A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device and related methods are described. The MEMS device comprises a first member having a first surface and a second member having a second surface, the first and second surfaces being separated by a gap that is closable by a MEMS actuation force applied to at least one of the first and second members. A standoff layer is disposed on the first surface of the first member, the standoff layer providing standoff between the first and second surfaces upon a closing of the gap by the MEMS actuation force. The standoff layer comprises a plurality of nanowires that are anchored to the first surface of the first member and that extend outward therefrom.

Advances in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology continues to increase the applicability of MEMS devices to a variety of technological endeavors. By way of example, MEMS integrated circuit devices can be found in inkjet printers, automobile airbag systems, automobile stability control systems, optical switches, pressure sensors, computer and television display systems, and optical switches. Further applications for MEMS devices continue to be developed. As used herein, MEMS device refers generally to a micro-scale or nano-scale apparatus having two or more parts adapted to move relative to one another, where the motion is based on any suitable interaction or combination of interactions, such as mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, optical, and/or chemical interactions. MEMS devices include, without limitation, NEMS (nanoelectromechanical systems) devices, MOEMS (micro-opto-electromechanical systems) devices, and devices with analogous functionalities having alternative nomenclatures as may be currently or hereinafter used or adopted.
The operation of many MEMS devices involves actuation that closes a gap between two members such that their surfaces are brought into actual or imminent contact with each other. By way of example, a simple MEMS-based optical switch may comprise a cantilevered mirror element disposed above a substrate layer, such that a voltage applied between the mirror element and the substrate layer causes flexing of the mirror element toward the substrate by electrostatic attraction, whereby a light beam impinging upon the mirror element is redirected according to the applied voltage. In another example, large arrays of such mirror elements can be placed on a single chip and individually driven by separate voltages to form a DMD (deformable mirror device) for use in a computer or television display system.
Moveable MEMS elements, such as the above-described cantilevered mirror element, often have high surface area to volume ratios such that surface effects can become competitive with mass, inertia, and the various "intentional" forces in dictating the actual movement (or lack thereof that physically occurs. So-called stiction forces, for example, can cause a mirror element to stick to a substrate and prevent the mirror element from moving. Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain such adhesion, including solid bridging, liquid bridging, "cold welding," Van der Waals forces, and hydrogen bonding. Often the stuck part can be separated with increased force, but sometimes a permanent bond is formed after the initial contact. In addition to degrading device performance or causing outright device failure, stiction issues can also underlie increased margin requirements in device design (e.g., building in a higher spring coefficient for a deformable member, increasing actuation/release voltages, etc.) which can increase device size, cost, and power requirements, while reducing device speed and efficiency. Other issues arise as would be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure.

MEMS device with nanowire standoff layer

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A spring driven shaver capable of being significantly simplified in structure to a degree sufficient to carry out down-sizing of the shaver and be portable. The shaver includes a shaver body, in which a spiral spring, a spring wind-up wheel, a gear wheel coaxial with the spring wind-up wheel and a plurality of speed-up gears engaged with each other in order are arranged. One of the speed-up gears is engaged with the gear wheel and a gear shaft on which another one of the speed-up gears is mounted is arranged so as to upward extend from the shaver body and provided at an upper end thereof with a rotary member having blades mounted thereon. The spring wind-up wheel is so arranged that a part thereof is constantly projected from a side of the shaver body.

This invention relates to a shaver having a spiral spring incorporated therein as a power or drive source, and more particularly to a spring driven shaver which is adapted to be conveniently used at any desired place.
A shaver which includes blades rotated for shaving conventionally uses a motor as a drive source. For this purpose, the conventional shaver is constructed so as to utilize a battery or a commercial power supply for driving the motor. Unfortunately, such construction of the conventional shaver causes a structure of the shaver to be substantially complicated to a degree sufficient to render down-sizing of the shaver highly difficult. Also, it fails to provide the shaver -with portability and causes an increase in manufacturing cost.


A freshness plug includes a solid round body having an internally depressed section, a protrusion extending from the internally depressed section, a shoulder extending from an exterior of the internally depressed section, and malleable flanges below the shoulder.

The invention generally relates to storage, and more specifically to a freshness plug.
In general, sealing is a common method for removing atmospheric oxygen from a container. This method is an effective way to preserve foods or other internal products that lose flavor, scent or ripeness when exposed to oxygen.
For example, a plug is a device specifically made to seal the container. It usually includes a shoulder on the exterior surface which engages the container to stabilize the plug, malleable flanges which depress and form a tightly sealed environment inside of the container and a handle to help remove the plug. In many cases, plugs also contain a seal or valve which assist in removal the oxygen from the container. When the user inserts the plug, oxygen flows out past the malleable flanges and once the plug is in place the malleable flanges depress against the container forming a tightly sealed environment.


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a frame transmission method and an apparatus for a wireless local area network, which relate to the field of communications technologies. In the present invention, in a WLAN frame transmission process, a frame sent by a wireless local area network WLAN device is received, and identification of frames of different standards is completed by detecting a format indication field included in the frame, so as to implement backward compatibility of the WLAN device, so that hybrid networking of WLAN devices of different standards can be supported, flexibility of network deployment is improved, and networking complexity is reduced.

The 802.11 protocol suite defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE) is standards of a wireless local area network (Wireless local Access Network, WLAN). Existing WLAN standards based on an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM) technology include progressively evolving standards, such as 802.11a, 802.11n, and 802.11ac, and are still continuously evolving. As the WLAN develops and gradually gains popularity, a situation in which WLAN devices supporting different standards coexist will be long-standing. To implement backward compatibility, a wireless access point (AP) and a Station (STA) that use a new-generation standard both need to be capable of supporting use of a previous standard.
Because different frame formats are used in existing multiple WLAN standards and a future WLAN standard, a WLAN device that uses a new-generation standard needs to have a capability of identifying frames of different WLAN standards.

Frame transmission method and apparatus for wireless local area network


A sensor for measuring an oxygen content in a liquid or gaseous sample has first and second sensor sections (14a, 14b). The first sensor section (14a) can be brought into contact with the sample and has a luminescent indicator dye embedded in an oxygen-permeable first polymer matrix. The second sensor section (14b) is arranged adjacent to the first sensor section (14a) and includes the same dye embedded in an oxygen-impermeable second polymer matrix. A light guide (10) guides luminescence excitation light from a light source (31, 32) to the sensor sections (14a, 14b) and guides luminescence emission light from the sensor section (14a, 14b) to a detector (39).

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a sensor for measuring an oxygen content in a liquid or gaseous sample, comprising                a first sensor section that can be brought into contact with the sample and has a luminescent indicator dye embedded in an oxygen-permeable, first polymer matrix,        light guiding means for guiding luminescence excitation light from a light source to the first sensor section, and        light guiding means for guiding luminescence emission light from the first sensor section to a detector.
2. Description of the related art
WO 02/103334 A1 discloses an oxygen sensor of the generic type.
It is known about many luminescent dyes, in particular from the group of Pt(II)porphyrins, that their luminescence intensity depends strongly on the oxygen concentration of the medium surrounding the dye. This effect is based on an interaction of the oxygen with the state of the dye molecules energetically excited by excitation light of suitable wavelength. In addition to the luminescence-producing transition from the excited state to the ground state, this interaction can result in an additional radiation free deexcitation path. The probability of this radiation free transition increases with the oxygen concentration. This is called luminescent extinction or quenching by oxygen.
The known sensor utilizes this quenching effect to determine the oxygen content of a sample. Thus, the first sensor section is irradiated with excitation light of suitable wavelength, and the intensity of the luminescence emitted by the indicator dye is measured. Suitable light sources such as, for example, LEDs, and suitable detectors such as, for example, photomultipliers with suitable, upstream filters, are known to the person skilled in the art.
WO 02/103334 A1 addresses as a problem of such a measuring arrangement the dependence of the luminescence intensity not only on the oxygen concentration, but also on fluctuations in the intensity of the excitation light, for example owing to fluctuations in the light source. It is proposed to solve this problem by using a second, oxygen-insensitive dye whose luminescence intensity is determined in the course of a second simultaneous luminescence measurement at the same excitation wavelength and at a separate detection wavelength optimized for the reference dye, and whose ratio with the luminescence intensity value of the indicator dye is formed.
It is disadvantageous with the known sensor that a further, strong dependence, specifically dependence on the temperature of the sensor, that is to say substantially of the sample surrounding the latter, is not taken into account. In addition, the use of a second dye for generating a reference signal entails the disadvantage that said dye can be influenced in a different way from the actual indicator dye by changes in the measuring conditions or by fading.
It is the object of the present invention to make available an oxygen sensor with the aid of which the influences of the temperature on the measuring result can be compensated, and which has no need of a second dye for referencing.


