A compact virtual image electronic display system is provided which includes a microdisplay for producing a source object, one or more magnification optics, and a distance adjusting mechanism for adjusting a distance between the one or more magnification optics and each other or a reflective surface, the magnification of the compound magnified image relative to the source object being dependent on this distance. The system may include a distance sensing mechanism for sensing the distance between the beamsplitting magnification optic and the reflective element and communicating the distance to a control mechanism which modifies the source object in response. The system can also include a control mechanism for causing the distance adjusting mechanism to adjust the distance in response to the source object produced by the microdisplay. The system can also include a user selectable input for modifying the source object.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a compact electronic display system. More specifically, the invention relates to a compact electronic display system which provides a virtual image of a microdisplay that has been compound magnified where a reflective function is used to fold the optical train of the electronic display onto itself.
1. Description of Related Art
A continuing objective in the field of electronics is the miniaturization of electronic devices. Most electronic devices include an electronic display. As a result, the miniaturization of electronic displays is critical to the production of a wide variety of compact electronic devices.
The purpose of an electronic display is to provide the eye with a visual image of certain information. This visual image may be provided as either a real image or a virtual image. A real image refers to an image which is observed directly by the unaided human eye. A photograph is an example of a real image. Electronic displays which provide a real image generally provide some form of display surface on which the real image is formed and viewed. A real image exists at a given location when, if a viewing surface is positioned at this location, a real image can be observed by the unaided eye. Examples of electronic displays which provide real images include liquid crystal displays, CRT monitors, and projection screens.
In real image electronic displays, the image viewed by the observer is an image created on or projected onto a display surface. As a result, the size of the display surface limits the size of the image that can be provided to the observer. Compact electronic devices, because of their small size, have limited space for a display surface and therefore are only able to accommodate a relatively small display image.
A relatively small display image creates a series of problems for the person viewing the image. The human eye is only able to resolve a limited amount of detail in an image. Two objects can be resolved by the eye as separate objects only when they are separated by a certain minimum angle as measured from the eye. The unaided human eye can resolve objects with an angle of separation of approximately 1-2 arc minutes or more.
The human eye also has difficulty focusing on source objects at very short distances from the eye without causing eye strain. The near point for the unaided human eye is defined as the closest distance that the eye can focus on an object without causing eye strain. The near point for the unaided human eye is about 25 cm for an average middle aged adult. The near point is much longer for an older adult and can be as long as 100 cm.
The display surface of a real image electronic display generally includes an array of small objects, called pixels, which form a real image on the display surface. For the reasons described above, the resolution of the unaided human eye and the near point of the eye determine the minimum pixel size that the unaided human eye can resolve. For an electronic display located at the near point for an average middle aged adult, the minimum separation between pixels that can be resolved by the unaided eye is about 75.times.10.sup.-4 cm, or 75 microns. In order to accommodate for variations in the human eye, the minimum separation between pixels in a real image electronic display should preferably be larger than the minimum resolvable pixel size.
For small real image electronic displays, the display must be viewed at a distance close to the near point of the eye in order to provide the observer with a significant amount of information. As a result, the observer must focus his or her eyes on the small display. The need to focus on a small display each time the electronic display is used creates discomfort and eventually, unwanted eye strain on the observer. The problem of eye strain becomes particularly acute when the observer is only intermittently focusing on the electronic display. It therefore is desirable to employ an electronic display which minimizes the observer's need to refocus his or her eyes in order to view the electronic display.
Another important property of the human eye which determines the utility of an electronic display is the eye's angular field of view of an image. The eye can see over a field of view of up to 100 degrees. The full field of view, as it is referred to herein, is the circular field of view around the axis of the eye having a diameter equal to the largest dimension of the image being viewed. However, beyond 10-15 degrees from the center of the field, the resolution degrades significantly. A comfortable field of view for normal electronic display surfaces is typically in the range of 20-40 degrees. For real image displays, the field of view is defined as the ratio between the largest dimension of the display surface and the distance from the eye to the display. An example of a display surface with such a field of view would be a TV screen with a 100 cm diagonal viewed at 150 cm. The human eye compensates for the lower resolution at the edges of the display surface by scanning the eye across the display. The scanning of the eye is called eye roll. The eye roll moves the pupil of the eye. The typical distance for the motion of the pupil of an adult is about 1 cm.
An optical system can produce both real and virtual images. Several examples of electronic displays that provide a real image were discussed above. By contrast to a real image, a virtual image is an image which, if a viewing surface were positioned at the location of the virtual image, no image would be observed by the eye. An example of a virtual image is the image of fine print viewed through a magnifying glass. The print not only appears larger, it also appears to be located substantially behind the surface where the print actually exists. By definition, a virtual image can exist at a location where no display surface exists. The size of the virtual image therefore is not limited by the size of a display surface. Virtual image electronic displays thus have the advantage of eliminating the need for a large display surface in order to produce a large electronic image.
A virtual image electronic display must initially form a source object which is then imaged by an optical system to create the virtual image. A substantial advantage of a virtual image electronic display is that the source object initially created may be as small as can be usefully reimaged by the optical system. As a result, virtual image electronic displays may effectively utilize very small microdisplays to form the source object. Pixel sizes may be as small as a few microns in diameter, a size which the unaided eye cannot resolve. Rather, in order to view the source object formed by the microdisplay, substantial magnification of the optical system is required.
A virtual image must be created by an optical system of some kind. In a real image electronic display, it is the eye and the viewing surface properties which determine the viewing parameters. By contrast, in a virtual image display, the optical system determines most of the viewing parameters.
There are three important parameters relating to the ease of viewing the image associated with virtual image displays. The first parameter is the far point which refers to the maximum distance from the eye which the optical system can be held and have the eye still see the entire virtual image. Optical devices which provide a far point which is a short distance from the optic are undesirable due to the inconvenience and discomfort associated with placing the eye in close proximity with the optic. It is therefore preferred that an optic provide a long far point in order to enable the magnified image to be viewed through the optic at a comfortable and convenient range of distances from the optic.
The second parameter relating to the ease of viewing a virtual image is the apparent angular width of the virtual image, commonly referred to as the field of view of the virtual image. The full field of view is defined as the ratio of the largest apparent dimension of the virtual image to the apparent distance to the virtual image. It is generally equivalent to the field of view for a real image display surface.
The third parameter relating to the ease of viewing a virtual image is the transverse distance that the eye may move with respect to the optical system and still have the eye see the entire virtual image through the optical system.
A variety of electronic display systems have been developed for providing a virtual image to the observer. Virtual image electronic display systems may generally be divided into two broad classes, on-axis display systems and off-axis display systems. An on-axis display system refers to a system having components symmetrical about a common optical axis. In a typical on-axis system, any of the component(s) forming the on-axis display system can be rotated about the optical axis without disturbing the display system.
On-axis display systems provide the advantage of producing virtual images with a minimal amount of aberrations. However, on-axis display systems have the disadvantage of being spatially inefficient due to the linear arrangement of the optical components.
By contrast, off-axis display systems refer to display systems where one or more components are positioned such that the symmetry around the optical axis is removed. Any optical system that includes tilted or displaced optics is an off-axis optical system as that term is used herein. By placing one or more components off-axis, off-axis display systems can be adapted to efficiently fit within the contours of the devices in which they are used. However, off-axis display systems have the disadvantage that redirecting an image off-axis introduces aberrations into the image which can significantly deteriorate the image quality produced. The image quality can frequently be enhanced using additional optical elements which reduce the significance of the aberrations. However, these additional optical elements add to the size, complexity and cost of the display.
Off-axis display systems commonly employ optical components having a reflective optical surface, such as a concave reflective mirror, in order to redirect the optical train off-axis. Examples of prior art off-axis electronic display systems employing a reflective element include U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,509, U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,248, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,166, U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,503, U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,338, U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,124 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,372.
One problem associated with the use of a reflective optical surface is that the optical path on the object side of the surface and the optical path on the image side of the surface traverse the same physical space. This problem is generally avoided through the use of a second reflective surface, such as a beam splitter, or an optical element, such as an optical grating, which diverts the reflected image of the object off-axis.
A significant advantage associated with compact electronic displays is the fact that they are portable. It is therefore impractical and disadvantageous for a compact electronic display to rely on an external power source. The illumination source used in the electronic display generally requires the greatest amount of energy of the various components used in the electronic display. It is therefore important that the electronic display have an optical design which efficiently uses the illumination source used to form the virtual image.
A need also currently exists for an inexpensive, compact virtual image electronic display that is positionable within a small volume, that provides the observer with a large field of view, a virtual image with a significant degree of eye relief and a large translational distance. In particular, an electronic display system is currently needed which combines the image quality and light efficiency advantages of an on-axis display system with the spacial efficiency provided by off-axis display systems.

Twice folded compound magnified virtual image electronic display


An internal combustion engine is configured with combustion chamber pressure sensing and exhaust gas recirculation apparatus. Fuel injection timing is adjusted based on combustion phasing and exhaust gas recirculation is controlled based on average fuel injection timing adjustments.

