A mechanism is provided for extending a Java archive file to include additional information that describes the contents of the archive as update information. A program is provided for determining differences between an initial file system tree and a final file system tree and encoding those differences into entries in a Java archive file. An extractor class is included in the Java archive file and named as the main class. The Java archive file may be transported to a site that needs a file system update. The Java archive file may be executed in a Java runtime environment to update a target file system. The extractor class is executed to decode and effectuate the difference entries in the archive file.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to data processing systems and, in particular, to performing file system updates. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and program for using a Java archive to encode file system update information.
2. Description of Related Art
The problem of providing updates to the installation image of a customer application is a well studied problem. Often, a customer application is created which encodes all required update information. A deficiency of this solution is a lack of generality, both in terms of handling different customer applications, and in terms of a reliance on a non-industry standard packaging mechanism.
A related solution is to pack new or updated files into an archive, either as a Java pre-specified archive (JAR), ZIP archive, or a Tape archive (TAR) file. This related solution avoids the above deficiencies; however, this solution fails to provide complete update information. The standard ZIP, JAR, and TAR formats do not provide information that describes contained files as new, updated, or obsolete. Another disadvantage of these solutions is a lack of platform independence.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an improved mechanism for encoding file system update information.

Method, apparatus, and program for updating a java archive to encode a file system delta

International Business Machines Corporation


Nodes in an Internet Protocol (IP) network receive probe packets configured to travel over particular IP media paths. The probe packets cause the network nodes to send media path reports to a logging system. The media path reports contain information identifying the different nodes in the media path. The logging system can reconstruct the network topology of a particular media path from the media path reports which can then be used for debugging purposes. In one embodiment the probe packets are Resource Reservation Setup Protocol (RSVP) packets configured for media path probing.

It is difficult to debug problems with speech quality, one way voice, or lost calls on the Internet and in enterprises spread over different locations. One reason for the difficulty is the large number of paths that a packet can take through the network. In the case of voice, the path a packet takes can determine if the call is intelligible by the voice call participants. This is due to the tight delay budget required for voice packets to travel end to end. Thus, a need exists for tracking the path of the voice traffic so that problems related to packet loss and packet delays can be identified. The problem becomes even more critical when the endpoints require video and lip synchronization.
A User Datagram Protocol (UDP) traceroute is currently used to identify problems in Internet Protocol (IP) networks. The UDP traceroute uses ephemeral source and destination ports and makes special use of the IP Time To Live (TTL) value. The TTL value in the traceroute is varied to isolate a trouble spot in the IP network. For example, the first traceroute packet may be sent with a TTL value of "1". The first node receiving the traceroute packet decrements the TTL value by one. As the TTL value is now zero, the first node sends a fault notice back to the source.
A second traceroute packet is sent with a TTL value of "2". The source expects a fault notice back from a second node receiving the traceroute packet. However, if the fault notice comes back from the first node, or if no fault notice comes back, then a trouble spot in the network can be isolated somewhere between the first node and second node.
The UDP traceroutes are not effective in detecting network problems for IP media streams. This is because the UDP traceroute packets do not necessarily travel along the media path used by the IP media stream. It does no good identifying a problem node in a network, if the identified node is not used in the media stream path.
The UDP traceroute packets also cannot pass through firewalls that may exist between a source endpoint and a destination endpoint for the media session. Since UDP traceroute packets may not be able to travel the entire path from the source endpoint to the destination endpoint, they are unreliable for analyzing the entire media path for IP media streams.
The present invention addresses this and other problems associated with the prior art.

Method and apparatus for identifying a media path in a network


Testing an integrated circuit (IC) having numerous terminals coupled to numerous digitally controlled impedance (DCI) modules, where the numerous DCI modules control configurable impedances of the numerous terminals. The IC further includes a control circuit having outputs coupled to enable inputs of the numerous DCI modules, where operating the IC in a test mode configures the control circuit to selectively couple a control signal to the enable terminals of the numerous DCI modules. One DCI module of the numerous DCI modules can be enabled at a time facilitating testing of the configurable impedances of the I/O terminals.

Integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers rigorously test their ICs to guarantee functionality, performance, and compliance with data sheet specifications and various industry standards. In many instances, IC manufacturers employ automated test equipment (ATE) to perform the various tests. An ATE's test capabilities are generally limited by operating frequency, number of input/output (I/O) channels/terminals available, and various modules used for testing features of an IC. As technology evolves, higher performing ICs are being manufactured, for example, faster and functionally more complex ICs including hundreds of I/O terminals which often exceed the ATE capabilities. In such instances, the IC manufacturer may be forced to upgrade to a more expensive ATE, or relying on a sub-optimal testing environment.
In an example, a programmable logic device (PLD) is well-known type of an IC that can be programmed to perform a specified logic function. The PLD can be configured to perform a logic function based on configuration data uploaded during the configuration cycle of the PLD. One type of PLD is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Advancements in FPGA development the past few years have made them very valuable devices for system development in highly integrated systems. An advanced FPGA device typically has a high operating frequency and hundreds of I/O terminals that may be coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB) as a part of a system. Testing these advanced FPGA's including hundreds of I/O terminals has been a very challenging task due in part to the ATE limitation in terms of the number of I/O channels available.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for testing an IC including numerous I/O terminals that complements ATE capabilities, and provides information regarding performance and pass/fail criteria of the IC device.

