A technique for managing network traffic is disclosed. According to the technique, a set of VLAN IDs is explicitly identified for use with a first service. The rest of the customer traffic is considered as part of a default service. Traffic that is received at a PE from a customer is examined to identify whether or not the traffic belongs to the first service. For example, the VLAN ID and incoming port of a packet is compared to the set of VLAN IDs that were allocated to the first service on the respective port. Traffic that is identified as belonging to the first service is “extracted” from the default service and forwarded on a path that is related to the first service. The remaining traffic is forwarded on a path that is related to the default service. The service extraction technique can be implemented across an MPLS domain.

Virtual private LAN services (VPLS) over MPLS provides LAN-like connectivity between geographically diverse customer locations. Draft standards for implementing VPLS over MPLS are presented in "Virtual Private LAN Services over MPLS", IETF draft-lasserre-vkompella-ppvpn-vpls-04.txt, March 2003, and "Virtual Private LAN Service", IETF draft-kompella-ppvpn-vpls-02.txt, May 2003, "Transport of Layer 2 Frames over MPLS", IETF draft-martini-12circuit-trans-mpls-09.txt, April 2002, and "Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Layer 2 Frames Over IP and MPLS networks", IETF draft-martini-12circuit-encap-mpls-04.txt, November 2001, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The basic operation of VPLS is described with reference to FIG. 1 and involves establishing virtual circuit (VC) label switching paths (LSPs) and tunnel LSPs. FIG. 1 depicts an MPLS domain 102, two service provider edge devices (PEs) 104, geographically diverse customer locations 106 for two different customers, customer A and customer B, and the corresponding tunnel LSP and VC LSPs (e.g., VCA LSP and VCB LSP). In operation, a customer's Ethernet packet is either switched or routed by a customer device to one of the PEs (also known as MPLS label edge router (LERs)). The respective PE classifies the packet based on either the incoming port or the virtual local area network (VLAN) identified (ID) of an IEEE 802.1q tagged packet. The packet is then mapped to a user-defined Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC), which specifies how the packet gets forwarded. The FEC lookup yields the outgoing port of the packet and labels that are used to encapsulate the packet. FIG. 2 depicts an example of a frame encapsulation format for implementing VPLS. A complete description of the frame format is described in the above referenced IETF document entitled "Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Layer 2 Frames Over IP and MPLS networks". The frame format includes the original Ethernet packet 208, an MPLS label stack 209, and an outer Ethernet header 212. The label at the top of the MPLS label stack is the tunnel label, which is used to transport the packet across the provider's MPLS domain. The label at the bottom of the MPLS label stack is the VC label, which is used by the egress PE to determine how to process the packet.
Upon transport through the MPLS domain, backbone label switch routers (LSRs) (not shown) in the MPLS domain only look at the tunnel label to switch the labeled packet through the MPLS domain. It is possible that additional labels get pushed along the way. The tunnel label at the top of the MPLS label stack is removed at the penultimate hop (i.e., the hop prior to the egress PE) and the packet is passed to the egress PE with only the VC label. The egress PE uses the VC label to determine how to process the packet. The packet is then forwarded to the outgoing port that is identified via the VC label.
FIG. 3 is an expanded view of a PE 204 that logically depicts an example of how customer-specific VPLS traffic is passed through the PE into an MPLS domain. In the example, customers A and B are connected to the PE via customer-specific ports (e.g., ports 1, 2, and 3). VLAN traffic received on the customer-specific ports is associated with a customer-specific VC LSP and a tunnel LSP. In the example, each customer has a unique VC LSP (e.g., VCA LSP and VCB LSP) and traffic that is destined for the same PE (e.g., PE2) uses the same tunnel LSP.
In many applications, VPLS involves more than a point-to-point connection between two PEs. As depicted in FIG. 4, VPLS often involves connections between multiple distinct customer locations 406. For example, customers A and B may each have three distinct locations that are connected via the MPLS domain at PEs 1, 2, and 3. The three PEs are connected by three bidirectional tunnel LSPs (where each bidirectional tunnel is formed by two unidirectional LSPs). Customer-specific VC LSPs, which connect each PE, are also established for each customer between the connected PEs. For example, at PE1, for customer A, there is a VC LSP that connects PE1 to PE2 and a different VC LSP that connects PE1 to PE3. For customer A, one VC LSP is used to carry traffic from PE1 to PE2 and the other VC LSP is used to carry traffic from PE2 to PE3. The full mesh of customer-specific VC LSPs enables unique broadcast domains for customers A and B. Although the customers use customer-specific VC LSPs, the customers share the same tunnel LSPs for transport between the same PEs.
While the above-described VPLS scheme works well to provide "virtual private" or "transparent" LAN services, customers often demand more than LAN services from their service provider. For example, customers often need access to other network services such as Internet, video on demand (VoD), and PSTN services. Current VPLS technologies do not adequately address the delivery of other network services. Therefore, what is needed is a technique for providing customers with services, such as Internet, VoD, and PSTN services, in addition to "virtual private" or "transparent" LAN services that is flexible and efficient to implement and that is complementary with the emerging VPLS standards.

Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) edge service extraction


A multimedia interface station (102) establishes a multimedia sensory data link between the Internet (108) and a subscriber premise (112) eliminating an Internet protocol. Visual and audio data received from the Internet (108) is converted to a multimedia sensory signal at the multimedia interface station (102) and transmitted to a sensory transmission device (150) such as a television (142) in the subscriber premise (112) without using the Internet protocol.

Methods and systems have been developed in an attempt to satisfy the increasing demand for information, multimedia and other communication services to the subscriber premise. One of the most popular techniques of obtaining these services is through the Internet.
The Internet is collection of over 25,000 computer networks connected through a communication backbone (NSFNET backbone) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is currently managed by Advanced Network System (ANS). A subscriber obtains an account with an organization's host computer (server) that is connected to the Internet through one or more networks. Traditionally, the subscriber is connected to the server through telephone lines using a personal computer (PC) and a modem.
As use of the Internet becomes more popular, different methods of accessing the Internet have been developed. Internet accessing systems have been developed that do not require a personal computer (PC) at the subscriber premise. These systems, commonly referred to as "non-PC based", are attractive alternatives to subscribers that do not wish to purchase or use a PC.
Typical non-PC based systems include a cable television converter box (set top box) located at the subscriber premise and connected to the Internet through the cable television network. The set-top box is coupled to the cable television network either through a modem or using vertical (VBI) and horizontal (HBI) blanking intervals. VBI/HBI techniques utilize unused vertical and horizontal scan intervals of a video program channel to transmit data.
However, these systems are limited in speed because of limited available bandwidth. Conventional modems are designed to operate over dial-up phone lines or other low bandwidth media. VBI/HBI techniques are also limited in bandwidth since only a certain number of scan lines are available for general use and represent only a small fractional part of the total video bandwidth.
Conventional non-PC based systems are also limited in functionality. The subscriber is not able to download and store files because of memory limitations. The subscriber may not be able to access particular sites that require specific client system application software since the non-PC systems do not have the available processing power and memory to utilize multiple applications.
If the subscriber desires to have additional functionality, the subscriber must install additional equipment or software or both. As more equipment is connected to the set-top box, the system approaches the architecture, complexity and cost of a PC.
If a host computer requires a particular application software to view information, conventional systems require the subscriber to install the software on the access system.
Conventional PC based and non-PC based systems are limited in functionality to a particular location within the subscriber premise.
Therefore, there is need for an inexpensive and efficient multimedia access method and system that provides high speed Internet access throughout the subscriber premise.

Method and apparatus for providing internet service at a subscriber premise


The present disclosure relates to a receive coil assembly for use in magnetic resonance imaging of breast tissue. In certain embodiments the assembly comprises separable parts: a configurable mechanical support and a flexible receive coil array. The adjustability and separability of the receive coil array relative to the mechanical support allows the receive coil array to substantially conform to the breasts of the patient during imaging.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems enable imaging based on a primary magnetic field, a radio frequency (RF) pulse, and time-varying magnetic gradient fields that interact with specific nuclear components in an object, such as hydrogen nuclei in water molecules. The magnetic moments of such nuclear components may generally align with the primary magnetic field, but subsequently precess about the bulk magnetic field direction at a characteristic frequency known as the Larmor frequency. An RF pulse at or near the Larmor frequency of such nuclear components may cause their magnetic moments to be rotated. When the RF pulse has ended, the magnetic moments relax and generally align with the primary magnetic field, emitting a detectable signal.
MRI may be particularly useful for obtaining certain physiologic and anatomic information. For example, unlike imaging techniques that are based on the differential attenuation of radiation through the body, MRI provides images that convey information about the imaged area that is not based on the relative radiation attenuating properties of the tissue. Instead, MRI provides images that are based on the respective magnetic properties of the anatomy undergoing imaging, and thus may provide images where soft tissue structures can be meaningfully differentiated, such as based on fat content, water content, and so forth. In addition, certain MRI techniques allow visualization of diffusion phenomena within the body and allow other functional characteristics of a tissue to be observed.
As a result, MRI may be a useful imaging technology for certain medical purposes. For example, MRI may be a useful tool for cancer screening or monitoring due to its ability to differentiate soft tissue structures. One area where use of MRI techniques may be of particular interest is in screening for or monitoring breast cancer, due to the discomfort and radiation dose associated with conventional mammography. However, conventional breast array receive coils for use in MRI fail to properly conform to many patients, which can result in a decrease in the effective signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, poor signal-to-noise ratio is an impediment to increasing the use of MRI in the detection of breast cancer

Breast coil for use in magnetic resonance imaging


A heat radiating member includes bismuth. The heat radiating member defines a plurality of holes therein, and the plurality of holes is separated from each other in a plan view. Separation distances between the plurality of holes in the plan view each are more than about 40 nm and equal to or less than about 150 nm.

