Alternate methods, devices and systems are presented for providing service providers and/or end users of mobile stations to monitor and/or report regions with high error rates and/or dead zones. A protocol is provided such as to yield the error occurrence, error rate and/or the address of the end user. In some embodiments it also contains location information and time of day information. This information may be collected from the G.P.S., and/or all or a portion of users when there is a significant transmission difficulty and/or an abundance of errors. The collected data forms a database which is analyzed to generate coverage maps. This may include the dynamic aspects of the mobile network. In another aspect of this invention, each mobile station periodically compares its current location with the data base. The results of this comparison enables the mobile unit to anticipate connection problems. In still another aspect of the invention, the comparison is performed by the service provider which notifies the end user.

It is generally known that mobile and non-mobile wireless network performance is generally very dependent upon the location of the end user. For example, in RF networks (e.g., . . . cellular telephones), moving out of a service provider's basic coverage area results in high error rates and/or dropped connections. It is important for a service provider to map the coverage area and find out areas where messages cannot penetrate called dead zones. These dead zones can change depending on time of day, changing interference generators, and even seasonally.
It is advantageous for a service provider to know the dead zones of a service. Because of the difficulty to determine small dead zones the service provider may not actually be knowledgeable of the dead zones of a particular service. This problem is compounded when the dead zones change dynamically due to known and oftimes unknown influences. Additionally, more often than not these dead zones are sensitive to the communication channel frequency. Presently a service provider is not always able to notify its users in a particular area of channel dead zone mappings and/or a user's approaching or being within a dead zone. Knowing that a dead zone is channel dependent would enable a service provider to indicate the best channels to be used in particular areas automatically or otherwise. It would thus be extremely useful for a service provider to continuous know the dead zones of a service and or service frequency both as it is statically and as it changes dynamically.

International Business MAchines Corporation


Methods for seam-less gapfill comprising forming a flowable film by PECVD, annealing the flowable film with a reactive anneal to form an annealed film and curing the flowable film or annealed film to solidify the film. The flowable film can be formed using a higher order silane and plasma. The reactive anneal may use a silane or higher order silane. A UV cure, or other cure, can be used to solidify the flowable film or the annealed film.

In microelectronics device fabrication there is a need to fill narrow trenches having aspect ratios (AR) greater than 10:1 with no voiding for many applications. One application is for shallow trench isolation (STI). For this application, the film needs to be of high quality throughout the trench (having, for example, a wet etch rate ratio less than two) with very low leakage. As the dimensions of the structures decrease and the aspect ratios increase post curing methods of the as deposited flowable films become difficult. Resulting in films with varying composition throughout the filled trench.
Amorphous silicon has been widely used in semiconductor fabrication processes as a sacrificial layer since it can provide good etch selectivity with respect to other films (e.g., silicon oxide, amorphous carbon, etc.). With decreasing critical dimensions (CD) in semiconductor fabrication, filling high aspect ratio gaps becomes increasingly sensitive for advanced wafer fabrication. Current metal replacement gate processes involve a furnace poly-silicon or amorphous silicon dummy gate. A seam forms in the middle of the Si dummy gate due to the nature of process. This seam may be opened up during the post process and cause structure failure.
A flowable film can be deposited to fill up a trench without forming a seam. The as-deposited flowable film has a high hydrogen composition which impacts film density and quality. Various curing methods could reduce the hydrogen composition and improve the film quality; however, voiding occurs in the cured films. Therefore, there is a need for methods for gapfill in high aspect ratio structures that can provide seam-free film growth.


A format part for deflecting containers, comprising a toggle lever which comprises a toggle joint and two ankle joints, wherein the format part comprises a railing fastened to the toggle joint of the toggle lever, wherein the ankle joints are displaceable in one plane, which is parallel to the running direction of the railing, and wherein the railing is displaceable parallel to said plane by the displacement of the ankle joints, wherein the format part is adaptable for different container formats by the displacement of the railing, accumulating conveyor comprising such a format part, and method for adjusting such a format part.

