A sealing cap fastened to a vacuum seal container and controlled to extract air out of vacuum seal container, the sealing cap including a cap body unit fastened to the vacuum seal container, and an extracting unit mounted in the cap body and controlled to extract air out of the vacuum seal container by reciprocating a control cap of the extracting unit with the hand, the air passage being automatically sealed by a flap, which is forced into the close position by atmospheric pressure, the vacuum status of the vacuum seal container being released when a control cap of the air extracting unit is turned in one direction and pressed down, the cap body having a bottom side covered with a rubber disk which fits different spout sizes and shapes, the rubber disk being secured to the cap body by a T-cap and a sponge between the T-cap and the rubber disk, the rubber disk having a convex flange of V-shaped cross section around the periphery, which prohibits the rubber disk from being forced to curve inwards and to escape out of position, the T-cap being adapted to prevent the rubber disk from being forced inwards by atmospheric pressure and to enable air to get into the inside of the container in all directions when releasing the vacuum status of the container, the T-cap and the sponge filtering and buffering air passes through to prevent powdered material from being adhered to the rubber disk in order to maintain its function of vacuum preservation.

The present invention relates to a sealing cap for vacuum seal containers which fits container mouths of different sizes and shapes, and more particularly to such a sealing cap which automatically extracts air out of the vacuum seal container when reciprocating a control cap. The sealing cap is equipped with a rubber disk which fits different container spouts. A sponge and a T-cap are fastened to the cap body of the sealing cap to secure the rubber disk in place, and to filter and buffer air passing through.
FIG. 1 shows a sealing cap fastened to a vacuum seal container 300, and operated to extract air out of the vacuum seal container 300. The sealing cap comprises a cap body 100, a gasket 101 retained between the cap body 106 and the container 300, and a valve 102 mounted on the gasket 101. When in use, an extracting pump 200 is attached to the cap body 100, and operated to extract air out of the container 300 through the valve 102. When releasing the vacuum status of the container 300, the valve 102 must be opened by pulling. This structure of sealing cap is not durable in use because the gasket 101 wears quickly with use and tends to be forced inwards by atmospheric pressure, causing an air leakage . Another drawback of this structure of sealing cap is that the cap body fits only circular container mouths. Furthermore, When opening the valve 102, powdered material which is contained in the container 300 is forced to splash by a rush flow of air.


The present invention includes a flexible printed circuit bracket including a crash stop rubber and/or an air block. The air block directs the air flow from the rotating disk surface(s) away from the head gimbal assemblies to minimize positional variance of the read-write heads. The crash stop rubber contacts the crash stop stub on the actuator arm block, stopping actuator assembly swinging away from the disk. The invention includes making an actuator assembly with the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket, as well as making the hard disk drive. The invention includes both the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive as the products of these processes. The invention also includes the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive containing the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket.

Prior art hard disk drives have a problem with stopping the read-write head(s) of an actuator assembly from swinging violently away from the disk spindle, possibly crashing and damaging the read-write heads. Mechanical shocks and vibrations acting upon a hard disk drive may cause such swinging. Certain hard disk drive applications, such as hand held computers, notebook computers, and MP3 players are especially susceptible to these shocks and vibrations. The prior art addresses this problem by using at least one separate part for the outside diameter crash stop, known herein as a crash stop rubber. This part, or parts, adds to the cost of producing the hard disk drive. What is needed is a cost effective mechanism providing the outside diameter crash stop while reducing the parts count.
These prior art, hard disk drives also have a problem with air turbulence affecting the read-write heads. The air turbulence often displaces the read-write heads, adversely affecting the ability of the hard disk drive to follow a track. For example, contemporary hard disk drives often have track densities around 20,000 tracks per inch, or more. As the track densities increase, the need to reduce any read-write head positional deviations also increases. Reducing the airflow at the read-write heads reduces read-write head positional variances. What is needed are new cost effective ways to reduce the air flow near the read-write heads.

Method and apparatus for flexible printed circuit bracket including crash stop and/or air block in a hard disk drive


A brake rotor and methods for cooling and/or removing debris from a brake rotor are provided. The brake rotor may include a first and second annular braking surfaces jointly defining inner and outer circumferential surfaces and a central portion and a hat portion disposed in the central portion and adapted for mounting the rotor to a vehicle. The rotor may also include a plurality of vanes provided between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces, which may define a plurality of corresponding flow channels between at least a pair of vanes. Each flow channel may include a first flow channel opening (e.g., inlet) provided near the central region and a second flow channel opening (e.g., outlet) provided near a periphery of the brake rotor. The rotor and methods also may include a plurality of first slots provided on the first annular braking surface and a plurality of second slots provided on the second annular braking surface corresponding to the plurality of first slots. At least one first opening may be included within one or more slots. Similarly, at least one second opening may be provided within each second slot. Each second opening of each second slot may correspond substantially to and fluid communicate with a first opening of a first slot.

Generally, existing brake rotors include solid, non-venting rotor designs and venting designs, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,848 (vented). Accordingly, conventional ventilated brake rotors generally include a pair of mutually spaced-apart annular disks that present two opposed external braking surfaces for engaging brake pads under a clamping operation of a braking actuator (brake caliper). The space between the disks typically includes a number of vanes with flow passages defined between each pair of adjacent vanes that extend between the disks from their inner diameter to their outer diameter. Rotation of the rotor causes the vanes to induce air flow through the flow passages from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the disks, providing increased convective heat transfer from the rotor. Inlets for the vanes reside adjacent the external braking surface of the base of the rotor.
Slots may be cut into one or more of the external braking surfaces of a brake rotor, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,770, which allow for the collection of gases which are produced by the disc brake pad material when a braking force is applied to the external braking surfaces. Such slots may also be used as a cleaning mechanism to clean a corresponding brake pad surface to collect brake dust produced by the brake pads during braking. For additional cooling and/or venting of braking gases produced by braking, especially for today's high-performance automobiles and racing applications, a series of cross-drilled through-holes may be formed in each external braking surface, as shown in U.S. Design patent nos. D465,179 and D456,326.
The use of slots and cross-drilled holes however, decreases the heat dissipation surface area of a respective external braking surface as well as decrease the braking surface area. Either or both of these decreases in respective surface areas may result in a decrease in braking performance (e.g., increased braking distances). Moreover, the more rotor material removed (by the creations of slots and/or the use cross-drilled holes), the more prone the rotor may be to premature failure due to thermal fatigue. This may result in rotor warping.
Slotted rotors may also be prone to yet another problem. Collected brake dust may ultimately clog one or more slots after time resulting in a decrease or cessation of the ability of the slot to perform this job.


In a digital image recording apparatus, an image processing is carried out on a first digital image signal obtained by sampling at a predetermined density an image signal representing an original image. The image processing is for increasing the amount of information carried by the first digital image signal and reducing frequency components of the first digital image signal which are higher than the Nyquist rate of the first digital image signal, thereby obtaining a second digital image signal. The second digital image signal is reproduced on a recording medium at a density higher than the predetermined density, thereby forming an image which is higher in resolution than that obtained from the first digital image signal and equal to that obtained from the first digital image signal in size.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a digital image recording apparatus and a digital image recording method. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for visually completely restoring on a recording medium image information components at frequencies not higher than the Nyquist rate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image recording apparatus for recording a digital image in an actual size or to an enlarged or reduced scale, such as laser printers, thermal printers and the like, are known. In such an image recording apparatus, a digital image signal obtained by sampling an analog image signal is subjected to a predetermined image processing, for instance, to an interpolation processing, in the case where the image is to be enlarged and then reproduced on an image recording medium.
Recording by the image recording apparatus is equivalent to restoring a digital image signal as an analog image signal. As a theorem for restoring such a digital signal, a sampling theorem is known. The sampling theorem defines a condition on sampling intervals for completely restoring the digital signal as an analog signal. For example, in a one-dimensional sampling theorem, it has been proven that when an analog signal is sampled at a sampling frequency N (sampling intervals of 1/N), the signal components at frequencies not higher than N/2 included in the analog signal can be completely restored. The frequency of N/2 is generally referred to as "the Nyquist rate". Further is known that when a digital signal including therein frequency components higher than the Nyquist rate is restored to an analog signal, error occurs due to folding of a high frequency side part toward a low frequency side (aliasing error), thereby causing the shape of the restored analog signal to be greatly deformed. As for an image signal, a two-dimensional sampling theorem shows that the signal components at frequencies not higher than the Nyquist rate can be completely restored and that when a digital signal includes frequency components higher than the Nyquist rate, the digital signal cannot be completely restored as and analog signal.
Accordingly it seems that signal components at a frequency not higher than the Nyquist rate can be visually completely restored by the image recording apparatus if sampling or recording of an image is carried out on the basis of the sampling theorem. However in conventional image processing systems, signal components at frequencies not higher than the Nyquist rate actually cannot be visually completely restored in conformity with the theorem.
This is because of the following fact. That is, since the sampling theorem assumes that the original waveform can be restored by convoluting a sinc function ((sin x)/x) in sampled values, the response to recording of the recording medium must be a sinc function in order to record an image according to the sampling theorem. In other words, the recording medium must be such that a picture element is recorded on the recording medium at a density corresponding to a value which is obtained by convoluting the sinc function in a value of a given digital signal component. However since the sinc function can take on a negative value whereas the response of recording on a recording medium cannot be negative, the sinc function cannot truly be convoluted.
That is, it is actually impossible to visually completely restore the signal components at frequencies not higher than the Nyquist rate on a recording medium. However since the sampling theorem has been widely known and because various systems other than recording systems are designed according to the sampling theorem, the image recording apparatus has been expected, as if natural, to be able to visually completely restore the signal components of frequencies not higher than the Nyquist rate according to the sampling theorem.

