The present invention provides a fixture and method for mounting a head window to a frame for use in a submarine periscope system. The fixture supports the head window during the potting of the head window to the frame. A spring-loaded clamping plate is mountable to a baseplate for relative movement therebetween. The clamping assembly has an oval recessed portion. A plurality of spaced apart feet are formed within the oval. The feet support and are bonded to the head window. Shim stock are placed between the feet to define a critical gap.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to manufacturing of head windows for submarines and more particularly to a fixture utilized during manufacture of the head window.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
During manufacture of a head window for a submarine periscope system, a critical thickness space should be established between the glass window and the wall of a frame for the glass window. The critical thickness space forms a gap that cushions the head window against sea pressures. Uniform thickness of the critical thickness space is essential.
The following U.S. patents describe various prior art fixtures.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,146, issued Mar. 28, 1962, to D. S. George, provides a precision stage assembly for an optical microscope which comprises an outer frame adapted to be rigidly mounted on the main structure of an optical microscope, an inner frame for carrying an X and Y traverse device on which a specimen may be carried, an intermediate frame between the inner and outer frames adjustable relative to the outer frame by a coarse focus drive, and releasable clamping means for rigidly clamping together the intermediate and outer frames, the inner frame being adjustable relative to the intermediate frame by a fine focus control mechanism and the inner frame being located with reference to the intermediate frame such that significant relative movement therebetween is restricted to movement in a vertical direction. The George reference concerns specific application of controlled two axis movement of a stage of a microscope. The third axis is that of the microscope itself. The cited reference does not discuss any kind of process of forming a cushion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,349, issued Nov. 14, 1989, to D. A. Woodward, discloses a ceramic substrate held in position, while being processed, by vacuum. The substrate is positioned on an intermediate plate and held down by a vacuum. The intermediate plate is supported on an air bearing while being moved into correct location on a support member, after which the intermediate plate is held in position by a vacuum. The locating of the intermediate plate can be caused to move into position during movement of the support member to a processing position. As such, the cited reference uses vacuum technology and air bearings to support and position ceramic substrates. The reference does not discuss the means by which positioning is controlled, nor a process for use and fabrication of a cushion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,894, issued Jan. 25, 1994, to Witcraft et al., discloses a fixture which includes a lower base for supporting and protecting the front surface of a semiconductor wafer and a clamp. The lower base has an upper end having a central surface portion recessed from a peripheral surface portion for supporting by means of an O ring the peripheral portion of the front surface of the wafer. The clamp rests on a peripheral portion of the back surface of the wafer with the remaining back surface exposed to the backside etching process. A pin and hole arrangement help align the clamp to the base. Holes in the base equalize pressure on both sides of the wafer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,674, issued Mar. 28, 1994, to Arnone et al., discloses a precision component mounting and positioning apparatus with a frame member and a stage member suspended in the frame member. The frame member is adapted to be mounted on a support surface, and the stage member is adapted to receive a precision component, typically a precision optical component such as an optical fiber or waveguide. The stage member can be positionally adjusted relative to the frame member in five degrees of freedom. Three axially oriented actuators are grounded in the frame member to provide for selectively rotating the stage member about two orthogonally disposed transverse axes relative to the frame member as well as for axially translating the stage member relative to the frame member. A pair of orthogonally opposed transverse actuators are grounded in the frame member and oriented to provide for transverse translation of the stage member relative to the frame member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,594, issued May 7, 1996, to McClanahan et al., discloses an apparatus for releasably clamping a substrate to a support platform, or other support system, at a face of the substrate. In one embodiment, a retractable clamp holds a substrate near its edges on a support platform when the clamp is in its fully extended position. One or more leaf springs are mounted to the clamp and apply force to the substrate at respective points in the event the substrate adheres to the clamp, thereby releasing the substrate from the clamp. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more activators are positioned in cooperative relationship to the leaf springs to cause the leaf springs to retract into recesses in the clamp when the clamp is extended against the substrate. In their retracted position, the leaf springs do not contact the substrate so as to minimize the generation of particle contamination and the chance of the release leaf springs themselves adhering to the substrate. As such, the cited reference does not contain any position control devices nor does the reference discuss a process of use and application.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,038, issued May 15, 2001, to Keyser et al., discloses a clamp ring assembly for securing a generally circular workpiece to a supporting surface with an annular base ring having a radial inner surface of a predetermined diameter and at least one locking member. The base ring further includes at least one opening extending axially therethrough for securing the base ring to the supporting surface. An annular securing ring having a radial outer surface and a radial inner surface is provided. The diameter of the outer surface of the securing ring is the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner surface of the base ring and the securing ring includes at least one locking member for engaging the locking member of the base ring when the securing ring is assembled with the base ring. The securing ring also includes at least one workpiece engaging member for engaging and holding the workpiece against the supporting surface. As such, the cited reference does not contain any position control devices nor does the reference discuss a process of use and application.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,644, issued Apr. 29, 2003, to Karmaniolas et al., discloses processing workpieces utilizing a frame and a fixture. The frame has a perimeter with an opening, and inner and outer side walls. A pair of shelves is located in the opening for supporting a workpiece and a spring retains the workpiece on the frame. The fixture has work locations with elevators that are moved by an elevator handle. The fixture also has an engagement handle for actuating the springs. The workpieces may be simultaneously mounted to or removed from the frames with the fixture. The frames are loaded into the locations and both handles are rotated to raise the elevators and bend the springs. The workpieces are then placed on top of the elevators and the elevator handle is rotated to lower the workpieces. Next, the engagement handle is rotated to release the springs to form assemblies that can be removed from the fixture. As such, the cited reference does not contain any substantive position control.
The above cited prior art does not disclose a suitable fixture for use during construction involving mounting a head window for a periscope system within a suitable frame. Consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate the present invention that addresses the above and other problems.

Method for connecting a head window to a frame

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A non-slip drumstick which uses a flexible, synthetic, finger-band to hold the index finger of a drummer in a fixed position. The invention comprises a cavity formed in the drumstick, a base assembly consisting of a top insert and a bottom insert and a finger-holding, flat surfaced "O" ring assembled in a slot in the top insert. The top and bottom inserts grip a pair of horizontal ribs formed in the cavity and lock together with latches formed in the top and bottom inserts. The drummer can use either an over or under hand grip. The flexible band can conform to the shape, angle, and movement of the index finger.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to drumsticks and more particularly, to non-slip drumsticks which use a flexible, synthetic finger-band to hold the index finger in a fixed position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many musical groups of today such as marching bands, dance bands, and the like, present musical interludes for viewing by multitudes of people, such as in parades, during half-time activities of an athletic contest, during a "pop" music concert, or the like. A drummer and the drumbeat which a drummer provides to a musical group is indispensable to that group. The drumbeat becomes the basic beat of the music that emanates from the group. The rhythm of the dream may at times stand alone in a musical composition, but a composition is seldom without the rhythmic accompaniment of a drum. The main contribution and his playing to music are aural. However, the contribution is also visual. The flash of the spinning drumsticks and the rhythmic waving of the drummer's hands, arms, and the whole body are part of the drummer's presence.
When performing with a standard drumstick, the drummer has a preferred grip location on the shaft. This position is what produces the optimum performance. While playing, the drummer frequently loses the preferred grip and has to regain the original position. Occasionally, the drumstick may slip completely out of the drummer's hand. The problem becomes worse if the drummer's hand is sweaty. This slippage is due mainly to the centrifugal force of the front section of the drumstick while in motion. Several prior art attempts have been made to assist in gripping a drumstick.
One such attempt may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 297,546 to Seals which shows a drumstick having a large wrist band attached thereto. U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,108 to Giba discloses a retaining device for drumsticks wherein a ring which is worn on a finger of the drummer's hand is connected to the drumstick by a short, flexible, and freely swiveling connection whose length is such that when the drumstick is held in the proper playing position there is not interference with the use of the drumstick and when the drummer releases his finger grip on the drumstick, the same remains within reach of his fingers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,887 to Buchanan discloses a drumstick gripping aid provided with a freely pivotal grip which serves as an instructional aid by which the drumstick can be held without interfering with the free angular movement of the drumstick about the pivot axis between the grip and the drumstick. U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,508 to Huslig discloses a drumstick constructed with at least a portion of the length thereof to be gripped by a user generally flattened in one transverse direction to facilitate more comfortable and positive holding and manipulation of the stick.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,836 to Baumgart discloses a drumstick or the left hand having three recesses in the peripheral region of the short flexor of the thumb, another for the ring finger, and the third for the middle finger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,768 to Willis discloses a drumstick having a non-bulbous tip and a grip portion to facilitate holding of the stick. The end of the stick is sharply tapered, ending in a point.
None of the above prior art devices provide the convenience, simplicity, nor effectiveness of the flexible, synthetic fingerband of the present invention to hold the index finger, and thus the hand, in a fixed position and still provide a pivot point for spinning (revolving) the stick around the finger.


A disposable child sized article is provided. The disposable child sized article is releasably carrying a benefit composition. An article of commerce comprising disposable child sized article is also provided.