When containers are handled or processed, they are typically conveyed between container handling stations or processing stations, for example via conveyor belts, other conveyors, transfer stars, smooth surfaces, and the like. If containers of different formats are now to be handled or transported with a container handling device or processing stations, the transport devices must typically be adapted to the respective container format. Such retrofitting typically requires the system to be shut down, and therefore costs time and money.
Particularly in the case of components for deflecting containers, the respective component is often completely replaced when the container format is changed. However, such an exchange of parts is time-consuming.
Also known from the prior art are format parts for guiding containers of all container treatment systems, for example from DE 10 2013 105 431 A1, wherein these format parts can be adjusted to different container sizes, wherein the adjustment is made by adjusting a distance between a first and a second format part element. This distance is adjustable in DE 10 2013 105 431 A1 in a direction perpendicular to the railing and the direction of movement of containers.
WO 2011/139577, WO 2005/123553 and FR 2 937 619 also disclose components for deflecting objects, the adjustment of which can be adapted to different formats of transported objects.
It is now the object of the present disclosure to solve one or more of the above-mentioned problems or to specify a format part which is alternative to the prior art for deflecting containers.
In particular, the disclosure comprises a format part for deflecting containers, comprising a toggle lever which comprises a toggle joint and two ankle joints, wherein the format part comprises a railing fastened to the toggle joint of the toggle lever, wherein the ankle joints are displaceable in one plane, which is parallel to the running direction of the railing, and wherein the railing is displaceable parallel to said plane by the displacement of the ankle joints, wherein the format part is adaptable for different container formats by the displacement of the railing, further comprising an accumulating conveyor comprising one or more format parts, and a method for adjusting a format part, comprising adjusting the toggle lever to set the format part to another container format. Embodiments are implemented in the dependent claims.
A format part according to the disclosure is designed to deflect containers from a first direction into a second direction different from the first direction. For example, the first and second directions can deviate from each other by an angle of 180°, or by 90° or another angle (not equal to 0°. Containers may be or may comprise in particular for example containers for liquids, in particular for example beverage containers, such as beverage bottles made of PET, glass, other plastics and/or metal.
The format part according to the disclosure comprises a toggle lever comprising a toggle joint and two ankle joints. A railing is fastened to the toggle joint of the toggle lever, which railing is comprised by the format part and along which containers can be guided. Typically, the running direction of the railing is (the railing runs) parallel to the transport direction of the containers, so that these can be guided along the railing when being transported, and a movement in a direction sideways to the transport direction can be prevented by the railing.
The ankle joints of the toggle lever are displaceable in a plane parallel to the running direction of the railing and, by displacing the ankle joints, the railing is displaceable parallel to that plane.
For example, if the container is transported horizontally, the format part can be designed in such a way that the ankle joints of the toggle lever are displaceable in horizontal direction.
Typically, both foot levers are displaceable against each other and symmetrically to each other. This displacement of the ankle joints allows the railing to be displaceable parallel to the plane in which the ankle joints of the toggle lever are displaceable. For example, if the ankle joints of the toggle lever are displaceable in horizontal direction, the railing can also be displaceable in horizontal direction.
By displacing the railing, the format part can be adapted (adjusted) to different container formats, e.g. the position of the railing can be adapted in horizontal direction if the railing can be displaced horizontally, so that wider or less wide containers can be guided through the format part. Here, "displaceable in horizontal direction" can in particular mean "displaceable in a direction which in the mounted state of the format part comes to rest in a container treatment system or similar in horizontal direction".
Typically, the plane in which the railing is displaceable is parallel to the plane in which containers in the format part can be conveyed, e.g. horizontally.
A format part according to the disclosure for deflecting containers may comprise several toggle levers and several railings. In particular, more than one toggle lever may be provided on one or more railings.
The railings may comprise a straight part and/or a curved part. Typically, railings comprising a straight part may be fastened to more than one toggle lever. Railings comprising only one curved part are typically fastened to only one toggle lever. "Straight part" and "curved part" may here indicate in particular the shape of the railing in plan view perpendicular to the plane in which the ankle joints of the toggle levers are movable, e.g. from above (in a vertical direction, e.g. when the railing is installed in horizontal direction).
According to the disclosure, a format part may comprise a fixed guide for containers and, opposite to this, the railing. Such an embodiment may be advantageous as only one division of the railing needs to be made on one side, while the other guide for containers remains stationary (fixed). In other embodiments, the format part may include 2 opposing adjustable railings so that a setting to different formats of containers is rendered possible by adjusting the railing position on both sides. Opposing is again typically considered to be parallel to a plane in which the ankle joints of the toggle lever are movable, e.g. in a horizontal direction. In particular, containers can be guided along their direction of movement between the railing and the guide.
Two opposing adjustment mechanisms, e.g. traction means, can be fastened to the ankle joints of the toggle lever on a format part according to the disclosure. For example, a traction means, e.g. a chain, a band or a similar adjustment mechanism, can be fastened to each of two foot levers of a toggle lever. These adjustment mechanisms are typically opposed so that the ankle joints of the toggle lever can be moved against each other axially symmetrically to an axis through the toggle joint.
In particular, these adjustment mechanisms can be guided over the outer radii of the format part, e.g. so that these have to run along as few narrow curves as possible.
A format part can be comprised by a carriage of an accumulating conveyor or be designed as such. In some embodiments, one carriage of an accumulating conveyor can comprise several format parts. In particular, such carriages of an accumulating conveyor are typically designed in such a way that they can be moved along transport lanes of the accumulating conveyor (optionally continuously), which lanes are typically arranged in parallel. In an accumulating conveyor, the containers to be conveyed can typically be in contact with each other, so that by moving one container, said container moves the other containers further.
In particular, an accumulating conveyor may comprise a plurality of parallel-running conveyor belts (or similar conveyors capable of conveying containers, or smooth surfaces facilitating the conveyance of containers), two directly adjacent conveyor belts (or similar conveyors or smooth surfaces) each being designed to convey containers in opposite directions or to permit the conveyance of containers. Typically, the conveyor belts (or similar conveyors or smooth surfaces) and format parts are designed to transport containers in a single track. In particular, in the case of an accumulating conveyor, part of the container movement can be produced by other containers pressing on the containers conveyed in front of them.
By displacing the carriage, which redirects containers from one conveyor belt to the conveyor belt running in parallel, it is possible to control the number of the containers which are positioned on the accumulating conveyor or can be picked up. A particular advantage of such single-track accumulating conveyors is that the sequence of the incoming and outgoing containers is maintained, unlike in other accumulating conveyors in which, for example, containers are collected on an accumulation surface and are further transported from there again.
A carriage of an accumulating conveyor can be designed to deflect containers from one direction to another direction on a single track (and thus to include a deflecting device (format part)). In other embodiments, a carriage of an accumulating conveyor may include a plurality of deflecting devices (format parts) each configured to redirect containers in a single track from a first direction to a second direction. For example, in an accumulating conveyor comprising four or six (or more) single-track (optionally parallel) lanes, a carriage may comprise two or three (or more) format parts, i.e. be designed to deflect the containers from two or three (or more) single-track lanes to the respectively adjacent lane.
Typically a carriage is designed to deflect containers from every second lane to an adjacent lane, e.g. it can redirect for example containers arriving in parallel from a first direction and an opposite second direction.
In a format part according to the disclosure, the adjustment mechanisms of ankle joints of several toggle levers can be adjusted simultaneously. In particular, the adjustment mechanisms of several or all of the toggle levers encompassed by the format part can be connected to each other in such a way that they can be adjusted by a single adjustment process (all simultaneously). In the case of a carriage comprising a plurality of format parts, in particular the adjustment mechanisms of ankle joints of toggle levers of a plurality of format parts, in particular the adjustment mechanisms of ankle joints of all the toggle levers comprised in the carriage (i.e. of all the toggle levers in the format parts comprised by the carriage), may be simultaneously adjustable. This is advantageous as it reduces the time required to change formats. The knee levers can optionally be continuously adjustable by way of the adjustment mechanisms.
In particular, the adjustment mechanisms can be adjusted via an adjustment aid, e.g. a handwheel, or with an automatic adjustment aid, e.g. by a hydraulic system or a servo motor. In the case of a handwheel, this can typically also be adjusted by one hand.
Typically, in the case of a format part according to the disclosure, the adjustment mechanisms can be locked so that they are not inadvertently moved again from a position once set. Such a locking of the adjustment mechanisms can, for example, take place via a clamping lever or a self-stopping mechanism. In the case of a carriage which comprises several format parts, it may be possible for the adjustment mechanisms to be locked simultaneously (with one or more locking mechanisms) for all format parts.
A handwheel (or other adjustment aid) can be comprised by a format part or carriage. Alternatively, a format part or carriage can also be designed without an adjustment aid (e.g. handwheel). In this case, the adjustment aid (e.g. handwheel) for adjusting the format part (or format parts) can be located, for example, at the outermost position of a carriage. The outermost position of the carriage is the outermost position of the carriage into which the carriage can be moved, e.g. in an accumulating conveyor the position where the largest number of containers can be accommodated in the accumulating conveyor. In a method according to the disclosure, the carriage can be moved to the outermost position. There, e.g. by means of a handwheel, all railings of the format parts of the carriage can then be adjusted on a stationary adjustment unit with only one adjustment operation. This can be done, for example, by a suitable transfer device at the stationary adjustment unit of the accumulating conveyor, which can be located, for instance, either behind the transport table or underneath it. It goes without saying that another adjustment aid can also be used there, e.g. automatically by hydraulics or a servomotor. If a new format has been selected, the carriage can be moved again to another position, e.g. to the position from which it was moved or, however, to the position that is necessary at that time.
In particular, a format part can comprise a wear profile, which serves to close any possibly existing gaps between individual railings in order to prevent containers from getting into these gaps. Typically, this can be a commercially available wear profile, or a band-shaped wear profile, or any other movable and flexible material. The wear profile can, for example, be guided along the railings. It can be of variable length, e.g. made of an elastic material, or it can include spare material which may be present e.g. on the sides of the format part and can be used if a longer length is required. In particular, the wear profile may be guided or guidable in accommodations of the railings (e.g. a profile in the railing).
According to the disclosure, each ankle joint of a toggle lever can be guided in a guide profile. Here the ankle joints can be guided directly in the guide profile or indirectly, e.g. via blocks to which the ankle joints are fastened, whereby the blocks are guided in the guide profile. This allows the movement range for the ankle joints to be specified and their position to be stabilized. The guide profile can, for example, be made of plastic. Optionally, the guide profile can include one or more stops for the toggle levers, so that the movement possibilities of the toggle lever are determined by the guide profile. For example, the guide profile can comprise a stop for the movement of the ankle joints in the direction parallel to the running direction of the railing. Alternatively, or in addition, the guide profile can guide the ankle joints in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the railing in a form-fit manner.
According to the disclosure, the adjustment mechanisms, which can be, for example, traction means, can be deflected at the ends of the format part via deflection wheels, so that these do not have to revolve around excessively narrow curves.
In embodiments of a format part according to the disclosure, the toggle levers may be reinforced by reinforcing means, e.g. at the part of the toggle lever close to the ankle joints.
The disclosure also comprises an accumulating conveyor comprising one or more format parts previously described (and optionally contained in one, two or more carriages). The disclosure also comprises a method for adjusting a previously described format part. This method comprises, in particular, adjusting the toggle lever, for example by means of an adjustment aid, in order to set the format part to another container format. The method may further comprise all steps mentioned in this text in connection with a format part optionally comprised in a carriage and its use.


An apparatus to effect the dicing of credit cards to prevent their inadvertent and unauthorized use is provided to include confronting faces, with the first face of a first housing having a matrix of lug members in a parallel relationship received within lug openings defined by orthogonally intersecting rows of first and second cutter blades. The apparatus is arranged to include slide drawer structure to permit the selective accommodation for disposal of the pieces thusly cut.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to cutting apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved card dicer apparatus wherein the same is arranged to effect the severing of credit cards and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Credit cards and charge card receipt carbons are frequently disposed of in refuse containers and the like, typically when a replacement credit card is availed to the user. The credit card thusly disposed is frequently provided with remaining time of validity permitting unauthorized reuse of the thusly disposed credit card. The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the problems of severing in a convenient and non-usable manner of a disposed credit card by placing such credit card between spaced confronting housing faces to provide for the severing to components of such credit card structure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system includes one or more variable frequency drives (VFD) controlled by one or more VFD controllers, which are configured to provide three-phase power to one or more three-phase AC motors and single-phase power to one or more single-phase AC motors. The system also includes a power source controller configured to select from a plurality of power sources based on availability of one or more power sources and time so as to maximize the economic efficiency of operating the system.

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) systems, such as those used in residential buildings, commercial buildings, and remote locations are generally powered by alternating current (AC) power received from an AC utility power source, such as an AC grid power. In some areas, the cost of AC grid power varies throughout the day and night based on load. Generally, higher power costs occur during the hours of greatest demand. In the hottest seasons of the year, power demands are usually highest in the late afternoon and early evenings when more HVAC/R systems are in use. In coldest seasons of the year, heating demands are highest in the mornings and evenings. Thus, power demands and costs may vary by time of day and time of year.

HVAC/R system with multiple power sources and time-based selection logic


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor base body having an n+-type semiconductor layer and an n−-type semiconductor layer p+-type diffusion regions selectively formed on a surface of the n−-type semiconductor layer, and a barrier metal layer formed on a surface of the n−-type semiconductor layer and surfaces of p+-type diffusion regions. A Schottky junction is between the barrier metal layer and the n−-type semiconductor layer. An ohmic junction is between the barrier metal layer and the p+-type diffusion regions. Platinum is diffused into the semiconductor base body such that a concentration of platinum becomes maximum in a surface of the n−-type semiconductor layer.

