A transport/preservation system has been found which provides safe, effective transport for patient specimens and bodily fluids, and functions as a preservative for biological reagents, therapeutics, and personal care products. The transport/preservative formulations can also be used as safe, effective sanitizers on surfaces, equipment, and appliances. The transport preservation formulation includes a biguanide and one or more other antimicrobial agents, which is cidal to microorganisms when present in a sample or on a surface to be sanitized.

Diagnostic laboratory tests on patient bodily fluids or tissue specimens provide significant information for disease treatment. These tests aid in discovery of occult disease, early diagnosis after the onset of signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis of various possible diseases, determination of the stage of the disease, estimation of the activity of the disease, detection of recurrence of disease, and measurement of the efficacy of therapy. The diagnostic benefits of many laboratory tests, however, require that the chemical and physical properties of a patient's sample remain substantially unaltered during transport, i.e., the time required to go from sample collection from the patient to processing and/or testing by the laboratory.
Microbial contamination of a patient's sample can cause significant changes to its physical and biochemical composition during transport. If the bioburden of a sample is low and the sample is processed within a short time (2 to 4 hours) after collection, the microorganisms present usually will not affect the sample's chemical properties. However, if the sample can sustain the growth of organisms and the time between collection and processing exceeds 4 hours, the growth and/or metabolism of the microorganisms can alter the chemical and/or physical properties of the sample. For example, the organisms may be able to consume certain components present in the sample such as carbon, nitrogen, or minerals, thus, removing or altering components which were present in the sample at the time of collection. Secondly, as a result of microbial growth, metabolism or death, components which were not present at the time of collection may be released into the sample.
One type of patient sample which is greatly affected by microbial contamination during transport is a urine sample submitted for urinalysis. Urinalysis is a series of tests performed on the urine sample including leukocytes, cast cells, red blood cells, glucose, bilirubin, ketone, specific gravity, pH, protein, urobilinogen, nitrite, and blood. Normal healthy women have 102-103 microorganisms present in their urine. Microorganisms can also be introduced into the patient's urine sample either through a patient's clinical infection or by inadvertent contamination during the collection process or transport to the laboratory. Since urine samples generally contain sufficient metabolites and other factors required to support the growth and replication of most microorganisms commonly found in urine samples, delays in transport beyond 4 hours can lead to significant changes in the chemical and physical properties of the samples. For example, in one study, common urinary tract contaminants or potential urinary pathogens significantly altered the chemical/physical properties of unpreserved urine held for 8-24 hours or longer at room temperature: false positive reactions for hemoglobin, protein, nitrites, and esterase; false negative reactions for nitrites, glucose, protein and ketones; and substantial changes in pH. Many of these alterations in the chemical properties of the unpreserved urine samples occurred within 8 hours (Dorn, G. L., unpublished).
Laboratory standards recommend that urine samples be analyzed within two hours after collection from the patient to circumvent changes in chemical and physical properties. However, with the emergence of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's), Preferred Physician Organizations (PPO's), and centralized laboratory testing facilities combined with increasing pressure to be more cost effective through batch processing of samples, it has become increasingly difficult to comply with traditional standards of practice. For example, one study showed that a large percentage of samples submitted for culture within a hospital setting were>4 hours old prior to processing. (Dorn, et al., "Adherence to laboratory guidelines: a study on urine specimen transport time," Diagnostics & Clinical Testing 27:28-31 (1989)). Another study indicated that all samples submitted to centralized commercial laboratories exceeded the recommended time limits for transport. (Dorn, G. L., "Microbial stabilization of antibiotic-containing urine samples by using the FLORASTAT urine transport system," J Clin Micro 29:2169-2174 (1991)). In the area of urinalysis, a recent College of American Pathologist Q-Probes Study documented that for inpatients and outpatients, respectively, only 64% and 77% of laboratories were able to meet the 2-hour transport goal 90% of the time. (Howanitz, et al., "Timeliness of urinalysis: a College of American Pathologists Q-probes study of 346 small hospitals," Arch Pathol Lab Med 121:667-672 (1997)).
Since current medical practices often prevent expedient transport of urine samples for urinalysis, and since microorganisms are frequently present in urine samples collected for urinalysis, a method of blocking the deleterious effects of microbial contamination on a urine sample during transport is advantageous in preserving the chemical and physical integrity of the sample. For this purpose, various preservatives for urine samples have been developed and commercialized. Among the active ingredients for these preservatives are: boric acid, mercuric oxide, sodium azide, tartaric acid, and thimerosal (ethylmercurithiosalicylic acid). Boric acid has been reported to be compatible as a preservative used in combination with urinalysis and leukocyte/cast cell analysis. (Porter, I. A. and Brodie, J. 1969. "Boric acid preservation of urine samples," Br Med J 2:353-355; Guenther, K. L. and Washington II, J. A. 1981. Evaluation of the B-D urine culture kit," J Clin Microbiol 14:628-630).
Despite the commercial availability of preservatives for urine samples, there are significant deficiencies associated with them. For example, many of the active ingredients used in commercially available urine preservative systems present health, flammability, and/or reactivity hazards. According to the National Fire Prevention Association's health, flammability, and reactivity hazard ratings for chemicals, a short exposure to mercuric oxide and thimerosal could cause death or major residual injury. Although mercury-based systems such as mercuric oxide (Starplex Scientific, Inc., Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada) and thimerosal (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) effectively stabilize samples, their high National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) health hazard rating makes them unsuitable for use when large numbers of samples or high volumes of material are being processed. While sodium azide (Sigma Chemical Co.) is also an effective stabilizing material, the health rating assigned to sodium azide indicates that short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual health injury, making it unsuitable for use in high volume processing. While boric acid (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) (Sage, Inc., Crystal Lakes, Ill.) (Bibby Sterlin, Ltd., Dynalab Corp., Rochester, N.Y.) and tartaric acid (Mid-America Health, Niagara Falls, N.Y.) have moderate to low NFPA hazard ratings, they are not cidal and, consequently, do not effectively block the deleterious effects of all microorganisms of interest, potentially causing false negative and false positive urinalysis results when the urine sample is held at room temperature beyond 8 hours. Therefore, as illustrated in the case of urine samples submitted for urinalysis, there is a continuing need for an effective transport system which provides stability of the chemical and physical properties of patient specimens and bodily fluids without exposing patients, healthcare professionals, and laboratory personnel to serious health hazards.
Biological reagents, some of which are often used in diagnostic testing procedures, are also susceptible to chemical and physical alteration due to microbial contamination. These reagents contain substances which are critical to their function but also capable of supporting microbial growth and/or metabolism. Although most biological reagents are manufactured under sterile conditions in sealed containers, low level microbial contamination can occur during manufacturing. During storage, the growth of the contaminating microorganisms can cause chemical and physical changes to the reagent. Moreover, many reagents are sold in multiple-entry containers at volumes which allow the user to repetitively extract small aliquots over time. There exists the possibility of microbial contamination of the reagent at each entry event. One commercially available preservative for reagents is Micr-O-protect™ (Roche Diagnostics, GmbH, Mannheim, Germany), an ethanolic solution of bromonitrodioxane and methylisothiazolone, with a health rating indicating that short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury and a flammability rating indicating that it could be ignited under most ambient conditions. Another preservative is the StabilZyme Select® Conjugate Stabilizer (SurModics, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn.) which is an aqueous protein-containing mixture preserved with methylisothiazolone and bromonitrodioxane. Yet another line of preservative is ProClin (Supelco Inc., Bellefonte, Pa.) which utilizes 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one. Isothiazolone and its derivatives are corrosive to the eyes potentially causing permanent irreversible injury, can cause skin burns or irritation, and are considered toxic to fish and wildlife if permitted to enter the water supply. Bromonitrodioxane is a formaldehyde releaser, and since formaldehyde is carcinogenic and highly flammable in liquid and gaseous forms, bromonitrodioxane is an unfavorable candidate as a preservative for samples processed in high volume. Consequently, there is a need for an environmentally friendly system which can preserve a biological reagent while maintaining its chemical and physical properties.
Preservatives are often added to therapeutics to increase shelf-life and to reduce the possibility of microbial contamination. As in the case of biological reagents, many therapeutics are packaged in multiple-entry containers at volumes which allow the extraction of small aliquots over time. For example, vaccines are routinely provided in multiple entry containers, and for several decades, thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, has been used in vaccines to prevent contamination and other biologics in multidose containers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has undertaken a review of drugs containing mercury-based preservatives, including thimerosal, in an effort to reduce the concentration of mercury in vaccines and to find alternative preservative formulations that do not contain mercury. ("Recommendations regarding the use of vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative," MMWR 48:996-998 (Nov. 5, 1999)) Therefore, there is a need to provide safe, effective preservatives for therapeutics which reduce the risk of microbial contamination as well as potential health problems associated with exposure to mercury.
Microbial contamination can also lead to the chemical and/or physical degradation of personal care products such as cosmetics, hand cleansers, lotions, and shampoos. Moreover, contaminated products routinely exhibit diminished performance and contribute to the spread of infection to users.
Work surfaces and equipment in hospitals and laboratories are highly susceptible to microbial contamination. Likewise, surfaces and appliances found in kitchens and bathrooms of households, restaurants, groceries, catering establishments and the like are routinely exposed to microbial contamination. There is a continuing need for environmentally safe, effective sanitizing products capable of reducing the microbial bioburden in these areas as well.


