The invention relates to a printing form for a rotary relief-printing method, in which the printing dots transferring the printing ink constitute a half-tone screen and are superimposed by a relief structure constituted by indentations. Such printing forms are used, for example in flexographic printing methods for printing glass plates, for example display screens having a luminescent material coating. In the manufacture of these screens, the printing ink must be applied homogeneously and the ink dots appearing in the printed image must have a uniform border area. According to the invention, the printing form is to this end implemented in such a way that the relief structures are arranged homogeneously relative to the printing dots and, if the printing dots are periodically spread across the printing form, these relief structures are superimposed on the printing dots preferably with the same period. Moreover, the relief structures are arranged in such a way that the indentations do not intersect the border area of a printing dot.

The invention relates to a printing form for a rotary relief-printing method, in which the printing dots transferring the printing ink constitute a half-tone screen and are superimposed by a relief structure constituted by indentations.
In the rotary relief-printing method, the ink is transferred onto the print directly by means of the printing form. This form is manufactured as a printing plate and clamped onto the jacket of a printing block cylinder. When a printing motif or a printing image is being printed, it is formed as a generally regular printing screen so as to generate so-called half-tones, whose raised printing dots constitute plane printing surfaces which are inked by means of a suitable device and transfer the ink onto the material to be printed.
A printing form of the type described in the opening paragraph is known from DE-C1-43 24 577. The fine screen, which in this printing form is constituted as a relief structure in the form of indentations and is superimposed on the half-tone screen, allows a homogeneous and adequate transfer of ink onto a non-absorptive material, for example glass. Both the half-tone screen and also the fine screen are unambiguously defined by way of the so-called screen number, i.e. the number of printing lines or printing dots per centimeter, calculated in the direction of the shortest distance and the percentage of surface coverage. Since the individual printing surfaces or printing dots are arranged in lines, it is common practice to speak of lines per centimeter. The screen number thus represents the division or dot spacing. The dot size is determined by the percentage of surface coverage. The percentage of surface coverage is the ratio between the surfaces of the raised printing dots and the total surface of the mosaic printing motif. The printing dots do not need to be circular but may fundamentally have any arbitrary geometrical shape.
In the known printing form, the outer boundary of the printing dots of the half-tone screen may be interrupted by the structure of the fine screen so that a well-defined boundary of the printing dots is no longer guaranteed. This is caused by the fact that only the screen number and the percentage of surface coverage is taken into account when selecting the fine screen. However, the areas in which the fine screen is superimposed on the half-tone screen are not taken into account. Consequently, fine screen dots (indentations) may be only partially superimposed on the printing dots in their border areas so that the border area of such a printing dot is interrupted. This effect is particularly essential in those cases in which only a small number of fine screen dots having a relatively large surface is allocated to a printing dot of the half-tone screen. As a result, an irregular boundary, or serrated edges, can clearly be recognized in the printed image of such printing dots. This has a negative effect, particularly when manufacturing flat-panel display screens, in which the flexographic printing method may be used for providing the glass plate with a luminescent material coating.

Printing form for a rotary relief-printing method


A system for monitoring an environment comprises a plurality of sensors, each sensor generating respective events in response to activity in the environment. A processor is in operative association with the sensors, and at least one stored set of linked events are accessible to the processor. The processor is responsive to an event being generated by a sensor to determine whether the event is in a sequence of events corresponding to a stored set of linked events and to generate an alarm accordingly.

Despite significant technological advances in recent years, domestic and business security systems have retained the same operating principles over the past decade and a half. In a typical domestic security system, all entry points are monitored by means of magnetic, vibration, or a combination of these sensors. The sensors are wired or radio linked to a central control unit. In addition, the system may be provided with passive infrared (PIR) or ultrasonic sensors deployed within the property or premises, which offer an additional level of protection. Such sensors detect movement within the particular area covered by the sensor. Different locations within the property will have different zones assigned thereto, for example zone 1 may be downstairs, while zone 2 may be upstairs. This allows the user some control over which parts of the property are armed at any given time. User control is generally facilitated by a standard key pad interface, which is normally located away from the main control unit at the main entrance point to the property or premises. Panic alarms, battery back up, trip switches, fire sensors, video monitoring and dial up links to a centralised security monitoring centre all form constituent parts of standard modern alarm systems.
However, there are a number of significant problems with such alarm systems of the prior art. Current systems rely on either the opening or forced entry through an entrance of the property in order to detect an intruder. Present systems will not alert the user if someone enters the property through an open window or door. In addition, unless the alarm system is manually switched on, and armed for a particular zone, in general, it is does not generate alarms. Furthermore, if a monitoring station is employed, the alarm system will only dial same if an alarm is generated, and is thus inoperable once the occupant returns to the premises and disables the alarm. Such monitoring stations are also typically connected to the alarm system by a standard fixed or land line connection, which is easily disabled.
Current security systems do not track the movement of people within a property. This severely limits the capability of the system to discriminate between unauthorised and unauthorised entry into the property, and also means that critical information cannot be passed on, for example informing rescue authorities as to the number and position of people within a property when a fire is detected.


A minimum number of levels required to output a target modulation ratio is determined. Additionally, determining a total number of voltage orders to be controlled among a voltage fundamental wave and harmonics of power converter, comparing the minimum number of levels and the total number of voltage orders to be controlled, and fixing a larger one as a number of switching times in a quarter cycle for the target modulation ratio are performed. Further, when the total number is fixed, a shape of an output voltage is determined, and based on the target modulation ratio and the number of switching times in the quarter cycle, a determination of switching phases is made, in addition to a derivation of the pulse pattern for one cycle by which each output voltage level is used according to the target modulation ratio and the output voltage shape, and the phase is determined.

Consider a system in which an input three-phase AC voltage is converted into a DC voltage by a rectifier (a diode rectifier, a PWM converter, a 120-degree conduction converter, etc.) and the DC voltage is output as an AC voltage having a desired frequency and a desired amplitude by an inverter.
In such a system, a triangular-wave comparison PWM that expresses a target voltage on average in one cycle of a carrier is often used for an output of a power converter. However, there is a case where a modulation method other than the triangular-wave comparison PWM is used for the purpose of optimizing a voltage output, and a fixed pulse pattern method is an example of the modulation method. In this method, an optimum pulse pattern for evaluation indexes is derived and converted into a table (or tabulated) in advance, and switching is performed according to the table.
As the evaluation indexes, they are the number of times of switching, a voltage fundamental wave, a voltage harmonic (or a voltage higher harmonic), and the like. Among such evaluation indexes, attention is paid to the number of switching times or the number of pulses. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 describes a method of deriving a pulse pattern in consideration of the voltage fundamental wave and a current harmonic (or a current higher harmonic). Here, assuming that a triangular-wave comparison PWM at a carrier frequency of 9 times that of a power supply cycle is the minimum number of pulses, the number of pulses in a half cycle of an output voltage is set to 5.
Further, in Patent Document 1, for a three-level converter or a three-level inverter, as measures against narrowing of a pulse width at a time of expression of a low modulation ratio, a pulse pattern in which the number of pulses is reduced from 5 to 3 is used in the low modulation ratio, and its switching method is discussed.
Regarding the fixed pulse pattern, a switching phase is determined in consideration of two of the voltage fundamental wave and the voltage (or current) harmonic on the premise of information on the number of switching times, a pulse shape (or a pulse form) and a target modulation ratio.
Since the number of switching times and the pulse shape, which are the premises, affect accuracy of the voltage fundamental wave and magnitude of the voltage harmonic, especially in a case of multi-level, it is necessary to appropriately change setting according to the modulation ratio. It is also important that a maximum level must be output at a time of expression of a high modulation ratio.
In a case of a two-level or three-level inverter for which derivation of the fixed pulse pattern is studied well, since the output becomes the maximum level only by outputting +1 or −1 level, performing the derivation with the number of pulses being fixed is the basics.
However, in the multi-level inverter, the number of switching times required to output the maximum level may be greater than the number of switching times desired to be provided for suppression of the harmonic. In that case, in the high modulation ratio, the number of switching times is determined depending on restriction of the number of levels.

Power converter control system using fixed pulse pattern, and control method


Fabricating a test blade including defects for calibrating a tomography installation for verifying similar blades. A three-dimensional blank is made by weaving fibers of synthetic material and elements of resin in the solid state are inserted into predetermined locations in said blank prior to coating it in resin.

