High photoluminescence, high stability, inorganic perovskite compounds comprising an alkali metal selected from potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs); copper (Cu); and at least one halogen selected from chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), and iodine (I). The perovskites may be free of lead (Pb). The inorganic perovskite compound may be used in an optoelectronic device. The optoelectronic device optionally contains a phosphor such as a blue-emitting phosphor. The inorganic perovskite compound may be used as an anti-counterfeiting nanotaggant applied on or within an object that susceptible to counterfeiting to enable confirmation of an authentic object.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) projects an estimated energy cost savings of $630 billion from 2015 to 2035 if reliable, solid-state lighting technologies can be developed and DOE goals are met. For the cost-effective implementation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), there has been an urgent need for the development of new inexpensive light emitters. Metal halide perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) have been attracting increased attention in recent years due to their outstanding photophysical properties, including tunable band gaps and emission colors, high photoluminescent quantum yields (PLQY), and excellent color purity. High external quantum efficiency (EQE) green and near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting PeLEDs have already been developed, including a recent report of a NIR-emitting PeLED with a high EQE of 21.6%. However, the development of efficient blue-emitting halides has historically lagged behind. Blue-emitting lead perovskites, for example, usually suffer from the disadvantages of lead toxicity and poor stability.
A number of similar materials have been proposed for display applications, LED bulbs, and anti-counterfeiting labels. While most of the research and development stems from universities, companies are also interested in highly luminescent materials. However, most companies typically focus on oxides rather than halides. Oxides are currently the state-of-the-art material used in many luminescent material applications.
The current state-of-the-art phosphors such as Ce-doped YAG contain rare-earth elements (Ce in this case), which adds to the cost. More than 95% of rare-earth metals are mined and sold by China, so there is additional market unpredictability regarding rare-earth metals due to current trade and tariff issues between the United States and China. Additionally, current state-of-the-art oxide materials are generally prepared using high temperature synthesis methods, which results in added costs.
The materials and devices of the present disclosure are directed at overcoming the various problems and disadvantages described above.

Luminescent group 1A copper halides and uses thereof

The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma


An interconnect component is provided fabricated as a preassembled optoelectronic interconnect structure. The interconnect structure has an optical waveguide link with first and second optoelectronic circuits attached to first and second ends of the waveguide link. The optoelectronic circuits include active optical componentry which facilitates optical signal communication across the optical waveguide link. Further, first and second pluralities of electrical contacts are associated with the first and second optoelectronic circuits, respectively, to facilitate electrically, operatively connecting the interconnect structure between first and second components of an electronic assembly as, for instance, a single, field-replaceable unit. The first and second components of the electronic assembly may be, for instance, stacked electronic components of the electronic assembly, or laterally offset components of a substantially planar electronic assembly.

As density of circuits, such as multi-core, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), continues to increase, many designers are working towards three-dimensional (3-D) stacked chip technology as an emerging trend in the industry. One reason for this work is the decreasing size of transistors, which allows for more components to be placed within the same chip footprint. As this happens, the relative distance between components grows larger. For example, consider two 1 μm transistors connected by 1 mm of wiring. A signal that travels from one device to the other will cross a distance equivalent to 1000 transistor lengths. If, however, the size of the transistors decreases to, for instance, 1 nm, but the separation between components remains the same, then the distance now equates to 1,000,000 transistor lengths between the two components. The signal thus needs to travel several orders of magnitude further in terms of relative component scale. Despite several techniques proposed to shorten wiring length connecting remote parts of a same chip, problems of wiring density and limited number of escape routes continue to exist. This has led to the concept of three-dimensional chip stacking or vertical integration of chips or components. For instance, if a central processing unit (CPU) floating point unit and register file are relatively far apart from each other on a chip or die, it is possible to locate the floating point unit within a separate die, and place this separate die directly over the die containing the register file, and thus replace a long horizontal distance between components with a relatively short vertical distance.
A significant issue remaining with a vertical integration approach is the limited number of wiring escapes, for example, in a three-dimensional stacked configuration. A parallel electrical data bus is usually required to produce enough bandwidth without increasing the data rate of a single line beyond acceptable limits for electromagnetic noise. However, it can be challenging to interconnect multiple three-dimensional layers with a parallel electrical data bus that has properly equalized lines.

Preassembled optoelectronic interconnect structure


A soap dispensing body rub apparatus which is both effective and inexpensive to fabricate is disclosed. One aspect of the invention comprises: a long strip of plastic mesh rolled to a larger circumference forming a large roll, the large roll having an opening therethrough, the mesh sealed therearound; a shorter strip of plastic mesh, similar in width to the long strip, rolled to a smaller circumference forming a small roll; wherein the small roll is positioned with its opposite side edges co-terminating with the large roll so that it covers the opening in the large roll; and wherein both rolls are flattened with the small roll covering the opening, and the opposite edges of both rolls seamingly fused together; so when the large roll is turned inside out with the small flattened roll covering the opening, the bar of soap may be inserted under the covered opening into the large roll.

There is a need and demand for time saving and convenient items for cleaning. The concept of dispensing soap as needed while rubbing has been popularized in an apparatus for cleaning dishes comprising a sponge and liquid detergent container.
What is needed is a comparable body soap dispensing apparatus. Particularly an apparatus which can be fabricated to accommodate individual preferences for varying degrees of abrasiveness.


A pressure regulator that sets the pressure of a liquid to a predetermined pressure differential below a reference pressure, such as atmospheric pressure. The pressure regulator comprises a liquid delivery channel and a capillary array. The liquid delivery channel includes a liquid input and a liquid output. The liquid flows through the liquid delivery channel from the liquid input to the liquid output. The capillary array is composed of ones of an elongate capillary. The capillary includes a first end in fluid communication with the liquid delivery channel and a second end in pressure communication with a source of the reference pressure. The liquid flows through the first end into the capillary to form a liquid surface in the capillary. The second end is remote from the first end. The capillary has cross-sectional dimensions in relation to the surface tension of the liquid and the angle of contact between the liquid and the capillary such that the pressure drop across the liquid surface in the capillary is equal to the predetermined pressure differential.

