Methods and systems for allowing customer or third party testing of secure programmable code are disclosed and may include verifying code loaded in a set-top box utilizing a test hash or a production hash prior to execution of the code, where the test hash and production hash may be stored in a memory, such as an OTP, within the set-top box, and may allow migration from corresponding test code to production code, which may be verified utilizing the test hash and production hash, respectively. The test and production hashes may be customer specific. The migration from test code to production code may be authenticated using at least a set-top box specific password. The test hash may be stored in a first portion of a one-time programmable memory and the production hash in a remaining portion, with the first portion being less than or equal to the remaining portion.

The implementation of fee-based video broadcasting requires a conventional conditional access (CA) system to prevent non-subscribers and unauthorized users from receiving signal broadcasts. Cryptography algorithms may be utilized, for example, in content protection in digital set-top box systems and in other systems utilized in fee-based video broadcasting. Security keys may, therefore, play a significant part in the encryption and/or decryption process initiated by a cryptography algorithm. For each cryptography algorithm used in a fee-based video broadcasting system, there may be a set of associated security keys that may be needed by the algorithm. In a typical set-top box System-on-Chip integrated circuit, for example, depending on the security sub-system within the circuit, the security key generation, and the destination module that uses the security key may be far apart within a chip. For example, a security key generation module may not be within the same design block as the destination module that utilizes the security key. The distance between the security key generation module and the destination module may require a special bus to transmit the security key to the appropriate destinations, which may decrease the speed and efficiency of the circuit.
In an increasingly security conscious world, protecting access to information and/or to systems from unwanted discovery and/or corruption is a major issue for both consumers and businesses. Many consumer or business systems may be vulnerable to unwanted access when the level of security provided within the system is not sufficient for providing the appropriate protection. In this regard, consumer systems, such as multimedia systems, for example, may require the use of integrated architectures that enable security management mechanisms for defining and administering user rights or privileges in order to provide the necessary protection from unwanted access. An example of a multimedia system that may be accessed by many different users may be a set-top box where manufacturers, vendors, operators, and/or home users may have an interest in accessing or restricting at least some limited functionality of the system.
Set-top boxes may be developed for multiple of customers who may have different control programming needs. A security risk may exist if no security is used with control software sent to 2nd and 3rd parties involved in the development of set-top boxes and related software. If an unauthorized user or hacker were to gain access to non-secured control software, all set-top boxes with the same control software may be in danger of being compromised. Additionally, functions specific to a particular customer should not be accessible to other customers.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for allowing customer or third party testing of secure programmable code


A clamping tool having a first jaw connected to a pull/push rod and a fixed second jaw connected to a housing which includes a handle disposed opposite the second jaw and arranged along side a grip provided on the housing. Displacement of the handle towards the grip moves the first jaw towards the second jaw and towards a clamping position in a stepwise manner while reverse movement of the rod and jaws is blocked by a detent member. Release of the detent member is provided by a release lever. The release lever can also be utilized, in conjunction with the detent member, to move the rod and first jaw in a release direction. Movement of the rod and first jaw in the clamping direction is caused by engagement of the rod by a carry-along member. The carry-along member, in turn, is engaged by an operating arm which, in turn, is engaged by the handle. The operating arm is slidably connected to the housing thereby enabling the overall length of the operating arm and handle to be varied. The operating arm engages a smooth surface of the carry-along member so that as the clamping force increases, the operating arm will move away from the rod and towards the handle thereby decreasing the overall length of the operating arm and handle.