The fan blades of a bypass turbojet can be made of composite material, i.e. material made up of synthetic fibers coated in resin. It is desired to be able to perform non-destructive and systematic inspection on all such blades. The materials used have led to X-ray tomography being selected as the most suitable non-destructive inspection method.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,143 describes non-destructive inspection of such a fan blade by tomography. The tomographic reconstruction process is associated with the structure of the fiber mass, and in particular is constituted by plies of a sheet material. In that document, the tomographic reconstruction is adapted as a function of the plies. More precisely, at least one reference ply of a reference model is stored in a non-Euclidean coordinate system, and then when inspecting a real blade, the points of the reference ply are transformed into a system of Euclidean coordinates for the real item. This double transformation serves to show up more clearly defects that are specific to blades of that type in which the fiber mass is constituted by plies in a sheet material, in particular defects constituted by the formation of wrinkles.
The invention relates to non-destructive tomographic inspection of blades of another type that comprises a blank or preform made out of yarns or fibers woven in three dimensions. Such a blank is embedded in resin. For example, patent EP 1 526 285 in the name of the Applicant describes a blade of this kind.
During the process of fabricating this type of blade, various defects can occur. Non-destructive tomographic inspection is used to detect and evaluate such defects.
One specific defect is the formation of clumps of resin within the structure. To detect and evaluate these defects, it is necessary to calibrate the tomographic installation regularly using a test blade, and in particular one that includes such clumps of resin, that are of dimensions that are known, and that are situated at locations that are known.
The invention relates to making such a test blade.

Method of fabricating a test blade of composite material


A cup holder includes: a support housing; an elevator housing, movable within the support housing; a cup bearing tray, movable within the elevator housing; and an elevator unit that moves the elevator housing and the cup bearing tray in opposite directions. The elevator unit includes: a main gear that is linked with the cup bearing tray and is pivotably installed on the support housing, a rack gear that is linked with the elevator housing, and a driven gear that is engaged between the main gear and the rack gear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sink type cup holder for a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a vehicle cup holder is provided between the driver's and passenger's seats. One example of a typical cup holder includes a cup stand that has a toothed support rod, a cup holder fence that surrounds the cup stand, and a cup stand height adjustor that couples the cup stand and the cup holder fence with pinion gears and connecting members such that the cup holder fence is raised when the cup stand is lowered. However, the support rod and the cup stand height adjustor are disposed in what would otherwise be usable cup holder space.
Another typical cup holder has a cup holding space, a cup holder cover that is rotatably installed on the body through a pair of arms, a spring member that is installed on the body so as to press the cup holder cover, and a slider that moves along the body when the cup holder cover is closed or opened. However, the user lowers the cup holder cover, and then places the cup on the body. This preparation delays the process of placing the cup on the body, and detracts the user's attention from driving.


A pierced shell of an austenitic stainless steel having a good inner surface condition is provided, and a means is established which can perform mass production on an industrial scale of a good quality seamless steel pipe of stainless steel. An austenitic stainless steel billet with a P content of at most 0.040% and an S content of at most 0.020% is pierced under conditions such that the pipe expansion ratio H (outer diameter of shell/diameter of billet to be worked) satisfies the following equation to obtain a tube shell of an austenitic stainless steel. {P(%)/(0.025×H−0.01)}2+{S(%)/(0.015×H−0.01)}2≦1. When manufacturing a seamless steel pipe of an austenitic stainless steel, the above-described shell is rolled to form a pipe.

At present, a representative example of a method of manufacturing a seamless steel pipe (referred to below as pipe manufacture) is a method in which piercing with skewed rolls (referred to below as piercing) is performed on a billet using a piercer (a piercer with skewed rolls) to obtain a hollow tube shell (referred to below as a shell). The shell is rolled and elongated by a rolling mill such as an elongator, a plug mill, or a mandrel mill, and then finally it is sized by a sizer or a stretch reducer.
In this case, if the material for forming the seamless steel pipe is an ordinary low carbon steel having a relatively low content of alloying components, it is relatively easy to obtain a good quality shell using a piercer, which is advantageous from the standpoint of mass production. However, when using a high alloy steel such as SUS316, SUS321, or SUS347 specified by JIS or other austenitic stainless steel as a material to be worked, since these materials are difficult to work materials, if a piercer is employed, inner surface flaws caused by Mannesmann breakdown which is characteristic of piercing can easily form in the shell, and if inner surface flaws form, there are cases in which it becomes impossible to obtain a good quality seamless steel pipe.
There has yet to be reported a suitable measure for preventing the formation of inner surface cracks which can be applied to actual production lines. Therefore, it has been thought difficult to carry out mass production on an industrial scale of seamless steel pipe of a high alloy steel such as an austenitic stainless steel.
In addition to the above, in the case of an austenitic stainless steel, inner surface flaws caused by grain boundary melting can easily occur. Grain boundary melting is a phenomenon in which low melting point substances present at grain boundaries melt due to the heat generated by working in a piercer with skewed rolls. If grain boundary melting occurs, the ductility of the material abruptly decreases, and this leads to breakage, i.e., cracks at the time of piercing of the shell.
The above-described grain boundary melting occurs in the body of a material including the inner surface thereof where the temperature of the material becomes highest during piercing. Flaws which propagate from there as a starting point are almost impossible to repair, and so this unavoidably leads to a marked decrease in yield.
With austenitic stainless steel and particularly austenitic stainless steels such as SUS316, SUS321, and SUS347 which contain alloying elements such as Mo, Ti, Nb, and Cu, these alloying elements easily form low melting point substances, so grain boundary melting occurs particularly readily. In addition, if these alloying elements are added, the strength of the material increases, and the heat generated by working during piercing increases, and this becomes a cause of promoting the occurrence of grain boundary melting.
In order to prevent this grain boundary melting, it is thought that piercing which suppresses the heat generated by working with a piercer is effective.
In order to carry out piercing while suppressing the heat generated by working, normally, a method is employed in which the rotational speed of skewed rolls is decreased and the strain rate of the material is decreased, or a method in which the wall thickness of the pierced material is increased.
However, if the rotational speed of the rolls is decreased, time is required for piercing with the piercer, and not only is the lifespan of tools (particularly a plug) greatly decreased, but the temperature of the resulting shell decreases, so a method in which the rotational speed of the rolls is decreased, i.e., a method in which the speed of piercing is decreased cannot be applied to an actual production line.
If the wall thickness of the material being pierced is increased, rolling performed in a pipe rolling mill (such as an elongator, a plug mill, or a mandrel mill) disposed downstream of the piercer becomes unstable, and the manufacturing yield of seamless steel pipes enormously decreases, so this method, too, can not be applied to an actual production line.
In order to stabilize rolling in a pipe rolling mill disposed downstream of a piercer, it is desirable to supply the rolling mill with a thin-walled material which is at as high a temperature as possible, i.e., a thin-walled shell at a high temperature. However, if the heating temperature of a billet to be worked is increased in order to supply a high temperature shell, the material reaches a temperature at which grain boundary melting occurs with even a slight amount of heat generated by working, so it was all the more difficult to carry out piercing to form a thin wall thickness which requires a large degree of working under conditions in which the heating temperature of a billet is increased in this manner.
In Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 2000-301212, as a method for piercing a difficult to work metal, a piercing method in which the heating temperature of a billet and the speed of piercing by a piercer are adjusted in conjunction with each other, and as a result the temperature of the billet is maintained at lower than an overheating temperature (1260-1310° C.), and piercing is performed is disclosed. Here, the overheating temperature is a temperature which brings about grain boundary melting of the material. The grain boundary melting temperature for a austenitic stainless steel such as SUS316, SUS321, and SUS347 is in the range of 1260-1310° C.
However, the method disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 2000-301212 merely controls the value of a formula using the piercing speed and billet heating temperature as variables to less than the overheating temperature and thereby aims at preventing the billet temperature during piercing from being greater than or equal to the overheating temperature. From the examples thereof, specifically, it can be seen that in order to obtain a shell without flaws, it is necessary to heat the billet to a low temperature of 1100-1180° C.
In addition, in the examples of the above-mentioned publication, the piercing speed is at most 300 mm/second, so when obtaining a shell with a length of 8 m, 30 seconds are required, which is not practical.
Furthermore, in the examples, a simulation of plasiticine is carried out. At that time, the ratio (the t/d ratio) of the wall thickness to the outer diameter of the shell after piercing is 15%, so the wall thickness is considerable.
Accordingly, with this method, stable rolling cannot be guaranteed in the subsequent rolling mill, and in addition, the lifespan of the piercer tool is not adequate.
In "CAMP-ISIJ", Volume 6 (1993), pages 370-373, an example is reported of piercing of SUS316L with a piercer in an actual production line. However, in that report, in order to prevent flaws on the inner surface of the pierced shell, it is necessary to decrease the peripheral speed of skewed rolls as well as to control the heating temperature of a billet to at most 1190° C. so there are problems like those of the method disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 2000-301212.
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 2001-162306 discloses a method of preventing flaws on the inner surface of a pierced shell by controlling the value of a formula using the billet diameter, the diameter of skewed rolls, and the rotational speed of skewed rolls as variables. However, with this method as well, piercing is carried out while reducing the rotational roll speed of skewed rolls, and it is essentially no more than a means of limiting the piercing speed, i.e., the strain rate of the material, and it has problems such as an increase in the time required for piercing, a decrease in tool lifespan, and a decrease in the temperature of a shell, so it cannot be said to be a means which can be applied to an actual production line.