A mailbox delivery signal apparatus includes a signal assembly coupled to a detection assembly. The signal assembly has a signal mast attached at one end to a wheel biased to an upright position by a torsion spring. The wheel is pivotally mounted on a hub attached to a housing attached to an outer surface of a sidewall of the mailbox. The housing includes a stop for engaging the signal mast and preventing further rotation past the upright "mail present" signalling position. The signal mast is maintained in the down "mailbox empty" signalling position by a spring biased pin which engages a detent recess formed in the periphery of the wheel. The detection assembly includes an arm pivotally mounted within the mailbox which arm rotates when an object is placed in the mailbox. The arm is coupled to the pin so that rotation of the arm moves the pin out of engagement with the detent recess in the wheel, permitting the torsion spring to rotate the signal mast to the upright signalling position.

The present invention relates generally to a mailbox signal apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus which raises a signal mast to an upright position when an object such as a piece of mail is placed in the mailbox.
The typical curbside mailbox has a manually actuated flag for alerting the mail carrier of outgoing mail to be picked up when in an upright position. The mail carrier lowers the flag to indicate that the service is complete. However, the postal patron has no indication of whether incoming mail has been delivered. It is especially important during inclement weather or when it is physically difficult to make a trip to the mailbox to be provided with an indication that incoming mail is waiting.
Prior art mailbox signal devices have used a number of different methods to activate a signal flag automatically, including raising the flag by a torsion spring released by a spring biased rod. Examples of such designs include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,551,915; 4,065,050; 4,186,870; position, 4,390,122.
However, the signal flags of these devices require either manual actuation of a trigger device or are automatically activated by the opening of the mailbox door. Anyone could actuate these devices without leaving a piece of mail. Therefore, these signal devices are incapable of signalling when a piece of mail is actually in the mailbox. Rather, these devices merely indicate that the mailbox door has been opened.


An angle bar includes two longitudinal angled plate portions, and a corner portion connecting therebetween. The corner portion has an inner corner surface bounding an inner corner space and an outer corner surface. A stopper protrudes into the indented corner space, and has an abutment face extending across the indented corner space. A limiter protrudes into the indented corner space from the inner corner surface, and has a through hole opening in a direction along a bending line of the corner portion. A modular post assembly has at least two angle bars abutting each other, and a fixing rod extending through the through holes of the bars along the bending line and limited between the stoppers for fixing together the bars.

A separable type shelf storage rack may be disassembled and reassembled, and is adjustable in size to suit different installation spaces. An existing modular post assembly for the shelf storage rack includes a plurality of posts, a plurality of connectors for connecting the posts, and a plurality of fasteners for fixing the posts and the connectors.
Traditionally, the connectors are metal plates, and the fasteners are screws. To assemble the modular post assembly, the connectors are arranged to straddle adjacent posts and are then secured to the posts by the fasteners. Therefore, the task of assembling the post assembly consumes time and requires a suitable tool. Further, because the connectors protrude outwardly at the joints of the posts, unpleasant unevenness is created in the outer appearance of the modular post assembly.

Modular post assembly for a shelf storage rack


A process for reducing the naphthenic acidity of petroleum oils or their fractions is described, said process comprising providing a hydrocarbon feed 103/203/303 having between 0.1 and 99 wt % of emulsified/dispersed water in oil, said feed containing salts and a content of naphthenic acids measured as TAN between 0.1 and 10 mg KOH/g oil; directing the said petroleum oil feed and emulsified/dispersed water towards an energy emitter device in the microwave range and submitting said feed 103/203/303 in liquid phase, under pressure between 0.7 and 4.5 MPa at temperatures between 50° C. and 350° C. to the microwave radiation, applied in the range of 1 mm to 30 cm to said feed so that the presence of salts, the applied temperature and the high dielectric constant of the water droplets make that the heat is absorbed on the spot by the water and heat said water preferentially to the oil, while the naphthenic compounds at the interface between the droplets and the oil catch said heat; effecting the decomposition of the carboxylic acids responsible for the naphthenic acidity in the petroleum feed at temperatures around 320° C. and generating CO2; separating with the aid of any known device 106/106′/112/117/208/208′/214/219/310/310′/316/321 any gas phase generated, water and oil; and recovering the hydrocarbon oil stream 108/113/119/210/215/221/312/317/323 having a reduced content in naphthenic acids. The process is designed to be applied to the reduction of naphthenic acids in feeds of petroleum oils and their fractions in the oil production step, in refineries or any industrial installation.

The production of ever-increasing heavy oils of high naphthenic acidity and high viscosity are a challenge for the petroleum industry. High organic acid-content oils are highly corrosive towards equipment used in their processing.
At present, some mixtures of Brazilian oils have shown themselves more corrosive than those usually refined, making that units, chiefly distillation units, require modifications for installing more resistant materials. Since it is not possible to precisely measure the corrosiveness of each petroleum oil, it is not possible to previously ascertain which material should make up the unit in order to withstand a considerable corrosion rate. The chosen material should be as adequate as possible, since excessive corrosion leads to risks linked to leakages, to the premature substitution of equipment and to production interruptions.
On the other hand, chemically resistant materials such as stainless steel are expensive, which is reflected on the overall unit cost as well as on the invested capital return.
The reduction of naphthenic acidity, besides avoiding the problems associated to corrosion, improves the efficiency of the desalting unit/electrostatic treater, one of the most important equipment in production or refining units.
The wrong operation of this equipment or the low efficiency of such treatment causes serious damage to the process units, limiting the campaign period and increasing the processing cost, the main consequences of it being:    a) Equipment corrosion, the more heavily affected in fractioning units being top condensers, top region internals, pipes, control valves, top vessel and the tower wall itself;    b) Salt deposition in exchangers and furnaces, since for many of them solubility is reduced with temperature increase, and/or there is water vaporization with salt precipitation; as a consequence, there is an increase in feed loss in the pre-heating battery, lower thermal exchange efficiency, causing increase in fuel utilization in the furnaces, and also contributing to coke deposition within the furnace tubes and to feed limitation of the unit;    c) Excess water in the process stream, with increased fuel consumption for heating and vaporizing it, besides process instability due to water pockets;    d) Increased chemical product utilization for pH control and corrosion inhibitors, besides making more difficult the control for such products addition due to instability of chloride contents, which makes the additions some times excessive, and some times insufficient;    e) Presence of salts, sediments and solids causing catalyst poisoning and worsening the fuel oil or asphalt quality.
Among the several approaches already adopted for reducing the naphthenic acidity of petroleum oils and their fractions are the use of mixtures of oils of different acidity levels, corrosion inhibitors, thermal treatments and hydrotreatment.
In the case of thermal treatment, Examples cited in U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,751 point out to 90% reductions in TAN (Total Acid Number) for some Venezuelan crudes. The crude is at first submitted to a flash for removing water and thereafter the effluent is submitted to temperatures between 340° C. and 420° C., at pressures lower than 7.5 MPa and reaction times up to 2 hours. Under conditions of conventional visbreaking the reduction reaches 80%. This alternative implies equipment expenditure, such as furnaces and soaker vessels.
