A processor 180 of a navigation device 100 acquires current position information about a current position of a vehicle. The processor 180 then generates current traffic-jam information about a current traffic-jam condition based on VICS data from a VICS receiver 120 or the like. The processor 180 recognizes a direction indicating a point at which a traffic jam is currently occurring relative to the current position based on current position information and current traffic-jam information. The processor 180 displays the recognized direction with a traffic-jam direction icon on a terminal display section 140.

There has been known an in-vehicle navigation device that acquires traffic information (VICS data) on traffic conditions such as traffic accidents and traffic jams from a Vehicle Information Communication System (VICS) and superimposes indications representing the traffic conditions such as the traffic accidents and the traffic jams on map information displayed on a display screen of a display unit to notify a user of the traffic conditions. In many cases, when a traffic jam occurs, drivers who are avoiding the traffic-jam might cause a secondary traffic jam on the roads around the original traffic-jam. The traffic condition notified based on the VICS data represents the current condition, and therefore the drivers avoiding the traffic jam based on the notified current traffic condition might be caught in the secondary traffic jam. Thus, there is a demand for improved navigation devices that can navigate drivers to travel more smoothly.
Meanwhile, as an in-vehicle navigation device, there has been known an arrangement that predicts and notifies current and future traffic conditions with the use of statistical traffic-jam information data obtained by statistically processing the past traffic-jam information (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The in-vehicle navigation device disclosed in Patent document 1 notifies statistical traffic-jam information according to time factors such as time and day of the week based on the statistical traffic-jam information data by superimposing the information on map information in various expressions corresponding to traffic-jam conditions. With the notified time and day of the week, users can predict current and possible future traffic jams.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 9-113290 (right column of page 3 to left column of page 7).

Traffic situation display device, method and program thereof and recording medium with the program recorded therein


A sealing grommet for leads to pass through between vehicle parts that can move in relation to one another has two fixing devices for being sealed against an opening in the respective vehicle part and an elastic sealing bellows designed between the fixing devices. A sealing grommet of this type is created such that the installation space required for the sealing grommet between the vehicle parts is minimized. To this end, a return spring (15) for the lead guided in the sealing grommet (1) is supported on one fixing device (3) and is fixed on the lead at a distance from the sealing bellows (4).

Such devices preferably serve to pass a lead and/or a lead-through (lead-through in the following description) while protecting it from moisture and contamination through an open space existing between the vehicle parts, where moisture and contamination impinge on said open space. These devices each have a fixing device for being arranged on the respective vehicle part and a bellows (sealing bellows) or the like between the fixing devices. Said bellows (sealing bellows) enables a relative movement between the fixing devices and/or the vehicle parts. Usually, the fixing devices are molded on the sealing bellows and are provided with a conical catch extension, a lip seal and an annular groove designed between the conical catch extension and the lip seal for being fixed tightly against the opening in the respective vehicle part wall. The respective fixing device can be additionally provided with a catch frame using which the fixing device can be tightly fixed against the edge surrounding the opening in the respective vehicle part wall. The catch frame serves to facilitate the assembly and to ensure a reliable fixation, particularly in a narrow installation space. In order to enable a relative movement by changing the distance between the vehicle parts, the sealing grommets must be flexible and must be dimensioned appropriately. Furthermore, they require an installation space in which they can assume a rest position in the smallest distance between the vehicle parts, out of which they can follow an increase in the distance. Examples of sealing grommets can be found in the patent applications DE 200 22 922 U1, DE 33 40 664 A1 and DE 101 01 014 A1.

Device having a sealing grommet for leads to pass through between vehicles parts that can move in relation to one another


Isolation valves of the invention are advantageously mechanically actuated. Such valves and associated methods comprise a first port in fluid communication with a first component; a second port in fluid communication with a second component; a third port in fluid communication with a third component; a diaphragm disposed within the valve for closing a normally open internal pathway to occlude fluid communication between the first port and the second port in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm; and a flow sensitive pressure device for controlling the pressure differential across the diaphragm. Fluid flows from the second component to the third component upon closing of the normally open internal pathway. In an exemplary embodiment, isolation valves and methods of the invention are adapted for use in fuel tank emission control systems.

The present invention relates to an isolation valve useful in, among other things, fuel tank emission control systems.
Fuel vapor emission control systems are becoming increasingly more complex, in large part in order to comply with environmental and safety regulations imposed on manufacturers of gasoline-powered vehicles, particularly light passenger trucks and cars. Along with the ensuing overall system complexity, complexity of individual components within has also increased.
Certain regulations affecting the gasoline-powered vehicle industry require that fuel vapor emission from a fuel tank's ventilation system be stored during periods of an engine's operation. In order for the overall vapor emission control system to continue to function for its intended purpose, periodic purging of stored hydrocarbon vapors is necessary during operation of the vehicle.
During purges, all vapor pathways are open to a canister where hydrocarbon vapors are stored. Pressure or flow fluctuations can negatively impact efficiency, effectiveness, and exhaust emissions of an engine during operation based on the impact that such pathways have on purging. In order to remove any such effects, some of which are undesirable, imposed by an open vapor pathway to a fuel tank when purging an adjacent canister, fuel tank isolation valves have been used.
Certain mechanically actuated (e.g. in response to pneumatic pressure) valves are known. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,172. However, current trends in fuel tank emission control systems tend to include electronically actuated valves. U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,807 describes a fuel vapor emission control system employing a fuel tank isolation valve. The fuel tank isolation valve is electronically actuated. Electrically actuated valves were purportedly developed to overcome disadvantages known to be associated with conventional diaphragm-actuated valves. Thus, present fuel tank emission control systems rely heavily on electrically actuated valves. For example, see the discussion of electrically actuated valves in U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,975. U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,261 discusses further electrically actuated valves used in fuel tank emission control systems.
A wide variety of components can be joined to form a workable fuel tank emission control system. One conventional fuel tank emission control system is illustrated in prior art FIG. 1. The fuel tank emission control system includes a hydrocarbon storage device (i.e., canister) 1 connected to receive hydrocarbon fuel vapor directly from the fuel tank 2 via an unobstructed pathway, with the canister 1 having an atmospheric purge valve 3 that may be opened or closed by a control valve 4 connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) 5. The fuel tank 2 has a tank pressure sensor 6 connected to sense the internal pressure in the tank 2 and provide an associated electrical input to the ECU 5 based thereupon.
The canister 1 has a vapor outlet line 7 connected to provide hydrocarbon vapor flow for internal combustion in an engine downstream. Hydrocarbon vapor flows via vapor outlet line 7 from canister 1 through a control orifice 8, with the downstream side of orifice 8 being connected to the inlet of an engine purge control valve 9 having its outlet connected to the combustion air inlet or intake manifold of an engine 10. Engine purge control valve 9 is an electrically actuated valve controlled by the ECU 5.
An electronically actuated, normally open valve 11 is connected to bypass the control orifice 8 and is also controlled by the ECU 5. A differential pressure sensor 12 is connected to sense the pressure drop across the control orifice 8 and provide an associated electrical input signal to the ECU 5.
Recent innovations in fuel tank emission control systems, including transformation of valves therein from mechanical to electrical actuation, have not always resulted in overall system advantages. For example, as more and more components within vehicles are designed to be electronically controlled, the overall cost of the vehicle has increased. Further, the great reliance placed on use of electrical components for performing individual functions is predicated on proper functioning of electrical systems. A small interruption in the electrical system can thus have widespread impact throughout the overall operating system of a vehicle. When the interruption affects proper opening and closing of fuel tank isolation valves therein, the impact can even spread so far as to cause undesirable or even unlawful release of contaminants into the environment or result in mechanical failure of an associated engine. Improved fuel tank isolation valves are thus desired.

