Disclosed herein are various compositions, including a transparent compositions comprising propylene-based polymers and a hydrocarbon resin.

Transparent thermoplastic polymer blend compositions for use in molded and extruded articles are disclosed herein.
A variety of transparent thermoplastic compositions have been developed, some of which have been disclosed in the patent literature and/or introduced to the marketplace. Each of those compositions has a particular level of transparency, often characterized in terms of "haze," which is expressed as (%) in accordance with recognized test procedures. Shortcomings of those compositions include unsatisfactorily high haze values (low transparency), poor processability and poor mechanical properties, including undue hardness, low flexibility, etc. For example, previously proposed thermoplastic elastomer compositions with transparency and flexibility such as compounds based on styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, thermoplastic vulcanizate blends (TPV) or thermoplastic olefin (TPO) blends have reached transparency and softness levels that are still unsatisfactory in some applications.
It is among the objects of the invention to provide a transparent material that has a desirable balance of softness, flexibility and strength, and which can be easily processed in a molten state in extrusion or molding.
Polymer blends prepared for various applications are known. Adhesive blends that include hydrocarbon resins are disclosed in WO 04/087806. In Example 4 certain compositions include hydrocarbon resin with Tg>20° C. blended with two different types of polypropylenes, namely, minor amounts of polypropylene having a Tm≧110° C. and major amounts (72 wt % and above) of propylene-ethylene copolymer that has isotactically arranged propylene derived sequences and Tm<105° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,070 also discloses adhesive compositions that include a hydrocarbon resin with high glass transition temperature, but the polymers with which the compositions are blended are different from the polypropylenes claimed herein. U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,563 discloses blends of two different types of polypropylene, including blends made from a polypropylene having a Tm≧110° C. and propylene-ethylene copolymer that has isotactically-arranged propylene-derived sequences and Tm<105° C.
Three component blends of isotactic polypropylene, impact modifying amounts of an ethylene propylene based rubber or low density ethylene copolymer and a propylene-based elastomer as compatibilizer are described in EP946640, EP964641, EP969043 and EP1098934.
WO 04/014988 describes blends of isotactic polypropylene with non-functionalized plasticizers such as poly-alpha-olefins. WO 04/060994 describes blends of polypropylene and propylene-based elastomers to provide flexibility. WO03/040233 discloses two component blends with the isotactic polypropylene as the predominant, matrix phase and the propylene-based copolymer serving as an impact modifier. EP1003814 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,316 disclose two-component blends of small amounts of isotactic polypropylene and predominant amounts of an ethylene-based elastomer. EP374695 Example 5 discloses visually homogeneous two component blends however using 40 wt % or less of the propylene-based copolymer. WO00/69963 describes films made of two—component blends with from 75 to 98 wt % of a propylene ethylene based elastomer having a heat of fusion of less than 25 J/g. A process oil may be present.
Others have attempted to make transparent compositions, but many of such compositions are problematic, particularly when attempting to make molded compositions that possess a desirable array of properties, such as softness, flexibility and strength, while also having good processability. For example, others have been confronted with shortcomings in the area of processability, particularly for molded or extruded compositions, where the tendency for a material to crystallize quickly has enormous advantages. Many materials that have good mechanical properties lack good crystallization properties. When a composition is used for molding, it is desirable that it have a tendency to flow well and thus quickly and easily and completely fill all areas of the mold. While there is a general tendency for higher MFR materials to correspond to good flowability, a higher MFR is frequently also accompanied by an unfortunate decrease in mechanical properties; thus a higher MFR is not necessarily desirable for that reason. Furthermore, many compositions experience a trade-off in properties, e.g., where good mechanical properties may be offset by poor flexibility, e.g., undue stiffness or hardness. Accordingly, there is a need for a material that has a combination of desirable properties.
The compositions of the present invention combine the ease of fabrication by molding processes such as thermoforming, blow molding or injection molding or extrusion processes with transparency and elasticity. These primary properties are combined with the ability to vary the tensile strength and the hardness by the changes in the composition particularly in the balance of the FPC and the SPC as well as the MFR of the SPC. There is a need in the art for such elastic and transparent polyolefin compositions which can be easily fabricated.


A method for determining the anti-reflective coating (or bottom anti-reflective coating) over-etch time adjust with real-time process feedback is presented. The critical dimension CDresist of the patterned photoresist is measured and a first wafer with median values chosen (101) from a lot. A first time t* is found (102) and used to form the desired structure. Using the measured critical dimension of the formed structure on the first wafer a second time tlot is found (104). Finally, an over-etch time t(x) is found and used to etch the remaining wafers in the lot (106).

Photolithography is used in the manufacture of integrated circuits to form the very small structures required by such circuits. A typical photolithographic process involves the patterning of a photosensitive layer called photoresist to form a patterned mask. The patterned mask is then used to define the underlying layers. In integrated circuits that comprise metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors the most critical dimension is often the length of the MOS transistor gate structure. The length of the MOS transistor gate greatly affects the performance of the transistor and, as such, the length must be very tightly controlled during manufacture.
In forming a MOS transistor gate structure, a blanket layer of the material that will be used to form the transistor gate is first formed on the MOS transistor gate dielectric. Given the constraints of current lithographic processes a bottom anti-reflective layer (BARC) is formed on the blanket layer before the formation of the photoresist that will be used to pattern the MOS transistor gate. Following the patterning of the photoresist layer which is formed on the BARC layer, the BARC layer is patterned by etching the BARC layer using the overlying patterned photoresist layer as an etch mask. Following the patterning of the BARC layer and before the etching of the blanket layer of the transistor gate layer, the BARC dimensions are adjusted by performing an over-etch of the BARC layer. Such an over-etch process will change the dimensions of the patterns in the BARC layer allowing the formation of MOS transistor gate structures with the desired dimensions. The determination of the required BARC over-etch time is critical to obtaining tightly controlled MOS transistor gate lengths. Integrated circuits are usually formed in batches of wafers called lots. A typical lot size comprises about 25 wafers. Current methods of determining the BARC over-etch time often results in wide fluctuations in MOS transistor gate lengths from wafer to wafer within a lot. There is therefore a great need for a method to determine the required BARC over-etch times that reduce the fluctuations in MOS transistor gate length for all wafers within a lot. The instant invention addresses this need.