Consumer products, such as, cleansing and conditioning products as well as household consumer cleaning products, have traditionally been marketed in a variety of forms such as bar soaps, creams, foams, sprays, liquids, powders, lotions, and gels. Typically, these products must satisfy a number of criteria to be acceptable to consumers. These criteria include effectiveness, skin feel, mildness to skin, suitability for use in the consumer's household, and appearance. Typically these consumer products comprise a benefit composition in some form.
It is highly desirable to deliver benefit compositions from a disposable substrate. Disposable products are convenient because they obviate the need to carry or store cumbersome bottles, bars, jars, tubes, and other forms of clutter associated with consumer products. Disposable products are also a more sanitary alternative to the use of a sponge, washcloth, or other implement intended for extensive reuse, because such implements can develop bacterial growth, unpleasant odors, and other undesirable characteristics related to repeated use.
However, while disposable articles, which can be easily used by young children, are desirable they have their own problems. Retention in the hand of a user of such disposable articles, especially during vigorous scrubbing, is one such problem. If the washcloth is prone to be dropped during use the user is more concerned with retaining the article in hand instead of actually using the article for its intended purpose.
It can now be appreciated that using consumer products involves many aspects for both the child and the caregiver, especially for the child incapable of reading. Some of these aspects affect children differently, or may not even be a factor for a particular child. It is this uniqueness of each individual child that presents a major challenge for both the child and the caregiver. If any of these aspects are unsuccessful, the child's progress in learning how to, for example bathe or clean properly can be unnecessarily delayed due to numerous failures and frustrations. In the past reusable washcloths and sponges have been made in various shapes, such as puppets and with child appealing graphics, in order to make the use of these products fun and enjoyable. However, these reusable products still suffer from the problems associated with repeated use, i.e., bacterial growth, unpleasant odors, and other undesirable characteristics related to extensive reuse. One the other hand, while disposable products side step this problem of extensive reuse, no effort has been made to make disposable products more appealing to children.
The problem remains that there is no disposable articles, products or system available for children of all ages and sizes, which can be easily handled and the method of utilizing easily understood, by the child. The need also remains for disposable cleaning products which are easy to use, appealing to and suitable for use by children, of different ages, all sizes and/or stages of development. Furthermore, the need remains for an article which a child will desire to use and is retained in a user's hand such that the consumer can focus on the task at hand, namely using the product correctly, without having to be concerned with retaining the article in their hand.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Briefly, within a computer or digital data processing system, embodiments describe a method, article and apparatus for compressing data is described, which may be used for communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system, and/or for communicating between two or more computers or digital data processing systems via an interconnection medium such as a network.

In recent years it has become more and more common for persons to share data over networks; however, transmission of data has a cost in terms of bandwidth utilization. Therefore, large amounts of data, for example, are often compressed. Compression may also be used, for example, in storing data on magnetic or other media, in transferring data from one component to another within a computing platform, and/or in transferring data to and/or from a peripheral device to and/or from a computing platform.

Data compression for communication between two or more components in a system


Disclosed herein are oral care compositions comprising a zinc amino acid halide complex, and linear polyvinylpyrrolidone and/or sodium tripolyphosphate, which compositions have improved rheological stability. Methods of making and using the compositions are also provided.

Dental erosion involves demineralization and damage to the tooth structure due to acid attack from nonbacterial sources. Erosion is found initially in the enamel and, if unchecked, may proceed to the underlying dentin. Dental erosion may be caused or exacerbated by acidic foods and drinks, exposure to chlorinated swimming pool water, and regurgitation of gastric acids. The tooth enamel is a negatively charged surface, which naturally tends to attract positively charged ions such as hydrogen and calcium ions, while resisting negatively charged ions such as fluoride ions.
Dentinal hypersensitivity is acute, localized tooth pain in response to physical stimulation of the dentine surface as by thermal (hot or cold) osmotic, tactile combination of thermal, osmotic and tactile stimulation of the exposed dentin. Exposure of the dentine, which is generally due to recession of the gums, or loss of enamel, frequently leads to hypersensitivity. Dentinal tubules open to the surface have a high correlation with dentine hypersensitivity. Dentinal tubules lead from the pulp to the cementum. When the surface cementum of the tooth root is eroded, the dentinal tubules become exposed to the external environment. The exposed dentinal tubules provide a pathway for transmission of fluid flow to the pulpal nerves, the transmission induced by changes in temperature, pressure and ionic gradients.
The prior art discloses the use of various stable, soluble zinc-amino acid-halide complexes for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity and improved oral health. When placed in oral care formulations, these complexes provide an effective concentration of zinc ions to the enamel, thereby protecting against erosion, reducing bacterial colonization and biofilm development, and providing enhanced shine to the teeth. Moreover, upon use, these formulations provide a precipitate that can plug the dentinal tubules, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the teeth. These formulations have the added benefit that they do not exhibit the poor taste and mouthfeel, poor fluoride delivery, and poor foaming and cleaning associated with conventional zinc-based oral care products using soluble zinc salts.
Of particular interest are compositions comprising the zinc-amino acid-halide complex zinc-lysine-chloride complex, designated ZLC, which may be formed from a mixture of zinc oxide and lysine hydrochloride. ZLC has the chemical structure [Zn(C6H14N2O2)2Cl]+Cl−, and may exist in solution of the cationic cation ([Zn(C6H14N2O2)2Cl]+) and the chloride anion, or may be a solid salt, e.g., a crystal, optionally in mono- or dihydrate form.
While oral care compositions comprising the ZLC complex are known, it has been challenging to formulate compositions comprising this complex which have good long-term stability. It has been particularly difficult to formulate low-water dentifrice compositions comprising ZLC complex, because these compositions suffer from unacceptably high increases in viscosity during storage. This progressive thickening or gelation makes the composition unsuitable for consumer use. There is thus a need for improved formulations comprising ZLC complex.

Oral care compositions comprising zinc amino acid halides


A plant evaluation apparatus includes: a first computation unit configured to compute a first estimated value of a plant state quantity by using a steady-state model; a first determination unit configured to compute a second estimated value of the plant state quantity by assigning an equipment parameter in a normal state to an equipment parameter of a non-steady-state model; a second computation unit configured to compute a third estimated value of the plant state quantity by using the steady-state model in a case where the first determination unit determines that an error between the second estimated value and an actually measured value is equal to or more than a threshold value; and a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not a difference between the equipment parameter in the normal state and the equipment parameter in an abnormal state is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

There is a case where simulation using a plant model is performed for the purpose of an optimal operation for a plant such as a chemical plant. PTL 1 discloses a simulation device including a tracking model part, an identification model part, an analysis model part, and a comparison/determination unit. The comparison/determination unit has, in advance, information regarding a parameter which is to be corrected with an identification model in a case where an error occurs in measurement data and prediction data.

Plant evaluation device and plant evaluation method


A graphene transfer method comprising: attaching a first end of a first stacked structure, including a catalyst metal, graphene, and a supporting body stacked in the order stated, to a point of a target film that is transported in a roll-to-roll manner in a first direction; forming a second stacked structure by removing the catalyst metal of the first stacked structure, the second stacked structure having a surface whereon the graphene is exposed; and transferring the exposed graphene to a transfer surface of the target film by transporting the target film in a roll-to-roll manner and the second stacked structure in the first direction.

Graphene is a material in which carbon atoms are connected to each others in a hexagonal shape that forms a honeycomb-like 2-dimensional plane structure. Graphene has very high electric conductivity due to its small thickness and transparency. Based on such properties, various attempts for using graphene in transparent display devices or flexible display devices have been attempted. Thus, given the strong potential and high interest in graphene, a method for mass-producing high-quality graphene is needed.


A regulator includes an input voltage adjusting unit configured to adjust a pumping voltage in response to a control signal varied depending on a target voltage and output the adjusted pumping voltage and a regulation unit configured to output the target voltage by regulating the adjusted pumping voltage. The regulator may reduce current consumption by adjusting the pumping voltage inputted according to the target voltage.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an electronic device, more particularly relate to a regulator and a voltage generator.
2. Related Art
A semiconductor memory is divided into a volatile memory device and a non-volatile memory device.
The volatile memory device means a memory device where stored data becomes lost if supplying of a power is stopped, and its writing velocity and reading velocity are rapid. The non-volatile memory device indicates a memory device where stored data remains though a power is not supplied, and its writing velocity and reading velocity are comparatively slow. Accordingly, the non-volatile memory device is used to store data needed to be maintained irrespective of supplying of the power. The non-volatile memory device includes a read only memory ROM, a programmable ROM PROM, an electrically programmable ROM EPROM, an electrically erasable and programmable ROM EEPROM, a flash memory, a phase-change RAM PRAM, a magnetic RAM MRAM, a resistive RAM RRAM, a ferroelectric RAM FRAM, etc. The flash memory device is divided into a NOR type memory device and a NAND type memory device.
A flash memory has an advantage of the RAM programmable and erasable data and an advantage of the ROM enabling to maintain stored data though supplying of the power is stopped. The flash memory has widely used as a storage medium of portable electronic device such as a digital camera, a personal digital assistant PDA and an MP3 player.
Current consumption of the semiconductor memory device increases due to various causes. The current consumption increases more because a voltage generator of the semiconductor memory device generates high voltage.


