A raindrop sensor for sensing water attached to a second surface of a transparent body includes a light emitting element, a light guide body, a light receiving element, and an abnormality determining device. The light emitting element is provided in a first surface side of the transparent body for emitting light toward the transparent body. The light guide body is mounted on a first surface of the transparent body for guiding the light. The light receiving element is provided in first surface side of the transparent body for receiving the reflected light, which is reflected by the second surface of the transparent body. The light receiving element outputs a signal based on an amount of the reflected light received. The abnormality determining device determines an abnormality of the light guide body by comparing a value indicated by the signal with an index value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a raindrop sensor, and more particularly to a raindrop sensor, which is preferably applied to, for example, a wiper controller for a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-66246 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,015 discloses a raindrop sensor, which is mounted on an inner surface of a windshield and senses raindrops attached to an outer surface of the windshield. The raindrop sensor includes a light emitting element, a light guide body, and a light receiving element. The light emitting element emits light in a direction from the inner surface to the outer surface. The light guide body guides the light to the outer surface, and also guides a reflected light, which is reflected by the outer surface, toward the inner surface side. The light receiving element receives the light from the light guide body, and generates a signal according to an amount of the received light. The raindrop sensor compares an amount of the light received in a clear whether condition with a current amount of the light currently received in order to determine whether moisture, such as raindrops, is attached to the outer surface or not.
Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-521158T corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,183 discloses a raindrop sensor, which includes a light guide body having a prism body and a flexible interlayer. In the raindrop sensor, a silicone sheet, for example, serves as the interlayer, which is held between the windshield and the prism body. Thus, this limits an air layer from forming between the prism body and the windshield such that the light, which travels through the prism body, can be guided to the outer surface of the windshield.
However, in assembly of the raindrop sensor to the inner surface, when the prism body is attached to the inner surface directly without the interlayer, the air layer is formed between the prism body and the inner surface. Then, the light, which travels through the prism body, may not reach the windshield, but may reflects off the end face of the prism body. Thus, the raindrop may not be detected because the light emitted by the light emitting element does not sufficiently reach the outer surface of the windshield.
To deal with the above disadvantages, in a factory for attaching the raindrop sensor, an operator checks whether the silicone sheet, which is a part of the light guide body, is appropriately attached or not by visual examination. However, because this silicone sheet is provided at the back of the raindrop sensor and thus the silicone sheet is behind a cover thereof, it is often difficult for the operator to check by the visual examination.


A method of measuring one or more motion parameters of a main shaft in a gyratory or cone crusher is disclosed. Signals are directed from a stationary sensor means located apart from the main shaft to one or more signal reflective surfaces situated on a target located on or adjacent to an upper portion of the main shaft. The target rotates and otherwise moves in unison with the movement of the main shaft. From the elapsed time the distances from the sensor the reflective surfaces on the target are determined. Analyzing the distances over time will yield information on the movement of the main shaft.

Crushers are used to crush large particles (e.g., rocks) into smaller particles. One particular type of crusher is known as a gyratory crusher, which for the purposes of this invention also incorporates cone crushers. Typically such a crusher includes a frame supporting a head and a mantle secured to the head. A bowl and bowl liner are supported by the frame so that an annular space is formed between the bowl liner and the mantle. In operation, large particles are fed into the annular space between the bowl liner and the mantle. The head, and the mantle mounted on the head, gyrate about an axis, causing the annular space to vary. As the distance between the mantle and the bowl liner varies, the large particles are compressed between the mantle and the bowl liner. The particles are crushed and reduced to the desired product size, and then dropped down from between the mantle and the bowl liner.
In such crushers there is an eccentric assembly with an oblique (inclined and offset) inner bore. In the bore is fitted a main shaft separated from the eccentric by an eccentric bushing. The main shaft is, like the eccentric, also positioned at a slight angle to the vertical. A crushing head is attached to the main shaft. When the eccentric shaft is rotated, the main shaft together with the head moves in a pendulum motion and rotates due to the frictional forces between the bushing and the shaft. The main shaft typically rotates at about 10% of the rate that the eccentric rotates. In addition, the main shaft of a rotates at about 10% of the rate that the eccentric rotates. In addition, the main shaft of a gyratory crusher is usually adjustable by a hydraulic system whereby the main shaft is adaptable to be moved vertically relative to the crusher frame.
Information on the position and the rpm of the main shaft can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the condition of the bushings and the inner eccentric bearings of the crusher and to also diagnose other irregularities in the crusher. Analyzing the movement of the main shaft—both its rpm and its vertical movement—can serve as a means of diagnosing the condition of a gyratory or cone crusher. As more data is available relating to the movement of the main shaft, a more accurate diagnosis can be made of the operating condition of the crusher. For example, measuring the rotational speed of the main shaft, and determining changes from a baseline rpm speed when the machine is under load and not under load, will provide information on the condition of the machine's eccentric bushing. Likewise, recording a change in the position of the main shaft noted as a change in the height of the main shaft from a normal operating setting serves to record any drift of the support cylinder due to normal leakage of hydraulic oil as well as determining if a tramp event occurred, and can further determine if adjustments must be made to the height of the main shaft to maintain correct product sizes. Additionally, data relating to the direction of rotation i.e., either clockwise or counterclockwise, and any change in the tilt of the main shaft from its normal position can also be used to interpret rotational speed data and relate it to the overall crusher condition.
A method of measuring axial height of the main shaft of a gyratory crusher utilizing a sensor located at the bottom of the main shaft by measuring the location of the hydraulic support piston is known in the art. The sensor does not measure any other aspect of the movement of the main shaft. Because of its location, it is difficult and potentially dangerous to gain access to such sensors for maintenance or other purposes.
It is an object of this invention to have a diagnostic detection apparatus and method of monitoring a number of variables relating to the movement of the crusher's main shaft. It is a further object to utilize a single emitting transducer, a single target, and a single set of data to analyze all pertinent aspects relating to the movement of the crusher's main shaft.
The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.


A system for proactive forced renewal of content protection implementations in devices includes a key generation facility to generate and allocate keys for the devices, and to generate revocation data corresponding to revoked keys in response to at least one of a security compromise and on a periodic basis independent of a security compromise; and a device manufacturer to receive the keys from the key generation facility, to embed the keys in content protection implementations for the devices, to distribute the devices, and to renew the content protection implementations in devices after the devices are distributed, in response to at least one of a security compromise and on a periodic basis independent of a security compromise.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to computer security and, more specifically, to content protection systems.
2. Description
Various mechanisms exist for protecting digital content when the content is distributed on a storage medium such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) or a digital versatile disk (DVD), or distributed via broadcast technologies. Typically, such mechanisms use some form of cryptography to protect the content.
In one system used for protecting content on DVDs, a single symmetric key is assigned to each manufacturer of DVD players. The DVD player uses the shared symmetric key embedded within the device to decrypt the content on the DVD and play it for a user. However, if one of the manufacturer's devices is attacked and the shared symmetric key is compromised, the key may be communicated to others to pirate the content. To attempt to stop this activity, the manufacturer may wish to revoke authorization of the key, thereby preventing further usage of the shared key. However, revocation of the single shared key would render all of the manufacturer's devices inoperable. Thus, this scheme does not practically support revocation of compromised keys.
Another system uses individual symmetric keys for each device. When a key is compromised, the compromised key may be added to a revocation list, or a broadcast encryption key block may be generated that revokes the compromised key. The revocation list or key block may be communicated to playback devices so that playback of the content by a device with compromised keys may be prevented. However, when many keys are compromised over time, the revocation list of compromised keys or a key block to be sent to playback devices may become very large and unmanageable. If the number of playback devices becomes very large (in the thousands or millions), then distribution of updated revocation lists or key blocks becomes problematic.
Content providers, broadcasters, and distributors must devise new methods for mass distribution of digital content to consumer devices in ways that deter piracy, yet do not include revocation mechanisms having undesirable side effects for the consumer.

