minimize idling noise during idling.
In a conventional damper disc, however, it is impossible to effectively minimize both the foregoing idling noise at the time of idling and the booming noise at the time of low-speed running because space in the damper is too small to incorporate first and second stage torsion springs.
An object of this invention is to minimize the idling noise while securing low rigidity and low hysteresis torque by separating an output-side plate to both inside and outside at the time of idling, and to minimize the noise in low-speed running (booming noise) while retaining a wide torsional angle range by disposing torsion springs in series through float bodies at the time of low speed running.
Further objects are to minimize friction between the float body and a rectangular hole as far as possible in case when the torsion springs are disposed in series through the float bodies.
A still further object is to simplify manufacture of the damper disc by separating the output-side plate into a hub flange and an intermediate plate located at an outside thereof and by composing the intermediate plate with two plate members.

Spring dampened damper disc having first and second stage torsion springs


This document describes a fitness test application which allows the user to exercise freely (running and cycling outdoors, bicycle ergometer, rowing ergometer, treadmill) and which provides an estimate of user's fitness during and/or after the exercise. The analysis can be performed either as real-time or as post-analysis.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and an assembly for assessing of person's cardiorespiratory fitness, which is one of the most significant nominators of human health and longevity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art comprises many ways to assess fitness. Traditionally fitness tests are performed under the supervision of testing personnel. One option is to utilize direct measurement of respiratory gases during a maximal exercise test during which person's maximal oxygen uptake is determined from the analyzed respiratory gases. There are also a great number of methods to assess fitness indirectly under submaximal exercise but these tests as well as maximal exercise tests require testing personnel to conduct and supervise the test. Some of both maximal and submaximal tests can be performed also in field conditions thus not requiring exercise equipment.
Recently free fitness test modes have also been introduced in EP0709058 (Alessandri), U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,955 (Ohlenbusch & Darley), FR2867055 (Quilliet & Billat), US2007/0082789 (Nissila, Niva, Jaatinen & Kinnunen), and by Weyand et al. (2001)). These tests combine measurement of heart rate and speed during user performed exercise where the maximal oxygen uptake is determined e.g., using simple mathematical calculations. Speed can be measured by using accelorometry based measures, by using a satellite navigation system (e.g. global positioning system, GPS) or a local positioning system (e.g. using a WiFi network). Current state of art doesn't however know a method which would evaluate and segment measured data to form an accurate measure of cardiorespiratory fitness but rather only give a rough estimate of person's or animals daily performance. Current state-of-art doesn't either know solution where person's fitness information gathered during a freely performed exercise session, is used to guide a user to a physiological target state. Neither does current state-of-the-art know a method wherein the user's dynamically changing training plan is automatically updated based on his estimated fitness level.
Consequently, this invention introduces a system and method for accurate and sophisticated assessment of person's cardiorespiratory fitness during any user performed exercise session. Accurate assessment is performed by means of data segmentation and evaluation. Estimate of cardiorespiratory fitness can be also utilized in guiding the user during an exercise to reach a preset (set by the user or by an automatic) physiological target state wherein the fitness estimate may have been calculated in the beginning part of the same exercise. Estimate of cardiorespiratory fitness can be also utilized in creating a dynamically changing training plan for the user wherein training plan can be updated if person's fitness level has changed.


The present disclosure relates to a high and low pressure manifold liquid supply system for fracturing units, including: a trailer, a high and low pressure manifold arranged on the trailer, a support frame arranged on a platform of the trailer, and a power distribution switch cabinet arranged on the support frame, which is configured to be electrically connected to the electrically-driven fracturing units and configured to distribute electricity to the electrically-driven fracturing units. Through the high and low pressure manifold liquid supply system integrated with electricity supply facilities therein according to the present disclosure, the electrically-driven fracturing units are powered, in this way, the electricity supply and distribution system in the well site can be effectively simplified, the connection distance of the cables can be shorten, and further the time spent on connection can be saved, thereby improving the well site layout efficiency.

