An autoload disk copier system and disk printer transport system for recordable disks, the copier system having a copier unit with a housing containing a disk drive with an extendable disk tray, a disk carrier for supporting a stack of disks over the tray, a disk separator mechanism for selectively separating a disk from the stack displacing it to a tray, a disk retrieve mechanism for retrieving a disk from the tray and depositing it in a collector for good and bad disks, and, an electronic control means for controlling the sequence of operations of loading, disk read/write, unloading and depositing disks during the automatic process of recording data on recordable disks. The disk printer transport system combines a disk retrieve mechanism and electronic control means similar to that used in the autoload disk copier system with a retractable platform, a second disk retrieve mechanism, and a disk printer, the first disk retrieve mechanism for retrieving the disk after the completion of the copy operation and depositing the disk on the retractable platform for transport to the second disk retrieve mechanism, the second disk retrieve mechanism transporting the disk from the retractable platform to the disk printer for printing.

This invention relates to a recording device for storage media and a transport device for labeling storage media. In particular the recording device is a batch loaded compact disk copying unit that automatically loads and records a series of recordable disks, and the transport device is a transport unit that transports a disk from a compact disk copying unit to a printer that places a label on the top face of compact disk.
As computers and consumer electronic products have evolved to handle greater capacities of data, the storage medium for recording data or information generated has similarly evolved. The optical disk has become an inexpensive medium on which to record a large volume of data. Originally used in the audio recording industry, the laser disk or modern compact disk has become the medium choice for fixed data storage. While read/write compact disks have been devised, the large majority of compact disks are written once for multiple reading.
In the past, the transfer of data onto compact digital disks was a costly procedure economically feasible only when manufacturing a large quantity of copies. Users with applications that require relatively few copies or require frequent data updates could not reap the benefits of this technology, even though low cost disk readers were readily available. The advent of recordable digital compact disks was intended to allow users to record their own disks and thereby achieve significant savings. Unlike a common compact disk that has been pressed by a mold, a recordable disk has a surface that is etched by a laser contained in the disk recorder. Once etched, the recordable disk is unalterable and is readable indefinitely.
Commercially available disk recorders have enabled users to record individual compact disks. The disk recorder is typically connected to a personal computer having a hard drive on which the information to be transferred is temporarily stored. Ordinary programs permit the copying and transfer of data from the internal hard drive of the computer to the disk recorder, which records the data on the disk. This process is time consuming and requires the attention of a user who must load and unload the recorder after each copying transaction. Where it is desirable to record the same information on multiple disks, the use of an automatic loading device is required to eliminate the constant attention of an operator.
Various systems have been proposed by one of the present inventors and are the subject of separate applications. In application Ser. No. 08/732,940, filed Oct. 17, 1996, entitled, "Programmable Self-operating Caddy-loaded Compact Disk Duplication System," a device is described for automatically recording on a stack of compact disks contained in protective caddies. Also, in Ser. No. 60/040,422, filed Mar. 13, 1997, entitled "Programmable Self-Operating Compact Disk Duplication System Using Stacked Spindles," there is described an automatic compact disk duplication system with vertically stacked storage spindles and disk drives.
Where high volume is not a concern, batch loading for a single recorder unit can be accomplished with an automatic loading device. In this manner a series of recordable disks can be recorded without the attention of an operator. This invention relates to the electromechanical means for enhancing a standard commercial recording device with an automatic loading mechanism to enable the copying of a stack of recordable disks.
The automatic compact disk duplication systems described in the applications listed above along with other disk duplication systems currently available significantly lessen the amount of operator supervision during the disk copying process, but none of these disk duplication systems can coordinate the printing of labels or other identifying information onto the top face of each recordable disk immediately before or after the recording process. The automatic placement of a label on the face of a recordable disk eliminates the possibility that a user will mis-identify a recorded disk. The invention of the disk printer transport system relates to the electromechanical means for enhancing most commercial recording devices with a disk labeling feature, allowing users to further automate the disk duplication process while utilizing their current disk duplication equipment, thereby achieving significant cost savings for a relatively small investment.


A self-extinguishing expansion switch or circuit breaker, including an extinguishing chamber and an expansion chamber connected by a duct. The extinguishing chamber is positioned above the expansion chamber. An axially movable tube supports a movable arcing contact which is cooperable with a stationary arcing contact. The axially movable tube separates axially from a conducting tube supported by an operating rod such that the circuit breaker is in an isolated position beyond an open position.

The present invention relates to a self-extinguishing expansion switch or circuit breaker for high or medium voltages.
It is state-of-the-art, for example according to the document EP-A-0,298,809, to provide a circuit breaker with a sealed enclosure filled with a high dielectric strength gas and containing one or more poles of the circuit breaker, each pole comprising:
an extinguishing chamber having a revolution surface sealed off tightly at opposite ends by end-plates; PA1 a pair of tubular arcing contacts, arranged coaxially in said extinguishing chamber and each passing through one of the end-plates to make the extinguishing chamber communicate, in the separated position of the arcing contacts, with the enclosure forming an expansion chamber by the gas outflow ducts constituted by the tubular arcing contacts; PA1 a coil or permanent magnet supported by one of the end-plates inside the extinguishing chamber so as to create in the separation zone of the arcing contacts a magnetic field for blowout in rotation of an arc drawn between the separated arcing contacts; PA1 a pair of main contacts located outside the extinguishing chamber and arranged to open before separation of the arcing contacts takes place when an opening operation of the circuit breaker is performed. PA1 on the one hand an extinguishing cheer, a first end-plate of which is conducting and forms a first current terminal pad which is connected, in this extinguishing chamber, to a stationary annular arcing contact, and the other end-plate of which is insulating and has passing through it a coaxial and axially movable conducting tube, the free end of this tube supporting the movable annular arcing contact which is the conjugate of the stationary arcing contact: PA1 and on the other hand a sealed expansion chamber, of much larger dimensions, which is tightly connected to this extinguishing chamber by at least one duct designed to enable the ionized gases to migrate, when an arc is created on opening, from this extinguishing chamber to this expansion chamber; PA1 this expansion chamber being coaxial to the extinguishing chamber and containing the main contacts of the pole, comprising a stationary contact which is connected to the conducting end-plate of the extinguishing chamber and a movable contact which is normally designed to be connected to said movable conducting tube, mechanical means being provided to open these main contacts before the arcing contacts, this switch or circuit breaker being characterized in that: PA1 the extinguishing chamber is not placed inside the expansion chamber, but in the extension of and above the latter; and PA1 the movable conducting tube which supports the movable arcing contact electrode at its free end is designed, in the closed position and when it is withdrawn to its open position with the arc finally extinguished, to be in electrical contact with a second coaxial conducting tube, these two tubes being arranged and means being provided to separate the tubes electrically and axially from one another, when the movable tube is further withdrawn beyond this open position with the arc finally extinguished, thus achieving between them a sufficiently large gas gap so that the voltage is in fact applied via the external tubular insulating part which constitutes the expansion chamber enclosure, and not via the insulating annular end-plate of the extinguishing chamber.
A circuit breaker of this kind with self-extinguishing expansion and rotating arc combines pneumatic blowout of the arc by expansion gases with magnetic blowout of the arc in rotation on annular electrodes. This breaking method can be used in medium or high voltage circuit breakers and presents the advantage of requiring low operating energies.
It does however present some drawbacks, especially when operation is desired in the high voltage field.
A first drawback is of purely dimensional nature. If we consider a pole of this state-of-the-art circuit breaker (e.g., see FIG. 1 of the above-mentioned document EP-A-0,298,809) it can be noted that the extinguishing chamber, itself of relatively small dimensions, is surrounded by a rather voluminous insulating enclosure. It is in fact necessary, for this state-of-the-art achievement, to arrange a sufficient expansion volume both above and below the extinguishing chamber, and moreover to provide a fairly wide annular communication corridor between these two, upper and lower, expansion volumes. The dimensions of the tubular insulating part, generally made of porcelain, of the sealed enclosure containing each pole of the circuit breaker are subsequently large which, especially for high voltages, is particularly disadvantageous in terms of space requirements and cost price.
Another drawback lies in the fact that, when the circuit breaker pole is open, all the voltage is applied via the insulating ring which forms one of the two end-plates of the extinguishing chamber, the other end-plate forming part of a conducting bell which is closed by this insulating ring. This does not cause great problems for a medium voltage for example of about 10 kilovolts, but it can easily be understood that it becomes more difficult to achieve with a high voltage of about 200 kilovolts for example.
Finally, the fact that the extinguishing chamber is positioned well inside the insulating enclosure makes it unsuitable for various advantageous possibilities of mechanical fixing.