Conventionally, there has been known a semiconductor device which is referred to as the JBS structure (for example, see Patent literature 1). FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are views for explaining a conventional semiconductor device 900. FIG. 18A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the conventional semiconductor device 900, and FIG. 18B is a view showing a state where a depletion layer 960 extends when a reverse bias is applied to the conventional semiconductor device 900. Since FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are cross-sectional views which schematically show the conventional semiconductor device 900, the respective elements are drawn with suitable modification in these drawings. Accordingly, sizes of the respective elements, distances between the respective elements and the like are not always accurately expressed. The same goes for drawings which are used hereinafter.
As shown in FIG. 18A, the conventional semiconductor device 900 includes: a semiconductor base body 910 having the structure where the semiconductor base body 910 includes an n+ type semiconductor layer 912 and an n− type semiconductor layer 914, and the n+ type semiconductor layer 912 and the n− type semiconductor layer 914 are laminated to each other in this order; p+ type diffusion regions 920 which are selectively formed on a surface of the n− type semiconductor layer 914; and a barrier metal layer 930 which is formed on the n− type semiconductor layer 914 and p+ type diffusion regions 920, forms a Schottky junction between the barrier metal layer 930 and the n− type semiconductor layer 914, and forms an ohmic junction between the barrier metal layer 930 and the p+ type diffusion regions 920. In FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B, symbol 940 indicates an anode electrode layer, and symbol 950 indicates a cathode electrode layer.
The conventional semiconductor device 900 has the structure where the barrier metal layer 930 is formed on the surface of the n− type semiconductor layer 914 and the surfaces of the p+ type diffusion regions 920 (that is, the JBS structure). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 18B, when a reverse bias is applied to the conventional semiconductor device 900, the whole region of the surface of the n− type semiconductor layer 914 is pinched off due to the depletion layer 960 extending toward an n− type semiconductor layer 914 side from boundary surfaces between the n− type semiconductor layer 914 and the p+ type diffusion regions 920 and hence, a reverse withstand voltage VR can be increased, and a leak current IR can be lowered.

SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A deglitch circuit utilizes a first flip-flop coupled to the input signal and a second flip-flop coupled to the output of a circuit with feedback from the output to gates to control first and second inputs to the first flip-flop. In an alternative arrangement, a counter is provided between the output of the first flip-flop and the input to the second flip-flop in order to provide flexibility and the possibility of a longer delay for the circuit.

Signals received from other circuits, whether those circuits are analog or digital in design, often contain a noise signal such as a noise spike, which is often referred to as a "glitch" in the signal. These glitches can cause improper responses from the receiving circuit and therefore require removal by a deglitching circuit. For example, if the input to the circuit is the keyboard of a personal computer, the closing of the keyboard switch may cause the switch to bounce repeatedly producing what appears to be a multiple signals from that key. A deglitch circuit will remove the erroneous signals so that only a single key stroke will be recognized. Deglitching circuits can operate on a single edge of the (pulse) signal or on both edges of the signal. One way to form a two-edge deglitch circuit is to cascade two single edge deglitch circuits. Although this produces the required two edge deglitch function, it also involves redundancy of components and therefore a larger circuit. A single integrated circuit could have, for example, forty (40) separate input signals , twenty-five (25) of which require two edge deglitching and fifteen (15) of which require only single edge deglitching. Thus, the duplication of circuitry involved in the cascaded design takes up a significant portion of the circuit area of the integrated circuit which increases the cost and reduces the yield of the device.
Another way to make a deglitch circuit is to use a state machine. A state machine deglitch circuit can be one of two types. The first type requires that the input signal be synchronized with the clock for the state machine. In this type of design, a glitch which is less than the clock period is ignored. In a second type of state machine, the input signal is not synchronized with the clock. In this design, if the input signal changes at the same time the clock changes, the state machine can enter a metastabile state of operation and the state machine may yield incorrect functionality. Accordingly, there is a need for a small two edge deglitch circuit having a small gate count at which takes up a small area on an integrated circuit.


An object of the present invention is to provide a method for protecting a superconducting coil, which method prevents damage to the superconducting coil caused by a quench or the like, in a new way, without using a voltage (a change in voltage) generated in the superconducting coil. Provided is the method for protecting a superconducting coil made by winding tape-like superconducting wire having a superconducting layer. Power from a power supply is shut off based on the magnitude of a screening field, which is a difference between a measured magnetic field B in a direction of a thickness of the superconducting wire at a predetermined position, and a magnetic field Bcal in the direction of the thickness of the superconducting wire calculated disregarding an effect of screening current.

As a method for protecting a superconducting coil (a method for preventing damage caused by a quench or the like), for example, there have been methods described in Patent Literatures 1 to 3. Patent Literature 1 describes a method in which a bridge circuit is connected to the both ends of a superconducting coil in parallel, and induced voltage noise etc. in an output of the bridge circuit is removed, thereby to improve accuracy in detecting a quench.
Patent Literature 2 describes a method in which, based on a detection signal from a quench detection circuit which detects a quench on the basis of an increase in voltage of a superconducting coil, electric current flowing through the superconducting coil is adjusted to prevent the quench of the superconducting coil.
Further, Patent Literature 3 describes a method in which a pickup coil is provided in the vicinity of a superconducting coil, and a quench is detected based on a voltage difference between a voltage generated in the superconducting coil and a voltage induced in the pickup coil.

Superconducting coil protection method and superconducting magnet device

National Institute for Materials Science


Described herein are technologies related to an implementation of a divider-less digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) that includes a loop response matching a higher order sigma delta.

Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are an integral part of many electronics circuits and are particularly important in communication systems or circuits. Depending upon a particular desired application, the PLL may be implemented in a number of different ways i.e., fully-analog implementations, fully-digital implementations, and/or software implementations. Furthermore, two or more PLLs may be coupled together in implementations for various applications. For example, in a frequency multiplier circuit, two or more PLLs may be coupled to provide a certain desired frequency.
The PLL may further be subdivided into two main architectures i.e., a divider-based digital PLL (DPLL) or a divider-less DPLL architecture. The divider based DPLL employs a fractional divider whose ratio may dynamically change in response to a detection of a phase difference between, for example, an output signal of the DPLL and an input signal to the DPLL. As opposed to the divider-less DPLL, the divider-less DPLL does not utilize a fractional divider in its circuitry.
In current designs of the divider based and the divider-less DPLL, there is a need to lower power, area, and complexity, while having better noise shaping and reduction of fractional spurs.

High-order sigma delta for a divider-less digital phase-locked loop


An apparatus and method for synthesis and screening of materials are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a parallel batch reactor for effecting chemical reactions includes a pressure chamber, an inlet port, and two or more reaction vessels within the pressure chamber. The inlet port is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber, and is used for pressurizing the pressure chamber from an external pressure source. Each of the two or more reaction vessels are in isolatable fluid communication with the pressure chamber such that during a first pressurizing stage of operation, each of the two or more reaction vessels can be simultaneously pressurized through common fluid communication with the pressure chamber. In addition, during at least a second reaction stage of operation, each of the two or more pressurized reaction vessels can be isolated from each other.

The discovery of new materials with novel chemical and physical properties often leads to the development of new and useful technologies. The discovery of new materials depends largely on the ability to synthesize and analyze new compounds. Scientists are thus, always searching for a more efficient, economical, and systematic approach for the synthesis of novel materials. Combinatorial technologies are used to accelerate the speed of research, maximize the opportunity for breakthroughs, and expand the amount of available information. Combinatorial chemistry typically involves synthesizing smaller scale quantities of thousands of an element, compound, or composition and then testing the thousands of materials quickly.
The use of combinatorial technologies allows high density libraries of very large numbers of materials to be created using parallel synthesis. High throughput screens are then used to test these materials for desired properties to identify potential optimized compounds. Combinatorial technologies may be used to optimize and validate many variations of a material, formulation, or microdevice. Variables such as temperature, pressure, atmosphere, and concentration may be quickly adjusted and tested in a single experiment.
In parallel synthesis, different compounds are synthesized in separate vessels, often in an automated fashion. A commonly used format for parallel synthesis is a multi-well microtiter plate. Robotic instrumentation may be used to add different reagents or catalysts to individual wells of a microtiter plate in a predefined manner to produce combinatorial libraries. Devices have been developed for automating combinatorial parallel synthesis. One such device includes reaction blocks containing multiple reaction vessels that are each individually sealed to prevent cross-talk between different vessels. These devices often require substantial sealing arrangements, and while successful in preventing cross-contamination, do not provide means for pressurizing the individual vessels to a desired pressure of interest, and independent of the P-T relationship inherent upon heating of the reaction vessels. Other devices supply an inert gas to a plurality of reactor vessels; however, the gas is only supplied at one or two psi above atmospheric pressure to control the environment during the reaction. These devices are not designed to withstand high pressure operation.
Therefore, what is needed is a system which is suitable for high pressure operation, and allows individual vessels to be pressurized and individually sealed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High pressure parallel reactor with individually isolatable vessels


A control drip mixer attachment is in combination with a hub type food mixer. The control drip mixer attachment includes a container with a side wall and a bottom wall forming an interior of the container. A shaft is connected to the container, with the shaft being adapted and arranged to be removably inserted into a hub section of the mixer. An outlet opening is in fluid communication with the interior of the container near the bottom wall and is located vertically above the bowl of the mixer.

