A gage block is designed as a stepped sine block to produce commonly used angles when used with a conventional sine bar without the use of conventional gage blocks. Reference surfaces parallel to one or more bases are provided to produce the desired number of commonly used angles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gage block and more particularly to a gage block for use with a sine bar to set up commonly used angles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gage blocks are used with conventional sine bars to set up specific angles to be measured or a specific angle to be machined on a work piece.
Individual gage blocks are provided with two precision machined or ground parallel surfaces with a precisely controlled thickness. In use with a sine bar, the gage blocks are stacked up on the surface plate of the sine bar to produce the desired angle between the pivotable measuring plate and the surface plate.
Sine bars are commonly available in 3", 5" and 12" sizes which denotes the distance between the sine bar pivot point and the spherical ball which rests on the top surface of the stack of gage blocks. Since this distance is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with the combined height of the stacked gage blocks forming the side opposite the angle being set, the total height of the gage blocks must be equal to the product of the sine bar size and the sine of the angle being set. Thus for a 5" sine bar, the combined height of the stacked gage blocks for a 10.degree. angle must be 5 sine 10.degree. or 5.times.0.17365=0.8682".
Gage blocks are supplied in sets of over 80 blocks to provide desired angles up to 45.degree., as is well known in the art. A minimum of two to four blocks are usually necessary to set a desired angle. Using a 5" sine bar to set up common 5.degree. angle increments, a 5.degree. angle can be set using three gage blocks with thicknesses of 0.1008", 0.1350" and 0.2000". A minimum number of blocks for 15.degree. would be four blocks having thicknesses of 0.1001", 0.1440", 0.0500" and 1.0000, and a minimum number of blocks for 45.degree. would be four blocks having thicknesses of 0.1005", 0.1350", 0.3000" and 3.0000. Sixteen blocks would be required in different combinations to set up the common angles of 5.degree., 10.degree., 15.degree., 20.degree., 30.degree. and 45.degree..
Moreover, the user must have a sine table and must multiply the sine of the angle required by 5 to select the proper combination for the angle. For example, for 15.degree., the sine is 0.25882" requiring a total height of blocks of 1.2941". Mistakes in the selection of the blocks to provide a given total height can be easily made so that extreme care must be used in setting individual angles
While there have been innovations in sine bar constructions throughout the years, primarily to allow incremental angle settings by the use a vernier scale or the like, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,366,396 and 4,389,785, they still require the selection of individual gage block combinations to produce the individual desired angle.


A heat shield arrangement for local separation of a flow channel within a turbine engine, with respect to a stator housing radially surrounding the flow channel is provided. The heat shield includes two axially opposite joining contours which are each engageable with two components which are axially adjacent along the flow channel. Each provides a complementary reception contour for the joining contours. At least one of the reception contours has an axial clearance, in which the associated joining contour is axially displaceably mounted. At least one seal is provided between the axially displaceable joining contour and the reception contour. The seal is mounted movably within the reception contour or the joining contour in such a way that the seal is deflectable against a surface region of the reception contour or of the joining contour.

Heat shields of the generic type designated above are part of axial-throughflow turbine engines, through which gaseous working media flow for compression or controlled expansion and, because of their high process temperatures, those plant components which are acted upon directly by the hot working media are subject to high thermal loads. Particularly in the turbine stages of gas turbine plants, the rotating blades and guide vanes, arranged axially one behind the other in rotating blade and guide vane rows, are acted upon directly by the hot combustion gases occurring in the combustion chamber. In order to prevent the situation where the hot gases flowing through the flow channel subject to thermal load those regions within the turbine engine which are provided in stator regions facing away from the flow channel, heat shields, as they are known, which are provided on the stator side in each case between two guide vane rows arranged axially adjacently to one another, ensure as gastight a bridge-like sealing as possible between two guide vane rows arranged axially adjacently. Correspondingly designed heat shields may also be provided along the rotor unit, which are in each case mounted on the rotor side between two axially adjacent rotating blade rows, in order to protect corotating rotor components from the introduction of an excessive amount of heat.
Although the following statements refer solely to heat shields which are arranged between two guide vane rows and to that extent can separate and correspondingly protect the stator-side housing and the components connected to it with respect to the heat-loaded flow channel, it is also conceivable to provide the following measures on a heat shield which serves for protecting corotating rotor components and which can be introduced between two rotating blade rows arranged axially adjacently to one another.
FIG. 2a illustrates a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a gas turbine stage, into the flow channel of which project radially from outside guide vanes 1 connected to a stator housing S, the special configuration of which has no further significance in what follows.
A rotating blade 2, connected to a rotor unit, not illustrated, projects between two guide vanes 1 arranged adjacently in guide vane rows and is spaced apart radially on the end face with respect to a heat shield 3 which with the guide vane 2 encloses as small a free intermediate gap 4 as possible, in order as far as possible to avoid leakage losses of flow fractions of the hot gas stream through the intermediate gap 4. For this purpose, the rotating blade tip has sealing structures 5 which are arranged so as to rotate freely with respect to what are known as abrasion elements 6.
In order to avoid the situation where hot combustion gases in the region of the heat shield 3, which in a bridge-like manner spans the interspace between two guide vanes 1, 1′ arranged axially adjacently to one another, may penetrate into that region of the heat shield 3 which faces radially away from the flow channel, the heat shield 3 provides two axially opposite joining contours 7, 8 which extend axially into corresponding reception contours 9, 10 within the guide vane roots.
The reception contour 9 corresponds to a groove-shaped recess which is designed to be complementary with an exact fit to the joining contour 7 and which is incorporated in the root region of the guide vane 1. The axially opposite joining contour 8 of the heat shield 3 is likewise inserted into a reception contour 10 which is designed to be correspondingly complementary to the outer contour of the joining contour 8 and which is introduced in the root region of the guide vane 1′. However, the reception contour 10 has an axial clearance 11, so that the joining contour 8 is mounted axially slideably in the event of a corresponding operationally induced thermal expansion of the heat shield 3.
For the fluidtight sealing of the heat shield 3 with respect to the respective reception contours 9, 10 in the root regions of the guide vanes 1, 1′, seals 12, 13 are provided between the joining contours 7, 8 and the associated reception contours 9, 10. The seals 12, 13 are located each in a groove-shaped recess 14 within the joining contours 7, 8 (see also the illustration of a detail according to FIG. 2b of the joining region between the joining contour 8 and the reception contour 10). The seals 12, 13 are preferably manufactured from an elastic sealing material in the form of a round bar, project partially beyond the radially outer boundary surface 16 and fit flush, at least along a joining line, against the surface region 17 of the reception contour 10.
As a result of the sealing action of the seals 12, 13, it is possible, on the one hand, to avoid the situation where hot gases from the flow channel penetrate into the regions facing radially away from the flow channel, to the heat shield 3, and the situation is likewise prevented where cooling air L fed in on the stator side may pass through corresponding leakage points into the flow channel. As already explained initially, the clearance 11 provided in the recess 10 serves for a thermally induced material expansion along the heat shield 3, with the result that the joining contour 8, together with the seal 12 provided in it, is displaced into a position on the right, evident in the illustration. When, by contrast, the gas turbine stage is shut down and the individual components cool down, the joining contour 8, together with the seal 12 provided in it, returns to the original initial position. It is obvious that, due to the thermally induced relative movements between the reception contour 8 and the surface region 17, the seal 12 is subject to material abrasion phenomena which, when a maximum permissible tolerance limit is exceeded, lead to a wear- induced reduction in the sealing function of the seal, so that cooling air L can escape through the intermediate gaps which occur or are already present between the joining contour 8 and reception contour 10. This not only leads to a considerable loss of cooling air, with the result that the cooling action is drastically reduced, but there is also the risk that hot gases may also enter regions which face away from the flow channel with respect to the heat shield 3. In addition, usually seals are used which consist of a fabric material which may be thinned out under excessive mechanical frictional stress, with the result that the sealing action of the seal decreases with increasing operating time.