Modern diesel and gasoline internal combustion (IC) engines use significant amounts of EGR to reduce the emission of nitric oxides (commonly known as NOx). In some diesel applications the level of EGR achieved is even more important as inability to achieve the required level of EGR may cause stability problems particularly in non-conventional or special combustion modes, e.g. pre-mixed charge compression ignition (PCCI). And, certain other combustion modes, e.g. controlled auto-ignition, may have greater sensitivity to EGR concentrations also.
Particular levels of EGR may be achieved by using a closed-loop control system for the EGR valve position where the set-points of the closed-loop system are calibrated in terms of fresh airflow as seen by a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. Such set-points work as long as there is no error in the MAF sensor and also if there are no other differences in how the engine subsystems operate in comparison to the calibration. For example, any change in boost pressure, exhaust back-pressure, intake manifold temperature or other factors (e.g. ambient air temp and humidity) that affect volumetric efficiency of the engine will have an adverse effect on the EGR control system and thus the actual EGR achieved will be quite different from the calibrated value, thus causing undesirable levels of NOx emissions or instability of the combustion process.
Therefore, what is needed is a more precise EGR control.

Simultaneous EGR correction and individual cylinder combustion phase balancing


The present invention relates to a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative represented by the following the formula (I), ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a lower alkyl group, R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together form a five- or six-membered ring which may contain hetero atoms or may have substituents, provided that a compound wherein R.sub.1 is a methyl group, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen atom and ##STR2## is a piperazinyl group is excluded; or a salt thereof; to an antimicrobial agent comprising the same as an effective component; and to an intermediate for producing same.

Synthetic antimicrobial agents such as nalidixic acid, piromidic acid, and the like are known as drugs for curing infectious diseases caused by Gram negative microorganisms. They exhibit, however, only deficient effects on intractable diseases such as pseudomoniasis and the like. On the other hand, antimicrobial agents with a stronger antimicrobial activity, such as norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and the like, have been developed and clinically used.
In order for an antimicrobial agent to effectively exhibit its action, the agent must have a strong antimicrobial activity and must be efficiently utilized. The above-mentioned conventional synthetic antimicrobial agents had a defect in that they are insufficiently absorbed, thus achieving only low utilization by living bodies.
In view of such a situation, the present inventors have synthesized a number of quinolone carboxylic acid derivatives and studied their antimicrobial activity and absorption efficiency by living bodies, and found that quinolone carboxylic acid derivatives of the following formula (I) and their salts exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities and superior absorptivity. Such a finding has led to the completion of the present invention.


The invention aims to prevent the disadvantages of printed circuit board transformers with respect to their quality and safety, in particular in a performance range of greater than 150 VA with output voltages of less than 12 V. This is achieved by a planar transformer comprising a ferrite core (1a, 1b, 21a, 21b), at least one primary coil and at least one secondary coil, which can be connected on a printed circuit board and a coil body (3, 23), which encompasses part of the ferrite core (1a, 1b, 21a, 21b) and carries at least one secondary coil. According to the invention, each of the secondary coils (3, 23) carried by the coil body is configured from at least one winding metal sheet (2, 22), which is open on one side and can be plugged into the coil body (3, 23) and connected to the printed circuit board.

As the requirement for the volume-related power density (VA/in3) of a switched-mode power supply increases, the requirements for its inductive components, in particular the main transformer or transformers, also increase. Therefore, for about 20 years, printed circuit card transformers of every conceivable design have increasingly being used, as a separate component or integrated into the main board of a power supply.
One example of such a printed circuit card transformer is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,314. Its primary and secondary coils are etched-in on printed circuit cards, which have a recess in their center, so that the printed circuit cards can be fitted one on top of the other onto the ferrite core of the transformer, with an insulating layer being provided between neighboring printed circuit cards. The printed circuit cards are held together by a coil former comprising two halves, the printed circuit card being disposed with the primary coil between the two halves and the secondary windings being arranged on the mutually averted sides of the halves of the coil former. All the printed circuit cards are embraced by legs which run around on both sides of the halves of the coil former. The ferrite core comprises two E-shaped halves, the coil former carrying the printed circuit cards being fitted onto the middle leg of one of the halves of the ferrite core and the other half of the ferrite core being fitted on from the other side of the coil former.
This type of printed circuit card technology is used primarily for signal transformers, storage inductors and transformers in the power range up to about 150 VA.
In the power range above 150 VA, with outputs with small voltages (<12 V) and correspondingly high output currents, considerable quality problems arise in the manufacture of printed circuit card transformers. For instance, in the case of high currents, the copper thickness of the printed circuit cards must be correspondingly great and then no longer conforms to the standard of the printed circuit card industry.
In the case of high output powers, comparatively expensive printed circuit cards with special thicknesses are required; it may be necessary for standard copper thicknesses to be built up with copper. If printed circuit cards with special copper thicknesses are used, the etching gap between the interconnects can only be guaranteed with optimum process setting. Even the smallest deviations in the process or contaminations cause tiny copper bridges between the interconnects. Such a bridge between two interconnects results in an inadequate number of turns, an interturn short-circuit or, with a conducting connection between the interconnect and the outer edge, even safety-relevant creepage paths between the windings or between the winding and the ferrite core. Such a conducting connection between two interconnects can only be detected during printed circuit card manufacture by elaborate measuring methods directly after the respective process step, or it is only detected in the final functional testing of the completely assembled transformer. However, the value added is lost and much of the material used can no longer be put to further use.
Alternatively, a number of thin layers of copper of multilayered printed circuit cards can be connected in parallel. However, the total thickness of such a printed circuit card is comparatively high because of the insulating layers between the conductor layers. There is also the disadvantage that exact connection of the parallel conductor layers in the printed circuit card is laborious and is only possible with covered vias if required safety standards are to be met.
A further problem, specifically in the case of upright printed circuit card transformers, is the mechanically stable and current-resistant contacting of the printed circuit card with all the required inner layers to the printed circuit board, for example a main board of the power supply.

Planar transformer comprising plug-in secondary windings


A sighting device includes a fixed-position objective lens group lying on an optical axis, an eyepiece lens group lying on the optical axis, and a variable-position objective lens group lying on the optical axis and positioned between the fixed-position objective lens group and the eyepiece lens group. A variable-lens position of the variable-position objective lens group relative to the fixed-position objective lens group or the eyepiece lens group may be controllably varied. A mechanical aperture stop lies on the optical axis between the fixed-position objective lens group and the eyepiece lens group. A stop axial position and/or a stop size of the mechanical aperture stop may be varied according to the position of the variable-position objective lens group.

A rifle or other hand-held weapon which is aimed at a target is provided with a sight that aids the user in aligning the weapon with the target. The weapon may be provided with a telescopic sight which includes a variable lens group that may be controlled by the user to change the magnification and field of view of the sight, between a lower magnification with a wider field of view, and a higher magnification with a narrower field of view. In either case, light enters the sight through an entrance pupil and passes through an exit pupil that defines the size of the image viewed by the user. The exit pupil may be defined by the diameters of the lenses, or, more commonly, by an aperture stop.
To use the sight properly, the user's eye must be aligned with the exit pupil in order to see the image produced by the sight, and must be at the eye relief distance behind the exit pupil. If the user's eye is not aligned with the exit pupil, none or only a portion of the image is visible to the eye.
The telescopic sight is typically used at the lower magnifications for short-range, close-quarters situations, and at the higher magnifications for long-range situations. The telescopic sight in its lower-magnification configuration may also be initially used in long-range situations to locate the target, and then the sight switched to the higher magnification for precise aiming.
Experience has shown that it can be difficult for the user to acquire (locate) the target at different magnifications of the telescopic sight, and to keep the target under surveillance as the telescopic sight is switched between different magnifications. There is a need for an improved approach to such a telescopic sight that overcomes such problems. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Telescopic sighting device with variable exit pupil


A surgical fixation device is provided, including a preformed cranial mesh configured to generally conform to a predetermined averaged geometry. The cranial mesh includes a preformed flexible mesh body having opposed inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of apertures that extend through the mesh body from the outer surface to the inner surface, each of the plurality of apertures extending along a respective central axis from the outer surface to the inner surface. The mesh body is configured as-manufactured to contact the predetermined averaged geometry at least at three spaced apart locations, such that 1) no portion of the mesh body crosses the predetermined averaged geometry in a first direction from the outer surface toward the inner surface, and 2) no location on the inner surface of the mesh body is spaced from the predetermined averaged geometry a distance greater than a select distance along the first direction.