Tube shell for manufacturing a seamless steel pipe and a method for its manufacture


Apparatus and method for monitoring capacitive elements of an implantable medical device system for device failure and responding thereto. A therapy measurement block monitors a charge value across one or more capacitive elements. If the charge value falls outside a prescribed range, indicating possible failure in the capacitive element, the system removes from service the capacitive element and its associated regulator, notifies the implantable neuro stimulator of the failure and/or takes appropriate corrective measures.

The medical device industry produces a wide variety of electronic and mechanical devices for treating patient medical conditions. Depending upon medical condition, medical devices can be surgically implanted or connected externally to the patient receiving treatment. Clinicians use medical devices alone or in combination with drug therapies and surgery to treat patient medical conditions. For some medical conditions, medical devices provide the best, and sometimes the only, therapy to restore an individual to a more healthful condition and a fuller life. One type of medical device that can be used is an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS).
An INS generates an electrical stimulation signal that is used to influence the human nervous system or organs. Electrical contacts carried on the distal end of a lead are placed at the desired stimulation site such as the spine and the proximal end of the lead is connected to the INS. The INS is then surgically implanted into an individual such as into a subcutaneous pocket in the abdomen. The INS can be powered by an internal source such as a battery or by an external source such as a radio frequency transmitter. A clinician programs the INS with a therapy using a programmer. The therapy configures parameters of the stimulation signal for the specific patient's therapy. An INS can be used to treat conditions such as pain, incontinence, movement disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, and sleep apnea. Additional therapies appear promising to treat a variety of physiological, psychological, and emotional conditions. As the number of INS therapies has expanded, greater demands have been placed on the INS. Examples of some INSs and related components are shown and described in a brochure titled Implantable Neurostimulation Systems available from Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
The effectiveness of the therapy as provided by the INS is dependent upon its capability of adjusting the electrical characteristics of the stimulation signal. For example, stimulation waveforms can be designed for selective electrical stimulation of the nervous system. Two types of selectivity may be considered. First, fiber diameter selectivity refers to the ability to activate one group of nerve fibers having a common diameter without activating nerve fibers having different diameters. Second, spatial selectivity refers to the ability to activate nerve fibers in a localized region without activating nerve fibers in neighboring regions.
The tissue around a first stimulated electrode can be damaged by a charge accumulation. Thus, a recharging interval is typically utilized to balance a charge accumulation that may occur around the surrounding tissue of the first stimulated electrode. A time delay between a stimulation pulse and the recharging interval may be required in order to prevent a loss of potential in adjacent tissue. The potential may be associated with a second stimulated electrode that is being stimulated by a different stimulation pulse than the first stimulated electrode. A capacitive element may be utilized for each regulator module or each stimulation electrode. In the event that discharging and recharging is uneven, the capacitive element builds up a charge potential that absorbs the charge imbalance.
This capacitive element, however, is susceptible to failure. For example, the capacitive element may become shorted or opened. When the capacitive element fails, the corresponding electrode may no longer be able to adequately delivery electrical stimulation.
The patient or physician, however, will not know whether the capacitive element has failed and that the device is not performing as expected. The patient/physician may, for example, incorrectly diagnose that the treatment therapy is not working. Even if it is determined that the device is not performing as required, the physician may not know what specifically is causing the problem. As a result, the patient may have to endure another surgical procedure to repair or replace the device.
Even if it can be readily determine that the device is not performing as required, the physician must still meet with the patient to determine how to resolve the problem. The physician may have to contact the device manufacturer to help resolve the problem. Until the physician can properly treat the problem, however, the patient may have to endure a time period where he/she is receiving inadequate treatment therapy.
It is therefore desirable to readily determine when a capacitive element has failed and to correct for the failure without requiring the patient to endure a surgical procedure.

Detection of possible failure of capacitive elements in an implantable medical device


Provided are a light-emitting portion having a light-emitting member and a light emergence surface through which light from the light-emitting member emerges, and a light-receiving portion having a light incidence surface through which the light from the light-emitting member enters and a light-receiving member that detects the light entering through the light incidence surface. The light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion can make relative movement between a measurement position in which the light emergence surface and the light incidence surface make contact with each other and a waiting position in which the light emergence surface is away from the light incidence surface. When the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion are in the measurement position, the light emergence surface and the light incidence surface make contact with each other at a point.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for measuring the concentration of toner in a liquid developer by detecting the amount of light passing through the liquid developer, to image forming apparatuses provided with such devices, and to toner concentration measuring methods.
2. Description of Related Art
Developing methods used in image forming apparatuses are broadly classified into dry developing and wet developing. Previously, dry developing was widely used from the viewpoint of ease of handling and reduction in size and weight. In recent years, however, wet developing has been receiving new attention from the viewpoint of, for example, improving the quality of images.
In wet developing, a liquid developer made of a carrier liquid, such as silicone or paraffin, and toner particles suspended in the carrier liquid is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoconductor based on image data. To obtain an image of high quality by wet developing, it is important to keep the toner concentration in the liquid developer at an appropriate level.
Therefore, in JP-A-2005-315948, a recess is formed in the inner wall surface of a liquid developer reservoir, and a phototransmitter is provided in the bottom of the recess. In addition, a movable body is provided in such a way that it can move close to or away from the inner wall surface, and a photoreceptor is provided in the movable body in a face thereof facing the phototransmitter. When toner concentration is measured, the movable body is moved so as to make close contact with the inner wall surface, such that a liquid developer is trapped in the narrow space between the movable body and the inner wall surface. The liquid developer trapped therein is irradiated with light emitted from the phototransmitter, and the amount of light passing through the liquid developer and reaching the photoreceptor is detected. In this way, the toner concentration is measured.
In this case, when the toner concentration of a liquid developer using toner having a low light transmission, such as black, is measured, a thick layer of liquid developer prevents measurement light from passing therethrough. This makes high-accuracy measurement impossible. To avoid this problem, it is necessary to trap the liquid developer as thin as on the order of several tens of μm. However, due to the difficulty in forming a recess having a depth of several tens of μm, a spacer is used instead for forming a narrow space in which a liquid developer is trapped. FIGS. 12A and 12B each show a toner concentration measuring device in which a narrow space is formed by using spacers. The toner concentration measuring device shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B has a light-emitting portion 101 and a light-receiving portion 102. The light-receiving portion 102 is provided with a light incidence surface 122a and a light-receiving member 105 that is so disposed as to face the light-emitting portion 101 with the light incidence surface 122a between them. The light-receiving portion 102 is attached to the measuring tank 103 in such a way that the light incidence surface 122a is flush with the bottom of the measuring tank 103. On the other hand, the light-emitting portion 101 has a light-emitting member 104 and a light emergence surface 112a from which light emitted from the light-emitting member 104 emerges, and the light-emitting portion 101 is attached in such a way as to permit the light emergence surface 112a to move up and down with respect to the light incidence surface 122a. At the bottom of the measuring tank 103 near the light incidence surface 122a are provided spacers 107a and 107b, each being formed of a metal plate that is several tens of μm thick, in such a way that they face each other with the light incidence surface 122a disposed between them.
As shown in FIG. 12B, when toner concentration is measured, the light-emitting portion 101 is moved downward until the bottom surface of the light-emitting portion 101 makes contact with the top faces of the spacers 107a and 107b. This creates a space having a predetermined thickness (equal to the thickness of the spacers 107a and 107b) between the light emergence surface 112a and the light incidence surface 122a. The liquid developer (not shown) trapped in this space is irradiated with light emitted from the light-emitting portion 101, and the amount of light passing through the liquid developer and reaching the light-receiving member 105 through the light incidence surface 122a is detected by the light-receiving member 105. In this way, the toner concentration is measured.
Disadvantageously, by the former method in which the space is formed by the formation of a recess, the toner may accumulate in the recess formed in the inner wall surface, making it impossible to measure the toner concentration with high accuracy. By the latter method in which the space is formed by using spacers, as shown in FIG. 13, toner T may be stuck between the bottom of the measuring tank 103 and the spacers 107a and 107b, making the space wider than a predetermined value. To avoid this problem, the spacers 107a and 107b may be bonded to the bottom of the measuring tank 103 with an adhesive or the like. However, it is technically difficult to control the thickness of a coating of adhesive in micrometers.

