An underwater camera or instrument having a depressible shutter release button or similar actuator is housed within a flexible plastic waterproof housing. A toggle lever is mounted on the camera with one end overlying the button. Surrounding the lever is a frame member that extends upwardly to separate the housing from the lever so as to prevent water pressure acting on the housing from applying a force on the button.

The present invention is directed toward underwater cameras and more particularly to a pressure protection switch for use with underwater cameras in a flexible housing.
Various arrangements have been proposed in the past for taking underwater photographs. These have ranged from complex designs for cameras which have been constructed to be waterproof or waterproof housings which are simply adapted to incase a more conventional camera. Some underwater housings have been constructed of relatively rigid materials in order to withstand the significant water pressures which can build up underwater. These rigid or hard housings, however, require relatively intricate fittings, lever switches and the like in order to depress the shutter button from outside of the housing.
A much simpler type of housing which has also been used is a flexible plastic housing which totally surrounds the camera. The flexible plastic is substantially clear, at least in the area of the lens, and is flexible enough so that the shutter release button can be operated from outside of the housing directly through the housing by simply depressing the same.
Such flexible plastic housings have proven to be successful. However, at significant depths, the water pressure acting on the flexible housing can be so great that it can over power the spring return force of the shutter button so that when the button is manually depressed, it does not return to its original position.
The patent to Albrecht, U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,772, proposes the use of a seesaw means mounted in the vicinity of the shutter button with one end of the seesaw directly overlying the button. The stated purpose of this arrangement is to prevent water pressure from inadvertently depressing the shutter button. The seesaw device apparently acts to balance the water pressure by allowing the same to act on both ends of the seesaw thereby allegedly reducing pressure on the button itself.
At depths of 40 feet or more, however, flexible housings are no longer flexible due to the high water pressures thereon. As a result, a balancing function would not work due to the very tight holding grip of the flexible plastic housing around the camera body. Furthermore, even if there is a balancing effect taking place, the use of the seesaw in the Albrecht device increases the area on the flexible housing that can be pressed in order to activate the shutter, thereby making it possible for the operator to easily inadvertently activate the same. There is, therefore, the need for an underwater pressure protection switch which does not suffer from these deficiencies.


The present invention provides an emulsion composition comprising aprepitant for treatment of emesis. Particularly, the invention is a ready-to-use emulsion compositions comprising aprepitant and medium chain triglycerides for administration by intravenous infusion, wherein the emulsion composition is also free of ethanol. Further, the invention also provides processes of preparing such compositions and their use for the prevention and control of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and/or for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Aprepitant (5-([(2R, 3S)-2-((R)-1-[3, 5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl] ethoxy)-3-(4-fluoro-phenyl) morpholino] methyl)-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-3(2H)-one) is an antiemetic compound that belongs to the class of substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonists that mediate their effect by blocking the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor. Aprepitant is a selective, high-affinity antagonist at human substance P NK-1 receptors and is manufactured by Merck & Co. and marketed in the United States under the brand name, Emend®. It is available as oral capsules for the prevention and control of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Aprepitant is a white to off-white crystalline solid, with a molecular weight of 534.43 and with the structure of:

Aprepitant is practically insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in ethanol and isopropyl acetate, and slightly soluble in acetonitrile.
Oral formulations of aprepitant are commercially available as a nanoparticulate composition (Emend®, Merck) with an average particle size of less than about 1,000 nm. Although these formulations appear to have been developed to address problems of aprepitant's poor solubility in pharmaceutical compositions, the bioavailability of the compound when given orally is only about 60-65%.
In order to improve aprepitant's solubility, several attempts have been made by solid-state manipulation. For example, WO 2007/088483 teaches the preparation of amorphous aprepitant, while WO 2007/112457 discloses a mixture of two crystalline forms, namely, Form I and Form II, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. US 2010/0151035 discloses a pharmaceutical composition of aprepitant containing a polymer and inert pellets, whereby the dissolution rate of the drug is dependent on the particle size of the pellets. WO 2007/147160 describes compositions of amorphous aprepitant in the form of a co-precipitate with enhanced solubility of aprepitant. US 2011/0009362 discloses a solubility-enhanced form of aprepitant that involves forming a co-precipitate between the drug and cyclodextrin. However, despite these numerous attempts to increase the solubility of aprepitant, the stability of such compositions in solution is believed to be generally insufficient.
Aprepitant is also available as a water-soluble prodrug salt form (Emend® for injection, Merck), fosaprepitant dimeglumine, for intravenous (IV) administration since aprepitant by itself has limited water solubility. Fosaprepitant is a phosphorylated prodrug form of aprepitant and is rapidly converted to aprepitant after IV administration.
Prodrug formation of the aprepitant molecule involves phosphorylation of the aprepitant molecule followed by salt formation with dimeglumine. Fosaprepitant has been reported to undergo rapid conversion to aprepitant in less than 30 minutes of an IV infusion. Studies have shown the non-inferiority and bioequivalency of fosaprepitant to aprepitant with respect to the prevention and control of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, the additional steps required for the synthesis of fosaprepitant add significant complexity and cost to the drug.
Another means to improve the solubility and permeability of aprepitant is to prepare an emulsion that can be suitable for intravenous administration and also that enhances the bioavailability of aprepitant once administered.
Lipids are commonly used in emulsion preparation for parenteral administration. Such emulsions, generally prepared from soybean or safflower oils, also provide the patients with linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, and, through its metabolism, arachidonic acid and prostaglandins. The composition of the typical long-chain-triglyceride (LCT) molecule includes fatty acids of 16 and 18 carbons in length with trace amounts of larger fatty acids. LCTs are sometimes defined as having fatty acids of 14 or more carbons in length and include olive oil and soybean oil. Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) generally have fatty acids with less than 14 carbons in length and sometimes are defined as having less than 12 carbons in length.
Heron Therapeutics Inc. developed an aprepitant emulsion formulation using long-chain-triglycerides (soybean oil). This formulation is marketed in the United States under the brand name Cinvanti®. The aprepitant emulsion product is indicated in adults for the prevention of: (1) Acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (HEC) including high-dose cisplatin as a single-dose regimen; (2) Delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (MEC) as a single-dose regimen; and (3) Nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of MEC as a 3-day regimen.
Cinvanti® is intravenously administered either as injection over a two (2) minute period or by infusion over a thirty (30) minute period. The administration should be completed approximately 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy. The administration of Cinvanti® via intravenous infusion requires dilution of 18 mL or 14 mL of the emulsion concentrate into an infusion bag containing 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose resulting in the formation of either a 1.3 mg/mL (0.13% w/v) or 1.0 mg/mL (0.1% w/v) concentration of aprepitant. This diluted emulsion can be stored only for a period of 72 hours under refrigeration. The approved composition of Cinvanti® contains 130 mg Aprepitant, egg lecithin (2.6 g), ethanol (0.5 g), sodium oleate (0.1 g), soybean oil (1.7 g), sucrose (1 g), and water for injection (12 g). The composition appears to be the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,561,229; 9,808,465; 9,974,742; 9,974,793 and 9,974,794.
Since Cinvanti® is administered in the clinical setting, the dilution step of the existing formulation for administration via intravenous infusion needs additional infrastructure for aseptically transferring the contents of the vials into the bags, however, this preparation may have the potential for contamination with microorganisms. Additionally, the Cinvanti® formulation contains ethanol and therefore is known to occasionally create drowsiness in the recipient upon administration which can limit the person's ability to drive post treatment.
Thus, there exists an enduring need to develop an improved aprepitant emulsion composition that will provide an alternative to existing formulations for non-oral treatment for the intravenous or parenteral administration of aprepitant for treatment of emesis. The inventors of the present invention have prepared an emulsion formulation that allows aprepitant to be incorporated into an emulsion for intravenous administration and remains stable during the shelf life of the formulation. In particular, the inventors of the present invention have developed an emulsion formulation of aprepitant that can be administered without any further dilution by intravenous infusion. This formulation avoids the contamination possibility that may occur during the dilution step. The emulsion composition is also free of ethanol in the formulation and thereby reduces the side effects of ethanol administration. Further, the emulsion can also be terminally sterilized by moist heat to thereby provide greater sterility assurance.

Aprepitant ready-to-use injection emulsion compositions


A method of connecting a network forwarding element may include transmitting a first connection request from the forwarding element to a first network controller. After transmitting the first connection request, a rejection message may be received from the first network controller at the network forwarding element, with the rejection message being responsive to the first connection request and with the rejection message including an address of a second network controller. Responsive to receiving the rejection message, a second connection request may be transmitted from the network forwarding element to the second network controller. Related forwarding elements and controllers are also discussed.

