The present invention provides a lift device of a slot-in disk drive, which includes two straight slots formed on a side of a sliding component, two sliding pins protruding from a side of base adjacent to the sliding component or protruding from a fixing plate of a casing, a cover covering with the sliding component, two guiding pins protruding from an inner surface of the cover corresponding to the two straight slots for inserting into the two straight slots respectively, an one-humped traverse slot with two ends of different heights formed on a lateral side of the cover adjacent to the sliding bolt whereinto the sliding bolt inserts, and two lifting slots separately formed on the other lateral side of the cover whereinto the two sliding pins insert.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lift device, and more particularly, to a lift device for driving a traverse to ascend or descend so as to load or eject an optical disk in a slot-in disk drive.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Due to a trend of notebook computers becoming lighter, a height of an optical disk drive is decreased obviously and an inner space of the optical disk drive becomes smaller, so that most components of the optical disk drive have to be reduced, even to be redesigned, and it delays the development of the optical disk drive.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a slot-in disk drive 1 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,240 in the prior art. The slot-in disk drive 1 in the prior art utilizes a sliding component 2 installed beside a side of the slot-in disk drive 1 in a slidable manner. A traverse 4 is ascended and descended with guide of a limiting bar 6 by driving a sliding bolt 5 connected to the traverse 4 to move along a sliding slot 3 formed on the sliding component 2. When the traverse 4 is descended, an optical disk D is capable of being loaded and ejected by the slot-in disk drive 1. When the traverse 4 is ascended, the optical disk D is clamped and rotated by a spindle motor 6 of the traverse 4 so as to read in/out data of the optical disk D. Because the rotating optical disk D needs to be operated in a sufficient space, the sliding component 2 has a specific height for allowing the traverse 4 to move along the sliding slots 3 with a predetermined height difference so as to make sure the optical disk D can be clamped or separate from the traverse 4.
However, the slot-in disk drive 1 utilizes the sliding component 2 to drive a plurality of guiding bars for loading and ejecting the optical disk D. When a height of the slot-in disk drive 1 is decreased, an inner space of the slot-in disk drive is limited so that the sliding component 2 with the predetermined height blocks disposition of the plurality of guiding bars. In addition, when the traverse 4 is ascended and descended, a part weight of the traverse 4 is loaded on the sliding component 2 and hinders the sliding component 2 from sliding smoothly. Therefore, the conventional slot-in disk drive still has drawbacks that have to be solved.


Surface covering display elements, systems and/or methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a multi-patterned rug display sample, element or unit has at least two different geometric designs and/or coloration schemes across a common surface for simultaneous comparative evaluation by a potential purchaser. The rug display sample may be patterned to include two or more geometric or solid patterns corresponding to patterns available on floor covering products independent of the display sample. Also, the display unit may include a feature rug, color runner, color rug, and/or hang tag.

It is well known to utilize floor covering elements of substantially planar configuration for disposition across flooring surfaces. Such floor covering elements may include broadloom carpeting, carpet tile, mats, runners, rugs, and area rugs. In the trade, the term "area rugs" refers to free laying floor covering elements or products ranging in shape (rectangular, oval, circular, etc.) and size from relatively small dimensions to substantial size in the range of 12 ft.×15 ft. or greater.
In the traditional marketing of area rugs, respective samples with each sample embodying one of various available patterns and color schemes are typically arranged in a hanging orientation on respective swinging rack elements so as to permit a potential purchaser to examine a large number of available styles and patterns in relatively close proximity to one another. In recent years, the variety of available patterns and color schemes has increased, as manufacturing techniques have become more versatile. Accordingly, the options available to a potential purchaser have been correspondingly expanded. In particular, the number of available patterns has increased each of which may be available in a number of different color combinations. The number of possible choices is increased still further by the availability of border patterns of different styles and colorations which may be incorporated around a basic pattern if desired.
While the availability of a wide array of design combinations is believed to be beneficial to the consumer, the display of the various available options or combinations has proven to be problematic due to the cost and space requirements for a sufficient number of display racks to present each available combination.
As a possible resolution to this problem, it has been proposed to display area rug samples wherein one available color scheme is utilized within the interior portion of the sample area rug (display rug) and various alternative available bordering patterns are displayed in the form of separate attached smaller samples, pieces or corners. However, this sample display technique has the deficiency of requiring space allocation for the border sample elements. In addition, if the pattern for the main portion of the area rug is available in two or more colors, a corresponding number of samples are nonetheless still required to provide the potential purchaser with the ability to view those particular colors. Such combined area rugs and sample rugs or pieces form a substantial weight and bulk for each display rack. Also, it is difficult to attach multiple rugs or rug pieces (corners) to a single rack. Finally, the display system which utilizes sample rugs in combination with discrete samples of bordering patterns leaves open the possibility that the display rug itself may be intentionally or inadvertently sold to a perspective purchaser having an immediate desire for the article. Such a sale of the sample area rug may cause confusion and a lack of sales of that particular rug due to a potential purchaser's inability to pair the missing rug and the remaining discrete border pattern samples.
It is not uncommon for the sample area rug such as a 4 ft.×6 ft. or 6 ft.×9 ft. nominal size rectangular rug, to be sold when the inventory of that particular stock keeping unit (SKU) or product has been depleted. When the display rug is missing from the rack, sales of that particular rug can drop dramatically. It is not unheard of for a customer to purchase the display rug even though it has boltholes in it where it was bolted to the rack.


Provided is an apparatus for designing a quantum code, which includes an analyzing unit for analyzing at least one quantum error generated in a quantum error channel as at least one binary error by using a standard form codeword stabilized quantum (CWS) code, a code generating unit for generating a binary error-correcting code which corrects the at least one binary error, a word operator generating unit for generating at least one word operator of the CWS code by using the at least one binary error-correcting code, and a codeword generating unit for generating at least one codeword including at least one entangled qubit (ebit) by using the at least one word operator.

Most techniques in relation to a quantum error-correcting code, which are in progress, tend to make a new quantum error-correcting code by applying an existing error-correcting code designing technique.
Quantum error-correcting codes may be generally classified into linear codes and nonlinear codes depending on their configuring manners.
Among nonlinear codes, a stabilizer code proposes a method for easily configuring a quantum error-correcting code which satisfies a dual-containing condition in an existing linear block code, and most quantum error-correcting code techniques are being developed based on the stabilizer code.
Recently, a codeword stabilized quantum (CWS) code capable of describing both linear code and nonlinear code has been proposed as a more generalized code designing technique.
The CWS code may propose a technique capable of designing a quantum error-correcting code by using an existing error-correcting code.
In the quantum error-correcting code, a linear code allows easy configuring and expanding but may be inferior to the maximum performance of a code which may be obtained from a nonlinear code, and a nonlinear code is capable of exhibiting better performance in comparison to a linear code but is not yet being developed diversely since it is not easily configured.
Since it is difficult to configure a nonlinear quantum code, various nonlinear quantum error-correcting codes have not yet been developed, and an error correctable by nonlinear codes which have been developed based on a circular graph until now, including CWS codes, is limited to a single error.
Recently, a technique for designing entanglement-assisted quantum error-correcting codes (EAQECCs) has been proposed. The EAQECCs technique may propose a method for designing a quantum error-correcting code from existing linear block codes without a dual-containing condition of a stabilizer code by applying an entangled qubit (ebit) to the stabilizer code.
Recent study on the EAQECCs shows that the performance of a stabilizer code can be improved by using ebit.

Apparatus and method for designing quantum code

KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION


The present invention relates to a method at detection of presence of hydrogen gas and measurement of content of hydrogen gas. The detection is performed by means of a hydrogen gas sensitive semiconductor sensor, whose output signal is used for determination of the content of hydrogen gas in the gas sample. The semiconductor sensor is exposed to the gas sample during a detection interval, which is preceded by a time-interval of preconditioning treatment during which the semiconductor sensor is exposed to a surrounding gas atmosphere. The invention is characterized in that the gas atmosphere contains a negligible amount of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide compared to the gas sample and that the time interval is many times longer than the detection interval.

