A speech recognition apparatus equipped with the garbage acoustic model storage unit storing the garbage acoustic model which learned the collection of unnecessary words. A feature value calculation unit calculates the feature parameter necessary for recognition by acoustically analyzing the unidentified input speech including the non-language speech per frame which is a unit for speech analysis. A garbage acoustic score calculation unit calculates the garbage acoustic score by comparing the feature parameter and the garbage acoustic model, and a garbage acoustic score correction unit corrects the garbage acoustic score calculated by the garbage acoustic score calculation unit so as to raise it in the frame where the non-language speech is inputted. A recognition result output unit outputs, as the recognition result of the unidentified input speech, the word string with the highest cumulative score of the language score, the word acoustic score, and the garbage acoustic score which is corrected by the garbage acoustic score correcting unit.

There is a conventional word speech recognition apparatus that deals with unnecessary words that do not need translation, using a garbage acoustic model that has learned a collection of unnecessary words (refer to "The Processing Method of Unnecessary Words in Free Conversational Sentences Using the Garbage HMM" by Naoki Inoue and other two, Academic Journal of Electronic Information and Communication A, Vol. J77-A, No. 2, pp. 215-222, February, 1994).
FIG. 1 shows a structure of the conventional speech recognition apparatus;
As FIG. 1 shows, the conventional speech recognition apparatus comprises: the feature value calculation unit 1201, the network dictionary storage unit 1202, the path calculation unit 1203, the path candidate storage unit 1204, the recognition result output unit 1205, the language model storage unit 1206, the language score calculation unit 1207, the word acoustic model storage unit 1208, the word acoustic score calculation unit 1209, the garbage acoustic model storage unit 1210, and the garbage acoustic score calculation unit 1211.
The feature value calculation unit 1201 analyzes the unidentified input speech, and calculates the feature parameter necessary for recognition. The network dictionary storage unit 1202 stores the network dictionary wherein the list of the words that the speech recognition apparatus can accept is recorded. The path calculation unit 1203 calculates the cumulative score of the path for finding the optimum word string of the unidentified input speech, using the record of the network dictionary. The path candidate storage unit 1204 stores the information of the path candidate. The recognition result output unit 1205 outputs the word string whose final score is the highest as the recognition result.
Also, the language model storage unit 1206 stores the language model that has statistically learned the probability of the appearing words in advance. The language score calculation unit 1207 calculates the language score which is the probability of the word appearing in link with the previous word. The word acoustic model storage unit 1208 stores, in advance, the word acoustic model corresponding to the recognition subject vocabulary. The word acoustic score calculation unit 1209 calculates the word acoustic score by comparing the feature parameter and the word acoustic model.
In addition, the garbage acoustic model storage unit 1210 stores the garbage acoustic model that has learned a collection of unnecessary words that do not need translation such as "Ehmm" and "Uhmm". The garbage acoustic score calculation unit 1211 calculates the garbage acoustic score which is the appearing probability of the unnecessary words (the garbage model) by comparing the feature parameter and the garbage acoustic model.
Next, the operations performed by each unit of the conventional speech recognition apparatus will be explained as following.
First, the unidentified input speech a user has uttered is inputted into the feature value calculation unit 1201. Then, the feature value calculation unit 1201 calculates the feature parameter by analyzing the speech of each frame that is a time unit for speech analysis. Here, the length of a frame is 10 ms.
The path calculation unit 1203 refers to the network dictionary, where the acceptable word connections are recorded, stored in the network dictionary storage unit 1202. Then, the path calculation unit 1203 calculates the cumulative score of the path candidate to the corresponding frame, and registers the information of the path candidate in the path candidate storage unit 1204.
FIG. 2 shows the path candidate in the case where the input speeches are "Sore wa, da, dare". FIG. 2(a) shows the input speeches with the words separation. FIG. 2(b) shows the path candidate in the case where the input frame is "t-1". FIG. 2(c) shows the path candidate in the case where the input frame is "t". The horizontal axis shows the frames. Here, the unnecessary stuttering word, "da", is recognized as a garbage model. The garbage model is provided with a path in the same way as a word.
Here, the paths 511, 512, 513 and 52 are the non-optimum paths to some midpoint of the words. The paths 521 and 522 are the optimum paths that have reached the end of the words. The paths 531 and 532 are the non-optimum paths that have reached the end of the words. The path 54 is the optimum path to some midpoint of the word.
The path calculation unit 1203 calculates the cumulative score for each path by extending the paths from each path candidate of the frame which precedes the corresponding frame by one frame.
FIG. 2(b) shows the path candidates in the "t-1" frame which is the frame preceding the corresponding frame "t" by one frame. This information of the path candidates is stored in the path candidate storage unit 1204. The paths are extended from these path candidates as shown in the frame "t" of FIG. 2(c). Some paths extend the words of the path candidates in the preceding frame; others finish the words of the path candidates in the preceding frame, and start the new words connectable to the previous words. Here, the connectable words are the ones recorded in the network dictionary.
In FIG. 2(b) in the frame "t-1", there are (i) the word, "wata", of the non-optimum path 511 that is at some midpoint of the word, and (ii) the word, "wata", of the optimum path 521 that has reached the end of the word. In FIG. 2(c) in the frame "t", (i) the word, "wata", of the non-optimum path 511 is further extended, (ii) the word, "wata", of the optimum path 521 is connected to the word, "tane", of the optimum path 54 that is at some midpoint of the word, and also to the word, "gashi" of the non-optimum path 512 that is at some midpoint of the word.
Next, the language score and the acoustic score are calculated for each of the extended path candidates.
The language score is calculated by the language score calculation unit 1207 using the language model stored in the language model storage unit 1206. As the language score, the logarithm value of the bigram probability is used, said bigram probability being the probability of the words that connect to the previous words. Here, in the optimum path 522 that has reached the end of the word, wherein "wata" connects to "sore", the appearance probability of "wata" after "sore" is used. The language score is calculated per one word.
The acoustic score is calculated in relation to the input feature parameter vector (i) by the word acoustic score calculation unit 1209 using the word acoustic model stored in the word acoustic model storage unit 1208, in the case where the corresponding path candidate is a word and (ii) by the garbage acoustic score calculation unit 1211 using the garbage acoustic model stored in the garbage acoustic model storage unit 1210, in the case where the corresponding path candidate is an unnecessary word (a garbage model).
For instance, in FIG. 2(b) in the frame "t-1", the paths for calculating the acoustic score are the four paths. The paths which use the word acoustic model are: "wata" of the path 511 connecting to "sore" of the path 522, "wata" of the path 521 connecting to "sore" of the path 522, and "dare" of the path 513 connecting to "wa" of the path 531. The path which uses the garbage acoustic model is "the garbage model" of the path 532 connecting to "wa" of the path 531.
As the acoustic model, in general, the hidden Markov model (HMM) which has stochastically modeled the acoustic features is used. The HMM that represents the acoustic features of words is called the word acoustic model. The HMM that represents a collection of the acoustic features of the unnecessary words that do not need translation, such as "Ehmm" and "Uhmm", as one model is called the garbage acoustic model. The word acoustic score and the garbage acoustic score are the logarithm values of the probability acquired from the HMM, and show the appearance probability of the word and the garbage models.
The language score and the acoustic score acquired, as described above, are combined as a comparative score, and the cumulative score of each path is calculated by the Viterbi algorithm (refer to "Speech Recognition by the Probability Model" by Seiichi Nakagawa, edited by the Association of the Electronic Information and Communications, pp. 44-46, first published in 1988).
However, it is not preferable to simply record all of the extended path candidates because the amount of calculation and the amount of memory increase enormously. Therefore, a beam search, which leaves only "K" ("K" is a natural number) extended path candidates in the order of the high cumulative score for each frame, is used. The information of the "K" path candidates is registered in the path candidate storage unit 1204.
The processes as described above are repeated forwarding the input frame by one.
Finally, after all the frame processing is completed, the recognition result output unit 1205 outputs the word string of the path candidates as the recognition result, said word string having the highest cumulative score among the candidate paths stored in the candidate path storage unit 1204.
However, in such conventional example as described above, there is a problem that the speech recognition apparatus makes a wrong recognition in the case where there is a word string acoustically similar to the non-language speech such as a stuttering speech.
Here, stuttering speech means an unfluent speech production in which the first speech or the middle speech is clogged, the same speeches are repeated many times, and some speeches are stretched.
In FIG. 2(c) the number in the parentheses above each word is the comparative score for each word.
In FIG. 2(c) the right answer is that the stuttering part of the unidentified input speech, "da", passes through the garbage model, and the path 52 connecting "dare" to "da" becomes the optimum path in the frame "t". In the case of "sore"+"wata", 7+10=17 points, in the case of "sore"+"wata"+"tane", 7+9+2=18 points, in the case of "sore"+"wata"+"gashi", 7+9+1=17 points, in the case of "sore"+"wa"+"dare", 7+5+4=16 points, and in the case of "sore"+"wa"+the garbage model+"dare", 7+5+2+1=15 points. Thus, the word string of "sore"+"wata"+"tane" has the highest score in the frame.
The reason for the result described above is as following. The garbage acoustic model learns from all of the acoustic data which has the unnecessary words including stuttering speeches. Such large distribution of the unnecessary words prevents the speech production of unnecessary words, that is, non-language speeches from acquiring high acoustic scores.
In order to solve this problem, there is a method to boost all of the garbage acoustic scores. However, with this method, the garbage acoustic score is high even in the frame where the optimum path does not have unnecessary words. Therefore, the speech recognition apparatus makes a wrong recognition.
An object of the present invention, in view of the above problem, is to provide a speech recognition apparatus that can correctly recognize unidentified input speeches even if they include unnecessary words, in particular, non-language speeches such as stuttering speeches.