The present disclosure herein relates to a heat radiating member and a display device including the same, and more particularly, to a heat radiating member having a nanometer-scale length and a display device including the same.
In recent years, as various electronic devices such as TVs, laptops, and mobile phones are being miniaturized and their performances are being improved at a remarkable speed, the capacities of electronic components built therein are increasing and the electronic components are being highly integrated. Accordingly, the components of electronic devices generate a lot of heat. The heat generated in electronic devices may shorten the service life of a product or cause the failure and malfunction of components. Therefore, studies are being conducted on measures to discharge heat, generated inside electronic devices, to the outside.

Heat radiating member and display device including the same


Various embodiments may relate to a lighting device, including a housing, at least one light source, and a circuit board carrying the at least one light source. The housing defines a cavity for accommodating the at least one light source and the circuit board. The housing includes a bottom for carrying the circuit board. The lighting device further includes at least one separate mountable locking member, which is partially supported on the housing and presses the circuit board on the bottom. In addition, various embodiments further relates to an illuminating device including the lighting device.

In the Lighting devices widely used in offices, shops, homes, etc., a fastening member such as a screw or an adhesive such as glue is generally needed to fix a lighting device in a housing or on a heat sink, for example, a large number of screws are used to fix the lighting device on the heat sink to ensure a favorable thermal conduct path between the lighting device and the heat sink.
If the fastening member is used for fixing, the positional relationship between the fastening member and the lighting device is usually limited by the manufacturing requirements, for example, as there are strict requirements on the spacing between electrical components and metal screws, the use of a large number of screws on the board affects adversely the circuit layout, and causes extra difficulties on the manufacturing (the production efficiency is lowered) and product maintenance.
If only the adhesive such as glue is relied on instead of using the fastening member to fix, for example, adhering the lighting device to the heat sink using a thermal conduct adhesive, unsafe factors arise when the volume or weight of the lighting device is relatively large, e.g., in the tube-shaped Lighting device which is relatively long, the use of glue might cause accidents and mistaken adhesion caused by thermal expansion might result in potential separation/bending.

Lighting device, and illuminating device including the lighting device


A franking machine system is disclosed in which a master controller is provided to communicate with a postal authority resetting center and with a plurality of franking machines. The controller includes registers for storing the value of credit available for distribution to the franking machines and registers for storing data relating to usage of the individual franking machines. Credit is obtained from the resetting center by the controller and is distributed to the franking machines as required by each machine.

This invention relates to a franking machine system for updating the credit available in a franking machine for franking mail items and in particular to a system for updating the credit available in a plurality of franking machines. The invention also relates to a controller for use in such a system.
Commonly, franking machines for franking mail items are provided with means to store a value of credit available for use in franking items and as franking takes place the credit value is decremented to correspond to the remaining credit available for use. When the credit has been decremented to a predetermined minimum value the franking machine is rendered inoperative to carry further franking of items. For reasons of security and to prevent fraudulent use of the franking machine, the part of the machine for carrying out accounting functions and for storing data relating to the use of the machine, including the value of credit available, is contained within a sealed secure housing. Access to this part of the machine by the user is not authorized and updating of the credit value available can only be carried out by the postal authority. Previously it has been necessary for the user to take the machine, or at least that part of the machine which carries out accounting functions and stores the credit value, to the postal authority and upon payment by the user the postal authority accesses the machine to enter a new value of credit and then reseals the machine. In order to overcome the inconvenience of needing to physically transport a part of the franking machine to the postal authority it has been proposed to accomplish the operation of updating of credit on the users premises by transmission of coded data by telephone. In such proposals, generally the franking machine is constructed to generate a sequence of codes, one being used at each credit updating. The postal authority provides to the user, via the telephone, data in encrypted form which includes the current code held in the franking machine. After decryption of the data, the machine compares the internal and entered codes and if they agree the credit value is updated.
Known methods of updating credit in franking machines have been based upon the postal authority having access either directly or via a telephone line with each individual franking machine licensed by the postal authority. While this is satisfactory for users with only a single franking machine, for users who have a number of franking machines the present methods are inconvenient and involve the user and the postal authorities in a large volume of financial accounting.


A method for use in a peer to peer remote copy (PPRC) system having primary and secondary storage systems to make data available from established PPRC storage volume pairs includes isolating the secondary storage system to be in a stand alone state such that access from any storage systems and hosts is prevented. It is then determined if each storage volume of the secondary storage system is part of an established PPRC storage volume pair. Each established PPRC storage volume pair is then terminated such that the storage volumes of the secondary storage system that are part of the established PPRC storage volume pairs are accessible to hosts. The secondary storage system is then made available to hosts to effect data recovery of the established PPRC storage volumes.

The present invention relates generally to peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) methods and systems and, more particularly, to a method and system for performing automatic stand alone recovery of secondary storage volumes for peer to peer remote copy (PPRC) operations.
With increasingly large amounts of data being handled in data processing systems, storage systems, such as disk storage systems are being used to store data. Some organizations rely heavily on data and quick access to the data. Disasters caused by environmental conditions, user errors, or application errors may occur in which access to the data is lost for some period of time. Mirroring or copying data to a secondary storage system from a primary storage system is currently employed to minimize the time in which access to data is lost due to a disaster.
Peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) is a synchronous copy mechanism that creates a copy of data at a remote or secondary storage system. This copy, at the secondary storage system, is kept current with the data located at the primary storage system. In other words, a copy of the data located at the secondary storage system is kept in sync with the data at the primary storage system as observed by the user of the data. Volume pairs are designated in which a volume in the primary storage system is paired with a volume in the secondary storage system.
With a PPRC system, a PPRC data copy to the recovery or secondary storage system occurs synchronously from the primary host point of view with write operations to volumes in the primary storage system. Paths connect the primary storage system to the secondary storage system. When data is written from a primary host to the primary storage system, the data written to a primary volume is also written by the primary storage system to a corresponding volume in the secondary storage system using a path to the secondary storage system.
In effect, the primary volume data is replicated to a corresponding secondary volume and the two volumes are kept in sync when writes are sent to the primary volume. It is the responsibility of the primary storage system to send all primary volume writes to the corresponding secondary volume of the secondary storage system. It is the responsibility of the secondary storage system to disallow any read or write accesses by any hosts to the secondary volume while the secondary volume is dedicated as secondary storage. These actions keep the content of the primary and secondary volumes identical.
When access to the primary volume data of the primary storage system is lost, the secondary volume data of the secondary storage system is needed for recovery. In current peer to peer remote copy (PPRC) operations, issuing a xe2x80x9crecoverxe2x80x9d command from a host to a secondary volume of the secondary storage system allows read/write access to the secondary volume. The recover commands tell the secondary storage system that the PPRC primary and secondary volume pair relationships are terminated and that a host can have full access to the secondary volumes in the secondary storage system.
With this approach there has to be a secondary host connected to the secondary storage system to issue the recover commands. In effect, there has to be at least one volume of the secondary storage system accessible to the secondary host. This is a problem because many users desire a host at the remote secondary storage system site be connected to the secondary storage system only during a recovery operation. Many users also desire all of the volumes of the secondary storage system to be available as secondary volumes for PPRC operations and do not want to have at least one volume restricted for secondary host access during PPRC operations.
A problem is that a remote host cannot access the secondary volumes until the remote host issues the recover commands. The recover commands cannot be issued until the secondary volumes are online. To bring a volume online requires read/write commands that are rejected by the secondary storage system while the volumes of the secondary storage system are secondary storage volumes. Consequently, a secondary host has to be connected to the secondary storage system at all times including recovery and non-recovery time periods. What is needed is a method and system for performing automatic stand alone recovery of secondary volumes for peer to peer remote copy (PPRC) operations such that a host does not need to be connected to the secondary storage system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for performing automatic stand alone recovery of secondary volumes for PPRC operations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for performing automatic stand alone recovery of secondary volumes for PPRC operations such that a host does not need to be connected to the secondary storage system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for performing automatic data stand alone data recovery of secondary volumes for PPRC operations such that none of the volumes of a secondary storage system have to be accessible to the secondary host during PPRC operations and, as a result, all volumes of the secondary storage system are available to be secondary volumes.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects, the present invention provides a method for use in a PPRC system having a primary storage system including storage volumes and a secondary storage system including storage volumes. The storage volumes of the primary storage system correspond to respective storage volumes of the secondary storage system to form established PPRC storage volume pairs in which data written on primary storage volumes is automatically written on to the corresponding secondary storage volumes. The storage volumes of the secondary storage system that are part of the established PPRC storage volume pairs are only accessible to receive the data written on to the corresponding primary storage volume. The method makes data available from established PPRC storage volumes of the secondary storage system. The method includes isolating the secondary storage system to be in a stand alone state such that access from any storage systems and hosts is prevented. It is then determined if each storage volume of the secondary storage system is part of an established PPRC storage volume pair. Each established PPRC storage volume pair is then terminated such that the storage volumes of the secondary storage system that are part of the established PPRC storage volume pairs are accessible to hosts. The secondary storage system is then made available to hosts to effect data recovery of the established PPRC storage volumes.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects, the present invention further provides a peer to peer remote copy system in accordance with the method of the present invention.
The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the present invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Automatic stand alone recovery for peer to peer remote copy (PPRC) operations


