A glue trap for trapping vermin has a base flap and a cover flap formed by folding a cardboard sheet to create a folding hinge. At least one slot is formed in the cover flap at or near the fold line. A target surface of non-drying adhesive is installed on or over the upper surface of the base flap. Optionally, a target surface of non-drying adhesive is installed on or over the upper surface of the cover flap. In one embodiment, a tilt trigger having a bent angle shape has its first arm appended to the target and its second arm inserted into the slot opening of the cover flap, and in contact with the rear surface of the cover flap. The trap is installed with the base flap over a horizontal support surface and the cover flap disposed at an angle thereto and preferably in contact with a vertical surface, such as a wall. Vermin will stick to the adhesive and try to escape, causing a tilting motion of the tilt trigger and urging the cover flap to fold over the base flap and over the vermin caught on the target surface. In another embodiment, a riser is formed at the fold line creating the hinge of the trap. Movement of vermin caught by the adhesive moves the riser near the fold line downward, which causes the cover flap to fold over the base flap at the fold line.

Glue traps, in general, are well known. There are glue traps having various ports, entrances and openings each positioned or designed to entice or fool the vermin into entering the trap, where once it has entered, the vermin is prevented in various ways from escaping.
Some disposable rodent traps comprise enclosures with adhesive or glue disposed therein to which an entering rodent will adhere. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,425,731 and 5,673,509. Rodents are less apt to enter such trap enclosures, and generally approach such enclosures tentatively. This makes rodents less likely to be adhered to the glue, and more likely to detach themselves from such traps even if a portion of their body does come into contact with the glue.
Open trays of adhesive or glue are also proposed to trap rodents. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,584. However, rodents adhered to the glue of such open trays take several days to expire, and throughout such time are open to view. Moreover, a percentage of rodents caught by open adhesive tray traps are able to separate from the traps by leverage obtained upon gaining contact with floor or wall surfaces that are not coated with adhesive.
Accordingly, improvements to glue traps continue to be sought.


A distinctive recorded sound is generated when a credit card or other financial transaction card is used at a point of sale (POS) terminal. As is common, the POS terminal includes a card reader through which the card is swiped to read data that is encoded on a magnetic stripe affixed to the card. A recorded sound may be stored in the card or in the card reader. In either case, the sound is played back through the card reader when the card is swiped.

1. Related Application
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/213,475 filed Aug. 6, 2002 now abandoned.
2. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of financial transaction cards, such as credit cards. More particularly, the invention relates to a financial transaction card and/or card reader that plays a sound recording when the card is swiped through the reader.
3. Background
Financial transaction cards are widely used. Such cards include credit cards, debit cards, and the like. Financial transaction cards also include assigned value cards, such as gift cards.
The wide range of choices available to consumers requires card issuers to differentiate their cards from those of other issuers so as to maintain or improve their market share. Transaction cards with new features and functions are being introduced to attract new customers and to establish brand identity. For example, this inventor has developed a credit card with a magnifying lens that has been successful in attracting and maintaining cardholder accounts.
Card issuers also have an interest in combating fraud, including the use of counterfeit cards. Thus, features that are difficult to counterfeit, such as holographic designs, have become popular with card issuers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Financial transaction card with sound recording


A wireless power transfer system 20 for charging an electronic device 22 having a secondary coil 24 includes a primary controller 38 disposed on a class B surface 30 of a vehicle. A primary coil 52 is electrically connected to the primary controller 38. The primary coil 52 is disposed remotely from the primary controller 38 on a class A surface 28 of the vehicle. A protective shield 66 is disposed on the primary coil 52 to secure the primary coil 52 to the class A surface 28 and indicia 68 indicating an alignment of the secondary coil 24 of the electronic device 22 is disposed on the protective shield 66.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a wireless power transfer system for powering or charging an electronic device or a battery, and more specifically, to a wireless power transfer system for a vehicle having a controller and a remote primary coil for inductively charging a secondary coil in an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mobile or portable electronic devices are increasingly being used for communication, entertainment and time management. These mobile electronic devices, such as mobile phones, personal data assistants, music players, cameras, GPS units, and other audio/video or communication devices, are carried by users during the course of daily activities, and as such devices are powered by batteries, the users must continually monitor battery life and anticipate when the batteries need to be charged, so that the devices do not inconveniently become inoperable due to a low battery condition.
Charging portable electronic devices currently requires the use of a charging cord having a connector connected to a power source. It is difficult for users to anticipate when they will be near a power source for a sufficient time period to charge the battery within the device. In a vehicle, the power source is typically a charging outlet such as a cigarette lighter. If the user charges the device in a vehicle, the user connects a special charging cord to the power outlet and the device, Charging cords typically include a unique connector arrangement for each type of device or each manufacturer. For example, an electronic device such as a cell phone is not likely to have the same connector arrangement as a portable compact disc player and a cell phone by one manufacturer typically will not have the same connector arrangement as a cell phone by a different manufacturer.
One resolution to the cumbersome use of such charging cords has been the introduction of electromagnetic induction technology; however manufacturers of vehicles have been slow to adopt such technology. Induction technology is employed in a wide range of applications, such as power transfer interfaces for electric vehicles, recharging electric toothbrushes, and powering smart-tags and security tags. However, all these devices use very special units for the primary and secondary coils that provide specific interface and relative location arrangements. Due to the difficulty in arranging specific interfaces within a vehicle, the inventors are not aware of any inductive charging systems currently being used in production vehicles for powering or charging a device.
Electromagnetic induction technology includes the use of a primary controller connected to a power supply and a primary coil that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows through the coil. A secondary coil is provided in a remote electronic device such that when the device is placed in proximity to the primary controller, the electromagnetic field generated by the coil induces a current in the secondary coil of the remote electronic device. As such, the power is transferred wirelessly between the primary controller and the remote electronic device without the need for cumbersome charging cords.
Wireless power transfer systems eliminate the need to have open electrical contacts; however, the electromagnetic fields generated by such systems are relatively small. For this reason, secondary devices must be placed accurately into an electromagnetic field such that the primary coil in the wireless charger and the secondary coil in the electronic device are in a predefined relative position. As a result, chargers are still only being primarily designed for a specific make and model of electronic device so that the coils may be properly aligned, such as a battery powered toothbrush that comes with its own charging holder. There remains a continual need for chargers which generate electromagnetic fields that induce stronger currents in the secondary coils of electronic devices and which also provide for positioning of the secondary coil of the electronic device in a predefined relative position.


Methods and apparatus determine individual phase fractions for three phases within a fluid mixture. Appropriate flow algorithms can utilize this phase fraction information with a sensed total combined flow rate of the mixture to find individual flow rates for the three phases, such as oil, water and gas. For some embodiments, a multiphase flowmeter includes an array of spatially distributed pressure sensors configured to determine a speed of sound in the mixture and any type of water cut meter, oil cut meter or gas cut meter.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for determining individual phase fractions and/or flow rates of multiple phases within a fluid flow.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the petroleum industry, as in many other industries, ability to monitor flow of certain fluids in process pipes in real time offers considerable value. Oil and/or gas well operators periodically measure water/oil/gas phase fraction flow rates within an overall production flow stream containing a mixture of these three phases. This information aids in improving well production, allocating royalties, properly inhibiting corrosion based on the amount of water and generally determining the well's performance.
While some techniques enable measuring flow rates within two phase mixtures, difficulty arises in determining individual volumetric fractions and flow rates in three phase mixtures. Separators can be used to separate out one or more phases from the flow stream but introduce additional equipment, time and costs. Other costly and time consuming procedures entail manual sampling of the mixture to obtain information regarding the individual volumetric fractions. On the other hand, flowmetering devices can be complex and can restrict flow creating significant pressure loss, such as when venturi based measurements are required.
Therefore, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatus that enable determining individual phase fractions and hence flow rates of multiple phases within a fluid flow.


A polymorphic surface may be provided by applying at least one magnetic field across a plurality of movable surface contour elements and selectively passing a current through the magnetic field(s) adjacent selected surface contour elements, with the current being perpendicular to the magnetic field. The current interacts with the magnetic field to generate a Lorentz force driving guided substantially linear motion of the respective surface contour element(s). The surface contour elements may be individually moveable and individually selectable for application of current to generate movement. The surface contour elements may be supported in position after removing the current. The current applied across each selected surface contour element may be varied to control the amount of guided substantially linear motion.

Computer imaging technology has advanced dramatically over the past several decades. Computers can now capture detailed three-dimensional image information, such as from laser scanning, medical imaging devices and many other sources, and can also generate three-dimensional image information. However, computers have conventionally been limited in their ability to present such three-dimensional data. Often such data is presented in two-dimensional form on a screen, where much of the richness of the data may be lost.
More recently, three-dimensional printing technology has enabled computers to generate real three-dimensional models that can be made the subject of not only visual but also tactile examination. While three-dimensional printing can provide considerable advantages, it necessarily consumes material and produces waste if the printed object is ultimately unwanted. Relying solely on three-dimensional printing to enable computers to express three-dimensional data is analogous to a computer which, for two-dimensional data, has a printer but no monitor.


