A database 3 is previously set which is related to oxidation induction times Tg indicating the deteriorations of individual resins R based on the combinations of a plurality of oxidation induction conditions X including at least different types of resins R. and different heating temperatures TH, when the molding condition is set, oxidation induction time derivation processing is performed such that an oxidation induction time Tg based on oxidation induction conditions X including at least the resin R which is used and the heating temperature TH which is set is determined from the database 3 and assistance processing is performed in which the determined oxidation induction time Tg is compared with a residence time Ts until the molten resin R is charged into a mold 2 that is calculated from the set molding condition and in which when the oxidation induction time Tg is shorter than the residence time Ts, the molding condition is corrected so as to shorten the residence time Ts or to prolong the oxidation induction time Tg.

In general, when an abnormality occurs while a molding machine is being automatically operated, in order for a secondary problem to be avoided, the automatic operation is rapidly stopped. In this case, since after the stopping, a resin left in a residence state may be deteriorated, in general, the automatic operation of the molding machine is stopped, and simultaneously, processing (processing for abnormality) which is necessary for preventing the deterioration of the resin is performed.
Conventionally, as the processing for abnormality as described above, a processing method for abnormality in an injection molding machine which is proposed by the present applicant and which is disclosed in patent literature 1 has already been known. The processing method for abnormality described above is designed to rapidly restart an automatic operation which allows the production of satisfactory articles, to prevent production efficiency from being significantly lowered due to the occurrence of an abnormality and to optimize the processing for abnormality for the level of an abnormality which is selected. Specifically, when an abnormality occurs that is related to the level of an abnormality which is previously selected, by measuring a first monitoring time after the occurrence of the abnormality, the restart of the automatic operation is allowed on condition that the abnormality is removed before the first monitoring time is up, the restart of the automatic operation is also allowed on condition that the abnormality is removed after the first monitoring time is up and that purge processing is performed, a second monitoring time is measured at least when the abnormality occurs or after the first monitoring time is up and when the abnormality is not removed before the second monitoring time is up, a heat retention mode is entered after the second monitoring time is up.

Method and device for assisting molding condition setting technical field


A finger and palm guard for barbers and cosmetologists may be made up of a pair of tubular members or rings that accommodate the middle and index fingers of the user's hand. Attached to and extending from each of these members is a projection that extends over the palmar fascia in the region immediately adjacent the knuckles joining the metacarpals and the third phalanges of both the middle and index fingers. Both projections lie in substantially the same plane and are connected to one another by a rivet or similar pivotable connection that will allow natural movement of the fingers toward and away from one another when the device is being employed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective devices. More specifically, it relates to hand and fingers protectors. Even more specifically, it relates to a fingers and hand protector for barbers and/or cosmetologists that is made up of two cylindrical members configured to fit over a user's middle and index fingers. Both the members have protruding shield areas that extend, when the device is fitted and worn on the hand, over the adjacent palm area, or palmar fascia, adjacent the third knuckle of the index and middle fingers, and flexure area between the two fingers. The two shield members are pivotally connected together by a rivet type arrangement or the like to allow the fingers to be moved apart from one another when the user desires.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Modern hair cutting technique posits that the barber or cosmetologist, when trimming or cutting hair, grasp an amount of it between their middle and index fingers and then cut the hair along the fingers, using the fingers as a guide. With the sharp scissors that are used in this environment along with the speed that the professional needs to use to enhance profitability, accidents can: and do occur. Cutting a finger or poking the tip of the scissors into the palm of the hand not only forces the barber to stop working to staunch the bleeding, but additionally is embarrassing, is painful, not only from the infliction and resultant pain from the wound, but also from small pieces of hair that work their way into the wound, and is unhygienic, for the reasons listed above. The vector for the transmission of various diseases is present in both directions by the spilled blood and the hair that could conceivably become lodged in the wound. The present invention addresses this problem by presenting a finger and palm guard that substantially covers the areas at risk during the cutting process.
The following is a discussion of relevant prior art patents uncovered during a search.
The most relevant patent is U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,186 issued on Sep. 17, 1991 to George L. Lamb et al. This patent discloses a shear guard made of a band of planar material that is disposed such that the wider end of the device covers the knuckle of the finger. However, the Lamb et al guard protects only the third phalange of the middle finger and provides no protection whatever for the palmar fascia area in the region immediately adjacent the knuckles joining the metacarpals and the third phalanges of both the middle and index fingers, and does not protect the index finger at all.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,881 issued on Mar. 20, 1990 to Frank P. Field, there is disclosed a finger guard. This is a sheath-like device that fits over the end of an injured human finger or toe and is remote from the area of barbering and cosmetology.
Next is U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,736 issued on Apr. 24, 1973 to Evelyn M. Pugh. This discloses a thumb or finger guard having a forward closed portion that fits over the thumb and its nail and extends back to the first knuckle. The device protects a thumb or finger while paring, cutting, tearing or grating vegetables such as apples, potatoes, carrots, etc., with a paring knife held in the other hand. The guard includes ridges to facilitate a secure grip on the vegetable and provide a guard area with a thickened portion more resistant to penetration by a knife. This finger or thumb guard would provide no protection at all for the palm and fingers of a barber or cosmetologist while engaged in their profession.
The remainder of the patents discussed below are more remote from the instant invention. U.S. Pat. No. 1,074,884 issued Oct. 7, 1913 to Thomas H. Howell shows a twine cutter interengaged with the ring and little fingers of the hand; no protection feature is present. U.S. Pat. No. 2,725,570 issued Dec. 6, 1955 to Ernest Penna illustrates a ladies' glove covering the entire hand and wrist and allowing exposure of the nails, for aesthetic purposes. Another fingertip bandage is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,541, issued Oct. 24, 1967. Another fingertip worn device to protect the finger during counting of money bills, for example, is shown in German Patent No. 455,760, issued Jan. 19, 1928 to Albert Heusser. A multiple finger cover that does not interfere with tactile feedback but otherwise provides none of the protective advantages of the instant invention is disclosed in German Patent No. 963,141 issued May 2, 1957.
In addition, European Patent Application No. 0220452, published on Jun. 5, 1987 for Shozo Iriyama simply discloses another fingertip protector, but adapted for use with a work glove.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


A method by which a disk-based distributed data storage system is organized for protecting historical records of stored data entities. The method comprises recording distinct states of an entity, corresponding to different moments of time, as separate entity versions coexisting within the distributed data storage system, and assigning expiration times to the entity versions independently within each of a plurality of storage sites according to a shared set of rules, before which times deletion is prohibited.