The present invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1.
There are a large number of different methods, which can be used at detection of presence of gases and measurement of gas concentrations. A common factor for these methods is that they generate a value as a measure of the presence or concentration of a gas. At applications when the detection and measurements will be performed continuously or at a number of successive occasions, it is preferred to use a device, a so-called sensor, which transforms the gas concentration into an electric signal.
The sensors known today include all types of sensors from complex technical systems, like for example mass spectrometers and gas chromatographs, to small and relatively simple sensors, like for example sensors measuring the thermal conductivity of a gas. Most of these sensors measure physical or chemical properties of the atoms or molecules of a gas.
Another type of sensor, which instead measures the presence of molecules of a gas is described in SE-7411342-4. This sensor, which is a semiconductor sensor, exhibits advantages, such as very high sensitivity to and selectivity for hydrogen gas, moderate energy consumption, small size and possibility for rational manufacturing. The term xe2x80x9csemiconductor sensorxe2x80x9d refers herein to the type of sensor described in SE-7411342-4 but includes also other structures of catalytic metals and semiconductors working along the principles described below.
The semiconductor sensor comprises a catalytic metal layer, which captures hydrogen molecules and decomposes these molecules into hydrogen atoms, which diffuse through the metal layer and give rise to an electric signal in the semiconductor structure. The amount of hydrogen atoms within the metal and the amount of hydrogen gas in the surroundings of the metal, equilibrate after a certain time. Thus, the output signal from the semiconductor sensor is dependent of the hydrogen gas concentration in its surroundings. The output signal is also depending on the relationship between the content of oxygen gas and hydrogen gas in the surroundings, which will be described below.
As previously known, the semiconductor sensor provides greater signals for hydrogen gas when the measurements are performed in an environment free of oxygen compared to measurements in an environment containing oxygen. Oxygen in the surroundings of the semiconductor sensor influences the measurements by producing an adsorbed oxygen layer on the metal surface of the semiconductor sensor. The higher the concentration of oxygen gas in the surroundings of the semiconductor sensor, the greater the number of molecules and atoms of oxygen adsorbed on the metal surface. This implies, that the number of sites, which molecules of hydrogen gas can be adsorbed to, is being reduced concurrently with the number of molecules and atoms of oxygen being increased on the metal surface. Furthermore, oxygen reacts with hydrogen adsorbed to the metal surface with a resulting production of water and hydrogen is thereby removed from the metal surface without having influenced the output signal.
Most gas samples subject to analysis regarding hydrogen, contains air and/or oxygen and as it is relatively difficult and complicated to purify gas samples from oxygen in an effective and reproducible way, there has been no practical way to take full advantage of the sensitivity of semiconductor sensors. Purification of gas samples from oxygen also results in that the total analysis time will be considerable lengthened, as this requires an extra step of sample preparation.
Consequently, oxygen is counteracting the sensitivity of the semiconductor sensor for hydrogen gas and influences both the equilibrium signal, i e the output signal when equilibrium between the amount of hydrogen gas in the surroundings and hydrogen within the metal is obtained and the time derivative of the output signal, i e the rate with which the output signal increases at increased hydrogen gas concentration. When interpreting the output signal of the semiconductor sensor, it is previously known to, either use the equilibrium signal or the time derivative of the output signal.
The aforementioned interactions between oxygen and a semiconductor sensor are also valid for carbon monoxide, which also is present in many gas samples.
The object of the present invention is to provide an increased sensitivity for hydrogen gas of the semiconductor sensor. This is achieved according to the method of the invention by means of the measurements indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Method at detection of presence of hydrogen gas and measurement of content of hydrogen gas


The invention relates to a method of vaccinating a domesticated bird against coccidiosis comprising administering in ovo an effective immunizing dose of live Eimeria sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the domesticated bird that is vaccinated is a chicken or turkey.