A sheet rock measuring and cutting device, comprising: a T-square arm for abutment with an edge of a piece of sheet rock; a base scale arm positioned within the T-square arm for selective sliding interengagement therewith; and a sliding scale arm positioned within the base scale arm for selective sliding interengagement therewith. The sliding scale arm includes a cutting tool engagement member for receipt and positioning of a cutting tool at a measured distance from the edge of the sheet rock.

Many tools have been made to facilitate the measurement and/or cutting or scoring of a piece of sheet rock to a desired size for use in the construction of building walls and ceilings.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,195 to Aikens describes a cutting guide apparatus having an elongate handle containing a magazine housing including a reel of flexible measuring tape extending through a guide plate that is adjacent a distal end of the handle. A collet member permits selective extension of the measuring tape and the forward distal end of the flexible measuring tape includes a support beam including a mount for a writing instrument and a cutting tool therein. However, the flexible nature of the measuring tape does not permit a rigid member to insure an accurate marking/scoring/cutting by a mounted writing instrument or cutting tool. This is especially relevant at greater extensions of the flexible tape from the handle and increases the difficulty of its use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,342 to Lang describes a drywall measuring and cutting tool having a guide riding the edge of a sheet of drywall and a rigid, graduated rod passing through an opening in the guide and normal thereto. A knife is fastened to the rod by a stem assembly and the stem assembly can be rotated for shallow or deep cuts. However, the idle rod length projects away from the knife through the guide which requires a minimum free space behind the sheet of drywall, especially for cuts closer to the guide. Additionally, the rod is selectively fixed within the guide by a downward pressure of the handle of the guide towards the rod which tends to lift the knife end away from the drywall and increases the difficulty in manipulating the device to cut or score the sheet of drywall. Also, since the depth of the score/cut is determined by rotation of the stem assembly, the user must exert a constant and consistent downward pressure on the handle of the stem assembly to ensure a consistent depth of scoring/cutting. This further complicates use of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,818,644 to Crawford describes a wallboard measuring and cutting device having a sliding stop member with a flat, rigid, elongated calibrated rod passing through an opening in the stop member and normal thereto. Secured to one end of the rod is a block member which extends transversely to the rod. The block member includes a cutting blade perpendicular to the rod and selectively positioned to score or cut a sheet of drywall or the like. The opposite end of the rod includes a depending stop block which prevents removal of the sliding stop member. In use, the sliding stop member is selectively positioned along the calibrated rod at a specified distance from the cutting blade as read by the markings on the rod and is fixed in position by a pivoting arm having a curved bottom which frictionally engages the rod. The sliding stop member projects below the plane of the bottom of the calibrated rod and includes an edge which abuts the edge of a sheet of drywall. The device is guided along the edge of the drywall scoring/cutting the drywall at the specified distance. However, as in Lang, the idle rod length projects away from the block member/cutting blade which requires a minimum free space behind the sheet of drywall, especially for cuts closer to the sliding stop member.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,286,351 to McAlister describes a sheetrock scriber which scribes, or scores, a piece of sheetrock, or the like, at a predetermined distance so that the sheetrock can be accurately broken off to the desired size. The sheetrock scriber having a carriage riding over a piece of sheetrock on a set of tandem rollers on one end and a single roller positioned on a scriber head member at the other end of a ruler arm extending from the carriage. The tandem rollers are spaced and journaled on a vertically extending leg and are journaled on individual axles. The vertically extending leg has an edge with beveled lips angling outwardly to facilitate abutment of the leg with an edge of the sheetrock. The ruler arm may be suitably graduated to allow measured placement of a scriber blade within the scriber head member at the desired distance from the edge of the vertically extending leg. The scriber head member is selectively positioned along the ruler arm by squeezing of a lever member against the scriber head member to clamp the ruler arm at the desired distance. The scriber blade projects below the single roller at a predetermined fixed distance to ensure proper scribing of the sheetrock.
However, similar to Lang and Crawford, the idle ruler arm length projects away from the vertically extending leg which requires a minimum free space behind the sheetrock, especially for cuts closer to the vertically extending leg. Further, the rollers upon which the carriage/ruler arm rides over the sheetrock are subject to binding upon embedding of pieces of scribed sheetrock and dust in their axles/sleeves produced during use of the device. This could lead to necessary periodic cleaning of the roller members and difficulty in the efficient use of the device due to difficult scribes and may lead to binding or jumping of the device creating nonlinear scribes and therefore nonlinear breaking of the sheetrock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,663 to Needs describes a measuring device to locate, dimension and mark the proper locations for the successive formations of score lines in a plurality of multi-sided conduits or ducts formed from planar sheets of duct board without having to reset the device each time a separate duct board is marked. The measuring device being in the form a T-square having a rigid, elongated body and a perpendicularly arranged head portion and further including a plurality of staggered, offset scales extending along the length of the body in adjacent, side-by-side and parallel relation to one another from the head portion towards a distal end. A plurality of scale indicators, preferably equal in number to the number of scales, are positioned to slide along the length of the body in aligned indicating relation with one of the plurality of scales. Each scale indicator includes a locking member to selectively lock each scale indicator relative to its respective scale. Each scale indicator further includes a marker member extending outwardly therefrom and positioned to allow markings to be made on the product being measured by the device by each scale indicator marker member as determined by the locked position of the scale indicator relative to the measurement indicia on its respective scale. The device is intended to allow for accurate multiple V-shaped scorings of successive duct boards so that each scored duct board may be folded upon itself along the score lines to form multiple, identical substantially rectangularly-shaped ducts or conduits that may then be affixed to each other end-to-end to create, most commonly, air conditioning ducts. Each V-shaped score line has a definite width which must be accounted for to allow proper placement of the next and successive score lines to allow formation of the selected sized duct. The scales are staggered a predetermined amount relative to each other to account for the V-shaped score line width.
In use, the device is set so that the side-by-side scales are offset an appropriate amount for the size of the duct to be formed and the marker members are locked at the desired positions. Marks are made at each marker member at either end of the duct boards and a straight edge is used to connect the pairs of marks made by the device to indicate along the entire appropriate dimension of the duct board where the V-shaped score lines are to be cut by a separate tool. The Needs device is not designed to make continuous score lines to cuts but is instead designed to account for the width of the V-shaped score lines, to be subsequently produced by a separate tool, necessary to form rectangular-shaped ducts from the duct boards. Further, the device is not compact and is of a fixed length creating an unnecessarily bulky and unwieldy device for simple scoring or cutting of a sheet of material to a single desired width.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,462 to Spencer describes a drywall cutting device that includes a channel-shaped sleeve for slidably mounted disposition on a stem of a T-square at predetermined selectable positions. A handle operated clamping device consisting of a screw inserted in a threaded hole in the sleeve that may be rotated so that the screw's distal end engages the stem of the T-square is provided to selectively position the sleeve on the stem. The sleeve further includes a knife holder within which a knife is positioned perpendicular to the stem for cutting a line perpendicular to the stem when the clamping device and the T-square are drawn together across a surface to be cut. The stem may include graduated indicia to establish the measured distance from the knife edge to the edge of the T-square engaging the edge of the sheet of the material to be cut. As with Needs, McAlister, Crawford, and Lang, the device is not compact but instead is of a fixed length creating an unnecessarily bulky and unwieldy device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,315 to Ziegler describes a knife support and cutting guide for a type of cutting tool commonly used to cut paperboard as a border for framing pictures. The device having a two piece clamp at the end of a curved arm for holding the cutting tool while the other end of the curved arm has a first circular member which mates with a corresponding second circular member on the end of an elongated rod to selectively maintain the curved arm at a predetermined rotational orientation relative to the elongated rod by the use of a screw, for example. One of two interchangeable, surface engaging guide members is releasably retained at a desired position along the length of the rod permitting the cutting tool to make either a circular or a straight cut in the paperboard with a beveled edge. The rotational adjustment of the two circular members permits alignment of the cutting tool edge when making circular cuts to eliminate blade drag. The elongated rod is selectively slidingly engaged to the surface engaging guide members through a hole therein to allow for selective adjustment of the distance from the cutting tool to the chosen surface engaging guide member. To make straight cuts, a flat edged surface engaging guide member is chosen to produce a T-square shaped device with the elongated rod perpendicularly attached to the flat edge member. The flat edge member abuts the edge of the material to be cut and the flat edge member and cutting tool is drawn along the edge of that material to cut the material at a predetermined distance from its edge.
As with Needs, McAlister, Crawford, Lang, and Spencer, the Ziegler device is not compact but instead is of a fixed length creating an unnecessarily bulky and unwieldy device. Further, the device is of a relatively flimsy construction for cutting sheet rock over prolonged periods and is not provided with calibrated indicia to permit rapid and accurate measured scoring or cutting. None of the prior art patents disclose a compact sheet rock scoring/cutting device that is useful over the range of measured distances for common sheet rock.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a sheet rock cutting tool that is compact while extendible to allow cutting of standard sizes of sheet rock.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool that permits measuring and scoring or cutting sheet rock in a single motion.
Other objects will appear hereinafter.


