A global navigation satellite system-tracking (“GNSS-tracking”) device and method for determining one or more positions of the GNSS-tracking device utilizing a user-plane service is disclosed. The GNSS-tracking device may comprise: charging and tracking modules adapted to be disengagably coupled together, wherein the tracking module comprises (i) tracking circuitry for determining at least one position of the tracking module using the user-plane service in a satellite positioning system, and (ii) a chargeable source for supplying power to the tracking circuitry when disengaged from the charging module, and wherein the charging module is operable to charge the chargeable source when the charging module is coupled to the tracking module.

1. Field of the Invention
The following generally relates to satellite position location systems, and more particularly, to a system, device and method for providing location services using an assisted-Global Navigation Satellite System ("A-GNSS").
2. Background of the Related Art
A Global Navigation Satellite System ("GNSS") is a system that uses a constellation or plurality of satellites orbiting the earth along with a number of terrestrial devices, such as a positioning receiver, to determine a position anywhere on the earth. The SPS (Satellite Positioning System) is generally unlimited in its coverage area; provides continuous 24-hour coverage regardless of weather conditions; and is highly accurate. A Global Positioning System ("GPS"), GLONASS and GALILEO are examples of the GNSS. In operation, each of the satellites in the constellation continually emits a radio frequency signal ("satellite signal") at a predetermined frequency.
To determine its position, the positioning receiver may acquire its position on ground, in air or in space based upon the reception of satellite signals from each of a number of the satellites in view of the positioning receiver ("in-view satellites"). To facilitate such determination, the positioning receiver extracts from each of such satellite signals a time of transmission of such satellite signal ("transmission time").
Using the transmission time and a time of reception of each of the satellite signals at the positioning receiver ("reception time"), the positioning receiver computes a time delay, which, on a very basic level, is a function of the difference between the transmission and reception times. When computing the delay time, the positioning receiver may also take into account a number of adjustments to (i) normalize differences in time domains between the positioning receiver and the satellite that transmitted the satellite signal, and/or (ii) compensate for atmospheric conditions that affect the transmission time of the satellite signal.
After calculating the time delay, the positioning receiver may multiply the time delay by the speed of light to obtain a distance between the positioning receiver and the satellite that transmitted the satellite signal. By iteratively determining a distance between the positioning receiver and three or more of the remaining in-view satellites, the positioning receiver can determine its position. This process of iteratively determining a distance may be performed by calculating pseudoranges of the satellites.
When the satellite signals are attenuated and/or delayed, however, the positioning receiver cannot calculate the pseudoranges. The satellite signals may be attenuated accurately during their transmission from the satellites to the positioning receiver as a result of buildings, trees, vehicle roof and the like. In some applications of GNSS, such as determining a position (e.g., a location) of a cellular telephone or personal navigation device, when the satellite signals are unacceptably attenuated ("attenuated signals"), then the attenuated signals (i) may not be detected, or (ii) if detected, the attenuated signals cannot be processed or the time required to process is excessive. To improve the processing of the satellite signals the positioning receiver is provided with assistance data.
The assistance data may include time and frequency information, pseudorange estimation information, position estimation information, ephemeris information, and the like. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,237 issued Sep. 17, 2002 describes examples of using assistance data for an assisted-GPS (A-GPS) system, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Transmission of assistance data to a GNSS receiver is typically performed via a cellular telephone network. The cost of continuously receiving assistance data via a cellular telephone network is very high. Additionally, a cellular telephone transceiver must be coupled to the GNSS receiver to facilitate reception of the assistance data. Such a cellular transceiver results in unwarranted size, complexity and high cost for a GNSS receiver that is to be used for asset tracking only, i.e., without utilization of the cellular transceiver except for assistance data reception.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a simple GNSS tracking device that utilizes assistance data and a method for determining one or more positions of the GNSS-tracking device.

Satellite-positioning-system tracking device and method for determining a position of the same


In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed that includes features of a host computing device, and a wireless power transmission module and a wireless data transmission module both integrated on a circuit board of the host computing device. The host computing device is configured to transmit power and multi-media data to a peripheral device, upon receipt thereof from the wireless power transmission module and the wireless data transmission module, respectively. The peripheral device is configured to receive wirelessly power and multi-media data from a host computing device, and provide the received power and multi-media data to a wireless power reception module and a wireless data reception module, respectively, for processing, both modules being integrated on a circuit board of the peripheral device.

This disclosure relates generally to the field of wireless transmission and reception of power and data, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for system integration supporting completely wireless peripheral applications.
Some conventional devices can consume content from a host system wirelessly using a wireless enabled display. Some other conventional devices can consume power wirelessly from a source (e.g., for charging). However, devices that can consume content using a wireless peripheral device and also power wirelessly do not exist. Integration of a wireless power subsystem and a wireless data subsystem on the same hardware compute platform for transmission and reception also does not exist in conventional devices. As a result, conventional devices depend upon wires for power while receiving content from a source, wirelessly or otherwise. For example, a conventional system using a projector to project a slideshow presentation received from a laptop or a desktop computer, on a screen or a display requires wired power delivery for the projector to carry out the projection of the slideshow presentation.

System integration supporting completely wireless peripheral applications


The present invention is directed to an optical connector that is provided with a plug and a jack for the optical connector. A lens (plug-side optical coupling part) that optically couples light transmitted inside an optical fiber held by the plug, to a jack, is disposed on a side surface of the plug. A lens (jack-side optical coupling part) that optically couples light transmitted inside an optical fiber held by the jack, to the plug, is disposed on an inner side surface of the jack.

In recent years, technological development for optical cables and optical connectors has been actively carried out. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an optical connector in which, when the plug is inserted into the optical jack (jack) to be engaged with it, the tip of the plug faces the optical element built into the innermost portion of the body (plug accommodation section) of the optical jack in which the plug is accommodated. In other words, transmission of light conducted in the optical connector in Patent Literature 1 is conducted between the innermost portion of the plug accommodation section of the optical jack and the tip of the plug inserted into the plug accommodation section.

Plug for optical connector, jack for optical connector, and optical connector


A T-brace for a web member of a steel truss is described. The T-brace includes an elongate base portion, opposing side portions depending from the side edges of the base section, and a first and a second top portion depending from the side portions. The top portions are configured to substantially overlap and to be parallel to the base portion. The side portions of the T-brace are configured to taper from the base portion to the top portions. The T-brace is configured to attach to the central channel portion of the web and be attached by screws penetrating the web and the T-brace. The length of the T-brace is approximately equal to the length of the web. The T-brace is also configured so that when the T-brace is installed in the central channel of a web, and the web is installed in a truss, the T-brace does not extend outside the plane of the truss.

Premanufactured steel trusses greatly facilitate the construction of buildings and other structures. Known trusses are essentially planar structures with spans and heights far exceeding their thickness. Trusses generally include a bottom chord, top chords extending angularly from the bottom chord, and webs between the top and bottom chords. Premanufactured steel trusses are very strong and reliable in service and are typically used to meet fire codes, long clear span requirements, or to protect against insect infestation.
Web members provide strength and stability to the steel truss structure. It is often desirable to limit the width of the truss members, generally for economic reasons, but also to keep the weight of the steel truss low. At narrower widths, web members may buckle under compression loads. To prevent such buckling, web members may be re-enforced.
Web members typically have a "W" cross sectional shape with a central channel portion. A standard re-enforcing practice is to secure a second web member to the first web member. The side of the second web member is secured to the first web member inside the central channel portion of the first web member. The second web member adds stiffness to the first web member. The problem with this re-enforcing practice is that the re-enforced web member is thicker than the truss, i.e., it extends outside the plane of the truss. This configuration also prevents easy stacking of premanufactured trusses for storage and shipment.
It would be desirable to provide a web member re-enforcement that attaches easily to the web and provides added strength to prevent buckling under compression loads. It would also be desirable to provide a web member re-enforcement that when attached to the web member does not extend outside the plane of the steel truss.


A method and apparatus for projecting a uniform projection of light by using a diffusive optic and non-imaging optic to receive light beams and uniformly distribute the light beams on a target. The uniform distribution of light diverges according to a pre-designed angle. The device allows for the use of multiple light sources which may be remotely located from the projection device. The projection device may be portable.

The uniform projection of light has traditionally been performed using the combination of a costly refractive lens and a parabolic concentrator. The concentrator is used to collect the light from a single lamp and direct it through a refractive lens system. The resulting distribution of light is governed by the geometry of the lamp element and the propagation of the light through the refractive optics. This method yields a light distribution with significant fluctuations in light intensity throughout the target plane. Enhancements such as refractive integrating and diffusing devices improve the output uniformity but reduce the overall efficiency of the system. Additionally, the spectral content of the light at the target plane and the total optical power projected are restricted since the optics are designed to use only a single lamp.