The present invention relates to a method of vaccinating domesticated birds against coccidiosis. In particular, the invention relates to the in ovo administration of live Eimeria spp sporozoites or merozoites, or mixtures thereof, into the developing eggs of domesticated birds in order to immunize the hatched chicks against coccidiosis.
Coccidiosis is an enteric disease of domesticated birds caused by infection with intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Coccidiosis is the most economically devastating parasitic disease of domesticated birds. It is estimated that anticoccidial medications and losses due to coccidiosis cost the poultry industry hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
Various attempts to vaccinate domesticated birds against coccidiosis have been reported since the early 1950""s. Current vaccination methods include administering live Eimeria oocysts to birds through feed or water. These methods, however, are inconvenient and inefficient because not all birds get the intended oocyst dose and many are either unprotected by the vaccine or receive a pathogenic infection.
In J. M. Sharma and B. R. Burmester, Avian Dis. 26: 134-149, 1981, the authors reported that chickens vaccinated in ovo with herpesvirus of turkey developed immunity against subsequent challenge with Marek""s disease virus. In European patent publication no. 291173, an immunization process is referred to wherein a nonreplicating immunogen is administered in ovo. The immunogens specifically referred to in the European patent are a genetically engineered Eimeria antigen and an Eimeria oocyst extract. The European patent specifically excludes live parasite stages such as those used in the vaccination method claimed herein.
The present vaccination method involves in ovo administration of live Eimeria sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, into the developing eggs of domesticated birds. The available literature suggests that such a vaccination method would be ineffective in ovo and should be applied post-hatch. In T. K. Jeffers and G. E. Wagenbach, J. Parasit. 56(4): 656-662, 1970, the authors reported that in ovo injection of E. tenella sporozoites on day 10 of incubation provided no significant immunological protection against subsequent challenge with E. tenella oocysts. In fact, they reported that chicks that received no treatment had a greater survival rate against subsequent challenge with E. tenella oocysts than chicks that had been treated in ovo with sporozoites. In K. L. Watkins et al., Proc. VI th. International Coccidiosis Conf., Abstract E1-2, Ontario, Canada, 1993, the authors described in ovo inoculation with live E. maxima sporocysts and sporulated oocysts and concluded that their study provided no evidence that in ovo exposure protects against subsequent coccidial challenge with E. maxima oocysts 10 days post-hatch. Watkins et al. further concluded that significant immunological protection is provided if inoculation is done soon after hatch rather than in ovo. Contrary to this teaching, the in ovo vaccination method of the present invention provides unexpected immunity that protects the hatched birds against subsequent coccidial challenge.
The present invention, also referred to herein as the xe2x80x9cpresent vaccination methodxe2x80x9d, relates to a method of vaccinating a domesticated bird against coccidiosis comprising administering in ovo, during the final quarter of incubation, an effective immunizing dose of live Eimeria sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof.
The term xe2x80x9cdomesticated bird(s)xe2x80x9d, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, game birds (including, but not limited to, quail, pheasants, and geese) and ratites (including, but not limited to, ostrich).
The term xe2x80x9cin ovoxe2x80x9d, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, means into a domesticated bird egg containing a live, developing embryo.
The term xe2x80x9cadministering in ovoxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cin ovo administrationxe2x80x9d, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, means administering the vaccine described herein to a domesticated bird egg containing a live, developing embryo by any means of penetrating the shell of the egg and introducing the vaccine. Such means of administration include, but are not limited to, injection of the vaccine.
The term xe2x80x9cfinal quarter of incubationxe2x80x9d, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, means the final quarter of incubation of a developing egg of a domesticated bird.
The term xe2x80x9cEimeriaxe2x80x9d, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, means one or more species of the genus Eimeria that infect domesticated birds. Such Eimeria species include those that are found in chicken, including E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. mitis, E. praecox, and E. brunetti, and also those that are found in turkeys, including E, meleagrimitis, E. adenoeides, E. gallopavonis, E. disperse, E. meleagridis, E. innocua, and E. subrotunda, and also Eimeria species that infect other domesticated birds as defined above. The term xe2x80x9cEimeriaxe2x80x9d also includes all strains of the foregoing species of Eimeria, including, but not limited to, precocious strains, and attenuated strains, which includes strains that have been irradiated, or otherwise treated, so that they fail to complete development. The term Eimeria also includes any newly-discovered strains or species of Elmeria that infect domesticated birds as defined above.
The terms xe2x80x9csporozoitesxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9csporocystsxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9coocystsxe2x80x9d, and xe2x80x9cmerozoitesxe2x80x9d, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, mean live Eimeria sporozoites, sporocysts, oocysts, and merozoites.
The term xe2x80x9ceffective immunizing dosexe2x80x9d, as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, means a number of sporozoites or merozoites, or, when mixed, a number of sporozoites and merozoites, sufficient to provide immunological protection in the hatched birds that is greater than the inherent immunity of non-immunized birds. As used herein, the terms xe2x80x9cimmunizexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cvaccinatexe2x80x9d are synonymous and are used interchangeably.
A preferred dose to be administered in accord with the method of the invention comprises 10 to 106 sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof wherein the total number of said sporozoites and merozoites ranges from 10 to 106.
A more preferred dose comprises 103 to 106 sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof wherein the total number of said sporozoites and merozoites ranges from 103 to 106.
Another preferred dose comprises 102 to 105 sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof wherein the total number of said sporozoites and merozoites ranges from 102 to 105.
A preferred domesticated bird to be vaccinated in accord with the method of the invention is a chicken.
A preferred dose to be administered in ovo to chicken eggs comprises sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, of two or more species of Eimeria selected from the group consisting of E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. mitis, E. praecox, and E. brunetti. The dose preferably includes from 10 to 106 sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, for each species that is included in the dose.
Another preferred domesticated bird to be vaccinated in accord with the method of the invention is a turkey.
A preferred dose to be administered in ovo to turkey eggs comprises sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, of two or more species of Eimeria selected from the group consisting of E. meleagrimitis, E. adenoeides, E. gallopavonis, E. dispersa, E. meleagridis, E. innocua, and E. subrotunda. The dose preferably includes from 10 to 106 sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, for each species that is included in the dose.
Other preferred domesticated birds to be vaccinated in accord with the method of the invention are game birds, ducks and ratites.
The method of the invention further comprises, in combination with the present vaccination method, administering in ovo an immune stimulant at any time during incubation.
A preferred method of administering the immune stimulant is simultaneously with the in ovo administration of a dose of sporozoites or merozoites, or mixture of said sporozoites and merozoites, during the final quarter of incubation.
The present vaccination method involves the in ovo administration, during the final quarter of incubation, of live Eimeria sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, into domesticated birds"" eggs. In the case of chickens, in ovo administration is preferably done on days 15-20 of incubation, and most preferably on day 18 of incubation. In the case of turkeys, in ovo administration is preferably done on days 21-26 of incubation.
The present vaccination method can be performed using any suitable in ovo administration method. Preferably, the present vaccine is administered via injection. According to one method of injection, a hole is made in the egg shell at the large end 30 of the egg using an 18 guage needle to expose the egg""s air cell. A 1.0-1.5 inch 22 guage needle attached to a syringe of appropriate size (1-3 ml) can be inserted through the hole and through the membrane of the air cell. An appropriate number of sporozoites or merozoites, or, when mixed, an appropriate number of sporozoites and merozoites, are suspended in a suitable liquid carrier, for instance 10-500 xcexcl of phosphate-buffered saline, and then injected into the egg. The appropriate volume will depend on the size of the egg being treated, with ostrich eggs obviously being capable of taking more volume than chicken eggs. The site of injection can be within any region of the egg or embryo. Preferably, injection is done axially through the center of the large end of the egg into the anion.
Alternatively, an automated egg injection system can be used in the present vaccination method. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,063, 4,040,388, 4,469,047, and 4,593,646, which are herein incorporated by reference. Other appropriate methods of injection are known to those skilled in the art.
Oocysts can be prepared by any of several methods known to those skilled in the art. Such methods include those described in J. F. Ryley et al., Parasitology 73:311-326, 1976 and P. L. Long et al., Folia Veterinaria Latina VI#3, 201-217, 1976, which are herein incorporated by reference. According to one method, commercial broiler chickens, approximately 2 weeks old, are infected with the Eimera species of interest by oral gavage of an appropriate dose of sporulated oocysts. For example, a typical dose used for E. tenella is 200,000 sporulated oocysts/bird. Well known procedures for collection and purification of oocysts from infected birds are then followed. For most species of Eimeria, feces are collected from infected birds 5-7 days post-infection, blended and filtered to remove debris, then centrifuged at a speed sufficient to pellet the remaining fecal material. For E. tenella, a similar procedure is used except that cecal cores are taken at 6 days post-infection. The pellet is resuspended in a saturated salt solution, in which the oocysts float and most of the contaminating debris can be removed by centrifugation. The oocyst suspension is then diluted to lower the salt concentration. The oocysts are washed repeatedly to remove the salt and resuspended in potassium dichromate Solution (2.5% w/v). The oocyst suspension is incubated at 29xc2x0 C. with shaking (e.g., 140 rpm) for approximately 72 hours to induce sporulation of the oocysts. Alternatively, the oocysts can be treated with sodium hypochlorite and then sporulated. The number of sporulated oocysts/ml is determined by direct count using a hemocytometer, and the culture is stored, preferably under refrigeration until needed.
To prepare sporocysts, the potassium dichromate is removed from the oocyst suspension described above by repeated washing of the oocysts, which involves collection of oocysts by centrifugation and resuspending in deionized or distilled water. When the dichromate has been removed as judged by the lack of yellowish-orange coloration, the oocyst suspension is mixed with an equal volume of sodium hypochlorits (bleach) and incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes. The bleach is then removed by repeated washings, and the oocysts are resuspended in physiological saline or deionized water. Oocysts can be broken to release sporocysts using a variety of known techniques. For example, oocysts can be broken to release sporocysts by mixing the oocysts with glass beads of 1-4 mm diameter and shaking by hand, vortex mixer, or shaking incubator, or using a hand-held homogenizer. Unbroken oocysts and oocysts walls can be separated from the released sporocysts by differential centrifugation in 50% PERCOLL, a colloidal suspension of polyvinyl pyrrolidone coated silica particles (sold by Pharmacia Biotech) or 1 M sucrose as described in Dulski et al., Avian Diseases, 32: 235-239, 1988.
To prepare sporozoites or a sporozoite-rich preparation to be used in accord with the present invention sporozoites are excysted from the sporocyst preparation described above. In one procedure, sporocysts prepared as described above are pelleted by centrifugation, resuspended in excystation buffer (0.5% taurodeoxycholic acid and 0.25% trypsin in phosphate buffered saline, pH 8.0) and incubated with shaking for one hour at 41xc2x0 C. A sample of the resulting suspension is counted to determine the number of sporozoites, the sporozoites are washed once to remove the excystation buffer, and resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline at the desired concentration for in ovo injection. This preparation contains sporozoites, sporocysts and oocysts, and, without further purification, can be used in accord with the present vaccination method. Purified sporozoites, removed from sporocysts and oocysts, can be prepared by DE-52 anion exchange chromatography as described in D. M. Schmatz et al., J. Protozool. 31: 181-183, 1984, which is herein incorporated by reference. The dose of sporozoites to be used in the present vaccination method will vary according to the type of domesticated bird being vaccinated and the species of Eimeria being used in the vaccine. In general, the dose can range from 10 to 106 sporozoites per egg. Preferably, the dose ranges from 10 to 105 sporozoites per egg, and, more preferably, the dose ranges from 102 to 105 sporozoites per egg.
Merozoites can be prepared by various methods known to those skilled in the art. In one method, sporozoites are infected into primary chick kidney cells (PCK) that are grown in culture as cell aggregates, using a modification of the method described in D. J. Doran, J. Parasit. 57: 891-900, 1971, which is herein incorporated by reference. PCK cells are grown at 40xc2x0 C. in 3% CO2 in modified RK2 medium-DMEM/F12 with L-glutamine and 15 mM HEPES, supplemented with fetal bovine serum, penicillin-streptomycin, 15 mM sodium bicarbonate, 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 5 xcexcg/ml insulin, 5 xcexcg/ml transferrin, 5 ng/ml selenious acid and 0.01 xcexcM hydrocortisone HCL as described in S. D. Chung et al., J. Cell Biol. 95: 118-126, 1982. PCK cells are prepared from kidneys of 2 to 3 week old chicks by mincing the kidney, and then treating the tissue at 37xc2x0 C. with several changes of 0.2 mg/ml collagenase (sold by Worthington Biochemical Corp., Freehold, N.J.) in phosphate-buffered saline solution. The cellular aggregates in the supernatant are washed, resuspended in modified RK2 medium containing 5% fetal bovine serum and used to seed tissue cultures flasks at a density of 105 aggregates per cm2. The PCK cells are incubated for 18 hours at 40xc2x0 C. in 3% CO2 and then infected with 4xc3x97105 sporozoites/cm2. Infected cultures are grown in modified RK2 medium containing 2% fetal bovine serum. After 24 hours of incubation, to allow invasion, uninvaded sporozoites are removed by agitating the flask and removing the culture medium. The cell layer is washed once with modified RK2 medium containing 2% fetal bovine serum and the culture medium is again discarded. Fresh RK2 medium is added, and the cultures are incubated for another 48 to 54 hours until merozoites are released into the culture medium.
Purification of the merozoites to remove host cell debris can be done by various methods known to those skilled in the art. In accord with one method, as described in J. A. Olson, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 34: 1435-1439, 1990, the culture medium containing the released merozoites is collected and spun at 450xc3x97g for 10 minutes to concentrate the merozoites. The pellet containing the merozoites and the host cell debris is suspended in 0.1 M NaCl-0.05 M KCl-20% bovine serum albumin and applied to a DE-52 anion exchange column equilibrated in 75 mM Tris-40 mM NaH2PO4-86 mM NaCl-100 mM glucose at pH 8.2. Merozoites flow through the column. Merozoites collected from the column can be tested for purity by electron microscopy as described in A. Kilejian, J. Biol. Chem. 249: 4650-4655, 1974. In general, the merozoite dose can range from 10 to 106 merozoites per egg. Preferably, the dose ranges from 10 to 105 merozoites per egg, and, more preferably, the dose ranges from 102 to 105 merozoites per egg. When sporozoites and merozoites are mixed, in general, the dose comprising the total number of merozoites and sporozoites can range from 10 to 106 per egg. Preferably, the dose ranges from 10 to 105 merozoites and sporozoites per egg, and, more preferably, the dose ranges from 102 to 105 merozoites and sporozoites per egg.
The sporozoites or merozoites, or mixture thereof, can be injected in ovo in any physiologically suitable medium. Preferably, they are suspended in physiologically balanced saline such as phosphate-buffered saline. The selected medium can optionally include one or more suspending agents including physiologically suitable gels, gelatins, hydrosols, cellulose, or polysaccharide gums.
Preferably, in the present vaccination method, sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, of two or more Eimeria species are injected in ovo at the same time. In accord with the present vaccination method, sporozoites or merozoites, or a mixture thereof, of all identified species of Eimeria that infect a specific domesticated bird, such as chicken, can be injected in ovo at the same time, or in series, at appropriate doses to provide immunological protection against all species.
Immune stimulants can be used in conjunction with the present vaccination method. Suitable immune stimulants include, but are not limited to, cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, supernatants from cell cultures of lymphocytes, monocytes, or cells from lymphoid organs, cell preparations or cell extracts (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus or lipopolysaccharide preparations), mitogens, or adjuvants including low molecular weight pharmaceuticals. An immune stimulant can be administered in ovo at any time during incubation. Preferably, an immune stimulant is administered in ovo in the medium containing the dose of Eimeria sporozoites or merozoites, or mixture thereof.
The efficacy of the present invention in vaccinating against coccidiosis is illustrated in the following examples. Each dose was injected in ovo in physiologically-acceptable saline as described above. The effectiveness of a particular preparation was determined by monitoring its effect on hatch rate and hatch weight of the chicks, and, following challenge infection, oocyst production, weight gain, and pathogenicity (lesion score). Lesion scores were assigned according to the protocol described in J. K. Johnson and W. M. Reid, Exp. Parasitol. 28: 30-36, 1970. according to which a value of 0 represents no disease and a value of 4 represents maximum pathology.