A method for individualizing an Internet/Intranet global directory and for adaptively changing the global directory structure based upon the individual alterations of multiple users. The method provides a default computer directory of prearranged files on a server computer. Client directory customization data is then provided to the server computer. With this information, the default directory is reconfigured into an individualized Internet/Intranet directory by modifying a copy of the default Internet/Intranet directory based upon the directory customization data. Further aspects include the step of updating the client directory customization data based upon user inputs; the step of collecting a history of client directory customization data; or the step of updating the default computer directory based on a history of client customization data.

The Internet contains vast amount of information stored in files located in computing systems all over the world. One of the most significant problems of using the Internet is how to find particular information in this vast network of computers. Search engines are created to address this problem. Search engines allow user to provide a few keywords and retrieve files that match those keywords. Nowadays, a simple keyword search on the Internet may return thousands (even hundreds of thousands) of web pages. To find the desired information, a user may have to scan the outlines of hundreds web pages; a task that virtually no user has the time and patience to perform. One technique that has been developed to decrease the amount of time spent searching for desired information is arranging web pages into categories.
From the point of view of web-page classification, conventional search engines can be grouped into three classes: manual classification, non-classification, or automatic classification. Generally speaking, the current state of the art is that there is one search engine utilizing manual classification, one utilizing automatic classification, and the remaining search engines either provide no classification or only rudimentary manual classification. However, none of the current search engines allow a user to customize the categories to meet the user's individual needs and preferences.
Yahoo (www.yahoo.com) is a popular search engine that manually classifies web pages into subjects (such as, Arts & Humanities, Business & Economy, Computers & Internet, and Education, each of which is further classified into sub-categories, thereby forming a directory structure). The manual classification process usually begins with users who submit suggested subjects for their web sites or web pages. The sites are then placed in categories by people (called Surfers) who visit and evaluate the suggestions and decide where they best belong. By using this manual process, Yahoo ensures the classification is done in the best (humanly) possible way. However, since the manual process is labor intensive and relatively slow compared to the rapid growth of web pages, Yahoo can now only classify a small percentage of web pages (estimated to be less than 10%). This manual process simply cannot keep up with the explosive growth of the web. Thus, the percentage of manually classified web pages is estimated to be getting smaller and smaller.
As mentioned above, most search engines (such as, AltaVista, Excite, Go (formerly Infoseek), DirectHit, Google, and Lycos) do not provide classification of web pages (or only rudimentary manual grouping of a few pages). With the exception of DirectHit, these search engines rank search results based on factors such as the location of the keywords and the number of occurrences of the keywords. For example, if the keywords are located in the title of a web page, then the web page is rated higher than other web pages that contain the same keywords in the body.
DirectHit (www.directhit.com), on the other hand, ranks search results based on the usage history of millions of Internet searchers. This ranking is based on a number of usage factors, such as the number of users who select a web page and the amount of time the users spend at the web page. By presenting the higher ranked pages first, one can see and find the most popular pages or sites.
Northern Light (www.northernlight.com) is one of the first search engines to incorporate automatic web-page classification. Northern Light organizes search results into categories by subject, type, source, and language. The categories are arranged into hierarchical folders much like a directory structure. The arrangements and the choices of the categories are unique to each search and generated based on the results of the search.
The automated categorization of web documents has been investigated for many years. For example, Northern Light received a U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,090 for their classification mechanisms. Mladenic (1998) has investigated the automatic construction of web directories, such as Yahoo. In a similar application, Craven et al. (1998) intend to use first-order inductive learning techniques to automatically populate an ontology of classes and relations of interests to users. Pazzani and Billsus (1997) apply Bayesian classifiers to the creation and revision of user profiles. WebWather (Joachims et al., 1997) performs as a learning apprentice that perceives user's actions when browsing on the Internet, and learns to rate links on the base of current page and the user's interests. For the techniques of construction of web page classifiers, several solutions have been proposed in the literature, such as Bayesian classifiers (Pazzani & Billsus, 1997), decision trees (Apte et al., 1994), adaptations of Rocchio s algorithm to text categorization (Ittner et al., 1995), and k-nearest neighbor (Masand et al., 1992). An empirical comparison of these techniques has been performed by Pazzani and Billsus (1997). The conclusion was that the Bayesian approach leads to performances at least as good as the other approaches.
However, nothing in the prior art systems allows multiple users the freedom to customize or individualize a global Internet or Intranet directory structure of categories and allows the global directory structure to change adaptively based on all of the user's customizations. Such a system would be a significant advance in the art and is disclosed in the following description.

Method and apparatus for individualizing and updating a directory of computer files

Louisiana Tech University Research Foundation as a division of the Louisiana Tech University Foundation


In the proposed Local Number Portability (LNP) telecommunications network, the traditional link between the first six digits of a ten-digit dialed number and the geographic link of a switch is broken. Some pre-LNP telephone services, however, have been implemented based on this geographic link. For the services to continue to work in an LNP environment, network databases must be simultaneously updated with information reflecting the fact that subscribers have switched from one local service provider to another. If these databases are not simultaneously updated, the possibility for looping messages between network elements arises. The present invention provides a method and system for controlling looping messages between network elements wherein a unique code for each incoming message is generated and stored along with the time the message was received. The codes for subsequently received messages are checked against the table entries to determine if the message has been previously received and, if so, how much time has passed since the message was first received. If this time is less than a threshold, the message is assumed to be looping.

The present invention relates generally to local number portability (LNP) in a telecommunications network, and more particularly to controlling looping of messages in an LNP enabled network.
Currently, local phone service is provided by a single company, such as a Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC). These companies basically enjoy a monopoly over local phone service within their regions. Thus, efforts are being made to introduce competition into the local phone market to eliminate the monopolies and relieve the need to regulate the industry. Under the current system, however, if customers want to change from one service provider to another, they must also change their phone numbers. This is a serious deterrent to switching service providers and, thus, a hindrance to free and open competition.
To alleviate the problem, the FCC has issued an order for LNP which, in addition to providing other features, will allow a customer to switch between local service providers while keeping the same phone number.
In the existing pre-LNP telephone network, the first six digits (NPA-NXX) of a 10 digit phone number identify a particular switch in a particular geographic region. Switches can route calls between switches based on the NPA-NXX of the dialed number. In an LNP environment, however, this relationship between the NPA-NXX and the physical location of a switch is broken, such that there is no fixed relationship between a dialed number and its geographic location. Many existing telephone services such as calling card services, automatic callback, and services relating to voice mail and voice messaging, however, have been implemented based on this geographic relationship. If the change to an LNP environment is to succeed, existing services (i.e., pre-LNP services) must continue to work in the new LNP environment.
Implementation of LNP is creating new network problems. The call flow diagram of FIG. 1 helps illustrate one of these problems. Take, for example, the *69 call back service where two competing local networks A and B exist in a single geographic region. Suppose a caller 10 in Network A dials *69, and the last person that called caller 10 is a subscriber who has switched from the Network A provider to Network B provider. Ideally, both networks are simultaneously updated with the information that the subscriber has ported and call processing proceeds as shown in FIG. 1. A Service Switching Point (SSP) 12 determines that the call is invoking the *69 call back service which requires assistance from an Integrated Service Control Point (ISCP) 16. SSP 12 launches a message to a Signaling Transfer Point (STP) 14, which directs the message to the appropriate ISCP 16. ISCP 16 determines the Signaling Point Code (SPC) (i.e., the address of a network element) of the appropriate ISCP 17 or STP 18 in Network B and routes the message accordingly. ISCP 17 of Network B checks its database (not shown) and routes the requested information to Network B's SSP 19, which completes the call.
If, as assumed above, each network is updated simultaneously, no problems arise. Under the current LNP requirements, however, the network databases may not be updated simultaneously. Suppose in the previous example that Network A updates its database before Network B. The resulting call processing is shown in FIG. 2. A caller 20 again dials *69, and an SSP 22 determines that the call requires assistance from ISCP 26. The SSP 22 launches a message to the STP 24, which directs the message to the appropriate ISCP 26. The ISCP 26 determines the SPC of the appropriate ISCP 27 or STP 28 in Network B and routes the message accordingly. The database (not shown) associated with ISCP 27 in Network B, however, has not been updated to reflect the fact that the subscriber has ported from Network A to Network B. Thus, when ISCP 27 of Network B checks its database, it determines that the subscriber is still with Network A. ISCP 27 then returns the message to STP 24 of Network A. There, the process begins again. The message will loop back and forth between the networks because the databases have not yet been properly updated.
The looping message will stay in the network until Network B updates its database and the message gets correctly routed or the message is dropped. If the message looping problem is serious, because of extremely high volume or multiple looping messages, the ISCP overload mechanism will automatically detect the overload condition and take the necessary steps to drop messages.
During the interim, however, the looping message consumes network capacity. Assuming it takes approximately 200 ms for a message to reach Network B's ISCP from Network A's ISCP, the round-trip will take 400 ms. This results in the loss of about 3 q/s of capacity for each looping message. For simplicity, the above explanation assumes that only two networks are involved. The drain on capacity would be even more significant if intermediate networks are included in the calculation.
Currently, no mechanism exists that would allow the ISCP to detect looping messages. There is, therefore, a need for a system and method to detect and eliminate looping messages before an overload condition is detected by the ISCP.

