A disk array device enabling an appropriate estimation of a physical disk capacity necessary prior to introducing a snapshot function. If a valid flag of the snapshot simulation function of a specified logical volume is on at receiving a data updating request from the host 100, snapshot simulation function control means 21 inquiries with update range determination means 10 and receives notice of bits on a bitmap corresponding to a range of update data, sets corresponding bits on a bitmap of the specified logical volume of bitmap information storage means 12 by means of bitmap information updating means 11, and executes data updating processing. Upon receiving an instruction of reporting a simulation result, snapshot simulation result reporting means 22 reports a physical disk capacity of the snapshot calculated by the snapshot simulation function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk array device and particularly, to a disk array device having a snapshot simulation function.
2. Related Background Art
A disk array device is provided with a plurality of disk drives and it is known as an external storage of a host computer.
A snapshot function, which has become popular as a function of a disk array device, is used to store data at a time point specified by a user. For storing the data, there is a method comprising duplicating data of two logical volumes in advance and separating the data according to an instruction of creating a snapshot or a method comprising copying data in an updated area (update data) for the logical volumes after creating a snapshot and managing the data.
In the data storing method of copying and managing the update data, only updated differentials are stored. Therefore, it is possible to make copies of a plurality of generations efficiently in capacity by using a virtual disk and a required area is secured newly when the data has been updated. Thus, it has an advantage of being more efficient in capacity than the method of duplicating the logical volumes in advance.
For example, in the conventional method of storing only update differentials, the host computer issues a pair formation request and a pair separation request to a disk subsystem, creates a snapshot of volume and after that, starts the processing. A position of data updated after creation of the snapshot is stored in the disk subsystem as differential information. Upon receiving a data restoration request from the host computer, the disk subsystem restores data at a position where update is performed from the snapshot on the basis of the differential information. This enables a restoration of data destroyed due to a fault or the like, which occurs during execution of processing, from backup data at high speed (See pages 3 to 4 and FIG. 1 of JP-A-2001-216185).
In another example of the conventional method of storing only update differentials, a first data holding portion performs ordinary read/write processing. A second data holding portion saves the snapshot image of the first data holding portion at a certain time point. A third data holding portion saves history information containing update data with data-rewriting to the first data holding portion after the time point of saving the snapshot image in the second data holding portion, information indicating the generation thereof, and information indicating the update area thereof. A data read source selecting portion acquires the saving place of the snapshot image to be read by referring to each of history information saved in the third data holding portion according to the designation of the generation and area of the snapshot image to be read and switches the read source of data to the second data holding portion or the third data holding portion according to the saving place. This enables a system to be composed of the few storage devices (more compact and inexpensive) and to arbitrarily read snapshot images of a plurality of generations (See page 4 and FIG. 1 of JP-A-2002-278819).
Furthermore, in still another example of the conventional method of storing only update differentials, two logical disks are assumed a master logical disk and a snapshot logical disk: the two logical disks have the same stored contents if they are arranged in a mirror configuration, or the contents of the master logical disk (snapshot differential information) is stored in the snapshot logical disk in the case of mirror separation. The snapshot differential information is stored in a list format differential information table just after the mirror separation. In the case that the list format differential information table is full and also, a new entry cannot be added, that is, in the case that a differential information table area for storing the list format differential information table cannot be expanded, the list format differential information table is converted into a bitmap format differential information table, and after that, snapshot differential information is stored in the bitmap format differential information table. This makes the copy data quantity reducible in spite of being of a relatively small memory capacity in comparison with the case where a bitmap format is singly used, by using the bitmap format and a list format properly to store snapshot differential information (See page 6 to 7 and FIG. 4 of JP-A-2002-373093).
In the disk array device using just these conventional methods of storing only update differentials, a physical disk capacity is allocated to a virtual disk after data updating is performed. The physical disk capacity to be allocated does not correspond directly to an update data quantity itself, but corresponds to management units (blocks) which are divided and managed by the disk array device in the inside thereof. Therefore, it is a generally used method to store information on presence or absence of updating (differential information) as a bitmap for each management unit of a logical volume in order to manage the range of the update data. The size of the management unit is arbitrary. A large size of the management unit reduces a size of the bitmap, but it deteriorates the efficiency in capacity of the physical disk to the contrary. The reason is that even data updating whose range is smaller than the management unit requires a physical disk capacity of the management unit including the range of the update data. Therefore, in general, the physical disk capacity necessary for the snapshot is not the same as the update data quantity from the host computer, but it is lager than the update data quantity. For example, if the management unit is 32 kilo bytes (KB), the 32 KB physical disk capacity is reserved for 4 KB data updating. While sequential data updating uses all of 32 KB areas of the management unit, random data updating requires a new 32 KB physical disk capacity to be ensured every time 4 KB data is updated.
Therefore, the required physical disk capacity depends upon input-output characteristics (operation contents) of an application program (operation job) operating in the host computer. Thus, it has been difficult to estimate the physical disk capacity necessary for the snapshot until the operation is put into practice.
That is, in the conventional disk array devices, it is difficult to estimate the required physical disk capacity until the snapshot is practically created, since the physical disk capacity practically required depends upon input-output characteristics of an application program operating in the host computer even for the same update data quantity.

Disk array device having snapshot simulation function


A device for viewing an audiovisual work is shown and described. A hooded enclosure containing a monitor is mounted on an adjustable-height support, the monitor being movable from an initial position to a user-selected viewing height. The enclosure is provided with handles which are grasped and pulled by the user to lower the enclosure to the user-selected viewing height, and the support is provided with a biasing member which automatically returns the enclosure to the initial height when the enclosure is released by the user. A switch is coupled to the support, such that when the enclosure is lowered toward the user-selected viewing height, the switch is activated, thereby starting the audiovisual work. Conversely, when the enclosure is released by the user, the biasing member returns the enclosure to its initial position, and the switch is deactivated, thereby automatically stopping the audiovisual work. The enclosure is sized to receive the head of the user therein and is configured to shield the user from external light, sound and glare, and speakers are provided within the enclosure, to provide an immersive audiovisual experience for the user.

Audiovisual works are viewed in numerous different situations, for a variety of purposes, such as entertainment and education. Many times, it is desirable or necessary to view an audiovisual work in a public location, for example at a trade show to learn more about a product or service, or in an airport to pass the time while waiting for a flight.
Currently available devices for viewing an audiovisual work include television and computer monitors that are placed in a given location for viewing by one or more people. Such devices have shortcomings, however, in that they may be difficult for a user to view and hear the audiovisual work, given the fixed location of the monitor, as well as external light, glare and sound.
A need therefore exists for an improved device for viewing audiovisual works.

Adjustable-height device for viewing an audiovisual work


A snagless telecommunications connector assembly is quickly and easily disengageable from a complementary mating connector assembly. A connector housing has front and rear ends, and an upper surface extending between the front and rear ends adjacent and above the upper surface. A latch beam extends rearwardly from the front end of the connector housing. The latch beam is deflectable to disengage the connector assembly from a complementary mating connector assembly. First and second ears extend outwardly from the upper surface of the connector housing. Each of the first and second ears has a portion tapering toward the rear end of the housing to prevent snagging the latch beam. A rib extends outwardly from the latch beam to further prevent snagging of the latch beam.

In telecommunication systems, signals are transmitted over cables having a plug assembly at one end connected to a complementary mating connector. Such connections are often made in areas of trunking or patch panels, where space is extremely limited. The areas in which these connections are made have numerous wires or cables, electrical components and other electrical equipment that make inserting the plug assemblies into receiving jack assemblies difficult. Removal of the plug assemblies is also difficult due to the numerous wires, electrical components and other equipment that interfere with accessing the plug and removing the plug from the receiving jack assembly and through the associated wires, and electrical components and equipment.
One problem with existing telecommunications plug assemblies is that the plug latch tends to catch or snag other electrical wires, electrical components or other miscellaneous electrical equipment during the drawback of the plug assembly. The limited space within which all the wires, components and equipment must be installed creates a tight area through which the plug assembly must be drawn. Frequently, a plug latch with catch, engage or otherwise snag on an existing wire, component or other equipment in the area. If the snagged plug latch is continuously pulled in an attempt to free the plug assembly the latch can break, thereby ruining the plug assembly. A need exists for a telecommunications plug assembly that prevents snagging the plug latch upon removal and for protecting the plug latch.
Another problem with existing telecommunications plug assemblies is that it is difficult to access the plug latch to disengage the plug assembly from the complementary jack assembly. The numerous electrical wires, electrical components and other electrical equipment make it difficult to access and depress the latch to remove the plug assembly. Some existing telecommunications plug assemblies have snagless features that increase the difficulty of accessing and depressing the latch to remove the plug assembly. Therefore, a need exists for a snagless telecommunications plug assembly that does not increase the difficulty of accessing and depressing the plug latch.
Existing snagless telecommunications plugs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,875 to Clarke et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,457 to Kunz; U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,474 to Lampert et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,731 to Lin. Each of these patents discloses plug assemblies in which the latch beam is disposed between two ears that extend above the latch beam. The latch beam being positioned between two higher ears makes it difficult for the user's finger to get between the two ears to depress the plug latch sufficiently to disengage the plug assembly from the receiving jack assembly. Thus, the ears increase the difficulty of accessing and depressing the latch beam.
A need exists for a snagless telecommunications connector assembly.

