A protection circuit for protecting a load, such as a winch motor, from an overcurrent as well as from a circuit fault including welded primary switch contacts and a failure of its MOS/FET component. A power MOS/FET is used as a current mirror for sensing load current. A secondary switch is series connected to control the primary switch. A control circuit including a programmable data processor controls the MOS/FET and the secondary switch and senses the current through the MOS/FET's secondary source terminal and senses the voltage at its primary source terminal. The programmable data processor determines whether an overcurrent exists by comparing the sensed power circuit current to a stored overcurrent value and also senses whether the contacts of the primary switch are welded closed and whether the MOS/FET has been damaged. Additional conditions are sensed. Application of power to the load is prevented when such conditions are detected.

This invention relates to an electrical protection circuit for protecting the circuit components in a power circuit that has an electrical load driven by an electrical power source and controlled by one or more switches for switching load current on and off. More particularly the invention is directed to such a protection circuit in the power circuit of a dc motor driving a winch. The protection circuit senses the power circuit current in an accurate, temperature independent manner and also senses other circuit parameters and uses the sensed parameters to control circuit switches.
The basic components of a dc motor circuit are a power source, such as a battery, the dc motor and at least one switch in series connection with the motor and power source. Battery powered dc motors that drive a high mechanical load require a large armature current in order to provide the necessary power from the relatively low voltages provided by batteries. Consequently, the large armature current is commonly switched by mechanical relays, often called contactors, that are designed to handle large currents and are controlled by relatively small voltages and currents. There may be only one contactor for motors that are driven in only one direction of rotation or there may be multiple contactors for reversing the motor direction in addition to turning the motor on and off.
Motor circuits of the above type are used for driving a winch, such as the winches used on ATVs. The prior art has provided winch control modules, also known as winch controllers, for controlling a series wound dc motor that drives a winch. The dc motor has an armature winding and a stator winding. When the voltage applied to one of them is reversed, the motor rotation direction is reversed to allow the winch cable to be wound onto or unwound from the winch by the operator. A bi-directional, manually operated switch is used by the operator to retract or extend the winch cable. The manual switch is connected to the controller circuit. A reversing relay is also connected to the controller for handling the high motor currents and is switched by the controller in response to the switched state of the manual switch. Relays, such as the reversing relays, are mechanical relays manufactured with a current rating from a few amps to thousands of amps. Their duty cycle is short; that is, they have relatively few cycles of operation in their life expectancy because they arc and their contact surfaces corrode and wear. But on an ATV they are not used often so the mechanical relay contactors are practical for ATVs.
As with all electrical motors, load current is a function of mechanical load. However, a user may mechanically overload the winch thereby drawing an excessively high, and therefore destructive, overcurrent. For example, an overcurrent is likely if a user tries to pull an ATV up a grade that is too steep or the ATV is stuck on a rock or log and the dc motor does not have enough power to move the ATV away from its stuck position. In that situation, the dc motor is unable to rotate so it presents an electrical load that is essentially a dead short resulting in a high electrical overload current.
In order to prevent the mechanical overload, a pulley arrangement could be used to provide a mechanical advantage so that the force applied to the ATV in order to move it can exceed the maximum force at which the winch is rated. But hardware associated with such a pulley arrangement, such as a winch mounting bracket, may be rated only slightly higher than the maximum force rating of the winch. So using a pulley system for its mechanical advantage can cause the mounting bracket or other mechanical components on the ATV to break.
To solve the problem of an overload current resulting from a mechanical overload of the winch motor, the prior art uses a variety of different current-sensing circuit elements in the motor power circuit that directly sense the motor current flowing through them. The sensed value of motor current through the current-sensing circuit element is applied to a controller which in turn controls the contactor or contactors that switch the motor current. The manual control switch that is operated by the user is also connected to the controller.
One prior art way of sensing motor current is to insert a small resistance in series within the motor circuit and detect the current by monitoring the voltage across the series resistance. The winch motor controller senses the winch motor load current and, if the current exceeds a selected maximum load current, the controller opens the mechanical contactor or contactors that switch the motor on and off. However, the currents for a modern winch motor are so large, often hundreds of amps, that inserting a resistance in series with the motor creates problems because of the resulting excessive voltage drop and power dissipation. The problems include wasting energy and inaccuracy introduced by the temperature dependence of the resistance.
A prior art solution to the problem of sensing motor current using a series resistance is to substitute a Hall effect transducer for the series resistance current sensing circuit in order to monitor the winch motor load current. The amount of current that flows across a Hall effect device is a function of the product of the voltage applied to the device and the magnetic field produced by the load current. A current sensor using a Hall effect device is calibrated by modulating the voltage applied to it because increasing or decreasing the voltage increases or decreases the output level that represents the sensed current. The voltage is modulated to a value so that, when the motor current through the Hall effect device equals or exceeds the value of motor current that is chosen as the overload current, the controller will trip open the contactor. The sensed output from the Hall effect device is related to the actual motor current through it by a proportionality constant. However, that proportionality constant in a Hall effect device varies with temperature which can introduce significant error.
Yet another solution is to measure the voltage drop across a segment of the cable connecting the battery to the motor. Even its small resistance could have a usable voltage drop across it. But, because the cable is still a series resistance in the high current motor circuit, this solution is also subject to the inaccuracy arising from the temperature dependence of the cable resistance.
Still another solution was essentially a power meter. This solution sensed the motor voltage and the motor current and derived the product of the two. But power consumed by the motor and the current through the motor are very different parameters. The power consumed by the motor can be relatively low when the motor cannot rotate because of mechanical overload but at the same time the motor can be experiencing excessive current because the motor is a dead short.
All of these prior art solutions directly monitor, in various ways, the current that is going through the motor which is the current of interest because it is the current that can destroy the motor or other circuit components.
An additional and significant problem that is inherent in these motor control circuits is that, because the mechanical relays carry high currents, they are susceptible to a failure mode in which the relay contacts weld together if the user mechanically overloads the winch thereby drawing an overcurrent. The overload current causes excessive heat to be dissipated at the interfacing relay contact surfaces causing them to weld together. When its contacts become welded together, an on/off or reversing switch cannot open the circuit and shut off the current. The user has to find another way to open the electrical circuit, for example unbolt a battery cable. Because this takes substantial time, the winch motor often burns out and is destroyed.
There also are several other undesirable conditions from which it is desirable to provide protection. To add that additional protection, the prior art inserts separate additional other circuits that each sense other parameters and respond to provide the desired protection for the undesirable condition that they are monitoring.
It is an object and purpose of the invention to provide an improved, highly precise and stable manner of sensing the motor circuit current in order to detect an overcurrent condition yet to do so in a manner that avoids the problems that arise from monitoring a series resistance in the motor power circuit, avoids the temperature related inaccuracy of a Hall effect device and avoids the inaccuracy that results from detecting power.
Another object and feature of the invention is to provide circuit protection in the event that the contacts of a contactor become welded together in a closed circuit state.


A communications system comprising a central node, at least one remote node and a communications link. The remote node is adapted to receive information transmitted from the central node over a broadcast link and the communications link is adapted to convey information from the remote node to the central node. The central node is adapted to dynamically tailor a remote node transmit power control and a bandwidth as requested by the remote node for conveying information over the communications link.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, to time division multiple access communication systems.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Traditional time division multiple access ("TDMA") architecture is characterized by fixed slot sites, a single channel and fixed data rates. A TDMA data link is generally limited to a single channel and cannot dynamically tailor assigned power and bandwidth as requested by individual users. The rate of that channel is adjusted to accommodate the most disadvantaged user; thereby impeding data transfer of more capable users. Current systems are incapable of dynamically compensating performance to meet current environmental and user information requirements.

Multiple access bandwidth-on-demand using MSPK with an embedded tracking channel


A developer conveying device includes a rotatable developer conveying body including a shaft portion and a blade portion provided on the shaft portion for conveying a developer. The developer conveying device further includes a developer removing portion having a developer removing fin that contacts the developer conveying body in a counter direction with respect to a rotating direction of the developer conveying body.

The present invention relates to a developer conveying device, and relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer using the developer conveying device.
In an electrophotographic printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer), a developer image is formed on a surface of an image bearing body, and is transferred to a surface of a recording medium (i.e., a recording sheet) via an intermediate transfer belt. After the transfer of the developer image, a residual developer may remain on the surface of the image bearing body. A recovery container is provided for recovering such a residual developer. The recovery container has an elongated box shape.
A conveying screw is rotatably provided in the recovery container in such a manner that an axial direction of the conveying screw is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the recovery container. The developer is conveyed by the conveying screw, and is distributed throughout the recovery container.
When the developer adheres to the conveying screw, a capacity (i.e., a conveying capacity) with which the conveying screw conveys the developer may decrease. Therefore, in order to prevent the developer from adhering to the conveying screw, a prevention plate having a plurality of fins is provided so as to contact the conveying screw (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-107930 (FIGS. 4 through 9).
In this regard, there is a demand for enhancing the conveying capacity of the developer.

