An amphibious motorcycle with a hull that provides desirable buoyancy for the vehicle to float while in the water and yet allows the vehicle to lean/turn during use on land is provided. The amphibious motorcycle has a front wheel with a front suspension system and a rear wheel with a rear suspension system. Also included can be at least one wheel retraction system that is operable to move the front wheel and/or the rear wheel between a deployed position for use of the amphibious motorcycle on land and a retracted position for use of the amphibious motorcycle on or in the water. The amphibious motorcycle also has a hull that can have a center portion with a center bow and two oppositely disposed and spaced apart side portions each with a side bow.

Amphibious vehicles for recreation, business, and/or military uses are known. Such amphibious vehicles typically have a retractable wheel system that affords for the wheels of the vehicle to be raised to a retracted position during use of the vehicle in the water. In addition, a hull provides buoyancy to the vehicle such that it floats while in the water.
Hulls for three-wheel and four-wheel amphibious vehicles typically provide sufficient buoyancy since the width of the vehicle, and thus the hull, span the width of the front and/or rear axle plus wheels. However, an amphibious motorcycle presents unique challenges with respect to the hull shape, size, etc., since the vehicle is required to lean sideways during riding/turning on land—thereby requiring a hull with a relatively narrow width—and yet the hull must provide sufficient buoyancy to keep the vehicle afloat in the water.
Heretofor amphibious motorcycles have attempted to meet these challenges using additional movable flotation elements that extend from the hull while the vehicle is in the water. These movable flotation elements may take the form of inflatable bellows, movable or foldable flotation aids, or other forms. Such systems have been bulky, required additional moving parts/components, and can be prone to failure. As such, an amphibious motorcycle with a hull that does not require additional bellows, provides sufficient buoyancy for the vehicle to float in the water, and yet allows the vehicle to adequately lean/turn while on land would be desirable.


A drive unit for a motor vehicle exhibits an internal combustion engine and a transmission. The drivable wheels of the motor vehicle can be driven by means of the rotary motion of the output shaft of the transmission. The drivable wheels of the motor vehicle can be driven alternatively or additionally by an electric motor, which can be mounted in such a manner that its rotor forms a part of the output shaft of the transmission. The electric motor is dimensioned in such a manner in its outer dimensions that it can replace a part of the output shaft of the transmission.

This application claims the priority of German Patent Document 199 53 495.0, filed November 6, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a drive unit for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, a transmission having an output shaft for driving vehicle wheels and an electric drive motor which is selectively engaged to drive the vehicle wheels.
German Patent Document DE 27 32 974 A1 already discloses a drive unit, where a utility vehicle, which is explained with reference to a bus as an example, is equipped with an electric motor, with which the vehicle is driven in normal driving mode. Furthermore, this vehicle is equipped with an internal combustion engine, with which the vehicle can be driven alternatively or additionally to the electric motor. If no supply of electric energy is guaranteed, because, for example, the accumulators in the vehicle are empty or because no overhead line is provided over one segment of the driving distance, the vehicle can be driven then solely with an internal combustion engine. If the vehicle is supposed to be moved up an incline, the vehicle can be driven by both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine, in order to increase the available power. It is stated that the internal combustion engine is dimensioned in such a manner in proportion to the electric motor that the maximum power output of the internal combustion engine is approximately ⅓ to ⅕ of the maximum power output of the electric motor. Owing to this ratio the vehicle is driven with the electric motor in normal driving mode. In the construction of the drive unit, the electric motor forms a part of the cardan shaft of the drive unit and thus also a part of the output shaft of the transmission. Between the internal combustion engine and the transmission, on the one hand, as well as that part of the power train that comprises the electric motor up to the drivable wheels of the vehicle there is a coupling device, with which the internal combustion engine and the transmission can be separated from the rest of the power train.
Starting from this state of the art, the present invention is concerned with the problem of expanding applications of an electric drive for vehicles.
The invention solves this problem by providing a drive unit, according to which the electric engine is dimensioned in such a manner in its outer dimensions that in a motor vehicle, which is designed primarily to be driven by an internal combustion engine, said electric engine can replace a part of the transmission output shaft.
Thus, it is possible in an advantageous manner to provide the hybrid drive as a special accessory for a motor vehicle without the need for extensive design differences in the installation of a hybrid drive as compared to the installation of a single drive by means of the internal combustion engine and without all of the additional drawbacks, such as increased production costs and the more extensive logistics. Thus, a motor vehicle with a purely conventional drive can be equipped in a simple manner orxe2x80x94as additional accessoryxe2x80x94with a hybrid drive.
Owing to the given length of the output shaft of the transmission, such a drive unit turns out to be especially advantageous in a vehicle whose rear wheels can be driven and where the internal combustion engine is housed in the front.
When the electric motor is dimensioned correspondingly, the underfloor of the motor vehicle does not have to be modified, if the dimensions of the electric motor are not at least significantly greater than those of that segment of the output shaft of the transmission that the electric motor replaces.
In the design of the drive unit of certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the electric motor is mounted on its own shaft. Thus, the flexibility of the design of the drive unit is further increased so that the design of the drive unit with a hybrid drive as special accessory can be implemented comparatively inexpensively in that the electric motor is self-bearing. There is no additional design cost to provide bearing holding points for the electric motor when it is supposed to be installed.
In the design according to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the electric engine is mounted at least somewhat springy at the transmission case. Thus, the electric motor can be supported so as to be carried. At the same time the springy mounting can absorb the oscillations of the power train in that the cardan shaft intermediate bearing is relieved.
In the design of the drive unit, according to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the torque bracing element of the electric engine is a component of a mechanical connection of the housing of the electric engine with the transmission case. With this type of torque bracing it proves to be advantageous that the oscillations of the power train are transferred only in a damped state to the chassis by the bearing buffers of the internal combustion engine or the transmission. The driving comfort for the passengers is increased, as compared to a mechanical connection of the electric motor to the chassis in order to brace the torque.
In the design of the drive unit, according to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the points of action of the mechanical connection at the transmission case lie in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, a knuckle joint is provided between the transmission and the electric engine.
In the design of the drive unit, according to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the points of action of the mechanical connection at the housing of the electric engine lie in a horizontal plane, whereby a knuckle joint is provided between the transmission and the electric engine.
In the design of the drive unit, according to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the points of action of the mechanical connection at the housing of the electric engine lie in a horizontal plane, where between the transmission and the is electric engine there is a knuckle joint, on both sides of which on a level with its peak a torque bracket is mounted so as to bend.
In the design of the drive unit, according to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the dead weight of the electric engine is absorbed at least partially by a spring with low damping between the vehicle floor and the housing of the electric engine. Thus, when the power train stutters or splutters, these motions can be absorbed in an advantageous manner.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


This invention discloses a verifying system and method thereof. The verifying system comprises a plurality of objects to be verified and a verifying end. Each of the objects to be verified respectively comprises an identifying code. The verifying end has a database, and the database stores a plurality records of information of the objects respectively corresponding to each of the indentifying codes. When a user utilizes an electronic device to read one of the indentifying codes for making the electronic device connect to the verifying end, the verifying end compares the identifying code with the plurality records of information of the objects to generate an information of verification results which is then transmitted back to the electronic device. Herewith the effect of the present invention being verifying authenticity of the object by the indentifying code is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a verifying system and a method thereof, and more particularly to a verifying system and a method thereof by use of reading the identifying codes to connect and to perform the identification.
2. Description of the Related Art
Going along with continuous improvements in technology, the technique for manufacturing products develops in accordance with it as well. Therefore, many illegal producers manufacture a lot of counterfeits. And many counterfeits produced by the high-level technology are sold in markets so that the customers get confused of whether the object is a real Mccoy or a counterfeit.
In addition, after doing lots of research, the developers of the original object share achievements with illegal producers. Thus, some developers of the original object gradually give up developing new products and this condition affects developments in each of the current manufacturing. Based on it, some of the other developers of the original object start developing the anti-fake technique. Taking the Taiwanese patent "the anti-fake system to identify the products using bar codes," with No. M423879 for example, it discloses: printing the products order number on the package or the label of the product in the form of a character or a bar code, and then an electronic product having the capacity of connection performs a verifying program with anti-fake capacity and connects to a programming module at the verifying end to receive the verifying order and to connect the central module of the database for performing verification and receiving the feedback. However, according to above mentions, there are many shortcomings in prior art. For example, the products order number is directly disposed on the outward or the outer surface of the product in the form of the character or the bar code in prior art. This condition may cause the real customer or the user gets a message of error because the fake customer did the action of verification; the verification could not be performed until the manufacturer or the verifying end uses the program, and this requisite causes a trouble or inconvenience to the customer or the user. On the other hand, if the illegal producer counterfeits the products order number, the verifying end still has to perform the comparison or the verification one by one, and this condition becomes a heavy burden on the verifying end.
In summation of the problems described above, the inventor of the present invention considers and designs a verifying system and method thereof to overcome the shortcomings in current technique and further to improve the implement and usage in manufacturing.


