A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention handles a record paper having a predetermined length (for example, the A4 size) in size in a sub-scanning direction and has a function of reducing a received picture to a preset size. When a line number of a received picture is smaller than an effective print line number of a record sheet, even if a size is set in advance for reduction, the received picture is printed on a record sheet without being reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a recording section in which a regular size record sheet is used.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Basic construction of a conventional facsimile apparatus is shown in FIG. 1. Reference numeral 1 denotes a display section for displaying a method of operation and so forth thereon, 2 an operating section for setting of a printing mode and so forth, 3 a controlling section for controlling signal transmitting and receiving operations and a copying operation in response to signals from the operating section 2 and so forth, 4 a storage section for storing a printing mode and so forth therein, 5 a recording section for performing printing on a regular size record sheet (cut sheet), 6 a modulating/demodulating section, and 7 a network controlling section. Reference numeral 100 denotes a telephone line.
The present apparatus has a reduction printing function in addition to a normal printing function, and a user will set a reduction mode by way of the operating section 3 when it is considered necessary. Such setting operation is performed, for example, in such a manner as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. First, the user will depress a "display change-over" button as shown in (a) of FIG. 2 to put the display status into a printing mode. Consequently, such instruction as shown in (b) of FIG. 2 is displayed on a display portion of the display section 1. Then, if a "start" button is depressed as shown in (a) of FIG. 3 in accordance with the instruction displayed on the display portion of the display section 1, then setting of a sub-scanning 95% reduction mode is made available and such information as seen in (b) of FIG. 3 is displayed. Then, if a "1" button is depressed as shown in (a) of FIG. 4, then such sub-scanning 95% reduction mode is set, and the indication on the display portion of the display section 1 is changed over to such an indication as seen in (b) of FIG. 4. When signal reception is to be performed in this condition, the controlling section 3 reads data for the reduction printing from the storage section 4, make a picture in accordance with such data and sends out the thus picture to the recording section 5. The record section 5 thus prints out the picture in a reduced scale.
In such a conventional facsimile apparatus as described above, if a reduction mode is used, a received picture having a number of lines for a page which exceeds a number of effective print lines of a regular size record sheet (=an effective sub-scanning length of a record sheet x a sub-scanning line density) can be printed on a record sheet. However, in a set condition of a reduction mode, even a received picture which can be included sufficiently in a record sheet even if it remains in an original size will be reduction printed at a set reduction ratio. Accordingly, there are such problems that the picture quality is deteriorated unnecessarily, that a useless blank portion may appear on a record sheet and so forth.

Facsimile apparatus with improved print reduction mode


A folding drum and method of operation is disclosed. The folding drum is used for folding material, in particular for a printing press. The folding drum is mounted rotatably on its longitudinal axle. The folding drum has a folding-blade spindle, the longitudinal axle of which is coupled to the longitudinal axle of the folding drum and is spaced apart from the longitudinal axle of the folding drum. Furthermore, the folding drum comprises a force generation means for generating a relief force which is opposed to a centrifugal force which is generated in the case of a rotating folding drum by the co-rotating folding-blade spindle. Thus, the disadvantageous influence of the centrifugal force can be reduced. As a result, in particular, a mounting of the folding-blade spindle can be relieved. The wear of the mounting can be reduced and its service life can be increased.

The present invention relates to a folding drum for folding material, in particular for a printing press. The folding drum is mounted rotatably on its longitudinal axle and has a folding-blade spindle.
It is known for a printing press to comprise a folder, with which folds can be formed on printed material, in particular paper. A folder of this type comprises a folding drum, with which, in particular, longitudinal folds can be made in materials which have already been cut and prefolded. For this purpose, the folding drum has a folding-blade spindle, to which a folding blade is attached. The folding drum is mounted rotatably on its longitudinal axle and the folding-blade spindle is coupled to the longitudinal axle of the folding drum, with the result that the rotational movement of the folding drum is transmitted to the folding-blade spindle. As the longitudinal axle of the folding-blade spindle extends parallel to the longitudinal axle of the folding drum, the mass of the folding-blade spindle generates a radially outwardly acting centrifugal force during rotation of the folding drum. This centrifugal force represents a loading for the folding-blade spindle, in particular for its bearing, which loading can lead to disadvantages, in particular to high wear.
The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a folding drum, in which these disadvantages are at least reduced.
The folding drum according to the invention serves to fold material, in particular in a printing press, and is mounted rotatably on its longitudinal axle. It has a folding-blade spindle, the longitudinal axle of which is coupled to the longitudinal axle of the folding drum and is spaced apart from the longitudinal axle of the folding drum. Furthermore, the folding drum comprises a force generation means for generating a relief force. The relief force is opposed to a centrifugal force which occurs in a rotating folding drum as a result of the co-rotating folding-blade spindle. The influence of the centrifugal force on the folding-blade spindle, and, in particular, on a bearing of the folding-blade spindle, is reduced by the generation of the relief force. As a result of the reduction in the radially outwardly directed loading of the folding-blade spindle, the service life of its bearing can be increased advantageously. It is also possible to increase the rotational speed of the folding drum, and therefore the processing speed, if required, without obtaining a disadvantageous loading of the folding-blade spindle as a result. On account of the configuration according to the invention of the folding drum, further supporting bearings for supporting the folding-blade spindle can advantageously be omitted. This is true, in particular, in the case of the use of groove ball bearings for mounting the folding-blade spindle.
The force generation means is advantageously coupled to the longitudinal axle of the folding drum. This ensures that the force generation means can rotate together with the folding drum, and likewise together with the folding-blade spindle. Here, the force generation means can be configured in such a way that it adapts the relief force to the rotational speed, and therefore to the centrifugal force which acts on the folding-blade spindle.
In one particularly advantageous refinement of the invention, the force generation means is guided by means of a guide which is configured in such a way that it permits the movement of the force generation means in the direction of the relief force and largely prevents a movement in at least one other direction. The guide therefore ensures that the relief force which can be generated by the force generation means can act completely counter to the centrifugal force which is generated by the folding-blade spindle.
There are particularly advantageous journals which are arranged on the outside on the opposite folding-drum sides for the rotatable mounting of the folding drum in a holding device. Moreover, the folding drum can have at least one extension of the journals into the interior of the folding drum. The guide is realized as a passage in this at least one extension. The guide can be realized in a particularly simple and reliable manner by way of this arrangement. Furthermore, both the rotation of the force generation means together with the rotation of the folding drum and the guidance of the force generation means can take place for the sake of simplicity via the at least one journal extension. As a result of this refinement of the at least one journal extension, the latter can therefore advantageously assume two functions at the same time.
In one advantageous development of the invention, the guide is provided with lubricating varnish and/or with a coating. The lubricating varnish makes largely frictionless sliding possible of the guided force generation means in the guide. The coating is advantageously selected in such a way that it prevents corrosion of the guide and/or of the force generation means.
In a further particularly advantageous refinement of the invention, the folding-blade spindle is divided into at least two part folding-blade spindles which are arranged next to one another. Here, the force generation means is configured in such a way that it acts between the part folding-blade spindles. In this way, the loading of the folding-blade spindle, in particular with respect to its bearing, and the effect of the centrifugal force which is generated by it during rotation can be reduced further.
The force generation means advantageously has at least one spring. A relief force which is independent of the rotational speed of the folding drum can be generated with at least one spring of this type. The at least one spring can be realized inexpensively and has a low weight. In addition or as an alternative, the force generation means can have at least one compensating mass. As a result, the generation of the relief force can be realized in a particularly simple and effective manner. The relief force which counteracts the centrifugal force can be set with the compensating mass as a function of the rotational speed of the folding drum. As the rotational speed increases, the level of the relief force is adapted automatically to the increasing level of the centrifugal force.
Further advantageous refinements and developments of the invention can be gathered from the description, with reference to the drawings.
Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures, unless otherwise specified.


A piston, which has a piston rod, is guided with freedom of axial movement in a cylindrical pressure tube. At one end of the pressure tube, the piston rod passes through an opening in an end wall, which closes off the end of the pressure tube. The pressure tube is surrounded by a heat-shrink sleeve, which, at the exit end of the piston rod, extends more-or-less radially inward and has a pass-through opening through which the piston rod extends. The ring-shaped end surface at the piston rod exit end of the pressure tube is enclosed by the heat-shrink sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a piston-cylinder unit, especially a pneumatic spring, with a cylindrical pressure tube, in which a piston is guided with freedom of axial movement. The piston has a piston rod at least at one end, which is guided to the outside through an opening in a wall, which closes off the end of the pressure tube, and the pressure tube is surrounded by a heat-shrink sleeve, which extends more-or-less radially inward at the exit end of the piston rod and has a pass-through opening through which the piston rod projects.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a piston-cylinder unit of this type, it is known that the pressure tube can be covered by a shrink-fit plastic sleeve, the heat-shrink sleeve covering the outside surfaces of the pressure tube where the end has been flanged over toward the inside. Moisture can be drawn into the gap between the pressure tube and the heat-shrink sleeve where the gap is open to the outside; this moisture causes corrosion on the outside surface of the pressure tube, which is disadvantageous.