As the number of homes and businesses that acquire computer equipment grows, the need for reliable, fast and cost-effective printers also continues to grow. In recent years, the print quality of inkjet printers has improved greatly to the extent that it now rivals that of laser printers.
The print head of an inkjet printer forms part of a print cartridge that is mounted in a carriage that moves the print cartridge back and forth across the paper. The print head includes many orifices, typically arranged in line aligned parallel to the direction in which the paper is moved through the printer and perpendicular to the direction of motion of the print head. Each orifice constitutes the outlet of a firing chamber in which is located a firing element such as a heating element or piezoelectric element. The firing element operates in response to an electrical signal to cause minute droplets of ink to be ejected from the orifice. Ink from a reservoir is supplied to the firing chambers through an ink manifold in the print head. When printing, a page is fed through the printer while the carriage moves the print cartridge, including the print head, back and forth across the page, to enable the print head to deliver ink to the paper. The rapid motion of the print cartridge during printing, variations in ink viscosity, temperature and altitude all contribute to difficulties in regulating the pressure at which the ink is delivered to each firing chamber in the print head.
In a so-called "on axis" arrangement, the print cartridge of an inkjet printer typically includes an ink reservoir located behind the print head. In newer inkjet printers that have an "off axis" arrangement, only a small amount of ink is stored in the print cartridge, and the main ink reservoir is positioned at a location remote from the print head. In the off-axis arrangement, an ink delivery tube delivers ink from the remote reservoir to the print cartridge. The ink delivery tube is considerably longer than the length of the ink delivery path in a typical on-axis print head. The off-axis arrangement reduces the mass of the print cartridge, which enables the print speed to be increased, or the power consumption of the carriage scanning mechanism to be reduced. The off-axis arrangement additionally provides the option of an increased ink storage capacity. However, the off-axis arrangement requires a pump or a gravity feed arrangement to deliver the ink through the ink delivery tube, and movement of the print cartridge causes the ink delivery tube to flex. Both of these factors compound the above-discussed difficulties in regulating the pressure at which ink is delivered to the print head.
In both on-axis and off-axis configurations, maintaining a predetermined ink pressure at the firing chamber is critical to the orifice delivering the expected amount of ink to the paper when the firing element operates. While some ink pressure regulation methods and devices regulate the ink pressure to a given absolute pressure, better ink pressure regulation methods and devices regulate the pressure of the ink in the firing chamber to a predetermined pressure below atmospheric pressure, since an ink pressure in the firing chamber equal to or greater than atmospheric pressure will cause ink to leak from the orifice. Therefore, the ink pressure in the firing chamber should be maintained at below atmospheric pressure to prevent the ink from leaking. On the other hand, too large a difference between the ink pressure in the firing chamber and atmospheric pressure will result in insufficient ink being delivered to the paper during printing. Accordingly, the difference between the ink pressure in the firing chamber and atmospheric pressure should be maintained within a predetermined range.
Spring-bag ink reservoir devices are widely used to regulate the ink pressure in the firing chambers of inkjet printers. In a spring-bag device, as the bag empties, the spring keeps ink stored in the bag at a constant pressure. This keeps the ink delivered to the firing chamber at a constant pressure. Additional measures are required to keep the difference between the ink pressure in the firing chamber and atmospheric pressure within a predetermined range.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,295 to Baker and assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure describes using a reticulated polyurethane foam placed in the ink reservoir to control ink pressure. Such an arrangement reduces the volume of ink that can be stored in a reservoir of a given size, however. Moreover, the regulated ink pressure varies due to variations in the size of the pores in the foam.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,409 to Cowger et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure describes an ink jet print head composed of a primary ink reservoir, a secondary reservoir and an orifice all interconnected by a porous member such as foam. As the pressure in the primary ink reservoir changes relative to ambient pressure, ink is drawn through the foam back and forth between the primary and secondary reservoirs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,438 to Hanson et al. describes an inkjet print head having a primary ink reservoir, a secondary reservoir and a capillary member interconnecting the reservoirs. As the pressure in the primary ink reservoir changes relative to ambient pressure, ink is drawn through the capillary back and forth between the primary and secondary reservoirs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,354 of Cowger et al., assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure, and entitled Ink Jet with Improved Volumetric Efficiency, describes a device in which a chamber containing a capillary volume element is directly coupled to an ink reservoir. Pressure in the ink reservoir is defined by a bubble generator coupled to the ink reservoir. A portion of the ink reservoir remote from the chamber is coupled to the print head. Pressure in the capillary volume element is greater than the normal sub-atmospheric pressure in the ink reservoir, but is less than atmospheric pressure. During operation at ambient pressures and temperatures within a normal range, ink does not enter the capillary volume element. When subject to temperatures and pressures outside the normal range, an increased pressure in the reservoir forces ink into the capillary volume element. This limits the pressure increase in the ink reservoir and prevents ink from being ejected from the print head. As the pressure in the ink reservoir returns to the normal range, the ink reservoir draws ink from the capillary volume element. In this arrangement, the capillary element acts a pressure surge protector for the ink reservoir. Since the capillary volume element controls the pressure in the ink reservoir, its volume must be of the same order as that of the ink reservoir. Thus, this arrangement suffers from the drawbacks that the mass of the capillary volume element increases the total mass of the print head, and the capillary volume element is complex to manufacture.
What is needed is an ink pressure regulator which can reliably maintain the pressure of the ink delivered to the firing chamber at a predetermined differential below atmospheric pressure or some other reference pressure. What is also needed is an ink pressure regulator that primarily provides such ink pressure regulation passively and that does not significantly increase the mass of the print head.

Passive pressure regulator for setting the pressure of a liquid to a predetermined pressure differential below a reference pressure


The invention is related to methods and compositions for reducing protozoa populations in animals. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for reducing protozoal populations including administering a first composition comprising an effective amount of saponins to the animal, and administering a second composition comprising an effective amount of a preservative to the animal. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for killing protozoa comprising contacting protozoa with a composition comprising an effective amount of saponins and an effective amount of ethoxyquin. Other embodiments are included herein.

Protozoa are eukaryotes, one celled animals that are found in many parts of the ecosystem including soil, ponds, the digestive tract of insects (cockroaches) and the fore stomach of ruminants. Protozoa, thought to be the most ancient form of animals, consume bacteria (thought to be the most ancient form of life) as food.
Protozoa can be undesirable because of their ability to harbor pathogenic endosymbiants. After the outbreak of Legionnaires Disease, killing a number of people in Philadelphia, Pa. in the 1970's, it was discovered that the causative agent was a strain of Legionella pneumophila, a pneumonia causing bacteria that had survived as intracellular guests within in the protozoa thought to be living the cooling system of the building in which the Legionnaires gathered. Similarly, it has been reported that Salmonella, Mycobacterium bovis, Listeria monoytogenes and E. coli 0157:H7 can survive intracellularly in soil protozoa. Even as these soil protozoa become encysted in response to poor environmental conditions, the intracellular pathogens remain viable. In addition, studies have reported that intracellular pathogens can be resistant to bactericidal treatments such as chlorine (Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 1988, 54(12):3023-33).
Thus, free-living protozoa are believed to be able to act as a "Trojan Horse" and carry pathogenic endosymbiants. In this manner, the protozoa can act as a life-preserving capsule for the pathogen. Some studies suggest that some Salmonella, when ingested by rumen protozoa, developed the ability to resist the digestive processes of the protozoa and remain viable. Further, it was reported that the pathogen can become more virulent after living within the protozoa in comparison to counterparts that have not lived inside the protozoa.
Accordingly, a need exists for methods and compositions for reducing protozoal populations and/or killing protozoa.

Saponin and preservative compositions for reduction of protozoa


An apparatus and method of cooling a plurality of electronic components in a housing using one or more fans cooperating with baffles or ducts for directing a stream of air sequentially to the components or heat exchangers for the components. Direction of the air stream to the components is based on predetermined cooling prioritization of the plurality of components.