Most modern Ethernet forwarding elements (e.g., switches and routers) include flow-tables (typically built from TCAMs or Ternary Content Addressable Memories) that run at line-rate to implement firewalls, NAT (network address translation), and QoS (quality of service), and to collect statistics. While flow-tables of different vendors may be different, OpenFlow exploits a common set of functions that run in many switches and routers.
OpenFlow provides an open protocol to program flowtables in different forwarding elements (e.g., switches and routers). A network administrator, for example, can partition traffic into production and research flows, and/or researchers can control their own flows by choosing the routes their packets follow and the processing they receive. In this way, researchers can try new routing protocols, security models, addressing schemes, and even alternatives to IP (Internet Protocol). On the same network, the production traffic may be isolated and processed conventionally.
The datapath of an OpenFlow forwarding element (e.g., switch) may include a flow table, and an action associated with each flow entry included in the flow table. The set of actions supported by an OpenFlow forwarding element may be extensible. For high-performance and low-cost, the datapath may have a carefully prescribed degree of flexibility, which may mean forgoing the ability to specify arbitrary handling of each packet and seeking a more limited, but still useful, range of actions.
An OpenFlow forwarding element may include a flow table having a plurality of flow entries (with an action associated with each flow entry) to tell the forwarding element how to process the respective flow, a secure channel that connects the switch to a remote OpenFlow controller (allowing commands and packets to be sent between the controller and the forwarding element using the OpenFlow Protocol (which provides an open and standard way for a controller to communicate with a forwarding element). By specifying a standard interface (the OpenFlow Protocol) through which entries in the forwarding element Flow Table can be defined using an external controller, researchers may not need to individually program OpenFlow forwarding elements.
An OpenFlow forwarding element may include one or more flow tables and a group table (which may perform packet lookups and forwarding) and an OpenFlow channel to an external OpenFlow controller. The OpenFlow controller manages the forwarding element via the OpenFlow protocol. Using this protocol, the controller can add, update, and delete flow entries, both reactively (in response to packets received at the forwarding element) and proactively (e.g., to program flow tables of a new forwarding element).
Each flow table in the forwarding element may include a set of flow entries. Each flow entry may include matched fields, counters, and a set of instructions to apply to matching packets.
Matching at a forwarding element may start at a first flow table and may continue to additional flow tables of the forwarding element. Flow entries match data packets in priority order, with the first matching entry in each table being used. If a matching entry is found for a data packet in a flow table, the instructions associated with the specific flow entry are executed for the data packet. If no match is found for the data packet in a flow table, the outcome may depend on forwarding element configuration. The data packet may be forwarded to the controller over the OpenFlow channel, the data packet may be dropped, or attempts to match the data packet may continue to a next flow table of the forwarding element.
Instructions associated with each flow entry describe data packet forwarding, data packet modification, group table processing, and pipeline processing. Pipeline processing instructions allow data packets to be sent to subsequent tables for further processing and allow information (e.g., in the form of metadata) to be communicated between tables. Table pipeline processing may stop when the instruction set associated with a matching flow entry does not specify a next table. At this point, the data packet may usually be modified and forwarded.
Flow entries may forward respective data packets to a port. This is usually a physical port, but it may also be a virtual port defined by the switch or a reserved virtual port defined by the OpenFlow switch specification. Reserved virtual ports may specify generic forwarding actions such as sending to the controller, flooding, or forwarding using non-OpenFlow methods, such as "normal" switch processing, while switch-defined virtual ports may specify link aggregation groups, tunnels or loopback interfaces.
Flow entries may also point to a group, which specifies additional processing. Groups represent sets of actions for flooding, as well as more complex forwarding semantics (e.g., multipath, fast reroute, and link aggregation). As a general layer of indirection, groups also enable multiple flows to forward to a single identifier (e.g., IP forwarding to a common next hop). This abstraction may allow common output actions across flows to be changed efficiently.
A group table may include group entries, with each group entry including a list of action buckets with specific semantics dependent on group type. The actions in one or more action buckets are applied to data packets sent to the group.
OpenFlow forwarding elements (e.g., switches and/or routers), controllers, and protocols are discussed, for example, in "OpenFlow Switch Specification," Version 1.1.0 Implemented (Wire Protocol 0x02), Feb. 28, 2011, and in the reference by McKeown et al. entitled "OpenFlow: Enabling Innovation In Campus Networks," Mar. 14, 2008. The disclosures of both of the above referenced documents are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
The OpenFlow channel is an interface that connects an OpenFlow forwarding element with a controller over an OpenFlow interface. The interface itself may be implementation specific, and it may be implemented using a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection or a SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol) connection. Moreover, TLS (Transport Layer Security) may be used to send messages that are encrypted by the controller and decrypted by the forwarding element.
Control for a network of OpenFlow forwarding elements may be implemented using a cluster of OpenFlow controllers, and each forwarding element may use a known IP (Internet Protocol) address of one of the controllers to connect with the addressed controller according to a configuration protocol. In some implementations, a non-standard configuration channel may be used to configure a connection between a forwarding element and a respective controller. In other implementations, a forwarding element may be programmed with a list of IP addresses for controllers to connect with, and the forwarding element may sequentially attempt to connect to a controller using each controller address in the list until a successful connection with a controller is made.
Conventionally, a connection between an OpenFlow forwarding element and an OpenFlow controller may be set up responsive to the forwarding element initiating a connection socket with the controller and requesting the connection. The controller may then decide whether to allow the connection or not. If the controller accepts the connection, the connection may be completed and messages between the controller and the forwarding element may be transmitted over the resulting OpenFlow channel. If the controller does not accept the connection, the connection socket may be terminated.
Conventionally, once a connection is established between an OpenFlow forwarding element and an OpenFlow controller, the OpenFlow controller may only be able to drop the connection by ignoring an ECHO-REQUEST communication from the forwarding element (i.e., by not transmitting an ECHO-REPLY in response to the ECHO-REQUEST) thereby allowing the connection to timeout. Dropping a connection in this manner, however, may be dependent on a timeout value configuration of the OpenFlow Request-Reply protocol. Stated in other words, once the controller decides to drop a connection with a forwarding element, the connection may not actually be dropped until after a next ECHO-REQUEST has been transmitted by the forwarding element and a timeout period has passed after the ECHO-REQUEST without transmitting an ECHO-REPLY.
Moreover, conventional mechanisms to connect an OpenFlow forwarding element with an OpenFlow switch may be limited. A complex configuration channel may be adopted, for example, to configure an OpenFlow forwarding element to connect with a controller from a list of controllers known to the forwarding element. Using such a known list of controllers, however, may make it difficult for a forwarding element to connect to an unknown controller (e.g., a controller added to the cluster after provisioning the list). In addition, it may be difficult to share the load of network forwarding elements in the forwarding plane among controllers in the control plane.
In some controller implementations, one controller of a cluster of controllers may be designated as a master controller of the cluster, and only the master controller may be allowed to accept OpenFlow connections from network forwarding elements. If another controller is later designated among the controllers as the master controller or if the master controller fails in a conventional arrangement, the forwarding element may be delayed in connecting to a new master controller and/or the forwarding element may be unable to connect to the new master element.
Accordingly, there continues to exist a need in the art for improved operations in networks including forwarding elements and controllers.

Methods of redirecting network forwarding elements and related forwarding elements and controllers


The invention relates to an elevator landing door assembly and a method for installing an elevator landing door. The landing door assembly comprises at least a landing door unit to be assembled to a landing door base opening having an upper edge, two side edges and a lower edge, which landing door unit comprises at least a top track and one or more door panels suspended by the top track through one or more supporting elements, and a door sill. The assembly comprises fixing elements in the landing door base opening equipped with receiving parts for fastening the landing door unit.

The present invention relates to an elevator landing door assembly as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and a method for installing an elevator landing door as defined in the preamble of claim 9.
In prior art solutions landing doors have been usually installed in connection with elevator installation. This has involved a lot of measuring, alignment work, boring and other manual work during the installation phase. This is very time consuming and also produces a lot of concrete dust to the elevator shaft and to all elevator spaces and components due to several boring tasks. The concrete dust may cause damages and is very difficult and slow to remove from all the contaminated places.

