Method and apparatus for maintaining currency in interrelated data which is referred to but not varied by users in a multi-user system which is on-line for 24 hours a day. Reference is had to the data through a data indexing construct available to each user. Currency is maintained by adding updated elements of the data when required by changed external conditions and storing the updated elements in the multi-user system concurrently with the previous version. A new indexing construct is built for the updated data version and users are switched to the construct when access to prior data elements is no longer required. Since only a single variable relating to the indexing construct must be changed in order to switch a user, an atomic operation is utilized to perform the switching.

This invention relates to the operation of a multi-user system in which data referred to but not varied by the users are updated while the system operates on a 24-hour a day basis. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and means for managing process reference to data which allows the data to be resident in storage for the duration of system operation and to be reached without the use of system locks, even though dynamic change to the data is taking place. With still greater particularity, the invention relates to a method for managing message format data elements resident in a multi-programming or multi-processing host computer and accessed by a plurality of message processes without the use of exclusion mechanisms such as locks, even though message processes are gaining access to the message format data at the same time that the format data is being updated and interrelationships within the data elements require that sets of elements be changed concurrently.
The problem of exerting control over the access of concurrent processes to variable data is known in the art. When one executing process in a multi-tasking system makes reference to a variable data object, the integrity of the data object must be protected against the action of another executing process.
The solution to this problem has been to synchronize concurrently-executing processes in order to prevent one process referring to a variable data object simultaneously with another process altering the data object. Hwang and Briggs in the work entitled COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE AND PARALLEL PROCESSING, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1984 propound two types of synchronization: mutual exclusion and condition synchronization. Mutual exclusion involves giving exclusive use of a variable data object to one of a plurality of simultaneously executing processes. Condition synchronization establishes a condition variable that indicates the availability of a shared data object. Each process requiring access to the shared data object first inspects the condition variable to determine whether another process is using the shared data object. When a process uses the data object, it places the condition variable in a state indicating the object is in use, and reconditions the variable when it has finished its use of the object. Processes awaiting access to the shared data object customarily suspend execution until access is available.
The practicable implementations of serialization are found in mechanisms such as locks and semaphores. The IBM/370 described in IBM Publication No. SA 22-7085-0 also provides a family of atomic operations that are useful for serialization. These atomic operations test and modify a condition variable in a single read-modify-write instruction cycle. The atomic operations are completed in one cycle so that the condition variable is not tested and set by another process before the currently-executing process completes its operation. Thus, the operations are "atomic" in the sense that they either succeed completely in altering the condition of the condition variable or fail, in which case the variable is left unchanged.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,504 of Obermarck teaches the use of lock management to control access to data resources shared by two or more central electronic complexes. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 787,221, filed Oct. 15, 1985, entitled "Extended Atomic Operations," and assigned to the assignee of this application describes the use of atomic operations such as the compare and swap instruction to permit simultaneously-executing processes to concurrently access variable data objects.
A problem related to, but distinguishable from that of serialization of access to shared variable data objects arises in the context of updating interrelated data objects in a system which operates continuously with no provision for interruption and permits passive reference to the data objects by a plurality of users. Thus, in the prior art IBM IMS (Information Management System)/VS (Virtual Storage) product, a service denoted as MFS (Message Format Service) maintains a library of message format descriptors. In this regard, a descriptor is a set of one or more message attributes. The descriptors in the IBM MFS are used to establish message format abstractions in multi-user systems which support the concurrent execution of a plurality of interactive application programs. For example, a banking system may include a number of remote electronic tellers connected to a central computer to provide banking services to bank customers outside of the bank. A banking transaction is conducted between a customer and the central computer through an electronic teller by means of a transaction application program resident in the central computer that supports interaction between the customer and the teller. Such interaction can take place, for example, through a screen in the electronic teller which provides messages to the customer, and an electronic keyboard panel through which the customer provides messages to the teller.
The formats of the messages are standard and are characterized by data elements called message input descriptors (MID) and message output descriptors (MOD). In this regard, a MOD establishes the format of an output message which is generated by a host computer application program destined for a terminal in terms of message length, numbers of fields, size of fields, and data element types. The MID establishes the format of input messages from the terminal destined to the host computer application in a similar manner.
Differing terminal devices require unique datastream formats and control characters embedded in messages. Thus, for each type of terminal device, a device format description is also provided in a device input format (DIF) and device output format (DOF). The IBM MFS uses a MID/DIF combination to convert a terminal-generated input message into the proper format and content for processing by the application program and uses a MOD/DOF combination to convert the application program output into the datastream format and content required by the terminal device, thus making the application independent of the various requirements of specific individual devices.
The relationship between these pairs of elements requires that they be changed in sets rather than PG,7 individually. Thus, changing a MOD can require changing one or more DOF's.
Further, it is known that data structures such as format records are maintained in data files and that access to such files can be provided by any one of a number of data base access methods. One common access technique is referred to as "indexing," wherein data structures are stored and retrieved on the basis of keys that are within and form a port of each data structure. Two well-known methods of indexing are file indexing and hashing.
File indexation is based upon existence of an index file which associates a pointer with a specified value for a particular data structure field. The pointer indicates the storage location of a data structure having the specified value in the particular field.
Hashing is a method of indexation wherein the name (key) of a data structure is mathematically manipulated to derive an entry in a file called a "hash table." Each hash table entry points to a hash address associated with one or more named dta structures.
Characteristically, in the 24-hour day operation of an electronic banking system, MID's, MOD's, DIF's, and DOF's (referred to collectively hereinafter as message format descriptors) must be available without interruption to support electronic teller transactions at any time of day. However, when it is the case that the message format descriptors must be updated to reflect changed external conditions, the problem of access to the format elements takes on a different complexion than the problem of access serialization to shared variable data resources. In this regard, concurrent access to the format elements must be provided to the electronic tellers without interruption in order to maintain the continuity of banking services. The message format descriptors are also potentially in use for a long time if a terminal is left unattended. The relationship between the elements is complex and may require the changing of dozens of descriptors simultaneously to effect a desired overall format change. If a descriptor is altered, any electronic tellers currently displaying messages which use it must continue to use the old version until the transaction is complete. Electronic tellers receiving messages after alteration of a format may use a new descriptor to display the messages. Thus, the ability to gain access to the old elements as well as the new by different electronic tellers is required.
In the interest of maximizing overall system performance, since message format data is highly utilized (a set of four elements per transaction is required, including MID, MOD, DIF, and DOF) and change to these elements in a system in operation is infrequent, any technique of changeover which is utilized must not add to the overall time of message processing. This consideration effectively eliminates the use of a standard process synchronization technique such as the lock discussed above, since such a technique is time-consuming.
Further, since a change of descriptors for any individual terminal must be made between transactions and since transactions in a large network are in a constant state of overlap, processing would have to be suspended for a period of time to permit a change to occur. In a production environment, this approach becomes impractical.
Therefore, there is an evident need for a technique and a system to manage message format data which allows the data to be resident in system storage for the duration of process execution, and to be accessed without the use of time-consuming serialization techniques even though dynamic change to the formats is occurring.

Versioning of message formats in a 24-hour operating environment

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for operating a radar, having the following steps: determining first and second differential signals from a first and second transmitted frequency-modulated signal and received components of the first and second transmitted frequency-modulated signal reflected by a plurality of objects; determining in each case one first and one second chirp signal for each first and the second differential signal, the first chirp signal corresponding to the double differentiation of the phase of the first and the second differential signal with respect to time; assigning one of the first differential signals to one of the second differential signals, based on a correspondence of the first chirp signal, that is assigned to the one first differential signal, to the second chirp signal that is assigned to the one second differential signal; and determining the separation distance and/or the relative speed of one of the objects, based on the one first differential signal and the one second differential signal assigned to the first differential signal.

Driver assistance systems make driving a vehicle easier in everyday situations, such as during parking, driving in columnar traffic, but also in exceptional situations such as avoiding an accident. To do this, the driver assistance systems require reliable radar systems which determine the distance from an obstacle and perhaps its speed relative to the vehicle.
FMCW radars (frequency-modulated continuous wave radar) are expediently used for this. The FMCW radar emits an output signal having other frequencies changing monotonically according to a plurality of adjustable modulation rates. The components of the emitted signal reflected by a potential obstacle are received by the radar. The instantaneously received and the instantaneously emitted signals differ in their frequency as a function of the propagation time of an emitted signal to the potential obstacle and the instantaneous modulation rate of the frequency of the emitted signal. From the difference of the frequencies, an evaluation unit determines the propagation time, and consequently, the distance from the potential obstacle.
A frequency variation also comes about, conforming to the Doppler effect, in response to the relative motion of the obstacle with respect to the radar. An evaluation of this frequency shift enables determining the relative speed.
Since a frequency shift may be attributed both to the separation distance and the relative speed, a single measurement for these two variables is not determinate.
Thus a second measurement is carried out. The modulation rate in the second measurement is different from the modulation rate in the first measurement. Because of the independence of the variation in the modulation rate of the frequency of the emitted signal, an identification of the contribution of the relative speed to the frequency shift is identifiable for the distance, in contrast to the signal propagation time measurements.
The aforementioned method requires that the first measurement be uniquely assignable to the second measurement. As long as there is only one obstacle, this is trivially possible. However, considerable difficulties arise if signals are received from a plurality of objects at different distances and/or having different relative speeds. An assignment of successive measurements to an object requires costly search algorithms, which, among other things, follow the trajectory of an object.