A rectangular shield excavating machine comprises a quadrangularly tubular shield body having a space for receiving an excavated matter at the front end, a rotor disposed in the space so as to be capable of being rotated onward and backward angularly around an axis extending in the direction orthogonal to a pair of facing exterior portions of the body, and excavating means disposed in the body, drive means for rotating onward and backward the rotor angularly around the axis, and for driving the excavating means. Large gravels contained in the excavated matter are crushed by being put between the rotor and a member defining the space with the rotationally reciprocating motion of the rotor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rectangular shield excavating machine for use in construction of a tunnel, a hole, a channel or the like having a quadrangular shape in section.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As one of rectangular shield excavating machines for excavating a tunnel having a quadrangular shape in section, there is disclosed a rectangular shield excavating machine using excavating means composed of a plurality of support rods disposed at an interval on a front portion of a quadrangularly tubular shield body so as to be capable of being linearly reciprocated in the direction orthogonal to an axis of the body and a plurality of cutter bits mounted on each support rod. (See Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (KOKAI) No. 1-310089)
In this excavating machine, the inside of the body is divided into a front area maintained at high pressure and a rear area maintained at atmospheric pressure through a partition wall, and the support rod is movably supported by a support plate disposed in the front area in parallel to the partition wall. This excavating machine excavates a facing by the linear reciprocating motion of each cutter bit with the linear reciprocating motion of the support rod.
As another rectangular shield excavating machine, there is disclosed a rectangular shield excavating machine using excavating means composed of a drum disposed on a front portion of a quadrangularly tubular shield body so as to be capable of being rotated around an axis extending in the direction crossing an axis of the body and a large number of cutter bits mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the drum. (See Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (KOKAI) No. 2-66295) This excavating machine excavates a facing by the rotary motion of each cutter bit with the rotary motion of the drum.
However, since neither of these excavating machines known per se can drain large gravels contained in an excavated matter, the ground containing the large gravels cannot be excavated by such excavating machines.


A mobile communication system comprises a plurality of base stations to which a single control channel and a plurality of communication channels are allocated, a single control station connected to this plurality of base stations and mobile stations each disposed within an area of the plurality of base stations which is allowed to communicate with the base station through the single control channel and the plurality of communication channels. The control channel and the plurality of communication channels are shared by the plurality of base stations.

Conventionally, mobile communication systems of this type have been made up of a control channel and a plurality of communication channels which differ for each base station. The operations initiated by sending out idle signals from the base stations to the mobile stations and continuing until switching from the control channel to the communication channel are as follows:
Each base station sequentially sends an idle signal to the mobile stations by a previously assigned system time slot of the control channel. Based on the radio field intensity of the idle signal from each base station, the mobile station selects a base station whose idle signal exhibits the strongest radio field intensity and sends a registration signal on the control channel that is synchronized with the corresponding idle signal. In response to this registration signal, said base station sends back at the previously assigned time slot of the control channel a signal indicating that the registration has been completed.
The mobile station sends a call signal on the control channel synchronized with the idle signal of the registered base station. The base station raises a vacant communication channel based on the call signal and sends back its acknowledgement signal in the previously assigned system time slot of the control channel, and the mobile station, based on the acknowledgement signal, switches from the control channel to the above-described raised communication channel.
In the conventional mobile communication system described above, a plurality of distinct communication channels is provided for each base station in addition to the control channel, and the number of the communication channels for each base station is matched by the number of calling peaks occurring within the area of that base station. Such a system requires a large number of communication channels for the entire network of base stations, and this results in a reduced level of working efficiency of the communication channels.


A laserbeam light source is controlled to avoid light sensitive regions around the laserbeam light source. One or more laserlight-sensitive regions are identified based on images of an area around the laserbeam light source, and indications of positions corresponding to the laserlight-sensitive regions are generated. The laserbeam light source is controlled based on the indications of the positions. The laserbeam light source may be controlled to deflect a laserlight beam away from laserlight-sensitive regions, to reduce an intensity of a laserlight beam directed towards a laserlight-sensitive region, etc. Motion estimation may be used to generate the indications of positions corresponding to the laserlight-sensitive regions.

Technical Field
The description relates to laser beam control.
One or more embodiments may facilitate protecting photon-damageable objects, e.g., the human eye, from the beam of a laser system, e.g., a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system, for instance in automotive applications.
Description of the Related Art
LIDAR systems are increasingly playing a role in certain sectors such as, e.g., the automotive field.
Being able to facilitate protection of the eyes or other damageable objects may thus represent an interesting feature when using, e.g., LIDAR systems: vehicles and cars are often in close proximity with living beings (e.g., humans and animals) which may be affected by a LIDAR beam.
A common approach for facilitating protection is based on maintaining an "eye safe" power level. This may prevent an undesired exposure of living beings with the disadvantage of sacrificing detection range: the farthest possible distance detectable by a LIDAR is related to the beam (e.g., peak) power. Examples of possible distance-to-power relationships are given in the following table.
Distance [m]1157533103.3Peak Power [W]18076151.360.15
Another common approach may involve replacing visible light, e.g., with a wavelength around 600 nm (1 nm=10−9 m), with non-visible light, e.g., with wavelengths of around 1500 nm (nm=10−9 m). These longer wavelengths may have the advantage of being non-focusable by the eye, which may be effective in preventing any damage, while having the disadvantage of using appropriate photoreceptors for such wavelengths which are less sensitive.
To sum up, common approaches, e.g., in LIDAR systems may be unable to provide a high range and a high accuracy, due to an inherent tradeoff between the power used to scan the scene and the accuracy of the estimated depth.

Laser beam control method, corresponding device, apparatus and computer program product


A current-limiting fuse including a fusible element that comprises a relatively long portion of sheet copper and one or two end portions of sheet silver. The portions of sheet silver are each shorter than the portion of sheet copper. The portion of sheet copper is perforated, establishing points of reduced cross-section. The portion or portions of sheet silver are likewise perforated. The points of reduced cross-section established by the perforation, or perforations, in the portion or portions of sheet silver have a considerably smaller cross-section than the points of reduced cross-section in the portion of sheet copper.

The closest prior art known is U.S. Pat. No. 2,653,203; 09/22/53 to F. J. Kozacka for CURRENT-LIMITING FUSE. This patent discloses a fuse having one or more fusible elements of a singel metal, rather than a fuse having a composite fusible element made of two different metals. While the fuse according to the above patent and the fuse according to this invention are based on the same principle, the instant fuse has great advantages over the above prior art fuse--particularly as current-carrying capacity is concerned--as will become more apparent from what follows.


A system and method include contactless detecting and tracking cardiac activity by making use of a feedback control system, such as a Phase Locked Loop (PLL), in real-time or from a prerecorded signal stream.

Pulse rate is widely recognized as an important cardio-vascular parameter for assessing a patient's health. Current methods of measuring pulse rate rely on the placement of electrodes on the patient's skin. Continuous monitoring using commercial pulse oximetry sensors attached to a finger or earlobe pose discomfort is susceptible to infections and could lead to irritation of the skin. In addition, these sensors must be placed and read by a qualified medical professional resulting in potential bottlenecks when attending to patients at healthcare facilities. Remote non-obtrusive monitoring is clearly an attractive alternative, provided that accurate measurements are obtained. Past attempts for remote non-obtrusive monitoring of the pulse rate include the use of PhotoPlethysmoGraphy (PPG). In PPG, a dedicated light source is used to capture the Blood Volume Pulse (BVP) by observing variations in reflected light due to pulsatile blood volume. Spectral estimation is then applied to the BVP to extract the pulse rate.
Recent work focused on obtaining the BVP using ambient light rather than a dedicated light source. This work pioneered an approach to extract pulse rate measurements and PPG signals using digital RGB cameras. The accuracy of such methods was improved on by applying blind source separation using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and incorporating face tracking to automatically capture the face of a single or multiple patients. The work used a webcam to capture the video and was recently expanded to include measurements of other parameters such as the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) based on the ICA approach.
ICA is used to extract underlying statistical Independent Components (ICs) responsible for the observed signals. It assumes the observed signals are the result of a linear mixture of independent sources. The number of sources is equal to the number of observations, i.e., the linear mixture model is represented by a square matrix. Standard ICA techniques suffer from a sorting problem: the independent components are not ordered, meaning that the source signal of interest could be present in any of the ICA outputs. Previous work recognized the sorting problem and resolved it either by always selecting the second IC or by selecting the component for which the peak frequency has the highest power. In a recent contribution, constrained ICA (cICA) was used to improve the accuracy of BVP measurements using a webcam by solving the sorting problem of ICA.
Known methods rely on block processing, where a signal must be recorded for from 15 to 60 seconds and the only cardiac information obtained from the signal is the average heart rate during the recording. State-of-the-art methods depending on the use of ICA and cICA algorithms are computationally intensive and complex. This means that implementation must rely on a bulky and powerful computer and that latency in obtaining a result is inevitable. In addition, power consumption and heat dissipation are a concern when designing compact devices.