Self-extinguishing expansion switch or circuit breaker


A vehicle front structure that includes: a fender panel having an outer wall, and an inside end part being bent at a boundary part with a hood panel; an apron upper member that extends in substantially the vehicle longitudinal direction, parallel to the outer wall; a shock-absorbing part that links an inside end of the fender panel and the apron upper member; a cover member, the base end of which is mounted on the inside and that hangs downward as a free end in the substantially downward direction of the vehicle, covers the distal end of the inside and the shock-absorbing part, and extends in substantially the direction transverse direction of the vehicle; and a vehicle side-structure that includes an insertion part formed in substantially the vehicle longitudinal direction near the distal end of the cover member, and into which the cover member may be inserted from above.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle front structure in which a base portion of a cover member is mounted on an inside edge of a fender panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a vehicle front structure, in order to improve pedestrian protection performance, there are cases in which the inside edge of a front fender panel is mounted to an apron upper member via an energy-absorbing bracket (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-14763). In a conventional structure, from the standpoint of appearance, for example, the inside edge of the front fender panel or energy-absorbing bracket might be covered and hidden by a fender protector from the inside in the transverse direction of the vehicle, one end part of the fender protector being mounted to the end part on the inside of the fender panel and also mounted to the apron upper member.
In the above-described structure, however, when a body colliding with the upper end part of the fender panel acts to present a load from above the vehicle, with the fender protector generating a prescribed repulsive force, there is generally a shortening of the deformation stroke on the front fender panel side, and there are cases in which it is difficult to set a good load versus stroke characteristic.


A method for deodorization of cork accomplished by applying steam volatilization to remove substances originating offensive odor in the cork is disclosed. The method has a first step of putting the cork into a container, a second step of supplying steam generated in a steam generator to the container, and a third step of discharging the steam along with the substance originating the offensive odor from the container. An apparatus for deodorization of cork by this method is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to removing offensive odors from cork. Specifically, the present invention relates to removing 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) which has a characteristic odor.
2. Description of the Background Art
Cork has unique characteristics. It is lightweight and has a high degree of resilience. Additionally, it has excellent gas and liquid sealing properties, and has stability against solvents such as alcohol. Furthermore, it is a hygienic material which is food-safe and not harmful to human beings, and has no intrinsic odor.
Because of the above mentioned characteristics, cork has been widely utilized as stoppers for casings such as bottles filled with liquor such as wine, brandy or whiskey, or casings packed with various kinds of foods.
However, in spite of having no intrinsic odor, offensive odor is encountered on cork stoppers on rare occasions. This odor, when present, deteriorates the quality of the contents of the bottles or casings sealed by the cork. Recently, by various studies, 2,4,6-trichloroanisol (TCA) has been identified as the substance which originates the offensive odor. TCA is considered as the substance produced by moulds from 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) which is utilized in agents conventionally used to spray cork oak. Also, in "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry", (1982) pages 359 to 362, presumption is given that 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and other related chlorinated compounds originate from chlorination of a liquid-related substance during the chlorinate bleaching used in the processing of the cork and that these compounds are later extracted into the liquor, such as wine. Similar consideration that a clorinate agent is the source of the odor substance has been given in "Science des Ailments" (1984), pages 81 to 93. In the discussion, It has been pointed out that the 2,4,6-trichloroanisol is derived from pentachlorophenol or other chlorinated pesticides applied to the tree. Further consideration is given that cork material and corks stored in premises with an atmosphere polluted by chloroanisoles may contaminate bottled wine aged in healthy cellars.
Methods for effective deodorization of cork have been studied, and the following methods have been attempted.
(1) Dry-Heating Deodorization
Cork is heated and dried at 80.degree. C. for 6 to 8 hours, after which the offensive odor causing substances are substantially evaporated. However, TCA is specifically adsorbed by the macromolecular compounds which form cork such as cellulose, lignin and suberin, and it is difficult to remove TCA in the dried state. The boiling point of TCA is 240.degree. C. at 738.2 mmHg, and 132.degree. C. at 28 mmHg. Therefore, in order to evaporate TCA, a heating temperature must be applied which is higher than the boiling point of TCA. However, it is difficult to raise the internal temperature of cork without heating the surface excessively, which results in deterioration of cork's desirable characteristics. As such, heating is applied only to the surface of the cork, therefore TCA in the interior cannot be removed entirely.
(2) Repetition Heating Deodorization
Cork is heated at 80.degree. C. for 6 hours and is then left at room temperatures for about a month. TCA can be removed by repeating this treatment many times. However, this method requires long periods of treatment until the TCA is entirely removed; therefore, production efficiency is low. For example, 2 or 3, repetitions of the above treatment is insufficient for entirely removing TCA.
(3) Citric Acid Deodorization
Cork is deodorized by being soaked in a 3 vol % solution of citric acid for 3 to 5 min. However, the effects of this deodorization technique are retained only for a short period. That is because, as cork resists absorption of liquids, the citric acid solution cannot reach the cork interior. Therefore, since the deodorizing treatment affects only the cork surface, untreated TCA within the cork is moved to the cork surface with the elapse of time; thus, the offensive odor re-occurs.
(4) Oxidant Bath Deodorization
Cork is deodorized and sterilized by soaking in a 1 vol % solution of hydroperoxide (H.sub.2 O.sub.2). However similar problems are caused as in the case of citric acid deodorization.
(5) Alcohol Steam Deodorization
Cork is left and deodorized in an alcohol atmosphere at 18.degree. to 24.degree. C. for a month. However, this method encounters the same problems as methods (3) and (4).
(6) Hot Water Washing
Cork in the grain state is washed in hot water at a temperature of 60.degree. C. The treatment needs to be repeated 2 times. But, as TCA has a relatively strong affinity for cork, it is moved to and retained in the internal portions of the cork. According to this method, therefore, the deodorizing effect is still insufficient because the treatment affects only the cork surface.
(7) Soxhlet Extraction
TCA in the cork is extracted by a Soxhlet extractor at 45.degree. C. for 24 hours with n-pentane. By this method, TCA is entirely removed from both the surface and internal areas of the cork. However, the equipment is very expensive and production costs become very high. Furthermore, a certain degree of safety risk is encountered with this method.
(8) Dispersion
It has been considered to simply grind the cork into grains having a certain diameter, and then form it back into the desired form by pressing with adhesives. However, since TCA is merely dispersed in each grain, high improvement cannot be expected from this approach.
(9) Sterilization with Irradiation
"Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau" (1984) Pages 204-207, is directed to sterilization with irradiation. That the mechanism of formation of cork taint in wines is discussed. The use of an irradiation process has been proposed for preventing microbial conversion from TCA, and thus achieving prevention of cork taint. However, this method cannot remove TCA residing within internal structure of the cork.
(10) Sterilization with Ozone
German Patent First Publication No. 34 05 422 discusses that cork is sterilized with ozonized water or an ozonized silicone emulsion, in which the ozonized concentration is Pl mg/l at a temperature lower than 30.degree. C.
However, this method encounters the same problems as methods (3) and (4).


