The invention provides anti-polyubiquitin antibodies and methods of using the same.

Ubiquitin is a small protein that has important regulatory roles in a wide variety of cellular pathways. Ubiquitin chains linked through the lysine at position 11 (K11) have been identified as important regulators of cell division (Jin et al., 2008; Kirkpatrick et al., 2006) and have been implicated in signaling degradation of ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C) substrates, an essential step in eukaryotic cell division (Jin et al., 2008; Williamson et al., 2009). The APC/C recruits two E2 enzymes, the ubiquitin chain-initiating UbcH10 and the chain elongating Ube2S, which assemble K11-linked chains with high specificity (Garnett et al., 2009; Williamson et al., 2009; Wu et al., 2010). Loss of this APC/C-specific E2 module leads to defects in mitotic progression (Williamson et al., 2009; Song and Rape, Molecular Cell in press). While these results suggest that K11-linked chains drive protein degradation by the proteasome during mitosis, characterization of ubiquitin chains assembled by the APC/C, UbcH10 and Ube2S has relied largely on in vitro experiments. Direct evidence of K11-linked polyubiquitin chains regulating protein degradation in cells has been lacking due to an absence of tools available to directly detect them.

Anti-polyubiquitin antibodies and methods of use


A computer-implemented method is disclosed which includes steps of: (A) receiving a memory dump request from a first operating system executing in a computer; and (B) at a program executing in the computer and not forming a part of the first operating system, copying contents of a memory of the computer to a persistent storage device in response to the memory dump request.

An operating system is a software program or collection of software programs that execute on a computer to provide a platform on which application programs can execute. Well-known examples of operating systems include the UNIX operating system (including variants such as the HP-UX® operating system), the Microsoft® Windows® family of operating systems, and the Apple® Mac OS® operating system. Because the operating system of a computer performs essential functions required for the proper operation of other software executing on the computer, the operating system must be as robust as possible. Despite the best efforts of operating system designers, however, an operating system may "crash" or experience other errors due to a defect in the operating system or some other problem. An operating system crash typically causes all other software on the computer to cease executing and requires the computer to be rebooted. Lesser errors may not require a reboot but may nonetheless cause other problems, such as the temporary inability to access a peripheral device.
It is desirable to identify the causes of operating system crashes and other errors so that any bugs in the operating system may be fixed, thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility of future errors. Typically, the first step in identifying the cause of an operating system error is for the computer to "dump" (copy) the contents of the computer's random access memory (RAM) to a storage device (such as a hard disk drive). For example, referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown of a conventional computer 100 including an operating system 102 and a hardware layer 108. The hardware layer 108 includes one or more processors 110, a memory 112, and one or more input/output (I/O) devices 114. The operating system 102 includes a dump module 106 for dumping the contents of memory 112 to one of the I/O devices 114 (such as a hard disk drive) upon detection of an operating system error. The contents of the memory dump may then be examined (automatically by a software program, manually by a programmer, or both) in an attempt to identify the cause of the error.
In conventional computer 100, the operating system 102 itself is responsible for performing a memory dump upon detection of an error. Because the operating system 102 has experienced an error, however, it may be in an unknown state which makes it unable to perform the memory dump correctly. Furthermore, the operating system 102, like many conventional operating systems, includes both conventional device drivers 104a and special "dump" device drivers 104b which are required for use by the dump module 106 during memory dumps due to the constraints imposed by the unknown state of the operating system 102. Programming such special device drivers 104b can be tedious and time-consuming. For example, such special device drivers 104b operate under constraints imposed by the unknown state of the operating system 102b, making them difficult to program and maintain. For example, the dump module 106 typically executes in a single thread. Furthermore, the driver's spinlocks may have been held at the time of the error, so device drivers 104b cannot assume that the I/O devices 114 are in a known state. The device drivers 104b which are used to perform memory dumps must be capable of operating under such restricted conditions.
Furthermore, conventional techniques for dumping memory impose constraints on the time at which memory dumping may be performed. For example, existing techniques cannot perform a memory dump very early in the process of loading the operating system 102 because the necessary I/O drivers 104b have not yet been loaded. Such techniques cannot, therefore, be used to perform a memory dump if an error occurs, or if a dump is desired for some other reason, before the necessary I/O drivers 104b have been loaded.
As the amount of memory in a single computer continues to increase, the amount of time required to dump such memory to a storage device continues to increase. Furthermore, the techniques that currently are used to perform memory dumps impose constraints that limit the speed at which the contents of memory may be dumped.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention comprises an insulated container having a liner fitted therein. The liner is removable, reusable, and washable. The insulated container also has an insulated partition defining a pair of thermally isolated compartments to maintain different temperatures in each compartment. To secure the liner in place, a latch is provided, and to vent trapped air, the liner includes a channel. The liner is also configured to shed water when inverted in a washing machine so that the liner can be easily sterilized. An additional unique feature of this invention is that the liner also includes coupling cavities configured to accept various bottles and cans to prevent the bottle or can from tipping over inside the insulated container.

1. Field
The present invention generally relates to storage containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to insulated storage containers.
2. Background
Insulated storage containers are well known in the art and are commonly used to isolate their contents from the external environment. To cool the contents of the container, ice or a sealed gel refrigerant may be used to suppress the internal temperature of the container below ambient temperature. Alternatively, a sealed gel heat pack may be used to elevate the internal temperature of the container above ambient. Sportsmen, campers, picnickers, and mothers of newborns have found insulated containers to be particularly useful when electrically powered refrigerators and food warmers are unavailable.
Several attempts have been made to enhance the functionality of insulated containers. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,544 describes a bait storage cooler and tackle holder used to store bait and food. This insulated container has a lower portion that is divided into two compartments by a non-insulated wall and includes a lid having recesses to receive and support beverage cans. The non-insulated wall permits the two compartments to be maintained at a similar temperature while preventing intermingling of the contents. For instance, bait in one compartment can be separated from food contained in the other compartment.
Separating the contents of the two compartments may be desirable in some applications to maintain the two compartments at approximately the same temperature. However, this device is not well suited for insulating the two compartments relative to one another where it is desirable to maintain the two compartments at different temperatures. An insulated container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the '544 patent would facilitate thermal homeostasis rather than prevent it.
Another drawback of the container described in the '544 patent is that it is often difficult to clean. Typically, the size of insulated containers render them difficult to wash and incapable of being placed within a standard dishwasher or household sink for easy cleaning. Many users find it necessary to clean such coolers outside with a garden hose. Aside from being a laborious task, cleaning the container outdoors with a garden hose substantially limits the degree of cleaning possible. Outdoors debris and contaminants may find their way into the container when cleaning in this manner. This may be particularly undesirable where maintaining a sanitary environment is critical. The device described in the '544 patent also does nothing to securely fasten beverage containers such as bottles or cans in an upright orientation. Accordingly, these beverage containers would be free to tip over and leak if the insulated container happens to be jarred or tipped over.
Another attempt to advance the art of insulated containers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,467. This patent discloses a disposable cooler liner made from a flexible, impermeable material provided with an adhesive to attach the liner within the chest. The liner includes thin inner walls to provide separate compartments such that the contents may be separated from one another while maintaining each compartment at approximately the same temperature.
Once again, this device does not thermally isolate the separate compartments. Additionally, the use of a flexible impermeable liner allows for easy removal and disposal, but frustrates the user's ability to easily clean and reuse the liner. If the user desires to wash the flexible liner in a dish washer it would be difficult to keep the liner open so that it can be fully cleaned. This would present a substantial problem in applications where maintaining a sanitary environment is critical. Moreover, once the liner has been removed and cleaned the adhesive is likely to be compromised.
One application in which insulated storage containers are utilized is by mothers of newborn babies. Often when they leave home for an extended period of time it is desirable to bring along milk, juice or formula for the baby. In such applications the mother may desire to refrigerate some bottles to prevent the contents from souring. However, the mother may also wish to simultaneously warm some of the other bottles so that the contents of the bottle are approximately body temperature for feeding. If the above noted devices were utilized the insulated container would be incapable of simultaneously refrigerating some of the bottles while warming the other bottles. Additionally, the bottles would be permitted to tip over and, as is common with baby bottles fitted with nipples, the bottle could spill its contents within the container. Babies have underdeveloped immune systems; therefore, it is critical to be able to sterilize items which are commonly used to care for the baby. If the above noted containers were utilized by a mother, it would difficult to efficiently sterilize the container thus unnecessarily risking the health of the baby.