System and method for controlling message looping between network elements


An inverter has a semiconductor switch circuit in the primary winding of a transformer such that each of the switches of the switch circuit is controlled by pulse-width modulation (PWM) to supply a constant ac current and a constant ac voltage to a load, such as a cold cathode fluorescent light, connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A common slow-start control circuit is provided in the inverter circuit to enable a common slow startup of the PWM control of the output voltage and output current. This arrangement suppresses an excessive voltage and an inrushing current during a startup.

A cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL) has been increasingly used as a back light source of a liquid crystal display monitor of a notebook PC and of a liquid crystal display (LCD) for use with, for example, a TV set. Such CCFL has substantially the same high efficiency and long life as a usual hot cathode fluorescent light, without using a filament of the hot cathode fluorescent light.
In order to start up and operate the CCFL, a high ac voltage is required. For example, a startup voltage of about 1000 V and an operating voltage of about 600 V are required. These high ac voltages are generated from a dc power supply unit of, for example, a notebook PC and a liquid crystal TV set, using an inverter.
Conventionally, a Royer circuit has been used as an inverter for the CCFL. The Royer circuit comprises a saturable magnetic core transformer and a control transistor, and is adapted to undergo a self-sustaining oscillation owing to the nonlinear permeability of the saturable magnetic core and the nonlinear current gain characteristic of the control transistor. The Royer circuit itself requires no external clock or driver circuit.
However, a Royer circuit is basically a constant-voltage inverter, which cannot maintain a constant output voltage if the input voltage thereto and/or the load current thereof varies. Hence, in order to maintain a constant input voltage to the Royer circuit, a regulator for supplying electric power to the Royer circuit is required. For this reason, the inverter utilizing a Royer circuit cannot be easily miniaturized, and has low power inversion efficiency.
A CCFL inverter having improved power conversion efficiency has been disclosed (see for example Japanese Patent Application H10-50489). This inverter comprises a first semiconductor switch connected in series with the primary winding of a transformer, a serially connected second semiconductor switch and a capacitor which are connected in parallel with the primary winding, and a coupling capacitor and a load connected in series with the secondary winding of the transformer. The first and second semiconductor switches are switched on and off by a control signal received from a control circuit to supply ac power to the load.
A full-bridge (often called H bridge) type CCFL inverter utilizing four semiconductor switches has been proposed (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,615.) This inverter has a transformer having its primary winding connected to the output end of the full bridge via a resonant capacitor connected in series with the primary winding. The load is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer. Of the four semiconductor switches constituting the full bridge, a first set of two semiconductor switches establishes a current path in a first direction to the primary winding of the transformer and a second set of two semiconductor switches establishes a current path in a second direction to the primary winding. The control circuit provides the full bridge semiconductor switches with control signals each having a fixed pulse width and a controlled relative position of the pulse, thereby regulating the power given to the load. Over-current protection is carried out by detecting the voltage across the secondary winding of the transformer.
Although conventional inverters are designed to drive a load under a constant-current control and protect the load against an excessive voltage, it is often the case that the load, particularly a CCFL in the present example, is subjected to an excessive current and/or excessive voltage during a startup on account of a loop-delay encountered in the constant-current control or an operational delay in protection against an excessive voltage. This excessive current and excessive voltage impose a strong stress on the CCFL, thereby shortening the life of the CCFL. Furthermore, major components of the inverter such as a transformer, a semiconductor switch, and a battery must be constructed to withstand excessive current and excessive voltage.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an inverter having a semiconductor switch circuit connected to the primary winding of a transformer such that the switches of the semiconductor switch circuit are respectively controlled by pulse-width modulation (PWM) to supply a constant current and a constant voltage to the load, said inverter capable of preventing an excessive inrushing current to the load and an excessive voltage on the load from occurring during a startup, irrespective of a possible loop delay in the constant-current/voltage control loop.
It is another object of the invention to provide a controller IC for use in such inverter.


An electronic system includes a fan and a fan controller connected to the fan to control a speed of the fan. The fan controller has storage locations for storing thermal data used by the fan controller to control the speed of the fan. A thermal sensor generates a first portion of the thermal data, which is readable by the fan controller, and which the fan controller stores in a first portion of the storage locations. A device generates a second portion of the thermal data, which is not readable by the fan controller. An agent writes the second portion of the thermal data to a second portion of the storage locations.

In electronic systems, such as computers and many other devices, there are commonly some components that generate heat during operation. Many of these components need to be cooled to prevent damage to the component or other parts of the electronic system. Cooling also helps to maintain or enhance the operating capability or efficiency of the electronic system. One or more fans are thus employed to move air through the electronic systems and across the heat generating components to transfer the heat to the ambient air. The components are thereby cooled.
It is possible to keep the fans blowing at maximum speed all the time to ensure maximum cooling capacity. However, fans can cause vibrations and audible noise, use significant electricity and can wear out. Therefore, it is preferable to run the fans only as fast as is necessary to achieve sufficient cooling of the heat generating components to maintain proper operation of the overall electronic system. Sensors are, thus, placed in various suitable locations within the electronic system to generate thermal data, which is used to determine the speed needed for the fans.
Some components or devices within the electronic system, however, because of their design and/or location within the electronic system, do not allow for a suitable placement of a sensor. It is, therefore, difficult, expensive or impossible to generate useful thermal data for these components. Additionally, any thermal data that can be generated by an unsuitably placed sensor may not accurately indicate the actual temperature of the components. Without good thermal data, the necessary speed of the fans cannot be optimized. The proper or optimum operation of the electronic system or its components is thus jeopardized.

Controlling fan speed in electronic system

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can include a key height activation engine and a keyboard. The keyboard can include a plurality of keys and one or more of the plurality of keys can include a key height mechanism. The key height mechanism includes a shape memory material and when the key height mechanism is activated by the key height activation engine, the shape memory material raises the one or more of the plurality of keys that includes the key height mechanism from a first height to a second height.

Emerging trends in systems place increasing demands on a system. One trend is thin or ultra-thin devices. Traditionally, keyboard configurations fail to offer an acceptable user experience as they can be too thick. Typing on glass is ergonomically uncomfortable and current Bluetooth keyboards can be thick and cumbersome for carrying from place to place. Those designs can increase the overall thickness of an electronic device, stifle the user's flexibility, and/or hindering the overall consumer experience of the electronic device.
The FIGURES of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, as their dimensions can be varied considerably without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Keyboard that includes shape memory material