The housing, casing or container for a computer defines a space in which various heat-generating electronic components are secured, typically mounted on boards which themselves are secured in the housing. It is known to use heat sinks, for example conductive or phase change heat exchange components at or in thermal communication with specific components to cool the heat generating electronic components and further provide heat dispersion with one or more fans. Typically the fans move air for the purpose of heat removal from the above mentioned conductive or phase change components or in some cases directly from the electronic components. Enhanced surface designs for improved convective heat transfer are sometimes applied. Fans or blowers are also used to move or circulate air within the space of the casing to provide convection and thereby heat removal via the air without any priority regard to specific components or move air to provide airflow from and to the casing and to and from the ambient environment. In a computer system there are often a variety of different heat-generating components including high power density microprocessors some, if not many, having different cooling requirements. Cooling of the most important electronic components is not necessarily achieved by providing maximum cooling air speed over all components which can increase the air temperature unnecessarily from cooling non-critical components capable of operating reliably at elevated temperatures or operating at lower energy densities not leading to a critical operating temperature before such air actually reaches the more critical component, and whereby the now higher air temperature makes it more difficult to provide effective cooling to the critical component.
Methods and components for achieving improved cooling and thermal management of electronic components are called for as faster processing speeds require higher power levels for electronics and where higher resolutions require higher power levels for displays, both leading to higher heat loads, which need to be removed in order to maintain operating temperatures of the components below critical temperatures at which the reliability and ultimately the functionality is compromised. Moreover, computing, display, recognition, targeting and other electronics systems may need to be operated in non-air conditioned spaces, such as tents, the back of vehicles, inside non-air conditioned trucks and military fighting vehicles or outside under high ambient temperature conditions much harsher on the thermal management of the electronic components as compared to conditions encountered in air conditioned office spaces, typically maintained at or below about 75° F. Ambient temperatures in the above mentioned non-air conditioned spaces can reach temperatures well above 100° F. often even above 120° F. For such operating scenarios improved methods and apparatus for cooling electronics is required even if the electronic components are not at the high end of the heat generation spectrum. Electronic equipment designed to operate in harsh environments sometimes requires the housing or portions of the housing to be isolated from the ambient air to avoid contamination of the electronic components and boards with dust, dirt or moisture of the environment. In such cases the housing or a portion of the housing is sealed and the necessary heat transfer required to manage the temperature of the heat generating electronic components is further limited in that it must be accomplished with means providing heat transfer through the housing walls, often inadequate because the surface area and thermal conductivity of the housing wall is usually incapable of transferring a significant portion of the heat to be rejected, nor is the housing wall commonly in good thermal contact with the heat generating components.

Apparatus and method for cooling electronics and computer components with managed and prioritized directional air flow heat rejection


A method and system suitable for ordering, packaging, and delivering harvested plants, such as fresh-cut flowers. The method and method entail placing an order for harvested plants by selecting at least one plant varietal, identifying a recipient for the plant by name and address, indicating a date for the recipient to receive the plant, and optionally creating a message to be delivered with the plant to the recipient. The plant is then placed in at least one recess within a transparent shell comprising a raised peripheral edge that surrounds and defines the recess. The shell and plant are then placed in a transparent enclosure formed from a perforated transparent foil, and the enclosure and a shipping label are then inserted in a shipping container that is at least translucent to enable the plant and the label to be visible therethrough.

The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for packaging and delivering flowers and other harvested plants. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for ordering, packaging and delivering flowers, etc., via a postal service.
Various packaging methods are known for harvested plants, such as fresh-cut flowers. If delivery is by postal service or otherwise other than being immediately delivered by hand, a challenge faced by the supplier is the need to maintain the appearance and freshness of the plant for the duration of the shipping process, as well as for an extended time after shipping. Finally, the presentation of the plant is also important if intended as a gift for the recipient.

Method for packaging flowers purchased on the internet


An automated transaction machine includes apparatus for distinguishing between single sheets and multiple sheets in a sheet path. The apparatus includes radiation emitters (14, 34) and radiation detectors (20, 40, 42). The radiation emitters are operated to emit radiation at periodic intervals. Signal conditioners (50) receive signals from the radiation detectors and generate outputs responsive to the intensities sensed by the detectors substantially only during the periodic intervals. The outputs are combined, weighed and/or compared to thresholds to distinguish single and multiple sheets. The apparatus enables reliable operation in noisy electrical environments and with a wide variety of sheet properties.