Proactive forced renewal of content protection implementations


An eccentric disk valve has return springs and indicators located outside of the valve housing. The valve disk is directly seated on the housing and the valve seat of the housing is described as a section of a right circular cone whose central axis is aligned with the axis of flow through the valve housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to disk valves, and in particular to such valves mounted in housings so as to have an eccentric pivot axis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Over the years, specialized designs of disk valves have evolved to meet a variety of needs. In one type of such valve, adapted for use as a check valve, a plate-like valve disk is mounted for rotation about an axis which does not pass through the center of the disk, and is therefore referred to as an "eccentric" axis of rotation. The valve disk mates with an annular valve seat disposed within a conduit-like housing having a central axis. One example of this type of valve is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,394. As explained in the background of that patent, the construction of these types of valves is complex, and attempts have been made over the years to simplify the valve construction. However, further simplifications are still being sought today.
Although the valve disk is of relatively simple construction, being formed basically from a flat plate, fabrication of the valve seat (which is formed in the valve housing) requires a fairly complex machining operation, even though the seating surface is conical, i.e., defines part of a cone. The complexities of fabrication arise, in part, because the axis of the cone defining the seating surface is inclined so as to form an acute angle with the central axis of the valve housing. The valve seat is also inclined at an angle to the central axis of the housing and usually is also positioned at a non-normal angle to the cone axis. The valve seat is a relatively thin "slice" or planar section of the conical surface, approximating a thin plane, and as such may be described as having an elliptical configuration since it cuts the cone at a non-normal angle to the cone axis. As mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,394, attempts have been made to relax the stringent manufacturing tolerances required for such valves.
The eccentric mounting of the valve disk, typical with these types of valves, usually offsets the pivot axis with respect to the center of gravity of the valve disk in such a way as to create an imbalance in the valve disk mounting. The direction of flow through the valve housing is usually chosen to oppose the direction of valve closing. Return springs mounted on the pivot shaft have heretofore been relied upon to ensure valve closing under static flow conditions. The valve return springs have been specially designed for this purpose, despite the significant imbalance of the valve disk inherent in valves of this type. Such designs compromise other performance features desirable in a valve of the type considered. For example, water hammer presents serious problems in many industrial applications and can cause a significant amount of damage if appropriate steps are not taken. Where water hammer presents a critical problem, ameliorating measures such as employing conventional twin-flapper check valves have been employed, albeit at the sacrifice of certain performance capabilities of the eccentric disk valves.


A cable immobilizing device for an electronic device. The cable immobilizing device includes a buckle and a sleeve. The buckle is fixed on a shell of the electronic device. The buckle includes two juts facing to each other. The two juts define a slot therebetween to receive a cable of the electronic device. The sleeve is configured to enclose the cable, the outer diameter of the sleeve is lager than the width of the slot.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to cable immobilizing devices and, particularly, to a cable immobilizing device used in an electronic device. The present disclosure also relates to the electronic device using the cable immobilizing device.
2. Description of Related Art
Connectors, including plugs and sockets, are used in electronic devices to connect cables to, for example, printed circuit boards. However, for assembling and disassembling convenience, the plugs are not firmly connected to the sockets. Accordingly, cables may easily be accidentally disconnected.
What is needed, therefore, is a cable immobilizing device and an electronic device having same to overcome the above-described problem.

Cable immobilizing device and electronic device having the same

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides a method of removing harmful gases from an automobile exhaust. The method of the invention comprises contacting a thermally stable NOx trap composition with a first exhaust gas mixture at a temperature of at least 200° C. The first exhaust gas mixture includes exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine operating in a fuel-lean condition. After, NOx has been absorbed onto the NOx absorber material, the NOx trap composition is then contacted with a second exhaust gas composition. In this step, the second exhaust gas mixture includes exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine operating in a fuel-rich condition. The present invention also provides the NOx trap composition used in the method. The NOx trap of the invention includes a precious metal, a NOx absorber material, an oxide that inhibits the decrease in NOx storing ability of the NOx trap composition, and a support material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lean NOx traps with improved aging characteristics, and in particular, to lean NOx traps that resist degradation of NO storage capacity upon thermal aging.
2. Background Art
Environmental concerns and governmental regulations have been a continuing impetus for improvements in pollution control from automotive vehicles. The treatment or removal of noxious combustion by-products from the exhausts of such vehicles is a major focus of such efforts. Typically these combustion by-products include incomplete combustion by-products such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Moreover, the exhausts of these vehicles also include various nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. It is desirable and mandated that each of these compounds be reduced to a level that meets certain governmental regulations during vehicle operation.
Lean engines operate under fuel-lean conditions, i.e., a net oxidizing condition. Such an exhaust environment poses unique requirements for treating carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and especially NOx. NOx is the most difficult to convert because the exhaust gas is oxidizing yet NOx needs to be reduced in order to convert it to N2. One of the most promising treatments of NOx from lean-burn operation today involves the use of nitrogen oxide absorbent material with precious metals or lean NOx traps. Such NOx trap materials are able to absorb nitrogen oxides during lean-burn operation and to release them when the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is lowered. Accordingly, these traps are used with engine systems that operate primarily in a lean air/fuel ratio. However, when it is desired to purge the traps of NOx, the exhaust entering the trap is made fuel richer—either stoichiometric or fuel rich of stoichiometric.
One of the most critical problems for wide application of lean NOx traps ("LNT") is the thermal stability/durability of the trap. Typically a well made LNT will store and convert NOx to N2 with high efficiency (>90%) when the trap has not been exposed to high temperature (e.g. >750° C.) aging. However, when the trap is aged at high temperature, the trap degradates quickly, losing the high efficiency of storing and converting NOx. In practice, such a high temperature can be expected in the exhaust system where a trap is located, in cases such as high speed/load operation, engine misfire, lean NOx trap desulfation, etc. This relatively poor thermal stability and or durability has hindered the wide application of the LNT trap, or the lean burn engines.
Our studies show that an important mechanism for deactivation of lean NOx traps after high temperature aging is the loss of storage efficiency. And the critical modes for the loss of storage efficiency are the loss of oxidation activity of NO to NO2, and the loss of proximity between the precious metal and the trapping element after thermal aging, thereby limiting the spillover of oxygen atoms from the precious metal to the trapping element to convert the (barium) nitrite to (barium) nitrate, or the NOx species from the precious metal to the trapping element to form nitrates.
Accordingly, there exists a need for lean NOx traps with improved storage efficiency and in particular with improved oxidation activity and proximity of the active components after high temperature aging.


A process for preparing a propylene polymer composition having excellent rigidity, heat resistance and impact resistance, the process comprising conducting multistage polymerization including a step (a) for preparing a propylene (co)polymer (a), a step (b) for preparing a propylene-olefin copolymer (b) and a step (c) for preparing an ethylene-olefin copolymer (c) in the presence of (A) a transition metal compound and (B) a compound activating the transition metal compound (A), in which the steps (a), (b) and (c) may be carried out in any order, each of the second and subsequent stage polymerizations is carried out in the presence of a polymer or polymers obtained by the preceding stage or stages, respectively, and the resulting propylene polymer composition contains the propylene (co)polymer (a) in an amount of 20 to 90% by weight, the propylene-olefin copolymer (b) in an amount of 5 to 75% by weight and the ethylene-olefin copolymer (c) in an amount of 5 to 75% by weight, and has MFR, as measured at 230.degree. C. under a load of 2.16 kg, of 0.01 to 500 g/10 min.

Because of their excellent rigidity, heat resistance and impact resistance, propylene polymers are used for various molded articles in many fields.
For further improving the impact resistance of propylene polymers, there is known a process comprising initially homopolymerizing propylene and then copolymerizing propylene and ethylene to prepare a block copolymer.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 337308/1992 discloses a process for preparing a block copolymer in which propylene is first homopolymerized or copolymerized with ethylene in the presence of a transition metal compound having as a ligand a cyclopentadienyl bridged with a silylene group and an organoaluminum compound so as to produce a propylene homopolymer or a propylene copolymer containing less than 6% by weight of ethylene, in an amount of 40 to 95% by weight based on the total weight of the final polymer product; and then ethylene and propylene in a weight ratio of 10/10 to 95/5 are further copolymerized in the presence of the same transition metal compound and the same organoaluminum compound until a copolymer is produced in an amount of 60 to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the final polymer product. This publication also describes that the block copolymer obtained by this process has well balanced properties between impact resistance and rigidity.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 202152/1993 discloses a process for preparing a polypropylene molding material comprising (1) 20 to 99% by weight of a crystalline polymer having a propylene unit content of not less than 95% by weight and (2) 1 to 80% by weight of a non-crystalline ethylene-propylene copolymer having an ethylene unit content of 20 to 90% by weight, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal compound and an organoaluminum compound, in which polymerization to prepare the non-crystalline ethylene-propylene copolymer is carried out using a specific bridged metallocene compound and aluminoxane. This publication also describes that the polypropylene molding material obtained by this process has excellent properties, particularly in low-temperature impact strength.
However, there has recently been an increasingly severe demand for properties of polypropylene compositions. In addition, there has also been a need for a propylene polymer composition having well balanced properties among rigidity, heat resistance and impact resistance, and a process capable of preparing such composition.

