A security system comprises a personal digital key (PDK), a reader and a computing device. The PDK is a portable, personal transceiver that includes a controller and one or more passwords or codes. The computing device includes a detection engine, vault storage and a set up module. The detection engine detect events relating to the access of any files and third-party systems by the computing device and receives information from the reader as to whether the PDK is present/linked. The detection engine controls whether a user is able to access any of the functionality provided by the computing device based upon whether the PDK is in communication with the reader or not. The present invention also includes a number of methods such as a method for initializing the security system, a method for setting up a computing device, and a method for controlling access to computing resources.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling access to computing resources. More specifically, the present invention relates to a security system that requires the presence of a personal digital key (PDK) before secure computing resources can be accessed.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use and proliferation of personal computers and other similar computing systems have become widespread. In many cases, a user may have several computers with which she interacts. For example, the user may have a personal computer at their office, a laptop for personal use and a family computer. Additionally, the user may have a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, or other individualized computing devices. Increasingly, these computers store confidential and sensitive information such as contacts lists, financial information, business information and identification information. Most currently existing systems have only a minimal amount of security protection such as requiring a user to enter a password before their personal computer becomes operational.
These computer systems are often used to access third-party systems. These third-party systems often require a user identification name and a password before the user will be granted access. Each of the individual third-party systems often has different requirements both in terms of user name and in terms of password format. Moreover, as the world becomes increasingly digital, the owners of these third-party systems want to ensure security of their systems and prevent fraudulent use. Thus, the third parties often require that the users change their passwords after a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of accesses to the system. Most users have several external systems, and many users have as many as a hundred of third-party systems that are accessed on a regular basis. Therefore, it is often difficult for users to remember the myriad of user name and password combinations that are required to access such third-party systems and.
Additionally, many of the third-party systems are providing highly confidential information that is received by the end stored on the user's individual computer systems. These data files often contain sensitive information such as bank account records, tax returns, credit card information, and investment information. Furthermore, other personal information is also stored on such computer systems. Such personal information can be used for identity theft in the event that information falls into the wrong hands. While there are file encryption systems and mechanisms in the prior art, these systems are often difficult to use because they require that the user specify which files are encrypted, provide a password, and such administrative overhead in securing sensitive information stored on the hard drive of a personal computer makes the use of such systems rare.
Thus there is a need for a system and method that secures computing systems automatically and in a nonintrusive way.

Security system and method for controlling access to computing resources


A electric heating apparatus for de-icing pipes includes a flexible hose with a closed bottom end and a top end. The hose has a pair of insulated wires situated within an interior of the hose and a plug coupled to the top end of the hose. The plug has a pair of contacts connected to the wires and adapted to be inserted within a conventional electrical receptacle for providing electrical power to the wires. By this structure, the hose is adapted to be passed within a pipe connected to a source of water. Next provided is a thermostat having an input connected to the insulated wires and is adapted to allow the transfer of power to an output thereof upon the detection of a temperature below a predetermined degree. The thermostat is situated within the interior of the hose adjacent the bottom end thereof. Also included is a heating coil formed within the hose, wherein the coil is connected to the output of the thermostat for radiating heat upon the receipt of power. Finally, a lead weight is coupled to the hose at the bottom end thereof for facilitating the passing of the hose through the pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a electric heating apparatus for de-icing water pipes and more particularly pertains to obtaining a temperature within the water pipes when de-icing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of pipe de-icers is known in the prior art. More specifically, pipe de-icers heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of preventing pipes from freezing are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,311 to Varney, Sr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,389 to Pirkle; U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,792 Goncalves; U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,039 to St. Laurent; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,587 to Miller, Jr.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,614 to Hughes.
In this respect, the electric heating apparatus for de-icing pipes according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of obtaining a temperature within the pipes when de-icing.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved electric heating apparatus for de-icing pipes which can be used for obtaining a temperature within the pipes when de-icing. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Electric heating apparatus for deicing pipes utilizing flexible heated hose inserted into pipe


A solid-state laser apparatus including a resonator in which oscillation of laser light occurs. An etalon is provided in the resonator for selecting a predetermined wavelength as a wavelength of laser light to be output from the solid-state laser apparatus. The etalon has at least one surface through which laser light passes, and is arranged so that at least one reflectance of the at least one surface at the above predetermined wavelength is smaller than reflectances of the at least one surface at wavelengths other than the predetermined wavelength. In addition, at least one resonator mirror of the resonator is arranged so that at least one reflectance of the at least one mirror at the above predetermined wavelength is greater than reflectances of the at least one mirror at wavelengths other than the predetermined wavelength.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid-state laser apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional solid-state laser apparatus, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7 (1995)-302946 proposes a solid-state laser apparatus in which a solid-state laser rod doped with a rare earth element such as neodymium is pumped by a semiconductor laser device (laser diode). In the solid-state laser apparatus, an etalon is provided in a resonator as a wavelength selection element so as to realize a single longitudinal mode. Currently, solid-state laser apparatuses having such a construction are widely used.
In some solid-state laser apparatuses having the above construction, a nonlinear laser optical crystal is arranged in the resonator so as to convert laser light emitted by the solid-state laser rod, into a second harmonic wave, for wavelength conversion. Such solid-state laser apparatuses are also widely used.
However, when an excitation power is increased in order to obtain a high output power in the conventional solid-state laser apparatuses having an etalon in a resonator, oscillation of undesired wavelengths occurs at the same time as oscillation of a desired wavelength. For example, in a solid-state laser apparatus, when laser light having a wavelength of 1,064 nm is desired, oscillation of laser light having wavelengths of 1,075 nm and 1,085 nm occurs concurrently. In another solid-state laser apparatus, when laser light having a wavelength of 946 nm is desired, oscillation of laser light having a wavelength of 938 nm occurs concurrently.
When oscillation of undesired wavelengths occurs, a portion of a total energy is taken by the oscillation of undesired wavelengths, and therefore the output power at the desired wavelength is decreased. When the aforementioned wavelength conversion is performed, the power of the second harmonic wave is also decreased.

Solid-state laser apparatus including in resonator light-transmitting element having relatively small reflectance at desired wavelength


A device is disclosed. The device includes a first tracking control line, a first tracking circuit, a first sense circuit, and a precharge circuit. The first tracking control line is configured to transmit a first tracking control signal. The first tracking circuit is configured to generate, in response to the first tracking control signal, a first tracking signal associated with first tracking cells in a memory array. The first sense circuit is configured to receive the first tracking signal, and is configured to generate a first sense tracking signal in response to the first tracking signal. The precharge circuit is configured to generate, in response to a rising edge of the first sense tracking signal and a falling edge of a read enable delayed signal, a precharge signal for precharging data lines associated with memory cell in the memory array. A method is also disclosed herein.

Memory devices have been used in various applications. Generally, the memory devices include, for example, static random access memory (SRAM), and dynamic random access memory (DRAM). A SRAM device is commonly used in high speed communication, image processing and system-on-chip (SOC) applications. In some approaches, the SRAM device includes a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier typically dominates SRAM speed, which is also associated with a circuit of the SRAM device generating a precharge signal for activating SRAM cells.

Static random access memory with adaptive precharge signal generated in response to tracking operation

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A rooftop drainage device is provided for use in protecting rooftop drainpipes from clogging. An exemplary embodiment of the drainage device includes a filter comprising at least three sides, wherein at least one of the sides includes a plurality of apertures for allowing liquid to pass-through the at least one side into the drainpipe, while filtering debris; and an object receptacle mounted to a top of the filter for removably retaining an object, wherein a weight of the object holds the rooftop drainage device on the rooftop and over the drainpipe without need for mechanical fasteners.

