A sound is output by calculating a change in coordinate data as a vector and generating sound data corresponding to the calculated vector, so that sounds can be freely obtained without being limited by the size of or positions on an input coordinate plane. A sound generating apparatus 10 includes a coordinate input device 12 for inputting coordinate data, a main control device 14, an acoustic device 16, and a display device 18. The main control device 14 includes: a motion calculation unit 20 that calculates a vector between two successive sets of the coordinate data input with a predetermined time interval; a sound data generating unit 22 that generates the sound data based on the calculated vector; a musical instrument data generating unit and displayed-color data generating unit 24 that serves both functions of generating musical instrument data and generating displayed-color data based on the coordinate data; a data transfer and saving unit 26; and a MIDI sound source 28 controlled by the sound data.

In recent years, music playing systems using computers are rapidly becoming popular. Generally, the music playing systems are aimed at enjoying composing and arranging music and require musical expertise and skills.
On the other hand, systems have also been proposed that are easy to use and entertaining, such as those visualizing scores as images by replacing the scores with graphics and colors, and those synchronizing music with changes in images.
As an example of such systems, a music playing system has been proposed that includes: a pen-shaped input device for inputting coordinate information about a drawn picture; a display device for displaying the coordinate information input from the pen-shaped input device; a sound source device for outputting sound signals corresponding to the coordinate information input from the pen-shaped input device; and a main control device for controlling the display device and the sound source device based on the coordinate information input from the pen-shaped input device. According to this music playing system, tones of a musical instrument used are replaced with colors on an input screen, and a user freely selects colors among color variations and puts the colors on a display screen. Thus, in addition to the pleasure of listening to sounds, this system is supposed to provide visual pleasure (see Patent Document 1).
However, in the above music playing system, a sound signal corresponding to a position where the pen is placed for drawing is a sound signal assigned to the coordinate position. Sound signals for respective coordinate positions are generated and recorded in advance when a picture is drawn, and thereafter the drawn picture is traced to reproduce the sound signals for the coordinate positions. That is, rather than sound signals generated by drawing a picture, sound signals for coordinate positions are reproduced based on where the pen is placed on the screen during tracing of the drawn picture. Therefore, it is actually impossible to generate arbitrary sounds based on an arbitrarily drawn picture, and the pen should be operated as defined by positions on the screen. In addition, the pen must be moved at exactly the same positions on the screen in order to reproduce music.
A sound generating method has been proposed that includes an image displaying step of displaying input images in order of input in a drawing area having a preset coordinate system, and a sound generating step of generating a sound corresponding to the coordinates of an image portion being displayed in the coordinate system. The coordinate system is configured with a first coordinate axis determining the sound pitch and a second coordinate axis determining the sound volume balance between the right and left. According to this sound generating method, it is supposed that the reproduced drawing and sounds can be made identical with the input drawing and sounds (see Patent Document 2). A mouse click operation adds a tempo factor, so that a phrase is generated.
However, in the above sound generating method (Patent Document 2), a generated sound is a sound having the pitch and volume assigned to a coordinate position (a coordinate point). That is, uniquely obtaining a sound having a specific pitch and volume requires inputting a specific coordinate point in the plane coordinate system. In addition, a generated phrase is determined with a mouse operation at a specific coordinate point in the plane coordinate system. In these senses, as in the above-described music playing system (Patent Document 1), it can be said that this sound generating method (Patent Document 2) has a small degree of freedom with which sounds are generated based on an arbitrarily created drawing.
In this respect, a parameter input apparatus for electronic musical instruments has been proposed for the purpose of improving the operability by using a tablet to input tone parameters and effect parameters for a musical instrument (see Patent Document 3). In this apparatus, operation points on the tablet are sampled and vectors Vk connecting the sampling points Pk (k=0, 1, 2, . . . ) are assumed. A parameter is increased or decreased according to the rotation angle of the direction of a current vector against the direction of a vector V0 obtained at the beginning of the operation. Whether increasing or decreasing the parameter value depends on the rotation direction at the operation point, and the rotation direction at the operation point is detected based on the difference (variation) in the inclination of the vectors.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8 -3350756
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-271164
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6 -175652
However, in the above parameter input apparatus for electronic musical instruments (Patent Document 3), the object controlled based on the vectors is the increase or decrease of values such as the tone parameter. Settings for the tone parameter itself are changed by a parameter input device such as a mode setting switch, which is input means separate from the tablet. Therefore, as in the above-described other conventional art, it can be said that there is a small degree of freedom with which sounds are generated based on an arbitrarily created drawing.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a sound generating method that allows arbitrarily producing a sound and arbitrarily selecting a drawing color substantially only with drawing operations.

National University Corporation Kyushu Institute of Technology


A disposable absorbent article having an area which is visible when the article is worn. A color gradation in the area provides a coloration which varies in intensity over the area from a higher intensity of color to a lower intensity of color. A visible element, such as an indicator for indicating a change in condition of the article, is at a location where the coloration is of lower intensity or absent so as not to obscure visibility of the element.

The present invention relates to absorbent articles, and more particularly to disposable absorbent articles having a gradation in color intensity visible when the article is worn.
The present invention is applicable to many different types of absorbent articles, including training pants, diapers, incontinence products, diaper pants, disposable underwear, medical garments, absorbent swim wear, and the like. It is especially (albeit not exclusively) suited to articles used in the toilet training process, a process which includes many training techniques and training aids that may be used by parents and caregivers (hereinafter simply referred to as caregivers). One aspect of the total toilet training process is the change from diapers to training pants to help the child understand that he or she should now use the toilet just like adults. Although the use of training pants and positive encouragement from the caregiver has been helpful in the toilet training process, there is still much room for improvement. Specifically, caregivers are still searching for easier and quicker ways to guide their children successfully through the toilet training process.
Many caregivers underestimate the difficulty of teaching the toilet training process to young children. If a child does not respond to an initial toilet training instruction or introduction, the caregiver can be at a loss for finding techniques, methods, or teaching tools to encourage the child to master the art of toilet training. Thus, while various teaching tools such as books, videotapes, charts with stickers, personalized toilets, and interactive toilet training kits are available, there remains a need for improved motivational mechanisms to facilitate the toilet training process.
One motivational mechanism is the use of training pants having an improved aesthetic appearance. Specifically, a child is encouraged to wear a garment which resembles underwear worn by older children or resembles outer garments worn by adults. These articles can have a moderately darker color or a color pattern on their front and back sides. Further, they may have a graphic, emblem, or pictorial image which is complemented by a background color, at least a portion of which is of moderate intensity. Unfortunately, most training pants have a solid light color or pastel background on their front and back sides, which can appear to be "babyish" to the child or otherwise fail to motivate the child to wear the garment.
Another motivational mechanism is the use of active graphics. As used herein, the term "active graphic" refers to an appearing graphic, a fading graphic, or a combination of fading and appearing graphics. The term "appearing graphic" is used herein to refer to a graphic that becomes visible or becomes significantly more visible when exposed to urine, or that becomes visible or becomes significantly more visible with the passage of time when exposed to the environment but not exposed to urine. Conversely, the term "fading graphic" is used herein to refer to a graphic that becomes invisible or becomes significantly less visible, or the color(s) "run" to obscure the graphic design, when exposed to urine, or that becomes invisible or becomes significantly less visible with the passage of time when exposed to the environment but not exposed to urine.
Active graphics should ideally be used on a lightly colored or white background. A darker background can obscure visibility of the graphics and/or obscure the mechanism of appearing or fading.
An active graphic can comprise a fading graphic which is formed from an ink that is soluble in aqueous solutions such as urine. The ink is positioned in the absorbent article so that it becomes wet and dissolves when the product is insulted with liquid. Once dissolved, or the colors(s) run, the ink washes away from the substrate on which it is printed and is obscured by the process of "running". As a result, the active graphic seems to disappear from view.
Suitable urine-soluble inks are available from a variety of commercial vendors, such as Sun Chemical Corp. of Philadelphia, Pa., USA under the trade designation AQUA DESTRUCT. Particular urine-soluble compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,211 issued May 10, 1977 to Timmons et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. The ink color can be selected to provide a pleasing appearance and graphic impact, including fading rapidly upon contact with liquid. To facilitate rapid fading, the fading graphics can comprise line drawings having a line width of from about 1 to about 2 millimeters.
The active graphic can also comprise a fading or an appearing graphic which is formed from a composition such as an ink or adhesive that changes color when exposed to an aqueous solution such as urine. A color change composition can be adapted to blend in with a background or surrounding color, either before or after exposure to the aqueous solution. Suitable compositions of this color-change type are available from a variety of commercial vendors, such as a pH-change/color-change hot melt adhesive available from Findley Adhesives, Inc. of Wauwatosa, Wis., USA. Alternatively, the active graphic can comprise pH sensitive inks, fugitive inks, colored absorbent particles, hydratable salts, moisture sensitive films, enzymes, heat sensitive inks and dyes, or the like.
Fading graphics can simply disappear from view, relative to the exterior surface of the outer cover. The active graphic can also be configured to appear over time due to exposure to the environment. In particular, the active graphic can be responsive to time intervals, temperature levels, oxygen levels, or the like, and combinations thereof. Various visual indicators that appear over time in response to particular conditions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,088 issued Oct. 15, 1991 to Haas et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,339 issued Oct. 1, 1991 to Patel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,283 issued Sep. 3, 1991 to Patel; U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,849 issued Jan. 29, 1991 to Sherman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,254 issued Feb. 20, 1990 to Haas; U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,053 issued Mar. 14, 1989 to Bhattacharjee; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,916 issued Oct. 6, 1981 to Bradley et al.; all of which are incorporated herein by reference. An active graphic that appears over time may be applied to the product when use is initiated, or formed as an integral component of the product.
In contrast to active graphics, the term "permanent graphic" is used herein to refer to a graphic that does not substantially change its degree of visibility when the absorbent article is insulted with urine and when the absorbent article is exposed to the environment, in actual or simulated use conditions.
The graphics of the absorbent article can be constructed to provide a story line involving a permanent character graphic and an active object graphic. The term "character graphic" is used herein to refer to a graphic containing an anthropomorphous image, and in particular an image having or suggesting human form or appearance which ascribes human motivations, characteristics or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, natural phenomena, cartoon characters, or the like. Suitable character graphics can include animals, people, inanimate objects, natural phenomena, cartoon characters, or the like that can or can not be provided with human features such as arms, legs, facial features or the like. For purposes of enhanced toilet training, it may be desirable for the character graphic to be familiar to the child, such as an identifiable cartoon character. The character graphics should at least be a type that the child can relate to, examples of which could include animals, toys, licensed characters, or the like. Character graphics can be made more personable and friendly to the child by including human-like features, human-like expressions, apparel, abilities, or the like. By way of illustration, an animal character graphic can be shown smiling, wearing clothing, playing sports, fishing, driving, playing with toys, or the like. In particular embodiments, the character graphic can desirably be created to project an appearance that could be described as friendly, positive, non-intimidating, silly, independent, inspirational, active, expressive, dauntless and/or persevering.
As referenced above, the permanent character graphic is desirably interactively interrelated with the active object graphic. The term "object graphic" is used herein to refer to a graphic representing an object or thing, which can include an inanimate object or a character. As used herein, "visible area" refers to structure or features externally visible while the absorbent article is worn.
For more detail regarding active graphics and their construction and operation, reference may be made to published PCT applications No. PCT/US00/16540 (Pub. No. WO 00/76438), entitled "Absorbent Articles Incorporating Color Change Graphics", No. PCT/US00/16542 (Pub. No. WO 00/76439), entitled "Absorbent Articles Having Wetness Indicating Graphics Incorporating a Training Zone", No. PCT/US00/16405 (Pub. No. WO 00/76442), entitled "Absorbent Articles Having Wetness Indicating Graphics Providing An Interactive Training Aid", and No. PCT/US00/16539 (Pub. No. WO 00/76443), entitled "Absorbent Articles Having Wetness Indicating Graphics and Employing Masking Techniques". These applications are assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., and are fully incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
While the above improvements represent significant advances in the toilet training process, there is an ongoing need to increase the appeal of the toilet training process to children, and to improve the aesthetic appearance of disposable absorbent articles used in this process and other applications. It is advantageous for garments resemble underwear worn by older children. However, it is important that any modifications to the articles to meet these needs not compromise the use of the articles or any functional features of the articles (e.g., the wetness indicators).

