An apparatus for determining freshness of wine stored in a container includes a housing, a gas sensor, an optical sensor pair, and electrical circuitry. The gas sensor is affixed to the housing such that it extends into a headspace of the container above the wine. The optical sensor pair is positioned such that the optical sensor pair extends into the headspace above the wine. The electrical circuitry is contained in the housing and is electrically interfaced to the gas sensor and to the optical sensor pair. The electrical circuitry operates the gas sensor to generate a series of gas level measurements and operates the optical sensor pair to generate a series of optical transmission measurements. A quality parameter corresponding to the freshness of the wine is determined based on both the series of gas level measurements and the series of optical transmission measurements.

Wine typically diminishes in quality and freshness relatively quickly after a bottle is initially opened. The quality and freshness of wine in an opened bottle may begin decreasing within several hours of the bottle being opened and may continue to decrease to an unacceptable level within several days. Many factors may contribute to how quickly an opened bottle of wine degrades. These factors can include storage conditions, number of times the bottle is opened, how quickly the bottle is resealed, the initial quality of the wine, the type of wine, the age of the wine, and the pH of the wine, as well as other factors, including combinations thereof. Because there are potentially multiple factors that can contribute to the degradation of the wine, it can be difficult to precisely predict when an opened bottle of wine has progressed to an unacceptable level of freshness or quality because a simple measure of time since the bottle has been opened may be insufficient in some circumstances.
In bars, restaurants, and other commercial establishments that serve wine, monitoring wine quality may be a particular challenge due to the relatively large number of open bottles that may be on hand and the period of time that may pass between successive servings from each open bottle. Due to the cost of wine, establishments cannot afford to prematurely discard opened bottles due to mere suspicion that a wine may no longer be good. At the same time, serving wine that has degraded beyond a good or acceptable level can also have negative impacts on the establishment due to customer dissatisfaction and/or impacts on reputation. Consequently, there is a need for improved methods of determining and monitoring freshness of wine stored in a container.

Beverage diagnostic and preservation devices and methods


A ribbon ion beam system, comprising an ion source configured to generate a ribbon ion beam along a first beam path, wherein the ribbon ion beam enters a mass analysis magnet having a height dimension (h1) and a long dimension (w1) that is perpendicular to an xy plane, wherein the mass analysis magnet is configured with its momentum dispersive xy plane to receive the ribbon ion beam and to provide magnetic fields to transmit the ribbon ion beam along a second beam path, wherein the ribbon ion beam exiting the mass analysis magnet is divergent in the non-dispersive xz plane and convergent in the xy plane, a mass selection slit for receiving the divergent ribbon ion beam and selecting desired ion species of the ribbon ion beam exiting the mass analysis magnet, an angle correction device configured to receive the divergent ribbon ion beam exiting the mass selection slit into a parallel ribbon ion beam in the horizontal xz plane and a diverging ribbon ion beam in an xy plane along a third beam path, and wherein the parallel ribbon beam has a variable height (h2) and a long dimension, width (w2).

Ion implantation systems are used to dope semiconductors with impurities in integrated circuit manufacturing. In such systems, an ion source ionizes a desired dopant element, which is then extracted from the ion source in the form of an ion beam. The ion beam is typically mass analyzed to select ions of a desired charge-to-mass ratio and then directed at the surface of a semiconductor workpiece in order to implant the workpiece with the dopant element. The ions of the beam penetrate the surface of the workpiece to form a region of desired conductivity, such as in the fabrication of transistor devices in the workpiece. A typical ion implanter includes the ion source for generating the ion beam, a beamline assembly including the mass analysis apparatus for mass resolving the ion beam using magnetic fields, and a target chamber containing the semiconductor wafer or workpiece to be implanted by the ion beam. The ion beam implanter may include beam forming and shaping structures extending between the ion source and the implantation station. The beam forming and shaping structures maintain the ion beam and bound an elongated interior cavity or passageway through which the beam passes en route to the implantation station.
The mass of an ion relative to its charge thereon (e.g., charge-to-mass ratio) affects the degree to which it is accelerated both axially and transversely, by an electrostatic or magnetic field. Therefore, the beam which reaches a desired area of a semiconductor workpiece or other target can be made very pure since ions of undesirable molecular weight will be deflected to positions away from the beam and implantation of other than desired materials can be avoided. The process of selectively separating ions of desired and undesired charge-to-mass ratios is known as mass analysis mentioned supra. Mass analyzers typically employ a mass analysis magnet creating a dipole magnetic field to deflect various ions in an ion beam via magnetic deflection in an arcuate passageway.
In order to achieve a desired implantation for a given application, the dose and energy of the implanted ions may be varied. The ion dose controls the concentration of implanted ions for a given semiconductor material. Typically, high current implanters are used for high dose implants, while medium current implanters are used for lower dose applications. The ion energy is used to control junction depth in semiconductor devices, where the energy levels of the beam ions determine the degree to which ions are implanted or the depth of the implanted ions within the semiconductor or other substrate material. The continuing trend toward smaller semiconductor devices requires a mechanism that serves to deliver high beam currents at low energies. The high beam currents provide the necessary dose levels, while the low energy currents permit shallow implants.
In most prior art systems, the ion implantation employed is a pencil-type ion beam, wherein a relatively narrow beam is produced by the ion source and subjected to mass analysis, subsequent beam conditioning, and scanning before reaching the workpiece. In this case, the reduced energies of the ions cause some difficulties in maintaining convergence of the ion beam due to the mutual repulsion of ions bearing a like charge. High current ion beams typically include a high concentration of similarly charged ions that tend to diverge due to mutual repulsion. One solution to the above problem is to employ a ribbon-type ion beam instead of a pencil-type beam. One advantage of the ribbon-type beam is that the cross-sectional area of the beam is substantially larger than the pencil-type beam. For example, a typical pencil beam has a diameter of about 1-5 cm, wherein a ribbon-type beam may have a height of about 1-5 cm and a width of about 40 cm. With the substantially larger beam area, a given beam current has substantially less current density, and the beam has a lower perveance. Use of a ribbon-type beam, however, has a number of unique challenges associated therewith.
Typical ribbon ion beam systems often have difficulty in preventing tight beam spots within the system which forces the space charge expansion of the ion beam to remain low. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 is a prior art approach from U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,575 for Method and Apparatus for Broad Beam Ion Implantation issued to Nicholas R. White. It is apparent in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the ion beam 1 has a tight beam spot located within the analyzing magnet 3 at a vertical focal point 12. (See also e.g., Col. 4, lines 4-18). The "tightness" of the beam 1 at the focal point 12 allows the substantial loss of beam quality in a low energy beam due to space charge expansion which will result in poor beam transmission. In addition, referring to FIG. 3 is a prior art approach illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,880 for High Transmission, Low Energy Beamline Architecture for Ion Implanter issued to Anthony Renau. In that prior art approach the ion beam 12 has a tight beam spot at the ion source 10 exit, for example. That prior art approach is known to have limitations in providing high current, low energy ion beams.
Therefore, in ribbon ion beam implantation systems, there remains a need for a ribbon ion beam implantation system that provides high beam currents at low energies.

Broad ribbon beam ion implanter architecture with high mass-energy capability


A cleaning sheet adapted to be attached to the head (20) of a cleaning tool (2). The cleaning sheet has a wiping portion (1A) that is disposed on the bottom of the head (20) when the cleaning sheet is attached to the head (20). The cleaning sheet has projecting parts (10) and (11) in the wiping portion (1A) which stick out of the forward and backward edges of the head (20) by a projecting length M when the cleaning sheet is attached to the head (20). The projecting parts (10) and (11) have a repulsive force of 0.1 to 100 N/cm when deformed by a length M/3 in the direction opposite the projecting direction. The projection (10) preferably has pointed tips.

A variety of cleaning tools have been proposed for cleaning the surface of furniture, walls, and floors of houses, automotive interior trim, and the like. Amongst them is a cleaning tool having a handle and a head to which a cleaning sheet made of nonwoven fabric, etc. is attached.
The outer portion of the head of this type of a cleaning tool is made of an elastic material so as not to scratch the surface to be cleaned. The sheet attached to the head is a soft sheet formed of nonwoven fabric, etc. Therefore, it is often difficult with this kind of a cleaning sheet to sufficiently catch up dust and debris such as hairs, fluffy dust, and soil dust (hereinafter inclusively referred to dust) gathering in the corners of a room by a usual wiping operation.
In order to solve the problem, a cleaning sheet having a projection sticking out of the edge of the cleaning head with which to trap dust is proposed as described in Japanese Utility Model 3027381. Merely having a projection, the proposed cleaning sheet is not sufficiently effective in collecting dust.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning sheet capable of surely collecting and trapping dust from a corner.