A spinal pedicle screw system includes distractions rods and has the ability to be distracted after the screws are inserted into the pedicle and maintain polyaxial motion via polyaxial joints.

Spine scoliosis is affecting significant portion of the population. Current surgical treatment involves many times the use of an intervertebral pedicle screws based systems designed to be placed between two or more vertebrae.
The use of standard pedicle screws system is typically associated with spinal fusion, which has some known negative impacts. It is of value therefor to have a non-fusion system that can prevent or correct scoliosis of some patients.


Described herein are microfluidic devices and methods that can separate and concentrate particles in a sample.

Isolation and enrichment of rare cells and particles from bodily fluids including blood, urine, saliva, mucous, semen, etc. can be used to understand the concentration, function, and genomic composition of the rare cells and particles and can provide information for diagnosing and treating diseases such as cancers. Given the low concentration of rare cells or particles within biological samples, some form of positive or negative selection or enrichment can be needed to detect and/or quantify rare cells or particles. An integrated, automated process that gently and uniformly processes cells and particles with virtually no cell loss is needed to achieve consistent reliable clinical information for diagnosing and treating disease.

Methods and devices for multi-step cell purification and concentration


A climbing aid apparatus that includes cams that are mounted for rotation about axles. At least one of the axles is capable of relative movement. In a preferred embodiment, the position of at least one axle moves as the cams expand. An embodiment including three axles is also disclosed.

A specific class of climbing gear, known as active protection, is spring loaded so as to provide engagement, even in parallel-sided or slightly flaring cracks. Spring loaded camming devices, SLCD, are the most common type of active protection. Cam members rotate on the end of a load stem. The cams are spring loaded outwards to provide engagement in the crack. A trigger is connected to the cams with small cables to facilitate placement and removal from the crack.
A SLCD is described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,657, issued to Raymond Jardine in 1980, and entitled Climbing Aids. This patent teaches a climbing aid comprising a support bar, a spindle mounted on the support bar, at least two cam members pivotally mounted on the spindle and adapted for opposite pivotal movement from a "closed" position to an "open" position, an operating bar slidably mounted on the support bar and connected to each cam member and there being at the opposite end of the support bar to the spindle an attachment point for a climbing rope.
At the time of its invention, the SLCD concept was a great improvement over current technology (chock stones and the like) because it allowed a single piece of protection to be viable over a range of crack sizes. Also, the SLCD enabled secure protection in parallel sided cracks which were previously deemed unprotectable.
Another invention relating to the SLCD is described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,377, issued to Tony Christianson in 1987, and entitled Mechanically Expanding Climbing Aid. This patent teaches a climbing aid which includes opposing cam members, two fixed parallel axles on which the opposing cam members pivot separately with crossed radii, an axle joining member, means for attachment of a climbing rope, spring members which act to move the cam members toward their fully expanded positions, and an operating member which is connected to each cam member such that when it is pulled the cam members retract in order to allow insertion or removal of the improved climbing aid into or out of a crack in rock. A distinguishing feature of the device of Christianson is that two axles are provided. The effect of having two axles is that larger cams and larger cam spacing can be utilized (with the same minimum expansion size as in single axle devices), thus providing a larger maximum expansion.
Of great importance to climbers is the range of expansion of a particular piece climbing aid, where range of expansion is the distance between minimum and maximum cam expansion widths. In order to compare the present invention to prior art devices the term expansion ratio (ER) is now defined as:
ER=maximum expansion width/minimum expansion width
The single axle type has a lower ER than the double axle type. The minimum and maximum expansion of a single axle SLCD are determined wholly by the size of the cams. The average ER of commercial single axle SLCD is approximately 1.55.
The minimum and maximum expansions of a double axle SLCD are determined by cam size and the spacing of the axles. The average ER of commercial double fixed axle SLCD is approximately 1.67. A need exists for a climbing aid with a greater ER.


A host cornea marking device for providing marks on a recipient cornea bed of a corneal transplant patient is disclosed. The present marking device includes: an outer tube having a plurality of marking blades at one of opposite axial ends thereof which is adapted to face the recipient cornea bed, the marking blades being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of said outer tube; and an inner tube which is received in the outer tube, such that the inner tube is axially slidable relative to the outer tube. The inner tube includes a contact portion at one of opposite axial ends thereof which is adapted to be in contact with the cornea bed so as to position the marking device with respect to a cutout section in the recipient cornea bed for receiving a donor cornea. A spring between the inner and outer tubes may be used to hold the inner tube in a first position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for providing marks on a recipient cornea bed of a corneal transplant patient, for facilitating positioning of a donor cornea on the recipient cornea bed for keratoplasty.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
According to a known keratoplasty method, a suitable size of a section of the cornea of a corneal transplant patient (referred to hereinafter as a host patient) is cut out or removed, while a donor cornea is trephined or punched out by a suitable cornea punching device, so that the size of the donor cornea conforms to that of the cutout section of the host cornea. The thus obtained donor cornea is located on the cutout section of the host cornea and then sutured therein. Upon suturing, however, the cornea tends to be inadvertently distorted or displaced due to subtle differences in the manner of suturing from portion to portion, resulting in the incidence of post-transplant astigmatism due to such distortion of the cornea.
In view of the above situation, the inventor of the present invention proposed a cornea punching device as disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/682,695 now abandoned, for cutting or punching out a donor cornea into a desired shape, in preparation for keratoplasty. The punching device disclosed therein is adapted to cut out or trephine a circular corneal section such that the corneal section (hereinafter referred to as "donor cornea") is provided with a plurality of suction traces which correspond to suction holes or slits formed through a base for supporting the donor cornea when the donor cornea is punched out. More specifically, these suction traces are left on at least a peripheral portion of the surface of the donor cornea such that the traces are equally spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the donor cornea. The thus formed suction traces can be used as a guide for positioning the donor cornea on a recipient cornea bed of a host patient, making it easy for an oculist to suture the graft with the cornea bed. It is thus possible to substantially avoid distortions of the cornea upon suturing, by advertently preventing inclination or displacement of the suction traces on the corneal graft.
Even if the donor cornea is provided by the above-described punching device with the suction traces for the positioning purpose, however, the positioning accuracy is still unsatisfactory in the absence of marks on the side of the host cornea or recipient cornea bed, which marks accurately correspond to the suction traces on the donor cornea. Consequently, there still remains a possibility of post-transplant astigmatism due to subtle distortion of the cornea grafted on the host patient.


A new Ipomoea plant named ‘Seki Blahrt’ particularly distinguished by compact and mounding plant habit, then becomes more outwardly trailing with age, vigorous, freely branching with dense foliage, and very dark, almost black, cordate or ‘heart’ shaped foliage, with soft pink and white flowers.

The present invention comprises a new Ipomoea, botanically known as Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam, and commonly known as Ornamental Sweet Potato, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Seki Blahrt.' These plants are grown, not for their flowers, but for their foliage and plant habit characteristics. These plants flower very rarely and then only under strict short day lengths. Each flower is ephemeral, in that it only lasts up to 24 hours, and blooms mostly through the night and early morning hours.
'Seki Blahrt' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar 'Seki Blahrt' has compact and mounding plant habit, then becomes more outwardly trailing with age, vigorous, freely branching with dense foliage, and very dark, almost black, cordate or 'heart' shaped foliage, with soft pink and white flowers.
'Seki Blahrt' originated from a hybrid cross in a controlled breeding program in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The female parent was 'Sweet Caroline Purple' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,912). 'Sweet Caroline Purple' has a less compact plant habit, larger and lighter colored palmate foliage than 'Seki Blahrt.'
The male parent of 'Seki Blahrt' was 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,573). 'Sweet Carolina Sweetheart Purple' has a less compact plant habit, lighter colored leaves and stems than 'Seki Blahrt.'
'Seki Blahrt' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in March 2007, in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA.
The pollination took place in October 2006 and the seed sown in December 2006. The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Seki Blahrt' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the March 2007 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA.
Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in March 2007 in Gilroy, Calif. USA, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for 'Seki Blahrt' are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
'Seki Blahrt' has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.
A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Canada on Dec. 24, 2007. 'Seki Blahrt' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.


An exemplary system and method for providing differential adjustment of the height of a multilayer substrate in localized areas for improved Q-factor performance of RF devices is disclosed as comprising inter alia: a multilayer substrate (200); an RF component (210) embedded in the substrate (200); a surface mounted component (220); and an RF shield (260) disposed next to the surface mounted component (220), wherein the height of the shield (260) does not extend substantially beyond the height of the surface mounted component (220). Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, configured, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to further improve or otherwise optimize Q, RF performance and/or material characteristics. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention representatively provide for high-performance, high-quality RF devices that may be readily incorporated with existing technologies for the improvement of frequency response, device package form factors, weights and/or other manufacturing, device or material performance metrics.

