A disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper. The disposable absorbent article has a liquid pervious structured carrier, a liquid impervious backsheet at least partially peripherally joined to the structured carrier; and an absorbent core intermediate the structured carrier and the backsheet. The liquid pervious structured carrier has an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the disposable absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the skin of the wearer when the disposable absorbent article is worn The structured carrier has an effective open area of at least about 12 percent and a plurality of apertures with an effective size greater than 0.1 square millimeters. The outer surface of the structured carrier has an effective amount of a skin care composition which is semi-solid or solid at 20xc2x0 C. and which is partially transferable to the wearer""s skin.

This invention relates to disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers and adult incontinence products, and more particularly to disposable absorbent articles which have the ability to effectively handle both urine and low-viscosity fecal material.
Many types of disposable absorbent products, such as diapers, are available that have a high capacity for absorbing urine. Disposable products of this type generally comprise some sort of fluid-permeable topsheet material, an absorbent core, and a fluid-impermeable backsheet material. Although these types of absorbent structures may be highly efficient for the absorption of fluids, they cannot absorb bowel movements ( i.e., hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cBMxe2x80x9d). Typically, the BM is trapped between the outer surface of the fluid-permeable topsheet and the skin of the wearer, much of it adhering to the wearer""s skin.
To prevent BM from adhering to the wearer""s skin, the caregiver often applies protective or xe2x80x9crepellentxe2x80x9d products such as vaseline or mineral oil to the buttocks and anal region before placing the absorbent article on the wearer. This procedure usually involves the caregiver""s pouring of the oil or lotion, for example, in one of their hands, rubbing both hands together to distribute the substance thereon and then wiping the same on the skin of the infant. To eliminate the need for this wasteful, messy, and easily forgotten procedure, there have been numerous previous attempts to prepare absorbent articles which contain a protective or therapeutic skin care substance on the topsheet.
One substance that has been applied as a lotion to absorbent products to impart a soothing, protective coating is mineral oil. Mineral oil (also known as liquid petrolatum) is a mixture of various liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distilling the high-boiling (i.e., 330xc2x0-390xc2x0 C.) fractions in petroleum. Mineral oil is liquid at ambient temperatures, e.g. 20 xc2x0-25xc2x0 C. As a result, mineral oil is relatively fluid and mobile, even when applied to article topsheets.
Because mineral oil is fluid and mobile at ambient temperatures, it tends not to remain localized on the surface of the topsheet, but instead migrates through the topsheet into the interior of the diaper. Accordingly, relatively high levels of mineral oil need to be applied to the topsheet to provide the desired therapeutic or protective coating lotion benefits. This leads not only to increased costs for these lotioned products, but other detrimental effects as well.
One of these detrimental effects is a decrease in the fluid handling properties as high levels of mineral oil tend to block the topsheet openings. Also, as mineral oil migrates to the interior of the article, it tends to act as a hydrophobic additive, thus decreasing the absorbency of the underlying absorbent core, if one is used. This decrease in absorbency becomes more pronounced as the level of mineral oil applied is increased.
Even without increasing its level, the tendency of mineral oil to migrate once applied has other detrimental effects. For example, the applied mineral oil can transfer to, into and through the packaging or wrapper material for the lotioned product. This can create the need for barrier-type packaging or wrapper films to avoid smearing or other leakage of mineral oil from the product.
To overcome the problems associated with mineral oils, lotions have been applied to absorbent products. Lotioned absorbent products: (1) have therapeutic or protective benefits, (2) do not require relatively high levels of coatings that are liquid at room temperature (e.g., mineral oil); and (3) do not require special wrapping or barrier materials for packaging.
While lotioned absorbent products do solve the problems associated with mineral oils, care has to be taken in application of the lotion to the absorbent products to prevent occlusion of the topsheet. Such occlusion of the pervious topsheet prevents urine from penetrating through the topsheet inevitably leading to leakage. In order to overcome this problem, lotion has been applied to topsheets in such a manner so as to not coat the entire surface of the topsheet thereby leaving portions of the topsheet free of lotion. An example of such a coating technique is the application of lotion in stripes spaced apart from one another. While stripes of lotion do permit urine to penetrate the topsheet there is an added complexity in the application process, there is the potential for non-uniform transfer of the lotion to the skin and the potential for contamination of the untreated areas of the topsheet thereby reducing the transfer of urine to the underlying absorbent element.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable absorbent article having a structured carrier having superior urine and BM handling properties. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cstructured carrierxe2x80x9d refers to any two-dimensional or three-dimensional morphological arrangement designed to carry and then transfer a composition while maintaining pathways such that urine may pass therethrough.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structured carrier for a disposable absorbent article having an effective open area and a plurality of apertures having a sufficient effective size to allow urine and low-viscosity fecal material penetration therethrough such that a skin care composition can be applied with relative ease as the concern for occlusion of the structured carrier has been removed. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cskin care compositionxe2x80x9d refers to any composition which comprises one or more agents which, when transferred from an article to a wearer""s skin, provide a therapeutic and/or protective skin benefit. Representative materials are discussed in detail below.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article having a skin care composition on the outer surface of the structured carrier that is transferable to the wearer""s skin and is effective at producing desired skin benefits and/or reducing the adherence of BM to the skin, thereby improving the ease of BM cleanup while not inhibiting the structured carriers ability to handle urine.
These and other objects are obtained using the present invention, as will become readily apparent from a reading of the following disclosure.
The invention is a disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper. The disposable absorbent article comprises a structured carrier, a liquid impervious backsheet at least partially peripherally joined to the structured carrier, and an absorbent core intermediate the structured carrier and the backsheet. The structured carrier has an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the disposable absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the skin of the wearer when the disposable absorbent article is worn. The structured carrier has an effective open area of at least about 12 percent and a plurality of apertures with an effective size greater than 0.1 square millimeters. The outer surface of the structured carrier comprises an effective amount of a skin care composition which is semi-solid or solid at 20xc2x0 C. and which is partially transferable to the wearer""s skin.

Disposable absorbent article with a skin care composition on an apertured top sheet


Method for molding a receptacle (2) starting from a parison (3) of plastic material, comprising the steps of: positioning the parison (3) inside a mold (5); progressively introducing a stretching rod (8) into the parison (3) until it reaches a bottom thereof; injecting pressurized air into the parison (3), passing radiation through the stretching rod (8), in order to sterilize the inner walls of the parison (3).

The present invention relates to a device for moulding a receptacle obtained from a parison made of a plastic material, a method for moulding the receptacle and a moulding machine, in particular for stretch-blowing.
To fully understand the importance of the invention disclosed herein, it is advantageous to explain what is intended by forming receptacles by means of stretch-blowing.
As is known, a moulding machine comprises a plurality of moulding stations at which previously-heated parisons made of a plastic material arrive. Each moulding station includes a mould constituted by two half-portions or half-moulds relatively mobile with respect to one another. For example, the mould can be linear, so that the two half-moulds are mobile by translation, or can be a "crocodile" or "wallet" type, where the two half-moulds are hinged to one another at one of the two ends.
When the parison reaches the corresponding moulding station, the half-moulds come closer to one another in such a way as to enclose the parison. As well as the half-moulds there is usually also a profiling element of the bottom of the receptacle, commonly known in the sector as the "bottom". The bottom is arranged in one of the two bases of the mould, such as to be able to be engaged by the half-moulds during a nearing movement thereof. Moulding by stretch-blowing is done by progressively introducing a stretching rod internally of the parison, as well as a nozzle suitable for blowing pressurised air internally of the parison. In particular, first the step of pre-blowing is performed, in which the parison is lengthened by bringing the stretching rod to its end run, and the nozzle injects air at a pressure of about 6-8 bar. There follows a step of full-scale blowing, during which the nozzle injects air at a pressure of about 40 bar into the parison.
In an aseptic bottling line there exists a need to sterilise the moulded receptacles before filling them, or to sterilise the parisons before moulding them.
In particular, document EP1837037, in the name of the applicant, disclosed an apparatus and a method for sterilising receptacles after the moulding step and before the filling step. However, the sterilisation of the parisons is preferable, instead of sterilising the moulded containers, as the moulded containers have a larger surface, thus requiring longer treatment times and, in the case of chemical sterilising, greater expenditure of sterilising substances (for example hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid).
In this context, a solution is disclosed in document EP996530 in which the parisons are sterilised by means of a sterilising product, for example hydrogen peroxide, activatable by heat.
However, this solution poses the problem of eliminating chemical residues deriving from the sterilisation, and also has the effect of lengthening process times.
Further, this solution requires a guarantee of sterility of the heating unit and handling of the parisons.
A further solution, disclosed in document EP1896329, comprises displacement of the chemical sterilisation step of the parisons after the heating thereof. However, this solution too brings with it the disadvantages of the use of sterilising chemical agents.
There also exists the possibility of using radiation sources for performing the sterilisation, as described in document EP2146838. With respect to chemical sterilisation, sterilising by radiation has the advantage of reducing operating costs due to consumption of chemical agents, resolves the problem of elimination of the chemical residues, and enables eco-sustainable plants to be realised. However, the above solution includes sterilising the parisons before heating them, so the overall process times are still long. A further advantage is connected to the need to predispose suitable screening for the radiations emitted such that they do not damage the other zones of the plant and do not constitute a risk for the operators working on control and maintenance of the machines.
In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a moulding device for a receptacle obtained by a parison made of plastic material, a moulding method and a moulding machine, which obviate the drawbacks of the above-cited prior art.