Systems and methods for unsupervised segmentation of multi-speaker speech or audio data by speaker. A front-end analysis is applied to input speech data to obtain feature vectors. The speech data is initially segmented and then clustered into groups of segments that correspond to different speakers. The clusters are iteratively modeled and resegmented to obtain stable speaker segmentations. The overlap between segmentation sets is checked to ensure successful speaker segmentation. Overlapping segments are combined and remodeled and resegmented. Optionally, the speech data is processed to produce a segmentation lattice to maximize the overall segmentation likelihood.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for segmenting multi-speaker speech or audio data by speaker. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for unsupervised segmentation of telephone conversations by speaker.
2. Background and Relevant Art
The segmentation of multi-speaker speech or audio data by speaker has received considerable attention in recent years. One goal of speaker segmentation is to identify the segments of the speech data that correspond to the speakers. Speaker segmentation can be useful in automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems for a variety of different reasons. For example, speaker segmentation is used in training natural speech automatic call classification systems.
In call classification systems, the multi-speaker speech data usually includes a telephone conversation between two different speakers and speaker segmentation is used to identify the segments of the speech data that correspond to each speaker. For example, when a customer calls a customer representative at a call center, speaker segmentation can be used in conjunction with the ASR system to identify the customer's request from the speech data. In other words, speaker segmentation identifies the segments that correspond to the customer and the ASR system can recognize the customer's request that is found in the identified segments that correspond to the customer. Alternatively, the segments can be used for training purposes to find customer requests in conversations or to adapt ASR models and language understanding models in multi-speaker speech.
Speaker segmentation of multi-speaker speech data can be either supervised or unsupervised. In supervised speaker segmentation, pre-existing labeled models are used to segment the multi-speaker speech data. Unsupervised segmentation of multi-speaker speech data is considerably more difficult than supervised segmentation of multi-speaker speech data because the multi-speaker speech data is segmented without the benefit of pre-existing labeled models or prior information. As a result, unsupervised segmentation of multi-speaker speech data typically performs more poorly than supervised segmentation of multi-speaker speech data.
In addition to not having models or other information to help segment the speech data by speaker, unsupervised segmentation of speech data faces several additional obstacles that complicate the task of separating the segments of one speaker from the segments of another speaker. For example, multi-speaker speech data typically includes several short segments. Short segments are difficult to analyze because of the inherent instability of short analysis windows. In addition, more than one speaker may be talking at the same time in multi-speaker speech data and the segments may be contaminated with the speech of another speaker.

Unsupervised speaker segmentation of multi-speaker speech data


Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems, apparatuses, and methods for dynamic frequency and voltage control of components used in a computer system. A system includes a processor voltage regulator and a system clock generator directly operably with each other. The processor voltage regulator provides a core voltage signal to a processor, and is configured to detect a present processor load state of the processor. The system clock generator is for providing a system clock signal to the processor. At least one of the processor voltage regulator or the system clock generator is further configured determine a desired frequency of the system clock signal responsive to the present processor load state, and determine a voltage level for the core voltage signal suitably paired with the desired frequency for proper operation of the processor at the desired frequency. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided.

Electronic device components, such as processors and other integrated circuits (IC), typically require a stable power source. Voltage regulators play an important role in the proper operation of a large number of modern electronic circuits. Voltage regulators may generate a regulated supply voltage for certain components of an integrated circuit device. Voltage regulators can provide a supply voltage to memory cell arrays within memory devices, such as DRAM or SRAM. Processor voltage regulators generally receive one voltage from a power supply unit (e.g., battery) and supply a second voltage (i.e., core voltage) to a processor, also known as a microprocessor.
The processor in a computer system tends to require more power than other integrated circuits in a computer system. Therefore, reducing power consumption of the processor and of other peripheral devices (such as memory, northbridge, etc.) may have a significant impact on the power consumption of the entire computer system. A "processor" may refer generally to any apparatus that performs logic operations, computational tasks, control functions, etc. A processor may include one or more subsystems, components, and other processors. A processor may further include various logic components that operate using a clock signal to latch data, advance sequence logic states, synchronize computations and logic operations, provide other timing functions, and combinations thereof.
Power savings in a processor and other peripheral devices of a computer system may have benefits such as extending the usage times between battery charges in a battery-operated computer system, such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants, cell phones, and other systems that may be battery operated and have a processor. Even in non-battery operated computer systems, excessive power consumption may cause higher operational costs and excessive heat. Additionally, increasing governmental and environmental standards may require reducing the power consumed in a computer system.
There is a specific relationship between power consumption of a processor and the operating voltage and frequency of the processor. Most processors currently in use are made using CMOS technology. The power consumed by a CMOS IC (e.g., a processor) is generally proportional to the square of the voltage supplied to the IC multiplied by the operating frequency of the IC according to the equation:P=cV2F  (1)
where V is the voltage supplied to the IC, F is the operating frequency of the IC, and c is a known constant determined by the IC operating at V and F. Given the relationship from equation (1), it can be seen that reducing the frequency or the voltage of a processor will result in a reduction of the power consumed by the processor.
Frequency is a measure of performance of the processor. In order to conserve power, under-clocking may be desirable when decreased performance is acceptable. Alternatively, there may be situations where over-clocking to increase performance may be desirable. In general, an operating frequency has a minimum voltage at which the processor can operate and maintain proper operation. For example, the core voltage of a processor may be raised for increased frequencies such that the transient state of the voltage signals reaches above the tolerance voltage levels of the transistor gates of the processor. The required voltage may normally increase with increased frequency, and decreases with decreased frequency. Therefore, performance enhancement and power saving is influenced by this frequency/voltage relationship. It may be desirable to operate a processor at the lowest suitable voltage at a frequency that provides the computing power desired by the user at any given moment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a motherboard 100 architecture including a conventional voltage regulation and clocking system for computer system (e.g., personal computer, personal digital assistant, cell phones, notebooks, servers, etc.). Motherboard 100 includes processor 110, northbridge 120, southbridge 125, memory 130, system clock generator 140, and super IO 150.
System clock generator 140 provides processor 110, northbridge 120, and memory 130 with a system clock signal 141. For voltage regulation, motherboard 100 includes a processor voltage regulator 160, a northbridge voltage regulator 162, and memory voltage regulator 164. Processor voltage regulator 160 regulates the voltage level from the power supply unit (not shown; e.g., battery or other DC power supply) to provide a voltage signal 161 (core voltage) to the processor 110. Processor voltage regulator 160 may be operably coupled to a driver 170 to drive a load current to the processor 110 through FETs 171-174 (also referred to herein as "phases"). In other words, processor voltage regulator 160 may be configured as a multiple-phase voltage regulator. Northbridge voltage regulator 162 provides a voltage signal 163 to the northbridge 120, and memory voltage regulator 164 provides a voltage signal 165 to the memory 130 responsive to reference voltages VREF1 and VREF2. Northbridge voltage regulator 162 and memory voltage regulator 164 may be configured as single-phase voltage regulators with built-in drivers to drive load currents through FETs 175, 176, respectively.
In operation, when the processor 110 powers up, the processor 110 sends an initial voltage identifier (VID) signal 180 to the processor voltage regulator 160 to inform the processor voltage regulator 160 how much voltage is desired by the processor 110. The appropriate voltage signal 161 is provided to the processor 110 in response to the VID signal 180. The system clock generator 140 provides the system clock signal 141 as the reference clock for the processor 110. The processor 110 may internally have some detection for processor loading, and the processor 110 may change a frequency of an internal clock generated responsive to the reference clock (system clock signal 141). The voltage required to support the change in the internal clock may provide the basis for the processor 110 to request a new voltage level from the processor voltage regulator 160 through VID signal 180. The processor voltage regulator 160 receives the new VID signal 180 from the processor 110, decodes the VID signal 180, and sends the new desired voltage signal 161 to the processor 110. However, the system clock signal 141 frequency remains the same.
In some circumstances, it may be desirable to override the VID signal 180. For this purpose, super IO 150 is operably coupled to the VID signal 180. External components such as the southbridge 125 may also override the voltage references VREF1, VREF2 to control other voltage regulators, such as northbridge voltage regulator 162 and memory voltage regulator 164. For example, some memory devices (e.g., DDR2, DDR3) may have specifications which require a higher voltage (e.g., 2.1V) than a nominal voltage for VREF2 (e.g., 1.8V) of many conventional motherboards. The southbridge 125 may also control the system clock generator 140 by sending a signal to the system clock generator 140 to change the frequency of the system clock signal 141. The voltage and frequency control from the super IO 150 and southbridge 125 may be static in nature, and may be determined responsive to a user command via a hardware-triggered interrupt, the BIOS, or some other software command.
FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a motherboard 200 architecture including another conventional voltage regulation and system clocking system for a computer system. Motherboard 200 includes components similar to those employed in FIG. 1, including processor 110, northbridge 120, memory 130, system clock generator 140, processor voltage regulator 160, northbridge voltage regulator 162, memory voltage regulator 164, driver 170, and FETs 171-176. Voltage signals 161, 163, 165 are provided to processor 110, northbridge 120, and memory 130, respectively, as is system clock signal 141. A VID signal 180 is provided to processor voltage regulator 160 from processor 110. Motherboard 200 further includes ASIC 252 and glue logic 254.
In operation, ASIC 252 and glue logic 254 perform a similar function of voltage regulation and changing system clock frequency as do the super IO 150 and southbridge 125 of FIG. 1. However, in addition to static changes in voltage and frequency, glue logic 254 may detect loading on the processor and then inform the ASIC to change the voltage signals 161, 163, 165 through sending commands to processor voltage regulator 160, northbridge voltage regulator 162, and memory voltage regulator 164, respectively. ASIC 252 may also control the system clock generator 140 by sending a command to the system clock generator 140 to change the frequency of the system clock signal 141.
Other conventional systems (not shown) may initiate a change in the system clock frequency and processor voltage by other commands initiated from the processor 110 to the system clock generator 140 or the processor voltage regulator 160. However, in each of the conventional architectures described above, changing the voltage and frequency relies on commands initiated and controlled by components external to the system clock generator 140 and the voltage regulators 160, 162, 164. The use of such external components for load detection, and initiating commands for changing system clock frequency and various voltages, may reduce responsiveness to load changes of the processor 110, and add undesired delay to changing the system clock frequency and voltages for different components of the computer system. Undesired delay may result in situations where the system frequency and voltages of the different components may be mismatched relative to each other, to the processor 110 load state, or both. These mismatched situations may occur frequently as processor load may change often, which may adversely affect the computer system with inefficiencies from wasted power consumption, errors, a lack of desired performance enhancement, computer system instability, or any combination thereof.
The inventors have appreciated that there exists a need for a system clock generator and voltage regulators of a computer system to better respond to the computational demands on a processor as the computational demands of the processor vary with time.