This invention relates in general to a sensing device with an improved signal to noise ratio for use in an electrically noisy environment. Specifically this invention relates to a synchronized discriminator sensing device for sheet media within an automated transaction machine, including an automated teller machine or any other machine capable of carrying out transfers representative of value.
Automated transaction machines, and particularly automated teller machines (ATMs) used to carry out banking transactions, are operated using electrical circuitry and components including motors, transformers, relays, solenoids and other actuating devices, all of which generate unwarranted electrical signals or xe2x80x9cnoisexe2x80x9d.
One important ATM function is dispensing and receiving sheets. Such sheets may be of several types. A common type of sheet dispensed is currency in the form of currency notes or bills. On occasion two or more bills may adhere to each other due to the surface condition of the bills or humidity or other weather conditions. It is desirable for this condition to be detected before the bills are dispensed. A similar condition may occur in currency receiving machines. Two or more bills adhering together introduces errors into the currency receiving process.
Mechanical thickness detection methods have been developed, but variations in surface characteristics of bills which have been in circulation as compared to new bills make thickness detection for double bills difficult. If detection in a dispensing function is not sensitive enough, multiple bills may be dispensed and a loss incurred by the ATM operator. If detection is too sensitive, thicker single bills will be diverted and not dispensed, causing the ATM to require restocking more frequently than otherwise necessary.
Electrical and optical detection methods are affected by the electrical noise in the ATM environment. Such noise affects the sensitivity at which electrical and optical methods can operate. Signal strength must be high enough that it can be detected above the electrical noise floor in the ATM. Increasing signal strength requires higher power operation. Components with higher ratings are required to operate at higher power without deteriorating sensitivity and to avoid operational problems such as signal saturation.
Radiation type sheet thickness detection devices may have their accuracy adversely affected by differences in sheet coloration. For example, a dark color sheet usually absorbs more radiation than lighter color sheets. Different materials used in currencies of different countries have different radiation absorption properties. This can make it difficult to distinguish between single and multiple sheets. This presents challenges for automated transaction machines which must distinguish between single and multiple sheets having varied radiation absorption and reflectance properties.
Thus there exists a need for an improved sheet thickness detecting device and method for distinguishing between single and multiple sheets dispensed by an automated transaction machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automatic transaction machine, for detecting with a sensing device the thickness of sheet media being dispensed or received.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automatic transaction machine, for detecting with a sensing device the thickness of sheet media being dispensed or received, the sensing device including an optical source and an optical detector.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automatic transaction machine, for detecting with a sensing device the thickness of sheet media being dispensed or received, the sensing device including an infrared radiation source and an infrared radiation detector.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automatic transaction machine, for detecting with a sensing device the thickness of sheet media being dispensed, the sensing device including a pulsed optical source and an optical detector.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automatic transaction machine for detecting with a sensing device the thickness of sheet media being dispensed or received, the sensing device including a pulsed optical source and an optical detector synchronized with the optical source.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automatic transaction machine, for detecting with a sensing device the thickness of sheet media being dispensed or received, the sensing device including a pulsed optical source and an optical detector synchronized with the optical source and a discriminator which favors signals synchronized with the source and attenuates other signals.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automatic transaction machine, for detecting with a sensing device the thickness of sheet media being dispensed or received, the sensing device including a pulsed radiation source, a synchronized radiation detector and a discriminator which is both frequency and phase sensitive.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for an automatic transaction machine, for detecting with a sensing device the thickness in sheet media being dispensed or received, the sensing device including a pulsed radiation source, a synchronized radiation detector for detecting both a reflected radiation beam and a transmitted radiation beam, and a discriminator which is both frequency and phase sensitive.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automated transaction machine which is operative to reliably distinguish between single and double sheets of sheet media having varied radiation reflectance and absorption properties.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for use in an automated transaction machine that is operative to determine the thickness of sheet media that is economical and reliable.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for improving the sensing accuracy of sensing devices used in an automated banking machine.
Further objects of the present invention will be made apparent following the Best Modes for Carrying Out Invention and the appended claims.
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished in an automated transaction machine one preferred embodiment. This exemplary embodiment includes a sheet thickness detector with a synchronized discriminator. The synchronized discriminator in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a radiation source, one or more radiation detectors, a preamplifier, a synchronized chopper and an integrator.
The radiation source preferably includes a light emitting diode (LED) pulsed by a driving circuit in a selected sequence. Preferably the LED includes an infrared emitter (IR LED). The IR LED illuminates a first face of a sheet, such as a currency bill, whereupon a portion of the infrared signal is reflected and a portion is transmitted through the sheet. The strength of the reflected beam is proportional to the thickness of the sheet while the strength of the transmitted beam is inversely proportional to the thickness of the sheet. That is, as the number of sheets comprising the sensed sheet media increases, more of the beam will be reflected from the media and less will be transmitted through the media. Further, both the strength of the reflected beam and the strength of the transmitted beam are generally inversely proportional to the darkness (color pattern) of the sensed sheet.
Radiation detectors for the reflective and the transmissive components are preferably photo diodes or photo transistors. In an exemplary embodiment the output of each detector is amplified and delivered to the input of a synchronized chopper circuit which is also referred to herein as a chopper. The chopper is generally synchronized to the pulse pattern driving the LED to process generally only signals synchronized with the LED. The output of the synchronized chopper is processed by an integrator circuit to generate a signal representative of the thickness of the sensed sheet(s).
Alternative embodiments of the invention may include multiple radiation sources positioned on opposed sides of the sheet media. Such embodiments may also include detectors for sensing the level of transmitted and reflected radiation from each radiation source. Each radiation source is preferably driven in a synchronized manner at different times, and the signals processed from the detectors in coordinated relation with the operating period of the radiation source of interest. Signals corresponding to the level of transmitted and reflected radiation from the radiation sources on each side of the sheet media may be combined or otherwise processed to distinguish between single and multiple sheets having varied transmission and reflectance properties. Alternative embodiments where the radiation sources can be separately detected without interference may be operated during overlapping intervals. The principles of the invention may also be used in connection with other types of sensors.

Double sheet detector method for automated transaction machine


A slide assembly for use with a door of a furniture piece is disclosed. The slide assembly includes a pair of cambered slides and an alignment element. The pair of slides is for slidably mounting the door. The alignment element is for aligning the movement of the pair of slides. The camber is for compensating for the weight of the door to maintain the movement of the door substantially true relative to the furniture piece. Preferably, the pair of cambered slides is universally cambered. The universal camber is for permitting one design to be used without having to be concerned about the handedness of the cambered slide assembly.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to slide assemblies for use with a pocket door of a furniture piece and, more particularly, to cambered slide assemblies for preventing the doors from sagging and ensures smooth operation of the pocket doors.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Some furniture pieces for use in the office and home have doors for closing open fronts. Typically, these doors are hinged at one side that is adjacent to the sidewall of the furniture piece and swing towards the front in an open position. Very often the hinge arrangement provides an open door that extends well beyond the furniture piece. Consequently, to eliminate the problem of the open door getting in the way when space may be limited, furniture pieces today are designed with pocket door assemblies. The pocket door assembly permits the doors to be slid out and closed. When in the open position the doors are slid back within the recess of the furniture piece opening thereby reducing space requirements for the furniture piece.
An example of a furniture piece is an entertainment center. Such centers have been getting larger with the advent of television sets that in recent years have been getting much bigger. In addition to the television sets, entertainment centers may accommodate VCR, CD, DVD players, stereo receivers, speakers and other electronic equipment that is generally found in an entertainment center.
The sliding pocket door has application, as well, in cabinets of all types, such as armoires, kitchen cabinets and other furniture items for use both in the office and home environment. These furniture pieces are generally finished furniture pieces with paint or varnished finishes.
Many different assembly mechanisms have been utilized in the past for the installation of pocket doors in furniture pieces. One is a cabinet with pocket doors in an assembly comprising a vertical carrier hingibly connecting a door and slidably mounted to upper and lower rails mounted to the cabinet sidewalls. After the door has been placed in the open position, it can be easily moved rearward with the carrier in the cabinet.
Another mechanism is a scissors mechanism mounted between the cabinet back wall and the rear edge of the door.
Yet another mechanism includes tracks mounted to the cabinet sidewall. A pair of pulleys is mounted below the rear portion of the upper track and above the front portion of the lower track. A cable is threaded around the pulleys with first and second ends attached to the door.
Another mechanism includes tracks containing a slide assembly with ball bearings between the slide assembly and an alignment element which is connected to the pair of slides within the track. The door is then affixed to the mounting plates on the slides and can move from the open to closed position and the closed to open position. Generally these assemblies are built to provide the appropriate installation distance for the slides. However, the weight of the door acting on the slide assembly causes the door to sag.
Arrangements for compensating for the sag of a door using a slide assembly are known in the art. However, these methods require a skilled installer to properly install the door in a proper position. It would be desirable to have an assembly that does not require skilled installers, especially on a furniture assembly line. In addition, it would be desirable to have a slide assembly that reduces the inventory that a manufacturer must maintain. Such a slide assembly would also be advantageous for use by the "do it yourselfers." That is, the ease of installation would make elaborate instructions regarding the appropriate installation of the slide assembly on the pair of doors unnecessary.
Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved slide assembly with a camber that is sufficient to compensate for any sag of the door regardless of door weight. Further, a slide assembly having a universal camber would be easy to install while at the same time not requiring elaborate installation instructions.


A reducing agent is discharged by an ink-jet method into a groove between partition walls of a glass substrate formed by sandblasting, that is, a desired region where an electrode is to be formed. After fixing the reducing agent to the glass substrate, the entire substrate is immersed into a plating solution so as to reduce and deposit a plating catalytic metal contained in the plating solution in the region where the reducing agent is fixed. By immersing the entire substrate into an electroless plating solution, a metal is deposited by electroless plating in the region where the plating catalytic metal is deposited. The variation in the shape of electrodes to be formed is reduced, and mass production and low cost are achieved.

