The present invention provides an automated system and method for maintaining compaction, and therefore increased efficiency, of a media bed within a chromatography column. In the preferred embodiment, an adjustment assembly is slidingly engaged inside one end of the column such that it can be moved along the column's major axis. When idle, the force exerted on this end is equal to the compression on the media. When the column is actively processing chromatographic fluid, this exerted force can be expressed as the sum of the compression on the media, and the force of the fluid being processed. This total force and the fluid pressure are monitored using a load cell and a pressure sensor respectively. The compression force operating on the media bed is then computed based on these measurements and compared to the optimal value. The position of the adjustment assembly within the column is then modified in response to changes in the measured compression force.

The present invention relates to chromatography columns and in particular to a chromatography column system and method of compressing and maintaining optimal or a consistent compression on a media bed within a chromatography column. Frequently it is desirable to separate out one or more useful components from a fluid mixture that contains other components that may not be useful or are less valuable. To accomplish this, it is often necessary or desirable to fractionate such a fluid mixture to separate out the useful or desired components. This can be carried out by using liquid chromatography systems. Liquid chromatography may be described as the fractionation of components of a mixture based on differences in the physical or chemical characteristics of the components. The various liquid chromatographic systems fractionate the components with a fractionation matrix. Some liquid chromatographic matrix systems fractionate the components of a mixture based upon such physical parameters as molecular weight. Still other liquid chromatographic systems will fractionate the components of a mixture based upon such chemical criteria as ionic charge, hydrophobicity, and the presence of certain chemical moieties such as antigenic determinants or lectin-binding sites on the components.
Chromatography systems of various sizes are used in both laboratory analysis operations and for industrial scale production operations in which separation steps such as separating out a fraction from human blood or separating out impurities from a pharmaceutical can be carried out on a large scale in a batch process.
Separations using chromatography columns filled with chromatographic media have been carried out for years. The chromatographic media typically comprises particles having a diameter between 5 and 100 μm. To maximize the effectiveness of the column, it is desirous to arrange the media as tightly and as uniformly as possible. This process, known as packing, eliminates voids and channels within the media. However, chromatography column packing, particularly where large columns are involved, is highly variable and can dramatically affect the efficiency of the separation. Many setup process parameters must be smoothly orchestrated in order to achieve a homogenous packed column. Depending on the size of the column, the packing process can take a significant amount of time, in the range of several hours. Yet despite the time invested in packing the column, often times less than 50% of these packed columns function in accordance with the specification.
During chromatography packing and operation, the compaction of the chromatographic media has a significant impact on the performance and repeatability of the column. In packing the column, typically the media is compressed through an alternating process of flowing liquid through the column to pack the media and then lowering the adjuster assembly in an effort to mechanically compress the media.
Once the column has been packed, the fluid to be fractionated is then passed through the column. During extended operation, packed media beds will experience a variety of issues with the media.
In some media, as it is wet with the packing and/or process fluid, it swells. This can cause an overcompression of the media potentially damaging the media or leading to a decrease in separation efficiency due to a reduction in the media pore sizes or availability of the media to the process stream.
Also a slight, but noticeable and cumulative bed compaction occurs. This is intrinsic to many packed bed columns. The sources of this further compaction are principally process-dependent and are generally due to the hydraulic drag of processing, flow perturbations during process cycles, mobile phase properties, such as flow rate, viscosity and density, support matrix swelling, and the intrinsic bead mobility in the packed bed superstructure. The magnitude of the compaction is also related to the size, shape and rigidity of the medium particles. For example, irregularly shaped particles such as PROSEP® matrix will be predisposed to de-bridging and the accompanying compaction.
The long-term result is that as a packed bed is repeatedly used, it incrementally compacts. This compaction leads to a continuous reduction in media bed density at the top of the bed, until a breach forms between the bed and the top bed support. The immediate performance implications are a decrease in separation efficiency, typically characterized by broader elution peaks with more tailing. Ultimately, this reduced bed density can lead to the formation of preferential flow channels through the bed, decreasing the effective life of the column, thereby necessitating more frequent repacking.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method of maintaining proper compression within a packed chromatography column during operation, which will improve the performance of the column and extend its useful life.

System for automated compression of chromatography columns


The light emission analyzing device includes: a first light intensity calculation unit that performs polynomial approximation on a spectroscopic spectrum indicating a light intensity for each wavelength in a container as measured by a spectrometer so as to calculate the light intensity; a second light intensity calculation unit that subtracts, for each wavelength, the light intensity calculated by the first light intensity calculation unit from the light intensity indicated by the spectroscopic spectrum measured by the spectrometer so as to calculate a light intensity corresponding to a bright-line spectrum of a molecule; and a ratio calculation unit that calculates, by using the light intensity calculated by the second light intensity calculation unit, a ratio between (a) a peak value of a molecular spectrum of a first molecule and (b) a peak value of a molecular spectrum of a second molecule.

In forming films by using plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) devices, it is important to suppress generation of fine particles called powder (for example, see Patent Literature (PTL) 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-296526). The suppression of power generation requires measurement of a substrate temperature. However, it is difficult to directly measure the substrate temperature. In order to address this, a ratio of light emission intensities between a silicon* (Si*) film and a silan* (SiH*) film (where "*" represents an atomic valence) which are formed above the substrate is calculated as a value related to the substrate temperature. Such a conventional plasma CVD device controls a gas flow rate in the plasma CVD device to keep the calculated ratio constant, thereby suppressing the powder generation.


An auxiliary control system for an oven or similar device that is separate from the primary control circuitry and operates independently when the condition occurs that could be hazardous or unsafe. The control acts to prevent the temperature of a known point to rise above a predetermined set point, or points, and the primary circuitry failed to take corrective action.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to temperature control systems, and more particularly to an auxiliary temperature monitoring circuit useful to detect over or under temperatures in heating or cooling environments.
2. Background Art
Temperature monitoring circuitry has become well known and an integral portion of many household appliances, such as microwave ovens, convection ovens, room heaters, dryers, and many more. Temperature control systems also find their usage in systems of cold control, such as refrigerators, freezers, air-conditioning systems, etc.
Most existing temperature control circuits are part of a master or main controller system in today's technology, usually employing a microprocessor circuit. As long as the circuit is functioning correctly, temperatures will be fed back to the microprocessor and in turn the microprocessor will turn off relays or solid state switching devices until the temperature measured by an associated sensor is acceptable. This particular type of control will not function properly if the microprocessor, the clock circuit, temperature detection circuit, or relay circuit should fail. Present safety methods typically utilize a so-called "watchdog" function wherein the main loop control circuitry must maintain the proper settings, or in turn the watchdog circuit will inhibit the operative functions.
Accordingly, it has been found most desirable to provide a separate monitoring and control system which will be able to override a master control system should the master control system or any of its portions malfunction.

Auxiliary electronic temperature control system for oven


A computing system comprising: a control unit configured to: receive an input request for a point of interest; determine a first linguistic context for the input request based on one or more input request characteristics, a user profile, a location, and a first connotation database; translate the input request to a second linguistic context based on a translation flag and a second connotation database, wherein the second connotation database is mapped to the first connotation database; and a user interface, coupled to the control unit, configured to display a translation result for the input request based on the first linguistic context or the second linguistic context.

Modern consumer and industrial electronics, especially devices such as cellular phones, smart phones, tablet computers, vehicle integrated computing and communication systems, portable digital assistants, and combination devices, are providing increasing levels of functionality to support modern life including communication services. Research and development in the existing technologies can take a myriad of different directions.
Location based applications offer a typical portfolio of services including: navigation, map lookup and display, and local business and point of interest search. These services are naturally tied together in that they are all location-based and assume that these services operate within a locale shared between a user and real-world objects of reference. That is to say that if the user is physically within the United States, then applications tend to assume that because the primary language within the United States is U.S. English, the user will want to navigate to locations named and expressed in U.S. English, ask to view maps of U.S. locations displayed with labels written in U.S. English, hear feedback spoken or displayed in U.S. English, and search for businesses and points of interest using names and concepts drawn from U.S. English. However, this assumption does not hold for everyone, for example, in the United States who is learning U.S. English or does not speak U.S. English at all. Thus, a need still remains to translate search terms from a user's native language into semantically equivalent search terms in a language associated with the data locale and insert this translation step between the search acceptance and result display stages of the search request processing.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Computing system with a cross-locale natural language searching mechanism and method of operation thereof


A component designed to form a rotor for an electric machine includes a shaft, and an active part which is disposed in concentric circumferentially surrounding relation to the shaft. The active part has a radially inwardly open slot. A leg is connected to the shaft and has a tip which points radially outward from the shaft and is received in the slot of the active part. Further received in the slot of the active part is a first end of a connecting element. A fastening element secures the connecting element in a region of a second end to the leg to thereby establish a form-fit connection of the leg and the connecting element to the active part.