Snagless telecommunications plug assembly


A liquid ejection apparatus stores ejection pattern information and slight vibration pattern information indicating two-dimensional arrangements of ejection information and slight vibration information, respectively. A controller transmits an ejection signal when the ejection information at a first position in the ejection pattern information is first information and when the slight vibration information at a second position in the slight vibration pattern information is third information or fourth information. The controller transmits a slight vibration signal the ejection information at the first position is second information and when the slight vibration information at the second position is the third information. The controller transmits a non-vibration signal when the ejection information at the first position is the second information and when the slight vibration information at the second position is the fourth information.

Technical Field
The following disclosure relates to a liquid ejection apparatus configured to eject liquid from nozzles.
Description of the Related Art
There are known ink-jet recording apparatuses including a carriage and a recording head mounted on the carriage, and configured to control the recording head to eject ink droplets from nozzles of the recording head while moving the carriage in a main scanning direction. A first example of the ink-jet recording apparatuses creates dot pattern information for one line, store the created dot pattern information into an output buffer, and then set a recording start position that is a position at which ink is to be ejected first in a printing area corresponding to the one line. The ink-jet recording apparatus then sets a slight-vibration start position based on the recording start position. The slight-vibration start position is a position at which slight vibration of a meniscus of ink is to be started. When the created dot pattern information is transferred to a recording head, the recording head is reciprocated. The meniscus is slightly vibrated in conjunction with this reciprocation.
A second example of the ink-jet recording apparatuses performs printing by driving piezoelectric elements based on print pattern information to cause the recording head to eject ink droplets from its nozzles. In this ink-jet recording apparatus, the piezoelectric element is always driven to slightly vibrate ink in the corresponding nozzle except when the ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle.


The present invention relates to a peptide or peptide complex binding to α2 integrin, to one or more nucleic acid(s) coding for the peptide or peptide complex, a recombinant cell producing the peptide or peptide complex, a method for producing the peptide or peptide complex, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide or peptide complex or the nucleic acid(s) for use as a medicament, a method for detecting α2 integrin and a screening method.

Integrins are transmembrane proteins that mediate interactions between adhesion molecules on adjacent cells and/or the extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrins play diverse roles in several biological processes including cell migration during development and wound healing, cell differentiation and apoptosis. Their activities can also regulate the metastatic and invasive potential of tumor cells. They exist as heterodimers consisting of α and β subunits. Some α and β subunits exhibit specificity for one another and may be designated as a VLA (very late antigen) member. Heterodimers often preferentially bind certain cell adhesion molecules, or constituents of the ECM. Although they have no catalytic activity, integrins can be part of multimolecular signaling complexes known as focal adhesions.
Upon binding to ligands, integrins transduce intracellular signals to the cytoskeleton that modify cellular activity in response to these cellular adhesion events, referred to as outside-in signaling. Such signaling can also activate other integrin subtypes expressed on the same cell, referred to as inside-out signaling. Inside-out signaling further occurs via regulatory signals that originate within cell cytoplasm such as a disruption of the clasp between an α and β subunit, which are then transmitted to the external ligand-binding domain of the receptor. Integrins can play important roles in the cell adhesion events that control development, organ morphogenesis, physiology and pathology as well as normal tissue homeostasis, and immune and thrombotic responses, and in addition, they serve as environmental sensors for the cell.
One of the integrin heterodimers is α2β1 integrin. The α2β1 integrin is expressed on several different cell types, including endothelial and epithelial cells, fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and platelets. The ligand specificity of α2β1 varies with cell type. While it serves as a collagen receptor on platelets and fibroblasts, it can serve as both a collagen and as a laminin receptor on endothelial and epithelial cells.
α2β1 integrin is a molecule composed of an α2 integrin subunit of the family of a integrins, and a β1 integrin subunit from the family of β integrins. The sequences of α2 and β1 integrin are known in the art and are published, e.g. in Takada and Hemler J. Cell Biol. 109(1):397-407, 1989 and Argraves, W. S, J. Cell. Biol. September 105(3): 1183-90 (1987). Example sequences are denoted in FIG. 9 and further sequences can be retrieved from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) data base, e.g. under NCBI accession Numbers NP—002194 NM—002203, NM—002211, NP—002202 (β1 integrin isoform 1A) for homo sapiens α2 and β1 integrin, see also below.
Alternative splice variants, isoforms are known in the art, as well as sequences of non-human origin (such as rodent—mouse, rat, etc—simian or other) and represent possible alternative embodiments as long as they exhibit at least one of the known functions of α2 or β1 integrin.
The α2 subunit is a member of a subset of integrin α subunits that contain an approximately 200 amino acid domain located near the amino terminus often referred to as the I (or inserted) domain. Many I domains, including the α2 and integrin subunit I domain, contain an additional cation binding site, the metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) motif. The structural characterisation of the α2 integrin I domain is published, e.g. in Dickeson et. al., J. Biol. Chemistry, 272, 7661-7668 (1997). I domains are important determinants in ligand binding. The amino acid sequence of a human α2 integrin I domain can be gained from FIG. 9, as marked in the α2 integrin sequence (SEQ ID 20).
The α2β1 integrin (very late antigen 2; VLA-2) is expressed on a variety of cell types including platelets, vascular endothelial cells, epithelial cells, activated monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts, leukocytes, lymphocytes, activated neutrophils and mast cells. The natural ligands for α2β1 include collagen and laminin, both of which are found in extracellular matrix. The α2β1 integrin has been implicated in several biological and pathological processes including collagen-induced platelet aggregation, cell migration on collagen, cell-dependent reorganization of collagen fibers as well as collagen-dependent cellular responses that result in increases in cytokine expression and proliferation, aspects of T-cell, mast cell, and neutrophil function, aspects of delayed type hypersensitivity contact hypersensitivity and collagen-induced arthritis, mammary gland ductal morphogenesis, epidermal wound healing, and processes associated with VEGF-induced angiogenesis.
Platelets normally circulate in the blood in an inactive resting state, however, they are primed to respond rapidly at sites of injury to a wide variety of agonists. Upon stimulation, they undergo shape changes and become highly reactive with plasma proteins, such as fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor (vWf), other platelets, and the endothelial lining of the vessel wall. These interactions all cooperate to facilitate the rapid formation of a hemostatic fibrin platelet plug (Cramer, 2002 in Hemostasis and Thrombosis, 4th edition). Upon binding ligand, platelet receptors transduce outside-in signal pathways which in turn, trigger inside-out signaling that results in activation of secondary receptors such as the platelet fibrinogen receptor, αIIbβ3 integrin, leading to platelet aggregation. Even minor activation of platelets can result in platelet thrombotic responses, thrombocytopenia and bleeding complications.
α2 integrin is the only collagen-binding integrin expressed on platelets and has been implicated to play some role in platelet adhesion to collagen and hemostasis (Santoro et al., Thromb. Haemost. 74:813-821 (1995); Vanhoorelbeke et al., Curr Drug Targets Cardiovasc. Haematol. Disord. 3(2): 125-40 (2003); Sarratt et al., Blood 106(4): 1268-1277 (2005)). Therefore, the inactivation of alpha 2 integrin function would be desirable in order to negatively interfere with platelet aggregation. One such kind of inhibition would e.g. be an allosteric inhibition that locks the integrin in the inactive state.
Integrin/ligand interactions can facilitate leukocyte extravasations into inflamed tissues (Jackson et al., J. Med. Chem. 40:3359-3368 (1997); Gadek et al., Science 295(5557):1086-9 (2002), Sircar et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. 10:2051-2066 (2002)), and play a role in downstream events following the initial extravasations of leukocytes from the circulation into tissues in response to inflammatory stimuli, including migration, recruitment and activation of pro-inflammatory cells at the site of inflammation (Eble J. A., Curr Pharm Des. 11(7):867-880 (2005)).
Blocking of α2 integrin has been reported to show impact on delayed hypersensitivity responses and efficacy in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis and a model of inflammatory bowel disease (Kriegelstein et al., J. Clin. Invest. 110(12):1773-82 (2002); de Fougerolles et al., J. Clin. Invest. 105:721-720 (2000) and attenuate endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro (Senger et al., Am. J. Pathol. 160(1):195-204 (2002), suggesting that the blocking of α2 integrin might prevent/inhibit abnormal or higher than normal angiogenesis, as observed in various cancers. Furthermore, in a rat colorectal cancer surgery model α2-integrin inhibition was shown to be an effective anti-metastatic (van der Bji et al, Hepatology 47(2): 532-543 (2008)). Lineage commitment of colorectal cancer cells could also be shifted away from malignant phenotype (Kirkland et al J Biol Chem 283(41): 27612-27619 (2008)). As a 2 integrin was shown to mediate the malignant phenotype in pancreatic cancer (Grzesiak and Bouvet, Br J Cancer 94: 1311-1319 (2006) validating this target for a therapeutic approach in this type of aggressive cancer. Moreover, α201 integrin is interacting with glycosphingolipids in the progression of prostate cancer suggesting that blockade of this interaction will be of therapeutic use for this type of cancer (van Slambrouck et al., Int J Onco 35: 693-699 (2009). In experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS), α2 integrin seems to play an important role as treatment with an anti-α2 antibody, given immediately after the onset of the disease, suppressed clinical signs and inflammation of the CNS (Tsunoda et al Brain Pathol 17:45-55 (2007). The mechanism of this therapeutically beneficial action of the anti-α2 antibody is most likely due to the inhibition of the interaction of α2β1 integrin with C1q complement protein. This interaction is a first step in mast-cell-degranulation and mast-cell activation, which is involved in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, like MS, systemic lupus erythematosus, glomerolonephritis (McCall-Culbreath et al Blood 111(3562-3570) 2008).
Thus, α2 integrin is an interesting medical target. As integrins are difficult targets for the development of specific inhibitors, and in view of the many different possible therapeutic indications, there is a need for alternative inhibitors binding to α2 integrin, especially inhibitors of alpha 2 integrin exhibiting somewhat different properties when compared with existing α2 integrin inhibitors, which can be used in the treatment of α2 integrin-associated disorders.