Heat shield for sealing a flow channel of a turbine engine


An image forming apparatus includes a development portion holder mounted with a plurality of development portions having a memory storing plural types of information on the corresponding development portion and that selectively portions one of the development portions in a predetermined development positions by holding and moving the mounted development portions; a controller that controls the development portion holder to switch the development portions to be positioned at the predetermined development position and that performs an image forming process using the development portions positioned at the development position; and an access unit that accesses the memory of the development portion positioned at an access position, which is a position at which one of the other development portions mounted in the development portion holder is placed so as write the information therein, when one of the development portions mounted in the development portion holder is positioned at the development position.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method forming an image while switching a plurality of development portions and also writing information on the development portions to a memory disposed in the corresponding development portion.
2. Related Art
In an image forming apparatus in which a development port holder is mounted with a plurality of development portions and which forms an image while switching the development portions, the respective development portions can include a memory for storing lifetime information of the respective development portions. For example, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in WO03/098356 (for example, FIG. 9A), the plurality of development portions are mounted in a rotary and rotated so that one of the development portions which is positioned at a position opposite a photosensitive member develops an electrostatic latent image. The respective development portions are provided with a memory cell for storing information on the respective development portions and with a wireless communication antenna. When one of the development portions is positioned at the position opposite the photosensitive member, the antenna is disposed so as to communicate with another antenna mounted in another development portion. In addition, while one of the development portions develops the electrostatic latent image, the antenna of the one of the development portions communicates with the antennas of the other development portions which do not develop in order to read and write the information.
The inventors have found that, in an apparatus which forms an image while moving and switching development portions, it is desirable to set time longer until the development portion starts to perform a developing process after the respective development portions are switched in order to improve an image quality. It is considered that the reason for setting the time longer is because some time is necessary to stably show characteristic.
Accordingly, when the respective development portions are switched, it is necessary to immediately switch the development portion which finishes the developing process to the next development portion. However, when the respective development portions are switched so quickly in this way, a known image forming apparatus may not appropriately write information on the respective development portions. That is because the respective development portions stay for a short time, but it is necessary to take some processing time for writing information on the development portion. In contrast, when the respective development portions are not switched until all information is completely written, the development portion may not be switched quickly.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method


A container assembly with a closure and the structure of the closure. The container has multiple compartments for holding different materials. The container has a closure with a fitment that attaches to the container. The fitment has separate bottom receptacle areas on one side and a top receptacle on the other. The separate receptacle areas are each exposed to different compartments within the container. The top receptacle area is connected to each of the separate receptacle areas by conduits. A selection head is provided having a pour spout and a plurality of baffle chambers. The pour spout has an open central conduit, wherein only some of the baffle chambers are open to that central conduit. The baffle chambers are received within the top receptacle area of the fitment. Different combinations of the baffle chambers selectively align with different conduits as the selection head rotates within the fitment.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to closures of the type used on containers that hold liquid products. More particularly, the present invention relates to closures where the liquid product is dispensed through the structure of the closure. The present invention also relates to closures for containers that have multiple compartments.
2. Prior Art Description
Many consumer products are packaged in multi-chambered containers. A multi-chambered container is a container that is compartmentalized into separate compartments. Each of the compartments is filled with a distinct material. The various materials can therefore be selectively dispensed from a single container.
There are many reasons for packaging different materials into different compartments of a single container. For certain products, such as epoxy adhesives, cleaning fluids, and other reactive compounds, the storage of different material in different compartments is required to prevent chemical reactions from occurring between the compounds. For other products, multi-chambered containers are used merely to provide a consumer with a selective control in dispensing the various materials within the container.
Multi-chambered containers exist in many forms. For example, there are multi-chambered bottle containers made of both plastic and glass. There are also multi-chambered pouch containers and bag containers. Regardless of the structure of the multi-chambered container, the closure for that container typically falls into one of two types. The first type of closure is a dedicated closure. That is, each chamber within the multi-chambered closure has its own closure. Individual compartments can therefore be opened and closed as desired. For example, a shaker container may have both a salt compartment and a pepper compartment. A person can dispense either salt or pepper by opening the closure over the desired compartment.
The second type of closure is a mixing closure. A mixing closure mixes the materials from different compartments as those materials exit the container. The materials can mix just as they exit the closure, such as is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,862 to Fillmore, entitled Dispensing Package For Dual Viscous Products. Alternatively, the materials can mix within the closure, prior to being dispensed, as is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,264 to Versluys, entitled Flexible Pouch Having System For Mixing Two Components.
In the first type of prior art closure, a person can select materials from the different compartments, but those materials cannot be intermixed prior to being dispensed. In the second type of prior art closure, the material can be intermixed prior to dispensing, but the choice of materials in the mixture cannot be selected.
The present invention is a closure and a container with a closure that combines the advantages of both types of prior art closures. The present invention enables a person to select materials from different chambers in a container and then mixes and dispenses only the materials that were selected. The present invention is described and claimed below.