Insulated storage container having a removable liner


The mould comprises a punch (10) having an outer surface (11′) arranged to engage the container tubular body (51) as an exact fit, and an end portion (13) projecting axially from the lower end of the cylindrical outer surface (11 ′), and a die (30) arranged to form, in combination with the lower surface (13′) of the punch, a cavity (F) for forming the headpiece (52) of the container; the die (30) has a concave surface (32′) arranged to receive as an exact fit, by axial penetration, the lower end of the cylindrical outer surface (11′) of the punch together with the lower end of the tubular body (51) of the container. The headpiece (52) is formed within the forming cavity (F). According to the invention, the punch (10′) comprises a radial deformation means (22, 25, 62, 65), positioned on its outer surface (11′) and extending annularly along the entire circumference of this surface to act on the tubular body (51) of the container, and is arranged to assume a normal position in which its outer surface does not project radially from the cylindrical outer surface (11′) of the punch, and an active position in which it is urged in a centrifugal direction in such a manner as to press the tubular body (51) against the opposing surface of the die, means being provided to urge the radial deformation means (22, 25, 62, 65) in the centrifugal direction during the forming of the container headpiece (52).

For this purpose, moulds are known comprising a punch having a lower end portion which penetrates into the cavity of a lowerly positioned die to define, in combination with this latter, a cavity for forming the container headpiece; the punch possesses a cylindrical outer surface arranged to exactly engage the tubular body of the container, the lower end of which is positioned adjacent to the edge of the forming cavity and penetrates through the cylindrical surface of the die as an exact fit, to couple the punch to the die.
The container headpiece is formed within the forming cavity and is hot-bonded under pressure to the lower end of the tubular body, typically by making the punch and die approach each other axially after inserting a plastic blank into the forming cavity; alternatively, this can be done by injecting fluidized plastic into the forming cavity while in the static configuration.
In this manner a tubular container is produced composed of the tubular body and the headpiece, which usually possesses a threaded mouth through which the container contents are extracted.
The mouth of the forming cavity is closed by the lower end portion of the cylindrical surface of the punch, which penetrates axially as an exact fit, together with the lower end of the tubular body, within the cylindrical concave surface of the die. As the pressure in the forming cavity is very high during the forming process, said mutually engaging cylindrical surfaces of the punch and die (with the tubular body interposed) must mate with very little gap therebetween, in particular to prevent upward seepage of the plastic material, which would result in undesirable filament-like protuberances projecting into the container chamber.
Because of this, the insertion of the punch into the die during the mutual axial approach stage is a delicate and critical operation which consequently requires a relatively lengthy time and particular care; moreover the risk of said undesirable filament-like protuberances forming cannot be eliminated in practice.
The applicant is aware of a mould for forming the top of deformable tubular plastic containers comprising a tubular body and a headpiece of plastic material bonded to one end of the tubular body.
The mould comprises a punch having an outer surface arranged to engage the container tubular body as an exact fit, and an end portion projecting axially from the lower end of the cylindrical outer surface).
A die is arranged to form, in combination with the lower surface of the punch, a cavity (F) for forming the headpiece of the container.
Said die has a concave surface arranged to receive as an exact fit, by axial penetration, the lower end of the cylindrical outer surface of the punch together with the lower end of the tubular body of the container.
The headpiece is formed within the forming cavity (F) and is pressure-bonded therein to the lower end of the tubular body by a radial deformation means of the punch, positioned on its outer surface and extending annularly along the entire circumference of this surface to act on the tubular body of the container, said means being arranged to assume a normal position in which its outer surface does not project radially from the cylindrical outer surface of the punch, and an active position in which it is urged in a radial direction in such a manner as to press the tubular body (51) against the opposing surface of the die.
The above features are partially disclosed by EP-A-0810073, but are not suitable to overcome the above said drawbacks.
An object of this invention is to provide a mould able to overcome said drawbacks.

Mould for forming the headpiece of deformable tubular plastic containers

Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Soc. Coop. A.R.L.


A novel chordin-like polypeptide is found out in a protein secreted from mesenchymal stem cells. This polypeptide is useful as a cancer marker and a remedy for parotid cancer, lung cancer, esophagus cancer, gastric cancer, duodenal carcinoma, kidney cancer, ureteral cancer, testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, leukemia, intestinal cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, biliary cancer or thyroid cancer cells, etc. Moreover, it is found out that the above polypeptide has an activity of modulating bone differentiation. Thus, this polypeptide is also useful as a bone disease marker and a remedy for bone diseases such as arthritis deformans, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

Osteogenesis, a phenomenon of bone regeneration by osteoblasts, is important in maintaining vertebrate organisms. Many factors involved in osteogenesis are known, such as hormones, such as estrogen, calcitonine and parathyroid hormone (PHT), growth factors, such as osteogenetic factor (BMP: Bone Morphogenetic Protein), and medicines, such as activated vitamin D, a calcium drug, and vitamin K. BMP, a group of diffusible factors belonging to the TGF-β family, has been reported to include about 20 kinds of genes (Molecular Medicine, 37, 634 (2000)). Among them, BMP-2 and BMP-4 have been reported by many to possess a modulatory activity of bone differentiation. On the other hand, BMP, expected as a novel remedy for bone-related diseases, is the only cytokine possessing an activity as a signal of ectopic formation. BMP is thought to be useful for osteogenesis (endochondral ossification), which takes place in a repair reaction at a bone fracture or a bone defect, and which is caused by displacement of chondroid by neonatal bone (Developmental Biology, 174, 448 (1996). Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 9(5), 651 (1994)). It has also been reported that mesenchymal stem cells have pluripotency and can differentiate to adipocytes, cartilage cells or osteoblasts, depending on the culture condition (Science, 284, 143 (1999)) and that the bone differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is induced by BMP-2 (Journal of Cell Biology, 113, 681 (1991)). Thus, BMP, which induces bone differentiation, is thought to be associated with osteogenesis-related diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. Actually, gene therapy using BMP has been attempted (Molecular Medicine, 37, 709 (2000)). However, the mechanisms of action of BMP in these diseases have not been analyzed in detail, although a solution is desired.
BMP has been found to induce differentiation from a fibroblast to an osteoblast via the receptor, by using an alkaline phosphatase activity as an indicator (Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 172, 295 (1990)). Further, it has been found that the activity of BMP is suppressed by chordin, a protein secreted by Spemann organizer tissue (Nature, 382, 595 (1996)) and that chordin does not bind to the BMP receptor, but directly binds to BMP and acts as an antagonist (Cell, 86, 589 (1996)). Recently, chordin has been determined to have four repeated structures (CR1 to CR4) which have a signal peptide at the amino terminal end and contain an abundance of Cysteine and bind to BMP via the characteristic structure (motif) (Development, 127, 821 (2000)). And, Kielin has been reported to be a secreted protein having a high homology with chordin (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(10), 5291-5296 (2000)). At present, chordin-like proteins other than Kielin are suggested to exist. But, the reality is not clear and the discovery of novel proteins has been sought for the analysis of the mechanism of action of BMP.
On the other hand, cancer may be present in most tissues of the body. Many oncogenes, cancer target genes, and anti-oncogenes have been discovered, and mechanisms of human carcinogenesis are continuing to being discovered on a specified gene level. However, mechanisms of carcinogenesis have not been completely clarified. There is a possibility of unknown genes being involved therein. For example, causative genes have not yet been identified in parotid cancer, esophagus cancer, duodenal carcinoma, ureteral cancer, testicle cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, intestinal cancer, rectal cancer, biliary cancer and thyroid cancer. An identification of novel genes concerning pathogenesis of cancer and diagnostic methods using the gene have been desired for these diseases. Since cancer cells commonly proliferate in a dedifferentiated state, there are many trials that use factors and pharmaceutical compositions for modulating differentiation of carcinoma cells as anticancer agents. However, such trials can not suppress all cancers. Thus, novel factors and pharmaceutical compositions possessing activity of modulating differentiation are desired.


A tapered, nonconductive structure (10) having a hollow core (18) and a conical tip (14) includes a metal wire (16) within the core (18). The wire (16) is sealed within, and is exposed at the end (22) of, the tip (14). An electrically conductive or semiconductive layer (24) on the exterior of the tip (14) form a point thermocouple contact with the wire. The tip (14) may be fabricated, for example, by placing a metal wire (16) within a tube (12), and heating and pulling the tube (12) to produce two tapered micropipettes. Thereafter, a thin metal or semiconductor film (24) is evaporated onto the outer surface.