A method is disclosed for operating a sensor arrangement having at least one measuring sensor and at least one reference sensor for recording the same physical variable, and having an analysis unit electrically connected thereto, with a characteristic of the sensor arrangement being recorded in an initialization phase from measured values of the at least one measuring sensor and of the at least one reference sensor, and an alarm being given during continuous operation if the deviation from the characteristic lies outside a tolerance band. It is proposed to suspend the alarm dynamically so long as the changes in the measured value in the variation over time of the at least one measuring sensor or in the variation over time of the at least one reference sensor differ by more than a definable limit within a definable time interval.

In many sectors of industrial process and instrumentation engineering, precise knowledge of a given physical variable is required for optimum process control. In this case, such a sensor arrangement is required to meet high standards such as robust construction, high resistance to vibration and thermal shock, insensitivity to chemically corrosive media and, if applicable, to radioactive radiation. These conditions must be satisfied cumulatively depending on the place of installation. Furthermore, the sensors should also exhibit high measurement accuracy and high reproducibility over long periods of time.
It is known that the characteristic of a measuring sensor changes as a result of events during use and aging. As the deviation from the known characteristic of the measuring sensor increases, its measurement accuracy falls. High measurement accuracy can hence only be guaranteed if the accuracy of the sensors is checked from time to time by calibration. The sensor has to be removed from the installation for this purpose.
EP 1182 438 B1 discloses a sensor arrangement comprising two different sensor types, in which a correction value for the measured value of the physical variable is calculated during an initialization phase from the difference in the detected measured values of the sensor of the first type and of the sensor of the second type, and is added so that the calculated resultant measured values for both sensors are practically equal. In the subsequent measurement and operation phase, both the respective resultant measured values and their deviations are monitored in order to detect aging-dependent drift phenomena, and an alarm is given if a limit is violated.
Owing to the individual sensors having a different response to the dynamic behavior of the process during the measurement and operation phase, there may be a dynamic mis-calibration of the sensor arrangement resulting in a false alarm.
In addition, there can be an accumulation of effects caused by different measurement principles, by the distance of each individual sensor from the source of the physical variable, hysteresis and manufacturing tolerances amongst identical types of sensors.

Method for operating a sensor arrangement


A gaming machine includes configured to communicate with a remote server, and further configured to detect a reportable event during play of a game by a player, wherein the reportable event is associated with a winning outcome having an associated award amount. The processor also receives an acknowledgement of the reportable event from the player, and transmits the acknowledgement of the reportable event and the award amount to the remote server for use in generating a taxable accrual log.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to gaming activities and, more particularly, to using a jackpot escrow account to minimize a number of interruptions to game play due to reportable events.
At least some known gaming systems enable players to make large wagers that may frequently result in winning outcomes having awards that exceed an amount requiring tax forms to be completed and filed with the appropriate local, state, and federal agencies. For example, a player that wins more than $1,199, i.e., a threshold amount, is required to report his winnings to at least the United States Internal Revenue Service in the form of a W-2G Gambling Winnings tax form. In at least some known gaming establishments, the required information, including the player's name, home address, social security number, and the like, as well as some form of personal identification, such as a driver's license or player tracking card is obtained manually. Such known gaming establishments then manually enter the data into the W-2G form and any other required form using the information received, as well as any other required gaming information, such as the amount won. Although the threshold amount has remained static, the amounts of wagers by players, especially high-stakes players, have increased dramatically. Larger wagers generally result in more frequent and intrusive interruptions to game play. Such interruptions may be annoying or disruptive to players. Moreover, gaming establishments must dedicate personnel to observing game play and to filling in the required forms. The additional personnel and their associated training, adds considerable cost to the maintenance of high-stakes rooms, and if players find the continual observance and manual information gathering annoying, such annoyances may result in a loss of potential gaming revenue for gaming establishments.
Accordingly, at least some known gaming systems have attempted to automatically generate the required tax forms. However, even those gaming systems require frequent interruptions to game play to collect player data and to obtain the player's signature or electronic signature. In some instances, such known gaming systems merely generate new forms for each reportable event detected during game play, rather than generating a cumulative form at the end of a gaming session that reports accrued winnings during the gaming session. Moreover, known gaming systems do not allow separate player accounts to be used as non-cashable credits during a gaming session and/or to be converted to cashable credits to reconcile with the gaming establishment at the end of a gaming session, while generating only a single form or set or forms.

Escrow accounts for use in distributing payouts with minimal interruption to game play


The present invention relates to a heat-dissipating device for an electronic device, comprising a graphite planar body, one or more metal layers, an insulation film and an adhesive. The heat-dissipating device is optionally attached to a heat sink. The method of using the heat-dissipating device to dissipate heat is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heat-dissipating device, more particularly to a heat-dissipating device including a plating metal layer formed on a graphite laminate. This invention also relates to the use of the heat-dissipating device including one or more plating metal layers to dissipate heat in an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A heat-dissipating device made from metal having a high conductivity, such as copper or aluminum, is usually used for dissipating heat generated in electronic components into ambient air. When the operating speed of the electronic components is faster, a rate of heat generation is increased. Therefore, a large heat-dissipating area of the heat-dissipating device is required so as to quickly dissipate heat. However, such requirement increases a weight of the heat-dissipating device.
Compared to copper or aluminum, graphite has advantages such as low heat resistance, light weight, and high conductive coefficient. However, since graphite has insufficient mechanical strength due to its flexibility and is frangible, graphite is likely to be damaged and to be deformed due to impact or stress during use. In addition, since graphite cannot bond directly to metal or alloy by welding, graphite itself is not used as the heat-dissipating device.
An existing method of making a heat-dissipating device is generally carried out by adhering a metal layer to graphite for improving rigidity and strength thereof. Subsequently, electronic components are connected to the graphite by adhering to the metal layer. However, the metal layer is likely to separate from the graphite, and heat conduction can be discontinuous due to the adhesive between the metal layer and the graphite, which reduces heat conduction efficiency.

Use of a graphite heat-dissipation device including a plating metal layer


A mobile communication device includes a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, a display associated with the front wall, and a keyboard associated with the front wall. Each of the side walls includes a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the length of the side walls. In addition, a reduced key keyboard has arcuate rows, with a top row that includes a send, end, and web browser key. The top row of the keyboard is also arcuate.

There are a number of different types of mobile communication device housings. Two examples include a "candy bar" type phone, which is a unitary housing that typically has a keyboard and display positioned on one side of the phone. Another type of phone is the "flip phone," which typically includes two parts that are designed to fold down upon one another when in the "stowed" or "closed" position. The two-part phone can be opened to reveal the keyboard and display, and is typically used as a phone in the open position. In both types of phones, the side surfaces of the housing are typically flat.
Some mobile communication devices, such as those utilized for receiving and transmitting email, utilize a thumb wheel on the side of the device for input purposes. In addition, connectors and other input/output devices are often positioned on the side of the device. Recesses 5, as shown in FIG. 1, may be formed directly around the input/output keys, or other peripherals, so that the input/output keys or other peripherals are flush with the outer surface of the device.