Techniques for calibrating an electromagnetic logging tool equipped with a plurality of antennas, with at least one antenna having its axis at an angle with respect to a tool axis, include disposing a test loop about the tool such that an axis of the tool and a plane on which the test loop lies form a tilt angle that is between about 0 and 90 degrees. An induced signal is measured at one of the antennas by energizing another of the antennas. Embodiments analyze the induced signal corresponding to a max or min extrema associated with a coupling effect due to the test loop. In other embodiments a corrected signal is compared with a calculated signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to techniques for testing and calibrating electromagnetic logging instruments adapted for subsurface measurements.
2. Background Art
Various well logging techniques are known in the field of hydrocarbon and water exploration and production. These techniques typically use instruments or tools equipped with sources adapted to emit energy into a subsurface formation that has been penetrated by a borehole. The emitted energy interacts with the surrounding formation to produce signals that are then detected and measured by one or more sensors on the instrument. By processing the detected signals, or profile of the formation properties is obtained.
Electromagnetic (EM) induction and propagation logging are well-known techniques. In this description an EM tool or EM logging tool is generally used to refer to either an induction or propagation-type tool because the present invention is applicable to both types. An EM logging tool is typically disposed within the borehole to measure the electrical conductivity (or its inverse, resistivity) of subsurface formations. A typical EM tool includes a transmitter antenna and one or more (typically a pair) receiver antennas disposed on the tool.
Antennas (or coils) may be operable as sources and/or sensors. For clarity, an EM logging tool in this description is described as having a certain transmitter-receiver configuration as if there were two distinct types of antennas—transmitter and receiver antennas. However, the principle of reciprocity applies, and one skilled in the art will appreciate that a transmitter and a receiver have similar physical/electrical characteristics and one can substitute for the other.
In both wireline and LWD applications, the antennas are mounted on the support member (mandrel or sonde) and axially spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the tool. These antennas are generally coils of the cylindrical solenoid type and are comprised of one or more turns of insulated conductor wire that is wound around the support member. In operations, the transmitter antennas is energized by an alternating current to emit EM energy through the borehole fluid (also referred to as "mud") and into the formation. The signals detected at the receiver antenna(s) are usually expressed as a complex number (phasor voltage) and reflect interaction with the mud and the formation.
A coil carrying a current (e.g., a transmitter coil) generates a magnetic field that can be represented as a magnetic dipole having a magnetic moment proportional to the current and the area of the coil. The direction and strength of the magnetic dipole can be represented as a vector perpendicular to the plane of the coil. The magnetic moment from the transmitter antenna is transmitted into the surrounding formation, which induces a current (eddy current) flowering in the formation around the transmitter. The eddy current in the formation in turn generates an magnetic field that induces an electrical voltage in the receiver antennas.
In conventional EM logging tools, the transmitter and receiver antennas are typically mounted with their axes aligned with the longitudinal axis of the instrument, i.e., these tools have longitudinal magnetic dipoles (LMD). When an LMD-equipped tool is placed in a borehole and the antenna is energized to transmit EM energy, eddy currents flow in loops in the surrounding formation in planes perpendicular to the borehole and there is no current flow up or down the borehole so long as the formation is axially symmetric about the tool axis.
An emerging technique in the field of well logging is the use of instruments incorporating tilted or transverse (at 90 degrees to the support axis) antennas, i.e., where the antenna's axis or magnetic moment is not parallel to the support axis. These instruments are thus implemented with antennas having a transverse or tilted magnetic dipole (TMD). One particular implementation uses a set of three coils having nonparallel axis (also referred to as "tri-axial"). The TMD antenna configuration can induce eddy currents in planes not perpendicular to the borehole and, thus, can provide EM measurements with direct sensitivity and sensitivity to the anisotropic resistivity properties of the formation. Logging instruments having TDMs are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,155, 6,147,496, 5,115,198, 4,319,191, 5,508,616, 5,757,191, 5,781,436, 6,044,325, and 6,147,496.
Tool calibration is an important and necessary task of logging operations. Factors such as imperfections in tool construction and variations due to the tool's electronics (e.g., op-amp phase accumulations) will inevitably introduce errors in the measurements. Tool calibration provides a way to eliminate or compensate for the effects of these factors on the measurements data. Several methods are available for calibrating conventional LMD logging tools. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,511 discloses an external testing apparatus for testing and correcting an EM logging tool. This apparatus includes a shielded receiving devices that clamps around the transmitting antenna to intercept the transmitted signal and a shielded transmitting device that is positioned around the receiving antennas of the tool to transmit a signal which has a phase and/or amplitude related to the signal transmitted by the tool's transmitting antenna. This device simulates the effect that a geological formation would have on the signal if it were to travel from the tool's transmitting antenna through the formation. Because the simulated effect is known, the output of the tool may be verified or it may be corrected if necessary.
Other methods use conductive loops to calibrate the tool. When a transmitter is activated to emit EM energy, it induces an eddy current in the conductive loop. The eddy current in the conductive loop in turn induces an EM response to the receiver with an intensity that is a function of the eddy current magnitude. The measured signals are then used to calibrate the tool. Conventional conductive testing loops have magnetic dipoles oriented along the tool (z-oriented) axis to couple with LMD antennas only. U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,128 describes such as technique for calibrating an EM tool.
All of these methods are for the calibration of conventional LMD EM tools. With the advent of TMD-type logging tools with multiple antennas, however, calibration procedures require more complex measurements. TMD antenna configurations produce multiple couplings in multiple directions between transmitters and receivers. Thus a need exists for techniques to calibrate tools equipped with TMD antennas.

Electromagnetic logging tool calibration system


A surface mount electronic device providing an electrical connection between an integrated circuit (IC) and a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided and includes a die and a dielectric material formed to cover portions of the die. Pillar contacts are electrically coupled to electronic components in the die and the pillar contacts extend from the die beyond an outer surface of the die. A conductive ink is printed on portions of a contact surface of the electronic device package and forms electrical terminations on portions of the dielectric material and electrical connector elements that connect an exposed end surface of the pillar contacts to the electrical terminations.

Quad flat no-lead (QFN) packages are an integrated circuit (IC) package technology that provide an electrical connection between the integrated circuit and a printed circuit board (PCB). QFN packages require a die (e.g., silicon die) and a lead-frame to house electrical terminations that connect to the PCB. In addition, electrically conductive connecting wires are required to provide an electrical connection from the die to the lead frame. The lead frame carries signals from the die outside the QFN package to the printed circuit board. The lead frame includes a thermal pad (die attach pad) that facilitates the dissipation of heat.
Fan-out wafer chip scale packages (FOWCSP) are another IC package technology that provide an electrical connection between an IC and a printed circuit board. The process to make FOWCSP's requires over-molding dies with an epoxy-molding compound. Electrical interconnects are accessed on the dies via a mechanical process and redistribution layers are then applied to the dies to form the fan out terminations, which extend beyond the perimeter of the dies. Fan-out technology, however, utilize a wafer process that limits cost capability.

Integrated circuit package electronic device


A method and apparatus in a communications system for facilitating a financial transaction between two parties within the communications system. The method of the present invention is implemented in a data processing system. A request for a financial transaction is received from the first party. A call is initiated by the data processing system to the second party associated with the request. The call is established between the first party and the second party wherein the financial transaction is established between the two parties through the call. Data is acquired from the two parties in response to the establishment of the financial transaction through the call. First party information and second party information is verified, wherein the financial transaction is securely completed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved communications system and in particular, to an improved method and apparatus for facilitating financial transactions within a communications system. Still more particularly, the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for completing financial transactions involving credit cards.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent advances in technology have resulted in unprecedented growth and diversification in the field of communications. Communications systems, long used for transmitting voice signals between telephones, are now being implemented in a wide variety of other applications. Such applications include, for example, the transfer of information between local area networks (LANs) and the transmission of documents via facsimile. The wide variety of available communications applications has resulted in a marked increase in the use of communications systems.
Communications system use has also increased as a result of the greater number of telephone devices now available. With the advent of devices such as portable and cellular telephones, more people spend a greater amount of time in telephonic communication than in the past.
These factors have contributed to a general increase in the use of communications systems and, in particular, to an increase in the use of communications systems for sending long distance and international transmissions. The dramatic social and economic changes which the world has undergone in the past several years have also resulted in the increased use of long distance and international communications systems. The current socioeconomic climate of the world suggests that the number of long distance and international transmissions will continue to grow at an increased rate.
In particular, financial transactions made through communications systems have increased by large amounts. Specifically, consumers are able to purchase goods and services over the telephone using a credit card. With the increase in credit card sales, credit card fraud also has risen. When made in person, credit card transactions require a valid credit card number, expiration date, and a signature, matching the signature on the back of the credit card. Furthermore, some credit card providers have provided photo identification on the credit card itself to help ensure against fraudulent use for in person transactions. As with in person transactions, financial transactions, involving a credit card, conducted over the telephone require both a credit card number and an expiration date. Unlike in person transactions, credit card transactions made over the telephone do not require a signature. As a result, criminals who make fraudulent credit card transactions only need to give the credit card number and expiration date to a merchant, ask for next day delivery, and watch for the merchandise to arrive at an unsuspecting address. This type of theft is particular easy if the criminal knows that the merchant ships the merchandise to the billing address of the cardholder and the cardholder is not present at the billing address during delivery hours.
When a telephone transaction requires a personal identification number (PIN), the PIN is disclosed to the merchant so that the transaction can be completed. In FIG. 1, consumer 10 is in telephonic contact with merchant 12 and establishes a transaction for the purchase of goods or services from merchant 12. To validate the credit card number for consumer 10, merchant 12 is required to send the credit card number and a PIN to credit card validation service (CVS) 14, which determines whether the credit card number is valid for the transaction. Credit card validation service 14 will return an indication to merchant 12 as to whether the credit card number is valid. Upon receiving an indication, merchant 12 can complete the transaction with consumer 10. The use of a PIN allows for more security in credit card transactions made over the telephone. This security, however, is still limited because consumer 10 must provide the PIN to merchant 12. Under this process, a large number of merchants have access to the credit card number and PIN of consumer 10, increasing the chances of the credit card number and PIN being used for fraudulent purposes.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method and apparatus for facilitating financial transactions involving credit cards without the weaknesses of the presently available systems.

