A lubricant composition contains poly-α-olefin oil having a kinematic viscosity of 1500 to 13000 mm 2/s (40° C.) as a base oil and from 45 to 50% by weight of a thickener composed of polytetrafluoroethylene. The lubricant composition may be used for lubricating an expandable shaft having a pair of shaft members filled with the lubricant composition to prevent stick-slip from occurring when a high surface pressure is applied thereto, thereby allowing consistent maintenance of good lubricating performance. Such an expandable shaft may be incorporated advantageously into a steering system as an intermediate shaft into an area between a steering shaft and a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lubricant composition suited to lubricate an expandable shaft comprising a pair of shaft members axially expandable and contractible and coupled to each other to be integrally rotatable in a direction of rotation around its axis to fill an area between both the shaft members, the expandable shaft, and a steering system incorporating the expandable shaft.
2. Description of Related Art
Examples of EPS (Electric Power Steering System) for automobiles include column-type EPS utilizing a rotary force of an electric motor provided on a column. In the column-type EPS, an expandable shaft comprising a pair of shaft members axially expandable and contractible and coupled to each other to be integrally rotatable in a direction of rotation around its axis has spread as an intermediate shaft for connecting a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel serving as a steering member and a steering mechanism such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism.
In the column-type EPS, the distance between the steering shaft and the steering mechanism is arbitrarily changed when the expandable shaft is assembled into an automobile utilizing an expanding/contracting function of the expandable shaft, to improve assembling workability and absorb relative displacement between the steering shaft and the steering mechanism when the automobile is traveling.
As a coupling structure of the expandable shaft, a spline or a serration is generally employed. For example, the expandable shaft is configured by forming a male spline (external spline) at an end of one of the pair of shaft members (inner shaft member) and forming a cylindrical female spline (internal spline) into which the male spline is inserted at an end of the other shaft member (outer shaft member), and inserting the male spline into the female spline to couple both the shaft members to be axially expandable and contractible and integrally rotatable in the direction of rotation around the axis.
In this case, the expandable shaft cannot be assembled by inserting the male spline into the female spline if there is no clearance between the splines. When a clearance is provided, as disclosed in paragraphs [0002] to [0005] in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. JP2001-50293A, however, both the shaft members are relatively displaced in a radial direction and a circumferential direction to produce a rattle sound, which makes a driver uncomfortable.
Therefore, a surface of at least one of both the splines is subjected to resin coating to reduce the clearance as small as possible, and the clearance is filled with a lubricant composition such as grease. In recent years as the column-type EPS has found wider applications to cars of large displacement, and, a load (torsional rigidity) applied to the steering column has tended to increase at the time of steering. Therefore, a higher surface pressure than before is applied between both the splines. If normal grease is used for lubricating the expandable shaft, stick-slip due to oil film shortage occurs, which causes a new problem of making a driver uncomfortable, by a slip sound easily produced particularly when the steering wheel is returned.

Lubricant composition, expandable shaft, and steering system using the same


A glass tube semi-finished product or a hollow glass product manufactured from the glass tube semi-finished product is provided with a first marking with information on the origin and/or tube-specific production data of the glass tube semi-finished product, which marking is read from the hollow glass product after its manufacture to determine the origin and/or the tube-specific production data of the glass tube semi-finished product, e.g., to identify the semi-finished glass tube from which the hollow glass product has been made, and/or trace the tube-specific production data of this glass tube semi-finished product. This means that the entire supply chain for the hollow glass product from the supplier of the originally used glass tube semi-finished product up to the end product can be determined. The physical and chemical characteristics of the glass tube semi-finished product are not altered for producing the first marking.

Various methods for marking and coding semi-finished or finished products are known from the prior art. However, because of the particular material characteristics and manufacturing conditions of glass, the methods usually used for marking or coding glass involve imprinting markings or the like directly into the glass material.
For example, such a method is disclosed in US 2003 0029849 A1, DE 102 34 002 A1 or WO 2012 028611 A1 of the applicant, the content of which is expressly incorporated herewith by way of reference. In this method the glass is acted upon by a laser pulse in sections to apply a marking to the surface. The marking is clearly visible and in particular can be reliably read by means of a lensing effect exerted by the marking, can be stresslessly applied at high temperatures during manufacture and is therefore suitable for applying the marking during the manufacture of glass tube semi-finished products, that is to say during the tube forming process itself. As the marking can be applied at temperatures above the transformation temperature of the glass, markings for combating product piracy can be applied. Such markings but also used to apply brand names, company logos or other product features on the strand of glass tubing. However, the process can be too costly for applications that require less authenticity.
Further methods for marking glass substrates are disclosed in WO 2004 000749 A1 and WO 2009 128893 A1.
WO 2008 104688 A1 discloses a hollow glass product with a marking formed on it containing details about the production line and place of manufacture, achieved by means of a special numeric coding.
In order to mark or describe glass by means of laser radiation, other processes are known from the prior art that modify the glass by means of additives, coatings, pigments or additional doping and have a detrimental effect on its transparency at least at the position where it is processed with a laser, such as in EP 761377 B1, DE 4224282 A1, DE 3121138 C2, DE 19926878 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,440 B1, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,196,807 B2 discloses the marking of a pharmaceutical container. It is not possible to trace back to the original product glass tube.
In addition to effective protection against counterfeiting, increased product safety is playing an increasingly important role. Particularly for pharmaceutical containers, which increasingly have to comply with higher specifications, an improved information situation regarding origin, concrete production conditions etc. in the manufacture of glass tube semi-finished products and in the manufacture of hollow glass products from glass tube semi-finished products is therefore increasingly desired.

Method for manufacturing a hollow glass product from a glass tube semi-finished product having markings, and uses of the same


A method for decompressing a stream of a compressed data packet includes determining whether first data of a data-dictionary for a first decompression copy operation is located in a history buffer on a remote memory or a local memory, and when it is determined that the first data is located in the remote memory, stalling the first decompression copy operation, performing a second decompression operation using second data that is located in the history buffer on the local memory and fetching the first data from the remote memory to the history buffer on the local memory. The method further includes performing the first decompression operation using the first data in the history buffer on the local memory.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to the acceleration of data decompression, and more particularly to the acceleration of dictionary-based data decompression in a networked environment.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Websites are increasingly more complex and rely on dynamic content and dynamic scripting languages to enhance the user experience. Such complex websites use a large amount of the available bandwidth and benefit from the use of data compression technologies. As an example, HTTP/1.1 incorporates HTTP message body compression by means of content encoding.
One conventional compression/decompression algorithm, Deflate, implements the Lempel-Ziv (LZ) compression algorithm. The LZ compression algorithm identifies substrings in input streams that have occurred in the past and replaces each substring with a reference distance and a length. The resulting compressed stream includes a sequence of literal requests and copy requests, which are referred to as tokens. The tokens may be further compressed using Huffman encoding. Deflate is used in conventional compression programs such as gzip and zip. The reference distances may be limited to a predetermined size (e.g., 32K bytes) for efficiency reasons.
The decompression is achieved in reverse order by performing Huffman decoding followed by Lempel-Ziv decompression. In LZ decompression, an input pointer processes each record of the compressed stream. For a literal request, the literal is copied from the input buffer to an output buffer (e.g., a history buffer). For a copy request, a string is copied from the existing history (e.g., a data-dictionary) to the end of the output buffer.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional implementation of the Deflate decompression algorithm. Variable length tokens are extracted from a compressed input stream and placed in an input buffer 101. The variable length tokens can then be decoded using a variable length token decoder 105 and a Huffman code table 106 to generate fixed length tokens for storage in a fixed length token buffer 104. The fixed length tokens can then be presented to a LZ decompression unit 105 that either copies a literal from the token or uses a reference distance of the token to copy data from the recent history of the output buffer 102.
Decompression algorithms like LZ decompression are being increasingly implemented in hardware, such as in individual chip cores, as decompression engines. However, since the amount of available chip area is limited, typically only a small number of decompression engines can be accommodated.
In stateless decompression, the inputs of different decompression requests can be independently processed. In conventional stateless decompression, all segments of a compressed data stream generated by a single compression operation must be received and presented at once to an acceleration engine. The magnitude of open connections that might carry compressed state can be in the thousands for enterprise servers. For systems like intrusion prevention systems the number of routed open connections can be in the order of millions. The requirement to have the entire compressed data stream available can create significant memory pressure on the system, which could be exploited in a service attack. Alternatively, a decompression engine can be dedicated to a particular stream from the first to the last packet of a compressed stream and thus packets could be decompressed one after the other. However, due to network traffic delays, packets belonging to a compressed stream might arrive in a sequence of bursts due to the network protocol (e.g. TCP/IP) and they typically span multiple seconds or longer. Hence the number of concurrent connections that can be handled at a time is limited to the number of decompression engines. In addition, this method can be exploited by attacks that do not send all of the packets.
In some intrusion prevention systems, decompressed content must be inspected on a per-packet level to detect intrusions as early as possible so the packets can be either rejected or forwarded based on that analysis. Given the large number of connections that might require simultaneous decompression (e.g., 1 million or more), coupled with the necessity to decompress data streams on a per-packet basis, the system responsible for the decompression needs to be able perform efficient stateful decompression. In stateful decompression, different decompression operations are allowed to share the same state (e.g., the same data-dictionary). For example, in a packet deep inspection system, while the compression at the sender side is done at a flow (e.g., a stream) level, the inspection is done at a packet level where packets for the multitude of flows arrive interspersedly. However, the high concurrency of network traffic extends to the decompression accelerator and forces the decompression accelerator to maintain the state of each compressed flow.
Thus, there is a need for methods and systems for decompressing a stream of compressed data packets that can minimize the overhead of moving the decompression state (e.g., all or part of a data-dictionary) between local and remote memory spaces.