The invention relates to a component for an electric machine, wherein the component is designed as a rotor, comprising a shaft, an active part which surrounds the shaft in the circumferential direction and which is disposed concentrically to the shaft, and at least one leg which is connected to the shaft and the tip of which points radially outward from the shaft. The invention also relates to a component for an electric machine, wherein the component is designed as a stator, comprising a housing, a hollow cylindrical active part which is disposed inside the housing, and at least one leg which is connected to the housing and the tip of which points radially inward from the housing. The invention additionally relates to an electric machine comprising such a component. The invention further relates to a method for assembling such a component and/or such an electric machine and lastly to a servicing method for such a component and/or for such an electric machine.
Such components and/or methods are typically used for electric motors or generators. Modern optimized laminated cores, particularly of multi-pole machines, are of increasingly slim design, i.e. reduced in radial height. The required torque transmission between the laminated yoke and the spider shaft or the housing, as the case may be, can therefore no longer be achieved via conventional shrink joints, because the areas between the between the legs dip radially.
Complex/costly form-fit connections, such as e.g. tangential keyings, are often used as an alternative. These must be laboriously fitted and secured. They cannot be used over large lengths of several meters. Subsequent dismantling of the preloaded parts is often laborious if not quite impossible.


At least three resonance frequencies are obtained by two antenna elements. The antenna device includes antenna elements (11) and (12), a wireless section (20) for supplying power to each of the antenna elements (11) and (12), a PIN diode (16) for electrically connecting and disconnecting the antenna element (11) and the wireless section (20) with/from each other, the antenna elements (11) and (12) being provided so as to be capacitively coupled to each other during the electrical disconnection between the antenna element (11) and the wireless section (20) which electrical disconnection is made by the PIN diode (16).

Generally, in order to obtain resonance at different frequencies in an antenna device, it is only necessary to provide the antenna device with antenna elements as many as the number of the different frequencies and a transmitting/receiving circuit for causing the antenna elements to operate. However, it is necessary to secure a large space in an antenna device so as to provide an additional antenna element and a transmitting/receiving circuit. Namely, as the number of frequencies at which resonance occurs increases in an antenna device, the antenna device becomes larger.
In view of the circumstances, ways and means to miniaturize an antenna device while obtaining resonance at different frequencies have been suggested.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an antenna device which causes a switch to connect/disconnect two antenna elements with/from each other.
According to the antenna device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a change made by the switch causes the antenna device to resonate with signals of two kinds of frequencies by changing a substantial length (hereinafter referred to as an electrical length) of an antenna operating as an antenna, so as to miniaturize the antenna device by causing circuits required to be provided for respective antenna elements to be shared.

Antenna device and wireless communication terminal


An actuator assembly comprising an output member rotatable about an output axis, first and second actuators each having an axis of rotation, a drive motor and a hold motor, first and second linkages between each of the first and second actuators and the output member, wherein a torque produced by a drive motor is summed through the linkages at the output member when the respective hold motor is restrained from rotating, and wherein the respective hold motor may be selectively released so that it rotates with a failure of the respective drive motor, and wherein one of the first or second actuators may be driven to selectively rotate the output member with a failure of the drive motor of the other of the first or second actuators. The assembly may comprise a third actuator linked to the output member in the same manner as the first and second actuators.

Redundant actuator systems are generally known. These systems typically arrange multiple actuators in a way in which their displacement is summed, or their torque is summed.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,086,125, issued Jul. 21, 2015, and entitled "Rotary Actuator" is directed to an actuator system having multiple actuators and multiple linkages with independent degrees of freedom. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 9,086,125 are incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2015/0081102, published Mar. 19, 2015, and entitled "Actuator System and Method," is directed to an actuator system having multiple actuators and linkages, including a shared link, to rotate a controlled element. The entire contents of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0081102 are incorporated herein by reference.

Summing and fault tolerant rotary actuator assembly


An optical WDM sensor and sensing system for determining a value of a measurand, such as an encoder position. An optical source produces a composite input signal that includes a plurality of different wavelength component signals. The sensor includes an encoder and a concave diffraction grating. The encoder has a plurality of tracks, each track being responsive to the value of the measurand for modulating the intensity of light incident thereon to produce a modulated signal. The grating demultiplexes the composite input signal to produce separate component signals that are directed to an incident upon the respective tracks. Each track produces a modulated signal, and the modulated signals are multiplexed, preferably by the grating, to produce a return signal that may be demultplexed and detected to determine the measurand value. Preferably, the sensor comprises a planar optical waveguide having the grating formed on one side surface. The encoder may be positioned adjacent to the waveguide, or coupled to the waveguide via optical fibers.

Digital encoders or resolvers generate a digital output signal that indicates the position of an object, such as the linear position of a slide or the angular rotation of a shaft. The digital output signal is usually generated by a series of tracks, one track for each bit of the signal. The bit pattern on the tracks can be encoded by conducting/nonconducting elements. For example, a 1 state may be represented by a conducting element, and a 0 state by a nonconducting element. The digital code may then be read by an array of electrical wipers with the conducting elements having a common electrical return.
More recently, optical tracks have been used for encoders, wherein a 1 state is represented for example by a transparent element of the track, and a 0 state by an opaque element of the track. Alternately, reflecting and nonreflecting elements can be used to represent the data. The tracks may be illuminated by individual light sources, e.g., LEDs or incandescent bulbs, or by a common light source. Optical transmission or reflection may be read by a common detector, or by an array having one detector for each track. The detector outputs are converted into a 1 or 0 digital level by suitable electronics.
Most prior optical encoder systems have been interrogated or read via an electrical interface. Electrical interconnections are vulnerable to EMI and EMP, and, in some instances, electrical power may not be available at the location of the encoder. Therefore, for many applications, an electrically passive encoder, i.e., an encoder that requires neither electrical interconnects for interrogation, nor electrical power for operation, would be desirable. One method of obtaining the goal of an all optical encoder is to use optical fibers to interface the sensor with the optical sources and detectors. A number of such optical encoding systems have been proposed, including systems based upon optical time domain reflectometry, and systems based upon wavelength division mulitplexing (WDM).
In prior WDM systems of this type, a plane diffraction grating has been used as the dispersion element to demultiplex the incoming light into separate components based on wavelength, and to multiplex the light reflected or transmitted by the encoder tracks.
A fundamental problem common to such prior techniques is that optical elements are required between the optical fibers and the diffraction grating, and between the diffraction grating and the encoder tracks. In a system where the encoder tracks alternately transmit and block the light, four such optical elements are required. The first element collimates the light emerging from the first optical fiber before the light is incident on the diffraction grating. The second element focuses the component wavelengths of the diffracted light onto the associated encoder tracks. The third element collimates the light at the component wavelengths which are transmitted by the encoder tracks prior to the light being multiplexed by the diffraction grating. The fourth element focuses the collimated multiplexed beam after diffraction by the diffraction grating onto the second optical fiber. In a system where the encoder tracks either reflect or absorb light at the component wavelengths, light at the component wavelengths retraces the same path after reflection, and the number of optical elements is reduced to two. In both the transmission and reflection optical systems, the necessity for collimating and focusing optical elements increases both the optical complexity and size of the read head.
The reflection optical system is desirable as the number of optical components is half the number required in the transmission optical system. In such prior WDM systems, a single optical fiber has served as both the first and second optical fibers. An undesirable feature of such an arrangement is that at some point in the sensor system, light from the radiation source has to be coupled into the common optical fiber, and the reflected light from the sensor has to be coupled out of the common optical fiber to the demultiplexer/detector. This invariably results in an optical power system loss of at least -6 dB.

Optical sensor using concave diffraction grating


Milling tool holder which comprises a first holder part, a second holder part, and a locking mechanism. The first holder part comprises a first cutting insert receptacle for receiving a first cutting insert and a second cutting insert receptacle for receiving a second cutting insert. The second holder part which, for adjusting a milling width, is variably positionable with respect to the first holder part along a longitudinal axis, comprises a third cutting insert receptacle for receiving a third cutting insert and a fourth cutting insert receptacle for receiving a fourth cutting insert. The locking mechanism is configured to fix the first and second holder parts to the adjusted milling width. The first holder part and the second holder part are positioned with respect to one another in such a manner that the third cutting insert receptacle is arranged in the circumferential direction between the first cutting insert receptacle and the second cutting insert receptacle, and that the second cutting insert receptacle is arranged in the circumferential direction between the third cutting insert receptacle and the fourth cutting insert receptacle.