Speech recognition device and speech recognition method


A Warning system in combination with a vehicle in which ultrasonic sound and ultraviolet is beamed in advance of the moving vehicle on a thoroughfare so that said sound and light may be heard and seen by an animal ahead of the moving vehicle to induce the animal to leave the road before it is struck by the vehicle.

It is not uncommon for cars and trucks to strike animals as they proceed along highways or other roads. Dogs and sometimes raccoons and other similar animals often chase moving vehicles and are frequently killed by colliding with the vehicle. In more heavily forested areas, larger animals such as deer and even moose, are even sometimes found on highways. Collisions with those animals are, of course, fatal to the animal and humans, and very damaging to the vehicle. This is, therefore, a serious problem for vehicle operators and it is a principal object of this invention to provide a Warning system employing ultrasonic sounds and infrared or ultraviolet light flashes to clear the road of animals.
In 1965, 48 states reported the adjusted national total of deer killed was 121,750, with a tabulated figure of human fatalities as 115 people killed, 1500 injured according to the National Safety Council. In 1965, the state of Illinois reported actual deer killed as 1,004. In 1995, the state of Illinois reported an actual vehicle-deer accident toll of 17,573. In 1995, all states reported 251 people killed, 3,010 injured, with 325,000 deer killed.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,384 issued Jun. 23, 1970 and incorporated herein by reference, I have disclosed a Warning system involving ultrasonic sounds which are inaudible to humans but may be perceived by animals and induce them to leave a highway or street. In an improvement on this invention, I have now incorporated ultrasonic light flashes which are also imperceptible to humans but may be seen by animals on the road.

Animal warning system employing ultrasonic sounds and infrared or ultraviolet light flashes


Methods and systems are provided for processing a stream of incoming messages sent from a specific input message source and validating each incoming message of that stream before sending them to a specific target system.

Stream processing technology allows users to query large continuous data streams and detect conditions quickly within a small-time period from the time of receiving the data. Stream processing engines (or stream processors) can be used to process various types of electronic information such as signals, events, messages, etc.
For example, event stream processing is the process of quickly analyzing time-based data as it is being created and before it's stored. An event is anything that happens at a clearly defined time and that can be specifically recorded. An event stream is a sequence of events ordered by time. Processing is the final act of analyzing all of this data. As such, event stream processing is the process of being able to quickly analyze data streaming from one device to another at an almost instantaneous rate after it's created. The ultimate goal of event stream processing deals with identifying meaningful patterns or relationships within all of these streams in order to detect things like event correlation, causality, or timing. Event stream processing completely changes the order of the entire analytics procedure, allowing for faster reaction time and even providing an opportunity for proactive measures before a situation is over. Processing data in this way is extremely advantageous as the system doesn't have to remember many events thereby using very little memory.
Message stream processing is a special form of event stream processing where the events being processed are messages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for processing a stream of incoming messages sent from a specific input message source and validating each incoming message of that stream before sending them to a specific target system


The invention is related to a device (DEV) for applying operating data (OPDAT) of said device (DEV) and/or data associated (ASDAT) with playback data (PLDAT) played by said device (DEV) to a remote device (RD). The device (DEV) comprises a memory (MEM) and a power supply (POW, BAT) arranged to power said device (DEV) and said memory (MEM). Operating data (OPDAT) and/or said associated data (ASDAT) are stored in said memory (MEM) during operation of said device (DEV). Subsequently said data (OPDAT, ASDAT) can be read by means of said remote device (RD) being in the proximity of device (DEV). According to the invention said memory (MEM) is designed to be powered by means of radio waves emitted by the remote device (RD). Hence data (OPDAT, ASDAT) can even be read if the power supply (POW, BAT) is not available, because it is switched off or broken for example.

Nowadays consumers are confronted with an ever-increasing amount of data, which is presented to them. Nearly every device comprises at least a small display to output data so as to instruct or inform a user. Examples are any kind of domestic appliances such as a washing machine, a dishwasher, an oven, a mixer, a coffee machine, etc. Besides this there are a lot of devices whose destination is simply playing back data. Examples are consumer electronics such as a TV set, a radio, a CD player, a DVD player/recorder, a video tape recorder, a hard disk recorder, a set top box, etc.
In addition to data which are shown to a user there are a lot of "hidden" data, which are stored for later use and which are used under certain circumstances only. Nearly every device in this context comprises a memory for storing operating data such as error messages for instance. To support a technician, who repairs faulty devices, this memory can be read out so that the technician can see the history of the machine. Yet another example for such data are data associated with playback data played by a device. Such associated data are often referred as "meta data" or as "(file) properties". Thanks to an ever increasing bandwidth said associated data may be transmitted in addition to pure playback data (e.g. video and audio) via broadcast channels or may be stored on data carriers respectively. Hence the video and audio data of a TV program, which program needs a backward channel (e.g. for shopping or voting), may additionally be provided with associated data such as a backward address (e.g. a telephone number or an internet address). It should be noted that data in dialable format are meant here, not the data displayed on the screen of a TV-set which are only visible but not dialable. A telephone or a computer connected to the TV-set can extract the associated data, for example a telephone number in ASCI format and automatically connect to the right subscriber.
It should further be noted that in fact "hidden" data may be presented to a user at the moment of generation, meaning that data are output and stored in parallel. One example would be the temperature of a washing machine, which is output to a display of the machine as well as stored in a memory for logging reasons. But it is also imaginable that the associated data mentioned above are output to a small display of the TV set or that their presence is indicated with a small light at least.
It is the nature of the above-mentioned data that they are not always used but only occasionally. It could happen for example that a user wants to order a product a while after he has seen a TV program on a shopping channel. It could even happen that meanwhile he has switched off the TV set. If so, he has to switch on the TV set again to access the memory that stores the wanted telephone number. Coming back to operating data it could happen that a device is seriously damaged to such an extent that it cannot be switched on, maybe because the power supply is broken or an electric circuit causes a short circuit. In such a case it is well-nigh impossible to access the operating data in the memory which might be exactly what is needed to determine whether it is reasonable to repair the device or not. On the grounds that there are methods to circumvent mentioned lacks in principle, there were no intentions to solve these problems or even to recognize the problem. However, taking into consideration what was mentioned above, one can easily understand that prior art devices are very inconvenient in this respect.

Device for and method of providing operating data and/or data associated with playback data to a remote device


An energy efficient process for hydrolyzing lignocellulosic materials which comprises using a primary system by providing a start-up energy input to operating saturated steam conditions and thereafter operating the primary system with substantially constant energy input, the condition of the hydrolysing saturated steam being controlled by water injection and/or steam bleeding from the primary system. The dwell time of the solids stream in the primary system is controlled by controlling its passage with flashing off of steam into a secondary system where drying occurs together with some small measure of hydrolysis in a lower pressure superheated steam environment, there being an energy input into the secondary system using steam bled from the primary system. The output solids material stream is preferably capable of being self polymerized into a formed shape eg a board.