The present invention relates generally to clamps and, more specifically, clamping having a first jaw connected to a rod that passes through a housing which incorporates a second jaw. The housing also includes an actuating handle for moving the two jaws together towards a clamping position.
A clamping tool of the type in question in the form of a clamp is known from German Patent Application DE 39 17 473. This known clamp has a movable clamping jaw which is fitted at the end of a push rod. This clamping jaw engages through a housing which carries a second, fixed clamping jaw. A grip projects from the housing. By means of a handle, which is arranged pivotably on the housing and can be moved towards the grip, the push rod can be displaced such that the movable clamping jaw is moved in a stepwise manner towards the fixed clamping jaw. On the handle side, in the direction of the two clamping jaws, the previously known clamp has a releasable detent against reverse displacement, in the form of a clamping lever. This is intended to prevent the movable clamping jaw from being able to be displaced in the opposite direction. A free end of the lever forming the return displacement detent projects out of the housing there and can be pivoted in order to release the return displacement detent. In the released position, the two clamping jaws can be moved apart in opposite directions. The plane which is defined by the jaw surface of the fixed clamping jaw and runs substantially transversely to the direction of extent of the push rod is located directly in front of the free end of the lever of the return displacement detent lever. This results, in the case of unfavourable spatial conditions, in the position of the workpiece located in the said plane adversely affecting actuation of the lever. Furthermore, in the case of a clamp of this kind, the fact that the free end of the push rod can be displaced rearwards in a stepwise manner in relation to the grip upon actuation is disadvantageous.
If the clamp is used, for example, in such a manner that the clamping-jaw plane is located in the horizontal, and if the clamp is to be placed in position from above, then the free push-rod end projects upwards into the space in a disruptive manner. Although this clamp allows use in a large number of clamping circumstances, reliable release of the clamping jaws is not guaranteed in specific clamping circumstances, in particular in the abovementioned clamping circumstances. There is also only a small actuating path available for the clamping lever.
From U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,016, a further clamp is known. In this, a rotatable, toothed rod is fitted parallel to the push rod and has one end of a pivotable handle engaging in it. The two clamping jaws can be moved towards one another by engagement in the teeth. In this case, the two clamping jaws are located to the rear of the actuating handle. Although a catch is fitted in the housing, the catch acting as return displacement detent, this is not itself intended to be releasable. In order to release the return displacement detent, the toothed rod has to be rotated by engagement on a lever fitted to the movable jaw. It is also the case with this clamp that the release of the return displacement detent leaves room for improvement.
A clamp is also known from Utility Model 87 03 379.8. In this case, although the release lever of the return displacement detent is remote from the movable jaws, the problem mentioned in the introduction arises if clamping surfaces located in the horizontal plane are to be clamped from above.
A further clamp is known from GB 21 78 689. The handleability of this clamp corresponds approximately to that of Utility Model 87 03 379.8.
From U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,351, a clamp is already known in which the pull rod, on one side, provides a toothing arrangement in which there engages a catch which can be displaced by a handle, the handle being displaceable towards the grip, in order thus for the movable jaw, located at the end of the pull rod, to be displaced towards the fixed jaw, which is fitted to the housing. As detent against return displacement, this clamping tool has a second detent catch, which is encapsulated in the housing, engages in the toothing arrangement by spring bias and, for rearward displacement of the movable clamping jaw, has to be displaced out of the toothing arrangement. This displacement is effected by transverse pivoting.
The invention is based on the problem of developing a clamp of the type in question such that reliable release of the clamping is possible for all clamping circumstances, and that it can be placed in position in a more functionally advantageous manner during clamping.
The object is achieved by the invention specified in Claim 1. Subsidiary claims provide advantageous. According to the invention, it is provided first and foremost that a release lever acts on the return displacement detent, and that both the handle and the release lever are located on that side of the grip which is directed away from the clamping zone between the two clamping jaws.
On account of this configuration, although the release lever is located in a position remote from the clamping zone, it is, at the same time, at a defined spacing from that side of the workpiece which is directed towards the release lever. Even in unfavourable clamping circumstances in which that surface of the workpiece which is directed towards the release lever extends beyond the push rod to the grip side or actuating-member side of the push rod, reliable actuation of the release lever is possible. On account of an aligned arrangement of the rear side of the grip in relation to the clamping surface of the fixed clamping jaw, this grip, in certain clamping operations, can even perform a workpiece-supporting function. Located between the rear side and the fixed clamping jaw is a rearwardly projecting slot from which the push rod projects. Since the handle is located between release lever and grip and the grip is located nearest the clamping zone or the workpiece, it is even possible for the handle to be used as a second grip for the purpose of actuating the release lever. For this purpose, in particular an approximately triangular clearance located between the handle and grip has proven advantageous. Furthermore, the handle actuation, directed counter to the push-rod displacement, makes for favourable pivoting of the release lever and handle on the housing. The pivot points for the two levers are located on the same side of the push rod, to be precise such that in order to actuate the release lever, rather than having to clasp the grip, all that is required is to clasp the handle protecting freely from the housing. The fixed clamping jaw is located on the opposite side of the pivot points or of the grip portions. It is advantageous if the release lever is associated with that end of the housing which is located opposite the fixed jaw.
A second aspect of the invention relates to development of the release lever. The release lever is configured such that the first clamping jaw is displaced rearwards in a stepwise manner above the second clamping jaw by actuation of the release lever. This configuration ensures proper single-handed use of the clamping tool. In a preferred configuration, the return displacement detent has a slide which can be latched or clamped to the pull or push rod. This slide can be displaced freely over the pull or push rod by the release lever counter to the force of a return spring. When actuation of the release lever is completed, the slide is then displaced into a clamping or latching position and is displaced back by the return spring, the pull or push rod being carried along in the process. The return spring preferably acts on one side of the slide and thus produces, in the absence of counter-clamping or counter-support of the opposite side, a tilted position. In order to be able to slidingly displace the slide over the pull or push rod, it is advantageous if an arm of the release lever presses on the slide at the engagement end for the return spring in order to release the detent action upon actuation. The release lever may, furthermore, form a stop for the opposite side of the slide, by means of which the opposite side of the slide can be pressed against a fixed stop. For this purpose, the release lever is of fork-like design on the operating side. For this stepwise rearward displacement of the push rod, it is advantageous if the release lever is actuated by a hand using the handle as a grip. The handle can be grasped by one hand since a clearance is provided between the grip and the handle, running obliquely at an angle to the grip, and the clearance allows the actuating handle to be clasped. It is not then necessary for the hand to enclose the grip in order, for release-lever actuation, to be able to grasp a total of two levers, namely the handle as well.
A further aspect of the invention provides that the lever ratios of the lever transmission can be altered in a load-dependent manner. With increasing clamping force, which increases when a workpiece is clamped in between the two clamping jaws, the lever ratios of the lever transmission alter to the effect that the path of displacement of the clamping jaw becomes smaller and thus, following the lever principle, the force which can be applied is increased. The ratio between the operating arm and power arm of the lever transmission is variable, in favour of a clamping force which increases under load. The altered lever ratios are preferably realized in that the operating arm, which acts on the pull or push rod, is a shortenable arm of an actuating lever. The shortenable operating arm may then act on an engagement surface of the carry-along slide. In a preferred configuration, it is provided that the capacity for shortening the operating arm is achieved by the actuating lever providing an alterable bearing point. This alterable bearing point may be realized, for example, by the pivot mounting of the actuating lever being defined by a fixed bearing pin and the actuating lever being fitted to this bearing pin by way of a slot, with the result that the actuating lever can be displaced in a load-dependent manner. The slot then extends in the direction of extent of the lever. The actuating lever is preferably of two-armed design. If the first arm is formed by the operating arm, then the second arm may be pivotable by the handle. In a preferred configuration of the invention, it is provided that the operating arm is spring-biassed in the direction of engagement. In the case of increasing resistance, the operating arm presses on the biassed spring. When the spring loading is exceeded, it is possible for the operating arm to be displaced and thus shortened.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a clamp that comprises a first jaw connected to an end of a rod, a second jaw connected to a housing, the rod passing through the housing, the housing being connected to a pivotable handle, the housing accommodating a carry-along member that engages the rod and the handle, the housing also accommodating a detent member that engages the rod, the housing also comprising a grip, the handle being pivotable towards the grip whereby, as the handle is pivoted towards the grip, the handle imparts movement to the carry-along member which imparts movement to the rod in a clamping direction in a stepwise manner while engagement of the detent member and the rod prevents reverse movement of the rod in a release direction, the housing also being connected to a pivotable release lever which, upon pivotal movement towards the grip, engages the detent member to release the detent member from the rod to permit movement of the rod in the release direction, the grip being disposed opposite the rod from and directed away from the first and second jaws, the handle and release lever being disposed in alignment with the grip and on a same side thereof.
In an embodiment, the release lever is disposed diagonally opposite the housing from the second jaw with the handle being disposed between the release lever and the grip.
In an embodiment, the grip is aligned with the second jaw but opposite the rod from the second jaw.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a clamp that comprises a first jaw connected to an end of a rod, a second jaw connected to a housing, the rod passing through the housing, the housing being connected to a pivotable handle, the handle engaging an operating arm, the operating arm being slidably connected to the housing so that the operating arm is capable of sliding movement with respect to the handle to shorten or lengthen an overall combined length of the handle and operating arm, the housing accommodating a carry-along member that engages the rod and the operating arm, the housing also accommodating a detent member that engages the rod, as the handle is pivoted, the operating arm imparts force and movement to the carry-along member which imparts movement to the rod in a clamping direction in a stepwise manner while engagement of the detent member and the rod prevents reverse movement of the rod in a release direction, the housing also being connected to a pivotable release lever which can engage the detent member to release the detent member from the rod to permit movement of the rod in the release direction, the carry-along member being biased against the force and movement imparted by the operating arm, wherein as a clamping force increases, the operating arm slides towards the handle to shorten the overall length of the handle and operating arm.
In an embodiment, the carry-along member comprises a smooth surface which is engaged by the operating arm.
In an embodiment, the operating arm is connected to the housing by a pin that is received in a slot disposed in the operating arm.
In an embodiment, the operating arm and the handle form an actuating lever which has an alterable bearing point.
In an embodiment, the handle engages a second arm which, in turn, engages the operating arm.
In an embodiment, the operating arm is spring biased away from the handle to lengthen the overall length of the operating arm and handle.
In an embodiment, the operating arm is angled and comprises a vertex, the slot being disposed in the vertex of the operating arm.
In an embodiment, the first jaw may be connected to one of two ends of the rod.
In an embodiment, the second arm is biased towards the slot in the operating arm by a spring.
In an embodiment, the handle comprises a cavity for slidingly receiving the second arm.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a clamp that comprises a first jaw connected to an end of a rod, a second jaw connected to a housing, the rod passing through the housing, the housing being connected to a pivotable handle, the housing accommodating a carry-along member that engages the rod and the handle, the housing also accommodating a detent member that engages the rod, as the handle is pivoted, the handle imparts force and movement to the carry-along member which imparts movement to the rod in a clamping direction in a stepwise manner while engagement of the detent member and the rod prevents reverse movement of the rod in a release direction, the carry-along member being biased against the force and movement imparted by the handle arm, the housing also being connected to a pivotable release lever which can engage the detent member to release the detent member from the rod to permit movement of the rod in the release direction, the detent member being biased against the force and movement imparted by the release lever, further pivotal movement of the release lever imparting sufficient force and movement to the detent member along the rod until the detent member reengages the rod and the biasing force imposed on the detent member imparts movement of the rod in the release direction upon disengagement of the release lever from the detent member.
In an embodiment, the present invention further comprises a return spring which engages one side of the detent member while a fixed stop engages an opposing side of the detent member.
In an embodiment, the release lever engages said one side of the detent member.
In an embodiment, the carry-along member comprises an opening through which the rod passes and the opening comprises at least one side edge for grippingly engaging the rod.
In an embodiment, the detent member comprises an opening through which the rod passes and the opening comprises at least one side edge for grippingly tengaging the rod.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.

Clamping tool, especially a clamping clip, clamping rod or clamping bench


Methods and devices for detecting photoresist coating failures are disclosed. A disclosed method to detect a photoresist coating failure on a semiconductor wafer comprises: loading a photoresist coated wafer on a notch position check block; rotating the coated wafer; detecting the position of a notch in the wafer; blowing air toward the surface of the wafer with at least one air nozzle located over the rotating wafer; detecting an amount of the air blown from the at least one air nozzle; and generating a coating failure signal if a variation in the amount of air blown from the at least one air nozzle is indicative of a photoresist coating failure.

To form a photoresist layer on a semiconductor substrate (typically prior to an implanting process and an etching process) a conventional process coats the surface of a semiconductor wafer with a photoresist material. Next, the photoresist material disposed on the surface of the wafer is masked, exposed, and developed to provide a patterned photoresist layer.
The process for coating the surface of the wafer with the photoresist material is performed in a coating device. The coating device dispenses the photoresist material onto the semiconductor wafer while concurrently rotating the wafer to uniformly coat the semiconductor wafer.
Throughout the coating process, the wafers are softly baked and then remain in the buffer unit of an interface block before being moved to an exposure device. A process for exposing the wafers in the buffer unit includes: (a) moving a top positioned wafer in a queue of the buffer unit to a wafer notch position check block by means of a wafer loader, (b) checking orientation flatness with LED sensors to detect the position of a notch during the several rotations of the wafer, (c) conveying the roughly aligned wafer to a wafer stage, and (d) precisely aligning and then performing an exposing process for the wafer on the wafer stage.
Conventionally, a method for sensing a coating failure of the semiconductor wafer is performed prior to the exposing process. This sensing method performs a statistical sample test for a few wafers in a lot or a batch by means of detecting equipment or macrography after the completion of the development process for the photoresist material on the wafer.
Photoresist coating failures may cause serious problems such as yield loss during the later implanting process and the etching process. In other words, areas having coating failures cannot provide important functions such as implant blocking mask and etch resistance mask, thereby resulting in defective chips.
Thus, the test process for developed wafers is an essential part in the formation of a photoresist layer.
However, a full inspection for all wafers may cause a decrease in productivity and throughput. As a result, instead of an inspection of all wafers, the above-described sample test is performed after the exposing process. Since, by definition, the sample test does not test all of the wafers, unsampled wafers with coating failures may remain throughout the later processes. Thus, unsampled wafers with coating defects will not be detected and will, thus, likely escape the process for stripping and re-coating the photoresist material. These defective and unrepaired wafers cause problems and may result in a severe yield loss.
Shiraishi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,130 describes a coating film forming method for forming a resist coating film on an upper surface of a wafer held by a spin chuck in a chamber.
Ahn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,385 describes an air shower head for an exposure device of photolithography equipment without chemical substances that could otherwise contaminate a photoresist layer on a semiconductor wafer and degrade the profile of the photoresist pattern.
The above-mentioned patents do not detect photoresist coating failures on a semiconductor wafer while simultaneously sensing a notch in the wafer.