Systems, apparatuses and methods for dynamic voltage and frequency control of components used in a computer system


A multi-function avionics system that includes, but is not limited to, a combined traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and directional measuring equipment (DME) system that utilizes a multi-function directional antenna for both functions. The multi-function system utilizes the same directional antenna for TCAS and DME functions, which typically utilize the same communication frequency band. The multi-function antenna may include four antenna elements that discriminate the direction of the DME ground station squitter. The DME system establishes a bearing to the ground station from the squitter and uses this information to determine which directional beam to use for the DME interrogation. Directional DME interrogation reduces the power requirements relative to that required for omni-directional DME interrogation. The integration of DME and TCAS enables the removal of antennas and feeder cables from the aircraft, saving weight, drag and cost.

In the field of aviation, distance measuring equipment (DME) refers to equipment onboard the aircraft that communicates with a DME ground transponder to determine the distance from the aircraft to the DME ground transponder when the aircraft is within the DME ground transponder's service volume. The DME ground transponder continually transmits a signal, generally referred to as a squitter, which an aircraft receives as it enters the DME station's service volume. When the aircraft wants to receive range data from the DME ground station, the DME onboard the aircraft responds to the squitter by interrogating the DME ground station. Typical applications for DME include navigation while en route, during terminal operations and during the approach and landing phases of a flight. The ground station responds to the interrogation automatically with a known time delay. The DME onboard the aircraft measures the time difference between the original interrogation and the reply and uses this to compute the distance of the aircraft from the DME ground station.
In a conventional arrangement, the DME system onboard the aircraft is a relatively high power (e.g., 1,000 Watts) system with an omni-directional antenna system configured to communicate with the ground station at any bearing (azimuth angle) that may exist between the aircraft and the ground station. Although directional antennas can be used to reduce transmit power requirements, conventional DME systems are provided with a relatively high power, omni-directional antenna system from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Replacing the existing omni-directional antenna with a directional antenna and replacing the original DME amplifier with a lower power amplifier is typically not a cost effective option.
In order to reduce size, weight, power and cost it is desirable to integrate the various radios on an aircraft. This is only possible with a multi-function antenna. This interrogation avoids the unnecessary duplication of antennas, RF feeder cables, RF amplifiers and other circuits. The proposed invention aids in the integration of TCAS, DME and the Airborne Transponder functions.

Aircraft distance measuring equipment with directional interrogation


The disclosure provides engineered polypeptides that specifically bind to human complement component C5 and/or serum albumin. The disclosure also provides fusion proteins comprising such engineered polypeptides, wherein such fusion proteins may be multivalent and multi-specific fusion proteins. The disclosure further provides nucleic acid molecules that encode such engineered polypeptides or fusion proteins, and methods of making such engineered polypeptides or fusion proteins. The disclosure further provides pharmaceutical compositions that comprise such engineered polypeptides or fusion proteins, and methods of treatment using such engineered polypeptides or fusion proteins.

Complement component 5 (C5) is the fifth component of complement, which plays an important role in inflammatory and cell killing processes. An activation peptide, C5a, which is an anaphylatoxin that possesses potent spasmogenic and chemotactic activity, is derived from the alpha polypeptide via cleavage with a C5-convertase. The C5b macromolecular cleavage product can form a complex with the C6 complement component, and this complex is the basis for formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC), which includes additional complement components.
Improperly regulated C5 can lead to immuno-compromised patients or disorders characterized by excessive cellular degradation (e.g., hemolytic disorders cause by C5-mediated hemolysis).
As misregulated C5 can lead to severe and devastating phenotypes, modulators of C5 activity with favorable pharmaceutical properties (e.g., half-life) are needed.

Polypeptides that bind complement component C5 or serum albumin and fusion proteins thereof


An extruder such as a reclaim extruder includes a feed section with a throat into which a force feeder is positioned to compact and feed reclaim material at a higher and more productive rate. The force feeder includes three side-by-side augers pointed at the extruder screw axis. An AC variable frequency drive motor drives a double sided cog belt in serpentine fashion around respective pulleys or sheaves for the augers. Two of the augers are of one hand rotated in one direction, and one of opposite hand rotated in the opposite direction. The pulleys or sheaves are of different size so that each auger rotates progressively faster moving down stream of the extruder screw. Each auger is positioned in a closely fitting compression tube each provided with an inlet opening. The force feeder is conveniently angularly positioned through the wall of a collection box between a hopper and the throat of the extruder.

In the manufacture of extruded foam products such as styrene sheet, board or billets, the extruded products are subjected to cutting and trimming, and defect or off grade rejections, particularly on start-up of the continuous extrusion line. The operations produce a substantial amount of scrap, which can range from large pieces to sawdust. The scrap is economically recycled.
Large pieces of scrap are run through a scrap chopper, collected in a storage silo, and then the smaller particulate material is run through a reclaim extruder. The material is remelted and the melt extrudate is chopped and cooled to form feed pellets which are then added to the virgin raw material supply of the continuous extrusion line.
The chopped reclaim material from the scrap chopper or silo has the consistency and low density of fluff. The material is so light that it is often conveyed from the silo to the reclaim extruder with forced air conveyors or grain conveying augers.
The reclaim extrusion rate or output is a direct function of the mass of the material entering the feed throat of the reclaim extruder. Thus the lighter the density of the material, the lower the through-put or extrusion rate. The through-put or rate is normally measured in pounds per hour.
Many attempts have been made to improve the through-put of reclaim extruders. These usually involve the use of a force-feed section in the throat of the reclaim extruder. These force-feed sections generally take the form of one or more augers, supposedly designed to push or compress the light fluffy material into the feed section of the reclaim extruder. One prior attempt involved three rotating augers driven by a DC motor and drive chains. The three auger device was extremely complex and a nightmare to maintain. The rate, when operating properly, only increased about 50 to 200 pounds per hour for a total rate of about 500-700 pounds per hour, depending on the density of the fluff material entering the extruder. One of the problems was overpacking the feed throat, and this would lead to "rat holing," where the auger simply forms a hole in the overpacked material. This would then cause loss of feed to the reclaim extruder. It has been characterized as pushing marshmallows with a bulldozer, since the system had no feel or ability to react to the light density material.
On the other hand, when heavier density material was introduced, the system could quickly become overloaded and stall, also shutting down the system completely. Accordingly, with rat holing, frequent stalling, complexity in structure, difficulty in maintenance, and, more importantly, minimal or no improvement in through-put, the three auger system was abandoned as unworkable.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a system which would be more rugged in design, easier to maintain and operate on a continuous and reliable basis, but, more importantly, one which would substantially increase the output rate of the reclaim extruder.

Owens Corning Fiberglass Technology, Inc.


An optical microscope that can prevent an increase in the complexity of the light source system is equipped with optics readily capable of adequate operation even when the modulation frequency is increased to reduce the impact of the intensity noise of the laser. The optical microscope irradiates a sample with a first train of optical pulses having a first optical frequency, which is generated by a first light source, and a second train of optical pulses having a second optical frequency, which is temporally synchronized with the first train of optical pulses and is generated by a second light source, and detects light scattered from the sample. A first repetition frequency of the first train of optical pulses is an integral sub-multiple of a second repetition frequency of the second train of optical pulses.