As cellular technology transitions from 2G to 3G, size reduction and integration of components becomes more important with increasing device functionality. For example, many mobile phones are already incorporating GSM/PCS/DCS and WCDMA functionality. Low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) has proven to be a useful integration technology wherein RF passive components may be embedded while active devices are conventionally surface mounted on the substrate. Due to the shrinking form factor of wireless devices, height restrictions generally impose an upper limit on the thickness of, for example, an LTCC substrate in addition to the height of surface mount components. For some RF components, such as LTCC filters, the performance (i.e., loss or rejection) may be dependent on the height. In general, the height improves the quality factor (Q) of embedded resonators, which in turn results in lower passband loss and/or greater out of band rejection.
In a conventional example, a filter may require 1.6 mm of height in order to meet specified performance goals. If the maximum module height is 1.6 mm, then either the entire LTCC substrate would be required to be 1.6 mm (which generally precludes the use of SMT components) or the LTCC substrate would need to be 1.0 mm (assuming 0.5 mm high SMT components and a lid), which generally precludes designing a filter that will meet specifications. Accordingly, a method would be desirable wherein the thickness of the ceramic substrate may be greater in an area where the filters are integrated and thinner in areas where SMT components are to be placed and/or lower Q-factor RF components may be embedded.

Localized enhancement of multilayer substrate thickness for high Q RF components


Oligonucleotide conjugates, where an oligonucleotide is covalently attached to an aromatic system, are provided. In particular embodiments the oligonucleotide is complementary to the RNA component of human telomerase and is covalently attached to a nucleobase via an optional linker. The conjugates inhibit telomerase enzyme activity.

Oligonucleotide Chemistry
Nucleic acid polymer chemistry has played a crucial role in many developing technologies in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and analytical fields, and more particularly in the subfields of antisense and antigene therapeutics, combinatorial chemistry, branched DNA signal amplification, and array-based DNA diagnostics and analysis. Much of this chemistry has been directed to improving the binding strength, specificity, and nuclease resistance of natural nucleic acid polymers, such as DNA. Unfortunately, improvements in one property, such as nuclease resistance, often involve trade-offs against other properties, such as binding strength. Examples of such trade-offs abound: peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) display good nuclease resistance and binding strength, but have reduced cellular uptake in test cultures (e.g. Hanvey et al., Science, 258:1481-1485, 1992); phosphorothioates display good nuclease resistance and solubility, but are typically synthesized as P-chiral mixtures and display several sequence-non-specific biological effects (e.g. Stein et al., Science, 261:1004-1012, 1993); methylphosphonates display good nuclease resistance and cellular uptake, but are also typically synthesized as P-chiral mixtures and have reduced duplex stability, and so on.
Recently, a new class of oligonucleotide analog has been developed having so-called N3′→P5′ phosphoramidate internucleoside linkages, which display favorable nucleic acid binding properties, nuclease resistance, and water solubility (Gryaznov and Letsinger, Nucleic Acids Research, 20:3403-3409, 1992; Chen et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 23:2661-2668, 1995; Gryaznov et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 92:5798-5802, 1995; and Gryaznov et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 116:3143-3144, 1994). Uniformly modified phosphoramidate compounds contain a 3′-amino group at each of the 2′-deoxyfuranose nucleoside residues replacing a 3′-oxygen atom. The synthesis and properties of oligonucleotide N3′→P5′ phosphoramidates are also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,607; 5,599,922; 5,726,297; and 5,824,793.
Oligonucleotides conjugated to a signal generating system have been used as tools in diagnostic applications, such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). For example, specific microorganism (U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,694) or telomerase-expressing cells (U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,639) were identified by labeling nucleic acids that were complementary to sequences unique to the target organism or the telomerase enzyme, respectively, and then contacting the probe with the target. Once the probe had formed a hybrid with the target, the hybrid was detected by activating the signal generating system that was bound to the probe. In another use, labeled probes were used in DNA microarray experiments (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,138). Typically, probes from a biological sample were amplified in the presence of nucleotides that had been coupled to a reporter group, such as a fluorescent label, thereby creating labeled probes. The labeled probes were then incubated with the microarrays so that the probe sequences hybridized to the complementary sequences immobilized on the microarray. A scanner was then used to determine the levels and patterns of fluorescence.
The present invention relates to a new class of oligonucleotide conjugates having telomerase inhibiting activity.
Telomerase
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that catalyzes the addition of telomeric repeat sequences to chromosome ends. See Blackburn, 1992, Annu. Rev. Biochem., 61:113-129. There is an extensive body of literature describing the connection between telomeres, telomerase, cellular senescence and cancer (for a general review, see Oncogene, volume 21, January 2002, which is an issue focused on telomerase). Telomerase has therefore been identified as an excellent target for cancer therapeutic agents (see Lichsteiner et al., Annals New York Acad. Sci. 886:1-11, 1999)
Genes encoding both the protein and RNA components of human telomerase have been cloned and sequenced (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,261,836 and 5,583,016, respectively) and much effort has been spent in the search for telomerase inhibitors. Telomerase inhibitors identified to date include small molecule compounds and oligonucleotides. By way of example, WO01/18015 describes the use of oligonucleotides that comprise N3′→P5′ thio-phosphoramidate internucleoside linkages, and which are complementary to the sequence of the human telomerase RNA component, to inhibit telomerase activity.


The invention relates to a semiconductor element used for a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device or the like, a semiconductor storage device using the same, a data writing method thereof, a data reading method thereof and a manufacturing method of those, and has an object to provide a semiconductor element in which scaling and integration of cells are possible, storage characteristics of data are excellent, and reduction in power consumption is possible, a semiconductor storage device using the same, a data writing method thereof, a data reading method thereof, and a manufacturing method of those. A pn junction diode GD with a ferroelectric gate as the semiconductor element includes a gate electrode formed on a ferroelectric film, an inversion layer formation region in which an inversion layer is formed in a semiconductor substrate below the ferroelectric film according to a polarization direction of the ferroelectric film, a cathode region formed on one of both sides of the inversion layer formation region, and an anode region formed on the other of both the sides.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor element used for a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device or the like, a semiconductor storage device using the same, a data writing method thereof, a data reading method thereof and a manufacturing method of those.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM) in which even if the power is turned off, the immediately preceding memory is held and a random access can be made is regarded as promising as a device to form the base of ubiquitous society and in the field of personal identification or security.
Among various nonvolatile RAMs, a nonvolatile memory in which a ferroelectric having spontaneous polarization is used for a dielectric layer of a capacitor is called as ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM). The FeRAM is expected as a next-generation memory in the mobile field, due to the low power consumption.
The FeRAM currently put to practical use is a 1T1C (1 transistor 1 capacitor) type FeRAM including one cell selection transistor and one data storage ferroelectric capacitor. Even if the power is turned off, since an electric charge remains in the ferroelectric capacitor, the 1T1C-type FeRAM can be used as a nonvolatile storage element.
Patent document 1: JP-A-9-134974
Non-patent document 1: Hiroshi Ishiwara, "Current Status of Development of Transistor-type Ferroelectric Memory and Future Prospects", The Journal of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Vol. 88, No. 4, 2005
Non-patent document 2: Yoshihiro Arimoto, Hiroshi Ishiwara, "Current Status of Ferroelectric Random-Access Memory", Reprinted from Materials Research Society MRS Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 11, November 2004
As described above, in the 1T1C-type FeRAM, one transistor and one ferroelectric capacitor are required in one memory cell, in order to form the memory cell in the FeRAM, a formation region of considerable size is required. Further, since the quantity of electric charge stored in the ferroelectric capacitor is proportional to the electrode area of the ferroelectric capacitor, when the scaling issue of the FeRAM is advanced, the quantity of electric charge necessary for memory storage can not be kept. That is, it is difficult to form a large density of 1T1C-type FeRAM.
In order to solve the problem in the scalability issue of the FeRAM, there is proposed a method in which a 1T (1 transistor)-type FeRAM of an FET-type system is used instead of the 1T1C-type FeRAM. In the FET-type FeRAM, a gate insulating film is formed of a ferroelectric. This configulatin make possible to use nondestructive readout. With the development of the scalability of a transistor, the area of a memory cell can be reduced. Thus, the FET-type FeRAM has an advantage to the 1T1C-type FeRAM in the scaling capability. However, in the FET-type FeRAM, under present circumstances, a voltage for writing data into a memory cell or reading data stored in the memory cell is high, and the reliability of a gate insulating film is low. Accordingly, the FET-type FeRAM is inferior to the current 1T1C-type FeRAM in retention characteristics indicating the memory storage performance and disturbance characteristics at the time of memory cell selection, and it has not been put to practical use.
A typical FET-type 1T FeRAM has a structure in which a gate insulating film (I), a ferroelectric film (F) and an electrode film (M) are stacked over a channel region of a semiconductor substrate (S) in which a source region and a drain region are formed. The FET having this structure is called an MFIS-type FET. In the FET-type 1T FeRAM, by using a fact that an on current and an off current between the source and drain are different by several digits according to the polarization direction of the ferroelectric film, it is read out whether the stored data is "0" or "1".
FIG. 27 is a view for explaining data writing of a memory array of an FET-type 1T FeRAM. As shown in FIG. 27, the memory array of the FET-type 1T FeRAM includes plural memory cells arranged in a matrix form. In the memory array of the FET-type 1T FeRAM, at the time of data writing, for example, +V (V) is applied to a word line 151 connected to a gate electrode of a selected cell 150, and for example, 0 (V) is applied to a bit line 153 connected to a drain electrode. At that time, +(⅓)V (V) is applied to word lines 151 connected to gate electrodes of non-selected cells 152 and 154, and for example, +(⅔)V (V) is applied to bit lines 153 connected to drain electrodes thereof. That is, it is necessary to apply the voltage to the gate electrodes of all non-selected cells.
By this, the voltage of +V (V) is applied to the ferroelectric film of the FeRAM of the selected cell 150. The voltage of +(⅓)V (V) is applied to the ferroelectric film of the FeRAM of the non-selected cell 154 connected to one of the word line 151 and the bit line 153 to which the selected cell 150 is connected. The voltage of −(⅓)V (V) is applied to the ferroelectric film of the FeRAM of the non-selected cell 152 connected to the word line 151 or the bit line to which the selected cell 150 is not connected. Accordingly, electric power is consumed also in the non-selected cells 152 and 154 by leak current, and further, since the voltage is applied to all the bit lines and word lines at each writing of one bit, when the cell size becomes large, charging/discharging current of these wiring lines becomes enormous. As stated above, in the semiconductor storage device including the FET-type 1T FeRAM, it is difficult to reduce power consumption.
FIG. 28A and FIG. 28B are views for explaining data reading of the memory array of an n-type FET-type 1T FeRAM. In an MFIS-type FET, in order to hold data for a long period, in the case where 0 (V) is applied to a gate electrode, it is necessary that a difference in the magnitude of a current flowing between a source and a drain is realized according to the polarization direction of a ferroelectric film. FIG. 28A shows a parallel memory array, and FIG. 28B shows a serial memory array. As shown in FIG. 28A, in the parallel memory array in which plural source electrodes are connected to each other and plural drain electrodes are connected to each other, at the time of data reading, a voltage of −V (V) is applied to the gate electrodes of all non-selected cells 152 to cause the non-selected FET to have high resistance, and 0(V) is applied to the gate electrode of a selected cell 150 to read the magnitude of the current flowing between the source and drain of the selected FET from a peripheral circuit. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 28B, in the serial memory array in which the source electrode and drain electrode of adjacent FET-type 1T FeRAMs are connected, +V (V) is applied to gate electrodes of all non-selected cells 152 to cause the non-selected FETs to have low resistance, and 0 (V) is applied to the gate electrode of a selected cell 150 to read information of the magnitude of current flowing between the source and drain of the selected FET from a peripheral circuit.
As stated above, in the FET-type 1T FeRAM, at the time of writing and reading of data, since it is necessary to apply the predetermined voltages to both the selected cell and the non-selected cell, it is difficult to reduce the power consumption of the semiconductor storage device. Besides, a possibility that the memory data of the non-selected cell is rewritten becomes high, and the reliability is low.
As is apparent from the above description, the 1T1C-type FeRAM has the problem that the scaling is difficult. Besides, the FET-type 1T FeRAM has the problem that the retention characteristics and the disturb characteristics as the memory element are not satisfactory. Besides, the FET-type 1T FeRAM has the problem that it is difficult to reduce the power consumption of the semiconductor storage device.