Method and apparatus for facilitating financial transactions within a communications system


Adhesion of shaped thermoplastic elastomer articles is promoted without the need for special primers or other supplemental resin additives by incorporating in an enamel coating composition, an adhesion promoting amount of a carboxyl-modified poly (alpha-olefin) polymer resin. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the enamel coating composition is a corrosion-resistant cresol-formaldehyde/epoxy resin coating containing from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of a maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene resin adhesion promoter. The compositions and bonding methods described are useful to provide bonded structures of shaped thermoplastic elastomers, such as SEBS, PBR and EPDM copolymers, heat sealed to metallic substrates, especially metal closures for food containers destined for exposure to high temperature filling, sterilization and retort processing conditions.

The present invention relates to compositions for promoting the bonding of shaped thermoplastic elastomer articles to metallic substrates. More particularly, it relates to metallic food container closures specially adapted for use in high temperature filling, sterilization, and retort processing environments, including firmly adherent thermoplastic elastomer sealing gaskets or liners.
Vessel closures for use in food containers include a closure shell formed of either metal or plastic provided with a liner or gasket on the inner facing surface of the closure shell. The liner or gasket provides an hermetic seal between the closure member and the vessel opening. In the past, poly(vinyl chloride)-based liner formulations have been used to provide closure seals. The use of poly(vinyl chloride) resin-based compound liners is currently being discouraged for a number of reasons.
Recently, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) resins have received adverse EPA publicity, due to incineration, land fill, and recyclability concerns. PVC resin based plastisols conventionally employed as the closure gasket or liners, now interfere with the recyclability of both the plastic closure shell and the thermoplastic polyester bottle or container.
To overcome the shortcomings with prior art PVC-based liners and gaskets, a search is currently underway to provide substitute non-PVC type liner materials. Early efforts have focused on hot melt compositions, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,032,492 and 4,085,186. The compositions proposed include rubbery block copolymers based on styrene and butylene or ethyl vinyl acetate copolymers employed in combination with low molecular weight hydrocarbon oils, waxes, plasticizers, and other additives. The hot melt formulations generally possess low melting or softening points ranging from 70xc2x0 to 125xc2x0 C. In some food processing and packaging environments and applications, hot filling and pasteurization conditions are frequently carried out at temperatures above 70xc2x0 to 125xc2x0 C. Moreover, in hot fill, high retort food filling operations, in addition to elevated temperatures, internal vacuums of as high as 15-26 inches of mercury (Hg) are realized, which cause problems for low temperature softening sealing or gasketing materials. The proposed hot melt compositions generally cannot maintain the compressive set values and cut-through resistance values necessary to provide satisfactory hermetic seals under these high temperature processing conditions.
An additional requirement for liner and gasketing compositions is that they must possess good to excellent adhesion to the closure substrate to minimize the gasket or compound liner movement and cut through during hot fill and retort conditioning. The maintenance of hermetic seals during processing, case packing, shipping, and prolonged storage periods are all essential to successful food packaging.
More recently, it has been proposed to employ thermoplastic elastomer products to provide hermetic sealing structures for various plastic or metallic food vessel closures. Thermoplastic elastomers are thermo-plastic processable polymer materials possessing easy processability and rubbery mechanical performance characteristics. Thermoplastic elastomers, often referred to as TPEs, possess a number of processing advantages over earlier rubber materials because thermoplastic elastomers may be extruded and molded to shape and used with little or no extra compounding, vulcanization, or heating steps and the recycling of scrap and the ability to use common plastics processing tools and methods is a distinct advantage. Thermoplastic elastomers possess satisfactory high temperature rubbery performance characteristics to be used as liner gaskets for food closures. However, they are difficult to satisfactorily bond to metal closure materials. For this reason, they have not been readily employed.
Another effort at providing non-PVC based liner and gasketing formulations has been to employ polypropylene polymers and copolymers as the liner compound or gasketing material. Adhesion of the polypropylene liner materials to metal substrates and polymer substrates also ran into some early difficulties. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,132, it is disclosed that the adhesion of a propylene polymer to an enamel-coated metal surface such as is provided on a foil pull tab on a container opening is improved by incorporating an adhesion-promoting amount of a carboxyl modified polypropylene resin in the metal coating enamel. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,677, it is disclosed that the adhesion of a heat-sealed polypropylene lined aluminum foil pull tab tape strip to an enamel coated metallic surface and opening, provided with an enamel coating formulation based on an epoxy resin, an aminoplast resin and a carboxylated polypropylene resin is further improved and made satisfactory by the addition of a butene polymer, such as polyisobutylene, into the enamel coating composition prior to its application to the metal surface.
Other efforts more directly related to bonding thermoplastic elastomer gasketing materials to metal or plastic closures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,818 wherein adhesion of the TPE gasket to the closure is promoted by incorporating a low temperature melting point liquid paraffin resin and a polypropylene resin into a thermoplastic elastomer formulation prior to injection molding or shaping the elastomer for placement in the vessel closure. Paraffin-modified formulations may be suitable for low temperature packaging operations but they generally cannot be used in high temperature processing conditions because paraffin softens at temperatures of about 250xc2x0 F.
In addition to modifying the thermoplastic elastomer compositions per se, prior to molding or shaping to form the gasket or liner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,818 additionally states that if an epoxy phenolic type coating is applied to the surfaces of a metallic closure, the bonding of the liner to the inner side of the vessel closure may be promoted by applying a separate layer of an adhesive which contains an oxidized polyethylene resin or an acid modified olefin resin including a carboxyl modified polypropylene resin.
Unexpectedly, in view of the foregoing, it has now been discovered that the adhesion of shaped thermoplastic elastomer articles to metallic substrates is effectively improved by the addition of a carboxyl modified polypropylene resin adhesion promoter to an enamel coating composition without the need to modify the thermoplastic elastomer composition. In addition, it has been discovered that the enamel coating composition may be modified without the need for additional polyisobutylene or polybutene resin additives. Moreover, incorporating the carboxylated polypropylene adhesion promoter for TPE materials into the enamel coating composition avoids the need to apply a separate adhesive layer comprising the carboxylated polypropylene resin in order to obtain satisfactory adhesion of TPE materials.
In accordance with this invention, and to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art arrangements, it is an object of the present invention to provide lidded, stoppered, threaded, capped, or lined metallic closures for vacuum or pressure type products requiring low orders of gas or liquid permeation with a functional hermetic seal.
It is another object of the invention to provide metallic closures provided with liner structures capable of maintaining a hermetic seal under vacuum pressure, pasteurization, hot fill, and retort processing conditions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide new and improved gasketed closures which avoid the use of PVC-based materials.
It is still another object of the invention to provide closures with non-PVC based extrusion or injection processable thermoplastic elastomers which do not require post-vulcanization to impart functional hermetic sealing closure gaskets under pasteurization and sterilization conditions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide thermoplastic elastomer-lined metallic closures exhibiting functional torque release properties.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide metallic closures with a heat activatable enamel coating which not only promotes adhesion of functional, non-PVC based liner and gasket materials, but also provides a metallic closure exhibiting excellent product and corrosion resistance when subjected to pasteurization, sterilization, and prolonged room temperature storage conditions.
In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention provides a new and improved enamel coating composition for promoting adhesion of shaped thermoplastic elastomer articles to metallic substrates.
In accordance with this invention, the new and improved enamel coating composition comprises a solids mixture, including: (a) from about 30% to about 90% by weight of an epoxy resin; (b) from about 10% to about 70% by weight of a phenol-formaldehyde resin cross linker; and (c) from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of a carboxyl-modified alpha-olefin polymer resin.
In accordance with an alternate aspect, the present invention additionally provides a new and improved method of bonding a shaped thermoplastic elastomer article to a metallic surface which comprises: applying an enamel coating to a metal surface of a substrate, said enamel coating containing a solids mixture of from about 30% to about 90% by weight of an epoxy resin, from about 10% to about 70% by weight of a phenol-formaldehyde resin, and from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of a carboxyl-modified alpha-olefin polymer resin; baking the enamel coated substrate at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to cure and harden the enamel coating composition; heat sealing a shaped thermoplastic elastomer article to the cured enamel coated metal surface; and thereafter, permitting the heat sealed assembly to cool to ambient temperatures.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a new and improved liner-provided vessel closure comprises a metallic vessel closure shell having an outer facing surface and an inner facing surface. The inner facing surface includes a cured enamel coating thereon comprising a cresol-formaldehyde/epoxy resin enamel coating composition and an adhesion-promoting amount of a carboxyl-modified polypropylene resin. A shaped thermoplastic elastomer liner member, which preferably comprises a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer resin, is firmly adhered to said enamel coated inner surface.