Peptide or peptide complex binding to ALPHA2 integrin and methods and uses involving the same


A top board structure is adapted to a keyboard instrument (e.g., a grand piano) having a pair of a top board rear and a top board front, which are arranged close to each other with a gap therebetween above the upper portion of a case. Herein, the gap is enlarged using sliders along which the top board front can be moved forwards and backwards as necessary, wherein the top board rear is allowed to be opened only when the top board front is positioned to enlarge the gap. Therefore, the user can easily hold the free end of the top board rear to be opened or closed with fingers. Thus, it is possible to prevent the player from being anxious that finger tips will be caught in the gap during an opening motion and/or a closing motion of the top board rear.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to top board structures for keyboard instruments such as grand pianos that are covered with top boards (or lids), wherein a player's fingers will not be caught in top boards when closed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, grand pianos having top boards for covering cases are widely used, wherein grand pianos of a folded type are designed such that top boards are each divided into two pieces called top board rears, which are pivotally supported at one ends of cases of grand pianos and can be freely closed and opened, and top board fronts that are arranged in front sides of top board rears and are interconnected using hinges. When top boards are opened, a top board front is folded with hinges to be partially mounted onto a top board rear; then, the free end of the top board rear is lifted up together with the top board front.
Other types of grand pianos are designed not to use hinges for establishing interconnections between top boards and cases so that top board rears are not mutually interconnected with top board fronts, wherein they are independently closed and opened. That is, in a top board structure of an independent type, a top board rear is solely closed or opened while a top board front is closed. Therefore, compared with the top board structure of the folded type, it is possible to reduce weight of the top board rear in operation by the weight of the top board front; that is, it is possible to reduce loads in closing and opening top boards.
An example of a top board structure for a keyboard instrument is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-83960.
In the top board structure of the independent type in which each of the top board rear and top board front can be independently closed and opened, it is possible to prevent dust from entering into the inside of a case of a grand piano when the top board rear and/or top board front is closed. That is, the top board structure of the independent type can be designed to extremely reduce a gap between the top board rear and top board front. In other words, a player (or a user) may be anxious that tips of fingers will be unexpectedly caught in the gap between the top board rear and top board front when the player holds the front end of the top board rear in proximity to the top board front with the fingers. In order to prevent finger tips from being caught in the gap between the top board rear and top board front, the player (or user) should again take hold of the free end of the top board rear by slightly changing positions of fingers. Therefore, the player (or user) may experience difficulties in performing open/close operations of the top board rear, which are very troublesome.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Top board structure for keyboard instrument


A space solar power system that has sun-tracking curved reflectors, such as off-axis parabolic reflectors, a secondary reflector, and a power conversion module for converting the sunlight into microwave energy and transmit the energy to remote locations. The power conversion module can have a modular stepped conical shape, with additional radiator area configured in vertical sidewalls, horizontal radiator panels, or both. Hinged, fold-out units can house the microwave conversion electronics and the antenna for transmitting the microwave radiation to the remote ground station.

1. Technical Field
The invention is related to solar power, and more particularly, to modules for converting incident optical radiation to microwave radiation and transmitting the microwave radiation.
2. Related Technology
Space solar power systems have been contemplated since the 1960s, for collecting the sun's solar energy and transmitting it to earth. Early concepts involved large sun-tracking photovoltaic arrays feeding power to a separate microwave conversion and transmitting module. As contemplated, these systems required power cabling for the low voltage current from the photovoltaic array and a gimbaled connection between the photovoltaic array and the microwave module.
A NASA/DOE space solar power concept circa 1980 proposed using a photovoltaic (PV) array of multi-kilometer dimension to supply electrical power to an antenna system that would convert the power to microwaves and beam it to earth. The PV array was proposed to track the sun while the antenna would track the receiver on earth. This design, while promising, had several difficulties. First, a large mass of copper wiring would be needed to carry low voltage current and transfer the current through slip rings. Second, a large supporting structure would be required for the flat PV array. Third, time consuming handwork by a number of astronauts would be needed to complete the on-orbit assembly.
Another concept known as the "Integrated Symmetrical Concentrator" proposed using a two-axis reflector array that tracks the sun continuously to direct sunlight in a nadir direction to a single compact module, called a sandwich cell array. This system allows two-axis sun tracking while the microwave antennas remain pointing toward the earth. The sandwich cell array combines a photovoltaic array, electric to microwave conversion, and nadir-directed microwave transmission. PV and microwave systems are back-to-back in the "sandwich" power conversion module, eliminating long power cables and slip rings. Solar concentration reduces the number of PV cells. However, waste heat from PV and microwave devices creates high temperatures that significantly reduce system efficiency. Further, the problems of structural mass to maintain the flat disc module, and on-orbit assembly of module, remain.

Thermally efficient power conversion modules for space solar power

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An electronic amplifier circuit comprising an operational amplifier circuit, such as a two-stage operational amplifier circuit, in tandem with a operational transconductance amplifier. The electronic amplifier circuit has high open-loop gain and high gain-bandwidth while maintaining stability over a wide range of operating parameters.

Electronic regulator loops, e.g., voltage, etc., often use a power output device controlled by an operational amplifier in a feed-back loop (see FIG. 1). In order to achieve an accurate output value, both high gain and wide bandwidth are required in the loop. High gain improves the output line, e.g., voltage, regulation and wide bandwidth improves the response time to a sudden load change. However, high gain and wide bandwidth operational amplifier circuits pose stability problems. Existing approaches to obtaining stable high gain regulators having good regulation have been the use of gain boosting operational amplifier circuits, and/or nested operational amplifier circuits. The stability of the gain boosting operational amplifier circuits depends upon the external load characteristics. The nested operational amplifier circuit are stable because they have limited bandwidth, and thus produce poor load regulation.
Increased use of rechargeable high technology batteries such as Lithium Ion in electronic equipment have increased the desire for lower cost and higher performance voltage regulator and battery charging circuits requiring high-gain and high bandwidth error amplifiers in the control loops. Voltage converters also require high performance voltage regulators in their control loops.
Therefore, what is needed is an electronic amplifier circuit that enables improved line and load regulation at the same time. Preferably this electronic amplifier will achieve good stability while maintaining high gain (reduced loop error) and wide bandwidth (fast response to a load change.

Load and line regulation using operational transconductance amplifier and operational amplifier in tandem