The present invention is directed to mutants of HCV NS3/4A protease. More particularly, the present invention identifies mutant of HCV NS3/4A protease that are resistant to drug treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to resistance mutants of Hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease.
2. Background of the Related Art
Infection by hepatitis C virus ("HCV") is a compelling human medical problem. HCV is recognized as the causative agent for most cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis, with an estimated human sero-prevalence of 3% globally [A. Alberti et al., "Natural History of Hepatitis C," J. Hepatology, 31., (Suppl. 1), pp. 17-24 (1999)]. Nearly four million individuals may be infected in the United States alone [M. J. Alter et al., "The Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis in the United States, Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am., 23, pp. 437-455 (1994); M. J. Alter "Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the United States," J. Hepatology, 31., (Suppl. 1), pp. 88-91 (1999)].
Upon first exposure to HCV only about 20% of infected individuals develop acute clinical hepatitis while others appear not to develop significant outward symptoms of infection. In almost 70% of instances, however, the virus establishes a chronic infection that persists for decades [S. Iwarson, "The Natural Course of Chronic Hepatitis," FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 14, pp. 201-204 (1994); D. Lavanchy, "Global Surveillance and Control of Hepatitis C," J. Viral Hepatitis, 6, pp. 35-47 (1999)]. This usually results in recurrent and progressively worsening liver inflammation, which often leads to more severe disease states such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [M. C. Kew, "Hepatitis C and Hepatocellular Carcinoma", FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 14, pp. 211-220 (1994); I. Saito et. al., "Hepatitis C Virus Infection is Associated with the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87, pp. 6547-6549 (1990)]. Unfortunately, there are no broadly effective treatments for the debilitating progression of chronic HCV.
The HCV genome encodes a polyprotein of 3010-3033 amino acids [Q. L. Choo, et. al., "Genetic Organization and Diversity of the Hepatitis C Virus." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, pp. 2451-2455 (1991); N. Kato et al., "Molecular Cloning of the Human Hepatitis C Virus Genome From Japanese Patients with Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87, pp. 9524-9528 (1990); A. Takamizawa et. al., "Structure and Organization of the Hepatitis C Virus Genome Isolated From Human Carriers," J. Virol., 65, pp. 1105-1113 (1991)]. The HCV nonstructural (NS) proteins are presumed to provide the essential catalytic machinery for viral replication. The NS proteins are derived by proteolytic cleavage of the polyprotein [R. Bartenschlager et. al., "Nonstructural Protein 3 of the Hepatitis C Virus Encodes a Serine-Type Proteinase Required for Cleavage at the NS3/4 and NS4/5 Junctions," J. Virol., 67, pp. 3835-3844 (1993); A. Grakoui et. al., "Characterization of the Hepatitis C Virus-Encoded Serine Proteinase: Determination of Proteinase-Dependent Polyprotein Cleavage Sites," J. Virol., 67, pp. 2832-2843 (1993); A. Grakoui et. al., "Expression and Identification of Hepatitis C Virus Polyprotein Cleavage Products," J. Virol., 67, pp. 1385-1395 (1993); L. Tomei et. al., "NS3 is a serine protease required for processing of hepatitis C virus polyprotein", J. Virol., 67, pp. 4017-4026 (1993)].
The HCV NS protein 3 (NS3) contains a serine protease activity that processes viral polyprotein to generate the majority of the viral enzymes, and is essential for viral replication and infectivity. The first 181 amino acids of NS3 (residues 1027-1207 of the viral polyprotein) have been shown to contain the serine protease domain of NS3 that processes all four downstream sites of the HCV polyprotein [C. Lin et al., "Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Serine Proteinase: Trans-Cleavage Requirements and Processing Kinetics", J. Virol., 68, pp. 8147-8157 (1994)]. Substitutions of the catalytic triad of the HCV NS3 serine protease resulted in loss of viral replication and infectivity in chimpanzees [A. A. Kolykhalov et al., "Hepatitis C virus-encoded enzymatic activities and conserved RNA elements in the 3′ nontranslated region are essential for virus replication in vivo", J. Virol., 74: 2046-2051]. It is known that mutations in the yellow fever virus NS3 protease decrease viral infectivity [Chambers, T. J. et. al., "Evidence that the N-terminal Domain of Nonstructural Protein NS3 From Yellow Fever Virus is a Serine Protease Responsible for Site-Specific Cleavages in the Viral Polyprotein", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87, pp. 8898-8902 (1990)].
The HCV NS3serine protease and its associated cofactor, NS4A, processes the viral non-structural protein region into individual non-structural proteins, including all of the viral enzymes [C. Failla, et al., "An amino-terminal domain of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease is essential for interaction with NS4A", J. Virol. 69, pp. 1769-1777; Y. Tanji et al., "Hepatitits C virus-encoded nonstructural protein NS4A has versatile functions in viral protein processing", J. Virol. 69, pp. 1575-1581; C. Lin et al., "A central region in the hepatitis C virus NS4A protein allows formation of an active NS3-NS4A serine proteinase complex in vivo and in vitro", J. Virol. 69, pp. 4373-4380], and is essential for viral replication. This processing appears to be analogous to that carried out by the human immunodeficiency virus aspartyl protease, which is also involved in processing of viral proteins. HIV protease inhibitors, which inhibit viral protein processing, are potent antiviral agents in man, indicating that interrupting this stage of the viral life cycle results in therapeutically active agents. Consequently it is an attractive target for drug discovery.
Several potential HCV protease inhibitors have been described in the prior art [PCT publication Nos. WO 02/18369, WO 02/08244, WO 00/09558, WO 00/09543, WO 99/64442, WO 99/07733, WO 99/07734, WO 99/50230, WO 98/46630, WO 98/17679 and WO 97/43310, U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,276, M. Llinas-Brunet et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 8, pp. 1713-18 (1998); W. Han et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 10, 711-13 (2000); R. Dunsdon et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 10, pp. 1571-79 (2000); M. Llinas-Brunet et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 10, pp. 2267-70 (2000); and S. LaPlante et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 10, pp. 2271-74 (2000)]. It is not known however whether these compounds would have the appropriate profiles to be acceptable drugs. Furthermore, it is possible that the HCV protease may become resistant to an otherwise acceptable drug.
Therefore, the current understanding of HCV has not led to any satisfactory anti-HCV agents or treatments. The only established therapy for HCV disease is interferon alpha-based treatment. However, interferons alpha have significant side effects [M. A. Walker et al., "Hepatitis C Virus: An Overview of Current Approaches and Progess," DDT, 4, pp. 518-29 (1999); D. Moradpour et al., "Current and Evolving Therapies for Hepatitis C," Eur. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol., 11, pp. 1199-1202 (1999); H. L. A. Janssen et al. "Suicide Associated with Alfa-Interferon Therapy for Chronic Viral Hepatitis," J. Hepatol., 21, pp. 241-243 (1994); P. F. Renault et al., "Side Effects of Alpha Interferon," Seminars in Liver Disease, 9, pp. 273-277. (1989)] and induce long term remission in only a fraction (˜25%) of cases [O. Weiland, "Interferon Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection", FEMS Microbiol. Rev., 14, pp. 279-288 (1994)]. The current standard of care, pegylated interferon alpha in combination with ribavirin, has roughly 40-50% sustained viral response (SVR) for patients infected with genotype 1, which counts for 70% of chronic hepatitis C patients in developed countries, and 80% SVR in genotype 2 or 3 HCV-infected patients [J. G. McHutchison, et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 339: 1485-1492 (1998); G. L. Davis et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 339: 1493-1499 (1998)]. Moreover, the prospects for effective anti-HCV vaccines remain uncertain.
Thus, there is a need for more effective anti-HCV therapies, particularly compounds that inhibit HCV NS3 protease. Such compounds may be useful as antiviral agents, particularly as anti-HCV agents. An understanding of HCV resistance mutants would further progress towards effective HCV treatments.

HCV NS3-NS4A protease resistance mutants


A decrypting apparatus for decrypting cryptography data included in a packet includes a receiver, a key generator, and a decrypting section. The receiver receives a packet transmitted from an encrypting apparatus that executes an encrypting process. The key generator generates a key used for the encrypting process. The decrypting section decrypts cryptography data included in the packet received by the receiver with using the key generated by the key generator. In the decrypting apparatus, the packet received by the receiver includes packet information used for generating the key. The key generator generates the key with using the packet information.

The Internet has recently been utilized for various communications. E-mail and Web as non-real-time communication were mainly used when the Internet started spreading. According to advances in Internet technology, however, real-time communication in sound and image systems, such as a television, a telephone, and a monitoring camera, is recently used a lot in the Internet.
Since Quality of Service (QoS) is not taken into consideration in the Internet, the Internet is not suitable for the real-time communication. Therefore, the Internet is demanded to have a high communication speed in order to improve a real-time characteristic of communication via the Internet. For such a demand, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a cryptosystem, such as a streaming encryption, to improve the communication speed while maintaining security.
The number of users and a transmission data capacity abruptly increase (for example, high definition in image communication), and thus, the increasing of the communication speed of the Internet does not necessarily improve the real-time characteristic. From such a background, the real-time communication employs not the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) communication having a low communication speed but the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) communication having a high speed.
However, the UDP communication may cause a packet loss and a reverse arrival order of packets, hence requiring a particular technique for a common key cryptosystem. For example, in an AES CBC mode of Arcfour encryption and block encryption of streaming encryption which are often utilized in the common key cryptosystem of the SSL cryptographic communication (TCP communication), the packet loss and the reversed arrival order of packets may cause a synchronization gap, and may prevent the receiving side from performing proper decryption from the time the packet loss and the reversed arrival order of packets occur.

Decrypting apparatus, encrypting apparatus, decrypting method, encrypting method, and communication system


An apparatus for straightening a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine is provided. The apparatus includes a pair of elongate members on which the cylinder head is mounted. Tensionable members are adjustably anchored in the elongate members and pass through bores in the cylinder head. Tensioning means provided on each tensionable member enable desired forces to be selectively applied to the head to provide corrective deformation of the head. The apparatus is versatile and accommodates cylinder heads of most known makes of internal combustion engines.