Device for moulding a receptacle obtained from a parison of plastic material, a moulding method and a moulding machine


A system for displaying images is disclosed. A display device comprises a first substrate comprising a plurality of pixels, each comprising RGB transparent sub-pixel regions. A second substrate comprises RGB regions opposite the first substrate, wherein the transparent sub-pixel regions respectively correspond to the three major color regions. A light blocking layer is disposed in one of the transparent sub-pixel regions of the first substrate. A photo spacer corresponding to the light blocking layer is formed, supporting the opposite first and second substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device with increased aperture ratio.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCD) are widely used, operating via alignment of liquid crystal molecules changed by application of an electrical field, altering the path of light therethrough. Typically, an LCD includes two opposite substrates with a gap therebetween occupied by liquid crystal. Both substrates are formed with electrodes to control orientation and arrangement of the liquid crystals, according to which images are displayed on the LCD panel in which bright or dark dots are generated where light passes or is blocked.
FIG. 1 is a cross section of a conventional liquid crystal panel 100 comprising an array substrate 102, a color filter substrate 104 and liquid crystals 106 therebetween. Typically, ball spacers 108 separate the substrates to allow injection of liquid crystals 106. Ball spacers 108, however, generate light leakage and shift and lower mechanical strength.
Consequently, photo spacers are currently widely used, while still blockage to avoid light leakage. Therefore, it is beneficial to develop a display device with photo spacers without light leakage, and color shift.


A multiple detector array is positioned in a satellite orbiting the earth for determining the attitude of the satellite with respect to the earth by detecting the earth's horizon. The multiple array of spaced detectors are mounted on a horizon sensor with a space detector viewing space, a horizon detector, with a field of view straddling the horizon and outer space space, a detector viewing the earth, and a gradient detector viewing the earth. Individual signals from these detectors are amplified and processed such that any gradients between the two earth viewing detectors are used to provide radiance compensation to correct for radiance errors in sensing the true position of the horizon.

Horizon sensors are mounted in satellites, spacecraft and the like to provide attitude information (orientation) of the orbiting body with respect to the earth. A detector in the horizon sensor, usually an infrared detector, is scanned or oriented across the earth's horizon which is extremely warm when compared to cold outer space generating a signal representing a line of thermal discontinuity.
A major problem with horizon sensing arises from the large variations in earth radiance with latitude, season and weather. Even though the horizon profiles are most uniform in the 14-16 micron spectral region (carbon dioxide absorption band), the profiles still vary with latitude, season and weather. Significant longitudinal radiance variations also occur in the winter hemisphere due to storms, extra tropical cyclones, frontal systems, etc.
Several compensation techniques have been employed in an effort to remedy this problem, eg. a compensation detector viewing the earth in the vicinity of the sensing detector is provided in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,024. However, this assumes that the radiation is uniform over both the "sensing" and "compensation" detectors which is not always the case. Since the horizon sensor is positioned above the earth and at altitudes ranging from 200 nautical miles to above geosynchronous 22,000 nautical miles, the latitudinal and longitudinal radiance variations over the sensing and compensating fields can produce substantial pitch and roll errors. These errors also occur at lower altitudes.
Additional pitch and roll errors can also result from thermal gradients in the horizon sensor per se, for example, temperature gradients in the detector mount, filter, filter mount, lens, etc.

Method and apparatus compensating for radiance variations in horizon sensing

EDO Corporation, Barnes Engineering Division


An assembly including a cylinder lock including a rotatable member for actuating an external locking element, and a reduction gear disposed inside the cylinder lock, the reduction gear mechanically linked to the rotatable member and operable to rotate the rotatable member, the reduction gear including an interface member for connection to an actuator for movement of the reduction gear.

As is well known in the art, there are many electromechanical cylinder locks operated by an electric motor that turns a locking element in a motor-driven cylinder lock.
Known prior art systems use motors that require a reduction in rotational speed to operate the motor-driven cylinder lock. The known reduction gears are large and must be located outside the cylinder lock.


Disk stators or air deflectors are provided for controlling undesirable air flow characteristics in a disk drive. In a four-disk pack arrangement, the stators are arranged in a group of three stacked stators wherein a middle or interior stator is planar, and the upper and lower stators each have complementary shapes with offset mounting brackets thereby providing gaps between the stators. Openings formed in the stators are aligned with one another when assembled enabling a locating pin protruding from the base of the disk drive to be received within the openings. The disk stators can also be incorporated in other disk pack arrangements such as two and three disk packs. The stators are preferably formed in a stamping manufacturing process thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Magnetic-disk drives generally utilize rotary actuators to position one or more magnetic read/write heads (also known as transducers) with respect to a similar number of magnetic disks rotatably mounted on a hub driven by a motor. The read/write heads are moved among particular tracks of the magnetic disks to gain access to the information recorded on those track and/or to write information to a particular location on a disk.
The read/write heads for a particular disk are mounted on an air bearing slider. The slider positions the read/write heads above the data surface of the corresponding disk by a cushion of air generated by the rotating disk. Alternatively, the slider may operate in contact with the surface of the disk. The slider is mounted to a suspension load beam or suspension arm. The suspension arm maintains the read/write heads and the slider adjacent to or in contact with the data surface of the corresponding disk with as low a loading force as possible. The combination of the read/write heads, slider and suspension arm is sometimes referred to as the head gimbal assembly (HGA).
The suspension arm is connected to the distal end of a rotary actuator arm pivotally installed within the housing of the disk drive. A voice coil motor pivots the actuator arm to position the read/write heads over desired tracks at selected radii of the magnetic disk.
Rotation of a disk at very high RPMs within the disk drive creates an air flow pattern within the disk drive and creates the cushion of air mentioned above. A particular air flow pattern created depends upon a number of factors to include the number of disks used in the particular drive, the RPM speed of the rotating disk(s), as well as the particular shape of the interior surfaces of the disk drive. However, air flow in the drive also exerts a force on the suspension arm and actuator arm that destabilizes tracking of the transducer.
Disk drive capacity has been increased by incorporating higher disk track densities. In order to accommodate these higher disk densities, the heads must be made smaller and are required to fly closer to the disk in order to be capable of reliably reading and writing data to and from the disk surface. As the disk is rotating, each head is supposed to follow a certain track on the disk surface. The tracks typically contain servo information used in a servo routine to locate and maintain a center position for the heads. Many factors can cause a particular head to be misaligned with respect to a track. Some of these factors include disk warpage, disk vibration, windage, motor run out and others. Some servo systems may have the capability to correct these adverse influences to a certain degree. However, there is always a small amount of inaccuracy present in a head following the center of a disk track. This inaccuracy can be referred to as track misregistration.
One example of a prior art device used to reduce the adverse effects of air flow on an actuator arm is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,908. The disk drive disclosed in this reference includes an air deflector or disk stator which deflects at least a portion of air flow away from the actuator arm assembly of the drive. The air deflector is in the form of a c-shaped finger that attaches to the magnet post of the voice coil motor.
Although disk air deflectors or disk stators can be useful in remediating undesirable effects of air flow on an actuator arm, as well as to reduce overall disk vibration and windage, disk stators add significant cost to a disk drive. Many disk stators have complex shapes, and the cost to machine each disk stator, in conjunction with the cost of the materials, can inhibit the commercial viability of the disk drive. Thus, there is a need for a cost effective yet functional disk stator.
Additionally, for disk packs, it is necessary to mount multiple disk stators so that they extend between the gaps of the stacked disks, but do not contact the disks. Current disk drives have very small gaps between the disks in a disk pack, therefore, the stators have to be precisely positioned so that they do no inadvertently contact the disks. During a shock event, if a stator contacts the media of a disk, such contact can ruin the disk making the disk drive inoperable. Therefore, there is also a need for providing a cost-effective disk stator design that contributes to exact placement of a group of stators in a disk pack to prevent contact with the surfaces of the adjacent disks.


A drive circuit includes a gate drive node, a power source node, and an output transistor connected between the gate drive node and the power source node that flows a current into the gate drive node. The drive circuit further includes an input transistor smaller than the output transistor that forms a current mirror with the output transistor. The drive circuit further includes an operational amplifier that outputs a control voltage depending on a potential difference between a voltage of the gate drive node and a constant voltage lower than a voltage of the power source node. The drive circuit further includes a control transistor including a control electrode receiving an output of the operational amplifier that is connected in series with the input transistor. The drive circuit further includes a constant current source connected in series with the control transistor.

Conventionally, an electronic apparatus has been known that performs an operation to flow a constant current into the gate of an IGBT, to make the voltage of the gate constant (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This electronic apparatus has a driving power source circuit, a constant current source, and a switch, which are connected in series between the gate and the power source.