In one aspect, the present invention relates to a friction-pin unit. The friction-pin unit includes a sleeve and a guide cone formed at a first end of the sleeve. A shaft is disposed coaxially within the sleeve and a plurality of friction pins extend radially outward from the shaft. The plurality of friction pins are adapted for interference-fit engagement with an inner surface of the pipe. A ring seal is circumferentially disposed around an inner surface of the sleeve. The ring seal adapted to circumferentially seal an outer surface of the pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for engaging and handling pipe and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to systems and methods for engaging and handling pipe associated with an offshore petroleum well via an interference engagement with the pipe.
2. History of the Related Art
The discovery, development, and production of petroleum wells that lie underwater, known as offshore petroleum production, has become increasingly significant. Offshore petroleum production allows access to deposits of, for example, oil and gas that might otherwise be unreachable through conventional land-based petroleum production. Offshore petroleum production is considerably more challenging than land-based petroleum production due to harsh environmental conditions. For example, an ocean depth often increases a length of a fluid column associated with an offshore well by several hundred meters. The longer fluid column increases downhole pressures associated with the offshore well and substantially increases a magnitude of energy required to lift produced fluids from an ocean floor to a drilling platform. During offshore petroleum production, sections of pipe are frequently lost on the ocean floor. Sections of lost pipe are frequently unrecoverable using conventional techniques and, thus, represent a significant loss to a company engaged in offshore exploration. In addition, pipelines and flowlines, for transporting petroleum products may become damaged due to, for example, an anchor of an ocean vessel. In this situation, sections of damaged or otherwise abandoned pipeline or flowline will need to be recovered.
In offshore petroleum production, a riser pipe is typically constructed between a top of a well bore, located on the ocean floor, and a drilling platform located above the water surface. The riser pipe acts as a guide for a drill string between the drilling platform and the well bore. The riser pipe also conducts drilling fluid between the well bore and the drilling platform. The riser pipe is typically constructed of several sections of pipe and may, in some cases, include specialized equipment to compensate for movement of the drilling platform due, for example, to ocean currents.
Offshore petroleum production also involves environmental hazards. The most notable environmental hazard is risk of spillage of petroleum products from tanker ships or from pipelines transporting the petroleum products to onshore sites. Spillage of petroleum products can also result from damaged equipment associated with the drilling platform. Situations involving equipment damage or leaks on the ocean floor, such as, for example, damage to a riser pipe, can be particularly catastrophic and difficult to manage. As evidenced by the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the ability to quickly and effectively seal a damaged undersea riser pipe is critical to the ongoing safe operation of offshore petroleum wells.

Method and system for sealing and handling pipe


A web browser plugin or other software can be used to integrate visualization of analytical and/or debugging information related to a web page that is being viewed. Particular elements on the web page that are instrumented for tracking can be visually augmented, allowing a developer to see where and how certain aspects of web page functionality are being tracked and/or implemented. Certain information relating to the web page may be surfaced via a graphical area that is displayed concurrently with the web page, e.g., within the web browser that is being used to view the web page. The graphical area can also include selectable elements that can be used to launch additional queries into back-end services related to the web page. The present techniques allow for not only better and more convenient visualization of web page related data, but can speed up development time, reducing both computing and developer resources.

Capturing and displaying statistics and debugging information relating to web page usage can be a cumbersome task. A back-end server might record information such as number of page hits, etc., or within one or more logs, but typically such information may need to be viewed separately from a web page that is being viewed. It may be difficult for a web software developer or other interested person to see particular information about a web page without opening a separate program, for example, perhaps even on a separate computing device. This can also make it difficult to verify whether particular portions of a web page are operating as intended (e.g. that statistics about all or some portion of the web page are being properly captured after updates or modifications to the web page have been made).


A forming fabric having a paper side layer and a machine side layer comprises a first set of paper side layer wefts, a second set of machine side layer wefts and a single set of warp yarn triplets. In the fabric weave pattern, each member of each triplet set of warp yarns interweaves with the paper side weft yarns to occupy in sequence segments of an unbroken warp path in the paper side surface, and each triplet in each set of warp yarns interlaces alone with at least one single machine side layer weft yarn. Each segment in the unbroken warp path is separated by at least one paper side layer weft yarn. The machine side layer interlacing points are regularly spaced. After heat setting, the fabrics typically have an air permeability typically from about 7,500 to about 10,500 m3/m2/hr. Paper products made using these fabrics have enhanced printability.

The known composite forming fabrics comprise two essentially separate woven structures, each of which includes its own sets of warps and wefts, and each of which is woven to a pattern selected to optimise the properties of each of the layers. The paper side layer should provide, amongst other things, a minimum of fabric wire mark to, and adequate drainage of liquid from, the incipient paper web. The machine side layer should be tough and durable, provide a measure of dimensional stability to the forming fabric so as to minimize fabric stretching and narrowing, and be sufficiently stiff to minimize curling at the fabric edges. Numerous fabrics of this type have been described, and are in industrial use.
The two layers of the known composite forming fabrics are interconnected by means of either additional binder yarns, or intrinsic binder yarns. Additional binder yarns serve mainly to bind the two layers together; intrinsic binder yarns both contribute to the structure of the paper side layer and also serve to bind together the paper and machine side layers of the composite forming fabric. The paths of the binder yarns are arranged so that the selected yarns pass through both layers of the fabric, thereby interconnecting them into a single composite fabric.
In these known composite fabrics, additional weft binder yarns were generally preferred over intrinsic weft binder yarns, as they were believed to cause fewer discontinuities in the paper side surface of the composite fabric. Recently, both single and paired intrinsic warp or weft binder yarn arrangements have been proposed. However, intrinsic weft binder yarns have been found to cause variations in the cross-machine direction mesh uniformity. Composite fabrics in which intrinsic weft binder yarns are incorporated have been found to be susceptible to lateral contraction under the tensile load placed upon them in a papermaking machine. These intrinsic weft binder yarns have also been found to be susceptible to internal and external abrasion, leading to catastrophic delamination of the composite fabric. Further, due to the necessity of having to weave into the fabric structure additional weft yarns to form the paper side layer, and to bind the paper side layer and machine side layer together, these fabrics are expensive to produce.
More recently it has been proposed to use intrinsic warp binder yarns in pairs or triplets, so as to overcome at least some of these disadvantages. Fabrics of these two types are described by Vöhringer in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,326 (pairs); by Stone et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,973 (triplets); and by Johnson et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,705 (triplets).
The use of pairs offers the advantages that the two warp binder yarns can be incorporated in sequence in successive segments of an unbroken warp path in the paper side surface, and that there is more flexibility of choice for the locations at which each member of the pair interlaces with the machine side layer wefts. It is thus possible to optimise the paper side surface to some extent, for example to reduce wire marking of the incipient paper web, and to improve the machine side layer wear resistance of the fabric, essentially by increasing the amount of material available to be abraded away before catastrophic failure, usually by delamination, occurs. In these fabrics using pairs of warp binder yarns, the paper side layer and machine side layer each have separate weft yarn systems, one of which completes the paper side layer weave, and the other of which completes the machine side layer weave.
In the following discussion of this invention, it is to be understood that in a notation such as "2×2" the first number indicates the number of sheds required to weave the pattern, and the second number indicates the number of wefts in the pattern repeat. Thus a 2×2 pattern requires two sheds, and there are two wefts in the pattern repeat.
As disclosed by Stone et al. and by Johnson et al. the use of warp triplets offers the advantage that the fabric structure can be simplified, in that the fabric can be woven with only three sets of yarns: a paper side layer set of wefts, a machine side layer set of wefts and a single set of warps which contributes to the structure of both layers. It is possible to weave a fabric having acceptable paper making properties by utilizing triplets of warp yarns so that each member of the triplets interweaves separately in sequence with the paper side layer wefts, and so that the members of the triplets interlace in pairs with the machine side layer wefts. The pairs of warp yarns when interlaced with the machine side layer weft yarns cause these yarns to bow outwards somewhat, towards the machine side surface of the fabric. This provides a wear plane which increases fabric wear potential, which increases fabric life.
The use of triplets woven in pairs with the machine side layer wefts provides a forming fabric having reduced susceptibility to cross-machine direction variations in the paper side layer mesh uniformity, less susceptibility to dimpling of the paper side surface, and better resistance to lateral contraction than comparable fabrics of the prior art. It is possible to weave some of these warp triplet fabrics from a single warp beam, because all of the warp yarns follow essentially similar paths, which have equal path lengths within the weave structure.
However it has been found that composite forming fabrics woven using triplet sets of warp yarns are still susceptible to dimpling of the paper making surface of the paper side layer. It appears that, as the warp yarns pass from one surface of the fabric to the other, eg from the surface of paper side layer to the surface of the machine side layer, they may introduce some non-uniformity into the otherwise regular spacing of the paper side layer weft yarns. This creates variations in both the shape and frame lengths of the drainage openings in the paper side layer of the forming fabric, which results in variation of the drainage properties of the fabric. These variations can introduce an unacceptable level of marking (so-called "wire mark") into the paper product being made.
It has now been found that this level of variation can be at least mitigated by interlacing each member of a warp triplet set on its own with a machine side layer weft yarn. When this step is taken, it is then possible for each member of each of the triplet sets to follow the same path within the weave pattern, thus providing more uniform location of the interlacing points. This has the result that the paper side layer surface characteristics are improved which in its turn provides more uniform formation in the paper product.
Additionally, we have found that by careful choice of the warp yarn material used in the fabrics of this invention, it is possible to weave a fabric having a high paper side surface open area with sufficient drainage area to rapidly drain the embryonic sheet into the central plane of the fabric structure, without sacrificing critical mechanical properties of the fabric, in particular its elastic modulus. In the central plane and machine side layer of the fabric, where yarn density is higher, fluid drainage appears to be retarded slightly, thus providing opportunity for pressure pulses caused by the supporting foils and blades of the forming section to maximise formation benefits.
We have found that relatively smaller diameter, high elastic modulus yarns can be used in place of conventional, relatively larger diameter polyethylene terephthalate(PET) yarns as the warp yarns in the fabrics of this invention, to provide equivalent mechanical strength properties. It is thus possible to use these smaller diameter yarns to provide the fabric with a relatively high paper side layer drainage area at a lower warp yarn density in the paper side surface. This in turn allows for the use of a higher number of cross machine direction weft yarns than would otherwise be possible in the paper side surface so as to increase fiber support in the sheet, thereby improving formation. These extra weft yarns will in turn contribute to overall fabric stiffness and stability which are necessary for dependable service life (i.e. "runnability")
The fabrics of this invention are thus able both to drain fluid from the sheet more rapidly than would be possible in comparable fabrics woven using larger warp yarns, and to provide increased support for the papermaking fibers in the stock so as to improve overall formation. Use of these high elastic modulus yarns also improves the resistance of the fabrics to damage from high pressure showers such as are used to clean them during use. Further, these smaller diameter, high elastic modulus warp yarns will be recessed to an extent into the machine side surface of the fabric due to both machine side layer weave design and the heatsetting conditions used to process the fabric following weaving. Following heatsetting, the weft yarns on the machine side of the fabric tend to bow, or crimp outwardly, forming a wear plane which serves to protect the warp yarns from abrasion during use. This feature serves to increase further the service life of these fabrics.


Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for creating customized color schemes for user interfaces are disclosed. An avatar editing environment associated with a user is provided and user input specifying colors for the avatar is received. A color profile of the avatar can be created based on the colors associated with the avatar. Customized color schemes associated with a software application can be created based on the color profile of the user's avatar. An application selection interface can present a respective user interface element for each application available for selection. The application selection interface and user interface element for each available application can be rendered in a respective color scheme selected based on the color profile of the user's avatar and one or more characteristic colors extracted from an icon of the application.

A software application executing in a virtual operating environment, such as an operating system of a computing device, typically employs graphical user interfaces for presenting information and receiving user input. User interface elements, such as text, buttons, menus, windows, icons, titles, backgrounds, sliders, and so on, can be rendered with various colors, styles, and various animation and sound effects.
The developers of a software application can provide software instructions in the application program for a customization environment that allows user customization of some aspects of the user interfaces in the application environment. When the software application is executed in an operating environment, a user can invoke the application specific customization environment through one or more user interfaces of the executing application program (e.g., by selecting a menu item for customization in the application program interfaces). The user can then specify colors, styles, and various animation and sound effects for the user interfaces of the application through the application specific customization environment. Once the customization is completed, the user interface elements of the software application can be rendered according to the user's specifications.


A cooler module mounted on a CPU on a circuit board inside a computer is disclosed to include a mounting base frame, which is made of a thermal conductive material and has a heat-transfer zone disposed in contact with the CPU and two arms respectively extended from two sides of the heat-transfer zone and affixed to the circuit board and two eyelet lugs vertically extended from two sides of the distal end of one of the two arms, a heat pipe, which has one end supported on the heat-transfer zone of the mounting base frame, an elongated retaining member, which has two lugs disposed at one end thereof and respectively fastened to the eyelet lugs of the mounting base frame, and a buffer member fastened to the heat-transfer zone to hold down heat pipe on the heat-transfer zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooler module for cooling a thermal chip or the like and more particularly, to such a cooler module, which dissipates heat from the thermal chip and provides a buffer protection to the thermal chip. The invention also provides a cooler module fastening structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
During operation of an electronic apparatus, the internal chip will emit heat. For example, the CPU, VGA, southbridge chip, or northbridge chip of a computer will emit heat during operation of the computer. Further, following development of high-speed electronic devices, the emitted amount of heat of these high-speed electronic devices will be relatively increased
During operation of an electronic apparatus, heat must be quickly carried away from the thermal chip. Accumulation of heat energy around the thermal chip will lower the performance of the thermal chip. Therefore, "cooling", in another world, "heat dissipation" is an important subject to manufacturers in this field.
A conventional cooler module for this purpose, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a heat-transfer block C mounted on the thermal chip D, a heat sink A connected to the heat-transfer block C through the heat pipe B, and a holding down member E to hold down the heat-transfer block C mounted on the thermal chip D. The holding down member E has mounting holes disposed at two sides and respectively fastened to a respective column F at the circuit board that carries the thermal chip D.
This design of cooler module is functional, however it still has drawbacks. When one end of the holding down member is affixed to the circuit board that carries the thermal chip, the heat-transfer block C is formed to extend in one direction, giving a pressure to one corner edge of the thermal chip D obliquely. This pressure may damage the thermal chip D.

Cooler module and its fastening structure


To hold a solar panel array of a satellite in a folded position, cable runs from a support on the outside panel through the four corners of the array to a tie down device. Each tie down device has a rotatable shaft with a hook for holding a loop at the end of a cable offset slightly from the center of rotation of the shaft. A lever arm depending from the shaft extends a significant distance from the center of rotation so that the force required to hold the shaft in the tie down position with a cable hooked on the hook is relatively small. Furthermore, because of this relatively small force, the lever arm may be readily released whereupon the small torque applied by the cable to the shaft rotates the shaft thereby releasing the cable. In this way, the satellite solar panel array is released for deployment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tie down device for releasably holding a tensioned connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
In orbit, a satellite utilizes a large area solar array to provide its electrical power. The solar panel array comprises a number of panels that are hinged end to end with a spring hinge arrangement. For transport of the satellite into its orbit, the panels are folded in accordion fashion and tied down in this position. Once the satellite is released in orbit, the tie downs are released and the springe hinges operate to deploy the solar panel array into its operative position. On the Olympus satellite, the tie down mechanism comprised a complex series of levers for providing a mechanical advantage. Another known technique is the use of thermal knives which melt the tensioned connector.
This invention seeks to overcome drawbacks of known tie down devices.


An illuminated connector for a device output may be used as a status indicator, showing various states of the output, including output on, proper functioning, and improper functioning. The illumination may be provided through a face of the physical connector, around a periphery of the connector, or proximate to the connector. Various colors and sequence of illuminations may communicate various states. The illuminator may be used to indicate the status of a wireless version of the same type of output of the connector.

Many electronic devices connect to other devices via physical connectors. For example, laptop computers may have a video output connector that can be connected to a video projector and music players may have an audio jack that connects to a set of headphones. In many such connections, a user may select that the interface is active or not through a separate user interface. In the case of a laptop computer, the user may select a feature that turns on a video output connector. In some devices, especially portable devices that run on battery power, a feature such as video output may consume unnecessary power.


A system for facilitating the measurement of optical parameters of a substance sitting on a surface, so that identification of the substance by reflectance spectroscopy can be made without ambiguity; the system comprises a structure using a bistatic arrangement and an accompanying method to limit, to just two beams, the propagation of light from a laser transmitter capable of producing coherent light of multiple wavelengths, via an interposed transparent dielectric, to a receiver thereby preventing multiple reflections within the transparent dielectric from reaching the receiver; and the bistatic arrangement comprises a multi-wavelength laser transmitter and a receiver mounted on a telescoping boom, with both the laser transmitter and receiver being independently orientable, with the positions and orientations of the laser transmitter, the receiver and the telescoping boom electronically sensed at all times.

There has long been a need for an optical instrument for substance-on-surface chemical recognition which allows the measurement of unknown optical properties of an interrogated chemical. Optical variables have long plagued the results of monostatic infrared chemical recognisers with ambiguity, by virtue of being unknown and difficult to measure in real time outside of a controlled laboratory setting: unknown optical properties of the supporting surface beneath the chemical layer, unknown thickness and refractive index of the chemical film, and (3) unknown angles of incidence and detection. All previous methods for determining said optical properties are inaccurate and ambiguous.