Photoresist coating failure sensing methods and detection devices


Described is a selective catalytic reduction catalyst comprising a zeolitic framework material of silicon and aluminum atoms, wherein a fraction of the silicon atoms are isomorphously substituted with a tetravalent metal. The catalyst can include a promoter metal such that the catalyst effectively promotes the reaction of ammonia with nitrogen oxides to form nitrogen and H2O selectively over a temperature range of 150 to 650° C. A method for selectively reducing nitrogen oxides and an exhaust gas treatment system are also described.

Over time, the harmful components of nitrogen oxides (NOx) have led to atmospheric pollution. NOx is contained in exhausted gases such as from internal combustion engines (e.g., automobiles and trucks), from combustion installations (e.g., power stations heated by natural gas, oil, or coal), and from nitric acid production plants.
Various methods have been used in the treatment of NOx-containing gas mixtures. One type of treatment involves catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides. There are two processes: (1) a nonselective reduction process wherein carbon monoxide, hydrogen, or a lower hydrocarbon is used as a reducing agent, and (2) a selective reduction process wherein ammonia or ammonia precursor is used as a reducing agent. In the selective reduction process, a high degree of removal with nitrogen oxide can be obtained with a small amount of reducing agent.
The selective reduction process is referred to as a SCR process (Selective Catalytic Reduction). The SCR process uses catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia in the presence of atmospheric oxygen with the formation predominantly of nitrogen and steam:4NO+4NH3+O2→4N2+6H2O (standard SCR reaction)2NO2+4NH3→3N2+6H2O (slow SCR reaction)NO+NO2+NH3→2N2+3H2O (fast SCR reaction)
Catalysts employed in the SCR process ideally should be able to retain good catalytic activity over the wide range of temperature conditions of use, for example, 200° C. to 600° C. or higher, under hydrothermal conditions. Hydrothermal conditions are often encountered in practice, such as during the regeneration of a soot filter, a component of the exhaust gas treatment system used for the removal of particles.
Molecular sieves such as zeolites have been used in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides with a reductant such as ammonia, urea, or a hydrocarbon in the presence of oxygen. Zeolites are crystalline materials having rather uniform pore sizes which, depending upon the type of zeolite and the type and amount of cations included in the zeolite lattice, range from about 3 to 10 Angstroms in diameter. Zeolites having 8-ring pore openings and double-six ring secondary building units, particularly those having cage-like structures have recently found interest in use as SCR catalysts. A specific type of zeolite having these properties is chabazite (CHA), which is a small pore zeolite with 8 member-ring pore openings (˜3.8 Angstroms) accessible through its 3-dimensional porosity. A cage like structure results from the connection of double six-ring building units by 4 rings.
Metal-promoted zeolite catalysts including, among others, iron-promoted and copper-promoted zeolite catalysts, for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia are known. Iron-promoted zeolite beta has been an effective commercial catalyst for the selective reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia. Unfortunately, it has been found that under harsh hydrothermal conditions, for example exhibited during the regeneration of a soot filter with temperatures locally exceeding 700° C., the activity of many metal-promoted zeolites begins to decline. This decline is often attributed to dealumination of the zeolite and the consequent loss of metal-containing active centers within the zeolite.
Metal-promoted, particularly copper promoted aluminosilicate zeolites having the CHA structure type and a silica to alumina molar ratio greater than 1, particularly those having a silica to alumina ratio greater than or equal to 5, 10, or 15 and less than about 1000, 500, 250, 100 and 50 have recently solicited a high degree of interest as catalysts for the SCR of oxides of nitrogen in lean burning engines using nitrogenous reductants. This is because of the wide temperature window coupled with the excellent hydrothermal durability of these materials, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,662. Prior to the discovery of metal promoted zeolites described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,662, while the literature had indicated that a large number of metal-promoted zeolites had been proposed in the patent and scientific literature for use as SCR catalysts, each of the proposed materials suffered from one or both of the following defects: (1) poor conversion of oxides of nitrogen at low temperatures, for example 350° C. and lower; and (2) poor hydrothermal stability marked by a significant decline in catalytic activity in the conversion of oxides of nitrogen by SCR. Thus, the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,662 addressed a compelling, unsolved need to provide a material that would provide conversion of oxides of nitrogen at low temperatures and retention of SCR catalytic activity after hydrothermal aging at temperatures in excess of 650° C.
Even though the catalysts described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,662, exhibit excellent properties, there is always a desire for improved performance in extended or different temperature windows. Thus, one of the challenges of meeting current governmental (for example, Euro 6) NOx regulations is the improvement of low temperature performance while maintaining the high temperature performance of the SCR catalyst. Accordingly, an SCR catalyst is needed that achieves a balanced performance for both low and high temperatures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An amusement device (10) to produce an audio output from an audio transducer (76), as well as a visual output from a plurality of light emitting diode elements (68, 70, 72, 74). The light emitting diode elements (68, 70, 72, 74) are intermittently lighted in accordance with a predetermined first frequency determined by a first photoresistor element (52). The first photoresistor element (52) includes a circuit coupled to a first oscillator circuit (20) which determines the first predetermined frequency of the visual output system (66) responsive to the amount of photons impinging on first photoresistor element (52). Correspondingly, a second predetermined frequency for audio transducer (76) is determined by second photoresistor element (82) which is coupled to a second oscillator circuit (22) for producing the predetermined second frequency. A coupling line 96 is utilized between an output terminal (62) of the oscillator (20) and a reset terminal (94) of the second oscillator circuit (22) for providing a synchronous visual and audio output.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to amusement devices. In particular, this invention relates to amusement devices having an audio and visual output. More in particular, this invention relates to an amusement audio and visual output device in which the frequency of the visual output and the frequency of the audio output may be varied in accordance with the wishes of the user. Still further, this invention relates to an audio/visual amusement device which uses a pair of photoresistor elements coupled to a pair of oscillator circuits in order to determine the frequencies of the visual and audio output systems. More in particular, this invention pertains to an audio/visual amusement device where a first frequency control circuit controls the visual output in the form of flashing light emitting diodes. Additionally, this invention relates to an audio/visual amusement device which includes a second frequency control circuit for determining the frequency of the audio output. Still further, this invention pertains to an audio/visual amusement device wherein the first frequency control circuit is coupled to the second oscillator circuit in order to maintain a synchronous audio and visual output.
2. Prior Art
Audio/visual amusement devices are well-known in the art. The best prior art known to the inventor includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,971,016; 4,160,339; 3,294,401; 3,308,577; 2,838,876; 3,375,376; 3,406,481; 3,849,931; 3,314,189; 4,086,724; and, 3,803,593. U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,016 is directed to a toy electronic chirping device. When a mechanical switch is placed in a closed position, a transistor is biased into a conduction operation mode. A capacitor charges up through the transistor in order to increase voltage. Eventually, the transistor conducts so that the capacitor discharges. The system uses a feedback arrangement and a cyclic process of charging and discharging of the capacitor which results in a warbling tone emitted from a speaker. Although this reference does direct itself to an audio output amusement device, such does not utilize photoresistor elements which may be covered or uncovered by the user to change frequency of the audio/visual output.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,339 shows other prior art which has an audio generator. In such prior art, there is a multi-tone signal generator with the signal applied to a filter and then through an amplifier to a speaker. Although such does change frequency, the frequency change is dependent upon the attitude of the system and is not directed to the coupling of photoresistor elements to oscillator circuits to provide frequency changes in the light and audio output responsive to the desires of the user.

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A nucleic acid coding for pro-carboxypeptidase B (Pro-CPB), comprising three segments A, B and C, wherein at least one of the segments has one of the sequences according to SEQ ID No. 1, 2 or 3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to pro-carboxypeptidase B and carboxypeptidase B and to a process for preparing them.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
Carboxypeptidase B (CPB) is a pancreatic exopeptidase which cleaves by the hydrolysis of peptide linkages at basic amino acids, such as lysine, arginine and ornithine. The cleavage is effected at the C-terminal end of the polypeptides. It is a zinc-containing peptidase (EC 188.8.131.52).
Carboxypeptidase B is formed from pre-pro-carboxypeptidase B, which is enzymatically inactive. From pre-pro-carboxypeptidase B, a signal peptide is cleaved off to obtain a pro-carboxypeptidase B, which is also enzymatically inactive. From the latter, another peptide is cleaved off to obtain the active carboxypeptidase.
The molecular weight of carboxypeptidase B is about 35 kD. It is employed for a wide variety of purposes, especially for the preparation of peptides, such as insulin, and in protein sequence analysis. Carboxypeptidase B is usually purified from porcine pancreas.
The cDNA sequences of human carboxypeptidase B are known.
WO 96/23064 describes a process for the preparation of recombinant rat carboxypeptidase B. Attempts to express the plasmid described were not successful.
Commercially available carboxypeptidase (purified from natural sources) typically has activities of about 50 to 170 U/mg. One unit (1 U) corresponds to the hydrolysis of 1 mmol of hippuryl-L-Arg per min at 25° C. and at a pH of 7.65.
Carboxypeptidase B purified from natural sources is always contaminated with small amounts of other proteases. Therefore, there is still a need for highly pure carboxypeptidases having an activity as high as possible.