In disk-based storage systems, there is usually a clear separation between the primary storage function—which deals with providing rapid and efficient access to active data—and secondary storage mechanisms which deal with less active data, with long term data protection, and with maintaining archives of historical storage contents.
These secondary functions have, for the most part, traditionally been handled using magnetic tape storage. Reasons for this include the fact that tape has been much cheaper than disk storage (and other alternatives), and tape cartridges are easily transported to provide offsite copies of data to protect against loss due to localized disasters.
For a number of years, the cost per byte of disk hardware has been dropping at a much faster rate than that of tape hardware, making disk increasingly attractive as an alternative to tape as a medium for secondary storage. Some of the properties of disk, such as low-latency random access, clearly make it superior to tape as a secondary storage medium. If, however, the superior properties of disk are exploited in a secondary storage system, then new challenges arise which did not previously exist with tape.
For example, since every hard disk drive includes the mechanism for reading and writing the media that it contains, in a disk-based secondary storage system it becomes attractive to keep all data online at all times. This means that traditional mechanisms for protecting archival data, based on physically isolating and protecting the storage media, become inapplicable. One could simply turn the disks into write-once media by disallowing deletions in hardware, but then deletion of old data that are no longer needed would also be prohibited.
Moreover, for low cost safe disk storage it may be attractive to use an object storage scheme, such as is described in Margolus et al., "A Data Repository and Method for Promoting Network Storage of Data," US 2002/0038296 A1 (Mar. 28, 2002). An object storage system is like a file system without a built-in mechanism for organizing the files ("objects") into a hierarchy. The clients of the object storage system must define and implement any such mechanism, for example by storing directory information in objects. This lack of built-in hierarchy separates out a complicated issue from the implementation of the storage system itself.
In the example of Margolus et al. US 2002/0038296, security and privacy considerations are addressed by assuming that the storage system has little or no access to information about the structure or nature of the data that it stores. This constraint adds an extra dimension to the problem of safely allowing deletion of unnecessary data, while protecting necessary data from malicious or accidental deletion.
If deletion of unnecessary data is to be allowed, mechanisms are of course required for determining which data has become unnecessary. Traditional backup schemes maintain "snapshots" of storage system contents at predefined moments, discarding some snapshots as unnecessary after some period of time. File servers often use an on-disk snapshotting mechanism for short-term protection of files from data corruption or accidental deletion. Commonly, this is implemented by simply avoiding overwriting data that is needed for some existing snapshot, and instead writing the new data to a new location (and maintaining appropriate indexing information for finding the different versions of files). A snapshot is created by declaring at some point in time that no data that exists at that point will be overwritten. A snapshot is discarded by freeing storage resources that are not needed by any other snapshot, and are not currently in use.
Thus one definition of unnecessary data is data that is only needed by discarded historical snapshots. The challenge of deleting only unnecessary data then requires reconciling this definition with the constraints and structure of a distributed, private and secure storage system. For example, it may not be possible, in general, for a storage server to determine which stored data is part of a given historical version, or even which historical versions exist. This problem is compounded if some pieces of data are shared: different historical versions of the same object, or even different objects, may all share common pieces of data, for storage efficiency. These pieces may only be deleted when they are no longer needed by any version of any object. Finally, there may be more sophisticated needs for the protection of historical information than are provided by simple snapshotting.

History preservation in a computer storage system


The present invention relates to a plum tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a small size, moderately vigorous, hardy, and very productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from an apricot, interspecific, or plum that blooms during the mid season, such as ‘Plumcandy XIII’ plum tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,468). The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during the last part of September, with first picking on Sep. 29, 2019, and will hang on the tree an additional thirty days. The fruit is uniformly medium to large in size, very dark red in skin color, orange yellow to dark red in flesh color, clingstone in type, slightly oblate in shape, firm in texture, very sweet, and excellent in flavor.

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we, the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. We also grow a lesser number of open pollinated seeds of each of these fruits. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of plum tree, which has been denominated varietally as 'PLUMCANDY XVII'.
During 2013 we gathered fruit from several different late maturing plum trees that were located on our ranch in Le Grand, Calif. The seeds were removed, cracked, stratified and germinated as a group with the label "LATE PLUM BAGS". They were grown as seedlings on their own root in our greenhouse and upon reaching dormancy transplanted to a cultivated area of our experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). During the spring of 2016 the claimed variety was selected by us as a single plant from the group of seedlings described above. Subsequent to the origination of the present variety of plum tree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproductions were true to the original tree in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of 'Nemaguard' (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.
The present variety is most similar to 'Plumred XII' plum tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,400) by being self-unfruitful, by blooming in the mid to late season, and by producing fruit that is somewhat oblate in shape, mostly red in flesh color, firm in texture, and very sweet in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom by having a smaller size tree and by producing fruit that is somewhat larger in size, darker red in skin color, clingstone instead of semi-freestone in type, and that matures about ten days later.


The present invention provides a process for recovering alkali carbonates such as alkali sesquicarbonates from slurries of minerals such as Trona which contain those carbonates as well as clays and shales. The invention further provides a method for recovering alkaline earth carbonates from caustic slurries of those carbonates, as well as to clarifying the supernatant liquids which result from recovery of the alkaline earth carbonates.

Trona is an ore which contains sodium carbonates and sodium bicarbonates, collectively referred to as sodium sesquicarbonates. In Trona, sodium sesquicarbonates typically are found with clays, shales, and the like. Separation and removal of clays, shales and the like is necessary to provide the sought after sodium sesquicarbonates.
Flocculating clays and shales from Trona typically has been performed in the prior art by either the monohydrate slurry method or the sesquicarbonate method. The monohydrate slurry method entails calcining Trona at 200.degree.-400.degree. F. to convert the sodium sesquicarbonates to sodium carbonates. Lower calcining temperatures may be employed when lower concentrations of sodium sesquicarbonate are present in the Trona. The calcined Trona containing the sodium carbonates is then dissolved in water at 25.degree.-100.degree. C. within a pH range of 9-11, depending on the concentration of sodium sesquicarbonates in the Trona, to provide the monohydrate slurry. The resulting monohydrate slurry is treated with a flocculating agent to flocculate solids such as clays, shales and the like from the slurry to provide a supernatant solution of sodium carbonate. The sodium carbonates then are precipitated from the supernatant solution and heated to yield dry sodium carbonate.
In the sesquicarbonate process, Trona typically is dissolved in water at a temperature of about 200.degree. F. and at a pH of 9-11. A flocculating agent is added to precipitate solids such as clays and shales to yield a clarified supernatant liquid of sodium sesquicarbonate. The supernatant solution of sodium sesquicarbonates is cooled to precipitate sodium sesquicarbonates which are calcined to yield sodium carbonates.
Various flocculating agents have been employed to flocculate clays, shales, etc. from slurries of Trona. Synthetic polymers such as acrylamide polymers typically have been used as flocculating agents. Saccharides such as guar gum also have been used to flocculate clays and shales. Flocculating agents such as guar gum, however, tend to provide low rates of flocculation. Guar gum, moreover, is expensive.
A need therefore exists for an inexpensive method of providing high rates of settling of solids such as clays and shales from mineral slurries such as Trona slurries.
Conventional flocculating agents such as copolymers of acrylamides and acrylates also have been employed to flocculate alkaline earth carbonates from caustic slurries such as slurries containing slaked lime and sodium carbonate. These copolymers, however, tend to produce low rates of precipitation of alkaline earth carbonates. Also, the clarities of supernatant liquids that result from precipitation of the alkaline earth carbonates tend to be low, indicating that substantial quantities of alkaline earth carbonates remain in the supernatant solution. The supernatant liquid that results from flocculation of the alkaline earth carbonates, moreover, often includes coloration impurities such as iron, humic acid and organic materials. Elimination of these coloration impurities is desirable because these impurities reduce the quality of the alkaline earth carbonates precipitated from the supernatant solution.
A need therefore exists for methods to efficiently and effectively precipitate alkaline earth carbonates from caustic solutions. A further need exists for methods of reducing the levels of coloration impurities in supernatant solutions of alkaline earth carbonates.

