A unit for efficiently carrying out a comparison operation and making it possible to prevent a generation of a disturbance in a pipeline during a pipeline operation is provided. This unit includes a first storage unit for storing storage information on two data to be compared, kind of comparison operation and result of comparison operation respectively, a second storage unit for storing said two data, kind of comparison operation and result of comparison operation, an operating unit for carrying out a predetermined plurality of kinds of comparison operations for two data, a selecting unit for selecting any one of results of comparison operation, and a processing unit for carrying out a processing of a comparison operation. The processing unit checks a storage destination of two data to be compared, gives the two data to the operating unit, checks a storage destination of a kind of a comparison operation, controls the selecting unit to select a result of an operation corresponding to the kind of comparison operation, and stores the operation result into a storage destination in the second storage unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a unit for carrying out a comparison operation at a high speed, and relates more particularly to a comparison operating unit which is suitable for being stored in a microprocessor or the like for carrying out various kinds of graphic processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a so-called pipeline processing is to be carried out, instructions are processed separately at individual stages in the pipeline because the instructions are given continuously. Therefore, when branch instructions are executed and branch conditions are met, it becomes necessary to once abandon all the instructions in the pipeline and fetch the instructions again when the instructions are to be executed. Thus, when there exist a large number of branch instructions, the operation efficiency of the pipeline processing has been reduced.
In order to eliminate the above-described problem, according to the description of the Japanese Utility Model Registration Unexamined Publication No. JP-A-2-144626, each time when a conditional branch instruction is given, an address in which the branch instruction exists, a branch destination address and a branch instruction length are once stored in a table. Then, in the case of executing the branch instruction, when the stored branch instruction has been pre-fetched again, an address of the succeeding instruction and a predicted branch destination address are set in a register, and the instruction which exists in a branch destination is selectively fetched based on a result of branching, to thereby restrict an occurrence of a disturbance in the pipeline processing.
According to the above-described prior art technique, however, when a conditional branch instruction has been given, it is not possible to fetch the instruction in the branch destination until the branch result has been calculated, with a result that an idle time of processing is generated in the pipeline processing. For example, in processing for frequently executing comparison instructions, an increase in the time required for the processing due to the idle time has been a serious problem.
As an example of the above case, in the technology of three-dimensional computer graphics, there exists a depth buffer test, a stencil test, an alpha test, etc. for determining whether pixels are drawn in a picture within a polygon or not. In order to carry out these tests, a comparison operation of two data is executed based on comparison conditions assigned by the programmer. The same processing is to be executed regardless of the comparison conditions, that is, regardless of whether the comparison conditions are met or not. The details of the graphics processing are described in "OpenGL Programming Guide (Japanese version)", pp. 301-308 (Addison-Wesley, issued by Seiunsha), for example.
When comparison conditions can be optionally determined by a predetermined number and the processing to be executed does not depend on the comparison conditions as described above, it becomes necessary to carry out a processing for obtaining a result of the comparison operation by branching the processing by the number of the comparison conditions. Thus, when the processing is to be carried out by using the prior-art technique, the total idle processing time of the pipeline processing becomes longer along with the increase in the number of the branch instructions.
In conclusion, there is a limit to the improvement in the processing efficiency so long as the branch instructions are being executed. Further, even if the processing after the branching remains unchanged, it is necessary to describe the same execution contents at individual branch destinations at the time of coding a program. This has resulted in a problem that the program becomes huge and this leads to an increase in the memory consumption volume.

Comparison operating unit and graphic operating system


An artifact repository can be queried for a set of different pre-existing presentation artifacts based on requirements and constraints of a presentation event to produce a query result. The query result can comprise a set of presentation artifacts suitable for satisfying at least a portion of the requirements and constraints. The querying can match the artifact specific metadata against the requirements and constraints to produce the query result. An agenda comprising a set of different agenda items can be automatically constructed utilizing the query result. Each of the different agenda items can occupy a time slot of the presentation event. Creation of agenda items can be a non-manual effort automatically determined by a computing device in a data driven manner given the requirements, the constraints, and the pre-existing presentation artifacts of the artifact repository. Resources for the different agenda items can be automatically booked.

The present invention relates to the field of software for managing presentation events.
A presentation event (e.g., conference) can be a gathering of a set of people, referred to as an audience, which observes a set of one or more presentations, each provided by a set of one or more presenters. The presentations can include slide-shows, media presentations, round table discussions, demonstrations, and the like.
Each presentation event is typically organized by a central topic, where multiple specific presentations can be given on that topic. Thus, a presentation event is has a set of details, such as a date, time, location, one or more attendees, one or more presentations, and one or more presenters. Often the presentation details are initially proposed within a range, which is narrowed during the presentation event establishment process, until a solid agenda, specific locations and times, and the like are created. This agenda may vary slightly over time (i.e., substitute planners needed for cancellations, etc.). Numerous logistical concerns, such as catering for the event, printing materials (e.g., name tags, portfolios, signs), and the like must be handled. Traditionally, the event setup and logistics process has been a manually driven one, where success or failure of the event can be largely dependent on manual activities performed by a set of event planners.
FIG. 1 (Prior Art) provides an illustrative example of a conventional architecture 100, which demonstrates a manner in which a presentation event is currently planned and a manner in which logistics for the presentation event are handled. The architecture 100 assumes a presentation event where one or more presenters 112 provide presentations to an audience 104. These presentations can occur in a set of one or more rooms 110, halls, or other locations. Additionally, the presentation event can be supported by one or more service entities, such as catering entities 114. Logistics and set-up specifics for the presentation event can be managed and/or coordinated by a set of one or more event planners 106, in accordance with event request specifics provided by one or more requestors 102.
To elaborate, a requestor 102 of the presentation event can define event goals and topics, which target a particular audience 104. Specifics desired for the event can be communicated between the requestor 102 and the event planner(s) 106. In a real-world scenario, these communications often occurs as a series of exchanges with between one or more requestors 102 and planning agents (e.g., planners 106). Architecture 100 includes request message 120 as a simplistic representation of these exchanges and assumptions. A granularity level and comprehensiveness of the requests conveyed between the requestor 102 and planner(s) 106 can vary significantly from situation-to-situation. In one embodiment, event requests (represented by request message 120) can include, but are not limited to, a set of topics, start and end times and dates, a location, occupancy requirements, catering requirements, and accounting details, and the like, shown by data 121.
Event planners 106 develop an agenda for the presentation event, where the agenda defines a set of presentations to match the topics. Rooms, presenters 112, and supporting material are then determined on a presentation-by-presentation basis. For example, each of the presenters 112 must be contacted and booked. Presenters 112 can provide their own materials and/or can use pre-prepared materials that are provided to them. Presenter specific actions taken by the planners 106 are represented by actions 124 in architecture 100.
The planners 106 can also reserve a location, set of room(s) 110 and take other location-specific actions (providing a necessary quantity of chairs, audio/visual equipment, etc.) for the presentation event. These actions (e.g., booking actions 122) can consider an expected size of the audience 104, occupancy limitations of the rooms 110, costs, available dates/times, and other factors.
Additional actions can also be coordinated by planners 106. These actions (e.g., catering actions 126) include contracting with one or more service providers, such as catering entities 114. These catering entities 114 (and other service providers) can provide food, beverages, printed material, chairs (and other resources), audio visual equipment, rooms and travel arrangements for the presenters 112, and other miscellaneous services necessary for running or supporting the presentation event.