Dispensing closure for selectively dispensing material from a multi-chambered container


A decoy which includes the attraction, aggregation and attachment components of bont tick pheromones is used to attract hungry male, female, and nymph bont ticks to a location where an acaricide can kill the ticks. The decoy can be disk shaped and can be attachable to the hair or fur of an animal. The decoy may also be in the form of a tail band decoy where the decoy is used to dispense the pheromones and acaricide on those portions of the host animal's body not normally protected by grooming mechanisms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to controlling populations of bont ticks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Protecting livestock from ticks is a major concern of the agriculture industry. Ticks pierce the skin of animals causing infection and are known to spread disease. Bont ticks, a variety of ticks commonly found in Africa and the Caribbean, are known to spread the fatal heartwater disease responsible for the death of many cattle. Amblyomma variegatum, Amblyomma hebraeum, Amblyomma gemma and Amblyomma lepidum are all members of the bont tick family.
Over the years, many methods have been developed for controlling tick populations. One common practice used in many countries, including developing countries, is to spray the entire animal with a pesticide. Such spraying operations can pose environmental hazards for the surrounding area as well as health hazards for individuals working near the spraying facility. Using decoys in combination with a pesticide is an attractive alternative to spraying the entire animal. Less pesticide is required since the ticks will be attracted by the decoy to the site where the pesticide is located. Many chemical and visual lures have been used in the past with varying degrees of success. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,161 and U.S. Pat. No. 229,222 show the uses of visual lures shaped like an animal or plant, respectively. Pheromone attractants have also been used in combination with pesticides. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,361 to Sonenshine et al. discloses a plastic decoy shaped like a female tick which is impregnated with a sex attraction pheromone, mounting pheromone and a pesticide. In Sonenshine et al., the sex attraction pheromone and mounting pheromone were selected to take advantage of feeding and mating characteristics of many ticks wherein a fed male tick will detach from a host in response to an attraction pheromone and attempt to copulate with a female tick in response to a mounting pheromone.
A problem with using decoys is that they must be specific for the pest to be destroyed. If the ticks to be destroyed do not respond to the decoy which is used, the protection scheme will be ineffective. For example, the Sonenshine et al. tick decoy is not likely to be useful in killing bont ticks. Since bont ticks feed in clusters, there is a high probability that a fed male will mate with a female in the cluster rather than leave the cluster and mount a female decoy. Moreover, there are other problems with the Sonenshine et al. device that make it unattractive. First, the Sonenshine et al. decoy only kills male ticks, not female ticks or nymphs. Second, the Sonenshine et al. decoy operates after a male has been fed. Therefore, bont ticks carrying disease will have already infected a host animal before being attracted to a decoy having sex attractant and mounting pheromones.

Attractant decoy for controlling bont ticks


An apparatus for setting a device into a test mode. The apparatus has a first input port for receiving a fixed, constant signal during a normal mode of the device, and for receiving a non-fixed, clocked signal so as to set the device into a test mode. The apparatus also has a second input port for receiving a non-fixed, clocked signal during the normal mode and for receiving a fixed, constant signal so as to set the device into the test mode. When both the first input port receives the non-fixed, clocked signal and the second input port receives the fixed, constant signal for a predetermined amount of time, the device is placed into the test mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for placing a device into a test mode. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for placing a quad subscriber line audio processing circuit (QSLAC) into a test mode by inverting the functions of two pins for that device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various methods have been devised to place different kinds of devices into a test mode. Generally, these methods involve utilizing "test signal" inputs to the devices in order to invoke the test mode.
One type of device that is commonly placed into a test mode is a subscriber line audio processing circuit (SLAC), or a quad SLAC (QSLAC). A SLAC or QSLAC is used with telephones, and it handles analog-to-digital signal conversion, filtering, and interfacing with a pulse code modulation (PCM) highway. Such devices are described, for example, in "Integrated Ring Detection Circuit and Power Cross Detection Circuit With Persistence Timers", U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,273, invented by W. Schopfer, and assigned to AMD Inc., which is incorporated herein by reference.
In order to place a SLAC or QSLAC into a test mode, a test signal that is connected to a test input pad is set to an active state. However, such a method of setting the device into the test mode is prone to problems, in that an inadvertent setting of the test input pad into the active state would place the device into the test mode when the normal mode is desired.
Testing is an integral part of a design process for a VLSI circuit, such as a SLAC or a QSLAC. Testing should be accommodated with primary design functionalities in order to insure proper device operation. In order to achieve these testing goals, a device under test is often programmed to enter one or more modes in which the operation of one or more of the device's sections is evaluated. Once the device is in a particular test mode, a predefined sub-section is exercised and all important signals corresponding to this sub-section of the device are brought out to the external pins for observation. A test mode thus allows one to debug and verify a sub-block or one of the functionalities of the device. Normally, a device may enter several test modes. Different functionalities are individually addressed in each of these test modes. Depending upon a particular test mode selected, the functionality of the device may change. The pin-mapping of the device may also change, causing the function behavior and desired performance characteristics of various pins to change.
Accommodating all such test requirements without changing the normal operation of the device requires programming the device in the test mode. Entering the test mode requires communication with the device. If the device is an externally programmable part, test engineering can program the device to enter the test mode and conduct the required testing. Commands to execute testing can be provided through pins available for external programming. The end user, however, is often not provided this information so as not to enter the test mode.
When the part is not externally programmable, there is no predefined communication channel through which test engineering can communicate with the device. The functional description and the behavior of each pin is pre-characterized and cannot be altered to insert the test mode. In such a case, another option is to visit each pin on the device, and use a pin strapping technique on an available pin to control the operational mode of the device. In pin strapping, an external input pin, not used otherwise, is either tied to VCC or GND. Depending upon which voltage supply the pin is tied to, the device can be guided to operate either in a test mode or a normal operating mode. However, this method requires that a pin be available for strapping. Hence, the device is either programmable or has some external pin available for the test mode entry.
It is desirable to provide a scheme for placing such a device, and other types of devices, into a test mode without needing to add new test ports for the device.

