A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, includes an ergonomically configured body with a fret board extending therefrom. The body is configured with a S or Z-shaped cross-sectional ration transverse to the fret board to provide support for the arm of the instrumentalist as strings are fingered against the fret board and another sector which comprises a lap support instrument.

In a principal aspect the present invention comprises a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, having an ergonomic design to facilitate comfort when the instrument is being played. The construction is especially applicable to an acoustic instrument.
Stringed instruments have an extremely long and varied history. In ancient times a lyre constituted a type of stringed instrument wherein the strings were generally mounted in a parallel array on a frame so that they could be easily plucked to provide sound as a result of string vibration. Over time, stringed instruments were mounted on a body or a sounding board with an acoustic chamber to facilitate propagation of the sound generated by plucking or other means of effecting vibration of the strings, for example, by means of a bow as with a violin. During the twentieth century and with the development of acoustic sensitive microphones, a range of electric stringed instruments such as electric guitars has become popular, though acoustic instruments still remain popular.
Instrumentalists who are skilled in the playing of a stringed instrument often are faced with the necessity to contort portions of their body such as their fingers, wrists, arms and the like in order to properly play the stringed instrument. As a consequence, various maladies may be contracted by the instrumentalist such as carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to combat such circumstances, ergonomically designed stringed instruments have been proposed. Various approaches have been suggested with respect to such designs including suggestions incorporated in the following patents:
Patent No.TitleIssue Date6,657,112 B1Note Bending by Neck PivotingDec. 02, 20036,034,308Ergonomic String InstrumentMar. 07, 20005,852,249Elongated String Support for aDec. 22, 1998Stringed Musical Instrument4,311,078Bow Playable GuitarJan. 19, 19823,785,239Fret Board For GuitarJan. 15, 19743,739,072Guitar ConstructionJun. 12, 19733,398,623Musical InstrumentsAug. 27, 19683,398,622Musical InstrumentsAug. 27, 1968
Other stringed instrument designs have been suggested to enhance the playability of the instruments such as configuring the instrument in a manner that facilitates playability. Following are some of the patents which could be classified as having such features:
Patent No.TitleIssue Date6,573,439 B2Ergonomic Multi-Position Guitar withJun. 03, 2003Locking Fingertip Tremolo and PickHolders5,994,633Stringed Musical InstrumentsNov. 30, 19995,637,820Stringed Instrument with On-BoardJun. 10, 1997Tuner5,528,971Musical Instrument HavingJun. 25, 1996Stabilization Apparatus4,890,530Stringed Musical InstrumentJan. 02, 19904,339,981Soft Body GuitarJul. 20, 19824,919,029Asymmetric Insert Loaded StringedApr. 24, 1990InstrumentD351,181Ergonomic GuitarOct. 04, 1994D314,783Guitar BodyFeb. 19, 1991D256,026GuitarJul. 22, 1980
Stringed instruments also have enjoyed the imagination of instrument makers in the context of wide variability in the design of such instruments. Following is a listing of various types of stringed instruments and, in particular, guitars which employ multiple variations in terms of their design:
PatentTitleIssue Date6,649,818Multiple Neck Integral Body MusicalNov. 18, 2003Instrument3,392,618Multirange Fretted Guitar TypeMar. 18, 1966Instrument2,250,402GuitarAug. 26, 19401,684,467Stringed Musical InstrumentApr. 30, 19231,183,369GuitarMay 16, 1916D964,660Stringed Musical InstrumentJul. 19, 1910D224,567Stringed Musical InstrumentAug. 01, 1972D224,566Stringed Musical InstrumentAug. 01, 1972D222,562Stringed Musical InstrumentNov. 02, 1971D28,300Harp-Guitar FrameFeb. 15, 18986,667,431Stringed InstrumentDec. 23, 20036,608,247Stringed Musical Instrument withAug. 19, 2003Soundbox Extension5,251,526Rotating Electrical StringedOct. 12, 1993Instrument4,616,550String Support and Neck Device forOct. 14, 1986Stringed Instrument4,606,255Hayashi et al.Aug. 19, 19863,858,480Schneider et al.Jan. 07, 1975D812,049Musical InstrumentFeb. 06, 1906D767,023Musical InstrumentAug. 09, 1904D552,116Stringed Musical InstrumentDec. 31, 1895D474,120Stringed InstrumentMay 03, 1892D417,691Electric GuitarDec. 14, 1999D311,413Guitar BodyOct. 16, 1990D293,118GuitarDec. 08, 1987D277,292Solid Body GuitarJan. 22, 1985D52,539Musical InstrumentOct. 08, 1918D45,566Musical InstrumentApr. 07, 1914D32,088Violin BodyJan. 01, 1900D26,424MandolinDec. 22, 1896
While there is a wide variety of designs for stringed instruments including guitars, to address multiple concerns such as playability, comfort, sound quality and the like, there has developed, with the advent of the electric types of instruments, a need for improved ergonomic benefits along with a desire to provide unique designs. With this background, the present invention was conceived.


Disclosed are various examples for generating an Internet-of-Things (IoT) system topology. A user interface includes a graphical representation of components. A relationship between the plurality of components is determined based on user-defined connections between the components. IoT topology code is generated. The IoT topology code includes the relationship between the plurality of components and properties for individual ones of the components. The IoT topology code is converted to executable gateway instructions that enable a gateway device to communicate with an IoT device. The gateway instructions are transmitted to the gateway device.

Appliances, vehicles, sensors, controllers, actuators, and other devices can gather data and interact with the physical world. This network of devices or Internet-of-Things (IoT) can be utilized to improve operations and provide new services. In order to ensure the security and reliability of IoT device connections in an enterprise setting, the enterprise can utilize a management service capable of protecting IoT device data, as well as email, corporate documents, and other enterprise data from theft, data loss, and unauthorized access. In order to access a network, IoT devices can connect through a gateway or another edge device.
However, providing effective security solutions for IoT devices can be costly in time and effort in an enterprise environment. Edge devices can be in communication with multiple IoT devices. An edge device can require code or instructions that enable communication with the various IoT devices. Different IoT devices can involve a variety of different functionalities and can utilize different communication protocols. It can be difficult to reliably provision instructions for edge devices to communicate with the range of IoT devices. Setting up test systems or manually creating instructions to enable proper communications can cause inefficiencies in time and resources that are frustrating for technicians, administrators, and end users.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Internet of Things system topology generation


There is provided a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement composition that includes the addition of from about 10% by weight to about 30% by weight of calcium hydroxide. The bone cement is used for orthopaedic procedures, injuries, or disease states that have compromised the metabolism of local hard and soft tissues, largely due to an acidic environment. In an aqueous environment, the calcium hydroxide is slowly released from pores in the polymer matrix as calcium and hydroxyl ions to provide a method for stimulating healing by maintaining or elevating local pH in the tissues adjacent to bone cement. It has also been found that the calcium hydroxide ameliorates the toxic effects of antibiotics which are often included in the bone cement.

The present invention relates to a composition for preparing bone cement. More specifically, the present invention relates to bone cement compositions containing calcium hydroxide, a sparingly soluble strong base in an aqueous environment.
There are a number of conditions in which hard and soft tissues may be compromised due to decreased local environmental pH such as open and closed fractures, infections, decreased tissue perfusion, and disease states. Regarding these conditions, bone cement has been commonly used as a structural component, an adjuvant therapeutic agent, and a drug delivery system.
One type of bone cement is made by blending polymerizable materials such as homopolymers or copolymers of methylmethacrylate together with suitable liquid monomers, primarily methylmethacrylate, and a catalyst to form a plastic paste which is inserted into the body and cured. An example of such a bone cement is shown in British Patent No. 1,431,211, which discloses a bone cement composition having a liquid component comprising (a) at least 50% of monomeric methacrylate, up to 5% of a tertiary amine and between 10% and 45% of at least one C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkyl methacrylate, (b) a powder component including polymethylmethacrylate, and (c) a catalytic system such as one including dimethyl-p-toluidine. The British patent warns of the problems that can occur to the bone tissue if the temperature of the exothermic reaction of the polymer during curing rises above a critical temperature.
As a result of trauma and during the rehabilitation of bones after surgery, infection often occurs. To combat the infection, bone cements may also include antibiotics. However, because of the high temperatures caused by the polymer mixture during curing (i.e., during polymerization of polymethylmethacrylate during arthroplasty), the cytotoxicity of liquid methylmethacrylate monomer used for the polymerization, and the high toxic doses of antibiotics needed to treat bone infections, use of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement can lead to locally compromised or necrotic bone.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for stimulating bone cell metabolism by maintaining or elevating local pH in the bone adjacent to bone cement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bone cement composition that ameliorates the toxic effect of an antibiotic as it is released from the bone cement composition.