Automated setup of presentation event agenda and logistics

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal is single-crystallized by heating BaTiO3—PbTiO3 compact powder member or sintered member having a smaller Pb-containing mol number than Ba-containing mol number, while keeping the powder or substance in non-molten condition. In this way, this single crystal can be manufactured at a crystal growing speed faster still and stabilized more, significantly contributing to improving the dielectric loss and electromechanical coupling coefficient for the provision of excellent BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal in various properties, as well as for the provision of piezoelectric material having a small ratio of lead content, which is particularly excellent in piezoelectric property and productivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal that can be utilized as a piezoelectric element, for example, and also, relates to the method of manufacturing the same. Further, the invention relates to a piezoelectric type actuator formed by the BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal, and the liquid discharge head that uses such piezoelectric type actuator as well.
2. Related Background Art
The BaTiO3 series single crystal is a nonlinear optical crystal utilized for optical communications, information processing, or the like, and having a great marketability, which is not only used as a phase conjugate wave generating medium for a high resolution image processing, a real-time hologram, or a laser resonator, but also, used as a highly capable piezoelectric material if the crystallization thereof can be implemented at lower costs.
Now, obviously, the composition of the BaTiO3 makes it difficult to obtain single crystal directly from the BaTiO3 solution when BaTiO3 series single crystal is manufactured. Therefore, only the flux growth that uses solution (flux) having fluoride and chloride as main component or the method, in which the BaTiO3 series single crystal of low-temperature component is picked up directly by making the composition of the solution TiO2 rich (the so-called top seeded solution growth (TSSG method)), is applicable to the growth thereof. With the flux growth, the obtainable size is only 1 mm3 or less approximately. Also, for the TSSG method, not only an expensive noble metal crucible, such as a platinum crucible, is needed, but the growing speed is slow to make the manufacturing costs extremely high.
Conventionally, it has been attempted to provide a method for manufacturing larger BaTiO3 series single crystal more effectively and easily with the improvement of the aspects that present the problems as described above.
For example, there are experiments carried out in manufacturing BaTiO3 series single crystal efficiently by sintering method. In the specifications of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 4-300296, 5-155696 and 5-155697, a method for manufacturing BaTiO3 series single crystal is disclosed, in which the BaTiO3 series single crystal serving as the seed crystal is coupled with the BaTiO3 polycrystal, and heated to mono-crystallize such polycrystal by means of solid-phase reaction. In the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-263496, a method for manufacturing BaTiO3 series single crystal is disclosed, in which a temperature gradient is given to the BaTiO3 micro-crystal granular aggregate, the mol ratio of Ti/Ba of which is 1.0 or more and 1.1 or less, for the execution of single crystallization thereof. With these methods, however, the mono-crystalline growth rate greatly varies to make it impossible to grow any bulky single crystal with good reproducibility. Also, the rearrangement density is high, and the crystallinity of the BaTiO3 series single crystal thus obtained is inferior to the one obtained by the conventional TSSG method and the flux method. There are also the examples of solid-phase methods other than the sintering method. In the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-3091, there is the disclosure of a method for manufacturing the oxide single crystal, in which a crystal oxide, such as PbTiO3, BaTiO3, SrTiO3, CaTiO3, is quenched and solidified after molten to make it amorphous, and then, re-crystallized under a temperature gradient. This method makes the manufacturing apparatus and process complicated, because there is a need for a process to melt the crystal oxide. Also, the single crystal thus obtained has inferior crystallization properties, and only the crystal that has a high ratio of pore content is obtainable eventually.
Also, improvement studies have been made on the TSSG method and the flux method. In the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-321698, there is disclosed, as the flux method, a method for manufacturing BaTiO3 using a mixed substance of BaF2, NaF, Li2MoO4, or the like as flux. In this method, the solubility of BaTiO3 is enhanced for the purpose of obtaining bulky BaTiO3 series single crystal with a long-time crystal growth. However, this method is not fully satisfactory in terms of the time required for manufacturing and costs. In the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-59096, there is disclosed BaTiO3 series single crystal having the doping of fine quantities of Mg and Fe. This material aims at obtaining a high photo-refractivity in the near infrared range, but Mg, Fe, or some other element, which may exert unfavorable influence on the piezoelectric property, is contained in that material. As a result, it is not preferable to use this as a piezoelectric material. Also, for the utilization at the industrial level, it is not satisfactory in terms of the time required for manufacture and costs.
As described above, the TSSG or flux method for manufacturing BaTiO3 series single crystal makes it extremely difficult to improve problems related to manufacturing efficiency, such as the time required for manufacturing and costs, among some others. Here, although the sintering method is anticipated to enhance the manufacturing efficiency, the variation of growing speed of BaTiO3 series single crystal makes it impossible to obtain any satisfactory result, and also, the crystallinity of the BaTiO3 series single crystal thus obtained is inferior to the one obtainable by means of TSSG or flux method. In other words, it has been difficult to implement the manufacture of BaTiO3 series single crystal having excellent crystallinity and property in a shorter period of time at lower costs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An ergonomic handle offers users the choice of horizontally or vertically gripping an appliance attached thereto. The handle includes a first handle member shaped and dimensioned for gripping by an individual. The first handle member has a first longitudinal axis. The handle also includes a second handle member shaped and dimensioned for gripping by an individual. The second handle member has a second longitudinal axis. The first handle member and the second handle member are connected such that the second longitudinal axis of the second handle member is oriented approximately perpendicular relative to the first longitudinal axis of the first handle member.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ergonomic handle. More particularly, the invention relates to an ergonomic handle offering users the ability to grip an appliance with their hand oriented either horizontally or vertically.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wide variety of handles have been developed in an effort to assist people in using appliances. Many of these handles include surfaces enhancing the ability of the user to comfortably grip the handle, and ultimately maneuver the appliance.
However, most grips only offer the user the choice of gripping the handle in a single orientation. Users are, therefore, often required to position their hands and arms in uncomfortable positions such that the appliance is held in a desired orientation. This is highly undesirable.
As such, need exists for a handle permitting users to grip the handle in a variety of orientations. The present invention provides such a handle.

Ergonomic handle providing horizontal and vertical gripping surfaces


The system to facilitate purchase and dispense fuel from a dispensing site using a mobile device employs a site connector computer that administers a site database and provides a secure connection to the point-of-sale system. The site database stores site-specific information about the dispensing site including the site location and pump identifying information from which the number of pumps at the dispensing site may be ascertained. A mobile app server communicates with the mobile device and issues queries to the site database to obtain the pump identifying information. The mobile app server communicates the pump identifying information to the mobile device for use in making a pump selection. After pump selection by the user, the mobile app server issues a fuel purchase instruction that includes the pump selection identifier to a financial processing computer network.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
It has been estimated that there are approximately 16,000 retail locations in the United States that sell fuel to the public. Many of these fuel dispensing stations have multiple pumps that are each equipped with a credit card reader that communicates through the station's electronic point-of-sale system (POS). The point-of-sale system, in turn, communicates with a financial processing network that may include connection to one or more credit card processing networks.
It is also estimated that there are approximately 240,000,000 vehicles in the United States. If each station serves 100 customers per day, this would amount to 16,000,000 pump activations per day. The actual number is likely considerably higher.
While the credit and debit card processing networks, and ACH funds transfer networks have heretofore proved adequate in handling this volume, credit cards are inconvenient in many climates. When a customer wishes to purchase fuel at a self-service dispensing site, the customer must exit his or her vehicle, swipe the credit card through the card reader on the pump, in some instances enter a zip code or other passcode, and then wait for the card to be authenticated before dispensing can commence. While this activity may seem insignificant on a balmy day, the same cannot be said when the temperature is 10° below zero or 95° in the shade, or when high winds, driving rain or blizzard conditions are raging.

System and method to purchase and dispense fuel and other products using a mobile device with improved user experience

EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY


A cutting tap comprises a threaded portion including a lead whose thread diameter gradually decreases toward a front end of the lead, a complete thread portion continued from the lead, and four flutes arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction. In the cutting tap, a first cutting edge portion for processing a prepared hole is formed at a front end surface of the lead, and a second cutting edge portion for finishing a minor diameter of an internal thread is formed in a part of an outer periphery of the complete thread portion, the second cutting edge portion being one or more pitches long. The cutting tap can perform processing of a prepared hole, tapping, and finishing of a minor diameter by a single step, and can also perform tapping even if a prepared hole for an internal thread is a blind hole or the like and does not have enough space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cutting type tap and a plastic working type tap which are suitable for tapping of a cored hole or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Formation of an internal thread has so far been performed in succession to drilling. This has posed the inconvenience of requiring facilities and time for replacement of tools. Thus, a proposal has recently been made, as in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 25782/93, for a tap for a cored hole which has a guide portion connected to a front end of a tapping portion, and a cutting edge capable of face cutting which is provided at a front end of the guide portion so that the processing of a prepared hole and tapping can be performed by a single step.
With the above-mentioned conventional tap for a cored hole, an incomplete thread portion of the tap increases by the amount of the guide portion. Thus, if the prepared hole for an internal thread is a through hole or has enough space, no problem is posed. However, if the prepared hole for an internal thread is a blind hole or the like and does not have enough space, tapping cannot be performed. Even if tapping is possible because the prepared hole for an internal thread is a through hole or has enough space, an inner peripheral surface of the prepared hole worked by the tapping portion becomes, as is, a crest surface of an internal thread. For this reason or else, sufficiently satisfactory finished surface roughness or accuracy is not always obtained depending on the machining conditions.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-described circumstances. It is an object of the invention to provide taps of a cutting type and a plastic working type which can perform processing of a prepared hole, tapping, and finishing of a minor diameter by a single step, and which can carry out tapping even if a prepared hole for an internal thread is a blind hole or the like and does not have enough space.
A first aspect of the invention for attaining the above object is a tap for performing processing of a prepared hole and tapping by a single step, the tap having a threaded portion for performing tapping by chipping, the threaded portion including a lead whose thread diameter gradually decreases toward a front end of the lead, a complete thread portion continued from the lead, and a plurality of flutes arranged in a circumferential direction; a first cutting edge portion formed at a front end surface of the lead for processing a prepared hole; and a second cutting edge portion formed in a part of an outer periphery of the complete thread portion for finishing a minor diameter of an internal thread, the second cutting edge portion being one or more pitches long.
A second aspect of the invention is a tap for performing processing of a prepared hole and tapping by a single step, the tap having a threaded portion for performing tapping by plastic working, the threaded portion including a lead forwardly tapered in a complete thread form, a parallel thread portion continued from the lead, and a plurality of oil grooves arranged in a circumferential direction; a first cutting edge portion formed at a front end surface of the lead for processing a prepared hole; and a second cutting edge portion formed in a part of an outer periphery of the lead for finishing a minor diameter of an internal thread.
According to the tap of the present invention, processing of a prepared hole, tapping, and finishing of a minor diameter can be performed by a single step without replacement of tools, the processing man-hours and the processing time can be markedly decreased, and productivity can be increased. Furthermore, the first cutting edge portion is directly provided at the front end surface of the lead of the threaded portion, without a guide portion provided there, and the second cutting edge portion is provided in the threaded portion. Thus, the entire length of the tap need not be increased, and tapping can be performed even if a prepared hole for an internal thread is a blind hole or the like and does not have enough space.