A further way of naphthenic acidity reduction is to hydrotreat petroleum under mild conditions. However, the unit campaign period can be limited by catalyst contamination and hydrogen consumption is high at the end, which adds cost to refining.
Another alternative is the esterification of the naphthenic acids through alcohol addition, with or without catalysts. However, this route requires high alcohol expenditure, with increased cost.
The application of corrosion inhibitors is another solution adopted to by-pass the acidity problem. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,013 teaches that organic polysulfides are effective inhibitors of corrosion caused by naphthenic acids in refinery distillation units.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,366 teaches the addition of oil soluble products of an alkynediol and an polyalkylene polyamine as naphthenic corrosion inhibitors.
Acidity reduction can still be obtained through the treatment of oil with basic NaOH or KOH solutions as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,440. However this approach demands the use of rather concentrated basic solutions and a critical point is the formation of emulsions difficult to separate. Therefore this solution would be applicable only for low base concentrations.
To by-pass the emulsion problem, U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,042 teaches a treatment with an overbased detergent containing at least 3% calcium wherein the overbased detergent is selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfonates and phenates. Oil is treated at temperatures between 100° C. up to 170° C., the amount of overbased detergent being from 0.025:1 to 10:1 moles of calcium to acidic functionality in the starting crude oil. Amounts of 0.25:1 can also be used.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,258 teaches the use of anhydrous ammonia solutions. The proposed treatment can be carried out in two steps, with a first step under conditions of temperature and period of time sufficient to form the ammonium salts of the naphthenic acids and with a second step where the ammonium salts are treated under conditions of temperature and period of time adequate to form the naphthenic acid amides.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,328 teaches the use of polymeric amines such as polyvinyl pyridine to solve the problem of naphthenic acidity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,995 teaches the treatment of coal and coal-derived liquids besides vacuum gasoils and petroleum residua showing acidic functionalities with basic solutions of quaternary hydroxides in alcohol or water, such as tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide in a liquid such as alcohol or water.
International publication WO 01/79386 teaches a basic solution containing Groups IA, IIA and ammonium hydroxides and the application of a transfer agent, such as non basic quaternary salts and polyethers to solve the problem of naphthenic acid reduction.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,541 the hydroxide and/or phosphate bases are used with an alcohol for the desired reduction in the naphthenic acid content.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,137, naphthenic acidity and the sulfur content of the oil are reduced by reaction with alkaline earth metal oxides yielding neutralized compounds and alkaline earth metal sulfides. The temperature should be higher than 150° C. for the removal of the carboxylic acids and higher than 200° C. for forming sulfide salts. The applied pressure should keep the material in a non-vaporized state.
Broadly, most of the methodologies used for reducing naphthenic acidity involving thermal treatments without or with the addition of basic solutions, demand the application of surfactants to by-pass the emulsion problem.
A still different approach is the use of adsorbents for adsorbing the naphthenic acids.
Thus Brazilian application PI 0202552-3 of the Applicant teaches the reduction of naphthenic acidity of petroleum oils or their fractions that have been previously submitted to desalting and dehydration through a process that comprises the steps of: a) contacting the naphthenic acid—containing oils or their fractions with an adsorbent, at a ratio of adsorbent/petroleum oil or its fractions in the range of 0.1 to 5, at temperatures between 200° C. and 500° C., under pressures between 0.01 to 0.3 MPag and residence time between 1 second and 2 hours, in order to carry out the desired reduction in naphthenic acidity and obtaining a treated feed; b) on the so-obtained treated feed, separating the spent adsorbent from the petroleum oil or its fractions so as to obtain a treated and separated feed of reduced naphthenic acidity; and c) directing the treated and separated feed for further treatment. The adsorbent used in said Brazilian application is a high specific area material, between 100 and 200 m2/g, the surface of said material being covered with a layer of high molecular weight carbon compounds. Useful adsorbent compounds are carbon black, FCC spent catalysts and coked FCC catalyst.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,582,629 and 4,853,119 propose the use of microwaves for emulsion breaking. However, there is no description nor suggestion in these patents as for the removal or reduction of naphthenic acidity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,936B1 teaches the reduction of the amount of naphthenic acids contained in oils by forming an oil/water (O/W) emulsion and using solids. The oil is at first treated with between 0.1 to 5 wt % based on the weight of oil, of a solid able to adsorb the acids present in the oil. Useful solids are silica, alumina, coke, montmorillonite, bentonite, kaolinite and the like. The solids should be of an amphiphilic nature, that is, show a hydrophilic/lipophilic character. The solids are added of 5 to 30 wt % of water based on the amount of oil, at temperatures between 20 to 220° C., the preferred range being 25° C. to 80° C., for 3 to 30 minutes, under pressure between 413.7 kPa up to 6,895 kPa. Water is then added to form an emulsion and separated in a plurality of layers. Separation can be effected through any well-known process such as centrifugation, gravity decantation, hydrocyclones, microwaves, electrostatic separation and combinations of these methods.
In spite of the fact that U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,936B1 mentions the use of microwaves for separating the emulsion, the object of the technology taught therein is not the use of microwave for reducing the naphthenic acid content of the oil, it being restricted to the emulsion separation. It is the solid added to oil before forming the emulsion that is designed to adsorb the naphthenic acids, as pointed out in column 3, line 2 of the cited patent. Since naphthenic acids are of amphiphilic character, the amphiphilic solid will easily adsorb the naphthenic acids.
In spite of the good results related to the naphthenic acid reduction using solid adsorbents reported in the literature, a drawback of this technology is the introduction of an additional separation step for separating the solid adsorbent. Besides, the mere fact of adding to the feed to be treated a foreign material—the adsorbent solid—means cost and trouble to the system. A further drawback is that adsorbents are most of the time used under severe temperature and pressure conditions, these entailing increased cost.
Another relevant and unexpected aspect of the invention, not described nor suggested in the literature is that state-of-the-art processes must submit the overall feed to the proposed treatment, for example, to heating, for a certain residence time, which in general terms is of one hour. Advantageously, in the invention the required energy is used to heat only a fraction of the feed (that is, the droplet emulsified or dispersed in the hydrocarbon phase), for a residence time lower than that required in known processes.
Without being linked to any particular theory, the Applicant hypothesizes that a further advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the naphthenic compounds where the chain shows a reduced number of carbon atoms, being relatively more polar and of higher acid strength than longer or more complex chain analogous compounds, will have more affinity and will concentrate at the interface of the aqueous phase, this allowing higher effectiveness of the intended reduction.
Thus, it can be seen that in spite of the technical developments in this field the technique still needs a process for reducing the naphthenic acid content of petroleum oils and their fractions, said process involving the treatment of said feeds, in the desalting or dehydration steps, with electromagnetic energy in the microwave range, in liquid phase, at temperatures between 50° C. and 350° C., with separation of any formed gas phase, such process being described and claimed in the present application.

