Abstract: High compression rate codecs in gateways servicing Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Voice Band Data (VBD) calls distort modem/fax Answer Back Tones (e.g., 2100 Hz), which may lead to signal distortion and call hang-ups. To prevent such occurrences, a method or corresponding apparatus forces originating and terminating gateways to stay in a low complexity non-voice compression codec (e.g., ITU G.711) after prenegotiating a high complexity, voice compression codec (e.g., G.729 or G.726) during a short beginning period of a voice call. The low complexity codec avoids distorted answer back tone leakage associated with previous solutions that use a notch filter to block the leakage, thereby significantly improving the success rate of a VBD call by completely eliminating modem answer back tone distortion caused by high complexity codecs that use voice compression and by completely eliminating use of the notch filter.

Abstract: A system in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) network eliminates false voice detection in voice band data service (e.g., modem or facsimile transmission) by sequentially enabling silence detection then voice detection. In Voice Band Data (VBD) mode, the system initially enables silence detection and disables voice detection. If silence is detected in a VOIP signal associated with a VOIP call, the system enables voice detection. If voice is detected, the system switches from VBD mode to voice mode and enables processing (e.g., echo cancellation and/or data compression) that improves voice communications.

Abstract: The invention provides a coating composition that provides high brightness, high gloss and superior print quality. The coated product comprises a substrate coated on at least one side with a coating composition comprising a pigment component and a binder component that is made of mixture of two binder resins. Both binder resins are capable of film forming. The first binder resin provides coating gloss and adhesion properties and the second binder resin enhances coating porosity, adhesion, and anti-static properties. The first binder resin that is used at 60-95% by weight of the total binder resin blend is selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate acrylate, styrene acrylate and styrene butadiene acrylic copolymers. The second binder resin that is used at 5-40% by weight of the total binder resin blend is selected from the group consisting of anion type polystyrene derivatives, polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol.

Abstract: A method, or corresponding apparatus, assumes a call is a Voice Band Data (VBD) call. The method disables a local echo canceller and transmits a tone that disables distal echo canceller(s) along a communications path across which the call is communicated. After disabling the echo cancellers, the echo cancellers are allowed to operate in a typical manner, such as according to ITU standards, after the call is established, including remaining disabled if the call is a Voice Band Data call and being automatically enabled if the call is or becomes a voice call. The method or apparatus is particularly useful in networks having Point of Service (POS) devices that have modems that do not send out a 2100 Hz tone to disable echo cancelling in the communications path. In one embodiment, the method or corresponding apparatus is deployed in a gateway.

Abstract: A method for making a high-density carbon nanotube array includes the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a carbon nanotube array formed thereon; (b) providing an elastic film; (c) stretching the elastic film uniformly, and covering the elastic film to the carbon nanotube array; (d) exerting a pressure uniformly on the elastic film, and shrinking the carbon nanotube array and the elastic film under the pressure; and (e) separating the nanotube array from the elastic film to acquire a high-density carbon nanotube array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube composite electrode material, a method for manufacturing the same and an electrode including the carbon nanotube composite material. The carbon nanotube electrode material includes carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes. The carbon fibers constitute a network structure. The carbon nanotubes are wrapped around and adhering to the carbon fibers. Because a diameter of the carbon fibers is about 100 times larger than that of the carbon nanotubes, gaps between the carbon fibers are also larger than that between the carbon nanotubes such that electrolytes can easily penetrate into the carbon fibers and come into contact with all or nearly all of the available surface area of the carbon nanotubes. In other words, an effective surface area of the carbon nanotubes is improved, and capacity of electrode material is also improved.

Abstract: A thermal interface material includes an array of carbon nanotubes with interspaces defined therebetween; and a low melting point metallic material filled in the interspaces. A method for fabricating a thermal interface material, the method includes (a) providing an array of carbon nanotubes with interspaces defined therebetween; and (b) depositing a low melting point metallic material on the carbon nanotubes in the interspaces therebetween to form a metallic layer with the array of carbon nanotubes embedded therein, and thereby, achieving the thermal interface material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a carbon nanotube/polymer composite includes the steps of: (a) providing a carbon nanotube array formed on a substrate in a container; (b) providing a prepolymer of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); (c) putting the prepolymer into the container for a period of over 30 minutes to fill in clearances of the carbon nanotube array; and (d) polymerizing the prepolymer film at a temperature of about 50° C. to 60° C. for a period of about 1 hour to 4 hours and then heating the prepolymer film to about 90° C. to 100° C. to form a polymer film, the carbon nanotube array thereby being embedded within the polymer film.

Abstract: A method of preparing a carbon nanotube/polymer composite material is provided. The method includes (a) providing a carbon nanotube-based film and a pre-polymer solution; (b) placing the carbon nanotube-based film at a bottom of a container, and pouring the pre-polymer solution in the container; and (c) polymerizing the pre-polymer solution and simultaneously integrating the pre-polymer solution with the carbon nanotube-based film. As such, a carbon nanotube/polymer composite material, including the polymer-impregnated nanotube layer and an upper polymer layer, is obtained. A multi-layer composite can be produced by essentially repeating this process, using the upper polymer layer as the base layer for the formation of the next layer set thereon.

Abstract: A testing and performance analysis methodology applies a series of test vector pairs to the input ports of an echo canceller under test. The test vector signal pair may represent a particular speech activity state transition, e.g., a Brady Model transition. A scoring compression function such as a sigmoid squashing function is used to evaluate quantized performance parameters. The sub-scores may be weighted and averaged to provide an overall performance score.

