A corrugated-typed fastener configured to couple a first substrate to a second substrate includes a bridge and a plurality of ribs, the ribs having a plurality of flutes. The flutes, and possibly the ribs, may be angled inwardly to form an apex disposed within the width of the fastener and pointing towards a center of the fastener. The ribs may extend outward from the bridge towards opposing ends of the fastener, and the ends may be at a different height than the bridge when viewing the fastener from the side. Alternatively, the ends may be at the same height as the bridge and also may be generally centered on the height of the fastener.

It is possible to join abutting substrates such as wooden boards in several ways. The substrates may be altered to create mortise and tenon or dovetail joints that allow the boards to interface and abut. These processes may require the use of special jigs or templates or a high degree of user skill and a large amount of time if created by hand. Additionally, it is necessary to start with at least one substrate piece longer than its desired final length, requiring an additional expenditure for materials. Moreover, users often strengthen these joints with other methods, as discussed below.
In addition to machining the substrate to form a joint or in the alternative, adhesives may be used to bond one work surface to the other. Adhesives, such as wood glue, however, may seep beyond the boundaries of the joint and may require clean-up. It also often is necessary to clamp the substrates together and/or set the substrates aside for a period of time to allow the adhesive to set, adding time to the manufacture or assembly process.
Mechanical fasteners also may be used to join substrates together. Traditional wood-type screw fasteners may be employed, and may provide much stronger holding power as compared to adhesives or other fasteners, but these often require pre-drilling a hole through at least one of the substrates, which adds additional time to the manufacturing process. This pre-drilling step also may result in the pieces being misaligned if one piece moved relative to the other during the pre-drilling step or if they are drilled separately and measurements are not precise.
Alternatively, corrugated fasteners may be driven, e.g., using a pneumatic or powder-driven driving tool, into both substrates at the same time. These fasteners may span the joint between the substrates without requiring a separate pre-drilling step. Traditional corrugated fasteners, with or without the use of adhesives, may have significantly lower holding strengths than wood-type screw fasteners. In addition, they may lead to splitting of one or more of the substrates, particularly when driven in a direction generally aligned with the wood grain.
In addition to the drawbacks described above, many of these methods may result in formation of a gap between the two substrates. Sometimes the gap allows for a portion of one substrate to abut the second substrate while another portion is spaced from the substrate, i.e., the joint is skewed. Other times, the gap may span substantially the entire joint, such as when a wood screw cannot embed completely in the second substrate. In either case, the presence of a gap not only is unsightly, but it may lead to a weakened joint between substrates.
What is needed is a fastener that addresses the problems of the prior art.


A power conversion device comprises a main circuit section that has a semiconductor module with a switching element therein and including a main electrode terminal, a capacitor with a capacitor element therein and that includes a capacitor terminal, and a bus bar that connects the main electrode terminal and the capacitor terminal. The capacitor terminal extends from a capacitor main body including the capacitor element therein towards the main circuit section. The bus bar provides a bending section on a base end side of a connecting section between the bus bar and the capacitor terminal. The bus bar and the capacitor terminal are connected such as to overlap in a state in which respective tip directions match.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power conversion device, such as an inverter or a converter, mounted in, for example, an electric car or a hybrid car. In particular, the present invention relates to a power conversion device having: a main circuit section having a semiconductor module including a main electrode terminal; a capacitor including a terminal; and a bus bar connecting the main electrode terminal and the capacitor terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, in some power conversion devices, such as an inverter or a converter mounted in, for example, an electric car or a hybrid car, a main circuit section having a semiconductor module is connected to a capacitor by a bus bar. Such power conversion devices may be configured such that a connecting section between a capacitor terminal and the bus bar is formed between the main circuit section and the capacitor (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Opening Number JP-A-2009-5462). The capacitor terminal is extended towards the main circuit section side. The bus bar is connected to the capacitor terminal at a bus bar terminal formed towards the capacitor side. Therefore, the capacitor terminal and the bus bar overlap in a state in which the respective tip directions are opposite to each other at the connecting section therebetween.
However, when current flows to the overlapping portion in the connecting section between the capacitor terminal and the bus bar, current flowing in the same direction flows to the capacitor terminal and the bus bar. Therefore, an inductance reduction effect cannot be expected to be achieved in the overlapping portion. As a result, in terms of meeting demands for inductance reduction in the wiring portion between the capacitor and the main circuit section, there is room for improvement in the manner in which the capacitor terminal and the bus bar are connected.
In addition, for example, because a fastening means for fastening the capacitor terminal and the bus bar is required to be provided, the connecting section between the capacitor terminal and the bus bar is required to be sufficiently long. In other words, taking into consideration the strength of the connecting section, connection workability, and the like, the length of the connecting section is required to be long. Therefore, when the connecting section provided between the capacitor and the main circuit section is formed such that the capacitor terminal and the bus bar overlap in a state in which the respective tip directions are opposite of each other, the space between the main circuit section and the capacitor becomes wide. As a result, size reduction of the power conversion device may become difficult.
Therefore, a power conversion device is desired in which inductance reduction and size reduction can be facilitated.


Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) systems and methods are disclosed that measure a blood pressure, and in some examples a beat-to-beat blood pressure, of a patient without restricting blood flow. The NIBP systems determine an efficacy of administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the patient based on the measured blood pressure and are able to optionally output the CPR efficacy or generate user prompts based on the CPR efficacy. Further, the disclosed NIBP systems can generate user instructions to administer further treatment to the patient based on the CPR efficacy.

Patient monitoring and treatment can involve invasive means that require inserting sensors within a patient to acquire the requisite data, such as a blood pressure of the patient. The blood pressure of a patient is a critical measurement that is used in monitoring and treating the patient. There are two means by which the blood pressure of the patient can be measured, one is invasive and the other is non-invasive. In the invasive means, the blood pressure is obtained by direct measurement, requiring a sensor to be inserted into the circulatory system of the patient to obtain the measurements. In certain situations that require precise, beat-to-beat blood pressure measurements, such as some surgical applications, the invasive means can provide the necessary data. Further, the invasive means can cause discomfort in the patient or the subject for which the blood pressure is being measured. Additionally, there is an increased risk of complications and/or increased expense due to the invasive nature of such blood pressure measurement.
In the non-invasive means, the sensing of the blood pressure is done externally to the patient and tends to only capture peak pressure readings, such as an intra-arterial blood pressure at diastole and systole, which provides little to no information about the patient's blood flow or vessel health. Typically, this involves the application of a cuff about a limb of the patient and the pressurization of the cuff to cut-off circulation through the limb. The pressure applied by the cuff to the limb is slowly reduced and as blood flow is resumed, the blood pressure can be measured based on the pressure remaining in the cuff. This process is often repeated multiple times to ensure an accurate measurement or as a means of monitoring over an extended period of time, with pauses required between measurement instances. While this means is non-invasive, it does require the temporary restriction of circulation in a portion of the patient, which can be damaging to the health of the patient and also requires time for the process to be fully performed. Additionally, such non-invasive blood pressure measurement techniques are sensitive to motion of the patient, accessories to the non-invasive blood pressure equipment being bumped or jostled during patient care or transport, etc., which can result in inaccurate and/or unobtainable blood pressure measurements. In patient transport or emergency situations, the patient and the equipment, such as the hosing, can be subjected to a large amount of motion during time in which an accurate blood pressure measurement can be critical to assess the state of the patient.
As such, there is a need for non-invasive patient monitoring and treatment systems and methods that can provide accurate patient information, such as blood pressure, for use in monitoring and/or treating the patient.

Patient monitoring and treatment systems and methods


Liquid, injectable, aqueous solutions are transformed in situ to an expandable foam-like, space filling, and adherent biomaterial. Preferably, the foam-like biomaterial is the reaction product of a two-part liquid system to achieve the in situ formation thereof. The liquid system is generally comprised of a protein solution and a cross linker solution which may either be premixed and then applied to a site in need of the biomaterial, or simultaneously mixed and delivered through an in-line mixing/dispensing tip directly to the site. In especially preferred embodiments, an expandable foam-like biomaterial includes the reaction product of human or animal-derived protein material and a di- or polyaldehyde in the presence of a bicarbonate and an acidic titrant amounts sufficient to impart a cellular foam structure to the material.