Developer conveying device and image forming apparatus having a developer removing portion


A lid lock apparatus for a vehicle includes a driving motor, a moving member causing a lid member provided at a vehicle body to be inhibited from opening in a state where the moving member projects from the housing to engage with the lid member, the moving member being retracted into the housing by the driving motor to release the engagement between the moving member and the lid member, and a pulling member connected to the moving member and pulled in a case where the moving member is inhibited from moving by the driving motor to cause the moving member to be retracted into the housing and to release the engagement between the moving member and the lid member. The moving member is movable relative to the pulling member in a moving direction of the moving member in a case where the pulling member is inhibited from operating.

A known lid lock apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed in JP2010-106438A (hereinafter referred to as Reference 1), for example. The lid lock apparatus disclosed in Reference 1 holds a fuel lid (hereinafter referred to as a lid member) for opening and closing a lid box, provided at a vehicle body and accommodating a fuel filler, in a closed state. According to the aforementioned lid lock apparatus, a lock shaft (hereinafter referred to as a moving member) projects towards the lid member so that an end of the moving member engages with the lid member (i.e., the lid lock apparatus is in a locked state). On the other hand, at a time of refueling, a worm wheel is driven by an electric motor so that the moving member, which is in engagement with the worm wheel, moves away from the lid member to thereby disengage the moving member from the lid member (i.e., the lid lock apparatus is in an unlocked state).
According to the lid lock apparatus disclosed in Reference 1, in order to disengage the moving member from the lid member in emergency situations such as a malfunction or breakdown of the electric motor, a pulling member (pulling means) is provided so as to manually pull back the moving member. For example, an operation handle is attached to one end of a string-shaped member to thereby achieve the pulling member. In addition, the other end of the string-shaped member is inserted into a penetration bore formed at an end portion of the moving member so that the string-shaped member is connected to the moving member. The operation handle is attached to a trunk of the vehicle so as to be detached from the trunk in emergency situations and to be held and pulled, thereby pulling back the moving member via the pulling member.
According to the aforementioned lid lock apparatus, each time the worm wheel is driven to rotate by the electric motor, the end of the pulling member connected to the moving member moves in an axial direction of the moving member. Thus, in a case of mounting the pulling member to the vehicle, a mounting space for the constantly moving end of the pulling member should be considered and ensured. This is because a repeated contact of the pulling member relative to the other member at the vehicle (a vehicle body component) may lead to a damage of the pulling member and/or the vehicle body component. Thus, in order to avoid an interference with the other member, the mounting space for the pulling member increases, which may result in a decrease of mountability of the lid lock apparatus at the vehicle.
A need thus exists for a lid lock apparatus for a vehicle which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


A system for network-scale parallel computing comprises a set of computer-readable instructions implementing the steps of executing a computational process from at least one client node by communicating via a content addressable service network implemented using the Tuple Space abstraction, data parallel semantics and Unidirectional Virtual Ring architecture, with any number of service computers, networks and storage to deliver lossless, non-stop services. A network-scale distributed storage system, an enhanced Domain Name System (DNS) system, a network-scale database system and a network-scale hybrid transactional analytical processing systems are also described.

As the internet of things proliferates, generating more and more digital data, the time needed to process that data grows in proportion. Personal data, financial records, and information gathered by sensors and satellites all need to be collected and processed to be used effectively. Increased processing capacity facilitates not only the exchange of information, but also has become an indispensable tool for new scientific discoveries and effective economic development. For much of its early history, speed in computing has been gained by increasing clock cycles and shrinking the individual circuit sizes to be able to fit more and more of them on a single piece of silicon, following an exponential growth curve as observed by Moore's Law. As manufacturers approached the physical limits of feature miniaturization, performance in single-processor systems plateaued. Further needs for increased processing speed have been met by clustering multiple processors together, either physically in multi-core or multi-processor configurations, or virtually via computing clouds.
Reliable inter-process communication is essential in large scale computing services. When a central supervisor node launches thousands, or millions, of sub-process "workers," the supervisor needs to know when a worker completes its task, or needs input from the supervisor or another worker to continue. A widely-practiced misconception in distributed parallel computing is to assume that the network is reliable, as described by Ingrid Van Den Hoogen in "Deutsch's Fallacies, 10 Years Later," in the Java Developer Journal, http://java.sys-con.com/node/38665, Jan. 8, 2004. This perceived reliability is inferred because the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) protocol guarantees reliable, ordered packet transmission from one party to another through the Transport Layer of the Open Systems Interconnect Model (OSI). However, network communication can only be reliable if both the sender and the receiver are 100% reliable and there is a sufficient supply of unreliable intermediaries. The TCP protocol cannot protect the end points from crashing. Reliable communication is impossible when the end-points can crash arbitrarily, as proved in "The Impossibility of Implementing Reliable Communication in the Face of Crashes", Alan Fekete, Nancy Lynch, Yishay Mansour and John Spinelli, Journal of the ACM, Vol. 40, Issue 5 (November 1993).
Under the typical client-server computing model, a widely practiced fallacy is to use the OSI model directly for both client and service side programming. Any failure of the communicating programs will crash the entire service. As a result, arbitrary data losses cannot be prevented. Although the probability of an individual communicating program failing is small, the rapid expansion of processing infrastructure causes incrementally worsening service downtimes and data losses. Adding hardware resources to enhance the performance of a service actually decreases its reliability. While networks continue to expand and enhance, reliable network-scale computing is not yet feasible. On the other hand, reliable communication using faulty networks was proven feasible in theory by John Spinelli and others and proven in practice by the fledgling Internet developments.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved method of fault-tolerant large scale clustered parallel computing, capable of guaranteeing service reliability, performance, and data fidelity regardless of the scale of the networked processing infrastructure. The present invention satisfied this need.

Statistic multiplexed computing system for network-scale reliable high-performance services

Temple University—Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education


The present invention relates to steel sheet realizing both formability and weldability. The steel sheet of the present invention is characterized in that at a surface layer part of a region down to 30 μm from the surface of the steel sheet in the sheet thickness direction, Si oxide grains are present in 3000 to 6000/mm2 in number density, an average of natural logarithms of the particle sizes of the Si oxide grains measured in μm units is −2.0 to −1.2, the standard error of the natural logarithms of the particle sizes is 0.6 or less, and the number of Si oxide grains with deviations of the natural logarithms of the particle sizes from the average larger than 2 times the standard error is 5% or less of the total number of Si oxide grains and at a position of ½ of the thickness of the steel sheet, the number density of the Si oxide grains is 1000/mm2 or less.

In recent years, from the viewpoint of improvement of the fuel efficiency etc. of automobiles for the purpose of environmental conservation, steel sheet for automobile use is being made higher in strength and thinner in thickness so as to lighten the weight of automobiles. Further, the steel sheet used for auto parts is formed into various shapes, so excellent formability is demanded. Furthermore, in the process of assembly of automobiles, the formed parts are welded together, so good weldability is also important as a criteria for selection of the steel sheet used for the structural parts of automobiles.
In this regard, in welding steel sheet which has been galvanized, in particular high strength steel sheet, for example, as described in the following PTL 1, sometimes the drop in weldability due to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracking becomes a problem. LME cracking is believed to occur due to the molten zinc penetrating the austenite grain boundaries at the surface layer part of the steel sheet at the time of welding and causing the steel sheet to become brittle and further tensile stress being applied to the steel sheet at the time of welding.