The measurements of spatially localized rapid temperature changes are required in studies of many physical and biological processes and objects. These can include such diverse subjects as turbulent flows, changes associated with processes of explosion and combustion, microtemperature measurements in biology at the cellular and subcellular level and microtemperature measurements in evolving chemical reactions. For all these applications a microthermocouple is the most convenient detector.
In recent publications, fast microthermocouples have been described with response times of milliseconds and spatial resolutions of from hundreds [L. J. Forney, E. L. Meeks, J. Ma, and G. C. Fralick, Rev.Sci.Instrum. 64, 1280 (1993)] to tens [P. Beckman, R. P. Roy, K. Whitfield, and A. Hasan, Rev.Sci.Instrum. 64, 2947 (1993)] of micrometers. Such microthermocouples may also be used as point radiation microdetectors in a range of wavelengths from the UW to the IR.
In addition to the above Pendley and Abruna [B. D. Pendley and H. Dl Abruna, Anal. Chem. 62, 782 (1990)] have considered the problem of microelectrodes for microchemical measurements and achieved outer diameters of a few microns under non-reproducible conditions. In addition, micromagnetic measurements are made using magnetic wires that are electropolished in which it is difficult to construct such tips [K. Sueoka, F. Sai, K. Parker and J. Arnolddussen, J. Vac.Sci. and Tech. B12, 1618 (1994)]. Furthermore, there is great interest in making microtip field emission tips [C. A. Spindt, et al. J. Appl.Phys. 47, 5248 (1976)] but there is an active interest in new methodologies for making such tips with better characteristics.

Tapered structure suitable for microthermocouples microelectrodes, field emission tips and micromagnetic sensors with force sensing capabilities


A platen plate for supporting an ejection object for liquid droplets ejected from each nozzle on the bottom surface of a liquid ejection head can secure the flatness of the ejection object so as to appropriately eject ink as well as can prevent the contamination of the bottom surface of the ejection object. The platen plate is provided with a plurality of ribs raised from its bottom surface so as to extend in a conveying direction of a recording sheet and arranged at predetermined intervals in a width wise direction of the recording sheet, and out of a region where ink droplets ejected from the each nozzle are landed, the bottom surface of the recording sheet is supported with top faces of the ribs so as to define a distance between the recording sheet and the ink ejection surface, and within the region where ink droplets ejected from the each nozzle are landed, the rib top faces are formed to have a height, or the ribs themselves do not exist, so that the rib top faces are not brought into contact with the bottom surface of the recording sheet.

Recording apparatuses, such as an inkjet printer, have been known as a liquid ejection apparatus in that liquid in a liquid chamber of a liquid ejection head is heated and ejected through a liquid ejection nozzle. In such an inkjet printer, ink droplets are ejected from respective nozzles arranged on an ink ejection surface on the bottom surface of a print head so as to form printed images, and a platen plate is arranged at a position opposing the ink ejection surface of the print head.
The platen plate defines the distance between the ink ejection surface and a recording sheet as an ejection object, which is conveyed by conveying means built in the inkjet printer, by supporting the recording sheet from the backside. The plate-like platen plate has a plurality of ribs (platen ribs) formed on the top surface at predetermined intervals in the width wise direction of the recording sheet so as to extend in the conveying direction of the recording sheet. In the inkjet printer having such a platen plate, the recording sheet supported with top faces of the ribs has been conveyed by the conveying means and printed by ejecting ink on the surface of the recording sheet from each nozzle.
However, in such an inkjet printer, when vertical and horizontal white spaces on a recording sheet are eliminated so as to perform so-called rimless printing or when a recording sheet smaller in size than that in established-size is used in mistake, excessive ink droplets are ejected across the periphery of the recording sheet, ink may attach the ribs of the platen plate so as to contaminate the plate, so that the ink attached on the platen ribs may contaminate the bottom surface of the recording sheet. Thus, for avoiding the contamination of the recording sheet bottom surface, it is necessary for the ribs of the platen plate not to have ink droplets attached thereon, so that a platen plate of such kind having a recess (ink receiver) formed on a region where ink droplets are attached for receiving ejected ink droplets has been known (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-118058 (P 3 to 4, FIGS. 2 and 3, or Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-86821 (P 4 to 5, FIGS. 1 and 2), for example).
However, techniques disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-118058 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-86821 are applied to an inkjet printer having a so-called serial type print head, and they have been difficult to be applied to a printer having a line-type print head in that a number of nozzle rows are arranged over the entire width of a recording sheet. That is, in the printer having the serial type print head, ink droplets are ejected from each nozzle while the recording sheet is reciprocating in the width wise direction so as to form images on one region in a state that the recording sheet is stopped, and then, the recording sheet is conveyed in the conveying direction so as to form images on the next region after being stopped, so that the flatness of the recording sheet arranged under the ink ejection surface is no problem.
Whereas, in the printer having the line-type print head, while the recording sheet is conveyed, ink droplets are ejected from respective nozzles arranged in the width wise direction of the recording sheet so as to form images, so that in a state that the recording sheet conveyed under the ink ejection surface is not flatly supported, images may not be appropriately formed. In particular, in the case of a print head having ejection direction deflecting means for controlling to change the ejection direction of the ink droplets from each nozzle, the landing position of the ink droplet is deflected in the width wise direction of the recording sheet, so that the flatness of the recording sheet conveyed under the ink ejection surface needs to be secured.

Platen plate and liquid discharging device


The DRAW type optical recording medium which can record optical information by forming information pits in the recording layer by irradiation of an energy beam such as laser beam, and yet can reproduce the information immediately after writing without requiring any step of developing processing after writing of information. The optical recording medium includes a recording layer (3) for forming information pits through the occurrence of physical deformation by irradiation of an energy beam and a sensitizing layer (4) for augmenting the physical deformation in the recording layer (3) laminated on a support (2). By the presence of the sensitizing layer, recording sensitivity is improved and also stability of the medium with lapse of time becomes excellent. Further, due to the presence of the sensitizing layer, the optical recording medium can be a sealed structure and therefore the optical recording medium is lightweight and flexible, and can be made in various forms such as card, sheet, a flexible sheet, and the like.

In the prior art, as a high density optical recording medium, there have been known two methods, namely the method in which a metal, a semi-metal or an organic compound is melted or evaporated by a highly converged recording light such as a laser beam to form a concave portion or a pit portion, and the method in which discrimination pits are formed by a transfer between two thermodynamically semi-stable states such as crystalline and non-crystalline states.
These optical recording methods provide optical recording materials and tracking patterns for following an optical beam on generally rigid glass discs or plastic discs, and the medium recorded according to this method has been generally known as a medium shaped in optical recording disc. Such medium shaped in optical recording disc, while having the advantages of high dimensional precision and high mechanical strength, has on the other hand problems that the driving device becomes greater in scale, and also the medium as well as the device are expensive for the reasons such that the weight and the thickness become greater. Accordingly, such medium has not yet been generally prevailed widely. For an optical recording medium capable of high density recording to be generally prevailed widely, in addition to the medium shaped in optical recording disc of the prior art, advent of an optical recording medium which is lightweight, compact and yet inexpensive such as a medium shaped in optical record flexible disc, a medium shaped in optical recording card, a medium shaped in optical recording tape, a medium shaped in optical recording sheet has been awaited.
Of the two high density optical recording methods as described above, the first method must form a concave portion or a pit portion during recording. For this purpose, the substance must be taken away by melting or evaporation, whereby the mass transfer during recording becomes unavoidably great. Therefore, for making the recording sensitivity sufficiently large, it has been frequently practiced to make substance transfer readily occur by having the recording portion of the optical recording material exposed to the air. However, in this case, the optical recording material may be oxidized by the influence of the moisture in the air to cause deterioration, or foreign matter may be collided against the optical recording material, whereby there is a danger that an accident may occur such that the optical recording material may be mechanically destroyed. For this reason, there is employed a structure in which the optical recording material is sealed with a gap interposed therebetween. However, in a medium structure having such vacant space, both weight and thickness are increased, whereby it is difficult to give a diversity of shapes such as flexible disc, card, tape, sheet, etc.
On the other hand, the second method, namely the method in which transfer between the thermodynamically semi-stable states is utilized, due to small substance transfer during recording, the optical recording material is not required to be exposed to the air, but sealing is possible without provision of a gap. Therefore, according to the recording method by such transfer, it can correspond to a diversity of shapes of medium. In the prior art, as the material to be used for such transfer, crystalline--non-crystalline phase transfer materials such as TeO.sub.x, As-Te-Ge have been known. However, the phase transfer materials of the prior art tend to be remarkably unstabilized with lapse of time, and also the optical characteristic change amount between crystal and non-crystal is smaller as compared with the above pit portion formation, whereby it is not necessarily satisfactory with respect to precision of recording and reproduction.