Microscopy utilizing the principle of Raman scattering has been expected to find application in the observation of cells in living organisms, etc., as a technique of molecular vibrational imaging that reflects molecular vibrational information.
Known microscopy techniques based on Raman scattering have heretofore included spontaneous Raman scattering microscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy.
In the former, the spectral information of the sample is acquired based on the fact that the frequency of the excitation light changes in accordance with the molecular vibrational frequency of the sample. However, since the resultant signal beam is extremely weak, improving the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio has been a serious problem. On the one hand, in the latter, optical pulses of 2 colors (ωAS, ωS) are used to generate a CARS beam at a frequency (2ωAS−ωS) that is different from the excitation light. In CARS, the molecules are forced to oscillate, which has the advantage of obtaining a signal with a high S/N ratio. However, the problem is that the background presence of the so-called non-resonant signal, which is due to a non-linear response of electrons in the sample, degrades the contrast of the molecular vibrational images.
Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy was proposed independently by the inventors (see Non-patent Document 1) and by Sunny Xie et al. of Harvard University (see Non-patent Document 2) as a way of addressing these contradictory problems of conventional Raman scattering microscopy.
The principle of stimulated Raman scattering microscopy is as follows.
Namely, the phenomenon of stimulated Raman scattering occurs at a focal spot when light is condensed on a sample in a state, in which one series of pulses of 2 colors (ωAS, ωS) is intensity-modulated, and the frequency difference between the 2 colors coincides with the molecular vibrational frequency of the sample at the focal spot. At such time, intensity modulation takes place in the excitation optical pulses that have not been intensity-modulated and the extent of intensity modulation due to the stimulated Raman scattering can be detected by photo-detecting the excitation light emitted from the sample. Therefore, molecular vibrational imaging of the sample is made possible based on the extent of the intensity modulation that takes place as a result of the stimulated Raman scattering.
FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a conventional stimulated Raman scattering microscope used for principle confirmation.
As shown in FIG. 12, a conventional stimulated Raman scattering microscope 500 co-axially combines an anti-Stokes beam (ωAS), which is emitted from a titanium-sapphire laser 501, and a Stokes beam (ωS), which is emitted from an optical parametric oscillator 502 and intensity-modulated by an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 503, with the help of a dichroic mirror 505 and condenses the beams through an objective lens 506 on a sample 507. At such time, scattered light is detected through an objective lens 508, a short-wave pass filter 509, and a focusing lens 510 using a photodiode (PD) 511 and a lock-in amplifier 512. It should be noted that the reference number 504 designates a mirror and the anti-Stokes beam (ωAS) has a repetition frequency of 76 MHz, a center wavelength of 765 nm, and a pulse width of 100 fs. In addition, the repetition frequency of the Stokes beam (ωS) is 76 MHz, its center wavelength 985-1005 nm, and its pulse width 200 fs. In addition, the frequency of the high-frequency signal source 513 is set to 2 MHz.

Optical microscope and optical instrumentation


A downhole flow control device comprises a body locatable within a wall of a tubular, wherein the body defines a flow path therethrough to accommodate flow in reverse first and second directions between internal and external locations of the tubular in use. The downhole flow control device further comprises a regulator member mounted within the body and being moveable between first and second positions in accordance with flow direction through the body. The regulator member is locatable in the first position during flow through the body in the first direction to provide a first restriction to flow. The regulator member is locatable in the second position during flow through the body in the second direction to provide a second restriction to flow.

Multi-zone wellbore completions often include downhole flow control devices which assist to provide a desired inflow or outflow profile across the completion. For example, inflow control devices may be arranged to provide a greater flow restriction or choking effect in high permeability formation zones relative to lower permeability zones, thus allowing a more even production profile to be achieved. Such flow control may assist to prevent or minimise early water breakthrough in some zones, for example. This concept of flow control is well known in the art, and the principles can also be utilised to provide a desired injection profile.
Many wellbore operations may require the capability to reverse flow, for example between cycles or periods of injection and production. It might be desirable to provide a different restriction to flow during production and injection phases, which may not be possible with fixed restriction flow control devices. For example, some applications may require increased restriction to flow during periods of production relative to periods of injection, or vice versa. Further, while flow in one direction might desirably be restricted or choked, reverse flow may be preferred with minimal restriction or choking.


A device for extracorporeal blood treatment and a method for operating an extracorporeal blood treatment device provide for an ultrafiltrate pump of an ultrafiltration apparatus to be operated in a first and second operating mode. The ultrafiltrate pump is operated in the first operating mode in such a way that the pressure on the blood-side of the semipermeable membrane is higher than the pressure on the dialysate-side of the semipermeable membrane of a dialyser, so that during the first operating mode a predetermined amount of fluid is removed from an extracorporeal blood circuit via the semipermeable membrane of the dialyser. In the second operating mode, the ultrafiltrate pump is operated in such a way that the pressure on the blood-side of the semipermeable membrane is, at successive intervals, alternately higher and lower than the pressure on the dialysate-side of the semipermeable membrane of the dialyser, so that fluid is continuously removed from and supplied to the extracorporeal blood circuit via the semipermeable membrane (push/pull mode). Additional components, in particular a separate push/pull pump, are not required for operation of the blood treatment device in push/pull mode. This results in both lower dimensions and lower weight. Operation in push/pull mode can increase the service life of the dialyser and the clearance of the dialysis treatment can also be increased for certain substances.

Known blood treatment devices have a dialyser or filter which is divided by a semipermeable membrane into a blood chamber and a dialysate chamber. The patient's blood flows through the blood chamber of the dialyser in an extracorporeal blood circuit, whereas the dialysate flows through the dialysate chamber of the dialyser in a dialysate circuit.
With known blood treatment devices, fluid can be removed from or supplied to the patient during extracorporeal blood treatment via the semipermeable membrane of the dialyser. Fluid is removed from the patient (ultrafiltration) if the pressure on the blood-side of the semipermeable membrane is higher than the pressure on the dialysate-side of the membrane. If, by contrast, the pressure is lower on the blood-side than on the dialysate-side, fluid is supplied to the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,607 A1 describes a particular variant of extracorporeal blood treatment, in which the blood treatment device is operated using an oscillating transmembrane pressure, so that fluid is alternately removed from the extracorporeal blood circuit and supplied to the extracorporeal blood circuit via the semipermeable membrane of the dialyser. This means that deposits can detach themselves from the membrane.
The dialysis device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,607 A1 has a feed line leading to the dialysate chamber of the dialyser and a discharge line leaving the dialysate chamber, a first dialysate pump for conveying dialysate into the dialysate chamber arranged in the feed line and a second dialysate pump for conveying dialysate fluid from the dialysate chamber arranged in the discharge line. If the conveyance rates of the two dialysate pumps are equal, fluid is neither removed from nor supplied to the patient. The dialysis device has a positive displacement pump having a pumping chamber in which a positive displacement element is arranged. The pumping chamber of the reciprocating pump is in fluid communication with the feed line. When the reciprocating pump is running, an oscillating transmembrane pressure is generated, so that at short time-intervals, i.e. in the suction phase and pressure phase of the pump, a certain amount of fluid is removed from and supplied to the extracorporeal blood circuit respectively. This dialysis variant is also known as push/pull dialysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,607 A1 also describes an alternative configuration in which an oscillating transmembrane pressure is generated without an additional push/pull pump. In the alternative configuration, the two dialysate pumps are operated alternately at different conveyance rates to generate the oscillating transmembrane pressure.
In order to be able to remove fluid from the patient over the entire duration of the extracorporeal blood treatment, known blood treatment devices have an ultrafiltration apparatus, which has an ultrafiltration pump used to take fluid (ultrafiltrate) away from the dialysate system.
A blood treatment device comprising an ultrafiltration apparatus providing for operation in push/pull mode is disclosed in Replacement of renal function by dialysis, 5th ed./edited by Walter H. Hörl et al., ISBN 1-4020-0083-9, pages 388 and 389 (FIG. 42). The disclosed dialysis device also has both an ultrafiltrate pump and a push/pull pump, there being fluid communication between the ultrafiltrate pump and the dialysate discharge line, and the push/pull pump and the dialysate feed line.

Apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment and method for operating an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus


A semiconductor image sensor is repeatedly exposed to high-energy photons while a visible light obstructer is in place to block visible light from impinging on the sensor to generate a set of images from the exposures. A composite image is generated from the set of images with common noise substantially removed so the composite image includes image information corresponding to radiated pixels that absorbed at least some energy from the high-energy photons. The composite image is processed to determine a set of bright points in the composite image, each bright point being above a first threshold. The set of bright points is processed to identify lines with two or more bright points that include pixels therebetween that are above a second threshold and identify a presence of the high-energy particles responsive to a number of lines.