A system may include a target implantable medical device (IMD) and an external device configured to selectively communicate with the target IMD. The external device may include a communication module configured to communicate with the target IMD, a response analysis module configured to receive and analyze a target response signal from the target IMD and other response signals from other IMDS, and a power adjustment module configured to receive one or more power-adjustment request signals from the response analysis module. The power adjustment module is configured to adaptively adjust a power of a transmission request over a first frequency band based on the one or more power-adjustment request signals until the response analysis module receives only the target response signal from the target IMD.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to implantable cardiac devices, and more particularly to implantable medical devices that communicate with an external device through radio frequency (RF) signals.
Numerous medical devices exist today, including but not limited to electrocardiographs ("ECGs"), electroencephalographs ("EEGs"), squid magnetometers, implantable pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators ("ICDs"), neurostimulators, electrophysiology ("EP") mapping and radio frequency ("RF") ablation systems, and the like. Implantable medical devices (hereafter generally "implantable medical devices" or "IMDs") are configured to be implanted within patient anatomy and commonly employ one or more leads with electrodes that either receive or deliver voltage, current or other electromagnetic pulses (generally "energy") from or to an organ or tissue (collectively hereafter "tissue") for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Various IMDs are monitored by a programmer, such as remote care or base station, which is remotely located from the IMDs. For example, a patient may have an IMD that communicates with a base station within the patient's home. The base station may be located by a patient's bedside. The base station receives data from the IMD regarding the patient's physiological state and/or the operation state of the IMD. Based on the received data, the base station may convey the data to a remote server of a medical care network, or adjust operating parameters for the IMD. For example, the base station may adjust operating parameters of the IMD, such as when a patient experiences changes in arrhythmia, pacing, ST shift, various types of ischemia, base rate, and the like.
Many IMDs include an RF capability to communicate with the programmer. Data may be received from the base station when transmitted over varies frequency bands, such as at a 402-405 MHz frequency range, which represents the Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) band. The MICS band enables a short-range, wireless link to be maintained between low-power implanted IMDs and an external programmer or base station.
An RF chip within a typical IMD periodically scans select frequency bands, such as the 2.45 GHz band, over the life of the IMD. The 2.45 GHz band is an unlicensed, microwave band. The IMD uses information received over the 2.45 GHz band to determine if the programmer is seeking to communicate with the IMD over another band (for example, the MICS band), which is used to receive and transmit data to and from the IMD. If the RF chip operating at a 2.45 GHz band detects that the programmer desires to communicate over the MICS band, the IMD then switches over to the MICS band. Bidirectional communication over the MICS band consumes substantially more power than the 2.45 GHz band. As such, through the use of the 2.45 GHz band, which is used to detect whether the programmer is attempting to communicate with the IMD, the IMD conserves energy. In general, the MICS band (for example, the 402-405 MHz band) affords a longer range and more robust connection than the 2.45 GHz band. However, as compared to the MICS band, the 2.45 GHz band draws less power from the IMD when scanning for connection requests and during a communications session.
In order to establish an RF communication link between a programmer and an IMD in some known systems, the programmer first establishes a short range inductive link with the IMD after an inductive wand is placed in proximity to the IMD. The programmer then sends an inductive telemetry command through the established inductive link to the IMD in order to initiate an MICS band RF scan for all allocated MICS band channels. The programmer then instructs the wand to establish an MICS band link with the IMD. Typically, the programmer assesses the channels and selects the clearest or least-interfered MICS channel from the available allocated MICS channels. The connection request is sent through the selected channels. When the RF chip in the IMD detects the connection request, the RF chip completes the MICS band link through coordinated actions between the RF chip and device firmware.
The communication connection process described above works well so long as the IMD, the wand, and the external programmer include inductive hardware. By default, the IMD typically does not perform a frequent scan on the MICS channel seeking a connection request, as doing so would deplete too much energy. Instead, the IMD scans the MICS channel after receiving a specific command from the programmer received over inductive hardware. As such, the IMD saves energy, which ensures longevity. At the same time, the programmer connects to a specifically-targeted IMD, because the inductive connection is typically targeted with a specific IMD at a short range.
However, with RF-only devices that do not include inductive hardware, the programmer may initiate a wake-up with multiple devices over the 2.45 GHz band. For example, if multiple IMDs are in close proximity with one another, each of the IMDs may be scanning the 2.45 GHz band and respond to a connection request from the programmer. Yet, the programmer may be targeting only a single IMD, but not multiple IMDs. As such, the programmer may erroneously wake up and communicate with non-targeted IMDs.

System and method for selectively communicating with an implantable medical device


A target clamp includes at least one plate, a biasing element disposed adjacent the plate, and an actuator adjacent the biasing element. When a target is disposed between the biasing element and the plate, the actuator can be moved from a first position to a second position to cause the biasing element to forcefully engage the target, thereby holding the target between the plate and the biasing element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clamp for holding targets used on shooting ranges and the like to an actuation mechanism which selectively displays the target. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clamp which more securely holds movable targets while facilitating placement and removal of the target in the clamp of the actuation mechanism.
2. State of the Art
It is common for law enforcement officers and others to engage in target practice to maintain their shooting accuracy. In conventional target practice, a target, i.e. an outline of a person, vehicle, etc., is held before a bullet trap (or other type of range). The trap receives bullets fired at the target and contains the bullet so that it may be retrieved and recycled. Such traps include total containment system wherein the bullet is received in a chamber, and less expensive berm traps in which the bullet is received by a bullet deceleration medium, such as sand or small rubber granules.
While target practice at set, stationary targets improves accuracy in that context, it fails to prepare the shooter for most real life situations. For example, a police officer shooting at a set target may obtain a high degree of accuracy in that scenario. However, the situation in which a police officer will be firing at a set target are rare. A more common scenario is for a criminal to suddenly appear from behind a door, wall, etc. If the officer is to avoid injury (or accidentally shooting an innocent person), it is critical for the officer to develop quick reflexes to enable immediate determination of whether the person poses a threat and accurate shooting if a threat is present.
One common training method for testing and improving reaction time is a turn and shoot target. The target is mounted to an actuation mechanism which selectively rotates the target between a first position, wherein the target is parallel with the line of fire and, thus, not exposed to the shooter, and a second position, wherein the target faces the shooter and is perpendicular with the line of fire. For added complexity, the actuation mechanism can be movable along a track so that the target moves toward and/or away from the shooter.
To test the officer""s reaction time and accuracy, the actuation mechanism will suddenly turn the target from the first position, shown in FIG. 1A, to the second position, shown in FIG. 1B, to expose the target to the shooter. The officer must then quickly determine the threat posed by the target and fire if necessary. By viewing the target after completion of the exercise, the officer can determine his shooting accuracy under more realistic circumstances, as opposed to shooting a set target.
The target typically is formed from a sheet of paper or similar disposable material. Currently, it is common for the target to have two holes which are slid over bolts on the actuation mechanism. A pair of wing nuts are then used to engage the opposing side of the target. A close-up view of the attachment of the target to the actuation mechanism is shown in FIG. 1C.
One problem with the prior art configuration is that it takes time to remove and reattach the wing nuts. Another, more significant problem, is that if the target is turned too rapidly, the target has a tendency to tear. Sometimes, the target will tear free of the attachment and fall to the ground. Other times, a portion of the target will tear causing the target to hang improperly.
In an attempt to resolve these concerns, attempts have been made to use biased spring clips, similar to those used to hold a number of documents together, to hold the target. A close-up view of a portion of an actuator having such attachment clips is shown in FIG. 1D. Such clips are advantageous in that they enable quick removal and replacement of the target. However, the force with which such clips hold the target is directly proportional to the pressure which must be applied to open the clips for insertion and removal of the target. Thus, the compression which can be used is limited by the ability of the user to open the clip without excessive effort. Thus, it is common for the clips either to be very difficult too open or to provide inadequate holding power to ensure that the target is not removed from the clamp of the actuation mechanism.
Thus, there is a need for an improved target clamp. Such a target clamp would securely hold the target to prevent tearing of the target during use. Such a target clamp would also allow rapid replacement of the target, while placing little strain on the user.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved target clamp and method of using the same.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a target clamp which allows instant removal and replacement of a target.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a target clamp which securely holds a target and enables more rapid turning of the target without causing the target to detach from the clamp.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a target clamp which requires little physical strength to use.
The above and other objects of the invention are realized in specific illustrated embodiments of a target clamp and method of use which includes a base of an actuation mechanism and a biasing element configured to engage a target when disposed in the base of the. actuation mechanism. Disposed adjacent to the biasing element is an actuator which causes the biasing element to selectively apply pressure to the target.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the base of the actuation mechanism is configured with a front plate and a rear plate configured to contain the biasing mechanism and target to hold the biasing mechanism is a compressed engagement with a portion of the target.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the biasing element is formed by a biasing spring which extends substantially the length of the base of the actuation mechanism to securely hold the target along the base of the actuation mechanism.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the actuator comprises an arm which is pivotable between a first position and second position to selectively engage the biasing element to selectively force the biasing element into firm engagement with the target.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the arm forming the actuator is disposed to as to move generally perpendicular to the direction of force applied by the biasing element.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, the biasing element is shaped such that the biasing element slides toward the a target in response to movement of the actuator arm from the first position to the second position.


According to one or more embodiments, a settlement apparatus includes a processor. The processor detects a state of the settlement apparatus related to execution of settlement processing at the settlement apparatus using a plurality of settlement methods. The processor determines, based on the detected state of the settlement apparatus, whether there is a first settlement method among the plurality of settlement methods which cannot be executed at the settlement processing apparatus. The processor then notifies a customer of settlement method information indicating the first settlement method cannot be executed at the settlement processing or that another settlement method, other than the first settlement method, can be executed at the settlement apparatus instead of the first settlement method.

