A protective garment for covering a frontal chest, waist and groin areas of a wearer which includes, a panel constructed of a plurality of sheets in which each sheet is constructed of flexible woven high strength protective fibers and in which the panel is formed for underlying clothing which covers the frontal waist area of the wearer and in which the panel extends continuously to overlie the frontal chest area down to and over the frontal waist and groin areas of the wearer. Various straps are used for releasably securing the panel to and maintaining the panel in a position overlying the frontal chest, waist and groin areas of the wearer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to body protective garments and more particularly to protective garments which will protect a body in the groin area from weapons which inflict puncture wounds and ballistic wounds.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97-1.99
Various protective garments are known which utilize separately securable groin pads which are externally placed about the groin area of the wearer. Such protective garments having groin pads are often rigid, bulky and are externally worn outside of the clothing of a wearer. A protective garment having a groin pad which is separate and releasably attachable as an accessory to the remainder of the protective armor jacket is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,314 issued Oct. 29, 1991 to Lewis. Unfortunately, the bulk, inflexibility and rigidity of such body armor jackets requires that they be worn externally and thus, are not concealable. Accordingly, such rigid garments, especially those having external attachable groin pad accessories, are not conducive for undercover operations by law enforcement or security personnel. Any element of surprise against a would-be attacker is lost since such rigid and bulky separate accessories must be externally worn by the user and are obviously seen by the attacker. Thus, the attacker is more apt to attack an unprotected area of the body.
Moreover, the rigidity of such external groin accessories significantly restricts the mobility of the wearer and therefore, the accessories are often not even worn by the law enforcement, military or safety personnel wearer. Furthermore, with the groin pads being separate from the remainder of the protective garment, such groin pad accessories require the added step of attaching the external pad, which results in an additional time consuming operation in which such time often may not be available to the user under attack. Also, within the context of close combat, the externally worn groin pad may be moved by the attacker giving the attacker an opportunity to strike a devastating blow.
Other externally placed protective items are known to have a separate groin pad which is folded over and overlies a portion of the protective article at a waist pouch. The separate groin accessory is releasably secured to and deployable from a waist pouch carried externally about the wearer's waist. Such an externally carried separate groin pad accessory deployable from a waist pouch can be seen in the Police Pouch.TM. device of Second Chance Body Armor, Inc. of Central Lake, Mich. and as shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/323,854 of Richard Davis entitled "Ballistic Resistant Garment Assembly and Method Of Using The Same", filed Nov. 25, 1992. This groin pad, separately carried in the waist pouch, requires the added step of deploying it in order to serve any protection of the groin area. If time permits, deployment of the groin pad accessory from the pouch is made. Only then is the pad externally positioned about the groin area to provide protection in this area. Once again, the external pad is not concealable underneath the clothing of the wearer and is not deployed at all times. Furthermore, the pad may reduce the mobility of the wearer and by being externally worn is prone to movement out of position by an attacker thereby potentially exposing vital organs intended to be protected.
Another externally worn and separately attachable/detachable groin pad accessory is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,811 issued Jul. 12, 1994 to Price et al. This groin pad accessory is secured to the front of a body armor device by mating hook and loop fasteners and thus, suffers from the disadvantages of such bulky, external and separate groin pads as previously discussed.
Other relatively cumbersome groin pad inserts exist which are also separate from a protective vest garment. A protective vest garment used with such separate groin pad accessories is worn such that the vest is positioned generally at least one inch above the belt line in order to prevent the bottom of the vest from uncomfortably binding with the belt of the wearer when moving about or sitting. Such separately segmented groin and vest arrangements disadvantageously leave an unprotected area proximate the lower abdominal region of the wearer. Additionally, such arrangements unfortunately provide an unprotected separation between the two distinct elements of the vest and the groin pad, subjecting the wearer to vulnerability in the exposed area to serious injury, if not a fatal one.

Concealable protective garment for the groin and method of using the same


A tape cassette to be mounted on a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. A magnetic tape is extended in front of an opening formed at a front part of a housing. The housing is provided with a front cover for covering the tape. The tape is exposed by an upward rotation of the front cover. The front cover is upwardly rotated when a slider, which is slidably attached to the housing, is slid rearward with respect to the housing. The slider, which is in engagement with an engaging member, is slid by relative movement of the engaging member and the housing. The slider is locked to the housing by a locking member, which unlocks the slider when the engaging member is engaged with the slider.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape cassette used for magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus such as a video cassette recorders. Hereinafter, a tape cassette will be referred to as the "cassette", a magnetic tape as the "tape", and a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus as the "apparatus".
2. Description of the Prior Art
As an example of a known cassette, an 8 mm cassette disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-320693 will be illustrated:
Referring to FIGS. 35 to 38, the illustrated 8 mm cassette, used for a video tape recorder, includes a housing 101 in which a first reel 102 and a second reel 103 are disposed. A tape 104 is carried on the first reel 102 and the second reel 103 so as to run from the former to the latter through an opening 107 formed at a front of the housing 101. A plurality of loading posts in the apparatus are maneuvered in the opening 107 so as to bring the tape into engagement with a rotary head cylinder.
The housing 101 is provided with a rotary front cover 105 which completely covers the tape 104 and front side surfaces of the housing 101. When the front cover 105 is upwardly rotated (in a clockwise direction in FIG. 36) around a pair of fixed pins 108, a rear cover 106 is urged so as to take an upward position.
As shown in FIG. 37, a lock 110 for prohibiting the rotation of the front cover 105 is supported rotatably forwardly and rearwardly in a rear portion of the opening 107. When the lock 110 is moved forwardly, the lock 110 comes into engagement with a protection 111 provided on a Side surface of the front cover 105, thereby prohibiting the front cover 105 from upwardly rotating. When the cassette is placed in a cassette holder of the apparatus, the lock 110 is rearwardly rotated with respect to the housing 101 by a tip portion 113 of an unlocking pin 112 and thus is disengaged from the projection 111, thereby enabling the front cover 105 to upwardly rotate. A front cover releasing pin 114 provided in the cassette holder is upwardly moved with respect to the cassette, thereby rotating the front cover 105 upwardly. In this way, the tape 104 extended in front of the housing 101 is exposed, and the loading posts are maneuvered into the opening 107 so as to stretch the tape 104 forwardly.
Under the construction described above, when the front cover 105 and the rear cover 106 are opened, they are overlapped on the housing 101 as indicated by the two-dot chain line of FIG. 36. To accommodate the overlapping covers 105 and 106, the cassette holder of the apparatus must have a sufficient space.
Further, the cassette holder must have the unlocking pin 112 for unlocking the front cover 105 and the front cover releasing pin 114 for allowing the front cover 105 to upwardly rotate. Accordingly, it is unavoidable that the construction of the cassette holder is complicated and economically poor.

Tape cassette including a locking slider

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A card edge connector assembly is adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board to electrically connect with a daughter card. The connector assembly includes a dielectric housing defining a longitude direction, a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitude direction and a slot extending from a mating face thereof along the longitudinal direction, a number of terminals respectively disposed at opposite sides of the slot and a retainer aligned with and spaced from the dielectric housing along the longitudinal direction. The retainer includes a flexible arm extending away from the dielectric housing. The flexible arm is formed with a projection for locking the daughter card in position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a card edge connector having an improved retainer.
2. Description of Related Art
A card edge connector is widely used to connect a daughter Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to a mother PCB. A typical type of the card edge connector is used for connecting an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) card to a computer mother board. A conventional card edge connector comprises an insulative housing defining an elongate central slot for receiving a mating edge of a daughter board. Two rows of passageways are defined on opposite sides of the central slot for receiving and retaining conductive contacts which are allowed to engage conductive pads on the mating edge of the daughter board obvious. Such a connector cannot securely retain the daughter board in the card edge connector when the card edge connector or the daughter board is subject to vibration. Thus, an AGP connector equipped with a retainer is desired to secure the daughter board.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,124 discloses a conventional AGP connector with a separate retainer. The separate retainer has an elongated frame tightly enclosing a dielectric housing of the AGP connector and a resilient arm integrally extending from one end of the frame along a longitudinal direction of the dielectric housing and having a projection formed thereon. The resilient arm allows a user to selectively engage/disengage the projection with/from a notch of the daughter board. However, it is clear that the retainer with a complicated structure is difficult and costly to manufacture. Furthermore, during the course of releasing the daughter board, the deflection of the resilient arm would cause the dielectric housing slightly shaking along a transverse direction of the housing. Repeated shaking would adversely affect the signal transmission between the mother PCB and the daughter PCB.
Hence, a card edge connector with improved retainer is desired to overcome the disadvantage of the prior art.

Electrical connector with an improved retainer


A robotic lawnmower 1 is provided, having a deactivated state, a stand by state and an activated state. A removable disabling device 3 is arranged to be positioned in a first, a second, and a third position in a retainer 5 of the robotic lawnmower 1. The first position constitutes an off position in which the robotic lawnmower 1 is in a deactivated state. The second position constitutes a stand by position in which the robotic lawnmower 1 is in a stand by state. The third position constitutes an on position in which the robotic lawnmower 1 is in an activated state. The present invention also relates to a disabling device 3 arranged to be positioned in a retainer 5 of a robotic lawnmower 1 according to the invention.