Systems and methods of reducing transmission time are described. Uniform-sized original packets are generated from a data frame having a payload with an identifier and data. The packets include the identifier, total block number, block index that specifies an order of the packet, and the data. The packets are encoded to form redundant packets with the identifier, block number, block index and redundant data. The available block index for the original and redundant packets are different. The packets are transmitted by individual modems over different channels at transmission rates that are each configured to minimize free space in an input buffer of the modem and are dependent on feedback from the receiver. The feedback indicates a difference between the transmission rate and a reception rate. The encoding rate is dependent on the original packets over the original and redundant packets or a maximum transmission rate over the remaining transmission rates.

The use of various types of networks and devices (user equipment (UEs)) using network resources as well as the amount of data and bandwidth being used by various applications has continued to increase. Vehicular network or device-to-device communications, for example, may encompass an increasing amount of data and control information in an effort to provide various functionality. This functionality may include active collision avoidance and self-parking, as well as a host of other functions that may use telemetry and other data from the vehicle. The cost of increasing the amount of data communicated and the increased processing (both in the vehicle and externally), however, may include an increase in communication latency, which may adversely affect the automated functionality.


A conveyor-section bearing element (50) for fitting to a conveyor frame (10) of a roller conveyor (1), wherein the conveyor-section bearing element (50) has at least one bearing site (54) for bearing a conveyor roller (20) on the conveyor frame, wherein the conveyor-section bearing element (50) further has at least one roller axle for bearing a carrier or support roller (32; 33), as well as a retrofit kit and a roller conveyor (1) comprising such a conveyor-section bearing element (50).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel construction of driven roller tracks and to the components thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thanks to many variants, roller tracks are the ideal way of transporting various goods.
Among others, roller conveyors are also used to connect belt conveyors on a straight section or in curves. This often requires buffers capable of compensating for different clock cycles of machines. Here, accumulating conveyors with which an accumulating function can be obtained are sometimes used, which makes sense particularly for interlinking of machines.
Among others, roller tracks can be used as light roller tracks or as standard roller conveyors.
Light roller tracks, which are also referred to as minute roller conveyors, serve to transport small, light goods to be conveyed, in particular over short distances. Generally, light roller tracks transport general cargo of at most 15 kg per meter at a conveyor speed of approximately 1 m/s. For example, a light roller conveyor having a length of 2 meters can be comprised of 57 rollers, each having a diameter of 30 mm (30 mm roller) and a roller pitch of 35 mm, so that also small goods can be transported securely without getting caught in the roller track.
Standard roller conveyors have rollers with a 50 mm diameter (50 mm roller) and a roller pitch of approximately 75 mm and more. The rollers are made of plastics or metal. Roller conveyors are stationary units in conveying engineering, which move general cargo over an assembly of rollers.
There are different drive concepts for driven roller tracks.
In the case of straight conveyors, chains are used at higher driving torque and lower speeds, whereas poly-V belts are used at medium torque and round-section belts at lower torque. Sometimes, flat belts are used as well. The arrangement of the belt can be in a tangential manner to the driven rollers or in a wrapping manner to the driven rollers. In the latter case, a drive can be accomplished from roller to roller or by means of a driveshaft.
With a tangential drive, the belt contacts the roller tangentially. Here, the belt is supported either by support rollers or by means of a slide rail, so that the required normal force between the conveyor roller and the belt is achieved. Depending on the belt used and the torque to be transmitted, a more or less strong pretension of the belt is required.
In particular in the case of the tangential drive, the belts have to be shortened to the required length and welded together on the spot, or additional idler pulleys and complex tensioning devices have to be used if prefabricated drive belts of a predetermined length are to be used. It has to be taken into account that only a few conveying means can be shortened to the desired length anyway and that the welding quality is difficult to ensure on the spot.
For a targeted effect, the transmission element always has to be tensioned strongly and be retensioned regularly. Too low a tension can lead to strong strand vibrations or to a skipping of the teeth on the tooth lock washer. Too high forces cause a strong load on the bearings and the belt, and influence the gear components negatively by signs of wear. Moreover, high forces, a strong rigidity of the belt, a plurality of belt redirections and/or the use of slide rails lead to a strong friction loss, to wear, and to an unnecessary energy loss.
In the case of a roller-to-roller drive, one roller connected to a drive motor drives the subsequent roller by means of a transmission element in a usually nonpositive manner. A further transmission element can drive the next subsequent roller, etc. Here, the transmission elements wrap around half of the roller each.
For a large number of rollers, many transmission elements are required, so that friction and thus energy consumption and wear increase. For a roller conveyor having a length of 2 m and rollers of 30 mm, approximately 60 belts are required. The speed loss has a negative effect here as well, since due to the slip during each transmission from belt to roller the last roller can exhibit a clearly different rotation speed than the first driven roller. In order to avoid these disadvantages, motorized rollers are used to some extent. These motorized rollers are integrated across the roller track section, so that one motorized roller, via round-section belts, drives e.g. four rollers in front of and after the motorized roller in a continuous manner.
A drive by means of a driveshaft also requires many wraps of the transmission element, which leads to corresponding friction losses. Moreover, the assembly of the transmission element is complex.
Therefore, for driven roller tracks, in particular for light roller tracks in which all or at least a major part of the rollers are/is to be driven, there is the problem that a plurality of driven rollers, having their own drive unit, can only be realized in a complex and expensive manner. Driven roller tracks, in which a plurality of rollers is driven via a drive unit, require a comparatively strong drive unit, since the power transmission from the drive unit involves friction and thus entails high energy consumption. In addition, a friction-involving operation often leads to wear and to a premature failure of components of the roller track.
The above problems occur both with straight conveyors and with curved conveyors, curved conveyors being more likely problematic, since a drive along a curve requires a corresponding redirection of the transmission element or transmission elements, which can lead to more friction loss and wear.
It therefore is the object of the invention to provide an easy-to-assemble roller conveyor and the components thereof, which are easy to mount, versatile in use, reliable, and consume little energy during operation.

Roller conveyor comprising a bearing element with shoulder


A connector assembly is provided, including a plug including a plug casing defining a housing, and a plug polarizing socket arranged in the housing; a base including a base casing configured to be assembled with the plug casing, the base casing including a base polarizing pin matching the plug polarizing socket and configured to fit together with the plug polarizing pin during assembly of the plug and base casings; and a snap-fitting component supported by the base polarizing pin and by the plug casing, and configured to be activated when the base polarizing pin is in an end of travel position in the housing of the plug casing.

The invention relates to a connector assembly called modular assembly. The invention also relates to the method for connecting and disconnecting such a connector assembly.
In particular, such a connector assembly can be used, for example, for aerospace applications as well as for military and even aeronautical applications. Such a connector assembly must be able to withstand high mechanical stresses. In a known manner, in particular according to standard EN4165, these connector assemblies comprise base and plug casings that can be assembled or coupled together. The casings respectively comprise matching electric contacts allowing electrical connection when the base and plug casings are assembled. Electric cables and/or accessories can be provided at the rear of the plug casing. The connector assembly is locked by screwing, by means of a coupling screw housed in the plug casing and by a coupling nut provided in the base casing. The coupling screw and nut are generally arranged centrally. The screw can be accessed from the rear of the plug casing, i.e. from the side opposite the side facing the base casing.
The coupling nut in the base casing also provides a polarization function for correct positioning relative to the plug casing. This coupling nut is known as coding pin or a polarization pin. The plug casing further comprises the coupling screw, a central socket, also called coding pin or polarization pin, fixed in the plug casing, which also provides the polarization function. Assembling casings by screwing is a tedious operation, which increases the assembly time of these connector assemblies. Furthermore, the cables at the output of the plug casing hinder access to the screw, which is therefore difficult to handle with two fingers, in particular with the index finger and the thumb.


A rigid, aromatic polyimide composition prepared using a solution imidization process from an aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride and a diamine which is greater than 60 mole % to about 85 mole % p-phenylene diamine and 15 mole % to less than 40 mole % m-phenylene diamine exhibits exceptional tensile properties and thermal oxidative stability.

The present invention relates to rigid, aromatic polyimide compositions having improved oxidative stability and surprisingly excellent tensile properties. More particularly, the invention resides in the discovery that such rigid, aromatic polyimide compositions can be prepared by a solution imidization process.
Typically, aromatic polyimide compositions have been prepared by solution imidization as described in a U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,631 to Endrey, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,249,588 to Gall. These previous polyimide compositions, with high thermal stability and overall mechanical properties, have found wide acceptance as coatings, films and fabricated parts used in technically demanding environments such as plasma chambers, jet engines, business machines, automotive components and diverse industrial equipment.
Rigid, aromatic polyimide compositions, on the other hand, have heretofore been made by solid state imidization after precipitation of the polyamic acid intermediate as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,492 to Kaku. In Kaku, the solid state imidization process was used to react 3,3'4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and m-phenylene diamine (MPD) to produce a rigid, aromatic polyimide composition having hydrolytic and oxidative stability. It is known, however, that rigid, aromatic polyimide compositions are typically too crystalline when they are imidized in solution, which results in very poor properties. No solution imidization process has ever been successfully used to make rigid, aromatic polyimide compositions having acceptable properties.
Despite the excellent performance characteristics of previously available polyimide compositions, effort has been directed toward further improvement of the resistance of articles made from polyimide compositions to high temperature oxidative environments, such as those found in semiconductor etch chambers and gas turbine engines. Additionally, the solution imidization process is easier and is a less expensive process for producing polyimide compositions.

