Ion conducting solid electrolytes are constructed from nanoscale precursor material. Nanocrystalline powders are pressed into disc structures and sintered to the appropriate degree of densification. Metallic material is mixed with 0 to 65 vol % nanostructured electrolyte powders to form a cermet mix and then coated on each side of the disc and fitted with electrical leads. The electrical conductivity of a Ag/YSZ/Ag cell so assembled exhibited about an order of magnitude enhancement in oxygen ion conductivity. As an oxygen-sensing element in a standard O.sub.2 /Ag/YSZ/Ag/N.sub.2 set up, the nanocrystalline YSZ element exhibited commercially significant oxygen ion conductivity at low temperatures. The invention can be utilized to prepare nanostructured ion conducting solid electrolytes for a wide range of applications, including sensors, oxygen pumps, fuel cells, batteries, electrosynthesis reactors and catalytic membranes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to ion conductors and to processes for the synthesis of ion conducting solid electrolytes. In particular, the invention relates to the use of nanoscale powders for the preparation of nanostructured oxygen ion conducting electrolytes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Solid electrolytes are materials through which ion species can migrate with low energy barriers. Table 1 outlines some examples of ion-conducting structures, representative materials, and the ions conducted. These materials are of critical commercial importance to electrochemical devices, components and processes. Illustrative applications include sensors, batteries, fuel cells, ion pumps, membrane reactors, catalysis, and metallurgy.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ REPRESENTATIVE MATERIALS ION CONDUCTED ______________________________________ Stabilized ZrO.sub.2 System, Stabilized Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 O.sup.2- System, Ceria, Perovskites Beta-Alumina, NASICON Systems Na.sup.+ AgI, RbAg.sub.4 I.sub.5 Ag.sup.+ Rb.sub.4 Cu.sub.16 I.sub.7 Cl.sub.13 Cu.sup.+ Li.sub.3 N, Li.sub.2 S--SiS.sub.2 --Li.sub.3 PO.sub.4 System, Li.sup.+ Polymer Systems, LISICON Systems ______________________________________
As a specific example, stabilized zirconia is a known conductor of oxygen ions. Accordingly, its properties are utilized in various fields of technology, such as in oxygen sensors for fuel-air ratio optimization of automobiles and furnaces, in oxygen pumps for solid state oxygen separation, in solid-oxide fuel cells for noiseless and clean power generation from chemical energy, and in catalytic membrane reactors.
The oxygen-ion conduction properties of stabilized zirconia used in a typical oxygen sensor are well understood based on electrochemical-cell theory. When placed between two compartments containing a reference gas and an analyte oxygen gas at different partial pressures, stabilized zirconia functions both as a partition between the two compartments and as an electrochemical-cell electrolyte. Under ideal conditions, the open-circuit emf (E.sub.0) of the cell is given by the known Nernst equation: ##EQU1## where T is the absolute temperature of the cell; P.sub.O2Ref and P.sub.O2 are the partial pressures of oxygen in the reference and analyte compartments, respectively; R is the universal gas constant; and F is Faraday's number.
According to this equation, any difference in partial pressure of the oxygen across the two faces of the oxygen-conducting electrolyte generates an electromotive force that depends on the temperature and partial-pressure ratio of the oxygen in the two compartments of the system. In order to generate Nernstian response in sufficiently short times, the temperature of stabilized ZrO.sub.2 needs to be high (above 700.degree. C.), which results in relatively high power requirements and in increased equipment mass and size, need for insulation, and attendant sealing problems. These considerations often produce unsatisfactory performance or affect the commercial viability of products based on stabilized ZrO.sub.2 technology.
The inherent reasons for the high-temperature requirement and the corresponding performance problems of present-day oxygen ion conducting electrolyte based devices can be traced to the reaction mechanism of the cell and the microstructure of the sites where the reaction occurs. Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic drawing of a ZrO.sub.2 sensor cell 10 is illustrated, where the stabilized zirconia is modeled as a solid electrolyte membrane 12 between a first compartment 14, containing a reference oxygen atmosphere at a predetermined partial pressure P.sub.O2Ref, and another compartment 16 containing an analyte gas with oxygen at a different partial pressure P.sub.O2. The two sides of the stabilized zirconia non-porous solid electrolyte 12 are coupled through an external circuit connecting an anode 18 and a cathode 20 made of porous metal, such as silver. The anode 18 is the cell electrode at which chemical oxidation occurs and the electrons released by the oxidation reaction flow from it through the external circuit to the cathode. The cathode 20 is the cell electrode at which chemical reduction occurs. The cell electrolyte 12 completes the electrical circuit of the system by allowing a flow of negative ions O.sup.2- between the two electrodes. A voltmeter 22 is provided to measure the emf created by the redox reactions occurring at the interfaces of the electrolyte with the two oxygen atmospheres.
Thus, the key redox reaction of the cell occurs at the points where the metal electrode, the electrolyte and the gas meet (illustrated in the inset of FIG. 1 as the "triple point" 24). At each such site on the surface of the electrolyte 12, the redox reaction is as follows: EQU O.sub.2 (gas)+4e.sup.- .fwdarw.20.sup.2-. (2)
Since the reaction and the electrochemical performance of the sensor depend on the redox kinetics, the cell's performance is a strong function of the concentration of triple points. In other words, an electrode/electrolyte/electrode cell with as many triple points as possible is highly desirable see Madou, Marc and M. Morrison, Chemical Sensing with Solid State Devices, Academic Press, Boston (1989)!. In the case of an oxygen cell with a ZrO2 solid membrane and silver electrodes, this requirement corresponds to maximizing the triple points on each side of the PO2.Ag'/ZrO2/Ag".PO2Ref system.
Another cause of poor performance of oxygen-sensor cells can be explained with the help of complex-impedance analysis. Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a complex impedance diagram for a ZrO.sub.2 sensor is shown, where the impedances of the bulk, grain boundary and electrode are illustrated in series to reflect their contribution to the ionic conduction at each triple point. It has been shown that the conductive performance of electrolytes at temperatures below 500.degree. C. is controlled by the grain boundary contribution to the overall impedance. Thus, for significant improvements of the conductivity at low temperatures, it is necessary to significantly minimize the grain-boundary (interface) resistance.
In summary, oxygen ion conducting devices based on stabilized-zirconia electrolyte have two problems that can be traced to material limitations. First, the electrolytes have high impedance; second, the concentration of triple points is relatively low. These problems are common to solid oxygen-conducting electrolytes in particular and solid electrolytes in general, and any improvement in these material characteristics would constitute a significant technological step forward. The present invention provides a novel approach that greatly improves these aspects of ion conducting solid electrolytes.

Nanostructured ion conducting solid electrolytes


A method of forming an article from a metal alloy sheet material includes selectively hardening only a first localized area of the metal alloy sheet material without hardening a second localized area of the metal alloy sheet material, wherein the second area adjoins the first area to thereby form a blank. The blank has a hardened region formed from the first area and having a first hardness, and a non-hardened region adjoining the hardened region and formed from the second area, and having a second hardness that is less than the first hardness. The method includes stamping the blank to thereby form a preform having a pre-protrusion at least partially formed from the hardened region, wherein the pre-protrusion has a first height, annealing the preform to thereby form a workpiece, and stamping the workpiece to increase the first height and thereby form the article.

Automotive sheet metal products, such as body and closure panels, may be formed from metal alloy sheet material at ambient temperature by stamping the metal alloy sheet material into complex shapes. Stamping generally includes gripping the metal alloy sheet material within a stamping tool while a punch forms the metal alloy sheet material according to a shape of a complementary die. Resulting sheet metal products suitable for automotive applications are free from tears and/or metal splitting.


A motor, including: a motor body, the motor body including two ends; a damping ring, the damping ring including a bottom; a mounting bracket; a locking device; a control box; and a connection housing, the connection housing including two ends, and a sidewall. The damping ring is disposed on each end of the motor body. The bottom of the damping ring is supported by the mounting bracket. The damping ring is fixed on the mounting bracket by the locking device. One end of the connection housing is connected to a bottom of the motor body; the other end of the connection housing is connected to a top of the control box. A plurality of heat dissipation holes is arranged on the sidewall of the connection housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a high-power motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical high-power DC brushless motor used for the installation of a fan includes a motor body, two damping rings, a mounting bracket, a locking device, and a control box. The damping rings are arranged on both ends of the motor body. A bottom of damping ring is embedded in the recess of the mounting bracket. The damping rings are fastened to the mounting bracket by the locking device. The control box is arranged on the end cover of the motor body. Electronic components with high heat productivity are arranged in the control box. As the electronic component dissipates heat only by the control box, the heat dissipation effect is bad which affects the work of the electronic components.
Besides, a typical motor controller includes: a control box, a circuit board, and a power panel. The circuit board and the power panel are arranged in the control box. Electronic components like power modules are arranged on the circuit board and the power panel. In order to make the power modules with high heat productivity dissipate heat quickly, radiators are usually added to dissipate heat. The radiators are arranged on the control box. The structure of the motor controller has the following disadvantages: 1) as the controller has a compact structure, the heat dissipation effect is bad; 2) as radiators are added, the motor controller has disadvantages of a complicated structure, complex and difficult installation procedures, and higher cost; 3) as the volume of the radiator is larger, the motor controller is only suitable for fewer motors.