Circuit for setting a device into a test mode by changing a first port to a fixed clock and a second port to a non-fixed clock


A boat hull is provided that has a substantially seamless construction wherein the boat hull is an integral monolithic structure. In the formation of the boat, the boat interior components for example deck precursors are positioned in the mold prior to formation of the hull so that the boat hull can be made in a one shot molding process.

Fiber reinforced boat hulls are common in the industry. Typically, they are made by a molding process that involves depositing (laying up) a layer of fibers, either as chopped fibers or a woven or knit mat of fibers, in a mold and then impregnating the fiber layer(s) with a resin which upon curing will provide water impermeability to the fiber and rigidity. Typically, such a boat hull is made in several steps of fiber deposition and curing steps, particularly when the boat hull has internal features such as a working deck, live wells, water collection sumps and other molding formed features. Often, the elements forming each feature of the boat are produced in a separate molding step which then requires a separate curing step. Also, such boat hulls typically have a finish coat on the exterior surface that contacts the water to provide both aesthetic appeal and a smooth finish. Such finishes may be in the form of a gel coat. Also, it is common to provide flotation chambers formed in the boat hull which are sealed from the outside atmosphere and may be filled with a flotation material such as a closed cell foam. Boat hulls of this type and their method of manufacture are well known in the art.
However, the method of manufacturing of such boat hulls is time consuming and complex. Additionally, the boat hull has many formed seams between the various components of the finished boat hull. For example, a seam is formed between the outside edge of the working deck and the main portion of the boat hull. These seams may be formed by joining the two components together during a secondary molding step or forming the parts separately and adhesively joining them together. In any event, such process is inherently inefficient because of the multiple steps of assembly and/or molding involved and curing between assembly steps. Additionally, the seams at the joints between the various components each provide an opportunity for leakage or lack of structural integrity.
Typically, the boat hull manufacturing process involves the use of at least one mold half and sometimes two mold halves for closed molding, the female mold half or sometimes referred to as the A mold and the male mold half, sometimes referred to as the B mold. When the hull forming assembly steps are performed sequentially, e.g., forming a hull and then forming a deck in the hull, additional and different mold parts may be required to effect the total assembly further increasing inefficiency and cost.
The production of fiber reinforced composite components, and in particular those components formed of a fiber/resin combination, have traditionally been accomplished by a number of open and closed molding lamination processes, or variations of each. Examples of these components include those used in the boating industry; such as fiber reinforced plastic sheets and parts with a compound shape used to manufacture a hull for a watercraft. These molding processes all involve a fiber reinforcement (e.g., fiberglass pieces) being laid up against a mold (e.g., a female mold) that provides the desired shape for the component, and the impregnation of the fiber with resin or a similar material. After curing, the resin/fiber combination forms a finished part that can be removed from the mold. Apart from these similarities, however, molding processes are distinct in the efficiencies provided by each, as well as in the disadvantages or tradeoffs encountered when choosing a molding process for fabricating a specific type or run of a component.
Vacuum bag molding is a type of closed molding technique that involves forming a thin flexible bag to cover the mold half upon which the fiber lay-up is positioned. The edges of the bag are then clamped, taped or otherwise secured to the mold to form a sealed envelope surrounding the fiber layup. One or more vacuum supply lines are usually installed within the bag to apply a vacuum on the bag interior concomitant with catalyzed liquid plastic or resin being introduced into the bag through a resin supply line to impregnate the fiber layup. The vacuum draws the bag against the resin/fiber combination and surface of the mold to shape the combination into the desired part. The resin supply lines are typically positioned to introduce resin either at the perimeter of the part such that the vacuum supply line draws the resin across and through the fiber lay up towards the center of the part, or vice versa, with the resin introduced at the center of the part and vacuum drawing the resin towards the perimeter of the part. Vacuum bag molding can usually be categorized as either utilizing, (1) a thin disposable bag made from sheet film, or (2) a reusable bag made from silicone, both of which are flexible bags. Because the resin and fiber are essentially sealed off from the surrounding environment, vacuum bag molding techniques expose tool operators to significantly fewer VOC's than with open molding processes, which is a significant reason why vacuum bag techniques have gained interest in recent years.
When using a disposable vacuum bag, a peel ply release film and a resin flow/bleeder media must often be stacked atop the fiber lay up below the bag because of the nature of the thin sheet film to conform very tightly to the fiber layer up and make resin flow very difficult. The resin flow/bleeder media facilitates flow of the resin across and through the fiber lay up in a timely manner by essentially forming a resin passageway, and the peel ply film ensures that both the media and peel ply layer itself may be easily pulled off of the finished part without undue effort. Additionally, resin and vacuum distribution lines extending from the supply lines and routed beneath the vacuum bag across the mold are often needed in addition to the resin flow/bleeder media to properly distribute the resin and apply the vacuum draw beneath the tightly drawn thin sheet film. Also, adhesive sealant tape is typically applied around the perimeter of the bag to form an airtight seal with the mold and facilitate proper vacuum operation.