Process for preparing propylene polymer composition and propylene polymer composition


A rotary turbomachine includes a rotor mounting at least one disk having an outer surface and at least one bucket extending radially from said outer surface. A stationary stator component is located adjacent the disk, and a seal plate extends from a portion of the stationary stator component. An angel wing seal extends from the bucket, thereby defining a clearance gap between the seal plate and the angel wing seal. An abradable seal element is disposed on the seal plate, and the abradable seal element and the seal plate are canted at an acute angle relative to a center axis of the rotor extending radially outwardly in a direction toward the angel wing seal.

The present invention generally relates to rotary machines such as steam and gas turbines and, more particularly, to a rotary machine seal for controlling clearance between the shank portions of rotating rotor blades or "buckets" and radially inner ends of adjacent, stationary stator components.
Land-based steam and gas turbines are used, for example, to power electric generators. Gas turbines are also used, for example, to propel aircraft and ships. A steam turbine has a steam path which typically includes in serial-flow relation, a steam inlet, a turbine, and a steam outlet. A gas turbine has a gas path which typically includes, in serial-flow relation, an air intake or inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and a gas outlet or exhaust nozzle. In both steam and gas turbines, compressor and turbine sections include at least one circumferential row of rotating blades or buckets mounted on rotor wheels or disks. The free ends or tips of the rotating buckets are surrounded by a stator casing. The base or shank portions of the respective rotating buckets within a row are typically provided with so-called "angel-wing" seals that are flanked by stationary stator components such as nozzle vanes or diaphragms disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream of the moving blades.
The efficiency of the turbine depends in part on the radial clearance or gap between the rotor bucket angel wing seal tip(s) and a sealing structure on the adjacent stationary stator component. If the clearance is too large, excessive and valuable cooling air will leak through the gap, decreasing the turbine's efficiency. If the clearance is too small, the angel wing tip(s) will strike the sealing structure of the adjacent stator component during certain turbine operating conditions, causing undesirable wear on both the angel wing tip(s) and the stationary stator component(s).
With respect to the radial clearance mentioned above, it is known that the clearance changes during periods of acceleration or deceleration due to changing centrifugal forces on the buckets; turbine rotor vibration; and relative thermal growth between the rotating rotor and the stationary stator components. During periods of differential centrifugal force, rotor vibration, and thermal growth, the clearance changes can result in severe rubbing of the rotating bucket angel wing seal tips against the stationary seal structures. Increasing the tip-to-seal clearance gap reduces the damage due to metal to metal rubbing, but the increase in clearance results in efficiency loss.
There remains a need for a seal construction that accommodates differential axial and radial movement of the rotor/bucket assembly and the adjacent stationary stator components but that does not negatively impact turbine performance.


A method of tracking and reporting the velocity of a hand-held paint spray gun. The object to be painted is placed in a room having one or more fiducial walls. A camera is installed on the spray gun, with its field of view toward the one or more fiducial walls. As the object is painted, the camera detects fiducials, calculates their current position, and compares current positions to previous locations to determine movement and velocity. The current velocity is compared to a stored target velocity, and audible or visible feedback is provided to the spray gun operator.

Paint spray guns are indispensible for large painting projects. Their use permits any object to be painted faster and without brushmarks. Paint spray systems use varying methods to atomize the paint (or other coating product), and allow for quick and even application of paint to the surface of the object to be painted.
When using a paint spray gun, the spraying motion is somewhat of an art in itself. Ideally, the operator moves the gun at a constant velocity back and forth. Experts learn to push the spray button after the gun is up to speed, and to release the button before the end of the stroke. The strokes should be overlapped, wet on wet.
If the spray gun is not properly operated, the result is a messy, unappealing, and ineffective paint job. For example, if the standoff distance is too great or the painting velocity is too fast, the result is inadequate coverage of the surface. If the standoff distance is too close or the painting velocity is too slow, the result is paint runs and wasted paint.

Optical velocity tracking for paint spray gun


An article of footwear is disclosed, in particular a sports shoe with a sole ensemble and a stability element constructed of a material and configured for the selective support of single parts of the sole ensemble. The stability element includes a base element extending from a rearfoot portion to a forefoot portion of a shoe along the medial or the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the shoe and includes at least one support element. The at least one support element encompasses the sole ensemble upwardly or downwardly or both. Further, the stability element may include a heel support connected to the base element and a second base element for additional lateral support of the shoe.

This application incorporates by reference, and claims priority to and the benefit of, German patent application Ser. No. 29903764.9, which was filed on Mar. 2, 1999.
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a shoe, in particular to a sports shoe with a sole ensemble including a stability element for the selective support of single parts of the sole ensemble.
2. Background Information
The processes in the human foot during walking or running are enormously complex. Between the first contact of the heel and push-off with the toes, a number of different movements take place throughout the entire foot. During these movements, various parts of the foot move or turn with respect to each other.
It is an objective in the construction of sport shoes to obstruct as little as possible these natural movements, such as they occur in barefoot running, and to support the foot only where it is necessary for the intended use of the shoe.
In this context, it has been realized that the conventional homogenous outsole extending over the entire lower area of the shoe does not meet the above mentioned requirements. In particular, the selective support of single parts of the foot is impossible with a homogeneously formed, continuous outsole or a homogenous sole ensemble.
One objective of selective support in shoes is to avoid excessive pronation or supination of the foot, i.e., the turning of the foot to the medial (inner) or the lateral (outer) side by several degrees. The yielding of a sole consisting of foam materials typically causes this turning movement of the foot. The consequences of pronation or supination are premature fatigue of the joints of the foot and/or the knee and/or injury.
One example of a known stability element to avoid pronation or supination is disclosed in German patent number DE 19 904 744. The patent discloses separate stability elements made out of harder materials selectively integrated into a sole or sole ensemble. The stability elements avoid excessive compression of the heavily loaded parts of the sole. It has been found however, that the hardness of the material of such a stability element, as necessary for noticeable pronation or supination control of the foot, significantly reduces the flexibility of the sole which is needed during the push-off phase.
Another method of avoiding pronation or supination is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,911. This patent discloses local modification of the density, and thereby the hardness, of the materials used in the sole in order to locally influence the compression behavior of the sole. The sole disclosed in this patent makes high demands on production technology and thereby leads to excessive costs for a mass-produced sports shoe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,576 discloses a combination of the two approaches. The patent discloses a midsole produced of two different materials to selectively support the foot and at the same time allow flexibility. Additionally, a heel cover is arranged in the rearfoot portion on top of the sole ensemble that is to support, via an additional damping element, the heel from below and three sides. Apart from the high production costs of this construction, the effective support and guidance of the foot is limited by the comparatively soft sole layers below the heel cover. Further, since the supporting effect of the heel cover is limited to the rear foot area, pronation or supination during the movement subsequent to the first contact with the heel cannot be avoided.
In addition to avoiding the above-mentioned pronation or supination, it is an objective of the stability element of the present invention to selectively support the foot to provide smooth movement of the foot during a step, from the first contact of the heel until the final push-off with the toes. Abrupt changes of the phases of the movement are to be avoided to reduce the risk of injuries and/or premature fatigue of the foot and/or knee joints.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cost-effective manufacturable shoe having, in desired areas of the sole, an improved compression stability to avoid pronation or supination without the above mentioned disadvantages of known stability elements.
It is a further object of the present invention that the shoe should be capable of providing smooth movement during a step, from the first contact with the ground to the final push-off and to provide thereby a complete system for the selective support of the foot.
The present invention relates to an article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe, with a sole ensemble and a stability element for the selective support of single parts of the sole ensemble. The stability element includes a base element extending from a rearfoot portion to a forefoot portion of a shoe along the medial or the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the shoe, and includes at least one support element that extends sideways from the base element and encompasses the sole ensemble on the lateral or the medial side. The at least one support element encompasses the sole ensemble upwardly or downwardly or both. Further, the stability element may include a heel support connected to the base element that encompasses the heel portion of the shoe. The sole ensemble of the shoe is not only supported on the medial and/or lateral side of the forefoot portion, but is also enclosed in a xe2x80x9cframe-likexe2x80x9d manner. Additionally, the shoe may include a second base element for additional lateral support of the shoe.
In one aspect, the invention relates to an article of footwear including a rearfoot portion, a forefoot portion, and a sole ensemble with a stability element. The stability element includes a base element that extends from the rearfoot portion to the forefoot portion. The base element can extend substantially along the medial side of the shoe, or substantially along the lateral side. The base element can include material properties for reducing pronation or supination of a wearer""s foot. The stability element further includes at least one support element. The at least one support element extends sideways from the base element and encompasses the sole ensemble on the medial or lateral side. The at least one support element prevents the sole material from expanding to the side under high pressure on the medial and/or lateral side of the forefoot portion. Since the material cannot expand to the side, this restriction or limitation leads to improved resistance of the sole against compression in the area of the forefoot, which is relevant for the control of pronation and supination, effectively avoiding the turning of the foot to the medial or lateral side. The improvement of the compression stability is further increased by the base element itself, which extends in this area of the sole and which can be made of a harder material than the surrounding sole material.
In another aspect, the stability element includes a heel support connected to the base element. The heel support at least partially encompasses the heel portion of the shoe. In one embodiment, the heel support fully encompasses the heel portion. The heel support ensures that the stability element controls the elasticity and thereby the behavior of the shoe from the first contact with the ground on. At the same time, the connection of the heel support to the base element allows a smooth transition of the foot from the landing phase to the push-off phase, since the effect of the stability element does not only start with the first ground contact of the base element as with known stability elements, but with the first ground contact of the heel support.
In one embodiment, the connection between the base element and the heel support has torsional flexibility to allow a turning movement of the base element with respect to the heel support. A stability element according to the invention therefore allows the natural torsional movements of the forefoot portion with respect to the rearfoot portion. In another embodiment, the heel support is formed as a heel shell, including an inner portion that is inserted into the sole and an external portion that is visible from outside the sole.
In yet another aspect, the stability element includes a second base element extending on the opposite side of the forefoot portion with respect to the first base element. The second base element includes additional support elements extending sideways from the second base element and encompassing the sole ensemble on the side opposite the first base element.
In various embodiments of the above-described stability elements, the support element(s) may encompass the sole ensemble by extending upwardly, downwardly, or both over the sole ensemble. For the additional support of certain portions of the foot, the support element(s) may further encompass not only the sole ensemble, but also the foot. Additionally, the base element(s) may include one or more slits which ensure the flexibility of the stability element in the forefoot portion, as necessary, for an unhindered push-off phase. For the support of the longitudinal and/or lateral arch of the foot, the base element(s) may include an additional support element in the forefoot portion. The support element may extend from the side of the stability element. The stability element may also include at least one side element that extends upwardly from the side of the stability element over the edge of the footwear. This embodiment is particularly suited for use in sports with a high lateral strain on the foot.
These and other objects, along with advantages and features of the present invention herein disclosed, will become apparent through reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