Biological and synthetic materials are used conventionally for generating biomaterials that are employed to grow tissue and for achieving hemostasis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,412 to Tucker1 discloses a collagen formulation which, when subject to sufficient elevated temperature, create an effective barrier against blood leaks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,396 to Eibl et al. discloses the use of a formulation of blood coagulation factors for hemostasis. Fibrin based materials have also been used as a scaffold for tissue growth (Ye et al, "Fibrin Gel as Three Dimensional Matrix in Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering", European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, vol. 17, pages 87–591 (2000)). 1 The entire disclosure of each U.S. Patent and other publication cited hereinafter is hereby expressly incorporated hereinto by reference.
In order to grow cells, it has been suggested previously that polymer/salt composites be used to make biocompatible porous polymer membranes, particularly resorbable polymers of poly(L-lactic acid) poly (D,L-lactic acid) and poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid). (See, Mikos et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,378). Collagen and polyglycolic acid mesh have also been disclosed as a means to construct an artificial esophagus. (See, Miki et al, ASAIO Journal, volume 45, pages 502–508 (1999)).
Surgical adhesive compositions for tissue are also well known as evidenced, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,606. In general, such surgical adhesives are achieved by combining a two part system typically comprised of a water soluble proteinaceous material (e.g., albumin, particularly bovine or human serum albumin), and a di- or polyaldehyde (e.g., glutaraldehyde) in appropriate amounts, and allowing the combined mixture to react in situ on the tissue surface or surfaces to be bonded. In this manner, sutureless (or minimally sutured) repairs of tissue wounds, perforations, tears and the like may be achieved.
None of the biomaterials used as cell growth matrices, hemostatic agents or surgical adhesives, however, are expandable in situ by the presence of blowing agents to achieve a foam-like structure. Therefore, it is towards providing such biomaterials and methods that the present invention is directed.
Broadly, the invention disclosed herein is embodied in a liquid, injectable, biomaterial that is transformed in situ to a foam-like, space filling, and adherent hydrogel. More specifically, the present invention is embodied in a two-part liquid system to achieve the in situ formation of a foam-like biomaterial. The liquid system is generally comprised of a protein solution and a cross linker solution which may either be premixed and then applied to a site in need of the biomaterial, or simultaneously mixed and delivered through an in-line mixing/dispensing tip directly to the site.
An expandable foam-like biomaterial is formed in response to the respective liquid components in the two-part liquid system being brought into contact with one another. When the two components are mixed with one another, the resulting biomaterial that is formed in situ adheres to virtually any man-made surface (e.g., surfaces formed of plastic, wood, metal, and chamois materials), as well as to human, plant and animal tissue. The resulting biomaterial exhibits the properties of both a closed-cell-foam and open-cell-foam. In this regard, the presence of closed cells is indicated by the ability of the biomaterial to resiliently recover from deformation to its original shape. The presence of open cells is indicated by its ability to absorb and release liquid (e.g., water, physiological buffers and the like). The foam-like biomaterial is soft to the touch and easily compressible.
These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof.

Expandable foam-like biomaterials and methods


An organofluorine coating on a major surface of a substrate, wherein the organofluorine coating has a surface composition of about 5 at % to about 15 at % oxygen and about 30 at % to about 50 at % fluorine.

A release coating is a low-adhesion coating applied to a major surface of a substrate. The composition of the release coating should be selected such that a particular functional coating or layer applied thereon has limited chemical interaction with the release coating and adheres very weakly thereto. When a small peel force is applied to the functional coating, the functional coating should peel away and separate easily from the release coating without leaving behind substantial functional coating residue at the interface. The release coating should be sufficiently chemically incompatible with the functional coating such that the release coating does not delaminate from the substrate surface and transfer to the functional coating as the functional coating is separated and peeled away, even after the functional coating has been in contact with the release coating for an extended period of time.
Fluoropolymers have good resistance to chemical attack from a variety of functional coatings and have been widely used as release coatings. Fluoropolymer release coatings can be applied on a substrate surface using a wide variety of processes including, for example, wet-chemical coating, vapor coating, and plasma deposition.


A sports glasses construction includes an eyeglass frame for semi-rimless lenses having a pair of channels for receiving a first pair of selectively removable lenses or lens adapter frames, and a pair of lens adapter frames having respective upper connection members sized and shaped to fit into the respective pair of channels in the eyeglass frame. The pair of lens adapters each has a lower portion sized and shaped to couple to a second respective pair of lenses leaving the lower edges of the lenses exposed to provide a semi-rimless construction.

Sports glasses are employed by many athletes in various sports activities. Typically, such sports glasses are of the "wraparound" variety, which provide lenses having a relatively small radius of curvature. Such lenses are called "Base 8" lenses and are frequently tinted or polarized. Sports, such as mountain biking, skiing, and other sports in which rapid motion is a factor, benefit greatly from wraparound sports glasses, which can reduce glare and provide protection from wind and dust. The more popular sports glasses are semi-rimless, which is more aesthetically pleasing and provides better visibility to the user. Semi-rimless sports lenses are typically affixed to a frame along their upper edges but have lower and side edges that are not enclosed by the frame. On conventional framed glasses, the lower portion of the frame blocks a portion of the user's field of view. Additionally, there is better ventilation for the eyes when there is no bottom rim, which would otherwise tend to act like a gasket or seal around the eyes.
The Base 8 curvature enables tinted lenses to extend around to the side of the wearer's eyes to provide greater protection from the elements than is attainable with stock prescription lenses, which are constructed according to a larger radius of curvature (known in the industry as "Base 6").
Notwithstanding the advantages of wraparound lenses having Base 8 curvature, many athletes would like to be able to incorporate prescription lenses into wraparound sports glasses frames. Such frames are sturdier and better suited to certain types of physical activity than conventional prescription glasses frames. Heretofore however, it has been difficult to incorporate prescription lenses into sports glasses designed for Base 8 curvature lenses because prescription lenses are made from stock Base 6 curvature lens blanks and these will not fit into sports glasses frames made for Base 8 curvature lenses.
Adapter rings have been proposed for conventional rimmed sports glasses, which will permit a prescription lens to be secured to a sports glasses frame. An example is shown in Hernandez (Publication No. US2006/0050227). Hernandez shows an adapter ring, which may be press-fitted into a sports glasses frame. The Hernandez design suffers from the problem that it is a rimmed frame and, additionally, the adapter ring provides another obstruction to the peripheral vision of the wearer and blocks ventilation as discussed above. Furthermore, the Hernandez design more closely resembles goggles, which from an aesthetic point of view, are less visually pleasing to many sports enthusiasts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sports glasses with lens adapter for semi-rimless construction


An automatic brake shoe measuring apparatus for rolling stock automatically measures the thickness of brake shoes of a vehicle and automatically detecting the presence or absence of damage during travel. The automatic measuring apparatus includes: a camera unit including a monitor camera for photographing brake shoes of a vehicle during travel and outputting an image signal, an image memory for storing the image signal, and a trigger detector for outputting a trigger signal to thereby store an image signal representing an image of a specific brake shoe of the vehicle; and an image processing unit including an extraction means for extracting the specific brake shoe in accordance with the image signal stored in the image memory and transferred from the camera unit, an arithmetic means for calculating the thickness of the specific brake shoe extracted by the extraction means, and a display means for displaying the thickness of the specific brake shoe calculated out by the arithmetic means.

The brake shoe used on the vehicle is a brake part which is pressed into direct contact with a tread of a wheel or with a disk sliding surface to apply a braking power to the vehicle.
FIG. 13 is a typical drawing showing one example of a brake shoe of rolling stock.
In FIG. 13, a wheel 20 mounted on a bogie frame 23 is rotating on a rail surface 22. A brake shoe 21 for the wheel tread is mounted also on the bogie frame 23 through a holder 27. This brake shoe 21 for the wheel tread is pressed against the tread of the wheel 20 at the time of brake application to the vehicle.
FIG. 14 is a typical drawing showing another example of the brake shoe for the vehicle.
In FIG. 14, a disc 25 rotating together with the wheel 20 is mounted on an axle 24 which connects two wheels 20 placed on two rails. On either side of this disc 25 is provided a brake shoe 26 for the disc. When the brake is applied, the disc 25 rotating together with the axle 24 is held by a brake shoe 26 for the disc, thereby applying the brake to the vehicle.
The brake shoe 21 for the wheel tread (see FIG. 13) and the brake shoe 26 for the disc (see FIG. 14) are gradually worn to decrease in thickness t during brake application, and will require replacement for safety when worn away to specific limit thickness (wear limit value). In the event of abnormal brake application, the brake shoes will be subjected to abnormal wear. To check the wears described above, the prior-art technique has such a disadvantage that a checker goes around the vehicle which is at a stop to make visual checks of a worn condition of the brake shoes. Replacement of the brake shoe, when found necessary, will be carried out at this point of time.
Also the prior-art technique has such a problem that since the thickness and a worn condition of the brake shoes are detected by the above method, much time and work is required and the brake shoes are replaced at the time when the necessity of their replacement is found. The above-described method of brake shoe replacement, however, is not systematic and besides because the check is visually performed, it is difficult to properly control data concerning the thickness and worn condition of the brake shoes.

Automatic brake shoe measuring apparatus for rolling stock


An improved ground support member insertion device comprising means for attaching the device to a jackleg drill, a clutch assembly disposed adjacent to the attaching means and adapted for holding a ground support member while it is being inserted into a first drill hole; and, anchoring means disposed opposite the clutch assembly and adapted for temporarily anchoring the device for stabilization in a rock formation during insertion of the ground support member. An impact tool for engaging the proximate end of the ground support member providing rotation and impact to the ground support member to mix the resin and to secure the ground support member in a rock formation. The impact tool can also be used to manually or mechanically tension the ground support member once installed.