A cam lever locking mechanism is provided for an electrical connector assembly which includes a lever pivotally mounted on a first connector. The lever has an eccentric cam for engaging a cam follower on a second connector for providing a mechanical advantage while mating the connectors on a mating axis generally centrally of the connectors, in response to rotation of the lever. The lever is rotatable about a pivot axis transverse to and generally intersecting the mating axis of the connectors. The eccentric cam on the lever is aligned generally with the mating axis of the connectors. The cam follower on the second connector is located generally on the mating axis.

Electrical connectors are used in a variety of applications for making large numbers of electrical interconnections. A connector typically includes two components: a housing or other body member and a plurality of terminals or electrical contact elements mounted on the housing. A connector may be attached to the end of a multi-conductor cable, and a second connector may be mechanically and electrically interconnected to a printed circuit or wiring board, or both connectors may be attached to cables or both connectors may be interconnected to a pair of boards. Regardless of the application, electrical connectors often are difficult to mate or interconnect when they mount a large number of terminals. In addition, some connector assemblies may be sealed assemblies, with the seal means making it difficult to mate the connectors.
Consequently, a variety of devices have been designed for assisting the mating process. One typical device or mechanism is a cam lever mechanism, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,035,634 to Hasircoglu et al, dated Jul. 30, 1991; 5,135,410 to Kawase et al, dated Aug. 4, 1992; 5,174,785 to Endo et al, dated Dec. 29, 1992; and 5,230,635 to Takenouchi et al, dated Jul. 27, 1993.
All of the above-referenced patents show examples of cam lever mechanisms of the prior art, wherein mating connectors are provided with levers having camming surfaces, the lever being mounted on one of the mating connectors such that a camming surface engages a projection located on the outside of the second mating connector. The projection defines a cam follower and usually projects laterally outwardly from the outside of the connector housing. Since the lever and the housing usually is molded from plastic, the laterally extending projection often is not strong enough to withstand the necessary high mating and unmating forces between the connectors. In addition, many such cam lever mechanisms require two hands or a special tool to operate or are very difficult to operate with a single hand. Still further, with many of the prior art cam lever mechanisms, the cam follower projections are located on the outside of the connector housings or somewhere remote from the central mating axis of the connector assembly. This causes binding between the connectors during mating and unmating, particularly with connector assemblies involving large numbers of terminals. Additionally, prior art cam lever mechanisms are next to impossible to use in sealed connector assemblies because of the larger forces required and a substantially large increase in the envelope size of the connector.
This invention is directed to solving the myriad of problems identified above and also satisfying a need for a simple yet very effective cam lever mechanism in comparison to the prior art.

Electrical connector assembly with cam lever lock mechanism


A gas-liquid separator with enhanced performance and easy operation, capable of performing gas-liquid separation, such as advanced defoaming or degassing, and with a structural arrangement that facilitates easy CIP cleaning and disassembly cleaning, allowing to meet sanitary specifications. The gas-liquid separator for gas-liquid separation performed by centrifugal force includes an impeller, a suction inlet, a discharge outlet, an exhaust outlet, a separation impeller part, a discharge impeller part, and a vacuum device.

Generally recognized systems referred to as gas-liquid separators for defoaming and degassing include container type devices that are filled with liquid and then heated or decompressed, systems that employ a gas permeation membrane which only the gas can pass, and systems employing centrifugation.
Of the above systems, the heating and decompressing types are mainly for batch processing, and are unsuitable for continuous processing, and they have the further disadvantage of larger space requirements. In the permeation membrane type system, clogging of the membrane occurs easily as a result of particles or solids in the liquid, and this entails increased replacement costs.
In contrast, the centrifugation system is suitable for continuous processing, having the advantage of not being impaired by particles and solids. However, the following problems still remain unsolved.
Firstly, there remains the problem of insufficient gas-liquid separation performance when the system is applied to advanced defoaming or degassing operations.
In the centrifugation system, since the separation is performed using only the mass difference between the gas and liquid, if a powerful vacuum device is installed then the centrifugal separation performance may be overwhelmed by the suction power of the vacuum device, which may cause liquid penetration into the vacuum device. Therefore, with the centrifugation system, it is no easy task to achieve powerful removal of the gas only. For advanced defoaming and degassing performance, a powerful vacuum device is required. However this also means that the pumped liquid may become mixed with the gas and be drawn easily into the vacuum device. This can become a constraint when applying the system to advanced defoaming or degassing operations, causing insufficient gas-liquid separation performance.
Secondly, in applications for treatment of food materials and ultra-pure liquids, there is the problem of insufficient cleanability, both for CIP (Cleaning In Place: internal cleaning without disassembly) cleaning and disassembly cleaning.
Normally, the apparatus used for the above purposes requires, as "sanitary specifications", not only a flat and smooth liquid contact surface, but also a structure in which easy CIP cleaning, disassembly cleaning, and reassembly can be performed. However, the structure of the centrifugation system is complicated due to its rotating parts, which means disassembly is difficult. CIP cleaning of liquid contact parts without leaving any shadows is also difficult due to the complicated passages.
International Publication WO2001/02732 (Patent Document 1) is an invention which focuses on solving the first of the aforementioned problems, that is, the gas-liquid separation performance. (This invention will be hereinafter called "Original Invention 1".)
As exemplified in FIG. 27, the structure of the apparatus according to Original Invention 1 includes a gas-liquid separator installed in the passage of a liquid-feed main pump 31, and a gas-liquid separating impeller 33 which rotates by means of a motor 34 and is installed in the gas-liquid separator container 32 that is provided with an inlet 32a and an outlet 32b. A cavity holder 35 is also installed, and holds the tail bottom of a tornado-shaped cavity s caused by the rotation, preventing it from extending and being suctioned by the main pump 31. Clearance t between the cavity holder 35 and the inner wall of the container 32 is narrowed to a passage area which passes only the pumped liquid, which is pressed against the inner wall of the container 32 by the centrifugal force produced by rotation of the gas-liquid separating impeller 33. An exhaust pipe 36 opens near the center of the tornado-shaped cavity s to draw out the cavity gas by means of a vacuum device 37 via the exhaust pipe 36 and an exhaust passage r.
Also, a protection means 38 is installed in the exhaust passage r. This device only allows the gas to pass to the vacuum device 37, preventing the pumped liquid from passing in case the pumped liquid is mixed into the exhaust gas. In addition, a gas return passage u and a boosting means 39 are also employed for the special purpose of remixing the exhausted gas into the pumped liquid after the liquid is sent by the main pump 31, returning the pumped liquid to its original condition.
In Original Invention 1, gas bubbles in the pumped liquid are forcibly separated by the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the gas-liquid separating impeller 33, and the cavity holder 35 prevents the tail bottom of the tornado-shaped cavity s from extending and passing through to the downstream side. Furthermore, since the rotating liquid that is pushed against the inner wall of the container 32 takes priority for the flow through the clearance t, there is little possibility of gas bubbles passing through the clearance t. Therefore, gas can be collected effectively and drawn out by the vacuum device 37. This largely resolves the aforementioned first problem, that is the gas-liquid separation performance.
In Original Invention 1, however, the aforementioned second problem, that is the insufficient cleanability of the system, has not been resolved in any way. There is, instead, the occurrence of new shadows or bottlenecks which create cleaning problems such as on the back side of the cavity holder 35 or in the exhaust pipe 36 installation part. This is due to the presence of the cavity holder 35 and the clearance t which are employed to improve the gas-liquid separation performance. The system cannot be used with various kinds of liquids because there is the possibility of clogging due to the bottleneck in the case of liquids such as food materials that contain particles or lumps. Further problems also occur. For example, because the cavity is simply drawn into the exhaust pipe 36 opening, if the formed cavity becomes unstable, then the entry of pumped liquid into the exhaust passage cannot be prevented. This makes it necessary to depend on a separately installed protection means 38 to remove the intruding liquid.
International Publication WO2004/058380 (Patent Document 2) is an invention proposed to simultaneously solve the first of the aforementioned problems, that is, the gas-liquid separation performance, and also the second problem, that is, the insufficient cleanability. (This invention will be hereinafter called "Original Invention 2".)
As exemplified in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, the structure of the apparatus according to Original Invention 2 includes a casing which can be separated into 1a and 1b and forms one cylindrical chamber when connected, and an impeller 2 rotated by a motor. The impeller 2 is provided with a separation impeller part 2s which performs gas-liquid separation in all areas around the rotating peripheral area, and a discharge impeller part 2d which is formed by expanding the diameter near the one axial end 2r so as to provide discharge pressure to the pumping liquid. Also, a discharge outlet b is formed in the casing 1a at a position opposite the discharge impeller part 2d.
At the same time, the other axial end 2f of the impeller 2 is formed to slide along the inner wall of the casing 1a while maintaining the smallest possible predetermined clearance. Also, an exhaust outlet e is formed near the center of the casing 1a opposite the sliding impeller part for discharging the cavity gas generated from the gas-liquid separation, and the exhaust outlet e is connected to a vacuum device. A suction inlet a is formed in the casing 1a at a position between the discharge outlet b and the exhaust outlet e.
Also, a cleaning fluid inlet c for cleaning inside of the apparatus is provided at a position near a shaft sealing part 4 of a rotating shaft 3.
When this apparatus is operated, the pumped liquid flows in from the suction inlet a after being throttled by a throttle means 7. Gas bubbles in the pumped liquid are forced into centrifugal separation by the rotation of the separation impeller part 2s, and the liquid flows toward the discharge outlet b while forming a thin layer on the inner peripheral wall of the casing 1a. At the same time, the gas gathers near the center of the impeller 2 to form a cavity. The cavity gas is drawn out by the vacuum device from the exhaust outlet e located near the center of rotation.
Even if the pumped liquid is mixed into the gas flowing toward the exhaust outlet e, because the mass of the liquid is larger than that of the gas, the liquid is shaken off by the centrifugal force of the separation impeller part 2s. In addition, because the sliding clearance between the axial end 2f and the casing 1a is small, the liquid cannot penetrate from this area either. Therefore, the pumped liquid does not flow into the vacuum device during operation, the vacuum device is safe, and enhanced gas-liquid separation can be performed using the powerful vacuum device.
When performing CIP cleaning of this apparatus, liquid contact parts can be cleaned without leaving any shadows by pouring cleaning fluid into the apparatus from the suction inlet a or the cleaning fluid inlet c, and discharging it from the discharge outlet b, the exhaust outlet e or the drain d while the apparatus is in operation. Also, when performing disassembly cleaning of this apparatus, cleaning of liquid contact parts and reassembly is easy because the casing can be easily separated into parts 1a and 1b. The impeller 2 is exposed completely after the separation, and can be easily pulled out from the rotating shaft 3.
Thus, the apparatus according to Original Invention 2 enables gas-liquid separation functions such as advanced defoaming or degassing operations. It also has sufficient cleanability, and allows both CIP cleaning and disassembly cleaning in order to meet sanitary specifications. Therefore it is extremely practical and useful, however the following problems still remain unsolved in some applications.
That is, due to the configuration of this apparatus that the centrifugal separation is forcibly carried out by the rotation of the impeller 2, excessive agitation, fracture or shear of the pumped liquid may be caused by friction with the edge of the impeller 2 and the inner periphery of the casing 1a if the operation is continued at a high rotation speed. In the gas-liquid separation for liquids such as food materials, particle-containing liquids, highly viscous liquids and foaming liquids, there are cases where excess foaming due to excessive agitation of the pumped liquid, destruction of particles due to excessive fracture or shear, and property change of the pumped liquid due to temperature rise by stirring heat or frictional heat are undesirable. In order to deal with these applications, it is required to satisfy the high gas-liquid separation performance while carrying out gentle gas-liquid separation without excessive stress on the pumped liquid.
A typical method for gentle gas-liquid separation without excessive stress on the pumped liquid is to reduce the rotation speed of the impeller 2. However, this method can also cause the deterioration of the gas-liquid separation performance, creating a trade-off relationship between these two requirements. In order to enable the apparatus to handle various kinds of liquids, the new method that solves the above trade-off and maintain/enhance the defoaming/degassing performance even under the condition of the reduced rotation speed is required.