In a fracturing operation site of oil and gas field, a power supply and transmission system of a traditional fracturing unit typically includes: a diesel engine as a power source, a fracturing plunger pump as an actuator, and a gearbox as well as a transmission shaft connected therebetween for transmitting power. However, the diesel engine as the power source has disadvantages of, for example, low power, large volume, high fuel costs, as well as waste gas pollution and noise pollution. Apart from this, the well site layout using the diesel engine as the power source occupies a large area. Therefore, the use of electric motors instead of diesel engines as well as transmissions thereof for directly driving fracturing units has gradually become a new trend in development which has gradually been spotted in practical applications. When electrically-driven fracturing units are employed, there arise new problems, such as complicated connection of the electricity distribution system at the well site, a long connection distance, a time-consuming connection process, and the like. In addition, since electrical interfaces of the electrically-driven fracturing units are arranged at the head portions of the electrically-driven fracturing trailers for carrying the electrically-driven fracturing units while the fracturing fluid connection interfaces of the electrically-driven fracturing units are arranged at the rear portions of the electrically-driven fracturing trailers, therefore causing hindrances for moving the electrically-driven fracturing trailers.
FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a well site layout according to the prior art, where a power supply system 1 is typically located at a position distant away from electrically-driven fracturing trailers and electrically connected to electrical interfaces in a vicinity of head portions (i.e., the left side in FIG. 1) of the electrically-driven fracturing trailers via multiple long cables to supply electricity to electrically-driven fracturing units 2, low pressure fracturing fluid provided by electrically-driven sand mixing units 3 on electrically-driven sand mixing trailers are delivered via a high and low pressure manifold 4 to fluid interfaces in a vicinity of rear portions (i.e., the right side in FIG. 1) of the electrically-driven fracturing trailers, and the electrically-driven fracturing units 2 pressurize low pressure fracturing fluid into high pressure fracturing fluid and deliver high pressure fracturing fluid back to the high and low pressure manifold 4 and further to a wellhead 5 via the high and low pressure manifold 4. Given the fact that each electrically-driven fracturing unit 2 needs to be separately electrically connected to the power supply system 1, a large number of cables are required in such arrangement. Moreover, for the electrically-driven fracturing units 2, connection interfaces are provided in the vicinity of both the head and rear portions of the trailers, thus resulting in complicated connection and causing hindrances for moving the electrically-driven fracturing trailers.
As a result, there is a need for improving the electricity supply and distribution system of the well site to at least partly solve the foregoing problems.

High and low pressure manifold liquid supply system for fracturing units

Yantai Jereh Petroleum Equipment & Technologies Co., Ltd.


A method of making a gyricon display device, and a method of determining a monopole charge and a dipole charge of beads in a gyricon display device, is set forth. In the methods, a rectangular waveform switching voltage is applied to the gyricon display device and the reflectance of the display device is measured in order to determine the dipole charge based upon the measured reflectance, and a triangular waveform switching voltage is applied to the gyricon display device and current of the display device is measured to determine the monopole charge based upon the measured current.

Described herein is a method of measuring the operational effectiveness of a gyricon display device, and a method of making gyricon display devices using such method. More particularly, described is a method of measuring the monopole and dipole charges of the gyricon beads of the device to determine if the device is able to properly display images.
Gyricon displays are capable of generating images, including full color images. The gyricon displays herein may be used for any display application, and particularly any display application where the image displayed may be changed, including, for example, reimageable paper, electronic books, electronic signage, watch, monitor and/or cell phone displays, and the like.
An advantage associated with the methods described herein is that a given gyricon display device, once assembled, can be readily evaluated for effectiveness in displaying images, thereby improving quality control over gyricon display devices. Using the evaluation method herein, additional display devices having a same high quality display can be replicated.