Digital image recording apparatus and method


An electric motor has a stator, a shaft and a rotor. The stator has an annular yoke portion; a plurality of stator teeth inwardly extending from the yoke portion; stator windings wound on the stator teeth; and a molded member made of heat conductive plastic material. The molded member has a plurality of fins arranged on an outer wall of the yoke portion, a covering portion disposed in the spaces between adjacent stator teeth, and two connecting portions respectively located at axially outer end faces of the yoke portion and connected to the covering portion and the fins. The covering portion covers an inner wall of the yoke portion and the stator windings, and connects to the fins via the connecting portions. Heat generated by the stator windings is transmitted to the fins via the covering portion and the connecting portions, where it is dissipated.

A stator of an inner-rotor motor typically includes an annular yoke portion, a plurality of stator teeth extending from the yoke portion, and stator windings wound on the stator teeth. To improve heat dissipation, a plurality of axial projections is formed on the outside of the yoke portion, to increase the surface area of the stator exposed to the air. However, the projections usually have only a small axial length. An existing solution that further improves heat dissipation and maintains substantially same cost involves mounting metal fins on the outside of the stator wall. However, as the power of electrical appliances continues to increase, existing solutions for dissipating heat do not meet the requirements.
Thus there is a need for an electric motor having a stator with improved heat dissipation.


An improved magnetic read/write head actuator assembly for use within a storage disk system that reduces average access time. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm mounted on pivotal hub. A read/write head is supported at a distal end of the actuator arm such that the head is positioned in close proximity to a rotating magnetic storage disk. An actuator motor cooperates with the actuator arm to provide pivotal motion to the actuator arm about a central pivot axis. The actuator motor includes an asymmetric rotor winding connected to the actuator arm at an end opposite the distal end and an asymmetrical stator magnet structure that is statically mounted in close proximity to the asymmetric rotor winding. The actuator motor, further includes a flux conductive member that forms a closed flux path through the rotor winding and the asymmetrical stator magnet structure. The asymmetric geometry of the stator magnet structure generates an increased magnetic field strength and magnetic field density in a region of the magnet structure that comprises a greater portion of magnetic material. Therefore, when the asymmetric rotor winding reacts with the region of the stator magnet that has the greater portion of magnetic material, an increased torque vector force is realized by the asymmetric rotor winding. The increased torque vector force realized by the rotor is transposed to the actuator arm for increasing the pivotal speed of the actuator arm about the central pivot axis during access of outer diameter tracks of a magnetic storage disk.

In disk-type magnetic recording systems for digital applications, magnetic transducer elements, or heads, are used to record information onto (i.e., write) or retrieve information from (i.e., read) the disk surface or surfaces. Each storage disk comprises an annular substrate onto which is deposited a magnetic recording medium. Each disk surface is divided into several concentric, annular bands, or "tracks" each having a predetermined radial extent. Adjacent tracks are separated by an unused buffer zone. Each head is supported in close proximity to an associated disk surface by a head positioning assembly, or actuator, that supports the head near the disk surface and moves it from one radial position to another, thereby permitting use of a single head for reading and writing on multiple tracks. The positioner assembly for each head or group of heads includes an actuator arm and an actuator motor. The actuator motor moves the actuator arm, to change the position of the head with relation to the tracks on the disk. A disk drive may include a plurality of stacked disks, and one actuator motor may be used to move a corresponding number of actuator arms in unison.
In particular, positioner assemblies of the prior art typically consist of several arms, in spaced apart relationship, stacked one above the other, pivoted at their centers on a common pivot, with read/write heads mounted at one end and the moving winding(s) of the rotor of the actuator motor mounted at the other. The stator portion of the motor includes permanent magnets and a flux conductive member that form a closed flux conductive path for the actuator motor. The winding thus also acts as a counterweight to balance the heads.
During operation, the positioner assembly provides high speed disk file access by positioning the read/write heads in a transducing relationship with a rotating magnetic storage disk. Such operation requires, first, that the position of the read/write head relative to a track on the disk be maintained within extremely close tolerances; and, second, that the access time (that is, the time required to move the head from one track to another desired track) be short. The state of the art concerning the first requirement necessitates that a control system, preferably utilizing feedback, be employed to sense the deviation of the position of the head from an optimum read/write position over the track, and to generate a correction signal for driving the actuator motor. A short access time, on the other hand, requires a number of different considerations such as the moving mass and inertia of the positioner and heads. The access time is further affected by the torque generated from the actuator motor that is ultimately transposed on to the positioner assembly.
One alternative for minimizing disk file access time is to increase the torque vector of the actuator motor for increasing the acceleration and deceleration of the positioner assembly. However, in order to increase the torque vector of an actuator motor, a proportional increase in overall motor size is required. Another alternative for increasing the acceleration and deceleration of the positioner assembly is to increase the magnitude of the current profiles supplied to the actuator motor windings. Both of the above described methods increase the acceleration and deceleration of the positioner assembly, however, either method causes an undesirable increase in power consumption. Furthermore, the former method, i.e., an increase in actuator motor size, undesirably requires additional physical space within the disk drive system.
It has been realized that typical disk drive systems write or read data to or from a disk storage surface starting from the outer diameter tracks and progressively write or read inwardly towards the inner diameter tracks. The reasoning for such formatting is that a greater number of data bits may be stored at the outer diameter tracks than at the inner diameter tracks, thereby minimizing the need to radially move the read/write head to subsequent data tracks. Minimizing radial movement of the read/write head increases data transfer rates and generally improves performance of the disk drive system. Typically, the majority of the unused portion of the disk drive system is located at the inner diameter track region of the storage disk. Thus, the desire for minimizing average disk file access may be accomplished by increasing the actuator torque vector when the actuator motor is positioning the read/write heads at the outer diameter tracks while maintaining the access time to inner diameter tracks virtually unchanged.
Thus, a hitherto unsolved need has remained for an actuator motor that will reduce average access time to a disk file storage system by increasing the actuator motor torque vector when accessing outer diameter tracks while maintaining the access time to inner diameter tracks virtually unchanged. Moreover, an unsolved need has remained for an actuator motor that provides minimized average access time to a disk file storage system with no appreciable increase in power consumption.

Magnetic read/write head actuator assembly having asymmetric stator magnets


Systems and methods displaying information from a mobile device are described herein. One embodiment of this disclosure provides a method of controlling a mobile device without a native touch screen display. The mobile device is coupled to an external touch-screen device. The method comprises receiving input via a touch screen display. The method further comprises mapping the input to one or more keypad events. The method further comprises transmitting to at least one application the one or more keypad events.

1. Field
This application relates generally to mobile devices, and more specifically, to cell phones.
2. Background
Mobile devices (e.g., phones, smartphones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), etc.) may be connected to external monitors in order to provide a larger and/or secondary display. In such cases, the external monitor may have capabilities that the mobile device does not. Thus, a need exists to utilize the capabilities of the external monitor when connected to the mobile device.

System and method for controlling mobile devices


A resin comprises a structural unit derived from a compound represented by the formula (I);

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resin, a resist composition and a method for producing resist pattern.
2. Background Information
Resist compositions used in the microfabrication of semiconductors using lithography technology contain resins.
A resin having the structural units of the followings and a chemically amplified photoresist composition containing the resin are described in Patent document, JP2006-276851-A.

Resin, resist composition and method for producing resist pattern

Abstract: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1 to C6 alkyl group that optionally has one or more halogen atoms; X1 represents a C2 to C36 heterocyclic group, one or more hydrogen atoms contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1 to C24 hydrocarbon group, a C1 to C12 alkoxyl group, a C2 to C4 acyl group, or a C2 to C4 acyloxy group, and one or more —CH2— contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by —CO— or —O—.