Biologically compatible metallic meshes capable of being formed and contoured to the three-dimensional skeletal anatomy are known for surgical use. These meshes have been employed in osteosynthesis to rejoin and repair bone discontinuities resulting from trauma (i.e., fractures) and/or surgical procedures wherein osteotomies of the bone are necessary to performing the procedure.
Various configurations of contourable fixation devices have been used that are commonly secured to a region of bone with fasteners, for example bone screws. One class of contourable fixation device includes closed, solid construct meshes that are formed by machining, chemically etching, or otherwise creating a plurality of circular fastener openings into a generally square and flat sheet of material. These closed, solid construct meshes have limited flexibility and limited three-dimensional contourability due to their generally solid or closed structures. Accordingly, these closed, solid construct meshes can be difficult to three-dimensionally contour to correspond closely to a geometry that matches a geometry of an irregular or intricate portion of skeletal anatomy while avoiding kinking. Kinking is undesirable because it can cause a non-aesthetic appearance, soft tissue irritation, and other problems.
To attempt to eliminate the kinking problem and improve contourability, surgeons typically find it necessary to cut out multiple and/or extensive portions of the closed, solid construct meshes. FIG. 1 shows an example of a prior art closed, solid construct mesh 20 having triangular relief cuts 22 typically made by surgeons for applying this type of mesh to a frontal region of a skull. One drawback of making such customized relief cutouts is extended surgical time. Another drawback is that the cutouts themselves reduce the strength of the final mesh construct because the narrow section at the center of the mesh along line A-A has decreased flexural rigidity.
Another class of contourable fixation device is characterized by an open-structured, highly contourable mesh for example as disclosed in U.S. Pub. Nos. 2005/0149032 and 2008/0009872, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. FIG. 2 shows an example of a prior art open-structured, highly contourable mesh 30 in an initial rigid and flat two-dimensional configuration (hereinafter initial flat configuration). As shown in FIG. 2, the open-structured, highly contourable mesh 30 includes a plurality of spaced-apart fastening plates 32 (hereinafter plates), deformable links 34 (hereinafter links) interconnecting the plates 32, and openings 36 interspersed between the plates 32. Additionally, the open-structured, highly contourable mesh 30 can define holes 38 that extend through at least some of the plates 32. The holes 38 are configured to receive a fastener, such as a bone screw or tack, to secure the open-structured, highly contourable mesh 30 to a target region of bone.
The openings 36 may be defined by at least a portion of both the links 34 and the plates 32. The openings 36 provide space within the open-structured, highly contourable mesh 30 to allow the links 34 to be deformed in three dimensions. Accordingly, the open-structured, highly contourable mesh 30 is configured to be three-dimensionally contoured without kinking, more easily than the closed, solid construct mesh 20.
Typically, contourable fixation devices, such as the open-structured highly contourable mesh 30 discussed above, are provided to a surgeon housed in a sterile packaging in the initial flat configuration. Providing the contourable fixation device in the initial flat configuration may require the surgeon to spend time during the surgery contouring the fixation device to correspond to the anatomy of the target region of bone to which the fixation device is to be secured.
The process for a surgeon contouring the fixation device during surgery, to match the anatomy of an individual patient, may require a number of lengthy steps including: determining the implant reception site on the bone and the final three-dimensional shape of fixation device based on the anatomical three-dimensional shape of the target region of bone; heating the fixation device to above its glass transition temperature (by any suitable means such as a hot water or saline bath, hot air gun, bender/cutter iron, etc.) to make the fixation device malleable; placing the fixation device directly on the bone reception site and contouring the fixation device to have a desired three-dimensional shape; and cooling the fixation device by allowing its temperature to fall below the glass transition temperature whereupon the mesh returns to a rigid condition and holds the three-dimensional contoured shape.
Thus, an atomically-shaped fixation device that is available for use by a user, such as a surgeon, prior to surgery, without the need for extensive bending or other modification by the surgeon during surgery, and that conforms to a predetermined averaged geometry of a bone region can result in improved aesthetic results as well as a reduction of time and cost associated with a surgical procedure in which the fixation device is used to rejoin and repair bone discontinuities.


A badge mounting system for a vehicle interior includes a badge plate and an emblem or badge comprised of raised lettering or a design that is formed integrally on the badge plate. A trim panel includes inner and outer surfaces and a badge relief section formed integrally on the trim panel. The badge relief section is defined by letter shaped apertures. The badge plate is coupled to the inner surface of the trim panel and the emblem is received in the badge relief section in assembly. The badge plate is rear loaded to the trim panel and the system may include more than one badge plate. In assembly, a portion of the badge extends outwardly from the outer surface of the trim panel through the badge relief section.

Commonly, front loaded badge mounting systems have been used in many industries, especially in the automotive industry for exterior badge applications. For vehicle interiors, however, the adhesive of these front loaded badges on painted plastics have proven to be less durable or robust than desired. The present invention provides a rear loaded badge mounting system which includes reinforcement features for lettering used in the badge, thereby providing the proper aesthetic and part durability desired in a badge display.


One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for identifying active streaming connections associated with a particular user account. Each active streaming connection transmits heartbeat packets periodically to a server that tracks the receipt of the heartbeat packets. If, for a particular streaming connection, the server stops receiving heartbeat packets, then the server is able to infer that the streaming connection has been terminated.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to digital media distribution and, more specifically, to a system and method for detecting active streams using a heartbeat and secure stop mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital content distribution systems conventionally include a content server, a content player, and a communications network connecting the content server to the content player. The content server is configured to store digital content files that can be downloaded from the content server to the content player. Each digital content file corresponds to a specific identifying title, such as "Gone with the Wind," that a user can download for playback. The digital content file typically includes sequential content data, organized according to playback chronology, and may comprise audio data, video data, or a combination thereof.
The content player is configured to download and play a digital content file, in response to a user request selecting the title for playback. The process of playing the digital content file includes decoding and rendering audio and video data into an audio signal and a video signal, which may drive a display system having a speaker subsystem and a video subsystem. Playback typically involves a technique known in the art as "streaming," whereby the content server sequentially transmits the digital content file to the content player, and the content player plays the digital content file while content data is received that comprises the digital content file.
Typically, in a digital content distribution system, a limit is placed on the number of concurrent streaming connections a particular user is allowed to establish. To enforce such a limit, when a user requests a new streaming connection, the number of currently established streaming connections associated with that user is observed, and if that number exceeds the maximum number of allowed concurrent streaming connections, then the request for the new streaming connection is denied.
In practice, oftentimes a previous streaming connection established by the user is terminated by the content player but the notification of the termination event is not received by the content server in a timely manner. This results in inaccurate and stale state information being stored on the content server related to the user, which may impact the user's viewing experience. For example, a user who has legitimately terminated a particular streaming connection may not be allowed to establish any new streaming connections if the content server does not know that the particular streaming connection has been terminated. Not allowing users to establish new streaming connections when those users are in compliance with the limitations placed on concurrent streaming connections can run the user experience and is, thus, highly undesirable in a content distribution system.
As the foregoing illustrates, what is needed in the art is a way to more accurately track active and terminated streaming connections.

System and method for detecting active streams using a heartbeat and secure stop mechanism


A single cell, multi-electrode high performance double layer capacitor includes first and second flat stacks of electrodes adapted to be housed in a closeable two-part capacitor case which includes only a single electrolyte seal. Each electrode stack has a plurality of electrodes connected in parallel, with the electrodes of one stack being interleaved with the electrodes of the other stack to form an interleaved stack, and with the electrodes of each stack being electrically connected to respective capacitor terminals. A porous separator sleeve is inserted over the electrodes of one stack before interleaving to prevent electrical shorts between the electrodes. The electrodes are made by folding a compressible, low resistance, aluminum-impregnated carbon cloth, made from activated carbon fibers, around a current collector foil, with a tab of the foils of each electrode of each stack being connected in parallel and connected to the respective capacitor terminal. The height of the interleaved stack is somewhat greater than the inside height of the closed capacitor case, thereby requiring compression of the interleaved electrode stack when placed inside of the case, and thereby maintaining the interleaved electrode stack under modest constant pressure. The closed capacitor case is filled with an electrolytic solution and sealed. A preferred electrolytic solution is made by dissolving an appropriate salt into acetonitrile (CH.sub.3 CN). In one embodiment, the two parts of the capacitor case are conductive and function as the capacitor terminals.