Testing an integrated circuit having configurable input/output terminals


A motor includes a rotor having a permanent magnet circumferentially equally divided and alternately magnetized to different poles formed into a cylindrical shape, and a first coil. The rotor and a second coil may be successively disposed axially of the rotor. A first outer magnetic pole and a first inner magnetic pole excited by the first coil may be opposed to the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor, and a second outer magnetic pole and a second inner magnetic pole excited by the second coil may be opposed to the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor. The rotor has an output transmitter, such as a gear or a pulley, mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the central portion thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a motor provided with output transmitting means on a rotor which can be constructed super-compactly.
2. Related Background Art
What are formed as compact motors include, for example, what is shown in FIG. 23 of the accompanying drawings as a compact cylinder type step motor. A stator coil 105 is wound on a bobbin 101 concentrically therewith, the bobbin 101 is sandwiched and fixed between two stator yokes 106 from the axial direction thereof and stator teeth 106a and stator teeth 106b are alternately disposed on the stator yokes 106 in the circumferential direction of the inner diametral surface of the bobbin 101, and the stator yokes 106 integral with the stator teeth 106a or 106b are fixed to cases 103, whereby a stator 102 is constructed.
A flange 115 and a bearing 108 are fixed to one of two sets of cases 103, and another bearing 108 is fixed to the other case 103. A rotor 109 comprises a rotor magnet 111 fixed to a rotor shaft 110, and the rotor magnet 111 formes a radial clearance portion with the stator yokes 106 of the stator 102. The rotor shaft 110 is rotatably supported between two bearings 108.
However, the above-described compact step motor according to the prior art has the cases 103, the bobbin 101, the stator coil 105 and the stator yokes 106 concentrically disposed on the outer periphery of the rotor and therefore has the disadvantage that the outer dimension of the motor becomes large. Also, the magnetic flux created by the supply of electric power to the stator coil 105 passes chiefly the end surface 106a1 of the stator teeth 106a and the end surface 106b1 of the stator teeth 106b as shown in FIG. 24 of the accompanying drawings and therefore does not effectively act on the rotor magnet 111, and this has led to the disadvantage that the output of the motor does not become high.
The applicant has previously proposed a motor which has solved such problems in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/831,863.
This proposed motor is constructed in such a manner that a rotor comprising a permanent magnet equally divided in the circumferential direction thereof and alternately magnetized to different poles is formed into a cylindrical shape, a first coil, the rotor and a second coil are successively disposed axially of the rotor, a first outer magnetic pole and a first inner magnetic pole excited by the first coil are opposed to the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor, and a second outer magnetic pole and a second inner magnetic pole excited by the second coil are opposed to the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor, and a rotary shaft, which is a rotor shaft, is taken out of the cylindrically shaped permanent magnet.
The motor of such construction can be made high in output and small in its outer dimension, but since the diametral dimension of the inner magnetic pole is small, it has been difficult to work the teeth of the magnetic pole, and since the rotary shaft taken out of the cylindrically shaped permanent magnet is also small, it has also been difficult to work the rotor provided with the rotary shaft.
Therefore, the applicant has recently proposed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/994,994 a motor in which the shape of an inner magnetic pole is made into a shape of good workability (the applicant has also proposed in U.S. patent application the number of which is not yet assigned a motor in which a rotor provided with a rotary shaft has also been made easily workable), but there has been desired a rotor in which output transmitting means, such as a gear or a pulley can be easily mounted on a rotary shaft of a small diametral dimension and a stable output free of vibration can be obtained.


The present invention discloses a fiber-optic localized plasmon resonance (FO-LPR) sensing device and a sensing system thereof, the FO-LPR sensing system includes a light source, a FO-LPR sensing device and a detector, and the light source provides a light beam entered into the FO-LPR sensing device, and the detector generates a detected signal according to an emergent light from the FO-LPR sensing device. The FO-LPR sensing device includes an optical fiber, a noble metal nanoparticle layer and a filter film layer. The filter film layer is having a porous material, and the porous material comes with a pore diameter or a property selected according to a feature of a sample, while an interfering substance in the sample is isolated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensing device and a sensing system thereof, in particular to a fiber-optic localized plasmon resonance (FO-LPR) sensing device and a system thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, localized plasmon resonance (LPR) may be used to examine the change of local refractive index at the surface of noble metal nanoparticles, such that if there is a change of the LPR band, the spectral characterstics of an emergent light will be affected. If a suitable recognition unit is provided, its attachment onto a gold nanoparticle surface may be used to analyze a corresponding analyte in a sample, such that the local refractive index sensed by noble metal nanoparticles may be affected to achieve a specific sensing capability. If the noble metal nanoparticle layer (such as gold or silver nanoparticles) is disposed onto an optical fiber, the volume of the sensor may be reduced effectively, and the optical fiber may be used to enhance the variation of LPR signal through multiple total internal inflections, so as to improve the sensitivity of the sensor. In other words, the incident light signal is affected by LPR for each time of the light reflection, and a portion of the light energy is absorbed or scattered. Thus, the more the number of reflections, the greater is the attenuation of light intensity at that frequency, and the effect of enhancing the sensor sensitivity may be achieved. A sensing element developed by the aforementioned optical fiber and the principle of LPR is called a fiber-optic localized plasmon resonance (FO-LPR) sensor. The FO-LPR sensor concurrently has a high sensitivity and selectivity after it is integrated with recognition molecules, and thus the FO-LPR sensor has a high potential to be developed as a chemical and biochemical sensor. In addition, the method of enhancing signals with multiple total internal reflections may be applied to the technology of measuring a surface-enhanced spectrum such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering and surface-enhanced fluorescence.
Although the FO-LPR is highly sensitive and specific and has the real-time detection capability, the sensor must be exposed to a complicated matrix if a real sample is sensed. For example, cell debris, blood cells, and immune cells or even a suspended matter such as dusts and fibers will be attached or deposited onto a surface of the sensor easily, so that the noble metal nanoparticles will have a change of local refractive index at their surfaces caused by the aforementioned surface covering process, so as to produce a serious error of measurement. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the non-specific attachment of such large particulate substances in order to use the FO-LPR for sensing an analyte in a real sample.

Fiber-optic localized plasmon resonance sensing device and system thereof


A signal pair interference power ratio of the received signal at a user terminal is obtained and this ratio is then compared with the signal pair interference power ratio required for correct demodulation. Accordingly, the user terminals can be classified into those in the non-interference domain and those in the interference domain. A plurality of access points make the simultaneous communications to the user terminals in the non-interference domain and also make the communications on the time-division basis to the user terminals in the interference domain. Thereby, it is now possible to solve the problem, in the communication system in which the total throughput of the system can be improved through simultaneous transmissions from a plurality of access points with the wireless access system to connect the user terminals to the wired network via the access points, that the throughput of the user terminal which cannot demodulate correctly the desired signal if the data packets collide with each other is more deteriorated than the user terminal which can correctly demodulate the desired signal because the desired signal pair interference power ratio is large even when the data packets collide with each other.