Method and system for contactless detection of cardiac activity


Provided is an optical semiconductor apparatus including an optical semiconductor device; a light-permeable buffer layer that contains a cured high-hardness silicone resin, that has a thickness ranging from 1 μm to 300 μm, and that covers at least part of a light-emitting surface of the optical semiconductor device; and a flexible sealing layer containing a cured flexible silicone resin that has a lower hardness than the light-permeable buffer layer, and that covers the optical semiconductor device and the light-permeable buffer layer. The optical semiconductor apparatus has superior heat resistance and UV resistance and is significantly prevents the breakage of a wire electrically connected to the optical semiconductor device.

Recently, LEDs emitting light of short wavelength, such as a blue LED, an ultraviolet LED, etc., have been developed and provided for practical use. These LEDs are used in wide applications including, for example, in lighting and illumination, replacing the existing fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps, and as light sources for curing UV-curable resins or UV-curable inks, replacing the existing short arc lamps.
In general, an LED has an LED die having an anode and a cathode formed on the surface thereof. The anode and the cathode are respectively wire-bonded to an external electrode and the LED die emits light as it is electrically connected to the external electrode.
If the LED die and the ultrafine wire (with a diameter of, e.g., 30 μm) of the LED are exposed to outside, the LED die may be damaged or the wire may be broken. For this reason, the LED is usually sealed with a sealer (e.g., a resin).
The sealing of the LED with a sealer is also effective in improving light extraction efficiency because, if the LED is sealed with a sealer with a higher refractive index than air, the difference in refractive indices at the interface of the LED die and the sealer is decreased.
As the sealer, an epoxy resin with high transparency has been used for LEDs emitting visible light (see, for example, the patent document 1). However, if the epoxy resin is used for LEDs emitting short-wavelength light, the resin itself may be deteriorated by the short-wavelength light, particularly the strong UV light emitted from the ultraviolet LED, which is used as a light source for curing UV-curable resins or UV-curable inks, resulting in coloration or cracking and thus decreased light emission.
For this reason, a silicone resin with superior heat resistance and light resistance has been proposed as the sealer (see, for example, the patent document 2).


Start-up assistance is provided for small low-horsepower gasoline fueled internal combustion utility engines. A portable supply of starting fuel, such as naphtha, benzine, benzol, ether or alcohol, is directly injected through an temporarily openable aperture effective as an indraft port and entered into the carburetor bore, or an intercurrent carburetion duct utilized between the carburetor and the engine's intake port, to thereby enable immediate intake of the starting fuel through the engine valving and permit spark ignition and combustion upon initial engine cranking. Manual starting fuel injection also serves to overcome engine start-up difficulty generally caused by the inferior low-temperature volatility of contemporary gasoline products. As a result, this occurrence of nearly immediate engine firing remarkably enhances the liklihood for carburetion and induction of the usual running fuel supply and continued engine operation.

Single cylinder (and twin cylinder) petroleum fueled internal combustion utility engines are used in a variety of applications by homeowners, tradesmen and others. Utility engines are ordinarily produced in two fundamental familial types, e.g., "two cycle" and "four cycle" (viz, "two stroke" and "four stroke"). Each of these engine types operate with four cardinal events, including: 1) INTAKE, 2) COMPRESSION, 3) COMBUSTION and 4) EXHAUST. However the two cycle engine achieves these four events in one revolution or two strokes of the crankshaft (i.e., one piston downstroke and one piston upstroke) while the four cycle engine requires two crankshaft revolutions and four strokes (i.e., two piston downstrokes and two piston upstrokes).
While the two stroke engine is decidedly simpler design (and manufacture) it requires mixing and storage of a special fuel and oil mixture. In fact it is arguable that a two cycle engine may have merely three moving parts: the crankshaft, connecting rod and piston with perchance room for quibble over whether the reed type intake valve ordinarily used with Small engines is a moving part or not. Other drawbacks for two cycle engines include a lack of good lugging ability, low efficiency, pollution considerations and compromised reliability under extended operation. Two cycle engines are also ordinarily designed to operate with relatively high crankshaft speed r.p.m. to achieve reasonable efficiencies and output power, but with relatively poor speed regulation and relatively high noise level. Furthermore, high crankshaft r.p.m. also translates into increased mechanical wear. Two cycle engines are most economical in small horsepower ratings and rarely are they built in multicylinder versions. In spite of these drawbacks two cycle engines find widespread application in chain saws, string type weed cutters, small lawnmowers, outboard boat motors, snow mobiles and the like.
Four cycle engines, on the other hand, tend to be preferable when long term reliability, durability and stable performance is a criteria. Operation from ordinary gasoline, alcohol or "gasahol" affords simple fuel needs (i.e., no fuel-oil mixtures). Four cycle engines may be produced to operate well at low crankshaft speeds (under 2,000 r.p.m.) and with excellent speed constancy in applications such as engine driven alternator sets where speed control is all-important in order to stabilize the frequency of the delivered power. A vast majority of small four cycle engines finding use in everyday application in the home and on the job more suitably operate in the 3,000-4,000 r.p.m. range, which has been demonstrated as an optimal trade-off between speed, engine bulk, mechanical life, or in a more practical sense, in engine cost. Small general purpose four cycle engines are produced in single and multiple cylinder models and with popular horsepower ratings more or less between about 3 and 15 horsepower find wide application on lawnmowers, small tractors, generator sets, pumps and a myriad array of other such workaday applications where stable and long term performance are vital.
Small engines of this type, either 2-cycle or 4-cycle in principle construction, categorically suffer from frequent application in machines where they encounter long periods of non-operation. For example, Winter storage of a lawn mower or tiller leads to non-usage for many months. Likewise, seldom used "standby" electric power generators find long periods of shut-down, sometimes even years of sitting without a startup. Machines such as a homeowner's chain saw and tiller find infrequent usage and seasonal machines such as snow blowers, snow mobiles and the like may go for 6-9 months or more without startup. In each of these cases, where an engine is stored for long intervals without use, immediate startup on demand is unlikely and becomes progressively more difficult as the engine's age increases.
In recent times, the federal government's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE), as well as state environmental agencies, have contrived a collection of rules and regulations pertaining to fuel quality, exhaust emissions and other factors which are the anathema of carbureted internal combustion engines. Contemporary "blended" gasoline meeting general fuel requirements for reduced volatility is particularly troublesome to small engine design. Due to cost restraints, simplicity has been the goal of carburetor design for years. Furthermore, easy and relatively "foolproof" operation by users has dictated that a carburetor should have few (if any) adjustments which has led to total compromise between start-up and running mode design requirements for the carburetor. In other words, if the engine doesn't quickly start, there is not much which the ordinary user can do to enhance the possibility for startup. From the overall market viewpoint, such simplicity is desirable since the end-user of the engine is frequently totally inept as a mechanic and any available adjustments would, in most cases, merely reduce the liklihood for successful engine startup. More to the point, however, is that in order to meet the goal for emissions reduction, carburetor settings need to be fixed within narrow bounds and the only assurance a manufacturer has that such bounds will be maintained is to effectively "seal" or restrictively pre-set as many of the carburetor adjustments as possible. As a result, carburetion on a contemporary small engine becomes simply a "go or no-go" proposition with little, if any, possibility for "tweeking" the carburetor to better the chances for cold startup.
Combining these simplified prior-art carburetor designs with infrequent engine usage leads to difficulty in achieving quick engine startup which may be due in part to a total evaporation of any residual gasoline vapors which might otherwise stimulate engine startup. In addition, the reduced volatility of the mentioned blended-gasoline fuels which are now being produced (which exhibit an exceptionally low amount of volatile ingredients) leads to difficulty in getting gasoline "fumes" to draw through a typical small engine carburetor especially at the relatively low cranking speeds characteristic of such engines and particularly when using a common rope-start (e.g., "recoil-start") mechanism.
A direct implication of these various factors of carburetor simplicity, fuel blending and exhaust emission considerations is that quick and reliable start-up of small gasoline engines is becoming more and more problematic. As a result of the increasing need for achieving better start-up of these kinds of small engines, I have conceived an easy to use and inexpensive approach for introducing a supply of priming fuel directly into the engines intake port whereby engine start may be expected to Occur with the first pull of the starting rope.

Method and apparatus providing cold startup assistance for small gasoline fueled engines


There is provided an electrical device (10) comprising electrical elements communicating with an integral power supply (12), wherein a power connection means (22) associated with the electrical elements (13, 13′ and 14) is adapted to receive a temporary external source of electrical power such as a battery (24) to allow removal and replacement of the integral power supply without interrupting power to the electrical elements. The integral power supply (12) is adapted to receive an enduring external power source, with a second switch (32) provided to disable connection of the integral power supply (12) to the enduring power source while the battery (24) is connected.