A method includes receiving manual input from a human operator, where the manual input includes human observation data measurements associated with plants in a growing area. The method also includes, for each human observation data measurement, identifying a height of a movable portion of a mobile platform on which the human operator rides, identifying a location of the mobile platform in the growing area, identifying a time at which the human observation data measurement is received, and associating the human observation data measurement with a three-dimensional position within the growing area and the time in order to generate a spatio-temporal data measurement. The three-dimensional position includes the height and the location. The method further includes storing, processing, or transmitting at least some of the spatio-temporal data measurements or one or more results based on at least some of the spatio-temporal data measurements.

When plants are grown on a large scale, such as in protected cultivation (like a greenhouse) or outdoors, both the plants and their growers face various challenges. For example, production greenhouses can involve very complex and geographically large operations with varying environmental conditions. The management of growing operations in production greenhouses can be difficult and time consuming, and conventional approaches for managing the growing operations in greenhouses can suffer from a number of shortcomings. The same problems and difficulties can occur in other large growing areas, such as in open outdoor fields.

Generation of stereo-spatio-temporal crop condition measurements based on human observations and height measurements


Subscription status notification techniques are provided. A request is received by at least one server from a user equipment (UE) to attach to a wireless packet data communication network. The server determines whether the UE is associated with an enterprise identified by a service provider of the network as a sponsor of a data service through the network, based on an account of the UE stored on the server. Upon determining that the UE is associated with the enterprise, a notification message is sent from the server to the UE, through an information element field within an existing message in a bearer channel of the network. The UE is configured to control access to the network responsive to the subscription status in the notification message. The UE permits access to a sponsored data service associated with the enterprise sponsor regardless of the UE's ability to access non-enterprise associated data services.

In recent years, mobile wireless communications have become increasingly popular. The explosion of technology has also continued. New ideas have emerged to mix together various software and hardware solutions to provide the user with intuitive experiences that simplify the use of these new technologies. Currently, with the influx of various smart devices as well as the emergence of software solutions for browsers, true platform independent communications may be possible.
Today, many major enterprises (e.g., retail stores, online stores, financial institutions, etc.) have mobile applications available to be downloaded and installed on mobile devices. These applications provide a fast and easy way for mobile device users to make online purchases from their mobile devices, anytime and anywhere.
The intention of these enterprises is to prompt their sales as well as to provide convenience to consumers via the mobile applications. To use mobile applications, however, it is assumed that the mobile device has an Internet connection. If the customer is not able to access a Wi-Fi network, the user must use cellular data minutes or bytes, for example, when launching the application, browsing products, and making any transactions with the application. Cellular data usage for communication over the Internet, however, is not free. Thus, some customers, for example, customers who purchase a limited monthly data usage (such as a low allowance of 75 MB or less per month), customers who have exhausted a monthly data allowance, or customers who have not purchased data service and do not have a Wi-Fi connection, may be reluctant or unable to take advantage of mobile applications for online shopping or other transactions.

Network and device solution on sponsored data application


A coating device for coating a size-press roll, paper or board or an equivalent moving base including a revolving coating bar which rests against a moving base. The coating bar extends across the machine width and is supported on a cradle substantially over its entire length. The coating bar spreads and smooths a coating agent introduced into the coating device and applied onto the moving base before the moving base contacts the coating bar. The coating bar in accordance with the invention is a smooth bar of large diameter, fitted against the moving base so that the profile of coating quantity of the coating agent can be controlled.

At present, in the coating of paper or board, two alternative methods and devices are commonly used, i.e. a blade coater or a bar coater. The present invention is expressly related to the latter, bar coaters, which have proved excellent especially in the film size press technique. The material of the coating bars currently in use is usually steel, and, in view of increasing the service life of the bar, the bars are provided with chromium plating. In surface sizing of paper, bars with fully smooth faces have not been used. Rather, the face of the coating bar has been provided with grooves, or alternatively steel wire is wound onto the bar to form a solution similar to grooves on the bar face. A grooved bar is used for the surface sizing of paper because the thickness of the size film to be applied onto the base to be coated is determined by means of the depth of the grooves.
A grooved bar is, however, poorly suitable for the preparation of thin size films, because it is very difficult to manufacture grooves of sufficiently small scale. On the other hand, such small grooves are easily contaminated. It is a further highly significant drawback of grooved bars that they are worn rapidly. Pigmenting with a high dry solids content is also entirely impossible with grooved bars, because the wear of the bars is excessive in this connection. The diameters of the coating bars currently in use have been very small. Small-diameter bars are used because the bar should be able to adapt itself to the shape of the roll face in the size press in order that the profile of the size film could be made suitable and correct. The order of magnitude of the diameter of currently used coating bars is preferably about 10 mm.
With respect to the prior art, reference is made in particular to the U.S. Pat. No. 2,097,564, from which a solution is known for spreading of a size film or of a pigment coating film onto the rolls in a size press, said films being transferred to the paper in the nip in the film size press. In the method described therein, smooth or grooved bars are used for the metering of the size film. It is stated therein that while it is possible to use a smooth-faced bar of small diameter (diameter about 9 mm) for surface sizing, such a bar is unsatisfactory. Accordingly, a corresponding solution has never been applied in practice.
In respect to the prior art, reference is further made to FI Patent No. 30,147 and to applicant's FI Patent Appl. No. 901967 of earlier date.
From applicant's FI Patent Appl. No. 901967, it is known to control the quantity of size and/or pigment coating in respect of the profiles by means of a large-diameter bar by using special constructions either in the bar itself or in the roll. The quantity can be controlled by using a special construction in the roll whose face is coated and from which the coating is transferred to the paper in the nip in the size press.
In this earlier patent application, it should be noted that the bar comprises a small-diameter body on which bushings have been fitted. The bushings are attached to one another in a suitable way as non-revolving. With regard to special constructions related to the roll, rolls are provided with coatings of particular cross-sectional shapes and, in addition, rolls in a size press in which each of the rolls in the nip is a variable-crown roll.

Method and device for coating a size-press roll or paper or board web


The present invention provides substantially pure desloratadine having an HPLC purity greater than 99.5% and having an absorbance less than 0.15 Au at 420 nm for a 5% w/v solution in methanol, which does not show a peak for an impurity at a relative retention time in the range from about 0.85 to about 0.99 (relative to desloratadine appearing at a retention time of 25±5 minutes), which is greater than the discard limit set at less than 0.025% of the total area, when tested according to an HPLC method performed using a Hypersil BDS C8 column (15 cm×4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size) with the following parameters:

The PCT publication WO 8503707 (hereinafter referred to as the '707 application, equivalent of which is the U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,716) claims desloratadine and exemplifies the process of its preparation by alkaline hydrolysis of loratadine (formula 2, scheme 1), followed by treatment with acetic acid to give the acetate salt of desloratadine, and then converting the acetate into the free base of desloratadine. However, the '707 application does not disclose the purity levels of desloratadine or its impurity profile.

The PCT publication WO 9901450 (equivalent of which is the U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,767) discloses the polymorphic forms 1 and 2 of desloratadine. Preparation of the polymorphic forms 1 and 2 is disclosed by employing alkaline hydrolysis of loratadine by a process similar to that described in the '707 application, and then crystallization from methyl isobutyl ketone, hexanol, methanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, cyclohexanol, chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and ether solvents such as dioxane, di-isopropylether, di-n-butylether. However, WO 9901450 too does not disclose the purity levels of desloratadine or its impurity profile.
The PCT application WO 02/42290 claims acid addition salts of desloratadine namely, monoacid, hemiacid and diacid salts. It discloses a process for preparation of diacid salts by reacting loratadine with concentrated mineral acids. It also teaches a process for conversion of diacid salts to monoacid or hemiacid salts by treatment with a solution of a base. It provides new desloratadine hemisulfate salt which is prepared from desloratadine disulfate salt with High Performance Liquid Chromatography (referred to as HPLC herein) purity greater than 99.5% by treatment with a solution of aqueous ammonia.
We have found that desloratadine when prepared according to the prior art processes shows a HPLC peak for an impurity at a relative retention time in the range from about 0.85 to about 0.99 (with respect to desloratadine), which is greater than the discard limit set at less than 0.025% of the total area, when tested according to an HPLC method performed using a Hypersil BDS C8 column (15 cm×4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size) with the following parameters:
Mobile phase:Buffer solution having a pH of about 3, methanol andacetonitrile in a volume ratio of 8:1:1.Injection volume:20 μlFlow rate:1.5 ml/minRun time:75 mins.Discard limit:Set at less than 0.025% of total area

Abstract: Mobile phase:Buffer solution having a pH of about 3, methanol andacetonitrile in a volume ratio of 8:1:1.Injection volume:20 μlFlow rate:1.5 ml/minuteRun time:75 minutes.Discard limit:Set at less than 0.025% of total area

Abstract: The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of substantially pure desloratadine by the process comprising acidic hydrolysis of a compound of formula 3 where R is selected from COR1, COOR1 wherein R1 is selected from branched or linear alkyl (1-6 C), cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, aralkyl and their substituted analogs; and their substituted analogs with a strong organic acid or a mineral acid.