Method and apparatus for data decompression in the presence of memory hierarchies

International Business Machines Corporation


An oscillator includes a resonator, which has an inertial mass returned by an elastic return and carries entry and exit pallets cooperating with teeth of an escape wheel each provided with a magnet. Each pallet includes a magnetic arrangement, with an annular sector, centred on the axis of oscillation of the resonator, defining a first magnetic barrier area extending above and/or below a mechanical pallet-stone of the entry pallet or exit pallet, over the entire length of this mechanical pallet-stone acting as support for the teeth during the supplementary arc, in order to form a magnetic cylinder escapement mechanism.

The use of flexure bearings makes it possible to make high frequency resonators having a high quality factor, as, for example, in European Patent Application Nos. EP2908184, EP2908185, EP30350126, EP3035127, in the name of THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, EP2891929 in the name of NIVAROX-FAR, EP3054357 in the name of ETA, EP2911012 in the name of CSEM, EP3182214 in the name of AUDEMARS PIGUET and WO2017157870 in the name of LVMH.
Frictionless magnetic escapements are well suited to maintaining the oscillation of this type of resonator, as explained in Patent Application Nos. EP141999882.3 in the name of THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, or U.S. Pat. No. 9,715,217 in the name of DI DOMENICO, since they make it possible to obtain high efficiency. The addition of a mechanical device preventing uncoupling of oscillation ensures robustness during wear, as in European Patent Application No. EP16195405.2 in the name of THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, but it makes the self-starting function difficult.
European Patent No. EP2889704B1 in the name of NIVAROX-FAR discloses an escapement mechanism whose escape wheel, subjected to a pivoting torque of lower moment than a nominal moment, includes actuators regularly distributed over its periphery, each arranged to cooperate directly with at least a first track of a regulating wheel set, particularly a cylindrical track. Each actuator includes first magnetic arresting means forming a barrier and arranged to cooperate with this first track which is magnetically charged or ferromagnetic, to exert on the first track a torque of greater moment than the nominal moment. Each actuator further includes second arresting means arranged to form an end-of-travel stop, arranged to constitute an autonomous escapement mechanism with at least a first complementary stop surface comprised in the regulating wheel set.
A general proposition to combine a high efficiency magnetic escapement with a mechanical escapement with self-starting and safety features is disclosed in European Patent Application No. EP2894522 in the name of NIVAROX-FAR.

Optimised magneto-mechanical timepiece escapement mechanism

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd


A method and apparatus for producing and controlling flow rate of a compressed gas produced by a compression system having one or more stages of compression formed by a centrifugal compressor or compressors, inlet guide vanes to control flow through the compression stage or stages and an electric motor directly coupled to the stage or stages having a restricted speed zone within which vibrational modes can damage the electric motor. A desired flow rate is obtained by speed adjustment alone and with the inlet guide vanes positioned at 0° when the speed will lie above or below the restricted speed zone. Where a desired flow rate would require extended operation of the electric motor at a speed within the restricted speed zone, the speed is set to the uppermost level of the restricted speed zone and the desired flow rate is obtained through appropriate positioning of the inlet guide vanes.

Gases are typically compressed in compressors that are driven by electric motors. The compressors can be connected so that the gas is compressed in stages from ambient to a high delivery pressure. Interstage cooling is employed to remove the heat of compressor between stages. A common compressor design that is utilized is a centrifugal compressor. In a centrifugal compressor, the gas to be compressed enters an inlet and is compressed by action of an impeller that is rotated by the electric motor. The gas then passes through a diffuser and is discharged from a volute of spiral-like configuration.
In many industrial processes employing compressors, it is necessary to reduce or increase the flow rate of the gas to be compressed from a design level of flow rate. For instance, in cryogenic air separation, air is compressed in a series of compression stages, cooled to a temperature suitable for the rectification of the air and then introduced into a distillation column system to separate the air into its component parts, for instance, oxygen, nitrogen and argon. In order to optimize the margin in the sale of separated products, it is important that electrical energy costs be minimized. Since, the cost of electrical power will vary with the time of day, it is most cost efficient to conduct the air separation at off-peak times, for example during the evening. As such, during peak times, where energy costs are most expensive it can be profitable to turn the plant down by decreasing the flow rate of the air that is compressed.
The gas flow rate through a compression system can be controlled by an arrangement of inlet guide vanes that can be set from an open position to increasing more closed positions to impart a swirl into the incoming gas and thereby decrease the gas flow rate. More recently, high speed motors have become available that can be directly coupled to a compressor. Such motors also have a speed control that allows the speed of the compressor to be accurately controlled. This control of speed allows the flow rate of the gas to also be controlled in a more thermodynamically efficient manner than with the use of inlet guide vanes. An example of such a motor are permanent magnet motors having a variable frequency drive to control the speed. Such motors can be directly connected to the compressors or each of the compressors in a compression system.
There are certain limitations on the use of a speed control to control the flow rate of the gas to be compressed by the compressor. One major limitation concerns undesirable vibration modes within an intended operational speed range for the turbomachine. Since operating on or near these modes can cause rotor displacements that can cause damage to the rotor sufficient to render the motor inoperable, it is common practice to set restricted speed zones and avoid operation on or near these undesirable vibration modes. The width of such zones can render important operation ranges of the motor; and therefore, the compressor unusable.
As will be discussed, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for compressing the gas in which desired flow rates of the gas can be safely obtained over the entire operational range of the motor while the overall compressors thermodynamic efficiency is maximized.

Gas compressor control system preventing vibration damage


In the present invention, an image is registered as a model image by setting a window after calculating a main axis angle of the model image stored in an image memory, the main axis angle being defined on a display screen, and then rotating the model image so that the main axis angle becomes a predetermined angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of registering a model image serving as a reference image for image inspection, and an apparatus therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a device designed to sequentially inspect the same kind of objects by means of image processing, such as an image processor for inspecting a product carried on a conveyor, an inspection is carried out in the following way. A model image serving as a reference image during image inspection is registered in advance; such a part of a target image taken by the camera as corresponding to the model image is extracted; and the extracted image is compared with the model image.
Some conventional model image registration methods carried out by the image processor for image inspection are characterized as follows.
(1) A model image is registered by manually positioning a target model, a camera, or the like so that the model image becomes as horizontal or vertical as possible on a display screen of a monitor.
(2) A model image is registered (or re-registered) by stopping a target model if the target model is moving along a line such as a conveyor.
(3) A model image is registered part by part while consecutively rotating a target model manually if the target model is not arranged substantially horizontally, but arranged substantially concentric.
However, the aforementioned methods address the following shortcomings.
With respect to case (1), since the target model, the camera, or the like have to be positioned manually so that the model image becomes substantially horizontal or vertical, the positioning operation not only is cumbersome but also entails skill.
With respect to case (2), since the line have to be stopped at the time the model image is registered (re-registered), the problem of reducing productivity arises. In addition, the operation of stopping and resuming the line have to be additionally performed.
With respect to case (3), the positioning operation that entails more time than in the case (1) is required.

Model image registration method and apparatus therefor


A method for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object point on a surface of an object, the method including steps of: providing a source, a projector, and a camera; in each of two instances: spatially modulating source light; sending a modulator pattern of light through the projector lens to form light spots; filtering the spots with a pinhole plate; propagating light from the light spots onto the object to produce a fringe pattern; imaging the object point with a camera lens onto an array point of the photosensitive array to obtain first and second electrical data values from the photosensitive array; and determining the three-dimensional coordinates of the first object point based at least in part on the first electrical data value, the second electrical data value, and a baseline length.