In the conventional wireless access system, user terminals are connected to a wired network as represented by the wireless LAN via access points in order to enjoy the Internet services. In the existing wireless LAN, interference may be avoided through time multiplexing of the communication time between a plurality of user terminals and access points with a structure of carrier sense provided to detect communication devices which are making communication using the common frequency band but here rises a problem that since amount of data which can be transmitted in the unit time does not increase, the throughput of the entire system does not increase even when the number of access points is increased and thereby the throughput of an access point is lowered.
The JP-B No. 180775/2002 (U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/449,100) filed previously provides a structure to increase the throughput of the entire system by simultaneously making communication among a plurality of access points as a measure to solve the problem described above.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the method for improving the throughput with parallel transmissions among access points. In this figure, the access points 101a, 101b, and 101c are simultaneously making communications with user terminals 102a, 102b, and 102c. In this case, the simultaneous communications are realized by controlling the service area of the access point 101a so that the radio wave of the data transmitted from the access point 101a is not detected with a carrier sense of the access point 101b. The radio wave is not detected with a carrier sense under the condition that the power of the radio wave transmitted from the access point 101a goes lower than the reference received power preset in the access point 101b (hereinafter, referred to as a carrier sense threshold).
Similarly, the JP-B No. 180775/2002 provides a structure to control the service areas among the access points for parallel transmissions so that the radio wave transmitted from the access point 101b is not detected with a carrier sense of the access point 101c.
In the wireless access system described above, a structure to control the operations in order to satisfy the condition to simultaneously transmit data communication packets is described but this wireless access system does not refer to a problem that the packets transmitted are not correctly received because of interference of the other data communications and are sometimes discarded.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of signal pair interference power ratio in the wireless access system. The access point 101a transmits data packet in the transmission power AP1_TXP and the user terminal 102a receives the desired signal in the received power AP1_STA1_RXP. Moreover, the user terminal 102a receives the signal, which has been transmitted from the access point 102a as the data packet to the user terminal 102b in the transmission power AP2_TXP, as the interference signal in the received power AP2_STA1_RXP. In this timing, a power ratio of the desired signal and the interference signal becomes equal to the signal pair interference power ratio. Although, depending on the demodulation performance of a receiver, when the signal pair interference power ratio SIR is equal to or higher than the desired signal pair interference power ratio SIR_req, the data signal is demodulated correctly, but if it is equal to or lower than the desired signal pair interference power ratio SIR_req, the data signal is demodulated erroneously due to the collision of packets.
FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of geographical distribution of the signal pair interference power ratio SIR. This figure indicates amplitudes of signal pair interference power ratios (SIRs) when the receiving places are changed in the data communication performed between both access points with the same radio-communication channel in the equal transmission power in the case where a room of 10 m square is assumed and the access point 101a and access point 101b are provided to the corners of this room. When the desired signal pair interference power ratio SIR_req is assumed as 10 dB, the predetermined signal pair interference power ratio SIR_req may be satisfied within the range of 4 m around the access points even when the communications are simultaneously conducted by abovementioned two access points. The domain in which the predetermined signal pair interference power ratio SIR_req is satisfied is hereinafter referred to as the non-interference domain. In the domain isolated by 4 m or more away from the access point, the predetermined signal pair interference power ratio SIR_req cannot be satisfied. This domain is hereinafter referred to as the interference domain. When two access points described above make communications simultaneously to the user terminals in this interference domain, here rises a problem that data is lost due to the collision of packets.

Radio-communication control method and equipment


The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations, and more specifically, to improved methods and compositions for generating acids for use downhole, for example, to at least partially degrade the acid-soluble portions of filter cakes deposited in subterranean formations. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of degrading an acid-soluble portion of a filter cake comprising contacting the acid-soluble portion of the filter cake with an acid generated from an orthoester.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations, and more specifically, to improved methods and compositions for generating acids for use downhole, for example, to at least partially degrade the acid-soluble portions of filter cakes deposited in subterranean formations.
Filter cakes, e.g., residues deposited on permeable media when servicing fluids contact those media under pressure, are formed in a variety of subterranean operations such as drilling, fracturing, and gravel packing. A filter cake is often desirable, at least temporarily, as it may prevent a fluid from flowing from a desired location to the surrounding subterranean formation. Moreover, the presence of a filter cake may add strength and stability to the formation surfaces on which the filter cake forms.
Filter cakes can form in many subterranean processes. For example, a drill-in fluid in an open hole can form a filter cake. Such filter cakes generally comprise an acid-soluble portion and a polymeric portion. Filter cakes also may be formed during a fracturing operation. As a fracture is created, a portion of the fluid contained in the viscous fracturing fluid may create a filter cake comprising deposited viscosifier and/or fluid loss control additives, inter alia, on the walls of the fracture and/or the formation.
No matter which process forms a filter cake, the filter cake generally acts as a physical barrier to fluid flow that may reduce fluid loss into the producing zone. The filter cake also presents a barrier to flow of liquid from the zone; thus, at some point before the well is put into production, the filter cake generally is removed so that the formation may be placed on production.
While filter cakes may be beneficial, it is generally necessary to remove filter cakes from producing zones once the well is placed into production. For example, to degrade the acid-soluble portion of a drill-in fluid filter cake, a conventional delayed-release acid system usually may be used. A common type of delayed-release acid system comprises esters that slowly hydrolyze to form acids that may ultimately degrade the acid-soluble portion of the filter cake. These delayed-release acid systems, however, can be problematic if they degrade the acid-soluble component of the filter cake too slowly or too quickly. Removal of only 1% to 2% of the bridging solids in the filter cake can result in a significant loss of fluid to the surrounding formation. If a delayed-release acid system is designed not to dissolve more than 1% or 2% of the acid-soluble portion of the filter cake in a chosen period of time (e.g., a 12-hour period), then total removal may take days, if not weeks. This is undesirable. On the other hand, if a delayed-release acid system is designed to totally degrade the acid-soluble portion within an acceptable "total cleanup time" (e.g., 24 to 48 hours), it is likely to cause hole instability and potential fluid loss problems during gravel pack placement. To control such fast-acting delayed-release acid systems, buffers (which are mixtures of weak acids and their conjugate bases) may be considered to achieve a delayed interaction of the acid with the acid-soluble portion of the filter cake for a desired time period. However, such conventional buffer systems have met with little success when used with these delayed-release acid systems, inter alia, because the esters may undergo acid- or base-catalyzed hydrolysis at pHs much below or above 7. Also, conventional buffers may suffer when exposed to components, such as calcium carbonate, in the filter cake and, as a result, the acid component of the buffer may be quickly consumed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Orthoester compositions and methods of use in subterranean applications