The present invention relates to improved processes systems plant and related product for hydrolysing and making use of hydrolysed lignocellulosic materials.
Most scientists know that many very valuable products can be made from plant fibre pulp prepared by a laboratory method known as "explosion hydrolysis". Unfortunately; in order to get $1 worth of these products, one must spend most of that $1 on heat energy and other costs. Huge amounts of research money have been applied world-wide in the quest for a commercially viable process with little success.
"Explosion" hydrolysis consists of placing a charge of wood chips or similar cellulosic materials into a strong, closed pressure vessel in order to bring a thermochemical modification. High pressure steam is passed through the material for a specified time, according to temperature. At the end of the steaming period a valve on the bottom of the vessel is opened and the hydrolysed material is "exploded" out of the vessel. What comes out of the vessel is a rather soggy, very hot, wet substance which is ready to be processed so as to utilise the various chemicals which have been liberated by the hydrolysis.
In its simplest form, explosion hydrolysis is carried out without any chemicals or additives but catalysts can be used. Explosion hydrolysis was used extensively in Germany during the war period when the shortage of chemicals meant that the economic considerations were over-ridden by a desperate need for the end products. A tremendous resurgence of interest in explosion hydrolysis also arose during the early 1970's when the costs of petro-chemicals began to sky-rocket. Large numbers of new projects were initiated at that time when it was thought that explosion hydrolysis would be rendered more competitive. With the recession in oil prices the projects were abandoned.
There is no doubt as to the value of hydrolysed ligno-cellulose fibre, but up until now, its use has been totally circumscribed in the absence of an economic, large scale production method. There has been absolutely no interest in the production of the valuable substances found in bio-mass because of a total concentration and reliance on petro-chemical. Strong incentives to increase biomass plantings in order to reverse the carbon dioxide balance coincides with the emergence of this new technology.
There is no real substitute for the use of heat in the process of hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material and the laws of thermo-dynamics ensure that there are not short-cuts as to the amount of heat which is required. The reason that the process has been uneconomic in the past is that it has been possible to use the heat only once and, at the end of each cycle, the heat has almost been totally lost to the atmosphere.
[Explosion hydrolysis was very widely practiced in the 1930's and right up to the present day to produce hardboard by the Masonite process. The practice has almost completely disappeared and been replaced by more efficient methods. Hardboard made by the Masonite process was bonded entirely with natural resins produced by the process and no synthetics were used. Unfortunately, 100 tonnes of water were needed for every one ton of fibre produced which brought enormous pollution problems].
The present invention provides a totally different apparatus in which the hydrolysis preferably proceeds within a continuous energy re-circulation system where there is a minimum of waste. Even surplus heat is available in a valuable form. The innovation represents an enormous break-through where an old, well known but previously uneconomic process has been brought into the space age. The immensely efficient, pollution-free energy system is economically competitive, no matter how low oil prices sink, making woody plant fibre biomass a certain alternative as a chemical feed material.
It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide an alternative to prior art processes, systems plant.
Accordingly in one aspect the present invention consists in a process for preparing a hydrolysed lignocelluiosic material substantially devoid of available water from a source of lignocellulosic material, said process comprising the steps of;
start up preparing a hydrolysis system for an input of lignocellulosic material by a heat exchange energy build up and water injection to provide a primary system having a hydrolysing zone of a circulating stream of saturated steam under elevated pressure and temperature,
introducing into the circulating stream once hydrolysis conditions are attained for the desired hydrolysis, a feed of lignocellulosic material to be carried as being hydrolysed in the circulating saturated steam stream to an outlet zone of the primary system,
thereafter passing from the outlet of the primary system the still heated solids stream of lignocellulosic material that has been at least substantially hydrolysed into a secondary system having a circulating hydrolysing zone of superheated steam, the passing of the solids stream between the systems resulting in the flashing off of at least some moisture at a reduced pressure to that of the primary system as the hydrolysis continues to some extent,
and at a desired dryness extracting and/or using the solids stream from the secondary system,
the process being additionally characterised in that there is a substantially constant heat exchange input into the primary system at least after start up and the adjustment of the saturated steam conditions within the primary system is by a control of the solids input (if the solids are moist), control of any further water injection into the primary system, and a control of steam bled as an energy outlet from the primary system, and being further characterised that there is no substantial free passage of saturated steam from the primary system into the superheated steam zone of the secondary system.
Preferably the passing of lignocellylosic material from the primary system to the secondary hydrolysing system is by means of an auger or screw controllable as to speed of rotation, the speed of which is finally determinative of the period of time under which solids material injected into the primary system is subjected to the hydrolysing conditions of the primary system.
Preferably the primary system is used as an energy source for attaining and/or maintaining at least in part the temperature of the secondary system.
Preferably said secondary system in use is heated solely by steam bled from the primary system and the heat of the solids stream.
Preferably the feed to said auger or screw is from the base of a cyclone.
Preferably the feed from the auger or screw is through a pressure reducing system into said secondary system adapted to minimise loss of saturated steam of the primary system.
Preferably said solids stream is taken from a cyclone of the secondary system.
Preferably said solids stream taken from the secondary system is pressed at a suitable temperature and pressure into a self polymerising form.
Preferably the circulating zone of each of the primary and secondary systems involves the use in each of at least one fan.
In a further aspect of the present invention consists in, in a two stage system for hydrolysing lignocellulosic material where hydrolysis is performed using a saturated steam carrier for the lignocellulosic material in a first stage hydrolysis system and continues into a second stage using a superheated steam carrier, a method of energy control in the system which comprises:
(a) building up energy in the first stage hydrolysis system using heat exchange transfer into the system.
(b) only once sufficient energy has been introduced into the first stage hydrolysis system commencing the controlled hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic material only then being introduced while introducing into the hydrolysis system sufficient energy via heat exchange means and water (in the lignocellulosic material or otherwise) to maintain the system in a substantially steady state while excess steam is being bled from the hydrolysis system and as the solids material is removed after having been subjected to the hydrolysing conditions for a desired time, and
(c) providing or at least maintaining the superheated steam carrier in the second stage system by flashing steam from the moisture of the substantially hydrolysed lignocellulosic material as it is transferred from the first stage hydrolysis system to the second stage hydrolysis system, the superheated steam of the second system being maintained as superheated steam by heat exchange and a bleeding of excess superheated steam from the second stage system as the substantially dry hydrolysed material is removed therefrom.
Preferably the heat exchange of said second stage hydrolysis system is with steam bled from the first stage hydrolysis system.
Preferably excess steam bled from the first stage hydrolysis system beyond that used for heat exchange of said second stage hydrolysis system is deployed elsewhere as a usable steam source.
Preferably the dry cellulosic material obtained as a product is at least in part pressed into a self polymerising form under a suitable pressure and temperature.
In still a further aspect the present invention consists in plant which in use can perform a process for preparing a hydrolysed lignocellulosic material substantially devoid of available water from a source of lignocellulosic material, said process comprising the steps of;
start up preparing a hydrolysis system for an input of lignocellulosic material by a heat exchange energy build up and water injection to provide a primary system having a hydrolysing zone of a circulating stream of saturated steam under elevated pressure and temperature,
introducing into the circulating stream once hydrolysis conditions are attained for the desired hydrolysis, a feed of lignocellulosic material to be carried as being hydrolysed in the circulating saturated steam stream to an outlet zone of the primary system,
thereafter passing from the outlet of the primary system the still heated solids stream of lignocellulosic material that has been at least substantially hydrolysed into a secondary system having a circulating hydrolysing zone of superheated steam, the passing of the solids stream between the systems resulting in the flashing off of at least some moisture at a reduced pressure to that of the primary system as the hydrolysis continues to some extent,
and at a desired dryness extracting and/or using the solids stream from the secondary system,
the process being additionally characterised in that there is a substantially constant heat exchange input into the primary system at least after start up and the adjustment of the saturated steam conditions within the primary system is by a control of the solids input (if the solids are moist), control of any further water injection into the primary system, and a control of steam bled as an energy outlet from the primary system, and being further characterised that there is no substantial free passage of saturated steam from the primary system into the superheated steam zone of the secondary system, said plant comprising;
a primary hydrolysis plant having a circulatory hydrolysis zone to operate at an elevated pressure and temperature, an inlet for lignocellulosic solids, a controllable water injection means into said zone, a bleed off valve for excess steam from said zone, a solids outlet, fan means to cause a circulatory movement of steam in said zone and entrainment of the lignocellulosic solids in the stream from the inlet thereof to an outlet, and a cyclone to gravity accumulate the solids at the outlet,
a secondary hydrolysis plant having a circulatory hydrolysis/drying zone to operate at a lower pressure than the primary hydrolysis zone, an inlet to receive into the hydrolysis/drying zone the solids from the outlet of said primary zone, an outlet for superheated steam, a solids outlet, fan means to cause a circulatory movement of steam in said zone and entrainment of the solids in the stream from the inlet to said zone to the solids outlet, and a cyclone to gravity direct the solids to the outlet,
an auger or screw including means controllable as to speed of rotation to feed solids materials between the outlet of the primary zone to the inlet of the secondary hydrolysis plant without a substantial passage of saturated steam from the first zone,
heat exchange means for heating said primary zone,
heat exchange means for heating said secondary hydrolysis plant,
and means to control as required for the process to be performed the dwell time of solids and steam conditions in at least the primary plant.
Preferably at least some of the steam released from the primary hydrolysis plant by said bleed off valve provides a heat input to said heat exchange means for heating said secondary hydrolysis plant.
Preferably said means to control dwell time and steam conditions controls the plant such that it performs a process whereby there can be an energy control in the system whereby there is;
(a) on start up a building up of energy in the primary hydrolysis system using said heat exchange means thereof,
(b) only once sufficient energy has been introduced into the primary hydrolysis system commencing the controlled hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic material only then being introduced while introducing into the primary hydrolysis system sufficient energy via said heat exchange means of the primary hydrolysis system and water (in the lignocellulosic material or otherwise) to maintain the system in a substantially steady state while excess steam is being bled from the hydrolysis system and as the solids material is removed after having been subjected to the hydrolysing conditions for a desired time,
(c) providing or at least maintaining the superheated steam carrier in the secondary hydrolysis system by flashing steam from the moisture of the substantially hydrolysed lignocellulosic material as it is transferred from the primary hydrolysis system to the secondary hydrolysis system, the superheated steam of the second system being maintained as superheated steam by the heat exchange means of the secondary plant and a bleeding of excess superheated steam from the secondary system, and
(d) removing substantially dry hydrolysed material from the secondary system.
Preferably said auger or screw including means includes a device to minimise the substantial passage of saturated steam from the primary hydrolysis zone into the secondary hydrolysis plant, such apparatus comprising;
means defining a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port,
a first valving element disposed in said chamber movable to open or close said inlet port,
a second valving element disposed in said chamber movable to open or close said inlet port,
means whereby said valving element can be caused to move as required,
the construction and arrangement being such that in use solids from the primary zone under a fluid pressure can enter said chamber via the inlet port while said outlet port is closed and the inlet port is closed before the outlet port is opened to allow said solids under the fluid pressure of the primary zone to egress therefrom into the secondary hydrolysis zone.
In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a formed product created from a self polymerising hydrolysed lignocellulosic material under a form creating pressure and temperature wherein said hydrolysed lignocellulosic material has been prepared by a process for preparing a hydrolysed lignocellulosic material substantially devoid of available water from a source of lignocellulosic material, said process comprising the steps of;
start up preparing a hydrolysis system for an input of lignocellulosic material by a heat exchange energy build up and water injection to provide a primary system having a hydrolysing zone of a circulating stream of saturated steam under elevated pressure and temperature,
introducing into the circulating stream once hydrolysis conditions are attained for the desired hydrolysis, a feed of lignocellulosic material to be carried as being hydolysed in the circulating saturated steam stream to an outlet zone of the primary system,
thereafter passing from the outlet of the primary system the still heated solids stream of lignocellulosic material that has been at least substantially hydrolysed into a secondary system having a circulating hydrolysing zone of superheated steam, the passing of the solids stream between the systems resulting in the flashing off of at least some moisture at a reduced pressure to that of the primary system as the hydrolysis continues to some extent,
and at a desired dryness extracting and/or using the solids stream from the secondary system,
the process being additionally characterised in that there is a substantially constant heat exchange input into the primary system at least after start up and the adjustment of the saturated steam conditions within the primary system is by a control of the solids input (if the solids are moist), control of any further water injection into the primary system, and a control of steam bled as an energy outlet from the primary system, and being further characterised that there is no substantial free passage of saturated steam from the primary system into the superheated steam zone of the secondary system.
In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a formed product created from a self polymerising hydrolysed lignocellulosic material under a form creating pressure and temperature wherein said hydrolysed lignocellulosic material has been provided from a two stage system for hydrolising lignocellulosic material where hydrolysis is performed using a saturated steam carrier for the lignocellulosic material in a first stage hydrolysis system and continues into a second stage using a superheated steam carrier, wherein there was performed a method of energy control in the system which comprises:
(a) building up energy in the first stage hydrolysis system using heat exchange transfer into the system,
(b) only once sufficient energy has been introduced into the first stage hydrolysis system, commencing the controlled hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic material which is only then introduced, while introducing into the hydrolysis system sufficient energy via heat exchange means and water (in the lignocellulosic material or otherwise) to maintain the system in a substantially steady state while excess steam is being bled from the hydrolysis system and as the solids material is removed after having been subjected to the hydrolysing conditions for a desired time, and
(c) providing, or at least maintaining, the superheated steam carrier in the second stage system by flashing steam from the moisture of the substantially hydrolysed lignocellulosic material as it is transferred from the first stage hydrolysis system to the second stage hydrolysis system, the superheated steam of the second system being maintained as superheated steam by heat exchange and a bleeding of excess superheated steam from the second stage system as the substantially dry hydrolysed material is removed therefrom.
Preferably the product of either of the preceding two paragraphs is a board or panel.