The present invention relates generally to an electric double layer capacitor, and more particularly to a high performance double layer capacitor made with low-resistance aluminum-impregnated carbon-cloth electrodes and a high performance electrolytic solution.
Double layer capacitors, also referred to as electrochemical capacitors, are energy storage devices that are able to store more energy per unit weight and unit volume than traditional capacitors. In addition, they can typically deliver the stored energy at a higher power rating than rechargeable batteries Double layer capacitors consist of two porous electrodes that are isolated from electrical contact by a porous separator. Both the separator and the electrodes are impregnated with an electrolytic solution. This allows ionic current to flow between the electrodes through the separator at the same time that the separator prevents an electrical or electronic (as opposed to an ionic) current from shorting the cell. Coupled to the back of each of the active electrodes is a current collecting plate. One purpose of the current collecting plate is to reduce ohmic losses in the double layer capacitor. If these current collecting plates are non-porous, they can also be used as part of the capacitor seal.
Double layer capacitors store electrostatic energy in a polarized liquid layer which forms when a potential exists between two electrodes immersed in an electrolyte. When the potential is applied across the electrodes, a double layer of positive and negative charges is formed at the electrode-electrolyte interface (hence, the name "double layer" capacitor) by the polarization of the electrolyte ions due to charge separation under the applied electric field, and also due to the dipole orientation and alignment of electrolyte molecules over the entire surface of the electrodes.
The use of carbon electrodes in electrochemical capacitors with high power and energy density represents a significant advantage in this technology because carbon has a low density and carbon electrodes can be fabricated with very high surface areas. Fabrication of double layer capacitors with carbon electrodes has been known in the art for quite some time, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,800,616 (Becker), and 3,648,126 (Boos et al.).
A major problem in many carbon electrode capacitors, including double layer capacitors, is that the performance of the capacitor is often limited because of the high internal resistance of the carbon electrodes. This high internal resistance may be due to several factors, including the high contact resistance of the internal carbon-carbon contacts, and the contact resistance of the electrodes with a current collector. This high resistance translates to large ohmic losses in the capacitor during the charging and discharge phases, which losses further adversely affect the characteristic RC (resistance.times.capacitance) time constant of the capacitor and interfere with its ability to be efficiently charged and/or discharged in a short period of time. There is thus a need in the art for lowering the internal resistance, and hence the time constant, of double layer capacitors.
Various electrode fabrication techniques have been disclosed over recent years. For example, the Yoshida et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,283) discloses a method of connecting a carbon electrode to a current collector by depositing carbon powder and other electrical conductivity-improving agents on an aluminum substrate.
Another related approach for reducing the internal resistance of carbon electrodes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,028 (Yoshida et al.) which teaches that the incorporation of metals such as aluminum into carbon fiber electrodes can be accomplished through weaving metallic fibers into carbon fiber preforms.
Yet another approach for reducing the resistance of a carbon electrode is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,511 (Nishino et al.) wherein the carbon fiber is dipped into an aqueous solution to form a layer of a conductive metal oxide, and preferably a transition metal oxide, in the pores of the carbon fibers. Nishino et al. also discloses the formation of metal oxides, such as tin oxide or indium oxide by vapor deposition.
Still another related approach for achieving low resistance is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,745, 5,304,330, and 5,080,963 (Tatarchuk et al.). The Tatarchuk et al. patents demonstrate that metal fibers can be intermixed with a carbon preform and sintered to create a structurally stable conductive matrix which may be used as an electrode. The Tatarchuk et al. patents also teach a process that reduces the electrical resistance in the electrode by reducing the number of carbon-carbon contacts through which current must flow to reach the metal conductor. This approach works well if stainless steel or nickel fibers are used as the metal. However, applicants have learned that this approach has not been successful when aluminum fibers are used because of the formation of aluminum carbide during the sintering or heating of the electrode.
Another area of concern in the fabrication of double layer capacitors relates to the method of connecting the current collector plate to the electrode. This is important because the interface between the electrode and the current collector plate is another source of internal resistance of the double layer capacitor, and such internal resistance must be kept as low as possible.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,511 (Nishino et al.) suggests plasma spraying of molten metals such as aluminum onto one side of a polarizable electrode to form a current collector layer on the surface of the electrode. Alternative techniques for bonding and/or forming the current collector are also considered in the '511 Nishino et al. patent, including arc-spraying, vacuum deposition, sputtering, non-electrolytic plating, and use of conductive paints.
The previously-cited Tatarchuk et al. patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,102,745, 5,304,330, and 5,080,963) show the bonding of a metal foil current collector to the electrode by sinter bonding the metal foil to the electrode element.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,1142,451 (Kurabayashi et al.) discloses a method of bonding the current collector to the surface of the electrode by a hot curing process which causes the material of the current collectors to enter the pores of the electrode elements.
Still other related art concerned with the method of fabricating and adhering current collector plates can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,065,286; 5,072,335; 5,072,336; 5,072,337; and 5,121,301 all issued to Kurabayashi et al.
It is thus apparent that there is a continuing need for improved double layer capacitors. Such improved double layer capacitors need to deliver large amounts of useful energy at a very high power output and energy density ratings within a relatively short period of time. Such improved double layer capacitors should also have a relatively low internal resistance and yet be capable of yielding a relatively high operating voltage.
Furthermore, it is also apparent that improvements are needed in the techniques and methods of fabricating double layer capacitor electrodes so as to lower the internal resistance of the double layer capacitor and maximize the operating voltage. Since capacitor energy density increases with the square of the operating voltage, higher operating voltages thus translate directly into significantly higher energy densities and, as a result, higher power output ratings. It is thus readily apparent that improved techniques and methods are needed to lower the internal resistance of the electrodes used within a double layer capacitor and increase the operating voltage.

Multi-electrode double layer capacitor having single electrolyte seal and aluminum-impregnated carbon cloth electrodes


A vector for introducing a desired gene into a planet, which comprises the desired gene and at least one morphological abnormally induction (MAI) gene as a marker gene, or which comprises the desired gene, at least one MAI gene and a removable element. A method for producing a transgenic plant free from the influence of a marker gene. A method for multitudinously introducing desired genes into one plant.