Despite the high quality of the part produced using disposable vacuum bag molding techniques (i.e., having a high fiber to resin ratio), certain disadvantages are apparent. For example, many of the aforementioned components used in disposable vacuum bag techniques—including the vacuum bag having resin and vacuum supply lines integrally formed therewith, the resin flow/bleeder media, the peel ply film, the resin and vacuum distribution lines and the adhesive sealant tape—are disposed of after molding only a single part, making this technique prohibitively expensive for all but high margin parts manufacturing. Significant labor is also necessary when using a disposable bag, as the bag must be made by hand to fit the particular base mold and also installed by hand with the resin flow/bleeder media, peel ply film, resin and vacuum distribution lines and sealant tape at the proper positions for the vacuum draw and resin impregnation of the fiber lay up to work Furthermore, if the female mold has a complex shape, many pieces of sheet film may need to be cut and bonded together with sealant tape to produce a bag with the desired shape, thereby significantly increasing manufacturing time per part as compared to open molding processes.
Yet another closed resin transfer molding process involves using rigid male and female molds together to produce fiber reinforced composite parts. A fiber lay-up is placed on the female mold and the male mold is brought into contact with the female mold and clamped or otherwise secured therewith so that a closed space is formed between the molds. Then, a mixed resin and catalyst are injected into the closed space under relatively low pressure. Upon curing of the resin, the molds are separated and the part is removed. The resin transfer molding process is more environmentally friendly than traditional open molding processes, with the capture of any VOC's present in the closed space occurring before the molds are separated to reveal the finished part. One significant disadvantage of resin transfer molding, however, is that because the male and female molds are rigid, if the fiber load of the lay up is not precisely the correct quantity at the correct position, structural weakness in the part occur. For example, "dry spots" occur where the resin cannot flow to an area during the injection process if the fiber density is too high, and if the fiber density is too low, a spot filled with resin and little fiber will develop. Both dry spots and resin filled spots in finished parts are susceptible to fracture or other structural failures at relatively low force loads. These structural weaknesses are even more important when fabricating large parts, such as boat hull components, where the weight of the part itself may facilitate structural failures. Matched, rigid tooling is very expensive to produce and, therefore, the process is less amenable to changes that may be required for structural, process, or styling updates. Rigid tooling molding can result in a higher resin to fiber ratio and weaker parts for a given weight of molded part.
Current closed molding lamination techniques do not provide an economical and reliable solution for fabricating fiber reinforced composite parts, especially with respect to small to medium part runs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,406 discloses a boat and method of manufacturing using a rigid mold, both the male and female halves of the mold are rigid. The boat includes a hull and an internal deck. The internal deck has opposite side chambers containing foam therein. The chambers are formed by a portion of the bottom wall, a floor or top wall and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and adjoining the top wall. When the boat is formed, transverse members are formed as an integral part of the structure which can best be seen in FIG. 3. The foam inserts have transverse members that adjoin in the middle which are then covered with fiber which is then infused with resin. The patent specifically requires a seamless construction. The transverse supports extend width wise across the hull and are configured for providing structural reinforcement to the hull. It is specifically required that the support structure, i.e., deck and transverse member forming portions and the hull are preferably formed as a single unitary or monolithic piece such that no seams are discontinuities are located between the two structures. It is also disclosed that there are preferably no separate fasteners or adhesives provided at the connection locations of the various parts of the hull with the connections between the various portions consisting of continuous uninterrupted thicknesses of fiber reinforced plastic material. It is also specifically disclosed that the support structure which includes the transverse supports are simultaneously molded as a single piece within the molding cavity. Further, it is disclosed that the resin is injected under pressure into the mold chamber with the mold members being semi rigid membranes that are capable of at least slightly flexing when pressurized resin is injected into the mold chamber. However, the transverse members formed discontinuities in the walls defining opposite sides of chambers between the deck portions. Stress risers are also provided where there are discontinuities between the fiberglass resin combination and the foam insert. It is believed that this structure, as disclosed, derives the majority of its compressive and tensile strengths from the fiber/resin laminate necessitating thicker and heavier laminates with concentrated stresses in places where the laminates are not continuous.
The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a one step or one shot molding process to form a relatively complete boat hull with the various interior portions of the boat hull, for example, the working deck, formed as a monolithic and integral structure with substantially seamless component joiner of certain of the major components. The molding process also permits easy formation of desired seams at desired locations with simple tooling during a single step molding process. The boat hull and working deck form the major portion of the finished boat or boat precursor. One or more partitions may be easily added between working deck components after forming the hull and working deck.