Elevator landing door assembly and its installation method


A vibration sensor for a musical instrument includes a substrate, a first electrode film that is formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric film that is formed on the first electrode film, a second electrode film that is formed on the piezoelectric film, an insulating film that is formed on the second electrode film, and a shield film that is formed on the insulating film, the shield film being made of a conductive material, electrically connected to the first electrode film and insulated from the second electrode film by the insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration sensor for a musical instrument and a pickup saddle.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-65215, filed Mar. 24, 2011, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
In the past, a pickup saddle was known which includes a vibration sensor converting a string vibration of a guitar or the like into an electrical signal and which supports a string (for example, see PCT International Publication No. WO2008/117483A1). Compared with a case where a vibration sensor is interposed between a saddle and an instrument body, it is possible to stably convert a string vibration into an electrical signal without damaging the appearance of a musical instrument by building the vibration sensor in the saddle. The vibration sensor of the pickup saddle described in PCT International Publication No. WO2008/117483A1 is bonded to an outer shell member constituting the profile of the pickup saddle with an adhesive in a state where a piezoelectric element is interposed between two electrode plates and the resultant is wound with a thread and temporarily fixed. PCT International Publication No. WO2008/117483A1 discloses a technique of bonding or applying an insulating shield material to the surface of the vibration sensor before the vibration sensor is bonded to the outer shell member so as to shield the vibration sensor from electromagnetic waves which causes noise in the output of the vibration sensor.
However, as described in PCT International Publication No. WO2008/117483A1, when the vibration sensor is bonded to the outer shell member in the state where the piezoelectric element and the electrode plates are wound with a thread and temporarily fixed, there is a high possibility that the electrical connection between the piezoelectric element and the electrode plates may be unstable. Particularly, the possibility that the contact state between the piezoelectric element and the electrode plates can vary due to a large force acting during musical performance is very high. When a conductive material such as a conductive adhesive is interposed between the piezoelectric element and the electrode plates so as to prevent the variation in contact state, the flowing conductive material may short-circuit two electrode plates with the piezoelectric element interposed therebetween.
As described in PCT International Publication No. WO2008/117483A1, the manufacturing method including the fixing of the electrode plates and the bonding and application of an insulating shield material includes many processes requiring manual work and thus raises the manufacturing cost thereof.

Vibration sensor for musical instrument and pickup saddle


A context-based action determiner is configured to facilitate the application of context-based smart tags. The context-based action determiner includes a type determining module configured to determine a type of a context object based on a context in which the context object is being used. The context-based action determiner also includes an action determining module configured to determine one or more context-specific actions that may be performed for the context object based on the type of the context object and to provide the context-specific actions to a user. The context-based action determiner further includes a selection receiving module configured to receive a selection from the user of a context-specific action to be performed and an action performing module configured to perform the selected context-specific action. The type of the context object and the action to be performed are determined based on a smart tag configuration.

When web applications are designed and implemented, there are generally numerous business objects that are identified and built into the system. These business objects often have context around them and need to perform context-sensitive operations that belong to different components. Many applications are built on use cases identified at the time the application was designed, and as such, the operations are predefined and coded accordingly. This often leads to components not being well connected to one another, especially when enhancements are incorporated with actions to be performed in multiple contexts.


The present invention relates to an image processing method and to a device to process a moving image, which is shot by a predetermined video shooting device, in increments of access units. The imaging blur is represented by a corresponding low-pass filter showing the properties of imaging blur which occurs at the time that said moving image is shot with said video shooting device. According to the present method an inverse filter having inverse properties as to said low-pass filter is generated. A processing is performed to apply said inverse filter to said access unit to be processed. Hereby, the step of generating an inverse filter includes an iterative algorithm in the frequency domain based on the original blurred image and the point spread function.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, a device and a program to process a moving image. More specifically, the present invention relates to a possibility of reducing motion blur which is caused by taking a picture.
(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
In general, when a moving image is shot by a camera, then motion blur occurs because of an exposure for 1/60 seconds. Therefore it is important when processing a moving image to reduce the motion blur.
There are several methods which propose possibilities to reduce motion blur. However, most methods suffer from the deficiency, that they are either not adapted to high-frequency areas such as texture areas or that they have side effects for example discontinuity.

Image processing method, device and program to process a moving image


A door opener for mounting on a door, including a mounting plate, a frictional engagement beam and an upwardly projecting ledge spaced apart from the mounting plate. A user steps onto the device contacting their shoe with the engagement bar and the upwardly projecting ledge to frictionally engage the shoe to the opener. The user then forcibly retracts their foot towards their body to lever the door open.

The present invention relates to a door opener, which allows a user to open an inward swinging door utilizing their foot by stepping onto the opener, applying downward pressure for frictional engagement of the device and retracting their foot toward their body to pull the door open.
Doors are a common every day occurrence in houses, businesses and public venues. Doors are typically opened and closed with knobs, handles and pulls, which are well known in the art. Doors, and their associated opening mechanisms, are generally configured for operation by a user's hand, by either grasping and pulling or grasping and pushing. There are common occurrences, however, when utilizing one's hand to open or close a door is undesirable. For example, individuals with physical limitations may find it difficult to pull open a door utilizing a conventional knob or grasp handle. Individual's whose arms are frequently full, transporting a load or carrying objects, may often find it difficult to grasp and pull a knob or handle.
Further, it is generally undesirable to touch a doorknob or grasp with one's hand, particularly in settings where the handle or pull may be dirty or contaminated, such as in public restrooms. It is known and documented that a majority of individuals using public restrooms take precautionary measures to avoid skin contact with the restroom door upon exiting. For example, users will often use a paper towel to shield their hand when operating door hardware upon exiting a restroom. This fact is evident in the common placement of trash receptacles near public restroom doors for deposit of paper towels once the user has opened the door. When paper towels are not available, such as in restrooms only offering hand air dryers, users creatively manipulate inward swinging doors by shielding their hands with their clothing, kicking the door to "bounce" it open, or even waiting until someone else opens the door.
Efforts have been made to assist users in opening doors. There are many known types of door openers, including complex electrical mechanical apparatuses used on handicap accessible doors, pneumatic openers, hydraulic openers and the like. What is needed is a simple mechanical device, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and easy to use. For the most part, devices intended to assist a user in opening a door are expensive, cumbersome, prone to malfunction and easy to damage. Moreover, improper maintenance of complex door opening devices may result in user injury, damage to the door or door frame, and in some instances may prevent the door from being opened.
One effort to develop a simple mechanical device for opening a door is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application 20050005402 for a "Sanitary Door Opener" filed by Charles Moody. The Moody Application discloses a simple mechanical door pull, mounted near the bottom of a door. The pull is similar to a bin handle, commonly found on cabinetry, and is configured to allow the user to engage the pull with the toe of their shoe. The toe of the user's shoe is positioned under the pull into a concavity. The toe of the shoe engages the pull and the user retracts their leg swinging the door towards themselves. There are several obvious and inherent problems with this design. First, it requires the user to balance themselves on one leg while positioning the toe of their shoe under the pull. The user must then continue to balance themselves while retracting the leg. As the door is opened, the user may have to hop backwards to allow the door to swing wide enough to access. Another flaw with this design is that some users may have open-toed shoes, such as sandals, flip-flops, or open-toed dress shoes. When the user's toes are inserted into the device, the upper surface of their foot may be abraded, cut or injured. Moreover, dust, dirt and grime may build up inside of the device, which will transfer to the user's shoe, or foot.