Disposable absorbent article having a color gradation feature


A server testing system is used for testing servers of a server system and includes a power source, switches, a connection device, a controlling device, and a display device. Each switch is connected to the power source and the controlling device. The controlling device is connected to the connection device and the display device. The controlling device controls each switch to connect a corresponding server to the power source. When receiving a feedback signal from a server, the connection device sends a status signal to the controlling device. The status signal triggers the controlling device to control a corresponding switch to disconnect and then connect the server to the power source. The controlling module controls the switches to turn each server on and off for a predetermined number of times and controls the display device to display a warning when a server is not working normally.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to testing systems and, particularly, to a server testing system.
2. Description of Related Art
Blade server systems usually include a number of servers. Each server needs to pass a switching test. In the switching test, the server is repeatedly turned on and turned off (usually hundreds of times) to ensure the server system can work properly. However, the switching test is carried out manually at present, which is an inefficient use of labor.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a server testing system which can overcome the above-mentioned limitations.


A high temperature resistant oil containment boom having a protective cover, the cover comprising, in laminar combination, an outer layer of high temperature resistant metallic fabric, a first underlayer of high temperature resistant insulation, a second underlayer of a polymer-coated fabric, a third underlayer of high temperature resistant insulation and a bottom layer of a high temperature resistant polymer-coated material, the protective cover being unified by having at least the top and bottom layers secured together along their peripheral edges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which creates a floating boom for collecting floatable materials, such as liquid hydrocarbons, floating on the surface of a body of water. More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention is for such a floating boom that is resistant to high temperatures or "fire proof" since in the course of containing an oil spill, the oil may be afire.
2. General Background
Some conventional "fire proof" or high temperature resistant oil booms comprise a boom encased in an insulating material and a "flame proof" cover that is high temperature resistant. Others have provided a cover blanket for conventional oil booms, the blanket being mounted onto a conventional boom thus converting it into a high temperature resistant oil containment boom.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,553 and 4,781,493 both issued to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company (3M Company) on the application of E. M. Fischer and disclose a high temperature oil containment boom which allows for the in-situ burning of spilled or leaked oil during offshore oil spill cleanup, the boom having a cover blanket comprised of three layers--an outer layer of a polymer coated high temperature resistant open weave refractory fabric, a middle layer of a ceramic staple fiber refractory batt and an inner layer of a synthetic fiber, the layers being sewn together with a ceramic thread.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,528 issued to Shell Oil Company on the application of W. F. Simpson and discloses a "fireproof" boom having a floatation member, a skirt depending therefrom and at least two layers of heat-resistant, water-sorbent material surrounding the floatation member. The heat-resistant, water-sorbent material draws water from around the heat sensitive floatation member, forming steam in the presence of flaming pollutant and allowing only the outer layer of the heat-resistant material to become slightly singed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,376 issued to Shell Western E&P, Inc., on the application of W. F. Simpson and discloses a "fireproof" boom for containing flammable pollutants on water and includes a floatation member, a heat-resistant, water-sorbent material surrounding the floatation member and a protective fence surrounding the water-sorbent material. The floatation member is a series of cylindrical metal cans held end-to-end and the heat-resistant, water-sorbent material draws water around the heat-sensitive floatation member, forming steam in the presence of flaming pollutant and allowing only the outer layer of heat resistant material to become slightly singed. The protective fence surrounding the water-sorbent material is heavy steel wire woven in continuous spirals so that when the spirals are integrated with each other a diamond-shaped mesh is formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,586 issued to Globe International, Inc., on the application of P. Lane and discloses a portable fire-resistant barrier for containment of oil spills comprising a continuous length of interwoven, high-temperature resistant yarns and metallic wires, coated with a high-temperature resistant synthetic polymeric resin. The woven fabric barrier is buoyed by fire-resistant buoys and stabilized with ballast.
However, none of these prior devices allow for inflation of the boom after a multi-layered high temperature resistant cover or blanket has been installed thereon.

High temperature resistant floating barrier


Titanium or vanadium zeolite catalysts are prepared by reacting a titanium or vanadium compound, a silicon source, a templating agent, a hydrocarbon, and a surfactant at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a molecular sieve. The catalyst is useful in olefin epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide.

Many different methods for the preparation of epoxides have been developed. Generally, epoxides are formed by the reaction of an olefin with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a catalyst. The production of propylene oxide from propylene and an organic hydroperoxide oxidizing agent, such as ethyl benzene hydroperoxide or tert-butyl hydroperoxide, is commercially practiced technology. This process is performed in the presence of a solubilized molybdenum catalyst, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,635, or a heterogeneous titania on silica catalyst, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,342. Another commercially practiced technology is the direct epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide by reaction with oxygen over a silver catalyst. Unfortunately, the silver catalyst has not proved useful in commercial epoxidation of higher olefins.
Besides oxygen and organic hydroperoxides, another oxidizing agent useful for the preparation of epoxides is hydrogen peroxide. U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,260, for example, discloses the epoxidation of olefins with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a titanium silicate catalyst.
Much current research is conducted in the direct epoxidation of olefins with oxygen and hydrogen. In this process, it is believed that oxygen and hydrogen react in situ to form an oxidizing agent. Many different catalysts have been proposed for use in the direct epoxidation of higher olefins. Typically, the catalyst comprises a noble metal that is supported on a titanosilicate. For example, JP 4-352771 discloses the formation of propylene oxide from propylene, oxygen, and hydrogen using a catalyst containing a Group VIII metal such as palladium on a crystalline titanosilicate. The Group VIII metal is believed to promote the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to form an in situ oxidizing agent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,265 discloses a catalyst in which a platinum metal, selected from Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt, is supported on a titanium or vanadium silicalite. Other direct epoxidation catalyst examples include gold supported on titanosilicates, see for example PCT Intl. Appl. WO 98/00413.
Titanosilicates and vanadosilicates are typically produced by a hydrothermal crystallization procedure, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,410,501 and 4,833,260. Lee and Shantz, in Chem. Comm., 2004, 680-681, disclose a method to modify the particle size and morphology of silicate-1 using microemulsions, such as a water/oil/surfactant mixture in the synthesis of silicate-1. However, Lee and Shantz do not disclose then synthesis of titanosilicates nor olefin epoxidation processes.
As with any chemical process, it is desirable to attain still further improvements in the epoxidation methods and catalysts. We have discovered an effective, convenient process to form an epoxidation catalyst and its use in the epoxidation of olefins.