In accordance with this invention, a thermoplastic elastomer article is heat sealed to a metal surface coated with an enamel coating having incorporated therein an adhesion promoting amount of a carboxyl modified polypropylene resin. The method of the present invention eliminates the need to provide additional adhesive layers interposed between the enamel coated metal substrate and the thermoplastic elastomer. It is also avoids the need to modify the thermoplastic material prior to the heat sealing step. Moreover, the present method further provides a heat curable enamel coating composition which avoids the need for added butene polymer or other resinous components.
The new and improved enamel coating formulations and metallic closures incorporating them in accordance with this invention are less expensive to produce and use than prior art compositions. In accordance with this invention, non-PVC lined metallic closures including TPE-type gaskets exhibiting very satisfactory adhesion to the metallic closure substrates are provided.
Other objects and advantages of the present will become apparent from the following Detailed Description and illustrative working Examples.
The enamel coating compositions used in the practice of the present invention are generally epoxy resin coating formulations containing a heat activatable cross-linking resin in which small amounts of a bond promoting carboxylated polypropylene resin have been incorporated.
Epoxy resins used in the preparation of the enamel coating formulation are the polymeric reaction products of polyfunctional halohydrins with polyhydric phenols having the structural formula:
wherein X represents the number of molecules condensed. Typical polyfunctional halohydrins are epichlorohydrin, glycerol, dichlorohydrin, and the like. Typical polyhydric phenols are resorcinol and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)alkanes, the latter resulting from the condensation of phenols with aldehydes and ketones, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and the like, which result in such compounds as 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane and like compounds. These epoxy resins normally contain terminal epoxy groups but may contain terminal epoxy groups and terminal hydroxyl groups.
The molecular weight of the epoxy resins may be controlled by the relative proportions of the reactants as well as by the extent to which the reaction is carried out.
In the present invention, those epoxy resins which are of relatively high molecular weight are utilized in preparing the enamel coatings. Generally, epoxy resins having an average molecular weight in the range of 1400 to 6000 may be used. Preferred resins being the condensation products of epichlorohydrin and Bisphenol A, i.e., 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane.
Epoxy resins are available commercially. Preferred examples are EPON(copyright) 1004 and EPON(copyright) 1007, products of Shell Chemical Company which are the condensation products of epichlorohydrin and Bisphenol A. For maximum corrosion resistance, high molecular weight epoxy resins sold commercially under the tradename EPI-REZ(copyright)565 by Celanese Corporation is especially preferred.
The heat activatable cross-linker resin component for the epoxy resin may be any resin having a polar group which is reactive with the epoxy group, for example a hydroxyl, amino or carboxyl group. For example, phenol/formaldehyde resins, urea/formaldehyde resins, melamine/formaldehyde resins, polar group-containing vinyl resins and polar group-containing acrylic resins may be used singly or in combination.
Of these curing agent resins, the phenol/formaldehyde resins, particularly cresol/aldehyde resins, containing a polynuclear polyhydric phenol are particularly preferred from the standpoint of adhesion to the substrate, barrier properties with respect to corrosive components, and processing resistance.
The phenol/aldehyde resin component (b) used may be any phenol/aldehyde resin which contains a polynuclear phenol in the resin skeleton.
In the present invention, the term xe2x80x9cpolynuclear phenolxe2x80x9d denotes a phenol having a plurality of rings in which the phenolic hydroxyl groups are bonded. Typical examples of the polynuclear phenols are dihydric phenols represented by the formula:
wherein R represents a direct bond or a divalent bridging group. Such phenols are used conveniently for the purpose of this invention. In the dihydric phenols of formula (II), examples of the divalent bridging group R are alkylene groups of the formula xe2x80x94CR1R2xe2x80x94 (in which each of R1 and R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having not more than 4 carbon atoms, or a perhaloalkyl group), xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94 and groups of the formula xe2x80x94NR3 (in which R3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not more than 4 carbon atoms). Generally, R is preferably an alkylene group or an ether group. Suitable examples of such dihydric phenols are 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (bisphenol A), 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) butane (bisphenol B), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane (bisphenol F), 4-hydroxyphenyl ether, and p-(4-hydroxy)phenol. Bisphenol A and bisphenol B are most preferred.
The polyhydric phenol, either alone or in combination with another phenol, is condensed with formaldehyde to give a phenol/aldehyde resin. Monohydric phenols heretofore used in the production of resins of this type can all be used as a mixture of phenols. Generally, difunctional phenols of the following formula:
wherein R4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or alkoxy group having not more than 4 carbon atoms, two of the three R4""s are hydrogen atom, and one is an alkyl or alkoxy group, and R5 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not more than 4 carbon atoms, are preferred. Other phenols such as o-cresol, p-cresol, p-t-butylphenol, p-ethylphenol, 2,3-xylenol and 2,5-xylenol, singly or in combination of two or more, are most preferred. Of course, other phenols such as phenol (carbolic acid), m-cresol, m-ethylphenol, 3,5-xylenol, m-methoxyphenol, 2,4-xylenol and 2,6-xylenol may be used, as well as other difunctional phenols such as p-aminophenol, p-nonylphenol, p-phenylphenol and p-cyclohexylphenol, all of which may be used alone or in combination with the above-mentioned polynuclear phenols in the production of the phenol/aldehyde resins.
The amount of the polynuclear phenol in the phenol/aldehyde resin may be at least 10% by weight, especially at least 30% by weight, based on the entire phenol components. A combination of the polynuclear phenol (a) and the other phenols (b) in a (a):(b) weight ratio of from 98:2 to 65:35, particularly from 95:5 to 75:25, is advantageous in regard to retorting resistance.
Formaldehyde (or paraformaldehyde) is especially suitable as the aldehyde component of the phenol/aldehyde resin. Other aldehydes such as acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde and benzaldehyde may be used singly or in combination with formaldehyde. The phenol/formaldehyde resin used in this invention may be obtained by reacting the aforesaid phenol(s) and aldehyde in the presence of a basic catalyst. The amount of the aldehyde used relative to the phenol is not particularly limited, and may be any proportion generally used in the prior art. For example, the aldehyde is used in an amount of at least 1 mole, preferably 1.5 to 3.0 moles, per mole of the phenol. Even if the aldehyde is used in a proportion of less than 1 mole, no particular inconvenience is caused.
Generally, it is desirable to carry out the condensation in a suitable reaction medium, particularly an aqueous medium. Any of basic catalysts previously used for the production of phenol-formaldehyde type resins may be used as the basic catalyst and ammonia is preferred. The basic catalyst may be present in a catalytic amount, especially 0.01 to 0.5 mole %, in the reaction medium. There is no particular restriction on the condensation conditions, and generally, condensation may be effected by heating the reactants at a temperature of 80xc2x0 to 130xc2x0 C. for a period of about 1 to 10 hours.
The resulting resin may be purified by known means. For example, the reaction product is extracted and separated from the reaction medium by using a ketone, an alcohol, a hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof, and as required, washed with water to remove the unreacted compounds. Water is removed by azeotropic distillation or sedimentation. Thus, a phenol/aldehyde resin in a form miscible with the epoxy resin can be obtained.
The epoxy resin component (a) and the phenol/aldehyde resin component (b) may be used in any desired proportions, and there is no particular restriction. From the viewpoint of the retorting resistance of the coated film, it is desirable to use a paint or enamel coating including components (a) and (b) in a weight ratio of from 90:10 to 10:90, especially from 90:10 to 70:30, respectively, for forming the inside protective coating.
The carboxylated polypropylene resin which is utilized in the practice of the present invention is prepared by grafting an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or anhydride onto an alpha-olefin backbone)using high energy radiation or a peroxy catalyst as described in British Patent 1,020,740. Unsaturated dicarboxylic acids or anhydrides which can be employed to prepare the carboxyl modified polypropylene resins include maleic, tetrahydrophthalic, fumaric, itaconic, nadic, and methylnadic acids as well as their anhydrides, (maleic anhydride being preferred.
The amount of unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or anhydride which can be grafted onto the poly(alpha olefin) backbone ranges from about 0.05 to about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the grafted polymer and preferably the amount of grafted dicarboxylic acid or anhydride ranges from about 0.1 to about 5.0%.
Carboxyl-modified polypropylene resins are preferred as the adhesion-promoting adjuvant for the present enamel coatings. The modified polypropylene resin can be of any particle size and generally has a particle size of 0.05 to 50 microns and preferably a particle size of 35 to 40 microns.
The solids content of the enamel coating compositions of the present invention are comprised of about 70 to about 90% by weight of the epoxy resin, preferably about 75 to about 85% by weight, and about 10% to about 30% of the phenol or substituted phenolformaldehyde resin, especially preferably a cresolformaldehyde resin in an amount of about 10 to 15% by weight of the resin coating, and about 0.05 to 5% by weight of the carboxyl-modified poly(alpha olefin) resin, preferably about 1.0 to about 3% by weight of the carboxylated polypropylene resin.
In preparing the enamel coating compositions of the present invention, the epoxy resin and the phenolplast resin components are dissolved in a solvent blend, such as a mixture of ketones and aromatic hydrocarbons until these components are completely dissolved.
Suitable ketones which can be employed as solvents for epoxy resin-phenolplast resin based enamel coating formulations include methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, isophorone, cyclohexanone, diacetone alcohol and diisobutyl ketone. Aromatic hydrocarbon solvents useful as solvents for the epoxy-phenolplast resin based enamel coating formulations include benzene, toluene, xylene, and commercially available aromatic naphtha mixtures, such as Solvesso 100 or 150. An example of a useful ether alcohol is butyl cellosolve and an example of a useful ether alcohol ester is cellosolve acetate.
Antioxidants and thermal stabilizers may also be incorporated in the epoxy resin-phenolplast resin formulation to inhibit oxidation of the carboxyl modified polypropylene resin during the baking and curing of the enamel coating after its application to metal surfaces. Antioxidant compounds which have been found useful in the practice of the present invention include hindered phenolic compounds such as Irganox 1010(copyright), tetrakis[methylene-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] methane, which are incorporated in the enamel coating formulations at concentrations in the range of about 0.1 to 1.0 percent by weight based on the solids content of the enamel. Lubricants, such as low molecular weight polyethylene dispersions, which are required during forming steps in container end closure manufacture may also be incorporated in the enamel composition.