The present invention relates in general to food preparation equipment. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular use which is shown and described, this invention relates to an accessory for a commonly-used commercial kitchen mixer.
Most commercial kitchens have an electric food service mixer. Commercial mixers do a lot of mixing chores and tasks. Most of these mixing machines are the type referred to as "Hub Type," such as a Hobart brand, type A200 mixer. This type of mixer has many variations but is characterized by a hub section in the upper top section of the mixer. The front part of this hub section has a round opening which can vary in size (diameter), depending on the capacity of the mixer.
The primary purpose of the hub section opening is to receive shaft type attachments, such as a slicer attachment, to be supported and powered by the mixer. Once inserted, the shaft type attachments are secured by a thumb screw which comes with the mixer. The mixers come in different sizes and capacities. The attachments have drive shafts that engage rotary machinery inside the mixer hub, to provide rotary power to the attachment to drive, for example, the slicer blade in the attachment.
One of the primary functions of these commercial food service mixers is the making of sauces and dressings. Many of these sauces and dressings are made from scratch with individual ingredients. Some of these ingredients have different absorption qualities and will not blend well if the ingredients are poured in all together at the same time and rate into the mixing bowl. Thus, some of these ingredients have to be slowly dripped into the mixing bowl in order to achieve a consistent uniform desired blend while the ingredients are being stirred in the mixing bowl. This procedure currently requires an individual cook to stand over the mixing bowl, with the mixer in operation, and slowly drip the necessary ingredients manually over a period of time in order to achieve a quality end product. One recipe might require the individual to stand at the mixer and slowly drip in an ingredient for as long as 20 minutes per batch. This is an inefficient use of skilled cooking labor. Hence, there is a need for a "Control Drip Mixer Attachment."


A centrifugal mass assembly for a clutch includes a central axis, an arc-shaped centrifugal mass with a pair of radially offset apertures, and a guidance plate with a first annular ring. The first annular ring includes a pair of radially offset protrusions disposed in respective ones of the pair of radially offset apertures, or the first annular ring includes a radially extending slot and the arc-shaped centrifugal mass has a pair of pins fixed in respective ones of the pair of radially offset apertures and disposed in the radially extending slot. In an example embodiment, the first annular ring has a raised portion and the pair of radially offset protrusions or the radially extending slot is disposed on the raised portion.

Centrifugal clutches are known. Examples are shown in commonly-assigned United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 2020/0096060 for CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH HAVING CENTRIFUGAL MASSES WHICH ARE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT CUTTING to Heck and US 2020/0132136 for CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH FOR A DRIVE TRAIN OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE FIXING ELEMENT FOR A COUNTERPRESSURE PLATE to Heuberger et al., hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.


A guiding grid of variable geometry for turbines comprises a turbine housing and a plurality of guiding vanes in the housing in angular distances around a central axis. Each vane is pivotal about an associated pivoting axis to assume different angles in relation to the central axis and, thus, to form a nozzle of variable cross-section between each pair of adjacent vanes. A generally annular nozzle ring supports the adjustment shafts of the guiding vanes. A unison ring is displaceable around the central axis relative to the nozzle ring. This unison ring is operatively connected to the vanes via a transmission mechanism in order to pivot them when being displaced to adjust their respective angular position in relation to the central axis. The transmission mechanism comprises a first transmission element with an opening and a second transmission element slidably engaging this opening. This second transmission element is formed as a lever pivotally articulated on one of the rings and being dragged by this ring during relative movement between the unison ring and the nozzle ring, while immerging into the opening of the first transmission element in an approximately radial direction.

Various mechanisms for adjusting the positions of the guiding vanes of a guiding grid of variable geometry have become known, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,179,247 or 5,146,752. Just the latter illustrates how difficult and tiresome it is to mount the individual parts of the guiding grid in a housing, because various parts have to be fitted into each other and have to be mounted and fixed to one another, particularly when assembling a turbocharger or at least one turbine unit.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,208, a guiding grid has become known in which levers are situated on the adjustment shafts of the guiding vanes, the free end of these levers being provided with an opening between two fork arms. In this opening, a sliding block or pin slides and has its longitudinal axis about parallel to the central axis, while being moved by the unison ring (sliding block gear). The disadvantage of this gear or mechanism is that just when the force of the turbine driving fluid or exhaust gas exerts the highest turning torque onto the guiding vanes, the turning torque exerted by the unison ring is relatively small. This is not so great a problem with combustion motors of small power; however, it is a considerable problem (also in view of wear) particularly with combustion motors of an elevated power.
This becomes then a problem too with respect to automatic adjustment, particularly when controlling the vanes during a braking operation. In this respect, reference should also be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,123,246; 5,444,980 and 6,148,793 which have all an electronic control.


Determination is made, in accordance with acquired performance information, as to whether a crossfade characteristic should be changed or not, and a crossfade characteristic of crossfade synthesis having already been started at the time of the acquisition of the performance information was acquired are automatically changed in accordance with a result of the determination. Because the crossfade characteristic is automatically changed during the course of the crossfade synthesis, the time length of the crossfade synthesis can be expanded or contracted as compared to the time length that had been preciously set at the beginning of the crossfade synthesis, and thus, the time position of a succeeding one of rendition style modules to be time-serially combined in accordance with the acquired performance information can be allotted to a time position displaced by an amount corresponding to the expanded or contracted time.

The present invention relates to tone synthesis apparatus, methods and programs for generating waveforms of tones, voices or other desired sounds, for example, on the basis of readout of waveform data from a memory or the like while varying a timbre and rendition style (or articulation) of the tones, voices or other sounds. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved tone synthesis apparatus, method and program which perform control to reduce a delay in tone generation (i.e., tone generation delay) etc. that may occur during, for example, a real-time performance.
In recent years, there has been known a tone waveform control technique called "SAEM" (Sound Articulation Element Modeling), which is intended for realistic reproduction and control of various rendition styles (various types of articulation) peculiar to natural musical instruments. Among examples of equipment using the SAEM technique is an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-11-167382 (hereinafter referred to as "patent literature 1"). The conventionally-known apparatus equipped with a tone generator using the SAEM technique, such as the one disclosed in patent literature 1, are arranged to generate a continuous tone waveform by time-serially combining a plurality of ones of rendition style modules prepared in advance for individual portions of tones, such as an attack-related rendition style module defining an attack waveform, release-related rendition style module defining a release waveform, body-related rendition style module defining a body waveform (intermediate waveform) constituting a steady portion of a tone and a joint waveform interconnecting tones. For example, the apparatus can generate a waveform of an entire tone by crossfade-synthesizing waveforms of individual portions of the tone using an attack-related rendition module for an attack portion, i.e. a rise portion, of the tone, one or more body-related rendition modules for a body portion, i.e. a steady portion, of the tone and a release-related rendition style module for a release portion, i.e. a fall portion, of the tone. Also, by using a joint-related rendition style module in place of the release-related rendition style module, the apparatus can also generate a series of waveforms of a plurality of successive tones (or tone portions) connected together by a desired rendition style. Note that, in this specification, the terms "tone waveform" are used to mean a waveform of a voice or any desired sound rather than being limited only to a waveform of a musical tone.
Further, there have been known apparatus which allow a human player to selectively designate in real time rendition styles to be used, among which is the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-78095 (hereinafter referred to as "patent literature 2").
In apparatus equipped with a tone generator capable of sequentially varying the tone color and rendition style (or articulation) while sequentially crossfade-synthesizing a plurality of waveforms on the basis of a tone synthesis technique as represented by the SAEM synthesis technique, such as those disclosed in patent literature 1 and patent literature 2 mentioned above, at least two tone generating channels are used for synthesis of a tone to additively synthesize waveforms allocated to the tone generating channels while frequently fading out and fading in output tone volumes of the individual tone generating channels, to thereby output a waveform of the entire tone. Example of such tone synthesis is outlined in FIG. 9. More specifically, FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a general picture of the conventionally-known tone synthesis where synthesis of a tone is performed using two, i.e. first and second, tone generating channels. In FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents the time, while the vertical axis the respective output volumes of the first and second tone generating channels. Further, to facilitate understanding, the respective output volumes of the two tone generating channels are shown in FIG. 9 as linearly controlled from 0% to 100% within each crossfading time period. Further, in FIG. 9, time point t2, t3, t5 and t6 each represents a point when switching between rendition style modules to be used is completed. These rendition style switching time points t2, t3, t5 and t6, i.e. time positions of the rendition style modules, are determined in advance, in corresponding relation to rendition style modules corresponding to performance operation or operation of rendition-style operators (e.g., rendition style switches) by a human operator, in response to the operation and on the basis of data lengths specific to the rendition style modules designated in accordance with the operation, respective start times of the rendition style modules (which correspond to completion times of individual crossfade syntheses and each of which is variable in accordance with a time vector value or the like varying in accordance with the passage of time), etc.
As seen in FIG. 9, once a note-on event is instructed (more specifically, once note-on even data is received) at time point t0 in response to performance operation by the human player, synthesis of a tone waveform in the form of a non-loop waveform corresponding to an attack portion is started in the first tone generating channel. Following the synthesis of the non-loop waveform corresponding to the attack portion, synthesis of a tone waveform A that is a steady waveform constituting part of the attack waveform and in the form of a loop waveform to be read out repetitively (such a loop waveform is depicted in the figure in a solid-line vertically-elongated rectangle) is started in the first tone generating channel. Then, from the time point (t1), when the synthesis of the tone waveform A has been started, onward, the output volume of the first tone generating channel is gradually decreased from 100% to 0% to thereby fade out the tone waveform A. Simultaneously with the fading-out of the tone waveform A, the output volume of the second tone generating channel is gradually increased from 0% to 100% to thereby fade in a tone waveform B (loop waveform) corresponding to a body portion of the tone. In response to such fade-out/fade-in control, the waveforms of the first and second tone generating channels are additively synthesized into a single loop-reproduced waveform. The thus crossfade-synthesized loop-reproduced waveform smoothly varies from the tone waveform A to the tone waveform B.
Once the output volume of the first tone generating channel reaches 0% and the output volume of the second tone generating channel 100% (time point t2), synthesis of another tone waveform C (loop waveform) constituting the body portion is started in a fading-in manner, and simultaneously fade-out of the tone waveform B in the second tone generating channel is started. Then, once the output volume of the first tone generating channel reaches 100% and the output volume of the second tone generating channel 0% (time point t3), synthesis of still another tone waveform D (loop waveform) constituting the body portion is started in a fading-in manner, and simultaneously fade-out of the tone waveform C in the first tone generating channel is started. In this way, as long as the body portion lasts, the tone is synthesized while fade-in/fade-out is alternately repeated in the first and second tone generating channels with the tone waveform to be used sequentially switched from one to another. Once a note-off event is instructed (more specifically, once note-off even data is received) at time point t4 in response to performance operation by the human player, transition or shift to a non-loop release waveform by way of a steady tone waveform E (loop waveform) constituting part of the release waveform is started after completion of crossfade between the tone waveform C of the first tone generating channel and the tone waveform D of the second tone generating channel (i.e., at time point t5 later by Δt than time point t4 when the note-off instruction was given). In this way, the individual waveforms defined by the above-mentioned rendition style modules connected together can be smoothly connected together by crossfade synthesis between the loop waveforms, so that a continuous tone waveform can be formed as a whole.
In the conventionally-known apparatus equipped with a tone generator using the SAEM technique, as noted above, rendition style modules are allotted in advance to the time axis in response to real-time performance operation, selection instruction operation, etc. by the human player and in accordance with the respective start times of the rendition style modules, and cross-face waveform synthesis is performed between the thus-allotted rendition style modules to thereby generate a continuous tone waveform. Stated differently, the tone synthesis is carried out in accordance with previously-determined crossfade time lengths. However, if the crossfade time lengths are determined in advance, it is not possible to appropriately respond to, or deal with, sudden performance instructions, such as note-off operation during a real-time performance or note-on operation of a tone during generation of another tone. Namely, when a sudden performance instruction has been given, the conventionally-known apparatus shift to a release waveform (or joint waveform) only after crossfade synthesis having already been started at the time point when the performance instruction was given is completed, so that complete deadening of the previous tone would be delayed by an amount corresponding to the waiting time till the completion of the crossfade synthesis and thus start of generation of the next tone would be delayed by that amount.