Isolation valve useful in fuel tank emission control systems


An an address generator generates a read address. It is detected whether the generated read address is continuous to the read address previously generated. A cache unit control circuit controls the read data to be directly output to a requester of the read data without passing the read data through a cache RAM, if a cache miss occurs, and if it has been detected that the two addresses are continuous. As a result, the subsequent operations can executed even if the present operation has not been completed.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arithmetic processor that has improved performance against cache miss.
2) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a central processing unit (CPU) is provided with a cache memory in which instruction or data from the main memory are stored. The cache memory operates at a higher speed than that of the main memory, which is generally provided externally. As a result of provision of the cache memory, the processing speed of the CPU is increased. When a cache hit occurs, the instruction or the like is read from the cache memory and the program is executed without an interruption. When a cache miss occurs, however, the instruction or the like is read from the main memory so that the execution of the program is interrupted until the data is completely read from the main memory.
FIG. 1 explains the concept of the cache memory. A CPU 11 is provided with an instruction execution unit 12 and a cache unit 13. The cache unit 13 is connected to an external (with respect to the CPU 11) memory 14. When data is to be read, the CPU 11 provides a data read request 15 and a read address 16 to the cache unit 13. If requested data is available in the cache unit 13 (i.e., when the cache hit occurs), the cache unit 13 supplies the requested data 17 to the instruction execution unit 12.
If the requested data is not available in the cache unit (i.e., when a cache miss occurs), the cache unit 13 outputs a data read request 18 to the external memory 14 and reads the requested data 19 from the external memory 14. The data 19 read from the external memory 14 is stored in the cache memory and also fed to the instruction execution unit 12.
FIG. 2 is the concrete configuration of a cache memory in the conventional arithmetic processor. A processor core 3 includes an instruction execution unit 31 and a cache unit 35. The instruction execution unit 31 includes an address generator 32 and an execution section 33. The cache unit 35 includes a cache unit control circuit 36, a tag random access memory (RAM) 37, a cache RAM 38, and a bypass data selector 39. A main memory is connected to the cache unit 35 through a bus. Normally, the capacity (assumed to be "L-bytes") of one line of the cache RAM 38 is larger than the bus width (assumed to be "B-bytes") between the main memory 2 and the cache unit 35.
FIG. 3 is a time chart that shows operation timings if a cache miss occurs in the cache memory in the conventional arithmetic processor. For the convenience of explanation, it is assumed herein that operations A, B, C and D have addresses in the same cache line and that the addresses are continuous in the order of parenthesized alphabets shown in FIG. 3. It is also assumed that a cache miss occurs when data on the operation A is read. In a cycle T1, the address generator 32 feeds a data read request and a read target address for the operation A, to the cache unit control circuit 36 (see an arrow 41 in FIG. 2).
In a cycle T2, the cache unit control circuit 36 refers to an address tag in the tag RAM 37 so as to determine whether the data on the operation A exists in the cache RAM 38 (see an arrow 42 in FIG. 2). As a result, in the cycle T2, the cache unit control circuit 36 obtains a determination result that a cache miss occurs for the operation A (see an arrow 43 in FIG. 2). In the cycle T2, the address generator 32 feeds a data read request and a read target address for the operation B, to the cache unit control circuit 36 (see an arrow 41 in FIG. 2).
In a cycle T3, the cache unit control circuit 36 feeds the data read request and the read target address for the operation A, to the main memory 2 (see an arrow 44 in FIG. 2). In addition, in the cycle T3, the operation B that has been accepted waits for the completion of the operation A in the cache unit 35. In the cycle T3, the address generator 32 feeds a data read request and a read target address for the operation C, to the cache unit control circuit 36 (see an arrow 41 in FIG. 2) In a cycle T4, the operation C that has been accepted is stopped for the completion of the operation A in the cache unit 35. Thereafter, the operation D which follows the operation C is not accepted.
In each of cycles T6, T8, T10 and T12, the data corresponding to the address requested to the main memory 2 is divided L/B times (where L is the capacity of one line of the cache RAM 38 and B is the bus width between the main memory 2 and the cache unit 35) and read from the main memory 2 (see an arrow 45 in FIG. 2). At this moment, the operations A, B, C and D that correspond to the one-line capacity of the cache RAM 38 are stored in the cache RAM 38.
In a cycle T6 in which the data corresponding to the operation A is read, an effective signal indicating that the read data is effective is transmitted from the main memory 2 to the cache unit control circuit 36 (see an arrow 46 in FIG. 2). The cache unit control circuit 36 feeds a control signal for selecting a bypass side, to the bypass data selector 39 (see an arrow 47 in FIG. 2). As a result, the data on the operation A read from the main memory 2 is also, directly fed to the execution section 33 (see an arrow 40 in FIG. 2). At the same time, the cache unit controller 36 transmits an effective signal indicating that the read data is effective, to the execution section 33 (see an arrow 49 in FIG. 2).
In each of the cycle T8 in which the data corresponding to the operation B is read, the cycle T10 in which the data corresponding to the operation C is read and the cycle T12 in which the data corresponding to the operation D is read, an effective signal indicating that the read data is effective is transmitted from the main memory 2 to the cache unit control circuit 36 (see an arrow 46 in FIG. 2).
In the cycle T12, if the data is completely stored in the cache RAM 38, the processing for the operation A is considered to be completed. The operation B that waits in the cache unit 35 is re-executed in the next cycle T13. In a cycle T14, the cache unit control circuit 36 refers to the address tag in the tag RAM 37 so as to determine whether the data on the operation B exists in the cache RAM 38 (see an arrow 42 in FIG. 2).
Following the reading of the data on the operation A from the main memory 2, the data on the operation B is stored in the cache RAM 38. Therefore, in the cycle T14, the cache unit control circuit 36 obtains a determination result that a cache hit occurs for the operation B (see an arrow 43 in FIG. 2). Further, in the cycle T14, the operation C is re-executed.
In a cycle T15, the cache unit control circuit 36 transmits a control signal for selecting the cache side, to the bypass data selector 39 (see an arrow 47 in FIG. 2). As a result, the data on the operation B is read from the cache RAM 38 (see an arrow 48 in FIG. 2) and fed to the execution section 33 (see an arrow 40 in FIG. 2). At the same time, the cache unit controller 36 transmits an effective signal indicating that the cache read data is effective (see an arrow 49 in FIG. 2). In a cycle T15, the cache unit control circuit 36 refers to the address tag in the tag RAM 37 so as to determine whether the data on the operation C exists in the cache RAM 38 (see an arrow 42 in FIG. 2).
The data on the operation C is already stored in the cache RAM 38 similarly to the data on the operation B. In the cycle 15, therefore, the cache unit control circuit 36 obtains a determination result that a cache hit occurs for the operation C (see an arrow 43 in FIG. 2). In addition, since the processing in the cache unit 35 is completed in the cycle T15, the operation D which follows the operation C is accepted.
In a cycle T16, the cache unit control circuit 36 transmits a control signal for selecting the cache side, to the bypass data selector 39 (see an arrow 47 in FIG. 2). As a result, the data on the operation C is read from the cache RAM 38 (see an arrow 48 in FIG. 2) and fed to the execution section 33 (see an arrow 40 in FIG. 2). At the same time, an effective signal indicating that the cache read data is effective is transmitted to the execution section 33 (see an arrow 49 in FIG. 2). Further, in the cycle T16, the address tag is refereed for the operation D (see an arrow 42 in FIG. 2). As a result, a cache hit occurs for the operation D (see an arrow 43 in FIG. 2).
In a cycle T17, the cache unit control circuit 36 transmits a control signal for selecting the cache side, to the bypass data selector 39 (see an arrow 47 in FIG. 2). As a result, the data on the operation D is read from the cache RAM 38 (see an arrow 48 in FIG. 2) and fed to the execution section (see an arrow 40 in FIG. 2). At the same time, an effective signal indicating that the cache read data is effective, is transmitted to the execution section 33 (see an arrow 49 in FIG. 2).
However, the conventional cache memory has a prominent disadvantage when a cache miss occurs. When a cache miss occurs, for example, for the operation A in the above example, the operations B to D which follow the operation A have to be stopped until the operation A is completed.
Therefore, the read data on the operations B to D are not returned to the execution section 33 until data by as much as one cache line including the data on the operation A, i.e., all the data on the operations A to D is read from the main memory 2, the operation A is re-executed and a cache hit/cache miss determination is made for the operation A. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the operation B is re-executed in the cycle T13, which indicates that quite a heavy penalty is imposed.


A document carrier device is provided for supporting and transporting a document in a document processing system. The device includes a workpiece carrier having a support surface for receiving a document; a heating device having a heat conducting element for transferring heat generated; and an actuator for causing relative movement between the heat conducting element and the workpiece carrier to change between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the heat conducting element extends, without thereby being in mechanical contact with the workpiece carrier, through one or more recesses in the workpiece carrier in the region of the support surface to be able to transfer heat generated by the heating device, at least in part, to a document received. In the second mode of operation, the heat conducting element has a distance from the support surface which is increased.