In a mechanical quantity measuring device (1) having a sensor chip (2) which outputs a sense output (S) corresponding to a mechanical quantity acting on the object to be measured (4), and a flexible wiring board (3) which supports the sensor chip (2) and has a wire (6) to lead out the sense output (S) to outside, and in which in measuring the mechanical quantity, the sensor chip (2) and the flexible wiring board (3) are attached to the object to be measured (4), a cutout (5) is provided on the flexible wiring board (3) near the sensor chip (2) and on the side where the wire (6) is arranged for the sensor chip (2). Thus, change in the sense output (S) with time can be restrained.

A mechanical quantity measuring device can be attached to an object to be measured and thus can measure a mechanical quantity acting on the object to be measured. As this mechanical quantity measuring device, a device which uses a sensor chip applying an effect of resistance that varies depending on the strain (piezoresistive effect) is proposed. An impurity diffused resistor is formed on a surface of this sensor chip and the sensor chip is attached to an object to be measured, with an adhesive. When a mechanical quantity acts on the object to be measured and the object to be measured is strained, the impurity diffused resistor is strained via the adhesive and the resistance thereof changes. Therefore, this change in resistance can be outputted as a sense output and the mechanical quantity (strain) acting on the object to be measured can be detected.
In order to achieve widespread use of this sensor chip, it is important that the sensor chip can be easily attached to an object to be measured and that a sense output can be taken out securely. In response to such demand, a mechanical quantity measuring device in which a sensor chip is deposited on a flexible wiring board having a wire and in which the sensor chip is electrically connected to the wire, is proposed (see PTL 1 and the like). By thus forming a module including the sensor chip and the flexible wiring board, the device can be easier to handle than in the case where the sensor chip is provided singly.


A data-handling system (20) is arranged to scan through data it holds for instances of sensitive information as identified by reference (35) to a set of sensitive-information identifiers held by the system. Each identifier identifies one or more items of sensitive information (25) and is so formed or protected as to not reveal any such item. Following an instance of sensitive information being found by the scan, it is replaced by a reference to an instance of the corresponding sensitive-information item (25) held in protected storage (21). As a result, in due course the only instances of, sensitive information held by the system (20) will be those in the protected storage (21).

The privacy of sensitive information held on a data-handling system such as a personal computer is increasingly under threat from a range of software generically known as "spyware" that becomes installed, typically over a network, without the user's consent on the data-handling system. Such spyware can be arranged to collect information about the user and the user's habits; in particular, spyware can be set to scan the data-handling system for information that by its general form could correspond to sensitive information such as the user's name, address or bank account number.
It is known to provide data-handling systems with various forms of protected storage which give varying levels of protection of their contents against discovery by spyware. However, protected storage can give a false sense of security as it does not protect instances of the content that are held on the data handling system outside of the protected storage. For example, personal information is often held in multiple different locations when used by multiple applications or administrative tools and it is likely that not all of these instances of personal information will be held in protected storage.
Although computer-knowledgeable users may be able to utilize correctly sensitive-information protection mechanisms such as protected storage, many users have neither the knowledge nor commitment to make proper use of these mechanisms and a more active approach to countering spyware is desirable. One approach recently taken to the protection of sensitive information from spyware is to provide programs that actively seek out spyware typically by scanning the system looking for the signatures of known spyware programs. Whilst such an approach has merit, it also suffers from the problems inherent in all signature based systems, namely reliance on up-to-date signature files and diligent users.
Another mechanism that is used to protect sensitive information is to control how known instances of sensitive information are handled and stored; for example, before any known instance of personal information is included in an outgoing message, the user may be asked to confirm that this is intended.
It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the privacy protection of sensitive information held by a data-handling system.

Method and apparatus for securing the privacy of sensitive information in a data-handling system

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A system for protecting audio/video content during storage and playback on systems with open buses receives a multiplexed signal, including a plurality of A/V signals and decryption keys. Following a request for a channel, a single scrambled A/V signal and its associated decryption keys are extracted from the multiplexed signal. The decryption keys are PCX-encrypted while the scrambled signal remains untouched. Both the encrypted decryption keys and the scrambled signal are stored on the system. During storage, the surreptitious piracy of the signals may be avoided.

This invention relates to systems for receiving audio and video signals and, more particularly, to systems which may store audio/video information.
A television set may receive an audio/video, or A/V, signal, which combines audio and video data. Increasingly, the A/V signal may be combined with other content, such as closed caption messages, program sub-titles, and even web pages. The A/V signal may enter the television set from a cable wire, a broadcast signal, or from a satellite signal, to name a few.
For example, the television set may receive a variety of programming choices from the connection of a single cable wire. This is so because a cable service provider receives multiple signals, typically from multiple content providers and combines the signals together. The service provider may then broadcast the multiplexed signal over the single cable wire, which may then reach hundreds of thousands of homes.
Both the service provider (cable company) and the content providers (network studios) generate revenue from the content of the multiplexed signal. Accordingly, to prevent piracy, the signal is typically encoded or encrypted during transmission. At the receiving end of the cable wire, a "cable box" or other mechanism may descramble or decrypt the signal for each paying household.
Although television sets are well-known receivers of signals from cable service providers or other sources, other receivers are becoming more widely available. For example, a set-top box is a processor-based system that works with a television set. Set-top boxes are emerging as popular enhancements to television sets because they add features traditionally associated with personal computers to the television experience. For one, set-top boxes may include random access non-volatile storage capability, such as hard disk drives, compact disk read only memories (CD ROMs), or digital video disk random access memories (DVD RAMs).
Broadcast store and replay, or BSR, is the ability of a receiver, such as a set-top box, to locally store portions of an audio/video signal, whether for short periods of time or for extended periods. Similar to using a video cassette recorder, or VCR, a set-top box user may store audio/video content on the random access storage of the set-top box itself.
Audio/video, or A/V, content, stored on the set-top box, may be time-shifted. In other words, much like VCR tapes, the stored content may be played some time after being broadcast. Until the content is retrieved for viewing, it remains stored in the set-top box.
Particularly for receivers which are connected to a network, the stored A/V content of a receiver may be vulnerable to surreptitious behavior, such as piracy. The media storing the A/V content may be connected to other circuitry by a bus. If the bus is open, e.g., accessible to other software or hardware, the A/V content may be copied.
For example, some receivers may include a peripheral component interconnect, or PCI, bus. The PCI bus is compliant with the PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.2 (Jun. 8, 1998, available from the PCI Special Interest Group, Portland, Oreg. 97214). The PCI bus is an open bus with well-known, publicly available specifications.
Alternatively, the media of the receiver may be removable, such as those including a removable hard disk drive. With removable media, the stored A/V content may be sent to another receiver. Thus, for some receivers, the stored A/V content may be stolen.
Further, for receivers which are connected to other receivers, the stored A/V content may be downloaded to another site without leaving evidence of having been downloaded. An entire network of receivers, for example, may potentially retrieve the stored content from a single paying site.
Thus, there is a continuing need to provide protection for revenue-generating or other protection-needing audio/video content when stored on the random access media of a set-top box.

Protecting audio/video content during storage and playback on a processor-based system


This invention provides methods and apparatuses which can manufacture Si-containing cold rolled steel sheets exhibiting excellent chemical conversion properties even if a chemical conversion treatment solution is used at a lower temperature while minimally suppressing the generation of sludge as well as reducing running costs. The method includes steps of cold rolling a steel containing 0.5 to 3.0 mass % Si, continuously annealing the cold rolled steel sheet, pickling the surface of the continuously annealed cold rolled steel sheet, and repickling the surface of the pickled steel sheet with a non-oxidative acid. The repickling is performed such that a repickling solution is sampled continuously or periodically, an acid concentration in the sampled solution is measured, and the acid concentration in the repickling solution is regularly controlled within a prescribed concentration range.