The present invention relates to a method of forming an electrode for a flat display panel, and more specifically relates to a method of forming an electrode in a space enclosed by partition walls in a plasma display panel (PDP), etc.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing essential parts of a general surface discharge AC PDP. A PDP 1 is a self-emission type thin display panel constructed by disposing a front substrate 10 comprising glass having good transmittance in a visible light range (380 nm to 770 nm) as a base and a rear substrate 20 to face each other and sealing a discharge medium such as Xe—Ne and Xe—He in a sealed space created by sealing the peripheral portions of the opposing surfaces of the front substrate 10 and rear substrate 20.
On a surface of the front substrate 10 facing the rear substrate 20, a pair of surface discharge display electrodes 11a and 11b extending in the first direction, X, are formed at a predetermined pitch, and a dielectric layer 12 for AC drive and a protecting layer 13 made of MgO are formed one upon another to cover the display electrodes 11a and 11b. In general, each of the display electrodes 11a and 11b is composed of a transparent electrode 14 such as ITO, and a bus electrode 15 made of a metal electrode material such a thick film of Ag. The bus electrode 15 has the function of decreasing the line resistance as well as the function of supplying a voltage to the transparent electrode 14 from an external circuit mounted outside the panel, and one end of the bus electrode 15 is guided to the peripheral portion of the front substrate 10, i.e., the edge of the front substrate 10 in one direction. The protecting layer 13 performs an important role to prevent ion impact on the dielectric layer 12 and emit secondary electrons for discharge.
On the other hand, a plurality of partition walls 21 extending in the second direction, Y, orthogonal to the first direction, X, are formed at a predetermined pitch on a surface of the rear substrate 20 facing the front substrate 10. Further, address electrodes 22 for address discharge are formed parallel to the partition walls 21 on the bottom face of grooves between the partition walls 21; a dielectric layer 23 is formed to cover the address electrodes 22; and fluorescence layers 24a, 24b and 24c of three colors, R, G and B, for color display are formed on the side faces of the partition walls 21 and the front face of the dielectric layer 23. A space enclosed by adjacent partition walls 21 within the sealed space is a discharge space. Note that the address electrode 22 is made of a metal electrode material such as Cr, Cu, and a thick film of Ag, performs the function of supplying a voltage from the external circuit mounted outside the panel, and is extended to the peripheral portion of the rear substrate 20.
Each region separated by the intersection of the display electrodes 11a, 11b and address electrodes 22 is the display area of a pixel, and selectively causes an address discharge for display writing by applying a voltage between one of the display electrode 11a (or 11b) and the address electrode 22, subsequently causes a discharge for maintaining the display in the cell where the address discharge is caused by applying a voltage between a pair of display electrodes 11a and 11b, and emits vacuum ultraviolet light when electrons collide with Xe in the discharge medium. The vacuum ultraviolet light is excited with visible light by the fluorescent layers 24a, 24b and 24c provided on the rear substrate 20, and the visible light is emitted to the outside.
Next, the following description will explain a general manufacturing method of a PDP which is the mainstream nowadays, and, here, a manufacturing method of the rear substrate 20 relating to the present invention.
(Electrode Formation Step)
First, after depositing a Cr/Cu/Cr metal thin film on a surface of a glass substrate by sputtering, address electrodes are formed in a desired pattern (for example, a pattern of straight lines) by patterning the metal thin film by a photolithography technique. It may, of course, be possible to form address electrodes in a desired pattern by depositing a photosensitive metal (for example, a photosensitive Ag paste) and then directly exposing the photosensitive metal.
(Dielectric Layer Formation Step)
Next, a dielectric layer is formed by applying a low-melting-point glass paste such as PbO—B2O3—ZnO-based glass material to the substrate by screen printing or roll coating and then sintering the applied low-melting-point glass paste at a desired sintering temperature (500 to 600° C.: about 15 minutes).
(Partition Wall Formation Step)
A low-melting-point glass paste to be partition walls is applied to the surface of the substrate by roll coating or other method, and then dried. Consequently, a partition wall material layer made of the low-melting-point glass is formed on the surface of the substrate. Next, a photosensitive resin film such as a dry film resist is attached to the surface of the substrate, and then the attached photosensitive resin film is formed into a mask pattern corresponding to the partition wall shape by a photolithography technique. The formed mask pattern makes an anti-sandblasting mask to be described later. Non-sintered partition walls having the shape of the mask pattern are formed by injecting an abrasive material such as glass beads and calcium carbonate with higher hardness than the partition wall material layer onto the surface of the substrate by sandblasting and cutting the partition wall material layer in regions other than the mask pattern. Then, after separating the photosensitive resin film from the substrate, the non-sintered partition walls are sintered to make glass under desired conditions (temperature: 500 to 600° C., and time: about 15 minutes), thereby completing the partition walls.
In the above-described manufacturing method, the partition wall material layer is necessary to make the partition walls though most part of the partition wall material layer is cut off by sandblasting, and therefore an increase in the cost is unavoidable. Moreover, since the partition wall material is cut by sandblasting before sintering, there is a possibility that foreign matter such as broken pieces of the partition walls may be produced during the partition wall formation step, and the produced foreign matter causes the problem of lower manufacturing yield.
Hence, in recent years, research has been conducted actively on a method of forming partition walls by direct carving of glass in which the partition walls are formed by directly cutting the glass substrate itself by sandblasting (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-43793). The following description explains a general method for forming partition walls by direct carving of glass that is currently under research.
(Partition Wall Formation Step)
First, a photosensitive resin film such as a dry film resist having resistance to sandblasting is attached to a surface of a glass substrate, and then the attached photosensitive resin film is formed into a desired mask pattern by a photolithography technique. The glass substrate in regions other than the mask pattern is cut off (depth of cutting: about 150 to 200 μm) by injecting an abrasive (particle diameter of about 10 to 20 μm) such as alumina and SiC with higher hardness than the glass substrate onto the surface of the glass substrate by sandblasting.
(Electrode Formation Step)
Next, after separating the photosensitive resin film from the substrate, a Cr/Cu/Cr metal thin film is deposited on the substrate surface by sputtering, and then a resist is applied to the surface of the substrate and dried. Thereafter, the resist in regions other than a region that is intended to be left as an electrode pattern is exposed and developed. An electrode having the electrode pattern is formed by removing an unnecessary metal thin film by etching.
(Dielectric Layer Formation Step)
Next, a dielectric layer is formed by applying a low-melting-point glass paste such as PbO—B2O3—ZnO-based glass material between the partition walls of the substrate by screen printing or other method and sintering the applied low-melting-point glass paste under desired sintering conditions (temperature: 500 to 600° C., and time: about 15 minutes).
In the above-described method of forming partition walls by direct carving of glass, since the partition walls are formed by directly cutting the glass substrate itself by sandblasting, there is no need to form the partition wall material layer, and thus it is possible to reduce the cost from the point of view of the material and processing step. Moreover, since the partition walls are formed by only processing the glass substrate, even when foreign matter such as broken pieces of the partition walls are produced, the number of choices for washing methods is increased because there is no possibility that the substrate is badly affected even if jet washing or ultrasonic washing, for example, is performed, and consequently the produced foreign matter can be easily removed. In other words, the method of removing foreign matter after the formation of the electrode and dielectric layer may have bad effects on the electrode and dielectric layer, whereas in the method of forming partition walls by direct carving of glass, since the removal of foreign matter is performed before the formation of the electrode and dielectric layer, there is no such bad effects.
However, during the formation of the electrode by the method of forming partition walls by direct carving of glass, since the partition walls have been formed when applying a resist to the substrate, there is a problem that air bubbles tend to be generated in the resist because the partition walls function as projections. Moreover, since the cross sectional configuration of the substrate is not uniform, the surface tension applied to the resist is not uniform, and the resist tends to gather in a region with a small radius of curvature (bent portion). As a result, the film thickness of the resist in the bent portion becomes thicker, while the film thickness of the resist in a region with a large radius of curvature becomes thinner, resulting in a problem of non-uniform film thickness of the resist. Thus, the etching shape, namely, electrode shape, varies when etching the metal thin film, and in the worst case, the electrode is disconnected, which causes the problem of lower manufacturing yield.
In addition, there is a proposed method in which, after forming partition walls by cutting a glass substrate, a conductive material is directly formed on a desired position by an ink-jet method. In this method, however, in order to ensure a film thickness required for the electrode, it is necessary to repeatedly draw the conductive material, and consequently the time required for electrode formation (tact time) becomes very long. Moreover, in order to form the shape and reduce the resistance, it is necessary to draw a large amount of electrode material, and consequently the cost is increased.