The present disclosure relates in general to three-dimensional (3D) surface contouring techniques, and more particularly to a device and method for using a spatial light modulator as a dynamic diffraction grating to reflect structured light in one of many types of patterns onto a surface of an object to ultimately determine through triangulation the 3D contour of the object's surface using the interference of two beams or spots of light.
In the field of three-dimensional surface contouring for accurately and rapidly determining the 3D coordinates of an object, there are many known techniques available, some of which involve the use of projecting various structured light patterns onto the object. The structured light pattern is typically formed in fringes (i.e., alternating bright and dark or different colored "stripes" or regions) on a surface of the object. In some cases, a spatial light modulator in the form of a diffraction grating of either a transmissive or reflective type is used to form grating patterns and to vary the phase of these patterns. The resulting fringe patterns on the surface of the object are then viewed by a camera device such as a charge coupled device (CCD), and processed by a computer or processor using various known triangulation techniques to ultimately determine the 3D surface contour of the object.
However, drawbacks with this type of approach include the fact that the diffraction grating is of a "static" type which must be moved by some type of manual means to effectuate a shift in the phase of the grating patterns. This results in a relatively slow phase shifting speed, which leads to less than optimum performance of the overall system. Also, such a system may require multiple separate diffraction gratings, each having a different grating period, to create a fringe pattern having the required spacing between the fringe lines (also known as pitch of the fringe lines). Besides the multiple gratings, it may also be necessary to provide associated translation stages and optical component feedback mechanisms, both of which are generally relatively expensive. Such a system may also require a relatively large amount of processor capability to process the camera captured images.
Other known prior art 3D object surface contouring systems are based on the direct projection of laser light, the projected image being essentially a replica of a pattern formed in a spatial light modulator such as, for example, in a digital micromirror device.
It is desirable to create very pure sinusoidal patterns having an infinite depth of field. A way to do this is to use a reflective or transmissive device as a dynamic diffraction grating device in a relatively highly accurate and less expensive 3D object surface contouring measurement system to form various types of structured light patterns by reflection of light off of the grating which then provides the reflected light through a pinhole plate to create by filtering two focused spots of light corresponding to the +1 and −1 order modes, and then allowing the light from the two spots of light to interfere at the surface of an object. The interference creates periodic sine waves that vary in intensity, thereby representing fringe patterns whose images may then be captured by a camera device and processed using known triangulation techniques to determine the 3D surface contour of the object. The reflective dynamic diffraction grating may comprise a digital micromirror device (DMD) comprised of a two-dimensional array of a plurality of movable reflective light switches or mirrors formed using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The dynamic diffraction grating may be referred to in general as a spatial light modulator (SLM) of which the grating may be a particular type of SLM.

Device and method using a spatial light modulator to find 3D coordinates of an object


Nickel-metal hydride batteries and electrodes are capable of increased power output and recharge rates. The electrodes and batteries produced therefrom exhibit increased internal conductance. The positive and negative electrodes may be formed by pressing powdered metal-hydride active materials into porous metal substrates. The porous metal substrates are formed from copper, copper-plated nickel, or a copper-nickel alloy, and may be additionally plated with a material which is electrically conductive and resistant to corrosion in the battery environment, such as nickel.

Advanced automotive battery development for vehicle propulsion has, in the past, been directed primarily at the requirement of a true electric vehicle. To this end, Stanford Ovshinsky and his battery development teams at Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. and Ovonic Battery Company have made great advances in nickel-metal hydride battery technology.
Initially Ovshinsky and his teams focused on metal hydride alloys that form the negative electrode. As a result of their efforts, they were able to greatly increase the reversible hydrogen storage characteristics required for efficient and economical battery applications, and produce batteries capable of high density energy storage, efficient reversibility, high electrical efficiency, efficient bulk hydrogen storage without structural changes or poisoning, long cycle life, and repeated deep discharge. The improved characteristics of these "Ovonic" alloys, as they are now called, results from tailoring the local chemical order and hence the local structural order by the incorporation of selected modifier elements into a host matrix. Disordered metal hydride alloys have a substantially increased density of catalytically active sites and storage sites compared to single or multi-phase crystalline materials. These additional sites are responsible for improved efficiency of electrochemical charging/discharging and an increase in electrical energy storage capacity. The nature and number of storage sites can even be designed independently of the catalytically active sites. More specifically, these alloys are tailored to allow bulk storage of the dissociated hydrogen atoms at bonding strengths within the range of reversibility suitable for use in secondary battery applications.
Some extremely efficient electrochemical hydrogen storage materials were formulated, based on the disordered materials described above. These are the Ti--V--Zr--Ni type active materials such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,400 ("the '400 Patent") to Sapru, Hong, Fetcenko, and Venkatesan, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. These materials reversibly form hydrides in order to store hydrogen. All the materials used in the '400 Patent utilize a generic Ti--V--Ni composition, where at least Ti, V, and Ni are present and may be modified with Cr, Zr, and Al. The materials of the '400 Patent are multiphase materials, which may contain, but are not limited to, one or more phases with C.sub.14 and C.sub.15 type crystal structures.
Other Ti--V--Zr--Ni alloys are also used for rechargeable hydrogen storage negative electrodes. One such family of materials are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,586 ("the '586 Patent") to Venkatesan, Reichman, and Fetcenko, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The '586 Patent describes a specific sub-class of these Ti--V--Ni--Zr alloys comprising Ti, V, Zr, Ni, and a fifth component, Cr. The '586 Patent, mentions the possibility of additives and modifiers beyond the Ti, V, Zr, Ni, and Cr components of the alloys, and generally discusses specific additives and modifiers, the amounts and interactions of these modifiers, and the particular benefits that could be expected from them.
In contrast to the Ovonic alloys described above, the older alloys were generally considered "ordered" materials that had different chemistry, microstructure, and electrochemical characteristics. The performance of the early ordered materials was poor, but in the early 1980's, as the degree of modification increased (that is as the number and amount of elemental modifiers increased), their performance began to improve significantly. This is due as much to the disorder contributed by the modifiers as it is to their electrical and chemical properties. This evolution of alloys from a specific class of "ordered" materials to the current multicomponent, multiphase "disordered" alloys is shown in the following patents: (i) U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,928; (ii) U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,043; (iii) U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,395; (iv) U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,405; (v) U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,199; (vi) U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,688 (vii) U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,043; (viii) U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,274; (ix) U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,817; (x) U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,603; (xii) U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,873; and (xiii) U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,856. (These references are discussed extensively in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,667 and this discussion is specifically incorporated by reference).
Simply stated, in all metal-hydride alloys, as the degree of modification increases, the role of the initially ordered base alloy is of minor importance compared to the properties and disorder attributable to the particular modifiers. In addition, analysis of the present multiple component alloys available on the market and produced by a variety of manufactures indicates that these alloys are modified following the guidelines established for Ovonic alloy systems. Thus, as stated above, all highly modified alloys are disordered materials characterized by multiple components and multiple phases, i.e. Ovonic alloys.
Ovshinsky and his teams next turned their attention to the positive electrode of the batteries. Positive electrodes today are typically pasted nickel electrodes, which consist of nickel hydroxide particles in contact with a conductive network or substrate, preferably having a high surface area. There have been several variants of these electrodes including the so-called plastic-bonded nickel electrodes which utilize graphite as a microconductor and also including the so-called foam-metal electrodes which utilize high porosity nickel foam as a substrate loaded with spherical nickel hydroxide particles and cobalt conductivity enhancing additives. Pasted electrodes of the foam-metal type have started to penetrate the consumer market due to their low cost and higher energy density relative to sintered nickel electrodes.
Conventionally, the nickel battery electrode reaction has been considered to be a one electron process involving oxidation of divalent nickel hydroxide to trivalent nickel oxyhydroxide on charge and subsequent discharge of trivalent nickel oxyhydroxide to divalent nickel hydroxide, as shown in equation 2 hereinbelow.
Some recent evidence suggests that quadrivalent nickel is involved in the nickel hydroxide redox reaction. This is not a new concept. In fact, the existence of quadrivalent nickel was first proposed by Thomas Edison in some of his early battery patents. However, full utilization of quadrivalent nickel has never been investigated.
In practice, electrode capacity beyond the one-electron transfer theoretical capacity is not usually observed. One reason for this is incomplete utilization of the active material due to electronic isolation of oxidized material. Because reduced nickel hydroxide material has a high electronic resistance, the reduction of nickel hydroxide adjacent the current collector forms a less conductive surface that interferes with the subsequent reduction of oxidized active material that is farther away.
Ovshinsky and his teams have developed positive electrode materials that have demonstrated reliable transfer of more than one electron per nickel atom. Such materials are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,728 and 5,348,822 (which describe stabilized disordered positive electrode materials) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,563 issued Oct. 29, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,549 issued Oct. 22, 1996.
As a result of this research into the negative and positive electrode active materials, the Ovonic Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery has reached an advanced stage of development for EVs. Ovshinsky's teams have been able to produce electric vehicle batteries which are capable of propelling an electric vehicle to over 350 miles on a single charge (Tour d'Sol 1996). The Ovonic Ni-MH battery has demonstrated excellent energy density (up to about 90 Wh/Kg), long cycle life (over 1000 cycles at 80% DOD), abuse tolerance, and rapid recharge capability (up to 60% in 15 minutes). Additionally, the Ovonic battery has demonstrated higher power density than any other battery technology under test and evaluation for use as an EV stored energy source.
While Ovshinsky and his teams have made great advances in batteries for true electric vehicles, the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), a U.S. government-auto industry partnership initiated in 1996, has suggested that hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV's) could be the leading candidate to meet their goals of tripling auto fuel economy in the next decade. To realize this goal, lightweight, compact, high-power batteries would be required.
The use of a hybrid drive system offers critical advantages for both fuel economy and ultra-low emissions. Fuel engines achieve maximum efficiency when operating at constant rpm. Therefore, peak fuel efficiency can be achieved by employing a constant rpm fuel engine to provide energy to a high-power energy storage system that supplies peak power for acceleration and also recaptures kinetic energy through the use of regenerative braking.
Similarly, the ability to use a small engine operating at maximum efficiency and coupled with a pulse power energy storage system offers the best design for minimizing emissions associated with the use of a fuel engine. Therefore, a key enabling technology for HEV's is an energy storage system capable of providing very high pulse power and accepting high regenerative braking currents at very high efficiency. The duty cycle of a pulse power application requires exceptional cycle life at low depths of discharge.
It is important to understand the different requirements for this energy storage system compared to those for a pure electric vehicle. Range is the critical factor for a practical EV, making energy density the critical evaluation parameter. Power and cycle life are certainly important, but they become secondary to energy density for an EV.
By contrast, in the HEV pulse power application, power density is the overwhelming consideration. Excellent cycle life under low depth discharge is also more critical than the more typical cycle life at 80% DOD required by EV applications. Energy density is important to minimize battery weight and space, but due to the smaller battery size this characteristic is less critical than power density. Ability for rapid recharge is also essential to allow efficient regenerative braking, and charge/discharge efficiency is critical to maintain battery state of charge in the absence of external charging.
Given the fundamental differences in requirements between the EV and those for an HEV application, it could be expected that those batteries currently optimized for use in EV applications will not be suitable for HEV without an increase in power density. While the demonstrated performance of Ovonic EV batteries has been impressive, these cell and battery designs have been optimized for use in pure EVs and therefore do not meet the specific requirements for HEVs.
Therefore, there is a need for high power batteries that have the peak power performance required by HEVs coupled with the already demonstrated performance characteristics and proven manufacturability of the Ovonic Ni-MH batteries.

