Liquid crystal light valve projection systems can use substantially all of the reading light from a high intensity reading light source by converting all single polarization state. Light reflected from a polarization beam splitter (44) that cannot be used because it is of wrong polarization state is recovered with improved efficiency, color balance and collimation by means of a polarization recovery prism (50) employing a reflective surface (56) interposed between two quarter-wave retarders (58,60). The light of wrong polarization from the polarizing beam splitter (44) is passed through a first quarter-wave retarder (58), which circularly polarizes the beam. The beam is then reflected from a mirrored surface (56) to reverse the direction of the circular polarization. The reflected beam of reversed circular polarization is then converted to a beam of light of the desired polarization by passage through a second quarter-wave retarder (60) and is transmitted in a path parallel to the path of the original beam together with light transmitted directly from the polarization beam splitter (44).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid crystal devices and particularly concerns improved conversion of unpolarized light to light of a single polarization state.
2. Description of Related Art
Recent developments and wider use of liquid crystal display systems, such as a video projectors, have emphasized the need for increased efficiency in illumination of the liquid crystal devices. The CRT addressed reflective liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) is a thin film, multi-layer structure comprising a liquid crystal layer, a dielectric mirror, a light blocking layer and a photosensitive layer, all sandwiched between two transparent electrodes. In a CRT addressed reflective liquid crystal light valve projection system a polarized illumination (reading) beam is obtained by directing an unpolarized beam from a high intensity light source, such as a xenon arc lamp for example, to a polarizing beam splitter, which divides the incoming light into two beams, one having a P polarization state and the other having an S polarization state. Light of one of these polarization states is passed through the liquid crystal layer to the dielectric mirror, which reflects it back through the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal material is optically addressed by an input image of relatively low intensity writing light, such as that generated by a cathode ray tube, the output of which is applied to the photosensitive layer. Therefore, if a complex distribution of light, for example a high resolution input image from the cathode ray tube, is focused on the photosensitive layer, the device converts the relatively low intensity input image into a high intensity replica image which can be reflected for projection with magnification to produce a high brightness image on a large viewing screen.
In active-matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) projection systems each pixel is addressed by means of a high intensity light beam of a single polarization state that is directed through a matrix of thin film transistors to provide a projection system that may realize a full color, high quality screen display of large size. The transistors are collectively and selectively activated to provide an image defined by the spatial array of selectively activated transistors.
As compared with conventional cathode ray tube projectors, the liquid crystal light valve projectors have many advantages in regard to compact size, light weight, low cost, and accurate color registration, among others. However, they still exhibit disadvantages in regard to total light output, which is primarily screen brightness, because of the low transmittance of the required polarizing beam splitter and the thin film transistor mode of addressing the active-matrix liquid crystal light valve. These systems can use light of only one polarization state. The polarizing beam splitter, which effectively passes only one half of the light, is necessary for those devices employing twisted nematic liquid crystal mode operation, which can operate on light of only a single polarization state. Accordingly, recovery of otherwise discarded light is essential for efficient operation.
Use of a light source of higher intensity, to overcome high losses, is undesirable. Increased intensity is limited by allowable temperature increase of the projector system components, by available light source power, and by efficiency and economics. A high power light source may cause deterioration of the polarization beam splitter and the liquid crystal light valve itself.
Ability to use all of the light from the high power illumination source has been recognized as highly desirable and will enable a projector of this kind to reduce power consumption by nearly fifty percent, or, for small units, to enable a significant increase of screen brightness.
Recognizing the need to improve efficiency of illumination, systems have been devised for recovery of the otherwise wasted light of the wrong polarization. The polarizing beam splitter passes light of P state polarization and reflects light of S state polarization. Only light of one or the other polarization state, but not both, can be used to illuminate the liquid crystal light valve face. Accordingly, it has been suggested to change the polarization state of the otherwise unused light into light of the useful polarization state and then combine the two so as to theoretically avoid the fifty percent loss of the illumination light. Prior schemes for recovery of the light of nonusable polarization state have included various systems using polarization rotating mirrors and half-wave retarder plates. All have problems. Reflective devices, although changing the direction of linear polarization, introduce a significant amount of depolarization, providing an output having a portion of elliptically polarized or depolarized light. Elliptically polarized light degrades efficiency of operation of the liquid crystal light valve. Further, light reflected from a pair of mirrors and passed through a half-wave retarder for change of polarization is not precisely nor adequately collimated. When combined with the incident light of the useful polarization state from the polarizing beam splitter, further inefficiencies in operation of the liquid crystal light valve are introduced by such lack of collimation.
Importantly, the half-wave retarder plate that has been used in prior polarized light recovery arrangements suffers from chromatic variation of light output. Intensity of the output light of desired polarization from the half-wave retarder is significantly decreased at higher and lower ends of the visible spectrum, so that intensity of both blue and red components of the desired polarization for a full spectrum light beam are decreased with respect to intensity of the intermediate wavelength green component of the desired polarization. This variation across the spectrum can be minimized by decreasing green intensity, but only at the cost of decreased efficiency.
Still further, such prior systems for converting polarization state have combined the original and recovered beam by effectively converging the two so as to be mutually superposed on the illuminated face of the liquid crystal light valve. Such prior devices provide a converging cone angle between the two light sources that is great enough to cause a significant amount of the desired light to fall outside of the desired collection cone angle of the projection lens, and thus to be wasted. In addition, light recovery devices of the prior art are generally complex, expensive and require relatively large numbers of components, thereby requiring a large package and increased costs of manufacture.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a polarized light recovery system that avoids or minimizes above mentioned problems.


The invention relates to a system and a method for updating information displayed on a client in a process data-driven environment. An updating stamp is provided along with information units used for displaying process data of automation devices in a browser during collection thereof. The updating stamp is compared with an updating stamp which is managed in a system and is updated whenever new information is added for the respective information unit, the information being updated in the browser if the updating stamps are not identical.

Communications in a Web environment generally involve two different groups of participants. On the one hand there are Web servers, which make available information in the form of displayable pages, and on the other hand there are Web clients (so-called browsers) which display the pages made available by the Web servers. In general a client/server system is therefore organized in such a way that the server does not know its clients. The latter normally only call up the required information from the Web server as a result of user actions. Accordingly, a new Web page is then downloaded to the client, or a new version of the same page is generated. Nowadays, client/servers systems of this type are also increasingly being used in the industrial environment. In this case, the clients are used primarily for displaying information relating, for example to industrial production processes. In a system of this type, new items of information are continuously coming in, via the programmable controllers or diagnostic devices such as sensors, as applicable, and must be displayed to the user of the client, for example a plant operator. These items of information are sent from the programmable controllers or diagnostic devices, as applicable, to the server, and the clients can retrieve the required data from the server. The problem with a client/server system of this type in an industrial environment is that the client is not in general made aware that the values which it is displaying on a page have now changed in the industrial process, so that its display no longer corresponds with the reality. Nowadays, the updating of information is effected by the Web client, after a defined time interval, automatically making a new request for the appropriate information, and refreshing its Web page if necessary. However, the disadvantage with this is that while the Web page is being refreshed it is not displayed to the user of the client, so that for a brief time no information is available to the user for operational purposes. In addition, the inflexible use of a time interval for updating purposes has the consequence that a page is frequently refreshed and requested, even though there is no new information. Superfluous page refreshment and data transfer is thus the rule with this application. Another possible way of supplying the user with up-to-date information consists in establishing a longer term connection between the client and the server. However, this ties up resources on the server, and a special infrastructure must exist on the client. Realizing the updating of items of information in this way is thus relatively expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,017 discloses a method by which the updating of data in a fault-tolerant file system is managed with the help of counters.