A turbine airfoil, such as a blade, having a leading edge cooling circuit for cooling the leading edge of the airfoil, and a separate serpentine cooling circuit for cooling the remaining portion of the airfoil. The serpentine circuit includes a first leg connecting a plurality of discharge holes for cooling the trailing edge of the airfoil, and a third leg connected to a plurality of film cooling holes to cool the pressure side wall of the airfoil. A suction side wall compartment is connected to the third leg of the serpentine circuit through a plurality of metering holes, the suction side compartment supplying a plurality of film cooling holes to cool the suction side wall of the airfoil. The compartment can be one long compartment or a plurality of separate compartment each connected by a metering hole to the third leg. The metering holes allow for an increased flow through velocity of the cooling fluid in the third leg and therefore a higher heat transfer coefficient to promote cooling of the airfoil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gas turbine engines, and more specifically to cooling of turbine airfoils.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
In a gas turbine engine, air is pressurized in a compressor and mixed with fuel and ignited in a combustor for generating hot combustion gases. The hot gases flow downstream through turbine stages which extract energy therefrom for powering the compressor and producing useful work, such as powering a fan for propelling an aircraft in flight.
A high pressure turbine is disposed immediately downstream from the combustor and receives the hottest combustion gases from the combustor. The first stage turbine rotor blades have hollow airfoils which are supplied with a portion of air bled from the compressor for use as a coolant in removing heat from the blades during operation.
Each airfoil includes pressure and suction sidewalls joined together at opposite leading and trailing edges, and extending from root to tip. A platform is disposed at the airfoil root and defines a portion of the radially inner flow path for the combustion gases. And, a dovetail is integrally jointed to the platform for mounting the individual blades in corresponding dovetail slots in the perimeter of a rotor disk.
Since the airfoil leading edge first engages the hot combustion gases, it requires substantial cooling for obtaining a useful blade life. Heat load from the combustion gases varies around the outer surface of the airfoil from the leading to trailing edges, and along the pressure and suction sidewalls. Various cooling circuits are provided inside the airfoil for cooling the different portions thereof. The different portions of the airfoil therefore operate at different temperatures, which introduce thermal stress therein that affect low cycle fatigue life of the blade.
Airfoil cooling may be affected using convection cooling, film cooling, or impingement cooling, or combinations thereof. The leading edge of a first stage turbine airfoil typically includes several rows or columns of film cooling holes fed by a common leading edge flow chamber or channel. Other film cooling holes and trailing edge holes may be fed by corresponding internal channels, such as multi-pass serpentine cooling channels.
The airfoil may include additional film cooling holes disposed in either sidewall (pressure side or suction side) downstream of the leading edge, which are typically referred to as gill holes. Since the gill holes are typically provided with a common source of coolant inside the airfoil, and the pressure of the combustion gases outside of the airfoil varies, backflow margin across the gill holes may vary on opposite sides of the airfoil.
Backflow margin is defined as the pressure of the coolant inside the airfoil divided by the local pressure of the combustion gases outside the airfoil as experienced by each of the gill holes. Sufficient backflow margin must be maintained to prevent ingestion of the hot combustion gases into the airfoil, and ensure continuous discharge of the coolant through the gill holes.
Since the minimum required backflow margin must be set at the airfoil leading edge pressure sidewall, the backflow margin on the lower suction sidewall of the airfoil may be undesirably high.
FIG. 1a shows a typical Prior Art (1+3) serpentine cooling design for the first blade of the turbine. The flow path for the 3-pass flow circuit is also shown in FIG. 1b. The airfoil includes a first leading edge cooling passage 2, film cooling holes 8 to deliver cooling air from the leading edge cooling passage 2 to a second leading edge cooling passage 4, a 3-pass serpentine passage having a first leg 20, a second leg 22, and a third leg 24, and trailing edge film cooling passages 40 supplied by cooling air from the first leg 20 of the serpentine passage. Cooling air from the third leg 24 is discharged onto the pressure side and suction side of the blade through pressure side film cooling holes 30 and suction side film cooling holes 32. For a forward flowing 3-pass serpentine cooling design used in the airfoil mid-chord region, the cooling air flows toward and discharges into the high pressure hot gas side pressure section of the pressure side of the blade. In order to satisfy the back flow margin criteria, a high cooling supply pressure is needed in order to prevent the hot gases from flowing into the airfoil.
Since the last leg of the 3-pass serpentine cavities provides film cooling air for both sides of the airfoil, in order to satisfy the back flow margin criteria for the pressure side film row, the internal cavity pressure must be approximately 10% higher than the hot gas pressure of the pressure side of the airfoil. When the cooling air is bled off from the cavity for cooling both the pressure and suction sidewalls, the span-wise internal Mach number becomes lower. This translates to a lower through-flow velocity and lower cooling side internal heat transfer coefficient. The high pressure required preventing inflow from the high pressure side of the airfoil (the pressure side) results in an over-pressuring of the airfoil suction side film holes since the film cooling holes of the pressure side and the suction side is connected to the same cavity.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,381 B1 issued to Reddy on Jan. 2, 2001 and entitled AIRFOIL ISOLATED LEADING EDGE COOLING discloses a serpentine cooling passage design in which an isolation flow chamber (38 in FIG. 3 of this patent) is positioned between a pressure side and suction side flow channels (40 and 42 in FIG. 3), where the pressure side and suction side flow channels are the last leg in a 3-pass serpentine flow circuit, both being supplied with cooling air from a common first and second legs of the 3-pass serpentine circuit. Because both pressure side and suction side flow channels are supplied from the same upstream cooling air passage, the pressures in the pressure and suction side flow channels are the same. The same problem described above exists in the Reddy patent: a high pressure is required to prevent inflow of the hot gasses on the pressure side of the airfoil, and the suction side channel is over-pressurized resulting in excessive flow through the film cooling holes on the suction side of the airfoil.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,748 B2 issued to Flodman et al on Jul. 22, 2003 and entitled TRICHANNEL AIRFOIL LEADING EDGE COOLING shows a turbine blade with a 3-pass serpentine flow circuit on the aft end of the blade with a first leg feeding cooling air to the trailing edge discharge holes and a third leg (58 in FIG. 3 of this patent) feeding cooling air to the pressure side film cooling holes and to a suction side cooling channel (second side channel 46 in FIG. 3 of this patent) which feeds cooling air to the suction side of the blade through suction side film cooling holes. A first side channel (44 in FIG. 3 of this patent) feeds cooling air to a shower head arrangement on the leading edge of the blade. The first side channel and the second side channel are on opposite sides of the blade. In the Reddy flow circuit, the suction side channel is still part of the serpentine flow circuit. A metering hole (56 in FIG. 3 of this patent) to feed cooling air to the channel for suction side cooling reduces the pressure and results in lower cooling flow and less cooling. The Flodman patent suffers from the same problem as in the Reddy patent. The supply of cooling air to the suction side of the blade is from a cooling channel (46 in FIG. 3 of this patent) which is delivered through a metering hole (52 in FIG. 3 of this patent). The metering hole reduces the pressure and provides less cooling flow through the cooling channel.

Turbine airfoil with a serpentine flow path


An apparatus and method for framing windows and doors. The apparatus includes buck blocks each having a block buck strip on one side, first furring strip, first finishing sheet, second finishing sheet, and optional second furring strip and buck lentil having a lentil buck strip extending along its bottom. The method includes the steps of laying buck blocks up opposing sides of an opening with their block buck strips facing into the opening, installing a window or door frame in the opening, installing a first furring strip, installing the first and second finishing sheets, and trimming the second finishing sheet flush with the first finishing sheet. The second finishing sheet proximal edge is wedged securely between the buck strip ramp and the frame outer side by virtue of a preferred embodiment buck strip ramp angle of 34 degrees±15 degrees.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to building construction, and in particular to an apparatus and method for framing windows and doors.
2. Background of the Invention
One of the more common challenges involved in building construction is the framing of window and door openings. Conventional methods include use of buck strips around the raw opening, onto which window and/or door frames are attached.
This method requires one set of expensive tapcons (self-tapping concrete fasteners) to attach the buck strips, and another set of tapcons to attach the window or door frame to the buck strips. In addition, this method requires three building inspections under most current building codes: first the block inspection, then the buck strip inspection, finally the window and door inspection.
Still another problem associated with current window and door framing practice is the inaccuracies inherent therein. The blocks are typically laid up to the sill, then the blocks comprising both sides of the opening are laid, finally a pre-cast lentil is laid across the top of the opening.
The resultant opening is rarely completely square and of the correct dimensions, so it is not unusual to have to use shims and other expediencies to make the window or door frame fit into the opening as built.