According to an aspect of the present invention, an electric pump includes: a housing; an outer rotor; an inner rotor; a base member facing one side surface of the outer rotor and one side surface of the inner rotor; a side plate member, having a facing surface facing the other side surface of the outer rotor and the other side surface of the inner rotor and a non-facing surface opposed to the facing surface; a shaft; a suction port; a discharge port; a negative pressure applied region; a positive pressure applied region; and a relief valve, discharging the fluid from the positive pressure applied region to a non-facing surface side of the side plate member when a pressure applied at the positive pressure applied region exceeds a predetermined value.

A known electric pump is disclosed in JP2006-336469A (which is hereinbelow referred to as reference 1). According to the electric pump in reference 1, a trochoid-type pump portion is configured by providing an inner rotor in an outer rotor. A rotor is formed by providing a permanent magnet along an outer circumferential surface of the outer rotor. A casing is provided at a position surrounding the outer rotor. A stator, around which plural wires are respectively wound, is provided at a portion of the casing surrounding the outer rotor. Electric power is supplied to each of the wires of the stators by an inverter circuit, thereby the outer rotor is rotated, and the inner rotor is rotated accompanying the rotation of the outer rotor, so as to function as a pump.
For example, in an electric pump which supplies lubricating oil to an engine of a vehicle, a relief valve is provided at an oil passage, through which operation fluid is discharged from the electric pump, so as to prevent oil from being excessively pressurized.
In a case where a relief valve is provided at an oil passage system, assembly of an oil passage system may require time and labor. In order to simplify the tasks required for assembling the oil passage system, a relief valve may be provided between a suction port and a discharge port of the electric pump, as disclosed in JP60-149892.
In such a case where the relief valve is provided between the suction port and the discharge port, a thickness of a whole electric pump in a direction of a rotational axis is enlarged, thus to upsize the electric pump per se.
A need thus exits for an electric pump that is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.


A toy vehicle having an interactive feature, the toy vehicle comprising a body at least two wheels rotatably coupled to the body; and a tongue actuation mechanism moveably coupled to the body, the tongue actuation mechanism including a tongue extender having an engagement portion, the tongue actuation mechanism is adapted to enable selective movement of the tongue extender from a storage position to a capture position, where in the capture position the tongue extender extends downwards approaching a ground surface for capture of an object to the engagement portion of the tongue extender.

Toy vehicles have been popular play items for many years. Scaled or miniature toy vehicles are engaging toys for children and may find value as collector items. By providing multiple play configurations, play value with the vehicles may be increased. For example, a toy may include a first play configuration where the toy simulates a real-life vehicle and a second play configuration where the toy simulates a fantastical or imaginary creature or animal.
The inventors herein have recognized that the play value of such toy vehicles may be enhanced by providing interactive features on the vehicles. Further, simulation of both real and fantastical elements may further enhance play value. Interactive play elements may be included further enhancing the simulation aspect of the toy vehicle. For example, in one approach, a toy vehicle having a plurality of play configurations and interactive features may be provided.
For example, a toy vehicle having an interactive feature may include a body, at least two wheels rotatably coupled to the body, and a tongue actuation mechanism moveably coupled to the body. The tongue actuation mechanism may include a tongue extender having an engagement portion. In some embodiments, the tongue actuation mechanism may be adapted to enable selective movement of the tongue extender from a storage position to a capture position. In the capture position, the tongue extender may extend downwards approaching a ground surface for capture of an object to the extender portion of the tongue extender. The tongue actuation mechanism may be triggered through a user-manipulable actuator. The actuator may simulate a tail.
As another approach, a toy may provide enhanced simulation by inclusion of interactive features. For example, a toy may include a body having a user-manipulable actuator. The body may also include a mouth moveable upon activation of the actuator, where the mouth may be moveable between at least one open configuration and a closed configuration. Additionally, the toy may also have a tongue moveable from a storage position to an extended position upon movement of the mouth to the open configuration. In the storage position, the tongue may be substantially disposed in the mouth. In the extended position, the tongue may be disposed upward and outward and may include a four bar linkage.
As another example, a toy vehicle may have a body including a mouth having at least one moveable portion and a tongue. The tongue may be moveable between a storage position providing a first play configuration and a capture position providing a second play configuration. When the tongue is in the capture position, the tongue may be adapted to extend downwards towards a ground surface to capture an object. The toy vehicle may include a third play configuration where the tongue remains in a storage position and the mouth is in a partially open position. Further, the tongue may include engagement structure, including, but not limited to a sticky contact surface to enable capture of an object. In some embodiments, the object may be lifted to the mouth. In this way a fourth play configuration may be provided.
The various play configurations may add excitement to the toy or toy vehicle. Moreover, the various play configurations may enable confrontational play and simulated play. For example, interactive mechanisms may enhance the appearance of the toy such that it more closely resembles a beast or animal.


A control method of a user terminal apparatus. The control method includes receiving a first user input for selecting at least one graphical object from among a plurality of graphic objects displayed on a touch display screen of the user terminal apparatus, altering and displaying at least one graphic element which configures the selected graphical object selected, displaying a menu related to the selected graphical object near the displayed graphical object, and receiving a second user input for selecting the displayed menu, using the touch display screen.

1. Field
Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments broadly relate to a user terminal apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a user terminal apparatus which performs various functions using a rotation Graphical User Interface (GUI), and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of electronic technology, various kinds of electronic devices are being developed and provided to users. Especially, user terminal apparatuses such as high-tech smart phones are becoming widespread.
Due to recent price decrease and performance improvement of the high-tech user terminal apparatuses, demand for these high-tech user terminal apparatuses is increasing. Accordingly, efforts are being made to develop more varied and convenient use methods which are suitable for high-tech user terminal apparatuses.
Thus, recently, there is a growing need for various GUIs which could improve a convenience with which the user terminal apparatuses are used.

User terminal apparatus and control method thereof


A ladder extension leg apparatus is provided, wherein at least one of the first and second ladder legs includes a leg sleeve receiving the ladder leg to permit telescoping reception of the ladder leg to impart unequal effective length to the first and second legs to accommodate various uneven support heights to the ladder structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to ladder leg apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved ladder leg extension apparatus wherein the same permits the selective extension of one or a plurality of ladder legs relative to one another.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ladder leg extension apparatus to accommodate various sloping terrain on uneven supports is provided in the prior art such as indicated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,091,893; 4,766,976; 5,027,923; and 5,064,024.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a ladder leg extension sleeve structure arranged for ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