Drive circuit and semiconductor apparatus


A backup system is operated in accordance with a server or intelligent storage data controller containing a pre-written script governing a backup protocol. This script designates the possible source of data for backup that could become visible on the network and the possible storage sets that may be available in the storage repository. Preferably, the script also contains a timetable for when the script should be active, and wrap up interval of time for intelligently terminating a particular backup operation. In operation, the total number of accessible data sources (usually computers) and the total number of storage media destinations (for example available tapes mounted in tape drives) are generated to list possible source to storage paths. Utilizing the script, the possible source to storage paths are prioritized with the least recently backed up source as dated by the available media having first priority for backup. Once prioritization has occurred, backup is initiated in the order of prioritization to the first available of the designated source to storage media paths. This designation of source to media available paths continues down through the prioritized source to storage paths, initiating backup when the source and media are available. As each backup is completed, a new prioritization of source to media paths occurs responsive to location of the last backed up source, with backup occurring on the first available source to media path. Scripts can be tailored to prioritize backups dependent upon time of day. There results a fully automated backup which once programmed does not require constant supervisor monitoring.

The need for the backup of computers is well known. Simply stated, computers have hard disks containing much valuable data. Unfortunately, no such storage technology is completely free from the possibility of failure, nor is any immune to loss by theft, fire, or natural disaster. In the case of such failure or loss, all data unique to the computer hard disk is generally permanently lost. The goal of any backup system is to maintain the controlled redundancy of data to avoid and minimize the loss of unique data.
In current practice, computer backup systems are of two distinct types: continuous backup and batch-oriented backup. Continuous backup systems copy data simultaneously and continuously while the data is being created or modified. Batch-oriented backup systems operate at distinct points in time to copy all selected data at that point in time. Each of these types has advantages and disadvantages, and some installations make use of both approaches simultaneously. This invention pertains to batch-oriented backup only.
Batch-oriented backup systems may be further subdivided into two types: local backup and network backup. Network backup systems share the archive storage media among more than one computer, while local backup systems do not.
It should be understood that while the case of the network computer backup is used in these descriptions, this invention is equally applicable to the simpler case of a local backup system. Also, the computer memory is referred to here specifically as a hard disk, but a different memory technology such as a semiconductor disk emulator would be equally applicable.
I have developed a backup system for computers. This system is set forth in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,473 entitled DATA STORAGE FORMAT FOR ADDRESSABLE OR SEQUENTIAL MEMORY MEDIA, issued Sep. 22, 1992. To summarize, a data archive format is disclosed for archiving computer information taken from computer sessions, each session being of the form that includes a so-called "root directory" with appropriate branches leading to each discrete file or subfile within the computer session. The archive format includes the transfer of data to an archive media member, which archive media member can alternatively be addressable or sequential memory and can be recordable in either a re-writable or write once manner. When data is archived, a separate and resident archived directory is created in the immediate memory of the computer having the data to be archived, the purpose of this separate and resident directory being to maintain high speed during reading and writing of the archived data. This separate and resident archive directory is updated during the archiving process, used to access and retrieve the archived data during the recovery process, and distributed through the archive media in a non-predictive, largely non-redundant but recoverable format. Upon failure of the memory containing the separate and resident archive directory, reconstruction of the separate and resident archive directory is possible.
In current practice, a network computer backup system consists of one or more archive storage devices connected to a computer on the network, and thus shared among a set of computers similarly connected. The computer with the storage devices, known as the backup server, contains a computer program to transfer data from the other computers, known as the clients or sources, to the local storage devices.
In what follows, I offer what seems a simple analysis of backup of the prior art. Unfortunately, backup is a remote field of computer science that not only suffers neglect but additionally has its common problems not set forth with clarity and therefore not understood. It will be understood therefore that in stating the faults of the prior art, I am delineating the problem to be solved. And since discovery of the problem to be solved can constitute invention, I claim invention in being first in setting forth both problem and solution that this invention offers to the computer data backup field.
The prior art exhibits two approaches to sharing the backup computer among the various client computers. The first is to allow the user of each client computer to initiate a backup by contacting the backup computer and requesting to store data. This is known as the "push" model. When the backup computer is busy, the client computer is told to wait, generally in first-come first-served order, until the backup computer becomes available. With this scheme, the client backup requests are almost always clustered at certain times, resulting in delays for everyone. Also, client backups must be copied to the currently available storage media, where the random nature of the client requests results in random distribution of their data on the media. This makes it difficult to restore the data for a single client. Finally, users usually forget to initiate back ups on a regular schedule, especially if it involves delays.
The second sharing approach is the "pull" model, where the backup computer accesses the client computers according to a preset scheduled defined by an administrator. For example, computers are left on at night. The backup system starts up at a certain time, accessing the computers sequentially, and copies their data to storage media. When the computers' users return in the morning, backup has occurred. While the clustering effect and random data distribution of the push model are avoided, a client will not be backed up if it is not available at the given time.
Unfortunately, many computers are now portable. They are only occasionally connected to a network, and thus may never be available at the predetermined time that a "pull" backup would take place. But "push" backups rely on user discipline and have clustering and availability problems. The full magnitude of these issues can be considered by taking the case of the salesman taking orders on a portable computer.
First, the salesman computer is rarely in the office where connection to the network--and hence the backup system can occur.
Secondly, when the salesman is in the office and connected to the network, it is usually at times when all other salesmen are in the office and connected to the network. For example, it is common for salesman to be in the office at the beginning of the day and the end of the day. Salesman are not usually in the office in the middle of the day because they are out selling.
Third, trying to have the salesmen themselves initiate backup is generally not satisfactory. Typically, all salesmen want to back up at the same time. For example, backup among a sales force is common in the late afternoon. Frequently, and rather than wait for backup to finish, salesmen disconnect their respective computers from the network and leave.
Fourth, and considering the case of the organization that has a large number of sales personnel, backups do not statistically spread themselves out. Specifically, when the largest number of salesmen is present, the largest number of back ups are likely to occur.
A final complication to the backup task, ill-handled in the prior art, is that the amount of data and thus the time required to copy it is highly variable among various computers, and usually unknowable in advance of the backup. For example, a backup operation may complete in less than a minute when only a small file has changed since the previous backup, while the subsequent backup of the same disk may find that virtually every file has changed, requiring hours or even days to complete the copying operation. Also, the typical administrator will need to regularly perform a "full backup", where all source data is copied to a set of new or erased media. Because copying such large volumes of data may use significant resources, making it difficult or impossible for users to share the same computer or network, administrators of the traditional "pull" backup will often attempt to back up at night or on weekends when usage is light. But all too often the backups are still running when this "backup window" has ended, adversely affecting the users or requiring the administrator to terminate the backup manually. As the quantity of data storage inevitably increases, the backup duration eventually reaches the point of always exceeding the backup window, where the data copied from the last computers or the last part of the disk drive will then never be backed up, a problem known as starvation.
Starvation is easy to understand. In the typical pull backup, all computers on the network are backed up in the same order in each backup window. Naturally, those computers at the head of the list will be backed up first. Those computers at the end of the list will be backed up last. And where the interval required for a continuous backup exceeds the backup window available, backup will not occur for those computers at the end of the backup list. These computers will be "starved" in the sense that they will never be backed up. And each time backup is initiated, it will occur in the same order on the available computers with the same starvation problem resulting.

Backup system for computer network incorporating opportunistic backup by prioritizing least recently backed up computer or computer storage medium


A method of releasing a stuck vehicle, in which a stuck situation is recognized and a rocking-free process is initiated and continued until the rocking-free process is suppressed. The rocking-free process is suppressed either after the activation of a parking brake of the vehicle, which was inactive at the beginning of and during the rocking-free process, for a predetermined time interval, or after the registration of a limit value of a deflection of a drive pedal of the vehicle and after the limit value of the deflection of the drive pedal is maintained or exceeded for a predetermined time interval, or after a vehicle speed falls to almost zero km/h, a minimum actuation of a drive pedal of the vehicle is registered, the vehicle speed is maintained for a predetermined time interval and the minimum actuation is maintained for the predetermined time interval.