Duplicate record processing is enabled employing on customizable rules. Detected duplicate records are merged, deleted, deactivated, or moved based on one or more sets of customizable rules. Different rule sets may be used for each record type, or a rule set reused for different records. Hierarchical relationships between master and child records are adjusted upon duplicate processing based on rules and/or record attributes.

In today's convoluted systems, data is entered into the system by different sources at different levels. This may result in having multiple representations for the same logical real world entity (e.g. contact information) due to data entry errors, varying conventions, and a variety of other reasons.
Such duplicated information may cause significant problems for users of the data. For example, it may lead to increased direct mailing costs for businesses because several customers may be sent multiple mailings. Such duplicates may cause incorrect results in analytic queries also (e.g. the number of customers in a particular location), and result in erroneous data mining models.
Since data typically grows rapidly over time, the problem of having duplicate records aggravates with time. Hence, a significant amount of time and money are spent on the task of detecting, eliminating, and handling duplicate records in a system.

Processing of duplicate records having master/child relationship with other records


The present disclosure relates to a rotary burs with variable pitch. The file is made up of a cutter head (1) and a cutter handle (2). The cutter head is connected with the cutter handle. Multiple groups of cutter teeth are distributed on the cutter head. Each group of cutter teeth can be mixed cutter teeth, and can also be a single cutter tooth. The mixed cutter teeth are respectively a group of cutter teeth composed of a large tooth (3), a medium tooth (4) and a fine tooth (5) sequentially arranged, and can also be a group of mixed cutter teeth formed by combining any two of a large tooth, a medium tooth and a fine tooth.

A rotating file is an indispensable tool for machining of bench workers. It is widely used and has an obvious utilization effect in the industrial fields of aviation, automobiles, ships, chemical industry, machinery, handicraft carving, etc. The rotating file can replace a vitrified abrasive wheel with a handle at most of work, increase the working efficiency almost ten times and improve the durability more than 200 times. Moreover, the rotating file has no dust pollution, greatly alleviates labor intensity, improves a working environment, greatly increases economic benefits and reduces comprehensive processing cost dozens of times.
In the prior art, the rotating file already has national standards and has many types and specifications. Cutter teeth on the circumference of the head of the rotating file are arranged at equal intervals, and have equal pitch, According to the size of the pitch, the cutter teeth are successively divided into thick teeth, medium teeth and fine teeth. The thick teeth have a larger chip groove, can conduct large-allowance processing and are generally used for rough machining. Processed surface finish is rough, and the thick teeth are suitable for processing softer material. The medium teeth are frequently-used pitch and are suitable for usual processing needs. The fine teeth have dense pitch and are suitable for small-allowance processing. Processed surface finish is fine. For different processing objects and processing requirements, a rotating file with a different pitch shall be selected accordingly.
The rotating file usually needs to be used in combination with handheld power tools such as high-speed air grinder or electric grinder, and can also be used on machine tools. The rotating file belongs to a high-speed rotating tool. The utilization process thereof is a continuous (from a macroscopic perspective) and discontinuous (from a microcosmic perspective) complicated cutting processing process. Because cutting force is suddenly changed when each cutter tooth cuts in and out, a structure with equal pitch causes that a system which comprises a power tool-a fixture-a cutter-a workpiece is periodically impacted, thereby generating forced vibration. The vibration will result in many adverse effects and unsafe hidden danger of breaking the cutting edge of the rotating file, increasing abrasion, shortening the service life, deteriorating the quality of a processed surface, and becoming difficult to operate and control, etc.

Highly efficient, anti-vibration, durable rotating file with variable pitch


In a stretched cellulose ester film containing a plasticizer, the plasticizer includes at least an aromatic terminal ester type plasticizer expressed by the following general formula (1): and stretched cellulose ester film includes a cellulose ester having a total acyl substitution degree of 2.4 to 2.9, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 30000 to 200000, and a value of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/a number average molecular weight (Mn) being 1.4 to 3.0,B—(G—A)n—G—B  General formula (1)                where B represents a benzenemonocarboxylic acid residue, G represents an alkylene glycol residue having a carbon number of 2 through 12 or an oxyalkylene glycol residue having a carbon number of 4 through 12, A represents an alkylene dicarboxylic acid residue having a carbon number of 4 to 12, and n indicates an integer of 0 or more.

