A data path controller, a computer device, an apparatus and a method are disclosed for integrating power management functions into a data path controller to manage power consumed by processors and peripheral devices. By embedding power management within the data path controller, the data path controller can advantageously modify its criteria in-situ so that it can adapt its power management actions in response to changes in processors and peripheral devices. In addition, the data path controller includes a power-managing interface that provides power-monitoring ports for monitoring and/or quantifying power consumption of various components. In one embodiment, the data path controller includes a power-monitoring interface for selectably monitoring power of a component. It also includes a controller for adjusting operational characteristics of the component for modifying the power consumed by the component to comply with a performance profile, which generally specifies permissible power consumption levels for the component.

Power requirements for computing devices have been increasing as they include a growing number of components that operate at higher speeds and data transfer rates, thereby drawing larger amounts of power. Many computing devices have implemented power management functions to manage the power consumption according to a particular configuration or application for the computing devices. While functional, traditional approaches to managing power have a variety of drawbacks, some of which are described next.
One approach to managing power is to mount a microcontroller or discrete logic onto a motherboard for regulating component power. A drawback to this approach is that it is relatively inflexible. In particular, this approach fixes both the power requirements of the computing device and its components at the time of manufacture. Further, this approach is relatively inflexible in that its power management capabilities are limited to processors and devices that were present when the motherboard was built. As a result, traditional power management techniques cannot readily manage the power of later-added processors and/or peripheral devices after the time of manufacturing. Another drawback is that motherboard manufacturers must generally dedicate space, power and interconnect lines to implement the microcontroller or discrete logic. Yet another drawback to this approach is that it does not provide input/output ports that can be configurable to monitor various kinds of peripheral devices that affect overall power consumption.
Another approach to managing power is to engage an operating system ("OS") of a computing device to manage power for the motherboard. This approach relies primarily on one or more processors as well as system memory to execute instructions of a power management algorithm. A drawback to this approach is that when the processor enters an idle state, it halts execution of instructions for all programs, including those related to OS-based power management. Accordingly, OS-based power management techniques cannot readily monitor and/or modify the activity levels of devices during the time the processor is idle. Activity levels of peripheral devices and power supply devices therefore cannot be assessed or acted upon when the power management algorithm is halted. Another drawback is that OS-based power management techniques burden the processor, thereby consuming processing cycles that otherwise would be used to perform other tasks. Further, this approach usually competes with other processor priorities to acquire processor cycles, thereby hindering power management resources from responding quickly to power-related events. As such, the power management resources remain latent while the processor performs other tasks. In some cases, the power-related events are unobservable by an OS-based power management system because the power-related events occur too quickly for the processor to detect, thereby foregoing opportunities to reduce power consumption. One example of an OS-based power management scheme is set forth in the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface ("ACPI") Specification, which is an open industry specification co-developed by various corporate entities.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a data path controller, a computer device, an apparatus and a method that minimizes the above-mentioned drawbacks, thereby facilitating power management by regulating operation of the components of a computing device, both individually and collectively.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Data path controller with integrated power management to manage power consumption of a computing device and its components


A secure software update provides an update utility with an update definition, a private encryption key and a public signature key to a target device. A software update package is prepared on portable media that includes an executable update program, a checksum for the program that is encrypted with a symmetrical key, an encrypted symmetrical key that is encrypted with a public encryption key and a digital signature prepared with a private signature key. The update process authenticates the digital signature, decrypts the symmetrical key using the private encryption key, and decrypts the checksum using the symmetrical key. A new checksum is generated for the executable update program and compared to the decrypted checksum. If inconsistencies are detected during the update process, the process is terminated. Otherwise, the software update can be installed with a relatively high degree of assurance against corruption, viruses and third party interference.

The present disclosure relates generally to software update mechanisms that verify software prior to installation, and relates more specifically to implementation of software updates with a secure verification prior to installation.
Various types of devices running software applications, including embedded devices that often operate on a standalone basis, may be provided with software updates over the course of their useful lifetime cycle. In the case of computer devices, such as desktop PCs and other general purpose computers, updates are typically performed through a communication link, such as may be provided with a network connection to a LAN, WAN, intranet or internet. A communication link permits the computer to download or retrieve updates that can be installed on the computer with relative ease.
In the case of standalone devices that include a computational engine and software, such as is often present in embedded systems, software updates tend to be implemented with a physical component. For example, some standalone devices may be updated by replacing a ROM that is programmed to include the new software update. Another approach might be to replace a RAM card or load software into semi-permanent memory from magnetic or electronic media. In some instances, embedded systems are updated by applying a communication link, such as a network connection, to the device to upload new software.
One issue that arises in relation to the installation of software updates is the verification of the software update prior to installation and execution of the software. The verification is often conducted to ensure that the software is not corrupted, modified or infected with viruses, for example. One popular technique to verify software is to compute a checksum for a given file used for the software update installation. Often, the software update is in the form of a binary or image type file, to which a checksum algorithm can readily be applied. A typical checksum algorithm is the MD5 (Message-digest algorithm 5) algorithm, in which blocks of the file to which the algorithm is applied are combined according to a recursive algorithm to produce a highly unique number that represents the file content. MD5 is sometimes referred to as a cryptographic hash function, and provides a 128 bit hash value or checksum. Due to the extremely low likelihood that different file contents can produce the same checksum, MD5 is often used to validate the integrity of an accompanying file.
Due to the potential security issues involved for software updates, such as corruption, modification or malicious code being embedded in a software update file, techniques have been developed to further secure software files for software updates. The security measures may include techniques to secure the file content and/or the checksum value against tampering or corruption. One such security technique is the application of encryption to the file content and/or checksum value, such as may be achieved through the use of public/private key pairs used to encrypt and decrypt data. This type of asymmetric encryption uses the private key to decrypt data that is encrypted using the public key. If the software of a particular device were to be updated using this type of security, the private key would be distributed to the device to be updated, which tends to thwart the purpose of the public/private key pair security design.
Another security measure that might be used to secure data is to obtain and apply a digital certificate in conjunction with an electronic signature. The digital certificate provides a high level of verification that a document originates from a claimed source. Typically, a document or data is processed to produce a relatively unique value, such as a hash value or a checksum. The hash value or checksum is encrypted using a signer's private key of an asymmetrical public/private key pair to produce a digital signature. A digital certificate is formed using the digital signature, resulting in digitally signed data that can be transmitted and authenticated at a remote location by extracting the original data, computing the hash value or checksum for the data, decrypting the digital signature using the public key of the public/private key pair to obtain the original hash value or checksum, and then comparing the computed and transmitted hash values or checksums to determine whether the digital signature is valid and to authenticate the source and integrity of the data.
However, digital certificates are often provided with an expiration date to help ensure current validity of the certificate and resulting digital signatures. In addition, digital certificates are often checked for validity themselves to ensure they are current and valid, which checking is often accomplished over a communication link to maintain the digital certificate on an ongoing basis. In the case of standalone devices, the use of a digital certificate represents a generally costly and high maintenance security technique, that may permit the introduction of other gaps in security by assuming a communication link with the device that is to be updated.
Another approach to providing a secure update environment is to implement kernel level protection to create a trusted environment for updates. However, this approach suffers from some of the same drawbacks noted above, in that security features for software updates would be delivered to the device to permit the update, thereby exposing the security features for examination. In addition, a number of systems often operate in full kernel mode, which is typically disabled to implement a trusted environment in accordance with kernel level protection.
Yet another option for secure software updates is to utilize a hardware encrypted device with an onboard software update. However, this type of security implementation introduces compatibility issues with the device to be updated or its operating system, so that such hardware encrypted devices are not usable with a number of systems. In addition, the hardware encryption usually operates by accessing a digital certificate or asymmetrical or symmetrical encryption key, which access usually relies on a communication link provided to the device being updated.
In general, there is no apparent and readily useful technique for validating a software update prior to installation on a device that does not involve the additional cost, complexity and potential security gaps of a communication link.