Exposure to radiation from radioactive sources can be very dangerous to humans and some radioactive materials can be used in the creation of devastating weapons. It would be very desirable to have means for detection of such radiation in many environments, such as laboratories, nuclear power stations, transportation corridors, airports, train stations, and any area where large groups of people may gather.
Radioactive sources produce ionizing radiation when a single atom decays into another form. This ionizing radiation can come in several forms of high-energy particles including beta particles (which are high-energy electrons), alpha particles (which are helium nuclei) and gamma photons (which are high-energy photons). The beta and alpha particles may be stopped fairly quickly when they travel through material, but gamma photons can travel long distances before being absorbed.
Different isotopes produce different types of ionizing radiation and different energies of the radiation. For example, Cs-137 produces 662 keV photons. As another example, Co-60 produces 1173 and 1332 keV photons.
In contrast, ordinary light in the visible and near-visible ranges is non-ionizing and has much lower energies that are in the eV range. For example, at the low range of visible light photons for red light have about 1.77 eV of energy and at the high range of visible light photons for violet light have about 3.10 eV of energy.
Many portable devices such as digital cameras, cellular telephones, and tablets are becoming near ubiquitous as they become more portable and interconnected. In most cases, these portable devices include semiconductor image sensors for capturing visible light images and can be easily interfaced with a variety of communication networks. While not intended, these semiconductor imagers can absorb energy from high-energy particles that interact with the semiconductor image sensor and produce what appear to be artifacts on the image when capturing a visible light image.
The inventor has appreciated that there is a need for devices that are economical and readily available for detecting and reporting the presence of high-energy particles that indicate a radiation source is in the vicinity of the device.

Methods and apparatuses for detection of radiation with semiconductor image sensors


Proposed are a backup apparatus and a backup method capable of improving the backup performance, as well as a file reading apparatus capable of improving the file reading performance. As a result of determining a read sequence upon reading the respective files from a disk device based on a physical address of the respective storage areas storing data of each of the files in the disk device, and sequentially reading data of each of the files from the disk device according to the determined read sequence, overhead such as the head seek and rotational delay in the disk device upon reading a plurality of files from such disk device can be dramatically reduced.

The present invention relates to a backup apparatus and a backup method for backing up a plurality of files stored in a disk device as an auxiliary storage apparatus, as well as to a file reading apparatus for reading such plurality of files from the auxiliary storage apparatus, and, for instance, can be suitably applied to a file server.
In recent years, a file management function referred to as a file system is being loaded in many computer systems. A file system comprises a directory for hierarchically managing files in order to facilitate the management of files of programs and user data. A file system includes a special directory known as a root directory to become the apex of the hierarchy of files and directories, and the files and directories stored in the file system can be traced back from the root directory.
A file system creates, per file, management information referred to as an inode (hereinafter referred to as "file information") that is configured from attribute information such as the file name, creation date, last update date, last referral date and access authority, and address information showing in what position of the storage area provided by the auxiliary storage apparatus the data of such file (file data) is being stored, and manages the respective files based on the file information. The file information of the respective files is stored and retained in a dedicated storage area called a super block that is provided separately from the storage area storing the file data.
The file system also creates, per directory, management information referred to as an inode (hereinafter referred to as "directory information") that is configured from attribute information such as the directory name, creation date, last update date, last referral date and access authority, and internal management information such as the pointer to the inode of the respective files and respective directories existing in that directory, and manages the respective directories based on the directory information. The directory information of the respective directories is also stored and retained in the foregoing super block.
When a file is newly created, a file system creates file information of such file, writes the file information and data into the corresponding storage areas, respectively, and adds a pointer to the file information of such file in the directory information of the directory to which the file was created.
Details of the foregoing system are described in pp. 679-692 of "Computer Architecture A Quantitative Approach," Volume 3 (ISBN 1-55860-724-2), (USA), Co-written by John Hennessy and David Patterson, Elsevier, Chapter 7; Non-Patent Document 2.

Backup apparatus, backup method, and file reading apparatus


A thermostatic valve includes a valve body formed by die casting. The valve body includes: a valve main body forming a valve cavity; a plurality of connection tube portions; and installation base portions adjacent to the connection tube portions. Each of the connection tube portions includes a straight tube section connected to the valve main body. A reinforcement member is provided between the straight tube section of the connection tube portion and the installation base portion adjacent to the connection tube portion. The valve body is formed by die casting, and respective parts of the valve body can be processed according to actual size requirements with no redundant material, thereby realizing a light weight of the thermostatic valve. Providing the reinforcement member satisfies a strength requirement when using die casting.

A vehicle is equipped with a thermostatic valve, and the thermostatic valve includes a connecting tube portion and a mounting base portion. The connecting tube portion is used for being in communication with a corresponding tube, and the mounting base portion is used for mounting the thermostatic valve to a vehicle body, to realize positioning.
Currently, the thermostatic valve is mainly manufactured through profile machining, but there is a certain difficulty in profile machining. For example, as for the connecting tube portion, a tube hole is required to be machined by cutting, although the tube hole can be machined by cutting to a certain extent, there are still some redundant materials cannot be removed due to the limitation of the process cost, the weight of the product cannot be reduced to a greater extent, resulting in a problem that the product cannot meet the lightweight demand of the valve body in the current processing mode.
In view of this, a technical problem to be addressed by those skilled in the art is to optimize the structure of the valve body of the thermostatic valve, so as to further realize the lightweighting of the valve body and save material and cost.

Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd.


Aspects of the invention can provide an image processing circuit for gray scale correction, an image display apparatus, and an image processing method that allow reduction in the storage capacity needed for storing correction characteristics data without increasing clock rate in relation to interpolation processing of correction characteristics. A exemplary image processing circuit according to the invention can be applied, for example, to color correction or gamma correction of color image data. Gray scale correction characteristics data for a number of gray scale levels that is less than the number of gray scale levels of input image data can be stored in first and second lookup table storing units. Considering a gray scale value of a pixel that is being considered for gray scale correction processing as an input gray scale value, the first and second lookup-table storing units are referred to, obtaining an output gray scale value corresponding to the input gray scale value and an output gray scale value corresponding to an adjacent input gray scale value. An adjacent gray scale value refers to a gray scale value that is higher by one or lower by one than another input gray scale value. Then, output gray scale values between these two adjacent output gray scale values can be calculated by linear interpolation, obtaining output values for all input gray scale values. Subsequently, gray scale correction can be performed for each pixel of input image data, outputting corrected image data.

1. Field of Invention
Aspects of the invention can relate to gray scale correction processing of image data. More specifically, the invention can relate to gray scale correction processing, such as color correction or gamma (γ) correction based on lookup tables (LUTs).
2. Description of Related Art
Related art gamma correction processing is processing for adjusting display characteristics of image data in accordance with characteristics of a display device, such as a CRT or an LCD in an image display apparatus for displaying image data. Generally, gamma correction processing can be carried out using, for example, an LUT storing gamma characteristics data (gray scale correction characteristics data) created on the basis of the display characteristics of a display device. Gamma characteristics define relationship between input gray scale values and output gray scale values. The image display apparatus obtains output gray scale values corresponding to input gray scale values of input image data by referring to the gamma characteristics, and displays an image corresponding to the image data on a display device according to the output gray scale values.
Also, when the image display apparatus performs color correction on input image data to achieve desired color characteristics for display, an LUT storing color conversion characteristics prepared in advance is used. An example of such related art color correction and gamma correction is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-271036.
With the recent improvement in picture quality in cellular phones and other electronic apparatuses, the capacity of a storage device, such as a RAM needed to implement an LUT for gray scale correction characteristics data increases as the number of gray scale levels of image data increases. In view of this, a method has been proposed in which gray scale correction characteristics data for a number of gray scale levels smaller than the number of gray scale levels of input image data is stored in an LUT and gray scale correction characteristics data for the insufficiency is interpolated by linear approximation or the like. (Refer to, for example, PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2002-534007).
In order to interpolate gray scale correction characteristics data by linear approximation or the like, output gray scale values of two endpoints of a portion to be interpolated are needed, so that reading operation must be executed twice with an LUT storing a single set of gray scale correction characteristics data. Thus, power consumption increases due to the increased number of times of reading operation, and a clock rate higher than a normal clock rate is required.

Image processing circuit, image display apparatus, and image processing method


A management system may update one or more parameters corresponding to system requirements to execute a product, wherein the one or more parameters are updated without changing a product code of the product. A request to execute the product may be received from a first entity system. In response to receiving the request to execute the product, the management system may determine whether the first entity system satisfies the system requirements to execute the product, wherein the management system is separate from the first entity system. In response to determining that the first entity system satisfies the system requirements, the product may be allowed to be executed by the first entity system.

A software provider can sell a number of different software and/or service products, for example, by selling subscriptions to customers for the software and service products. An entity that has purchased a subscription to a product is an owner of the subscription. A purchase of a subscription is an owner's right to use the product for the period of the subscription. An owner's use of a subscription can be represented, for example, as an 'entitlement.' For example, a customer, such as ACME Company, purchases ten 3-year subscriptions to Enterprise Software ABC and thus, ACME Company is an owner of the ten subscriptions. Ten entitlements represent the ten subscriptions. An owner can then assign the ten entitlements, for example, to various systems. When the owner installs the Enterprise Software ABC on a computing system, the computing system is granted one of the ten entitlements.
Software providers can sell product subscriptions based on product business models. For example, the product business model for Enterprise Software ABC may be to sell subscriptions to the Enterprise Software ABC on a per-CPU-socket-pair basis. Each of ACME Company's ten entitlements are valid for systems that each have two populated CPU sockets. Thus, ACME Company must assign two entitlements to a system that has four populated CPU sockets.
Typically, the enforcement of a software provider's product business model for a particular product is hard-coded in the product source code itself. For example, the product source code for Enterprise Software ABC is hard-coded to enforce the entitlements for the Enterprise Software ABC on a 'per-CPU-socket-pair' basis. The software provider's product marketing department may wish to change the product business model of its Enterprise Software ABC from the 'per-CPU-socket-pair' basis to the 'per-core-per-CPU' to increase revenue.
Conventional solutions require the software developers to change the product source code for the Enterprise Software ABC to enforce the entitlements on a 'per-core-per-CPU' basis. The change may be made to the Enterprise Software ABC product source code, but the operable product code, which is distributed to customers to implement the change, may not yet be released. A software provider usually releases the operable product code according to a predetermined product code release schedule. The product code release may not occur until three to six months from when the software provider's product marketing department made the initial request. A software provider's sales department cannot sell subscriptions for the Enterprise Software ABC on a 'per-core-per-CPU' basis until the product code, which enforces the new product business model, is released. Thus, there can be a significant amount of time between making a request to change a product business model, hard-coding the changes into the product source code, and releasing the changed operable product code, which can result in a large amount of lost potential revenue. Conventional solutions do not provide a software provider the flexibility to easily change its product business models.