Method for BARC over-etch time adjust with real-time process feedback


An image formation apparatus includes an image bearing member which is capable of forming a latent electrostatic image thereon, a contact charging member which charges a surface of the image bearing member with the application of electric charges thereto, with the image bearing member and the charging member being in rotation contact, and a non-ozone-generating gas supply device for supplying a non-ozone-generating gas to a chargeable space which extends from a contact position of the contact charging member with the image bearing member and is positioned between (a) a surface of the contact charging memeber and (b) a surface of the image bearing member, with the surfaces facing each other, on an upstream side of the contact position with respect to a rotating direction of the contact charging member, the non-ozone-generating gas being capable of hindering the generation of ozone which is generated in the course of the application of electric charges to the surface of the image bearing member by the contact charging member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus, using a contact charging method, which is capable of preventing the generation of ozone and NOx components in the course of corona charging, using a non-ozone-generating gas with the prevention of the dissipation thereof from a corona a charging area with a simple mechanism.
2. Discussion of Background
In image formation apparatus such as copying machines, printers and facsimile apparatus, images are formed by electrophotography, which comprises a series of processes of uniformly charging a surface of a photoconductor whose surface resistivity changes depending upon the intensity of light applied thereto, forming a latent electrostatic image corresponding to an output image on the uniformly charged surface of the photoconductor, with the application of a laser beam thereto, developing the latent electrostatic image to a visible toner image with a toner which is electrically charged, transferring the developed toner image to a charged transfer sheet such as a sheet of paper, quenching the charges of the transfer sheet, peeling the transfer sheet away from the surface of the photoconductor, and fixing the toner image on the transfer sheet thereto with the application of heat and pressure thereto. After the above-mentioned series of processes in electrophotography, a residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor is removed, residual charges on the surface of the phoconductor are quenched, and then the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged for the next image formation.
In electrophotography, the movement of charges is utilized in each of the processes of charging, development, image transfer, and charge quenching, and the generation of charges is carried out, for example, by a corona charging method, a triboelectric charging method, or a contact charge injection method. Of these charge generation methods, the corona charging method is most in general use.
In the corona charging method, corona charges are generated with the application of a high voltage across an electrode made of a thin wire or a stylus and a counterelectrode, and ions generated by the corona charges are applied to a chargeable member such as a photoconductor. The principle of the corona charging method is very simple and the structure of an apparatus to perform the corona charging method is also very simple. However, since the corona charging is carried out in air, oxygen which occupies 20% of the components of air is ionized, so that ozone (O.sub.3) is generated. Ozone is an important compound for the ozone layer in the stratosphere which acts as a shield against penetration of UV light in the sun's rays. However, ozone is toxic in offices and the generation thereof must be controlled.
The triboelectric charging method and the contact charge injection method are applied to a development roller and a charging roller. However, in the triboelectric charging method and the contact charge injection method, since the development roller or the charging roller remains in contact with the surface of a photoconductor which is a chargeable material even when the method is not carried out, low-molecular-weight components separate out from a rubber roller of the roller and are transferred to the photoconductor, whereby the photoconductor is contaminated with such low-molecular-weight components, eventually causing abnormality in image formation. The triboelectric charging method and the contact charge injection method have such a shortcoming as mentioned above.
Under such circumstances, recently a contact charging method is employed, in which the surface of a charging member is caused to have high resistivity, and a charging portion of such a charging member is successively brought into contact with the surface of a chargeable member such as a photoconductor, so that corona charging is conducted in a micro space around the charging portion of the charging member which is in contact with the chargeable member, whereby the surface of the chargeable member is uniformly charged with the application of charges thereto.
Even in the above-mentioned contact charging method, however, as long as corona charging is used, oxygen in air is ionized, so that ozone and NOx components are inevitably generated. The NOx components are hygroscopic, so that when the NOx components are deposited on the surface of the photoconductor, abnormal images with image flow are formed. Furthermore, when the NOx components are deposited on the surface of the photoconductor or the surface of a charging roller, and the charging roller comes into contact with the photoconductor, it may occur that low-molecular components are transferred from the charging roller to the photoconductor. When such transfer of the low-molecular components occurs and a copying operation is resumed, non-transferred spots are formed in copied images.
Therefore it is desired that a gas that hinders the generation of ozone in the charging atmosphere be developed. As one of the proposals for attaining this, a method of using an oxygen-concentration-reduced air is proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 60-95459. When the concentration of oxygen in air is merely reduced, the amount of ozone generated in the course of corona charging can be reduced. However, the generation of ozone cannot be stopped completely. Furthermore, the electric current in the corona charging varies depending upon the kind of gas employed. The result is that charging potential varies depending upon the kind of gas employed and accordingly image density varies. In order to prevent such problems, it is necessary to use a gas-separation filter, which will make the charging apparatus complicated in mechanism.
Therefore it is desired to produce a charging atmosphere free of oxygen or a charging atmosphere in which ozone is not generated by corona charging even if oxygen is contained therein.
It is considered that nitrogen gas (N.sub.2) which is a main component of air and is easily available can be used for producing the above-mentioned charging atmosphere. However, nitrogen gas (N.sub.2) has a density which is close to the density of oxygen gas, so that nitrogen gas (N.sub.2) easily disperses in air. Therefore, in order to produce and maintain a charging atmosphere composed of pure nitrogen gas, a special apparatus or a nitrogen gas supply apparatus is required.
Furthermore, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 60-95459, NOx components are produced by corona charging in an atmosphere of nitrogen, so that the above-mentioned problems such as the increase of the hygroscopic properties of the photoconductor, and the reduction of the charging performance of the photoconductor are caused. Therefore such a charging method in which NOx components are produced should not be used.
As easily available non-ozone-generating gases, there are water vapor H.sub.2 O, hydrogen gas H.sub.2, rare gases such as He, Ne, propane gas C.sub.3 H.sub.8, and methane gas CH.sub.4. As a matter of course, gases which catch fire cannot be used, and materials which are not in the state of a gas at room temperature cannot be used, either.
When a non-ozone-generating gas which is lighter than air is employed, a container for the non-ozone-generating gas by which the dissipation of the gas from the corona charging area can be prevented, or some device for continuously supplying the gas to the corona charging area is required.


A filled artificial turf includes a plurality of filled artificial turf sections which can be disconnected, rolled up and stored and then later unrolled and reconnected, thereby to enable a facility to accommodate a wide variety of sporting and non-sporting events, with no adverse effects on the playability of the turf. Each of the sections includes a backing, fibers secured to the backing, and a particulate fill with the fibers being of sufficient density and texture so as to substantially hold the particulate fill to the backing during rolling and unrolling. The sections also include hook and loop fasteners along the edges thereof, to facilitate simple and cost-effective connection and disconnection of the sections.

In recent years, filled artificial turfs have substantially increased in popularity and use, compared to prior Astroturf-type artificial surfaces and natural grass athletic surfaces. Filled artificial surfaces look and feel more like natural grass, compared to prior Astroturf-type products. Also, compared to a natural grass field, a filled artificial turf has significantly lower maintenance costs, while allowing significantly more playing time.
For certain sporting facilities or venues, particularly indoor arenas or stadia, the facility may be used for a wide variety of events, including non-sporting events. Some of these events could have adverse effects on a typical filled artificial turf, due to excessive wear. These adverse effects become more acute as the number of these events increases. These adverse effects tend to reduce the playability of, and shorten the effective life of the artificial turf. Yet, these facilities need to accommodate non-sporting events to optimize the use and revenue generated by the facility. Thus, there is a need to accommodate the multi-purpose needs of such facilities, while at the same time minimizing or eliminating any adverse effects on the artificial turf used for sporting events.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/104,030, published as U.S. Publication No. US 2002/0136846, in the name of Prevost, shows a Velcro-type, i.e. hook and loop, fastener arrangement for simplified installation of an artificial turf. The fastener arrangement extends along the bottoms of the edges of the field sections. This published U.S. application also shows removable turf sections located in various parts of the field, so that team logos or other insignia may be incorporated into the field. As the initial steps for creating a replaceable logo section, this publication discloses the removal of the infill from the designated logo, followed by cutting of the artificial turf around the perimeter of the logo section.
This publication does not address the need for a sporting facility to accommodate a wide variety of sporting and non-sporting events. Nor does this publication disclose the removal or reinstallation of an entire artificial turf surface as a way to meet that need.
Published U.S. application Ser. No. 10/453,525, published as U.S. Publication No. 2004/0058096 A1, also in the name of Prevost, is entitled, "Modular Synthetic Grass Turf Assembly" and discloses a plurality of tray-like artificial field units which are transportable. Each of the field units is, in effect, a mini filled artificial turf. The publication discloses disengageable edge borders on the turf units to help retain the particulate fill during transport. This publication discloses transportation of the units via a forklift, wherein the units remain in horizontal position and are supported on a flat sheet, so as not to deform during shipment or storage. This publication discloses that the tray like turf units have maximum dimensions of 15 feet by 48 feet. Thus, it would necessarily follow that about 80 of such turf units would be needed to cover just the actual playing surface of a typical U.S. football field, which has dimensions of 360 feet by 160 feet. Thus, removing and installing a field of this type would involve significant labor, time and equipment usage.
It is an object of this invention to improve upon the ability of a large facility to readily accommodate both sporting and non-sporting events, without adversely effecting the performance or durability of an artificial turf used in the same facility for sporting events.
It is another object of this invention to simplify and reduce the costs of transforming an indoor stadium from an athletic field, to a non-athletic surface use, and then back to an athletic field.
It is still another object of this invention to reduce the hardware, costs and steps needed to remove and then later reinstall a filled artificial turf.


Porous microperforators (210A), preferably in an array of multiple perforators are employed for delivery of a drug, where the micro-perforators may dissolve in situ. Suitable micro-perforators may include multiple layers of dissolvable materials to effect sequential drug delivery. In further aspects, contemplated micro-perforators may employ a diagnostic device in which a detector layer or detector is operationally coupled to the micro-perforators.