Electrical devices often have integral power supplies which can be at least partially powered by an external power source, for example mains electricity in the case of a laptop computer. If the integral power supply fails, the device stops operating. This is a particular problem in cable television (CATV) and broadband networks where many active devices with integral power supplies are used, such as optical nodes, amplifiers and the like, and all signals going to and from customers subscribing to the network are routed via these devices.
If the integral power supply of any one of the CATV active devices fails, the network connection and service to the subscriber also fail. The integral power supplies are typically designed with the use of electrolytic capacitors which have a low "Mean Time Between Failures" (MTBF) compared to all other components used in the active devices. Thus the integral power supply is likely to fail before other components fail.
When the active device fails, there is always a signal interruption for the customer during the replacement. Analogue/digital TV, triple play Internet and video on demand services routed through the CATV network are temporarily unavailable until a technician has finished the replacement and configuration of the active device. It is very important to have a network that can be updated and configured without the customers' cable service being interrupted.


A cross coil type indicating instrument is improved in that a coil bobbin keeps a torque sufficient to hold a stopper plate as a zero point stopper to prevent a positional deviation of the stopper plate after position adjustment and that a stable rotational torque is kept in the positional adjustment of the stopper plate with a jig to assure a reliable position adjustment. The stopper plate is held between an upper bobbin and a lower bobbin with a pinching pressure to inhibit a vertical motion thereof. Spring pieces are formed on an outer periphery of the stopper plate while contacting with the inner face of the lower bobbin with an elastic force. By a biasing force of the spring pieces, the stopper plate is held in the lower bobbin along matching faces between the upper bobbin and the lower bobbin with a substantially constant holding torque.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cross coil type indicating instrument. More particularly, the invention relates to a cross coil type indicating instrument provided with a zero point stopper adjustable in position.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are conventional indicating instruments for automobiles in which an electric current changed depending upon a measured value is supplied to a pair of coils to generate magnetic fields perpendicular to each other and in which a magnetic rotor is rotated in a direction of a combined magnetic field obtained from the magnetic fields generated by the paired coils, whereby indicating the measured value with a pointer rotating with the magnet rotor.
FIG. 3 shows an instrument unit 1 such as a speedometer or a tachometer used in an indicating instrument of such a conventional type. A movement 2 of the instrument unit 1 has a coil bobbin 3, and two coils 4, 4 are wound around the coil bobbin 3 as being perpendicular to each other. A magnet rotor 5 of disk is disposed inside the coil bobbin 3 in the coils 4 with the S pole and the N pole being formed thereon, and a rotation shaft 6 is attached to a central portion of the magnet rotor 5, extending in an axial direction of the coil bobbin 3. The rotation shaft 6 and thus the magnet rotor 5 are freely rotatable with no current through the coils 4. As an electric current flows through the coils 4, the rotation shaft 6 is driven to rotate by a predetermined angle.
A dial plate 7 is attached to the upper face of the movement 2. The fore end of the rotation shaft 6 passes through the dial plate 7 when the movement 2 is mounted on the back face of the dial plate 7. A pointer 8 is fixed at the fore end of the rotation shaft 6.
There is zero return means provided in the movement 2, such as a hair spring (not shown) connected to the coil bobbin 3 at one end, or as a magnet for zero return (not shown). A biasing force of the hair spring or a magnetic force of the magnet for zero return returns the rotation shaft 6 to a predetermined zero position in the state of free rotation of the rotation shaft 6 without an electric current flow through the coils. A movement case 9 surrounds outside the coil bobbin 3 to shield the magnetic field. The instrument unit 1 is thus formed as explained.
In a conventional arrangement, a stopper pin (not shown) stands on the dial plate 7 as means to stop the pointer 8 fixed on the rotation shaft 6 at the zero point on the dial plate 7. The stopper pin stops the pointer 8 at the zero point.
Such an arrangement of the stopper pin on the dial plate 7 as described might give a feeling of complexity to a driver in view of a design on the dial plate. Also the arrangement inconveniently increases the number of components and of assembling steps.
Inventors have proposed a cross coil type indicating instrument as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which can properly return the pointer 8 to the zero point on the dial plate 7 without such a stopper pin on the dial plate 7 (Japanese Utility Model Application No Heisei 2-82766).
In the cross coil type indicating instrument proposed, a stopper plate 10 of annular thin plate is disposed between an upper bobbin 3a and a lower bobbin 3b of a coil bobbin 3, and a stop 11 is formed to project downward in FIG. 4 from an inner periphery of a stopper plate 10 to engage with an engagement plate 13 of an annular recess 12 formed on the upper face of a magnet rotor 5, whereby a pointer 8 fixed on a rotation shaft 6 of the magnet rotor 5 may be stopped at the zero point on the dial plate 7.
A protrusion 15 is formed on the outer periphery of the stopper plate 10 with teeth 15a entering a jig hole 14 formed in the outer periphery of the coil bobbin 3. The teeth 15a mesh with a jig (not shown) inserted into the jig hole 14, and the stopper plate 10 may be slightly moved along matching faces between the upper bobbin 3a and the lower bobbin 3b with a rotation of the jig. As the stopper plate 10 moves with use of the jig, the pointer 8 may be adjusted to return to the zero point on the dial plate 7 after completion of assembling of the instrument unit 1.
In the figures, numeral 16 denotes spring pieces, which are formed by upward bending at an inner periphery of the stopper plate 10. The spring pieces 16 contact with an inner face 3a.sub.1 of the upper bobbin 3a, and thereby a lower face of the stopper plate 10 may contact with an upper edge 3b.sub.1 of the lower bobbin 3b with a biasing force of the spring pieces 16. By this arrangement, a torque is maintained constant to hold the stopper plate 10 sandwiched through the spring pieces 16 between the upper bobbin 3a and the lower bobbin 3b, so that a stable rotation torque may be provided in positional adjustment of the stopper plate 10 with the jig.
The above conventional indicating instrument has the following problems.
In the conventional indicating instrument, the spring pieces 16 bent upward at the inner periphery of the stopper plate 10 contact with the upper bobbin 3a, whereby the stopper plate 10 is sandwiched between the upper bobbin 3a and the lower bobbin 3b. In this arrangement, dimensions of the coil bobbin 3 itself of resin mold change with a stress upon a thermal expansion or upon a thermal contraction. This change in dimensions might cause a winding slack in the coils 4, 4 wound around the coil bobbin 3, which would result in reduction in compressive force of the wound coils 4, 4 acting on the coil bobbin 3. Since the stopper plate 10 is held as sandwiched between the upper bobbin 3a and the lower bobbin 3b with the compressive force, the holding torque of the stopper plate 10 will decrease with the reduction in compressive force. This results in movement of the stopper plate 10 already adjusted in position at a predetermined zero point, thereby to in turn move the zero point of the pointer 8. Further, the rotation torque of the stopper plate 10 in the position adjustment thereof with the jig becomes unstable.

Cross coil type indicating instrument with an externally adjustable stopper plate


A retractable handle of wheeled luggage is provided. For the case of single pulling rod, pressing a push button will tighten a connecting rod to move a lower sliding block to a one direction so that an upright rod is pressed to lower a locking member and an upright member to clear the locking member from a toothed member, thereby unlocking both the swivel handle grip and the pulling rod. For the case of two pulling rods, there is further provided another transmission mechanism so that pressing the push button will further unlock locking devices in the pulling rods via coupling rods.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to retractable handle of a wheeled luggage case and more particularly to such a handle having one or two pulling rods each having a handle grip in the shape of enclosed frame (e.g., rectangle).
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a retractable handle of a wheeled luggage case having a single pulling rod has a shape of T (i.e., T-shaped handle grip) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,790. For maintaining structural strength of the handle, the single pulling rod typically has a diameter at least two times larger than that of pulling rod of the popular n-shaped handle. As such, such can adversely affect a degree of comfort while holding the handle in towing luggage because the fingers are extended discomfortably.
A rectangular handle grip proposed to eliminate the above problem associated with T-shaped handle grip is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,477. However, the prior art suffered from several disadvantages. For example, there is no provision of swivel mechanism on the handle grip (i.e., no rotation on a horizontal plane is provided), resulting in a discomfortable holding thereof by the hand. Further, the handle interconnected the push button and the locking device is not devised well. Hence, a need for improvement exists.

Retractable handle of wheeled luggage having one or two pulling rods


An anvil assembly delivery system includes an anvil assembly having a center rod and an anvil head assembly pivotally secured to the center rod a flexible tube having a first end configured for oral insertion into a patient and a second end engaged with the anvil assembly, and a retrieval suture connected to the head assembly positioned to extend from the anvil assembly in a direction opposite to the flexible tube. The anvil assembly delivery system also includes a spacer suture tube positioned adjacent the anvil head assembly and defining a suture channel, which is supported on the retrieval suture and is dimensioned to prevent the retrieval suture from becoming trapped in the staple line of a stapling device. In an embodiment, the spacer is a suture tube defining a suture channel which receives the retrieval suture.