System and method for secure software update


The invention provides a plant for production of energy, comprising any type of heat or energy source including but not limited to solar power sources, nuclear reactors, fossil fuel plants, wind power plants, tidal power plants, waste heat power plants and geothermal sources, operatively arranged at an input side of the plant, and heat delivery or energy production means such as turbine-electric generator sets, operatively arranged at a delivery side of the plant. The plant is distinctive in that it further comprises a thermal energy storage with integrated heat exchanger, comprising a solid state thermal storage material, a heat transfer fluid and means for energy input and output, wherein: the storage comprises at least one heat transfer container, solid state thermal storage material is arranged around the heat transfer container, the heat transfer container contains the heat transfer fluid and the means for energy input and output, so that all heat transferring convection and conduction by the heat transfer fluid takes place within the respective heat transfer container, the thermal energy storage with heat exchanger has been arranged inside thermal insulation, and the solid state thermal energy storage with heat exchanger, has been arranged between the input side and delivery side of the plant for storage and heat exchange of thermal energy, the storage is coupled directly or via an additional heat exchanger to the source and the storage is coupled directly or via an additional heat exchanger to the delivery side of the plant.

Significant research and development efforts are being made on an international scale to improve the efficiency and environmental performance for energy producing systems. Today about half of all such efforts are made within the renewable energy sector rather than for traditional fossil or nuclear fuel type thermal power production. It has become clear that energy storage will be a key technology for making further advances, and large investments are currently being made in developing such capabilities, notably by storing energy using rechargeable batteries, pumped hydro storage, compressed air, flywheels, conversion to hydrogen, and heat storage including heat storage with material phase change.
It is generally recognized that energy storage can facilitate time dependent adaptation of power delivery to consumers and the market in general, and it can provide security of delivery by way of bridging power delivery when the primary power production is insufficient or it fails.
For some types of renewable energy production having storage is absolutely necessary. One such field is concentrated solar power (CSP) where heat storage is used to compensate for insufficient or failing heat production, such as during day time when cloud cover occurs and during the night hours when there is no sun. In the case of CSP using parabolic trough collectors the heat is generated by reflected and focused sun rays heating oil in a pipe system; this oil is thereafter heat exchanged with molten salt which is stored in large, insulated storage tanks. The oil is a feasible mineral, organic or synthetic heat transfer oil, such as Therminol. When stored heat is needed for supplementary or extended energy production it is extracted by a reverse heat exchange between molten salt and oil. Thereafter the oil is once more heat exchanged into water-steam which in turn is used to produce electricity via turbines and electric generators. This technology has some severe disadvantages in that it involves using very expensive storage fluids such as molten salt, it requires multiple oil/salt heat exchangers, it needs at least two large molten salt storage tanks, it requires molten salt pumps and corresponding pumping energy to move the molten salt to and from the tanks, and there is a risk of the salt solidifying in pipes or other structures which can occur even at very high temperature.
Another version of CSP is where a large field of mirrors (heliostats) reflects sun rays onto a high tower where a receiver filled with a high temperature working fluid, such as molten salt, is used for photon-heat conversion. In the case of using molten salt as working fluid this fluid may be directly heat exchanged with water-steam to generate electric power using turbines and generators. Alternatively, the molten salt may be stored in large tanks for later to be used to generate electricity as explained above.
Recent research efforts also consider using steam as working fluid for the CSP tower technology; in this way heat exchangers from molten salt to steam may be avoided. The problem with direct steam technology is to be able to store the heat for delayed use, particularly combined with producing electricity effectively. The current invention provides a possible solution to this problem.
There are numerous traditional technologies where the main source of energy is heat and pressure; such as fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas) plants and nuclear power plants. Although such plants may not depend on having storage for periodical lack of energy production, heat storage may be a great advantage and economically profitable for such plants as well. For instance, heat storage may facilitate full use or better use of the heat production capability throughout a 24 hour day cycle since heat produced during the night may be fully or partly stored and provide higher energy production during the day time in accordance with market demands. Moreover, storage is of great value for providing continuity and security of energy supply or for dealing with temporal bottlenecks in the electric grid system.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a plant for production of energy, which plant is beneficial over the previous technology with respect to issues mentioned. Further, the plant storage should preferably:                Be able to simplify the overall process of heat accumulation, transportation and storage as compared with existing systems        Be able to operate with temperatures and pressures most suitable for the heat collection and transportation of heat to the storage        Be able to accommodate different types of working fluid deemed most suitable for the above mentioned operation        Be able to efficiently transport heat out of storage by way of fluids with temperature and pressure suitable for the heat extraction process        Be able to accommodate types of working fluids most suitable for the heat delivery from storage        Be able to operate in a primarily heat exchanger mode where the heat in the working fluid of the primary heat input pipe loop is heat exchanged directly and simultaneously within the storage heat exchangers with another type of working fluid in the heat extraction pipe system        Be suitable for implementation with already commercially available components such as pumps, valves, pipes, sensors, and control systems        Provide cost and efficiency advantages over existing systems        Be environmentally safe        Be easy to integrate within and modify existing facilities as well as for being used in design and operation of new facilities


A method and a device for preparing an inductance element, an inductance element, and a superconducting circuit are provided. The method includes acquiring a compound for preparing an inductance element, a superconducting coherence length and a magnetic field penetration depth of the compound meeting a preset condition; and annealing the compound to cause decomposition between a non-superconductor phase and a superconductor phase in the compound to generate the inductance element, the kinetic inductance of the inductance element being greater than the geometric inductance of the inductance element.

An inductance element with high kinetic inductance and no loss is a necessary component for preparing superconducting magnetic flux quantum bits. Existing methods for preparing an inductance element with high kinetic inductance can include preparing multiple (e.g., about 100) Josephson junctions in series using a first type of superconductors. The first type of superconductors in this disclosure refers to superconductors with superconducting coherence length greater than their magnetic field penetration depth. After generating the multiple Josephson junctions in series, because of the structural characteristics of the Josephson junctions, the carrier density can fluctuate in long range, which can break the long-range order of the superconductors, thus enhancing the dynamic inductance of the superconductors.
However, the above preparation methods can be relatively complicated. Also, when the Josephson junctions are connected in series to form an array, they tend to introduce a parasitic resonance modulus, thereby reducing the accuracy and reliability of measurement of superconducting quantum bits.

Preparation method and device of inductance element, inductance element, and superconducting circuit


A fiber optic transceiver comprising a substrate, a heat dissipating structure, a receptacle and a light source is disclosed. The substrate may have a hole extending therethrough. The heat dissipating structure may be coupled to the substrate and may comprise a major surface, a plurality of fins, a projecting member, and a plurality of insulating protrusions. The plurality of fins may project from the major surface of the heat dissipating structure away from the substrate. The projecting member may extend partially or completely through the hole of the substrate. The plurality of insulating protrusions may extend substantially perpendicularly from the major surface of the heat dissipating structure and coupled to the substrate. The plurality of insulating protrusions may be configured to separate the major surface of the heat dissipating structure with the substrate so as to reduce heat transfer between the substrate and the heat dissipating structure.

The demand for high-speed communication is ever increasing. Video on demand, high definition television, and video conferencing are some of the examples of applications that drive the demand for high-speed communication systems.
Increasing adoption of cloud computing by businesses further intensifies the need for the communication system to expand its bandwidth capacity. This demand pushes for a greater adoption for optical fiber networks not only for longer distance applications, but also for other applications that are traditionally performed by copper-based communication networks.
In an optical fiber network, a semiconductor light source is utilized to deliver optical signals over an optical fiber. While using the semiconductor light source provides a clear cost and operational efficiency advantage as compared to other light sources, some challenges may remain—in particular in the thermal management of the semiconductor light source

Fiber optic transceiver with a heat dissipating structure

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A compressor, a radiator, an expander, and an evaporator are connected in series to define a refrigerating cycle. A bypass circuit that bypasses the expander, an on-off valve disposed in the bypass circuit, and a controller C1 for controlling an opening of the on-off valve are provided in the refrigerating cycle. During defrosting, the controller C1 controls the on-off valve so that a refrigerant may flow through the bypass circuit, thereby avoiding reduction in the amount of flow of the refrigerant during defrosting and preventing the defrosting operation from being prolonged.