Bistatic electro-optical device for substance-on-surface chemical recognizer


A semiconductor circuit apparatus, on which a scan test can be conducted, has a plurality of circuit sections. The semiconductor circuit apparatus includes a scan chain having a plurality of flip-flops for transmitting test data. The semiconductor circuit apparatus also has a first macro cell placed in a path between flip-flops included in the scan chain, a first bypass path bypassing the first macro cell, a first selection circuit selecting the first macro cell or the first bypass path, a second macro cell placed in a path between flip-flops included in the scan chain, a second bypass path bypassing the second macro cell, and a second selection circuit selecting the second macro cell or the second bypass path. The first selection circuit and the second selection circuit operate individually.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor circuit apparatus available to a scan test and to a scan test method for a semiconductor circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
With an increase in the number of transistors and other electronic components contained in a large-scale integrated circuit, which is abbreviated hereinafter as "LSI", demand for more highly integrated and higher performance LSI is growing, and the number of macro cells such as memories and CPU integrated into the LSI is increasing accordingly. In order to improve the manufacturing quality of the LSI with a number of macro cells integrated thereto, it is necessary to maintain high test quality in the functional test of the LSI. A scan test having a high fault detection rate is therefore widely used. Further, a technique called a sequential scan has been introduced, which allows a connection test of a macro cell with surrounding circuits and a path delay test on a circuit including macro cells in the LSI.
The scan test is a technique that forms a shift register with a serial connection path connecting flip-flops inside an LSI, and directly controls and observes each flip-flop from outside. This shift register chain is called a scan chain. It allows dividing a logic circuit inside the LSI into several parts using the flip-flop in the LSI as an input or output point, and testing each part. This technique facilitates the generation of test patterns that increases exponentially with respect to the circuit scale.
The scan test process first performs shift operation to set the value of each flip-flop, which is called "scan shift". It then input each flip-flop value to surrounding combinational circuits to activate the circuit, which is called "launch". The value obtained by the launch is captured by the flip-flop at the end point of a path to be tested, which is called "capture". Finally, the test process again performs the shift operation to the scan chain and outputs the result to the outside, thereby detecting faults inside the LSI. This cycle is repeated with various test patterns and exhaustively on various paths to be tested, thereby accomplishing the functional test of the logic circuit inside the LSI.
A conventional method of the scan test is as follows. In order to eliminate the need for setting an output value of a macro cell, a path bypassing the macro cell between the input terminal and the output terminal is formed. A selector is connected to the output terminal of the macro cell. During the scan test, the selector is controlled to select the bypass path, thereby conducting the scan test without activating the macro cell. This method is referred to hereinafter as a basic scan. This method requires the LSI to have a control terminal for controlling the selector from outside.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-42008 (Fujii et. al.) discloses a technique that places a path bypassing a macro cell in an LSI to separate the macro cell from other logic circuits and conducts the basic scan test only on the other logic circuits. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-83958 (Takahashi) discloses a test pattern generator for an LSI having a plurality of partial circuits. When testing a specific partial circuit, this technique directly gives input through a selector placed immediately before the specific partial circuit and directly obtains output through a selector placed immediately after the specific partial circuit, thereby conducting the scan test per divided partial circuits.
On the other hand, the sequential scan test aims to confirm the connection between a macro cell and a surrounding circuit and to detect a delay fault in a circuit including a macro cell. Thus, it is necessary to conduct the scan test without bypassing the macro cell, and the macro cell needs to operate to set output values. Hence, the sequential scan test has the problem of a heavy processing load on a test design tool such as Automatic Test Pattern Generator (ATPG) due to complexity in test pattern generation. Further, given recent trend of increasing number of macro cells incorporated into the circuit, there are cases where a plurality of macros exists on a logic path for which fault detection is to be performed. The processing load on a test design tool multiplies exponentially for the number of incorporated macro cells. It leads to an increase in the runtime of the test design tool and sometimes exceeds the processing capacity of the test design tool.
If the sequential scan having the above problem is conducted on the LSI disclosed by Fujii et.al., the bypass setting causes all macro cells to be bypassed, thus failing to conduct the sequential scan on the path including some of the macro cells. On the contrary, no bypass setting leads to activate all the macro cells included in a logic cone of a path to be tested and set the output values, resulting in an increase in a test pattern generation time and a test time. This fails to efficiently conduct the sequential scan that detects path delay faults in the path including the macro cell.
Further, Takahashi merely discloses the test pattern generator that divides an LSI to be tested into several partial circuits having a suitable circuit scale and generates a test pattern for each partial circuit to reduce the number of test patterns. The disclosed technique of dividing the circuit does not allow testing on the path beginning at a flip-flop in a partial circuit and ending at a flip-flop in another partial circuit. Thus, this technique is different in the test method from the scan test that connects flip-flops inside the LSI by a scan chain. It is therefore incapable of solving the problem of an increase in a test pattern generation time and a test time when conducting the sequential scan on a path including macro cells.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a logic circuit of an LSI which is available to a conventional basic scan test. Macro cells 41 and 42 and flip-flops 511 to 519 operate in synchronization with one input clock. A scan chain is formed from an input terminal SCANIN through the flip-flops 511 to 519 to an output terminal SCANOUT. When conducting the scan test, the scan chain repeats the scan shift operation for each clock, thereby determining the values of the flip-flops 511 to 519. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 5, the scan shift operation of nine clocks in total determines the value of each flip-flop 511 to 519. Controlling the output value of each flip-flop by the scan shift operation allows each flip-flop to serve as a virtual input or output terminal. This enables testing of the LSI per a small logic cone composed only of combinational circuits that begins with a flip-flop and ends with another flip-flop. Combinational logic circuits 52 and 53 are activated by input of the set value of the flip-flop. The result value is latched by the flip-flop at the end of the logic cone in a next clock cycle. The shift operation by the scan chain is then repeated, thereby outputting the value captured by the flip-flop to the SCANOUT terminal. The value is compared with an expected value to detect a fault.
When conducting the basic scan test on the LSI of FIG. 5, selectors 43 and 44 are collectively set to select bypass paths 66 and 67 that bypass macro cells 41 and 42, respectively, by a signal from an input terminal BYPASS through a control line. Thus, setting the input terminals of the macro cells connected to the bypass paths to an expected value eliminates the need for activating the macro cells.
On the other hand, the sequential scan test requires setting the output value of the macro cells without bypassing them. Thus, to conduct the sequential scan test on the LSI of FIG. 5, it is necessary to collectively set the selectors 43 and 44 to select output paths from the macro cells by a signal from the input terminal BYPASS. Thus, when testing a path including the macro cell 41, for example, if the macro cell 42 is included in the logic cone of the path to be tested, it is required to activate not only the macro cell 41 but also the macro cell 42 to set the output values. This impedes an efficient sequential scan test.
The load on a test design tool when generating test patterns for the sequential scan test is described hereinafter with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a macro cell 61 and logic cones ending at the input terminal DI of the macro cell 61. One of the illustrated logic cones is composed of combinational logic circuits 621 to 623 and begins at four flip-flops 611 to 614. In this case, setting four flip-flops by the scan shift allows setting one input terminal of the macro cell 61.
Generally, transition of the macro cell to a certain state requires setting a plurality of input terminals for the macro cell. If the number of input terminals is "n" and the number of flip-flops at the beginning of the logic cones that end at each input terminal is "A" on average, it is necessary to control the output of A*n number of flip-flops. The number of combinations of input patterns of all the flip-flops in this case is 2A*n. Thus, generating test patterns with the test design tool requires 2A*n number of combinations for one clock cycle operation of the macro cell. The number of combinations required when setting the value of the flip-flops to 0/1 indicates "complexity", which is used as an index of difficulty in test pattern generation.
Moreover, since the output values of the macro cell cannot be determined in one clock cycle, the complexity further increases. For example, a RAM macro requires at least one clock cycle for writing data to an address and another one clock cycle for reading the data. A macro cell such as CPU requires several clock cycles from input of a command code to output of the result. Thus, if it is assumed that "m" number of internal state transitions are required to determine the output of the macro cell, since the complexity in one clock cycle operation of the macro cell is 2A*n, the entire complexity is m*2A*n. Further, since the sequential scan is expected to detect delay faults in the path beginning or ending at a macro cell, if another macro cell exists in the logic cone to be tested, it is necessary to control a plurality of macro cells at the same time. The complexity in this case is expressed as a power of the number of macro cells compared to the complexity when only one macro cell exists. For example, the complexity when using "k" number of macro cells is mk*2Ank.
In contrast, in the case of the basic scan that bypasses the macro cells, the complexity is as small as 2Ak since setting of only one input terminal of the macro cell is required. Thus, the sequential scan requires mk*2Ak(n-1) times of the processing by the test design tool compared to the basic scan. As described above, the present invention has recognized that the sequential scan for the LSI having a plurality of macro cells requires a heavy load on the test design tool and an extremely long processing time, which impedes the implementation of test design.