Rooftop drain covers are used to protect drainpipes that protrude from flat surfaces of rooftops. There are many types of rooftop drainpipe protection systems in use today. Most type of rooftop protection systems attach to roofing and attempt to block debris from entering the drainpipe. One type of rooftop drain has a one-piece body that includes and a drain flange/ring, a pipe that is inserted into the drainpipe opening, and a strainer dome that sits over the drainpipe to filter debris. A mechanical compression seal may be used to provide a watertight connection to the drainpipe. Similar drain covers are used to protect drains that provide rooftop through-wall/site-wall drainage, called scupper drains. The drain are mostly made of some type of metal, including aluminum, steel and copper, but may also be made of other materials.
Although conventional rooftop drain covers are widely used, experience has shown that these devices have drawbacks. One drawback is that conventional rooftop drain covers have to be mechanically fastened down, typically with screws, bolts, and/or drain seals. This creates a potential problem with the rooftop itself because holes for the screws/bolts need to be created in the roof during the installation process, damaging the roof.
Another drawback is that despite wide use of these devices, the drainpipes that are supposedly protected by these devices still often become clogged by leaves and debris. One reason for this is that the wires comprising the drain domes are often spaced too far apart and allow debris to filter through the dome itself and into the drainpipe. And, because some drains are made of thin metal, they can rust and become weak, and are therefore collapsible over time.


A new variety of carnation plant named ‘CFPC Lambada’ having medium size flowers. The flower color is a purple stained cream yellow base with a purple splashed broad picotee.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of hybrid carnation botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and referred to by the cultivar name 'CFPC Lambada'.
'CFPC Lambada', identified as selection no. 010146, originated from a cross made by Roy Stahlhut in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. The female parent of the new variety is the unpatented variety known as 'CFPC Laguna' and the male parent is the unpatented variety known as selection no. 990184. The new variety 'CFPC Lambada' has been asexually reproduced by vegetative side shoot cuttings in Salinas, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.


A probe card for testing semiconductor wafers, and a method and system for testing wafers using the probe card are provided. The probe card is configured for use with a conventional testing apparatus, such as a wafer probe handler, in electrical communication with test circuitry. The probe card includes an interconnect substrate having contact members for establishing electrical communication with contact locations on the wafer. The probe card also includes a membrane for physically and electrically connecting the interconnect substrate to the testing apparatus, and a compressible member for cushioning the pressure exerted on the interconnect substrate by the testing apparatus. The interconnect substrate can be formed of silicon with raised contact members having penetrating projections. Alternately the contact members can be formed as indentations for testing bumped wafers. The membrane can be similar to multi layered TAB tape including metal foil conductors attached to a flexible, electrically-insulating, elastomeric tape. The probe card can be configured to contact all of the dice on the wafer at the same time, so that test signals can be electronically applied to selected dice as required.

During a semiconductor fabrication process semiconductor dice are formed on a wafer. The wafer includes a semiconducting substrate, such as silicon or gallium arsenide, on which integrated circuits are formed. During and following the fabrication process, the wafer must be tested to evaluate the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuits. For example, standard wafer probe is performed to test the gross functionality of each die contained on the wafer. Speed probe is performed to test the speed performance of the dice. Other tests such as full functionality testing, burn-in testing and dynamic burn-in testing are typically performed after the dice have been singulated from the wafer.
Currently semiconductor wafers are probe tested utilizing probe cards. One type of probe card includes needle probes for making temporary electrical connections between contact locations on the dice (e.g., bond pads, fuse pads, test pads) and external test circuitry. The probe card typically includes an insulating substrate, such as a glass filled plastic. The substrate can include electrical traces in electrical communication with the needle probes. In addition, the needle probes can be configured to contact a specific die on the wafer. Typically the wafer or the probe card is stepped so that the dice on the wafer are tested one at a time in sequence. There are also probe cards configured to test multiple dice on the wafer (e.g., 8 or 16).
One problem with this type of conventional probe card is that the planarity and positions of the needle probes can vary. Typically the needle probes must initially be bent by hand into required x and y locations to match the contact locations on the wafer. This is a very labor intensive procedure. Also the z-direction location of the contact locations on the wafer can vary. This can cause inaccuracies in the test results because electrical contact with the different contact locations can vary. Continued use of the needle probes causes deformation and further misalignment of the needle probes. Probe cards with needle probes are thus expensive to fabricate and expensive to maintain.
Another problem with needle probe cards is that the contact locations on the wafer are typically coated with a metal oxide layer. For example, aluminum test pads can be covered with aluminum oxide that forms by oxidation of the underlying metal. This metal oxide is electrically non-conductive and provides a high degree of electrical resistance to the needle probes. In order to ensure accurate test results, the needle probes must penetrate this oxide layer to the underlying metal film. This requires "overdrive" and "scrub" forces which can damage the contact locations and wafer.
Typically, to penetrate the oxide, the probe card and wafer are brought together until the needle probes contact the contact location. The probe card is then "overdriven" a distance (e.g., 3 mils) which deflects the needle probes and causes them to bend. As the needle probes bend, the ends of the needle probes move horizontally across the contact location causing the ends to scrape over the metal. This causes the ends to break through the native oxide layer and contact the underlying metal. The scrubbing action also displaces some of the metal on the contact location causing a groove and a corresponding ridge.
Still another problem with needle probe cards is that they require the contact locations on the dice to be oversized. In particular due to the inaccuracies in the x-y placement of the needle probes, the contact locations on the dice must made large enough to accommodate alignment variations between the needle probes. This requires that the contact locations be made larger by default, which in turn makes the dice larger.
To overcome some of the problems associated with conventional needle probes, membrane probe cards have been developed. Membrane probe cards are manufactured by Packard Hughes Interconnect of Los Angeles, Calif., and others. Membrane probe cards typically include a membrane formed of a thin and flexible dielectric material such as polyimide. Contact bumps are formed on the membrane in electrical communication with conductive traces, typically formed of copper. The conductive traces electrically connect to external test circuitry.
In general, membrane probes are able to compensate for vertical misalignment between the contact locations on the wafer. In addition, the membrane probe can include a force applying mechanism that allows the contact bumps to penetrate the oxide layer of the die contact locations. Membrane probes usually don't have the "scrubbing" action of needle probes. Rather membrane probes rely on penetration contact bumps to break through the oxide and contact the underlying metal.
One disadvantage of membrane probes is that vertical "overdrive" forces are required to penetrate the oxide and make a reliable electrical connection between the contact bumps on the probe and the contact locations on the wafer. These forces can damage the contact locations and the wafer. In addition, the contact bumps and membranes can be repeatedly stressed by the forces. These forces can also cause the membrane to lose its resiliency.
Another disadvantage of membrane probe card is the CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch between the probe card and wafer. In particular the copper traces on the probe card will move as a result of temperature fluctuations causing the contact bumps to scrub across the contact locations. This can damage the contact locations or an associated passivation layer. In addition, the masks required to make the membranes are difficult to make with high volume processes. This makes membrane probe cards very expensive.
Yet another disadvantage of probe cards is that dynamic burn-in and full functionality testing are typically performed at the die level rather than at the wafer level. One reason that these test procedures are not performed at the wafer level is that these tests require a large number of connections with the wafer. In addition, a large number of input/output paths between the wafer and test circuitry are required. For example, a wafer can include several hundred dice each having twenty or more bond pads. The total number of bond pads on the wafer can be in the thousands. For some tests procedures an input/output path must be provided to each bond pad. Even with wafer stepping techniques, conventionally formed probe cards, usually do not include enough probes or contact bumps to test groups of dice having a large number of contact locations.
In view of the deficiencies of prior art probe cards, improved probe cards are needed for semiconductor manufacture.

Probe card for semiconductor wafers having mounting plate and socket


A method for minimizing soft error rates within caches by configuring a cache with certain sections to correspond to bitcell topologies that are more resistant to soft errors and then using these sections to store modified data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of improving the error resilience of memories.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, data processing systems comprise a processor (often referred to as a central processing unit (CPU)) that executes instructions that are fetched from a main memory. One method to improve the performance of the processor is to use cache memory. Cache memory is high speed memory that works with the processor and the main memory to quickly provide information (e.g., instructions and/or data) to the processor. By using a cache architecture, a faster response time is possible than when the processor fetches all information directly from the main memory. The improved performance is possible because the cache usually contains the information that the processor is likely to request from memory. The cache is typically faster than the main memory; therefore, the cache can usually provide the data required by the processor much faster than the main memory. Part of the methodology used to load information into the cache is to predict and store the information that is frequently used by the processor and is likely to be used by the processor.
When the cache contains information requested by the processor, this is referred to as a cache hit. If the cache does not contain the information requested by the processor, then this is referred to as a cache miss. On a miss, the information is loaded from the main memory into the cache and is also provided to the processor. The information is loaded into the cache in anticipation that the processor will request the data in an upcoming bus cycle. This process continues throughout the operation of the data processing system.
Caches typically include a cache tag array and a cache data array. Each array is organized into a number of cache lines. Each cache line includes a tag portion (contained in the cache tag array) and a data portion (contained in the cache data array). The tag value in a line is compared with the address of a memory request from the processor to determine whether the requested data is present in the data portion of that cache line. Validity information is associated with each cache line to indicate whether the line contains currently valid information and whether the information conforms to the information stored within the main memory (referred to as cache coherency). Additionally, for caches which can operate in a copyback or writeback mode, additional status information is retained to indicate whether the cache line is modified (dirty) relative to the value stored in main memory. One example of a protocol for cache coherency is the modified, exclusive, shared, invalid (MESI) protocol.
One issue relating to caches is that with the scaling of technology and power supply, the bitcells are often more sensitive to soft errors. Another issue relating to caches is that to reduce the standby leakage power, the cache memories are often retained in a low power state during an inactive state. This low power state is known to contribute towards increasing the soft error rate (SER). Another issue relating to caches is that because modified data is not stored anywhere else within the data processing system, it is particularly desirable to protect this modified data against loss such as loss due to soft errors within the cache because the loss would be unrecoverable.