In a conventional refrigerating machine having an expansion valve, a plurality of systems including a hot gas bypass system have been proposed to defrost an evaporator. Such systems are widely used in refrigerating machines or air conditioners for home use or official use (see, for example, non-patent document 1).
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a refrigerating machine of the conventional hot gas bypass system as disclosed in the non-patent document 1.
In this refrigerating machine, a compressor 1, a radiator 2, a throttling device 14, and an evaporator 4 are connected in the form of a loop, and a bypass circuit 6 having an on-off valve 7 is interposed between an outlet of the compressor 1 and an inlet of the evaporator 4. During normal operation, a refrigerant is sucked into and compressed by the compressor 1, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is cooled by the radiator 2 and discharged therefrom. The refrigerant is then reduced in pressure by the throttling device 14 and expands consequently. Upon evaporation in the evaporator 4, the refrigerant is again sucked into the compressor 1. During defrosting operation, when the on-off valve 7 is opened, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is led into the evaporator 4 through the bypass circuit 6 that bypasses the radiator 2 and the throttling device 14. Accordingly, the high-temperature refrigerant flows thorough the evaporator 4 and, hence, increases the temperature of the evaporator 4, making it possible to defrost the evaporator 4.
In recent years, however, a power recovery cycle has been proposed having an expander in place of the expansion valve in order to further enhance the efficiency of the refrigerating cycle. In this power recovery cycle, the expander acts to recover, when the refrigerant expands, pressure energy in the form of electric power or mechanical power, thereby reducing the input of the compressor by the amount of being recovered (see, for example, patent document 1).
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the conventional refrigerating machine as disclosed in the patent document 1.
In the refrigerating machine as shown in FIG. 13, a compressor 1 is driven by a drive means (not shown) such as, for example, an automobile engine to suck and compress a refrigerant. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is cooled by a radiator 2, which in turn discharges the refrigerant towards an expander 3. The expander 3 then converts expansion energy of the refrigerant into mechanical energy (rotational energy) so that the mechanical energy (rotational energy) recovered may be supplied to a generator 5 for generation of electric power. The refrigerant that has been reduced in pressure and has expanded in the expander 3 evaporates in an evaporator 4 before it is again sucked into the compressor 1.
FIG. 14 is a Mollier diagram of the refrigerating machine of FIG. 13.
In the refrigerating machine, because the expander 3 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant while converting expansion energy into mechanical energy, the refrigerant discharged from the radiator 2 reduces enthalpy while undergoing a phase change along an isentropic curve (c→d), as shown in FIG. 14. Accordingly, as compared with a case wherein during pressure reduction the refrigerant merely undergoes adiabatic expansion without doing expansion work (an isenthalpic change), the phase change along the isentropic curve can increase enthalpy at the evaporator 4 by an amount corresponding to expansion work Δiexp, making it possible to increase the refrigerating capacity. Also, because mechanical energy (rotational energy) can be supplied to the generator 5 by the expansion work Δiexp, the generator 5 can generate electric power corresponding to Δiexp, which is in turn supplied to the compressor 1. As such, electric power required for driving the compressor 1 can be reduced and, hence, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the refrigerating cycle can be enhanced.
Further, in the power recovery refrigerating machine referred to above, a proposal has been made wherein a bypass expansion valve is provided in a circuit employing an expander and a generator separated therefrom (see, for example, non-patent document 2).
Another refrigerating cycle has been proposed wherein an expander and a compressor are connected to each other via a shaft so that energy recovered by the expander may be utilized to drive the compressor. In this refrigerating cycle, in order to avoid a limitation of the constant density ratio, a bypass circuit for bypassing the expander and a control valve for controlling the flow passage area of the bypass circuit are provided wherein the control valve for the bypass circuit is fully opened at the start of the cycle (see, for example, patent document 2).
Non-patent document 1: Closed Refrigerating Machine, 1981, ISBN4-88967-034-3 (pages 278-280)
Non-patent document 2: "Leading Study and Development of Basic Technology for Effective Utilization of Energy, Development of Two-Phase Flow Expander/Compressor for CO2 Air Conditioner" a 2002 Report by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-329416
Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-116371


A system, such as a charging system, is provided. The system can include a coil. A connection module can be coupled to the coil and configured to allow the coil to communicate with an energy source to generate a magnetic field. A field-focusing element can be included, the field-focusing element acting to focus the magnetic field when the magnetic field varies in time at a predetermined rate. In one embodiment, the field-focusing element may be configured to focus the magnetic field in an area separated from the coil by at least about 5 cm.

Embodiments presented herein generally relate to contactless energy transfer systems and, in particular, to contactless energy transfer for plug-in-hybrid and electric vehicles.
A typical motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine has a battery that is used predominantly for providing power to crank the engine to start the vehicle. Charging of the battery is usually done via an alternator driven by the engine. However, in a plug-in-hybrid or all-electric vehicle, the battery typically provides the power required to drive the vehicle, supplying energy to an electric motor coupled to a drive shaft of the vehicle. The battery in a plug-in-hybrid or all electric vehicle therefore typically needs to be charged from external source of electricity.
To date, most electric vehicle charging systems include contact based charging connectors having plug and socket connectors for contact-based charging. Contact based charging connector systems may have several disadvantages. For example, in outdoor applications, environmental impact may cause corrosion and damage of electrical contacts. Further, in view of the high currents and voltages often required to recharge electric vehicle batteries, establishing the physical connection for contact-based charging may involve cumbersome safety measures.
Contactless inductive charging systems are also available to charge electric vehicle batteries. Such systems often utilize a split core transformer configuration to avoid exposed electrical contacts. However, existing inductive charging systems often require that the coils of the transformer be held in close proximity during charging in order to achieve acceptable energy transfer efficiency, and this may result in reliability issues due to the small clearances between different parts of the charging system. Further, existing inductive charging systems are usually cord-based systems, thereby exhibiting the cord-related issues discussed above.


A data communications system includes optic adaptors that provide an interface between multiple line card chassis and a fabric card chassis. Optic adaptors can be added to the system to allow the addition of a number of line card chassis, thereby increasing the overall bandwidth of the system. The optic adaptors can also be separated from the fabric card chassis and line card chassis and upgraded to allow an increase in the overall bandwidth of the system. For example, optic adaptors that provide optical connections between a first number of line card chassis and the fabric card chassis can be detached from both the fabric card chassis and the respective line card chassis. Optic adaptors that provide optical connections between the fabric card chassis and a second, increased number of line card chassis are then installed within the fabric card chassis thereby allowing the additional line card chassis to be connected to the fabric card chassis.

Conventional networks typically include data communications devices that transmit data packets from one or more sources to one or more destinations. Certain data communications devices, such as routers, receive packets containing data and control information at input ports, and, based on destination or other information included in the packets, route the packets to appropriate output ports that lead to either another router or to the packet's final destination.
Routers can be configured as having various sizes and capacities based upon their intended use. For example, low capacity routers are typically used in home networks to route data among three or four personal computers. High-performance routers, commonly used by enterprises such as telecommunication companies and Internet service providers, provide relatively high bandwidth packet routing and can process packets for many thousands of different end users.
High-performance routers can be complex devices that include multiple processors and other circuitry integrated into a single physical box. For example, a high-performance router can include physical interface cards, adaptors for holding the physical interface cards, a routing engine, and switching and forwarding adaptors. Each one of these components can be implemented on a separate circuit board controlled by one or more processors. These circuit boards can then be mounted in a single physical chassis to form the router.