Process for reducing the naphthenic acidity of petroleum oils or their fractions


Luminous units of this kind have light members in the form of incandescent lamps, whose contacts are connected electrically conductive with an electrical connector via an intermediate or contact plate. The contact plate must be fastened separately, owing to which manufacture and assembly are complicated and costly. In order to avoid this, the luminous unit has a light member holder, which is connected with the light member and has a coupling piece for the electrical connector. The coupling connection permits a simple and reliable electrical connection between the light member and the electrical connector. The contacts of the light member have contact pins, which are lengthened by lengthening pins. These allow the contact pins to be directly connected with the electrical connector.

Luminous units in the automotive field, in which the lighting means, or member such as an incandescent lamp, is connected electrically conductive with the electrical connector via an intermediate plate or contact plate, are well known. This contact plate must be fastened separately in the base of the lighting means. This is complicated and costly.
The object of the invention is to design the luminous unit in such a way that electrical connection between the lighting means and the electrical connector is possible in simple and inexpensive fashion.
According to the invention, this object is accomplished in the luminous unit of the present invention.


A holding device for holding a casting core in a casting mold, especially in a die-casting mold, includes a plurality of clamping sections which are positioned in relation to each other in such a way that a clamping region for a casting core is formed.

The present invention relates to a holding device for holding a casting core, to a casting mold, to a method for fixing or holding a casting core, and to the use of a holding device.
Casting cores are required in cast parts in order to realize for example cavities and undercuts. Such cores, made for example of sand or salt, are currently used predominantly in gravity casting methods. In said methods, the cores are positioned by positioning pins or core supports or core bearings in the permanent mold or in the sand core (gravity casting). This inevitably results in a hole remaining in the cast part, said hole usually requiring finishing work. In die casting, it is possible to mount cores only via the support of the core via the mold halves and outside the cast part. This is due, inter alia, to the enormous pressure that the cores have to withstand without slipping. Consequently, the core subsequently protrudes from the cast part or the core supports remain as "foreign bodies" in the cast part.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holding device, a casting mold, a method for holding casting cores, and the use of a holding device, which remedy the abovementioned drawbacks and make it possible to optimize the known casting methods.
This object is achieved by a holding device, by a casting mold, by a method, and by the use according to the claimed invention.
According to the invention, a holding device for holding a casting core in a casting mold, in particular in a die casting mold, comprises a plurality of clamping portions that are positioned with respect to one another such that a clamping region is formed for a casting core or at least a region of a casting core. The clamping region forms, so to speak, a kind of arranging space, in or on which the casting core or at least a portion or region of the casting core can be arranged. With regard to the geometry of the clamping region, it should be mentioned that this is expediently adapted to a geometry of the casting core or of the corresponding portion or region of the casting core.
Preferably, the holding device or the clamping region is designed for the force-fitting, or form- and force-fitting arrangement of the casting core. Preferably, for holding or fixing the casting core by way of the holding device, an interference fit is provided. This interference fit allows the holding or fixing, and in particular the clamping, of the casting core. The design of the interference fit is dependent on the geometry and in particular on the material of the casting core. According to one embodiment, sand is used as the core material, wherein the cores are produced by means of core shooters or by means of additive manufacturing methods. Also known and usable are salt cores, ceramic fiber cores, glass or wood cores, and also fusible metal cores or hollow-body inserts and permanent steel inlays, which are likewise positionable, and in particular fixable, via the holding device.
It should be particularly emphasized at this point that the holding device is likewise designed for the force-fitting arrangement on the particular casting mold, which, depending on the casting method used, can be formed for example from metal or sand. In other words, the holding device is designed to bear both against the casting core and against the casting mold, or, depending on the configuration, against the corresponding mold halves etc., specifically in particular against the inner contour of the casting mold or against the outer contour of the casting core. This means in particular that, for example, no holes or the like for inserting the holding device have to be provided in the casting mold. According to one embodiment, the clamping portions form an, in particular coherent, lattice or web structure. Preferably, the clamping portions are formed in a weblike manner, wherein the wall thickness of the webs corresponds at least regionally to a component thickness or wall thickness of the subsequent cast part. Advantageously, a (minimum) wall thickness around the core can thus be set exactly by the dimensions of the holding device or of the clamping portions thereof. This can be particularly advantageous in particular when the component regions are those which are critical in terms of the tolerances to be achieved.
According to a preferred embodiment, a material of the holding device is identical or at least similar to a casting material that is used for producing cast parts. Expediently, the material of the holding device thus corresponds to that of the melt, thereby allowing better connection of the two components. According to one embodiment, the holding device can also be appropriately coated in order to further improve the connection, wherein the coating should be selected in a manner corresponding to the casting material used. Preferred casting materials are in particular aluminum and/or magnesium, or aluminum alloys and/or magnesium alloys. In the case of a coating, metal intermediate layers, for example zinc, can be applied for a substance-to-substance bond.
Alternatively, a material of the holding device can also be designed so as to deliberately influence the subsequent component properties of the cast part. According to one embodiment, a material is used for example for the holding device that allows the thermal conductivity of the component to be deliberately influenced in this region, in particular for example decreases or increases the latter. Optionally, the holding device can, for example when a steel material is used, increase the stiffness deliberately in a desired region of the cast part. Depending on the mass of the holding device, the natural frequency of the cast part can be influenced, etc.
Expediently, the clamping portions have inner contact faces and outer contact faces, wherein the inner contact faces are designed to bear against the casting core, and wherein the outer contact faces are designed to bear against the casting mold. The expression "to bear" should be understood here in particular as a differentiation from plugging into or engaging in the casting core or in the casting mold. The holding device is designed to be held or clamped in or via the casting mold, in other words to be arranged in particular in a force-fitting manner. In addition, the holding device is designed to hold the casting core itself or to be held or clamped or arranged in a force-fitting, and appropriately in a form-fitting manner, thereon. This ensures, in particular in die casting, that the casting core is fixed and held securely. To this end, for example the inner contact faces are each provided, oriented or arranged in a manner facing one another in pairs such that the casting core, or a particular portion of the casting core, can be arranged in the resultant "intermediate space"/arranging space (or plurality thereof). Expediently, the holding device comprises a plurality of such inner contact faces that are oriented with respect to one another in pairs, the position thereof being formed ultimately via the clamping portions.
According to one embodiment, at least one inner contact face is designed to bear against the casting core fully and in a form-fitting manner. Expediently, the inner contact face is designed to be arranged on the casting core fully, i.e. with its entire face, wherein the exact geometry of the inner contact face is dependent on the geometry of the casting core. The inner contact face can extend in a flat or even manner, but optionally also have rounded portions or form shoulders, in order to follow an external contour of the casting core—in a form-fitting manner—as exactly as possible.
According to one embodiment, at least one clearance or at least one recess is formed in at least one outer contact face. This makes it possible for the melt to be able to completely fill the space of the casting mold. In other words, the clearances or recesses optimally allow encapsulation of the holding device. Preferably, the size or number of outer contact faces, between the holding device and the casting mold, should be kept as low as possible or be reduced to a minimum.
According to various embodiments, such clearances and recesses can have a depth in a range of about 1-4 mm, wherein the dimensions thereof are dependent on the size of the cast component, but also on the parameters of the casting process. The recesses or clearances analogously form protrusions, which, in various embodiments, are cross-sectionally round, in particular circular, thereby making circulation easier. Alternatively, polygonal, for example square or rectangular, protrusions also create a chessboard-like structure with corresponding channels in between.
According to one embodiment, such clearances or recesses are also provided in one or more inner contact faces in order to optimize the complete filling of the casting mold. According to one embodiment, the holding device also has holes and/or openings, which are preferably oriented in the direction of flow of the melt and thus not only optimize the filling of the casting mold but also further improve the integral casting of the holding device.
The invention is also directed at a casting mold, in particular a die casting mold, comprising at least one casting core and at least one holding device according to the invention, wherein the at least one holding device is arranged between the at least one casting core and the casting mold, in particular in a force-fitting manner, i.e. in particular clamped or clamped in place. In this case, the casting mold can be a permanent mold, but also sand molds or in particular mold halves of die casting molds.
According to a preferred embodiment, an interference fit is provided between the at least one holding device and the casting core. This makes it possible for the holding device to be able to be clamped onto the casting core or onto a portion of a casting core.
Alternatively, the force-fit or the clamping action can also be realized only by the casting mold, in particular by the closing of the casting mold. For example, the holding device is slightly deformed or compressed during or by the closing of the casting mold, with the result that the force-fit between the casting core and the holding device is realized.
According to one embodiment, the clamping portions are arranged in a distributed manner separated from one another. In other words, the holding device does not comprise a plurality of coherent clamping portions, but rather the clamping portions are positioned or arranged in a manner distributed around the casting core and in a manner separated from one another such that the casting core is held securely. In this case, the clamping portions are configured for example as pins that bear against the casting core and the casting mold.
According to one embodiment, an interference fit is provided between the holding device and the casting mold. Expediently, the external dimensions of the holding device thus correspond, with a slight oversize, to the internal dimensions of the casting mold. In this way, the holding device together with the insert core is fixed or jammed in the casting mold when the casting mold is closed, i.e. in particular held in a force-fitting, or form- and force-fitting manner.
The invention is also directed at a method for fixing/holding a casting core, comprising the steps of:
providing a casting mold, in particular a die casting mold, and a casting core;
providing a holding device comprising a plurality of clamping portions;
arranging the holding device and/or the clamping portions between the casting mold and the casting core in order to fix the casting core.
Preferably, the arranging of the holding device and/or the clamping portions between the casting mold and the casting core is effected in order to minimize the free lengths of the core and thus to reduce the mechanical loading thereof during encapsulation.
Advantageously, it is possible to use cores without modifications or positioning aids, in particular on the die casting mold. Expediently, it is also no longer necessary for the cast part to be subjected to finishing work, since the holding device or the clamping portions no longer project out of the subsequent cast part and holes that are caused by for example core positioning aids no longer remain in the cast part. Therefore, as a result of the saving of time and work, the manufacturing costs are reduced. In particular, however, it is also possible at the same time for the quality of the components to be increased, since the holding device allows very rapid and in particular positionally accurate insertion of the casting cores. In particular the setting of the wall thickness by the holding device should be mentioned as being particularly advantageous. The quick and easy variation, possible in the present case, of the bearing points of the cores, which may require adaptation on account for example of particular flow conditions, should also be highlighted.
According to one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: arranging/fixing the holding device on the casting core; and inserting the casting core into the casting mold.
Expediently, the holding device is first fixed to the casting core and this arrangement is then introduced into the casting mold.
According to one embodiment, the method also comprises the step of: closing the casting mold in order to fix the casting core and the holding device.
Preferably, an interference fit is provided between the holding device and the casting mold, i.e. the external dimensions of the holding device correspond, with a slight oversize, to the internal dimensions of the casting mold. In this way, the holding device together with the casting core can be fixed or jammed in the casting mold when the die casting mold is closed. In other words, preloading, so to speak, is applied by the casting mold.
The invention is also directed at the use of a holding device according to the invention in a die casting mold for core fixing.
Depending on the material and complexity of the holding device, the latter is produced for example by a subtractive manufacturing method. Preferably, production takes place by means of an additive manufacturing method.
The advantages and features mentioned in conjunction with the holding device also apply analogously and correspondingly to the method and to the use, and vice versa and between one another.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Holding device for holding a casting core in a casting mold

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A compression garment for applying compression therapy to a body part of a person. The compression garment includes a bladder including an inflatable chamber having a perimeter and an opening through which the inflatable chamber is inflated. A foam layer is positioned at least partially in the inflatable chamber for reducing a volume of gas required to inflate the inflatable chamber and extends at least partially outside the inflatable chamber for providing structural support to the compression garment.

Among concerns for generally immobile persons are medical conditions that form blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and peripheral edema. Such patients and persons include those undergoing surgery, anesthesia, extended periods of bed rest, etc. These blood clotting conditions generally occur in the deep veins of the lower extremities and/or pelvis. These veins, such as the iliac, femoral, popliteal, and tibial veins, return deoxygenated blood to the heart. When blood circulation in these veins is retarded due to illness, injury, or inactivity, there is a tendency for blood to accumulate or pool. A static pool of blood may lead to a blood clot, which can interfere with cardiovascular circulation. More seriously, the blood clot can break loose and migrate. A pulmonary embolus, which may be life threatening, can form if the blood clot blocks a pulmonary artery.
Conventional vascular compression systems include a compression garment fluidly connected to a controller that cyclically inflates the compression garment. The cyclical inflation of the compression garment enhances blood circulation and decreases the likelihood of DVT. A system of conduits connects the compression garment to the controller. Newer vascular compression garments may have portable controllers that are much smaller and mountable on the compression garment allowing the patient to move about freely without first removing the compression garment or disconnecting the compression garment from its controller. These newer compression garments may be worn when a patient is stationary or ambulatory and are believed to enhance patient compliance due to convenience of use.
Active compression garments for applying intermittent compression therapy to a body part (e.g., a limb such as a leg) have many applications, including DVT prophylaxis, edema prevention, and wound healing. The performance of compression garments is dependent upon the ability of the garment to retain its initial fit or tightness so the inflatable bladders retain their original position around the body part. This can be very difficult if the compression garments are used when the patients are in certain positions (e.g., non-horizontal positions) or when the patients are moving. The garments tend to loosen around the body part and/or slide down the body part, causing misalignment of inflatable bladders with corresponding body parts, potentially resulting in ineffective compression therapy and/or discomfort. The present invention is directed to maintaining the inflatable bladders in position on the body part to improve applied compression therapy by increasing the efficiency of the compression therapy. In addition, the present invention is directed to reducing an internal volume of one or more bladders on a compression garment, thus reducing an amount of gas required to inflate the bladders.