Method for measuring effective operation of gyricon display device


The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a gypsum-based substrate. The process includes the steps mixing gypsum and water to produce a gypsum slurry, providing a synthetic polymeric fibrous sheet on one side of a layer of the gypsum slurry, and adhering to the wet gypsum to the sheet with an adhesive strength of at least 7.5 lb. The present invention is also directed to a gypsum board comprised of first and second polymeric fibrous sheets adhered to opposite sides of a wet gypsum core, wherein the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet have pores containing set gypsum and the first and second sheets adhere to said wet gypsum core with an adhesive strength of at least 7.5 lb.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gypsum-based construction materials. More particularly, the invention relates to a gypsum-based substrate faced with a synthetic polymeric sheet material that is suited for use as a construction material such as wallboard or ceiling panels. The invention is also directed to a process for manufacturing a gypsum-based substrate faced with a synthetic polymeric sheet material.
2. Description of Related Art
Gypsum wallboard is traditionally manufactured by a continuous process. In the process, a gypsum slurry is first generated in a mechanical mixer by mixing calcium sulphate hemihydrate (also known as calcined gypsum), water, and other agents. The gypsum slurry is deposited on a paper sheet. An upper continuously advancing paper sheet is laid over the gypsum and the edges of the upper and lower sheets are pasted to each other. The paper sheets and gypsum slurry are passed between parallel upper and lower forming plates or rolls in order to generate an integrated and continuous flat strip of unset gypsum sandwiched between the paper sheets that are known as facing or liners. This strip is conveyed over a series of continuous moving belts and rollers for a period of 2 to 5 minutes during which time the core begins to hydrate back to gypsum and hardens. During each transfer between belts and/or rolls, the strip is stressed in a way that can cause the paper facing to delaminate from the gypsum core if the adhesion between the gypsum core and the facing is not sufficient. Once the gypsum core has set sufficiently, the continuous strip is cut into shorter lengths or even individual boards or panels of prescribed length. Once again, it is important for there to be good adhesion between the paper sheets and the set, but still wet, gypsum core or the cutting action will pull the edges of the paper facing sheet away from the gypsum core.
After the cutting step, the gypsum boards are separated and grouped through a series of belts and rollers and then flipped over before being fed into drying ovens or kilns where the boards are dried so as to evaporate excess water. The hydration from hemihydrate to gypsum must be essentially complete by this point, normally between 7 and 15 minutes after mixing. When the gypsum boards are accelerated, flipped and fed into the drying ovens, the boards are subjected to a variety of stresses that can cause the facing to peel away from the gypsum core of the boards unless there is good adhesion between the set (but still wet) gypsum core and the facing material. Inside the drying ovens, the boards are blown with hot drying air at speeds up to 4000 feet/minute which can cause further delamination of the paper facing if there is not good wet adhesion between the gypsum and the paper liners. When portions of the facing sheets delaminate from the gypsum core during drying in the oven, the liner becomes entangled in the rollers and the gypsum crumbles as it dries, jamming the oven, which requires frequent shut downs of the line while the loose gypsum is cleaned out of the ovens. The gypsum boards are dried in the ovens for anywhere from 30 to 75 minutes. After the dried gypsum boards are removed from the ovens, the ends of the boards are trimmed off and the boards are cut to desired sizes.
The fully dried gypsum adheres well to the paper facing sheet materials as long as the gypsum board is kept dry. However, paper facing has a number of inherent properties that can be detrimental in a gypsum wallboard product. Paper facing material (sometimes called a paper liner) is not as strong or abrasion resistant as needed for certain construction applications. In addition, because the strength of paper differs significantly depending on the direction in which the strength is measured, paper facing must be relatively thick in order to achieve satisfactory multidirectional strength. Paper faced gypsum-board products also suffer from a lack of abrasion resistance. Paper facing used on conventional gypsum board becomes especially weak and subject to delamination from the gypsum core when the paper becomes damp due to leaks or high humidity. Paper-faced gypsum boards must generally be coated with another material, such as paint or wallcoverings, in order to achieve sufficient abrasion resistance. To overcome these durability problems, paperfaced wallboard is frequently covered with a hard sheet or plastic film when used in high traffic areas.
There have been attempts to substitute stronger and more durable synthetic sheet materials for the paper liners found in conventional gypsum board products. Plastic films do not work as liners because they are not permeable to moisture which makes it difficult to remove excess water from the gypsum. Canadian Patent No. 1,189,434 discloses gypsum panels made with a facing of a moisture vapor permeable spunbonded nonwoven material. Canadian Patent No. 1,189,434 discloses gypsum panels faced with Tyvek(copyright) spunbonded olefin sheet material. Tyvek(copyright) is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del. Tyvek(copyright) sheets are made by solution flash-spinning polyethylene to form fine plexifilamentary fibril structures that can be thermally bonded to form sheet material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,179 also mentions that nonwoven mats of synthetic resin fibers can be used to face gypsum panels.