In certain weather conditions or poor road conditions it is possible for a vehicle to become stuck, for example in a depression or on slippery subsoil, so that the stuck position can no longer be left by driving off in a conventional manner. By starting off toward the obstacle, then disengaging the clutch, allowing the vehicle to roll back, and then repeating the procedure, a driver with a manual-shift vehicle can build up momentum and release the vehicle. This process is known a rocking free. For vehicles having an automatic transmission, an automated transmission or a multiple-clutch transmission the method described above can only be used in some circumstances. Such vehicles are therefore often provided with an automatic method for rocking free, which enables the vehicle to be released from its stuck position.
The rocking-free process is either initiated by a driver, or automatically started in accordance with previously stored criteria such as a large difference between the speeds of the individual wheels. The driver can often activate the automatic initiation of the rocking-free process by means of a switch or by actuating a key, so that the rocking-free process is only started when the driver so wishes. Once the vehicle has been released the rocking-free process is terminated, for example by actuating the switch or key again.
DE 10 2004 017 422 A1 describes a method for implementing a rocking-free function, which, in order to initiate the rocking-free process, evaluates the wheel rotational speeds of the driven wheels of a vehicle. From that, the traction capacity of the corresponding wheels is estimated. Furthermore, among other things, information about rotational direction and inclination is used in order to optimize the rocking-free process. The rocking-free function can either be activated when a driver of the vehicle actuates a switch or key, or by a command from the on-board computer. Likewise an actuation is disclosed, which after registering that the vehicle is stuck, proceeds automatically or after questioning the driver. The rocking-free process is terminated when the driver actuates the switch or key, or automatically if vehicle-internal systems register that the vehicle is moving in one direction or over a fixed distance for a longer time. It is also disclosed that in vehicles having a distance-warning system, it is tested whether sufficient free areas are around the vehicle concerned, to carry out the rocking free. If this is not the case, the rocking-free process is suppressed.
DE 101 28 853 A1 describes a method for rocking free and/or maneuvering a vehicle with a multiple-clutch transmission, in which the rocking-free process can only be started when the clutch arrangement is in a disengaged condition and/or the vehicle concerned is at rest. In addition it is disclosed that this special transmission condition can be produced by a driver of the vehicle by means of an operating arrangement which, for example, can consist of two switches or an operating lever. The vehicle's shift lever can also serve as the operating lever. The rocking-free process is initiated when the wheel-slip of the vehicle's driven wheels or the force acting in opposition to the drive torque of the vehicle exceed a predetermined limit value or when the vehicle's speed falls below a set limit value. A rocking-free period ends when the vehicle comes to a standstill, or when the wheel-slip becomes too great.
DE 101 09 662 B4 describes a method for controlling a dual-clutch transmission, in which a direction-change mode, which is comparable to a rocking-free process, can indirectly be triggered by the driver. The direction-change mode ends automatically. As an interruption criterion the actuation of a brake pedal is used, which lasts for a predetermined time and beyond that predetermined time. Likewise the direction-change mode ends if a brake pedal actuation would lead to a predetermined brake pressure and/or to a predetermined braking force. Furthermore, the direction-change mode can also be terminated by actuating a drive pedal for up to or longer than a predetermined time, and/or which reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit value of the pedal movement. A termination of the direction-change mode due to the movement of the vehicle for a predetermined time in one direction and/or over a predetermined distance is also disclosed.
Furthermore, vehicles with an automated transmission are also known, which have a rocking-free function. An implemented rocking-free process is activated by a driver by means of a key and the simultaneous engagement of the first or second reverse gear, or by engaging the first to the eighth forward gear while at the same time driving more slowly than a speed of 5 km/h. The rocking-free function is deactivated either if the driver actuates the key again, or by driving at a speed above or equal to 8 km/h.
For example, if a vehicle has become stuck on muddy ground and a rocking-free function is started in order to release the vehicle, it can happen after a successful release of the vehicle that the rocking-free function is not terminated. For example, the driver of the vehicle can forget to switch off the rocking-free function by actuating the switch or key. The result is that each time the vehicle starts off a rocking-free function is initiated. This makes starting uncomfortable for the driver and can lead to accidents. The same situation arises when speed or distance limits are chosen too high or determined erroneously. It is therefore appropriate to establish further criteria that bring about a suppression of the rocking-free process, so that the rocking-free function is carried out safely by virtue of the automatic suppression.

Method for freeing a vehicle by rocking when the vehicle got stuck


The invention relates to a high-speed parallel robot with four degrees of freedom comprising four kinematic chains (1) articulated at one of their ends to a mobile platform (4) carrying the tool (5) and at their other end, through a rotational joint (2), to an actuador integral with a base plate (3). The mobile platform (4) is formed by four members (11), (11′), (12), (12′), linked together by means of articulated linkages (13), at least two of the members being parallel to each other, forming an articulated mobile platform with one degree of freedom in the plane of the mobile platform. The actuators are positioned with any orientation in the base plate (2) and preferably at 45°, 135°, 225° and 315°.

Parallel robots are generally made up of a fixed support or base plate on which there are assembled actuators which, through articulated arms or kinematic links, are linked to a mobile platform which the corresponding tool is anchored to.
A robot of this type with three degrees of freedom is described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,582, whereas patent EP 1 084 802 describes a parallel robot with four degrees of freedom (three translations and one rotation).
Parallel robots with four degrees of freedom are very appropriate for carrying out part handling tasks, packaging and assembly, and they have advantages over more complex parallel robots, for example with 6 degrees of freedom, in reference to simplicity, price and movement speed.
The object of European patent 1 084 802 is a parallel robot in which all the linkages of the mobile platform are articulation-type linkages, this being a favorable factor for reaching high speeds and accelerations. This robot comprises four kinematic links operated by means of four actuators which are fixed at one of their ends and with a specific orientation to the base plate, and at their other end to the kinematic link. In turn, the kinematic links are linked to the mobile platform carrying the tool, the mobile platform being made up of two parts or bars which are linked at their ends to the four kinematic links and a third bar which is assembled between the first two, through two articulated linkages, this bar being the one carrying the tool.
The mobile platform allows a rotation of ±45° which can be amplified by means of using gear rings.
The specific design of the mobile platform and the use of articulated linkages leads to obtaining an isostatic configuration and forces a non-homogenous arrangement of the kinematic links, and therefore of the actuators. This particular arrangement of the actuators combined with the isostatic configuration prevents the robot from having a homogenous performance and high rigidity in the entire working volume, which is an important disadvantage.
A modified configuration of the robot described in patent EP 1 084 802 is described for example in the following publication: "I4: A new parallel mechanism for SCARA motions" Proc. of IEEE ICRA: Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation, Taipei, Taiwan, Sep. 14-19, 2003.
The configuration described in this article seeks to compensate the main limitation of patent EP 1 084 802, i.e. the non-homogenous performance and low rigidity that the configuration has in the entire working volume.
This new configuration is essentially based on a new mobile platform design, which must solve the aforementioned problems, replacing articulated linkages with prismatic joints and the gear rings with pinions-rack. These changes imply, firstly, a considerable reduction of the risk of collision between the different parts of the mobile platform.
Specifically, the mobile platform is formed by three parts, two side parts and a central part, the side parts being linked at their ends to the four kinematic links through ball joints, as in patent EP 1 084 802, whereas the central part is linked to the side parts by means of a prismatic joint. The four kinematic links are in turn fixed to the fixed platform through the four corresponding actuators.
In this configuration, as in European patent 1 084 802, the rotational motors can be replaced with linear motors and the articulated linkages with universal joints. In the specific case of the new configuration described in the mentioned article, four linear motors arranged in the same plane and aligned in the same direction are used.
Another configuration is described in the following article: "A High-Speed Parallel Robot for Scara Motions" Proceeding of the 2004 IEEE International Conference on Robotics & Automotion, New Orleans, La., USA, Apr. 26-May 1, 2004.
This robot is formed by four kinematic links, linked to the mobile platform, operated by four rotational actuators, linked to the fixed base. The main differences compared to the previously described configuration are the use of rotational actuators and the design of the mobile platform. Specifically, the mobile platform is formed by two parts linked together by means of a prismatic guide and a cable and pulley system transforming the linear translational movement of the guide into the desired rotation. This mobile platform design allows the actuators to be arranged at 90° in relation to each other, which involves a symmetrical design and a homogenous performance in the entire working volume.
The main drawback of the last two configurations described is the limitation to reach high accelerations and speeds, the main requirement for pick & place applications. This limitation is due to the use of prismatic guides and more specifically to the recirculation of the balls of the rolling guides.

High-speed parallel robot with four degrees of freedom


An apparatus is provided for use in a vehicle having an engine driven transmission which includes a plurality of gear ratios. The apparatus includes a sensor adapted to sense a parameter indicative of vehicle speed and responsively produce a vehicle speed signal. A downshift switch is provided to controllably produce a downshift signal. An engine speed sensor senses engine speed and responsively produces an engine speed signal. A controller is adapted to receive the vehicle speed, engine speed, and downshift signals, process the vehicle speed signal to produce a transmission control signal, produce a down shift enable value as a function of the engine speed signal, and modify the transmission control signal to correspond to a lower gear ratio in all but the lowest gear ratio when the downshift signal is received and a value responsive to the vehicle speed signal is less than the down shift enable value signal. An actuator is adapted to receive the transmission control signal and responsively control the transmission gear ratio.