A composite display device is provided with an optical combiner, a first display unit which displays a virtual image by projecting an image including certain display information to a front surface of the optical combiner, a second display unit which is disposed on a position of a rear surface side of the optical combiner and displays a real image, and a composite display control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composite display device which is formed of a plurality of display units, and relates to, for example, a display device for a vehicle capable of being used as display of a dashboard in a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, in the vehicle, in order to provide information necessary for driving or information illustrating a state of the vehicle to a driver, a meter unit in which various instruments are embedded is built in a dash board in front of a driver seat. Various technologies related to a display device such as the meter unit have been developed than before so as to improve the visibility or the like.
For example, a head up display (HUD) having excellent visibility is already put into practice. Typically, the head up display projects an optical image to be displayed onto a surface of a combiner from an optical projection device. The driver can see an image which is reflected on the surface of the combiner. That is, display details of a display device that the driver can see is image-formed as a virtual image at an actually nonexistent position in front of the combiner. In addition, since the combiner partially transmits light, the driver can see an image such as actually existent scenery outside the vehicle in a state of being overlapped with the display details of the virtual image.
Techniques disclosed in JP-A-6-273690, JP-A-2000-214408 and JP-UM-A-63-96524 are known as the composite display device which is formed of the plurality of display units.
JP-A-6-273690 discloses a display technique relating to a game machine. Specifically, mobile information displayed on a display device 1 such as a CRT is reflected and diffracted by the hologram combiner 4 to form an image 5 which is enlarged and projected at distance. An observer can see the display where this image 5 and a movable or fixed display body 6 arranged at the rear of the hologram combiner 4 are synthesized. That is, the game machine disclosed in JP-A-6-273690 can perform the display in a state where the enlarged and projected image 5 at distance which is displayed as the virtual image and the display body 6 are synthesized. The enlarged and projected image 5 at distance corresponds to the background image of the game and the display body 6 corresponds to the contents of the game.
JP-A-2000-214408 discloses a picture display device capable of coping with the distance between the eyes of each individual and enabling an observer to surely view diffracted light with the right and left eyes. Specifically, an optical image is projected from picture display devices 1R and 1L, which are independently formed in the right and left sides, to a hologram combiner so that a video converged by the hologram combiner 3 is directly projected to the retina of an observer 4 and observed by the observer 4.
JP-UM-A-63-96524 discloses a head up display which causes a parallax to be generated between images reflected on the right and left eyes. Specifically, a symbol of the left eye and a symbol of the right eye are alternately output in time division. In addition, a light valve which alternately shields the light incident on the right and left eyes is provided.


A method for sensorless estimation of rotor speed and position of a permanent magnet synchronous machine the method comprising the steps of calculating first stator flux vector estimate ({circumflex over (ψ)}d,i+j{circumflex over (ψ)}q,i) using the flux model and measured stator currents, calculating second stator flux vector estimate ({circumflex over (ψ)}d,u+j{circumflex over (ψ)}q,u) using the voltage model and measured stator voltages, comparing the directions of the first and second flux vectors to achieve a first error signal (Fε), using speed adaptation to achieve estimates for the rotor angular speed ({circumflex over (ω)}m) and angular position ({circumflex over (θ)}m) from the first error signal (Fε), injecting a known voltage signal (uc) to the stator voltage, detecting a current signal (iqc) from the stator current to form a second error (ε) signal, which is dependent on the estimation error of the rotor position, augmenting the voltage model by the second error signal (ε) to keep the first and second flux vector estimates aligned and so to correct the rotor angular speed ({circumflex over (ω)}m) and angular position ({circumflex over (θ)}m) estimates.

Vector control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) requires accurate information of the rotor position. The simplest method to determine the required rotor position is to use a mechanical sensor. However, the sensor coupled to the shaft is a mechanical component liable to faults, which increases the price of a motor drive considerably. In addition, as the motor drive control is based on information obtained from the sensor, sensor breakage inevitably causes downtime in said motor drive.
In sensorless control, the rotor speed and position are estimated without mechanical sensors either by a fundamental-excitation method or a high-frequency (HF) signal injection method. Fundamental-excitation methods are based on the dynamic model of the motor, while signal injection methods are based on detecting the anisotropy caused by the saliency of the rotor or by magnetic saturation.
The most common ways in connection with the permanent magnet synchronous machine are based on using various flux observers. The operation of the flux observer is based on a voltage model on a synchronous machine, the model being based on the voltage equation of the machine. The initial values required by the voltage equation are inductances and resistances of the machine.
The voltage models produce an accurate estimate on the angular speed of the rotor at its higher values. However, the voltage models have a drawback that at near-zero speed the estimate obtained by the voltage model becomes inaccurate, due to possibly erroneous parameters and measurement inaccuracies together with a low back EMF produced by the machine.
In signal injection methods an extra signal deviating from the fundamental frequency is injected to the motor either in voltage or in current form. This signal provides in the machine an injection frequency response, from which is obtained by demodulation a position tracking signal that can be used for determining the position of the rotor.
Fundamental-excitation methods, such as methods based on flux or voltage models, have good dynamic properties, but they do not allow sustained operation at low speeds. On the other hand, signal injection methods are well suited to operation at low speeds, including standstill, but tend to have limited dynamic performance. For PMSM drives, approaches for combining a fundamental excitation method and a signal injection method have been presented in references [1]–[4].
The problem associated with the prior art methods for determining the position angle is the inaccuracy especially in low-speed region and in zero speed due to possibly erroneous parameter values and sensitivity to disturbances.

Method in connection with permanent magnet synchronous machines


A high-speed, write-once type optical recording medium, which utilizes laser light that is either blue or an even shorter wavelength, as well as an optical recording method and an optical recording apparatus for recording onto this optical recording medium.

In recent years, optical recording media capable of high density, high-speed recording have been keenly sought, and optical recording media capable of undergoing recording and playback with laser beam at blue wavelengths are currently being investigated as one such possibility.
In addition, amongst the optical recording media utilizing this type of blue wavelength laser light, ROM (read only memory) type optical recording media and RW (rewritable) type optical recording media have been proposed, but no write-once type optical media capable of high-speed recording with laser light of a wavelength shorter than blue wavelengths have yet been proposed.
This is because conventionally, layers with a coating of an organic dye are widely used as the recording layer of write-once type optical recording media, but these organic dyes offer inadequate recording sensitivity for high-speed recording, and if the wavelength of the laser light is shortened to improve the recording density, then synthesis of a dye suitable for use with a short wavelength laser light that is either blue or an even shorter wavelength is very difficult.
Furthermore, high-speed recording with a blue wavelength laser light that utilizes a phase-change material in the recording layer has also been proposed, but no write-once type media have been reported.
In addition, media with recording layers formed from inorganic materials also exist, but these media suffer many problems including being unsuitable for high-speed recording, offering unsatisfactory storage reliability in a recorded state, and displaying poor reproductive durability, and in all cases, the media are unsuitable for high-speed, write-once type recording.

Abstract: A high-speed, write-once type optical recording medium 10 having a recording layer 18 and a light transmission layer 22 formed sequentially on top of a support substrate 12, wherein the recording layer 18 is formed by laminating first and second vice-recording layers 18A, 18B which include Al and Sb respectively as primary components, and irradiation of a laser light of blue wavelength from a laser light source 24, through the light transmission layer 22 and onto the recording layer 18, causes diffusion and mixing of the Al and Sb contained within the first and second vice-recording layers 18A, 18B, and this mixing enables the formation of a recording mark based on an irreversible change in reflectance. The thickness of the recording layer 18 is set to enable recording at a recording transfer rate of at least 35 Mbps.


An ammonia converter system and method are disclosed. The reactor can alter the conversion of ammonia by controlling the reaction temperature of the exothermic reaction along the length of the reactor to parallel the equilibrium curve for the desired product. The reactor 100 can comprise a shell 101 and internal catalyst tubes 109. The feed gas stream enters the reactor, flows through the shell 101, and is heated by indirect heat exchange with the catalyst tubes 109. The catalyst tubes 109 comprise reactive zones 122 having catalyst and reaction limited zones 124 that can comprise inert devices that function to both separate the reactive zones, increase heat transfer area, and reduce the temperature of the reaction mixture as the effluent passes through the catalyst tube 109.