A vacuum adiabatic body includes a first plate; a second plate; a seal; a support; a heat resistance unit; and an exhaust port, wherein the heat resistance unit includes a conductive resistance sheet having one end connected to the first plate member, the conductive resistance sheet resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space, the heat resistance unit further includes a side frame connected to the conductive resistance sheet, the side frame defining at least one portion of the wall for the third space, the side frame includes a first mounting surface connected to the conductive resistance sheet and a second mounting surface connected to the second plate, and the second mounting surface is supported by the support.

A vacuum adiabatic body is a product for suppressing heat transfer by vacuumizing the interior of a body thereof. The vacuum adiabatic body can reduce heat transfer by convection and conduction, and hence is applied to heating apparatuses and refrigerating apparatuses. In a typical adiabatic method applied to a refrigerator, although it is differently applied in refrigeration and freezing, a foam urethane adiabatic wall having a thickness of about 30 cm or more is generally provided. However, the internal volume of the refrigerator is therefore reduced. In order to increase the internal volume of a refrigerator, there is an attempt to apply a vacuum adiabatic body to the refrigerator.
First, Korean Patent No. 10-0343719 (Reference Document 1) of the present applicant has been disclosed. According to Reference Document 1, there is disclosed a method in which a vacuum adiabatic panel is prepared and then built in walls of a refrigerator, and the exterior of the vacuum adiabatic panel is finished with a separate molding such as Styrofoam (polystyrene). According to the method, additional foaming is not required, and the adiabatic performance of the refrigerator is improved. However, manufacturing cost is increased, and a manufacturing method is complicated.
As another example, a technique of providing walls using a vacuum adiabatic material and additionally providing adiabatic walls using a foam filling material has been disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0012712 (Reference Document 2). According to Reference Document 2, manufacturing cost is increased, and a manufacturing method is complicated.
As another example, there is an attempt to manufacture all walls of a refrigerator using a vacuum adiabatic body that is a single product. For example, a technique of providing an adiabatic structure of a refrigerator to be in a vacuum state has been disclosed in U.S. Patent Laid-Open Publication No. US20040226956A1 (Reference Document 3).
However, it is difficult to obtain an adiabatic effect of a practical level by providing the walls of the refrigerator to be in a sufficient vacuum state. Specifically, it is difficult to prevent heat transfer at a contact portion between external and internal cases having different temperatures. Further, it is difficult to maintain a stable vacuum state. Furthermore, it is difficult to prevent deformation of the cases due to a sound pressure in the vacuum state. Due to these problems, the technique of Reference Document 3 is limited to cryogenic refrigerating apparatuses, and is not applied to refrigerating apparatuses used in general households.
Embodiments provide a vacuum adiabatic body and a refrigerator, which can obtain a sufficient adiabatic effect in a vacuum state and be applied commercially. Embodiments also provide a design reference by considering the strength and deformation of a side frame provided in the vacuum adiabatic body.
In one embodiment, a vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for a first space; a second plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for a second space having a different temperature from the first space; a sealing part sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a third space that has a temperature between the temperature of the first space and the temperature of the second space and is in a vacuum state; a supporting unit maintaining the third space; a heat resistance unit for decreasing a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted, wherein the heat resistance unit includes a conductive resistance sheet having one end connected to the first plate member, the conductive resistance sheet resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space, the heat resistance unit further includes a side frame connected to the conductive resistance sheet, the side frame defining at least one portion of the wall for the third space, the side frame includes a first mounting surface connected to the conductive resistance sheet and a second mounting surface connected to the second plate member, and the second mounting surface is supported by the supporting unit.
In another embodiment, a vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for a first space; a second plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for a second space having a different temperature from the first space; a sealing part sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a third space that has a temperature between the temperature of the first space and the temperature of the second space and is in a vacuum state; a supporting unit maintaining the third space; a heat resistance unit for decreasing a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted; wherein the heat resistance unit includes a conductive resistance sheet having one end connected to the first plate member, the conductive resistance sheet resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the third space, the heat resistance unit further includes a side frame connected to the conductive resistance sheet, the side frame defining at least one portion of the wall for the third space, and the side frame includes a first mounting surface connected to the conductive resistance sheet and a second mounting surface connected to the second plate member.
In still another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a main body provided with an internal space in which storage goods are stored; and a door provided to open/close the main body from an external space, wherein, in order to supply a refrigerant into the internal space, the refrigerator includes: a compressor for compressing the refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant; an expander for expanding the condensed refrigerant; and an evaporator for evaporating the expanded refrigerant to take heat, wherein at least one of the main body and the door includes a vacuum adiabatic body, wherein the vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for the internal space; a second plate member defining at least one portion of a wall for the external space; a sealing part sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a vacuum space part that has a temperature between a temperature of the internal space and a temperature of the external space and is in a vacuum state; a supporting unit maintaining the vacuum space part; a heat resistance unit for decreasing a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the vacuum space part is exhausted, wherein the vacuum adiabatic body provided in the door includes: a conductive resistance sheet having one end connected to the first plate member, the conductive resistance sheet resisting heat conduction flowing along a wall for the vacuum space part; and a side frame connected to the conductive resistance sheet, the side frame defining at least one portion of the wall for the vacuum space part, wherein the side frame includes a first mounting surface connected to the conductive resistance sheet, a second mounting surface connected to the second plate member, and a connection part connecting the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface to each other.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a vacuum adiabatic body having a vacuum adiabatic effect and a refrigerator including the same.