The semiconductor device includes a bit line, a transistor, a retention node, and a capacitor. The transistor has a function of charging or discharging the retention node. The capacitor has a function of retaining a potential of the retention node. A voltage greater than the sum of a writing voltage and a threshold voltage is applied to a gate of the transistor. When the transistor is turned on, a first potential is supplied to the bit line with a reference potential in a floating state. A voltage less than the sum of the writing voltage and the threshold voltage is applied to the gate of the transistor. When the transistor is turned on, a second potential is supplied to the bit line with a reference potential in a floating state. With use of the first and second potentials, the threshold voltage of the transistor is calculated without being influenced by parasitic capacitance and variations in the storage capacitance of the capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a test method of a semiconductor device.
Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above technical field. The technical field of the invention disclosed in this specification and the like relates to an object, a method, or a manufacturing method. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter. Specifically, examples of the technical field of one embodiment of the present invention disclosed in this specification include a semiconductor device, a display device, a liquid crystal display device, a light-emitting device, a power storage device, an imaging device, a memory device, a processor, an electronic device, a method for driving any of them, a method for manufacturing any of them, a method for testing any of them, and a system including any of them.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the case where a two-transistor and one capacitor gain-cell memory device, a three-transistor and one capacitor gain-cell memory device, or a memory device using a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is used as a non-volatile memory, a writing transistor needs to have an extremely low off-state current. The off-state current affects the retention time because a change from 1×10−23 A to 1×10−22 A increases the leakage current tenfold, even though the value is in the range of an extremely low off-state current. However, a change in the extremely low off-state current cannot be measured with the retention time unless the measurement time is as long as one year or ten years.
To verify that the off-state current is extremely low, the off-state current can be estimated from the threshold voltage of a writing transistor and the slope of the current-voltage curve in the subthreshold region (also referred to as a subthreshold swing value or an S value and defined as the amount of decrease in gate potential that is needed for a drain current to be reduced by one digit). Patent Document 1 discloses a method of determining the threshold voltage of a writing transistor in a memory device module.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A semiconductor package includes a redistribution substrate including a first redistribution layer, a first molding member on the redistribution substrate, a second redistribution layer on an upper surface of the first molding member and having a redistribution pad, an electrical connection pad on an upper surface of a second molding member and electrically connected to the second redistribution layer, and a passivation layer on the second molding member and having an opening exposing at least a portion of the electrical connection pad. The electrical connection pad includes a conductor layer, including a first metal, and a contact layer on the conductor layer and including a second metal. The redistribution pad includes a third metal, different from the first metal and the second metal. The portion of the electrical connection pad, exposed by the opening, has a width greater than a width of the redistribution pad.

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor packages, and, more particularly, to semiconductor packages including a redistribution layer for making electrical connections.
While semiconductor devices may be required to process high-capacity data, the volumes thereof have gradually been reduced. Accordingly, in a package-on-package (POP) configuration, including different semiconductor coupled chips to each other, the number of electrical connection pads disposed on a backside of a lower package and the number of backside interconnection lines electrically connecting the electrical connection pads to first redistribution layers RDL have been increased. However, because the electrical connection pad is required to have an area with a standardized size, it may be difficult to reduce the area to a predetermined size or less and there may be technical limitations in decreasing a width and a space of the backside interconnection line.


A wind powered turbine engine comprising an internalized containment and control chamber, intake enhancement, vacuum induction exhaust port and horizontally rotating rotor The turbine functions similarly to a steam or gas turbine engine. The radius of the control chamber decreases progressively as it curves around the periphery of the turbine rotor in the manner of a spiral.

The inventor has studied examples of present state of the art wind turbines of the propeller type. It was apparent that with present state of the art wind turbines, certain improvements are necessary to capture and harness a higher percentage of energy from a given cross section of wind accessed by their propeller blades. It was also becoming quite apparent that present propeller types of wind turbines are reaching the upper limit of their size range. Economics of scale in their case, is to build and install large numbers of them. Land use, low frequency high intensity sound, with regard to animals, and aesthetic appearance, were other important considerations.

Wind powered turbine engine—horizontal rotor configuration


A display case including, in various combinations, a frame, a horizontal shelf, an inclined shelf, a shelf extension extending from the shelf and a support member extending perpendicularly from a shelf.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a display case which may be used to display books, compact discs, art work, photographs or other items.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art display cases commonly include only horizontal shelves. There are, however, a number of disadvantages associated with the use of horizontal shelves. For example, when a horizontal shelf is partially filled with books, the books often tip over. Such books may also be damaged due to the effects of their own weight. Accordingly, support devices such as a bookends, which firmly press the books against one another, must be used in conjunction with a partially filled horizontal shelf.
Another problem associated with horizontal shelves is that books are often produced with the title printed on the spine of the book in such a manner that when the book is stored on a shelf,.the title is oriented 90 degrees from a normal horizontal reading orientation. Such an orientation causes problems for persons attempting to read the titles such as eye and neck strain. Moreover, a person who is looking for a particular book in a bookstore may fail to find the desired book altogether. Accordingly, bookstores may lose sales as a result of the reading difficulties associated with the orientation of the titles of books arranged on horizontal shelves.
Other problems associated with prior art display cases are related to the fact that each of the respective shelves has a uniform depth along its entire length. For example, a shelf may be one foot deep along its entire length. The uniform depth makes it difficult to store items whose respective sizes vary. For example, in a bookstore the vast majority of books may fit on a shelf having a depth of one foot. Shelves may be designed accordingly. However, on occasion, books which are substantially larger than the majority may have to be displayed. These larger books are often simply placed on a shelf which is too small to completely support them. As such, a portion of each of these books hangs over the edge of the shelf. This causes damage to the books.
Uniform shelf depth also makes it difficult to prominently display a particular item, such as a piece of art work, a trophy, or a special book. One way to prominently display such an item on a shelf of uniform depth is to leave the shelf space around the item empty. Such a display method, however, wastes valuable shelf space. Moreover, the item which is to be prominently displayed may still not "jump out" at viewers.


A pressure vessel (12) has a chamber (10) closed by a door (14). Steam, from a steam source (38) is selectively supplied to the interior of the pressure vessel to sterilize received items. The pressure vessel has an electric heater (24) for a steam passage or jacket (50) extending circumferentially therearound to heat the pressure vessel wall above the saturation temperature to prevent condensation within the pressure vessel. A vacuum jacket (20) surrounds the pressure vessel and the heater to provide an annular vacuum insulation region. A vacuum pump (30) is operated, as necessary, to maintain the vacuum between the vacuum jacket and the pressure vessel and is utilized when appropriate to draw a vacuum within the pressure vessel (12).

The present invention relates to the sterilization arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with steam sterilizers for medical, dental, and surgical equipment and will be discussed with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention is also applicable to other high temperature sterilization and decontamination techniques.
Traditionally, steam sterilizers are used for destroying the microorganisms that may be present on medical equipment. Effective sterilization is achieved by a combination of temperature, pressure and exposure time. The sterilizer inner surface and the items to be sterilized are heated to the "saturation temperature" corresponding to the temperature at which water stays in the vapor form at a given pressure. If the saturation temperature is not maintained throughout the sterilization vessel, condensation may occur, resulting in the formation of water droplets. When living microorganisms become suspended in water, the water shields them from the steam. Moreover, as the water droplets run or are absorbed by sterile wraps or parts of the sterilized items, the water can carry the microorganisms through the sterile wraps and otherwise on to the previously sterilized items.
To prevent condensation, the walls of the pressure vessel in a conventional steam sterilizer are surrounded by a steam jacket. The steam jacket maintains the temperature of the vessel walls at or above the saturation temperature. This heats the items and structures in the pressure vessel, as well as the walls of the vessel above the saturation temperature.
Typically, the steam jacket consists of a metallic enclosure, around the pressure vessel. The steam is passed through a channel between the pressure vessel and the jacket walls. Heat from the steam is conducted through the walls of the pressure vessel, establishing and maintaining the temperature within the pressure vessel. Without such steam heating through the jacket, the metallic walls of the pressure vessel and the inner structures would be below the saturation temperature when steam is introduced to the pressure vessel.
Although the steam jacket is an effective way to heat the pressure vessel, such double walled pressure vessels are expensive to manufacture. Moreover, generating the steam to fill the jacket is expensive in energy, equipment, and time. The present invention provides a new and improved pressure vessel heating system which overcomes the above referenced problems and others.


The present invention relates to a process of recombination in vivo of partially homologous DNA sequences having up to 30% of base mismatches. According to its essential characteristic, said sequences are placed together in cells or an organism of which the enzymatic mismatch repair system is defective or has been transitorily inactivated by saturation for the time to obtain recombination between said DNA sequences or in using mutants which increase the intergeneric recombination.