An aluminum alloy comprising 2.1 to 2.8 wt. % Cu, 1.1 to 1.7 wt. % Li, 0.1 to 0.8 wt. % Ag, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % Mn, a content of Fe and Si less or equal to 0.1 wt. % each, and a content of unavoidable impurities less than or equal to 0.05 wt. % each and 0.15 wt. % total, and the alloy being substantially zirconium free.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to aluminum alloys and more particularly, to such alloys, their methods of manufacture and use, particularly in the aerospace industry.
2. Description of Related Art
Continuous efforts are being directed towards the development of materials that could simultaneously reduce weight and increase structural efficiency of high-performance aircraft structures. Aluminum-lithium (AlLi) alloys are very appealing regarding this target because lithium can reduce the density of aluminum by 3 percent and increase the elastic modulus by 6 percent for every weight percent of lithium added. However, AlLi alloys have yet to be extensively used in the aircraft industry due to several drawbacks of early generation alloys such as, for example, inadequate thermal stability, anisotropy and inadequate fracture toughness.
The history of AlLi alloys development is discussed, for example, in a chapter "Aluminum-Lithium Alloys": of the book Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, (ASM Specialty Handbook, 1994). The first aluminum-lithium alloys (Al—Zn—Cu—Li) were introduced German inventors in the 1920s, followed by the introduction of alloy AA2020 (Al—Cu—Li—Mn—Cd) in the late 1950s and the introduction of alloy 1420 (Al—Mg—Li) in the Soviet Union in the mid-1960s. The only industrial applications of alloy AA2020 were the wings and horizontal stabilizers for RA5C Vigilante aircraft. A typical composition for alloy AA2020 was (in weight percent) Cu: 4.5, Li: 1.2, Mn: 0.5, Cd: 0.2. There were various reasons for the limited applications of the AA2020 alloy, for example, the fact AA2020 exhibited shortcomings in fracture toughness. In addition to the specific effect of Cd, the use of Mn in this alloy was assessed to be one of the reasons of its limited properties. In 1982, E. A. Starke stated (in Metallurgical Transactions A, Vol 13A, p 2267) "The larger Mn-rich dispersoids may also be detrimental to ductility by initiating voids". This idea of a detrimental effect of Mn was broadly recognized by those skilled in the art. For example, in 1991, Blackenship stated (in Proceedings of the Sixth International Aluminum-Lithium Conference, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, p 190), "Manganese-rich dispersoids nucleate voids and thus encourage the fracture process". It was suggested that zirconium should be used instead of manganese for grain structure control. In the same document, Blackenship stated, "zirconium is the alloying element of choice for grain structure control in Al—Li—X".
The development of AlLi alloys continued in the 1980s and led to the introduction of commercial alloys AA8090, AA2090 and AA2091. All these alloys contained zirconium instead of manganese.
In the early 1990s, a new family of AlLi alloys containing silver known under the trademark "Weldalite"® was introduced. These alloys typically contained lower Li and exhibited better thermal stability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,359 (Pickens, Martin Marietta) describes alloys containing from 2.0 to 9.8 weight percent of an alloying element consisting of Cu, Mg and mixtures thereof, from 0.01 to 2.0 weight percent of Ag, from 0.2 to 4.1 weight percent of Li and from 0.05 to 1.0 weight percent of a grain refiner additive selected from Zr, Cr, Mn, Ti, B, Hf, V, TiB2 and mixtures thereof. It should be noted that the list of grain refiners proposed by Pickens actually mixes elements used for foundry grain refining (such as TiB2) and elements used for grain structure control during the transformation operations such as zirconium. Even though Pickens stated that, "although emphasis herein shall be placed upon use of zirconium for grain refinement, conventional grain refiners such as Cr, Mn, Ti, B, Hf, V, TiB2 and mixtures thereof may be used", it clearly appears from the history of AlLi alloy development that a prejudice against the use of any element other than Zr for grain structure control existed to the one skilled in the art. Indeed, in all of the examples described by Pickens, Zr was used.
Use of zirconium for grain refining can also be found in an alloy developed more recently (AA2050, see also WO2004/106570), manganese addition being used to improve toughness. In AA2297, which contains lithium, copper, manganese and optionally magnesium but no silver, zirconium is also used for grain refining. U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,662 discloses a preferred composition of 1.6 wt. % Li, 3 wt. % Cu, 0.3 wt. % Mn and 0.12 wt. % Zr. AA2050 and AA2297 alloys have been mainly proposed for thick plates, with a gauge higher than 0.5 inch.
Another family of AlLi alloys, which contained Zn, was described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,792 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,342 and developed in the early 1990s. The metallurgy of these alloys cannot be compared to the metallurgy of "Weldalite"® alloys because the incorporation of a significant amount of zinc, and in particular the combination of zinc with magnesium, significantly modifies the properties of the alloy, for example in terms of strength and corrosion resistance.
In order to use AlLi alloys for fuselage skin applications, the alloys should reach the same or even better performances in strength, damage tolerance and corrosion resistance than currently used Li-free alloys. In particular, resistance to fatigue crack growth is a major concern for those applications and that explains why alloys recognized for their high damage tolerance, such as AA2524 and AA2056 alloys, are traditionally used. Weldability and corrosion resistance are also among other desirable properties. With the increasing trend to reduce costly mechanical fastening operations in the aircraft industry, weldable alloys such as AA6013, AA6056 or AA6156 are introduced for fuselage skin panels. High corrosion resistance is also desirable in order to substitute clad products with less expensive bare products.
It was known that Al—Li alloys often have problems in terms of anisotropy in tensile properties, which in turn, governs the extent of anisotropy in the other mechanical properties. Low yield strength at intermediate test directions, for example 45° to the rolling direction, is a prominent manifestation of the anisotropy.
As far as damage tolerance properties are concerned, the development of an R-Curve is a widely recognized method to characterize fracture toughness properties. The R-curve represents the evolution of the effective stress intensity factor for crack growth as a function of effective crack extension, under increasing monotonic loading. The R-curve enables one to determine the critical load for unstable fracture for any configuration relevant to cracked aircraft structures. The values of stress intensity factor and crack extension are effective values as defined in the ASTM E561 standard. The generally employed analysis of conventional tests on center cracked panels gives an apparent stress intensity factor at fracture [Kapp]. This value does not necessarily vary significantly as a function of R-curve length. However the length of the R-curve—i.e. maximum crack extension of the curve—is an important parameter in itself for fuselage design, in particular for panels with attached stiffeners.
There is a need for a high strength without anisotropy, high fracture toughness, and especially high crack extension before unstable fracture, high corrosion resistance, low density (i.e. not more than about 2.70 g/cm3) Al—Cu—Li alloy for aircraft applications, and in particular for fuselage sheet applications.

High fracture toughness aluminum-copper-lithium sheet or light-gauge plates suitable for fuselage panels


A rich media file is a self-contained file, including both the information to be viewed by a user and the viewer that displays the information to the user. The information can be formatted however the client likes: for example, the information can be split across several pages, and can include text and still and animated images. There can also be web links to pages on a network, and e-mail forms to simplify sending an e-mail message to the client. The rich media file can include viewing limitations, so that only the proper password can unlock the file, or that the rich media file will automatically expire after a specified condition occurs. The rich media file also assists the user in obtaining the latest version of the rich media file, by offering to retrieve a newer version for the user.

The rise of the internet and the world wide web has made the sharing of information an attainable goal. But compatibility between computers remains a concern. Many computers cannot read each other's files, because of differences in format. When a web site wants to provide information in streaming and portable files to its clients, it has to prepare different versions of the files for each different type of computer that may need to access the files.
Software can help to reduce this problem, in that the data can be left in a platform-independent, proprietary data format. Different viewers are then used to read the document on different computer platforms. But this solution introduces its own problems. To be able to read the document, the user has to install the viewer on his computer system. Without the viewer, the user is unable to read the document. And once installed, the viewer stays resident on the user's system. This means that even when the user is done reading the document, a footprint is left on the user's system: the viewer. Subsequent updates can obsolete the stored view, requiring download of an updated viewer.
In addition, the current viewer technology is dependent on the user requesting the file. Although "push technology" has been around for some time, viewing software is entirely dependent on the user selecting the document for download. Currently, there is no technology that supports that automatic delivery of new documents to the user.
Accordingly, a need remains for a platform-independent viewer that leaves no footprint on the user's system and that can automatically deliver a new document to the user that addresses these and other problems associated with the prior art.

Rich media file format and delivery methods


This disclosure provides a system and method for client authentication that allows a service provider to implement multiple authentication challenges to verify a user/client. The system includes an extractor, a comparer, and an attributer. The extractor receives an Internet protocol source address from a client and extracts a media access control address. The extractor also determines a source identifier of the client from the media access control address. The comparer compares the extracted media access control address with a client media access control address associated with the client, and signals execution of one or more client authentication challenges when the extracted media access control address fails to match the at least one client media access control address associated with the client. The attributer associates the source identifier with the client after successful execution of a client authentication challenge.

In general, information security entails protecting information from heft, loss, and corruption. Internet service providers may implement procedures to prevent phishing attacks and comprised user accounts. Attackers may use social engineering attacks on website users through simple phishing and sophisticated spear phishing attacks. Key stroke logging programs may record a user's login information, leading to a compromised user account. A service provider may implement multiple authentication challenges to verify a user. These authentication challenges may include multiple questions, cookies, etc.


A fastener retention system for retaining fasteners within apertures of an orthopedic plate includes a first pocket disposed between two of the apertures in the plate, a blocking member disposed between the two apertures and including a second pocket that forms a cavity with the first pocket, and a spring that expands from a compressed configuration within the first pocket to a decompressed configuration within the cavity.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
The spine is a flexible column formed of a plurality of bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae include a hollow cavity and essentially stack one upon the other, forming a strong column for support of the cranium and trunk of the body. The hollow core of the spine houses and protects the nerves of the spinal cord. The different vertebrae are connected to one another by means of articular processes and intervertebral, fibrocartilaginous bodies. The intervertebral bodies, also known as intervertebral disks, include a fibrous ring filled with pulpy material. The disks function as spinal shock absorbers and also cooperate with synovial joints to facilitate movement and maintain flexibility of the spine. When one or more disks degenerate through accident or disease, nerves passing near the affected area may be compressed and consequently irritated. The result may be chronic and/or debilitating neck and/or back pain due to these spinal disorders.
One procedure for treating spinal disorders involves using substantially rigid plates for fixation of two or more vertebrae in desired spatial relationships and orientations relative to each other. During the procedure, the spine can be approached anteriorly or posteriorly. In either case, holes are drilled and tapped in at least two of the vertebrae to receive screws or other fasteners that secure the plate. The holes are positioned with reference to apertures formed in the plate. Typically the plate is curved about its longitudinal axis to facilitate contiguous surface engagement of the plate with the vertebrae. With the plate maintained against the vertebrae, the fasteners are driven into the vertebrae through the apertures in the plate. As a result the plate maintains the attached vertebrae in a desired spacing and orientation with respect to each other.
Over time, some fasteners may gradually work loose from the vertebrae. Slight shock or vibration of the vertebrae, due to walking, climbing stairs or more vigorous activity by the patient following treatment increases this tendency, jeopardizing the integrity of fixation. Moreover, as the fasteners work loose, the outward protrusion of the heads over other components of the fasteners can be a source of discomfort and present the risk of trauma to adjacent and surrounding soft tissue. Some plates include a retention mechanism that prevents the screws from working loose after fixation.
Occasionally, the fasteners may not be inserted at a proper insertion angle during the fixation procedure. When the fastener is inserted at an improper angle, the retention mechanism may not be able to contact the fastener as the fastener backs away from the vertebra. The retention mechanism may increase the complexity of manufacturing and assembly. For example, the spinal plate may require features such as additional openings in the plate to assemble the retention mechanism. These openings may decrease the structural integrity of the plate. The retention mechanism may require various features that interact with springs or other compression members that bias the retention mechanism in one or more directions. Additional features such as stops that prevent the retention mechanism from moving too far relative to the plate or from over-compressing the springs may also complicate manufacture and assembly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fastener retention system for spinal plates