Process for preparing a hydrolysed lingnocellulosic material


An entertainment system control arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a graphical LCD with a configurable touch screen. The graphical LCD is disposed on the steering wheel. A processor is communicatively coupled to the graphical LCD. The processor prompts a user to select a function to assign to the configurable touch screen. The processor assigns the selected function to the configurable touch screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic controls and displays within a motor vehicle, and, more particularly, to electronic controls and displays on a steering wheel of a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Steering wheels typically have fixed buttons with permanent functions and permanent types which the driver may or may not find useful. That is, current steering wheels provide fixed-function controls which are usually in the form of pushbuttons or scroll wheels which are not configurable by the user.

Configurable touch screen LCD steering wheel controls

Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America


A connector-supporting element of a main frame of an IC card and a sub-frame receive holding parts of a connector. The connector-supporting element has barriers having a height of at least one-half that of the holding parts for receiving the barriers and a force applied in the direction along bonded surfaces of the connector-supporting element and the sub-frame. Oblique surfaces are respectively provided on each of the barriers and there is a positional deviation in the parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanism for supporting and mounting a connector on a main frame of an IC card together with a circuit substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional IC card. An IC card 10 comprises a main frame 2 and a circuit substrate 4 and a connector 1, both of which are mounted on the frame 2. A circuit pattern 4b on one or both of the sides of the circuit substrate 4 connects a plurality of electronic parts 4a mounted on the pattern 4b. The circuit substrate 4 is supported by the inner side of a circuit substrate supporting/holding part 2a of the main frame 2 and fixed thereto by caulking (not shown in the drawing) or the like.
On the other hand, the connector 1 comprises a connector body part 1b having a plurality of external connection terminals 1a and holding parts 1c respectively on both sides of the body part 1b for mounting the connector 1. The connector 1 is separate from the circuit substrate 4b, and each of the external connection terminals 1a is electrically connected to the circuit pattern 4b of the substrate 4 by a lead wire (not shown) or the like. The external connection terminals 1a are exposed to air from the terminal surface of the connector body part 1b, which surface forms a surface on the insertion side of the IC card 10, so as to be connectable from the outside. The lower connector-supporting part 2b of the main frame 2 is previously formed into a shape which engages the lower half of the connector 1 so that the connector 1 engages the connector-supporting part 2b. A sub-frame 3 which is previously formed into a shape which engages the upper half of the connector 1 is fixed to the connector-supporting part 2b by an adhesive 7, with the connector 1 held therebetween (refer to FIG. 7), whereby the connector 1 is mounted. FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view taken along an arrow B in FIG. 6 and shows the holding parts 1c of the connector 1 engaged with the connector-supporting part 2b and the sub-frame 3 and fixed thereby after the IC card has been assembled.
Metal panels 5 and 6 are bonded, by an adhesive (not shown), to respective sides of the circuit substrate supporting/holding part 2a of the main frame 2 on which the circuit substrate 4 is mounted to cover both sides of the circuit substrate 4. The panels bonded respectively extend over the whole front and rear sides of the IC card 10, which include the surfaces of the connector supporting part 2b of the main frame 2, the sub-frame 3 and the connector body part 1b.
The state wherein the connector 1 engages with the connector-supporting part 2b and the sub-frame 3 is described in detail below. The connector body part 1b of the connector 1 has substantially the same thickness (height) as the circuit substrate supporting/holding part 2a of the main frame 2. Each of the holding parts 1c provided on both sides of the body part 1b has a width along the direction of card insertion and a thickness, both of which are smaller than those of the body part 1b. Both the connector supporting part 2b and the sub-frame 3 have a thickness (height) of about half that of the circuit substrate supporting/holding part 2a or the body part 1b of the connector 1.
The connector supporting part 2b has an opening 2c to engage the lower half of the body part 1b of the connector 1 and recesses 2d to respectively engage with the lower halves of the holding parts 1c. The sub-frame 3 has an opening 3a to engage with the upper half of the body part 1b of the connector 1 and recesses 3b to respectively engage the upper halves of the holding parts 1c. The opening 2c and the recesses 2d have the same shapes as the opening 3a and the recesses 3b, respectively.
The sub-frame 3 is bonded to the connector supporting part 2b so that the connector 1 is held between the connector supporting part 2b and the sub-frame 3 and fixed therebetween. The holding parts 1c of the connector 1 are respectively held and fixed between the upper and lower recesses 2d, 3b, and the body part 1b engages the openings 2c, 3a and is fixed thereby.
Since the conventional mechanism for supporting and fixing a connector in an IC card has the above configuration, the mechanism has the problem that, for example, when the card is dropped, if force is applied to the portion fixing the connector, particularly, in the direction along the bonded surfaces of the connector supporting part of the main frame and the sub-frame, there is the danger of separation of the sub-frame from the connector supporting part and disassembly of the card.
The conventional mechanism has another problem when the connector is mounted during the process of assembling the IC card, much time is taken for adjusting the positions of the holding parts of the connector and the recesses of the connector supporting part and the sub-frame because of a small allowable error of engagement therebetween.

IC card connector supporting/fixing mechanism


A web material containing one or more active agents and methods for making same are provided.