Oxidatively stable rigid aromatic polyimide compositions and process for their preparation


A hinge for the articulated joining of eyeglass frame temples to their respective end pieces of the front of the frame, without requiring welding of eyelets or of other joining parts to the end pieces of the front and temple. The hinge is constituted by a pair of independent outer eyelets engaged with two tines provided at the hingeing end of the temple, and by a middle eyelet (10) engaged with two tines provided at the two side hingeing end pieces of the front of the eyeglass frame. The middle eyelet includes two coaxial cavities with contoured bottom surfaces that define circular or radial cams, these surfaces rotating and sliding on corresponding and mutually opposed radial cam surfaces of the outer eyelets which, with the rotation of the temples with which they are associated, cause an axial translational movement of those outer eyelets.

In the conventional technique of providing eyeglasses, the joining and articulation of the temples to the end pieces of the front of the eyeglass frame for supporting the lenses is done by way of alignment of the eyelets provided at the ends of the temples with the eyelets provided at the ends of the front, so as to be able to insert a pin or a screw therein which thus joins the ends in a stable and articulated manner, thus allowing the opening and closing of the temples of the eyeglasses to be worn.
With respect to this conventional solution, the introduction of elasticized hinges, the function of which is to render the use of the eyeglasses more comfortable, while also providing for innumerable construction variations of greater or lesser complexity of the hinge elements for the temples and end pieces of the front or lug of eyeglasses, are all substantially based on the presence of an elastic means, generally acting by traction, with a screw or pin for hingeing the respective eyelets, for example according to the following patents: no. EP0096928 of 1983 in the name of COMET; no. EP0262099 of 1987 in the name of SAFILO; no. EP0395939 of 1990 in the name of OBE WERK; no. EP1556729 of 2003 in the name of IRIDE.
A more recent technique offers the possibility of obtaining a similar elasticity of the temple, by fitting its hingeing end with a flexible plate or end, which can be placed in abutment against a squared abutment that is integral with the end piece of the front of an eyeglass frame, for example according to patent no. IT 1,307,972 of 1999 in the name of Tabacchi, or according to utility model no. DE10 200454841 of 2004 in the name of Frost Paris, or according to utility model no. DE 10 2005034885 of 2005 in the name of Ic! Berlin, and also patent application no. US 2007/0121060 of 2006 in the name of Habermann. In these patents, a part of the temple end is forcibly brought into contact with a squared end of the front of the eyeglass frame, and it can slip along two surfaces of that end which are indicatively mutually perpendicular, thus causing a click that tends to preferably put that temple in the closed and open positions, even in the event that it is splayed open beyond the normal extent.
However, in their practical implementation, even these solutions have been found to be rather impractical and not straightforward to carry out, as well as being complex at assembly time, with frequent problems of wear of the chrome-plated part of the frame and of deficiencies in retaining the lenses. Furthermore, the various solutions known up to now always involve the application of at least one hingeing screw or pin, as well as the usual soldering of the eyelets and the mechanical application of the elastic means, in order to provide the opening and closing click, and these are always provided in seats that are small and inconvenient, which weaken the structure of the eyeglass frame and make it possible to use elastic means of low force that lose their force over time.

Hinge with circular cam eyelets, for the elastic articulated joining of the temples to the front of an eyeglass frame


A hydraulic drive system may include a hydraulic motor and a drive sprocket. The hydraulic drive system may also include a torsional isolation member that is operably connected between the hydraulic motor and the drive sprocket. The torsional isolation member may be configured to operably disconnect the hydraulic motor from the drive sprocket when the drive sprocket reaches a predetermined torque load.

Machines are used in various operations to push material from one point to another. One such machine used for moving material is a high-drive track machine. High-drive track machines have elevated drive sprockets, which can improve durability. High-drive track machines have drive sprockets that are raised above the ground level, higher than conventional sprockets on oval-shaped drive track machines, to reduce the amount of mud, sand, earth, or other debris from interfering with the drive sprocket. As well, because the drive sprocket, transmission and hydraulic systems are elevated, this may ease the serviceability because the components are more accessible.
One aspect pertaining to conventional high-drive track machines is that they have relatively less track wrapped around the drive sprocket than the oval-shaped drive track machines. As such, during extreme load conditions, some high-drive track machines may suffer from sprocket jumping, which occurs when the drive track jumps from the drive sprocket segment without properly receiving torque/power from the drive sprocket. Described from the perspective of the drive sprocket, when the drive sprocket disengages the drive track, the drive sprocket suddenly accelerates and spins freely. The drive sprocket then slams against a subsequent portion of the drive track, which may induce large torsional forces into the drivetrain and motor. Consequently, the magnitude of these forces, over time, may cause damage to the motor.
One prior art solution to dampening unwanted vibration is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP2006007894A ("894 publication"), which discloses a crawler that is wound over a sprocket, an idler and upper and lower rollers. The '894 publication discloses interposing a means for suppressing vibration in a region between the idler and/or the sprocket. A drawback to the solution disclosed in the '894 publication is that it does not isolate the motor from the extreme shock load that may occur as a result of sprocket jumping. Consequently, the motor may still suffer damage from the extreme shock loads.
Another drawback to the solution disclosed in the '894 publication is that it is intended for normal vibration levels that occur during operation and does not appear to provide a solution to dampening extreme shock loads that may far exceed normal vibration levels. Yet another drawback is that this solution is intended for oval-shaped drive track machines and may be incompatible with the unique configuration of the elevated drive sprocket in high-drive track machines.


This disclosure describes techniques that include storing, during parsing of a data unit or a network packet, information (i.e., “summary information”) that identifies how the network packet has been process and/or other aspects of the parsing process. In one example, this disclosure describes a method that includes parsing a packet header from a data unit, wherein parsing the packet header includes storing in result vector storage each of a plurality of data items derived from the packet header, the result vector storage having a result vector format defining fields within the result vector storage for storing each of the plurality of data items; storing in template storage, for each of the plurality of data items, summary information about the plurality of data items stored in the result vector storage; and processing, by the packet-processing integrated circuit and based on the summary information and the plurality of data items, the network packet.

A computer network is a collection of interconnected network devices that exchange data and share resources. In a packet-based network, the network devices communicate data by dividing the data into small blocks called packets. The packets are individually forwarded across the network from a source device to a destination device. The destination device extracts the data from the packets and assembles the data into its original form.
In some implementations, data units or packets communicated or to be communicated over the switch fabric are parsed by a state machine specific to the type of network being used and are processed by a pipeline of fixed function functional blocks.
As one example, in a typical cloud-based data center, a large collection of interconnected servers provides computing and/or storage capacity for execution of various applications. For example, a data center may comprise a facility that hosts applications and services for subscribers, i.e., customers of the data center. The data center may, for example, host all of the infrastructure equipment, such as compute nodes, networking and storage systems, power systems, and environmental control systems. In most data centers, clusters of storage systems and application servers are interconnected via a high-speed switch fabric provided by one or more tiers of physical network switches and routers. The routers and switches operate to forward data units, e.g., packets, between the compute nodes and storage systems.
The various devices within the network that operate to form the network infrastructure, e.g., the routers, switches, gateways, security devices, and the like, often include specialized hardware-based packet processing engines for making forwarding decisions with respect to network packets. The packet forwarding engines may parse the packets using state machines specific to the type of network being used, and may include a static internal pipeline of fixed function functional blocks for processing the packets.

Realization of a programmable forwarding pipeline through packet header summaries in a data processing unit


A display apparatus, a fan unit and a fan speed control method thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes an image processing unit that performs image processing for an image signal; a display unit that displays an image based on the image signal; a fan unit that comprises a fan for discharging heat generated in the display apparatus; and a controller that controls the fan unit to adjust a rotation speed of the fan based on an attribute of the image displayed on the display unit.

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus that controls a fan speed depending on an image signal, a fan unit and a fan speed control method thereof.
A display apparatus outputs an image based on an image signal. The display apparatus needs a fan for discharging heat generated when current is supplied to the display apparatus and light is emitted from a backlight.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing a configuration of a related art display apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a related art display apparatus includes a scaler 110, a display unit 120, a fan unit 130 and a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) 140 to turn on/off the fan unit depending on an operation condition of the display apparatus, for example, an image signal input to the scaler 110.
Referring to FIG. 1B, the related art display apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor 150 for detecting temperature of the display unit 120 to save power. If the temperature sensor 150 detects that the temperature set to the display apparatus exceeds a preset temperature, the MCU 140 turns on the fan unit 130. Otherwise, the MCU 140 turns off the fan unit 130.
However, if the related art display apparatus does not include the temperature sensor 150, since the fan of the fan unit 130 rotates at a constant speed at all times except when the display apparatus operates in a power saving mode, there arises a problem of wasteful power consumption and noises.
In addition, even when the display apparatus includes the temperature sensor 150, since the MCU 140 turns on/off the fan unit 130 depending on only the detected temperature, the MCU 140 cannot adjust the speed of the fan depending on an image displayed on the display unit 120.