Many new drugs, including vaccines, proteins, peptides and DNA constituents, have been developed for better and more efficient treatment for disease and illness. Especially due to recent advances in molecular biology and biotechnology, increasingly potent pharmaceutical agents, such as recombinant human insulin, growth hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, parathyroid hormone, etanercept, and erythropoietin are available. However, one significant limitation in using these new drugs is often a lack of an efficient drug delivery system, especially where the drug need to be transported across one or more biological barriers at therapeutically effective rates and amounts.
Most drugs are orally administered. However, most protein drugs (e.g., proteins, peptides, and/or nucleic acids, etc.) cannot be effectively adsorbed in this manner due to their degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, poor absorption in intestinal membrane, and/or first pass breakdown by the liver. To circumvent such difficulties, parenteral administration may be employed. Typically such administration relies on injection of the drug into the patient's circulatory system or muscle tissue using standard syringes or catheters. Unfortunately, needle injection often provokes needle phobia, substantial pain, and/or local damage to the skin in many patients. Similarly, withdrawal of body fluids (e.g., whole blood) for diagnostic purposes provokes comparable discomforts. Moreover, and especially where needle injection-based access to body fluids is required for long-term drug administration or long term monitoring of an analyte, numerous challenges arise. For example, needles tend to clog when left over a prolonged period in a patients vascular system. Also, mobility of the patient is generally limited.
Alternatively, transdermal delivery may be employed which usually relies on passive diffusion of a drug across the skin. However, transdermal delivery is often not broadly applicable as the skin presents a relatively effective barrier for numerous drugs (the outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, represents a major barrier to drugs with a molecular weight of greater than about 500 Dalton). Once a drug reaches the dermal region (below the epidermal layer), the drug diffuses rapidly to deep tissue layers and other parts of the system via blood circulation. To improve the rate of drug delivery through the skin, chemical enhancers, iontophoresis, electroporation, ultrasound, and heat elements have been used. However, and depending on the particular drug, such techniques frequently fail to provide a therapeutic level of delivery. Worse yet, such techniques will sometimes provoke undesirable skin reactions for long term drug delivery.
Still other known transdermal drug delivery methods include needle-free particle or liquid injection, which are thought reduce incidence of contamination and accidental injuries. However, liquid injection frequently causes pain, and in some cases even sub-dermal hemorrhage. Similarly, exact and consistent ballistic particle injection is typically difficult to achieve and can also cause micro-bleeding in some cases.
Alternatively, micro-needle drug delivery may be employed in which microscopic needles are used that are prepared by micro-fabrication procedures common in the semiconductor industry. Most of such micro-needle devices are designed for drug delivery through a hollow interior of a needle or along an outer surface of a solid needle. However, most of these needles are made from brittle silicon materials, and needle breakage while the needle is inserted in the skin and/or removed from the skin is frequently encountered, especially with inexperienced users. Other micro-needle devices are used as skin perforators which require subsequent patch drug application. However, such administration often results in inconsistent drug dosages, inconvenient usage, and sometimes even in infections.
Therefore, although there are various methods and devices for drug administration known in the art, all or almost all them suffer from one or more disadvantages. Among other things, currently known methods and devices fail to allow controlled administration drugs, to provide prompt initiation and cut-off of drug delivery with improved safety and efficiency, and convenience. Thus, there is still a need for improved methods and devices to overcome the difficulties outlines above.

Solid micro-perforators and methods of use


The PLC 20 adaptor corresponding to a power line communication apparatus has four PLC bridges 30A to 30D, each of which is correspondingly connected to Ethernet communication connectors 26A to 26D, operation mode setting switches 27A to 27D, display units 28A to 28D. Each PLC bridge 30A to 30D includes a PLC modem unit 301, a bridge unit 302, an Ethernet IF unit 303, and a communication control unit 304. The communication control unit 304 obtains data type information on the basis of setting conditions of switches 27A to 27D corresponding to each communication port. Since the time slot required for the communication link corresponding to the communication port of the PLC network can be obtained on the basis of the data type information, the reservation request can be transmitted to the control terminal.

The present invention relates to a power line communication apparatus and a data relay method, in which an electronic device having a communication function can be connected to a transmission path using a power line as well as a communication interface such as an Ethernet (Registered Trademark), and data can be transmitted between the electronic device and the transmission path.
For example, a system capable of easily implementing communication operations in a house by communicatably connecting a plurality of devices including an information device such as a personal computer and a variety of electric devices such as a television set, a recorder device, a video reproducing device, and an Internet protocol (IP) telephone with one another on a predetermined communication network has been proposed. When a wired data communication is implemented in a house, typically, a cable used as a transmission path or a wire line including connectors should be provided in necessary areas. Therefore, various construction processes are necessary when a communication system is established.
In a house, a commercial electric power voltage, such as AC 120V (60 Hz) or 100V (50/60 Hz) is used in most of the cases. Therefore, a power line for supplying this commercial electric power is already provided in every region in a house. This power line can be used as a transmission path for data communication by connecting a communication device to an electric socket of a commercial electric power to obtain a transmission path without installing a separate wire line for data communication.
Such a power line communication (PLC) technology for using the power line in communication is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-165304. In the present, some manufacturers are studying or developing this PLC technology for a predetermined frequency band (such as 1.7 MHz to 80 MHz in U.S. and 2 MHz to 30 MHz in Japan). Specifically, it has been conceived that multi-carrier signals are generated using a plurality of sub-carriers as in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) method and transmitted through a power line.
In addition, the electric devices having a communication function based on an Internet protocol typically use an Ethernet (Registered Trademark) interface as a standard communication interface. Therefore, when a communication network is constructed by using a power line as a transmission path in a house, it is necessary to provide a bridge unit for relaying data transmission between a power line and an Ethernet (Registered Trademark) communication interface. In this case, in order for the bridge unit to perform communication through the power line, the bridge unit should have an internal modem unit (i.e., a PLC bridge) for power line communication. Otherwise, the bridge unit should have an external modem unit (i.e., a PLC modem unit) for power line communication.
However, a power line wiring in an indoor environment is abnormally complicated, and a wiring condition is significantly different from each building. Therefore, performance of the power line as a transmission path is significantly different in every place in the indoor environment. Furthermore, since types of electric devices connected to this power line are also different, various noises and variations in impedance may possibly occur. For this reason, when communication is performed via the power line, a desired communication rate may not be obtained, or a communication quality may be degraded due to the reduced signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio in comparison with a dedicated wired transmission path.
Accordingly, in the power line communication, a transmission path is predicted in a predetermined timing before or during the communication on a transmission path between a transmit terminal and a receive terminal, transmission path conditions (i.e., transmission path characteristics) such as the S/N ratio are measured in order to set transmission parameters such that a maximum transmission rate (i.e., a bit rate) can be obtained with an allowable range. In this case, as a transmission parameter, modulation factors (i.e., a data duplication rate) of each carrier in a multi-carrier signal are determined. When the condition of the transmission path is satisfactory, a data transmission amount within a unit time interval is increased (i.e., a bit rate is increased) by increasing the modulation factor. On the contrary, when the condition of the transmission path is not satisfactory, the data transmission amount within a unit time interval is reduced (i.e., the bit rate is reduced) by decreasing the modulation factor. As a result, it is possible to reduce an error rate during communication under a predetermined value.
Meanwhile, when various electric devices are connected with one another on a network in a house to transmit streaming data such as video or audio data, it is necessary to guarantee a quality of service (QoS) in order to prevent loss of data.
However, according to a conventional power line communication apparatus, there was no means for guaranteeing the QoS, and it was impossible to obtain a time slot by combining the power line communication with other communication interfaces such as Ethernet (Registered Trademark). Therefore, it was impossible to guarantee a satisfactory QoS when electric devices are connected to transmit the streaming data. As a result, errors such as loss of data may occur.
As described above, in a conventional power line communication apparatus, there was no means for guaranteeing the QoS, and it was impossible to obtain the time slot by combining the power line communication with other communication interfaces such as Ethernet (Registered Trademark). Therefore, it was impossible to guarantee a satisfactory QoS when the connected electric devices transmit streaming data. In addition, it was impossible to allocate the time slot to each communication line for connecting a predetermined electric device or control the priority.

Power line communication apparatus and data relay method


An information processing device, including: a memory; a processing unit which operates a virtual machine, an operating system which is executed on the virtual machine, and a hypervisor which controls the virtual machine; and a control unit which controls a system including the memory and the processor. The processing unit stops the operating system when detecting an error of the hypervisor, notifies the control unit of a first memory area used by the hypervisor, stops the hypervisor, changes a memory area used by the hypervisor into a second memory area different from the first memory area notified by the control unit, starts the hypervisor using the second memory area as an available area, starts the operating system, and reads data in the first memory area, and writes the data to a file as a dump file of the hypervisor.