The present invention relates to a process for the in vivo recombination of homologous DNA sequences but having a considerable proportion of mismatched bases which can range particularly up to 30%.
It is thus possible to recombine individual genes, at the level of cells or of organisms of different species and genera having common ancestors.
The present invention relates also to a process for the production of organisms recombined by crosses and recombination in vivo of different organisms, species and/or genera, as well as a process for the in vivo production of hybrid genes and hence of hybrid proteins coded by the latter.
In the synthesis of DNA, errors can occur and the resulting uncomplementary pairs of bases are called mismatches. A process for the correction of errors (mismatches and non-matches of bases) in DNA, exists. This process brings into action an enzymatic system. Thus, in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium bacteria the errors are very rapidly and accurately detected by two enzymes (MutS and MutL) enabling a third enzyme (MutU) to unwind the two DNA strands and a fourth enzyme (MutH) to cut the neosynthesized strand on a sequence of DNA (GATC) itself methylated later by another enzyme (ref: 1). The most frequent errors G:T, A:C and plus or minus one base, are the most effectively repaired. The errors not or poorly detected by the enzymes Mut (G:A, C:T AND C:C in certain places) have a particular structure "opening" the two strands.
Until now, the obtaining of hybrid species or of hybrid genes ran up against numerous problems. As regards hybrid species, the most advanced attempts made in vitro in the vegetable field by fusion of cells ran up against the major problem of genetic instability. An for the obtaining of hybrid genes or enzymes, it was possible only in vitro by genetic engineering.
It is an object of the present invention to form novel hybrid species or, a fortiori, novel hybrid genes or enzymes by in vivo intergeneric and/or interspecific recombinations with increased efficiency and facility.

Process for the in vivo recombination of DNA sequences having mismatched bases


Embodiments herein provide methods, apparatus, computer program products, software and means for (1) an abstraction layer for default encryption, (2) with orthogonal encryption logic session object, and (3) automated authentication, (4) with a method for online litigation. In some cases subject matter disclosed herein relates to default data encryption; use a user's registration data to generate an encryption logic and related executable code, including servers and client applications; encryption as an automatic background task occurring through variable encryption logic, with authentication; embodiments are also described for conducting online litigation through pleadings formed as meta-files that trigger litigation related algorithms in order to automate and coordinate litigation.

The subject matter disclosed herein (1) relate to default data encryption; (2) use a user's registration data to generate an encryption logic and related executable code, including servers and client applications; (3) perform encryption as an automatic background task occurring through variable encryption logic, with authentication; (4) and optionally conduct online litigation through pleadings formed as meta-files that trigger litigation related algorithms in order to automate and coordinate litigation.

Abstraction layer for default encryption with orthogonal encryption logic session object; and automated authentication, with a method for online litigation


A device for transporting and storing fishing rods in a covered pickup truck cargo bed with easy loading or unloading through the tailgate of the truck without removing a cargo bed cover. This reduces entanglement and potential damage of rods, frees up the lower cargo bed for other materials, keeps rods more securely out of sight and out of the weather. Rods are suspended at the upper region of the cargo bed allowing for smaller cargo to be loaded on the floor of the cargo bed beneath the hanging rods without removal of the rod holder either loaded or empty.

Travelling with fishing rods in a pickup truck is accomplished using a variety of devices but many allow the rods and reels to be visible to the public, exposed to the weather and at risk of theft when the vehicle is unattended. Vertical rod holders hold the handle of the rod and the rod in a near vertical position in a conical device and may need to be removed if the cargo bed is used to transport other items. Existing horizontal rod holders in my review are not as easily loaded and unloaded and require open beds or rearrangement of a bed cover if present. Laying rods in the cargo bed of the pickup truck subjects them to damage or entanglement.
This horizontal fishing rod holder can be used on a pickup truck with a cargo bed cover in place, a cover such as a Tonneau, other types of flat covers, hard cover or foldable bed covers. Rods using this device may be loaded or unloaded through the lowered tailgate without removing or adjusting the cover or the holder, leaving space below the rods to bed load other materials.
Many different or commonly sized fishing rods can be accommodated in this rod holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,469 B1 to De La Torre appears to intend similar horizontal transport with a more complicated loading and removal of rods, leaving limited room in the bed of the vehicle for adding cargo when the device is installed in the vehicle.

Fishing rod holder for covered cargo bed


A modular magnetostrictive displacement sensor is disclosed having a waveguide of magnetostrictive material extending from a first housing and protected by a member of fiber reinforced composite material. There is circuitry in the first housing for generating electrical pulses along the waveguide and a converter for generating an electrical signal in response to a torsion pulse in the waveguide caused by a magnet disposed proximate the waveguide when the electrical pulse passes the magnet position. In one embodiment the waveguide and its protective member is received within a second housing. One or more magnets may be mounted within the second housing or externally on or near the second housing for movement to the waveguide. Alternatively the sensor may be used without the second housing.

The present invention relates to a position sensor and, in particular, to a position sensor which operates according to the principles described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,555 to Tellerman. In general, such devices incorporate a sonic waveguide cooperating with a magnet. The waveguide and magnet are mounted for movement with respect to each other. The device operates according to the principles of the Wiedemann effect. An electrical pulse is generated resulting in a magnetic field concentrated in the waveguide. The magnetic field of the cooperating magnet causes a sonic torsional pulse to be generated and travel along the waveguide. This sonic torsional pulse is converted to an electrical signal. The time interval between the current pulse and the reception of the sonic torsional pulse is representative of the location or position of the magnet along the waveguide. Such devices therefore provide an accurate indication of linear displacement, for example, in machine tool applications where the location of a machine element must be determined for the control of machine functions.
The prior art also includes variable potentiometer devices which have been a primary absolute displacement measuring sensor because of the simplicity of their operation, low cost, accuracy, and the ease with which they interface with electronics. On the other hand, this type of prior art sensor has several disadvantages. The potentiometer has a sliding contact and resistance element, both of which tend to wear with extensive use. The wiper contact is sensitive to contamination that in many machine applications is difficult to control or eliminate. The cost of such devices is also increased if it is necessary to convert the analog signal output of the potentiometer for use with digital controls.
Balluff of Germany has introduced a non-contact magnetostrictive displacement sensor which eliminates the disadvantages of potentiometer-type devices. However, the Balluff device appears to have relatively limited application wherein the magnet is mounted externally on the device housing for movement relative thereto. Also, the Balluff device does not achieve the cost benefits associated with potentiometer-type devices.
The present invention is directed toward providing a low cost magnetostrictive displacement sensor of modular design whereby it is adaptable to a wide range of machine requirements and applications and which incorporates other advantages of variable potentiometer devices without their disadvantages.

Modular magnetostrictive displacement sensor having a waveguide protected by a material with a thermal coefficient of expansion the same as the waveguide


A computer implemented application development (authoring) system permits objects (such as VBX custom controls) to be graphically inserted into the program under development by dragging and dropping associated icons into one of four views. The properties associated with the object may then be assigned settings. Development of a complete application is accomplished by visually arranging, ordering, and interconnecting the objects without the necessity of writing any code. The four views of Output, Map, Multitrack, and Workform may be synchronized so that changes made to the program in one view are simultaneously reflected in all other views. The system generates as output a script listing the objects and their properties which is then executed by a separate run time program. The system permits use of objects written to a standard specification and the addition at any time of additional objects written to that. Integration of the objects into the system is achieved by wrapping each object in an "envelope" of system specific properties.