High power brushless DC motor and control box structure with heat dissipation arrangement


Systems, computer program products, and methods are described herein for authentication decision engine for real-time resource transfer. The present invention is configured to electronically receive, from a computing device associated with a user, a resource distribution request at a first time; generate a notification on a computing device associated with a resource distribution source; dynamically generate a first resource authentication code based on at least the resource distribution request; transmit control signals configured to cause the computing device associated with the user to display the first resource authentication code to the user; dynamically generate a second resource authentication code based on at least the resource distribution request; transmit control signals configured to cause the computing device associated with the resource distribution source to display the second resource authentication code to the resource distribution source; initiate an execution of the resource distribution request at a second time

Among various payment instruments issued by financial institutions, cash transactions continue to remain prevalent. Users are typically required to physically approach a resource distribution source and initiate an interaction with the resource distribution source to execute a transfer of resources. However, for users who are unable to physically approach a resource distribution source do not have an alternate method of executing transfer of resources, and more specifically, obtaining cash from resource distribution sources.
There is a need for an authentication decision engine to execute real-time resource transfer.

Authentication decision engine for real-time resource transfer


An angular velocity sensor of a horizontally located type, in which influence of a translational acceleration applied thereto from a lateral direction is readily removed and a fixed portion thereof is easily fixed, is provided. It includes a fixed portion fixed to the top surface of a sensor element supporting portion of a casing, an upper detection arm portion and a lower detection arm portion respectively connected to the fixed portion on sides opposite to each other and extending along a plane parallel to the top surface of the sensor element supporting portion, and a pair of upper vibration arms connected to the fixed portion with the upper detection arm portion in between. The fixed portion includes one or more slits extending at least in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the upper detection arm portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an angular velocity sensor for detecting an angular velocity of an object and an angular velocity sensing device including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although the angular velocity sensor has been used for technologies to autonomously control the position of a vessel, an aircraft, a rocket, etc. in the past, recently it is also mounted in small electronic equipments such as a car-navigation system, a digital camera, a video camera, and a cellular phone. Accordingly, more compact and lower (thin-shaped) angular velocity sensors are demanded. Thus an angular velocity sensor of a horizontally located type, of which its longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the vertical direction, has been proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 08-128833 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-333460 and so on instead of the angular velocity sensor of the related art in which its longitudinal direction (the direction of the detection axis) is parallel to the vertical direction as proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-227719.

Angular velocity sensor and angular velocity sensing device


A cathode structure of an electron gun for a cathode ray tube includes: a substrate (51); cathode electrode layers (52) formed on the substrate (51) and spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals; a plurality of metal tips (53); an insulating layer (54) formed on the cathode electrode layers (52) and the substrate (51) to isolate each of the metal tips (53) from each other; a gate electrode layer having a first gate electrode portion (56) having a gate through which the metal tips (53) are exposed and formed on top of the insulating layer (54), and a second gate electrode portion (57) extending horizontally from said first gate portion (56) and divided into several parts by a plurality of gaps (60) for reducing the capacitance between the cathode electrode layers (52) and the second gate electrode portion (57).

The present invention relates to a cathode structure of an electron gun for a cathode ray tube (CRT), and more particularly, to a cathode ray tube adopting a field emission device.
An indirectly heated or directly heated cathode is used as a thermion emission source in the CRT of existing monitors and televisions. Since the thermion emission material of the conventional cathode structure is heated by a special heating source to emit thermions, certain inherent problems arise. First, the period for emitting the normal thermions is relatively long since the thermion emission material is heated after support members for supporting the thermion emission material is heated with heat generated by the heating source. Accordingly, the time required to form a CRT image increases, for example, up to 8 or 9 seconds.
Second, a thermal drift phenomenon occurs due to the thermal expansion of the support member for supporting the thermion emission material.
Third, to heat the thermion emission material, power consumption of between 2 and 4 watts is required.
To overcome the above-mentioned problems, a cathode structure adopting a field emission device has been devised. Referring to FIG. 1, the cathode structure is comprised of an electrode member 11, an insulating member 12 combined with the electrode member, and a cell 20 installed on the insulating member and having field emission devices.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cell 20 comprises a substrate 21 and three cathode layers 22 formed in a predetermined pattern on the substrate 21. A plurality of metal tips 23 for emitting electron beams corresponding to red, green, and blue signals are formed on the cathode layer 22. Each of the metal tips 23 is isolated from each other by an insulating layer 24 having openings 24a, and a gate electrode layer 25, having gates 25a through which the metal tips 23 are exposed, is formed on top of the insulating layer 24.
In the operation of the conventional cathode structure as constituted above, the amount of electrons emitted from the metal tips 23 is controlled by applying negative or zero voltages to the cathode layer 22 and a positive voltage to the gate electrode layer 25. Since the gate electrode layer 25 is formed on the overall surfaces of the substrate 21, the driving signal is distorted by the capacitance between the gate electrode layer 25 and cathode layer 22.

Cathode structure with reduced capacitance


A linear crossbow operates in a linear manner parallel to an arrow flight path. The linear crossbow includes a plurality of limbs and a rotatable string let out assembly. The limbs include free ends that are drawn towards the rotatable string let out assembly as a drawstring is pulled rearward. The limbs power the drawstring to propel an arrow along the arrow flight path from a front end of the crossbow.

This application generally relates to crossbows and projectile launchers, and more particularly to linear crossbows with an arrow shuttle that operates in a linear manner parallel to arrow flight path, thus making for a safe shooting, extremely accurate, easily cocked, and compact crossbow.
Crossbows are generally known in the art. Crossbows typically include a bow portion, a stock portion, and a draw string latch that holds the bow in the fully drawn position. Typically, the draw string is perpendicular to the arrow or direction of flight. Furthermore, the draw string when shooting moves aggressively from the drawn position to the rest position. Accordingly, objects must remain free of the flight path of the draw string.
Today, most crossbow manufactures are designing crossbows to reduce the felt recoil, making them narrower, efficient, and as accurate and safe as possible. The most common method to reduce recoil is to make the limbs oriented such that the limbs are parallel to one another, thus cancelling most of the recoil. In doing so, the riser for the bow portion of the crossbow becomes wider and increases the length and weight of the crossbow while trying to maintain a power stroke.
Furthermore, manufacturers are attempting to minimize power cable wear that must be guided below and away from the draw string and arrow fletching. The power cables on most crossbows today are guided and under significant load and wear prematurely, thus reducing accuracy, efficiency, and safety. The narrower the crossbow is made the more difficult guiding the power cables become since the distance is reduced increasing the load and wear. Also, crossbows on the market all suffer from left to right movement or timing issues of the draw string reducing the accuracy if cocked incorrectly, or if the timing cables becomes out of time making the crossbow shoot left or right of the intended target. Numerous camming means have been developed to reduce the power cabling wear and make the crossbow narrow, but these suffer from drawbacks such as left to right movement of the drawstring.
Currently, most crossbows are very efficient and produce speeds in excess of 400 feet per second (f.p.s.); however, they all suffer from power cable wear and left to right draw movement. Also, the means for cocking crossbows on the market involve either hand cocking or using a rope cocker that pulls the draw string to the string latch, or another method is to move the string latch and pull the latch and draw string back to the cocked position. One problem with both of these methods is premature wear on the draw string by the string latch and rope cocker.


An analog instrument gauge display is provided that comprises a lens having a pointing indicia displayed thereon, a back plate having a pattern thereon, and a drive motor coupled to the lens and configured to rotate the lens and pointing indicia relative to the pattern on the back plate in response to receipt of a signal.

Analog instrument gauge displays are the most common instrument gauge display types in motor vehicles for relating vehicle speed, engine speed, coolant temperature, time, and the like to the driver. This gauge display type, which has a moving needle or needles set in front of a stationary patterned back plate, is useful for quickly imparting vehicle or other information to the motor vehicle driver. Many vehicle drivers find an analog display is less distracting and more easily read in a variety of conditions than is a digital display.
Almost all analog gauge displays rely on the instrument gauge needle or needles being attached to a post that is substantially perpendicular to the back plate of the gauge. The display needle post extends outwardly from the back plate proximate the center of the gauge, and is connected directly or indirectly through gearing, a linkage, or the like to a motor that drives the gauge needle. The motor receives signals from the engine control unit or other computer control, and then turns the post, and thus the needle, in response to the signals, so that the gauge needle points to the correct value on the gauge face.
Unfortunately, the fact that this needle post extends outwardly from roughly the center of the back plate limits the useable space on the gauge back plate. It is difficult to increase the functionality of an existing gauge by adding graphics in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other display to the gauge back plate because the needle post takes up the center of the back plate. Currently, motor vehicle manufacturers have skirted this problem by using LCDs that are small enough to fit on the useable space on the back plate, away from the center of the back plate, or they place the LCD in front of the needle on the gauge. Both of these solutions, however, create vision-related problems, as they make the display more difficult to read in a glance and thus make it more difficult to assimilate the information being displayed.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have an analog instrument gauge display that is configured to display more information, in a more readily assimilated manner, than do presently available displays. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.


