A sun visor assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a sun visor panel having generally planar opposing sides sandwiched together to define a pocket therebetween. A longitudinally extending support rod is positioned between the opposing sides of the panel for supporting the panel in the interior of the vehicle. An adjustment mechanism is coupled between the support rod and the sun visor panel for providing selective sliding movement of the sun visor panel along the support rod between a retracted position and an extended position. The adjustment mechanism includes a support frame secured to the visor panel having an upper rail forming a longitudinal rack, a guide carriage secured to the support rod and slidably coupled to the support frame, and a gear rotatably supported by the carriage and meshed with the rack for guiding the sun visor panel along the support rod between the retracted and extended positions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sun visor for an automotive vehicle which is selectively slidable between a retracted position and an extended position.
2. Background of the Invention
Automotive vehicles typically include sun visor assemblies mounted to the headliner of the interior compartment of the vehicle. Common sun visor assemblies comprise a visor panel supported by an elongated support rod and pivotally connected to the headliner by a bezzle. The bezzle allows the sun visor assembly to pivot generally 90 degrees to provide sun blockage from either the front or side window of the vehicle. The sun visor panel is also commonly rotatably coupled to the support rod to fold the panel against the headliner when not in use and unfold the panel adjacent the window in use to block sun and glare into the vehicle.
However, the longitudinal length of the sun visor panel is often insufficient to cover the longitudinal width of the window to provide adequate sun blockage.


A method of manufacturing a composite element. A stack of plies is assembled on a lay-up table, each ply comprising a plurality of reinforcement elements such as dry-fibers. A first part of the stack of plies is bound to form a partially bound stack of plies, a second part of the stack of plies remaining unbound. The partially bound stack of plies is press-formed in a mold cavity between a pair of mold tools to form a shaped pre-form, plies in the second part of the stack sliding against each other during the press-forming. A liquid matrix material is injected into the shaped pre-form in the mold cavity and subsequently cured.

Current state of the art composite large aircraft wing spars are typically manufactured from prepreg materials with Automated Tape Laying (ATL) and then hot formed to the desired shape over a male mandrel. The spar is then cured either on a male tool or in a female tool. Prepreg manufacture requires the use of an autoclave, which is a large capital investment. Also, the ATL process is only able to build a relatively simple structure with small thickness variations, simple pad-ups and shallow ramps, and any folding lines being more or less straight. More complex geometries and fibre architectures require the prepreg to be laid manually or with the use of fibre placement.
An alternative process for manufacturing a composite component is so-called Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) in which dry fibre is infused with liquid resin between a rigid male and female mould tool. Conventionally, where a complex geometry is required, then the dry fibre is laid by hand into the female mould tool. This manual lay-up process is laborious and time consuming.

Apparatus for manufacturing a composite element


A multi-node, quantum communication network for providing quantum-secure time transfer with Damon attack detection is described. The network includes three or more nodes connected via authenticated communication channels forming a closed loop. By determining differences between the local times at as well as the time durations required for photons to travel between the three or more nodes, the network detects a Damon attack, if present. For example, the network imposes a closed loop condition to detect the Damon attack. The network can also use the local time differences and time durations for photon travel between nodes to synchronize the local clocks at the three or more nodes of the network.

Quantum communications, namely secure optical communications enabled by the use of quantum properties of photons, are becoming more accepted and mainstream. While large scale fiber optic and free space optical implementations of quantum communications systems have been demonstrated, expanding point-to-point, two-node system to a multi-node network has been difficult to implement.

Quantum secure network clock synchronization


An actuated atomizer is adapted for spray cooling or other applications wherein a well-developed, homogeneous and generally conical spray mist is required. The actuated atomizer includes an outer shell formed by an inner ring; an outer ring; an actuator insert and a cap. A nozzle framework is positioned within the actuator insert. A base of the nozzle framework defines swirl inlets, a swirl chamber and a swirl chamber. A nozzle insert defines a center inlet and feed ports. A spool is positioned within the coil housing, and carries the coil windings having a number of turns calculated to result in a magnetic field of sufficient strength to overcome the bias of the spring. A plunger moves in response to the magnetic field of the windings. A stop prevents the pintle from being withdrawn excessively. A pintle, positioned by the plunger, moves between first and second positions. In the first position, the head of the pintle blocks the discharge passage of the nozzle framework, thereby preventing the atomizer from discharging fluid. In the second position, the pintle is withdrawn from the swirl chamber, allowing the atomizer to release atomized fluid. A spring biases the pintle to block the discharge passage. The strength of the spring is overcome, however, by the magnetic field created by the windings positioned on the spool, which withdraws the plunger into the spool and further compresses the spring.

The atomization of fluid into droplets is known, as are several variations of spray devices that support such functionality. Applications for such an apparatus include the spray cooling of electronic components with non-conducting fluid and use in internal combustion engines.
It is the nature of atomizers that their characteristics, including spray droplet density and the configuration of the spray cone which results, is dependent on the geometry of the spray nozzle and also the pressure and nature of the fluid delivered to the nozzle. The geometry of the spray nozzle is linked to the pressure of the fluid delivered; i.e. any given spray nozzle is only operable within a range of supply fluid pressures. When fluid is delivered within the intended range of pressures, the droplet size and distribution is optimized. The correct number of droplets, in the correct size, distributed in the correct manner, result in optimum spraying for efficient cooling.
It is therefore a problem that any spray nozzle is adapted for release of fluid at only a narrow range of rates. Where fluid is delivered at too low or too high a pressure, the droplet size and distribution are flawed, resulting in inefficient spraying.
In liquid cooling applications, it is sometimes the case that the energy output of the heat load to be cooled is less than the heat removal ability of the associated nozzle, even when the fluid pressure is reduced to the degree possible within the tolerance range. As a result, excessive fluid is used in the cooling process.
Alternatively, it may be the case that the fluid pressure delivered to a first atomizer in a common manifold or plenum cannot be lowered, due to the greater pressure requirements of a second atomizer. Consequently, the fluid is delivered to a first atomizer at excessive pressure, resulting in fluid waste.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an atomizer that can be operated in a manner that allows a more precise control over the volume of fluid flow and the resulting level of heat removal. The atomizer is preferably able to remove heat loads that are smaller than that which would be removed by an atomizer of similar spray capacity operating at minimal fluid pressure consistent with the atomizer's design. The atomizer is preferably adjustable in a manner that allows selection of the overall fluid flow given any pressure. The atomizer is preferably adjustable in a manner that compensates for changing fluid pressure or changes in the level of the heat load to be removed.


Disclosed is a printing agent service method for performing agent printing on a printing agent printer in accordance with a print request of a client terminal, and selects a printing agent printer that is nearest to a client. This method has the steps of receiving a print request and location information from a client terminal (1); retrieving the printing agent printer site (8-1) closest to the location of the client terminal (1) based on the location information; sending the nearest printing agent printer site (8-1) to the client terminal (1) for display; and receiving the printing agent printer site (8-1) specified from the above-mentioned client terminal (1), and sending the print data of the print request to a printer (11) at the specified printing agent printer site. Therefore, a client can easily select a printing agent printer that is close to his current location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing agent service method and system for receiving a request for printing from a user and performing printing by proxy, and more particularly, to a printing agent service method and system, which a user accesses from an outside destination and printing is performed by proxy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile equipment is being made smaller and multi-functional in line with the widespread use of the Internet. Ordinarily, since mobile equipment, such as cellular telephones and portable terminals (personal computers), are required to be compact and lightweight, output is limited to displays, and there are no printing functions.
However, there are cases in which one is using these mobile equipment, and wants to produce a printout. For example, there are cases in which one is using a cellular telephone and browsing the WWW (World Wide Web), and upon finding a restaurant or some other eating and drinking establishment or recreational facility, wants to print that information (for example, the distance to a destination, a map and the like) using a printer. There are also cases in which one is at an outside destination, and wants to print out a file from a portable terminal or the company's server to provide to a client. In addition, there are case in which the display of a cellular telephone or mobile personal computer is small and hard to read, and one wants a printout, and other cases in which one is surfing the web at home and wants to output information, but wants to perform this output via a color printer or highspeed printer that is not at home.
A printing agent system, which uses a network, has been proposed to deal with requirements like this (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-146118). In this proposed printing agent system, one accesses a service provider via a network from a portable terminal, and transmits print data to a server.
The server displays on the portable terminal a list of stores (for example, convenience stores) capable of acting as printing agents. The user goes to one of the stores listed, and when he inputs a password into a printer at that store, the above-mentioned print data is transmitted from the server to the printer, and the printer prints it out.
In this agent service system, a printout can be obtained by going to a printing agent store at an outside location.
However, in a conventional printing agent system, a user can query the server as to the location of a printing agent store, but a problem arises in that the user himself must find the nearest printing agent store from his outside location. It is not easy to find the nearest printing agent store in a shopping district or a place with which one is not familiar. This was one factor that retarded the convenience of the printing agent service.