Some Point-Of-Sales (POS) terminals in a store such as a retail store or the like are capable of performing settlement (or payment) processing by a plurality of settlement methods including cashless settlement. For example, in order to enable not only settlement by cash but also settlement by cashless means such as a credit card and an electronic money, a POS terminal has a cashless settlement terminal connected thereto or incorporated therein.
In such a POS terminal, there may be a time when cash settlement cannot be performed due to, for example, a failure in a conveying mechanism for bills and coins in a change machine that receives cash from, and dispenses change to, a customer or the like. In another instance, if coins stocked in the change machine runs out, a change shortage occurs and the cash settlement processing may need to be prohibited.
There may also be a time when cashless settlement cannot be performed, for example, if a failure occurs in a communication network between the cashless settlement terminal and a server of a credit company or an electronic money management company.
Even if such failures occur and settlement processing cannot be executed by one of the settlement methods, however, so long as the POS terminal can accept other settlement methods than the unavailable method, the settlement processing can be continued even before the failures or problems are solved by a maintenance person, a store clerk, or the like. This can improve operation efficiency of the POS terminal functioning as a settlement apparatus.
From a view point of a customer who is about to make settlement or payment at a store, in a case where a plurality of POS terminals are arranged in register counters or in a checkout area of the store, it is like that a customer want to know what kind of a failure has occurred in which POS terminal so that he or she can use another executable settlement method or move to another available POS terminal, thereby avoiding such an inconvenient instance that a customer desiring cash settlement stands in a line of a POS terminal that cannot perform cash settlement.
Hence, there is a need for a settlement apparatus and a settlement method informing system capable of handling a plurality of settlement methods and informing a customer of executability or acceptability of each of the settlement methods.

Settlement apparatus and settlement method informing system


The invention relates to an electronic module comprising at least one electronic or electric component (3), a base plate (4), and a support plate (2), in particular a printed circuit board or a substrate. Said support plate (2) is arranged on the base plate (4) and comprises conductor paths. Said base plate (4) comprises a blind hole-type recess (5) on a side oriented towards the support plate (2). The component (3) is in contact on the support plate (2) and is arranged in the recess (5) of the base plate (4).

The present invention relates to an electronic module and in particular to a transmission control module for motor vehicles.
In the prior art, a plurality of sensors is required at multiple locations, for example, in the case of transmission control systems in order to acquire different signals, as, e.g., temperature, pressure and rotational speed. Feed lines to said sensors consist, for example, of flex foils or cables and are connected to the transmission controller which typically comprises a small printed circuit board. As a result, a very large assembly outlay is incurred and the necessary connections between sensors and printed circuit board are relatively expensive. In addition, a large number of procedural steps, as, e.g., bonding, soldering, welding or adhesive bonding, are required. It would therefore be desirable to provide a cost effective electronic module which particularly can be used in transmission control systems of motor vehicles.


Pliers (1) comprising jaw (201, 301) portions incorporating gripping faces for the clamping of the desired workpiece (90), three pivotal handle (202) portions and a sprung toothed strut (60) positioned between the handles (202). A bow shaped resilient portion (408) or portions, incorporated within the third arm (200, 300, 400) portion, when the pliers are operated this resilient portion imparts a sprung pressure upon the clamped workpiece (90) by the gripping face (203, 303) of the jaws (201, 301). The third arm (200, 300, 400) and bend promoting portion are contiguous with each other. The jaws (201, 301) can further be usefully locked in the required clamping position upon the workpiece (90) by a toothed sprung strut (60) pivotally attached to the first and third arms (200) and conveniently being locked or unlocked according to the locking switch (500, 50) pivotal within the first arm (200, 300, 400).

Existing "vice grip" pliers have the common characteristic of jaws initially adjusted by a screw on the end of the fixed handle, the closure of the moving handle operating an over-cam mechanism to lock the jaws upon the workpiece, the prior adjustment of the screw determining the locking pressure of the said jaws upon the workpiece, several adjustments usually being required to attain the required gripping pressure.
Further types of pliers are adapted to slideably close upon a workpiece in response to manual closing of the handles and, in response to contact with the workpiece, automatically lock against further sliding action by engaging suitable teeth and thereby shift from a sliding to a pivoting mode whereby continued exertion of manual force on the handles increases the gripping action upon the workpiece.
Existing locking pliers such as those shown in US2015/283681 (Wu) and US2015/273664 (Skodje et al) comprise of two robust handles connected to two robust jaws, and a locking mechanism connected to the two jaws. The handles can be squeezed too close the jaws. The locking member is attached to an over centre linkage which when utilized prevents the lower handle from pivoting from its closed configuration and until opened retaining the jaws in a closed position. The clamping width of the jaws being adjusted by an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw further determining the clamping pressure exerted upon the clamped workpiece. As the clamping pressure requires to be preordained, it can take several attempts to correctly adjust the screw to the required position in order to clamp the workpiece the best way. The clamping width of the jaws once set by the adjusting screw is finite, any movement, vibration or relaxing of the clamped material normally resulting in the failure of the clamping action, this is most prevalent when the device is used to initially clamp bodywork parts during the panel beating process prior to welding or bolting the panels being worked on, inadvertent over pressure applied by the clamping jaws usually resulting in the damage or distortion of the clamped parts.
U.S. Pat. No. D742194 (Engel) shows a set of pliers having a toothed strut with a locking mechanism attached to one operating arm, as the arms are closed the teeth "ratchet" past the lock, as the operating arms are not designed to resiliently deform during robust operation, the toothed arc of the strut remains in substantially the same locking angle relative to the locking mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,272,394 (Buchanan) discloses pliers or clamps having a single bow or arcuate portion to permit limited flexing of one of the handles. A pivotal strut retained between the handles, the strut slidably held in a channel within one handle and pivotally held within the other handle. The pivotal end of the strut having a toothed arc, which acts with a further switched pawl, to lock or unlock the handle positions relative to one another. The compression of the handles in the first instance closing the gap between the fixed and moveable jaws, the moveable jaw sliding up a clamp bar portion until the jaws robustly contact the workpiece, the further operation of the handles resulting in the clamping of the workpiece, the resilient arcuate portion acting to impose a limited sprung grip upon the workpiece, further usefulness imported by the locking action of the pawl teeth within the strut arc teeth when the pawl is switched into its ratchet locking position retaining the handles substantially in their closed position providing a limited spring grip upon the workpiece. These pliers although efficient are expensive and complex to manufacture.
The closure of the prior art devices when operated upon workpieces at or near to their maximum size operating limit require the handles to be operated at a width above the span of normal or small hands, therefore requiring the use of two hands, at least initially.
The closing force of the prior art devices is largely governed by the length of the handles compared to their jaw opening requiring handles of a reasonable length which can restrict their use in certain areas.
It is an object of the invention to at least partially alleviate the above-mentioned disadvantages, or to provide an alternative to existing products. Embodiments of the invention may provide a more cost effective product, capable of more than one function.


The invention relates to a device for capturing ionizing radiation, in which a substrate which is provided with a phosphor layer is accommodated in a housing. To simplify the device and to ensure a high light yield, the invention provides that a means for buffering the atmospheric humidity is accommodated in the housing.

Particularly in the case of X-ray luminescent screens, the phosphors used are alkali metal halides, e.g. CsI, CsBr, NaI, RbBr and the like. Alkali metal halides are water-soluble and hygroscopic. They absorb and chemisorb moisture from the air. This undesirably leads to a reduction in the light yield and to decomposition of the phosphor layer.
To counteract this problem, there has been a tendency, according to the prior art, to protect the phosphor layer by means of a moisture-tight cover. In this context, reference is made, for example, to DE 42 22 946 C2, EP 0 932 053 A1 or EP 0 903 590 A1.
It is also known, in order to eliminate the above problem, to enclose the substrate which incorporates the phosphor layer in a housing under a vacuum. A housing of this type is expensive to produce. Over the course of time, the vacuum may be lost. For certain phosphor compositions, for example highly Eu-doped CsBr, discoloration which reduces the light yield occurs in vacuum.

Device for detecting ionizing radiation using a layer of fluorescent material


According to one embodiment, a superconducting element used as a pixel for detecting a particle is disclosed. The superconducting element includes at least one superconducting strip. The at least one superconducting strip includes a meandering structure. The meandering structure includes a first portion extending in a first direction and made of a superconducting material, a second portion connected to the first portion, extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and being conductive, and a third portion connected to the second portion, extending in a direction opposite to the first direction, and made of a superconducting material. A superconducting region of any one of the first portion and the third portion is configured to be divided when the particle is radiated to the first portion.

An X-ray photon detection device employing a narrow strip made of a superconducting material (superconducting strip) has been known. When detecting an X-ray photon, a bias current is supplied to the superconducting strip in a superconducting state. When the X-ray photon collides with the superconducting strip in this state, a temporal transition to a non-superconducting state arises in the vicinity of a region with which the X-ray photon collides, and thus a pulsed electrical signal is generated. The pulsed electrical signal is detected to count the number of X-ray photons.