Surgical anastomosis procedures using a circular stapler often require trans-oral delivery of an anvil assembly to a surgical site. In known procedures, a suture can be attached to the anvil assembly to facilitate retrieval of the anvil assembly from the surgical site after completion of a stapling operation. During such procedures, complications can result if the retrieval suture becomes trapped in the staple line.

System for delivering an anvil assembly to a surgical site


A consumer places an order for liquid coating product directly with a supplier via the internet or telecommunications. Customer order information is entered into a customer order subsystem on a computer, is compiled, processed and then utilized by a production subsystem governing a production line for containerized liquid coating product inclusive of all colorants required to obtain particular, non-standard, colors. Batching with regard to liquid coating base, delivery date and geographic delivery address is suggested. Shipping assemblies and packages specific customer orders for commercial transport service directly to the delivery address given by the consumer. Customer order information including verified content is indicated by a container identifier in assurance of quality. Attachment of a label upon each container after filling with blended liquid coating base and colorant with information printed and/or a bar or other digital code is suggested. Superior precision in colorant addition than that obtainable by a local retailer ensures consistent color, tone, and shade for particular, non-standard, colors in diverse containers and orders. Standard containers may be partially filled and non-standard volume plastic containers may also be utilized in fulfillment of precise order quantities. Production to order minimizes inventory. Product information including digital assistance in selection of base, color, and volume for a given-application and placing an order is readily provided on an internet web site or a dedicated terminal in a kiosk.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates: generally to containerized liquid coatings such as paints, primers, stains, et cetera; more particularly to a business method encompassing the entire process by which such product may be selected, ordered, and obtained by a customer and how orders so placed may be fulfilled; most particularly to such a business method wherein electronic information transfer is facilitated by internet utilization and electronic information is processed in the receipt of an order.
2. General Background
Liquid coatings such as paints, primers, stains, varnishes, et cetera, are considered to be characterized by a diverse constituency including a combination of liquid colorant in addition to a base of appreciable viscosity typically greater than the viscosity of the colorant. It is further considered that for this reason such liquid coatings are ubiquitously contained in rigid cylindrical metal containers, hereinafter referred to as paint cans, possessing large metal lids which require prying off and allow resealing so that colorant may be added by a local retailer and the paint can then be shaken on a machine to attain thorough mixing and fulfillment of the order placed by a customer who typically waits while the addition of colorant and/or mixing of the product is effected. It is important that the colorant be thoroughly mixed with the base and this requires a specialized machine which is specific to mixing the contents of paint cans and which the customer generally lacks.
The cans in which liquid coatings of this type are available are standardized. Generally only gallons, quarts, and less commonly, pints, are utilized for paint cans in the United States. Five gallon plastic pails are also known for use in containerizing liquid coatings such as paint, primer, stains and varnish as well as more viscous materials such as mastic and other adhesive compounds. These five gallon plastic pails are rigid and generally cylindrical, with a slight sidewall draft angle to facilitate molding, and further possess a large top lid which is resealable.
The unit cost of the liquid coating product varies with respect to standard volume purchased. And it is also considered that as colorant is added to the base in the paint can by the retailer there is a considerable margin of error and, in the interest of having precisely the same color paint for a given room, for example, which may only require two quarts of paint, it is generally considered a good idea to buy a full gallon instead because it will all be the same color and there will be no chance that the two different cans will possess an appreciably different color, tone, or shade.
The difference in unit price between standard volumes further encourages purchase of a single can or pail of paint of greater volume than required. Three quarts often exceed the price of a gallon of the same paint and this observation is taken to indicate a certain set of circumstances relating to the manufacture, distribution, and sales of liquid coatings of this type. A certain fixed cost in containerizing and handling a single unit regardless of size is recognized which argues for the use of larger containers as being more economic. It is further recognized that manufacturer, distributor, and retailer all have an economic reason for using as few standard volume containers as possible which is compounded by the fact that a local retailer must mix the liquid coating for the customer.
It is also noted that the distribution system for liquid coating product which may have colorant added by a local retailer necessarily involves shipment of product in paint cans or five gallon plastic pails by the manufacturer to the local retailer. A distributor intermediary to the manufacturer and local retailers may additionally be involved in which case inventory is carried by three parties prior to purchase by a customer. Most importantly, however, the customer must visit a local retailer in order to purchase the can(s) of paint and typically must wait for the paint to be mixed after colorant is added as discussed above. If the customer is a contractor this generally entails a visit to the local retailer prior to driving over to the work site and the trip there and the wait while the paint is made up is time lost. The tendency to purchase more paint than necessary for a given job resulting from the use of standard volumes and the pricing for the same combined with the desire to ensure that all the paint will have the same color, tone, and shade is further encouraged by the desire to avoid a second trip back to get more paint if an insufficient amount was picked up the first time.

Containerized liquid coating product supply business method


An exhaust muffler for a vehicle includes: a sleeve portion made up of an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve; an upstream side cover that has an exhaust entrance and that closes an upstream side opening of the sleeve portion; and a downstream side cover that has an exhaust exit and that closes a downstream side opening of the sleeve portion. At least one of the upstream side cover and the downstream side cover has a peripheral flange portion that externally holds the sleeve portion. The peripheral flange portion has an outer sleeve holding portion and an inner sleeve holding portion. One end portion of the inner sleeve abuts on the inner sleeve holding portion so as to be slidable in a length direction of the inner sleeve. One end portion of the outer sleeve is fixed to the outer sleeve holding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust muffler for a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to an exhaust muffler for a vehicle formed in a double structure by an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, what is employed is an exhaust muffler for a vehicle in which the outer circumferential portion of the exhaust muffler is formed in a double structure by an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, in order to suppress noises or heat emitted from the outer circumferential portion. With such an exhaust muffler, a sound absorbing material such as glass wool is packed between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve. Since the sound absorbing material also serves as a heat insulating material, the temperature of the outer sleeve becomes lower than that of the inner sleeve. Accordingly, there is a difference between the thermal expansion amount of the outer sleeve and that of the inner sleeve.
In order for the difference of the thermal expansion amount to be tolerated, the inner sleeve has its one end portion supported via a support ring so as to be slidable relative to the outer sleeve. Thus, it is structured to tolerate the elongation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve. There is Prior Technique Document JP 8-61046 A.
Meanwhile, assembly of the inner sleeve to the outer sleeve in order for the elongation of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve to be tolerated necessitates the support ring. Therefore, an increase in the number of components results. Further, it is troublesome to fix the support ring to the inner sleeve by welding. That is, with the exhaust muffler formed in a double structure by the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve, it is difficult to improve productivity, and an increase in costs results.


Updating messages in a messenger client includes a messenger client judging whether it is necessary to pull a new message or a new message notification from a messenger server according to a state of the messenger client; performing an action of pulling a new message notification from the messenger server in response to a determination that it is necessary to pull a new message notification; and performing an action of pulling new messages from the messenger server in response to a determination that it is necessary to pull a new message. The messenger client includes a state judging module and a pulling module. A new message notification is pulled when it is determined it is only necessary to pull a new message notification.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The internet has been popular with web users along with developments in network techniques. Among various Internet applications, messenger clients have already been widely used for distributing and sharing information in work and entertainment by most web users. When a messenger client performs communications, there are usually mass amounts of data (e.g. messages) to be updated. A conventional updating manner is implemented by a messenger client pulling updated data from a messenger server.
A twitter-like system, i.e. a micro blog system, is a typical system adopting the above updating manner for message update. A micro blog system is a platform providing information sharing, distributing and accessing based on a pan-relation chain model. Current popular micro blog systems include webpage-based micro-blog systems and client-based micro blog systems.