Recently, a UNIX (registered trademark) server and an IA server have been introduced to a core system, and the high availability of the UNIX (registered trademark) server and the IA server is emphasized. Generally, when there occurs a fatal error in a system, the system is stopped in an emergency, and the memory dump is stored on the disc for search of the cause of the error.
While stopping the system, the system is not used. Therefore, it is very important to quickly restart the system.
However, in recent years, a server implemented with memory of a capacity in the terabyte (TB) order has been introduced. In such a system, it takes a long time to extract a memory dump, and a system is not quickly restarted.
There are also a method of storing memory contents at an emergency stop on another memory unit without storing a memory dump on a disc, and a method of storing apart of memory and converting the memory contents not stored after a restart into a dump file.
However, in the conventional methods, a memory dump at the occurrence of an abnormal condition is stored on another memory unit or disc. Therefore, if a large size of memory dump is to be stored, it takes a long time to copy the memory, thereby disabling the system to be quickly restarted.
When an operating system detects a fatal error and the system is stopped in an emergency, the operating system which has detected an abnormal condition extracts a dump. Therefore, the abnormal condition is detected again while dumping memory, thereby causing a secondary damage such as an occurrence of a hang-up etc.

Information processing device with memory dump function, memory dump method, and recording medium


A bowling pin storage bin assembly for use as part of a bowling pin delivery system of a pinspotter apparatus, as well as a method of manufacturing such bin. The storage bin is molded as a one-piece article having a plurality of cavities or pockets for storing bowling pins in an essentially horizontal plane above a pin spotter and for delivering the pins to a plurality of pin cups or a pin spotter for spotting on a pin deck.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bowling pin storage bin for use as part of a bowling pin delivery system of a pinspotter apparatus, as well as a method of manufacturing such bin. More particularly, in a particular embodiment, the storage bin of the invention is molded as a one-piece article having a plurality of cavities or pockets for storing bowling pins in an essentially horizontal plane above a pin spotter and for delivering the pins to a plurality of pin cups or a pin spotter for spotting on a pin deck.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
A pin spotting apparatus performs a number of conventional functions in the sport of bowling, and it includes the necessary mechanical and electrical components therefor. Included in these functions are stopping the bowler's ball, returning the ball to the bowler, setting the pins at the beginning of a frame, and resetting pins for a second ball of the frame if a strike is not scored.
During successive bowling frames, the pins which are knocked down and pins that remain standing after each frame are generally delivered directly to the spotting machine or to a storage device from which pins are supplied on demand. The mechanical components of a pin spotting apparatus include the cushion, which stops the ball and deflects it to the pit area to be returned to the bowler; the sweep, which removes fallen pins from the pin deck and adjacent gutters; the carpet, which is a belt that carries the fallen pins to the pin elevator, where they are can-led up to the distributor; the pin elevator, which carries the pins from the pit area and delivers them to the distributor; the distributor, which delivers the pins from the pin elevator to the bin assembly; the ball lift, which lifts the ball to a height that will enable gravity to return the ball to the bowler; the bin and shuttle assembly, the bin of which stores pins received from the distributor until the pins are ready for spotting, and the shuttle of which is movably mounted beneath the bin to allow stored pins to be dropped into the pin-spotting table; and the pin-spotting table, which performs the spotting and re-spotting functions by means of two assemblies, i.e., the yoke assembly, which supports ten spotting cups, and the table assembly, which houses ten re-spot cell assemblies. Once the pins are spotted, or re-spotted, the lane is ready for the game to continue or for a new game to begin.
It is desirable to provide pins to the pin spotting machines rapidly so that a game of bowling can be played swiftly without undue delays. It is important, therefore, that the pin distributing system keeps pace with the spotting machine and provides pins rapidly thereto and in a position for spotting on the pin deck. It is also important that any such mechanism minimize the likelihood of jams, misplaced pins or other failure which would take an alley out of service and/or cause and unacceptable delay in a game of bowling.
Prior bowling pin distribution systems include the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,109.That system includes a mechanical pin distribution structure combined with an electrical operating system for programming the sequence of pin distribution. The distributor includes a conveyor having a cantilevered arm which swings transversely above a receiver to which pins are delivered. The principal mechanical parts other than the swinging distributor are simple elements which deflect pins to assigned locations in the receiver. The distributor is indexed to move successively to various positions by a central control system to appropriately distribute the pins to the receiver.
The receiver of the U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,109 system includes a storage section, or storage bin, that defines a plurality of ten pin-receiving pockets arranged in a pattern that conforms to the regulation array of pins spotted on a bowling alley. The storage section is supported from beneath by a frame, the frame and storage section being positioned below the distributor and above a spotting table. Each of the ten pin-receiving pockets is bottomless and the opening at the bottom of the pocket is obstructed by one of a plurality of bin cups. Each of the bin cups has an internal shape which is compatible with that of a bowling pin and, when positioned, is adapted to cradle a bowling pin. Subsequently, the cups rotate to drop their pins to be positioned on the spotting table.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,410 discloses a similar system. Pin storage bins of the pin distribution systems of both of these patents are made from sheet steel and various ancillary components.
FIG. 1 of the attached drawing illustrates an example of a known pin spotter bin 1, constructed largely of sheet steel from hundreds of parts, having ten pin cavities 2a-2j. Among these many parts are pin guides 3 within the cavities, bin assembly brackets 4 with bumpers 5, spacers 6, left and right pin guides 7, 8, pin butt guides 9, channels 10, 11 and stringers 12 between the channels, as well as a multitude of springs, nuts, bolts, sleeves, brackets, etc. The metal bin of FIG. 1 holds twenty pins (not shown), one in each cavity as well as a second layer of ten pins lying on top of the cavity-held layer of ten pins.
As an improvement over the aforementioned bowling pin distribution systems, which are largely manufactured from sheet steel and various ancillary components, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,418 discloses a storage bin, or pin-spotter bin, molded from plastic. Intended advantages of this storage bin were to include a simplified design, enabling the system of which it is a component to require fewer parts, therefore contributing to durability of the system, facilitating and minimizing maintenance, thereby reducing alley down time. In addition, the disclosed bin was intended to be relatively easy to manufacture and install, both at a relatively low cost compared to the prior storage bins. Further, a plastic bin would reduce noise caused by pin impacts during use, and the surfaces of the pins would not be marred or scratched as they are during impacts with current metal bins. The specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,418 explains that a rotational molding method of fabrication, sometimes referred to as "rotomolding," can be used to make a plastic bin according to the disclosure, using a linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
Despite the intended advantages of the storage bin of U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,418 and advances that would be made over the prior art and bins in current use, problems have been identified that prevent such molded bins from functioning optimally and that have prevented such a bin from becoming commercially acceptable.
Rotational molding, which relies upon gravity acting upon molten plastic inside a mold, is known to be used for the manufacture of large, hollow-shaped articles, such as boat hulls, fuel and storage tanks, shells for luggage, and various types of containers. A quantity of polymer powder is loaded into the interior of a two-part mold, which is then heated and rotated simultaneously about two perpendicular axes, thereby spreading the polymer particles onto all internal surfaces of the mold, the heated polymer becoming fused into a single melted layer. While continuing to be rotated, the mold is then cooled so that the plastic layer becomes solidified. The mold is then opened and the plastic article is removed.
Because the coating of the internal walls of the mold with the melted plastic is done by gravity rather than by centrifugal force, rotational speeds are relatively slow. However, rotomolding is typically preferred for making articles that have more complex geometries, for relatively larger articles, and ones that have lower production quantities than, say, blow molding or related molding processes that are used to make hollow parts from thermoplastics. Accordingly, the one-piece bin of U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,418,which is a hollow piece having a relatively complex geometry, is disclosed as being made by rotomolding. Mention is made that another method of fabrication could be used, although not described. U.S. Design Pat. No. 366,510 provides further views of the bin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,418 cites low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as an example of a material from which the bin can be made by the disclosed process of rotomolding. However, due to the nature of the rotomolding process and the hollow structure that characterizes the article produced by that process, even high-density polyethylene (HDPE), regarded by persons skilled in the technology as the best material that could be used, i.e., providing somewhat greater stiffness at a somewhat greater cost, does not have the necessary impact resistance to create a bin that could function very long without cracking or succumbing to material fatigue.
In addition to potential problems associated with the materials and the construction of the bin of U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,418,the particular geometries of the ten pockets, or cavities, disclosed therein are not found to be optimum in efficiently receiving pins from the distributor for being temporarily stored and made ready for being fed to the spotting table.