Methanol is decomposed in the presence of a catalyst containing chromium oxide and zinc oxide as main components and containing a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkali earth metals and lanthanides, while contents of iron and nickel in the catalyst are each maintained at 0.5% by weight or less. This process is characterized by (1) being excellent in stability at high temperatures, (2) preventing the catalyst from deteriorating, (3) inhibiting the production of by-products, and (4) obtaining a gas in which the CO/H.sub.2 ratio is high.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the decomposition of methanol. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for decomposing methanol to obtain a gas containing H.sub.2 and CO as main components.
(ii) Description of the Prior Art
In countries where raw materials for methanol are available at low costs, large-scale plants on a level of 3,000 tons/day have been built, and a large amount of methanol is exported from these countries to other consuming countries. Most of methanol is used as a raw material for chemicals such as formaldehyde. Furthermore, much attention is being paid to methanol as an inexpensive and clean energy source and a source of CO and H.sub.2.
The gas containing CO and H.sub.2 as the main components which can be obtained by decomposing methanol can also be used as a fuel for an internal combustion engine and the like. That is, a high-temperature exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is utilized as a source of reaction heat necessary to decompose methanol, whereby the energy of the exhaust gas can be effectively recovered and thus the thermal economy of the internal combustion engine can be improved. Additionally, in this case, the production of aldehyde is inhibited and a clean exhaust gas is obtained advantageously.
Furthermore, CO and H.sub.2 obtained by the decomposition of methanol are useful as raw materials for chemicals. That is, these compounds are important as essential raw materials for the manufacture of aldehydes by oxo synthesis, the manufacture of acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol, the manufacture of diamines by the H.sub.2 reduction of dinitrotoluene, the manufacture of phosgene by the reaction of CO with chlorine, the manufacture of an isocyanate (TDI) by the reaction of a diamine with phosgene, and the like.
In general, CO and H.sub.2 are industrially obtained by the steam reforming or the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons such as methane, naphtha, crude oil and coal. On the other hand, the process for forming CO and H.sub.2 by the decomposition of methanol has advantages such as the employment of lower reaction temperatures, a lower capital investment in facilities and less labor for operation, as compared with the above-mentioned conventional methods. It is fair to say that the process for the preparation of CO and H.sub.2 by the decomposition of methanol is economical due to the use of inexpensive methanol.
In the decomposition of methanol, a catalyst is used, and many catalysts for this application have been suggested. They are catalysts, on a carrier such as previously treated alumina, which are active metallic compounds, particularly platinum group elements, base metal elements such as copper, nickel, chromium and zinc, and their oxides. In addition, it has also been suggested to directly use, in the decomposition reaction, a mixed catalyst comprising oxides of the base metals, particularly a catalyst for methanol synthesis having a chromium oxide/zinc oxide system, a copper oxide/zinc oxide system or a copper oxide/zinc oxide/aluminum oxide system without using any carrier.
The conventional catalysts have the following drawbacks:
(1) The catalyst on a carrier is poor in durability. Particularly with regard to the catalyst containing a noble metal or a copper group element on a carrier, its catalytic activity tends to deteriorate due to impurities present in the raw material, and what is worse, the copper group element catalyst is poor in heat resistance. PA1 (2) As compared with the catalyst having a carrier, the catalyst for methanol synthesis is superior in durability, but when the latter catalyst is used, dimethyl ether, methane and high-boiling products are produced as by-products. PA1 (3) It is known that when a conventional catalyst is used, the decomposition reaction of methanol is slow and carbon is deposited on the catalyst. Thus, when the catalyst is used for a long period of time, the catalytic activity tends to deteriorate (AICHE, Spring National Meeting, "Methanol Dissociation for Fuel Use" 1984; EP B1 18700; U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,300; and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 51-119002, 51-122102 and 52-52902). In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method has been suggested in which methanol and water are fed to a catalyst layer to partially bring about the steam reforming of methanol, and a carbonaceous material or its precursor deposited on the catalyst is then removed therefrom by steam distillation.
As described above, when methanol is fed together with water to the catalyst layer, the CO/H.sub.2 ratio in the produced gas falls. Such a gas composition is inconveniently unsuitable for the synthesis of aldehydes by oxo synthesis or the synthesis of acetic acid by using methanol and CO in which CO only is required.
In the conventional methanol decomposition process, the catalyst is low in stability and durability as described above, and the deterioration of the catalyst is observed at high temperatures. Furthermore, the gas obtained by the conventional decomposition process contains a considerable amount of by-products such as methane, dimethyl ether and high-boiling products, and therefore this kind of gas is required to be purified, when CO and H.sub.2 in the gas are used as the raw materials for producing chemicals.


A disk drive comprises a cover plate with preload tension formed across the cover plate for increasing the stiffness of the cover plate. The preload tension is formed across the cover plate after the cover plate that was warped is secured to a base member of the disk drive to become un-warped. Such a cover plate with increased stiffness is not easily deformed and effectively minimizes propagation of noise generated from operation of the disk drive.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2003-0058004, filed on Aug. 21, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to disk drives, and more particularly, to a disk drive having a cover plate formed with preload tension across the cover plate for higher stiffness.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hard disk drives (HDDs), as data storage devices for computers, use read/write heads to reproduce data from or record data on a disk. The read/write head performs such read/write functions by being moved by an actuator to a desired position while being lifted over the disk.
FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a conventional hard disk drive. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional hard disk drive includes a base member 11. A spindle motor 30 for rotating a disk 20 and an actuator 40 for moving a read/write head over the disk 20 are installed on the base member 11.
The actuator 40 includes a swing arm 42 rotatably coupled to a pivot bearing 41 installed on the base member 11. The actuator 40 also includes a suspension 43 installed at one end portion of the swing arm 42. The suspension 43 supports a slider having the head mounted thereon as the head is moved over a surface of the disk 20. A voice coil motor (VCM) 45 is controlled by a servo control system to rotate the swing arm 42 from interaction between a current applied to a VCM coil and a magnetic field generated by a magnet.
When power is applied to the hard disk drive, the disk 20 rotates, and the voice coil motor 45 rotates the swing arm 42 counterclockwise to move the head toward a position above a recording surface of the disk 20. When power is no longer applied to the hard disk drive, the disk 20 stops rotating, and the voice coil motor 45 rotates the swing arm 42 clockwise to move the head away from the disk 20.
Further referring to FIG. 1, a cover plate 12 is assembled to the base member 11 by using a plurality of screws 19. The cover plate 12 is desired to enclose and thus protect the disk 20 and the actuator 40 by keeping away dust and moisture from such disk drive components. Furthermore, the cover plate 12 is desired to minimize propagation of noise from operation of the disk drive.
In the disk drive of the prior art however, the cover plate 12 is typically manufactured into a flat shape by press-processing a thin stainless steel plate. The base member 11 is mainly manufactured of aluminum or an aluminum alloy by die-casting. With such a cover plate 12 of the prior art, the thickness of the cover plate 12 is much thinner than that of the base member 11. Thus, the cover plate 12 is not stiff enough, and as a result, a lot of vibrations and noise are generated from the disk drive during operation.
In addition, the size of the modern disk drive is desired to be further decreased to be more compact and slim. Thus, the distance between the components of the disk drive such as between the cover plate 12 and each of the disk 20, the spindle motor 30, and the actuator 40, decreases. The cover plate 12 which is not stiff enough deforms easily from external impact or load. Such a deformed cover plate 12 may contact the enclosed disk drive components resulting in interference with their operations or even damage of such components.
For example, disk drives used for portable computers such as notebook computers have limited height and weight. Thus, the thickness of the cover plate 12 is very thin, such as in a range of 0.4 mm to 0.5 mm for example. Such a thin cover plate 12 formed without sufficient stiffness is easily deformed.
Conventionally, to address such problems, a groove 13 and/or reinforcement ribs of various shapes are formed on the cover plate 12 to increase stiffness of the cover plate 12. However, such prior art techniques fail to result in sufficient stiffness for the cover plate 12.
Thus, a cover plate is desired to be formed with sufficient stiffness to protect disk drive components and to reduce noise of the disk drive, without being easily deformed.

Disk drive with cover plate having high stiffness


The one-piece sunvisor extender improves on existing devices by providing a product that allows for more coverage, is of unique but simple design, uses a material that has low mass and is flexible to allow for a safer product. Its unique design provides for a self clamping action and by using cellular material to form the device allows it to be released by simple hand motion. In addition the device provides for an additional range of movement (right or left) not found on other models, can be trimmed to match the angle of the windshield post, can conform to other interior components it comes in contact with, and will reduce damage to other interior components. The one piece design requires no assembly, thus reducing its cost.

It is the custom for people to use sunvisor extenders if they require additional shade beyond what the sunvisor provides. The sunvisor extender normally clamps to the sunvisor and then swings down on a hindge to allow extended coverage in the up/down position. The typical sunvisor extender is made of several parts and the assembly of those parts adds to its cost. The materials used are normally hard plastic and/or metal which may pose a hazard in the event of a accident. Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to produce sunvisor extenders of reduced cost. Another object of the invention is to improve its range of coverage by providing for a second range of motion, using a material that can conform to the interior of the vehicle and can be trimmed to fit. Another object of the invention is to provide a product that will reduce the damage it causes when it comes in contact with other interior components. Another object of the invention is to provide a safer product by using a material that does not pose a hazard in the event of an accident. Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.