A robotic lawnmower requires two basic functions; start and stop. For safety reasons it is also an advantage if the lawnmower cannot be operated by an unauthorized user. In the technical field of robotic lawnmowers, these functions have been handled via a stop button in combination with a keyboard and display for pin-code input. These components add complexity to the lawnmower and increase manufacturing costs. Moreover, negligent handling of the pin-code may lead to an unauthorized user is able to start the lawnmower without permission. Also, a robotic lawnmower is especially liable to be stolen and a secure anti-theft system is therefore required. Further, when a user turns off a robotic lawnmower, it is an advantage if the lawnmower actively stops driving of rotating cutting blades and stores operation data being gathered during the run. The stopping of the driving and the storing of operation data requires electricity. Therefore, in order to achieve the stopping of the driving and the storing of operation data, the electricity must not directly be turned off when the lawnmower is turned off by a user.
Therefore, there is a need for a disabling device for a robotic lawnmower which is easy to use and enhances the safety of the handling of the robotic lawnmower.


A hanger for supporting joists or beams in insulated concrete formwork (ICF) systems has two parallel side plates having inner and outer sections, plus an L-shaped support member comprising a horizontal leg extending between the lower edges of the outer sections of the side plates, and an upward-extending vertical leg which demarcates the inner and outer side plate sections. The inner sections of the side plates are passed through slits in one insulation panel of an ICF wall-forming system, until the support member's vertical leg abuts the outer face of the insulation panel, leaving the side plate inner sections extending partially into the formwork cavity. The joist or beam to be supported may be set on the horizontal leg of the support member either before or after the concrete wall is cast. Preferably, an cut-out is made in the insulation panel behind the vertical leg of the support member to allow concrete to flow against the vertical leg and the supported joist or beam is cut for a close fit against the vertical leg, such that external horizontal loads on the wall can pass into the joist or beam by direct compression.

It is increasingly common for both below-grade and above-grade concrete walls to be constructed using insulated concrete formwork (or "ICF") systems. In conventional concrete wall-forming systems, a pair of wood or metal form panels are set up at a spacing corresponding to the desired thickness of the finished wall, thus creating a cavity between the panels. As necessary or desired, steel reinforcing bars are positioned within the formwork cavity. The form panels are secured in position using form ties extending between the form panels, and/or by means of external temporary bracing. Fluid concrete is then introduced into the formwork cavity. After the concrete has cured sufficiently, the formwork panels are removed (or "stripped") from the concrete wall.
It is generally desirable to in insulate both above-grade and below-grade building walls, in order to minimize through-wall heat transfer both from inside the building to the outside (e.g., during winter) and from the outside into the building (e.g., during summer). By minimizing heat transfer, wall insulation reduces heating costs in cold weather, and reduces air conditioning costs in warm weather (or enhances the comfort of persons in buildings that do not have air conditioning). For concrete walls constructed using conventional methods, insulation is typically applied to one or both wall surfaces, such as in the form of plastic foam insulation panels glued or otherwise attached to the concrete surface, or (particularly in the case of inside wall surfaces) in the form of fiberglass batts incorporated into stud walls or strapping systems installed adjacent to the wall surface. These conventional wall insulation methods and systems add to the total time and cost of building construction.
ICF systems combine plastic foam insulation panels and spacing means (such as plastic the members) to create assemblies in which the insulation panels take the place of conventional wall form panels (e.g., plywood forms), and remain in place as permanent insulation after the concrete wall has been cast and cured. ICF systems thus reduce or eliminate the need to strip forms from the finished wall, thereby reducing construction labour costs. As well, construction time and costs are further reduced because wall insulation does not have to be installed as a separate task subsequent to wall construction.
It is commonly necessary or desirable for floor (or roof) beams and joists to act as struts providing effective lateral bracing to the walls that support them. In some cases, such bracing action may be structurally required on a long-term basis; in other (and perhaps most) cases, the beams and joists may need to provide bracing only until the complete floor (or roof) structure is in place. This bracing effectiveness is easily achieved in conventional concrete wall construction by embedding the supported ends of the beams and joists into the walls as the walls are being cast, thus providing solid support for the beams and joists both vertically and laterally. However, it is somewhat difficult to embed beams and joists in concrete walls formed using ICF systems. This would typically require cutting out sections of insulation to accommodate the beams and joists, and in some cases temporary shoring may be needed because the ICF panels may not be strong enough to support the weight of the embedded beams and joists during wall construction.
For these reasons, a variety of joist and beam hanger designs have been developed for use with ICF systems. One known ICF joist hanger system, the ICF-Connector™ made by ICF-CONNECT Ltd. of Woodbridge, Ontario, uses a pair of flat metal side plates that are inserted partway through corresponding and suitably spaced vertical slots in an ICF form panel, such that an inner portion of each plate will be east into the concrete wall and an outer portion will protrude from the outer face of the form panel. After the concrete wall has been cast, a U-shaped metal bracket is positioned under the end of the joist to be supported. The joist end is then positioned between the protruding side plates, and suitable fasteners (e.g., sheet metal screws) are installed to connect both side plates to the vertical legs of the U-shaped bracket. Because the side plates are rigidly anchored in the concrete wall, their connection to the bracket allows the hanger assembly to transfer loads both vertically and laterally between the joist and the concrete wall (subject to proper structural design of the hanger components and fasteners).
However, all load transfer in such hanger systems is by way of shear across the fasteners. If the fasteners are corroded, insufficiently tight, or installed in oversized holes, the hanger assembly's bi-directional load transfer capability can be seriously compromised. Accordingly, there is a need for an ICF joist hanger that provides secure bi-directional load transfer capability without relying on shear-loaded fasteners, and without requiring extensive cutouts in the ICF form panels. Moreover, there is at need for such an ICF hanger of unitary or one-piece construction, to minimize hanger fabrication costs. The present invention is directed to these needs.


A beverage can be cooled to a temperature lower than the ambient temperature by canning said beverage within a can which is internally provided with an integral cooling system comprising a compartment containing a liquid refrigerant fluid such as Freon 22 under a relatively elevated pressure, a compartment under reduced pressure connected with said high pressure refrigerant compartment by means of a partition, and a partition breaking device for perforating said partition to permit the expansion and flashing of the refrigerant fluid into said compartment under reduced pressure, in order to produce an absorption of heat from said beverage by the evaporation of said liquid refrigerant.

It is very well known that at the present time the storage, transportation and consumption of cans for containing food-type and refreshing beverages such as fruit and vegetable juices, dairy liquid or pasty products, soft drinks, beers and the like, is a very important and popular economical activity throughout the world. Canned beverages, on the other hand, have a very practical usefulness in the art, due to the advantages shown thereby for their transportation and handling, which permits persons of all ages to easily handle this type of containers without running the risk of accidental breakage such as is common practice when handling glass containers or bottles.
However, the above described type of containers or cans show the serious drawback that they are highly heat conducting devices that do not assist in maintaining a suitable temperature for the contents thereof which may be appealing to the consumer of canned beverages, particularly when said cans have been exposed for a considerable period of time to hot weather or the mere solar radiation, for which reason said canned beverages must be subjected to a suitable cooling process before consumption thereof, either by direct or indirect contact with ice or by using a refrigeration device. This may prove to be rather difficult in places with low population as well as in remote locations such as secondary roads and the like, where it is practically impossible to have enough availability of ice or other refrigeration means. This, in turn, forces the consumers to necessarily consume the canned beverages at the ambient temperature that, in most of these cases, is unduly hot to provide a tasty and refreshing beverage.
On the other hand, in remote or semi-wild areas where the availability of electrical energy is scarce or practically inexistent or in areas populated by low income people who find it rather difficult to purchase a refrigerator, the problem of being forced to consume all types of canned beverages at ambient temperature remains, and in these areas the said beverages have to be consumed at temperatures that do not aid to render said canned beverages a tasty and refreshing article of consumption, thus defeating their main purpose, namely, that of being palatable and refreshing.
Although workers in the art have proposed various solutions to the above described problems, all of them have involved the use of external cooling, that is, cooling of the canned beverages by the application of ice externally thereof, for instance, in small and economical thermally insulated receptacles and the like, which devices only partially solve the problem because the same will remain for areas where no ice is available. To the applicant knowledge, no solution for cooling a canned beverage by means of internal cooling within the can has ever been proposed.

Self-cooling beverage container with evacuated refrigerant receiving chamber


A smoke detection system includes at least one smoke detector which is installed in a first partial region of a region to be monitored by way of the smoke detection system. The smoke detection system further includes at least one fluid injection device which is configured to inject a fluid into the region to be monitored by way of the smoke detection system in a direction of at least one smoke detector such that in an emergency case, when smoke is present in a second partial region of the region to be monitored the smoke is transported to the at least one smoke detector.