A large number of different types of personalized documents, in particular in the form of a card or in the form of a booklet, are known from the prior art. Thus, for example, booklet-like passport documents or individual pages thereof (for example the "passport holder page", as it is referred to, or paper pages), identity cards and many types of personalized chip cards, such as bank cards, credit cards, identity cards, membership cards, access authorization cards, etc., or personalized labels (usually in the form of a card) all belong to the group of personalized documents.
In this context, "personalization" or "personalized" means that the respective document contains or carries document-specific information that is typically associated with a holder of the document. Thus, for example, in some cases, the information may identify the holder, for example by the holder's name, the holder's passport photograph, an identity number or other features which are printed on the document, are applied to, or introduced into, the document in some other way, or are stored in the document, in particular in the form of data. In this context, the personalization may in particular be individually related to a single person, or it may however also be related to a certain limited group of persons, for example employees of a company.
Instead of, or in addition to, a personalization of documents, it can be envisaged, in dependence upon the application, that a plurality of documents is processed in the same way, for example in order to provide each document with information that is the same for a plurality of documents and which is therefore not specific to each individual document.
In this context, the processing of the documents to apply to them information that is specific to each individual document and/or which is not specific to each individual document can be carried out in particular by printing, by engraving or, in particular in the case of a plastics material surface, by targeted local change of color of the surface material of the document, in particular in shades of gray or gradations thereof, by the application of energy, in particular by a suitable laser.
For some types of processing, it may in particular be necessary to at least temporarily heat the document to be processed, for example in order to dry, at an accelerated rate, the ink that has been printed on it, or in order to at least fix the ink that has been printed on it.
In the published application German Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 031 024 A1, a printing device and a method of applying printing to personalization documents are described. Here, the printing device comprises a printing unit for applying printing to a personalization document which is located in a printing area, and a feeding unit for successively feeding the personalization documents into the printing area. In this context, the feeding unit comprises a plurality of movable carrier devices for receiving a personalization document to which printing is to be applied and for moving it into the printing area and out of the printing area. The device further comprises a drive device for moving the carrier devices along a feed direction on different planes arranged perpendicularly to the feed direction. It further comprises a control unit for controlling the drive device so that the plurality of carrier devices are each moved alternately between a pick-up position, in which a personalization document is picked up, and the printing area. This is carried out in such a way that the drive device guides the plurality of carrier devices past each other on the different planes while moving in the feeding direction.
The printing device of German Patent Application No. DE 10 2006 031 024 A1 is intended in particular for the highly automated processing of a large number of documents with a high throughput, whereby in particular the loading and unloading, from the carrier devices, of the documents to be processed also takes place in an automated manner.
However, there are also applications in which a manual loading and unloading is envisaged instead, in particular in connection with the processing of small batches of documents or isolated document processing operations.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a device in which an improved handling of documents is made possible in document processing systems which provide for heat treatment of the documents as they are being processed and for loading or unloading of the document processing system by an operator.

Heatable document carrier device and document processing system


Disclosed are a connection assembly for a battery module and a battery module. The connection assembly for a battery module has a housing, a first cover plate and a second cover plate, wherein the housing has a body and a protrusion extending continuously from the body; the first cover plate covers the body; the second cover plate is arranged to be integrated with the first cover plate; the second cover plate is configured to be movable relative to the first cover plate so as to be switched between a closed position and an open position; in the closed position, the second cover plate covers the protrusion; and in the open position, the second cover plate is detached from the protrusion. In the connection assembly for a battery module and the battery module provided in the present application, the second cover plate is movable relative to the first cover plate, to facilitate switching between the closed position and the open position, so that the disassembly and assembly processes of the connection assembly and the battery module are simplified. The second cover plate is arranged to be integrated with the first cover plate, so that the quantity of parts of the connection assembly and the battery module is reduced.

An existing battery module generally comprises cells, a housing, a first cover plate, a second cover plate and a conductive assembly. A plurality of cells are provided and are electrically connected in series or parallel. The housing is arranged on the plurality of cells. The first cover plate and the second cover plate are two separately and independently arranged components and are respectively configured to cover the housing to implement high-voltage protection.
A receiving cavity is defined when the second cover plate covers the housing. The receiving cavity is used for accommodating and mounting the conductive assembly. The conductive assembly needs to be electrically connected inside the receiving cavity. For example, the conductive assembly comprises a positive terminal, a negative terminal, an electrical connection member and a busbar. The busbar is electrically connected to the cells. The positive terminal and the negative terminal need to be electrically connected to the busbar via the electrical connection member. In a specific assembly process, the first cover plate and the second cover plate cover the housing. When the conductive assembly needs to be electrically connected, the second cover plate is disassembled from the housing and the conductive assembly is then electrically connected. Subsequently, the second cover plate and the housing are mounted together again. The first cover plate and the second cover plate are two completely separate members, and the quantity of parts for high-voltage protection is greater. The disassembly and assembly processes of the second cover plate and the housing are complicated.

Connection assembly for use in battery modules and a battery module


In some examples, a computing system receives an indication of an increased workload portion to be added to a workload of a storage system, the workload comprising buckets of operations of different characteristics. The computing system computes, based on quantities of operations of the different characteristics in the workload, factor values that indicate distribution of operations of the increased workload portion to the buckets of operations of the different characteristics, and distributes, according to the factor values, the operations of the increased workload portion into the buckets of operations of the different characteristics.

An arrangement of storage devices can be used to store data. Requesters can issue requests to access data, which can result in workloads performed at a storage system that controls access of the storage devices. Changes in the workloads can affect performance at the storage system.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

Distribution of quantities of an increased workload portion into buckets representing operations

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


An apparatus for electrolyzing fluids is disclosed. The resulting electrolyzed fluids are particularly suited for treating physiological materials such as whole blood, plasma, or cell isolates in order to reduce the effect of harmful microorganisms. A container holds the fluid and a power supply provides a source of electrical current to an anode and a cathode positioned within the container. The anode and cathode each comprise a cylindrical shape. The cathode is positioned concentrically in relation to the anode. The spacing between the cathode and the anode is not greater than a preferred amount. Moreover, the voltage potential between the cathode and the anode is not greater than a preferred amount. Also described is a system for disinfecting and/or sterilizing health care instruments. The instruments are bathed in the electrolyzed saline solution. If the instrument includes internal conduits the system of the present invention also preferably flows the electrolyzed saline solution through such conduits also to provide both cleaning and sterilization. The electrolyzed saline solution is recirculated from the electrodes to the instrument being sterilized. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suited to sterilizing dental drill handpieces without damage to the handpieces.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for electrolyzing fluids and more particularly relates to apparatus and methods for electrolyzing saline solutions for use as antimicrobial agents.
2. The Prior Art
It has long been known that the electrolysis of fluids can result in useful products. In particular, the electrolysis of saline solution results in the production of chlorine and ozone. It is known that the products resulting from the electrolysis of saline solutions are useful as in vitro microbicides for hard surfaces. Thus, various apparatus and methods have been proposed for electrolyzing saline solution, however, all of the previously available schemes present one or more drawbacks. For example, while the electrolyzed saline solution is useful in some cases as an in vitro microbicide, past uses have posed problems and may not destroy harmful pathogens. Moreover, the drawbacks of previously proposed schemes for electrolyzed saline solution are particularly disadvantageous when the electrolyzed saline solutions are to be used for in vivo administration.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,236,992, 4,238,323, and 4,316,787 all to Themy disclose an electrode, method and apparatus for electrolyzing dilute saline solutions to produce effective amounts of disinfecting agents such as chlorine, ozone and hydroxide ions. Significantly, the devices disclosed in Themy all are inefficient, produce unpredictable results, and potentially introduce undesirable and toxic substances into the electrolyzed solution. The unpredictable results obtained using the devices disclosed in Themy makes the resulting product unsuitable for use as an antimicrobial agent. Moreover, the introduction of undesirable and toxic substances into the electrolyzed solution is of critical concern when the solution is to be administered in vivo to a patient.
Another apparatus for producing electrolyzed saline solutions has been available under the trade name Ster-O-Lizer. Laboratory reports and other data available from testing of electrolyzed saline solutions from various Ster-O-Lizer models have shown that it is effective in keeping water free of pathogenic organisms. Tests conducted in vitro further show that certain microorganisms, inclusive of Pseudomonas aeruqinosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Salmonella typhi, are non-infectious after exposure to electrolyzed saline solutions. Nevertheless, devices such as those available under the trade name Ster-O-Lizer do not address the particular problems which are posed when medical or dental equipment is to be sterilized. Such devices also do not address the critical concerns which arise when the resulting solution is to be administered in vivo to a patient.
For many years, ozone (O.sub.3) has been used for the treatment of viral infections. Chlorine, in the form of chlorinated lime, was used successfully as early as 1846 to prevent and fight puerperal fever. By 1911, the United States purified as much as 800,000,000 gallons of water through the chlorination process. Wide use of chlorine as a 0.05% sodium hypochlorite solution (Dakins Solution) for treatment of open and infected wounds began in 1915. Dakins Solution was a standard product up to 1963 which was listed in the British Pharmacopeia.
As reported by Wilk et al., International Congress on Technology and Technology Exchange, First Euro-American symposium, Paris, France (1992) and Science, Total Environment, 63:191-197 (1987), certain combinations of ozone and chlorine have significantly greater activity than either used separately against a variety of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Candida albicans was also reported to be effectively killed by a combination of ozone and chlorine.
In view of the many uses of chlorine and ozone, numerous apparatus and methods have been proposed for generating chlorine and ozone. Significantly, the previously available apparatus and methods have not been well-suited to producing electrolyzed saline containing correct amounts of ozone and chlorine for in vitro destruction of microbes on health care equipment or in vivo treatment of physiological fluids for the destruction of microbes in warm blooded animals, including humans. It has recently been discovered that there are situations where physiological fluids can be beneficially treated using electrolyzed saline solutions. The treatment of physiological fluids such as whole blood, plasma or cell isolates by electrolyzed saline solution, said treatment rendering these fluids benign from infectious organisms without destroying the therapeutic characteristics of such fluids, is now possible. Disadvantageously, the available apparatus and methods for generating chlorine and ozone are not well-suited for either in vitro destruction of microorganisms or for either in vitro or in vivo treatment of physiological fluids such as whole blood, plasma, or cell isolates.
Methods for treatment of physiological fluids using electrolyzed solutions are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,383 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/275,904 filed Jul. 15, 1994, both of which are now incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In these documents, an electrolyzed saline solution, properly made and administered in vivo, is effective in the treatment of various infections brought on by invading antigens and particularly viral infections. Thus, it would be a great advance in the art to provide an apparatus and method for electrolyzing saline solution for administration in vivo.
There is also great concern in the health care profession with the transfer of infectious organisms from one patient to another. In many cases, the concern over cross contamination between patients has lead to the development and use of health care equipment which, rather than being sterilized and reused, is disposed of after a single use eliminating any possibility of cross contamination of infectious organisms between patients due to reuse of that equipment. In many instances of health care equipment, it is impossible or impractical to dispose of all components after contact with a single patient. While a properly maintained and operated autoclave will kill all pathogens, many items of health care equipment are damaged or destroyed by the high temperatures used in an autoclave. Thus, it would also be an advance in the art to provide a system and method for disinfecting and/or sterilizing health care equipment to prevent the transfer of harmful pathogens from one patient to another patient.