This disclosure relates to a milling tool holder and to a milling tool having a milling tool holder and multiple cutting inserts arranged thereon. The present milling tool is suitable, in particular, as a grooving and cutting milling cutter. This disclosure, however, is not restricted to said type and application. In principle, other milling applications are also eligible for the milling tool according to this disclosure.
Grooving and cutting milling cutters are used for cutting-off workpieces and for forming grooves in workpieces. WO 2015/017874 A1 shows a grooving and cutting milling cutter as an example.
With their mainly substantially disk-shaped design, grooving and cutting milling cutters form a subgroup of disk cutters. The substantially disk-shaped basic body is mostly rotationally symmetrical to a longitudinal axis. A plurality of cutting inserts for machining the workpiece to be processed are arranged on the outer circumference of the basic body. The cutting inserts protrude, in this case, in the axial direction on both sides of the disk-shaped basic body. The basic body itself is frequently produced from a tool steel, whereas the cutting inserts are mostly produced from hard metal. Depending on the type of milling cutter, the cutting inserts are fastened either permanently or releasably to the basic body by soldering, welding, clamping or screw-connecting. Releasable fastening by means of clamping or screw-connecting enables simple replacement of the cutting inserts if they are worn, whereas soldered-on or welded-on cutting inserts have to be reground when worn.
The most varied sizes of grooving and cutting milling cutters are used depending on the type of application and on the workpiece to be processed. A plurality of the most varied sizes of grooving and cutting milling cutters have to be provided for producing multiple, differently-sized grooves. This is not only costly for the user of the milling machine but also involves increased storage costs.

Hartmetall-Werkzeugfabrik Paul Horn GmbH


A connector body includes a mating guide part having a mating recess, a reinforcing bracket includes a body part attached to the outer side of an end wall part of the mating guide part, an end wall cover part connected to an upper end of the body part and covers an upper side and an inner side of the end wall part, and a contact arm connected to a lower end of the end wall cover part, the contact arm includes a bottom surface part extending along a bottom surface of the mating recess and an upright part extending upward from a tip of the bottom surface part, and the upright part includes a contact projection near a tip thereof, the contact projection extending toward the center in the width direction of the connector body.

Conventionally, connectors such as board to board connectors, etc., have been used to electrically connect pairs of parallel circuit boards together. These types of connectors are attached to mutually facing surfaces on pairs of circuit boards and provide conduction when mated together (for example see patent document 1).
FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a known connector.
In the drawing, 811 is a connector housing mounted on a circuit board (not illustrated), which has a pair of narrow long side wall parts 814 extending in the longitudinal direction and a projection 813 extending in the longitudinal direction disposed between the pair of side wall parts 814. Furthermore, elongated recessed grooves 812 extending in the longitudinal direction are formed between the side wall parts 814 on both sides of the projection 813, and a plurality of terminals 861 are aligned and attached in the recessed grooves 812 in the longitudinal direction of the connector.
When the connector is mated with the counterpart connector (not illustrated), a pair of projections formed on a counterpart housing of a counterpart connector is inserted into the respective recessed grooves 812. Thus, the terminals 861 come into contact with respective counterpart terminals (not illustrated) aligned with and attached to the projections, and become conductive the counterpart terminals.
A mating guide part 821 is formed on both longitudinal ends of the housing 811, and a mating recess 822 coupled to the recessed groove 812 is formed in the mating guide part 821. A reinforcing bracket 851 that functions as a power supply terminal is attached to the mating guide part 821. The reinforcing bracket 851 includes a body part 853 that extends in a width direction of the housing 811, a curved part 854 that is bent and extends from the upper end of the central part of the body part 853 toward the inner side of the mating recess 822, and a first elastic arm 855 and a second elastic arm 856 that are bent and extend from upper ends on both left and right ends of the body part 853 toward the inner side of the mating recess 822.
The first elastic arm 855 extends from one end toward the other end of the mating recess 822 in the width direction of the housing 811, and the free end thereof is a first contact part 855a that comes into contact with a counterpart reinforcing bracket (not illustrated) of the counterpart connector. The second elastic arm 856 extends within the mating recess 822 in a direction opposite to the first elastic arm 855, and the free end thereof is a second contact part 856a that comes into contact with a counterpart reinforcing bracket (not illustrated) of the counterpart connector. The first contact part 855a and the second contact part 856a are disposed so as to face each other on left and right inner walls of the mating recess 822. Note that the first elastic arm 855 and the second elastic arm 856 are aligned in the mating recess 822 in the longitudinal direction of the connector.
As a result, when the connector is mated with the counterpart connector (not illustrated), a mating projection (not illustrated) of the counterpart connector is inserted into the mating recess 822, and the counterpart reinforcing bracket disposed on the mating recess comes into contact with the left and right first contact parts 855a and the second contact part 856a. Accordingly, the power line connected to the counterpart reinforcing bracket becomes conductive with the power line connected to the reinforcing bracket 851.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-122189


The present invention relates to a nozzle for an air trapping device configured to remove air from a fluid, the nozzle comprising a body having an input opening configured to receive the fluid and an output opening configured to distribute the fluid along an edge of the output opening, wherein the edge comprises a control element configured to reduce surface tension of the fluid. The present invention further relates to an air trapping device 200 configured to remove air from a fluid and comprising the nozzle.

Chromatography is a well-known procedure for analyzing and preparing chemical mixtures or chemical samples. The sample may typically be dissolved in a fluid, referred to as a buffer composition. The various sample components of the mixture may travel through a column at different speeds, causing them to separate. This separation may be used to separate the sample components in a fractionation step where the mobile phase may be directed to different containers, e.g. by an outlet valve of the chromatography apparatus.
The fractionation step may be controlled based on a sensor detecting various properties of the fluid exiting the column, e.g. detected ultraviolet light absorption properties of the fluid.
One problem with such chromatography systems is that air present in the fluid travelling through the column will interfere with the separation and detection of the properties of the fluid.
Some existing chromatography systems may address this by including an air trapping device e.g. having a sealed and elongated receptacle provided with an inlet and outlet arranged at the bottom part of the receptacle, the bottom being defined as an end portion oriented in the direction of gravity.
At least one problem with such conventional air trapping device is that portions of the fluid entering the air trapping device through the inlet will immediately exit the air trapping device through the outlet. Similarly, together with the portions of the fluid air trapped therein may also immediately exit the air trapping device through the outlet.
A further problem arises when the fluid provided to the chromatography apparatus changes as a gradient over time, e.g. from a fluid having low density to a fluid having a high density. Ideally the gradient should typically display a linear or desired characteristic. When portions of the fluid entering the air trapping device through the inlet immediately exit the air trapping device through the outlet, the linearity of the gradient will be degraded.
At least one problem with such conventional air trapping devices is the generation of foam within the air trapping device.
Thus, there is a need for an improved air trapping device and nozzle therefore.

Air trapping device and nozzle therefore


The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) gene editing technique, based on the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair pathway, can efficiently generate gene knockouts of variably sizes. More precise genome editing, either the insertion or deletion of a desired fragment, can be done by combining the homology-directed-repair (HDR) pathway with CRISPR cleavage. HDR-mediated gene knock-in experiments are inefficient, with no reports of successful gene knock-in with DNA fragments larger than 4 kb. Targeted insertion of large DNA fragments (7.4 and 5.8 kb) into the genomes of mouse embryonic stem cells and zygotes, respectively, using the CRISPR/HDR technique without NHEJ inhibitors was performed and indicate that CRISPR/HDR without NHEJ inhibitors can result in highly efficient gene knock-in, equivalent to CRISPR/HDR with NHEJ inhibitors. Although NHEJ is the dominant repair pathway associated with CRISPR-mediated double-strand breaks (DSBs), and biallelic gene knock-ins are common, NHEJ and biallelic gene knock-ins were not detected.