Printing agent service method and system


A size limiter module used to limit a file size of an encoded file is disclosed. The size limiter module includes a size limiter set-up calculator and a size limiter processing engine. The size limiter calculator is configured to identify a maximum bit size for a set of data to be encoded based on a maximum value for the file size of the encoded file. The size limiter processing engine is configured to be in communication with the size limiter set-up calculator to process the set of data to be encoded and to monitor a cumulative bit size for the set of data according to an order. When the cumulative bit size is greater than a maximum bit size, the size limiter processing engine inserts end of block data into the set of data. The end of block data signals the substitution of a null value for all data units subsequent to the end of block data.

The popularity of handheld electronic devices with camera capability (e.g., cell phones, digital cameras, etc.) has spawned numerous applications. Memory capacity is often very limited for these handheld devices so the images are typically compressed into either a lossless or a lossy compression format when stored. Lossless compression formats allow the exact original image to be reconstructed from the compressed image data. Examples of lossless formats include Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), Portable Network Graphics (PNG), and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF). Lossy compression formats compresses in a manner that allows a close but not exact rendition of the original image to be reconstructed from the compressed image data. An example of a lossy compression format is the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format. Generally, lossy compression formats result in much smaller image data files than lossless compression formats. As a result, in certain applications where memory space is very restricted (i.e., handheld device), JPEG compression is the compression format of choice.
One inherent limitation that is common to all conventional JPEG compression methods is that there is no deterministic manner in which to ensure that maximum size limits for the compressed JPEG files are not exceeded. This is a particularly serious drawback for compression of highly complex images which tends to result in correspondingly large JPEG image files. The larger the JPEG image files the less number of images that the device can store, which adversely impacts the utility of a camera function on a handheld device with limited memory capacity.
In view of the forgoing, there is a need for a method, apparatus, and system to set and enforce maximum size limits for a JPEG file without unacceptably impacting the quality of the resulting image.

Method for simple hardware implementation of JPEG size limiter


A pulsation and acoustic energy reduction dampener for installation within well piping between a standpipe and a swivel includes a body formed from a union connection sub providing a threaded male connection at one end of the body and welded to a union connection nut providing a threaded female connection at the other end, each for connection to the well piping. A flow restriction orifice assembly is secured by welding or gluing within the union connection sub and includes a replaceable wear component such as an annular ceramic insert with a tapered or cylindrical interior through-hole.

Pulsation and vibration control in surface equipment with borehole drilling and pumping applications can extend the life of fluid transfer piping components due to reduced cavitation of pumped fluid, improve flow rates by smoothing fluid flow, and facilitate measurement while drilling or measurement while pumping, as well as protecting surface pump systems and other surface equipment such as, but not limited to, standpipes, Kelly hoses, other hoses, top drives and other equipment from damage. U.S. Patent Application Publications Nos. 2019/0128462, 2019/0257462, and 2020/0132237, incorporated herein by reference, propose various improvements to pulsation control in borehole applications, including integration of pulsation and acoustic energy reduction dampeners at non-traditional locations of an overall drilling or production system such as proximate to a top drive, Kelly drive or swivel in a drilling rig. The present disclosure seeks to facilitate such integration.

Surface equipment protection from borehole pulsation energies


Three-dimensional scenes or movies are generated by a user of a computer system by interactively selecting a stage from among several available 3D stages, each of which has at least one predetermined feature such as a pedestal, lighting characteristics, a camera path or the like. The user may import predefined 3D objects into the selected stage and move and resize the objects as desired to compose a scene. Once composed, the scene is rendered to generate an image or a series of successive scenes is rendered to generate an animated movie.

This invention relates to the interactive authoring of 3D scenes and movies using a computer system.
A 3D scene typically comprises one or more 3D graphic objects placed in a background setting to create an informative or aesthetically pleasing image. Such 3D scenes may be used in generating image data files (e.g., GIF or JPEG files) or web pages (e.g., HTML or VRML files), or may be strung together in a sequence to create an animated 3D movie (e.g., MPEG-1 or Quicktime files). FIG. 2 shows an example of a 3D scene in which a teapot 41 rests on a horizontal surface 43 with a vertical surface 45 appearing in the background.
A 3D scene also may embody characteristics, other than its graphic elements, that affect how the scene appears to a human viewer. The scene of FIG. 2, for example, is illuminated by three separate spot light sources positioned at locations respectively behind the viewer over the left and right shoulders, and in front of and above the viewer. Different types, locations and numbers of light sources may be used as desired to create different effects.
Other scene characteristics include the orientation and position of the graphic objects in the scene relative to the viewer's eye point, which may be thought of as governed by what would be seen through a camera. The camera may be moved through virtual 3D space (forward, back, side-to-side, rotating around an object, etc.) to change how the scene appears to the viewer. The term "virtual" refers to the fact that the 3D scene, the space that it occupies and its graphic elements and characteristics, are conceptual rather than actual, but possess the functional (e.g., optical) properties of the physical entities that they represent. The camera in the 3D scene of FIG. 2 is oriented in virtual 3D space such that the viewer is presented with a side view of the teapot 41, with the viewer's eye positioned at a point slightly above the teapot and looking down at it.
Among other characteristics, the graphic objects in a 3D scene each may have a color, texture and/or material composition which will affect how the 3D scene appears to the viewer. The colors, textures and material compositions of the objects in the scene of FIG. 2 are such that the three light sources create bright reflection spots 47 and shadows 49 on the teapot 41 and on the horizontal surface 43.
The manner in which a 3D scene is "rendered"--the process of generating an image (or an image file) from data that describes the image--also affects how the resultant 3D scene appears to a viewer. In FIG. 2, "ray tracing" is used to create a photorealistic representation in 2D space of the 3D scene. Ray tracing is a rendering technique that creates shadows and reflections by following paths taken by rays of light in the scene. Other less sophisticated rendering techniques exist and may be used to generate images with less computer processing, and thus more quickly, although they tend to result in a less realistic scene. FIG. 3 shows how the scene of FIG. 2 appears when it is rendered without the benefit of ray tracing.
To create a 3D scene using conventional systems and methods is a painstaking and difficult process. In one such method, authors of 3D scenes must know and use high level programming languages (e.g., C++) to write long and complex computer programs that invoke specialized object libraries. Instructions within such programs specify each of the 3D objects that appear in the scene, including the background of the scene, and each of the scene's characteristics such as lighting, orientation, texture and color. The complexity of this method is evident from FIG. 4, which shows the basic structure of a C++ program of the type that may be used for generating 3D scenes.
Examples of programming tools that may be used to create 3D scenes include Silicon Graphics' "Open Inventor Toolkit" (described in Josie Wernecke, The Inventor Mentor, Addison-Wesley (1994); Josie Wernecke, The Inventor Toolmaker, Addison-Wesley (1994), and Open Inventor C++ Reference Manual, Addison-Wesley (1994)); "OpenGL" (described in Jackie Neider et al., OpenGL Programming Guide, Addison-Wesley (1993); and Pixar's "Renderman" (described in Steve Upstill, The Renderman Companion, Addison-Wesley (1990)).
Another conventional method by which an author may generate 3D scenes is to use an application program specifically designed for that purpose. Examples of such an application program include Alias's "Power Animator" and Wavefront's "Advanced Visualizer."
To effectively generate 3D scenes, an author must possess a considerable amount of knowledge, training and expertise. As a result, less knowledgeable authors generally have been precluded from using computer systems to create sophisticated and photorealistic 3D scenes. Even for those authors that possess the requisite skills, generation of 3D scenes using conventional techniques is a slow and difficult process.

Interactive authoring of 3D scenes and movies


Methods and apparatuses for operating a storage system are provided. In one example, a storage system includes a storage server and a virtual storage appliance (VSA) implemented in a virtual machine. The storage server provides access to a first shared namespace of data. The VSA is operatively connected to the storage server system over a network connection and provides access to a second shared namespace of data over the network connection. The second shared namespace is defined by a policy and includes a subset of the first shared namespace. The VSA also replicates data of a third shared namespace of data at the VSA making the third shared namespace available at the VSA when the network connection is unavailable. The third namespace is defined by the policy and includes a subset of the second shared namespace.