Storage bin for pin-spotter apparatus for bowling, and method of manufacture thereof


A fluid infusion system includes a pump having a body that slidably interacts with a handle. The body includes a valve housing fluid coupled with an inlet passageway, an outlet passageway, and a dispensing barrel. A finger rest rigidly projects from the dispensing barrel. A loading chamber is recessed within the finger rest and is configured to receive a fluid supply syringe. A plunger, mounted to the handle, is slidably received within the dispensing barrel. As the plunger is advanced within the barrel, fluid is dispensed from the pump. As the plunge is retracted within the barrel, the barrel is automatically filed with a fluid. The nozzle of the pump is fluid coupled to a hemostasis valve which is in turn fluid coupled to an infusion catheter. The infusion catheter has a distal end with an enlarged tip opening and a plurality of small infusion holes extending through the side thereof. An annular sensing ridge radially inwardly projects from the interior of the catheter at the tip opening. An occluding wire has an enlarged occluding ball positioned at the end thereof and is configured to occlude the distal end of the catheter. Projecting from the occluding ball on the side opposite of the positioning wire is a coiled spring wire. The spring wire vibrates against the sensing ridge as it passes therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid dispensing systems, move particularly, fluid infusion systems for repeatedly injecting a predetermined amount of a fluid into the vascular system of a patient through a catheter.
2. The Relevant Technology
A reasonably common and dangerous medical condition arises when a blood clot develops in the vascular system of the body of a patient. A blood clot or thrombus can endanger the health of a patient in at least two significant ways. First, the clot may restrict or even completely stop essential blood flow to a portion of the patient's body. If the blood flow to the brain or heart for example is restricted the patient's life may be placed in jeopardy. Additionally, a clot may break loose from the site at which it formed and be carried by the blood stream to an organ, such as the heart or the lungs, where it may cause irreparable damage or even death. Accordingly, when a blood clot is detected, it must be quickly and effectively treated.
One method involves surgery to remove the clot and repair the blood vessel. A less invasive method uses thrombolytic drugs to break up, or lyse, the thrombus. This method of treating a blood clot consists of inserting a catheter into the patient's vascular system, preferably near the site of the clot. If the catheter enters the vascular system near the clot, the catheter alone may be used. If, for a variety of reasons, the catheter must be inserted into the vascular system at a distance from the clot, placement of the catheter may be aided by using an introducer sheath and a guide wire, which can be used to push and guide the catheter through the vessels or arteries of the vascular system to reach the clot.
Once the catheter is positioned at the site of the clot, a thrombolytic fluid capable of dissolving the clot, such as urokinase or streptokinase, is delivered to the site of the clot by means of the catheter. Conventional catheters have a lumen, i.e., an internal passage, that allows the thrombolytic fluid to flow through the catheter to one or more discharge openings at or near the distal end of the catheter. The discharged thrombolytic fluid then dissolves or lyses the clot, thus removing the danger to the patient. In addition, the mechanical force of the fluid spraying out of the openings can also help to break up the thrombus.
Not all clots are easily or successfully lysed. Some clots form around arterial lesions, which clots may not be easily lysed or broken up by the thrombolytic fluid and which usually require surgical removal. Additionally, some clots may be extremely thick, extending for a relatively long distance through a blood vessel of the circulatory system. Such a thick clot may require considerable amounts of time and heavy irrigation of thrombolytic fluid to dissolve.
Typically, a guidewire is used in conjunction with a catheter to facilitate placement of the catheter. The guidewire can also serve to penetrate the clot in order to form a passage therethrough so that the catheter can be inserted within the interior of the clot. This helps to ensure that the thrombolytic fluid is concentrated or focused at the location of the clot, since excessive thrombolytic fluid in the bloodstream can have adverse effects on the patient.
After the guide wire has been used to create a narrow passage through the clot, particularly a thick clot, the thrombolytic fluid is released through the one or more openings within the catheter. In the beginning stages of thrombolytic therapy, thrombolysis was carried out using a catheter with a single opening at the distal end of the catheter. Methods employing a simple catheter required movement of the catheter from one end of the clot to the other while dispensing the thrombolytic fluid in order to adequately distribute the fluid over the entire length of the thrombus.
Subsequent attempts have been made to improve the dissolution of blood clots by forcefully injecting a dissolving agent simultaneously along the length of the blood clot. In one such approach, the catheter has a large tip opening and a plurality of small side opening positioned at the distal end of the catheter. The tip opening is used for placement of the catheter. Initially, a long thin guide wire is slid into the vascular system such that the distal end of the guidewire extends through the blood clot. Next, the end of the guidewire outside the body of the patient is received within the tip opening of the catheter. The catheter is then slid over the guidewire, while holding the guidewire stationary, until the side openings in the catheter are positioned within the blood clot. Once the catheter is positioned, the guidewire is removed while holding the catheter stationary.
To force the dissolving agent to pass through the side openings in the catheter, it is first necessary to block or occlude the large tip opening. This is accomplished by inserting a thin placement wire having an enlarged occluding ball at the distal end thereof into the end of the catheter outside of the patient. The placement wire is advanced until the occluding ball is sealingly disposed at the tip opening. With the placement wire still inside the catheter, the proximal end of the catheter is fluid coupled with a two syringe pumping system for injecting the dissolving agent into the catheter and out through the side openings thereof.
The syringe system includes a conventional first syringe coupled to one end of a valve housing having a pair of opposing check valves formed therein. The opposing end of the valve housing is coupled to the proximal end of the catheter. A conventional second syringe is filled with the dissolving fluid and is coupled to the side of the valve housing. As the plunger of the first syringe is manually drawn back, fluid is drawn from the second syringe into the first syringe. A first check valve within the valve housing blocks communication with the catheter to prevent body fluid from being sucked into the catheter, and into the first syringe. Once a sufficient amount of dissolving fluid is drawn into the first syringe, the plunger thereof is pushed forward. Simultaneously, the first check valve is opened and a second check valve, which block access to the second syringe, is closed. As a result, the dissolving fluid is dispensed into the catheter and out through the side openings, thereby forcefully flowing against the blood clot. The process is then continually repeated by again manually pulling back and advancing the plunger of the first syringe until the blood clot is dissolved. Treatment may take from 50 to more than 250 injections depending on the protocol used.
Although useful, there are several shortcomings associated with the above described system. For example, since the catheter tip is located within the body of the patient, it is difficult for the surgeon to determine when the occluding ball of the placement wire is approaching the catheter tip. Although the tip is slightly tapered for seating of the occluding ball, if the surgeon pushes too hard on the occluding wire, the occluding ball can be pushed through the tip opening. If this happens, the catheter and placement wire must be removed and the process of placement repeated.
Furthermore, to ensure that the proper amount of dissolving agent is dispensed through the first syringe, the person administering the treatment must carefully measure the amount of dissolving fluid that is drawn into the syringe. This delicate measuring must be performed each time an injection is made, as there is variability from dose to dose. As a result of this required measuring, the rate at which the fluid is dispensed is substantially reduced. If too much dissolving fluid is drawn into the first syringe, the first syringe must be removed from the valve assembly in order to dispense the excess fluid. In this case, the excess fluid, which is very expensive, is lost. Furthermore, having to remove and reattach the first syringe increases the likelihood of introducing an air bubble into the system. The introduction of an air bubble into the vascular system can be life threatening.
An additional problem with the above system is that filling the first syringe typically requires two hands. That is, one hand holds and stabilizes the barrel of the syringe while the other hand pulls back the plunger. The use of two hands is further necessitated by the fact that the first syringe must be filled to an exacting amount as discussed above. The requirement that the surgeon use both hands to operate the first syringe and that the surgeon continually concentrate on the first syringe to insure that the first syringe is not over filled, limits the ability of the surgeon to simultaneously perform other tasks, such as stabilizing the catheter and concentrating on the status of the patient.
Yet another problem with the above syringe system is that conventional syringes dispense by compressing the plunger with the thumb while holding the barrel with the index and middle finger. Although such a system is fine for singular doses, it is preferred in the present system to repeatedly inject the dissolving fluid at short intervals and under high pressures. By using only two fingers and a thumb to operate the first syringe, only minimal pressure can be produced. Furthermore, the hand quickly tires and cramps by using such small and isolated muscles.
The configuration of the above syringe system is also less than optimal. For example, the first and second syringes as discussed above are long narrow plastic syringes that project at rights angles to each other with their nozzles closely connected. Each syringe is rigidly connected to the valve assembly. In light of the repeatedly applied force to the first syringe, the positioning of the second syringe relative to the first syringe enhances the risk that the second syringe could be broken off or come loose from the valve assembly. For example, should the surgeon slip during pumping of the first syringe or make any fast hand movements, the surgeon could unintentionally catch the second syringe and potentially break it off.
Finally, yet another problem with the present system is that as a result of the multiple syringes and check valves, it is difficult to debubble the system. That is, all air must be removed from the system prior to injection of the fluid into the vascular system. Debubbling of the prior art system can require relatively large amounts of dissolving fluid to be run therethrough to ensure that the air bubbles are removed. Such fluid can be very expensive and wasteful. The use of two check valves also increases the number of moving parts and thus increase the likelihood of mechanical failure.