Apparatus and method for framing windows and doors


Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for processing a secure data connection request. A particular method receives, at a first gateway, a secure data connection request from a client identifying a server to connect to. The first gateway sends the client device a redirect message instructing the client device to attempt alternate connection via a second gateway. The client sends a secure data connection request to the second gateway and the second gateway facilitates the secure data connection between the client and the server.

Remote connections between a client device and a secure network are commonplace today. For example, an employee with a client device (e.g., a laptop computer), located outside of a corporate office may establish a remote connection with the corporate network in order to access protected files and data.
Large systems typically include more than one entry point into the secure network. For a particular client, one entry point may be more appropriate than another entry point, depending on different parameters such as the location of the client. For example, when a secure network has multiple entry points, a particular entry point may be more appropriate for a particular client than another entry point. In such situations, if a client is configured to connect to the secure network via an inappropriate entry point, the client may need to be manually reconfigured to connect to the secure network via a more appropriate entry point. When the client subsequently moves to another location, a different entry point may become more appropriate, and the client would once again need to be manually reconfigured.

Redirection of secure data connection requests


An insulation displacement contact (IDC) connector (1) includes a housing (10) receiving a plurality of contacts (11), a cover (12) and a locking member (13). The cover has two latches (121) at opposite ends thereof, and the locking member has two arms (131) at opposite ends thereof. The housing has two receptacles (101) at opposite ends thereof. Each receptacle includes an inner wall, two parallel sidewalls (1011) extending from the inner wall, and an outer wall (1012) interconnecting the two sidewalls. Each outer wall has two gaps (1013) respectively adjacent the sidewalls and spanning from a bottom edge thereof to a middle section thereof, for providing the outer wall with better elasticity. The latches and the arms insert into the receptacles with the outer walls elastically deforming, thereby establishing electrical connection between tails of the contacts and a determined section of a flat cable, while not damage the outer wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulation displacement contact (IDC) connector, and particularly to an IDC connector which can properly position a flat cable therein with minimal risk of damage the IDC connector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Insulation displacement contact (IDC) connectors, also known as flat cable connectors or ribbon cable connectors, are widely used to mount cables in a cable assembly and thereby transmit signals between computers and peripheral devices. Generally, the flat cable consists of a plurality of parallel conductive cable lines. Each line is enclosed in a sheath made of an insulative material, such as plastic. An IDC connector, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,120,319 and 6,193,545, is commonly used to terminate the flat cable by piercing the corresponding sheath of each line. Referring to FIG. 4, a conventional IDC connector 6 comprises a housing 60, a plurality of electrical contacts 61 received in the housing 60, an insulative cover 63, and a locking member 62.
The housing 60 comprises a main body portion 601, and a pair of receptacles 604 at opposite ends of the body portion 601 respectively. Each receptacle 604 comprises an inner wall 6043, two parallel sidewalls 6041 extending from the inner wall 6043, and an outer wall 6040 interconnecting the two sidewalls 6041 and being opposite from the inner wall 6043. A wedge 6045 is formed on a lower portion of the inner wall 6043. The contacts 61 are received in the body portion 601 of the housing 60. Each contact 61 comprises a forked tail 610 protruding out from a top of the body portion 601. The cover 63 has two U-shaped latches 630 depending from opposite ends thereof respectively, and the locking member 62 has a pair of arms 620 depending from opposite ends thereof respectively.
When the IDC connector 6 is assembled with a flat cable (not shown), firstly, the latches 630 of the cover 63 are inserted into the corresponding receptacles 604 of the housing 60, with the latches 630 engaging with the wedges 6045. The cover 63 and the housing 60 define a receiving space therebetween for receiving a predetermined section of the flat cable. In this process, the forked tails 610 of the contacts 61 pierce the sheaths of the flat cable, and thereby electrically connect with the flat cable. Then the flat cable is folded back over onto a top of the cover 63. The arms 620 of the locking member 62 are inserted into the corresponding receptacles 604, and engagingly abut against the outer walls 6040.
However, when the arms 620 are inserted into the receptacles 604, the outer walls 6040 are liable to substantially deform or even break due to compression from the arms 620. Yet if a space between each inner wall 6043 and its corresponding outer wall 6040 is increased to reduce deformation of the outer wall 6040, the corresponding arm 620 is liable to only loosely clasp the outer wall 6040.
In view of the above, a new IDC connector that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an insulation displacement contact (IDC) connector which can reliably connect with a flat cable with minimal risk of damage to the IDC connector.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, an insulation displacement contact (IDC) connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of electrical contacts received in the housing and protruding out from a top of the housing, an insulative cover and a locking member. The housing comprises a body portion and two receptacles at opposite ends of the body portion. Each receptacle comprises an inner wall, two parallel sidewalls extending from the inner wall, and an outer wall interconnecting the two sidewalls. Each of the outer walls defines two gaps respectively adjacent the sidewalls for providing the outer wall with better elasticity. Each gap spans from a bottom edge of the outer wall to a middle section of the outer wall, and has a determined height. The cover has two U-shaped latches depending from opposite ends thereof respectively, and the locking member has two arms depending from opposite ends thereof respectively. The latches and the arms insert into the receptacles with the outer walls elastically deforming, thereby the cover and the locking member engaging with the housing in order to force the forked tails of the contacts to electrically connect with a determined section of a flat cable, while not damage the outer walls of the receptacles.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become parent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction accompanying drawings, in which:

Insulation displacement contact connector


This disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing security at sites to protect against active shooter situations and other dangerous threats. In certain embodiments, a security system comprises one or more security boxes that are in communication with an electronic security platform. The security boxes house equipment that can be utilized by individuals to protect themselves against security threats and to secure their immediate location. The security boxes also include various electronic components that enable detecting security threats and communicating with the electronic security platform.

In recent years, the number of active shooter situations has dramatically increased throughout the United States and other parts of the world. Many of these active shooter situations are the result of foreign and/or local terrorist activities. With the goal of inflicting as many casualties as possible, active shooters often select a "soft target" (e.g., sites such as a school, a stadium or airport)) which is populated with unarmed and/or unprotected civilians. Civilians caught in these situations often have no way to protect themselves.
Although various security systems are currently available; these systems suffer from a number of drawbacks. One major drawback of these security systems is that they are not well suited for addressing active shooter situations and other types of imminent threats. Although certain security systems may be capable of sending a notification to a third party security service or law enforcement entity that identifies a real or potential threat, there is often a significant delay before law enforcement or security personnel are able to arrive at the site of the ongoing threat. This results in civilians or individuals at the site being forced to fend for themselves until law enforcement or security personnel are able to arrive at the site.
Another drawback of traditional security systems is that they do not facilitate ongoing support to those individuals who are facing a threat. For example, in the case of an active shooter threat, these systems are unable to continuously provide updates on the status of the threat to the individuals facing the threat, nor are they able to receive or utilize feedback from the individuals facing the threat (despite the fact that the individuals facing the threat are typically the individuals who have the most up-to-date information on the status and/or location of the threat). Instead, traditional security systems merely relay the notification to appropriate personnel (e.g., law enforcement or security entities).
In view of the foregoing; there is a need for a security system that can be used for protection in active shooter and other dangerous situations. There also is a need for a security system that assist with protecting civilians and other individuals during these dangerous situations until law enforcement or security personnel are able to arrive at the site. There is further a need for a security system is able to provide updates to, and receive updates from, individuals facing the threat in real-time as the threat is ongoing.

Security systems, apparatuses, methods, and integrated technologies involving the same


A device is described herein. The device comprises a unit cell of a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate. The unit cell comprises: a trench in a well region having a second conduction type. The well region is in contact with a region having a first conduction type to form a p-n junction. A width of the trench is less than 1.0 micrometers (μm). A width of the unit cell is one of less than and equal to 5.0 micrometers (μm). The device comprises a source region comprising the first conduction type. The device further comprises a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor component. The device described herein comprises a reduced unit cell pitch and reduced channel resistance without any compromise in channel length. The device comprises an ILD opening greater than or equal to width of the trench.