A computing circuit computes a target value of a current to be supplied to a discharge lamp and generates a pulse control signal for superpose a pulse current. Furthermore, the computing circuit controls a current control circuit so that a pulse current is superposed on a lamp current at a predetermined cycle and power supplied to the discharge lamp is kept constant. For that purpose, the computing circuit lowers a DC current level of the lamp current when a pulse current is superposed on the lamp current, and exercises control so that an integrated amount of power at a predetermined cycle is equalized to a predetermined integrated amount of power.

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector and a discharge lamp lighting device used in the image display device, and more specifically to a technique for superposing pulse waves of a lamp current.
A high voltage discharge lamp (discharge lamp) having high conversion efficiency and functioning as a point source of light such as a metal halide lamp or a high voltage mercury lamp is now used as a light source for an image display device such as a liquid crystal projector or the like. To light a high voltage discharge lamp, a voltage and a current necessary for lighting the lamp are supplied from a dedicated discharge lamp lighting device. Sometimes the flickering phenomenon may occur in a discharge lamp due to movement of a starting point of a discharge arc while the discharge lamp is lighted. To stabilize the operation of a discharge lamp lighting device, several techniques have been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 5-74583 discloses a technique in order to provide a HID (high intensity discharge) lamp lighting device with high lighting efficiency by maintaining the power consumption of the HID constant. In this technique, the power consumption of the HID lamp is computed based on a lamp current flowing in the HID lamp and a voltage difference between both ends of the HID lamp. In addition, a value of current supplied to the HID lamp is controlled according to a difference between the computing result and a preset value. The computing is performed by a microprocessor.
International Publication No. WO 95/35645 discloses a configuration in which an AC lamp current on which a current pulse with a predetermined cycle is superposed is supplied to a high voltage lamp in order to suppress its flickering occurring when the lamp is lit.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-281381 proposes a lamp current control circuit for stabilizing power at a constant level by suppressing the flickering of a high voltage discharge lamp during lighting and also keeping brightness of the lamp at a constant level for the purpose of stabilizing control and extending the life of the lamp. "Detailed Descriptions of the Embodiments" in the publication teach that "the amplitude waveform of a lamp flicker reduction step signal 57 superposed on an AC lamp current provides a step signal 18 bout well balanced in the vertical direction even when adjusted with a resister 31a, and an average value of the waveforms remains unchanged. As a result, the lamp current remains unchanged, and a lamp can be lit more smoothly while reducing flickering in the lamp" (paragraph [0051]). In addition, a waveform of the step signal is shown, for instance, in FIG. 3 in the document.

Discharge lamp lighting device and projection type image display apparatus having the same


Systems, methods and apparatus for automatically identifying a version of a file that is expected to be present on a computer system and for automatically replacing a potentially corrupted copy of the file with a clean (or undamaged) copy of the expected version. Upon identifying a file on the computer system as being potentially corrupted, a clean file agent may perform an analysis based on the identity of the file and one or more other properties of the system to determine the version of the file that is expected to be present on the system. Once the expected version is identified, a clean replacement copy of the file may be obtained from a clean file repository by submitting a version identifier of the expected version. The version identifier may be a hash value, which may additionally be used to verify integrity of the clean copy.

Computer software, including operating system and application software, is often stored as files on a writable storage device, such as a hard disk drive of a computer system on which the software is to be executed. These files are vulnerable to damage or corruption that can be either accidental or intentional. For example, a user or an application program may accidentally delete or overwrite a file, or a sector of the hard disk may fail, resulting in the loss of some of the data in a file. Perhaps more frequently, the computer system may be subject to a malicious attack, in which an attacker may attempt to add, remove, or otherwise tamper with one or more software segments in a file to cause the computer system to behave in some unauthorized and/or undesirable manner. Such unwanted software is generally referred to as "malware," which may include viruses, worms, Trojan horses, adware, spyware, rootkits, and the like.
Several conventional techniques are available for detecting and restoring corrupted files (e.g., those infected by malware). For example, an anti-malware program may be installed on a computer system to scan the hard disk for any files that may have been corrupted by malware. Such scanning may take place according to a predetermined schedule or upon a user's request. Some anti-malware programs may also be capable of "real-time" protection, where files are scanned when they enter the computer system (e.g., when a user receives an email attachment or downloads a file from a web site), or when they are loaded into the system's active memory (e.g., when a user attempts to open or execute a file).
Once the anti-malware program identifies a file as being potentially corrupted by malware, a repair tool may be used to undo the damage to the file. The repair tool may be programmed to recognize specific patterns of damage that are known to be associated with certain types of malware, and may attempt to repair the corrupted file based on the type of malware that is detected. For example, the repair tool may recognize and remove software code that is characteristic of the detected malware.
An alternative approach is to monitor certain registered files (e.g., critical operating system files) for unauthorized modification, irrespective of the possibility of malware. For example, a small number of operating system components such as package installers may be authorized to modify the registered files, so that modification by any other software component may be deemed unauthorized.
When an unauthorized modification to a file is detected, the modified copy may be replaced immediately by a copy of the same file retrieved from a local cache on the computer system. If that particular file is not available from the local cache, the user may be prompted to provide an original copy of the file, for example, by providing an installation or recovery disk.

Clean store for operating system and software recovery


A generator controller for controlling a permanent magnet generator where each phase of the generator is connectable to a DC link via electrically controllable switches, the controller characterized by a data processor adapted to receive a measurement of generator current output and a demand current, and to form a current error between the demanded value and the measured generator current; derive a target voltage as a function of the current error; and form control signals for the electrically controllable switches as a function of the target voltage.

Permanent magnet generators represent a simple and reliable form of generator construction that is suitable for use in situations where high reliability is paramount. In essence, and as schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, a rotor 2 carries a plurality of permanent magnets 4, 6 and 8 regularly disposed around its circumference. Rotation of the rotor causes the magnets to be moved towards and then away from the stator coils 10, of which only one is shown, held by the stator of the generator.
The voltage generated in each stator coil is
  V  =            -      N                          ⅆ        Φ                    ⅆ        t            where                Φ is the instantaneous value of the magnetic flux cutting the stator coil.        N is the number of turns of the stator coil.
This shows that, at least while no current is being drawn, the generator output voltage is proportional to the rotor speed.
When a current is drawn the situation becomes a little more complicated because:    i. the coils have a finite resistance and consequently part of the voltage is dropped across the resistance of the coil.    ii. current flow within the coil causes it to produce its own magnetic field, which then interacts with the field from the permanent magnets causing the voltage to change.
Furthermore it is known that when uncontrolled, the generator output voltage can vary over a wide range dependent upon generator speed and load.
It is inconvenient for the voltage supplied to a load to vary over a wide range and therefore some form of stabilisation is useful.
It is known to convert the generator output to a DC voltage using a power converter. A controller can be used to control the power converter so as to provide a desired output voltage at a DC link.
Generally, in order to perform stable control of the generator, it has been necessary to include a position detector on the rotor. Sensing the rotor position allows the voltage waveform under no load conditions to be inferred from a knowledge of the generator design and sensor position. This can be compared with the current waveform to obtain a measurement of current angle. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,995.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,677 includes means (not described in detail) for measuring the "source voltage" of a generator, as described at column 6 lines 1 to 3. This measurement of source voltage is probably made with an additional sense coil wound onto the stator such that an output voltage under no-load conditions can be inferred. The circuit also measures the current waveforms and consequently the phase shift between the voltage and the current can be directly derived to give the power factor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,581 discloses a regulation circuit which monitors the voltage occurring across a load and on the basis of this measurement may pass current through an inductor connected in parallel with the generator so as to add a "lag" into the power factor.

Controller for a permanent magnet generator and a generator in combination with such a controller


A new optical imaging process for how to best fuse information from multiple target images into a single target image is described. The process has two primary components. First, rotating, translating and scaling each target image to register or calibrate them against a reference image and, second, determining weighing factors for each thus registered target image to select those images which add value to a final target image. The first component determines optimal rotational and translation matrices by a least squares measure using singular value decomposition. The second component determines weighing factors using correlations and statistical signal analysis techniques.