The cabin of modern aircraft is equipped with a plurality of smoke detectors which allow a fast and reliable detection of smoke and thus significantly reduce the risk of fire on board the aircraft. Typically, the smoke detectors are installed in a ceiling region of the aircraft cabin. At certain operational states of the aircraft, for example during ground operation of the aircraft at hot ambient temperatures and/or intense solar radiation, the aircraft outer shell is heated while the interior of the aircraft cabin is cooled by means of the aircraft air conditioning system. This may cause the formation of air layers having different temperatures within the aircraft cabin. In particular, due to the injection of cool air conditioned air into the aircraft cabin through air outlets disposed in a sidewall region or a floor region of the aircraft cabin, a layer of cool air may form in a lower region of the aircraft cabin, whereas a layer of warm air may be present in the ceiling region of the aircraft cabin.
A warm air layer prevailing in the ceiling region of the aircraft cabin may hinder or at least delay a rising of smoke, which is generated or present in the lower region of the aircraft cabin, to the ceiling region of the aircraft cabin due to thermal convection. Therefore, additional smoke sensors with corresponding electrical connections have to be provided in the lower region of the aircraft cabin. Alternatively or additionally thereto, suitable ventilation means, for example in the form of fans or blowers, may be used for dissolving undesired air layer structures which may form within the aircraft cabin.

Smoke detection system and method for operating a smoke detection system


A storage device, which comprises a storage media, a spindle motor which spins the storage media, a head unit which records and reads the data to the storage media, an actuator which carries out the positioning operation to the head unit on the storage media, a loading and unloading system which controls the actuator and carries out the unload operation that withdraws the head unit from the storage media and the loading operation that shifts the head unit onto the storage media, and a measurement means which measures the unloading energy required for the unload operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage device, and technology relating to its control and manufacture, and more particularly, to an effective technology utilized in the storage unit, such as a magnetic disk device that utilizes magnetic disks as storage media.
2. Description of the Related Art
Similarly to examples described in patent literature 1, 2, and 3, it is widely known that a magnetic disk device comprises a load and unload system that withdraws the magnetic head when device operation stops, so that the magnetic head floating over the magnetic disk does not touch the magnetic disk, and moves the magnetic head back onto the magnetic disk from the position where the head was withdrawn when device operation is restarted.
Specifically, a sloped unit called a ramp is located adjacent to the periphery of the magnetic disk, and when rotation of the magnetic disk is ceased, the magnetic head is withdrawn onto the ramp on the unload operation initiated. When the magnetic disk is rotated and after the spinning speed of the magnetic disk has reached a certain speed, the magnetic head sitting on the ramp is moved to the magnetic disk, that is, the load operation is carried out.
This system securely prevents contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk when the operation of the magnetic disk ceases, and consequently prevents problems such as starting errors and damage to the magnetic disk surface where the data is stored, which are both caused by the adhesion of the magnetic head to the surface of the magnetic disk.
Further, this load and unload system can be used to resist shock, and is used for magnetic disk devices in laptop computers, which are required to be highly shock-resistant.
When this load and unload operation system is adopted, even in the event of sudden power failure, the unload operation ( emergency unload operation) can still be completed without the power supply by inputting the spindle motor back electromotive force, obtained from the spindle motor connected to the magnetic disk spinning under its own inertia, to the load and unload operation system, which consists of the voice coil motor.
However, the energy, required to overcome the friction with the ramp and to operate the unloading (hereafter called unloading energy), tends to increase in proportion to the number of unload operations. This characteristic of the unloading energy causes a technical issue, when the unloading energy becomes greater than the spindle motor back electromotive force, the emergency unload cannot be performed in power failure, and a starting error occurs when the device is restarted because the magnetic head and the magnetic disk are left in contact.
That is, in restarting the magnetic disk spin by the spindle motor, a starting error occurs because of the friction and adhesion between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk, leading to the serious error that the data cannot be read from the magnetic disk device.
The patent literature 1 discloses technology that controls the loading and unloading using a voice coil motor by detecting the speed from the voice coil motor back electromotive force that drives the head. However, the above-explained technical issue caused by the change in the unloading energy is not mentioned.
Also the patent literature 2 discloses a technology based on the control of the speed of the load/unload preventing the collision between the head and the disk during loading by the feedback of the voice coil motor back electromotive force to the driving circuit of the voice coil motor. However, the technical issue caused by the change in the unloading energy is again not recognized.
Moreover, during the regular unload operation, when the unloading fails without confirming whether the head is parked or not, the spin of the disk ceases with the head remaining on the magnetic disk. Therefore the technical issue still remains unsolved, and upon restarting the device a starting error occurs for the same reason as explained above.
For this reason, patent literature 3 discloses technology that prevents unloading failures by detecting the moving speed of the head slider during unloading, and by determining whether the head slider reached a predetermined unloading position or not based on the detected moving speed. However, because detection of the unloading completion is based on the moving speed of the head slider and it is an indirect approach, there remains concern about the low accuracy of the method.    Patent literature 1: Japanese Publication Unexamined Application No. 2001-155455    Patent literature 2: Japanese Publication Unexamined Application No. Heisei 8-63920    Patent literature 3: Japanese Publication Unexamined Application No. Heisei 11-16136

Storage device and its control method and manufacturing method


Disclosed is a compositions for antistatic finish, which is useful for antistatic stockings, comprising (a) 100 parts by weight of colloidal or ultrafine granular alumina on a solid basis, (b) 3 parts to 50 parts by weight of a binder on a solid basis, (c) 0.02 part to 2 parts by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of silver salts, copper salts and colloidal silver on a metallic atom basis, and (d) 848 parts to 896.08 parts by weight of water (including water occasionally contained in the components of (a) to (c)).

The present invention relates to compositions for antistatic finish and antistatic stockings using the compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions for imparting an antistatic finish, for forming transparent films excellent in antistatic, deodorizing, antimicrobial, drying, heat radiating and self cleaning (degrease-decomposing) properties on surfaces of clothes such as woven fabrics, knitted fabrics and nonwoven fabrics, leathers or tatami mats, and antistatic stockings using the compositions.
Previously, no optimum methods have been found for improving the antistatic and drying (hydrophilic) properties of clothes, particularly synthetic fiber clothes, while providing deodorizing and antimicrobial properties at the same time. Methods for imparting the antistatic property by use of surfactants, and methods for providing the antimicrobial and deodorizing properties by mixing drugs or inorganic or organic antimicrobial agents with resins have been proposed. However, all of these methods have problems with regard to their performances.


An improved system for running electrophoresis gels xe2x80x9cface upxe2x80x9d is described. The system includes a single gel capacity strip holder, two electrodes, a sample cup, and a cover. The system provides a means of separating basic proteins on any length gel strip and the cup provides a user-friendly means of successfully putting the proteins on the gel face.

The present invention relates to equipment and methods used in complex protein mixture analysis by 2-dimensional electrophoresis.
For any type of detailed substance analysis, a homogeneous sample of the substance of interest is required. For this reason, isolating a substance of interest from a mixture of substances is often necessary in many biochemical laboratories. There are many ways to separate substances: on the basis of size by molecular sieve chromatography or SDS-PAGE, on the basis of binding properties by affinity chromatography, or by isoelectric points (the pH at which the substance has no net charge) by isoelectric focusing. Isoelectric focusing is particularly effective for analyzing microheterogeneous protein species or other species which differ slightly in their chemical. content.
Isoelectric focusing with an immobilized pH gradient (IPG), makes true isoelectric focusing possible and significantly improves the reproducibility of the spot distribution along the pH gradient axis of 2-D maps. IPG also makes it possible to focus basic proteins in the gel and to obtain
Electrophoresis devices are well known in the art. However, attempts to construct an apparatus which successfully analyzes basic proteins (for example those with pH between 8-12) in a simple, user-friendly manner have previously been unsuccessful. Previous xe2x80x9cface upxe2x80x9d (gel side up) systems required messy preparation and critical setup to effectively load the sample on the gel. Sample cups had to be placed perfectly perpendicular to the gel (despite rotational freedom) and at the perfect height (despite placement flexibility on the vertical axis) using click stops to provide sample contact with the gel yet avoid crushing it. Newer xe2x80x9cface downxe2x80x9d (gel side down) systems which are easier to load and run, such as that described in co-assigned and application Ser. No. 09/095,002, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,736, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein, cannot successfully separate basic proteins. Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus which allows for effective analysis of basic proteins in a compact, simple way.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sample loading system that is capable of separating basic proteins by isoelectric focusing on an immobilized pH gradient (IPG) in a xe2x80x9cface upxe2x80x9d system.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a sample loading means that is user-friendly and relatively clean.
It is another object of the present invention to simplify sample loading on xe2x80x9cface upxe2x80x9d gels.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for accurate and uncomplicated sample positioning on the vertical axis, thereby providing adequate but not excessive contact of the sample and sample cup with the gel.
It is additionally an object of the present invention to create a gel loading system which is adjustable to different length gels and which allows flexibility of sample cup placement.
It is another object of the present invention to reduce the volume of mineral oil required to perform isoelectric focusing on a single gel.
These and other objects are satisfied by the present invention which is directed to gel loading systems, methods, and associated containers which are configured to successfully load electrophoresis gels with samples of any pH. In particular, a first aspect of the present invention is directed toward a sample loading assembly for electrophoresis gels comprising a gel holder adapted to hold a gel, two electrode carriers and associated electrodes, a sample loading cup adapted to load the sample onto the upper surface of the gel, and a cover, wherein said electrode carriers are configured such that, in ordinary use, the electrodes will be in electrical connection with the top surface of the gel. Specific embodiments include variations on the electrode placement along the gel surface and methods of electrode connection with the electrophoresis apparatus.