Silicon based power devices have long dominated power electronics and power system applications. On the other hand, SiC is a wider band-gap (Eg) material with Eg=3.3 eV as compared to silicon (Eg=1.1 eV); therefore, SiC has a higher blocking voltage than Si. SiC has a higher breakdown electric field (3×106 V/cm to 5×106 V/cm) compared to Si (breakdown electric field for Si is 0.3×106 V/cm) and is a better thermal conductor (3.7 (W/cm-K) for SiC versus 1.6 (W/cm-K) for Si). SiC has been a material of choice for power MOSFETs. However, "[e]ven with the successful introduction of SiC power MOSFETs into the commercial market place, several key reliability issues have not been fully resolved." [Source: Key Reliability Issues for SiC Power MOSFETs, A. Lelis, D. Habersat, R. Green, and E. Mooro of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, published in ECS Transactions, 58 (4) 87-93 (2013), DOI: 10.1149/05804.0087ecst].
SiC exists in a kind of polymorphic crystalline building known as a polytype, e.g., 3C—SiC, 4H—SiC, 6H—SiC. FIG. 1a is the prior art SiC DMOSFET structure reported by B. J. Baliga in Advanced High-Voltage Power Device Concepts (Springer Press, 2011). FIG. 1b shows the electric field contours simulated for the prior art SiC DMOSFET structure of FIG. 1a. The electric field distribution near the surface of the 5-kV shielded 4H—SiC inversion-mode power MOSFET structure is shown in FIG. 1b to allow examination of the electric field in the junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) region and the gate region. The sharp peak of the electric field at the edge of the P+ shielding region can be observed in this prior art device which will result in a high electric field in the gate oxide, thereby resulting in a poor performance of this MOSFET device. FIG. 1c shows the electric field distribution in the shielded 4H—SiC inversion-mode MOSFET. The simulated results in the figure show an electric field as high as 4 MV/cm in the gate oxide for the prior art SiC DMOSFET structure of FIG. 1a.
A typical SiC MOSFET device structure such as that shown in FIG. 1a results in high electric field concentration at the corner of the p-well region, which results in a high electric field in the gate oxide layer, especially during high drain bias (blocking mode) operation. The high critical electric fields for breakdown in 4H—SiC (≈3 MV/cm) results in a very high (>5 MV/cm) electric field in the gate oxide. Fowler-Nordheim tunneling currents are observed at such high electric fields in the gate oxide, which can result in trapped charge in the gate oxide, which leads to poor device reliability.
The manufacturing processes for Si uses techniques like diffusion of dopants but these conventional manufacturing processes are not possible for making SiC device because the diffusion coefficients in SiC are negligible at temperatures below 1800° C. SiC devices are manufactured by ion implantation of both source and p-well regions but ion implantation and deep ion implantation is difficult in SiC. Therefore, there is a long-felt need for improved power devices that address the reliability issues for SiC power MOSFETs.
Due to the limited (10-25 cm2/Vs) MOS channel mobility achievable on the state-of-the-art SiC planar DMOSFETs, it is necessary to form MOS channels with sub-micron channel lengths so that the overall ON resistance of the power MOSFET is not significantly degraded. "[I]f the p-well regions and N+ source regions were formed using different masks, the misalignment of two masks would result in a different channel length on each side of the cell. To avoid the decrease of threshold voltage (Vth) and degrade the breakdown voltage (Vbr), the N+ mask is in a self-aligned fashion with respect to the P-well." [source: Design and Fabrication of 1.2 kV 4H—SiC DMOSFET by R. Huang et al. published in 2016 13th China International Forum on Solid State Lighting: International Forum on Wide Bandgap Semiconductors China (SSLChina: IFWS)]. The MOSFET channel region is formed as a result of the offset between the p-well and the N+ source regions in a DMOSFET structure. If the p-well and N+ source regions are formed by two separate masking steps, there will inevitably be a certain amount of lithographic misalignment between these levels, resulting in different (or asymmetric) MOS channel lengths on the two sides of the unit cell. The lithographic misalignment between two masking levels using projection lithography techniques typically used in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing can range from +/−0.05 μm to +/−0.2 μm or greater, which sets a lower limit on the practically realizable MOS channel lengths without significant asymmetry. For a target channel length of 0.5 μm, a +/−0.2 μm mis-alignment between the N+ source and p-well masking steps can result in a MOS channel length of 0.3 μm on one side of the unit cell and a MOS channel length of 0.7 μm on the other side of the unit cell. While the ON resistance of the MOSFET is increased at higher MOS channel lengths, lower than optimal MOS channel lengths can result in undesirable effects such as gate threshold voltage (Vth) degradation and other short-channel effects such as drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL).
Self-aligned techniques for eliminating the misalignment between p-well and N+ source regions have been proposed in the literature. Self-aligned MOS channel formation with channel length defined by sidewall spacer deposition and etching is one such technique. FIG. 2 is the prior art process flow of self-aligned implantation technique with channel length defined by sidewall spacer deposition and etching as reported by R. Huang et al. in "Design and Fabrication of 1.2 kV 4H—SiC DMOSFET".
Additionally, the "[t]hreshold voltage of the power MOSFET is an important design parameter from an application stand-point. A minimum threshold voltage must be maintained at above 1 volt for most system applications to provide immunity against turn-on due to voltage spikes arising from noise. At the same time, a high threshold voltage is not desirable because the voltage available for creating the charge in the channel inversion layer is determined by (VG−VT) where VG is the applied gate bias and VT is the threshold voltage." [source: B. J. Baliga, Silicon Carbide Power Devices, Springer Press (2005), Page 234].
FIG. 3 [source: B. J. Baliga, Silicon Carbide Power Devices, Springer Press (2005), Page 235] shows the threshold voltage of 4H—SiC planar MOSFETSs for the case of a gate oxide thickness of 0.1 microns. The results obtained for a silicon power MOSFET with the same gate oxide thickness is also provided in the figure for comparison.
In the race to achieve lower RDS, ON of planar gate SiC MOSFETs with high breakdown voltage ratings, it is a common practice to make the channel lengths (LCH) as short as possible which reduces a great part of the conduction loss that is associated to the channel. The trade-off in doing so is that, as the channel lengths are becoming shorter, the MOSFET devices become susceptible to undesirable phenomena such as the DIBL effect (the Drain Induced Barrier Lowering effect) which is responsible for the poor device performance including but not limited to the roll-off of the threshold voltage (VTH) at high drain bias and the increase of the drain leakage (IL) at high drain bias. A conventional approach to mitigate this problem is to uniformly increase the doping concentration in the channel region, but this approach suffers from a higher than optimal gate threshold voltage and on-resistance, which can offset the gains achieved from the channel length reduction.
FIG. 28 illustrates across-sectional schematic of a SiC DMOSFET highlighting the various key dimensions, and resistance components, according to a prior art. The total Drain to source resistance is calculated by adding source resistance RS, channel resistance RCH, JFET resistance RJFET, drift resistance RDR, and substrate resistance RSUB (parasitic resistances). Out of all other parasitic resistances, the channel resistance (RCH) plays a substantive role when compared to other resistance components of the total resistance. The RCH generally comprises a negative temperature coefficient whereas the other resistance comprises a positive temperature coefficient. The RCH contributes to more than 50% of the total on-resistance. The RCH should have a positive temperature coefficient in order to achieve better trade off. The RCH and the channel length (LCH) are dependent (i.e., increasing the channel length impacts flow of mobility carriers near the channel which contributes in achieving positive temperature coefficient which in turn reduces the on-resistance. [Source: T. Kimoto and J. A Cooper, Fundamentals of Silicon Carbide Technology, John Wiley & Sons, 2014].
Considering the knowledge of the persons skilled in the art, there is a long-felt need for a device having reduced unit cell pitch without any compromise in any other key factors such as channel length.

Performance silicon carbide power devices


Embodiments of the present invention provide a stair layout template that reduces the opportunity for errors when constructing a set of stairs. Embodiments also provide a method for using the template to construct a set of stairs. The template indicates to the builder where a particular set of marks are to be made on the insides (the sides where the tread modules are attached) of both stringers. These marks include the cut marks for the bottom and top ends of the stringers and the “screw set points” that indicate where the tread modules will be attached to the stringers. The template is reversible, with the mirrored markings on both sides, so that the process for one stringer is the mirror image of the other stringer.

Constructing a set of stairs, such as exterior residential stairs, from two full, unnotched stringers with clear-spanning tread modules attached between them can be tedious and time-consuming requiring exacting and consistent measurements for each cut. Mistakes in measuring or cutting often necessitate starting over with a fresh stringer, adding to the time and expense of construction.

Stair layout template and method for using the template


Methods and systems for removing materials from microfeature workpieces are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes providing a microfeature workpiece having a substrate material and a conductive material that includes a refractory metal (e.g., tantalum, tantalum nitride, titanium, and/or titanium nitride). First and second electrodes are positioned in electrical communication with the conductive material via a generally organic and/or non-aqueous electrolytic medium. At least one of the electrodes is spaced apart from the workpiece. At least a portion of the conductive material is removed by passing an electrical current along an electrical path that includes the first electrode, the electrolytic medium, and the second electrode. Electrolytically removing the conductive material can reduce the downforce applied to the workpiece.