Treatment of mineral and alkali metal carbonate slurries


A copying apparatus for portable type having an image reader for reading an image of a document, a memory for storing image data obtained by the image reader, a printer for printing out the image of the document read out by the image reader according to the image data stored in the memory and a processor for controlling the image reader and the printer wherein upper and lower blank lines are searched for with respect to each of partial images divided from the whole image stored in the memory. Image data, except for the image data existing in an area defined between the upper and lower blank lines which have been found by respective blank line search, are erased upon printing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copying apparatus of portable type which is able to print out one or more lines by picking up or extracting the lines from a text that has been read by the portable copying apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the Japanese patent laid open publication (JP-A) No. 102466/1988, there is disclosed a copying apparatus of portable type capable of printing one or more lines extracted from lines which have been read by an image reader.
FIGS. 13 to 16 show the manner of printing of this copying apparatus.
When an area p of a document is read by scanning the copying apparatus in a direction P manually as shown in FIG. 13, a document image p as shown in FIG. 14 is obtained. When the document image p is obtained, a blank line having no data to be printed therealong is searched for downwardly from the upper edge UE of the document image p.
When the first blank line is found, as indicated by "a" in FIG. 14, an image portion existing above the first blank line a is erased. Thereafter, the search for the blank line is done upwardly from the lower edge LE of the document image p. An image portion existing below the first blank line b found is also erased. Thus, only the central line image is printed out as shown in FIG. 16.
In another method for erasing unnecessary images, as shown in FIG. 15, a blank line is searched for from the center image line CL of the document image upwardly and an image portion existing above the first blank line u is erased. Similarly, an image portion existing below the first blank line d found by the downward search is erased. According to this method, only the central image line is printed out as shown in FIG. 16.
However, it is not easy to manually move the copying apparatus parallel to image lines of a document. If the copying apparatus is moved in a meandering direction as indicated by a line Q in FIG. 17, such a document image q as shown in FIG. 18 is obtained inconveniently. In this case, it becomes impossible to search for blank lines since they are meandering in the read document image q. Thus, it is impossible to print out only the central image line by the conventional portable copying apparatus.


In order to make accurate predictions on whether or not a power grid is stable, it is desirable to know the frequency and phase of at least each “control area” in the power grid. Each control area will ideally have power generation matched with its load. Rather than measure thousands of data points at low resolution in order to calculate potential grid instabilities, one may make few highly accurate measurements at low voltage to predict frequency and phase of high voltage transmission lines. Predicted data at the transmission points can then be used to calculate the relative stability of the power grid. The method includes the use of non-linear Luenberger observers and Kalman filters. The method can also be used to compute “Virtual measurements” for any component in the connected grid based on lower cost or easier to obtain measurement at other points on network. This method applies to any connected network of components.

Both frequency and phase angle are critical measurements in an electric power grid. Accurate measurements of frequency and phase angle are now accessible primarily due to the availability of an accurate world wide time synchronization signal via the GPS constellation. The timing synchronization signals are accurate to better than one microsecond and are reported in UTC time.
Using these new sensors, one can now measure frequency to better than one part in 10,000 and absolute phase angle to better than one part in 1,000.
The US Electric power grid comprises a number of "control areas or balancing authorities," each responsible for maintaining a balance between its generation and load. If persistent under-frequency occurs, at least one control area is consuming more power from the grid than it is supplying. This lowers frequency and shifts the phase angles. Minor deviations at the control area level are routine. The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) has established operating rules that specify maximum permissible deviations, and focus on prohibiting persistent deviations, but not instantaneous ones. Each control area computes a measure of performance called the Area Control Error (ACE). This value should be zero for stable operation of the grid. This measure determines how well each control area matches its load and generation.
It has been common practice to estimate the phase angles using a network model with normal measures of generation and load. This involves a traditional "load flow" solution in combination with measurements. This process is called "State Estimation". The solution to this problem involves solving a large dimensional problem, typically up to 30,000 nodes. A solution is not always guaranteed and it is highly dependent on the real time topology of the grid. This is not always known with certainty.

Non-linear observers in electric power networks


An air filter cleaning system comprises a support plate mounted on a frame with a clamping system for clamping an end face of the filter against the underside of the support plate. A supply tank can be filled with air up to a predetermined pressure. A duct communicates from the supply tank to an opening in the support plate. The valve can be opened to substantially instantaneously release the air into the interior of the filter to explode through the filter wall. A collection bag is engaged around the lip on the underside of the support plate to collect the material exploded from the filter wall.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning air filters.
Air filters are widely used on many motor vehicles and engines to extract dust and other materials from intake air into the engine to prevent the materials from damaging the moving parts of the engine. Many air filters are intended simply to be replaced after a period of use. Other air filters are intended to be washed or otherwise cleaned and replaced. Agricultural vehicles often operate in very dusty conditions and accordingly the air filter must be regularly cleaned to prevent throttling the air supply.
Compressed air lines have been proposed for cleaning such air filters by directing a blast of compressed air onto the inside surface of the filter to cause the collected material on the outside surface to be pushed away from the filter wall. This technique does however have the serious disadvantage that it is possible to damage the filter wall leaving an opening through which unfiltered air may enter. Such wall damage is sometimes not readily visible and hence the engine may be operated with a defective filter for a significant period of time often causing serious engine damage.
Washing of filters is of course often used but this has a significant disadvantage that it is necessary to wait while the filter dries before it can be replaced.


Printers and copiers have paper handling mechanisms that incorporate form feeding tractors to move a continuous form or web having edge holes. It has been discovered that the web can be driven at a high acceleration yet uses a small number of pins by setting the pin pitch of the tractor greater than the pitch of the edge holes.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a forms feed tractor for a paper handling apparatus and, more particularly to a continuous forms feed tractor for moving a web or record medium such as paper having edge holes, through a printer, copier or other similar apparatus operating on the record medium. More particularly, the invention relates to pins and belts useful in such paper handling mechanisms.
2. Background Art
In dot band printers, such as the IBM 4234, the continuous forms or web is moved one dot row at a time. The user applications for such a printer require very high through-put rates of 600 lines/minute. This translates into accelerations on the paper of approximately 32,000 inches/second*second. This high rate of acceleration directly relates to a force that is imparted to the form. This force deforms the holes of the forms, the amount of deformation being dependent on how many tractor pins are in contact with the form. It is known that more pins contacting the paper at one time lessens the amount of hole deformation. This, however, requires larger and hence more expensive tractors. Larger tractors require larger motors, more complex electronics and a bigger box to house it in, all of which, results in a more expensive product. Hence, it is highly desirable to use small, light weight, inexpensive tractors while avoiding the hole deformation problem.

Forms feed tractor having modified pin spacing

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor chip including: a first main face having an edge portion, a second main face locating the opposite side to the first main face, a crystalline defect region present within a region including at least the edge portion being adjacent to the first main face, the crystalline defect region being configured to have lower stress than the stress in the other semiconductor region for the same strain; and a metallic substrate to be bonded via a bonding member to the first main face of the semiconductor chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Heisei 8 (1996)-070069 (=JP8070069) discloses a conventional semiconductor chip which is quadrilateral and has a backface bonded and fixed to a proper metallic substrate. Examples of materials used for the above bonding include solder (having a melting point of 400° C. or below), braze (having a melting point over 400° C.), metallic paste made from silver particles, a conductive adhesive, and the like.
Note that, since the semiconductor chip and the solder do not bond to each other directly, a metallic thin film is formed on the backface of the semiconductor chip, and the metallic thin film and the metallic substrate are bonded to each other by the adhesive.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A method and apparatus for time-based fast positive acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) reporting (FANR) operation with enhanced general packet radio service 2 uplink (HUGE) are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configures downlink FANR operation and EGPRS-2 mode uplink transmission not to be in conflict. A modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the EGPRS-2 mode may be limited to an MCS containing at most two RLC data blocks. Alternatively, three or more piggybacked ACK/NACK (PAN) bits may be used for a time-based FANR operation if an EGPRS-2 mode is configured. Alternatively, at least one PAN bit may indicate an ACK/NACK for a group of RLC data blocks. The number of PAN bits for a time-based FANR operation may be configured by the network. The downlink FANR operation may be dynamically switched between time-based and SSN-based.