The present invention relates generally to optical imaging, and more particularly to how to best fuse target information from multiple images into a single target image.
One approach for optical target recognition, usually for viewing by a human operator, fuses multiple target images with respect to a reference image of interest, often merely the first target of many target images. The goal is to create a fused image that is optimally "information rich" to a human operator at a lowest computational cost.
The reference image is usually an original optical image produced by a digital imaging device such as a digital camera. Modern military systems may include a variety of additional sensor devices able to produce images based not only on multiple electromagnetic radiation frequencies, so-called multi-spectral images that include frequencies below and above the normal visual range, but also based on other than electromagnetic radiation.
A particular problem is computation cost, particularly computational speed.
Complicating this process is that an original reference image may be compromised by having too little or too much light, reduced contrast or size, and cluttered with other objects that confuse a user, as well as other possible image defects.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide new and improved methods for fusing target information from multiple images into a single target image.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


An embodiment of a method includes receiving a request from a user agent to use a communication network, determining that the user agent is not recognized on the communication network, and requiring submission of location information prior to allowing the user agent to use the network. An embodiment of a system includes a recognition module configured to determine whether the communication device is recognized in response to a request to use a communication network from the communication device, a notification module configured to notify the communication device that the communication device is not recognized, wherein notification that the communication device is not recognized indicates that location information must be submitted prior to the communication device using the communication network; and a location update module configured to receive submitted location information and update the location of the communication device based on the location information.

In the field of telecommunications, with conventional communications technologies, it could generally be assumed that each communication device had a fixed location. Telecommunications companies, such as Local Exchange Carriers (LECs), typically gathered and stored location data (e.g., addresses) identifying the fixed location of each communication device. Location-based telecommunication services, such as 911 emergency services, could be delivered to a given caller using the stored location data and the caller's telephone number, with confidence that the user's location has not changed. With the advent of mobile or nomadic communications technologies, it can no longer be assumed that communication devices (e.g., cell phones, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones), and their users, have fixed locations.
Nomadic communication devices are designed for mobility. Users can travel from city to city using their phones, for example, typically without any observed change in telecommunication service. However, if the user requires a location-based service, the service may not be able to be provided because the user's previously identified location has changed, unless the user has updated his/her location with the service provider. Conventionally, location-based communication service providers, providing nomadic communication services, have relied on users to notify the service provider when users move to another geographically identified location. However, often users don't remember to notify their service providers, or assume they will not require location-based services.
For example, if the user is on a short business trip, and chose to take their geographically identified communication device with them the user may not think it's worth while to notify the service provider of his/her new temporary hotel address. However, it is entirely possible the nomadic user will require location-based services at their new location. For example, the user may require 911 emergency service (or enhanced 911 (E-911)) at the new location. In such a case, if the user failed to notify the provider of the user's new location, emergency personnel may be dispatched to the wrong address, and the user may not receive critical emergency care on time or at all.
It is with respect to these and other problems that embodiments of the present invention have been created.

System and method for authorizing and validating user agents based on user agent location


A pressing apparatus including an unfolding prearranger device to preliminarily open or unfold sewing margins seamed and folded in a pressing object mounted on a trestle thereof, a pad cloth which covers the sewing margins as preliminarily opened or unfolded, a pressurizing device which forces the sewing margins as preliminarily opened or unfolded against the trestle through the pad cloth, and a conveyor which moves the unfolded prearranger device and the pressurizing device in an integrated form along seams of the sewn workpiece.

The present invention relates to a pressing machine for unfolding or opening seamed and folded margins clothing such as suit jackets, trousers or the like.
When suit jackets, trousers or the like are sewn, their sewing margins become substantially folded together after being seamed. In a conventional method, in order to unfold the folded margins in a suit jacket, for instance, the suit jacket is applied to a pressing trestle or other similar means, and is then ironed by hand to horizontally open their sewing margins which become folded and opposed as a result of seaming.
However, manual ironing is inefficient to achieve the opening of the folded margins, and it is occasionally difficult to open the folded margins if the margins, or a jacket or other clothing to which the margins belong, are greater in thickness.
It is therefore an object if the present invention to provide for a pressing machine in which sewing margins seamed and folded in a suit jacket or other clothing (hereinafter referred to as the "workpiece") can easily and automatically be unfolded or opened horizontally.

Pressing machine for unfolding seamed and folded margins in clothing


The rotation-angle and torsion sensor has two gears that are connected so as not to turn with shaft sections, which [gears] mesh with gears. On one of the gears a unipolar or multipolar magnet is attached. On the other gear, magnetic flux guides matching to number of poles are attached, that are configured as L shapes. One leg of the flux tranducers points in the direction of the multipolar magnet while the other legs run parallel to the gear and in fact one on one side and the other on the other side of the gear, with these legs enclosing a second sensor between them that is situated in the gear.

A preferred area of application of the present invention is steering of motor vehicles, in which not only the turning angle of a steering gear shaft is to be measured, but also the forces exerted on the steering gear shaft, which act as torque. This torque can be measured as the torque angle of a torsion bar placed between two sections of the steering gear shaft. The other parameters of the torsion bar are known with this.
DE 198 34 322 A1 discloses a rotation angle and torque sensor for simultaneous measurement of torque and rotation angle of a turnable shaft. On two shaft sections a first and a second gear is placed, that turn with the assigned shaft section. The first gear meshes with a third gear that carries a magnet. A first magnetic sensor is assigned to the magnet. The second gear of the other shaft section meshes with a fourth and fifth gear, with a magnet and a magnetic sensor also assigned to these gears. The number of teeth of the fourth and fifth gears differs by at least 1, so that in a known fashion the absolute rotational angle of the shaft section can be determined, even for rotational angles greater than 360°. The number of teeth on the third and fourth gears is the same, and likewise those of the first and second gear, so that with torsion-free rotation the third and fourth gears turn synchronously. If however, torsion occurs, then between the first and second shaft sections a twisting or a torque angle appears, so that the third and fourth gears possess differing rotational settings, which can be determined by evaluating the magnetic sensors assigned to the third and fourth gears, in that a difference signal is formed from the output signals of these two sensors. Summarized in brief, the known rotation-angle and torsion sensor has five gears, three magnets and three magnetic sensors.
Similar sensors for measuring a rotational angle and/or a torque are also known from EP 1 426 750 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,027 B2, where gears, magnets and magnetic sensors are also used.
In the sensor named initially, what is problematical is the reciprocal screening of the magnets, whose magnetic fields are allowed to only influence the assigned magnetic sensor, but not the magnet adjoining the magnetic sensor. In regard to miniaturization of such sensors, problems therefore can arise. Also, the material costs of the magnets play an important role.


The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, a device and a network system for allocating an IP address. The allocating method comprises: allocating a first IP address to a first server; allocating a second IP address to a client connected to the first server; monitoring the client allocated with the second IP address; allocating a third IP address to the first server when a monitoring result indicates that an IP address conflict exists between the first IP address and a current IP address of a second server; wherein the second server is connected to the client allocated with the second IP address. The method may reallocate the IP address automatically when a subnet conflict occurs.

Existing Internet performs networking and data transmission via TCP (Transmit Control Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol). Two terminals connected to the Internet must have their respective IP addresses, so as to communicate with each other. However, due to the limited resources of the IP addresses, the operator cannot allocate a fixed IP address for each of end-users. Currently, the networking terminal is temporarily allocated an address using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configure Protocol). That is, when the user terminal is networking, one IP address is temporarily allocated by a DHCP server from an address pool to the networked terminal. The allocated IP addresses may be different each time the user terminal is networking. When the user terminal is off the network, the DHCP server allocates the address to other user terminal sequentially networked. This may effectively save IP addresses, which may ensure communication of the terminal user and may also improve usage of the IP addresses.
In the network using the TCP/IP protocol, each terminal must have at least one IP addresses to communicate with other terminal(s). But sometimes a situation may appear where a terminal has multiple IP addresses. As shown in FIG. 1, one client connects to a plurality of DHCP servers. The plurality of DHCP servers allocate IP addresses to the client, respectively. The client communicates with other terminals in different subnets by respective one of the plurality of DHCP servers. The DHCP server acts as a subnet gateway, and also has its own IP address subnet segment for allocating IP address to itself and its client connected thereto. Therefore, there may be a subnet IP address conflict existing between different DHCP servers. The solution for the IP address subnet conflict of the DHCP server in the prior art is only to modify the IP address subnet segment of the DHCP server manually. And, since the same batch of DHCP servers have the same factory settings, i.e. the same IP addresses and subnet masks, it is also required to configure the IP address of the DHCP server manually when the DHCP server is started up.

Methods, devices, and systems for allocating IP address


An electron beam apparatus has a cylindrical chamber, ion pump exhaust zones arranged in a substantially ring-like array, and an electron gun located on the center axis of the ring-like array, thereby minimizing the distance between the exhaust zone of an ion pump and the electron gun for generating an electron beam. Since the ion pump exhaust zones are located immediately next to the electron gun, it is therefore possible to achieve substantially the same vacuum level at the location of the electron gun as that at the ion pump per se.