In an apparatus for depositing polycrystalline diamond by plasma technology onto substrates (5) of large area, having a process chamber (1) with airlock (6a), a plurality of microwave plasma sources (9, 9xe2x80x2, . . . ) arranged in a common plane above the substrates (5) and extending transversely across the direction of substrate advancement, and gas inlet and gas outlet tubes (10, 10xe2x80x2, . . . , 11, 11xe2x80x2, . . . , 12, 12xe2x80x2, . . . , 13, 13xe2x80x2, . . . , 13a, . . . ) leading into the process chamber (1) are provided, a plurality of gas inlet and gas outlet tubes distributed over the length of the source are associated with each of the linear sources (9, 9xe2x80x2, . . . ), and the outlet openings of the gas inlet tubes being situated each directly above the linear source (9, 9xe2x80x2, . . . ), and the openings of the gas outlet tubes (13, 13xe2x80x2, . . . ) each in the area between two linear sources (9, 9xe2x80x2, . . . ) and in a plane which extends approximately through the core axes (5) of the linear sources (9, 9xe2x80x2, . . . ).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for depositing polycrystalline diamond by plasma technology onto flat substrates of large area, having a vacuum chamber, an airlock for the entry and exit of the substrates, and with a system within the vacuum chamber for passing the substrates through the vacuum chamber.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known apparatus for the production of plasma (DE 195 03 205) makes it possible to produce plasmas for surface treatments and coating processes in a limited range of operation (process area, gas pressure, microwave power). The known apparatus consists substantially of a cylindrical glass tube installed in a vacuum process chamber and a metallically conductive tube situated in the latter, and atmospheric pressure prevails in the interior of the glass tube. Microwave power is introduced through the walls of the vacuum process chamber bilaterally through two inputs and two metal coaxial conductors consisting of an inner conductor and an outer conductor. The outside conductor of the coaxial conductor inside of the vacuum process chamber is replaced by a plasma discharge which if the ignition conditions are sufficient, a plasma gas is ignited and sustained by the microwave power, while the microwave power can issue from the two metallic coaxial conductors and pass through the glass tube into the vacuum processing chamber. The plasma externally envelops the cylindrical gas tube and together with the inside conductor forms a coaxial conductor with a very high attenuation coefficient. With a fixed microwave power delivered on both sides, the gas pressure in the vacuum process chamber can be adjusted such that the plasma apparently burns uniformly along the apparatus where the outside conductor of the coaxial line inside of the vacuum process chamber is missing.
An apparatus for producing a plasma in a vacuum chamber has already been proposed (Patent Application DE 197 22 272.2), in which a rod-shaped conductor is carried through the vacuum chamber within a tube of insulating material, and the inside diameter of the insulating tube is greater than the diameter of the conductor, the insulating tube is held at both ends in walls of the vacuum chamber and is sealed to the walls at its external surface, and the conductor is connected at both ends to a first source for producing the alternating electromagnetic fields, and is surrounded in the area of both points of passage through the walls and for at least a short distance towards its central portion by tubular pieces of electrically conductive material, the two tubular pieces being disposed concentrically with the insulating tube, and the cylindrical spaces formed by the insulating tube and the tubular pieces are connected to a second source for the production of an alternating electromagnetic field.
It has long been known to grow diamond on diamond substrates (Vakuumbeschichtung 5, Anwendungen Teil II, Prof. Dr. G. Kienel, VDI-Verlag GmbH, Duesseldorf 1993).
Furthermore, the importance of atomic hydrogen during the growing process has been found. It is furthermore also known to deposit diamond coatings by hot filament methods by all kinds of plasma CVD (microwaves, RF, DC, arc discharges, plasma jet) and from C2H2/O2 flames.
Furthermore, methods utilizing hot-wire sources, especially the parameters necessary therefor, such as pressures and process gas compositions, have been extensively described in xe2x80x9cProperties and Growth of Diamond,xe2x80x9d by Gordon Davies, Kings College, London UK, published by INSPEC, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, 1994, and in xe2x80x9cCurrent and Prospective Fields of Application for Diamond thin Films,xe2x80x9d by Michael Liehr, April 1995, Department of Physics, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
Lastly, an apparatus for depositing polycrystalline diamond on flat substrates of large area has been proposed (Patent Application DE 196 31 407), consisting of a vacuum chamber with locks for the entry and exit of the substrates, with a system disposed in the chamber for carrying the substrates through at least one, but preferably two, treatment stations, and with hot wire sources provided above the substrate plane and forming a first group, and with microwave plasma sources forming a second group, and with an electrode underneath the substrate plane and fed with radio frequency for producing a bias voltage, and with gas feeding tubes leading into the vacuum chamber, the hot wire systems being configured as line sources and extending across the direction of substrate transport and forming a first coating zone, the microwave plasma sources being arranged in a row spaced from and parallel to the hot wire sources, and together forming a second coating zone.
The present invention is addressed to the problem of coating large, planar substrate surfaces with super-hard carbon coatings of uniform thickness and quality.
This problem is solved according to the invention by a plurality of linear microwave plasma sources arranged parallel to one another and in a common plane above the substrates and extending transversely across the direction of substrate movement, with gas inlet and gas outlet tubes opening into the process chamber, a plurality of gas inlet and gas outlet tubes distributed over the length of the linear source being associated with each of the linear sources, and the outlet openings of the gas inlet tubes being situated immediately above the linear source, and the openings of the gas outlet tubes being arranged each in the area between two linear sources and in a plane which extends approximately through the core axes of the linear sources.
Additional details and features are described and characterized in the claims.

Device for the plasma deposition of a polycrystalline diamond

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Fxc3x6rderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


Methods, composition, and intermediates are disclosed that are useful for making 4-Tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine Compounds according to Formula I,

Pain is the most common symptom for which patients seek medical advice and treatment. Pain can be acute or chronic. While acute pain is usually self-limited, chronic pain can persist for three months or longer and lead to significant changes in a patient's personality, life style, functional ability or overall quality of life (K. M. Foley, Pain, in Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 100-107, J. C. Bennett and F. Plum eds., 20th ed. 1996).
Traditionally, pain has been managed by administering a non-opioid analgesic, such as acetylsalicylic acid, choline magnesium trisalicylate, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, fenoprofen, diflusinal and naproxen, or by administering an opioid analgesic, such as morphine, hydromorphone, methadone, levorphanol, fentanyl, oxycodone and oxymorphone. Id.
4-Tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine Compounds, including but not limited to those according to Formula I, are useful for preventing or treating pain or diarrhea in an animal,
where Ar1 is —C3-C8 cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl or -(5-7-membered) heteroaryl, each being unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R2 groups; Ar2 is phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl or -(5-7-membered) heteroaryl, each being unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R2 groups; Z1 and Z2 are each independently a —(C1-C4 alkyl) group; R1 is —(CH2)nC(O)N(R3)(R4) where R3 and R4 are each independently H or —(C1-C4 alkyl); R2 is halogen, —C1-C3 alkyl, —O—(C1-C3 alkyl), —NH(C1-C3 alkyl) or —N(C1-C3 alkyl)2; n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; and m is an integer ranging from 0 to 4. In certain embodiments, the phenyl moiety attached to the 4-position of the piperidine ring of a compound according Formula I is optionally substituted with one or more R2 groups, where R2 is as defined above.
Compound (7), an illustrative 4-Tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine Compound useful for preventing and treating pain and diarrhea in an animal, has the following structure:

Methods for making 4-tetrazolyl-4-phenylpiperidine compounds

Abstract: where Ar1 is —C3-C8 cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl or -(5-7-membered) heteroaryl, each being unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R2 groups; Ar2 is phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl or -(5-7-membered) heteroaryl, each being unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R2 groups; Z1 and Z2 are each independently a —(C1-C4 alkyl) group; R1 is —(CH2)nC(O)N(R3)(R4) where R3 and R4 are each independently H or —(C1-C4 alkyl); R2 is halogen, —C1-C3 alkyl, —O—(C1-C3 alkyl), —NH(C1-C3 alkyl) or —N(C1-C3 alkyl)2; n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; m is an integer ranging from 0 to 4; and, in certain embodiments, the phenyl moiety attached to the 4-position of the piperidine ring of a compound according to Formula I can be optionally substituted with one or more R2 groups.


A crib, which is convertible to a plurality of other furniture pieces, has four legs, a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, and two stabilizing posts. The stabilizing posts are positioned adjacent and parallel to the two legs supporting the front panel. Each stabilizing post is removably engaged to a leg, and is structurally independent of the front panel. All components of the crib can utilized when the crib is converted to another furniture piece, so that no components are discarded.

This is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/US2004/022837, filed Jul. 15, 2004 which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of Provisional Application No. 60/487,549, filed Jul. 15, 2003.
This invention relates to a furniture piece that is convertible into a variety of pieces, including a crib, youth bed, day bed, full-size bed, and sofa. The invention is particularly designed to be initially used as a crib, and then later converted into other furniture pieces depending upon the needs of the user. The invention is designed such that all structural components can be utilized when converting from a crib to another piece.
A child will typically outgrow a crib by approximately the age of two years. In view of the relatively short time period for using a crib, it is generally desirable from a marketing standpoint to provide a crib that can be converted into other useful furniture pieces once the child has outgrown the crib.
The prior art includes cribs with four legs in which the front panel is removable from the rest of the crib in order to form a day bed. Another prior art crib includes six legs and can convert into a day bed and a full-size bed. However, in each of these prior art cribs, at least one major structural components is discarded upon converting the crib to another furniture piece resulting in a waste of materials. Furthermore, both of these prior art cribs can be used to form only one furniture piece at a time. These prior art designs are explained in detail, infra.


A wireless communication system and method of implementing an evolved system attachment procedure are disclosed. The system includes a first core network and a second core network which is evolved from the first core network. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) sends an attach request message to the second core network. The second core network activates a packet data protocol (PDP) context and sends an attach accept message to the WTRU. The attach accept message includes information regarding the PDP context. The second core network constructs a session and mobility management (SMM) context for session management (SM) and mobility management (MM) for the WTRU.