A bucket seat comprising an apparatus for hanging articles comprising a hanger base mounted to a plurality of structural columns of said seat via a cross member passing through a sleeve defined by the hanger base and a plurality of openings in the hanger base defining projections for hanging articles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to accessories for vehicles, and, more particularly, to an article carrier mounted on the back of a bucket seat of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known attachments for mounting on the backs of seats include a triple opening type pocket, Inoue U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,295; a holder assembly in a recessed area in the back of a passenger seat, Remedios et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,602; a garment hanger, Ohanessian U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,488; a slip cover type of article carrier, Weinstein U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,085; a mounting panel with upwardly and rearwardly inclined arms, Fowler U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,828, a kit with stiffening rod, Runyan U.S. Pat. No. 1,656,339; a package holder, Morss U.S. Ser. No. 462,723; a hat holder, Wood U.S. Ser. No. 344,555; a web of netting, Simonson U.S. Ser. No. 94,448; and an item supporting attachment on a vehicle seat back, Kifer U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,457.

Bucket seat mounted apparatus for hanging articles


Electronic files for a localization project may be created and/or managed. The electronic files may be based on a data structure that defines the format and content of the electronic files and may include a first data structure portion that may contain data representing a plurality of references to localization project files. The data structure may includes a second data structure portion that may be associated with the first data structure portion that may contain data that may represent a plurality of references to standard files.

Localization is the process by which computer software is adapted for non-native environments. More specifically, localization is the process by which computer software is adapted to be as familiar as possible to denizens of a specific, non-native locale, by displaying text in the local language and using local conventions for the display of such objects as units of measurement.
Conventional localization processes make use of a set of technologies that are used to translate software developer/manufacturer products for non-native environments. Such technologies typically include a database file that contains the project definition and localization data. Conventional database files can be based on archaic and unsupported database software. Other limitations of conventional database files include no direct access to project data, poor scalability and limited extensibility. Many conventional localization processes rely on a binary data format for data storage called espresso database (EDB).
Using conventional localization processes, there is no easy way to perform comparisons of product versions in order to determine changes between product versions (what has been fixed, what has been translated) because of the aforementioned binary database storage format. Moreover, if an error or "bug" has been introduced into a file, there is no good way to determine what has changed in the file using the binary database storage format.
Additionally, newer versions of the database software that may be run on machines in the localization network that are different from the one which created the EDB, result in an upgrade of the EDB to a newer version. Older versions of the database software cannot open the newly upgraded EDB. Accordingly, the use of conventional localization processes can prove problematic and inadequate to meet software localization needs.

Creation and management of electronic files for a localization project


To carry out a fast recognition of objects, for example during a sorting operation, the measured parameters of these objects are divided into several classes. A rough sorting operation is done, taking account of the main classes. Then, for each class, the partial likelihoods of the measured parameters are measured and, finally, the overall likelihood is determined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the fast recognition of objects likely to form part of a collection comprising a large number of objects with different characteristics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When objects of a same type, moving at high speed and in large numbers past a control station, have to be identified in order to be subsequently sorted out, the task of identification is generally performed by a human operator. To make it possible to automate an identification operation of this type, these objects have to be provided with a prior marking. This marking may be done, for example, by means of a bar code, as is being done already for mail sorting operations. To carry out this bar code marking speedily, in other words to justify the automation of the sorting operation, an operation of optic recognition has to be performed on the characters of the address written on a letter. This optic recognition is subject to high error rates if the address is handwritten. For example, as is shown in FIG. 1, an object 10 can move on a conveyor belt 20. This object 10 will have a bar code or similar readable marking 15 placed thereon, which can be read by ban optic recognition unit 25.
The objects to be identified may also be provided with "electronic labels", but this cannot always be done and may be too expensive if a large number of objects have to be sorted out.
Should the objects to be identified be differentiated by physical characteristics (such as dimensions, color, weight), electrical characteristics (such as dielectric permittivity), magnetic characteristics (such as permeance) or optic parameters (such as reflectivity, opacity etc.), a expert recognition systems may be used, but when these physical characteristics vary little from one object to another and/or when these objects file past swiftly and in large guantities, these expert systems are likely to be very complicated and costly.
When these objects are radars, some of whose technical parameters (transmission frequency, pulse width, scanning characteristics etc.) have been measured, the results of the measurements and of the analysis of their parameters have to be compared with a library of characteristics. This library contains a description of already identified radars (the description of which is known by other means), a and their modes of operation.
The known methods of identification of radars can be divided roughly into two main categories. The first category encompasses methods for comparing the variables measured with ranges (minimum, maximum) stored in a library, and for comparing discrete parameters. Such methods require the prior setting up of the libraries taking account of both the performance characteristics of the sensors that have given the variables measured and the ranges of variation of the parameters of the radars. Furthermore, these methods lead to the excessively severe exclusion of modes when the comparisons with the values of the libraries are not satisfactory, and this is the case chiefly for the secondary parameters and, above all, for the discrete parameters. In addition, these methods exhibit little flexibility in the weighting of the discriminating character of the different parameters. Furthermore, the digitization of the result is difficult. This is detrimental to the performance characteristics. It is also not possible to interpret the degree of confidence that is to be placed in the result.
The known systems belonging to the second category use powerful expert systems based on the principle of the enriching of a library as and when the results of measurements are acquired. This method has a very low speed of execution and its implementation requires very large-sized memories which may exclude its use in the case of on-board identification systems.

Method for the fast recognition of objects likely to form part of a collection comprising a large number of objects with different characteristics


A hinged cover for a cutting and embossing die set by which a sheet material can be simultaneously cut and embossed. The cutting and embossing die set includes a die and a counter-die. A hinged cover includes first and second adjacent backing members that are hingedly coupled to one another and rotatable from an open configuration to a closed configuration. Each of the first and second backing members has a cavity formed therein. The die and the counter-die are fixedly retained within respective ones of the cavities formed in the first and second backing members of the hinged cover. With the cover rotated to the closed configuration, a compressive force is applied to the first and second backing members thereof. A sheet material that is sandwiched between the die and counter-die of the die set is embossed and cut when first and second raised male portions which project from the die are pressed against the counter-die.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hinged cover to surround and align a die and a counter-die of a cutting and embossing die set. The hinged cover is rotatable from an open configuration to a closed configuration to correspondingly move raised male portions of the die into receipt by recessed female portions of the counter-die so that sheet material sandwiched between the die and counter-die can be simultaneously embossed and cut.
2. Background Art
Cutting and embossing die sets are known having a male die and a female counter-die for embossing and cutting sheet material that is placed therebetween. In one case, a hinge runs along the interface of the die and the counter-die. In this manner, the male die is pivotally connected and rotatable relative to the female counter-die. The die is rotated at the hinge to lie overtop the counter-die. Pressure is then applied to the die set to press a raised embossing pattern from the die into a matching recess formed in the counter-die.
Such a cutting and embossing die set has several shortcomings. First, the male die and the female counter-die are typically thin. Therefore, it is often difficult to properly locate and retain the die set in the jaws of some force generating presses. Because of its thin profile, the die and counter-die may not receive sufficient pressure for adequately embossing and cutting the sheet material located therebetween.
In this same regard, when the die is rotated over the counter-die, the raised embossing pattern may not be accurately aligned for receipt by the recess. Consequently, the sheet material may be only partially embossed or not embossed at all. Moreover, the raised embossing pattern and/or the opposing recess may sustain damage after only a few embossing cycles, because of their misalignment and the resulting clash of the die against the counter-die in response to the force generated by the press. Such damage can result in the die set having to be scrapped inasmuch as the sheet material can no longer be suitably embossed.

Hinged cover for a cutting and embossing die set


Methods for the manufacture of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines at high yield are provided. The methods involve reaction of a hydrazide group on one reactant with an aldehyde group on the other reactant. The reaction proceeds rapidly with a high conjugation efficiency. Simplified purification processes can be employed to separate the conjugate product from the unconjugated protein and polysaccharide and other small molecule by-products.