Genome editing is a powerful tool to study gene function. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system is an adaptive immune system found in bacteria. It can destroy naturally occurring and engineered phages and plasmids (Wiedenheft, et al., RNA-guided genetic silencing systems in bacteria and archaea. Nature. 2012 Feb. 15; 482(7385):331-8). A CRISPR genome editing tool was developed based on this system and has been used to edit the genomes of many species (Brown, et al., Whole-rat conditional gene knockout via genome editing. Nat. Methods 2013 July; 10(7):638-40; Cong, et al., Multiplex genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas systems. Science. 2013 Feb. 15; 339(6121):819-23; Wang, et al., One-Step Generation of Mice Carrying Mutations in Multiple Genes by CRISPR/Cas-Mediated Genome Engineering. Cell. 2013 May 9; 153(4):910-8). CRISPR cleavage causes DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are usually repaired by the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair pathway (Lieber, The mechanism of doublestrand DNA break repair by the nonhomologous DNA end-joining pathway. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 2010; 79:181-211; Frit, et al., Alternative end-joining pathway(s): bricolage at DNA breaks. DNA Repair (Amst). 2014 May; 17:81-97). NHEJ is an error-prone process that often causes insertion/deletion (indel) mutations, a portion of which result in frameshift mutations. In one study, a 51%-79% CRISPR-targeting efficiency was obtained for different genes in human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Similarly, CRISPR-induced mutation rates of up to 78% were obtained in mice (Wang, et al., One-Step Generation of Mice Carrying Mutations in Multiple Genes by CRISPR/Cas-Mediated Genome Engineering. Cell. 2013 May 9; 153(4):910-8; Yang, et al., One-step generation of mice carrying reporter and conditional alleles by CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome engineering. Cell. 2013 Sep. 12; 154(6):1370-9; Zhou, et al., Dual sgRNAs facilitate CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mouse genome targeting. FEBS J. 2014 April; 281(7):1717-25; Fujii, et al., Efficient generation of large-scale genome-modified mice using gRNA and CAS9 endonuclease. Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 November; 41(20):e187).
For precise genome editing by inserting or deleting a designed fragment, gene targeting based on homologous recombination (HR) is often the preferred methodology. However, the efficiency of traditional gene targeting is generally low, ranging from undetectable to 0.1% (Bollag, et al., Homologous recombination in mammalian cells. Annu. Rev. Genet. 1989; 23:199-225). The DSBs induced by CRISPR can also be repaired through the homology-directed-repair (HDR) pathway. Here, a DNA fragment flanked by two sequences that are homologous to the sequences flanking the cleaved site can be inserted into the cleaved site by HR with efficiencies 5000 times higher than traditional HR (Donoho, et al., Analysis of gene targeting and intrachromosomal homologous recombination stimulated by genomic double-strand breaks in mouse embryonic stem cells. Mol Cell Biol. 1998 July; 18(7):4070-8).
Gene knock-in techniques mediated by the CRISPR/HDR pathway have been less well studied, but CRISPR/HDR targeting efficiencies have been reported to be only in the range of 0.5-20%, much lower than the efficiency of CRISPR mediated by NHEJ (Wang, et al., One-Step Generation of Mice Carrying Mutations in Multiple Genes by CRISPR/Cas-Mediated Genome Engineering. Cell. 2013 May 9; 153(4):910-8; Yang, et al., One-step generation of mice carrying reporter and conditional alleles by CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome engineering. Cell. 2013 Sep. 12; 154(6):1370-9). Since HDR and NHEJ compete with each other for the same DSB site, the efficiency of HDR can be significantly increased by inhibiting NHEJ (Maruyama, et al., Increasing the efficiency of precise genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 by inhibition of nonhomologous end joining. Nat. Biotechnol. 2015 May; 33(5):538-42; Chu, et al., Increasing the efficiency of homology-directed repair for CRISPR-Cas9-induced precise gene editing in mammalian cells. Nat. Biotechnol. 2015 May; 33(5):543-8). However, because NHEJ is essential for DNA repair and embryonic viability, its deficiency may cause deleterious effects, such as mutagenesis and toxicity. Furthermore, it is unknown whether or not inhibiting NHEJ is effective for knocking in a DNA fragment at any locus, especially large fragments (>4 kb) containing multiple genes or a single large gene. So far, only small inserts and a few loci have been tested with this method (Maruyama, et al., Increasing the efficiency of precise genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 by inhibition of nonhomologous end joining. Nat. Biotechnol. 2015 May; 33(5):538-42; Chu, et al., Increasing the efficiency of homology-directed repair for CRISPR-Cas9-induced precise gene editing in mammalian cells. Nat. Biotechnol. 2015 May; 33(5):543-8). More importantly, the targeting efficiency of CRISPR in vivo is only ˜3% (Xue, et al., CRISPR-mediated direct mutation of cancer genes in the mouse liver. Nature. 2014 Oct. 16; 514(7522):380-4). Therefore, additional investigation is required to enhance gene knock-in efficiencies for larger DNA fragments.

Efficient CRISPR/HDR-mediated knock-in system and method of use

United States Department of Veterans Affairs


A double acting synchronizer (18) includes cone clutch friction surfaces (24,40a and 26,42a) and jaw clutch teeth (28,38b and 30,38c) for frictionally synchronizing and positively connecting gears (14,16) to a shaft (12), and a plurality of integrated self-energizing/pre-energizing/blocker assemblies (44).

This invention relates to a pre-energizer for a synchronizer.
Synchronizers for use in multi-ratio transmissions are well known. Such synchronizers may be of the single or double acting type and include pairs of friction and jaw members for respectively synchronizing and positive clutching a gear to a shaft, pre-energizer assemblies for engaging the friction members in response to initial engaging movement of a shift sleeve, a hub rotatably fixed to the shaft and having external spline teeth slidably receiving internal spline teeth of the shift sleeve which often defines one of the jaw member pairs, a baulking means having blocker teeth for arresting engaging movement of the shift sleeve until synchronization is reached and for transferring a shift force from the sleeve to increase the engaging force of the friction members.
It is also known that such synchronizers may be used to reduce shift time and shift effort required by a vehicle operator by the providing the synchronizes with self-energizing. EP-A-0663 541 discloses a synchronizer having all of the above.
An object of this invention is to provide a synchronizer with an improved pre-energizer.
The invention relates to a synchronizer for first and second drives disposed for relative rotation about a common axis, as disclosed in EP-A-0 663 541 which represents the precharacterizing part of claim. 1. The synchronizer comprises: A first element is affixed against rotation and axial movement relative to the first drive. A second element includes connecting means allowing sliding and non-rotational movement the second element relative to the first element, and includes first jaw means axially movable from a neutral position to an engaged position with second jaw means for positively connecting the drives in response to engaging movement of the second element by an axially directed first shift force; First friction means are axially movable into engagement with second friction means for synchronizing the first and second jaw means in response to the engaging movement of the second element. First and second blocker means are operative when engaged to prevent engagement of the first and second jaw means prior to the synchronizing. Pre-energizing means are for engaging the first and second friction means with an initial engaging force in response to initial engaging movement of the second element by the first shift force from the neutral position and for engaging the first and second blocker means in response to the initial engagement of the first and second friction means producing a synchronizing torque. First and second self-energizing means are operative when engaged to react the synchronizing torque for producing a first additive axial force in the direction of the first shift force and for increasing the engagement force of the first and second friction means. One of the first and second self-energizing means includes means for directing the first additive axial force to the first friction means via the first and second blocker means. The first self-energizing means is mounted on one of the elements and the second self-energizing means is mounted for non-radial movement and limited rotation relative to another of the elements.
The improvement is characterized by the pre-energizing means including first ramp means biased by resilient means toward engagement with second ramp means affixed to the second self-energizing means for transmitting the first shift force to the first friction means via the second self-energizing means and the first and second ramp means in response to the initial engaging movement of the second element.


Gaming terminals, gaming systems, display device support assemblies, and methods of mounting a display device to a gaming terminal are presented herein. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming terminal includes a cabinet, an input device for receiving wagers to play the wagering game, and a display device for displaying information related to the wagering game. The gaming terminal also includes a mounting assembly which affixes the display device proximate the top of the cabinet. The mounting assembly pivotably supports the display device such that a lateral side of the display device can be selectively swung from a first position over the top of the cabinet to a second position over a front of the cabinet where the display device is removable from the cabinet.

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines, and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine, as well as the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators therefore strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines, features, and enhancements attract frequent play and, hence, increase profitability to the operator.
Many gaming machines include a variety of visual attractions and displays, such as models, signs, and other forms of information. These items typically include fixed permanently-printed glass, video displays, artwork, models, and/or marquees. In many gaming regions, industry regulations in fact require each gaming terminal to include top-box mounted lighting and signage that indicate, for example, the class of machine, when the machine is of out of funds, when the machine is malfunctioning, etc. Historically, each gaming machine was limited to a single game with a dedicated top box display and top-box mounted flat-screen display or marquee assembly. To alter game offerings, casino operators or contracted technicians were therefore required to replace the entire gaming machine or the entire top-box mounted display and/or marquee assembly. The replacement process is costly, time consuming, and counter-productive to maintaining pace with the continuously changing gambling industry.
In response, many gaming machine manufacturers, especially those that produce video-based gaming machines, have developed a basic gaming terminal (e.g., one that is universal to a variety of game offerings) that allows multiple games to be presented on the same machine, allowing easy conversion to a new game. For instance, if a casino operator decides that a certain video reel slot game, using a particular molded marquee, has reached the end of its useful playing life on the casino floor, the operator contacts the manufacturer and requests a conversion of the gaming machine to a newer, perhaps more popular game. The conversion of the video-based wagering game is a simple task, merely requiring a change of software and perhaps surface artwork.
In converting the gaming machine to a new game, previously employed marquees and display devices typically require removal and modification or replacement. There are also instances where a cabinet mounted display device simply needs to be removed for replacement or repair. This process can be time-consuming, cumbersome, expensive, and can result in damage to the display device or the gaming terminal. In many cases, replacing a cabinet-mounted display or marquee typically necessitates at least two service technicians. Time and labor costs are compounded by the complexity in electrically disconnecting and physically dismounting and managing the bulk and weight of the assembly, and subsequently mounting and connecting the new assembly. Often times, the technician is required to run electrical cabling from the assembly, down through an opening in the crown and through the top box to the base cabinet. This often requires opening and dismantling a significant portion of the gaming terminal to complete the electrical connections. There is therefore a need to develop improved mounting interfaces and gaming machines with improved mounting interfaces for facilitating and simplifying the removal and replacement process of cabinet-mounted displays and marquees.