Evolution of a third generation (3G) system is in progress to provide a higher data rate, lower latency, and support of multiple radio access technologies (RATs). The main features of the evolved 3G system include an enhanced air interface to handle higher data rates with more efficiency, optimization of conventional procedures to reduce the number of signaling procedures and reduce setup delay, and network design to permit interconnection and interoperation of any air interface, such as global standards for mobile communication (GSM), general packet radio services (GPRS), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), CDMA2000, IEEE 802.xx, or the like.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional GPRS access interface and reference points. A mobile station (MS) 102, which includes a terminal equipment (TE) 104 and a mobile terminal (MT) 106, is attached to one of a plurality of GPRS packet domain networks 108a, 108b, which is further connected to a packet data network 110. The GPRS packet domain networks 108a, 108b perform a network access control function, a packet routing and transfer function, a mobility management function, a logical link management function, a radio resource management function, a network management function, or the like.
The network access control function includes registration, authentication and authorisation, admission control, message screening, packet formats adaptation, charging data collection, operator determined barring, or the like. The packet routing and transfer function includes relay, routing, address translation and mapping, encapsulation, tunnelling, compression, ciphering, domain name server, or the like. The logical link management function includes establishment, maintenance and release of a session.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show conventional state machines for mobility management (MM) of an MS and a serving GRPS support node (SGSN) in an Iu mode. The MS and the SGSN may be in one of a packet mobility management (PMM)-detached state, a PMM-connected state and a PMM-idle state. In the PMM-detached state, there is no communication between the MS and the SGSN. In order to establish MM contexts in the MS and the SGSN, the MS performs a GPRS attach procedure. Upon GPRS attach, the state changes to the PMM-connected state, and a packet switching (PS) signaling connection is established between the MS and the SGSN. A PS signaling connection release changes the state to the PMM-idle state. GPRS detach, PS attach reject or routing area update (RAU) reject causes the state to change to the PMM-detached state. In the PMM-idle and PMM-connected state, the session management (SM) state may be active or inactive.
FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, taken together, are a signaling diagram of an attach procedure 300 in a conventional GPRS system. As shown in FIG. 3A, an MS 302 initiates the attach procedure 300 by the transmission of an attach request message to a new SGSN 306 (step 322). The attach request message includes an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) (alternatively, a packet-temporary mobile subscriber identity (P-TMSI) and an old routing area identity (RAI)), an attach type, or the like.
If the MS 302 identifies itself with the P-TMSI, the new SGSN 306 derives an old SGSN address from the RAI to request IMSI information of the MS 302 (step 324). The new SGSN 306 sends an identification request message to an old SGSN 308 (step 326). The identification request message includes a P-TMSI, an old RAI, old P-TMSI signature, or the like. The old SGSN 308 checks the P-TMSI against record and sends an identification response message with the IMSI of the MS 302 to the new SGSN 306 (steps 328, 330). If the MS 302 is known in the old SGSN 308, the old SGSN 308 responds with an identification response message including the IMSI, authentication triplets or authentication quintets. If the MS 302 is not known in the old SGSN 308 or the old P-TMSI does not match the value stored in the old SGSN 308, the old SGSN 308 responds with an appropriate error cause in the identification response message at step 330.
If the MS 302 is unknown in the old SGSN 308, the new SGSN 306 sends an identity (ID) request (ID Type=IMSI) to the MS 302 (step 334). The MS 302 responds with an ID response including the IMSI of the MS 302 (step 336).
If no MM context for the MS exists anywhere in the network, an authentication procedure is performed by the MS 302, the new SGSN 306 and a home location register (HLR) 314 (step 338).
Referring to FIG. 3B, based on operator configuration, an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) checking procedure may optionally be performed by the MS 302, the new SGSN 306 and an equipment identity register (EIR) 310 (step 340). If the SGSN number has changed since the last GPRS detach, or if it is the very first attach, the new SGSN 306 updates the HLR 314 by sending an update location message to the HLR 314 (step 342). The update location message includes an SGSN number, an SGSN address, the IMSI, or the like.
The HLR 316 compares the SGSN number with records and sends a cancel location message (including IMSI, cancellation type) to the old SGSN 308 (steps 344, 346). The old SGSN 308 acknowledges with a cancel location acknowledgement (ACK) (step 348). The HLR 314 sends an insert subscriber data message including the IMSI and GPRS subscription data to the new SGSN 306 (step 350).
The new SGSN 306 checks if the MS 302 is not allowed in the new routing area (RA) (step 352). If due to regional subscription restrictions or access restrictions the MS 302 is not allowed to attach in the RA, the new SGSN 306 rejects the attach request with an appropriate cause, and may return an insert subscriber data ACK (including the IMSI, an SGSN area restricted message) to the HLR 314 (steps 354). If the subscription checking fails for other reasons, the new SGSN 306 also rejects the attach request with an appropriate cause and returns an insert subscriber data ACK (including the IMSI and a cause) to the HLR 314. If all checks are successful, the new SGSN 306 constructs an MM context for the MS 302 and returns an insert subscriber data ACK (including the IMSI) to the HLR 314 (steps 356,358). The HLR 314 updates the MM context and sends an update location ACK to the new SGSN 306 (steps 360, 362).
Referring to FIG. 3C, if the attach type indicated in the attach request indicates a combined GPRS/IMSI attach, a visitor location register (VLR) should be updated. The new SGSN 306 sends a location update request to a new VLR 312 (step 364). The location update request includes a new LAI, the IMSI, an SGSN number, a location update type, or the like.
The new VLR 312 creates an association with the new SGSN 306 by storing the SGSN number. If the location area (LA) update is inter-mobile switching center (MSC), the new VLR 312 sends an update location message (including the IMSI and a new VLR) to the HLR 314 (step 366). The HLR 314 sends a cancel location message to an old VLR 316 (step 368). The old VLR 316 acknowledges with a cancel location ACK (step 370).
The HLR 314 sends an insert subscriber data message (including the IMSI and subscriber data) to the new VLR 312 (step 372). The new VLR 312 acknowledges with an insert subscriber data ACK (step 374). After finishing the inter-MSC location update procedures, the HLR 314 responds with an update location ACK to the new VLR 312 (step 376). The new VLR 312 responds with a location update accept message (including VLR TMSI) to the new SGSN 306 (step 378).
The new SGSN 306 sends an attach accept message to the MS 302 (step 380). The attach accept message includes a P-TMSI, a VLR TMSI, P-TMSI signature, and radio priority SMS. The MS 302 then returns an attach complete message to the new SGSN 306 and the new SGSN 306 sends a TMSI reallocation complete message to the new VLR 312 (steps 382, 384).
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a conventional state machine for SM. A GPRS subscription contains the subscription of one or more packet data protocol (PDP) addresses. Each PDP address is an element of a PDP context. The PDP state indicates whether data transfer is enabled for that PDP address or not. The PDP state is moved from an inactive state to an active state when PDP context is activated. The active state is changed to the inactive state when the deactivation procedure is initiated, or when the MM state changes to the PMM-idle state or PMM-detached state.
In the inactive state, the data service for a certain PDP address of the MS is not activated and the PDP context contains no routing or mapping information to process PDP protocol data units (PDUs) related to that PDP address. In the active state, the PDP context for the PDP address in use is activated in the MS, SGSN and gateway GPRS support node (GGSN). The PDP context contains mapping and routing information for transferring PDP PDUs for that particular PDP address between the MS and the GGSN. The active state is permitted only when the MM state of the MS is PMM-idle state or PMM-connected state.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a conventional PDP context activation procedure 500. The MS 302 sends an activate PDP context request message to an SGSN 306 (step 502). The activate PDP context request message includes a PDP type, a PDP address, an access point name (APN), quality of service (QoS) requested, protocol configuration options, or the like. The SGSN 306 validates the activate PDP context request, selects an APN and maps the APN to a GGSN 310 (step 504).
The SGSN 306 sends a create PDP context request message to the GGSN 310 (step 506). The create PDP contest request message includes a PDP type, a PDP address, an APN, QoS negotiated, a TEID, charging characteristics, or the like. The GGSN 310 creates a new entry in its PDP context table and returns a create PDP context response to the SGSN 306 (step 508). The create PDP context response message includes a TEID, a PDP address, protocol configuration options, QoS negotiated, charging ID, or the like.
Radio access bearer (RAB) setup is performed among the MS 302, the RAN 304 and the SGSN 306 (step 510). In Iu mode and if basic service set (BSS) trace is activated, the SGSN 306 may send an invoke trace message to the RAN 304 (step 512). The SGSN 306 may inform the GGSN 310 about the downgraded QoS attributes by sending an update PDP context request (step 514). The GGSN 310 confirms the new QoS attributes by sending an update PDP context response to the SGSN 306 (step 516).
The SGSN 306 inserts the GGSN address in its PDP context (step 518). If the MS 302 has requested a dynamic address, the PDP address received from the GGSN 310 is inserted in the PDP context. The SGSN 306 selects radio priority and packet flow ID based on QoS negotiated, and returns an activate PDP context accept message to the MS 302 (step 520). The activate PDP context accept message includes a PDP type, a PDP address, a transaction identifier (TI), QoS negotiated, radio priority, a packet flow ID, protocol configuration options, or the like. If the MS 302 indicated in the MS network capability it does not support BSS packet flow procedures, the SGSN 306 then shall not include the packet flow ID.

Wireless communication system and method of implementing an evolved system attachment procedure


A method for image navigation on an electronic device is described. The method includes displaying an image. The method also includes detecting at least one contact with a touch sensor to obtain a first position. The method further includes obtaining an updated position corresponding to a contact movement. The method additionally includes determining a modified position by applying at least one scaling function based on the first position and the updated position. The method also includes moving the image based on the modified position.

The use of electronic devices has become commonplace in modern society. Electronic devices have become smaller and more powerful in order to meet consumer needs and to improve portability and convenience. Electronic devices that are commonly used include computing devices, such as personal computers or laptops. Other electronic devices commonly used include cellular phones, smart phones, Personal Digital Assistants, tablet devices, netbooks, e-readers, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) units, etc. Consumers have become dependent upon electronic devices and have come to expect increased functionality.
As electronic devices have advanced, several kinds of interfaces that allow humans to interact with electronic devices have been used. For example, personal computers often use keyboards and mice for interaction. However, other interfaces for interacting with electronic devices have also been presented and adopted by many. For example, touchscreens and touchpads are now commonly used. Touchscreens and touchpads provide an interface whereby a user can physically touch a touchscreen or a touchpad in order to interact with electronic devices. However, known touch or contact interaction may not accurately correspond with the user's intended interaction. As can be seen from this discussion, systems and methods that improve electronic device interaction may be beneficial.