Transformation of microorganisms and cultured cells using genetic engineering is currently applied to the production of physiologically active substances useful as medicines and thus greatly contributes to the industry. In the field of plant breeding, industrial application of genetic engineering lags behind because the life cycles of plants are much longer than those of microorganisms. However, since this technology enables a desired gene to be directly introduced into plants to be bred, it has the following advantages compared to classical breeding which requires multiple crossing.
(a) It is possible to introduce only a characteristic to be improved.
(b) It is possible to introduce characteristics of species other than plants (such microorganisms and the like).
(c) It is possible to greatly shorten the breeding period.
Thus engineering methods for plant breeding have been investigated vigorously.
The production of transgenic plants requires the following three steps.
(1) Introducing the desired gene into the plant cell (including introduction of the same into the chromosomes, nucleus and the like).
(2) Selecting plant tissue made only of cells into which the desired gene has been introduced.
(3) Regenerating a plant from the selected plant tissue.
In order to select transgenic tissues into which a desired gene has been introduced, visual identification of the tissue in which the desired gene is expressed without regenerating the new plant has been desired. To achieve this, the desired gene is typically introduced into the plant cell together with a marker gene of which the expression can be easily detected at the stage of cultivating the cell. That is, the expression of the marker gene is used as an index of the introduction of the desired gene. Examples of conventional marker genes include antibiotics-resistant genes, such as kanamycin-resistant gene (i.e., NPTII; neomycin phosphotransferase gene), a hygromycin-resistant gene (i.e., HPT; hygromycin phosphotransferase gene), amino acids synthetase genes, such as a nopaline synthetase gene (NOS), an octopine synthetase gene (OCS), and a sulfonylurea-resistant gene (i.e., ALS; acetoactate synthetase gene) that imparts agricultural chemical resistance.
However, the expression of a marker gene can case serious problems when such a transgenic plant is used for food. That is, it is quite difficult to ensure that a gene product produced by expressing a marker gene is safe for the human body. Consequently, if a transgenic plant containing a marker gene is to be sold as a food, a detailed investigation must be performed to determine the influence of the marker gene on the human body. For example, the NPTII gene has been used as a marker gene at the laboratory level since the early 1980s. In 1994, the product of that gene was finally accepted as a food additive by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, transgenic plants containing the NPTII gene as a marker gene have been used for food. However, some consumers of products containing the NPTII gene are still anxious about this gene's effect.
Moreover, marker gene which are practically used are only genes, such as the NPTII gene, which contribute to detoxification of a growth inhibitory substance in plant cells. Therefore, to select transgenic plant tissue into which a desired gene has been introduced, the tissue is cultivated in a culture medium containing the growth inhibitory substance, and the expression of the marker gene, namely the resistance at the tissue to the growth inhibitory substance is evaluated and used as an index. However, even when a tissue has such a resistance, cultivation in the presence of an inhibitory substance can result in undesirable side effects on the plant cells, such as a decrease in proliferation and redifferentiation of the transgenic tissue.
Further, the expression of a marker gene in a plant cell after the selection of transgenic tissue seriously obstructs plant breeding by subsequent gene introduction. That is, when another gene is introduced into a transgenic plant containing a marker gene, the gene introduction must be monitored using a different marker gene. However, the effectiveness of a marker gene various with the plant species. Therefore, a preliminary test is required to set the conditions for each marker gene (for example, it is reported that the HPT gene is more effective in rice plants than the NPTII gene (K. Shimamoto et al., Nature (London), vol.338, p.274, 1989)). Still further, since the varieties of marker gene are limited, the multiple introduction of a gene cannot be repeated indefinitely simply by changing the marker gene. That is, the number of gene introductions into a certain plant is limited itself by the variety of marker genes which can be used in that plant. Besides, the kind of the marker gene which can be actually used is limited as mentioned above. Accordingly, it is desirable to find a method for removing the marker gene from the chromosome after selection of the transgenic plant tissue to exclude the influence of the marker gene from the cell, tissue and plant.
To eliminate the influence of a marker gene, two methods have been reported. In one method, a marker gene and a transposon of the plant is introduced into a plant chromosome and subsequently removed therefrom following transposon (International Laid-Open No. WO 92/01370). In a second method, the site-specific recombination system of P1 phage is used instead of the transposon (International Laid-Open No. WO 93/01283). Using these methods, it is possible to obtain a cell in which the marker gene has been removed from the plant chromosome at a given ratio after the introduction of the gene. Unfortunately, the probability that the marker gene is removed is very low.
Further, plant cells in which the marker genes have been removed from the chromosomes using these methods are scattered among the cells in which the marker genes are still present and expressed. These two kinds of the cells cannot be distinguished visually.
Plant cells containing marker genes and a desired gene can be selected based on their chemical resistance, nutritional requirements and the like. However, at the time of the selection, the cells lacking marker genes exhibit serious growth inhibition and are destroyed in many cases. Accordingly, these selections cannot be applied to obtain cells lacking marker genes.
In order to obtain plants which lack a marker gene and which contain the desired gene using the above-mentioned methods, the tissue of plant, in which cells lacking the marker gene and cells containing the marker genes are mixed, are proliferated, regenerated, and then analyzed for the selection, using methods such as Southern hybridization or polymerase chain reaction. This method is based on the premise that a regenerated individual is derived from a single cell and therefore all of the plant's cells should have the same characteristics. Thus, an individual derived from a cell lacking the marker gene are made only of such cells. Unfortunately, cells constituting such a regenerated individual are not necessarily uniform. Cells lacking the marker gene chromosome and cells containing the marker gene are coexistent and distributed quite irregularly even in the same individual regenerated plant and in the same tissue thereof. Thus, it is extremely difficult to obtain an individual made only of cells lacking the marker gene at the stage in which the cultured tissue is redifferentiated to regenerate the individual.
In addition, known analytical methods of selection use a tissue, such as a leaf, as a test sample (not a whole individual or a single cell). Consequently, only the overall tendency is analyzed with respect to the state of the marker gene present in one leaf. Besides, in this case, it is common that the marker gene-free cell and the marker gene-containing cell are both present in the same individual or tissue. So, even if an individual made only of cells lacking the marker gene happens to be formed, it is difficult to select this. Even if the presence of the marker gene is not detected in this tissue, tissues in other sites of the same individual may contain the marker gene, or it simply shows that the amount of the marker gene is below the detected limit. Therefore, it is impossible to determine if the test sample is completely free from the marker-gene-containing cells.
Using the above-mentioned methods, an individual lacking the marker gene is obtained only from a germ cell, such as a pollen, an egg cell and the like. When the self-pollination is conducted using the egg cell lacking the marker gene, a fertilized egg lacking the marker gene is obtained at a fixed ratio according to a classical hereditary law, and from this fertilized egg, an individual made only of cells having the same characteristics as the fertilized egg is produced. Conventional analytical methods such as Southern hybridization may be conducted using this individual. Namely, even if the cell lacking the marker gene is produced by the method described in the report referred to here, the individual made only of such a cell is obtained for the first time by redifferentiating the plant from the cultured tissue containing such a cell, conducting crossing of the regenerated plant and obtaining progeny of F.sub.1 or later generations. The thus-obtained individual can be selected as an individual lacking the marker gene.
In order to remove the marker gene from the transgenic plant, JP-A-6-276872 reports a technique for gene introduction in which a marker gene is inserted into a separate plasmid vector different from the vector containing the desired gene. The plasmid containing the marker gene is removed from the cell after the completion of the gene introduction (the term "JP-A" as used herein means a Japanese published patent application). However, this technique requires a crossing step for the removal of the marker gene. In this respect, the technique is the same as those of the above-mentioned two reports.
The above methods are difficult to apply to woody plants that have a long growth period, sterile individuals or hybrid individual in which F.sub.1 is itself valuable. Further, when removable DNA elements, such as a transposon and the like, are used, the ratio at which these elements are removed from the chromosomal DNA, virus vector DNA and the like where these elements are present and function is typically extremely low. Accordingly, it is necessary that the removal of these elements (namely, the removal of the marker gene) can be easily detected actually at least at the stage of the cultured tissue. When this cannot be detected before redifferentiation of the cultured tissue and the formation of a later generation via the crossing of the regenerated individual, the method is impractical.

Vector for introducing a gene into a plant, and methods for producing transgenic plants and multitudinously introducing genes into a plant using the vector


To provide a scintillator panel in which uniform photoelectric converting efficiency is obtained and an image of a high sensitivity and a high sharpness is obtained, a scintillator panel has: a phosphor layer for converting a radiation into light; and a supporting member having a supporting substrate having radiation permeability for supporting the phosphor layer, wherein the supporting substrate is formed by laminating non-conductive layers for assuring non-conductivity of a surface which supports the phosphor layer of the supporting substrate and non-conductivity of an opposite surface which faces the surface and a rigidity holding layer for assuring rigidity of the supporting substrate. Further, moisture-proof metal foils are laminated onto the surface and the opposite surface of the supporting substrate. The panel further includes a moisture resistant protective layer which covers the phosphor layer and the supporting member.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a scintillator panel. Further, the invention relates to a scintillator panel for a radiation detecting apparatus which is used for a medical diagnosing apparatus, a non-destructive inspecting apparatus, or the like and, more particularly, to a scintillator panel for a radiation detecting apparatus which is used for X-ray photographing or the like. In the specification, explanation will be made on the assumption that electromagnetic waves such as X-ray, α-ray, β-ray, γ-ray, and the like are also included in the radiation.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, an X-ray film system having a fluorescent screen having an X-ray phosphor therein and a duplicated sensitive agent has generally been used for photographing an X-ray picture. However, in recent years, a digital radiation detecting apparatus having an X-ray phosphor layer and a 2-dimensional photodetector has advantages that image characteristics are excellent and, since data is digital data, by fetching the data into a computer system connected to a network, the data can be shared. Therefore, research and development have vigorously been made with respect to the digital radiation detecting apparatus and various patent applications have also been filed.
As a digital radiation detecting apparatus, a scintillator panel for a radiation detecting apparatus constructed in such a manner that a reflective layer and a protective layer of a thin metal film are formed on a supporting substrate which transmits a radiation and, further, a phosphor layer is formed on the protective layer has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2002/0017613 A1. By providing the protective layer between the phosphor layer and the reflective layer in the scintillator panel, it is prevented that a function as a reflective film of the reflective layer is attenuated due to alteration or the like by components and moisture contained in the phosphor layer.
A columnar (needle) crystal of alkali halide is used as a scintillator material used in the above prior art. Further, a few % metal such as Tb, Eu, or the like is uniformly contained into alkali halide as a light emission activator. A vacuum evaporation depositing method is used for forming the columnar crystal. In order to simultaneously evaporation-deposit alkali halide and the light emission activator and, further, make the most of an effect of the light emission activator, the columnar crystal is left in an atmosphere of 200 to 260° C.
Examples of a scintillator panel disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2002/0162965 AA are shown in FIGS. 7, 8A, and 8B. Only an insulative layer 215 is formed on a supporting substrate 211 (FIG. 7) or the insulative layer 215 is formed thereon and a metal reflective layer 214 is formed on the insulative layer 215 (FIG. 8B).
In a scintillator panel 210 for the radiation detecting apparatus disclosed in the prior art mentioned above, a conductive substrate such as amorphous carbon substrate, metal substrate like an aluminum substrate, or the like is used as a supporting substrate 211. Particularly, the reasons why the amorphous carbon substrate is used as a supporting substrate 211 are as follows.
1. Since an absorption amount of X-ray of the amorphous carbon substrate is smaller than that of a glass substrate or an aluminum substrate, a larger amount of X-ray can be transmitted into the phosphor layer. 2. Chemical resistance is excellent. 3. Heat resistance is excellent.

Scintillator panel, radiation detecting apparatus, and radiation detection system


A cluster computer system includes a plurality of independently operated computer systems located in close proximity to each other. Each system includes a system bus, a memory, and a set of local peripheral devices which connect in common to the system bus. The computer systems are interconnected for transferring messages to each other through the channels of a high speed cluster controller which connect to the system buses. Each system further includes a cluster driver which transfers the messages between the memory of the computer system and the corresponding cluster controller channel when the system is configured to operate in a cluster mode of operation. User application programs issue monitor calls to access files contained on a peripheral device(s). The fast remote file access (FRFA) facility included in each system upon detecting that the peripheral device is not locally attached, packages the monitor call and information identifying the user application into a message. The message is transferred through the cluster driver and cluster controller to the FRFA of the computer system to which the peripheral device attaches. The monitor call is executed and the response is sent back through the cluster controller and delivered to the user application in a manner so that the peripheral device of the other computer systems appears to be locally attached and the monitor call appears to be locally executed.