Ground support apparatus and methods using combined mechanical and chemical means are well known in the mining, tunneling and construction industries. Basically, a hole is drilled in the surrounding rock formation from unstable to stable strata. Packaged resin compounds are inserted into the drilled hole. A ground support member is then inserted into the drilled hole which punctures and mixes the resin packages.
The member is rotated to ensure that the resin mixes and fills the annulus between the member and the inside surface of the drilled hole. The resin hardens and then the member is tensioned to a predetermined load. To facilitate the ground support operation, a variety of machines have been proposed to insert the ground support member into the drill hole. One such machine is described in application CA 2460497 Rebar Insertion Device by John Fifield filed on 2004 Mar. 9. This device works well in many ground support applications but it has a number of weaknesses that have become apparent from field use.
For example, a significant amount of force is required to push a ground support member into a pre-drilled hole and through packaged resin. This force is applied by the pusher leg or jackleg which is a pneumatic or hydraulic piston to which the drill is attached. As this force is applied to the ground support member, lateral forces are created in the pusher leg and in the supports of the pusher leg which have been found to destabilize the apparatus because it is not supported for these loads. This causes the jackleg drill and pusher leg to move and swivel, which can damage the ground support member and may create a worker hazard.
Therefore there is a need to resolve this problem to prevent damage to the ground support member which may compromise its structural integrity and to discourage injury to the drill operator.


A cutter with a slider that can be pushed from two directions has a housing, a blade holder, a slider, and a blade. The slider is mounted moveably on the housing, is connected to the blade holder, and has an upper sliding element, a lower sliding element, and a resilient tab engaging at least one tooth formed on the blade holder. The upper sliding element has an L-shaped cross section to form a top wall and a side wall corresponding respectively to a top wall and a side wall of the housing. A guiding recess is defined by the side wall of the upper sliding element to slidably receive a portion of the side wall of the housing that forms an edge of a guiding channel. Accordingly, the cutter is convenient in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cutter and, more particularly, to a cutter having a slider that can be pushed from two directions.
2. Description of Related Art
A cutter is widely used to cut paper or the like and comprises a blade holder, a blade, and a slider. The blade is mounted slidably in the blade holder. The slider is mounted slidably on the blade holder and is connected to the blade to push the blade out from the blade holder by different desired lengths to fit with different working needs. Taiwan Utility Model No. M390212, entitled "Slider For a Cutter," discloses a slider slidably mounted in a blade holder and connected with a blade. The slider of the '212 Patent comprises an upper sliding element, a lower sliding element, and a resilient tab. A combining tab and a combining slot are formed respectively on the upper and lower sliding elements and engaged with each other to combine the upper and lower sliding elements with each other. The upper sliding element is slidably mounted in a guiding channel defined in a side wall of the blade holder and is exposed from the guiding channel. Accordingly, when the upper sliding element is pushed, the blade can be extended out from or retracted into the blade holder, and the movement of the blade is controlled.
However, the upper sliding element of the conventional slider, such as that shown in the '212 Patent, is substantially a flat board, so the upper sliding element only has a single pushed surface that is pushed by a user. Therefore, the slider can only be pushed from a single direction, such that to push the slider to move, the user has to hold the cutter with a specific holding manner and push the slider from a specific direction. Therefore, the use of the slider is not versatile and convenient. In addition, the guiding channel of a cutter as described in the '212 Patent is usually formed in a middle portion of the side wall of the blade holder and has a wide width. External objects easily enter into the blade holder via the guiding channel, impairing the smooth operation of the cutter.
Taiwan Utility Model No. 281141, entitled "Cutter with Easily Detachable Structure for Replacing Blade," discloses a pushing slider having an L-shaped cross section to enable the slider to be pushed from two directions. However, the slider of the '141 Patent is formed as a single piece and cannot hold a cutter in position. The user has to keep pushing the slider for keeping the blade at an extending position for cutting, so the operation of the cutter of the '141 Patent is not convenient.
China Patent Publication No. 101269491, entitled "Cutting Knife," comprises a slider having a complicated structure, and the slider of the '491 Patent is pushed only from a single specific direction.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a cutter and a slider for the same to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Cutter with a slider that can be pushed from two directions and slider for the same


A VCSEL for emitting long wavelength light including a GaAs substrate element, a first mirror stack with mirror pairs in a GaAs/AlGaAs material system lattice matched to a GaInAsN active region with an active structure sandwiched between a first cladding region adjacent the first mirror stack, and a second cladding region. The first and second cladding regions including an InGaP/GaAs material system. The active structure includes a nitride based quantum well and either a GaAsP or a GaAs barrier layer. A second mirror stack is lattice matched to the second cladding region and has mirror pairs in a GaAs/AlGaAs material system.

Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) include a first distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), also referred to as a mirror stack, formed on top of a substrate by semiconductor manufacturing techniques, an active region formed on top of the first mirror stack, and a second mirror stack formed on top of the active region. The VCSEL is driven by a current forced through the active region, typically achieved by providing a first contact on the reverse side of the substrate and a second contact on top of the second mirror stack.
The use of mirror stacks in VCSELs is well established in the art. Typically, mirror stacks are formed of multiple pairs of layers often referred to as mirror pairs. The pairs of layers are formed of a material system generally consisting of two materials having different indices of refraction and being easily lattice matched to the other portions of the VCSEL. For example, a GaAs based VCSEL typically uses an AlAs/GaAs or AlAs/AlGaAs material system wherein the different refractive index of each layer of a pair is achieved by altering the aluminum content in the layers. In conventional devices, the number of mirror pairs per stack may range from 20-40 to achieve a high percentage of reflectivity, depending on the difference between the refractive indices of the layers. The large number of pairs increases the percentage of reflected light.
In conventional VCSELs, conventional material systems perform adequately. However, new products are being developed requiring VCSELs which emit light having long wavelengths. VCSELs emitting light having a long wavelength are of great interest in the optical telecommunication industry. As an example, a long wavelength VCSEL can be obtained by using a VCSEL having an InP active region. When an InP active region is used, an InP/InGaAsP material system must be used for the mirror stacks in order to achieve a lattice match. In this system, however, it is practically impossible to achieve decent DBR based mirrors because of the insignificant difference in the refractive indices in this material system. Many attempts have been made to address this problem including a wafer bonding technique in which a DBR mirror is grown on a separate substrate and bonded to the active region. This technique has had only limited success and also the interface defects density in the wafer fusion procedure causes potential reliability problems.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved long wavelength VCSEL.
Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable, long life long wavelength VCSEL.
Still another object of the immediate invention is to provide an efficient active region and mirror stacks for use in a long wavelength VCSEL.
Yet another object of the invention is to reduce the complexity of fabricating a long wavelength VCSEL.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an active region which emits long wavelength light and a mirror stack which can be lattice matched thereto.

Long wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting laser


A database system can be formed by combining a plurality of single-association databases each associated with a database driver. A single-association database contains a plurality of records, and each record associates one piece of data with another piece of data. Each database driver contains a parameter file and is designed to perform searches on its associated database. Each database driver also contains means for sending a command to the parameter file of another database driver. The recipient database driver executes the command without returning result of execution to the sending database driver. The database system also contains a software module for interacting with the database drivers to achieve a desired search result.

Databases are among the most important assets of a company. Examples of databases are customer records (e.g., name, address, phone number, credit card number, etc.), accounting data (e.g., account receivable and account payable), and mailing lists (for soliciting new customers). A company would plunge into financial crisis if its databases are destroyed. For example, the company will not be able to collect its bills if its account receivable files are erased. Thus, the value of the databases of a company could be higher than the value of its tangible assets.
A database is a collection of data organized in a predetermined manner. Typically, the data is arranged into a plurality of records having identical structure. Each record contains one or more fields (e.g., name, address, and phone numbers) for holding appropriate data. In order to retrieve data quickly, a database is typically associated with an index which contains a table of keys representing every record in the database. The keys typically correspond to the data in a predetermined field (e.g., name) of the records. The keys are arranged in a user-defined criterion (e.g., ascending or descending alphabetical order). Generally, records are stored in the database in the order they are entered. In most cases, records are entered without any particular order, and can be considered random. However, the index is re-arranged in accordance with the criterion every time when one or a set of records are entered. When it is desirable to locate a record, the index is searched first. Because the index is well-organized, the search time is very short. The correct record can be easily found based on the information obtained from the search result. If the index is not used, the entire database (which could be many times the size of the index) needs to be searched.
The sizes of these databases are typically very big (several million bytes). The number of rows and columns are very large. There could be many indexes associated with a database. Further, the search "engines" are very complex because they have to handle the huge databases and work with all the indexes. As a result, even in the age of personal computers, these databases are best handled by mainframe computers.
There are "free-form" databases in which the data is not organized in any predetermined manner while allowing every words in the database to be searched. This type of databases are often used by on-line information providers (such as DIALOG.TM. DOW JONES.TM. WESTLAW.TM. and LEXIS.TM. which provide full-text searching capability to newspapers, magazies, court decisions, etc. In this type of databases, all the words in the text are indexed. The "free-form" databases allow for efficient retrieval of data, but is typically not flexible and very inefficient in utilizing computer resources (e.g., the index files are typically very large).
Thus, there is a need to design a simple, fast, flexible and efficient database system.