In recent years, high quality displays, for example, a full color display for a note book computer or for a mobile telephone, and a high resolution display, have been developed. These high quality displays are required to have a highly functional optical film exhibiting antireflective or antistatic properties. The surface of such a display is often touched so that the display is required to be resistant to scratching. Accordingly, a hard coat film is usually provided on the surface of a display. Recently, in order to improve visibility, displays are required to have antireflective and antistain properties. For these purposes, an optical film of a cellulose ester having a functional film (such as a metal oxide film) has been developed. The functional film may be provided directly or after forming an interlayer on the cellulose ester film. Also, a thinner hard coat film for a thinner display, or a wider hard coat film for a larger display is demanded. Specifically, for a large area display, a sufficiently flat hard coat film is desired. However, so far, a wide and thin hard coat film with superior flatness has been difficult to obtain. Also, a wide film with sufficient scratch resistance has yet to be obtained.
Generally, a cellulose ester film contains such an additive as a plasticizer and ultraviolet absorber. Such an additive is utilized to improve the processability and moisture permeability of the cellulose ester film. However, use of such an additive involves a problem of coating degeneration when the cellulose ester film is coated with various types pf coating layers. Bleed-out or volatilization of such an additive has raised the problem of causing a change in physical properties and degenerating the storage stability of the unprocessed cellulose ester film.
Further, the cellulose ester film absorbs moisture to expand and shrink. When the end of a wide roll film in particular is provided with knurling, the film is elongated or slackened by moisture absorption and expansion. This causes a roughened surface, streak and fold to be produced on the film. This problem has been particularly serious in a thin film. There has been a intense demand for improvement.
One of the solutions to the aforementioned problems is proposed in a laminated cellulose ester film based on the co-casting method for providing a distribution in widthwise direction of the film in the process of containing a plasticizer and ultraviolet absorber (Patent Documents 1 through 4). Another solution is found in the method of changing the type of the plasticizer or using a plurality of the types of plasticizers (Patent Documents 5 through 8). However, the advantages of these methods are restricted in a wide and thin film. Satisfactory improvement cannot be achieved in dimensional stability and flatness.
On the other hand, a method of including a polyester or polyester ether for improvement of dimensional stability has been disclosed (Patent Documents 9 and 10). It has been made clear, however, the cellulose ester film disclosed in the (Patent Documents 9 and 10) has a problem of sticking during a long-term storage. It has been revealed that, especially when the film is wound up in the form of a roll and is exposed to a high temperature and humidity, sticking tends to occur. This problem was not very serious in the earlier stage. However, when the film is transported to overseas countries by ship, the film is exposed to severe conditions of a high temperature and humidity for a long time. This problem has come to require a solution. Further, the winding shape of a film may be subjected to concave deformation during the long-term transportation. This problem also requires a solution.
To control the optical characteristics and physical properties, drawing must be made at a higher draw rate. To improve productivity, film production speed must be increased. This has resulted in a film more vulnerable to rupture. The solution to this problem is urgently required.
[Patent Document 1] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkaihei 8-207210
[Patent Document 2] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkai 2001-131301
[Patent Document 3] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkai 2001-151902
[Patent Document 4] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkai 2002-90544
[Patent Document 5] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkaihei 5-5047
[Patent Document 6] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkaihei 11-124445
[Patent Document 7] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkaihei 11-246704
[Patent Document 8] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkai 2001-247717
[Patent Document 9] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkai 2002-22956
[Patent Document 10] Official Gazette of Japanese Patent Tokkai 2002-120244

Stretched cellulose ester film, hard coat film, antireflective film, and optical compensation film, and polarizing plate, and display device using them


A lubricant supply device for a linear guide apparatus is configured to include an end cap 5, and a container 7 retaining lubricant and disposed adjacent to the end cap 5. The end cap 5 is formed with a through-hole 16 extending toward the container 7 from a direction change path 5a. The container 7 is formed with an aperture communicating with the through-hole 16 of the end cap 5. The lubricant is supplied into the direction change path 5a via the aperture of the container 7 and the through-hole 16 of the end cap 5. The slider can be thereby lubricated while preventing damage to a rolling element and the direction change path of the end cap.

A linear guide apparatus has hitherto been known, the configuration being such that a lubricating member disposed on a direction change path of an end cap performs lubrication by bringing rolling elements into contact with the lubricating member for smoothly rolling the rolling elements within a slider. This configuration entails referring to, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-63059 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-68611.

Lubricant supply device for linear guide apparatus, and linear guide apparatus


Protective garments and methods for low wet pick-up from hose water, weather, etc. and from perspiration generated by the wearer, to minimize water impact on the insulative properties, minimize weight gain, and effectuate quick drying. For firefighting in particular, the disclosure provides that wet, hot air is driven out of the garment, away from the wearer (rather than in), and water entry is blocked.

The present disclosure relates to garments and liners for garments worn for protection from a hazardous environment, and more particularly, to such liners and garments worn by firefighters for protection from extreme heat, moisture and abrasion.
Protective garments are designed to shield a wearer from a variety of environmental hazards, and firefighter garments are representative of such garments. Many conventional firefighting ensembles comprise a turnout coat and pant, each of which includes an outer shell, a moisture barrier located beneath the outer shell, a thermal liner located beneath the moisture barrier, and an innermost face cloth layer often bonded to the thermal liner.
The outer shell typically is constructed of an abrasion-, flame- and heat-resistant material such as a woven aramid material, typically NOMEX or KEVLAR (both are trademarks of E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc.) or a polybenzimidazole such a PBI (a trademark of Celanese Corp.) fiber material.
The moisture barrier, such as CROSSTECH® moisture barriers (a trademark of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.), typically includes a membrane layer which is moisture vapor permeable but impermeable to liquid moisture. The membrane layer is typically bonded to a substrate of at least one flame- and heat-resistant material, such as an aramid or polybenzimidazole material.
The thermal liner typically comprises one or more layers of insulation material, such as relatively thick layers of aramid fiber batting in the form of needlepunched or spunlaced textiles, which are often quilted to a lightweight aramid-containing fabric substrate or face cloth. The batting of the thermal barrier traps air and possesses sufficient loft to provide the necessary thermal resistance, and the fabric substrate protects the batting of the thermal liner from abrasion from the wearer and provides a sensorially appropriate surface.
The aforementioned components conventionally are arranged within the garment so that the moisture barrier layer is positioned between the thermal liner and the outer shell. This is done, in part, to prevent the insulating material of the thermal liner from absorbing an excessive amount of liquid moisture from the ambient environment, for example from fire hose spray or rain, which undesirably increases the overall weight of the garment, and can reduce the thermal resistance characteristics due to water's high thermal conductivity compared to air, increasing risk of burn injury.
A limitation inherent in such an arrangement is that perspiration from the wearer may be absorbed by the thermal liner which can also cause the adverse consequences described.
It is important to note that moisture may also find its way into the various layers of a garment via diffusion and condensation mechanisms. That is, moisture which may be initially localized to an inner or outer layer can move to other locations in the form of water vapor, and may condense in those locations under the appropriate conditions. This means that simply blocking the physical transport of liquid water may not be sufficient in all cases to ensure the appropriate level of thermal protection is maintained.
Moisture within the layers of the garment can also serve as a source for hazardous convective air movement. In firefighting, a situation known as flashover can occur when there is a near-simultaneous ignition of most of the directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area, and significant heat exposure will occur, and the ability of a garment to provide protection from burn injury may only be a matter of seconds to a few minutes. Lower levels of heat exposure for longer periods of time are also hazardous.
Upon heating, for example from hazardous radiant exposure from a fire at conditions below flashover levels (subflashover), air and any moisture present within the layers of the garment will heat up. Air when laden with moisture can hold significant and hazardous amounts of heat energy, much more so than dry air. As this moisture-laden air expands and moves through the layers of the garment, it can pose serious risk of burn injury if it moves toward the body of the wearer.
The impact of this moisture within the protective garment layers can be highly unpredictable to a wearer of the garment. That is, a wearer, for example a firefighter, may be unable to foresee how much thermal protection has been compromised by moisture in the garment, and so may not be able to effectively adjust their actions to the new level of risk. Additionally, moisture in the garment can reduce the "alarm-time", the time between when a wearer may begin to feel pain due to hazardous thermal exposure, and when they may experience a second-degree burn injury. This time between pain and burn (also known as escape time), is the critical time a wearer, for example a firefighter, has to reduce their thermal exposure before being severely burned. In many realistic end-use scenarios for wearers of such protective garments, even small differences such as a few lost seconds in time-to-burn and alarm-time can result in serious injury.
Accordingly, there is a need for a protective garment in which the susceptibility to reduced thermal protection due to moisture is minimized.
Attempts have been made to address some of these disadvantages in such conventional protective garments, particularly firefighting garments, by, for example, incorporating water repellant finishes on and within various layers of the garment. It is well known that these finishes have limited effectiveness and limited durability, particularly in the harsh environments common to firefighters. Other attempts have included the use of inherently non-water-absorbing insulative or barrier materials, such as rubber coatings, neoprene layers or closed-cell foams. However, these materials have the undesirable property of being highly impermeable to moisture vapor diffusion, reducing the ability of the wearer to shed heat by the evaporation of perspiration. This high resistance to evaporative transport can result, for example, in elevated core temperatures of the wearer, potentially causing heat stress, heat stroke, and diminished cognitive function, as well as an increase in retained moisture in the system posing additional risk of thermal injury. Further, many of these approaches are no longer consistent with current industry standards, and so can not be used in many protective apparel applications.

Moisture-insensitive thermally protective materials and garments made therefrom


Computing devices utilizing trusted execution environments as virtual smart cards are designed to support expected credential recovery operations when a user credential, e.g., personal identification number (PIN), password, etc. has been forgotten or is unknown. A computing device generates a cryptographic key that is protected with a PIN unlock key (PUK) provided by an administrative entity. If the user PIN cannot be input to the computing device the PUK can be input to unlock the locked cryptographic key and thereby provide access to protected data. A computing device can also, or alternatively, generate a group of challenges and formulate responses thereto. The formulated responses are each used to secure a computing device cryptographic key. If the user PIN cannot be input to the computing device an entity may request a challenge. The computing device issues a challenge from the set of generated challenges. Upon receiving a valid response back, the computing device can unlock the secured computing device cryptographic key associated with the issued challenge and subsequently provide access to protected data.