This invention relates to a converter for exothermic reactions, and more particularly to a converter and method such as for converting nitrogen and hydrogen to ammonia whereby reduced catalyst usage and/or greater product yields are obtainable.
Ammonia is commonly manufactured by reacting nitrogen and hydrogen in a synthesis loop which can include a compressor, an ammonia synthesis reactor, and an ammonia condensation and recovery step. Unreacted synthesis gas from the synthesis reaction is typically recycled from the ammonia separator back to the compressor and reactor. The synthesis gas can contain argon, methane, and other inert components which are typically removed as a purge stream, thereby avoiding buildup of inerts in the synthesis loop. The purge gas can be further processed in a hydrogen recovery unit, or alternatively supplied directly to the fuel system with or without additional treatment or hydrogen recovery.
Many ammonia production plants operate with a synthesis loop using an iron-based magnetite catalyst in the ammonia converters. Significant advances in the manufacture of ammonia have included the use of highly active synthesis catalysts comprising a platinum group metal supported on graphite-containing carbon, used alone or in conjunction with less active iron based catalysts, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,568,530, 4,568,531, and 4,568,532. Desirably, the platinum group metal is ruthenium, as more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,122,040 and 4,250,057. The highly active catalysts generally allow for increased ammonia production and/or the usage of smaller volumes of catalyst.
In general, contact of the reactants with a catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure conditions effects an exothermic reaction. The heating associated with exothermic reactions can have various positive and negative effects on the reaction. Negative effects can include: poor production rates, deactivation of catalyst, production of unwanted by-products, and damage to the reaction vessel and piping. Most commonly, an excessive temperature increase in the reaction zone either limits selectivity or reduces product yield.
Exothermic reaction processes can encompass a wide variety of feedstocks and products. Examples of moderately exothermic processes can include methanol synthesis, ammonia synthesis, and the conversion of methanol to olefins. Examples of highly exothermic reactions can include oxidation reactions in general, phthalic anhydride manufacture by naphthalene or orthoxylene oxidation, acrylonitrile production from propane or propylene, acrylic acid synthesis from acrolein, the conversion of n-butane to maleic anhydride, the production of acetic acid by methanol carbonylation, and methanol conversion to formaldehyde.
The efficiency of reversible exothermic reactions often depends on the ability to remove the heat generated by the process. The reaction rate and equilibrium generally move oppositely with increasing temperature. Thus, higher reaction temperatures generally result in faster reaction rates and lower overall conversion, while lower reaction temperatures generally result in slower reaction rates and higher overall conversion. For increased conversion in staged reversible exothermic reactions, a high temperature is employed in the early stages of the reaction where the reaction kinetics are more favorable. As the reaction progresses, the temperature in the later stages is reduced to take advantage of the more favorable equilibrium conditions. However, because the reaction is done in stages with interstage cooling, the equilibrium and kinetics are rarely, or only for very briefly, balanced for the maximum reaction rate possible. The present invention employs conditions approximating the optimal reactor operating curve (or temperature progression) which maximizes the reaction rate along a path corresponding to a locus of maximum rates on a temperature-conversion plot. This type of plot generally follows a decreasing temperature profile moving from the reactor inlet to outlet.
Some prior art reactors have relied upon arrangements that contain the reactions in generally adiabatic reactor zones and supply indirect contact with a cooling medium between stages. The geometry of intercooled reactors poses layout constraints that require large reactors and vast tube surfaces to achieve high heat transfer efficiencies. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,799, Noe discloses an ammonia synthesis converter having shell and tube interchangers for cooling the reaction gas streams leaving the catalyst beds with incoming reactant gases. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,011, Lee discloses a fixed bed reactor that partitions a single stage catalyst bed into multiple heat interchanged stages in a single reaction vessel.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,570, Czuppon discloses maintaining a substantially isothermal condition by boiling water on the shell side of a shell-and-tube reactor with catalyst-filled tubes. Disclosed advantages include lower energy consumption, lower purge rates, and higher ammonia production rates. While overall catalyst efficiency can be better than is found in reactors operating at adiabatic conditions, of course, the isothermal condition means that towards the outlet of the reactor, the reaction composition may still approach equilibrium product concentrations, thus limiting further reaction. For an exothermic reaction such as ammonia production from hydrogen and nitrogen, the product ammonia concentration at the outlet end of an isothermal reactor can be higher than the product concentration at the outlet of the adiabatic reactor given sufficient reaction time. This is true because in the adiabatic reactor, with an exothermic reaction such as ammonia production from hydrogen and nitrogen, temperatures increase along the reactor length and the equilibrium product concentration of ammonia is lower at higher temperatures.
Adiabatic fixed bed reactors with interstage cooling have been used in the prior art to provide successive conversion at lower and lower temperatures to improve catalyst efficiency and improve yields. In practice, prior art reaction processes have been limited to two to four stages in one common reactor vessel, with the major limitation being the capital costs associated with interstage heat exchange equipment and multiple reactor stages and/or vessels. In addition, inlet temperature at each bed is necessarily lower than the outlet temperature, which is closer to the equilibrium temperature. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,537, Gam discloses a reactor for the preparation of ammonia from a synthesis gas featuring multiple catalyst beds with intermediate cooling of partially converted synthesis gas between each catalyst individual bed.
In one commercially available prior art ammonia process, four catalysts beds are provided with inter-cooling between each of the beds. The first bed, and sometimes the second bed, can feature an iron-based magnetite catalyst, followed by two or three beds which contain a ruthenium-based catalyst. Reactor temperature at the inlet of each catalyst bed is low due to the increasing temperature profiles in the adiabatic exothermic ammonia synthesis reaction zones. The exothermic nature of the reaction, together with the adiabatic reactor bed design, do not allow the temperature profile to maximize per-pass ammonia conversion, in turn leading to inefficient catalyst use. In such a system, larger amounts of the catalyst are necessary to achieve higher per pass ammonia conversion.
Similarly, isothermal reactors have limitations in the production of ammonia. Synthesis of ammonia using an isothermal reactor generally requires separate external preheating of the feed gas. Additionally, as with the staged adiabatic reactors, typical isothermal reactors have relatively high catalyst requirements to obtain equivalent conversion rates.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a reactor design which controls the temperature of exothermic reactions along the length of the reactor that effectively utilizes a temperature:conversion operating curve that follows the equilibrium curve with a negative temperature offset, and thus maintains a high reaction rate and catalyst efficiency throughout the catalyst bed volume.

Maximum reaction rate converter system for exothermic reactions


A middle portion (13) of an optical fiber encapsulation (11) of an optical fiber ribbon is selectively removed, while leaving intact separated ribbon portions (14, 15) and optical fiber portions (12) extending between the separated ribbon portions. The exposed optical fiber portions are next contained between a pair of first optical fiber support members (18, 19) on opposite sides of the fiber portions. The support members are then preferably contained and encapsulated (FIGS. 7, 8) by injection molding plastic around them, which additionally reinforces the adjacent optical fiber ribbon portions. The optical fiber ribbon is cut for use by cutting transversely through the first support members and the optical fiber portions. This exposes optical fiber ends (27) which are polished for alignment and abutment to other optical fiber ends. The optical fiber support members also define an alignment aperture (20) that extends substantially parallel to the optical fiber portions. Second optical fiber support members supporting second optical fibers are then aligned with the optical fiber portions by an alignment pin (29) inserted into the alignment aperture. Connectors can be mounted at periodic intervals on an entire reel of optical fiber ribbon (FIG. 12).

Optical fibers are coming into increasingly widespread use as an alternative to copper conductors for high-capacity transmission of information. One popular form in which optical fibers are marketed is as optical fiber ribbons, each ribbon comprising a parallel array of optical fibers joined and encapsulated by a plastic encapsulation. Optical fiber ribbons are mass-produced and are often marketed in the form of reels, that is, a length of optical fiber ribbon wound around a cylinder or spool.
Optical fiber ribbon is normally used by cutting a length of ribbon from the reel, stripping the encapsulation from the ends, and manually attaching optical fiber connectors to the fibers protruding from the ends of the ribbon. One example of an optical fiber connector is described in the patent of Bonanni, U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,058, granted Apr. 4, 1989, which comprises a pair of silicon fiber support members into which V-grooves have been made by masking and etching. Free ends of the optical fibers are clamped between V-grooves of the silicon support members. The V-grooves precisely locate the optical fibers of the ribbon so that they can be abutted against a similar connector containing optical fiber ends that are abutted and registered in precise axial alignment. This permits lightwaves on the optical fiber to travel freely through the connector and through the newly connected optical fiber.
Since optical fiber ribbon is now in the nature of a commodity, it is important to reduce the cost at which it and its connectors can be made. Thus, any advance that would allow connectors to be more conveniently attached to optical fiber ribbon, or which would make optical fiber ribbon transmission lines easier to use, would be considered an important and valuable contribution.

Methods for making optical fiber connectors


An asymmetrically bladed ceiling fan including a fan motor, a shaft rotatably connected to the motor and defining a vertical axis, a motor housing substantially enclosing the motor, a first fan blade extending from the housing, a second fan blade extending from the housing, and a first non-blade stabilizer extending from the housing for stabilizing the rotating weight of the fan blades upon actuation of the motor. The stabilizer is non-coincident with the first and second fan blades. The first and second fan blades are asymmetrically positioned relative the vertical axis.

There are two methods of mounting blades to a ceiling fan so that the rotating weight of the fan is stabilized and the fan's center of rotational gravity lies within its vertical axis: (1) An even number of blades are mounted directly across from each other so the rotating weight of one blade is stabilized and matched by its complement; and (2) an even or odd number of blades may be "offset" so the sum of the blades' rotating weight is balanced. In each case, prior ceiling fans have more than one blade arranged in the circle of rotation so that the center of rotational gravity of the fan lies within the vertical axis. Thus, upon rotation, a single bladed ceiling fan generates a center of rotational gravity that lies outside the fan's vertical axis. Such an arrangement is perceived as non-functional and unconventional.
Likewise, a ceiling fan blade mounting arrangement where the blades are not spaced equally around the fan's housing so as to produce a center of rotational gravity that lies outside the vertical axis of the rotating fan is unconventional as well. The present invention addresses this need.


The Ergonomic Access Personal Bullet-Proof Shield Stowage Device comprises a nearly transparent articulable plurality of tension positioned suspended support arms having auto body window sill securing clips, and shield position retention securing clips seated between and connectively attached to an upper and a lower auto window frame for the purpose of enabling the suspension and stowage of a bullet-proof or bullet-resistant shield for immediate/urgent ergonomic access by a passenger when exiting a passenger vehicle. The Ergonomic Access Personal Bullet-Proof Shield Stowage Device may alternatively be used in any window with an upper and lower sill whereupon to position the window sill securing clips.

Today, many military, police, and security personnel operate (function in their job) from a passenger vehicle. All too frequently, the military, police, and security personnel are in situations wherein a bullet-proof shield becomes a vital piece of equipment. A personal sized bullet-proof (bullet-resistant) shield of a quarter of a square meter is sufficient when held at arms length in the direction of gunfire (potential gunfire) can enable the protection of an operator's upper torso, arms, hands, and head.
In searching for a personal sized bullet-proof (bullet-resistant) shield that is immediately and urgently available and ergonomically accessible at the point of need (upon exiting from a passenger vehicle), there is nothing available today. There are bullet-proof and bullet-resistant shields of various sizes made from many forms and formulations of plexiglass so as to be transparent, but there are none that include the capability to mount and store a personal sized shield in close proximity to and in a position so as to be immediately accessible upon exiting from a passenger vehicle. Today, while it is possible to get a personal sized shield that is transparent, and keep it on a seat, a seat pocket, or a door pocket, this simply is not ergonomic, or convenient to access at the time of need, when exiting a passenger vehicle.
Military, police, and security personnel operating from passenger vehicles all too frequently need to immediately and effectively protect themselves from gunfire and potential gunfire. If there were a transparent, personal sized, bullet-proof or bullet resistant shield attached to the surface of a door of their passenger vehicle, military, police, and security personnel would have access to and the capability to use the shield for protection even suddenly when exiting a passenger vehicle or when standing by the passenger vehicle with the door open where a shield is stowed.
In light of the foregoing prior art, there is a need for a transparent shield held in an immediately and ergonomically accessible location that military, police, and security personnel can easily and readily grab when exiting a passenger vehicle.

Ergonomic access personal bullet-proof shield stowage device


A memory system of a computer, such as a lap-top type personal computer, uses a standard memory having a reserve region of, for example, 384 KB or 512 KB, and an extended memory of, for example, 1 MB or 2 MB, mounted in a memory extend slot. The memory extend slot can produce a memory type signal representative of the type of extended memory. A capacity detector detects the capacity of the extended memory mounted in the memory extend slot based on the memory type signal output from the memory extend slot. A memory controller then assigns a reserve region to an address region following the address region of the extended memory, based on the capacity detection signal output from the capacity detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory system having a memory extend function, which is used, for example, in a computer system such as a lap-top type personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional computer system of this type uses a standard memory having a memory capacity of, for example, 512 KB (Kilobytes) or 640 KB. Normally, the memory capacity required in an operating system (OS) is 512 KB or 640 KB.
A memory having a memory capacity of 1 MB (megabytes) has recently been used as a standard memory. In the case of the standard memory of 1 MB, 512 KB or 640 KB is used for the OS, and the remaining 512 KB or 384 KB is reserved for a BIOS (basic input/output system) RAM (random access memory), etc. The memory region used for the OS is referred to as "conventional memory", and the memory region used for the BIOS RAM, etc. is referred to as "reserve region".
There is known a method of effectively using the reserve region in a standard memory. According to this method, a memory region is extended by using an extended memory which can be freely mounted in a memory system. In this case, the address region of the reserve region is assigned to an address region of the extended memory. In other words, the reserve region is used as "EXTENDED memory" to extend the memory capacity of the extended memory.
The "EXTENDED memory" means a memory region which can be directly accessed by a CPU (central processing unit) in a protect mode. In addition to the "EXTENDED memory", an "EXPANDED memory" region is provided. The "EXPANDED memory" is indirectly accessed through a window area. In this description, only the "EXTENDED memory" will be described.
In FIG. 1, a 1 MB-extended memory 12 is coupled to a 1 MB-standard memory 11 having a 384 KB-reserve region. In this example, the reserve region of the standard memory 11 is assigned to memory addresses corresponding to 2 MB to 2 MB+384 KB.
In a conventional computer system, the capacity of the extended memory is fixed. Thus, memory addresses assigned to the reserve region of the standard memory are also fixed. However, in a computer system such as a lap-top type personal computer, extended memories of various capacities such as 1 MB, 2 MB, 3 MB, etc. have recently been used. In a computer system which can use such various extended memories, when the extended memories are used as "EXTENDED memory", the memory address assigned to the 384 KB reserve region in the standard memory needs to be changed from 2 MB to 2 MB+384 KB, 3 MB to 3 MB+384 KB, and 4 MB to 4 MB+384 KB, in accordance with the capacity of the extended memory.

System and method employing extended memory capacity detection


Using high speed data transfer protocol to transfer data between a host and a storage system includes determining if a portion of data is a candidate for being transferred using the high speed data transfer protocol if the portion is not a candidate for high speed data transfer, transferring the data using a relatively low speed data transfer protocol if the portion is a candidate for high speed data transfer, attempting to transfer the data using the high speed data transfer protocol, and if transferring the data using the high speed data transfer protocol is unsuccessful, transferring the data using the relatively low speed data transfer protocol. The high speed data transfer protocol may use a first connection and the relatively low speed data transfer protocol may use a second connection. The first connection may be a PCIe or InfiniBand connection. The second connection may be a FICON connection.

Host processor systems may store and retrieve data using a storage system containing a plurality of host interface units (I/O modules), disk drives, and disk interface units (disk adapters). The host systems access the storage systems through a plurality of channels provided therewith. Host systems provide data and access control information through the channels to the storage system and the storage system provides data to the host systems also through the channels. The host systems do not address the disk drives of the storage system directly, but rather, access what appears to the host systems as a plurality of logical disk units. The logical disk units may or may not correspond to any one of the actual disk drives. Allowing multiple host systems to access the single storage system allows the host systems to share data stored therein.
Communication between a host processor system and a storage system may be performed using conventional protocols and connections, such as FICON and the zHPF protocol, to exchange data and status information between the host processor system and the storage system. In instances where high speed data transfers are desired, faster protocols exist, such as the zHyperlink protocol. However, high speed data transfer protocols often require special conditions that are maintained by dedicated applications running on the host systems. The dedicated applications are written specifically to use and maintain high speed protocol connections. Thus, generic applications end up using slower data transfer protocols because the generic applications are not specifically written to use high speed data transfer protocols even though the generic applications could otherwise benefit from high speed data transfer.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a mechanism that allows generic applications to automatically take be able to us high speed data transfer protocols.


A hearing aid device and process for its manufacture, updating, and/or repair including a resilient outer shell and one or more internal units, with the outer shell conforming in shape to at least one of the internal units so that the internal unit is held snugly in place. The outer shell can be replaced using either a destructive or non-destructive disassembly method to re-use at least one of the internal units.

This invention relates to an custom-moulded ear-plug device.
This invention addresses the problems typically encountered with conventional hearing aids. The solution to these problems, however, is also suitable for use with other types of custom-moulded ear-plugs such as earphones.
The basic premise of this invention lies in the problematic fact that hearing aids are still being manufactured, and replaced, as integral, fixed-design units. Yet when one considers for instance children in their growing stage, it becomes obvious that because of their growth, and as a function of that growth, it is necessary to periodically replace outer-ear and especially in-ear hearing aids. As a result, children are either given cheaper hearing aids or, if they are to use the best available hearing aids, the cumulative cost over the years will be relatively high.
Even if in the case of currently available outer-ear hearing aids it were possible to disassemble the device and to retrofit a new shell in adaptation to the recent growth, the cost incurred would be significant. And in the case of in-ear hearing aids it is so high that it could hardly be justified.
It is the objective of this invention to introduce an custom-moulded ear-plug device with a built-in module enveloped by a shell, and especially a hearing aid whose shells can be replaced at a reasonable cost.
This is achievable with an custom-moulded ear-plug device of the type first above mentioned, whose shell features at least one elastic rubber-like segment that is provided with a module insertion and retrieval port.
That makes it possible to mount or slip the shell of the custom-moulded ear-plug device onto or over the module that is introduced in the insertion port and, conversely, to push the module out of the shell. Where necessary, the module may be removed from a given shell by destroying the latter, for instance by cutting it open, disposing of it as a one-way item, and replacing it with a new shell that is slipped over the module.
In a preferred embodiment of the custom-moulded ear-plug device per this invention, the shell consists of a rubber-like elastic material.
In another greatly preferred embodiment of the custom-moulded ear-plug device per this invention, the elastic properties of the material are additionally utilized in that the shell envelopes and hugs at least part of the module. Indeed, it can be so designed that it not only matches and envelopes at least part of the said module but, given the extensibility of its rubber-like elastic material, that it can be at least partly stretched and friction-mounted. It is therefore particularly preferable for the elastic part to at least partially envelope the module, and at least partially in form-fitting fashion, while it is also entirely possible for a shell section of a material other than a rubberlike elastic material to be form-fitted or even friction-mounted around the module.
For another preferred embodiment it is proposed that the port opening of the rubberlike elastic part is smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the module as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the module into the port of the shell. This essentially creates a phase plate at the elastic section which, when the module is fully inserted into the shell, will at least in part close over the inserted module. The module itself may be in the form of a single, discrete unit incorporating integrated subassemblies such as perhaps potted electronic components, or the module in question may also consist of two or more sub-units which must be inserted in the shell in the proper sequence. The module preferably encompasses a battery and/or one or more electronic components.
Particularly preferred is an custom-moulded ear-plug device per this invention in the form of an in-ear or outer-ear hearing aid.
The custom-moulded ear-plug device per this invention as described so far is equally implementable as an outer-ear and as an in-ear custom-moulded ear-plug unit. Specifically for in-ear custom-moulded ear-plug devices, and among these especially for in-ear hearing aids, the above solution is further enhanced by designing the shell to consist of at least two mutually separable sections. This makes it possible in the case of in-ear custom-moulded ear-plugs, especially including hearing aids, to disassemble the shell and to reuse the modules contained therein with a new shell or a new shell section. For example, if for hygienic reasons it is desirable to prevent the reuse of a previously employed shell section, the two sections are so designed that they can be separated only by destroying one or both of these sections. This can be accomplished for instance by means of an interlocking connection of the sections which can be released only by destroying the interlocking catches. The sections may also be separably connected by means of lock mounts, even bayonet-type couplings. Here, too, as a proposed added feature, the shell would envelope at least part of the module, at least hugging it in form-fitting fashion. Again, the module may be designed as an integral, single unit incorporating several sub-units, or it may consist of two or more parts, encompassing at least a battery and at least one electronic component.
The custom-moulded ear-plug device according to this invention thus makes it possible to replace the shell without wear on the built-in modules. Apart from the growth-related considerations mentioned above, this is always highly useful where the area of application is subject to change which in the case of in-ear hearing aids means changes in the auditory canal. But given the ease with which the shell of the custom-moulded ear-plug device per this invention can be replaced, it is even possible in the case of outer-ear hearing aids to change shells for reasons of preference, for instance for another color of the hearing aid or in general for considerations of aesthetic appearance. Moreover, the replacement of a shell both in the case of outer-ear and most particularly in-ear hearing aids may be desirable for hygienic reasons, in that the custom-moulded ear-plug shell, essentially serving as a one-way item, is replaced in lieu of a cleaning of the custom-moulded ear-plug device which, after all, is a complex matter. This course of action is employed especially in the case of an infected area of application, i.e. of the ear canal where an in-ear custom-moulded ear-plug device is used, and where at relatively short time intervals it is necessary to insert sterile shells, perhaps even serving as medication dispensers which, depending on the progress of the healing process, must be replaced in any event. It is entirely possible to apply on the outside of the shell a medication which will be diffused for instance into the surrounding tissue, thus employing the custom-moulded ear-plug shell as a medication dispenser.
The process according to this invention, as a solution to the problem first above mentioned, is thus further enhanced in that at least one section of the custom-moulded ear-plug shell covering the module is replaced. In a preferred implementation of the process per this invention, the entire custom-moulded ear-plug shell is replaced. Corresponding to the above explanations, a proposed, preferred form of implementation provides for a sleeve-shaped, rubber-like, elastic custom-moulded ear-plug shell to be slipped over the module and, conversely, for the module to be pushed out of the custom-moulded ear-plug shell, or even for the disposable custom-moulded ear-plug shell to be destroyed for instance by cutting it open, following which a new elastic shell is slipped over the exposed module.
For in-ear custom-moulded ear-plugs, the process per this invention is further implemented by designing the custom-moulded ear-plug shell as a unit consisting of at least two sections, by separating these sections for the removal of the module, by replacing at least one of the said sections and by reassembling new shell sections with the module. As stated above, when separated at least one of the sections may be destroyed, and even both especially if it is to be made mandatory that a new shell or at least a new shell section be installed. The timing of a forced shell replacement can be set in a way as to coincide with the need to replace the battery where provided.
The process according to this invention is particularly suitable for hearing aids incorporating expensive modules. The process per this invention is further indicated for in-ear custom-moulded ear-plugs in the case of changes in the ear canal. Both the custom-moulded ear-plug device according to this invention and the process per this invention also lend themselves to the replacement of the custom-moulded ear-plug shell for sterilization purposes and/or for the application of medications.

Custom-molded ear-plug, and process for producing a custom-molded ear-plug device


When maintaining a ground pivot angle of the bucket constant irrespective of any vertical pivotal movement of the boom, a ground angle maintaining controlling section stops a bucket actuator when it is detected that a vertical pivot angle of the bucket has reached an elevation restricted angle which is set smaller by a set angle than an elevation limit angle of the bucket 15 or a lowering restricted angle which is set greater by a set angle than a lowering limit angle of the bucket.

As a front loader configured above, there is one having a link mechanism for maintaining a generally elevated posture of a bucket (implement) by feedback of an elevation motion of a boom from a state of the bucket being placed under the generally elevated posture, to a control valve of a bucket actuator (a tilt cylinder) (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-24431 (Patent Document 1)).


The disclosure generally relates to techniques that may reduce power consumption and improve user experience when using a personal navigation device or other mobile device to navigate along familiar routes or road segments. In particular, in response to a current position associated with the device corresponding to a familiar road segment (e.g., based on an index indicating how often the road segment was previously traversed), voice assistance and a display may be disabled and/or a frequency at which a receiver acquires signals to determine the current position may be reduced. Furthermore, a navigation application executing on the device may be automatically exited if the familiar road segment further includes a route destination. In other use cases, road segment familiarity and travel histories may be used in route planning, managing incoming calls or messages, and media playback, among other things.

Mobile communications networks are in the process of offering increasingly sophisticated capabilities associated with the motion and/or position location sensing of a mobile device. New software applications, such as, for example, those related to personal productivity, collaborative communications, social networking, and/or data acquisition, may utilize motion and/or position sensors to provide new features and services to consumers. Moreover, some regulatory requirements of various jurisdictions may require a network operator to report the location of a mobile device when the mobile device places a call to an emergency service, such as a 911 call in the United States. Such motion and/or position determination capabilities have conventionally been provided using digital cellular positioning techniques and/or Satellite Positioning Systems (SPS). Additionally, with the increasing proliferation of miniaturized motion sensors (e.g., simple switches, accelerometers, angle sensors, etc.), such on-board devices may be used to provide relative position, velocity, acceleration, and/or orientation information.
In conventional digital cellular networks, position location capability can be provided by various time and/or phase measurement techniques. For example, in CDMA networks, one position determination approach used is Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (AFLT). Using AFLT, a mobile device may compute its position from phase measurements of pilot signals transmitted from a plurality of base stations. Improvements to AFLT have been realized by utilizing hybrid position location techniques, where the mobile device may employ an SPS receiver that can provide position information independent of the information derived from the signals transmitted by the base stations. Moreover, position accuracy can be improved by combining measurements derived from both SPS and AFLT systems using conventional techniques. Furthermore, navigation devices often support popular and increasingly important SPS wireless technologies, which may include, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Navigation devices supporting SPS may obtain navigation signals as wireless transmissions received from one or more transmitter equipped satellites that may be used to estimate geographic position and heading. Some navigation devices may additionally or alternatively obtain navigation signals as wireless transmissions received from terrestrial based transmitters to estimate geographic position and heading and/or include one or more on-board inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.) to measure an inertial state of the navigation device. Inertial measurements obtained from these on-board inertial sensors may be used in combination with or independent of navigation signals received from satellite and/or terrestrial based transmitters and/or inertial sensors on a vehicle (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, odometers, etc.) to provide estimates of geographic position and heading.
Although GNSS-based navigation systems can help users to navigate to destinations when users do not know or are uncertain about the routes to the destinations, there are many situations in which the positioning engine in a mobile device continues to operate even though the user may be traveling on a known road segment or the remaining journey to the destination is already known to the user. In at least these scenarios, a personal navigation device (PND) or other mobile device should be able to detect that the road segment or remaining journey to the destination is already known and act accordingly to improve user experience and reduce battery drain, which tends to be one of the most significant problems faced when using mobile devices in a navigation context (whether in a vehicular or pedestrian mode). For example, a mobile device that supports call and message handling tasks may be mounted in a car to perform navigation tasks and PNDs can likewise perform call and message handling tasks when connected to a suitable mobile device. Accordingly, one device (e.g., a mobile device or PND) can support navigation tasks in addition to call and message handling tasks, but users should focus on navigation tasks with high priority when traveling on unknown road segments or road segments that have substantial turns or other spatial characteristics that may require focused attention on driving over other non-navigation tasks. Furthermore, although existing navigation applications allow a device to reject incoming calls, any autoreply messages provided in response to the incoming calls are typically pre-set (e.g., "Hi, I am driving and will call you back") or only provide limited information based on a current location (e.g., based on a speed and location output, an autoreply message may be "Hi, I am at <LOCATION> and will call you back later"). Accordingly, there exists substantial opportunities to reduce battery drain and otherwise improve user experience based on road segment familiarity or other navigation contexts that may have an impact on how much user attention may (or should) be required at a particular point in time.

Reduced power consumption and improved user experience when navigating along familiar routes


The invention provides methods and kits for characterizing the activity of an acetyl transferase or deacetylase. The method involves enzymatically acetylating or deacetylating in vitro a substrate that is a peptide fragment of a full-length polypeptide, and then non-enzymatically acylating the peptide substrate with acyl groups that differ in molecular weight from the enzymatically added or removed acetyl groups. Typically, deuterated acetic anhydride is used to non-enzymatically acylate the substrate. The fully acylated substrate is then characterized by mass spectrometry to determine the amino acid positions of the substrate that are enzymatically acetylated or deacetylated.