An authentication system is provided having a revocation list generation apparatus that constructs and stores a revocation list in a tree structure, the revocation list generation apparatus being used in combination with a revocation judgment apparatus. The authentication system improves upon conventional authentication systems because the memory capacity to store a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) in order to identify revoked certificates is reduced. The tree structure corresponds to public key certificate, which are identified by leaf identifies, and nodes from a leaf that corresponds to a revoked public key certificate.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an authentication technique that uses a public key encryption technique, and in particular to a technique for specifying a revoked public key certificate.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Systems that use the Internet as a communication infrastructure have increased with the rapid spread of Internet usage in recent years. One example is electronic transactions for buying and selling goods via the Internet.
In such a system that uses the Internet as a communication infrastructure, it is essential to confirm that a party with which communication is performed (hereinafter referred to as an "opposite party") is a legal participant. Such confirmation is called authentication. In the following, the term "device" is used to refer to both cases in which the opposite party is a device that is operated by a person, and the opposite party is a device that performs processing according to determined procedures. Authentication of the opposite party is called device authentication. Note that "certify" denotes showing that a device is legal, in other words that the device is a legal participant in the system, and "validate" denotes confirming the legality of the opposite party. The concept of authentication includes both certification and validation.
An encryption technique is usually used in device authentication. Specifically, the certifying party has secret data showing that it is a legal participant in the system, and certifies its legality by showing the validating party that it (the certifying party) has the secret data. On the other hand, the validating party validates the legitimacy of the certifying party by confirming that the certifying party has the secret data. In a communication path, such as the Internet, where anyone can obtain communication data, it is imperative that secret data (authentication data) used in the above-described authentication is not leaked to a third party that is not associated with the authentication. This is because if the secret data is leaked to a third party, the device that has obtained the secret data can masquerade as the original device. For this reason, authentication data is transmitted in an encrypted state, only to the verifying party.
Types of encryption techniques include a common key encryption technique and a public key encryption technique. In the common key encryption technique the key for encryption and the key for decryption have the same value. On the other hand, in the public key encryption technique the key for encryption and the key for decryption have different values.
The fact that the validating party has the same secret as the certifying party for authentication in the common key encryption technique means that there is a danger that the verifying party may masquerade as the certifying party. The so-called password method is equivalent to this technique. On the other hand, in authentication in the public key encryption technique the certifying party certifies using a public key encryption technique secret key, and the verifying party verifies using a public key that corresponds to the secret key. Since the secret key cannot be made from the public key, the verifying party is unable to masquerade as the certifying party after authentication has finished. Consequently, the public key encryption method is preferable for performing the above-described authentication.
Note that in authentication that uses the public key encryption method, "sign" denotes performing processing using the secret key, and "verify" denotes confirming legality of the signature using a public key that corresponds to the secret key.
The following is one example of opposite party authentication processing using the public key authentication technique. Specifically, a first device transmits random number data to a second device as challenge data, and the second device generates a signature text by signing the received random number data with its own secret key, and returns the signature text to the first device as response data. Lastly, the first device verifies the returned signature text using the second device's public key.
In the described authentication using the public key encryption method, it is a prerequisite that the public key be valid in the system.
For this reason, usually a "public key certificate" ("approval" to have a public key) showing that the public key is a legal public key corresponding to the device is issued by an organization, called a certificate authority, in the system. The public key certificate is data formed by concatenating an ID, a validity period, a public key, and so on, and attaching the electronic signature of the certificate authority to the concatenated data. A device that receives the public key certificate confirms that the electronic signature of the certificate authority is correct in regard to the data, and then confirms the content of the public key certificate from the ID of the opposite device, the present time, and so on, before confirming that the public key is correct.
In addition, the certificate authority issues a certificate revocation list (hereinafter referred to as a "CRL"). The CRL is a list of information that specifies revoked public key certificates, in order to notify devices of public key certificates that were issued in the past that belong to devices that are not legal and that have been removed from the system. The electronic signature of the certificate authority is attached to the CRL.
In this way, trading with an illegal opposite device can be prevented by, when authenticating an opposite device using the opposite device's public key, first obtaining the opposite device's public key certificate and confirming that the obtained public key certificate is not registered in the CRL, in other words, by confirming that the public key certificate is not revoked, before performing the above-described authentication.
Note that since the format, actualization and so on of CRLs are commonly known techniques, details are not described here. One example is disclosed in Document 1, which describes a CRL format (data structure) defined by the X. 509 standard determined by ISO/IEC/ITU.
Document 2 and Document 3 disclose methods for linearly expressing a tree structure in a tree structure data storage method that is used as one data format for storing numerous public key certificate IDs that are to be revoked. In these methods the tree structure is expressed linearly by arranging the nodes in the tree structure following particular rules. For example, a method of arranging the nodes in order of levels is described in Document 3, p. 136. According to this method, levels (that correspond to layers in the tree structure) are arranged in ascending order, and within each level the nodes are arranged from left to right.
Arranging the nodes based on specific rules enables the tree structure to be constructed in the device from the linearly arranged information.
<Document 1>
W. Ford and M. Baum, Digitaru Shomei to Ango Gijutsu (Digital Signatures and Encryption Techniques), trans. S. Yamada, Pearson Education Japan, 2001.
<Document 2>
G. Salton, Manipulation of Trees in Information Retrieval, Communication of the ACM 5, 1962.
<Document 3>
Knuth, "Kihon Sanhou/Jouhou Kouzou (Basic Algorithms/Information Structure)", trans. Yoneda & Kakehi, Saiensu-sha, 1978.
As described above, before authenticating an opposite device using the opposite device's public key, a device obtains the CRL, stores the obtained CRL in an internal memory, confirms whether the opposite device's public key certificate ID is in the stored CRL, and when the public key certificate ID is not included, performs authentication. For this reason, it is necessary for the device to have sufficient memory capacity to store the CRL.
However, a conventional CRL includes the IDs of all revoked public key certificates, and is therefore proportional in size to the number of revoked public key certificates. Consequently, when the number of revoked public key certificates increases, the size of the CRL also increases.
For this reason, a problem arises that it is unrealistic to estimate the maximum size of the CRL and provide sufficient memory capacity in the device for storing the CRL.
For example, suppose that the total number of public key certificates in the system overall is 230 (approximately 1 billion), 0.01%, in other words 100,000, of the certificates are revoked, and the size of each ID is 30 bits. In a conventional CRL that includes all the IDs, the size of the CRL will be 30 bits*100,000=approximately 375 KB. Consequently, approximately 375 KB of memory must be provided in the device for storing the CRL. However, if 0.02% of the certificates, in other words 200,000, are revoked, the size of the CRL will be 30 bits*200,000=approximately 750 KB, and approximately 750 KB of memory must be provided in the device. If the number of revoked certificates further increases, even more memory capacity must be provided.

Public key certificate revocation list generation apparatus, revocation judgement apparatus, and authentication system

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system for Internet appliance data entry and navigation includes a reduced keyset remote control unit transmitting a user input keystroke sequence. An Internet appliance receives and parses the keystroke sequence, placing the parsed data into an input buffer. An Internet appliance browser accesses user interface display screens from remote storage via a communications network. The buffer contents define a window within an accessed display screen. The Internet appliance converts the composite display screen for output to a standard television receiver. A user makes option choices and navigates the user interface display screens by activating hyperlinks within the accessed display screens. A standard telephone keypad arrangement is used to create the keystroke sequence, permitting use of a standard or wireless telephone and a hand-held remote control unit for system input and control. An alternative embodiment permits voice input of text, numbers, special symbols, and shortcuts in many languages.