High power nickel-metal hydride batteries and high power electrodes for use therein


An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. The state machine is adapted to vary the sequence in which frequency control words are read out of the memory to modify the jamming pattern of the subscriber. Corresponding to each frequency control word in the memory is stored one or more mode control bits which are read out contemporaneously with the frequency control words. The mode control bits are used to allow a single digital to analog converter to control one or more voltage control oscillators with different frequency ranges, or to allow control of a single voltage control oscillator with multiple frequency ranges.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to cable television (CATV) interdiction systems and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling the jamming parameters in such systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, a scrambler has been provided to encode premium television channels at a headend of a cable television system. The applied scrambling precluded reception by an unauthorized converter/decoder at a connected premises. Data representing the channels or tiers of programming to which the subscriber was entitled were addressably transmitted to a particular converter/decoder and stored in an authorization memory. As a result of the addressed transmission, a subsequently transmitted program would be authorized by selectively enabling the decoder portion of the converter/decoder to decode the scrambled premium channel or program.
The provision of one scrambler per premium channel at the headend and the inclusion of a descrambler in each converter/decoder at the premises of the television receiver was particularly expensive. Furthermore, providing a converter/decoder on premises has turned out to be a great temptation to service pirates who imaginatively seek ways to receive premium channels. As a result, cable television equipment manufacturers have entered into a veritable war with such pirates resulting in complicated service authorization protocols, which in some instances involve multiple layers of encryption by both in-band and out-of-band data transmissions thereby further increasing the costs of the converter/decoder. In addition, scrambling systems may leave artifacts in the final signal.
Consequently, the cable industry has reviewed other technology developed in the early stages of cable television, such as the application of negative and positive traps, and more recent techniques, such as interdiction, to improve CATV systems.
A relatively recent technique for premium channel control is the interdiction system, so called because of the introduction of an interfering signal into a premium channel at the subscriber's location. Most embodiments consist of a pole-mounted enclosure located outside the subscriber's premises designed to serve one or more subscribers. This enclosure contains at least one microprocessor controlled oscillator and switch control electronics to secure several television channels. Control is accomplished by injecting an interfering or jamming signal into unauthorized channels from this pole-mounted enclosure.
For the sake of efficiency, it is known to utilize one oscillator to jam several premium television channels. This technique not only reduces the amount of hardware required, but also maximizes the system flexibility. The jamming signal frequency is moved as a function of time from channel to channel. The oscillator is frequency agile and hops from jamming one premium channel frequency to the next. Cable television channels and, of course, premium service channels may extend over a wide range of frequencies, for example, from 54 Mhz. up to and including 1000 Mhz. Thus, if only one oscillator were provided, it would have to be frequency agile over a wide range.
One such system, illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,481 by Dickenson, has a single frequency agile oscillator which provides a hopping gain-controlled jamming signal output to four high frequency electronic switches. In this system, each switch is associated with one subscriber drop. Under microprocessor control and depending on which subscribers are authorized to receive transmitted premium programming, the microprocessor selectively gates the jamming signal output of the single oscillator via the switches into the path of the incoming broadband television signal to each subscriber. Consequently, an unauthorized subscriber upon tuning to a premium channel will receive the premium channel on which a jamming signal of approximately the same frequency has been superimposed.
A significantly more advantageous interdiction system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,760 by West, Jr., et al. which controls a plurality of frequency agile oscillators for each subscriber. Each voltage controlled oscillator is allocated a continuous band of frequencies consistent with the elimination of jamming signal harmonics which could disturb authorized programming at a higher channel frequency. The interdiction apparatus includes generating and storing frequency control words for operating the voltage controlled oscillators consistent with a headend selected jamming factor for a particular channel to be jammed and addressably transmitted and stored premium programming authorization data. In U.S. application Ser. No. 07/476,041, filed Feb. 6, 1990, by West, Jr., et al., the method of programming the time slots of the West I system to vary the dwell time and jamming factor of the jamming signals for different premium channels was disclosed.
The system of West I and West II uses several variable frequency oscillators to cover the spectrum of the CATV broadband signal, in general from 54 Mhz. to 1000 Mhz. or higher. The lower frequencies of this spectrum are harder to cover because a normal oscillator covers less bandwidth at the lower frequencies. This has not been a significant problem in the past because the lower frequencies, usually channels 2-12, are VHF broadcast channels and supplied to the subscribers without restriction. The premium channels which required interdiction were higher in frequency and within the bandwidths of the several VCOs.
However, with the extension of CATV system bandwidth, initially about 330 Mhz, and then expanded to 550 Mhz, 750 Mhz, and now to 1000 Mhz. and above, the bandwidth of a small plurality of oscillators is again being taxed. Moreover, some CATV systems are placing premium channels in the VHF spectrum and some are using tiered service where VHF channels are becoming pay type viewing. To overcome the bandwidth expansion on both ends of the spectrum it would be advantageous for an interdiction system to be able to control more than one range of voltage controlled oscillator. Voltage controlled oscillators which are more efficient in one use than another because of their operation over a particular frequency range can be of different types. In addition to controlling different ranges of VCOs it would be advantageous for an interdiction apparatus to control different types of VCOs to provide system flexibility.

Interdiction method and apparatus with mode control for variable frequency elements


Method and apparatus for monitoring wet contact touchpads where the opening of the contacts and the closing of the contacts of a wet contact touchpad are monitored and sensed by a timer/controller. The wet contact touchpad forms a capacitor which is charged to maintain a low voltage when the contacts are open. Upon reaching a predetermined decreasing voltage charge across the wet contact touchpad, the voltage status is further scrutinized by voltage sampling to determine when a contact closure or a contact break has occurred. Such determination is carried out in multiple cycle fashion by quickly and repeatedly introducing a charge voltage, discontinuing the charge voltage, and sampling the charged voltage to determine a decrease or an increase. A decrease indicates a wet contact touchpad closed circuit and an increase indicates a wet contact touchpad open circuit. Sampling of the increasing or decreasing charges determines timed occurrences accurately.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for a sports timing device and, more particularly, for a method and apparatus for monitoring wet contact touchpads in a swim timing system that allows accurate detection of both the actuation of and the release of a switch-like wet contact touchpad while preventing corrosion of the switch contact material. More particularly, the wet contact touchpads consist of flexible metal electrode plates separated by non-conducting spacers forming a simple switch. The space between the flexible metal electrode plates is allowed to fill with water when the wet contact touchpad is placed in a pool. The large parallel flexible metal electrode plates separated by water form a large capacitor which must be charged up by the monitoring circuit before a switch closure can be sensed. The potential across the plates must not exceed the ionization voltage of water (˜1.3V) or corrosion will occur.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In prior art devices, the capacitance formed by the opposing flexible metal electrode plates of a wet contact touchpad does not present a significant problem if only closures need to be monitored because the voltage across the plates will change rapidly when they are shorted together. Accurately detecting the release is more difficult. A wet contact touchpad can be modeled as a large capacitor in series with a small resistor. A common charging method is to pull one flexible metal electrode plate of the wet contact touchpad up to a voltage less than 1.3V, which results in a series RC circuit where the voltage across the capacitor formed by the flexible metal electrode plates is an exponential function of time. The large wet contact touchpad capacitance makes the time constant of this circuit too large to allow accurate sensing of the release.
Directly monitoring the voltage across the wet contact touchpad while charging is impractical because of the series resistance in the wet contact touchpad model. The voltage across the capacitor plus the voltage drop across the resistor will always equal the full charging voltage. In addition, the capacitance and the resistance in the wet contact touchpad model are not fixed and may vary depending on wet contact touchpad age, size, and pool chemistry, which makes simple level detector circuits inadequate.