It is common to equip construction vehicles, such as wheel loaders, with automatic transmission controls which automatically shift the transmission in response to sensed operating parameters such as vehicle speed. Such controls typically include a gear selector for selecting a desired gear ratio and direction of travel. Gear changes are automatically effected up to the desired gear ratio in accordance with a shift map which relates the sensed parameter to gear ratio. Such controls are advantageous because the operator is not required to manually shift gear ratios and, hence, his/her hands are free to operate other controls such as implement and steering controls.
Wheel loaders are commonly used to load raw material from a stock pile into a dump truck as illustrated in FIG. 1. Initially, the loader 1 approaches the pile 2 in a forward gear such as second gear forward FWD2 (operation 1). As the loader approaches the pile, a digging implement (bucket) is positioned to engage the pile. As the implement enters the pile, the vehicle's momentum is slowed and the transmission automatically shifts into first gear forward FWD1 (operation 2) as vehicle speed drops below the programmed shiftpoint. At the same time, the bucket is manipulated (i.e., raised) to obtain a load of material. The transmission is then manually shifted into a reverse gear using the gear selector, and the vehicle backs away from the stock pile (operation 3). Subsequently, the direction of the loader is changed so that the loader approaches the dump truck 3 (operation 4). Typically, the loader approaches the truck at a high speed in second gear forward F2. When the bucket is positioned over the truck, the load is dumped into the truck. The loader then backs away from the truck in a reverse gear ratio (operation 5). The above-described work cycle is repeated until the desired amount of material is deposited onto the truck.
Conventional automatic transmission controls are disadvantageous because entering the pile in second gear lugs down engine speed, thereby reducing the power available to operate the implement hydraulics. In order to avoid this problem it is desirable to effect a downshift to first gear forward just prior to entering the pile, thereby sustaining vehicle momentum and maintaining a high engine speed as the implement enters the pile. Similarly, it is desirable to downshift to first as the loader approaches the truck in order to maintain a high engine speed for rapidly lifting the bucket to its dump height. These are complicated operations in a conventional system because the operator is required to use one hand to control a steering device and one hand to manipulate an implement control lever. However, when a downshift is required, the operator must use one of his hands to manually effect the gear change.
In response to the above problems, U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,660, hereinafter '660, which issued on Jan. 31, 1989, provides a system which automatically downshifts the transmission when the implement is moved to a position suitable for digging. More specifically, the transmission is shifted into a lower gear ratio when the boom and bucket assume a preselected angle with respect to the loader. This system is problematic from the standpoint that the downshift occurs as soon as the implement assumes the preselected position. As such, it is difficult to precisely and correctly time the occurrence of the downshift. As was mentioned above, it is also desirable to be able to affect downshifts as the loader approaches the dump truck. '660 makes no mention of adapting its control to enable this type of downshift, nor would the disclosed system be readily adaptable to enable such downshifts. This is because a raised bucket position is used when approaching the truck and also when loading the vehicle. However, the '660 system provides no means for differentiating when the bucket is raised for loading and when it is raised for dumping.
Systems are also known which provide a downshift switch on an implement control lever. Such systems are advantageous because the desired downshifts can be effected by the same hand used to operate the implement control lever. However, known systems are disadvantageous because they permit excessive vehicle jerk and engine braking during a forced downshift. This is because downshifts are typically permitted at any ground speed, regardless of engine speed. If engine speed is low and ground speed is high, the transmission input speed following the downshift can greatly exceed the engine speed. In this situation excessive jerk and engine braking will occur.
One known system which provides a downshift switch is described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Number Sho 63-275432 titled "Automatic Speed Change Control Device of Shovel Loader." This system only permits automatic shifting when the vehicle speed is at full throttle. When the vehicle is not at full throttle, it appears that gear changes must be effected manually. The downshift switch is only operative when automatic shifting is operative, i.e. at full throttle. This system is disadvantageous because it only permits operation of the downshift switch at full-throttle and during automatic shifting. In many instances, it is desirable to allow downshifting using the downshift switch in the manual mode or when the engine speed is not at full throttle.
The present invention is directed towards overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Method and apparatus for controlling manual downshifting in an automatic transmission


The present invention provides a probe system and method for multithreaded user-space programs. The system includes an instrumentation module that enables single stepping out of line processing for multithreaded programs, an establish probepoint module that divides up an area of the probed program's memory into a plurality of instruction slots, an ensure slot assigned module that ensures that an instruction slot is assigned to a probepoint, a slot acquisition module that acquires the instruction slot for the probepoint, stealing a slot from another probepoint as needed, and a free slot module that relinquishes the instruction slot owned by the probepoint when the probepoint is being unregistered.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for users-space probes, and in particular, user-space probes for multithreaded programs.
2. Description of Background
Currently, uprobes (i.e. user-space probes) is a feature of the Linux kernel that enables software developers to create, install, and remove ad hoc instrumentation for user-mode programs. Uprobes enables an instrumentation module to establish probepoints in the probed program. When any thread of the program hits a probepoint, uprobes runs the corresponding instrumentation function (handler), and then allows the thread to continue.
Uprobes implements a probepoint by replacing the first byte(s) of the instruction at the probepoint with a breakpoint instruction—after first saving a copy of the original instruction. After the breakpoint is hit and the handler has been run, uprobes needs to execute the original instruction in the context of the probed process. There are two commonly accepted ways to do this:
Single-stepping inline (SSIL): Temporarily replace the breakpoint instruction with the original instruction; single-step the instruction; restore the breakpoint instruction; and allow the thread to continue. This method is typically used by interactive debuggers, such as gdb.
Single-stepping out of line (SSOL): Place a copy of the original instruction somewhere in the probed process's address space; single-step the copy; "fix up" the thread state as necessary; and allow the thread to continue. If the effect of the instruction depends on its address (e.g., a relative branch), the thread's registers and/or stack must be "fixed up" after the instruction is executed (e.g., to make the program counter relative to the address of the original instruction, rather than the instruction copy). This method is used by kprobes (Kernel Probes).
The SSIL approach doesn't work acceptably for multithreaded programs—at least partly because while the breakpoint instruction is temporarily removed during single-stepping, another thread can sail past the probepoint.

Multiplexing per-probepoint instruction slots for out-of-line execution

International Business Machines Corporation


A cold forming process includes mechanically joining two strips of metal. The process entails two roll passes. The first pass lances and forms short locking areas through both strips of metal. The second pass compresses and flairs the metal at these areas to complete a mechanical interlock. This method can provide a row of closely spaced fastenings at high speed. It is applicable in improving the torsion strength of existing tee grid products. It is also applicable in creating more efficient rollformed shapes by providing a means to use more than one metal strip.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ceiling runners for a suspended ceiling system. More specifically it relates to a method of mechanically joining two strips of metal together. The method is well suited to be used within a high speed rollforming process. In addition, it will be disclosed that grid tee sections customarily manufactured through rollforming can be improved and made more efficient by use of this method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To date many methods have been developed to mechanically fasten two layers of sheet metal together. Most methods require a series of press hits as per U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,083,794, 3,614,819 and 3,726,000. These methods require the material to be stationary and are not suited for close spacing in a fast moving manufacturing process such as rollforming.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,578 illustrates an earlier grid tee product with a second strip of metal fastened within the section. The method used in this product lances an ear on three sides and folds it through and around to achieve the mechanical attachment. A through opening is a result of this method. This opening would be unacceptable for product applications where routings and formed locks are to be applied to the section over the fastened areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,529 discloses a means to improve the rotational stiffness of a grid tee section through the application of a series of vertical lances along the base of the vertical web.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,284,873 and 3,726,000 disclose the use of punches to pierce two adjacent pieces of material to fasten the two pieces together. A commercial product of Eastern Products was similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,000.
The new process invention can be used to provide a series of attached points along the vertical web, without vertical lances or piercing of metal as shown in the prior art, which will be more effective in improving rotational stiffness.

Process for producing rollformed sections


The present invention is related to a women""s disposable sanitary napkin for external use. More specifically, a women""s disposable sanitary napkin is provided with corrugations conformable in its whole structure, which makes it possible to adapt the sanitary napkin to the wearer""s undergarment.