Device for measuring concentration of toner in liquid developer, image forming apparatus provided therewith, and method for measuring toner concentration


A new and distinct variety of walnut rootstock denominated ‘RX1’ is described. This new variety, ‘RX1’, can be propagated through standard tissue culture micropropagation. It has excellent survivability in the nursery and orchard. The new variety also has reduced susceptibility to damage from Phytophthora citricola in greenhouse screens and in the field compared to other available walnut rootstocks.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct clonal rootstock for English walnut (Juglans regia) that has been denominated varietally as 'RX1', and more particularly to such a walnut rootstock that has reduced susceptibility to cankering by Phytophthora (Phytophthora citricola), and that further is easily clonally propagated by micropropagation.
It has long been recognized that Phytophthora root and crown rots are some of the most serious diseases of walnut worldwide. In California, Phytophthora citricola and P. cinnamomi are recognized as the most virulent species of the fungus, but P. citricola is more widespread. The rootstock of the present invention, 'RX1', has been identified as being more resistant to P. citricola than other available clonal walnut (Juglans) rootstocks.

The Regents of the University of California

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


An environmental defense shield includes symmetric airfoil-shaped vanes contributing to and positioned around a plenum space and positioned in front of a turbine engine. An annular band stiffener is set into the vanes, which projects forward in a diminishing size, the vanes merging together to create or attaching to a solid nose. The environmental defense shield serves to protect the engine from debris while also smoothing airflow into the engine.

The present invention relates generally to turbine engines and more specifically to protective devices for turbine engines that prevent debris from entering the engine, and to smooth turbulent air flow.
Turbine engines produce thrust by increasing the velocity of the air flowing through the engine. A turbine engine consists primarily of an air inlet, compressor, combustion chamber or chambers, turbine section, and exhaust. There are several different types of turbine engines, but all turbine engines have some parts in common. All turbine engines have an inlet to bring free stream air into the engine. The inlet sits upstream of the compressor and its design is an important factor in engine net thrust or power.
The total pressure through the inlet may be reduced because of several flow effects. Aerodynamicists characterize the inlet's pressure performance by the inlet total pressure recovery, which measures the amount of free stream flow conditions that are recovered. The pressure recovery depends on a wide variety of factors, including the shape of the inlet, the speed of the aircraft, the air flow demands of the engine, and aircraft maneuvers.
As air is brought from free stream to the compressor face, the flow may be distorted by the inlet. At the compressor face, one portion of the flow may have a higher velocity or higher pressure than another portion. The flow may be swirling, or some section of the boundary layer may be thicker than another section because of the inlet shape. The rotor blades of the compressor rotate around the central shaft. As the blades encounter distorted inlet flow, the flow conditions around the blade change very quickly. The changing flow conditions can cause flow separation in the compressor, a compressor stall, and can cause structural problems for the compressor blades.
Due to the design and function of a turbine engine's air inlet, the possibility of ingestion of debris always exists. This causes significant damage, particularly to the compressor. When this occurs, it is called foreign object damage (FOD). Typical FOD consists of small nicks and dents caused by ingestion of small objects from the ramp, taxiway, or runway. However, FOD damage caused by bird strikes or ice ingestion can also occur, and may result in total destruction of an engine. Prevention of FOD is a high priority in aircraft safety.
Typically, turbine engines have an air intake inlet opening also referred to as an inlet duct, the front portion of which comprises an air intake opening lip (or "lipskin") to, among other things, protect the leading edge of the air intake opening. The center of the engine, however, remains open and accessible to birds, wildlife and other foreign object debris damage, including even possible terrorist threats. In addition, a vortex pattern of turbulent air is caused, partially by air flow over the lipskin in several directions, which causes sand, gravel and small objects to be ingested into the engine and causes lower engine efficiency.
Engine protection devices have been proposed, which substantially comprise a shroud surrounding the engine component and fitted to a fixed supporting member of the engine component. Many propose a construction of metals, such as steel, which must be particularly thick and heavy. Such shrouds are therefore unsatisfactory, by increasing the overall weight of the aircraft and so impairing performance and increasing fuel consumption. In the case of inlet covers, such as screens, they have been found to produce a safety hazard when ice forms over the screen. They also can impair the efficiency of the engine by interfering with normal air flow through the engine. It has also been proposed to activate or retract such protection devices by mechanical or explosive actuators, reacting to sensors that have been installed in the craft's nose cone. This complexity renders such designs unpractical for most aircraft. A turbine engine protection device that avoids these disadvantages is thus highly desirable.


An apparatus and method are disclosed for removing debris from a recently perforated formation. A vacuum source, such as a subsurface jet pump is employed, coupled with a sealing arrangement to isolate a portion of the recently perforated formation. The vacuum device increases the velocity of the formation fluids to enable them to entrain the debris and bring it to the surface.

Perforating guns are well known in the oil and gas field. They are used to perforate a formation in a wellbore to stimulate production of hydrocarbons into the wellbore and ultimately to the surface. The typical process involves lowering a perforating gun on a tubing string and isolating the annulus between the tubing string and the wellbore with a packer. The gun may also be lowered into position by a wireline. The perforating gun is set through a variety of means. The explosive charge impinges on the wellbore and creates the perforations through which it is hoped the hydrocarbons will flow. The setting off of the perforating gun creates debris in the form of portions of the formation being displaced through the velocity of the explosive charge set off in the gun, as well as some of the explosive charge itself. It is desirable to get rid of the debris prior to beginning regular production from the wellbore. If the debris is not adequately removed, it can foul the recently created perforations and impede the removal of hydrocarbons from the formation to the surface through the wellbore. The presence of debris can also impede the insertion of screens and the performance of a commonly known procedure called "gravel packing."
In the past, various techniques have been used to remove such debris. One known technique is to create an underbalance adjacent the recently perforated formation. An underbalance is typically created by injection of a gas to displace some of the fluid in the wellbore to reduce the pressure adjacent the formation so that when flow is allowed to occur, the pressure adjacent the wellbore is reduced and formation fluids tend to flow into the wellbore rather than the reverse. Regardless whether circulation or reverse circulation is used, whether in conjunction with creating an underbalance or without, a potential problem of fluid losses into the formation exists. Additional problems exist if the velocity of the circulated fluid is insufficient to entrain some of the debris which is desired to be removed. In deviated wellbores the perforation may be over a long distance and existing equipment may be insufficient to create zones of sufficient velocity over the length of the perforation so as to be able to entrain the debris for its removal. Further problems can occur when, despite the fact that the circulation or reverse circulation is of sufficient velocity, there are pockets of low flow or no flow adjacent the recently perforated formation. This can result in erratic performance with regard to debris removal leaving some portions of the recently perforated formation cleared of debris while others are covered with debris. What has been lacking in the past is an ability to isolate small portions of the recently perforated formation and ensure sufficient velocities in those smaller portions to effectuate a more thorough removal of debris from those zones. What is also lacking from prior methods is a way to restrict or reduce, if not eliminate, the loss of fluids into the formation which can result from various operations typically performed after perforation such as bullheading.
To address these needs, the apparatus and method of the present invention have been developed so that small portions of the recently perforated zone can be isolated. Debris can be efficiently removed from these isolated zones through the use of a vacuum source which creates the requisite velocity to entrain the debris and bring it to the surface.
Jet pumps have been used in downhole applications in the past. Jet pumps achieve pumping action by means of momentum transfer between the power fluid and the produced fluid. In typical prior applications, the power fluid enters the top of the pump from the pump tubing and passes through a nozzle where virtually all of the total pressure of the power fluid is converted to a velocity head. The jet from the nozzle discharges into the production inlet chamber, which is in fluid communication with the wellbore. The production fluid is entrained by the power fluid and the combined fluids enter the throat of the pump.
The throat, which is always of a larger diameter than the nozzle, is where the mixing of the power fluid and production fluid takes place. The power fluid losses momentum and energy and the production fluid gains momentum and energy. The mixed fluid exiting the throat has sufficient total head to flow against the production return column gradient. Much of the total head is still in the form of a velocity head. The final working section of a jet pump is a shaped diffuser section of expanding area which converts the velocity head into a static pressure head greater than the static column head to allow flow to the surface.
Jet pumps have the advantage of not having closely fitting reciprocating parts, which allow them to tolerate power and production fluids of poorer quality than those normally required for reasonable life in a subsurface hydraulic pump. Jet pumps also have low profiles which make them adaptable for use in wellbores. Jet pumps can move higher volumes of liquid or gas as compared to conventional subsurface hydraulic pumps located in the same size tubing.
Jet pumps have been used in some high volume gassy or dirty wells. Such pumps are not applicable to all wells and are limited by their characteristics which require a relatively high suction pressure to avoid cavitation, and relatively low mechanical efficiency which requires higher input horsepower than a conventional hydraulic pump. Typically, such pumps have been used to enhance production from wells which need a downhole power assist for the hydrocarbons to be produced at the surface.