Global system for mobile communications (GSM) Release 7 (R7) introduces several features to improve throughput in the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL), as well as to reduce latency of transmissions.
Among these, GSM R7 will introduce enhanced general packet radio services-2 (EGPRS-2) to improve throughput for the DL and the UL. EGPRS-2 throughput improvements in the DL are known as the REDHOT feature, and improvements for the UL are known as the HUGE feature. EGPRS-2 DL and REDHOT are synonym. Similarly, EGPRS-2 UL and HUGE are synonym.
In addition to legacy enhanced general packet radio service (EGPRS) modulation and coding schemes (MCS) based on Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) (MCS-1 through MCS-4) and 8 phase-shift keying (8PSK) modulations (MCS-5 through MCS-9), EGPRS-2 DL will use quadrature PSK (QPSK), 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM) and 32QAM modulations. Another technique for improved throughput is the use of Turbo coding (as opposed to convolutional coding with EGPRS). Furthermore, operation at higher symbol rate (1.2× symbol rate of legacy EGPRS) with EGPRS-2B DL (or, REDHOT-B) and EGPRS-2B UL (or, HUGE-B) is another improvement.
Latency Reduction (LATRED) is another feature provided by GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) Release 7 (and beyond) to reduce transmission delays, increase data throughput, and to provide better quality-of-service (QoS). The LATRED feature comprises two techniques. The first LATRED technique is reduced transmission time interval (RTTI) mode of operation. The second LATRED technique is fast acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) reporting (FANR) mode of operation.
Both the RTTI feature and the FANR feature can either work separately, or in conjunction with each other. Furthermore, both the RTTI feature and the FANR feature can be used in conjunction with the EGPRS modulation-and-coding schemes MCS-1 to MCS-9 (except for MCS-4 and MCS-9 where FANR mode of operation is not possible), or with the novel Release 7 and beyond EGPRS-2 modulation-and-coding schemes DAS-5 to DAS-12, DBS-5 to DBS-12, UAS-7 to UAS-11 and UBS-5 to UBS-12. Both the RTTI and the FANR modes of operation are also possible with other existing Release 7 GERAN evolution features, and other features beyond for (E)GPRS packet transmission, or methods based thereof, such as for example the Downlink Dual-Carrier (DLDC) feature or Downlink Advanced Receiver Performance (DARP) operation.
In the pre-Release 7 GSM/GPRS/EGPRS modes of operation, an ACK/NACK report is typically sent in explicit radio link control (RLC)/medium access control (MAC) protocol messages, also referred to as RLC/MAC control blocks. Examples for such explicit RLC/MAC protocol messages include packet downlink ACK/NACK or packet uplink ACK/NACK messages. The RLC/MAC control block is addressed to a certain radio resource, called a temporary block flow (TBF).
A TBF is a temporal connection between a mobile station and a network to support a uni-directional transfer of data. If supported by the mobile station and the network, more than one (1) TBF can be allocated to a mobile station. A TBF is temporary and maintained only for the duration of the data transfer. Each TBF is assigned a temporary flow identity (TFI) by the network. The TFI is unique among concurrent TBFs in each direction and is used instead of mobile station identity in the RLC/MAC layer. For example, in GPRS and EGPRS modes of operation, the same TFI is included in every RLC/MAC header belonging to a particular TBF in order to allow the intended receiver, (i.e., the wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) or network), to determine the addressee of a received radio block.
In order to reduce transmission latencies associated with the use of an entire RLC/MAC control block, another mode of ACK/NACK operation in GSM/(E)GPRS Release 7 has been incorporated, referred to as FANR mode of operation. The ACK/NACK report for a certain TBF is "piggybacked" onto an RLC/MAC data block by puncturing a number of bits from the channel-coded data portion of the radio block at no loss of data. This new field which is inserted, when needed, into the RLC/MAC data block and which carries the ACK/NACK report as part of the radio block is referred to as a piggybacked ACK/NACK (PAN) field. The insertion of PAN is possible, and can be configured separately, both for the DL and UL directions. The PAN field, when sent to a WTRU in the DL, carries ACKs or NACKs for data units or protocol data units (PDUs) previously sent by the WTRU in the UL direction, and vice versa. The presence or absence of the PAN field in a radio block is indicated by the RLC/MAC header, either by a bit or bit field setting, or by setting other code points depending on the RLC/MAC header type accordingly, and therefore depends on the EGPRS/EGPRS-2 modulation and coding scheme chosen for the transmission of the radio block. In the DL direction, the PAN field of an RLC/MAC data block may possibly be addressed to a WTRU that is not the intended receiver of the data units (or PDUs) in the radio block. Alternatively, the PAN field and the data units (or PDUs) of the radio block may be intended for the same WTRU. Both for DL and UL directions, the TBF to which the PAN field refers may possibly be different from the TBF corresponding to the data units (or PDUs) of the radio block, even if the receiver is the same physical unit (WTRU, or network).
The actual bit field(s) carrying the ACKs or NACKs in the PAN field may be encoded according to either one of two (2) different procedures: a starting sequence number (SSN)-based approach or a time-based (TB)-approach. For both SSN-based and TB FANR operation, the PAN field is in principle the same, but the encoding approach differs.
When the SSN-based ACK/NACK mode is used, the PAN field includes an SSN and a reported bitmap, which relates to a series of RLC/MAC data blocks starting from the SSN. The PAN field contains parameters that can point out what block sequence number (BSN) the bitmap corresponds to. A BSN is included in every RLC data block.
For the TB FANR, the PAN field bits simply comprise a bitmap where pairs of bits refer to the decoding status of one or two RLC data block(s) on a given packet data channel (PDCH) in a given preceding transmission time interval (TTI). The TB ACK/NACK mode is particularly suitable to real time services such as voice over IP (VoIP). When the time-based ACK/NACK mode is used, instead of referencing the ACK/NACK report to SSNs, the ACK/NACK report refers to previously received RLC/MAC data blocks sent and the RLC/MAC data PDU(s) contained therein by one or possibly more WTRU(s) in the UL as given by a known or induced timing relationship. The TB-PAN field includes a bitmap providing feedback information relative to the reception of previously received UL RLC/MAC blocks at the network side. As a function of the size of the bitmap in the PAN field, a certain number of previously received RLC/MAC blocks can be acknowledged. When received in the DL, a TB-PAN field can carry information pertaining to more than one WTRU. Because any WTRU can keep track of when it sent RLC/MAC blocks in the UL, it can unambiguously associate ACK/NACK status in the PAN bitmap with its own transmissions (and ignore those of other WTRUs), because the timing relationship is known and fixed.
The SSN-based FANR method is used to convey ACK/NACKs for the downlink TBFs. However, for the uplink TBFs, either the SSN-based or the TB FANR method may be used. The base station subsystem (BSS) configures the FANR ACK/NACK mode to acknowledge the uplink transmissions when FANR is activated. When the TB-FANR mode is configured, all uplink TBFs in use by the WTRU must operate in the time-based ACK/NACK mode.
In the Release 7 GSM/GPRS/EGPRS modes of operation in conjunction with FANR mode of operation, the pairs of bits in the bitmap are used to refer to one (1) or two (2) RLC data block(s), or PDUs. In the following, we refer to the data units contained in an RLC/MAC data block as RLC data blocks, even though PDUs can be used as a synonym. Four different code points (using two bits) are currently defined in the current third generation partnership project (3GPP) specification (TS 44.060 v.7.10.9 2007-9-25) as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1BitstringMeaning0 0failed header decodingheader correctly received but failed decoding of the payload ofthe RLC data block (or RLC data blocks, in case of MCS-7/MCS-8/MCS-9)0 1header correctly received, failed decoding of the first RLC datablock, correct decoding of the second RLC data block1 0header correctly received, correct decoding of the first RLC datablock, failed decoding of the second RLC data block1 1correct decoding of the payload of the RLC data block, or correctdecoding of both the first and second RLC data blocks
In all four combinations given by prior art, the maximum number of RLC data blocks, or PDUs, that can be acknowledged is two (2). This is perfectly appropriate for FANR operation in conjunction with legacy enhanced general packet radio services (EGPRS), which at most can have two (2) RLC data blocks per TTI. In EGPRS, an RLC/MAC block using modulation and coding scheme (MCS)-1 to MCS-6 includes one RLC data block, and an RLC/MAC block using MCS-7 to MCS-9 includes two RLC data blocks, as shown in Table 2. FIG. 1 shows an RLC/MAC block for EGPRS data transfer with FANR activated. The RLC/MAC block comprises a combined RLC/MAC header, one or two RLC data blocks, and an optional PAN field.
TABLE 2Channel CodingEGPRS RLC data unit size (N2)Scheme(octets)MCS-122MCS-228MCS-337MCS-444MCS-556MCS-674MCS-72 × 56MCS-82 × 68MCS-92 × 74
However, the current baseline mode of operation with time-based FANR and its pair-wise bitmap definition of the PAN field does not allow for operation in conjunction with the EGPRS-2 UL (or, HUGE) features in Release 7 (R7). FIG. 2 shows an RLC/MAC block for EGPRS-2 data transfer. The RLC/MAC data block comprises a combined RLC/MAC header, one (1) up to four (4) RLC data blocks, and an optional PAN field which is included in case FANR is activated. Similarly, EGPRS-2 DL (or REDHOT) features in Release 7 (R7) use an RLC/MAC block containing more than the two (2) RLC data blocks.
EGPRS-2 UL Level A introduces five (5) new MCSs (UAS-7 to UAS-11) as shown in Table 3. An RLC/MAC block using UAS-10 and UAS-11 contains three (3) RLC data blocks. EGPRS-2 UL Level B introduces eight (8) new MCSs (UBS-5 to UBS-12) as shown in Table 4. An RLC/MAC block using UBS-9 and UBS-10 contains three (3) RLC data blocks, and an RLC/MAC data block using UBS-11 and UBS-12 contains four (4) RLC data blocks.
TABLE 3Channel CodingEGPRS RLC data unit size (N2)Scheme(octets)MCS-122MCS-228MCS-337MCS-444MCS-556MCS-674UAS-72 × 56UAS-82 × 64UAS-92 × 74UAS-103 × 56UAS-113 × 64
TABLE 4Channel CodingEGPRS RLC data unit size (N2)Scheme(octets)MCS-122MCS-228MCS-337MCS-444UBS-556UBS-674UBS-72 × 56UBS-82 × 74UBS-93 × 56UBS-103 × 74UBS-114 × 68UBS-124 × 74
EGPRS-2 UL (or, HUGE) has been carefully designed to operate in conjunction with the SSN-based FANR operation. While the SSN-based ACK/NACK mode may operate with EGPRs-2 UL (or HUGE) in the current state-of-the-art, the time-based ACK/NACK mode may currently not be employed in conjunction with EGPRS-2 transmission formats because of the prior art design assumption based on exclusive use only with EGPRS bursts. Therefore, no method has been provided for how a WTRU should deal with a configured time-based PAN field received in the DL when simultaneously using EGPRS-2 UL (or HUGE) transmissions in the UL. Similarly, no method has been provided for how a WTRU should deal with TB-FANR mode when using EGPRS-2 DL (or REDHOT) transmissions in the DL.