Display mounting assemblies and gaming terminals with mounting assemblies for display devices


The present invention provides a method and system for providing contact management to participants engaged in a communication session. The invention permits chat session participants to a communication session to determine common contacts that exists between the chat session participants. Dependent on the accessibility of the particular chat session participants' contact list, other chat session participants to the communication session can view the information located in the contact list. Moreover, a particular chat session participant to the communication session can give either a particular chat session participant or all the chat session participants to the communication session permission to modify their contact list. Permission to access or modify contact lists for chat session participants can be defined prior to establishment of the communication session and/or changed during the communication session. Changes relating to whether a particular contact list is accessible and/or modifiable can be initiated by the chat session participant associated with the contact list. Additionally, such changes can be initiated by a request from a chat session participants to modify the contact records in a particular contact list. The invention can be applicable to systems which can include, but is not limited to, chat rooms, instant messaging, and call conferencing.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of remote multiuser group communication and messaging and more particularly, to a method and system for managing contact information for participants engaged in a chat session.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet and Intranets provide a medium for bringing together users that have a common interest. Internet and Intranet chat sessions typically provide such a medium. Chat sessions can be hosted by a server which runs the chat application. A participant in a chat session typically can access the chat session using a browser or a specialized chat session software referred to as a "chat client." In the case of a browser, the browser can facilitate the client by invoking the chat client.
Chat sessions have progressed from supporting single line text interface similar to the well known Internet Relay Chat (IRC), to supporting sophisticated graphical user interface (GUI) chat clients. These GUI-based chat client can process still images, realtime images, audio data, text data and information about a particular user. User information typically is stored in a file called a user profile. The information contained in a user profile can include personal information, such as name, age, address, and place of birth. General information about a user can also be stored in the user profile. For example, general information can include special interest such as hobbies, sports and activities. Where a user is related to a business, business related information such as suppliers, manufacturers and retailers can also be stored in the user profile.
During a chat session, in addition to seeing the text typed by a user or the audio spoken by a user, profile information can be acquired for a particular user by, for example, selecting a corresponding user identifier from a list of user identifiers presented in the chat session client and viewing the selected user profile. Still, although chat sessions provide a medium for multiuser communication, they lack the ability to effectively manage contact information for users.

Method and system for providing contact management to chat session participants

International Business Machines Corporation


A current measurement control system for a power supply system is provided. The current measurement control system includes a load module that estimates a total load of the power supply system. An amplification module selectively determines an amplification factor based on the total load and amplifies a current signal based on the amplification factor. A current measurement module measures current based on the amplified current signal.

Measuring current draw of a power system can be difficult due to large variances in the total electrical load. The total load of power systems vary according to the activation and deactivation of the various electrical components at any one time. For example, the load in a vehicle can vary between a few milli-amps and about one thousand amps (e.g., while starting the vehicle engine).
Typically, current measurement methods include multiple current sensors to measure the large dynamic range of current. A first sensor is calibrated to sense the current at higher ranges. A second sensor is calibrated to sense the current at lower ranges. One or more switches are controlled to activate one of the first and second sensors. Various complex switch control methods exist for activating and deactivating the sensors such that the appropriate current sensors are activated at the appropriate time. Although the complex switch control methods are minimally disruptive, providing the additional sensor can be costly.

Battery current measurement with real time pre-gain adjust and programmable excitation source


A hard disk drive or other disk-based storage device comprises a storage disk, a read/write head configured to read data from and write data to the storage disk, and control circuitry coupled to the read/write head and configured to process data received from and supplied to the read/write head and to control positioning of the read/write head relative to the storage disk. The control circuitry comprises an inter-track interference detector configured to process a signal read from at least a given track of the storage disk via the read/write head in order to detect interference in that signal from at least one other track of the storage disk. The control circuitry further comprises an inter-track interference based head position controller configured to adjust the positioning of the read/write head responsive to the detected interference.

Disk-based storage devices such as hard disk drives (HDDs) are used to provide non-volatile data storage in a wide variety of different types of data processing systems. A typical HDD comprises a spindle which holds one or more flat circular storage disks, also referred to as platters. Each storage disk comprises a substrate made from a non-magnetic material, such as aluminum or glass, which is coated with one or more thin layers of magnetic material. In operation, data is read from and written to tracks of the storage disk via a read/write head that is moved precisely across the disk surface by a positioning arm as the disk spins at high speed.
Conventional HDDs typically employ a read/write head position control system in which position error detection fields, generally referred to as "servo" marks, are written at fixed intervals on the storage disk. These servo marks are written only once at drive manufacture, utilizing a servo writer. By way of example, in a wedge servo arrangement, the servo marks are formed in designated radial wedges distributed around the disk. Data wedges between the servo wedges contain multiple data sectors and consume most of the track capacity. A servo algorithm uses the servo marks from the servo wedges to detect head position. No position feedback is available during the data wedge, so the servo algorithm typically must interpolate head position between the detected servo marks. Other arrangements of servo marks are also possible. For example, servo marks may be distributed evenly throughout the disk, rather than organized into servo wedges.
During HDD operation, drive hardware reads the servo marks in order to calculate an estimate of read/write head position error, which is then used in a firmware control loop to maintain the radial position of the read/write head. Because disk space dedicated for servo marks cannot be utilized to store user data, the number of servo marks written on the disk defines a tradeoff between the bandwidth of the read/write head position control loop and the capacity of the drive.
The storage capacity of HDDs continues to increase, and HDDs that can store multiple terabytes (TB) of data are currently available. However, increasing the storage capacity often involves shrinking track dimensions in order to fit more tracks onto each storage disk, such that inter-track interference (ITI) and read/write head position become important performance-limiting issues. Also, read/write head scaling is limited, so eventually the magnetic field used to write one track will impact adjacent tracks and thereby limit track density.
A number of recording techniques have been developed in an attempt to further increase HDD storage capacity. For example, a recording technique known as shingled magnetic recording (SMR) attempts to increase storage capacity of an HDD by "shingling" a given track over a previously written adjacent track on a storage disk. In another recording technique, referred to as bit-patterned media (BPM), high density tracks of magnetic islands are preformed on the surface of the storage disk, and bits of data are written to respective ones of these islands. Nonetheless, ITI and read/write head position remain important performance-limiting issues with these and other HDD recording techniques.
The adverse impact of ITI on HDD performance may be addressed in some cases through application of ITI cancellation techniques upon readout. Such cancellation techniques may involve, for example, performing ITI reduction post-processing on data read from the storage disk. In a technique of this type, information about an interfering data pattern stored on an adjacent track is used to detect ITI-induced read signal noise, and to cancel that noise from the read signal before normal data recovery processing is applied. However, reduction post-processing typically requires that the interfering data be read from the storage disk and stored in memory, which can increase HDD cost and complexity while also adversely impacting other performance measures such as access time.
It is also possible to reduce ITI by compensatory pre-processing of a write signal in a manner that takes adjacent bit polarities into account. Write compensation techniques of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 13/250,419, filed Sep. 30, 2011 and entitled "Disk-Based Storage Device having Write Signal Compensation for Magnetization Polarity of Adjacent Bits," which is commonly assigned herewith and incorporated by reference herein.

Disk-based storage device with head position control responsive to detected inter-track interference


A method for generating a multihydrated hydronium ion including the steps: agitating water to reduce cluster size, mixing sulfuric acid in the water, adding a solution containing Ca3+ ions, removing precipitated Ca sulfate, cooling the resultant liquid to a form a slush, filterin out ice from the slush, distilling free water from the remaining liquid wherein the remaining liquid is H9O4+.