Systems and processes for operating a digital assistant are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a first speech input from a user. The method further includes identifying context information and determining a user intent based on the first speech input and the context information. The method further includes determining whether the user intent is to perform a task using a searching process or an object managing process. The searching process is configured to search data, and the object managing process is configured to manage objects. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination the user intent is to perform the task using the searching process, performing the task using the searching process; and in accordance with the determination that the user intent is to perform the task using the object managing process, performing the task using the object managing process.

Digital assistants are increasing popular. In a desktop or tablet environment, a user frequently multi-tasks including searching files or information, managing files or folders, playing movies or songs, editing documents, adjusting system configurations, sending emails, etc. It is often cumbersome and inconvenient for the user to manually perform multiple tasks in parallel and to frequently switch between tasks. It is thus desirable for a digital assistant to have the ability to assist the user to perform some of the tasks in a multi-tasking environment based on a user's voice input.

Intelligent digital assistant in a multi-tasking environment


An example hardware accelerator in a computing system includes a bus interface coupled to a peripheral bus of the computing system; a lock circuit coupled to the bus interface; and a plurality of kernel circuits coupled to the lock circuit and the bus interface; wherein the plurality of kernel circuits provide lock requests to the lock circuit, the lock requests for data stored in system memory of the computing system; wherein the lock circuit is configured to process the lock requests from the plurality of kernel circuits and to issue atomic transactions over the peripheral bus through the bus interface based on the lock requests.

Hardware acceleration involves the use of hardware to perform some functions more efficiently than software executing on a general-purpose CPU. A hardware accelerator is special-purpose hardware designed to implement hardware acceleration for some application. Example applications include neural networks, video encoding, decoding, transcoding, etc., network data processing, and the Ike, Software executing on the computing system interacts with the hardware accelerator through various drivers and libraries. One type of hardware accelerator includes a programmable device and associated circuitry. For example, the programmable device can be a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a system-on-chip (SOC) that includes FPGA programmable logic among other subsystems, such as a processing system, data processing engine (DPE) array, network-on-chip (NOC), and the Ike.
In multiprocessing systems, thread synchronization can be achieved by mutex lock to avoid race conditions. Use of mutexes is common in software environments, where mutual exclusion of shared data is achieved via atomic operations. Protocols such as Peripheral Component Interface Express (PCIe) and Cache Coherent Interconnect for Accelerators (CCIX) also provide support for atomic operations, which enables hardware acceleration kernels to obtain locks and compete with software threads. For systems that have multiple acceleration kernels operating in parallel, lock requests to the host computer system by the acceleration kernels can lead to unnecessary peripheral bus utilization and increased contention handling by the host computer. There is a need for a more efficient technique for handling access to shared data by multiple acceleration kernels in a hardware acceleration system.

Lock circuit for competing kernels in a hardware accelerator


The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels includes a base frame for supporting a balancing shaft, which receives the vehicle wheel. A plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring around the balancing shaft, and a plurality of pattern generators projects images onto the side of the wheel to form reference points. The light sources are split into sectors, and at least one pattern generator is arranged between two sectors of the light sources. Laser pointers may be used as pattern generators.

It is known that the wheels of vehicles circulating on the road require frequent balancing operations, consisting in fitting to the wheel rim small balancing weights, made of lead or other material, suitable for offsetting the irregular distribution of weights in the tire.
To perform this operation, balancing machines are commonly used with a horizontal rotating shaft, so-called "balancing shaft", on which the wheel to be balanced must be placed integral by means of one or more centering and fixing parts.
The measurement of wheel unbalance is determined once the wheel has been rotated on the balancing shaft by means of a series of electronic or electro-mechanical devices, such as force transducers fitted along the balancing shaft.
To the unbalance measurement are normally added other characteristic measurements, such as wheel roundness measurement, wheel eccentricity, amount of tread wear, etc., normally made by means of suitable measuring sensors without contact (laser, ultrasounds or the like), mounted on the machine frame and substantially turned towards the balancing shaft.
Once the necessary measurements have been made, the machine is able to calculate the quantity of the balancing weights to be fitted on the wheel rim to offset the wheel irregularities.
The balancing weights are usually fitted manually by an operator at one or more precise points of the wheel rim chosen by the machine or the operator himself.
The weight fitting operation is not always practical and easy, above all because the balancing weight fitting points are located inside the wheel rim and therefore not well lit.
To overcome this drawback, the operator can use an electric lamp of the type used in workshops with the drawback, however, of having to fit the balancing weights with just one hand, because the other hand must be used to direct the light inside the wheel rim.
Particular types of balancing machines on the other hand have a halogen lamp located roughly underneath the balancing shaft and intended to light up the inner face of the wheel.
The lighting of such halogen lamps however is not perfect and is often partial because the light produced is not diffused in a uniform way and comes from a single point of emission, i.e., the lamp itself.
This therefore determines the splitting up of the rim area into well lit areas and shadow areas.
Another drawback of traditional balancing machines which restricts the practical intervention of the operator in fitting the balancing weights consists in the fact that the operator is not always able to correctly identify the precise point at which to fit the weights, which usually coincides with the position corresponding to "12 o'clock".
In this respect, it is specified that in this treatise by the expressions "3 o'clock", "6 o'clock", "9 o'clock" and "12 o'clock" are meant the relevant angular positions on the wheel perimeter hypothetically split up into twelve hours like the dial of a clock, where "6 o' clock" and "12 o'clock" are therefore defined by the intersection of the wheel with the vertical plane on which the balancing shaft rests, while "3 o'clock" and "9 o'clock" are defined by the intersection of the wheel with the horizontal plane on which the balancing shaft rests.
To identify "12 o'clock" on the wheel, the operator ideally traces the vertical line passing through the balancing shaft and positions the balancing weights by evaluating their position approximately, with the risk of this not being exact.
To overcome this drawback, some balancing machines have a laser pointer mounted on a series of linear and/or angular actuators which allow moving it to direct the light beam towards the exact point of the wheel in which the operator has to fit the balancing weights.
These mobile laser pointers also however have various drawbacks including the fact that they are particularly complex and expensive and that sometimes, despite their presence, the operator, to keep things simple and/or by habit, continues to adopt the balancing weight fitting system at "12 o'clock".

Illumination devices for balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels


A method and resulting structure is disclosed in which a metal-to-metal bond is formed by heating the surfaces to be bonded in an oxidizing ambient atmosphere until the desired bond is achieved. Heating takes place at 700.degree. C.-1200.degree. C. and bonding may be enhanced by applying pressure between the surfaces while heating.

Many techniques are known for bonding metal surfaces. For example, soldering, brazing and welding are commonly used. These methods employ a variety of temperatures, bonding materials and bonding conditions. Notwithstanding this variety, there is a continuing need for improved metal-to-metal bonding techniques.
A common problem faced by existing techniques is the removal of residual oxide coatings on the surfaces to be bonded. Numerous patents teach that a stronger bond is obtained when the metal surfaces to be bonded are free of oxides. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,312 to Kennedy, et al. teaches the removal of surface oxides when diffusion bonding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,512 to Lisec teaches removal of oxides when welding, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,768 to Sater removes surface oxides when welding metals using ion beam technology.

Metal-to-metal bonding method and resulting structure


A method for identifying a presence of a nitro (NO)-bearing compound suspected of being included in a sample includes photodissociating a sample into one or more fragments that include a NO molecule, where the NO molecule has an electron in a first-vibrational excited state of an electronic ground state. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is applied including directing UV light from a UV laser source at the sample to induce fluorescent light. An emission wavelength of 270 nm to 274 nm from fluorescent light received is used to identify a presence of the NO-bearing compound in the sample.