In a facsimile system having a server device connected to a local-area network system, to which a plurality of client terminals are connected, and connected also to an ISDN and a pay-station telephone network, the server device performs communication with the pay-station telephone network and the plurality of client terminals, performs communication with the ISDN and the plurality of client terminals, and changes over communication between the ISDN and the pay-station telephone network in accordance with a command from each of the plurality of client terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to server-type facsimile system. More particularly, the invention relates to a client-server facsimile system composed of a plurality of client terminals connected to a local-area network (hereinafter referred to as a "LAN") system, and a server device connected to the LAN system and also, through an ISDN or pay-station telephone network, to a facsimile machine such as a G4 or G3 facsimile machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The transmitting of a document, which has been created and edited at a terminal device, to another ISDN or pay-station telephone network via a modem is prior art. However, a conventional terminal device having a data communication function of this kind cannot be shared by a plurality of client terminals on a LAN even if it is connected to the LAN, and therefore the device serves merely as a dedicated communication terminal. In addition, since the device is dedicated to G4 or G3 facsimile communication, it cannot be changed over between the G4 and G3 modes.
Further, the transmitting of a document, which has been created and edited at a terminal device such as a personal computer or work station, to another ISDN or pay station telephone network via a communication interface port or communication adapter is prior art. However, a conventional terminal device having a data communication function of this kind cannot be shared and managed by a plurality of client terminals such as personal computers or work stations on a LAN even if it is connected to the LAN, and therefore the device serves merely as a dedicated communication terminal. In addition, since the device is dedicated to G4 or G3 facsimile communication, a selection cannot be made between the G4 and G3 modes.
In conventional facsimile transmission, there is a client-server facsimile system in which a plurality of client terminals are connected to a LAN, and in which a server device having a file storing function is connected to a wide-area network (WAN). According to this facsimile system, the server device is instructed to directly transmit files that are within a client terminal, the server device stores the files temporarily, converts them into facsimile data and then transmits the data. In this case, transmission requests from a plurality of clients are registered in a queue within the server. By virtue of this arrangement, files created at a plurality of personal computers or work stations can be transmitted by facsimile.
However, with the conventional client-server facsimile system, the conversion of a file into facsimile data is performed within the server device. Consequently, when it is attempted to temporarily store the file in the server device, a transmission error will be sent back if there is not enough storage capacity for the transmitted file to be stored. Until the request for storage is accepted, the operator must perform the required operation repeatedly.
Owing to the development of ISDN's in wide-area networks (WAN's), the use of G4 facsimile machines utilizing ISDN's has become more widespread. By connecting an ISDN to an ordinary pay-station telephone network (PSTN), the transmission and reception of image data between a G4 facsimile machine connected to the ISDN line and a G3 facsimile machine connected to the PSTN can be carried out.
Owing to the development of LAN's in computer networks, not only work stations but also personal computers may be connected to the network, and there is much transmission and reception of data among personal computers connected to LAN's. Owing to these circumstances, there is growing demand for an arrangement in which a WAN and a LAN may be connected together so that the transmission and reception of data can be carried out between devices connected to the respective networks. As a result, a facsimile system has appeared in which a WAN and a LAN are connected together and the transmission and reception of image data are performed between facsimile machines and work stations.
This server system is composed of at least one facsimile server device for communication, and any number of client work stations connected to the server via the LAN so as to utilize the server function.
When image data is transmitted from the facsimile machine to the client terminal connected to the server, the image data is received by the server, where it is stored temporarily. The server has a reception-notification function in which notification of the reception of data is sent to the work station on the client-terminal side which is the destination of the transmission.
With regard to this reception-notification function, designation of the client terminal connected to the server device is performed using a sub-address when the transmission is made form the facsimile machine to the server system. In order to specify the client which is the destination of the notification of reception, the server device users a conversion table which converts the sub-address present in the server device to the address of the client terminal.
When this facsimile server system is being utilized, there are occasions where it is desired to revise the address conversion table in the server device, as when one's own client terminal has been changed, or when it is desired to temporarily send a facsimile document to another terminal, or when it is desired to register a client terminal anew.
At such times, the conventional reception notification method is such that a revision in the contents of the table present in the server cannot be performed by the operator from the side of the client terminal. Instead, the operation is performed at the server. In order to make the revision, therefore, one must go to the location of the server. In addition, in a case where the r;erver device is operated by a general user, there is the danger that the system will be adversely affected by erroneous operation. When operation of the server device is performed only by the server manager, the manager must be relied upon for the purpose of revising the table. This means that the table cannot be revised when the manager is not present.


A novel putting practice golf cup provides greater development of muscle memory the more aimpoint, clubhead squaring and pacing are practiced resulting in higher confidence and better putting performance during actual play. The putting practice golf cup of the presently preferred and exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a monolithic body having a first target portion shaped as a golf cup and a second foot portion integrally formed with the first target portion to allow manual placement of the monolithic body upon any indoor or outdoor surface so that the first target portion shaped as a golf cup may be used as an aboveground putting practice target cup.

Golf is a game with the object of getting the ball in the cup with the fewest number of strokes per hole. Since strokes accumulate each hole from off-green or green play, it is as important to putt well as it is to get to the green with the minimum number of strokes.
On each green, the golfer putts the ball towards the cup by 1.) swinging the putter along a line intended to aim the ball to the cup along an aimpoint trajectory, 2.) by angling the putter so that it squarely impacts the ball at the ball striking location, and 3.) by striking it with just enough force to cause the ball to roll into the cup. Of course, even when properly aimed, squared and paced, other factors not within the control of the golfer, such as the grain of the green, surface condition and the like, may intervene and prevent the ball from rolling into the cup. Nonetheless, the more control of aimpoint, clubhead squaring and pacing the golfer has, the fewer the number of strokes that will be taken for any given green conditions and the lower will be the golfer's overall competitive score. Since practice makes perfect, there is thus the need to provide a putting practice golf cup that enables to improve control of aimpoint, clubhead squaring and pacing.


A method and apparatus for navigating a tool string down a subsurface borehole to its intended location while simultaneously measuring or sensing the borehole environment, electrically, acoustically, mechanically, or by nuclear means, for a characteristic parameter. The hole-finder apparatus incorporating a locally flexible body adapted for attachment to the tool string. As the tool string is navigated through the borehole, the flexible body provides extreme local flexibility to lessen the likelihood of jamming the tool string while tripping down the borehole by providing a lateral force at the obstruction. The hole-finder apparatus further including a sensor or probe measuring means attached to or within the tip of the flexible body for measuring the characteristic parameter. With the sensor or measurement means disposed at the tip of the apparatus, the sense point is moved to the bottom of the tool string to provide borehole characteristic measurements having little effect on, or momentary influence from, the formation without impeding the apparatus' hole-finding capability. In addition, data representative of the borehole or formation characteristic parameter is communicated from the apparatus to a distant point by wiring.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to well logging apparatus combined with hole-finding apparatus.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Hole-finding with a transversely flexible device on the bottom of instrumentation or equipment is common in the logistics of downhole measurements. Such a device is characteristically constructed of a homogeneous elastomeric or other similarly flexible material. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a fundamental form is a slick, tapered profile, uniformly increasing in cross section with proximity to the instrumentation or equipment to provide increasingly stiffer bending moment against lateral flexure toward the tool end. Multiple variations of material choice, cross-sectional profiles, lengths, and applications of protuberances are possible. Regardless of the specifics of the mechanical design of such an apparatus, the objective of the apparatus is to guide a piece of equipment or instrumentation down a subsurface hole to its intended location regardless of the orientation, curvature or size of borehole, or condition, texture or other properties of the borehole wall.

Method and apparatus for well bore hole-finding with simultaneous borehole or formation sensing


Purified polypeptide is proposed, the amino acid sequence of which is essentially identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:3, the polypeptide binding low density lipoproteins (LDL) and/or oxidized LDL (oxLDL), in particular LDL cholesterol and/or oxidized LDL cholesterol (oxLDL cholesterol).

