An apparatus and method for modifying the organoleptic properties of a beverage, such as wine in a bottle, said apparatus having a least one light-source, said light-source applying peak wavelengths at intensities and time durations optimal for modifying said beverage's organoleptic properties.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processing food and beverages, and more particularly to an apparatus and method capable of modifying at least one organoleptic property of a food or beverage by controlled exposure to light from an artificial light-source at energy densities on the order of 10 kilojoules/liter and at peak wavelengths longer than 350 nanometers.
2. Prior Art
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of electromagnetic energy that contains measurable wavelengths in the four nanometer to 400 nanometer range. Germicidal Ultraviolet (germicidal UVC) light is a subset of ultraviolet light (UV) and is a well-known sterilization agent. The use of germicidal UVC light for germicidal, bactericidal and pathogenicidal effects is well known. Suitable wavelengths for these effects is 300-200 nanometers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,369 issued to Belilos (Aug. 28, 1990), describes a portable, pocket-size, germicidal ultraviolet flashlight that can be used by ordinary individuals to kill germs and viruses on objects like toilet seats, flatware, and telephones. The "UVC flashlight" includes a housing, a germicidal UVC light source, a battery compartment, an on/off switch, and a gravity switch that limits the activation of the ultraviolet light source to the position wherein the light source is facing downward. By limiting the activation of the germicidal UVC source to while the device faces downward the device sought to reduce harm to eyes. The germicidal UVC lamp utilized by Belilos can be any type of light source generating germicidal UVC light in sufficient intensity to disinfect objects at relatively short distances. Col. 2, lines 6-9.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,075 issued to Whitehead (Jul. 6, 1999), discloses a hand-held "Ultraviolet sterilization device" "wherein said ultraviolet light source operates in a wavelength spectra effective to have germicidal, bactericidal, and pathogenicidal effects."
Nothing in Belilos nor Whitehead teaches or suggests employing in their devices an ultraviolet lamp having peak wavelengths longer than 300 nanometers, at least because such ultraviolet light is not optimal for the purpose of effecting sterilization. Other UVC-sterilization apparatus are known to have interior chambers configured to contain an instrument, a vessel, gases, or other objects to be sterilized by exposure to germicidal UVC light and to prevent the escape of the germicidal UVC light into the room. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,289 issued to Shodeen et al. (Aug. 29, 1995), describes a pass-through sterilization chamber where items are placed in the sterilization chamber and subjected to germicidal UVC light. Typically, such sterilization devices employed mercury vapor lamps having a peak wavelength of 254 nm. Nothing this art teaches nor suggests employing in such devices an ultraviolet lamp having a peak wavelengths longer than 300 nanometers and having no peak wavelengths shorter than 300 nanometers, at least because ultraviolet light longer than 300 nanometers is not optimal for the purpose of effecting sterilization. Recently, "deep UV" LEDs have been developed that output peak wavelengths shorter than 350 nm, and even as low as about 234 nm to 264 nm, and these germicidal UV LEDs are being widely substituted by persons skilled in the art in place of the conventional germicidal UVC florescent tubes formerly employed in UV sterilization devices of the prior art. Semiconductor-Today, Vol 5. Issue 3, April/May 2010. See, also "Novel sterilization device using 265 nm UV-LED for Escherichia coli", by Miku Maeda et als, teaching the use of 9 series-connected 265 nm germicidal UV-LEDs (Part Nos. T9H26/T9L26 manufactured by Seoul Optodevice), to sterilize food and/or water containing E. coli bacterium, by the application of 0.5 Joules of 265 nm germicidal UVC light.
A combination of one or more food and/or beverages is herein referred to as "Foodstuff". A Foodstuff whose organoleptic properties are substantially modified in response to irradiation from a light-source is referred to herein as a light-sensitive Foodstuff (herein referred to as "LS-Foodstuff"). An LS-Foodstuff is comprising a combination of one or more Foodstuff types including, but not limited to, red wine, wine, fruit, fruit juice, fruit paste, vegetable, vegetable juice, vegetable paste, beer, coffee, natural flavorings, artificial flavorings, malt liquor, and liquor.