In a multiprocessor system, a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for maintaining the proper sequence of store/write operations between multiple processors to remote I/O devices without requiring changes to application software. A synchronizer is employed to synchronize write operations to the remote I/O device, and the write operations are synchronized individually upon detection and emulation, or as a group upon detection of the release of a mutual exclusion lock.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to writing data to remote devices in a multiprocessor computing machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to the maintenance of sequential store order operations in a multiprocessor computing machine.
2. Description of Related Art
One fundamental precept of a computing system is that the operations or instructions provided to the computing system are executed in the same order as passed to the computing system. In other words, programmers of a computer assume that if the operations are encoded in order, the resulting operations as executed by the computer will occur in that sequence. This fundamental assumption about the sequence of resulting operations is particularly important in the context of writing or storing information to the computing system. Conventional software assumes that the computing system maintains the sequential store order (SSO) of the write operations as encoded in a program's source code.
Proper maintenance of the order of sequential store operations is particularly important where these write operations transfer data to peripheral I/O devices, and where the operation of the I/O devices depends on the values previously written to the device. In a multiprocessor computing machine having various processors and peripheral I/O devices attached thereto, the maintenance of the proper sequence of store operations becomes more difficult.
For instance, FIG. 1 illustrates a multiprocessor computing machine, or a scaled shared memory machine, having multiple nodes 20 and 30, connected through communications bus or network 29, with devices 28 and 34 respectively. Node 20 and node 30 are capable of transferring data both to memory and to I/O devices over bus 29 to remote nodes.
Using FIG. 1 as an example, assume that a single CPU of the plurality of CPUs 22 and a single CPU of the plurality of CPUs 32 both desire to write data to device 34 in node 30. Further assume that the sequence of write operations is a write of data A from CPU 22, followed by a write of data B from CPU 32. Because I/O device 34 is local to CPU 32 in node 30, it is possible, due to network latency, that device 34 will first receive data B from CPU 32 before receiving the write request of data A from CPU 22. Under this scenario, the proper sequence of store operations was not maintained in the multiprocessor environment.
Multiprocessor computing systems conventionally utilize a memory based mutual exclusion lock, known as a MUTEX lock, to order memory operations performed by different processors on the system. A MUTEX lock prevents another processor in the multiprocessor system from interfering with the memory location protected by the lock while the lock is active. Once the lock is released, the memory location can be manipulated by other processors in the computing system.
However, the usefulness of such a memory based MUTEX lock to guarantee proper ordering of I/O operations depends on the ordering of memory operations with respect to I/O operations within the computing system. If the I/O operations are not ordered with respect to memory operations, the fact that a MUTEX lock has been released does not imply nor ensure that a prior I/O write operation to a device has completed, or even begun. As explained above, it is possible that some write operations may be processed in a sequence different than the programmer intended.
For these reasons, it is necessary to maintain the proper sequence of sequential store operations to peripheral remote I/O devices in a multiprocessor computing machine.

Maintaining a sequential store order (SSO) in a non-SSO machine


A physical conditioning device for golfers is provided. A weight is attached to the tip of a standard golf club shaft to provide strength training for a the backswing portion of a golf swing. A drag chute is attached to the shaft to add resistance to the downswing of the golf swing to prevent the user from simply allowing the weight of the club to cause the club to drop with little physical effort. This combination of weight and drag chute provides an enhanced conditioning effect.

Golf is one of America's most popular sports. According to the National Golf Association, more than 26.4 million individuals over the age of 12 played golf in 1999.
Although an athletic endeavor, few golfers are properly conditioned to play a complete round of golf. Most golfers succumb to some level of fatigue well before the end of a round.
There are many golf swing trainers in the marketplace which claim tremendous results through correct use on a consistent basis. While most of them have some merit and offer some benefits, they all can be generally categorized by one or more counterproductive deficiencies.
One category includes trainers that are solely unweighted in comparison to actual golf clubs. Since these trainers are not weighted, they neither communicate to the muscles of the golfer in such a way as to break down muscle tension and old muscle habits, nor develop the proper muscle memory needed to produce a correct golf swing. Furthermore, while some of these unweighted devices feel good to swing, they generally cause the golfer to swing the club over the top of the ball.
A second category employs swing guidance mechanisms such as hoops, tracks, belts and the like designed to force the golfer to swing an actual golf club or trainer on a supposed proper swing path. Such devices are generally quite complicated and require much time in setting up for the unique physical characteristics of each individual golf student. Since they do not involve weighted mechanisms, they neither break down old incorrect muscle memory nor build new correct muscle memory. Furthermore, these swing guidance mechanisms are generally based on the false premise that a golf swing takes place in a single plane. The golf swing is a bi-planar three-dimensional motion which known guidance mechanisms do not replicate.
A final category includes trainers which are improperly weighted, weighted by mechanisms that are hinged to the clubhead end of the shaft, or weighted through the use of a solid shaft composed of steel or other metal or a standard shaft filled with metal bearings, sand, or other material. While these trainers may increase strength if properly used, the use of weights alone allows the user to swing the training device with little physical effort on the down swing and thereby yield little results.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a swing trainer that may be weighted so as to break down muscle tension and old muscle habits but also includes a mechanism to discourage simple repetitive swinging of the trainer with little effort. Another object of this invention is to provide a golf swing trainer that requires no set up for a training session. A further object of this invention is to provide a golf swing trainer that readily fits in a golf bag with the golfer's other equipment. It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a golf swing trainer that can be used anywhere, indoors or outdoors, as a trainer or as a warm-up tool.