An apparatus comprising at least one multilayer wafer includes a device layer adjacent to a barrier layer, and the device layer includes at least two photoconductive regions separated by an etched channel extending through the device layer. In some instances the apparatus may be an accelerometer having two photodiodes formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer with the photodiodes defined by one or more etched channels extending through the device layer of the SOI wafer. Also disclosed are methods for forming such an apparatus.

In some accelerometers, a light source such as an light emitting diode (LED) is used in conjunction with a moveable shadow arm to project light onto a pair of photodiodes. Movement of the shadow arm caused by changes in acceleration experienced by the accelerometer results in changes in how light from the LED projects onto the photodiodes, and correspondingly affects current flow through the photodiodes. In such accelerometers, the photodiodes are often subject to and/or are the source of a number of problems. Such problems include, but are not necessarily limited to, excessive amounts of dark current (current arising from thermal energy rather than light), bias shifts resulting from minor shifts in light distribution, conductors blocking light, conductors increasing the distance between the shadow arm and photodiodes, and increased sensitivity of the accelerometer to temperature changes. As such, there is a need for improved photodiodes and methods of forming such diodes, particularly as they incorporated into accelerometers.


Enhanced thermal energy transfer systems for semiconductor packages are provided. A thermally conductive member is disposed in the interstitial space between an upper surface of a semiconductor package and a lower surface of a thermal member. The thermally conductive member is disposed above a first portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor package having a relatively higher thermal energy output when the semiconductor package is operating. A thermal interface material is disposed in the interstitial space and a force applied to the thermal member. The thermally conductive member forms a relatively higher pressure region above the first portion of the semiconductor package and a relatively lower pressure region in other portions of the semiconductor package remote from the thermally conductive member. The increased pressure region proximate the thermally conductive member beneficially enhances the flow of thermal energy from the first portion of the semiconductor package to the thermal member.

The compact electronic packaging required by increasingly smaller handheld and portable devices frequently requires the use of smaller footprint semiconductor packages. Such smaller footprint semiconductor packages typically include a number of semiconductor dies, at least a portion of which may generate significant heat when operating. The relatively small housings used portable electronic devices limit possible thermal dissipation solutions. Some devices include a cold plate or similar thermally conductive structure to dissipate localized heat generated by a semiconductor die over a larger surface area to limit the temperature rise of the semiconductor die when operating. SoC package thermal performance depends upon the ability to minimize the thermal resistance between the thermal solution (e.g., an active or passive heat dissipation device) and the semiconductor die.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Enhanced systems and methods for improved heat transfer from semiconductor packages


For the conversion of an olefinic C.sub.4 or C.sub.5 cut to an alkyl-tertiobutylether or alkyl-tertioamylether and to propylene, by metathesis, the process comprises four successive steps: (1) selective hydrogenation of the diolefins with simultaneous isomerisation of the alpha olefins to internal olefins; (2) etherification of the isoolefins; (3) elimination of oxygen-containing impurities; (4) metathesis of internal olefins with ethylene. The process has application, e.g., to C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 steam cracking cuts.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a process for the conversion of at least one cut selected from the group formed by olefinic C.sub.4 cuts and olefinic C.sub.5 cuts to an ether (an alkyl-tertiobutylether or an alkyl-tertioamylether) and to propylene. When the cut originates from a steam cracking operation, a further aim of the present invention is to optimise the relative ethylene-propylene selectivity of the steam cracking procedure using this process.
Steam cracking of feeds constituted by light paraffin cuts supplies ethylene and propylene for the petrochemical industry. It also provides a number of other heavier products, in particular a C.sub.4 hydrocarbon cut which contains mainly 1,3-butadiene, isobutene, n-butenes and butanes, accompanied by traces of acetylenic hydrocarbons, and a C.sub.5 hydrocarbon cut which contains mainly C.sub.5 diolefins, methylbutenes, n-pentenes and pentanes, accompanied by traces of acetylenic hydrocarbons.
Likewise, the catalytic cracking of heavy hydrocarbon feeds, in particular fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), produces lighter products, among them a C.sub.4 hydrocarbon cut which contains mainly isobutane, isobutene, n-butenes and butanes, accompanied by small quantities of 1,3-butadiene and acetlyenic hydrocarbons, and a C.sub.5 hydrocarbon cut which contains mainly pentanes, methylbutenes and n-pentenes, accompanied by small quantities of C.sub.5 diolefins and acetlyenic hydrocarbons.
Until recently, only 1,3-butadiene and isobutene were of use in the polymer industry, in particular in the tire industry for the former. An increase in tire lifetime and a relative stagnation of demand has led to a surplus of butadiene which is not used to any great extent. In contrast, isobutene has gained in importance as it can be used to synthesize ethers which are used as additives for motor fuels.

Process and plant for the conversion of olefinic C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 cuts to an ether and to propylene


An acoustic liner 20 includes a remote panel 26, a perforated proximate panel 22 transversely spaced from the remote panel and one or more partitions 32 spanning across the space between the panels. At least one baffle 44 cooperates with the partitions to define a resonator chamber 34b and an associated neck 56 for establishing communication between the resonator chamber and a fluid stream G flowing past the proximate panel.

Acoustic liners are used in fluid handling ducts to attenuate undesirable noise associated with a stream of fluid flowing through the duct. Examples of such ducts include the inlet and exhaust system ducts of gas turbine aircraft engines. A typical acoustic liner includes a back sheet and a face sheet spaced from the back sheet to define an inter-sheet compartment. The liner is positioned along the duct wall with the face sheet extending approximately parallel to the direction of fluid flow through the duct. The inter-sheet compartment serves as a resonator chamber for attenuating noise. Walls may extend between the sheets to subdivide the compartment into multiple smaller resonator chambers. A set of holes or necks perforates the face sheet to establish communication between the chamber (or chambers) and the fluid stream. One well known relationship that describes the noise frequency that a resonator will attenuate is:f=(c/2π)[AN/(VC LN)]0.5where c is the local speed of sound, AN is the cross sectional area of the neck leading to a chamber (or the aggregate area of multiple necks leading to a chamber) VC is the volume of the chamber and LN is the length of the neck. In a typical turbine engine acoustic liner, the face sheet is made of sheet stock. Accordingly, LN is the thickness of the sheet.
When the acoustic liner is used in a hot environment, for example to line an afterburner duct, it may be desirable to cool the liner to extend its useful life. Cooling may be accomplished by supplying coolant, usually relatively cool air, to the resonator chambers and allowing the coolant to flow through the chambers and discharge through the resonator necks. However at the flow rates typically required for satisfactory cooling, the coolant discharging through the resonator necks degrades the liner's acoustic admittance, which is a measure of its ability to admit acoustic disturbances into the resonator chambers.
Even if cooling is not required, it may be necessary to tune a resonator chamber to attenuate low frequency noise. A resonator can be tuned to a low frequency by increasing VC or LN or by decreasing AN. For aircraft engine applications, increasing VC may not be an option due to space constraints. Decreasing AN also may not always be an option. This is partly because decreasing AN reduces the overall porosity of the liner, which directly diminishes the acoustic admittance. Moreover, if the liner is cooled, the resonator necks also serve as coolant passages to cool the face sheet. Decreasing the size or quantity of the resonator necks/coolant passages could therefore compromise the durability of the liner. Accordingly, increasing LN may be the most viable option for tuning a resonator chamber to attenuate low frequency noise.