An interface for managing incremental data storage includes a write function that appends an entry to an incremental log, a read function that retrieves a most recent log entry corresponding to a block address, and a snapshot function that automatically partitions the incremental log into an additional volume. The interface may also include a policy assignment function that associates specified policies with explicitly or implicitly specified resources, a read entry function that retrieves sequential entries from the incremental log, and a compact volume function. The provided functions and associated apparatus, method, and system, facilitate management of incremental data including snapshot, remote copy, data compaction, policy management, data restoration, and other operations on data storage devices and systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to interfaces, methods, apparatus, and systems for storing data. Specifically, the invention relates to interfaces, methods, apparatus, and systems for managing incremental data storage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data storage devices and systems are subject to equipment failures, software bugs, operational errors, and disasters that prevent immediate or long term access to valuable data. Additionally, data storage systems often support environments and applications that require storage reliability and availability that is greater than what is inherently provided by individual storage devices. As a result, many techniques and strategies have been applied to data storage devices and systems in order to increase the reliability and availability of data access. Some of those techniques include storage redundancy, data archiving, and remote copy techniques.
Storage redundancy techniques improve reliability by storing redundant images on multiple devices. Data mirroring, in which data is written to two or more devices in parallel, is perhaps the simplest redundancy technique. Although expensive in terms of storage usage, data mirroring facilitates increased performance in that read operations may be distributed to each parallel device to increase storage throughput. However, storage redundancy techniques, although useful, do not address the need for access to previous copies of data files or images within a data storage system.
Data archiving techniques were developed in response to the need to access previous copies of data files or images within data storage systems. With data archiving techniques, data files or images are copied to backup devices and maintained for subsequent use. Backup devices typically comprise slower media that must be carefully managed to successfully restore a file or image to a previous state. To reduce the bandwidth associated with archiving data, incremental techniques are often applied in which only the changes to a file or image are stored on the archive media. Incremental techniques while useful, may increase the complexity of restoring data files or images within data storage systems.
Remote copy techniques are a particular form of data archiving in which data is copied to a remote site either via physical media or transmission links. The availability of a remote copy facilitates recovery operations in the event of a local disaster such as a fire or flood. However, providing complete and constant data availability requires transmission of each write operation to the remote site resulting in high bandwidth requirements for the transmission link.
The aforementioned techniques and strategies are often implemented as host-based solutions requiring considerable planning, administration, and coordination for reliable deployment. Typically, multiple techniques and strategies must be deployed and managed to fit the needs of a particular installation. Such solutions are typically expensive to implement, reduce system performance, and may not provide adequate data availability and reliability.
Consequently, a need for an integrated approach to increasing data availability and reliability that is inexpensive to deploy, easy to manage, and transparent to system performance. In particular, what is needed are interfaces, methods, apparatus, and systems for providing and managing incremental data storage in a manner that supports policy management, data redundancy, and compacted remote copy operations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Incremental data storage method, apparatus, interface, and system

International Business Machines Corporation


A timing generator comprising a programmable program memory that is arranged to comprise program instructions for controlling the generation of timing signals, a timing generator controller for processing the program instructions from the program memory, and an output timing signal controller. The output timing signal controller is connected to the timing generator controller for reception of control data and a timing signal specification that determine the appearance of said timing signals. The output timing signal controller is arranged to provide a plurality of output timing signals. The timing generator controller includes a decoder for decoding program instructions from the memory. An imaging device comprising an image sensor, an analogue image processor, an analogue to digital (A/D) converter, and a timing generator, according to the description given above, providing timing signals to the image sensor, the analogue image processor and the A/D converter.

The technical field of electronic imaging is evolving fast and there are a lot of different manufacturers producing components and systems for electronic imaging.
The imaging systems, and especially the image sensor, require intricate timing signals in order to operate. Further, the required signals varies in both function and appearance between different systems and between different implementations of specific components.
The timing signals are generated by means of a timing generator. Often the timing generators are implemented as complex state machines that are designed to provide timing signals to a specific imaging system implemented by means of a specific set of components. Thus, a new timing generator has to be manufactured for every new imaging system and every time a component in an existing imaging system is exchanged for another one of said component. To design and produce a new timing generator every time a signal has to be added or altered is time-consuming and expensive.
In order to overcome the above mentioned problem some more or less programmable timing generators have been developed.
In the international application WO 01/15436 A1 there is described a timing generator that generates waveforms based on a waveform control word stored in a single static random access memory (SRAM). Additionally, the timing generator includes a line control unit for generating a lower level waveform, a frame control unit and an arbitrator. The arbitrator controls the distribution of waveform control words to the line control unit and the frame control unit. The control of the arbitrator is based on signals provided from the line control unit and the frame control unit, respectively. Said signals being a signal from the frame control unit regarding an ended frame cycle and signals from the line control unit regarding an ended cycle or a reception of the next line type. Basically, the system generates a signal in accordance with a waveform control word including the level of each timing signal and a value indicating the number of cycles this word defines the levels of the timing signals. When the indicated number of cycles has been processed the waveform control word in the following address is passed to the control unit for defining the timing signals.
The timing generator above is more flexible than a prior art state machine. However, in some situations said timing generator may require a lot of memory and much effort may be required for setting the waveform control words.

Timing generator system for outputting clock signals to components of an imaging system according to decoded timing control instructions


A slim-type fan structure includes a stator (1) and a fan blade (2). The stator includes a circuit board (11) and a plurality of layout circuits (12) disposed to circumference the circuit board (11). The stator (1) includes an axial center (10) at a center portion thereof. The fan blade (2) includes a blade wheel (20), an axial sleeve (21) at a center of the blade wheel (20) and extended axially therefrom, a plurality of blades (22) formed to circumference an outer of the blade wheel (20), and a magnetic unit (23) disposed on the blade wheel (20). Also, the axial sleeve (21) is pivotally attached to the axial center (10). Accordingly, the magnetic unit (23) is formed by a plurality of N and S pole areas (230), (231) arranged alternatively in circular rows and corresponding to the layout circuits (12) along a vertical direction for the slim design.

Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a heat dissipating fan, in particular, to a slim-type fan structure.
Description of Related Art
As the technology of the computer industry advances, fans have become one of the essential components for heat dissipation in the computer nowadays. These fans are able to not only satisfy the needs for heat dissipation but also configured to cope with the lighter and slimmer designs of computers or 3C products in order to overcome the limitations on the available space and the dimensional requirements as well as the considerations on the reduction of the weight for lighter products.
However, currently, a typical heat dissipating fan must include a stator and a rotator; wherein the rotator refers to the fan blade of the fan, and for a conventional fan blade, it includes at least one blade wheel and a plurality of blades arranged at the outer perimeter of the blade wheel. In addition, a magnetic unit is disposed inside the blade wheel in order to perform an electromagnetic induction with the stator. Furthermore, the center of the blade wheel further includes an axial center or an axial sleeve provided for a pivotal arrangement thereon. Therefore, obviously, such known fan blade is not simplified in its structure nor configured to be slim in the structure; as a result, it is an assembly structure that requires each component part to be assembled with each other. Moreover, since each component part needs to be made of a heavier material, the overall structure is not slim in its dimension nor is light in weight, which may even require more assembly procedures and may involve greater costs during the manufacturing thereof. Therefore, there is a need for an improvement.
In view of the above, the inventor seeks to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the currently existing technique and provides an improvement after years of research and development along with the use of academic principles in light of solving the aforementioned problems.


An integrated crashpad is provided. The integrate crashpad includes an integrally formed crashpad base that is indented on a passenger-facing front surface thereof toward the front of a vehicle, an accommodation space with a front airbag that is disposed therein, and a front airbag door that is integrally formed with the crashpad base. The front airbag door opens based on a first bent portion that is indented on the front surface of the crashpad base as a score line and is coupled to a second bent portion on the front surface to define the accommodation space. A reinforcement sheet is inserted into the crashpad base and the front airbag door to connect the crashpad base and the front airbag door based on the score line. The reinforcement sheet prevents separation of the front airbag door from the crashpad base along the score line when the front airbag is inflated.