Process for fastening an accessory to a hollow body obtained by molding a molten plastic parison, this fastening taking place by snap-riveting with the aid of a tool during the actual molding of the parison, according to which, before carrying out the snap-riveting, the parison is locally deformed so as to surround the snap-riveting zone with a dome, the snap-riveting zone being also in relief (hollow) compared to the rest of the accessory.

Fuel tanks on board vehicles of various kinds must generally meet sealing and permeability standards in relation to the type of usage for which they are designed and the environmental requirements with which they must comply. Both in Europe and throughout the world we are currently experiencing a considerable tightening of the requirements concerned with limiting the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere and into the environment in general.
To limit these emissions, care is taken in particular to position the accessories (ventilation lines, valves, baffles, stiffeners, etc.) inside the tank and, to limit the number of openings through its wall, the Applicant has developed a method of initially molding a parison that includes at least one slot for introducing thereinto (and fastening thereto) accessories during the actual molding of the tank and thus avoiding drilling openings (see, in particular, Application EP 1 110 697).
The Applicant has also developed a particular method for this fastening (in situ snap-riveting, the subject of Application WO 2006/008308, the content of which is, for this purpose, incorporated by reference into the present application) and also improvements that are respectively the subject of international Applications WO 2007/093573 and PCT/EP 2008/059042 in the name of the Applicant, the content of which is also incorporated by reference into the present application.
The object of the aforementioned Application WO 2007/093573 is to provide a process that allows an accessory to be incorporated into a plastic fuel tank during its manufacture by molding, without generating deformations after the tank has cooled, when the accessory is fastened thereto. In this process, the accessory is provided, at least one of its fastening points, with a fastening part such that, although the accessory is fastened to the wall of the tank, it can move relative to the corresponding fastening point on the wall of the tank.
Although this approach makes it possible to solve the deformations generated by the differential shrinkage of the accessory and of the tank during post-molding cooling, the Applicant has however observed the formation of a hollow (depression or concave relief when seen from outside the tank, convex relief when seen from the inside) in the wall of the tank and to the right of the location where the accessory is fastened. Moreover, depending on the geometry of the accessory, the Applicant has also noticed in certain cases the appearance of beads of material trapping at least one portion of the accessory in the wall of the tank, which adversely affects the aforementioned mobility and the homogeneity of the parison (with leakage risks that result therefrom).

Process for fastening an accessory to a plastic hollow body

INERGY AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS RESEARCH (Societe Anonyme)


Various embodiments for providing multi-band operation in a mobile computing device are described. In one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device may be arranged to support quad-band GSM communication in the GSM-850, GSM-900, GSM-1800, and GSM-1900 frequency bands. The mobile computing device may be arranged to determine a starting frequency band based on the home country and home network. By using the determined starting frequency band associated with the home country and home network of the user, fewer and/or shorter delays may be experienced when searching for and acquiring an available frequency. Once a network search is completed, the mobile computing device may be arranged to determine whether a network can be found in current frequency band pair for normal service, to disconnect from the acquired network if normal service is not supported, and to intelligently search for an available frequency in a different frequency band. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A mobile computing device such as a combination handheld computer and mobile telephone or smart phone generally may provide voice and data communications functionality, as well as computing and processing capabilities. In some cases, a smart phone may support communication over a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network. In general, four frequency bands are used by most GSM mobile computing devices: the 850 MHz frequency band (GSM-850), the 900 MHz frequency band (GSM-900), the 1800 MHz frequency band (GSM-1800), and the 1900 MHz frequency band (GSM-1900), as defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).
In the United States, Canada, and many other countries in the Americas, GSM-850 and GSM-1900 are used for GSM service. In most international countries, however, GSM-900 and GSM-1800 are used for GSM service. A GSM mobile computing device may be configured to operate using only certain frequency bands such as GSM-850 and/or GSM-1900, if sold in the United States for example. While the 850 MHz band is close to the 900 MHz band and the 1900 MHz band is close to the 1800 MHz band, a mobile computing device configured to work using only GSM-850 and/or GSM-1900 will not work in the 900 MHz frequency band or the 1800 MHz frequency band. As a result, the mobile computing device of an international traveler often may be incompatible with the frequency band or frequency band pair used at the destination.
Many frequency-compatibility problems may be avoided through the use of a multi-band mobile computing device that supports background scanning and switching among different frequency bands. Supporting multiple frequency bands, however, may result in long delays, high roaming charges, and/or device lock-up when searching for an available or preferred frequency band. Accordingly, there exists the need for an improved apparatus and methods for providing multi-band operation in a mobile computing device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and methods for providing multi-band operation in a mobile computing device

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The method and apparatus employ a resilient element having end definition points that are constrained between stops spaced apart at a separation S. The separation S is less than a free length L between the end definition points when not constrained, causing the resilient element to bow and resulting in a displacement m of a central region of the resilient element. The displacement m changes responsive to the net change in the separation S and the free length L. When the geometry is set such that the displacement m is very small, a relatively large change in displacement m results from small net changes. The change in the displacement m can be monitored to provide a micro strain gauge. The stops can be mounted to a substrate which differs from the resilient element in its response to a selected environmental stimulus to provide a sensor for the environmental stimulus.

The monitoring of length changes of an element in response to exposure to an environmental parameter has been classically used to monitor changes in the environment. A fiber's length has been long used to monitor changes in weather conditions, such as in the classic weather predictor having a witch and children in a house, where the change in the length of the fiber causes the witch and children to rotate into and out of the house through a mechanical linkage.
Similarly, thermal expansion has been commonly used to monitor temperature change. One example of such a device is the use of a bimetallic strip to measure temperature changes by monitoring the change in curvature of the strip caused by the differential expansion of the elements of the strip.
While the above techniques offer a convenient way to measure environmental changes, the sensitivity of these techniques is limited by the sensitivity of the instruments that are currently available to measure the incremental changes resulting from the environmental changes. Direct observation or the use of mechanical linkages are reasonably easy to implement, but are relatively insensitive techniques for measuring and/or amplifying length changes. The changes in length from expansion can be measured more accurately by piezoelectric sensors, optical interferometry, semiconductor strain gauges, and many other techniques which increase the sensitivity of the response to the change in the environmental parameter.
However, even the most sensitive of these techniques for measuring expansion cannot measure very small changes, that is, expansions on the order of one part in a trillion. For example, a temperature increase of only 5 millionths of a degree Centigrade in a 1 millimeter length of aluminum creates a thermal expansion of one part in a trillion.

Mechanical amplification of small dimensional changes using bowing


A method for coordinating transactions for domain names to register a plurality of domain names with a domain name portfolio stored in a storage, such that each of the domain names in a plurality of domain names belongs to only the domain name portfolio as a unique member of the domain name portfolio; associate a portfolio account with the domain name portfolio, the portfolio account configured for managing a pool of funds available for use in payment of the transactions for said each of the domain names of the plurality of domain names; receive credit payment instructions attributed to the portfolio account, the credit payment instructions containing a credit payment amount; record the credit payment amount against the pool of funds in order to increase a level of the pool of funds; receive debit payment instructions associated with a domain name of the domain name portfolio and domain name transaction information associated with the transaction for the domain name; record the debit payment amount against the pool of funds in order to decrease the level of the pool of funds; and generate and send a periodic report over the network detailing the level of the pool of funds and the transaction applied against two or more of the domain names as members of the domain name portfolio.

Currently, it is overly complicated for registrants to manage all of their TLDs, especially in a multi TLD environment. It is common in today's environment for a registrant to utilize a separate account for each TLD managed by a registry operator. Accordingly, the registrant must utilize different login credentials for each account for a respective TLD, as well as to manage disparate pools of funds to pay for actions (e.g. renew) implemented on the TLD by the registry operator.

Coordinating transactions for domain names administered using a domain name portfolio


A vertical forms control apparatus for a printer, and a printing method, which corrects dot pitch errors in the subscanning direction. A paper feeding control apparatus is provided with a print head scanned in a direction of paper width and having a plurality (N) of dot forming elements aligned with a dot pitch (P) in a direction in which the paper is advanced, a pulse motor connected to a paper advancing mechanism via a transmission such that the pulse motor requires a plurality of steps to make a rotation corresponding to the dot pitch (P), and a microcomputer for outputting drive pulses to the pulse motor 1, the drive pulses indicating the number-of-steps-for-an-advancement-of-one-line (P.times.N) plus correction steps. In printing across a plurality of lines with the lines connected together, if blank spaces or overlaps are developed, pulses in a number required for rotating the pulse motor in an amount corresponding to the width of the blank spaces or overlaps are added to or subtracted from a standard value so that the pulse motor undergoes a correct amount of rotation for each line. By this arrangement, errors between lines due to machining errors of parts can be corrected so that image data formed of a plurality of lines can be printed with a high quality with no blank spaces and overlaps.