Semiconductor circuit apparatus and scan test method for semiconductor circuit


By executing a storage control program, a CPU core stores in a time series detection signals from sensors, operation signals outputted to operating members, and error detection results in a ring buffer of a RAM whenever a change occurs in any of these data. The CPU core outputs the data stored in the ring buffer to a personal computer, for example, based on an output program. Accordingly, an operator can view the history of detection signals outputted from the sensors and the operation signals outputted to the operating members up to the point that the error is generated on the CRT screen of the personal computer. The operator can easily analyze the cause of the generated error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-forming device such as a printer.
2. Description of Related Art
Image-forming devices such as printers are normally provided with a plurality of paper sensors disposed at prescribed intervals along the path in which the paper is conveyed. Each paper sensor includes an actuator that inclines in the conveying direction of the paper.
When contacted by a sheet of paper, the actuator leans over, triggering an ON state. After the paper passes over the actuator, the actuator returns to an upright position, triggering an OFF state. When a paper jam occurs, for example, the CPU in the image-forming device detects the ON/OFF state of each paper sensor and identifies the paper sensor that has detected the jam. Hence, the operator can determine in what section of the image-forming device that the paper jam has occurred based on the layout of the paper sensors.
Further, the image-forming device can record and print the time at which the error has been generated, as proposed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2000-127572, for example.


A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces comprises a chassis having a plurality of wheels mounted thereto. Two magnetic drive wheels are spaced apart in a lateral direction and rotate about a rotational axis while a stabilizing wheel is provided in front of or behind the two drive wheels. The drive wheels are configured to be driven independently, thereby driving and steering the vehicle along the surface. The vehicle also includes a sensor probe assembly that is supported by the chassis and configured to take measurements of the surface being traversed. In accordance with a salient aspect, the vehicle includes a probe normalization mechanism that is configured to determine the surface curvature and adjust the orientation of the probe transducer as a function of the curvature of the surface, thereby maintaining the probe at the preferred inspection angle irrespective of changes in the surface curvature with vehicle movement.

Routine inspection of equipment is critical in most industries in order to ensure safety and optimize performance. For example, in the petroleum industry and related fields, liquids and gases and mixtures thereof are transported via pipelines and these materials are also stored in large tanks.
It is known in this industry that in order to maintain the integrity of pipelines, storage tanks and the like, a sensor device can be employed to inspect such surfaces. In particular, an inspection vehicle can be used to travel across a surface of the target object (e.g., a pipe or tank) and record information about the quality of the pipe wall. A majority of these inspection vehicles use ultrasonic or magnetic sensors to carry out the inspection. Based on the recorded information, any cracks or other deficiencies in the surface being inspected (e.g., pipe wall) can be detected and noted to allow for subsequent remedial action to be taken.
In the past, there have been different inspection vehicle designs that are used to inspect various structures, such as factory equipment, ships, underwater platforms, pipelines and storage tanks. If a suitable inspection vehicle is not available to inspect the structure, an alternative is to build scaffolding that will allow people access to inspect these structures, but at great cost and danger to the physical safety of the inspectors. Past inspection vehicles have lacked the control, maneuverability and compact packaging (i.e., size) necessary to inspect such surfaces effectively.
In addition, while there are a number of different sensors that can be used in such inspection vehicles, one preferred type of ultrasonic sensor is a dry coupled probe (DCP) that is configured to perform ultrasonic inspection of the surface to measure wall thickness and detect corrosion. Dry coupled probes are typically built in the form of a wheel in which a shaft (axle) is meant to be held fixed since the shaft has the transducer component rigidly embedded in it while an outer tire rotates around the shaft. The shaft of the probe thus is preferably held and positioned such that the transducer always points at the surface, meaning that the wheel is not titled in its roll and pitch directions.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Crawler vehicle with automatic probe normalization

King Abdullah University Of Science And Technology


An apparatus for accessing an encrypted memory portion of a memory is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of signature generators, wherein each signature generator of the plurality of signature generators is configured to generate a signature of a plurality of signatures depending on an instruction of a plurality of instructions, wherein each of the plurality of instructions is a processor instruction for controlling a processor. Moreover, the apparatus includes a key modifier for generating a processed key depending on a standard key and on the plurality of signatures. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a controller for accessing the encrypted memory portion of the memory, wherein the memory access controller is configured to employ the processed key to access the encrypted memory portion of the memory.

Error injection is a proven method of driving an otherwise protected microprocessor architecture into an unintended state. Therefore, there is a technical necessity to detect such changes in the control flow of the system during run-time.
Depending on the targeted security level and price of the security product, dual modular redundant architectures are employed, which use single voters or checkers employing pre-computed signatures. While the additional memory needed for pre-computed signatures are sometimes not preferable in resource-constraint systems like smart-cards, dual modular redundant implementations are widely used in high security applications.
The complete replication of the main processor unit has inter alia two disadvantages. At first, the needed space doubles accordingly and there is an additional comparison logic needed to compare the results of both cores. Secondly, this comparison logic or voter constitutes a sensible part of the system that has to be specifically hardened against attacks.
It would be highly beneficial if improved concepts for detecting error injection would be provided.

Apparatus and method for accessing an encrypted memory portion


Provided is a novel compound having BTK inhibitory action and a cell proliferation suppressing effect. Also provided is a medicine useful for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease associated with BTK, particularly cancer, based on BTK inhibitory action. A compound represented by formula (I) [wherein R1 to R3, W, A, Y and Z respectively have the meanings as defined in the specification], or a salt thereof is disclosed.

It is known that various protein kinases exist in in vivo and are involved in the regulation of a variety of functions. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a protein kinase that belongs to the Tec family kinases, and is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that plays an important role related to the control of, for example, proliferation, survival, differentiation and activation of B-cells in the downstream of the B cell receptor (BCR) signal (Non-Patent Document 1). An inhibitor capable of controlling the activity of BTK is considered to be useful as a therapeutic agent for diseases associated with abnormal hyperactivity of BTK signaling pathway (for example, cancer).
Regarding a compound having BTK inhibitory activity, PCI-32765 (Non-Patent Document 2) and the compounds described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known.
The compounds disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are also known to exhibit high inhibitory activity for EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) and JAK3 (Janus kinase 3) for example, in addition to BTK. However, since such a multikinase inhibitor suppresses, for example, cell proliferation by inhibiting various signaling pathways, there is a concern about a variety of side effects. For example, it is known that EGFR binds to its ligand, for example, the epidermal growth factor (EGF), and participates in the proliferation and survival (for example, inhibition of apoptosis) of various cells (Non-Patent Document 3). However, it is known that inhibitors targeting EGFR cause side effects such as skin disorders and gastrointestinal dysfunction in common, and it is widely supposed that these side effects may be related to the inhibition of the wild type EGFR signaling pathway (Non-Patent Document 4).
Thus, PCI-45292 is known as a compound, which has an inhibitory activity against BTK with a weak inhibitory activity against EGFR (Non-Patent Document 5).
As described above, from the viewpoint of reducing side effects, a highly selective BTK inhibitor, that has a high inhibitory activity against BTK with low inhibitory activities against other kinases such as EGFR, is desired.

Fused pyrimidine compound or salt thereof


A system and methods for allocating impressions using an auction comprises a delivery engine, a statistics collector, a forecasting module, and optimization engine and a direct demand source. The delivery engine receives indirect demand, direct demand and optimization information that it uses to allocate impressions and serve ads. The statistics collector is coupled to collect information from the delivery engine and input from the forecasting module. The forecasting module provides information to the optimization to smooth the rate at which direct demand is allocated. The optimization engine receives information from the statistics collector, the forecasting module and the direct demand source to produce optimization information that is used to generate bids for the direct demand. The present invention is particularly advantageous because it preserves the incentive for performance bidders to bid honestly; it eliminates adverse selection against the publisher; and it increases the efficiency and total value produced by the auction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for conducting auctions. In particular, the present invention relates to auctions that implement a function that is homogeneous of degree one. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an auction whose function depends on a second-highest bid. The present invention also relates to systems and methods for allocating impressions or advertisements on web pages.
2. Description of the Related Art
The popularity and use of the Internet, web browsers and sites providing content has grown dramatically over the past decade. With this growth have been dramatic growth and change in advertisements on web pages or impressions, how those impressions are purchased and placed as well as different models for advertising using impressions. Advertisers used to buy guarantees, and then developed performance goals. However, more recently, the suppliers of impressions have new indirect demand sources which are mostly independent bidders ("performance advertisers") that bid for impressions on an impression-by-impression basis. Bids by these independent bidders are sometimes referred to herein as "indirect demand." However, other types of models have been developed. For example, traditional advertisers have hired publishers or distributors to purchase and place impressions. This is often done in the context of a campaign that includes a number of impressions, as well as certain parameters for targets and metrics for performance. The publishers or distributors act on behalf of one or more traditional advertisers, who have been offered certain guarantees about a set of impressions they will be assigned. Bids by these publishers are sometimes referred to herein as "direct demand."
One difficulty is how to balance a marketplace between performance advertisers (indirect demand/buyers) and a publisher's own advertisers (direct demand/buyers). There is not a system that has been effective in allowing direct demand and indirect demand to compete with each other. More specifically, there are three particular problems with existing solutions that prevent them from allowing indirect demand and direct demand to compete with each other. First, there is an adverse selection problem. When direct demand and indirect demand compete, there is a concern about cherry picking where well-informed indirect demand/buyers will take all of the "good" inventory, leaving a direct buyer/demand with the "bad" inventory. Second, there is an under delivery problem. When direct demand and indirect demand compete, there is a concern that indirect demand/buyers will win too much inventory, causing the guaranteed campaigns of the direct demand/buyers to under deliver. Third, there is a need to make the marketplace strategy proof so that indirect demand will not attempt to game the system by submitting false bids to skew the award of impressions. Thus, there is a need for a system for allocating impressions that addresses these problems.
The prior art has attempted to solve this problem by controlling the manner in which the direct buyers submit bids along with the indirect buyers. More specifically, the publisher places bids at random on behalf of the indirect buyers. See Ghosh, Arpita, Preston McAfee, Kishore Papineni and Sergei Vassilvitskii (2009). "Bidding for Representative Allocations for Display Advertising." Proceedings of the 5th international Workshop on Internet and Network Economics (WINE). However, this solution reduces the effectiveness of targeting of the direct buyers to avoid the adverse selection problem. Thus, in order to avoid adverse selection, the prior art reduces the effectiveness of other targeting.
The selling of an impression is essentially an auction involving common factors and match factors. Common factors are ones that have a similar effect on the values of ad impressions to most advertisers. For example, income is a common factor, because after controlling for other factors, higher income consumers are preferred advertising targets for most advertisers. Match factors are ones that tend to be specific to the advertiser. For example, if a consumer is known presently to be shopping for something specific—such as for a family car or for Italian designer clothing or for hotels in San Francisco—then impressions to that consumer offered now are particularly valuable to firms selling those products. Since advertisers' bids for different impressions reflect all aspects of value, including both common factors and match factors, it has been thought to be impossible to separate the common factor to produce bids for such auction that satisfy the concerns noted above. Any bid that is placed on behalf of an indirect buyer will win more often when all the value factors, including the common factors, are low, and that seems to make adverse selection inescapable.
Existing solutions do not adequately address the need for an impression allocation system that allows direct demand and indirect demand to compete, avoids the adverse selection problem, increases the efficiency of the auction (reduces the under delivery problem), and preserves the incentive for indirect bidders to bid honestly.