Shoe with external torsion stability element


A catalyst is disclosed herein. The catalyst includes a reducible oxide support and at least one noble metal fixed on the reducible oxide support. The noble metal(s) is loaded on the support at a substantially constant temperature and pH.

The present disclosure relates generally to catalysts, and more particularly to reducible oxide based catalysts and methods of making the same.
The water gas shift is a key reaction in the conversion of hydrocarbons and alcohols (such as methanol, ethanol, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, and the like) into hydrogen-rich gas. The reaction converts carbon monoxide and water into carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The reaction increases the amount of hydrogen formed and removes carbon monoxide, which is a poison for some catalysts, including those used in ammonia synthesis and fuel cells. Generally, the water gas shift reaction is performed by passing a reactant-containing gas stream over a solid catalyst. As such, the rate of conversion of the reactant into hydrogen is dependent, at least in part, on the catalyst used. Further, the size, weight, and cost of systems used to generate hydrogen may also be dependant upon the efficiency of the catalyst used.
Copper and iron-chromium based catalysts are often used for the water gas shift reaction. However, such catalysts may not be suitable for portable and vehicular applications as they may, in some instances, have insufficient durability and activity.
As such, it would be desirable to provide an efficient catalyst for the water gas shift reaction that would be useful for varied applications, including portable and vehicular applications, and that would aid in reducing the size, weight and cost of systems used to generate hydrogen.

The Regents of The University of Michigan


A memory device includes a plurality of cells comprising CMOS structures. A non-strobed regenerative sense-amplifier (NSR-SA) is coupled to the cells and employs offset compensation and avoids strobe timing uncertainty to increase read-access speeds.

The invention is related to the field of memory device, and in particular to a high density 45 nm SRAM using small-signal non-strobed regenerative sensing.
High-density SRAMs are a primary enabler of the dramatic cost reductions and expanding features benefiting ICs every technology node. Unfortunately, their small bit-cell devices have large variation, and the ensuing degradation in both IREAD and read SNM must be addressed simultaneously. Similarly, variation severely affects sense-amplifier (SA) performance, as offset voltage and strobe timing uncertainty are dominating limitations.

High density 45 nm SRAM using small-signal non-strobed regenerative sensing


An integrated database system comprises a plurality of database systems connected to one another through a network, each of the plurality of database systems managing its own stored data independently of the other database systems and accessing the stored data in accordance with an access request, and an integrated database unit connected to the network. The integrated database unit includes a directory database which stores a correspondence between each of the data stored in the plurality of database systems and a database system in which each of the data is stored, a directory control unit which acquires, by using the directory database, directory information corresponding to target data of the accepted access request, a database identifying unit which identifies a database system, and a database control unit which issues, on the basis of the acquired directory information, an access request to the database system having the target data of the accepted access request. The database system includes a database server unit which accesses a database in accordance with the access request issued by the integrated database unit.

The present invention relates to the technique of efficiently accessing plural databases on a network system.
There are some cases in which plural database servers are provided on a network system. The plural database servers provide users on the network with their stored objects, and each of the database servers manages its own stored objects independently of the other database servers.
Directory databases are known which provide users on a network system with information such as the addresses of individuals or organizations on the network system. One example of such directory databases is an LDAP server which is described in "LDAP: Programming Director-Enabled Applications with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol" (MacMillan Technology Series), written by Tim Howes and Mark Smith, published by Macmillan Technical Publishing, ISBN 1578700000.
In a case where plural independent databases are present on a network system, if a user is to access a particular object stored in a particular database server, the user needs to specify the particular database and the particular object.
Before accessing the object, the user must be burdened with looking into the database server in which the object is stored.

Integrated database system and method for accessing a plurality of databases


A method and an arrangement for automatic three-dimensional recording of structures of interest in a sample (15) are disclosed. The arrangement possesses a microscope having at least one microscope objective (13). The images of a sample (15) are acquired using a detector unit (19). A computer system (23) controls acquisition of the images and the microscope functions. The computer system (23) possesses a means (25) for automatically recording the entire marked specimen region in three dimensions.

The invention concerns a method for microscopy.
The invention further concerns an arrangement for microscopy, the arrangement encompassing at least one microscope objective, a detector unit for acquiring images of a sample, a display for displaying the images of the sample acquired by the detector unit, and a computer system for controlling the microscope and the data acquisition.
In microscopy and in confocal microscopy, the user him- or herself has hitherto been forced to define the parameters that are necessary for three-dimensional recording of a structure. This is often very difficult or almost impossible for an inexperienced user, since he or she does not have the necessary conceptual abilities. Even an experienced user often cannot locate structures within a sample on the basis of optical sections, resulting in incomplete recording of the desired structure.


The present invention relates to a method to authenticate a subscriber (IMSIi) within a local network (LNj) comprising preliminary step of deriving a subscriber key (SMKi) in local keys (LKi), one local key (LKiLNj) for each local network (LNj) the subscriber (IMSIi) is authorized to access, provisioning each local network (LNj) the subscriber (IMSIi) is authorized to access with its own local key (LKiLNj). When an authentication is required in a given local network (LNj), an UICC application derives a local key (LKiLNj) in the UICC application of the subscriber (IMSIi) using the network identifier (LNj), the key derivation function (KDF) and the subscriber key (SMKi) and use the derived local key (LKiLNj) in the algorithm to perform local authentication in the local network (LNj).

3GPP addresses new scenarios where the operator's subscriber shall be authenticated within local E-UTRAN network (4G), without communication with the home network. The scenarios are for commercial use or for public safety, notably when the macro network is not available.
The operator has interest in keeping the control of the authentication of his subscriber within local networks. The subscriber should not be allowed to be authenticated within a local network deployed without agreement with the home operator of the subscriber.
Solutions to authenticate a subscriber within any local network relying on one unique key shared between the home HSS, the UICC application and all the local networks may have a security issue in case that a local HSS would be hosted in less secure environment than the home HSS. In such a scenario, it may happen that an attacker could have physical access to the local HSS and retrieve the unique key used to authenticate the subscriber. Consequently, all the other local networks using the same key to authenticate the subscriber would be known.
A synchronization issue may also exist, in case of 3GPP authentication, there is the use of Sequence Number (SQN) mechanism. Using the same SQN within different local networks not connected to synchronize could end in de-synchronization of the UICC in some scenarios. Then authentication could fail and additional process may be required.
Further alternative and advantageous solutions would, accordingly, be desirable in the art.