Display apparatus, fan unit and fan speed control method thereof


The invention relates to an apparatus for the conveying of homogenized products having an n-track conveying section and a single-track conveying section adjoining it, wherein at least n+1 individual conveyors extending parallel to one another in a conveying plane adjoin the end of the n-track conveying section.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the conveying of separated goods using an n-track conveying section and a one-track conveying section adjoining it.
Such apparatus are in particular known from food technology and can serve to convey products from a cutting apparatus to a packaging machine. If the cutting apparatus is designed as a dual or four-fold slicer, the sliced products are supplied on two tracks or on four tracks. Since many packaging machines, in particular e.g. tubular bag machines, are only suitable to process products supplied on one track, it is necessary to provide suitable devices between the cutting apparatus and the packaging machine which combine the products supplied from the cutting apparatus on multiple tracks onto a single-track conveying section.
Such devices known from the prior art frequently have the disadvantage that the products have to be moved between different conveying planes, with slanted positions of the products occurring as a rule on the transfer of the products from one conveying plane into a conveying plane disposed thereabove or thereunder. This has the result that, for example, conveyed stacks of comparatively dry slices of cheese slip in an unwanted manner, with even the complete dissolution of conveyed stacks being able to occur, which in turn has the result that such products supplied in an unordered manner cannot be processed by a packaging machine. This then in turn causes an expensive reduction in the respective plant availability.

Apparatus for the conveying of separated goods


A software application assists users of a computing device to manipulate a data object displayed on a user interface. The software application may be implemented as a method that may comprise receiving a touch-and-hold operation directed to the data object, and responsive to the touch-and-hold operation, determining whether a time period since beginning of the touch-and-hold operation reaches a predetermined threshold value, when the time period reaches the predetermined threshold value, creating an image of the data object and hovering the image of the data object on top of the data object to indicate it is draggable, and responsive to the image of the data object being dragged into a droppable display area on the user interface, swapping the image of the data object with a user guidance indicating what the image of the data object will look like if released in the droppable display area.

The present invention relates to showing of resources in a computer system and, in particular, to a computing device that automatically displays a guidance when an object is dragged in a display to a droppable area.
Modern businesses use networked computer systems in many facets of their operation to simplify and streamline business processes. SAP AG markets several applications to assist businesses in their knowledge management functions, human resources management functions, customer relationship management functions, and supply chain management functions (among others). In a lot of these applications, the user wants to get both an overview of a hierarchical structure of some data objects in icons or thumbnail views and a detailed view of each object profile. For example, in a human resource application, a typical user normally wants to get an overview of the organizational structures of different units with their respective employees, and when he/she wants, a detailed view of those employees' profiles. The employee profile information like work history and compensation data are displayed when the user wants to review any employee in detail. Thus, the user has to have the option to access those profiles easily. An interaction has to be available to deliver this access right on the fingertips as it is expected on a variety of display devices, such as a desk top computer and/or a tablet device with a touch display.
However, in existing applications, there is normally no guidance to the user when the user operates on the icons or thumbnail views to let the user know that a data object displayed in the user interface can be dragged and/or what happens if the user drags and drops the data object to a certain area. That is, the user is not given any hint as to what will happen, what an exploded view will look like, and/or where the object can be dropped to. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a computing device that automatically displays a guidance when an object is dragged in a user interface to a droppable area.

Drag and drop interaction paradigm with image swap


Provided are a method for manufacturing a flexible display apparatus, which allows for easy separation of a flexible substrate from its supporting carrier as well as allowing easy handling of the flexible substrate during processing of the flexible substrate while it is on its supporting carrier. Also provided is a flexible display apparatus manufactured by the method. The method includes forming an adhesive layer including a metallic tin where the adhesive layer is disposed on a supportive carrier and disposing a flexible substrate on the adhesive layer such that the flexible substrate is affixed to the supporting carrier with the adhesive layer interposed therebetween. The method further includes separating the flexible substrate from the carrier by transformatively stressing (disintegration-wise stressing) the adhesive layer for example by means of temperature lowering.

1. Field of Disclosure
The present disclosure of invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible display apparatus. It also relates to a flexible display apparatus manufactured by using the method. The present disclosure more particularly relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible display apparatus supported on a carrier and to facilitating separation of the flexible substrate from the supporting carrier as well as to handling the flexible substrate during the fabrication of the flexible substrate.
2. Description of Related Technology
Recently, in line with increased interest in flexible displays, research into the flexible display apparatuses has been actively undertaken in which the display apparatus is formed on a flexible substrate composed of a flexible material, such as resin.
For example, in a case where a flexible organic light-emitting display (fOLED) apparatus is manufactured, a process of forming a thin film transistor and/or an organic light-emitting device on a flexible substrate is performed.
However, since the substrate used in the flexible display apparatus has flexible characteristics, its handling during manufacturing may be difficult. For example, when a flexible display apparatus is manufactured, a large plurality of pixels, each including one or more thin film transistors and/or organic light-emitting devices, must be accurately formed on the flexible substrate. However, since misalignment in a photolithography process or a mask process may occur due to the flexible characteristics of the flexible substrate, manufacturing defects can easily occur.

Method for manufacturing flexible display apparatus and flexible display apparatus manufactured by using the method


A method and apparatus for cooling a transverse flow synchronous machine is provided which uses a coolant that is entrained by the rotor rotation during operation of the synchronous machine and is sprayed into the intermediate spaces between the plurality of stepped elements along the surface of the outer stator thereby forming a coolant-air mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a method for cooling a transverse flow synchronous machine, in particular a transverse flow machine; in addition, a transverse flow synchronous machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Synchronous machines with transverse flow are disclosed, for example, in the following publications:    (1) DE 3,536,538 A1    (2) DE 3,705,089 C1    (3) DE 3,904,516 C1    (4) DE 4,125,779 C1
These essentially describe the basic principle and the construction.
These machines comprise at least one stator with at least one armature winding and a rotor lying opposite the armature winding. The rotor is comprised of at least two annular elements arranged next to one another, separated by an intermediate layer of magnetically and electrically nonconductive material, and in the circumferential direction these elements have a plurality of alternatively arranged polarized magnets and soft-iron elements. Such an arrangement of two annular elements forms a pole structure. Transverse flow machines are preferably constructed symmetrically. These then comprise two pole structures separated by a central support disk.
In such a machine, heat is generated during operation both in the rotor as well as in the stator due to the power dissipation occurring through the windings and the magnetic core and caused by induced eddy currents. If suitable measures are not taken, this limits the loadability and thus also the availability or operating time of the A.C. machine. Situations are particularly critical, in which such a machine operates under high load and particularly at high rpm.
In order to avoid this disadvantageous effect, it is basically known to connect the stator to cooling devices. In this way, the heating of the machine and its components can be reduced.
A plurality of possibilities for improving the cooling effect are known from DE 4,335,848 A1 for designing a cooling arrangement in detail in such a way that it has at least one cooling channel, which is incorporated in the stator in the region or in the vicinity of the support disk and a cooling fluid is passed through it. Each cooling channel is separated from the support disk only by a channel cover of minimal thickness and the air gap between rotor and stator. A design with at least [one] axially running cooling channel in a spacer disk, which is provided between a pair of stator segments, is also is known from this publication. The spacer disk lies radially opposite the support disk, is arranged symmetrically relative to the support disk and is thermally insulated opposite the stator segments. It is comprised of a material which is magnetically passive and has good heat conductivity.

Method for cooling a transverse flow synchronous machine and transverse flow synchronous machine