Bacterial polysaccharides (PSs) are T-independent antigens inducing short-term immunity in older children and adults, but frequently not in young infants. PSs are incapable of binding to the major histocompatibility complex molecules, which is required for antigen presentation to and stimulation of T-helper lymphocytes. PSs are able to stimulate B lymphocytes for antibody production without the help of T-helper lymphocytes. As a result of the T-independent stimulation of the B lymphocytes, there is a lack of memory induction following immunization by these antigens.
T-independent polysaccharide antigens can be converted to T-dependent antigens by covalent attachment of the polysaccharides to protein molecules. B cells that bind the polysaccharide component of the conjugate vaccine can be activated by helper T cells specific for peptides that are a part of the conjugated carrier protein. The T-helper response to the carrier protein serves to augment the antibody production to the polysaccharide. PS-conjugate vaccines are polysaccharide-protein hybrids formed by the covalent attachment of a protein to a PS. Chemical modification of the PS prior to attachment is typically required because most native bacterial PSs cannot be chemically linked to a protein without first undergoing some chemical modification ("activation").
Attachment to the protein yields a number of T cell epitopes. These T cell epitopes interact with CD4 helper T cells, greatly facilitating an antibody response to the attached polysaccharide. The T helper cell-dependent response to a conjugate results in both serum IgG antibodies and immune memory, even in infants. Additionally, the immunogenicity of the PS-conjugate, in contrast to the native PS, is less dependent on the size of the conjugated PS. Accordingly, conjugates prepared with either PS or oligosaccharides can have similar immunogenicity.
There are many conjugation reactions that have been employed for covalently linking polysaccharides to proteins. Three of the more commonly employed methods include: 1) reductive amination, wherein the aldehyde or ketone group on one component of the reaction reacts with the amino or hydrazide group on the other component, and the C═N double bond formed is subsequently reduced to C—N single bond by a reducing agent; 2) cyanylation conjugation, wherein the polysaccharide is activated either by cyanogens bromide (CNBr) or by 1-cyano-4-dimethylammoniumpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (CDAP) to introduce a cyanate group to the hydroxyl group, which forms a covalent bond to the amino or hydrazide group upon addition of the protein component; and 3) a carbodiimide reaction, wherein carbodiimide activates the carboxyl group on one component of the conjugation reaction, and the activated carbonyl group reacts with the amino or hydrazide group on the other component. These reactions are also frequently employed to activate the components of the conjugate prior to the conjugation reaction.
The Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines represent the first PS-protein conjugate vaccines produced for clinical use. Robbins and his colleagues in 1980 utilized the biotechnological process of chemically attaching saccharides to protein carriers, a concept developed 50 years earlier. See Avery et al., J. Exp. Med. 1929; 50:533-550; Schneerson et al., J. Exp. Med 1980; 152:361-376. There are now four different Hib conjugate vaccines licensed in the United States, each different, and each having their own physical, chemical, and immunological characteristics, as summarized in Table 1. A detailed review of the conjugation chemistry and quality control used in these vaccines has been published. See Kniskern et al., "Conjugation: design, chemistry, and analysis" in Ellis et al., Development and clinical uses of Haemophilus b conjugate vaccines. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1994: 37-69.
TABLE 1Vaccine*Saccharide sizeCarrier proteinSpacer (linker)PRP-DPolysaccharideDiphtheria toxoid6-carbon spacer(Connaught)(ADH)HbOCOligosaccharideDiphtheria proteinNone (amide)(Wyeth-Lederle)(CRM)PRP-OMPCSmallMeningococcalThioether(Merck)polysaccharideprotein(bigeneric)PRP-TpolysaccharideTetanus toxoid6-carbon spacer(Aventis Pasteur)(ADH)*The four Hib conjugate vaccines are described commonly in the literature with these acronyms and the responsible manufacturers are in parentheses.
The first commercial Hib conjugate, polyribosylribitol phosphate diphtheria toxoid conjugate (PRP-D), consists of partially size-reduced Hib PS attached through a six-carbon spacer, adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH), to diphtheria toxoid using the procedure of Schneerson et al., J. Exp. Med. 1980; 152:361-376. The ADH derivative of diphtheria toxoid was obtained in this method by reaction with ADH in the presence of 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-3-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). The Hib PS was then activated by creating cyanate groups on the hydroxyl groups using CNBr. The activated PS was conjugated to the ADH-toxoid (cyanylation conjugation), but the process created an unstable linkage and the conjugate had solubility problems.
The Robbins conjugation chemistry was later modified such that the ADH spacer is added first to the polysaccharide, which is then conjugated to the purified protein in the presence of EDC (carbodiimide reaction). See Chu et al., Infect. Immun. 1983; 40:245-256; Schneerson et al. Infect. Immun. 1986, 52:519-528. This modification improved the conjugation efficiency and product solubility. The vaccine polyribosylribitol phosphate tetanus protein conjugate (PRP-T) utilizes the improved chemistry to covalently link Hib polysaccharide to tetanus toxoid (see Table 1).
The polyribosylribitol phosphate cross reacting mutant diphtheria toxoid conjugate (PRP-CRM) vaccine, also referred to as Haernophilus b oligosaccharide conjugate (HbOC), does not contain Hib PS. Instead, it utilizes oligosaccharides of about 20 repeat units derived by periodate oxidation of the glycol functionality in the ribitol moiety. The oxidized oligosaccharides are then attached directly to CRM197 a nontoxic mutant form of diphtheria toxin isolated from cultures of Corynebacterium diphtheriae C7 (β197), in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride (reductive amination). See Anderson et al., J. Immunol. 1989; 142:2464-8; and Anderson, Infect. Immun. 1983, 39:233-238. In this conjugation method, the ratio of oligosaccharide to protein was found to be critical for optimal antibody response. See Kniskern et al., "Conjugation: design, chemistry, and analysis" in Ellis et al., Development and clinical uses of Haemophilus b conjugate vaccines. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1994: 37-69; Anderson et al., J. Immunol. 1989; 142:2464-8.
Compared to the other Hib conjugate vaccines, Hib polysaccharide-Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein complex conjugate vaccine (PRP-OMPC) has a number of unique properties. The protein carrier is not a component of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, but consists of lipopolysaccharide-depleted meningococcal outer membrane vesicles to which are attached size-reduced Hib PS through a thioether linkage. See Marburg et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1986; 108:5282-5287; Kniskern et al., "Conjugation: design, chemistry, and analysis" in Ellis et al., Development and clinical uses of Haemophilus b conjugate vaccines. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1994: 37-69; Anderson et al., J. Immunol. 1989; 142:2464-8. In this process, separate linkers are attached to both the protein and Hib polysaccharide, followed by fusion of the linkers to form a thioether linkage.
Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis throughout the world. Pathogenic meningococci are enveloped by a polysaccharide capsule that is attached to the outer membrane surface of the organism. Thirteen different serogroups of meningococci have been identified on the basis of the immunological specificity of the capsular polysaccharide. See Frasch et. al., 1985. Of these thirteen serogroups, five cause the majority of meningococcal disease; these include serogroups A, B, C, W135, and Y. Serogroup A is responsible for most epidemic disease. Serogroups B, C, and Y cause the majority of endemic disease and localized outbreaks. Host defense of invasive meningococci is dependent upon complement-mediated bacteriolysis, The serum antibodies that are responsible for complement-mediated bacteriolysis are directed in large part against the outer capsular polysaccharide. See Rosenstein et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 344:1378-1388, 2001.
With the exception of serogroup B, polysaccharide safety vaccines that induce age-related protection have been available for many years. However, following polysaccharide vaccines administration, antibodies titers fall rapidly and immunological memory is not induced, See Jodar et al., 2000, Biologicals, 28:193-197.
Conventional vaccines based on meningococcal polysaccharide elicit an immune response against the capsular polysaccharide. These antibodies are capable of complement-mediated bacteriolysis of the serogroup specific meningococci. Meningococcal vaccines containing purified capsular polysaccharides induce protective serum bactericidal antibodies in adults, however they are poorly immunogenic in children below 4 years old and may induce tolerance. See Taunay et al., 1974, Pediatr. Res., 8:429; Gold et al., 1975, J. Clin. Invest., 56: 1536-1547; Leach et al., 1997, J. Infect. Dis., 175:200-204.
To overcome the limitations of polysaccharide vaccines and based on the acknowledged success of conjugate Hib vaccines, recent efforts in the development of meningococcal serogroups A and C glycoconjugate vaccines have been reported. The widespread use of Hib conjugate vaccines also protects age groups not included in vaccination programs through the reduction of carriage state and transmission resulting in herd immunity. See Peltola, H. 2000, Clinical Microbiol. Reviews, 13:302-317. These vaccines have been shown immunogenic and well tolerated in infants. Long-term immunity is improved by induction of memory, as demonstrated for the serogroup C component of meningococcal AC conjugate vaccine administered to Gambian infants. See Fairley et al., 1996, J. Infect. Dis., 174: 1360-1363; Leach et al., 1997, J. Infect. Dis., 175:200-204.
Saccharide-protein conjugate vaccines against N. meningitidis serogroups A and C or other encapsulated bacteria have proven to be efficacious in reducing human disease caused by these pathogens. The covalent coupling of bacterial oligo or polysaccharide, which induce T-cell independent immune response, to T-cell dependent protein immunogens results in molecules that are highly immunogenic in infants and young children inducing memory responses. See Chu et al., 1983, Infect. Immun., 40: 245-256; Richmond et al., 1999, J. Infect. Dis., 179:1569-1572; Peltola, H. 2000, Clinical Microbiol. Reviews, 13:302-317; Ramsay et al., 2001, Lancet, 357:195-196.
Over the last 5 years, in the United Kingdom, the incidence of meningococcal disease has increased rapidly, which led to the development of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine to be applied in immunization programs for all children aged from 1 to 18 years. After proving that a single dose would be sufficient for priming and inducing immunological memory, in 1999, the United Kingdom became the first country to introduce meningococcal vaccines in their national program of immunization. See Department of Health, London, 1999, PL/CMO/99/2 PL/CNO/99/4 PL/CPHO/99/1; Richmond et al., 1999, J. Infect. Dis., 179:1569-1572; Richmond et al., 2001, J. Infect. Dis., 183:160-163.
Infant vaccination with meningococcal conjugates may provide long-term protection against disease. Antibody levels and immunologic memory were assessed in 5-year-old Gambian children who received meningococcal A/C conjugate vaccination (MenA/C) in infancy. See MacLennan et al., 2001, J. Infect. Dis. 183:97-104.
In Brazil, the meningococcal disease occurs in 1-3/100,000 inhabitants, and is mainly caused by serogroup B (60%) followed by serogroup C (40%). See Sifontes et al., 1997, Arch. Med. Res., 28:41-5. To achieve disease control since the seventies, Brazil has been producing polysaccharide vaccines (A/C) against Neisseria meningitidis. In order to follow the technological improvernent for polysaccharide bacterial vaccines, polysaccharide A-tetanus toxoid and polysaccharide C-tetanus toxoid vaccines have been developed using reductive amination methodology as the starting procedure. See Jennings et al., 1981, J. Immunol., 127: 1011-1018. The selected approach was firstly applied to A and C polysaccharides and has potential applicability to other meningococcal polysaccharides.
There are a number of approaches that have been employed for activation of the meningococcal PS and for conjugation, as summarized in Table 2. Each mode of activation has the potential to alter important epitopes, even when relatively few sites are activated on the PS molecule. Periodate activation of the group C meningococcal PS, for example, results in chain breakage generating smaller saccharide units with terminal aldehyde groups that can be linked to the protein via reductive animation. See Richmond et al., J. Infect. Dis. 1999; 179:1569-72.
TABLE 2CarrierUsed inMethodSaccharide sizeproteinSpacerProcedurehumans#1ReducedTetanusNoneAldehyde form of PSNoReductivetoxoidcombined with proteinaminationin presence of sodiumcyanoborohydride#2NativeTetanusNonePS and proteinNoCarbodiimidetoxoidcombined in presenceof carbodiimide, thenblocked withethanolamine#3OligosaccharideCRM197AdipicAminated reducingYesActive esteraacidterminus of theoligosaccharideconjugated to proteinby adipic acid (NHS)2#4ReducedCRM197NoneAldehyde form ofYesReductivesaccharide combinedaminationwith protein inpresence of sodiumcyanoborohydride#5De-OAc PSbTetanusNoneAldehyde form of PSYesReductivetoxoidcombined with proteinaminationin presence of sodiumcyanoborohydrideaN-hydroxysuccinimide diester of adipic acidbDeacetylylated PS only reported for Meningococcal group C
Initial studies on production and optimization of meningococcal group C conjugates were reported well before commercialization of the Hib conjugates. See Beuvery et al., Infect. Immun. 1982; 37:15-22; Beuvery et al., Infect. Immun. 1983; 40:39-45; Beuvery et al., J. Infect, 1983; 6:247-55; Jennings, et al., J. Immunol. 1981; 127:1011-8.
Two different conjugation methodologies have been reported for chemically linking the group C PS to a protein carrier. See Jennings et al., J. Immunol. 1981; 127:1011-8; Beuvery et al., Infect. Immun. 1983; 40:39-45. The first approach employs partially depolymerized PS, which is activated by creation of terminal aldehyde groups through periodate oxidation (Method #1 in Table 2). The aldehydes are then reacted through reductive amination combined with free amino groups on the protein, mostly lysines, in the presence of sodium cyarioborohydride. See Jennings et al., J Immunol 1981; 127:1011-8. In this method, activation occurs at one specific site on the group C PS.
The second approach utilizes the carbodiimide reaction (Method #2 in Table 2) to covalently link carboxylic groups in the high molecular weight PS to lysine a-amino groups on the carrier protein. The activation sites in this method are more random, compared to periodate activation.
Group C meningococcal conjugates prepared by these two methods have been evaluated in animals. See Beuvery et al., Dev. Biol. Stand. 1986; 65:197-204; and Beuvery et al., J. Infect. 1983; 6:247-55. The conjugates stimulated both T cell independent and T cell dependent responses upon initial immunization. See Beuvery et al., J. Infect. 1983; 6:247-55. Studies have shown that the PS must, however, be covalently linked to the carrier protein to induce a T cell dependent antibody response.
The first group A and group C meningococcal conjugates to be used in clinical trials were prepared by Chiron Vaccines and were reported in 1992 (Method #3 in Table 2). See Costantino et al., Vaccine 1992; 10:691-8. The conjugation method was based upon selective terminal group activation of small oligosaccharides produced by mild acid hydrolysis followed by coupling to a protein through a hydrocarbon spacer. The non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin, CRM197, was used as the protein carrier. To activate the oligosaccharides for conjugation, an amino group was added to the end of the oligosaccharide, and then reacted with the N-hydroxysuccinimide diester of adipic acid to create an active ester. This active ester was then covalently bound to lysine a-amino groups in the CRM197 protein, creating the conjugate.