Sample loading means for electrophoresis gel strips


Metallic components, including superalloy components such as turbine vanes and blades, are joined or repaired by electric resistance with a high electrical resistivity brazing alloy composition. In some embodiments the brazing alloy comprises filler metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, and cobalt base alloy and elements selected from the group consisting of phosphorous (P), boron (B), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), carbon (C), tellurium (Te) and manganese (Mn). In performing the method of the present invention a high electrical resistivity brazing alloy composition is introduced within a substrate defect or interposed between two substrates that are to be joined. An electric current is passed through the brazing alloy until the alloy melts and bonds to the adjoining substrate. High resistivity of the brazing alloy concentrates heat generated by the current flow in the brazing alloy rather than in the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods for joining or repair of metal components, including advanced superalloy components, by resistance brazing. More particularly, the present invention methods utilize high-resistivity braze fillers that melt with relatively low heat input by application of electric current, without impacting structural properties of the underlying substrate metal. In some embodiments, the invention relates to methods for surface repair of defects in superalloy turbine blades and vanes in steam or gas turbines by filling the defects with a high resistivity braze alloy. Other embodiments relate generally to filling of surface defects in metal substrates or joining of two substrates in fabrication or repair of metal components, especially superalloy metal components, with a high resistivity braze alloy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Repair or new fabrication of nickel and cobalt based superalloy material that is used to manufacture turbine components, such as cast turbine blades, is challenging, due to the metallurgic properties of the finished blade material. For example a superalloy having more than 6% aggregate aluminum or titanium content, such as CM247 alloy, is more susceptible to strain age cracking when subjected to high-temperature welding than a lower aluminum-titanium content X-750 superalloy. The finished turbine blade alloys are typically strengthened during post casting heat treatments, which render them difficult to perform subsequent structural welding. Currently used welding processes for superalloy fabrication or repair generally involve substantial melting of the substrate adjoining the weld preparation, and complete melting of the welding filler material added. When a blade constructed of such a material is welded with filler of the same or similar alloy, the blade is susceptible to solidification (aka liquation) cracking within and proximate to the weld, and/or strain age (aka reheat) cracking during subsequent heat treatment processes intended to restore the superalloy original strength and other material properties comparable to a new component.
In the past, electric resistance brazing has been commonly used for joining of common ferrous and non-ferrous (e.g., copper) alloy substrate components that are not superalloys. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,054. Solid sheet, powder or paste brazing alloy is interposed between the components. Resistance brazing is performed by passing current between compressed electrodes into the pair of abutting substrate components and melting the brazing alloy. Electrodes are often constructed of high resistance material such as carbon, tungsten or molybdenum. Most of the heat generated by the current originates in the electrodes, and that heat is in turn conducted through the joined metal substrate components. As electric current is passed between the electrodes and conducts heat through the substrate components the brazing alloy melts and by capillary action wets and affixes the components to each other.
While known electric resistance brazing methods have been utilized for joining common non-ferrous and ferrous alloys, they have shortcomings for application to the joining or repair of superalloy components. Resistance brazing requires high conduction heat input to the substrate in order to melt the brazing alloy. As noted above high heat application to superalloy materials negatively impacts their structural properties. Liquefied braze alloy must not contact the resistance electrodes, or else the electrode material becomes contaminated. If liquefied braze alloy is interposed between an electrode and the substrate material they may become permanently attached, ruining the electrode and possibly damaging the substrate component. Liquified braze overrun contact with electrodes is more likely when repairing surface cracks that are spread over a relatively wide surface area, such as during repair of superalloy turbine blades and vanes.
Methods for joining superalloy components by respectively electric resistance brazing and electric resistance welding are disclosed and claimed in commonly owned co-pending U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/352,475, entitled "Projection Resistance Brazing Of Superalloys"; and Ser. No. 13/352,468 entitled "Projection Resistance Welding Of Superalloys" both filed on Jan. 18, 2012. More specifically, that co-pending applications disclose methods for joining superalloy components along a contact surface between a mating projection and recess formed in each respective component. The components are compressed and resistance heated along their common contact surface until the brazing material melts (when brazing) or the contact surfaces liquefy or plasticize (when welding), which joins the opposing contact surfaces. In these applications it is disclosed that the resistance heat is concentrated along the mating contact surfaces and does not impact the underlying structural properties of the superalloy components. The applications additionally disclose and claim that a surface defect in a superalloy component can be repaired by excising the surface defect and preparing a superalloy splice having a surface projection profile that conforms to the excised material surface profile. The superalloy splice fills the space formerly occupied by the excised material and is joined to the repaired superalloy substrate by the disclosed resistance brazing or welding method. Thus the repaired superalloy component is effectively reconstructed with a new superalloy splice having the same or similar structural properties as the repaired component. However, for some superalloy repairs where hid structural strength is not necessary, it is preferable to avoid the need to excise defective material and fabricate a complementary filler splice.
Non-structural repair or fabrication of metals, including superalloys, is recognized as replacing damaged material (or joining two components of newly fabricated material) with mismatched alloy material of lesser structural property specifications, where the localized original structural performance of the original substrate material is not needed. For example, non-structural or cosmetic repair may be used in order to restore the repaired component's original profile geometry. In the gas turbine repair field an example of cosmetic repair is for filling surface pits, cracks or other voids on a turbine blade airfoil in order to restore its original aerodynamic profile, where the blade's localized exterior surface is not critical for structural integrity of the entire blade. Cosmetic repair or fabrication is often achieved by using oxidation resistant weld or braze alloys of lower strength than the blade body superalloy substrate, but having higher ductility and lower application temperature that does not negatively impact the superalloy substrate's material properties.
Diffusion brazing has been utilized to join superalloy components for repair or fabrication by interposing brazing alloy between their abutting surfaces to be joined and heating those components in a furnace (often isolated from ambient air under vacuum or within an inert atmosphere) until the brazing alloy liquefies and diffuses within the substrate of the now-conjoined components. Diffusion brazing can also be used to fill surface defects, such as cracks, in superalloy components by inserting brazing alloy into the defect and heating the component in a furnace to liquefy the brazing alloy and thus fill the crack. In some types of repairs a torch, rather than a furnace can be used as a localized heat source to melt the brazing alloy. When performing diffusion or torch brazing repairs of surface defects, unlike known electric resistance brazing methods, any liquefied brazing alloy overruns out of cracks does not cause potential damage to electrodes or inadvertent attachment of electrodes to the repaired substrate.
When performing diffusion or torch brazing on superalloy components care must be taken to avoid overheating the substrate and causing its structural degradation, as discussed above. To this end, brazing alloys with relatively low melting points have been used to minimize heating of the overall superalloy substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,280 states that nickel- or chromium-based high-temperature braze alloy compositions used to fill wide gaps in superalloy component diffusion brazing repair can include chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf) and/or boron (B) to suppress the braze alloy's melting point, so as to reduce likelihood of superalloy degradation. It is also known that silicon (Si) and phosphorus (P) also suppress the melting point of nickel alloy brazes. Thus, B, Si and P are constituents in commercially available powdered and solid brazing alloys that are recommended for low melting temperature diffusion and torch brazing applications.
Previously developed superalloy repair methods all have various favorable and less favorable attributes. The electric resistance brazing and welding methods described and claimed in the commonly owned co-pending patent applications, by removal of damaged material and replacement with a splice of new material, provide for high-quality structural repairs with relatively simple repair apparatus and methods, but may not be considered as commercially cost effective for relatively simple cosmetic surface repairs on superalloy components, such as turbine blades and vanes. Generally diffusion brazing processes require relatively long thermal cycling times, complicated metal treatment processes with relatively expensive treatment equipment and relative slow through put times for service repair as compared to known torch or electric resistance brazing techniques. Torch brazing requires significant hand labor that increases costs, slows repair time and introduces the potential for quality control variations dependent upon the skill level of an individual metal worker who is performing the repair. Other commonly known cosmetic repair electric resistance brazing methods are not suitable for repairing relatively wide or extensive cracks due to potential electrode damage and/or inadvertent substrate attachment caused by liquefied brazing alloy overruns out of the cracks.
Thus, a need exists in the art for a method for performing joining of or repairs on surfaces of metallic components, including superalloy components such as turbine vanes and blades, so that subcomponents can be joined or that cracks and other surface defects can be repaired, without degrading structural properties of the component substrate.
Another need exists in the art for a method for performing joining of or repairs on surfaces of metallic components, including superalloy components such as turbine vanes and blades, with proven, repeatable repair techniques and repair equipment that do not require complex welding or post-repair heat treatment procedures that might also degrade structural properties of the component substrate.
Yet another need exists in the art for a method for performing joining of or repairs on surfaces of metallic components, including superalloy components such as turbine vanes and blades, with minimized hand labor and relatively short repair cycle times.


An electronic device and enclosure assembly is provided for use with an engine arrangement having a plurality of cavities. The assembly comprises an enclosure including a main body having a base panel. The base panel includes a plurality of openings alignable with the cavities. An electronic device is disposable in the enclosure and has a plurality of apertures alignable with the openings and the cavities. The assembly further includes a plurality of fasteners for connecting the electronic device to the enclosure, and for connecting the enclosure to the engine arrangement. Each fastener is configured to extend through an aperture in the electronic device, through an opening in the enclosure, and into a cavity of the engine arrangement.