Impression allocation system and methods using an auction that considers losing bids


A computer-implemented method involves modeling of product decisions in a retail store. The product decision variables are profit, assortment, placement, promotion, and inventory. Various rules and constraints such as facing elasticity, shelf replenishment costs, shelf space, carrying costs, facing capacity, slotting fees, and cannibalization are defined for multiple product decision variables. An objective function utilizes the rules and constraints for the multiple product decision variables. The objective function model is resolved by uses nested loops to solve for a first variable, and then using the first variable to solve for a second variable. Each decision variable in the objective function is controllable by externally determined multipliers. The objective function simultaneously models each of the multiple product decision variables by iteratively resolving the objective function into values which optimize sales, revenue, and profit for the retail store. The model is output in graphic format.

Retail stores are in business to sell merchandise and make a profit. Store managers are most concerned with product-related marketing and decisions such as product placement, assortment, space, price, promotion, and inventory. If the products are non-optimized in terms of these product decisions, then sales can be lost and profit will be less than what would otherwise be possible in an optimal system. For example, if the product assortment, space, or inventory is not properly selected or maintained, then the consumer is less likely to buy these products. If price is too high or too low, then profit can be lost. If promotions are not properly targeted, then marketing efforts will be wasted. If the product placement is poorly laid-out, then the store loses sales.
In order to maximize the outcome of product related decisions, retail store management has used statistical modeling and strategic planning to optimize the decision making process for each of the product decisions. Economic modeling and planning is commonly used to estimate or predict the performance and outcome of real systems, given specific sets of input data of interest. A model is a mathematical expression or representation which predicts the outcome or behavior of the system under a variety of conditions. An economic-based system will have many variables and influences which determine its behavior. In one sense, it is relatively easy to review historical data, understand its past performance, and state with relative certainty that the system's past behavior was indeed driven by the historical data. A much more difficult task, but one that is extremely important and valuable, is to generate a mathematical model of the system which predicts how the system will behave, or would have behaved, with different sets of data and assumptions. The field of probability and statistics has provided many tools which allow predictions to be made with reasonable certainty and acceptable levels of confidence.
In its basic form, the economic model can be viewed as a predicted or anticipated outcome of a mathematical expression, as driven by a given set of input data and assumptions. The input data is processed through the mathematical expression representing either the expected or current behavior of the real system. The mathematical expression is formulated or derived from principles of probability and statistics, often by analyzing historical data and corresponding known outcomes, to achieve an accurate correlation of the expected behavior of the system to other sets of data. In other words, the model should be able to predict the outcome or response of the system to a specific set of data being considered or proposed, within a level of confidence, or an acceptable level of uncertainty. As a simple test of the quality of the model, if historical data is processed through the model and the outcome of the model using that historical data is closely aligned with the known historical outcome, then the model is considered to have a high confidence level over the interval. The model should then do a good job of predicting outcomes of the system to different sets of input data.
Economic modeling has many uses and applications. One emerging area in which modeling has exceptional promise is in the retail sales environment. Grocery stores, general merchandise stores, specialty shops, and other retail outlets face stiff competition for limited customers and business. Most, if not all, retail stores make every effort to maximize sales, volume, revenue, and profit. Economic modeling can be a very effective tool in helping store owners and managers achieve these goals.
Retail stores engage in many different strategies to increase sales volume, revenue, and profit. Retailers must take into account many different considerations in optimizing overall sales volume, revenue, and profit. Product assortment, space, and inventory must be considered. Product price is also important. Product placement in terms of aisle, shelf height, page, and adjacencies must be taken into account. Product promotion is an important factor.
Retailers have used a variety of modeling tools to represent and optimize one or more of the product decisions described above, i.e., product placement, assortment, space, price, promotion, and inventory. One modeling tool may optimize for placement. Another modeling tool will optimize for product assortment, space, and inventory. Yet another modeling tool may optimize for price. Still another modeling tool will predict the optimal promotions. Each modeling tool may yield good results for the specific criteria being considered. However, historical modeling tools generally optimize for only one product decision. The process of optimizing one product decision may not necessarily optimize another product decision. Indeed, optimizing one product decision may be counter-productive to the best solution for another product decision. For example, optimizing product placement, e.g., giving a product a low visibility location, may be counter to optimizing product promotion in that customers may have difficulty finding the advertised product.
By optimizing for only one product decision, or individually for multiple product decisions, then the overall product sales and profit will be sub-optimal. With the present modeling tools, it is difficult, if not impossible, to optimize for all product decisions at once. Either certain product decisions are not considered, or the process of optimizing certain product decisions will detract from other product decisions. In any case, the overall product sales and profit, taking into account all product decisions, is not optimized with present modeling tools.

System and method of assortment, space, and price optimization in retail store


The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for determining a synthetic gas-oil-ratio for a gas dominant fluid. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes a system that includes at least one processor, and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor performs operations that include optimizing a gas-oil-ratio database using a genetic algorithm and a multivariate regression simulator and generating a synthetic gas-oil-ratio for a gas dominant fluid. In one embodiment, optimizing a gas-oil-ratio database using a genetic algorithm and a multivariate regression simulator comprises defining gas-oil-ratio searching boundaries gas-oil-ratio for each gas dominant fluid; assigning randomly a synthetic gas-oil-ratio for each gas dominant fluid in a set of gas dominant fluids in the initial population of gas-oil-ratio data, wherein the gas-oil-ratio for each gas dominant fluid is within the searching boundaries; generating an initial population of gas-oil-ratio data for a set of gas dominant fluids; and evaluating synthetic gas-oil-ratio assignments for the initial population using the multivariate regression simulator.

Gas-Oil-Ratio (GOR) is the ratio of natural gas compared to oil for a particular fluid under certain pressure, volume, and temperature conditions. GOR is an important parameter used for downhole fluid analysis and is used in conjunction with other chemical and physical parameters to characterize the formation fluid properties. In some instances, directly measured GOR data is not obtainable; therefore, real-time software is used to predict a particular fluid GOR from measurements obtained from a particular downhole optical tool during formation testing.

Synthetic gas-oil-ratio determination for gas dominant fluids


A cleaning system for increasing the packing density of a sump fill. The cleaning system has a blade having an acute angle for removing residual particles from the photoreceptor surface. The acute angle of the blade creates a build up of toner and other residual particles on the cleaning blade. A support platen for the imaging surface is opposed to the cleaning blade to prevent damage to the imaging surface. The build up of toner and other residual particles is guided to the sump by a baffle causing tighter packing of the particles in the sump.

This invention relates generally to electrophotographic printing, and more particularly, concerns cleaning the imaging surface.
Cleaning failures in CRUs (Customer Replacement Units) fall into two basic categories. One is the broad band failures and, the second is fine line failures. Broad band streaks are the most common type of cleaning failure, and are predominantly caused by the effects of cleaner sump fill, especially when the cleaner cavity is located above the cleaner as in a 12 o'clock blade cleaner. Fine line failures are caused by either debris trapped under the blade,(i.e. paperfibers),or by nicks in the blade edge. However, fine line failures occur at a much lower rate than broad band failures, especially in a 12 o'clock blade cleaner.
The following disclosures may be relevant to various aspects of the present invention and may be briefly summarized as follows:
Gerbasi U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,863 discloses an elastomeric blade for removing dry particulate material from a surface to which the particulate material is electrostatically bonded. The elastomeric blade has an acute angle in pressure contact with the surface.

Apparatus for increased toner storage capacity