An improvement of fuel efficiency of vehicles has been recently demanded from the viewpoint of global environmental conservation. In addition, improvements in automobile safety have been required in order to protect passengers in the event of a crash. Thus, demands have been placed on both weight saving and strengthening of car bodies, and thinning and strengthening of automobile parts have been recently pursued.
Because a lot of automobile parts are manufactured by press forming of steel sheets, it has been strongly demanded that steel sheets used for automobile parts exhibit excellent press formability as well as high strength. Solid solution strengthening by the addition of Si is a known technique which increases the strength of steel sheets without a marked deterioration in press formability.
However, solid solution strengthening has a problem in that if a large amount, in particular, 0.5 mass % or more, of Si is added to cold rolled steel sheets, Si-containing oxides such as SiO2 (silica) and SiMnO3 (manganese silicate) are formed on the surface of steel sheets during annealing. These Si-containing oxides inhibit the surface of steel sheets from being etched during zinc phosphate treatment (chemical conversion treatment) performed as a base treatment before the steel sheets are electrodeposition coated. Consequently, formation of sound chemical conversion film is inhibited. When such high-strength cold rolled steel sheets having a high Si content are exposed, after being electrodeposition coated, to severe environments such as hot saline water immersion tests or complex cycle corrosion tests in which the steel sheets are wetted and dried repeatedly, the coatings are stripped easily as compared to usual steel sheets. That is, post-coating corrosion resistance deteriorates easily.
Many proposals have been made of methods for improving the chemical conversion properties of Si-containing steel sheets, in particular, steel sheets having a high Si content of not less than 0.5 mass %.
Patent Literature 1 proposes a technique in which Mn/Si ratio is controlled to be not less than 1.2 so as to suppress formation of inactive Si oxides on the surface and to promote generation of active Mn oxides. Thereby, good chemical conversion property is realized even in the case of box annealing of high-Si steel.
Patent Literature 2 proposes a technique in which good chemical conversion property is obtained by attaching 20 to 1500 mg/m2 of iron to the surface of sufficiently clean cold rolled steel sheets, although the mechanism of this effect is not fully understood.
Patent Literature 3 proposes a technique directed to improve chemical conversion properties by controlling the rate of coverage on the steel sheet surface by Si oxides and the size of Si oxide. The technique controls the dew point during continuous annealing to 0° C. to −20° C. and Si oxides on the surface layer are removed with concentrated hydrochloric acid or concentrated sulfuric acid after the continuous annealing.
Patent Literature 4 proposes a technique in which a portion of steel sheet extending 1 μm or more from the surface on each side is removed by pickling to eliminate all the oxides present in the steel. Thereby, excellent chemical conversion properties are obtained.
Patent Literature 5 proposes a method in which Si oxides formed on the surface of steel sheet during annealing are removed by pickling and immediately thereafter the steel sheet is brought into contact with a sulfur compound. As a result, the number of zinc phosphate crystal nuclei is increased. Thereby, the size of zinc phosphate crystals is reduced and the density of zinc phosphate crystals is increased and thus chemical conversion properties are improved.
Before the steel sheets obtained in accordance with these literatures are subjected to chemical conversion treatments, surfaces of the steel sheets are usually pickled with acids to remove oxide layers present on the surfaces of the steel sheets after the continuous annealing. In the case where the pickling is performed continuously, the acid concentration in the pickling solution is decreased with the consumption of acids and consequently the pickling performance decreases. In order to prevent the decrease in the pickling performance of the pickling solution and to ensure a constant pickling performance, it is necessary that the acid concentration in the pickling solution is measured on a regular basis and the supplementary acids are added to the pickling solution.
The following analytical methods have been known as methods for the regular measurement of acid concentration in a pickling solution. For example, measuring the concentration of nitric acid in a mixed acid containing nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid is most commonly performed by first determining the total acid concentration in the pickling solution by a neutralization titration method and thereafter subtracting the hydrofluoric acid concentration from the total acid concentration. As the analytical methods for determining the latter concentration, namely, the hydrofluoric acid concentration, for example, Patent Literatures 6 and 7 describe an absorbance method based on discoloration of iron acetylacetone complex and an analytical method based on an ion electrode method, respectively.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing Si-containing cold rolled steel sheets


In an airbag system for a vehicle, a seat sensor unit determines the attached state of a child seat on the basis of the radio communication state made between a transponder equipped in the child seat and antennas in a front passenger seat, and the output state of a passenger detection sensor in the front passenger seat, and transmits the determined state to a control unit. The control unit controls the necessity of deployment of a passenger-side airbag on the basis of the incoming communication result.

The present invention relates to an airbag system for a vehicle and, more particularly, to an airbag system for an automobile as a typical vehicle.
In recent years, automobiles as a typical vehicle have been increasingly popularly equipped both driver- and passenger-side airbag systems. Such airbag systems need properly deploy in car crashes, but must not needlessly deploy in absence of such emergencies in terms of labor and cost since exchange and adjustment are required once they have deployed. In the control of such airbag systems, it is important in, especially, the deployment control of the passenger-side airbag to check whether or not a passenger is sitting in the front passenger seat unlike the driver-side airbag, since often no passenger sits in the front passenger seat. In a vehicle equipped a passenger-side airbag, another problem is posed in its deployment control when a so-called child seat for an infant is attached to the front passenger seat. When a child seat is attached facing front to the front passenger seat, the passenger-side airbag must be permitted to deploy, but when a child seat is attached facing rear, the passenger-side airbag must be inhibited from deploying since shocks to the child seat and an infant who is sitting in that child seat upon deployment of the passenger-side airbag must be prevented.
As a method of solving such problem, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 7-196006 discloses a technique for detecting the presence/absence of a child seat by arranging an optical distance sensor or the like in the vicinity of an airbag storage portion. On the other hand, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 8-58522 discloses a technique for controlling the necessity of deploying an airbag using both a distance sensor and a weight sensor equipped in a seat. Also, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Nos. 7-165011 and 7-267044 disclose a technique for detecting the presence/absence of a child seat via communications with the child seat using a transmission/reception mechanism arranged in a seat.
However, in these prior arts, when the distance sensor is used, determination precision has poor reliability. On the other hand, in the prior art that makes communications between the seat and child seat, no concrete disclosure is given as to control upon determining the necessity of deploying an airbag when the child seat is attached facing front or its position cannot be accurately determined.


A pressure fluid actuated downhole percussion tool includes a reciprocating piston hammer with differential transverse pressure surfaces cooperable with a cylinder housing, a guide sleeve and a bit carried exhaust tube to form opposed pressure fluid chambers to which pressure fluid may be conducted to deliver repeated impact blows to a bit having circumferentially spaced bosses and replaceable cutting inserts. The bit is drivenly connected to the tool by plural drive pins supported in circumferentially spaced grooves in the bit shank and in a removable sub supported by the tool housing. Improved earth penetration performance is realized utilizing a claw bit with a pressure fluid actuated percussion tool providing rotation as well as selective deliverance of impact blows through the bit.

There have been many developments in the art of equipment for drilling holes in earth formations, including relatively soft as well as medium and hard formations. For example, in relatively soft formations so-called rotary drilling equipment is typically used in drilling wells and blastholes. However, as the hardness of the formation increases, rotary drilling becomes inefficient and expensive due to frequent requirements to repair the drilling equipment including replacement of the drillbit. In relatively hard formations downhole reciprocating piston pressure fluid operated percussion type tools are more effective in hole formation. Downhole percussion tools typically utilize a so-called button type bit, that is a bit with a relatively flat or angled transverse face with plural hard metal inserts disposed thereon for impacting and breaking the formation as the bit transfers the energy of reciprocating piston hammer blows to the formation and while indexing or rotation of the bit is undertaken. Chip evacuation is carried out by spent working fluid, normally compressed air.
Formations of intermediate hardness are sometimes the most difficult to penetrate efficiently since they do not respond well to drilling with strictly rotary type equipment and rotary bits or with strictly percussion type equipment and bits. A so-called claw bit has been developed for drilling, primarily in relatively soft formations, and utilizing conventional rotary drilling equipment. Heretofore this type of bit has not been adapted for use with percussion type drilling equipment since it has been considered that bit life would be substantially reduced. However, in accordance with the present invention an improved downhole reciprocating piston hammer type drill or percussion tool has been developed which is particularly adapted for use with an improved claw type bit, including a bit with replaceable hard metal inserts that may be easily replaced to extend bit life and to minimize the need to disassemble the tool to replace or repair the bit.