The typical conditions under which a Foodstuff is consumed involves subjective choices dependent on individual consumer preferences. Foodstuff processing is performed by operators of Foodstuff processing equipment to produce modified Foodstuffs that meet the preferred conditions for consumption which are combinations one one or more Foodstuff processing techniques including, physically manipulating, aggregating, separating, combining, heating, cooling, magnetic flux exposure, fermentation, pressurizing, vacuum exposure, aging, and cooking. There are a variety of previously known wine processing means and methods.
A wide variation of red wine types are consumed based on consumer preferences. A consumer develops preferences over time and each additional experience in general tends to increase the consumers knowledge and refinement of preferences. Some consumer's develop new preferences or refine previous preferences with each bottle of wine in the consumers aggregate experience. Some consumers prefer to consume certain red wines without any additional processing after opening a package. Some other consumers prefer to process red wines with a combination of one or more known processes including, aging, pressurizing, breathing, aerating, flavoring, magnetic flux exposure, heating, cooling, and mixing with additional ingredients. Some consumers dislike red wine and avoid consuming red wine because they are unaware of any process that would change the red wine to an appealing condition.
Examples of mixing red wines with other substances include, adding red wine to a sauce for a cooked food, and mixing red wine with fruit juices for a customized beverage. The process of heating red wine is common in colder climates. The process of cooling red wine is common at various stages of red wine manufacturing, bottling, and aging. Cooling red wine is less common immediately prior to consumption.
Typically, wine is prepared by a winery and then it is poured into a package for a period of storage until consumption at a later date. A wine bottler chooses a particular package for a plurality of purposes, including, reduce spoiling during the period of storage. The typical period of storage ranges from a few minutes to many years. The longer the period of storage the higher the probability that the wine will undergo a change of organoleptic properties. Wine aging is a well-known wine processing technique, which tends to have an optimal range. A wine aged too long tends to become spoiled eventually.
There are many package types that a wine is packaged in. Typical package types include, a glass bottle with a leek-proof cork, and a box with a leak-proof liner. Typical wine bottles are partially translucent with characteristic spectral transmittance. The wine bottle transmittance typically varies of over the surface of the bottle depending on variations of glass thickness, composition, and labeling characteristics. Typical wine bottles have labels, for identification, which tend to substantially block light transmission. Typical wine bottle labels cover only a fraction of the bottle, so that the consumer has a visual indication of the quantity of wine in the bottle. Very few wine bottles have a surface totally covered by a label. Typical wine bottle labels have various compositions and substantially block light transmission. A wine bottle glass color is characterized by the wine bottle glass spectral transmittance properties of white light. Common wine bottle colors are green, brown, and/or clear. Typical green wine bottle glass tends to transmit more green, violet, and UVA1 (herein defined as light with a wavelength between three-hundred-forty nanometers and four-hundred nanometers) and less red and blue. Typical brown wine bottle glass tends to transmit substantially no UVA1, no blue, almost no green, and about the same amount of red that green wine bottle glass passes. Box type wine packages allow substantially no light transmission. It is known that unintended, or otherwise uncontrolled, light exposure tends to have a detrimental effect upon Foodstuff. A vintner commonly chooses a colored bottle to limit the unintentional light exposure. However, the vintner's choice of a colored bottled does not predict the present inventions use of light of a specific spectral radiance to be used to process wine prior to consumption. The process by which wine is degraded by light exposure is known as "light-strike" and/or "light-struck wine". The light-struck wine condition tends to affect white wines and rosé wines more than red wines. Molecules, such as tannins, that reduce the effect of light-strike are found in higher concentrations in red wine than in white or roséwines.
Wineries typically prepare the package with a small amount of air, known as the "ullage", in the package compared to the volume of wine. In some instances the wine packaging procedure purposefully leaves a small quantity of air in the package affects the change of wine organoleptic properties in a predictable manner. The air bottled with the wine in the package is not associated with the wine processing method known as "breathing", which occurs after the wine package is opened. Some wine is packaged without air including, boxed wines, which typically have a flexible bladder that collapses gradually as wine is gradually released without letting air into the bladder.