The invention provides a human microfibril-associated glycoprotein 4 splice variant (MAG4V) and polynucleotides which identify and encode MAG4V. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating or preventing disorders associated with expression of MAG4V.

Many eukaryotic cells are enveloped by an extracellular matrix of proteins that provide structural support, cell and tissue identity, and autocrine, paracrine and juxtacrine properties for the cell within its environment. (McGowan, S. E. (1992) FASEB J. 6:2895-2904.) The diverse biochemistry of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is indicative of the many, often overlapping, roles that are attributed to each distinct molecule. (Grant, D. S. and Kleinman, H. K. (1997) EXS 79:317-333.) Whilst a great number of ECM proteins have been isolated, it remains unclear how the majority of ECM proteins interact with one another or is with other molecules residing within the cell membrane.
Many ECM proteins have been associated with tissue growth and cell proliferation, others with tissue or cell differentiation, and yet others with cell death. (Taipale, J. and Keski-Oja, J. (1997) FASEB J. 11:51-59; and Eleftheriou, C. S. et al. (1991) Mutat. Res. 256:127-138.) For example, the process of embryonic bone formation involves the creation of an extracellular matrix that mineralizes during the course of tissue maturation. During the life of an individual, this matrix is subject to constant remodeling through the combined actions of osteoblasts, which form mineralized bone, and osteoclasts, which resorb bone. The balance of ECM composition, and the resulting bone structure, may be perturbed by biochemical changes that result from congenital, epigenetic, or infectious diseases. (Francomano, C. A. et al. (1996) Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 6:301-308.)
ECM proteins also act as important mediators and regulators during the inflammatory response. Leukocytes are primed for inflammatory mediator and cytokine production by binding to ECM proteins during extravasation. (Pakianathan, D. R. (1995) J. Leukoc. Biol. 57:699-702.) Deposition of ECM proteins is also triggered by inflammation in response to lung injury. Although the function of newly deposited matrices in injured lungs is unknown, their ability to affect the migration, proliferation, differentiation, and activation state of cells in vitro suggests an important role in the initiation and maintenance of the inflammatory response in vivo. (Roman, J. (1996) Immunol. Res. 15:163-178.)
Multidomain or mosaic proteins play an important role in the diverse functions of the ECM. ECM proteins are frequently characterized by the presence of one or more domains which may include collagen-like domains, EGF-like domains, immunoglobulin-like domains, fibronectin-like domains, and von Willebrand Factor A-like modules. (Ayad, S. et al. (1994) The Extracellular Matrix FactsBook, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. pp 4-7.)
Cell adhesion molecules are located in the plasma membrane and associate with the ECM. They have been shown to stimulate axonal growth through homophilic and/or heterophilic interactions with other molecules. For example, proteins that contain the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) attachment site, and the integrins that serve as their receptors, constitute a major recognition system for cell adhesion. In addition, interactions between adhesion molecules and their receptors can potentiate the effects of growth factors upon cell biochemistry via shared signaling pathways. (Ruoslahti, E. (1997) Kidney Int. 51:1413-1417.)
Integrins are ubiquitous transmembrane adhesion molecules that link cells to the ECM by interacting with the cytoskeleton. Integrins also function as signal transduction receptors and stimulate changes in intracellular calcium levels and protein kinase activity. (Sjaastad, M. D. and Nelson, W. J. (1997) BioEssays 19:47-55.) For example, fibronectin is recognized by at least ten cell surface receptors of the integrin family which mediate the involvement of fibronectin in many different biological processes.
The composition of the ECM is also regulated by differential proteolytic activity. Cysteine proteases (e.g., cathepsin) are produced by monocytes, macrophages and other immune cells and are involved in diverse cellular processes ranging from the processing of precursor proteins to intracellular degradation. Overproduction of these enzymes can cause the tissue destruction associated with rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a multiple congenital anomaly and mental retardation syndrome associated with the deletion of human chromosome 17p11.1. In normal tissue, chromosome 17p11.1 contains a gene encoding microfibril-associated glycoprotein 4 (MFAP4) in addition to several other genes which are homologous to known eukaryotic proteins. (Chen, K. S. et al. (1995) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 56:175-182; and Koyama, K. et al. (1996) Cytogenet. Cell. Genet. 72:78-82.) The MFAP4 gene is deleted in almost all SMS patients studied. MFAP4 has a fibrinogen-like domain and the N-terminus has an RGD sequence which suggests that the gene encodes an ECM protein involved in cell adhesion or lo intracellular interactions. (Zhao, Z. et al. (1995) Hum. Mol. Genet. 4:589-597.) Furthermore, the gene encoding MFAP2, a candidate gene for involvement in the etiology of inherited connective tissue diseases, contains two alternatively used 5' untranslated exons. (Faraco, J. et al. (1995) Genomics 25:630-637.)
The discovery of a new human microfibril-associated glycoprotein 4 splice variant and the polynucleotides encoding it satisfies a need in the art by providing new compositions which are useful in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of developmental, reproductive, muscle, immunological, and neoplastic disorders.

Human microfibril-associated glycoprotein 4 splice variant


In an optical information medium having an information bearing surface having projections and depressions and/or capable of forming recorded marks, a functional layer is added. The information borne on the information bearing surface can be read by using reading light of a wavelength longer than 4NA·PL wherein PL is the minimum size of the projections and depressions or the recorded marks and NA is the numerical aperture of a reading optical system, setting the power of the reading light within such a range that the functional layer does not change its complex index of refraction, and irradiating the reading light to the information bearing surface constructed by the functional layer or to the information bearing surface through the functional layer or to the functional layer through the information bearing surface. The medium enables reading at a high resolution beyond the diffraction limit.