A system and method for detecting, localizing, and classifying RF signals via probability analysis in the decision space include receiving a wideband IQ sample stream and performing a probability analysis to isolate noise from the magnitude spectrum. Derived probability information is used for RF detection and localization. The probability analysis is a Bayesian probability analysis and the detection and localization algorithm is a modified “you only look once” (YOLO) algorithm.

Real-time signal detection, localization, and classification in noisy, cluttered RF environments is a difficult problem. Existing systems in RF machine learning focus on utilizing the You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm applied to wideband RF spectrograms to jointly detect, localize (i.e. frequency, bandwidth, SNR etc.), and classify emitters. Estimating these parameters degrades in low SNR conditions.

System and method for RF detection, localization, and classification


Remote administration of initial computer operating system setup options is facilitated by systems and mechanisms that provide such initial setup options to a computing device during an earlier stage of the operating system setup. An administrator defines, in a profile, how such initial setup options are to be set and when an operating system is being set up it communicates with licensing servers to validate the copy of the operating system. If authorized, and if set up by an administrator, initial setup options are provided to the computing device at such an early stage of the operating system setup. Processes executing on the computing device then utilize software licensing application program interfaces to not only validate the copy of the operating system, but also to set the initial setup options in the manner pre-specified by the administrator. A customized directory service login user interface is one such initial setup option.

While computer users may desire to set up the operating systems of their personal computers in a heterogeneous manner, substantial benefits can be realized by entities having multiple employees when the operating systems of the computing devices utilized by such employees are set up in a homogeneous manner. For example, remote administration, support and troubleshooting such computing devices can be made much simpler, more efficient and less expensive if the computing devices are homogenous insofar as their operating system settings and the applications installed thereon. Traditionally, the marginality of such computing devices is maintained through the use of directory services, wherein a computing device utilized by an employee of such an entity provides credentials to a directory service and, based upon such credentials, the computing device receives appropriate settings and applications, such as can have been established in advance and in a homogeneous manner by an information technology (IT) administrator of such an entity.
Unfortunately, before a new, or erased, computing device can meaningfully communicate with such a directory service, initial operating system setup options may need to be established. For example, the operating system may require a user to accept an end-user license agreement before the computing device can be utilized in any meaningful manner including, for example, establishing the aforementioned communication with a directory service. As another example, the operating system may require a user to set various network settings, personal assistant settings, or other like initial operating system setup options before the operating system can facilitate the computing devices communication with the directory service. Such initial operating system setup options are, then, typically selected by the individual employees of the entity, and may not be selected in a homogenous manner. To avoid such a situation, IT administrators are typically forced into a time-consuming process of having to reinstall an operating system from scratch in order to ensure that the initial setup options are set in a homogenous manner for each computing device associated with the entity.


A method and system for forming a microscopic transducer are described. The method and system include forming a plurality of adjoining sensor layers. The sensor layers include a first magnetically soft layer, a nonmagnetic layer on the first magnetically soft layer, and a second magnetically soft layer on the nonmagnetic layer. The method and system also include forming a sidewall over the second magnetically soft layer. The sidewall formation includes forming a base having a surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the sensor layers and depositing an electrically conductive material on the surface. The method and system also include removing a portion of the sensor layers not covered by the sidewall.

A key measure of the performance of an electromagnetic information storage system is the areal density. The areal density is the number of data bits that can be stored and retrieved in a given area. Areal density can be computed as the product of linear density (the number of magnetic flux reversals or bits per unit distance along a data track) multiplied by the track density (the number of data tracks per unit distance). As with many other measures of electronic performance, areal densities of various information storage systems have increased greatly in recent years. For example, commercially available hard disk drive systems have enjoyed a roughly tenfold increase in areal density over the last few years, from about 500 Mbit/in2 to about 5 Gbit/in2.
Various means for increasing areal density are known. For instance, with magnetic information storage systems it is known that storage density and signal resolution can be increased by reducing the separation between a transducer and associated media. For many years, devices incorporating flexible media, such as floppy disk or tape drives, have employed a head in contact with the flexible media during operation in order to reduce the head-media spacing. Recently, hard disk drives have been designed which can operate with high-speed contact between the hard disk surface and the head.
Another means for increasing signal resolution is the use of magnetoresistive (MR) or other sensors for a head. MR elements may be used along with inductive writing elements, or may be independently employed as sensors. MR sensors may offer greater sensitivity than inductive transducers but may be more prone to damage from high-speed contact with a hard disk surface, and may also suffer from corrosion, so that conventional MR sensors are protected by a hard overcoat.
Recent development of information storage systems having heads disposed within a microinch (μin) of a rapidly spinning rigid disk while employing advanced MR sensors such as spin-valve sensors have provided much of the improvement in areal density mentioned above. Further increases in linear density and track density have been limited by constraints in reducing the size of transducer features that interact with the media in recording and reading magnetic patterns. For example, inductive pole-tips and MR sensors are conventionally defined by photolithography, which limits a minimum track width for which magnetic patterns on the media can be written or read.
FIG. 1 (Prior Art) depicts a design for a thin film head 50 as would be seen from a media from which the head is to read magnetic signals. The head contains a spin-dependent tunneling magnetoresistive sensor 52 formed in a series of layers between first and second magnetically permeable shields 55 and 58 which also serve as leads for the sensor, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,548, incorporated herein by reference. The sensor and adjacent layers include a template layer 64 that helps with formation of a subsequently deposited antiferromagnetic layer 66. The antiferromagnetic layer 66 stabilizes the magnetic moment of a pinned ferromagnetic layer 68. An alumina (Al2O3) tunneling layer 70 separates the pinned ferromagnetic layer 68 from a free ferromagnetic layer 72 that has a magnetic moment that can rotate in the presence of a magnetic field from the media. A cap layer 75 of tantalum (Ta) is formed to protect the sensor from damage, and electrically conductive spacer layers 60 and 62 separate the sensor from the shields.
Formation of the above-mentioned elements begins by depositing the first shield 55, spacer layers 60 and 62, sensor layers 64, 66, 68, 70 and 72, and cap layer 75. After depositing the spacer, sensor and cap layers on the first shield 55, a photoresist 77 is lithographically patterned and the sensor is defined by ion milling material not protected by the resist. A width W0 of the sensor essentially corresponds to the width of the resist, although both may be thinned during the ion milling process. Alumina 88 is deposited to fill in around the sensor and a pair of hard bias layers 78 and 80 are formed to bias free layer 72, leaving a thick deposit of material atop the resist 77 and pointed projections 82 and 84 along the sides of the resist. The resist is chemically removed, which frees the material atop the resist 77, and the projections are broken off during chemically/mechanical polishing (CMP), after which the spacer 62 and second shield layer 58 are formed. An effective length L0 of the sensor for linear resolution is the spacing between the first shield 55 and second shield 58, which may be less than 0.1 micron.
Control of the ion milling for thinning the sensor 52 becomes difficult for widths W0 that are less than 0.5 micron, and errors in mask definition increase with mask thickness, but thicker masks are useful to over-etch the sensor to attempt to create spacer 60 out of shield 55. Therefore it has been difficult for such a prior art sensor to have a length-to-width ratio greater than 1/5. Moreover, forming spacer 62 from shield 58 requires the thin cap 75 to protect the sensor from damage during CMP, such as puncturing the cap with the broken off projections 82 and 84. Contamination such as wash chemicals or alumina from the CMP may also degrade the performance of the conductive spacer 62. While lithographic definition can be improved somewhat by using electron beam, X-ray or deep ultra violet lithography, such techniques are extremely capital intensive and require long lead times for equipment, development and facilities construction. Moreover, techniques such as X-ray and electron beam lithography are used to form individual sensors as opposed to more efficient simultaneous definition of all sensors on a wafer surface.

Method of making narrow track width magnetoresistive sensor


A braking arrangement for rotatably supporting an element rotatable about an axis such as a control wheel, rotary control knob or the like, for example for a vehicle fresh air nozzle, has a plug-shaped casing with an end portion and a peripherally extending flange extending away from the end portion and having a circular external peripheral surface. The external surface of the flange forms a rotary mounting surface for the rotatable element. The flange encloses a central guide space for two braking members which have braking portions facing diametrally away from each other. The braking portions extend through transverse holes in the flange. The two braking members are urged away from each other by a spring disposed therebetween.