Method to authenticate a subscriber in a local network


The invention relates to a method of providing a pseudoplastic paste on a substrate surface by dipping. The paste is provided in the form of a layer on a wire gauze, the layer thickness being adjusted to a desired value by means of a squeegee and a spacer. The paste layer is wiped off at the bottom side of the gauze by means of a squeegee. Subsequently, a substrate with the substrate surface to be covered is dipped in the paste layer up to the gauze and is removed again before the paste can flow over the parts of the substrate which are not to be covered. The method can be used, for example, to provide a ceramic multilayer actuator having piezoelectric layers 20 and inner electrodes 21 with end contacts 22, in such a manner that the end contacts fully cover the end faces of the actuator and that the side faces of the actuator are substantially completely left free by the end contacts.

The invention relates to a method of providing a paste on a substrate surface by dipping.
The invention relates in particular to a method of manufacturing a ceramic multilayer actuator and to a ceramic multilayer actuator having end contacts which are manufactured by the method according to the invention.
Pastes are used, for example, for applying resistive layers or electrode layers to electric components such as resistors, capacitors and supports of semiconductor devices. According to methods which are known per se, such pastes cannot only be provided by dipping but also by screen printing.
Under the influence of an applied electric field, the dimensions of piezoelectric elements, such as actuators, may change and said piezoelectric elements may exert a mechanical force. In certain embodiments, end contacts are used to interconnect inner electrodes and to provide the connection with an external power source. Actuators are used, inter alia, in accurate positioning devices and in printers.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,498 a description is given of a device for and a method of providing a silver-containing conductive paste on electronic components. The paste is applied in the form of a thin layer to a flat plate, after which the electronic components are dipped in the paste. Subsequently, the end contacts thus formed are baked. According to an alternative embodiment, the paste is contained in a porous member such as, for example, a sponge.
According to the known method, end contacts are formed about the end portions of the electronic component in such a manner that also a part of the side faces of the component is covered. This is desirable for many applications, for example, for components which are to be soldered on a printed circuit board. For other applications, however, such as for ceramic actuators which can be stacked and interconnected to attain a cumulative mechanical effect, it may be necessary to leave the side faces of the component uncovered. Another disadvantage of the known method is that, in general, the surface of the end contact formed is not completely flat, which can be ascribed to the manner in which the paste loosens itself from the surface when the component is removed from the paste after the dipping operation.

Method of providing a paste for a ceramic multilayer actuator


A carburetor throttle valve actuation assembly for a combustion engine is readily adapted for use as a remote control actuator, a local control throttle actuator, or both together providing an optional choice for the end user. The carburetor has a throttle valve having a shaft journaled to a body for movement about a rotation axis. A slave lever connects rigidly to a distal end of the shaft projecting outward from the body. A connection spaced radially outward from the axis engages the slave lever to a radially projecting swivel member of a local, manually operated, throttle valve actuation assembly. The swivel member rotates in unison with the slave lever about the axis, is spaced axially outward from the shaft and is journaled to a bracket engaged rigidly to the body. Preferably, the connection has a hole in the slave lever. If the remote throttle control actuator is used, a Bowden wire engages to a pin projecting axially outward from the slave lever at the hole. If the local throttle control actuator is used either a cylindrical void carried by the swivel member mates to the pin, or a peg projecting outward from the swivel member and toward the body is inserted into the hole forming the connection that permits axial movement of the slave lever with respect to the swivel member.

In a conventional carburetor, a mixing passage through a body of the carburetor mixes and flows a controlled mixture of fuel-and-air into a combustion engine. For controlling the speed of the engine, a rotating throttle valve of a rotary or butterfly type intersects the mixing passage to restrict the volume of fuel-and-air flow to the engine.
A rotary throttle valve is generally a cylinder that seats rotatably and is movable axially, within a cylindrical cavity that intersects the mixing passage. The rotary throttle valve has a through-bore that adjustably aligns with the mixing passage to control flow. A needle of the cylinder projects downward into the through-bore and axially movably into an opposing fuel feed tube of the body to adjustably obstruct an orifice in a wall of the tube that flows liquid fuel into the through-bore. As the rotary throttle valve rotates toward an open position, the through-bore aligns to the mixing passage to increase flow, and simultaneously, the cylinder lifts axially to partially retract the needle from the tube exposing more of the orifice to the through-bore and thus increasing fuel flow.
The butterfly-type throttle valve is generally a pivoting plate disposed in and conforming to the contour of the mixing passage. Like the rotary throttle valve, the butterfly throttle valve controls the amount of fuel-and-air mixture flowing to the engine. Unlike the rotary throttle valve, the butterfly valve does not directly control the amount of liquid fuel entering the air stream.
Both the rotary and butterfly throttle valves, however, have a rotating shaft that projects out of the carburetor body. For some engine applications a lever is attached to this shaft and connected to a Bowden wire or other linkage for a user to remotely rotate the throttle valve. For other applications a lever or knob attached to this shaft is manually grasped and rotated to locally actuate the throttle valve. For instance, a leaf blower utilizing a small two stroke engine may only require local actuation of a throttle valve, and a lawn mower application may require remote actuation.
The cost of manufacturing a wide array of differing parts dependent upon whether an otherwise identical carburetor is remotely or locally actuated and the cost of two subsequent carburetor assembly lines is expensive and time consuming. Yet further, in some applications, it would be advantageous to have the ability to both remotely and locally actuate a carburetor throttle valve that positively and reliably sets the pre-specified engine speeds.

Throttle valve arrangement for a carburetor


A method for non-destructively inspecting a composite structure with a single ultrasonic transducer includes determining a calibration amplitude of ultrasonic transmissions emitted by the single ultrasonic transducer to a reflector in a fluid-filled immersion tank and received back at the single ultrasonic transducer. The method also includes inserting the composite structure into the fluid-filled immersion tank between the reflector and the single ultrasonic transducer. In addition, the method includes scanning the composite structure with the single ultrasonic transducer to measure ultrasonic amplitudes for sound waves traveling through the composite structure, reflecting off the reflector plate and then traveling back through the structure to the single ultrasonic transducer. The measured ultrasonic amplitudes are corrected using the calibration amplitude and other measured transmission losses, and the corrected ultrasonic amplitudes are utilized to generate either or both a digital image showing porosity or a measurement of porosity of the composite structure.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for nondestructively measuring porosity in composite structures.
The identification of internal flaws in large structures is critical to the safe use of these structures. For metal structures, the identification and characterization of melt-related inclusions and cracks are critical for lifing these parts. The inspection of large metal components led to the development of sophisticated technologies for detecting surface and volumetric defects. These technologies include x-ray, penetrant, and ultrasonic methods.
New product designs and manufacturing methods can create different types of defects than those generated during the manufacture of large metal structures. The design of new structures based on polymer matrix composites is one example of these new technologies. Composite structures have some unique flaws relating to the manufacturing process which do not exist with the manufacture of metallic structures. One of these flaw types is volumetric porosity. Undetected porosity can lead to early failures of critical components.
One known method for measuring porosity in composite structures is the use of acid digestion. With acid digestion, the weight percent of matrix material and fiber material are measured separately by using acid to dissolve one of the constituents. Using these data plus mass density information for the separate materials, the percent porosity can easily be determined. However, acid digestion methods are destructive because the composite must be dissolved in order to measure the volume of porosity. Acid digestion is valuable as a process control tool where either entire parts or sections of parts can be sacrificed to measure the capability of the manufacturing process. For most critical components for which safe operation is dependent on each component working properly, this destructive testing method cannot provide the needed level of porosity detection to assure safe operation. The actual structures must be measured.
Several researchers have studied the use of sound attenuation to estimate the porosity content in composites [1,2,3]. Nair, Hsu, and Rose [1] calculated the acoustic scattering caused by pores in a composite structure. They suggest the use of attenuation slope measurements for estimating porosity. They also provide experimental results that show an agreement between the experimental estimation of porosity, the theoretical calculation of the attenuation based on scattering theory, and actual porosity measurements collected using acid digestion methods,
Jeong and Hsu [2] continued work on the experimental analysis of attenuation slope measurements to estimate porosity. Jeong et al developed an immersion-based attenuation measurement technique that corrected for transducer diffraction and sound transmission losses. The researchers also identified that the attenuation slope measurement was sensitive to the shape or aspect ratio of the pores. This leads to three different coefficients for estimating porosity content from attenuation slope dependent on the construction technique for the composite structure.
Reed, Batzinger, Reed, and Jonsson [3] identified additional corrections needed for attenuation measurements made using focused immersion transducers. A correction for the surface roughness losses and a spatial filtering method to correct for frequency-dependent focusing effects were discussed. Experimental data showed agreement between the attenuation estimation of porosity and actual values determined by destructive sectioning of the sample.
All three groups demonstrated the applicability of using ultrasonic attenuation to estimate porosity in a laboratory setting. The data generally shows agreement between ultrasonic estimates for porosity measurement and actual values based on acid digestion or sectioning.
In general, known methods require precision scanning of two transducers collecting data at a plurality of frequencies. To collect the ultrasonic information needed to analyze porosity would require two or more scans of the part depending on the attenuation slope calculation method used, a serious limitation to manufacturing productivity. Additionally, two transducers are required for these measurements with their positioning axes. Since most immersion tanks designed for metal inspection have only one transducer manipulator, new immersion tanks with two fully controllable transducer manipulators would be required to implement these methods.
Another problem with the methods developed by these three groups is that the complexity of the calibration and measurements could make the inspection difficult for non laboratory-trained technicians. The diffraction correction techniques discussed by Jeong et al [2] require sophisticated mathematical skills including complex number mathematics. The focusing correction techniques used by Reed et al [3] require spatial convolutions of attenuation images to correct for focusing effects. These calculations would make the transfer of these techniques to a manufacturing environment very difficult.