Messenger client and method for updating messages in messenger client

Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited


A method and system for transferring information using an encryption mode indicator (EMI). The present invention provides several secure information communication modes in which data (e.g., representing an audio/visual work) can be transmitted from a source device to a sink device (receiving station) in a number of secure modes. In one secure mode, EMI mode A, the information of the transmission is not allowed to be copied as a whole work; this is the highest level of copy protection. In second secure mode, EMI mode B, the information of the transmission is allowed to be copied once and once only by the sink device. In a third transmission mode, no encryption is used and free copying is available. Depending on which secure mode is selected between mode A and mode B, a different encryption process is used by the source device to encrypt the transmission. Further, depending on which secure mode is selected between mode A and mode B, a different decryption process is used by the sink device to decrypt the transmission. The present invention is particularly useful for transmissions between a source device and a bit stream recorder which does not have the capability to extract certain encryption information from a packet header. By using different encryption processes for each transmission mode, an unauthorized device placed between the source and the sink devices that alters the EMI code will be unable to thereafter render or record the audio/visual work because the decryption process selected will differ from the encryption process used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of information communication systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of secure communication modes for information representing audio/visual works.
2. Related Art
In recent years, there has been a technique, by which a plurality of audio/visual (AV) devices can be connected using digital interfaces so that AV information (e.g., representing AV works such as movies, songs, etc.) can be transmitted from an information source (e.g., a video disk player or video cassette recorder) to an information display device (e.g., a television set or monitor) or an information sink device. The development of this technology has led to the adoption of the IEEE 1394 serial communication standard for AV devices. Within the IEEE 1394 serial communication standard, information is transmitted in digital packets having certain header information and having data sections.
The AV digital information that is transmitted (e.g., representing movies) is usually protected by a copyright to prevent unauthorized users from viewing the information and making unauthorized reproductions of the AV works. To prevent unauthorized copying, the AV information is transmitted with encoded copy control information called the Copy Control Information (CCI) bits. The CCI bits can also be referred to as Copy Generation Management System (CGMS) bits. The encoded CCI code is made up of 2 bits, of which "00," "10," and "11" indicate "unlimited allowance for copies," "allowance for a single generation copy," and "inhibition of copy," respectively. The "01" bit code is left unused. The manner in which the CCI bits are added to an AV information is specified for the different kinds of AV information (e.g., Motion Picture Expert Group MPEG, Digital Video DV and audio data). These CCI bits are added within the data portion of data packets that constitute the AV information to control the use of the AV information by down stream devices.
At each data recording time, a recording device inspects the CCI code added to the AV information of a packet and refrains from recording them if the CCI code indicates the copy prohibition. If the CCI code indicates the allowance of a single copy, the CCI code is changed to copy prohibition mode and then the AV information is recorded in a recording media once. Thus, the copy generations allowed from the original data are limited.
Moreover, in order to enforce the copy generation limiting system, there has been employed a method by which CCI codes are encrypted into the data portions of the information and the decryption information is licensed to the manufacturer that has made a contract to manufacture only a device conforming to the copy generation limiting system. In order for the recording device to inspect or alter the CCI code encrypted within the AV information, it is necessary to provide a microcomputer mounted on the device or to provide specialized hardware for the processing. In order to match numerous kinds of AV information, the required decryption circuitry is relatively complex, increasing the cost of the device.
For an inexpensive recording device, e.g., a bit stream recording (BSR) device, it is conceivable to manufacture the device without the ability to read the CCI codes within the AV information because the above specialized hardware is eliminated. For this inexpensive BSR device, it has been conceived to provide a unique field within the AV packets to store copy protection information. FIG. 1 illustrates fields of a prior art information packet 10 including a header section 12 in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard, a packet (CIP) header section 14 and a data field portion 16. The data packet is an isochronous packet. A special bit stream copy control information (BCI) field 20 is included within the CIP header section 14. The BCI field 20 contains the copy protection information for use when AV information is transmitted to a BSR device. Although the data section 16 can contain encrypted data, the CIP header section 14 is typically transmitted without encryption to accommodate the BSR's limited capabilities.
In response to this packet 10, the BSR device inspects the BCI field 20 of the packet header 14 and does not record the data if the packet indicates the copy inhibition, but can record the data if the same indicates the single generation copy allowance or the unlimited allowance. If allowed, the packet information can be recorded by the BSR device together with the BCI code 20 which is stored in the packet header 14. Provided the original packet header indicated the single generation copy allowance, when the recorded information is reproduced and supplied from the BSR device to the IEEE 1394 bus the recovered BCI code 20 will indicate copy inhibition (because it has already copied once). However, the same BCI code is stored and transmitted if the original BCI code indicated no copy limit.
FIG. 2 illustrates a system 30 in which the above copy protection can be compromised by an unauthorized device 34. As shown, a source device 32 transmits information to a sink device 36, which is a BSR device. An intercept device 34 is placed between this communication path (38a and 38b). The BCI code 20 in the packet header 14 can be corrupted by intercept device 34 while the packet is being transmitted from the transmitting device 32 to the receiving device 36. For instance, the transmitting device 32 transmits the BCI code 20 having the bit code "11" indicating the copy prohibition, but it is corrupted (by device 34) during the transmission into the bit code "10" indicating the single generation copy allowance or can be altered to the bit code "00" indicating no copy restriction at all. In response to this packet, the BSR 36 is not informed of the fact that the data intrinsically should inhibit the copy, and records the packet information because the BCI code of the packet header allows a single generation copy or unlimited copies. Therefore, the copy generations cannot be controlled.
Accordingly, what is needed is a copy protection system whereby packet information can be transmitted from a source device to an unintelligent device without compromise by an intermediate device. What is further needed is a copy protection system whereby packet information can be transmitted from a source device to a BSR device without compromise by an intermediate device. What is needed further is a system that does not allow copy protection mode information within a transmission to be altered and yield usable results at the sink device. The present invention provides such advantageous features. These and other advantages of the present invention not specifically mentioned above will become clear within discussions of the present invention presented herein.

Method and system for transferring information using an encryption mode indicator


A method of generating electrical and magnetic fields in salt water marine environments using an elongated dimensionally stable flexible electrode (30) having a current carrying inner portion (31) in an outer protective and electrically conductive sheath (33) formed of ruthenium dioxide or iridium oxide. A layer of titanium cladding (33) may be provided on the inner current carrying portion (31) for carrying the outer sheath (33). The anode electrode is utilized for generating electrical current, such as for use in developing magnetic fields in salt water marine environments, preferably as an element of a sweep cable device having a floatation means around which one or more electrodes are helically wound.

One known method of generating magnetic fields in salt water environments and the like, is to provide, on the end of flexible electrical conductors, electrodes formed of aluminum. Current flows from one electrode through the salt water to the other electrodes and in doing so, generates the desired magnetic field.
A problem arises in the use of such electrodes in that the anode tends to dissolve so that, in normal operation, the life of the anode is generally less than about 20 hours. As such structures illustratively represent very high replacement costs it is highly desirable to prevent such deterioration, to provide extended useful life, or preferably both.

Method of generating electrical and magnetic fields in salt water marine environments


The present invention relates to the field of autism. More specifically, the present invention provides methods for treating individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides methods for treating patients with autism spectrum disorder. In one embodiment, a method for treating an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a patient comprises the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of cholesterol to the patient. In more specific embodiments, the ASD is autism, Asperger's disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett's syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. In one embodiment, the patient has autism.

The autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect as many as 1 in 88 children in the United States and comprise a broad group of behaviorally related neurodevelopmental disorders that include autism, Asperger's disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett's syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. The hallmark features of ASD appear around three years of age as impaired social and communication interactions, pronounced repetitive behaviors and restricted pattern of interests. There continues to be a need for treatments for autistic individuals.

Methods for treatment of autism spectrum disorder


A new and unique X Mangave plant named ‘Bad Hair Day’ characterized by numerous, long, narrow, horizontal leaves with irregular, dark-burgundy spotting covering large portions of leaves when grown in high ultraviolet light exposure. Leaf margin has minimal marginal spines and apical spines are flexible teeth. Growth rate is moderate. ‘Bad Hair Day’ is suitable for the garden or as a potted plant in the garden or home.

The present invention relates to the new and distinct X Mangave hybrid plant, X Mangave 'Bad Hair Day' hybridized by the inventor at a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA as cross between an unnamed proprietary selection of Manfreda maculosa (not patented) as the female or seed parent times an unnamed proprietary selection of Agave geminiflora (not patented) as the male or pollen parent. The cross was performed Mar. 14, 2011 and seeds were later harvested and sown on Aug. 8, 2011. Through trials at the same nursery the plant was assigned the breeder code XMANG-11-01-08. The new plant has been successfully asexually propagated initially by sterile shoot-tip tissue culture at the same nursery in Zeeland, Mich. For those skilled in the art this method of asexual propagation system has been found to produce stable and identical plants that maintain all the unique characteristics of the original plant.
No plants of X Mangave 'Bad Hair Day' have been sold, under this or any name, in this country or anywhere in the world, prior to the filing of this application, nor has any disclosure of the new plant been made prior to the filing of this application with the exception of that which was disclosed or sold within one year of the filing of this application, and was either derived directly or indirectly from the inventor.


A blow-molded container of this invention comprises: an outer layer (11) of a synthetic resin, which forms the outer shell of a finite shape; an inner layer (12) of a flexible synthetic resin, which is peelably laminated with the outer layer (11) and forms an inner bag; and a pair of restricted zones (15) of a vertical broad strip type, which is formed axisymmetrically on the central axis of container (1) to adhere and fix the outer layer (11) and the inner layer (12) over the entire height and is located so as to avoid the positions of air introduction ports (7) that have been provided in the outer layer (11) to introduce air into the void between the outer layer (11) and the inner layer (12). At least one of the restricted zones (15) comprises two or more adhesive zones (14) of the vertical strip type, which are parallel to each other. In this configuration, a container of the delaminated type is provided, which has a sufficiently high mechanical strength at the bottom and which can be molded in an ordinary mold at a high rate of productivity. This invention also provides a container of the squeezable type, which has uniform, favorable squeezability, no strange feel to the touch, and a less deteriorated outer appearance caused by the provision of adhered zones.