The present invention provides a nitride semiconductor device. The nitride semiconductor device comprises an n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on a nitride crystal growth substrate. An active layer is formed on the n-type nitride semiconductor layer. A first p-type nitride semiconductor layer is formed on the active layer. A micro-structured current diffusion pattern is formed on the first p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The current diffusion pattern is made of an insulation material. A second p-type nitride semiconductor layer is formed on the first p-type nitride semiconductor layer having the current diffusion pattern formed thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor device, and more particularly to a nitride semiconductor device having improved current diffusion and increased surface roughness, whereby electric and optical characteristics are improved. Also, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a nitride semiconductor is widely used as a material for manufacturing visible-light, ultraviolet-light, and cyan optical devices, such as a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD), since the nitride semiconductor has the characteristics of emitting light having a wide range from visible light to ultraviolet light. The nitride semiconductor is a semiconductor single crystal satisfying the following formula: AlxInyGa(1−x−y)N (where, 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, and 0≦x+y ≦1). The nitride semiconductor is grown on a substrate, such as sapphire or SiC, by means of a crystal growth process, such as Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD).
Principally, a nitride-based semiconductor device comprises an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, an undoped active layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. A conventional nitride semiconductor device 10 is shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional nitride semiconductor device 10 comprises a sapphire substrate 11 having a buffer layer 12, such as a GaN or AlN low-temperature core growth layer, formed thereon. On the buffer layer is formed an n-type nitride semiconductor layer 13. On the n-type nitride semiconductor layer 13 is formed an undoped active layer 14. On the undoped active layer 14 is formed a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 15. To the n-type nitride semiconductor layer 13 and the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 15 are connected n-side and p-side electrodes 18 and 19, respectively. The active layer 14 has a multi-quantum well structure (MQW) in which quantum barrier layers made of GaN and quantum well layers made of InGaN are alternately stacked several times.
When predetermined current is applied between the two electrodes 18 and 19, electrons provided from the n-type nitride semiconductor layer 13 are recombined with holes provided from the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 15 in the active layer 14 having the multi-quantum well structure. As a result, light having a desired wavelength, such as a green wavelength or a blue wavelength, is emitted.
In order to improve light efficiency of the nitride semiconductor device, brisk studies into improving inner quantum efficiency and outer quantum efficiency (i.e., light extraction efficiency) have been made. To improve the inner quantum efficiency, it is necessary to increase light efficiency generated from the active layer. In this case, the structure of the active layer 14 and the crystal qualities of the epitaxial layers 13, 14, and 15 are focused.
The inner quantum efficiency is seriously limited due to ununiform current diffusion. As shown in FIG. 1, electric current is concentrated to a part A of the active layer 14 with the result that the other parts of the active layer 14 have a relatively low current density. Consequently, the entirety of the active layer does not serve as a light-emitting region, which decreases the inner quantum efficiency. Up to now, improvement of electrode arrangement and a p-side electrode structure has focused on ensuring uniform current diffusion.
Also, a refractive index and surface flatness of a semiconductor material may be controlled to improve the outer quantum efficiency (i.e., light extraction efficiency). However, the refractive index of the nitride semiconductor has a limited changeable range. As a result, the outer quantum efficiency is improved just a little. To control the surface flatness, it is necessary to increase surface roughness such that a total reflection angle is decreased in the device, and thus the amount of light lost in the device is decreased. However, it is necessary to perform pattern formation through the use of Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) or other CVD processes in order to increase the surface roughness, which is very troublesome.
As described above, various efforts to improve the light efficiency of the nitride semiconductor device have been made, and it is still necessary to improve the electric and optical characteristics, and thus the light efficiency, by means of more effective methods.

Nitride semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A reversible umbrella has a pole, a first handle affixed to a first end of the pole, a second handle affixed to a second end of the pole, and a plurality of ribs extending outwardly of the pole. A canopy is affixed to the ribs. The canopy has a first side facing one direction and a second side facing an opposite direction. The ribs are movable from a first position, wherein the first side of the canopy is in a generally concave configuration with respect to the first handle, to a second position, wherein the first side of the canopy is in a generally convex position with respect to the first handle. The opposing sides of the canopy preferably have different appearances or textures, such that the user can select between two designs to be exposed on the exterior of the umbrella.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of umbrellas. More particularly, the present invention relates to collapsible umbrellas. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a reversible umbrella allowing a user to select between two distinct canopy surfaces.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
A collapsible umbrella is typically composed of a shaft, an upper stationary hub mounted on the top end of the shaft, a sliding hub slidably mounted on the shaft which can move along the shaft in either direction to open or collapse the umbrella, a collapsible frame of radiating spreader ribs which are linked to the upper stationary hub and the sliding hub, and a fabric canopy held on the collapsible frame to serve as a cover against rain or shine. Moreover, a finishing cap is mounted on the top of the upper stationary hub.
Despite the great number of people owning and using an umbrella, relatively little development of umbrella technology has occurred over the years. However, some patents have issued in the past related to umbrellas.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,200, issued on Feb. 2, 1999 to Kuang et al., describes a collapsible umbrella with a smooth opening mechanism. The collapsible umbrella includes a stretchable multi-segment shaft having a top end and a bottom end. An upper fixed hub mounted axially on the top end of the shaft, the upper fixed hub being formed with a plurality of alignment slots and a threaded hole. The threaded hole allows a finishing cap of either an inner-threaded type or an outer-threaded type to be mounted thereon. A running hub is slidably mounted on the shaft. A collapsible frame of a plurality of ribs includes a set of upper ribs, a set of inner branch ribs, a set of middle branch ribs, a set of linkage ribs, and a set of outer branch ribs, wherein each of the middle branch ribs is formed with a substantially U-shaped cross section to form a slot and integrally formed with a retaining piece. A fabric canopy is held on the collapsible frame. Elastic means allow the collapsed umbrella to be thereafter expanded in a self-opening manner.
Much of the development, as far patents go, has been directed towards various type of reversible umbrellas. These various developments have attempted to solve problems related wind gusts inverting the umbrella canopy and thus breaking the umbrella mechanism. Further, some reversible umbrellas allow the user to close the umbrella in the manner opposite to how an umbrella is conventionally closed. Closing the umbrella is this manner would be useful to prevent water from soaking the interior of car, for example, when the user of the umbrella enters the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,746, issued on Jun. 8, 1999 to Doster et al., describes such a reversible umbrella. The umbrella has a canopy, and is supported on a telescopic shaft by articulated ribs that extend from the shaft beneath the canopy. The articulated ribs are connected to auxiliary ribs and both are controlled by guides and stabilizers that extend radially from a reciprocable transfer sleeve on the telescopic shaft and move the ribs and auxiliary ribs to fold the canopy inside out as the transfer sleeve is lowered on the shaft, the shaft is shortened, and the umbrella is closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,792, issued on Apr. 16, 1957 to Koller, teaches a wind resistant reversible umbrella. The mechanism in the Kollar reversible umbrella appears to allow an inversion of the canopy ribs so as to cause the canopy to be inverted and prevent breakage of the umbrella.
U.S. Pat. No. 874,648, issued on Dec. 24, 1907 to Wolfe, describes another reversible umbrella. As with many of the other prior art patents, the Wolfe patent appears to teach the concept of inverting the canopy of the umbrella.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0151760, published on Jun. 18, 2009 to Brader, also describes a reversible umbrella. This device includes a supportive pole having an upper portion and a lower portion and a canopy assembly slidably mounted thereon. The canopy assembly further includes first, second, and third sliding collars mounted on the supportive pole. A canopy is attached to canopy support rods, wherein each of the canopy support rods is hingeably attached at one end to the third sliding collar. A first plurality of connector rods are provided, wherein one end of each connector rod is hingeably attached to one of the canopy support rods and wherein the other end of the connector rod is hingeably attached to the second sliding collar. A second plurality of connector rods are also provided, wherein one end of each connector rod is hingeably attached to one of the first plurality of connector rods and wherein the other end is hingeably attached to the first sliding collar.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0006313, published on Jan. 10, 2008 to Wang, teaches an umbrella structure for retracting various rib in a reverse direction. The stick umbrella structure includes a main shank, a plurality of rib units and a canopy. A fixed hub and a movable slider are mounted on opposite ends of the main shank. The movable slider is slidably provided on the main shank and positioned at two predetermined positions. The rib unit consists of a main rib and a spreader rib. One end of the main rib pivot-connects with the movable slider. One end of the spreader rib pivot-connects with the fixed hub while the other end pivot-connects with a pivot point of the main rib. A center of the canopy is fixed to the fixed hub while an outer periphery of the canopy is fixed to the main ribs. Accordingly, the rib units are capable of unfolding the canopy by spreading the main ribs and the canopy can be folded in a reverse direction by retracting the main ribs.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0211451, published on Oct. 28, 2004 to Goh, teaches an inverse umbrella. The inverse umbrella has a double canopy structure and an inverse opening system. The double canopy structure comprises an outer canopy and an inner canopy. The inverse opening system comprises a network of ribs and mechanism for moving the ribs so that the inner canopy is on the outside when the umbrella is in the collapsed position. When the inverse umbrella is closed after exposure to rain, the dry inner canopy is on the outside, thereby preventing undesirable dripping. The inverse umbrella also includes a sleeve and water collection system that encloses the rain dampened umbrella so that water adhering to the canopy can be properly collected in a unidirectional water-retaining device without making the surroundings wet when the user carries around the rain dampened umbrella. The water collection system comprises a one-way flow check valve that directs water droplets from the wet outer canopy toward a water reservoir while preventing the collected water from flowing out of the reservoir.
While the prior art describes a number of reversible umbrellas, none of these can actually be used when the canopy is in the reversed or inverted position. As such, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a reversible umbrella wherein the umbrella may be used when the canopy is in the reversed or inverted position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reversible umbrella having a two handles.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reversible umbrella wherein the user can choose which side of the canopy to expose on the upper side of the reversible umbrella.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reversible umbrella which achieves aesthetic advances over the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reversible umbrella which is relatively strong and wind resistant.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reversible umbrella which is relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification.


A convenient, portable, “all-in-one” kit that contains all of the feeding accessories that a child would require for a meal, and also provides a sanitary environment for eating the meal. The kit is comprised of members including a container member, which is a cup; and closing member, which is a lid with a controlled-flow drinking spout. The cup fitted with the lid is commonly known as a sippy cup. The lidded cup serves as an enclosure for the other members of the kit. The kit also includes a utensil member, such as a spoon or fork or both. The entire kit is inexpensive and therefore disposable after a single usage. A unique feature about the kit is the inclusion of a protective member that is a specialized sheet that can be adhesively fastened to a table or highchair and, as such, provides a sanitary zone for eating the meal.