A press cord reel box is comprised of an upper casing, a press spring, a push button, a revolving cylinder, a wiring material, and a lower casing characterized in that through changed location of a pivot for the push button to press and supporting the push button by the turning axle from the lower casing, the present invention effectively prevents the push button from collapsing after longer period of repeated press; and that the purpose of product quality assurance is achieve; and that a longer service life is provided; furthermore, all structural members are reasonably disposed in the present invention to achieve simple, compact, and smaller sized assembly to provide powerful utility.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a cord reel box, and more particularly to a press cord reel box one that receives cord of electronic product.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Cord reel boxes are essentially provided to receive cord of electronic products, e.g., those popularly applied in connecting and locating a telephone set to a wiring box and in connecting a computer to its peripheral hardware facilities. Design of electronic product is heading for being lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller thanks to rapid development of advanced technology. While demanding quality assurance, the manufacturing industry of cord reel box also has to consider convenient use of the cord reel box. How to reduce the size of the finished product of the cord reel box is an issue pending solutions challenging the manufacturers of cord reel boxes in meeting market demands.
Referring to FIG. 1 for an improved structure of a cord reel box disclosed in a Chinese Patent No. ZL200520060887.X, the reel is comprised of an upper casing 1′ a lower casing 2′ and a revolver 3′ disposed at where between and covering up the upper casing 1′ and the lower casing 2′ a wiring material 4′ is wound up on an upper surface of the revolver 3′ a coil 5′ providing elastic retraction is inserted to a bottom of the revolver 3′ a through hole 6′ is disposed at a center of the revolver 3′ the through hole 6′ is inserted onto a support 7′ protruding in the lower casing 2′ a hole 8′ containing a spring 9′ is provided in the support 7′ the spring 9′ rests on a push-button switch 10′ the switch 10′ is inserted through a hole disposed on the upper casing 1′ and the support 7′ penetrates through the coil 5′ the through hole at the center of the revolver 3′ in sequence to make a revolving mechanism. Accordingly, the purpose of winding up the cord is achieved by pressing the spring 9′ below the switch 10′ and the revolver 3′ linked to the coil 9′ However, The coil 0′ is disposed in the support 7′ protruding from a bottom in the lower case 2′ When applying a force on the switch 10? one end of the switch 10′ can only have the support 7′ as a pivot while the other end of the switch has to remain always suspended in the upper casing 1′ Consequently, the switch 7′ is vulnerable to collapse after a longer period of operation to compromise the quality of the cord reel box; and indirectly suffers shorter service life to cause inconvenience in operation and trouble to the operator.


Methods of preparing a hemicellulose-product and a holocellulose-product from a carbohydrate-rich material, including spend coffee grounds, are described. Hemicellulose-products and holocellulose-products produced according to these methods are also described.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and the second largest traded commodity worldwide after petroleum. Spend coffee grounds (SCG) have been generated as a byproduct during the process of brewing roasted coffee beans. The huge amount of spent coffee waste produced in the coffee industry requires a waste management plan according to existing national regulations, with most spend coffee waste being dumped in landfills, or, in a very limited way, used in composting, gardening, and bioenergy production.
SCG mainly contains carbohydrates (˜50%), lipid and fat compounds (7-29%), nitrogen containing compounds (8.5-13.6%), which include proteins and non-protein compounds, phenolic compounds (1-1.5%), as well as minerals (˜1.6%). Among the carbohydrates, hemicellulose, mainly constituted by galactose, arabinose, and mannose, is the major component, corresponding to over 30% (w/w). Hemicellulose together with cellulose and lignin associated compounds are the major biomass in coffee spend and correspond to almost half of the material dry weight.
Extraction of hemicellulose from SCG faces two significant challenges. First, in the cell wall, hemicellulose forms hydrogen bonds with cellulose, covalent bonds with lignin, and ester bonds with acetyl units and hydroxycinnamic acids. These linkages prevent hemicellulose from effectively being extracted by water or other solvents. Second, the hemicellulose must be clean, less colored, and lack the smoky flavors and aromas associated with roasted coffee beans for extensive usage of soluble hemicellulose as well as insoluble holocellulose. Thus, an effective pretreatment method that can increase the efficiency of the extraction as well as subsequent steps that target color and odor removal should be implemented in a successful strategy of recycling the carbohydrates from SCG.
Published pretreatment methods of SCG can be classified into physical, chemical, biological and combinations of different actions, such as ultra-sonication, steam explosion, ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX), ozonolysis, anaerobic co-digestion, enzyme hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, and alkaline hydrolysis. One of the most conventional methods for pretreatment of SCG for delignification to produce holocellulose utilizes a mixture of sodium chlorite and acetic acid as an oxidation method. However, sodium hypochlorite solutions combined with acid produce toxic chlorine dioxide, which is harmful to humans and the environment.
Among these pretreatment methods, the inventors determined that alkaline hydrogen peroxide combination treatment (referred to herein as AHP treatment) is effective for both delignification and solubilization of hemicelluloses from SCG. In alkaline solution, hemicellulose is liberated from the lignocellulosic matrix by hydrolysis of the ester linkages. By adding hydrogen peroxide in alkaline media, principal active species, such as hydroperoxide anion (HOO−), hydroxyl radicals (HO·), and superoxide anion radicals (O·−2) are formed, which cause the oxidation of lignin structures, leading to the introduction of hydrophilic (carboxyl) groups, cleavage of interunit bonds, and eventually dissolution of lignin and hemicelluloses. This process can be carried out under relatively mild conditions, using less corrosive chemicals, less cost and less polluting.
More recently, the AHP method has been used in the process of isolation and purification of only insoluble holocellulose from coffee silver skin (Alghooneh, et al., (International Journal of Food Properties, 2017, VOL. 20, NO. 11, 2830-2843), and SCG (Luísa Cruz-Lopes 1, et al., Agriculture & Foods, 2017, vol 5, 85-93) for academic analysis purposes. In both studies, the authors targeted the delignified and decolored water insoluble holocellulose, which mainly consisted of cellulose, while the majority of hemicellulose that was extracted and dissolved in the alkaline solution was discarded as waste and was not purified and recycled.
The use of AHP pretreatment combined with subsequent membrane filtration and ethanol precipitation as disclosed herein to recycle water soluble hemicellulose from coffee spend for food applications has not previously been practiced in the art. The present disclosure provides new methods for the extraction and isolation of SCG derived water-soluble hemicellulose. By using the disclosed methods, a water soluble hemicellulose rich extract, which accounts for about 16-30% (w/w), together with the water insoluble, delignified and decolored cellulose, which accounts for about 25-35% (w/w), can be recycled from the SCG. The resulting hemicellulose and cellulose are obtained in high yield and high quality, which guarantee their great application potentials in the food industry and related fields.

Composition and methods for preparing hemicellulose-rich extract from spend coffee ground

Kerry Group Services International Limited


A battery assembly is designed to include a plurality of cells positioned parallel to each other. A frame including end supports position the cells appropriately. Each of the cells includes a first terminal and a second terminal. Two buses are positioned over all of the first terminals and all of the second terminals. Each of the buses includes slots allowing the terminals to extend therethrough. Once through, the terminals are bent over the bus bar. A slide is then positioned over the terminals protecting the terminals and maintaining the terminals in electrical contact with each other. This battery assembly allows more than three cells to be connected to each other and is versatile enough to allow the removal of certain cells to enhance the airflow through the battery assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a battery. More particularly, the invention relates to a battery being fabricated of component parts and a method for assembling same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Batteries are fabricated by combining a number of individual cells together. Batteries are a collection of cells connected in parallel and/or series. When the battery is to be used with a stationary device, merely connecting the terminals and allowing the cells to sit side by side in a simple structure is adequate.
Simple structures for batteries are inadequate, however, when the environment in which a battery is placed is hostile. Examples of hostile environments include elements of extreme temperature changes, humidity, and vibration, all of which are typically found in automobiles, aircraft, watercraft and the like. These batteries require a structure to support the cells in relation to each other. In addition, these batteries require permanent connections between the cell terminals to eliminate disconnections due to vibrations and jarring motions.
Currently, batteries fabricated using plate-like cells include gluing the sides of the cells together. The terminals are welded together using an ultrasonic welding process and then bent at 90 degrees. This method of fabrication limits the number of cells that can be connected in parallel to three cells. The bending of the terminals at 90 degrees increases the stress levels in some of the terminals more than others. Increasing the stress levels in the terminals makes the terminals more prone to failure due to vibration and corrosion. In addition, the ability to form a battery using more than three cells is greatly inhibited due to the limitation of the ultrasonic welding process.

Battery assembly and method of making same


A method for utilizing firearm discharge data in a crime reporting and tracking database, includes: recording one or more discharges of a firearm; transmitting information from the discharging firearm to a crime reporting and tracking database; utilizing the transmitted information to establish relationships between the discharged firearm, committed crimes, and missing persons within the crime reporting and tracking database; and wherein the recording and transmitting is carried out by devices within the firearm.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to firearms, and more particularly to a method and system for relating firearm discharge data to crime reporting databases.
2. Description of the Related Art
Crime prevention and solving committed crimes, unfortunately, is a never-ending job of law enforcement. Efforts at weapons registration and forms of gun control have not stemmed the levels of crime in society. Proposed inventions related to control and monitoring of firearm usage have included: firearms equipped with electronic devices for determining and recording owner gun registration, weapon identification, biometric controls, recognition of gun removal from a holster, when and how many shots were fired from a weapon, radio frequency (RF) transmission of weapon data, and tracking weapons with global positioning system (GPS) satellites.