The invention relates to an electronic device and enclosure assembly especially useful in hazardous or potentially hazardous environments.
Engines may be controlled by an electronic control unit or controller having volatile and non-volatile memory, input and output driver circuitry, and a processor capable of executing a stored instruction set. These components are typically housed in a plastic or metal housing, such as an aluminum housing, that is attached to an engine with bolts. Such an arrangement, however, may not be suitable for use in hazardous or potentially hazardous environments.
There are various commercially available enclosures typically used for housing terminal strips and certified for use in hazardous or potentially hazardous environments. A particular enclosure for housing a terminal strip includes a main body having a base plate and a plurality of projections extending from the base plate. The enclosure further includes a mounting plate on which the terminal strip may be mounted, and the mounting plate is attached to the base plate with bolts that extend through the projections. Furthermore, the enclosure includes one or more mounting brackets attached to an exterior surface of the main body. Additional bolts are typically inserted through the brackets to secure the enclosure to a static surface.
Because of the numerous components, such an enclosure is expensive to manufacture and difficult to use. Furthermore, the enclosure is designed for use in static environments, and is not suitable for use on an engine, which typically experiences vibrations or other motion during use.
The invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an electronic device and enclosure assembly that is adapted to be mounted on an engine. Furthermore, the assembly is particularly useful in hazardous or potentially hazardous environments.
Under the invention, an electronic device e and enclosure assembly is provided for use with an engine arrangement having a plurality of holes. The assembly comprises an enclosure including a main body having a base panel. The base panel includes a plurality of openings alignable with the holes. An electronic device is disposable in the enclosure and has a plurality of apertures alignable with the openings and the holes. The assembly further includes a plurality of fasteners for connecting the electronic device to the enclosure, and for connecting the enclosure to the engine arrangement. Each fastener is configured to extend through an aperture in the electronic device, through an opening in the enclosure, and into a hole of the engine arrangement.
Thus, the same fasteners are used to connect the electronic device to the enclosure, and to connect the enclosure to the engine arrangement. With such an arrangement, the number of parts can be minimized.
The electronic device of the assembly is preferably an engine controller. Alternatively, the electronic device may be any suitable device such as a terminal strip or other engine module.
Each fastener preferably includes a fastener body having first and second elongated sections separated by an enlarged middle portion. The first section of each fastener is configured to extend through a particular opening, and the second section of each fastener is configured to extend through a particular aperture so that the middle portion of each fastener is disposable between the enclosure and the electronic device. With such a configuration, the electronic device can be removed from the enclosure without removing the enclosure from the engine arrangement.
The enclosure may further include a load distribution strip connected to the base panel and having an additional opening aligned with one opening of the base panel. Preferably, the enclosure includes two load distribution strips connected to the base panel and spaced away from each other. Furthermore, each load distribution strip preferably has two additional openings aligned with two openings of the base panel. Advantageously, the load distribution strips distribute loads applied to the fasteners.
While the enclosure may comprise any suitable material, in a preferred embodiment the enclosure comprises stainless steel. Such material inhibits corrosion and provides good structural characteristics.
A system according to the invention includes an engine arrangement having a plurality of holes. An enclosure disposed proximate the engine arrangement includes a main body having a base panel, and the base panel has a plurality of openings aligned with the holes. An electronic device is disposed in the enclosure and has a plurality of apertures aligned with the openings and the holes. The system further includes a plurality of fasteners that connect the electronic device to the enclosure, and further connect the enclosure to the engine arrangement. Each fastener extends through an aperture in the electronic device, through an opening in the enclosure, and into a hole of the engine arrangement.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Engine controller and enclosure assembly


A computer implemented method includes receiving text data, detecting auto-generated text in the received text data to identify tags in the received text to distinguish between the auto-generated text and user generated text, and providing the tagged text data to a machine learning language model.

Language models may be used in machine learning for a variety of different purposes. Various language models may be used in speech recognition, optical character recognition and other applications. Some language models may be used to help determine a user's sentiment and even to identify an author of text. However, the language model is dependent on the text used to train the model. Poor training data is contributing factor to language model quality problems, resulting in deficient predictions.


An aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The aftertreatment system includes in a sequence along the exhaust pipe, a lean NOx trap and a particulate filter. An air/fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of the lean NOx trap and downstream of the turbine outlet to determine the air/fuel ratio during a regeneration process (DeNOx) in the lean NOx trap. A NOx sensor is located downstream of the lean NOx trap or downstream of the particulate filter, to determine NOx in the exhaust pipe. A turbine temperature is determined in accordance with a first means, and a temperature during a desulphation process (DeSOx) in the lean NOx trap is determined in accordance with a second means. At least one of the first and second means for determining a temperature may be a temperature sensor.

It is known that exhaust gas aftertreatment systems of a Diesel engine can be provided with a Lean NOx Trap or LNT. An LNT is provided for trapping nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in the exhaust gas and is located in the exhaust line. Moreover, such exhaust gas aftertreatment systems are normally provided with a diesel particulate filter or DPF for control of particulates.
An LNT is a catalytic device containing catalysts, such as rhodium, platinum and palladium, and absorbents, such as barium-based elements, which provide active sites suitable for binding the nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in the exhaust gas, in order to trap them within the device itself. Lean NOx traps are subjected to periodic regeneration processes, whereby such regeneration processes are generally provided to release and reduce the trapped nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the LNT.
The LNT is operated cyclically, for example by switching the engine from lean-burn operation to an operation whereby an excess amount of fuel is available, also referred to as a rich operation or a regeneration phase (DeNOx). During normal operation of the engine, NOx is stored on a catalytic surface. When the engine is switched to rich operation, NOx stored on the absorbent site react with the reductants in the exhaust gas and are desorbed and converted to nitrogen and ammonia, thereby regenerating the absorbent site of the catalyst.
Due to the presence of sulphur into the fuel, an LNT is exposed to the sulphur poisoning, which reduces the NOx storage capacity of the catalyst. In order to re-enable the capability of the aftertreatment system, a desulphation (also called DeSOx regeneration or simply DeSOx) is needed. The DeSOx includes the provision of a fast alternation of lean and rich atmosphere (hereafter, wobbling) at high temperature during engine working conditions.
A generic layout of an aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine equipped with an LNT and a DPF in closed coupled position (which means the aftertreatment devices are located close to the turbine outlet, at the beginning of the exhaust pipe) includes one canning with lean NOx trap and a particulate filter, one temperature sensor at LNT inlet, one temperature sensor at LNT outlet, one air/fuel ratio sensor at LNT inlet, one air/fuel ratio sensor at LNT outlet and one pressure sensor at LNT outlet. The LNT specific modes, generically called regenerations (namely DeNOx, DeSOx Lean and DeSOx Rich), are obtained through engine actuators (injectors, exhaust gas recirculation valve, variable geometry turbine and others) which are moved to dedicated set points in order to achieve the desired combustion properties, using information mainly coming from the mentioned sensors.
The lean NOx trap is a cost efficient alternative to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, which operates thanks to a fluid catalyst such as urea, or ammonia, or a combination thereof (generally in a water solution) injected into the exhaust line of the engine in order to promote the reduction of NOX. On the other hand, the LNT efficiency and diagnosis is really difficult to be controlled, especially in view of more and more stringent emission limits as foreseen by the Euro 6 emission standard in its second stage, where real driving cycles will be used for the verification of "In Use Compliance" of the emission limits.
Therefore a need exists for a new aftertreatment system and a method of operating the lean NOx trap, which overcomes the above inconvenience, thus avoiding a more expensive system, as the selective catalytic reduction system.

Aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines


A user equipment (UE) transmits a packet data network (PDN) connectivity request message to a mobility management entity (MME), receives a PDN connectivity accept message, and establishes a PDN connection with a second local gateway (LGW) in accordance with the PDN connectivity accept message. Thus, it is possible to provide a communication system and the like for a purpose of implementing the optimal communication control for enabling the UE to continue communication by switching a previously established PDN connection to a new PDN connection using a more optimal gateway.

In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which is a standardization organization for a mobile communication system, a plan is in process to standardize specifications for the Evolved Packet System (EPS) described in Non Patent Literature 1 described below, as a next-generation mobile communication system.
Furthermore, Non Patent Literature 2 described below discloses a method of implementing Selected IP Traffic Offload (SIPTO). SIPTO is a function to provide an offload communication path in which a User Equipment (UE: a terminal device) is connected to an eNodeB (eNB: a base station device) but does not pass through a core network of a mobile communication system. In this case, the UE establishes an offload communication path for SIPTO by using a gateway device close to the position of the UE.
The 3GPP defines a Local GW (LGW) as a gateway device at the time of establishing an offload communication path for SIPTO, and discusses that the UE connecting to the eNB establishes a packet data network (PDN) connection for SIPTO with the LGW and exchanges data with a device on a network via a broadband network by using the PDN connection for SIPTO. It should be noted that upon establishment of the PDN connection for SIPTO, the UE is capable of establishing a communication path with an LGW close to the position of the UE and performing communication by using an optimal offload communication path.
The UE is also capable of continuing communication by changing the eNB in accordance with the movement thereof. In this case, the UE maintains the PDN connection for SIPTO established between the UE and the LGW, and is capable of continuing offload communication by using the PDN connection for SIPTO.
However, it is assumed that a plurality of LGWs are arranged in a communication system. Therefore, there may be an LGW close to the locationof the UE relative to the LGW selected at the time of establishing the PDN connection for SIPTO in accordance with the movement of the UE.
The offload communication path has a higher offload effect when being offloaded from a gateway closer to the position of the UE. Thus, due to the movement of the UE, it may be possible that the PDN connection for SIPTO established by the UE becomes a communication path that is not necessarily optimal.
Taking into consideration the above circumstances, as described in Non Patent Literature 3, the 3 GPP for standardizing the mobile communication system stipulates, as a required condition, a previously established PDN connection is to be switched to a new PDN connection using a more optimal gateway device to continue communication.