1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a portable feeding kit, and more particularly a portable feeding kit for children.
2) Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,258 to Luigi Bertoli teaches a compact utensil set, where the set of utensils are contained in a case-container. Bertoli teaches that the set contains all the main things required for consuming food and drink, neatly arranged within a very limited space. A special feature of the set is that all the component parts are made specially to make best use of the space available, to be compact and hygienic, and to keep weight down to a minimum.
U.S. Publication 2004/0245258 to Connors, James A. Jr. et al. teaches a disposable child's drinking cup, which has a lid with a drinking spout defining multiple open holes sized to resist leakage in the absence of suction, such as by the development of surface tension at the holes, and to allow flow when suction is applied. The holes are formed during molding of the lid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,983 to Mary-Elizabeth Proshan teaches a cap for detachably closing a disposable container with liquid therein employs a flat horizontal disc having first and second openings disposed in spaced apart positions therein. The lid has a first opening that is a pinhole, and a second opening that is relatively large. The cap has a hollow vertical spout that tapers upwardly from the disc with an open lower end coincident with the second opening. The open upper of the spout is smaller in area than its lower end.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,339 to Michael J. Borgerson teaches a portable container for storing an edible liquid separate from an edible dry component, where the portable container houses a spoon. While the prior art addresses the mechanics of packaging utensils in a container, the prior art is largely centered on products used by adults, and the art is silent on a kit which enhances sanitation and reduces contamination. Sanitation and contamination are of preeminent importance in the care and feeding of children, as children are not innately endowed with knowledge of what can potentially make them sick, and, in general, because their immunological systems are less well developed than an adult's, they are more susceptible to becoming sick. Table 1 has a partial list of pathogens associated with foods and eating. What is needed is a sanitary, portable, feeding kit for children that not only provides the feeding utensils in a clean, compact disposable form, but also provides a protected sanitary zone for eating, and an apparatus to cover the child from spillage.
TABLE 1Common Foodborne PathogensPathogenInfection Symptoms in HumansReservoirCause of InfectionBacteriaCampylobacterFever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps,Intestines of healthyEating undercooked chicken or foodsnausea, vomiting; Most commonlybirds; Raw poultrycontaminated with juices fromidentified cause of diarrheal illnessmeat, cattle andundercooked chicken; In developingin the world; May cause Guillain-sometimes swine.countries: unchlorinated drinking waterBarre syndrome.supplies, e.g., wells, contaminated withpoultry feces.SalmonellaFever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps,Intestines of birds,Spread to humans by a variety of foodsheadache.reptiles andof animal origin, e.g., undercookedmammals.poultry, contaminated eggs (eaten raw)and raw milk; May invade thebloodstream in persons of poor healthor weakened immune systems, causinglife-threatening infections.E. coli O157:H7Severe, bloody diarrhea, painfulCattle and similarConsuming food or water that has beenabdominal cramps; not much fever;animals; also residescontaminated with microscopicMay cause acute kidney failure,in humans.amounts of cow feces; Contaminatedhemolytic uremic syndrome, inraw milk.children.VibrioWatery diarrhea, abdominal pain.Estuarine and marineConsuming raw, improperly cooked, orparahaemolyticusenvironment and fishcooked, recontaminated fish andand seafood fromshellfish.those environments.VirusesNorwalk-likeAcute gastrointestinal illness,Infected persons forContact with infected persons/foodvirususually with more vomiting thanup to 2 days afterhandlers.diarrhea; Headache, myalgia anddiarrhea stops.low-grade fever.Hepatitis AInfects the liver and causesFeces of infectedPerson-to-person fecal-oral route byhepatitis A virus: fever, malaise,people; Poorinfected food handlers.nausea, abdominal discomfort, darksanitation andurine and jaundice.crowding facilitatetransmission.ProtozoaToxoplasmaNo symptoms but possible diarrhea;Found in virtually allConsuming raw or undercooked meatgondiiInfected pregnant women may passanimal foods.or contact with cats that shed cysts inthe disease to their fetuses,their feces during acute infection.resulting in death of the fetus orsevere health effects, such asmental retardation.CryptosporidiumProfuse watery diarrhea; Life-Waterborne or foundparvumthreatening among thein animal manures.immunocompromised.

Sanitary, portable feeding kit for children


An eye refractive power measuring apparatus having an opacity discriminant function of a crystalline lens comprising a projecting optical system for projecting a target for eye refractive power measurement onto a fundus of an eye to be examined, a detecting optical system for detecting the target image reflected from the eye fundus, a device coupled to the detecting optical system for measuring refractive power of the eye in response to the detected target image, an irradiating optical system for irradiating the eye fundus with a retroillumination light, and an observing optical system for observing a crystalline lens of the eye illuminated by the retroillumination light reflected from the eye fundus to determine the opacity of the crystalline lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the refractive power of an eye to be examined objectively. More particularly, the present invention relates to an eye refractive power measuring apparatus having the ability to discriminate the lens opacity of an eye.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, some eye refractive power measuring devices are known which can measure the refractive power of the spherical surface, cylindrical surface, cylindrical axis, and so on of an eye to be examined objectively. Both hand-operated types and auto-operated types have been available, but the auto-operated type is now broadly used. The auto-operated type was first utilized about twenty years ago, and because of several improvements is now a high-accuracy apparatus.
The eye refractive power measuring devices measure the refractive power by projecting a target onto the fundus of an eye to be examined and receiving a reflection from the fundus by a light receiving device (an image sensor etc.). These devices have only been able to measure the refractive power properties of the eye, and factors such as the lens opacity of the eye which affect the light reflected from the eye fundus have usually been overlooked. However, it is necessary to consider the lens opacity and its influence on eyesight under special sight circumstances.
If the lens opacity of the eye to be examined is so great that the measuring light cannot reach to the fundus, prior devices have not been able to determine whether or not the reason is the lens opacity. Such devices have only indicated that it is impossible to measure the eye refractive power. Moreover, in the case of adjusting the prescription for glasses, although a subjective measurement will be taken by using visual charts and a lens system after completing the objective measurement, if the lens opacity is not clearly indicated, the cause of a difference between the objective measurement value and the subjective measurement value may not be known.

Eye refractive power measuring apparatus having opacity discriminant function of crystalline lens


A verification support apparatus verifies an object. The object includes a plurality of clock domains and each clock domain includes a plurality of registers. The verification support apparatus includes an input receiving unit that receives logical circuit description information on the object; a specifying unit that specifies at least two registers in one clock domain that output data to an adjacent clock domain; and a detecting unit that detects, based on the logical circuit description information and specified registers, a re-convergence register in the adjacent clock domain that achieves convergence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for verification support, and a computer product for creating verification properties used in verifying various objects, in LSI design.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of LSI design, while there have been demands to increase work efficiency by shortening design time, it is essential to have a verification process for verifying if each LSI works properly. Especially, because there are demands for LSIs that are large in scale, have sophisticated functions, have a high speed, and consume less electricity, it is important to have such a verification process to maintain high quality of the LSIs.
An LSI includes an asynchronous multi-clock logical circuit driven by two or more clocks with mutually different cycles. The asynchronous multi-clock logical circuit may experience a problem when data is transferred from a circuit driven by one clock to another circuit driven by another clock; in other words, when data is transferred over a border between two clock domains, due to disturbance in the value transfer caused by metastability. More specifically, the problem occurs because the value is transferred from one clock domain to another clock domain either one cycle later or one cycle earlier.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H6-83901 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-117185 disclose a verification process in which metastability is introduced in a logical circuit in a simulation or static verification environment, and it is checked whether verification properties for normal verification (i.e. no occurrence of metastability) are violated.
According to the conventional technique described above, although there are a large number of clock domains in an asynchronous multi-clock logical circuit, designers try to find manually in the clock domains, locations at which problems have been caused by metastability. Designers are also expected to analyze what types of verification processes are effective, because even if some locations have problems caused by metastability, there is no apparent change in the external ports, or sometimes the change is masked by other signals. Accordingly, there have been problems that the burden on the designers is more, the designing labor increases, and the designing period is long.

Apparatus and method for verification support, and computer product


A tire tread wear system may include one or more vehicle sensors and a processor. The processor may include a control module, a geometrical model, a machine learning model, and a switch. The geometrical model may be configured to collect data from the vehicle sensors to determine a dynamic rolling radius of a tire. The geometrical model may be configured to output a tread wear estimation based on the dynamic rolling radius of the tire. The machine learning model may be configured to collect data from the vehicle sensors. The machine learning model may be configured to output a tread wear estimation based on a correlation of the tread wear estimation output from the geometrical model and one or more data instances with a tire tread state. The switch may be configured to activate the geometrical model, the machine learning model, or a combination thereof.

Typical approaches for tire tread estimation may be classified into two groups. The first group uses additional sensors that are not present in a current production vehicle, and the second group uses commercially available sensors. The use of additional sensors increases complexity and cost while generally providing better accuracy. The use of commercially available sensors generally does not provide reliable results in tire tread estimation. Ultimately, it would be desirable to have an accurate and cost-effective system to determine tire tread wear without the need for additional sensors.