Optical connection adaptors for a data communications device and methods of use


Systems and methods for cluster maintenance are presented. In one embodiment a cluster configuration method includes: maintaining configuration information associated with a first node and a second node, including cluster configuration version information; evaluating the first node as a potential configuration update node for the second node, including evaluating an indication of potential partial snapshot update availability based upon the configuration information associated with the first node and configuration information associated with the second node; performing an update type selection, including continued analysis of partial snapshot update availability; and performing an update for the second node in accordance with results of the update type selection. Evaluating the first node as a potential configuration update node can include comparing an available configuration version indication associated with the first node to the available cluster configuration version indication associated with the second node.

Electronic systems and circuits are often utilized in a number of scenarios to achieve advantageous results. Numerous electronic technologies such as computers, video equipment, and communication systems facilitate increased productivity and cost reduction in analyzing and communicating information in most areas of business, science, education and entertainment. Frequently, these activities involve storage of vast amounts of information and significant resources are expended storing and processing the information. Maintaining accurate replicated backup storage of the information is often very important for a variety or reasons (e.g., disaster recovery, corruption correction, system maintenance, etc.).
Resource clusters are often relied upon to provide services and to store data. In general, there are different types of clusters, such as, for example, compute clusters, storage clusters, scalable clusters, and the like. High-availability clusters (also known as HA Clusters or Failover Clusters) are typically clusters of node resources (e.g., computers, networks, applications, virtual components, servers, data storage, etc.) that are implemented primarily for the purpose of providing high availability of services. They usually operate by having redundant components or nodes that can be utilized to provide service in various scenarios (e.g., when system components fail, a maintenance shutdown of a certain portion, minimizing single points of failure, etc.). The clusters can be utilized to minimize data loss and implement DR (disaster recovery) quickly. Periodic replication is one technique utilized to minimize data loss and improve the availability of data in which a point-in-time copy of data is replicated and stored at one or more remote sites or nodes.
Accurately duplicating the information in a consistent manner is typically very important. Some traditional backup approaches utilize snapshots or checkpoints in an attempt to allow Applications to continue to write to the primary file system while a backup is in progress without burdening the application making use of that file system. The storage checkpoints or file system snapshots are often utilized for ensuring a backup is taken of an image at a consistent point in time. Depending upon the amount of data to be processed from the snapshot, the lifetime of the snapshot can be quite long, especially if the backup/replication application requires a persistent snapshot during the entire backup process.
When "switching over" primary application execution to another resource, HA clustering usually attempts to provide "restart" or "continuation" of primary application operations on the other system without requiring administrative intervention (e.g., a process known as Failover, etc.). In preparation to be ready for a switch over, clustering software typically configures the potential redundant switch over target nodes before starting primary application operations on the target node resources. For example, appropriate file systems may need to be imported and mounted, network hardware may have to be configured, and some supporting applications may need to be running as well.

Cluster configuration systems and methods


According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistance effect element includes a reference layer, a shift canceling layer, a storage layer provided between the reference layer and the shift canceling layer, a tunnel barrier layer provided between the reference layer and the storage layer, and a spacer layer provided between the shift canceling layer and the storage layer, wherein a pattern of the storage layer is provided inside a pattern of the shift canceling layer when the patterns of the storage layer and the shift canceling layer are viewed from a direction perpendicular to the patterns of the storage layer and the shift canceling layer.

A magnetoresistance effect element for use in magnetic storage devices usually includes a storage layer, a tunnel barrier layer formed on the storage layer, a reference layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer and a shift canceling layer formed on the reference layer.
As the magnetoresistance effect element decreases in size, a shift magnetic field which is generated from the reference layer and affects the storage layer increases. Unless the shift canceling layer is thickened, shift canceling cannot be fully performed, thereby causing a problem in which the magnetoresistance effect element cannot stably be operated.
The decrease in size of the magnetoresistance effect element also causes a problem in which the magnetoresistance effect element is difficult to fabricate unless the entire element is thinned.
It is thus desirable to provide a magnetoresistance effect element capable of fully canceling a magnetic filed that affects a storage layer and decreasing in thickness.

Magnetoresistance effect element with shift canceling layer having pattern area greater than that of storage layer


A safety rule includes a rule body, which has a stop flange protruded from and extending along one long side thereof, a protective plate, which has one long side pivotally coupled to the rule body so that the protective plate can be set in a collapsed position and closely attached to the top surface of the rule body when the safety rule is not in use or lifted from the rule body to a lifted position for protecting the user's hand to avoid accidental hand injury when the safety rule is used to guide a cutter in cutting a sheet member.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rule and more particularly, to a safety rule, which prevents hand injury when used to guide cutting of a cutting tool.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Rule is a straight strip of wood, metal, etc., used to measure or as a guide in drawing or cutting. When using a cutter to cut a sheet material and a rule to guide the cutter in cutting the sheet material, the operator's hand may be injured by the cutting edge of the cutter accidentally. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a safety rule that prevents hand injury.


A control device includes a main servocontrol loop having a servocontrolled system, and a compensation device on the input side of the control device. The control device includes an internal loop that receives a first signal derived from the main servocontrol loop as input, and generates, as a function firstly of the first signal and secondly of a second signal characteristic of a parameter of the servocontrolled system, an error signal characteristic of the difference between said second signal and a theoretical signal determined using a model. The error signal being injected into the main servocontrol loop to correct the control of the servocontrolled system. The internal loop and/or the main loop include a variable gain amplifier, and the control device controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier.

1. Field
This invention relates to improvements to servocontrol devices.
In particular, it is useful for electro-hydraulic actuator systems and in particular for actuator systems of this type used for position servocontrol or force servocontrol for flight controls.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a position servocontrol device for a flight control actuator comprises a servocontrol loop that incorporates compensation means arranged in the loop on the input side of the servocontrolled system, these compensation means providing filtering particularly at resonant frequencies of movements of the mechanical part(s) actuated by the system.
Performances expected by aeronautical manufacturers from flight control actuators are increasingly selective. It is now difficult to achieve them using simple conventional servocontrol loops.

Control device with servocontrol loop, particularly an electro-hydraulic flight control actuator


A hand machine tool has a battery operated drive motor accommodated in a machine housing, with a battery housing mountable on said machine housing. The mounting of the battery housing of the machine housing is performed by two guiding strips arranged on the machine housing and engaging in guiding grooves provided in the battery housing. In a locking position, the battery housing is held by a spring-loaded slider which has two legs provided with end arresting projections form-lockingly engaged with stationary arresting projection provided on the battery housing, for locking the battery housing on the machine housing.

The present invention relates to a hand machine tool with a battery operated drive motor, as well as to a battery unit for such a hand machine tool.
Hand machine tools with battery operated drive motors are known in the art. One of such hand machine tools is disclosed for example in the German document DE-35 02 449 C2. The hand machine tool disclosed in this document has a releasably mountable battery unit and is composed of parts and assemblies of a network current operated hand machine tool adapted to a battery-operated device. The mounting of the battery unit on the hand machine tool is performed by a console which is arranged under a machine housing and inserted in a guiding slot of the battery unit. Shortly before reaching a locking position of the battery unit, a guiding of the battery housing is performed by a guiding housing arranged at the end side on the handle of the hand machine tool. The guiding housing in view of its exposed arrangement can be relatively easily damaged. The battery unit then will not be sufficiently guided and therefore contact difficulties can occur.