Method and apparatus for cleaning wellbore perforations


An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a main frame, an opening portion formed in the main frame, a recess portion formed along a frame of the opening portion lower than a surface of the main frame, and a plate having frames seated on the recess portion, wherein at least one of the frames of the plate is formed of a curved portion that is curved inwardly. Accordingly, it is possible to absorb an external impact and prevent deformation just by a simple structure change of the plate.

Recently, while electronic devices become multifunctional, electronic devices with better portability have higher competitiveness. For example, users prefer electronic devices that are slimmer, lighter and smaller while having the same functions. Therefore, electronic device manufacturers are competing to develop electronic devices that are slimmer, lighter and smaller while having the same or better functions. In addition, the electronic device manufacturers are making an effort to develop electronic devices that are slimmer and have higher durability.
As part of the effort, while the external appearance and internal frames of electronic devices have been formed of plastic material, plastic frames are replaced with metal frames that are stronger than the plastic frames. This is because the metal frame may be formed thinner than the plastic frame, and the metal frame has higher durability than the plastic frame, while they have the same thickness. Also, by using a metal material (e.g., aluminum, Stainless Steel (STS), or Steel Use Stainless (SUS)) that is as light as a plastic material, the drawbacks of the metal material against the plastic material are gradually remedied.
In recent electronic devices, a frame or a portion of the external appearance of an internal main frame, which is die-cast and is formed of a metal material (e.g. mainly magnesium), is insert-molded with a plastic material. Thus, by using an internal metal frames formed of the metal material, components of devices, such as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) modules and battery packs, may be securely supported and may securely withstand an external impact.
However, such a metal main frame should have a predetermined thickness satisfying a minimum injection thickness, which hinders the slimness of electronic devices.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Frame structure for preventing deformation, and electronic device including the same


An improved system of variable speed drives that enhances the energy efficiency of an elevator system by enabling power transfer between the variable speed drives of two or more elevators via a common DC bus. Any combination of regenerative and non-regenerative variable speed drives may be used with the present invention. Energy storage devices may be connected to the common DC bus further improve efficiency.

Variable Speed Drives (VSD) for elevators are typically produced in two types, regenerative and non-regenerative. Both these types of VSDs are capable of producing alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).
During each trip, an elevator either consumes energy or produces energy. When the elevator has an overhauling load, the motor functions as a generator and returns energy to the drive. A non-regenerative VSD will convert this energy to heat by use of dynamic braking (DB) transistors. A regenerative VSD will return energy to the AC power supply grid.
An elevator with a regenerative drive in total consumes no energy except for energy lost due to friction, power conversion, ventilation, illumination, signaling and control. An elevator converts kinetic energy to potential energy and then reconverts the potential energy to kinetic energy.
While regenerative power presents no problems for a power system, it can pose problems for emergency power systems. Often specifications require elevator drives that do not produce regenerative currents when the emergency power system is in operation. Virtually all high rise and most mid-rise buildings have emergency generators.
The conversion of energy from AC to DC and from DC to AC in elevator drive systems involves losses. In modern insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) based VSDs, these losses are typically 3 to 5 percent per conversion. In a typical drive system, the drive receives three-phase AC power from a supply grid and immediately converts this power to DC. The DC power is applied to a DC bus that has a bank of capacitors connected to it. The capacitors' primary function is to eliminate any residual AC component from the DC power. This AC component is known as ripple.
An inverter is also connected to the DC bus. The inverter converts the DC to variable voltage variable frequency (VVVF) AC that is supplied to an AC motor. If the motor connected to the drive is a DC motor, as is often the case with modern elevators, then the inverter produces a variable voltage direct current (VVDC).
Emergency power generators normally are sized to run one elevator at a time. In an elevator system having more than one elevator, it is often the case that one elevator is producing energy while another elevator is consuming energy. The regenerated power has been used to operate more than one elevator using a generator that would otherwise run only one elevator at a time. However, the power transfer in the prior art takes place via the AC power bus. Transfer on an AC power bus requires two additional AC/DC conversions at a loss of 6 to 10 percent.

Power supply for elevator systems having variable speed drives


The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for determining a status of a client certificate from a plurality of responses for an Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) request. An intermediary device between a plurality of clients and one or more servers identifies a plurality of OCSP responders for determining a status of a client certificate responsive to receiving the client certificate from a client during a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) handshake. Each of the plurality of OCSP responders may transmit a request for the status of the client certificate to a uniform resource locator corresponding to each OCSP responder. The intermediary device may determine a single status for the client certificate from a plurality of statuses of the client certificate received via responses from each uniform resource locator.

OCSP may be used in any cryptographic system, such as a public key infrastructure (PKI) system, for accessing the status of digital certificates. For example, the status of a digital certificate may be determined to be valid or to have been revoked. A request to initiate a connection may include transmission of a digital certificate of the initiating device that has to be validated. If the status on the certificate is found to be revoked and/or invalid, the request may be refused. In some embodiments, the request for connection may be a request to establish a SSL connection. A client device and a server may establish an SSL connection via a series of handshaking messages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for evaluating and prioritizing responses from multiple OCSP responders


A storage device includes a data buffer, a device controller, and nonvolatile memories. The data buffer is configured to transact data from an external device. The device controller is configured to receive a command and an address from an external device, to control the data buffers, and to transact data with the data buffers. The nonvolatile memories are configured to perform write, read, and erase operations under control of the device controller. When a first link training between an external device and the data buffers is performed by the external device, the device controller performs a second link training between the device controller and a data buffer internally without control of the external device.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a semiconductor memory and, in particular, to a storage device and an operating method thereof.
A computing device includes a processor, a main memory device, and a storage device. With the advancement of semiconductor technologies, the performance of the processor, the main memory device, and storage device is being improved. As the performance of the processor, the main memory device, and the storage device advances, the performance of the computing device is also improved.
In general, an operating speed of the computing device is limited by the performance of the storage device. However, nonvolatile memories such as a phase-change random access memory (PRAM), a resistive RAM (RRAM), a magnetic RAM (MRAM), a ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and the like are applied to the storage device, thereby markedly improving the storage device. This means that the operating speed of the computing device is limited by a communication speed between the processor and the storage device, not the performance of the storage device.
Accordingly, there is required a new device and method capable of improving the communication speed between the processor and the storage device. Furthermore, there is required a new device and method capable of solving problems due to the improvement of the communication speed between the processor and the storage device.

Storage device and operating method of storage device


Methods, systems, and devices for configuration and reporting of proximity detection measurements are disclosed herein. User equipment (UE) is configured to receive and store a PD-RS list from an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) node B (eNB). The PD-RS list includes a radio resource configuration for at least a first proximity discovery reference signal (PD-RS). The UE is configured to measure at least the first PD-RS to determine a signal parameter for the first PD-RS. The UE reports the signal parameter for the first PD-RS to the eNB.

Wireless mobile communication technology uses various standards and protocols to transmit data between a base station and a wireless mobile device. Wireless communication system standards and protocols can include the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) standard; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standard, which is commonly known to industry groups as WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access); and the IEEE 802.11 standard, which is commonly known to industry groups as WiFi. In 3GPP LTE systems the radio access network (RAN) known as Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) includes the base station (also commonly denoted as E-UTRAN NodeB, eNodeB, or eNB), which communicate with a wireless communication device, known as user equipment (UE).
Proximity-based discovery and device-to-device (D2D) communication between devices (such as UEs) have gained strong interest because they provide the network operator the possibility to offer new types of applications and services for commercial, social, and public safety use. Furthermore, proximity-based discovery and D2D communication provide the network operator the possibility to temporarily offload user traffic exchanged between two UEs in proximity of each other from the network infrastructure to a D2D direct communication path.