The invention concerns an arrangement for rotatably supporting an element rotatable about an axis.
By way of example, such an element may be an operating or control wheel, a rotary control knob, a roller or the like component, more especially and by way of example for a fresh air intake nozzle for a vehicle.
One of the major problems encountered in a situation such as the production of fresh air intake nozzles for vehicles is that of reliably observing and maintaining the required torques and operating forces at the operating or control wheels, rotary control knobs, the guide plates of rolling units which are provided for guiding and deflecting the air flow into the vehicle, and so forth, in a temperature range of between xe2x88x9240xc2x0 C. and +100xc2x0 C. That wide temperature range involves variations in the dimensions of such elements, due to the temperatures acting thereon, and such dimensional variations influence the torques and operating forces required. That in turn means that the degree of constancy in the torques and operating forces concerned hitherto can leave something to be desired, when such a wide temperature range is taken into consideration.
An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for rotatably supporting an element rotatable about an axis, which is capable of affording at least substantially constant torques and operating forces within a wide temperature range of for example between xe2x88x9240xc2x0 C. and +100xc2x0 C.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for rotatably supporting a rotatable control or operating element, which is so designed as to provide a compensating effect in regard to temperature-induced influences on the rotatable element.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for rotatably supporting a rotatable control or operating element, which while being of a simple structure provides for a uniform force needing to be applied to the element for rotation thereof.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention the foregoing and other objects are attained by an arrangement for rotatably supporting an element rotatable about an axis, for example a control or actuating wheel, a rotary control knob, a roller unit or the like, for example for a fresh air intake nozzle for a vehicle, wherein a casing of a generally plug-shaped configuration adapted to be fitted to a mounting portion, for example a part of a vehicle as referred to above, has an end portion and a peripherally extending flange thereon, which extends away from the end portion in the axial direction of the casing, providing a circular external peripheral surface to form a rotational mounting surface for the rotatable element. The flange defines therewithin a guide space and the flange has first and second diametrally mutually oppositely disposed holes therethrough. First and second braking members are disposed in the guide space and have braking portions which face diametrally away from each other and extend through respective ones of the holes in the flange. A spring member is operatively disposed between the first and second braking members and urges the braking members away from each other.
The braking portions can thus project radially outwardly beyond the external peripheral surface of the casing and come into engagement with a surface of the rotatable element to apply a braking effect thereto. The spring member between the two braking members can thus afford, independently of the temperature involved, a constant braking force and thus a constant torque which is independent of temperature or an operating force which is independent of temperature for actuating the element which is thus supported rotatably at the stationary immobile casing forming the axis of rotation for the element. All this has an advantageous effect in terms of operating comfort and convenience.
In a preferred feature of the invention, the transverse holes in the flange of the casing steplessly adjoin the end portion of the casing, because then the braking portions of the two braking members can be so designed and dimensioned as to afford the largest possible braking areas.
A further preferred feature of the invention provides that the transverse holes in the flange are of an internal cross-section which is adapted to the cross-section of the braking portions of the braking members. That provides for optimum guidance in terms of mobility of the braking members in the casing.
Another preferred feature of the arrangement according to the invention provides that each braking member has a guide and abutment portion which adjoins its braking portion and which is guided in the guide space of the casing. Besides reliable linearly movable guidance for the braking members, the guide and abutment portion also advantageously means that the braking members are arranged in the casing, in such a way that they can be reliably arranged therein and therefore cannot easily go missing.
A further preferred feature of the arrangement provides that the guide space in the casing has first and second mutually parallel and oppositely disposed guide surfaces at which the braking members are linearly movably guided with their guide and abutment portion. Such a configuration affords the advantage that the casing and the braking members are simple to produce and the braking members can be easily disposed in the casing.
In a further preferred feature the flange of the casing of the arrangement of the invention has a peripherally extending collar, at the upper edge of the casing flange which is in axially opposite relationship to the end portion of the casing. That makes it possible for the arrangement to be accurately fitted in position in a simple and time-saving manner. When fitting the arrangement, the collar forms a support configuration which permits precisely correct positioning of the casing and thus the braking members, in relation to the element which is to be supported and braked thereby, in a simple procedure.
Still another preferred feature of the invention provides at least first and second resilient snap members integrally disposed on the collar and projecting in the same direction away therefrom. That provides for ease of fitting and fixing the arrangement according to the invention to an appropriate part of a vehicle.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of a preferred embodiment.

Arrangement for rotatably supporting an element rotatable about an axis

Dr. Franz Schneider Kunststoffwerke GmbH and Co. KG


A method and system are disclosed for transferring large data files over parallel connections. A file can be transferred between a first application operating on a first system and a second application operating on a second system. A plurality of connections are established between the first application and the second application. A send buffer is created to store N segments of the file at the first system, N being an integer greater than one. The N segments of the file are read into the send buffer. Each segment in the buffer is sent on a corresponding connection among the plurality of connections for delivery to the second application. The number of connections can be selected by a user.

With the emergence of the Internet, large amounts of information can be shared and distributed between any number of interconnected users. The users can be remotely located, spanning multiple continents. Typically, the users store information in data files ("files"). Many user applications such as multimedia applications running on computing systems distribute large files (e.g., multimedia files), which can exceed one gigabyte in memory space. Distributing large files between user applications over a network such as the Internet can be problematic.
For instance, many Internet applications use the Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) layers to send files separated as packets over the Internet. The IP layer handles the actual delivery of the packets and the TCP layer ensures that each packet is delivered and reordered correctly for its destination application. To deliver packets, TCP establishes a connection between two TCP endpoints, defined by an IP address and a port number. An IP address identifies a computing system and the port number identifies an application operating within that computing system. Each packet contains a sequence number. The sequence numbers are used to acknowledge received packets and to reorder correctly packets at a receiving end in the case of packets being received out of order.
To ensure reliable delivery of packets, TCP must receive acknowledgement that delivered packets were received at a receiving end. In this process, TCP uses a "sliding window" algorithm to dynamically calculate the maximum number of unacknowledged (in-transit) packets to allow before enacting flow control (preventing further sends). The sliding window algorithm is designed to prevent congestion while still allowing the window to grow large enough to accommodate fast link speeds. Unfortunately, the algorithm often treats latency induced by sending packets large distances and latency induced by actual congestion similarly as it is programmatically difficult to make a distinction between the two at the level on which TCP operates.
In particular, If a TCP connection experiences high latency, TCP assumes congestion in which case TCP decreases the size of the "window." Furthermore, TCP may also resend the packets if not acknowledged within a certain period of time. However, in many instances, the TCP connection is over a high speed connection line, but the receiving end is at a remote location, which can cause an inherent latency in the delivery and acknowledgement of packets. For example, an 8 mbps connection line used for sending packets to a remote user will experience latency at the receiving end that causes the overall throughput to be a small fraction of the maximum possible due to the congestion control mechanism of TCP. As such, applications may not be able to utilize the full available bandwidth on a connection line when sending large files.
Another limitation with delivering large files over high-speed connections is that the network throughput can exceed the file input/output (I/O) capabilities in the sending and receiving computing systems. For instance, multiple memory devices may be required to store and buffer a large file. If multiple memory devices are required to store or buffer a large file, to seek the appropriate segments of the file or location of the segment in memory can be time consuming. Such file I/O processes can thus limit the throughput on a high speed connection line. Therefore, delivering large files at the maximum possible speed requires efficient file I/O processes.
There exists, therefore, a need for an improved method and system that overcome the limitations of transferring data files.

Method and system for transferring large data files over parallel connections


An anchor block having within it a slot as to provide a solid handgrip, strapped handgrip assembly, ankle exercise cuff assembly or anchoring door impingement assembly all of which permit quick and easy interchangeability of a stoppered elastic exercise cord. The slot may be shaped in any of several ways including straight, zigzag or curved.