Hand machine tool with battery operated drive motor, and battery unit for the same


The present invention is directed to a front light extraction tape for coupling light out of a light guiding device. The tape has a flexible, light transmissive outer portion and a light coupling element secured to a lower surface of the outer portion without using adhesive. An input surface of the light coupling element is contactable with an output surface of the light guiding device for receiving light therefrom. A reflecting surface of the light coupling element is aligned so as to reflect light received into the light coupling element through the light transmissive outer portion. The light coupling element may be formed integrally with the outer portion so as to avoid a material interface between the light coupling element and the outer portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to an apparatus for extracting light transversely from a light guiding system, and more particularly, to a front light extraction tape applicable to surfaces of waveguides for extracting light therefrom.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been an extensive effort to develop methods of extracting light transversely from optical waveguides, such as large core plastic optical fibers and slab waveguides. Optical waveguides having transverse light outputs may be used as extended light sources, such as may be used for backlighting an active liquid crystal display panel. The flexibility afforded by large core plastic fiber further permits the production of extended light sources having arbitrary shape.
There have been several attempts at coupling light out of the side of an optical waveguide. One method of coupling light transversely from a waveguide employs a number of prisms attached to the waveguide. The prisms have a refractive index the same as or higher than the refractive index of the waveguide. Thus, light which would normally be totally internally reflected by the waveguide is transmitted through the interface between the waveguide and the prisms, and directed away from the waveguide in essentially a transverse direction.
Several approaches have been followed in fabricating a transverse light extractor of this type. One known approach, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,350, includes securing prisms to a waveguide surface using an adhesive layer, and further securing the output surfaces of the prisms to a backing layer by a second layer of adhesive. Such a light extractor has a complex structure, having many layers and resulting in high reflective losses. The transverse light extractor is fabricated using photolithographic techniques, which are not well suited to fabricating nonplanar devices. This limits the shape of the light extractor, and restricts the applications where it can be used.
Another light extractor, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,725, comprises a spacer with prisms molded on a lower surface of the spacer and with lenses molded on an upper surface of the spacer. The light extractor uses a layer between the prisms and the waveguide to which it is attached for extracting light from the waveguide. Additionally, the prisms, spacer, and lenses are formed from the same material since the extractor is molded.
There is, therefore, a need for a transverse light extractor having a simpler structure than that of currently available transverse light extractors, in which there are fewer layers and the reflective losses are reduced. There is also a need for a transverse light extractor which is not limited to planar geometries, but which can be adapted to nonplanar geometries.
Additionally, there is a need for a light extractor which may be used without an extra layer between the extractor and the waveguide. Furthermore, there is a need for a light extractor which is simple in structure and which permits the prisms and the spacer to be formed form different materials.

Front light extraction film for light guiding systems and method of manufacture

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is divided into first and second streams, and the second stream is cooled and expanded to a lower pressure and supplied to a contacting device. The first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it, expanded to the lower pressure, and then used to cool a warmer distillation stream from a distillation column to at least partially condense the distillation stream. At least a portion of the partially condensed distillation stream is directed to the contacting device to intimately contact the expanded second stream, the resulting vapors and liquids are separated from the contacting device, and these liquids are supplied to the distillation column. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the contacting device and the distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of the contacting device and the distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered.

This invention relates to a process for the separation of a gas containing hydrocarbons.
Ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, and/or heavier hydrocarbons can be recovered from a variety of gases, such as natural gas, refinery gas, and synthetic gas streams obtained from other hydrocarbon materials such as coal, crude oil, naphtha, oil shale, tar sands, and lignite. Natural gas usually has a major proportion of methane and ethane, i.e., methane and ethane together comprise at least 50 mole percent of the gas. The gas also contains relatively lesser amounts of heavier hydrocarbons such as propane, butanes, pentanes and the like, as well as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases.
The present invention is generally concerned with the recovery of ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, and heavier hydrocarbons from such gas streams. A typical analysis of a gas stream to be processed in accordance with this invention would be, in approximate mole percent, 85.6% methane, 6.9% ethane and other C.sub.2 components, 3.0% propane and other C.sub.3 components, 0.5% iso-butane, 1.2% normal butane, 1.1% pentanes plus, with the balance made up of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Sulfur containing gases are also sometimes present.
The historically cyclic fluctuations in the prices of both natural gas and its natural gas liquid (NGL) constituents have at times reduced the incremental value of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier components as liquid products. Competition for processing rights has forced plant operators to maximize the processing capacity and recovery efficiency of their existing gas processing plants, as well as to provide the ability to more quickly respond to changing market conditions. Available processes for separating these materials include those based upon cooling and refrigeration of gas, oil absorption, and refrigerated oil absorption. Additionally, cryogenic processes have become popular because of the availability of economical equipment that produces power while simultaneously expanding and extracting heat from the gas being processed. Depending upon the pressure of the gas source, the richness (ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbons content) of the gas, and the desired end products, each of these processes or a combination thereof may be employed.
The cryogenic expansion process is now generally preferred for natural gas liquids recovery because it provides maximum simplicity with ease of start up, operating flexibility, good efficiency, safety, and good reliability. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,157,904, 4,171,964, 4,251,249, 4,278,457, 4,519,824, 4,617,039, 4,687,499, 4,689,063, 4,690,702, 4,854,955, 4,869,740, 4,889,545, 5,275,005, 5,555,748, and 5,568,737, reissue U.S. Pat. No. 33,408, co-pending application Ser. No. 08/696,114, and co-pending application Ser. No. 08/738,321 describe relevant processes (although the description of the present invention in some cases is based on different processing conditions than those described in the cited U.S. Patents).
In a typical cryogenic expansion recovery process, a feed gas stream under pressure is cooled by heat exchange with other streams of the process and/or external sources of refrigeration such as a propane compression-refrigeration system. As the gas is cooled, liquids may be condensed and collected in one or more separators as high-pressure liquids containing some of the desired C.sub.2 + (or C.sub.3 +) components. Depending on the richness of the gas and the amount of liquids formed, the high-pressure liquids may be expanded to a lower pressure and fractionated. The vaporization occurring during expansion of the liquids results in further cooling of the stream. Under some conditions, pre-cooling the high pressure liquids prior to the expansion may be desirable in order to further lower the temperature resulting from the expansion. The expanded stream, comprising a mixture of liquid and vapor, is fractionated in a distillation (demethanizer or deethanizer) column. In the column, the expansion cooled stream(s) is (are) distilled to separate residual methane, nitrogen, and other volatile gases as overhead vapor from the desired C.sub.2 components and heavier hydrocarbon components as bottom liquid product (or to separate residual methane, C.sub.2 components, nitrogen, and other volatile gases as overhead vapor from the desired C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components as bottom liquid product).
If the feed gas is not totally condensed (typically it is not), the vapor remaining from the partial condensation can be split into two or more streams. One portion of the vapor is passed through a work expansion machine or engine, or an expansion valve, to a lower pressure at which additional liquids are condensed as a result of further cooling of the stream. The pressure after expansion is essentially the same as the pressure at which the distillation column is operated. The expanded stream is supplied as a feed to the column in a lower region of an absorption section contained in the distillation column and is contacted with cold liquids to absorb the C.sub.2 (or C.sub.3 ) components and heavier components from the vapor portion of the expanded stream.
The remaining portion of the vapor is cooled to substantial condensation by heat exchange with other process streams, e.g., the cold residue gas. Some or all of the high-pressure liquid may be combined with this vapor portion prior to cooling. The resulting cooled stream is then expanded through an appropriate expansion device, such as an expansion valve, to a pressure slightly above that at which the demethanizer (or deethanizer) column is operated. During expansion, a portion of the liquid will vaporize, resulting in cooling of the total stream. The flash expanded stream is then directed in heat exchange relation with the overhead distillation stream from the demethanizer (or deethanizer), cooling the distillation stream and condensing at least a portion of it, whereupon the warmed expanded stream is supplied to the middle or lower region of the absorption section in the distillation column. The condensed liquid in the cooled distillation stream is removed, leaving the volatile residue gas containing substantially all of the methane (or substantially all of the methane and C.sub.2 components). The condensed liquid stream is then supplied to the distillation column as a top column feed so that the cold liquids contained in the stream can contact the vapor portions of the expanded stream and the warmed expanded stream in the absorption section of the distillation column.
The purpose of this process is to perform a separation that produces a residue gas leaving the process which contains substantially all of the methane in the feed gas with essentially none of the C.sub.2 components and heavier hydrocarbon components (or substantially all of the methane and C.sub.2 components in the feed gas with essentially none of the C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components), and a bottoms fraction leaving the demethanizer (or deethanizer) which contains substantially all of the C.sub.2 components and heavier hydrocarbon components with essentially no methane or more volatile components (or substantially all of the C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components with essentially no methane, C.sub.2 components or more volatile components). The present invention provides a means for modifying an existing processing plant to achieve this separation at substantially lower capital cost by eliminating much of the equipment associated with providing reflux for the absorption section of the demethanizer (or deethanizer) column. The present invention, whether applied in a new facility or as a modification to an existing processing plant, can be quickly and easily adjusted to either recover C.sub.2 components in the bottom liquid product, or to reject C.sub.2 components to the volatile residue gas while recovering nearly all of the C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbons in the bottom liquid product. This processing flexibility allows the plant operator to respond to fluctuations in natural gas and ethane prices by operating the processing plant in the manner that produces the highest product revenues.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that C.sub.2 recoveries in excess of 86 percent can be maintained while providing essentially complete rejection of methane to the residue gas stream. In addition, it has been found that C.sub.3 recoveries in excess of 97 percent can be maintained while providing essentially complete rejection of C.sub.2 components to the residue gas stream. The present invention, although applicable at lower pressures and warmer temperatures, is particularly advantageous when processing feed gases at pressures in the range of 600 to 1000 psia or higher under conditions requiring column overhead temperatures of -50.degree. F. or colder.