Method for reporting and relating firearm discharge data to a crime reporting database

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for producing a polyethylene or polypropylene polymer, or co-polymer thereof, comprises contacting a monomer-containing medium with polymerization catalyst particles in at least one high shear mixing device to form a nanodispersion, wherein the particles have a mean diameter less than 1 micron. The monomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, and combinations thereof. The method further includes subjecting the nanodispersion to polymerization conditions comprising pressure in the range of about 203 kPa to about 6080 kPa (about 2 atm to about 60 atm) and temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 230° C., whereby at least a portion of the monomer is polymerized. A system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Polyethylene is a thermoplastic material that is created through polymerization of ethylene monomer, and which is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of consumer products, including packaging, pipe extrusion, wire and cable sheathing and insulation, and many other products. Because ethylene has no substituent groups to influence the stability of the propagation head of the growing polymer chain, polymers of varying degrees of branching can be produced through radical polymerization, anionic addition polymerization, ion coordination polymerization or cationic addition polymerization. Today one of the most common methods of preparing highly desirable linear (high density) polyethylene involves contacting ethylene with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system that includes a transition metal catalyst such as TiCl4 and an organo-compound of a non-transition metal of Groups IA to IIIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements, particularly organo-aluminium compounds.
Polypropylene is another thermoplastic polymer that is widely used in the manufacturing of a variety of products, including housings and parts for small and large appliances, disposable containers, food packaging, ropes, textiles and plastic automobile parts, and many more. It is chemically synthesized by the catalyzed polymerization of propylene monomer. Polypropylene is most often produced as a stereospecific polymer. Isotactic polypropylene has all the pendant methyl groups oriented either above or below the polymer chain. Any deviation or inversion in the structure of the chain lowers the degree of isotacticity and crystallinity of the polymer. Most commercially available polypropylene is made with titanium chloride catalysts to produce substantially isotactic polypropylene, which is highly desirable for making a number of products that require a strong polymer.
Ziegler-Natta catalysts are stereospecific complexes that limit incoming monomers to a specific orientation, only adding them to the polymer chain if they are oriented in a specific direction, to produce isotactic (unbranched) polymers. Because the organo-compounds of transition metals are useful polymerization catalysts only when supported, they are supported on a suitable matrix material such as alumina, silica, or magnesia. Conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts are stereospecific complexes formed from a halide of a transition metal, such as titanium, chromium or vanadium with a metal hydride and/or metal alkyl, typically an organoaluminum compound such as an alkylaluminum compound, for example, triethylaluminum (TEAL), trimethyl aluminum (TMA) or triisobutyl aluminum (TIBAL), as a co-catalyst. Both liquid phase slurry (suspension) polymerization and gas phase polymerization have been catalyzed using Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Although polymerization rates increase with temperature, reaction temperatures above 70-100° C. seldom are employed because high temperatures result in loss of stereospecificity as well as lowered polymerization rates as a result of the decreased stability of the initiator. In many polyolefin manufacturing processes today metallocene based catalysts are replacing some Ziegler-Natta catalysts.
Other transition metal catalysts that polymerize ethylene are based on the oxides of chromium or molybdenum. Other transition metal catalyst systems include the organo-compounds of transition metals with π-allyl, cyclopentadienyl, norbornyl, benzyl, and arene groups and also compounds including groups of the type exemplified by the neopentyl and substituted silylmethyl compounds. Catalysts that promote branching of the polymer are employed when a low-density polyethylene is sought.
In a typical liquid phase slurry (suspension) polymerization process ethylene or propylene monomer is dissolved in an organic reaction medium and then contacted with a particulate catalyst. The polyethylene or polypropylene that is formed is also dissolved in the organic medium, which can become quite viscous. Although polymerization rates increase with temperature, reaction temperatures above 70-100° C. seldom are employed because high temperatures result in loss of stereospecificity as well as lowered polymerization rates as a result of the decreased stability of the catalyst.
At the present time, solution polymerization is generally considered to be limited to production of low molecular weight polyethylene and polypropylene. Existing processes and production facilities for producing these polymers are typically subject to various constraints including mass flow limitations, product yield, plant size and energy consumption. Accordingly, there is continued interest in the development of ways to improve the selectivity and yield of polymers from catalyzed polymerization of ethylene and propylene monomers.

System and process for production of polyethylene and polypropylene


The system disclosed includes at least a consumer item, such as a cigarette box, medication package or piece of clothing, and a detection device that can be operated by a buyer of the consumer item, which is configured for the detection of a coding in the consumer item, and a server, wherein the coding is hidden in the consumer item, but can be accessed by the buyer of the consumer item, so that the coding can be detected by means of a detection device and be transmitted to the manufacturer via a telecommunications connection to the server, wherein the server verifies if the coding is registered as valid, and wherein, depending upon the verification of the coding, a monetary benefit in favor of the telecommunications number of the buyer is credited by means of the server, and/or the server is configured for transmission of information to the buyer.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Consumer items are sometimes delivered to the end consumer in packaging. The consumer item can be, for example, a cigarette box or medication package or clothing, such as, for example, tennis shoes, with the exception of telephone items, such as prepaid cards. These consumer items are sometimes offered to the end consumer or consumers under a brand name. The end consumer associates special quality notions with the brand name or desires to acquire a consumer item of a specific brand based on other considerations. The manufacturers of brand name items, but also the end consumers, are sometimes exposed to forgeries, that is, corresponding consumer items that are not marketed by the appropriate original company, but as forgeries/pirated products under the pertaining brand name of the legitimate manufacturer. It is sometimes impossible for the end consumer to differentiate an original product from a counterfeit pirated product. Another basic problem may also be that it is very difficult for the manufacturers of consumer goods to design customer retentions systems, since the end consumer is frequently unknown to them.

System consisting of consumer item, detection device for coding in consumer item, and server, and process for carrying out authentication


A terminal mounting track for supporting objects of more than one type has a base which is designed to attach the track to a support surface. A support member projects from the base and an elongated mounting rail is supported by the support member in a spaced apart relationship with the base. The rail has a pair of spaced apart elongated mounting flanges and a mid-portion which joins the flanges to the support member. The mid-portion includes a first wall segment and a second wall segment which are joined together so as to define a V-shaped groove which is configured to accept a sheet metal screw. Objects such as other dimensions of rails and electrical boxes may be mounted to the track using a sheet metal screw that engages the groove.

The present invention relates generally to terminal block mounting track and, more specifically, to a track designed to support objects of more than one type.
When wiring electrical panels, all electrical devices must be interconnected. To do so neatly, electricians will route the electrical wiring in wiring ducts. These ducts typically are U-shaped channels, several inches deep, with openings along the sides for routing wiring into and out of the ducts. The ducts also typically include a cover to close the top of the U-shaped channel once the wiring is complete. These wiring ducts typically mount to the electrical panel with the open end of the U-shaped channel facing away from the panel. Electrical devices, such as circuit breakers and terminal blocks, are then typically mounted to a terminal mounting track. Wires are then routed through the ducts to a place where a wire exits the duct to be connected to an electrical device, such as the circuit breaker or switch, or to a terminal block which connects one piece of wire to another piece of wire. As the ducts, which are several inches deep, fill with wire, it is easiest to have pieces of wire entering and exiting the duct near the top of the U-shaped channel, or at least part way up the wall. If the electrician were to have the wire exit near the base of the U-shaped channel, it would be necessary to move all the other wiring already in the channel to do so. Therefore, it is simplest to have the wire exit higher up away from the panel. Because the wire is to be connected to a terminal block or an electrical device, it is desirable to have the electrical device or terminal block supported up off the panel also. Therefore, traditional terminal block mounting track was developed to provide this function.
A standard piece of terminal track 10 is shown in FIG. 2. The track 10 has a base 12 which is a generally flat member with mounting holes 14 defined therein for mounting the track 10 to an electrical panel. A support wall 16 projects perpendicularly from the base 12 so as to extend away from an electrical panel that the base 12 is mounted to. The support wall 16 is also a generally flat member. An elongated mounting rail 18 is supported at the top of the support wall 16 so that it is spaced from the base 12. The rail 18 includes a pair of parallel and spaced apart elongated mounting flanges 20 and 22 and a trough shaped mid-portion 24 which joins the flanges 20 and 22 to the support wall 16. Terminal track 10 comes in a variety of standard sizes. For example, the distance between the outer edges of the flanges 20 and 22 is designed so that electrical devices and mounting blocks can attach thereto by gripping the outer edges. There are generally three standard sizes. First, there is NEMA standard track wherein the outer edges of the flanges 20 and 22 are approximately 0.9 inches apart. NEMA standard track has traditionally been used in the United States. NEMA terminal blocks easily connect to the top of NEMA standard track. Therefore, when wiring a panel, a piece of terminal track, such as standard track 10, is mounted near a wiring duct. Then, where a piece of wire exits the duct, a terminal block may be mounted to the top of the track 10 such that it grips the flanges 20 and 22. The track 10 supports the terminal block up off of the panel so that it is easy to wire.
Another standard track size is known as DIN wherein the outer edges of the flanges 20 and 22 are approximately 35 millimeters apart. There is also a standard size known as mini-DIN wherein the outer edges of the flanges 20 and 22 are approximately 15 millimeters apart. Standard DIN and standard mini-DIN track is used in a manner similar to standard NEMA track, but is designed to accept electrical devices and terminal blocks of other sizes. DIN and mini-DIN are two standard sizes generally used in Europe.
A problems arises in that many wiring projects either preferably or necessarily use a mixture of NEMA, DIN and mini-DIN electrical devices and mounting blocks. Each of these devices and blocks will only mount to a piece of mounting tracks specifically sized for them. Therefore, an electrician is often forced to use multiple small pieces of one or more sizes of track so as to provide mounting spaces for each of the types of devices and blocks to be used. For comparison, where only one size of device and block is to be used, a continuous piece of mounting track in the corresponding size may be run along the side of a wiring duct so that anywhere a piece of wire exits the duct, a device or block may be mounted to the track in close proximity. Where a mixture of sizes is to be used, a single continuous piece of track cannot be used. Instead, the electrician must first determine where each type of device will be used along the run of the duct and then provide different short pieces of mounting track in the corresponding locations. This greatly hampers flexibility and complicates installation. Electricians are forced to cut small pieces of track and mount them end to end. If the design changes, it requires removing and replacing the piece of track so that a different type of device can be supported.
In light of this, there is a need for a terminal mounting track that will support electrical devices and mounting blocks of more than one type, preventing the need for intermixing different types of tracks.
According to the present invention, many of the shortcomings of the prior art terminal mounting tracks are overcome. A terminal mounting track for supporting objects, such as electrical devices and mounting blocks, of more than one type includes a base which is configured to attach the track to a support surface, such as an electrical panel. A support member projects from the base and an elongated mounting rail is supported by the support member in a spaced apart relationship with the base. The rail includes a pair of spaced apart elongated mounting flanges and a mid-portion which joins the flanges to the support member. The mid-portion defines a first wall segment and a second wall segment, with these wall segments being joined together so as to define a V-shaped groove configured to accept sheet metal screws. This device allows objects, such as pieces of other widths of tracks and electrical boxes to be mounted to the track using a sheet metal screw which engages the groove.