Microfeature workpieces and workpiece assemblies typically include a semiconductor material having features, such as memory cells, that are linked with conductive lines. The conductive lines can be formed by first forming trenches or other recesses in the semiconductor material and then overlaying a conductive material (such as a metal) in and adjacent to the trenches. The conductive material adjacent to the trenches is then selectively removed to leave conductive lines or vias extending from one feature in the semiconductor material to another.
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic illustration of a portion of a microfeature workpiece 10 having a conductive line formed in accordance with the prior art. The microfeature workpiece 10 includes an aperture or recess 16 in an oxide material 13. A barrier layer 14, formed from materials such as tantalum or tantalum compounds, is disposed on the microfeature workpiece 10 and in the aperture 16. A conductive material 15, such as copper, is then disposed on the barrier layer 14. The barrier layer 14 can prevent copper atoms from migrating into the surrounding oxide 13.
In a typical existing process, two separate chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) steps are used to remove the excess portions of the conductive material 15 and the barrier layer 14 from the microfeature workpiece 10. In one step, a first slurry and polishing pad are used to remove the conductive material 15 overlying the barrier layer 14 external to the aperture 16, thus exposing the barrier layer 14. In a separate step, a second slurry and a second polishing pad are then used to remove the barrier layer 14 (and the remaining conductive material 15) external to the aperture 16. The resulting conductive line 8 includes the conductive material 15 surrounded by a lining formed by the barrier layer 14.
One drawback with the foregoing process is that high downforces are typically required to remove copper and (particularly) tantalum from the microfeature workpiece 10. High downforces can cause other portions of the microfeature workpiece 10 to become dished, scratched or eroded, and/or can smear structures in other parts of the microfeature workpiece 10. A further drawback is that high downforces typically are not compatible with soft substrate materials. However, it is often desirable to use soft materials, such as ultra low dielectric materials, around the conductive features to reduce and/or eliminate electrical coupling between these features.

Methods and systems for removing materials from microfeature workpieces with organic and/or non-aqueous electrolytic media


A moving image editing apparatus including: a storage unit configured to store a first moving image; a stack memory configured to, each time a reading request for reading range of a portion of the first moving image from the storage unit, or a writing request for replacement range of a portion of the first moving image with a second moving image is received from a terminal, store the request; and a sending processing unit configured to output, when the reading request is read from the stack memory, to the terminal, a moving image in which the overlapping range of the reading range with regard to the first moving image has been replaced with the second moving image when the second moving image with which a range overlapping a portion of the reading range specified by the reading request is to be replaced has been received.

In order to use, for example, a moving image as broadcast content, or a movie, moving image editing apparatuses for editing moving images have been used. In particular, in order to quickly edit moving images, it is preferable that a plurality of users be able to edit one moving image. Accordingly, a technology that enables a plurality of users to edit one moving image has been developed (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-150994).
In a video editing system, which is one of the technologies of the related art, a server device used to edit video content and a plurality of terminals are connected with one another via a network. Furthermore, a storage device in which video content to be edited is stored is connected to the server device. The server device reads editing video content from the storage device and creates difference information for an editing screen with respect to the video content. Then, the server device transmits the difference information to the terminals. The terminals create an editing screen on the basis of the difference information, and transmit the information of operation by the user to the server device. Furthermore, the server device edits the video content on the basis of the operation information.
Moving images are coded because, in general, the amount of data thereof is large. Moving images are coded in accordance with standards, such as ISO Moving Picture Experts Group phase 2 (MPEG-2), MPEG-4, MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding (MPEG-4 AVC), or ITU-T H.264, for example. In such a case, a moving image is coded in units of groups of pictures (GOPs). Then, within a GOP, pictures other than a beginning I picture that is intra-coded are coded by referring to the other pictures. For this reason, if a coded moving image is edited by assuming a place that is not a boundary of GOPs as a boundary, a picture that cannot be reproduced occurs.
Therefore, a technology capable of dividing a file at any desired division point while conforming with a certain standard format has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-92492). In a data processing device, which is an example of the related art, when a stream file is to be divided into a preceding chapter and a subsequent chapter, the preceding chapter is created by attaching padding data to the area at the end of the GOP including the division point in accordance with a length alignment constraint.

Moving image editing apparatus and moving image editing method


To prevent cross-conduction when switching switches in switching circuitry for voltage regulation, a dead time may be maintained between turning off a switch and turning on a switch. The dead time may be determined based on a switching transition voltage and a voltage of the switching circuitry and may be implemented using a timer.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Technology and information handling needs and requirements can vary between different applications. Thus information handling systems can also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems can include a variety of hardware and software resources that can be configured to process, store, and communicate information and can include one or more computer systems, graphics interface systems, data storage systems, networking systems, and mobile communication systems. Information handling systems can also implement various virtualized architectures. Data and voice communications among information handling systems may be via networks that are wired, wireless, or some combination.
Information handling systems such as servers, desktop computers, laptop computers, and other computing devices may include voltage regulators for providing voltage regulation to one or more elements or components of the information handling system. Voltage regulators may include switching circuitry and regulate a voltage output via switching switches of the switching circuitry. Switching circuitry may include two switching transistors coupled in series that are switched to regulate output voltage of the voltage regulator.

System and method for preventing cross-conduction when switching circuitry during voltage regulation


A method for wireless synchronization of a first and second magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems arranged for operation in close proximity to one another. The method includes the steps of programming each of the first and second EAS systems for transmitting at least one unique signal into a partially overlapping interrogation zone of the EAS systems and for receiving any signals from the interrogation zones at respective and predetermined transmit and receive phases relative to a common reference. The first EAS system transmits at least one unique signal containing phase information which is received and identified at the second EAS system during one of its receiver phases as the one unique signal. The second EAS system uses the conveyed phase information received to transmit synchronously with transmissions from the first EAS system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of operating multiple magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, and in particular to wireless synchronization of such multiple EAS systems without wires, cables, fiber optic links and the like between individual ones of the multiple EAS systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Pulsed magnetic EAS systems, for example, operate by generating a short burst of magnetic flux in the vicinity of a transmitter antenna. This pulsed field stimulates a particular type of magnetic label or marker, whose characteristics are such that it is resonant at the operating frequency of the system. The marker absorbs energy from the field and begins to vibrate at the transmitter frequency. This is known as the marker's forced response. When the transmitter stops abruptly, the marker continues to ring down at a frequency which is at, or very near the system's operating frequency. This ring down frequency is known as the marker's natural frequency. The vicinity of the transmitter antenna in which the response can be forced is the interrogation zone of the EAS system.
The magnetic marker is constructed such that when the marker rings down, the marker produces a weak magnetic field, alternating at the marker's natural frequency. The EAS system's receiver antenna, which may be located either within its own enclosure or within the same enclosure as the transmitter antenna, receives the marker's ring down signal. The EAS system processes the marker's unique signature to distinguish the marker from other electromagnetic sources and/or noise which may also be present in the interrogation zone. A validation process must therefore be initiated and completed before an alarm sequence can be reliably generated to indicate the marker's presence within the interrogation zone.
The validation process is time-critical. The transmitter and receiver gating must occur in sequence and at predictable times. Typically, the gating sequence starts with the transmitter burst starting with a synchronizing source, such as the local power line's zero crossing. The receiver window opens at some predetermined time after the same zero crossing. Problems arise when the transmitter and receiver are not connected to the same power source. In a three phase power system, power lines within a building can have individual zero crossings at 0.degree., 120.degree. or 240.degree. with respect to each other.
Some noise sources are synchronous with the local power line. Televisions, monitors, cathode ray tube in other devices, electric motors, motor controllers and lamp dimmers, for example, all generate various forms of line synchronous noise. As a result, no one time window can be guaranteed to be suitable for detecting markers. Accordingly, pulsed magnetic EAS receivers typically examine three time windows to scan for the presence of magnetic markers, as illustrated in FIG. 4. With a 60 Hz power line frequency, for example, the first window occurs nominally 2 milliseconds (msec) after the receiver's local positive zero crossing; by convention, referred to as phase A. The second receiver window, referred to as phase B, occurs 7.55 msec after the local zero crossing; being determined by adding one-third of the line frequency period and 2 msec. The third receiver window, referred to as phase C, occurs 13.1 msec after the local zero crossing; being determined by adding two-thirds of the line frequency period and 2 msec. At 50 Hz power line frequencies, the timing is analogous. Each receiver window begins a nominal 2 msec after either the 0.degree., 120.degree. or 240.degree. point in the line frequency's period. In this way, even if a first EAS system, referred to as system A, is connected to a different phase of the power line than a nearby EAS system, referred to as system B, the transmitted signal of system B will not directly interfere with the receiver of system A.
In order to compare received signals to background noise, separate noise averages are continuously sampled, computed and stored as part of a signal processing algorithm. This is commonly done by operating the EAS systems at 1.5 times the power line frequency, 90 Hz for a 60 Hz line frequency or 75 Hz for a 50 Hz line frequency, and alternating the interpretation of each successive phase. More particularly, if phase A is a transmit phase (the receiver window is preceded by a transmitter burst), phase B will be a noise check phase (the receiver window was not preceded by a transmitter burst), phase C will be a transmit phase, phase A will be a noise check phase, and so on.
Even if the EAS systems synchronize to their respective zero crossings, independent pulsed magnetic EAS systems operating adjacent or in close proximity to each other can have a degrading influence on each other. Assume, for example, a situation wherein two independent EAS systems are installed in close proximity to each other, but connected to different legs of the power line. One system transmits in phase A and the other system transmits in phase B, with respect to the first system. If a valid marker is located between the antennas of these two independent systems, the phase A system will sense the ring down response in the phase A receiver window. In phase B, the second system transmits and stimulates the marker into another ring down response. The first system did not transmit and is expecting a lower level noise response in its phase B window. Instead the first system detects the ring down response from the marker, without having previously transmitted, and exits its validation sequence, deciding on the basis of its programming that the detected signals must have been noise. Likewise, the second system detects the marker in the window following phase B and enters a validation sequence. In phase C, when the second system expects the marker signal to be absent, the marker is stimulated by the first system, which is again transmitting in phase C. The second system senses the ring down signal in its phase C window, when it did not transmit, decides the detected signal must have been noise in accordance with the programming, and exits its validation sequence. Thus, two systems in close proximity which are not phase synchronized can inhibit each other. The phrase close proximity is used herein as for denoting when two or more EAS systems, for example pulsed EAS systems, are close enough to interfere with one another if not synchronized in one fashion or another.
Previous implementations of pulsed magnetic EAS systems, for example those available from Sensormatic Corporation, have utilized two approaches to synchronization. One approach is manual, fixed phase operation at the power line frequency. According to this approach, a system installer determines the quietest phase and sets the system to expect marker signals only in that phase. This can be effective, but relies on the assumption that the quietest phase will always remain the quietest phase. In fact, many noise sources are not so constant and the system's performance can vary throughout the day and from day to day. A second approach is hard wired operation, either at the power line frequency or at 1.5 times the line frequency, wherein all EAS systems operating in close proximity are wired together. One EAS system is designated the master and a synchronizing signal is sent over wires, cables or optical fibers to ensure that subordinate or slave EAS systems all operate in phase with the master. This method is also effective, but requires connection of some form of control cable between respective system processor boards of the multiple EAS systems. Such connections can be inconvenient and can add significant cost if, for example, the installation requires routing the cable under the floor.
Pulsed EAS systems can incorporate special features, such as frequency-hopping or operating at two slightly different frequencies to improve detection of markers with a broader manufacturing tolerance for center frequency. Phase flipping, wherein the two coils which constitute the system's transmitter antenna alternately reverse their phase relationship between aiding (0.degree.; also referred to as in-phase) and figure-8 (180.degree.; also referred to as substantially out-of-phase) operation. This technique improves overall detection of magnetic markers throughout the system's interrogation field, since locations and marker orientations which would cause signal nulls when the transmitter coils were in the aiding mode, for instance, will be absent in the figure-8 mode and vice versa.
If an EAS system is operating at 1.5 times the line frequency, for example, it is not automatically known which line phase to operate in when the system is first powered up and completes its self-test routines. It is important to have adjacent transmitters operating in the same phase, that is A, B or C, for two reasons. The first reason is that the transmitter fields can aid each other, improving stimulation of magnetic markers within the interrogation zones of both systems. The second reason is that if two adjacent EAS systems are operating out-of-step and a marker initiates a validation sequence in a first EAS system, a second, adjacent EAS system will stimulate the marker in what would be one of the first system's noise windows, which would force the first EAS system out of the validation sequence, reducing overall performance.