1. Field of the Invention
Gymnastic Equipment
2. Description of the Prior Art
Occasionally a descriptive term in this application may be shortened so as to recite only a part rather than the entirety thereof as a matter of convenience or to avoid needless redundancy. In instances in which that is done, applicant intends that the same meaning be afforded each manner of expression. Thus, the term cord anchor block (1) might be used in one instance but in another, of meaning is otherwise clear from context, expression might be shortened to anchor block (1) or merely block (1). Any of those forms is intended to convey the same meaning. The terms attach or fasten or any of their forms when so used means that the juncture is of a more or less permanent nature, such as might be accomplished by bolts, welds or adhesives. Thus it is stated herein concerning the connection of the handgrip strapping (310) and an anchor block (1) that a given strap end (311) is attached back upon the strapping (310) by stitching. A connection in which one object is easily removed from another is described by the word emplace, as where it is stated herein that the elastic exercise cord (100) is emplaced within the cord anchor block (1). A connection in which two objects, although not attached, are separated only with considerable difficultyxe2x80x94such as the connection of a cord terminal stopper (101) proximate the hollowed end of an elastic exercise cord (100) is referred to herein as one of rigid emplacement. Employment of the words connector join or any of their forms is intended to include the meaning of any of those terms in a more general way.
The word comprise may be construed in either of two ways herein. a term used to describe an object is said to comprise it, thereby characterizing the object with equivalency in meaning for the term. Thus, in a given instance, the cord connecting slot (18) may be said to comprise a straight slot (41), meaning that the connecting slot (18) is indeed a straight one (41).
However, the word comprise may also be used to describe a feature which is part of the structure or composition of a given object or assembly. Thus, a strapped handgrip assembly (151) may be said to comprise handgrip strapping (310), meaning that the structure of the handgrip assembly (151) is such as to have the strapping (310) as a feature of its (151) structure. The meaning in the respective cases is clear from context, however. Accordingly, modifying words to clarify which of the two uses is the intended one seem unnecessary.
Terms relating to physical orientation such as top or bottom, upper or lower, refer to the positioning of the slotted exercise handgrip in the manner in which it is typically observed with the emplaced exercise cord (100) hanging freely from it. Thus, the cord terminal stopper (101) rigidly emplaced within the exercise cord (100) proximate its (100) end is spoken of as being disposed proximate the top of the cord anchor block (1) and the remaining portion of the cord (100), as running form the bottom thereof (1).
Many who engage in exercise prefer a system employing elastic cord (100) over one in which weights are disposed. Advantages include portability, noise reduction, storage convenience and the resistance gradient provided by the cord (100) itself. Shorter or longer ones (100) may be interchanged and operators (200) of differing exercise capabilities may substitute one (100) of lesser or greater elasticity to suit his (200) or her (200) respective needs.
It should be recognized, of course, that for decades, operators (200) have also engaged devices with a part of their body other than the hand. For example, the operator""s (200) tension situs might be the arm, wrist, leg, foot, neck, head or even the fingers and thumb in appropriate cases. A traditional handgrip might, thus, have been fitted around one or both ankles for one or another of a number of familiar exercises.
In general, two sorts of handgrips have emergedxe2x80x94a solid handgrip comprising enclosed loop, horseshoe or stirrup configuration (150) and a strapped handgrip assembly (151) in which handgrip strapping (310) is connected to the exercise cord (100) by one means or another.
Interface between cord (100) and handgrip, whether of the closed loop (150) or the strapped assembly (151) variety, ante, soon provided a challenge. Of course, knotting was always a possibility but provided interchangeability inconvenience. Elastic cording (100) which was tubular or hollow throughout its (100) length became commercially available and in a matter of time, it occurred to some that a hole could be provided within the handgrip or handgrip assembly (150, 151, respecively) through which an elastic cord (100) could be extended and a cord terminal stopper (101) affixed within the hollow proximate the cord""s (100)
Elastic cord (100) length has traditionally been accomplished in the following manner: Once the approximate length of the cord (100) is determined, that isxe2x80x94having been cut to approximately desired lengthxe2x80x94a stopper (101) of slightly greater width than that of the cord (100) is inserted within the hollow of the tubing. The stopper (101) is effectually pinched in place. The length of the exercise cord (100) may be more specifically or finely adjusted by sliding to stopper (101) either toward or away from the cord""s (100) end. By reason of friction attending the cord""s (100) elasticity, however, the stopper (101) is slid in that fashion, inserted or removed only with considerable difficulty.
Thus, it was soon observed that while the stoppers (101) were acceptably secured in place, cord (100) interchangeability was not practically feasible. The stopper (101) in such instances is extremely difficult to remove and reinstall in the substituting cord (100). The same is true of cord (100) connection to a door impingement assembly (313)xe2x80x94comprising an impingement strap (319) which at an end (311) has an enlargement such that when it (319) is impinged between the door and its frame to hold it (319) in place to secure an exercise cord (100) connected to the assembly (313), it (319) cannot be pulled out of place. Thus, if it were necessary to connect the cord (100) at one end to what is referred to herein as a representative handgrip (850) or to an ankle exercise cuff assembly (314) and at the other end to a door impingement assembly (313), twice the inconvenience would ordinarily be encountered. If a number of cords (100) were to be connected to any one of a number of representative handgrips (850) for simultaneous use, the task becomes even more difficult.
What is needed is some means by which the stoppered cord (100) can quickly and easily be disconnected from and connected to any representative handgrip (850), door impingement assembly (313) or any of a number of other operator (200) manipulators such as an ankle exercise cuff assembly (314) and the like.
Much of this seems to have begun with U.S. Pat. No. 232,579 issued to Weeks in which an exercise assembly was tethered to a wall with a combination of pulleys and interconnected cords, both elastic (100) and inelastic.
Patents more recently employing stoppered elastic cords (100) include U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,677 issued to Hinds, also the applicant herein, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,532 issued to Kropp. Interchangeability for either of them requires the more laborious removal and reinsertion of the stopper (101).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,617 issued to Rattray, Jr. features an exercise assembly employing several elastic cords (100) simultaneously but does not include means for their expedient interchangeability.
A review of the prior art readily reveals that the needs and objectives which have arisen have not thus far been realistically met.
The invention comprises three embodiments of a slotted exercise handgrip. The heart of its structure is a cord anchor block (1) configured in various forms so as to provide those embodiments. At a minimum, however, each comprises the anchor block (1).
In all cases, a cord terminal bore (16) is present which allows a hollow elastic exercise cord (100) to be extended through it (16), the end of which is then plugged with a stopper (101) in a manner now familiar to prior art. The terminal bore (16) is of size such that the stoppered cord (100) cannot be pulled back through it (16) during exercise. Also in all cases, a cord connecting slot (18) extending vertically across the face of the block (1) is of sufficient depth to provide an opening with the bore (16) along the lengths of both (16, 18). By reason of this novel element (18), one exercise cord (100) may be substituted for another (100) of different length or elasticity merely by stretching it (100) and slipping it (100) through the slot (16) where it (100) snaps firmly into place.
The simplest embodiment is a block (1) conveniently shaped for gripping in which the stoppered cord (100) extends from the bore (16) upward through the exercise operator""s (200) fingers.
A second embodiment constitutes the block (1) as part of a stirrup shaped handgrip (150)xe2x80x94specifically, the part at which the exercise cord (100) connects. To arrive at this structure, the block (1) is considered to have what are designated herein as prongs (20) attached to it (1). A gripping pin (25) connects the ends of the prongs (20) to complete the stirrup shaped loop.
In the third embodiment, the block (1) comprises strap channels (31) through which the ends (311) of a handgrip strap (310) ankle connecting strap (316) or impinging assembly strap (319) are passed for self attachment so as to fashion, respectively, a considerably improved strapped handgrip assembly (151), strapped ankle exercise cuff assembly (314) or an anchoring door impingement assembly (313). The unique channels (31) of this embodiment of the invention make possible the connection of various prior art assemblies such as those (310, 151, 314) exemplify
The connection of handgrip strapping (310) to the cord anchor block (1) immediately suggests an additional way by which a door impingement assembly (313)xe2x80x94a well known exercise anchoring devicexe2x80x94may also be connected to it (1). Thus, regardless of the particular type of representative handgrip (850) or ankle exercise cuff assembly (314) employed, a second anchor block (1) is connected at the cord (100) end to be anchored. The impingement strap (319) connects to the block (1) in the same way a handgrip strap (310) or an ankle connecting strap (316) does. A first representative handgrip (850) may also be interconnected with a second one (850) for exercises widely recognized as the xe2x80x9cchest pullxe2x80x9d type. An ankle exercise cuff assembly (314) may be similarly connected to another (314) to permit reciprocal and various other leg movement exercises. Moreover, a cord anchor block (1) comprising additional cord terminal bores (16) also permits additional elastic cords (100) to be connected.
The connection of ankle connecting strapping (316) to the cord anchor block (1) also provides a way by which an ankle exercise cuff assembly (314) may be connected to it (1), accomplished merely by attaching to an ankle encircling band (315) short segments of the strapping connected by sewn attachment to the block (1).
It is the slotted feature of the structure which provides the inventive characteristics hereof in all three types of representative handgrips (850) as well as in the numerous connection combinations thus suggested.


A system and method are provided for publishing aggregated content. A syndication server is connected and in communication with one or more online information sources through a network. The syndication server extracts the aggregated content from the online information sources. The syndication server then re-structures the content, followed by enriching the semantics of the content. The modified content is then republished and made available on structured folders. A transfer protocol transfers the modified content to one or more mobile devices in communication with the syndication server.