System and method for updating information


A carriage assembly for carrying read/write heads into engagement with a recording medium is provided. The carriage assembly includes a carriage body that defines a sidewall having a first opening and a second opening with a passage extending therebetween. A coil is securely coupled with the carriage body sidewall. The carriage assembly rides on a central guide track when the carriage assembly is mounted within a disk drive. The carriage assembly is free to rotate about the central guide track. A first in-rigger extends laterally from the carriage body and a second in-rigger extends laterally from the carriage body. Each of the in-riggers has a protrusion extending from an inner surface. If the carriage assembly rotates sufficiently in one direction one of the protrusions will contact a magnet of the disk drive to prevent further rotation of the carriage assembly in that direction. Similarly, if the carriage assembly is rotated in the opposite direction, the other protrusion will contact the magnet to prevent rotation of the carriage assembly in the opposing direction. The in-riggers thereby maintain the carriage assembly centered on the central guide track.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Disk drives for storing electronic information are found in a wide variety of computer systems, including workstations, personal computers, and laptop and notebook computers. Such disk drives can be stand-alone units that are connected to a computer system by cable, or they can be internal units that occupy a slot, or bay, in the computer system. Laptop and notebook computers have relatively small bays in which to mount internal disk drives and other peripheral devices, as compared to the much larger bays available in most workstation and personal computer housings. The relatively small size of peripheral bays found in laptop and notebook computers, can place significant constraints on the designer of internal disk drives for use in such computers. Techniques that address and overcome the problems associated with these size constraints are therefore important.
Disk drives of the type that accept removable disk cartridges have become increasingly popular. FIG. 1 shows one disk drive product, known as the ZIP.TM. drive, that has been very successful. This disk drive is designed and manufactured by Iomega Corporation, the assignee of the present invention. ZIP.TM. drives accept removable disk cartridges that contain a flexible magnetic storage medium upon which information can be written and read. The disk-shaped storage medium is mounted on a hub that rotates freely within the cartridge. A spindle motor within the ZIP.TM. drive engages the cartridge hub when the cartridge is inserted into the drive, in order to rotate the storage medium at relatively high speeds. A shutter on the front edge of the cartridge is moved to the side during insertion into the drive, thereby exposing an opening through which the read/write heads of the drive move to access the recording surfaces of the rotating storage medium. The shutter covers the head access opening when the cartridge is outside of the drive, to prevent dust and other contaminants from entering the cartridge and settling on the recording surfaces of the storage medium.
The ZIP.TM. drive is presently available for workstations and personal computers in both stand-alone and internal configurations. In order to provide a version of the ZIP.TM. drive for use in laptop and notebook computers, the size constraints of the peripheral bays of such computers must be considered. In particular, for an internal drive to fit in the majority of laptop and notebook peripheral bays, the drive must be no longer than 135 mm. The height of the drive must be in the range of 12 to 15 mm. These dimensions place many constraints on the design of such a drive, and give rise to numerous design problems.
FIG. 1 shows a carriage assembly that is employed in the ZIP.TM. and disclosed in Ser. No. 08/727,128 entitled Actuator For Storage Device, filed on Oct. 8, 1996 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The ZIP.TM. drive carriage assembly 10 comprises a main carriage 12, carriage arms 20, load beams 24, write/read heads 26, voice coil 16, an outrigger 18 and outrigger guide track 46. The carriage arms 20 are formed with the main carriage 12. Each carriage arm 20 is mechanically coupled to a corresponding load beam 24. Each head 26 is mechanically coupled to a corresponding load beam 24.
The carriage 12 comprises an elongated sidewall 28 that defines two opposing open ends 30 and 32 with a passage 34 extending therebetween. The open ends 30 and 32 are adapted to receive cylindrical bushings 36 and 38. The passage 34, open ends 30 and 32, and bushings 36 and 38 are adapted to slidingly receive a guide track (not shown).
The coil 16 is mounted to the carriage 14 by adhesives or bonding methods. The outrigger 18 is mounted to a portion of the coil 16 and travels along the outrigger guide track 46 to prevent rotation of the carriage assembly 10 when the carriage assembly is in operation. Most of the components described above are coupled to one another by individual connecting steps, such as with adhesives and bonding methods. There are several drawbacks with having to attach these components individually.
One drawback with an outrigger and outrigger guide track is the require a relatively large amount of space within an electronic environment to operate. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a means for maintaining the desired position of a carriage assembly that requires less space to perform this function.
Another drawback of employing the outrigger and outrigger guide track is that they increase the number of components that must be designed and accounted for. It would therefore be desirable to reduce the number of components that comprise a carriage assembly.
Yet another drawback of employing the outrigger and outrigger guide track is that they must be individually attached within close tolerances. This production requires near exact precision which is relatively difficult to obtain. It would therefore be desirable to provide a means of manufacturing the desired carriage assembly more exact and easily.

In-rigger of a carriage assembly that prevents rotation of the carriage assembly


A database session in an active standby server on which an active standby database resides receives a DML statement. The session is suspended while the statement is redirected over a database link to a primary database on which the statement is executed. Information associated with execution of the statement is communicated to the session in the active standby server. Redo records describing changes to the contents of the primary database are applied to the active standby database and control is returned to the session. Prior to commitment of a transaction including the statement, a query directed to data to which the statement was directed is received at the active standby server from a client and executed on the active standby database absent use of a database link based on whether information associated with a database session associated with the client matches the information associated with execution of the statement.

A physical standby database is a replica of a primary database, in which the data block structure of the physical standby database is physically the same as that of the primary database (i.e., the contents of the physical standby database are identical to the contents of the primary database on a block-for-block basis). Physical standby databases may be created to protect against disasters or data corruption. For example, if a primary database is destroyed or if data stored in the primary database is corrupted, a failover may be performed, such that a physical standby database becomes the new primary database. In situations in which a physical standby database is deployed, when changes are made to the contents of a primary database, information describing these changes are communicated to the physical standby database where the same changes are applied. Therefore, with the exception of any changes that have been made to the contents of a primary database that have not yet been applied to the contents of a physical standby database, the contents of the physical standby database are identical to the contents of the primary database in every way.
When changes are made to the contents of a database, information describing these changes are stored in a redo log. A redo log includes redo records that describe changes made in response to Data Manipulation Language (DML) statements directed to the contents of a database. DML statements include statements that begin with "MERGE," "INSERT," "UPDATE," "DELETE," etc., which may be used to access and manipulate data stored in a database. A redo log also includes undo records, which maintain information that may be used to undo uncommitted changes made to a database. Thus, a redo log contains a history of all changes made to the contents of a database and may be used to reconstruct changes made to the contents of a primary database when information maintained in the redo log is sent to a physical standby database and applied to its contents. For example, when redo records are generated in response to changes made to the contents of a primary database, these records are sent to a physical standby database where the same changes are made to ensure that the contents of the physical standby database remain identical to those of the primary database.
Conventionally, physical standby databases may have a read-only mode for reporting purposes that allow their resources to be more efficiently utilized. For example, when a physical standby database is in read-only mode, clients may access its contents by performing queries on the physical standby database. However, when in read-only mode, the operations that may be performed on physical standby databases are restricted to those that do not require any changes to be made to their contents. The reason for this limitation is that if a block of data stored in a physical standby database is changed by a DML statement and a redo record is subsequently received from a primary database that requires a different change to be made to the same block, the redo record may no longer be applicable to the data that is now stored in the block that was changed by the DML statement. Therefore, imposing the read-only limitation on physical standby databases is necessary to ensure that their contents are identical to the contents of the primary databases they are replicating so that the physical standby databases are immediately available in the event of a disaster or a failure. For this reason, physical standby databases will often prevent changes from being made to their contents by issuing an error if an attempt is made to do so.
However, this read-only limitation is problematic in that many reporting applications that may be run on physical standby databases may require occasional changes to be made to the contents of a database, which greatly limits the number of reporting applications that are able to be run on physical standby databases. Furthermore, there is no feasible way to efficiently or effectively make the necessary modifications to the code for such applications to allow them to be run on physical standby databases. Moreover, the capabilities of the reporting applications that may be run on physical standby databases are severely limited due to the read-only limitation on physical standby databases.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved approach to update physical standby databases.