System for elctrolyzing fluids for use as antimicrobial agents


A ball dropper has a stack of trays that have solid portions for supporting a ball and open portions to allow a ball to pass through a tray. Fixed barriers limit the travel of the ball with the rotating tray to allow the ball to become unsupported so that it can be caught on the tray below. A stepper motor precisely makes the required incremental rotation to allow the addition of the next ball at the top. Once the trays are filled or the balls loaded are advanced such that the lead ball is on the last tray any further rotation will start to discharge the balls with each increment of rotation. The device is easy and cheap to fabricate and presents a reliable way to get jam free operation while having a housing that will tolerate the operating pressures in the wellbore.

Sequential fracking procedures frequently involve the dropping of balls of progressively larger sizes for isolation of segments of a zone to be treated using a series of progressively larger ball seats. Typically devices that drop multiple balls associate a release plunger with each ball and vertically stack all the balls. These devices are top loaded and after inserting each ball the plunger above is extended to catch the next ball to be loaded. These devices tend to be heavy to set up, cumbersome to deal with a myriad of hydraulic control lines and expensive to fabricate and ship to the desired location. Typical of such designs are U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,514 and U.S. Publication 2013/0228326. In a variation of this theme the balls are stored in side chambers with a discrete actuator for each ball and the associated lines for hydraulically moving each ball into the central bore for dropping or pumping to the desired landing location. Some examples of such a design are U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,571,773 and 7,624,810. Some designs use applied pressure or pressure cycles to release discrete balls as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,100,700; 6,959,766 and 6,220,360. Yet other designs use a single plunger that releases a single ball with each stoke cycle where the balls are all the same size or the balls are of progressively larger sizes and the plunger opens a different amount in each cycle to release progressively bigger balls. Such designs are shown in U.S. Publication 2012/0152525 and 2012/0279717. In other designs the balls are stored in a recess outside the passage in the mandrel and rotation of the housing holding a ball aligns an outlet in the housing with a mandrel wall opening to release a ball as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,726. In another design involving relative rotation, the balls are in adjacent axial barrel chambers and barrel rotation successively aligns a barrel with a ball in it to an outlet path. This design places the balls in the same horizontal plane and has a very limited ball capacity as a result. This design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,095. Other designs use a 90 degree mechanical rotation either by hand or with a power assist to rotate a support out from under a ball so that the ball can drop. These designs are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,715,541; 4,427,065; 5,590,713; 7,281,589; 6,776,228 and U.S. Publication 2013/0153237. The following references more generally relate to ball dropping devices but do not fall into any of the above described variations: U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,478 and U.S. Publication 2011/0174505.
What is needed and provided by the present invention is a ball dropping device that can hold enough different or same sized balls and is simple to build, load and operate. This is accomplished by a set of spaced parallel trays that have solid and open portions that are rotatable in tandem and operate in conjunction with stops that are stationary so that tray rotation causes balls to be stopped by the stationary stops as tray rotation brings an open portion of a tray under the ball and lets it fall through. This allows loading by periodic insertion of balls when the unit is empty that advance in tandem toward a lower end outlet with an adjacent flow line to allow pumping each dropped ball to its ultimate destination. A single driver such as a stepper motor makes the needed movements in the desired increments for all the trays. An indication of how many balls and their size that have been dropped can also be incorporated into the design. Those skilled in the art will better appreciate these and other aspects of the present invention from a review of the description of the preferred embodiment and the associated drawings while recognizing that the full scope of the invention is to be determined from the appended claims.

Stacked tray ball dropper for subterranean fracking operations


An annular groove is provided to the rotary portion and/or the fixed portion in a bearing seal portion, and its cross section has a shape approximated by an arc. The annular groove is such that the relationship between the groove width W in a direction following the surface constituting a bearing seal portion and the groove depth Dg in a direction perpendicular to the surface constituting the bearing seal portion is Dg/W<0.4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing device used in a spindle motor or the like, and to a spindle motor and a recording and reproducing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrodynamic bearing devices (hereinafter referred to as hydrodynamic bearings) that afford lower NRRO (non-repeatable runout) and are quieter because of non-contact rotation have been used in recent years in the spindle motors installed in hard disk drives (hereinafter referred to as HDDs) and other such disk driving apparatus. A hydrodynamic bearing has a structure in which a fluid (hereinafter referred to as a lubricating fluid) fills a gap between a stationary portion and a rotary portion, and to attain precise operation, it is essential to prevent leakage, etc., of the lubricating fluid, and to accurately manage the fill state of the lubricating fluid.
In general, a sealed structure is provided at the open end of the hydrodynamic bearing to prevent leakage of the lubricating fluid from the open end. One such sealed structure has a taper provided on the axial direction upper side, etc., of the rotary portion, so that the shape of the gap between the stationary portion and the rotary portion is tapered, increasing in size outward from the center of the rotational axis. This not only prevents leakage of the lubricating fluid by utilizing the surface tension of the lubricating fluid, but is also effective in terms of filling the gap with the lubricating fluid by utilizing capillary action when the lubricating fluid is poured in.
One method for managing the amount of lubricating fluid added is to measure the height of the lubricating fluid level using a measuring apparatus that combines an auto-focus microscope and a magnetic scale or the like (Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2001-90733). Another method is to provide an interface deformation portion so that the level of the lubricating fluid can be checked by eye to see if it is at the specified value (Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-182946).

Hydrodynamic bearing device, spindle motor, and recording and reproducing apparatus