Tire wear estimation using a hybrid machine learning system and method


An optical transmitter including: an optical module; an interconnecting circuit board configured to be electrically coupled to the optical module; and a printed circuit board configured to be electrically coupled to the interconnecting circuit board; wherein the interconnecting circuit board includes: a coplanar waveguide; and a microstrip line including a signal wiring line extended from an end of the coplanar waveguide and a ground wiring line, wherein the width of the signal wiring line is narrower than the width of a signal wiring line of the coplanar waveguide, and the spacing between the signal wiring line extended from the end of the coplanar waveguide and the ground wiring line is smaller than the spacing between the signal wiring line of the coplanar waveguide and the ground wiring line.

Optical transmission systems use optical modulators. Examples of known optical modulators include phase-modulation optical modulators using electro-optic crystals such as LiNbO3 (lithium niobate: LN) or LiTaO2 (lithium tantalite). When such an optical modulator is modularized and installed in an optical transmitter, an optical device such as an optical module, for example, is mounted to the printed circuit board (PCB) of the optical transmitter using surface mounting technology. When the optical device is mounted to the PCB using surface mounting technology, an interconnecting circuit board such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) is used to electrically connect the optical device to the PCB.
Referring to FIGS. 17 to 19, surface mounting of an optical module will be described. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of connection sections of a PCB and an FPC viewed from a side, FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the connection surface of the PCB to be coupled to the FPC, and FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the connection surface of the FPC to be coupled to the PCB. For convenience of explanation, the connection surface of the FPC 300 to be coupled to the PCB 400 is referred to as the "bottom surface" and the opposite surface is referred to as the "top surface". The connection surface of the PCB 400 to be coupled to the FPC 300 is referred to as the "top surface" and the opposite surface is referred to as the "bottom surface".
As illustrated in FIG. 17, electrodes of the FPC 300 and electrodes of the PCB 400 are conductively interconnected through solder 500. On the connection surface of the PCB 400, CoPlanar Waveguides (CPW) 410 including electrode pads for ground wiring lines 400G1 and 400G2 and an electrode pad for a signal wiring line 400S are formed as illustrated in FIG. 18. Similarly, coplanar waveguides CPW 310 including electrode pads for ground wiring lines 300G1 and 300G2 and an electrode pad for a signal wiring line 300S are formed on the connection surface of the FPC 300 as illustrated in FIG. 19. The signal wiring line of the FPC 300 changes its structure at the end of the CPW to a MicroStrip Line (MSL) 320. The CPW 410 of the PCB 400 and the CPW 310 of the FPC 300 are coupled together by soldering.
The width of the strip of the signal wiring line is designed so that the impedance of the electrodes of the MSL 320, among the electrodes formed on the connection surface of the FPC 300, is equal to a design value, for example 50Ω. The electrodes of the CPW 310 of the FPC 300 are formed as electrode pads in order to widen the area of contact of the signal wiring line 300S, the ground wiring lines 300G1 and 300G2 with solder. Through-holes for checking the quality of solder joint (wetness) are provided in the electrode pads of the signal wiring line 300S and the ground wiring lines 300G1 and 300G2. Solder, if present between a through-hole and the PCB, flows into the through-hole due to capillary action. The quality of the solder joint may be inspected by visually checking the through-holes formed in the top surface of the FPC 300 opposite from the bottom surface, which is the connection surface.
When the FPC 300 is soldered to the PCB 400, a solder bridge may be formed between the signal wiring line 300S and the ground wiring line 300G1 or 300G2 to cause the so-called short circuit if the spacing between the electrode pad of the signal wiring line 300S and the electrode pad of the ground wiring line 300G1 or 300G2 is too small. Therefore, in the CPW 310 of the FPC 300, the electrode pads are disposed at such a distance s1 apart from one another that the possibility of formation of a solder bridge is reduced.
While one end of the FPC that is coupled to the PCB is illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 19, the other end of the FPC is coupled to the tips of lead pins attached through the external wall of a package of the optical module. The lead pins may be attached to a sidewall of the package or near the bottom of the package.
Unfortunately, the conventional technique described above has a problem that electrical signal reflection characteristics at the electrical connections between the printed circuit board and the interconnecting circuit board degrade as described below.    [Patent document] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-320109
The interconnecting circuit board described above is intended to be used merely for surface-mounting an optical module for low-frequency application. A wide spacing is provided between electrode pads of a signal wiring line S and a ground wiring line G because a higher priority is given to the ease of surface mounting of the optical module than electrical signal reflection characteristics. The wide spacing between the electrode pads of the signal wiring line S and the ground wiring line G reduces the possibility of occurrence of a solder bridge but increases the impedance to a value higher than a design value. As a result, in an optical module for high-frequency application, impedance mismatches may occur and the electrical signal reflection characteristics at the electrical connection between the printed circuit board and the interconnecting circuit board degrade.

Optical transmitter and interconnecting circuit board


The present application describes modulators of CCR3 of formula (Ia) and (Ib):

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines, of molecular weight 6-15 kDa, that are released by a wide variety of cells to attract and activate, among other cell types, macrophages, T and B lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils (reviewed in Luster, New Eng. J Med., 338, 436-445 (1998) and Rollins, Blood, 90, 909-928 (1997)). There are two major classes of chemokines, CXC and CC, depending on whether the first two cysteines in the amino acid sequence are separated by a single amino acid (CXC) or are adjacent (CC). The CXC chemokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), neutrophil-activating protein-2 (NAP-2) and melanoma growth stimulatory activity protein (MGSA) are chemotactic primarily for neutrophils and T lymphocytes, whereas the CC chemokines, such as RANTES, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, the monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, and MCP-5) and the eotaxins (-1, -2, and -3) are chemotactic for, among other cell types, macrophages, T lymphocytes, eosinophils, dendritic cells, and basophils. There also exist the chemokines lymphotactin-1, lymphotactin-2 (both C chemokines), and fractalkine (a CXXXC chemokine) that do not fall into either of the major chemokine subfamilies.
The chemokines bind to specific cell-surface receptors belonging to the family of G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-domain proteins (reviewed in Horuk, Trends Pharm. Sci., 15, 159-165 (1994)) which are termed "chemokine receptors." On binding their cognate ligands, chemokine receptors transduce an intracellular signal through the associated trimeric G proteins, resulting in, among other responses, a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration, changes in cell shape, increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules, degranulation, and promotion of cell migration. There are at least ten human chemokine receptors that bind or respond to CC chemokines with the following characteristic patterns: CCR-1 (or "CKR-1" or "CC-CKR-1") [MIP-1α, MCP-3, MCP-4, RANTES] (Ben-Barruch, et al., Cell, 72, 415-425 (1993), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436-445 (1998)); CCR-2A and CCR-2B (or "CKR-2A"/"CKR-2B" or "CC-CKR-2A"/"CC-CKR-2B") [MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, MCP-5] (Charo et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91, 2752-2756 (1994), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436-445 (1998)); CCR-3 (or "CKR-3" or "CC-CKR-3") [eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, RANTES, MCP-3, MCP-4] (Combadiere, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 16491-16494 (1995), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436-445 (1998)); CCR-4 (or "CKR-4" or "CC-CKR-4") [TARC, MIP-1α, RANTES, MCP-1] (Power et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 19495-19500 (1995), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436-445 (1998)); CCR-5 (or "CKR-5" OR "CC-CKR-5") [MIP-1α, RANTES, MIP-1β] (Sanson, et al., Biochemistry, 35, 3362-3367 (1996)); CCR-6 (or "CKR-6" or "CC-CKR-6") [LARC] (Baba et al., J. Biol. Chem., 272, 14893-14898 (1997)); CCR-7 (or "CKR-7" or "CC-CKR-7") [ELC] (Yoshie et al., J. Leukoc. Biol. 62, 634-644 (1997)); CCR-8 (or "CKR-8" or "CC-CKR-8") [I-309, TARC, MIP-1β] (Napolitano et al., J. Immunol., 157, 2759-2763 (1996), Bernardini et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 28, 582-588 (1998)); and CCR-10 (or "CKR-10" or "CC-CKR-10") [MCP-1, MCP-3] (Bonini et al, DNA and Cell Biol., 16, 1249-1256 (1997)).
In addition to the mammalian chemokine receptors, mammalian cytomegaloviruses, herpesviruses and poxviruses have been shown to express, in infected cells, proteins with the binding properties of chemokine receptors (reviewed by Wells and Schwartz, Curr. Opin. Biotech., 8, 741-748 (1997)). Human CC chemokines, such as RANTES and MCP-3, can cause rapid mobilization of calcium via these virally encoded receptors. Receptor expression may be permissive for infection by allowing for the subversion of normal immune system surveillance and response to infection. Additionally, human chemokine receptors, such as CXCR4, CCR2, CCR3, CCR5 and CCR8, can act as co-receptors for the infection of mammalian cells by microbes as with, for example, the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV).
Chemokine receptors have been implicated as being important mediators of inflammatory, infectious, and immunoregulatory disorders and diseases, including asthma and allergic diseases, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. For example, the chemokine receptor CCR-3 plays a pivotal role in attracting eosinophils to sites of allergic inflammation and in subsequently activating these cells. The chemokine ligands for CCR-3 induce a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration, increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules, cellular degranulation, and the promotion of eosinophil migration. Accordingly, agents which modulate chemokine receptors would be useful in such disorders and diseases. In addition, agents which modulate chemokine receptors would also be useful in infectious diseases such as by blocking infection of CCR3 expressing cells by HIV or in preventing the manipulation of immune cellular responses by viruses such as cytomegaloviruses.
Small molecules including ureido-substituted cyclic amines, arylalkyl cyclic amines, acyclic diamines, cyclic diamines, 4,4-disubstituted piperidines, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines, imidazolium compounds, 1,4-disubstituted piperazines, piperidines, bicyclic piperidines, substituted furo [2,3,-B] pyridines, and diazabicyclic compounds have been reported in the literature as antagonists of MCP-1 and/or CCR receptors. For example, Trivedi et al, Ann. Reports Med. Chem. 2000, 35, 191; Shiota et al., WO 99/25686; Shiota et al., WO 00/69815; C. Tarby and W. Moree, WO 00/69820; P. Carter and R. Cherney, WO 02/50019; R. Cherney, WO 02/060859; Matsumoto et al., WO 03/091245; Jiao et al., WO 03/093231; Axten et al., WO 03/101970; Pennell et al., WO 03/105853; Blumberg et al., WO 04/009550; Blumberg et al., WO 04/009588; Toupence et al., WO 04/012671; and Colon-Cruz et al., WO-02/070523. Similarly, MCP-1 and/or CCR receptor antagonistic indolopiperidines quaternary amines, spiropiperidines, 2-substituted indoles and benzimidazoles, pyrazolone derivatives, dialkylhomopiperazines, N,N-dialkylhomopiperazines, bicyclic pyrroles, tetrahydropyranyl cyclopentyl tetrahyropyridopyridines, N-aryl sulfonamides, pyrimidyl sulphone amides, 3,4-diamine-3-cyclobutene-1,2-diones, substituted heterocyclic compounds, substituted benzanilides, bipiperidinyl derivatives, and 5-aryl pentadienamides have been reported in the literature. For example, Forbes et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2000, 10, 1803; Mirzadegan et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2000, 275, 25562; Baba et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 1999, 96, 5698; A. Faull and J. Kettle, WO 00/46196; Barker et al., WO 99/07351; Barker et al., WO 99/07678; Padia et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,052; Connor et al., WO 98/06703; Shiota et al., WO 97/44329; Barker et al., WO 99/40913; Barker et al., WO 99/40914; Jiao et al., WO 03/092568; Fleming et al., WO 03/99773; Habashita et al., WO 04/007472; Ebden et al., WO 04/011443; Taveras et al., WO 04/011418; Bondinell et al., WO 04/010942, WO 04/010943 and WO 04/011427; Albert et al., WO 02/081449; and Carson, et al., Cambridge Health Tech Institute Chemokine Symposium, McLean, Va., USA, 1999.
However, the foregoing reference compounds are readily distinguished structurally from the present invention by virtue of substantial differences in the terminal functionality, the attachment functionality, the core functionality, and/or nature of the bicyclic ring system. Accordingly, the prior art does not disclose nor suggest the unique combination of structural fragments that embody the novel compounds described herein. Furthermore, the prior art does not disclose or suggest that the compounds of the present invention would be effective as MCP-1 antagonists.