Optical information media include read-only optical discs such as compact discs, rewritable optical recording discs such as magneto-optical recording discs and phase change optical recording discs, and write-once optical recording discs using organic dyes as the recording material.
In general, optical information media have a high information density as compared with magnetic recording media. The recent need to process a vast quantity of information as in images requires to further increase the recording density. The recording density per unit area can be increased either by narrowing the track pitch or by reducing the space or blank between recorded marks or between phase pits to increase a line density. However, if the track density or line density is too high relative to the beam spot of reading light, the carrier-to-noise (C/N) ratio lowers, eventually to a level where signals are unreadable. The resolution upon signal readout is determined by the diameter of a beam spot. More illustratively, provided that the reading light has a wavelength λ and the optical system of the reading equipment has a numerical aperture NA, the readout limit is generally given by a spatial frequency 2NA/λ. Accordingly, reducing the wavelength of reading light and increasing the NA are effective means for improving the C/N and resolution upon readout. A number of technical studies that have been made thus far reveal that many technical problems must be solved before such effective means can be introduced.
Under the circumstances, several methods have been proposed for going over the readout limit determined by light diffraction. They are generally known as super-resolution readout methods.
The most common super-resolution readout method is to form a mask layer over a recording layer. Based on the fact that a laser beam defines a spot having an intensity distribution approximate to the Gaussian distribution, an optical aperture smaller than the beam spot is formed in the mask layer whereby the beam spot is reduced below the diffraction limit. This method is generally divided into a heat mode and a photon mode, depending on the optical aperture-forming mechanism.
The heat mode is such that upon irradiation to a beam spot, the mask layer changes its optical properties in a region whose temperature is raised above a certain value. The heat mode is utilized, for example, in the optical disc disclosed in JP-A 5-205314. This optical disc has on a transparent substrate in which optically readable recorded pits are formed in accordance with information signals, a layer of a material whose reflectance changes with temperature. That is, the material layer serves as a mask layer. The elements described in JP-A 5-205314 as the material of which the mask layer is constructed are lanthanoids, with Tb being used in Examples. In the optical disc of JP-A 5-205314, when reading light is irradiated, the reflectance of the material layer changes due to temperature distribution within the scanned spot of the reading light. After reading operation, the reflectance resumes the initial state as the temperature lowers. It never happens that the material layer be melted during reading. Another known example of the heat mode is a medium capable of super-resolution readout, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2,844,824, the medium having a mask layer of an amorphous-crystalline phase transition material in which a high-temperature region created within a beam spot is transformed into crystal for increasing the reflectance. This medium, however, is impractical in that after reading, the mask layer must be transformed back to amorphous.
The heat mode media require that the readout power be strictly controlled in consideration of various conditions including the linear velocity of the medium since the size of the optical aperture depends solely on the temperature distribution in the mask layer. This, in turn, requires a complex control system and hence, an expensive medium drive. The heat mode media also suffer from the problem that reading characteristics degrade with the repetition of reading operation because the mask layer is prone to degradation by repetitive heating.
On the other hand, the photon mode is such that upon exposure to a beam spot, the mask layer changes its optical properties in a region whose photon intensity is increased above a certain value. The photon mode is utilized, for example, in the information recording medium of JP-A 8-96412, the optical recording medium of JP-A 11-86342, and the optical information recording medium of JP-A 10-340482. More illustratively, JP-A 8-96412 discloses a mask layer formed of phthalocyanine or a derivative thereof dispersed in a resin or inorganic dielectric, and a mask layer formed of a chalcogenide. JP-A 11-86342 uses as the mask layer a super-resolution readout film containing a semiconductor material having a forbidden band which upon exposure to reading light, is subject to electron excitation to the energy level of excitons to change light absorption characteristics. One illustrative mask layer is CdSe microparticulates dispersed in a SiO2 matrix. JP-A 10-340482 uses as the mask layer a glass layer in which the intensity distribution of transmitted light varies non-linearly with the intensity distribution of irradiated light.
Unlike the super-resolution readout media of the heat mode, the super-resolution readout media of the photon mode are relatively resistant to degradation by repetitive reading.
In the photon mode, the region whose optical characteristics change is determined by the number of incident photons which in turn, depends on the linear velocity of the medium relative to the beam spot. Also in the photon mode, the size of an optical aperture depends on the power of reading light, indicating that supply of an excessive power makes so large an optical aperture that super-resolution readout may become impossible. Therefore, the photon mode also requires to strictly control the power of reading light in accordance with the linear velocity and the size of pits or recorded marks to be read out. Additionally, the photon mode requires to select the mask layer-forming material in accordance with the wavelength of reading light. That is, the photon mode media are rather incompatible with multi-wavelength reading.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optical information medium including an information bearing surface and a functional layer, and reading method


A system for sensing the load carried in a structural member by attaching a load cell to a neutral axis of bending. Small deflections along an arc of bending create a desirable signal level via mechanical amplification. A load sensor is adapted for mounting on an axle that deviates from a neutral axis when under a load. The load sensor comprises a reaction portion adapted for mounting on the axle and an active portion adapted for mounting to at least two points along the axle. The active portion has an amplifier arm and at least one sensor element. The sensor element is attached at a first end to the reaction portion and the sensor is attached at its second end to the amplifier arm. At least one strain gauge is mounted on the sensor element. At least one flexion web is attached to the reaction portion and to the active portion. When a load is put on the axle, flexion of the axle moves the active portion relative to the neutral axis of the axle, the active portion moves the amplifier arm, causing a curve to be formed in the sensor element, the curve being of sufficient magnitude to be calibrated by the at least one strain gauge.

Installing on-board sensor beams at the neutral axis of bending of a load bearing member such as a truck drive axle or front axle is disclosed by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,791 to Walker, 1992.
The prior art design, with four (4) mounting points, secures a "dog bone" shaped sensor beam sufficiently enough to force it to bend with the load bearing structure. Its neutral axis corresponds to that of the load bearing structure and follows its arc of bending.
Although very useful in the truck scale industry this technique has limitations. Its size limits its utility. For example: current 12 inch long beams must straddle spring attachment U-bolts to find a suitable installation location. This spacing away from the drive axle housing necessitates tall weld brackets (up to 1¼ inches). There is a need for a new design that would reduce the size (length) of sensor beam to increase utility. An 8 inch long sensor beam would install inboard of U-bolts and outboard of the drive axle banjo.
Its relatively low output signal limits noise reject and hinders weight resolution. There is a need to increase the output signal of the sensor beam by some mechanical amplification technique. Simply shortening a beam significantly reduces its output signal. However, making a sensor beam longer would increase its output signal but would also further limit its utility.
There is a need to review hardware being used in sensor beam installation to improve proximity of the sensor to the load bearing member. There is a further need to reduce shear and bending forces on mounting bolts or studs to improve linearity and zero return of installed sensors.
The aforementioned arc approximates a circular function for the center section of a front axle between the spring mounts. The arc of bending for a drive axle is exponential in character, i.e., deflection increases an amount that is more than proportionate to the distance from the drive axle centerline as that distance increases. In both of the above situations, the deflection available to drive the sensor is only 0.005 inches for prior art sensor beams. It is even less for shorter sensor beams. Because existing neutral axis sensor beams reside in a low deflection zone with respect to load bearing members, there is a need for some multiplying or amplifying factor to facilitate a new design.

On-board scale sensor with mechanical amplification and improved output signal apparatus and method


A security method for smart cards used for accessing appliances or the like. The smart card is provided with a memory source having a plurality of addressed floating memory locations. Periodically, one of the floating memory locations is randomly selected as a security location and a security code is written in the security location. The security code and the address of the security location in the card""s memory device is stored in the appliance""s memory or in a central controllers memory. Periodically, the code in the floating memory location at the address stored in the appliance memory device is compared with the security code in the appliance memory device. If the two codes are not the same, then an alert code is written into each of the memory locations and/or the smart card is disabled. If the two codes are the same, then the appliance is placed in a stand by mode ready to provide service.