Lead frame connectors for connecting optical sub-assemblies to printed circuit boards in optical transceiver modules. The lead frame connectors include a stamped and bent conductive lead structure that is encased in an insert injection molded plastic casing. The plastic casing provides electrical insulation for the conductors in the lead frame as well as mechanical support for the finished component. The lead frame connectors connect to the leads associated with the optical sub-assemblies and are surface mounted onto the printed circuit board to establish connectivity between the optical sub-assembly and the printed circuit board. The lead frame assemblies are generally more reliable and less expensive than using flexible printed circuit board structures to establish electrical connectivity between optical sub-assemblies and transceiver printed circuit boards.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to optical transceiver modules. More specifically, the present invention relates to lead frame connectors used to connect an optical sub-assembly to a printed circuit board in an optical transceiver module.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Optical transceivers are used to transmit and receive optical signals from an optical network and to enable electrical network components to interface with and communicate over optical networks. Many optical transceivers are modular and are designed in accordance with industry standards that define mechanical aspects of the transceivers, form factors, optical and electrical requirements, and other characteristics and requirements of the transceivers. For example the Small Form-Factor Module Multi-Source Agreement (SFF MSA), the Small Form-Factor Pluggable Module Multi-Source Agreement (SFP MSA) and the 10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable Module Multi-Source Agreement (XFP MSA) Revision 3.1 define such standards and are incorporated herein by reference.
The basic optical components of conventional transceivers include a transmitter optical sub-assembly (TOSA) and a receiver optical sub-assembly (ROSA). The TOSA receives electrical signals from a host device via circuitry of the transceiver module and generates a corresponding optical signal that is then transmitted to a remote node in an optical network. Conversely, the ROSA receives an incoming optical signal and outputs a corresponding electrical signal that can then be used or processed by the host device.
The electrical connections between the optical sub-assemblies and a printed circuit board (PCB) in the transceiver module have various electrical and mechanical requirements. One of the most common electrical connection components used in conventional optical transceiver modules is a flexible printed circuit board, or "flex circuit," that connects the rigid printed circuit board of the module to leads associated with the TOSA or ROSA. Flex circuits have several advantages, including good electrical performance and radio frequency response and the ability to take up tolerances in the modules and to withstand stresses that arise during manufacture and operation of the modules. Examples of flex circuits used in optical transceiver modules are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/409,837, filed Apr. 9, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing patent application also illustrates other components of optical transceiver modules, such as TOSAs and ROSAs, and includes other general information regarding optical transceiver modules that is useful as background material for the invention described herein.
While flex circuits have been widely used in recent years in optical transceiver modules, flex circuits represent a significant portion of the costs and labor required to manufacture transceiver modules. As the price of transceiver modules drops, the costs associated with flex circuits continue to represent an increasing proportion of the overall costs of transceiver modules.
Other approaches to connecting optical sub-assemblies to printed circuit boards have been introduced in recent years. For example, the leads protruding from TOSAs and ROSAs can be bent into a configuration that enables the leads to be directly soldered or otherwise connected to the printed circuit board. This technique is often less expensive than the use of flex circuits, but can lead to unfavorable RF response due to the inability to carefully control impedances. In addition, machining leads of TOSAs and ROSAs introduces reliability risks due to the likelihood of damaging glass or other fragile portions of header assemblies in TOSAs and ROSAs that enclose the lasers and photodetectors, respectively.
Because of the possibility of damaging the TOSAs and ROSAs and poor electrical performance, bending leads to enable the optical sub-assemblies to be directly connected to the printed circuit board is not suitable for many transceiver modules. This approach is particularly unsuitable for relatively high-speed transceiver modules, in which the RF response of the conductors is more important.

Lead frame for connecting optical sub-assembly to printed circuit board


An approximate circle approximated to the profile of a filter end face in an inspection image obtained by photographing the filter end face of a filter cigarette is obtained, and the center position of the approximate circle is found. An area indicating a string-like flavor containing element embedded in the filter is detected in the inspection image, and the position of gravity center of the area is found. Distance between the gravity center position indicating the flavor containing element and the center position of the approximate circle is determined, and thus, the quality of the flavor containing element embedded in the filter is inspected.

A well-known inspection apparatus for filter cigarettes analyzes the color components of an inspection image obtained by photographing the end face of a filter and determines the presence or absence of dust or dirt adhered to the filter end face (see Patent Document 1, for example).
It has also been proposed, instead of adding a flavor component to tobacco leaves, to embed a string-like flavor containing element 3 in a columnar filter 2 attached to one end of a cigarette 1 as shown in FIG. 4 (see Patent Document 2, for example). The flavor containing element 3 of this type includes a string (thread) made of fiber which is called an aroma-chemical preserving composite fiber and having a diameter of about 1 mm, and a flavor component, such as peppermint and menthol, contained in the string. The string-like flavor containing element 3 is embedded, for example, along the axis of the filter 2.


The present invention has its object to provide a method for producing an optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative which is an intermediate important for production of medicines, agrochemicals, chemical products, and so on. The production method of the present invention comprises: carrying out a hydrogen-transfer reduction of a ketocarboxylic acid or a salt thereof by the reaction of an optically active diamine complex to produce an optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative. According to the present invention, it is possible to safely and efficiently produce an industrially-useful optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative.

It is generally difficult to asymmetrically reduce ketocarboxylic acid derivatives represented by the general formula (1):
(in the formula, R1 is an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; Y is hydrogen or a metal) or salts thereof. For this reason, only the following methods are known as methods for producing optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives represented by the general formula (3):
(in the formula, R1 and Y are the same as described above, and * represents an asymmetric carbon).
(i) A method using an enzyme (Non-Patent Document 1, Patent Document 1).
(ii) A method using a stoichiometric amount of optically active reagent:                (a) a method using an optically active reducing reagent (Non-Patent Document 2);        (b) a method using an optically active ligand (Patent Document 2).
(iii) A method using a catalytic amount of optically active reagent:                (a) a method using hydrogen gas and a transition metal reagent (Non-Patent Document 3).            Patent Document 1: WO 2005/049816    Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,806    Non-Patent Document 1: Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 2004, 15(23), 3763.    Non-Patent Document 2: Tetrahedron Letters, 1998, 39, 5501.    Non-Patent Document 3: Chirality, 1991, 3(4), 370.
However, compounds that can be used in the production method (i) are limited, and this method cannot be generally used. Furthermore, the productivity of this method is typically low and there is a problem in industrial use.
In the production method (ii), an expensive optically active reagent has to be used in an amount equivalent to that of a reaction substrate and there is a problem in industrial use.
In the production method (iii), because hazardous hydrogen gas is used and a very expensive transition metal catalyst is used, there is a problem in industrial use.

Method for producing optically active hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives or salts thereof


Embodiments may take the form of a system having a user input device and a first sensor coupled to the user input device. The first sensor is configured to sense touch on a surface of the user input device. The system may also include a second sensor in communication with the surface of the user device configured to sense wetting of a user's fingerprint on the surface. The system has a processor coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to estimate an amount of force applied by the user's fingerprint based at least in part upon the sensed wetting of the user's fingerprint.

Touch sensitive inputs are common in today's electronic devices. In particular, tablet computers, ebook readers, and smartphones, to name a few, all may rely upon a touch-input display as a primary form of user input. Other devices, such as trackpads, mice, and so forth may also implement touch sensitive input technology. In such devices, the position and/or movement of fingers across the surface of the display is translated as input to the device. Generally, however, the amount of information that may be provided to the device via touch is limited due to the two-dimensional nature of the touched surface.


A self-lubricating swivelling coupling for interconnecting lines, includes a housing with internal surfaces defining a cavity. It also includes a male component, including a shank and a flange provided on the shank, insertable within the cavity to enable the flange to be abuttable on the internal surfaces. The coupling also includes a nut securable within the cavity, to abut axially via an internal axial projection on the flange, and to surround the shank, allowing the male component to rotate. The fluid leaks between the components to lubricate the coupling. Lines are connectable to ports to be swivellably interconnected without needle- or ball-bearings. There is high surface contact and support between the flange, shank and nut, to withstand and distribute forces. Hydraulic fluid is preferred. A seal-unit between the male component and the nut, and a slide-ring between the flange and the nut, are also preferred.