Modern data centers often include storage systems, storage controllers, mass storage devices, and other devices for managing, storing, and providing access to data. These data centers often provide data services to geographically distributed users. The users often have widely varying storage and access requirements. Many users work at core sites or in facilities with significant computing and network resources. At the same time, other users at edge or remote locations may have limited access to computing resources and/or network connections. Remote and edge locations may have unreliable, slow, or intermittent network connections. In some cases, network access may only be available through relatively expensive wireless means and/or may need to be used sparingly for budgetary reasons. Network connectivity may also be intermittent for the increasing number of employees who work from home offices and mobile locations.
In some cases, dedicated storage equipment is implemented at edge locations in order to minimize the negative impacts of network outages and latencies. However, implementing dedicated storage devices at remote or edge locations may not be feasible due to equipment costs, support costs, lack of sufficient or reliable power, the number of locations, security issues, and/or availability of physical space. These issues often present even bigger challenges for mobile employees. Transporting and setting up the additional dedicated storage equipment at each work location would be unfeasible in many cases.
For example, a radiologist may work from home or another remote location. The radiologist may also provide services to several geographically distributed medical facilities. The radiologist and the medical facilities need shared and reliable access to medical images and other related data. However, this access must also be carefully controlled for reasons of privacy and regulatory compliance. In many cases, every request for a medical image or other data requires sending a request for the data to the core storage location and receiving the data over a network connection. A slow or interrupted network connection can have significant impacts on the radiologist's productivity, the effectiveness of other related medical service providers, and/or the timeliness of care.
In remote sensing applications, computing devices are often installed at remote locations to gather data. Network connectivity at these locations may be minimal and the environment may not be suitable for installation of supplemental storage and processing equipment. Implementing dedicated storage hardware at these remote locations may not be feasible for cost, environmental, or other reasons.
In some cases, a dedicated storage device, such as a cloud gateway, is installed at the remote location in order to facilitate data access. However, these devices only provide access to a dedicated namespace of data at the core storage location and do so at the cost of additional hardware. A namespace is a logical grouping of identifiers for files or data stored in a data storage system. In many cases, a namespace may be shared across multiple systems or users. Datasets in dedicated namespaces are not easily available for access and/or modification by multiple users. Shared namespaces are typically stored in centralized locations in order to provide data access for multiple users. Some solutions cache currently or recently accessed files at the remote location making them available regardless of network connectivity. However, currently or recently accessed files are typically only a small subset of an entire shared namespace of data. A user may need to access larger or alternate subsets of the data during periods when a network connection is unavailable or has insufficient bandwidth to provide effective real time access. In addition, dedicated hardware devices like cloud gateways often impose other limitations including additional power, space, mounting, thermal, air filtration, and/or security requirements. In addition, these dedicated hardware devices cannot be easily or quickly scaled to meet changing needs.
In addition to the connectivity issues described above, centralized data access may be challenging due to the evolving nature of computing and storage systems. While an organization may ideally prefer to have all of their data managed within a single framework and/or file system, the evolution of technology often means that data may be spread across multiple systems. It is desirable to provide simplified access to these users while still maintaining proper access control. All of these issues present challenges to providing users, particularly users at edge or remote locations, simplified and reliable access to shared data across multiple systems. These challenges are likely to continue due to the combination of increasingly distributed workforces, data-centric work content, a continuing move towards centralized data management, and constantly evolving data systems.


Systems and methods for selective keyboard backlighting with reduced driver circuitry are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes, inter alia, simultaneously controlling, with a control signal, an output of a first light emitting element that illuminates only one key of a plurality of keys of a keyboard and an output of a second light emitting element that illuminates only one key of the plurality of keys, and maintaining, with a current mirror circuit, uniformity between the output of the first light emitting element and the output of the second light emitting element.

Despite computers becoming more useful for a variety of personal, business, and manufacturing tasks, computing keyboards have hardly changed beyond their original design. Physically, some keyboards have improved by providing a single backlight that allows the user to see the keys of a keyboard better. However, such backlights are typically static and therefore do not provide any additional utility beyond improving the visibility of keys.