In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the use of high technology engines in mass-produced automobiles. Features such as single overhead camshafts (SOHC) or double overhead camshafts (DOHC), and aluminium alloy engines, are now supplied standard on most cars. Modern manufacturing techniques have also enabled automobile engine designers to design to much closer manufacturing tolerances than had previously been attainable, and this has led to much improved mechanical efficiencies within the engine, and much lighter engine assemblies.
Unfortunately, engine repair and rebuilding techniques have not kept pace with this new technology. Procedures and tools which worked adequately on older engines having tolerances in the order to .+-.0.25 mm (.+-.0.010 inches) are not normally capable of producing tolerances in the order of .+-.0.05 mm (.+-.0.002 inches) as required by modern SOHC and DOHC engines.
These changes have been particularly noticeable in the design and repair of cylinder heads. In older engines, the camshaft that operates the inlet and exhaust valves is usually located deep within the motor, adjacent to the crankshaft, and the valves are actuated by long pushrods operating off the cams of the camshaft, or by hydraulic means. The cylinder head of these motors merely acts as a seal for the cylinders, and a mounting base on which to mount the valves and valve rockers, and any free-play between the valves, valve rockers and pushrods can normally be eliminated by using shims, or adjustable screws. As mentioned above, a manufacturing tolerance of the order of .+-.0.25 mm is sufficient for the flat mounting surface of the cylinder head where it is mounted onto the engine block. A good gasket can normally ensure that the cylinder head seals the cylinders properly, even if the head has a small degree of twist (or warp), or is bowed, within this .+-.0.25 mm tolerance.
The procedures and tools commonly used to straighten an aluminium (alloy) cylinder head of this type are somewhat simple. First, a number of holes are drilled and tapped into a piece of flat steel plate to suit the mounting bolt holes of the particular cylinder head to be straightened. The head is measured while it is cold and the location and amount of distortion are calculated. The head is then placed on the steel plate and shims are placed between the head and steel plate at the contact points. Bolts are passed through the mounting holes in the head, screwed into the steel plate, and tightened to a torque that has been estimated empirically to give the required head straightness. The whole assembly is put in an oven to anneal for a period of 2-4 hours. After this time, it is removed from the oven, the bolts are loosened, and the head is checked to ascertain whether it has straightened sufficiently so as to be usable. If the head is still not straight enough, the whole procedure is repeated until the desired degree of straightness is achieved. Hence, this trial-and-error procedure is greatly dependent upon the skill and knowledge of the tradesman doing the job. However, with the wide tolerance allowable on the flat head mounting surface of most old cylinder heads, the head is usually "straight" after one annealing process.
With overhead cam (OHC) engines on the other hand, the camshaft is journalled in a series of bearings on the aluminium (alloy) cylinder head, and the valves are operated directly by cams on the camshaft. Little or no adjustment is available with this arrangement, so manufacturing tolerances are much stricter than the earlier arrangements described above. The most critical manufacturing tolerance in OHC arrangements is in the alignment of the support bearings for the camshaft. The (four or five) bearings supporting the camshaft must all be aligned so that their rotational centrelines are concentric to within .+-.0.05 mm as stated earlier. With this tolerance in mind, it can be readily appreciated that the abovementioned prior art procedure for straightening cylinder heads is not suited to straightening OHC heads as it does not allow for accurate control or measurement of the amount of straightening. Indeed, an OHC head often requires several heat treatments to achieve the desired degree of straightness. This is both time consuming and expensive, and in most cases, it is more economical to replace a deformed cylinder head rather than attempt to straighten it.
Further, it is usually necessary to drill and tap new holes in the steel plate for different makes of cylinder heads.


A plasma CVD device includes a reaction chamber, a remote plasma discharge chamber that is provided remotely from the reaction chamber, and piping that links the reaction chamber and the remote plasma discharge chamber. The remote plasma discharge chamber activates cleaning gas by plasma discharge energy, and the activated cleaning gas is introduced into the inside of the reaction chamber through the piping and changes solid substances that adhere to the inside of the reaction chamber in consequence of film formation, to gaseous substances, thereby cleaning the inside of the reaction chamber. The device is characterized by at least one of the following: (a) the remote plasma discharge chamber generates active species using radio frequency oscillating output energy of a preselected frequency; (b) the piping is made of materials that are not corroded by the active species; or (c) the piping is provided with a through-flow type valve.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) device equipped with a self-cleaning device. In particular, the invention relates to a device that cleans the inside of a deposition chamber using remotely generated active species.
2. Description of the Related Art
CVD devices have been conventionally used to form insulation films such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, amorphous carbon or polymer containing benzene ring, conductor films such as tungsten silicide, titanium nitrite or aluminum alloy and high-dielectric films containing PZT (PbZr1xe2x88x92xTixO3) or BST (BaxSr1xe2x88x92xTiO3) on silicon a substrate or glass substrate.
To form these films, reaction gas with various compositions or a second reaction gas is supplied within a deposition chamber. These gases cause a chemical reaction by receiving plasma energy and a desired thin film is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Within a reaction chamber, films that are generated similarly by chemical reaction adhere to its inner wall and the surface of a wafer support. These adhesive substances are accumulated gradually as film formation is repeated. Then, disengaging from the inner wall and the surface of the support, these adhesive substances sometimes float within the reaction chamber. This causes impurity contamination that leads to defects in manufactured semiconductor circuits.
To remove contaminants adhering to the inner wall of the reaction chamber, in situ cleaning that cleans the inside while the reaction chamber is in operation is effective. This method is to remove adhesive substances by bringing cleaning gas, which is selected according to the type of adhesive substances, into the reaction chamber to decompose the adhesive substances into gaseous materials. For example, if silicon oxide or silicon nitride, tungsten or its nitride or silicide adheres, CF4, C2F6, C3F8 or NF3 is used as cleaning gas. In this case, active species (fluorine radical) of fluorine atoms or fluorine-containing active species decomposes the substances adhering to the inner wall of the reaction chamber and impurities can be removed in the gas phase.
In the case of a plasma CVD device, because a plasma excitation device used for film formation is also used for activation of cleaning gas, large ion bombardment is caused between electrodes by high radio frequency (RF) power applied to the cleaning gas. As a result, the surface of electrodes is damaged; a surface layer comes off to cause impurity contamination. It becomes necessary to replace damaged parts frequently, which increases operation cost.
To solve these shortcomings caused by ion bombardment, remote plasma cleaning was developed. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,778, issued Aug. 4, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,195, issued Dec. 1, 1998, which are herein incorporated by reference, a method is disclosed in which NF3 is used as a cleaning gas and plasma excitation that activates NF3 is performed using microwaves in the second plasma discharge chamber, which is different and is separated from the reaction chamber. According to this method, flow-controlled NF3 is brought into the second plasma discharge chamber, it is dissociated and activated by 2.45 GHz microwaves supplied to the plasma discharge chamber from a microwave oscillator through a waveguide, and fluorine active species are generated. At this time, to achieve microwave plasma discharge efficiently, a valve is provided between the second plasma reaction chamber and the reaction chamber to regulate pressure and the second plasma reaction chamber is maintained at a designated pressure. Generated fluorine active species are brought into the deposition chamber through a conduit, and it decomposes and removes adhesive substances on the inner wall of the reaction chamber.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,799, issued Aug. 4, 1998, which is herein incorporated by reference, it is disclosed that for the conduit that brings fluorine active species into the reaction chamber, aluminum is preferable to stainless steel and that Teflon materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are the most preferable.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,195, issued Dec. 1, 1998, which is herein incorporated by reference, along with activation of cleaning gas in the second plasma discharge chamber, it is disclosed that cleaning gas is supplementarily activated further using radio-frequency plus true electric discharge in the reaction chamber and that a filter is provided between the second plasma discharge chamber and the reaction chamber to remove undesirable particles. This technology is also reflected in the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,778.
While the above-mentioned remote plasma cleaning methods alleviated the problems caused by ion bombardment, there remains a need for improvement in these methods.
Among various embodiments of the present invention, an embodiment is to provide a remote plasma discharge chamber comprising materials that are resistant to damage, and at the same time, to provide reaction chamber cleaning without ion bombardment.
Another embodiment of this invention is to provide a CVD device in which plasma ignition at the remote plasma discharge chamber is easy and reliable.
Yet another embodiment of this invention is to provide a CVD device that quickly exhausts residual gas within piping after supply of activation cleaning gas is stopped.
Further, another embodiment of this invention is to provide a plasma CVD device that supplies cleaning gas to the reaction chamber by maintaining the amount of fluorine species that is activated in the remote plasma discharge chamber.
That is, a plasma CVD device according to this invention includes the following embodiments:
The CVD device of the preferred embodiments comprises a reaction chamber, a remote plasma discharge chamber that is provided remotely from the reaction chamber, and piping that links the reaction chamber with the remote plasma discharge chamber. The remote plasma discharge chamber activates cleaning gas by plasma discharge energy. The activated cleaning gas is brought into the inside of the reaction chamber through the piping and changes solid substances, which adhere to the inside of the reaction chamber as a consequence of film formation, to gaseous substances, thereby cleaning the inside of the reaction chamber. The device is characterized by at least one of the following:
(a) the remote plasma discharge chamber generates active species using radio-frequency oscillating output energy of a preselected frequency;
(b) the piping is made of materials that are not corroded by the active species; or
(c) the piping is provided with a through-flow type valve.
According to one embodiment, the device further comprises a support provided within the reaction chamber, which supports an object to be or being processed, and a gas-emitting plate provided at a position facing the support within the reaction chamber. The plate uniformly supplies reaction gas to the object being processed to form a film onto the object being processed, wherein the activated cleaning gas is supplied through piping into the reaction chamber from holes provided through the gas-emitting plate.
With regard to (a) above, in an embodiment, the preselected frequency is 300 kHz-500 kHz and the active species is a fluorine activated species. With regard to (b) above, in an embodiment, the inside surface of the piping is made of fluorine-passivated stainless steel, aluminum or aluminum alloy. With regard to (c) above, in an embodiment, the size of the opening of the valve, when fully opened, is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the piping, and the valve does not have projections, when fully opened, with respect to the inner surface of the piping. Namely, the valve has an opening, when fully opened, such that the pressure drop across the valve is preferably less than about 0.25 Torr (or less than about 5% of the inlet pressure), more preferably less than about 0.1 Torr (or less than about 1% of the inlet pressure), and most preferably substantially no pressure loss is caused. In the above, the piping is preferably straight in the vicinity of the valve. Most preferably, all three of these features are combined to produce an efficient, self-cleaning CVD reactor.
As a result of (a), the following advantages can be realized: use of radio-frequency (e.g., 400 kHz) oscillating output allows manufacturing the remote plasma discharge chamber from anodized aluminum alloy, for example. Thus, it is unnecessary to use sapphire or quartz, which are required when conventional microwave output is used. Risk of damage during processing and problems of fluorine active species consumption are thereby reduced. In addition, damage to electrodes by ion bombardment at the time of cleaning and deterioration of electrode surfaces can successfully be prevented. Moreover, complex tuning circuits are unnecessary and miniaturization of the remote plasma discharge chamber and lower cost can be realized. Furthermore, a phenomenon wherein powdered aluminum fluoride adsorbs onto the electrode surface is reduced or eliminated and device downtime due to device maintenance can be considerably shortened. As a result, productivity is improved.
As a result of (b), the following advantages can be realized: use of materials inert to fluorine active species for internal surfaces of the piping and the valve, instead of resin materials such as PFA, adsorption of fluorine active species or fluoride gas onto the internal surface of the piping or the valve can be eliminated. Thus, the occurrence of fluorine active species or fluoride gas being released from the internal surface of the piping and the valve after cleaning is completed and remaining within the remote plasma discharge chamber is reduced or eliminated. Accordingly, the occurrence of plasma ignition failure can be controlled. Moreover, when supply of fluorine-containing gas is stopped, fluorine active species is promptly discharged from the piping and the remote plasma discharge chamber. Reduction of fluorine adsorption also increases the amount of fluorine active species brought into the reaction chamber, thereby maintaining the activity of active species and improving cleaning efficiency.
As a result of (c), the following advantages can be realized: use of rectilinear piping with a large internal diameter and a valve that does not restrict flow between the remote plasma discharge chamber and the reaction chamber, deactivation (recombination) of fluorine active species is reduced, due to reduced collisions with the piping surface and structure within the valve. Accordingly, applying radio frequency power of less than 3,000 W to the remote plasma discharge chamber, high-speed cleaning at over 2 micron/min becomes possible. Furthermore, reduced collisions also minimizes thermal energy generated when fluorine active species is deactivated, thus reducing overheating of the piping and the valve. Heat damage to O-rings and other components, and consequent generation of particles is also reduced or eliminated. The frequency with which damaged parts are replaced thus decreases, and operating costs of the device can be decreased while at the same time increasing productivity of the device.
The skilled artisan will readily appreciate in view of the present disclosure that, while each of features (a), (b), and (c) are advantageous in and of themselves, combining two or all of (a), (b) and (c) will synergistically enhance the advantageous effects.