Semiconductor element, semiconductor storage device using the same, data writing method thereof, data reading method thereof, and manufacturing method of those


A feedback method on occasion independently senses a characteristic of light produced by each of several light sources in a lighting apparatus. The sensed value of that characteristic is compared to a reference value for the respective light source and that light source's operation is adjusted accordingly. This method has particular application in a lighting apparatus that produces different lighting effects by varying the intensity of different colors of light produced by the various light sources. The feedback method compensates for light emission variation as the sources age, thus ensuring that the lighting apparatus continues to produce the desired lighting effects. This enables multiple lighting apparatus in an area to be calibrated to the same standard so that uniform illumination is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lighting apparatus which produce white light that is variable within a predefined range of correlated color temperatures, and more particularly to such lighting apparatus that employ a plurality of light sources each emitting light of a different color which blend together to produce the white light.
2. Description of the Related Art
The interior spaces, such as those of buildings and vehicles, historically were illuminated by incandescent or fluorescent lighting devices. More recently lighting systems have been developed that utilize groups of a light emitting diodes (LED's). For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,882 describes a vehicle lighting system which employs a plurality of LED's mounted in a linear array to form a lighting strip. By varying the voltage applied to the lighting device, the intensity of the illumination can be varied to produce a desired environmental effect. For example, it is desirable to control the illumination intensity and color of the passenger cabin of executive aircraft and custom motor coaches to accent or emphasize the cabin decor and to set different environmental moods for the occupants. Subtle changes in the shade of white light can have a dramatic effect on the interior environment of those vehicles.
One technique for characterizing white light is correlated color temperature based on the temperature in degrees Kelvin of a black body that radiates the same color light. An ideal model of a white light source is referred to as a "Planckian radiator". The loci of the chromaticities of different Planckian radiators form a curve on the chromaticity chart of the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) in Vienna, Austria, which characterizes colors by a luminance parameter and two color coordinates x and y.
Another characterizing technique measures the color rendering properties of a light source based on the degree to which reference colors are shifted by light from that source. The result of this characterization is a numerical Color Rendering Index (CRI) having a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 being a perfect source spectrally equal to sunlight or full spectrum white light. In general, light sources with a CRI between 80 and 100 make people and objects look better and tend to provide a safer environment than light sources with lower CRI values. Typical cool white fluorescent lamps have a CRI of 65 while rare-earth phosphor lamps have a CRI of 80 and above.
Some prior variable lighting systems contain several emitters that create light of different colors which mix to produce an resultant illumination color. The most common of these systems utilize red, green, and blue light sources driven at specific excitation levels to create an equivalent "white" light balance point. However, it is difficult with prior lighting systems to create white light that adheres to the Planckian radiator curve on the CIE chromaticity chart and has a CRI greater than 80.
Other variable lighting systems in common use utilize a broad spectrum "white" light source, along with individual red, green and blue light sources. The "white" light spectrum is then shifted on the color chart by amounts related to the contributions of the individual red, green, and blue light levels with respect to the level of the broad spectrum light source level and to each other. Although this type of lighting apparatus can replicate the Planckian radiator over a range in the visible spectrum of light, it has a poor Color Rendering Index over most of that range.
In order to illuminate an entire room or the passenger cabin of an aircraft, the lighting system must employ numerous light sources and different areas may be illuminated by different lighting systems. Even where all the sources are commonly controlled, various ones may produce different shades of white light. Thus it is difficult to provide a uniform color of light throughout the interior space.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a lighting system which permits the color temperature of a broad spectrum light to be varied within a predefined range in a controlled manner. It is further desirable to provide a mechanism that automatically calibrates each light source to consistently produce light at a predefined correlated color temperature, thereby compensating for changes that occur as the source ages over time.

Method of adjusting multiple light sources to compensate for variation in light output that occurs with time


A video system which includes a recorder/player and cassette units adapted to be inserted into the recorder/player with the cassette units including a storing medium and with the cassette units being provided with memory units. The respective memory units are independent of the storing medium and are operable, in response to the cassette being inserted into the recorder/player, to be electrically connected to a read/write unit therein. The memory unit is accommodated in a block member adapted to be mounted in an opening of a standard cassette accommodating and erasure prevention tab, with the recorder/player being provided with a device for contacting the memory unit in such a manner that it can operate compatibly with the standard cassettes with both and without memory units.

A system of the aforementioned type offers great advantages with respect to exchange of information with the single cassettes themselves since information on the cassette can be read into and out from the memory unit fully independently of the ordinary recording and playing function and the tape position in the cassette. It is even possible to communicate with the cassette while the cassette, together with other cassettes, is placed in a storage rack having suitable terminals for contacting the respective member units, whereby, for example, it is possible to check the contents of all of the cassettes and thereby effect searches for desired program sequences. This can be of high importance for the professional world and, previous proposals as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,684, use of the above noted technique with specially designed auxiliaries is proposed.

Recording and/or play-back system employing a cassette with a memory unit accommodated in the cassette


Automatic sorting and grouping of electronic mail items in an electronic mail system is provided. An automatic mail grouping property may be selected for electronic mail received, sent or stored in a variety of storage folders. For a given mail location (e.g., received mail, sent mail, or a given mail storage folder), a selected automatic grouping property causes mail to be displayed to a user in one or more categories that make location of specific mail items easier and more efficient. Visible dividers with optional headings may be provided between mail categories to quickly draw a user's attention to a given mail category and to separate large numbers of mail into logical groupings that make location of specific mail items more manageable.