Methods and apparatus for porosity measurement


A method of classifying radar emitters includes the steps of: (a) receiving pulses from multiple radar emitters; (b) categorizing received pulses based on pulse data descriptors (PDWs); (c) forming clusters of received pulses based on the PDWs; and (d) de-interleaving pulses from the cluster using one of a differential time of arrival (DTOA) histogram technique, a spectrum estimation technique, or a Hough transform technique. Step (a) includes receiving the pulses during a predetermined time interval and storing the received pulses as a snapshot representing the pulses present during the predetermined time interval.

Radars emit a variety of signals that may characterize and identify them. Each radar may emit a specific pulse amplitude and a specific fixed radio frequency (RF) or a variable RF ranging over a fixed bandwidth. Each may emit a fixed pulse repetition frequency (PRF) or a fixed pulse repetition interval (PRI) and may be of a certain pulse width (PW).
A radar may also emit a fixed, dwell-switched PRI or a multiple-step, multiple-position staggered PRI. In addition, a radar may emit a pattern-type of PRI, such as a sawtooth, triangular, sinusoidal, jittered, or pseudo-random pattern.
An aircraft flying into a region with an onboard wideband receiver may detect a variety of signals emitted from multiple radars located in that region. Unless these signals are sorted and separated from each other, it is not possible for the aircraft to determine the types of classes of radars it is about to encounter. It does not know whether the radars are hostile and does not know whether the radars present a high or low threat to the incoming aircraft.
A need, therefore, exists for an aircraft to be able to sort and identify a variety of radars that are emitting energy towards the aircraft. The present invention addresses this need.

System and method for detecting and de-interleaving radar emitters


In a wireless local area network (LAN), a source node initially communicates with a destination node using a direct link. After the destination node moves to a different location and becomes associated with a new access point (AP), the destination node notifies the source node. The source node then tears down the direct link and re-establishes communication with the destination node using the new AP.

An infrastructure based wireless local area network (LAN) is defined as one in which there is, within a single logical link layer wireless LAN segment, a designated network node that performs control of membership of that link layer segment, by way of an association function, and may also, but not necessarily, have access to means of communication with other wired or wireless link layer LAN segments. The designated network node is referred to as an access point (AP), which includes an association function for control of membership of the segment and also contains a logical transport to other segments. The logical transport to the other segments is referred to as a distribution system (DS). The DS may be null if there is no other link layer segment.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating prior art LAN segments. Typically, data packets to be sent from a source node to a destination node are first sent to the AP with which the source node is associated. The AP then determines whether the destination node is also associated with it or with another AP. If the destination node is associated with another AP, then the destination node may only be reached via the DS. For example, referring to FIG. 1, when the source node 115 wants to send data to the destination node 120 (illustrated by the dotted arrow), it first sends the data to the AP 110 using path 155. Because the destination node 120 is also associated with the AP 110, the AP 110 then forwards the data to the destination node 120 using path 156. As another example, when the source node 115 wants to send data to the destination node 125, it first sends the data to the AP 110 using the path 155. Because the destination node 125 is associated with another AP 105, the AP 110 needs to forward the data to the AP 105 using path or DS 160. The AP 105 then forwards the data to the destination node 125 using the path 165. The process of forwarding the data from the source node to the destination node in both examples is inefficient because more network resources are used to transmit the same data more than once before the destination node receives the data.
There are schemes that may be followed to set up and maintain direct links between a source node and a destination node so that data may be sent directly from the source node to the destination node. For example, one of these schemes is described in a document titled "Wireless Address Resolution Protocol" (Document IEEE 802.11-02/016r0) by Duncan Kitchin of Intel Corporation. Another scheme is described in a document titled "Direct Stream Request Protocol (DSRP)" (Document IEEE 802.11-02/421r0) by Menzo Wentink of Intersil Corporation. Using one of these schemes, the data may be transferred directly from a source node to a destination node. For example, referring to FIG. 1, the source node 115 may send data directly to the destination node 120 without having to first send the data to the AP 110.
Even though the proposals mentioned above describe how to set up and maintain the direct links, they fail to provide adequate support for dynamic network topology resulting from devices moving to different locations. For example, these proposals use a time out approach to enable a source node to recognize that a destination node that it has been communicating is no longer positioned in the same location. The proposals, however, does not address how to reroute data to the destination node at its new location.

Seamless teardown of direct link communication in a wireless LAN


A MEMS integrated circuit comprising one or more microfluidic diaphragm valves and control circuitry for the valves. Each valve comprises: an inlet port; an outlet port; a weir positioned between the inlet and outlet ports, the weir having a sealing surface; a diaphragm membrane for sealing engagement with the sealing surface; and a thermal bend actuator for moving the diaphragm membrane between a closed position in which the membrane is sealingly engaged with the sealing surface and an open position in which the membrane is disengaged from the sealing surface. The control circuitry is configured to control actuation of the actuator so as to control opening and closing of the valve.

"Lab-on-a-chip" (LOC) is a term describing devices of only a few square millimeters or centimeters, which are able to perform a myriad of tasks normally associated with a standard laboratory. LOC devices comprise microfluidic channels, which and are capable of handling very small fluid volumes in the nanoliter or picoliter range. The applicability of LOC devices for chemical and biological analysis has fuelled research in this field, especially if LOC devices can be fabricated cheaply enough to provide disposable biological analysis tools. For example, one of the goals of LOC technology is to provide real-time DNA detection devices, which can be used once and then disposed of.
Fabrication of LOC devices evolved from standard MEMS technology, whereby well-established photolithographic techniques are used for fabricating devices on silicon wafers. Fluidic control is crucial for most LOC devices. Accordingly, LOC devices typically comprise an array of individually controllable microfluidics devices, such as valves and pumps. Although LOC devices originally evolved from silicon-based MEMS technology, more recently there has been general shift towards soft lithography, which employs elastomeric materials. Elastomers are far more suitable than silicon for forming effective valve seals. Thus, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has now become the material of choice for fabricating microfluidics devices in LOC chips. A PDMS microfluidics platform is typically fabricated using soft lithography and then mounted on a glass substrate.
One of the most common types of valve employed in LOC devices is the 'Quake' valve, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,774, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. The 'Quake' valve uses fluidic pressure (e.g. pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure) in a control channel to collapse a PDMS wall of an adjacent fluid flow channel, in the manner of a conventional pneumatic pinch valve. Referring briefly to FIGS. 1A-C, the Quake valve comprises a fluid flow channel 1 and control channel 2, which extends transversely across the fluid flow channel 1. A membrane 3 separates the channels 1 and 2. The channels 1 and 2 are defined in a flexible elastomeric substrate, such as PDMS, using soft lithography so as to provide a microfluidic structure 4. The microfluidic structure 4 is bonded to a planar substrate 5, such as a glass slide.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the fluid flow channel 1 is "open". In FIG. 1C, pressurization of the control channel 2 (either by gas or liquid introduced therein by an external pump) causes the membrane 3 to deflect downwards, thereby pinching the fluid flow channel 1 and controlling a flow of fluid through the channel 1. Accordingly, by varying the pressure in control channel 2, a linearly actuable valving system is provided such that fluid flow channel 1 can be opened or closed by moving membrane 3 as desired. (For illustration purposes only, the fluid flow channel 1 in FIG. 1C is shown in a "mostly closed" position, rather than a "fully closed" position).
A plurality of Quake valves may cooperate to provide a peristaltic pump. Hence, the 'Quake' valving system has been used to create thousands of valves and pumps in one LOC device. As foreshadowed above, the number of potential chemical and biological applications of such devices is vast, ranging from fuel cells to DNA sequencers.
However, current microfluidics devices, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,774, suffer from a number of problems. In particular, these prior art microfluidics devices must be plugged into external control systems, air/vacuum systems and/or pumping systems in order to function. Whilst the microfluidics platform formed by soft lithography may be small and cheap to manufacture, the external support systems required to drive the microfluidics devices means that the resulting μTAS device is relatively expensive and much larger than the actual microfluidics platform. Hence, current technology is still unable to provide fully integrated, disposable LOC or μTAS devices. It would be desirable to provide a fully integrated LOC device, which does not require a plethora of external support systems to drive the device.