Semiconductor-processing device provided with a remote plasma source for self-cleaning


A sunshade assembly includes a sunscreen of which the longitudinal edges are provided with guide strips which are substantially rigid in transverse direction. Opposed elongated longitudinal guide rails each include a guide channel section defining a guide channel in which the respective guide strip is accommodated when the sunscreen is moved between open and closed positions. The guide channel of each guide rail being bounded on the side facing the opposed guide rail by a guide flange (14) supporting the guide strip in a direction towards the opposed guide rail. A part of the guide channel section of at least one guide rail is resilient such that at least the portion of the guide flange supporting the guide strip is resiliently yieldable in a direction towards the opposed guide rail under the influence of forces exerted by the sunscreen.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Aspects of the invention relate to a sunshade assembly.
A major field of application of sunshade assemblies is defined by open roof constructions for vehicles comprising a roof opening in a stationary roof part and a movable closure panel for opening and closing said roof opening, wherein below said roof opening there is provided such a sunshade assembly.
A known sunshade assembly comprises a guide rail comprising a fastening section, a guide channel section and a connecting section between these two. The connecting section is flexible so as to allow the guide channel section to yield when the sunscreen exerts a pulling force on the guide strips.

Sunshade assembly and open roof construction provided therewith


The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for map reduce. In some embodiments, an exemplary processing unit includes: a 2-dimensional (2D) processing element (PE) array comprising a plurality of PEs, each PE comprising a first input and a second input, the first inputs of the PEs in a linear array in a first dimension of the PE array being connected in series and the second inputs of the PEs in a linear array in a second dimension of the PE array being connected in parallel, each PE being configured to perform an operation on data from the first input or second input; and a plurality of reduce tree units, each reduce tree unit being coupled with the PEs in a linear array in the first dimension or the second dimension of the PE array and configured to perform a first reduction operation.

Transcoding, such as video transcoding, is widely used in industry and daily life. Transcoding can convert a file (e.g., a digital movie) from one coding format to another. In recent years, the rise and development of visual cloud applications and data centers require cost-effective transcoding solutions.
Machine learning (ML) or deep learning (DL) has been growing exponentially in the last decade. ML and DL use neural networks, which are mechanisms that basically mimic how a human brain learns. These neural networks can often use large data sets, resulting in a very time-consuming training process. ML or DL enables rapid algorithm changes in transcoding. But the processing speed and communication latency may limit overall performance of transcoding and ML or DL solutions.


A pump for pumping a fluid comprises an inlet, an outlet, an internal volume disposed between the inlet and the outlet, a first pumping arrangement operable to pump a first volume of fluid from the inlet into the internal volume, and a second pumping arrangement operable to pump a second volume of fluid from the internal volume into the outlet. In a first mode of operation of the pump, the first volume of fluid is greater than the second volume of fluid such that, in use, the pressure of the fluid within the internal volume is elevated to a level above the pressure of the fluid at the inlet.

It is known in the art to dose a reagent, such as urea solution, into the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine in order to enable a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the exhaust gas stream. The dosing of reagent is typically performed using a fluid dosing pump or fluid doser.
An example of a known fluid dosing pump is described in the Applicant's published European Patent No. 1878920. Such a dosing pump is usually mounted to a hot exhaust system and, accordingly, relies on a combination of insulation and the cooling effect provided by the reagent fluid being pumped through it in order to prevent overheating.
The exhaust systems of modern diesel engines are typically fitted with diesel particulate filters (DPF) to remove soot from the exhaust gas stream. A DPF requires periodic "regeneration", which involves raising the temperature of the exhaust gases to a higher than normal temperature in order to burn off the soot trapped in the DPF. Occasionally, an "extreme regeneration" is required, during which the exhaust gases are raised to a temperature even greater than during the normal regeneration process.
During an "extreme regeneration" event, the high exhaust gas temperatures tend to release ammonia stored in the SCR catalyst, which is able to reduce all the oxides of nitrogen present. Accordingly, in such circumstances it is not desirable to dose reagent using the dosing pump because the reagent is not required for SCR and is wasted. However, by reducing or stopping dosing, the dosing pump may be adversely affected due to the extreme exhaust gas temperatures combined with the reduced cooling flow of reagent through the pump. It has been determined from engine testing under such conditions that the fluid inside the main pump body can boil, preventing the pump from dosing correctly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid dosing pump which substantially overcomes or mitigates the aforementioned problem.


A foldable recreational board that can be formed into a ridable board for riding and then folded when finished for easy transportation or storage. The foldable recreational board has foam sections covered by a flexible skin. The flexible skin includes a closing and opening mechanism. When the closing and opening mechanism is closed the skin is held very tight around the foam sections so that the foam sections are squeezed together tightly to form a ridable board. When the closing and opening mechanism is opened, pressure is released from the foam sections and the recreational board can be folded. In a preferred embodiment there are three foam sections and the opening and closing mechanism is two zippers attached to a ½ inch thick flexible neoprene skin.