The present invention generally provides an insert for a clamping device or gripping apparatus for conducting translational forces and/or torque into a moveable object, such as a tubular, casing, liner, pipe, expandable tubular, tubing, drill pipe. In one aspect, the insert comprises a base material and a plurality of gripping elements forming an object gripping surface. Gripping elements are at least partially embedded in the base material. The gripping elements in one embodiment are curved to correspond to an outer circumference of an object to be gripped. In one embodiment, the gripping elements are inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert. In another aspect, the gripping elements may comprise grains or particles of a hardened or super-hard material. The present invention also provides a method of making the insert and using the insert in a gripping apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to an insert for a clamping device or gripping apparatus, which is used in particular in the field of oil and gas exploration, wherein such a clamping device or gripping apparatus conducts translational forces and/or torques into a moveable object. Such a moveable object can be a tubular body, including casing, drill pipe, etc. Lengths or stands are added to or detached from such casing or drill pipe strings, for example, during well drilling.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional well completion operations, a wellbore is formed to access hydrocarbon-bearing formations by the use of drilling. To drill within the wellbore to a predetermined depth, a drill string having a cutting structure attached to its lower end is often rotated by a top drive or rotary table. After drilling to a predetermined depth, the drill string and drill bit are removed and a section of casing is lowered into the wellbore.
Often, it is necessary to conduct a pipe handling operation to connect joints of casing to form casing strings which extend to the drilled depth. Pipe handling operations require the connection of casing joints to one another to line the wellbore and to form a barrier to the surrounding wellbore. To threadedly connect the casing joints, the casing string must be suspended above the wellbore so that each casing string is disposed coaxially with a casing string previously disposed within the wellbore. The threaded connection must be made up by a device which imparts torque to one casing joint relative to the others, such as a tong or a top drive. The casing string formed of the casing joints is then lowered into the previously drilled wellbore.
It is common to employ more than one string of casing in a wellbore. In this respect, the well is drilled to a first designated depth with a drill bit on a drill string. The drill string is removed. Sections of casing are connected to one another and lowered into the wellbore using the pipe handling operation described above to form a first string of casing longitudinally fixed in the drilled out portion of the wellbore. Next, the well is drilled to a second designated depth through the first casing string, and a second, smaller diameter string of casing comprising casing sections is hung off of the first string of casing. This process is typically repeated with additional casing strings until the well has been drilled to total depth. In this manner, wellbores are typically formed with two or more strings of casing.
As an alternative to the conventional method, drilling with casing is a method often used to place casing strings within the wellbore. This method involves attaching a cutting structure in the form of a drill bit to the lower end of the same string of casing which will line the wellbore. Drilling with casing is often the preferred method of well completion because only one run-in of the working string into the wellbore is necessary to form and line the wellbore for each casing string.
Drilling with casing is typically accomplished using a top drive powered by a motor because the top drive is capable of performing both functions of imparting torque to the casing string to make up the connection between casing strings during pipe handling operations and of drilling the casing string into the formation. Often, the top drive is connected to a gripping head, which is an external gripping device such as a torque head or an internal gripping device such as a spear. An exemplary torque head is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,792 B1, issued on Nov. 6, 2001 to Scott et al., which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. An exemplary spear is disclosed in U.S. patent application Publication No. US 2001/0042625 A1, filed by Appleton on Jul. 30, 2001, which is also incorporated by reference in its entirety. The gripping head has a longitudinal bore therethrough through which fluid may flow and grippingly engages the casing string to serve as a load path to transmit the full torque applied from the top drive to the casing string.
In conventional drilling operations as well as drilling with casing operations, drill strings, pipes, and casings, including corresponding pipes or casings connected during the pipe handling operation, are held, torqued, and/or translated by tongs, spiders, elevators, and gripping heads such as torque heads and spears during different stages of a well completion or other wellbore operation. Spiders and elevators are utilized to grippingly engage tubulars, pipes, drill strings, and/or casing strings above the wellbore. A spider is disposed at the surface of the well or at or in a rig floor when utilizing a drilling rig, while an elevator is suspended by bails above the surface of the well to maintain the tubulars, pipes, drill strings, and/or casing strings above the surface of the well during various operations. The spider is used to maintain a tubular, pipe, drill string, or casing string at the surface of the well and prevent it from slipping further into the drilled-out wellbore.
All of the above gripping apparatus may hold pipes, tubulars, drill strings, or casings by means of jaws disposed in these devices. These jaws may have inserts that are interchangeable and conduct translational forces and/or torques into corresponding moveable objects. Such an insert typically comprises a base material and gripping elements. Each gripping element has an object gripping surface with which it engages the corresponding object in order to lift, shift, or rotate the object. In particular, for rotation of the object, considerable clamping or gripping forces are necessary to transmit torque. The corresponding gripping elements are at least partially embedded in the base material and may be fixed within the base material during vulcanization.
A prior art clamping device includes strip-like gripping elements extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the object to be gripped. Such inserts are sufficient for lifting or holding corresponding objects. However, if these inserts are used for rotating the object, it is possible that the corresponding gripping elements may tilt away under heavy load produced while transmitting torque to the object. Moreover, such inserts can cause undesired indentations or markings on the surface of the object to be clamped such that this surface undergoes increased corrosion. These indentations and markings are, in particular, caused during starting of the rotation when the clamping power has to be increased to stop relative movement between the jaws and the object being clamped.
Prior art gripping apparatuses cause scarring and/or marking of the object being grippingly engaged when imparting torque to the object. The scarring and/or marking increases damage to the object, thus possibly impairing the effectiveness of the object in the well operations and increasing the incidence of failure of the pipe, e.g., casing or other tubular body, within the wellbore. Additionally, the scarring and/or marking may increase corrosion along the pipe's surfaces.
There is a need, therefore, for an insert for a clamping device with which it is possible to transmit a higher torque, even when having a small gripping area, and leaving fewer indentations or markings on the surface of an object to be clamped. There is also a need for a gripping apparatus which minimizes damage to an object being grippingly engaged, even while maintaining the effectiveness of the frictional engagement with the object, and even while imparting torque to or linearly translating the object.

Gripping insert and method of gripping a tubular


An optical device comprising a first optical path having a first optical axis, a second optical path having a second optical axis not parallel to the first optical axis, and a mirror arranged to move across a bisector of an angle between the first and second optical axes. The mirror has a surface including a reflecting portion for reflecting light from the first path toward the second path. The reflecting portion has an edge including a linear portion placed on a plane substantially perpendicular to the bisector. The linear portion is inclined relative to a normal to a plane including the first and second optical axes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical device for regulating the power of light propagating from a first optical path to a second optical path, and a movable reflector used in the optical device.
2. Related Background Art
Optical communication is often implemented using optical devices for regulating the power of optical signals, e.g., variable optical attenuators and optical switches. An example of such optical devices is disclosed in C. Marxer et al., "Micro-Opto-Mechanical 2×2 Switch for Single Mode Fibers based on Plasma-Etched Silicon Mirror and Electrostatic Actuation" (preceding 11th IEEE Workshop on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System, 1998, pp 233-237). In this optical device, a mirror is disposed on an optical path between two optical waveguides and the mirror is moved to change the quantity of the reflected light, thereby regulating the power of light propagating from one optical waveguide to another optical waveguide.