The present invention relates to a security system for ensuring that smart cards, such as ID/security badges, pre-paid debit cards, automatic billing cards and the like, are being used within their effective lifespan and according to any existing pre-paid fees, warranty or license.
It is desirable to provide a means by which only the appropriate type of pre-paid, licensed or authorized cartridge or smart card may be used with a specific electrostatographic reproducing machine or other appliance.
If an incorrect or improperly manufactured cartridge is inserted into the machine, it may have a detrimental affect on the quality and/or quantity of the documents produced by the machine. Furthermore, an improperly or poorly designed cartridge may detrimentally affect components of the electrostatographic reproducing machine, and may therefore void any warranty on the machine. It is also important to ensure that CRU""s (Customer Replaceable Units) are not used beyond the useful life of the CRU. Using a CRU beyond its useful life may likewise have a detrimental effect on print quality and/or on machine components, possibly voiding any warranty. In some instances, it is desirable to determine whether a machine being operated under a contract, license or pre-paid fee is being used in accordance therewith.
In order to automatically determine whether a replaceable cartridge or CRU is the correct type of CRU upon insertion of the CRU into the machine, it is known to provide the CRU with a monitoring device commonly referred to as a CRUM (Customer Replaceable Unit Monitor). A CRUM is typically a memory device, such as a ROM, EEPROM, SRAM, or other suitable non-volatile memory device, provided in or on the cartridge. Information identifying the CRU is written on the EEPROM during manufacture of the CRUM. For example, information identifying a CRU as a developer cartridge and identifying the type of carrier, developer, and transfer mechanism contained in the developer cartridge may be written in the memory contained in the CRUM. When a CRU containing such a CRUM is installed in a machine, the machine""s control unit reads the identifying information stored in the CRUM. If the CRU is the wrong type of unit for the machine, then a xe2x80x9cWrong Type of Cartridgexe2x80x9d message is displayed on the machine""s control panel and the machine is deactivated. Use of an incorrect cartridge or CRU is thus prevented. Such a xe2x80x9csecurity CRUMxe2x80x9d system is disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,088 issued to Gilliland et al.
The maximum number of prints that a CRU is designed, licensed, pre-paid or warranted to produce is also commonly programmed into memory during manufacture of the CRU or smart card. When a given cartridge has reached its maximum number of prints, the machine is disabled and a xe2x80x9cChange Cartridgexe2x80x9d message is displayed on the control panel. The spent CRU must be removed and a new CRU must be installed in order to reactivate the machine and continue making prints. Prior to removal of the spent CRU, the machine""s control unit writes data indicating that the CRU has been exhausted into the CRUM""s memory. Should a spent cartridge be reinserted into the machine, the control unit will identify the CRU as a spent CRU upon reading the CRUM. Upon identifying a newly installed CRU as a spent CRU, the control unit disables the machine and displays a xe2x80x9cChange Cartridgexe2x80x9d message on the display panel. Thus, inadvertent reuse of an exhausted CRU is prevented. When remanufacturing a used CRU, the CRUM must be reset or replaced with a new CRUM before the remanufactured CRU may be used in a electrostatographic machine without being identified as an exhausted cartridge.
In order to provide controlled access to appliances, such as printers, copy machines, telecopiers, facsimile machines, satellite television receivers, telephones, pagers, washers and dryers at a Laundromat, video arcade machines, etc. so-called xe2x80x9csmart cardsxe2x80x9d are commonly used. Smart cards are also used to provide automatic individualized billing for use of such appliances and as pre-paid fee for service access cards. A smart card may take the form of a card containing a memory device similar to that of the previously described CRUM. The memory device may be, for example, a ROM, EEPROM, SRAM, magnetic strip, or other suitable non-volatile memory device.
In order to prevent resetting and reuse of spent CRU""s and smart cards beyond their effective lifespan, or beyond the term of a pre-paid fee, warranty or license it is known to provide a xe2x80x9ckill zonexe2x80x9d in the memory of a CRUM or smart card. The known kill zones are a fixed area in the memory that, when an attempt to read or access this portion of the memory is made, disables all functionality of the CRUM or smart card. Once disabled, the CRUM or smart card will no longer function with the corresponding appliance. For example, one or more of the useful datapoints in the memory, such as the datapoint identifying the number of available images or current balance in dollars or pre-paid images (or other unit of service) may be set to zero. Setting such a useful datapoint to zero will cause the appliance to cease operating and display a xe2x80x9cReplace Cartridgexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCurrent Balance is Zeroxe2x80x9d message on the display panel. In this way a consumer is prevented from employing a CRU or smart card that has been improperly remanufactured beyond its useful or warranted life, and the possible detrimental consequences in the form of reduced print quality, damage to machine components, contract violation and loss of warranty are prevented.
In some instances, consumers have been successful in identifying the location of the fixed kill zone in existing smart cards and xe2x80x9csecurity CRUM""s.xe2x80x9d After identifying the location of the fixed kill zone, it is possible to access the non-kill zone portions of the memory and reverse engineer its architecture, programming, and identifying information and codes. Upon knowing the architecture and identifying information and codes, it is possible to reprogram spent smart cards and CRUMs for continued use. When extending the life of a CRU in this manner, a consumer may continue to use a degraded CRU with detrimental effects on the overall operation of the machine in terms of print quality or quantity, possibly voiding any warranties and damaging machine components in the process. In other instances, the consumer may be resetting the CRUM or smart card in order to continue operating the machine beyond the terms of a license or contract based on usage, time, or amount pre-paid.
There is a need in the art for an improved method of preventing unauthorized access of the memory of CRUMs and smart cards, in order to prevent reuse of spent CRUs and smart cards beyond their effective or pre-paid life, or beyond the term of a warranty or license.
The present invention provides a security method for a smart card. The method includes the following steps. Providing the smart card with a memory source having a plurality of addressed floating memory locations. Randomly selecting one of the floating memory locations as a security location. Writing a security code into the security location. Periodically repeating the steps of selecting a security location and writing a security number into the security location.