Memory having improved reliability for certain data types


A fuel cell has unit cells wherein gas discharged from an oxidizer electrode in one unit cell and gas discharged from a fuel electrode in other adjacent unit cell are merged in and charged through a discharge flow passage provided outside these unit cells. The discharge flow passage is shared by the oxidizer electrode in the one unit cell and the fuel electrode in the other unit cell. A flow of the gas discharged from the oxidizer electrode is utilized to efficiently exhaust the gas discharged from the fuel electrode.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell supplied with liquid fuel, and more particularly, to a fuel cell suitable for size reduction.
The fuel cell is an electric power generation device which generates electric power by supply of fuel and oxidizer. Since air is generally used as the oxidizer, the fuel cell is capable of continuous power generation by replacement of a fuel container. Therefore, the fuel cell has been drawing great attention not only as stationary power supply but also as portable power supply.
In stationary fuel cells, hydrogen gas or a gas containing hydrogen is generally used as a fuel. For the portable power supply, however, it is advantageous to be capable of generating electric power for longer time by using the fuel stored in an identical size container, and therefore, liquid fuels which are higher in energy density per volume are more advantageous than gas.
For power generation, it is also possible to use hydrogen which a reformer generates from a liquid fuel. However, the reformer complicates the whole fuel cell system, and it is considered that direct supply of liquid fuel easily achieves size reduction of the fuel cell system.
As an example of the fuel-direct-supply type fuel cell, a direct methanol fuel cell has been conventionally disclosed (JP 11-510311 A, JP 6-188008 A), wherein a mixture of methanol and water is used as fuel.
A typical direct methanol fuel cell is explained with reference to FIG. 6.
The direct methanol fuel cell is provided with a fuel electrode 103, an oxidizer electrode 102 and an electrolyte membrane 101 in a housing 116, as shown in FIG. 6. Firstly, mixture fuel of methanol and water is fed from a fuel tank (not shown) to a fuel introduction passage 108 by using a feeding means such as a feed pump. The fuel, which is fed to the fuel introduction passage 108, is then fed to a fuel electrode chamber 106 formed in a separator 105 along a direction shown by an arrow 110. The fuel, which is fed into the fuel electrode chamber 106, penetrates into the fuel electrode 103 and reacts so as to generate protons (hydrogen ions), electrons and carbon dioxide. A porous material is normally used for the fuel electrode 103, so that the reaction of the fuel electrode 103 takes place on a layer thereof in proximity to the interface with the electrolyte membrane 101, which layer carries a catalyst.
The protons, which are generated in the fuel electrode 103, move from the fuel electrode 103, permeate the electrolyte membrane 101, and move to the oxidizer electrode 102. The electrons flow from the fuel electrode 103 via an external circuit (not shown) to the oxidizer electrode 102. These electrons are used as an output of the cell. Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide is discharged from the fuel electrode 103 through the fuel electrode chamber 106, along with the unreacted fuel.
Also, oxygen is fed to an oxidizer electrode chamber 104 formed in the separator 105 along a direction shown by an arrow 111. The oxygen is then diffused from the oxidizer electrode chamber 104 into the oxidizer electrode 102 and reacts with the protons that have diffused from the fuel electrode 103 so as to generate water. The generated water, which is normally in the form of water vapor, and the unreacted oxygen are discharged from an exit of the oxidizer electrode chamber 104 in a direction shown by an arrow 112. Oxygen is used as an oxidizer in this example. Air may also be used although its oxygen concentration is lower.
It should be noted that, in the above conventional direct methanol fuel cell, carbon dioxide discharged from the fuel electrode chamber 106 and gas emitted from the oxidizer electrode chamber 104 have to be discharged independently of each other. This is because the separator 105 separates the fuel electrode chamber 106 from the oxidizer electrode chamber 104, as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, in this conventional fuel cell, an exhaust means such as a pump is needed for each of the oxidizer electrode chamber 104 and the fuel electrode chamber 106, which becomes an obstacle to size reduction. Eliminating a pump or other forcible exhaust means provided for exhaust of carbon dioxide in the fuel electrode chamber 106 would cause the efficiency in carbon dioxide exhaust to be lower, which causes a power decrease.

Fuel cell having unit cells arranged to merge gases generated in the unit cells


The invention provides a heat exchanger assembly having a housing which defines a boiling chamber extending along an axis between opposite ends. A plurality of first condensing tubes extend axially and downwardly in one direction at a first predetermined angle to and below the axis (A) from the housing and a plurality of second condensing tubes extend axially and upwardly in the opposite direction at the same predetermined angle to and above the axis (A) from the housing. The volume of refrigerant in the housing is greater than the volume of the second condensing tubes and the volume of the boiling chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a heat exchanger assembly for cooling an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The operating speed of computers is constantly being improved to create faster computers. With this, comes an increase in heat generation and a need to effectively dissipate that heat.
Heat exchangers and heat sink assemblies have been used that apply natural or forced convection cooling methods to dissipate heat from electronic devices that are highly concentrated heat sources such as microprocessors and computer chips; however, air has a relatively low heat capacity. Thus, liquid-cooled units called LCUs employing a cold plate in conjunction with high heat capacity fluids have been used to remove heat from these types of heat sources. Although, LCUs are satisfactory for moderate heat flux, increasing computing speeds have required more effective heat sink assemblies.
Accordingly, thermosiphon cooling units (TCUs) have been used for cooling electronic devices having a high heat flux. A typical TCU absorbs heat generated by the electronic device by vaporizing a working fluid housed on the boiler plate of the unit. The boiling of the working fluid constitutes a phase change from liquid-to-vapor state and as such the working fluid of the TCU is considered to be a two-phase fluid. Vapor generated during boiling of the working fluid is then transferred to a condenser, where it is liquefied by the process of film condensation over the condensing surface of the TCU. The heat is rejected into ambient air flowing over the condenser and fins are commonly employed on the condenser to increase the heat transferred from the vapor. The condensed liquid is returned back to the boiler plate by gravity and thus the assembly is orientation sensitive.
Due to the universal use of portable or notebook computers which operate in a wide variety of orientations, orientation insensitivity is of growing importance. A few assemblies have been used that can operate in more than merely a horizontal or upright orientation.
Examples of thermosiphon assemblies include U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,880 to Phillips et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,311 to Ghosh et al.
The Phillips patent discloses an orientation insensitive thermosiphon including a boiling portion and a condensing portion connected by tubes, and a refrigerant which undergoes liquid-to-vapor-to-condensate transformation throughout the evaporator and condenser. The assembly also includes an electric heater which operates when the assembly is in an upside down position in order to create frothing of the condensate in the tubes directly below the condensing portion to bring the liquid refrigerant back up to the boiling portion without the use of gravity by way of bubbles.
The Ghosh patent teaches an orientation sensitive thermosiphon assembly comprising a housing defining a boiling chamber and having a first condensing tube extending in one direction from the boiling chamber and a second condensing tube extending in an opposite direction wherein both condensing tubes extend upwardly.
Although the prior art effectively dissipates heat from electronic devices, there is a continuing need for alternative designs for effectively dissipating heat from electronic devices. Specifically, there is a need for alternative designs for orientation insensitive thermosiphons that can operate in more orientation than conventional orientation insensitive thermosiphons, including an upside down position, without the use of electronic controls, pumps, or electric heaters.