Web materials are known in the art. For example, a polyester nonwoven that is impregnated and/or coated with a detergent composition is known in the art as shown in prior art FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in prior art FIGS. 1 and 2, a known nonwoven substrate 10 is made of dissolvable fibers 12 wherein the nonwoven substrate 10 is coated and/or impregnated with an additive 14, such as an active agent, rather than the additive 14, such as an active agent, being present in the dissolvable fibers 12. An example of such a web material is commercially available as Purex® Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets from The Dial Corporation.
Further, an article of manufacture formed from a cast solution of a detergent composition is also known in the art and is commercially available as Dizolve® Laundry Sheets commercially available from Dizolve Group Corporation.
However, such known web materials and/or articles of manufacture exhibit negatives that make them problematic for consumers. For example, the known web materials and/or articles of manufacture are relatively stiff and/or inflexible as measured by the Plate Stiffness Test Method described herein. Further, the web materials and/or articles of manufacture typically deliver such a low level of detergent composition and/or detergent actives that the cleaning performance is less than desired by consumers. Another negative with is that the web materials and/or articles of manufacture may leave remnants of the web material and/or articles of manufacture after the washing operation, for example the polyester nonwoven substrate does not dissolve during the washing operation.
In light of the foregoing, it is clear that there is a need for a web material that overcomes the negatives associated with known web materials and/or articles of manufacture described above.

Fibrous structure and method for making same


The invention relates to a rechargeable battery with a battery housing having a rear wall with a recess which extends as far as an end wall of the battery housing and has a base side and narrow sides facing each other, the base side continuing via a step into the outer side of the rear wall, and a contact assembly which is covered by a cover extending from the step being positioned at the step. In order to further develop the battery so that when the battery is connected to an electrical appliance the contact assembly is protected against splash water, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that the cover form a contact housing which completely surrounds the contact assembly in circumferential direction and has on its side facing away from the step an insertion opening surrounded by a circumferential rim of the contact housing, which forms a sealing surface.

The invention relates to a rechargeable battery with a battery housing having a rear wall with a recess which extends as far as an end wall of the battery housing and has a base side and narrow sides facing each other, the base side continuing via a step into the outer side of the rear wall, and a contact assembly which is covered by a cover extending from the step being positioned at the step.
Such rechargeable batteries are used in cordless electrical appliances, in particular, in power tools, for example, in battery-operated vacuum cleaners. The batteries are releasably connectable to the electrical appliance and can be separated from the electrical appliance for charging and charged by a charger. The batteries have a multiplicity of cells arranged in the battery housing, and a contact assembly is used to establish an electrical connection between the battery and the electrical appliance or the charger.
A battery is known from published application DE 102 29 980 A1, wherein the contact assembly is in the form of contact elements arranged openly at the rear wall. The contact elements are easily contactable from the outside, but they are not protected against mechanical or other action thereon.
A battery of the kind mentioned at the outset is known from published application DE 10 2004 036 209 A1. To protect the contact assembly against mechanical impairment a cover is used, which covers the contact assembly and is arranged together with the contact assembly in a recess of the rear wall. As a result, the contact assembly can be protected to a considerable extent against mechanical impairment, but the danger does exist that during operation of the electrical appliance the contact assembly will come into contact with splash water that may occur. This can cause an electrical failure.
The object of the present invention is to further develop a rechargeable battery of the kind mentioned at the outset so that when connecting the battery to an electrical appliance the contact assembly can be protected in a constructionally simple manner against splash water.


A heat pump hot-water supply system includes a heat pump hot-water supply device, an electricity storage device, and a control device. The control device determines an operating time zone of the heat pump hot-water supply device based on power conversion efficiency of the electricity storage device, coefficients of performance of the heat pump hot-water supply device of a current day and a next day, and an electricity rate structure of a commercial power system.

A conventional heat pump hot-water supply system is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The conventional system disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a heat pump hot-water supply device that is operated with AC power supplied from a commercial power system, and an electricity storage device that converts an AC power of the commercial power system into a DC power to store the DC power and also convert the stored DC power into an AC power to supply the AC power. Accordingly, the AC power of the commercial power system is stored in the electricity storage device in the nighttime in which the electricity rate is lower than the daytime electricity rate, so that power required to operate the heat pump hot-water supply device during the daytime is supplied from the electricity storage device, thereby reducing the operating cost of the heat pump hot-water supply device.
However, a coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump hot-water supply device is associated with the outside air temperature, that is, the COP increases in proportion to an increase in the outside air temperature.
Meanwhile, a loss of the electricity storage device occurs due to power conversion upon storing (charging) and supplying (discharging) power in and from the electricity storage device. Taking into consideration the power loss due to the power conversion, when the outside air temperature is very high during the nighttime as in the summer season, the case where hot water obtained by operating the heat pump hot-water supply device during the nighttime is stored into a hot-water storage tank may reduce the operating cost (electricity price), compared to the case where the heat pump hot-water supply device is operated during the daytime using power stored in the electricity storage device.
Also, the power consumption of the heat pump hot-water supply device is comparatively much higher than that of electric devices such as TV sets or washing machines. Thus, in the case of a house provided with a solar light power generation system, when power generated by the solar light power generation system is preferentially consumed by the heat pump hot-water supply device, a deficient amount of power is supplied to the other electric devices. Hence, the amount of power supply from the commercial power system cannot but increase, undesirably increasing the electricity price.
Also, in the case of a house provided with a solar heat-assisted water heater, when the amount of hot water supplied from the solar heat-assisted water heater becomes deficient, the heat pump hot-water supply device should be operated using power supplied from the commercial power system, undesirably increasing the electricity price.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-164124

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A circuit for measuring current in a power MOS transistor (M0) comprises second (M1) and third (M2) transistors in series of the same type and same technology as, but having a smaller surface than, the power transistor and arranged in parallel on the latter. The two series transistors have their gates connected to the gate of the power transistor. The current in transistor (M2) which is connected to the reference electrode of the power transistor is measured.

The present invention relates to measurement of current in a power transistor, and more particularly in a power MOS transistor, constituted by a plurality of parallel elementary cells.
FIG. 1 shows one of the most conventional circuits for measuring current in a power transistor MO. This circuit consists in arranging a measurement resistor R.sub.S between the power transistor terminal connected to voltage V.sub.S (the source) and the reference potential. The other terminal of the power transistor is connected to a high voltage through a load R.sub.L wherein flows a current I.sub.L, identical in that case to the current in the power transistor. The measurement of voltage V.sub.S across resistor R.sub.S gives an indication of the current value.
This circuit exhibits several drawbacks.
The first drawback lies in the fact that resistor R.sub.S is constantly in series with the power MOS transistor and causes an increase in the dissipated power which is not negligible since resistor R.sub.S must have a sufficient value so that the voltage across its terminals is detectable.
Another drawback of this circuit is that resistor R.sub.S is liable to vary with temperature or differ from one manufacturing batch to another in a way independent of the possible variations of the power MOS transistor characteristics. As a result, one obtains an inaccurate determination of its value and therefore of the current being measured.
In order to avoid the first drawback, prior art circuits such as the one illustrated by FIG. 2 have been used. In this figure, the power MOS transistor M0 is shown The upper terminal (drain) of transistor M0 is connected to a positive supply terminal through the load R.sub.L, the supply of which is to be controlled. The series connection of a transistor M1 and a resistor R.sub.S is arranged in parallel with the power transistor M0, the gates of transistors M0 and M1 being interconnected to voltage V.sub.GS. It is clear that the first drawback is avoided, but the second drawback, that is, the possible fluctuations of resistor R.sub.S independent of the fluctuations of the other circuit elements is not eliminated.

Circuit for measuring current in a power MOS transistor


In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus to separate a signal component of a cerebrospinal fluid from other signal components in the acquisition of MR images of an examination subject, a first signal acquisition with spin echo-based signals is executed, in which the signal components of the cerebrospinal fluid and the other signal components have the same phase position, and a second signal acquisition with spin echo-based signals is then executed, in which the signal components of the cerebrospinal fluid and the other signal components have an opposite phase position. An MR image with signals of the other signal components is determined based on the two signal acquisitions with the signal component of the cerebrospinal fluid is significantly suppressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method to separate a signal component of a cerebrospinal fluid from other signal components in the acquisition of MR images of an examination subject. The invention is particularly suitable for use in the acquisition of MR images of the brain.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless liquid that fills the cerebral ventricles and the spinal canal and protects the brain and the spinal cord from shocks, and serves as a medium for material exchange. Cerebrospinal fluid has a long T2 relaxation time which leads to a very bright signal in T2 weighted images of the brain. Pathologies in the brain, for example multiple sclerosis (MS), likewise have a relatively long T2 relaxation time, such that the strong signal of the cerebrospinal fluid can occlude the signals of the pathological tissue in T2-weighted images of the brain. For this reason the signal portion of cerebrospinal fluid should be suppressed for a precise diagnosis.
In order to eliminate the CSF signal portions, it is known to use an IR (inversion recovery) preparation pulse in connection with a long inversion time TI due to the long T1 relaxation time of the cerebrospinal fluid. However, this long IR preparation phase increases the total acquisition time of the images to a significant degree and leads to a reduced contrast between white and grey brain matter. For this reason the application of an IR preparation for T2-weighted images with CSF suppression is not possible.
Furthermore, M. Essig et al. "Assessment of Cerebral Gliomas by a New Dark Fluid Sequence HIRE (High Intensity Reduction)" in Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med. 8, 2000, Page 386 discloses acquiring two images with different contrast in a single measurement, wherein one image is T2-weighted while the other image is very strongly T2-weighted. Almost exclusively CSF signal contributions exist in the very strongly T2-weighted image due to the long T2 time. In this method, the second image is used as a scale for the cerebrospinal fluid, wherein a CSF-suppressed T2-weighted image is generated by a subtraction of the two images. However, since pathologies as well as multiple sclerosis have a relatively long T2 time, the pathological signals can likewise be reduced by the subtraction of the two images.

Magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus with phase-sensitive fluid suppression


Both a method and a use by this method of an apparatus for detecting blocking of a direct current motor (10), in particular a direct current motor (10) for a blower of a motor vehicle, is presented. The direct current motor (10) is deactivated by a computer unit (20) with the aid of a switching means (18) for a defined time period (Toff). Within the defined time period (Toff), at least one subsequent time (ta, tb), an induced voltage (U) of the direct current motor (10) is measured and forwarded to the computer unit (20). The direct current motor (10) remains deactivated if the induced voltage (U) undershoots a predetermined threshold value (Uth), or the direct current motor (10) is reactivated if the induced voltage (U) of the direct current motor (10) does not undershoot the predetermined threshold value (Uth).

The invention relates both to a method and to a use by this method of an apparatus for detecting blocking of a direct current motor, in particular a direct current motor for a blower of a motor vehicle.
From German Patent Disclosure DE-A 40 40 847, a method for monitoring and triggering an electronically commutated direct current motor is known, in which the running of the motor is monitored by measuring, via a measuring resistor, a frequency and/or a voltage that corresponds to either the current picked up by the motor or the frequency. In the event of blocking or nonstandard running of the motor, an error signal is generated, which indicates an overshooting or undershooting of predetermined limit values on the part of the measured frequency or voltage. In order to achieve motor startup with high certainty even in the event of a tendency to blocking or with starting errors on the part of the motor, the motor is repeatedly switched off and on again if an error signal is present.
From European Patent Disclosure EP-A 0 518 538, a regulating system for an electrically commutated direct current motor of a breathing device is also known, with which the speed of the motor is monitored on the basis of the induced voltage (back EMF) generated by the motor. To that purpose, it is provided that the voltage supply to the motor be briefly interrupted at intervals. Moreover, the current of the motor is also monitored, by means of the voltage that drops across a resistor connected in series with the motor. From the monitored signals, a virtually constant flow of the breathing air can be assured by the regulating system even in the event of increasing blocking of the flow rate as a consequence of clogging air filters.

Method and apparatus for detecting blocking of a direct current motor


A parking brake circuit for a hydraulically driven vehicle which prevents the occurrence of an erroneous operation at the time when the vehicle travels on a downward slope. The parking brake circuit comprises first and second main circuits (2, 3) for supplying hydraulic operating fluid into a hydaulically driven motor (1) for traveling the vehicle. A counterbalance valve (4) provided between these main circuits for feeding hydraulic operating fluid on the side of high hydraulic pressure into a pressure receiving chamber (6a) of a parking brake actuating actuator (6). A conduit (5) for connecting an outlet port of the counterbalance valve to the pressure receiving chamber, and a slow return valve (12) are provided in the conduit so as to control a flow of hydraulic operating fluid directed from the pressure receiving chamber to the counterbalance valve.

Heretofore, a parking brake circuit as shown in FIG. 1 has been known. This prior art parking brake circuit is constructed such that, in order to introduce hydraulic operating fluid having a high pressure into a conduit 5, first and second main circuits 2, 3 are connected to first and second ports 1a, 1b of a hydraulically driven motor 1 for driving a vehicle, respectively, and further a counterbalance valve 4 is provided between the main circuits 2, 3, and still further one end of the conduit 5 is connected to a pressure receiving chamber 6a of an actuator 6 for actuating a parking brake. The parking brake circuit is adapted to release a parking brake 7 when hydraulic operating fluid is supplied into the pressure receiving chamber 6a of the parking brake actuating actuator 6 and, on the other hand, to operate or apply the parking brake 7 by the action of a compression spring and the like when the hydraulic operating fluid is discharged from the pressure receiving chamber 6a. In addition, in the parking brake circuit when the hydraulically driven motor 1 is driven by supplying hydraulic operating fluid through an operation valve not shown into either one of the first and the second main circuit 2, 3, the parking brake 7 is released. On the other hand, when the rotating operation of the hydraulically driven motor 1 is stopped by interrupting the supply of hydraulic operating fluid into the first and the second main circuits 2, 3, the parking brake 7 is applied or operated.
In the above described parking brake circuit, since the parking brake is released by the utilization of hydraulic operating fluid within either one of the first and the second main circuits 2, 3, which has become a high hydraulic pressure side. When either one of the first and the second main circuits 2, 3, on the side of high hydraulic pressure, becomes a low pressure (i.e., less than such a hydraulic pressure as releases the parking brake) because of a pumping operation of the hydraulically driven motor 1 caused, for example, by the vehicle travelling on a downward slope, the parking brake 7 is rendered operative undesirably so as to stop the rotating operation of the hydraulically driven motor 1.

Parking brake circuit for hydraulically driven vehicle


A suspension bridge is supported by a cable having one or more cable bands. An anti-rusting device is comprised of one or more covers, each of the covers including an inner peripheral surface and covering the cable so as to leave a gap between the inner peripheral surface and an outer periphery of the cable, the gap being capable of conveying a gas along the outer periphery of the cable; and a ventilator configured to dry and feed the gas into the gap, the ventilator air-tightly communicating with the gap.

As types of bridges in which cables made of steel or such support girders, suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges are widely known. In a suspension bridge, hanger ropes are vertically hung down at intervals from a main cable that spans bridge towers and then the hanger ropes support a girder of the bridge.
Suspension bridges are advantageous in embodying bridges of great length. Thus many bridges of great length crossing over straights or great rivers are constructed as suspension bridges. To bear great weight of very long girders, a number of steel wires are densely bundled together to form a strand and a number of such strands are further bundled together to form a main cable thereof in general. In between adjacent strands, and further in between adjacent steel wires, a great number of very narrow gaps exist. If rainwater intrudes into these narrow gaps, the rainwater accumulates over a long duration and therefore causes corrosion of the cable. A main cable, after once being laid, is actually irreplaceable and therefore degradation by corrosion is a very significant problem. More specifically, in regard to a lifetime of a bridge of great length, prevention of rusting of its cable is an important technical problem.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H08-177012 discloses an art for preventing rusting of a main cable, in which strands are respectively enclosed in seal pipes respectively ventilated with dried air.

Device and method for preventing rusting of cable for supporting bridge


In an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, if an originating terminal notifies necessity or unnecessity of transmitting a fault notification signal through a call set-up message, the content of the notification is notified to respective node devices on a target virtual path (VP) in the procedures of transmission/reception of a call control message. Each of the node devices makes a virtual channel (VC) table of a line interface 100 corresponding to the VP store the information indicating necessity or unnecessity to transmit a fault notification signal. When a fault arises in the VP, one of the node devices on the downstream side detects the fault, its interface connected to the fault VP sees the VC table and determines the necessity or unnecessity of fault management operation and maintenance (OAM) cell support with respect to respective VCs multiplexed on the fault VP, so as to issue a fault management OAM cell with respect to only VCs regarded as necessary.