Process for preparing polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


The present invention relates to a virtual course display method of displaying on display means a virtual course, which is constructed by connecting a plurality of virtual course parts and where a virtual mobile body runs, the method comprising the steps of: randomly selecting a predetermined number of successively connectable virtual course parts data from among plural pieces of virtual course parts data having different shapes and each being connectable to at least one of other virtual course parts data; storing at least a connecting order of the selected predetermined number of virtual course parts data; constructing a virtual course including virtual course parts data a mobile body passes and a predetermined number of virtual course parts data following the former virtual course parts data based on the connecting order; generating an image of the virtual course; and displaying the image of the virtual course on the display means. The present invention also relates to a game machine and storage medium for the above method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game for driving mobile bodies like cars using a computer system, and, more particularly, to a virtual course display method which permits a player to drive a mobile body on a random drive course.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, various kinds of game machines for car races which use a computer system have been developed and put to a practical use for arcade games, home usage and the like.
For those car racing game machines, a virtual course (hereinafter simply referred to as a course) on which cars run is previously prepared as a game's initial value, so that each player should drive on the same course every time. In a better case, a plurality of drive courses are registered as initial values so that the player can merely select the desired course according to the skill or preference. In this case, those drive courses are fixed too.
For games which permit players to drive cars on a predetermined course several laps as in the ordinary car races, players may tolerate driving on a fixed course over and over again. In the case of a car rally, however, players would probably enjoy driving an unexpected course. If a rally is repeated on the same course, players cannot feel like participating a real rally.
Even with the games in which players just drive cars on a predetermined course a few laps as in the ordinary car races, the players would get easily bored with the course layout after driving the course repeatedly and would lose excitement in playing the games.
One solution to this situation is to provide as many drive courses as possible as initial values or to allow optional drive courses to be added. Playing such a game over and over again, however, the excitement of players playing such a game diminishes. Moreover, the preparation of many drive courses for game machines using a computer system requires a large memory area, which sacrifices the expansion capability of the machines.

Virtual course display method and game machine using the same


A belt driving controller includes a driving roller having a radius r1, a plurality of driven rollers that is driven by rotation of the driving roller, the driven rollers having a radius r2, an endless belt that is wound on the driving roller and the driven rollers and an encoder that is attached to one of the driven rollers, and that outputs a signal. The rotation of the driving roller is controlled based on the signal from the encoder, and (α2/α1)×(r1/r2)≦1 is satisfied where α1 is a correction coefficient for a fluctuation in thickness of the endless belt caused by a belt winding angle on the driving roller, and α2 is a correction coefficient for a fluctuation in the thickness on the driven roller.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a belt driving controller, a process cartridge that includes the belt driving controller, and an image forming apparatus that employs the belt driving controller.
2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an endless belt is wound on a driving roller and one or a plurality of driven rollers, and is driven by transmitting rotation of a drive motor to the driving roller via a drive transmitting member to rotate the driven roller(s).
A belt driving apparatus that includes the above mechanism is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-66909. In the belt driving unit, an encoding roll is attached to the driven roller in contact with the endless belt to generate a pulse in response to a speed of the belt, and the pulse is fed into a controller to control the drive motor.
With this scheme, since the endless belt is not wound on the driven roller, the driven roller is not influenced by fluctuation in thickness of the belt. However, there is a difficulty in controlling the belt driving unit well because it is not possible to completely remove a slip between the driven roller and the endless belt.
Some conventional belt driving unites include an encoder for each of the driving roller and the driven roller so that the angular speeds of both the driving roller and the driven roller are detected by each of the encoders to find a difference between the angular speeds. The difference is detected by an up-down counter, and the difference is superposed on a speed control system of the drive motor to perform a feedback control of the drive motor.
In the belt driving controller of this type, a belt winding angle on the driven roller to which the encoder is attached is made large so that the slip between the driven roller and the endless belt can be eliminated.
Such a technology is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-330353.
However, since the endless belt is wound on the driven roller, the driven roller is influenced by the fluctuation in thickness of the belt, and the angular speed cannot be accurately measured and controlled. Further, since the endless belt is similarly wound on the driving roller, the driving roller is influenced by the fluctuation in the thickness of the belt. As a result, the belt cannot be driven at a constant speed even when the driving roller is rotated at a constant angular speed.

Belt driving controller, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus