Genes have been identified in the Methylomonas genome that are responsive to various metabolic and growth conditions. The identified responsiveness of these genes allows for the use of their promoters in regulated gene expression in C1 metabolizing bacteria. In particular, the hps promoter, which in its native state drives the expression of 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (HPS), was found to be useful for directing expression of heterolgous coding regions (e.g., crtZ) in the obligate methanotroph Methylomonas sp. 16a.

Methanotrophic bacteria are defined by their ability to use methane as their sole source of carbon and energy under ambient conditions. This ability, in conjunction with the abundance of methane, makes the biotransformation of methane a potentially unique and valuable process. As such, several approaches have been used in attempts to harnesss the unique natural abilities of these organisms for commercial applications.
Historically, the commercial applications of biotransformation of methane have fallen broadly into three categories:                1) Production of single cell protein (Sharpe D. H. BioProtein Manufacture (1989). Ellis Horwood series in applied science and industrial technology. New York: Halstead Press) (Villadsen, John, Recent Trends Chem. React. Eng., [Proc. Int. Chem. React. Eng. Conf.], 2nd (1987), Volume 2, pp 320–33. Editor(s): Kulkarni, B. D.; Mashelkar, R. A.; Sharma, M. M. Publisher: Wiley East., New Delhi, India; Naguib, M., Proc. OAPEC Symp. Petroprotein, [Pap.] (1980), Meeting Date 1979, pp 253–77 Publisher: Organ. Arab Pet. Exporting Countries, Kuwait, Kuwait);
2) Epoxidation of alkenes for production of chemicals (U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,476); and
3) Biodegradation of chlorinated pollutants (Tsien et al., Gas, Oil, Coal, Environ. Biotechnol. 2, [Pap. Int. IGT Symp. Gas, Oil, Coal, Environ. Biotechnol.], 2nd (1990), pp 83–104. Editor(s): Akin, Cavit; Smith, Jared. Publisher: Inst. Gas Technol., Chicago, Ill.; WO 9,633,821; Merkley et al., Biorem. Recalcitrant Org., [Pap. Int. In Situ On-Site Bioreclam. Symp.], 3rd (1995), pp. 165–74. Editor(s): Hinchee, Robert E; Anderson, Daniel B.; Hoeppel, Ronald E. Publisher: Battelle Press, Columbus, Ohio; Meyer et al., Microb. Releases 2(1): 11–22 (1993)).
Epoxidation of alkenes has experienced only slight commercial success due to low product yields, toxicity of products and the large amount of cell mass required to generate products.
Large-scale protein production from methane, termed single cell protein or SCP, has been technically feasible and commercialized at large scale (Villadsen, supra). Single cell protein is a relatively low value product. As such, the economic production cannot tolerate heavy bioprocessing costs. The yield of the methanotrophic strain used for producing SCP may be critical to the overall economic viability of the process. Microbial biomass produced by methanotrophic bacteria is typically very high in protein content (˜70–80% by weight), which can restrict the direct use of this protein to certain types of animal feed.
In addition to the synthesis of SCP, methanotrophic cells can further build the oxidation products of methane (i.e. methanol and formaldehyde) into complex molecules such as carbohydrates and lipids. For example, under certain conditions methanotrophs are known to produce exopolysaccharides (WO 02/20797; WO 02/20728; Ivanova et al., Mikrobiologiya 57(4):600–5 (1988); Kilbane, John J., II Gas, Oil, Coal, Environ. Biotechnol. 3, [Pap. IGT's Int. Symp.], 3rd (1991), Meeting Date 1990, pp. 207–26. Editor(s): Akin, Cavit; Smith, Jared. Publisher: IGT, Chicago, Ill.). Similarly, methanotrophs are known to accumulate both isoprenoid compounds and carotenoid pigments of various carbon lengths (WO 02/20733; WO 02/20728; Urakami et al., J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol. 32(4):317–41 (1986)).
Most recently, the natural abilities of methanotrophic organisms have been stretched by the advances of genetic engineering. Odom et al. have investigated Methyolomonas sp. 16a as a microbial platform of choice for production of a variety of materials beyond single cell protein including carbohydrates, pigments, terpenoid compounds and aromatic compounds (WO 02/20728; WO 02/18617). This particular methanotrophic bacterial strain is capable of efficiently using either methanol or methane as a carbon substrate, is metabolically versatile in that it contains multiple pathways for the incorporation of carbon from formaldehyde into 3-carbon units, and is amenable to genetic engineering via bacterial conjugation using donor species such as Escherichia coli. Thus, Methyolomonas sp. 16a can be engineered to produce new classes of products other than those naturally produced from methane. Further advancement in the metabolic engineering of methanotrophs such as Methyolomonas sp. 16a, however, is currently limited by the lack of a detailed understanding of promoters useful to drive the expression of foreign and native genes in this host. Additionally, it would be useful to possess a suite of promoters that are individually regulatable under a variety of natural growth and induction conditions.
In general, prokaryotic promoters can play an important role in biotechnology, particularly for directing expression of chimeric genes to alter cellular metabolism to produce larger quantities of a natural productor new products. Producing high levels of a specific protein may also be desirable as a product. Promoters that are generally used for gene expression in E. coli may not be suitable for driving chimeric gene expression in Methylomonas, especially when a strong or inducible promoter is required. Promoters that are strong in E. coli, generally have much lower expression levels in Methylomonas. Induction systems used with inducible promoters in E. coli generally do not function well in Methylomonas.
The problem to be solved therefore is to provide promoters that are useful for expression of chimeric genes under desired conditions in Methylomonas. Promoters with high expression during growth on methane and methanol are valuable when Methylomonas is used as a production host. Similarly, promoters induced by growth on nitrate and by change in temperature and pH conditions are very applicable in industrial settings, as each of these conditions can be adjusted easily. Applicants have solved the stated problem by identifying genes within the Methylomonas sp. 16a genome that are regulated by designated metabolic and growth conditions, and isolating the promoters from these genes. The nucleic acid sequences of the genes can be used for bioreactor monitoring in Methylomonas sp. and C1 metabolizing bacterial cultures. Specifically, applicants have used microarray technology to identify genes that are responsive to: 1.) growth on methane and methanol; 2.) induction in the presence of nitrate; 3.) induction by change in growth temperature; and 4.) induction by modification of media pH. Homologs of these genes should be useful for similar purposes in a variety of C1 metabolizing bacteria.

Natural promoters for gene expression in C1 metabolizing bacteria


Methods and materials are provided for the production of glycosylated GLP-1 peptides that exhibit improved properties. The methods and materials of the present invention may be used for treatment of metabolic conditions, such as Syndrome X and diabetes.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), also known as proglucagon, induces numerous biological effects such as stimulating insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon secretion, inhibiting gastric emptying, inhibiting gastric motility or intestinal motility, enhancing glucose utilization, and inducing weight loss. GLP-1 may further act to prevent the deterioration of pancreatic beta-cells that occurs as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus progresses. A significant characteristic of GLP-1 is its ability to stimulate insulin secretion without the associated risk of hypoglycemia that is seen when using insulin therapy or some types of oral therapies that act by increasing insulin expression.
The usefulness of therapy involving GLP-1 peptides has been limited by the fact that GLP-1(1-37) is poorly active, and the two naturally occurring truncated peptides, GLP-1(7-37)OH and GLP-1(7-36)NH2, have extremely short in vivo half lives and are rapidly inactivated and cleared. Endogenously produced dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inactivates circulating GLP-1 peptides by removing the N-terminal histidine and alanine residues and is a major reason for the short in vivo half-life.
Various approaches have been undertaken to extend the half-life of GLP-1 peptides or reduce clearance of the peptides from the body while maintaining biological activity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,483 teaches GLP-1 peptide analogs made resistant to DPP-IV degradation by the incorporation of modifications at the N-terminus of the peptide. An alternative approach for extending the half-life of GLP-1 peptides is derivatization, wherein large acyl groups that prevent DPP-IV from accessing the N-terminus of the peptide are attached to various amino acids of GLP-1 (See International Application No. PCT/DK97/00340, filed Aug. 22, 1997 entitled "GLP-1 Derivatives," which claims the benefit of DK Provisional Application Nos. 0931/96 filed Aug. 30, 1996, 1259/96 filed Nov. 8, 1996 and 1470/96 filed Dec. 20, 1996). A third approach for extending the half-life of GLP-1 peptides is the covalent attachment of one or more molecules of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to particular residues of a GLP-1 compound to produce a biologically active, PEGylated GLP-1 (See U.S. Pat. No. 7,557,183).
Other therapeutic strategies based on GLP-1 have included the development of enzyme-resistant GLP-1 analogs, such as Exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally isolated from the venom of the Gila monster, with significant homology to native GLP-1. Exendin-4 is resistant to the activity of DPP-IV because of a penultimate glycine residue in place of alanine, and survives longer in circulation. Additionally, small molecule inhibitors, such as DPP-IV inhibitors, have been studied for their ability to extend the metabolic stability and improve the antihyperglycemic and insulinotropic effects of exogenous GLP-1. See, Deacon, Diabetes 53:2181-89 (2004).
In addition to the above, recent attempts have been made to improve the proteolytic resistance and in vivo activity of GLP-1 by preparing variants of GLP-1 such as amino acid substitution and/or synthesis of glycosylated GLP-1 peptides. See Green et al., Biol. Chem., 384:1543-51 (2003); Ueda et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131:6237-45 (2009) prepared glycosylated GLP-1 glycopeptides having one to three glycan groups [GlcNAc, LacNAc and Sialyl LacNAc] added at amino acid residues 19, 26, 34 and 37. However, there remains a critical need for improved GLP-1 peptides with improved metabolic stability and efficacy.


A circuit controllably and independently recycles the discharge current of a plurality of inductive loads that are connected between first and second power supply terminals. For each of the loads, an active element for driving the inductive load is provided, as well as a regulator for controlling the recycling of the discharge current from the respective load, which is connected to the control terminal of the active element and to a node for connection between the active element and the respective inductive load.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a circuit and method for controllably and independently recycling the discharge current of a plurality of inductive loads connected between first and second power supply terminals.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Throughout the description to follow, the invention will be discussed, by way of non-limitative example, as applied to electronic systems specifically intended for automotive use which comprise devices having inductive loads connected in the manner mentioned above.
As is known, a number of electronic and electromagnetic devices, arranged to perform a variety of functions in motor cars, include one or more inductive loads. Such devices also distinguish themselves by the current that their respective loads are to withstand. Some inductive loads are of relatively small size and can only withstand moderately large currents during their operation. Devices of this kind may include relays of several different types, for example. On the other hand, there are inductive loads of larger size, such as those contained in fuel injection control devices, which can store larger amounts of energy.
In the systems referred to hereinafter, each inductive load usually has one terminal which is kept at a fixed voltage and another terminal connected to a preferably integrated control circuit driving the flow of current through the load.
Two configurations are known in the art wherein the fixed voltage terminal of the load is connected either to the power supply line or to ground. In the former case, the load is driven from its lowest voltage terminal, in a so-called low-side driver configuration, whereas in the latter case, the configuration is that known as high-side driver.
The control circuit comprises an active element, such as a driving transistor, which in most cases is a power transistor and performs switching functions to alternately force and interrupt the flow of current through the inductor. The active element is controlled by a drive signal generated within the circuit itself.
It is well recognized that the driving of markedly reactive loads, as inductive loads happen to be, generally causes some problems during the transients. In fact, upon cutting off the flow of current through an inductor, a voltage increase, i.e. an overvoltage, instantaneously appears across it which may be positive or negative depending upon the specific circuit design. This overvoltage is due to the energy previously stored in the inductor during the charging phase and generated by the flow of electric current forced through the inductor remaining constant even after the flow of current is cut off. Thus, an electromotive force is induced which tends to keep the current at the value attained during the "on" period, i.e. during the charging phase. Since the load has one terminal at a fixed potential, the increase in potential will occur at the other terminal, i.e. the terminal for connection to the control circuit.
For the device to operate as designed, the voltage peak should have limited width, for otherwise the peak could cause breakdowns in the junctions of the semiconductor elements present in the control circuit, or in other devices connected to this circuit. Where the circuit is integrated monolithically, the overvoltage may fire parasitic transistors, and ultimately cause the device to breakdown.
As is known to skilled persons in this art, to reduce the overvoltage a means may be provided for dissipating the energy stored up in the inductor, i.e. a means enabling a discharge current from the inductor to be recycled. The energy built up in the inductive load is dissipated by causing current to flow through pre-arranged elements, usually power ones.
In conventional approaches, the recycling circuit also functions to regulate the voltage increase. While the current is being recycled, the voltage on the inductive load reaches a maximum value which is set by the recycling means itself. This voltage limiting effect is called "clamping" in the pertinent literature. The value of the clamped voltage at that maximum remains constant through a given time interval, to then decrease in absolute value, simultaneously with the current, down to a zero value which corresponds to a fully discharged inductive load.
The duration of the discharging phase, i.e. the so-called discharge time, is tied directly to the maximum voltage value reached on the inductor.
The discharge time is of particular consequence. It is frequently important that the discharge time be controlled accurately. For example, with devices for automotive use, it is on the basis of this time that logic control circuits operatively connected to the devices are correspondingly set. In addition, if the device is a fuel injector which is controlled to open and close by the presence or absence of a current flow through the load, it is important that the control current flowing through the load can be cut off within a short time, so that the closing time of the injector can be made short and a precise amount of fuel injected.
The discharging phase is regulated by suitably sizing the recycling circuit to correspondingly select the maximum voltage value.
It is convenient if this regulation can be performed substantially independent of changes in outside conditions, such as ambient or fabrication temperature, or process spread in the instance of integrated circuits.
In accordance with the prior art, a well-known class of circuit designs, to which this invention is related, have been provided to recycle the current through the same transistor which is to drive the inductive load and already arranged to accept the discharge current peak through it, this usually being a power element. A recycling regulating circuit is connected between the load terminal arranged to be connected to the control circuit, that is to the driving transistor, and a control terminal of the transistor. That circuit will control the value of the voltage present on the load and automatically turn on the transistor when this voltage reaches a predetermined maximum value. In the field of automotive devices, this voltage maximum value is commonly on the order of a few tens volts, a typical value for a fuel injector being 70 volts, for example.
Those circuit elements which define the maximum voltage value represent, within the recycling regulating circuit, what throughout the following description will be referred to as the "reference for the voltage".
A variety of conventional designs exist in this field.
A first solution provides one or more Zener diodes connected between the control terminal of the driving transistor and the inductive load. The Zeners constitute the reference for the voltage in this case, the maximum voltage being a combination of the Zener voltages.
Shown diagramatically in FIG. 1 is one such circuit. In this example, the inductive load L is connected in a low-side driver configuration, it having one terminal connected to the supply line Vs and the other terminal to the drain terminal D of a MOS driving transistor, here an N-channel type denoted by TM. The transistor TM has its source terminal connected to ground. Connected to the gate G, forming the control terminal of TM, is a driver circuit schematically illustrated by the block C. Connected in series between the gate G and the node D, are a number, n, of Zener diodes schematically indicated at nZ in the Figure. The Zeners are configured to set the maximum voltage at the node D to a value Vmax=nVz+VGS, where Vz is the Zener voltages and VGS is the drop in potential across the gate and the source of the transistor TM. As, upon the transistor TM being turned off, the voltage at the node D attains the value Vmax, the transistor TM will go into conduction, thereby allowing the current to be recycled and discharging the inductor L.
A drawback of this circuit is that the maximum voltage value on the inductor, as determined by the combination of a discrete number of Zener voltages, may not equal exactly the desired one. In the instance of an integrated circuit, it should not be overlooked, moreover, that if the maximum voltage value is fairly high, then the number of the Zeners and the area occupied by the recycling regulating circuit is greater than negligible. The voltage value of the Zener diodes also is liable, as is well recognized, to be indeterminate due to significant process spread.
Another prior circuit solution, which represents a substantial improvement on the first, is shown in FIG. 2. This provides one or more additional transistors in the recycling circuit.
In FIG. 2, corresponding elements are denoted by the same references as in FIG. 1. The recycling regulating circuit further comprises at least one transistor Q of the bipolar type, connected between the gate G and the node D. The Zener diodes nZ are here connected between the base and the collector of the transistor Q. The maximum voltage at the node D is set to the value Vmax=nVz+VBE+VGS, where VBE is the drop in potential between the base and the emitter of the transistor Q. Thus, the maximum clamping voltage will be the resultant of a combination of a larger number of voltage drops than in the circuit previously described. The transistor Q functions to absorb possible excess currents and prevent the Zener from being burned. The resistor R, depicted in series with the Zener diodes in FIG. 2, is also effective to limit the current.
Neither of the circuits just described has good stability. In fact, since the voltages across the Zeners have different dependence on temperature, temperature compensation can only be achieved for certain definite maximum voltage values.
For the purpose, the prior art provides still more sophisticated and precise solutions. For example, one conventional circuit design provides for the use of a recycling regulating circuit which includes a voltage divider and a comparator. A circuit of that kind is disclosed in European Patent Application EP-0622717.
Such a circuit is illustrated in schematic form by FIG. 3. The voltage divider R1-R2 is connected between the inductive load L and a ground terminal. The comparator COMP has two inputs respectively connected to the output of the voltage divider and to a generator of a reference voltage Vref, and has an output coupled to the gate terminal G of the driving transistor TM. In the example of FIG. 3, the circuit further comprises a current mirror M having an input leg connected to the output of the comparator COMP and an output leg connected to the gate terminal G. The mirror M is also supplied to the node D.
Basically therein, the reference voltage is compared with a divided value of the voltage to be regulated which is present on the node D. Current recycling takes place upon the voltage value Vmax=Vref(R1+R2)/R2 being reached on the node D. The reference for the voltage comprises that voltage reference circuit and the divider. Since the variation in the maximum voltage depends on a voltage reference which can be easily selected to be a stable one temperature-wise, that recycling regulating circuit is quite stable temperature-wise.
The systems to be specifically discussed in connection with the invention include, as previously mentioned, a plurality of inductors. For example, in the instance of plural automotive devices wherein the different inductive loads require driving on an individual basis and must be operated each independently of the others, the recycling of the discharge current from each load should take place at different times from the other loads, and the discharging time required may not be the same for all the loads.
It will be appreciated that the principles of this invention can also be applied to devices of a different kind, e.g. those used in industrial systems employing multiple stepper motors.
To provide independent recycling for different inductive loads, it has been common practice to recycle current through a plurality of recycling regulating circuits, each connected to a respective one of the loads. The overvoltage clamping is done with a separate reference for each load.
The reference for the voltage may be provided in any desired way. In general, circuits incorporating Zeners like those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are used. However, the combination of a number of such circuits, of the types previously described, has some disadvantages. The overall number of Zeners employed actually tends to be fairly large. To ensure restoration of a plurality of driving transistors to the on state in an independent manner, it is necessary that a separate series of Zeners be connected to each transistor, so as to directly limit the voltage to the respective node D for connection to the load and leave the operation of the other transistors unaffected. However, the number of the Zeners may be of about ten in each series, at the aforementioned maximum voltage values, which means that a very large area of the integrated circuit will be occupied.
Even where recycling circuits of the type shown in FIG. 3 are used, in order to ensure independence of recycling for the various loads, because it would be disadvantageous to uncouple the renewed turning on of the driving transistors, and hence the recycling, in any other ways, a corresponding number of dividers and comparators must be provided, which again poses problems of area occupation.
A technical problem that underlies this invention is to provide a circuit for independently recycling a plurality of inductive loads connected between two power supply terminals, which circuit can be integrated monolithically within a small integration area.
An object of this invention is to provide a recycling circuit which is stable to variations in ambient conditions, such as temperature, and to varying parameters during its manufacture.

Circuit and method for controlled independent recycle of discharge current of multiple inductive loads


A servo actuator is provided which may comprise a controller configured to control a plurality of solenoid valves based upon an output signal. The plurality of solenoid valves may be used to control the position of the object. For example, a set of solenoid valves, of the plurality of solenoid valves, may be configured to conduct fluid from a tank into a first chamber of the cylinder, conduct fluid from the tank into a second chamber of the cylinder, conduct fluid from the second chamber of the cylinder into a first solenoid valve and/or conduct fluid from the first chamber of the cylinder into the first solenoid valve. The first solenoid valve, of the plurality of solenoid valves, may be configured to conduct fluid from the set of solenoid valves into a vent valve based upon a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal received from the controller.

A servo actuator may be used to control a position of a piston of a cylinder. However, servo actuators may have complex design structures and/or may be expensive to produce. It may be beneficial for servo actuators to have a simpler design structure that is less expensive to produce. Further, servo actuators may have limited resources and/or may have limited capabilities.


An isolation mounting system attaches a computer component, such as a disk drive, to the structure of a computer system. In an embodiment, the isolation mounting system comprises a post bracket attached to the computer component, a plurality of isolators attached to posts extending from the post bracket, and a socket bracket attached to the isolators and to the structure of the computer system. An opening in the isolators fits over, onto, or around the posts of the post bracket. Outer surfaces of the isolators fit within receptacles of the socket bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to computer component mounting systems, and more particularly to a shock and acoustic isolation mount for a computer component. Computer components include computer disk drives, compact disk players, and other devices that attach to the support structure of a computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers systems are often subjected to mechanical shock and vibration. Shock and vibration may occur during handling and shipping. Also, shock and vibration may be caused by environmental and user factors. Computer systems in tower enclosures may be subjected to severe shock if the tower topples. Small computers and portable computers are often subjected to severe handling shocks. Vibration may be transmitted to a computer system from the outside environment or vibration may be transmitted internally within the computer system from a computer component.
Some components of a computer system are unaffected by shock and vibration. Other components, such as disk drives, may be damaged or destroyed by shock and vibration. Most disk drives have read/write heads mounted on the ends of lightweight arms. The heads are positioned adjacent to the surface of the disk. Shock or vibration of the disk drive housing may cause a head to contact the surface of the disk. Such contact may cause permanent and irreparable damage to the disk. Less severe shock and vibration to a disk drive over a period of time may cause deficiencies in disk drive performance. The performance deficiencies may include difficulty and slowness of data access. A shock to a computer system may result in the generation of vibration of the exterior of the computer system. The vibration may be transmitted throughout the computer system. Such vibration is often referred to as xe2x80x9cshock response ringing.xe2x80x9d
Many computer components rigidly mount to a support structure within a computer system. When the computer enclosure experiences shock or vibration, the shock or vibration may be transmitted directly to rigidly mounted computer components. Many modern hard drives have threaded mounting holes on opposite lateral sides of the cover. Such hard drives may be rigidly mounted to the computer chassis by screws or other fasteners.
Rigidly mounting a component in a computer system may cause acoustic problems such as structure-borne noise. Structure-borne noise in a computer system typically originates in the mechanical vibration of a component. The vibration typically propagates through solid structures, such as fasteners and the chassis, to the exterior of the computer system. The vibration may energize a large exterior area of the computer system, and the large area may radiate sound in the manner of a sounding or resonating board. Using vibration dampers and isolators between the component and the structure may reduce structure-borne noise caused by the component.
A computer system may be subjected to vibration from an external source or an internal source. If the frequency of the vibration is close to the resonance frequency of structures within the computer system, the vibration energy transmitted throughout the computer system may increase. Such an effect is often referred to as xe2x80x9cvibration resonance amplification.xe2x80x9d Vibration resonance amplification may result in the generation of loud noise from a computer system. Vibration resonance amplification may also damage components within a system. Loud noise and component damage may be caused by coupling vibratory components to the exterior of a computer system even without any resonance effects. Vibration dampers and isolators may change the resonant frequencies of structures within a computer system and damp vibrations transmitted to or from an isolated component.
Systems for isolation mounting a component in a computer system include rubber grommet isolation systems, rigid foam isolation systems, and loose elastomer sheet systems. Rubber grommet isolation systems typically include four molded grommets and a set of custom fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,368, issued to Albrecht, and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes an eccentric grommet used for mounting a hard disk to a computer system support structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,472, issued to Klein, and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes a rigid foam isolation system for a computer system. A component carrier is fabricated from a vibration damping material such as a urethane foam. Cavities in the foam material accommodate components of the computer system. Loose elastomer sheet systems are used in some portable computers. Elastomer sheets trap the hard disk against the computer enclosure.
The system described herein includes an isolation mount for mounting a computer component, such as a hard disk, to a computer structure. The isolation mount may inhibit external shock and vibration from reaching the component. The isolation mount may also prevent vibration of the component from being transmitted to the computer structure. The system may provide shock isolation, vibration isolation, and acoustic isolation of a component.
In one embodiment, isolators fit over, onto, or around posts mounted on opposite side walls of the computer component housing structure. The posts may be part of a bracket or brackets that fasteners attach to pre-set mounting holes in the side walls of the computer component housing. The isolators fit within sockets attached to the computer structure. The sockets may be part of a bracket or brackets that fasteners attach to the computer structure.
In an alternate embodiment, the isolators fit over, onto, or around posts attached to the computer structure. The posts may be part of a bracket or brackets that fasteners attach to the computer structure. The isolators typically fit within sockets attached to the computer component housing. The sockets may be part of a bracket or brackets that fasteners attach to preset mounting holes or openings in the side walls of the computer component housing.
The support position of the computer component is not limited by the position of pre-set mounting holes within the computer component housing. The posts and sockets on the brackets may be positioned at locations that conform to available space within a computer system enclosure.
The outside surfaces of the isolators may be approximately the same size or slightly larger than the inner surfaces of the sockets into which the isolators fit, thereby forming a frictional fit between the isolators and the sockets when the isolators are positioned within the sockets. The isolators may be formed of a material with high damping characteristics. The material may be a low stiffness, foamed material, such as a urethane foam. The damping characteristics tend to suppress vibration resonance amplification and shock response ringing. The use of low stiffness foamed elastomers as isolators provides a relatively low pre-load force between the computer component and the computer system structure. The relatively low pre-load force and the damping characteristic of the isolators tends to enhance or cause acoustic isolation, which helps to attenuate structure-borne acoustic noise caused by the computer component.
The isolators allow a more full use of available sway space to absorb shock motions. Use of available sway space is desirable in handling drops and system topples. The more full use of available sway space is an improvement over previously used grommets and rigid foam designs which are too rigid to permit large internal motions. The sway space and isolation performance in different directions of motion may be tailored to system need. For example, if the computer system is likely to be subjected to drops, the mounting posts may have extended horizontal surfaces to more effectively inhibit and damp motion caused by vertical forces transmitted to the isolation mounts as a result of the computer system being dropped.
Computer components, such as disk drives, often generate heat during use. For many disk drives, the primary heat transfer surfaces are the top and bottom surfaces of the disk drive. The isolation mount contacts the computer component at relatively small contact areas. Typically, the contact areas are on the sides of the computer component, away from the component""s primary heat transfer surfaces. The small contact area is an improvement over the rigid foam and loose-sheet isolation systems. The small contact area allows free flow of air around the computer component for cooling purposes. As such, an additional heat sink for the computer component may not be necessary.
The parts that comprise the isolation mount are typically formed from inexpensive materials. The isolation mount may not require the fabrication of special fasteners. Generally, grommet isolation systems require the fabrication of special fasteners. The isolators of the isolation mount may be fabricated from sheet stock urethane foam. The post brackets and socket brackets may be formed of plastic or sheet metal. The fasteners may be screws, rivets or other attachment means. A resulting isolation mount made from the individual parts is generally sturdy, durable, light weight, simple, efficient, reliable and inexpensive; yet the isolation mount is also easy to manufacture, install, maintain and use.


A method for waveform analysis and compression includes determining harmonic components of a waveform, subtracting the harmonic components from the waveform, leaving a residual waveform, and compressing the residual waveform. Information about the harmonic components and the compressed residual transform can be transmitted across a network for analysis or reconstruction of the waveform in another device. The method is used in a low cost power quality meter, which can form part of a smart metering scheme.

Smart metering infrastructures consisting of basic energy meters and a dedicated communication network are popular nowadays which provide a reliable, fast and cost-effective solution to demand side management. Smart meters normally measure kWhr for energy monitoring and billing. Recently, power quality (PQ) is becoming a raising concern to building management due to the proliferation of power electronic devices in buildings. As present smart meters do not measure power quality, PQ meters have to be used to measure electrical power, voltages, currents, power factor and THD. High-end PQ meters also provide information on individual harmonics and waveform capturing for events reporting. They are mostly expensive. Networked PQ monitoring systems are available and the high installation cost of which limits its applications to major circuits and equipment in buildings.

Power quality meter and method of waveform anaylsis and compression


A non-bleaching cleaning composition, e.g. laundry detergent, wherein the solids content comprises at least about 70 wt. % of sodium carbonate, and up to about 12 wt. % of elemental magnesium in the form of a water soluble salt, e.g., magnesium sulfate or magnesium chloride, based on the total weight of the solids composition. Preferably the composition also contains an active surfactant and, when used as a laundry detergent, a polymeric polycarboxylate, e.g., an acrylic acid polymer. Incorporation of magnesium ions in the foregoing cleaning composition containing carbonate ions is intended to minimize negative interactions that will occur between the precipitation of calcium carbonate and the substrate being cleaned, e.g., fabric encrustation when the composition is used as a laundry detergent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to novel cleaning compositions having a high sodium carbonate builder content, the use of which results in reduced calcium carbonate precipitation.
2. Description of Related Art
Cleaning compositions comprising a water-soluble alkaline carbonate are well-known in the art. For example, it is conventional to use such a carbonate as a builder in detergent compositions which supplement and enhance the cleaning effect of an active surfactant present in the composition. Such builders improve the cleaning power of the detergent composition, for instance, by the sequestration or precipitation of hardness causing metal ions such as calcium, peptization of soil agglomerates, reduction of the critical micelle concentration, and neutralization of acid soil, as well as by enhancing various properties of the active detergent, such as its stabilization of solid soil suspensions, solubilization of water-insoluble materials, emulsification of soil particles, and foaming and sudsing characteristics. Other mechanisms by which builders improve the cleaning power of detergent compositions are probably present but are less well understood. Builders are important not only for their effect in improving the cleaning ability of active surfactants in detergent compositions, but also because they allow for a reduction in the amount of the surfactant used in the composition, the surfactant being generally much more costly than the builder.
Two important classes of builders have been widely used in recent years, viz., phosphorus containing salts such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) which are very effective in sequestering calcium and magnesium ions without precipitating them, and the water-soluble alkaline carbonates mentioned previously such as sodium carbonate, which may be used in amounts up to 90 wt. % of the composition and which effectively precipitate the calcium ions. However phosphorus-containing builders have been found to cause a serious problem of eutrophication of lakes, rivers and streams when present in detergent compositions in relatively large amounts, resulting in the passage of laws in several states mandating a drastic reduction in their use. While the use of water-soluble alkaline carbonate builders do not cause eutrophication, they result in the unrelated problem of calcium carbonate precipitation, leading to, for example, fabric encrustation due to the deposition of the calcium carbonate on the fiber surfaces of fabrics which in turn causes fabric to have a stiff hand and gives colored fabrics a faded appearance.
Polymeric polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates are also known in the detergent art as effective sequestering and dispersing agents as well as crystal growth inhibitors. However, such polycarboxylates have limited biodegradability which presents an environmental problem if they are used in relatively large amounts.
The following prior art references may be considered relevant or material to the invention claimed herein.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,265,790, issued May 5, 1981 to Winston et al., and 4,464,292, issued Aug. 7, 1984 to Lengyel, disclose detergent compositions comprising an ethoxylated alcohol and an ethoxy sulfate as a combination of nonionic and anionic surfactants, and over 70 wt % of anhydrous sodium carbonate (soda ash) as a detergent builder.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,368,134, issued Jan. 11, 1983 to Kaeser, and 4,510,066, issued Apr. 9, 1985 to Saar, each discloses a process for retarding the setting of a miscible and pumpable crutcher slurry intended to be spray dried to base beads for subsequent conversion to a built synthetic organic nonionic detergent composition. In the disclosure of Saar, the base beads must contain a water-softening zeolite, water soluble salts including sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate, with the maximum of sodium carbonate being 40% (col. 6, line 41), a swelling bentonite, and 0.5 to 5% of magnesium sulfate to prevent undesirable setting of the crutcher mix. The disclosure of Kaeser is similar to that of Saar except that a swelling bentonite need not be present in his builder, magnesium sulfate and a citric material or magnesium citrate is used to prevent gelation and setting up of the crutcher mix, and a maximum of only 30% of sodium carbonate is present in the crutcher mix (col. 4, line 33).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,243, issued Feb. 7, 1984 to Bragg, discloses laundry bleaching and detergent compositions which must contain 5 to 35 wt. % of a peroxygen bleaching agent, 0.05 to 2 wt. % of a catalyst composition for the bleaching agent comprising a specified combination of metal cations, and 5 to 90 wt. % of a detergent builder salt which may be an alkali metal carbonate. The patent also discloses that a magnesium salt in an amount of 0.015 to 0.2 wt. % (expressed as the weight of magnesium) may also be present in the composition to provide additional low temperature stain removal benefits.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,271, issued Dec. 25, 1984 to Spadini et al., discloses detergent compositions comprising an active surfactant, up to 80% of a non-phosphorus detergent builder such as a water-soluble carbonate, and a polyacrylate such as a copolymer of acrylic acid with any of various comonomers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,332, issued Jun. 4, 1985 to Milora, discloses highly alkaline liquid cleaning compositions comprising a nonionic surfactant, 10 to 45 wt. % of sodium hydroxide, 0.04 to 4 wt. % of a polyacrylic acid salt, 0 to 15 wt. % of an alkali metal phosphate builder such as STPP, 0.5 to 20 wt. % of a "building agent" such as sodium carbonate, and 6 to 60 wt. % of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,740, issued Dec. 8, 1987 to Carter et al., discloses detergent compositions comprising a "detergent active" compound, i.e., a surfactant, a detergent builder which is a water-soluble carbonate, e.g. sodium carbonate in an amount of "at least 5% by weight, such as from 10% to 40%, preferably 10% to 30% weight, though an amount up to 75% could possible be used if desired in special products," a water insoluble carbonate, e.g., calcium carbonate (calcite) in an amount of 5 to 60 wt. %, as seed crystals for precipitated calcium carbonate which is thus prevented from being deposited on fabrics; and a copolymer of a carboxylic monomer, e.g., acrylic acid, and a non-carboxylic monomer, such copolymer being present in an amount of 0.1 to 10 wt. % and acting as a colloid stabilizer for the precipitated calcium carbonate. Other detergency builders such as STPP may also be present.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,785,060, issued Nov. 15, 1988 to Nagler and 5,026,400, issued Jun. 25, 1991 to Holland et al., each discloses detergent compositions containing a polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene terephthalate (PET-POET) soil release agent, a builder which may be sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate, or sodium sesquicarbonate, and magnesium sulfate as a crutching aid. Holland et al. disclose that their composition may contain a maximum of 30% of sodium carbonate but do not mention any specific amount of magnesium sulfate, while Nagler does not disclose any specific percentages of sodium carbonate but specifies that magnesium sulfate may be present in an amount of 0.5 to 3%.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,441, issued Apr. 11, 1989 to Evans et al., discloses granular detergent compositions which may contain in addition to an active surfactant, 5 to 75 wt. % of a crystal growth modified, carbonate-based structurant salt, 0.1 to 20 wt. % of a polymeric polycarboxylate as crystal growth modifier based on the weight of the structurant salt, and 0 to 40 wt. % of STPP. The structurant salt may contain sodium sulfate as well as sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, and the two tables under the heading "PRODUCTS OF THE INVENTION" in columns 8 and 9 of the patent show a maximum of 40 wt. % of sodium carbonate in the final product composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,125, issued Jul. 18, 1989 to Seiter et al., discloses phosphate-reduced, granular, free-flowing detergent compositions comprising 4 to 40 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant, 3 to 20 wt. % of an anionic surfactant, 0.5 to 15 wt. % of a homopolymeric or copolymeric carboxylic acid or salt, 0 to 20 wt. % of STPP, and, optionally, up to 15 or 20 wt. % of sodium carbonate.
M. M. Reddy and K. K. Wang, "Crystallization of Calcium Carbonate in the Presence of Metal Ions", Journal of Crystal Growth 50 (1980) 470-480, discusses the influence of magnesium ions in solution on the growth of pure calcite from a stable supersaturated solution onto a well-characterized pure calcite surface.

Carbonate built cleaning composition containing added magnesium


A novel process for the preparation of compounds of formula I

The present invention is concerned with a novel process for the preparation of thiazolidinedione derivatives, especially with the preparation of 5-{4-[2-(5-Methyl-2-phenyl-oxazol-4-yl)-ethoxy]-benzo[b]thiophen-7-ylmethyl}2,4-thiazolidinedione and its salts. 5-{4-[2-(5-Methyl-2-phenyl-oxazol-4-yl)-ethoxy]-benzo[b]thiophen-7-ylmethyl}2,4-thiazolidinedione and its salts, particularly the sodium salt, are pharmaceutically active compounds. These compounds are known in the art and are described for example in International Patent Application WO 94/27995. They are especially useful for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diabetes mellitus type I and II.
Methods for the preparation of 5-{4-[2-(5-Methyl-2-phenyl-oxazol-4-yl)-ethoxy]-benzo[b]thiophen-7-ylmethyl}2,4-thiazolidinedione have e.g. been described in WO 94/27995, WO 01/79202 and EP 1078923. However, these methods include a large number of individual reaction steps. Further, the methods known in the art exhibit a low yield or other disadvantages, which makes them unsuitable for the commercial large scale production of 5-{4-[2-(5-Methyl-2-phenyl-oxazol-4-yl)-ethoxy]-benzo[b]thiophen-7-ylmethyl}2,4-thiazolidinedione. A need exists for new methods of producing 5-{4-[2-(5-Methyl-2-phenyl-oxazol-4-yl)-ethoxy]-benzo[b]thiophen-7-ylmethyl}2,4-thiazolidinedione

that are economical and result in high yield of product.

Process for the preparation of the insulin sensitizer

Abstract: and optionally converting a compound of formula I into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt is disclosed. The compounds of formula I and the corresponding salts, e.g. the sodium salts, are pharmaceutically active substances. Processes for the creation of intermediates are also disclosed.


A system and method for learning and controlling an air/fuel mixture ratio for an internal combustion engine are disclosed which can achieve the compatibility of both learning convergence characteristic and accuracy of learning and which can prevent a stepwise change in correction coefficients to a basic fuel supply quantity when the present engine driving condition makes the present one of the driving conditions to the other one of the driving conditions. In a preferred embodiment of the air/fuel mixture ratio learning and controlling system, a plurality of learning maps in which the whole driving region is divided into 16 regions and is divided into 258 regions. The learnings of the air/fuel mixture ratio learning correction coefficients KBLRC1 for the 16 driving regions on the first learning map are followed by those of the other air/fuel mixture ratio learning correction coefficients KBLRC2 for the 256 driving regions on the second learning map. After loads of corrections on the learning correction coefficients KBLRC1 are transferred to those of the learning correction coefficients KBLRC2 for the 256 driving regions, the system reads a modified learning correction coefficient KBLRC2 derived through an interpolation between the 256 region learning map. A final learning correction coefficient KBLRC is set using the read correction coefficient KBLRC2 and the learning correction coefficient KBLRC0 applied to the whole driving region so as to correct the basic fuel supply quantity.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for learning and controlling an air/fuel mixture ratio for an internal combustion engine and, more particularly, relates to the system and method therefor in which a supply quantity of fuel to the engine is corrected so that an actual air/fuel mixture ratio sucked into the engine coincides with a target air/fuel mixture ratio.
(2) Description of the Background Art
Japanese Patent Application First Publications No. showa 60-90944 published on May 22, 1985 and No. Showa 61-190142 published on Aug. 23, 1986 exemplify electronically controlled fuel injection systems with air/fuel mixture ratio feedback correction controlling functions in which the air/fuel mixture ratio is learned and controlled.
The correction control of the air/fuel mixture ratio is such that an oxygen concentration sensor installed in an engine exhaust system is used to determine a rich or lean state of the actual air/fuel mixture ratio with respect to a target air/fuel mixture ratio (for example, a stoichiometric air/fuel mixture ratio) and an air/fuel mixture ratio feedback correction coefficient LMD used to correct a fuel injection quantity is set on a basis of the result of determination of the rich or lean state of the actual air/fuel mixture ratio at a proportion-and-integration control. A basic fuel injection quantity Tp calculated from a parameter of the engine driving condition related to an intake air quantity sucked into the engine (for example, sucked (intake) air quantity Q and engine revolution speed N) is corrected with the air/fuel mixture ratio feedback correction coefficient LMD so that the actual air/fuel mixture ratio is coincident with the target air/fuel mixture ratio.
Then, a deviation of the actual air/fuel mixture ratio feedback correction coefficient LMD from a reference value (a target or finally converged value) is learned for each of a plurality of previously defined engine driving regions (or driving area) so as to define a learning correction coefficient KBLRC (learning correction value of the air/fuel mixture ratio). The basic fuel injection quantity Tp is corrected with the learning correction coefficient KBLRC so that a basic air/fuel mixture ratio derived without the correction coefficient LMD is controlled so as to substantially match with the target (stoichiometric) air/fuel mixture ratio. In addition, during the execution of the air/fuel mixture ratio feedback control, the basic air/fuel mixture ratio is further corrected with the correction coefficient LMD to calculate a final fuel injection quantity Ti.
Consequently, a fuel supply correction corresponding to a different correction request which is different for each engine driving condition can be carried out.
Then, the air/fuel mixture ratio feedback correction coefficient LMD can become stable in the vicinity to the reference value so that an air/fuel mixture ratio controllability can be improved.
On the other hand, since the air/fuel mixture ratio learning correction coefficient KBLRC is set to cope with the different air/fuel mixture ratio correction request generated according to the different driving conditions as described above, it is desirable to learn the learning correction coefficient KBLRC with the engine driving regions divided as close as possible.
However, if the whole driving region is closely divided into the plurality of the engine driving regions and the learning correction coefficient KBLRC for each engine driving region is learned, an opportunity of learning is reduced at each driving region and a convergence characteristic of the learning is worsened. Then, since any one of the regions in which the learning is carried out and any other regions in which no learning is carried out are mixed in the whole driving region, a large stepwise difference in the air/fuel mixture ratio between the respective driving regions occurs.
A Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. Heisei 3-145539 published on Jun. 20, 1991 exemplifies a previously proposed air/fuel mixture ratio learning and controlling system in which a plurality of learning maps are installed in which the number of divisions of the engine driving regions are different from each other, the learning of the learning correction coefficient KBLRC is started from one of the learning maps in which the number of divisions of the driving regions is less than the others and the driving region for a unit of learning is wider from among the learning maps and the learning is transferred to one of the learning maps in which the number of divisions are greater than the others and the driving region for the unit of learning is narrower as the learning is advanced.
In the air/fuel mixture ratio learning according to the disclosed air/fuel mixture ratio learning and controlling system, the favorable learning convergence characteristic can be secured by learning the learning correction coefficient KBLRC for each unit of engine driving region at the initial state of learning and the air/fuel mixture ratio learning is carried out for the closer engine driving region as the learning is advanced, the accurate learning of the air/fuel mixture ratio can be carried out so as to cope with the different correction request for the different engine driving condition.
However, in the latter previously proposed air/fuel mixture ratio learning and controlling system described above, the plurality of learning maps are installed which store the air/fuel mixture ratio learning correction values for the respective engine driving regions. Therefore, a large capacity of memories is required.
In addition, since the learning correction values are learned as representative values in the respectively divided driving regions, it is inevitable to change stepwise the learning correction values when the driving regions on the learning maps are switched and the stepwise changes in the learning correction values generate variations in the air/fuel mixture ratio.
In details, although the errors in the basic air/fuel mixture ratio are generated due to various causes, the basic air/fuel mixture ratio is not varied stepwise for the change in the driving conditions and the request for the air/fuel mixture ratio learning correction value is inherently not varied stepwise.
However, since, as described above, the air/fuel mixture ratio learning correction values as the representative correction levels in the driving regions having a certain magnitude are learned, the stepwise change in the learning correction value which does not correspond to the change in the actual driving condition when the change in the driving condition which crosses the boundaries of the driving regions. Although the change width of the stepwise learning correction values can be reduced when the learning driving region is narrowed, it is not practical to divide the driving regions as close as possible in the case where the learning is such as to gradually narrow the learning region. It is inevitable to generate the stepwise difference in correction levels from among the regions on the learning maps.

System and method for learning and controlling air/fuel mixture ratio for internal combustion engine

Japan Electronic Control Systems Co., Ltd.


A method and apparatus for speaker recognition is provided that matches the noise in training data to noise in testing data using spectral addition. Under spectral addition, the mean and variance for a plurality of frequency components are adjusted in the training data and the test data so that each mean and variance is matched in a resulting matched training signal and matched test signal. The adjustments made to the training data and test data add to the mean and variance of the training data and test data instead of subtracting from the mean and variance.

The present invention relates to speaker recognition. In particular, the present invention relates to training and using models for speaker recognition.
A speaker recognition system identifies a person from their speech. Such systems can be used to control access to areas or computer systems as well as tailoring computer settings for a particular person.
In many speaker recognition systems, the system asks the user to repeat a phrase that will be used for recognition. The speech signal that is generated while the user is repeating the phrase is then used to train a model. When a user later wants to be identified by their speech, they repeat the identification phrase. The resulting speech signal, sometimes referred to as a test signal, is then applied against the model to generate a probability that the test signal was generated by the same person who produced the training signals.
The generated probability can then be compared to other probabilities that are generated by applying the test signal to other models. The model that produces the highest probability is then considered to have been produced by the same speaker who generated the test signal. In other systems, the probability is compared to a threshold probability to determine if the probability is sufficiently high to identify the person as the same person who trained the model. Another type of system would compare the probability to the probability of a general model designed to represent all speakers.
The performance of speaker recognition systems is affected by the amount and type of background noise in the test and training signals. In particular, the performance of these systems is negatively impacted when the background noise in the training signal is different from the background noise in the test signal. This is referred to as having mismatched signals, which generally provides lower accuracy than having so-called matched training and testing signals.
To overcome this problem, the prior art has attempted to match the noise in the training signal to the noise in the testing signal. Under some systems, this is done using a technique known as spectral subtraction. In spectral subtraction, the systems attempt to remove as much noise as possible from both the training signal and the test signal. To remove the noise from the training signal, the systems first collect noise samples during pauses in the speech found in the training signal. From these samples, the mean of each frequency component of the noise is determined. Each frequency mean is then subtracted from the remaining training speech signal. A similar procedure is followed for the test signal, by determining the mean strength of the frequency components of the noise in the test signal.
Spectral subtraction is less than ideal as a noise matching technique. First, spectral subtraction does not remove all noise from the signals. As such, some noise remains mismatched. In addition, because spectral subtraction performs a subtraction, it is possible for it to generate a training signal or a test signal that has a negative strength for a particular frequency. To avoid this, many spectral subtraction techniques abandon the subtraction when the subtraction will result in negative strength, using a flooring technique instead. In those cases, the spectral subtraction technique is replaced with a technique of attenuating the particular frequency.
For these reasons, a new noise matching technique for speaker recognition is needed.

Method and apparatus using spectral addition for speaker recognition


In some embodiments, a storage device, comprises a processor, a memory module communicatively connected to the processor, and logic instructions in the memory module which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive a read input/output operation, and configure a prefetch disk data into cache memory in response to a prefetch tag embedded in the read input/output operation.

Various techniques such as e.g., multi-path software, and load balancing techniques have been introduced to speed up the communication of data between host computers and storage systems. These techniques are intended to increase input/output (I/O), and tend to achieve high success rates for write I/O operations and for random read I/O operations. However, these techniques are inefficient for sequential read I/O operations, especially when multi-path software is coupled with load balancing. This is, at least in part, because a storage controller lacks the capability to detect a sequential read pattern while burdened by the associated overhead incurred by the storage array's attempt to unveil the sequential patterns.
One performance factor in designing a storage array is the array's response time. Designers of storage arrays strive to maintain a low response time, even while I/O load patterns are changing. Almost all storage arrays incorporate algorithms to recognize a sequential read burst as they are issued to the array, hence the array will attempt to pre-fetch the data to be read into the storage array's cache.
Contemporary midrange and enterprise storage offers access to storage capacity managed by a storage controller through multiple array ports. When hosts take advantage of this feature the storage array may have difficulty identifying the sequential read pattern(s). Therefore sequential read I/O detection can be impaired, and the array often fails to recognize the patterns. This results in losing valuable pre-fetching cycles significantly increased response times, higher than normal array processor utilization, and reduced sequential I/O performance.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An electronic compass (10) having at least two sense windings (11, 12) is mounted in a vehicle. The outputs (x(h), y(h)) of the windings are measured for a number of compass directions (headings). From this data an error difference angle (.phi.), from a nominal angle, which actually exists between the output windings is calculated. Preferably a look-up table (21, 39) is created relating actual compass heading (h) to measured sense winding outputs by utilizing the calculated error difference angle (.phi.). This table is then utilized for calculating actual compass heading based on actual measured sense winding outputs. The calculated error angle (.phi.) can also be used to calibrate the compass without creating a look-up table. The calibrated compass compensates for misalignment of the sense windings and provides a more accurate electronic compass without requiring creating a calibration table by orienting the compass in a very large number of exactly known directions.

Prior electronic compasses having a plurality of sense windings are known. These compasses are typically referred to as flux gate compasses. Such compasses generally have two sense windings oriented in nominally orthogonal directions with respect to one another. The output voltage signals produced by these windings are then utilized to provide an indication of compass heading or direction wherein the terms "heading" and "direction" are used interchangeably herein. Theoretically, if the windings were perfectly orthogonally aligned, and if there were no disturbances to the earth's magnetic field, the outputs of the sense windings would, when plotted against each other on an x y coordinate system, result in a circle locus. However, due to various magnetic effects, the actual plot of the sense output winding outputs results in an elliptical path.
Some prior electronic compasses have recognized that an elliptical locus is provided for the outputs of the sense windings due to magnetic field disturbances. Some prior compasses have attempted to correct the compass headings provided by such compasses by calculating the ellipse center coordinates and the ellipse major and minor axis radii and using these calculated parameters to calibrate the compass. However, such systems assume that the sense windings are exactly orthogonally aligned and that therefore no additional compensation or correction is required. These prior compass systems just compensate in accordance with the calculated ellipse center coordinates and the ellipse radii since generally great care is put into manufacturing electronic compasses having windings which are substantially orthogonal to one another. However, there can be appreciable errors in the compass heading provided by an electronic compass due to any slight non-orthogonal alignment of the sense windings. Typically this type of error is not compensated for or is not sufficiently compensated for. The result is that these compasses are not suitable for providing very accurate navigation headings. This is especially significant when the compass is used for vehicle navigation and the vehicle is not traveling on predetermined roads, since then conventional map matching can't be used to correct the compass heading.
It is possible to calibrate a compass by creating an extensive calibrated look-up table by orienting the compass in a very large number of known directions and storing the outputs of the sense windings provided for each such known direction. However, such a technique is time consuming and requires orienting the compass in a very large number of exactly known directions and this is not practical. If only a few known directions are used to create such a table, a less accurate compass is provided which is susceptible to winding alignment errors.

Method and apparatus for calibrating an electronic compass to account for alignment errors in the compass windings


A recommendation platform that provides a menu of automated recommendations from on-line information by friends, with various weighting factors, to evaluate businesses. The platform is a software deployable system that amalgamates the candidate businesses into different categories and cross-references friends' experiences with these businesses. The interface utilizes a circular-like menu and is both compact and easily navigable.

Seekers of services (consumers) typically use on-line resources to find a suitable provider of the desired service (e.g., plumber, auto mechanic, dog groomer, sushi place, CPA, etc.). Generally, this involves numerous hours searching, evaluating, reviewing any one or more search engine results (e.g., Google), rankings (e.g., Yelp), middlemen agencies (e.g., Angie's List), Local listings (e.g., Yahoo Local or CraigsList), and so forth. In all these instances, the consumer must review/filter a handful if not dozens of possible candidates, and it is presumed the resource is trusted. So, while the availability of "reviews" on on-line resources are plentiful, the effort needed to vet the reviews is extraordinarily tedious and there is no assurance that the candidate information is accurate. Therefore, the sheer volume of review-providing sites and reviewers renders the conventional approach unwieldy and very time consuming.
What would be desirable instead is a resource that is personally known to the seeking consumer and configured for ease of use. In fact, a well-trusted source would be friends and/or family. Understanding that social media portals have already aggregated contacts into (to some degree) friends and/or family, it would be advantageous to leverage the resources of this community for effective referral making. In view of this, the following description elucidates various systems and methods for generating referrals from trusted sources, using information from "friends and family" portal(s) or other trusted sources. Additionally, an easy interface for conveying such referrals is described.

System and method for trusted contact, business selection with automated menuing using trusted friends' and family's recommendations


Provided is a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a perpendicular magnetic enhancement layer having a thickness of 15 nm or greater between a substrate and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to magnetic recording media used in hard disk drives (HDDs), and more particularly, to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with improved thermal stability of record information and high signal-to-noise ratio.
2. Description of the Related Art
In longitudinal magnetic recording (LMR) applied to hard disk drives (HDDs), a major external data storage device of computers, the size of a data record domain in a magnetic disk has decreased with microstructure as the need for high-density data recording increases. However, this decrease in size makes the data record domains susceptible to removal by thermal energy generated by operation of the HDD which is more dominant than magnetostatic energy from the data record domain. This is referred to as the super paramagnetic effect. To overcome the super paramagnetic effect, the LMR technique has been replaced by a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technique for HDD applications. The PMR technique uses a higher electrostatic energy and lower demagnetization energy compared to the LMR technique, so it is advantageous in high-density data recording. The high-density PMR technique also has enabled detection of a micro data domain in combination with advances in the manufacture of highly sensitive read heads.
The schematic structure of a single-layer PMR medium is shown in FIG. 1. The single-layer PMR medium includes an underlayer 12 for promoting the perpendicular orientation of a perpendicular magnetic recording layer 13 formed over the underlayer 12, the perpendicular magnetic recording layer 13 having the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy to keep the perpendicular orientation of the data record domain, a protective layer 14 for protecting the perpendicular magnetic recording layer 13 from external impacts, and a lubricant layer 15 on a glass or aluminum alloy substrate 11.
The perpendicular magnetic recording layer 13 has the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy with a magnetic easy axis oriented perpendicular to the plane of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer 13 due to the underlayer 12.
Recording density in a perpendicular magnetic recording mechanism is largely affected by the characteristics of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer and the perpendicular orientation promoting underlayer.
In a conventional PMR medium, as shown in FIG. 1A, an underlayer disposed below a PMR layer to promote perpendicular magnetic orientation of the PMR layer is formed of titanium (Ti), and the PMR layer is formed of a Co alloy. In this case, the mismatch between the lattice constants of the Ti underlayer and the Co-alloy PMR layer is considerably high at about 18%. When the lattice constant mismatch becomes larger, a perpendicular magnetic degradation layer 16, a buffer layer with inferior magnetic properties, is formed on the Ti underlayer in the course of crystal growth of the Co-ally PMR layer, as shown in FIG. 1B. The perpendicular magnetization degradation layer 16 reduces the thickness of the crystalline PMR layer. As a result, the magnetic properties of the PMR layer are degraded with low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio.
A Ti layer typically used for the perpendicular orientation promoting layer shows poor perpendicular orientation properties when deposited because the value of Δθ50 is large, which indicates an angle of crystal growth deviating from the perpendicular axis. Such a poor degree of the perpendicular orientation in the underlayer affects the perpendicular orientation of crystals being grown for the PMR layer and thereby increases Δθ50 of the PMR layer.
An increase in grain size of the PMR layer as well as the perpendicular orientation reduction described above reduces the SNR of the PMR layer, thereby limiting high-density recording.


Various arrangements for increasing a transfer rate of a data transfer via satellite are presented. A satellite gateway may set an accelerated set of communication parameters that control communication between the satellite gateway and the satellite terminal via the satellite and between the satellite gateway and the content source to an accelerated transfer rate between the content source and the satellite terminal. A first set of data may be transferred from the content source to the satellite terminal using the set of communication parameters. After transferring the first set of data, the satellite gateway may adjust the initial set of communication parameters to an adjusted set of communication parameters. The adjusted transfer rate can be lower than the accelerated transfer rate.

Due in part to the amount of time that electromagnetic radiation takes to propagate through space, delays in communication involving a geosynchronous satellite are inevitable. For instance, communication from a terminal, up to a satellite, and down to a satellite gateway may result in approximately 260 ms of delay, with a round trip and associated processing resulting in 600 ms of delay.
For some types of data transfers, this delay may be compounded. For instance, to initiate a communication connection, data may need to be exchanged between a source and a destination multiple times. Therefore, the approximate 600 ms round trip and processing delay may be compounded two or more times, resulting in a 2-4 second delay before the data payload is transmitted.
Such an arrangement can result in a negative end-user experience. If the end-user is expecting particular transfer rate, the user may be frustrated when the initial transfer speed appears to be significantly slower than expected. Further, regardless of the end-user experience, if multiple sets of data are to be transferred to a terminal, repeated setting up of communication connections can result in low transfer rates even when the connection has significant bandwidth.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Accelerated startup of satellite high-bandwidth communication sessions


A new fire hose engagement ring for facilitating pulling of a fire hose by a fireman. The inventive device includes a circular ring that is dimensioned for coupling over a fire hydrant. First and second U-shaped latch fittings are secured to an outer periphery of the circular ring. An arcuate latch is provided having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is received within the first U-shaped latch fitting with a pivot pin extending therebetween. The second end portion is received within the second U-shaped latch fitting in a closed orientation. A locking pin slidably engages the second U-shaped latch and the second end portion of the arcuate latch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hose carriers and more particularly pertains to a new fire hose engagement ring for facilitating pulling of a fire hose by a fireman.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of hose carriers is known in the prior art. More specifically, hose carriers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art hose carriers include U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,257 to Spillers et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,023 to Colin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,000 to Keck, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,661 to Santy; U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,293 to Gename; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 318,413 to McNulty, Jr.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new fire hose engagement ring. The inventive device includes a circular ring that is dimensioned for coupling over a fire hydrant. First and second U-shaped latch fittings are secured to an outer periphery of the circular ring. An arcuate latch is provided having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is received within the first U-shaped latch fitting with a pivot pin extending therebetween. The second end portion is received within the second U-shaped latch fitting in a closed orientation. A locking pin slidably engages the second U-shaped latch and the second end portion of the arcuate latch.
In these respects, the fire hose engagement ring according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of facilitating pulling of a fire hose by a fireman.


An automotive occupant restraint system with a simple and compact energy reserve circuit is provided which includes an occupant restraint mechanism, a step-up circuit, a backup capacitor, a crash monitor, a firing circuit, and a switching circuit. The step-up circuit steps up the voltage supplied from a battery to charge the backup capacitor up to a given voltage level. The crash monitor monitors a vehicle crash to provide a crash signal. The firing circuit is responsive to the crash signal to activate the occupant restraint mechanism. The switching circuit selects between a first and a second power supply mode. The first power supply mode is established to block communication between the backup capacitor and the crash monitor when a sufficient amount of electrical energy of the battery is supplied to the crash monitor, while the second power supply mode is established to communicate the backup capacitor to the crash monitor when the electrical energy supplied from the battery drops below a given voltage level to supply electrical energy stored in the backup capacitor to the crash monitor.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved circuit for an occupant restraint system for automotive vehicles such as an airbag system or a pretensioner for a seat belt, and more particularly to an energy reserve circuit designed to supply electrical energy to operate an occupant restraint system for a given period of time after the power supply from a main power source to the occupant restraint system is interrupted by a vehicle crash.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical air bag system for automotive vehicles, an acceleration sensor monitors the acceleration of the vehicle. When it is determined that a vehicle crash has occurred based on the monitored acceleration of the vehicle, a squib is fired to deploy an air bag to protect an occupant from the impact.
A firing circuit activating the squib and a crash monitor are usually supplied with electric power from a storage battery mounted in the vehicle. A backup capacitor serves as an auxiliary power supply for the firing circuit and the crash monitor if electrical communication of the firing circuit and the crash monitor with the storage battery is blocked by the impact of the vehicle crash. The backup capacitor must have sufficient capacitance to store enough electrical energy to activate the squib for a given period of time after the power supply to the firing circuit and the crash monitor is blocked.
Thus, actuating the air bag system within a normal operating voltage range (e.g., 6 V to 16 V) requires a backup capacitor having a capacitance so large as to be impractical. In order to alleviate this problem, a conventional air bag system uses a step-up circuit which increases the voltage of the storage battery for charging the backup capacitor up to a given increased voltage (e.g., 14 V). This allows use of the backup capacitor having a smaller capacitance.
The conventional air bag system, however, has a drawback. The backup capacitor is usually connected directly to the firing circuit and the crash monitor. The step-up circuit is thus to designed to charge the backup capacitor up to the given increased voltage and to hold it for actuating both the firing circuit and the crash monitor if the battery voltage drops. Specifically, the step-up circuit is required to have the ability to output high-power (e.g., 14 V, 100 mA). Such a step-up circuit usually needs large-sized parts such as coils, which can counter attempts to miniaturize or reduce manufacturing costs.
In order to avoid the above drawback, a system taught in Japanese Patent First Publication No. 7-96815 uses two backup capacitors for a firing circuit and a crash monitor which are charged by a step-up circuit. A switching transistor is disposed between the backup capacitors. The backup capacitors are usually connected to each other by an on-operation of the switching transistor, and are disconnected by an off-operation of the switching transistor when the crash monitor outputs a firing signal to the firing circuit in the event of a vehicle collision. If the communication of the step-up circuit with a storage battery is blocked, the firing circuit uses the electrical energy stored in either of the backup capacitors to deploy an air bag.
The above prior art system, however, has at least two disadvantages; one, that the switching transistor does not contribute to reduction in output ability of the step-up circuit, and two, that the use of the two backup capacitors results in increasing component parts.

Automotive occupant restraint system with energy reserve circuit


A storage device for card-shaped data carriers has at least one storage unit with a magazine support and a magazine mounted on the magazine support. The storage unit has a support bottom on which data carriers are stacked and has an upper end with a dispensing slot. An individualization roller is positioned at the upper end for removing the uppermost data carrier from the storage unit through the dispensing slot. A transport device for transporting the data carrier exiting from the dispensing slot to a processing unit of a dispenser is provided. A carriage is mounted in the magazine support and vertically slidable in the magazine support. The support bottom is fastened to the carriage. A motor is provided that drives an endless, flexible pulling element connected to the motor, and the motor and pulling element drive the carriage. Two guide pulleys are connected to opposite ends of the magazine support and the pulling element is guided about the guide pulleys. The carriage has two freely rotating drive rollers and a differential gear connecting the drive rollers. The drive rollers rotate in the same direction and have identical diameters. The drive rollers are driven by the pulling element for driving the carriage.

The present invention relates to a storage device for card-shaped data carriers with at least one storage unit in which the card-shaped data carriers are stacked on a vertically movable support bottom and from which the respectively uppermost data carrier is laterally removable through a dispensing slot by an individualization roller and a cooperating drive roller for transferring the data carrier to a processing unit or a dispensing unit arranged downstream.
Such storage devices for card-shaped data carriers are known in different embodiments, for example, for dispensing access cards for parking garages. In European patent application 96 110 551.7 a self-filling storage device for card-shaped data carriers is disclosed which is comprised of a plurality of storage units and allows an automatic filling and/or emptying of all storage units.
The invention has therefore the object to provide a storage device of the aforementioned kind with at least one storage unit which is constructively simple and thus inexpensive to produce and whose basic design allows a modular construction and also provides for high functional reliability so that the storage device can be adapted to various specifications.

Storage device for card-shaped data carriers


A method, system and computer program product are presented for providing pseudo-random input test data to a test program. A seed value is generated and stored in a seed register. Using the seed value as an input, a pseudo-random input test value is generated by a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR), and stored in a GPR within a processor core. Using the pseudo-random input test value from the GPR, a test program is executed within the processor core.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to the field of computers, and specifically to computer test programs running on computers. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to test programs that utilize randomly generated numbers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many test programs require an element of randomness in input test data, in order to avoid tests that have predictable results. That is, if expected data is tested, then expected results may occur. In order to provide random input test data, many systems utilize a random number generator or some other type of random input source. There are two main problems with such systems. First, generating such input data using a random number generator requires the use of much of a computer's processing resources. Second, such systems are usually irreversible, in that there is no way to backtrack through a test to reach a known random input test data.

Pseudo random process state register for fast random process test generation

International Business Machines Corporation


The present disclosure relates to a crane, in particular to a modular mobile crane, with an under carriage, a support, and an upper carriage which comprises an upper carriage frame and a jib which can be separated from the upper carriage, wherein the under carriage comprises at least one connection point. According to the invention, the under carriage can be connected via the at least one connection point alternatively via at least one support-side connection point to the support, and to the upper carriage connected to said support, or via at least one jib-side connection point to the jib separated from the upper carriage.

The present invention relates to a crane, in particular to a modular mobile crane, as well as to a method for moving and displacing such a crane.
Working with large lifting heights and heavy loads requires very large cranes. Such cranes are used on large construction sites at different sites of use. The transport of a large crane up to a construction site and on the construction site is relatively expensive. Thus, it is advantageous if the crane can be moved autonomously, and if no other transport vehicles have to to be reserved at the construction site or need be transported to the construction site.
It is known that such large cranes are also very heavy, and they are frequently broken up into assembly groups for their move to the construction site. The justification for this relates to the admissible weights and to the maximum admissible or economically transportable dimensions. However, it must be kept in mind that, during the transport of a crane to the construction site or the removal transport of such a crane from the construction site, the rules of public road traffic apply and have to be complied with.
Since such rules do not apply on the construction site, large cranes can be moved on a regular basis at the construction site, in a state that is as fully equipped as possible, from one site of use to another site of use. However, the loads that the vehicle can carry are limited here as well.
If the crane is very large, in comparison to the carriage, it is technically no longer possible to move the crane in a completely equipped state. The move is then carried out in a modular manner. However, the modules then have to be assembled on site, which entails considerable costs and expenditure of time.
From DE 10 2008 047 737 A1, a mobile crane is known which can consist of different modules, such as, for example, a drive module, an equipping module, a platform module, and a support module, which can be assembled as needed. All the modules here have connection points, so that they can be coupled to each other as desired. For the construction of the crane, the modules can be assembled in accordance with the requirements of the construction site. In addition, during the refitting of the crane from transport operation to usage operation, the modules can be uncoupled, and, for example, they can also be coupled again at another location, in order to achieve a desired change in the center of gravity, or a weight compensation, for example. The drive module is then used as a counterweight, and it leads to a symmetric load distribution over the vehicle axles of the platform module. In this solution, the coupling together of two telescopic cranes with up to 14 axles has also been envisaged.
DE 20 2011 101 049 U1 describes a crane with a foldable arm which is used to raise the loads and which can be installed on commercial transport vehicles, such as trucks and other machines, for commercial uses.
The crane that is disclosed here can be carried by a transport vehicle, wherein the crane construction comprises a multiply deployable support as well as a jib.
DE 90 15 296 U1 discloses a crane which can be transported from one construction site to another construction site. This mobile crane is mounted on a trailer and it can be uncoupled from the towing vehicle. However, after the uncoupling, it can then be operated only in a supported arrangement.
DE 25 44 958 A1 shows a crane which is mounted on a trailer and which can be uncoupled from the towing vehicle. After the uncoupling, it continues to be fully movable on the construction site.
DE 20 2006 007 486 U1 discloses a mobile crane with a crane jib which can be transported separately. The installation then consists in having the jib be supported by means of attached supports, and the crane move under the jib.
DE 20 2008 016 876 U1 describes a roller rotating connection for the rotating connection of an upper carriage to the under carriage of a crane, wherein the roller rotating connection to the upper carriage and to the under carriage in each case comprises a quick connection coupling. Thus, the rotating crane can be transported separately as a transport unit with the rotary mechanism. Here, it is provided that several hydraulic motors are connected to each other, so that only one hydraulic connection needs to be established during the installation.


Substituted chromans which by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase enzyme are useful in the prevention or treatment of asthma, arthritis, psoriasis, ulcers, myocardial infarction, stroke and related disease states in mammals, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, a method of treatment therewith, and to intermediates useful in the synthesis thereof.

The present invention is directed to substituted chromans of the formula (I), depicted below, which by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase enzyme are useful in the prevention or treatment of asthma, arthritis, psoriasis, ulcers, myocardial infarction, stroke and related disease states in mammals. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions, and to a method of treatment
Kreft et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,596, describe compounds which are disubstituted naphthalenes, dihydronaphthalenes or tetralins having the formula ##STR1## wherein the dotted lines represent optional double bonds, R is 2-pyridyl, 2-quinolyl, 2-pyrazinyl, 2-quinoxalinyl, 2-thiazolyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, 2-oxazolyl, 2-benzoxazolyl, 1-alkyl-2-imidazolyl or 1-alkyl-2-benzimidazolyl and R is hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl or perfluoro alkyl. These compounds inhibit lipoxygenase enzyme and antagonize the effects of leukotriene D4, and so are useful in the prevention and treatment of asthma.
Eggler et al., in copending International application PCT/US87/02745 filed Oct. 19, 1987 have described similarly active compounds, including chromans of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.x is substantially defined as above, R.sup.z is aryl or heteroaryl, X.sup.a is, for example, oxygen or CH.sub.2, and X.sup.b is C.dbd.O or CHOH. The present compounds generally fail to block leukotriene D4 receptors and so, in this respect, are differentiated from the compounds of Eggler et al., who also report certain structurally related compounds as intermediates (for example, compounds of the formula immediately above wherein R.sup.x is benzyl Many of these intermediates also find utility as intermediates in the present invention.
The chemical nomenclature employed herein generally follows that of "I.U.P.A.C Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry, 1979 Edition," Pergammon Press, New York, 1979.

Substituted chromans and their use in the treatment of asthma, arthritis and related diseases


A personalized content recommendation system includes a client interface device configured to monitor a user's information data stream. A collaborative filter remote from the client interface device generates automated predictions about the interests of the user. A database server stores personal behavioral profiles and user's preferences based on a plurality of monitored past behaviors and an output of the collaborative user personal interest inference engine. A programmed personal content recommendation server filters items in an incoming information stream with the personal behavioral profile and identifies only those items of the incoming information stream that substantially matches the personal behavioral profile. The identified personally relevant content is then recommended to the user following some priority that may consider the similarity between the personal interest matches, the context of the user information consumption behaviors that may be shown by the user's content consumption mode.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to text mining and content recommendations through automated analysis of user activities or events that may include on-line reading, writing, browsing, and/or navigation, for example.
2. Related Art
Search engine rankings may provide information about selected topics or answer specific questions. Unfortunately some search engines cannot return the latest information about a topic or question when that information has not had sufficient time to establish its cyber reputation. Additionally, many Web search services require user to compose their own Web queries. To receive sought after information, the search engines require the users to ask the right questions and convey those questions through a required language expression following a specific query structure. Besides its counter-intuitive nature, such queries directed to sought-after information may not exist.
Unfortunately, most of the search engines do not offer an integrated experience of one stop information shop for any user. Unlike known technology, the technology disclosed in the Detailed Description that follows, un-intrusively observes the user's own information consumption behaviors in time, automatically infers that user's information interests, and proactively recommends personally high-value content for the user under a given context of a certain information consumption mode of the user (such as 9 am Monday morning, later Sunday afternoon, or during Christmas holidays). Some of the systems described in the Detailed Description do not require a more tactic query formulation or manual information searching and end-user filtering. The new technology discloses recommendation techniques and focuses on proactively delivering relevant content to an end user in a personalized way.
Appendices 1-6 describe a personalized re-ranking algorithm.

Recommending personally interested contents by text mining, filtering, and interfaces