An ovenable tray composite comprises a polymeric based liner and a fiber based component. The polymeric based liner incorporates polyolefin materials for performance in both adhesion (during use) and separation (for disposal) from the fiber based component, as well as high temperature resistant polymers that allow for the entire tray composite to be ovenable. Packages made from the lined trays described herein can be used for packaging food items intended to be heated for cooking or reheating the contents.

Fiber based trays with polymeric based liners have been used for many applications. These applications include packaging for various items, including industrial or consumer goods products and food products. A fiber based component of the tray has advantages of low cost, low weight, recyclability, thermal insulation, tangible haptics and high stiffness. The polymer based liner is added to enhance the physical properties of the tray, including sealing properties, moisture resistance, gas barrier, grease and flavor resistance and durability.
Often, the fiber based component is coated with a thin layer of polyethylene to achieve the benefits of a polymeric liner. However, more functionality can be obtained by using a premade liner, and adhering it to the fiber based component. Premade liners, primarily made of polyethylene based polymers, are used in some applications where the fiber based component and the polymeric liner might be separated for disposal.
Fiber based trays that are designed for ovenable applications have used liners made of high temperature resistant polymers such as polyester and polyamide. Liners made of high temperature resistant polymers are difficult to adhere to the fiber based component and require an additional adhesive component between the fiber based component and the liner. Additionally, the high temperature resistant liners can be difficult to remove from the fiber based component once they are adhered.


A clamp is provided for attachment to the left atrial appendage (LAA). The clamp can be locked in a closed position so as to remain in place on the LAA. After being attached to the LAA, the clamp can be moved to a desired position such that the LAA can be retracted to a desired extent. The clamp can be held in any desired position, preferably by being connected to a thoracic retractor that is being used to retract the patient's sternum or ribs. A movable member is connected between the clamp and a stationary portion of the retractor. By locking the movable member in a fixed position relative to the stationary portion, the clamp can be maintained in a desired position and the LAA can be retracted as desired.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to cardiovascular surgery and, more particularly, to techniques for retraction and subsequent exclusion of the left atrial appendage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Embolic stroke is a major cause of disability and death. The most common cause of embolic stroke emanating from the heart is thrombus formation due to atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia of the heart that results in a rapid and chaotic heartbeat that produces lower cardiac output and irregular and turbulent blood flow in the vascular system. There are over five million people worldwide with atrial fibrillation, with about four hundred thousand new cases reported each year. Atrial fibrillation is associated with a 500 percent greater risk of stroke due to the condition. A patient with atrial fibrillation typically has a significantly decreased quality of life due, in large part, to the fear of a stroke, and the pharmaceutical regimen necessary to reduce that risk.
For patients who have atrial fibrillation and develop atrial thrombus therefrom, the clot normally occurs in the left atrial appendage (LAA) of the heart. The LAA is a cavity that is connected to the lateral wall of the left atrium between the mitral valve and the root of the left pulmonary vein. The LAA normally contracts with the rest of the left atrium during a normal heart cycle, thus keeping blood from becoming stagnant therein. However, the LAA, like the rest of the left atrium, does not contract in patients experiencing atrial fibrillation due to the discoordinate electrical signals associated with atrial fibrillation. As a result, thrombus formation is predisposed to form in the stagnant blood within the LAA. Of the patients with atrial thrombus, a large majority have the atrial thrombus located within the LAA. The foregoing suggests that the elimination or containment of the thrombus formed within the LAA of patients with atrial fibrillation would significantly reduce the incidence of stroke in those patients.
Pharmacological therapies for stroke prevention such as oral or systemic administration of blood thinning agents, such as warfarin, coumadin or the like have been inadequate due to serious side effects of the medications (e.g. an increased risk of bleeding) and lack of patient compliance in taking the medication.
As an alternative to drug therapy, invasive surgical procedures for closing or altering the LAA have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,555 discloses a barrier device in the form of a membrane for covering the ostium of the LAA to prevent blood clots in the LAA from escaping and entering the blood stream. Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0004652 discloses an occlusion device for inhibiting compression of the LAA in which tissue in-growth onto the occlusion member is provided. Both of these devices are extremely invasive in that the LAA must be opened (usually during the course of open heart surgery) and a foreign device implanted therein. The implanting process itself is time consuming to perform and increases the risk of hemorrhage and infection.
Another approach has been to attempt to close the LAA by means of an externally applied device or instrument. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,689 discloses that closure of the LAA can be accomplished by a loop of material, such as a suture, wire, tape, mesh, or the like, which can be applied over the LAA and cinched in place to close the LAA. The '689 patent also discloses that closure can be accomplished by stapling, clipping, fusing, gluing, clamping, riveting, or the like. Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2005/0149068 and 2005/0149069 disclose several types of clamps that can be fitted about the LAA externally and the compressed against the LAA.
The Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion Patent discloses an externally applied exclusion device for the LAA that is easy to apply. The device in question will apply the proper amount of compressive force to exclude the LAA while minimizing or avoiding any stress concentrations that would lead to undesired tissue necrosis. Moreover, the device will avoid punctures that would lead to difficult-to-control bleeding.
Although externally applied devices and techniques, particularly those disclosed in the Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion Patent, offer a relatively simple and effective approach to the problem of excluding the LAA, a particular problem has not been addressed. This problem relates to properly grasping and positioning the LAA so that a suitable exclusion device can be applied thereto. Typically, a surgical assistant manually grasps the LAA and pulls outwardly. The LAA will be slightly stretched so that the exclusion device can be applied by the surgeon. A significant problem with this approach is that the LAA usually is very slippery due to the tactile qualities of its surface and due to the presence of fluids such as blood. This makes it quite difficult for the surgical assistant to grasp the LAA and maintain a proper grip. In addition, because the operating theater is quite small, the presence of the surgical assistant's hand means that the surgeon's access to the LAA is impeded. Impeded access to the LAA makes it more difficult and time-consuming for the surgeon to properly apply the exclusion device to the LAA.
Desirably, a technique would be available that would permit the LAA to be grasped readily. Preferably, any such technique would enable the LAA to be grasped firmly and retracted to any position desired by the surgeon while providing minimal interference with the surgeon's access to the LAA.


There is described a build system for generating an enhanced application comprising at least one encrypted application component during a build operation. The build system comprises a build tool and two or more build tool plugins. The build tool plugins each comprise an encryption module and a decryption module.