The cytotoxic T cell response to the protein encoded by the NS5 region of hepatitis C virus was determined using 28 peptides from NS5 which were selected by an amphipathicity algorithm as candidates for T cell epitopes. In BALB/c mice, a single relatively conserved epitope represented by a 16-residue synthetic peptide was presented by D.sup.d class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules to conventional CD4.sup.- CD8.sup.+ CTL. An exemplary peptide, which represents amino acid residues 2422-2437 of the polyprotein of the Chiron HCV1 isolate, had the amino acid sequence MSYSWTGALVTPCAAE [SEQ ID NO: 1]. A CTL line specific for this peptide recognized the two known natural variants of this NS5 sequence, each with conservative substitutions. Thus, CTL can recognize the product of the HCV NS5 gene, the probable RNA polymerase, in association with class I MHC molecules on model target cells and may recognize the same epitope on hepatocytes or any other cells infected with the virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the recently recognized causative agent of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis. The RNA genome of the virus has been molecularly cloned from the plasma of an experimentally infected chimpanzee (see document number 8 in the list of numbered documents at the end of the specification). Analysis of the sequence of the genome revealed that it is a single-stranded, plus sense RNA of approximately 9500 nucleotides in length. A single long open reading frame of 9033 nucleotides was found, coding for a polyprotein of 3011 amino acid residues. These genomic features and sequence comparisons, combined with knowledge about the size and lability to lipid solvents, indicated that the virus is probably a member of the Flavivirus family (6,22). However, it may be more closely related to the pestivirus genus than classic flaviviruses (27,60).
Based on sequence similarities of both the genome and the predicted polyprotein, as well as on certain features of the polyprotein such as hydrophobicity profiles and acidic/basic amino acid content, it is predicted that proteins of HCV are encoded in the same general regions of the genome as has been determined for the flaviviruses. In the flaviviruses and the related pestiviruses, approximately the amino-terminal one third of the polyprotein constitutes the structural proteins of the virus. These consist of a highly basic nucleocapsid protein termed "C," an envelope-associated glycoprotein termed "M" and a second envelope glycoprotein "E." The non-structural proteins are named NS1 through NS5, but the functions of only NS3 and NS5 have been assigned with certainty. NS3 is the viral protease and probably a helicase, and NS5 is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
The HCV polyprotein is processed in a series of proteolytic digestions by a combination of the viral protease and host signalase. The processing of the pestivirus polyprotein is different in detail from that of the flaviviruses, but is similar in its general scheme. The proteins of HCV have been determined largely by analogy with the flavivirus proteins, and, like the pestiviruses, they may also differ in details of size, number, and processing from the flaviviruses. With these caveats, for convenience of nomenclature but not to imply identity in function or processing, hereafter the nonstructural region under study that is analogous to the flavivirus NS5 region RNA polymerase is referred to as the "NS5 region" or "NS5 protein" of HCV.
Diagnostic tests based on expressed viral antigens have been developed and seroepidemiologic surveys using these assays have been performed (33). Studies on the immune response to HCV infections are still at a formative stage. The commercially available antibody assay measures antibody to an HCV antigen expressed in yeast by recombinant DNA technology. This antigen, termed "C100-3", is derived from the non-structural protein coding region of the viral genome and probably represents a portion of NS4 (33). Newer versions of the assay include antigens from NS3 (protease/helicase) and the internal nucleocapsid protein, C (64). None of these antibodies is thought to be protective, but each is commonly found in chronically infected individuals.
HCV is not only the cause of most cases of parenterally acquired non-B hepatitis, but also is responsible for a large portion of sporadic community acquired acute viral hepatitis, chronic hepatitis of unknown origin, as well as cryptogenic cirrhosis and probably hepatocellular carcinoma (2,16,31,50). It is the propensity of this virus to cause chronic infections and chronic liver disease that makes it such a medically important problem. Treatment of chronic HCV liver disease by .alpha.-interferon therapy has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. However, less than half the patients respond, and of the responders approximately 50% relapse after treatment is stopped (16).
Accordingly, there is an important need for a vaccine to protect against infection by this virus. While the present diagnostic tests are based on detection of serum antibody to expressed viral proteins, to date all proteins recognized by such antibodies have represented either non-structural viral proteins or internal components of the virus particle. It is not clear whether effective neutralizing antibodies to HCV are commonly produced by individuals infected with the virus.
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been found to mediate protection in vivo against certain virus infections (17,47,48). In hepatitis B infection, CTL are thought to be responsible for the pathogenesis of chronic type B hepatitis and to lyse hepatitis B-virus-infected hepatocytes by recognizing the viral antigen expressed on infected cells (39,42). In the case of HCV, there is no information on the pathogenesis of viral infections. The chronicity of HCV infections as well as histopathologic findings indicate that the virus is probably not directly cytopathic (or cytolytic) in hepatocytes. It is possible that the chronic liver disease associated with HCV infections is immune mediated.
These observations provide reason to believe that CTL specific for HCV may be involved causally in the pathogenesis of HCV-related disease, or that cellular immunity is important for protection or recovery from infection. Previous studies have reported that CD8.sup.+ CTL recognize hepatocytes from patients with chronic NANB hepatitis (28). To date, however, no epitope of HCV recognized by T cells has been identified in any HCV protein.
Accordingly, there is a need to identify an epitope of HCV that is recognized by T cells. Peptides comprising such an epitope can be used to determine the role of CTL in HCV infection and pathogenesis. Thus, such peptides may be used to modulate the HCV-specific CTL response in treatment of the hepatitis or other HCV-related disease, by enhancing a protective effect or blocking a pathogenic effect. In addition, such peptides may be used in a vaccine to prevent infection, by stimulating a protective CTL response.
In other viral models, internal proteins are the major targets of the CTL response (3,30,49,62,69). In previous studies by the present inventors and others, the peptides from an internal protein, reverse transcriptase, of HIV as well as envelope glycoprotein and gag and nef proteins were recognized by CTL in the mouse and human (10,14,24,32,43,57,65). Immunization with the envelope protein may not be practical for HCV because the envelope is relatively highly variable in sequence (27). Therefore, CTL clones may distinguish different isolates of HCV, as has been shown in HIV-1 studies (41,58,59).
In contrast to the substantial amino acid sequence variation in the predicted envelope glycoproteins of HCV (designated "E1" and "E2/NS1"), the internal nucleocapsid proteins, C, nonstructural (NS) region 3, NS4, and NS5 proteins all show greater sequence conservation among HCV isolate groups (27). The coding region of the HCV genome that is analogous to NS5 of the flaviviruses by both its location in the genome and its sequence similarities, is believed to represent the viral replicase.

Identification of peptides that stimulate hepatitis C virus specific cytotoxic T cells

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


This invention relates to compositions and methods for hair bleaching. In particular, the invention concerns stabilized hair bleach products that contain at least one persulfate salt, and an oil gel. The composition of the present invention forms an emulsion where the oil and salt do not separate providing a consistent and stable hair bleach formulation.

Hair bleaching is a well-known process in the hair cosmetic field. Hair bleaching involves the application of an oxidizing agent to the hair for a period of time effective to achieve a desired lighter hair shade. The oxidizing agent typically is a hydrogen peroxide solution in concentrations ranging from 6 to 12% by weight. The hydrogen peroxide is applied to the hair under alkaline pH conditions and gradually lightens the shade of the hair by oxidizing the melanin that gives it color.
To enhance the lightening efficacy of the peroxide solution, a persulfate salt-based formulation may be incorporated as a "booster". The sodium, potassium or ammonium persulfate salt is provided as a powder, which is mixed with the hydrogen peroxide solution prior to use. The mixed product is then applied to the hair for a period of time effective to achieve the desired lighter hair shade.
Currently, hair bleaches are most commonly found in the two-component kit form. One component comprises an aqueous-based hydrogen peroxide composition containing solution or emulsion. The second component comprises a powdered bleach composition that contains persulfate salts and alkaline agent(s), which act as accelerators of the bleaching process when the two components are combined. This powdered bleach composition may be used alone to bleach hair or in combination with an aqueous hydrogen peroxide composition. The hydrogen peroxide and persulfates are very reactive when combined and form nascent oxygen in addition to hydrogen and sodium sulfide. The nascent oxygen greatly facilitates oxidizing and bleaching of melanin from the hair.
The salts and other active ingredients (such as alkaline agents) routinely originate as a powdery mixture of ingredients which are then transformed into a paste by mixing with water or other liquid. The powdery mixture often has the disadvantage of dusting. The oxidizing and alkaline agents in the powdery mixture may be harmful if ingested or inhaled; therefore, it is desirable to obtain a hair bleach that does not cause this dusting.
De-dusted formulations have been developed to control or reduce the dusting in powdered bleaching compositions. The de-dusted formulation generally mixes the powder with at least a basic oil, such as mineral oil or ethyldexyl pelargonate, resulting in a cream-type formulation. Typically, these prior art chemical systems are either unstable (causing separation of the oil and the salt phases) or too waxy and, therefore, cosmetically un-appealing after premature formula separation due to the presence of oils and salts. The separation has the effect that different portions of the same batch of powder taken from different locations in the batch have different chemical compositions and thus may provide a different bleaching effect.
There is a desire and a long-standing need to overcome these disadvantages of the current technology with regards to controlled hair bleaching with a cream formulation. The primary challenge in developing a cream bleach resides in the need to develop a formulation that contains the necessary salt concentration level within a small oil matrix, which remains consistent enough to be cosmetically appealing and desirable to hair and scalp application with minimum damage, and has almost no physical separation of the components.

Composition and method for cream bleach product


The technology disclosed relates to causing delivery of Segmentation as a Service™ (SegAAS) instrumentation code and segment processing code to run on a user's machine and generate data that tracks a user session on a website, receiving and processing data from the user session and invoking callback function code, configured to run on the user's machine, that performs actions specified by the website's operator, as triggered by delivery of segment codes. Also included is receiving readings from the user session, analyzing the data to track progress of the session, and generating segment codes that characterize results of the analysis in an actionable way specified by rules provided by the website operator. Further included are repeatedly causing delivery of updated lists of the segment codes based on the analyzing of the progress and timing delivery of unsolicited actions directed to retaining the visitor and extending the user session with the website.