1. Field of Use
The present invention relates to multicomputer systems and more particularly, to closely coupled multicomputer systems.
2. Prior Art
It is well known to interconnect several independently operated computer systems together for processing jobs. In one well known type of arrangement, a master computer system is connected to transfer programs and data to higher speed slave systems through a high speed peripheral device such as a disk for execution. A scheduling program being executed by the master system determines which programs should be activated on which slave system. This type of system has been characterized as a a loosely coupled system because of the physical separation of the computer systems, message-oriented interprocessor communication and independent operating systems.
In other types of loosely coupled systems, certain resources are defined as global meaning that they are accessible from all parts of the system as if they were located on the system on which the user is located. In this type of system, it is necessary to provide for sessions during which a user of one system can utilize a resource attached to another system. This makes it necessary to provide for synchronizing the use of these resources so that access is provided to the most current version at any given instant of time. Also, there is a limitation as to the number of sessions which can take place simultaneously. An example of this type of system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,988.
Another type of multicomputer system termed a closely coupled distributed system includes a number of separate processors and memories connected by a message oriented computer interconnect organized as a star coupler having radial ports to which the processors connect. Each port is responsible for arbitration, path selection and data transmission. In this system, although the files can be shared, the file management facilities are unaware of whether they are executing in a clustered environment. Therefore, additional means in the form of a distributed lock manager is provided for synchronizing cluster file activity. This increases overhead and inter-node traffic in determining when a requested resource can be accessed. The result is increased system complexity. This system is described in an article titled, "VAXclusters: A Closely-Coupled Distributed System," published in ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, Vol. 4, No., May 1986.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a closely-coupled system which maximizes the use of available operating system facilities.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a closely-coupled system which requires no changes to be made in the applications being run on the system.

Fast remote file access facility for distributing file access requests in a closely coupled computer system


An ultraviolet crosslinkable composition that can provide a cured product that is easy to mold, can maintain a molded shape even under a high temperature environment, and has excellent physical properties, for example, chemical resistance, scratch resistance and the like. The ultraviolet crosslinkable composition can contain a thermoplastic acrylic resin in which a glass transition temperature is 25° C. or higher and a (meth) acrylic copolymer having an ultraviolet crosslinkable site in which a glass transition temperature is 25° C. or higher.

Ultraviolet crosslinkable compositions are used in various applications such as coating materials, film molding materials, adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, sealants, and potting materials. An ultraviolet crosslinkable composition typically contains a polymer having a reactive functional group on a side chain, and a crosslinking structure is formed by a reaction between reactive functional groups or the reactive functional group and a crosslinking agent. The reaction is initiated by a photo radical initiator or photo cationic initiator generating an active variety by ultraviolet irradiation.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-040256 describes "a radiation curable adhesive sheet composed of a (meth) acrylic copolymer having a radiation reactive site and a plasticizer capable of forming a bond with the (meth) acrylic copolymer by radiation exposure."

Ultraviolet crosslinkable composition comprising an acrylic polymer having an ultraviolet crosslinkable site


A data transmission processing method and system and a computer memory product capable of quickly performing the displaying operation of the screen data by transmitting of the screen data except the units which do not display on the screen due to hiding, to the first information processing apparatus from the second information processing apparatus.

The present invention relates to a data transmission controlling method and a data transmission controlling system about a communication system of transmitting screen data with the use of a network such as telephone line, cable and satellite communication.
In a communication system using the network such as an educational communication system aimed at remote education, with a plurality of students (clients) having individual terminals with respect to one teacher (server), the same images are displayed on the screen of a teacher and the screens of students. The screen images of a plurality of students are displayed on the screen of the teacher or the screen images of the teacher is displayed on the screen of the student on occasion, so as to effect the education of students staying at remote locations. The teacher's screen images are broadcast onto the students' screen images with the use of cable or satellite communication to display the screen data as text on a plurality of students' screen images as in the television. Also, questions from the students are received by the public line, so as to establish both the directional properties.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams for the conventional remote communication system. FIG. 1 shows use of a satellite communication. FIG. 2 shows use of a LAN (Local Area Network). In a system shown in FIG. 1, the distances between the server (computer) 1 and a plurality of clients (computers) 3 and 3 . . . become far respectively with distances being connected with the public line. The data from the server 1, for example, the screen images of the server or part thereof, is transmitted to the respective clients 3 and 3 . . . by satellite communication. The questions from the clients 3 and 3 . . . are transmitted to the server 1 with the use of the public line.
In the system of FIG. 2, the server 1 and a plurality of clients 3 and 3 . . . are connected respectively with such a network line 2 as the LAN, so that the communicating operation within the same classroom and between the mutual remote locations can be conducted. The screen images of the server 1 are transmitted to the optional client 3 and the screen images of the clients 3 and 3 . . . are transmitted to the server 1. The oral questions and answers with respect to the clients 3 can be conducted in the communication within the same classroom. In the communication in the remote locations, the user of the clients 3 and 3 . . . can learn by themselves, referring to the text displayed on the screen of the server 1 by the use of, for example, the WWW (World Wide Web) server.
Such a remote educational system can manage the learning condition of the clients 3 by displaying the screen image of the client 3 on the screen of the server 1. For example, the screen images of a plurality of clients 3 and 3 . . . are window-displayed on the screen of the server 1 and can manage at the same time the learning condition of a plurality of clients 3 and 3 . . . . FIG. 3 shows the displaying condition of the screen of the server. As shown in the drawing, the screen images 30 and 30 . . . of the clients which a user 1, a user 2, . . . , a user N use are window-displayed on the screen 10 of the server. When the number of the clients is few, all the respective client screen images 30 are displayed. When the number of the clients is many, the screen images 30 of all the clients are displayed through superposing of the windows as shown in the user 1 and the user 2 in the drawing.
The remote educational system as described above has a problem in that the displaying operation of the screen data transmitted to the server from the clients is slower, because the transmission data amount is more due to the transmission of the screen data from a plurality of clients to the server or longer time is taken to display the screen data. There is another problem in that one unit of the screen image is superposed and hidden so that the learning condition of the client users is hard to understand when the window-displaying operation is conducted with the client screen images being superposed. Furthermore, there is still another problem when the user of the server is late in noticing it when the client takes some action with one unit of the screen images being superposed and hidden.

Data transmission controlling method and data transmission controlling system, and computer memory product


A storage system and a data migration method that enable most suitable data migration with the correlation between data managed by particular applications being taken into account. The above storage system and data migration method are configured to collect operational information for each volume; respectively calculate a required volume performance level that is a level of performance required of the volume storing data that is a migration target, and an actual volume performance level that is a level of performance for each volume established in a storage apparatus, based on the collected information; and, in accordance with the calculated required volume performance level and each of the actual volume performance levels, when necessary, migrate the data that is a migration target to another volume having an actual volume performance level corresponding to the required volume performance level of the volume storing that data.

The present invention relates to a storage system and a data migration method. This invention is suitable for, for example, a storage system using a tiered storage apparatus as a storage apparatus.
Lately, large-capacity storage apparatuses equipped with low-cost storage devices such as SATA (Serial AT Attachment) disks have been introduced onto the market, and storage resource characteristics, such as cost and quality, have been diversified. With the emergence of these low-price storage apparatuses, not only conventional storage solutions for online data, but in addition new ones directed at compliance related markets, for example data archival, etc., have been coming on to the market. So, there has been an urgent need to integrate multiple SAN (Storage Area Network) environments and utilize various different storage resources efficiently and effectively.
Meanwhile, data lifecycle management (DLCM) has been receiving attention lately, and in light of reducing storage management costs, high emphasis is being placed on relocating data to the most suitable storage resource according to data priorities that change over time, and supporting data migration in each DLCM phase between volumes in a storage apparatus.
As a conventional method for allocating the most suitable volume in data migration, for example, JP-A-2004-334561 has introduced a method for managing each volume's actual performance (such as response speed to data input/output requests) and the volume performance required by each application, and in data migration, allocating the data migration target volume that is most suitable for each application. Also, JP-A-2002-305415 has introduced a method for acquiring statistical operational information on volumes used by an application and providing that information to a user, and by utilizing this technique, a user can select a data migration target volume based on that statistical operational information.

Storage system and data migration method


A self-punching fastener (10), which in a way safe against rotation and pressing out can be pressed into a metal sheet member (40) having an annular body, the side of which facing the metal sheet is having radially disposed projections (15, 25), which, during the pressing-in, are pressed into the metal sheet member (40) and thereby are securing the fastener (10) against rotation, wherein in the centre an interior thread (11) is positioned and, wherein on the side facing the metal sheet member (40) in the set state there is provided an annular depression (12) into which the material displaced during the setting is pressed.