The growth in popularity of mobile applications distributed by means of vendor distribution platforms, such as for example Google Play, Apple App Store, etc., which distribute software applications for use on mobile devices comprising a mobile operating system, such as Android and iOS, is attracting the attention of hackers. These hackers, for example in an effort to distribute unauthorized rebranded variants of the distributed mobile application try to get access to the source code, assets, resources, etc. of the distributed software application. These approaches often involve free tools and often can be performed within for example a few hours or less. This then allows the hacker, for example by means of minor modifications to resources to rebrand the software application for unauthorised redistribution. Such operations could for example include modification of resources such as the application launch icon, application logo or other images, the application name, references to urls, etc.
Java software applications offer an efficient framework for developing and deploying enterprise and server or client-side applications. During a build operation of the development stage of the software application the Java source code is compiled to Java bytecode. In this way for example there is compiled one or more Java class files, which are files, often with a .class filename extension, comprising Java bytecode that can be executed on the Java Virtual Machine or JVM. Such a Java class file is produced by a Java compiler from Java programming language source files, which are files, often a .java extension, comprising the source code programming instructions for Java classes. If a Java source file comprises more than one Java class, each Java class is typically compiled into a separate Java class file comprising its bytecode. After compilation, the build operation continues by packaging these Java class files together with related metadata and application resources, such as for example an image file comprising the application icon, in a software package for distribution. Low-cost, widely available applications are available which for example enable inspection of these software packages, to enable modification of the application resources and automatic decompilation of the Java class files into near-original source code. Attackers can then efficiently apply modifications it to implement hacks or create counterfeits for redistribution as an unauthorized or compromised version of the original application and for example resulting in a security risk and unauthorized copying of the application. Such Java applications are also being used in the context of mobile software applications, for example mobile software applications suitable for the Android operating system. In such a context Java source code of the mobile application is for example compiled to Dalvik bytecode and stored in .dex or Dalvik Executable files and/or .odex or Optimized Dalvik EXecutable files. This Dalvik bytecode can for example be subsequently executed by a Dalvik Virtual Machine, or alternatively be further compiled to native code on the mobile device by the Android Runtime or ART. During the build operation the application code, in the form of the Dalvik bytecode, for example in the form of one or more .dex files, is packaged together with further application items, such as for example resources, assets, certificates, a manifest file, etc. into an Android application package or APK for further distribution. Similarly as explained above tools are available to inspect the contents of such software packages, decompile its bytecode and enable efficient modification of application items such as for example application icons, logo's, etc., thereby leading to security risks and unauthorized copying of the application.
In order to provide compatibility with different configurations, resources of such Android applications, such as images, video files, audio files and strings from the source code of the application, are maintained independently from the source code and are grouped by type and configuration. Default resources are those that should be used regardless of the device configuration, and alternative resources are those that are designed for use in a specific configuration. It is clear that such externalised resources are susceptible to modification by means of a hacker. Such hacker can efficiently create an unauthorized, rebranded copy such an application by merely modifying or replacing the resources such as the image for the related icon, images with company logos, and other related resources used for the presentation of the application on the mobile device. Additionally the hacker might efficiently modify the decompiled source code in order to modify for example references to the web server of the original application developer to new references to of a different web server managed by the hacker.
ProGuard, available at http://proguard.sourceforge.net/, is a known software application for use during a build operation, which obfuscates Java source code by for example renaming the classes, fields, and methods using short meaningless names. An alternative known software application for use during the build operation is DexGuard available at http://www.guardsquare.com/dexguard. Dexguard focuses on the protection of mobile software applications, with additional features such as for example resource obfuscation, string encryption, class encryption, and executable application file splitting. DexGuard is focused on Android applications and directly creates Dalvik bytecode during the Android build operation in which Android programs are compiled into .dex or Dalvik Executable files, which are in turn packaged into a single software package or .apk file. Such source code or resource obfuscation increases the difficulty for a hacker to analyse the software code or to efficiently identify standard resources such as for example the application icon image. Such known Java obfuscators, during the build operation, make use of renaming of classes, fields, methods, etc., which increases the difficulty for reverse engineering the decompiled source code.
Additionally, more sophisticated applications such as DexGuard, also provide for renaming of application resource identifiers, such as the application resource file name, and corresponding obfuscated references in the corresponding source code. This increases the difficulty for efficiently rebranding such a software application by acting on the application resources. In order to still further increase the hurdle for hackers to interfere with the application source code and/or the application resources, encryption can be used. However, such encryption often relies on a standard encryption algorithm provided by applications such as for example DexGuard during the build operation and require use and distribution of standard security keys along with the packaged application in order to allow for subsequent decryption during execution of the software package on the mobile device. This provides the risk that hackers can scan for detectable encryption signatures and/or security keys, which allows them to develop a dedicated decryption application that allows decryption of all software applications obfuscated and encrypted by a particular obfuscation tool, such as DexGuard.
Still further known build systems and methods of operating such a build system are for example known from WO2011/057393 A1 of IRDETO CANADA CORP. The latter build system makes use of a plug-in mechanism to add and extend security capability and new protection. However, the distributed application comprises a Java bytecode protection security module which automatically decrypts the java application bytecode during execution. This know system further makes use of a Java application bytecode stub in order to access these protected data files and a white box security module utility. It is clear that, although this system provides for a plug-in mechanism, still, each of the above mentioned individual components could lead to the risk of detectable patterns or anchor points for an attacker with access to the distributed application, this is especially true for the protected application bytecode stub. It is further also clear that this build system is only able to increase the security level of the original application bytecode. Other items which are distributed such as for example application resources or application assets or other data items such as image data representative of icons or company logo's, databases, etc. are not handled by the Java Bytecode Protection Tool and thus remain accessible in a relatively easy way to an attacker with access to the distributed application. Still a further known build system which makes use of a combination of static watermarking and authentication method to determine whether the code has been modified and obfuscated symbolic names to increase security against modifications by unauthorized attackers is known from WO2004/023313 A1 (FRAUNHOFER CRCG). Similar as stated above the protection is limited to the class files of the mobile code, while application resources, etc. remain prone to an attack. Further the class loader, the static watermarking, the first and second associations which are processed by the class loader to resolve the obfuscated names, all could lead to detectable patterns for an attacker. Finally a further known build system is known from WO99/41651 (NATIONAL COMPUTER BOARD). This system involves encrypting bytecode for an application and encoding the decryption key in the encrypted bytecode. During run-time a code loader is executed which loads this decryption key and executes the decryption algorithm on the encrypted code. It is clear that the distributed code loader, decryption key, decryption algorithm, etc. could all lead to the risk of a detectable pattern for an attacker. Similarly as explained above also here only application bytecode is provided with an increased level of protection. Other items such as application resources, application assets, or other data items remain more easily accessible.
Therefor there still exists a need for an improved build system that is able to provide an increased level of resistance to hacking, by reducing the risk of identifiable patterns in the distributed application. There also remains a need for increasing the level of resistance to hacking for other application items than the application code, such as for example resources comprising data representative of text, images, audio, etc. of a distributed software package.
It is thus an objective of the present invention to disclose a system and method that overcomes the above identified shortcomings of the prior art. More particularly, it is an objective to disclose a system and method that, in an efficient, simple and flexible way, increases the level of resistance against unauthorised access to and modification of a distributed software package, especially with respect to resources other than the application code of mobile applications.

Build system with plugins for encryption of application components


The present disclosure relates to a method for executing a computation task composed of at least one set of operations where subsets of pipelineable operations of the set of operations are determined in accordance with a pipelining scheme. A single routine may be created for enabling execution of the determined subsets of operations by a hardware accelerator. The routine has, as arguments, a value indicative of input data and values of configuration parameters of the computation task, where a call of the routine causes a scheduling of the subsets of operations on the hardware accelerator in accordance with the values of the configuration parameters. Upon receiving input data of the computation task, the routine may be called to cause the hardware accelerator to perform by the computation task in accordance with the scheduling.

The present invention relates to the field of digital computer systems, and more specifically, to for executing a computation task composed of a set of operations.
Hardware acceleration enables the use of computer hardware specially made to perform some functions more efficiently than is possible in software running on a general-purpose CPU. For example, an operation can be computed in application-specific hardware designed to compute the operation faster than on a general-purpose computer processor. However, there is a need to improve computation of multitude of those operations.

Method for interfacing with hardware accelerators

International Business Machines Corporation


A global computer network system includes a method and apparatus for writer compensation, a method and apparatus for reader rating and a method and apparatus for enabling readers to tip an author. The system further provides content organization according to user relationship and website community. Another feature effects content browsing by relationship of users in the system. The system provides determination of content scarcity and advertisement (ad inventory) scarcity. The system also includes user-specified comments or reader indications on system contents such as authored works and bookmarks.

Traditional media includes newspapers, magazines, television and radio programs, films, music and the like. Traditional literary works include novels, essays, poems and other composed articles ("compositions" generally). With the advent of the digital age and global computer networks, literary works or compositions have grown to include Web documents, electronic books, e-zines, so-called "White Papers" and a variety of content in combination with text such as hyperlinks, images, graphics, animation, audio/video, bookmarks and multimedia. Such authored work or works (or generally referred to as "content") is so-called 'published' on a global computer network (e.g., the Internet) through Web page locations of a Web site, bulletin boards or other global computer network postings.
Historically such media has been generated centrally by organizations that contract with a small number of contributors (writers, producers), establish an editing organization to select from this content, and then distribute that content through either their own channels (e.g., the New York Times printing service or the ABC broadcast network) or via the public Internet (on sites like NYTimes.com or CNN.com).
Along with global computer network publications, the area of advertising on the global computer networks continues to grow and develop. Current advertising mechanisms include banner ads, pop-up ads and sponsorship columns or textual advertising.

User-driven media system in a computer network


Congestion control provides congestion control for one or more shared resources in a wireless communication network. In one exemplary embodiment, a congestion controller manages congestion of shared packet data channels by under-serving selected ones of the data connections sharing the packet data channel. Such selective under-serving may be effected by biasing scheduling of service on the packet data channel toward maximum throughput scheduling such that connections associated with poor radio conditions are naturally under-served. Further, the controller may manage congestion of other shared resources, such as shared transmit power resources, wherein congestion of the shared power resource is managed by under-allocating transmit power to selected ones of the connections. Congestion is sensed, for example, by monitoring transmit buffer occupancy levels, and/or reserve power levels. In either case, congestion relief may be amplified where operation of the controller “triggers” flow control on the intentionally under-served ones of the active data connections.