Following the procedure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,667, the carboxylated polypropylene resin is preferably first dissolved in a hot, e.g., greater than 100xc2x0 C., organic solvent selected from aliphatic alcohols, acids and hydrocarbons containing at least 10 carbon atoms.
The carboxylated polypropylene resin is added to the organic alcohol, acid or hydrocarbon solvent at a concentration of about 1 to about 30 percent by weight and preferably about 2 to about 10 percent by weight. After the resin is added to the solvent, the mixture is heated to a temperature above 100xc2x0 C. until the resin completely dissolves in the solvent. The carboxylated polypropylene resin solution is then added to the epoxy/phenolplast resin formulation to prepare the enamel coating composition.
Preferably the carboxylated polypropylene is at temperature above 100xc2x0 C. when added to the enamel coating formulations.
Organic alcohols used to prepare solutions of the carboxylated polypropylene resin for incorporation in the. epoxy-phenolplast resin formulations to prepare the enamel coating formulations of present inventions are long chain, saturated and unsaturated, aliphatic monohydroxy alcohols having the general formula Rxe2x80x94OH where R is a straight or branched chained saturated or ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon group having from 10 to 30 carbon atoms and preferably from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Illustrative alcohols are decyl alcohol, tridecyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, tetradecyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, linoleyl alcohol, palmitoyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, benhenyl alcohol, arachidonyl alcohol, myristoyl alcohol and mixtures of these alcohols.
Organic acids which may be used as solvents for the carboxylated polypropylene resin include saturated and ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic acids having 10 or more carbon atoms and preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms such as the fatty acids as capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, isostearic acid, stearic acid and arachidic acid, undecylenic acid, myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, cetoleic acid and uric acid and mixtures of these acids.
Aliphatic hydrocarbons having 10 or more carbon atoms which may be used as solvents for the carboxylated polypropylene resin include saturated hydrocarbons such as kerosene and mineral oil as well as unsaturated hydrocarbons and particularly unsaturated hydrocarbons having olefinic or ethylenic unsaturation such as undecene, tridecene and pentadecene.
The enamel compositions of this invention can be satisfactorily applied at a solids content ranging from about 20 percent to about 70 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid enamel coating composition. Generally, a solids content of 30 to 50 percent by weight is preferred.
The enamel coating composition of the present invention can be satisfactorily applied by any of the conventional methods employed in the coating industry. However, for coating of sheet metal used in container manufacture, gravure or direct roller coating are preferred methods, as the desired coating weight is easily and conventionally applied in a single coat. Spraying, dipping and flow coating are also useful methods of applying the coating dispersion.
After applying the enamel coating, it is cured and hardened by heating the coated substrate at a temperature of about 350xc2x0 F. to about 500xc2x0 F. for a period of about 20 minutes to about 1 minute, the preferred conditions being 8-10 minutes at about 375xc2x0 F.
The preferred coating weight for coating metal closures is in the range of 1.0 to 6.0 milligrams of dry coating per square inch of substrate surface to provide an enamel surface to which the TPE shaped articles may be heat sealed.
The thermoplastic elastomer materials useful for forming the shaped gaskets or liners heat sealed to the enamel coated metallic closure surfaces in accordance with this invention included alloyed blends of rubbery copolymers finely dispersed in a matrix of polyolefin as a continuous phase. Illustrative alloyed blends include a polypropylene matrix including ethylene-propylene elastomers, prevulcanized butyl rubber, sold commercially under the tradename Trefsin(copyright) from Monsanto Company, ethylene-propylene-dicyclopentadiene rubber (EPDM) sold commercially under the tradenames Vistaflex(copyright) and Santoprene(copyright) from Monsanto. Other thermoplastic elastomers may include rubbery block copolymers such as triblock copolymers of the general formula ABA, where B is an elastomeric segment and A is a thermoplastic segment, and radial block copolymers of the type having a central hub and a plurality of copolymer chains emanating therefrom having the general formula AB, where B is an elastomeric segment and is attached to the hub, and A is a thermoplastic outer segment, are useable.
These copolymers are characterized by rubber-like properties similar to those of conventional rubber vulcanizates and flow properties similar to thermoplastics at temperatures above the glass transition temperature of the end blocks. The melt behavior of these compounds, with respect to shear and temperature, is similar to the behavior of conventional thermoplastics, but melt viscosities are very much higher than those of either homopolymer of the same molecular weight. Such block copolymers have been shown to exhibit a structure wherein the elastomeric and thermoplastic segments exist in separate phases. As long as the temperature is maintained below the softening point of the thermoplastic blocks, the molecules remain pinned at each end by association of the thermoplastic segments into xe2x80x9cdomainsxe2x80x9d which are connected by flexible elastomeric chains. Thus, an elastomeric network is formed with physical cross-links in the place of the chemical cross-links of vulcanizates. When heated above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic segments, the domains are broken up and the polymers soften and flow.
In principle, A can be any polymer normally regarded as thermoplastic, e.g. polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polypropylene, etc., and B can be any polymer normally regarded as elastomeric, e.g. polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polyisobutylene, polyethylene-butylene, EPDM, etc. In addition to the choice of the blocks, two other parameters influence the physical behavior of these compounds; total molecular weight, and the relative proportion of the two types of segments present and the mechanical properties of the two types of segments present. The mechanical properties of such block copolymers are essentially unaffected by molecular weight changes, however, the viscosities are quite sensitive to total molecular weight changes and this sensitivity is particularly apparent at low shear rates. Since none of these block copolymers exhibit Newtonian viscosity behavior, it is not possible to disclose the range of viscosities of compositions useful in the process of the invention in conventional viscosity units.
Changes in the relative proportions of the thermoplastic and elastomeric segments significantly influence both the mechanical and the flow properties of these block copolymers. As an example, a triblock copolymer wherein A is polystyrene and B is polybutadiene undergoes the following changes when the percent styrene content is varied. With a 13% styrene content, the polymer behaves like an undercured conventional vulcanizate. On increasing the styrene content to 27.5%, the behavior of the polymer is closer to that of the conventional vulcanizates. At higher styrene contents (30 to 53 percent) the polymers exhibit a yield followed by drawing and then an elastic extension. At even higher styrene content (65%), a very high yield stress is followed by a short draw and immediate break. In addition, as the styrene content is increased, the viscosity of the polymer goes through a pronounced maximum and then decreases.
In the linear triblock copolymers useful in this invention, A, the thermoplastic segment, is preferably a polymerized alkenyl aromatic compound of average molecular weight within the range of about 2,000 to 30,000. Polystyrene is a preferred material, but polymethylstyrene, polyvinyl toluene, polyvinyl naphthalene, and the like may be substituted therefor. B, the elastomeric segment, is preferably a diene polymerized from starting materials selected from the class consisting of conjugated diene hydrocarbon compounds having four to eight carbon atoms. Elastomeric copolymers of ethylene with propylene may also be useful. B is preferably polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or polyethylene-butylene having an average molecular weight per segment within the range of 10,000 to 200,000. The thermoplastic segments should contribute between about 15 and 65 percent of the molecular weight of the triblock molecule, preferably between 20 and 40 percent. Methods of synthesis of triblock compounds of this type are known to those skilled in the art and many compounds of this type are commercially available from Shell Chemical Company under the tradename Kraton(copyright).
Some of these linear triblock copolymers are subject to a degree of thermal degradation when heated to temperatures above about 150xc2x0 C. in the presence of oxygen. However, this disadvantage can be avoided by heating the copolymers in an inert atmosphere. Thermal degradation is also substantially reduced by incorporating conventional antioxidants in the compositions. The presently preferred triblock copolymers are sold by Shell Chemical Company under the tradename Kraton G. These are characterized by significantly increased thermal stability and comprise between about 20 to 40 percent styrene and a middle block of a copolymer of ethylene with butylene.
Kraton G-2705(copyright), especially preferred, is a thermoplastic rubber available from the Shell Chemical Company. More specifically, it is a linear triblock copolymer with a center elastomeric block of an ethylenebutylene polymer and end block of thermoplastic polystyrene. It supplies rubbery characteristics and film strength to the composition and is more heat resistant than the other triblock molecules.
The preferred TPE materials are also compounded with a torque release improving amount of an unsaturated fatty acid amide. Especially preferred for use as torque release additives are oleylamide and erucylamide added at amounts of 1-5% by weight of the overall TPE composition. Conventional pigments such as TiO2 or fillers such as CaSO4 and fumed silicon dioxide (silica) may also be added in conventional amounts.
In accordance with this invention, the TPE gasket is bonded or formed and bonded to the cured enamel coated metallic substrate surface by high temperature extrusion, intrusion molding, injection molding, compression molding, or pre-formed gaskets may be directly bonded by heat sealing at a temperature range of about 350xc2x0 to 400xc2x0 F. Heat sealing may be accomplished by any means known to the art, such as a hot platen press or a metal jaws heated by resistance wire or by induction heating, using dwell times varying from 0.1 seconds to 5 seconds.
After the TPE gasket or liner is heat sealed and bonded to the enamel coated metal surface, the assembly is allowed to cool to ambient temperature.
Further details regarding the compositions and methods and the attendant advantages provided by the present invention will become apparent from the following illustrative working examples.