An energy converter arranged on a rotating element and used for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, having a converter element (2) for converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy and a first mass (M1) and a second mass (M2), the second mass (M2) being connected to the rotating element. The converter element (2) is arranged between the first mass (M1) and the second mass (M2) such that a mechanical relative movement of the two masses (M1, M2) acts on the converter element (2) so as to generate electrical energy.

Battery-operated energy supplies are generally used for supplying electronic circuits such as small radio transmitters, small sensors associated with radio transmitters, so-called radio sensors, radio switches or the like, which are often fitted to rotating elements for the purpose of monitoring or measuring a physical parameter. One disadvantage of the battery-operated energy supplies is the limited service life of the energy store battery which then needs to be replaced by a new battery or a new energy store. This requires a high degree of complexity in terms of maintenance and may lead to unnoticed failures of the electronic circuit in conjunction with the sensor and the devices also associated therewith.
Alternatively, energy converters are known, such as electromagnetic magnetostrictive or piezoelectric converters, which can also be implemented in a compact design and, inter alia, are suitable for converting movement energy into electrical energy, primarily in a sufficient amount.
Should such a sensor or energy supply for supplying such circuits be mounted on rotating elements, an additional problem arises in the case of these rotating elements. This problem arises as a result of the severe rotational centrifugal forces. These rotational centrifugal forces have the effect that the electrodynamic magnetostrictive or piezoelectric converter elements remain deflected owing to the rotational centrifugal forces and therefore can no longer contribute to the energy supply in this form. Very small manufacturing tolerances or assembly tolerances may further intensify this problem.

Energy converter arranged on rotating elements and used to convert mechanical energy into electric energy


The invention is a bladder formed of multiple layers of barrier film to provide multiple pressurized layers of cushioning fluid or gas when the bladder is filled. The sidewalls of the bladder can be constructed with an inverted seam construction to eliminate finishing steps in the manufacture of cushioning bladders and alternatively to provide a clean, seamless appearance along the side walls. The inverted seam can be formed by attaching the peripheral edges of inner barrier layers to the outer barrier layers adjacent a weld between inner barrier layers to provide an inside-out inverted seam appearance. An inverted seam can also be formed by providing separate sidewall elements attached to the barrier layers of the bladder to provide a seam displaced from the center of the sidewall.