There is a strong demand for systems or sensors that can detect the presence of hazardous materials, such as explosive materials, particularly those with high sensitivity and specificity, as well as the capability for standoff detection. Primary, secondary and tertiary explosives make up the three classes of high explosive materials, each having decreasing sensitivity to shock, friction, and heat. Peroxide-based explosives (e.g., acetone peroxides) are one of the main constituents of primary explosives, while nitro-based explosives make up the majority of secondary explosives (e.g., trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), pentrite (PETN), while tertiary explosives include ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (e.g., ANFO).
Direct detection of explosives using native fluorescence of the target substance is difficult because the fluorescence spectra are typically broad and structureless/featureless. Selective photofragments from photodissociation of explosive materials have strong fluorescence that produces structured or feature-evident spectra. Nitric oxide (NO) is a characteristic photofragment of nitro-based explosive materials when the explosive material is irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light. Specifically, absorption by NO via its various A-X (v′,v″) bands, e.g. (0,0), (1,1), (2,2), and (0,2) is known to have transitions near 226, 224, 222, and 248 nm, resulting in discrete characteristic laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) emissions.
Typically LIF measurements are performed using 226 nm laser excitation. However, 226 nm excitation is plagued by a background of natural NO in the air, making it difficult to detect low vapor pressure compounds such as certain explosives (e.g., 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene (TNT)), which may have a concentration from around 1 to 10 parts per billion (PPB) in typical samples. Most nitro-based explosives have a low NO vapor pressure that combined with the low concentration in the sample generally results in a low signal level for the LIF signal emanating from the sample. Another known option is to use 236 nm laser excitation, and to detect fluorescent emission peaks at 226 nm or 247 nm, which represent the NO peaks having the highest and second highest relative signal strengths in the conventional spectral range of interest for PF-LIF for nitro-based explosives, being from 200 to about 250 nm.
Problems with known PF-LIF systems for NO-based explosives include detectability problems and low throughput due to low emission signal levels at the photodetector due to the low signal level of interest emanating from the sample combined with the signal loss through the spectral filter (low % transmission of the emission signal transmitted) before detection at the photodetector. A highly attenuating spectral filter is required in conventional PF-LIF systems due to the need to selectively detect the emission peak of interest at 226 nm or 247 nm while rejecting the closely spaced laser peak in the wavelength range about 225 nm to 250 nm. Moreover, interference from atmospheric O2 fluorescence can confuse signal analysis both within the wavelength range from about 225 nm to 250 nm, and outside this wavelength range.

Photofragmentation-laser-induced fluorescence for detection of nitric oxide-bearing explosives


An adjustable lock infant seat. An infant seat positionable atop an automobile seat, includes a seat belt buckle mounted to the bottom or seat portion of the infant seat. The buckle is lockingly engageable with a tongue slidably mounted to a belt having opposite ends extending through a lower pair of slots or an upper pair of slots extending through the back support of the infant seat. One belt end is fastened to a buckle located on the rearward surface of the back support whereas the opposite belt end extends through a releasably lockable adjuster mounted to the back support. By extending the belt either through the upper or lower slots and by operation of the adjuster, the belt may be sized to fit the infant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of infant or child seats mountable within an automobile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,852 commonly owned by Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc. therein discloses a child seat for holding a child within an automobile. The seat includes a harness assembly which may be sized for the child occupying the seat. In the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,889, the harness adjuster includes a spring biased pivotably mounted cam for releasably locking the harness once the harness has been properly sized.
The aforementioned patents disclose mounting the adjuster forward of the seat portion. In many cases, it is mandatory that the child or infant seat be positioned within the automobile so that the child faces toward the rear of the automobile. As a result, it is desirable that any harness adjuster be positioned rearward of the infant seat to allow ease of access to the adjuster. Disclosed herein is an infant seat designed to be positioned so that the infant faces toward the rear of the automobile with the harness adjuster mounted to the back of the seat which, in turn, is the most forward portion of the infant seat when positioned in the automobile.


A shield for restricting molten corium from flowing into a water sump disposed in a floor of a containment vessel includes upper and lower walls which extend vertically upwardly and downwardly from the floor for laterally bounding the sump. The upper wall includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart flow channels extending horizontally therethrough, with each channel having a bottom disposed coextensively with the floor for channeling water therefrom into the sump. Each channel has a height and a length predeterminedly selected for allowing heat from the molten corium to dissipate through the upper and lower walls as it flows therethrough for solidifying the molten corium therein to prevent accumulation thereof in the sump.

An exemplary nuclear reactor, such as a boiling water reactor (BWR), includes a reactor core disposed in a reactor pressure vessel, with the pressure vessel being in turn disposed in a containment vessel. The reactor core includes a plurality of nuclear fuel rods configured in bundles to generate heat which is transferred to water recirculating therein for generating steam to power a steam turbine-generator, for example.
Reactivity in the core is typically controlled by a plurality of control rods typically extending vertically upwardly therein from the bottom of the pressure vessel. Conventional control rod drives (CRDs) are mounted below the pressure vessel in a lower drywell region of the containment vessel for selectively inserting the control rods into the core and withdrawing the control rods therefrom for controlling reactivity. The lower drywell is defined by an annular pedestal wall which is used to support the pressure vessel.
The containment vessel is typically a concrete structure having an inner steel liner designed for containing the expected elevated pressure therein in the event of a nuclear accident, as well as preventing significant nuclear radiation released therefrom. The lower drywell being disposed below the pressure vessel typically includes one or more water sumps for collecting leaking water which is then conventionally removed therefrom by pumps. In the event of a severe accident in which the reactor core melts to form hot, molten core debris known as corium, the corium must be suitably contained within the containment vessel without appreciably damaging the containment vessel or the reactor pedestal. As the molten debris spreads over the floors of the containment vessel, the flow thereof will be fairly uniform in thickness if there are no obstructions and the floors are uniformly level. In this way, the molten corium may be allowed to uniformly cool and solidify. Since the molten corium includes molten reactor fuel which generates heat even after the reactor is shutdown, it may reliquify if suitable cooling thereof is not maintained.
For example, requirements for an advanced light water reactor include providing a suitable floor area beneath the pressure vessels for limiting the thickness of molten corium following an accident to promote the cooling thereof. However, since the water sumps are located below the pressure vessel, the molten corium may flow and collect therein at a substantially greater thickness than that over the remainder of the drywell floor, the increased thickness of the molten corium in the sumps decreases its ability to be cooled and increases the uncertainty of solidifying the molten corium, preventing it from reliquifying due to the heat being generated therein, and preventing it from interacting with the floor material thereby releasing radioactive material and noncondensable gases.