Composition and method for promoting adhesion of thermoplastic elastomers to metal substrates


A concrete block system for retaining walls. Generally L-shaped concrete blocks are laid side by side and are laid in courses, each of which is positioned slightly inward from the course immediately below it to form a retaining wall. The retaining wall, the concrete blocks used to construct the retaining wall, and a method of constructing a retaining wall using these blocks comprise the system disclosed herein.

The field of the invention is concrete block systems for retaining walls.
Concrete blocks retaining walls have long been used in landscape architecture for both functional (for example, reducing soil erosion on hilly lots) and decorative purposes. Traditionally the blocks were mortared together or were installed using tie-backs or geo-grid systems. More recently, retaining walls have been built using interlocking blocks. One example of this is a "natural rock" retaining wall manufactured by Redi-Rock International, Charlevoix, Mich., which uses six different shapes of blocks for different parts of the wall.
The closest known prior art is the Lock+Load system manufactured by C. J. Pink, Ltd., London, Ontario, Canada, which is a two-piece system with a bottom and a face wherein the blocks lock together with a re-rod that goes through two pieces at one end. In that system, the blocks are laid at a time from the back of the wall using a stone truck, because each block weighs fifty-five to one hundred pounds.

Concrete block system for retaining walls


An encoder for digital audio signals at a higher sample rate creates a stream for consumer distribution at a lower sampling rate, with compatibility for standard PCM players without a decoder. In conjunction with a suitable decoder, two enhanced playback options are supported, the first option allowing full lossless reconstruction of a noise-shaped higher sampling rate signal, the second option allowing lossy bandwidth extension even if an intervening transmission chain has truncated the least-significant-bits of the encoder's output signal.

Many discerning audiophiles and musicians are demanding 'high resolution' digital audio, which is normally understood to a mean audio sampled at a frequency significantly higher than the 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz of current media and quantised with a resolution better than 16 bits.
Lossily compressed audio is commonplace in the consumer market, but experience has led many people to be suspicious of lossily compressed audio, even of systems that claim to be 'transparent'. An exception is plain nonadaptive noise-shaped dithered requantisation to a constant bit depth. With proper precautions this is equivalent (according to first-order and second-order statistics of the difference between input and output) to the addition of a constant noise (see J. Vanderkooy and S. P. Lipshitz, "Digital Dither: Signal Processing with Resolution Far below the Least Significant Bit" in Proc. AES 7th Int. Conf. on Audio in Digital Times (Toronto, Ont., Canada, 1989), pp. 87-96), which is considered 'benign' as a result of decades of experience with both analogue and digital media.
Two music distribution media dominate the mass market: the compact disc (CD) which has a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz and a bit-depth of 16 bits, and the Internet download typically heard through a computer or personal player. Although most downloads are lossy-compressed, the computers or players are almost invariably able to handle uncompressed PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) signals at sampling frequencies of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Many can handle bit depths of 24 bits, though some personal players are restricted to 16 bits.
It is commercially unattractive to issue audio recordings in both an audiophile version (having a sampling frequency of typically 96 kHz) and in a format that can be played on mass-market players. The possibility of issuing a recording that is playable on standard mass-market players but also contains hidden information that allows a special decoder to retrieve additional bandwidth has been explored several times previously, including by Komamura MITSUYA KOMAMURA "Wide-Band and Wide-Dynamic-Range Recording and Reproduction of Digital Audio" J. Audio Eng. soc. Vol. 43, No. 1/2, 1995 January/February). However none has so far provided standard PCM playback compatibility while addressing the desire for lossless retrieval of an original higher-sampling-rate signal and none has considered the question of how a decoder may provide an optimal experience to the listener at two different bit depths (for example for both 16-bit and 24-bit players).

Doubly compatible lossless audio bandwidth extension


A system is disclosed which can measure and control the absolute phase angles of individual coherent Frequency-Division-Multiplexed (FDM) carriers which have been combined to form a composite signal. User-specified phase relationships for the carriers are predetermined to produce an optimum peak factor (peak power to average power ratio) of the composite signal for a given application. In the preferred embodiment, phase relationships chosen to minimize peak factor can dramatically reduce the presence of intermodulation distortion products which can be detrimental to present communication architectures, such as Community Antenna Television (CATV). As CATV providers move toward using fiber-optic transmission networks for support of larger customer bases and inclusion of digital channels, there is a greater risk for rising signal amplitudes to induce clipping of CATV laser transmitters, thereby creating distortion which degrades analog picture quality and causes digital transmission errors to exceed maximum thresholds. Higher peak factors may be desirable, however, when testing individual components including CATV amplifiers, or subsystems such as linear fiber-optic transmission equipment, in order to more accurately characterize field performance. The disclosed invention uses a combination of RF, baseband, and digital techniques to repeatedly acquire and maintain desired peak factor conditions within coherent FDM systems.

An ideal amplifier can be defined as one which, when given an input signal having virtually infinite amplitude, would respond with a perfectly linear output transfer curve. It is doubtful that any method of amplification will ever boast this level of performance. For that reason, most designers are acutely aware that inherent nonlinearities of amplifiers and fiber-optic links are a major source of both noise and distortion, especially when input signals cover a wide dynamic range. This condition is of particular concern within systems developed for Community Antenna Television (CATV) headend applications.
As CATV channels are added to a headend composite signal, the number and level of Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) products increases. Furthermore, video carriers of most headends are non-coherent, or free-running, allowing for their combined peak voltage to continually vary over a potentially large range. Consequently, peak distortion levels will rise and fluctuate since unwanted IMD levels are principally a function of the composite signal's voltage envelope as opposed to its average voltage.
In an effort to reduce the visible effects of IMD products, in particular Composite Triple Beat (CTB) and Composite Second Order (CSO) distortions, the use of harmonically related frequency plans was introduced for analog video applications. One such frequency plan, known as the Harmonically Related Carrier (HRC) plan, is defined by frequencies, Fc.sub.i, which are consecutive integral multiples of a 6 Megahertz (MHz) fundamental frequency. Specifically, for an 83-channel HRC system: EQU Fc.sub.i =(i.times.6) MHz (1)
where; Harmonic subscript i=9 through 91.
Equally as important, the HRC plan specifies that frequencies be phase locked, or coherent. The use of coherent HRC frequencies forces all related CTB and CSO distortion products to precisely overlap the carriers thereby contributing a still unwanted, although fixed, amplitude and phase offset onto the HRC signals. While IMD products become stabilized and less perceivable within the analog video picture, the peak amplitude of the combined HRC signals can still reach disturbing levels depending on the random distribution of their relative phase angles. These higher amplitudes, unfortunately, intensify the risk of amplifier/transmitter clipping to be described hereinafter. It should also be mentioned that the effects of such IMD products on non-analog video signals, such as digitally modulated carriers, may not be improved at all when utilizing the HRC plan.
CATV service providers such as Multiple Systems Operators (MSOs) currently employ more popular carrier frequency schemes which adopt either the Standard or Incrementally Related Carrier (IRC) plan. Like the HRC plan, nominal carrier frequencies of the alternate plans are related by a common, although much lower, fundamental frequency. Unlike the HRC plan, however, the frequencies of the alternate plans are not consecutive integral multiples of their fundamental, and more importantly, the Standard plan frequencies are non-coherent. The result is a combined multi-carrier envelope having a peak amplitude that is non-stationary with time and which could potentially enter the non-linear regions of headend amplifiers or fiber-optic links within the related system, thereby creating unwanted IMD products. To compensate, MSO technicians will sometimes decrease amplifier output levels in order to reduce IMD. This practice must be performed carefuilly so as to avoid undue compromise of Carrier to Noise (C/N) ratios.
Recently, government deregulation of communication services has opened the door to direct competition among providers of video and telephony, which has sparked an aggressive search for the ultimate transmission network architecture. This network must be capable of supporting widespread services such as telecommuting and video conferencing as well as digital channels intended for cable modem, compressed digital video, and Internet access; hence presenting at least two new problems. First, to maintain compatibility with existing television receivers, digital services are being implemented in the frequency band above existing analog video channels. Uninterrupted digital service is governed by a predetermined Bit-Error-Rate (BER) as defined by error detection and correction algorithms known in the art. Unfortunately, IMD products created from existing analog carriers fall into the digital service spectrum thereby threatening BER thresholds. Secondly, as more MSOs switch to Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) networks to support a larger customer base, laser transmitter clipping influenced by peak amplitudes of the video carrier spectrum becomes a serious concern. It is unlikely that MSOs can continue to compensate by simply decreasing the operating level because of the inherent tradeoff with C/N ratios. Moreover, a minimum signal amplitude is necessary to properly set the Optical Modulation Index (OMI) of an HFC network's laser transmitter.
It is thus becoming increasingly apparent that better techniques for controlling the peak amplitude of the composite signal are essential if MSOs are to remain competitive by offering expanded services. One such method would be to establish and maintain an optimum phase relationship of coherent carrier signals. Phase relationships chosen such that coherent carrier signals combine destructively would minimize the carriers' contribution to the composite signal's voltage envelope thereby drastically reducing harmful IMD levels. Such a method has been previously described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,898,566 and 5,125,100 of Switzer, et al and Katznelson respectively, which are herein incorporated by reference.
While the methods of Switzer, et al and Katznelson reduce undesired IMD levels, each approach has notable weaknesses. Switzer, et al, for example, do not offer an automatic, closed-loop feedback solution. More particularly, Switzer, et al require manual adjustment of each carrier's phase angle. Given the many factors affecting system stability over time, this task can be tedious and prone to significant error. Furthermore, the level of system calibration required of the Switzer, et al method to obtain reasonable performance is not practical in most Frequency-Division-Multiplexed (FDM) applications where large numbers of carriers are involved.
The approach taken by Katznelson increments each carrier phase angle by a predetermined amount and then analyzes the system's output response through an off-line, non-linear device in order to resolve phase error values. This procedure depends on inducing distortion products which fall directly onto carrier signals; a condition not necessarily met with the more common Standard and IRC plans because of their non-consecutive integral harmonic frequencies. In addition, Katznelson's system relies on a series of controlled "auxiliary" tones having frequencies reaching five times that of the highest carrier which, when combined with carriers forming the composite signal, attempt to reduce peak amplitude levels for suppression of IMD. Unfortunately, headend amplifiers are not rated for such high frequency signals which would furthermore cause an unwanted increase in average power levels. The closed-loop system is complex and would require numerous iterations before convergence is observed.
A need still remains for a practical system and method of operation thereof which does not suffer these prior art deficiencies.