Superconducting element, particle detection device, and particle detection method


A floor scrubbing apparatus has rotating pads and a flexible scrubber guard that encompasses the scrubber during floor scrubbing operations. The scrubber guard protects a work area from contact damage and liquid splash. The scrubber guard comprises a flexible wall having a top edge, an arcuate bottom edge, and continuous, vertically extending interior and exterior surfaces. Parallel, latitudinally positioned ribs project outwardly from, and extend around the entire circumference of, the interior surface of the scrubber guard. These ribs increase the scrubber guard's ability to intercept liquid splash. The arcuate bottom edge allows the scrubber guard to lift upwardly, relative to the surface of a floor, when the exterior surface encounters a vertical structure such as a wall. The arcuate bottom edge also inhibits power cord entanglement with the rotating cleaning pads.

Floor cleaning devices typically comprise a frame, a number of motor-driven rotary pads or brushes, a motor, and a handle pivotally mounted to the frame. The rotary pads or brushes repetitively abrade the surface of a floor as a worker, using the pivotally mounted handle, guides the apparatus over the floor.
Damage to furniture and walls can result if there is inadvertent contact with the scrubbing mechanism. And, with modern machines having drive blocks that rotate at high speeds, there is a tendency for liquid from the floor to splash onto nearby objects. Workers must therefore spend time and effort to avoid damaging objects in the work area and must clean the residue of splashed liquid from walls, furniture and the like.
Floor cleaning machines may also be hazardous to the operator because the rotary cleaning pads or brushes can entangle the machine's power cord. In the presence of cleaning solution contact with the power cord may result in electric shock to the worker.
There are devices intended to prevent damage to work areas resulting from contact with floor cleaning machines and from cleaning solution splash. These are scrubber guards that surround the scrubbing mechanism of a scrubbing machine. Many prior scrubber guards are limited by the fact that they are either directly attached to, or are intended for use with, a particular machine. Examples of such devices can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,153,251, 4,510,643 and 4,903,364.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,769 (Doersam) describes a splash guard that is not attached to floor cleaning apparatus. Doersam's splash guard is made of a rigid, plastic material comprising a smooth annular wall having a rigid flange located adjacent one edge. The flange extends outwardly from and at a right angle to the exterior surface of the wall. Doersam's guard also includes oppositely disposed notch portions that permit the ingress and egress of cleaning solution to and from the region enclosed by the guard.
A rigid, free-floating splash guard tips when pushed against an object on the exterior of the guard, unless the scrubbing machine contacts the guard at a location that is directly opposite the location where the guard contacts the exterior object. When such a guard tips, liquid splash occurs and the guard fails to perform its intended function.
Doersam's guard addressed this problem by extending the rigid horizontal flange outwardly from the exterior surface of the guard. The flange contacts a wall or baseboard before the guard does. This prevents tipping if the force exerted by the baseboard on the exterior surface of the guard is directly opposed by the force applied by the scrubbing machine to the interior surface of the guard. Doersam's guard is intended for use on both hard surface floors and carpet by flipping the guard over. When the flange is not resting on the floor, the force applied by the cleaning machine to the interior surface of the guard may not be directly opposed by a force applied to the exterior surface of the guard. Thus, the problems associated with guard tipping are not alleviated by Doersam's splash guard.
The rigid construction of Doersam's splash guard and outwardly extending flange also prevents the splash guard from conforming to obstacles and work areas. This in turn prevents the cleaning machine from entering work areas smaller than the guard but otherwise accessible to the cleaning machine.


The invention relates to 2-imidazo-benzothiazoles of general formula

Adenosine modulates a wide range of physiological functions by interacting with specific cell surface receptors. The potential of adenosine receptors as drug targets was first reviewed in 1982. Adenosine is related both structurally and metabolically to the bioactive nucleotides adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP); to the biochemical methylating agent S-adenosyl-L-methione (SAM); and structurally to the coenzymes NAD, FAD and coenzyme A; and to RNA. Together adenosine and these related compounds are important in the regulation of many aspects of cellular metabolism and in the modulation of different central nervous system activities.
The receptors for adenosine have been classified as A1, A2A, A2B and A3 receptors, belonging to the family of G protein-coupled receptors. Activation of adenosine receptors by adenosine initiates signal transduction mechanism. These mechanisms are dependent on the receptor associated G protein. Each of the adenosine receptor subtypes has been classically characterized by the adenylate cyclase effector system, which utilizes cAMP as a second messenger. The A1 and A3 receptors, coupled with Gi proteins inhibit adenylate cyclase, leading to a decrease in cellular cAMP levels, while A2A and A2B receptors couple to Gs proteins and activate adenylate cyclase, leading to an increase in cellular cAMP levels. It is known that the A1 receptor system include the activation of phospholipase C and modulation of both potassium and calcium ion channels. The A3 subtype, in addition to its association with adenylate cyclase, also stimulates phospholipase C and so activates calcium ion channels.
The A1 receptor (326–328 amino acids) was cloned from various species (canine, human, rat, dog, chick, bovine, guinea-pig) with 90–95% sequence identify among the mammalian species. The A2A receptor (409–412 amino acids) was cloned from canine, rat, human, guinea pig and mouse. The A2B receptor (332 amino acids) was cloned from human and mouse with 45% homology of human A2B with human A1 and A2A receptors. The A3 receptor (317–320 amino acids) was cloned from human, rat, dog, rabbit and sheep.
The A1 and A2A receptor subtypes are proposed to play complementary roles in adenosine's regulation of the energy supply. Adenosine, which is a metabolic product of ATP, diffuses from the cell and acts locally to activate adenosine receptors to decrease the oxygen demand (A1) or increase the oxygen supply (A2A) and so reinstate the balance of energy supply: demand within the tissue. The actions of both subtypes are to increase the amount of available oxygen to tissue and to protect cells against damage caused by a short term imbalance of oxygen. One of the important functions of endogenous adenosine is preventing damage during traumas such as hypoxia, ischaemia, hypotension and seizure activity.
Furthermore, it is known that the binding of the adenosine receptor agonist to mast cells expressing the rat A3 receptor resulted in increased inositol triphosphate and intracellular calcium concentrations, which potentiated antigen induced secretion of inflammatory mediators. Therefore, the A3 receptor plays a role in mediating asthmatic attacks and other allergic responses.
Adenosine is also a neuromodulator, possessing global importance in the modulation of molecular mechanisms underlying many aspects of physiological brain function by mediating central inhibitory effects. An increase in neurotransmitter release follows traumas such as hypoxia, ischaemia and seizures. These neurotransmitters are ultimately responsible for neural degeneration and neural death, which causes brain damage or death of the individual. The adenosine A1 agonists which mimic the central inhibitory effects of adenosine may therefore be useful as neuroprotective agents. Adenosine has been proposed as an endogenous anticonvulsant agent, inhibiting glutamate release from excitory neurons and inhibiting neuronal firing. Adenosine agonists therefore may be used as antiepileptic agents.
Adenosine antagonists stimulate the activity of the CNS and have proven to be effective as cognition enhancers. Selective A2a-antagonists have therapeutic potential in the treatment of various forms of dementia, for example in Alzheimer's disease and are useful as neuroprotective agents. Adenosine A2a-receptor antagonists inhibit the release of dopamine from central synaptic terminals and stimulate locomotor activity and consequently improve Parkinsonian symptoms. The central activities of adenosine are also implicated in the molecular mechanism underlying sedation, hypnosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, pain, respiration, depression and substance abuse. Drugs acting at adenosine receptors therefore have therapeutic potential as sedatives, muscle relaxants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, analgesics, respiratory stimulants and antidepressants, and they may be used in the treatment of ADHD (attention deficit hyper-activity disorder).
An important role for adenosine in the cardiovascular system is as a cardioprotective agent. Levels of endogenous adenosine increase in response to ischaemia and hypoxia, and protect cardiac tissue during and after trauma (preconditioning). Adenosine agonists thus have potential as cardioprotective agents.
Adenosine modulates many aspects of renal function, including renin release, glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow. Compounds, which antagonize the renal affects of adenosine, have potential as renal protective agents. Furthermore, adenosine A3 and/or A2B antagonists may be useful in the treatment of asthma and other allergic responses or and in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and obesity.
Numerous documents describe the current knowledge on adenosine receptors. These include Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 6, (1998), 619–641, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 6, (1998), 707–719, J. Med. Chem., (1998), 41, 2835–2845, J. Med. Chem., (1998), 41, 3186–3201, J. Med. Chem., (1998), 41, 2126–2133, J. Med. Chem., (1999), 42, 706–721, J. Med. Chem., (1996), 39, 1164–1171, Arch. Pharm. Med. Chem., 332, 39–41, (1999), Am. J. Physiol., 276, H1113–1116, (1999) and Naunyn Schmied, Arch. Pharmacol. 362, 375–381, (2000).

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R′, R″, X, R′″ and n are defined herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: It has been found that the compound of formula I are adenosine receptor ligands with good affinity to the A1 and A3 receptors. These compounds have useful pharmaceutical activities.


Disclosed is an improved substrate bias feedback circuit, and a method for operating the same.