With the advent of the computer age, computer software users have grown accustomed to user-friendly software applications that help them write, calculate, organize, prepare presentations, send and receive electronic mail, make music, and the like. For example, modem electronic mail programs allow users to send and receive electronic mail to and from other users. Modem electronic mail programs also allow users to store sent or received mail in a variety of user-established storage folders.
Prior electronic mail systems typically provide a user interface through which a user may see and select received mail, sent mail, or stored mail. Such user interfaces may be used to display a listing of all electronic mail received, sent or stored in one or more user-established mail storage folders. A user may sort listed mail items using a number of sorting properties. For example, mail may be sorted by date received or date sent. Mail may be sorted by the name of the party from which mail is received or by the name of the party to which mail is sent. Mail may be sorted according to other sorting properties such as size of individual mail items or subject matter of mail items.
Electronic mail users often have large numbers of mail items in their received mail, sent mail and/or various mail folders. In order to find a particular mail item in any of the these mail categories, the user may scroll up or down through all mail items in a given category (e.g., received, sent, selected folder), or the user may first sort the mail, as described above, and then scroll up or down as desired. For example, if a user is looking for a particular mail item from her colleague, Bob, she may first sort her received mail based on a "received from" sorting property, followed by scrolling through all mail received from Bob to find the particular mail item. Unfortunately, if she has received numerous mail items from Bob, her task of locating the desired mail item may be time consuming, inefficient and cumbersome.
There is a need for an improved electronic mail user interface and mail viewing model that allows electronic mail to be automatically sorted and grouped into mail categories or arrangements that allow a user to more easily and efficiently locate desired mail items. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.


A disk loading mechanism of a disk drive includes a turntable which supports a disk at a playback position. A clamper clamps the disk on the turntable when the disk is rotated. A clamper holder supports the clamper such that the clamper is vertically movable relative to the turntable. A turntable moving unit vertically moves the turntable relative to the clamper between a non-contact position and a supporting position, the turntable and the disk being not placed in contact with each other when the turntable is at the non-contact position, and, when the turntable is at the supporting position, the disk being supported on the turntable. A clamper holder moving unit moves the clamper holder between a first position and a second position, the clamper and the disk being not placed in contact with each other when the clamper holder is at the first position, and, when the clamper holder is at the second position, the disk on the turntable is clamped by the clamper. The turntable moving unit and the clamper holder moving unit are configured to effectively prevent deformation of the disk when the disk is clamped by the clamper or released from the clamper.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a disk drive for use in a computer system, and more particularly to a disk drive having a disk loading mechanism in which a disk from a disk holder unit is transported to a playback position and the disk at the playback position is clamped by a clamper on a turntable when a data signal is reproduced from the disk.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A CD-ROM disk drive for use in a computer system is known. In the CD-ROM disk drive, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk--Read Only Memory) from a disk holder unit is transported to a playback position and the CD-ROM at the playback position is clamped by a clamper on a turntable. The CD-ROM clamped by the clamper is rotated by the turntable when a data signal is reproduced from the CD-ROM.
It is desirable that the CD-ROM which is processed by the CD-ROM disk drive to reproduce the data signal is hardly deformed when the CD-ROM above the turntable is clamped by the clamper or when the CD-ROM clamped on the turntable is released by the clamper.
The CD-ROM is a type of data recording medium. Hereinafter, the CD-ROM will be called the disk for the sake of convenience.
FIGS. 1A through 1D show a conventional disk clamping mechanism 300 used for a disk drive.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in the conventional disk clamping mechanism 300, a disk 11 is placed between a turntable 301 and a clamper 303. The disk 11 when it is supported on the turntable 301 is rotated by the turntable 301 around the center of the turntable 301. A clamper holder 302 movably supports the clamper 303, and moves up and down the clamper 303 according to a movement of the clamper holder 302.
In the above disk clamping mechanism 300, the peripheral edge 11a of the disk 11 is held by a pair of holding members 304 and 305 when the disk 11 above the turntable 301 is clamped by the clamper 303 or when the disk 11 clamped on the turntable 301 is released by the clamper 303.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the disk 11 above the turntable 301 is clamped by the clamper 303, the turntable 301 is moved up toward the clamper 303 and the clamper holder 302 is maintained at an upper position "H100". If the disk 11 deviates from the center of the turntable 301, the clamping of the disk 11 between the turntable 301 and the clamper 303 may be defective and a deformation of the disk 11 on the turntable 301 may occur when the turntable 301 is moved up, as shown in FIG. 1B. Since the clamper holder 302 is maintained at the upper position "H100", the clamper 303 is retained by the clamper holder 302 at the upper position "H100". When the turntable 301 is moved up, the clamping of the disk 11 between the turntable 301 and the clamper 303 may be incomplete. Therefore, the disk 11 when it is clamped on the turntable 301 is deformed.
As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, when the disk 11 clamped on the turntable 301 is released by the clamper 303, the turntable 301 is moved down away from the clamper 303 and the clamper holder 302 is maintained at a lower position "H101". Since the clamper holder 302 is maintained at the lower position "H101", the clamper holder 302 can be moved up from the lower position "H101" by a difference "j" in the height between the upper position "H100" and the lower position "H101". Therefore, with respect to the clamper holder 302, the clamper 303 can be moved down from the position shown by FIG. 1C by the difference "j". The clamper 303 is attracted by the turntable 301 by using an electromagnetic force when the disk 11 is placed between the turntable 301 and the clamper 303. Therefore, when the turntable 301 is moved down, the clamper 303 is moved down together with the turntable 301. The releasing of the disk 11 on the turntable 301 from the clamper 303 may be incomplete and the disk 11 at this time is deformed as shown in FIG. 1D.
Accordingly, the above-described conventional disk clamping mechanism 300 has a problem in that the disk 11 may be deformed when the disk 11 above the turntable 301 is clamped or when the disk 11 clamped on the turntable 301 is released by the clamper 303. A deformation of the disk is detrimental to data recorded on the disk and a reproducing operation of the disk drive.

Disk drive having a disk loading mechanism


A SQUID 10 was multiple junctions, each junction allowing a critical current to flow therethrough. The SQUID 10 comprises a laminar structure including: (a) a substantially planar substrate 12; (b) a first high temperature superconductive layer 14 of substantially uniform thickness deposited on the substrates; (c) a dielectric layer 16 deposited on the first superconductive layer 14, the dielectric layer 16 comprising a planar level segment 18 having two ramp segments defining SQUID junctions at opposing ends 20 and defining SQUID hole; and (d) a second high temperature superconductive layer 24 of substantially uniform thickness deposited on the dielectric layer 16, the second high temperature superconductive layer 24 covering all three segments of the dielectric layer 16. A magnetic field substantially parallel to the substrate applied to the SQUID hole modulates a critical current flowing through the junctions while minimizing magnetic field penetration into the junctions and minimizing SQUID loop inductance.

The present invention generally relates to Superconductive Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID), and in particular to SQUIDs for digital logic circuits.
With the steady demand for faster and more efficient communication and processing systems, many manufacturers are utilizing SQUIDs as digital circuit components in processing and communication systems. Generally, a SQUID is a two-terminal superconductive junction device capable of carrying a critical current through the junction. Critical current is defined as the maximum amount of current which the SQUID can carry with no voltage. The amount of current flowing through the SQUID can be modulated by a magnetic field threading the SQUID. The more intense the magnetic field, the lower the amount of critical current that can flow through the SQUID. Typically the magnetic field is generated by an inductor such as a control line carrying a control current. The intensity of the magnetic field can be controlled by the magnitude of the control current flowing through the control line.
Existing SQUIDs used in digital circuits have several important disadvantages however. Because critical current flow in a SQUID depends on the strength of the magnetic field applied to the SQUID, the sensitivity of the SQUID to the magnetic field, .beta..sub.L, is of paramount importance. A low .beta..sub.L generally indicates a more sensitive SQUID which is more responsive to variations in the magnetic field. For example, for a SQUID with a .beta..sub.L of 1 or less, a critical current of about 1 milliamp flowing through the SQUID can be modulated to about 0.1 milliamp by changing the intensity of the magnetic field applied to the SQUID. By contrast, for a SQUID with a .beta..sub.L of about 100, the critical current can only be reduced from 1 milliamp to 0.9 milliamp, regardless of the amount of change in the magnetic field applied to the SQUID. Therefore, a SQUID with a high .beta..sub.L is disadvantageous because of the limited critical current modulation possible.
Another disadvantage of existing SQUIDs is lack of uniformity of the SQUID step-edge junction characteristics, resulting in substantial variation in the amount of current flowing through the SQUID at different points across the SQUID junction. This is because in a step edge junction, the edges of the junction are unprotected. The exposed edges suffer from ion-damage during milling patterning processes, and are susceptible to contamination and damage from further processing by exposure to solvent and etchant chemicals. As such, the critical current density at the edges of the junction is nonuniform as compared to the rest of the junction. Typically, the best result for junction critical current uniformity for a 2 micron step-edge SQUID is about 20-30% 1 sigma.
Yet another disadvantage of existing SQUIDs is lack of linearity and uniformity of the SQUID critical current subjected to analog control signals via the SQUID control line. This makes existing SQUIDs particularly unsuitable for use in high-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADC), for example. The quantizer in an ADC calibrates the input analog signal into discrete digital signal levels. In high-resolution ADCs, the input analog signal can be high in magnitude. For example, for a 10-bit ADC, if the equivalent least significant bit analog current is 10 microamps, then the most significant bit analog current is 10 milliamps. The lack of uniformity in linearity and critical current in existing SQUIDs substantially reduces the operation margin of ADC quantizers, making them unsuitable for proper handling of large current variations in input analog signals exemplared above.
There is therefore a need for a SQUID with a low .beta..sub.L for critical current modulation. There is also a need for a SQUID with uniform current density flowing across the SQUID junctions. There is also a need for a SQUID with linear and uniform critical current flow when subjected to analog control signals via the SQUID control line.