Terminal device, MME, and control method


In a personal interactive overhead projection IFE system, an overhead projector associated with a passenger's seat projects video onto a passive substrate attached to the seat. The passive substrate may be a tray table or a dedicated video projection screen. The passenger sitting in the seat controls the projected video by positioning his or her finger or making hand gestures proximate the passive substrate. An overhead camera records the hand actions. An overhead processor interprets the hand actions and controls the projected video based on the hand actions. The system provides highly desirable personal and interactive features while obviating the need for seatback video display units or passenger control units.

The present invention relates to inflight entertainment (IFE) systems and, more particularly, to personal interactive IFE systems.
Personal interactive IFE systems have become an important part of air travel. In conventional personal interactive IFE systems, a seatback video display unit (VDU) is mounted in the seat in front of each passenger and the passenger controls the video displayed on the VDU either by making finger inputs on a passenger control unit (PCU) mounted in the passenger's armrest or on the VDU's touch screen.
These conventional personal interactive IFE systems experience several problems. First, providing each passenger his or her own seatback VDU adds considerable weight to the aircraft. Second, installing and maintaining seatback VDUs is time consuming and costly, since a functioning seatback VDU must be individually mounted in each seat and individually connected to a content server at the head end of the aircraft. Third, seatback VDUs (and PCUs where used) are subject to frequent breakage due to abuse and misuse by passengers. Fourth, seatback VDUs create head-strike risks when an aircraft experiences unexpected motion due to turbulence or a hard landing. Fifth, in the case of touch screen seatback VDUs, some passengers have difficulty reaching the touch screen.

Personal interactive overhead projection inflight entertainment system


A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a remote probing for failover service is provided. The remote probing for failover service includes receiving, by a network device at a standby location associated with a geographic redundancy, failover traffic, which originates at a primary location of a network. The network device routes the failover traffic back to a corresponding network device at the primary location. The network device at the primary location may provide the failover traffic to a network performance analyzer device at the primary location.

Development and design of radio access networks (RAN), core networks, and application service networks, present certain challenges from a network-side perspective and an end device perspective. For example, when a network suffers a failure at a network device, various failover procedures may be performed to route traffic along a network path that minimizes the impact of the failure.


The invention provides compositions and methods useful to prepare segmented, negative strand RNA viruses, e.g., orthomyxoviruses such as influenza A viruses, entirely from cloned cDNAs and in the absence of helper virus.

The ability to generate infectious RNA viruses from cloned cDNAs has contributed greatly to the biological understanding of these pathogens and hence to improved methods of disease control (Palese et al., 1996). However, this progress had been relatively limited for negative-sense as compared with positive-sense RNA viruses, because neither the genomic viral RNA (vRNA) nor the antigenomic complementary RNA (cRNA) of negative-sense RNA viruses can serve as a direct template for protein synthesis. Rather, the vRNA, after its encapsidation by viral nucleoprotein (NP), must be transcribed into positive-sense mRNA by the viral RNA polymerase complex. Thus, the minimal replication unit is formed by the genomic vRNA complexed with NP and the polymerase proteins. Despite these obstacles, reverse genetics methods have been established to produce nonsegmented negative-sense RNA viruses, including rabies virus (Snell et al., 1994), vesicular stomatitis virus (Lawson et al., 1995); Whelan et al., 1995), measles virus (Radecke et al., 1995), respiratory syncytial virus (Collins et al., 1995), Sendai virus (Garcin et al., 1995; Kato et al., 1996), rinderpest virus (Baron et al., 1997), human parainfluenza virus type 3 (Hoffman et al., 1997) and SV5 (He et al., 1997).
The Orthomyxoviridae, Arenaviridae, and Bunyaviridae families contain segmented, negative strand RNA genomes and include several human and animal pathogens, for example, influenza virus types A, B, and C (Orthomyxoviridae), lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) (Arenaviridae), and encephalitic and hemorrhagic fever viruses (Bunyaviridae, Arenaviridae). Their genomes consist of two (Arenaviridae), three (Bunyaviridae), or six to eight (Orthomyxoviridae) single-stranded RNA molecules of negative polarity (complementary to mRNA). The vRNAs interact with NP and viral RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase to form ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs). The RNPs are surrounded by a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell. Inserted in this envelope are viral glycoproteins, which are essential for receptor binding and entry into the host cell. Thus, generating segmented negative-sense RNA viruses from cloned cDNAs poses a formidable challenge, as one must produce a separate vRNA for each gene segment.
Bridgen and Elliott (1996) produced a Bunyamwera virus (family Bunyaviridae) from cloned cDNAs encoding three segments of antigenomic, positive-sense vRNA. However, the efficiency of virus recovery was low. None of the orthomyxoviruses, which contain six (thogotovirus), seven (influenza C virus) or eight (influenza A and B viruses) segments of negative-sense RNA have been produced entirely from cloned cDNAs. This lag in progress has been felt most acutely in efforts to control influenza virus infections.
Palese and colleagues (Enami et al., 1990) pioneered the reverse genetics, helper virus-dependent system for influenza A virus (FIG. 1A). In their approach, RNP complexes are generated by in vitro vRNA synthesis in the presence of purified polymerase and NP proteins, and then used to transfect eukaryotic cells. Subsequent infection with influenza A helper virus results in the generation of viruses possessing a gene derived from cloned cDNA. A second method, developed by Neumann et al. (1994), is based on the in vivo synthesis of vRNA by RNA polymerase I (FIG. 1B), a cellular enzyme that transcribes ribosomal RNA that lacks both a 5′ cap and a 3′ polyA tail. Cells infected with influenza virus and transfected with a plasmid containing cloned influenza virus cDNA, flanked by murine RNA polymerase I promoter and terminator sequences, led to the production of transfectant viruses. With both methods, however, transfectants must be selected from a vast background of helper viruses, which requires a strong selection system and complicates the generation of growth-defective viruses.
A system to generate replication-incompetent virus-like particles (VLPs) was developed by Mena et al. (1996), in which an influenza virus-like vRNA encoding a reporter gene is transcribed in vitro and transfected into eukaryotic cells. All ten influenza virus proteins are expressed from plasmids under the control of a T7 RNA polymerase promoter. When the transfected cells are infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus that expressed T7 RNA polymerase, they produced influenza VLPs. However, the efficiency of the system is low: in 25% of the experiments, the investigators failed to detect reporter gene expression. Moreover, vaccinia virus expresses more than 80 proteins, any of which could affect the influenza viral life cycle.
Thus, what is needed is a method to prepare segmented, negative strand RNA viruses, e.g., orthomyxoviruses such as influenza A viruses, entirely from cloned cDNAs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Reassortant influenza viruses for vaccines


In a process for the production of hydraulic binders, crude steel and/or alloys, such as, e.g., FeCr or FeV, from basic steel slags containing chromium and/or vanadium, the liquid steel slag is mixed with an additive selected from the group consisting of blast furnace slag, electric arc furnace slag, dusts from steel production, metallic waste substances or refuse incineration residues and/or with acid additives for lowering the viscosity, whereupon steel is sedimented out of the liquid slag and the remaining slag in a first reduction stage is reduced to metallic iron having an iron oxide content of below 5 wt. % and above 1 wt. %, whereupon the remaining slag melt in a second reduction stage having a higher reduction potential as compared to the first reduction stage is further reduced to metallic Cr or V or ferroalloys thereof and the hydraulically active slag is separated.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a process for the production of hydraulic binders, crude steel and/or alloys, such as, e.g., FeCr or FeV, from basic steel slags containing chromium and/or vanadium.
2. Description of Related Art
For producing cement clinker and special binder qualities having high .alpha.-belite contents and high ultimate strengths from metallurgical slags it has already been proposed to mix together liquid slags from reduction processes and from steelworks processes and, if required, add lime thereto. When mixing acid liquid slags as they incur, for instance, in blast furnace processes and basic steelworks slags as they incur, for instance, in the form of converter slags, heat is released since this is an exothermic neutralization reaction.
As a rule, a relatively high portion of blast furnace slag has been required for the production of hydraulic binders. Besides classical portland cement, such blast furnace slags have gained great importance as slag cements. Slag cements in the narrower sense are finely ground mixtures of gypsum, clinker and blast furnace slag, a slight amount of gypsum usually having been added for controlling the setting time, as is the case with portland cement.
The usability of basic slags as they incur from steelworks processes, for instance as LD slags, in most cases is substantially limited. The disposal of electric arc furnace slags, like that of steel slags, involves relatively high expenditures. At present, steelworks slags and electric arc furnace slags are, for instance, recycled into the blast furnace, the remainder being used in road construction or dumped. However, due to increasing scrap charge quotas, the contents of heavy metals and, in particular, the contents of chromium and vanadium in steel slags and electric arc furnace slags has constantly increased such that simple dumping no longer appears admissible with the concentration of such heavy metals rising. In the future, such slags presumably will have to be dumped on dumping grounds for special waste, the operation of which involves considerable costs.
Steel slag stands out for its relatively high iron oxide content brought about by the refining process. Usual steel slag contains manganese oxide and iron oxide to an extent that may amount up to 33 wt. %. Blast furnace slag stands out for its relatively favorable hydraulic properties. Morever, blast furnace slag has a substantially lower iron oxide content, its processing to basic construction material thus being considerably facilitated.
Binder additives influencing the setting time, the fatigue strength and other parameters essential to binders have gained more and more importance in the production of hydraulic binders. Such additives may be used in connection with conventional hydraulic binders, such as, for instance, slag cement or portland cement, for adjusting the desired properties.