MEMS integrated circuit comprising microfluidic diaphragm valve


Determining the operating system of a target computer is disclosed. Subject information describing one or more attributes of the target computer is received. Reference information describing one or more attributes of a reference is received. The subject information is compared with the reference information. A score associated with the comparison is determined.

One technique used in computer/network security auditing and administration is to attempt to find information about remote computers. For example, by sequentially sending requests to connect to the ports of a target computer, an administrator can discover which ports are listening, and what services are being offered via those ports. If the target computer is owned or managed by the administrator, this information can help the administrator confirm that only approved services are being provided, and that those services are up-to-date and not otherwise vulnerable to attacks. Tasks such as performing network inventory and monitoring the uptime of network nodes are also typically performed using scanning techniques.
In some cases, such as when an attack is being perpetrated by a remote computer against a managed node, the administrator of the managed node may attempt to learn more information about the attacking computer by performing assorted scans—for example to help stop the attack, or to document information useful to law enforcement. Unfortunately, attackers typically attempt to conceal information about their own systems, to help evade detection.
Therefore, an ongoing need to be able to determine information about target computers exists.


A method performs a lookup on a search key word, employing a trie database including multiple trie blocks that include pointers to other trie blocks. Each trie is accessible by means of a segment of the search key. A selected section of the search key word is applied to a content addressable memory. In the event of an absence of a match of the selected section with an entry in the content addressable memory, a trie search is performed on the whole search key word. In the event of a match of the selected section with an entry in the content addressable memory, a partial trie search is performed, commencing with a first segment of the search key word after the selected section that has been matched in the content addressable memory.

An activity which is fundamental to the operation of a packet-switched communication system is a search in a database for an entry corresponding to an input key. This is required for many purposes. One is to obtain forwarding data for a packet so that the packet can be forwarded from the appropriate port or ports of a switch or router. Such forwarding data may constitute all or part of the data 'associated' with an entry corresponding to the input key; the input key may be a network destination address extracted from an addressed packet.
Different kinds of search engine exist for the performance of searches of this nature. One kind comprises a content addressable memory (CAM) which can test an input key simultaneously against a multiplicity of stored words. A principal disadvantage of CAMs is their high power consumption, which tends to restrict the number of addresses that can in practice be stored. Another is a hashing engine which reduces a search word to a much shorter word, which indexes a database. Since different search keys can be hashed to the same (shorter) word, it is necessary to test each entry for a full match with the search word and to provide links between entries corresponding to the same hash. A third, and quite versatile, kind is a multi-way tree search engine, called usually a trie search engine, which at each intermediate stage of a search provides a pointer specifying the address of a block of entries (sometimes called 'node') but does not distinguish between those entries. Such a block is accessed at the next stage of the search and the segment of the key which is employed in that stage obtains a particular entry within the block and so on until the search reaches an entry which indicates completion of the search. Completion may be signified by access to 'associated data' (such as forwarding data) or by termination of the search as unsuccessful. Although trie search engines have no inherent limitation on their size and can provide different search strategies, their disadvantage is the number of cycles or stages they need to complete a search.
Typically a trie search employs either four or seven bits at each stage. Whether the search strategy employs four bits or seven bits at each stage depends on whether one desires a faster search or a slower more versatile search.
If, for example a trie search is performed for a host address conforming to Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and having therefore 32 bits, a full trie search requires at most five stages if seven bits are used at each stage.
However, a trie search engine which is required to perform a corresponding search for a host address conforming to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), having therefore 128 bits, would require 19 cycles to complete using key segments of seven bits and 32 cycles to complete using key segments of four bits. Such a number of cycles would make a trie search undesirable for long search keys such as destination addresses conforming to IPv6.

Trie search engines and ternary CAM used as pre-classifier


A data processing system is distributed across a plurality of locations coupled together by a wide-area communications network and includes physical storage devices and a set of host computers distributed across the locations. Each host executes both a local initiator application and a local caching storage controller (CSC) application. The CSC applications (1) define a set of block devices presented to the initiator applications for block-oriented data storage operations, the block devices being virtual devices utilizing the underlying physical storage devices, (2) engage in a distributed cache coherence protocol to present the block devices consistently to the initiator applications, (3) in response to a local block storage read command from an initiator application, retrieve the requested data from the local CSC application's cache, from a remote CSC application's cache, or from a physical storage device, and (4) in response to a local block storage write command from an initiator application, invalidate all currently cached user data for the locations/addresses associated with the write command, and either store the user data associated with the write in one or more local or remote CSC application's caches or write the user data to one or more local or remote physical storage devices.

The invention is generally related to the field of data processing systems, and more particularly to data processing systems employing data storage distributed across geographically separated locations.
Distributed storage systems are known in which physical storage resources such as disk drives are distributed across two or more geographically separated locations. Each location includes one or more caching storage controllers connected to the local disk drives, for example by a storage-area network (SAN), and the caching storage controllers of the different locations are connected together by a wide-area communications network. The caching storage controllers are standalone hardware units also having connections to local host computers which utilize the storage resources provided by the caching storage controllers. The connections to the local host computers may also be via a SAN or other storage-oriented interconnect (e.g., Fibrechannel), and typically involve use of a storage-oriented protocol such as SCSI. A storage controller parses SCSI commands received from the separate host computers and performs corresponding storage operations on local and/or remote disk drives.

Host-based storage controller providing block devices in geographically distributed storage


According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for job distribution within a grid environment is disclosed. The method includes: receiving jobs at a submission cluster for distribution of the jobs to at least one of a plurality of execution clusters, each execution cluster comprising one or more execution hosts; determining resource capacity corresponding to each execution cluster; determining resource requirements for the jobs; dynamically determining a pending job queue length for each execution cluster based on the resource capacity of the respective execution clusters and the resource requirements of the jobs; and forwarding jobs to the respective execution clusters according the determined pending job queue length for the respective execution cluster.

The increasing complexity of electronic tasks, often referred to as "jobs" (e.g. executable programs such as computational tasks, command execution, data collection, etc.) has increased the demand for resources used in accomplishing such tasks. Resources may include hardware that aids in completing electronic tasks, such as servers, clients, mainframe computers, networks, network storage, databases, memory, CPU time, etc. Resources may also include software, available network services, software licenses, and other non-hardware resources. One response to the increased demand for resources has been the development of networked computing grid systems, which operate to integrate resources from otherwise independent grid participants. Computing grid systems generally include hardware and software infrastructure configured to form a virtual organization comprised of multiple resources in often geographically disperse locations. Electronic tasks typically require certain amounts and/or types of resources for completion. Once a job is created, it needs to be assigned, or scheduled, to sufficient and compatible resources within a computing grid system for processing. For example, some resources may be ranked for determining which resource(s) should be used for processing submitted jobs, such as forecasting resource utilization based on historical statistics, runtime cluster loads, etc. Jobs may also be assigned to certain resources based on availability of data or applications needed to process the job.

Dynamic pending job queue length for job distribution within a grid environment

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A connector having a connector body defining a first protrusion and a connector position assurance (CPA) device in the form of a sleeve axially surrounding the connector body that is moveable along a mating axis. The sleeve defines a second protrusion configured to engage the first protrusion when a first force is applied to the sleeve as the connector is mated with a corresponding mating connector. The second protrusion is configured to slide over the first protrusion and then disengage the first protrusion when a second force is applied to the sleeve, thereby producing a vibratory response in the sleeve. The vibratory response is a tactile vibration or an audible vibration. The second force applied to the sleeve is greater than the first force and the second force may be applied to the sleeve in the same direction as the first force or in the opposite direction.

The most numerous connector warranty issues for motor vehicle manufacturers are for electrical wiring connectors that were never fully mated in the vehicle assembly process. When vehicles having these improperly mated connectors are serviced, the connectors are observed to be "loose" or "not attached". Solving this problem in a cost effective and ergonomically acceptable way has eluded automotive connector designers for decades.
Connector designs that have connector position assurance features exist, but these connectors have used stored spring energy which increases the connector mating force two to four times over a similar connector without these connector position assurance features. Other connector designs utilize inertial latches to assure connector mating. These connectors provide a lower cost solution than the spring-based connectors, but also greatly increase connector mating forces compared to similar connector without these features.
The subject matter discussed in the Background of the Invention section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the Background of the Invention section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.