The present invention relates to a self-punching fastener, which in a way safe against rotation and pressing out can be pressed into a metal sheet having an annular body, the side of which facing the metal sheet is having radially positioned projections, which are pressed into the metal sheet into the surface thereof during the setting with an interior thread being positioned in the center thereof and which on the side of the annular body facing the metal sheet in the set state is having a surrounding annular depression into which the metal sheet material displaced during the setting is pressed.
It is the task to be solved by the present invention to improve such a fastener in such a way that with the same geometry in a maximal range of gauges of the metal sheet can be used with a high safety against rotation and pressing out without a previous punching or a special preparation of the holes into which the fastener is to be set being necessary.
According to the prior art, the known solutions were based on the assumption that an optimal safety against rotation and pressing out and a broad range of use of the fastener is achieved if for the locking against rotation continuous ridges are provided within the annular depression and if the bottom of the annular depression is parallel to the surface of the metal sheets to be worked.

Self-punching fastener with radially positioned projections and an annular depression

Textron Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. OHG


Warhead structures and features are fabricated using direct manufacturing technologies, a method for fabricating bulk warhead structures by sequential and additive deposition of melted feedstock layers. Suitable energy sources for melting the feedstock can be various high energy density technologies including laser, electron beam, plasma arc deposition, and the like. The high energy density in combination with high cooling rates results in structures with homogeneous microstructures. The feedstock can be in the form of wire or powder and is applied to a substrate by introduction to a molten pool on the substrate, accumulating to additively combine with the substrate. The approach provides for warhead structures with singular and combined unique features to include: integral constructions, tailored fragmentation patterns, use of dissimilar materials for special effects, and variable material property constructions for enhanced performance.

Warheads and warhead structures are used in many various conditions and circumstances including air to air ordnance, ground to air ordnance, air to ground ordnance, ground to ground ordnance, and structural demolition charges. Design of an effective warhead or other penetrating projectile involves analysis of several considerations including penetration, blast, and fragmentation performance. Pertinent design parameters include shape, size, mass, material composition, enhanced or combined effect features (combinations of fragmentation, incendiary, and explosive effects), and others.
Warhead shape, size, and material composition are selected according to functional considerations. Some warheads have an aerodynamic shape that facilitates delivery through the air while others are shaped to assist penetration or to affect a particular explosive signature upon impact/detonation. Some warheads are shaped and integrated into higher order assemblies such as missile systems. Warhead size and mass are examples of design parameters that support and enable the ultimate performance of the warhead.
Various existing techniques are used to attain enhanced/combined effects. For example, several techniques have been used to attain enhanced fragmentation capabilities. These include prefabricated fragments molded into a shell constructed from metal or other suitable materials, and machining (scribing) of a fragmentation pattern into a continuous wall surface of a shell body. Combined effects have been achieved through the incorporation of warhead sub-assemblies using specialized reactive or dissimilar materials that are "attached" to the basic warhead.
Conventional warhead manufacturing methods typically use casting or forging technologies to construct core components. Warhead material selections and designs are generally restricted to those capable of casting or forging, limiting allowable shapes, sizes, material compositions, capabilities, and effects. Multiple part subassembly constructions (particularly for combined effects features) are typically used. These increase touch labor, parts count, and design/development/production costs while reducing design options.
Conventional warhead manufacturing methods involve design and fabrication of molds and other overhead that hinder development of new warhead design concepts. This tooling requirement lengthens both design and fabrication cycles, necessitates significant upfront and specialized infrastructure expenses, and fails to efficiently support rapid prototyping activities.

Warhead with integral, direct-manufactured features


Filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and methods of synthesizing the same are provided. An in situ chemical vapor deposition technique can be used to synthesize CNTs filled with metal sulfide nanowires. The CNTs can be completely and continuously filled with the metal sulfide fillers up to several micrometers in length. The filled CNTs can be easily collected from the substrates used for synthesis using a simple ultrasonication method.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are the allotropes of carbon that are formed by rolling up an individual or several graphitic layers in a concentric fashion. The conversion of a two-dimensional graphene layer into a one-dimensional tubular structure having a diameter in a nanoscale and length of several micrometers gives rise to new physical properties in CNTs. For example, an individual CNT can either have characteristics that are metallic or semiconducting depending upon its diameter and helicity, which makes its electronic properties different from that of semi-metallic graphene/graphite. Since their discovery, CNTs have drawn much attention because of their unique electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties making them attractive for several physical applications.
Besides the fundamental physical properties of CNTs, their unique hollow tubular structure allows the storage of foreign materials in the CNT core to bring about a novel class of hybrid nanomaterials. These hybrid nanomaterials (or nanohybrids) can be thought as nano-capsules or nano-cocoons formed with one or several cylindrical carbon shells encapsulating a foreign material usually in form of nanoparticles (NPs), nanorods, or nanowires. The insertion of guest materials in the hollow nanochannels of CNTs can integrate the properties of host CNTs and guest fillers simultaneously, thereby resulting in distinctive physical properties that are different from that of either the empty CNTs or the filling materials. The synergistic effects of carbon shells and the guest fillers distinguish the filled CNTs as novel nanohybrids with unusual electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, electrochemical, and optical properties. These new properties of filled CNTs can expand their applications in various devices such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), microwave absorbers, biosensors/chemosensors, data storage units, drug delivery systems, nanothermometers, nanofilters, and memory devices. The filling process also serves as a route towards the generation of different kinds of nanowires (e.g., metallic, semiconducting, magnetic) that have inspired much interest because of their low dimensions, enlarged surface-to-volume ratio, and quantum confinement effects.

Metal sulfide filled carbon nanotubes and synthesis methods thereof

THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Method and system for a multi-level virtual/real cache system with synonym resolution. An exemplary embodiment includes a multi-level cache hierarchy, including a set of L1 caches associated with one or more processor cores and a set of L2 caches, wherein the set of L1 caches are a subset of the set of L2 caches, wherein the set of L1 caches underneath a given L2 cache are associated with one or more of the processor cores.