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an integrated crashpad and more particularly, to an integrated crashpad that has an accommodation space with a front airbag disposed therein. In particular, a crashpad base and a front airbag door are integrally formed and a reinforcement sheet is disposed in a score line portion of the front airbag door to prevent separation of the front airbag door from the crashpad base along a score line when the front airbag is inflated.
Description of the Related Art
Generally, as shown in FIG. 1, an existing crashpad includes an integrated front airbag door chute 1; a front airbag housing formed from a steel material 2 and a crashpad core 3 with each component being separated from each other. In particular, when a front airbag 4 is inflated, a backward movement force damages a connected portion that connects the front airbag housing 2 and the integrated front airbag door chute 1 to each other and the front airbag 4 is damaged.
Furthermore, when a gap is formed in a connected portion and resin foams due to a lack of connection rigidity, deformation is caused by foaming pressure or resin leaks to the gap. Accordingly, the inflation performance of the front airbag 4 decreases or a manufacturing defect occurs.
The above information disclosed in this section is merely to aid in the understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Integrated crashpad and manufacturing method of the same


A timing system (100) for coordinating the components of a distributed digital cross-connect system (10) is provided. The timing system (100) includes a master timing system (102) that receives a network timing reference (98, 99) and generates a master timing signal. A distributed services node timing system (104, 106) is connected to the master timing system (102) and receives the master timing signal. The distributed services node timing system (104, 106) then embeds a timing signal in a data transmission frame (150). Two or more digital cross-connect timing systems (108) are connected to the distributed services node timing system (104, 106) and receive the data transmission frame (150). The digital cross-connect timing systems (108) retrieve the embedded timing signal from the data transmission frame (150).

Telecommunication systems are operable to connect two or more telecommunications ports through a variety of data transmission media. For example, a first telecommunications port may be coupled to a microwave data transmission medium, which may in turn be coupled to a copper conductor data transmission medium, then to a fiber optic data transmission medium, and subsequently to a second telecommunications port. In this example, telecommunications data is transmitted through a telecommunications channel between the first telecommunications port and the second telecommunications port via the microwave data transmission medium, the copper conductor data transmission medium, and the fiber optic data transmission medium.
Modern telecommunication systems are typically comprised of a large number of telecommunications ports connected to a large number of data transmission media. These media may utilize large signal frequency bandwidths, such that two or more telecommunications channels may be combined for transmission over the data transmission media by multiplexing. In order to connect any given port to any other given port, it is necessary to utilize specialized telecommunication switches, which are used to connect the data transmission media. Such telecommunication switches are capable of connecting any of a large number (M) of input ports to any of a large number (N) of output ports, with a different data transmission medium connected to each input and output port. Furthermore, these switches may be capable of demultiplexing the signal carried over a given media in order to provide switching capability for multiplexed telecommunications channels.
A digital cross-connect system is a specialized telecommunications switch that provides improved flexibility in switching services. An example of a modern digital cross-connect system is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,890 to Read et al entitled "Integrated Multi-rate Cross-Connect System," assigned to DSC Communications Corporation, issued Jul. 25, 1995 (hereinafter "Read"). In addition to a telecommunications switch operable to connect any of M input ports to any of N output ports, the digital cross-connect system taught in Read contains redundant parallel planes of all components, such that the digital cross-connect system can experience a number of failures in the components that comprise both planes without loss of network traffic.
Despite the additional flexibility inherent in digital cross-connect systems, connection of data transmission media to the digital cross-connect system input ports and output ports must be coordinated in order to optimize telecommunications traffic flow. For example, it may be desirable to transmit telecommunications traffic from an input port of a first digital cross-connect system to an output port of a second digital cross-connect system. While this connection may be accomplished by providing connections between an output port of the first digital cross-connect system and an input port of the second digital cross-connect system, such connections consume digital cross-connect system resources, i.e., input ports and output ports.
Furthermore, if two or more separate and discrete digital cross-connect systems are being used to route telecommunications traffic, a significant amount of digital cross-connect system resources must be used to interconnect the digital cross-connect systems. In many cases, it is desirable to use two or more physically separated digital cross connects, such as when a small number of telephony circuits are connected to network interfaces, but to later increase the number of digital cross connects and, subsequently, the number of connections between digital cross connects, such as when the number of telephony circuits connected to network interfaces has increased. Presently available digital cross connect systems do not readily accommodate such increases in the number of network interfaces, and require network interfaces to be remapped in order to decrease the number of connections which must be made between digital cross connect systems.

System and method for controlling timing in a distributed digital cross-connect system


A thermal distribution detecting unit detects a thermal distribution state on a surface of an electronic device. An emission control unit identifies a position to be cooled in accordance with the thermal distribution state detected. A nozzle selecting unit selects a cooling nozzle corresponding to the position. An emission time computing unit computes a coolant emission time and timing for the cooling nozzle. Upon reception of an instruction from the emission control unit, a drive unit drives a nozzle unit, thereby allowing a jet of coolant to impinge upon the electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for cooling electronic devices, and more particularly to a technique for applying the principle of jet heat transfer in cooling the surface of electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, various types of electronic devices, such as CPUs (Central Processing Unit) for controlling electronic products or DSPs (Digital Signal Processor), are made up of various electronic components including active elements such as transistors or passive elements such as capacitors. These electronic components are driven by electric energy, part of which is converted into heat energy to be dissipated. Since the performance of the electronic components typically depends on the temperature, this dissipated heat has adverse effects on the performance of the electronic components and thus on the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device cooling technology is extremely critical to providing proper control to electronic devices.
As an example of cooling techniques, there is available a cooling method using an electric fan. In this method, the electric fan is situated opposite to a surface of an electronic device. The electric fan allows cooler air introduced through an air inlet to impinge on the surface of the electronic device. The air heated by absorbing heat generated on the surface of the electronic device is exhausted through an air exhaust outlet. In this manner, heat generated on the surface of the electronic device is removed by the electric fan, thereby cooling the electronic device.
As another example, there is also available a method of cooling electronic devices using cooling water. In this method, the surface of the electronic device is covered with a water-proof case so that cooling water passes the surface of the electronic device. The cooling water heated by absorbing heat generated on the surface of the electronic device is drained through a cooling water drain outlet. In this manner, heat generated on the surface of the electronic device is absorbed by the cooling water, thereby cooling the electronic device (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-026555 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-221529)
Recent electronic devices tend to increasingly produce larger amounts of heat due to their higher-speed operations, further improved functions, and higher packaging densities. This tendency is now overwhelming the conventional cooling methods that employ air or liquid, making it more difficult to sufficiently cool those electronic devices.
From a macroscopic point of view, the aforementioned conventional cooling methods focus on how to remove heat generated on the surface of electronic devices. However, from a microscopic viewpoint, heat is not uniformly produced on the surface of an electronic device. In general, the electronic components constituting an electronic device are grouped in modules for particular functions. Accordingly, the distribution of heat generated on the surface may vary depending on the processing performed by the electronic device. This is because the electronic device has to provide different functions.