Orientation insensitive thermosiphon capable of operation in upside down position


The invention relates to a method of making fluoropolymers without excessive degradation of the polymer backbone. The invention also relates to the fluoropolymers made by this method, and method of using the fluoropolymers.

Perfluoroelastomers have a wide range of applications as engineering plastics. Their functionalization with acid groups opens up the possibility of them being used as polyelectrolytes in electrochemical cells. Currently, perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers are the state of the art ion-conducting polymers for many commercial applications, such as fuel cells, electrolyzers and redox flow batteries. Their ion-exchange capacity is limited because the ion containing group is unable to homopolymerize, therefore requiring copolymerization with tetrafluoroethylene (TFE). Furthermore, the molecular weight may be limited by the availability of the TFE molecules. Once all of the TFE molecules are consumed, the reaction will stop. Also, low equivalent weight PFSAs do not form membranes and dissolve in water.
Previous work in U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,784, which is incorporated herein by reference, utilized a commercial fluoroelastomer (FC-2145—tradename 3M™ DYNEON™) which is chemically polyvinylidenediflouride-co-hexaflouropropylene (PVDF-HFP), dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), to attach lithium phenoxide. With conventional processes, a base, such as Li2CO3, NaOH, KHCO3, elevated temperatures are needed to achieve a high degree of functionalization and therefore this reaction was carried out at reflux (ca. 80° C.). The starting fluoroelastomer is strong, but the resultant product is weak due to excessive dehydrofluorination, where the resultant polymer becomes very unsaturated and eventually dehydrofluorination leads to cleavage of the polymer chains.
A wide range of electrochemical energy conversion devices are enabled by proton exchange membranes (PEMs) including fuel cells, electrolyzers, redox flow batteries, and sensors. Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) are already on the market and many more are expected to be released in the next few years. For transportation, FCEVs have several inherent advantages over battery electric vehicles, such as rapid re-fueling (<5 min) and decoupled energy density/power density. Also, cost does not scale linearly with respect to vehicle range, creating an advantage for FCEVs in markets where longer range is desired. The fuel, which is hydrogen, stores energy in the form of chemical bonds. When oxidized, the product, which is water provides a promising avenue for increased sustainability, decreased carbon emissions, and decreased pollution at the point of use, provided hydrogen comes from renewable resources. Hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas (the most cost effective source), but water electrolysis is rapidly coming down in price.
Water electrolysis will, when coupled with renewable electricity generation, such as wind or solar, provide fully renewable and sustainable hydrogen. While the technology is already advanced enough to commercialize, reducing overall cost, improving durability, and increasing hydrogen availability are still needed for mass adoption of FCEVs. A major current challenge is achieving adequate chemical and mechanical membrane durability while also maintain or even enhancing fuel cell performance.

Method of functionalizing fluoropolymers with acidic side chains exhibiting improved properties, the fluoropolymers thereof, and methods of using


One or more capacitive actuators are controlled by a device that charges the actuators via a capacitor and from a switched mode power supply SMPS that operates according to the flyback converter principle. The secondary coil of the switched mode power supply functions as the charging coil and the discharging coil, i.e., it simultaneously undertakes the function of the large, heavy charging coil. This saves space and weight.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for controlling (driving) capacitive actuators. The invention pertains in particular to the control of fuel injection valves of an internal combustion engine by means of signals fed to a control circuit. The system includes a configuration for producing a high voltage from a DC voltage source, a capacitor, a charging coil, a discharging coil, and at least one charging switch and one discharging switch. The invention also relates to a method for operating the device.
Japanese patent abstract JP 3-199650 A (Patent Abstracts of Japan M-1183, 25 Nov. 1991, vol. 15, No. 463) discloses a circuit for driving a capacitive actuator by means of a control circuit, which has a voltage source for producing a high voltage, a capacitor, a charging coil, a discharging coil as well as a charging switch and a discharging switch. If, as a result of spurious signals, the charging switch and the discharging switch are turned on at the same time, the circuit is isolated from the voltage source.
German published non-prosecuted patent application DE 36 21 541 A1 discloses a device for driving capacitive actuators. The device includes a capacitor that can be charged from a voltage source, a charging coil and a discharging coil. A voltage U.sub.P which can be achieved at the capacitive actuators is limited to a value U.sub.P <2U.sub.B less than two times the output voltage U.sub.B of the voltage source.
That circuit is not suitable for a high voltage supply to capacitive actuators for fuel injection valves of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine, with U.sub.B .apprxeq.15U.sub.B. Higher voltages can be produced in known fashion by means of switched mode power supplies (SMPS).
Because of the dimensions of the coils of the switched mode power supply SMPS (transformer), of the charging coil and of the discharging coil, as well as their weight, problems result when they are placed into a housing specific to a motor vehicle.

Device and method for controlling at least one capacitive actuator


A testing device for determines values of various electrical variables associated with a device within a process system. The testing device provides bi-directional electrical communication with a device to be monitored and automatically provides a connection configuration between a processing unit and a set of input/output ports. The connection configuration governs a bi-directional flow of electrical signals between the processing unit and the device to be monitored. The processing unit outputs a test signal and a configuration control signal to the input/output port control circuitry. The input/output port control circuitry, in response to received test and configuration control signals, automatically provides a connection configuration to direct the test signal to the device to be monitored and to direct a return signal, the return signal being generated by the monitored device in response to the test signal, to the processing unit. The processing unit, based upon the connection configuration of the input/output port control circuitry, measures an electrical characteristic of the return signal and determines at least two electrical variables associated with the monitored device based upon the measured electrical characteristic of the return signal generated by the monitored device.

Conventionally, handheld process calibration equipment showed the primary variable being tested. As an example, a conventional 4–20 mA calibrator shows the current output or reading. This may be scaled in mA or percentage of the 4–20 mA span.
Moreover, conventional calibrators may show error enunciators such as "overload," "over-current," "ERROR" etc. While these enunciators may indicate that there is an error, the conventional calibrators fail to supply sufficient information to determine the source of the error.
For example, with conventional portable calibration equipment when the calibrator shows an "ERROR," the user would have to pull out a number of test instruments to determine the actual source of the error. These instruments would typically have to be carried into the "field." Thus, the user may have to carry the device, and all the accompanying instruments, long distances, possibly up ladders, or to very remote locations. Usually, the accompanying equipment includes a digital multi-meter, power supplies, decade boxes, etc. These devices would have to be hooked up with or in place of the conventional calibrator to determine the actual error source; i.e., the circuit had no supply voltage, the circuit had high impedance, or a component was leaking current.
In addition to additional equipment, these troubleshooting connections may be complicated. Moreover, the troubleshooting routines typically have difficulty monitoring "dynamic" changes within the "normal" operating conditions, as well as, fail to provide any "logging" capabilities.
Conventionally, transient out of normal conditions are monitored manually one variable at a time or the user has to watch for the error condition to occur. This is very time consuming and error prone.
To better understand the problems associated with conventional calibrators, a discussion of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be provided below.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a process loop includes a calibrated digital control source 10 connected to a field transmitter 20 through communication channel 25, in this example, a pair of wires. As shown, a 20 mA signal is sent from the calibrated digital control source 10 to a field transmitter 20 for calibration purposes, but due to a remote fault or corroded connections, the amperage amplitude of the signal received by the field transmitter 20 is reduced, by a leakage current iLeakage, shown as flowing through a leakage resistance. In response thereof, the field transmitter 20 produces a return signal for the calibrated digital control source 10 wherein this return signal has amperage amplitude of 20 mA minus ileakage. The return signal is combined with the leakage current, iLeakage, to create a signal having amperage amplitude of 20 mA. The actual amperage amplitude of the signal received by the calibrated digital control source 10 is shown on display 11. Thus, in this system, an undetected calibration error is realized because the actual amperage amplitude of the signal received by the field transmitter 20 is 20 mA minus iLeakage, but the actual amperage amplitude of the signal received by the calibrated digital control source 10 is 20 mA, as shown on display 11. Thus, the operator is unaware that a fault has occurred.
FIG. 2 illustrates another example of this problem. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a process loop includes a portable calibrated digital control source 30 connected to a field transmitter 20 through communication channel 25, in this example, a pair of wires. As shown, a 20 mA signal is sent from the portable calibrated digital control source 30 to a field transmitter 20 for calibration purposes, but due to a remote fault or corroded connections, the amperage amplitude of the signal received by the field transmitter 20 is reduced, by a leakage current iLeakage, shown as flowing through a leakage resistance. In response thereof, the field transmitter 20 produces a return signal for the portable calibrated digital control source 30 wherein this return signal has amperage amplitude of 20 mA minus iLeakage. The return signal is combined with the leakage current, iLeakage, to create a signal having amperage amplitude of 20 mA. The actual amperage amplitude of the signal received by the portable calibrated digital control source 30 is shown on display 31. Thus, in this system, an undetected calibration error is realized because the actual amperage amplitude of the signal received by the field transmitter 20 is 20 mA minus iLeakage, but the actual amperage amplitude of the signal received by the portable calibrated digital control source 30 is 20 mA, as shown on display 31. Thus, the operator is unaware that a fault has occurred.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a device that is capable of monitoring and displaying additional information (variables) in one or more concise screens. It is also desirable to provide a device that is capable of indicating on the display the most likely cause of error as compared to normal operating conditions, more specifically, capable of highlighting the "non-primary" variable(s) that is out of the normal range or condition, thereby allowing the user on one screen to identify and troubleshoot.
It is further desirable to provide a device that is capable of easily monitoring "dynamic" changes within the "normal" operating conditions. Furthermore, it is also desirable to provide a device that is capable of logging conditions to enable monitoring for transient out of normal conditions. In addition, it is also desirable to provide a device that is capable of testing with the lowest common denominator of connections required.
Moreover, it is also desirable to provide a device that is capable of eliminating the need for digital multi-meters in the industry specific calibration processes and supply such information without requiring several different connection schemes to acquire if at all.
Lastly, it is also desirable to provide a calibration capable of producing the unknown variables of Current, Voltage (AC, DC), Resistance, Capacitance and Inductance so as to enable concurrent measurement and display of the various variables without requiring disconnection and reconnection when, for example, a current measurement is required and a voltage reading is required, thereby allowing the diagnostics of multiple variables with a single connection scheme.