A method of managing chronic pain produced by a variety of disorders or conditions which afflict the pelvic region and which is transmitted through the lumbosacral region of the human body. The method includes techniques for positioning one or more stimulation leads within or about the sacrum to enable electrical energy to be applied to spinal nervous tissue, including nerve roots, to inhibit the transmission of pain.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology which affects the mucosa and the muscularis of the bladder. IC is estimated to affect 450,000 people, 90% being women.
IC has a number of consistent symptoms, including hyperactive voiding and severe, debilitating pain. Current methods of treating IC or its symptoms have been largely unsuccessful. Common treatments include intravesicular instillations of medications such as heparin, dimethyl sulfoxide (for inflammation), sodium oxychlorosene (detergent), silver nitrate, and chromolymn sodium. While not offering significant improvements, these treatments themselves inflict further pain. More extreme intervention includes a cystectomy (removal of the bladder). Unfortunately, even after removal of the bladder, patients may continue to experience a level of pain consistent with that experienced prior to the procedure.
IC pain is largely visceral in nature. Visceral pain is produced in response to inflammation, distention, or increased pressure and is not necessarily due to visceral injury. Visceral pain is not well localized. IC pain may also include a neuropathic component. Consistent with some of the believed physiological understanding of IC, neuropathic pain is usually related to a nerve disruption. The pain associated with IC, being in some instances more severe than advanced cancer pain, may be intermittent or continuous.
Because of the lack of understanding of the disorder, pain management for IC is difficult. Common pain management practices currently include administering analgesic medications. For mild to moderate pain, acetaminophen, aspirin, or other nonsteroidal, antiinflammatory agents are utilized. For more severe pain, opioid medications (for example, morphine, hydromorphone, levorphanol, methadone, fentanyl, oxycodone, and hydrocodone) may be used. Of course, while opioids may provide some temporary relief, physicians must be concerned about potential side effects and the development of patient addictions.
While alternatives to opioid-only treatments exist, the success (or believed success) of the alternatives to effectively reduce that pain experienced over an extended period of time is not appreciably greater, if even greater, than that achievable through the opioid-only treatments. Alternatives to opioid use, or combinations which lessen the dependence on opioids, include: tricyclic antidepressants (offers moderate pain relief but can induce convulsions and hepatotoxicity as side effects as well as other, less severe side effects), anticonvulsants and antiarrhythmics (helpful in treating the neuropathic pain component of IC pain), and banzodiazepines. As another alternative, local anesthetics (for example, small, systemically inactive doses of opiate medications) could be applied to the bladder or pain transmitting nerves of associated with the bladder. Further alternatives may include: injection of local anaesthetics, opiates, or neurolytic agents into certain nerves using a superior hypogastric nerve block, intraspinal injection of opioids (with or without local anesthetics), intrathecal infusions of opioids (without or without local anesthetics), application of electrical stimulation external to the body (i.e., TENS stimulation), physically interrupting pain-transmitting nerves, and psychological treatments.
In addition to IC, a variety of disorders can induce chronic, severe pelvic pain of which there is no readily available treatment or answer for the symptomatic chronic severe pain. For reference, some of these conditions include, but are not limited to, lumbosacral radiculitis, lumbosacral radiculopathy, lumbosacral plexitis, lumbosacral plexopathy, vulvadynia, coccygodynia, peripheral neuritis, and peripheral neuropathy.
Accordingly, a need exists for at least a method of treating the pain produced from IC as well as other disorders which afflict the pelvic region. It is desired that the method should consciously avoid the perils of relying upon conventional drug treatments as well as avoid extreme irreversible intervention.


The present disclosure presents sanitization devices and methods. More particularly, the disclosure presents devices and methods that significantly reduce or eliminate the activity of germs, bacteria and/or other infectious microorganisms from objects such as TV remotes, cell phones, electronic devices and personal and other handheld devices. The devices and methods use a pre-cleaning component to substantially remove radiation blocking debris allowing the germicidal radiation to exposes areas of the object that would not be exposed if the debris had not been removed allowing for improved sanitization.

The surfaces of many objects used in everyday life tend to attract and harbor potentially harmful infectious organisms, such as microbes, pathogens, viruses, bacteria and the like. Particularly infected are objects that are passed from one person to another without the benefit of cleaning or sanitizing. Objects that are handled or breathed-on by different people, or come in contact with surfaces contaminated by other people or animals, can themselves become contaminated. If these objects then contact another person, they can transmit diseases. Even the hands and clothing of medical or healthcare personnel can serve to transmit diseases. This contamination problem is particularly acute with objects used continually by different people. If they are not sterilized between the different users of the objects they can serve as the vector to transmit the disease from one person to the next. Examples include TV remotes in hotel rooms and medical devices.
One method of reducing the impact of infectious organisms are exposure to germicidal ultraviolet bulbs. The bulbs are generally short wave low pressure mercury vapor tubes that produces ultraviolet wavelengths that are lethal to micro-organisms. Approximately 95% of the ultraviolet energy emitted by these bulbs is at and around the mercury resonance line of 254 nanometers. This wavelength is in the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness and is highly lethal to virus, bacteria and mold spores. It deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and thus destroys their ability to multiply and cause disease. Specifically, UV-C light causes damage to the nucleic acid of microorganisms by making them form covalent bonds between certain adjacent bases in the DNA. The formation of such bonds prevents the DNA from being unzipped for replication, and the organism is unable to reproduce. In fact, when the organism tries to replicate, it dies. UVC radiation has extremely low penetrating ability and does not penetrate past the dead-cell layers of the skin. UV will cause eye irritations or burns after prolonged exposure.
Devices for sanitizing objects that might have harmful infectious organisms on their surfaces have been described, for example, U.S. Pat. Application 2005/0063922A1 to Wesley et al. The devices use sanitizing bulbs that emit sanitizing radiation and shine that radiation onto the surfaces of the object to be sanitized. The sanitizing radiation is a light-of-sight process in which the radiation impinges directly onto the surfaces which are in an unimpeded straight line from the source to the surface. As such, anything in the way of the direct line from the irradiation source to the surface, such as dirt particles and the like on the surface, will prevent those covered surface areas from being sanitized. This is a recognized problem with the devices currently available. One method to improve the problem, in one case, is by rotating the object to be sanitized so that more surface can be aligned in a line-of-line configuration with the radiation source as the device rotates. Another method to improve this problem is by providing mirrors and/or mirrored surfaces that reflect the sanitizing radiation at different angles to the surface areas to be sanitized. One drawback to mirrors is that the intensity of the sanitization radiation is reduced the further it has to travel, in inverse proportion to the distance, such that as the radiation gets reflected around the chamber the distance the radiation travels increases and the intensity of the radiation decreases. Thus any sanitization that depends on reflected sanitization radiation will require a longer radiation time to be effective as a sanitization device and/or process. Although the prior art addresses this problem, they are only a work-around from the cause of the problem. None of the solutions described in the prior art remove the radiation blocking material.


A tool box includes a bin section for receipt of tools, trays and removable containers or compartments. A hinged lid fits onto the bin portion of the tool box and is designed to retain the various containers and trays in position when closed. The area of the lid is enclosed within the profile of the base of the bin to facilitate sitting and standing thereon and to increase stability of the assembly.

This invention relates to a tool box fabricated from molded plastic materials which may be useful in supporting a person or otherwise acting as a support stand as well as a container to store and transport tools and other items.
The use of molded plastic tool boxes or tool carriers having the dual purpose of carrying and storing of tools as well as acting as a support or step to elevate a person or to provide a seat for a person is illustrated in various prior art patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,571 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,339 disclose devices of this general nature. One object associated with the design of such a product is to provide a stable support, particularly when one is standing on the carrier or container, as well as a device which will easily store and carry multiple tools. Thus it is desirable to provide a device which has a large bulk storage capacity yet provides an ability to store small parts in multiple organizational compartments. It is with these goals and objects in mind that the present invention was developed.


A storage system with an array of redundant storage devices places bounds on access request servicing. If a storage device is unable to service the access request within the bounds, the storage system temporarily, individually offlines the specific storage device. Access requests pending for the storage device may be serviced by other storage devices of the redundant array while the storage device is offline. The offline storage device can perform error recovery and be brought back online by the system when error recovery has completed.