Apparatus, method, and control program for cooling electronic devices


An electron tube cathode is disclosed, comprising a base, electron emissive material layers formed on the base and containing alkaline earth metal oxides including barium, and reducing metal layers interposed between the emissive material layers. The metal layers comprise at least one metal selected from W, Mo, Ta and Ti. The metal layers further comprise any one of rhenium, yttrium or a mixture thereof in the amount of 3 to 5 wt % thereof. The amount of the entire metal layer is 8 to 15 wt % of the entire emissive layer comprising the emissive material layers and the metal layers. The entire metal layer has a thickness of 3 to 5 xcexcm. Each of the metal layers comprise at least one or more layers formed by means of a spraying method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron tube cathode, and more particularly to an electron tube cathode enhancing life characteristics and electron emissivity by forming one or more reducing metal layer(s) between electron emissive material layers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an electron tube cathode is a part emitting thermions as an electron source in an electron gun of a cathode ray tube for TV or a camera tube. The electron tube cathode is manufactured by forming an electron emissive material layer composed of electron emissive materials on a metal base. An example of a conventional electron tube cathode is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 64-5417. As shown in FIG. 1, this electron tube cathode has a cathode sleeve 1 in which a heater 3 is placed. A base 5 is mounted on the upper opening of the cathode sleeve 1, and an electron emissive material layer 7 is formed on the base 5. The cathode sleeve 1 is composed of nichrome material, while the base contains a reducing material such as silicon (Si) or magnesium (Mg) by 0.01 to 0.09 wt % and is composed of high purity nickel (Ni) as a main ingredient. The electron emissive material layer 7 is composed as main ingredients of alkaline earth metal oxides including at least barium (Ba) and in addition strontium (Sr) or calcium (Ca). The electron emissive material layer 7 also contains rare earth metal oxide such as scandium oxide by 0.1 to 20 wt %. The heater 3 emits thermions from the electron emissive material layer 7 by means of electrical heating.
In order to form the electron emissive material layer 7 in an electron tube cathode having the structure described above, barium carbonate (BaCO3), strontium carbonate (SrCO3), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and a predetermined amount of scandium oxide (Sc2O3) are first mixed together with a binder and a solvent to prepare a suspension. The suspension is sprayed onto the base 5 to a thickness of about 800 xcexcm and thereafter heated by a heater during the cathode ray tube evacuating process. At this time, the carbonates of the alkaline earth metals are converted into alkaline earth metal oxides such as barium oxide (BaO), strontium oxide (SrO) and calcium oxide (CaO). Thereafter, a part of the alkaline earth metal oxides are reduced and activated so as to have semi-conductivity. Thus, the electron emissive material layer 7 composed of a mixture of the alkaline earth metal oxides and a rare earth metal oxide is formed on the base 5. In the activating process, the reducing materials such as silicon and magnesium, which are contained in the base 5, move to the interface between the alkaline earth metal oxides and the base 5 by diffusion, and react with the alkaline earth metal oxides. As a result of these reactions, a part of the alkaline earth metal oxides on the base 5 are reduced to be an oxygen deficient semiconductor, thereby facilitating electron emission.
In the electron tube cathode described above, a reducing material layer may be formed on the base by means of a sputtering method before forming a carbonate layer by means of a spraying method. In addition, in order to enhance life characteristics, a mixture layer of the carbonates and the reducing materials, which function to lower resistance of the non-conductive intermediate layer formed on the base, may be formed on the surface of the base, or a carbonate layer may be formed on the mixture layer.
However, the process of forming a reducing material layer on the surface of the base by means of the sputtering method poses a problem of failing to uniformly emit electrons, since the reaction between the reducing material and the base metal is not uniformly made over the entire base metal in the evacuating and activating processes. In addition, a difficulty is encountered in managing the manufacturing process, when forming a carbonate layer on the mixture layer of the reducing materials and the carbonates after forming the mixture layer. Moreover, forming the entire emissive material layer with a mixture of the carbonates and the reducing materials is likely to result in undesirable cathode condition patterns.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-75128 discloses a cathode in which an oxide layer of alkaline earth metal including barium is formed on a nickel base and contains scandium, and a metal layer containing at least one element selected from platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir) and rhodium (Rh) is formed between the nickel base and the oxide layer.
In the electron tube cathodes having the structure described above, although the rare earth metal oxides improves the supply of excess Ba, since the excess Ba supplying rate is controlled by the diffusion rate of the reducing material in the nickel base, the life characteristics of the cathode are greatly deteriorated in operating at a high current density over 2 A/cm2. Also, since the metal layer on the base is composed of a metal having a lower reducibility than tungsten (W) or molybdenum (Mo), it has almost no barium oxide reducing effect for enabling the operation at a high current density.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. Hei 3-230445 and Hei 2-267834 disclose a cathode composed of three emissive material layers. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 3-230445, a base is composed as a main ingredient of Ni containing reducing elements such as Si, Mg, etc., the first emissive material layer composed as main ingredients of alkaline earth metal oxides containing Sc2O3 of 0.05 to 5 wt % and Ba is formed on the base, the second emissive material layer composed as main ingredients of alkaline earth metal oxides including barium and containing at least one metal element selected from the 1B, 3B and 5B groups or oxide thereof by 0.01 to 5 wt % is formed on the first emissive material layer, and the third emissive material layer composed as main ingredients of alkaline earth metal oxides including barium is formed on the second emissive material layer.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-267834, a base is composed as a main ingredient of Ni containing at least one reducing element, the first emissive material layer composed as main ingredients of alkaline earth metal including Ba is formed on the base, the second emissive material layer composed as main ingredients of at least one element selected from rare earth metal oxides, rare earth metals, heat resistant metal oxides and heat resistant metals is formed on the first emissive material layer, and the third emissive material layer composed as main ingredients of alkaline earth metal oxides including barium is formed on the second emissive material layer.
In case of a cathode having the structure consisting of three emissive material layers as described above, the reducing metal contained in the second layer exists in the form of a mixture with an emissive material. As mentioned above, however, this is likely to cause that the reaction between the reducing materials and the base metal may not uniformly occur over the entire base, and subsequently the electrons cannot be uniformly emitted. Also, the management of the manufacturing process is difficult, and undesirable cathode condition patterns are likely to be produced.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 3-257735 and its counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,984, EP 445956, and Korean Patent Publication No. 93-11964, a base is composed as a main ingredient of Ni containing at least one reducing element selected from Si, Mg, W, zirconium (Zr) and aluminum (Al), a metal layer is formed on the base and contains at least one of W and Mo, and an emissive material layer composed as main ingredients of alkaline earth metal oxides including at least barium is formed on the metal layer and contains rare earth metal oxides of 0.01 to 25 wt %.
In this conventional cathode described above, as shown in FIG. 2, a heater 3 is arranged inside a cathode sleeve 1, a base 5 is arranged on the upper opening of the sleeve, an emissive material layer 7 is formed on the base 5, and a metal layer 9 is formed between the base 5 and the emissive material layer 7.
The cathode having the above-described structure produces a reactive product in addition to free barium atoms, and thus has stable characteristics at the beginning of use. As time elapse, however, the life characteristics are drastically deteriorated.
Korean Patent Laid-Open Nos. 99-58901, 99-58910 and 2000-20817 disclose a cathode comprising a metal layer formed between the base and an emissive material layer as a remedy to diffuse barium oxide, and a reactive product of silicon and Mg accumulated between the base and the emissive material layer, when generating a free barium atom.
In Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 99-58901, the base is composed of Ni as a main ingredient and contains at least one reducing element. A metal layer is formed on the base, and composed of W, Zrxe2x80x94W or Wxe2x80x94Ni. An emissive material layer is formed on the metal layer and contains alkaline earth metal oxides including at least barium. The emissive material layer may further contain lanthanum (La) compound and Mg compound at the same time, or may contain Laxe2x80x94Mg complex compound. Otherwise, an additional emissive material layer may be formed on the emissive material layer described above, which is composed of alkaline earth metal oxides including at least barium and contains La compound and Mg compound at the same time, or Laxe2x80x94Mg complex compound. Korean Patent Lai-Open No. 99-58910 discloses a cathode of a similar structure to that of Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 99-58901 except that the metal layer is composed of Ni as a main ingredient. Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-20817 also discloses a cathode of a similar structure to that of Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 99-58901 except that the metal layer is composed of Ni, W, Nixe2x80x94Zr, Zrxe2x80x94W or Nixe2x80x94W as a main ingredient and has a concave portion in the upper surface for increasing the surface area. The cathode may further comprise an additional metal layer composed as a main ingredient of Ni, W, Nixe2x80x94Zr, Zrxe2x80x94W or Nixe2x80x94W on the base.
In Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 99-58901, 99-58910 and 2000-20817, however, a layer composed of W, Zrxe2x80x94W or Wxe2x80x94Zr is formed to have particles of smaller size than the average size of those in the base. Thus, despite a certain degree of diffusing effect of the intermediate layer, the cathode has a drawback of blocking a diffusing path of the reducing materials composed of Mg and Si as main ingredients due to formation of a barrier layer between the base and the emissive material layer.
In general, a cathode has a life cycle of about 10,000 hours. Most of Mg is consumed within the first 2,000 hours, and thereafter Si is mainly consumed as a reducing material. Of the numerous theories that have been suggested on the life cycle of a cathode, the most representative theory is that a moving amount of electrons is decreased due to a consumption of the reducing material as well as to an impediment of diffusion of the reducing material and an increase of resistance caused by an intermediate layer. As a result, there is a limit to enhance emission characteristics and life characteristics at a high current density.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an electron tube cathode, which can enhance life characteristics at a high current density by forming a reducing metal layer between the emissive material layers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electron tube cathode, which can enhance emissive characteristics of electrons.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electron tube cathode, which can enhance thermal characteristics.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electron tube cathode, which can reduce loss of electric power.
To achieve the above object, there is provided an electron tube cathode according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising: a base composed of Ni as a main ingredient and containing at least one reducing material; the first emissive material layer formed on the upper surface of the base and containing alkaline earth metal oxides including at least barium; a reducing metal layer formed on the first emissive material layer; and the second emissive material layer formed on the metal layer and containing alkaline earth metal oxides including at least barium.
Preferably, the metal layer may comprise at least one element selected from W, Mo, tantalum (Ta) and Ti.
The metal layer may further comprise any one of rhenium, yttrium or a mixture thereof. It is preferable that a total amount of any one of the above material is 3 to 5 wt % of the metal layer. It is also preferable that an amount of the metal layer is 8 to 15 wt % of the entire emissive layers comprising the first and second emissive material layers and the metal layer. The metal layer is preferably formed at the thickness of 3 to 5 xcexcm. The metal layer may be formed to be at least one or more layers by means of spraying method.
There is also provided an electron tube cathode according to another embodiment of the present invention, comprising: a base composed of Ni as a main ingredient and containing at least one reducing material; at least three or more emissive material layers formed on the base and containing alkaline earth metal oxides including at least barium; and at least two or more reducing metal layers formed between the emissive material layers, respectively.
Preferably, the metal layers may comprise at least one element selected from W, Mo, Ta and Ti.
Also, the metal layers may further comprise any one of rhenium, yttrium or a mixture thereof. It is preferable that a total amount of any one of the above material is 3 to 5 wt % of the entire metal layer. It is also preferable that a total amount of the metal layers is 8 to 15 wt % of the entire emissive layer comprising the emissive material layers and the metal layers. The entire metal layer is preferably formed at the thickness of 3 to 5 xcexcm. Each of the metal layers may be formed to be at least one or more layers by means of spraying method.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the reducing metal in the metal layer function to generate free Ba, thereby generating more amount of the free Ba in comparison with the conventional oxide cathode, and enhancing life characteristics and emissive characteristics at a high current density.
Further, use of a reducing metal in the metal layer also brings an effect of raising the temperature of the cathode due to an increase of the radiant heat of the metal layer within the emissive layer of the cathode comprising a metal layer and emissive material layers, thereby enabling an operation of the cathode at a lower operational temperature and reducing the electric power consumption while enhancing thermal characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides advantages of enhancing emission characteristics and life characteristics of the cathode by increasing the amount of free Ba. The present invention further provides advantages of enabling an operation of the cathode at a lower temperature due to an increase of the radiant heat of the metal layer and the temperature of the cathode. The present invention also serves to enhance life characteristics of the cathode at a high current density of 3A/cm2 as well as thermal characteristics of the cathode and reduce electric power consumption.