The technology disclosed relates to the use of segmentation to identify, manage and target cohorts of users. In particular, it relates to identifying groups of users with similar traits and acting based on those traits—a process common to many online businesses, including news sites, social networking sites and e-commerce sites.
In the current market, large websites such as cnn.com, facebook.com, amazon.com, walmart.com, and other multi-million user destinations have built out extensive segmentation capabilities to identify and target users. News and social sites may target their users using advertisements, while e-commerce sites may target their users with messages and offers. Such systems revolve around hundreds of data points gathered for every interaction the user has with the site, take years to build out, involve large amounts of capital expenditure and need to be constantly updated & upgraded. In addition, they usually involve a large operating expenditure. While these costs may be feasible for large sites, many websites cannot justify large expenditures to target their users.
Several software solutions in the marketplace help websites with minimal to no segmentation capabilities, by offering a bundled solution of simple segmentation combined with targeting capabilities. These solutions tend to have a simplistic view of segmentation, using a few attributes from the user's current visit to the site, and force the sites to use their targeting capabilities which are also typically limited. These targeting capabilities may be in the form of widgets, banners and popups that can be customized to suit the website. Such capabilities seldom match the intent of the site's targeting requirements in terms of form and function.
Most websites either have access to engineering resources that can tweak their website to suit their needs, or they use complex hosting software to do the same. While this addresses the targeting of their users in a manner unique to the site, they lack the ability to segment the users in a meaningful way.
Websites also face a common problem of mixing the roles of a technical resource specialist who provides development skills, a design resource who provides user interface (UX) skills and a marketing resource who provides an understanding of the market and customers. In the currently available solutions in which the segmentation and targeting are rolled into a single product, these roles can get merged and thereby make it difficult for the marketing person to manage the segments and design widgets and possibly needing to build small scripts on the website.
An opportunity arises to help websites identify and segment their users, using a large variety of attributes ranging from their current interaction with the site, historic visit information, demographics, past conversions, simple to complex rules and combination of rules, and many other factors. The sites can have complete freedom in terms of ways they would like to target their users, ranging from showing widgets for email signup to changing the content of the site depending on the demographics, highlighting products, services or content depending on the time of day and other factors. A visitor experience that is more personalized, relevant and attractive can be achieved by software suites that can dynamically deliver appropriate displays, special offers and messaging to individual consumers and to specific market segments.

Method and system for segmentation as a service


When the adjusting shaft is rotated, the rotation of the adjusting shaft is transmitted to the rotationally movable barrel. The rotationally movable barrel rotates so that the rotationally movable barrel moves forward and backward along optical axis while rotating due to the interaction between the female screw portion formed in the distal end of the rotationally movable barrel and the male screw portion formed in the second flange portion of the fixed barrel. The forward and backward movement of the rotationally movable barrel along optical axis causes the rectilinearly movable barrel connected to the connecting portion of the rotationally movable barrel through the groove, to move forward and backward along optical axis. Accordingly, the CCD fixed to the rectilinearly movable barrel through the CCD carrier moves forward and backward along optical axis, thereby correcting the flange-back length.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pick-up device and an adjustment mechanism, and more specifically, to an image pick-up device that adjusts flange-back length in lens replacement and an adjustment mechanism used for the image pick-up device.
2. Related Art
In typical cinematography, a cinematographer makes, before using a camera, a test using a device configuration same as that used in action take and makes calibration of range indicator for lenses. The cinematographer takes action with reference to the calibrated range indicator. If the flange-back length of the camera is not correct, the lens cannot provide its possible performance.
In conventional camera production, the flange-back length is fixed to a length defined by a reference lens. Accordingly, there is a problem that a camera cannot be adapted for the case where a difference exists between a lens to be used and the reference lens or the case where the flange-back length should be modified due to a lens condition.
Accordingly, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-78190 proposes a technique in which a camera has a flange-back adjusting mechanism. The flange-back adjusting mechanism has a configuration in which a holder having a solid-state image sensor mounted thereon is supported movably forward and backward by a pair of guide rods, is pressed and urged by a pressing coil spring, and is pressed against a adjusting ring screwed into a threaded through hole for mounting an optical lens. The rotation of the adjusting ring causes forward or backward movement of the solid-state image sensor, thereby adjusting the flange-back.

Image pick-up device and adjustment mechanism


A display controller 1 displays each of a sequence of a plurality of card images 81 to 87 to move in a first direction, and to move back and forth in a second direction, in accordance with scroll operation type. The display controller 1 determines a superposition order of displaying each of the sequence of the plurality of card images 81 to 87 in accordance with displacement of a display position of each of the sequence of the plurality of card images 81 to 87 in the second direction, and displays each of the sequence of the plurality of card images to be superposed in the order, on a display unit 17.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a display controller, a display control method, and a program.
2. Related Art
There exists a display controller for displaying a sequence of a plurality of images corresponding to a sequence of a plurality of information items, in which scrolling and moving are performed to improve visibility.
Under present circumstances, such a display controller is required to improve the visibility of the sequence of the plurality of images corresponding to the sequence of the plurality of information items.

Display controller, display control method, and recording medium that stores program


This invention relates to a color controlled light source comprising a plurality of colored light elements, and a plurality of (filtered) photo detectors, having different spectral characteristics covering all or most of the total spectrum of the light elements. The (filtered) photo detectors detect the light output of the light source, and generate corresponding detection signals. The light source further has a color control unit for generating driving signals to the light elements on the basis of the detection signals and a predetermined target color point of the light output of the light source, and a modulator for individual signature modulation of the driving signal to each one of said light elements. A corresponding demodulator is provided for demodulation of the detection signals and extraction, from each detection signal, of actual values of the light outputs of the light elements. The color control unit has means for determining the spectral output of each light element on basis of the actual values, means for determining an actual color point from said spectral outputs of all light elements, and means for comparing said target color point with said actual color point and, if there is a difference, adjusting said driving signals in order to minimize the difference.

In order to realize a light source for multiple colors, e.g. different color temperatures, in Solid State Lighting, LEDs emitting light of different colors, are used in one device. These LEDs define a sub area in the color space indicating the color gamut that can be realized via all possible linear combinations. Colored light of desired intensity within the color spectrum of the color space can hence be controlled by means of the signal input of the individual LEDs. It should be noted that white light is included in the term colored light.
Unlike traditional light sources colored LEDs will "color shift" due to the changes of the junction temperature, the current, aging effects and binning of the LEDs. As the light output starts to wane from the pre-defined color point due to temperature and aging, the color point of the light output of the light source will become distorted. Consequently, the color point of the light source has to be stabilized via a control loop.
For the purpose of monitoring the light output from a light source it is quite common to use light detectors, such as RGB-sensors or true-color-sensors having the same sensitivity as the standard observer or approximating these curves. Alternatively, flux sensors are used, possibly in combination with one or more temperature sensors. In order to be able to determine the contribution from individual LEDs or colors, which can be a group of LEDs as well, filtering techniques have been used. Thus, for example, three different 'filtered' photo detectors detecting primary colors (such as red, green, and blue light), respectively, have been employed in combination with one unfiltered photo detector. Based on the photo detector output signals, a measured color point of the light output of the light source has been determined and compared with a target color point in order to adjust the driving currents to the LEDs, if necessary.
However, when the light detectors detect the light output there may be interference from other light sources, for instance ambient sunlight and/or other color-LEDs or other interference sources creating electrical noise. The measured color point is therefore often defective and does not solely represent the light output from the LEDs, in the light source itself. Consequently the feedback signal to the control device of the control loop is incorrect.

Color controlled light source and a method for controlling color generation in a light source


A dish-cleaning appliance comprising a sink defining a wash chamber with an open top for providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system is provided for spraying liquid onto the dish rack to effect the cleaning of any dishes along the rack. The lid is mounted to the sink and is movable to selectively cover the open top of the bowl. A latch is provided to hold the lid in the closed position. The latch comprises a catch and a strike, with the strike having an integrated handle resulting in a small form factor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an in-sink dishwasher for automatically washing household dishes without requiring the physical space of a built-in automatic dishwasher. The invention further relates to an in-sink dishwasher having a small form factor latch for holding a lid of the dishwasher in a closed position.
2. Description of the Related Art
In-sink dishwashers use the bowl of a sink to form part of the dishwasher housing that defines a wash chamber, with the open top of the bowl providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system sprays wash liquid throughout the wash chamber to clean any dishes placed therein. A lid covers the open top of the bowl when the in-sink dishwasher is being used to prevent the splashing or spraying of the recirculating wash liquid out of the open top of the bowl.
It is desirable to secure the lid to the sink or surrounding cabinet during the operation of the dishwasher to prevent the opening of the lid while the liquid is recirculated in the wash chamber.
In traditional front-loading dishwashers, a latch is used to secure the door. The latch preferably includes a manual release for the user to open the door, even during a wash cycle. The manual release is preferably coupled to a stop switch that stops the wash cycle if the lid is opened during a wash cycle.
It is desirable to also use a latch for securing the door of the in-sink dishwasher. There are several design criteria unique to the in-sink dishwasher that make using a latch more difficult than the traditional front-loading dishwashers: the lid is top-mounted and the sink is mounted within a traditional cabinet structure, with very little space between the sink and the cabinet face. The top mounting of the lid prevents the depth of the cabinet from being used for receiving part of the latch structure as is common in front-opening traditional dishwashers. For aesthetic and installation simplicity, it is not desirable to have any part of the latch extend through the cabinet face. It is desirable to keep the manual operability of the latch and to place the latch at the front of the in-sink dishwasher for easy access by the user. These constraints make it highly desirable to place the latch in the area between the sink and the cabinet face where there is very little usable space. The desire to have full functionality in the latch exacerbates the space issue since prior latch designs often relied on complex mechanical linkages that required a relative large space.