An objective lens for optical recording media is constituted by two or three lenses cemented together and used for recording or reproducing two kinds of optical recording media having respective thicknesses different from each other with two light beams having wavelengths xcex1 and xcex2 different from each other. The cemented face exhibits negative and positive refracting powers with respect to light beams having wavelengths xcex1 and xcex2, respectively, according to the wavelength-dependent difference in refractive index of materials constituting the respective lenses.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-245194 filed on Aug. 11, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an objective lens and optical pickup apparatus for recording and reproducing signals, which are commonly usable for two or more kinds of optical recording media having thicknesses different from each other. In particular, the present invention relates to an objective lens which, when light beams for irradiating the optical recording media have wavelengths different from each other according to the kinds of optical recording media, can efficiently converge the respective light beams onto their corresponding optical recording media; and an optical pickup apparatus using the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, various kinds of optical recording media have been under development, and optical pickup apparatus which can carry out recording and reproducing while using a plurality of kinds of optical recording media in common have been known. For example, a system which carries out recording and reproducing of DVD (digital versatile disc) and CD-R (recordable optical disc) by using a single optical pickup apparatus has been known.
In such two kinds of optical recording media, for example, visible light at about 650 nm is used for DVD in order to improve the recording density, whereas near-infrared light at about 780 nm is required to be used for CD-R since it has no sensitivity for light in the visible region. An optical pickup apparatus which can be used in common for both of them is based on a dual-wavelength beam type which uses two light beams having wavelengths different from each other.
In the two optical recording media exemplified above, however, the disc thickness of the CD-R is fixed to 1.2 mm whereas the DVD in use mostly has a thickness of 0.6 mm. Therefore, the individual wavelengths of light for reproducing or recording are needed to be securely converged at their predetermined positions different from each other.
Under such circumstances, a system in which two objective lenses having converging actions different from each other are made switchable depending on the optical recording media subjected to reproducing or recording has been known. However, it complicates the structure of optical pickup apparatus and opposes the demands for compactness and lower cost.
On the other hand, it has recently been known to use a multifocal lens composed of a diffractive optical element or a plurality of circular strip divisions for an objective lens part of an optical pickup apparatus (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-62493, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-145994, and the like).
In the apparatus using the above-mentioned diffractive optical element, however, a noise light component of an order different from that contributing to the recording and reproducing is emitted from the diffractive optical element. In the apparatus using the above-mentioned multifocal lens, the light transmitted through a circular strip division other than that contributing to the recording and reproducing at that time is noise light. Due to these noise light components, the S/N ratio at the recording and reproducing deteriorates.
In view of the circumstances mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact, inexpensive objective lens with a favorable S/N ratio for optical recording media, which can favorably converge two wavelengths of light onto their corresponding recording surfaces of optical recording media having respective thicknesses without complicating the structure of optical pickup apparatus; and an optical pickup apparatus using the same.
The present invention provides an objective lens for optical recording media, the objective lens being constituted by two lenses cemented together and used for recording or reproducing two kinds of optical recording media having thicknesses different from each other with two light beams having wavelengths different from each other, respectively;
the objective lens satisfying the following conditional expression (1) with respect to a light beam having a wavelength xcex1 used for recording or reproducing one of the two optical recording media, and
the following conditional expression (2) with respect to a light beam having a wavelength xcex2 used for recording or reproducing the other of the two optical recording media:
NLxcex1 greater than NDxcex1xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
NLxcex2 less than NDxcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
xe2x80x83where
NLxcex1 is the refractive index of the lens on the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
NDxcex1 is the refractive index of the lens on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
NLxcex2 is the refractive index of the lens on the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2; and
NDxcex2 is the refractive index of the lens on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2.
Also, the present invention provides an objective lens for optical recording media, the objective lens being constituted by two lenses cemented together and used for recording or reproducing two kinds of optical recording media having thicknesses different from each other with two light beams having wavelengths different from each other, respectively;
the objective lens satisfying the following conditional expression (3) with respect to a light beam having a wavelength xcex1 used for recording or reproducing one of the two optical recording media, and
the following conditional expression (4) with respect to a light beam having a wavelength xcex2 used for recording or reproducing the other of the two optical recording media:
NLxcex1 less than NDxcex1xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
NLxcex2 greater than NDxcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
xe2x80x83where
NLxcex1 is the refractive index of the lens on the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
NDxcex1 is the refractive index of the lens on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
NLxcex2 is the refractive index of the lens on the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2; and
NDxcex2 is the refractive index of the lens on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2.
Further, the present invention provides an objective lens for optical recording media, the objective lens being constituted by two lenses cemented together and used for recording or reproducing two kinds of optical recording media having thicknesses different from each other with two light beams having wavelengths different from each other, respectively;
assuming that the optical recording medium recorded or reproduced with a light beam having a wavelength xcex1 and the optical recording medium recorded or reproduced with a light beam having a wavelength xcex2 have respective thicknesses t1 and t2 satisfying the condition of t1 less than t2,
the objective lens satisfying the following conditional expression (5) when the cemented face of the cemented lenses is convex toward the light source, and
the following conditional expression (6) when the cemented face of the cemented lenses is convex toward the optical recording media:
NLxcex1 greater than NDxcex1 and NLxcex2 less than NDxcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
xe2x80x83NLxcex1 less than NDxcex1 and NLxcex2 greater than NDxcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(6)
xe2x80x83where
NLxcex1 is the refractive index of the lens on the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
NDxcex2 is the refractive index of the lens on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
NLxcex2 is the refractive index of the lens on the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2; and
NDxcex2 is the refractive index of the lens on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2.
Furthermore, the present invention provides an objective lens for optical recording media, the objective lens being constituted by three lenses cemented together and used for recording or reproducing two kinds of optical recording media having thicknesses different from each other with two light beams having wavelengths different from each other, respectively;
assuming that the optical recording medium recorded or reproduced with a light beam having a wavelength xcex1 and the optical recording medium recorded or reproduced with a light beam having a wavelength xcex2 have respective thicknesses t1 and t2 satisfying the condition of t1 less than t2,
the objective lens satisfying the following conditional expression (7) when the cemented face between the first and second lenses from the light source side is convex toward the light source:
N1xcex1 greater than N2xcex1 and N1xcex2 less than N2xcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(7)
the objective lens satisfying the following conditional expression (8) when the cemented face between the first and second lenses from the light source side is convex toward the optical recording media:
N1xcex1 less than N2xcex1 and N1xcex2 greater than N2xcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(8)
the objective lens satisfying the following conditional expression (9) when the cemented face between the second and third lenses from the light source side is convex toward the light source:
N2xcex1 greater than N3xcex1 and N2xcex2 less than N3xcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(9)
the objective lens satisfying the following conditional expression (10) when the cemented face between the second and third lenses from the light source side is convex toward the optical recording media:
N2xcex1 less than N3xcex1 and N2xcex2 greater than N3xcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(10)
xe2x80x83where
N1xcex1 is the refractive index of the first lens from the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
N2xcex1 is the refractive index of the second lens from the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
N3xcex1 is the refractive index of the third lens from the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1;
N1xcex2 is the refractive index of the first lens from the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2;
N2xcex2 is the refractive index of the second lens from the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2; and
N3xcex2 is the refractive index of the third lens from the light source side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2.
Preferably, the objective lens in this case satisfies the following conditional expressions (11) and (12):
N1xcex1=N3xcex1xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(11)
N1xcex2=N3xcex2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(12)
Preferably, the first and third lenses from the light source side are formed from the same material.
The cemented faces of the lenses may be made aspheric.
In each of the above-mentioned objective lenses for optical recording media, one of the light beams having wavelengths xcex1 and xcex2 may be a light beam having a wavelength of 650 nm used for recording or reproducing DVD, whereas the other may be a light beam having a wavelength of 780 nm used for recording or reproducing CD-R.
The present invention provides an optical pickup apparatus comprising any of the above-mentioned objective lens for optical recording media.
In general, objective lenses for optical discs commonly used for recording/reproducing various kinds of discs having respective thicknesses different from each other have the following problems in general.
Namely, if an objective lens designed for a relatively thick disc is used for recording/reproducing a relatively thin disc, a negative spherical aberration will occur, whereby recording/reproducing cannot be effected sufficiently.
If an objective lens designed for a relatively thin disc is used for recording/reproducing a relatively thick disc, by contrast, a positive spherical aberration will occur, whereby recording/reproducing cannot be effected sufficiently.
For example, if an objective lens designed for CD-R (having a thickness of 1.2 mm) is used for DVD (having a thickness of 0.6 mm), a negative spherical aberration will occur, whereby recording/reproducing cannot be effected sufficiently.
If an objective lens designed for DVD (having a thickness of 0.6 mm) is used for CD-R (having a thickness of 1.2 mm), by contrast, a positive spherical aberration will occur, whereby recording/reproducing cannot be effected sufficiently.
Therefore, when a lens is to be designed such that both of the above-mentioned thick and thin discs can be recorded/reproduced, lens design parameters are required to be such that the spherical aberration changes in opposite directions depending on whether the above-mentioned thick or thin disc is used.
When a lens surface is convex onto the air side at the boundary between the lens and air, i.e., it is a lens surface having a positive refracting power, the spherical aberration will change in the negative direction as the curvature of the lens surface increases in general.
When the lens surface is concave onto the air side, i.e., it is a lens surface having a negative refracting power, by contrast, the spherical aberration will change in the positive direction as the curvature of the lens surface increases in general.
A lens constituted by a single group having a single element configuration has only boundary faces in contact with the air. Therefore, as can be seen from the foregoing, this lens has no lens surface which can change the spherical aberration in both of the positive and negative directions at the same time when the curvature of boundary faces is changed.
By contrast, a cemented lens can have either a positive or negative refracting power due to the difference in magnitude of refractive indices of materials in front and rear of the cemented face even when the surface form is the same.
Namely, when the cemented face is convex toward the light source, for example, if the lens material positioned on the light source side of the cemented face has a refractive index lower than that of the lens material positioned on the optical recording media side of the cemented face, then the cemented face can be formed as a lens surface having a positive refracting power. If the lens material positioned on the light source side of the cemented face has a refractive index higher than that of the lens material positioned on the optical recording media side of the cemented face, by contrast, then the cemented face can be formed as a lens surface having a negative refracting power.
Thus, the cemented face can be made as a lens surface having a positive refracting power or a lens surface having a negative refracting power according to the difference in refractive index on the front and rear sides thereof even when the surface form is the same. When the curvature of the cemented face is made large, the spherical aberration can be changed in the negative or positive direction according to the refracting power of the lens surface at this time.
Taking account of such a property of the cemented face, the present invention is achieved.
When the wavelength of light employed varies depending on the disc thickness, the wavelength-dependent difference in refractive index of the material constituting the lens due to the above-mentioned property of the cemented face is utilized so as to exhibit a negative refracting power (or positive refracting power) and a positive refracting power (or negative refracting power) with respect to the light beams having wavelengths xcex1 and xcex2, respectively.
For example, suppose a case where a cemented lens is used as an objective lens for an optical disc for recording/reproducing discs having thicknesses of t1 and t2 (t1 less than t2) with light beams having wavelengths xcex1 and xcex2, respectively, whereas its cemented face is convex toward the light source. In this case, if the lens material on the light source side of the cemented face has a refractive index higher than that of the lens material on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1 and has a refractive index lower than that of the lens material on the optical recording media side with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2, then the cemented face can exhibit negative and positive refracting powers with respect to the light beams having wavelengths xcex1 and xcex2, respectively.
As the curvature of the cemented face is enhanced, the spherical aberration can be changed in the positive direction with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex1, and in the negative direction with respect to the light beam having the wavelength xcex2. Thus, lens design parameters can exist such that the spherical aberration changes in opposite directions depending on whether a relatively thick or thin disc is used, thereby making it possible to construct an objective lens which can record/reproduce discs having thicknesses different from each other.
When the cemented face is convex toward the optical recording media in the above-mentioned example, effect similar to those mentioned above can be obtained if the relationship between the refractive indices of lens materials is in the reverse of that mentioned above.
Though Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-332906 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2727373 disclose cemented objective lenses for optical pickups, each of them is assumed to use a single wavelength of light, whereby they are hard to exhibit the effects of the present invention.