Although it has been possible to produce gypsum boards faced with synthetic fibrous sheet materials on a small laboratory scale, it has not been feasible to produce gypsum boards faced with such synthetic fibrous sheets on a commercial scale. This is because the adhesive strength between conventional fibrous synthetic sheets and the wet gypsum core (known as wet adhesion) is low. Thus, the facing peels away from the gypsum core during various points in the production process before the boards are fully dried in the drying ovens. There is a need for a process by which gypsum board faced with a synthetic fibrous sheet can be made without having portions of the facing peel away from the gypsum core. There is also a need for a gypsum board faced with a synthetic sheet that is structured such that it can be produced on a commercial scale without portions of the facing becoming delaminated from the gypsum core.
The present invention is directed to a process for manufacturing a gypsum-based substrate. The process comprises the steps of: adding calcined gypsum and water to a mixer; mixing the gypsum and water in the mixer to produce a gypsum slurry that is comprised of 50 to 65 weight percent gypsum, and is comprised of 35 to 50 weight percent of water, based on the total weight of the of the gypsum slurry, said gypsum slurry having a density in the range of 0.95 to 1.5 g/cm3; providing a first synthetic polymeric fibrous sheet, the first sheet having a first surface; pouring the gypsum slurry from said mixer onto the first surface of said first sheet and spreading the gypsum slurry over said first surface of said first sheet; providing a second fibrous sheet, the second sheet having a first surface; placing the first surface of the second sheets over the gypsum slurry that has been spread over the first surface of the first sheet; enclosing the gypsum slurry between the first and second sheets to bring the slurry into intimate contact with the first and second sheets and form an elongated strip of gypsum slurry sandwiched between the first and second sheets; allowing the elongated strip of gypsum slurry to set up and harden to form a stiff elongated strip having a solid, wet gypsum core sandwiched between the first and second sheets, the the first and second sheets adhering to the wet gypsum core with an adhesive strength of at least 7.5 lb; cutting the stiff elongated strip into gypsum board of desired length; and drying the gypsum board in a dryer to remove excess water from the gypsum boards.
Preferably, the in the step of allowing the elongated strip of gypsum slurry to set up and harden to form a stiff elongated strip having a solid, wet gypsum core sandwiched between the first and second sheets, the first and second sheets adhere to said wet gypsum core with an adhesive strength of at least 10 lb. In the most preferred process of the invention, during the step of enclosing the gypsum slurry between the first and second sheets, the first and second sheets move at a linear speed of at least 50 ft/min.
According to the preferred process of the invention, the second sheet is a synthetic polymeric fibrous sheet. The first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet have open pores between fibers of sufficient size for the gypsum slurry to enter the pores and become intertwined with the fibers in the sheets when the gypsum slurry is enclosed between the first and second sheets. Preferably, the first and second sheets each have a mean flow pore size, measured according to ASTM F316-86, of at least 8 microns, and more preferably in the range of 8.7 to 40 microns.
According to the more preferred process of the invention, the first and second sheets are nonwoven sheets. Preferably, the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet are made of sheets selected from the group of needle punched staple fiber sheets, hydroentangled fibrous sheets, and spunbond sheets.
Alternatively, the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second surface of the second sheet may be embossed surfaces. According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet are precoated with a layer of a high density gypsum slurry having a density that is at least 1.1 times the density of the gypsum slurry.
The present invention is also directed to a gypsum board, comprising: a first polymeric fibrous sheet having a first surface; a second polymeric fibrous sheet having a first surface; a wet and stiff gypsum core sandwiched between the first and second sheets; wherein the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet have pores containing set gypsum of said gypsum core intertwined with the fibers in the first and second sheets, the first and second sheets adhering to said wet gypsum core with an adhesive strength of at least 7.5 lb. Preferably, the first and second sheets adhere to the wet gypsum core with an adhesive strength of at least 10 lb. It is further preferred that the first and seconds sheets be nonwoven sheets. The first surface of said first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet may be comprised of a web selected from the group of needle punched staple fiber sheets, hydroentangled fibrous sheets, and spunbond sheets. The first surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet may be embossed surfaces. According to another embodiment of the invention, the first surface of the first nonwoven sheet and the first surface of the second nonwoven sheet are coated with a primer layer of a high density gypsum slurry having a density that is at least 1.1 times the density of the gypsum core.