Database systems having single-association structures


Disclosed are systems and methods for powering a vehicle. The systems and methods provide techniques for agitating fuel stored in a fuel storage tank and then combusting that fuel to power a vehicle.

Storing fuel is well-known and readily appreciated by those of skill in the art. Typically, fuel is stored in a fuel storage tank for use by an engine coupled to the fuel storage tank in order to generate power. However, growing concerns about the environment along with concerns about fuel costs has begun a shift from petroleum based fuels to non-petroleum based organic fuels. The storing of these non-petroleum based organic fuels raises a number of issues.
Some non-petroleum based organic fuels such as, for example, vegetable oil, can stagnate when stored in a fuel storage tank. This stagnation can include the vegetable oil at least partially solidifying in the fuel storage tank, can prevent the vegetable oil from being used as a fuel by the engine, and can dirty the engine such that the engine requires frequent cleaning in order to be able to operate.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for storing fuel absent the disadvantages discussed above.

System and method for powering a vehicle

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


A method of formatting a rewritable optical recording medium includes registering defective blocks in a primary defect lists (PDL) and performing a slipping replacement corresponding to the number of PDL registrations, determining whether an error has occurred in the slipping replacement, and if it is determined that the error has occurred in the slipping replacement, adjusting a recording capacity of the optical recording medium by checking the number of un-slipped PDLs and reducing the recording capacity by the number of un-slipped PDLs. As a result, even if the error has occurred in the slipping replacement due to insufficient spare area, the PDL registration is still maintained without formatting error, thereby causing the optical recording medium to be usable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording medium defect management method, and more particularly, a method of formatting a rewritable optical recording medium.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, an optical recording medium is classified into three types depending on whether or not data can be repeatedly recorded on the medium: a read only memory (ROM) type, a write once read many (WORM) type, on which data can be written only once, and a rewritable type, on which data can be repeatedly written.
As a repeatedly rewritable disc, there are two types: a rewritable compact disc (CD-RW) and a rewritable digital versatile disc (DVD-RAM, DVD-RW). In case of such a rewritable optical disc, as a write/read operation of information is repeatedly performed, the mixing ratio of the mixtures that constitute a recording layer for recording information thereon becomes different from the initial mixing ratio. The mixing ratio loses the characteristic of the recording layer itself, and this causes an error to occur during the write/read operation of the information.
This phenomenon is called deterioration, and a deteriorated area appears as a defect area during the performance of optical disc initializing, writing, and reading commands. Also, in addition to deterioration, a defect area of a rewritable optical disc may be caused by a scratch on the disc surface, fine dust on the disc, error during production of the disc, etc. Accordingly, management of such a defect area is required in order to prevent data from being written/read on the defect area formed by the above-described causes.

Method of formatting optical recording medium


Techniques for content services are provided. Documents are managed from their native storage locations. Access to portions of the documents is provided via separate addressable references. Principals access and annotate the portions of the documents remotely. Identity and policy restrictions are enforced against access from the native storage locations.

Most collaboration tools support access to documents, but almost always, end users are forced to "upload" or "attach" documents into the data storage area of the collaboration service. There are several disadvantages to this situation as it exists in the industry.
Firstly, uploading a document creates a copy of the document: one copy (referred to as "A") is on the original storage medium, and the other copy (referred to as "B") is located in the collaboration service being used. For example, if a first user (referred to as "X") has a document (A) on the local hard drive of X's laptop and X logs into a collaboration service to share A, then X must also upload A from X's hard drive into the collaboration service's document storage area (or workspace) as copy B, thereby leaving a copy (A) on X's hard drive and a second copy (B) in the collaboration service's workspace area.
Secondly, collaboration documents leave the Governance Risk Management and Compliance (referred to as "GRC") environment of the end-user's source area, which can be problematic from a legal standpoint for an enterprise. For example, suppose a document (A) is on a file server and then an end user uploads a copy (B) into a collaboration service, such as Google Wave®. Once that file (A) leaves the file server, it leaves the context of audit, policy, control, accounting, and enterprise storage reporting. Moreover, if A gets deleted off of the file server, the corporate tools that monitor and maintain corporate data, often can no longer find or report on the file. Further, if A is or has content that is out-of-policy, A is often now outside the control of enterprise storage management tools once A enters the collaboration service's storage area as a copy B.
Thirdly, when documents leave their native environments the back up and virus protection services offered by their native source storage services are lost. So, if a document leaves a mapped drive server, it is no longer backed up or checked for anti-viruses as it once was once that document is located in the collaboration environment.
Thus, once documents leave the original source environment, they can be copied, and forwarded, which essentially creates multiple versions of the document and it is not easy to discover which one of the copied documents is the most recent version of the document. Accordingly, versioning is compromised. Also, all access control methodologies used on the document are made void, since a received copy of the document can freely forwarded to others around the Internet.


The lock allows two members in a downhole tool to be temporarily held together. In an application where mandrel movement is dictated by pressure cycling in combination with a J-slot mechanism, such as in a downhole valve, the mandrel is releaseably retained to an adjacent connector against mechanical impacts. The mandrel features an extended collet that moves relatively to a floating sleeve during pressure cycles. At some point the collet heads rise to an elevated groove that causes them to contact a no-go shoulder for locking. The lock is defeated be removing the collet heads from the elevated groove for normal tool operation.

There are many types of tools used downhole. Some tools are moved repeatedly between positions for the performance of different operations. While these tools are designed to shift between the positions to accomplish downhole functions, the procedures downhole vary with time and tools that readily performed functions in multiple positions reveal a potential shortcoming. One such shortcoming can be the inability to retain a desired position throughout the duration of a particular downhole operation. In the past, locking the tool in a particular position has been tried, but those attempts created additional operating limitations. Some locks were effective against pressure variations but were not effective in resisting mechanical impacts. Some locks, when actuated hydraulically, permanently held a position of the downhole tool and could not be released.
What was needed was a lock for a downhole tool that could fix its position for a time to allow a certain procedure to take place and that could thereafter be released to allow the tool to operate in its various positions for other purposes.
The context that suggested such a desired lock assembly was a downhole tool known as a downhole valve and more specifically a model 'RB' Valve offered by Baker Hughes Incorporated. This downhole valve featured a J-slot mechanism between a sleeve and a mandrel. Pressure in the tubing could be cycled back and forth enough times to operate the J-slot mechanism until the mandrel, upon relief of applied pressure after a predetermined amount of cycles, could move a certain distance to allow the valve to go to the open position. In this example the valve was a ball that rotated 90°. Since this valve was actuated with pressure cycles in the tubing, it could be affected by pressure spikes in the tubing. Also, it was susceptible to mechanical impacts on the mandrel that could operate the valve out of the desired position for a specific procedure. One way this could happen is a tool string running through the mandrel could drag it to the next indexing position. Competing valves that operated on hydraulic cycling in combination with a J-slot mechanism would allow the valve to go to the open position and be locked there, but the lock was permanent so the valve could not later be closed.
Some operators, particularly in deep water, have high cost completions that need a lock that can be reset to allow injection of fluids through an open valve at high rates without concern that such a procedure will operate the valve out of an open position. Additionally, such a re-settable lock could accommodate tool strings with tight clearances to pass through without risk of moving the valve out of the desired position. Such a lock would then allow the valve position to be shifted when the specific operation that required the valve position to be locked is concluded.
Those skilled in the art will more readily appreciate the multiple applications of the described preferred embodiment below in a variety of downhole applications. In the preferred embodiment, the lock can hold members that otherwise move relatively with respect to each other when the tool changes positions to perform different functions. The relative movement can occur in one or more directions.
Many tester valves operate with annulus pressure cycles and are not vulnerable to tubing pressure spikes. The 'RB' Valve has some similar operating characteristics to tester valves except that it cycles on application of tubing pressure. Tester valves with J-slot mechanisms are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,743. A hydraulically triggered resetting lock for a tester valve that selectively disables the drive system for the mandrel is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,073. In this device, the valve can stay in the open position even with subsequent pressure cycling that can unintentionally occur. The mandrel is not mechanically restrained, rather, it is simply temporarily disabled from being further actuated by applied pressure until the drive system is again enabled. Also of related interest are U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,659 and U.S. application 2002/0066573. U.S. application 2002/0112862 shows a tester valve that can be cycled a predetermined number of times before it locks permanently closed. One way this occurs is a ratchet lock as shown in FIG. 10 and another is with a collet that can jump a hump in only a single direction as shown in the lower end of the split view in FIG. 20.
Also of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,471 that uses dual control lines and a rotating ball in a subsurface safety valve that may be locked open when a sleeve attached to the ball is forced to move under hydraulic pressure so that the ball moves into the open position and a latch is also forced by hydraulic pressure to move to lock a detent into a recess. The lock can be released by pressure applied to different ports to liberate the detent from the recess. This complex design requires two control lines and due to its complexity was difficult to manufacture economically and was not commercially successful. It also required independent movement of a latch apart from the member that operates the ball to the open position to accomplish the locking. Also related to this design is U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,780 that featured a ball type subsurface safety valve that could be locked open and released. This valve was capable of being unlocked by pressure applied to the tubing and for that reason could be subject to being unlocked by unexpected pressure surges in the tubing. Locking also required the insertion of a bridge. plug.