Systems and methods for wireless signal measurement and reporting for device to-device communication


Disclosed herein are techniques for providing an illumination system that emits illumination into an environment while also enabling that system to be undetectable to certain types of external light detection systems. The system includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) low light (LL) detection device and a light emitting device. The light emitting device provides illumination having a wavelength of at least 950 nanometers (nm). An intensity of the illumination is set to a level that causes the illumination to be undetectable from a determined distance away based on the roll off rate of the light. While the light emitting device is providing the illumination, the SPAD LL detection device generates an image of an environment in which the illumination is being provided.

Mixed-reality (MR) systems, including virtual-reality (VR) and augmented-reality (AR) systems, have received significant attention because of their ability to create truly unique experiences for their users. For reference, conventional VR systems create completely immersive experiences by restricting their users' views to only virtual environments. This is often achieved through the use of a head-mounted device (HMD) that completely blocks any view of the real world. As a result, a user is entirely immersed within the virtual environment. In contrast, conventional AR systems create an augmented-reality experience by visually presenting virtual objects that are placed in or that interact with the real world.
As used herein, VR and AR systems are described and referenced interchangeably. Unless stated otherwise, the descriptions herein apply equally to all types of MR systems, which (as detailed above) include AR systems, VR reality systems, and/or any other similar system capable of displaying virtual content. Use of the term "HMD" can also refer to a MR system.
A MR system can employ different types of cameras (aka "modalities") in order to display content to users. Often, cameras having different modalities are used to help the user of the MR system better see what is in his/her environment. For example, a low light camera can be used to observe content in low light environments.
MR systems are used in a wide variety of scenarios. By way of example, MR systems are often used in gaming scenarios, such as in paintball games. One objective of competing in a paintball game is to eliminate an opponent without getting eliminated. To do so, it is typically desirable to stealthily track one's opponent. Based on the desire to maintain stealth, one can appreciate how it is desirable to avoid being detected by opponents in the paintball game. Accordingly, there is a need in the technical field to improve how MR systems are used in order to avoid detection from other MR systems while achieving a particular level of performance.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

External illumination with reduced detectability


A variable compression ratio engine that changes the compression ratio may include a piston disposed to be reciprocated in a cylinder by combustion, a crankshaft rotatably disposed at a predetermined distance from the piston, a crank arm with one end connected with the piston and the other end connected with the crankshaft, a connecting rod connected with the crank arm through a crankpin and with the piston through a piston pin and having an oil chamber, an eccentric cam disposed between the crankpin and the connecting rod and being off-center from the crankpin, a variable piston disposed in the oil chamber to be moved by supplied oil, and a link connecting the variable piston with the eccentric cam to rotate the eccentric cam with movement of the variable piston.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a variable compression ratio engine that varies a compression ratio, improving combustion efficiency, reducing noise/vibration, and increasing output by varying the compression ratio of the combustion chamber in accordance with the driving status.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, the thermal efficiency of heat engines increases when the compression ratio is high, and in spark ignition engines, the thermal efficiency increases when the ignition timing is advanced up to a predetermined level.
However, when the ignition timing is advanced with a high compression ratio in the spark ignition engines, abnormal combustion is generated and the engines may be damaged, so that there is a limit in advance of the ignition timing and accordingly the output is necessarily reduced.
A VCR (Variable Compression Ratio) apparatus is an apparatus that changes the compression ratio of a gas mixture in accordance with the operation state of an engine. According to a variable compression ratio engine that varies the compression ratio, it improve the fuel efficiency by increasing the compression ratio of a gas mixture under a low load condition and prevents knocking and improves the output by reducing the compression ratio of the gas mixture under a high load condition.
The existing variable compression ratio engines that are designed to vary the compression ratio change the compression ratio by changing the distance between the crankpins connecting the crankshaft with the pistons.
Those types of variable compression ratio engines that vary the compression ratio include a control shaft, a shaft cap, a block cover, and a control motor, in which the control motor rotates the control shaft and the driving arm on the control shaft rotates an eccentric bearing through a link. The shaft cap is needed to fix the engine block to the control shaft and is covered with the block cover, such that the number of parts increases and the weight increases accordingly.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Variable compression ratio engine that varies compression ratio


Method and apparatus for handling call stack unwinding when execution of an instrumented program is stopped in a first function of the instrumented program. When unwinding is initiated and a call to a second function of unwind software is made, the call to the second function is intercepted. The second function returns a reference to unwind information associated with the first function of the instrumented program. The unwind information includes references to locations of selected instructions in the function. If the first function of the instrumented program is instrumented with instrumentation code, then updated unwind information is created. The updated unwind information includes updated references to the locations of the selected instructions in the first function as offset by the instrumentation code. A reference to the updated unwind information is returned.

Analysis of binary executable programs is performed to analyze program performance, verify correctness, and optimization, for example. Some analyses are performed prior to runtime (static analysis), while other analyses are performed during runtime (dynamic analysis). For both static and dynamic analysis, however, the analysis is often performed at the function level.
The term, "function", refers to named sections of code that are callable in the source program and encompasses routines, procedures, methods and other similar constructs known to those skilled in the art. The functions in the source code are compiled into segments of executable code. For convenience, the segments of executable code that correspond to the functions in the source code are also referred to as "functions".
One category of analysis performed on executable programs is "instrumentation". Instrumentation is generally used to gather runtime characteristics of a program. For example, the number of times that a function is executed while the application is executing is determined through instrumentation. While the information gathered through instrumentation may be extremely useful for purposes of enhancing program performance, the process of setting up a program for instrumentation can be time-consuming and very complicated.
Some dynamic instrumentation tools relocate instrumented functions during execution of the program into a new address space, such as shared memory address space, on the stack of a target program, on the heap of a target program or other similar methods. These different methods are referenced in this description under the term "shared memory". The shared memory space is allocated by the instrumentation tool and shared by the instrumentation tool and the executable program. The instrumented functions in the shared memory space are executed in lieu of the un-instrumented versions of the functions in the original address space. Some instrumented functions in the shared memory space may call other instrumented functions in the shared memory space, depending on the application.
In certain situations the call graph (or the "call chain") of a program must be traversed. The call graph refers to the order in which functions of the program are called and which of the functions are the calling and called functions. Traversal of the call graph is often referred to as "stack unwinding". Stack unwinding allows identification of calling and called functions. For example, if foo1( ) calls foo2( ),foo2( ) calls foo3( ), and foo3( ) calls foo4( ), stack unwinding from a location in foo4( ) allows identification of the chain of functions that were called in getting to the location in foo4( ). Functions in the call graph can be functions that have not been instrumented ("non-instrumented functions") or relocated instrumented functions.
An example situation in which stack unwinding is performed is when a program error occurs and a programmer is interested the function calling sequence relative to the location in the program at which the error occurred. This is sometimes referred to as a stack trace. Another example is where a C++ exception is "thrown" in a C++ program. The C++ runtime mechanism unwinds the stack upwards until it finds a matching "catch clause" (C++ terminology).
In some architectures, stack unwinding can be trivial. For example, where a single format is used for stack frames, traversing the call graph is easily achieved by reading values from the stack of the application in a well-defined way. However, stack unwinding in other architectures is more complicated because stack frames can have different formats. For example, in the IA-64 processor architecture from Hewlett-Packard different formats of stack frames are used to optimize performance of a given code stream. Unwinding is performed by reading supplemental unwind information that describes the format and content of each individual stack frame.
In the HP-UX system from Hewlett-Packard, the dynamic loader maintains information that associates loaded modules and the locations of unwind information for the loaded modules. When unwinding is needed, for example, because a C++ exception has been thrown, a function of the dynamic loader is called by the unwinder (libunwind on HP-UX) to identify the unwind information of the load module and the function within which the exception was raised. If unwinding is requested in an instrumented function, e.g. a C++ exception is thrown in the instrumented function, the dynamic loader will be unable to provide a reference to the required unwind information because the dynamic loader maintains only the unwind information for the un-instrumented version of the function. Unwinding through instrumented functions would therefore fail.
A system and method that address the aforementioned problems, as well as other related problems, are therefore desirable.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Techniques are disclosed for coding and delivering multi-view video in which the video is represented as a manifest file identifying a plurality of segments of the video available for download. The multi-view video may be partitioned spatially into a plurality of tiles that, in aggregate, encompass the entire spatial area of the video. The tiles are coded as segments contains coded video representing content contained within its respective tile. Tiles may be given different sizes based on saliency of the content within their respective regions. In this manner, tiles with high levels of interest may have relatively large spatial areas, which can lead to efficient coding in the presence of content motion.

Multi-view video applications are expected to become an emerging application for consumer electronic systems. Multi-view video may deliver an immersive viewing experience by displaying video in a manner that emulates a view space in multiple directions (ideally, every direction) about a viewer. Viewers, however, typically view content from a small portion of the view space, which causes content at other locations to go unused during streaming and display.
Multi-view video applications present challenges for designers of such systems that are not encountered for ordinary "flat" viewing applications. Ordinarily, it is desired to apply all available bandwidth to coding of video being viewed to maximize its quality. On the other hand, failure to stream non-viewed portions of a multi-video would incur significant latencies if/when viewer focus changes. A rendering system would have to detect the viewer's changed focus and reallocate coding bandwidth to represent content at the viewer's new focus. In practice, such operations would delay rendering of desired content, which would frustrate viewer's enjoyment of the multi-view video and lower the user experience of the system.

Versatile tile coding for multi-view video streaming


A system is set forth that includes storage, a first file system, a second file system, and a processing system. The first file system manages one or more files and/or directories on the storage, while the second file system manages content of one or more further files on the storage. The processing system is responsive to a triggering event. The processing system responds to the triggering event by re-mapping content from the second file system to the first file system while retaining the content at its original physical location on the storage so that the content is accessible through the first file system from its original physical location on the storage.

1. Technical Field
The present application is directed to a storage device and, more particularly, to a system for optimizing the transfer of stored memory content in response to a triggering event.
2. Related Art
Files may be written to a removable storage device using an out-of-band channel that is not under the direct control of a user and/or host operating system. For example, the files may be written to a hidden partition of the removable storage device, where the user is neither aware of the existence of the files nor able to access the contents of the files. The files may then be selectively exposed to the host operating system and/or user when the user carries out certain actions to access the content of the files.
Mechanisms for moving the content of a file in a hidden partition to an accessible portion of the removable storage device may be complex. One such mechanism involves a direct copy operation in which all the content from the hidden partition is directly copied to an accessible portion of the removable storage device. In such a direct copy operation, the host operating system reads the content from the hidden partition and then writes it again to and accessible portion of the removable storage device, such as a public partition. Besides being computationally costly, this mechanism requires the existence of a user-inaccessible hidden partition of sufficient size to hold the content. Users may resist paying for a storage device in which a significant portion of the storage is not visible and under their direct control.

System for optimizing the transfer of stored content in response to a triggering event


A technique secures data in cloud storage. The technique involves receiving, by processing circuitry, an input/output (I/O) request which includes host data. The technique further involves encrypting, by the processing circuitry, the host data to form encrypted data and sending a block-based write transaction which includes the encrypted data to a replication storage array to store the encrypted data within the replication storage array. The technique further involves storing, by the processing circuitry, the host data within the production storage array. The encrypted host data is stored within the replication storage array to secure the host data which is also stored at the production storage array.

A company may maintain a local data storage system and an off-premises data storage system for fault tolerance, e.g., for failover, for disaster recovery, etc. In such a situation, as host computers of the company write host data to the local data storage system, copies of that host data are saved to the off-premises data storage system. As a result, if access to the host data stored within the local data storage system is somehow lost (e.g., due to a hardware or local network failure, due to a complete failure of the corporate site, etc.), the host data is still accessible from the off-premises data storage system.
Some data storage systems are configured to journal write operations, i.e., to store write operations with timestamps in journal volumes. Such operation enables the data storage systems to roll-back the host data to earlier points in time, i.e., recovery points. In the above-identified conventional replication situation in which host data is stored in a local data storage system as well as an off-premises data storage system, both the local data storage system and the off-premises data storage system may be equipped with this journaling/roll-back feature.

Securing data replication, backup and mobility in cloud storage


A fully contoured three dimensional toy figure made of at least two figure parts, and a toy apparatus and a method for molding the toy figure are disclosed. The figure parts are molded in respective mold cavities with receptacles, e.g., holes, in a side thereof and selected parts are joined together with simple connectors inserted into aligned receptacles of adjacently positioned parts. The receptacles may simply be blind holes in one side of the figure parts, and the connectors may be simple rods, bars or tubes which may have structure that assists in engaging the walls of the holes. The invention allows small children to make fully-contoured toy figures easily without having to use adhesives or typical fasteners to attach the figure parts together. Child-safe plastic materials such as Plasti-Goop.RTM. may be used as the plastic molding material. Also disclosed is a toy mold for use by young children in making molded figures and figure parts with a fitting attached thereto, whereby the figure or figure part may be attached to an accessory such as a hair clip, or play jewelry such as a ring or bracelet, or to another figure or figure part etc.

The invention disclosed herein relates to multi-sided, fully contoured three dimensional toy figures, to toy figures having appliances or fittings (e.g., connectors pins, clips, rings, magnets, etc.) molded thereto and to toy molding apparatus and a method for molding toy figures.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,598,358 to Clearwaters et al. and 4,215,843 to Gay et al. disclose toy molding apparatuses which include a toy mold having one or more open cavities in which one or more corresponding toy figures are molded. U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,668 to Burke discloses molding apparatus (apparently for use on a commercial or industrial level) which includes a mold having an open cavity in which a fishing lure figure is molded. The figures formed according to the above three patents are not fully contoured, three-dimensional figures in the sense that they are flat on one side.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,598 to Iguchi discloses a toy kit for molding toy figures which includes one or more mold sheets having open mold cavities therein for molding parts of a toy figure from plastic material. The parts molded in the cavities may be assembled into the toy figure using an adhesive or by softening the pieces. However, the use of an adhesive or softening the figure parts is inconvenient for young children, and reduces the play value of the kit for young children.
It is known on a commercial or industrial level to form fully contoured three-dimensional toy objects in one piece using casting molding apparatus, and to form three-dimensional toy figures from two molded, hollow figure halves that are joined together, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,682 to Lindberg, or with an adhesive or by welding the figure halves.

Mold for forming multi-sided, fully contoured, three-dimensional toy figures


A grilling apparatus having a grate and a collection basin. The grate is configured to support food items during a cooking operation and includes a first, second, third, and fourth support member. The collection basin is configured to support the grate during the cooking operation and includes a domed bottom surface having an apex substantially centered in the collection basin, and a first, second, third, and fourth diversion channel along the domed bottom surface, where each diversion channel is configured to channel substances that fall from the grate. The collection basin also includes a first, second, and third basin void passing through the domed bottom surface, where the first basin void is positioned between the first and the second diversion channel, the second basin void is positioned between the second and the third diversion channel, and the third basin void is positioned between the third and the fourth diversion channel.

It has become increasingly desirable to improve the overall system, design, and operation of indoor grills that can be utilized on cooktops, in ovens, or with other heat sources. Grilling can generate grease and other debris. When grilling indoors, such debris can fall to the heat source (e.g., a cooktop or oven) employed for grilling. Similarly, when grilling outdoors, such debris can fall to the kettle or basin that houses or provides the heat source. Cleaning these kettles, basins, or heat sources can be difficult or at least a nuisance. Further, when debris such as grease comes in contact with a heat source, flare-ups can make grilling problematic.
Accordingly, there is room for further improvements in this area.
With regard to the processes, systems, methods, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.