Access to the Web has thus far been limited to people who have access to a personal computer. Yet many people cannot afford the cost of even a relatively inexpensive personal computer, while others are unable or unwilling to learn the basic computer skills that are required to access the Web. Furthermore, Web browsers in the prior art generally do not provide the degree of user-friendliness desired by some people who lack computer experience, and many computer novices do not have the patience to learn how to use the software. Some people, for example, dislike an interface that requires them to identify hypertext objects and to use the point-and-click technique to browse through Web pages.
Most people, however, feel quite comfortable using a remote control to operate a television set. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a means by which a person can access the World-Wide Web without the use of a personal computer. In particular, it would be desirable for a person to be able to access and navigate through Web pages using an ordinary television set and a remote control. It would further be desirable to have a user interface by which a person can use a remote control to navigate between hypertext objects on a Web page with minimal effort or thought, so that a person feels more as if he or she is simply changing television channels rather than utilizing a complex computer network.
It would also be desirable to provide a user interface permitting a person to input all the text and data for the set-top box without the use of a keyboard or any other device apart from the remote control unit and his voice. The need and desire to enter alphanumeric text through non-alpha or numeric remote control and voice is ever increasing.
In the United States of America it is standard for every telephone (both conventional and cellular) keypad to have letters as well as numerals displayed on the keys. Thus, the key representing the numeral "2" has the letters A, B and C displayed and the key representing the numeral "3" has the letters D, E and F etc. It is common to represent a telephone number by the letters, which correspond to the digits on the keypad of the telephone set. Thus, for example, a software company with the name "Uniqa KK" can acquire the telephone number 864-7255 and can advertise to customers that the company's telephone number can be dialed by activating the keys with the letters U-N-I-Q-A-K-K. Dialing these letters will result in only one digital sequence, but one digital sequence can be represented by many letter sequences.
Therefore a need exists to provide a user with a simple straightforward method and apparatus for inputting alphanumeric text through a non-alphanumeric or other device having fewer keys than the desired alphabet or through voice; and the need exists to provide a system that is not restrictive to direct correlation or a specialized domain, i.e. where a variety of choices are available and easily input.

System and method for internet appliance data entry and navigation


The present application describes a strap tab cap assembly for connecting a strap tab to an article, such as a knee brace frame. The assembly includes a strap tab cap disposed over a washer having two upwardly extending flanges. A bushing and fastening member are provided for rotatably coupling the strap tab cap to the knee brace frame. However, the washer is rotatably fixed with respect to the knee brace frame. The flanges on the washer limit the rotation of the strap tab cap with respect to the knee brace frame. The washer also protects the knee brace frame from wear during rotation of the strap tab. The assembly is very durable and is resistant to becoming disassembled during normal use, but includes field replaceable components for easy repair.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to connection devices for connecting straps to various articles, such as knee brace frames.
2. Description of the Related Art
The human knee generally comprises an articulating joint between the thigh and calf muscle groups that supports the weight of the body while a person is standing, walking or running. The joint is primarily held together by four ligaments, namely, the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The knee is a relatively weak joint and therefore knee injuries arising out of cartilage damage, ligament strain, and other causes are relatively commonplace. Knee injuries are particularly likely to occur during physical activities in which the knees are subjected to significant lateral loads. Among the numerous physical activities in which knee injuries occur, skiing and motorcycle racing have proven to be particularly hazardous.
To help prevent knee injuries, various types of "preventive" knee braces have been proposed to help support and reinforce the knee. For example, a knee brace 100 of the type known in the art is shown in FIG. 1. The illustrated knee brace 100 includes a rigid frame 111 having an upper member 112 and a lower member 114. Polycentric hinges 116 connect the upper and lower members together along the knee joint. The rigid frame 111 maintains the thigh and calf in the proper alignment and thereby prevents lateral knee joint displacement and hyperextension of the lower leg. A plurality of straps 118 is used to secure the upper member 112 and lower member 114 of the frame 111 to the respective thigh and calf portions of the leg. During fitting, each strap 118 is passed through a loop-shaped connector called a strap tab 120 and is then folded over onto itself for securement with Velcro®. Each of the strap tabs 120 is coupled to the frame 111 by a rigid connection device, called a strap tab cap 122.
In practice, it has been found that strap tab caps, such as those illustrated on the knee brace of FIG. 1, suffer from a variety of shortcomings that limit their effectiveness as a connection device. For example, the strap tab cap is typically constructed as a relatively thick member for receiving attachment screws. As a result, the strap tab cap may have a relatively high profile that protrudes outward from the surface of the frame. The high profile of the strap tab cap is undesirable because it increases the possibility that the strap tab cap will catch or snag on a foreign object during physical activity.
Another significant shortcoming relates to the manner in which the strap tab cap is mounted to the knee brace frame. Typically, the strap tab cap is rigidly connected to the knee brace frame. As a result, the strap tab cap cannot rotate relative to the knee brace frame to allow for adjustment of the strap position. This is disadvantageous because it is desirable for the straps on a knee brace to be adjustable for conforming to the shape of the user's leg. In recent years, certain rotatable strap tab cap mechanisms have been proposed for use with knee brace frames in an attempt to overcome this and other shortcomings. However, under certain conditions, existing rotatable strap tab caps may lack the structural integrity necessary for effective use as a connection device.
Thus, a very real and substantial need exists for a rotatable strap tab cap that overcomes the shortcomings of the existing schemes. It is desirable that such a strap tab cap has a low profile to avoid interfering with foreign objects during physical activity. It is also desirable that such a strap tab cap allows the position of the strap to be adjusted according to the user's needs. It is also desirable that such a strap tab cap is constructed of a durable material that is resistant to corrosion. Finally, to be practical, it is desirable that such a strap tab cap is inexpensive to manufacture and is aesthetically appealing. The present invention addresses this need.


A new metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor which acts as a medicament for inhibiting the inactivation of β-lactam antibiotics and recovering anti-bacterial activities is disclosed. The maleic acid derivatives having the general formula (I) have metallo-β-lactamase inhibiting activities. It is possible to recover the anti-bacterial activities of β-lactam antibiotics against metallo-β-lactamase producing bacteria by combining the compound of the general formula (I) with β-lactam antibiotics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor comprising a maleic acid compound as an effective ingredient, and more particularly, it relates to a pharmaceutical composition to improve the effectiveness against metallo-β-lactamase producing resistant bacteria in combination with β-lactam antibiotics for the therapy of bacterial infection in animal or human being and a method for treating the bacterial infections.
2. Background Art
β-lactamase plays an important role in the acquisition of resistance against β-lactam antibiotics in bacteria. Particularly, metallo-β-lactamases which contains zinc at their active center and exhibits wide ranges of substrate specificities are at issue due to the fact that the metallo-β-lactamases also hydrolyze carbapenem antibiotics which are relatively stable to serine-β-lactamase. In fact, metallo-β-lactamase producing bacteria are a menace to clinically important β-lactam pharmaceuticals due to the acquisition of resistance to such pharmaceuticals. Metallo-β-lactamases have been confirmed in a variety of bacterial strains such as Bacillus cereus, Bacteriocides fragilis, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Shigella flexneri, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, Legionella gormanii, Chryseobacterium meningosepticum, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Acinetobacter baumannii, Citrobacter freundii, and Enterobacter cloacae. Particularly, Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes serious problem because of its conspicuous multidrug resistance. Clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam which are now used as β-lactamase inhibitors are effective against serine-β-lactamase having serine as an active center, but these drugs exhibit not inhibiting effect on metallo-β-lactamases.
Therefore, metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors have been increasingly necessitated in order to recover the effectiveness of β-lactam antibiotics such as imipenem against metallo-β-lactamase producing resistant bacteria.
Since a metallo-β-lactamase coded on a transferable plasmid has first been reported in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, many compounds have been reported as those having metallo-β-lactamase inhibiting activities. In WO98/17639, WO97/30027, WO98/40056, WO98/39311, and WO97/10225, certain β-thiopropionyl-amino acid derivatives have been described together with their uses as the inhibitor against the metallo-β-lactamases. Also, several literatures disclose thiols and thioesters as metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors (Biol. Pharm. Bull. 1997, 20, 1136; FEMS Microbiology Letters 1997, 157, 171; Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1997, 41, 135; Chem. Commun. 1998, 1609; Biochem. J. 1998, 331, 703; WO00/076962). Furthermore, there are disclosed succinic acid compounds as the metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors in WO01/030148 and WO01/030149. In addition, there is a literature in which general situations on various metallo-β-lactamase inhibitive compounds and metallo-β-lactamase producing bacteria are described (Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2005, 18, 306). However, none of the literatures described above disclose or suggest the maleic acid derivatives as the compounds of the present invention.
In order to exert the effect of the metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor against the metallo-β-lactamase producing resistant bacteria actually in clinical practice, it is essential to recover the effectiveness in combination with β-lactam antibiotics. However, there has hitherto been described scarcely such combination effect against bacterial species including Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is at issue in the medical field. There is at present no metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor which is effective on infections in human beings and animals.
With respect to the maleic acid derivatives, dimethyl maleate has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 57-207245, dimethyl maleate and diethyl maleate, i.e. the compounds having the general formula (I) wherein M1 represents a hydrogen atom, and the like have been disclosed in Acta Chem. Scand. 1964, 18, 1276, and 3-methyl-2-tetradecanyl maleate has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-91213. However, the salts or esters having a group which can be hydrolyzed in vivo of these derivatives have not been described in them.
Also, there is disclosed in Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2000, 8, 571 2-hydroxymethyl-3-tetradecanyl maleate but not the other 2-hydroxymethyl-3-lower alkyl maleate. Furthermore, there is disclosed in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1955, 77, 6702 dicarboxylic acids having a cyclic alkyl group in the side chain, which are mono-substituted fumarate derivatives but not maleate derivatives. There is disclosed in J. Org. Chem. 1984, 49, 1985 maleic acid derivatives, one of which has an alkylthio substituent, but the other has an alkenyl group. There are disclosed in WO 91/08775 and Tetrahedron Lett. 1988, 29, 3869 maleic acid ester compounds mono-substituted with an alkoxy group, but a carboxylic acid thereof, i.e. the compound having the general formula (I) wherein M1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof have not been disclosed in these literatures. In addition, a compound having a dihydrofuranyl group has been described in Nord. Pulp Pap. Res. J. 1994, 9, 84, and a compound having a pyridinium group has been described in Angew. Chem., 1990, 102, 1164, but no metallo-β-lactamase inhibiting activity has been indicated in therein.