Method and apparatus for controlling peak factor of coherent frequency-division-multiplexed systems


When altering records in a repository of information to add an attribute that has a non-NULL default value and a corresponding constraint to the records, no update record is issued and instead, the existing records are essentially treated as having a NULL value for the attribute being added. To compute a query over the records to which the attribute has been added, a value is generated for rows that hold NULL values for the attribute in which the value in which the NULL values held therein are translated to the default value.

Information is conveniently stored in repositories such as databases. Stored information is accessed and updated with applications executing in a database management system (DBMS). A DBMS functions to store and access information in a database in one or more data containers, each of which contains records. The data within each record is organized into one or more attribute fields. Various database architectures exist.
The data containers of relational databases are tables and the records stored therein are rows. The database can contain virtually any number of tables, the attributes of which, are referred to as columns. The data containers of an object oriented database are object classes, the records of which comprise objects, which have attributes referred to as object attributes. Other database architectures also exist. For simplicity and unity herein, a relational database is discussed, solely by way of example.
Applications are upgraded from time to time. For instance, an installed application may be upgraded when a new version of the application code becomes available. With database and related applications, upgrading to a new version frequently requires that a column be added to an existing table, e.g., stored in a relational database.
Upon adding a new column, one of two conditions are is typically satisfied. Either all existing rows in the table store a null value for the column being added, or all existing rows store a default value for that column.
In the latter case, the default value is set at the time the column is added. The operation of adding a column with a default value may expend a lot time during which the database server or the table may not be available. This can cause significant inconvenience and expense.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Based on the foregoing, it could be useful to reduce the downtime and concomitant inconvenience and expense in updating applications.


A fastening device for detachably fitting protective covers on upholstered foam material, such as seat cushions, seat backs or mattresses, by means of upholstery buttons which can be attached to the fastening device in the manner of snap fasteners. The fastening device consists of a connecting tape (1) on both ends of which are molded attached end pieces (2, 3) which have spherical heads (4) and (5) onto which the upholstery buttons can be pressed. One attached end piece (2) has on the side facing the tape a cylindrical stem (12) and on the stem, at a short distance from the head, is a stop plate (6) for holding the attached end piece (2) against one side of the foam. The other attached end piece has on its side facing the tape, a stem (12) on which is located, at a short distance from its head (5), a smaller support plate (7) whose diameter corresponds approximately to the diameter of the spherical head (5). This plate serves as support for an anchor plate (8 ) that bears against the other side of the foam after the end piece (3) has been pulled through the foam object.

Most known upholstery systems for foam upholstering consist of a simple button which, for mounting purposes, is provided on its inner side with a hook joined to a tape or string or a small chain.
The tape is pushed or pulled through the compressed foam material of the cushion with the aid of a tool (a kind of special needle) and a second button or other retaining means is then fastened on the free or outermost end of tape.
When the user wishes to remove the protective cover of the cushion for cleaning, the upholstery buttons must be detached. Usually this means the tape must be cut or otherwise severed. However, in order to be able to put the upholstery buttons back in place after the protective cover has been refitted, not only is a suitable tool required to reinstall the buttons, but the user must also be a skilled craftsman.
An object of the present invention therefore is to design a fastening device which enables the cushion to be fitted for receipt of the upholstery buttons before the protective cover is pulled on, so that the protective cover can at any time easily be unbuttoned and removed and buttoned on again.


A process and device for providing and fixing a captor of activation detection. The present invention discloses a tactile designation device for continuous capacitance detection comprising a glass plate covered by a metallic deposit on its entire surface and supported by flexible strips, means of supply of the metallized surface, and strain gauges mounted on top of the strips in order to measure their flexing. According to the present invention, the strips support the plate from a printed circuit of assembly. Each strip comprises at least one conducting part in contact, at one of its ends, with a supply track formed by the printed circuit, and at its other end, with the attachment devices of the plate on the strip that is electrically conducting and in contact with the metallized surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention involves a tactile designation device for capacitance detection, and particularly, a device comprising a glass plate covered by a metallic deposit on at least one part of its surface and supported by flexible strips, means of supply for the metallic surface, and strain gauges that are set on the strips in order to measure flexing of the strips.
2. Background Art
In prior art devices, a conducting metallic deposit is covered by an insulating material on its useful surface which is carried out by processing in thin layers with the deposit of a non-reflecting multicoated layer on the metallic layer, or by means of adhesion of a thin glass with non-reflective processing.
These devices are designed to form transparent tactile keyboards provided with integrated pressure detection means. For example, such a system is set up in front of a liquid crystal display, and allows a particular displayed zone to be designated by tactile means (for example, with a finger).
For this purpose, electric means determine the position of a finger on the metallized plate and detects, due to the strain gauges, a deflection of the plate due to pressure exerted by the finger. These devices thereby provide a touch screen without significantly altering the viewing of images presented on the display and do so at a competitive cost.
The tactile designation devices presently known, however, exhibit a number of disadvantages. A disadvantage of prior art devices is that they require a supporting mechanism for maintaining and guiding the glass plate, as well as mechanical adjustments of the plate's position on each strip in order to be able to compensate for positioning allowance.
Another disadvantage is that the connection links of the metallized surface of the plate as well as the strain gauges must follow the movements of the plate.

Method and apparatus for providing a touch screen


A lighter includes a pivot nozzle including a nozzle housing pivotally mounted at a lighter casing, a gas nozzle substantially supported in the nozzle housing in a stationary manner, and a retention skeleton having a predetermine flexibility is extended from a gas valve to the gas nozzle for guiding the gas emitting from a liquefied gas storage to the gas nozzle, wherein the nozzle housing is pivotally folded with respect to the lighter casing to selectively adjust a tilt angle of the gas nozzle while the retention skeleton retains the gas flowing towards the gas nozzle such that when the ignition button is depressed to depress the piezoelectric unit and to release the gas at the gas valve at the same time, the gas is emitted at the gas nozzle through the retention skeleton and is ignited by the sparks at the ignition tip of the piezoelectric unit.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a lighter, and more particularly to a lighter which comprises a pivot nozzle pivotally connected to a lighter casing to selectively adjust a tilt angle of the pivot nozzle with respect to the lighter casing for ignition.
2. Description of Related Arts
Generally, a conventional lighter, such as a piezoelectric lighter, comprises a lighter casing having a liquefied fuel storage, a gas nozzle extended to a ceiling of the lighter casing and communicating with the liquefied fuel storage for controlling a flow of gas, a piezoelectric unit disposed in the lighter casing for generating sparks when the piezoelectric unit is depressed, and an ignition button slidably mounted on the lighter casing and arranged when the ignition button is depressed downwardly, the piezoelectric unit is depressed while the gas is released from the liquefied fuel storage to the gas nozzle and is ignited by the sparks.
However, such piezoelectric lighter has a major drawback that such piezoelectric lighter can provide a single ignition angle. Since the gas nozzle is fixed to the lighter casing in an upright manner, the gas can only upwardly ejected from the gas nozzle to form the flame when the lighter is ignited. For example, when the user wants to lighten up a candle, he or she may merely put the lighter at a slanted position that the gas nozzle is pointing at the top of the wick such that the flame can directly lighten the wick. Since the gas is upwardly ejected from the gas nozzle, the lighter cannot effectively lighten the candle when the lighter is in such slanted position.
In order to solve the above problem, the lighter manufacturer can make the piezoelectric lighter that the gas nozzle is inclinedly supported at the lighter casing such that the gas nozzle is adapted to directly pointing at the wick of the candle while the lighter casing is at an upright manner. However, such lighter is not practical use for lightening a cigarette. In addition, most users would like to use a utility lighter having an elongated gas nozzle tube to lighten up the candle. However, the utility lighter is bulky that the user is unable to carry the utility lighter in his or her pocket.
In addition, during the movement of the gas nozzle, the ignition tip of the piezoelectric unit may be forced to misalign with the gas nozzle which will cause the malfunction of the piezoelectric lighter.