The term "epigenetics" refers to modifications in gene expression that are controlled by heritable but potentially reversible changes in DNA methylation and/or chromatin structure. DNA is complexed with histone proteins to form the nucleosome subunits of chromatin. In the basic nucleosome structure, 147 base pairs of DNA are wrapped around an octamer of histone proteins H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Histones are posttranslationally modified by methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. And these posttranslational modifications have been shown to have regulatory effects on chromatin structure and gene transcription (Workman 2006). Thus, posttranslational modification of histones have epigenetic effects.
Acetylation of histones is accomplished by histone acetyltransferases (HATs). Deacetylation of histones is accomplished by histone deacetylases (HDACs). An imbalance of HAT and HDAC activity has been identified in some types of cancer cells (Grigani 1998, Lin 1998, Suzuki 2002). This causes alterations in the acetylation state of histones at certain locations in the chromosomes and changes in gene transcription (McLaughlin 2004).
HATs are a diverse set of enzymes. One subfamily of HATs is the Gcn5 N-acetyl transferases, including Gcn5, PCAF, Elp3, Hat1, Hpa2, and Nut1 (reviewed in Kimura 2005). Another family of HATs is the MYST HATs, including Morf, Ybf2, Sas2, and Tip60 (reviewed in Kimura 2005). Other HATs include p300/CBF and Taf1. The variety of HAT enzymes is further complicated by the fact that HATs reside in multiprotein complexes with other subunits, and changes in the subunit composition of a complex affect HAT activity and specificity.
Histone deacetylases are complex as well. Histone deacetylases are grouped into three classes based on homology with yeast deacetylases. Class I histone deacetylases include HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3 and HDAC8 and are homologous to yeast RPD3. Class II histone deacetylases have several members and are homologous with yeast Hda1. The third class of human histone deacetylases has seven members homologous to yeast Sir2 (Thiagalingam 2003)
Histone acetylation activates transcription and deacetylation silences genes, in general. (Berger 2002). Histone acetylation and other histone modification has been shown to regulate the activity of genes involved in tumorigenesis (Suzuki 2002; Glaser 2003).
The activity of HATs and HDACs varies depending on several factors, including the methylation state of the histone substrate, the amino acid residue in the histone being acetylated or deacetylated, and the chromosome position of the histones. (Cheung 2000, Qin 2006, Gilbert 2007, Lorincz 2001, Espada 2004)
With the emerging importance of histone acetylation and deacetylation in normal gene regulation and aberrant gene regulation in cancer and other diseases, improved tools to characterize the activity and specificity of enzymes catalyzing acetylation and deacetylation of histones and other proteins are needed.

Methods for assaying acetyl transferase or deacetylase activity


A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole layer exposed to an opposing surface opposite a recording medium, applying a perpendicular recording magnetic field to the recording medium; a return yoke layer disposed in the opposing surface opposite the recording medium above or below the main magnetic pole layer, the return yoke layer receiving the recording magnetic field returning thereto after passing through the recording medium; and a planarized nonmagnetic layer filling the surroundings of the return yoke layer to planarized the return yoke layer. Inclined or curved surfaces are formed at both sides in a track width direction of the return yoke layer, the inclined or curved surfaces gradually broadening the dimension of the return yoke layer in the track width direction as the inclined or curved surfaces extend from front end surfaces thereof exposed to the opposing surface opposite the recording medium in the height direction. A cohesive layer is disposed between the return yoke layer and the planarized nonmagnetic layer to increase the cohesive properties between the return yoke layer and the planarized nonmagnetic layer compared with the case in which the return yoke layer is directly connected to the planarized nonmagnetic layer.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording head that records information by applying a perpendicular magnetic field to a recording medium, and to a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is widely known, a perpendicular magnetic recording head has a main magnetic pole layer, a return path layer, a nonmagnetic insulating layer that is disposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the return yoke layer, and a recording coil layer that is disposed in the nonmagnetic insulating layer and that provides a recording magnetic field to the main magnetic pole layer and the return yoke layer. The main magnetic pole layer and the return yoke layer are disposed in a recording medium with a predetermined spacing defined therebetween. The main magnetic pole layer is magnetically coupled to the return yoke layer at the side remote from an opposing surface opposite the recording medium in the height direction. Once electricity is supplied to the recording coil layer, a recording magnetic field is induced between the main magnetic pole layer and the return yoke layer and flows in the recording medium-opposing surface between the main magnetic pole layer and the return yoke layer, thereby generating a recording magnetic field. The recording magnetic field enters a hard film of the recording medium in a perpendicular fashion from a front end surface of the main magnetic pole layer exposed to the recording medium-opposing surface. The recording magnetic field passes through a soft film of the recording medium and returns to the return yoke layer to thereby complete magnetic recording on the recording medium in the portion that opposes the main magnetic pole layer. In the vicinity of the return yoke layer, in order to secure a patterning precision of layers to be laminated above the return yoke layer, a planarized nonmagnetic layer composed of a nonmagnetic material such as Al2O3 or SiO2 is formed. A planarizing process is performed so that the upper surface of the planarized nonmagnetic layer and the upper surface of the return yoke layer are disposed on the same surface.
In such a perpendicular magnetic recording head, the return yoke layer is generally formed in a rectangular shape in top view. However, when the return yoke layer is formed in the rectangular top shape, an external magnetic field or the recording magnetic field returning from the recording medium is likely to concentrate on angular parts of the return yoke layer including the front end surface thereof exposed to the recording medium-opposing surface and both end surfaces thereof in the track width direction. In such angular parts of the return yoke layer, information is unintentionally written to or erased from the recording medium. According to a proposal regarding prevention of the undesired writing or erasure by the return yoke layer, inclined or curved surfaces are formed at both sides of a return yoke layer (or an auxiliary magnetic pole layer) in the track width direction. The inclined or curved surfaces gradually broaden the dimension of the return yoke layer in the track width direction as the inclined or curved surfaces extend from a front end surface of the return yoke layer exposed to the recording medium-opposing surface in the height direction. A perpendicular magnetic recording head having such inclined or curved surfaces is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2004-039148 and 2004-280921. According to the perpendicular magnetic recording head, an external magnetic field or the recording magnetic field returning from the recording medium is absorbed by a wide range of areas of the inclined or curved surfaces, thereby suppressing the recording magnetic field concentration. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the undesired writing or erasure by the return yoke layer, thereby improving resistance to an external magnetic field and reliability.
However, when the inclined or curved surfaces are formed at both side of the return yoke layer in the track width direction, a planarized nonmagnetic layer that is exposed to the recording medium-opposing surface and that covers from the recording medium-opposing surface to the inclined or curved surfaces peels off or cracks during a polishing processing for forming the recording medium-opposing surface or during a post-process cleaning (ultrasonic cleaning). Although the resistance to the external magnetic field increases as the angle (an angle between the recording medium-opposing surface and the inclined or curved surfaces) of the inclined or curved surfaces at both sides of the return yoke layer in the track width direction decreases, the peeling or cracking of the planarized nonmagnetic layer becomes more prominent as the angle decreases.

Perpendicular magnetic recording head and manufacturing method thereof


A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a carrier supporting circumferentially arranged gears within gear mount sections spaced circumferentially about a periphery. A shelf is disposed between each of the gear mounting sections. A torque frame is attached to the carrier and includes circumferentially arranged finger sections. Each of the finger sections includes first and second ends that are spaced apart to receive the shelf. A pin extends through openings in the shelf and first and second ends to secure the torque frame to the carrier.

A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. Air entering the compressor section is compressed and delivered into the combustion section where it is mixed with fuel and ignited to generate a high-speed exhaust gas flow. The high-speed exhaust gas flow expands through the turbine section to drive the compressor and the fan section. A speed reduction device such as an epicyclical gear assembly may be utilized to drive the fan section such that the fan section may rotate at a speed different than the turbine section so as to increase the overall propulsive efficiency of the engine.
One type of epicyclical gear assembly includes a carrier supporting multiple intermediate gears such as star or planet gears. The intermediate gears intermesh with a centrally located sun gear and a ring gear circumscribes the intermediate gears. A torque frame is used to support the carrier relative to another structure that may be fixed or rotating. A connection between the torque frame and carrier provides for the transmission of torque and is designed to endure the mechanical stress and strains encountered during operation. However, the larger the connection features, the less space is available for the intermediate gears. Moreover, the carrier and torque frame also contribute to the overall structural weight of the gear assembly.
Accordingly, it is desirable to design and develop improved connection features to provide the desired mechanical and durability properties while providing increased space for gears of the gear assembly.

Geared architecture carrier torque frame assembly


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for selecting a negotiation counterpart. Specifically, the first device sends a discovery message in the network, and the discovery message includes a technical objective. The first device receives a first response message with which a second device replies, and receives a second response message with which a third device replies. The first response message carries information about a characteristic that is of the second device and that supports implementation of the technical objective, and the second response message carries information about a characteristic that is of the third device and that supports implementation of the technical objective. The first device can select a device with a higher technical objective support degree from the second device and the third device as the negotiation counterpart according to the first response message and the second response message.