The object of this invention is to realize high-speed rise and/or fall characteristics for amplifier without increasing transistor size or current consumption. A first rise sensing circuit 42 and a second a sensing circuit 44 are connected to main circuit 40. The first sensing circuit 42 has a PMOS transistor which functions as a rise sensing transistor, a pair of NMOS transistors 48 and 50, which form a current-mirror circuit, and a PMOS transistor 52, which drives the PMOS transistor 46 used for speed up in main circuit 40. The second sensing circuit 44 has a PMOS transistor 54, which functions as a fall sensing transistor, a pair of NMOS transistors 56 and 58, which form a current-mirror circuit, and a PMOS transistor 60 used for driving the PMOS transistor used for speed up in main circuit 40.

The present invention pertains to an amplifier, specifically, an operational amplifier.
FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a conventional operational amplifier. Basically, the operational amplifier comprises differential input part 10 and output part 12.
Differential input part 10 comprises a pair of p-channel MOS transistors (referred to as PMOS transistors hereinafter) 14 and 16 which are differentially connected, a constant-current source circuit 18 which is connected to the source terminals of said two PMOS transistors 14 and 16, a current-mirror circuit comprised of a pair of n-channel MOS transistors (referred to as NMOS transistors hereinafter) 20 and 22 which are connected to the drain terminals of said pair of PMOS transistors 14 and 16.
In output part 12, NMOS transistor 24, constant-current source circuit 26, and PMOS transistor 28 comprise an output stage. NMOS transistors 30, 32, and 34, constant-current source circuit 36, and PMOS transistor 38 comprise an output control part for controlling the operation of the output stage, specifically, the operation of PMOS transistor 28 used for charging the load.
Since the output terminal OUT of output part 12 is connected in series with the gate terminal of PMOS transistor 16 or the inverting input terminal (xe2x88x92), the aforementioned operational amplifier acts like a sink type voltage follower (FIG. 11).
That is, when the voltage at the input terminal IN rises from the balanced state between the voltage at the input terminal IN and the voltage at the output terminal OUT, in differential input part 10, the drain current of PMOS transistor 14 decreases, while the drain current of PMOS transistor 16 increases by the same amount, and the potential at node Na drops. As a result, the drain current of NMOS transistor 24, used as a load to sink current in the output stage of output part 12, decreases. On the other hand, in the output control part, since the potential at the gate terminal of NMOS transistor 30 (potential at node Na) drops, its drain current decreases, and the potential at the drain terminal rises. Thus, the potential at the drain terminal of NMOS transistor 32, that is, the potential at the gate terminal of NMOS transistor 34, rises, and the drain current of NMOS transistor 34 increases. The drain current of PMOS transistor 28 in the current-mirror circuit comprising PMOS transistors 38 and 28 also increases. The drain current of said PMOS transistor 28 combines with the constant-current generated by constant-current source circuit 26 at the output terminal OUT to charge the load (not shown in the figure). When the voltage at the output terminal OUT becomes equal to the voltage at the input terminal IN, the operation of each part becomes stable.
When the voltage at the input terminal IN drops from the balanced state between the voltage at the input terminal IN and the voltage at the output terminal OUT, the operation of each part is carried out in the opposite way. While the drain current of NMOS transistor 24, used as a current sink, increases, the drain current of PMOS transistor 28, used for charging, decreases, and the load is discharged by NMOS transistor 24. When the voltage at the output terminal OUT becomes equal to the voltage at the input terminal IN, the operation of each part becomes stable.
Applications requiring high-speed operational amplifiers have increased in recent years. For example, in a source driver, which drives the signal lines of a liquid-crystal display (LCD), a signal line load equivalent to tens of pF must be charged/discharged stably and reliably during the time of one horizontal scanning period (although the time varies depending on the panel system, it is about 18 xcexcs for an XGA panel with 1024xc3x97768 pixels). Consequently, the operational amplifier used for the output buffer of the driver must have extremely high driving ability (rise and fall characteristics).
Conventionally, in order to increase the speed of an operational amplifier, the transistor size of each part in the operational amplifier is increased. This method, however, is undesirable because it conflicts with another important requirement, miniaturization of the operational amplifier and the chip. In the aforementioned source driver, since many, that is, about 400, operational amplifiers are incorporated on a single chip, the chip size is greatly affected by the size of the transistors making up the operational amplifiers. Also, if the size of the transistors in each part of the operational amplifier is increased, the pn junction capacitance, etc. will be increased, which becomes the main source of oscillation. In addition, the current consumption of each part and the current consumption of the entire operational amplifier are increased significantly.
One purpose of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems by providing a type of amplifier which can realize high-speed rise and/or fall characteristics without increasing the transistor size.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a type of amplifier which can realize high-speed rise and/or fall characteristics with little increase in current consumption.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a type of amplifier which can realize high-speed operation without affecting the characteristics (such as the anti-oscillation stability) in the regular state.
In order to realize the aforementioned purposes, the present invention provides an amplifier having a differential input part for differentially inputting a pair of input signals, an output part which amplifies and outputs the output signal of the aforementioned differential input part, a constant-current source circuit which is arranged in the aforementioned differential input part or the output part, a first transistor which is turned on when the voltage difference between either of the aforementioned input signals and the output signal of the aforementioned output part exceeds a prescribed value, and a second transistor which is turned on when the aforementioned first transistor is turned on and which adds the current that results from the on-state to the constant current generated by the aforementioned constant-current source circuit.
In the amplifier of the present invention, when the voltage of a prescribed input signal input to the differential input part is higher than the voltage of the output signal of the output part by a prescribed value, the first transistor is turned on. Preferably, the input signal is supplied to one of the terminals of the first transistor, and the output signal is supplied to the control terminal of the first transistor. When the voltage difference between the two signals exceeds the threshold value of the first transistor, the first transistor is turned on. It is also possible to supply the input signal to the control terminal of the first transistor and supply the output signal to one of the terminals of the first transistor. When the voltage difference between the two signals exceeds the threshold value of the first transistor, the first transistor is turned on.
The second transistor is also turned on when the first transistor is turned on. Preferably, there is a certain direct or indirect relationship between the conducting current of the first transistor and the conducting current of the second transistor. The conducting current to the second transistor is multiplexed with or added to the constant current generated by the constant-current source circuit and supplied to the active elements of the differential input part or output part. In this way, the operating speed of each part can be increased.
In the amplifier of the present invention, the second transistor used for increasing the speed can also function appropriately to realize the same current reinforcing effect as described above with respect to the charging current of a charging circuit or the discharging current of a discharging circuit in the differential input part or the output part instead of the constant current generated by the constant-current source circuit.