Method and system for supporting data consistency on an active standby database after DML redirection to a primary database


A data transfer apparatus includes a cache memory having a storing portion for writing and reading data at a higher speed than an image data storing portion which stores image data GD of an input image, and data transfer request means for outputting, to the cache memory, a transfer request for image data in a certain region of the input image. The cache memory reads unstored image data from the image data storing portion beyond a reading region corresponding to a transfer request every pixel row if image data in a pixel row included in the reading region is not stored in the storing portion of the cache memory. Moreover, the data transfer request means sequentially gives, in arrangement order in a horizontal direction of an input image, a transfer request for image data in each of reading regions arranged in the horizontal direction.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for transferring data.
Description of the Background Art
In an image processing apparatus such as an image pickup apparatus, generally, image data acquired by an image pickup device such as a CCD is once stored in a storing portion (for example, a DRAM or the like) in the image pickup apparatus. Then, the image data is read from the storing portion and are subjected to various image procesings.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-113234 describes an image processing apparatus for reading image data from an image data storing portion storing the image data and correcting a distortion of an image in a distortion correcting portion.
Referring to the image processing apparatus described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-113234 , image data is read by using a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) in response to a transfer request for image data from a distortion correcting portion. In this case, a processing speed of a distortion correction is influenced by a reading speed of an image data storing portion. In other words, a transfer speed of image data from the image data storing portion to the distortion correcting portion is low. For this reason, the processing speed of the distortion correction is reduced.
The reduction in the processing speed might be caused also in a transfer of image data in response to a transfer request given from a processing portion for performing another image processing.

Data transfer apparatus and data transfer method


A method of packaging a semiconductor component with a printed wiring board is disclosed. The method includes determining a first distance, applying a thin film onto a surface of the semiconductor component such that the thin film is spaced apart from a support of the semiconductor, applying a solder pad onto the printed wiring board, placing the semiconductor component with the thin film onto the printed wiring board, and positioning the thin film adjacent the solder pad.

The invention relates to reliability enhancement processes, and more particularly, to a reliability enhancement process for packages having an integrated circuit ("IC") mounted on a printed wiring board ("PWB").
Moderate to high power original-equipment-manufacturer ("OEM") perimeter pattern IC's such as perimeter pattern ball grid array ("BGA") and thin small-outline packages ("TSOP") generate a large amount of heat during operation. Typically these OEM IC's are mounted on a PWB at several solder joints. The large amount of heat typically leads to substantial thermal gradients or differences between the IC's substrate portion and the PWB. As a result, the PWB is also used as a primary heat sink. However, not only do high junction temperatures degrade the reliability of the package, but the differences in the thermal coefficient of expansion also reduce the life of the solder joints. For example, the difference in thermal expansion between the semiconductor component and the PWB is usually at least a factor of 2. That is, for every degree of temperature change, the PWB expands twice as much as the semiconductor component, which then creates mechanical stress.

Enhanced reliability semiconductor package


Systems and methods for detecting surface anomalies are disclosed. For example, a computer-implemented method for detecting surface anomalies on an object comprises receiving measured electromagnetic radiation (EMR) profiles for the object, generating synthetic EMR profiles for the object based on the measured EMR profiles, determining whether the object contains a surface anomaly based on the measured EMR profiles and the synthetic EMR profiles, and indicating a surface anomaly to a user via a display when a surface anomaly is detected. In another example, a system comprises a computing device comprising non-transitory memory with computer-readable instructions for receiving unpaired image data of an object of two different image types, predicting missing image data to generate paired image data of the two different image types, and determining whether the object contains a surface anomaly based on the paired image data. The computing device comprises a processor configured to execute the computer-readable instructions.

Parts, materials, products, equipment, and other objects may be inspected for dents, bumps, abrasions, scratches, holes, and other surface anomalies to ensure their quality. For example, these inspections may be performed when parts are initially received from a supplier and/or after a product has been in service, such as when it is brought in for routine maintenance. In the context of aircraft, a fuselage skin may be inspected for surface anomalies during the manufacturing process, such as when it arrives at the manufacturer's final assembly facility. The fuselage also or alternatively may be inspected after the aircraft has been delivered and has been in service, such as between flights, during scheduled maintenance, etc.
Conventionally, these inspections are performed visually by human personnel. For example, ground personnel may walk around an aircraft's fuselage and perform a visual inspection of the fuselage skin to look for surface anomalies. However, it may be difficult for ground personnel to spot these surface anomalies because of the lighting, surface coating on the skin, and/or various other reasons. As such, these visual inspections may be unreliable and/or prone to error, leading to undiagnosed surface anomalies.
Some have proposed performing these inspections using thermal imagery. For example, surface anomalies on an aircraft skin may be detected based on how the skin's thermal profile changes under varying temperatures. However, such approaches still rely on actual observations (thermal images) of the aircraft skin, thus requiring a large batch of images. In reality, capturing this many images of the object (the number needed to perform the thermal imagery-based inspection) may be infeasible and/or impractical, especially once the aircraft is in service, making it difficult to carry out and/or complete such inspections. Further, such thermal inspection methods do not account for how changes in other ambient conditions besides temperature (such as humidity and lighting) may affect the thermal profiles of the object under inspection. Thus, the inspections may be unreliable, particularly when ambient conditions such as humidity and/or lighting vary over the course of the observation period.
Thus, more accurate and rigorous inspection and surface anomaly detection techniques are desired.