Recreational water boards, such as paddle boards, surfboards and body hoards are known in the prior art. These type of boards are very enjoyable for many adults and children. Modern boards are usually fabricated from foam and are not very heavy. Often, however, they are very large in size and take up significant space. The boards need to have sufficient size to support and adequately float a human being. This can make it difficult to transport a board to the water, carry the board, fit a board in an automobile or conveniently store the board at the user's home.
As stated above, prior art bodyboards, paddle boards and surfboards are commonly fabricated from foam core. The foam may then be covered in a layer of fiberglass to increase strength, durability and to help prevent water absorption in the foam. Foam types may vary. A common choice of surfboard foam includes Polyurethane (PU), Polystyrene (PS) or Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam.
Bodyboard foam may include extruded polyethylene. Polypropylene offers extruded and beaded models. Memory is the most important advantage of this core bodyboard material. Polyethylene is water resistant, durable and light weight.
Board foam may also be 70% polystyrene and 30% polyethylene. Bodyboards made of this combination keep the original shape longer and its stiffness level is excellent.
What is needed is an improved recreational board that is easily transportable and storable.


An external defibrillator system may include processing circuitry; signal generation circuitry communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry; and a plurality of electrodes, each including an electrode body electrically coupled to the signal generation circuitry and configured to deliver an electrical pulse therapy to a patient; and an electrolyte dispersal pad that includes a substrate defining a plurality of wells, each defining an opening; an electrolyte material, e.g., fluid, disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of wells; and a conductive material disposed over at least a portion of the openings and configured to retain the electrolyte material within the plurality of wells, where the processing circuitry is configured control the signal generation circuitry to pass a current pulse through a portion of the conductive material to fuse the portion of the conductive material to release the electrolyte material from at least one of the wells.

Malignant tachyarrhythmia, for example, ventricular fibrillation, is an uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles in the heart, and is the most commonly identified arrhythmia in cardiac arrest patients. If this arrhythmia continues for more than a few seconds, it may result in cardiogenic shock and cessation of effective blood circulation. Consequently, sudden cardiac death (SCD) may result in a matter of minutes.
During a malignant tachyarrhythmia event, the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) system has been shown to be beneficial at preventing SCD. An AED uses strategically placed electrodes to provide one or more defibrillation electric pulses to the heart of a subject. Because of the large energies of the defibrillation electric pulse, the electrodes may benefit from reduced impedance and increased surface area contact at the electrode/skin interface to reduce potential damage of the body tissue of the subject and to facilitate delivery of the electrical pulse therapy. Low impedance interface fluids may be used to reduce impedance and increase surface area at the electrode/skin interface. For a wearable AED (WAED), it may be desirable for the low impedance interface fluid to be dispensed at the electrode/skin interface automatically. Such systems may involve bulky or uncomfortable low impedance interface fluid dispensing units near the electrodes and/or pumps to deliver the low impedance interface fluid to the electrode/skin interface before delivering one or more defibrillation electric pulses to the heart of a subject.

External defibrillation electrode conductive electrolyte dispersal pad


A hinge enabling a plurality of hold-stay members to automatically lock when the door is fully open, increasing the durability of the hinge, and enabling easy release of the hold-stay members. A hinge includes a one-side hinge plate, a plurality of opposing-side hinge plate portions provided along the lengthwise direction of the hinge plate and supported by it, and an open-angle limiting mechanism for stopping, at a specific angle, opening movement of the opposing-side hinge plate portions.

FIG. 11 illustrates a hydraulic excavator 10, which is a work machine. The hydraulic excavator 10 includes a lower structure 11, an upper structure 12, a cab 13, a work equipment 14, and a power system 15 that includes an engine. The cab 13, the work equipment 14, and the power system 15 are mounted on the upper structure 12, which is rotatably mounted on the lower structure 11. The power system 15 is covered by a top cover 16, side doors 17, and other such components. Each side door 17 is attached, by hinges 18 so as to be freely openable and closable. The side door 17 is provided with a holding mechanism 19, which is illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14 and serves to keep the side door 17 open.
When the side door 17 is closed, the conventional holding mechanism 19 illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14 is stowed as illustrated in FIG. 13 in such a manner that a U-shaped hold-stay or rod 19s bridges respective holes of brackets 19a,19b, which are attached to an upper structure frame 12f. When the side door 17 is open, the hold-stay or rod 19s is hooked in the hole of the bracket 19a, which is attached to the upper structure frame 12f, and a hole of a bracket 19d, which is attached to the inner surface of the side door 17, so that the hold-stay or rod 19s bridges the bracket 19a and the bracket 19d as illustrated in FIG. 14 (e. g. see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 9-315347 (p 4, and FIG. 4) and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-107627 (p 4, and FIG. 1) ("JP '627")).
At that time, the side door 17 is locked in the open position by manually operating a single hold-stay or rod 19s. As a side door of a work machine is prone to bouncing back from the fully open position when it is opened, it is desirable from the perspective of better safety that the hold-stay or rod be automatically operated to be in the locked position.
In case of a structure for opening and closing the engine hood of a work machine, it is possible to provide the structure with a mechanism for automatically locking a hold-stay (e. g. see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-113658 (pp 9-10, and FIGS. 7-9)). However, such a structure cannot be applied to a side door without modification.
According to the conventional structure, the side door 17 is locked in the open position by manually operating a single hold-stay or rod 19s. Therefore, in cases where the side door 17 is wide or heavy, an inadvertent or otherwise application of a force in such a direction as to close the door when the hold-stay or rod 19s is still in the locked position may deform the hold-stay or rod 19s, because the single hold-stay or rod 19s is unable to bear the force. On the other hand, should an attempt be made to open the door wider than the angle at which the door is stopped, a hinge plate described in JP '627 or other component may become deformed. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the durability of the hinge plate or such other components.
It is easy to provide each of the upper and lower hinges with a hold-stay or rod described in JP '627 if only for the purpose of improving the durability. However, as the vertical dimension of a work machine is large, it often happens that an operator cannot reach the hold-stay or rod of the upper hinge and has to prepare a ladder or the like, resulting in reduced working efficiency.
In order to solve the above problems, an object of the invention is to provide a hinge that enables a plurality of hold-stay members to be automatically locked when the door is fully open, thereby increasing the durability of the hinge, and also enables easy releasing of the plurality of hold-stay members. Another object of the invention is to provide a door unit equipped with this hinge.


Time-to-digital converter arrangement having a first and a second time-to-digital converters. The first one is configured to determine the existence or nonexistence of an event in a recurring first measurement window. The second one is configured to determine the existence or nonexistence of the event in a recurring second measurement window. A temporal relation of the second measurement window with respect to detecting the event is time-shifted by a first offset compared to a temporal relation of the first measurement window with respect to detecting the event.

Time-to-digital converters (TOG) are used for determining a runtime, such as a signal runtime for distance measurements. For this purpose, for example, CMOS image sensor technology is used.
CMOS image sensor technology offers effective options of capturing measurement signals at high velocity in real-time. This is very useful for capturing three-dimensional (3D) distance images in time critical systems. Pulse runtime methods and methods with continuously modulated light serve for contactless depth detection. For this, the runtime of the laser light emitted by an active radiation source and reflected by a target object is measured by detecting the residual intensity. In this context, this is called light detection and ranging (LIDAR). The focus of the method for distance measurement presented herein based on known methods is on improving the measurement accuracy. Processes and regulations for realizing an optimum adaptation will be described. Possible fields of application are:                Advance the driver assistance systems (ADAS)        Autonomous driving        Safety monitoring        Avionics        Medical technology
Exact determination of distances is essential in many fields of application. Particularly in the fled of industrial measurement and positioning technology, the distances to machines or goods have to be determined with very high precision to allow processes that are as efficient and space-saving as possible. For example, when storing goods in an automated high-rack storage, the storage spaces should only be slightly bigger than the goods to be stored in order to obtain optimum use of space. For this, it is crucial that the position of the goods is detected with very high accuracy by the responsible measurement system.
Single photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) are avalanche photodiodes operated via their breakdown voltage. In this so-called Geiger region, a single photon which is absorbed in the active region of the diode and generates a free charge carrier is already sufficient to cause a breakdown of the diode and, hence, a macroscopic current flow through the diode. Therefore, SPADs allow the detection of individual photons. Existing SPAD-based 3D sensors are based on different principles. In the direct method considered herein, the runtime of a laser pulse from the emission via the reflection at the target object up to the detection in the sensor is detected by means of an electronic timer (e.g. time-to-digital converter, TDC). Here, time measurement is started with the emission of a short laser pulse and stopped with the reception of the reflected pulse [1]. Stopping the time measurement is performed in the first photon method with the first event detected by the sensor after the start. In the ideal case, the measured time corresponds to the light runtime and can be converted directly into the distance between sensor and target object by d=cl/2. The TDC indicates the temporal and, hence, also the possible spatial resolution. Thus, for improving the resolution production of an increasingly accurate TDC is needed.
However, the temporal resolution of a time-to-digital converter is limited to a certain bottom limit due to the circuit-technological implementation as well as the physical process limits. Therefore, there is a need for an improved approach.

FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.


An end member assembly includes an end member body and an end member insert. The end member body can include an outer side wall, an inner side wall disposed radially inward relative to the outer side wall, and a bottom wall that together with the inner side wall at least partially define a cavity. The end member insert can be supported on the end member body and selectively rotatable relative thereto. A gas spring assembly and a suspension system are also included.

The subject matter of the present disclosure broadly relates to the art of gas spring devices and, more particularly, to end member assemblies having rotatable components for use in forming gas spring assemblies with end members that can be repositioned relative to one another. Additionally, suspension systems can include one or more of such gas spring assemblies.
The subject matter of the present disclosure may find particular application and use in conjunction with components for wheeled vehicles, and will be shown and described herein with reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the subject matter of the present disclosure is also amenable to use in other applications and environments, and that the specific uses shown and described herein are merely exemplary. For example, the subject matter of the present disclosure could be used in connection with gas spring assemblies of non-wheeled vehicles, support structures, height adjusting systems and actuators associated with industrial machinery, components thereof and/or other such equipment. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to use associated with gas spring suspension systems of wheeled vehicles.
Wheeled motor vehicles of most types and kinds include a sprung mass, such as a body or chassis, for example, and an unsprung mass, such as two or more axles or other wheel-engaging members, for example, with a suspension system disposed therebetween. Typically, a suspension system will include a plurality of spring devices as well as a plurality of damping devices that together permit the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle to move in a somewhat controlled manner relative to one another. Movement of the sprung and unsprung masses toward one another is normally referred to in the art as jounce motion while movement of the sprung and unsprung masses away from one another is commonly referred to in the art as rebound motion.
It is common for the suspension system of vehicles to be adapted and/or otherwise arranged such that there are few operating conditions, during normal usage, under which the plurality of spring devices would be tensioned or otherwise undergo a tension load. Nonetheless, conventional gas spring assemblies are often secured on or along associated structural components using threaded fasteners and other similar securement devices that pass through patterns of holes or openings in the associated structural component to secure the end members of a gas spring assembly thereon. In this manner, the end members of the gas spring assembly can be fixedly secured to the associated structural component.
Gas spring assemblies are known to be constructed in a variety of configurations and arrangements, such as those having convoluted bellows and those having rolling-lobe sleeves. Typically, a gas spring assembly will also include opposing end members that are fixedly secured to a flexible wall (e.g., a convoluted bellows or an elongated flexible sleeve) such that a substantially fluid-tight spring chamber is formed within the gas spring assembly. In such cases, the end members are normally rotationally fixed relative to one another. Therefore, the desired positioning or alignment of any features or components on the opposing end members is normally be established by the manufacturer during assembly.
In some cases, a given size, type and/or construction of gas spring assembly may be used in applications that have different mounting conditions. In such cases, multiple variations of the gas spring assembly are designed, manufactured and sometimes inventoried to meet the demand for these different variations of the gas spring assembly. In many cases, however, such variations may have substantially identical components that are simply positioned in different orientations relative to one another. This can lead to inefficiencies as well as increased costs and/or inventory levels where a variety of mounting configurations of a given model of gas spring assembly are requested and/or used.
As such, it is believed desirable to develop gas spring assemblies having end members that are capable of being rotationally realigned to address the foregoing and/or other disadvantages of known constructions or to otherwise advance the art of gas spring devices.

End member assemblies and gas spring assemblies including same

Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC


A performance enhancing device includes a first glove configured to be worn on a first hand of a user. The first glove includes a plurality of finger pockets, at least one pressure sensor secured proximate a distal end of a respective finger pocket and configured to produce an output signal, a processor coupled to the at least one pressure sensor and configured to receive the output signal and translate the output signal to a wireless output signal, and an antenna coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the wireless signal. The performance enhancing device also includes a jacket configured to be worn by the user, where the jacket includes a receiver to receive the wireless output signal, an amplifier coupled to the receiver, and a speaker integrated within the jacket and coupled to the amplifier and configured to produce an audible sound.

There have been attempts to develop musical gloves that are worn by a user to create percussion sounds. However, a shortcoming of the existing musical gloves is that they do not have the ability for controlling sound effects, mixing sounds, and producing backup sounds. Instead, each sensor is pre-programmed for a particular sound when the sensor is triggered and the user does not have the ability to control the music while preforming.

Performance enhancing device and related methods


A method and system to numerically simulating structural responses of a highly compressible material such as foam in finite element analysis is disclosed. According to one aspect of the simulation, a new improved method for calculating structural responses is derived using the following assumptions: uniaxial loading and isotropic material. As a result of the new method, Ogden polynomial stress function f(λ) is replaced by a tabulated function depending upon only a set of stress-strain curves obtained via uniaxial tension and compression tests. The method is implemented in a finite element analysis software product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to method, system and software product used in finite element analysis, more particularly to numerical simulation of the structural behaviors of highly compressible material such as foam under loading conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computerized method widely used in industry to model and solve engineering problems relating to complex systems. FEA derives its name from the manner in which the geometry of the object under consideration is specified. With the advent of the modern digital computer, FEA has been implemented as FEA software. Basically, the FEA software is provided with a model of the geometric description and the associated material properties at each point within the model. In this model, the geometry of the system under analysis is represented by solids, shells and beams of various sizes, which are called elements. The vertices of the elements are referred to as nodes. The model is comprised of a finite number of elements, which are assigned a material name to associate with material properties. The model thus represents the physical space occupied by the object under analysis along with its immediate surroundings. The FEA software then refers to a table in which the properties (e.g., stress-strain constitutive equation, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, thermo-conductivity) of each material type are tabulated. Additionally, the conditions at the boundary of the object (i.e., loadings, physical constraints, etc.) are specified. In this fashion a model of the object and its environment is created.
FEA is becoming increasingly popular with automobile manufacturers for optimizing both the aerodynamic performance and structural integrity of vehicles. Similarly, aircraft manufacturers rely upon FEA to predict airplane performance long before the first prototype is built. Rational design of semiconductor electronic devices is possible with Finite Element Analysis of the electrodynamics, diffusion, and thermodynamics involved in this situation. FEA is utilized to characterize ocean currents and distribution of contaminants. FEA is being applied increasingly to analysis of the production and performance of such consumer goods as ovens, blenders, lighting facilities and many plastic products. In fact, FEA has been employed in as many diverse fields as can be brought to mind, including plastics mold design, modeling of nuclear reactors, analysis of the spot welding process, microwave antenna design, simulating of car crash and biomedical applications such as the design of prosthetic limbs. In short, FEA is utilized to expedite design, maximize productivity and efficiency, and optimize product performance in virtually every stratum of light and heavy industry. This often occurs long before the first prototype is ever developed.
The finite element analysis method is described in detail by Thomas J. R. Hughes in "The Finite Element Method" (1987), published by Prentice-Hall, Inc., New Jersey, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Generally, FEA begins by generating a finite element model of a system. In this model, a subject structure is reduced into a number of node points which are connected together to form finite elements. Governing equations of motion are written in a discrete form, where the motions of each node point are the unknown part of the solution. A simulated load or other influence is applied to the system and the resulting effect is analyzed using well known mathematical methods.
FEA software can be classified into two general types, implicit FEA software and explicit FEA software. Implicit FEA software uses an implicit equation solver to solve a system of coupled linear equations. Such software is generally used to simulate static or quasi-static problems. Explicit FEA software does not solve coupled equations but explicitly solves for each unknown assuming them uncoupled. Explicit FEA software usually uses central difference time integration which requires very small solution cycles or time steps for the method to be stable and accurate. Explicit FEA software is generally used to simulate short duration events where dynamics are important such as impact type events.
One of the most challenging FEA tasks is to simulate an impact event such as car crash. The highly non-linear behavior of the structural materials must be numerically simulated accurately, realistically and efficiently. A number of materials such as steel, aluminum, foam and rubber that used in an automobile must be included in such FEA software. Many components used in an automobile are made of materials such as foam and rubber, the simulation of the structural responses of these materials becomes very important for the overall accuracy of an analysis.
Traditionally the structural responses of highly compressible material such as foam have been numerically simulated using the Ogden strain energy function W. A brief summary of the Ogden strain energy function and corresponding engineering/nominal stress σ0 and Cauthy/true stress σ functions are listed in FIG. 1. More details of the Ogden energy function is described by R. W. Ogden in Chapter 7 of the book titled: "Non-linear Elastic Deformations" (1984), published by Ellis Horwood Limited, United Kingdom, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A number of commercially available FEA software includes these approaches to simulate foam-like material. For example, LS-DYNA, a general purpose three-dimensional non-linear large-deformation FEA software from Livermore Software Technology Corporation, is capable of simulating foam-like material using the Ogden energy function.
Today, there are a number of practical problems associated with the simulation of foam-like material in FEA. To implement the Ogden energy function properly in the FEA software requires engineers to spend a tremendous amount of time to prepare experimental data and then convert them into a set of coefficients to fit a polynomial Ogden function for FEA software. Due to highly non-linear characteristics of this polynomial function, the inexactly fitted function has often resulted. This leads to a lengthy iterative trial-and-error process of modifying the input coefficients to match the behavior of foam-like material in the real world. It is therefore desirable to have a new method to numerically simulate foam-like material more efficiently and effectively.