The present invention relates to a paper feeding control apparatus for a serial printer in which a print head has a plurality of dot forming elements aligned in the paper-advancing direction and is scanned in the direction of paper width to print line by line, or a page printer using band memories.
A serial printer prints the entire surface of a sheet of recording paper by forming dots thereon while the print head is scanned in a direction of the paper width in such a way that the paper is advanced by one line each time the print head comes to the end of a line.
This type of printer is designed to print not only characters but also logotypes, enlarged characters, and graphics where a plurality of lines are used to print a single pattern. Thus, the number of steps of a pulse motor as well as the diameters of paper-advancing rollers and gear train ratio are selected so that the paper is accurately advanced a distance equal to N.times.P, where N is the number of dot forming elements of the print head and P is the pitch of dot forming elements.
However, the paper is not necessarily advanced in the precise manner intended due to dimensional errors of parts and assembly variations of the apparatus. Thus, in printing patterns aligned in the direction in which the paper is advanced, if the actual paper advancement per line is greater than the design value, then a blank A is left, as shown in FIG. 11A. Conversely, if the amount of actual paper advancement is smaller than the design value, then an overlap B is produced, as shown in FIG. 11B. This results in a poor printing quality.
Further, in a printer where a paper ejecting roller is designed to have a peripheral speed a little faster than paper advancement to ensure that the printed recording paper is properly ejected into a ejection tray, the recording paper is pulled by the ejecting roller, as a result of which the paper speed slightly shifts before and after passing this roller. This causes an error in a paper advancement for one line, producing blanks in a printed pattern.
Further, in a wire dot printer or the like, when the printer is used to print on a variety of recording sheets from very thick record media to very thin record media, e.g., when printing many sheets simultaneously, and printing a single sheet of paper, there may exist slight differences in paper advancement as the paper thickness is changed. Particularly, in the case where characters are printed on a ruled continuous paper such as slip paper, the printed characters may deviate from the ruled lines, and the end position of the printing may not be at a perforation of the paper for page section.
Still further, in a page printer using the band memory method where image data for one page is divided into a plurality of sections and stored in a memory, carriage error of a recording-paper advancing mechanism such as a photosensitive drum results in unprinted blanks or overlapped prints between bit map data divided into two adjacent bands.

Paper feeding control apparatus and method for printers


A nebulizer dispenser has a T-piece, a body sealingly coupled to the T-piece and configured to contain a liquid medication, and a breathing piece sealingly coupled to the T-piece. The dispenser also has a ball-and-socket joint coupled between the T-piece and either the breathing piece or the body. The ball-and-socket joint allows relative rotational motion of the T-piece in a pitch axis, a yaw axis, and a roll axis.

Field
The present disclosure generally relates to nebulizers and, in particular, nebulizer dispensers that allow for adjustment of the position of the breathing piece relative to the body of the dispenser.
Description of the Related Art
Medications for certain respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are often administered as an inhaled aerosol to improve delivery of the medication to the lungs. A nebulizer, also referred to as a "nebuliser," is a medical device which uses mechanical energy to transform a liquid medication into an aerosol. A nebulizer may use compressed air forced through a nozzle to break up the liquid medication into tiny globules or may use ultrasonic or vibrating-mesh mechanisms to mechanically generate the tiny globules of liquid medication.
Nebulizers are available in various sizes, including tabletop units that are plugged into an electrical outlet, such as shown in FIG. 1A, and hand-held nebulizers, such as shown in FIG. 2 that run on batteries or can be plugged into a car's cigarette lighter. The aerosol mist created by either type of nebulizer is delivered to the patient through either a mask, such as shown in FIG. 3, a nasal piece, such as shown in FIG. 4, or a mouthpiece that fits into the mouth, as shown in FIG. 1B. These various prior art arrangements will be discussed in greater detail below.
Conventional designs for nebulizer dispensers do not allow sufficient adjustment to enable proper placement of the breathing piece proximate to the patient's mouth, nose, or face, depending on the type of breathing piece, for varying patient positions. As a result, caregivers are forced to adjust the position of the patient so that they may use the nebulizer. This may result in wasted time and patient discomfort. Use of a nebulizer in other than the intended position and orientation may also result in sub-standard treatment due to medication lost because of a poor fit of the breathing piece to the patient or inadequate nebulizer operation due to the position of the nebulizer during treatment.


Techniques for controlling wagering game environments are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for controlling a casino wagering game environment includes determining a plurality of zones in the casino wagering game environment, wherein the zones include one or more wagering game machines. The method can also include presenting wagering games on the wagering game machines in the wagering game environment, and detecting an event in the wagering game environment, the event triggering a bonus game for which a plurality of players have a possibility of winning an award. The method can also include determining one or more of the zones in which to present media associated with the bonus game, and presenting, in the one or more zones, the media associated with the bonus game. The method can also include determining a winner of the bonus game, and providing the award to the winner.

Casinos typically offer wagering game machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like. Generally, the popularity of such machines depends on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing wagering game machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd casino operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for wagering game machine manufacturers to continuously develop technologies that enhance the gaming experience and attract frequent play.


A security system that is associated with a customer network includes first, second, and third security perimeters. The first security perimeter includes a set of content delivery network (CDN) devices configured to provide first protection against a network attack associated with the customer network. The second security perimeter includes a set of mitigation devices configured to provide second protection in terms of mitigation services as a result of a network attack associated with the customer network. The third security perimeter includes a set of hierarchy devices configured to provide third protection against a network attack associated with the customer network.

1. Field of the Invention
Implementations described herein relate generally to network security and, more particularly, to security perimeters that may be used to protect a customer network from network attacks.
2. Description of Related Art
Network attacks are a real, growing threat to businesses worldwide. These attacks can quickly incapacitate a targeted business, costing victims thousands, if not millions, of dollars in lost revenue and productivity.
One type of network attack, called a denial of service attack, can paralyze Internet systems by overwhelming servers, network links, and network devices (e.g., routers, firewalls, etc.) with bogus traffic. Easily launched against limited defenses, network attacks not only target individual web sites or other servers at the edge of the network, but they also can incapacitate the network itself.
The growing dependence on the Internet makes the impact of successful network attacks increasingly painful (financially and otherwise) for service providers, enterprises, and government agencies. Newer, more powerful tools used by network attackers promise to unleash even more destructive attacks in the months and years to come.
Because denial of service attacks are among the most difficult to defend against, responding to them appropriately and effectively poses a tremendous challenge for all Internet-dependent organizations. Network devices and current perimeter security technologies, such as firewalls and intrusion detection devices (IDDs), although important components of an overall security strategy, do not by themselves provide comprehensive network attack protection.
Current techniques fall short in terms of prevention and/or mitigation of network attacks. Some of the more popular network attack responses, such as blackholing and router filtering, are not optimized to deal with increasingly sophisticated attacks. IDDs offer some excellent attack detection capabilities, but cannot mitigate the impact of the attacks. Firewalls offer a rudimentary level of protection but, like blackholing and router filtering, they were not designed to protect against the types of advanced attacks that are so common today. Still other strategies, such as overprovisioning, do not provide adequate protection against ever larger attacks, and can be costly as a network attack prevention strategy.
Network attacks also make it difficult to keep up with the constant system patching and upgrading required for a successful security system. Many times, implementing significant patches or upgrades is a disruptive event within a customer's network. While overall service disruption can be avoided in a multiple server environment, it still takes time to determine the impact of the patch on the customer's applications and then perform the upgrades.