Objective lens for optical recording media and optical pickup apparatus using the same


A pedestal set for the vertical and horizontal oriented product includes a chassis, a cover element, and a magnetic element. The chassis has a concave portion and a first joint portion, which is disposed on a surface of the chassis opposite to the concave portion. The first joint portion is connected to an external apparatus. The cover element is disposed on the concave portion to form an accommodating space. The magnetic element is placed in the accommodating space.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a pedestal set and, in particular, to a pedestal set suitable for horizontally and vertically oriented products.
2. Related Art
To avoid the direct impact of external forces on the contact surface of an electronic product, such as a desktop computer, the product is usually installed with an elastic pedestal set or pad made of rubber to absorb external forces. The current designs of the pedestal set or pad are for only one of the horizontally and vertically oriented electronic products. If the user wants to change the configuration of the electronic products to match the available space, the originally provided pedestal set or pad will not work any more.
As shown in FIG. 1A, a pedestal set 11 of a vertically oriented product 10 is fixed at the bottom of the product 10. If the product 10 is to be placed horizontally, the pedestal set 11 will not work. Therefore, the product 10 is limited by the space and cannot be put horizontally to flexibly match the available space. As shown in FIG. 1B, the pedestal set of the horizontally oriented electronic product 10′ usually includes four pointed rubber pedestal pads 12 fixed at the bottom of the product 10′. Once the user wants to put the product 10′ vertically, no corresponding pedestal set or pad can be used.
Moreover, the conventional pedestal set can be stabilized or fixed depending on the weight of the product. Therefore, it can only have an orientation downwardly, so that the electronic product is placed, for example, on a desktop. Accordingly, the electronic products cannot be placed with full freedom according to the given space. It is therefore an important subject to provide a pedestal set or a pad suitable for the vertically and horizontally oriented electronic products.


A hand held relaxation/exercise device adapted for attachment to a back of a hand via strapping to fingers of the hand and wrist. The device includes a first conical shaped wheel having a first circular base with sloping sides extending upwardly to an apex. A strap connector is attached to a face of the first circular base. The strap connector includes finger strap slots for receiving finger straps therein and a flange for receiving a portion of a wrist strap. The finger straps and wrist strap are used for securing the device to the fingers of the hand and the wrist during an exercise period. The first conical shaped wheel includes a first pivot shaft disposed through the center of the first wheel and rotatably mounted on a first ball bearing mounted inside the first circular base. A second conical shape wheel includes a second pivot shaft disposed through the center of the second wheel and rotatably mounted on a second ball bearing mounted inside a second circular base. The second pivot shaft extends outwardly from an apex of the second wheel. The second pivot shaft is connected to one end of a 90 degree elbow. The first pivot shaft is connected on an opposite end of the elbow. Sloping sides of the second wheel engage the sloping sides of the first wheel and rotate thereon during the use of the device.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exercise device and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a hand held relaxation and/or exercise device adapted for attachment to a back of a hand and secured to the fingers of the hand and the wrist.
(b) Discussion of Prior Art
Heretofore what makes occasional exercise difficult, for those who might have the time and the desire, is overcoming the everyday stiffness that restricts movement. Pushing through this lack of flexibility is painful at times. This can be discouraging and difficult to change. Lack of flexibility is rooted in lifelong habits of strain due to one's lifestyle wherein the muscles are actually stuck together in these patterns. Also, chronic stiffness may revolve around old injuries or a series of minor trauma that was never totally rehabilitated.
Few exercise methods today do anything to restore flexibility or energy. In fact, most popular practices are more involved in the pursuit of spending energy. Another common attitude mistakenly equates physical fitness with muscular development. More people pumping up at the gym are waking up with the same aches and pains realizing that more strength is not more energy. Conventional free weight exercise, designed to strengthen the upper body, typically involves raising or pushing a weight against the force of gravity. This most often requires the use of gripping muscles in the hands and arms which limit movement to isolated and rigid patterns. Also, conventional exercise machines follow specific patterns of directional resistance which are limited in range and often operate only in two dimensions. These types of movement are associated with archaic ideals of physical labor such as lifting, pushing, curling, pressing, etc. This approach to fitness and strength reinforces disproportionate strength and arbitrary alignment of the body's physical structure.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,895 to DiLaurenzio, U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,463 to Fuentes and U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,950 to Petrosky three different types of hand held exercising device are described wherein wrist action is required by a user to move rotating members mounted thereon. Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,093 to Meek, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,612 to Rosen and U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,185 three hand held toys are disclosed wherein wrist action is required for rotating weighted pendulums and rings.
None of the above mentioned prior art exercising devices and related toys disclose or teach the specific structure of the subject hand held relaxation/exercise device as described herein.


A power conversion device includes M number of DC/DC converters, first-side terminals of the DC/DC converters are connected so that common current flows between both positive and negative terminals of first DC terminals of the power conversion device, and second-side terminals thereof are connected so that common current flows between both positive and negative terminals of second DC terminals of the power conversion device. The power conversion device further includes M-1 number of auxiliary converters each connected between two DC/DC converters and performing DC/DC conversion. The DC/DC converters control voltages of the second-side terminals and input voltage of the power conversion device. Each auxiliary converter controls voltages of the first-side terminals of the two DC/DC converters so as to be equalized.

In recent years, in offshore wind power generation, the amount of electric generation has been increasing with size increase in windmills, and the distance between a substation facility and windmills installed offshore has become further long. Powers generated by a plurality of electric generators are collected and transmitted to a substation facility. In order to cope with increase in the amount of electric generation by the electric generators and increase in the power transmission distance, high-voltage DC power transmission is considered in which the collected voltage is efficiently transmitted by direct current with increased voltage.
A DC step-up conversion unit which is a conventional power conversion device used for high-voltage DC power transmission has, in one mode, input terminals for receiving input DC power to be DC power. The DC step-up conversion unit has a converter section which has a plurality of insulation-type DC-DC converters and in which first terminals of the plurality of insulation-type DC-DC converters are connected in parallel to the input terminals. The DC step-up conversion unit has output terminals which are connected in series to second terminals of the plurality of insulation-type DC-DC converters and from which output DC power which is DC power having voltage stepped up by the converter section is outputted. The DC step-up conversion unit has, as a converter section controller for controlling the converter section so that voltage of the input DC power becomes predetermined voltage, a first converter section controller provided for each of the plurality of insulation-type DC-DC converters of the converter section, and a second converter section controller (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In another example of conventional power conversion devices used for high-voltage DC power transmission, a plurality of DC/DC converters are connected in series on both the input side and the output side (see, for example, Patent Document 2).


A pump includes a housing that has a compression chamber for pressurizing fluid and a fluid passage for guiding fluid into the compression chamber. A valve is located midway through the fluid passage for communicating and blocking the fluid passage. A solenoid actuator is located on a substantially opposite side of the compression chamber with respect to the valve for operating the valve. A regulating member is located between the valve and the solenoid actuator for regulating pressure of fluid in the compression chamber from being applied to the solenoid actuator.