A high speed, high volume fruit sectionizer is comprised of a pair of suction cup conveyors onto which fruit is loaded. The fruit is coupled by means of suction attachment to a first conveyor and carried to a position wherein the opposing side of the fruit is suction coupled to the second conveyor. The fruit is drawn through a halving guillotine and coring blade. The fruit halves are then positioned on scooping and sectioning assemblies. A rotating semicircular hoop blade cuts the fruit meat away from the peel while leaving the fruit meat and peel in place. The separated peel and fruit meat are moved across the scooping and sectioning assembly through a blade assembly which sections the fruit meat. The meat sectioning blade has a first portion which cuts through the peel and fruit meat to establish a first radial extent of the section cut. A following portion of the same blade is provided with a dull edge which completes the section cut of the fruit meat, but is not sharp enough to cut the peel or to cut any portion of the conveyor. The conveyor retains uninterrupted suction attachment with the partially sliced fruit peel and is undamaged by the suctioning blade(s). The fruit meat sections then fall away from the peel, which latter is moved by the conveyor to a disposal position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of fruit processing methods and apparatus and, in particular, to methods and apparatus for scooping the meat from citrus fruit and sectioning the extracted fruit meat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Citrus fruits are generally comprised of an outer colored peel (flavedo), an inner white spongy peel (albedo) and a central meat formed in wedge shaped segments, that are collectively surrounded by a fibrous membrane network, commonly referred to as "rag". Within the meat is a core, comprised of essentially the same pectin substance comprising the albedo, which extends axially from the stem end to the blossom end of the fruit. In most varieties the core is surrounded by seeds within the adjacent meat. The individual meat segments primarily comprise juice sacks, which are elongated, oval elements that contain fruit juice and are held together by an epicuticular wax. Insofar as human consumption is concerned, the juice sacks are considered the most valuable portion of the fruit, the other components--the peel, rag, core and seeds--primarily having other uses in production of cattle feed, essential oils and the like.
The prior art has devised various methods and apparatus by which the fruit meat can be extracted.
In the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,017, an axially-oriented fruit is placed between two spikes that are sharply driven, respectively, into the stem and blossom ends of the peel. The spikes and attached fruit are then rotated while two knives move laterally across the rotating fruit to cut the peel from the meat. Although such a system does effectively extract the meat from the fruit, it does not eliminate the core, and cutting the peel in this fashion releases bitter peel oils and other undesirable flavor components found in the peel, which contaminate the meat. Furthermore, in order to allow the spike to be inserted into the fruit's stem and blossom ends, where the core lies beneath the peel, fairly precise orientation of the fruit is critical for the successfully peeling the fruit.
Other systems have evolved various types of chemical baths, which dissolve the various fruit membranes, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,560,572 and 4,139,651. And still further systems enzymatically detach the meat from the albedo by infiltration of pectinase into the albedo, beneath the flavedo, such as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,000,967; 5,170,698; 5,196,222; 5,231,921; and 5,200,217. However, such systems have a limited volume throughput, because of the processing time required to obtain enzymatic breakdown of the pectinase comprising the albedo layer of the peel, and such processes entail additional costs associated with the necessary enzymes and the related heating, cooling and other processing apparatus.
Still another extraction method uses high pressure fluid jets, as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,982,741; 4,294,861; and 4,300,448, in which the fruit is oriented and cut in half, and the exposed meat is placed in front of a fluid jet nozzle. High pressure fluid emitted from the nozzle blasts the fruit meat from the peel. These systems have limited commercial practicality because of the large volume of pressurized fluid required to obtain commercially acceptable yields. Furthermore, they are limited by the criticality of the orientation of the fruit and by the fact that sectional membranes tend to fold over and impede the fluid jet's ability to remove the meat most deeply seated within the peel.
Yet another system is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,182, which feeds the fruit into a dual conveyor and extraction apparatus that includes a plurality of action cups for holding the fruit. After the fruit is cut in half, the halves are indexed through successive meat extraction and removal stations. The extraction station includes an extraction element that separates a hemispherical section of meat from the peel. The removal station includes a removing element that gently removes any fruit meat remaining within the peel after the bulk of the meat has already been removed. The extraction station includes a rotating, ladle-shaped extraction element having a cutting bowl. While rotating, the cutting bowl is rotated 90 degrees such that its sharp peripheral edge severs the hemispherical chunk of meat from the peel, similarly to a spoon scooping ice cream from a carton. In theory, the severed meat chunk tumbles from the peel and is collected for subsequent processing. But in any event, the core adheres to the hemispherical chunk.
Among the many obvious problems with the latter prior art apparatus is the fact that the edge of the cutting bowl (i.e., the "spoon") quickly dulls, and when dull, it is substantially ineffective in extracting the meat from the peel. Secondly, even if and when cleanly cutting the meat from the peel, the apparatus has no means by which the extracted meat half can be sectioned. The extracted halves are removed from the peel as hemispherical chunks, by a means which is not clearly shown. Thirdly, as the fruit size changes, the size of the entire cutting bowl and the extraction station must also be changed. The cost of manufacturing the cutting bowls in different sizes is high, and severely limits the economic practicality of the device. Certainly, in a juicing operation (for which that apparatus was apparently invented), these disadvantages might be tolerated. However, they render the apparatus ineffective for rapidly producing cleanly sectioned and cut fruit on a long-term, cost-effective basis.
Therefore, what is needed is some type of apparatus which can economically and practically provide cleanly removed and cut fruit meat in commercial volumes, and can operate efficiently on varying sizes of fruit.


A forced induction device for an internal combustion engine is provided, which includes a shaft, and a compressor wheel that is threadably mounted to the shaft, and a tool that is configured to engage one or more through bores in the compressor wheel to thread and unthread the compressor wheel onto and off of the shaft. The compressor wheel has a plurality of blades with leading edges that converge at an apex. The apex is aligned with a centerline of the shaft. The tool allows a technician to rotate the compressor wheel relative to the shaft to install or remove the compressor wheel from the shaft without applying any pressure to the blades of the compressor wheel. An associated assembly method is also provided.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Forced induction devices, such as turbochargers and superchargers, increase the efficiency and power output of an internal combustion engine by forcing extra air into the combustion chamber compared to naturally aspirated engines. Turbochargers and superchargers are used in a wide variety of internal combustion engines, including gas, diesel, alcohol, and methanol fueled engines, to increase intake air flow with a resulting horsepower gain/advantage.
There remains a need for improvements to forced induction devices, including quicker spool-up, lighter weight, and increased air and horsepower output. This is particularly true for engines used in high performance motorsports including sled pulling, street racing, and drag racing, where high engine speeds and high boost applications are desired and where rules and regulations are often in place that limit the size of the forced induction devices fitted to high performance motors.
Traditional forced induction devices often include compressor and/or turbine wheels with tool interfaces that obstruct the airflow through the device to some extent. For example, traditional turbochargers have a large hex nut (or other style nut or fastener) on both the compressor/intake wheel and turbine/exhaust wheel. This feature, which is incorporated into the "hub" of the compressor/intake wheel and turbine/exhaust wheel, is used during the manufacturing process for many purposes (holding, fastening, tightening, etc.). For example, the hex nut can be used as a clamping device when assembling the turbocharger, during machining operations, and/or during welding processes. After assembly, this hex nut provides no functional purpose to the operation of the turbocharger. The compressor wheels of centrifugal superchargers typically have similar features.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hub-less and nut-less turbine wheel and compressor wheel designs and installation/removal tool


A method and apparatus for addressing compressed nodes in a database structure is disclosed in which each compressed node is associated with a particular mapping function and each element in the node is assigned a particular identification code. The character to be searched is converted into a physical address having a first portion which is used to index to a particular element in a compressed node, and a second portion which is used to verify that the selected element corresponds to the search character.