Method and apparatus for time-based fast ACK/NACK response operation with enhanced general packet radio service 2 uplink


The present invention is adapted to be embodied in a steering and suspension arrangement for the front wheel of a motorcycle. Specifically, the invention relates to a front wheel swing arm type steering and suspension arrangement. In the arrangement of the present invention, upper and lower swing arms connect a motorcycle frame to a steering knuckle which extends along one side of the front wheel. The invention provides means for adjusting the relative lateral positioning between the steering knuckle and the upper swing arm for suspension tuning. The invention also provides a relative positioning arrangement between the upper swing arm and the steering knuckle which minimizes forwards and backwards lateral movement of the suspension arrangement when the swing arms are moved up and down, as when the motorcycle encounters a bump during operation.

This invention relates to improvements in motorcycles and more particularly to a suspension and steering arrangement for the front wheel of a motorcycle.
Rear swing arm suspensions are now well known in the motorcycle industry and have become rather common in recent years. In such suspension systems, the rear wheel of the motorcycle is journaled to the end of a U-shaped fork, or swing arm. The swing am is hinged to the frame of the motorcycle and extends rearwardly. The rear swing arm and wheel undergo generally vertical swinging motion in response to road shocks and changing weight loads. The swing arm is spring loaded downwardly, typically by means of a compression spring, so that the swing arm can bear ordinary weight loads as well as road shocks. Various combinations of shock absorbers, dampers, and springs have been used to spring load and damp the swing arm. Road shocks and changing weight loads are typically transmitted via swinging motion of the swing arm to a shock absorber that incorporates a damper as well as the compression spring that provides the necessary downward force on the swing arm. There is commonly provided some mechanism for adjusting the spring force applied to the swing arm in order to adjust the ride of the motorcycle or to accommodate different riders, differing weight loads or changed road conditions.
Traditionally, front suspension systems of motorcycles have not been as well developed. Until relatively recently, motorcycles have been virtually universally equipped with a fork-type front end suspension system. The fork tubes are connected through a head assembly to a rotatable steering column which is journaled to the frame of the motorcycle. The axle of the front wheel is journaled to the lower ends of the fork tubes. Such designs have a recognized disadvantage in that all weight loads and road shocks on the front wheel are transmitted up through the front fork to the frame of the motorcycle, at a point on the frame which is well above and forward of the center of gravity of the motorcycle. This results in the front fork, the attached steering head, and the upper portions of the frame all being necessarily stronger, and thus heavier, than would be necessary to merely bear the suspension loads on the front wheel of the motorcycle. It also results in the entire front suspension system turning with the front wheel, when all that needs to be turned to effect steering is the front wheel, thus increasing the steering effort and the amount of unsprung mass of the front wheel.
In a co-pending patent application entitled, "Double Swing Arm Motorcycle Front Suspension," filed on Nov. 1, 1991 (Ser. No. 07/786,733) and naming as inventors Toyoji Tanaka, the inventor of the present invention, and additionally, Ichiro Kurawaki and Kazumasa Nakaya, and assigned to the assignee hereof, there is disclosed a motorcycle having a one-sided front swing am suspension system. The system of that application includes upper and lower control arms which are hinged to the frame of the motorcycle and which extend forwardly from the frame to a steering knuckle (also known as a kingpin). The steering knuckle extends along one side of the front wheel at a rake angle (i.e., the steering knuckle extends at an angle upwardly and rearwardly from the wheel axle to the steering column) which is similar to the rake angle of a conventional telescoping fork, and curves around the outer periphery of the wheel. A substantial rake angle is necessary and desirable to obtain satisfactory motorcycle steering response, and is also desirable because it renders the suspension most effective in absorbing road shocks.
The front wheel is journaled in a cantilevered fashion to an axle which extends transversely from the lower end of the steering knuckle. The lower control arm is arcuate and extends alongside of and around the front wheel. The lower control arm is connected to the lower end of the steering knuckle by means of a ball joint which allows the front wheel to be steered while also allowing swinging motion of the control arm. The upper control arm extends forwardly from the frame of the motorcycle and is connected to the upper end of the steering knuckle, at a location above the front wheel, also by means of a ball joint. The upper and lower control arms swing in parallel so as to absorb road shocks and weight loads on the front wheel.
A one-sided front swing arm suspension arrangement, similar in certain major respects to that just described, is also set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,249 to James G. Parker, issued on Jul. 2, 1985. Details of this suspension arrangement are disclosed in the '249 patent, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
It has been recognized that one primary advantage of the one-sided front swing arm suspension has been that weight and shock loads on the front wheel can be effectively borne by the motorcycle frame at a point low and close to the center of gravity of the frame, rather than at the point where the steering column is journaled to the frame.
However, as recognized in the above-identified co-pending patent application, a problem which may be encountered when employing a swing arm front wheel suspension system for a motorcycle involves the forwards and backwards lateral movement of the arrangement as the swing arms move through their respective arcs about axes defined by the points at which the swing arms connect to the motorcycle's frame. It is desirable that such forwards and backwards lateral movement be kept to a minimum.
Additionally, it has been recognized that a means for fine tuning the relative positioning between the swing arms and steering knuckle in front swing arm type suspension systems is desirable. Sometimes a rider may prefer a different camber angle of the front wheel in front swing arm arrangements. A fine tuning system could allow for the ready tuning of the suspension system until the desired camber angle of the front wheel is achieved. Of course, it is most desirable to have a fine tuning system that is easy to operate and which does not add excessive bulk or weight to a motorcycle front swing arm type suspension arrangement.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved suspension and steering arrangement for the front wheel of a motorcycle.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a one-sided front swing arm suspension system for a motorcycle which minimizes any forwards and backwards lateral movement of the arrangement encountered during any swinging motion of the swing arms during motorcycle operation.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a one-sided front swing arm suspension system for a motorcycle which can be readily tuned for accurate performance.