In state of the art process technologies such as those with line widths of 65 nanometers (nm) and 90 nanometers, there is significant sub-threshold leakage in cells even if the cell is in a steady state. Ideally in Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) memory circuits if a cell is not switching, no current should be drawn. However, as line widths get smaller, leakage becomes a problem even when the cells are not switching i.e., when the cells are in standby mode. This is a concern in battery powered and mobile applications where power conservation is of great importance. Furthermore SRAM circuits need to be able to wake from standby mode (where very little/no current is drawn) to active mode (where circuit is operating normally) Very quickly.
A number of conventional chip leakage solutions for reducing the chip leakage power are described. In a first conventional solution the chip power supply is reduced during standby conditions and brought back to nominal voltages during active mode. Disadvantages of this first conventional solution include that the chip power supply needs to be brought back higher during active condition which means there is a startup time from standby to active. Also, this first conventional solution needs to be implemented as a die-by-die tweak because it is not a closed loop system.
In a second conventional solution low speed, high threshold voltage (Vt) or multiple Vt technologies are used to lower current leakage. Employing a high Vt technology slows down the entire chip, because the high threshold voltage causes all transistors to switch slowly. Solutions employing multi-Vt technologies are expensive due to the additional mask steps required to implement multi-Vt technologies during wafer manufacturing. For example, using older high line-width technologies such as 0.25 micrometer (um) or 250 nanometer (nm) technologies, a full mask set cost approximately one hundred thousand US dollars. Today a full mask set using cutting edge 65 nm technology costs approximately nine hundred thousand US dollars, with a cost of fifty thousand US dollars for each additional mask step. With such expensive technologies, using additional masks to implement multi-Vt technologies is a pricey solution. Furthermore, with multi-Vt technologies there is no feedback mechanism based on transistor leakage to control leakage current with process, voltage and temperature (PVT).
In a third conventional solution a constant substrate reverse bias reference voltage is set at wafer sort by doing a die by die tweak to get to the optimal substrate bias voltage for each die. This reverse bias operation uses a negative reference voltage for N-channel transistors, and uses a positive reference voltage for P-channel transistors. This die-by-die tweak costs additional test time per die, and the bias does not change automatically with voltage and temperature i.e. this is an open loop system with no feedback.
In a fourth conventional solution shown in FIG. 1 a speed to voltage converter circuit 100 may be used to control power supply. The speed to voltage converter 100 comprises an input signal 110, which may be a clock or other periodic signal, coupled to a replica delay path block 130 which introduces a propagation delay time (Tpd). The output of the replica delay path block 130 is coupled to an input of a speed to voltage converter block 140, which generates a voltage proportional to the propagation delay time. The output of the speed to voltage converter block 140 is coupled to a first input of a comparator 150. A reference voltage block 120 provides a bandgap reference to a second input of the comparator 150. The output of the comparator 150 is coupled to a voltage and bias generator block 160. The output of this bias generator block 160 is used to bias the transistors in the device. The speed (or frequency) to voltage converter can also be used to regulate speed by comparing the speed of a replica circuit with a reference voltage such as that produced by a bandgap.
Disadvantages of the fourth conventional solution include that since this solution changes the power supply voltage or bias based on the speed of a circuit (the delay of a delay chain), this is not a direct and accurate representation of the leakage in a device. Hence the leakage reduction is not optimal. Furthermore, delay circuits are usually slower at high temperatures making the feedback system operate as if it is a slow corner or a less leaky corner and hence the substrate bias is not applied. But the sub-threshold leakages are indeed worse at higher temperatures and hence the substrate bias should be applied. This difference in temperature dependence of delays and sub-threshold leakage make this feedback scheme unsuitable for reducing leakage power.
In a fifth solution, the leakage is reduced to a minimum possible level by finding a bias point based on the combination of GIDL (gate induced drain leakage), sub-threshold current and gate leakage currents. But this effectively reduces the speed of the circuit during active mode because the minimum leakage point corresponds to a slow corner which is slow in terms of speed. Hence, to get better speed during active mode, the reverse substrate bias has to be removed or reduced during active mode which takes time (typically in the high hundred of nanoseconds or low microseconds). This increases standby to active access time which is a very critical specification for memory circuits (for example, the standby to active time of memory circuits are in the single digit nanoseconds).
It would be desirable to have solution that reduces the chip leakage power based on a low ripple/noise feedback scheme that is derived from leakage parameters of a device and also works across process, voltage and temperature. It is also desirable that the same substrate bias be used during standby and active mode to not affect standby to active access time in high speed memories. Since memory chips are usually designed to meet speed, leakage and active power optimally at the typical corner for highest yield, the goal of the ideal feedback solution is to make fast/leaky process corners and high voltage/temperature corners look like a typical PVT corner (which has lower leakage power without sacrificing speed specifications).

Substrate bias feedback scheme to reduce chip leakage power


This document details a series of inventions relating to the design and optimization of hybrid-to-electric aircraft. In particular, a system and method is presented to improve the effectiveness of mixed aerodynamic control surfaces which are actuated by a novel electromechanical actuator which allows the system to be tolerant to actuator faults and jams. In addition, innovations relating to integration and quick swap of large energy storage units such as batteries are disclosed, and further, an algorithm which may be used to optimize numerous aspects of the regional hybrid-to-electric aircraft known as Total Cost Door to Door or TCD2D.

Transportation systems and transport platforms are an important part of the infrastructure used to enable commerce and the movement of people between locations. As such, they are essential services for the growth of an economy and the development of a society. Over the years, several types of transportation systems have been developed, each typically with their own focus, advantages and drawbacks.
A key challenge for transportation is the developing "gap" over regional distances, where much of the world is left without a high-speed mode. Competitive pressures have driven a 70-year decline of air over these distances. And the impact of high-speed rail is limited by economics to a few dense corridors. As a result, the last time the US travel survey was conducted in 2001, 90 percent of all long-distance trips were over regional distances from 50 to 500 miles. Yet just 2 percent of these were by air, with auto at a staggering 97 percent. This has had a tremendous impact on mobility and economic development. Regional door-to-door mobility has stagnated: travel times by highway have not improved for decades; and flight times have stretched given slower cruise speeds and increasingly congested airports. Meanwhile, the steady consolidation of air services to a declining set of major hubs has left many communities disconnected from the global air network, with severe impact on their economy and ability to attract investment.
This bleak landscape is poised for dramatic change as sharing, electrification and autonomy converge to enable fast and flexible regional transport at scale. Intra-urban travel is already being reshaped by ridesharing, car sharing, car and van pooling. Electric vehicles and driverless technologies will take this further. Lower fares, improved productivity and reduced congestion will dramatically expand utility and extend range. Crucially, as recognized by the inventors, the transformation on the ground will take to the skies, extending impact of this "new transport" to regional, and eventually, intracontinental ranges. A new breed of small- to mid-sized hybrid-electric aircraft will usher in a golden era of regional air. Frequent departures of smaller aircraft from a large number of smaller airfields will enable air travel much faster than today and at much lower fares. Over time, rapidly improving batteries will further reduce costs and extend range, while increasing acceptance of drones will gradually reduce the need for pilots onboard, accelerating the trend.
As recognized by the inventors, this scale-out of air transport via small to mid-sized aircraft flying regional ranges is a direct result of the unique operating economics of range-optimized hybrid-electric aircraft, enhanced further by future autonomy. Conventional aircraft are enormously scale and range advantaged. Larger aircraft are more efficient, as are flights over longer ranges, than smaller aircraft or shorter flights. These economies of scale and range have powered the long-term transition of aviation to large, long-haul aircraft and high-volume hubs, destroying the utility of regional air. In contrast, hybrid-electric aircraft are free of the scale and range economics that plague regional aviation today. Smaller electric aircraft fly as efficiently as larger ones. And relatively small electrics flying regional are competitive with the largest conventional jets flying long-haul. Released from the constraints of scale and range, operators will mold aircraft, frequency and routes to travel patterns. The air network that emerges will be distributed, with frequent flights to a large number of community and urban airports, a contrast to the concentrated network of today.
As recognized by the inventors, in addition to the actual electric propulsion units, there are a number of innovative enabling technologies that can improve or facilitate hybrid-to-electric and fully electric aircraft, a plurality of which are disclosed in this patent. These technologies include systems and methods to implement a fly-by-wire control system wherein some or all actuators are electromechanical. In addition to flight control algorithms and actuation, systems and methods are disclosed for efficiently integrating energy storage units such as batteries in a way which enables said units to be quickly removed and replaced. This quick-swap process can improve the commercial viability of electric flight while batteries require more time to charge fully than the typical turn around (e.g., 10-15 minutes) made by regional operators. Additional innovations are also disclosed herein regarding a full flight optimization metric which provides a single objective function against the complex process of range optimizing regional hybrid electric aircraft and allowing conventional optimization tools to be applied to the design problem.

System and methods for designing and building regional hybrid-to-electric systems and methods for designing and optimizing regional hybrid-to-electric aircraft