I. Database searches
A computerized database is a collection of information that is organized for ease of retrieval. Such databases are generally organized in a structured pattern. One such structure is known as a TRIE-structure.
In a traditional TRIE-structured database information is located through searches that employ TRIE-nodes. Such TRIE-nodes are supported by memory, and each contains a list, e.g., of sixteen elements, each element corresponds to one of sixteen possible characters.
Using such a TRIE-structure, string words of arbitrary length may be searched. First, the string word being searched is divided into several characters, each being four bits in length for the above example (i.e., a sixteen element node). Next, the first character of the word being searched is used to index into the first TRIE-node.
The element corresponding to the character being searched may be one of three types:
(1) The element may be a NODE pointer which points to another TRIE-node. A NODE pointer indicates that, as of the character being searched, an entry in the database matches the string word being searched. If a NODE pointer is found using the first character as an index into the first node, the second character in the string word is then used to index into the node referenced by the NODE pointer. If another NODE pointer is found, the process repeats, this time using the third character of the string word as an index.
(2) The second type of element which may be referenced in a node is a NIL or NULL pointer. A NIL pointer indicates that the database holds no entries that match the string being searched beyond this point. When a NIL pointer is found, the search stops.
(3) The third possible element in a node is a LEAF pointer. A LEAF pointer indicates that a match has been found with an element in the database, and that no more searching is required. A LEAF pointer marks the end of a successful search, and may point to the start of some other process.
A example of a search using a traditional TRIE-structured database is given in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional TRIE structured database (10). The TRIE-structure includes nodes A (11), B (13), C(15), and D (17). String word (00) is illustrated as an exemplary word to be searched. As may be seen, string word (00) is divided into four characters (01,02,03,04) each four bits in length.
The first character (01) is used to index into the first node, node A (11). Since the first character is 1110, or E in hexi-decimal (hereinafter Eh), the fifteenth element (12) is checked. In the example the element corresponding to Eh (12) contains a NODE pointer which points to node B (13). Thus, the search continues at node B.
The second character of the string word (02), Ah, is used to index into node B (13) where another node pointer is found. This pointer points to node C and thus the search continues at node C using the third character (03), 8h, of the search word. In node C, the element corresponding to 8h is a pointer to node D.
The process continues until at node D (17) a LEAVE pointer is found in the element corresponding to the fourth character (04), 3h. At this point the search is complete, and the process referenced by the LEAF pointer is begun.
Had the fourth character of the string word been a 0h, the element corresponding to 0h (18) would have been selected. Since a NIL pointer is located at this element, the search would have been terminated as there is no element in the database that matches such a string word.

Method and apparatus for pointer compression in structured databases


A basic idea according to the invention is to enhance or update the basic cryptographic security algorithms by an algorithm-specific modification of the security key information generated in the normal key agreement procedure of the mobile communication system. For communication with the mobile terminal, the network side normally selects an enhanced version of one of the basic cryptographic security algorithms supported by the mobile, and transmits information representative of the selected algorithm to the mobile terminal. The basic security key resulting from the key agreement procedure (AKA, 10) between the mobile terminal and the network is then modified (22) in dependence on the selected algorithm to generate an algorithm-specific security key. The basic security algorithm (24) is then applied with this algorithm-specific security key as key input to enhance security for protected communication in the mobile communications network.

In mobile communications, e.g. according to the GSM or UMTS standard, security is of utmost importance. This is very much related to the increased use of mobile communications in business relations and for private communication. It is now known that for example GSM suffers from security problems. As recently described in reference [1], it is possible to retrieve the encryption key by breaking the A5/2 cryptographic algorithm. There are three basic algorithm choices for circuit switched data, A5/1, A5/2, A5/3 and three basic algorithms for packet data, GEA1, GEA2 and GEA3. It should however be noted that there are also stronger 128-bit algorithms denoted A5/4 and GEA4. The terminal signals its capabilities, in particular the set of crypto algorithms it supports, to the network. The network then selects which crypto algorithm to use. Note that this signaling is unprotected. Thus the terminal has no chance to detect if and when an attacker is signaling that it should use A5/2 and that this information originates from a legitimate operator.
Generally, there are at least three types of attacks. The first type involves an attacker that intercepts and decrypts traffic when the system is using the broken A5/2 algorithm.
The second type of attack comprises interception of traffic associated with the AKA procedure to record traffic data and the RAND value that is used. Later, a false base station can make the mobile terminal execute an AKA procedure using the previously recorded RAND and then encrypt the traffic using the A5/2 algorithm, which enables the attacker to retrieve the crypto key Kc. Due to the simple dependence on RAND this key, Kc, will be the same key as was used to protect the recorded traffic.
The third type of attack involves an active man-in-the-middle forcing the terminal to use the A5/2 algorithm, thereby enabling calculation of the crypto key.
The UMTS standard advises methods that overcome most of these problems. However, a scenario is foreseen in which GSM terminals will be used during a considerable period of time until UMTS terminals have become property of the great majority of users. In fact, many advanced services will be available on GSM phones and users may be reluctant to exchange their phones until at a later time.
In addition, while UMTS has countermeasures that make it resistant to these attacks, there is of course a worry that future advances in crypto-analysis discover that similar problems exist also there and/or in other communication systems. Moreover, there could be security problems involved when roaming between different types of networks, such as GSM and UMTS networks.

Enhanced security design for cryptography in mobile communication systems


A 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-dialkyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene is prepared in high yield by reacting a 2,6-dialkyl-4-methoxymethylphenol with mesitylene in a hydrocarbon solvent and in the presence of at least about 10 mol %, based on the amount of mesitylene, of a hydrocarbon-soluble acid (e.g., an alkylbenzenesulfonic acid having 12-18 carbons in the alkyl group, a carboxylic acid, or a dialkylsulfosuccinate) as a catalyst or co-catalyst while distilling methanol by-product out of the reaction mixture as it is formed. The process may be conducted so as to provide a substantially pure product or a product, such as 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene, having fairly high purity (e.g., about 98-98%) and a melting point much lower than would be expected of a product having such high purity.

It is known that 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-dialkyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzenes can be prepared by reacting mesitylene with the appropriate 2,6-dialkyl-4-methoxymethylphenol in the presence of an acidic catalyst, usually sulfuric acid. It is also known that the use of sulfuric acid in an amount sufficient to provide the desired product in good yields has presented a severe spent sulfuric acid disposal problem in commercial operations.
As taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,992,597 (Mina et al.) and 4,994,628 (Goddard et al.), this disposal problem can be minimized by conducting the mesitylene/2,6-dialkyl-4-methoxymethylphenol reaction under temperature and pressure conditions such that methanol by-product formed by the reaction distills out of the reaction mixture as it is formed. The co-distillation technique permits the desired product to be provided in high yield with the use of considerably smaller amounts of sulfuric or sulfonic acid catalyst than were previously thought necessary to provide a 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-dialkyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene containing commercially-unacceptable amounts of by-products.
Although Mina et al. and Goddard et al. teach that their reactions may be conducted in hydrocarbon solvents instead of their preferred halohydrocarbon solvents, it has not been found possible to obtain good product yields when a hydrocarbon solvent is employed. This is particularly unfortunate because of the present desirability of avoiding the use of halohydrocarbon solvents--especially those which are already highly regulated and believed to be potentially damaging to the ozone layer.


A ply includes a fibrous nonwoven web fabric forming a foundational structure, wherein the foundational structure includes fibers forming first pores and is partially filled with particles, wherein the particles at least partially fill the first pores so as to form regions filled with particles, wherein the particles in the filled regions form second pores, and wherein an average diameter of the particles is greater than an average pore size of more than 50% of the second pores.