A data delivery system and method include storing software resources in a central equipment, receiving and storing software resources sent from the central equipment, and communicating with the central equipment, terminal devices and with the intermediate server. The central equipment includes a registration-accepting unit for accepting registration of software resources, a resource information storage unit for storing resource information having a version number corresponding to the software resources accepted by the registration-accepting unit, a resource transfer unit for sending the software resources accepted and the resource information stored in the resource information storage unit to the intermediate server, a server list-creating unit for creating a server list of the intermediate servers to be sent to the terminal devices, and a sending unit for sending the server list created by the server list-creating unit.

In recent years, systems for managing software resources by making use of a network have been introduced in schools, hospitals, companies, and so on. Such a system constitutes a three-layered structure including a host server layer, an intermediate server layer, and a client server layer (such as personal computers). A host server in the host server layer stores software resources necessary for client devices and is connected with intermediate servers in the intermediate server layer. The intermediate servers download the software resources from the host server and store software resources similar to the software resources stored in the host server. The client devices download the software resources from the intermediate servers.
In the system of this configuration, a user can download the software resources existing in the host server from an intermediate server by means of a client device (such as a personal computer) owned by the user. For example, where the system is introduced in an enterprise, employees of its branches can acquire the software resources present in the headquarter from intermediate servers mounted in the branches by mounting the host server in the headquarter and mounting the intermediate servers in the branches. An administrator who manages the system can distribute the newest software resources to the client devices simply by updating the software resources present in the host server to the newest version.
In this system, each client device cannot reliably grasp whether or not the software resources in the host server are of the newest version. Accordingly, a system permitting reliable dispersion of software resources has been contemplated (e.g., JP-A-2007-80167). In this system, an intermediate server monitors whether software resources stored in a host server have been updated. If an update is performed, the intermediate server updates the software resources stored in itself and informs each client device of the update. When the client device is informed of the update, the client device receives the software resources from the intermediate server. Consequently, the client device can receive the newest software resources with greater certainty.

Data delivery system and data delivery method


Integrated circuit comprising a substrate carrying at least one transistor comprising an alternating grid (1) of source and drain regions (D, S) separated by a grid (14) of gate regions, e.g. a checkerboard pattern of source and drain regions. The source regions (S) are vertically connected to a first metal layer and the drain regions (D) are vertically connected to a second metal layer. At least one of the first metal layer and the second metal layer comprises a metal grid (30, 40) of a plurality of interconnected metal portions (32, 42) arranged such that said grid comprises a plurality of gaps (34, 44) for connecting respective substrate portions to a further metal layer. Method for manufacturing such an integrated circuit.

The downscaling of the dimensions of ICs such as CMOS ICs continually poses IC designers with difficult design challenges, not in the least because the reduction in feature size is usually accompanied by a demand for the integration of a higher number of components in the IC. Typically, this makes it increasingly difficult to ensure that all semiconductor components of the IC can be properly connected to the metal layers of the IC. In addition, the reduction of the feature size of a building block of the IC such as a transistor must be achieved whilst ensuring that the performance of the transistor or at least the overall performance of the IC is not adversely affected. It will be obvious that the above challenges are by no means trivial.
For instance, it is difficult to achieve a compact power transistor, since such a transistor typically has to provide a high power output, for which a low-resistive channel is required. This may be achieved by increasing the dimensions of the channel and by placing strips of the source (S), drain (D) and channel (C) regions in parallel in an interdigited fashion, e.g. SCDCSCDC . . . . However, such a layout is not particularly area-efficient and requires interdigited metal structures for connecting these transistor regions, which cannot be automatically routed due to their complexity, thus adding to the complexity and cost of the design.
An improved layout is disclosed in US 2006/0238241. This patent application discloses a QVDMOS transistor comprising a checkerboard pattern of source and drain regions, wherein the source and drain regions are separated from each other by a grid of gate regions. This improves the effective channel width of the transistor, but complicates the interconnection of the transistor regions to the metal layers of the IC, as indicated in US 2006/0238241. Moreover, a further problem is that the area-efficient checkerboard layout of the source and drain regions makes it more difficult to provide additional contacts to the substrate. This is particularly relevant in CMOS technology where contacts to the substrate are required to prevent latch-up. Additional contacts may be provided in the periphery of the transistor but this has the disadvantage that a relatively large number of contacts is required to provide satisfactory protection against latch-up, thereby off-setting the area gains achieved by the checkerboard layout.

Integrated circuit and method for manufacturing an integrated circuit


Provided is a multi charged particle beam writing apparatus including: an emission unit emitting a charged particle beam; a restriction aperture unit having a first opening having a variable opening area, the restriction aperture unit shielding a portion of the charged particle beam; a shaping aperture array substrate having a plurality of second openings, the shaping aperture array substrate forming multiple beams by allowing the shaping aperture array substrate to be irradiated with the charged particle beam passing through the first opening and allowing a portion of the charged particle beam to pass through the plurality of second openings; and a blanking aperture array substrate having a plurality of third openings, each beam of the multiple beams passing through the plurality of third openings, the blanking aperture array substrate being capable of independently deflecting each beam of the multiple beams.