In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the production and adoption of mobile devices and services in the worldwide marketplace. Wireless networks and operational capabilities potentially allow users to carry the devices almost anywhere and to use them to obtain and store electronic data. With the ability to employ a variety of data protocols, these devices have significant communications versatility.
Within this environment, technologies such as the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and XML (extensible Markup Language) have helped to standardize the way devices and people communicate. For instance, XML is becoming a common way for allowing computer-based services to communicate with each other. One form of XML called RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows content, for example news articles, to be published in a standard format. Presently, RSS-based content is available on the Internet, and are used in a number of forms including personal web logs and commercial news agencies. Other syndication forms, for example Atom, are also available. Generally, syndication allows for information to be provided in an up-to-date manner. The syndicated content can be delivered to mobile devices through wireless networks.
Accessing and viewing syndicated content from various sources on a mobile device can be time consuming and can increase the processing load on the mobile device.

System and method for publishing aggregated content on mobile devices


A query having multiple parts may be processed to form an intermediate results set. This intermediate results set may be partitioned into a plurality of groups. Thereafter, the groups may be sorted into a plurality of containers so that each container contains data sufficient to calculate one requested result in the multipart query. Related techniques, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products are also described.

Current data warehouse implementations make use of the "group by" functionality offered by standard relational databases in order to simplify computations necessary to generate results requested in a query. However, for some types of data requests, conventional solutions do not represent the requests in a form that facilitates fast and efficient calculation of the requested results.
In particular, for complex multiqueries, data warehouse applications must perform complex processing to represent the queries in a form that a data repository can handle. Moreover, the warehouse applications must subsequently perform further processing of the data repository results to complete the calculation of the requested results to be presented to the user. Such an arrangement has two major drawbacks: users often find the average response times for these queries unsatisfactory, and in worst-case scenarios, answer times for providing results requested in the multiquery may not be defined.
Such disadvantages are illustrated in the following example:
Compare the revenues of (requested results):
Product P1 in the first quarter of 2004
All products in the first quarter of 2004
Product P1 in 2004
Queries:
Select product=P1 AND calday between 20040101 and 20040331, group by quarter
Select calday between 20040101 and 20040331, group by quarter
Select product=P1 AND calday between 20040101 and 20041231, group by year
PART multiquery:
part0: calday between 20040101 and 20041231 (global restriction)
part1: product=P1 and calday between 20040101 and 20040331
part2: calday between 20040101 and 20040331
part3: product=P1
Conventional database query:
calday between 20040101 and 20041231 AND                ((product=P1 AND calday between 20040101 and 20040331) OR                    (calday between 20040101 and 20040331) OR            (product=P1))                        group by product, quarter
In response to the multiquery, the data repository returns an intermediate result set that may be quite large and require extensive further processing in the application to identify data responsive to the requests and to return the requested results to the user. In some cases, the further processing may substantially reduce the size of the intermediate results set which may contain data of an excessively fine granularity as compared to the requested results. This reduction suggests that the database returned more results than necessary, causing excessive network traffic and delaying presentation of the requested results.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Efficient handling of multipart queries against relational data


A DNA fragment to encode a nitrogen fixation enzyme includes a base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a base sequence having not less than 50% identity with the SEQ ID NO:1.

In general, Escherichia coli is inhibited from growing in a media without any nitrogen source (ammonium chloride, sodium nitrate, etc.) and it is thus necessary to add a nitrogen source to media for its multiplication.
As a nitrogen fixation process other than the conventional Haber-Bosch process, there is an enzymatic process using nitrogenase. In this process, atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed as ammonia in an environment at ordinary temperature and normal pressure. Therefore, in the presence of nitrogenase, it is possible to eliminate the need for the above-mentioned addition of a nitrogen source.
On the other hand, nitrogenase is a metal enzyme containing V or Mo (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).

DNA fragment, recombinant vector, transformant, and nitrogen fixation enzyme


A secure media device preferably includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Mass Storage Class (MSC) interface and a USB Human Interface Device (HID) interface. A storage media area is also preferably provided. The storage media is preferably divided into a secure and nonsecure area by arranging the storage media into multiple Logical Units (LUNs). The nonsecure area is preferably accessed in a conventional manner using a host USB MSC driver through the USB MSC interface on the storage device. A password dialog application can be located in the nonsecure area of the storage device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of providing a secure area on a media storage device, and more particularly an apparatus and method of providing a storage device with a secure section that does not require custom drivers or a specialized software package for accessing data in the secure section.
2. Description of Related Art
Although conventional technologies provide secure storage areas, these have several disadvantages. One technology uses a software package to create two partitions, a public partition that anyone can access and an encrypted partition that requires installation of specialized drivers and software for accessing the files on the encrypted partition. Another technology, such as is implemented in the USB MSC drivers supplied by Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, uses a custom driver and software application to implement the ATA Security Feature of hard drives to protect access to the entire device using a password that is stored on the hard drive itself.
Unfortunately, there are disadvantages with each of these conventional methods. For example, the technology that provides multiple partitions with one partition being encrypted requires specialized software and drivers to be installed to access files on the encrypted partition. In addition, the secure data has to be encrypted and decrypted to gain access to the files using the specialized software and drivers. Furthermore, unauthorized users could gain access to the actual data in the encrypted partition using low level disk access (sector read/write), thereby providing them with the opportunity to attempt to decrypt the data on the drive.
The technology that permits an entire disk to be protected via hardware also has disadvantages. For instance, this technology also requires specialized software and drivers to be installed in order to unprotect access to the disk. It further provides an all or nothing approach to accessing files on disk, with no separate public and secure areas. Furthermore, the hard drives have to support the ATA security feature for this method to work, and it is therefore not compatible with typical flash memory or ATAPI devices. In addition, once the hard drive is unprotected, a non-standard mechanism is required to cause the Operating System (OS) file system to re-mount the media and access the drive contents.


The invention provides a method for producing a glass ceramic comprising the steps of melting a starting glass that is free from alkali, except for incidental contamination, and that contains at least one garnet-forming agent and at least one oxide of a lanthanoid; grinding the starting glass to produce a glass frit; molding by pressing and sintering the glass frit until at least one garnet phase containing lanthanoids is formed. A glass ceramic produced in this way may contain 5-50% by weight of SiO2, 5-50% by weight of Al2O3 and 10-80% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the group formed by Y2O3, Lu2O3, Sc2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3, as well as 0.1-30% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the group formed by B2O3, Th2O3, and oxides of the lanthanoids, except Lu2O3, Gd2O3, Yb2O3, Ce2O3. Such a glass ceramic is suited especially for down conversion of excitation radiation in the blue and in the UV region of the spectrum.