According to JP-A-2001-295720 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,706B1, US2004/0055580A1 (WO00/47888), high pressure fuel pumps are disclosed. In general, a high pressure fuel pump pressurizes fuel drawn into a compression chamber, and discharges the fuel by an axial movement of a plunger. For example, the fuel discharged from the high pressure fuel pump is distributed to an injector provided to each cylinder of an engine via a delivery pipe. The high pressure fuel pump includes a metering valve for controlling an amount of the fuel discharged flowing from the compression chamber, in general. The metering valve is arranged in an inlet of the compression chamber.
In the structure of the high pressure fuel pump disclosed in JP-A-2001-295720, a valve body and an electromagnetic driving portion (solenoid actuator) are integrally constructed in the metering valve. The solenoid actuator operates the valve body, which faces the compression chamber. Therefore, when pressure of fuel in the compression chamber increases, pressure of the fuel is applied to the solenoid actuator integrated with the valve body. In this structure, the rigidity of the solenoid actuator needs to be enhanced such that the solenoid actuator is capable of resisting pressure of the fuel repeatedly applied.
Furthermore, in the structure of the high pressure fuel pump disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,706B1 and US2004/0055580A1, the valve body and the solenoid actuator are separately constructed in the electromagnetic valve (solenoid valve). The valve body separated from the solenoid actuator is interposed between the solenoid actuator and a housing defining the compression chamber. However, hydraulic pressure in the compression chamber is applied to a guide member, which guides the movement of the valve body, provided to the solenoid actuator. Therefore, the hydraulic pressure in the compression chamber is applied to the solenoid actuator via the guide member. As a result, the solenoid actuator needs to be firmly fixed to the housing, and the rigidity of the solenoid actuator needs to be enhanced to prevent deformation when the solenoid actuator is fixed to the housing.
In the above structures, the rigidities of both the solenoid valve and the solenoid actuator constructing the solenoid valve need to be enhanced. Therefore, the solenoid valve may become structurally complicated. In addition, the solenoid valve may become jumboized.

High pressure pump having solenoid actuator


A microscope system (4) for the observation of dynamic processes comprises a microscope (50) having at least one detector (19), and a computer (34). A buffer memory (54) precedes a comparator (58) that compares image contents of at least two successive image frames (56k and 56k+1). Depending on the result obtained from the comparator (58), the image frames are stored in different segments of a data structure (66) that is provided.

The coupling of an optical microscope to an image sensor and a computer system is existing art. This applies to the coupling of microscopes to CCD camera systems, video camera systems, and scanning microscopes (confocal, multi-photon, 4-pi). What is critical in these systems according to the existing art is the fact that the image sensor and computer system are coupled via a communication medium. Both the image sensor and the communication medium have a memorizing property that as a rule is expressed explicitly as a memory. This is explicitly the case in CCD cameras, where the CCD chip itself is constructed as a memory organized in rows and/or columns and, in the case of scanning microscopes, is integrated as RAM into the scanning electronics. In the context of the periodic recording of data (image frames), this can result in unnecessary filling of the memory with more or less redundant data; this has a limiting effect if the processing terminal cannot process that quantity of data quickly enough. This limitation is present in the existing art and is even more bothersome if little or nothing is happening in the scene or specimen being observed.

Method; microscope system and software program for the observation of dynamic processes


In a hydrodynamic bearing device with which the lubricant is prevented from leaking to the outside, and good seal performance can be maintained, and in a spindle motor equipped with this hydrodynamic bearing device, the hydrodynamic bearing device includes a shaft, a sleeve, a lubricant that fills a microscopic gap, a radial bearing portion, a thrust bearing portion, and a bearing seal portion. The value of a function P1/V1, where V1 is a fluctuation volume of the sleeve in the axial direction and P1 is a capillary pressure index at a vapor-liquid interface located near the opened end of the bearing seal portion, is at least a specific value.

Recording apparatuses and so forth that make use of a rotating disk have grown in memory capacity in recent years, and their data transfer rates have also risen. Therefore, the bearing devices used in these recording apparatuses need to offer high reliability and performance for rotating a disk load at a high degree of accuracy. Hydrodynamic bearing devices, which are well suited to high-accuracy rotation, have been used in these recording apparatuses. Small notebook personal computers and other such mobile devices also require recording apparatuses that have higher capacity, are smaller in size, and are more resistant to impact.
With a hydrodynamic bearing device, oil or another such lubricant is interposed between a shaft and a sleeve member, pumping pressure is generated by hydrodynamic grooves during rotation, and this pressure rotates the shaft in non-contact fashion with respect to the sleeve. Because there is no contact between the shaft and the sleeve, there is no mechanical friction, which makes hydrodynamic bearing devices suited to fast and accurate rotation.

Hydrodynamic bearing device, and spindle motor equipped with same


The invention describes a friction lining (4) comprising a binding agent matrix (5) and friction particles (6), which binding agent matrix (5) forms a coating with a pre-definable coating thickness. A proportion of the friction particles (6) selected from a range with a lower limit of 20% and an upper limit of 100%, by reference to the total quantity of the friction particles (6), has a diameter which is bigger than the coating thickness of the binding agent matrix (5).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a friction lining, comprising a binding agent matrix and friction particles, which binding agent matrix forms a coating with a pre-definable coating thickness, a friction component with a metal component body which has a functional surface for producing a frictional grip with another friction component, which functional surface is at least partially provided with a friction lining, and a friction unit comprising at least a first and a second friction component which can be moved into a friction grip with it, and both the first and the second friction component each have at least one functional surface for producing the frictional grip, and at least one of the functional surfaces is at least partially provided with a friction lining.
2. Prior Art
Developments in the automotive industry towards high performance engines has made it necessary to adapt other components of a motor vehicle, such as the clutch system or brake system for example, to the higher performance of these engines. There is also an evident tendency to produce vehicles of an increasingly lighter weight in order to reduce fuel consumption. It is therefore necessary to produce components for motor vehicles that are of a simpler design and made from materials that are more lightweight.
A high performance friction material is known from patent specification DE 698 31 821 T2, for example. It comprises a two-layered material with a fiber base with a secondary or top layer joined to a primary or bottom layer. The primary layer contains non-linear fibers, cotton fibers and filler material and the secondary layer contains amide fibers, optionally synthetic graphite, optionally filler materials and optionally processing agents. The secondary layer also contains cotton fibers and porous carbon particles.
Patent specification DE 602 10 953 T2 discloses a friction material with a first layer containing a fibrous base material and a second layer containing at least one type of a friction-modifying particle on a top face of the fibrous base material. The second layer has an average thickness of approximately 30 to 200 μm. The top layer has a permeability which is lower than that of the first layer. The friction-modifying particles contain silicon oxide particles with an average diameter of approximately 0.1 to approximately 80 μm and an irregular shape.
Friction linings with a single layer are also known. For example, patent specification AT 387 395 describes a method of coating a support base with a friction lining bonded by synthetic resin, which is joined to the support base by an adhesion-imparting layer and produced by compacting and heat curing a friction powder mixture containing a synthetic resin which can be cured by applying heat. The friction powder mixture is firstly applied to the support base in a coating thickness that will result in the desired density of the final thickness of the friction lining and the applied friction powder coating is then heated to a temperature above the melting range of the curable synthetic resin and pressed to the final thickness of the friction lining before a degree of curing is reached that would detrimentally affect the subsequent improvement. To impart adhesion, the surfaces of the support bases to be lined may be coated with a viscous, adhesive resin, e.g., phenolic resin. A raw powder which is preferably the main component of the friction powder mixture with a narrowly limited screen fraction of 0.15 to 0.20 mm may be scattered directly onto this coating. The scattered quantity is set so that approximately 30% to 40% of the scattered surfaces are covered with raw powder. The actual coating of raw powder can be applied before the layer of adhesive resin is fully cured.


A cooling appliance, in particular to a refrigerator or to a freezer, has at least one tray located in the cooling space of the cooling appliance, with an insert provided which is movable with respect to the tray and which forms the surface of the unit having the tray and the insert, at least regionally in at least one position.

The design and the arrangement of such trays in the cooling spaces of cooling appliances are known in a number of different variants. The trays serve, independently of their specific configuration, for the receiving of the product to be cooled or to be frozen, with the latter naturally being able to be goods of the most varied shapes and sizes. Previously known trays frequently have a non-variable, largely smooth surface which serves as a support for all of the goods placed in independently of the shape and size of the product to be cooled or to be frozen.


A method and system for detection, storage and/or display of archive tracking information regarding archiving process history for archived and/or non-archived messages (e.g., email messages). Such information may be useful in determining reasons why a message, or group of messages, was archived or not, and thereby assessing the functioning of an archiving system. The process history information may include a processing type for the electronic message indicating whether the message was archived or not, and if the message was not archived, may indicate whether the message is a duplicate of another archived message, the message was filtered, or the archiving of the message failed. Event data may be recorded indicating a detailed reason why a message was not archived, a current location of the message, one or more rules applied to the electronic message during an archival filtering operation, and/or one or more rules that caused the electronic message to be selected for archiving.

Electronic messages are widely used and may take different forms (e.g., email messages, news updates, RSS or other feeds, etc.). Frequently, there is a need to store a backup or other type of copy of messages, e.g., to provide redundancy to help ensure that a message is available for later use and/or to free up storage space used by a message handling system (such as an email server or other email handling system) by offloading messages to another storage location. This type of storage is commonly called archiving, and various applications have been developed to archive messages, such as email messages.

Method and apparatus for archive processing of electronic messages