A printer comprises a print mechanism and a wireless communication module including a wireless transceiver and a configuration module. The configuration module is adapted to electronically query at least one available wireless device to determine at least one wireless security parameter of the at least one available wireless device and to receive a response from the queried at least one available wireless device, via the wireless transceiver, for configuring the printer for wireless association in a wireless computing network including the at least one available wireless device.

Wireless communication has revolutionized telephone communication and computer connectivity. No longer constrained by wired connections, users move freely about with their computers, telephones and other electronic devices.
However, most conveniences come with a price. For wireless communication, the price is configuring each device to properly communicate with other desired devices while excluding communication with unauthorized interlopers. Wired communications sidestep some of these concerns simply by controlling which devices are in wired connection with each other. For wireless communication, physical connection is no longer a means of protecting communication between different electronic devices.
Accordingly, many prominent organizations and manufacturers of wireless communication have developed communication protocols for wireless devices aimed at controlling the how, when, where, and who of communication between wireless devices to create boundaries between authorized and unauthorized wireless communication. These protocols specify, among other things, the type of wireless network, methods of encryption and/or authentication, access control, as well as the unique identities of the different available networks of wireless devices. As the level of intrusion by sophisticated hackers has risen, the number and complexity of wireless communication protocols has risen to keep pace with the efforts of these privacy interlopers.
Given the current thicket of information required to set up a wireless network or to configure a single device for association with an existing wireless network, many consumers struggle to properly configure their wireless devices to operate in the intended network environment. The level of technical information required to perform installation of wireless devices has driven consumers to lean heavily upon technical support centers for help in configuring wireless devices.


A cable recovery machine, comprising at least one traction module configured to hold and draw at least one cable, in particular of a cable laying plant; the traction module comprises a frame on which one or more traction wheels and one or more idle wheels are positioned; between the traction wheels and the idle wheels a space is defined for the passage and traction of the cable to be recovered; the idle wheels are provided with a support connected in a mobile manner to the frame of the traction module and provided with actuators configured to press the idle wheels against the cable that passes between them and the traction wheels, so that the space between the idle wheels and the traction wheels can be automatically adjusted on the basis of the external diameter (D1, D2) or thickness of the cable drawn.

In laying plants of overhead lines, the current method to replace overhead conductors, that is, so-called "reconductoring", provides the following operations:                connecting the new conductor or a drawing wire to the existing conductor;        positioning the pulleys to lay the conductor on the supports that form the segment of the line on which the conductor is being replaced;        recovering the old conductor with a winch-brake, then storing the old conductor on empty reels previously prepared at the winch station;        simultaneously releasing the new conductor from the reel on which it is wound with the use of a brake (or a winch-brake) at the brake station, to allow the "braked" laying of the new conductor;        subsequently collecting and transporting the reels of old conductor to a recycling and disposal center, where it is broken down and divided according to the materials it is made of.
The high voltage overhead transmission lines can consist of single conductors (one per phase), but more typically they consist of multiple conductors for each phase, ranging from 2 to 6, but also with a tendency to increase up to 8 or 10 conductors.
The brake and winch stations are located at opposite ends of a section of the line on which the conductor is being replaced.
The winch station where the old conductor is recovered can consist of a winch-brake machine to recover the old conductor and of a number of reel-holding trestles at least equal to the number of conductors that make up each single phase of the line, or more generally to multiples of this number. The empty reels will then be installed on the trestles, and will collect the "old" conductor, which will then be disposed of in special recycling centers.
The brake station where the new conductor, or a drawing wire to be subsequently used to tension the new conductors, is unwound and tensioned, normally consists of a brake or winch-brake machine and a number of reel-holding trestles at least equal to the number of conductors that make up each single phase of the line, or more generally to multiples of this number.
The size of the winch and brake stations is proportional to this plurality of trestles on which the individual reels must be housed.
The winch-brakes to recover the existing conductor normally consist of a pair of winches for each conductor, the diameter of which is provided as 35 times the diameter of the conductor to be recovered.
Normally, the conductors that form the high voltage lines have multiple interruptions along their length, essentially due to the presence of so called mid span joints. Their function is to connect the two ends of the conductors during a reel change, that is, when a reel of new conductor ends, and the next reel begins.
Generally, the joints consist of straight aluminum and/or steel tubular cores with a variable length from 500 mm to 2000 mm.
The joints cannot pass over the winches, as they would break due to the bending caused by the winding on the circular surface, with the consequent catastrophic fall of the tensioned line.
For this reason, current reconductoring operations are subject to countless interruptions in the process; in essence, when a joint reaches the winch machine, the following steps must be followed:                stop the winch machine when the joint is close to the winches;        clamp the end of the conductor upstream of the joint with vices suitable to maintain the draw on the line;        release the draw of the other end of the conductor on the winch side;        cut and remove the joint in question;        replace the cut joint with a flexible joint, for example a braid-type joint;        resume the draw of the line with the winch machine;        remove the vice that held the end upstream of the line;        resume the reconductoring operations, until the braid-type joint exits the winch machine and appears on the reels that recover the old conductor;        stop the winch machine again;        clamp the end of the conductor on the winch side with vices suitable to maintain the draw on the line;        release the draw of the other end of the conductor on the reel side;        remove the braid-type joint and clamp the end of the conductor on the recovery reel;        resume the draw of the line with the winch machine;        remove the vice that held the end upstream of the line;        resume reconductoring operations.
This sequence of operations must be repeated whenever a new joint arrives in front of the winch machine.
Furthermore, the process is interrupted whenever the new conductor present at the brake station runs out, and therefore the empty reel needs to be replaced with a full one, or when the old conductor reel at the winch station is full, and therefore the full reel needs to be replaced with an empty one.
At the end of the operations, the old conductor present on the reels filled at the winch station must also be disposed of.
Recovery machines exist that allow to recover the conductor and dispose of it in order to replace the existing conductor.
These machines generally comprise at least one cable traction module and at least one cable cutting module, so that the replaced cable can be cut into several parts and suitably stored, instead of being re-wound onto a reel.
The traction module can for example consist of a plurality of traction wheels, that is two or more pairs of wheels which are all motorized and between which the cable to be recovered and to be replaced is inserted. The cable to be recovered is pressed between the motorized wheels for example by means of jacks.
However, this known traction module has some disadvantages, particularly in relation to the need to adjust the amplitude of the passage space of the conductor which is defined between the motorized wheels. This adjustment may be necessary, for example, following the passage between the wheels of segments of cable with different diameters, for example segments of cable in which a connection joint is present.
Currently, this adjustment of the passage space is carried out by an external command which adjusts the reciprocal distance between the motorized wheels, therefore this adjustment is not carried out automatically and passively but requires suitable external piloting systems.
Furthermore, the known traction module does not allow to efficiently absorb the shocks normally generated by the passage of a joint or a sudden variation of the conductor section, therefore the pressure on the conductor is not kept constant. In fact, maintaining a constant pressure on the cable to be recovered, for example a conductor, allows to carry out recovery operations with greater efficiency, regardless of the external diameter or thickness of the cable to be recovered and of the variations in the thickness or external diameter.
There is therefore the need to perfect a cable recovery machine that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
One purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a cable recovery machine which is provided with at least a traction module which is substantially able to adjust itself automatically and in particular in a passive manner whatever the external diameter or thickness of the cable to be recovered, therefore able to adapt, automatically and without any external piloting system, even to passages of consecutive segments of cable with different diameters, as can occur on the cable, for example, in correspondence with a joint.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a cable recovery machine that is able to effectively absorb the shocks generated by the passage of a joint or a sudden variation in the external diameter or thickness of the cable, keeping the pressure exerted during the passage of the cable or a joint almost constant.
Another purpose of the present invention is also to provide a cable recovery machine which allows to carry out, continuously and without interruptions, recovery operations of a cable so that it can be replaced and disposed of.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.