A storage server is a special-purpose processing device used to store and retrieve data on behalf of one or more client devices ("clients"), which may access and/or process the data. A storage server can be used, for example, to provide multiple users with access to shared data and/or to backup important data.
A storage server may provide different levels of access to data. For example, a file server is an example of a storage server that provides file-level access to data. A file server operates on behalf of one or more clients to store and manage shared files in a set of mass storage devices, such as magnetic or optical storage based disks or tapes. The mass storage devices may be organized into one or more groupings (physical and/or logical or virtual) of Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks (RAID). The data may be organized, managed, and/or accessed as data files. Another example of a storage server may be a device that provides clients with block-level access to stored data, rather than file-level access. The data in such a system may be organized and managed and/or accessed as data blocks, which may include more or less information than a file. Also, a storage server may be able to provide clients with both file-level access and block-level access.
A storage server may have access to multiple mass storage devices, or persistent/non-volatile storage devices, which may be managed based on logical or virtual organization. Data storage across these multiple mass storage devices can be organized into multiple layers of abstraction to provide fault tolerance, as individual disks can (and do) fail. The abstraction layers also allow a logical disk organization, for example, a volume or aggregate, to store larger quantities of data than can fit on a single disk.
For example, a storage server may represent a group of storage devices (e.g., hard disks) as a logical aggregate/grouping of storage devices. The aggregates may be managed to store data in volumes contained within the aggregates. As used herein, volume refers to a logical abstraction of physical storage, combining one or more disks or parts of disks into a single logical storage object. The volumes may in turn be further logically broken down into plexes containing RAID groups. The RAID groups may have multiple disks. While particular terminology is used herein as a reference point to describe particular organizations and/or functions herein, the terminology shall not be construed as limiting, but rather by way of example. Where particular terminology is referred to (e.g., an aggregate, a plex, etc.), these are to be understood as merely examples of data structure abstractions that may be substituted with equivalent or similar data structures that may be referred to by other terms.
Tracking of disks in a logical organization and management of the logical organization may be performed with logical association data. The term "disk" is generally used herein as shorthand to refer to a disk drive, including its actual storage medium or media. A disk or other storage device may have a dedicated area to provide a RAID label and/or other metadata to provide the ability assign and determine which disks are part of which RAID groups, plexes, and aggregates, even as disks are added and failed out of the aggregates. The process of determining the logical data structure to which a disk belongs may be referred to as "RAID assimilation."
A storage device can develop errors (e.g., mechanical instabilities, medium corruption, etc.) that will hinder reading and/or writing to one or more areas/blocks of the storage device. Such errors often result in slow access times, especially if an access request focuses on bad media patches. Many storage devices have error recovery routines that can enable a distressed device to eventually complete the requested I/O (input/output, e.g., read, write) operation successfully. Performing an error recovery routine may include performing a recalibration routine, an automatic retry attempt, etc., and/or a combination of these. A storage device experiencing errors as described above may be referred to herein as a "distressed" drive, or a "spasming" drive. "Spasm" may be used herein to refer to an error resulting in a delay and/or the associated delay that results in slow data access.
Error recovery is traditionally handled "in-band," referring to the process of handling the error in the context of servicing the access request (or I/O) that spawned the error. The delay mentioned refers to the delay in servicing (e.g., processing, responding to, performing actions or operations as a result of) the request. Because all error handling is traditionally performed in- band, delays caused by errors are eventually pushed back to the requesting client. Thus, the client traditionally has to wait for the operation to be completed before the request can be acknowledged as complete or successful, if it can be so acknowledged at all. At worst an error message is passed to the client instead of an acknowledgement of success, or the client request results in an error in the filer or client interface.
Hardware commoditization and the continuously decreasing cost of storage (price per GB) is driving a trend towards using less reliable, higher capacity drives for building storage servers and disk arrays. As deposition densities on drives increases, the effects of bad patches on the media become more apparent. Bad media patches can substantially degrade read/write performance, for example, with increased completion latency, especially if I/O happens to focus on the regions of bad media. Drives use an in-built error recovery scheme (native to the drive) when reading/writing blocks within a bad media patch that may take a relatively long time to complete.
As one example, ATA drives use an in-built recovery that can range in duration from multiple seconds to even minutes. In desktop usage where the inability to read a block can prove fatal to system operation, such latency may be acceptable. However, in server environments, long I/O operation complete times may be unacceptable. In another example, FC drives typically use a deterministic error recovery, which can prevent the long I/O delays discussed above. However, successive media errors can still result in cumulative queuing delays that can result in application timeouts and/or system hangs if I/Os cannot be completed within an acceptable time-period. Traditionally, storage systems have either resorted to failing such drives, which results in a costly drive reconstruction, or simply operated with exposure to the risk of application downtimes.
The duration of recovery routines to prevent failure of I/O operations on a spasming drive can range from multiple seconds to minutes, which may be acceptable for certain environments. However, in certain server environments, many data access protocols (e.g., CIFS (common Internet file services/systems), FC (Fibre Channel), NFS (network file services/system)) rely on lease timeouts for maintaining session state, meaning long delays in I/O access time can lead to unwanted connection terminations. Additionally, in file server/filer system configurations, many I/O accesses (e.g., a stripe write) are associated with parallel accesses to other storage devices in a redundant array (protection unit). Traditional systems delay returning the parallel results until all parallel I/O accesses are completed by the individual storage devices of the protection unit. Thus, a single spasming drive can cause a delay for data access from multiple storage devices.
File server/filer configurations typically use redundant drive arrays with mirroring and/or redundancy (e.g., RAID), enabling the systems to regenerate the data on one drive by accessing a subset of drives within a protection unit to which an unresponsive drive belongs. The latency for reconstructing data in this manner should be of the same order as a single drive latency, which is on the order of milliseconds. Assuming that the probability of multiple drive spasming at the same time is very low, reconstructing blocks to service an I/O request should be much faster than accessing a spasmic drive. Thus, successful access that causes a long delay may cause a more deleterious effect on system performance than would be caused by outright failure of the device. Additionally, a subsequent I/O request to the distressed device may trigger the same fault or a related fault, resulting in further client requests being delayed. However, the cost of failing out a device that does not have fatal errors may not be justified.
Besides individual disk errors and resulting access delays experienced by clients attempting to access data stored on a spasming disk, individual disk errors can compound and result in performance problems with the filer. For example, some error recovery attempts in high workload scenarios can result in a cumulative backoff causing a filer operating system to freeze up.


A logging block (16) formed in accordance with the present invention includes a frame (56) having a first end and an opposing second end and a sheave (50) having an upper side (58) and an opposing lower side (62) coupled to the second end of the frame such that the sheave rotatably contacts a continuous loop of cable (12) as the cable travels along a mono-cable path (32). Located at the first end of the frame (56) is a mounting assembly (77) providing at least two mounting slots (78) used for securing the frame to a stationary object along the mono-cable path (32), such as a tree or stump (20). The mounting slots (78) are positioned with respect to the sheave (50) such that when the logging block (16) is in operation, the alignment of a mounting slot is either above, below or directly in line with the sheave. By altering the alignment of the mounting slot (78) with respect to the sheave (50), the position of logging blocks (16) along the mono-cable path (32) can be significantly altered without sacrificing the functionality of the logging block or increasing dangers associated with misalignment of the cable (12) with respect to the logging block as the cable travels along the mono-cable path.

Current logging practices are undergoing significant changes due to the increased opposition to clear cutting as a means for harvesting timber. In traditional clear cutting, all trees are harvested, and in order to remove the fallen trees, conventional yarding equipment has been used to retrieve the logs from between stumps to a location where they are loaded onto trailers for subsequent transport away from the logging area. One way to harvest timber without clear cutting of this nature is to remove selected trees from a given area while leaving many existing trees standing. This selective harvesting of timber is often referred to as thinning.
In order to meet demands of better thinning and selective harvesting of timber, logging equipment has been developed that allows fallen trees to be removed by a more circuitous route through the trees that remain standing than by using the straight, clear-cut path retrieval of conventional line systems. Such logging equipment can transport harvested trees along a meandering path to a location where they are loaded on trailers for subsequent transport from the logging area. One such system for thinning trees is known as a mono-cable system. The mono-cable system relies on a continuous loop of cable that is strung through a logging area along the path that the harvested timber is conveyed. The cable is generally fixed in length and driven by a mechanical means such as a hydraulic motor. Conventional choking equipment, including chokers, hooks, and stoppers, are used in conjunction with the cable to secure felled trees to the cable. Logging blocks having radially extending teeth are secured to standing trees or stumps, and are used to support and guide the cable along the path, as well as to change its direction through the logging area.
In one existing mono-cable system, the cable is provided with a plurality of annular sleeves secured along the length of the cable at intermittent locations. These sleeves act as the stoppers for the hooks that hang freely on the cable from one end and have at their opposite end a choker for securing a log or logs. In operation, the choker can be slid along the cable to a felled log and, if necessary, the cable itself can be advanced to assist in positioning the choker with respect to a log. Once the log is secured, the mono-cable system is advanced, causing the cable to slide through the hook until a stopper is reached, whereupon the stopper engages the hook and advances it along with the cable. The cable, stopper, hook, choker and secured log or logs are then transported along the meandering mono-cable system path--along the path determined by the location of the blocks--to the point where they are conveniently loaded onto trailers.
Conventional logging blocks used in such mono-cable systems include a sheave or pulley that has a groove or channel in which the mono-cable is seated during normal operation. The groove is defined between two rails on opposite sides of the sheave. One rail is substantially smooth and has an outer diameter that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the groove in the sheave. The opposite rail may also be substantially smooth or, as is more common, comprise a plurality of radially extending teeth. In the conventional blocks, these teeth are machined into the sheave rail or are rigidly affixed thereto. The sheave and corresponding rails are rotatably mounted to a frame which serves to carry the combination and secure it to a tree or stump via a harness such as a cable or belt. The harness is looped around the tree or stump and through a notch or hole cut into the frame, thereby anchoring the block to the tree or stump.
When tension on the mono-cable is increased by activating the winch, the blocks which have been secured to a tree or stump are extended horizontally relative to their anchor by the force of the taut cable in the direction away from the tree or stump. In this position, the side of each block with the radial extending teeth is below the smooth rail and essentially parallel with the ground. During normal operation, the cable rides in the groove of the sheave. As a portion of the mono-cable carrying the hook enters the block and begins to pass along the groove of the sheave, the vertically oriented hook either seats itself between the protruding teeth or contacts a tooth along its sides or at its end and the protruding teeth advance the cable and associated hook and sleeve along the sheave.
Because of the high tension on the mono-cable, the potential for injury to hookers or other logging personnel in the area is great if the cable jumps the block. Additionally, the down time involved in restringing the mono-cable onto a block adds to the overall cost of the logging operation. The potential for the hook assembly to jump off the logging block relates to a number of factors, not the least of which is the ability of the sheave to twist to maintain proper alignment with the incoming weighted cable. More specifically, as a portion of the mono-cable carrying the hook approaches the horizontally extended sheave, the weight of the associated secured log pulls downward against the cable and sheave on the side of the sheave closest to the approaching hook. This downward force tends to twist the sheave on its anchor away from horizontal and towards alignment with the approaching weighted cable. This aligns the protruding teeth of the sheave with the weighted cable and hook so that the hook correctly seats itself between the teeth. Twisting of the sheave is therefore necessary to prevent or reduce the likelihood that the cable will jump off the logging block.
The ability of the sheave to twist to accommodate the incoming weighted cable and hook depends on the amount of cable contact with the sheave. Very little cable contact reduces the twisting force on the sheave as the weighted cable and hook approaches. The cable itself rather than the sheave is likely to be forced downward and possibly off the block. Conversely, greater cable contact with the sheave forces the sheave itself to twist.
Perhaps the most significant factor affecting cable contact with the sheave is the angle between adjacent logging blocks. The smaller the angle between adjacent logging blocks, the greater the cable contact with the surface of the sheave. Traditional logging blocks in existing mono-cable systems are anchored on nearby trees along the desired mono-cable path in roughly the same plane such that the angle at any given logging block between adjacent logging blocks to either side is approximately 90.degree. to 125.degree.. This allows a meandering mono-cable path that is predominately jagged in appearance. By aligning the harness looped through the notch or hole cut into the frame of the logging block with the center of the groove of the sheave, maximum force on the block extending it horizontally away from the anchor--and therefore maximum contact between the cable and the surface of the sheave--is ensured at any given moment during mono-cable system operation within this range.
As the angle between adjacent logging blocks is increased beyond approximately 120.degree., however, such as in an attempt to obtain a straighter mono-cable path, less cable is in contact with the sheave. Equivalent cable force on the logging block at the higher angle therefore increases the pull of the cable away from the surface of the sheave. This decreases the cable force extending the block horizontally away from the anchor. Reduced cable force maintaining the mono-cable on the sheave decreases the ability of the sheave to twist to align itself with the approaching hook and log. This, in turn, increases the likelihood that the cable will jump the block.
The distance between adjacent logging blocks also affects the ability of the sheave to twist. The shorter the distance between the current logging block (through which the weighted cable is passing) and the subsequent logging block (the next logging block along the mono-cable path), the less flexibility the current logging block sheave has to twist. The closer the two sheaves the more tension that exists along the cable between the sheaves, thus constraining the twisting of the current sheave. The greater the distance between these sheaves, however, the less tension along the cable, and the greater the twisting flexibility of the current sheave.
Given that the topography of each logging area varies tremendously, the distance between adjacent logging blocks in a mono-cable system cannot always be ideally set to achieve the necessary sheave twist. The spacing between trees, for example, may force placement of logging blocks closer to each other than desired along a given mono-cable path. To compensate for the variance in distance between logging blocks mandated by the logging area, the relative plane in which adjacent logging blocks sit may be adjusted. While anchoring a subsequent logging block relatively close to a current logging block in the same relative plane reduces possible sheave twisting in response to approaching hooks with associated secured logs, anchoring the subsequent block in a higher plane relative to the current block prestresses the block to twist towards the approaching hook. Adjusting the relative plane in which adjacent logging blocks sit thus compensates for variances in distance between blocks.
In sum, the potential for the hook assembly to jump off the logging block is related to (1) the angle between adjacent logging blocks, (2) the distance between adjacent logging blocks, and (3) the relative plane in which adjacent logging blocks sit. Each of these factors affects the forces between the cable and the surface of the sheave and, thus, the proper functioning of the mono-cable system.
Accordingly, to avoid risking injury and additional costs associated with the cable jumping the block in mono-cable system operation, the placement of traditional logging blocks along a mono-cable path has heretofore been extremely limited by angular range, plane, and distance between adjacent logging blocks. This limitation restricts logging personnel in their choice of mono-cable paths, forcing them to adopt paths that are either not as efficient in maximizing thinning efforts for any given tree stand, or not possible given the location of existing stumps and the topography of the logging area.
Although mono-cable systems and conventional blocks are in use, there is a need for an improved logging block that provides increased flexibility in the placement of logging blocks between mounting trees forming a mono-cable path while reducing the likelihood that the mono-cable will jump the block. By so doing, the improved logging block would increase the usefulness and efficiency of the mono-cable logging system while reducing the risk of injury to logging personnel and associated economic loss.


A network coupling device includes a transformer module for transmitting a network signal from a network system, and a power processing module coupled to the transformer module and configured to transmit a direct current power signal from the network system. The transformer module and the power processing module satisfy a relation|ZT−ZT+L|≦0.25ZT                 where ZT is an impedance of the transformer module when disconnected from the power processing module, and ZT+L is an effective impedance of the transformer module with the power processing module connected thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a network coupling device and a network coupling system, more particularly to a network coupling device and a network coupling system that are to be used in a power over Ethernet (PoE) network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a power over Ethernet (PoE) network, electrical power may be transmitted along with data on a single cable. For example, by using a cable with a register jack (RJ) 45 connector to interconnect a power source equipment (e.g., a network switch) and a power device (e.g., a wireless router, a webcam, a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device, etc.), the power source equipment is able to transmit data and power simultaneously to the power device through the cable. The PoE network allows the power device to operate without having to be connected electrically to a power source (e.g., a household power outlet, a battery, etc.).
A conventional Ethernet transformer is typically installed in the power source equipment for handling transmission of data and power. As various power devices are configured to incorporate more functionalities, power consumptions of the various power devices are accordingly increased. As a result, the power source equipments are required to be able to transmit a larger amount of power. In order to meet the larger power requirement, an iron core of the Ethernet transformer must be made larger in size, and copper coils with larger diameters must be adopted for winding. However, such changes on the Ethernet transformer also change an inductance, and in turn, an equivalent impedance of the Ethernet transformer. In such a case, in order to achieve impedance matching, an equivalent impedance of the power source equipment must be redesigned as well.

Network coupling device and network coupling system


A method for driving a display apparatus. The method comprises: dividing an original gray scale data set of a pixel unit (110) into three grayscale data sets, and then, when the divided grayscale data sets are displayed, turning off backlight units (320), the colors of which are the same and occupy most of the colors corresponding to 0 grayscale data.

For the color shifts at a large viewing angle and a front view angle in various representative color systems of the liquid crystal display, the red, green and blue color systems have more serious color shifts at the large viewing angle than those of other color systems, and due to the rapid saturation increase of the ratio of viewing angle to brightness for gray-scale liquid crystal display, the lower the gray-scale value, the larger the difference between the brightness at the front viewing angle and the brightness at the side viewing angle.
A current method for alleviating the color shift is to subdivide each sub-pixel into one primary pixel and one secondary pixel, which are then driven with a relatively high driving voltage and a relatively low driving voltage respectively to display one sub-pixel together. Furthermore, when the primary and secondary pixels are driven with the relatively high driving voltage and the relatively low driving voltage respectively, a relationship between the brightness at the front viewing angle and the corresponding gray-scale can be kept the same. According to the driving method described, generally, in the first half of the gray-scale, the primary pixels are driven and displayed with the relatively high driving voltage and the secondary pixels are not displayed, so that the brightness of the entire sub-pixels is half that of the primary pixels; and in the second half of the gray-scale, the primary pixels are driven with the relatively high driving voltage for display and the secondary pixels are driven with the relatively low driving voltage for display, so that the brightness of the entire sub-pixels is half the sum of the brightness of the primary pixels and the brightness of the secondary pixels. After combination in such a way, although the color shift at the large viewing angle is somewhat alleviated, the driving method described above has a problem that it is necessary to double the metal wire routing and driving devices to drive the secondary pixels, which affects the light transmittance and aperture ratio of a panel, and additionally increases the production costs.

Method for driving liquid crystal display apparatus

CHONGQING HKC OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A blocking device for attaching to an entry aperture structure of a spring brake cylinder of a vehicle includes a blocking fastener having a head and a shaft extending from the head. The head has a plurality of cylindrical recesses that extend generally parallel to the shaft. At least a portion of the shaft is threaded. A fastener receiver has an insertion portion and a base extending generally transversely to the insertion portion. The insertion portion has an interior surface that is threaded and is configured to receive the shaft of the blocking fastener. The base has a first tier that extends generally radially from the insertion portion and has a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the entry aperture structure such that the base engages the entry aperture structure radially. A fastener receiving component is disposed on the shaft.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a blocking device, and more particularly, to a blocking device for blocking the insertion of a caging bolt into an entry aperture of a spring brake.
In trucks, buses and other vehicles, a spring brake may be located on the rear axle of the vehicle, and may be used as the parking brake. Spring brakes use air pressure and a spring to apply braking power. When driving, air pressure is applied, the spring is compressed, and the parking brake is disengaged. When the spring is decompressed due to low air pressure, the parking brake is applied. If there is loss of air pressure, the spring may be strong enough to apply braking power to the axle.
If there is no air pressure to disengage the parking brake, and if the vehicle needs to be moved, the spring can be mechanically released using a caging bolt. The caging bolt is inserted into an entry aperture of the spring brake cylinder, where the bolt is locked into place inside the spring parking brake chamber. The bolt is turned until the spring is released. However, an unauthorized user may mechanically release the parking brake when the authorized user has the parking brake engaged.