Considerable work has been done to improve the construction of cushioning members which utilize fluid filled bladders such as those used in shoe soles. Although with recent developments in materials and manufacturing methods, fluid filled bladders have greatly improved in versatility, there remain problems associated with obtaining optimum cushioning performance and durability. Fluid filled bladder members are commonly referred to as "air bladders," and the fluid is generally a gas which is commonly referred to as "air" without intending any limitation as to the actual gas composition used.
There are numerous conventional articles of footwear having gas filled cushioning devices in their midsole or outsole. Gas filled cushioning devices are typically referred to as bladders or "air bladders," and the gas is commonly referred to as "air" without intending any limitation as to the actual gas composition used. One well known type of bladder used in footwear is commonly referred to as a "two film bladder." These bladders include an outer shell formed by welding the peripheral edges of two symmetric pieces of a barrier material together. This results in the top, bottom and sidewalls of the bladder being formed of the same barrier material. If any one part of a two film bladder needs to be formed of a specific material and/or to a specific thickness, the entire bladder must be formed of that specific material and/or to that specific thickness. Forming a bladder from only two pieces of a barrier material prevents the side, top and bottom walls from being customized.
Closed-celled foam is often used as a cushioning material in shoe soles and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) foam is a common material. In many athletic shoes, the entire midsole is comprised of EVA. While EVA foam can easily be cut into desired shapes and contours, its cushioning characteristics are limited. One of the advantages of gas filled bladders is that gas as a cushioning compound is generally more energy efficient than closed-cell foam. This means that a shoe sole comprising a gas filled bladder provides superior cushioning response to loads than a shoe sole comprising only foam. Cushioning generally is improved when the cushioning component, for a given impact force, spreads the impact force over a longer period of time, resulting in a smaller impact force being transmitted to the wearer's body. Even shoe soles comprising gas filled bladders include some foam, and a reduction in the amount of foam will generally afford better cushioning characteristics.
The major engineering problems associated with the design of air bladders formed of barrier layers include: (I) obtaining complex-curved, contoured shapes without the formation of deep peaks and valleys in the cross section which require filling in or moderating with foams or plates; (ii) ensuring that the means employed to give the air bladder its complex-curved, contoured shape does not significantly compromise the cushioning benefits of air; (iii) providing regionalized cushioning to an air bladder to account for differences in load corresponding to the anatomical topology of a human foot especially during high loads; (iv) designing air bladders which maximize the cushioning properties of air and are made entirely of flat barrier films; and (v) designing bladders that provide the advantages of complex-contoured shapes and regionalized cushioning and which can be integrated easily into existing midsole manufacturing methods.
The prior art is replete with attempts to address these difficulties, but have only solved one, two or even three of the above-described problems often presenting new obstacles in the process. Most of the prior art discloses some type of tensile member. A tensile member is an element associated with a bladder which ensures a fixed, resting relation between the top and bottom barrier layers when the bladder is fully filled, and which often is in a state of tension while acting as a restraining means to maintain the general external form of the bladder.
Some prior art constructions are composite structures of bladders containing foam or fabric tensile members. One type of such composite construction prior art concerns bladders employing an open-celled foam core as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,874,640 and 5,235,715 to Donzis. These cushioning elements do provide latitude in their design in that the open-celled foam cores allow for complex-curved and contoured shapes of the bladder without deep peaks and valleys. However, bladders with foam core tensile member have the disadvantage of unreliable bonding of the core to the barrier layers. Another disadvantage of foam core bladders is that the foam core gives the bladder its shape and thus must necessarily function as a cushioning member which detracts from the superior cushioning properties of a gas alone. One reason for this is that in order to withstand the high inflation pressures associated with bladders, the foam core must be of a high strength which requires the use of a higher density foam. The higher the density of the foam, the less the amount of available volume in the bladder for a gas. Consequently, the reduction in the amount of gas in the bladder decreases the effectiveness of gas cushioning.
Even if a lower density foam is used, a significant amount of available volume is sacrificed which means that the deflection height of the bladder is reduced due to the presence of the foam, thus accelerating the effect of "bottoming out." Bottoming out refers to the premature failure of a cushioning device to adequately decelerate an impact load. Most cushioning devices used in footwear are non-linear compression based systems, increasing in stiffness as they are loaded. Bottoming out is the point where the cushioning system is unable to compress any further and is a common failure in shoe soles comprised of foam. Also, the elastic foam material itself performs a significant portion of the cushioning function and is subject to compression set. Compression set refers to the permanent compression of foam after repeated loads which greatly diminishes its cushioning aspects. In foam core bladders, compression set occurs due to the internal breakdown of cell walls under heavy cyclic compression loads such as walking or running. The walls of individual cells constituting the foam structure abrade and tear as they move against one another and fail. The breakdown of the foam exposes the wearer to greater shock forces.
Another type of composite construction prior art concerns air bladders which employ three dimensional fabric as tensile members such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,906,502 and 5,083,361 to Rudy, which are hereby incorporated by reference. The bladders described in the Rudy patents have enjoyed considerable commercial success in NIKE, Inc. brand footwear under the name Tensile-Air® and Zoom™. Bladders using fabric tensile members virtually eliminate deep peaks and valleys, and the methods described in the Rudy patents have proven to provide an excellent bond between the tensile fibers and barrier layers. In addition, the individual tensile fibers are small and deflect easily under load so that the fabric does not interfere with the cushioning properties of air.
One shortcoming of these bladders is that currently there is no known manufacturing method for making complex-curved, contoured shaped bladders using these fabric fiber tensile members. The bladders may be of different heights, but the top and bottom surfaces remain flat with no contours and curves.
Another disadvantage of fabric tensile members is the possibility of bottoming out. Although the fabric fibers easily deflect under load and are individually quite small, the sheer number of them necessary to maintain the shape of the bladder means that under high loads, a significant amount of the total deflection capability of the air bladder is reduced by the volume of fibers inside the bladder and the bladder can bottom out.
One of the primary problems experienced with the fabric fibers is that these bladders are initially stiffer during initial loading than conventional gas filled bladders. This results in a firmer feel at low impact loads and a stiffer "point of purchase" feel than belies their actual cushioning ability. This is because the fabric fibers have relatively low elongation to properly hold the shape of the bladder in tension, so that the cumulative effect of thousands of these relatively inelastic fibers is a stiff one. The tension of the outer surface caused by the low elongation or inelastic properties of the tensile member results in initial greater stiffness in the air bladder until the tension in the fibers is broken and the solitary effect of the gas in the bladder can come into play which can affect the point of purchase feel of footwear incorporating a fabric core bladder.
Another category of prior art concerns air bladders which are injection molded, blow-molded or vacuum-molded such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,995 to Huang and U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,861 to Moumdjian, which are hereby incorporated by reference. These manufacturing techniques can produce bladders of any desired contour and shape while reducing deep peaks and valleys.
In Huang '995 it is taught to form strong vertical columns so that they form a substantially rectilinear cavity in cross section. This is intended to give substantial vertical support to the cushion so that the cushion can substantially support the weight of the wearer with no inflation. Huang '995 also teaches the formation of circular columns using blow-molding. In this prior art method, two symmetrical rod-like protrusions of the same width, shape and length extend from the two opposite mold halves meet in the middle and thus form a thin web in the center of a circular column. These columns are formed of a wall thickness and dimension sufficient to substantially support the weight of a wearer in the uninflated condition. Further, no means are provided to cause the columns to flex in a predetermined fashion which would reduce fatigue failures. Huang's columns are also prone to fatigue failure due to compression loads which force the columns to buckle and fold unpredictably. Under cyclic compression loads, the buckling can lead to fatigue failure of the columns.
Yet another prior art category concerns bladders using a corrugated middle film as an internal member as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,677,906 to Reed which describes an insole of top and bottom sheets connected by lateral connections lines to a corrugated third sheet placed between them. The top and bottom sheets are heat sealed around the perimeter and the middle third sheet is connected to the top and bottom sheets by lateral connection lines which extend across the width of the insole. An insole with a sloping shape is thus produced, however, because only a single middle sheet is used, the contours obtained must be uniform across the width of the insole. By use of the attachment lines, only the height of the insole from front to back may be controlled and no complex-curved, contoured shapes are possible. Another disadvantage of Reed is that because the third, middle sheet is attached with connection lines that extend across the entire width of the insole, all the chambers formed are independent of one another and must be inflated individually which is impractical for mass production.
The alternative embodiment disclosed in the Reed patent uses just two sheets with the top sheet folded upon itself and attached to the bottom sheet at selected locations to provide rib portions and parallel pockets. The main disadvantage of this construction is that the ribs are vertically oriented and similar to the columns described in the patents to Huang and Moumdjian, would resist compression and interfere with and decrease the cushioning benefits of air. As with the first embodiment of Reed, each parallel pocket thus formed must be separately inflated.
A prior bladder and method of construction using flat films is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,001 to Potter et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The interior film layers are bonded to the envelope film layers of the bladder which defines a single pressure chamber. The interior film layers act as tensile members which are biased to compress upon loading. The biased construction reduces fatigue failures and resistance to compression. The bladder comprises a single chamber inflated to a single pressure with the tensile member interposed to give the bladder a complex-contoured profile. There is, however, no provision for multiple layers of fluid in the bladder which could be inflated to different pressures providing improved cushioning characteristics and point of purchase feel.
Another well known type of bladder is formed using blow molding techniques such as those discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,459 to Potter et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference. These bladders are formed by placing a liquefied elastomeric material in a mold having the desired overall shape and configuration of the bladder. The mold has an opening at one location through which pressurized gas is introduced. The pressurized gas forces the liquefied elastomeric material against the inner surfaces of the mold and causes the material to harden in the mold to form a bladder having the preferred shape and configuration. The produced bladders typically include a formed seam that is a result of the elastomeric material being forced between the mold halves when the halves are secured together. The seam appears in the center of the sidewalls and is directed outwardly away from the center of the bladder. The seam includes jagged edges and is visible when the bladder is exposed along the midsole of an article of footwear.
Many articles of footwear include at least one opening along their midsole for exposing the sidewalls of a contained bladder. When the exposed sidewalls are transparent, the interior of the bladder is visible. These openings along the midsole are commonly referred to as "windows" and are usually located in the heel and/or forefoot. Examples of such footwear include the NIKE AIRMAX shown in the 1995 and 1997 NIKE Footwear catalogs.
Because the exposed transparent material is vulnerable to being punctured, it must be of a strength and thickness that will resist penetration from external elements. As a result, the requirements of the material used for the exposed sidewalls control the construction, aesthetic and functional characteristics of the entire two film or blow molded bladder. Individual bladder components cannot be customized. Instead, the bladder is formed entirely of the transparent material having the thickness needed to prevent rupturing of the exposed sidewall. This results in the top and bottom of the bladder being formed of the same thick, transparent sidewall material, even if the transparent, puncture resistant material is not needed in these parts of the bladder. Unnecessarily thick top and bottom layers can detract from the overall flexibility of the bladder. Conversely, if certain portions of the bladder, such as the top and bottom surfaces, needed to be made of a thicker material relative to the transparent sidewalls, the transparency and/or flexibility of the sidewalls may be compromised. Using one material for each half of the bladder also prevents the bladder from being customized so different portions of the bladder offer different performance and aesthetic advantages.
Preparing a bladder for being exposed along the length of a sole window can also include expensive and time consuming manufacturing steps. As discussed, a construction seam can result along the sidewalls of a bladder during manufacturing. The seam appears in the center of the sidewall after the bladder has been inflated. The seam includes a thick, rough edge that during the manufacturing of the bladder must be reduced to prevent injury and give the sidewalls a smooth, uninterrupted look. The manufacturing steps taken to reduce the seam line increase the manufacturing time and cost of producing a bladder.
Cushioning system design must meet criteria for both comfort at low loads such as standing, walking, point of purchase feel, and performance at high loads such as running, planting, jumping, pivoting. In analyzing the cushioning characteristics of various devices, it is instructive to view such devices in cross-section. That is, take a visual slice vertically down into the midsole to reveal the cushioning profile of the structure that is to provide the necessary shock absorption and response functions. In prior art cushioning devices, typically any single cross section of the cushioning profile is generally a simple foam core, or a single layer of fluid sometimes surrounded by or encased in foam. This simple profile seeks to balance the low-load-high-load criteria by a compromise to both since a simple cushioning profile provides generally uniform shock absorption and response characteristics along the entire device, but does not provide a complex cushioning profile which can be customized or regionalized to the loads realized at certain points along a bladder.
A problem with manufacturing complex, highly regionalized bladders of two films has been inordinate twisting of the fluid filled part. A non-planar geometry is difficult to integrate into subsequent shoe making processes.
There exists a need for a bladder member which solves all of the problems listed above: complex-curved, contoured shapes; no interference with the cushioning benefits of gas alone; provision of regionalized cushioning that can be coupled to the anatomical features of a foot; and simplified manufacture through the use of flat barrier films and integration into existing midsole construction methods. As discussed above, while the prior art has addressed some of these problems, they each have their disadvantages and fall short of a complete solution.
One object of this invention is to provide a cushioning bladder for footwear with multiple stage cushioning regionalized characteristics constructed of film layers.
Another object of this invention is to provide a bladder for cushioning an article of footwear that can have different materials for its top outer barrier sheet, bottom outer barrier sheet and sidewalls.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method of forming a bladder with inverted seam lines that do not require special treatment during manufacturing.