Process for the production of hydraulic binders and/or alloys, such as for examples, ferrochromium or ferrovanadium


A reinforced shrink wrap has been developed for use in all types of environments and products or applications. The shrink wrap is tear resistant and can be prepared to withstand exposure from the sun and corrosive elements. The wrap is multilayered with reinforcing filamentous grids in adhesive layers on either side of a shrink film with outer layers of olefin film.

Shrink wrap is used for a multitude of applications from wrapping produce in supermarkets to covering containers and products for shipping. For the purpose of this description product and container are used interchangeably as examples of the use of the invention. The shrink wrap film will deform with the application of heat to surround snugly the product or product container to be protected. However, shrink wrap is subject to tears, rips and punctures and has no more strength than the film itself.
Reinforced plastic films have been developed that are durable, strong and resist punctures and tearing. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,941 assigned to the applicant which is incorporated by reference herein as part of the specification of this application. The reinforced plastic film is used to make bags for heavy products, storage and outdoor coverings as described in its specification. However, it does not deform in a shrink wrap manner upon exposure to heat to snugly fit to cover the product or container.
The present invention is a reinforced shrink wrap that can be made to cover all sizes of products and containers and is especially suited for covers for large equipment. The reinforced shrink wrap is multilayered and includes a reinforcing grid with the shrink layer. The reinforced shrink wrap is superior to the conventional non-reinforced product for packaging, handling, shipping and storage of goods. The reinforcing grid minimizes and contains tears, rips and prevents punctures from spreading. Yet, the multilayered reinforced shrink wrap deforms to fit the product or container in the same or similar manner as the conventional shrink wrap.
The multilayered shrink wrap has at least one layer of shrink film of highly irradiated polyethylene. On either side of the shrink film is reinforcing filamentous grid in a flexible adhesive layer. On the outer surfaces of the multilayer reinforced shrink wrap are two layers of polyolefin film. The reinforced shrink wrap may have more than one inner layer of shrink film with additional facing layers of the filamentous reinforcing grid in the adhesive layer. Also, inner layers of polyolefin film may be added with the reinforcing grid and adhesive layers facing either side of the inner polyolefin layer. The polyolefin layers may be a multiply film.
Additives used in polyolefin film may be included as desired in the polyolefin inner or outer layers or in one of more plies of a multiply film. Additives include ultraviolet light stabilizers, flame retardants, static inhibitors, antioxidants, color additives, corrosion inhibitors, biocides and compatible mixtures of the additives as desired.
The reinforced shrink wrap is resistant to localized heat burn through during the heating step used to shrink the wrap around the product. The use of the reinforced shrink wrap is particularly suited for protecting cargo and equipment exposed to harsh environments.


A coordinate measuring machine (1) comprising a base (2) provided with guides (3) parallel to a first axis X, a first mobile carriage (4) on the guides (3) along the axis X and provided with an upright (17), a second carriage (6) carried by the upright (17) and mobile along a second vertical axis Z, and a horizontal arm (7) carried by the second carriage (6) and axially mobile along a third horizontal axis Y perpendicular to the axis X; the first carriage (4) comprises a base (16) provided with a first portion (19, 20) coupled to the guides (3) and a second portion (18) rigidly connected to the upright (17), releasable connection means (27) for reciprocally connecting the first portion (19, 20) and the second portion (18) of the base (16), and articulated connection means (28) between the first portion (19, 20) and the second portion (18) of the base to allow the upright (17) to be tipped when the releasable connection means (27) are released.

Coordinate measuring machines of the aforesaid type are known, comprising a base provided with guides along a first horizontal axis X, a first carriage mobile on the base along the axis X and comprising an upright provided with guides extending along a second vertical axis Z, a second carriage carried by the upright and sliding on the same along axis Z, and an arm carried by the second carriage and extending along a third horizontal axis Y orthogonal to the axis X. One end of the arm is adapted to carry a contact or optical detector for measuring the dimensional features of parts.
Machines of this type may be used, for example, in the automotive industry, individually or in pairs, for dimensional monitoring of vehicle bodyworks on manufacturing lines; such machines are therefore large in size. For example, the measuring volume may be in the order of 6-7 m along axis X, 1.5-2 m along axis Y, and 2-3 m along axis Z.
The coordinate machines of the type briefly described must be assembled and tested at the manufacturing plant, and therefore disassembled again, at least partially, to be transported to the installation plant. It is indeed unthinkable, given the dimensions of the concerned machines, to deliver them assembled.
Such subsequent assembly and disassembly operations, as well as the component packing operations, are time-consuming and costly.

Horizontal-arm coordinate measuring machine


A drawbar hammer strap assembly design achieves a low profile, and prevents rotation of the drawbar and of the cross pin. The drawbar hammer strap assembly includes a drawbar, a hammer strap member attached to the drawbar, a drawbar pin mountable to drawbar and hammer strap member and a cross pin rotatably mounted in the hammer strap for releasably holding the drawbar pin in its mounted position. The hammer strap has a pair of detent recesses formed in the sides thereof. The drawbar hammer strap assembly also includes a handle member which is pivotally coupled to an upper end of the drawbar pin. The handle member is pivotal to an unlatched position wherein it is spaced apart from the detent recess, and to a latched position wherein it is releasably received in the detent recess. The handle member is engagable with a lever arm of the cross pin to hold the cross pin in its locked position when the handle member is in its latched position.

The present invention relates to a drawbar hammer strap for coupling a towed implement to a tractor drawbar.
Typically, a hammer strap is mounted on a tractor drawbar, and a towed implement can be coupled to the drawbar with a drawbar or hammer strap pin which passes through the hammer strap and the drawbar. Preferably, such a hammer strap should have a low profile in order to accommodate power-take-off (PTO) operated equipment using the drawbar while operating over uneven terrain. A hammer strap which extends too high may contact the PTO. The drawbar pin should remain vertically fixed despite vertical movement of the implement and drawbar. The drawbar pin also must resist rotational movement so as not to cause excessive wear to the drawbar and/or hammer strap. The drawbar pin must be secured in it's working position. Finally, for customer, convenience it would be desirable to provide a handle for the drawbar pin.


In a non-contact IC card for performing communication with a reader/writer, an encryption block having a DES (data encryption standard) block for performing an encryption operation in accordance with a public key encryption algorithm and an ECC/SHA1 (elliptic curve cryptosystem/secure hash algorithm 1) block for performing an encryption operation in accordance with a common key encryption algorithm are incorporated into an IC chip. A CPU having a built-in clock gear causes a change of the operation frequency of the non-contact IC card. The communication operation with the reader/writer and the encryption operations performed by the encryption block are performed at different operation frequencies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-contact IC card capable of non-contact data communication with readers/writers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a variety of services using various communication technologies, such as electronic commerce or on-line shopping over the Internet or the like, have become popular. With the growth of communication technologies, terminal-based communication systems and card-like devices including non-contact semiconductor memory cards having a communication function integrated into a circuit (these devices are hereinafter referred to as non-contact IC (integrated circuit) cards) have been developed for use in various situations such as electronic toll collection of transportation facilities and electronic money transactions. In view of their convenience of handling, the non-contact IC cards must have a reduced circuit size and operate with very low power consumption.
The services using such non-contact IC cards generally require mutual authentication to authenticate the communicating parties and encryption to ensure data communication security. These functions must be performed at high speed in the non-contact IC cards. These functions, which are implemented by software, require a high-clock CPU (central processing unit), which is not suitable for practical use. Therefore, it is desirable that the mutual authentication function and the encryption function be implemented in the non-contact IC cards by hardware rather than software.
Most of the non-contact IC cards in which these functions are implemented by hardware employ so-called common key encryption algorithms, e.g., DES (data encryption standard), to reduce the consumption power because relatively reduced circuit size and power consumption of the non-contact IC cards are achievable. Some of the non-contact IC cards which employ the common key encryption algorithms typically have a communication distance of several centimeters to a reader/writer. Even a communication distance of as much as 10 cm can be realized, depending upon the type of interface.
However, in the common key encryption algorithms, a common key is used for both encoding and decoding, and so transmission and reception of key data are essential. Therefore, the common key encryption algorithms are vulnerable to attacks from unauthorized third parties. This has led to fears that the non-contact IC cards applied to financial services in the future may have problems.
In the services using non-contact IC cards, therefore, the demands for high security systems using so-called public key encryption algorithms, e.g., RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) and ECC (elliptic curve cryptosystem), have increased. In public key encryption, separate keys are used for encoding and decoding and a secret common key is kept by one particular individual. Many studies on non-contact IC cards for performing signature generation and authentication using public key techniques have been made.
Public key encryption algorithms have higher security than common key encryption algorithms, but require a large amount of calculation. Public key encryption algorithms implemented by hardware require circuits several tens of times larger than otherwise and also require a large amount of power supplied to such large circuits.
In the art, non-contact IC cards using the public key encryption algorithms have not achieved the desired characteristics in terms of circuit size, power consumption, and cost. In the current non-contact IC cards, most of the power must be supplied to an encryption circuit, and the communication distance is as small as about several millimeters.
Although the demands for non-contact IC cards using public key encryption algorithms having high security robustness have increased, it is difficult to implement the algorithms because such non-contact IC cards have limitations on power supply, chip size, etc., and the small communication distance is not suitable for practical use.