Method of forming electrode for flat display panel


A wideband splitter includes a core amplifier for receiving a single pair of differential input signals and providing first and second pairs of differential output signals. The first pair of differential output signals and the second pair of differential outputs have substantially identical characteristics. A signal gain is implemented between the received single pair of differential input signals and the first and second pair of differential output signals. The signal gain is substantially constant across the frequency bandwidth of the core amplifier. A bandwidth peaking network is coupled to the core amplifier and includes (a) a first coil and a first resistor connected in series and (b) a second coil and a second resistor connected in series. The bandwidth peaking network is configured to increase the frequency bandwidth of the core amplifier.

A splitter receives one input signal and generates a two output signals. The frequency components of the output signals are substantially similar to the frequency components of the input signal. A splitter typically has a loss of gain (in other words an attenuation) of at least 3 dB.
When splitting very low level signals, there is a need to amplify the output signals before further processing is performed. An amplifier stage is typically required. In wide band applications, the splitter stage and the amplifier stage must be designed to respond to the entire frequency band of operation. These are difficult design requirements.
It is difficult to fabricate a wide band splitter on a die for use as an integrated circuit (IC). It is even more difficult to fabricate an ultra wide band active splitter on a die having gain across a frequency band that spans from direct current (DC) up to a frequency in excess of 20 GHz. The present invention addresses such a splitter.

Ultra wide band, differential input/output, high frequency active splitter in an integrated circuit


In a microprocessor that internally has a microprocessor specific secret key, a key management unit is provided to carry out a key registration for reading out from an external memory a distribution key that is obtained in advance by encrypting the instruction key by using a public key corresponding to the secret key, decrypting the distribution key by using the secret key to obtain the instruction key, and registering the instruction key in correspondence to a specific program identifier for identifying the program into a key table, and to notify a completion of the key registration to the processor core asynchronously by interruption when the key registration is completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microprocessor capable of preventing illegal alteration of execution codes and processing target data under a multi-task program execution environment, and a multi-task execution method and a multi-thread execution method using such a microprocessor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the open system that is widely spread today, information on hardware of a computer for general user such as PC and a system program called OS is disclosed, and any desired improvement can be made by modifying the system program.
Under such a circumstance, in order to guarantee the copyright protection for data handled by application programs or the copyright protection for programs themselves, there is a need for hardware based on the presumption that the OS of the system can carry out hostile operations with respect to applications. Such hardware has been proposed especially in a form of a microprocessor (see commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/781,158 and 09/781,284; and Lie et al., "Architectural Support for Copy and Tamper Resistant Software", Computer Architecture News 28(5), pp. 168-). Such a microprocessor has a function for encrypting a program and data handled by that program under the multi-task environment in order to protect them from the peeping and the alteration. In the following, such a microprocessor will be referred to as a tamper resistant microprocessor.
A mechanism for protecting three elements (program, context, data) constituting an application program by encrypting them outside the processor has been disclosed in commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/781,158 and 09/781,284. In this prior art, information on the three elements that are encrypted on an external memory will be processed in a decrypted state in a cache memory and processor registers inside the processor.
In order to protect information strictly, there is a need for a mechanism by which information read into the processor and maintained in a plaintext state as a result of the operation of a program A will not be read out by the OS or another program B.
Here, the first presumption is that the program is to be identified by an encryption key used in encrypting instructions of the program. For example, when one program A is encrypted by using an encryption key Ka, the basic requirement imposed on the tamper resistant microprocessor is that three elements (program, context, data) of the program A cannot be read out by a plaintext program B or a program C encrypted by using another encryption key Kc. For the program A, by distributing the program encrypted by using that encryption key Ka that is known only to the program provider and maintaining the encryption key Ka in secret, it is possible to distinguish the program A from the other programs of the other program providers. In the following, the encryption key Ka of instructions of the program A will be referred to as an "instruction key" of the program A.
As a mechanism for realizing this basic requirement, it is efficient to utilize the access control mechanism using a conventionally existing tag memory of the processor, as disclosed in commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/984,407.
However, in the conventional system, the tag management is entrusted to the OS. Yet in the tamper resistant processor system, the tag management must be carried out by a hardware or software mechanism that is incorporated inside the processor in advance so that the alteration by the user is difficult, rather than by a software OS for which the alteration by the user is possible.
Such a mechanism is to be incorporated inside the processor so that it is preferable to make such a mechanism as simple as possible in order to make the processor inexpensive and make a processing of such a mechanism as simple as possible in order to make the overhead due to the tag management small. Also, the tag management must be carried out without causing any violation or contradiction in view of the above described basic requirement, regardless of whether the tag management is placed before or after the key value rewriting operation that becomes necessary in order to re-utilize tags which are finite resources.
Also, regarding the overhead, there is a viewpoint from a processing speed of the overall system and a viewpoint from a response time at a time of activating or switching the process, and it is required to make the overhead small from both of these viewpoints. In addition, conventionally, the public key decryption processing for acquiring a key for decrypting instructions and the decryption and execution of the program by using the acquired key have been carried out by a single instruction. In the general processor, the exception cannot be accepted during the execution of an instruction. For example, the 1024 bits public key decryption processing requires 1 msec or more time even by the currently fastest hardware. This is considerably longer than tens of μsec that is the required response performance of the real time processing generally used today, so that it can cause the lowering of the real time response performance of the system.

Microprocessor using asynchronous public key decryption processing


A stair climbing device, adapted for a wheel chair, including at least one climbing element which is adapted to be moved on a circular path so that it can get in contact with the next step of a stair and lift or lower the stair climbing device on the next step. The stair climbing device includes a drive motor for providing a driving force for moving the at least one climbing element on the circular path, wherein the movement of the at least one climbing element on the circular path is carried out with a non-constant rotational speed. A gear transmission assembly is provided between the drive motor and the at least one climbing element which gear transmission assembly is adapted to cyclically vary the rotational speed of the at least one climbing element with respect to the rotational speed of the drive motor.

Stair climbing devices are suitable for the transport of devices, goods and persons and particularly of wheel chairs for moving the wheelchair together with a person sitting therein. The stair climbing device can be detachably mounted to such a wheelchair. However, stair climbing devices can also be fixedly integrated as a climbing unit in a wheel chair or another means of transportation for persons or goods. Examples for various embodiments of such stair climbing devices are for instance presented in DE 297 21 477 U1, DE 10 2004 043 778 A1 or WO 00/12371 A1.
Stairs constitute a considerable problem particularly for wheel chair drivers and people with impaired mobility. A stair climbing device as mentioned above, for example, provides the possibility that an assisting person can transport a wheel chair driver or a person with impaired mobility upstairs or downstairs without particular physical effort merely with the assistance of such a stair climbing device. In order to achieve this, such a stair climbing device can be detachably mounted to a wheel chair, provided that the stair climbing device is not designed as a part of the wheel chair as such. Together with the wheel chair the stair climbing device is driven to the first step of a flight of stairs. An assisting person tilts the stair climbing device together with the attached wheel chair towards his or her direction in a position of balance. When the ideal tilting position is reached, the assisting person only feels a minimum force in a forward or rear direction. When a climbing element of the stair climbing device gets in contact with the closest step in order to lift the stair climbing device on this next step, a load change reaction takes place which has to be compensated by the assisting person. The faster and stronger this load change reaction is, the stronger must be the reaction and corresponding compensation action of the assisting person.
In order to facilitate handling of such a stair climbing device, DE 199 12 932 C1 being a document of the generic kind suggests that the climbing unit of the stair climbing device is operated with varying propulsion speeds, wherein the propulsion speed shortly before contact of a climbing element on the next step is reduced as compared with a first predetermined propulsion speed so that a soft touchdown is achieved and after the touchdown on the next step the propulsion speed is increased again in order to effect the climbing action as a whole in a speedy manner. Due to the soft touchdown on the respective step, the handling of load change reactions by the assisting person is considerably facilitated. Furthermore, the climbing procedure is more gentle for the person sitting in the wheel chair.
In this known stair climbing device, the variation of the propulsion speed of the climbing element is carried out electronically by respective control of the drive motor. The drive motor is operated due to the electronic drive control during the climbing cycle with varying speed. This, however, leads to enhanced requirements regarding the electric drive motor.
In order to achieve the desired soft touchdown, the drive motor of the known stair climbing device presented in DE 199 12 932 C1 has to be operated with a rotational speed as low as possible directly prior to touchdown of the climbing element or a lifting element on a step as well as immediately thereafter in order to minimize the load change reaction as mentioned above and to insure a gentle touchdown. This means, however, that due to the start of the lifting action a sudden increase in force and a particularly high requirement of torque is given exactly when the electric driving motor is operating with a low rotational speed and exactly then, when the driving motor due to its design can deliver only a rather low torque. Such an electric motor therefore has to have particularly high torque reserves.


A system and method of improving security during power-on-self-test (POST), particularly the ROM scan portion identifying ROM adapters, while selectively allowing user input. While a user input during ROM scan may be normally locked out to prevent the user from making changes to the configuration of the system, when the ROM scan during POST detects a ROM adapter which uses an input from the user, the system can override the lockout and allows for a user input. An optional control, such as a password or other personal identifier, can provide security, allowing the user input only when the user is authorized to provide the input (in response to an appropriate password or personal identifier such as a biometric identifier).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in security for a computer. More particularly, the present invention is an improved system and method for a personal computer during the startup process when scanning ROM by selectively allowing an input from a user.
2. Background Art
Personal computers are well known in the art for providing a variety of data processing applications. Such personal computers usually include various input and output devices connected to a processor with an operating system stored in memory of the personal computer. The system includes a power-on-self test (POST) operable when the computer is first turned on to verify the presence and operating condition of the various input and output devices connected to the processor. During the POST, certain blocks of memory address space are scanned for the presence of one (or more) block of code known as an adapter ROM (other memory technologies such as Flash as it is known in the state of the art may be used instead of ROM) used in attaching certain peripheral devices and setting them up with the appropriate initial conditions. If such an adapter ROM is found within the address memory space, then this adapter ROM performs initialization and configuration routines, a process which is often referred to as xe2x80x9cROM scanxe2x80x9d. During the ROM scan, sensitive areas of memory (storing configuration information) in the computer are accessible for storing data as a result of the ROM scan. Since these memory areas are also involved in the security aspects of the personal computer, it is important that user inputs be controlled to avoid improper activity such as would defeat the security features which have been designed into the operating system (and its power-on-self-test) of the personal computer.
The ROM Scan Patent teaches that it is desirable to keep the user of a personal computer from making inputs at a keyboard or other input devices (such as a mouse) during the ROM scan process and the POST generally, and this is accomplished by locking the keyboard and other input devices out during the ROM Scan operation of the POST.
However, there are some ROM adapters which either encourage or require a user input during the ROM scan process and initial setup, and the functions provided in the ROM Scan Patent would preclude such inputs. Hence, the prior art systems either had security against user inputs during the ROM scan (as provided in the ROM Scan Patent) but prevented user inputs of the type desirable in some ROM adapters or allowed the user inputs during the ROM scan but did not provide security against inappropriate user input which could defeat security aspects present in the configuration information during the ROM scan process.
Accordingly, the prior art systems have undesirable limitations and disadvantages.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art systems by providing a system which selectively allows user inputs during the ROM scan process. In this way, the protection of the ROM Scan Patent preventing user inputs is usually in effect, but, in those cases where a user input is desirable or necessary, enabling such an input.
In this way, input devices such as the keyboard are normally locked out during ROM scan, but input is permitted when it is desirable to have such an input and the user has the authority to do so. Since some ROM adapter code stored in memory either requires a user input during startup or otherwise permits such an input, it would be desirable to allow such inputs when needed, while otherwise preventing the user inputs. The authorization to make changes can be limited to those individuals authorized to make changes to the system""s configuration through the use of appropriate privilege access password or administrator password.
The present invention has the advantage that it is simple to implement and effective to normally prevent user inputs during power-on-self-test including the ROM scan, but to allow an input from the user to be made and recorded in memory when desirable.
The present invention allows the security of a lockout during power-on-self-test and yet allows use of ROM adapters which require a user input during startup. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art in view of the following description of the preferred embodiment, taken together with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Method and system for improved computer security during ROM Scan

International Business Machines Corporation


A vane pump including a cam ring, a rotor, slits formed in the rotor, vanes inserted slidably into the slits, pump chambers defined by the vanes, back pressure chambers defined between respective base end portions of the vanes and the slits, back pressure grooves capable of communicating with the back pressure chambers as the rotor rotates, and connecting grooves connecting back pressure grooves that are adjacent in a circumferential direction of the rotor to each other, wherein a connecting groove that communicates with a back pressure groove positioned in a suction region formed above a rotary center of the rotor so as to suction a working fluid into the pump chambers is formed to have a larger passage sectional area than a connecting groove that communicates with another back pressure groove positioned in another suction region formed below the rotary center of the rotor.

In a vane pump, a plurality of vanes are housed in radial slits formed in a rotor. Each vane is biased in a projecting direction from the slit by a pressure of a back pressure chamber that presses a base end portion of the vane and a centrifugal force acting thereon as the rotor rotates, and as a result, a tip end portion of the vane slides against an inner peripheral cam surface of a cam ring. As the rotor rotates, the vane sliding against the cam surface performs a reciprocating motion such that a pump chamber expands and contracts, and as a result, working oil is supplied to and discharged from the pump chamber.
JP11-230057A proposes a vane pump in which back pressure grooves communicating with a back pressure chamber and connecting grooves connecting the respective back pressure grooves are formed in front and rear pressure plates provided to sandwich a rotor and respective vanes. In this vane pump, the connecting grooves formed in the front pressure plate are shaped differently to the connecting grooves formed in the rear pressure plate. According to this vane pump, a sealing performance of the pump chamber can be improved.


A parachute vent reefing system is disclosed. The parachute vent reefing system includes a plurality of attachment members disposed about a vent portion of a parachute canopy and a keeper routed between each attachment member of said plurality of attachment members. The keeper has a diameter less than the diameter of the vent portion and is configured to break at a preselected tensile threshold.

Parachutes are used in some aircraft to mitigate emergencies such as structural or engine failure or pilot incapacitation. For example, Cirrus Aircraft airframes employ a pilot-activated, rocket-propelled emergency parachute system to control the rate of decent of an incapacitated aircraft. Parachute deployment speed can be a critical survival factor during in-air emergencies for aircraft employing a parachute-deployment system.
The 'opening time' of a parachute, that is, the time it takes for a parachute canopy to fully inflate can depend on many factors, such as the forward velocity of the object carrying the parachute assembly, the air flux balance between air entering the canopy skirt and the air leaving the canopy through the vent, the way in which the parachute is packed and whether an assist device such as a rocket is used to increase extraction speed. In some cases, parachutes include vent portions near the top of the canopy that allow air movement therethrough. The vent portion can provide stability during decent among other performance factors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,119 to BRS, Inc. describes a parachute reefing system including an annular flexible membrane having a centrally located vent opening and a plurality of guides symmetrically spaced around the periphery of the membrane. The reefing system retards or slows opening of the canopy of a parachute in order to reduce the shock normally encountered with parachutes. In essence, the annular ring constricts the canopy lines during deployment so that the canopy opens gradually instead of explosively.

Systems and methods for parachute deployment


A whistle for producing resonant frequencies comprising a body which includes a mouth piece having an inlet, and at least two sound chambers to which inlet air is blown from the inlet. The whistle further includes air passageways for communicating inlet air from the inlet to the sound box and sound chambers. The body further includes at least two exhaust ports in communication with the sound chambers for discharging air and sound. The two sound chambers are dimensioned to create peak principal frequencies which interactively produce a pulsating sound having a periodic pulse frequency of less than 100 hertz. The whistle preferably includes air intake ports for communicating additional port air into the sound box.

Whistles are used for many purposes ranging from use by referees to control sports events to emergency use to attract attention. The required characteristics of whistles depend upon the intended use. For instance a professional referee needs a whistle, which responds reliably to produce a loud noise so that the referee can control a game regardless of crowd noise. In some circumstances such as in emergency situations one wants to have a whistle which produces a very loud piercing sound which will attract the attention of nearby persons that may be able to provide assistance.
In sporting events referees have come to use certain whistles, which produce a certain sound. In many cases the whistles that are being used by referees stem from historical circumstances. The use of a particular type of whistle that produces a certain sound has often become well known to both players and audience of the games alike.
Historically most of these whistles have been pea whistles meaning whistles, which contain a rotating ball within the sound or resonating chamber. More recently however there has been a shift to the use of pea-less whistles, which are whistles which do not include the use of a rotating ball or pea within the resonating and/or sound chamber. The advantages of the pea-less whistle have been discussed in numerous prior art documents including U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,816 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,670.
Despite the advantages of the pea-less whistle designs which are currently on the market in many instances they have not been accepted in certain sporting venues due to the differences in the sounds produced by the pea-less whistle and the conventional pea styles whistles. Referees and participants in the sporting events and spectators alike have become accustom to a certain sound which has been broadly accepted within the sporting venue and the whistle which produces that particular sound is the preferred whistle even though the technology within the whistle itself may be less than optimal.
Therefore there is a need for a whistle which can emulate as closely as possible the sound of a pea-whistle using a pea-less design by creating a whistle which is able to emulate the sound of a particular pea-whistle without the disadvantages associated with the pea-design.
In addition referees require a whistle, which is comfortable to grip with ones fingers and reliably produce a constant sound.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,177 discusses the possibility of producing a two-chambered whistle wherein the chambers have different resonate frequencies. In particular U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,177 calls for a first chamber having a resonate frequency of 3.4 kilohertz and a second resonate chamber having a resonate frequency of 3.7 kilohertz. This produces a beat frequency of approximately 300 hertz. U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,177 teaches that if the beat frequency is less than 100 hertz the beat is almost negligible with the result that the sound is monotonous. In other words U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,177 is teaching a beat frequency which is at least greater than 100 hertz. U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,651 also discusses the possibility of having a whistle having two sound chambers producing different resonate frequencies. In fact U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,651 teaches that the resonate frequencies of the two sound producing chambers are arranged to produce relatively high and low frequency sounds. In their preferred arrangement the sound range of the whistle namely the two sound producing chambers is such as to substantially cover the upper and lower limits of human hearing. They give the example of the frequency range of the whistle between 2 kilohertz and 8 kilohertz. This patent again teaches a very wide difference in frequencies between the two sound producing chambers namely of the order of 6 kilohertz.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,186 also discusses the concept of providing a whistle that produces beats through the arrangement of two resonate frequencies from two separate sound resonating chambers. This patent does not quantify or discuss how to select a certain beat frequency and/or the ability to emulate the sound of a pea-whistle using a pea-less design.
In summary the current art teaches the possibility of having two sound resonating chamber pea-less whistle creating a certain beat frequency which is typically 100 hertz and/or more in order to provide a particular beat.
The present whistle produces a pulse rather than a beat and the inventor has found in practice that it is the pulse sound and not a beat that is required in order to emulate the sound of the existing pea-whistle designs. It has also been found that the introduction of additional air through intake ports helps to emulate the sound of a pea style whistle in a pea less design.