Testing and calibration device with diagnostics


The control valve comprises a valve rod having a valve body part; a valve main body provided with a valve chamber having a valve port to/from which the valve body part contacts/separates, a discharge pressure refrigerant inlet for introducing the refrigerant from a compressor, and a refrigerant outlet communicating with a crank chamber of the compressor; an electromagnetic actuator having a plunger for moving the valve rod in the valve closing direction; a pressure sensing chamber in which suction pressure is introduced from the compressor; and a pressure sensitive response member for pressing the valve rod in the valve opening direction corresponding to the pressure in the pressure sensing chamber, wherein the valve rod is fitted to the plunger having a predetermined diametrical directional clearance so as not to be influenced from the lateral deviation and inclination of the plunger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control valve for a variable displacement compressor used for a car air-conditioner and the like, and more particularly, to a control valve for a variable displacement compressor capable of hardly causing operation failure of a valve rod.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Generally in a conventional control valve for a variable displacement compressor used for a car air-conditioner and the like, refrigerant having discharge pressure Pd is introduced from a compressor (a discharge chamber of a compressor) and is throttled so as to be introduced to a crank chamber, in order to adjust a pressure Pc in the crank chamber of the compressor. An introducing amount (a throttling amount) into the crank chamber is controlled corresponding to a suction pressure Ps of the compressor. As for the basic constitution of the control valve, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2003-172256 for example, the control valve for a variable displacement compressor includes a valve rod having a valve body part; a valve main body which has a guiding hole in which the valve rod is slidably inserted, a valve chamber having a valve port to/from which the valve body part contacts/separates, a discharge pressure refrigerant inlet provided at an upstream side than the valve port for introducing refrigerant having discharge pressure from the compressor and a refrigerant outlet provided at the downstream side than the valve port so as to communicate with a crank chamber of the compressor; an electromagnetic actuator having a coil, a cylindrical stator arranged at the inner periphery side of the coil, an attraction piece fixed to the stator, a plunger arranged at the lower side than the attraction piece so as to be upwardly and downwardly slidable, a plunger spring arranged between the attraction piece and the plunger, and a guiding pipe in which the plunger is slidably inserted; a pressure sensing chamber formed at the upper side than the attraction piece, into which a suction pressure is introduced from the compressor; a pressure sensitive response member for pressing the valve rod in the valve opening direction corresponding to a pressure of the pressure sensing chamber; and a valve closing spring for energizing the valve rod in a valve closing direction.
In the conventional control valve having such the constitution, when the electric current is applied to the coil of the electromagnetic actuator, the plunger is attracted to the attraction piece. Then, the valve rod is moved in the valve closing direction following the plunger by energizing force of the valve closing spring. On the other hand, refrigerant having a suction pressure Ps introduced from a compressor to a suction pressure introducing inlet is introduced into the pressure sensing chamber from an introduction chamber through a clearance formed between the plunger and a guiding pipe arranged on the outer periphery of the plunger. The pressure sensitive response member (for example, a bellows device) is displaced so as to extend or contract corresponding to the pressure (the suction pressure Ps) in the pressure sensing chamber (the member contracts when the suction pressure Ps is high, and extends when the suction pressure Ps is low). The displacement (pressing force) is transmitted to the valve rod, so as to control a valve opening. The valve opening is determined by the attracting force of the attraction piece to the plunger, the pressing force of the pressure sensitive response member, and the energizing forces of a plunger spring (a valve opening spring) and a valve closing spring. Corresponding to the valve opening, the introducing amount (the throttling amount) into the outlet side, that is, into the crank chamber, of the refrigerant having a discharge pressure introduced into the valve chamber from the discharge pressure refrigerant inlet, is adjusted, so as to control the pressure Pc in the crank chamber.
However, the above-described control valve has the constitution in which the valve rod moves in the valve closing direction by only the energizing force of the valve closing spring. So, the operation failure of locking of the valve rod or the like is caused when a foreign matter is clogged between sliding faces of the valve rod and the guiding hole or the sliding resistance of the valve rod is increased by oil seizing or the like. For example, there is a problem that even when the plunger is attracted by the attraction piece, the valve rod does not move in the valve closing direction so as to be inactive. In such case, the valve opening is not properly controlled. In order to solve such the operation failure, the energizing force of the valve closing spring may be increased. However, if the energizing force is increased, the energizing force of the plunger spring (the valve opening spring) must be also increased. As a result of this, the sizes of springs and a product are increased, so that the cost is increased.
So, in order to solve the problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2004-100473 proposes a control valve, in which a plunger and a valve rod are directly connected (integrated), so as to forcedly move the valve rod in the valve closing direction together with the plunger when the plunger is attracted by a attraction piece.
However, the above-described control valve in which the plunger and the valve rod are directly connected has the following problems.
When electric current is applied, the plunger may move upwardly and downwardly (in the valve opening and closing directions) while being laterally deviated (moved to one side) or inclined depending on a magnetic circuit (due to the concentricity of the attraction piece and the plunger). Thereby, if the plunger and the valve rod are connected without a backlash, the valve rod is pushed to the guiding hole according to the deviation or inclination of the plunger so as to increase sliding resistance. As a result, the valve rod and the plunger do not smoothly move, so as to cause operation failure such as locking, which is similar to the above-described problem.
Further, when the plunger and the valve rod are directly connected, the size management and assembling accuracy of parts are hardly achieved due to the above-described problem, and the cost may be increased.

Control valve for variable displacement compressor


A high strength polyethylene filament, wherein said filament has a fineness of 1.5 dtex or less as a monofilament, a tensile strength of 15 cN/dtex or more and a tensile elastic modulus of 300 cN/dtex or more, and, the rate of dispersion-defective fibers cut from the filament is 2% or less, is disclosed, and a high strength polyethylene filament, wherein said filament has a tensile strength of 15 cN/dtex or more and a tensile elastic modulus of 300 cN/dtex or more, and, a long period structure of 100 Å or less is observed in an X-ray small angle scattering pattern is disclosed.