Water is well understood to be absolutely necessary for supporting all forms of life. It has been further understood that its unique properties have led to Its uses for many purposes. These properties include its thermodynamic properties, its powerful solvating characteristics, its electrical properties.
As the properties of water have been discovered and understood, mankind has developed new and improved uses for this ubiquitous compound.
The water molecule is very polar, resulting from its composition of two hydrogen atoms bound by exchange force to the oxygen atom.
Interaction between molecules results from hydrogen bonding in which a hydrogen ion from one molecule is attracted to an oxygen ion of another molecule. The interaction is further modified by van der Waal forces in which each ion of a molecule induces a modification of the dipole moment of a neighboring molecule.
These interactions confer the recently discovered property of clustering on the structure of "liquid water". According to these investigations, normal water generally exists as clusters of water molecules. A cluster in typical water is about thirteen microns diameter but can vary, depending on treatment of the water.
Variations of rheological properties of water have been attributed to variations in the size of the water clusters. Control of cluster size would be expected to have practical significance especially in medical situations where surface tension, as it relates to permeability, is significant.
Hydronium ions. (H3O+) are known to exist in acid solutions such as HCL where the concentration of H3O+ ions are balanced by an equal concentration of (e.g.,) Cl− ions.
Oxonium ions (OH−) are known to exist in "base" solutions such as NaOH where the concentration of OH− ions are balanced by an equal concentration of Na+ ions.
In many processes involving acids and bases, the accumulation of anions in acidic reactions and cations in basic reaction, generate an environment that must be 'cleaned up" after the compounds have served their respective purposes.
In recent years, it has been discovered that hydronium ions can be generated in otherwise pure water (called "acid" water) without the presence of anions. Similarly, it has been discovered that oxonium ions can be generated in otherwise pure water (called herein "base" water).
Acid water and base water are produced by electrolysis. The electrolysis apparatus comprises a filter positioned between a platinum cathode and platinum anode in a container of water
The "Acid water" has a high oxidation potential compared to an acid solution of an acid such as hydrochloric acid having the same pH. For example, an "acid water" solution having a pH of 4.0 has an oxidation potential of 500 mv. whereas a mineral acid solution, HCL, having the same pH has an oxidation potential of only 250 mv.
The "Base water" produced by electrolysis, has a large reduction potential compared to a base solution having the same pH. For example, a base such as sodium hydroxide having pH=9 has a reduction potential of about −250 mv whereas "base water" produced by electrolysis and having a pH=9.0 has a reduction potential of about −500 mv.
Base water and acid water produced by electrolysis have useful properties in their own right. A major advantage of these "ionized waters" in their respective applications is that the hydronium ion and oxonium ions exist in water that is pure.
For example, acid water is a powerful antiseptic. Yet it is not corrosive to human flesh when the applied acid water has a pH that is low enough to kill bacteria. In comparison, mineral acids having the same pH is highly corrosive to human flesh due to the presence of the Cl− ion.
Base water is a powerful antioxidant. Drinking base water for the purpose of reducing acidosis does not lead to the undesirable effect of excessive accumulation of the cation (for example Na or Mg).
A problem with acid water and base water in their respective applications is that they have a shelf life of only a few hours.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,336 and 5,830,838 have disclosed chemical processes for generating very stable acid water and base water by chemical processes. These two patents are incorporated herein by reference.
A systematic theoretical investigation of hydrated structure and thermos-chemical properties of hydrated protons is disclosed by Yang So Kim et al (Journal of Chemical Physics, Aug. 26, 2002. the lifetime of these hydrated proton clusters is hypothesized to be of the order of nanoseconds.
Three hydrations of the H3O+ ion are hypothesized, according to which:                a H3O+ with a single water of hydration is H5O2+;        a H3O+ ion with two waters of hydration has a chemical configuration of H7O3+;        a H3O+ ion with three waters of hydration has the chemical configuration H9O4+.
The paper predicts two distinct molecular configurations for H9O4+.
One configuration is a first solution cage (hydration cage) arranged in C3 symmetry.
The second configuration is a hydrogen ion with the hydrogen bonded between two water molecules and the remaining two water molecules attached to opposite sides of the two centered water molecules. This arrangement gives a horizontal saw tooth pattern.
"Hydrogen Bonding" by Vinogradov and Linnel. pp 216-217, 1971 presents a theoretical model of the hydrated proton in an aqueous solution. The structure of H9O4+ is disclosed. A second hydration shell (H1507) is also disclosed. They hypothesize that the symmetrical distribution of the excess positive charge among the three protons in the primary hydration of H+ enables the formation of a very stable H bond with neighboring water molecules (FIGS. 8-11). This secondary hydration results in H9O4+ complexes whose proton possesses a very high mobility within the molecular complex. They predict that the mean period of association of a proton with a given water molecule is 10−12 seconds.
It is apparent that a method for producing a form of water having increased molecular weight would have useful application in processes where water is a key ingredient, particularly in electrolytic, medical and energy producing processes.


A process for producing a slide bearing a spaced array of specimen fragments which comprises (i) cutting at least one specimen into a plurality of narrow strips; (ii) separating the plurality into groups of specimen strips; (iii) separately positioning strips from the groups in parallel grooves in a mold; (iv) embedding the strips in the mold in a first embedding medium to provide a structure comprising a base member having opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface being substantially planar; the second surface having ridges containing a specimen strip extending therefrom; (v) forming a stack of elements, each element corresponding to the structure, with the terminal surface of the ridges of an upper structure abutting the substantially planar first surface of the next lower structure; the spaces between the ridges defining channels for receipt of a fluid; (vi) embedding the stack in a second embedding medium to form a block having a spaced array of parallel specimen strips embedded therein; the strips being so arranged that a section of the block includes a spaced array of cross-sections of each of the embedded specimen strips; (vii) dividing the block into sections each containing a spaced array of cross-sections of each of the embedded specimen strips; (viii) mounting at least one of such block sections on a slide.

This invention relates to multi-specimen slides useful in immunohistologic procedures. More particularly, the invention relates to slides bearing a plurality of specimens in spaced array appropriate for automated image analysis and to technology germane to such slides.
Various multi-specimen slides are known. Paraffin block sections each containing multiple tissue specimens are described in Lillie, Histopathologic Technic and Practical Histochemistry, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, N.Y. (1965) pp. 74-77. Composite snap-frozen tissue sections mounted on a slide for use in diagnostic autoimmunology are described in Nairn, Fluorescent Protein Tracing, 4th Ed., Churchill Livingstone, London (1976) pp. 131-138. Johnson, et al. Handbook of Experimental Immunology, 3rd Ed., Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, England (1978) refers to composite frozen tissues useful for autoantibody testing with the admonition that "To get satisfactory sections the tissue pieces must be frozen together without leaving spaces between them . . . " (p. 154). Mason, et al. in Bullock, et al. Techniques in Immunocytochemistry, Vol. 2, Academic Press, London (1983) pp. 175-216 states that tissue culture supernatants may be tested against either paraffin embedded sections or cryostat sections of snap-frozen tissue. Cryostat sections may be placed in the wells of multitest slides (pp. 192-193). Mason also states that hybridoma supernatants may be tested on air dried cell smears (p. 192). Battifora describes a multitissue tumor block useful for immunohistochemical antibody testing in Laboratory Investigation 55:244-248 (1986). Various multitissue slides are described in Stocker U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,543.
Computer controlled automatic image analysis instruments useful with appropriate software to analyze the spaced specimen array of slides of this invention are commercially available. Typical instruments include Recognition Concepts, Inc, Gould DeAnza, Inc. and Megabesion, Inc.

Multi-specimen slides for immunohistologic procedures


A method for bonding and interconnecting two or more IC devices arranged on substrates such as silicon wafers is disclosed. In one aspect, the wafers are bonded by a direct bonding technique to form a wafer assembly, and the multiple IC devices are provided with metal contact structures. A TSV (Through Semiconductor Via) is produced through the bonded wafer assembly. The IC device or devices in the upper wafer or wafers have contact structures that serve as masks for the etching of the TSV opening. A conformal isolation liner is deposited in the TSV opening, and subsequently removed from the bottom and any horizontal areas in the TSV opening, while maintaining the liner on the sidewalls, followed by deposition of a TSV plug in the TSV opening. The removal of the liner is done without applying a lithography step.