Swivelling couplings are components that enable two or more lines (also called ducts, pipes, hoses or tubes) to be interconnected axially or angularly, and to eliminate torsion constraints that could affect their physical integrity or internal structure. Hydraulic lines, for instance, being for the most part constructed with braded or intertwined metallic wires or synthetic plastic material, are quite sensitive to torsion constraints.
The use of swivelling couplings is extremely widespread. Many equipment manufacturers and users in all types of industries have been and are regularly in contact with this type of product.
Various technological innovations have been brought forth in industrial fields that use couplings. For instance, in the field of hydraulics, modern heavy weight baring machines are high performing, and their operating pressures have been increased significantly in order to improve productivity. Also, with environmental norms becoming ever more stringent, it is desirable for technology pertaining to hydraulic systems to provide for the reduction or elimination of undesirable leaks and soil contamination.
Some significant challenges with swivelling couplings is the production of a coupling that is reliable, inexpensive, non awkward and non cumbersome. In fact, the size and encumbering aspect of couplings must be minimized, because fluid-containing lines are often regrouped in a restrained space and accessibility is a determining factor in the choice of swivelling couplings.
In addition, it is often very important to respect the original design assembly of lines in order to insure interchangeability of the coupling component as well as its feasibility and penetration into the market. This challenge is omnipresent for this type of product.
For hydraulic systems, most of the swivelling couplings currently available have a poor reputation, as their durability and lifetime is nominal (1000 hours approximatively), and their cost varies between $75.00 and $125.00 for the least complicated models. The market currently sees these components as a necessary evil because of their reduced longevity and the limited choices available. Swivelling couplings are offered by a limited number of manufacturers.
Various types of swivelling couplings are currently on the market and known in the art. Most of these couplings use bearings, often steel ball-bearings or needle-bearings, which are frequently combined with retaining rings. The retaining rings are predominantly composed of carbon spring steel, stainless steel or a copper alloy. The bearing assembly resists the operational constraints in play, which include a variety of forces, pressures, etc., and enable relative movement between the different parts of the coupling.
On a regular basis, such as in the forestry industry among others, these bearing-containing couplings are vertically positioned and are therefore required to support the weight of one or more lines (axial constraints) as well as endure lateral impacts and other forces during operation (radial constraints). The needle- and ball-bearings as well as the retaining rings used in the prior art resist and handle these constraints quite poorly. Premature wearing of the bearings—such as structural fragmentation of the balls or needles—greatly reduces the longevity of the coupling. In addition, in load-sensing hydraulic circuits, couplings are subjected to alternating pressures between, for example, 250 psi and 3000 psi on a regular basis. This periodic high pressure creates conditions that are particularly unsuitable for ball-bearing couplings.
Referring to FIG. 1 (prior art), in a standard swivelling coupling 20 with ball-bearings, the male 22 and female 24 components are provided with corresponding spherical grooves in which the ball-bearings 26 are housed to rotatably interconnect the components. A cap-screw 32 imprisons the balls within the groove. Two O-rings 28a, 28b and a back-up ring 30 are also arranged to cut the pressure of the lubricating fluid and ensure the watertightness of the system. The disadvantages of this coupling include, for instance, insufficient support surfaces of the spherical grooves for axial constraints, which may lead to premature wearing and/or marking of the balls; insufficient smooth support surfaces for radial constraints, which often causes premature wearing; insufficient internal lubrication, since the primary watertight joint slows and retards the fluid supply that lubricates the balls and the internal surfaces; and rapidly suffering from external leaks.
Referring to FIG. 2 (prior art), a swivelling coupling 34 with ball- and needle-bearings, includes a male component 36, a female housing 38, a fixing collar 40, usually twenty to twenty-five balls 42 housed in a groove, needle bearings 44, sealing joint(s) 46, and a torque joint 48. The disadvantages of this coupling 34 include, for instance, insufficient support surface of the groove for axial constraints, which often causes premature wearing and marking of the balls; insufficient internal lubrication, as the primary sealing joint slows the supply of hydraulic fluid to lubricate the balls and the internal surfaces, which often causes premature wearing; and rapidly noticeable external leaks.
Furthermore, despite the evolution in the design with the addition of a needle bearing, the technique employed to guide and seal the coupling assembly remains very similar to the ball-bearing type of coupling, and has the inherent problems thereof.
Other types of swivelling couplings are available and offer different assembly methodologies. The techniques are, for the most part, founded on the use of snap rings in order to resist axial forces, weights or pressures. This type of swivelling coupling is not recommended in vertical applications, because snap rings are not preferred or suitable in supporting the weights in play. The disadvantages of this coupling include, for instance, insufficient internal lubrication and structural weakness of the snap rings in vertical applications, which may cause serious disadvantages; frequent and rapid external leaks being perceptible; risk of contamination of the hydraulic system in the event that the snap ring, situated at the end of the male component, does not detach from the assembly and does not become well immersed in the circulation fluid within the line.
It should also be noted that some swivelling couplings without needle- or ball-bearings are found in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,436,392 (GANZ) describes a swivel union including a coupling member having an outstanding flange which abuts on the perimeter rim of a main coupling member and is engaged by an overhanging flange of a coupling nut.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/295,634 (SMITH et al.) describes a hydraulic swivelling connector including a swivel spud with tapering steps which receive various snap rings and is inserted into a connector which has corresponding tapering steps.
United Kingdom patent application No. 2,131,511 A (OSCARSSON) describes a swivel connector including male member inserted within a female member to enclose an O-ring seal against a shoulder to provide a liquid seal, and a collar cemented in place and enclosing the male member.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,732 (MOHAUPT) describes a high pressure fluid rotary coupling including a diamond-shaped connector by which fluid is able to leak through certain interstices of the coupling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,877 (HAYMAN) describes a hydraulic coupling with a quick connect/disconnect mechanism, which includes a slidable collar engaging a locking body at cooperating angles to enable the lateral unlocking of the locking body.
In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,402,253, 3,799,440, 4,006,924, 4,101,148, 4,672,998, 5,174,614, 5,577,775, 5,651,567, 5,716,080, 6,406,065 and United States patent application published under Nos. 2002/0163185, 2003/0067161, and 2005/0140138, describe various couplings of the prior art.
Furthermore, many couplings known in the art are often designed to have dry internal components, or slightly lubricated components. Such traits often lead to functional problems or assembly inefficiencies.
In addition, many couplings known in the art present the disadvantage of deteriorating with time so that their performance decreases as the internal parts interact and become used and/or damaged.
As may easily appreciated from the above-mentioned analyses, the swivelling couplings found in the prior art present numerous disadvantageous, especially in heavy industry and the field of hydraulic systems, and there is presently a need for a new swivelling coupling that overcomes at least some of such disadvantages.


In example implementations, a system may receive an input/output (I/O) operation in an object store storing a first object, determine objects represented in the object store affected by storing the first object, transcode the I/O operation into a transaction including the linked list of updates to objects represented in the object store, determine a persistent storage for storing the transaction and persist the transaction to the persistent storage according to a data structure determined by the type of persistent storage.

File systems are used to control how data is stored and retrieved. A file system may allow differentiation of information placed in a medium. One method of differentiating the information on a medium is to separate the data into pieces and to give each piece a name. There are different kinds of file systems having different structures, logical basis, properties of speed, flexibility, security and size and the like.
Federated systems are a collection of nodes. In an example, the nodes may act in a peer-to-peer network without a centralized authority. In a decentralized network, peers communicate among themselves to resolve state. The nodes in the federated system may communicate with each other regarding the underlying state including the state of the file system.

Transaction encoding and transaction persistence according to type of persistent storage


A method of scheduling and validating a multiple-participant process, the method including: submitting, by a submitting node associated with a participant in the multiple-participant process, a proposed transaction by sending a cryptographically-protected message to one or more recipient nodes, wherein the cryptographically-protected message includes at least an unencrypted submessage readable by an external node and a cryptographically-protected submessage to preserve privacy from at least the external node; determining, by the external node, an order of the proposed transaction relative to other transactions; by way of at least some of the recipient nodes, validating the cryptographically-protected message; receiving a confirmation of validity of the cryptographically-protected message from at least some of the recipient nodes; finalizing the proposed transaction, as a confirmed transaction, based on receiving one or more confirmations from at least some of the recipient nodes that satisfy a confirmation condition; and writing the confirmed transaction to a distributed ledger according to the order determined by the external node.

In distributed computing, the problem of ensuring consistency is known as the state-machine replication problem. Byzantine fault tolerant solutions can solve the problem while ensuring the validity of state (i.e., workflow) evolution, even with mutually distrusting parties. Cryptocurrency systems such as Bitcoin and Ethereum may have at least partial solutions to the state-machine replication problem (with additional "permissionless" requirements). However, such existing solutions are inapplicable for many applications. One such application is to provide privacy in a multiple-participant process, where workflow evolution usually must only be visible to the affected participants. A solution to this problem is to utilise a centralised node that validates, synchronizes and commits transactions to a distributed ledger. However, the use of a centralised node for this purpose may not be suitable for some applications because the centralised node has to be trusted, and each other node will have to reveal their workflow evolution to the centralised node. Therefore, there is a need for a privacy-preserving architecture that avoids the use of centralised nodes for the purpose of synchronizing and validating transactions.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.
Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", shall be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Privacy preserving validation and commit architecture


The present invention uses one or more radiation-emitting devices in combination with a topical radiation block to ablate the skin and remove topographic variations in the skin surface. The energy pathway may be guided by a computer. The device might also include a treatment plate or window to be placed against the skin in order to flatten the skin surface during treatment. The purpose of the topical radiation block is to manage the areas to which the radiation is applied to the skin by allowing the radiation to reach some portions of the skin, while limiting or preventing the radiation from reaching other portions of the skin. In the case of atrophic scarring, for example, the block may be deposited selectively into the atrophic indentations, such that the block limits or prevents the radiation from reaching (and thereby ablating) the indentations, but allows the radiation to reach (and thereby ablate) the surrounding skin tissue. By ablating only the surrounding tissue, the z of the surrounding tissue is reduced, eventually minimizing or eliminating differences in the skin's topography between the indentations and the surrounding tissue. In the case of hypertrophic scarring, the block may be applied selectively to the surrounding tissue, such that the block limits or prevents the radiation from reaching (and thereby ablating) the scars, but allows the radiation to reach (and thereby ablate) the scars. By ablating only the scars, the z of the scars is reduced, eventually minimizing or eliminating differences in the skin's topography between the scars and the surrounding tissue.