Superconductive quantum interference device for digital logic circuits


Circuit arrangement for demodulating a voltage which is ASK modulated by alternating the amplitude between a low and a high level. Respective charging voltages are produced on first and second charging circuits, with a decoupling device decoupling the first charging circuit at a prescribed ratio between the charging voltage from the second charging circuit and an input voltage for a rectifier circuit.

When using contactless chip cards and the like, such as "contactless tags", use is frequently made of "ASK modulation". This is understood to be a radio-frequency signal which alternates between a first and a second level with data available in digital form and thus modulates the radio-frequency signal.
In the same way as a distinction is made for digital data between "Yes" and "No" or "1" or "0" or "high" and "low", a distinction is made between a high amplitude and a low amplitude. In this context, the two modulation types ASK 100 and ASK 10 are usual at the moment, where ASK 100 signifies a level difference of 100% and ASK 10 signifies a level difference of 10%. Other differences are also possible, however, and the invention described below is not restricted to these two usual modulation types.
The problem of ASK modulation can be seen in that a change in the distance between the transmitter and the receiver of the signal modulated in this manner while the amplitude of the transmitted signal remains the same also results in a change in the received amplitude at the receiver end when the distance is altered. The same applies if differences arise in the interspace between the transmitter and the receiver.
As a further complication, when using signals which always return to "0", i.e. the signal returns to "0" between two binary "1 ", and signals which have no provision for this, "0" and "1" sequences of different lengths are modulated and transmitted.


According to the invention, a server communicates with a client by transmitting to the client pages that the latter requested. The server adds to the pages identification data comprising at least one transmission identifier specific for the transmission of the page in such a manner that said data is transmitted back to the server if and only if the request on the client's end originates from the transmission of the page. The server also stores the identification data transmitted by it. If the transmission identifier transferred back to the server corresponds to a stored transmission identifier, the server, once it receives the additional request, stores the newly transmitted transmission identifier in place of the transferred-back transmission identifier. Otherwise, it stores it in addition to the transferred-back transmission identifier.

Methods, computer programs and servers of the aforementioned kind are generally known. They are used in particular for web applications, e.g. for internet and intranet applications.
Web applications are relatively anonymous. The server and the client usually know very little of one another. In particular it is generally not possible for the server to determine easily on the basis of a request for a page from which client this request was transmitted to it and from which state of the clients the request was made. Consequently, each request addressed to the server must usually include full information about the requesting client and about the requested page.
In order nonetheless to be able to apply certain default settings on the server side within a session between server and client (e.g. a choice of a language that is always to be used subsequently), it is known in particular that the client logs on to the server at the start of the session and the server transmits an attachment file (referred to as a "cookie") to the client in addition to the requested page. The attachment file is appended by the client to every request addressed to this server. In other words it is transmitted back to the server by the client. In this case the attachment file is specific to the server. It is therefore transmitted in addition to the server by the client along with every request addressed to this server. The attachment file continues to be transmitted until either the attachment file is deleted on the client side or a new attachment file is transmitted by the server to the client, thereby overwriting the previous attachment file.
The preset default settings that are to be applied can be contained in the attachment file itself. Alternatively the attachment file can also contain a link to a memory area in the server. In this case the preset default settings are stored as such in the server, whereas in the first-mentioned case they are stored in the client.
The status of the session is usually bound to the session in the sense of the existence of the corresponding client-side communication program, e.g. an internet browser such as Internet Explorer from Microsoft. The prior art approach therefore operates without problems as long as the communication process is maintained on the client side and the communication with the server takes place via a single window.

Operating method for a server communicating with a client


The disclosure relates to a cable storage device for a charging cable of a rechargeable battery of an electric vehicle. The cable storage device includes a rotatable drum onto which the charging cable can be wound. The drum is mounted in a rotatable manner on a rotationally fixed shaft. The shaft includes an external thread, and the drum includes an internal thread which engages the external thread.

The present disclosure relates to a cable storage device for an electrical charging cable of a rechargeable battery of a hybrid or battery-operated electric vehicle, and also to a hybrid or battery-operated electric vehicle, in particular an electric car, having a cable storage device of this kind.
An electric vehicle and also a cable storage device for an electrical charging cable of a rechargeable battery of a hybrid or battery-operated electric vehicle, in particular of an electric car, of the kind cited in the introductory part are known, for example, from WO 2012/031617 A1. A rotatable drum, onto the circumferential surface of which the charging cable can be wound, has, on the circumferential surface, a groove-like guide profile which runs in the form of a helix and which receives the charging cable. The drum is accommodated in a protective pipe. The protective pipe has a longitudinal slot through which the charging cable is passed. A sleeve part which surrounds the protective pipe and can be displaced along the drum and has a passage opening for the charging cable is provided for improved guidance of the charging cable during winding and unwinding. A slotted-link control device, such as a nut, is provided for axially displacing the sleeve part relative to the drum. The slotted-link control device can be screwed onto the guide profile of the drum to displace the sleeve part over a slotted-link block which is guided through the longitudinal slot in the protective pipe when the drum rotates.
Furthermore, DE 10 2009 046 327 A1 discloses an apparatus for electrically connecting an electric vehicle to a power tap point which likewise provides a cable drum which is mounted such that it can rotate on a stationary vehicle structure. In order to guide the charging cable in an ordered manner when winding the charging cable onto or unwinding the charging cable from the drum, the apparatus has an oscillator which receives the charging cable in a passage opening and is mounted such that it can move in the direction of the drum axis on a guide shaft which is driven in rotation. The oscillator can additionally be forcibly guided on the guide shaft by a slotted-link control device.
DE 10 2010 061 892 A1 discloses a charging device for an electric vehicle having a charging cable and a rotatably mounted cable drum. The charging cable is wound onto the cable drum in a two-dimensional manner for the purpose of winding the charging cable onto and unwinding the charging cable from the cable drum in an ordered manner. The drum has two lateral boundaries for the wound-on charging cable, with the distance between the two lateral boundaries being smaller than twice the diameter of the charging cable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,670 discloses a telephone cable retractor which comprises a cylindrical, hollow cable drum with a helically running channel which is made on the circumferential surface of the cable drum and in which the telephone cable can be received. The retractor further comprises a cable guide which is guided on a rail. The cable guide has a projection which interacts with the helical channel in the cable drum in such a way that the cable guide is moved on the rail in the axial direction of the cable drum when the cable drum rotates, in order to thereby insert the telephone cable into the helical channel in an ordered manner. The retractor has a rotary spring, which is fitted within the hollow cable drum, for winding the telephone cable onto the cable drum.
Against this background, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a cable storage device for an electrical charging cable of a rechargeable battery of a hybrid or battery-operated electric vehicle which provides an alternative to the known prior art, and also a hybrid or battery-operated electric vehicle, in particular an electric car, having a cable storage device of this kind, which allows the charging cable to be wound onto and unwound from a cable drum in a simple and convenient manner, in particular in an ordered manner, with the cable and the cable storage device having a relatively long service life.
This object is achieved by a cable storage device having the features described by claim 1. The object is further achieved by an electric vehicle having the features of claim 11 as well as the method described by claim 16. Further, particularly advantageous refinements of the disclosure are disclosed in the respective dependent claims.
It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any desired, technically reasonable manner and form further refinements of the disclosure. The description additionally characterizes and specifies the disclosure, in particular in connection with the figures.
According to one non-limiting embodiment, a cable storage device for an electrical charging cable of a rechargeable battery of a hybrid or battery-operated electric vehicle, such as an electric car, has a rotatable drum onto the circumferential surface of which the charging cable can be wound. Furthermore, the drum is mounted in a rotatable manner on a rotationally fixed shaft, with the shaft having an external thread, and the drum having an internal thread which engages the external thread. In other words, rotary movement of the drum therefore likewise leads to an axial displacement movement of the drum in relation to the shaft. In this way, a movable cable guide for winding the charging cable onto or unwinding the charging cable from the drum in an ordered manner, as is known from the prior art mentioned in the introductory part for example, can be dispensed with, as a result of which the design of the cable storage device is simplified. Winding the charging cable onto or unwinding the charging cable from the drum in an ordered manner can be realized solely by the axial displacement movement of the drum in relation to the stationary shaft.
According to another embodiment of the disclosure, the drum has axial ends at each of which a drum end disk is arranged. The diameter of the drum end disk is greater than the diameter of the drum. The drum end disks define the axial section of the drum in which the charging cable can be wound on (wind-on section), and therefore prevent the charging cable from being wound on outside this section.
A further embodiment of the disclosure makes provision for the drum end disks to be mounted in an axially displaceable and rotationally fixed manner in relation to the shaft, with the drum end disks being rotatably connected to the respective axial ends of the drum. Therefore, the entire axial wind-on section of the drum, which section is defined by the drum end disks, is displaced in the axial direction of the shaft when the charging cable is wound on or unwound, but with the drum end disks not rotating relative to the shaft during the axial displacement movement of the drum. The arrangement of the drum end disks in a rotationally fixed manner in relation to the shaft allows the drum end disks to be provided with functions other than that of defining the wind-on section.
Therefore, in another embodiment, at least one tension spring element is provided, the direction of the action of force of the tension spring element running substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft and the tension spring element acting on an end face of the drum end disk. In particular, the tension spring element preferably acts on the end face of the drum end disk in such a way that the tension spring element is pulled and stretched when the charging cable is unwound from the drum and therefore during the corresponding axial displacement movement of the drum end disks away from one another. The process of winding the charging cable onto the drum is assisted in this way since the tension spring element pulls the drum in the direction of the axial displacement direction of the drum which corresponds to the winding-on operation.
According to yet another embodiment, the drum end disks each have a recess which extends radially inward from their circumferential surfaces and into which a second, stationary shaft which runs parallel to the axis of the shaft and causes the drum end disks to be mounted in a rotationally fixed manner in relation to the shaft engages.
In order to assist the process of winding the charging cable onto and unwinding the charging cable from the drum in an ordered manner, a groove-like guide profile for receiving the charging cable is formed on the circumferential surface of the drum according to a yet another embodiment. In such an embodiment, the guide profile runs in a helical manner around the outside of the drum.
According to another embodiment, the radial depth of the recess is such that the shortest distance between the circumferential surface of the second shaft and the circumferential surface of the charging cable which is received in the guide profile is smaller than the diameter of the charging cable. This prevents the charging cable which is wound onto the drum from being able to slip, for example, out of one guide groove into an adjacent guide groove.
A further embodiment of the disclosure makes provision for the drum to be arranged in a housing which surrounds the charging cable in the state in which the charging cable is wound onto the drum, with the housing having a passage opening for pulling out the cable. The charging cable is therefore protected against soiling. Rotatable rollers can be provided at the passage opening in the housing, the rotatable rollers allowing the charging cable to be easily pulled out of the housing and, in the process, likewise preventing damage to the charging cable, for example by the edges of the passage opening. Furthermore, brush or wiper elements can likewise be provided in the edge region of the passage opening, the brush or wiper elements serving to remove particles of dirt from the charging cable.
A further embodiment of the disclosure provides a switching mechanism which establishes an electrical connection between the charging cable and the rechargeable battery as soon as the charging cable is completely unwound from the drum and otherwise disconnects the electrical connection. This prevents a portion of the charging cable which is still wound onto the drum from forming an electrical coil during the charging process. A switching mechanism of this kind can be realized, for example, by one of the two drum end disks by the one of the two drum end disks establishing the electrical contact between the charging cable and the rechargeable battery which is to be charged when it reaches its axial end position in which the entire charging cable is unwound from the drum.
A hybrid or battery-operated electric vehicle according to the disclosure, in particular an electric car, is characterized by the presence of a cable storage device such as described in this disclosure.
The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.
The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