Disclosed herein are several apoplipoprotein E (ApoE) polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding these polypeptides, that can be used to treat or prevent a hepatitis infection in a subject, such as a hepatitis C virus infection. These ApoE polypeptides can inhibit the entry of hepatitis C virus into cells, and inhibit viral replication. Nucleic acids encoding these polypeptides are also disclosed, as well as methods for their preparation.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that primarily infects human hepatocytes and causes many chronic liver diseases. Unfortunately, there is no prophylactic vaccine currently available, and combination therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN)-α and ribavirin is only effective in 40-80% of patients and has severe side effects that results in poor patient compliance. Therefore, new antiviral drugs are urgently needed to treat HCV infection in combination with current therapies.
Research on HCV was revolutionized by the advent of the Japanese fulminant HCV strain (JFH-1) that can be cultivated in cell culture (HCVcc) and hence permits the study of the entire viral life cycle (see, for example, Lindenbach et al., Science 2005; 309:623-626). HCV entry requires at least four cellular membrane proteins, including CD81 (Pileri et al, Science 1998; 282:938-941), scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI)(Scarselli et al., Embo J 2002; 21:5017-5025), claudin-1 (CLDN1)(Evans et al., Nature 2007; 446:801-805), and occludin (OCLN) (Liu, J Virol 2009; 83:2011-2014; Ploss et al., Nature 2009; 457:882-886). Remarkably, another host factor, human apolipoprotein E (apoE), appears to be assembled into infectious virions and plays a crucial role in conferring virus infectivity (see, for example, Chang et al., J Virol 2007; 81:13783-13793). The 299-residue apoE is a main component of lipoproteins in plasma and participates in lipid transport via its ability to bind to multiple cell surface receptors, including low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (apoER2), very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), SR-BI, low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) (Bu, Nat Rev Neurosci 2009; 10:333-344), some of which have been implicated in HCV entry (reviewed in Popescu and Dubuisson, Biol Cell 2009; 102:63-74).
Disclosed herein are novel peptide inhibitors of HCV infection derived from human apoE that block HCV binding to cell surface.

Apolipoprotein E polypeptides and their use

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH—OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION


The present invention provides polypeptides comprising an immunogenic portion of a M. vaccae protein and DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides, together with methods for their use in the diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial infection. Methods for enhancing the immune response to an antigen including administration of M. vaccae culture filtrate or delipidated M. vaccae cells are also provided.

Tuberculosis is a chronic, infectious disease, that is caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). It is a major disease in developing countries, as well as an increasing problem in developed areas of the world, with about 8 million new cases and 3 million deaths each year. Although the infection may be asymptomatic for a considerable period of time, the disease is most commonly manifested as a chronic inflammation of the lungs, resulting in fever and respiratory symptoms. If left untreated, significant morbidity and death may result.
Although tuberculosis can generally be controlled using extended antibiotic therapy, such treatment is not sufficient to prevent the spread of the disease. Infected individuals may be asymptomatic, but contagious, for some time. In addition, although compliance with the treatment regimen is critical, patient behaviour is difficult to monitor. Some patients do not complete the course of treatment, which can lead to ineffective treatment and the development of drug resistant mycobacteria.
Inhibiting the spread of tuberculosis requires effective vaccination and accurate, early diagnosis of the disease. Currently, vaccination with live bacteria is the most efficient method for inducing protective immunity. The most common mycobacterium employed for this purpose is Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), an avirulent strain of Mycobacterium bovis. However, the safety and efficacy of BCG is a source of controversy and some countries, such as the United States, do not vaccinate the general public. Diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection is commonly achieved using a skin test, which involves intradermal exposure to tuberculin PPD (protein-purified derivative). Antigen-specific T cell responses result in measurable induration at the injection site by 48-72 hours after injection, thereby indicating exposure to mycobacterial antigens. Sensitivity and specificity have, however, been a problem with this test, and individuals vaccinated with BCG cannot be distinguished from infected individuals.
A less well-known mycobacterium that has been used for immunotherapy for tuberculosis, and also leprosy, is Mycobacterium vaccae, which is non-pathogenic in humans. However, there is less information on the efficacy of M. vaccae compared with BCG, and it has not been used widely to vaccinate the general public. M. bovis BCG and M. vaccae are believed to contain antigenic compounds that are recognised by the immune system of individuals exposed to infection with M. tuberculosis.
Several patents and other publications disclose treatment of various conditions by administering mycobacteria, including M. vaccae, or certain mycobacterial fractions. International Patent Publication WO 91/02542 discloses treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders in which a patient demonstrates an abnormally high release of IL-6 and/or TNF or in which the patient's IgG shows an abnormally high proportion of agalactosyl IgG. Among the disorders mentioned in this publication are psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, mycobacterial disease, Crohn's disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, primary diabetes mellitus, and some aspects of graft rejection. The therapeutic agent preferably comprises autoclaved M. vaccae administered by injection in a single dose.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,038 discloses diagnosis of, vaccination against and treatment of autoimmune diseases of various types, including arthritic diseases, by administering mycobacteria, including M. vaccae. U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,144 discloses an immunotherapeutic agent comprising antigenic material derived from M. vaccae for treatment of mycobacterial diseases, especially tuberculosis and leprosy, and as an adjuvant to chemotherapy. International Patent Publication WO 91/01751 discloses the use of antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material from M. vaccae as an immunoprophylactic to delay and/or prevent the onset of AIDS. International Patent Publication WO 94/06466 discloses the use of antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material derived from M. vaccae for therapy of HIV infection, with or without AIDS and with or without associated tuberculosis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,545 discloses the use of mycobacteria, especially whole, inactivated M. vaccae, as an adjuvant for administration with antigens which are not endogenous to M. vaccae. This publication theorises that the beneficial effect as an adjuvant may be due to heat shock protein 65 (hsp 65). International Patent Publication WO 92/08484 discloses the use of antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material derived from M. vaccae for the treatment of uveitis. International Patent Publication WO 93/16727 discloses the use of antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material derived from M. vaccae for the treatment of mental diseases associated with an autoimmune reaction initiated by an infection. International Patent Publication WO 95/26742 discloses the use of antigenic and/or immunoregulatory material derived from M. vaccae for delaying or preventing the growth or spread of tumors.
There remains a need in the art for effective compounds and methods for preventing, treating and detecting tuberculosis.

Compounds and methods for treatment and diagnosis of mycobacterial infections

Genesis Research and Development Corporation Limited


A furniture line featuring a table which is customizable and suited for confined and irregular spaces such as balconies, decks or outdoors which line can be easily assembled or disassembled essentially by hand and available affordably with a variety of selectable tops, shapes and applications. The table features a skeletal frame arrangement with universal top mounts, selectable curved tubular or rod like legs, at least one and preferably two hub couplers or tubular leg and pedestal base, and optional rotatable or slide on levelers for uneven surfaces. A method and system disclosed provides purchaser customization of the table and complementary ensembles.

The invention relates generally to furniture articles, particularly a line of tables and complementary ensembles that are ideally suited for use on small balconies, terraces, decks or walkways and confined or even irregular shaped areas. More specifically it relates to a furniture line that offers customizable furniture items such as table top shapes, sizes, heights and uses from selectable components while maintaining low cost affordability, ease of assembly and disassembly, essentially by hand, and even use of minimal tools and loose parts.
The furniture field is replete with table constructions for indoor and outdoor uses, and they are available limited as to aesthetics and/or functionality so that purchasers have to accept what is offered or available on the market. Accordingly, there has been numerous sacrifices that had to be made either as to aesthetics, functionality, ease of assembly, costs, or suitability for the intended purpose.
It will be appreciated that this background description is merely an overview to aid the reader, and it is not to be taken as reference to particular prior art, nor, as an indication that any of the deficiencies, disadvantages, or other problems pointed out were appreciated in the art or that they were satisfactorily resolved.

Furniture line and method and system for providing customization thereof


A method is disclosed for producing small crystal, high aluminum content zincoaluminosilicate crystalline materials having the SSZ-41 framework structure. The compositions made according to that method, as well as uses of the same, are also disclosed.

Molecular sieves are a commercially important class of materials that have distinct crystal structures with defined pore structures that are shown by distinct X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and have specific chemical compositions. The crystal structure defines cavities and pores that are characteristic of the specific type of molecular sieve.
Crystalline molecular sieve SSZ-41, and its conventional preparation using α,ω-di(N-methylpiperidine)polymethylene dicationic compounds and α,ω-di(1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane)polymethylene dicationic compounds as a structure directing agent, are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,421.
SSZ-41 materials are useful as catalysts in a variety of organic conversion reactions and, for such applications, it is found that activity and/or selectivity are generally improved when the molecular sieve product has a low silica-to-alumina molar ratio and a small crystal size. Unfortunately, however, aluminum can be a crystallization inhibitor with certain zeolites, including SSZ-41 materials, so that with most existing synthesis routes it is difficult to produce low silica-to-alumina molar ratio without significant production of impurity phases, particularly MTW framework type materials.
According to the present disclosure, it has been found that SSZ-41 can be produced at higher aluminum concentrations than previously exemplified. Moreover, the resultant product, composed of aggregates of small crystals of SSZ-41 with a low silica-to-alumina molar ratio is found to have improved activity and selectivity as an isomerization catalyst as compared to a catalyst prepared from conventional SSZ-41.

Small crystal SSZ-41, its synthesis and use