This invention relates generally to cache memory hierarchy, and more particularly to providing handling for cache synonyms for cache memory hierarchies.
A cache memory, or cache, is a high speed memory positioned between a processor and main storage, to hold recently accessed main storage data. Whenever data in storage is accessed, it is first determined whether or not the data is in the cache and, if so, it is accessed from the cache. If the data is not in the cache, then the data is obtained from the main storage and the data is also stored in the cache, usually replacing other data which had been stored in the cache memory.
A cache hierarchy may exist, where multiple levels of cache exist between the processor and main storage. As one gets farther away from the processor, each cache gets larger, slower and cheaper. The cache closest to the processor is called the L1 cache, the next-closest cache is called the L2 cache, and so on. One processor may have multiple L1 caches, such as one L1 cache for data/operands and one L1 cache for instructions. One L2 cache may be connected to multiple L1 caches, where the L1 caches are either for the same processor, or for multiple processors in a multi-processor (mp) system.
In a virtual memory system, a memory access issued by an instruction is usually a va (virtual address, or logical address, or effective address) known to the associated program. The ra (real address, or absolute address, or physical address) in main memory associated with a va can be determined through the translation process. The translation process is a multi-cycle multi-step process that involves table lookups to get the ra.
To speed up the translation, a tlb (translation lookaside buffer, also known as dlat or erat) is used. A tlb holds the va and corresponding ra for recent translations. Depending on architectural requirements, the tlb may need more fields than just the va and corresponding ra.
The portion of an address that is subject to translation is known as a page. A cache has a corresponding directory array which holds the addresses of the data currently in the cache. Each address corresponds to a unit of storage called a line. The address that is stored within a directory array entry is called a tag.
When a fetch request is sent from the core (processor core) to the L1 cache, the fetch's address is compared against the directory, to see if the corresponding data is in the cache. The range of address bits that are used to address the directory is called a directory index or congruence class. A congruence class value may read out data for one or more lines, depending on whether the directory/cache is direct mapped (one way set associative) or greater than one way set associative. A direct mapped cache only accesses one line per congruence class. For example, a four way set associative cache accesses 4 lines per congruence class. For associativity greater than one, each of the lines being read in parallel is called a set (or setid, or way, or compartment, where setid means the identification or label or name given to each set).
For associativity greater than one, when fetch data is returned from the next level of cache hierarchy, output from an lru array determines which of the setid's the data should be written in. Lru means least-recently-used. The idea is to put the data in a setid that hasn't been referenced recently, to help performance. There are various approaches for lru algorithms. If the setid where the fetch data will be written already has a valid line of data in it, then when that line is written over, that is called lru-ing out the line. For associativity greater than one, the directory compare results (one compare per setid) are used to multiplexer-down the cache output, to select the setid of interest. These cache multiplexer controls are called the late selects. Because accessing the tlb and directory arrays and then waiting to use their compare results as late selects to multiplexer-down the cache output can possibly lengthen a processor pipeline or cycle time, sometimes another array (in addition to the directory array) is used to create the late selects. This array can be called a set predict array. One approach for a set predict array is to structure it like a directory, with multiple setid's and compares, but only implement a subset of tag bits.
Another approach for a set predict array is to not have any compares, but instead use the array output directly as the late selects. If a set predict array is used, its result must be compared to the result from the directory, to verify that the set predict array predicted correctly. When data for a particular fetch request is returned from an L1 cache read to the core, or data for a store request is written into the L1 cache from the core, the amount of data written/read is usually less than a line, with possibilities such as a hw (halfword), wd (word), dw (doubleword), qw (quadword) or ow (octword). For caches over a certain size, the cache and directory index includes bits that are subject to translation. The invention only applies to this case. For such a case, the pair of arrays either use va bits or ra bits for those bits. If va bits are used, then the possibility of synonyms exists.
In general, a synonym (or alias) occurs when two different va's map to the same ra. The subclass of synonyms that apply to the invention are cases where the subset of virtual address bits used to index the L1 cache have different values for the 2 synonyms. When the terms 'synonym' or 'cache synonym' are used in this description, they will be referring to this subclass. The terms 'synonym bits' or 'va syn' refer to this subset of virtual address bits.
For a directory that is virtual-address-indexed, the tag field in the directory array may be either a va or an ra. For an ra tag directory, the directory output must be compared against the ra output from the tlb. For a va tag directory, the directory output can be compared directly to the va from the core. A va tag directory acts like a combination tlb and ra tag directory. If architecture requires the tlb to compare on more fields than just the va, in order to know whether a given translation is valid, then these other fields may also be needed in a va tag directory. Normally, a given va maps to only one corresponding ra at a time. However, bad programming could result in one va mapping to multiple ra's at the same time. If this happens, a va tag directory could use a translation that is different than the tlb. Depending on architectural requirements, detection of this case may be used to: detect an error, attempt to clean up this unusual condition, or take no special action.
Cache coherency involves making sure that the storage image across the cache hierarchy is consistent. One approach to cache coherency involves exclusivity. A line of data can only be stored to when it is held exclusive by one L1 cache. However, a line can be held read-only by several caches. In a cache hierarchy, a given level of cache can track exclusive/read only ownership of the lines in the caches one level below, as long as the caches one level below only contain a subset of the lines that are in the cache level doing the tracking.
When an L1 cache sends a fetch request to L2, command codepoints say whether the fetch is for read-only, exclusive, or cex (conditional-exclusive) ownership of the line. Cex means the line may or may not be returned with exclusive ownership.
If, for example, one L1 cache sends a fetch exclusive to the L2 cache, and the L2 cache's directory indicates that another L1 cache connected to that L2 currently has that line, the L2 sends an xi (cross-interrogate) invalidate to that other L1 cache. The other L1 cache searches its directory for the xi. If the line is in the directory, then it is invalidated.
As another example, if one L1 cache sends a fetch read-only to the L2, and the L2 cache's directory indicates that another L1 cache currently has that line exclusive, then the L2 sends an xi demote to that other L1 cache. The other L1 cache searches its directory for the xi. If the line is in the directory, then the exclusive bit in that L1 directory is turned off, but the L1 directory's valid bit remains on.
In terms of how stores are implemented for the subset of L1 caches that are stored-to, there are two main approaches. For a store-thru or write-thru cache, when store data is written into the cache, the store data is also forwarded to the next-higher level of cache hierarchy around the same time, with the granularity of data usually being less than a line: for example: a hw, wd, dw, qw, or ow. For a store-in or write-back cache, the store data isn't sent to the next cache level immediately. Instead, the data only gets sent when the line is about to be lru'ed-out of the cache, or the next level of cache hierarchy is requesting that data. For example, if the L2 cache sent a store-in L1 cache a demote xi, then at that point, the L1 cache would send the data to the L2 cache. The data transfer would typically be a multi-cycle transfer for the full line, regardless of how much of the line was stored-to. For a store-in cache, the cache directory includes a status bit that says whether the line was stored-to, to know when such a data transfer to the next cache level is needed.
When an L1 cache that is stored-to receives a demote or invalidate xi for a line that the L1 cache currently has exclusive, and a store-thru L1 cache is working on storing to that line, or a store-in cache is working on storing to that line or has stored to that line, the L1 cache can not give up exclusivity of that line until the store data has been sent to the next level of cache hierarchy. One approach for this case is for the L1 cache to delay telling the next level of cache hierarchy that the xi is done, until the stores have been sent.
Another approach for this case is for the L1 cache to reject the xi to the next level of cache hierarchy, and have the xi be repeatedly sent to the L1 cache until it is no longer rejected.
It would be desirable/advantageous to be able to resolve synonym conflicts while maintaining cache coherency in a cache hierarchy.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides a metallic cord for reinforcing a tire moldable in a tire manufacturing step without complicating operations and keeping strength by reducing rusting and an excellent pneumatic tire employing the metallic cord.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metallic cord for reinforcing a tire and a pneumatic tire employing the metallic cord for a belt layer and/or a carcass.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Important subjects for a pneumatic radial tire, particularly a radial tire for a passenger car are reduction of rolling resistance, improvement of durability, reduction of the manufacturing cost, and improvement in comfortableness of the vehicle.
The characteristics of a belt layer, particularly those of a cord embedded in the belt layer and the rigidity of the belt layer exert remarkable influence on improvement of the aforementioned performance.
For example, Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 63-19404 (1988) proposes a technique of reducing the rolling resistance of a tire by employing not a cord but a steel wire material for a belt layer. In such a tire, however, the steel wire material is disadvantageously broken when a vehicle provided with such a tire repeats steep turns.
The rigidity of the belt layer dominates the deformation of the belt layer when a vehicle provided with the tire is in motion, and influences the basic performance and durability of the tire. In particular, the rigidity of the belt layer influences the rolling resistance, high-speed driving performance and cornering performance as well as belt end separation resulting from cracking between plies at an end portion of the belt layer caused by a load applied to the tire when the car is in motion. Therefore, prescribed rigidity of the belt layer must be ensured. The belt end separation is caused by growth of cracking of rubber resulting from stress concentrating on the end portion of the belt layer due to repetitive deformation of the belt layer when the car provided with the tire is in motion, particularly deformation of the belt layer upon cornering. Therefore, resistance against such belt end separation is important for attaining durability of the tire.
On the other hand, a pneumatic radial tire for a truck or a bus used under sever conditions due to a high load and high-speed driving must maintain at high levels the strength of not only a cord for a belt layer but also a carcass ply cord. In general, the carcass of such a radial tire for a truck or a bus must be improved in transverse rigidity in order to maintain steering stability when subjected to repetitive deformation following high-speed driving under a high load. Therefore, the carcass cord is formed by a steel cord, in order to satisfy requirement for strength and durability for sufficiently withstanding such distortion/deformation.
In general, a single-layer stranded structure of a multilayer stranded structure of 7×4, 3+7 or 3+8+13 is employed for the carcass cord of this type of tire. When such a cord densely charged with steel wires is embedded in carcass rubber, however, the rubber insufficiently penetrates into the steel cord. Therefore, when a side wall portion is damaged by sharp stones and rocks during driving, for example, it follows that water penetrates the damaged portion, which in turn serves as a starting point for diffusing moisture into the space defined by the steel cord, causing the creation and spreading of rust. Consequently, the adhesion between the steel cord and the rubber deteriorates and the steel cord becomes broken which reduces the durability of the tire.
Further, the aforementioned steel cord, having a complicated structure, requires complicated manufacturing steps, which results in a high manufacturing cost for the metallic cord.
In order to solve these problems, there is proposed the so-called loose cord construction formed by stranding steel wires while defining a clearance therebetween to produce steel cords containing a clearance between the wires for improving the penetrability of rubber into the cord. However, such a steel cord requires a forming step as well as a stranding step for the steel wires resulting in a high manufacturing cost for the steel cord. Also, the steel wires come apart from each other in the step of molding the tire, damaging the uniformity and durability of the product tire.
In order to solve this problem, each of Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 10-292275 (1998) and 10-292276 (1998), for example, employs an unstranded metallic cord. However, cord wire materials forming the unstranded metallic cord, not shaped as a cord disadvantageously separate from each other in the step of molding the tire, resulting in various problems.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-27446 (1999) discloses an example of binding unstranded cords with a wrapping wire. However, the wrapping wire bundling and shaping a plurality of steel wires locally rubs the steel wires to reduce durability. Prevention of such rubbing is limited since shaping performance is reduced when the cords are loosely bundled.

Metallic cord and pneumatic tire employing the metallic cord

Abstract: The inventive metallic cord for reinforcing a tire is formed by shaping a bundle prepared by paralleling a plurality of metallic wires having substantially circular sections in an unstranded state with a binder of a polymer material having a melting point of 50° C. to 200° C. The polymer material is preferably low-density polyethylene or medium-density polyethylene. The diameters of the metallic wires are preferably 0.15 to 0.3 mm.