Substituted fused bicyclic amines as modulators of chemokine receptor activity

Abstract: or pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, wherein Z, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R5′, R6, a, b, c, d, and u are as defined herein. In addition, methods of treating and preventing inflammatory diseases such as asthma and allergic diseases, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis using said modulators are disclosed.


Human RelA-associated inhibitor (RAI) comprises 351 amino acids and is capable of binding to p65, a subunit of the transcription factor NFκB. A process for producing RAI, a cDNA encoding it, a fragment capable of hybridizing selectively to the cDNA sequence, a plasmid for expression and duplication comprising the cDNA, a host cell transformed with the plasmid, an antibody against the polypeptide, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide or the antibody against it and a method for diagnosis of diseases using the antibody against the RAI are disclosed.

An acceleration of expressing many and various genes is observed in inflammation. Such genes include ones encoding interleukin, transcription factors, cohesive molecules, and factors in coagulation system etc. NFκB which is a transcription factor has been said to relate to the transcription of such genes mostly.
It has been known that transcription factor NFκB is expressed in cytoplasm. The transcription and induction of gene due to NFκB-like proteins may be caused by activation of the protein. By such an activation, it becomes possible to translocate the transcription factor prepared in advance from cytoplasm to nucleus.
It is known that this translocation is controlled by phosphorylation and degradation of suppressor protein which is called for IκB.
Transcription factor NFκB was isolated from matured B cells in the form of binding to 10 nucleotide sequence mochief in κ light chain enhancer for the first time. Therefore, NFκB was thought to be specific for the generating stage of matured B cells. However, NFκB-like proteins have been identified in a lot of cells, so it is shown that such a factor relates to induction of gene transcription generally. Such fact has been confirmed by functional identification of an active type NFκB-binding position in some inducing genes.
NFκB is a heterodimer consisting of a submit of 50 kDa (p50) and a submit of 65 kDa (p65).
NF kappa B (NFκB), which is a nuclear factor, is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein complex which regulates the expression of viral genomes, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and a variety of cellular genes, particularly those involved in immune and inflammatory responses. The members of the NFκB family in mammalian cells include the proto-oncogene c-Rel, p50/p105 (NFκB1), p65 (RelA), p52/p100 (NFκB2), and RelB etc.
All of these proteins share a conserved 300 amino acid region of homology known as the Rel homology domain (RHD), which is responsible for DNA binding, dimerization, and nuclear translocation of NFκB.
In most cells, Rel family members can form hetero- and homodimers with distinct specificities in various combinations. A common feature of the regulation of transcription factors belonging to Rel family is their sequestration in the cytoplasm as inactive complexes with a class of inhibitory molecules known as IKBs. Treatment of cells with a variety of inducers such as phorbol esters, intedeukin 1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), viral infection and many mitogens and cytokines etc. results in the dissociation of the cytoplasmic complexes and translocation of free NFκB into the nucleus. The dissociation of the cytoplasmic complexes is known to be triggered by the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of the IKB proteins. Such a degradation exposes the nuclear localization sequence in the remaining NFκB heterodimer, leading to nuclear translocation and subsequent binding of NFκB to DNA regulatory elements within NFκB target genes. The p65 submit is frequently detected in NFκB complexes and has a strong transcription activation potential. p65 dimerizes with other NFκB family members and activates gene expression via its potent transactivation domain.

RelA-associated inhibitor, process for producing the same and utilization thereof


This invention relates to methods of retrieving and maintaining a document-in-folder object from an information processing system. At least one document object which is associated with an identified document filed in the system is identified. The system then builds a plurality of operands which are necessary for retrieving the at least one data object therefrom. The retrieved identified data object is then presented to an end user for viewing. Document objects can also be retrieved through a level-of-nesting associated with a folder document. If the identified document is a folder document, then the level-of-nesting must be specified. The system then retrieves the data objects associated with the identified folder and the specified level of nesting.

In recent times, automation of offices is rapidly becoming a reality for an increasing number of organizations. Office automation helps the organizations integrate data files with text, store and retrieve correspondence and reports electronically, distribute documents electronically and support the day-to-day activities of administrative personnel, professionals and managers.
While some of the benefits of electronic document processing can be realized from a single, stand-alone office system, a network which connects office systems in various locations in the organization increases the productivity of the organization. Physically, a network is a combination of interconnected pieces of equipment and programs used for moving information between points where it may be generated, processed, stored and used. From the viewpoint of an user of the network, the network is a collection of services which are useful in creating, revising, distributing, filing and retrieving documents.
In today's electronic office, documents are physically grouped or stored using one of two following techniques: partition data sets and directories. Partition data sets are storage areas on a disk or other form of storage medium. Documents stored in a partition data set only exist in that storage area and a partition data can not be deleted until all of the documents included therein have been removed. Generally, the documents are filed in the partition data set in the order created and there is no other relationship regarding the order to the documents.
Directories are similar to partition data sets in that they are physical storage areas for documents for files. Documents can not exist in more that one physical storage area. The documents contained in a directory are not logically organized.
In regards to both the partition data sets and the directories, if one filed a group of documents which are related to a general topic and one wanted to review the group of documents, one would have to first locate the partition data set or sets or the directory or directories containing the documents. In partition data sets and directories, documents have to be deleted from the bottom up. It is very difficult to re-arrange documents using these techniques because the documents have to be copied and then deleted. This type of retrieval technique reduces the efficiency of the electronic office.
These prior are techniques facilitates the display of a list of documents which are stored or grouped in a partition data set or directory. However, since a document may be in more than one file, it becomes necessary to know which files contain a particular document. It is not sufficient to know what documents are in file. Knowing where a document exist in the system becomes necessary in maintaining the integrity of the data in the system.

Methods of selecting document objects for documents stored in a folder format within an electronic information processing system

International Business Machines Corporation