The present invention generally relates to controlling network congestion, and particularly relates to controlling user congestion in wireless communication networks.
Evolving wireless networks, such as those based on the cdma2000 or Wideband (WCDMA) standards, offer a mix of voice and data services. Of particular benefit to data users, such networks may offer relatively high-speed packet data channels that are time-shared among multiple data users. In this case, a packet data channel is divided into time slots and data frames are "scheduled" for transmission on the time-shared channel. Thus, the channel supports a plurality of "data connections" by time multiplexing transmissions for each of the connections onto the shared data channel. The scheduling of transmissions for each connection on the shared channel is governed by one or more service constraints.
For example, each connection (i.e., "user") may be scheduled according to a "throughput" optimization approach, in which the network operator maximizes revenue by scheduling users best able to receive data transmissions at the highest rates. However, such an approach may leave users in poorer radio conditions chronically under-served, nor does such an approach guarantee that the network will satisfy one or more Quality-of-Service (QoS) constraints that normally are associated with the data connections sharing the channel. That is, many of the evolving data applications supported by the higher data rate shared channels require defined QoS levels such as a minimum data rate and/or maximum packet jitter.
Thus, if users are served in accordance with their associated QoS constraints, they must be scheduled for service in consideration of those constraints. Newer networks might thus incorporate QoS-based user scheduling on the shared packet data channels such that the QoS constraints for each user are met on an ongoing basis, at least within the limits of network capacity and prevailing radio conditions. In furtherance of such QoS-based scheduling, the network must also consider the impact of new user admissions as regards its ongoing ability to meet the various QoS constraints and its current users.
However, even with QoS-based scheduling and admission control, the potential for network "overloading" exists because of the dynamic resource demands of both voice and data users and the stochastic nature of the bandwidth available to each user due to natural fluctuations in the radio conditions of each user (e.g., fading, interference, noise, etc.). Although such congestion is in some ways reminiscent of packet data overload in wireline IP networks, differences between wireless communication networks and traditional IP router networks make known congestion control techniques inappropriate for the wireless world.
In a traditional IP router, IP data packets are transferred to and from various other nodes (routers, switches, etc.) in the network according to packet addressing information. The router maintains a buffer or queue for holding the transient packet data as it performs its ongoing routing operations. During congestion, the router's buffer "overflows," and packet data for one or more connections is lost. The transport protocols managing those connections having lost data typically impose some form of "flow control" whereby data rates are reduced responsive to excess lost data, resulting in relatively "bursty," inefficient data transfer on the affected connections. Indeed, the widely used Transport Control Protocol (TCP) not only reduces connection data rate in response to lost packets, it further employs a "slow start" mechanism that limits a connection's data rate for some time even after congestion is relieved, even if the prevailing conditions associated with that connection would support an immediate return to the pre-congestion data rate.
With the above behavior, even momentary congestion among a substantial number of connections can lead to a "congestion collapse," where the transport protocols of the affected connections enforce a prolonged and possibly significant reduction in connection data rate responsive to detected packet loss. That is, if flow control is triggered across a sizeable number of connections, the aggregate data throughput of the network is temporarily reduced to a level well below what it can actually support, leading to inefficient utilization of network capacity.
Algorithms directed to alleviating such problems in traditional routing networks are generically referred to as "Adaptive Queue Management" (AQM) algorithms. One species of such algorithms is referred to as "Rapid Early Discard" (RED), and is based on randomly discarding data packets when router buffer "occupancy" reaches a defined threshold. The random discarding of packets causes a relatively small subset of the total TCP connections supported by the router to reduce their congestion windows, which results in a reduction of the router's traffic load and hopefully avoids congestion collapse.
While such approaches yield congestion control benefits in traditional routing systems, they do not complement the structure and operation of packet routing operations within the context of wireless communication networks. For example, wireless networks commonly employ some type of Radio Link Protocol (RLP) that provides the network with a radio link layer frame error recovery mechanism. RLP provides for data retransmissions on the inherently unreliable wireless links connecting the network to the remote mobile stations. RLP as implemented in cdma2000 and WCDMA networks is an "ARQ" based protocol that uses a timeout/NACK approach to recognizing when transmitted data was or was not properly received.
As IP packets typically span several RLP "frames," the loss of even one RLP frame causes an IP packet loss for the affected data connection. Thus, any overload control scheme that involves packet/frame discarding should incorporate knowledge of the IP packet/RLP frame relationship for efficient overload control operation.
Further, the ideal approach to overload control within wireless networks would consider the scheduling objectives and connection characteristics of the wireless network users subjected to overload control. By incorporating such considerations into overload control, a wireless network could avoid congestion collapse, while simultaneously observing ongoing scheduling or service priorities to the greatest extent possible.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for wireless network congestion control


A photoelectric conversion device comprising a transparent electrically conductive film, a photoelectric conversion film and an electrically conductive film in this order, wherein the photoelectric conversion film comprises a photoelectric conversion layer, and an electron blocking layer, wherein the electron blocking layer contains a compound represented by the specific formula.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion device, a production method thereof, a photosensor, an imaging device and their driving methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
As for the solid-state imaging device, there is widely used a flat light-receiving device where photoelectric conversion sites are two-dimensionally arrayed in a semiconductor to form pixels and a signal generated by photoelectric conversion in each pixel is charge-transferred and read out through a CCD or CMOS circuit. The conventional photoelectric conversion site generally used is a photodiode part formed using PN junction in a semiconductor such as Si.
In recent years, fabrication of a multipixel device is proceeding, and the pixel size and in turn, the area of a photodiode part become small, which brings about problems of reduction in the aperture ratio, reduction in the light collection efficiency and the resulting reduction in the sensitivity. As for the measure to increase the aperture ratio and the like, suggestions are being made on a solid-state imaging device having an organic photoelectric conversion film using an organic material.
In the organic photoelectric conversion film, a technique of introducing a mixed film using a fullerene or a fullerene derivative or a bulk heterojunction structure into the organic photoelectric conversion film so as to bring out high photoelectric conversion efficiency (high exciton dissociation efficiency) is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a photoelectric conversion film containing a fullerene or a fullerene derivative.
The organic photoelectric conversion device used in a solar cell is designed to collect electric power and therefore, an external electric field is not applied, but the organic photoelectric conversion device used as a visible light sensor of a solid-state imaging device needs to maximize the photoelectric conversion efficiency and a voltage is externally applied so as to enhance the photoelectric conversion efficiency or increase the response speed.
When a voltage is externally applied so as to enhance the photoelectric conversion efficiency or increase the response speed, injection of a hole or injection of an electron from an electrode is generated due to an external electric field, and this disadvantageously increases the dark current, which becomes a problem.
Many of materials usually used as an electrode in a photoelectric conversion device have a work function (WF) of around 4.5 eV (for example, ITO) and, for example, in the case of using a fullerene (C60) as the material of the photoelectric conversion film, an energy gap between WF of the electrode and LUMO of the fullerene (C60) becomes small, as a result, particularly an electron is liable to be injected from the electrode into the photoelectric conversion film and a significant increase of dark current is caused.
As regards the prevention of an increase in the dark current due to an injected current, a technique of providing a charge blocking layer to suppress the injection of an electric charge into the photoelectric conversion layer, thereby efficiently blocking an injected carrier and reducing the dark current, is disclosed (Patent Document 2).
In the case of using the photoelectric conversion device as a solid-state imaging device, a color filter needs to be provided for the formation of a color image and furthermore, when soldering the imaging device to a substrate, the device with the substrate is heated. Accordingly, it is demanded that the reduction in photoelectric conversion efficiency and the increase of dark current are small under the conditions of a temperature not less than 180° C. which is the process temperature in the above, and about 30 minutes. However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, heat resistance working out to an important factor in practice is not referred to, and a chemical structure having high heat resistance is not sufficiently described.
In Patent Documents 3 to 6, an organic material having a fluorene structure is described, and the organic material is used for an electroluminescence device. The electroluminescence device utilizes luminescence occurring upon application of a voltage to the device, but the photoelectric conversion device when emitted light is reduced in the photoelectric conversion efficiency and therefore, is required to emit substantially no light. Also, the transfer direction of a hole is opposite between the electroluminescence device and the photoelectric conversion device and in turn, the functions required of the material differs.
The photoelectric conversion device outputs signals according to the quantity of light entered, and a constant voltage therefor is applied to the device. As described above, an important function of the electron blocking material in the photoelectric conversion device is suppression of electron injection from the electrode. On the other hand, in the electroluminescence device, the light/dark luminescence is controlled by a voltage, and the above-described function is unnecessary.
In Patent Document 7, an organic material having a fluorene structure is described, and the organic material is used for a dye-sensitized solar cell. However, the characteristics required of a solar cell differ from those required of the photoelectric conversion device aiming at an imaging device element and therefore, unlike the present invention, description regarding dark current and heat resistance is not sufficiently disclosed.
Also, in the case of producing a film by using the compound described in Patent Document 7, generation of a grain boundary by crystallization due to low amorphous property and formation of unevenness on the film surface may be caused, and this material is not suited as a material of a photoelectric conversion device aiming at a photosensor, an imaging device and the like.    [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2007-123707 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")    [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2008-72090    [Patent Document 3] JP-A-2005-290000    [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent 3,508,984    [Patent Document 5] JP-A-2007-137795    [Patent Document 6] JP-A-2006-131783    [Patent Document 7] JP-A-2007-115665

Photoelectric conversion device, production method thereof, photosensor, imaging device and their drive methods


The embodiments of the present invention relate to a spiked axisymmetric nozzle for use in particle reduction processes where the spiked axisymmetric nozzle contains a nozzle plug thereby forming a fluid compression orifice for accelerating a grinding fluid used in reducing the particle size of particulate matter.

Fluid energy mills are used to reduce the particle size of a variety of materials such as, inter alia, pigments, agricultural chemicals, carbon black, ceramics, minerals and metals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, precious metals, propellants, resins, toner and titanium dioxide. The particle size reduction typically occurs as a result of particle-to-particle collisions, as generally, a fluid energy mill contains no moving parts. The fluid energy mill typically comprises a hollow interior that acts as a grinding chamber where the particle collisions occur. Within the grinding chamber, a vortex is formed via the introduction of compressed gases through fluid nozzles or Micronizers® positioned in an annular configuration around the periphery of the grinding chamber. The compressed gas (e.g. air, steam, nitrogen etc.), when introduced into the grinding chamber, forms a high-speed vortex as the gases travel within the grinding chamber. The gases circle within the grinding chamber at a decreased radii until released from the grinding chamber through a gas outlet. The particles to be ground are deposited within the grinding chamber and swept up into the high-speed vortex, thereby resulting in high speed particle-on-particle collisions as well as collisions with the interior portion of the grinding chamber walls. Typically the heavier the particle, the longer its residence time within the vortex and conversely the lighter particles (i.e. those sufficiently reduced particles) move with the vortex of gas until the outlet is reached. Typically, fluid energy mills are capable of producing fine (<10 microns) and ultra fine (<5 microns) particles.
Typical nozzles in the art that have found use include DeLaval nozzles (converging-diverging nozzles) through which the grinding gases (a.k.a. compression gases) are injected into the grinding chamber. In such nozzles the grinding occurs at the boundary between the particles and the high velocity grinding gas, also referred to as the shear zone. However, these types of nozzles are disadvantageous because the pattern of the gas as it exits the nozzle results in a substantial core of the gas stream flow to be unavailable for grinding because the particles cannot penetrate the fluid flow into the core. As a result, a greater amount of energy is necessary and a greater volume of compression gas is required to grind the particulate matter to the desired particle size.
Another disadvantage, with respect to fluid energy mills typically found within the art, is that they consume a significant amount of resources including energy and grinding gas due to the particular nozzles used therein.
Thus, there is a need within the industry for a mechanism for reducing energy and compression gas consumption as well as increasing the surface area of the fluid boundary useable for grinding particulate matter.

Spiked axisymmetric nozzle and process of using the same


A high voltage/high current air break switch, the switch including a support frame and a blade pivotally supported by the support frame, so as to be pivotable relative to the support frame. The blade includes a load interrupter between a blade support and the distal end of the blade. And a method of operating an air break electrical switch with a swinging blade mounted on a support and having blade contacts brought into and out of engagement with a terminal with terminal contacts, and a load interrupter with contacts in a vacuum bottle, the method steps comprising turning the support to move the blade relative to the terminal, then turning the support to move the vacuum bottle electrical contacts and to move the blade contacts relative to the terminal contacts.

High voltage/high current air break switches typically include an elongated conductive contact or "blade" that is locked or otherwise secured to a distal electrical terminal during operation to ensure that the components remain in contact. Relatively large forces must be established and overcome to move the blade into a locking position to assure a stable conductive connection.
In a conventional air break electric switch, as described below, a load interrupter is located in series with the switch. The load interrupter helps to prevent electrical arcing at the terminal contacts, is usually located adjacent the switch, and must be operated prior to the bringing into or out of, of contact between the blade and its distal electric terminal This adds to the space needs of the frame that supports the switch, and increases the complexity of the switch and load interrupter operation.
There is therefore a need to simplify the overall construction of the switch and load interrupter assembly, as well as a need to reduce the space needed by the assembly. There is also a need to reduce the complexity of the operation of the assembly.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved air break switch that addresses one or more of the above drawbacks of previous switch designs.

Air break electrical switch having a blade toggle mechanism


Provided is a light-emitting device provided with a light reflection layer which has a high light reflectivity and which is less susceptible to deterioration of the reflectivity due to corrosion, and having an improved light extraction efficiency.

In recent years, along with a tendency to high brightness and whitening of a light-emitting device such as LED, a light-emitting device employing LED has been used for a backlight of a mobile phone, a large sized liquid crystal TV, etc. In order to apply a LED lamp to various applications, it becomes important to obtain a white emission. As typical systems to realize a white emission by a LED lamp, four systems may be mentioned i.e. a system of using three LED chips which emit blue, green and red colors, respectively, a system of combining a blue-emitting LED chip with a yellow or orange-emitting phosphor, a system of combining a blue-emitting LED with a phosphor exciting red and green by the emission, and a system of combining an ultraviolet-emitting LED chip with a blue, green and red-emitting three-color mixed phosphor.
As the above-mentioned system of combining a phosphor, a cannonball structure is known which is prepared by casting a clear resin such as an epoxy resin or silicone resin having a phosphor mixed thereto, followed by solidification to form a resin layer containing the phosphor. Further, a structure is known which is prepared by mounting a LED chip on a substrate having a circuit pattern formed on its main surface and further forming on this substrate a sealing portion made of a clear resin. In such a LED lamp, a light reflection layer made of e.g. silver is formed on the substrate around the mounted LED chip. And, by such a light reflection layer, an emission from the LED chip radiated to the substrate side, or a fluorescence emitted under excitation from the phosphor, is reflected to the forward direction thereby to improve the light extraction efficiency.
However, silver is likely to be corroded, and if it is left to stand, a compound such as AgS is likely to be formed, whereby the light reflectance tends to deteriorate. Therefore, it has been attempted to prevent such a deterioration of the reflectance by forming a resin sealing layer on the silver, but with an epoxy resin or silicone resin which is usually used as the resin sealing agent, the sealing property is weak, and it has been difficult to employ it for products which are required to have a reliability for a long period of time.
Accordingly, in order to prevent corrosion of a silver conductor layer, a method has been proposed to coat the surface of silver with a resin such as a silicone resin, an acryl resin, an epoxy resin or an urethane resin (Patent Document 1). However, even by such a method, moisture or a corrosive gas is likely to enter into the resin or from the interface between the silver conductor layer and the resin, and as the time passes, the silver conductor layer is corroded, and thus such a method has not been useful for products which are required to have a reliability for a long period of time.
On the other hand, as a method to increase the reflectance without using a silver conductor, it has been proposed to use an alumina material or the like having a high reflectance, but firing at a high temperature exceeding 1,000° C. is required, and thus there has been a problem that the load on the production process is substantial.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprising a substrate having a conductor layer formed on its surface and a light-emitting element disposed on the conductor layer, characterized in that an overcoat layer is formed between the conductor layer and the light-emitting element, and the overcoat layer is a borosilicate glass which comprises, as represented by mol % based on oxides, from 62 to 84% of SiO2, from 10 to 25% of B2O3, from 0 to 5% of Al2O3 and from 0 to 5% in total of at least one of Na2O and K2O, provided that the total content of SiO2 and Al2O3 is from 62 to 84%, and may contain from 0 to 10% of MgO and at least one of CaO, SrO and BaO in a total content of at most 5%.


In a MRI system housed within a room there is provided a movable magnet and additional components for other procedures on the patient, a control system is provided for the relative movement of the magnet and components. This includes a plurality of magnetic field sensors mounted on the components for measuring the magnetic field at the location of the component and an optional camera positioning system so that the control system can estimate relative positions of the components relative to the magnet from the sensed field strengths from the set of sensors to avoid collisions during the movements.

Recent innovations in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology has allowed IMRIS to develop new inter-operative imaging techniques which allow a patient to be imaged while undergoing surgery in an operating room. This is done by bringing an MRI system into the operating room along ceiling mounted rails at a rate of up to 6.4 cm/second. The technology has the advantage of giving surgeons immediate feedback for an ongoing operation which they did not previously have access to. However, this beneficial new technology creates potential hazards which do not exist in traditional MRI systems. These hazards are due to the fact that MRI employs extremely strong magnetic fields of up to 3 tesla in a clinical setting; more than enough to turn a ferromagnetic object into a dangerous projectile.
MRI is typically performed in a designated diagnosis room with a strict procedure in place to prevent any ferromagnetic object from entering the room. Surgery being performed in an operating room often requires ferromagnetic objects which may become hazardous once an MRI system enters the room. The current method of preventing an accident uses a checklist containing all items which need to be brought outside of either the 5 or 50 gauss line, depending on the object. A gauss line is a region painted on the floor of an operating room indicating safe zones where the magnetic field will be below 5 or 50 gauss. This current system is vulnerable to human error and does not monitor the source of the hazard, the presence of a strong magnetic field.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI is a form of medical imaging involving the use of an extremely powerful magnetic field. The magnetic flux density can be up to 3 tesla or 30 000 gauss in a clinical setting. The tesla is the SI unit of magnetic flux density or magnetic field. The gauss is a non-SI unit of magnetic field and is more commonly used to describe the strength of a magnetic field by those working with MRIs; one tesla is equal to ten thousand gauss. The theory of how the actual MRI works is not the focus of this report although a brief summary follows. MRI creates a strong magnetic field within the imaging suite using a large superconducting magnetic. It should also be understood that the magnet does not have the capability of being turned off and on easily and therefore the magnet is assumed to be always on. Although the physical size of the magnet varies by model, a common outer diameter is approximately 1.9 meters with a bore of 0.7 m in diameter. When a patient is placed in the bore or center of this magnet, the magnetic field will align the spin of the body's protons in either a parallel or anti-parallel direction with reference to the magnetic field. An RF pulse at 63.65 MHz for a 1.5 T system or 123.2 MHz for a 3 T system is then sent into the body to flip the spin of the protons off of the magnetic field axis and into another axis dependent on the power of the RF pulse. The protons which are flipped are now forced back into alignment with the magnetic field in a rotating motion similar to a spinning top. The process of the protons spin being realigned with the magnetic field creates a small decaying RF pulse which is picked up by a receive coil. The coil then sends the data back to a computer which does a 2-dimensional Fourier transform, creating the magnetic resonance image.
High field intra-operative MRI is becoming established in neurosurgery to capture surgical target displacement as a result of brain-shift and for post-operative residual tumor identification. One suite design employs a movable MRI scanner that can enter the operating room (OR) on overhead rails. This level of integration has the benefit of eliminating patient movement between pre-operative and post-operative imaging but entails other operational constraints. For example, preparatory pre-imaging steps are added to the clinical workflow, including draping the patient to maintain sterility at the surgical site. Surgical staff use paper and/or computer-based checklists to ensure that the MR imaging environment is RF-quiet and that appropriate safety pre-cautions are taken. Safety-related activities include moving MR-conditional and MR-unsafe, e.g. ferromagnetic, equipment to the exclusion zone bounded by the 5 gauss field line. Equipment moved may include boom-mounted surgical lights and monitors, anaesthesia machines, patient monitors, carts and navigation systems.
Monitoring equipment and tools within an MRI-integrated OR relies largely on proper training and minute-to-minute vigilance of the OR staff. It is clearly advantageous to mount magnetic field sensors on equipment to create a secondary and automatic means to monitor safety hazards in this environment. However, existing audible magnetic field sensors are fairly large in size and cannot be easily mounted to third party equipment. Furthermore, these sensors work individually using local audio alarm, are designed for larger structures and provide a limited number of alarm thresholds. In summary, to date there has been a lack of integration between computer-based checklists, room control systems and miniaturized distributed magnetic field sensors.
When a movable MRI scanner is used intra-operatively, there are safety concerns and impacts to the existing workflow. That is the scanner introduces a high magnetic field to the operating room. Materials that are attracted to magnets (ferromagnetic) may become projectiles causing injury or death to the patient, to hospital staff or to the surgeons.
As a result of the safety concerns, hospitals have introduced protocols that must be followed before the MRI scanner enters the room. The protocols include counting and moving ferromagnetic instruments from the center of the OR to a zone that experiences less than 5G of magnetic field, moving light and camera-booms to the 5G safety zone and moving other objects outside of the room or to the 5G safety zone.
In some instances objects may be tethered before the scanner enters the room. When imaging is completed, the instruments, booms and other objects are moved back into their position for surgical use.
The OR can be a high stress environment so that, despite training and practice, some tasks required for safety may be omitted at some times.
In practice, commercial MRI safety systems exist, for example from MedNovus and Kopp Development, which are generally large, fixed-position ferromagnetic detectors that act as a portal into the room. Persons with ferromagnetic materials on or in their person act to trigger an alarm as they enter. This is the current state of the art.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,489,128 (Kopp) issued Feb. 10, 2009 is disclosed a protection arrangement for association with an operable MRI apparatus located within a room that has an access opening, the MRI apparatus providing a residual magnetic field that extends to a location of the opening, the arrangement including: a detector for passively monitoring the residual magnetic field at the location of the opening, the detector includes an array of passive magnetic field sensors arranged about the periphery of the opening in a spaced arrangement such that each sensor is associated with a different portion of the access opening, the field changing in response to a presence of ferrous material at the opening, each of the sensors including means for outputting a signal indicative of the ferrous material responsive change in the magnetic field at the associated portion of the access opening; and means for receiving the change indicative signals, for determining whether the change indicated by at least one of the change indicative signals exceeds a limit and for providing a safety response that addresses the condition of ferrous material at the opening of the room within which the MRI apparatus is located upon determination of at least one threshold being exceeded.
A system similar to the MedNovus and Kopp systems has been developed by David Hoult of National Research Council Canada and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,414,400 issued Aug. 19, 2008.
US Published Application 2007/0132581 (Molyneaux) published Jun. 14, 2007 discloses a system for ferrous object and/or magnetic field detection which detects a given magnetic field strength around a MRI machine and alert users to the field's presence. The magnetic field warning system can rely on a single badge that warns its user. The badge utilizes an RFID system which can turn the badge on when it enters the MRI room and off when it leaves the MRI room. The badge is worn by a person, located on or near a ferrous object, embedded in clothing, or located in other positions convenient to a user. The detector, the power supply and the user interface are utilized in a single package providing a badge type concept. This is now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,696,751 issued Apr. 13, 2010.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,092 (Keene) issued Sep. 26, 2006 discloses an apparatus for detecting ferromagnetic objects in the vicinity of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The apparatus comprises primary sensors adapted to measure a magnetic field, arranged in communication with a signal processor configured to identify temporal variations in the measured magnetic field due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within an ambient magnetic field and to provide an output indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the vicinity of the primary sensor. The apparatus further comprises secondary, non-magnetic, sensors adapted to detect the movement of objects in the vicinity of the primary sensors in order to reduce false alarms. The output from the signal processor may be used to operate an audible alarm, a visual alarm, an automatic door lock or a physical barrier.


Systems and methods described herein provide for a flush-mounted vehicle control barrier having a shallow foundation. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, a vehicle control barrier includes a sub-frame, a wedge plate, and an actuator mechanism that is coupled to the sub-frame and disposed within an interior space of the sub-frame.

Security is a primary concern for many facilities, particularly when positioned at potentially "hostile" locations where the potential for terroristic acts is increased. One potential threat includes vehicles containing explosives or other hazardous material approaching or impacting a fixed structure that is targeted for attack. There are various conventional methods for preventing vehicles from approaching structures, including the use of armed guards, gates, fencing, buttressed vehicle barriers, and/or bollards, to name a few.
Vehicle barriers are commonly placed at vehicle entry points that are located a safe distance from a building or structure being protected. These barriers may include deployable wedge plates that rise to prevent vehicles from passing over or through the barrier in order to prevent the vehicles from approaching the protected building until they have been deemed safe. Once a vehicle has been deemed safe, the wedge plate of the vehicle barrier may be lowered to allow the vehicle to safely drive over the wedge plate and through the barrier. Conventional vehicle barriers may include a buttress on one or both sides of the barrier. The buttress may include the actuator or other drive mechanism for deploying the wedge plate, as well as any associated circuitry, lights, gate arm mechanisms, and any other associated hardware. However, because the buttress is positioned immediately adjacent to the wedge plate over which vehicles are driving, the buttress is susceptible to damage from inadvertent contact with passing vehicles and lane widths are limited by the distance between buttresses. Many conventional barriers also have the wedge plate mounted on top of the road surface, which presents an obstacle for snowplows when driving over to clear the road. Moreover, the buttress may be aesthetically unappealing to building owners, particularly if multiple vehicle barriers are utilized near or around the building being protected.
In addition, conventional vehicle barriers utilize relatively deep underground compartments and corresponding foundations of poured concrete, typically 24 to 48 inches deep. This depth accommodates various hinges, drive mechanisms, and structural features that are typical in many vehicle barrier systems. However, in many metropolitan areas, it may be difficult to excavate to these depths due to underground structures, as well as various topographical and infrastructural features commonly associated with the installation locations around buildings and other facilities or structures.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Shallow flush-mounted vehicle control barrier