The last ten years has seen an explosive growth in the development of digital computer systems and technology both in the processing power and of the hardware systems and in the sophistication of the controlling software. Not only has the microprocessor become a ubiquitous incident to almost every laboratory, industrial, and household appliance, but many functions once assigned to combinations of moving parts are almost invariably now preformed by digitally controlled electronics. Systems as diverse as automobile ignition systems and home turntables now share a common electronic heritage. In fact, the performance of many electronic circuits can be equally implemented by hardware or by a digital computer under software control. In many instances the software component of the digital electronics has become enormously complex and correspondingly expensive to develop. Indeed, the cost of the electronic hardware has come down so far that the development time and cost of the software is now the limiting element in the introduction and pricing of many new systems. There has developed, therefore, a great need to reduce the cost and time of software development.
The development over the past three years of what is referred to as "multimedia" computer systems has increased the complexity of the required software as the systems access, simultaneously present, and then replace vast amounts of information. Present systems are directed toward the simultaneous presentation of audio and visual output, but systems are clearly on the horizon which will present coordinated output which can be sensed by all five human senses and create a virtual reality. While present systems access the information for multimedia presentation primarily from local magnetic and optical storage media, it is foreseeable that electronic and optical communication with the world through the coming "information superhighway" will provide a rich source of interactive multimedia
In an attempt to reduce the cost and complexity of developing sophisticated software, attempts have been made over the last few years to modularize software functions with the idea that such modularized software could then be integrated into larger systems to achieve more complex functions. Each piece (object) of modularized software would consist of a set of instructions designed to perform a specific type of task which was frequently required in a more complex program. To use the objects, no knowledge of their internal coding structure would be necessary. All that would be required is to provide the modules with the information (parameters) they required for their use. Thus, applications would be built by selecting appropriate software modules and assembling/ordering/sequencing them to achieve higher order functions. This is the essential goal of "object oriented programming". It quickly became apparent that building with modularized software would not be efficient unless the presentation of the modules themselves conformed to some form of standard; i.e., flat bricks of any material can be stacked, mixed flat and curved bricks, no matter what material they are made of, do not stack well. A second problem facing object oriented programming is that efficiencies of application construction would only be achieved when the assembly of the objects did not require extensive and complex programming itself.
Several attempts have been made, therefore, to develop visually oriented programming systems in which software modules are manipulated as icons which may be arranged/ordered as needed and interconnected with logical operators. Examples of this can be found in the NeXT application development system, in the VIP Macintosh program, and in PowerBuilder, a Microsoft Windows program. Generally, in these types of application development systems, the software modules or objects are presented on a palette from which they are selected and "dragged" into the application under development. Ideally, in these systems, the software instructions needed to integrate the objects into a functioning whole (corresponding to the visual representation or map) are provided by the authoring program system. In reality, most of the prior art systems require the user to write some of the interconnecting software code either in a common higher order language or in a language specialized to that program.
It was hoped that the demand for complex and varied software imposed by multimedia programming requirements could be efficiently addressed by the use of object oriented programming. Until the present invention, these hopes have not been realized. A major problem not solved by the prior art has been the inability to handle in one visual, non-scripted, application development system the diverse requirements of different types of data required by a multimedia program in appropriate visual interfaces.
For instance, during the authoring process a view of the output generated by the application under development is useful when dealing with visual output (images). However, such a view is much less useful for dealing with audio output since, clearly, audio can not be seen. Correspondingly, a time line view in which the elements of the application program are represented by graphs plotting the relative times and sequences of presentation is much more useful for audio. Similarly, a logical map (flowchart paradigm), which visually relates the sequence and logical interconnections of each program element (visual, audio, etc.) is very useful for designing and following the basic structure of the application program. Sometimes, for quickly manipulating or editing particular parts of the developed application code, it is more useful to be able to view the program in a text view and treat the underlying script like a text document. Not only should the application development system provide, at any given moment, a view appropriate to the type of multimedia material being utilized, but such views should be able to be synchronized so that changes made in one view are instantly reflected in all the others. Prior art application development programs do not have the flexibility to present all four views, much less in a synchronized manner. Programs are available which are optimized for output view, map view, timeline view, and script view. Some permit more than one view with some synchronization. However, no prior art program permits access to all four synchronized views. In particular, no prior art program has successfully overcome the difficulty of simultaneously synchronizing the time line view to the other views.
Additionally, in an optimum visual, object oriented, application development program there should be available a wide variety of objects (software modules that would manipulate in different manners multimedia output) with the ability to easily add additional objects, developed by independent programmers, to the development system. Each added object should seemlessly be integrated so that it is available in all four views. Programs of the prior art each have their own object definition standards. That is, for an object to be incorporated into their system, it must meet that program's standards. No prior art program is available which will allow addition of objects not designed to its standard without the necessity of writing additional code to perform the interface to that object. Finally, it should be noted that application development systems necessarily consist of two major parts. The first is the authoring section which provides a customized output (script). The second is a run time system which takes the customized output and executes it. Some prior art run time systems for visually developed applications are notoriously slow in their execution.

Visually oriented computer implemented application development system utilizing standardized objects and multiple views


A method for communication in a wireless device (24) includes establishing a first connection with a base station (BS-28) of a long-range wireless data network, and a second connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). A time interval (96) is selected in the wireless device for communicating over the second connection. In preparation for the selected time interval, the BS is caused to refrain from scheduling data transmission from the wireless device to the BS over the first connection during the time interval, by reporting to the BS prior to the time interval that no data is pending for transmission from the wireless device. The wireless device communicates over the second connection on the WLAN during the time interval.

In some communication systems, communication devices of different communication protocols operate in proximity to one another and in adjacent or overlapping frequency bands. Because of the proximity in location and frequency, such systems may be prone to interference.
Various techniques for coexistence between different communication protocols are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0275746, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a communication method that includes establishing a first communication session over a first connection between a wireless terminal and a base station (BS) of a long-range wireless data network, which operates in accordance with a first protocol that defines a sequence of time frames. Based on the time frames defined by the BS, time slots are allocated for establishing a second communication session over a second connection between the wireless terminal and a peripheral wireless device, which operates in accordance with a second, short-range time-slotted communication protocol different from the first protocol. Time intervals are allocated within the time frames for communication between the BS and the wireless terminal over the first connection, such that the allocated time intervals are interleaved with and do not overlap the allocated time slots. The first and second communication sessions are concurrently conducted in the allocated time intervals and the assigned time slots, respectively.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0129367, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for communication that includes allocating time intervals for a first communication session over a first connection between a wireless terminal and a base station of a long-range wireless data network, which operates in accordance with a first protocol defining time frames having downlink and uplink sub-frames. Time slots are allocated for a second communication session over a second connection between the terminal and a peripheral wireless device, which operates in accordance with a second, short-range time-slotted protocol, which is different from the first protocol and has a retransmission mechanism. The time slots are synchronized with the downlink and uplink sub-frames defined by the BS. Operation of the second connection is inhibited during some of the time slots that overlap the downlink sub-frames, so as to invoke the retransmission mechanism and cause the terminal to transmit only during the time slots that do not overlap the downlink sub-frames.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,542,728, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes Apparatus for communication that includes at least one RF receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive and down-convert first and second RF signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks in accordance with different, first and second network protocols, so as to output first and second down-converted signals. A baseband processing circuit includes processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second down-converted signals so as to extract first and second data from the signals. The processing components have a first configuration for demodulating the first down-converted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second down-converted signals in accordance with the second network protocol.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,545,787 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0142504, whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference, describe a method for communication that includes establishing a first connection between a wireless terminal and a base station of a long-range wireless data network, which operates in accordance with a first protocol that defines a sequence of time frames for transmission of data between the wireless terminal and the base station. A signal is sent from the wireless terminal to the base station identifying an interval including one or more of the time frames during which the wireless terminal will not receive data from the base station. During the interval, a second connection is established between the wireless terminal and an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN) in accordance with a second protocol, different from the first protocol.


A filter used to remove particulates from a diesel engine exhaust is regenerated by increasing the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off of the accumulated particulates. Regeneration of the filter is inhibited when the sensed level of fuel in a diesel fuel tank for the engine falls below a first threshold level. Optionally, filter regeneration may be initiated when the sensed fuel level is between the first threshold and a higher threshold, and the load level of particulates accumulated in said filter is above a preselected, relatively high load level. Increase of the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off may be achieved by a variety of techniques, including throttling the intake of said engine, reducing the oxygen content in the exhaust gases delivered to said engine, closing an EGR valve of said engine, or performing post injection of fuel in the engine""s combustion cylinders.