Keyboard backlighting with reduced driver circuitry


An optical-path switching apparatus for an optical microscope, which is simple structure, has a plurality of optical devices to be inserted and removed to and from at least two or more switching positions provided for optical paths so as to switch the optical paths. A drive force generator generates a drive force, and an insertion/removal device transmits the drive force generated by the drive force generator so as to insert and remove the plural optical devices to and from the switching positions while relating the plural optical devices to one another. A control unit controls switching of the optical devices to be performed by the insertion/removal device in order to obtain a required optical path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical-path switching apparatus, an optical-device switching apparatus for an optical microscope and a locking apparatus for use in transporting an optical microscope. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical-path switching apparatus for an optical microscope permitting selection of observation from naked-eye observation through an ocular lens, observation through a TV camera and the like, an optical-device switching apparatus and a locking apparatus for use in transporting an optical microscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, lens tubes of a type having a TV optical path have been disclosed which permit a variety of TV cameras to be attached, as well as permitting a naked-eye observation to be performed and a photographing lens to be attached. For example, an optical system for a microscope permitting both naked-eye observation and TV camera observation to be performed has been disclosed, wherein the TV camera has a function to serve as a finder when a photographing operation is performed.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the prior art optical system.
The prior art optical system shown in FIG. 1 has a deflection prism 22 for directly introducing light, reflected by or through a specimen S placed on a stage 20 and allowed to pass through an objective lens 21, into ocular lenses 33a and 33b; a plurality of reflecting members 23 to 27 for receiving the light beam from the objective lens 21, and which are disposed to form a loop optical path when the deflection prism 22 is positioned on the outside of the optical path; relay lenses 28 and 29 disposed in the foregoing loop optical path; and a reflecting member or a beam splitter 31 which is allowed to be inserted into a position more rearwards than secondary image-formation position I.sub.2 in the loop optical path.
Moreover, the foregoing prior art optical system has a reflecting member 41 for directing the light beam from a position more rearwards than the first image-formation position I.sub.1 in the loop optical path to a photographing optical path; reflecting surfaces 34 and 35 for introducing light beams branched by the reflecting member or the beam splitter 31 to the ocular lenses 33a and 33b through a prism 32; a photographing camera 42 disposed on the photographing optical path; and a TV camera 45 disposed on an injection optical path from the loop optical path.
When the following optical devices at three switching positions are inserted or removed with a relation among the following devices being maintained: the deflection prism 22, the reflecting mirror or the reflecting members 23 among the plural reflecting surfaces 23 to 27, which is a reflecting member forming a first reflecting surface, and the reflecting member or the beam splitter 31 positioned more rearwards than the secondary image-formation position I.sub.2 in the loop optical path, naked-eye observation, photographing and TV observation can be performed as required. That is, when photographing is performed, either of the naked-eye observation or the TV observation can be selected as the function of a finder.
When the prism 23 has been brought to the outside of the optical path, a correction prism 23A is inserted in place of the prism 23. Thus, light from the objective lens 21 is introduced into the TV camera 45. Note that light allowed to pass through the reflecting member 24 is used to perform a photometry operation and the like.
Since the operation of the microscope having the foregoing multi-functions is complicated, there arises an important requirement for forming the portions for operating the switching positions into electric structures so as to automate all of the sequential operations required to perform a predetermined observation in order to easily operate the optical microscope.
In a case where the microscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. H6-203626 and capable of using all of naked-eye observation, photographing and TV observation is intended to have a structure such that the observation states can electrically be switched, there is the necessity that the following portions are related to one another when electrically operated: a first optical device-switching portion including the deflection prism; a second optical-device switching portion including a reflecting mirror or a prism forming a first reflecting surface among a plurality of reflecting surfaces; and a third optical-device switching portion including the reflecting member or the beam splitter positioned more rearwards than the secondary image-formation position I.sub.2 in the loop optical path.
As shown in FIG. 2 which is a control block diagram of the prior art optical-path switching apparatus for an optical microscope, a method for realizing the foregoing structure must comprise operation circuits, actuators, detection circuits, which are disposed corresponding to each switching portion, and a control unit for controlling the foregoing elements while relating the same to one another.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the optical-device switching apparatus for electrically inserting and removing, with respect to an optical path, optical devices, such as prisms and reflecting mirrors to be used at the switching positions.
Referring to FIG. 3, reference numerals 51a and 51b represent prisms respectively having different functions, and 52 represents a prism holding member for holding the prisms 51a and 51b. Reference numeral 53 represents a guide rod having a click groove for supporting the prism holding member 52, the click groove being arranged to receive a fixing member (not shown) secured to the prism holding member 52. Reference numeral 54 represents a sub guide rod for, together with the guide rod 53, supporting the prism holding member 52.
Reference numeral 55 represents a motor, 56 represents a deceleration mechanism for decelerating rotation of the motor 55, 57 represents a pinion gear and 58 represents rack secured to the prism holding member 52 and arranged to be engaged to the pinion gear 57. Reference numeral 59 represents a slit plate secured to the prism holding member 52. Reference numeral 60 represents a sensor for detecting insertion and removal of the slit plate 59. Reference numeral 61 represents a body for supporting the foregoing guide rod 53, the sub guide rod 54, the motor 55, the pinion gear 57 and the sensor 60.
In the optical-path switching apparatus having the foregoing structure, the sensor 60 detects insertion or removal of the slit plate 59 so that rotation of the motor 55 is interrupted. Simultaneously, the fixing member is received in the click groove. Thus, the optical devices are switched with respect to the optical path and positioned at predetermined positions.
Another optical-path switching apparatus for an optical microscope having a structure as shown in FIG. 4 has been known in Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. S56-36614.
Referring to FIG. 4, reference numerals 71a, 71b and 71c represent magnifying-power changing lenses, 72 represents a turret plate disposed rotatively around a central axis of the apparatus. The lenses 71a, 71b and 71c are attached to the turret plate 72.
Reference numeral 73 represents a slit plate formed individually from the turret plate 72 and disposed in such a manner that the slit plate 73 can be rotated coaxially with the turret plate 72. The slit plate 73 has, on the outer periphery thereof, a thread portion 73a arranged to be engaged to a pinion 75 of a drive motor 74.
Reference numeral 76 represents a linkage pin secured to the turret plate 72, the linkage pin 76 being received in a cut portion 73b formed in the slit plate 73 so as to be capable of moving within a certain range in the cut portion 73b.
Reference numeral 77 represents a photosensor for detecting slits 73c formed in a flange portion of the slit plate 73 to correspond to magnifying-power changing lenses 71a, 71b and 71c, the photosensor 77 being disposed and secured to detect respective slits immediately before the lenses corresponding to the slits 73c reach predetermined positions.
Reference numeral 78 represents a fixing member arranged to be received in a V-groove 72a formed in the outer periphery of the turret plate 72 to correspond to each power-magnifying lens. The fixing member 78 is urged toward inside of the apparatus by a spring and disposed such that when the rotation of the turret plate 72 is stopped at a position at which the fixing member 78 can be received in the V-groove 72a, the lens corresponding to the V-groove 72a can accurately be positioned at a predetermined position.
Therefore, when the drive motor 74 has been rotated in response to a power-magnifying instruction signal, the slit plate 73 is rotated, the rotation being transmitted to the turret plate 72. When the photosensor 77 has detected a predetermined slit 73c, the rotation of the drive motor 74 is interrupted. Although also the rotation of the slit plate 73 is interrupted simultaneously, the structure of the turret plate 72, permitted to be moved within a certain range, causes the slit plate 73 to continue rotation within the range due to inertia.
When the fixing member 78 has been received in the V-groove 72a, the turret plate 72 is accurately stopped at a predetermined position.
However, to operate the three optical-device switching portions while relating the same in the optical system shown in FIG. 1, plural actuators, operation circuits and detection circuits of the same type are required by the number corresponding to the number of the optical-device switching portions shown in FIG. 2. As a result, there arise problems in that the foregoing elements cannot easily be controlled and that the cost cannot be reduced.
Also a plurality of drive mechanisms are required to correspond to the number of the optical-device switching portions, thus resulting in a problem to arise in that the size of the apparatus being enlarged excessively.
In the case where the optical-device switching portions are formed into electric structures by using the optical-path switching apparatus having a structure as shown in FIG. 3, the rotation of the motor 55 is, through the deceleration mechanism 56, directly transmitted to the prism holding member 52 for holding the prisms 51a and 51b.
Therefore, the distance from the fixing member for stopping the prism holding member 52 at a predetermined position in the optical path to the slit plate 59 to be detected by the sensor 60 is required to accurately be adjusted to stop the prism holding member 52 at a predetermined position by stopping the motor 55 at a predetermined position. Thus, there arises a problem in that adjustment cannot easily be performed.
The magnifying power switching apparatus for an optical microscope shown in FIG. 4 has the structure such that the inertia of weights of a turret plate 72 and magnifying power changing lenses 71a to 71c causes rotation to be performed in a period from detection of a slit 73c formed in a slit plate 73 by a photosensor 77 to fixing of an fixing member 78 into a V-groove 72a formed in the outer portion of the turret plate 72.
However, since the inertia force becomes different due to the weights of the magnifying power changing lenses 71a to 71c, a similar difficulty arises in adjusting the positions of the photosensor 77, the slit plate 73 and the V-groove 72a formed on the outer portion of the turret plate 72.
Although the conventional switching mechanism comprises the mechanical portion having durability against load which is determined in consideration of loads which can be applied at the actual use, loads to be applied in the cases except the actual use, that is, loads to be applied during carrying and transportation of the apparatus have not been considered.
If a mechanism of the foregoing type is intended such that a plurality of switching portions are mechanically connected to one another and driven by one motor, increase in the number of prisms enlarges the weight of the portion to be driven. Therefore, if the apparatus is impacted excessively during carrying or transportation, there arises a risk that the mechanical portion is broken or the accuracy deteriorates.
Since optical devices in an optical unit are accurately adjusted in general, adjustments of the portions in which the optical devices are moved usually are complicated considerably.
An optical-path switching apparatus of a type for electrically switching optical devices thereof is required to have excellent accuracy and reduced load. If the load is reduced, the apparatus can easily be affected from external factors. Thus, there arises a problem in that the movable portions are broken or shifted undesirably due to vibrations or impacts occurring during transportation or the like and, therefore, a required function cannot be obtained.
To prevent the foregoing problems, there has been disclosed a transportation locking apparatus for an optical microscope having a structure as shown in FIG. 5 in which elastic members 84 made of sponge or urethane are inserted between an optical device holding member 82, to which optical devices 81, such as prisms, are secured, and two walls of the casing 83 of the apparatus in such a manner that the elastic members 84 are somewhat compressed so as to absorb external force.
Referring to FIG. 5, reference numeral 86 represents a vertical groove formed in the optical device holding member 82. A rotational force of a motor 87 is transmitted, to the groove 86, through a gear 88 and a cam 89 connected by a worm gear, an arm 90 and a bearing 91. Thus, the arm 90 is rotated around a supporting point 92 so that the optical device holding member 82 is moved.
Although the foregoing method is adaptable to apparatuses of a type in which the movable portion can easily be exposed by opening the cover, a multiplicity of mechanical portions must be decomposed to expose the movable portion because a major portion of optical units has complicated internal mechanisms.
If the foregoing portion has been optically adjusted, the foregoing method cannot be employed in actual practice. The reason for this is that a user is required to remove the elastic members when the apparatus is used, and the user cannot assemble and optically adjust the apparatus.
The foregoing method has another problem in that the optical performance deteriorates due to dusts produced from the elastic members. In general, the inside portion of the optical unit usually is formed into a dust-proofing structure to prevent introduction of dusts. The reason for this is that dusts deteriorate the optical performance of the apparatus. Therefore, use of the elastic members made of sponge or urethane deteriorates the effect of the employed dust-proofing structure.
Another method has been disclosed in which the optical device holding member 82 is directly screw-fixed to an arbitrary surface which is in contact with the optical device holding member 82.
The movable portion of the switching apparatus is usually arranged to be in contact with the external member only on a line or at a point in order to reduce the load. Therefore, foregoing method encounters a problem in that the structure becomes too complicated because a cylindrical member 95 having a flange is, as shown in FIG. 6, inserted into the inside portion of the apparatus to be brought into contact with the bottom surface of the optical device holding member 82 so as to be secured to a casing 83 of the optical unit with screws 96 and then a fixing screw 97 is threaded in a thread hole formed in the optical device holding member 82.
In the case where the foregoing securing method is employed, another problem arises in that the optical device holding member 82 can be deformed when the fixing screw 97 is threaded in if each of the bottom surface of the optical device holding member 82, that of the casing and the member 95 are manufactured accurately.
When the optical device holding member 82 in a state where it is floated in the air is pulled by the screw so as to secure the optical device holding member 82, excessive loads act on the optical device holding member 82 and a guide rod for the optical device holding member 82. In the foregoing case, strain and deformation will take place and, therefore, the optical performance deteriorates.
To secure the optical device holding member 82 by forming a portion which is in contact with the optical device holding member 82 on the surface thereof, a method may be employed in which the apparatus is decomposed and the portion is fixed in the inside portion of the apparatus with screws or another method may be employed in which a member having a movable surface is, from outside, brought into contact with the optical device holding member 82 only when the member is secured. However, the former method cannot be employed in practical and the latter method has a problem in that the mechanism is too complicated and the surface, which is brought into contact with the optical device holding member 82, is moved and, therefore, the member cannot stably be brought into contact with the optical device holding member 82 with a required accuracy.

Optical-path switching apparatus, optical-device switching apparatus for optical microscope and locking apparatus for use in transporting optical microscope


A compiled, rule-based expert system for a data base. The system incorporates compiled declarations to incorporate the concept of strong typing at compile time. Both data and rules can be declared so as to be accessible from one or more modules, as required. Such a scheme reduces program complexity, reduces program development time, and increases the ease with which rule-based programs may be embedded in procedural programs.

This application relates to artificial intelligence and expert systems and, more particularly, to rule-based expert systems.
An expert system is a data processing system that attempts to duplicate a decision process used by a human expert when performing a complex task. Expert systems have been designed, for example, to design circuit board layouts, to configure computer systems, to perform scheduling on a factory floor, and so on.
In the fields of configuration and scheduling, there are usually recognized human "experts". These experts often have two sets of information based on experience that enable them to effectively and efficiently perform a task. First, the experts usually possess a set of "rules of thumb" about how the task should be performed. Second, the experts understand under what circumstances each rule of thumb should be applied. Expert systems often encode the "rules of thumb" knowledge of a human expert as a series of "rules" having a format as follows:
IF conditions THEN actions.
The "conditions" portion of a rule specifies one or more conditions or tests. If all tests in the conditions portion of a rule are true, then the actions portion of the rule can be performed, as described below. For example, a rule in a system that schedules jobs in a factory may include a rule such as:
IF PA0 THEN
there is a MACHINE with a STATUS of BROKEN and PA1 a STATUS of UNSCHEDULED requiring that machine PA1 set the STATUS of the JOB to NOT-SCHEDULABLE.
In this example, if a machine is broken, then the system will not schedule jobs that require the broken machine, and a status of "NOT-SCHEDULABLE" will be recorded for the job. Other rules in the system will indicate what is to be done when a job is not-schedulable.
The conditions portion of a rule is also called the "Left Hand Side" of the rule (abbreviated "LHS") or the predicate portion. The actions portion of a rule is also called the "Right Hand Side" of the rule (abbreviated "RHS"). Execution of the actions portion of a rule is also called "firing the rule".
To emulate an expert's application of these types of knowledge, conventional expert systems include a mechanism to determine, based on the information available, the appropriate sequence of rule activation. This mechanism is commonly referred to as the "inference engine".
Rule-based expert systems have been effective in solving problems which require large amounts of expertise. When compared to the problem being automated, expert systems are much more similar in structure and flow of control to human intuition than are programs created using standard "procedural" languages, such as Pascal or FORTRAN. As a result, the expert systems have been easier to conceive, develop, and maintain than functionally identical systems developed using standard programming languages.
In addition, expert systems have enabled automation of problems previously considered intractable. Programs (for example, Digital Equipment Corporation's XCON, a program for configuring computer systems) have been successfully implemented using expert systems techniques when efforts using standard techniques had failed.
The success of expert systems can be traced to two concepts that differentiate rule-based programming from standard programming. These two concepts are: global memory and non-procedural execution, as described below.
Conventional rule-based programming uses a global memory, usually referred to a "working memory". Working memory contains all the information available to the rules for testing conditions. All rules can test any information in working memory. Conversely, once information has been put into working memory, it is visible to all rules. This working memory differs from that of standard programming languages, where there is a distinct mapping (scope) defining which data is visible to which executable statements.
Moreover, in rule-based programming, rules are the only type of executable statement. Unlike standard languages where the sequence of execution is based on the sequence of executable statements in a program, sequence of rule executions is based on decisions made by the inference engine concerning eligibility of a rule to fire. This process of determining eligibility and executing a rule is called the recognize-act cycle. In the recognize step, a rule is selected based on information in working memory and according to the strategy incorporated in the inference engine. In the act step, the RHS of the selected rule is executed. These two steps are repeated until there are no rules eligible to be executed, or until a rule indicating a Halt action is executed. The recognize-act cycle is described below in more detail.
The concepts of global memory and non-procedural execution make it possible for conventional rule-based systems to closely emulate the actions of a human expert. Working memory contains all the information available to the expert. For example, in the shop floor scheduling example above, the working memory contains information identifying the machines available for scheduling and the jobs needing to be scheduled. Thus, rule-based, non-procedural execution is a much closer analog to the decision process of a human expert, where decisions about what should be done next are highly situation dependent.
There are at least two problems that limit the effectiveness and range of conventional rule-based programming. These are: complexity and embedability, as discussed below.
Because all information in a conventional rule-based system is global, program complexity, as measured by the number of potential interactions between separate parts of the program, tends to grow exponentially as program size grows linearly. There are numerous problems for which rule-based programming is appropriate that are small in size and, therefore, do not have problems with complexity. There are also problems of significant size that can be solved with rule-based programming, but are difficult to develop and maintain because of the resulting complexity.
The problem of complexity is not unique to rule-based programming. Standard, procedural, programming languages solve the problem of complexity through modularization. To reduce complexity, large programs are modularized, i.e., partitioned into modules. Each module is smaller, and less complex than the total system, with a well-defined interface to the other modules. A module can be built or modified without having to understand the entire program and can be more easily re-used or shared when appropriate. This reduction in size, combined with a better specification of module inter-dependence, reduces complexity.
The software engineering concept of modularity has traditionally been considered to be in direct conflict with the principles underlying rule-based programming. Although some rule-based languages have incorporated modularity concepts, these languages have retained few of the original benefits of a rule-based language. These languages eliminate the concept of global memory, and do not allow sharing of data between modules.
As mentioned above, another problem of conventional rule-based programming is a lack of embedability, i.e., integration of rule-based systems with programs written in standard, procedural languages. Rule-based programming is not suitable for all tasks. There are numerous tasks that are procedural in nature, for which procedural programming is more appropriate than rule-based programming In most large systems, there is a portion of the solution that is best addressed by procedural programming, and a portion best addressed by non-procedural programming. Existing rule-based programming languages are difficult and, in some cases impossible, to integrate with procedural languages because rule-based languages usually lack callable entry points that the procedural program can use to call the rule-based program.
Conventional rule-based programming lacks appropriate mechanisms to manage the complexity of rule-based systems and for embedding these expert systems in procedural systems, as needed.

Language for economically building complex, large-scale, efficient, rule-based systems and sub-systems


A cure for a hangover containing the active ingredient ephedrine in powdered form enclosed in a capsule. In a second embodiment this cure contains ephedrine and charcoal, while in a third embodiment, this cure contains Ephedra, charcoal and Vitamin B6. The use of any one of the three embodiments reduces the symptoms associated with alcohol intoxication and hangovers thereby speeding up recovery. The Ephedra, Vitamin B-6 and charcoal may be combined on a wt % ratio of 1:2.5:10. The Ephedra may come in the form of Ma Huang having 6% wt % Ephedra. One type of dosage is in the form of individual capsules having 10 Mg of Ephedra, 25 Mg of Vitamin B-6 and 100 Mg of activated charcoal. The recommended dosage would be two capsules so that users who are experiencing a hangover or alcohol related side effects may take up to 20 Mg of Ephedra, 50 Mg of Vitamin B-6 and 200 Mg of activated charcoal. This cure may also consist of a therapeutic method for curing the effects of alcohol consumption wherein this dosage could be taken after the consumption of alcohol.

The invention relates to a hangover cure that is designed to speed the time for recovery for an individual after they have ingested large quantities of alcohol. The term xe2x80x9calcoholxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to ethyl alcohol and xe2x80x9calcoholic beveragesxe2x80x9d and refers to popular spirits or blends that are intended for human consumption. Alcohol intoxication spans a range of blood-ethanol concentrations from 50mg % at which some impairment of judgment occurs above 400mg %, which is associated with profound depression of vital physiologic functions, all the way to 600 mg % which leads to death.
Approximately 11 million youths under the age of 21 drink alcohol in the United States. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 1995, a total of $166,543 million was spent in the US on alcohol related matters. For example there was $77,150 million spent due to illness. In addition, there was $34,921 million spent in lost earnings of premature death, $24,752 million spent due to crashes fires and criminal justice, $15,830 spent on medical consequences from drinking, $7,231 lost because of crime, and $6,660 million spent because of specialty drug and alcohol services for Americans.
The symptoms of a hangover are headache, dehydration, congestion, stomach pains, and diarrhea. The hangover is caused by the breakdown of alcohol in the liver especially acetaldehyde which has been found to be highly toxic. Alcoholic beverages themselves have toxins called congers, which are the byproducts of fermentation and distillation.
The invention relates to a hangover cure that is designed to speed the time for recovery from a hangover for an individual after they have ingested large quantities of alcohol. In a first embodiment, this hangover cure contains Ephedrine, in a second embodiment, this cure contains Ephedrine and charcoal, and in a third embodiment, this cure contains Ephedrine, charcoal and Vitamin B6. The Ephedrine in the hangover cure is designed to act as a vasoconstrictor decreasing the size of the blood vessels while simultaneously acting as a stimulant and as a bronchiodilator.
This invention also includes a therapeutic method for relieving the side effects of alcohol consumption by a person which comprises administering to this person a composition consisting essentially of at least about 100 Mg of Ma Huang, at least about 50 Mg of charcoal and at least about 10 Mg of Vitamin B-6 in a dosage unit.
However, this method is preferably conducted after the user consumes alcohol and then receives a dosage unit comprising between 100 and 334 Mg of Ma Huang, 50 and 200 Mg of Charcoal, and 10-50 Mg of Vitamin B-6.
This dosage unit could be ingested in a capsule form, in a pill form or in a liquid form.
Essentially, the invention relates to a hangover cure for persons who have ingested alcohol. The alcohol functions as a vasodilator, which means that when it is added to the bloodstream, it causes a dilation effect on the blood vessels. When added to the alcohol rich blood system, Ephedra counteracts the effects of alcohol by acting as a vasoconstrictor thereby decreasing the size of the blood vessels, and relieving the perceived pressure on the brain.
Ephedrine, which is an extract of Ephedra, is the nonproprietary name for the chemical substance -2-methylamino-1-phenylpropanol-01 and while it is not regulated as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), it is listed as a chemical under that law. However, small doses of 1-ephedrine are available off the shelf. One of the most common forms is Ma Huang a Chinese herb sold over the counter in nutrition and Vitamin stores.
Ephedrine is used as a stimulant and a bronchodilator and is chemically similar to drugs in the amphetamine group. It functions as a main ingredient in legally available energizers, nutritional suppliments, and dietary teas. Essentially, Ephedrine triggers a mild burst of energy when ingested into the body. In addition to the stimulant effects, which can include feelings of alertness and reduced appetite, Ephedrine also relaxes bronchial muscles and dilates airways, and can cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. A synthetic form of the drug pseudoephedrine is found in over the counter and prescription cold and allergy products.
Charcoal is also used to help a person recover from a hangover because it functions as an adsorbent. Adsorbents are chemically inert powders that have the ability to adsorb gasses, toxins, and bacteria usually in the gastrointestinal tract. Charcoal is widely considered to be the emergency treatment of choice for virtually all drug and chemical poisoning.
The adsorptive properties of charcoal can be greatly increased by treating it with various substances such as steam, air, carbon dioxide, oxygen, zinc chloride, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid or a combination of some other substances at a temperature ranging from 500 degrees Fahrenheit to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
This treatment is commonly referred to as activation wherein the activating agent presumably removes substances previously adsorbed on the charcoal and, breaks down the granules of carbon into smaller ones having a greater surface area. For example, it has been estimated that one milliliter of charcoal has a surface area of 1000 m2.
In addition to wood, many other substances can be used as a source for charcoal such as, sucrose, lactose, rice starch, coconut pericarp, bone, blood, various industrial wastes. The end product is a fine black odorless and tasteless powder that is free from gritty matter that is insoluble in water or other known solvents.
Furthermore, another supplement to this cure is Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine. This Vitamin is involved in the formation of body protein and structural compounds, chemical transmitters in the nervous system, red blood cells, and prostaglandins. In addition, Vitamin B6 is also important in maintaining hormonal balance and proper immune function.
Deficiency in Vitamin B6 is characterized by depression, convulsions, glucose intolerance, anemia, impaired nerve function, cracking of the lips and tongue and seborrhea or eczema. Those with the following health conditions: Asthma, premenstrual syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, morning sickness, and kidney stones reported positive responses when they supplemented their diet with Vitamin B6.
Because Vitamin B6 is especially helpful in reducing nervous disorders, it forms a beneficial compliment to the effect of alcohol on the nervous system.


An apparatus is disclosed for operating a charge pump in a high-efficiency low-ripple burst mode. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a charge pump with a flying capacitor, a switching circuit, and a burst-mode controller. The switching circuit is coupled to the flying capacitor and configured to selectively: be in a burst configuration to charge and discharge the flying capacitor based on a clock signal; or be in a pulse-skipping configuration. The burst-mode controller is coupled to the switching circuit and configured to trigger the switching circuit to transition from the pulse-skipping configuration to the burst configuration at a time that occurs between rising edges of the clock signal. The burst-mode controller is also configured to cause charging of the flying capacitor to occur for approximately half a period of the clock signal responsive to triggering the switching circuit to transition from the pulse-skipping configuration to the burst configuration.

A charge pump is a type of switched-capacitor voltage converter, which can be used to transfer power from a power source to a load. The charge pump can provide an output voltage that is greater than or less than an input voltage. To provide this output voltage, the charge pump uses switches to selectively charge or discharge a flying capacitor. Controlling these switches during light loading conditions while maintaining a given efficiency level (e.g., greater than 90%), however, can be problematic.

High-efficiency low-ripple burst mode for a charge pump


A base plate is a portion of a housing of a hard disk drive, and includes a cast base body. The base body includes an inner surface including an inside machined surface that is machined and an inside non-machined surface that is not machined. The base body includes an outer surface including an outside machined surface that is machined and an outside non-machined surface that is not machined. The outside machined surface and the inside non-machined surface overlap in an axial direction that is a direction parallel or substantially parallel to a rotation axis of a disk of the hard disk drive.

The hard disk drive has a motor that rotates a magnetic disk and a base plate that supports the motor. The hard disk drive writes and reads information while rotating the disk at high speed, and moving the head inside the housing that is formed by a base plate and a cover.
When the hard disk drive is driven, a viscous resistance is generated between the disk and head operating at high speed and the air present in the housing. This viscous resistance is a factor that increases noise and power consumption when the hard disk drive is driven. For this reason, in recent years, the housing of a hard disk drive may be filled with a low density gas such as helium. When the low density gas is used, the viscous resistance can be reduced. However, the low density gas tends to pass through even a slight gap. For this reason, when using a low density gas, higher airtightness is required for the housing of the hard disk drive.
The base plate is often produced by casting a metal such as aluminum. The surface of the cast product has a so-called "chill layer" having a higher density than other portions. This chill layer can suppress leakage of the low density gas through the base plate. However, the surface of the base plate of the cast product is partially machined after casting in order to obtain high dimensional accuracy. This machining may remove the chill layer.


A method and apparatus for automatically adding a tag to a document are provided. The method comprises: determining a plurality of candidate tag words corresponding to the document; determining a corpus comprising a plurality of texts; selecting commonly-used words from the corpus as characteristic words; determining, for each of the characteristic words and each of the candidate tag words, a probability for co-occurrence of the candidate tag word with the characteristic word; abstracting characteristic words from the document, and calculating a weight for each of the abstracted characteristic words; and calculating, in the corpus, a weighted probability for co-occurrence of each of the candidate tag words with all of the characteristic words abstracted from the document; selecting the candidate tag word with a high weighted co-occurrence probability as a tag word to be added to the document.

Tags, which are used for organizing contents on the Internet, are key words that are highly relevant to a document. The contents of the document may be briefly described and classified by tags to facilitate retrieval and sharing.
At present, there are mainly three manners for adding a tag to a document: 1) a manner of manual tag, in which a specific tag is designated to the document manually; 2) a manner of key word tag, in which an important key word that is automatically abstracted from the document by analyzing the contents of the document is taken as a tag; and 3) a manner of socialized tag, in which a tag is added to a user's document by the user himself. There are problems in all of the three manners, for example, as to 1) the manner of manual tag, tags cannot be added to a large amount of documents automatically; as to 2) the manner of key word tag, only a key word occurring in the document may be chosen as a tag, whereas not all of the key words are suitable to be a tag; and as to 3) the manners of socialized tag, it requires a user to add tags to the document by himself, resulting in disordered tags due to inconsistent standards of different users.

Method, apparatus, and computer storage medium for automatically adding tags to document

Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited


A bottle coupling device for connecting a first bottle to a second bottle is provided. The first bottle has a first threaded opening and the second bottle has a second threaded opening. The first bottle holds a first substance and the second bottle holds a second substance. The bottle coupling device comprises a hollow female coupling having an outer surface and an inner surface with a first end and a second end. The inner surface of the first end and the second end are threaded. The first opening of the first bottle is threadably connectable to the first end of the female coupling and the second opening of the second bottle is threadably connectable to the second end of the female coupling. Wherein the second substance is transferrable to the first bottle through the female coupling.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a bottle coupling device and, more particularly, the invention relates to a bottle coupling device providing a threaded, open ended coupling configured to easily connect two bottles together thereby serving as a funnel through which the remnants of various household products can be easily transferred from a nearly empty container to one which can be topped off.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Learning the value of saving money is of key importance to anyone who wishes to lead a successful and comfortable life. An extremely popular way in which people save money is by undergoing simple steps to prevent unnecessary waste. Making sure to turn off lights when leaving a room in order to save a few dollars on an electric bill, scraping the last few dollops of peanut butter out of the jar before tossing it in the trash to prevent food waste, or dampening a mascara wand with a few drops of water in order to extend the life of an expensive cosmetic, taking steps to prevent waste can result in extra money to pay for an unexpected auto repair, or even a night out with friends.


An engine system and method for reducing soot produced by an engine is disclosed. In one example, during purging of stored fuel vapors, a number of fuel injections to a cylinder during a cylinder cycle are maximized to reduce soot formation. The system and method may reduce soot formation within an engine.

Soot may be formed in an engine where fuel is directly injected to cylinders of the engine. Specifically, soot may form when fuel is injected to an engine cylinder while the engine is operating at higher speeds and loads. The soot may form from incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons since there is less time available to atomize fuel injected to the cylinder at higher engine speeds. Soot formation may also be influenced by introducing hydrocarbons to the cylinder via purging fuel vapors stored in a fuel vapor storage canister. In particular, since the purged fuel vapors may be combined with air entering the engine before the air enters the cylinder, it may be more difficult for fuel injected to the cylinder to vaporize and combine with the air-fuel mixture entering the cylinder. Consequently, an amount of soot produced by an engine may increase when stored fuel vapors are purged to the engine.
The inventor herein has recognized the above-mentioned limitations and has developed a method for operating an engine, comprising: supplying an amount of fuel from a fuel vapor storage canister to a cylinder; and adjusting a number of fuel pulses supplied to the cylinder via a fuel injector during a cycle of the cylinder in response to the amount of fuel supplied to the cylinder during the cylinder cycle from the fuel vapor storage canister.
By supplying fuel to a cylinder in a number of fuel pulses while fuel is also supplied to the cylinder via a fuel vapor storage canister, it may be possible to reduce soot formation in the combusted products of the cylinder. In particular, soot formation of a cylinder may be reduced by performing multiple injections of fuel during a cylinder cycle. In one example, a number of fuel pulses supplied to a cylinder during a cylinder cycle may be maximized to promote fuel vaporization even though a mixture of air and fuel enters the cylinder via an intake valve of the cylinder.
The present description may provide several advantages. In particular, the approach may provide reduced soot formation in combustion byproducts. In addition, the method may reduce engine system cost by reducing the possibility of having to provide a particulate trap for the engine. Further, if the engine system includes a particulate filter, the particulate filter may need to be regenerated less frequently when the approach is applied.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Method and system for reducing soot formed by an engine


The present invention relates to a method of producing recombinant modified Staphylococcal toxin having improved stability, comprising the steps of preparing a modified toxin in which a specific amino acid sequence is substituted and a vector for expressing the modified toxin, and culturing E. coli transformed with the vector, and a use thereof for the vaccine.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for stabilizing a modified protein of SEC1 (Staphylococcal enterotoxin C1) that is one of the Staphylococcal enterotoxins, and a method for producing the same in large quantity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of increasing stability of a modified toxin by substituting one cysteine group in an amino acid sequence of modified toxin protein with a serine group to inhibit the dimer formation.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, Staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) is a pyrogenic toxin (hereafter referred to as "PT"). This kind of toxin is typically produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pyrogens, although they have been found to be produced in the cells of mammals or pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Staphylococcal PT includes SE types (A, B, C1, C2, C3, D, E, G, H), Staphylococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPE) A and B, toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1), etc.
Streptococcal PT includes SPE A, B, C, mitogenic factor (MF) and Streptococcal super antigen (SSA). These are exoproteins and are found in Streptococci of the B, C, F and G groups. All toxins pertaining to PT are proteins of monomers and have a molecular weight of approximately 22–28 kDa, and they are very similar in their amino acid sequences. They are divided into three groups according to the homology of the amino acid sequences. The first group includes SE type B (SEB), SE type C (SEC), SPE type A (SPEA), SSA, etc. and they are 49% or more identical in their sequences. The second group is 84% or more identical in their sequences and SE type A (SEA), SE type E (SEE), SE type D (SED), SPE type C (SPEC) are of this group. The third group has a low sequence homology, and TSST-1, SPEB and PSET belong to this group. Amino acid sequences are versatile but many of the sequences showing homology are concentrated on four loci. These loci are believed to relate to common biological activities of toxins. Such common biological activities include pyrogenicity, immune response suppression, cytokine induction, proliferation of lymphocytes, superantigenicity, etc. Such biological activity plays an important role in lethal diseases such as TSS (toxin shock syndrome). In addition, a unique biological activity of SE is inducing diseases such as vomiting, diarrhea and food poisoning. The characteristics of SE that distinguish them from other PTs are sulfide bonds forming disulfide loop structures. If the amino acid sequence of these functional structures are deleted or substituted with other amino acid sequence, SE can be used as vaccines or treating agents in humans or animals.
The present invention relates to the production of a modified Staphylococcal toxin C1 for the above-mentioned purpose, and a method for stabilizing said modified toxin. The genetic sequence of modified Staphylococcal toxin C1 (SEC1) was found by Gregory A, Bohach et al. (Molecular General Genetics (1987) 209: 15–20), and then the functional structural locus of SEC1 was found from amino acid primary sequence as a result of continuous studies of Dr. Bohach et al. (Terence N. Turner et al. (1992), Infection and Immunity 60(2): 694–697, Carolyn J. Hovde et al (1994), Molecular Microbiology 13(5): 897–909, Marcy L. Hoffman et al (1994), Infection and Immunity 62(8): 3396–3407).
Then, Bohach G. A et al. prepared a modified protein (SEC1-12) by deleting amino acid sequence 94 to 106 and combining an amino acid sequence at the deleted portion. The amino acid sequence 94 to 106 is a loop portion wherein SEC1 exhibits most functions as a superantigen. Thus, the prepared modified toxin can function as a mitogen in which most biological activities are removed, and thus it can function as a vaccine which elicits non-specific cellular immune responses as well as forms antibodies for humoral immune responses
The present inventor transferred said genes to an E. coli expression vector in order to produce a toxin protein in a large quantity to obtain recombinant modified toxin therefrom. However, there was a problem in that the formation of multiple structures due to the disulfide bonds largely increased by an odd number of cysteines in modified protein.
In order to solve these problems, the present inventors largely improved the stability of a modified protein toxin by substituting cysteine groups that cause the formation of dimer with serine groups, and successfully completed the process for preparing large quantities of modified toxin C1 whose host is E. Coli.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing a Staphylococcal modified toxin C1 in a large quantity by transforming E. coli with the modified toxin whose amino acid sequence is substituted by the amino acid sequence which inhibits the formation of multiple structures, and a use thereof in a vaccine for preventing, alleviating or treating mastitis in cows.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin SEC-SER, expression vector and host cell, production method thereof, and manufacturing method of vaccine


A program product to perform a method for updating database objects in database servers. The program product causes the computer system to the perform steps of receive user specified database schema files for release to a list of corresponding database servers where modifications are to occur, wherein each schema file includes proposed database object structures, and verify that the schema files contain valid DDL commands. The computer system verifies that the user has proper permissions to modify the database object structures, and compares existing database object structures to the proposed database object structures to determine if the existing database object structures need to be modified. If the exising database object structures need to be modified, then the computer system modifies the existing database object structures, creates release notes that include documentation related to modifications of the database object structures, and sends the release notes to predefined addresses.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject disclosure relates to managing the structure of database objects in database servers, and more particularly, to an improved system and method for updating database objects across a plurality of database servers in a network.
2. Background of the Related Art
The use of computers for storing and accessing information has become ubiquitous in the modern workplace. Virtually every industry that uses computers stores some or all of the necessary information in databases for easy access. Typically, the data is organized into tables as relational databases. A database management system ("DBMS") controls user access to the data and manages version control and updating so that multiple users can access the data therein.
The data tables are frequently stored in accordance with Structured Query language ("SQL") specifications. SQL is the language of choice for most modern multi-user, relational databases, i.e., SQL provides the syntax and idioms ("language") needed to talk to ("query") relational databases in a standardized, cross-platform/product way ("structured"). SQL uses tables typically composed of rows (records) and each row is composed of columns (fields). SQL refers to data as a set of pointers and provides predefined procedures to allow use of any value in a table to relate other tables in a database. SQL databases are indexed by a "data dictionary". The structure of database objects is represented by a collection of database schema files. The schema files result from data modeling. The schema files contain the standard Data Definition Language ("DDL") commands that are run against a database server to create the database objects. To access data in the tables, SQL navigates the system and produces "views" based on search criteria defined in an SQL query. A view is essentially a dynamically generated result table that is assembled based upon the parameters defined in a query.
SQL commands fall into two categories, DDL and a data manipulation language ("DML"). The DDL is used to define the database with commands such as create, alter and drop. The DML is used to manage the database with commands such as insert, update and delete. SQL shells are common and typically come bundled with every database. The SQL shells are usually simple filters which allow logging onto the database, execute commands and receive output. The SQL shells range from simple to complex. SQL shells provide access to the database. Socket-based middleware performs a similar function to SQL shells, but over a network. Thus, with a socket-based system, a user can send commands to a database in Connecticut while working in New York City by using TCP/IP over the Internet to connect. Of course, whether a command shell or a socket based connection is used, there is a need to know the language of the database in order to send commands. Generally, a sequence of statements is required to perform anything but the simplest of operations.
SQL statements are used to perform tasks such as update data on a database, or retrieve data from a database. When a user submits a query to an SQL database using SQL, the database will consult the data dictionary and access the tables that the user has requested data from. A view is compiled based upon the criteria defined in the SQL query. Similarly, a view could be composed of the results of a query on several tables all at once (sometimes called a "join"). However, the standard SQL commands such as select, insert, update, delete, create, and drop can be used to accomplish most data management tasks. SQL alleviates the need to perform the details of data storage and retrieval and the internal workings of the database and how it stores data on the file system need not be known.
However, this ease of working with the data has presented a challenge. Medium to large size companies can have a significant number of information technology specialists. Each specialist may be assigned a single task, yet each and every action related to the databases must be tracked and publicized. In addition, companies generate sufficient amounts of data such that the organization of data becomes very complex. Efficiency requires an infallible level of reliability in the storage and access of the data.
To facilitate the management of databases, version control systems have been developed such as the concurrent versions system ("CVS"). CVS records the history of source files and allows retrieval of old versions for debugging purposes. CVS stores the old versions by keeping track of the differences between versions. Despite tools such as CVS, the modification and update of the databases can occur without proper permission. As databases are modified and updated, control of the database configuration is lost. In such circumstances, standards are not maintained in every data warehousing facility and uniformity throughout a system can be lost. Further, certain users who need to apprised of modifications are not notified and problems proliferate. Still further, the database objects may not match the schema files and thus, the query may not be successfully completed.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved method for managing a plurality of database servers that permits control of the release of updates by verifying permissions and maintaining standards. There is also a need to supply a test mode to verify performance prior to production deployment. In addition, there is also a need to produce documentation that corresponds to modifications in the databases in order to track the database configuration.

System and method for controlling the release of updates to a database configuration


A charge pump includes a charge pump core circuit having a first current source transistor, a second current source transistor and an output terminal (64), and a replica bias circuit. The replica bias circuit has a first reference current source transistor, a second reference current source transistor and a reference node corresponding to the output terminal of the charge pump core circuit. The reference node is connected to gates of the second current source transistor and the second reference current source transistor. A first input of a regulator circuit is connected to the output terminal of the charge pump core circuit. A second input of the regulator circuit is connected to the reference node of the replica bias circuit. An output of the regulator circuit (54) is connected to gates of the first current source transistor and the first reference current source transistor.

The present invention relates generally to charge pump circuits and more particularly to a charge pump circuit for a phase locked loop (PLL).
Charge pump circuits are employed in phase locked loops (PLLs) to tune a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in response to phase error information detected by a phase-frequency detector.
Current mismatch is known to occur in such charge pump circuits when the PLL is in a phase-locked state. The current mismatch creates a skew or phase offset and reference frequency spurs in the output of the PLL. The skew in the output of the PLL is undesirable in synchronous systems as it consumes a portion of the timing margin available to such systems and thus impairs system performance.
Thus, it would be desirable to have a charge pump circuit that is able to reduce current mismatch in a phase-locked state.


The invention provides a brush cutter and chipper that attaches to the end of an articulating arm or boom on equipment. The cutter may utilize existing hydraulic power and controls. The cutter includes a housing with external feed assembly that feeds material through a gate to an internal cutting assembly. The feed assembly has a tensioned upper roller that may move arcuately and a stationary lower roller. The rollers preferably rotate oppositely and each has peripheral cleats to facilitate feeding. The housing mounts an internal rotating drum that may be rotationally linked with the rollers. The drum has a cutting surface, which may be a peripherally wound toothed chain, that cuts entering materials smaller pieces. The drum rotates against the bottom side of the fed material to insure that the material is cut into small pieces. The small pieces exit through a chute at the bottom of the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a tree and brush cutting attachment adapted to be carried by a mobile vehicle having an articulating boom. More particularly, the invention is a retrofitable attachment adapted to be mounted to a trackhoe or another suitable vehicle to trim right of ways and the like. Known art may be found in U.S. Classes 241 and 144, subclasses 101.7 and 3 as well as in other classes and subclasses.
2. Description of the Known Art
Mobile tree trimming machinery has been known in the art for some time. The earliest devices were essentially exposed rotary saws powered by and mounted upon a railway car. The mobility of these devices was severely restricted and they were often dangerous for workers because of the exposed blades. Several devices have since addressed some deficiencies of these devices to improve upon this early art.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,575 to Trout shows a tree and brush rotary saw attachment for the free end of a boom of a backhoe. The saw assembly is mounted on a frame that is maneuverable for sawing at different elevations and angles for sawing brush and trees and for tree trunks and limbs. The saw blade is completely exposed on this device. This device makes no provision for clipping or shredding sawn debris.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,169 to Baenen shows a tree harvesting cable saw for severing a standing tree adjacent its base. The apparatus includes a main frame pivotally supported on the end of a boom that is in turn pivoted on a vehicle turn-table. The frame has a pair of tree gripping grapple arms at the upper end for gripping the tree to be cut and the cable saw at the bottom end. The cable saw is an endless cable which runs over pulleys mounted on a pair of movable arms which scissor together the completely sever the tree while it is gripped by the grapple arms. The saw blades in this device are substantially exposed during use. This device is also relatively immobile with respect to agile movement about a tree for cutting limbs only. This is not disadvantageous for the device's intended use of cutting entire trees but would be deleterious for cutting limbs on a tree.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,359 to Luscombe discloses a vehicle mounted boom device including a lower boom member pivotally mounted on the vehicle and an upper boom pivotally connected thereto. An elongated chain saw mechanism is mounted on the upper boom for carrying out tree pruning or cutting operations. The saw on this device is also completely exposed. This device is further not adapted to chip or shred sawn debris.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,989 to Rousseau discloses a grinder attachable to a tractor. The grinder is designed to rotate about a horizontal axis with cutting knives also provided about horizontal axis. The knives move in a plane perpendicular to their cutting edge and upon obstruction, they may move up to 360 degrees backwards, without any stopping means. This device has substantially exposed cutting knives that are not adapted to chip or shred sawn debris.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,924 to Cornelius discloses an apparatus for cutting and chipping trees and brush that includes a housing telescopically received at the end of a hollow rectangular boom or secured onto the existing boom of a vehicle and for cutting tree limbs or brush to be cut and chipped. The housing has a cutting member at the front portion extending outwardly for cutting trees or brush and feeds the cut material into a chipper. The rear of the housing forms a rectangular duct and a pair of alignment guides extend angularly outward from the front portion to receive the trunk of the tree being cut. A pair of cable guides extend between the top of the housing to the front of the alignment guides to divert power lines or cables and prevent them from being cut. The chipper reduces the cut material to chip size for passage through the duct. A blower moves chipped materials rearwardly through the duct portion. A nozzle on the underside of the housing discharges fluid onto the remaining cut materials to seal the cut portion. The cutting member preferably is a cylindrical member with radially-extending cutting blades secured thereon and rotate in the opposite direction of the chipping member. This device has blades that are exposed at one end and does not provide a single cutting and chipping blade. Moreover, this device is not retrofittable to conventional equipment such as trackhoes or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,727 to Plante discloses a bushwood chopper with a frame adapted to be mounted on a crane-type vehicle at the end of a boom. The frame has a structure for supporting a rotatable shaft on which is mounted at least one disc supporting on its periphery, two pivoting cutting blades. The shaft has an abutting ring around its periphery at the level of the cutting blades for preventing the latter from freely rotating 360 degrees. The blades can pivot backwardly upon a sudden resistance to a limit allowing them to hide within the periphery of the disc and to return, as promptly as possible, in their radial operating position. The bushwood chopper, preferably, as a plurality of superposed discs and cutting blades. This device sprays chipped debris over a large area including the operators position during use, which obstructs the operator's view of the area undesirably.
The known art fails to provide a system that positively feeds a chipping chamber that may be easily retrofitted to existing mobile machinery. The prior art also fails to provide a cutter and chipper that permits an operator to trim trees from many angles and particularly laterally while depositing chipped debris directly beneath the chipper in a controlled manner. Many of the known art devices operate with substantially exposed cutting devices or scatter debris over a wide area including against the vehicle transporting the chipper, which is unsafe for the operators and others in the vicinity.
The known art also fails to provide a device with a cutter and feed assembly that are linked together. In particular, the known art fails to provide a device with a cutter and feed assembly that is bidirectional in rotation. That is, a device where the cutter and feed assembly may rotate forwardly to feed and cut materials or rotate rearwardly to unfed entering materials to clear jams or the like. This can be particularly convenient if the cutter were overloaded or if using a chain for the cutter that might break and prevent cutting of materials for example.


An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance unit that conveys plural single cut-sheet recording media arrayed along a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction; and an image forming unit that forms an image on the plural single cut-sheet recording media conveyed by the conveyance unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine and a copier.
2. Related Art
Generally, when an image forming apparatus of this type performs high speed processing, it is necessary to increase a process speed. However, the performance of marking and the performance of a driving system are limited.