On many computing devices, e.g., computers, laptops, cell phones, etc., data can be protected from unauthorized users and entities through the use of encryption. Cryptographic keys are used to protect data stored on, or otherwise accessible to, a computing device that the computing device's owner and/or authorized user and/or entity, collectively referred to herein as user, does not want attackers, i.e., unauthorized individuals and/or entities that attempt to obtain data from others' computing devices, to be able to access. Cryptographic keys are pieces of information, or parameters, which are used to determine the output value of a cryptographic algorithm that is used to encrypt and decrypt data and/or other keys to be protected. Without the proper cryptographic key(s), and proper access to them, a cryptographic algorithm will produce no useful result, and thus, attackers can not gain access to protected data.
Computing devices can protect access to their cryptographic keys, and thus the data the cryptographic keys protect, with one or more user credentials such as a user personal identification number, i.e., PIN, or password. User credentials are generally intended to be unique and secret to a computing device user so that only a valid user can input the correct user credential(s) to log onto the computing device and gain access to its protected data.
However, sometimes valid users forget their user credential(s). Also, there can be legitimate instances when a second party, e.g., another user, an administrative entity, etc., may want access to the computing device but have no notion of the valid user credential value(s). A methodology has been established to allow a valid user or legitimate second party to gain access to a computing device using a challenge-response based unlock of a computing device's credentials, i.e., cryptographic keys. A methodology has also been established to allow a valid user or legitimate second party to gain access to a computing device using a PIN unlock key, also referred to herein as a PUK, to unlock a computing device's credentials.
Trusted Execution Environments, also referred to herein as TrEEs, are utilized on computing devices to provide strong asymmetric cryptographic key protection from would-be attackers. A TrEE, therefore, can be utilized as a convenient substitute for regular credential container environments such as smart cards. However, current TrEEs do not necessarily provide the capabilities that a legitimate user or second party can rely on to perform traditional credential recovery operations, e.g., PIN-based unlock of computing device credentials or challenge-response based unlock of computing device credentials, when a user credential has been forgotten or is unknown. This lack of traditional computing device credential recovery operation support can pose a detriment to the eventual usefulness of a TrEE within a computing device.
Thus, it is desirable to develop TrEE-supported functionality that can be utilized in conjunction with existing computing device credential recovery operations to enable legitimate access to computing device credentials without user credentials such as a user PIN and/or password.

Secure credential unlock using trusted execution environments


The present invention refers to a flexible multiple chamber bag comprising:    a) three adjacent chambers, a first chamber partially separating a second upper chamber from a third lower chamber by first and second welded seams,    b) said second chamber and said third chamber being partially connected by a third welded seam,    c) said first welded seam being non-peelable and said second and third welded seams being peelable said second and third welded seams having the shape of an inverse letter “V” each second and third welded seam starting at the basic point of said “V” and terminating essentially in a right angle at the circumference weld of said bag, said bag comprising a hanger flap extending from the top end of said bag and a medical port welded to the lower end of said circumferential weld.

In the pharmaceutical industry and especially in the field of perfusion solutions, impermeable flexible bags are extensively used. Such bags or containers are prepared from polymerized materials which have to meet a wide variety requirements. Thus, in particular, gas and vapor tightness, transparency, printability and inertness towards the substances they contain, are of essential importance. The substances contained in the containers or bags essentially consist of salts and solutions thereof, carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids. They are usually employed in multicompartment bags, the individual compartments or chambers being filled with different components.
DE 44 10 876 A1 relates to a multicompartment bag made of a polymeric material, who's bag compartments are formed by welds in the peripheral (circumferential) region and by at least one weld in the intercompartment region, the welds being formed from the polymeric materials facing the compartments.
EP 0 295 204 B1 describes a container for medical use, in particular a container for infusions consisting of an envelope made of a flexible, homogeneous, polymerized material which is divided into three compartments, separated from each other by leaktight welds of the envelope material and each of said compartments is provided with an occluded passage which can be opened deliberately to enable the contents of the part of the interior space to flow into another one, wherein the container has two adjacent compartments (3,4) of the interior space within the upper portion thereof and one compartment (5) in its lower part within the lower portion thereof and is intended for taking up and mixing subsequently lipids, amino acids, and sugars just before the use thereof, wherein each compartment is provided with one occludable opening in order to supply the compound through said opening or to discharge the contents thereof through said opening outwards, and wherein the material of the envelope is chemically and biologically inert against any envisaged compound and the mixtures thereof.
DE 94 01 288 U1 pertains a multichamber bag having at least two chambers being arranged one upon another during the mixing stage and being surrounded by an exterior boundary, said chambers being separated from another by at least one bar and forming an upper chamber and a mixing chamber, said bag having at least one connecting device being arranged within the bar and being closed by a locking device which is to be opened, said connecting device providing a flow connection between the chambers after being opened, said bag having at least one hang up opening at the upper boundary region and a discharge device being arranged at the mixing chamber as well as a second discharge device being opposite to said former discharge device and being arranged in the circumferential region of the mixing chamber.
DE 196 05 357 A describes a flexible plastic container 1 for the spatially separated storage and, optionally selective sterilization of the ingredients of preparations for parenteral or enteral use, comprising at least four compartments, 2,3,4, and 5, and, optionally, a compartment 6 being suited for taking up trace elements within compartment 2, carbohydrates within compartment 3, fats within compartment 4, and amino acid solutions within compartment 5, and, optionally, electrolytes and/or vitamins within compartment 6, said container having one of the closable fill in openings 7, 8, 9 and 10, and, optionally, 11, each; one discharge opening 12 for administering the mixture of ingredients of the preparations for parenteral or enteral use; connecting means 13, 13′, 14,14′ and 15, 15′ and, optionally, 16, 16′ which can be opened sterilely from the outside, by which flow connections between the compartments 2,3,4 and 5 and, optionally 6, respectively, can be provided; wherein the proportions by volume of compartments 2,3,4 and 5 and, optionally 6 are selected such that in the working position as resulting from suspending by hang up means 17 a complete mixture of all ingredients within compartment 5 is possible by opening the connecting means 13,13′, 14, 14′ and 15, 15′, and optionally 16, 16′; the proportion by volume of compartment 2 to compartment 3 is selected such that in the working position as resulting from suspending by hang up means 17 a complete mixture of the ingredients of compartments 2 and 3 within compartment 3 is possible by opening the connecting means 13, and, optionally, the proportion by volume of compartment 4 to compartment 6 is selected such that in the working position as resulting from suspending by hang up means 17 a complete mixture of the ingredients of compartments 4 and 6 within compartment 4 is possible by opening the connecting means 16, 16′.
EP 1 011 605 B2 relates to a flexible plastic container (1) for the spatially separated storage and, optionally, selective sterilization of the ingredients of preparations of parenteral or enteral use, consisting of only three compartments, a first compartment (3, a second compartment (4) and a third compartment (5), said compartments being separated from each other by means of Ieaktight welds of the envelope material, said compartments having one closable fill in opening (7), (8) and (9), each; connecting means (10) and (11) which are formed as peelable heat-sealed welds which can be opened sterilely from the outsides, by which respective flow connections between compartments (3), (4) and (5) are selected such that in the working position as resulting from suspending by the hang up means (12) a rapid and complete mixture of all ingredients within the third compartment (5) is possible by opening the connecting means (10) and (11), characterized in that the first compartment (3) contains carbohydrates, the second compartment (4) lipid and the third compartment (5) amino acids.
WO 2007/037793 A1 relates to a multiple chamber container for separately storing components of a parenteral nutritional formulation. The multiple chamber container may include frangible barriers, preferably peelable seals separating the chambers from each other. The container preferably facilitates the selective activation of the peelable seals to permit the admixing of less than all the separately stored components. The container may include a chamber positioned at each other of the opposite lateral ends of the container and at least one additional chamber between the lateral chambers. The at least one additional chamber may have a longitudinal length substantially less than the longitudinal length of at least one of the lateral chambers. This configuration allows for selective opening of the seals since when rolling the container from the top avoids pressurizing the at least one additional chamber and inadvertent activation of a seal. The longitudinal length of the at least one additional chamber may be from about two-thirds to about three-fourths the longitudinal length of at least one of the lateral chambers. Alternatively, the container may include a hanger flap extending from a top end of the container towards the bottom end of substantially greater distance relative to the at least one additional chamber than the lateral chambers.
EP 1 773 277 B1 relates to a container for storage a pharmaceutical agent made of a flexible polymeric film wherein the container comprises at least one peelable seal comprising at least two substantially straight sections (7,8), which are connected by a curved rupture zone (5), the curved rupture zone (5) of the peelable seal being formed as an arc of a circle having a central angle of at least 60° and being curved over its whole length between the straight sections (7,8), characterized in that the curved rupture zone (5) is formed as an arc of a circle with a radius of 5 to 75 mm, wherein the radius is measured from the central point of the circle to a point of the outer edge of the seal, wherein the outer edge is the edge that is more dislodged from the central point than the inner edge, and that the substantially straight sections (7,8) of the peelable seal form an angle of 150 ° to 180°.
WO 97/37628 relates to an improved container for parenteral fluids. Said publication in particular discloses a flexible transparent container for improved storage of oxygen sensitive parenterally administrable agents comprising an inner, primary container enclosed in a substantially oxygen impermeable outer envelope with an oxygen absorber, capable of consuming essentially all residual oxygen after the outer envelope is sealed, and for sufficient period also the oxygen penetrating said envelope. The inner container is made of a polypropylene containing flexible polymeric material compatible with lipophilic agents capable of forming both permanent and peelable seals, while the envelope is made of a substantially water impermeable flexible multilayered polymeric material comprising a first outer substantially water impermeable polymeric film with oxygen barrier forming capacity, assembled with a second, inner polymeric film with a supplementary oxygen barrier forming capacity. The container essentially maintains its characteristics after being subjected to sterilization by steam or radiation.
The peelable seams 50 and 50′ according to FIG. 1 have the shape of an inverse letter "V" with an increasing angle of the lines of said "V" from the basic point of said "V". The inner container shown in FIG. 1 is a bag formed and provided with three parallel chambers 31,32,33 which may have the same or different volumes dependent on the desired amount the stored product. The two seams 50,50′ separating the chambers are typically formed by peelable seal weldings in the container which are highly tight, but possible rupture by a predetermined motion of the user. It is preferred herein to fill in the carbohydrates solution in the top chamber 31, whereas the middle chamber 32 contains the lipid emulsion while accordingly, the amino acid solution is designated to be filled in the lower chamber 33. Nevertheless, said construction cannot ensure even in case of an abuse of the nurse, that in a first instance the incompatible lipid emulsion and the carbohydrate solution is mixed prior to the admixture of the amino acid. Furthermore, the rectangular termination of the welding seams 50,50′ to the circumferential weld may result in a dead volume in the corners of said connection.
The core of this patent is a curved rupture zone 5 being formed as an arc of a circle with a defined radius. However, since the peelable seals 41, 32 and 33 extend to the lower weld 25, there always exist a dead volume and thus, the content of the container cannot be used for complete administration to the patient. Similarly, the rupture zone 39 in FIG. 3 of EP 1 773 277 B1 does not ensure a complete usage of the material contained in the bag.
Thus, it is the aim the present invention to simplify the final structure of a flexible multiple chamber bag 10 for storing medical products and to improve the use thereof by the nurse. Furthermore, it should be ensured, that the ingredients, namely fat and amino acids are first mixed before adding the glucose or carbohydrate. Thus, the object of the invention in particular is to avoid a first mixture of glucose and fat independent from any potential abuse of the bag by the nurse.