With high integration of semiconductor devices, circuit patterns of semiconductor devices have become fine. In realizing a fine circuit pattern, a lithography technique for forming a circuit pattern on a semiconductor substrate becomes important. In order to form a fine circuit pattern by using a lithography technique, an original image pattern (also referred to as a reticle or a mask) with high accuracy is required. Electron beam writing inherently has excellent resolution, and thus, is used for manufacturing an original image pattern with high accuracy.
For example, there is a writing apparatus using multiple beams. Compared to pattern drawing with one electron beam, a target object can be irradiated with many electron beams at once by using the multiple beams. Therefore, it is possible to greatly improve the throughput of the pattern drawing.
In a writing apparatus using multiple beams, the multiple beams are formed by allowing an electron beam emitted from an electron gun assembly to pass through a shaping aperture array having a plurality of openings. Each beam of the multiple beams is independently deflected by a blanking aperture array substrate.
The blanking aperture array substrate has a plurality of openings through which each beam of the multiple beams passes and an electrode pair provided in each of the openings. By controlling the voltage applied to the electrode pair, each beam of the multiple beams is deflected. The beam deflected by the electrode pair is shielded, and the target object is irradiated with the beam that is not deflected, so that the pattern drawing is performed.
The temperature of the shaping aperture array substrate rises due to the irradiation with the electron beam. If the temperature of the shaping aperture array substrate rises, the pitch of the openings changes due to thermal expansion. If the pitch of the openings deviates from a predetermined range, for example, each beam of the multiple beams cannot pass through the desired openings of the blanking aperture array, and thus, there is a problem that the electron beam with which the target object is irradiated is lost.
For this reason, for example, the pitch of the openings of the shaping aperture array is designed in consideration of a change due to a rise in temperature of the shaping aperture array substrate in advance. During the time of pattern drawing, the temperature of the shaping aperture array substrate is maintained in a predetermined range, so that the pitch of the openings falls within a predetermined range.
In order to prevent the temperature of the shaping aperture array substrate from rising, for example, it is considered that a restriction aperture that restricts the amount of the electron beam with which the shaping aperture array substrate is irradiated is provided. The restriction aperture is provided between the electron gun assembly and the shaping aperture array substrate and shields a portion of the electron beam to restrict the amount of the electron beam with which the shaping aperture array substrate is irradiated.
On the other hand, if the shaping aperture temperature is suppressed to be too low, there is a problem in that the growth of dirt (mainly hydrocarbon) in the holes of the shaping aperture is facilitated. If dirt grows in the holes of the shaping aperture, there occur problems in pattern drawing accuracy such as a deterioration in beam shape accuracy and a deterioration in beam position accuracy. For this reason, it is necessary to replace the shaping aperture, but since it is necessary to stop the apparatus and perform the replacement operation, there is a problem in that the operating rate of the apparatus significantly decreases. Thus, in order to suppress a change in pitch of the shaping aperture openings due to a temperature rise, it is better to lower the temperature, but if the temperature is too low, there occur problems such as a deterioration in accuracy due to the growth of dirt on the shaping aperture and a decrease in operating rate.

Multi charged particle beam writing apparatus


A bicycle electric power device includes a dynamo, an electrical device, a power source and a switch. The electrical device is electrically connected to the dynamo. The power source is electrically connected to the dynamo in parallel with the electrical device and configured to chargeably connect to the dynamo. The switch is connected in series with the power source and configured to controllably connect the power source to the dynamo with the dynamo producing no power of its own such that with the switch closed the dynamo is charged by the power source and with the switch opened the dynamo provides boosted voltage to the bicycle electrical device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for boosting voltage using a bicycle dynamo. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus that boosts voltage using the coil of a dynamo to increase voltage from a direct current power source.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. One component that has been extensively redesigned is the bicycle front light and electrical system.
Recently, light-emitting diodes have been introduced as a light source for bicycles in order to reduce the size and weight of bicycle lights. Such light-emitting diodes are light weight and provide adequate lighting when several diodes are combined to provide a single source of illumination. Bicycles are often equipped with a dynamo. The dynamo produces electricity while the bicycle is in motion and can produce sufficient voltage to power the diodes, but only when the bicycle is in motion. When the bicycle comes to a stop, a separate source of power is required to power the diodes. However, such light-emitting diodes require a minimum voltage level in order to illuminate. Typically, a battery with sufficient voltage to power diodes is undesirable for use on a bicycle due to the increased weigh on the bicycle. Similarly, circuitry such as a transformer can be provided to step-up the voltage from a small battery thus providing sufficient voltage to illuminate the diodes. However, such circuitry is undesirable because the circuitry also adds weight to the bicycle.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved electrical power system that provides increased voltage from a power source such as a small battery but does not increase the weight of the bicycle. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Method and apparatus for boosting power in a bicycle electrical device


A hard disk drive (HDD) bracket for fixing a HDD includes an arm, a frame pivotably connected to the arm, a handle mounted to the frame, and a fixing member slidably attached to the arm and capable of engaging with both of the handle and the arm.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a hard disk drive (HDD) bracket for mounting an HDD.
2. Description of Related Art
Hard disk drives (HDDs) are generally received in brackets first, and then received in a rack of a chassis. In most case, HDDs are fixed to the brackets with screws, which is inconvenient and time-consuming for assembly or disassembly.


An image forming apparatus includes a first casing, a second casing, a support portion, an indication, and a USB port. The first casing includes a sheet discharge tray disposed at a top surface thereof. The indication is located at a portion of one of the top surface of the first casing and the support portion, and is positioned outside the sheet discharge tray in a width direction. The portion is located closer to one end of the image forming apparatus in the width direction than the other end of the image forming apparatus opposite to the one end in the width direction. The USB port is disposed at a portion of one of the second casing and the support portion closer to the one end than the other end in the width direction, and is located at a different position in an up-down direction from the indication.

A known image forming apparatus is configured to perform short-range wireless communication with an external device, such as an IC card and a smartphone, in compliance with, for example, a near field communication ("NFC") technology. The known image forming apparatus has a portion to which an external device is brought into proximity for short-range wireless communication. The portion can be seen from above without obstruction.

Image forming apparatus that establishes short-range wireless communication between the image forming apparatus and an external device


A method of cementing a wellbore which penetrates a subsurface gas-containing formation is provided whereby gas migration is reduced. The method features the use of an additive consisting of a tannin backbone having grafted thereto at least two different vinylamide derivatives. The additive causes the cement slurry employed in the method to exhibit a Zero Gel Time of greater than about one hour, a Transition Time of less than about one hour and controls fluid loss from the slurry.