Data driven rules engine to dynamically change product business rules


Compounds of formula Axe2x80x94X1xe2x80x94ONO2 (I) in a partially or completely amorphous form and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.

The present invention relates to nitroxy derivatives of the hydroxybenzoic acid in a modified physical form, and the pharmaceutical formulations thereof, said derivatives having general formula
Axe2x80x94X1xe2x80x94NO2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein A is an hydroxybenzoic acid derivative as defined hereunder; X1 is a linking bivalent radical as defined hereunder, said formulations capable to induce in very short times, of the order of 2-2.5 hours, the plasmatic concentration peak of the hydroxybenzoic acid derivative, defined as A.
The compositions of the invention can be used to prepare oral dosage forms suitable to induce a fast beginning of the pharmacological effect.
As well known the pharmacologically active substances when administered per os produce a systemic effect only after having undergone an absorption process through the gastroenteric duct walls. The drug absorption process is a complex phenomenon which depends on various factors, among which drug liposolubility and hydrosolubility. It is difficult to theoretically foresee, in practice it is impossible to know which is the optimal combination of these factors to obtain the maximum absorption peak of the active principle in short times, of about 2-2.5 hours at most.
Generally the therapeutic effect of a drug which shows its activity by systemic route when administered per os depends, in particular, on the following factors:
drug absorption through the gastrointestinal wall,
concentration in the hematic fluid,
possible interaction whith the target tissue.
In particular for the drugs having an antiinflammatory and analgesic activity, an essential feature is the action quickness, i.e. the effect onset has to show in relatively short times after consumption.
The nitroderivative compounds of formula (I), in the unmodified physical form according to the present invention, are known from the patent applications WO 95/30641 and WO 97/16405 in the name of the Applicant. These compounds with respect to the antiinflammatory precursor drugs have a global comparable or higher efficacy, but they have the advantage to show lower side effects. The drawback of these products is that they do not show chemical physical properties such as to allow an haematic peak of maximum absorption in the period of time of 2.5 hours at most. Pharmacokinetic studies carried out by the Applicant using a conventional pharmaceutical formulation for oral use of the nitroderivative compounds of formula (I), not treated as reported in the present invention, have shown that there is no haematic concentration peak in the above mentioned short times, therefore the product does not timely show its therapeutic properties. See the Examples showing that the haematic peak takes place after too long times from the consumption, of about 6 hours.
The need was felt to have available pharmaceutical compositions for oral use, comprising the nitroderivative compounds of formula (I), such as to produce a maximum plasmatic concentration peak (Cmax) in short times, such that tmax (tmax being the time at which Cmax occurs) is of about 2.5 hours at most, preferably lower than or equal to 2 hours.
It has been found by the Applicant that it is possible to solve this technical problem with the compounds and formulations thereof for oral use as indicated hereinafter.
An object of the present invention are compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions for oral use comprising as active principle said compounds
Axe2x80x94X1xe2x80x94NO2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein
A=R(COX),
X=O, NH, NR1C, wherein R1C is a linear or branched C1-C10 alkyl, R is selected from the following radicals:
wherein
R1 is a OCOR3 group; wherein R3 is methyl, ethyl or linear or branched C3-C5 alkyl, or the residue of a saturated heterocyclic ring having 5 or 6 atoms, which can be aromatic or completely or partially saturated, said heterocyclic ring containing one or more heteroatoms independently selected between O and N;
R2 is hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, linear or branched when possible C1-C4 alkyl, linear or branched when possible C1-C4 alkoxyl; linear or branched when possible C1-C4 perfluoroalkyl, for example trifluoromethyl; monoxe2x80x94or dixe2x80x94(C1-C4) alkylamino;
R1 and R2 together are the dioxymethylene group, with the proviso that when X=NH, then Y is ethylene and R2 =H as defined hereinder;
R1 cannot be OCOR3 in position 2 when R3 is methyl;
nI is an integer and is ) or 1.
Preferably in (Ia X=0, R1 is acetoxy and is in ortho position with respect to the -CO- group, R2 hydrogen; preferably in Ib) R3=CH3, nI=0; X is equal to O, and the bond of the aromatic ring with the COX group is in the 1 or 2 positions;
X1 is a bivalent linking bridge selected from the following:
YO:
Y=linear or branched when possible C1-C20, preferably
C2-C5, alkylene; or
C5-C7 cycloalkylene optionally substituted;
or X1 is selected from the following:
wherein n3 is an integer from 0 to 3, n3xe2x80x2 is an integer from 1 to 3;
wherein n3 and n3xe2x80x2 have the above mentioned meaning;
wherein nfxe2x80x2 is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 4;
wherein R1f=H, CH3 and nfxe2x80x2 is as above defined; said compounds of formula (I) being completely or partially in amorphous form.
The amorphization degree can be measured by well known methods such as for example DSC, RX, IR, etc. For partially amorphous it is meant that in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention the compounds of formula (I) are generally amorphous for at least 5%, preferably 10%, more preferably for at least 80%, as measured by DSC.
The amorphization degree is determined by DSC as variation reduction) of the subtended area of the endothermic melting peak of the active principle. When the amorphization is complete, the melting peak characteristic of the active principle of formula (I) substantially disappears. This means that there is a variation of the enthalpy associated to the melting peak.
A test for measuring the amorphization degree according to the present invention is the following: an amount of nitroderivative of formula (I) is added with hydroxypropyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin in the molar ratio 1:2; 43 g of the compound of formula (I) are dissolved in 5 l of ethyl alcohol; the so obtained organic solution is mixed at room temperature with 5 l of deionized water containing 7% w/v (350 g) of hydroxypropyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin. The hydroalcoholic solution is treated in the spray-drying LabPlant SD-05 Spray-Drying equipment, with an hot air flow at the inlet at the temperature of 60xc2x0 C., maintaining an air flow such as to allow outlet temperatures of about 45xc2x0 C.; the crystallinity loss is evaluated on the powder (5-10 mg) by the DSC method and the variation of the peak area is determined by comparing the area with that of the precursor treated under the same conditions without the addition of cyclodextrin.
An indicative test of the crystallinity decrease of the compounds of formula (I) is based on the determination of their dissolution rate in water.
The dissolution rate test is carried out in a dissolving equipment according to United States Pharmacopeia 23 by using a volume of deionized water of 1000 ml. The blade stirrer speed is of 100 rpm and the temperature is 37xc2x10.5xc2x0 C.
In a little glass vessel an exact amount of each sample is weighed so that it contains an amount of the active principle equal to 30 mg, which is directly introduced in the vessel containing the deionized water. At predetermined times, respectively of 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 50, 60, 90 and 120 minutes from the beginning of the test, the amount of the nitroderivative compound passed in solution is determined, by measuring the concentration w/v (weigh/volume) thereof by UV spectrophotometry at the wave length of 235 nm, using a calibration line. The data are expressed as percentage of nitroderivative compound passed in solution in connection with the time. The amount of the compound of formula (I) passed in solution at the time of 10 minutes is at least about 10 times higher with respect to that of the nitroderivative compound not in amorphous form.
As said, the formulations of the invention are surprisingly and unexpectedly capable to induce in very short times, in the order of 2-2.5 hours, the plasmatic concentration peak of the hydroxybenzoic acid derivative A.
Preferably in the compounds of formula (I) R=(Ia), X=O and X1 is the aromatic radical of formula (PAI) wherein n3xe2x80x2=1 and n3=0; said preferred compounds having the following general formula (IA1):
wherein R1 and R2 are as above defined.
The ester of formula (Ia1) wherein the nitroxymethyl group is on the aromatic ring in meta position, or position 3, with respect to the carbon atom bound to the oxygen of the ester group, is preferred.
The Applicant has surprisingly and unexpectedly found that when the nitroderivatives of formula (I) are present in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention in a completely or partially amorphized form, in consequence of gastrointestinal absorption, high plasmatic concentrations are obtained in very short times, the maximum plasmatic concentration peak is obtained in a period of time of 2.5 hours at most.
The partially or completely amorphized nitroderivative compounds of formula (I) are obtainable by treating the nitroderivatives with one or more excipients, capable to amorphize said nitroderivatives.
The techniques used for the amorphization are for example co-grinding, kneading, spray-drying, lyophilization, preferably spray-drying and co-grinding.
In particular in the spray-drying technique the active principle is dissolved in a solvent, for example alcohols, and the so obtained organic solution is mixed at room temperature with a solution or suspension of the excipient capable to give amorphization of the compounds of formula (I). The solution or suspension resulting after mixing is treated in a spray-drying equipment. For this and the other techniques see the specific Examples.
Excipients preferably belong to one or more classes mentioned hereinafter: C5-C6 polyalcohols, mono- and disaccharides and their derivatives, oligosaccharides containing from 3 to 10 saccharide units and their derivatives, polysaccharides, their derivatives including their salts, cyclodextrins and their derivatives, non cyclic cyclodextrin analogues, for example non cyclic derivatives of xcex2-cyclodextrin, polymers and copolymers of vinyl-based monomeric units, and/or containing a carboxylic function, or (meth)acrylic monomers.
Examples of C5-C6 polyalcohols are sorbitol, mannitol; examples of monosaccharides and their derivatives are glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose glucosamine; example of disaccharides are lactose, saccharose, maltose etc; examples of polysaccharides and their derivatives are microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose hydroxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose carboxymethylcellulose, and their salts, preferably sodium and calcium salts, and their crosslinked forms, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetophthalate and their ethers, for ex. cellulose phthalate hydroxypropylmethyl ether, starch and derivatives such as for example sodium carboxymethylstarch, soluble starch, pregelled starch; examples of cyclodextrins and derivatives thereof are dimethyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin, 2-hydroxy-ethyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin, 2-hydroxypropyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin, 3-hydroxypropyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin, trimethyl-xcex2-cyclodextrin.
An object of the present invention are the pharmaceutical compositions for oral use containing as active principle the partially or completely amorphized compounds of formula (I) and comprising at least one of the above mentioned excipients.
It has been found by the Applicant that the formulations of the invention show an improved dissolution rate in water, determined by the above described dissolution test.
In the compositions according to the present invention the ratio between the amount by weight of nitroderivatives of formula (I) and that of the excipients capable to amorphize the nitroderivatives is generally in the range 1:20 and 1:0.5, preferably 1:0.7 and 1:10.
As said, the formulations for oral use of the present invention are capable to induce in very short times, of the order of 2-2.5 hours, the plasmatic concentration peak of the hydroxybenzoic acid derivative as defined in A, and it has also been found that they are capable to produce the following pharmacokinetic effects:
to increase the plasmatic CMAX (maximum concentration) of the hydroxybenzoic acid derivative as defined in A, after single administration, with respect to the untreated (not amorphized) product according to the present invention;
to increase of at least 20%, preferably of 50%, the area substended from the curve of the plasmatic concentrations in the range 0-3.5 hours from the administration.
When in the partially or completely amorphized product of formula (I) R=(Ia) the hydroxybenzoic acid derivative as defined in A is the salicylic acid (see the Examples).
The nitroderivative compounds of formula (I) wherein R is a radical of formula Ia) or Ib) are obtainable according to the known methods in the prior art. See for example the methods described in the patent applications in the name of the Applicant WO 95/30641, WO 97/16405, or in the international patent application PCT/EP00/00353.