International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC


According to one embodiment, an imprint method comprises coating a photo-curable organic material on a film to be processed, bringing a concave-convex pattern of a template into contact with the photo-curable organic material, applying a force to the template in such a state that the template is brought into contact with the photo-curable organic material, curing the photo-curable organic material by irradiating light onto the photo-curable organic material, in such a state that the template is brought into contact with the photo-curable organic material, and releasing the template from the photo-curable organic material after the light irradiation. The force applied to the template corresponds to a gap between a surface of the film to be processed and the template.

As technology for forming fine patterns at a low cost, an optical nanoimprint method is known. As for the optical nanoimprint method, a template having unevenness corresponding to patterns to be formed on a substrate is pressed against a photo-curable organic material layer coated on a surface of the substrate, and the organic material layer is cured by light irradiation. The template is released from the organic material layer to transcribe patterns.
When the template is pressed again the photo-curable organic material, alignment between the template and the substrate is carried out using an alignment mark on the substrate and an alignment mark of the template. Also, there is known a method that reduces the misalignment of positions, at which transcription patterns are to be formed, by pressurizing the template from left and right and correcting the shape of the template. However, even though the same photo-curable organic material is used, the fluidity of the photo-curable organic material varies depending on a processing condition. Therefore, there has been a problem that it is difficult to improve the alignment accuracy of the transcription patterns, without performing an optimal shape correction on the template.


A method for financial transactions within a Central Securities Depository comprises a clearing process and a settlement process. The clearing process preparing the transactions for the settlement process selects a settlement rule to be followed in the clearing process. The rule defines how the transaction is to be settled and a settlement obligation group. The group includes a number of settlement instructions that must be settled at the same time. The clearing process also “locks in” the assets with which the transactions are concerned thereby reserving the assets for a specific settlement instruction. The settlement process includes selecting transfer instructions for all settlement obligations belonging to the settlement obligation group. The transfer instructions are irrevocable instructions to transfer the assets between participants in the CSD. The settlement process also checks that all transfer instructions are carried out successfully and reports the result of the settlement to the participants involved.

After World War II, many financial (and other) markets were forced to create so called Central Securities Depositories (CSD:s) in order to be able to handle soaring volumes of trade. A Central Securities Depository may be defined in the following manner: a facility (or an institution) for holding securities, which enables securities transactions to be processed by book entry. Physical securities may be immobilised by the depository, or securities may be dematerialised (i.e. they will exist only as electronic records). In addition to safekeeping, a central securities depository may incorporate comparison, clearing, and settlement functions.
Early examples of CSD:s are Frankfurter Kassenverein, DTC (New York), Sicovam (Paris) and Euroclear (Brussels).
Early CSD:s were based on the principle of joint centralised storage of certificates (immobilised securities). Holdings of securities were recorded in a book-entry system. Physical delivery of securities from seller to buyer was replaced by book entry transfer of the securities from seller's bank's account in the CSD to the account of buyer's bank. Participants in a CSD are market participants, e.g. brokers and banks, and in some cases also institutional investors.
Later CSD:s have in some cases handled dematerialised securities, i.e. issues that only exist in electronic form. The Nordic countries are examples of markets where securities—bonds and shares—in paper form no longer exist. The systems and procedures in a dematerialised CSD are similar to those of an immobilised CSD as outlined above.
Today more than 150 CSD:s exist around the world. Globalisation has led to an increase in cross-border trading, as well as consolidation of securities markets and the underlying infrastructure such as CSD:s. This means that more and more CSD:s serve the securities and the participants of more than a single particular market.
The main functions of a CSD are:                Registration of securities and ownership to securities        Clearing and settlement of trades in securities        Asset services (also sometimes referred to as corporate actions), e.g. payment of dividend or interest        Other services, e.g. collateral management for participants.
Clearing (or clearance) can be defined as the process of transmitting, reconciling, and, in some cases, confirming payment orders or security transfer instructions prior to settlement, possibly including the netting of instructions and the establishment of final positions for settlement.
Settlement can be defined as an act that discharges obligations in respect of funds or securities transfers between two or more parties.
CSD:s are based on automated Information Technology (IT) systems—most of which systems are tailored to the traditions and procedures of their home market. Globalization, consolidations among market participants and changes in investment patterns have resulted in a number of add-ons to these systems due to new requirements, for example new types of securities with special functions, or payments in foreign currency.
Clearing and settlement can take place in a number of different ways. Trades can be settled trade for trade (gross settlement), or in a batch where some sort of netting is described. An important principle that is often used is the principle of delivery versus payment (dvp). This means that if payment is made, the buyer can be absolutely certain that the securities are delivered.
The many changes and additions to settlement systems cause problems for CSD:s because it is difficult to change the IT systems to a structure that differs significantly from the original system requirements.

Automated method and a system for clearing and settling trades in a CSD-system


Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a first circuit configured to measure a first time period from a first active edge of one of plurality of internal signals to a second active edge of one of the plurality of internal signals, and a second circuit configured to compare the first time period with a second time period to generate an alert signal.

There is a case Where a semiconductor device such as a DRAM includes an evaluation circuit referred to as "process monitor". Evaluation data generated by the process monitor is output to a tester in a manufacturing stage of the semiconductor device, and judgment is made based on the evaluation data whether an internal circuit is operated at designed timings. However, even in a case where the internal circuit is operated at designed timings in the manufacturing stage, operation timings may be deviated because of age deterioration of elements forming the internal circuit. When the age deterioration progresses, in some cases, an operation error suddenly occurs years after shipping.


Methods and apparatuses are described for enterprise access control governance in a computerized information technology (IT) architecture. A server generates a first vector space, each node in the first space representing a user of resources in the IT architecture and including attributes of the user. The server generates a second vector space, each node in the second space representing an entitlement to access resources in the IT architecture and including attributes of the entitlement. The server creates an entitlement utility matrix by mapping nodes in the first space to nodes in the second space. The server determines a set of recommended entitlements for a plurality of users based upon the utility matrix. The server determines a discrepancy between the set of recommended entitlements for a first user and a set of existing entitlements for the first user and adjusts the set of existing entitlements based upon the discrepancy.

A basic objective of information technology (IT) access control is to facilitate access to computing resources for authorized users and to deny access for unauthorized users. Enterprises of all sizes today face tremendous challenges in governing access control, including the difficulty for current IT access control systems and processes in scaling up and staying up-to-date with the most accurate access control parameters and profiles. In particular, maintaining the appropriate level of access to IT resources based on, e.g., job roles and related functions can become impractical due to the dynamic and global nature of today's workforce and the ever-shrinking lifecycle of IT resources. Entitlement to IT resources changes constantly and often loses its original or intended meaning.
The above challenges have some undesired consequences. First, governing access control inevitably involves processes that require heavy manual intervention to keep up with changes in both the user attributes and resource attributes. Secondly, as users move within the organization and change status or job functions, their access profiles do not typically change quickly enough to reflect their new status, resulting in weakened security control against unauthorized access. In the worst-case scenario, neither the users themselves nor the people who review and grant access understand what the entitlement actually means.

Access control governance using mapped vector spaces


A vehicle system for a vehicle with an occupant is provided. The system includes a seat assembly; a sensor group associated with the seat assembly and configured to collect data about physical characteristics of the occupant of the seat assembly; and a control module coupled to the sensor group and configured to identify the occupant based on the collected data about the physical characteristics of the occupant.

Modern vehicles typically allow driver to personalize the driver experience to enhance safety and comfort. For example, various vehicle devices such as seats, radios, climate systems, and the like may be automatically adjusted based on previously established settings stored in a profile. Similarly, other systems may allow keyless ignition for starting the vehicle. Despite these conveniences, conventional systems still require the identity of the driver in the form of a key-fob or other input device for selecting the driver.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide improved systems and methods for identifying the driver. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Vehicle systems and methods for identifying a driver


A speech packet transmission system of the present invention has a speech coding device and a speech decoding device. In the coding device a speech coder (21) codes a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) speech and outputs the resulting speech coded data and prediction coefficients. A speech detector (22) determines whether the input PCM speech is voiced or unvoiced. A transmission prediction coefficient memory (23) memorizes the prediction coefficients. A delay circuit (24) delays the speech coded data by a preselected delay time. On the transition from an unvoiced state to a voiced state, a transmitter (25) sends the prediction coefficients as a leading packet and then sends the delayed speech coded data as the following packet. In the decoding device, a receiver (31) received the packets from the coding device separates the packets into the prediction coefficients and the coded data. A speech decoder (32) decodes, based on the prediction coefficients separated from the leading packet, the speech decoded data separated from the following packets and thereby reproduces the PCM signal.