Lock for a downhole tool with a reset feature


The subject matter described herein relates to protecting in-flight transaction requests, where a client device is connected via at least two application servers to a backend server device that is capable of processing redundant transaction requests originated by the client device. A first instance of a transaction request identified by a transaction identifier is received at the backend server device. The first instance of the transaction request is processed and a transaction response is sent to the client device. The transaction response identified by the transaction identifier is saved in a cache. If a subsequent instance of the transaction request is received, the cached transaction response is sent to the client device.

The present invention relates to transaction availability in application or integration server requests to a backend server, and more specifically relates to protecting in-flight transaction requests.
A large number of clients (for example, browsers or applications on mobile computing devices, tablet computing devices, or personal computers, etc.) send requests to an application or integration server, which in turn accesses a database server for data query and/or update. The database server may be, in general, any backend server.
From a high availability point of view, the database server is usually considered highly available through data replication. That is, the database is mirrored to another site, usually called a disaster recovery (DR) site. A single application/integration server constitutes a single point of failure—if it fails, the whole system becomes unavailable to the clients.
A conventional approach to this availability problem is to provide redundancy of the application/integration server.
In one configuration, a workload balancer distributes requests between two (or more) instances of the application/integration server. This is called an Active-Active configuration; though Active-Passive is also possible. Should one application/integration server instance fail, the other application/integration server instance starts receiving all client requests, so the service remains available.

Protecting in-flight transaction requests

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and methods for supporting a replacement heart valve are presented herein. A bioprosthesis may be stored in a storage container by suspending the bioprosthesis from a support structure. The volume of storage solution may be reduced by using a lid with a boss extending therefrom to displace some of the volume of the storage container. The support structure may rest on the base of the storage container. Additionally, there may be a holder attached to the bioprosthesis above the support structure. The holder-bioprosthesis-support structure may be constrained between the lid and base of the storage container.

This invention relates generally to systems and methods for storing and delivering bioprosthetic heart valves. Systems and methods in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be used for storing and transporting bioprosthetic replacements for any of the heart's valves (e.g., aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid). Bioprosthetic replacements such as supra valves may also be stored and transported in accordance with the principles of the present invention. A supra valve may take the place of or supplement the function of the aortic valve, but may be implanted slightly higher in a patient's aorta than an aortic valve. Several disadvantages to current bioprosthetic storage and delivery procedures are addressed by the present invention.
Presently, bioprosthetic heart valves are stored in a solution that must be rinsed off before the valve can be implanted. The valve is suspended in a solution to preserve the tissue of the bioprosthesis. Typically, this solution is either formaldehyde-based or gluteraldehyde-based and care must be exercised in the operating room not to contaminate the sterile operating field with the storage solution.
However, current bioprosthetic heart valve packaging requires the removal of the valve from the storage container before the holder handle may be attached (i.e., the scrub nurse or surgeon may have to reach into the storage solution to retrieve the valve and then remove the structure that was supporting the valve in the jar). Because the jar is completely filled with the storage solution, these cumbersome steps have the potential to contaminate the gloves of the person retrieving the valve. Furthermore, the potential for spilling storage solution in the operating room is high, because the jar is completely filled with storage solution.
The step of rinsing the valve can be problematic in its own right, because this procedure takes at least six minutes. During these six minutes, a scrub nurse must continue to provide the surgeon with instruments, sutures, etc. However, he or she may also be responsible for rinsing the valve. Resting the valve in the rinse basin may damage the valve, and the rinse process may require the rinser to agitate the rinse solution. Thus, the scrub nurse must attend to both the surgeon and the valve rinse procedure. Furthermore, the valve may stay in the final rinse basin for an extended period if the surgeon is not ready for the valve when the final rinse is complete. Finally, some operating room personnel prefer to attach the holder handle to the valve holder while the valve is resting in the sterile field. For these reasons, it may be desirable to provide a device that would protect the valve if it were set down during the operation.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heart valve holder and support assembly that could be allowed to rest in the rinse basin during the rinse procedure without having to worry about damaging the valve. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the likelihood of spilling storage solution in the operating room and of contaminating any of the persons or surfaces in the operating room.
A heart valve support and lid liner system directed to these objectives may be implemented with existing heart valve products such as St. Jude Medical's Biocor and Epic heart valve product lines. However, it should be understood that such support and lid liner systems could be adapted to any existing or future heart valve product lines.

Heart valve support and storing lid system and methods associated therewith


The present invention relates to a shaving razor which has been engineered to eject a flowable lubricant onto a skin surface upon demand. The razor has a hollow handle neck and head and lubricant feed mechanism. The feed mechanism utilizes a piston which moves upward in the hollow handle to force lubricant through the neck and head of the razor to be injected near a blade fixed to the razor head.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shaving razor, and more particularly to a disposable razor containing a shaving lubricant with a hand-activated feed mechanism.
2. State of the Art
Disposable razors containing a shaving lubricant are generally known in the art. These fall into several categories, namely: razors having a pressurized canister (see Cohen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,478, Dallaine, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,062, and Zeles U.S. Pat. No. 3,349,484, for example); manually-operated pusher mechanisms (see Perez, U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,765 and Kwak, U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,188, for example); razors having a lubricant contained within the razor head (see Narijan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,512) and razors having flexible sac members to pneumatically propel the lubricant (see Schauble, U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,432 and Olson U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,273)
The various mechanisms disclosed in the above-identified patents have their respective advantages and disadvantages. Pressurized containers tend to eject too much foam, at first, and too little later in their use, thus lacking a positive manual control. Razors containing lubricant in the razor head, rather than the handle, must have a bulky head in order to contain an adequate supply of lubricant. This may cause the razor to lack the typical balance of a conventional disposable, safety razor.
Razors with flexible membranes within the handle tend to provide a more controllable positive displacement of shaving lubricant than pressurized containers when manually pressed but may be less controllable when pneumatically actuated. Also, the membrane may become wrinkled or otherwise be difficult to press and cause a malfunction of the device.