A control lever for operating a control system of a vehicle, such as a brake or clutch of a motorcycle, for example. The lever is especially useful with hydraulic control systems, for applying a force to a hydraulic piston of the control system. Preferably, the lever includes an engagement portion that contacts an end surface of the piston. The engagement portion may be free to rotate with respect to a body portion of the lever such that the engagement portion rolls across the end surface of the piston. Such an arrangement provides improved lever xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d and substantially prevents transverse loading of the piston. The engagement portion may also include a protruding arm that engages the end surface of the piston, for use with hydraulic control systems where the piston is recessed within a housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control lever assemblies for operating a control system of a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved control lever, especially suited for use with a front brake or manual clutch system of an off-road motorcycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Control levers are commonly mounted near a handgrip portion of a motorcycle""s handlebar to permit a rider to operate a control system of the motorcycle, such as a front brake system or manual clutch system. Typically, the front brake system is hydraulically operated and, more recently, hydraulic manual clutch systems have also been utilized.
When used to operate a hydraulic control system, the control lever is arranged to rotate about a pivot axis and engage a piston of the control system to move the piston along an axis of motion and thereby operate the control system. Thus, articulating movement of the control lever results in linear movement of the piston.
For racing motorcycles in particular, it is highly desirable for the control lever to provide an accurate indication of the amount of force applied to the control system, so that the rider is able to effectively control the operation of the motorcycle. This is referred to as the xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d of the lever. A lever with good xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d enhances the rider""s control of the motorcycle and promotes optimum performance. Prior control lever designs often possess an undesirable amount of operating friction either at the interface of the lever and the piston, or within the lever itself, during operation which results in a poor xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d of the lever.
An aspect of the present invention involves the realization that prior control lever designs impart a force on the piston of the hydraulic control system that is not aligned with the piston""s axis of movement throughout the movement of the lever. This results in an undesirable transverse loading condition of the piston, which may cause premature wear of a piston sealing arrangement, or of the piston itself. The transverse loading may occur as a result of the undesirable amount of operational friction inherent in prior control lever designs, as described above. Accordingly, a preferred control lever reduces the operational friction to provide a good lever xe2x80x9cfeelxe2x80x9d and, preferably, substantially prevents transverse loading of the hydraulic piston of control system.
A preferred embodiment is a control lever for actuating a control system of a vehicle, the control system including a first portion mounted proximate a hand grip portion of the vehicle and defining a fluid cylinder. The control system also includes a piston movable along a longitudinal first axis of the fluid cylinder. The control lever assembly includes a lever body having a finger grip portion. The lever body defines a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis and is rotatable about the second axis to move the piston from a relaxed position to an actuated position. The lever body defines a third axis substantially parallel to the second axis. The lever also includes an engagement portion contacting the piston and rotating about the third axis when the lever body is rotated about the second axis. A force applied by the engagement portion to the piston moves the piston from the relaxed position to the actuated position. Wherein the first axis is fixed with respect to the second axis and the force is substantially aligned with the first axis when the piston is in both of the relaxed and actuated positions.
A preferred embodiment is a control lever for actuating a control system of a vehicle, the control system including a first portion mounted proximate a hand grip portion of the vehicle and defining a fluid cylinder. The control system further comprises a piston movable along a longitudinal first axis of the fluid cylinder. The control lever assembly includes a lever body having a finger grip portion and defining a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The lever body is rotatable about the second axis to move the piston from a relaxed position to an actuated position. The lever body also defines a third axis substantially parallel to the second axis. The lever further includes an engagement portion defining a circular peripheral edge surface about the third axis, which contacts the piston. The engagement portion rotates about the third axis when the lever body is rotated about the second axis. A force applied by the engagement portion to the piston moves the piston from the relaxed position to the actuated position and the first axis is fixed with respect to the second axis.
A preferred embodiment is a control lever for actuating a control system of a vehicle, the control system including a first portion mounted proximate a hand grip portion of the vehicle and defining a first fluid cylinder. A piston is movable along a longitudinal first axis of the first fluid cylinder. The control lever assembly includes a lever body having a finger grip portion, the lever body defining a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The lever body being rotatable about the second axis to move the piston from a first position to a second position. A shaft is fixed to the lever body and defines a third axis substantially parallel to the second axis. An engagement portion is held by the shaft and defines a contact surface for contacting the piston. The contact surface is configured to rotate about the third axis when the lever body is rotated about the second axis to move the piston from the first position to the second position.
A preferred embodiment is a control lever for actuating a control system of a vehicle, the control system including a first portion mounted proximate a hand grip portion of the vehicle and defining a first fluid cylinder and a piston movable along a longitudinal first axis of the first fluid cylinder. The control lever assembly includes a lever body having a finger grip portion and defining a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The lever body being rotatable about the second axis to move the piston from a first position to a second position and defining a third axis substantially parallel to the second axis. An engagement portion including an arm portion defines a contact surface for contacting the piston. A bearing assembly is operably positioned between the lever body and the engagement portion to permit the engagement portion to rotate about the third axis when the lever body is rotated about the second axis to move the piston from the first position to the second position.


A fish scaling assembly includes at least one assembly blade adapted for engagement and reciprocation by the electric knife handle and a generally wedge-shaped scale removing member carried by the at least one assembly blade.

Fish cleaning involves removing the skin, bones and entrails from the edible meat portions of a fish preparatory to freezing or cooking the meat for ultimate consumption. The fish cleaning operation is commonly accomplished using an electric knife (also known as a "fillet knife"). A conventional electric knife includes a trigger-, button- or switch-operated electric knife handle having at least one blade slot which receives at least one typically serrated cutting blade. A blade reciprocating mechanism inside the knife handle engages the cutting blade or blades and facilitates reciprocation of the blade or blades typically as the trigger, button or switch on the knife handle is depressed or otherwise manipulated. Accordingly, each reciprocating cutting blade cuts the fish open for removal of the entrails as well as to remove the skin from the meat and the meat from the bones of the fish during cleaning.
Prior to cleaning a fish, it may be necessary or desirable to remove scales from the skin of the fish. A fish may be scaled using a conventional manual fish scaling tool, which may include a shaft or handle fitted with a curved blade. The shaft or handle is gripped and repeatedly moved in a back-and-forth motion as the blade is pressed against the scales such that the blade cuts or dislodges the scales from the skin of the fish. Prior to the cleaning operation, the loose scales may be washed from the skin of the fish.
One of the drawbacks associated with conventional manual fish scaling tools is that the tools are laborious to use, particularly if numerous fish require scaling and cleaning during the cleaning operation. Scales which should be removed from the fish are often missed during scaling. Moreover, the manual fish scaling tool and the electric knife which is typically used to clean the fish are separate devices, requiring that the user keep track of two devices during the fish scaling and cleaning operation. Accordingly, a fish scaling assembly having at least one scale removing member which can be actuated using an electric knife handle is needed.


An image forming apparatus registers a mode program constituted by operation mode information set to a job in order to execute the job by retrieving the mode program. A mode program registration section outputs an instruction to acquire the operation mode information set to the job and acquires the operation mode information. An operation mode acquisition section sends a request to a software part corresponding to a process constituting said job to acquire the operation mode information, and acquires and outputs the operation mode information of a predetermined type, which is a return value output from the software part, to the mode program registration section. A mode program information management section creates mode program information including the operation mode information acquired by the mode program registration section and identification information of the mode program, and stores the mode program information in a mode program information retaining section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus an image forming method and a computer readable recording medium storing an image forming program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus having a mode program function has been used. According to the mode program function, an operating condition is set to each of the processes constituting a job performed by an image processing apparatus for each kind of job. The operating condition is retained in the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus performs a job in accordance with the retained operating condition.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-67328 (Patent Document 1) discloses an image processing apparatus that permits a reliable operation of a macro containing an event synchronous to a user operation and an event asynchronous to the user operation. In order to achieve such a reliable operation of a macro, the image processing apparatus is provided with a recording means that sequentially records procedures of an operation performed by an operator and a recording means that records a status according to an event generated asynchronously. It should be noted that the macro function recited in the Patent Document 1 corresponds to the above-mentioned mode program function.
Additionally, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3679349 (Patent Document 2) discloses an image forming apparatus provided with applications each corresponding to each of a plurality of processes constituting a job performed by the image forming apparatus and a control program used through the applications in common. According to the image forming apparatus disclosed in the Patent Document 2, the applications can be expanded and changed easily.
However, when applying the macro function disclosed in the Patent Document 1 to the image forming apparatus disclosed in the Patent Document 2, the operating condition set by the mode program function must be retained for each application. Thus, it is considered to provide a memory means to retain the operating condition so as to use the memory means from each application in common. However, such a scheme requires a process using an interface to access the memory means, which is shared by the applications, for each application.
According to the above-mentioned scheme, each application must carry out a process corresponding to the mode program function. Thus, when a different application is mounted to each image forming apparatus, a part for performing the process of the mode program function must be changed for each image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus and method for managing a mode program constituted by operation mode information set to a job performed by the image forming apparatus


Polarity compensating dual-string digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and related circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed. In embodiments disclosed herein, a secondary voltage divider of a dual-string DAC includes a switch logic unit. The switch logic unit is configured to compensate for polarity changes in the dual-string DAC to maintain monotonicity. Monotonicity means an output voltage of a DAC either increases or stays constant for monotonically increasing functions or either decreases or stays constant for monotonically decreasing functions given an incremental change in a DAC input code. The switch logic unit is configured to compensate for polarity changes in the input voltage from the primary voltage divider to the secondary resistor string. The switch logic unit is configured to select a secondary switch among the plurality of secondary switches in a secondary voltage divider, to divide an input voltage based on a polarity indicator and a DAC input code, to maintain monotonicity.