The present invention relates to an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, a node device such as an ATM exchange applied thereto, and an alarm notification control method. More particularly present invention relates to an ATM network, a node device and an alarm notification cell transfer control method having a control function to perform selective transmission and restriction of an alarm notification signal for every Virtual Connection (VC) multiplexed on a fault Virtual Path (VP).
In the recommendation I.610 "B-ISDN operation and maintenance principles and functions" of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) approved in WTSC (World Telecommunication Standardization Conference) in March 1993, an alarm notification method for "Permanent Virtual Connection (PVC)" that is, processing method of an alarm notification OAM (Operation and Maintenance cell), is prescribed. In PVC, holding time of a connection set up from an operation system is relatively long (normally, at least several hours or more).
In the ITU-T I.610, however, there is no prescription about an alarm notification method for "Switched Virtual Connection (SVC)" in which holding time of a connection set up by a call control processor of an exchange every time a call is generated is relatively short.
According to the recommendations of ITU-T I.610, when a fault of a Virtual Path (VP) is detected during the period of connection set-up, the processing of fault detection notification will be performed upon PVCs formed on a fault VP (hereinafter VCs: describing the processing on Virtual Channels by way of example) in the following procedures.
FIG. 4 shows a portion of an ATM network where an originating VC user terminal 401 and a terminating VC user terminal 405 are connected with each other through an originating node 402, a transit node 403 and a terminating node 404. Then, assume that a fault arises at a place designated by the x-mark 421 on a Virtual Path (VP) having an upstream Virtual Channel (VC) 419 where a signal (ATM cell) is transferred from the originating VC user terminal 401 to the terminating VC user terminal 405.
The above VP fault (a fault of a lower layer than the VP, or a fault of the VP itself) is detected by the transit node 403 adjacent to the downstream side of the fault place. The transit node 403 transmits a VC-AIS (VC-Alarm Indication Signal) cell 422 for alarm notification toward the downstream of the VC 419 multiplexed on the fault VP. The VC-AIS cell 422 is terminated at the terminating VC user terminal (first device) which is to be an end point of the upstream VC 419.
Recognizing a fault on the VC through reception of the above VC-AIS cell, the first device transmits a VC-RDI (VC-Remote Defect Indication) cell 423 to a downstream VC 420 paired with the fault VC (upstream VC 419). Although the cell 423 is described as "VC-FERF: VC-Far End Receive Failure" in the above-mentioned ITU-T I.610, it has been agreed that the title "FERF" is altered to the title "RDI".
This VC-RDI cell 423 is terminated at the originating VC user terminal (second device) which is to be an end point of the downstream VC 420. The second device detects the VC-RDI cell 423 so as to recognize that there is a fault place on the way of the upstream VC 419 which is a transmission side to this device.
In the current circumstance in which there are no recommendations in ITU-T I.610, however, this fault detection notification method in the aforementioned PVC is applied as it is to SVC having shorter holding time of a connection. In this case, VC user terminals are compelled to have a function to deal with a fault management OAM cell (VC-AIS/RDI cell) even in SVC communication in which holding time of a connection is so short that the probability of a fault is small.
If VC user terminals performing communication by SVC are allowed to have no function for dealing with a fault management OAM cell in order to eliminate useless functions and simplify the structure of the terminals, VC user terminals having function for dealing with a fault management OAM cell and these VC user terminals having no function therefor are allowed to exist in the same network and, accordingly, each of the node devices constituting the ATM network is required to have the faculty to deal with both VCs having necessity to transfer VC-AIS/RDI cells and VCs having no necessity to transfer VC-AIS/RDI cells when a fault is detected. In such a situation, the following problems arise:
(1) how the necessity or unnecessity to transfer VC-AIS/RDI is notified from a VC user terminal to a node device; PA1 (2) how the necessity or unnecessity to transfer VC-AIS/RDI in every VC is notified between node devices; and PA1 (3) how the necessity or unnecessity to transfer VC-AIS/RDI in every VC is judged in each of the node devices.

Node device and alarm notification control method for ATM network


The present invention relates to spacers that are configured to promote fusion. Windows or openings in the sidewalls of the fusion spacers may be provided to allow a physician to view the treated area to confirm that fusion has occurred or to check on the progress of treatment. Fusion spacers of the invention may have two or more pairs of openings or windows that allow viewing of the treated area from different perspectives.

The vertebrate spine is the axis of the skeleton on which all of the body parts "hang". In humans, the normal spine has seven cervical, twelve thoracic and five lumbar segments. The lumbar spine sits upon the sacrum, which then attaches to the pelvis, and in turn is supported by the hip and leg bones. The bony vertebral bodies of the spine are separated by intervertebral discs, which act as joints but allow known degrees of flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation.
The typical vertebra has a thick anterior bone mass called the vertebral body, with a neural (vertebral) arch that arises from the posterior surface of the vertebral body. The centra of adjacent vertebrae are supported by intervertebral discs. Each neural arch combines with the posterior surface of the vertebral body and encloses a vertebral foramen. The vertebral foramina of adjacent vertebrae are aligned to form a vertebral canal, through which the spinal sac, cord and nerve rootlets pass. The portion of the neural arch which extends posteriorly and acts to protect the spinal cord's posterior side is known as the lamina. Projecting from the posterior region of the neural arch is the spinous process.
The intervertebral disc primarily serves as a mechanical cushion permitting controlled motion between vertebral segments of the axial skeleton. The normal disc is a unique, mixed structure, comprised of three component tissues: the nucleus pulpous ("nucleus"), the annulus fibrosus ("anulus") and two vertebral end plates. The two vertebral end plates are composed of thin cartilage overlying a thin layer of hard, cortical bone which attaches to the spongy, richly vascular, cancellous bone of the vertebral body. The end plates thus act to attach adjacent vertebrae to the disc. In other words, a transitional zone is created by the end plates between the malleable disc and the bony vertebrae.
The spinal disc and/or vertebral bodies may be displaced or damaged due to trauma, disease, degenerative defects, or wear over an extended period of time. One result of this displacement or damage to a spinal disc or vertebral body may be chronic back pain.
A disc herniation occurs when the anulus fibers are weakened or torn and the inner tissue of the nucleus becomes permanently bulged, distended, or extruded out of its normal, internal anulus confines. The mass of a herniated or "slipped" nucleus tissue can compress a spinal nerve, resulting in leg pain, loss of muscle control, or even paralysis. Alternatively, with discal degeneration, the nucleus loses its water binding ability and deflates, as though the air had been let out of a tire. Subsequently, the height of the nucleus decreases causing the anulus to buckle in areas where the laminated plies are loosely bonded. As these overlapping laminated plies of the anulus begin to buckle and separate, either circumferential or radial anular tears may occur, which may contribute to persistent or disabling back pain. Adjacent, ancillary spinal facet joints will also be forced into an overriding position, which may create additional back pain.
Whenever the nucleus tissue is herniated or removed by surgery, the disc space will narrow and may lose much of its normal stability. In many cases, to alleviate back pain from degenerated or herniated discs, the disc is removed along with all or part of at least one neighboring vertebrae and is replaced by an implant that promotes fusion of the remaining bony anatomy. Some examples of such implants include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,520,993, 5,893,889, 5,683,465, 5,674,294, 5,458,643, 5,306,309, and 4,579,769.
While this treatment may help alleviate the pain once the vertebrae have been successfully fused together, there remains the possibility that the surgical procedure may not successfully or fully bring about the intended fusion. The success or failure of spinal fusion may depend upon several factors. For instance, the spacer—or implant or cage—used to fill the space left by the removed disc and bony anatomy must be sufficiently strong to support the spine under a wide range of loading conditions. The spacer should also be configured so that it is likely to remain in place once it has been positioned in the spine by the surgeon. Additionally, the material used for the spacer should be a biocompatible material and should have a configuration that promotes bony ingrowth.
As a result, the design of the implant should provide sufficient rigidity and strength to resist deformation when loading forces are applied to it. Likewise, the implant should sufficiently resist sliding or movement of the implant as a result of torsional or shearing loads. Often, these parameters lead designers to select predominantly solid structures made of bone or of radio opaque materials such as titanium.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,823 describes an intervertebral implant made of cortical ring cut from a diaphysis of a long bone. The implant is generally solid with a through-hole extending from the top surface of the implant to the bottom surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,108 likewise illustrates how the design parameters described above often lead to a predominantly solid structure. The patent describes an interbody fusion implant having a top, bottom, front, back, and sides. A large through-hole is provided from the top surface to the bottom, while the front, back, and sides only have substantially smaller openings.
While it is generally known that providing a through-hole from the top to bottom surfaces helps promote bone growth in the treated area, the structure of the front, back, and side walls often substantially obscure or do not permit confirmation that fusion is taking place as desired. This difficulty of subsequently confirming that fusion is adequately taking place is particularly problematic when the spacer is made of radio opaque materials. Thus, while the use of radio opaque materials can be beneficial for providing greater structural rigidity of the spacer and for helping the physician to identify the position of the implant during insertion, these materials can have the disadvantage of limiting the ability to later confirm the implant has served its intended purpose of fusing the treated area.
Another disadvantage that results from prior art spacer designs is that of solid sidewalls or sidewalls with limited openings limits fusion of the treated area principally to the opening on the upper and lower sides of the spacer, if one is provided. Thus, while a spacer having an essentially closed or solid structure may maintain rigidity of the spacer, it does not provide optimal conditions for fusion to take place.
Instrumentation and specialized tools for insertion of an intervertebral implant is yet another design parameter to consider when designing a spacer. Spinal fusion procedures can present several challenges because of the small clearances around the spacer when it is being inserted into position. For instance, the instrumentation used may securely grip the implant on opposing sides or surfaces. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,933, for example, the superior and inferior surfaces have one or more regions in which no gripping teeth are present. These protrusion-free zones enable the implant to be grasped and manipulated by elongate rectangular blades. Notably, these protrusion-free zones are not formed as channels cut into the surface of the implant in order to maintain the strength and integrity of the implant so that it is less prone to failure. Thus, the clearance required in order to insert the spacer must be higher than the spacer itself in order to accommodate the instrumentation of the '933 patent. For this reason, distraction of the treated area typically is greater than the implant itself.
Similarly, when the gripping tools used to manipulate and insert the implant are on the sides of the spacer, additional clearance typically is needed in order to accommodate the added width of the insertion tool blades. Such increases in height or width of the profile of the spacer when coupled or in communication with instrumentation means that additional space is needed in order to insert the spacer. In some circumstances, providing for this additional clearance space can be difficult to achieve.
Thus, despite known devices that promote fusion of a treated area of the spine, there remains a need for spacer designs that optimize bony ingrowth, have structural rigidity to support the spine under a variety of loading conditions, allow for insertion through a lower profile, and provide for confirmation of the fusion process from a multiplicity of views.