Disposable foaming razor with combination feed dials


In a parallel computer, there are provided a plurality of processor elements 1-1 to 1-n) connected to each other by a network (2); each of said processor elements including a local memory (6) for holding a program and data related thereto, a processor (3) for performing an instruction in said program, a circuit (5) for transferring the data to the other processor elements, and a circuit (4) for receiving the data sent from the other processor element; a memory area (92:8) constructed of a plurality of reception data areas for temporarily storing data received by said receiving circuit, and a memory (92,8) constructed of a plurality of tag areas, provided for each of the reception data areas, for storing a valid data tag or an invalid data tag indicating that the data in the corresponding reception data area is valid or invalid; a transmitting circuit (5) for transmitting the data to be transmitted with attaching a data identifier predetermined by said data; a receiving circuit for writing the data into one of said plurality of reception data areas in response to the data received from said network, and writing the valid data tag into one of said plurality of reception data areas, said receiving circuit being parallel-operated with said processor; and, an access circuit (38) for reading both the data and tag from one of the reception data areas determined by said data identifier and from the corresponding tag areas in response to the data identifier designated by the instruction which is produced from said program for requiring the data reception, and for repeatedly reading the tag and data from the tag area and reception data area until the valid data tag is read out from the tag area in case that the read tag corresponds to the invalid data tag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a parallel computer constructed of a plurality of processor elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one prior art parallel computer arranged by a plurality of processor elements, a first type of parallel computer is known such that each of these processor elements includes a local memory for storing a program executed therein and also data, and the respective processor elements can access to local memories of other processor elements, if required.
In such a sort of parallel computer, when one processor element transfers data to a local memory of the other processor element, after the processor element for transferring the data writes the data into the local memory of the data receiving processor element, this data transferring processor element interrupts the data receiving processor element in order to assure the reference order of the data.
A reference is made, as the relevant prior art parallel computer, to, for instance, "IEEE, PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PARALLEL PROCESSING", pages 782 to 788.
On the other hand, as a second type of the conventional parallel computer, it has been known such a parallel computer that is arranged by a plurality of processor elements coupled with a common memory. In such a conventional parallel computer, a tag representing whether the data are valid (i.e., have been written) or invalid (i.e., have not yet been written) is applied to each word of the common memory. The data communication is performed between the relevant processor elements by utilizing this tag. In other words, when data is transferred from one processor element to the other processor element, the processor element of the data transfer side writes the data into the common memory and then the tag for this written data is changed into the condition "the data has been written".
The processor element of the data receiving side checks whether or not the tag employed for the memory position thereof indicates that "the data is valid" in order to judge whether or not the data to be read is present in the common memory. If the checked tag indicates that "the data is valid", this data is read out and thereafter the above-described tag is changed at the proper timing into "the invalid data condition". As a result, the processor element of the data transfer side can send the data to the processor element of the data reception side without an interruption for the latter-mentioned processor element. Such a sort of parallel computer is described in, for instance, "REAL-TIME SIGNAL PROCESSING IV, VOL 298" August 1981, pages 241 to 248.
In the above-described first type of the conventional parallel computers, since the data calculation is carried out by utilizing the local memory by the respective processor elements, there is very little restriction on the arrangement of the parallel computers when the number of the processor elements is increased. It is therefore relatively easy to increase the number of the processor elements or constructing such a sort of the parallel computers.
However, when the data is transferred from one processor element to the other processor element, the above-described interruption process operation is required at the data receiving processor element.
Such an overhead operation may considerably lower the overall performance of the parallel computers.
In the second type of the conventional parallel computers, on the other hand, there are the following drawbacks. That is, although the above-described overhead operation such as the interruption process operation is not required, the common memory is accessed by all of the processor elements, so that there is a great delay in the access time because the memory accessing operations for all of the processor elements compete with each other. As a result, due to this delay access time, it is difficult to employ a large quantity of processor elements in such a parallel computer. As a consequence, the second type of the parallel computer having the high-speed performance can be hardly realized.
As previously described, there are problems in the above-described first and second types of the conventional parallel computers. To solve these conventional problems, a third type of a parallel computer has been proposed by the Applicants, which is disclosed in the copending Japanese patent applications Nos. 61-182361 (filed on Aug. 1, 1986), and 62056507 (filed on Mar. 13, 1987), or the corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 78656 (filed on Jul. 28, 1987) now abandoned, or the corresponding EPC patent application No. 87111124.1 (filed on Jul. 31, 1987).
In the third type of the parallel computer, no common memory causing the drawback of the second type of the parallel computer is employed, and the local memories same as those of the first type of the parallel computer are employed for the respective processor elements. However, the data reception buffers different from the local memories are additionally required for the respective processor elements in order to prevent the interruption process operation during the data communication.
In this third type of the parallel computer, when the data is transferred, the processor element of the data transfer side simultaneously transfers both the data and the identifier for identifying the data to the other processor element of the data reception side. The transferred data is stored in the reception buffer of the processor element of the data reception side. In the processor element of the data reception side, the reception buffer is associative-retrieved based upon the identifier which has been previously determined for the data in question when this data is required to be accessed, and the data in question is read out therefrom if this data is present therein. As a result, the above-described interruption process operation conducted into the first type of the conventional parallel computer as the major drawback thereof is no longer performed.
To furthermore improve the performance of the third type of the parallel computer having the satisfactory performance, the Applicants have filed another Japanese patent application No. 62-12359 on Jan. 23, 1987 and the corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 145614 on Jan. 19, 1988, now abandoned, relating to a fourth type of a parallel computer.
In accordance with this fourth type of the parallel computer, there are the following particular advantages. That is, in the above-described third type of the parallel computer, the reception processor must be programmed that when plural pieces of the data are required, each of the data must be read out from the reception associative memory in a predetermined sequence for the respective data. In general, however, since the plural pieces of the data are transferred from a plurality of transmission processor, there is no clear discrimination in the data reception order by which these pieces of the data have been received at the reception associative memory. As a result of, for instance, the calculation by other processors, four pieces of data, i.e., A, B, C, and D are received. When the data representative of the maximum value among these four pieces of reception data is retrieved by the reception processor, if the maximum value retrieval program by the reception processor is so designed that the data of A, B, C and D are successively received from the reception associative memory in this order, and a comparison is made between the newly received data and the previously received data so as to find out the maximum value, the reception processor cannot proceed with the above-described maximum value retrieval program even if the data of B, C, or D has been received by the reception buffer prior to the reception of the data of A. As a consequence, it is desired to realize the fourth type of the parallel computer with solving the above-described drawbacks.
In accordance with the above-described fourth type of the parallel computer, as the identifiers for one group of the data to be processed as a whole, both the main identifier commonly used for the above data group and the sub-identifiers specific to the respective data are determined; when the data is transferred from one processor element to the other processor element, this identifier is attached to this data, and in the reception processor element, the main identifier is designated and the data having this designated main identifier is read out from the reception associative memory. As a consequence, even when any one of the data belonging to the same data group, the maximum value retrieval process can be performed without receiving other data.
In the above-described third type of the parallel computer, since the associative memory is employed as the reception buffer and the associative memory is of the specific construction, it is generally difficult to obtain a large memory capacity of this associative memory and the total cost of such an associative memory becomes high. Consequently, there is a problem in cost if the reception buffer having the large memory capacity is arranged by the associative memory. In addition, when the number of the processor element is required to be increased, the resultant cost required for employing the associative memory is increased.

Parallel computer comprised of processor elements having a local memory and an enhanced data transfer mechanism


In polishing apparatus of the present invention, collars can be easily exchange. The polishing apparatus comprises: an outer pin gear having an inner gear section; an inner pin gear having an outer gear section; and a carrier having outer gear teeth, which are engaged with the inner gear section of the outer pin gear and the outer gear section of the inner pin gear so as to rotate and move the carrier around the inner pin gear. At least one of the inner gear section and the outer gear section includes gear teeth, each of which comprises: a pin proper being fixed to a pin ring and extended upward therefrom; a cylindrical collar rotatably covering and fitting the pin proper at a fitting section.

The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus, more precisely relates to a polishing apparatus having an outer pin gear and an inner pin gear so as to rotate a carrier holding a workpiece.
Polishing apparatuses are used for simultaneously polishing both side faces of workpieces, e.g., wafer. In such polishing apparatus, a carrier or carriers holding workpieces are rotated between a lower polishing plate and an upper polishing plate, which are independently driven. Therefore, the both side faces of the workpieces can be simultaneously polished.
As shown in FIG. 4, an internal gear 204 and a sun gear 206, which is located at the center of the internal gear 204, are used for rotating carriers 208.
The internal gear 204 and the sun gear 206 are independently rotated. Plate-shaped carriers 208 have outer gear teeth, which are formed on an outer circumferential face thereof. The outer gear teeth are engaged with an inner gear section of the internal gear 204 and an outer gear section of the sun gear 206. With this structure, the carriers 208 are rotated on their axes and moved around the sun gear 206.
As described above, a plurality of the carriers 208 are provided between the internal gear 204 and the sun gear 206, and a plurality of through-holes 207, in which workpieces are held, are formed in each of the carriers 208. Therefore, many workpieces can be polished simultaneously.
In the above described conventional polishing apparatus, the inner gear section of the internal gear 204 and the outer gear section of the sun gear 206 are much-abraded. To solve the problem, an improved polishing apparatus was invented (see Japanese Patent Gazette No. 9-239657).
The improved polishing apparatus has an outer pin gear, which acts as the internal gear, and an inner pin gear, which acts as the sun gear. An outer gear section of the inner pin gear is constituted by a plurality of gear teeth, which are arranged along an outer circumferential face of the inner pin gear. Further, an inner gear section of the outer pin gear is constituted by a plurality of gear teeth, which are arranged along an inner circumferential face of the outer pin gear. Outer gear teeth of carriers are engaged with the inner gear section of the outer pin gear and the outer gear section of the inner pin gear, so that the carriers are rotated on their axes and moved around the inner pin gear.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the inner pin gear, which shows one gear tooth 306a.
A through-hole 306c is formed in an inner pin ring 306b, which is a main body of the inner pin gear. A pin 314 is pierced through the through-hole 306c from the bottom side and fixed by a nut 315. The pin 314 is upwardly projected from the inner pin ring 306b, and a cylindrical collar 313 rotatably and loosely covers the pin 314. A cap 310, in whose a large diameter head 311 is formed at an upper end, is screwed with an upper end part of the pin 314 so as to hold the collar 313.
The structures of the gear teeth of the outer pin gear are the same as those of the gear teeth 306a of the inner pin gear.
In the gear teeth of the outer pin gear and the inner pin gear, the collars 313 are engaged with outer gear teeth of the carriers and rotated around the pins 314. Therefore, frictions working to the collars 313 can be reduced, and abrasion of the collar 313 can be reduced. Namely, durability of the inner pin gear and the outer pin gear can be improved.
However, abrasion of the collars 313, which occurs from prolonged use, cannot avoid. The abraded collars 313 must be exchanged with new ones. To exchange the collar 313, firstly the cap 310 is detached from the pin 314, the abraded collar 313 is removed, the new collar 313 is attached to the pin 314, then the cap 310 is screwed again. It is troublesome for an operator to exchange the collars. Especially, in case of a large polishing apparatus, about 100 gear teeth are provided to the inner pin gear and the outer pin gear respectively, it takes a long time to exchange all of the collars 313.