A slidable storage system adapted for use in a pickup truck bed includes a substantially planar, slidable base. The base has a cab-side edge, at least first and second opposing substantially parallel side edges and a rear-access edge opposite and substantially in parallel to the cab-side edge. A base cab wall, at least first and second substantially opposing base sidewalls and a base rear access wall extend substantially perpendicularly up from the cab-side edge, the first and second opposing substantially parallel side edges and the rear-access edge, respectively, for a fixed height (H) forming a storage volume. Positioning the slidable storage system on the pickup truck bed, with the rear tailgate wall in an “up” position, the base will not slide past the rear tailgate wall and with the rear tailgate wall in a “down” position, the base slides out past the rear tailgate wall, enabling ready access.

The present invention, relates broadly to storage units for truck beds, and more particularly relates to a truck bed slidable storage system that by its operation simplifies loading, organizing and unloading of the items stored in the truck bed slidable storage system, in a safe and convenient manner.
Sales of pick-up style trucks are at an all-time high. The popularity of the pick-up style truck ("pickup truck") as an everyday vehicle is more wide spread than it ever has been. Pick-up truck utility and convenience in hauling items coupled with the availability of luxury interiors and extended cab space have made the pickup truck a popular alternative to other vehicles.
Availability of aftermarket accessories, such as bed liners, also enhances the attractiveness of pickup trucks. But while bedliners protect the metal surfaces of the pickup truck bed, bedliners do little or nothing to improve the functionality or organizational abilities of the pickup truck bed. Usually, tools, materials, and other similar items are simply tossed in the bed space and left to slide back and forth, bedliner or not. But when the tune comes to retrieve such items, much time can be wasted looking for desired objects, and accessing the desired objects. Truck bed organizers have developed to better utilize pick-up truck bed space.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,514 teaches a truck bed load organizer apparatus that includes a layer of flat belting material in which a plurality of panels is defined by a plurality of cuts. Each panel extends between the sides of the material and is pivotable from a down position to an up position (see FIGS. 2-5). The panels are pivoted to divide the cargo or bed area of the truck into any of a plurality of separate compartments for organizing goods or cargo or for holding the cargo in any or all of the various compartments. The panels are under tension in their up position due to the inherent properties of the material, and return to their down position as part of the layer material when goods which are positioned against them are removed.
While there are benefits to installing and using the known truck bed load organizer disclosed by the 514 patent, which operates as a panel apparatus and protector for truck bed, there are some inherent disadvantages. For example, once installed, the bed organizer is not readily removable from the pick-up truck, Nor does the bed organizer provide for separate compartments through the bed surface area, or volume. This conventional bed organizer does not enable ready and/or convenient access to items positioned in the pick-up truck bed.
US Published Application Serial No. 2002/0014505 discloses a storage structure including a storage unit adapted to be slidably coupled to a rear floor portion of a pickup truck. The storage unit includes a mounting structure and a cabinet slidably coupled to the mourning structure. The storage unit has a plurality of movable drawers disposed in the cabinet and positioned within the cabinet between a pair of cabinet sidewalls. The storage unit has a cover operatively connected to the cabinet, which is movable between an open position in which the drawers may be opened and a closed position in which the cover prevents the drawers from being opened. A cover latch associated with the cover allows the cover to be latched in its closed position. FIG. 15 shows an embodiment with a mounting, structure 240 that is mounted to the rear bed 212 and that slidably supports the storage unit 210, as shown. The storage unit, therefore, can slide from its position proximate the cab to the rear edge of the bed.
The patented storage unit structure, however, can slide only if there is nothing stored on the bed in its path. And the storage unit slides only to the end of the bed, and requires a mounting structure upon with the unit will slide. The mounting unit structure must be affixed to the truck sidewalls and/or truck bed surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,985 discloses a truck bed cargo stabilizer and organizer apparatus for storing, stabilizing and organizing items placed in the bed of a pickup truck. The truck bed cargo stabilizer and organizer apparatus comprises of a hollow structure for a bed of a pick-up truck having an upper portion and a lower portion forming a T-shape with a generally flat upper surface that includes a plurality of bucket receiving cylinders and a toolbox receiving cavity. While the truck bed cargo stabilizer and organizer apparatus does provide for cargo to sit properly in the respective cavities in which each are arranged within the structure, the apparatus does not slide, Hence, many of the cavities the cargo items positioned therein) are not readily accessible. Consequently, items positioned within the cavities are not readily accessible as the apparatus does not slide.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,029 discloses a truck bed, organizer identified therein as a truck bed companion. The truck bed companion is an organizer with multiple expansion joints to fit various sized truck beds, essentially compartmentalizing any truck bed. FIG. 1 shows a top view of the organizer 50 installed inside the truck bed 100, where two main beams 30 are shown running from the cab section of the truck to the back of the bed and passing proximate the bed's wheel wells 101, The center beam 32 is shown spanning a distance between two adjacent cross beams 31. A total of four cross beams 31 are shown in the FIG. 1 configuration. (FIGS. 1 and 2). The compartments thus formed keep groceries from spilling all over the truck bed, allow contractors to transport tools and sheets of plywood or drywall with ease, eliminate the need to ties down lawn mowers or gas cans and create separate areas for tool boxes, saws or other necessities. The organizer compartments, however, are not readily accessible and, the organizer itself is fixed and not meant to slide in and out of the truck bed.
Also known are "bedslide" slide-out systems, which essentially are bed drawers, or bed trays that slide in an out on drawer rail mechanisms. For example, the bedslide classic (sku: BSA-SKR; UPC: 856341006627) is a platform to access your truck bed space. A user grabs the handle, pulls, and the bedslide drawer out. The bedslide products, however, must have slide tracks permanently attached, with the drawer or tray slidingly attached thereto.


An optical pickup of an optical disc apparatus has a lens holder for holding an objective lens is pivoted with a guide shaft slidably in a direction in parallel with an optical axis of the objective lens and rotatably around the guide shaft in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. For focusing a laser beam on a data recording face of an optical disc in a focusing on operation, a wobble signal of rectangular waveform having a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency is applied to a tracking coil for reciprocally displacing the lens holder in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, while a focusing coil is driven for moving the lens holder in the direction in parallel with the optical axis. Thus, the lens holder can be moved smoothly along the guide shaft, so that the possibility of failure of the focusing the laser beam on the optical disc can be reduced drastically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disc apparatus, and especially relates to stabilizing focusing on of a laser beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an optical pickup for optical disc apparatus is proposed, in which a lens holder for holding an objective lens is slidably engaged with a guide shaft in parallel with an optical axis of the objective lens for stabilizing a posture of the objective lens of the optical pickup. In such an axial sliding type optical pickup, the lens holder is moved up and down along the guide shaft in parallel with an optical axis of the objective lens for executing the focusing servo control. The lens holder is reciprocally swung around the guide shaft for executing the tracking servo control.
For executing a focusing on operation in the optical disc apparatus having the axial sliding type optical pickup, a focusing servo mechanism is driven while the lens holder is swung out to an end in a predetermined direction around the guide shaft and the tracking servo mechanism is out of driving. There, however, is a problem that the motion of the lens holder is not smooth, since a bearing of the lens holder is forcibly slid along the guide shaft while the bearing is constantly pressed to the guide shaft in a predetermined direction. Specifically, the lens holder is hooked with the guide shaft due to adhesion of foreign substance such as dust between the bearing and the guide shaft or due to friction between surfaces of the bearing and the guide shaft, even when the focusing mechanism is driven so as to move the lens holder. Consequently, the lens holder cannot move immediately. When a driving force of the focusing mechanism is gradually increased and overcomes a load due to hooking of the lens holder with the guide shaft, the lens holder suddenly moves. Microscopically, the lens holder is moved up and down along the guide shaft with repeating the stop and the sudden movement due to the hooking and the release of the hooking.
For focusing the laser beam on a data recording face of the optical disc in the focusing on operation, it is necessary that the motion of the lens holder is smooth and the moving velocity of the lens holder is stable. On the contrary, since the lens holder repeats the sudden movement and the stop, the variation of the moving velocity of the lens holder becomes much larger. Consequently, it is highly possible that the laser beam is out of focus on the data recording face of the optical disc.