Excessive cholesterol (hyperlipoproteinemia) in the body leads to sclerosis (arteriosclerotic plaque) of the interior layers of the blood vessels, and to a gradual hardening and thickening of the arterial walls. In an extreme case, it threatens blocking of the vessels, or in the event of rupture of the plaque, thrombus formation. Arteriosclerosis with its secondary illnesses (coronary illnesses, heart attacks, peripheral arterial diseases and strokes) is still the most frequent cause of death in the western world. Well over half of all the financial resources available for medical care are estimated to be spent for the consequences of arteriosclerosis. To clarify the causes of arteriosclerosis, various theories have been developed, of which the lipid theory is the most highly regarded.
In general, it can be stated that the higher the LDL cholesterol level or level of oxidized LDL cholesterol in the blood, the high the risk of vascular hardening, for example with the consequence of a heart attack. Overweight and hypercholesterolemia are the most important risk factors for the development of arteriosclerosis.
Definitions and Terms
Fats such as cholesterol are soluble neither in water nor blood plasma. To allow them nevertheless to be transported to individual body regions, the fats are bound to particular albuminous substances (proteins) as soon as they occur in the blood. These compounds, comprising lipids (fats) and proteins, are termed lipoproteins.
The "lipoproteins" of the plasma are high-molecular weight water-soluble complex comprising lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids) and apolipoproteins. The cholesterol-containing lipoprotein LDL cholesterol causes arteriosclerosis and is also known as "bad" cholesterol, with the oxidized form of cholesterol being even more dangerous for the body.
"Cholesterol" is synthesized ubiquitously in the body and is an essential component of cell membranes and lipoproteins. In contrast to the triglycerides and phospholipids, which are also synthesized endogenously, the sterol ring of the cholesterol molecule can not be broken down again; cholesterol is transformed into bile acid in the liver or excreted unchanged with the bile into the gut.
In plasma, cholesterol is present as 25 to 40% free (non-esterified) cholesterol and 60 to 75% esterified with unsaturated fatty acids. Both forms together are known as the total cholesterol. Because of the low water solubility, cholesterol is transported in plasma as a complex with apolipoproteins. In the blood, about 70 percent of the total cholesterol is transported via low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
"Triglycerides" are esters of glycerine with three fatty acid residues. In the same way as cholesterol, the triglycerides are also transported in plasma bound to apolipoproteins because of their poor solubility.
"Lipoproteins" are synthesized in the liver or gut and transport liposoluble substances such as cholesterol in the blood.
Lipoproteins are classified according to their density into five density classes: chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins (VDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Chylomicrons, whose physiological concentration in fasting serum, unlike that of other lipoproteins, is very low, are vehicles for transporting exogenous glycerides. The physiological distribution of the other lipoproteins is as follows: VLDL 10%, LDL 70% and HDL 20%. VLDL are the precursors of LDL and vehicles for the transport of endogenous glycerides. LDL are produced by hydrolysis of VLDL. LDL and HDL are both regulators of cellular cholesterol homeostasis, with HDL also regulating lipolysis (splitting of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids). LDL have a diameter of about 20 nm. HDL are the smallest (7-10 nm) and the most protein-rich lipoproteins. Besides native LDL (LDL), oxidized LDL (oxLDL) is also detectable in the blood serum oxLDL interacts with endogenous plasma proteins, particularly glycoproteins via specific ligands and forms oxLDL glycoprotein complexes.
"Apolipoproteins" are a component of lipoproteins and, together with polar lipids, as a kind of outer shell, surround the lipoprotein core, which is made up of hydrophobic lipids. With the exception of LDL, which only contains apoprotein B, the individual lipoprotein classes have a plurality of apolipoprotein classes with different structures.
Lipoprotein Transport
Cholesterol is principally transported via the two lipoprotein classes LDL and HDL. LDL are primarily responsible for cholesterol transport to peripheral cells that possess specific receptors for LDL. HDL permit and accelerate the removal of cholesterol from the extra-hepatic cells and vessel walls and transfer it to the livers.
Pathology
As regards the pathology of lipid metabolism disorders, it can be said in general that elevations in LDL cholesterol in conjunction with reductions in HDL cholesterol pose the most prominent increased risk of arteriosclerosis. In the pathogeny, LDL, whose particles make a substantial contribution to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and HDL therefore play contradictory roles. The quotients of total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and, in particular, LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol are the deciding factors for assessing the risk of heart attack. (Epidemiological studies (Framingham study) also refer to the protective effect of HDL cholesterol.) The secondary diseases of arteriorsclerosis, besides coronary heart disease and peripheral arterial diseases, also include heart and brain infarcts (strokes).
oxLDL, just like LDL, probably causes arteriosclerotic plaques, with oxLDL posing the biggest danger for the body.
But oxLDL also appears to play an important role in other diseases. In patients with chronic kidney failure and diabetes, the concentration of oxLDL glycoprotein complexes is higher than in healthy patients.
LDL is also removed from the blood circulation by the liver and by macrophages. Macrophages are cells of the immune system, which are capable of phagocytosis of larger particles.
The "scavenger pathway" is a known model for explaining how cells engulf particles (phagocytosis). The incorporation of solid particles (debris, foreign bodies, bacteria or LDL plaques) into the cell interior of phagocytes, with subsequent intracellular breakdown, is carried out by phagocytosis. The phagocytic cells are known as phagocytes and consist predominantly of tissue macrophages and mobile blood monocytes.
In phagocytosis, after the particles become attached to the cell membranes of the phagocytes by binding to Fc and complement receptors on the membrane, contractile structures are activated within the cytoplasma. Local inversions of the cell membranes then cause inclusion of the particles in the cytoplasmic vacuoles.
So-called scavenger phagocytes are found in lymph nodes in and along the fibre strands that comprise the medulla.
Whereas the lymph passage from the afferent to the efferent end of the lymph node, particular antigens are removed by the phagocytic cells.
It is further known that the adherence to phagocytic cells, such as polymorphonuclear leucocytes and macrophages, is increased by the attachment of immunoglobulins (Ig) to the surface of bacteria (and other antigens). It is supposed that the increased adherence is effected by attachment of the Fc component of the immunoglobulin to the Fc receptors of the phagocytes. After the antigens have been made "appetizing" by the attachment of (or binding of) antibodies, the complex of antigen and antibodies is taken up and ingested faster by the phagocytic cells. The coating of the antibody surface with immunoglobulins is also known as opsonin-mediated (Fc) adherence, and plays an important role in the immune response.
The antibodies binding to the surface of bacterial cells are capable of fixing particular components of the extracellular liquids. In generic terms, these components are termed the "complement." Animal tests have shown that the phagocytosis of cells coated with antibodies is delayed in animals lacking complement. It is thus obvious that opsonization involves a synergy between antibodies and complement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Human monoclonal antibody having fat-reducing effect

Abstract: The invention includes the use of the polypeptide in combination with conventional adjuvants and/or carrier substances for producing a drug having a fat-reducing effect and for producing drugs for treating renal diseases.


A substrate assembly for supporting an optical component includes a substrate having a front surface and a first recess, a second recess formed portion disposed in the first recess and having a second recess smaller in diameter than the first recess and having an open end at least at a side corresponding to the front surface, the second recess formed portion being made of a material having a machinability better than a material forming the substrate, and an alignment guide member fitted in the second recess and having a protruded portion protruding from the front surface of the ceramic substrate and fittingly engageable in an alignment hole of the optical component. A method of producing such a substrate assembly is also provided.

The present invention relates to a substrate assembly for supporting an optical component and a method of producing the same.
In recent years, with the development of information communication techniques represented by the Internet and a great improvement in the processing speed of information processing systems, the needs to send and receive high volume data such as images are increasing. In order to send and receive such high volume data freely through information communication facilities, an information transmission speed of 10 Gbps or larger is desirable. Optical communication techniques are greatly expected as the techniques to realize a high-speed telecommunication environment. In the meantime, it is desired to transmit signals at high speed through relatively short signal transmission paths such as connecting paths between circuit boards in systems, connecting paths between semiconductor chips of circuit boards and connecting paths in semiconductor chips. To this end, it is considered ideal to shift from transmission using metal cables and wirings, which has generally been used, to optical transmission using optical fibers and waveguides.
Circuit boards mounting thereon optical devices and adapted to make optical communication between the optical device and an optical fiber or optical waveguide have been proposed as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publications Nos. 2002-236228 and 8-250542. Disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent publications is such a technique that an external substrate mounting thereon an optical device can be positioned in place on a circuit board by a self-alignment effect attained at the time solder bumps for connection between the external substrate and the circuit board are reflowed. Furthermore, as a unit to connect optical fibers each other, a device called an optical fiber connector has been proposed as disclosed in Fujikura Technical Review No. 97, October, 1999.

Substrate assembly for supporting optical component and method of producing the same


The invention provides for an adjustment arrangement (16) for adjusting a camera and a camera arrangement. The adjustment arrangement (16) comprises a turn plate (20), an upper turn plate (24) and a gear wheel (22) adapted to be placed dependent on a lens (28) used.

The invention provides for an adjustment arrangement for adjusting a camera and a camera arrangement comprising such an adjustment arrangement. The arrangement allows for adjusting the lens distance for setting the optical train of the camera.
Setting the lens distance is a major topic in camera systems, especially in a camera arrangement comprising a camera and a housing enclosing the camera. Usually, such a housing comprises an aperture defining the line of sight of the camera enclosed in the housing. A particular camera system known comprising a camera and a housing is a so-called dome camera.
A dome camera is a monitoring camera used in a protective system. Usually, the dome camera is incorporated within a hemispherical shaded dome made of plastics. Said dome is provided for protecting the camera against damage and vandalism.
Dome cameras have been used at flashpoints as well as in public means of transport both interior and exterior. A main advantage of such a dome camera is that it is not possible to determine the orientation of the camera hidden by the shaded dome. It is to be noted that in a dome camera the camera can be moved with respect to the dome forming the housing of the camera.
Document EP 1 729 269 A1 discloses a dome with optical correction for use in a vandal proof surveillance camera system. The dome comprises a transparent optical material, which itself comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. Both surfaces are essentially rotational symmetrical and exhibit non-spherical shapes. Said dome is used in a vandal proof surveillance camera system comprising said dome and a camera being pivotably mounted inside the dome.
It is to be noted that optical train is also referred to as optical assembly and is the arrangement of lenses to guide the line of sight. The position and angle of lenses are adjusted to guide the line of sight through the path required.
In a camera comprising a housing as illustrated above, it is a problem to be able to use the same parts in the optical train assembly to enable different lens settings and even to use different lenses to obtain the optimum lens configuration in the camera. The MBF (motorised back focus) also connects in this flexible setting.

Arrangement for adjustably mounting a camera


Improved techniques are provided for controlling the injection of a cellulose powder/water mixture input into a formation through an injection well for recovery of hydrocarbons. The initial dosing rate of powder added to the water is increased as a function of both the monitored pressure of the mixture in the wellbore in the vicinity of the formation, and the monitored flow rate of the injected mixture. The water flow rates and the flow dosing rates are optimised, and the mixture is controlled to obtain setting within the formation to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons. A mixing tank is designed to prevent premature setting of the mixture. Portable equipment is provided for injecting the powder/water mixture into the formation, thereby increasing the versatility of the equipment reducing the overall costs of the recovery operation.