A method includes providing an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, a piston movably disposed in the combustion chamber, and a prechamber connected to the combustion chamber via a flow port. The method further includes forcing a gas mixture from the combustion chamber through a zeolite material to the prechamber using a compression stroke of the piston, where the zeolite material filters the gas mixture to provide an oxygen rich gas into the prechamber.

Internal combustion engines may generally operate by combusting a fuel mixture within a combustion chamber, where the combustion may force movement of one or more components in the engine. A typical internal combustion engine may include multiple cylinders defining the combustion chambers within an engine block, where combustion within a cylinder moves an internal piston, which may in turn move a crankshaft of the engine. A fuel mixture may be directed through an inlet into the combustion chamber and combusted.
Combustion within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine may be generated using different mechanisms, such as using high pressure and high temperature conditions or using an ignition device. A common ignition device set up requires a continuous ignition source, or spark, to be produced such that combustion is created by sparking an air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of the engine. Conventionally, the spark is created by energizing a copper ignition rod and placing the energized ignition rod within a set distance to a grounded nickel or iridium plate, where the electrical difference between the energized ignition rod and the grounded plate creates a continuous spark. Alternatively, a portion of the air and fuel mixture may be ignited in a pre-combustion chamber, where the air and fuel mixture is ignited and the resulting combustion reaction is released into the main combustion chamber to ignite the remainder of the air and fuel mixture.
After combustion within the combustion chamber, the combustion products may exit an outlet of the combustion chamber as exhaust. Some internal combustion engines use exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) techniques that recirculate a portion of an engine's exhaust back to the combustion chamber for mixture with the fuel. By recirculating exhaust gases back to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, EGR systems may be used to dilute the amount of oxygen present during combustion, thereby lowering combustion temperatures in the combustion chamber and lowering nitrous oxides (NOx) emissions from the engine.

Scavenged pre-chamber using oxygen generated by a molecular sieve process


A longitudinal guide for vehicle seats including two elongate rails, each including a lower rail, an upper rail supported on the lower rail and displaceable longitudinally, two bearing areas for guiding means, the bearing areas lying diagonally opposite to and being biased against each other, each upper rail and lower rail having an L-shaped region, if viewed in profile, formed by a base leg and an L-leg that protrudes from the base leg substantially perpendicularly, and two end regions, which adjoin the L-shaped region, each end region of the upper or lower rail together with the end region of the associated lower or upper rail forming an embracing area by mutually hooking, end regions of the upper rail forming bearing areas with opposite portions of the associated lower rail, and a plurality of balls are supported in a first bearing area on the end region having a circular arc-shaped profile.

In the case of such a longitudinal guide on each lower rail a slidable upper rail is disposed such that both rails form profile a substantially rectangular cross-section in their functional position, wherein bearing areas of the upper rail are formed on the lower rail as an embracing portion, which are disposed at the two corner areas of the rail profiles essentially diagonally opposite to each other and which have associated guiding means, wherein end portions of the lower rail and of the upper rail are respectively formed as essentially U-shaped profiles in the bearing areas, which are engaged with each other.
WO 2006/106044 A1 of the Applicant discloses such a longitudinal guide, wherein a first upper bearing area, which uses a plurality of balls as guiding means, and a second lower bearing area, which is diagonally opposite to the first bearing area and uses as guiding means a combination of rollers for supporting on a base leg of the lower rail and balls, are biased against each other in diagonal direction in order to accomplish a high rigidity of the rail profile. The balls in the first bearing area are mounted between two circular arc-shaped profiles, wherein one of the circular arc-shaped profiles forms a corner area at the upper end of a connecting leg of the lower rail, which is upwardly inclined at an acute angle and projects outwards relative to the rail.
Despite advantageous characteristics of this rail profile, there is still room for further improvement, particularly as in terms of the installation space available for this purpose, the total width and the width at the lower end of the rail profile as well as in terms of rigidity and the material or total weight required to implement it. Important in this context are particularly mechanical characteristics, especially the rigidity and torsional rigidity of the rail profile in the event of a crash, be it a frontal or rear crash or a side crash.
DE 197 17 667 A1 discloses a further longitudinal guide for motor vehicle seats, wherein the end portions of the upper rail, which end in the bearing areas that are diagonally opposite to each other, are formed with multiple curved section so that in each embracing portion respective two channels for balls are provided, if viewed in a cross sectional view, which act as guiding means. Precise formation of such end portions can be accomplished only in a relatively complicated manner, so that the tolerances are relatively high. The play of the longitudinal guide is further enlarged due to the higher wear, which results from the point contact of the ball-bearing guides.
JP 2004 203264 A discloses a further longitudinal guide for a motor vehicle seat, wherein a second bearing area in the sense of the present application is provided but not at the same time a ball guide and a roller guide, but instead two ball guides. There exists no supporting leg, which is associated to the upper ball bearing and which includes an acute angle with another supporting leg. Rather, the ball is received in an arcuately shaped longitudinal bead.
EP 1 336 765 A discloses a longitudinal guide with double pairs of ball guides in each bearing area.
Further prior art is disclosed in the documents EP 1 621 390 A, DE 10 2004 061140 A, FR 2 872 102 A and US 2005/285008 A.

Longitudinal guide for a motor vehicle seat

Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg


A gate opening system which includes a barrier and a barrier mounting adapted to mount the barrier in an open or closed condition, a retention device to secure the barrier in an open or closed condition, a drive element, and an energy transmission system, whereby energy is transferred from the weight of a vehicle and is in turn transmitted through the transmission system to rotate the drive element, causing the barrier mounting to be lifted, the disengagement of the retention device, and the barrier thereby opened or closed.

Gates are commonly used to provide a moveable barrier to close an opening in a wall or a fence. Gates allow access to an enclosed area to authorised persons and can be used (for example) to secure vehicles, property or livestock.
In instances where a gate closes a vehicle entrance, a vehicle operator must normally leave their vehicle to open the gate, return to their vehicle to move it though the opening formed, return to the gate to close it and then continue on their way in their vehicle. This can become an annoying chore for the vehicle operator particularly when they must pass through several gates on their journey or frequently need to pass through the same gate.
It would therefore be of advantage to have a gate opening system which could be operated or actuated from within or on a vehicle and which could also preferably close the gate after the vehicle has moved past the gate.
Some relatively complicated gate or door opening systems have been developed to address this requirement. For example, it is know to provide a gate or (for example) a garage door linked to an electro-mechanical actuation system which drives a gate or door open or closed upon receipt of a radio frequency transmission, or the entry of a control code into a key pad. However, these systems are normally only found in urban settings where gate opening systems can readily be connected to mains power electrical energy. Furthermore, the electro mechanical systems employed are also relatively complicated and costly to implement and to maintain over time.
This type of approach is also not practical in rural applications. For example, a single farm may include a number of gates, all of which are scattered throughout remote locations on a property. To obtain free access to all areas of the property a vehicle operator may have to pass through several gates to arrive at their destination. In such instances the locations of the gates limits the availability of power sources for a gate opening system. In these cases it is not feasible to run power transmission lines out to a gate opener, nor to provide a high demand power supply battery based storage system which would need to be replaced or recharged frequently.
It would be of advantage to have a gate opening system which required for gate movement between the closed and opened conditions, and vice versa, no external power supply nor relied on a power supply which needed to be recharged or refreshed periodically. Furthermore, a gate opening system with a relatively simple mechanical design which could therefore be manufactured and maintained easily and inexpensively would be of advantage.

Vehicle actuated gate opening/closing system

Innovative Engineering Solutions Limited


A method of manufacturing an anti-fuse device includes forming an anti-fuse structure on a substrate, forming a first transistor at a first position away from the anti-fuse device in a first direction, and forming a second transistor at a second position away from the anti-fuse device in a second direction opposite the first direction. Forming the anti-fuse structure includes forming first and second S/D structures in an active area, the first transistor includes the first S/D structure, and the second transistor includes the second S/D structure. The method includes constructing a first electrical connection between gate structures of the first and second transistors and a second electrical connection between a third S/D structure of the first transistor and a fourth S/D structure of the second transistor.