1. Field of The Invention
This invention relates to well cementing. This invention further relates to cementing wells which penetrate subterranean formations which produce gas. This invention still further relates to a composition for and a method of cementing a well with a slurry of hydraulic cement in water whereby the movement of gas into the slurry from a subterranean formation adjacent thereto is substantially reduced if not eliminated.
2. Related Art and Problem Solved
In the art of cementing a wellbore penetrating a subterranean earth formation, it is well known that a sheath of hardened cement is formed in the annular space between the walls of the wellbore which penetrates the formation and a well pipe, such as a casing, wherein the purpose of the sheath is to support the casing in the wellbore and to prevent the undesirable movement of formation fluids, i.e., oil, gas and water, within the annular space between subsurface formations and/or to the surface of the earth. It is known that the process of forming the sheath is referred to as primary cementing.
According to the well known process of primary cementing, a slurry of hydraulic cement in water is formed, the slurry is then pumped down the casing and then circulated up from the bottom thereof in the annulus to a desired location and then permitted to set in the annulus where the hydraulic cement reacts with the water in the slurry to form the sheath of hardened cement.
The slurry of cement, when first placed in the annulus, acts as a true liquid and will, therefore, transmit hydrostatic pressure. Thus, sufficient hydrostatic pressure is exerted, as a feature of the process of primary cementing, to balance the pressure of any gas in the formation to thereby prevent the movement of gas from the formation into and through the slurry in the annulus. Movement of gas from a formation into and through a cement slurry in an annulus is referred to in the art as gas migration.
Gas migration is a problem in primary cementing which can lead to movement of gas in the slurry from one formation to another or even to the surface of the earth. Such movement can cause loss of control of pressure and lead to a blowout. As mentioned previously, gas migration can be controlled if sufficient pressure can be transmitted through the slurry. However, loss of control can be experienced and gas migration can occur if the slurry does not possess the properties of a true fluid and is unable to transmit hydrostatic pressure.
Before a slurry of hydraulic cement sets into a hardened mass having compressive strength, events take place which cause the slurry to lose the ability to transmit hydrostatic pressure. One of the events is the loss of fluid from the slurry to the formation. Another event is the development of static gel strength in the slurry.
It seems clear that the loss of water from a slurry of cement will diminish the ability of the slurry to transmit hydrostatic pressure. The ability to control water loss is more difficult as the temperature increases, especially at temperatures greater than about 200.degree. F. It is thus an object of this invention to provide a composition for and a method of reducing fluid loss from a slurry of hydraulic cement at temperatures greater than about 200.degree. F.
When a slurry of hydraulic cement becomes static it begins to develop a property known in the art as static gel strength, or simply gel strength. (In this regard, note Sabins, et al., "The Relationship of Thickening Time, Gel Strength, and Compressive Strength of Oilwell Cements," SPE Production Engineering, March 1986, pages 143-152.)
Gel strength is not compressive strength. Thus, as a slurry of hydraulic cement sets into a hardened mass having compressive strength, it is believed that the hardening process experiences phases which are relevant to the phenomenon of gas migration. In the first phase of the process, it is believed that the slurry contains sufficient liquid to enable the slurry to possess the characteristics of a true fluid. Accordingly, during the first phase, the slurry can transmit hydrostatic pressure and gas migration can be prevented by applying sufficient hydrostatic pressure which is transmitted against a gas-containing formation to thereby prevent the movement of gas from the formation into the slurry.
During the first phase of the process, some of the liquid in the slurry is lost--this is referred to as fluid loss--and the slurry begins to stiffen due to the formation of a gel structure. During this period of fluid loss and gel formation it is believed that the setting cement retains the ability to transmit hydrostatic pressure. Accordingly, gas migration can be prevented so long as the slurry exhibits the properties of a true fluid and so long as the stiffness of the gel structure--referred to as gel strength--is less than or equal to a certain value, which, for purposes of this invention, is referred to as the first critical value. The first critical value is believed to be about 100 lb.sub.f /100 sq. ft.
In the second phase of the hardening process, the gel strength of the slurry exceeds the first critical value and continues to increase; fluid loss may continue, although at a rate much lower than that experienced in the first phase. During this period, it is believed that the setting cement loses the ability to transmit full hydrostatic pressure. Accordingly, gas migration may not be prevented during the second phase because the gel strength of the slurry may be too high to permit full transmission of hydrostatic pressure, but too low to resist pressure exerted by gas in the formation against the slurry. This condition exists until the gel strength increases to a value, which for purposes of this invention, is referred to as the second critical value, which is high enough to resist pressure exerted by gas in the formation against the slurry. The second critical value is believed to be about 500 lb.sub.f /100 sq. ft.
In the third phase of the hardening process, gas migration is prevented because gel strength is equal to or greater than the second critical value. The cement continues to harden until it attains a compressive strength deemed sufficient to enable further operations in the wellbore.
It is noted that Sabins, et al., mentioned above, provide a discussion and a description of a method and apparatus to experimentally determine gel strength value.
In view of the above, in order to minimize gas migration, it is desirable that maximum fluid loss, if any, should occur prior to the beginning of the second phase of the cement hardening process; that the first phase should continue over an extended period of time; and that the second phase should be completed in a short period of time.
The time required for a slurry of hydraulic cement to attain the first critical value from the time the slurry becomes static is defined herein as "Zero Gel Time," and the time required for a slurry to attain the second critical value from the time it attains the first critical value is defined herein as "Transition Time."
It is thus another object of this invention to provide a composition for and a method of extending Zero Gel Time of a slurry for a time sufficient to enable the rate of fluid loss from the slurry to decline to a substantially constant value and to accelerate Transition Time.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of cementing a borehole which penetrates a gas-containing subterranean formation whereby gas migration at temperatures up to 400.degree. F. and particularly above 200.degree. F. is reduced if not eliminated.

Method for control of gas migration in well cementing


A plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for corresponding items are read as a group to provide corresponding group information. This group information is used to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory. If desired, a confidence rating as corresponds to this determination can be determined and even displayed. These teachings can then provide for assigning a physical location within a given facility to each of at least some of these items based upon that determination. And again, if desired, a corresponding confidence rating can be determined and displayed as appropriate.

RFID tags are known in the art. These so-called tags often assume the form factor of a label or a literal "tag" but are also sometimes integrated with a host article and/or its packaging. RFID tags typically comprise an integrated circuit and one or more antennas. The integrated circuit typically carries out a variety of functions including modulating and demodulating radio frequency signals, data storage, and data processing. Some integrated circuits are active or self-powered (in whole or in part) while others are passive, being completely dependent upon an external power source (such as an RFID tag reader) to support their occasional functionality.
There are proposals to utilize RFID tags to individually identify individual items. The Electronic Product Code (EPC) as managed by EPCGlobal, Inc. represents one such effort in these regards. EPC-based RFID tags each have a unique serial number to thereby uniquely identify each tag and, by association, each item associated on a one-for-one basis with such tags. (The corresponding document entitled EPC Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols Class-1 Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz-960 MHz Version 1.0.9 is hereby fully incorporated herein by this reference.)
Each EPC-compliant tag has two states for each supported session: "A" and "B." The "A" state comprises the default state and hence represents the tag's state when initially powering up. Once a tag has been read by an RFID-tag reader its state changes from "A" to "B." During the "A" state a tag will respond to any reader that offers a session query. During the "B" state, however, the tag will not again respond to a reader using the same session query. EPC's four different sessions provide for differences with respect to how a read tag persists a "B" state upon losing power.
Pursuant to one approach to system design, RFID-tag reader energy is highly dispersed through a given monitored facility. Examples in such regards can be found, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/900,191, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO RFID TAG READER ANTENNA ARRAY (the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by this reference). Notwithstanding the various benefits afforded by such an approach, in many cases a given RFID tag within such a facility may only be read occasionally as the RFID tag, once read, may persist its "B" state due to the generally-ubiquitous section-wide availability of power. This means, for example, that a tagged item might be read once initially upon first entering the sales floor of a retail facility but will then move quietly (in its "B" state) through the sales floor to a final destination such as a display of loose inventory.
Accordingly, the RFID-tag system may be able to confirm that this particular item entered the sales floor, but will not be able to otherwise account for a present location of that item. Difficulties in these regards are made worse by the fact that many retailers often display identical products in a variety of different locations within their facility. For example, a given item might be stocked as loose inventory on a shelf in a first part of the facility while other identical items are displayed in a so-called end-cap display elsewhere in the same facility. As a result, even knowing via an RFID-tag monitoring system that a particular such item did indeed enter the sales floor, the system will be uncertain as to the actual location of that item within the facility absent more aggressive inventorying methodologies.
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Method and apparatus pertaining to the use of group RFID tag information


Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for supporting components of an implantable medical device. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a first electrode and a second electrode and a scaffold assembly configured to support the first electrode and the second electrode.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) may be configured to sense physiological parameters and/or provide therapy and may include one or more electrodes for performing aspects of these functions. IMDs may also include antennas for communicating with other devices. Conventionally, devices such as programmers and wands have been used to cause IMDs to take various actions such as for example, marking recordings of physiological parameters, initiating communications with other devices, and the like.

Implantable medical device having two electrodes in the header