Halogen bulb without additional safety device for high-volt/intermediate-t operation with a bulb pinched on one side produces an inherent safety effect by producing a current lead segment that is pinched from an uncoiled wire with a diameter of 130 .mu.m at most and the distance between the two current leads is suitably selected.

The invention concerns a halogen lamp. Such a halogen bulb is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,922. In the case of these lamps, under certain circumstances, an arc discharge can occur between two adjacent current leads, due to the high operating voltage (approximately 110 to 240 V). The current leads and particularly the foils can heat up so intensely by this that the adjacent pinch seal can no longer sufficiently draw off the heat. In the final stage, this can lead to the explosion of the bulb. The lamp therefore contains an inherent safety device in the form of a U-shaped wire loop, which is embedded in the pinch seal by means of an additional foil.
Another halogen bulb with inherent safety device is known from DE GM (Utility Model) 91-02,566. Here the current leads consist of singly coiled segments, which are embedded in the pinch seal, whereby their core region leaves a slinky hollow space, which acts as a blowout channel for the case when an arc forms. However, it is a disadvantage that in the pinch process, care must be taken that the hollow space is reliably formed.
Another solution to this problem is proposed in DE OS (Unexamined) 3,110,395, i.e., to provide an additional so-called heat safety device in the pinch region of a halogen bulb that is pinched on one side or on two sides. Essentially, this is a hollow space, which is left open in the region of the pinch seal and through which the inner current lead is guided over part of its length. If the current lead is not embedded in the glass, it will very quickly heat and melt through. However, this method is very expensive, since a pinch seal with a hollow space left open can be manufactured only in a very complicated way. This technique is also not applicable in the case of small lamps, since the hollow space that is left open would require too much space. For lamps pinched on one side, for reasons of stability, only one of the two current leads can be equipped with this heat safety device, so that the production of the pinch seal is very complicated.

Halogen lamp with an inherent safety effect

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH


Systems and methods are described herein for supporting the trading of bonds in a computerized system using broker dealers as intermediaries. Broker dealers receive orders relating to particular transactions and have the option to accept the order by submitting a matching counter order, or to rebroker the order with the same or modified terms to a number of other investors or additional broker dealers. The additional broker dealers have similar options, thus providing a system wherein orders can be quickly proliferated to a large number of parties. This order proliferation can be fully or partially automated through the use of predefined rules stored in a database which dictate for each broker dealer whether, to whom and under what terms to rebroker orders. When an order is received, the system processes all such rules to output a set of orders which are then communicated to the corresponding parties.

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to computerized trading methods and systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to computerized trading methods and systems which facilitate enhanced and anonymous trading through the systematic use of broker-dealers.
The use of computerized systems to facilitate commercial transactions has increased drastically over the past few years. Such systems range from private networks for use by subscribers to open systems available over public networks such as the Internet. These systems are being used for many different types of transactions, including the sale and purchase of airline tickets, cars, and homes, auctions and reverse auctions of various merchandise and services, and the trading of securities such as stocks and bonds. In a large number of cases, these systems are designed to eliminate intermediaries, such as agents and brokers, who were traditionally involved in executing these transactions. Indeed, these systems are touted for providing this feature, especially since it thereby eliminates the cost associated with such intermediaries.
However, by eliminating the role of intermediaries, these systems also lose out on the benefits provided by such intermediaries. Agents, brokers, and other intermediaries typically play a critical role in their respective markets. Among other things, they cultivate relationships with clients that lend stability to the overall market and leverage knowledge of the market to help clients achieve the desired results.
This issue becomes pronounced in the market for fixed income securities or bonds. The U.S. fixed income market is the most liquid, largest, and best established in the world, due in no small part to the role of intermediaries such as broker-dealers. Broker-dealers provide liquidity and perform many settlement requirements for each trade, including credit guarantees and storage of dollars. Broker-dealers also perform a key function in the bond markets by shouldering the regulatory burden which, under SEC regulations, requires broker-dealers to register, maintain specific records, and provide various reports on a regular basis. Moreover, broker-dealers have substantial expertise and experience which is brought to bear in the bond trading process. Fixed income securities are highly complex, with 4.4 million different fixed income securities outstanding, each having distinct structures, credit ratings, coupons, maturities, payment schedules, and features.
Certain systems, such as so-called "cross-matching systems," essentially eliminate the use of intermediaries and thereby lose all the benefits provided by broker-dealers. Other existing electronic transaction systems provide a limited role for broker-dealers. For example, certain proprietary systems, sometimes referred to as "dealer systems," allow investors to trade electronically with a specific broker-dealer or group of dealers. However, these systems do not provide investors with electronic access to market participants beyond the specific participating broker-dealers. Also, because each of these proprietary systems is limited to specific participating broker-dealers, they fail to automate interaction between broker-dealers and require investors to use different systems for each broker-dealer.
Other systems, such as so-called "inter-dealer systems," allow broker-dealers to trade with one another only. However, these systems do not allow interaction with investors, the ultimate buyers and sellers of the securities. Clearly, a need exists for a comprehensive and effective trading system which allows intermediaries to participate and provide the benefits of their participation.
In addition, the inventors recognize a need and opportunity to improve the traditional role of broker-dealers through the use of an improved computerized trading system. Currently, fixed income transactions between broker-dealers and their customers are executed through multiple voice exchanges of information. An institutional fixed income investor will typically relay a verbal order to a salesperson at a broker-dealer. The salesperson will then verbally relay the customer's order to a trader at the broker-dealer who makes markets in that particular security. Negotiations, information requests, and eventual execution of the transaction are all done either verbally or, more recently, through electronic messaging.
While a simple execution in a liquid security, such as a treasury security, may take less than a minute from the initial call placed by the investor to the consummation of the trade, an execution in a less liquid bond can take days if the broker-dealer is bidding a bond that it wishes to own, or offering a bond that it currently owns. Likewise, transactions can take considerable time to consummate if the broker dealer needs to find a buyer of the bond that the client wishes to sell or if the broker dealer must find somebody who owns the bond and is willing to sell it. Traders and salespeople at broker dealers have to prioritize their time and attention to make sure that the most valuable trades get done. A single salesperson will have many accounts to cover, but can only conduct one transaction at a time, thus many potential buyers do not even learn about bonds that a particular broker dealer may have for sale.
There is thus a need for improved computerized trading methods and systems which facilitate the role of broker-dealers in trades and take better advantage of the benefits which can be provided by broker-dealers and other intermediaries.

Method and system for rebrokering orders in a trading system


Quantum-level cryptography of delegated digital signatures. By implementing quantum-level computing principles, delegate signatures are provided that are unclonable, unforgeable and can not be repudiate. Specifically, at least four quantum particles are entangled, with one particle assigned to each of a third-party verification entity, a signature delegate, a delegatory signature authorizer entity and a signature requester entity. In addition, Bell State measurements (BSMs) are performed at the signature delegate, the delegatory signature authorizer entity and the third-party verification entity to allow the original signer (i.e., the signature delegator) to securely delegate signature to a signature delegate and perform an event, such as a payment process or the like.

In digital signature communication cryptographic techniques play a vital role in ensuring the integrity of the digital signature. A specific digital signature protocol allows an entity referred to as a signature delegator, otherwise referred to as a designator or original signer, to delegate another entity referred to a signature delegate to sign on behalf of signature delegator. Such a protocol is typically implemented in instances in which the signature delegator is temporarily unavailable/incapacitated, lacks computational power/resources or under time constraints that the signature delegator is unable to meet.
In existing digital technology, delegate signatures contain classical signature group label names that are based on computational complexity problems, therefore the methodologies tend to be unsecure and, as a result, are not safe in many operations.
Therefore, a need exists to develop systems, methods, computer program products and the like that provide for absolute security in delegate signature protocols. Specifically, the desired systems, methods, computer program products and the like should impart strong unforgeability, identifiability and undeniability into the digital delegate signature process. Strong unforgeability means that third parties, as well as the signature delegator, who are not designated as delegate signers cannot create a valid delegate signature. Strong identifiability means that any party can determine the identity of the corresponding signature delegate from the delegate's signature. Strong undeniability means that a signature delegate cannot repudiate or otherwise reject a delegate signature after they have created it.

Quantum-level cryptography for delegated digital signatures