As a polyethylene filament with high strength, there is known a filament which is produced from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene by a so-called gel-spinning method and which has such a high strength and such a high elastic modulus that any of conventional filaments has never possessed, as disclosed in JP-B-60-47922, and this filament has already come into industrially wide use. This high strength polyethylene filament has advantages in its high strength and high elastic modulus. However, the high elastic modulus thereof sometimes induces disadvantages in various applications. For example, in case where the high strength polyethylene filament is used for ordinal cloth, the resultant cloth is very stiff to the touch and thus very unsuitable in view of fitness to one's body. In case where the high strength polyethylene filament is used for a bulletproof vest, it is demanded that the bulletproof vest should be made of a plurality of pieces of cloth superposed on one another so as to confront dangers which recently have been escalated more and more. As a result, the thickness of the cloth composing the vest is increased, so that one can not freely move in such a vest.
Under such circumstances, a filament which has a lower mass (METSUKE) and a very high strength is demanded.
In the meantime, a variety of olefin-based filaments and films recently have been used for separators for various batteries. In case where high strength polyethylene filaments are used as non-woven cloth or reinforcing materials for such separators, the high strength polyethylene filaments to be used are required to have such properties that can provide non-woven cloth with thin mass (METSUKE) and concurrently with a high strength maintained, in order to meet a demand for further compacting batteries.
JP-B-64-8732 discloses a filament which is made from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene as a starting material by so-called "gel spinning method" and which has a lower fineness, a higher strength and a higher elastic modulus than any of conventional filaments. However, the above production of the high strength polyethylene filament with a lower fineness by the gel spinning method uses a solvent, and the use of a solvent has a disadvantage of causing fusion of the filaments. Particularly in case where a very fine filament is desired, the drawing tension tends to increase with an increased spinning tension, which induces the fusion of filaments.
Japanese Patent No. 3034934 discloses a high strength polyethylene filament having a fineness of 16.7 dtex or less as a monofilament, which is produced by drawing a high molecular weight polyethylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 600,000 to 1,500,000. The fineness of the monofilament achieved in this patent is 2.4 dtex at least, and a high strength polyethylene filament having a fineness of 1.5 dtex or less which the present invention has achieved can not be obtained.
A high strength polyethylene filament produced by melt spinning is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,118. According to this patent, the high strength polyethylene filament disclosed has a strength of 17.1 cN/dtex, an elastic modulus of 754 cN/dtex, and a finness of 2.0 dtex at least as a monofilament of the fiber. Thus, a high strength polyethylene filament having a fineness of 1.5 dtex or less has not yet been obtained by the melt spinning.
One of commercially available polyethylene filaments made by the melt spinning has a tensile strength of about 10 cN/dtex at most, even though it is classified to high performance polyethylenes. At present, a polyethylene filament having a strength of as high as 15 cN/dtex or more has not yet been manufactured and put on the market.
The most effective solution to satisfy such a wide range of requirements is to decrease the fineness of a monofilament while maintaining the strength of the filament. However, the fineness of the monofilament of a polyethylene filament obtained by the melt spinning having a strength of as high as 15.0 cN/dtex or more is generally 2.0 to 5.0 dtex. Thus, it is impossible in a practical view to obtain as in the present invention not only a polyethylene filament which has a fineness of as low as 1.5 dtex or less, but also a polyethylene filament having a fineness of so far low as 1.0 dtex, at a productivity high enough for industrial production, even though such a filament can be present in a moment. Even if such a filament can be produced, the physical properties of the resultant filament markedly degrade and thus, this filament is insufficient for practical use. On the other hand, a high strength polyethylene filament having a fineness of as low as 0.5 dtex or less can be obtained by the gel spinning. However, such a high strength polyethylene filament with a lower fineness has problems in that there are many fusing points among each of the monofilaments thereof, and that it is very hard to obtain a desired uniform filament having a low fineness.
The present inventors assume that the following are the causes for the foregoing problems. In the melt spinning, the polymer has many intertwines of molecular chains therein, and therefore, the polymer extruded from a nozzle can not be sufficiently drawn. Further, it is practically impossible to use a polymer having a very high molecular weight of 1,000,000 or more in the melt spinning. Therefore, the resultant filament has a low strength even if achieving a low fineness. On the other hand, a high strength filament having a low fineness is made from a polyethylene having a molecular weight of as high as 1,000,000 or more, by the foregoing gel spinning, so as to decrease the number of the intertwines of molecular chains. This method has the following problems. The spinning and drawing tensions for obtaining a very fine filament becomes higher, and the use of a solvent for spinning and the drawing of a filament at a temperature higher than the melting point of the filament cause fusion in the filaments. Thus, a desired filament having an uniform fineness can not be obtained. Particularly in case where the cut fibers of such a filament is formed into non-woven cloth, the fused points of the filament degrades the physical properties of the resultant non-woven cloth. The present inventors have succeeded in obtaining a polyethylene filament having a very low fineness and a high strength which the gel spinning and the melt spinning could not achieve, and thus accomplished the present invention.
A high-strength polyethylene filament has advantages in a high strength and a high elastic modulus but has a disadvantage in low resistance to a compression stress because of its high crystallinity. In other words, the filament can well resist the tension in the filament axial direction, but it is destructed by a very low compression stress, if used in a situation under a compression stress.
As described above, a polyethylene filament with a high strength and a high elastic modulus made by the gel spinning is formed of crystals (having a high degree of order) from which defects are largely eliminated. Therefore, such a filament has very high physical properties but shows low resistance to a compression stress, as mentioned above. This fact is confirmed by an X-ray small angle scattering analysis in which no long period structure is observed.
Further, in case where an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene having a molecular weight of 1,000,000 or more is used, it is possible to perform an ultra-drawing operation thereon. However, the structure of the resultant filament is so highly crystallized and ordered that no long period structure is observed in an X-ray small angle scattering pattern. Therefore, it is impossible to introduce a heterogeneous structure into the filament still maintaining the high physical properties.
The first object of the present invention is therefore to provide a high strength polyethylene filament which has a fineness of 1.5 dtex or less as a monofilament, a tensile strength of 15 cN/dtex or more, and a tensile elastic modulus of 300 cN/dtex, characterized in that the rate of dispersion-defective fibers cut from the filament is 2% or less.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a high strength polyethylene filament having a high resistance to compression which the conventional melt spinning and gel spinning are hard to impart the filament, a tensile strength of 15 cN/dtex or more, and a tensile elastic modulus of 300 cN/dtex or more, characterized in that a long period structure of 100 Å or less is observed in an X-ray small angle scattering pattern.


An apparatus which enables the user to transition the location of a load contained within vessels or cavities which are accessed by means of a manhole, manway, or other similar openings which provides for limiting peripheral interference, the establishment of a high center point in both horizontal and vertical applications, and limiting the weight and bulk of such an apparatus.

In the operational environment of private industry and public utility, vessels or cavities are often employed, and in some instances, the only available access to those vessels or cavities is a manhole, manway, or other similar opening. These openings are employed during construction, maintenance, or inspection. Through these openings, materials, supplies, tools, and personnel pass. In some instances, loads (materials, supplies, tools, personnel) must be lifted without the benefit of a ladder or other means of traverse. In such instances where it is desired to transition the location of a load from one point to another in the vertical plain, ropes, cables, or other means are used in conjunction with various apparatuses to achieve such movement. A variety of apparatuses from simple tripods equipped with pulleys as is disclosed by Ascherin et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,266 to rather large and complicated apparatuses such as is disclosed by Daniel, III in U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,831 are employed. Many of the apparatuses available at present have certain limitations to their effectiveness. A basic tripod, such as that disclosed by Asherin et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,266 (or even bi, tri, or quadrapod as disclosed by Smith in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,273) and pulley assembly limits access to the opening of vessels or cavities as the legs of the tripod or other device as described increasingly narrows the open field of movement as the structure reaches its high center point at the apex. Other means which provide better access by means of a single boom such as that disclosed by Stoner in U.S. Pat. No. 1,887,965 and Ostrobrod in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,108 are bulky, awkward, and limited in employ by their size. Smaller versions such as that disclosed by McInerney in U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,627 while size and weight have been reduced are limited in the weight which can be lifted due to the means of counterbalance or lack of a means of connecting somehow to the surface upon which the apparatus is mounted. Joyce discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,562 a creative approach, but the apparatus disclosed cannot establish a variable high center point as its boom is fixed. The means of connecting to the manway or access as disclosed by Joyce is also incapable of bearing heavy loads and thereby limits use. The above disclosures are limited to applications where ingress is presented in a horizontal plane. In applications where ingress is presented in a vertical plane, these means are of no value. Willaughby discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,248 an interesting approach to vertical access. Nevertheless, the apparatus therein disclosed requires the employ of four legs and accompanying straps as well as an adjusting stabilizing arm. The legs, straps and stabilizing arm limit access and movement at the manway, and the four straps when under the force of heavy loads would stretch thereby causing the adjustable stabilizing arm to drop and further interfere with access. When Willaughhby's apparatus is employed in a horizontal application, the four legs present a hindrance to essential access.
A further limitation of the present art is the awkwardness and bulk of the apparatuses available when transporting them to the site at which the apparatuses are to be deployed as in many instances individuals must climb a vessel carrying the apparatus which is to be deployed, particularly in emergency situations.
Consequently, a need exists for improvements in the means and methods of seeking to transition the location of a load contained within vessels or cavities which are accessed by means of a manhole, manway, or other similar openings which provides for limiting peripheral interference, the establishment of a high center point in both horizontal and vertical applications, and limiting the weight and bulk of such apparatuses.