The present invention relates to a speech packet transmission system and, more particularly, to a high efficiency speech packet transmission system for allowing a speech coder/decoder, which is applicable to a telephone line switching network using high-speed digital dedicated lines, to code speech signals with a high efficiency speech coding system and send only the voiced portions of the signals in the form of packets.
To send only the voiced portions of speech coded data in the form of packets, it is a common practice to code a linear speech signal by PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) using A-Law or .mu.-Law. The PCM coding scheme protects the speeches of voiced portions from deterioration despite that the coded data of unvoiced portions are not sent. This is because the A-Law/.mu.-Law coded data and the PCM linear signal correspond one-to-one to each other, i.e., one sample of the PCM linear signal can be decoded without being effected by past coded data.
By contrast, a high efficiency speech coding system, e.g., 16 kbps LD-CELP (Low-Delay Code Excited Linear Prediction) system prescribed by ITU-T Recommendation G. 728 codes and decodes speeches by backward linear prediction or similar scheme using past input signals. The precondition with the high efficiency speech coding system is that a decoder decodes incoming continuous coded data while maintaining exactly the same conditions as a coder thereinside. Also, the coder codes speeches while predicting decoded signals by analyzing past input signals.
Assume that the above high efficiency speech coding system is applied to the speech packet transmission system which sends only the voiced portions as coded data. Then, the inside conditions, particularly prediction coefficients, of the coder and those of the decoder do not coincide with each other in unvoiced portions in which no coded data are sent. As a result, speech quality is lowered at the leading end of each voiced period. To solve this problem, the coder and decoder may both be initialized, or reset, during unvoiced periods so as to have their inside conditions forcibly brought into coincidence, as taught in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2-181552 (Prior Art 1). Alternatively, a delay circuit may be inserted in the input side of the coder in order to handle even a part preceding each voiced portion as the voiced portion (Prior Art 2). With the delay circuit scheme, it is possible to drive both the coder and the decoder at the unvoiced portion preceding each voiced portion. Consequently, the inside conditions of the coder and those of the decoder are caused to coincide before the beginning of the actual voiced portion, preventing speech quality from being deteriorated at the leading edge of a speech.
Prior Art 1 cannot fully obviate the deterioration of speech quality at the leading end of a speech, as follows. By the initialization, both the coder and the decoder are reset to their inside conditions which will occur under the continuous receipt of a full unvoiced signal. In unvoiced compression processing, on the transition from an unvoiced portion to a voiced portion, a speech signal with power great enough for a speech detector to detect a voiced portion is input to the coder at the leading portion of the voiced portion. When a speech signal representative of the discontinuous voiced portion and different from the unvoiced signal condition is input to the coder or the decoder forcibly reset, the coder or the decoder deals with the input signal with linear prediction coefficients assigned to the full unvoiced condition. This lowers speech quality at the leading end of a speech, and moreover causes the linear prediction to fail due to the discontinuity of the internal conditions and input signal and results in unexpected sound.
In the LD-CELP system prescribed by ITU-T Recommendation G. 728, a linear predictor is driven once for 2.5 ms by using a past 13.125 ms signal stored in a buffer and representative of 105 samples. As a result, prediction coefficients are updated at the above period. Further, when the linear prediction computation becomes faulty, the linear predictor ends the processing halfway with the result that the prediction coefficients are not updated at all.
Therefore, Prior Art 2 is not practicable without resorting to the following process. First, all the 105 samples stored in the buffer for linear prediction are updated in order to render all the signals in the buffer continuous, so that the linear predictor can perform its normal processing. Subsequently, while the linear predictor repeats the normal processing a plurality of times, the linear prediction coefficients of the coder and those of the decoder are caused to gradually converge to each other. A period of time as long as 20 ms to 60 ms is necessary for the prediction coefficients to converge to a degree sufficient to obviate the deterioration of speech quality at the leading end of a speech and the unexpected sound. Such a great delay undesirably increases the delay of the entire speech packet transmission section. Moreover, the part of the unvoiced period preceding the actual voiced period is also dealt with as the voiced period and sent together with the actual voiced period. Consequently, the part of the unvoiced portion preceding the voiced portion, i.e., the inserted delay lowers an unvoiced compression effect available with the system which does not send unvoiced periods, i.e., the ratio of voiced to the total packets appeared for a given period of time.


An improved method and an apparatus for driving a pump motor for a refrigerator dispenser which are capable of feeding-back a water remaining in a discharge hose to a water container of the refrigerator by reversely rotating a pump motor after discharging the water from the water container, for thus preventing the water and the discharge hose from being polluted. The method includes the step of a first step for discharging a water from a water container through a discharge hose by driving a pump motor when a lever switch is turned on, a second step for stopping the operation of the pump motor when the lever switch is turned off and finishing the water discharge, and a third step for feeding back the water remaining in the discharge hose to a water container of the refrigerator after a predetermined time after the second step by reversely rotating the pump motor with respect to the rotation direction of the pump motor in the first step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for driving a pump motor for a refrigerator dispenser, and in particular to an improved method and an apparatus for driving a pump motor for a refrigerator dispenser which are capable of feeding-back a water remaining in a discharge hose to a water container of the refrigerator by reversely rotating a pump motor after discharging the water from the water container, for thus preventing the water and the discharge hose from being polluted.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a dispenser having a conventional pump motor.
As shown therein, when a lever 7 is inwardly pushed by a user by using a cup (not shown) or the like, a lever switch 5 is turned on, and a pump motor 1 is driven, so that water is discharged to the outside through a discharge hose 2 and a discharge outlet 6.
Here, foreign substances contained in the water are filtered by a filter 4.
The watering level of the cup is checked by the user. When the water level exceeds a predetermined level, the cup is removed from the dispenser position, and then the lever switch 5 is turned off, and the pump motor 1 stops, for thus finishing the discharge of the water from the refrigerator.
However, the water pumped by the pump motor 1 remains in the discharge hose 2. If the user does not use the water dispenser for long time, the water in the discharge hose 2 may be polluted.
In addition, the foreign substances filtered by the filter when the water is pumped are attached to the surface of the filter. The thusly attached foreign substances may remain in the filter. As the water pumping is repeatedly performed, the amount of the foreign substances attached to the filter is increased. Therefore, the amount of the pumped water is decreased due to the foreign substances. In addition, when the amount of the foreign substances are further increased, the water may be blocked thereby, for thus causing an operational problem of the system.
Furthermore, during the discharge of the water, the user must check the watering level of the cup. If the lever is mistakenly pressed for longer time, the water may be over-flown beyond the limit of the cup.

Method and apparatus for driving pump motor for refrigerator dispenser


Simulating a logic design having combinatorial logic and state logic includes representing the combinatorial logic and the state logic using separate graphic elements, identifying clock domains for the combinatorial logic and the state logic using the separate graphic elements, generating computer code that simulates operation of portions of the logic design, the computer code being generated based on the clock domains, and associating the computer code with graphic elements that correspond to the portions of the logic design.

Logic designs for computer chips typically include combinatorial elements and state elements. Combinatorial elements, such as AND gates and OR gates, combine two or more logic states to produce an output. State elements, such as latches and flip-flops (FFs), hold a logic state for a period of time, usually until receipt of an external clock signal.
Computer languages exist which allow designers to simulate logic designs, including combinatorial and state elements, prior to forming the logic on silicon. Examples of such languages include Verilog and Very High-Level Design Language (VHDL). Using these languages, a designer can write code to simulate a logic design, then execute the code in order to determine if the logic design performs properly.
Standard computer languages may also be used to simulate a logic design.


A fastener for securing an object is formed of a resilient material and includes an opening therethrough. At least two lines, such as a shoestring, cord, rope, twine, string, or similar article, extending from the object are disposed through the opening in substantially the same direction. By pulling on respective ends of the line in opposite directions, the fastener is distorted for providing a gripping action between the fastener and the lines. In one embodiment, the fastener is an annular member having the lines wrapped at least once around a wall of the fastener. As the ends of the line are pulled, the annular member twists and rolls into a shape having at least one loop, such as a figure eight type shape. In another embodiment, the fastener is a tubular member. As the ends of the line are pulled, one open end of the tubular member rolls toward an opposite open end of the tubular member. The plastic deformation or torsion of the fastener provides a gripping action between the lines and the fastener, securing the ends of the line together without the need to tie the ends of the line together.

The present invention relates to the securing together of articles and, more particularly, to fasteners and a method for securing together lines extending from articles or objects being secured.
In the prior art, the securing or locking of lines extending from objects or bundles to be secured, typically involve tying the lines together, as by tying a single or double knot or by tying a single knot and then tying a bow knot. Such tying processes consume time, are tedious, and are often difficult for persons such as persons with arthritis or other ailments, and young children. Further, such knots may become loosened and disengaged, thus creating problems such as the falling or dropping of objects, the tripping of a person on loose shoelaces, etc.
A fastener for securing shoe laces is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,907,629 issued May 9, 1933 to Walty and entitled "Lace Fastener". The lace fastener includes an opening into which the laces are disposed in opposite directions. However, this device requires the single knot and bow knot to be tied around the lace fastener.
Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and method for securing together the lines extending from an object which does not require the tying of knots and which prevents the loosening of the lines during use of the object.