Bladder with inverted edge seam and method of making the bladder


A composition for treating or preventing ischemia reperfusion injury which contains an sPLA2 inhibitor as an active ingredient.

In a major operation (surgery), organs are temporarily put into an ischemic condition by ligating the blood vessel directly connected to organs and other method in order to control bleeding. The organs of such artificial ischemia suffer various injuries. Various injuries occur by a variety of causes after reperfusion of the blood in such organs.
Similar problems are encountered in organ transplantation. Extorpation of organs from an individual with cardiac standstill and application of the organs for transplantation (Non-heart Beating Donor Program: NHBD) have been noticed in recent years as a solution of lack of organs for transplantation. However, in the case of hepatic transplantation, for example, 30 minutes of warm ischemia and 12 hours of cold ischemia of the liver are the limit of NHBD for successful hepatic transplantation surgery even by using the latest surgical technology and preservation technology. The proportion of survival of the grafts one year after transplantation is less than 50%. Therefore, it is essential for realization of NHBD to alleviate warm ischemia injury occurred during the period from cardiac standstill to perfusion of the organ with a cold preservation solution, cold ischemia injury occurred thereafter in a cold preservation solution, and tissue injuries related to reperfusion of the blood after transplantation. Drugs having such actions known in the art include endotherin antagonist (J. Am. Coll. Surg., October 1997, Volume 185, 358–364), adenosine antagonist (Transplantation, Vol. 63, 217–223 No. 2, 1997), iron dependent lipid peroxidation inhibitor (Transplantation, Vol. 63, No. 2, p202–208, 1997) and the like.
While the compounds described in EP-620214 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 7-010838, U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,634), EP-620215 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 7-025850, U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,034), EP-675110 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 7-285933, U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,326), WO96/03120 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 10-505336), WO96/03376 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 10-503208, U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,800), WO96/03383 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 10-505584), WO97/21664 (EP-779271), WO97/21716 (EP-779273), WO98/18464 (EP-839806), WO98/24437 (EP-846687), WO98/24756, WO98/24794, WO98/25609, etc., parabromophenacyl bromide, mepaklin, manoaride, cherosin A1, etc. are known as sPLA2 inhibitors, these inhibitors have not been reported to have therapeutic or preventive actions for the ischemia reperfusion injury.
It is known that small intestine PLA2 activity increases by ischemia of the small intestines, and occurrence of lung injury accompanied by reperfusion of the small intestine can be prevented by administration of quinacrine, a PLA2 inhibitor (Am. J. Physiol., 268: G397, 1995). It is also reported that PLA2 which is increased by ischemia of the small intestine is mostly type-II (Journal of Japanese Surgery Association, Vol. 96, No. 12, p823, Dec. 1, 1995). However, these reports only describe prevention of injuries (indirect effects) of other organs such as lung caused by ischemia and reperfusion of local organs (the small intestines), and no descriptions are found about preventive effects (direct effects) of injuries at the local organs such as the small intestines suffering from ischemia. In other words, it is neither known that compounds having an sPLA2 inhibitory action, in particular compounds having type-II PLA2 inhibitory action, are useful as therapeutic or preventive drug for injuries caused in the organs suffering from ischemia, nor is suggested that such compounds are useful for the organs which are transplanted in the transplantation surgery or which may suffer from ischemia during the surgery.