The present invention relates to a women""s disposable sanitary napkin for external use and more specifically to a women""s disposable sanitary napkin that is provided with conformable corrugations in its whole structure, which makes it possible to adapt the sanitary napkin to the wearer""s undergarment according to her needs.
Women""s disposable sanitary napkins are articles widely known in the state of the art that comprise an absorbent core sandwiched between two layers known as top sheet and lining sheet. The top sheet is permeable to fluids and its function is to allow the passage of the menstrual fluid towards the absorbent core, thus keeping the fluid away from the wearer""s body. It can be comprised of a layer of a material other than a fabric or composed of a perforated plastic film for performing the function.
The lining sheet is generally impermeable to or resistant to the passage of liquids and is used to prevent the fluid absorbed by the absorbent core from leaking. It may comprise a non-perforated plastic sheet or any other material having such features.
The absorbent core is composed absorbent fibers and/or particles such as synthetic cellulosic or textile fibers such as rayon, polyester and the like. Its purpose is to contain the vaginal exudates. The absorbent core may optionally contain a superabsorbent material having a varying range of particle sizes and be may distributed either uniformly throughout the core or alternatively in discrete regions of the core, for example, as a layer, as a film, or as individual particles. One example of a conventional superabsorbent material that can be used is sodium polymethacrylate.
The conventional features in a woman""s disposable sanitary napkin include a shape that adapts to the woman""s anatomy, it should be capable of quickly absorbing liquids, it is preferably releasably affixed to the undergarment during use, and it is preferably discreet and comfortable.
The conventional women""s disposable sanitary napkin deforms from its initial configuration due to the wearer""s movement changes, for the movement tends to conform the napkin to the geometry of the space between the wearer""s thighs This deformation has been found to cause discomfort to the wearer and may also result in premature leakage.
Previous attempts to overcome these problems have tried to optimize the efficiency of those disposable products by using static concepts of the body shape in the pulp and improving the absorption of the menstrual fluid. Examples of articles of the state of the article the purpose of which is the anatomical adaptation include the hourglass shape used in women""s sanitary napkins, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,790 (Kimberly-Clark) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,241 (Elissa D. Papajohn). The configuration takes into account the space between the wearer""s thighs close to the vaginal region, thus providing an improvement over rectangular-shaped articles, but the women""s napkins did not take into account the individuality of the space between the wearer""s thighs and the variety of undergarment used nowadays.
Another example of a women""s sanitary napkin has a corrugated absorbent core, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,504 (J. A. Glasman). The women""s sanitary napkin in this patent includes an absorbent core provided with longitudinal embossed lines for a faster flow of the menstrual fluid. However, the napkin design in this patent did not take into account the wearer""s anatomy.
Still another example of a women""s sanitary napkin is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,107 (Colgate Palmolive). This sanitary napkin is provided with two parallel longitudinal absorbent cores having a channel therebetween whose function is to collect the fluid and direct same to the longitudinal ends of the article, not aiming at the women anatomy or comfort.

Johnson and Johnson Industria e Comercio LTDA I 3170


The present invention provides mutant viruses with a decreased ability to block nuclear transport of mRNA or protein in an infected cell which are attenuated in vivo. The mutant viruses of the present invention may also be capable of triggering the anti-viral systems of normal host cells while remaining sensitive to the effects of these systems. The present invention further provides for the use of the mutant viruses in a range of applications including, but not limited to, as therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and infections, as vaccines and adjuvants, as viral vectors, and as oncolytic and cytolytic agents for the selective lysis of malignant or infected cells.

Attenuated viruses or those that have reduced replication potential have been widely used for a number of therapeutic applications, for example, as vaccines or vaccine vectors, or as gene therapy vectors. Production of attenuated viruses has typically involved the isolation of chance mutations by repeated passage of wild-type virus through unnatural hosts. Advances in recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering techniques have provided the tools to better develop viruses as therapeutic and prophylactic agents. Recombinant techniques permit the introduction of specific mutations into a selected region of the viral genome and also minimise the reversion of the mutant virus to wild-type.
The ability of many viruses to stimulate both humoral and cell-mediated immunity makes them ideal vaccine vectors and a number of viruses, therefore, have been developed as vaccine vectors for a wide range of diseases including HIV, HCV and cancer. Viruses are also well suited for use as gene therapy vectors. Gene therapy, i.e. the modification of gene expression by the transient or permanent transfer of functional genes to somatic cells, is being intensively developed as a novel approach for preventing and treating disease. Although a variety of physical and chemical methods are known for introducing exogenous nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells, viruses have generally been proven to be much more efficient for this purpose. Several viruses such as parvoviruses, adenoviruses, herpesviruses, retroviruses, rhabdoviruses and poxviruses, have been explored as possible gene therapy vectors (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,440,422; 6,531,123 and 6,451,323).
The engineering of a number of viruses to produce recombinant viruses with specific properties has been described. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,873 describes a recombinant Rhabdovirus that expresses the F protein of the Paramyxovirus SV5 strain. In this recombinant virus, the F protein is expressed as a fusion protein with a portion of the Rhabdovirus G protein. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,022,726 and 6,468,544 describe engineered attenuated viruses that include a mutation in a non-coding or coding sequence of a viral nonstructural (NS) gene. Chimeric attenuated viruses which express altered or chimeric viral proteins are also described. U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,544 further describes a live attenuated influenza virus which can induce interferon production in an infected cell.
Engineered viruses have also been described as oncolytic agents, which exploit genetic defects unique to neoplastic cells to replicate in and lyse neoplastic cells, but not non-neoplastic cells. For example, International Patent Applications WO 97/26904 and WO 96/03997 disclose a mutant herpes simplex virus (HSV-1716) that inhibits tumour cell growth, U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,845 describes a mutated adenovirus that is believed to replicate preferentially in p53 negative tumour cells, U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,461 teaches use of a Reovirus for treatment of Ras-mediated neoplasm, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,456 describes a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector carrying a drug susceptibility gene and a second gene capable of producing an ancillary effect (such as an interferon or tumour suppressor gene) for use in the treatment of cancer.
As an alternative to genetically engineering viruses, non-pathogenic viruses may be employed, for example, WO 01/19380 describes the use of a Rhabdovirus, and in particular vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), as a selective oncolytic agent against tumour cells characterized by having low levels of, or no, PKR (double stranded RNA dependent kinase) activity. WO 01/19380 also describes the identification of four mutant VSVs that were susceptible to interferon and their use as oncolytic agents.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Mutant vesicular stomatitis viruses and uses thereof


An air turbine starter for starting an engine, comprising a housing having an interior surface defining an interior, at least one turbine member rotatably mounted within the interior about a rotational axis, and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, and a containment structure radially overlying and circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the at least one turbine member.

An aircraft engine, for example a gas turbine engine, is engaged in regular operation to an air turbine starter. The air turbine starter (ATS) can be used to initiate the rotation of the combustion engine. The ATS is often mounted near the engine and can be coupled to a high-pressure fluid source, such as compressed air, which impinges upon a turbine rotor in the ATS causing it to rotate at a relatively high rate of speed. The ATS includes an output shaft that is coupled to the turbine rotor, typically through a reducing gear box, to the engine. The output shaft thus rotates with the turbine wheel. This rotation in turn causes a rotatable element of the combustion engine (e.g. the crankshaft or the rotatable shaft) to begin rotating. The rotation by the ATS continues until the combustion engine attains a self-sustaining operating rotational speed.


A pipe cleaning device has a handle, a center rod, a center rod sealing plate, and a scraper assembly. The center rod has a central hollow space having one end connected to the handle and the scraper assembly mounted on the other end. The center rod sealing plate is a three-plate structure for sealing off the pipe opening. The center rod sealing plate has a central hole for the insertion of the center rod. The three-plate structure of the center rod sealing plate serves to increase the ease of disassembling and maintenance. The scraper assembly includes an upper scraper and a lower scraper, wherein the lower scraper has additional scraping knives on its blades to facilitate the scraping of blocking material inside the pipe. Moreover, the scrapers do not block off gas flow inside the pipe completely, so the pump can still pump exhaust gases out even when the scraper assembly is in use. The center rod also has a water inlet located next to the handle and a water outlet between the upper scraper and the lower scraper. Therefore, solvent or water can be pumped to assist the cleaning action.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a pipe-cleaning device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for cleaning pump outlets.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional pipe cleaning assembly located next to a pump outlet. As shown in FIG. 1, the pump transports exhaust gases 100 into a pipe 102. The exhaust gases then leave pipe 102 and enter a wet scrubber water tank 104. As the exhaust gases flow through pipe 102, they deposit a layer of high molecular compound or unwanted material 106. Eventually, if the unwanted material 106 is allowed to accumulate long enough, the pipe 102 may be blocked. Therefore, it is necessary to schedule manual cleanings of pipe 102, at regular intervals, so that pipe blockage will not cause too much pressure to build up in the pipe 102. Such a buildup of excessive pressure can endanger operation or trip the machine. In general, the pipe 102 has an end cap 108 for preventing leakage of poisonous gases. To prevent chlorine or other by-products of semiconductor manufacturing from leaking out from the pipe 102 while the pipe 102 is cleaned, the machine has to be stopped. The dirt deposits on the sidewalls of the pipe 102 are normally removed by manually pushing a rod down the pipe. However, this cleaning method is unable to clean up the pipe thoroughly. Furthermore, it may be necessary to flush the blocking material with water as well.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need to provide a device that can be operated manually and is able to clean the pipe thoroughly without having to stop the machine.


The disclosure relates generally to providing synchronized supplemental content. In one aspect, second user devices may be used to consume supplemental content associated with primary content presented on a first display. The supplemental content may be synchronized with the primary content. Such synchronization may be performed by detecting and reporting triggers within the primary content and transmitting synchronization signals to appropriate second user devices. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to determining which interfaces or applications will report the triggers, and fine-tuning how many interfaces or applications will report the triggers.

Television viewing is no longer the static, isolated, or passive pastime that it used to be. Today, viewers have the option of using a computing device, such as a tablet computer or smartphone, as a second screen to view a webpage related to a show they are watching, thereby keeping viewers engaged in a particular program. However, there is a demand for taking second screen experiences further. Specifically, there is a demand for supplemental content (e.g., second screen content) that is synchronized with the primary content users are watching. While users want synchronization between their supplemental content and other programs, they also want and rely on fast network speeds. Thus, systems and methods for providing synchronized supplemental content with minimal impact on network bandwidth and other benefits are desired.