Plies of the type mentioned are already known from the prior art. Such plies are used as separators in batteries and capacitors in energy storage duty. Charge storage in batteries and capacitors takes place chemically, physically or in a mixed form, for example by chemisorption.
To avoid an internal discharge within the battery or capacitor, oppositely charged electrodes are separated from each other mechanically by means of materials which do not conduct electrons and are known as separators or spacers. At the same time, by virtue of their porosity being conformed to the energy storage system and its use, the separators or spacers make it possible for ionic charge-carriers of an electrolyte to move between the electrodes.
The separators known from the prior art have small, interlinked openings in the micrometer range. These openings are said to be as large as possible in order that electrolyte conductivity in the drenched separator be as high as possible and the battery thus have a high power density. However, if the openings are too large, then metal dendrites can lead to a short circuit between the two electrodes which are actually to be electrically separated from each other. The metal dendrites consist either of lithium or of other metals which can be present in the battery as impurities.
Furthermore, particles of electrically conductive electrode materials can migrate through the openings. These processes can give rise to a short circuit between the electrodes and greatly speed the self-discharging of the battery or capacitor.
A short circuit can result in the local flow of very high currents, which releases heat. This heat can cause the separator to melt, which in turn can lead to a distinct decrease in the insulating/isolating effect of the separator. A very rapidly self-discharging battery consequently constitutes a high safety risk because of its high energy content and also the combustibility of the electrolyte and of other constituents.
A further disadvantage with separators known from the prior art is their lack of stability in the event of rising temperatures. The melting point is around 130° C. when polyethylene is used and around 150° C. when polypropylene is used.
Causes of short circuits include shrinkage of the separator due to excessive high temperature in the battery, metal dendrite growth due to reduction of metal ions (lithium, iron, manganese or other metallic impurities), debris from electrode particles, cutting debris or broken covering on electrodes, and direct contact between the two flat electrodes under pressure.
EP 0 892 448 A2 discloses the shutdown mechanism. The shutdown mechanism responds to local heating, for example due to a short circuit, by counteracting the aerial spreading of the short circuit by prohibiting ion migration in the vicinity of the initial short circuit. The heat loss due to the short circuit causes polyethylene to heat up to such an extent that it will melt and blind the pores of the separator. Polypropylene, which has a higher melting point, stays mechanically intact.
US 2002/0168569 A1 describes the construction of a separator consisting of polyvinyl difluoride which, in the manufacturing operation, is incipiently solubilized with a solvent, mixed with silica particles and applied as a thin film. Removing the solvent leaves a porous membrane.
WO 2006/068428 A1 describes the production of separators for lithium ion batteries by using a polyolefin separator which is additionally filled with gellike polymers and inorganic particles.
WO 2004/021475 A1 describes the use of ceramic particles which are combined with organosilicon adhesion promoters and inorganic binders from oxides of the elements silicon, aluminum and/or zirconium to form a thin sheet material.
To achieve adequate mechanical flexibility, the ceramic particles are incorporated into a supporting material, for example a fibrous nonwoven web fabric. This is disclosed by WO 2005/038959 A1.
To prevent short circuits in the initial stages of metal dendrite formation, WO 2005/104269 A1 describes the use of comparatively low-melting waxes as an admixture to a ceramic paste.
WO 2007/028662 A1 describes the addition of polymer particles having a melting point of above 100° C. to ceramic fillers in order that the mechanical properties of the separator may be improved. The materials described are intended for use as a separator for lithium ion materials. Although these separators do provide a higher thermal stability than membranes, they have so far not been a commercial success. This may be due to their relatively high costs and to the excessive thickness of the material, which is above 25 μm.
WO 2000/024075 A1 describes the production of a membrane which can be used in fuel cells. This membrane consists of glass fiber materials in which fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers are fixed by means of a silicate binder.
Finally, JP 2005268096 A describes a separator for lithium ion batteries which is produced by melting together thermoplastic particles in a polyethylene/polypropylene fibrous supporting material by heating. This separator has a bubble-shaped porous structure having a pore diameter of 0.1-15 μm.
The prior art does not show an inexpensive separator which combines low thickness with high porosity and high thermal stability and can be safely used, over a wide temperature range, in batteries having high power and energy density.


A photofinishing device for handling different formats of photographic film. The photofinishing device comprising a work station for photofinishing a respective format type of photographic film, means for moving the respective format type of photographic film along the work station, and at least one sensor assembly pivotably mounted to the photofinishing device so as to move between an engaged position and a non-engaged position, the at least one sensor assembly having a sensor, the at least one sensor being in substantial contact with the film when the sensor assembly is in the engaged position, the at least one sensor assembly when in the non-engaged position allowing easy access to the sensor.

The art of image processing has developed dramatically over the last several years. In the recent past, image processing was clearly divided into two general areas. The first and oldest of these two areas includes picture photography. This generally involves a camera having an objective lens and a photosensitive film moved within the camera to expose parts of the film to reflected light-carrying visual information. The photosensitive film is then developed in a chemical process to create fixed images on the film. The film is typically picture film which is usually employed to make photographic prints, or movie film that can be projected onto a screen for motion picture viewing.
Recent advances in the electronic arts have lead to the development of a second area of image processing which includes electronic or video imaging. This type of imaging may involve use of a charge coupled device or CCD scanner array to transform reflected light information to an electronic signal. This electronic signal is processed by processing circuitry to a form that can be displayed on a CRT monitor or employed for other purposes.
Mechanical processing equipment designed for handling exposed photographic film and photosensitive paper has experienced a concomitant development along with the technical advancements achieved in the cameras used in picture photography. For example, the photographic printing apparatus illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,172, which issued Nov. 10, 1964 to W. Baasner, includes a housing for storing a supply of photographic printing paper which is positioned adjacent an exposure station. The paper is fed through the exposure station and then cut into separate photographs so as to produce a plurality of photographs in a systematic manner. U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,365, issued Jul. 17, 1979 to R. D. Anderson et al, shows a negative holding device for use in a photographic printer. The Anderson et al negative holding device includes two hinged plates, each having an aperture in register with the other. A negative film is placed between the plates with the desired frame situated within the aperture. The device is then inserted into the print gate of a printer. To move the film through the Anderson et al device, it is necessary to manually operate a lever and reposition the film, again by hand, frame by frame. This device is, therefore, necessarily limited to a relatively slow print speed. The negative film carrier described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,716, issued Jun. 12, 1990 of T. Imamura et al, includes driving means for automatically feeding the exposed processed film through the carrier so that each frame of the film can be moved to a printing position. The Imamura et al film carrier, however, is limited to one type of film and is not adapted to be readily released from its associated printer. Another negative film handling apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,850 of T. Imamura et al, which issued Feb. 19, 1991. This film handling apparatus is restricted to short photographic film of a specific size that is manipulated for printing purposes only.
The increased sophistication in mechanics combined with software and microprocessors has resulted in the now common fully automated developing and printing apparatus. It has thus become cost effective for small boutiques to service the demand for developing and printing photographs by having to invest in only one or two pieces of equipment. A variety of such developing or printing apparatus have been proposed. These apparatus may have both film and paper processing capabilities, or be designed for either specifically processing film or printing photographs. This type of apparatus is exemplified by the photographic processing apparatus illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,742, which issued Aug. 1, 1989 to B. Payrhammer et al. This apparatus is a photographic printer or developing machine that includes a station for processing photographic material. The Payrhammer et al apparatus includes a number of mobile carriage supply and take-up cassettes that allow the apparatus to function in a continuous automated manner.
In commonly assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/171,582, filed Dec. 22, 1994 in the name of Francis C. Long, Walter C. Slater, Thomas J. Murray, Bradley C. DeCook and Howard C. Bozenhard, entitled "Film Processing System", a system for high speed photofinishing of exposed processed photographic film is disclosed. The system includes a high speed printer manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company, and employed in conjunction with a film preparation work station. The high speed printer produces photographic prints. The film preparation work station, in addition thereto, combines electronic scanning capabilities with exposed processed photographic film. The work station includes a CCD array positioned over a film track. Rolls of exposed processed film, typically negative film, are spliced end-to-end and wound on a first reel. The free end of the film on the first reel is channeled through a film track and threaded on to a second reel. As the film is moved through the film track, light is passed through the film. The resulting image is then received by the CCD array, converted to an electronic signal, and transmitted to circuitry for electronic processing and storage. This signal is then sent to an apparatus digital printer for producing index prints. In addition, the electronically stored image information may be forwarded to a high speed optical printer for setting printing variables such as light exposure. The above system gives the flexibility of producing high quality photographic prints by use of related electronic images easily manipulated and indexed by application software. In either the high speed printer or film preparation work station, 35 mm exposed processed film serves as the primary source for the images. It is desired that these be capable of using other format films. In order to do so, it is required that certain parts of the equipment be changed so as to accept different format film. This takes substantial amounts of time and labor. This becomes critical in high production labs as orders received that day are often required to be processed and sent back out that same day. Prior art equipment does not easily convert from one format film to another format film. As used herein, format means the size of film which might commonly be 35 mm film, 110 format, or median format, as typically used by professional photographers, or other differently sized film. An additional problem with prior art devices is that CCD array sensors are typically positioned below the film plane and require optics in order to properly focus the projected image onto the CCD array. This type arrangement is relatively expensive and difficult to keep clean. Since the sensor is below the film, debris and dust quickly accumulate on the sensor, affecting its performance.