A new Calibrachoa plant named ‘Calpribul’ particularly distinguished by the relatively large sized, violet colored flowers, medium green foliage and compact plant habit with good branching

The present invention comprises a new Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa spp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Calpribul'.
'Calpribul' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has relatively large sized, violet colored flowers, medium green foliage and compact plant habit with good branching.
'Calpribul' originated from a hybridization made in May 2005 in a controlled breeding environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The female parent was the unpatented proprietary plant designated 'GO332-1' with light blue flowers, few branches, and is later to flower.
The male parent of 'Calpribul' was an unpatented proprietary plant identified as 'D4809-1' with dark violet blue flowers, less vigor, and a smaller flower. The resultant seed was sown in February 2006.
'Calpribul' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2006 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Calpribul' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in May 2006 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.


A LCD display includes a light source section, a LCD panel including a plurality of pixels each having sub-pixels of R, G, B, and Z, and a display control section including an output signal generation section. The display control section performs a display drive on the sub-pixels with use of the respective output video signals, and performs a lighting drive on the light source section with use of the lighting signal. The output signal generation section generates output video signals corresponding to the respective four colors, based on the input video signals, and generates a lighting signal of the light source section, based on the input video signals, to perform a predetermined dimming processing, based on both the input video signals and the generated lighting signal, and finally generates the output video signals through performing a predetermined color conversion processing, based on a resultant video signal from the dimming processing.

The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display apparatus having a sub-pixel structure made up of sub-pixels of four colors of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W), for example.
In recent years, as a display for flat-screen televisions and portable terminals, an active-matrix liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus in which TFT (Thin Film Transistor) is disposed in each pixel is often used. In such a liquid crystal display apparatus, generally, a video signal is line-sequentially written to a subsidiary capacitive device and a liquid crystal device of each pixel from the upper portion to the lower portion of the screen, thereby driving each pixel.
In the past, in order to lower power consumption of a liquid crystal display apparatus during video display, configurations in which each of pixels in a liquid crystal display panel includes sub-pixels of four colors (see Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 4-54207, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 04-355722, and Japanese Patent No. 4354491, for example) have been proposed. Here, the sub-pixels of four colors include sub-pixels of three colors, red (R), green (G), blue (B), and a sub-pixel of a color higher in luminance than the three colors (Z; white (W) or yellow (Y), for example). When a video display is carried out using video signals for such sub-pixels of four colors, luminance efficiency can be enhanced in comparison with the case where a video display is carried out by supplying video signals for three colors to each pixel having a known sub-pixel structure of three colors of R, G, and B.
Meanwhile, in Japanese Patent No. 4354491, a liquid crystal display apparatus in which luminance of a back light is actively (dynamically) controlled (dimming processing is carried out) according to a video to be displayed (according to a signal level of a video signal) has been proposed. When using this method, it is possible to realize lower power consumption and expansion of dynamic range while keeping a display luminance.

Liquid crystal display apparatus for generating an output video signal based on an input video signal and a lighting signal


The invention relates to a topical delivery system suitable for application to the lips, comprising at least one naturally occurring oil, at least one naturally occurring wax, and at least one naturally occurring diet aid. The invention also relates to a method for controlling weight in an individual by applying such a composition to the lips.

It is widely recognized that the stress of the modern fast-paced world can frequently lead to overeating, which in turn may lead to unhealthy physical characteristics, such high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes etc. In many cases, the stress of weight gain may give rise to low self-esteem, resulting in further overeating, thereby initiating an endless cycle of poor eating habits.
The modification of eating patterns is of course desirable, but establishing good habits are difficult based on sheer will power. Diet aids can provide assistance, but it is often difficult for the user to remember to take numerous capsules or pills every day, and/or it may not always be convenient to take them at the time required. Thus, an improvement in the dieting process would be to have a mechanism of accessing diet aids that would be more automatic, almost passive, so as part of the user's daily routine it may provide a better opportunity for success rather than a rigid schedule of pill-taking. The present invention now provides a means by which a dieter may be able to incorporate one or more diet aids into an activity that is performed automatically each day, thereby potentially increasing the chances of compliance and success, by virtue of the passive intake of the diet aid.

Delivery system for appetite suppressant


A high reach self centering hydraulic tree trimmer which consists of first a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly consisting of a top plate and a bottom plate. The plates are separated by spacers and secured together with a plurality of fasteners. A pair of cutting blades are contained between the top plate and the bottom plate. The blades are reciprocal of each other and each have a front end, center region, back end, outer edge, inner edge and a cutting edge extending along the inside edge. The blades are self centering about an object to be cut by pivoting independently from each other They pivot about separate pivot points in the center region of the blades. A pivot pin or bolt is used as a pivot device extending from the top plate to the bottom plate. A hydraulic cylinder is used to operate the blades. The hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to the back ends of the blades. This operation causes the blades to pivot independently about the pivot points resulting in the cutting surfaces closing upon each other. There is included an attachment means connected to the carriage assembly for attaching the tree trimmer to a bucket or other lifting means on a tractor or other such vehicle. There is also an optional positioning apparatus for pivoting the tree trimmer for cutting trees, branches, limbs or brush at different angles.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic tree trimmer and more particularly to a high reach hydraulic tree trimmer which has dual self centering blades operated by a hydraulic cylinder.
There are several different types, designs, makes and manufacturers of hydraulic tree trimmers, clippers or shears. Generally each of the different types or design of trimmers, or shears have a specific purpose. Each of the different styles, designs or type have certain advantages or disadvantages depending on the particular application. One type may work there another Will not work.
There are several types of hand held trimmers and shears. These can range from small one hand operated shears to larger two hand operated trimmers. There are also hand operated power shears of several different designs. The hand held power operated trimmers and shears may be powered electrically, by gas engine, hydraulically (by hand operated pumps or external pumps controlled by the operator), or even pneumatically. Each type or design have certain advantages and disadvantages for specific purposes.
The blade designs of the shears and trimmers also have a number of different designs. There are blades which are long and narrow and some in a hook shaped design which operate in a scissors type action. This may include designs which have different type of actions. There are some designs having a single fixed blade and one pivotal blade, and there are designs in which the blades pivot independent of each other. There are curved blades, straight blades, rounded blades, serrated blades, single edge blades and double edge blades.
In addition to hand held trimmers and shears, there are larger varieties which attach to heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, tractors, high boys, or other self propelled vehicles. There are also all sizes in between. There are even designs which are suspended from a helicopter or crane which can operate under water.
The invention described herein relates to the heavy duty trimmers which can be mounted on a tractor, backhoe, high boy or the like. Although there are several designs known in the art, most are not designed to be readily attached and removed. Most are also designed for specific attachment to specific equipment and have limited application. It is also common that in these larger varieties the object being cut must be specifically located in respect to the blades or blade. If not located within the predefined area between the cutting surfaces, either the equipment will shift during the cutting action, the blades will not perform as designed or an equipment failure could occur.
As indicated above, there are designs having a fixed blade and a single pivoting blade and there are designs having dual pivotal blades. Some operate in a scissor type action and others operate in a specific action in accordance with the design. Each of these designs have specific means of operations, but most of the heavy duty types are hydraulically operated with a single or with multiple hydraulic cylinders.
There are heavy duty type of trimmers designed to cut trees at the trunk and are attached to the vehicle at a low level. Then there are other types that are attached to an arm, or the like, for cutting the tree at the trunk and trimming branches higher in the tree.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Hydraulic Tree Trimmer that is adapted to provide for a tree trimmer which is easily attached to and removed from a Wide Variety of different vehicles. With the Hydraulic Tree Trimmer of this invention it has been found that it will mount easily to most tractors, if not all, and other vehicles that have some sort of lifting means and a hydraulic system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic tree trimmer that is constructed to provide a high reaching tree trimmer which can be used to cut, trim or prune branches and limbs from trees without the need of ladders, chainsaws, and climbing of the tree. The hydraulic tree trimmer of this invention is preferably mounted on a lifting means on a vehicle to provide for cutting at a range of cutting heights from the ground level to an elevated height, limited by the lifting means and means of attachment.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an hydraulic tree trimmer that is adapted to be self centering about the object to be cut. This feature eliminates the need for near perfect alignment of the blades with the object which is necessary to prevent damage or unneeded stresses on the equipment, thereby substantially reducing the time spent cutting trees or branches and reducing equipment failure and breakage.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic tree trimmer that can be used to cut trees at ground level, branches and limbs high in a tree or to cut brush, without the need to change any equipment.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic tree trimmer that is simple to construct, easy to operate and affordable to the persons needing such a tree trimmer.


Novel methods and microorganisms are provided, where novel genetic mammalian cell invasive capability is imparted to a microorganism by the introduction of an exogenous inv or ail gene. The resulting organisms are then capable of binding to mammalian cells and are transferred to the cytoplasm. Other novel genetic capabilities may be imparted to the unicellular microorganism, which may serve as a vaccine for one or more pathogens or may introduce genetic capabilities or foreign molecules into a mammalian host cell. The sequences may be used for an in vitro screen for pathogenicity.

For many species of microorganisms, invasion and survival within mammalian cells is central to establishing a successful host-parasite relationship. This localization within host cells may protect the microorganism from host defenses and permit the microorganism to cross epithelial barriers and subsequently become systemically distributed. The precise mechanisms by which bacteria enter host tissues have been unclear. The invasive character of pathogens, while deleterious to the health and viability of host cells, does provide a mechanism for transfer of molecules and aggregates across an intact cellular membrane. Thus, if the invasive quality could be transferred to an innocuous microorganism strain, such a strain could serve as a vehicle for transporting molecules of interest into the cytoplasm and organelles of host cells.
There is a further consideration in that the microorganism could provide for the transfer of genetic material into the mammalian host cell. In this manner, novel genetic capabilities could be imparted to the host cell. One capability of interest would be the synthesis of surface membrane proteins or envelope proteins of pathogens. These proteins would then serve as antigens to provide a strong immune response, without the host having to suffer the effects of infection by the pathogen.

Method for determining virulence of Yersinia

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A frictional and sweat absorbent video game controller has a sleeve body and a controller cavity configured to receive a video game controller. A series of layers makes up the sleeve body, from an outer frictional layer to a waterproof inner layer, and including a medial cushioning layer. Sweat from a user's hands is absorbed into the sleeve body, thus hand slippage is reduced in combination with the outer frictional layer. Furthermore, the controller itself is protected from sweat contamination, and the user is provided a comfortable gripping surface to ensure the controller remains secure in the hands.

A video game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a two- or three-dimensional video display device such as a TV screen, virtual reality headset or computer monitor. Since the 1980s, video games have become an increasingly important part of the entertainment industry, and whether they are also a form of art is a matter of dispute.
The electronic systems used to play video games are called platforms. Video games are developed and released for one or several platforms and may not be available on others. Specialized platforms such as arcade games, which present the game in a large, typically coin-operated chassis, were common in the 1980s in video arcades, but declined in popularity as other, more affordable platforms became available. These include dedicated devices such as video game consoles, as well as general-purpose computers like a laptop, desktop or handheld computing devices.
Players view the game on a display device such as a television or computer monitor or sometimes on virtual reality head-mounted display goggles. There are often game sound effects, music and voice actor lines which come from loudspeakers or headphones. Some games in the 2000s include haptic, vibration-creating effects, force feedback peripherals and virtual reality headsets. The input device used for games, the game controller, varies across platforms. Common controllers include gamepads, joysticks, mouse devices, keyboards, the touchscreens of mobile devices, or even a person's body, using a Kinect sensor.
While using a video game controller, a user's hands may begin to sweat and accumulate moisture after an extended period of time. The user may also experience cramping in their hands from gripping the hard plastic exterior of the controller. As such, the controller may slip within the user's hands, reducing their ability to competently play the game.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to present a frictional, sweat-absorbent cover for video game controllers which reduces or eliminates undesired effects due to sweating and provides a comfortable gripping surface to the user.
Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Additional advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the detailed description of the invention section. Further benefits and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Frictional and sweat absorbing video game controller sleeve


In one embodiment, a method includes detecting registration of an endpoint associated with a user on a network. The method further includes accessing a policy profile of the user. The policy profile indicates whether data communicated to or from the user is subject to a lawful intercept. The method further includes notifying a lawful intercept server that the user has registered on the network.

Users of a network may be subject to lawfully authorized electronic surveillance either in the form of data taps, where all data traffic (content) to and from a particular user is to be captured and a copy sent to a law enforcement agency (LEA), or the electronic surveillance may be in the form of a multimedia intercept, where a content intercept for specific IP-flows (5-tuple) needs to be installed dynamically, depending on the type of intercept to be performed.

Policy-based control of content intercept


Intermediate material in the form of a metal strip with a contact area is provided with a projection on the bottom surface of its core area, i.e., on the surface to be joined to a contact carrier strip of copper or a copper alloy. The bottom surface of the strip facing the contact carrier strip is plated with a material which consists essentially of silver, and the melting point of the core area of the metal strip is above the melting point of silver. For the production of a semifinished product for electrical contacts, the metal strip is welded by its silver-coated bottom surface to the contact carrier strip, consisting essentially of copper. The silver from the coating on the core area of the metal strip and the copper from the contact carrier strip mix with each other and thus form an alloy which corresponds or is very close to the eutectic alloy with 28 wt. % of copper and the remainder of silver.

The invention pertains to intermediate material for the production of electrical contacts by the bonding of this material by resistance heating to an electrically conductive contact carrier strip consisting essentially of copper. The intermediate material is in the form of a metal strip with a contact area. The bottom surface of this strip, i.e., the surface which can be bonded to the contact carrier strip, is coated with a material which consists essentially of silver, the melting point of the coating material being below the melting point of the metal strip. The invention also pertains to a process for the production of the intermediate material and to semifinished products for electrical contacts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,084 discloses an intermediate material for the production of electrical contacts, especially relay contacts. This intermediate material is also designed as a metal strip with a contact area, and it is welded by resistance heating to an electrically conductive contact carrier, which also has an electrical conductivity of more than 15 m/(ohms.times.mm.sup.2), i.e., more than (15 S.times.10.sup.6)/m. The contact carrier consists essentially of copper. The surface of the metal strip opposite from the contact area has ridge-like projections to serve as welding bosses, which carry a coating consisting essentially of silver for welding to the carrier. The melting point of this coating material is below the melting point of the metal strip, which consists essentially of nickel. The contact area itself is based on a gold alloy or a silver-palladium alloy.
As part of the trend toward the miniaturization of components and their associated contacts, it has been found difficult to provide several rows of parallel projections.


Described herein is a bone tissue clearing method with enhanced optical access. Compositions and techniques for bone tissue clearing include continuous convective flow during the clearing process, amino alcohol to minimize tissue autofluorescence, and an imaging procedure that minimizes refractive index variations in light-sheet microscopy. These improvements allowed the Inventors to achieve whole-bone clearing with an imaging depth of up to about 1.5 mm while maintaining fluorescence and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that permits detection and 3D placement of single cells. In various embodiments, the present application teaches methods and kits for clearing and optionally subsequently visualizing tissue containing bone.

Bone tissue harbors unique and essential physiological processes, such as hematopoiesis, bone growth, and bone remodeling. Due to its calcified nature, most mammalian osseous tissue does not afford easy access to three-dimensional information. Visual representations of the spatial distribution and properties of cells within a bone sample must be obtained via the sectioning, labeling and imaging of thin tissue slices, and the reconstruction of these digital image datasets. Bone-sectioning, however is both physically challenging given the hard, fibrous nature of osseous tissue, and risks incurring extensive damage to the tissue sample. Thus, there is a great need in the art to develop compositions and techniques for visualizing cellular morphology, tissue architecture, macromolecular/cellular content, and biomolecule/protein antigenicity that biological, immunological, and 3D structural properties of osseous tissues may be studied in healthy and diseased state.
To enable visualization of these processes at the cellular level in an intact environment, the Inventors developed a bone tissue clearing method with enhanced optical access. The Inventors discovered that decalcification of bones by EDTA could aid in visualization of osseous tissues.
Described herein is a specialized protocol that incorporates continuous convective flow during the clearing process, amino alcohol to minimize tissue autofluorescence, and an imaging procedure that minimizes RI variations in light-sheet microscopy. These improvements allowed the Inventors to achieve whole-bone clearing with an imaging depth of up to about 1.5 mm while maintaining fluorescence and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that permits detection and 3D placement of single cells.

Methods and devices for soft and osseous tissue clearing and fluorescent imaging


Systems and methods for connecting a circuit board, such as a circuit board of a fan tray, with a chassis are described herein. Systems and methods for floating, aligning, centering, grounding and blind-mating a connector set are also described herein.

Computer systems include a housing, often referred to as a chassis, on which the computer system's components are mounted. One such computer system is a server rack that typically includes several printed circuit boards (PCBs) to provide needed computing requirements. For example, some computer systems or servers have several PCBs to provide users with triple-play services, such as HDTV (high definition television), HDVoD (high definition voice on demand), and broadband mobility, all within one housing.
These PCBs provided in the chassis of the server rack are connected to one another and are typically powered by a single power source connector within the chassis. This power source is typically provided on a backplane. These PCBs generate a significant amount of heat, which can damage or reduce the efficiency of the PCBs. As a result, the chassis is often provided with a fan unit to remove this heat from the chassis.
The fan unit itself typically includes several fans and a circuit board to control operation of and provide power to the fans. The fan unit also includes a connector to couple the fan unit's circuit board with the backplane of the chassis to power the fan unit through the fan unit's circuit board.

Systems and methods for connecting a circuit board with a chassis


Method and system for auto-focusing. The method includes checking for presence of a subject in a first frame. The method also includes determining a second frame indicative of an in-focus position of the subject if the presence of the subject is detected. The method further includes causing to focus on the subject based on the second frame. Further, the method includes checking for a change in at least one of location of the subject in the second frame, and sharpness and luminance in an area corresponding to the subject in the second frame. Moreover, the method includes causing to refocus on the subject if the change is detected.

Over a period of time, automatic features in cameras that require minimal intervention of a user has gained demand. One such feature is continuous auto-focus that helps in keeping a predefined region in focus both during live preview and movie encoder applications without any user intervention. Existing continuous auto-focus methods in a camera focuses either on a central region or on a subject, in the central region, that is nearest to the camera. Often, it might happen that the subject, on which the user desires to focus, is not present in the central region or is not nearest to the camera, and hence leading to failure in focusing on the subject, on which the user desires to focus. In light of the foregoing discussion, there is a need for a method for auto-focusing, in cameras, that resolves one or more above-mentioned issues.


The present invention provides a tube lamp and its manufacturing method which allow a lighting circuit and a shell to be easily and reliably connected together, which enable automation of a step of connecting the lighting circuit and the shell together, and which require low costs while achieving a high production efficiency. The tube lamp includes a case having a shell at an end thereof, and a lighting circuit housed in the case and having a printed circuit board with a circuit part mounted thereon, wherein the shell and the lighting circuit are connected together without leads.

The present invention relates to a tube lamp and its manufacturing method.
A conventional tube lamp, for example, a bulb type fluorescent lamp comprises an enclosure comprising a globe 1 and a case 37, a fluorescent tube 4, a lighting circuit 38 for lighting the fluorescent tube 4, the fluorescent lamp and the lighting circuit both being housed in the enclosure, as shown in FIG. 16.
The case 37 has a base 41 screwed on one end thereof and having an eyelet 39 and a shell 40.
The lighting circuit 38 has two leads 42 and 43 for supplying power. One 42 of the leads is led out from a through-hole formed in the eyelet 39 and is electrically connected to an outer surface of the eyelet 39 by means of soldering.
The other lead 43 is led to an exterior of the case 37 and electrically connected to an outer surface of the shell 40 by means of soldering.
In such a conventional tube lamp, however, the lighting circuit 38 and the base 41 are connected via the leads 42 and 43, that is, the conventional tube lamp requires the following operations: The one 42 of the leads is straightened and passed through the through-hole 44 in the eyelet 39, the other lead 43 is bent and led to the exterior of the case 37, and the leads 42 and 43 are then brought into contact with the outer surface of the shell and their unwanted portions are cut off for the soldering. These operations must be manual, thereby reducing productivity and increasing costs.
The present invention is provided to solve these problems, and it is an object thereof to provide a tube lamp and its manufacturing method which allow a lighting circuit and a shell to be easily and reliably connected together, which enable automation of a step of connecting the lighting circuit and the shell together, and which require low costs while achieving a high production efficiency.
A tube lamp according to the present invention comprises a case including a base portion having a shell at an end thereof, and a lighting circuit housed in the case and comprising a printed circuit board with a circuit part mounted thereon, the shell and the lighting circuit being connected together without leads.
Additionally, a tube lamp manufacturing method according to the present invention manufactures a tube lamp comprising a case including a base portion having a shell at an end thereof, and a lighting circuit housed in the case and comprising a printed circuit board with a circuit part and terminals mounted thereon, the shell and the terminals being connected together, the method comprising connecting the terminals to the shell at the same time when the lighting circuit is housed in the case.
The tube lamp and its manufacturing method eliminate the needs for leads and soldering thereof to enable the shell and the lighting circuit to be easily and reliably connected together, enable automation of a step of connecting the lighting circuit and the shell together instead of depending on manual operations, improve production efficiency due to the omission of the soldering step, and reduces costs because of a reduction in maintenance costs for facilities required for the soldering step and in material costs for leads, solders, and the like. The omission of solders also contributes to environment protection.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.