Synchronizing multiple transmissions of content


It is an object to suppress malfunction of a touch sensor, a touch panel, and a device using them by accurate determination whether inputting is performed or not. In addition, it is also an object to enhance the response speed of the determination. A touch panel including a plurality of pixels having photosensors and an image processing portion are included. The photosensor forms a contact image of a portion of an object which touches the touch panel. The image processing portion calculates the area of the contact portion from color data of the contact image and determines on the basis of the area whether inputting to the touch panel is performed or not.

1. Field of the Invention
The technical field relates to a touch sensor. In addition, the technical field relates to a touch panel, a display portion of which includes a touch sensor, and a display device including a touch panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the market of liquid crystal displays and electroluminescence (EL) displays has grown, and the importance of the added value of panels has been increasing. Above all, touch panels with display portions including touch sensors have attracted attention as user interfaces and have been introduced into mobile devices such as portable game machines.
Further, it is proposed that personal authentication is performed with a touch sensor provided in a device which does not necessarily have a display portion, such as a fingerprint authentication device.
For example, a touch panel which can receive information by detecting light reaching a display screen with a photosensor provided in a pixel of a display portion has been developed (e.g., Patent Document 1).
In the touch panel including such kind of photosensor, the following techniques are proposed: a technique in which a change in amount of light by shadow of a finger, an object, or the like projected on a display screen is detected with a photo diode provided in a pixel as a photosensor for example; and a technique in which a change in amount of light caused by light from a light-emitting object such as a light pen is detected with a photo diode provided in a pixel as a photosensor for example.
[Reference]
    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2004-318819

Touch sensor and method for driving the same and display device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Laminated articles that include a first textile and a functional film layer bonded together by an adhesive layer having a non-uniform adhesive pattern is provided. The non-uniform adhesive pattern creates regions free or substantially free of adhesive that permits the laminate to preferentially bend in those regions. The adhesive regions, together with the non-adhesive regions, create a visible pattern on the surface of the laminate. A second textile may optionally be bonded to the functional film layer opposing the first textile by an adhesive. The first textile or the film layer may be elastic, shrinkable, or expandable. In such embodiments, raised portions of the laminate corresponding to the non-adhesive regions and curled portions corresponding to the adhesive regions are visible. The laminated article is waterproof, liquid-proof, breathable, and aesthetically pleasing and demonstrates a reduction in stiffness, improved insulation properties, and a reduction of noise associated with bending the article.

Waterproof, breathable garments are well-known in the art. These garments are often constructed from multiple layers in which each layer adds a certain functionality. For example, a garment could be constructed using an outer textile layer, a waterproof, breathable film layer, and an inner textile layer. It is often desirable to have the multiple layers bonded together with an adhesive layer to create a laminate and prevent the layers from sliding past each other to give the look and feel of a single-layered garment. The process of bonding the layers together, however, has the detrimental effects of making the garment stiffer and noisier when worn. This not only reduces the enjoyment of wearing these garments, but can also affect performance in applications where noise control is critical, such as in hunting or military applications.
In addition to the stiffness and noise concerns, there are other reasons that a uniformly bonded laminate may be undesirable. For instance, if tensions are not well-controlled during the lamination process, the resulting laminate can curl due to the residual stresses created during lamination. Such curling of the laminate makes garment construction problematic as it is difficult to lay the pieces flat while sewing. Conversely, if the layers are not bonded together at all, the complexity of garment construction may increase due to each material having to be cut and laid out separately.
Therefore, a need in the art exists for a laminate article that can maintain the positive attributes of a bonded, multi-layer article while reducing noise, stiffness and residual lamination stresses.

Laminated articles having discontinuous bonded regions


The industrial container filling lance is an elongate pipe having a hose connector allowing connection of a hose from a fluid source to the lance, a ball valve for regulating flow of fluid through the pipe, and a fill spout for delivery of the fluid to an industrial container. The lance is disposed atop a hinged slide clamp attached to a telescoping lance support assembly, which extends vertically from a pedestal base. The elongate locking handle, rotated in the open position, allows the lance to be swung upward away from a fill container, and alternatively allows the lance to be longitudinally positioned precisely over a container to be filled. The elongate locking handle can be rotated over the lance to prevent movement of the lance during the container filling procedure. A rotating lock collar on the support stand assembly secures the support height while allowing angular rotation of the lance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for filling industrial containers with liquid, and particularly to an industrial container filling lance having an adjustable support.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many designs for filling containers with liquid. Some of the most successful and efficient designs are those of the type having a tubular filling lance which is operatively connected to a source of liquid and which is vertically moveable by a power device between raised and lowered positions.
The lance is positioned above an opening in the container and lowered into the container for filling thereof. After the container is filled, the lance is returned to a fully raised and/or withdrawn position. For ease and efficiency of handling, two or more, frequently four, empty containers are placed on wooden pallets and moved along a conveyor to a filling station at which the filling lance is located. A major problem with these types of systems is the capital expenditure required to attain an automated lance and a compatible container delivering conveyor belt system. It would be desirable to have a much more cost efficient manually operated and portable lance that has height and rotational adjustment capabilities but that also can be locked into a user determinable position for safe delivery of the fluid to the container.
Thus, an industrial container filling lance solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A self-stabilizing control circuit utilizing pulse delay circuits for controlling the limbs of a limbed robot, and a robot incorporating such a circuit, are provided. The pulse delay circuit acts as an artificial "neuron" which drives servo motors according to a selected sequence which is reconfigurable in response to signals from local or remote sensors. Also disclosed is a pulse neutralizing circuit which can be used to stabilize and reconfigure sequencing loops and chains incorporating the pulse delay circuit, and which can modify the actuation processes controlled thereby.

Autonomic robots have innumerable potential applications on both industrial and domestic levels. They are potentially capable of performing many mundane tasks which until now only human beings or other higher vertebrates have been capable of performing, to both increase productivity and improve quality of life. Such robots are particularly useful in applications which pose a hazard to living beings, for example in security functions, dealing with toxic materials, working in hazardous environments, and so on.
Many attempts have been made to design a self propelled autonomic robot, and to date the most successful designs have involved wheeled devices. However, wheeled devices have very limited utility in many environments. More than half of earth's landmass is impassable by wheeled vehicles of today's conventional size, let alone miniature or toy sized devices. Wheels are simply unsuitable in many environments, for example in rough or soft terrain. Moreover, any wheeled device is restricted to largely horizontal travel, since traction relies entirely on the force of gravity.
On the other hand, legged devices are capable of travelling on virtually any type of terrain. Such devices, although slower than wheeled devices, are far more versatile and adaptive to their environment, are capable of traversing obstacles that are impassable to wheeled devices, and if properly equipped are able to climb vertically. However, there are very few problems more difficult in modern robotics than building successful legged devices. Once the classic difficulties of mechanical power requirements, interconnection complexity and excessive weight are overcome, there remains the problem of control.
Autonomous legged creatures, to move and react effectively within their environment, require precise synchronizing control circuitry and the ability to adapt to new conditions as they arise. Until now, all attempts to create such a device have involved elaborate arrangements of feedback systems utilizing complex sensor inputs and extensive control and sequencing circuitry hard-wired to one or more central processors. Such a robot is extremely complex and expensive to build, even to accomplish very simple tasks. Moreover, due to the complexity of such a device and its heavy reliance on a central processing system power requirements are enormous, and a relatively minor problem, such as injury to a limb, is likely to cause total system failure. Such walking devices are accordingly impractical for other than experimental or educational uses.
The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages by providing an autonomic limbed device utilizing a completely different control system approach. Rather than utilizing a central processor to process sensor information and responsively drive all mechanical processes, the device of the present invention utilizes a reconfigurable central network oscillator to sequence the processes of the devices limbs, each of which is itself autonomous. Once activated, each limb sequentially executes its processes independent of the central sequencer.
The present invention further provides a pulse delay circuit, with a delay of variable duration, which connected to a second pulse delay circuit acts as an artificial "neuron". The central and limb-actuating processes are achieved by a number of such "neurons" connected in series. The delay duration is determined merely by an analogue bias input to one or more "neurons", which may be controlled remotely or in response to local sensor stimulation. In a walking device, for example, differential delay patterns cause the device to deviate from a straight forward walking motion in some predetermined manner, and through many of the well-known walking gaits.
The advantages of this design are numerous. The pulse delay circuit is very inexpensive, to the extent that a fully autonomous four legged walking device incorporating the present invention can cost less than one hundred dollars to build, and all components are presently available "off the shelf". Power requirements are very small. The control circuits simplify mechanical process controls to mere pulse trains, requiring no microprocessor, so that if a microprocessor is utilized it can be virtually entirely dedicated to task planning and information retrieval. The process controllers are self-stabilizing, and since each limb is essentially autonomous it is unnecessary to hardwire all actuators and sensors to the central torso; moreover, if a limb is damaged or malfunctions it can be removed from the sequence automatically, without affecting the central sequencing processes or the operation of any other limb.
The inventor has termed this technology VSPANS, an acronym for "Very Slow Propagation Artificial Neural Systems", described in detail below.