A success of the Internet results in an increasingly large and complex network based on an Internet Protocol (IP). Therefore, a network automation requirement is ever-increasing. To implement autonomy, a network device needs to discover another network device as required and perform negotiation. Before negotiating with another network device, a first device in a network needs to find a negotiation counterpart by using the following process. The first device sends a discovery message to the another device in the network, to initiate a discovery process. The discovery message includes a technical objective corresponding to the initiated discovery process. The technical objective is used to indicate a purpose of initiating the discovery process by the first device. The discovery message is used to find a device supporting the technical objective in the network.
For example, if a second device determines that the second device supports the technical objective, the second device may reply to the first device with a response message, to notify the first device that the second device supports the technical objective. If the second device determines that a third device supports the technical objective, the second device may also reply to the first device with a response message, to notify the first device that the third device supports the technical objective. In this case, the response message may include a locator option field. The locator option field carries identification information of the third device. The first device may determine, according to the received response message, a device supporting the technical objective in the network. In a practical application, one or at least two devices supporting the technical objective may exist in the network. When at least two devices supporting the technical objective exist in the network, the first device selects one device from the devices supporting the technical objective as the negotiation counterpart, and then establishes a negotiation process. In the prior art, the first device may use a random policy to randomly select one device from the devices supporting the technical objective as the negotiation counterpart. Alternatively, the first device may use a fixed policy to select the negotiation counterpart from the devices supporting the technical objective, for example, to select a device closest to the first device, or a device that supports the technical objective and is corresponding to a response message that is first received by the first device.
The discovery message includes multiple types of technical objectives, for example, "reserving a bandwidth", "finding an address resource", and "establishing a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel". Different technical objectives impose different requirements on the negotiation counterpart. For example, for a technical objective of "reserving a bandwidth", a device that can provide a higher available bandwidth is more suitable to act as the negotiation counterpart. For a technical objective of "finding an address resource", a device that provides a longer consecutive address segment is more suitable to act as the negotiation counterpart. For a technical objective of "establishing a VPN tunnel", a device with a larger forwarding capacity is more suitable to act as the negotiation counterpart. However, in the prior art, using the random policy or the fixed policy to select the negotiation counterpart cannot ensure that the first device can select a relatively suitable negotiation counterpart. If a selected negotiation counterpart is not suitable, it cannot be ensured that an ideal negotiation effect can be obtained when the first device performs a subsequent negotiation operation with the negotiation counterpart.

Method for selecting negotiation counterpart, method for responding to discovery message, and related apparatus


The invention provides for DNA encoding Fas ligand muteins and chimeras and the proteins encoded thereby. The invention further includes the use of DNA and vectors to produce transformed cells expressing the mutant or chimeric Fas ligand. When the Fas ligand of the invention is a non cleavable form, the cells expressing the Fas ligand are useful in vitro for identifying Fas expressing cells and in vitro or in vivo for reducing populations of Fas expressing cells. Thus, in other embodiments, the present invention is also directed to a method for treating a patient, for example a mammal, for autoimmune disease or transplant rejection by administering a Fas ligand therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent is a polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or a small molecule. The polypeptides include full-length Fas ligand polypeptide, or a biologically active variant, derivative, portion, fusion or peptide thereof.

The tumor necrosis factor superfamily includes ligands that bind the corresponding members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily of receptors. Such members of the receptor superfamily include, for example, tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFR) (type I or 55K or TNFR60 and type II or 75K or TNFR80), CD30, nerve growth factor receptor, CD27, CD40, CD95/APO-1 or Fas, CD120a, CD120b, lymphtoxin beta receptor (LT beta R), and a TRAIL receptor. The receptors of this family are membrane bound and recognize soluble or membrane bound ligands that mediate diverse cellular responses. The corresponding ligands for these receptors include in some cases membrane or soluble forms and include, for example, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), CD30 ligand, nerve growth factor, CD70/CD27 ligand, CD40 ligand, Fas ligand, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand TRAIL (as described in Wiley et al, Immunity 3:673-82 (1995)). The ligands of the superfamily, including Fas ligand, are type II transmembrane glycoproteins with beta strands that form a jelly-roll beta-sandwich as described in Lotz et al, J. of Leukocyte Biol 60: 1-7 (1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference. Treatment of autoimmune diseases present a unique challenge to molecular biology and medical research. Autoimmune diseases affect between 5 and 7% of the human population, often causing chronic debilitating illnesses, as described in Kuby, IMMUNOLOGY, (W. H. Freeman, N.Y. 1992).
Although precise details of an autoimmune response are incompletely understood, the outcome of antigenic stimulation, whether antibody formation or activated T-cells, or tolerance, seems to depend on the same factors whether a reaction to auto-antigen or exogenous antigen, as described in THE MERCK MANUAL, 16th edition (Merck & Co. Inc. 1992). Also described in THE MERCK MANUAL are four classes of auto-antigens. Class 1 is antigens from intracellular regions of the cells of the body that, by virtue of their sequestration from the immune system, are not recognized as "self" in the body once secreted. For example, sympathetic ophthalmia causes the release of eye antigens, and a subsequent self reaction to the antigen. Class 2 is represented by self antigens that may become immunogenic by chemical, physical, or biological alteration, for example, when a chemical couples to a self antigen and produces a "foreign" reaction, for example in contact dermatitis and hypersensitivity to drugs. Class 3 is represented by foreign antigen that cross reacts with self antigen, and induces a self reaction to the self antigen, for example, as shown with the development of encephalitis after rabies vaccination. Class 4 is represented by a mutation in immunoincompetent cells, such as the autoimmune phenomena seen with mammals having lymphoma. Finally, an autoimmune reaction may be epiphenomena, developing secondarily after an immune response to an obscure antigen, for example, a virus. All autoimmune diseases have in common an involvement of the immune system, and many involve either activated B-cells, activated T-cells, or both.
Although various ameliorative and palliative therapies exist for some autoimmune diseases, and while the autoimmune diseases can spontaneously regress in a remission, effective treatment has yet to be developed for treating autoimmune diseases. It would be desirable to advance the capacity of medical and clinical research to develop effective treatments of autoimmune diseases by discovery of new methods and new therapeutic agents targeting the molecular biology of autoimmune diseases.

Nucleic acids encoding mutant forms of Fas ligand


An anti-bacterial water absorbing agent having excellent water absorption, anti-bacterial activity, and powder flow properties. The agent is useful in the manufacture of absorbent materials particularly for absorbing urine, blood, and body fluids and the like. The agent comprises a water absorbing resin (A) having pendant acid groups, at least on acid group being in the form of a quaternary ammonium salt having the general formula (1). ##STR1## wherein --X.sup.- is an anionic pendant group covalently bonded to backbone in the water absorbing resin (A) and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are organic groups. In embodiments, at least one of the organic groups on the ammonium ion is an aliphatic alkyl group having 5 to 20 carbons. At least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is a C.sub.5 to C.sub.20 aliphatic alkyl group. The resin has a quaternary nitrogen atom content of about 2.times.10.sup.-4 % to about 0.8% by weight.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anti-bacterial water absorbing agent which has excellent water absorption performance, anti-bacterial performance, and powder flow properties. The anti-bacterial water absorbing agent is suitable for the manufacture of absorbent materials for absorbing urine, blood, and body fluids. The invention is further directed to a method of producing said agent and an absorbent material using said agent.
2. Description of the Related Art
Water absorbing resins are widely used in absorbent materials or absorbing articles including disposable diapers, incontinence pads, sanitary napkins, nursing pads, sheets for pets, absorbent materials for pets littex, excretion treating agents, waste blood gelling materials, drip absorbers, and freshness retaining materials. These devices rely on the water absorption/retention capacities and gelling properties of the resin. Although the conventional water absorbing resins have excellent absorption/retention capacities for urine, blood, and other body fluids, these prior materials do not have anti-bacterial properties.
Therefore, when the water absorbing resin absorbs urine, blood, and other body fluids, the organic materials contained in the liquids being absorbed are degraded by bacteria, fungus and other microorganisms, thereby causing, for example, malodors, skin irritations, and rashes. Furthermore, the resulting hydrogels are also easily putrefied by the bacteria in the air resulting in the development of odors. To overcome these problems, materials which exhibit both absorption and anti-bacterial properties are desired to provide a hygienic and safe environment. The development of odors and rashes is a serious problem in absorbent materials such as disposable diapers for the bedridden elderly and the sick, so that an early solution to the problem is desired.
Several materials have been proposed for controlling odor and bacterial growth in absorbent materials. One example is a powder mixture of a water absorbing resin and a zeolite as disclosed in Japanese Kokai Nos. 57-25813, 59-179114, and 59-189854. Another example includes a composition of activated carbon coated with a water absorbing resin as disclosed in Japanese Kokai No. 56-31425. A further composition consisting of a water absorbing resin and a deodorant component extracted from camellia is disclosed in Japanese Kokai No. 60-158861. A water absorbing resin composition containing a specific anti-bacterial agent of benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine gluconate, and various phosphates is disclosed in Japanese Kokoku No. 4-17058, and Kokai No.5-179053. These compositions have been proposed for use in the manufacture of absorbent materials.
However, these prior compositions are not entirely satisfactory in controlling odors and preventing putrefaction of fluids in an absorbent material. These water absorbing resins require treatment with an anti-bacterial compound to provide anti-bacterial and deodorant activity. In addition, the powder flow property is degraded by the treatment which is necessary to provide the anti-bacterial and deodorant activity.
The prior compositions which include a mixture of a water absorbing resin and a zeolite can adsorb some odors. However, since neither the water absorbing resin nor the zeolite have anti-bacterial effect, the composition cannot suppress putrefaction of organic materials caused by bacteria, fungus or other microorganism, and cannot suppress the development of odors. In addition, the conventional absorbent materials cannot prevent the occurrence of skin irritations and rashes. The separation of the zeolite from the water absorbing resin by shaking or impacting increases the likelihood of dust particles becoming airborne. In addition there is a wide variation in the odor control activity of the resulting composition.
Compositions of activated carbon coated with a water absorbing resin and compositions consisting of a water absorbing resin and a deodorant component extracted from camellia, are also not able to suppress putrefaction of organic materials caused by microorganisms and fungus, since the activated carbon and the deodorant component extracted from camellia have no anti-bacterial activity.
A water absorbing resin compound containing a benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine gluconate, or phosphate exhibits anti-bacterial effect to some extent, but generally is not satisfactory. This composition has limited effectiveness in controlling or suppressing the growth of certain kinds of bacteria, fungus and other microorganisms. Further, the powder flow property of the water absorbing resin treated with the anti-bacterial agent is considerably reduced depending on the amount of the anti-bacterial agent used.
Furthermore, special steps or operations are required to fix a zeolite, activated carbon, or a deodorant extracted from camellia to the water absorbing resin. Accordingly, a need exists for improved water absorbing compositions having water absorbent and anti-bacterial properties.