Technological Field
The present disclosure is related to semiconductor processing, in particular to the production of Through Semiconductor Vias for interconnecting stacked IC devices.
Description of the Related Technology
3D-integration of integrated circuit devices, hereafter also referred to as chips or semiconductor chips, produced on semiconductor wafers, has known many developments in recent years. The direct oxide-to-oxide bonding technique is one of the improvements which allows a very effective wafer bonding. It does however not result in electrical connections between both wafers or provide for external connections to both wafers. To make such connections, it is known in the present state of the art to produce at least two via-contacts (Through Si vias, TSVs or more generally referred to as Through Semiconductor Vias) from the backside of the stack, reaching contacts on the two wafers respectively. Connections are then realized by an additional interconnect, applied after bonding and TSV formation. Disadvantageously, such an additional interconnect increases the capacitance, resistance and inductance of the interconnect structure. Also, because of the tolerance of the wafer-to-wafer bonding technique, the landing pad on the bottom wafer has to be larger than the diameter of the minimum via size by at least two times the overlay tolerance of the wafer-to-wafer bonding plus two times the overlay accuracy of the backside lithography versus the stacked wafer pair fiducials. This results in relatively large via capture pads and limits achievable interconnect pitch.
U.S. Publication No. 20140264862 proposes the fabrication of a single TSV plug for contacting two stacked wafers. This is done by bonding two wafers, each comprising a substrate and an IMD (intermetal dielectric) portion comprising metal structures (bond pads, circuitry etc.), so that one intermetal dielectric is bonded to the other, thinning the top wafer, producing a first opening through the top wafer, producing a second opening through the IMD of the top wafer and partially through the 1 MB of the bottom wafer, while using metal structures in the top wafer as a hardmask, so that the single plug forms a connection between the circuitry of the top wafer's 1 MB and the bottom wafer's IMD. This production of two openings requires two lithography steps, which in turn requires large dimensions of the TSV diameter and of the metal contact structures in order to take into account the overlay accuracy of the two lithography steps.

Method for bonding and interconnecting integrated circuit devices


A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for deploying of an asset from a marketplace to a computing behind an enterprise firewall. A grabber service in a cloud management computing device in a private network behind the enterprise firewall monitors a placeholder in a file system of a marketplace server. Responsive to the grabber service finding a cloud asset deployment job stored in the placeholder, the grabber service retrieves the cloud asset deployment job. The cloud asset deployment job comprises logic for deploying a cloud asset. The mechanism downloads the cloud asset from a cloud asset repository to a cache behind the enterprise firewall according to the cloud asset deployment job. The mechanism deploys the cloud asset according to the cloud asset deployment job.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for installation of an asset from a marketplace to a cloud server behind an enterprise firewall.
Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet). Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data, software and computation. Using software as a service, users also rent application software and databases. The cloud providers manage the infrastructure and platforms on which the applications run. End users may access cloud-based applications through a web browser or a light-weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and user data are stored on servers at a remote location.
An enterprise may have a private network, or intranet, that is isolated from the Internet by a firewall, which can either be software-based and/or hardware-based. A firewall is used to help keep a network secure. Its primary objective is to control the incoming and outgoing network traffic by analyzing the data packets and determining whether it should be allowed through based on a predetermined rule set. A private network's firewall builds a bridge between an internal network that is assumed to be secure and trusted and another network, usually the Internet, which is not assumed to be secure and trusted.

Installation of an asset from a cloud marketplace to a cloud server in a private network


A compression sensor gasket and method of construction thereof is provided. The gasket has a body with opposite sealing surfaces and a through passage configured to align with a chamber to be sealed. A through opening extends between the sealing surfaces to the through passage and has an annular chamfered surface. A pressure sensor assembly having a housing and a pressure sensor extending at least partially through the housing is disposed in the through opening. The pressure sensor has a pressure sensor tip configured to sense pressure within the chamber to be sealed. The housing has an outer annular tapered surface configured to register in radial alignment with the chamfered surface to facilitate forming a hermetic seal between the pressure sensor assembly and the gasket body.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to compression gaskets for forming a seal about a chamber within an internal combustion engine.
2. Related Art
Internal combustion engines have chambers in which high pressures are generated. Typically, it is desirable to maintain a predetermined pressure within the chambers, such as in oil passages, coolant passages, or cylinder bores, for example, without permitting gas and/or fluid to leak from the chambers. Generally, a pair of members mate with one another to form the chamber or chambers, such as a cylinder head and engine block, for example, with a gasket being received between the members to provide a gas/fluid tight seal between the members and about the chamber. In addition to the gasket, it is known to provide a separate pressure sensor to indicate the pressure within the chamber. If the pressure falls outside a predetermined limit, a signal can be sent to indicate a service condition. Having separate components typically comes at an added cost, both in manufacture and assembly.
Some attempts have been made to provide a single component gasket and compression sensor. However, these attempts are not believed to have been successful due to an increased cost associated therewith, particularly during manufacture and/or service. The known gasket/sensor assemblies must be replaced in their entirety during service, thereby leading to the increased cost of having to replace both the gasket and the sensor. Accordingly, what is needed is a gasket and sensor assembly that can provide a reliable seal between mating members, provide an accurate indication of the pressure within the cavity being sealed, and be provided in an economical fashion, both in manufacture and in use.

Compression sensor gasket and method of construction


A random number source includes a ring oscillator generating an internal clock signal having random phase noise, and a first linear feedback shift register connected to the ring oscillator. A counter is connected to a first tap of the first linear feedback shift register for generating a count signal. A feedback bit controller is connected to a second tap of the first linear feedback shift register for generating a random feedback bit for a time based upon the count signal. A second linear feedback shift register is connected to the feedback bit controller for generating a random number based upon the random feedback bit.

In cryptography, true random numbers are used for generating encryption keys for encrypting information. Encryption keys should not be easily revealed to prevent the encrypted information from being decrypted by an unauthorized user. To reduce the risk of revealing encryption keys and thus circumventing the cryptographic application, true random numbers are used for generating such keys.
True random numbers for cryptographic applications are based on a true random process that is completely non-deterministic. This usually necessitates a hardware implementation instead of a software pseudo random implementation.
Generally, cryptographic quality random number sources include an array of ring oscillators for generating a true random number. The random phase jitter between the outputs of each ring oscillator is captured as entropy to produce a stream of random binary digits.
Portable military communication equipment, such as backpack radios, are battery operated and include cryptographic quality random number sources to provide high quality security. There is a requirement that this type of equipment consumes low power.
Unfortunately, ring oscillators draw large amounts of power, especially in high rate CMOS applications. For example, U.S. Patent application No. 2002/0156819 to Oerlmans discloses a true random number generator circuit comprising a plurality of ring oscillators connected to a linear feedback shift register. An output of the linear feedback shift register provides a random number.

Random number source and associated methods


A method for marine electromagnetic surveying includes transmitting a first electromagnetic field oriented in a first direction into a body of water. A second electromagnetic field oriented in a second direction is transmitted into the body of water, wherein the second direction is substantially transverse to the first direction. A parameter related to electromagnetic field amplitude is detected at a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced apart positions behind a vessel. The components of the detected electromagnetic field parameter are resolved into components along the first and second directions by using the geometrical symmetries and asymmetries of the transmitting source. Systems for implementing such methods are also provided.

The invention relates generally to the field of marine electromagnetic surveying of subsurface rock formations. More specifically, the invention relates to systems for simultaneously acquiring in-line (common transmitter and receiver dipole moment orientation) and cross-line (transmitter and receiver having orthogonally disposed dipole moments) electromagnetic signals.
Marine controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveying is a geophysical surveying technique that uses electromagnetic (EM) energy to identify possible hydrocarbon bearing rock formations below the bottom of a body of water such as a lake or the ocean. In a typical marine CSEM survey, an EM source is typically towed over an area of interest in the Earth's subsurface, and a number of EM sensors are disposed on the water bottom over the area of interest to obtain signals related to the distribution of electrical resistivity in the subsurface area of interest. Such surveying is performed for a range of EM source and EM sensor positions. The EM source emits either or both a time varying electric field and a time varying magnetic field, which propagate outwardly into the overlying seawater and downwardly into the formations below the water bottom. The sensors most commonly used detect and record the induced electric field at or near the water bottom. The time varying EM field may be induced by passing electric current through an antenna. The electric current may be continuous wave and have one or more discrete frequencies. Such current passing through an antenna is used for what is referred to as "frequency domain CSEM" surveying. It is also known in the art to apply direct current to an antenna, and to produce transient EM fields by switching the current. Such switching may include, for example, switching on, switching off, inverting polarity, and inverting polarity after a switch-on or switch-off event. Such switching may be sequenced in time, for example, equally time spaced, or in a time series known as a "pseudo random binary sequence." Such switched current is used to conduct what is referred to as a "transient CSEM" or "time domain CSEM" survey. It is also known in the art to tow the EM receivers on cables, in a manner similar to the sensor cables ("streamers") used in a common type of marine seismic surveying.
The EM energy is rapidly attenuated in the conductive seawater, but in less conductive subsurface formations is attenuated less and propagates more efficiently. If the frequency of the EM energy is low enough, the EM energy can propagate deep into the subsurface formations. Energy "leaks" from resistive subsurface layers, e.g., a hydrocarbon-filled reservoir, back to the water bottom. When the source-sensor spacing ("offset") is comparable to or greater than the depth of burial of the resistive layer (the depth below the water bottom), the energy reflected from the resistive layer will dominate over the transmitted energy. CSEM surveying uses the large resistivity contrast between highly resistive hydrocarbons and conductive aqueous saline fluids disposed in permeable subsurface formations to assist in identifying hydrocarbon reservoirs in the subsurface.
In an example relevant to the present invention, the sensor layout in an EM streamer system typically consists of spaced apart electrode pairs distributed along the length of the streamer. Voltage measuring circuits are associated with each of the electrode pairs, or may be switchably associated with more than one pair of such electrodes. Voltage measurements across the pairs of electrodes in response to the detected electric field amplitude are transmitted to a recording unit on the survey vessel for interpretation, or for later interpretation at a different location. The foregoing arrangement is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,446,535 issued to Tenghamn et al.
Multiple EM field component acquisition in towed EM surveying is non-trivial due to the difficulty in measuring cross-line EM field components (i.e., components wherein the transmitter and receiver have orthogonally disposed dipole moments). Traditionally, the cross-line EM field components are omitted in EM data analysis as the main part of the information of the sub-surface structure can be found in the in-line electric field component (i.e., component wherein the transmitter and receiver share a common dipole moment orientation). However, the inability to measure cross-line EM field components reduces the uniqueness of the processed result, which is a drawback from a data analysis perspective. Cross-line electric field component acquisition can be realized, for example, through a multi vessel operation. However such a set-up is associated with significantly increased operational costs. There exists a need for multiple component EM data acquisition that avoids the complication of additional survey and/or towing vessels.