The present invention generally relates to filters for removing particulates from the exhaust gas of diesel engines, and deals more particularly with a method of regenerating the filter only when the level in the engine""s fuel tank is above a preselected value.
Emission after-treatment devices are used to collect particulate matter from the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines. In particular, conventional emission treatment devices for diesel engines include particulate filters, oxidation catalysts and nitrous oxide (NOx) catalysts. A problem exists with particulate filters in that the particulates, which consist largely of carbon particles, tend to plug the filters, resulting in a restriction to the flow of exhaust gas. In order to periodically regenerate or purge the filter from particulates, it is known to take measures which result in an increase of the exhaust gas temperature above a predetermined level (e.g. above (450xc2x0 C.) in order to incinerate the carbon particles accumulated in the filter.
One conventional method used to increase the exhaust gas temperature involves controlling a throttle valve in the intake manifold of the engine. In particular, it is known that by throttling/closing the throttle valve, the exhaust gas temperature may be increased. Numerous methods have been used for controlling the throttle valve. For example, in one conventional method, the intake throttle valve is controlled by utilizing the difference between a calculated target intake manifold pressure, and an actual intake manifold pressure. The target intake manifold pressure is calculated using an engine speed and engine load. The regeneration process is scheduled by engine control software based on an estimate of the particulate loading. Known techniques for raising the exhaust gas temperature result in an increase in the fuel consumption during the regeneration process. Driver dissatisfaction can result, however, if the regeneration event is initiated at a time when the vehicle""s fuel tank is near empty, as when the low fuel warning lamp is illuminated. For example, the driver may observe an unexpected rapid reduction in the vehicle""s remaining driving range at a critical time, or the driver may observe what appears to be poor fuel economy due to the driver""s closer scrutiny of fuel mileage when the fuel tank is near empty. In an extreme case, the higher fuel consumption may result in the vehicle running out of fuel before it reaches the next refueling station.
Thus, there is a need for a method of regenerating diesel engine particulate filters only above low fuel levels in order to obviate the problems mentioned above.
The present invention provides a method of regenerating a diesel particulate exhaust gas filter only when the supply of fuel for the diesel engine is above a predetermined value.
According to one aspect of the invention, a diesel exhaust filter regeneration method is provided, comprising the steps of sensing when the level of diesel fuel in a fuel tank of a vehicle is below a first threshold level representing a relatively low fuel level; regenerating the filter; and inhibiting the regeneration of the filter when the sensed fuel level is below the threshold value. The method further optionally includes sensing when the fuel level is below the first threshold, and a second, higher threshold level; sensing when the particulate loading of the filter is between a first relatively high load level, and a second load level higher than the first load level; and, regenerating the filter when the sensed fuel level is between the first and second threshold levels, and the sensed loading level of the filter is between the first and second load levels. The filter is regenerated by determining when the loading level of particulates in the filter exceed a predetermined loading level, and increasing the temperature of the exhaust gas to at least a pre-selected exhaust temperature above which the filter is regenerated through the oxidation of the particulates. The exhaust temperature is maintained above the pre-elected temperature for a predetermined length of time corresponding to a desired level of filter regeneration. The increase in exhaust gas temperature may be achieved by a number of techniques, including throttling the engine intake by reducing the oxygen content in the exhaust gases, by closing an ERG valve of the engine or by performing pilot injection of fuel into the engine""s cylinders.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of controlling the regeneration of a diesel particulates in the exhaust filter for a diesel fuel engine is provided, comprising the steps of inhibiting the regeneration of the filter when the level of fuel in a fuel tank of the vehicle is below a first threshold level and a second higher threshold level, and the particulate loading of the filter is between a first, relatively high load level and a second load level higher than the first load level in which regeneration of a filter would ordinarily be necessary.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method of regenerating a diesel exhaust gas particulate filter which avoids a regeneration when the fuel supply to the engine is at a relatively low level.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method as described above which initiates a filter regeneration event only if the filter load is above a predetermined level.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned above which reduces the possibility of a diesel engine powered vehicle running out of fuel as the result of increased fuel consumption at low fuel levels due to the initiation of a filter regeneration event.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned above which reduces driver dissatisfaction as a result of the effects of particulate filter regeneration during low fuel levels.
These, and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear or will become apparent during the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Regeneration of diesel engine particulate filter only above low fuel levels


A method is provided for making a container having a body and a rim defining an opening for the container, the opening being capable of being closed by a push-on lid, the container being made of a material which is susceptible to deformation when heated.

Containers made from material which is susceptible to deformation when heated, in particular thermoplastic materials such as PET or PEN, are well known. The use of such materials to manufacture the container allows a preform to be made and then subsequently expanded under pressure to obtain a finished article. The use of such preforms is known in the art, for example in WO97/19801, WO97/19806 and WO2003/095170.
Containers for materials such as paint are required to be secure, such that the lid of the container does not readily come off, e.g. when dropped from a height.
There is therefore a need for containers, made from material which is susceptible to deformation when heated, which have a design such that the lid is securely attached and does not readily come off.

Container with a rim portion defining an opening, method and apparatus making said container


A file directory tree structure of a selected storage snapshot is dynamically divided into different portions. A plurality of the different file directory tree structure portions are analyzed in parallel to identify any changes of the selected storage snapshot from a previous storage snapshot. To analyze each of the plurality of the different file directory tree structure portions, a processor is further configured to traverse and compare a corresponding file directory tree structure portion of the selected storage snapshot with a corresponding portion of a file directory tree structure of the previous storage snapshot while at least another one of the plurality of the different file directory tree structure portions of the selected storage snapshot is being analyzed in parallel.

A primary system may store a plurality of files and use a file directory tree structure to organize the files. The file directory tree structure may be comprised of a root node, one or more levels of one or more intermediate nodes, and a plurality of leaf nodes. A node of the file directory tree structure may correspond to a directory, a sub-directory, or a file. For example, a root node of the file directory tree structure may correspond to the root directory "C:\," an intermediate node may correspond to the sub-directory "C:\Users," another intermediate node may correspond to the sub-directory "C:\Users\User1," and a leaf node may correspond to a file "test.txt." The file path for "test.txt" may be represented as "C:\Users\User1\test.txt."
A storage system may back up the file directory tree structure. The primary system may keep track of the changes to the file directory tree structure, but not provide the storage system with access to the tracked changes. The backup of the file directory tree structure may be a full backup or an incremental backup. An incremental backup may be comprised of the data associated with the file directory tree structure that was not backed up. To perform an incremental backup, systems may use a single directory walker to traverse the entire last backed up version of the file directory tree structure and a single directory walker to traverse the entire version of the file directory tree structure that was not backed up to determine the data associated with the file directory tree structure that was not previously backed up. However, a file directory tree structure may be comprised of a large number of nodes (e.g., millions). It may take a long period of time (days) to traverse the two file directory tree structures and to determine the differences between them.

Determining differences between two versions of a file directory tree structure


A trailer for a bicycle suited to transport loads such as canoes, surfboards, ladders, etc. The trailer includes a pair of wheels and a frame arrangement having a spreading member for the wheels and a longitudinally extending load receiving rigid framework. The various members are easily separable so that a flexible strap connected between the wheels and a part of the frame as well as the bicycle hold the frame arrangement together. The trailer thereby is lightweight, readily assembled and disassembled, and yet structurally strong to support the loads indicated.

Anyone who has ever portaged a canoe knows the difficulty of dealing with both the weight on a person's shoulders, as well as the maneuverability of the length of the canoe both forward and rearward. Sometimes it is easier for two people, rather than one, to carry the canoe. There is no known trailer for a canoe which is easily pulled by a bicycle. There are known, however, bicycle trailers, most of which are for carrying children. U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,352 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,321 show collapsible trailers. In every known design of a bicycle trailer, however, the framing tends to be either fixedly configured or, if collapsible, rather complex. Known designs do not appear capable of supporting both a heavy load and a long load which is difficult to maneuver, while at the same time being collapsible or capable of being broken down into a small package for storage or actual transport by the load, such as a canoe.


A quick-connect coupling tool includes a first member and a second member. The second member is slidably affixed to the first member. The quick-connect coupling tool further includes a first pair of prongs and a second pair of prongs, the first pair of prongs is affixed to the first member, oriented in a first direction, and orthogonal to the first member. The second pair of prongs is affixed to the first member, oriented in the first direction, and orthogonal to the second member. The quick-connect coupling tool includes a first urging means for urging the first pair of prongs and the second pair of prongs apart and a second urging means for urging the first pair of prongs and the second pair of prongs together. The first urging means and the second urging means are affixed to the first member and the second member.

The present invention relates generally to quick-connect fittings, and more particularly to tools for manipulating quick-connect fittings.
A hose coupler connects a hose with another hose, tap, or hose appliance, such as an irrigation sprinkler. A quick-connect fitting provides a fast, make-or-break connection of fluid transfer lines. Quick-connect fittings may be installed by hand, as opposed to threaded or flanged connectors, which require wrenches. Quick-connect fittings may be installed in poorly lit and/or confined spaces. This may create difficult or dangerous conditions for technicians.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Quick-connect coupling and decoupling tool

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus for bagging a cylindrical object in one bag in a plurality of bags. The apparatus includes a finger assembly with fingers that are placed into a partially opened open end of the bag that is to receive the cylindrical object. After insertion into the open end of the bag, the fingers are separated uniformly in all directions and moved away from the rest of the bags, providing an appropriately shaped opening for the object to pass into the bag. The object passes through the expanded plurality of fingers into the opened open end of the bag. After the bag has been filled, a gripper finger grasps one edge of the bag and the finger assembly moves upwardly away from the bag as the bag is pulled onto a conveyor, where the bag is closed in a bag closure machine.

Present methods and apparatus for bagging items are most typically directed toward bagging items which are supplied in bulk. Examples of such materials are fruits, vegetables, grains and sand. A given volume of these bulk items generally can be poured into any shape of open end of a bag in which the items are to be contained. However, there is also a need to bag large items, such as cylindrical items, which require the open end of the bag be opened to a circular shape. Examples of such items which have cylindrical shapes are rolls of plastic sheeting and paper towels.
It is also of interest to minimize the cost of bagging items. One way toward accomplishing this goal is to minimize the sizes of the bags in which the items are packaged. In the case of cylindrical items, it is possible to accomplish this by putting the items in bags having approximately the same outer perimeter.

Method and apparatus for bagging objects


A process is provided for producing a polyurethane foam having a high-density skin layer by reacting a polyol with a polyisocyanate in a short time. The reaction is allowed to proceed in the presence of a blowing agent, a catalyst, and optionally an additive, the blowing agent being composed only of water, and the catalyst being an amine represented by formula (I) below and/or an organic acid salt thereof: ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are, independently, an alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbons, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, and/or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be linked to form a cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring together with the adjacent nitrogen atom; and R.sub.5 is hydrogen, an alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbons, a phenyl group, or a cycloalkyl group. This process does not use halogenated hydrocarbons which cause ozone layer destruction.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid polyurethane foam which has a high-density skin layer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for producing a polyurethane foam having a high-density skin layer, generally called a polyurethane integral skin foam, without using halogenated hydrocarbons as blowing agents.