A karaoke reproducing apparatus is equipped a measure for easily checking whether a music piece selected by the user has correctly been accepted or not. The apparatus has a memory in which music title name information of each of the music pieces recorded on a recording medium has previously been stored. When one of the plurality of music pieces is selected by an operation, the music title name information of the selected music piece is soon displayed by characters. The apparatus also has memory means in which music piece classification information of each of the music pieces recorded on the recording medium has previously been stored. An item content selection command to designate the contents of at least one of a plurality of different items included in the music piece classification information is generated in accordance with an operation. The music piece corresponding to the contents of at least one item indicated by the item content selection command is searched for by using the information from the memory means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a karaoke reproducing apparatus which has a recording medium on which karaoke playing sounds of a plurality of music pieces have been recorded and which is used to reproduce the playing sounds of selected one of the plurality of music pieces.
The invention further relates to a recording disc on which information such as characters, figure, and the like have been recorded as an image and to an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recording information from such a recording disc.
2. Description of Background Information
Karaoke reproducing apparatuses are generally designed that a music piece selection number (music piece code) which is predetermined for each music piece is input by a key operation when the user selects a desired music piece from a plurality of karaoke music pieces. After the music piece selection number has been input as mentioned above, when the playing order of the desired music piece comes, the karaoke playing sound of the music piece corresponding to the music piece selection number is generated from the karaoke reproducing apparatus.
In conventional karaoke reproducing apparatuses, some apparatuses are devised to display the music piece selection number which has been input by the key operation so as to allow the user to confirm whether or not the key operation by the user has been correctly executed. However, when the key operation is performed by a user who has mistaken the correspondence between the desired music piece and the music piece selection number, the user will not notice such a mistake when seeing only the display of the music piece selection number. This will result that the desired music piece is not actually outputted from the karaoke reproducing apparatus as a playing sound, after the lapse of a long waiting time.
Furthermore, when selecting a music piece, the user cannot select the music piece unless he knows at least a music title name or a singer name of the music piece which he wants to sing.
In some conventional karaoke reproducing apparatuses, external apparatuses such as illuminating apparatus, background video image apparatus, and the like are controlled in correspondence to the karaoke playing sound obtained by playing the recording medium. For instance, in the case of the illuminating apparatus, color and illuminance of the illumination change in accordance with the karaoke playing music piece. In the case of the background video image apparatus, the background video image of the word video image of the playing music piece which is displayed on the display corresponds to the contents of the playing music piece. Such external control information has previously been stored in a memory in the karaoke reproducing apparatus every music piece. When a music piece is selected, the corresponding external control information is read out from the memory, thereby controlling the external apparatus.
In the conventional karaoke reproducing apparatus, however, in the case of controlling the external apparatus in accordance with the karaoke playing in a real-time manner, it is necessary to set the external apparatus into an operative set state before playing every music piece. Due to this, since control set information of the external apparatus of the number as many as the number of music pieces which can be selected must be stored into the memory, there is a problem such that a capacity of the memory and costs increase. When a new karaoke music piece is added, since control set information of the external apparatus of the new music piece must be preliminarily stored into the memory, the troublesome operation is necessary.
On the other hand, in the conventional karaoke reproducing apparatus, the external apparatuses such as illuminating apparatus, background video image apparatus, and the like are controlled in a real-time manner in correspondence to the karaoke playing sound obtained by the playing of the recording medium. In this case, real-time data has been recorded together with the playing sound on the recording medium. When playing, the real-time data is read out from the recording medium together with the playing sound. In accordance with the read-out real-time data, for example, in the case of the illuminating apparatus, the color and illuminance of the illumination change, and in the case of the background video image apparatus, the background video image of the word video image of the playing music piece which is displayed on the display corresponds to the contents of the playing music piece.
In such a conventional karaoke reproducing apparatus which controls the external apparatus in accordance with the karaoke playing in a real-time manner, however, the real-time data must be provided for each external apparatus to be controlled. Namely, as for the real-time data recorded on the recording medium, there is a fixed relationship between the real-time data and the external apparatus which is to be controlled by the data, as in the case of a real-time data that is solely used for controlling the illuminating apparatus. There is no freedom of degree such that an arbitrary external apparatus is connected or the control contents are changed in accordance with the external apparatus which is connected.
In the karaoke system, further, there is known a system in which in addition to the operation such that a karaoke music piece and a voice sound of a singer are synthesized and outputted as an audio sound, a video image corresponding to the atmosphere of the karaoke music piece and the words information of the music piece are displayed, thereby supporting the singer.
In such a karaoke system, recording information is read out from a recording disc such as LD (Laser Disc), CD (Compact Disc), or the like, on which audio signals, video signals, and character signals to form words corresponding to karaoke music pieces have been recorded, the reproduction audio signal, reproduction video image signal, and reproduction character signal are obtained, and a desired signal process is executed to each of those reproduction signals, thereby executing the acoustic generation and the display as mentioned above. For instance, the reproduction audio signal and the voice signal obtained from the singer are synthesized and the synthetic signal is outputted as an audio sound by a speaker. The reproduction character signal and the reproduction video image signal are synthesized and the synthetic signal is displayed on the display synchronously with the acoustic output timing of the reproduction audio signal. With such a construction, the video image and words information are displayed on the display in accordance with the progress of the karaoke music piece.
In this instance, as a method of converting characters to form the words into a data signal as mentioned above, a method of using character font data and a method of recognizing a shape of character as one image character and using the image data which expresses the shape of character by a set of dots of a minimum unit are considered. In the above karaoke system, the latter method using the image data is used in order to reduce the costs of the apparatus.
When the size of character (hereinafter, generically referred to as a character) to be displayed on the display is large, therefore, since the number of dots to form one character also increase, a data amount of the image data signal which is recorded on the recording disc also increases. When the data amount increases as mentioned above, further, it takes a time to read the data from the recording disc, so that there is a problem such that there occurs a case where the synchronization with the above reproduction audio signal cannot be preferably performed.

Sound reproducing apparatus which utilizes data stored on a recording medium to make the apparatus more user friendly and a recording medium used in the apparatus


A locking device for a cover of a storage compartment in a motor vehicle has at least one bolt element that is displaceable by an actuating handle and, in the locked state, engages in a first storage compartment recess for fixing the cover in a closed position. At least one securing bolt engages in a second storage compartment recess and is actuable via the bolt element so that it only extends out of the second recess if the bolt element already is extended out of the first recess and which thereby secures the cover against undesirably opening in the event of accident-induced accelerations. Increased safety standards can thereby be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a locking device for a cover of a storage compartment in a motor vehicle, and particularly a pivotable cover of a glove compartment. The invention also relates to a cover for a storage compartment, and particularly a glove compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a locking device of this type, and also to a motor vehicle with a storage compartment closeable by such a cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
Locking devices for a cover of a storage compartment in a motor vehicle, and particularly for a pivotable cover of a glove compartment, are well known and frequently have two parallel bolt elements that are connected forcibly to each other in an opposed manner via a gearwheel and which, in the locked state, engage in opposite storage compartment recesses. The bolt elements can be moved out of the storage compartment recesses by an actuating handle, for example a rotary knob or pushbutton so that the cover of the storage compartment can be opened. However, the cover of the storage compartment should not open unintentionally in the event of increased accelerations, as occur, for example, in the case of accidents or when an airbag is triggered. Such an unintended opening could result in objects stored therein flying into the passenger compartment and putting the passengers at risk.
The invention therefore is concerned with reliably fixing of a cover of a storage compartment in the closed position, in particular in the event of increased accelerations that occur, for example, in the case of accidents.

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and apparatus for managing current consumption of a peripheral device to meet power specification of the host system having a preset average current supply limit, a preset peak current supply limit, or both. In specific embodiments, the host system has a current supply limit available for supplying current to the peripheral device. The peripheral device operates in a low current consumption mode and a peak current consumption mode which is intermittent over time. The peripheral device draws a low current in the low current consumption mode which is lower than the current supply limit and drawing a peak current in the peak current consumption mode which is higher than the current supply limit. The apparatus comprises a reservoir configured to store excess energy from the host system during the low current consumption mode where the low current drawn by the peripheral device is lower than the current supply limit available from the host system. A switch is configured to direct the excess energy from the host system to the reservoir for storage during the low current consumption mode of the peripheral device and to allow energy to be drawn from the reservoir to operate the peripheral device in the peak current consumption mode.

This invention relates generally to managing power consumption and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing sufficient current to meet the consumption by one or more devices without exceeding preset limitations of average current and peak current supply from a power supply.
In certain systems, it is desirable to have a power specification which requires that a device coupled thereto should not draw more current from the current supply than a preset limit. This preset limit can be an average current limit, a peak current limit, or both an average current limit and a peak current limit. Such a power specification may be provided for reasons of reliability, performance, or the like. For example, a host system may have a peripheral device such as an RF transmitter operatively coupled therewith for wireless transmission of data between the host system and a remote RF device. The RF transmission is intermittent over time. The RF transmitter may have a current consumption of about 80 mA during transmission, and a current consumption of about 3 mA when no transmission is occurring. If the peak current supply limit for the host system is less than 80 mA, the RF transmitter does not meet the peak current limit. If the average current supply limit of the host system is sufficiently low (e.g., about 20 mA), the average current consumption of the RF transmitter may exceed the average current supply limit.

Method and apparatus for managing current consumption