The present invention relates to a sintered glass ceramic, to a method for producing the same and to an advantageous application of such a sintered glass ceramic.
Recently, LEDs have been employed to an increasing degree for lighting purposes because they offer a number of advantageous properties including, for example, high efficiency due to direct conversion of electric energy to light energy, and high compactness.
However, until a few years ago LEDs were employed in "low-emitting" applications only, especially for indication purposes. The high potential of LEDs for applications with high light demand was discovered only recently when increased efforts were made to achieve improved energy input coupling and improved heat management.
LEDs produce light in a very narrow spectral band, while in most of the cases white light is required for illumination purposes. Commercially available white LEDs use a III-V semiconductor emitter for stimulating a luminescent material that emits a secondary wavelength in a lower wavelength band (down conversion). One known solution uses a blue InGaN/GaN LED for stimulating YAG:Ce, a broadband yellow luminescent material. With these LEDs, that have been converted using a luminescent material, a given proportion of the emitted blue light passes the luminescent layer covering the LED chip so that the overall spectrum obtained assumes a color very close to white light. Due to the absence of spectral portions in the blue/green band and in the red wavelength band, the resulting color is, however, not satisfactory in most of the cases.
US 2003/0025449 A1 discloses a hybrid LED comprising a radiation-emitting semiconductor body (chip) which is in direct contact, via an optical coupling agent, with a glass ceramic body that serves as a conversion agent. The glass ceramic body contains crystallites of the garnet type doped with rare earths (such as YAG:CE), thiogalate or chlorosilicate as luminescent material. The starting glasses from which such glass ceramics are produced consist of silicate glasses or borate glasses. The luminescent glass ceramic is produced by mixing a glass frit with a suitable proportion of a luminescent material in powder form, and the mixture is molten, then cast and molded to achieve the desired shape. It is possible in this way, from the very beginning, to produce a glass ceramic body in the desired shape, advantageous for the intended application, for example in the form of a lens.
However, that document does not disclose the way in which to produce such a luminescent glass ceramic having a garnet phase, with properties as advantageous as possible. Rather, the document merely relates to the melting technology used for production in a general way.
EP 1 642 869 A1 discloses a glass ceramic which preferably is used for down-conversion of excitation radiation in the blue and UV regions of the spectrum. The glass ceramic comprises the following components (on an oxide basis): 5-50% by weight of SiO2, 5-50% by weight of Al2O3, 10-80% by weight of Y2O3, 0-20% by weight of B2O3, 0.1-30% by weight of rare earths, preferably 15-35% by weight of SiO2, 15-35% by weight of Al2O3, 25-60% by weight of Y2O3, 1-15% by weight of B2O3 and 1-15% by weight of rare earths. The glass ceramic contains crystalline phases in which rare-earth ions are taken up at least in part. Crystalline phases containing yttrium ions as a component are replaced by rear-earth ions in this case at least in part. The phases in question may include, for example, Y3Al5O12 (YAG), Y2SiO5, Y2Si2O7, SrAl2O4, BaMgAl10O17, Sr2P2O7, Sr4Al14O25 and YbO3, that serve as host phase for taking up rare-earth ions at least in part.
The respective glasses are produced by a technological melting process and may then be ceramized. Ceramization is effected by initial tempering at a nucleation temperature of between 850° C. and 900° C., for a period of several hours, and then ceramizing at a temperature of between 1050 to 1150° C. for the time of one hour. The crystal phases identified in this case were Y2Si2O7, Y2SiO5, YbO3.
The conversion efficiency of such glass ceramics is, however, not yet sufficient for many applications because the glass ceramic contains a number of non-convertible crystal phases such as Y2Si2O7.
JP(A) H04-119941 further discloses a glass ceramic that contains 5-50% by weight of SiO2, 5-70% by weight of Al2O3, 10-70% by weight of Y2O3 and 0.1 to 30% by weight of a nucleation agent such as MgO, TiO2, ZrO2 or La2O3. For the production process, starting materials (oxides) are mixed with organic solvents and binders, and are heated to then form a shaped glass by solid-state reaction. The glass so produced is then subjected first to a nucleation process, by tempering at temperatures of between 950° C. and 1010° C., and then to ceramization at a temperature of approximately 1100° C.
The production process is relatively complex. And in addition, the glass ceramic has a conversion efficiency not sufficient for all applications.
From US 2002/0094929 A1, there are known a glass ceramic product and a method for producing the same, containing a garnet phase, a celsian crystal phase having the composition BaAl2Si2O8 as well as at least one crystal phase having the composition AlN, Si3N4, SiC, Al2O3, ZrO2, 3Al2O3.2SiO2 or Mg2SiO4. Production is effected by sintering at a temperature of 700 to 1000° C.
The known glass ceramic is suited for use as an insulating substrate in a housing intended to accommodate semiconductor chips.
A glass ceramic known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,551 is used as luminescent laser material. The glass ceramic consists of 45-68% by weight of SiO2, 15-30% by weight of Al2O3, 0-10% by weight of P2O5, 2-6% by weight of Li2O, 0-3% by weight of MgO, 0-8% by weight of ZnO, 2-7% by weight of ZrO2, 1-7% by weight of Ta2O5, 0-12 by % by weight of lanthanoids, as well as refining agents. The glass ceramic is ceramized by tempering a starting glass over a plurality of hours at 800° C.
While such a glass ceramic is especially well suited as laser material, it is not suited for down-conversion of LED radiation.

Sintered glass ceramic and method for producing the same


A method for scanning a stream of objects includes continuously acquiring raw data of the stream of objects using an X-ray system, that includes a detector. The raw data of the stream of objects is rebinned into at least one two-dimensional sinogram. A leading edge and a trailing edge of a first object of the stream of objects is determined from the at least one two-dimensional sinogram and a three-dimensional image of the first object is reconstructed using the at least one two-dimensional sinogram.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments described herein relate generally to tomographic systems, such as computed tomography (CT) systems, and, more particularly, to CT systems that scan a continuous stream of objects, such as luggage, for explosive or contraband detection.
2. Description of the Related Art
At least some known explosive detection systems use tomographic systems to scan a continuous stream of objects. In such tomographic systems, it is generally necessary to partition data generated by the tomographic system into blocks associated with each object in the stream of objects. For such tomographic systems to perform partitioning of the data successfully, the tomographic system determines an extent of each object and completes data acquisition for each object as each object passes through the tomographic system. As used herein, the term "extent of an object" refers to the physical boundaries, dimensions, and/or measurements of the object, such as the physical volume of the object, and/or data representing the physical object. In at least one known explosive detection system, a machine control for a scanning device generally receives information, such as an identification tag, about each object from an external system that transports the objects into a scanning device, such as a CT system. At least one CT system includes passive curtains to shield an external environment from X-ray radiation produced by the CT system. However, objects passing through the passive curtains may be repositioned, such as by moving adjacent each other or shifting orientation, before and/or inside the scanning device. Such repositioning may cause confusion between the extent of an object as externally measured, and the extent and position of the object once inside the scanning device. As such, there is a need to determine extents of objects within the scanning device.
In at least some known tomographic systems for scanning a stream of objects, the acquisition system, which captures scan data of an examination area, identifies a leading edge and a trailing edge of an object using an internal light sensor array. However, such a light sensor array may provide a rapid determination of a leading edge and a trailing edge of an object, but may lack accuracy and may fail to properly determine a leading edge and a trailing edge of irregularly shaped objects. As such, there is a need to quickly and accurately determine the physical extents of objects.

Systems and method for scanning a continuous stream of objects


A food serving tray cover system that is removably attachable to various food serving trays to form an enclosure wherein the contents of the enclosure will be protected from pests such as birds and insects. The collapsible food serving tray cover system includes an elongated bracket having a U-shape and defining a channel therein that can removably secure a serving tray. A covering assembly including canvas-like material is attached at regular intervals to support ribs which are pivotally connected on the arms of the U-shaped bracket. The covering assembly is deployable such that the canvas material and support ribs move radially along the pivotal connection in a 180-degree manner to form an interior volume over an attached serving tray. A handle provides a gripping area that allows for selective closing and opening of the food serving tray cover system.

The present invention relates to a collapsible serving tray covering system. More specifically, the present invention provides an attachment removably securable to a serving tray wherein a means of covering the contents of the dish is pivotally attached to an elongated bracket having a defined channel therein.
Many people enjoy outdoor events, gatherings, and barbeques where food is served and enjoyed. However, during the preparation and serving, the food is often placed on trays exposed to the outside environment. Food stored in this manner can be exposed to insects and other pests that can steal, contaminate, or otherwise spoil the food. Particularly at beach and shore locations, seagulls tend to aggressively attempt to steal and feed on the unprotected food as well as potential threats from sand contamination and high winds. In a more general case, flies and other insects remain a common problem for exposed foods no matter where you are located and continue to be a problem for outdoor social gatherings where food is being served. There exists a need for a device that can removably secure to a food serving tray having a canvas supported by a deployable frame member wherein the frame member comprised of a louvered arrangement.
Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to food trays including retractable covers. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to food trays with removable lids or individualized compartments. These devices include serving trays having at least one compartment with the function of keeping food fresh as well as multipurpose systems that allow a user to keep and serve food and drinks in a functional manner. These devices, however, fail to disclose a food tray including a canvas material attached to a retractable support having a plurality of louvers configured to selectively open and close the food tray to keep contents safe from insects and birds. Furthermore, unlike the known art, the present device includes transparent material to allow users to view the contents of the food tray while the device is in a closed position.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing collapsible serving tray coverings. In this regard, the invention substantially fulfils these needs.

Collapsible serving tray covering system


Retaining device for use with two elongated slats longitudinally located in a chain linked fence. Each slat has first and second slat surfaces and first and second slat edges, and has a notch located in a portion of a slat end. The notch extends transversally from the first to the second slat edge. The device includes a cap having a first panel connected to an intermediate panel. A guide rail connects to the first panel. The guide rail has first and second spaced apart longitudinal stop ends located inwardly away from respective first and second panel side edges for cooperation with notches of respective slats. The guide rail is slidably and longitudinally engageable by the notches in generally opposed directions along restricted paths of travel from one of the stop ends toward the other one of the stop ends to retain the notches thereon.

Chain link fencing is commonplace and is used to provide a barrier around such areas as private gardens and the like. Chain link fencing includes a network of wires that are intertwined to form a mesh of alternating generally rectilinear holes, which provide a discrete, almost invisible barrier. A number of horizontal and vertical support bars support the wire mesh. There may be times, however, when a user requires more privacy than the chain link fencing provides. A series of elongated plastic slats may be threaded through the holes to provide more privacy to the user and to improve the esthetic appearance of the chain link fence. Caps are typically placed onto the upper ends of the slats to keep the slats together and provide ornamentation to the upper end of the fence.
A few cap designs exist, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,533, issued Jul. 29, 1997 to Ling for "Cap for Chain Link Fence". Ling's patent discloses a cap system that includes two legs having two flexible securing fingers, which appear to resiliently engage respective slats and to secure them in place. Disadvantageously, this design appears to be only suitable for hollow type slats and may not be adaptable for use with solid slats. In addition, in the above design the securing fingers may be difficult to disengage from the slats if the user needs to disengage the slats from the chain link fence. To accommodate the cap, the slats may have to be modified using difficult precision cutting techniques. Moreover, specialized mold technology may be needed to produce the caps of the above design, which may increase the cost of the caps.
Thus there is a need for an improved retainer cap.