Peelably laminated containers made of synthetic resins are known and obtained by peelably laminating an outer layer that forms an outer shell of a finite shape and an inner layer that forms a deformable inner bag. These blow-molded bottles are generally referred to as delaminated bottles.
An outer parison and an inner parison having no compatibility with each other are first extruded together to give a laminated parison. This laminated parison is then blow-molded into the peelably laminated synthetic resin container. At that time, the bottom portion is pinched with the pinch-off of the blow mold and is pressed flat to form a bottom seal. Since the bottom seal has basically a laminated structure consisting of the outer layer and the inner layer, which are not compatible with each other, there was dissatisfaction in that the outer layer is easily cracked at the bottom.
As a conventional art to relieve this dissatisfaction, there is Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 1996-216238. In the configuration of that invention, the bottom portion is pinched with the pinch-off of the blow mold and is pressed flat to form the bottom seal, as described above, but the seal is overlaid with a pair of ribs and pressed together so that a ridge is formed along the parting line. Some interlocks are provided at several points along the seal as both ribs bite into each other.
In this conventional art, the bottom seal is formed into a ridge having a certain height and width. As a result, the bottom seal has a large area of pressed contact between the outer layer and the inner layer. The interlocks provided at several points not only increase the area of pressed contact further, but also increase resistance to the shearing force that is parallel to the plane of pressed contact, thereby making it possible to obtain a bottom seal having a mechanical strength that is high enough to prevent the bottom seal from cracking.
However, in the above-described conventional art, there are cases of cracking in the bottom seal because of the effect of time-lapsed shrinkage at the bottom, which takes place after the containers have been blow-molded. The problem of bottom cracking is often found especially in large-size containers of this conventional art when they are dropped to the floor or when they experience a shock.
However, in the above-described conventional art, there are cases of cracking in the bottom seal because of the effect of time-lapsed shrinkage at the bottom, which takes place after the containers have been blow-molded. The problem of bottom cracking is often found especially in large-size containers of this conventional art when they are dropped to the floor or when they experience a shock.
Therefore, the blow-molded containers of this kind are required to go through complete cool-down and shrinkage within the mold. A problem arises here because the bottom seal has large height, thickness, and cubic volume, which need long hours of cooling and thus result in quite low efficiency in the production of containers.
Utility models laid open No. 1982-44063 and No. 1995-22951 describe conventional-art pouring vessels of the squeezable type, which comprise an inner container and an outer container in which to put the inner container.
The conventional art described in utility model laid open No. 1982-44063 refers to a pouring vessel comprising an inner container and an outer squeezable container having an air hole at the bottom. The content is discharged from the inner container by squeezing the outer container. Then, outside air is introduced into the void between the outer container and the inner container. At that time, the inner container maintains its deformed shape, while the outer container returns to the original shape because of its restoring force.
The conventional art described in utility model laid open No. 1995-22951 refers to another pouring vessel comprising an inner container and an outer squeezable container combined and fitted to each other. The inner container is provided with the first check valve that permits the content to pass through the valve and come out of the inner container but does not permit outside air to enter the inner container. The outer container is provided with the second check valve that permits outside air to enter the void between both containers, but does not permit air to escape from the void.
The method of utilizing a pair of adhered zones of the vertical strip type is also generally in use. These adhered zones adhere and fix the outer container and the inner container to each other over the entire height of the containers and restrict the deflationary deformation so as to keep the inner container at a certain shape that gives no shrinkage in the height direction, thereby ensuring the flow path for the content and making the discharge operation smooth. A simple and effective method is to dispose a pair of adhered zones at axisymmetric positions on the central axis of the body.
However, in order to make the adhered zones fulfill their function, it is necessary for these adhered zones to have a certain width. The adhered zones thus formed naturally have to be thick. On the other hand, the rest of the body of the outer container comprises a relatively thin wall so that the body gives flexibility to the squeezable container. Here is where problems arise. A problem is that the adhered zone forms a rib that prevents uniform squeezable deformation. Another problem is that the users feel strangeness in the touch with a hand. Still another problem is that the adhesive resin used to form the adhered zone is expensive.
The outer surface of the container body is usually an important portion of a commercial product from an outer-appearance point of view because a label is attached or printed on this surface to show the product name, and/or decoration is added. The formation of adhered zones causes irregularity on the outer surface of the body, and this irregularity is a process problem as well as the appearance problem. Furthermore, the rib-like adhered zones are conspicuous by themselves.
This invention has been made to solve these problems in the conventional art, owing to the configuration, such as the number and disposition, of the adhered zones of the vertical strip type used to adhere and fix the outer layer (the outer container) and the inner layer (the inner container).
Firstly, the technical problem of this invention is to achieve strong adhesion at the bottom seal between the outer layers and the inner layers, or between outer layers themselves by way of the inner layers, without increasing the bulk of the bottom seal. An object of this invention is to provide a peelably laminated, blow-molded synthetic resin container having high productivity and economical efficiency without a decrease in the bottom strength and the ability of the container to sit on the bottom.
Secondly, another technical problem of this invention is to form the adhered zones that minimize their adverse effect on the outer appearance and enable the outer container to be uniformly squeezed. Another object of this invention is to provide a blow-molded container of the squeezable type at a low cost, which is capable of achieving smooth discharge operation to the last moment and having highly aesthetic appearance.

Blow-molded container that is peelably laminated


Described herein are systems, methods, and software to provide secure browsers to end user devices. In one implementation, a secure browsing service receives, over a network, a request for an internet browser from an end user device. The secure browsing service further, in response to the request, allocates a virtual machine with an instance of the internet browser executing thereon to the end user device, and provide a remote connection to the internet browser on the virtual machine to the end user device.

Internet browsers are software applications for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. These information resources are identified by uniform resource identifiers or locators (URIs/URLs) and may comprise a web page, an image, a video, or some other piece of content. Internet browsers may further be used to access information provided by web servers in private networks or files in file systems. To provide the content, a request may be generated by the browser to a server that hosts the requested content. In response to the request, the server may provide the content to the browser, which in turn presents the content to the end user.
Although browsers provide an efficient tool for accessing resources over the internet, browsers are often the source of malicious processes and software that get implemented on an end user device. These malicious processes may include malware, spyware, ransomware, or some other similar malicious process that is undesirable for the end user of the computing system. To protect against these processes, browsers may attempt to sandbox and monitor the information that is being provided from the host servers. However, vulnerabilities still exist that can provide malicious content access to the end user computing system despite the sandboxing and security precautions on the local device.

Enhanced computing system security using a secure browser


A pen alignment method for a multi-pen printer is provided, the method including directing a first pen to print a first pattern of a first color, directing a second pen to print a second pattern of a second color in a predetermined relative alignment with the first pattern to form a test block, determining an actual hue of the test block via spectral analysis of the test block using a color sensor, and comparing the actual hue of the test block with an expected hue of the test block to determine whether the first and second pens are misaligned relative to each other, wherein the expected hue of the test block is the hue that would be detected if the first pen and second pen were correctly aligned.

The present invention relates generally to printers and more particularly, to a method and system for aligning pens of a color printer based on the detected hue of overlapping test patterns.
Typically, four-color ink-jet printers have replaceable print cartridges providing cyan (C), yellow (Y), magenta (M) and black (K) ink printing. In such printers, four separate color cartridges are provided, rather than providing them in a mono-block configuration. Precise alignment among the various print cartridges, or pens, is required to produce high quality print without noticeable dot misregistration, color variegation or other undesirable visual effects. Thus, in a four-color printer wherein a black ink pen and three color ink pens are provided in the form of separate pens, alignment between the independent, and possibly slightly misaligned, pens is required. Such inter-pen or inter-color misalignment, of course, is not limited to the case where the various pens are physically separate, as misalignment may result from dimensional tolerances in the manufacture of, for example, a mono-block pen having two or more integrated print cartridges and associated ink droplet outlets or nozzles. In any event, the present invention arises from recognition of the fact that such misalignment, or misregistration, between two or more ink pens can be adjusted for by a shift of the virtual image as between the two colors prior to printing.
Previous methods for making such alignment adjustments generally have been limited to two classes of solutions. The first class of solutions requires user intervention and interaction, and typically involves printing a series of patterns on media and then requiring the user to identify which pattern is best aligned. This solution is limited in accuracy in that the user is depended upon to pick the best calibration value. The second class of solutions requires the use of an optical measurement system that monochromatically reads bars and lines printed by all of the print heads. This solution is limited in that only using one light source diminishes the ability to accurately scan all the colors. For example, if a blue illuminant is used, detection of cyan ink suffers.
There is a need for an accurate, inexpensive method of pen alignment for multi-pen color printers that does not require user input.
A pen alignment method for a multi-pen printer is provided, the method including directing a first pen to print a first pattern of a first color, directing a second pen to print a second pattern of a second color in a predetermined relative alignment with the first pattern to form a test block, determining an actual hue of the test block via spectral analysis of the test block using a color sensor, and comparing the actual hue of the test block with an expected hue of the test block to determine whether the first and second pens are misaligned relative to each other, wherein the expected hue of the test block is the hue that would be detected if the first pen and second pen were correctly aligned.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a semiconductor memory, a memory controller which controls the semiconductor memory according to a request from outside the device, a radio section for wireless communication, and a controller. The controller manages storing data in the device according to a procedure for protecting copyright, obtains the latest version of a parameter for protecting copyright which can be updated from outside the device via the radio section, includes a comparator which compares the parameter stored in the device with the latest version of the parameter, and includes an update manager which updates the stored parameter to the latest version of the parameter when they are different.