Remedies for ischemia reperfusion injury


A prosthesis liner for below-knee amputees comprising a polymer liner, such as silicone, incorporating a pre-flexed shape having an angle at the knee selected from 20 to 60 degrees, at least one thickened upper silicone band, an appropriate anatomical shape and taper and a flexible connector piece at the bottom portion of the liner adapted for connection to a walking piece. An anti-bacterial agent is added to the liner to suppress the over-growth of bacteria that may form between the liner and the residuum.

The prior art prosthesis utilizing a below-knee silicone liner is described in detail in various prosthetic journals. In 1989, C. H. Fillauer, CPO, C. H. Pritham, CPO, and K. D. Fillauer, CPO, reported on "The Evolution and Development of the Silicone Suction Socket (3S) for Below-Knee Prostheses" in the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics. In 1995, L. J. Haberman, CPO, R. A. Bedotto, CPO, LPT, and E. J. Colodney, MD, described the use of an injection-molded silicone liner with suspension tabs for below-knee amputees in the article entitled "Silicone Only Suspension" (SOS) in the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics.
The prior art below-knee silicone designs are constructed either of fabric impregnated with silicone or with room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone. The fabric-type liner is conventionally laminated with a liquid silicone (RTV) under a vacuum-type system. These liners have the disadvantage that they are porous and harbor and promote the growth of bacteria. Further, the fabric silicone liner lacks durability when the thin silicone material is subject to abrasion during daily use since it rubs against the residuum (stump) which eventually uncovers the underlying fabric which can irritate the skin.
Other RTV silicone liners have been disclosed in the prior art which are custom injection-molded. While these silicone liners are relatively non-porous and cannot harbor bacteria, they are inclined to be fragile, reducing their service life, and are also time-consuming to fabricate.
Pre-fabricated injection-molded silicone liners are now available to the amputee in various sizes and styles. They are more durable as they are constructed of a heat-cured, two part silicone composition. They are constructed free of a fabric matrix and, thus, will not irritate the skin as the inner surface is rubbed away. All of these commercially available silicone liners are, however, generally tubular in shape, offering very little tapering towards the distal end. Such silicone liners are in a straight-line orientation (windsock shaped) and respond poorly to angular (flexion) changes to the knee. As an illustration, significant wrinkling of these straight-line silicone liners occur in the back of the knee when the user sits down. Heightened compression of the kneecap (patella) occurs which can irritate the skin overlying the kneecap. Straight-line oriented liners also tend to bias the knee joint to a straight position when the knee is flexed, i.e., the liner is under tension and it wants to restore itself to its straight molded position. Thus, the amputee must maintain a flexure pressure in order to keep the knee and prosthesis from extending to its straight position.
Silicone liners typically utilize a hard, unyielding material, such as aluminum or polycarbonate as a shuttle screw housing (hereafter "umbrella") for affixing the lower leg portion of the prosthesis. Rigid aluminum shuttle screw housings and rigid polycarbonate shuttle screw housings are not flexible and have limitations as to functional life and/or comfort to the amputee. Polycarbonate umbrellas may fracture and fail within months of initial use. Aluminum umbrellas have no flexibility and cannot distort to comply with the naturally occurring movement of the residuum within the prosthetic socket.
Prior art silicone liners also lack anatomical symmetry to the amputation limb which results in marked distortion of the silicone liner during naturally occurring changes in the position of the knee and residuum. The lack of anatomical symmetry results in a reduction of the naturally occurring range of motion (ROM) present in the human knee due to the wrinkling and bunching of the silicone material in that region. The lack of anatomical symmetry causes an uneven stretching of the silicone liner which may be harmful to the underlying tissues, be uncomfortable to wear, and can result in premature wearing and subsequent tearing of the silicone liner. Prior art silicone liners lack reinforcement at their upper (proximal) edge which may result in premature tearing, requiring early replacement of the silicone liner.
Silicone liners also create conditions which increase the potential for growth of bacteria on the skin of the amputee. The silicone liner, which is a relatively impermeable material, tends to encourage the skin to be constantly moist from sweating. This condition creates the right environment for undesirable bacteria to proliferate on the residuum, thus making the amputee's skin susceptible to invasion by pathogenic microorganisms. The constant moisture present when wearing a silicone liner and the occlusion from the liner which occurs to the amputee's skin, increases the skin's vulnerability to bacteriological infection.

Prosthesis liner for below-knee amputees


A data processing device, in a system performing authentication among a plurality of storage device (IC cards etc.), able to maintain security of authentication at other device even when secrecy of key data held by part of the devices is lost, wherein a key generation unit generates individual key data unique to an IC card based on identification data unique to the IC cards received from the ICs of the IC cards and a card processing unit performs mutual authentication with the IC based on the individual key data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing device for authentication with a service data storing device by using key data and a method and program of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, when providing various services using an integrated circuit (IC) card etc., there is a system of the IC card and the authenticating device holding common key data and using the key data for authentication. Such a system stores key data common to a plurality of IC cards for the plurality of IC cards issued by a service provider.
In the above system, therefore, there is a problem that when part of IC cards lost secrecy of the key data stored in the IC cards, security no longer could be maintained for all of the IC cards. Further, as a countermeasure for this, it becomes necessary to replace the key data leaked to the outside by a new key data, but there has the problem of being troublesome.

Data processing device, method of same, and program of same


The faucet valve structure of two way automatic repositioning function includes a base ring, resilient spring, activating ring, and linking component. The base ring has a protruding block placed thereon. The resilient spring is placed on the base ring, which includes a first and second effector. The activating ring is placed on the resilient spring, which includes a first support that corresponds to the protruding block and a second support that corresponds to the second effector. The linking component is placed on the top end of the rotary base, and it has a crosswise protruding extension. When the user is using the faucet, whether it is on hot water mode or cold water mode, the brake valve shaft can be repositioned to the middle position, so that when the user is turning on the water regardless of warm or cold, it ensures safety from a burn injury.

The instructions for using the conventional bi-temperature water faucet is well-known among users. Users simply pull the grip up to turn the faucet on, then turn it right or left to adjust the water temperature. With this conventional structure, if the user turns off the water by pushing the grip down in hot water mode, then the grip will still be on the hot water mode. Therefore, the user may be in danger of a burn injury caused by the hot water when the user turns on the water the next time. This situation happens to very young and elderly users easily.
For these reasons, the industry has developed a single valve with an automatic repositioning structure. Its primary application is to place a repositioning device on the top end of the water valve. The repositioning device interacts with the valve, so that whether the water is in hot water mode or cold water mode, the valve can be repositioned by this device, making the faucet safe to use.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy.
To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

Faucet valve structure with two-way automatic repositioning function