Integrated circuits (ICs) sometimes include one-time-programmable ("OTP") memory elements to provide non-volatile memory ("NVM") in which data are not lost when the IC is powered off. One type of NVM includes an anti-fuse bit integrated into an IC by using a layer of dielectric material (oxide, etc.) connected to other circuit elements. To program an anti-fuse bit, a programming electric field is applied across the dielectric material layer to sustainably alter (e.g., break down) the dielectric material, thus decreasing the resistance of the dielectric material layer. Typically, to determine the status of an anti-fuse bit, a read voltage is applied across the dielectric material layer and a resultant current is read.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


An overhead luggage bin for an aircraft interior includes a stowage compartment, an upper door movably attached to the stowage compartment and a lower door movably attached to the aircraft interior, the upper door and the lower door being moveable between a closed position and an opened position. A floor of the stowage compartment includes a first portion and a second portion movably attached to the first portion that defines a ramp surface with the lower door in the opened position for improved accessibility. An overhead luggage bin is provided with handles at opposed ends of the stowage compartment and includes one or more non-linear ridgelines and/or increased reflectance on an exterior surface for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. An overhead luggage bin includes an RFID reader for providing increased RFID functionality. An overhead luggage bin includes a stowage compartment having an integrated handrail.

This invention relates generally to aircraft interior components, and more particularly, to an overhead luggage bin for an aircraft interior.
An increasing number of people from all parts of the world are experiencing travel by aircraft. At the same time, the average number of passengers per cabin personnel (e.g., stewardess, steward, flight attendant) continues to increase due to economic constraints. As a result, aircraft interior components, such as stowage compartments for storing carry-on items aboard an aircraft, commonly referred to as overhead luggage bins, must be designed for use by people of widely varying size, age and physical ability. In particular, an overhead luggage bin must be easily accessible to persons of lesser height and lesser mobility, such as females and the elderly. These individuals often have difficulty reaching the height of a conventional overhead luggage bin, which cannot be lowered significantly without compromising the headroom of a passenger seated beneath the overhead luggage bin. For example, ethnography and anthropometry studies have determined that roughly five percent (5%) of Asian females cannot access the standard overhead luggage bin of a Boeing 737 aircraft. It is estimated that the vertical distance above the cabin floor required to access the standard overhead luggage bin is more than seven inches too high for certain individuals.
In addition to improving the ergonomics of a conventional overhead luggage bin, there is an economic incentive to provide an aircraft interior that is more aesthetically pleasing. Competition among commercial aircraft operators for attracting vacation or "pleasure" travel passengers has fueled a desire to improve the aesthetics of the aircraft interior. In particular, commercial airlines are seeking simple, modern, aesthetically pleasing aircraft interiors that feature more natural lighting, surface reflections and shapes. While satisfying ergonomic concerns and being pleasing to the eye, aircraft interior components, and especially overhead luggage bins, must also be configured to take advantage of new and evolving technology. For example, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is continually being developed for new and different applications. As a result, there is a need for an overhead luggage bin for an aircraft interior to be designed for utilizing RFID technology to provide present and future functionality.
Accordingly, it is recognized that a specific need exists for an overhead luggage bin for an aircraft interior that is both ergonomic and aesthetic. More particularly, a specific need exists for an overhead luggage bin designed for use by people of widely varying size and age, such as persons of less than average height and the elderly. In addition, a specific need exists for an aesthetically pleasing overhead luggage bin that features more natural lighting, surface reflections and shapes. Furthermore, a specific need exists for an overhead luggage bin that is configured to utilize RFID technology to provide present and future RFID functionality.

Overhead luggage bin for aircraft interior


A switching gas damper is for low voltage power switches, especially for low voltage power switches which can be inserted into low voltage switching installations. The switching gas damper is arranged above an arc extinguisher of the low voltage power switches and includes at least one inlet for switching gases and at least one outlet for damped deionised switching gases. The switching gas damper is provided with a carrier element which can be arranged directly adjacent to the arc extinguisher and can be fixed to a housing receiving the low voltage power switch. The carrier element forms at least one receiving chamber for a flow element creating a flow resistance for the switching gases, and the at least one receiving chamber can be closed by at least one closing element fixing the at least one flow element. The carrier element forms the at least one inlet and the at least one closing element forms the at least one outlet.

Air-break low-voltage power circuit breakers require for operation an arc-quenching device in order to cause switching arcs which occur to be quenched without impairing the power circuit breaker itself and adjacent parts of the assembly or other modules. On the other hand, there is the risk of the hot and thus ionized arc gases causing electrical flashovers, injuring operating personnel or causing other damage.
It is known, on the one hand, to provide arcquenching chambers which accommodate the arc to be quenched and are designed for the temperature and pressure of the switching gases occurring. In order in particular applications of low-voltage power circuit breakers, for example when they are installed in tightly restricted areas, to achieve further cooling and final ionization of the switching gases, it is known, in addition to the arc-quenching chamber, to provide a switching gas damper which is arranged in the flow path of the switching gases, downstream of the quenching chamber.
DE 35 41 514 C2 proposes, for this purpose, arranging an attachment on the arc-quenching chamber which accommodates a number of perforated inserts, these inserts being, for example, sheets provided with closely adjacent perforations or sections of a wire fabric.
A similar switching gas damper is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,971 B1, in accordance with which perforated plates are likewise provided.
A further switching gas damper is known from DE 298 07 119 U1. However, instead of the plates or instead of a wire fabric, in this case parallel webs are provided which are arranged such that they are offset.
DE 19 54 066 A has disclosed an arrangement having a low-voltage power circuit breaker and a switching gas damper, which is provided with a bearing element, for the low-voltage power circuit breaker. Here, the switching gas damper is arranged above an open arc-quenching chamber of the low-voltage power circuit breaker and has at least one inlet opening for switching gases and at least one outlet opening for damped or completely ionized switching gases. Further, the bearing element can be fixed on a housing accommodating the low-voltage power circuit breaker above the arc-quenching chamber and forms at least one accommodating area for a flow element which builds up a flow resistance for the switching gases, the bearing element forming the at least one inlet opening. However, the solution is very space-intensive.
A less space-intensive solution is given by EP 0 437 151 A1. In this case, the switching gas damper is arranged on a switchgear cell, which accommodates the power circuit breaker, immediately adjacent to the arc-quenching chamber. The switching gas damper includes an integral housing having openings on its upper side. The housing interior is divided into two regions by means of a perforated plate. Such a design is unfavorable in terms of manufacturing. In addition, the housing interior is only accessible once the entire switching gas damper has been removed from the switchgear assembly.

Arrangement comprising a low voltage power switch and a switching gas damper provided with a carrier element and used for the low voltage power switch


The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one cocoa polyphenol and soluble dietary fiber for use in the prevention or treatment of a disorder associated with an above-normal number of granulocytes in a tissue.

An increased number of granulocytes, such as eosinophils or mast cells, in a tissue is associated with a number of disorders, like various, gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies, and atopic dermatitis.
For example, eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory condition of the esophagus that can be triggered or not by an antigen. Symptoms include functional abdominal pain, vomiting, difficultly to thrive, swallowing difficulty, food impaction, and heartburn. The disease was initially described in children but occurs in adults as well. Eosinophils can usually not be found in normal esophageal mucosa. However, in eosinophilic esophagitis the eosinophils infiltrate the epithelium of the esophagus and can often be found in clusters close to the surface of the epithelium. Frequently the infiltration of the eosinophils is associated with a thickening of the basal layer as a reaction to the inflammatory activities in the epithelium. Mast cells are granulocytes that are also increased in eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders and are part of the pathogenesis.
There are different strategies available for the treatment of disorders associated with an above-normal number of granulocytes in a tissue including medical therapy, mechanical dilatation, and modification of the diet.
In medical therapy corticosteroids and proton pump inhibitors have been found to mitigate the symptoms granulocyte infiltration. It has also been observed that the allergic response can be reduced by the administration of antihistamines. Mechanical dilatation of the esophagus might be considered in severe cases where the swelling of the epithelium is threatening to block the esophagus.
Previous nutritional treatment regimens mainly aim at elimination of the allergen (or causative foods) from the diet. Dietary modification often leads to use of hypoallergenic protein compositions like compositions only comprising free amino acids or extensively hydrolyzed protein. For example, US 2008/0031814 describes a nutritional composition lacking allergenic ingredients and thereby preventing the development of allergic inflammatory conditions. Thus, instead of treating the disease by the choice of certain nutritional ingredients the diets of the prior art aim at avoiding allergenic ingredients in the diet.
Therefore, there is a need for a composition comprising natural compounds that does not only lacks main allergens but can actively prevent or treat food induced gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases such as eosinophilic gastro-intestinal disorders (EGID). EGID include Eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic enthero-colitis and eosinophilic colitis.

Cocoa polyphenols and soluble dietary fiber for use in the treatment or prevention disorders associated with an above-normal number of granulocytes in a tissue