In-sink dishwasher with integrated latch


A seed specific plant annexin and P34 promoters and subfragments thereof, recombinant expression construct comprising these promoters and their use in driving seed-specific expression of one or more heterologous nucleic acid fragments, such as heterologous nucleic acid fragments encoding reporter constructs or enzymes related to production of fatty acids in plants are described.

Recent advances in plant genetic engineering have opened new doors to engineer plants having improved characteristics or traits, such as, resistance to plant diseases, insect resistance, herbicidal resistance, enhanced stability or shelf-life of the ultimate consumer product obtained from the plants and improvement of the nutritional quality of the edible portions of the plant. Thus, a desired gene (or genes) from a source different than the plant, but engineered to impart different or improved characteristics or qualities, can be incorporated into the plant's genome. This new gene (or genes) can then be expressed in the plant cell to exhibit the desired phenotype such as a new trait or characteristic.
The proper regulatory signals must be present and be in the proper location with respect to the gene in order to obtain expression of the newly inserted gene in the plant cell. These regulatory signals include a promoter region, a 5′ non-translated leader sequence and a 3′ transcription termination/polyadenylation sequence.
A promoter is a DNA sequence that directs cellular machinery of a plant to produce RNA from the contiguous coding sequence downstream (3′) of the promoter. The promoter region influences the rate, developmental stage, and cell type in which the RNA transcript of the gene is made. The RNA transcript is processed to produce messenger RNA (mRNA) which serves as a template for translation of the RNA sequence into the amino acid sequence of the encoded polypeptide. The 5′ non-translated leader sequence is a region of the mRNA upstream of the protein coding region that may play a role in initiation and translation of the mRNA. The 3′ transcription termination/polyadenylation signal is a non-translated region downstream of the protein coding region that functions in the plant cells to cause termination of the RNA transcript and the addition of polyadenylate nucleotides to the 3′ end of the RNA.
It has been shown that certain promoters are able to direct RNA synthesis at a higher rate than others. These are called "strong promoters". Certain other promoters have been shown to direct RNA production at higher levels only in particular types of cells or tissues and are often referred to as "tissue specific promoters". In this group, many seed storage protein genes' promoters have been well characterized and widely used, such as the phaseolin gene promoter of Phaseolus vulgaris, the helianthinin gene of sunflower, the β-conglycinin gene of soybean (Chen et al., (1989) Dev. Genet. 10, 112–122), the napin gene promoter of Brassica napus (Ellerstrom et al, (1996) Plant Mol. Biol. 32, 1019–1027), the oleosin gene promoters of Brassica and Arabidopsis (Keddie et al, (1994) Plant Mol. Biol. 24, 327–340; Li, (1997) Texas A&M Ph.D. dissertation, pp. 107–128; Plant et al, (1994) Plant Mol. Biol. 25, 193–205). Another class of tissue specific promoters is described in, U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,583, issued to Klee et al. on Dec. 31, 1996; these plant promoters are capable of conferring high levels of transcription of chimeric genes in meristematic tissues and/or rapidly dividing cells. In contrast to tissue-specific promoters, "inducible promoters" direct RNA production in response to certain environmental factors, such as heat shock, light, hormones, ion concentrations etc. (Espartero et al, (1994) Plant Mol. Biol. 25, 217–227; Gomez-Gomez and Carrasco, (1998) Plant Physiol. 117, 397–405; Holtorf et al, (1995) Plant Mol. Biol. 29, 637–646; MacDowell et al, (1996) Plant Physiol. 111, 699–711; Mathur et al, (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1137, 338–348; Mett et al, (1996) Transgenic Res. 5, 105–113; Schoffl et al, (1989) Mol. Gen. Genet. 217, 246–253; Ulmasov et al, (1995) Plant Physiol. 108, 919–927).
Since the patterns of expression of a chimeric gene (or genes) introduced into a plant are controlled using promoters, there is an ongoing interest in the isolation and identification of novel promoters which are capable of controlling expression of a chimeric gene or (genes). Of particular interest are promoters that express only in the developing seeds. Another desirable feature of a promoter would be an expression pattern that occurs very soon after pollination in the developing seed.

Annexin and P34 promoters and use in expression of transgenic genes in plants


A new jogging exercise stroller for allowing joggers to move their arms in a more natural jogging motion. The inventive device includes a stroller portion defined by a frame member. The frame member has a pair of rear wheels and a forward wheel. The frame member has a seat portion disposed therein. The frame member includes a lower cross bar and an upper cross bar. The upper cross bar has a pair of annular recesses extending therearound at opposing ends thereof. A pair of arcuate handles are coupled with the stroller portion. The handles each have a lower end coupled with the annular recesses of the upper cross bar. A pair of shock absorbers extend between the pair of arcuate handles and the lower cross bar of the stroller portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jogging strollers and more particularly pertains to a new jogging exercise stroller for allowing joggers to move their arms in a more natural jogging motion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of jogging strollers is known in the prior art. More specifically, jogging strollers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art jogging strollers include U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,880 to Sudakoff et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,861 to Gifford; U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,241 to Dobrowolski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,861 to Weiss; U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,585 to Dalebout; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,244 to Flagg.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new jogging exercise stroller. The inventive device includes a stroller portion defined by a frame member. The frame member has a pair of rear wheels and a forward wheel. The frame member has a seat portion disposed therein. The frame member includes a lower cross bar and an upper cross bar. The upper cross bar has a pair of annular recesses extending therearound at opposing ends thereof. A pair of arcuate handles are coupled with the stroller portion. The handles each have a lower end coupled with the annular recesses of the upper cross bar. A pair of shock absorbers extend between the pair of arcuate handles and the lower cross bar of the stroller portion.
In these respects, the jogging exercise stroller according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing joggers to move their arms in a more natural jogging motion.


A drilling rig with mini-stabilizer tool for connecting to a measurement while drilling (MWD) system. The mini-stabilizer tool centralizes components in the wellbore for a more accurate measurement to protect measurement while drilling components from wear on shoulders of the measurement while drilling components. The mini-stabilizer tool accomplishes wear prevention by positioning the measurement while drilling components away from edges of the wellbore.

A need exists for a drilling rig that protects drilling and measurement while drilling components, centralizes drilling and measurement while drilling equipment from particles dislodged while cutting a wellbore, while additionally smoothing a bore as the drill string is pulled in and out of the wellbore.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A monitor for a vehicle displays multiple language choices upon the operation or activation of one or more devices (usually buttons). When a language choice is made, the monitor displays all subsequent screens in the selected language.

Work vehicles are conventionally equipped with display monitors which communicate machine status to the operator, i.e., display vehicle information. These monitors allow the same electronics to be used in different markets, markets which often require the information to be displayed in different languages. Conventional monitors may include a number of different languages through which the vehicle information may be displayed but the language setting choices are buried deep within the menu structure making it difficult for an operator to navigate when the initial display language is one that is not understood.


An adjustable radius form assembly is provided which includes a plurality of vertical strongbacks and a plurality of horizontal walers. Each of the walers are pre-rolled to a desired radius. The walers are then connected to one another by ball and socket type adjusters which enable the end to end arrangement of the walers to accommodate an overall form assembly having a wide range of curvatures or radii. The plurality of end to end walers and plurality of corresponding strongbacks may define a gang form length. A number of gang form lengths may be connected to one another to create the desired form assembly for the structure to be constructed. The vertical strongbacks may be placed at desired spacings along the horizontal lengths of the corresponding walers by adjustment of connectors on said strongbacks extending through slotted plates on the walers. The exact number and spacing of walers and strongbacks used in the form assembly are dictated by the size and strength requirements of the structure to be constructed.

It is well known in the art of concrete forms to construct forms by which a curved or irregular shaped concrete structure can be made. One major drawback of concrete forms used in the past to create such irregular or curved shaped concrete structures was that in most cases special forms had to be constructed each time the curved or irregular concrete structure was formed. In other words, the concrete forms used to support the formation of the concrete structures could not be used again since such forms were specially made for the particular structure. Circular shaped concrete structures are an example of common structures which require the construction of special forms. Additionally, commonly available form assemblies require large numbers of bolts and brackets to attach walers to strongbacks in the desired configuration. When the form assembly is to be readjusted for another job, the forms must be laid on their backs and the brackets and bolts removed to reposition the walers. The walers can unintentionally be moved longitudinally with respect to the strongbacks during these adjustments. This makes readjustment difficult and labor-intensive, not to mention additional cost in time and materials due to misplacement or loss of some of the brackets during the readjustment.
In order to avoid the unnecessary time and costs involved with creating concrete forms for each circular or irregular structure to be made, it is desirable to have form assemblies which can be used in numerous applications to accommodate differing sized circular or irregular curved shaped structures to be made.