Multiple component electromagnetic survey signal acquisition method


Provided are an apparatus, system, and method for facilitating wireless communication between a hub and a mobile terminal via a remote radio module. The remote radio module includes a first transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate with the mobile terminal, a second transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate with the hub that is coupled to a core network, and a processor for executing instructions stored in memory. The instructions include instructions for receiving a signal from the hub at a first carrier frequency and processing the signal so that the signal can be retransmitted to the mobile terminal at a second carrier frequency different from the first carrier frequency.

Wireless communication networks operate by sharing resources among many mobile devices operating in the communication network. Certain types of wireless communication networks are implemented to support cell-based high speed services under certain standards such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 ("3GPP2") Long Term Evolution ("LTE") standard ("3G LTE"), the Ultra-Mobile Broadband ("UMB") broadband wireless standard, and the IEEE 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access standards (often referred to as WiMAX or less commonly as WirelessMAN or Air Interface Standard).
The wireless communication network may provide communication services to a number of areas called "macro-cells" or "cell sites." Within a macro-cell, a base station (BS) or base transceiver station (BTS) is coupled to a gateway or core network via a wired backhaul connection using a modem, and may transmit data to and receive data from mobile terminals that are located within the cell. In order for operators to provide wireless high speed data services, deployment of new cell sites for networks, such as fourth generation (4G) networks, is needed. However, as operators role out 4G networks they are faced with a delicate balancing act. They must invest heavily to role out a new air interface knowing that the initial subscriber density will be very low and their investment will not create significant amounts of revenue for several years. Most operators would typically expect their 4G investment to generate a net loss until a minimum subscriber density is achieved. To minimize the impact, operators would likely choose to role out 4G networks in dense urban centers initially to achieve a critical subscriber density relatively fast, and as these sites become profitable they would extend the coverage to increasingly less populated, less profitable areas. Although such a cautious deployment method makes sense, inter-operator competition for foot print may force operators to be more aggressive, take more risk, and deploy 4G networks aggressively in an effort to gain market share. Given this economic reality, technology which minimizes the business risk by allowing more coverage at a lower initial cost, thereby allowing operators to break even sooner or reduce their exposure, would be extremely attractive to the network operators. Further, the costs of deploying a cell site include capital expenses (e.g., installation, new tower build, equipment, etc.) and operational expenses (e.g., site lease, site maintenance, BTS transmission, etc.). It has been observed that operational expenses have dominated in recent years due to a decrease in capital expenses, especially when the capital expenses are amortized over several years. Two of the major operational expenses which drive the cost of ownership of a wireless site are typically rental fees for the site followed by the back haul cost. Technologies which help reduce the rental fee by simplifying the requirements of the system or which eliminate the cost of backhaul by relaying the backhaul information over the air to a central aggregation point are therefore beneficial to the wireless operator.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved apparatus, system, and method that minimizes the upfront risks and operating costs associated with deployment of a wireless network.

Apparatus, system, and method for a remote radio module with relay capability


An electric power steering device includes a steering link that includes a plurality of connected steering shafts that connect a steering wheel to a steered wheel, a motor that provides a steering torque to assist the steering link, a torque sensor which is mounted to one of the steering shafts and which detects the steering torque of that steering shaft, a steering angle sensor which is mounted to one of the steering shafts and which detects a steering angle of that steering shaft, a calculating unit that calculates a steering assist amount based on the steering torque detected by the torque sensor, the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor, and predetermined crossed axes angles between the connected steering shafts, and a motor controller that drives the motor so as to apply a steering assist force to the steering link based on the steering assist amount. As a result, it is possible to correct the torque by a simple method.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-263429 filed on Aug. 31, 2001, including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an electric power steering device that corrects, via a motor, a torque variation in a steering link in an automobile, as well as to a control method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
An electric power steering device that generates a steering assist force using a motor, such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 9-254804, has conventionally been known. In this electric power steering device, a first shaft, which is connected to a steering wheel, is connected to a second shaft by a first universal joint, and the second shaft is connected to a third shaft by a second universal joint, such that a steering link having a plurality of steering shafts is constructed. A torque sensor and a steering angle sensor are then provided on the first shaft and a motor that applies a steering assist force to a link that transmits rotational torque from the steering link to the wheels is provided on that link.
This electric power steering device is also provided with a control unit that includes a control circuit, memory, and a drive circuit. In the memory is stored mapped torque correction data in order to obtain a rotational torque variation of the third shaft with respect to the steering force input to the first shaft. The control circuit determines an assist torque value based on a torque detection signal from the torque sensor, an angle detection signal from the steering angle sensor, and the torque correction data from the memory. The drive circuit then drives the motor based on that assist torque value. It is in this way that the steering assist force is obtained.
With the foregoing electric power steering device, however, because the torque is corrected using mapped torque correction data, new torque correction data must be created every time the configuration is changed, e.g., every time the length of the steering shafts or the angle between them and the like are changed, that corresponds to that change, which is troublesome. Moreover, creating that torque correction data based on experimental values increases the number of man-hours increases even more.
Still further, with an electric power steering device that is provided with a variable-ratio steering mechanism that changes the phase between the steering wheel and the end of the steering link opposite the steering wheel, it is extremely difficult to create appropriate correction data, and what is more, the mounting positions of the torque sensor and the steering angle sensor are limited.
In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of this invention to provide an electric power steering device i) in which torque correction is possible by a simple method, ii) in which a torque sensor, a steering sensor, and a motor, and the like can be mounted to any portion of one of the steering shafts, and iii) which can also be provided with a variable-ratio steering mechanism.
In order to achieve the foregoing objects, an electric power steering device is provided that includes i) a steering link which includes a plurality of connected steering shafts that connect the steering wheel with the steered wheels, ii) a motor that provides a steering torque to assist the steering link, iii) a torque sensor which is provided on one of the steering shafts and which detects a steering torque of the steering shaft, iv) a steering angle sensor which is provided on one of the steering shafts and which detects a steering angle of the steering shaft, v) a calculating unit that calculates a steering assist amount based on the steering torque detected by the torque sensor, the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor, and predetermined crossed axes angles between the connected steering shafts, and vi) a motor controller that drives the motor so as to apply a steering assist force to the steering link.
In addition, a control method is provided for an electric power steering device including a steering link that includes a plurality of connected steering shafts that connect the steering wheel with the steered wheels, a motor that provides a steering torque to assist the steering link, a torque sensor which is provided on one of the steering shafts and which detects a steering torque of that steering shaft, and a steering angle sensor which is provided on one of the steering shafts and which detects a steering angle of that steering shaft, includes the steps of calculating a steering assist amount based on the steering torque detected by the torque sensor, the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor, and predetermined crossed axes angles between the connected steering shafts, and driving the motor so as to apply a steering assist force to the steering link based on that steering assist amount.
According to an electric power steering device having the above described configuration and the above-described control method thereof, because the steering assist amount is obtained by calculation from the steering torque, the steering angle, and the crossed axes angle between each of the steering shafts, an appropriate assist force can always be applied to the steering link irrespective of the positional relationship, e.g., the crossed axes angle, between each of the steering shafts, thus giving the driver a uniformly stable steering feel. In addition, because the steering assist amount is calculated based on the steering torque that is detected by the torque sensor, the steering angle that is detected by the steering angle sensor, and the crossed axes angle between the steering shafts, the mounting locations of the torque sensor and the steering angle sensor are able be anywhere on the steering shafts, which improves the degree of freedom in the design of the construction.

Electric power steering device and control method thereof