Flange mounted load transition apparatus and method


The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for submitting content for printing. The method includes receiving a document from a user, the document includes different types of content. A custom print option is provided to the user for selection, the custom print option includes one or more content types. The one or more content types are provided to the user for selection. The document is analyzed to identify different types of content in the document. Upon identification, content corresponding to the one or more content types selected by the user is extracted. The extracted content corresponding to the one or more content types selected by the user is sent, to a multi-function device, for printing. In this manner, the method enables the user to select, submit and print customized content from the document for printing.

Nowadays people extensively use multi-function devices (MFDs) for printing, scanning, photocopying, emailing, etc., in their offices and homes. A user can submit a document for printing via his computing device, via an external storage device such as USB, via a memory of the multi-function device, via a shared location accessible by the multi-function device, via a cloud network and so on. While submitting the document for printing, the user is provided with limited print parameters such as number of pages, black and white print, color print, double-sided print, single-sided print, etc. Based on the print parameters submitted by the user, the document is submitted to the multi-function device along with the print parameters. The multi-function device prints the document in accordance with the print parameters. Although the existing solutions allow the user to provide the print parameters, but the solutions do not provide an option to choose specific content from the document based on his requirements or choices. Therefore, there is a need for methods and systems to enable users to choose and print content of his choice.

Methods and systems enabling a user to customize content for printing


A disclosed gaming machine presents pachinko games to a player playing the gaming machine. In some embodiments, a player may initiate a new pachinko game on the gaming machine while the outcome of a previous pachinko game is being presented to the player. The wagers on each game may be different. Also, a player may input parameters into the gaming machine that affect the game outcome presentation. For a number of different games, two or more game outcomes may be presented simultaneously to the player on the gaming machine. However, the game outcomes determined by the gaming machine are independent of one another and do not depend on the game outcome presentation. Normally, the game outcomes are determined using a random number generator and a pay table stored in a memory on the gaming machine.

This invention relates to game playing methods for gaming machines such as slot machines and video poker machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of allowing game players to play video pachinko on a gaming machine.
There are a wide variety of devices that can comprise a gaming machine such as a slot machine or video poker machine. Some examples of these devices are lights, slot reels, ticket printers, card readers, speakers, bill validators, coin acceptors, display panels, key pads, bonus wheels, and button pads. These devices provide many of the features which allow a gaming machine to present a game. Some of these devices are built into the gaming machine. Often, a number of devices are grouped together in a separate box that is placed on top of the gaming machine. Devices of this type are commonly called a top box.
Typically, utilizing a master gaming controller, the gaming machine controls various combinations of devices that allow a player to play a game on the gaming machine and also encourage game play on the gaming machine. For example, a game played on a gaming machine usually requires a player to input money or indicia of credit into the gaming machine, indicate a wager amount, and initiate a game play. These steps require the gaming machine to operate input devices including bill validators and coin acceptors to accept money into the gaming machine and recognize user inputs from devices including key pads and button pads to determine the wager amount and initiate game play.
After a game has been initiated on the gaming machine, the gaming machine determines a game outcome and presents the outcome of the game to a player. For example, for a slot game, after a player has initiated a game by pressing an input button or pulling a handle attached to the gaming machine, the gaming machine determines a game outcome which is the final position of each reel on the slot machine. A requirement for most gaming machines is that the probability of each game outcome is precisely known and remains constant during game play. Thus, when a player plays two or more games on a gaming machine the probability of a particular game outcome is the same for each game that the player initiates.
After the gaming machine determines the game outcome, the outcome of the game is presented to the player. For the slot game, the game outcome presentation might include a number reels spinning, visual effects including flashing or strobing lights and auditory effects including bells and whistles. The game outcome presentation, including the various visual and auditory effects, is designed to add excitement to the game being played on the gaming machine and encourage additional game play.
Usually near the end of the game outcome presentation, the game outcome is presented. For example, for the slot game, the reels stop at a final position. Based on the game outcome, the gaming machine may notify the player of an award of a varying amount or notify the player that the wager made on the game was lost. For example, for a slot game with three slot reels, when the final position of each reel corresponds to the display of an identical symbol including three cherries, three bars or the like, a player might be awarded a credit of 5 times the initial wager made on the game. However, other symbol combinations including 2 cherries and a bar or two bars and a cherry might result in a loss of the wager made on the game. Further, each time a player plays a game the probability of a particular game outcome such as three cherries or three bars will usually be the same. After the game outcome has been presented, a player may initiate a new game by making a new wager on the gaming machine and initiating the next game play.
The amount of game play on a gaming machine is usually a function of the type of game. A few examples of games that are played on video gaming machines are slot games, poker, black jack, and keno. Among these games, slot games and video poker are probably the most popular. A casino typically offers various types of games because many game players are attracted to some games but dislike others. When a player wants to play a game on a gaming machine but does not like any of the offered games, this person may choose not play. Also, when a player finds a particular game only mildly exciting, the player may become disinterested after a short time and cease their game play. Thus, to increase game play, new games are desired that may attract players previously uninterested in game play on a gaming machine. Accordingly, to attract new players, new games for gaming machines are desired that are exciting and are interesting enough to hold a player's interest over a long period of time.
An exciting game which may draw new players to game play on a gaming machine and hold their interest for extended periods is pachinko. A single game of mechanical pachinko involves dropping a ball through a portion of a vertical box. The ball starts at the top of the box and is drawn through the box via the force of gravity. A large number of obstacles are arranged within the box. As a ball falls through the box, the trajectory of the ball is altered by collisions with the obstacles. A number of objects are placed within the box that allow a ball to exit the portion of the box where the collisions are taking place. A game outcome is determined by the exit from which the ball leaves the box. The game is designed such that it is very difficult to predict the trajectory of the ball within the box and hence the exit from which the ball leaves.
The history of pachinko is uncertain. One theory is that it originated in the United States in Chicago, Ill. in the early 1920's. Another theory is that it originated in France or England. At some point in the early 1920's, the game was imported to Japan. Within Japan, the game has gained a large following as a source of amusement and is very popular. Currently, mechanical pachinko games are manufactured by many companies mostly residing in Japan.
Traditionally, pachinko is played with metallic balls in a thin vertical box. The front surface of the box is composed of a transparent material that allows a player to view what is inside the box. The back of the box is usually composed of an opaque material. Between the front and back surfaces of the box are usually a large number of thin cylindrical pegs that are perpendicular to the front and back surfaces. Further, these pegs span the distance between the front and back surfaces. The diameter of the pegs is usually much smaller than the diameter of the metallic balls used to play the game and the distance between the front and back vertical surfaces is usually not much greater than the diameter of the balls. In early versions of mechanical pachinko, the back of the box was made of plywood with nail driven through the wood to serve as obstacles. Pegs are the most common type of obstacle but other obstacles may also be placed in the box. These obstacles alter the trajectory of a ball as it passes through the box.
Usually, a pachinko game includes a mechanism that places the balls at the top of the box. The mechanism may include inputs that allow the player to influence the initial position and velocity of the ball at the top of the box. The trajectory of the ball through the box is extremely sensitive to the initial position and velocity of the ball at the top of the box. The sensitivity makes it very difficult to predict the trajectory of the ball through the box.
The game of pachinko is easy to understand. Typically, a potential player can quickly understand the rules of the game and begin playing. Further, a player may influence the game presentation. As described above, a pachinko game usually includes a mechanism that allows a player to determine the initial velocity and position of the ball at the beginning of the game. The initial velocity and position of the ball affect the trajectory of the ball and hence the game presentation. This player interaction differs from a game such as slot games where the game presentation is similar for each game. The potential for player interaction in the game presentation for pachinko adds to the excitement of the game.
A disadvantage of mechanical pachinko games and a limitation to their utilization as a gaming device is the difficulty in precisely determining the probability of each game outcome on a particular machine. Besides the initial position and velocity of the ball at the top of the box, the trajectory of a ball may be affected by the specific manufacturing tolerances of each machine, the manufacturing tolerances of each ball, and the precise orientation of the pachinko machine. Further, with repeated game playing, aspects of the mechanical pachinko game may be altered in a manner which changes the probability of game outcomes on a particular machine. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a pachinko-like game where the probability of each game may be precisely determined such that the probabilities do not vary with time on a particular gaming machine and the probabilities may be duplicated on different gaming machines.
Traditionally, game play on a gaming machine such as a slot machine, video poker machine, is presented sequentially. For example, for a slot game after a player has made deposited money or a credit of indicia into the gaming machine, a player makes a wager and initiates a game play. Then, the gaming machine determines a game outcome and presents the game outcome. A player is not able to make a new wager and initiate another game on the gaming machine until the presentation of the outcome of the previous game is complete.
A disadvantage of many games played on a gaming machine is that the sequential game play limits the gaming throughput. On a gaming machine, the gaming throughput is the maximum number of games that can be played on the gaming machine in a fixed period of time. The length of a game may be defined as the sequence of a player making a bet and initiating a game play and the gaming machine determining and presenting a game outcome. For example, on a slot machine, this game sequence usually requires about 3–5 seconds. Thus, in this example, the gaming throughput for this machine is about 0.2 to 0.3 games/second.
The profitability of a gaming machine is usually related to the product of the gaming throughput and the average wager per game. Typically, casino operators prefer gaming machines with a high profitability because the house share or drop is a percentage of the wagers made on the gaming machine. For a slot machine, the average wager per game may be increased by offering multiple wagering opportunities such as multiple paylines. This game playing methodology may increase the average wager per game. However, it may also decrease the gaming throughput because of the time needed to make multiple wagers.
Typically, for most games played on a gaming machine, the majority of time in a game sequence is consumed by the game outcome presentation. For example, for a slot game, the game outcome presentation involves the slot reels spinning and stopping at a final position. Typically, the length of the game outcome presentation is made as short as possible to increase the game throughput. However, when the game outcome presentation becomes too short a player may lose interest in the game. Thus, for sequential game play on a gaming machine, the gaming throughput is usually limited by the presentation of the game outcome. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide games for a gaming machine which overcomes the limitations of sequential game outcome presentations and increases the gaming throughput of a gaming machine.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Video pachinko on a video platform as a gaming device