Connector with vibratory connection feedback


An example apparatus includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet. The example apparatus also includes a rotor defining a bore. The rotor is disposed in the housing. The example apparatus further includes a piston disposed in the bore. A motor is operatively coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor from a first position to a second position. The bore is to be in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet when the rotor is in the second position.

A traditional beverage dispenser such as a soda fountain often dispenses a drink by mixing syrup and carbonated water. A metering device generally controls a first predetermined amount of the syrup mixed with a second predetermined amount of the carbonated water for each drink. However, traditional metering devices often dispense inconsistent amounts of the syrup and the carbonated water, causing inconsistencies in a flavor of the drinks dispensed by the beverage dispenser.


Among other features, a cash dispenser includes a paper path arranged between an opening in a money box through which currency can be withdrawn for dispensing to a customer at a dispensing location that is spaced apart from the opening in the money box, the paper path including rotational shafts arranged to transfer the currency, and a housing that supports the paper path and is configured to receive the money box, the housing comprising at least two parallel spaced-apart molded side walls, the paper path having a third molded wall between the two parallel molded side walls.

This invention relates to dispensing of currency.
Currency dispensers are found, for example, in automatic teller machines (ATMs), including those for so-called off-premises use (for example, at an airport, grocery store, or other location not controlled by a financial institution).
A typical currency dispenser includes a removable money box called a cassette. A stack of currency is loaded into the cassette and then delivered to and loaded into the dispenser.
The dispenser receives signals from control circuitry in the ATM when a user asks for cash. The signals could, for example, instruct the dispenser to dispense $300 in $20 bills to the user.
The dispenser includes paper transporting mechanisms that remove the needed number of bills from the money box, one after another. Each removed bill is fed along a paper path to a position at which the bill is ejected to the outside world, where the user can reach it. The dispenser then signals the control circuitry in the ATM that the needed number of bills has been dispensed.
The sheets of currency that are stacked in the money box sometimes stick together and cannot be easily separated for dispensing. So-called double detection devices are provided in dispensers to detect when more than one paper bill has been removed from the stack. The multiple bills are then discarded into a second money cassette for later pickup, rather than being dispensed to the user.
A typical currency dispenser is constructed of metal pieces, shafts, and bearings that are assembled by a lengthy sequence of steps.


Systems, methods, and apparatus for using aircraft bondline embedded current sensors to determine a lightning damage index are disclosed. A method of predicting lightning strike damage to at least one type of aircraft involves sensing, with at least one current sensor node embedded in at least one type of aircraft, induced current. The method further involves generating, with at least one current sensor node, at least one current signal representative of the induced current. Also, the method involves determining, electromagnetic density data associated with at least one region of at least one type of aircraft by using at least one current signal. Further, the method involves creating an index that provides a numeric representation for predicted lightning strike damage to at least one type of aircraft based on the electromagnetic density data, dimensions of at least one type of aircraft, and design features of at least one type of aircraft.

It is possible for aircraft to be struck by lightning while airborne and consequently to incur damage from the lightning strike. However, certain types of aircraft may have designs for which a lightning strike results in more extensive repair needs than other aircraft, which in turn may result in decreased operating time for such aircraft. Such outcomes may lead to customer dissatisfaction due to increased repair costs and limited fleet availability. This can raise issues for aircraft manufacturers that have to provide increased product support to address lightning damage. Aside from the type of aircraft, other factors can contribute to lightning strikes and resulting damage, such as flight frequency, flight altitude, time of year for operating, and geographic area of operation. A system (e.g., that employs bondline embedded current sensors) that considers types of aircraft and other contributing factors in predicting lightning strike damage could reduce repair needs and help operators maintain schedules and fleet availability.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Utilization of aircraft bondline embedded current sensors in the determination of a lightning damage index


Disclosed is a vehicle mounted winch and cable assembly that may include a slide track, a winch, a cable guide and a powering means. Also disclosed is a related method. The slide track may be rigidly mounted to the vehicle and may have a track axis extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The winch may be rigidly mounted to the vehicle for accepting and discharging the cable. The cable guide may be movably secured to the slide track and may accept the cable from the winch and then redirect the cable from a direction generally parallel to the track axis to a direction generally perpendicular to the track axis. The powering means may adjustably move the cable guide along the slide track.

Carrying vehicles are known in which the vehicle to be transported is pulled onto the bed of the transporting vehicle. Traditionally, the transporting vehicle employed a winch centered on the bed near the cab of the transporting vehicle. The traditional system remains useful for vehicles designed to be pulled from a centered location. However, certain vehicles now have towing eye bolts that are located off the center of the vehicles. This arrangement may lead to damage to the transported vehicle, and to the towing equipment, when the traditional centered winch arrangement is used.
To address the problem, the industry has employed systems that allow the cable running between the winch on the transporting vehicle and the towing eye bolt of the transported vehicle to be offset, in order to laterally align with the location of the towing eye bolt. For example, such a system is disclosed in European Patent Specification, EP 0 875 483 A3, published on Jun. 2, 1999 and titled "Winch Apparatus," which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. However, these known systems require manual movement and/or locking of portions of the towing system in order to allow a full range of motion across the bed of the transporting vehicle. Manual movement and/or locking may lead to injury and/or damage to towing equipment and/or the transported vehicle.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an assembly and method which solves the above referenced problems while maintaining advantages of such known assemblies and methods.

Vehicle mounted winch assembly with powered sliding cable guide


Presented herein is a system and method for byte slice based DDR timing closure. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for synthesizing/laying out a dual data rate memory, said method comprising synthesizing/laying out a portion of the dual data rate memory; replicating the portion; and placing the synthesized/laid out portion and the replicated portions in proximity to a corresponding plurality of pads.

A dual data rate (DDR) memory is characterized by a data signal that provides bits of information during the rising edge of a clock signal as well as the falling edge of the DQS signal. Accordingly, 2 bits/cycle are possible. The data signal is to be sampled at 90 and 270 degrees phase shift from the DQS signal.
As the clock signal increases, such as from 100 MHz to 200 MHz, the time period shrinks from 10 ns to 5 ns. Skews that may be permissible for slower clocks become unacceptable for faster clocks.
Integrated circuits are generally designed using synthesis tools. The timing for data pins in a DDR memory are carefully measured and adjusted. However, as the number of data pins increases, the effort is also repeated. This leads to increased prefabrication period.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional systems will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.


A game machine is disclosed in which a visual point position is automatically changed after an elapse of a fixed time if an object exists between a player character and a visual point position as the player character is seen from the visual point position in a three-dimensional virtual space.

The present invention relates to a game machine and an information storage medium for displaying a two-dimensional image obtained through the perspective projection conversion of a three-dimensional virtual space as looked from a predetermined visual point position.
Conventionally, a game has been well known in which a character (called a "player character") manipulated by the player is moved in a game space that is a three-dimensional virtual space to make an adventure while clearing a number of events occurring on the course. This kind of game, which is generally referred to as a role playing game, proceeds in such a way that the player character solves a given problem at a particular place, and throws down an enemy character arising on the course. In particular recently, along with the higher performance of processors and the development of image processing techniques, a method of representing the player character, the enemy character or the background by a three-dimensional object with the polygon is generally used.
In displaying an image within the game space on the screen, a perspective projection conversion process is performed by setting the visual point position at a predetermined location within the game space, and a two-dimensional image obtained through this conversion process is displayed.
By the way, in the conventional game machine in which the player character is represented by the three-dimensional object, a two-dimensional image is displayed in the game space as observed from the visual point position set at the predetermined location. Hence, if there is an obstruction between this visual point position and the player character, the player character disappears. Thereby, there was a problem of impairing the operability by the player.
To cope with this problem, various techniques have been known as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-85312, 9-50541, and Japanese Patent No. 2902352. In a three-dimensional dynamic image creating apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-85312, a camera position (visual point position) is automatically shifted to a position at which a subject corresponding to the player character can be seen. Also, in a virtual image generating apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-50541 or a video game machine as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2902352, a transmission process for the obstruction is performed.
However, if any of the methods as disclosed in these patents is employed, the shift of visual point position or the transmission process is automatically performed when the player character is hidden behind the obstruction. Therefore, in the case where the player character is hidden behind the obstruction only in a moment, the visual point may be shifted, although the player can issue an operation command in a current state. Hence, there is a problem of rather impairing the operability and making it difficult to grasp the display contents. For example, in the case where the player character is hidden behind the obstruction only in a moment and then appears again as it is moved to an observable position, the visual point position should not be changed to grasp the movement direction of the player character and increase the operability. Also, in the case where the player character is hidden behind the obstruction in a moment and appears again repeatedly and alternately many times, the transmission process for the obstruction is repeated many times, resulting in a risk of making the display contents obscure.

Game machine and information storage medium