A method and an apparatus to regulate voltage supply have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a power converter block to generate an output voltage from an input voltage and a voltage regulator controller coupled to the power converter block to input at least one time-modulated signal to the power converter block, the at least one time-modulated signal having a duty cycle, the voltage regulator controller including a counter having an increment value substantially proportional to the input voltage, wherein the counter is used to adjust the duty cycle of the at least one time-modulated signal. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Many conventional computing systems typically include voltage regulators to regulate voltage supply input to the computing systems. In general, the output voltage (Vout) of a voltage regulator is approximately Vout=Vin*Thi/Tperiod, where Vin is the input voltage to the voltage regulator, Thi is the period of time in which Vin is above a certain threshold (also referred to as being high), and Tperiod is the period of Vin. Thi/Tperiod is also commonly referred to as the duty cycle of Vin. Rather than directly working from the above equation, many voltage regulators use closed loop control to find the appropriate high time that yields the desired Vout.
When a computing system, such as a portable personal computer (a.k.a. a laptop computer), is connected to or disconnected from an alternating current (AC) power supply (a.k.a. wall power) while being powered on, the Vin transient produces a Vout transient, which the closed loop control has to correct. Prior to correction, there may be a Vout transient, which may potentially be high enough to damage circuits in the computing systems. Thus, to prevent potential damage to the computing systems, the Vout transient has to be guardbanded around. However, the increased guardband may in turn force a higher voltage, which may drain a portable power source of the computing system (e.g., a battery) more quickly.
A conventional solution to the above problem is to sense Vin and to adjust the duty cycle of Vin accordingly. Specifically, one conventional technique is to multiply Thi by the ratio (Vin—old/Vin—new), where Vin—old is the previous value of Vin and Vin—new is the current value of Vin. However, the ratio implies a division by Vin—new, which is a very costly digital logic function to implement in semiconductor circuits.

Method and an apparatus to adjust duty cycle for voltage supply regulation


Systems and devices are provided for fully discharging leakage current generated during standby and/or power down modes regardless of variations in PVT conditions. An apparatus may include a power generation unit that powers components of the apparatus and a bleeder circuit. The bleeder circuit may include an operational amplifier. Further, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current generator circuitry that is coupled to the operational amplifier and generates a first current that mimics leakage current generated by the power generation unit. Furthermore, the bleeder circuit may include leakage current mirroring circuitry that is coupled to an output of the operational amplifier and that generates a second current that mirrors the first current. In addition, the bleeder circuit may also include leakage current bleeder circuitry that is coupled to the leakage current mirroring circuitry and that generates a third current that sinks the leakage current to ground.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of bleeder circuits and, more particularly, to techniques for fully discharging leakage current generated during standby and/or power down modes regardless of variations in process, voltage, temperature (PVT) conditions.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Electronic devices, such as semiconductor devices, memory chips, microprocessor chips, image chips, and the like, may include circuitry that performs various operations based on a provided voltage and current. In some instances, the voltage and current provided to the circuitry may be cut-off when the semiconductor device enters a standby mode and/or a powered down mode (e.g., turn-off modes), for example, to reduce battery consumption. During turn-off however, current may still flow in portions of the circuitry due to physics of circuit components. This current may result in unwanted electrical behavior, such as charging of portions of the circuitry. To reduce the unwanted electrical behavior, a bleeder circuit may be used to sink the current to ground.

Systems for discharging leakage current over a range of process, voltage, temperature (PVT) conditions


A modified Streptococcus aureus Cas9 (SaCas9) protein with a mutation at an N413 position, and optionally one or more of a nuclear localization sequence, a cell penetrating peptide sequence, an affinity tag and/or a fusion base editor protein, and a kit that comprises said modified protein. A method for altering the genome of a cell, the method including the step of using the modified protein of the invention.

Genome engineering technologies have enabled systematic interrogation of genome function and hold great potential for gene therapy. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) associated protein (Cas) system enables efficient DNA modification guided by a complementary RNA and in the presence of a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM). However, non-perfect guide-RNA-target-DNA matching has been known to occur which can result in modifications at genomic loci other than the intended locus. This off-target activity can limit the broad application of this technology. Accordingly, modified proteins for altering the genome of a cell with application in genome editing and gene therapy are desired.

Modified protein and method for altering genome of cell


A Pentamethylene diisocyanate is obtained by phosgenating pentamethylenediamine or its salt obtained by a biochemical method, and contains 5 to 400 ppm of a compound represented by the general formula (1) below and a compound represented by the general formula (2) below in total:

Pentamethylene diisocyanate (PDI), and a modified substance (e.g., a polyisocyanate composition such as isocyanurate) obtained by modifying pentamethylene diisocyanate are used as a material of for example, polyurethane resins.
Pentamethylene diisocyanate is produced, industrially, for example, by phosgenation of pentamethylenediamine (PDA). Pentamethylenediamine, i.e., a material of pentamethylene diisocyanate, is produced, for example, by biochemical methods such as fermentation and enzymatic methods.
As such a method for producing pentamethylenediamine and pentamethylene diisocyanate, to be specific, Patent Document 1 below has proposed, for example, a production of pentamethylene diisocyanate by decarboxylation of lysine with enzyme to prepare an aqueous hydrochloride solution of diaminopentane, and then precipitation in an organic solvent, removal and purification, and thereafter, phosgenation in a liquid phase or a gas phase. Patent Document 1 below also describes that pentamethylene diisocyanate is produced such that the hydrolyzable chlorine content is below 10 ppm.
Furthermore, Patent Document 2 below has proposed, for example, that use of pentamethylene diisocyanate having a hydrolyzable chlorine concentration of 100 ppm or less allows production of a modified substance (polyisocyanurate composition) having excellent storage stability at low costs.

Pentamethylenediisocyanate, method for producing pentamethylenediisocyanate, polyisocyanate composition, polyurethane resin, and polyurea resin


A cover for a concrete construction has a pair of anchor-engaging members extending from a disk-shaped body. The anchor-engaging members include fins which are configured to engage an anchor formed into a recess of a concrete block or wall to cover the recess. The cover is easily installed to the anchor by positioning the cover over the recess and urging the anchor-engaging member into engagement with the anchor.

Concrete is often used as a building material in the construction of commercial buildings and other structures. Typically, concrete will be formed into blocks or panels which may thereafter be assembled at a job site into a desired structure. The blocks and panels may be formed at a manufacturing plant for transportation to the job site, or they may be formed directly at the job site. For example, concrete panels which are used to construct concrete walls are generally formed by pouring concrete into forms which have been arranged on a horizontal surface, such as the floor of a building under construction. Once a concrete panel has sufficiently cured, the panel may be raised into position to form a wall section.
To facilitate raising the panels, anchors are typically embedded in the concrete before the concrete cures. The anchors are recessed into a surface of the panel so that the anchor does not protrude above the top surface of the panel after it has been raised into position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,843 to Courtois et al., assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a plug which may be used to form the recess around an anchor during creation of the concrete panel. The anchor may be in the shape of a hook, a rod having an enlarged end, or an eye whereby the anchor may be coupled to a crane for raising and maneuvering the panel into position once the concrete has cured.
After the panel has been placed in position, it is generally desired to patch the recess and cover the anchor for aesthetics or to avoid the accumulation of water or other liquids in the recess, which may rust the anchor and cause surface staining of the concrete surrounding the anchor.
In the past, these recesses have been patched by filling the recess with concrete, or other material, and scraping off the excess patch material to create a level surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,486 to Holt et al. discloses a cover which may be used to patch a recess in a concrete panel. However, the cover of Holt et al. contains multiple pieces which may become separated at the job site, resulting in an unusable cover. The cover of Holt et al. has a plug which must be installed through an opening in the anchor prior to attaching the cover over the recess. Because it may be difficult to maneuver the plug into the hole in the anchor and then attach the cover to the plug, this type of cover and the prior method of patching a recess with concrete or other material are time consuming for workers at the job site.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,867 to Thompson discloses a cover having a cone shaped lower portion with a hole that engages the enlarged head of an anchor. While this type of cover may be snapped into place without excessive manipulation, it is designed to engage the anchor at a specific depth below the surface of the concrete panel. Therefore, the depth of the anchor beneath the surface needs to be carefully controlled or a range of various cover sizes must be provided.
There is thus a need for a cover which can be used to patch a recess formed in a concrete section around an anchor and which overcomes drawbacks of the prior art, such as those described above.