Cable storage device for a charging cable of an electric vehicle


A holographic recording medium according to the present invention includes a holographic material layer in which information is to be recorded by irradiating the same region with information light corresponding to the information to be recorded and reference light to read the recorded information. The holographic material layer is divided into a plurality of recording zones by a plurality of light shielding walls. The light shielding wall is formed of a material which does not transmit bleaching light to be applied to the recording zone in which a recording process has been performed and the recorded information is to be fixed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a holographic recording medium and, more particularly, to a holographic recording medium in which a fixing process is performed by applying bleaching light in order to fix holographic recorded data in the medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a medium in which large-capacity information can be recorded at high density, there is a holographic recording medium. In the holographic recording medium, page data having capacity of several hundreds of megabytes can multiplex-recorded in the same region. The holographic recording is such that a light beam from a single light source is separated to reference light and information light and the same position on the recording medium is irradiated with the reference light and the information light and an irradiation angle or a wavelength of the reference light is varied to generate different interferences, so that different information is recorded in the same position on the recording medium in piles.
The region in which information is recorded by the holographic recording is a region having a three-dimensional thickness and its optical characteristics are varied even when weak light such as a fluorescent lamp in a room is applied, depending on its material. When the optical characteristics are varied, a reproduction error could be generated. Thus, a medium in which a holographic recording medium is housed in a cartridge or a medium in which a light shielding layer is provided on a holographic recording layer have been proposed (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-279942).
In addition, according to a holographic recording medium in which data can be written only one time such as a CD-R, in order to stabilize the optical characteristics, after data is recorded with hologram, data fixing process called bleaching is performed. The bleaching is a process such that a region in which holographic recording has been performed is irradiated with white light (referred to as bleaching light) having relatively high intensity which does not destroy its recorded data.
In the recording region irradiated with the bleaching light, reactivity of the recording material is fixed and its optical characteristics are not varied by weak light such as a fluorescent lamp, so that the recorded data can be stably reproduced.
FIGS. 21 and 22 show a schematic constitution of a conventional holographic recording medium. FIG. 21 is a sectional view showing the medium and FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a substrate constitution.
As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the holographic recording medium has a constitution in which a resin substrate 12 and a holographic material layer 13 are sandwiched between two glass substrates 10 (10-1, 10-2). The resin substrate 12 includes a reflection film 11 at a boundary with one of the glass substrates 10-1.
When the reference light and the information light are applied at the same time from an upper part of the glass substrate 10-2 of the medium, data is recorded in a region of the holographic material layer 13. After the data is recorded, the bleaching light is applied to fix the recorded data. Thus, the data is fixed in the region of the holographic material layer 13 irradiated with the bleaching light.
FIGS. 23A and 23B show a schematic explanatory diagram of the conventional medium when the bleaching light is applied.
As shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, when the bleaching light 15 proceeds into the recording region of the holographic material layer 13, it is diffused and diffracted. The bleaching light proceeds to its adjacent region 17 by diffusion and diffraction besides a light beam proceeding to the intended irradiation region 16. As a result, data recorded in the regions (16 and 17) to which the bleaching light 15 proceeded is fixed.
However, when the data is fixed by the bleaching light in the conventional holographic medium, there are following problems.
As shown in FIG. 24, it is assumed that a holographic recording completed region 18 and an unrecorded region 19 are adjacent to each other in the holographic material layer 13. Here, according to the holographic recording completed region 18, it is assumed that data recording with the information light and the reference light has been completed but the bleaching light is not applied yet.
According to the unrecorded region 19, it is assumed that data has not been recorded yet.
As shown in FIG. 25, it is assumed that the bleaching light 15 is applied to the medium in this state to fix the data of the recording completed region 18. At this time, the data can be fixed as intended in the recording completed region 18 which is apart from the unrecorded region 19. However, when the bleaching light 15 is applied to a boundary region with the region 19, since the holographic material layer 13 has a thickness in the vertical direction, it is diffused and diffracted as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, so that the bleaching light proceeds beyond a boundary 20. That is, the bleaching light 15 proceeds to regions 16 and 17 and the region 17 irradiated with the bleaching light is spread to the left side of the boundary 20 in FIG. 25.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 26, the data in the unrecorded region 19 in the vicinity of the boundary is also fixed in addition to the data of the intended recording completed region 18. A region 21 shown in FIG. 26 is the data fixed region. That is, although the region 19 is to be used for recording data in the future, since unintended fixing process was performed, the holographic recording cannot be performed any more in that region 19.
Alternatively, in the fixed region in the unrecorded region 19, its diffraction efficiency is extremely lowered and even if the recording and reproducing can be performed thereafter, SNR at the time of recording and reproducing deteriorates.
As described above, when the bleaching process is performed in the conventional holographic recording medium, recording and reproducing characteristics deteriorate and recording capacity is reduced in the boundary region of the recording completed region.
In addition, data is managed by logical and physical addresses in a conventional storage. Since the logical address and the physical address are related at an initial stage, when the unrecorded region becomes a region in which data cannot be recorded, performance is considerably lowered because of its recording error or frequent occurrence of alternating processes. Thus, in the case of the medium in which recording capacity is varied, it is necessary to develop a data management method which is different from the conventional method.