Amorphous nitric esters and their pharmaceutical compositions


The present invention relates to a hemmed panel and a method for fabricating a hemmed panel. The hemmed panel includes an inner panel, an outer panel, and an adhesive. The inner panel is provided with a first face, a second face, and an edge that defines a plurality of cutouts. The outer panel is provided with a first face, a second face, and a border flange. The border flange of the outer panel is hemmed over the edge and the first face of the inner panel to form a hemmed portion on the outer panel. The adhesive bonds the first face of the inner panel to the second face of the outer panel, bonds the hemmed portion of the outer panel to the first face of the inner panel, and is located in the plurality of cutouts.

Panels, such as those of sheet metal, are used to manufacture a variety of structures. By way of example, portions of vehicle bodies, such as, for example, hoods and doors, are often fabricated from panels of sheet metal, which may be provided with a variety of shapes, such as, for example, via stamping.
Often times a pair of such panels are joined together via a hemming procedure. A typical hemming procedure utilizes an outer panel and an inner panel. Typically, the outer panel is provided with a border flange, which is folded over or hemmed over the inner panel during the hemming procedure. For example, in the case of a vehicle hood, an inner panel may be centered on an outer panel and border flanges on four peripheral sides of the outer panel may be hemmed over the inner panel.
In addition to the hemming procedure, a liquid adhesive is often times utilized to bond the inner and outer panels together. The adhesive is typically applied to the outer panel prior to the hemming procedure. After the adhesive is applied, the outer and inner panels are pressed together, which causes the adhesive to flow both away and toward the border flange. After the adhesive is applied and the panels are pressed together, the flange ends on the outer panel are hemmed over the edges of the inner panel. Depending on the type of adhesive utilized, a heating process may be employed so that the adhesive solidifies and cures to securely bond the inner and outer panels together.
It is desirable to reduce the amount of adhesive used to bond the inner and outer panels together. Yet, it is often times difficult to select a suitable adhesive with the proper amount of viscosity and expansion rate to ensure adequate bonding of the inner panel to the hemmed portion to the outer panel.
Depending on the application, it may also be desirable in some situations for the space between the inner panel and the hemmed portion on the outer panel to be substantially filled with adhesive. Not only does such an arrangement strengthen the bond between the inner and outer panels, since it increases the surface area bonding the inner and outer panels, but it also prevents contaminants, such as moisture from entering the hemmed portion. Entry of moisture and other contaminants into the hemmed portion may cause or contribute to corrosion of the hemmed portion as well as the edge of the inner panel, and thus weaken the joint between the inner and outer panels. Even in applications where it is desirable to seal and substantially fill the hemmed portion, selecting a suitable adhesive with the proper amount of viscosity and expansion rate has been difficult.
The present invention is directed at an improved hemmed panel.


A torsional-mode damping system includes a torque sensor, a torsional damper connected to the torque sensor, a VFD controller connected to the torsional damper, and a VFD converter connected to the VFD controller, the VFD converter being configured to control an electric power supplied to the electric motor based on VFD signals generated by the VFD controller, the VFD signals being modified by a torque-correcting signal so as to dampen torsional vibrations at a natural frequency of a compression train.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to machine drive systems and more particularly to damping of torsional vibrations in such systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prime movers (e.g., gas turbines or electrical motors) are typically connected to their respective loads (e.g., electric generators or compressors) by a mechanical shaft, which may exhibit resonance at one or more critical frequencies excited by the power drive and/or by the load. If a torque component at a critical frequency is generated, then the shaft will experience torque oscillations, which can lead to an increase in fatigue and reduction in the life of the shaft. In extreme cases, if such modes are excited to the point of exceeding the design capacity of any component in the train (especially a coupling that that may be considered the weakest component in the system), severe damage to the system may result due to torsional fatigue, leading to down time and expensive repairs. Moreover, for turbo rotor trains with gears, high radial and lateral vibrations in the gearbox may be observed due to the fact that torsional and lateral motions of the gears may be coupled to one another in the presence of large oscillatory angular motion of the train.
Torsional vibrations are oscillatory angular shaft motions superimposed on the steady-state shaft speed so as to twist various sections of the shaft as well as machine couplings. As already noted, high torsional vibrations may be destructive and result in high lateral vibration at the gearbox. Severe torsional vibrations may be present during the operation of a system with the only indication of a problem being gear noise or coupling wear. Some typical effects of uncontrolled torsional vibration may be a failed coupling, a broken shaft, a worn gear, a fractured gear tooth, and more.
Excitation of torsional natural frequencies may come from many sources. From the electrical drive, the source of the torque components can be voltage harmonics present due to the nature of output modulators in voltage converters or due to the presence of other current or voltage disturbances within the electrical network in connection with the machine. Another main cause for torsional issues in electrical motor driven shaft assemblies are air-gap torque harmonics generated by the electrical drive system.
As those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts understand, the torsional characteristics of these systems vary as a function of the stiffness and inertia of the train. While some torsional properties of the system may be changed, generally the system inertia cannot be easily modified as needed, particularly if torsional issues develop when the project development is completed (i.e., during string tests or during the commissioning phase). Conventional turbo machinery drive trains driven or assisted by an electric motor that include a Variable Frequency Driver (VFD) require specific considerations in the design stage over conventional constant speed equipment. Furthermore, variable-frequency drives are notorious sources of torsional vibration problems due to the torque ripple generated on the motor shaft. One way to reduce these torsional vibrations is to carefully design the entire compressor train from a torsional standpoint with the proper selection of couplings, gearbox and rotors in order to prevent torsional and/or torsio-flexural issues. Nevertheless, optimization of control-loop parameters for train torsional behavior has not been observed as a successful option to address the noted torsional issues.
It would therefore be desirable to develop turbo machinery drive trains driven or assisted by an electric motor that include an alternative way to reduce or smooth the harmful effect of alternating torsional stress acting directly on the source of the excitation with no or minimum impact on the hardware of the system.