A heat exchanger having an intermediate heating medium is provided. A multiplicity of inner tubes 2 are disposed in a shell 1 of a heat exchanger 10. A low-temperature heating medium Y (water) flows in these inner tubes and a high-temperature heating medium X (liquid sodium) flows in the shell. These inner tubes are divided into a plurality of groups so that each group has a plurality of said inner tubes. The plural inner tubes constituting one group are disposed in one outer tube 3, and an intermediate heating medium Z chemically inactive with respect to both the high-temperature heating medium and the low-temperature heating medium and excellent in heat transferring performance is passed through each outer tube. The possibility that the high-temperature heating medium and the low-temperature heating medium contact each other can be reduced to an extremely low level. By providing leakage detectors capable of detecting with respect to each of the outer tubes the high-temperature heating medium or the low-temperature heating medium leaking out into the intermediate heating medium flowing out of the outer tubes, the damage to the inner tubes of each group can be detected and identified speedily.

This invention relates to a heat exchanger capable of being effectively used for heat exchange of liquid metalxe2x80x94water system conducted in, for example, a liquid-metal cooled reactor in which a high-temperature heating medium and a low-temperature heating medium are not allowed to contact each other, and more particularly to a heat exchanger adapted to conduct heat exchange via an intermediate heating medium chemically inactive with respect to both the high-temperature heating medium and low-temperature heating medium.
In a liquid-metal cooled reactor using, for example, liquid sodium as a coolant, heat exchange is carried out between a sodium system in which high-temperature sodium is circulated and a water-vapor system. In such a heat exchanger, when the sodium and water contact each other due to damage to a heat exchanger tube, both the sodium and water react with each other violently to get into danger of causing a disaster to occur.
As a means for preventing the sodium and water from immediately contacting each other even when damage to a heat exchanger tube occurs, a method of conducting heat exchange via a stable substance, which reacts with neither the sodium nor water, is proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-131394A/1978.
In a heat exchanger concretely proposed in the above-described prior art, a heat exchanger tube is molded in the form of a double tube structure having an outer tube and an inner tube, and water (low-temperature heating medium) is passed through the inner tube with sodium (high-temperature medium) passed through a space on the outer side of an outer circumference of the outer tube. An annular portion between the inner tube and the outer tube is filled with a stable substance (intermediate heating medium) reacting with neither water nor sodium, for example, mercury, via which heat exchange is conducted.
According to the prior art heat exchanger described above, it has the effect of preventing owing to the presence of the intermediate heating medium the sodium and water from contacting each other immediately even when one of the outer tube and the inner tube of the doubly formed heat exchanger tube is damaged. However, since a clearance between the inner tube and the outer tube in the double tube structure is comparatively narrow, the possibility that the inner tube and the outer tube be damaged simultaneously is large. Furthermore, since the quantity of the intermediate heating medium flowing through the annular clearance is small, the possibility that the double tube structure is damaged to cause the sodium and water to contact each other cannot necessarily be eliminated sufficiently.
Moreover, since all the heat exchanger tubes are formed to double tube structures, the construction of the heat exchanger becomes complicated, and the manufacturing cost becomes high. In addition, when a certain doubly formed heat exchanger tube is damaged, it is necessary to examine all of the heat exchanger tubes one by one for the purpose of identifying the damaged heat exchanger tube, so that the speedy detection of a damaged heat exchanger tube cannot be carried out.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a heat exchanger having an intermediate heating medium, capable of reducing more greatly the possibility that sodium and water contact each other directly than the above-described prior art heat exchanger in which an outer tube and an inner tube are formed to a double tube structure with a clearance between the outer tube and the inner tube filled with an intermediate heating medium, having a simple heat exchanger tube structure as compared with the double tube structure, and capable of reducing the manufacturing cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger having an intermediate heating medium, capable of detecting and identifying a damaged outer tube or inner tube simply and speedily.
The heat exchanger having an intermediate heating medium according to the present invention includes a multiplicity of inner tubes disposed in a shell of a heat exchanger. A low-temperature heating medium flows in these inner tubes and a high-temperature heating medium flows in the shell. These inner tubes are divided into a plurality of groups each of which has a plurality of inner tubes. The plural inner tubes constituting one group are disposed in one outer tube, and an intermediate heating medium chemically inactive with respect to both the high-temperature heating medium and low-temperature heating medium and excellent in heat transferring performance is passed through each outer tube.
According to the heat exchanger of the present invention of such a structure, a multiplicity of inner tubes are divided into groups so that each group has, for example, 3 to 4 inner tubes, and one group having 3 to 4 inner tubes is housed simply in one outer tube. Therefore, this heat exchanger is structurally simple and can reduce the manufacturing cost as compared with the prior art heat exchanger having a double tube structure in which one outer tube and one inner tube are paired with each other.
Since around 3 to 4 inner tubes are disposed in one outer tube, it is unnecessary that a clearance between the outer tube and the inner tubes be formed as narrowly as that between the outer tube and the inner tube of the prior art double tube structure. Further, the interior of the outer tube can be filled with a large quantity of intermediate heating medium. Therefore, the possibility that the high-temperature heating medium (for example, sodium) and low-temperature heating medium (for example, water) contact each other can be reduced to an extremely low level even when any inner tube or the outer tube should be damaged.
Furthermore, since the intermediate heating medium having an excellent heat transferring performance is not only packed but also constantly circulated in a fluidized state in the interior of the outer tube, the performance of the intermediate heating medium of transferring heat from the high-temperature heating medium to the low-temperature heating medium is not substantially spoiled.
When any of the inner tube or the outer tube should be damaged to cause the low-temperature heating medium in the inner tube to leak into the outer tube, or the high-temperature heating medium in the outside of the outer tube to leak into the outer tube, it is necessary that the damage be detected speedily to thereby identify the damaged tube. To meet this requirement, leakage detectors capable of detecting in every outer tube the high-temperature heating medium or low-temperature heating medium leaking into the intermediate heating medium flowing out of the outer tube are provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For example, when the leakage of the low-temperature heating medium into the intermediate heating medium flowing out of one specific outer tube is detected, it is possible to ascertain owing to the provision of these leakage detectors that one of the group of inner tubes in this outer tube is damaged. Therefore, the detection and identification of a damaged tube can be carried out speedily as compared with those carried out in the case where a multiplicity of inner tubes are examined one by one.
In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, a partition tube is disposed on the inner side of an inner circumference of each outer tube to retain a clearance between the partition tube and the outer tube by positioning spacers between these tubes so that the intermediate heating medium can flow also through the clearance. Thus, even when the outer tube should be damaged, a danger of occurrence of direct contact of the high-temperature heating medium with the outer circumferences of the inner tubes can be further reduced owing to the partition tube disposed on the inner side of the outer tube. This structure serves as a desirable structure for reliably preventing, especially, in a heat exchanger of sodiumxe2x80x94water system a danger of occurrence of the contact of the high-temperature heating medium and water with each other which causes a disaster to occur.

Heat exchanger having intermediate heating medium

Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute