A method and system for detecting weld signatures from an ultrasound scan data obtained from scanning a pipeline is provided. The method includes a step for mapping multiple amplitude responses from the ultrasound scan data, each amplitude response being representative of a respective sensor signal. Continuous amplitude responses are located from the amplitude responses and corresponding signatures are identified for the continuous amplitude responses. The method also includes a step for tagging the corresponding signatures as weld signatures.

The invention relates generally to inspection systems and particularly to pipeline inspection systems that use ultrasound data for inspection of pipe flaws.
Pipelines are widely used in a variety of industries, allowing a large amount of material to be transported from one place to another. A variety of fluids such as oil and/or gas are transported cheaply and efficiently using pipelines. Particulate matter, and other small solids suspended in fluids may also be transported through pipelines. Underground and underwater (deep sea) pipelines typically carry enormous quantities of oil and gas products that are important to energy-related industries, often under high pressure and at extreme temperatures and at high flow rates.
Flaws in constituent pipes may cause pipeline integrity degradation as the pipeline infrastructure ages. Corrosion of a pipeline can be caused by small spots of weakness, subsidence of the soil, local construction projects, seismic activity, weather, and simply wear and tear caused by normal use, and can lead to defects and anomalies in the pipeline. Thus, flaws or defects and anomalies can appear in the surface of the pipeline in the form of corrosion, mechanical damage, fatigue, crack, stress, corrosion cracks, hydrogen induced cracks, or distortion due to dents or wrinkles.
Maintaining and protecting existing pipeline networks is proving to be a challenge. Current state-of-art inline inspection systems use Pipeline Inspection Gages (PIG). These acquire data from multiple sensors while the system travels inside the pipeline. A typical single run for the PIG may be more than 100 km long. The analysis of data and reporting of the findings is semi-automated. Current data analysis methods require on an average, about 200 man-days using ultrasound detection techniques to analyze and evaluate data from a 100 km long pipeline section. These techniques also result in high incidence of false positives because weld signatures (reflections from the weld interfaces of the pipeline) have very similar characteristics as cracks and notches and generally any feature recognition algorithm employed to extract flaws in the pipeline cannot easily distinguish between flaw signatures and weld signatures, which results in a high incidence of false calls.
Therefore there is a need for providing a method for removing weld and noise signatures from the ultrasound scan data obtained by inspecting a pipeline so that flaw signatures are retained for repair/maintenance follow-up activities.

Method and system for inspecting flaws using ultrasound scan data


The present invention provides compounds of general formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein X, n, Y, and R1 are defined generally and in subsets herein. Compounds of the invention are inhibitors of CCR2 and accordingly are useful for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune diseases, disorders, or conditions.

Chemoattractant cytokines, Chemoattractant cytokines or chemokines are a family of proinflammatory mediators that are released by a wide variety of cells to promote recruitment and activation of cells such as T and B lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils (Luster et al. New Eng. J. Med, 1998, 338, 436). The chemokines are related in primary structure and contain four conserved cysteines, which form disulfide bonds. The chemokine family includes the C—X—C chemokines (α-chemokines), and the C—C chemokines (β-chemokines), in which the first two conserved cysteines are separated by an intervening residue, or are adjacent, respectively (Baggiolini, M. and Dahinden, C. A., Immunology Today, 1994, 15, 127).
Chemokines exert their biological activity by binding to specific cell-surface receptors belonging to the family of G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-domain proteins (Horuk, Trends Pharm. Sci. 1994, 15, 159) which are termed "chemokine receptors". On binding their cognate ligands, chemokine receptors then transduce signals important for the development and trafficking of specific leukocyte subsets (Baggiolini, et. al., Nature 1994, 15, 365). The chemokines and their cognate receptors have been implicated as being important mediators of inflammatory, and allergic diseases, disorders, and conditions, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis (see, Carter, Current Opinion in Chemical Biology 2002, 6, 510; Trivedi et al., Ann. Reports Med. Chem. 2000, 35, 191; Saunders et al., Drug Disc. Today 1999, 4, 80; and Premack et al., Nature Medicine, 1996, 2, 1174). Accordingly, agents that block the interaction of chemokines with their cognate receptors would be useful in treating inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune diseases, disorders, or conditions caused by aberrant activation of leukocytes or lymphocytes.
CCR2 is a chemokine receptor expressed on monocytes which recognizes the ligands MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, and MCP-4 (see, Berkhout, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1997, 272, 16404. It has been implicated that the interaction of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and its receptor (CCR2) plays a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune diseases (for example rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, COPD, neuropathic pain, asthma, and atherosclerosis) by attracting leukocytes to sites of inflammation and subsequently activating these cells. When the chemokine MCP-1 binds to CCR2, it induces a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration, increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules, cellular degranulation, and the promotion of leukocyte migration. (see Dawson, et al., Expert Opin. Ther. Targets, 2003, 7, 35; Gongh et al., J. Exp. Med. 1997, 181, 131; Izikson, et al., Clin. Immunol. 2002, 103, 125; Donnelly et al., Drugs, 2003, 63, 1973; Leonard, E. J. Challenges Mod. Med., 1994, 3, 25; and Ross, R. New Engl. J. Med. 1999, 147, 213). In particular, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is believed to be primarily responsible for the selective recruitment of leukocytes to the site of inflammation by binding to its receptor CCR2 on the surface of monocytes and macrophages (Rollins et al., Blood, 1997, 90, 909; Howard et al., Trends Biotechnol. 1996, 14, 46; Saunders et al., Drug Discovery Today, 1999, 4, 80; Murphy et al., Pharmacologic Rev., 2000, 52, 145; and Horuk, R. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 2001, 12, 313). The importance of the MCP-1/CCR2 interaction has been demonstrated by experiments with genetically modified mice (see, Bao, et al., J. Exp. Med. 1998, 187, 601; Boring et al., J. Clin. Invest. 1997, 100, 2552; Kuziel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997, 94, 12053; and Kurihara et al., J. Exp. Med. 1997, 186, 1757). Several studies have also been published indicating that therapeutic intervention at the CCR2 receptor via inhibition of the interaction between MCP-1 and CCR2 may have beneficial effects in a variety of inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune diseases. For example, studies completed to date have indicated that the antagonism of the MCP-1/CCR2 interaction may be useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis; ameliorate chronic polyadjuvant-induced arthritis (Youssef et al., J. Clin. Invest. 2000, 106, 361); collagen-induced arthritis (Ogata et al., J. Pathol. 1997, 182, 106); streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis (Schimmer et al., J. Immunol. 1998, 160, 1466); MRL-lpr mouse model of arthritis (Gong et al., J. Exp. Med. 1997, 186, 131); atherosclerosis (Rezaie-Majd et al, Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 2002, 22, 1194-1199; Gu et al., Mol. Cell. 1998, 2, 275; Gosling et al., J. Clin. Invest. 1999, 103, 773; Boring et al, Nature 1998, 394, 894; and Ni et al. Circulation 2001, 103, 2096-2101); multiple sclerosis (Iarlori et al., J. Neuroimmunol. 2002, 123, 170-179; Kennedy et al., J. Neuroimmunol. 1998, 92, 98; Fife et al., J. Exp. Med. 2000, 192, 899; and Izikson et al., J. Exp. Med. 2000, 192, 1075); organ transplant rejection (Reynaud-Gaubert et al., J. of Heart and Lung Transplant., 2002, 21, 721-730; Belperio et al., J. Clin. Invest. 2001, 108, 547-556; and Belperio et al., J. Clint Invest. 2001, 108, 547-556); asthma (Gonzalo et al., J. Exp. Med. 1998, 188, 157; Lukacs, et al., J. Immunol. 1997, 158, 4398; and Lu et al., J. Exp. Med. 1998, 187, 601); kidney disease (Lloyd et al., J. Exp. Med. 1997, 185, 1371; and Tesch et al., J. Clin. Invest. 1999, 103, 73); lupus erythematosus (Tesch et al., J. Exp. Med. 1999, 190, 1813); colitis (Andres et al., J. Immunol. 2000, 164, 6303); alveolitis (Jones, et al., J. Immunol. 1992, 149, 2147); cancer (Conti, et al., Seminars in Cancer Biology 2004, 14, 149; Salcedo et al., Blood 2000, 96, 3440); restinosis (Roque et al. Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 2002, 22, 554-559); inflammatory bowel disease (Reinecker et al., Gastroenterology 1995, 108, 40; and Grimm et al., J. Leukoc. Biol. 1996, 59, 804); brain trauma (King et al., J. Neuroimmunol. 1994, 56, 127; and Berman et al., J. Immunol. 1996, 156, 3017); transplant arteriosclerosis (Russell et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1993, 90, 6086); idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (Antoniades et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1992, 89, 5371); psoriasis (Deleuran et al., J. Dermatol. Sci. 1996, 13, 228; and Gillitzer et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 1993, 101, 127); HIV and HIV-1-associated dementia (Garzino-Demo, WO 99/46991; Doranz et al., Cell 1996, 85, 1149; Connor et al., J. Exp. Med. 1997, 185, 621; and Smith et al., Science 1997, 277, 959); and neuropathic pain (Abbadie, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2003, 100, 7947). Similarly, demonstration of the importance of the MCP-1/CCR-2 interaction has been reported in the literature. For example, Lu et al., J. Exp. Med. 1998, 187, 601; Boring et al., J. Clin. Invest. 1997, 100, 2552; Kuziel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997, 94, 12053; and Kurihara et al., J. Exp. Med. 1997, 186, 1757.
Accordingly, agents that inhibit the interaction of MCP-1 and CCR2 would be useful in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune diseases, disorders, or conditions.


Engine torque selectively inputted through first and second input shafts is received and changed selectively by first and second output devices respectively having first and second output shafts. A reverse driven gear is axially offset from drive gears on the first and second input shafts such that some gear teeth of the reverse driven gear are close to an exterior circumference of one of the first and second input shafts.

Generally a double clutch transmission implies a transmission having two clutch devices therein. A double clutch transmission generally receives torque input from an engine selectively at its two input shafts using two clutches. The double clutch transmission then changes the torque and speed using gears on the two input shafts, and outputs the chosen torque and speed.
Such a double clutch transmission has been devised basically to compactly provide a multi-speed transmission of higher than five speeds. The two clutches and synchronizing devices included in a double clutch transmission may be controlled by a controller, and accordingly, such a double clutch transmission may also realize an automated shift gear (ASG) that eliminates the necessity of a driver's manual shifting.
A clutch included in a double clutch transmission may be categorized as a dry-type clutch or a wet-type clutch based on its operation. A dry-type clutch utilizes the same principle as a clutch device conventionally disposed between an engine and a manual transmission. A wet-type clutch utilizes the same principle as a clutch device inside an automatic transmission.
A wet-type clutch generally has a higher torque capacity than a dry-type clutch. Therefore, for an engine of high output power, a wet-type clutch is appropriate. In order to stably transmit a high output torque of a high powered engine, the widths of the gears in the transmission must be large. Therefore, a double clutch transmission designed for a high torque engine may easily become very large.
However, double-clutch transmissions that address the above drawback have a reverse driven gear that axially corresponds to a drive gear on the input shafts. In such a case, a diameter of the reverse driven gear is limited by the corresponding drive gear so that a reverse speed may only have very small reduction ratio relative to a first speed.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed are various embodiments for scalable notification deliveries in computing environments. A subscription request is transmitted along with a user identifier, a service identifier, a subscription identifier, and a channel identifier. Notifications are communicated through a notification multiplexing channel between two nodes of a computing environment. The notification multiplexing channel includes notifications multiplexed by subscription identifiers. The notification multiplexing channel corresponds to the channel identifier. A notification corresponding to the subscription identifier is identified and provided to a client computing device associated with the user identifier.

Enterprises can employ datacenters in order to provide compute, memory, storage, network, and other resources organized into multiple nodes across the computing environment. As the number of nodes utilized by enterprise datacenters increases, the communication load can increase to levels that are difficult to manage. For example, the workloads executed on the nodes can include services that can send notifications to other nodes or to clients. Multiple clients can be subscribed to multiple services across any number of the nodes. The existing technologies distribute message broker-based systems that require each of the federated node services to publish its notifications into a topic or queue in the message broker. Then the subscriber clients have to subscribe to the topics or services from the broker.
However, these technologies require the message broker to filter the notifications for each subscriber based on its permissions. Doing this is impractical. For example, for services that limit permissions, existing technologies can require copying the authorization logic and inventory objects of each service into the message broker. Another drawback of existing systems is that each message broker multicasts or replicates all messages to its peer brokers in the cluster. This can require deployment of a broker server in each node or deployment of a whole set of new nodes for notifications. Since the existing systems are inefficient and unscalable, more accurate notification delivery technologies are needed.

Scalable notification delivery for networked computing environments


A method and apparatus in a radio receiver for canceling interference from a high power, high data rate signal received in a combined signal that includes a contribution from the high power signal and a contribution from a lower power signal. It is first determined whether the high power signal was correctly received. A CRC checksum may be used to determine whether the high power signal was received with a good reliability. Thereafter, the contribution of the high power signal is removed from the received signal only if the high power signal was correctly received. The contribution of the high power signal may be removed by hard-subtracting the contribution of the high power signal from the received signal if all of the bits of the checksum are correct, and soft-subtracting the contribution of the high power signal from the received signal if most, but not all, of the bits in the checksum are correct.

The present invention relates to radio communication systems. More particularly, and not by way of limitation, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for canceling interference from high power, high data rate signals.
Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) is emerging as the leading global third generation (3G) standard. Specifications are evolving with the introduction of enhancements in the WCDMA uplink that are now part of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 6. The main requirements driving this evolution are reduced delays, high peak data rate, and higher capacity. To meet these requirements, the following enhancements have been introduced: a short 2 ms Transmission Time Interval (TTI) for data transmissions, fast scheduling, and fast hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ). To support these enhancements, a new uplink transport channel has been introduced, the Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH), in which a set of separate channelization codes is utilized for the data and the associated control signaling. The number of channelization codes carrying the E-DCH and their spreading factors depend on the data rate being utilized. The Enhanced Dedicated Physical Control Channel (E-DPCCH), carrying information for hybrid ARQ and transport format, uses a new code. These channels are code-multiplexed with the Dedicated Physical Data Channels (DPDCH) and Dedicated Physical Control Channels (DPCCH) of previous releases that use a 10 ms TTI for circuit switched services such as speech.
FIG. 1 is an illustrative drawing of the frame structures of the physical channels for one enhanced uplink user (User-1) and one voice user (User-2). The E-DCH Dedicated Physical Data Channel (E-DPDCH) is the data channel of the high rate user with TTI equal to 2 ms, including 3 slots. For simplicity, FIG. 1 shows only one data channel, even though, in practice, the number of parallel data channels depends on the transmitted data rate. The E-DPCCH is the control channel that carries information for transport format and hybrid ARQ. The Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) and Dedicated Physical Control Channel (CPDCH) are the channels with 10 ms TTI for circuit-switched services. User-2 is a voice user that transmits with a TTI equal to 10 ms.
Typically, a system includes multiple users transmitting to a base station. Some are data users transmitting at high rates and high powers, and others are low rate users (e.g., voice users). The description herein focuses on a scenario in which there are few high rate users and voice users. A conventional base station receiver typically processes the different users independently. The signal from the receive antennas is converted to baseband samples, and then each user signal is demodulated by a different channel element, which usually includes despreading and combining of different images of the received signal, and error correction decoding.
The fast scheduling allows the base station to control when a terminal can transmit and at what maximum rate. Packet data transmission is bursty, and the required transmit power generally increases with the data rate. Taking into account uplink channel conditions, a small number of high data rate users may be scheduled to transmit simultaneously. When high rate users transmit, the high power level of their transmissions cause the level of interference experienced by other users in the system to suddenly increase, and can exceed an acceptable interference level in the cell. The high interference level degrades the quality of the channel estimation, and detection performance.
In Direct Sequence-CDMA systems, the stream of information to be transmitted is divided into blocks, which are coded, interleaved, and transmitted into modulated symbols. A data signal at the point of transmission is combined with a higher data-rate bit sequence (also known as a chipping code) that divides the data according to a spreading ratio. The redundant chipping code helps the signal resist interference and also enables the original data to be recovered if data bits are damaged during transmission. DS-CDMA is used in second and third generation digital cellular systems such as WCDMA, cdma2000, and IS-95. DS-CDMA is also used in certain WLAN systems.
The conventional receiver for DS-CDMA systems is the Rake receiver. The Rake receiver is a matched filter, matched to the operations of spreading, pulse shape filtering, and channel filtering. This filter maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio at its output when the interference plus noise is white. The combining weights of a Rake receiver are given by the vector of the channel coefficients. In the presence of colored interference, as for example the interference generated by one or a few high data rate users, receiver performance degrades substantially because a Rake receiver models interference as white noise.
A generalized Rake (G-Rake) receiver models the interference as colored noise. A G-Rake receiver is described more completely in G. E. Bottomley et al., "A Generalized Rake Receiver for Interference Suppression," IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 18, pp. 1536-1545, August 2000. The combining weights are given by the vector of the channel coefficients multiplied by the inverse of the correlation matrix of the interference plus noise. The combining operation can be interpreted as an operation of matched filtering in colored noise after despreading. Although a G-Rake receiver has the capability of effectively suppressing interference, further improvement is possible.
To suppress interference, a Linear Minimum Mean Square Error (LMMSE) receiver may also be used (also referred to as an MMSE chip equalizer). This receiver is equivalent to a G-Rake receiver, in the sense that both receivers perform filtering and correlation operations, but in a different order. An LMMSE receiver replaces Rake combining with filtering before despreading, so that only one correlator is needed instead of one correlator per path.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps of an existing method of interference reduction in a multi-user environment. Receivers based on multi-user detection techniques have been found to be effective in reducing interference. In FIG. 2, the interference is reduced by serial cancellation, i.e., subtraction of the users' signals in order of decreasing signal strengths. At step 21, the receiver receives a signal from multiple users of varying power levels. At step 22, the highest power user is selected, and at step 23, the selected user is demodulated (or detected). At step 24, the contribution of the highest power user is subtracted. At step 25, the receiver then selects the next strongest user. The process may then be repeated to demodulate and remove the next highest power user, and so on. In an alternative multi-user detection technique known as parallel subtraction, interference signals are created and subtracted to produce a less interfered signal for each user. The users may also be jointly demodulated. The reduction of interference in multi-user receivers, however, comes at the expense of computational complexity that grows linearly or exponentially with the number of users.
Thus, a shortcoming of prior art solutions is the trade-off between performance and complexity. Some solutions are theoretically very effective in reducing interference, but their complexity becomes prohibitive for actual implementation. Other solutions are less complex and thus more suitable for implementation, but their performance is reduced in exchange for the reduced complexity.

Method and apparatus for canceling interference from high power, high data rate signals


Described is a moisture-vapor-permeable and oxygen-permeable adhesive dressing for use in supplying a topical medicament to human skin in a controlled release manner, which dressing is unaffected by and impermeable to water in the liquid phase, which dressing when in use on human skin consists essentially of:. (i) a polymeric backing material lamina having two surfaces, a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface; PA0 (ii) adhering to said first planar surface of said backing material a medication reservoir lamina having two surfaces, a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface, consisting essentially of an intimate mixture of: PA0 (iii) adhering to said second substantially planar surface of said medication reservoir lamina, a pressure-sensitive adhesive which is permeable to oxygen and moisture vapor but is unaffected by liquid water.. (a) a polyvinyl chloride polymer; PA1 (b) a polymeric plasticizer intimately admixed with said polyvinyl chloride and compatible with said polyvinyl chloride; and PA1 (c) a topical medicament compatible with said polyvinyl chloride and said plasticizer;. said first substantially planar surface of said medication reservoir lamina adhering to said first substantially planar surface of said backing material in a continuous or discontinuous manner; and

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to articles of manufacture for administration of topical medicaments to human skin (as opposed to systemically active drugs) in a controlled release manner. The articles are moisture-vapor-permeable and oxygen-permeable but are impermeable to water in the liquid phase. The articles consist essentially of:
(i) a polymeric backing which in many instances is elastomeric.sup.* ; FNT .sup.* The terms "elastomeric" and "elastomer" are herein intended to cover polymers having reasonable degrees of elasticity; however, such "elastomer polymers" are to be expected to have finite yields. Thus, for example, an "elastomer" is a polymer herein intended to have an elongation greater than 150% under applied stress. PA0 (ii) adhering to one surface of the polymeric backing, a medication reservoir which is a mixture of a polyvinyl chloride polymer, a polymeric plasticizer and a topical medicament. Adhering to the medication reservoir on a surface opposite to backing layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive. Examples of topical medicaments useful in the practice of our invention are tolnaftate, chlorhexidine, chlorhexidine esters, chlorhexidine salts, hydrocortisone, benzalkonium salts, benzethonium salts and polyvinyl pyrrolidone-iodine complexes. PA0 A drug delivery device for the controlled, oral administration of water-soluble prednisolone is prepared as follows: first, a plurality of drug reservoirs comprising porous, discrete particles of polymerized poly(vinyl chloride) of about 100 microns diameter are prepared by mixing 100 g of suspension grade poly(vinyl chloride) resin with 50 g of octyl diphenyl phosphate and 10 g of prednisolone disodium phosphate at room temperature into a sticky, wet mass. Next, the temperature of the mixture is raised to 80.degree. C. for about 3 to 7 minutes, while stirring, to form dry, free flowing, discrete drug reservoirs. The reservoirs are uniformly dispersed through a matrix by mixing 50 g of reservoirs containing the prednisolone with 140 g of polydimethylsiloxane, 10 g of silicone oil, and 0.5 g of stannous octoate. After mixing the ingredients, the mixture is charged into pill molds and allowed to cure for 30 minutes. Oral administration of the resulting device yields a controlled essentially constant rate of release of prednisolone phosphate to the gastrointenstinal tract to give a more uniform blood level of prenisolone over a longer period of time than is achieved when prednisolone alcohol is administered by standard prior art pills. PA0 (i) a polymeric (and in many instances "elastomeric") backing material lamina; PA0 (ii) adhering to one side of the polymeric backing material lamina, a medication reservoir lamina which is a mixture of a polyvinyl chloride resin containing a polymeric plasticizer and a topical medicament compatible with the polyvinyl chloride resin and adhering to the other side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin layer a pressure-sensitive adhesive unaffected by liquid water.
2. The Prior Art
A relatively new concept in wound management is the use of thin transparent elastomeric film dressings as opposed to conventional gauze dressings. Such elastomeric film dressings are known in the prior art and consist usually of a polyurethane film with a laminated pressure-sensitive adhesive for adhesion to the skin. The elastomeric film dressings of the prior art have high moisture vapor and oxygen permeability which properties are believed to be responsible for faster wound healing (of the order of 40% faster than when using conventional gauze dressings). The polyurethane film dressings of the prior art act as barriers to bacteria and liquid water, thus minimizing the risk of infection. Subsequent to 1980, the concept of the elastomeric film dressing has gained acceptance in hospital practice at a progressively rapid rate. The single most use of the polyurethane elastomeric film dressing is as a device for securement of peripheral and central intravenous catheters. Other applications are as a wound dressing for decubitus ulcers, autograft donor sites and partial thickness skin loss wounds. Existing commercial products of the prior art include OP-SITE.RTM. produced by T. J. Smith and Nephew Limited of Kingston-Upon-Hull, England, TEGADERM.RTM. produced by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn., BIOCLUSIVE.RTM. manufactured by the Johnson & Johnson Company of New Brunswick, N.J., POLYSKIN.RTM. manufactured by the Kendall Company, Division of Colgate Palmolive Company and ENSURE-IT.RTM. manufactured by the Deseret Medical Company, Division of Becton Dickinson of Franklin Lakes, N.J.
In the article "A Bandage That Acts Like Skin" in BUSINESS WEEK of Oct. 5, 1981, at page 381, it is disclosed that hospital studies indicate that OP-SITE.RTM., a transparent polyurethane film cuts healing time by up to 40% compared with the usual gauze bandage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,835 issued on Feb. 29, 1972 and reissued as Re. U.S. Pat. Nos. 31,886 on May 14, 1985 and 31,887 on May 14, 1985 (assigned to T. J. Smith & Nephew Limited) discloses a moisture-vapor-permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive material for use on animal skin comprising a backing material and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least substantially the whole of the body adhering portion of at least one surface of the backing material, both the backing material and the adhesive being moisture-vapor-permeable and unaffected by water; with at least one of the backing material and/or the adhesive comprising a synthetic polymer and being continuous and non-permeable to liquid water, the adhesive material have a moisture-vapor-permeability of at least 300 grams/square meter/24 hours/40.degree. C./80% relative humidity. It is indicated therein that a preferred backing material is a polyurethane film.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,738 issued on Jun. 24, 1986 assigned to Smith and Nephew Associated Companies p.l.c. discloses a moisture vapor transmitting elastomeric film which comprises a blend of incompatible polymers and contains voids characterized in that the blend comprises a continuous matrix of ethylene vinyl acetate within which the incompatible polymer forms a discrete particulate phase matrix and further discloses that the film is liquid water impermeable and has a moisture-vapor transmission rate of at least 500 g/m.sup.2 /24 hours at 37.degree. C. at 100% to 20% relative humidity difference.
European Patent Application 174 803 filed on Sep. 5, 1985 assigned to Smith and Nephew Associated Companies p.l.c. discloses a bacteria proof adhesive wound dressing having a moisture vapor transmission rate of greater than 300 g/m.sup.2 /24 hours at 37.degree. C. at 100% to 10% relative humidity difference and which comprises a film which is coated on one face by an adhesive layer and has bonded to its other face a layer of foam. It is further disclosed therein that the foam is preferably a reticulated polyurethane foam from 0.5 to 2 mm thick.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,509 issued on Jan. 12, 1982 assigned to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn. discloses a pressure-sensitive adhesive having homogeneously dispersed therein a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. It is further disclosed that when the composition is placed in contact with the skin, it uniformly and controllably releases the broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent with substantially unaltered broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Exemplified is the polyvinyl pyrrolidone iodine complex. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,557 discloses the polyvinyl pyrrolidone-iodine complex in the pressure-sensitive adhesive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,012 issued on Sep. 17, 1985 discloses a dermatologically acceptable film-forming composition comprising a film-forming polymer and as a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent, iodine which forms a complex with the film-forming polymer. It is further disclosed therein that the compositions when applied to skin from a fugitive solvent form a substantially water-insoluble tack-free flexible film which adheres to the skin, releases the antimicrobial agent when the film is in contact with the skin and exhibits an elongation of at least about 150%.
German Offenlegungsschrift 3520 011 and United Kingdom Application 2,160,420 assigned to Yissum Research and Development Company disclose a composition for topical application for the gradual release of iodine comprising a hydrophilic polyurethane as a carrier of the iodine. It is further disclosed that the compositions release iodine in a gradual and predetermined manner over a prolonged time. It is further disclosed therein that the physical properties of the carrier and the germicidal properties of the iodine result in the prevention or control of infections, in exudate absorption, in crust removal and in rapid healing of sores because of the iodine release when the composition is applied to sores, wounds, burns and skin damage.
PCT Patent Application 86/00536 assigned to Avery International Corporation discloses a bandage for the transdermal or topical administration of a drug over an extended period of time comprising an impermeable backing sheet, a solid drug pellet on the backing sheet and a layer of contact adhesive covering the pellet and backing sheet. Control over the rate of dissolution of the solid drug can be achieved by varying the type of web fabric, the type of adhesive and the thickness of the adhesive.
U.S. Patent No. 4,576,818 issued on Mar. 18, 1986 provides iodophors which exhibit effective degerming of skin, mucous membranes of animals and surfaces of inanimate objects which provide broad spectrum microbicidal action. The iodophors of 4,576,818 are complexes of iodine with polydextrose or with the polymer resulting from the copolymerization of sucrose and epichlorohydrin.
European Patent Application 184 465 filed on Dec. 6, 1985, assigned to Warner-Lambert Company discloses an antithrombogenic thermoplastic polyurethane product comprising a substrate and at least one layer of a polyurethane alloy complex comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and completely dispersed therein a preformed complex of an antithrombogenic material and/or an antibiotic agent ionically bonded with a quaternary ammonium compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,122 assigned to the Alza Corporation and issued on Aug. 10, 1971 discloses a bandage for use in the continuous administration of systemically active drug by absorption through the skin comprising a backing member having on one surface thereof a reservoir containing a systemically active drug. The reservoir has a wall distant from the backing member and permeable to the passage of the drug. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer also permeable to the passage of the drug is carried by the reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,097 issued on May 22, 1973 discloses an adhesive laminate tape for the topical administration of a controlled therapeutically effective quantity of drug which may be selected from the group consisting of antineoplastic agents, folic acid antagonists and antimitotic agents for the treatment of skin lesions comprising a backing member bearing a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the adhesive having distributed therein a means for metering the flow of a therapeutically effective amount of the drug to the lesions over a prolonged period of time.
European Published Application 177 329 filed on Oct. 1, 1985 discloses a device for transdermal administration of nitroglycerin comprising a solid vinyl plastisol layer for contacting the patient's skin, the layer containing from about 40-70% of an emulsion polymerized polyvinyl chloride resin, from about 25-45% plasticizer and from about 5-20% nitroglycerin, and a backing layer opposite the skin-contacting surface as a barrier to the release of nitroglycerin.
Canadian Patent 930,668 discloses a bandage for administering drugs comprised of a backing member, a pressure sensitive adhesive, and at least one reservoir disposed between the backing member and pressure sensitive adhesive. The reservoir is comprised of a systemically active drug formulation confined within a wall member, the wall member being formed from a drug release rate controlling material. The reservoir can be in the form of discrete microcapsules or distinct reservoir compartments or layers. The reservoir can also be in the form of walled containers having one or more interior drug-containing chambers, as well as solid matrixes having a systemically active drug distributed therethrough. The Canadian patent discloses a wide variety of materials which can be used to form the reservoir. Among the materials mentioned are silicone rubbers, hydrophilic polymers of monoesters of an olefinic acid, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylacetate, plasticized polyvinylchloride, plasticized nylon, collagen, modified collagen, getain and waxes such as polyethylene wax, oxidized polyethylene wax, hydrogenated castor oil and the like, with the silicone rubbers being preferred. The Canadian patent does not contain any examples showing the use of plasticized polyvinyl chloride, and does not show the use of a PVC plastisol.
Similarly, Zaffaroni, U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,636 issued on Nov. 25, 1975 discloses a drug delivery device for administering a drug at a controlled rate for a prolonged period of time comprising a plurality of reservoirs containing drug distributed through a matrix. The reservoirs and the matrix are formed of materials permeable to passage of the drug. The rate of drug permeation from the reservoir is lower than the rate of permeation through the matrix so that release from the reservoir is the drug release rate controlling step. Thus, Example 6, at column 15, lines 5-30 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,636 relates to a polyvinyl chloride resin containing plasticizer and prednisolone disodium phosphate thusly:
Furthermore, as is well known, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is never used alone, but is always mixed with other ingredients before being processed. Polyvinyl chloride appeared initially to be an unpromising resin because of its thermal instability and high rigidity. PVC, however, was then discovered to form a rubber-like material when dissolved hot in high boiling solvents known as plasticizers and cooled to room temperature. PVC is now available in a number of different physical forms and types, and its manufacture depends on the form desired. Thus, PVC is available as a vinyl latex, a dispersion resin, or a general purpose resin. PVC latexes are true colloidal dispersions of submicrometer particles in water, stabilized by a surfactant system, and need plasticizers in order to form a continuous film. The PVC in vinyl latex is manufactured by emulsion polymerization.
Dispersion resins are produced by emulsion polymerization and are mixed with plasticizers to form a colloidal dispersion. Such dispersions are known as plastisols and are easily handled and readily pourable. When heated to a temperature of about 148.degree. to 177.degree. C., the plastisol is transformed to a homogeneous melt which, upon cooling to below 50.degree. C., results in a tough flexible product. The PVC resins made by emulsion polymerization are hard spheres of particle size between about 0.05 and 20 microns, such as between 1 and 20 microns. They do not have the ability to absorb plasticizers. Therefore, a mixture containing, for example, 30% plasticizer and 70 PVC resin, produces a flowable liquid, known as plastisol.
General purpose PVC resins are made by mass and suspension polymerization process, and comprise the largest amount of PVC resins produced, such as at least 80% of all PVC resins, and are used chiefly to make so-called 100% vinyl products by a variety of molding and extrusion techniques. Resins intended for flexible applications should have good uptake of plasticizer in a dry blending operation and contain more than 25% of a plasticizer system. PVC compounds that contain less than 25% plasticizers are referred to as semirigid compounds. The PVC resins manufactured by suspension and bulk polymerization are 50 to 200, such as 100 to 150 microns in diameter, and are like sponges. They are capable of absorbing large amounts of plasticizers, so that even a 50% plasticizer, 50% PVC resin composition would result in a non-flowing, solid material.


Embodiments of a strap assembly system for a golf bag are described herein. The strap assembly system can be converted between a single-strap configuration or a double-strap configuration. The strap assembly system comprises a first strap, a second strap, and a back puck. The back puck comprises first and second attachment openings for securing the first strap. The back puck further comprises first and second side openings that define a linear pathway and are configured to receive the second strap. The second strap can move freely along the linear pathway.

Typically, golf bags are categorized into carry bags and cart bags. Carry bags generally comprise a strap system that allows the user carry the weight of the bag on their shoulders. In some carry bags, the strap system is a single strap system that allows the user to carry the bag on one side of their body. In other carry bags, the strap system is a double-strap system that allows the user to wear the bag like a backpack.
Carry bags are typically designed with either a single strap system or a double-strap system. Single strap systems have the drawback of tiring out a user's upper body and shoulder due to the uneven weighting, which can inhibit their performance on the golf round. Double-strap systems overcome this by providing the user with the option of evenly distributing the weight of the golf bag across both shoulders, which leads to less overall fatigue. However, for short distances golfers sometimes prefer the convenience of a single strap system. Additionally, caddies who are carrying two bags cannot use both straps on a double-strap bag but must instead carry the bags by placing a single strap from each bag on each shoulder.
The double-strap systems often have crisscrossing straps that are worn like a backpack. In some double-strap designs, the bag can be lifted by one strap and carried at the right side of the user's body. However, the orientation of the double-strap designs prevents the user from conveniently using a single strap on the left side of the user's body. The strap is not configured to distribute the weight of the bag accurately when the bag is carried on the left side of the user's body. Additionally, regardless of which side of the body the bag is carried on, double-strap systems do not function well for single strap carrying because the straps are fixed to each other at a crisscrossing intersection. The intersection can run into the user's elbow when the user is picking up the bag by a single strap. In view of these issues, there is a need in the art for a strap system that is convertible between a double-strap system into a single strap system and vice versa.


Illustrated is a system and method to generate a teaching message with a host device address that impersonates a device source address, the impersonation to instruct an additional network device as to the host device address. It further include a transmitter to transmit the teaching message to the additional network device. It also includes traversing a forwarding table to identify an additional network device that has yet to receive a teaching message since an expiration of a predefined threshold value, the teaching message to relate to a source device. It also includes a transmitter to transmit a teaching message to the additional network device.

Ethernet is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies implemented at the link layer of the Internet Protocol (IP) suite model. The Ethernet frames implemented in this model include fields describing the Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of devices utilizing the network within which the protocol is implemented. Example fields include a destination MAC address field, a source MAC address field, an Ether Type field, a load field, and other fields. These fields are outlined, for example, in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 standard.
Networks using Ethernet typically broadcast (e.g., flood) messages across a spanning tree operatively connecting the devices that are part of this network. These devices include switches (e.g., layer 1-2 devices), routers (e.g., layer 1-3 devices), and host devices. Operatively connected, as used herein, is a logical or physical connection. A connection between any two adjacent devices is a link.
Networks using Ethernet may also unicast messages along links that operatively connect devices in the network. For example, when a device "X" receives a message from a device "Y" on a link, an entry in a forwarding table is created so that all subsequent messages received by device "X" destined for device "Y" are sent along the same link. Using this method, device "X" can be taught a link in a path that ultimately leads to device "Y." This form of teaching is symmetric (referenced herein as symmetric teaching) in nature for the path from device "Y" to device "X" is effectively retraced to deliver a message from device "X" to the device "Y."

Teaching a network device using unsolicited teaching messages

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


A wire gap film is formed on a flat coplanar surface formed on a bottom pole by a bottom track pole and a thin film coil, first and second magnetic material films constituting a top pole are formed on a flat surface of the thin film coil, and the first and second magnetic material films, write gap film and bottom track pole are partially removed forming a top track pole and trim structure. The thin film coil is formed by first and second thin film coil halves having self-aligned coil windings and have a CVD formed first conductive film, and an electrolytic plating formed second conductive film. A thin insulating film is interposed between successive coil windings of the first and second thin film coil halves. Jumper wirings, formed with the top pole, connect innermost and outermost coil windings of the first and second thin film coil halves respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrically conductive wiring pattern and a method of manufacturing the same, and also relates to a thin film magnetic head comprising a thin film coil formed by a wiring patter, The present invention also relates to a combination type thin film magnetic head having an inductive type writing thin film magnetic head element and a magnetoresistive type reading thin film magnetic head element stacked one on the other, and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combination type thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same, in which a GMR element is used as a magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head element and an inductive type thin film magnetic head element has a superior NTSL property by extremely shortening a magnetic path length by reducing a coil winding pitch of a thin film coil and has a narrow record track for attaining a high surface recording density on a magnetic record medium by providing a miniaturized track pole made of a magnetic material having a high saturation magnetic flux density.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently a surface recording density of a hard disc device has been improved, and it has been required to develop a thin film magnetic head having an improved performance accordingly. A recent magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head using a GMR (Giant Magneto-Resistive) element has a surface recording density up to 100 gigabits/inch2. A combination type thin film magnetic head is constructed by stacking an inductive type thin film magnetic head intended for writing information on a magnetic record medium and a magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head intended for reading information out of the magnetic record medium on a substrate. As a reading magneto-resistive element, a GMR element having a magnetoresistive change larger than a normal anisotropic MR element by 5–15 times has been used. In order to improve a performance of the GMR element, there have been various proposals.
In a normal anisotropic MR element, a single film of a magnetic material showing the magnetoresistive effect is utilized. Many GMR elements have a multi-layer structure having a stack of a plurality of films. There are several mechanisms for generating a resistance change in the GMR element, and the multi-layer structure is dependent upon a mechanism. For instance, a super-lattice GMR film and a glanular film have a simple structure and a large resistance change under a weak magnetic field. A spin-valve GMR film will be suitable for a large scale manufacture. A performance of the reading head element is determined by not only the above mentioned selection of materials, but also by pattern widths such as an MR height and a track width. The track width is determined by a photolithography process and the MR height is determined by an amount of polishing for forming an air bearing surface (ABS).
At the same time, the performance of the recording magnetic head is also required to be improved in accordance with the improvement of the performance of the reproducing magnetic head. In order to increase a surface recording density, it is necessary to realize a high track density on a magnetic record medium. To this end, a pole portion of the recording thin film magnetic head element has to be narrowed in a sub-micron order, particularly not larger than 0.2 μm by utilizing the semiconductor manufacturing process. However, upon decreasing a track width by utilizing the semiconductor manufacturing process, there is a problem that a sufficiently large magnetic flux could not be obtained due to a miniaturized structure of the pole portion. In this manner, by replacing the MR film by the GMR film in the reproducing head element and by selecting a material having a high magnetoresistive sensitivity, it is possible simply to attain a desired high surface recording density.
In order to realize a sufficiently high surface recording density of about 100 gigabits/inch2, it is necessary to use a record medium, i.e. a magnetic disk material having a high magnetic coercive force. If a magnetic material having a high coercive force is not used, once recorded data might be erased due to the thermal fluctuation. When a material magnetic having a high coercive force is used, recoding requires a large magnetic flux, and therefore a inductive type thin film magnetic head element must generate a large magnetic flux. Generally, in order to generate a large magnetic flux in the inductive type thin film magnetic head element, a track pole is made of a magnetic material having a high saturation magnetic flux density (Hi-Bs material having a saturation magnetic flux density not less than 1.8 T (tesla). NiFe (80:20) of 1.0 T and NiFe (45:55) have been used as a magnetic material having a high saturation magnetic flux density. Recently, CoNiFe of 1.8 ˜2.0 T has been used. In order to use a miniaturized track pole stably, a magnetic material having saturation magnetic flux density of about 1.8 T is generally used. However, when a width of the track pole is reduced to sub-micron order, such magnetic materials could not generate a sufficiently large magnetic flux for recording stably. In this manner, it is required to use a magnetic material having a higher saturation magnetic flux density. Heretofore, when a track pole is made of a magnetic material having a high saturation magnetic flux density, a plating method has been generally used. However, in order to manufacture a track pole having a narrow width, it is preferable to use a sputtering method. From this view point, it will be advantageous to form a track pole by sputtered films of FeN having a saturation magnetic flux density of 2.0 T FeCo of 2.4 T.
FIGS. 1–9 are cross sectional views showing successive steps of a method of manufacturing a conventional combination type thin film magnetic head. In these drawings, A represents a cross sectional view cut along a plane perpendicular to the air bearing surface and B denotes a cross sectional view of a pole portion cut along a plane parallel to the air bearing surface. The combination type thin film magnetic head includes an inductive type recording magnetic head element provided on a magnetoresistive type reading magnetic head element.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an alumina (Al2O3) insulating film 2 having a thickness of about 2–3 μm is deposited on a substance 1 made of AlTiC. Next, a bottom shield film 3 made of a magnetic material for magnetically shielding a GMR reading head element from an external magnetic field on the substrate. On the bottom shield film 3, a shield gap film 4 made of alumina is formed with a thickness of 30–35 nm by sputtering. Then, a GMR film 5 having a given layer-structure is formed, and lead electrodes 6 for the GMR film are formed by a lift-off process. Next, a top shield gap film 7 made of alumina is formed with a thickness of 30–35 nm by sputtering, and a magnetic material film 8 serving as a top shield film is formed with a thickness of about 3 μm.
Next, an isolation film 9 made of alumina is formed with a thickness of about 0.3 μm for isolating the reading GMR head element from a writing induction type thin film magnetic head element to suppress noise in a reproduced output from the GMR head element. After that, a bottom pole 10 of the recording head element made of permalloy is formed with a thickness of 1.5–2.0 μm. The bottom pole 10 is formed by a plating film of CoNiFe. It should be noted that in the drawings a ratio of thickness of various portions does not exactly correspond to an actual ratio. For instance, the isolation film 9 is shown to have a smaller thickness.
Next, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, on the bottom pole 10, is formed a write gap film 11 made of a non-magnetic material to have a thickness of about 100 nm, and a top track pole 12 made of a permalloy which is a magnetic material having a high saturation magnetic flux density is formed in accordance with a given pattern. At the same time, a bridge portion 13 for magnetically coupling the bottom pole 10 with a top pole to be formed later at a back-gap is formed. The top track pole 12 and bridge portion 13 are formed by plating with a thickness of about 3–4 μm.
Then, in order to avoid a widening of an effective track width, i.e. in order to prevent a magnetic flux from extending at the bottom pole 10 during a writing operation, the write gap film 11 and the underlying bottom pole 10 around the top track pole 12 are etched by ion milling to form a so-called trim structure. After that, forming an alumina insulating film 14 having a thickness of about 3 μm over a whole surface, a surface is flattened by the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in order to form a thin film coil by the electrolytic plating of Cu, a thin seed layer 15 having a thickness of about 100 nm is formed by sputtering. After forming a resist film having a given opening pattern on the seed layer, a first layer thin film coil 16 is formed with a thickness of 1.5 μm in accordance with a given pattern by a plating process using a copper sulfate liquid. Then, after removing the resist film, the exposed seed layer 15 is removed by an ion milling process using an argon ion beam as depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In this manner, the seed layer 15 is removed to separate coil windings to form a coiled conductor. During the ion milling, in order to prevent portions of the seed layer 15 projecting from side edges of the coil windings of the thin film coil 16 from being remained, the ion milling is performed at an angle of 5–10°. When the ion milling is carried out at an angle near a perpendicular angle, debris of the seed layer 15 splashed by impingement of the ion beam might be adhered again to the coil windings. Therefore, a distance between successive coil windings must be widened.
Then, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, an insulating film 17 which supports the first layer thin film coil 16 in an electrically insolated manner is formed by photoresist. Next, as depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a Cu seed layer 18 is formed and a second layer thin film coil 19 is formed in accordance with a given pattern with a thickness of 1.5 μm. Then, after removing the seed layer 18 by ion milling, an insulating film 20 of photoresist for supporting the second layer thin film coil 19 in an electrically insulating manner is formed. Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a top pole 21 made of permalloy is formed with a thickness of about 3 μm such that the top track pole 12 and bridge portion 13 are coupled with each other by the top pole 21, and a whole surface is covered with an overcoat film 22 made of alumina. It should be noted that during the formation of the second thin film coil 19, a connect portion 23 for connecting inner portions of the first and second thin film coils 16 and 19 is formed. Finally, an end surface into which the GMR film 5, write gap film 11, top track pole 12 and so on are exposed is polished to form an air bearing surface ABS to complete a slider. In a manufacturing process for forming an actual thin film magnetic head, after forming a number of the above mentioned structures on the wafer, the wafer is divided in a plurality of bars in each of which a number of thin film heads are aligned. Then, a side edge of the bar is polished to obtain the air bearing surface ABS.
FIG. 9 shows schematically a cross sectional view and a plan view illustrating the structure of the known combination type thin film magnetic head manufactured in the manner explained above. The bottom pole 10 has a large area, but the top track pole 12 and top pole 21 have a smaller area than the bottom pole. One of factors determining the performance of the writing head element is a throat height TH. The throat height TH is a distance from the air bearing surface ABS to an edge of the insulating film 14, and this distance is desired to be short. One of factors determining the performance of the reading head element is an MR height MRH. This MR height (MRH) is a distance from the air bearing surface ABS into which one edge of the GMR film 15 is exposed to the other edge of the GMR film. During the manufacturing process, a desired MR height MRH is obtained by controlling an amount of polishing the air bearing surface ABS.
There is another factor determining the performance of the thin film magnetic head together with the above mentioned throat height TH and MR height MRH. This factor is an apex angle θ, which is defined by an angle formed by a tangential line to a side wall of the insulating film 17 isolating the thin film coil 16 and an upper surface of the top pole 21. In order to miniaturize the thin film magnetic head, it is required to increase the apex angle θ as large as possible.
Now problems in the known combination type thin film magnetic head mentioned above will be explained. After forming the insulating film 17, 20 such that the thin film coil 16, 19 is supported by the insulating film in an electrically insulating manner, the top pole 21 is formed. In this case, the top pole 21 has to be formed into a given pattern along the side wall of the insulating film 17, 20. To this end, a photoresist is formed with a thickness of 3–4 μm at a step of the insulating film having a height of about 7–10 μm. Now it is assumed that at the side wall of the insulating film 16, 19, the photoresist should have a thickness of at least 3 μm, a thickness of the photoresist at the bottom of the step would become thick such as 8–10 μm. Since a width of record track of the writing head is mainly determined by a width of the top track pole 12, it is not necessary to miniaturize the top pole 21 compared with the top track pole 12, but if the track width of submicron order such as 0.2 μm is desired, the pole portion of the top pole 21 should be miniaturized in the order of submicrons.
Upon forming the top pole 21 into a desired pattern by plating, the photoresist has to be deposited on the top track pole 12 and insulating film 17, 20 having the step of more than 10 μm such that the photoresist has a uniform thickness. Then, the photoresist is subjected to the exposure of light to form the top pole 21 having the pole portion of submicron order. That is to say, a pattern of submicron order should be formed with the photoresist having a thickness of 8–10 μm. When the pole portion 21 is formed by plating, a seed layer made of permalloy serving as an electrode is previously formed. During the light exposure of the photolithography, light is reflected by the permalloy seed layer, and a desired pattern might be deformed. Therefore, it is quite difficult to form the pattern of submicron order precisely.
In order to improve the surface recording density, it is required to miniaturize the pole portion as explained above. Then, the miniaturized pole portion must be made of a magnetic material having a high saturation magnetic flux density. In general, FeN and FeCo have been known as magnetic materials having a high saturation magnetic flux density. However, these magnetic materials could not be easily formed by sputtering into a film having a given pattern. It has been known to shape the sputtered film into a given patter by the ion milling. However, etching rate is too slow and a track width of submicron order could not be controlled precisely.
NiFe, CoNiFe, FeCo have been known to have a high saturation magnetic flux density, and these magnetic materials could be formed into a given pattern by plating. For instance, Fe rich NiFe (more than 50%) has a saturation magnetic flux density of 1.5–1.6 tesla (T), and a composition could be controlled stably. However, in order to realize a surface recording density of 80–100 gigabits/inch2, a track width has to be not larger than 0.2 μm. Then, there would be required to use a magnetic material having a higher saturation magnetic flux density. There has been proposed to form a magnetic film by plating using CoNiFe. However, this magnetic material could provide the magnetic faculty of about 1.8–2.0 T. In order to realize the surface recording density of about 80–100 gigabits/inch2, it is desired to use a magnetic material having a high saturation magnetic flux density such as 2 T.
A high frequency performance of the induction type thin film magnetic head is also determined by a magnetic path length which is defined as a length from the throat height zero position to the back-gap. A high frequency performance of the thin film magnetic head is improved by shortening the above mentioned magnetic path length. It would be possible to shorten the magnetic path length by reducing a pitch of successive coil windings of the thin film coil, but this solution has a limitation. Then, there has been proposed to construct the thin film coil to have two coil layers as explained above. Upon forming the two-layer thin film coil, after forming a first thin film coil layer, an insulating film of photoresist is formed with a thickness of about 2 μm. This insulating layer has a round outer surface, and thus upon forming a second thin film coil layer, a seed layer for electrolytic plating has to be formed on an inclined portion. Therefore, when the seed layer is etched by the ion milling, a portion of the seed layer hidden by the inclined portion could not be removed sufficiently and coil windings might be short-circuited. Therefore, the second thin film coil has to be formed on a flat surface of the insulating layer.
For instance, it is now assumed that a thickness of the first thin film coil layer is 2–3 μm, a thickness of the insulating film formed on the first thin film coil layer is 2 μm, and an apex angle of the inclined portion of the insulating film is 45–55°, an outer surface of the second thin film coil layer must be separated from the throat height zero reference position by a distance of 6–8 μm which is twice of a distance from the throat height zero reference position to the outer surface of the first thin film coil layer. Then, a magnetic path length would be longer accordingly. When the thin film coil has space/line of 1.5 μm/05 μm and a total number of coil windings is eleven, six coil windings are provided in the first thin film coil layer and five coil windings are formed in the second thin film coil layer. Then, a length of the whole thin film coil becomes 11.5 μm. In this manner, in the known thin film magnetic head, a magnetic path length could not be shortened, and a high frequency property could not be improved.
In the known combination type thin film magnetic head explained above, there is a problem of miniaturizing the writing inductive type thin film magnetic head element. That is to say, by reducing the magnetic path length LM, i.e. a length portions of the bottom pole 10 and top pole 21 surrounding the thin film coil 16, 19 as shown in FIG. 9, a flux rise time, non-linear transition shift NLTS and over write property of the inductive type thin film magnetic head element can be improved. In order to shorten the magnetic path length LM, a coil width LC of a portion of the thin film coil 16, 19 surrounded by the bottom pole 10 and the top pole 21 has to be shortened. In the known thin film magnetic head, the coil width LC could not be shortened due to the following reason.
In order to shorten the coil width LC in the known inductive type thin film magnetic head element, a width of coil windings of the thin film coil must be shortened, and at the same time, a distance between successive coil windings must be shortened. However, in order to reduce an electric resistance of the thin film coil, a width of coil winding should be shortened only with a limitation. When the thin film coil is made of copper having a high conductivity, a width of coil winding could not be reduced less than 1.5 μm, because a height of the thin film coil is limited to 2–3 μm. If a width of coil winding is shortened not larger than 1.5 μm, a property of the GMR film 15 might be deteriorated due to heat generated by the thin film coil. Furthermore, the bottom pole 10 and top pole 21 are also heated to expand and a serious problem of pole protrusion might occur and the thin film magnetic head might be brought into contact with the record medium. Therefore, in order to reduce the coil width LC without shortening a width of coil winding, a distance between successive coil windings must be shortened.
In the known thin film magnetic head, a distance between coil windings of the thin film coil 16, 19 could not be shortened. Now a reason of this will be explained. As explained above, the coil windings of the thin film coil are formed by the electrolytic plating method using the copper sulfate liquid. In order to deposit a copper film uniformly within the opening formed in the resist film formed on the seed layer, the seed layer is first formed with a thickness of 100 nm, and then the copper film deposited by the electrolytic plating on the seed layer through the opening formed in the resist film to form the coil windings. After that, the seed layer is selectively removed to separate the coil windings. The seed layer is removed by the ion beam milling using, for instance an argon gas, while the coil windings are used as a mask.
In order to remove the seed layer between successive coil windings, it is preferable to perform the ion beam milling from a direction perpendicular to the wafer surface. However, this result in a re-deposition of debris of the seed material and successive coil windings might not be separated well, and thus a distance between successive coil windings could not be shortened. Such a problem could be solved by effecting the ion beam milling at an angle of 5–10°, a sufficient ion irradiation could not be attained at a shadow portion of the photoresist film and the seed layer might be remained partially. Therefore, a distance between successive coil windings could not be shortened in order to prevent an insufficient insulation between coil windings. In the known thin film magnetic head, a distance between successive coil windings is long such as 0.3–0.5 μm. If a distance between successive coil windings is shortened less than the above value, the above mentioned problem might occur.
When the thin film coil 16, 19 is formed by the electrolytic plating method as explained above, in order to keep a thickness of the thin film coil uniformly, a plating liquid such as a copper sulfate must be stirred during the plating. If a width of a wall defining the opening in the photoresist film is shorted in order to shorten a distance between successive coil windings, the thin wall might be broken due to the stirring of the plating liquid. Then, the thin film coil could not be formed accurately. Also from this point of view, a distance between successive coil windings of the thin film coil could not be shortened.
The NLTS property of the inductive type thin film magnetic head could be improved by increasing the number of coil windings of the thin film coil. In order to increase the number of coil windings without increasing the magnetic path length, the number of thin film coil layers has to be increased to four or five layers. However, then an apex angle might be increased and a narrow track width could not be attained. In order to keep an apex angle within a given range, it is preferable to limit the number of thin film coil layers to not larger than three, preferably two. Then, the number of coil windings could not be increased and the NLTS property could not be improved.
Furthermore, when two thin film coil layers are provided as explained above, the second layer thin film coil 19 could not be formed perpendicularly, because the insulating film 17 is not flat, but is inclined at a peripheral portion of the second layer thin film coil. For instance, when a thin film coil having a space not larger than 0.3 μm with a thickness not less than 1.5 μm, argon ions could not effectively go onto the seed layer 18 between successive coil windings at a portion in which the thin film coil is not formed perpendicularly. Moreover, since an angle of the ion milling differs between a central portion and a peripheral portion of the wafer, the seed layer 18 could not be removed sufficiently and might be remained partially. When a space between successive coil windings is short, even if argon particles enter into this narrow space, Cu particles carried out together with argon particles might be deposited on side wall of the coil windings. Such etching debris might short-circuit the coil windings.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication Kokai Sho 55-41012, there is disclosed a thin film coil, in which first and second thin film halves are arranged alternately with interposing therebetween an insulating film. In FIG. 7 of the Publication, there is shown a thin film coil, in which first and second thin film coils of a first layer thin film coil are formed as coils of anti-clockwise direction, and first and second thin film coil halves of a second layer thin film coil are formed as coil of a clockwise direction, and inner contact pads are connected to each other and outer contact pads are connected to each other such that an electric current flows in a same direction. However, in this known thin film coil, after forming the first thin film coil half, an insulating film and a conductive film are formed on a whole surface by sputtering or vacuum deposition, and a mask is formed selectively on the conductive film. After that, a portion of the conductive film formed above the first thin film coil half is selectively etched such that a portion of the conductive film deposited in a space between successive coil windings of the first thin film coil half is remained to form the second thin film coil half. Therefore, the first and second thin film coil halves are not formed in a self-aligned manner and a distance between successive coil windings could not be shortened in the order of submicrons.
One of the inventors of the present application has proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,191,916 and 6,204,997 a method of manufacturing a thin film coil, in which after forming a first thin film coil half by the electrolytic plating process using a seed layer, a thin insulating film and a seed layer are formed on a whole surface, a photoresist film having openings at portions corresponding to spaces of successive coil windings of the first thin film coil half is formed, and a second thin film coil half is formed by the electrolytic plating process using the photoresist film as a mask. In this method of manufacturing the thin film coil, the first and second thin film coil halves can be formed accurately by the electrolytic plating.
However, since use is made of the photoresist film having a given patter of openings for forming the second thin film coil half, the first and second thin film coil halves could not be formed in a self-aligned manner. Therefore, it is difficult to shorten a space between successive coil windings in the order of quartermicrons.
The above explained problems occur not only in the thin film magnetic head, but also in case of forming fine conductive patterns in the semiconductor integrated circuits. When it is required to form a plurality of fine conductive strips of submicrons, particularly quartermicrons in parallel with each other, it is desired to shorten a space between successive conductive strips to decrease a surface area occupied by the conductive pattern. Particularly, when conductive strips having a rather large thickness are formed with a narrow space, a conductive material has to be embedded into depressions having a large aspect ratio. However, the known manufacturing methods suitable for a mass production could not satisfy such a requirement. Moreover, a width of conductive strips must be set to a value required in respective applications, and same times it is advantageous that a conductive pattern includes both wide conductive strips and narrow conductive strips. However, such a structure of conductive pattern could not be manufactured by the conventional methods.

Method of manufacturing thin film magnetic head


In a golf ball having a spherical surface with numerous dimples thereon, the dimples have a diameter of 2 to 6 mm and number in all from 250 to 330, of which at least 60% are large dimples having a diameter of at least 4.5 mm. The volume of space in a dimple below a planar surface circumscribed by an edge of the dimple, summed for all the dimples on the surface of the ball, is from 320 to 360 mm3. The golf ball rises well when hit and is easy even for an inexperienced golfer to hit.

The present invention relates to a golf ball that rises well when hit and is easy even for an inexperienced golfer to hit. The invention relates more particularly to a golf ball highly suitable for use in practice such as on a golf driving range.
Beginners playing round golf frequently have the experience during play on a golf course of being unable to get as much height on the ball as they would like when using a distance club such as a driver or fairway wood. As a result, the ball flies low or lands too early, so that the player is unable to get the anticipated distance.
On the other hand, at golf practice ranges, particularly those located within or near a city, use is often made of what is sometimes referred to as an "urban golf course." These are sites of limited size, due to conditions imposed by the location, that are surrounded by golf ball netting. There is a risk that the golf balls used at such a golf practice range may, when hit, follow an ordinary trajectory and pass over the netting, posing a danger to the surrounding area.
It is thus necessary, when golf balls are used at a practice range, to shorten the distance traveled by the ball. Specifically, one common approach is to increase the volume of the dimples and thus enlarge the aerodynamic resistance of the ball. However, on shots taken with such a ball, the ball has too low a trajectory, as a result of which the path of the ball does not feel right to the player.


A fastener includes a grommet and a pin. The grommet has a bottom set of lead in features. The pin is configured to removably snapably engage the grommet. The pin has a lead in feature.

In recent years, fasteners have been developed to secure panels to one another. For example, vehicles include interior panels attached to body panels via a fastener inserted through respective slots in the panels. These fasteners permit the panels to be assembled together quickly.
Certain known fasteners use a grommet with two retention points and a corresponding pin. In some instances, the grommet attaches to a body panel and the pin is inserted through an interior panel and received by the grommet (e.g., to attach an interior portion to a vehicle door). However, the known grommets have little retention redundancy and are often difficult to install in the body panels. Further, the known pins are often difficult to install in the grommets and are difficult to remove from the grommets during service (e.g., to service a power window assembly).
Therefore, a need exists for a fastener that is strongly retained in a body panel, is simple to install, and permits relatively easy separation of panels.


A new and unique cultivar of Hakonechloa named ‘HABsf1007’ that is characterized by its foliage that is deep burgundy-red to varying degrees that develops on emerging solid gold color foliage under higher light and chartruese to lime green with less intense burgundy-red in lower light, its foliage coloration that appears in the spring with emerging growth and lasts through summer into fall, foliage in the fall that turns to shades of green, red-purple and golden yellow/orange, its compact plant habit forming a low growing rounded mound with a slightly upright spikeness to the blades, its vigorous growth habit, and its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A Zone 5.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hakonechloa macra and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'HABsf1007'. 'HABsf1007' represents a new ornamental grass grown for landscape use.
The inventor discovered the new cultivar in spring of 2010 as a naturally occurring shoot mutation of Hakonechloa macra 'All Gold' (not patented) that was growing in a container in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by shoot division in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada in spring of 2012 by the Inventor. Asexual reproduction by shoot division and tissue culture has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A computer-implemented system and method for object tracking via identifier-tracker pairings is provided. An identifier-tracker pair includes a tracker that is paired with an identifier and is also associated with an object. One or more reader systems each obtain readings identifying the tracker at one or more points in time. A location of the tracker is determined based on the readings at each point in time and the locations of the tracker are stored. The identifier is received from a user and the tracker paired with the received identifier is determined. A current location of the tracker is identified by selecting a most recent stored location. A display provides the current location of the tracker to the user as a location of the object.

Lack of available parking spaces has become problematic in many densely populated areas. To alleviate the problem and provide adequate parking, large multi-story parking structures, such as parking garages, are being built because they require the least amount of land while maximizing the number of parking spaces. Parking garages are commonly located in metropolitan areas, airports, office buildings, and apartments, as well as in any other area where large amounts of parking are needed. The parking garages generally include multiple levels of parking, which are similarly configured, making the levels difficult to distinguish.
Due to the similar layouts and the typically large size of the garages, locating a parked vehicle can be time consuming and frustrating, as drivers may forget where they parked their car or become disoriented within the garage, which can result in searching for their vehicle on a wrong level even if the driver remembered where s/he parked. The extended amounts of time required for a driver to locate his vehicle and any frustration experienced by the driver can result in decreased revenue for a parking garage owner, as well as contribute to a lack of available parking spaces for new customers. For instance, a frustrated driver may refuse to park in that same garage again the next time parking is required, opting instead for a smaller garage or on-street parking. Additionally, the more time a driver requires to locate his car, the longer other cars may have to wait to park in the garage, thereby increasing traffic congestion and lowering the potential for additional revenue since the last minute of parking time is typically cheaper (lower revenue generation) than the initial parking period in most paid parking facilities. The same issues on locating parked vehicles also exist in large open field parking structures such as those used in amusement parks and transportation hubs.
Conventional parking structures have attempted to solve the problem using the Global Positioning System ("GPS"), Wi-Fi, and cameras. For example, smartphone applications exist that allow a driver to record the GPS location of his parked car via a smartphone. Upon return to the car, the driver can access the recorded GPS location to locate his car. However, such application utilizes GPS, which requires an unobstructed line of sight from the smartphone device to multiple GPS satellites. Thus, GPS is ineffective for use in a multi-tiered parking garage where the GPS signals may be weak or non-existent.
Further, some garages have implemented the use of cameras to identify vehicles that enter and exit the parking structure. Specifically, cameras are positioned at the entrance of the garage and at the exit. Images of vehicle license plates are captured as the vehicles enter or exit the garage, which allow the garage to monitor a number of available parking spaces versus occupied parking spaces based on a number of vehicles identified as being located in the garage. Further monitoring of individual parking spaces exists, such as by placing a camera at every parking space. The images are stored in a database and when a driver wants to locate his vehicle, he can provide his license plate number to identify the location, which is indicated via the location of the camera. However, buying and maintaining large numbers of cameras, one for every parking space or a subset of parking spaces, is expensive.
Therefore, there is a need for assisting drivers to efficiently locate their parked cars in a cost-efficient manner. Preferably, the assistance provided can be incorporated into the current steps a driver takes when parking in a conventional garage.

Computer-implemented system and method for object tracking via identifier-tracker pairings


An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may be for printing sheets on the basis of a print instruction input therein, including: a limit quantity storage unit storing a predetermined limit quantity; an accounting storage unit storing an accounting for printing one sheet; and a printing authorization unit authorizing execution of printing, when the print instruction is input, after a quantity of a consumer product consumed by printing reaches the limit quantity stored in the limit quantity storage unit, on condition that a user pays a price obtained by multiplying the number of sheets which should have been continuously printed on the basis of the print instruction by the accounting with reference to the accounting storage unit.

For an office or the like, there is proposed an image forming apparatus having the so-called department control function for the number of copies, for preventing excess copying when a reserved number of copies set for copying exceeds the number of copiable sheets per department.
When the reserved number of copies exceeds the number of copiable sheets controlled by the department control function per department, this image forming apparatus displays a warning about this excess. After making copies by the number of copiable sheets, the image forming apparatus discards excess image data.
Due to this department control function, the image forming apparatus can prevent copying in excess of the number of copiable sheets previously allocated to each department, whereby the expenses can be saved in each department, and the user can be prompted to refrain from unnecessary copying.
If absolutely necessary image data are discarded when the reserved number of copies exceeds the number of copiable sheets, however, the image forming apparatus is not user-friendly. While all image data may conceivably be copied within the number of copiable sheets by using both surfaces of each copying sheet (the so-called DX (duplex) printing) or by copying image data for a plurality of sheets on a single surface of each sheet in a reduced size (the so-called N-in-1 printing), this may not be desirable for the user.

Image forming apparatus that controls the number of printed sheets


A bi-fold valve door and method for controlling aircraft cabin pressure are provided. The bi-fold valve door includes an aft door section and a forward door section, and only the forward door section is selectively rotated about one rotational axis to a position between a closed position and a full-open position, while the aft door section is maintained in its closed position. The forward door section is selectively rotated about the rotational axis to a full-open position to engage the aft door section, while the aft door section is maintained in its closed position. When the forward door section is in the full-open position, the aft door section and the forward door section are simultaneously rotated about another rotational axis.

Aircraft are commonly equipped with Cabin Pressure Control Systems (CPCSs), which maintain cabin air pressure within a desired range to increase passenger comfort during flight. A typical CPCS may include a controller, an actuator, and an outflow valve. The outflow valve is typically mounted either on a bulkhead of the aircraft or on the outer skin surface of the aircraft, and selectively fluidly couples the aircraft cabin and the atmosphere outside of the aircraft. During operation, the controller commands the actuator to move the outflow valve to various positions to control the rate at which pressurized air is transferred between the aircraft cabin and the outside atmosphere, to thereby control the pressure and/or rate of change of pressure within the aircraft cabin. The controller may be configured to command the actuator to modulate the outflow valve in accordance with a predetermined schedule or as a function of one or more operational criteria. For example, the CPCS may additionally include one or more cabin pressure sensors to sense cabin pressure and supply pressure signals representative thereof to the controller. By actively modulating the outflow valve, the controller may maintain aircraft cabin pressure and/or aircraft cabin pressure rate of change within a desired range.
In some aircraft, the outflow valve may be positioned on the aircraft outer skin surface such that, when pressurized air is exhausted from the cabin, the exhausted air may provide additional forward thrust to the aircraft. Thus, outflow valves may sometimes be referred to as thrust recovery valves. Many thrust recovery valves often include two valve doors with multiple actuation linkages to enable proper sealing, reduce drag, and optimize valve door positioning for cruise thrust creation. In order to maximize the thrust produced by two-door thrust recovery valves, the valve doors are shaped and sealed so that air flow is directed between the doors during flight. As a result, the shapes and cross sections of the valve doors can be relatively complex, as can the seal design.
In addition to the above, because of the pressure load the valve doors may experience during flight, the valve doors are typically manufactured to be relatively robust in strength, which can result in them being relatively thick. Also, because of the relatively large aerodynamic loads during flight, the actuation means for driving the valve doors can be relatively complex, heavy, and expensive. Thus, to provide adequate mechanical advantage, relatively large swing arms may need to be manufactured into both doors.
In some instances, two-door thrust recovery valves are configured such that both doors are actuated by a single actuator. With such valves, both doors are linked together using one or more push rods between the swing arms. Because both doors are actuated together, it can be difficult to ensure that drag is not created by the doors during all modes of flight. This is because while air is directed between the doors, the leading and trailing edges of each door may stick out in the air stream.
Finally, because the thrust recovery valve, when opened on the ground, must provide a maximum exhaust path effective area, and because the doors can be relatively thick and employ swing arms that are large to accommodate the aerodynamic torque, the valve doors are typically relatively large in size. This also results in increased valve weight.
Hence, there is a need for a thrust recovery valve that does not rely on relatively complex shapes and seals, and/or does not rely on a relatively large and expensive actuator to move it, and/or does not create unwanted drag during aircraft cruise operations, and/or can be manufactured from relatively light-weight composite materials. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.

Thrust recovery outflow valve with a single bi-fold door and method of controlling aircraft cabin pressure


This disclosure includes method for managing email that includes providing a list of topics, a reference associated with the topics, and a defined importance value for each reference. The method also includes preparing a topic relevance algorithm for each topic, each topic having associated attributes, and each topic relevance algorithm formed by estimating a relationship value between a topic and its associated attributes based on defined relevance of reference. The method further includes preparing an importance algorithm having a weighted importance attributes formed by estimating a weight for each of the importance attributes based on defined importance of the reference, assessing a target mail using the topic relevance algorithms to determine a topic relevance and against the importance algorithm to determine an importance and determining that a target mail has a threshold importance for a particular topic relevance.

The invention relates to the field of electronic mail (email) systems, and in particular, to managing email.
Typically, when users of an email system are going to be out of the office or otherwise unable to read incoming email messages, the users configure the email system to operate in an out of office mode. The out of office mode notifies senders that the recipient is not receiving email messages at that time and stores the email messages for the user to review upon his return. When the user returns, a huge number of emails may need to be reviewed, without easily assessing the ones to be treated with the highest priority. Some emails may have been sent with an importance field set as high. However, since the importance field is set by the sender and not the receiver, what is important for the sender may not be important for the receiver. Furthermore, when many emails are specified as being important a user will still need to assess which ones deserve to be treated first.

International Business Machines Corporation


The car power source apparatus is provided with a series battery array 10 having a plurality of rechargeable batteries 11 connected in series to supply power to an electric motor that drives the car, equalizing circuits 20 that equalize battery 11 electrical characteristics by discharging or charging each battery 11 of the series battery array 10, a cut-off mechanism 19 connected in series with the series battery array 10 to disconnect the series connection, and a stopping circuit 50, 70, 80 that detects the cut-off state of the cut-off mechanism 19 and controls equalizing circuit 20 operation. In this car power source apparatus, the stopping circuit 50, 70, 80 detects cut-off due to cut-off mechanism 19 removal and stops the equalizing operation performed by the equalizing circuits 20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a car power source apparatus that has many batteries connected in series to increase output voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
To increase output, the car power source apparatus increases voltage by having many batteries connected in series. In this power source apparatus, all the series connected batteries are charged by the same charging current, and all batteries are discharged by the same current as well. As a result, if all batteries have exactly the same characteristics, no battery voltage or remaining capacity imbalance will develop between batteries. However, in actuality, batteries with exactly the same characteristics cannot be manufactured. When charging and discharging is performed repeatedly, an imbalance in voltage or remaining capacity develops between batteries. Furthermore, battery voltage imbalance can be the cause of over-charging or over-discharging of a particular battery. To prevent this detrimental effect, a car power source apparatus that detects the voltage of each battery and eliminates any imbalance has been developed (Japanese Patent Application Disclosure 2004-7915).

Car power source apparatus including removable cut-off mechanism to stop equalizing batteries