Adaptive robotic nervous systems and control circuits therefor


Circuitry and technique for improving the analysis of a signal, such as radar return, by eliminating the effects of frequency variations of the carrier and thereby stabilizing the modulation spectrum. This is accomplished by tracking the carrier frequency and using it as a reference signal for translating the carrier frequency in the radar return to zero frequency.

Although radar has been known for only a relatively short time, it is inherently of immense value and has been intensively developed at great expense because of the ability to detect the presence, velocity, acceleration, range, height, azimuthal direction and direction of movement of a target, the nature and identity of which is often unknown. While interrogation and IFF equipment and procedures have been developed that provide identification of civil airliners and friendly military aircraft, this approach to identification of a radar target is inherently less than completely satisfactory because of the possibility of equipment malfunction and of the enemy developing the ability to deceptively negate IFF.
Because of the very obvious desirability of being able to determine the nature of the radar target from the radar return (i.e. the signal caused in the radar receiver by the target), great efforts have been, and are being, made to identify targets from the characteristics of the reflected signal. These reflected signal characteristics are often called the target signature.
One of the many difficulties in identifying targets by their radar signatures relates to the spectral smearing of the signature caused by frequency shifts of the carrier frequency fc. These frequency shifts occur most often due to doppler frequency changes resulting from, intentional or otherwise, variations of the velocity of the target in a direction radially to the radar.
In an effort to avoid the disadvantages of spectral smearing caused by varying carrier frequency, two methods have often been used in prior radar signature analysis.
One method analyzes only a very short time sample of the signature, thereby minimizing the adverse effect of the frequency variation of the carrier fc. This method, which provides for a study of the broad spectrum but only for a short time, has the disadvantage of limiting the spectral resolution and of discarding much signal information.
A second method filters out one component of the signature (with a tracking filter) and analyzes this one component in detail, i.e. such parameters as spectral width and amplitude statistics. This method provides for the study of a long time sample, but only over a narrow bandwidth, and has the disadvantage that the relation of the studied component to the rest of the signal is lost together with the related opportunities to obtain data by analysis of cross-spectral densities, covariances, multiple correlation functions, etc.
This invention seeks to avoid the disadvantages of prior methods of radar signature analysis by providing technique and circuitry wherein the carrier frequency of the input (signature) signal is tracked to obtain a reference signal. This reference signal is phase compared to the input signal, a process which in effect translates the carrier frequency to zero frequency and provides a stable (folded) spectrum which is independent of the frequency variations of the carrier and which can be analyzed over long time periods.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus and an improved technique for analyzing radar return signals to identify detected targets.
Another object is to provide the techniques of, and apparatus for, stabilizing the modulation spectrum of a radar target signature by eliminating the effects of frequency variations of the carrier frequency.
Yet another object is to provide improved apparatus and techniques for studying the spectrum of a carrier modulated signal, the improvement resulting largely from apparatus and techniques which eliminate the effects of frequency variations of the carrier.
A still further object of the invention is to provide the techniques of, and circuitry for, improving radar target signature analysis by tracking the carrier frequency fc to produce a reference signal which is phase compared with the target signature to furnish a signature spectrum which is independent of variations in the carrier frequency.

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


A process for preparing a thermosensitive fibrous structure which includes adding a fibrous substrate mainly composed of cellulosic fiber, microcapsules including a thermochromic material, a cationic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant to a dye bath maintained at a temperature of not higher than 90.degree. C. and then adding an agent for imparting exhaustion property in the bath at a pH not more than 7, thereby causing the fibrous substrate to exhaust the microcapsules from the bath. According to this process, there can be obtained a thermosensitive fibrous structure wherein microcapsules are almost completely exhausted and uniformly provided.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a thermosensitive fibrous structure, and more particularly to a process for preparing a thermosensitive fibrous structure which causes a fibrous substrate mainly composed of cellulosic fiber to exhaust microcapsules including a thermochromic material uniformly and almost completely from a bath, and if necessary, can improve color fastness to washing of the thermosensitivity.
Hitherto, there are proposed many processes for providing a fibrous structure with microcapsules including various functional materials. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 193979/1991, there is disclosed a method which comprises anionizing a keratin fiber by treating with an oxdizing agent and thereby causing the fiber to exhaust and to adsorb microcapsules including perfume cationized by polyamide epichlorohydrin. However, the method cannot be applied to a cellulosic fiber which does not have either a disulfide linkage or a peptide linkage. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 174073/1991, there is described a method wherein a polyamide, a polyamine derivative or a lactam derivative which has polyoxyalkylene units without ionicity, and tannic acid and tartar emetic, a sulfonic acid compound or the like which is usually used as a fixing agent for a dye for a polyamide fiber are used to accelerate fixing of capsules to fibers when a polyamide fiber is uniformly provided with microcapsules including perfume. However, even if these fixing agents are applied to a cellulosic fiber, the microcapsules cannot be fixed uniformly. In a method of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 280080/1989, after water repellent treating with a cationic softening agent and silicone softening agent, a cotton plain weave fabric is padded with organosiloxane prepolymer and microcapsules including perfume, and then dried at 120.degree. C. for 2 minutes. However, even if this method is employed, the above mentioned capsules cannot be provided uniformly. Further, an object of these technique is to cause a fiber to shed fragrance by breaking microcapsules, for example, when the fiber is touched. Therefore, it is enough that the capsules fix uniformly when estimating with respect to a somewhat large area.
On the other hand, in case of providing a fibrous structure with microcapsules including a thermochromic material, considerably high uniformity is required. Therefore an object of this case cannot be achieved by the prior art as mentioned above.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problem when a cellulosic fibrous substrate is provided with microcapsules including a thermochromic material.
This and the other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.

Process for preparing thermosensitive fibrous structure

Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.


A method and system for a preheating step of a wave soldering process. A bottom side preheater is positioned underneath a PCB and a thermal carrier is positioned adjacent the PCB. A top side heater may also be used. The PCB includes one or more through holes, and an electronic component having one or more pins is mounted on the PCB so that each pin is positioned in a corresponding through hole. The bottom side preheater directs heat to the bottom surface of the PCB, thereby heating the bottom surface via heat convection. The thermal carrier directs heated air laterally across the top surface of the PCB to increase a heat transfer at the top surface without increasing the temperature of the electronic component, thereby reducing a temperature differential between the top and bottom surfaces.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are typically made of multiple layers of insulated and conductive materials. Electronic components are mounted to the PCB to form a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). To mount an electronic component to the PCB, an electronic component includes components leads, or pins, which are inserted into through-holes in the PCB. The pins are then mechanically and electrically connected to the PCB, such as by a filling the through holes with solder.
A conventional method of filling the through holes is a wave soldering process. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional wave soldering process. The wave soldering process is applied to a PCB 12 that includes an electronic component 12 with pins 14. The electronic component 12 is mounted on a top surface of the PCB such that the pins 14 are positioned in through holes (not shown) in the PCB 10. At the step 2, flux is applied to a bottom surface of the PCB 10. At the step 4, heat is applied to the bottom surface of the PCB 10 to activate the flux and to prevent or minimize thermal shock when solder is subsequently applied. A convection heater is positioned underneath the PCB 10. This is known as a preheating step. At the step 6, solder is applied. Molten solder is contained in a tank called a solder pot. The molten solder is agitated to have a pattern of waves on its surface. When the PCB 10 is moved over this tank, the solder waves contact the bottom surface of the PCB, and stick to the solder pads and pins via surface tension.
Barrel fill is a measure of how much the through hole is filled with solder. The ideal goal is 100% barrel fill, where the entire through hole is filled with solder. In practice however, the percentage of barrel fill is limited by the solder fluidity as the solder begins to cool immediately upon contact with the bottom surface of the PCB. Additionally, barrel fill issues are becoming more problematic due to new PCB designs that have more and more layers leading to thicker and thicker PCBs. FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate an example of the impact on barrel fill with increasing PCB thickness. FIG. 2A shows the PCB 10 having a first thickness. In this example, the flow of solder 16 into the through hole 18 reaches the dashed line, which corresponds to a barrel fill of approximately 75%. If the PCB thickness is increased, as in FIG. 2B, under the same conditions the percentage of barrel fill drops since the solder 16 flows into the through hole 18′ only to the dashed line. With an even increased PCB thickness, as in FIG. 2C, the percentage of barrel fill drops even further.
Insufficient barrel fill leads to reliability problems. Solder in the through hole provides mechanical support for securing the electronic component to the PCB, as well as provides electrical connectivity between the pin and the conductive layers that are electrically connected at the through hole. The larger the percentage barrel fill, the greater the mechanical stability and electrical connectivity. Further, greater percentage barrel fill results in a larger interface area between the solder and pin. Over time, portions of the solder may crack, and the larger interface area provides more portions that remain in contact which leads to longer usable life of the device.