Water flood is a standard technique used to increase oil recovery from hydrocarbon fields. In a typical application, a plurality of injection wells at spaced locations in an older, somewhat depleted oil field are used to enhance the production of oil from production wells also spaced about the field. Pressurized water flows from an injection well through the permeable formation toward the relatively low pressure production well, which recovers oil with some water as the water flows through the formation toward the producing well. Those skilled in the art have long appreciated that while water flowing through the formation inherently carries some oil to the recovery well, water also tends over time to flow along the same well-established flow channels, which decreases the efficiency of the oil recovery operation. As a result of water flowing along these established flow channels, the water thus tends to entrain a smaller proportion of oil, so that the "water cut" of the produced fluids eventually exceeds the cost of separating the produced oil/water mixture into an economic hydrocarbon-based product.
To improve the recovery of oil using water flooding techniques, those skilled in the art have recognized the benefit of blocking established water channels through the formation to force the injected water to find new channels and thereby entrain new oil which is recovered with the water. U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,563 discloses a technique for improving water flooding operations by injecting a course emulsion into flow channels in the formation, then washing the wellbore with alcohol to remove the emulsion formed adjacent the wellbore. U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,523 teaches a method of enhancing water flooding by using a hydroxyethyl cellulose to prevent fingering of water through existing flow channels in the formation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,768 teaches a technique for controlling the profile of an oil/water interface in a high permeability zone, with either water flooding or carbon dioxide stimulation being used as the driving process. A breakthrough is shut-in using a temperature activated mixture which forms a solid blocking gel.
Those skilled in the art of water flooding also appreciate that an oil/water emulsion may be used to plug or at least reduce flow in a highly porous zone, thereby preventing undesirable water fingering and improving the flow of hydrocarbons to a recovery well. U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,319 teaches a technique for mixing an oil-in-water emulsion with a minimum of shear energy. The mixture is injected into the formation as a low viscosity emulsion, so that the oil droplets swell in the formation to plug or partially plug existing water channels. U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,546 teaches using a blood/water mixture for a water flooding operation. While various products have been used for injection with the water to assist in the water flooding operation by blocking or partially blocking the established flow channels, cellulose is a preferred injection product for many water flooding applications. The use of cellulose as a mixing material with the injection water is according well known, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,848,673, 4,321,968, 4,451,389, 4,627,494, 4,629,575, and 5,100,567. The concentration of cellulose which is injected with the water into the formation may be varied. By optimising the fluid injection rates, the recovery of hydrocarbons can be increased during the secondary or tertiary recovery processes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,544 and European Publication 48 342 disclose techniques for optimising injection rates while also preventing fracturing of the formation, which may reduce the effectiveness of the oil recovery process.
Those skilled in the art of secondary and tertiary recovery of oil have generally recognized the benefits of trailer mounted mixing and injection devices, such as those disclosed in an article entitled "Enhanced Recovery Requires Special Equipment", Oil and Gas Journal, Jul. 12, 1976, pp. 50-56. U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,535 discloses portable apparatus for blending sands and solid additives at selected rates for injection with water into a well. A dry chemical is preferably fed into a mixing tank adjacent a variable venture nozzle, where the water is at a low pressure and is in high shear. European Patent Application No. 91309842.2 teaches a technique for mixing a solid and a fluid continuously to facilitate a gravel packing operation. A solids hopper with an internal auger is used to monitor the solids flow rate, with liquid being directed into the mixing chamber around the periphery of the auger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,395 discloses a chassis arrangement for mounting equipment used in well servicing operations. U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,428 teaches a transportable water injection plant for a water flooding operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,869 teaches a portable filtration system with a three stage filtering process useful for a fracking operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,437 discloses a portable plumbing and production assembly for use in hydrocarbon operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,261 discloses a process for dissolving a polyacrylamide powder in an aqueous solution for enhanced oil recovery. In order to prevent moisture build up and caking of the powder, a nitrogen blanket may be used. Polymers mixed with injection water in a flooding process may be transported to a mixer with dry air, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,527. Systems for controlling the injection of a gel-type fluid into a well are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,707,191, 4,265,266, and 4,953,618. Equipment for mixing a dry material with water are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,902,558, 4,357,953, 4,725,379, and 5,190,374.
Although a great deal of effort has thus been expended to improve the recovery of oil using water flooding techniques, further improvements in this technology and associated reductions in the cost of recovery operations are essential if partially depleted hydrocarbon fields are to supply an increasing role in meeting future oil needs. Huge quantities of proven low pressure oil reserves exist in many parts of the world, and versatile equipment and improved techniques are required to economically recover those reserves.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, and improved oil recovery equipment and techniques are hereinafter disclosed for more efficiently recovering oil from depleted fields.


Described are compositions and methods for detecting or monitoring the ability of an individual to mount a cell mediated immune response to a target antigen. Methods rely in part upon the physical association, e.g., by fusion, of a Lethal Factor (LF) polypeptide with a target antigen. The LF polypeptide moiety, including, for example, an LFn polypeptide moiety, serves as a transport factor to deliver target antigens, including full length target polypeptides, to the cytosol of an intact, living immune cell from an individual. Measurement of a cytokine response by the immune cell from the individual provides a read out of a cell mediated immune response. The methods and compositions described provide diagnostic as well as prognostic information and can guide the direction of therapy.

Epidemiological surveys suggest that one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Primary infection leads to active tuberculosis (A-TB) in a minority (c. 10%) of infected individuals, usually within 2 years. In the remaining cases, the immune system contains the infection, and the individual is non-infectious and symptom-free. This clinical latency can persist throughout an individual's lifetime. However, in some circumstances, the host immune response is perturbed and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) may develop into post-primary A-TB. This process can occur, for example, following infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malnutrition, use of steroids or other immunosuppressive medications, or because of advanced age.
Development of new diagnostic tools would improve the control of tuberculosis (TB) by improving diagnosis of A-TB and by allowing a more accurate identification of LTBI. One such test is the tuberculin skin test (TST), which has been the only widely used tool available for diagnosing TB infection. However, this test is limited by its low sensitivity (75-90%) in diagnosing A-TB, and its low specificity, caused by the fact that the purified protein derivative (PPD) used for skin testing contains >200 antigens that are shared widely among environmental mycobacteria and the Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain used for vaccination. Lastly, TST does not allow discrimination between A-TB and LTBI.
For the detection of viral pathogens, existing diagnostic test kits detect viral proteins and some measure antibody against the viral antigens. Some assays allow for a more quantitative measure of the virus in the blood stream. However, none of these tests measure the T-cell response to the pathogenic infection. Studies have demonstrated that the T-cell response (or ability to elicit a CMI response to a target antigen expressed by a pathogen) can determine if the infection can be controlled by the immune system.
Other diagnostic tests have been developed which measure the cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to a pathogenic protein. Current methods for detecting CMI responses include skin tests measuring both immediate and delayed type hypersensitivity, lymphocyte proliferation assays and measurement of cytokines produced by purified mononuclear cells cultured with antigen.
Older established methods for determining a CMI response include a proliferation assay, use the uptake of radioactive isotopes by dividing T-cells as a marker for CMI reactivity. More recently, techniques such as a single cell assay (ELISpot) have been used to detect the number of T-cells producing certain cytokines in response to the antigenic stimulation. Furthermore, most in vitro methods for detecting CMI responses involve the purification of lymphocytes from whole blood, culturing these lymphocytes with an antigen for periods from 12 hours to 6 days and then detecting T-cell reactivity to the antigen.
Some CMI assays have been developed which detect a CMI response to a peptide of a target antigen, or overlapping peptides of a target antigen. Commercially available tests to measure a CMI response to a TB target antigen include the QuantiFERON® TB Gold test (from Cellestis Ltd) and the T SPOT TB test (from Oxford Immunotec). These tests detect a CMI response to overlapping peptides of the TB target antigen. In addition to diagnosis of pathogenic infections, such as TB, CMI diagnostic tests are also useful for immune diagnosis of many diseases and disorders, including infectious and autoimmune diseases, as well as markers for immunocompetence, and for detection of T-cell responses to endogenous and exogenous antigens (i.e. vaccines).