Photofinishing device with interchangeable film decks


A coupling member is provided that comprises a valve movable between a closed position and an opening position. The valve is provided with a seal ring fixed in an annular groove formed in the valve and urged against a valve seat in the closed position. The groove has a forward annular groove portion and a rear annular groove portion shallower than the forward annular groove portion. The seal ring has forward and rear annular seal portions fitted in the forward and rear annular groove portions, respectively. The rear ring portion has substantially the same diameter as the forward seal portion.

A male coupling member and a female coupling member of a pipe coupling are commonly equipped with an on-off valve that closes a fluid passage formed through the male and female coupling members to prevent fluid from flowing out therefrom when the coupling members are decoupled from each other. In the decoupled state, if a hose connected to the coupling members is, for example, twisted, an excessively high internal pressure may be generated therein. If the coupling members are recoupled together in such a state, the fluid rapidly flows around the on-off valve as it slightly opens. Such rapid flow of fluid creates a negative pressure around the surface of the on-off valve that has just separated from the associated annular valve seat surface. The negative pressure causes a seal ring provided on the valve surface to be deformed toward the fluid passage. The seal ring thus deformed is subjected to excessive force from the fluid and hence likely to separate from the on-off valve.
There have been developed a variety of coupling members adapted to enable the internal pressure to be removed from the coupling members before they are coupled together (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. Sho 50-124624). The main purpose of pressure removal in this case is to solve the problem that when the internal pressure is high, it is difficult to push open the on-off valve because of the high internal pressure
when the male and female coupling members are put to each other to couple them together.
In a pipe coupling used in a die-casting machine or the like, however, strong force is applied to couple the coupling members. Therefore, even if the pressure in the coupling members is rather high, the on-off valve can be pushed in to couple the coupling members. In this case, the high-pressure fluid remaining in the coupling member rapidly flows around the on-off valve, and the seal ring is likely to separate, as has been stated above.
There is likelihood of the seal ring being separated under any circumstances where the fluid rapidly flows around the on-off valve, not only when the coupling members are coupled together as stated above.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional technique. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling member adapted to minimize the occurrence of separation of the seal ring by the rapid flow of fluid around the on-off valve when it is opened.
FIG. 1 shows a seal ring 12 used in a conventional on-off valve 10, that is, a seal ring with a rectangular section that is fitted and fixed in an annular groove 16 formed on a valve head 14. The inventor of this application considered that the configuration of this seal ring also relates to the separation of the seal ring, and improved the seal ring configuration to provide a pipe coupling adapted so that separation of the seal ring is unlikely to occur.


A device for analyzing a fluid sample is provided. The device includes a substrate, a trench formed in said substrate, and a processor. The trench includes a channel, a sample chamber, and a reagent chamber, each in fluid communication with each another. The sample chamber is configured to receive the fluid sample. The processor is integrally formed in the substrate and is in communication with the trench. The processor is configured to analyze the fluid sample. Methods for manufacturing the device are also provided.

Biological samples are utilized in a variety of tests that detect certain characteristics of the sample. For example, biological samples may be used for assessing the donor's health, screening the donor's genetics, or detecting pathogens that may be present in the donor. As technology advances, the demand for quick, accurate, small, and low-cost test devices increases. As a result, test device configurations have appeared in which traditional test equipment, such as glass or plastic slides and plates, have been combined with computers. In these configurations, typically, the biological sample is placed on the slide or in the plate, a reagent is pipetted onto the slide or plate and into the sample to yield a test result, and the test result is then visually detected and manually inputted into the computer for analysis.
In some configurations in which suppliers have attempted to decrease the size of traditional test equipment, microfluidics have been used to move the samples from one section of the equipment to another. In some cases, the microfluidics have been constructed by depositing multiple layers of dielectric material over a substrate to form channels and chambers or by depositing polyimide and negative or positive photoresist. These channels and chambers are typically pressure-driven and configured to move the biological sample and the reagent therethrough so that the sample and reagent contact one another and react to yield a result.
Although the above-mentioned devices may be useful in certain circumstances, they suffer from drawbacks. For example, although the samples and reagents may be pressure-driven through the microfluidic chambers, the analysis and processing of the test results is still manual. Consequently, using the device to obtain a test result may be relatively time-consuming. Moreover, current devices are not capable of performing multiple tests on a sample, wherein the determination of whether to perform the multiple tests depends on a result of a previous test. Additionally, the test device may not be available for use by an average consumer. Specifically, the average consumer may not have access to analysis and processing test equipment that may be necessary to obtain a test result.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have small, accurate, and quick test device that is user-friendly and that may be used by an average consumer. In addition, it is desirable to have a method for making the integrated chip that is relatively simple and inexpensive to implement. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.


A cycle-modulating DTMF generator for generating a DTMF signal; the generator comprises a programmable time-pulse generator, counters or up/down counters, a memory unit for storing data, a digital adder, and a digital-to-analog converter. The circuit of such generator is substantially a digital circuit so as to overcome the problem of signal distortion, which usually exists in an analog circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cycle-modulating type of dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) generator, and particularly to a generator for generating a DTMF signal by means of a digital circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional DTMF generator is usually an analog circuit device as shown in FIG. 1, in which the block 1 is the pick-up switch assembly of DTMF voltage signal; the blocks 2 and 3 form into an assembly of tracer and buffer circuits; the block 4 is an analog signal adder; the block 5 is a reference voltage generator. The aforesaid analog circuit is subject to interference or signal distortion because of manufacturing process, temperature or environmental factors; consequently, the output value thereof is seldom conformed to the actual value; further, after an analog circuit being used for a long time, the elements thereof are subject to becoming aged, and the output values thereof will be affected; therefore, the accuracy of a conventional analog circuit for generating DTMF signal is difficult to control, especially during at a lower voltage. Regarding the manufacturing process, the analog circuit has no flexibility in terms of circuit board area because of its characteristics, i.e., the circuit board can be reduced to a given extent only, having no breakthrough further. Moreover, when the telephone line is designed, the column value signal (voltage value) and the row value signal have a ratio gain of 2 dB. But a conventional analog adder can only control the gain in a range from 1-3 dB, i.e., unable to control the gain at 2 dB exactly, and therefore the accuracy thereof is in accurate.

Cycle-modulating type of dual-tone multifrequency generator


Provided are a method for switching between screens using an abbreviation key in a mobile telecommunication and a mobile telecommunication capable of switching between screens using an abbreviation key. The present invention makes it possible to read again the received short message during the time of composing a short message by pressing at least one abbreviation key, and to switch to the composing-unfinished short message to resume the composing of the short message by pressing at least one abbreviation key. This provides the user with an advantage of promptly switching between screens in comprising the short message.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a mobile telecommunication handset, and more particularly to a method for switching between screens using an abbreviation key in a mobile telecommunication and a mobile telecommunication capable of switching between screens using an abbreviation key.
2. Description of the Related Art
A short message propagates over radio channels of mobile networks. The use of the short message in a mobile telecommunication handset has been popular because a user can communicate with the other party on the line without disturbing his/her neighbor in a quiet environment and send information to the other party without presence of the other party on the line. In addition, data communication is less costly and more convenient, compared with voice communication. This allows the rapid growth in the demand for the short message service.
The general method of sending and receiving the short message in the mobile telecommunication handset is now described
To compose a short message, the user selects a message key and goes to a message-composing screen form the menu. After finishing composing the short message, the user inputs a recipient's telephone number. Finally, the user sends the short message to the recipient by pressing a "SEND" key.
To read a received short message, the user presses the message key and goes to an incoming mail box. The user selects the received short message to read from a list of received messages.
However, the user often needs to read again the received short message during the composing of a short message to make certain of the contents of the received short message. That is, the user may want to make certain of the contents of the received short message while he composes a short message in response to the received short message. Otherwise, the user may want to make certain of the contents of a most-recently received short message or a certain received short message, while he compose a short message. In these cases, the user has to quit composing the short message by pressing an END key or a key performing the same function as the END key. The user is prompted to answer to a message "SAVE or QUIT WITHOUT SAVING'. Then, the user has to go through several screens by pressing several keys before reading again the received short message from the incoming mail box.
The user quits reading again the received short message after making certain of the contents of the received short message, by pressing the END key. When he wants to resume composing the short message, the user has to select the message key from the main menu to go to temporal storage box in which the received short message is temporarily stored. The user proceeds to compose the composing-unfinished short message which is temporarily stored.
The conventional method for switching between screens when composing the short message and when reading the received short message, as above described, requires two or more phase to go through and two or more keys to press, thereby causing the user a lot of inconvenience in composing the short message.

Method and mobile telecommunication handset for switching between screens using an abbreviation key