Synthetic image generation for surface anomaly detection


The present invention relates to a developer composition for radiation-sensitive positive-working and negative-working and reversible reprographic layers which apart from a radiation-sensitive compound or radiation-sensitive combination of compounds contain, as an essential constituent, a binder which is insoluble in water but soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions, said developer composition being characterized in that it contains, as essential constituents,. (a) O- carboxymethyl- or O,O'-biscarboxymethylethylene glycol or an appropriately substituted polyethylene glycol comprising 2 to about 500 ethylene glycol units, PA1 (b) at least one compound showing an alkaline reaction in water, selected from the group including alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates, alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal borates, ammonium hydroxides, ammonium silicates, ammonium phosphates and ammonium borates, and PA1 (c) water.. The developer composition gives a very good yield, makes possible short developing times and does not cause any problems due to flaky deposits of layer constituents or foaming. A process for developing positive-working, negative-working and reversible reprographic layers with the developer composition is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a developer composition for radiation-sensitive positive-working, negative-working, and reversible reprographic layers which, apart from a radiation-sensitive compound or radiation-sensitive combination of compounds, contain, as an essential constituent, a binder which is insoluble in water but soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions. The developer composition exhibits particularly advantageous properties with respect to yield, developing speed and differentiation between image areas and non-image areas, and it does not tend to form foam or undesirable deposits. The developer composition provides a steep gradation when positive-working, negative-working, or reversible reproduction layers based on photopolymers or epoxides are processed. The invention is also directed to a process for developing reprographic layers with the developer composition.
Positive-working reprographic layers containing photosensitive compounds which, upon exposure, render the exposed areas soluble in an aqueous-alkaline developer solution, are known. In most cases, layers of this kind contain 1,2-quinonediazides as photosensitive compounds. Alkali-soluble resins, such as phenolic resins, may additionally be contained in these layers.
Layers containing a combination of a compound which forms an acid upon irradiation and an acid-cleavable compound, such as an orthocarboxylic acid derivative, a monomeric or polymeric acetal, an enol ether, a silyl ether and an acyliminocarbonate, are also known. Organic halogen compounds, in particular halomethyl-substituted s-triazines, are generally used as the radiation-sensitive, acid-eliminating compounds. Here, too, alkali-soluble resins are employed as binders.
Positive-working copying materials based on 1,2-quinonediazides, optionally in the presence of suitable additives, have also been used as negative-working copying materials, by subjecting the material to a certain sequence of processing steps. A positive-negative reversal process for a material based on acid-cleavable compounds instead of 1,2-quinonediazides is described in EP 082,463 (=U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,006).
Known reversal processes principally comprise the same sequence of processing steps, i.e., following exposure the printing plate is heated, cooled down, then post-exposed without an original and finally developed with an aqueous-alkaline developer. For practical application of the reversal process, safe performance of the individual process steps and reliable reproducibility of the results within narrow limits are of vital importance.
Negative-working, radiation-sensitive systems include combinations of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and photoinitiators and combinations of epoxide compounds and substances which upon irradiation eliminate a strong acid. Combinations of the above systems are also known. These reprographic layers contain binders which are soluble in aqueous-alkaline systems, preferably polycondensates or polymers having lateral carboxyl groups.
A developer composition and a developing process for radiation-sensitive layers or, respectively, reproduction materials produced therefrom, must meet a number of requirements, in particular:
1. The yield of the developer solution should be high, i.e., the performance of the developer with regard to the reprographic layer should remain as constant as possible, even when the developer is loaded with an increasing amount of removed layer constituents, and the tone limit, i.e., that degree of loading of the developer where the layer is no longer removed completely from the substrate, should be as high as possible.
2. The developing process should be finished after a short period of action of the developer on the layer. This is of particular importance when processing is performed with automated developing stations which are part of processing lines. Due to short processing cycles the times allowed for development in some cases are well below 30 seconds.
3. The resistance to overdevelopment should be good, i.e., in case of positive processing, the unexposed layer areas should not be attacked by the developer; in case of negative processing, the exposed layer areas should not be attacked by the developer and in the case of reversal processing, the exposed and heat-treatedlayer areas should not be attacked by the developer. This ensures that, even in the case of repeated development, for example, in the course of photocomposing, the image is not damaged. Furthermore, even relatively old copying layers can be satisfactorily processed.
4. During development foaming should not occur and deposits should not form. These soil a developing apparatus, necessitating increased expenditure for maintenance.
5. The gradation, which is strongly influenced by the type of developer employed, should be as steep as possible. This makes improved dot reproduction possible with both positive and negative processing.
It is generally very difficult to provide a developer which fulfills all of the above requirements, particularly for reversal processing. EP 101,010 (=U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,895) discloses an aqueous-alkaline developer solution which contains silicate, benzoate and quaternary ammonium hydroxides and which results in a steep gradation following development. However, this developer impairs the hydrophilic character of the substrate material if used to develop printing plates, making its application very problematic.
DE 32 23 386 (=U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,920) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,504 disclose the addition of non-ionic surfactants, such as fatty acid amides or ethoxylated alkanols, alkyne diols and phenols, to the aqueous-alkaline developer solution. When developer solutions of this kind are used, steep gradations and short developing times are achieved, but the formation of deposits of layer constituents causes the problems described above.
EP 178,495 describes a multi-stage process for developing irradiated, radiation-sensitive, positive-working layers containing quinonediazide sulfonic acids and alkali-soluble resins, wherein the irradiated layers are treated with aqueous-alkaline solutions containing a fluorocarbon or a carboxylated surface-active agent. The carboxylated surfactants also include (poly)glycols etherified with a fatty alcohol and with hydroxyacetic acid, hydroxypropionic acid or hydroxybutaric acid.
The aqueous-alkaline developers disclosed in EP 178,496 and EP 209,153, which are based on O-fatty alkyl-O'-carboxymethyl-(poly)ethylene glycol, and the aryl ether sulfates disclosed in DE 39 15 141, provide excellent developing results. However, these developers exhibit an unacceptably strong foam formation.
EP 279,630 discloses a developer for positive-working and negative-working copying layers which are based on quinonediazides or diazonium salts, respectively. The developer comprises a substance showing an alkaline reaction, a reducing agent, a non-ionic or cationic surfactant and an aromatic carboxylic acid, such as, for example, benzoic acid, which may be substituted on the aromatic ring. The content of non-ionic or cationic surfactants leads to the same impairments during processing as described above. The publication does not disclose the use of the developer in reversal processes.
EP 274,044 is directed to a developer solution which is suited, in particular, for the processing of reversible reproduction layers. The developer solution contains, as essential constituents, alkali, an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer and optionally a phosphate ester in order to prevent the formation of deposits. This developer composition gives good results even when reversible copying layers are processed. However, the amount of phosphate ester required effectively to suppress the formation of deposits causes foaming of the developer solution, and hence the composition of the developer is not ideal.

Developer composition for irradiated, radiation-sensitive positive-working, negative-working and reversible reprographic layers


Systems and methods provide dynamically modifiable parameters in required time of arrival (RTA) speed regions of an assigned flight path of an aircraft. The system includes a vertical situation display (VSD) rendering thereon a vertical flight profile of the assigned flight path. A control module is coupled to the display system and configured to: demark the vertical flight profile with a plurality of RTA speed regions related to an initial speed profile; render an RTA speed band graphic having demarked sections vertically representing a speed minimum and speed maximum for an respective RTA speed region, the RTA speed band graphic representing a normalized speed range between zero and a maximum value for each respective RTA speed region. The control module accepts user modifications and updates the RTA speed band graphic and the current speed profile to reflect user input.

One of many considerations during an aircraft flight is a required time of arrival (RTA), which may be set prior to flight. During the flight, various scenarios can unfavorably affect the likelihood of completing a trip and arriving at a destination at the RTA. Various strategies may be used to attempt to meet the RTA.
One way to affect the RTA is to modify aircraft speed. The flight path of an aircraft may be described as a flight profile having a sequence of predefined stages or phases. When there is an RTA, each flight phase may be subdivided into regions, and each region may have a speed that is computed and/or adjusted based on the RTA. At any given time, some of these regions may individually accommodate an adjustment of speed based on the RTA, and some of the regions may not. As used herein, the regions that are speed-adjustable based on the RTA are referred to as RTA speed regions. RTA speed region(s) are a category of parameters that play a critical role in computing RTA speeds for an aircraft flight to meet an RTA. Once RTA speeds are determined for the regions making up a flight path, operating/flying in alignment with the RTA speeds is critical for meeting the RTA.
In many available flight guidance systems, RTA speed regions are predefined and have fixed predefined RTA speed parameters, such as an assigned start and end, assigned priority with respect to each other, and etc. The predefined RTA speed parameters are generally set by a manufacturer and/or airline, and not dynamically editable in real time by a pilot. A technical problem is presented in that pilots may wish to interact with the RTA speed parameters, for example, to know where the RTA speed regions are, which ones they can speed adjust, to what extent they can speed adjust them (e.g., max/min limits), and how an adjustment in one speed region may affect other flight phases and RTA speed regions.
Accordingly, improved systems and methods that enable a pilot to interact in real time with RTA speed region parameters are desirable. Desirable systems provide dynamically modifiable parameters in required time of arrival (RTA) regions of an assigned flight path. The following disclosure provides these and other technological enhancements, in addition to addressing related issues.

Dynamically modifiable parameters in required time of arrival (RTA) regions of an assigned flight path


A videoconferencing unit is provided which integrates several components of a videoconferencing system to facilitate system setup and operation. The videoconferencing unit comprises a generally planar base structure adapted to be removably supported on a top surface of a video display monitor, such as a television monitor. The base structure terminates forwardly in a lip member which engages a front surface of the video display monitor. A first set of microphones is located at the lower portions of the lip member, and a second set of microphones is located at the upper edge surface of a tower member extending upwardly from the rear portion of the base structure. The vertical offset between the two sets of microphones thus established enables differential signal analysis to locate sound sources. The lip member may also be provided with one or more transmitters for transmitting control signals to a cooperatively placed receiver on the video display monitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to videoconferencing systems, and more particularly to an integrated videoconferencing control unit.
2. Background of the Art
Videoconferencing systems have become an increasingly important business communication tool. These systems facilitate meetings between persons or groups of persons situated remotely from each other, thus eliminating or substantially reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming business travel. Because the videoconference participants are able to see the facial expressions and gestures of the remote participants, richer and more natural communication is engendered. In addition, videoconferencing allows sharing of visual information, such as photographs, charts and figures, and may be integrated with personal computer applications to produce sophisticated multimedia presentations.
A problem associated with many commercially available videoconferencing systems is that they are difficult to set up and operate. A typical videoconferencing system may include a control unit to which are connected a variety of peripheral devices, such as a video camera, a video display monitor, one or more microphones, and one or more speakers. Improper connection of the peripheral devices to the control unit may render the videoconferencing system partially or wholly inoperative. Further, the peripheral devices, in particular the camera and microphone(s), must be carefully positioned to ensure that all persons involved in the videoconference are within camera and microphone range and thus may be seen and heard by the remote participants. Unless the participants have been thoroughly trained with respect to the operation of the videoconferencing system, frequent problems may arise.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a videoconferencing system which includes features which simplify system setup and operation.


A supply unit including a direct voltage energy source formed of a number of rechargeable batteries; an electric motor for driving the vehicle; and an electric circuit interposed between the direct voltage energy source and the electric motor. The electric circuit is reconfigurable, and provides for a first operating mode to control the alternating supply voltage of the motor, and a second operating mode, alternative to the first operating mode, and wherein the reconfigurable circuit provides for rectifying an alternating voltage to recharge the batteries.

The present invention relates to a supply unit for an electric vehicle.
As is known, an electric vehicle comprises a number of operating units, including a direct voltage energy source (normally comprising a number of batteries), an electric motor, and a supply unit for controlling energy supply from the energy source to the electric motor on the basis of a number of control signals; as well as various auxiliary units, e.g. for generating energy locally, recharging the direct voltage energy source, supplying electric equipment on the vehicle, etc.
The various units of an electric vehicle are formed inside boxes, which are physically separate from one another and interconnected by electric power and signal cables extending between the boxes.
Such a layout of the boxes poses various problems, including:
bulk, due to the large number of boxes and the connecting lines between them; PA1 high cost of manufacturing a large number of separate units; and PA1 electromagnetic interference, due to the presence of a large number of electric power cables.

Galvanic decoupling supply unit for an electric vehicle


A system for integrating a packaging supply chain from a point that a digital contract proof is available through delivery of finished packaging materials to an end user, wherein said system comprises a computer system accessible for interactive communications with users, said computer system comprising a first memory area for storing functionality and data for end user members of the supply chain; a second memory area for storing functionality and data for converter members of the supply chain; and a third memory area for storing functionality and data for other members of the supply chain.

The present invention relates to a method and a system for reducing lead-time in the packaging industry. This invention is particularly beneficial to the flexible packaging industry which services the fast moving consumer goods manufacturing industry (i.e., producers of snacks, cookies, crackers, candies, health and beauty aids, etc.). Currently packaging is the longest lead-time item for these companies, and a system-wide bottleneck for them. Reducing the packaging lead-time allows for waste reduction and revenue enhancement opportunities.
The method disclosed herein comprises an embodiment of a business process which may be enabled by the internet and capable of exchanging information with other business processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,406 discloses a method and device wherein the output mode of an output device for rendering electronic images on an output medium may be characterized by different user-selectable settings such as: paper type, ink type, etc. Apart from the screen characteristics such as screen ruling, frequency and angle, a calibration curve can be communicated via the page description language (e.g., PostScript Level 2) for each color component. Sets of calibration curves can be prepared for specific types of rendering, and be referenced by name. By this name indication and by naming conventions based upon the output mode or screening parameters, calibration changes can be introduced quickly and consistently. U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,406 is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,783 discloses a system and method for generating, storing and transmitting a layout page containing graphical data correlated to at least one graphical image which has previously been graphically encoded, such that the layout page may be printed either as a complete, full-color image, or as individual color separation plates. The system and method create a set of master data files, having a main master file which stores complete RGB (red, green, blue) color data for the graphical image, and a correlated set of CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) master files, each containing graphical data for a single color separation plate for the graphical image. The main master file contains pointers to each of the CMYK master files. The system and method also create a set of preview data files: a set of CMYK preview files essentially only containing a pointer to the corresponding CMYK master file, and a main preview file essentially only containing a pointer to the main master file, and pointers to each of the CMYK preview files. U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,783 is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,996 discloses an information distributing apparatus for operating within a computer network environment. The information distributing apparatus includes a computer having an operating system and is configured to operate within the computer network environment. The apparatus has an application configured for running on the computer via the operating system, the application configured to generate a source job in the form of an intermediate file format comprising an output instruction file. The apparatus includes a print processor in the form of an intermediate executable code for operating on the output instruction file. The apparatus also includes at least one output device having an output device driver configured to convert the output instruction file to output instructions usable by the output device for producing output. The print processor is operable on the output instruction file to select the device driver of one of the at least one output device to render the output instruction file, and feed the output instruction file to the output device driver of one of the at least one output device. A corresponding method is also disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,996 is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,164 also discloses a method and system for producing documents at a first site from database information produced at a second site remote from the first site has enhanced system flexibility and enhanced data handling throughput, which are accomplished by adopting standard programming interface or database tables to allow a computer at the second site to obtain information necessary to generate all necessary data codes and stream formatting information which will be utilized at the first site. An object association table, which associates document production jobs with specific documents and appropriate descriptions, is provided at the first site so that it is accessible—e.g. through an online communications network—at the second site. The object association table is accessed at the second site in realizing substantially only file names in the object association table, to produce database information at the second site. The database information is supplied from the second site to the first site where it is translated so that it may be utilized by a specific print engine at the first site, utilizing a job formatting table to build an engine specific print stream for one or more print engines. Then the engine specific print stream, tailored to the particular print engine utilized, electronically controls a specific print engine at the first site to image documents having variable information from the database information supplied from the second site. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,164 is incorporated herein by reference.
Packaging is the longest lead-time ingredient for the consumer goods manufacturer. Most components that the manufacturer uses are commodities with lead-times of hours or days. However, packaging is a custom product with lead-times of 2–4 weeks for a repeat order and lead-times of 8–12 weeks or more for a new design. This relatively long lead-time creates system-wide bottlenecks; inefficiencies and waste; packaging write-offs; barriers to lean manufacturing at end user sites; and 4 to 8 weeks of delay in launching new products. The long lead-time is the primary reason that successful promotions are not fully exploited.
The long lead-time for packaging is caused by complexity of the supply chain, the distance between the parties, and the process of manufacturing and delivering the packaging to the consumer goods manufacturer. A large lead-time reduction can be achieved by using the internet to collapse apparent distance between the parties and implementing a new business process using the internet. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for reducing lead-time in the flexible packaging industry.
All patents and publications referred to in this application are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Method and system for reducing lead-time in the packaging industry


In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, a system determines a solution based on received data. An intake component receives an incomplete data set from one or more sources. A recommendation system transforms the incomplete data set into a semantic data set via latent semantic indexing, classifies the semantic data set into an existing cluster and provides one or more solutions of the existing cluster as one or more recommendations.

The following relates to recommendation systems. It finds particular application in recommendation systems utilizing missing value projections provided via latent semantic indexing techniques.
In one application, a web-based tool allows a user to enter a customer's information and associated workflow requirements and/or constraints through a dynamic questionnaire process. A set of workflow configurations that possibly satisfy the customer's requirements are auto-generated. Finally, the customer will choose the most suitable one among the auto-generated workflows.
In one approach, the customer's constraints, the generated workflows, and final customer choice are recorded by the tool as a "case log" which can be identified by a unique case identification code and stored in the case database. Based on these collected case logs, a production printing workflow recommendation system can provide new incoming cases with suggested workflow configurations. The workflow recommendation system can discover hidden knowledge from existing case logs to enhance the core knowledge model and questionnaires of the workflow generation tool. In addition, the workflow recommendation system can significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of current workflow generation tools by narrowing down the workflow search scope for new cases that are similar to existing ones.
However, there are several drawbacks to this approach. The major difficulty of designing a workflow recommendation system is due to the high incompleteness of data received. In some instance, many case constraints have missing values because of customers' laziness or incapability to answer constraint related questions. Most reported approaches of dealing with data incompleteness (e.g., mean/median estimation, regression, interpolation, etc.) fall into the category of missing value prediction. However, missing value prediction techniques are limited in that they achieve adequate performance only under scenarios with only a few missing values and hence are not suitable for applications where a large number of constraints have missing values.
Another approach, collaborative filtering, is also adopted by some recommendation systems to predict the missing recommendation scores of customers towards different products. This technique focuses only on recommendation score prediction and is not directly applicable for customer constraints (e.g., requirements) prediction needed in such applications.
In order to remedy this problem, alternative systems and methods need to be employed to provide accurate and useful recommendations based on incomplete data sets.

Solution recommendation based on incomplete data sets


A controller for a DC/DC converter is provided. The controller comprises an error circuit, control logic, a high side driver, a low side driver, and an interface circuit. The error circuit is coupled to a feedback terminal so as to receives a feedback signal and is coupled to the control logic. The high side driver is coupled to the control logic and to a first output terminal so as to provide a first actuation signal, and the low side driver is coupled to the control logic and to a second output terminal so as to provide a second actuation signal. The interface circuit is also coupled to the control logic, including a first, second, and third voltage source, interface comparators, and current limited amplifier.

Many circuit, such as various processing units, routinely have different voltage requirements based on operating modes. These voltage changes are generally controlled by voltage identification (VID) signals or VID codes. Many circuits, through, use multiple pins for these types of controls, but it is desirable to reduce the number of pins to lower cost. Some examples of conventional circuits are: European Patent No. 0872790; U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,370; U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,227; U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,420; U.S. Pat. No. 6,625,757; U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,356; U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,180; and U.S. Patent Pre-Grant Publ. No. 2002/0194516.

Single pin multi-VID bit interface circuit for dynamic voltage change of a DC/DC converter


Oil venting and monitoring apparatus for marine outdrives. The apparatus includes an oil monitoring reservoir suitable for locating inside the boat. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the fully oil flooded head of the marine outdrive. The reservoir can be observed for an indication of oil level and oil condition. A clear plastic oil reservoir may be used to enhance visual observation. Unlike conventional outdrives, the oil reservoir is convenient for the addition of oil as necessary during and after operation. The apparatus is preferably designed with at least a one inch (1") diameter oil fill hole and typically is of one (1) quart or more oil capacity, so that an entire quart of oil can be quickly added to the system at one time. Also, audible and visual warning systems are included to warn the operator of a low oil condition, or of excess metal in the oil. The reservoir includes an atmospheric vent at the upper reaches thereof, which allows vapors to migrate inward and outward as the oil and engine parts expand and contract, to avoid creation of a vacuum or pressure within the outdrive head, which event causes seals to allow migration of contaminated water in outdrives not equipped with this system.

A continuing demand exists for a simple, inexpensive method and apparatus which can be used to vent marine outdrive units, and which can also be used to monitor and insure adequate oil supply to marine outdrive units. In particular, a need exists for a simple, inexpensive system to enable a marine outdrive to utilize a pressure equalization vent to eliminate the slight positive pressure which occurs by the heating of a marine outdrive unit during operation, and to eliminate the slight negative pressure which occurs in a marine outdrive unit upon cooling after operation. Also, it would be desirable for a boat operator to be able to visually check the outdrive oil system to be sure that (a) sufficient oil is in the system, and (b) that the oil is of the desired quality, and has not become contaminated or emulsified by water or other foreign substance.
The need for such devices is commonly seen in conjunction with the use of marine outdrive units, where it is desirable to (a) prevent corrosive saline water from being sucked into a cooling outdrive unit after the use of same, and (b) to conveniently monitor the oil level while the unit is operating. Currently, it is difficult or impossible to monitor the oil level in marine outdrives while operating the unit. As a result, there are concomitant adverse effects on outdrive service life and on outdrive unit maintenance costs.
For example, I have inadvertently damaged several outdrive units on a commercial fishing boat that I own by catching trolling wire in the prop and ruining the seal around the output shaft. In systems such as those manufactured by Volvo and some other manufacturers, there is no way to check the oil level for so long as the outdrive unit is in the water. Thus, I had no warning that the oil level was running low, and did not discover the loss of oil from the outdrive gear system until after operation had occurred without benefit of lubrication. Consequently, expensive repairs were necessary.
It should also be noted that a failure of critical outdrive unit seals can also be the result of normal wear and tear, or by operating for extended periods of time with dirty oil (for example, contaminated with metal flakes), or by striking submerged objects with the prop. In a few cases, oil may be lost immediately and the danger created of unit operation without lubrication.
Most outdrive units have oil levels which do not completely fill the upper shell of the outdrive, so as to allow for expansion of the oil during operation. In some models, a gimble bearing which supports the upper gear set is located above the normal oil level, and is lubricated by splash from gears during operation. Even if no immediate problem occurs due to the aforementioned damage to seals, when the outdrive cools after normal operation, the vapor space in the top of most outdrive units tends to create a vacuum, which draws saline waters into the outdrive unit through any damaged or leaky seals. Thereafter, once the unit cools, loss of oil may occur through leaky seals. Thus, many outdrive units are damaged while sitting in the marina between periods of service.
Another condition adverse to extended outdrive unit service life is that cooling of moist air within the outdrive vapor space causes condensation to form within the cap and on the upper gear set bearing. The ensuing rust may cause premature failure of the bearing, and contributes to wear rates and reduced service life of the gears and the seals.
In addition, since most factory built outdrive systems lack a vent system, outdrive units have a moderate amount of internal pressure build-up due to oil expansion caused by higher oil temperatures which are experienced during high speed operations. This tends to force oil outward through the oil seals which seal oil in and water out, and such leakage may occur through damaged or weak seals.
Another common deficiency of the heretofore available oil systems for outdrive units is the absence of a readily apparent visual indication to the operator that an adequate supply of suitable oil is available to the outdrive unit. The advantage which would be provided by such an indication is important and self-evident.

Apparatus and method for venting and for monitoring oil levels in marine outdrives


A press fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard, including a carrying structure and a plurality of layers on one web material contact side of the carrying structure, whereby polymeric material is contained in at least one of the layers of fibrous material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a press fabric for a machine for the production of web material, specifically paper or cardboard, and to a method to produce said press fabric.
2. Description of the Related Art
A press fabric of this type generally includes a carrying structure, for example, in the embodiment of a woven or randomly laid structure, or a so-called spiral-link structure. On one side of this carrying structure in contact with the web material, fibrous material, which may be in the form of several layers of fibrous material, is provided and is generally tightly bonded with the carrying structure by means of needling. Press fabrics of this type, which may be provided in an endless configuration, are utilized first and foremost in so-called press sections in paper machines where the press fabrics are moved through press nips together with the web material which is being produced. During this process, liquid is squeezed from the web material and absorbed by, or removed through the press fabric. In order to improve the liquid absorption capacity of the press fabric, a layer, which has a comparatively high hollow space volume in which the water that is pressed out of the web material can be absorbed, is provided in a known method between the carrying structure and one fibrous layer which represents a web material contact surface. These layers may also be in the form of a woven fabric. This, of course, has the disadvantage that due to the location of a fabric layer relatively near the web material contact surface, the fabric structure marks the web material which is to be produced. A known alternative is the introduction of polymeric material membranes or membranes of similar types of material which are designed essentially with a plain surface and a multitude of openings. These membranes are, however, expensive to produce.
A press fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard, as well as a method for the manufacture of a press fabric of this type with which the volume for liquid absorption can be increased without the risk of marking the web material that is to be produced.
What is needed in the art is a press fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard, as well as a method for the manufacture of a press fabric of this type with which the volume for liquid absorption can be increased without the risk of marking the web material that is to be produced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system for remotely securing or locking a wireless information device is provided by sending an Email message with an attached password to the device. The owner of an information device specifies a password and a security level beforehand. The specified information is stored in a memory. When an electronic mail is received from another information device through a wireless telephone facility of the information device, a password attached to the electronic mail is checked with the password stored in the memory. When the password match occurs, a security process corresponding to the security level stored in the memory is executed. Security processes include processes of display screen lock, owner indication, and data erase. Thus, in the case where the information device should be lost or stolen, the leakage of data to others can be prevented.

The present invention relates to an information device having a security facility that provides the protection of data against unauthorized access by others and a method therefor, and more specifically to a portable information device that permits communications of electronic mail with no mail server involved and a method for providing the security of data.
In recent years, electronic mail by personal computers and word processors has spread rapidly to companies and individuals. In order for a company or an individual to employ electronic mail, it is required to install a host computer adapted for electronic mail in the company or join a commercial electronic mail service (personal computer communications service such as NIFTY Serve, or the like).
In the conventional electronic mail systems, mail (character string data) to be interchanged between information devices is stored in the bulk storage of an in-company electronic mail computer, called a mail server, or a commercial electronic mail service computer. Both the sender and the receiver make access to (call) the mail server mainly via telephone lines.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional electronic mail system. In the conventional system, information devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), interchange mail via a mail server 2.
As an example, to send mail data from the information device 1a to the information device 1b, the information device 1a first makes access to the mail server 2 and then sends the mail data addressed to the information device 1b to the mail server 2. The information device 1b likewise makes access to the mail server and receives from the mail server the mail data addressed to it.
As described above, a mail server (computer) adapted to store and interchange mail data is dispensable for the conventional electronic mail system. That is, mail interchange between information devices cannot be achieved without making access to the mail server. Thus, it cannot be said that the conventional electronic mail system can be employed easily by anyone. For this reason, an implementation of a simple electronic mail system has been desired which, unlike the conventional electronic mail system, allows mail interchange among information devices with no mail server involved.
FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of such a simple electronic mail system. Information devices 10a, 10b and 10c each have a digital telephone facility built in. Each of the information devices is equipped with a facility for directly sending or receiving electronic mail to or from another information device. In this case, information devices can be used which have a built-in wireless telephone facility such as the personal handyphone system (PHS) which is a digital simplified telephone system adopted in Japan. With such an arrangement, electronic mail can be interchanged among the information devices 10a, 10b and 10c freely with no mail server involved.
If the simplified electronic mail system as shown in FIG. 2 is used in place of the conventional electronic mail system shown in FIG. 1, then mail data, which, in the conventional system, are managed by the mail server, will be managed by individual information devices. In this case, there will arise the following problems.
In the simplified electronic mail system, mail data are held on individual information devices. In case where the owner of an information device should leave it somewhere or he or she should have it stolen, there arises the possibility that another person may use it to know mail data. In this case, even if the owner is aware that the information device has been missing, he or she cannot take any countermeasures against it.
To solve the problem of data leakage to others, a method for security will be conceived which sets information devices to demand of each user the entry of a password each time he or she activates his or her information device to thereby allow data to be made open only to authorized users. With this method, however, users who have to activate and stop their information device over and over again a day will feel troublesome for an operation of entering a password each time they activate it. For this reason, it cannot be said that it is preferable to use such a method.

System for remotely securing/locking a stolen wireless device via an Email message


A composite shipping container for packaging, heavy articles and appliances such kitchen ranges. The package includes upper and lower structures interconnected by hollow corner posts and wrapped with plastic film and strapping. The lower structure of the container includes a base member adapted to be attached to a lower portion of the article and bottom corner members attached to the corner posts and to the base members, but which are severable from each other to allow the temporary partial removal of the appliance from the package and its reinsertion without destroying the integrity of the package.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to composite packages of the type used for the packaging of heavy articles, such as kitchen ranges, and more particularly to a composite package from which a packaged article can be temporarily removed and thereafter reinserted without destroying the integrity of the package.
2. Description of Background Art
A background art search directed to the subject matter of this application and conducted in the United States Patent and Trademark Office disclosed the following U.S. Pat. Nos.
______________________________________ 3,504,842 3,648,959 3,666,164 3,675,675 3,891,086 3,907,241 3,934,805 3,992,849 4,226,327 4,224,471 4,331,234 4,378,743 4,390,154 4,467,004 4,502,597 4,762,226 4,771,893 4,792,325 4,798,294 4,811,840 4,865,201 4,881,641 4,919,263 4,947,619 4,969,307 4,986,418 ______________________________________
None of the patents uncovered in the search discloses a composite appliance package comprising paperboard internal components with an outer film overwrap, which package can accommodate the temporary removal of the appliance and its subsequent reinsertion into the package without destroying the integrity of the package.


Novel substituted 4-(1-H-pyrrol-1-yl)imidazoles are disclosed as well as methods of preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods of using them. Novel intermediates useful in the preparation of the compounds of the invention are also disclosed and synthetic methods for preparing the novel intermediates. The compounds are useful as antagonists of angiotensin II and thus are useful in the control of hypertension, hyperaldosteronism, congestive heart failure, glaucoma, vascular smooth muscle proliferation associated with atherosclerosis, and with postsurgical vascular restenosis.

The present invention relates to novel substituted derivatives of 4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)imidazoles which are useful as pharmaceutical agents, to methods for their preparation, to pharmaceutical compositions which include the compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and to pharmaceutical methods of treatment as well as the use of these agents as diagnostic tools. The novel compounds of the present invention are antagonists of angiotensin II (AII) useful in controlling hypertension, hyperaldosteronism, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, postsurgical vascular restenosis, renal failure, and glaucoma in mammals.
The enzyme renin acts on a blood plasma .alpha..sub.2 -globulin, angiotensinogen, to produce angiotensin I, which is then converted by angiotensin-converting enzyme to AII. The latter substance is a powerful vasopressor agent which has been implicated as a causative agent for producing high blood pressure in various mammals, such as rats, dogs, and humans. Angiotensin II has also been found to stimulate vascular hyperplasia as reported by W. Osterrieder, et al (Hypertension 18[suppl II]:II60-II64, 1991); H. Azuma, et al (Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 52(4):541-552, 1990); and S. Laporte, et al (FASEB 5(4), Part I: A869, 1991). The compounds of this invention inhibit the action of AII at its receptors on target cells and thus prevent the increase in blood pressure produced by this hormone-receptor interaction. By administering a compound of the instant invention to a species of mammal with hypertension due to AII, the blood pressure is reduced. The compounds of the invention are also useful for the treatment of congestive heart failure, hyperaldosteronism, atherosclerosis, postsurgical restenosis, and glaucoma. European Patent Application 0253310 discloses angiotensin II receptor blocking imidazoles of the formula ##STR1##
European Patent Application 0291969 disclose tetrazole intermediates to antihypertensive compounds ##STR2##
European Patent Application 401030 discloses substituted imidazo-fused seven-member ring heterocycles of Formula I and Ia ##STR3## which are useful as angiotension II antagonists.
WO 91,00277 discloses substituted imidazoles useful as angiotensin II blockers ##STR4##
However, the compounds disclosed in the above references do not disclose or suggest the novel combination of structural variations found in the compounds of the present invention described hereinafter.

4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)imidazoles with angiotensin II antagonist activity


A system for managing the download of e-mail messages is disclosed. The system has an e-mail host holding e-mail messages for download to a recipient's e-mail client. Prior to downloading the messages, the e-mail client uses a message manager to evaluate the characteristics of the communication connection between the e-mail client and it's e-mail host server. Also, the evaluation of the communication connection may be continued while the download is proceeding. Responsive to the evaluation, a message rule is defined or selected according to the characteristics of the communication connection. The selected message rule is applied for downloading the e-mail messages. More particularly, the message rule selects messages for download, formats those messages, and provides for download limitations. The appropriately selected, formatted, and limited e-mail messages are then transmitted to the e-mail client.

E-mail, or electronic mail, is widely used for communicating personal or commercial information. E-mail systems generally comprise an e-mail host that has an associated set of e-mail clients. The e-mail host is typically connected to a wider network for receiving messages from other networks. Most often, the e-mail system uses a TCP/IP network, such as the Internet, for managing and transmitting e-mail messages. An e-mail message typically has header information and a body section. Often, a data file is attached to the e-mail. The header information typically includes addressing information, routing information, and information related to the size and content of the body and any attachments. The header information typically has no more than a few hundred bytes of information, while the body may contain hundreds to thousands of bytes of information. Most often, larger files are sent as attachments to the e-mail. With the proliferation of multimedia applications, these attachment files may be very large. For example, image and video files may be several megabytes in size.
When sending an e-mail message to a particular recipient, the e-mail originates from a sender, and enters the e-mail system through that sender's e-mail host. Through a series of store and forward network servers, the e-mail message is directed to the e-mail host server for the intended recipient. The e-mail message is held at the recipient's e-mail host server until the e-mail recipient's client connects to the e-mail host. Upon connection, the e-mail message is typically downloaded to the e-mail client. In some cases, the user of the e-mail client may specify that only limited information should be downloaded upon connection. For example, some host applications enable the host to be configured to send only header information upon connection. In this way, header information may be downloaded to the e-mail client, and the user may review the header information to select particular e-mails to fully download. This is particularly important when the user accesses the e-mail host through a relatively slow or unreliable connection. With such a slow or unreliable connection, a large attachment file may take several minutes or even hours to download. Rather than download such a large attachment using a slow connection, a user may prefer to move to a device with a faster connection, and download the attachment more efficiently at a later time.
Many users today have multiple devices for accessing their e-mail host account. Some of these devices may operate very fast, such as an office computer connected to a DSL or broadband connection. Other devices, such as portable computers or wireless handsets, may connect at much slower speeds. Some devices may even connect at different speeds depending upon network condition or geographic location. For example, some wireless service providers enable high data rate connections in certain geographic locations, but then revert to slower connection speeds under high demand conditions, or when the user moves out of the enhanced service area. In this way, the user may not be able to predict connection speed for a particular device. Also, the e-mail host may have a default download configuration for one type of device, and when a user connects with a slower device, finds that the slow connection is overwhelmed with large message downloads. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for more effectively managing the download of e-mail messages.

System and method for managing e-mail messages