This invention relates to an electron beam apparatus such as an electron microscope and, in particular, to an improved gas exhaust system for use in an anode chamber for an electric field releasing type electron gun which requires a high vacuum level.
In general, the performance of an electron beam apparatus, such as an electron microscope, is greatly influenced by the brightness of the electron gun (corresponding to an emitting current density for a unit solid angle).
A thermal electron emitting type electron gun has been reduced to practice which uses lanthanum hexaborite as a cathode material for obtaining a high brightness level. Consequently, the field emission type electron gun has a wide range of applications. Tungsten and titanium carbide are primarily used as the cathode material of the field emission type electron gun. In order for the electron gun to operate stably, it is necessary that a high vacuum level, of the order of 10.sup.-9 to 10.sup.-11 Torrs, be obtained.
Generally, as shown in FIG. 1, ion pump 11 is coupled to gun chamber 13, for electron gun 15, via exhaust tube 12. The exhausting of a gas within gun chamber 13 is carried out by a residual gas trap section (i.e., exhaust zone) within ion pump 11.
FIG. 2 shows one form of gas exhaust section 14 incorporated within ion pump 11. In FIG. 2, 21 shows cylindrical electrodes biased to a positive potential; 22 shows a parallel magnetic field; and 231 and 232 show plate-like electrodes biased to a negative potential, which function as getters. In the ion pump, magnetic field 22 is applied in a direction parallel to the axis of cylindrical electrodes 21 and electrons within cylindrical electrodes 21, accelerated by the electric field generated among electrodes 21 and 231, 232, are moved in spiral fashion.
In the current technique, a vacuum level attained by the ion pump per se is of the order of 10.sup.-10 Torrs. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the large distance between electron beam emitting section 10 and gas exhaust section 14 within ion pump 11, arises due to the mechanical geometry, of ion pump 11, exhaust tube 12, and anode chamber 13. Even if a vacuum level of the order of 10.sup.-11 Torrs is obtained at the location of the ion pump, the vacuum level of anode chamber 13 drops to about 10.sup.-9 to 10.sup.-10 Torrs. Thus, in the conventional apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum level within the anode chamber is reduced by one to two orders of magnitude in comparison with that obtained at the ion pump.
In order to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, two solutions can be considered: (1) ion pump 11 is located as near to gun chamber 13 as possible, and (2) the exhausting capacity of ion pump 11 is made as large as possible. In the case of solution (1), there is a limit as to how close ion pump 11 can be located vis-a-vis chamber 13, due to exhaust tube 12 and flange 120 being interposed therebetween. With respect to solution (2), other problems arise, such as the price, size, and weight of various large-capacity ion pumps.

Electron beam apparatus including a plurality of ion pump blocks


A security system to prevent un-authorized access to the hard drive of a personal computer system. The security system consists of a plug-in expansion card containing a program on an EPROM, a device driver program which requests the password for access, and other programs to establish the valid passwords for the security system, provide an audit trail of computer access, and other functions. The program on the EPROM disables the floppy drives until a valid password has been entered, forcing the booting process to be controlled and forcing the computer to boot off of the hard drive and request a password via the device driver. A skilled programmer, even with a complete knowledge of the security system's details of operation, can not write a program which can be booted off of a diskette in order to bypass the security system. The passwords and user IDs for the security system are stored on the hard drive of the computer inside the device driver program. The elimination of the need to provide any random access memory, EEROM or other non-volatile memory in which to store the passwords contributes to the low manufacturing cost for the security system.

The present invention relates to a computer security system for a personal computer with a hard drive, with specific application to the IBM line of personal computers, and computers which are compatible with the IBM line of personal computers.
Many individuals and businesses use personal computers to store and process information. A business or professional person, such as an attorney or a medical doctor, may have information that must be kept confidential, such as privileged communications from clients or results of medical tests. Trade secrets and other proprietary information may also be stored on the hard drive of a computer system, and a means to provide for the security of this information is essential in order to protect the unauthorized disclosure of such information. Additionally, thefts of information from a computer system, including the client lists, financial records, personnel records, and other company information can produce disastrous results for a company.
As the need for computer security systems developed, attempts were made to develop a practical security system which would prevent unauthorized access to a computer system. Password security systems were developed that required entry of a password in order to access the computer or particular files, but these password security systems could often be bypassed by a skilled programmer, and in some cases, by simply booting the operating system for the computer off of a diskette. Some of these password security systems incorporated a hardware device which prevented any access to the system until a valid password was entered. However, due to their means of construction, these security systems were not able to be provided to the personal computer users at a sufficiently low price to encourage their widespread use.


The invention relates a method for producing a stable recombinant protein, comprising growing a non-naturally occurring host cell in a culture medium to produce a recombinant protein, and making a composition comprising the recombinant protein and a polysorbate. The production of endogenous lipoprotein lipase by the host cell is reduced. The endogenous lipoprotein lipase is present in the composition in a small amount, and is capable of degrading the polysorbate. The invention also relates to the relevant host cells and compositions, and preparation thereof.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are integral to the $125 billion biopharmaceutical market, which includes monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other therapeutic proteins. Recent sequencing of the Chinese hamster and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell genomes enables cell engineering strategies to address a wide variety of problems encountered in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. One particular application involves studies of CHO host cell proteins (HCPs) that may be difficult to remove for a variety of reasons. The presence of HCPs is regulated for patient safety concerns but may also have an impact on product quality in the context of formulation.
Polysorbates are a class of non-ionic surfactants that are added to biopharmaceutical formulations to improve the stability of therapeutic proteins by limiting aggregation and surface adsorption. Monoclonal antibody formulations often incorporate a polysorbate such as polysorbate 80 (PS-80) and polysorbate 20 (PS-20) to prolong the shelf-life of drug products. Polysorbate degradation over time can impact the stability of those drug products.
There remains a need for improved mammalian host cells for producing stable recombinant proteins by, for example, mitigating polysorbate degradation.

Reduction of lipase activity in product formulations


A manufacturing method of a composite sheet of an absorbent article, the method includes joining a continuous body of an elastic member in a predetermined meander pattern in respect to a continuous body of a sheet transported continuously in a transporting direction, the method includes: transporting the continuous body of the sheet by wrapping the continuous body of the sheet around an outer circumferential face of a transporting roll that rotates in a direction along the transporting direction; and joining the continuous body of the elastic member to a portion of the continuous body of the sheet wrapped around the transporting roll by feeding the continuous body of the elastic member to the continuous body of the sheet via an oscillating arm that oscillates in an intersecting direction intersecting the transporting direction with a spindle portion as a swivel fulcrum, wherein the oscillating arm includes an oscillating end side roller arranged at an oscillating end side of the oscillating arm and a spindle portion side roller arranged at a spindle portion side, wherein in the joining, the continuous body of the elastic member supplied toward the spindle portion side roller through a supply route along a rotational central axis direction of the spindle portion is put around an outer circumferential face of the spindle portion side roller and an outer circumferential face of the oscillating end side roller successively and guided to the continuous body of the sheet, and a driving force to make the oscillating arm oscillate is input at a position on the oscillating arm different from the spindle portion.

A disposable diaper and the like have conventionally been known as an example of an absorbent article that absorbs body waste fluid. In its manufacturing line, a continuous body of a sheet that is transported continuously in a transporting direction is attached continuously with a continuous body of an elastic member in a meander pattern such as a sine curve.
As an example of such an attaching method, Patent Literature 1 discloses that a continuous body of the elastic member 211 is attached to a sheet 213 using an oscillating arm 203 that swivels and oscillates around a rotational central axis C201 of a predetermined spindle portion 201 as shown in a side view of FIG. 1A, and a B-B cross sectional view of FIG. 1A as shown in FIG. 1B. That is, a through hole is provided at an oscillating end 203a of the oscillating arm 203, and a continuous body of the elastic member 211 is passed through this through hole. With the oscillating movement of the oscillating arm 203 around the rotational central axis C201, the oscillating end 203a is oscillated in a CD direction that intersects the transporting direction of the sheet 213, thereby a continuous body of the elastic member 211 is attached in a predetermined meander pattern in respect to the sheet 213 that is transported in the transporting direction.
Further, PTL 1 also discloses a driving mechanism of the oscillating arm 203, that is, there is described that a drive rotational shaft of a motor 205 is directly connected concentrically to a spindle portion 201 of the oscillating arm 203.