Wireless synchronization of pulsed magnetic EAS systems


A system and method for managing phone calls enables the call initiator to create a personalized audio or video invitation that the call recipient may review prior to accepting the call, which is immediately connected upon acceptance. Prior to initiating the call, the call initiator's communication device records a personalized audio or video invitation from the call initiator. A peer-to-peer connection is established between the call initiator's communication device and the call recipient's communication device. The call initiator may upload the personalized audio or video invitation to a server for the call recipient to download or stream from the server, or the call recipient may download or stream the personalized audio or video invitation from the call initiator's device via the peer-to-peer connection. Upon receipt of a notification from the call recipient that the call is accepted, a live voice connection between the call initiator and call recipient is established.

In today's telecommunication environment, an incoming call conventionally contains a Caller Id as an identifier of the calling party to the called party. The Caller Id enables the called party or the telecommunications carrier to block the calling party using do-not-call lists or by presenting the name of the calling party to the called party's handset. However, multiple services allow the calling party to fake or spoof the Caller Id, thus rendering the Caller Id useless and tricking the called party into accepting the call. In such circumstances, the call recipient has limited options to either accept or cancel the incoming call as no additional information is passed with the call. Thus, when a personal cellphone receives a call from an unknown number, the called party's immediate reaction may be to not accept the call. Unfortunately, important calls may be missed. On the other hand, when a business receives a call from any number, the call is immediately answered, and the business is forced to handle a number of undesirable calls.
An alternative to Caller Id is desired that enables the called party to determine whether or not to accept or deny the incoming call. Also, a user interface is desired that enables a user to choose various call-types (e.g., a Pre-Screened Call or a Direct Call) in a user-friendly manner. The systems and methods described herein address these and other needs in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for providing personalized audio-video invitations


A two way transmission system has a source at one terminal and a fibre loop at the other terminal. Conventional modulation techniques are used at the terminal with the source, whereas at the other terminal modulation is achieved by modulation of the birefringence of the loop.

This invention relates to optical transmission systems.
In order to utilise optical fibre systems to their maximum, duplex transmission is an attractive technique. With this technique each terminal has an optical source and receiver and transmits over the same fibre link. One of the most expensive components of the system is the optical source, usually a laser, and the present invention is directed towards reducing the number of optical sources, and also to providing a convenient and simple modulation technique.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a two way transmission system comprising a first terminal having a source and a first modulation means for inputting a signal to a transmission line and a demodulator for receiving return signals from a second terminal, the second terminal comprising a demodulator and a loop reflector having a second modulation means for inputting return signals to the transmission line.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a modulator especially suitable for use with a transmission system according to the first aspect of the invention comprising a fibre loop reflector with means for varying the birefringence of the loop.

Optical two-way transmission system with loop reflector modulator

British Telecommunications public limited company


The invention relates to CD7 and the discovery of its cognate ligand, the K12 protein, and the identification and cloning of polynucletides that encode the murine homolog of the human K12. Also disclosed are methods of screening candidate molecules to determine potential antagonists and agonists of the interaction between CD7 and K12. The use of the antagonists and agonists, including soluble K12 proteins, as therapeutics to treat diseases modulated by CD7 are also disclosed.