A rotary compression-molding machine includes a lower punch-retaining portion disposed below a table including die bores and retaining a lower punch, and a dust-proofing device including a sealing case supported by the lower punch-retaining portion and including a bottom wall that includes an insertion bore penetrated by the lower punch, faces an upward surface of the lower punch-retaining portion, and includes a dust receiver disposed outside the insertion bore and configured to capture dust, and an outer wall that rises from an outer edge of the bottom wall, has an upper end positioned higher in level than an upward surface of a circumferential edge of the insertion bore, and includes a returning part projecting inward from the upper end or a portion adjacent thereto.

There has been known a rotary compression-molding machine including a table of a turret including die bores, and an upper punch and a lower punch slidably retained above and below each of the die bores, and configured to horizontally rotate the table and the punches together to compression mold (or to make a tablet) a powdery material filled in the die bores to obtain molded products when the paired upper and lower punches pass between an upper roll and a lower roll. The compression-molding machine of this type is applied, for example, to produce pharmaceutical tablets, food products, electronic components, and the like.
The die bores vertically penetrate the table, and each receive a tip of the lower punch from below. It is accordingly inevitable that the powdery material slightly falls from the die bores in the table. The powdery material having fallen may adhere to an outer circumference of a trunk of the lower punch and a retaining bore of a lower punch-retaining portion retaining the trunk of the lower punch. Dust thereof may be mixed with a lubricating oil for the trunk of the lower punch and the retaining bore to aggregate as a foreign matter that may damage an interior of the molding machine.
In view of this, there has been conventionally disposed a sealing case including a sealing member and covering an upward surface of the lower punch-retaining portion and a circumferential edge of the retaining bore for inhibition of an entry of dust to the retaining bore of the lower punch-retaining portion (e.g., see JP 2006-212702 A).
The powdery material, having fallen below the table, falls onto the sealing case covering the lower punch-retaining portion. The sealing case also horizontally rotates along with the lower punch-retaining portion, the punches, and the table. The molding machine recently tends to operate at higher rotational speed in order for improvement in productivity (i.e., the number of produced molded products per unit time.) In accordance with such higher rotational speed of the molding machine, the powdery material fallen onto the sealing case is more likely to scatter around due to a centrifugal force.


Systems and methods are provided for detecting foreign objects in or on a subject of interest. A first set of images is captured of a sample subject known to be free of foreign objects. A plurality of colors from a defined color palette are classified according to a color content of the first set of images into at least first and second classes. A second set of images of the subject of interest are captured. It is determined that a foreign object is present in or on the subject of interest if a color from the first class is present in the second set of images.

Foreign object debris is a substance, debris, or article alien to a product or system that would potentially cause damage, or malfunction. Foreign object damage is any damage attributed to a foreign object, that is, any object that is not part of the product, that can be expressed in physical or economic terms and may or may not degrade the product's required safety or performance characteristics. FOD is an acronym often used, particularly in aviation, to describe both the damage done to products by foreign objects, and the foreign objects themselves. In the aviation industry alone, it is believed that foreign object damage causes as much as thirteen billion dollars per year in direct and indirect costs, including delays, aircraft changes, incurred fuel costs, and unscheduled maintenance.

Color-based foreign object detection system