A flat-panel display device having test architecture is disclosed for disposing shorting bars without sacrificing wiring-on-array bus layout area of the outer-lead-bonding region. The flat-panel display device essentially includes a substrate having a plurality of driving integrated-circuit (IC) mounting areas, a plurality of signal lines and transmission lines disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of shorting bars disposed on the driving IC mounting areas. Each shorting bar is coupled to a corresponding signal line and a corresponding transmission line. Furthermore, in order to take out the laser-cutting process in the fabrication of the flat-panel display device for saving production cost, each driving IC mounting area is further disposed with a plurality of transistors for controlling the signal connections between the shorting bars and the signal lines, and also for controlling the signal connections between the shorting bars and the transmission lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat-panel display device, and more particularly, to a flat-panel display device having test architecture.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Among existing display devices, the flat-panel display devices have gained utmost popularity. Furthermore, among the flat-panel display devices, the liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are widely applied in various electronic products such as computer monitors, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or flat-panel televisions due to thin appearance, low power consumption, and low radiation. In general, the LCD device comprises liquid crystal cells encapsulated between two substrates and a backlight module for providing a light source. The operation of an LCD device is featured by varying voltage drops between opposite sides of the liquid crystal cells for twisting the angles of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal cells so that the transparency of the liquid crystal cells can be controlled for illustrating images with the aid of the backlight module.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a prior-art flat-panel display device having test architecture. As shown in FIG. 1, the flat-panel display device 100 comprises a bottom substrate 110, a top substrate 190 positioned on top of the bottom substrate 110, and a plurality of liquid crystal cells (not shown) encapsulated between the bottom substrate 110 and the top substrate 190. The top substrate 190 is a color filter for displaying color images of the flat-panel display device 100. The bottom substrate 110 comprises a bonding area 160 for attaching a flexible printed circuit board (not shown), a plurality of source driving integrated circuit (IC) mounting areas 120, a plurality of gate driving IC mounting areas 140, a plurality of data lines 130, a plurality of gate lines 150, a plurality of shorting bars 125, a horizontal bus 135, a vertical bus 155, and an image display area 195. The bonding area 160 comprises a plurality of bonding pads 165. Each bonding pad 165 is coupled to one horizontal transmission line of the horizontal bus 135 or one vertical transmission line of the vertical bus 155. The source driving IC mounting areas 120 and the gate driving IC mounting areas 140 are utilized for installing source driving ICs (not shown) and gate driving ICs (not shown) respectively. The horizontal bus 135 and the vertical bus 155 are disposed on the outer-lead-bonding (OLB) area of the bottom substrate 110 based on a wiring-on-array (WOA) arrangement.
In general, before the source driving ICs and the gate driving ICs are mounted respectively on the source driving IC mounting areas 120 and the gate driving IC mounting areas 140, an array test and a cell test are performed on the flat-panel display device 100 in order to check in advance whether any array wiring defect or any abnormal cell color display exists. Accordingly, the bottom substrate 110 is further disposed with a plurality of internal test pads 170 coupled to the shorting bars 125 for performing the array test and the cell test. The internal test pads 170 are further coupled to a plurality of external test pads 175 via a plurality of test signal transmission lines 172. As shown in FIG. 1, the test signal transmission lines 172 are crossed with the vertical bus 155 and parts of the horizontal transmission lines of the horizontal bus 135. For that reason, cross short-circuit defects are likely to occur at the intersections of the test signal transmission lines 172 and other related transmission lines, and therefore the circuit operation of the wiring-on-array may not function correctly due to the cross short-circuit defects. Furthermore, since the plurality of internal test pads 170 are disposed on the outer-lead-bonding area, the area available for disposing the vertical bus 155 and horizontal bus 135 is then reduced, which will increase wiring impedance and degrade signal transmission performance.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal layout of the source driving IC mounting area in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the source driving IC mounting area 120 is disposed with a plurality of connection pads 121 and at least two align marks 123. After finishing the array test and the cell test, a laser-cutting process is performed for cutting off the connections between the shorting bars 125 and the data lines 130 along the dotted line 124 with the aid of the align marks 123 to level the cutting position. The internal layout of the gate driving IC mounting area 140 is similar to the internal layout of the source driving IC mounting area 120, and for sake of brevity, further similar description is omitted. The source driving ICs and the gate driving ICs can be mounted respectively on the source driving IC mounting areas 120 and the gate driving IC mounting areas 140 only after finishing the laser-cutting process. However, while performing the laser-cutting process, lots of particles will come out and contaminate the bottom substrate 110 under processing, which may result in low product yields. Besides, the production cost of the prior-art flat-panel display devices is high following the requirement of the laser-cutting machine for performing the laser-cutting process.

Flat-panel display device having test architecture


This invention relates to an image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for combining an original image and another image. In this invention, an original image is segmented into a plurality of segmented images, and a segmented image to be combined is extracted from these segmented images. This extracted segmented image is combined with that segmented image of another image, which corresponds to the extracted segmented image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method of combining an original image and another image.
2. Background of the Invention
An image combining function is a useful function in information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer and in image processing apparatuses such as a scanner, printer, facsimile machine, copying machine, and digital composite machine having functions of these apparatuses. In a personal computer, for example, a CPU which executes predetermined image processing software functions as an image combining unit for executing image combination. Likewise, in a digital composite machine, an image processor included in a controller functions as an image combining unit.
Conventionally, these apparatuses combine a plurality of images by processing raster files of the whole images. For example, as shown in FIG. 23, raster files (images A and B) of whole images to be combined are input as objects to be processed to an image combining unit, and combined to obtain a combined image C.
Unfortunately, if entire images are used as objects to be combined as in the conventional apparatuses, portions which need not be combined are also processed as objects to be combined, so the combining process wastes time. In addition, since whole images are processed, the hardware resources necessary for the combination become enormous depending on the sizes of the images. Also, the control and management loads on a CPU during image combination increase.


Provided is a method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire, in which the uniformity of a tire can be improved. The method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire of the present invention is a method in which a green tire is deformed by a building drum in a tire building process. The building drum used for this process is expandable and contractable in the tire radial directions. In the method, a non-adhesive sheet is disposed on the innermost surface of the green tire. The non-adhesive sheet has a coefficient of friction of 0 to 0.2 on the building drum. Then, the green tire is built in a state where the non-adhesive sheet is attached thereto.

In a process of building a pneumatic tire, a green tire is deformed by using a building drum. The building drum used for this process is provided with a plurality of segment plates, which are separated from one another in a circumferential direction of the tire. By radially expanding the building drum in the tire radial direction, the green tire formed by laminating uncured rubber members is deformed. In other words, by radially expanding the building drum in the tire radial direction, the green tire is lifted (refer to Patent Document 1, for example.)
However, if the coefficient of friction between the building drum and the green tire is high, the green tire does not smoothly slide on the building drum. Accordingly, the green tire is stretched locally in its portions near separating positions of the building drum. This results in a problem that the green tire is deformed non-uniformly in the circumferential direction thereof, and thereby the uniformity of the tire is deteriorated. Particularly, the existence of portions having a higher rigidity than others in the circumference of the tire makes the uniformity of the tire deteriorate pronouncedly. Such portions having a higher rigidity include splice portions where rubber members are overlapped and spliced.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese patent application Kokai publication No. 2001-113611