This invention relates generally to ligands for CD7 and uses thereof to treat diseases, isolated polynucleotide molecules encoding such ligands, purified ligands, and methods of screening for molecules that affect the interaction between CD7 and its cognate ligand K12.
Cellular change is often triggered by the binding of an extrinsic element, such as a ligand, to the extracellular domain of a receptor protein. This binding can result in cellular changes by activating and controlling intracellular signaling cascades and cell regulatory mechanisms. As such, understanding the binding interaction between the ligand and its receptor protein can be of great interest to the scientific community. A greater understanding of the interaction would enable one skilled in the art to modulate the resulting signaling cascade governed by the ligand/receptor interaction by selecting agents for co-stimulation or inhibition of the binding of the ligand to its receptor. Furthermore, in the instances of bi-directional or reverse signaling, the interaction would not only activate the signaling cascade of the receptor but would also trigger a signaling cascade in a cell bearing the ligand (Wiley et al., J. of Immun., 3235-39 (1996)). Thus, understanding the interaction between a receptor and ligand can lead to therapeutic treatments involving the inhibition or enhancement of either one or both of the receptor activity or ligand activity.
CD7 is a 40 kDa protein found primarily on hematopoietic cells. CD7 is expressed on mature T and natural killer (NK cells), as well as on progenitors of T, B, NK, and myeloid cells (Aruffo, Embo J. 6:3313 (1987); Yoshikawa, Immunogenetics 33:352 (1991); Yoshikawa, Immunogenetics 37:114 (1993); Yoshikawa, Immunogenetics 41:159 (1995)) and on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (Spencer, Gut 30:339 (1989); Eiras, Cytometry 34:95 (1998)). In addition, CD7 is thought to be a marker for one of the earliest stages of T cell development (reviewed in Barcena, Leuk Lymphoma 17:1 (1995) and Haynes, Semin Immunol 2:67 (1990)).
Although all of the functions of the CD7 protein in the immune system are unknown, signaling through CD7 has been reported using anti-CD7 antibodies (Carrera, J.Immunol 141:1919 (1988); Rabinowich, J.Immunol Vol. 153:3504 (1994)), indicating that the cytoplasmic domain of CD7 must contain some signal tranducing elements or that it complexes with a protein containing such elements. Recombinant soluble CD7 also inhibits antigenic- and alloantigenic-induced T cell proliferation (Leta, Cell Immunol 165:101 (1995)).
Previous efforts to identify a cognate for CD7 have not been successful, although a putative ligand has reportedly been detected in serum (Leta, Cell Immunol 173:15 (1996)). The extracellular domain of CD7, expressed by either mammalian or insect cells, has been shown to interact with some specificity with Con A (Id.). This interaction is at least partly mediated through carbohydrate residues on CD7 since treatment of the extracellular domain of CD7 with glycosidases specifically reduces binding of Con A to CD7.
A recent study used model systems to investigate whether CD7 deficient mice are resistant to LPS-induced shock. According to the study, CD7 deficient mice were totally resistant to low-dose LPS-induced shock syndrome and were partially resistant to high-dose LPS-induced shock syndrome. Thus, this data indicates that CD7 is involved in the LPS-induced shock pathway (Sempowski et al., J. Exp. Med. 189, 1011-1016 (1999)).
Given the role CD7 plays in signal transduction (including its mediation of the LPS-induced shock pathway), there is a need in the art for the identification and understanding of the interaction of CD7 with its cognate ligand or binding partner. Further, there is a need for the development of assays and therapeutic methods using the interaction between CD7 and its binding ligand.
The K12 gene (also known as SECTM1) was originally identified (Slentz-Kesler, Genomics 47:327(1998)) as being directly 5xe2x80x2 of the locus encoding the human CD7 gene on human chromosome 17 (Osada, Cytogenet Cell Genet (1988)). The 3xe2x80x2 end of the K12 gene is about 5 kb upstream of the start of the human CD7 gene, and both genes are transcribed in the same direction (Slentz-Kesler, 1998). The K12 gene encodes a transmembrane protein with two short regions in the extracellular domain with weak similarity to Ig-like domains. Both membrane-bound (localized to the Golgi apparatus) and secreted forms of the protein were observed (Id.). In humans, the protein is primarily expressed in spleen, prostate, testis, small intestine, and in peripheral blood leukocytes (Id). However, no known function for the K12 protein has yet been identified.
The invention is based, in part, on the discovery that the cognate for the K12 protein is CD7. Thus, K12 is the previously unknown ligand or binding partner for CD7. Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is the use of the K12 protein, and polynucleotides encoding the same, in methods of modulating CD7 and K12 signaling events, and in treating diseases. The invention also provides isolated polynucleotide molecules encoding novel K12 proteins, and the recombinant and/or purified K12 polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides.
Other aspects of the invention include methods of screening for compounds, which are referred to as xe2x80x9ctest compoundsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccandidate moleculesxe2x80x9d that affect the K12/CD7 interaction. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of forming a composition comprising a CD7 protein, a K12 protein, and the test compound; assaying for the level of interaction of the CD7 protein and the K12 protein; and comparing the level obtained in the presence of the test compound to that obtained in the absence of the test compound, such that if the level obtained differs, a compound that affects the interaction of the CD7 protein and the K12 protein is identified. At least one of the CD7 protein and the K12 protein can be labeled with a detectable moiety. Preferred test compounds are small organic molecules, antibodies, and small peptides. One of the CD7 protein or the K12 protein can be soluble, and the other can be bound, although alternative assay formats are possible and well known. The test compound can be added to the composition after addition of the CD7 protein and the K12 protein, before both proteins are added, or after one protein is added and before the other is added.
In another aspect, the screening methods of the invention comprise forming a composition comprising the test compound, the K12 protein and cells expressing CD7; determining the level of biological activity of the K12 protein in the composition; and comparing the level of biological activity with that which occurs in the absence of test compound, wherein a difference in the level of biological activity indicates that the test compound affects the biological activity of a K12 protein. Biological activity of K12 can be assayed in any number of ways, for example, by determining the phosphorylation state of intracellular proteins, by determining the activation of NK cells and by determining the production of interferon gamma and/or GM-CSF. In a related aspect, the cells express K12 and soluble CD7, or cells expressing CD7, is used.
The present invention also provides a screening method for identifying candidate molecules that enhance or inhibit the interaction between CD7 and K12, or that prevent or inhibit dissociation of a complex formed by CD7 and K12. This screening method involves contacting a mixture of cells which express CD7 and cells which express K12 with a candidate molecule, measuring cellular responses, and detecting the ability of the candidate molecule to inhibit or enhance the interaction between CD7 and K12 or inhibit the dissociation of the complex formed by CD7 and K12. Successful inhibition indicates that the candidate molecule is an antagonist. Increased activation of CD7 or K12 indicates that the candidate molecule is an agonist.
In another aspect, the invention provides antagonists and agonists of the interaction between CD7 and K12. In yet a further aspect, the invention provides for a therapeutic use of agonists and antagonists of the interaction between CD7 and K12 in the treatment of diseases modulated by CD7 and/or K12. In still a further aspect, the invention provides for a therapeutic use of K12 in the treatment of disease modulated by CD7. In yet still a further aspect, the invention provides for a therapeutic use of CD7 in the treatment of disease modulated by K12.
SEQ ID NO:1 is the cDNA sequence of human CD7.
SEQ ID NO:2 is the amino acid sequence of human CD7.
SEQ ID NO:3 is the nucleic acid sequence of human K12.
SEQ ID NO:4 is the amino acid sequence of human K12.
SEQ ID NO:5 is the cDNA sequence of murine CD7.
SEQ ID NO:6 is the amino acid sequence of murine CD7.
SEQ ID NO:7 is the nucleic acid sequence of murine K12.
SEQ ID NO:8 is the amino acid sequence of murine K12.

Ligand for CD7 and methods for use thereof


A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic base body and first and second outer electrodes. The ceramic base body includes first and second primary surfaces, first and second side surfaces, and first and second end surfaces. The first and second outer electrodes are arranged on the ceramic base body so that front end portions of the outer electrodes face each other. The first and the second outer electrodes include outermost layers each containing Cu. Outermost layers of the facing front end portions of the first and the second outer electrodes are more oxidized than outermost layers of the other portions of the first and the second outer electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ceramic electronic component.
2. Description of the Related Art
Concomitant with the recent increasing requirement for reduction in size of an electronic device, the reduction in size thereof by embedding a ceramic electronic component in a circuit board has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-129737).
In general, a ceramic electronic component embedded in a circuit board is electrically connected to a wire through a via hole electrode. A via hole for forming this via hole electrode is formed by irradiating an outer electrode of the ceramic electronic component in the circuit board with laser light. Hence, a board-embedded type ceramic electronic component is required to have an outer electrode excellent in laser resistance. Accordingly, there has been proposed a ceramic electronic component having outer electrodes, each of which includes a Cu layer containing Cu or a Cu alloy as the outermost layer.
However, Cu has been known as an element liable to cause ion migration as an Ag element. Hence, when the outermost layers of the outer electrodes are each formed of a Cu layer, ion migration of Cu is liable to occur. When the ion migration of Cu occurs, the outer electrodes may be electrically connected to each other, and as a result, a short circuit defect arises.


The invention concerns a damper arrangement for reducing combustion-chamber pulsation arising inside a gas turbine, wherein the gas turbine includes at least one compressor, a primary combustor which is connected downstream to the compressor, and the hot gases of the primary combustor are admitted at least to an intermediate turbine or directly or indirectly to a secondary combustor. The hot gases of the secondary combustor are admitted to a further turbine or directly or indirectly to an energy recovery, wherein at least one combustor is arranged in a can-architecture. At least one combustor liner includes air passages, wherein at least one of the air passages is formed as a damper neck. The damper neck being actively connected to a damper volume, and the damper volume is part of a connecting duct extending between a compressor air plenum and the combustor.

The injection of the dilution air into a combustion chamber of a gas turbine takes place preferably downstream of the burner.
CO emissions of gas turbine engines need reductions for the sake of saving the environment. Such emissions are known to appear, when there is not sufficient time in the combustion chamber to ensure the CO to CO2 oxidation, and/or this oxidation is locally quenched due to contact with cold regions in the combustor. Since firing temperatures are smaller under part load conditions CO and the CO to CO2 oxidation gets slower, thus CO emissions usually tend to increase under these conditions.
Besides low emissions a stable combustion process has to be assured. The combustion process in such gas turbines can lead to dynamic coupling. Such a dynamic or thermo acoustic coupling of gas turbine can combustors or in annular combustors may lead to strong pulsations in particular to strong low frequency pulsations, which negatively affect the stability and lifetime of the combustor. This may lead to reduced lifetime or in extreme cases to a mechanical failure of the gas turbine. In order to mitigate thermo acoustic pulsations usually dampers or resonators are installed in the combustion chamber and/or staging of the fuel supply is done as described for example in the US2010/0313568. Since low frequency dampers require large volumes this solution is not favoured. Fuel staging has a detrimental impact on the emission performance due to the creation of local hot spots (leading to NOx emissions) and local cold spots (leading to additional CO emissions).
A reduction of CO emissions in turn might be invested in lowering the gas turbine load at the parking point of a gas turbine. This reduces the environmental impact due to reduced CO2 emissions and overall cost of electricity due to less fuel consumption during engine parking.

Damper arrangement for reducing combustion-chamber pulsation