Unsightly scarring of the skin can be a source of emotional distress for many people. Such scarring can take several forms, including hypertrophic (raised) scarring (including keloid scarring), atrophic (sunken) scarring, and striae scarring (including stretch marks). Examples of atrophic scarring include acne, chickenpox, staphylococcus (or MRSA), surgical, and injury scarring.
Interest in using lasers to improve the appearance of scars dates back to the early 1980s, when Rox Anderson and John Parrish introduced selective photothermolysis, a process whereby laser energy achieves localized photothermal injury of a targeted chromophore. Early implementations of this technology used ablative, continuous-wave argon, CO(2), and Nd:YAG, as well as the 585-nm pulsed-dye laser (PDL) and a combination of CO(2) and PDL treatment.
There is no general agreement on the mechanism of action by which lasers improve the appearance of scars. Possible mechanisms include (a) laser-induced microvasculature damage leading to tissue hypoxia with subsequent collagen degradation via release of collagenase, (b) thermal damage to collagen fibers dissipated from adjacent vessels with dissociation of disulfide bonds and collagen realignment, and (c) increased regional mast cells, which may serve to stimulate collagen remodeling.
In most cases, improvement to the appearance of scars results from a combination of ablation and collagen regeneration to smooth the skin topography. In the case of complex scar patterns, this can require the use of multiple lasers with small spots and precise exposure for precise durations based on scar thickness, location, and color and patient skin type. In the case of atrophic scars, the goals are (a) to soften the transition between the atrophic indentation and the surrounding skin by ablating the surrounding skin to the depth of the indented region, and (b) to stimulate collagen production within the indented region, requiring precise application of two different laser devices and mechanisms of action. These methods can be time consuming, difficult to perform, and imprecise and can deliver inconsistent results.
Based on the foregoing, a need exists for a method and device that can be performed more quickly, more easily, and with greater precision and more consistent results.

Ablative skin resurfacing with topical radiation block


A new and distinct form of Dicentra plant characterized by soft, golden to yellow green foliage, large white flowers, and excellent vigor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dicentra spectabilis (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), of the family Papaveraceae, and given the cultivar name, 'White Gold'. This plant originated as a chance seedling growing in a garden in Middle Grove, N.Y. The discovery was made in spring of 2010.
This new cultivar is uniquely characterized by:                1. soft, golden to yellow green foliage,        2. large white flowers, and        3. excellent vigor.
Compared to Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba', an unpatented plant, the new cultivar has golden to yellow green leaves rather than green leaves.
Compared to Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart', an unpatented plant, the new cultivar has white rather than pink and white flowers.
The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation. Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by micropropagation as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.


Communication using IPv6 is carried out, and conversion is given to a prefix of an IPv6 address in a firewall. A security channel for mutual authentication with an out-of-home apparatus or the like is carried out by the firewall, and only identification of an in-home apparatus is carried out on an in-home network by the firewall. A PC is connected to a PC in-home network different from the in-home network, and communication between the PC and the in-home apparatus is always carried out via the firewall.

The present invention relates to a device and a communication method by which an information apparatus connected to a network inside a firewall and another information apparatus connected to a network outside the firewall make communication with each other securely.
In recent years, the IP protocol which is a standard protocol of the Internet is practically a de facto standard protocol in communication among information apparatuses, and the IP protocol is also used domestically. Such an example is disclosed in JP-A-11-187061. In consideration of the starvation of numbers, the security, and so on, in a network inside a firewall and safe in terms of information security (hereinafter, referred to as "in-home network"), a local address is assigned to each of connected information apparatuses (hereinafter, referred to as "in-home apparatuses") so as to be identified. To make communication with an information apparatus (hereinafter, "out-of-home apparatus") connected to a network outside the firewall (hereinafter, referred to "out-of-home network"), the local address is converted to a global address in the firewall.
In addition, a security communication protocol typified by IPsec (IP Security) operates between terminals making communication with each other.
In addition, all the in-home information apparatuses are connected to the in-home network.
According to such a technique, the address of the in-home apparatus may change whenever communication is made. Thus, it is impossible to start communication from the out-of-home apparatus.
In addition, in order to perform communication securely, a security communication function is required to be mounted, and in order to keep the in-home network secure, all the in-home apparatuses that make communication with the out-of-home apparatus are required to have such a security communication function.
In addition, any PC is so sophisticated that it can operate various connection means or other apparatuses. Accordingly, even if unauthorized access from the outside is excluded by the firewall, there is a fear that the in-home apparatuses are damaged once the PC is infected with a virus.
In addition, when the Internet service provider is changed, the assigned address is changed. It is therefore necessary to reset the addresses of all the in-home apparatuses. Further, in order that each in-home apparatus knows the network to which the apparatus as a source of a received message belongs, it is necessary to mount a function of investigating the path history of the message.


A dust collecting device (100) installed inside of an air conduit (51) for collecting airborne particles and for filtrating the air consists of a dust collecting tubes set (1). Said dust collecting tubes set (1) comprises of a plurality of dust collecting tubes (2a-2f) having different diameters. Said tubes (2a-2f) are arranged in a concentric fashion by having a tube with smaller diameter covered by one having larger diameter. Each of said dust collecting tubes (2a-2f) is applied with a layer of adhesive layer (3) for coupling with each other and for adhering particles contained in the air. Each tube of the tube set (1) can be removed from said air conduit (51) by pulling a pull string (4a-4f) provided at two extreme ends of each dust collecting tube (2a-2f).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dust collecting device which is set inside an air conduit of a HVAC system for collecting dust and suspended particles contained in the air.
2. Description of Prior Art
A heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and cooling, also known as HVAC, is a system that usually installed in industrial plants, office buildings or skyscrapers for regulating and maintain the air to be safe and health. The regulated air generated by a single or multiples air conditioning devices is transported to each corner of the facilities or buildings through central ventilation duct and multiple sub pipes connected thereto. Even though filters are attached to said air conditioning devices or air outlets for filtering the air, the passages of central ventilation duct or sub pipes are usually difficult to clean due to the size and multiple curve areas, and as time goes by, dust, tiny particles will be accumulated at inner wall of the ventilation duct and contaminate the air, causing respiratory diseases. Thus to invent a device to prevent substance accumulated in the air conduit has become the main objective of the present invention.

Removable dust collecting device for an air conduit


A method for controlling an electric drive, having an inverter, an electric motor and control means configured in a first operating state of the electric drive to control the electric drive to run in a constant operating point, determine and store a value of an output voltage of the inverter or a value of a flux reference of the inverter, and a value of a switching frequency of the inverter with which a determined input power of the electric drive is lowest. The controller is configured in a second operating state of the electric drive to control the electric drive to use the stored values to run in the operating point.

An inverter is an electrical device enabling generation of a voltage with a variable frequency. One example of an inverter is a converter bridge implemented by IGB transistors (IGBT, Insulated-gate Bipolar Transistor) or other power semiconductors. Inverters may be used in connection with motors for driving them with a variable frequency. An inverter may also be a part of a frequency converter used for driving a motor or another load, for example. A frequency converter can include two converters (i.e., a rectifier and an inverter), between which there is a direct-voltage or direct-current intermediate circuit. The rectifier and the inverter may also be positioned physically apart from each other, and one rectifier may feed several inverters via a common intermediate circuit or, alternatively, several rectifiers may feed one inverter. An example of a rectifier is a diode bridge or a thyristor bridge.
FIG. 1 shows an example of an electric drive having a frequency converter 40 and an electric motor 20 such as an asynchronous motor or a synchronous motor. The exemplary frequency converter 40 is composed of two converters, a rectifier 30 and an inverter 10, between which is provided a direct voltage intermediate circuit 50. The rectifier 30 obtains its supply from an alternating current (AC) source, which is for instance a 50- or 60-Hz alternating current network. As illustrated in the example of FIG. 1, the supply from the output of the inverter 10 to the motor 20 may be a three-phase alternating current connection, for example.
The efficiency of an electric drive can depend on several variables such as an output voltage of the inverter or a flux of the motor and a switching frequency of the inverter. Moreover, the operating point in which the electric drive is running can also effect optimal values of these variables. As a result, the operating parameters of the inverter of the electric drive should be accommodated to the properties of the motor of the electric drive such that the electric drive can be operated as efficiently as possible. This could be done by numerical computing using known motor parameters.
However, the motor parameters may not always be known accurately enough in order to determine optimal operating parameters for the electric drive.