Methods and compositions for diagnostic assays for measuring cell mediated immune response


A coil assembly for a magnetic actuator is described, the coil assembly comprising: —a tubular coil holder (100) comprising a first (110) and second open distal end (120); —the first open distal end comprising an outer circular rim (112) and an inner circular rim (114) separated by a circular groove (116); —the second open distal end comprising an outer circular rim (122); the tubular coil holder further comprising a central circular rim (130) arranged substantially halfway between the inner circular rim of the first open distal end and the outer circular rim of the second open distal end; —a coil (140) formed of a single wire (150) the coil comprising a first coil section (142) arranged in a first winding area (144) between the inner circular rim of the first open distal end and the central circular rim, and a second coil section (146) in a second winding area (148) between the central circular rim and the outer circular rim of the second distal end; the first coil section and the second coil section being wound about the tubular coil holder in opposite directions; whereby a first end (152) and a second end (154) of the single wire are arranged in the circular groove, the inner circular rim comprising a longitudinal groove (114.1) to extend the first aid and the second end of the single wire from the circular groove to the first winding area; the central circular rim composing a longindinal groove (130.1) to extend the single wire form the first winding area to the second winding area and vice versa; —an external connection (160) comprising a first conductor (162) and a second conductor (164); whereby an end of the first conductor is electrically connected to the first end of the single wire so as to form a first electrical connection (166) arranged in the circular groove and an end of the second conductor is electrically connected to the second end of the single wire so as to form a second electrical connection (168) in the circular groove and wherein the first and second conductor extend through the outer circular rim via a longitudinal groove (112.1) of the outer circular rim.

The present invention relates to the field of electromagnetic actuators, in particular to the field of manufacturing or assembling processes for such actuators. Known manufacturing and assembling methods of comparatively small actuators may be complicated and therefore rather expensive or impossible to utilize for substantial production quantities. This limits the application of such actuators in technological fields where cost-of-goods play an important role.

Coil assembly for magnetic actuator, magnetic actuator and manufacturing method


The method includes the steps of receiving new information about the node. Then, there is the step of comparing the new information about the node with old information about the node. Then, there is the step of updating the old information with the new information by incrementing the old information with the new information. A method for monitoring an other node. The method includes the steps of storing an old packet from an other node having at least a first element in a memory of a node. Then, there is the step of receiving a new packet from the other node having at least a first element by the node. Next there is the step of comparing the first element of the new packet with the first element of the old packet. Then there is the step of inserting the first element of the new packet in an order which is in front of the first element of the old packet in the memory if the first element of the new packet is different than the first element of the old packet.

With the increasing use and complexity of global networks for commercial and public purposes, link-state routing algorithms, being the main-stream of routing protocols today, grow more and more complex. One of the examples therefore is the P-NNI (ATM Forum, PNNI Specification Ver. 1.0, 1996), incorporated by reference herein, routing protocol specified by the ATM Forum body. Link-state routing protocols relied to transport topology information so far mostly on fixed-format packets that could be processed in an inexpensive manner. With the upcoming requirement of future extensibility of such protocols type-length-value (TLV) encoded packets are evolving. Parsing of such packets becomes very expensive. This invention presents a novel approach to process such packets in an incremental, fast way.
Networking of computers introduced several problems such as naming, addressing and routing (J. Schoch, Inter-network naming, addressing and routing. In IEEE Proc. Compcon, 1978) and naturally different solutions thereof. Recently, the focus in routing is shifting towards dynamic or state-adaptive routing (G. Ash, J. Chen, A. Frey, B. Huang, C. Lee, G. McDonald. Real-time network routing in the AT&T network-improved service quality at lower cost. In Globecom. AT&T Bell Laboratories, 1992; R. Callon, R. Guerin, E. Hoffman, J. Jeffords, G. Swallow. P-NNI routing hierarchy; overview and examples. P-NNI Working Group, March 1994). Such a routing does, beside saving a lot of configuration work, respond quickly to changes of available resources in the network and link failures. Moreover, this kind of routing becomes more and more of a necessity when introducing B-ISDN network technologies such as ATM (Jean-Yves Le Boudec, The Asynchronous Transfer Mode: A Tutorial. Computer Networks and ISDN Systems, 1992) that start to blur the boundary between carrier networks and privately operated computer networks.
Several design solutions exist for dynamic routing in computer networks and are still under development, distance vector (L. Ford and D. Fulkerson, Flows in Networks. Princeton University Press, 1962) and link-state (J. M. McQuillan, I. Richer, E. C. Rosen, ARPANET routing algorithms improvements. BBN Technical Report 3803, April 1978) oriented being the well-known ones. Due to its advantages in context of routing with quality of service requirements, link-state protocols are used as basics for emerging technologies such as ATM. The basic idea of link state routing protocols is that each node sends local topology information to its neighbors (R. Perlman, "Interconnections", Addison-Wesley, 1992, ISBN 0-201-56322-0). This information is propagated then using sophisticated `flooding` mechanisms through the network. As the result of such a process, every node in the network contains a view of the whole network topology in the so called "Topology Database". Newer link-state routing protocols incorporate a concept of `hierarchy`, where parts of the network collapse into a logical node in the view of distant nodes. The generation and flooding of information is repeated each time a node sees a significant change in available local resources. The distributed pieces of topology information, so called link state up-dates (LSU) or link state elements, carry a unique identifier and a version number increasing when the information inside of such an LSU is up-dated. Additionally, to prevent this process from being triggered too often, a dampening function controls the thresholds holding back non-significant changes. The topology database resulting from the execution of the `flooding` mechanism between nodes is used to compute routes that are requested by users then to reach desired destinations. Such routes are used e.g. in forwarding of packets or routing of call setups in connection-oriented networks.
Modern routing protocols, such as PNNI, following the trend towards extensibility for future requirements, abandon more and more fixed packet formats and start to use TLV (type-length-value) encoded packet schemes. The type describes the fixed part of the TLV transmitted and the length indicates the offset in the packet where the next TLV starts. In case where the length exceeds the length of the fixed part of the TLV, embedded TLVs are present. Generally, TLV encoded packets transferring topology information in modern routing protocols can be interpreted as representations of lists of arbitrary elements embedded in lists recursively. This approach, albeit very flexible, presents increased processing load in terms of CPU required. FIG. 1a visualizes two TLVs, first of them embedding two other TLVs.
The solution presented introduces a novel algorithm that allows to process changes to linked lists of arbitrary elements, possibly nested recursively, in an incremental manner. TLV encoded packets transferring topology information in modern routing protocols can be interpreted as representations of such structures. Because topology packets more often include changes in the content of list elements than changes to the list structure itself, it becomes less and less convenient to abandon the processed version of the previous list and fully process the structure of the new version. An incremental update algorithm introduced here, recognizing the changes in the contents of elements without unnecessarily deleting old elements, improves the performance of the protocol significantly.

Processing of TLV based link-state packets


A duct connector (32) with a flow channel through its center and an increased diameter seal (35) on its end. A compression ring (38) is designed to fit tightly over the duct connector (32) and has an inwardly directed flange (68) on one of its edges which reduces the diameter of the end and thereby prevents the compression ring (38) from sliding past the end of the duct connector (32). A retaining clamp (53) includes two arcs (77, 80) that are pivotally attached and that may be rotated between a circular, closed configuration and an open configuration. The second end of each arc includes a number of open loops (137, 140, and 152) that align when the arcs are in the closed configuration. A sliding locking mechanism (161) is affixed to the arc (77) proximate to the loops (137, 140). The locking mechanism (161) has a prong (170) that passes through the aligned loops (137, 140, and 152) on each arc (77, 80), thereby preventing the arcs (77, 80) from separating.

Locking mechanisms for couplings are used in a wide variety of industrial applications. Wherever separate segments of tubing must be joined together, especially those carrying fluids, a coupling and seal must be used.
Fabric reinforced hose and duct connectors are generally fastened to metal tubing that has a raised, circumferential bead at the end of the tube. This statement holds true for straight or bellows type hose and duct connectors. The flexible connector is able to stretch over the bead and is then secured to the duct by a commercial band clamp. The bead is intended to prevent the duct connector from slipping off of the tube by creating an interference between the band clamp and the bead. By tightening the band clamp around the duct connector, leakage from between the duct connector and the metal tube is supposed to be eliminated. However, when the band clamp is pulled in around the circumference it actually gathers the flexible duct material towards the band clamp screw and creates an axial channel that opens a leak path. Also, in the absence of some sort of bead or raised end on the duct connector itself, the duct can slide out from under the clamp due to the rubber coating of the duct connector taking a compression set.
In addition to the leaking problems, typically the locking mechanism comprises a metal ring with either a bolt type latch or an outwardly pivoting latch. Each of these designs has certain disadvantages associated with them. A bolting latch requires considerable time and manipulative effort to engage. Also, sometimes the bolting must be done in a confined area which makes the work even more difficult. An outwardly pivoting latch makes the coupling cross section substantially larger, and therefore, operating the latch in small openings becomes more difficult.
In view of these difficulties, there is a continuing need for a coupling and seal that eliminates the leakage path associated with existing seals, and there is a continuing need for a locking mechanism for a coupling and seal that is easy to engage and adds a minimum of increased width, while maintaining an effective coupling. A further need is a locking mechanism that can be engaged and disengaged in restricted space environments with one hand.


A computer-implemented telecommunications spending analysis system extracts telecommunications traffic detail data from billing statements provided by telecommunications carriers and converts the traffic detail data to a generic data format for aggregation in a uniform customer traffic history database. The spending analysis system compares billed rates against estimated market prices stored in a best of class (BOC) database and notifies the user of possible cost savings attainable in a renegotiated contract. A web-based RFP system facilitates preparation of a request for proposals (RFP) and solicitation of vendors to bid on the RFP in an online reverse auction environment, both for telecommunications services and other commodities. The RFP system may access the uniform customer traffic history database to facilitate preparation of a traffic forecast of the RFP. Upon completion of an RFP auction, the RFP system updates the estimated market prices of the BOC database based on the vendor bids.

Large corporations and other major users of telecommunications services often spend hundreds of millions of dollars on such services annually. These customers commonly use multiple telecommunications carriers to provide the services required for various types of traffic, such as, for example, voice, cellular, paging, and data transmission. Additional telecommunications carriers may be used for certain classes of service, such as calls and other traffic between specific locations or at certain times. Furthermore, multiple telecommunications carriers are commonly used for the exact same class of service, for purposes of introducing redundancy in the customer's telecommunications resources, and for other reasons. As used herein, the term "class of service" means a particular telecommunications service for transmitting voice, data, or other signals between two geographic locations. Each different type of traffic transmitted and each different origination and destination region for the traffic may constitute a unique class of service. Class of service definitions are primarily dependent upon how telecommunications carriers distinguish traffic for the purpose of applying different rates.
Large telecommunications customers typically employ analysts who review billing statements, perform audits, and request new telecommunications installation and services for the entire organization. Telecommunications analysts monitor the customer's telecommunications spending to identify overcharges and mistakes made by service providers and to minimize expenditures generally. To perform these tasks, the analyst reviews the detailed billing statements provided by carriers. Carriers commonly provide bills on a monthly basis in a computer-readable format, such as a CD-ROM, but may use other formats, such as paper, magnetic tape, EDI, and the World Wide Web.
Analyzing telecommunications billing statements can be burdensome due to the volume of information they include. This is especially true when multiple carriers are used, because the carriers do not typically use the same billing format or provide the same kinds of traffic information. Different carriers may also use different service class codes to identify the same class of telecommunications service, making it difficult to compare competitor rates. Furthermore, the data included in computer-readable billing statements may be stored in a nonstandard database format or may require special bill viewing software that is unique to the carrier. Due to the volume of call data and the different data formats, it is often too burdensome for an analyst to track all telecommunications traffic on a monthly basis. Consequently, many choose to merely perform audits in an attempt to avoid gross carrier overcharges and mistakes. Thus, a need exists for an improved method of monitoring and analyzing telecommunications spending.
Large telecommunications customers use their buying power to negotiate telecommunications services contracts having a desired balance of competitive rates and service plan features. To begin the negotiation process, historical call data is typically gathered by the customer, e.g., from past bills, and used to help forecast telecommunications needs for the duration of the proposed contract term. Since different telecommunications carriers deliver computer-readable billing data in different formats, the task of compiling historical use summaries and forecasting traffic is highly burdensome for a large company, especially a global company dealing in various languages and currencies. A large company may spend weeks or months compiling the necessary information and preparing telecommunications forecasts.
To further complicate the forecasting process, the information provided in carriers' standard billing formats make it very difficult to determine the actual rates applied to particular traffic. For example, a contract between a customer and a single carrier may specify 150 different rates for hundreds of different classes of voice traffic. Service contracts may also specify discounts applicable to only a few of the contract rates in particular circumstances, such as when a volume exceeds a predetermined target. Voice traffic classes may differentiate telecommunications traffic based on origination location, termination location, whether the traffic was incoming or outgoing, the time of the traffic event, and the rate schedule to be applied. Rates for a particular call may even vary during the duration of the call. However, service class designators are not typically listed in the billing formats used by most carriers. Also, while the service contract may clearly define the applicability of discounts, carrier bills often fail to clearly identify calls to which the discounts have been applied. Consequently, summarizing and analyzing billing information is a complicated task.
Once summary information has been gathered, the customer uses it to prepare a traffic forecast including the desired classes of service and anticipated quantity of traffic per class of service. The forecast telecommunications needs are then set forth in a request for proposals (RFP) that is distributed to potential telecommunications vendors. While the customer will typically seek the most competitive rates, other terms unrelated to rates may also be important. For example, the RFP may specify nonprice service plan features desired by the customer, such as the contract duration, renewal period, quality of service, refund policy, warranties, customer service response time, customer service escalation procedures, multilingual support services, e-mail response services, exclusivity terms, discounts, installation fees, risk allocation, contract renewal terms, and/or termination conditions. In response to the RFP, each interested vendor prepares a detailed proposal that represents a bid for the services or a portion thereof. Using traditional telecommunications RFP methods, the bidding period typically lasts a month or more. During the bidding period, each interested vendor submits a single proposal that represents the bidder's best shot at winning the business. Such proposals commonly include significant amounts of sales and advertising information, extensive legal terms, variations on the requested service (substitutions), and other details that make the proposal difficult to evaluate. For example, three proposals made in response to a medium size RFP valued at about $12 million recently took a team of 20 people an entire month to review and extract relevant bid information. The burden of the RFP process prompts many large telecommunications customers to hire independent consultants skilled in preparing RFPs and evaluating vendor proposals.
Once the vendor proposals have been collected and analyzed, the customer must choose one or more of the vendors to provide services to meet its telecommunications needs. Finalizing a service contract may involve negotiation and fine tuning of certain proposed contract terms.
To guarantee competitive rates, telecommunications services contracts may include minimum usage or spending commitments during the term of the contract. Such contract provisions impose penalties on customers that fail to meet the minimum use commitments. Once a contract is in place, a customer will want to monitor use relative to the minimum use commitments for budgeting purposes and to take corrective action (in addition to monitoring for overcharges and mistakes, as described above). If multiple carriers are used for the same type or class of service, the customer may be able to offset projected usage deficits under a contract with a first carrier by redirecting surplus call traffic from a second carrier. Some contracts may also allow rate adjustments to be made during their term. In some cases, the customer may be able to renegotiate the contract to avoid significant penalties.
Telecommunications rates have declined in recent years and are expected to continue dropping. The potential cost reductions made possible by downward market movement can justify incurring the expense of the RFP and contract negotiation process on a regular basis. The frequency by which a customer should put its traffic up for bid is partly a function of the rate at which the market is moving and the expense of the RFP process. Monitoring of usage can help the customer to determine when to next put its telecommunications traffic up for bid. In recent years, major telecommunications users have engaged in the RFP and contract negotiation process once every 12 to 36 months, although many would do so more frequently if the RFP process required less effort and expense.
Thus, a need exists for methods and systems for reducing the cost of the RFP process so that telecommunications customers can afford to put traffic up for bid more frequently. A need also exists for an improved method of monitoring telecommunications usage and costs relative to the market prices, to thereby improve the timing of the RFP process and reduce telecommunications spending.

Network reverse auction and spending analysis methods


A unit support frame structure, for a game machine island, comprises a pair of parallel horizontal shelf plates adapted to be attached to a pair of rows of game machines in the island, a plurality of vertical partition frame plates disposed under the shelf plates, two pair of parallel vertical posts mounted on opposite inner ends of the respective shelf plates, and a pair of gate-shape upper support frames connected at opposite lower portions of each support frame to upper end portions of the posts of the respective adjacent pair.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a unit support structure, for a game machine island, whose individual unit support frames are adapted to be installed in an amusement arcade for supporting a plurality of game machines, such as pachinko machines, as well as ball dispensers and paper currency conveyers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, after all of the support frames for a single game machine island are assembled in an amusement arcade, game machines, ball dispensers and paper currency conveyers are installed in order on the respective support frames.
However, partly since all of the support frames must be assembled precisely, and partly since the individual support frames must be connected at many joints, the assembling work is particularly difficult when the game machine island is long or when the working space is small.
Generally, in a pachinko machine island, there is installed a lower tank for collecting out-balls from the individual pachinko machines, and a ball-polishing-and-lifting apparatus for lifting the balls from the lower tank to a ball conveying gutter situated upwardly of the pachinko machine island, while polishing them. For example, in our coassigned prior application, Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 3-79321, the polishing-and-lifting apparatus is mounted within the support frames of the pachinko machine island.
However, if the island is divided into blocks or the polishing-and-lifting apparatus is mounted independently to facilitate precise and effective assembly of the island, it would be difficult to mount the polishing-and-lifting apparatus in harmony with the rest of the island.

Unit support structure for game machine island


Systems and methods for controlling a gas turbine engine and a propeller are described herein. A target output power for the engine and a target speed for the propeller are received. A measurements of at least one engine parameter and a measurement of at least one propeller parameter are received. At least one engine control command is generated based on the target output power, the measurement of the at least one engine parameter and at least one model of the engine. At least one propeller control command is generated based on the target speed, the measurement of the at least one propeller parameter and the at least one model of the propeller. The at least one engine control command is output for controlling an operation of the engine accordingly and the at least one propeller control command is output for controlling an operation of the propeller accordingly.

For turboprop engines, there are two principal and distinct components: a gas turbine engine and a propeller. An engine control system is used to modulate the power output of the engine, for example by controlling fuel flow to the engine. Similarly, a propeller control system is used to modulate the thrust produced by the propeller, for example by changing a propeller rotational speed and/or a propeller blade pitch. In traditional propeller driven aircraft, each of the engine control system and the propeller control system is operated by a pilot using a respective lever for each of the engine and propeller components. For instance, a throttle lever is used to set a desired engine power output, and a condition lever is used to set a desired propeller rotational speed and blade pitch angle. However, separate control systems may not be desirable in certain circumstances.
There is therefore a need for an improved control system for a turboprop engine.

Model-based control system and method for a turboprop engine


A computer-processor executable container application operates within an operating system, such as an Android operating system. The application is itself configured to execute applications contained within the container application. The container application may create a secure computing environment in which business applications on a computing device can be protected and monitored without affecting or interacting with other applications or data on the computing device. Such a secure computing environment may enable businesses to protect their data residing on a personal computing device and to have visibility into how the data is accessed, used, and shared, while not interfering with personal use of the personal computing device.

With Internet use forming an ever-greater part of day to day life, it is now common for employees of a firm or company to use mobile devices for business purposes (e.g., email clients, messaging apps, and so on). Many of these devices may be personal devices, not owned by the firm or company, and so will likely contain a mixture of personal and company data, each of which could be sensitive in nature. Businesses want to protect their company data and have visibility into how the company data is accessed, used, and shared, without interfering with personal use of the device, and without the costs associated with purchasing and provisioning devices themselves. Similarly, employees want to protect and maintain privacy of their personal data and, independently of the firm or company, have control over how their personal data is accessed, used, and shared, without interfering with business use of the device.

Container application for android-based devices


An access card issuance system comprising an access card issuance device located at a facility of an organization and a web server is disclosed. The access card issuance system provides a web interface in response to a request from a mobile device, and receives user information identifying a user of the mobile device. The system is also configured to validate the identity of an authorized individual associated with the facility identified by a user of the mobile device, and issue an access card to the user of the mobile device. The access card has indicia printed thereon identifying at least a portion of the user information, and programmable information encoded onto the access card providing access rights to the facility. The system further transmits, to the authorized individual, a message associated with issuance of the access card.

Many companies have chosen to require that visitors to company facilities are issued a "visitor badge" each time that visitor enters the company's premises. Issuance of a badge generally requires a process in which a user provides information to a company representative, including their name, their host's name, and a signature indicating a time of arrival, as well as (possibly) a photograph that will be included on that visitor's badge. The company representative will then use a computer having specialized software installed thereon to format the visitor badge. The formatted visitor badge information is provided to a printing device, which in turn prints the visitor badge. The visitor badge is typically an access card having identifying information for the visitor printed thereon, as well as encoded information included on the access card (e.g., in a programmable or fixed encoded chip) that grants the visitor access rights to at least a portion of a facility.
This arrangement has a number of drawbacks. For example, in many instances, companies may have facilities with unattended entrance points, and therefore may not have a company representative present to assist in creating a visitor badge. In these instances, the company may place a "self-service" visitor badge issuance station at the entrance; however, even in these circumstances, the company must include at the entrance a specially-configured computing system having software and/or drivers installed thereon which are capable of capturing the required information and interfacing with a badge printer, a capturing and a printing device, as well as software and/or drivers installed on computers to drive those devices. Depending on the software, a corporate employee may be required to call/notify the host that a guest arrived.

Self-directed access card issuance system


Disclosed is provided a hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter for rapidly limiting a fault current, the fault current limiter having a first circuit and a second circuit which are connected in parallel with each other, wherein the first circuit includes a superconductor and a circuit breaker which are connected in series with each other, and wherein the second circuit includes a driver having a driving coil and an electromagnetic repeller, a short contact connected in parallel with the driver, and a current limiting unit connected in series with a third circuit including the driver and the short contact. The hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter comprises a power semiconductor element switch connected in series with the first circuit, the power semiconductor element switch normally maintaining an ON state and being activated and changed into an OFF state by a fault sensing signal generated according to an inflow of the fault current.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter, and more specifically, to an improvement in operational reliability of a hybrid-type superconducting current limiter which is capable of eliminating an arc current of a circuit breaker that might be occurring while a high-speed switch transfers to a current limiting unit the fault current detected by a superconductor when the fault current flows in the fault current limiter.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A superconductor exhibits zero resistance during its normal operation state in a system, however, when a fault current flows in the system, the superconductor is quenched, and therefore, produces resistance which limits the fault current. At this time, the resistance may cause considerable energy to be applied to the current limiter. As a voltage applied to the system that runs the superconductor is high, the energy flowing in the superconductor correspondingly increases due to the impedance produced at the superconductor. Accordingly, lots of superconductors are needed to distribute the energy.
However, the superconductor is expensive in price and lots of superconductors mean large volume, which may increase the costs for installing and cooling the superconductor. To overcome the above problems, a hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter including an existing circuit breaking means and a small number of superconductors has been disclosed (See Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0077520 filed on Aug. 17, 2006).
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a structure of a hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter according to a prior art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the fault current limiter includes a main circuit and an auxiliary circuit. The main circuit includes a high-speed switch 2, which has a circuit breaker 2a, a driving coil 2b, and an electromagnetic repeller 2c, and a short contact 2d, and a superconductor 1 connected in series with the circuit breaker 2a. The auxiliary circuit includes a current limiting unit 3 for limiting the fault current. The circuit breaker 2a is mechanically linked with the electromagnetic repeller 2c and the short contact 2d, so that, in a case where a current is applied to the driving coil 2b, an eddy current is developed across the electromagnetic repeller 2c, and therefore, the circuit breaker 2a is operated together with the short contact 2d. The current limiting unit 3 may include a power fuse, a resistor, a reactor, a superconductor, a semiconductor element, and the like which have impendence to limit the fault current.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing a test result of the hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter, and FIG. 3 is a graph showing operational points of time of the hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter based on the test result of FIG. 2. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the current limiting unit 3 includes a current limiting fuse and a resistor connected in parallel with each other.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an electric current Itot passes through the closed circuit breaker 2a and superconductor 1 during a normal operation state without any fault, so that loss caused by occurrence of resistance is substantially '0'. In a case where a fault current flows into the fault current limiter, however, the superconductor 1 starts to be quenched at very high speed (6-1), and impedance developed at the superconductor 1 bypasses the fault current to the driving coil 2b. Since the fault current limiter is designed such that the impedance is very small, a low voltage alone is instantly applied from the electric power system to the fault current limiter, so that a small number of superconductors may be sufficient to implement the fault current limiter. At this time, a magnetic field is generated by the current flowing into the driving coil 2b, and an eddy current having a diamagnetic component is induced at the repeller 2c located over the driving coil 2b. Accordingly, the repeller 2c moves fast and opens the circuit breaker 2a that is mechanically linked with the repeller 2c thereby to cut off the inflow of the fault current into the superconductor 1 (6-2). The minute that the circuit breaker 2a is open, an arc current occurs across the circuit breaker 2a, which causes the fault current to continue to flow into the superconductor 1. To eliminate the arc current, the fault current limiter is designed to close the short contact 2d that is mechanically linked with the electromagnetic repeller 2c (6-3). The short contact 2d serves to remove the arc current occurring across the circuit breaker 2a connected in series with the superconductor 1, and protect the driving coil 2b from inflow of the fault current. The whole fault current is transferred through the short contacts 2d to the auxiliary circuit, and therefore, the arc current across the circuit breaker 2a is eliminated (64) and then the fault current is transferred to the auxiliary circuit and reduced by the current limiting unit 3 (6-5). Here, the current limiting unit 3 is designed to lag behind the superconductor 1 and high-speed switch 2 in operation.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing a test result when the electric arc was not blocked by the main circuit of the fault current limiter, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing a test result of Imain when the electric arc was not blocked by the main circuit of the fault current limiter. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the electric arc occurring across the circuit breaker 2a that is connected in series with the superconductor 1 could not be sufficiently removed before the current limiting unit 3 starts to operate due to difference in impedance between the main circuit and the auxiliary circuit that functions to limit the current (7-1). Accordingly, an electric arc is reproduced across the circuit breaker 2a due to the difference in impedance between the main circuit and the auxiliary circuit (7-2), which can reduce the arc impedance, so that the fault current can go through the superconductor 1 that changed into a normal conductive state and the circuit breaker 2a that becomes conductive due to the electric arc. At this time, most of voltage is applied to the superconductor 1 that is in a normal conductive state, so that the fault energy may flow into the superconductor 1, thus damaging the superconductor 1.

Hybrid-type superconducting fault current limiter