Abstract: A mould includes a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a plurality of nano-scaled holes defined through the base. Each nano-scaled hole extends from the first surface to the second surface of the base and is parallel to each other and oriented substantially perpendicular to the first and second surface.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube/polymer composite is described. The carbon nanotube/polymer composite includes at least one polymer material layer and at least one carbon nanotube/polymer composite layer. The carbon nanotube/polymer layer includes a polymer material and a plurality of carbon nanotubes embedded in the polymer material, wherein the carbon nanotube/polymer layer includes a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, at least one of the top surface and bottom surface contacts with the adjacent polymer material layer, and the carbon nanotubes respectively contact at least one respective adjacent carbon nanotube to thereby yield a network of contacting carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Filled olefin polymer concentrates having improved mechanical properties and scratch resistance comprising: A. about 1.0 to about 40.0 wt % of an oxidized olefin polymer material; B. about 0.5 to about 40.0 of a maleated polypropylene; and C. about 7.0 to about 80.0 wt % of a filler chosen from fiberglass, carbon fibers, graphite fibers, whiskers, metal fibers, aramides, talc, wollastonite, calcium carbonate, mica, glass microspheres, ceramic microspheres, glass wool, rock wool, stainless steel wool, steel wool, gypsum, alumina, alumina-silica, silica, and mixtures thereof; wherein the sum of components A+B+C is equal to 100 wt %.

Abstract: A process for making a graft copolymer of an olefin polymer material in at least two polymerization stages comprising: a) treating a reactive, peroxide-containing olefin polymer material (A) at a temperature from about 80° C. to a temperature below the softening point of the polymer material with about 5 to about 120 parts per hundred parts of the polymer material (A) by weight (pph) of at least one grafting monomer which is polymerizable by free radicals; b) treating the stage a) graft copolymer at a temperature from about 80° C. to a temperature below the softening point of the stage a) graft copolymer, which is the same as or different from the temperature used in stage a), with about 5 to about 120 pph of at least one grafting monomer which is different from the monomer used in stage a) and polymerizable by free radicals.

Abstract: A process for making a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer comprising: a) preparing a polymer mixture comprising: (I) about 70 to about 95% by weight of a heterophasic polyolefin; (II) about 4.9 to about 27% by weight of a reactive, peroxide-containing olefin polymer; (III) about 0.1 to about 3.0% by weight of an organic peroxide; and (IV) optionally, about 1 to about 10% by weight of a co-agent having a molecular structure containing at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds; wherein (I)+(II)+(III)+(IV) equals 100%; b) extruding or compounding in molten state the polymer mixture, thereby producing a melt mixture; and optionally c) pelletizing the melt mixture.

Abstract: A process for making a flame retardant olefin polymer material comprising: a) preparing a polymer mixture comprising: I. about 70.0 to about 98.0 wt % of a reactive, peroxide-containing olefin polymer material (A); II. about 1.5 to about 22.5 wt % of at least one non-polymerizable halogenated flame retardant containing at least one aliphatic, unsaturated carbon-carbon bond; and III. about 0.5 to about 7.5 wt % of at least one metal synergist; wherein the sum of components I+II+III is equal to 100 wt %; b) extruding or compounding in molten state the polymer mixture, thereby producing a melt mixture; and optionally c) pelletizing the melt mixture.

Abstract: A process for making an improved soft olefin polymer material comprising: a) preparing a polymer mixture comprising: (I) about 70 to about 95% by weight of a heterophasic polyolefin; (II) about 5 to about 30% by weight of a reactive, peroxide-containing olefin polymer; and (III) optionally, about 1 to about 10% by weight of a co-agent having a molecular structure containing at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds; wherein (I)+(II)+(III) equals 100%; b) extruding or compounding in molten state the polymer mixture, thereby producing a melt mixture; and optionally c) pelletizing the melt mixture.

Abstract: A process for making a graft copolymer of an olefin polymer material in at least two polymerization stages comprising: a) irradiating an olefin polymer material at a temperature of about 10° C. to about 85° C. with high energy ionizing radiation, thereby forming an irradiated olefin polymer material (A); b) treating the irradiated olefin polymer material (A) at a temperature from about 25° C. to about 90° C. with about 5 to about 120 pph of at least one grafting monomer which is polymerizable by free radicals, thereby forming a stage b) graft copolymer; c) treating the stage b) graft copolymer at a temperature from about 25° C. to about 90° C., which is the same as or different from the temperature used in stage b), with about 5 to about 120 pph of at least one grafting monomer which is different from the monomer used in stage b) and polymerizable by free radicals.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic recording medium is disclosed that contains a polymeric base film substrate having coated on a side thereof a toner-receptive coating. The coating contains at least one low molecular weight toner-compatible resin segment and at least one high molecular weight thermoplastic resin segment, with the toner-compatible resin segment having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 1,000 g/mole to about 10,000 g/mole, and the thermoplastic resin segment having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 10,000 g/mole to about 500,000 g/mole. Optionally, the toner-receptive coating layer can also contain a polymeric particulate, an anti-static agent, and a surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an anti-fogging coating that can be used for anti-fog applications. The coating is transparent, and comprises a hydroxyl group containing polymer, an aluminum containing crosslinker, and a surface active agent containing hydroxyl and/or siloxane groups. Additionally, the coatings possess a T.sub.fog of greater than about 30 minutes and a haze of less than about 5%, and can advantageously be used to provide to glass or plastic substrates an anti-fogging surface.