Process for producing urethane foam having a high density skin layer


Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical to a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 4, wherein the protein has an aspartic acid (Asp) at amino acid position 106 Transgenic plants compπsing the nucleic acid have reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit compared to wild-type plants Methods of genetic screening for plants having reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit, isolated oligonucleotides, and a method of imparting to a plant the dfd trait are also disclosed.

The textural changes (generically referred to as "softening") that accompany ripening of fleshy fruits are critical determinants of quality and are thus of great commercial importance. Loss of firmness is a major factor limiting transportation and storage of fleshy fruits and it is also associated with the onset of postharvest disease, due to microbial pathogens that penetrate and destroy the fruit flesh. Postharvest fruit quality is dependent on both textural durability during storage and the nutritional and sensory components. The practice of harvesting many fruit prior to full maturity to improve resistance to damage during handling has resulted in crops that typically fail to accumulate a full complement of nutritional compounds, which are essential for optimal quality. Therefore, if the molecular basis of softening could be better understood, and if softening could be uncoupled from other ripening-related processes, fruit could be harvested at a later stage. This in turn would not only make the fruit more resistant to over-softening and less susceptible to microbial infection, but would also dramatically enhance flavor and nutritional content and thus increase commercial value.
A number of tomato ripening mutants have been identified, including rin (ripening inhibitor), nor (non-ripening), alc (alcobaça), and Cnr (Colorless non-ripening), which are impaired in many ripening-related processes and exhibit delayed or impaired softening (Kopeliovitch et al., "Physiology of the Tomato Mutant Alcobaca," Physiol. Plant. 48:307-311 (1980); Giovannoni, "Genetic Regulation of Fruit Development and Ripening," Plant Cell 16:S170-S180 (2004); U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,347 to Giovannoni et al.; and Manning et al., "A Naturally Occurring Epigenetic Mutation in a Gene Encoding an SBP-box Transcription Factor Inhibits Tomato Fruit Ripening," Nature Genetics 38:948-952 (2006)). These mutants have provided insights into several specific aspects of ripening-related metabolism, but their effects on ripening are pleiotropic and some desirable aspects of ripening physiology are adversely affected, which limits their commercial application. For example, the rin mutation, which has been introgressed into a large number of commercial tomato cultivars, slows the rate and/or extent of fruit deterioration, but often has a deleterious effect on color, flavor, and aroma. In this regard, a more desirable tomato cultivar would be one that has reduced or delayed softening, but that exhibits otherwise "normal" ripening, with the attending quality metrics.
The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art.

Delayed fruit deterioration allele in plants and methods of detection

Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research


A thorough error suppression signal measurement system (20) having a transmitter (300) for propagating a transmission signal to a first probe 100, through a device under test (26), and into a second probe (200), and for propagating reference signals to the probes (100,200). The probes (100,200) extract normalization signals from the reference signals, exchange specific ones of the normalization signals, and combine the normalization signals with data signals derived from the transmission signal to form receiver signals. The probes (100,200) propagate the receiver signals to a receiver (400), where the signals are gain-ranged, digitized, normalized, and compensated for phase-noise.

For accurate instrumentation, it is desirable to fully understand the characteristics of the devices used. With any given one of these devices, i.e., a "device-under-test" or DUT, the specific characteristics of that DUT are not fully understood. As a simplistic example, a given "47 kΩ" resistor would rarely have a value of exactly 47,000Ω. To properly understand the operation of a circuit containing such a resistor, a knowledge of the actual resistance (e.g., 46,985.42Ω) would be helpful. It should be understood that a DUT may encompass a wide range of electrical components, equipment, and systems. A typical DUT may be a filter, an amplifier, a transmitter, a receiver, or any component, group of components, circuit, module, device, system, etc.
The drift of components, filters, amplifiers, and other signal-conditioning circuitry typically limits the accuracy of electronic measurements. A measurement system may advertise a large dynamic range and very-high resolution. However, the full dynamic range and resolution may not be realizable because of errors inherent in the system. Current measurement systems have not been demonstrated to have verifiable, full-scale uncertainties of better than 0.1 percent over all types of errors.
Real-world measurement instruments tend not to be perfect. This imperfection will affect the accuracy of the resulting measurements. This accuracy is dependent upon measurement errors. Such errors may be classed as static (systematic) errors and dynamic errors.
Static errors are repeatable, time-invariant system errors. That is, static errors do not vary over time. Static errors result from the nonideal aspects of a system. These errors are repeatable as long as no changes are made to the system. Static errors include directivity errors, source-mismatch errors, load-mismatch errors, reflection and transmission tracking errors, isolation or cross-talk errors, etc.
Static errors may be reduced through the use of precision components and circuits. However, no matter how precisely a circuit is designed, there will still be some level of static error present. Since static errors are repeatable, they can be suppressed using various static error suppression techniques, such as twelve-term error modeling, known to those skilled in the art. Twelve-term error modeling, typically employed with standard network analyzers, can account for directivity errors, source-mismatch errors, load-mismatch errors, tracking errors, and isolation errors.
Before error modeling may be employed, the error coefficients of the requisite equations must be calculated by making a set of measurements on a set of known loads meeting precise standards. A sufficient number of precise standards must be used in order to determine the various error coefficients in the error model. A common static-error calibration technique is the Short, Open, Load, and Through (SOLT) technique. The SOLT calibration technique yields better than 0.1 percent accuracy for static errors. However, dynamic errors limit the actual accuracy to less than this. An alternative static-error calibration technique, also well known to those skilled in the art, is the Through, Reflection, and Load (TRL) technique. The TRL calibration technique yields significantly better static-error accuracy than the SOLT technique at the cost of calibration complexity. There are a number of other well-known static-error calibration techniques that may be used to advantage in specific instances.
However, removing a significant amount of static error achieves little if other types of errors are not also addressed. Dynamic errors are time-varying errors. That is, dynamic errors change over time, often in an unpredictable manner. Such errors may be attributable to a number of different sources. For example, component-drift, physical-device (e.g., cables, connectors, etc.) errors, phase-noise errors, random noise, etc.
Measurement systems exhibit several types of dynamic errors. Phase-noise errors and random errors, while inherently dynamic (i.e., time-variant) are special cases independently discussed hereinafter.
Component-drift errors may be either long-term or short-term. Long-term component-drift errors, however, are typically due to aging of the components, with resultant variations in component specifications.
One type of short-term component-drift error, source drift error, is usually attributable to thermal or mechanical variations within the system, and may include both amplitude and phase fluctuations of the output wave.
Another type of short-term component-drift error, receiver drift error, is associated with a data receiver. This may be due to drift in components such as amplifiers, filters, and analog-to-digital converters. Receiver-drift error may also appear as time-varying gain and phase drift in the received signals.
Thermal variations may also lead to physical expansion of passive components within the system. At high frequencies, such expansion may lead to appreciable phase errors. In applications where the DUT is located at a considerable distance from a transmitter and/or receiver, there may be a number of time-varying errors associated with the connections between the DUT and the transmitter and receiver. These may include amplitude and phase-drift errors in the amplifiers or errors associated with the modulation and demodulation circuitry. Systems in which such errors become significant include systems utilizing propagation media other than traditional cables (e.g., the atmosphere, space, the earth, railroad tracks, power transmission lines, the oceans, etc.).
Dynamic physical errors result from physical changes in the test setup. One example of a physical error is connector repeatability. As one connects and disconnects the DUT, there will be reflection and transmission errors associated with any nonrepeatability of the connectors. The severity of the connector repeatability error is related to the type of connector, the condition of the connector, and the care with which the user makes the connection.
Cable-flexure errors are another type of dynamic physical error. Cable-flexure errors appear as one moves the cables to connect or disconnect a DUT or perform a calibration. Time-variant phase errors associated with the relaxation of the cable can occur for a period of time after the cable has been flexed.
Phase noise (jitter) is directly related to the frequency stability of a signal source. In a perfect sinusoidal oscillator, all the energy would lie at a single frequency. Since oscillators are not perfect, however, the energy will be spread slightly in frequency. This results in a pedestal effect. This effect, referred to as phase noise, is more severe at higher frequencies. Phase noise is a performance-limiting factor in applications where a weak signal must be detected in the presence of a stronger, interfering signal.
Random or white noise is common in measurement systems. Random noise includes thermal noise, shot noise, and electromagnetic interference. Random noise may appear as random data errors. Traditional and well-known techniques of random error suppression utilize some form of oversampling to determine the correct data and suppress the random errors.
Calibration frequency is also a problem in conventional signal measurement systems. Typically, high-accuracy measurement systems employing manual calibration are calibrated periodically. The interval between calibrations may be hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even yearly. This technique produces a steadily decreasing accuracy that progresses over the inter-calibration interval. Additionally, drift errors occurring during the inter-calibration interval are uncompensated. Such drift errors tend to accumulate. Therefore, measurements taken shortly before calibration may be suspect. Exactly how suspect such measurements may be depends upon the length of the inter-calibration interval and the amount of drift involved.
Many state-of-the-art measurement systems employ automatic-calibration techniques. Some automatic-calibration systems calibrate at specified intervals. Such systems suffer the same decreasing accuracy as manual-calibration systems.
Other automatic-calibration systems calibrate at the beginning and end of each measurement cycle. The use of frequent nonsimultaneous calibration procedures does increase overall accuracy, but may also greatly increase the cost of measurements and prevents measurements while the frequent calibration procedures are taking place.
All calibration procedures discussed above are nonsimultaneous. That is, the calibration procedures do not occur simultaneously with measurement. Nonsimultaneous calibration procedures are incapable of correcting or compensating for dynamic errors, such as component drift, occurring during measurement.
Current technology demands increasingly small operational errors. High accuracy is therefore a growing need of instrumentation users. Measurement systems utilizing simultaneous calibration are useful for applications requiring high-accuracy measurements. That is, systems are needed that calibrate themselves and measure data simultaneously. Such systems are said to employ dynamic error suppression. That is, such systems are able to compensate for dynamic (time-variant) errors by continuously calibrating themselves while simultaneously performing the requisite measurements.
As current technology drives operational frequencies higher and higher, phase noise (i.e., signal jitter) increases in importance. A definite need exists, therefore, for systems employing phase-noise error suppression. That is, for systems employing some means of compensating for signal jitter. This is especially important in polyphase-constellation communications systems where phase noise may cause misinterpretation of the signal phase point (i.e., the data) at any given instant.
Measurement systems for state-of-the-art technology also desirably compensate for random errors.