An electrical ground strap assembly for an automotive vehicle. The assembly includes a carrier plate, a bolt having an incline portion, and a nut having an interior chamfer, the interior chamfer being oriented at an angle corresponding to the incline portion of the bolt. In use, the electrode is lowered onto the bolt and the nut is then lowered onto the bolt and the electrode. As the nut comes into contact with the electrode, the electrode is deformed therebetween to provide a mating fit between the incline portion of the bolt and the interior chamfer of the nut.

An electrical ground strap or ground wire in an automotive vehicle is a cable that connects the engine block to the chassis, or possible directly to the negative terminal of the battery. The ground strap completes the electrical circuit for numerous accessories, such as the ignition system, the alternator, or any number of sensors in the vehicle.
Electrical ground straps are ribbons of braided steel without any insulation. An electrode at the end of the ground strap is positioned around a bolt secured to the vehicle accessory or grounding component and locked in place by a nut. One common reason ground straps fail is because the individual strands of steel may snap over time due to the vibration and movement of the engine and other components of the vehicle. Alternatively, vehicle vibration may cause the contact between the electrode and the vehicle accessory or grounding component to become weaker or separate. Once a ground strap fails, whatever component is attached to that ground strap will become weaker. Some signs of defective ground straps include a dead battery, hard starting, cylinder misfire, loss of power, and the check engine light being active.
The prior art has addressed this situation by proposing a number of electrical grounding straps. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,442,133, 6,746,285, 7,056,161, and 7,892,049. However, these prior art references fail to teach any improvement in the connection between the electrode and the accessory or grounding component.
Thus, there exists a need in the art to provide an electrical ground strap that provides an improved connection between the strap and the component or accessory to which it is attached in order to reduce the likelihood of the strap failing. As in so many areas of automotive technology, there is always room for improvement related to electrical connection assemblies.

Electrical ground strap assembly providing increased point of contact between a terminal and a bolt


A microwave laminate for heating, browning, and crisping food products is provided. The microwave-absorbing region of the laminate is formed from electrically conducting film of shielding thickness. The film is patterned to provide an increased effective electrical sheet resistance that allows the susceptor to substantially absorb rather than reflect microwave energy. Also, a microwave susceptor underlay or shield formed from a patterned electrically conducting film of shielding thickness is provided for controlling temperature gradients within microwave susceptors.

The present invention generally relates to the field of structures for enhancing the heating, browning, and crisping of food products in microwave ovens. More particularly, the present invention pertains to microwaveable structures that have patterned conductive formations of a relatively large thickness that can be selectively modified to substantially absorb, reflect, and/or focus microwave radiation. The present invention further pertains to susceptor underlays that incorporate patterned conductive films for controlling temperature gradients within microwave susceptors.
In the following description reference is made to certain structures and methods. However, such references are not to be construed as an admission of prior art. Applicants reserve the right to dispute that such structures and methods qualify as prior art against the present invention.
Microwave susceptors are conductive structures that undergo heating when exposed to microwave radiation and are commonly employed in microwave food packaging to tailor the heating, crisping, and browning of microwave food products. A typical susceptor is a laminated structure comprised by a thin, microwave-absorbing layer disposed between a polymer barrier layer and a structural backing layer. Thin films of aluminum are most commonly used. Such a susceptor is typically formed by depositing a thin metallic film onto a polymer film substrate. The metallized polymer film is then often laminated to the structural backing layer. The laminate may then be used to form packaging for food products.
When exposed to microwave radiation, microwave-absorbing layers formed from appropriately thin metal films absorb a portion of the microwave energy and undergo resistive (ohmic) heating due to the electrical currents induced within the metal layer. Such absorbing metal layers are exceedingly thin and typically possess sheet resistances of 20-500 xcexa9/xe2x96xa1 (ohms per square of the materialxe2x80x94the ohms per square value can be obtained by cutting a square of any length on a side and measuring the resistance between two sides of the square with an ohm meter). It is impractical to measure the thicknesses of such films directly, and, therefore, their thicknesses are commonly specified in terms of optical density, which increases with metal thickness. For aluminum, sheet resistances of 20-500 xcexa9/xe2x96xa1 correspond to optical densities of approximately 0.10-0.70. The sheet resistance typically decreases as the optical density (i.e., thickness) increases.
Numerous susceptors are described in the prior art. Exemplary susceptors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,231, 5,220,143, 5038,009, 4,914,266, 4,908,246, and 4,883,936, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Though conventional microwave susceptors are capable of heating, browning, or crisping microwave food products, the results of their use have not been entirely satisfactory. During use, conventional susceptors may undergo nonuniform heating when exposed to microwave radiation, causing some regions of a food product to be undercooked and other regions to be overcooked. Such non-uniform heating may result inherently from the susceptor itself, from microwave oven xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d corresponding to regions of greater microwave intensity, or from non-uniform contact of the food product with the susceptor. In addition, conventional susceptors may overheat, become damaged, and cease to function as desired. Specifically, susceptor overheating is typically accompanied by shrinkage of the polymer layer or layers, leading to cracking (crazing) of the metallic layer. As a result, the susceptor may become less absorbing to microwave radiation and more transmitting, and the food product may, therefore, receive a greater amount of conventional dielectric heating from the microwave radiation than desired.
A number of approaches have emerged to address the above-mentioned problems. One of these involves the patterning of conventional metal microwave-absorbing layers by selective demetallization to control the amount of heating in predetermined regions of the susceptor. Another patterning approach entails disrupting rather than demetallizing microwave-absorbing layers in selected regions of susceptors. A number of techniques have been utilized to provide the desired patterning. Exemplary techniques are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,614,259, 4,959,120, 4,685,997, 4,610,755, and 4,552,614, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Other approaches that address susceptor deficiencies utilize a separate shielding layer or device that substantially reflects and/or focuses microwave energy traveling from a microwave source before it reaches a microwave-absorbing susceptor layer. Metal layers of such shielding behavior have a relatively large thickness when compared with metallic susceptor layers formed from the same material by vacuum metallization techniques, hereafter also referred to as heavy-metal layers, typically possess sheet resistances of 1.0-5.0xcexa9/xe2x96xa1 and optical densities on the order of 1.0-2.5. As a result, such metal layers are relatively less absorbing than thinner metal layers and undergo substantially less heating when exposed to microwave radiation. Numerous shielding and/or intensifying structures are described in the prior art. Exemplary structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,300,746, 5,254,821, 5,185,506, and 4,927,991, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The use of heavy-metal microwave shields and focusing structures in conjunction with microwave-absorbing structures has been carried out with varying degrees of success and has been difficult to apply commercially. The benefits obtained by using such conventional structures are often offset by the increased complexity and expense of processing packaging materials with two or more metallic layers of different thicknesses. In an environment where packaging materials are disposable, minimizing complexity and cost while enhancing functionality is an important concern.
Accordingly, it is apparent that a significant need exists for simple, cost-effective microwaveable structures and formations that provide reliable, well-defined microwave heating, browning and/or crisping in predetermined regions and in predetermined amounts.
The present invention satisfies these and other objects by providing microwaveable formations comprising a heavy-metal layer (or layers) that is (are) selectively patterned to act as a microwave-absorbing layer, microwave shielding layer, and/or microwave focusing layer, all having the same thickness.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a microwave laminate is provided comprising a first layer substantially transparent to microwave energy having an electrically insulating surface and at least one microwave-absorbing region of patterned electrically conducting film of substantially shielding thickness contiguous with the electrically insulating surface of the first layer. Each microwave-absorbing region is patterned to provide an increased effective electrical sheet resistance that allows the microwave-absorbing region to substantially absorb rather than reflect microwave energy. Thus a microwave susceptor is formed from an electrically conducting film that would ordinarily reflect a substantial portion of incident microwave energy if it were not patterned in a manner to absorb microwave energy.
The present invention further provides a package for microwave heating of food products comprising a first layer substantially transparent to microwave energy having a first surface disposed near or supporting an intended food product. At least one microwave-absorbing region of patterned electrically conducting film of substantially shielding thickness is disposed on at least the first surface of the first layer. Each microwave-absorbing region is patterned to provide an effective electrical sheet resistance that allows the microwave-absorbing region to substantially absorb rather than reflect microwave energy.
The present invention further satisfies the above-mentioned objectives, and others, by providing a microwave susceptor underlay comprising a heavy-metal film having a particular pattern and corresponding properties. The invention further provides a substantially non-absorbing microwave susceptor underlay comprising patterned regions of electrically conducting film of substantially shielding thickness disposed on a first layer substantially transparent to microwave energy having an electrically insulating surface. The microwave susceptor underlay may be positioned beneath a heavy-metal or conventional microwave susceptor or may be laminated to an electrically insulating surface of either type of microwave susceptor.

Heavy-metal microwave formations and methods