Manufacturing method and manufacturing equipment of composite sheet of absorbent article


A nonvolatile memory device for storing data in a flip flop circuit comprising field effect transistors having respective ferroelectric gate films. A pair of writing/reading transistors is connected to the flip flop circuit. Each of the field effect transistors constituting the flip flop circuit retains its channel formation state because of a residual polarization in the ferroelectric gate film. Thus, when power goes OFF, the flip flop circuit retains its state just before power goes OFF. In this way, data can be stored on a nonvolatile basis, and stored data can be read without destroying the data. Additionally, no refreshing is needed, and therefore, a power demand in standby is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory device in which a hysteresis characteristic of a polarization in ferroelectric substance related to an electric field is utilized.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a sufficiently strong electric field is applied to ferroelectric substance like PZT (lead(Pb) Zirconate Titanate), a direction of a polarization is aligned to a direction of the electric field. This alignment still remains after the electric field is removed; that is, the polarization caused in the ferroelectric substance exhibits a hysteresis characteristic related to an applied electric field. Thus, a nonvolatile memory device, utilizing such a hysteresis characteristic, may be designed and fabricated.
The nonvolatile memory device using ferroelectric substance is, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,664. In this nonvolatile memory device, each of memory cells arranged in a matrix manner on a semiconductor substrate has a circuit structure as shown in FIG. 12. Each memory cell includes two field effect transistors (FETs) 1 and 2, which have their respective gates connected to a word line WL and their respective drains connected to bit lines BL1 and BL2, respectively. Moreover, the FETs 1 and 2 have their respective sources connected to one of the plates of ferroelectric capacitors 3 and 4, respectively. The other plates of the ferroelectric capacitors 3 and 4 are connected to a line PLATE. A potential of the line PLATE is controlled by circuitry (not shown). In this way, the memory cell is similar in circuit structure to a memory cell of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).
The ferroelectric capacitors 3 and 4 store complementary data; that is, when a polarization is caused in ferroelectrics of the ferroelectric capacitor 3 with its part close to the FET 1 assuming a positive polarity, a polarization is caused in ferroelectrics of the ferroelectric capacitor 4 with its part close to the FET 2 assuming a negative polarity. This state corresponds to a state of data "1" in storage, for example. In a state of data "0" in storage, the states of polarization in the ferroelectrics of the ferroelectric capacitors 3 and 4 are reversed.
In reading data, voltage at High level is applied to the line PLATE. Then, voltage is applied to the word line WL to turn the FETs 1 and 2 on, and the potential difference between the bit lines BL1 and BL2 at this time is amplified by a sense amplifier to read data. If, for example, the data "1" is stored in the memory cell, the polarization caused in the ferroelectric capacitor 3 is identical in direction to an electric field applied thereto. Thus, there is almost no change in the state of the ferroelectrics of the ferroelectric capacitor 3. However, the polarization caused in the ferroelectric capacitor 4 is reverse in direction to an electric field applied thereto. Hence, the direction of the polarization is inverted in the ferroelectric capacitor 4. This results in a potential of the bit line BL2 rising while that of the bit line BL1 is almost unchanged. Thus, by detecting the potential difference between the bit lines BL1 and BL2, the reading of stored data is attained.
In the ferroelectric capacitor 4, however, inversion of the polarization is caused, and therefore, a state of the memory cell varies from that before the reading of data; that is, stored data is destroyed.
Then, the sense amplifier applies voltage at High level to either one of the bit lines BL1 and BL2 which is higher in potential, and it applies voltage at Low level to the other. Under the condition, a potential of the line PLATE is inverted from High level into Low level. As a consequence, an electric field in a direction from the FET 2 toward the line PLATE is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor 4. This causes the direction of the polarization in the ferroelectric capacitor 4 to invert to the direction of the electric field, that is, the direction before the reading of data. In this way, self restoration is performed to reproduce stored data.
However, since the circuit structure of the memory cell is similar to that of the DRAM, electric charge accumulated in the ferroelectric capacitors 3 and 4 is reduced because of junction leakage current or transistor leakage current as time elapses, and sooner or later the stored contents are lost. To maintain the stored contents, refreshing must be implemented to reproduce the contents at fixed time intervals. The refreshing permits current to flow to charge/discharge the ferroelectric capacitors 2 and 3, and this causes the problem that a large power demand in standby is unavoidable.
Also, self restoration is required in the memory cell to reproduce data because the reading operation causes stored data to be destroyed, and this is why polarization inversion in ferroelectrics occurs so frequently. Thus, the ferroelectrics do not take long to deteriorate, and the problem arises that it is not reloadable so frequently. Usually more than 10.sup.12 occurrences of polarization inversion causes ferroelectrics to deteriorate, and the memory cell mentioned above which requires polarization inversion even in the reading of data may be reloadable extremely infrequently.
The prior art which solved these problems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,225. A circuit structure of a memory cell employed in this prior art is shown in FIG. 13. The memory cell includes a volatile portion 101 and a nonvolatile portion 102. The volatile portion 101 has a circuit structure similar to that of a memory cell of an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). For example, the volatile portion 101 has a flip flop circuit 14 consisting of P channel FETs 10, 11 and N channel FETs 12, 13 to store data. A data writing/reading FET 15 is coupled between the flip fop circuit 14 and a first bit line BL1. Similarly, a data writing/reading FET 16 is coupled between the flip flop circuit 14 and a second bit line BL2. In writing data, complementary data are applied to the bit lines BL1 and BL2. The FETs 15 and 16 have their respective gates connected to a word line WL.
A node N1 between the flip flop circuit 14 and the writing/reading FET 15 is connected in series with a FET 19a and a ferroelectric capacitor 17 contained in the nonvolatile portion 102. Similarly, a node N2 between the flip flop circuit 14 and the writing/reading FET 16 is connected in series with a FET 19b and a ferroelectric capacitor 18 contained in the nonvolatile portion 102. Nodes N3 and N4 between the ferroelectric capacitors 17, 18 and the FETs 19a, 19b are connected to shorting transistors 19c, 19d, respectively.
In an ordinary operation, a logic signal CLK3 causes the transistors 19a and 19b to turn off, and the logic signal CLK1 is kept at High level. This allows the nonvolatile portion 102 to be electrically disconnected from the volatile portion 101, the whole memory device including this memory cell functions as an SRAM.
Just before power goes OFF, a logic signal CLK4 is kept at Low level to turn the transistors 19c and 19d off while the logic signal CLK3 is kept at High level to turn the transistors 19a and 19b on. This permits the ferroelectric capacitors 17 and 18 to be charged. Under this condition, a logic signal CLK2 is kept at Low level for a certain period of time and then kept at High level for the succeeding period of time. If the node N1 is at High level while the node N2 is at Low level, a polarization is caused in ferroelectrics of the ferroelectric capacitor 17 with its part close to the node 1 assuming a positive polarity, and a polarization is caused in ferroelectrics of the ferroelectric capacitor 18 with its part closed to the node 2 assuming a negative polarity. These polarizations are retained after power goes OFF. Thus, maintenance of data can be effected during a power interruption by transferring data in the volatile portion 101 to the nonvolatile portion 102.
When power is ON, the logic signals CLK 3 and CLK4 are kept at High level to precharge the nodes N1 and N2 with 0 volt, and thereafter, the logic signal CLK 4 turns to Low level. This allows voltage developed in the ferroelectric capacitors 17 and 18 to be applied to the nodes N1 and N2, respectively. In this way, data accumulated in the nonvolatile portion 102 is transferred to the volatile portion 101.
In this prior art technology, the circuit structure of the memory cell is similar to that of a memory cell of an SRAM, and therefore, no refreshing is needed. This leads to less power demand in standby. The polarization caused in ferroelectrics of the ferroelectric capacitors 17 and 18 is not inverted for a period while power is ON and an ordinary operation is carried out. Hence, the number of times the memory cell is reloadable is not decreased.
However, the memory cell in FIG. 13 includes six transistors in the volatile portion 101 and four transistors and two capacitors in the nonvolatile portion 102. Thus, compared with an ordinary SRAM, an extra four transistors and two capacitors are required per cell. This leads to a requirement of an increased cell area, and accordingly the resultant memory cell costs much more. In addition to that, a control circuit for controlling connection/disconnection between the volatile portion 101 and the nonvolatile portion 102 is required, and the problem arises that its structure is complicated

Nonvolatile memory device having ferroelectric film


The vessel control device disclosed herein comprises a channel-mounted, spring-loaded eyebolt that trails a floating line. It also embodies a latch mechanism, a cable release device and an electrical switch.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is a device which will enable a man overboard victim to rescue himself. A tug on the trailing floating line will stop the vessel. The line is then used to aid him in reboarding his vessel.
2. State of Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,171 requires a sailor to be continuously attached to a line terminating at the bow. While it is a common safety practice to wear a tethered harness attached to the boat, a long line to the bow would seriously impede his normal activities. This could result in pulling the pin with a trip or fall. While the device will not stop the boat, the claim is to keep it near the victim. There is no provision for reboarding the vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,831 requires a man to wear an acoustic signal generator. Additional crew are required to locate and rescue him.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,238 describes a device activated by a trailing line that by use of a sea anchor, harness, line and pulley will bring the victim back to a moving vessel. This device will not stop a moving vessel, and it would be very difficult to attach the harness while it is being pulled through the water. This method is bulky and expensive and could injure the victim by smashing him into the transom.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,080 describes a light and radio signaling device to be used by a person in the water. This won't stop the vessel and requires additional crew.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,511 describes a sheet-like lifting harness for bringing a victim back aboard. This requires additional crew.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,070 describes a large lifting crane for victim retrieval. This also requires additional crew.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,074 describes a method of retrieving an object in the water. This also requires additional crew.
None of the above mentioned devices will both stop a vessel and provide a means to reboard it. Most require additional crew

Abstract: By the action of grabbing the line the man overboard victim (MOB) can stop the vessel by himself; then use the line to reboard.