Anti-bacterial water absorbing agent and anti-bacterial water absorbent material


The invention relates to an analysis system which, by means of a reagent cartridge opening module, permits automatic opening of reagent vessels which are closed by screwing. The reagent cartridge opening module for this purpose has catch elements which can lock securely against rotation in correspondingly configured catch elements of a reagent vessel lid. In addition, the reagent cartridge opening module and the reagent vessel lid are connected via snap-in elements, so that transport of the reagent vessel lid perpendicular to the plane of the rotational movement is possible.

Stringent demands are placed on automatic analysis devices, especially in large-scale laboratories in which a high sampling rate must be permitted. Here, the analysis devices must be able to deal with a large number of reaction vessels with different samples and must be able to allocate these to different reagent containers. In this connection, pipetting devices, inter alia, are used to permit analysis of a sample by addition of the corresponding reagents and also further sample processing steps. Thus, with fully automatic treatment of reagents and samples, even labour-intensive analysis procedures can be performed reliably and quickly without requiring the involvement of specialized personnel for specialized analysis procedures. A demand placed on a fully or partially automated analysis procedure is, for example, the handling of sample quantities of different sizes which require a corresponding quantity of reagents. A fully automatic analysis system has to satisfy a wide variety of requirements. There are analysis systems with a high throughput and others with a low throughput, as are outlined in brief below.
In analysis systems for low throughputs of reagents, the cycle time for liquid removal is approximately 4 to 10 seconds, with the pipetting needle piercing the vessel lid upon each removal. The reagent cartridge has a relatively long dwell time on the device because of the low throughput. The dwell time is extended still further if the reagent cartridge contains seldom used reagents which are not often called upon and which accordingly can remain for up to 4 weeks in the analysis system with low throughputs. In these reagent cartridges, there is a need for a high level of protection against evaporation.
In analysis systems distinguished by a high throughput of reagents, there is generally a short cycle time of between 1 and 4 seconds for the pipetting and the positioning of reagent rotor and pipetting needle. Because of the short cycle time, piercing of the funnels with the pipetting needle is not possible. Because of the high throughput of reagents, the dwell time of the respective reagent cartridges on such analysis systems is only one to two days, for which reason evaporation from an opened flask can be tolerated here.
The handling of very small volumes is described, for example, in EP 0 504 967. Said document discloses reagent containers which permit the removal of small volumes and in which evaporation or aging of the remaining fluid in the container during further processing steps is avoided.
For this purpose, the reagent container has a suitably designed lid which, on one hand, is suitable for removal of liquid and, on the other hand, suppresses evaporation of the contents of the container. The lid has, in the middle of its base, a circular opening which is directed into the lid interior and opens out in a conical tip. For removing a sample, the tip of the cone is first pierced so that a pipetting needle, which is provided for removing very small sample quantities, can then be introduced into the vessel. When the reagent has been removed from the vessel, a small opening remains exclusively at the tip of the cylinder. After removal of the sample, the small opening at the cylinder tip of the lid also ensures that almost no liquid evaporates from the reagent container and that the content of the vessel does not undergo changes due to contact with, for example, atmospheric humidity or oxygen in the environment. Further details of this vessel closure can be taken from the prior art.
However, if a higher throughput and shorter processing times are to be achieved, the pipetting device, if it is to permit efficient handling of samples, must be equipped with correspondingly large pipetting tips to take up liquid. To ensure that in this case too the larger pipetting tips can still be inserted into the interior of the reagent vessel, a larger opening in the lid would be necessary.
In the prior art, many possible ways are described for producing openings in a closure of a reagent vessel. As is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,101 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,896, this can be done by means of a ball being pushed through the shaft of a reagent vessel lid with the aid of a pin. The ball is pushed into the interior of the reagent container so that reagent liquid can then be removed through the shaft. Other possibilities, for example piercing a closure cap by means of a cannula as in document WO 83/01912, are likewise conceivable. The diameter of the opening can be chosen according to the size of the shaft or the cannula.
An alternative to an enlarged opening in a reagent closure involves removing the lid of the reagent containers prior to use.
In the prior art, this type of sample handling is used, for example, in analysis systems in the field of clinical-chemical analysis of biological samples. To remove a desired quantity of liquid reagent, the reagent is removed from the open reagent container and is transferred by means of an automatic pipetting device into a reaction cuvette. For each pipetting procedure, an electromechanically driven arm of the pipetting device is guided to an open reagent container so that handling of samples can take place in the desired manner. The content of a standard reagent container in this case suffices for a large number of pipetting procedures. In this connection, it has been found that fluid evaporates during the analysis method before it can be completely used up, on one hand through the removal of the reagent closure and on the other hand through the creation of a large opening in a closure cap. Especially in rooms with low atmospheric humidity, considerable amounts of the reagent solution are often lost through evaporation. One consequence of this is that the evaporation causes an increase in the concentration of the reagent in the fluid. By contrast, the volume of the reagent solution increases when using open reagent containers in rooms with relatively high atmospheric humidity, or through condensation water forming when cooled reagents are used so that the reagent concentration decreases over the course of time. Moreover, when open reagent containers are used, there is an exchange of gas with the surrounding air, which among other things causes aging of a reagent. Such effects on the reagent, in particular on the reagent concentration, result in a deterioration in the analysis precision. It has additionally been found that a removal of the reagent closure often has to be done manually. Under these circumstances, the laboratory personnel must take new reagent containers from their packaging and first of all remove the closure in order then to place the open reagent container in the analysis system in place of an empty reagent container. Since it often happens that many different reagents are needed at different times in one and the same analysis system, manual handling by laboratory personnel requires considerable labor. When reclosing the containers, it must additionally be ensured that the closures are not mixed up. In procedures carried out manually, the possible confusion of the closures represents a source of uncertainty.
In the prior art, therefore, methods are described which permit automatic removal of a reagent container closure. The document EP 0 930 504 discloses a lid-gripping device which is intended for automatic handling of a lid on sample vessels. The lid of the sample vessels in this case has a spike around which the lid-gripping device can grip. By means of a chuck, the lid is held so securely that, when the lid-gripping device is lifted, the lid is completely detached from the vessel, while a holding-down sleeve holds the vessel down to prevent lifting of the vessel.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,489 likewise discloses an automatic system for opening reagent vessels. Here, a pin of a gripping device is inserted into a groove provided for this purpose in the lid. At one end, the pin has a bead which allows the pin to be clamped in the groove of the lid. The lid can then be removed from the reagent vessel by lifting the pin.
Moreover, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,059, a device is described which allows a lid to be removed from the reagent vessel. However, the prior art described discloses only an automatic opening of reagent vessels closed by a stopper. Usually, stoppers are only used to close test tubes in which, for example, blood or another liquid from the human or animal body is received, but not reagent vessels. A disadvantage of the prior art is in this case that the mechanisms described do not permit opening of a screw-type closure of a reagent vessel. In practice, however, it has been found that, for reagent vessels which often contain a volatile fluid, a screwable closure is particularly suitable since such a screw-type closure guarantees a reliable sealing of the vessel.
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,340 describes the removal of a reagent closure which is secured on the vessel by screwing. In this case, opener and reagent lid interact in the manner of a bayonet closure. Through a guide groove formed in the reagent closure, the automatic opener can insert a pin along the guide groove by rotation into the lid until this is mounted against a limit stop of the guide groove. If the rotational movement is continued in this direction, turning the lid off from the reagent vessel is possible. By rotating the opener in the opposite direction, the connection between lid and opener is released again. A disadvantage of the prior art is the fact that a precise production of the bayonet closure on the lid is an essential requirement for ensuring the functional reliability of the system. The screwing operation, after filling of the vessel, must guarantee a narrowly tolerated angle position of the bayonet closure and also have a good sealing effect.
Moreover, the opener must be guided with precision to the respective reagent vessel to permit engagement of the pin of the opener in the bayonet closure. This requires either a precise placement of the reagent vessels in the analysis system or a detection of position by the analysis system for the respective reagent vessel. Moreover, complex tools are needed for producing the reagent lid, with the result that the production costs are increased. Particularly in the case of reagent vessels handled as disposable articles, this is a considerable disadvantage. Before the opener, after removal of a first lid, can be used again to open reagent vessels, the lid additionally has to be removed from the opener. In the example described, additional measures are needed to do this, which measures permit rotation of the lid in the opposite direction so that the lid can be removed from the opener.

System for automatic opening of reagent vessels