Method for controlling electric drive and electric drive


A voltage regulator 10 includes: a level shifting circuit unit 14 shifting a first voltage, which is a voltage level of a first power source 12, to a target value of a second voltage to output the shifted first voltage; a voltage-to-current converting circuit unit 20 varying a magnitude of an output current to output the current while changing a direction of a current using a variable power source 22 varying a voltage to larger and smaller values than a center voltage of an arbitrarily variable voltage range; and an adder-subtracter circuit unit 32 having a first terminal on one side, the first terminal being connected to an output terminal of the level shifting circuit unit, and a second terminal on the other side, the terminal being connected to a resistance element disposed between the second terminal and an output terminal, the resistance element allowing an output current of the voltage-to-current converting circuit unit to flow therethrough as a bias current, wherein a second voltage V2 is output from an output terminal 42.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voltage regulator, and more particularly to a voltage regulator generating a second voltage having a desired potential difference from a first voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
If a plurality of voltage systems are used in one apparatus, their voltage levels are sometimes adjusted so as to be in a relation of mutually having predetermined potential differences. For example, AC driving is performed in a liquid crystal panel in order to suppress the occurrence of deterioration and burnout of a liquid crystal, and the polarities of a video signal and a common electrode signal, which is the counter electrode signal of the video signal, are inverted every frame. In this case, the DC bias voltages of the video signal and the common electrode signal are set to have a predetermined potential difference from each other.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3423193 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,871 B1 point out that, in the case of displaying a fully colored image by a video signal, respective R, G, and B signals are provided to a liquid crystal panel after they are converted into alternating current signals. The publications describes that, if the center potential of the respective R, G, and B alternating current signals differs from that of the opposed electrode, then problems occur, such as burnout, difference in white balance, or degradation of contrast. Moreover, the publications describe that, in order to make the center voltage uniform among the R, G, and B signals, the AC signal applied to the liquid crystal panel is converted to a DC voltage by a smoothing circuit, and is compared with a reference voltage, which is the center point of the AC signal, in a comparator, and that the comparator output is fed back to a bias current of a differential output amplifier so that the center potential of the AC signal is made to conform to the reference voltage.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-249094 describes that a video signal having a polarity inverted every field is applied to the Y electrode of one pixel of a matrix type liquid crystal display apparatus, and that a common electrode signal having a voltage value inverted every field is applied to a common electrode, and further that the relation between the video signal and the common voltage becomes incorrect owing to the dispersion of interelectrode capacitance and storage capacitors. The patent publication discloses that a video signal whose polarity is inverted by a polarity inverting circuit is taken out from the emitter follower of a transistor, and that the emitter follower is connected to a current source composed of a transistor and a variable resistor with a resistor connected between them to change the current of the current source with the variable resistor in order to change the voltage level of the resistor so that the DC level of the video signal having the inverted polarity may be changed.
As described in the examples above, in a liquid crystal display apparatus, the DC potential difference between a video signal and a common electrode signal is determined in accordance with the specification of the liquid crystal display apparatus, and the DC potential difference is adjusted in conformity with the specification. For the voltage adjustment, the following methods can be used: a method of performing feedback to the bias current of the differential output amplifier based on the comparison of the reference voltage and the center voltage of an AC signal, which method is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,871 B1, a method of changing a current to change the voltage level between both ends of a resistor, which method is described in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-249094, and the like.
However, these related art technologies collectively adjust the contents of two steps at one time. Moreover, because the related art adjusts the contents by shifting them from the reference state, an error of the adjustment becomes larger as the adjustment range from the reference becomes larger. For example, in the case of the method disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,871 B1, when a desired potential difference is large, the center voltage of the AC signal, i.e. the value of a DC level, becomes larger, and consequently the value of the reference voltage becomes larger to increase a setting error by that much. In the case of the method disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-249094, the voltage level between both ends of the resistor is set to become larger as the desired potential difference becomes larger, and consequently the setting error becomes larger by that much.
As described above, with the methods of the related art, errors become larger as the extent of voltage adjustment becomes larger, and it is sometimes difficult to obtain a correct potential difference.


A leader connecting mechanism is for connecting a first leader to a second leader includes a guide member having a track. The mechanism further includes an engaging member that is engageable with the first leader. The engaging member is slidable along the track of the guide member for connecting the first leader to the second leader.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a leader connecting mechanism for a tape drive.
2. Background Art
A tape drive may include a mechanism for connecting a drive leader to a cartridge leader of a tape cartridge. Examples of such mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,662,049; 4,720,913; 5,769,346 and 6,311,915.


Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for improving the reliability of data stored on disk media. Logical redundancy is introduced into the data, and the data within a logical storage unit is divided into sectors that are spatially separated by interleaving them with sectors of other logical storage units. The logical redundancy and spatial separation reduce or minimize the effects of localized damage to the storage disk, such as the damage caused by a scratch or fingerprint. Thus, the data is stored on the disk in a layout that improves the likelihood that the data can be recovered despite the presence of an error that prevents one sector from being read correctly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to data storage, and in particular to systems and methods of error correction for data stored on optical or other disk storage media.
2. Description of the Related Art
As increasing numbers of users make computers part of their everyday business and personal activities, the amount of data stored on computers has increased exponentially. Computer systems store vast music and video libraries, precious digital photographs, valuable business contacts, critical financial databases, and hoards of documents and other data. Common storage means include optical or other disk storage media.
Unfortunately, since the advent of computers, there has been an ever-present risk of losing data that is stored on computer-readable media. Because the consequences of such losses can be dire, methods of decreasing the likelihood of unrecoverable errors have been developed. For example, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) techniques have been developed to offer a higher level of protection (fault tolerance) from data loss that can occur from malfunctions of a disk. RAID techniques, including RAID levels 0 through 5, use multiple disks to form one logical storage unit. Despite the implementation of RAID techniques, there remains very high unrecoverable error rates in reading storage media, which are particularly problematic outside of the entertainment content delivery context.
What are needed are methods and systems for recovering data from disks that have suffered mechanical damage from common causes of errors, such as a fingerprint or scratch.


This invention concerns apparatus for generating instructions for machines of a manufacturing chain used to manufacture a workpiece. The apparatus comprising a processor arranged to receive a model based definition (MBD) of a workpiece including geometric dimensions and tolerances; receive inputs setting an additive build design for building the workpiece based upon the geometric dimensions; generate additive instructions for an additive manufacturing machine of the manufacturing chain based upon the additive build design; determine a prospective intermediate workpiece product expected from an additive build in accordance with the additive build design; determine differences between the prospective intermediate workpiece product and the model based definition of the workpiece; and generate further instructions for at least one further machine of the manufacturing chain based upon the differences.

Additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping methods for producing parts comprise layer-by-layer solidification of a flowable material. There are various additive manufacturing methods, including powder bed systems, such as selective laser melting (SLM), selective laser sintering (SLS), electron beam melting (eBeam) and stereolithography, and non-powder bed systems, such as fused deposition modelling.
In selective laser melting, a powder layer is deposited on a powder bed in a build chamber and a laser beam is scanned across portions of the powder layer that correspond to a cross-section (slice) of the workpiece being constructed. The laser beam melts or sinters the powder to form a solidified layer. After selective solidification of a layer, the powder bed is lowered by a thickness of the newly solidified layer and a further layer of powder is spread over the surface and solidified, as required. In a single build, more than one workpiece can be built, the workpieces spaced apart in the powder bed.
Computer programs are used to convert geometric data, such as CAD or STL file formats, defining a workpiece into scan data defining how the additive manufacturing apparatus operates to build the part. Generation of the scan data may comprise determining cross-sections (slices) of the workpiece corresponding to areas to be consolidated in each layer and how the energy beam is to be scanned across the areas to solidify the material to form the slices. Software, such as Magics of Materialise Nev., include operations for slicing a workpiece defined in a StereoLithography/Standard Tessellation language (STL) file format to identify slices of the workpiece to be built and for defining scan paths and scan parameters for a laser or electron beam. The planning software may include operations for orientating parts and for generating supports for supporting the workpiece during the build.
It is known to import geometric design data into the computer program for planning of the additive manufacturing process, the geometric design data defining the part(s) integrated with fixtures that are used in subsequent, such as subtractive, processes carried out after the additive manufacturing process. For example, WO2013/0167904 discloses an article built using additive manufacturing comprising a plurality of dental abutments each of which is attached to a common location hub via a connecting bar. The hub comprises two gross-orientation bores used to ensure the correct orientation of the article in a clamp during subsequent processing. The machines used in subsequent processing can then be appropriately programmed to carry out the required subtractive process based upon prior knowledge of the fixture that is to be built using the additive manufacturing process.
US2010/0305742 discloses an integrated additive manufacturing cell that combines conventional manufacturing technologies with additive manufacturing technologies. The additive process allows specific fixturing tabs to be grown on the workpiece depending on subsequent machining operations to simplify handling.
US2015/0024233 A1 discloses methods and apparatuses to fabricate additive manufactured parts with in-process monitoring. As parts are formed layer-by-layer, a 3D measurement of each layer or layer group is acquired. The as-built measurement data may be compared to the input geometrical description of the desired part shape. Comparing typically includes calculating a measured difference between the geometric description and the dimensional data. The measured difference may be used to affect further processing. If the measured difference is out of tolerance, comparing may include indicating the need for post-processing, such as inspecting, removing a spurious feature, decomposing, destroying or marking the indicated fabricated part.
However, numerous variables can be changed in the software for designing the additive manufacturing build, such changes having an impact on the additively built object (workpiece plus other elements such as supports and integrated fixtures) produced by the additive manufacturing process. For example, an orientation in which the workpiece is built can impact on the stresses that occur and tolerances achievable in the additive manufacturing process. Changes in such variables can result in different requirements for the processes in the manufacturing chain carried out before and after the additive manufacturing process.

Control of a chain of machines, including an additive manufacturing machine, in the manufacture of a workpiece