There is a memory device as a media for storing data. Some memory devices contain a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and a controller for controlling it. An example of such a memory device may be a memory card such as an SD™ card. Such a memory card and a host device record (or, write) and play (or, read) content data in compliance with schemes for protecting the copyright of the data. Several functions are defined for such schemes; however, some of them may not be fully in use due to their natures. Specifically, practicing some functions require specific procedure and operation by a user; however he or she may be hardly willing to do such procedure and operation because protection of content data provides merits to content holders but not to the user.


A computer system having a system ROM comprising a flash or bulk EPROM replacing a block flash or boot block EPROM, and a second ROM to store the primary boot code. In a first embodiment, a single block EPROM is replaced with a bulk EPROM and a ROM, where the ROM is preferably a one-time programmable ROM. The primary boot code is copied into the ROM thereby preventing its erasure. The bulk EPROM is reprogrammed if desired. Separate decode logic detects an address to the primary boot code and enables the ROM. In a second system using a block EPROM and a bulk EPROM as the system ROM, the block EPROM is replaced with a bulk EPROM, and the primary boot code is copied into both bulk EPROMs, preferably at mirrored locations. An external switch is provided with appropriate logic, so that the user may select between either of the bulk EPROMs to boot the system. Thus, if the system is unable to boot from one of the bulk EPROMs, the user may flip the switch to access the primary boot code from the other bulk EPROM. A software program is executed after successful reboot to reprogram and verify the contents of both of the bulk EPROMs. The software reprograms and verifies one bulk EPROM and then reprograms and verifies the other to assure data integrity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to replacing a boot block flash EPROM used as a system ROM with a more conventional flash EPROM and a second ROM for storing primary boot code.
2. Description of the Related Art
A basic computer system typically includes a microprocessor, a memory system and input/output (I/O) devices. The I/O devices typically include a display, a keyboard or mouse and possibly other communication devices, and also storage devices including diskette or floppy drives and hard or fixed disk drives. The memory system may include a very fast cache used to store frequently accessed memory or data, relatively fast main memory comprising random access memory (RAM) for storing programs and instructions during operation of the computer system, and read only memory (ROM) for storing permanent information generally used on a regular basis, such as short programs and routines, tables of fixed data, and routines and data used for display of characters. ROMs are nonvolatile so that their data is permanent and remains valid while the computer system is powered off. Thus, ROMs are ideal for stored and coded information representing the sequence of internal control variables for initializing or enabling the various operations in the computer system upon power-up. One or more ROMs used for this purpose are generally referred to as the system ROM.
For example, in an IBM PC/AT or compatible computer system, a system ROM is used to store the basic input output system (BIOS) executed upon power up by the microprocessor for system initialization and for performing certain low level, hardware dependent operations. In particular, the system ROM stores routines executed by the microprocessor for initialization of the computer system, including routines for power on self tests (POST), interaction with the display, floppy and fixed disk drives, and routines to interface communication devices as well as peripheral devices. More sophisticated routines and data may be included in the system ROM depending upon the needs and complexity of a given computer system. However, a certain minimum amount of code in the system ROM is necessary to initialize a computer system and must not be lost. This minimum necessary code will be referred to as the primary boot code, which must at least initialize the microprocessor, at least one floppy disk drive, the video controller, the keyboard or mouse and establish access to the system ROM itself for reprogramming, if necessary.
The primary boot code is generally well defined and not subject to changes. Once the primary boot code is executed, the microprocessor executes some or all of the remaining code in the system ROM to complete the boot procedure. This remaining or secondary boot code is used for other I/O and peripheral devices and is generally subject to modifications. For example, errors and bugs requiring correction and new versions or new releases of the secondary boot code are common, so that portions of the system ROM for storing the secondary boot code should be reprogrammable. Otherwise, the entire system ROM must be replaced in the event of fixes, enhancements or upgrades.
Several types of ROMs are commercially available. A basic ROM, referred to as a masked ROM, has its code hardwired internally at the factory and thus can not be reprogrammed later. Masked ROMs have been used as system ROMs, but must be completely replaced if changes in the boot code are desired or necessary. Since enhancements and upgrades are common, masked ROMs are not preferred for use as system ROMs because of lead time and minimum quantity problems. Another type of ROM similar to the masked ROM is referred to as a one-time programmable (OTP) ROM. The OTP ROM is programmed once by the user or supplier of a computer system, but cannot be reprogrammed. OTP ROMs are better than masked ROMs for system ROM purposes since the computer manufacturer or supplier has control over the boot code programmed into the OTP ROMs and can provide upgraded ROMs more readily. Nonetheless, OTP ROMs are undesirable by themselves to comprise the system ROM since they are also not reprogrammable.
Several programmable ROMs are commercially available, generally referred to as erasable programmable ROMs (EPROMs), including ultra-violet (UV) EPROMs and electrically erasable programmable ROMs (EEPROMs). UV EPROMs or the like require external access to the ROMs to be erased, possibly even removal from the computer system, and thus are not convenient for reprogramming purposes. EEPROMs are not necessarily desirable for system ROM purposes since they are very expensive and are generally erasable only one byte at a time.
Flash EPROMs, otherwise referred to as "bulk" EPROMs, are nonvolatile, random access and reprogrammable memory devices. The entire data contents of bulk EPROMs are erased through a simple flash erase operation. Flash EPROMs typically include an input pin for erase purposes, where a high voltage, such as +12 volts, applied to the erase input pin enables erasure. An erase command completes the erase procedure. Bulk EPROMs are relatively inexpensive, but are still not preferred for use as system ROMs since the entire data contents are erased during an erase procedure, including the primary boot code, which should remain intact.
A popular ROM device presently used to comprise system ROMs is referred to as block flash or simply block EPROMs. Block EPROMs are essentially bulk EPROMs which are divided into multiple portions, which may be individually erasable, or may otherwise include a portion which is not erasable. Thus, one portion is used to store the primary boot code, where this portion is either non-erasable or the erase capability for that portion is not enabled.
One such block EPROM, referred to as the boot block EPROM, such as the 28F001 manufactured by Intel, is a 128 kbyte EPROM comprising two portions having separate erase enable inputs, including a separate 8 kbyte erasable portion and a separate 120 kbyte erasable portion. Typically, the 8 kbyte portion is used to store the primary boot code, where its flash erasable function is disabled (or non-enabled) to prevent accidental erasure. This may be achieved by not connecting the erase enable input pin for this portion. The remaining 120 kbyte portion can be erased by asserting the erase enable input pin and supplying the appropriate commands, and then reprogrammed through software. Thus, enhancements or upgrades to the secondary boot code can readily be made without the threat of erasure of the primary boot code.
The popularity of block EPROMs, including the boot block EPROM by Intel, has caused shipment delays and access problems. Vendors have simply been unable to meet the demand, so that computer suppliers are unable to complete computer systems otherwise ready for shipment. It is desirable, therefore, to find alternative methods of providing similar functions performed by block and boot block EPROMs.

System ROM including a flash EPROM and a ROM for storing primary boot code replacing a block flash EPROM


The present invention is related to a skateboard safety brake that is pear shaped and is coupled to the rear tail portion of a skateboard.

The invention relates to skateboard safety, specifically to the braking of skateboards. In the U.S. there are 11 million skateboarders, with an average of 2 skateboards each. Of these skateboarders, there are an average of 64,500 emergency room visits related to skateboards per year. Therefore, there exists a need to improve the safety of skateboards. One way to improve skateboard safety is to improve the ability to slow down and/or stop. Current techniques include the rider jumping off the skateboard, which is dangerous, or using a wheel engaging brake that has insufficient stopping power.


The disclosure is of apparatus for determining the transformation characteristics of a metal alloy by treating the alloy to render it austenitic and then monitoring the isothermal decomposition of the austenite by measuring the magnetic change in the alloy.

This invention relates to the determination of the optimum isothermal heat treatment procedure for alloys such as steel and austempered ductile iron. For years, workers have followed various procedures to determine the transformation characterstics and proper heat treatment procedures to obtain the optimum properties for a given alloy.
There are many problems associated with the various methods employed for these purposes in the past. The original method, which is still used, was a trial and error method. Another method presently used includes the steps of preparing a number of specimens, austenitizing them at appropriate temperatures and then cooling them rapidly by immersion in a liquid maintained at a lower temperature where the transformation of austenite into the desired microstructure (e.g. bainite, martensite) occurs. The specimens are then removed and examined to determine the microstructure.
An improved method uses metallurgical "quench" dilatometers which use a hollow specimen that can be quickly cooled from austenitizing temperatures under controlled conditions by a controlled combination of R.F. heating and gas cooling. The progress of the transformation in this type of system is monitored dilatometrically (i.e. by measuring length changes that accompany the phase transformation).
The metallurgical dilatometer is an excellent tool however it has the disadvantage of using relatively complex instrumentation with associated maintenance difficulties. In addition, false results are often obtained.

Thermomagnetic apparatus for determining optimum heat treatment of alloys

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