Real-time noise-suppression method and apparatus therefor


A server carrier assembly includes a server carrier configured for receiving a server therein, and a cable collecting structure mounted to the server carrier. The cable collecting structure includes a bracket and at least one receiving portion extending from the bracket. A space between the bracket and the receiving portion is defined for collecting at least one cable of the server. At least one opening is defined in the bracket and configured for the cable of the server to extend there through.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a server carrier assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
A server carrier installed on a base is usually used for receiving a computer server therein. A computer server often includes a plurality of cables arranged along any convenient pathway for connecting to other devices outside the server, which can be disorderly, and will affect the server carrier sliding in the base when the server carrier is installed on the base.
What is needed, therefore, is a server carrier assembly capable of keeping cables of a server orderly.


An accessory mounting frame is attachable to various vehicle seat bases and allows for connection of a vehicle accessory when the vehicle seat is removed. The accessory mounting frame includes a first seat attachment projection, a second seat attachment projection, and an accessory fastener coupled to the first seat attachment projection and the second seat attachment projection. The first seat attachment projection has a first bearing surface that is configured to bear against a first portion of the vehicle seat base. The second seat attachment projection has a second bearing surface that is configured to bear against a second portion of the vehicle seat base. The first seat attachment projection and the second seat attachment projection are adjustable with respect to the accessory fastener.

For ride-hailing and ride-sharing services, it is advantageous to provide services and amenities to second-row passengers. If the front seat is removed, a vehicle accessory can be installed to provide such services and/or amenities to the second-row passengers. Given the variability in vehicle seat base arrangements, interchanging between different vehicle accessories may be challenging. EP 1688298 to Weiland discloses a mounting rail to fix a vehicle seat to its modular floor system. However, Weiland does not contemplate a universal or semi-universal accessory mounting frame that can be coupled to various vehicle seat base arrangements.

Accessory mounting frame for a vehicle seat base


A photosensitive material processing apparatus includes a processing tank and a rack placed in the processing tank. A processing solution is introduced into the interior of the processing tank through the bottom portion of the processing tank. The processing solution introduced from the bottom portion of the processing tank enters a space formed between a bottom turn cover and a bottom turn guide of the rack, and jets from a jetting opening formed in the bottom turn guide toward a transport path for a photosensitive material. Alternatively, the processing solution introduced from the bottom portion of the processing tank enters the space between the bottom turn cover and the bottom turn guide of the rack, passes through a jetting opening formed in the bottom turn guide and a processing solution jetting passage formed in a rack plate, and jets from a jetting opening formed in the rack plate toward the transport path. Accordingly, the processing solution can be agitated effectively.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to the structure of a processing tank of a photosensitive material processing apparatus, and more particularly to the structure of a processing tank in which a desilverization reaction is performed and to that of a rack used therein.
2. Description of the related art
In a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus for carrying out automatic development of a color photosensitive material, the steps of color development, bleaching, fixing, and stabilizing have been performed in a color development process. In the step of color development, dyes are produced while free silver--which forms latent images in sensitized portions--is reduced. In the step of bleaching, the silver--which forms latent images at the color-developed portions--is oxidized to be returned to the form of silver salt. In the step of fixing, the silver salt is converted into a water soluble complex salt and is removed. In the step of stabilizing, color-generating components at non-sensitized portions are deactivated so as to complete the development process. Through this process, stable images are obtained.
Various techniques have been employed so as to reduce the amount of a processing solution required in the development process, in consideration of cost and liquid waste treatment. In order to suppress exhaustion of the processing solution, various kinds of promoting agents are added. Moreover, the processing solution is agitated and circulated so as to obtain stable processing performance with a small amount of a processing solution and to enhance or maintain the activities of the processing solution and photosensitive material.
An example of a processing tank of a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1. To the processing tank 61 is connected a subtank 62. A pump 63 feeds a processing solution from the subtank 62 to the bottom portion of the processing tank 61 so as to circulate the processing solution, whereby the processing solution is fed into the lower portion or bottom portion of the rack 64 placed in the processing tank 61.
In order to decrease the amount of a processing solution required for processing of a photosensitive material, the activities of the processing solution and photosensitive material are chemically enhanced and maintained through use of a suitable promoting agent, and reaction is physically accelerated through agitation.
In the conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus, since a processing solution within the processing tank is agitated by feeding the processing solution from a side wall of the processing tank, the processing solution cannot be agitated sufficiently. Therefore, desilverization tends to become insufficient in the step of bleaching, fixing, or the like. If there is insufficient reaction for returning the silver --which forms latent images--to the form of silver salt, or if there is insufficient reaction for dissolving and removing the silver salt, excess silver remains on the photosensitive material, resulting in an increase in contrast, which deteriorates the image quality at a highlight portion. Moreover, when silver is not removed completely from a photosensitive material, there is a possibility that the image quality deteriorates when a long period of time has elapsed after development.

Photosensitive material processing apparatus


A method and apparatus for assigning a mobile dialing number (MDN) to a wireless mobile communication device (MCD), for providing local call access to the MCD from a base address for the MCD, by first selecting a wireless rate center encompassing the base address and having an MDN providing local call access to the MCD from the base address for the MCD, and then assigning the MDN to the MCD, for providing local calling access to the MCD from the base address for the MCD. A database defines geographic boundaries of a plurality of wireless rate centers, including the wireless rate center encompassing the base address and having the MDN providing local call access to the MCD from the base address.

It is desirable, in the operation of a mobile communication system (MCS) that provides telephone calling services, to provide local call access to a mobile communication device (MCD) utilizing the mobile communication system, from a base address (BA) for the MCD, via a wireless rate center (WRC) encompassing the base address BA for the MCD. For an MCD mounted in a vehicle, for example, the base address BA may be a garaged location of the vehicle, for example, or some other location, such as a business address or a dispatching center for the vehicle.
In such a mobile communication system MCS, an MCD typically communicates with the mobile communication system MCS at a flat rate, provided by a wireless service provider (WSP) having a special billing arrangement with the operator of the mobile communication system MCS, that rolls all incidental charges into the flat rate. For example, an MCD mounted in the vehicle may provide cellular telephone service, wireless data exchange, and access to a number of other services of the mobile communication system MCS, all at the touch of a button, and at a flat rate per minute of connection time, without additional long distance charges.
If the MCD using the mobile communication system MCS cannot be accessed from a base address BA using a local telephone number, however, the user of the MCD subscribing to the mobile communication system MCS will have to pay long distance charges to call the MCD from the base address, in addition to the flat rate charges paid for using the mobile communication system MCS. It is highly desirable that the user not be required to pay such long distance charges for communicating with the MCD from the base address BA.
In order for a subscriber of the mobile communication system MCS to be able to call the MCD from the base address BA for the MCD, without incurring long distance charges, it is necessary to assign a mobile dialing number (MDN) to the MCD that is accessible through a wireless rate center having an operating area for free local calls that encompasses the base address BA.
Prior methods for assigning an MDN to an MCD, that allows free local calls from the base address to an MCD, via a wireless rate center having an operating area for free local calls that encompasses the base address BA, have been cumbersome, and fraught with error. The drawbacks and problems in prior methods for assigning an MDN to an MCD, are the result of deficiencies in prior databases for available mobile dialing numbers MDN, and problems inherent in prior procedures that assigned the MDN on the basis of the postal zip code encompassing the base address for the MCD.
FIG. 1 shows a typical prior method 100 for assigning an MDN to an MCD operating in a mobile communication system. The process 100 is separated into two major groupings of steps 102, 104. In the first grouping 102 of steps 106-120, encompassed in dashed lines in FIG. 1, the actual MDN is assigned. In the second grouping 104 of steps 122-126, outside of the dashed lines in FIG. 1, the MDN that was assigned to the MCD in the first grouping 102 of steps 106-120 is activated by the wireless service provider WSP in steps 122-128, and the MCD is configured for operation with the MDN in step 130. If the assigned new MDN is replacing an old MDN, previously assigned to the MCD, the old MDN is deactivated in steps 132 and 134.
The prior iterative process 100 for assigning the MDN, as represented by the first grouping 102 of steps 106-120 in FIG. 1, involves several exchanges of information between the MCS operator and the WSP, and uses the postal zip code encompassing the base address as the primary input for selecting and assigning the MDN. As shown at box 106, the MCS operator starts the MDN assignment procedure by sending the zip code encompassing the base address to the WSP. As shown at box 108, the WSP uses the zip code provided by the MCS operator to prepare a list of area code and dialing prefix combinations (designated herein by the letters NPA-NXX) that are currently available from a billing identification (BID) area encompassing the zip code of the base address for the MCD. The list of NPA-NXX combinations that are available in the BID area encompassing the zip code of the base address for the MCD is sent back to the MCS operator, as shown at box 110.
The MCS operator selects an NPA-NXX combination, as shown at box 112, from the list provided by the WSP in the step of box 110. As shown at box 114, the customer may be consulted, regarding the selection of a preferred NPA-NXX combination, but this is not typically done. Typically the MCS operator selects the NPA-NXX combination without input from the customer.
The MCS operator sends the selected NPA-NXX combination back to the WSP, as shown at box 116. The WSP then selects and appends an available four digit line number (-LINE) to the selected NPA-NXX combination received from the MCS operator, to complete the ten digit mobile dialing number MDN, assigns the MDN to the MCD, and sends the assigned MDN back to the MCS operator, as shown at boxes 118 and 120.
The assigned MDN is then actuated and the MCD is configured for operation with the assigned MDN, as shown in steps 122-130, and if required, an old MDN previously assigned to the MCD is deactivated, as shown in steps 132 and 134.
Utilization of the zip code encompassing the base address, and the BID for selecting the MDN involves an inherent flaw in the MDN assignment process 100, and a risk that the MDN selected and assigned in the first grouping 102 of steps 106-120 of the prior MDN assignment process 100 will not be a telephone number that provides local call access from the base address BA to the MCD. The inherent flaw and risk are illustrated in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the BID area is defined by a boundary line, illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 2, established by the wireless service provider for facilitating billing procedures of the wireless service provider. While the BID area works well for the intended purpose of facilitating billing, it is not well suited for use in assigning an MDN allowing local call access from a base address BA located within the BID area to an MCD associated with that base address BA.
As shown in FIG. 2, a particular BID area typically encompasses several zip codes, as illustrated by zones ZIP1 through ZIP4, and all or part of several wireless rate centers, as illustrated by WRC1-WRC3. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the base address (BA) is located in zone ZIP 1 and is encompassed by wireless rate center WCR1. Unfortunately, however, the BID does not define the geographic relationship between the BA, ZIP1, and WR1-WR3 in sufficient detail to determine which of the wireless rate centers WR1-WR3 encompasses the base address BA, and which mobile dialing numbers MDN assigned to the BID are in turn assigned to the wireless rate center WR1 encompassing the base address BA, and would provide free local call access from the MCN to the base address BA.
The BID typically has, assigned to it, a list of mobile dialing numbers MDN having various NPA-NXX-LINE combinations that are not geographically associated by the BID with any particular zip code or wireless rate center encompassed by the BID. There is thus no geographic correlation between the NPA-NXX combinations in the list supplied to the MCS operator by the WSP at box 110, and the base address BA, or the zip code ZIP1 and the wireless rate center WRC 1 encompassing the base address BA. Without such a geographic correlation, the MDN assigned by the prior method 100, as shown in FIG. 1, may be available in the BID, but only provide local call access within WRC2 or WRC3, and not WRC1, thereby resulting in an MDN being assigned to the MCD that will require payment of long distance charges for communication from the base address BA the MCD.
Unfortunately this undesirable situation will likely not be recognized until the customer receives his first bill for operation of the MCD and realizes that he is incurring long distance and roaming charges in addition to the flat rate subscription charge paid to the MCS operator. Such a situation results in an unhappy customer, and requires wasted effort and increased cost to the MCS operator and WSP for repeating the MDN assignment process to change to a new MDN, assigned to wireless rate center WRC1, that allows local call access from the base address BA to the MCD.
An improved method and apparatus are required, for assigning an MDA providing local call access from a base address BA for an MCD to the MCD, via a wireless rate center encompassing a base address BA for the MCD, in a more straightforward and reliable manner.

Assigning a local access telephone number to a wireless mobile communication device


A multipurpose water delivery system, and a method for its construction, which comprises an internal assembly consisting of water delivery conduit and a variety of connectors attached thereto; a hollow vertically oriented cylindrical external assembly which houses the internal assembly and through which a plurality of accessories such as shower heads, valves, and hose bibs may be connected to the internal assembly; and a non-threaded twist-resistant mounting base which can be quickly and easily installed onto hard surfaces or into soil, yet secures the external assembly in position even during gale force winds. In portable embodiments which are connected to positive pressure water supplies through a conventional garden hose, a simple twisting and lifting force applied to the external assembly can quickly separate it from the mounting base. A valve assembly may be attached centrally to the external assembly to function as a carrying handle allowing the external assembly to be transported and handled in a balanced manner. Also contemplated is an adjustable plumb ring for off-level surface installations. Devices such as lighting fixtures, hose supports, mail boxes, bait cutting tables, seats, and service connections for cable television, electricity, and telephone may also be connected to the external assembly. Multiple external assemblies can also be used in combination to support devices such as large bait cutting tables and fencing materials. Applications may include, but are not limited to, use at marinas and around boat docks.

The invention herein was disclosed in U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/046,744, entitled Multipurpose Portable or Permanent Water Delivery System with Multisurface Attachability and filed on May 15, 1997, by its sole inventor, Peter I. Colman, the filing date of May 15, 1997, being herein claimed as a priority date for the present invention.
The present invention relates to outdoor shower devices, specifically to a versatile multipurpose water delivery system, and a method for its construction, which comprises a compactly designed internal assembly consisting of a plurality of pieces of vertically oriented water delivery conduit and a variety of connectors attached thereto; an upright cylindrical external assembly within which the internal assembly is housed and through which a plurality of accessory devices such as shower heads, valves, and hose bibs, may be connected to the internal assembly; in combination with a compactly designed mounting base. It is contemplated to have both permanently installed and portable embodiments of the present invention, the permanent embodiments having their external assemblies permanently secured with a bonding compound, adhesive material, or other fastening means to the non-threaded mounting base, and the portable embodiments of the external assembly being securely mounted to the non-threaded mounting base in a manner which allows rapid attachment and removal therefrom through a simple combination of twisting and lifting forces applied to the upper portion of the external assembly. The bottom of the mounting base of the present invention is either configured for fastening to a hard surface or alternatively configured for twist-resistant ground insertion. It is contemplated for the mounting base to be configured to securely maintain the external assembly in an upright position, even during gale force winds. The present invention also comprises compensation means for off-level surface applications, and contemplates connection of its portable embodiments to a positive pressure water source through use of a conventional garden hose. In addition, it is contemplated for different embodiments of the water delivery system to have a variety of support and other devices attached to the external assembly, including but not limited to bait cutting tables, seats, fencing materials, and a variety of other features to include but not be limited to mail boxes, electrical light fixtures, and outlets for the connection of service for electricity, cable television, and telephone. Further, portable embodiments may have one or more optional sturdily constructed valve assemblies attached centrally to the outside of the external assembly which also can function as a carrying handle for the external assembly so that it can be easily transported and handled in a balanced manner. Applications may include, but are not limited to, use at marinas and around boat docks for a combination of rinsing and other purposes, use in patio areas near to a swimming pool to rinse swimmers before and after entry into the pool, use in watering backyard gardens, and use in backyards or on decks for the bathing of pets.

Multipurpose water delivery system with multisurface attachability