A self-protecting barrier for retarding fire has a combustible hydric member or a network of combustible hydric members having an ignition temperature above 100° C., at least a first surface which is water-permeable and may be flammable, and a sufficient water absorption capacity for fire retardation. The hydric members may be foamed-polymer elements, or superabsorbent polymer-filled matrixes, or loose superabsorbent polymer-filled pouches or pockets. A self-protecting barrier system for retarding fire further includes fire adjacent the water-permeable surface and steam between the water-permeable surface and the fire, and may further include a combustible object adjacent the barrier opposite the fire. A method of isolating a combustible object from the flames of a fire includes the steps of providing at least one fire-retardant barrier between the object and the flames, volatilizing or boiling a portion of the hydration water at a temperature of about 100° C. to form a first steam layer at the first surface and deterring ignition of the hydric member and preventing the flames from reaching the object by substantially extinguishing the flames with the first steam layer. The method may also include the steps of allowing the first steam layer to dissipate, and then removing the barrier, and other steps.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retarding fire. The present invention is directed particularly to a fire-retardant barrier, a system which includes the fire-retardant barrier and a method which employs the fire-retardant barrier. The barrier retards fire from burning materials, such as buildings and other structures, forests and other vegetative materials, and the like. All of such materials, being combustible, are fuel for a fire if located in its path.
Wildfires are known periodically to threaten residential areas, and damage or destroy homes. Wildfires not only scorch acres of land by the hundreds of thousands, and destroy homes by the thousands, they are deadly. In early 2006, wildfires in the southern plains of the U.S. caused almost a dozen fatalities and necessitated the evacuation of 1,900 people as the flames raced across more the 1,000 square miles, while the resolute fight against the fires 'from the ground and from the air' consisted of dousing rooftops with water and dumping retardant from air-tankers.
In California, about 5.5 million acres are developed with housing unit densities meeting the Wildland-Urban Interface criteria and are at significant risk (very high or extreme risk) to damage from fire. "The Changing California, Forest and Range 2003 Assessment", frap.cdf.ca.gov/assessment2003, October, 2003. California is not the only at-risk state. It has been reported that 80% of all housing units in New Mexico and Wyoming, and 40% to 55% of housing units in other Western states, including California, Washington and Oregon, are on land with fire potential. Typically, home owners have significant warning as to the likelihood of a fire passing through their residential area so that preventative steps can be taken to avoid damage, provided practical preventative measures are available.
Water has been known for millennia for its ability to prevent or extinguish fires due to its high heat capacity and high heat of vaporization. One method that has been used for retarding fire from burning a building is spraying water on the roof and exterior walls of a building. This method, however, is not particularly effective because water tends to flow off the building, limiting the amount of water that can be placed on, and adhered to, the building's exterior surfaces. Water also tends to evaporate quickly, especially in the heat of a fire. Covering a building with a tarp able to absorb water is also known, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,362.
It has been reported that foams or superabsorbent polymer gels formed by adding water to superabsorbent polymer powders have been used as a fire-retardant. However, forming and applying the foam or gel requires special equipment. Only limited amounts of gel or foam can be placed on a surface before the gel or foam begins to slough off. The gels and foams also can require significant cleanup after a fire has passed. Also, the concentrated polymers used to form gels typically are flammable, so that storage of the concentrated polymers can be hazardous.
Superabsorbent polymers have also been used in an insulating composite for body protection in extreme temperature situations. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,912 for a "Protective Multi-Layered Liquid Retaining Composite."
What is needed is a method and a system that provide effective retardation of a fire, and an apparatus for retarding fire that is easy and safe to store, that is easy to apply to an object and/or area or locale, and that is easy to clean up after a fire has passed.

Method, system and apparatus for retarding fire


An example method includes receiving, by a computational assistant executing at one or more processors of a mobile computing device and via a wireless link between the mobile computing device and an external device, a representation of audio data generated by a microphone of the external device, the audio data representing a spoken utterance detected by the external device; determining, by the computational assistant and based on the audio data, a response to the spoken utterance; and sending, by the mobile computing device, to the external device, and via the wireless link between the mobile computing device and the external device, a command to output, for playback by one or more speakers connected to the external device via a hardwired analog removable connector of the external device or a wireless link between the external device and the one or more speakers, audio data representing the response to the spoken utterance.

Some computing platforms may provide a user interface from which a user can converse, speak, or otherwise communicate with a virtual, computational assistant (e.g., also referred to as "an intelligent assistant" or simply as an "assistant") to cause the assistant to output useful information, respond to a user's needs, or otherwise perform certain operations to help the user complete a variety of real-world or virtual tasks. For instance, a computing device may receive, with a microphone or camera, user input (e.g., audio data, image data, etc.) that corresponds to a user utterance or user environment. An assistant executing at least in part at the computing device may analyze a user input and attempt to "assist" a user by outputting useful information based on the user input, responding to the user's needs indicated by the user input, or otherwise perform certain operations to help the user complete a variety of real-world or virtual tasks based on the user input. However, some devices or systems may not provide such a user interface, which may prevent users from utilizing the devices or systems to communicate with computational assistants.

Computational assistant extension device