A crank assembly has a rotary motor mounted on the top of the trough forming the storage unit in a stacker, the drive shaft of the motor extends parallel to the pathway in which the bank note moves from the acceptor. A first crank member is centrally secured to the drive shaft for rotary motion and a second crank member is freely journalled to the first crank member and to the presser plate at each end, for revolutionary movement in a vertical plane to the pathway. A pair of spaced columns are fixedly attached to the top surface of the presser plate

The present invention relates to a stacking mechanism for the storage assembly of bank notes in a bank note validator.
Bank note validators generally consist of an arrangement of devices for automatically recognizing, accepting and accumulating not only currency, but also coupons, documents or other valuable paper. In such devices, once the bank note is validated it is stored until a sufficient number of such bills are accumulated for removal. Reference can be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,322,275; 4,884,671; 4,011,931; 4,418,824 and 4,678,072.
As will be seen from the prior devices the bank note is generally moved in a linear direction over a flat table, in order for it to be electronically and optically sensed for validity. Once accepted as being valid, the bank note is fed on to a pair of horizontally spaced rails from which it's pushed perpendicularly for stacking one on the other in a storage container. The pushing devices have employed elaborate mechanisms to translate the movement of the bank note, and are generally referred to as "stackers". The stacker converts a rotary motion to the linear motion which is then transmitted to the pusher plate. The known transmission mechanisms use scissor type platforms, eccentric cams, springs, bushings and the like, all having an excess of complexity and thus, greatly reduced reliability.
Another problem found in the known stackers lies in the fact that they have severe limitations when handling bank notes of various countries since some countries employ wide notes and some employ narrow notes. Since the throw or stroke of the stacker is directly proportioned to the size of the bank note, and the stroke must be increased for the wider notes and decreased for the narrower notes, to permit the bank not to easily pass over the rails without folding or misaligning in the storage area.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a bank note stacker mechanism for validators which overcomes the defects and deficiencies of the prior devices.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a stacker mechanism which is simple, has few parts and which is more reliable.
It is a object further of the present invention to provide a stacker mechanism capable of adjustment to the width of the bank note, so as to enable the validator apparatus to have a more universal use.
The foregoing objects together with other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon contemplation of the following disclosure

Stacker mechanism for stacking bank notes


An application, in particular for motor vehicle closing devices. The basic design of the motor vehicle has an electric motor and an actuating element which is acted upon by the electric motor directly or indirectly via a powertrain. The powertrain is provided with at least one Evoloid toothing. According to the invention, a drive shaft of the electric motor is equipped with an Evoloid pinion which meshes with an Evoloid output gear at the input of the powertrain, thereby directly producing the Evoloid toothing.

Actuators for automotive applications are used, for example, to adjust an exterior mirror, to ensure a seat adjustment, to perform a headlamp adjustment or even to set or adjust the windscreen wipers. Moreover, in principle, flap elements, such as for example a tailgate, a boot lid, a motor vehicle door, an engine hood or the like, can be acted upon by means of such actuators.
In addition to these general automotive applications for actuators, these actuators are also used and put into practice in connection with motor vehicle closing devices. Such motor vehicle closing devices are, for example, a closing drive for a motor vehicle door or a tailgate. Moreover, so-called servo latch holders can also be moved by such actuators, in order likewise to close a motor vehicle door. In addition, applications in the interior of a motor vehicle door latch are conceivable, for example in such a way that individual latch members are acted upon, for example a locking member or central locking member. Furthermore, amongst other things, fuel filler flaps or charging sockets in the case of electric vehicles can also be locked by means of the actuator.
All of the fields of application known in the art for such actuators often require a compact design of actuator, because the installation conditions are confined. Thus, in the context of the generic DE 10 2010 003 044 A1 a multistage transmission device for adjustment of a component in a motor vehicle is described. The component may be a seat adjustment, an exterior mirror adjustment or also a headlamp adjustment and in principle also a window controller or other elements in or on the motor vehicle. The known multistage transmission device operates with a first gear stage consisting of a worm and a spur gear or worm gear which meshes with the worm. Moreover, a second gear stage is implemented.
The second gear stage consists of an Evoloid pinion and an output gear which meshes with the Evoloid pinion. The spur gear or worm gear which engages in the worm is coupled to the Evoloid pinion. The Evoloid pinion may be a plastic pinion. In this way a compact transmission device is provided, by which high torques can also be transmitted.
In the further prior art according to WO 2013/045104 A1 a spindle drive for motor-powered adjustment of an adjusting element of a motor vehicle is described. In this connection a planetary gear transmission with a rotatable sun gear and, coaxially therewith, a rotatable planetary gear support is also implemented. The engagement between the sun gear and the at least one planetary gear of the planetary gear support is configured as an Evoloid toothing. In this way the necessary installation space overall should be reduced in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the drive.
Finally, the prior art according to EP 1 363 809 B1, which is also relevant, relates to an actuator for motor vehicle exterior mirror adjustment. For this purpose, a mirror adjusting member is implemented which is coupled to the electric motor via the powertrain. The powertrain has a main gear which is provided in the powertrain in the vicinity of the mirror adjusting member. The main gear is connected to an Evoloid toothing via a pinion.
Consequently, the prior art shows quite generally actuators for automotive applications which provide at least one Evoloid toothing in the powertrain. In this connection the Evoloid toothing is implemented centrally in the powertrain or adjacent to the actuating element, in order as a rule to provide higher transmission ratios at the output of the powertrain by means of such an Evoloid toothing. On the other hand, in the prior art the powertrain at its input typically operates with a worm gear. This is where the invention starts from.


An embodiment relates to an arrangement for equalizing voltage drops in a power supply mains having a first mains supply and a second mains supply. The arrangement includes at least one first converter system and one second converter system, to which intermediate circuits are coupled and which form a mains coupling as a result. The first mains supply is connected to a distributor via a decoupling inductor, a voltage measurement and a first switch. The second mains supply is connected to the distributor via a second switch, and wherein the mains coupling is arranged parallel to the second switch.

Voltage drops in grid supply systems occur more or less often, mostly due to natural causes. By way of example, these may be weather situations, a bird strike or other external influences. These events are generally brief, typically 50 ms to a few 100 ms, and may lead to brief interruptions of typically up to 300 ms or longer interruptions of up to 3 minutes or longer.
The extent of the voltage drop may vary between 20% and 100%, the voltage drop being able to occur on a single-pole or multi-pole basis. These even very brief drops in the voltage supply often lead to disruptions in facilities such as manufacturing and processing installations. By way of example, a robot controller or the like may fail, sometimes giving rise to considerable financial losses.
Daehler, Eichler, Gaupp and Linhofer: ABB Technik 1/2001 have pointed out the need for a high power supply quality for more stable manufacturing processes. Here, they make reference for example to large, fast uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), but these typically first take effect when there is a complete power outage. For brief interruptions that often occur only in one phase, they describe known voltage stabilizers such as dynamic voltage restorers (DVR). These voltage stabilizers are able to compensate temporary voltage drops without a delay.
For the fast compensation of grid drops, energy stores decoupled from the grid, what are known as line interactive UPS, may likewise be used, these being able to bridge total failures of the grid voltage that even last for minutes.
Pal and Gupta: Electrical & Computer Engineering: An International Journal (ECIJ) vol. 4, no. 2, June 2015, generally describe how voltage drops are able to be compensated by way of known voltage stabilizers such as dynamic voltage restorers.

Arrangement for equalizing voltage drops in a power supply mains and method for equalizing voltage drops in a power supply mains