Method and system for numerically simulating foam-like material in finite element analysis


An indicator comprises a rotary device in the form of a right cylinder arranged to be rotatable in a chamber of a portable data storage cartridge, which has an exterior wall opening to the chamber. A peripheral surface of the rotary device has an encoded pattern of at least one cylindrical surface and a plurality of facets interrupting the cylindrical surface(s). The facets are located at various axial positions, and at various angularly spaced rotational positions, such that, at differing rotational positions of the rotary device, at least one or none of the facets is positioned at the exterior opening.

This invention relates to portable data storage cartridges, and, more particularly, to devices for providing an indication with respect to such portable data storage cartridges.
Portable data storage cartridges provide convenient means for storing data which may be transported between uses. One example comprises automated data storage libraries which can contain large quantities of portable data storage cartridges on storage shelves and employ robot accessors to access a cartridge when needed and deliver the cartridge to a data storage drive or transfer station.
In some instances, data, once recorded on a data storage medium of a portable data storage cartridge, is intended to be archived and left unchanged. Hence, a xe2x80x9cwrite protectxe2x80x9d device is placed in the cartridge which may be adjusted to indicate whether the data storage medium is write enabled and can be erased and written over, or whether the data storage medium is write protected and is not to be erased, as detected by a switch at the data storage drive which accepts the cartridge. Examples of two-position xe2x80x9con-offxe2x80x9d write protect devices for magnetic tape media in which one position is the same as though no cartridge is present are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,421, Larson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,481, Loranger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,216, Doty, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,967, Gerfast et al. Gerfast et al. arranges the size of a recess and the write protect device such that separate a switch of the data storage drive for detecting the presence of a cartridge may also be utilized with the write protect switch to write protect magnetic tape having a different coercivity from being written by an older tape drive, and to selectively write protect the tape in a newer tape drive. Thus, Gerfast et al. provides a two position xe2x80x9con-offxe2x80x9d write protect, in which one position is the same as though no cartridge is present.
The tape of a magnetic tape data storage cartridge is a medium only and has no capability for providing processing capability. Hence, a write protect for the cartridge is useful to prevent mistaken erasure of important data stored on the medium in the cartridge.
The incorporated ""030 U.S. Patent Application illustrates a different type of portable data storage cartridge which comprises a data storage device, such as a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, an electronic memory, etc., and the transfer station of the ""030 Application is arranged to distinguish between a magnetic tape cartridge and a cartridge having a data storage device. A data storage device comprises processing capability for the device, such that data may be stored by the device in an efficient manner without any need for a simple write protect for the entire portable data storage cartridge.
It would be advantageous to externally indicate information regarding a portable data storage cartridge, such as the type of device or medium located in the cartridge, or other characteristics of the cartridge, as well as write protection, if needed. Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for externally indicating various characteristics of portable data storage cartridges.
A multi-position mechanical indicator is provided for a portable data storage cartridge, the portable data storage cartridge having at least a data storage medium therein. Examples comprise a portable data storage cartridge having a data storage device, such as a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, an electronic memory, etc., or a portable data storage cartridge having a medium without a device, such as a magnetic tape or an optical disk.
The portable data storage cartridge has a chamber closely adjacent an exterior wall of the cartridge and has an opening extending through the exterior wall to the chamber.
The indicator comprises a rotary device in the general form of at least one right cylindrical section having a central axis of rotation, and arranged to be rotatable in the chamber. A peripheral surface of the rotary device right cylindrical section has an encoded pattern of at least one cylindrical surface and of a plurality of facets interrupting the cylindrical surface(s). The facets are located at various axial positions in the direction of the of the central axis of rotation, and located at various angularly spaced rotational positions about the central axis of rotation. Thus, at differing rotational positions of the rotary device, at least one or none of the facets is positioned at the exterior wall opening of the portable data storage cartridge. In one embodiment of the present invention, the facets of the encoded pattern are parallel to the central axis of rotation of the rotary device, such that they and the cylindrical surfaces interact with switches to provide the desired indications.
In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one retaining element is provided on the rotary device for interacting with at least one matching retaining element of the cartridge to retain the rotary device in at least one of the rotary positions. In one example, the rotary device retaining element comprises at least one detent, and the matching retaining element of the cartridge comprises a plurality of indentations in the cartridge chamber, such that the rotary device retaining element detent(s) may rest in any of the plurality of indentations. In another example, the rotary device retaining element comprises a plurality of indentations, and the matching retaining element of the cartridge comprises at least one detent which may rest in any of the plurality of indentations.
In either example, a spring may urge the detent(s) into the indentations. Alternatively, in the first example, the rotary device retaining element detent comprises a resilient material, and the rotary device is arranged to fit within the chamber of the cartridge with a compression force thereon when the rotary device retaining element detent(s) is out of all of the plurality of indentations in the cartridge chamber, also urging the detent(s) into the indentations. In the second example, the rotary device may comprise a resilient material, and the rotary device is arranged to fit within the chamber of the cartridge with a compression force thereon when the detent(s) is out of all of the plurality of indentations of the rotary device, also urging the detent(s) into the indentations.
In one embodiment, a cylindrical section of larger diameter than the cylindrical surface is provided, comprising a thumb wheel for rotating the rotary device in the chamber of the cartridge. The thumb wheel cylindrical section comprises a roughened surface for engaging the thumb wheel.
A facet comprises a flat or concave surface such that the radius of a facet from the central axis of rotation is substantially less than that of a cylindrical surface.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the facets of the encoded pattern are parallel to the central axis of rotation of the rotary device, such that they and the cylindrical surfaces interact with switches to provide the desired indications, the cylindrical surface comprising a xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and activating a switch, and a facet comprising a xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d and not activating a switch. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, no all xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d or all facet code is utilized, such that a switch is always activated when a cartridge is present, serving as a presence indicator, indicating that the cartridge is fully loaded.
For a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Portable data storage cartridge encoded multi-position mechanical indicator

International Business Machines Corporation


An X-ray radiographic apparatus has an electronic shutter circuit operable at a photographing time to vary time for storing electric charges in a CCD image pickup device. This avoids saturation of the CCD image pickup device due to an increased quantity of X-rays. Further, an image outputted from the CCD image pickup device is latched at the photographing time for improved durability and responsibility. A photographed image may be observed on a monitor unit also after photo taking.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an X-ray radiographic apparatus for facilitating gastrointestinal examination in human medical care. The apparatus includes a diagnostic table, an X-ray emitter for emitting X-rays to the diagnostic table, an X-ray high voltage unit for generating varied currents to switch a quantity of X-rays emitted from the X-ray emitter between a monitoring condition and a photographing condition, a filming mechanism mounted in the diagnostic table for photographing X-ray images based on the X-rays emitted from the X-ray emitter, an image intensifier attached to the diagnostic table for convertinq the X-ray images to visible light images, a CCD (charge coupled device) camera unit for converting the visible light images to image signals, and a monitor unit for receiving the image signals from the CCD camera unit to display the visible light images converted by the image intensifier.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The X-ray radiographic apparatus allows observation on a monitor unit, and film photography carried out with selected timing. Normally, a doctor or other person observes X-ray penetration images on the monitor unit. When a desired image appears on the monitor unit, the doctor or other person gives a photographing command to take this image on photographic film. At the time of this photo taking, the film is transported to a front surface of an image intensifier, and the quantity of X-rays is increased to expose the film. The X-rays having penetrated the film enters the image intensifier. If the X-rays in the increased quantity were not modified, the CCD image pickup device of the CCD camera unit connected to the image intensifier would be saturated. Conventionally, an optical diaphragm is interposed between the image intensifier and CCD camera unit to reduce light at photographing times. In this way, images may also be observed on the monitor unit while the images are photographed, without saturating the CCD image pickup device.
However, the optical diaphragm used heretofore for reducing light is a mechanical device which has the disadvantages of poor responsibility and durability due to mechanical motion.
Further, with the conventional X-ray radiographic apparatus, the image appearing on the monitor unit during photo taking is based on X-rays intended for film photography. The image is eliminated from the monitor unit immediately upon completion of film photography. Thus, the conventional apparatus also has the disadvantage that an image actually photographed cannot be confirmed on the monitor unit following the photo taking.