I. Field of the Disclosure
The field of the disclosure relates to dual-string digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and particularly to interconnections and switching of primary and secondary voltage dividers provided therein.
II. Background
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is a device that converts digital codes to representative analog signals. For example, the converted analog signals may be recreations of native analog signals previously converted into the digital codes by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). A common use of ADCs and DACs is converting audio and video signals used in media devices (e.g. televisions, cell phones, MP3 players, etc.) from analog sign representations to digital signal representations, or vice versa.
One type of DAC is a dual-string DAC. A dual resistor string DAC (also referred to as "dual-string DAC") requires fewer resistors and switches to convert digital codes into analog signal representations as compared to single resistor string DACs. A dual-string DAC includes a first resistor string that generates a coarse conversion of a digital code. A second resistor string of the dual-string DAC generates a finer interpolation of the coarse conversion of the digital code received from the first resistor string to provide an output voltage providing an analog signal representation of the digital code. For example, if a dual-string DAC is configured to convert six (6) bit binary digital codes into sixty-four (64) unique conversions (i.e., 26 conversions), each resistor string of the dual-string DAC could each include eight (8) resistors for a total of sixteen (16) resistors, as opposed to providing sixty-four (64) resistors in a single-string DAC.
For example, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary dual-string DAC 10 (referred to herein as "DAC 10"). The DAC 10 functions by applying a received input voltage Vin across a primary voltage divider circuit 12, referred to herein as "primary voltage divider 12." The primary voltage divider 12 provides coarse voltage (i.e., analog signal) values by dividing the input voltage Vin across a plurality of primary resistors R(0)-R(N−1) in a primary resistor string 14 at selected resistor node pairs Nr(0)-Nr(N) at nodes between the primary resistors R(0)-R(N−1). For example, if N equals sixteen (16), this means the number of primary resistors R(0)-R(N−1) provided in the primary voltage divider 12 totals sixteen (16). In this example, the primary voltage divider 12 provides sixteen (16) unique divided primary voltages selectable by four (4) binary bits of a digital code provided to the primary voltage divider 12 for conversion. For example, the bits of a digital DAC input code 15 (hereinafter "DAC input code 15") are used to select the primary voltages, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, the most significant bits N of the DAC input code 15 are used to select the primary voltages. A coarse divided primary voltage value is selected by a primary switch unit 16 that selects a pair of primary switches U(0)-U(2N−1) to select a selected resistor node pair Nr among a plurality of selected resistor node pairs Nr(0) to Nr(N) in the primary resistor string 14 to select one of the divided primary voltages as a selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp. This selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp is applied across a secondary voltage divider circuit 18, referred to herein as "secondary voltage divider 18."
With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the secondary voltage divider 18 is provided in the DAC 10 and configured to further divide the selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp into a plurality of finer secondary voltages. In this regard, the secondary voltage divider 18 comprises a plurality of secondary resistors Rs(0)-Rs(Y−1) to form a secondary resistor string 20. Similar to the primary resistor string 14, the secondary resistor string 20 divides the applied primary voltage from the primary voltage divider 12 into finer, interpolated secondary voltages. As the primary voltage is applied across the secondary resistor string 20, a secondary output voltage Vout is selected by a secondary voltage divider switch 22. For example, if Y equals thirty-two (32), meaning the number of secondary resistors Rs(0)-Rs(Y−1) provided in the secondary voltage divider 18 totals thirty-two (32), the secondary voltage divider 18 provides thirty-two (32) unique divided secondary voltages. The thirty-two (32) unique divided secondary voltages are selectable by five (5) binary digital code bits provided to the secondary voltage divider 18. For example, the bits of the DAC input code 15 used to select the secondary voltages may comprise the least significant five (5) bits (LSB) of the DAC input code 15. A finer, interpolated secondary voltage value is selected by the secondary voltage divider switch 22 by selecting a resistor node Nsr. The selected resistor node Nsr is selected from among resistor nodes Nsr(0)-Nsr(Y) in the secondary resistor string 20 to provide a final, secondary output voltage Vout representing the converted DAC input code 15.
When the DAC 10 in FIG. 1 converts the DAC input code 15 into the secondary output voltage Vout, the DAC 10 transfer function remains monotonic throughout the range of possible digital codes. The DAC 10 being montonic in this example means that the DAC 10 will generate a secondary output voltage Vout that increases (or stays constant) or decreases (or stays constant) for a given incremental change in the DAC input code 15. Montonicity in the DAC 10 may be desired if it is desired for the DAC 10 convert digital codes to representative analog signals in a linear fashion. The DAC 10 is designed to be monotonic to be linear. More specifically, the DAC 10 in FIG. 1 being monotonic means the selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp and the secondary output voltage Vout of the DAC 10 either increases or stays constant for a monotonically increasing DAC input code 15, or decreases or stays constant for a monotonically decreasing DAC input code 15. For example, as the DAC input code 15 increases in value, the selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp and the secondary output voltage Vout increase or remain constant (i.e., not decrease) for the DAC 10. Likewise, as the DAC input code 15 decreases in value, the selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp and the secondary output voltage Vout decrease or remain constant (i.e., not increase) for the DAC 10.
With continuing reference to FIG. 1, primary switches U(0)-U(2N−1) are provided in the primary switch unit 16 of the DAC 10. The primary switches U(0)-U(2N−1) are configured to be controllably opened and closed to select the desired selected resistor node pair 49 among the plurality of selected resistor node pairs Nr(0)-Nr(N). Selecting the desired selected resistor node pair among the selected resistor node pairs Nr(0)-Nr(N) selects the selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp in the primary voltage divider 12 to be applied to the secondary resistor string 20. The primary switches U(0)-U(2N−1) are provided in pairs for each selected resistor node to maintain monotonicity in the DAC 10. For example, if the voltage across the selected resistor node pair Nr(2) and Nr(3) in the primary voltage divider 12 is selected to be applied across the secondary resistor string 20, primary switch U(3) is selected to couple Nr(2) to a positive input terminal 24I of the secondary resistor string 20. Switch U(6) is selected to couple Nr(3) to a negative input terminal 26I of the secondary voltage string 20. If the most significant bits (MSB) of the DAC input code 15 increments, causing the voltage across selected resistor node pair Nr(3) and Nr(4) to be selected, the primary switch U(5) must be selected instead of primary switch U(6). Primary switch U(5) must be selected to couple selected resistor node pair Nr(3) to the positive terminal 24I of the secondary resistor string 20. Otherwise, if primary switch U(6) were continued to be selected, Nr(3) would remain coupled to the negative terminal 26I of the secondary resistor string 20 of the secondary resistor string 20, thus causing the selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp in the primary voltage divider 12 to not be applied incrementally, in kind, with the increment in the DAC input code 15 across the secondary resistor string 20. Thus, the DAC 10 would not be monotonic. Thus in summary, if the primary switches U(0)-U(2N−1) are not provided in pairs for each selected resistor node Nr(0)-Nr(N), polarity changes (e.g., polarity flips) will occur in the selected coarse divided primary voltage Vp applied across the secondary resistor string 20. Monotonicity would be lost as a result.


A method and apparatus for providing information to a security application at a client device. A server receives a request from the client device for information of an object at the client device. The request includes the signature information required by the server to identify the object. The server queries a database to determine the required information of the object and to determine information of at least one further object, and a response is sent to the client device. The response includes the information relating to the object, an identity of the at least one further object, and the information relating to the at least one further object.

Malware is short for malicious software and is used as a term to refer to any software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. Malware can include viruses, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, adware, spyware and any other malicious and unwanted software. Any client device, such as a desktop personal computer (PC), laptop, personal data assistant (PDA) or mobile phone, can be at risk from malware.
When a device is infected by malware the user will often notice unwanted behaviour and degradation of system performance as the infection can create unwanted processor activity, memory usage, and network traffic. This can also cause stability issues leading to application or system-wide crashes. The user of an infected device may incorrectly assume that poor performance is a result of software flaws or hardware problems, taking inappropriate remedial action, when the actual cause is a malware infection of which they are unaware.
Detecting malware is challenging as the malware authors design their software to be difficult to detect, often employing technology that deliberately hides the presence of malware on a system, i.e. the malware application may not show up on the operating system tables that list currently running processes.
Client devices make use of anti-virus applications to detect and possibly remove malware. This anti-virus application can make use of various methods to detect malware including scanning, integrity checking and heuristic analysis. Of these methods, malware scanning involves the anti-virus application examining files for a virus fingerprint or "signature" that is characteristic of an individual malware program. Typically, this requires that the anti-virus application has a database containing the signatures. When the provider of the anti-virus application identifies a new malware threat, the threat is analysed and its signature is extracted. The malware is then "known" and its signature can be supplied as updates to the anti-virus application database. However, scanning files for malware can consume significant processing resources potentially resulting in a reduction in the performance of a computing device. As the number more malware applications are identified, the size of the database grows. This leads to slower scanning times, increased memory consumption and makes boot up times for client devices longer.
Various anti-virus applications are available on the market today. These tend to work by maintaining a database of signatures or fingerprints for known viruses. With a "real time" scanning application, when a user tries to perform an operation on a file, e.g. open, save, or copy, the request is redirected to the anti-virus application. If the application has no existing record of the file, the file is scanned for known virus signatures. If a virus is identified in a file, the anti-virus application reports this to the user, for example by displaying a message in a pop-up window. The anti-virus application may then add the identity of the infected file to a register of infected files. Access to the file is denied. When a subsequent operation on the file is requested, the anti-virus application first checks the register to see if the file is infected. If it is infected, the access is denied. If the file is not infected, access is permitted (the anti-virus application may re-check the file if it detects that the file has changed since the previous check was performed).
One way to avoid the problems of storing a large malware database at the client device is to implement remote anti-virus scanning. An anti-virus application is run at the client device, and if suspected files are identified a request is made to a remote server. The request may include any number of different signatures calculated from the file and other metadata such as the location of the file. The remote server has access to a set of signatures and their categorization, and can respond to the application with a relevant category for the file (for example, "clean" or "infected").
A problem with remote anti-virus scanning is that the number of requests made to the server will typically be very large. Each request has an in-built latency because communications are exchanged between the server and the client device, which increases scanning times. Furthermore, the server must have a great deal of redundancy built into its bandwidth and processing capabilities in order to handle large numbers of requests at peak times.
Similar problems are encountered by other security applications, such as "safe surf" applications that allow web browsers to access certain websites.

Providing information to a security application