Breathing refers to a wine processing technique whereby wine is exposed to air in an open package, or decanted for a period of time prior to consumption. Wine breathing is less common for white wines and rosé wines. Wine aeration is similar to breathing and involves accelerating the exposure of wine to air by various techniques which typically involves increasing the surface area of the liquid wine to air interface. Historically, the breathing of wine has been recommended by vintners for wine types including, but not limited to, red wines, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. There is no absolute wine breathing duration. Wine breathing is intended to have a duration that meets the consumer's preference. The technique of breathing a wine is an art learned typically by trial-and-error. Wine breathing often involves the consumer tasting a small sample of the wine undergoing the breathing process to determine when the wine is ready for consumption. A consumer typically samples the wine after an initial duration to determine if the wine requires further breathing; the determination is a subjective decision based on the consumer preferences. It is common for a bottle of red wine to be opened and allowed to breathe for a pre-determined period of time before the wine is consumed when a consumer has previous experience breathing a wine of the same or similar type, or when a trusted wine breathing recommendation is available. Some vintners suggest opening the wine and allow the wine to breathe a couple of hours prior to consumption for best flavor.
A problem exists when the wine consumer does not have enough time to allow a wine to breathe for the recommended or otherwise preferred time. For example, when a vintner recommends that the wine be allowed to breathe for three hours prior to consumption and the consumers only have fifteen minutes, then the wine will not be at the desired condition for optimal flavor. In many circumstances it is not possible to allow a wine to breathe for the recommended time prior to consumption. For example, at a restaurant the patrons may order a bottle of Merlot but do not want to wait the recommended time for the wine to breathe. This example represents a problem from the consumer's perspective in that the dinner will end before the wine, intended to be consumed with a meal, has had a chance to complete the preferred breathing time. Unfortunately, a wine may be consumed with sub-optimal organoleptic properties because of the lack of time needed for optimal wine breathing. In other unfortunate circumstances an air-sensitive wine is ruined by overexposure to air. Air-sensitive wines are typically old wines, and are typically not recommended to breathe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,129 to Bartholemew, U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,452 to Barzs, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,724 to Vassallo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,912 to Wildash, U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,104 to Delaplaine, U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,706 to Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,163 to Weatheril, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,743 to Moore describe aeration techniques used to modify the flavor of a wine; but do not describe the use of a light-source to modify the flavor of a wine. However, the aeration technique is limited to an opened bottle of wine, whereas photonic processing of wine can occur in either an open or an unopened bottle of wine. Therefore photonic wine processing overcomes the open bottle limitation of the aeration technique. While the aeration technique may reduce the processing time needed to achieve an equivalent modification of organoleptic properties when compared to breathing processing time, the potential problem remains with aeration or breathing, to not have enough time to achieve optimal modification of organoleptic properties of the wine prior to consumption. For example, aeration for an hour may achieve the same organoleptic properties change as three hours of breathing; but an hour may still be too long to wait before the wine is meant to be consumed. However, the present invention is capable of being used to provide the photonic processing on a closed bottle of wine well in advance in order to prepare for the possibility of a consumer's selection of the processed bottle for immediate consumption.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,614 to Peiffer describes a method and apparatus for improving the organoleptic properties of alcoholic beverages based upon exposure to a magnetic field. The usefulness of Peiffer's method and apparatus is toward the modification of an alcoholic beverages organoleptic properties that make the alcoholic beverage more appealing. However, Peiffer does not disclose an apparatus capable of modifying a Foodstuff with light. In addition, Peiffer does not disclose a method for modifying a Foodstuff with light.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,717 to Hinkle, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,614 Sabadicci describe the use of a Venturi type effect to modify the flavor of wine; but does not describe an apparatus capable of modifying a Foodstuff with light, and does not describe a method for modifying a Foodstuff with light.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,459 to Phelps describes a Nitrogen based preservation system with a light for illumination purposes so that a user is able to read the labels on the bottles, but does not describe an apparatus capable of modifying a Foodstuff with light, and does not describe a method for modifying a Foodstuff with light.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,386 to Douglas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,213 to Norris, U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,113 to Ditto, U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,084 to Sheryl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,355 to Dietz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,435 to Weller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,279 to Makowsky, U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,699 to Tipton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,068 to Menashrov, U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,411 to VanderSchuit, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,401,935 to VanderSchuit describe apparatus and methods useful for the illumination of Foodstuff; but does not describe an apparatus capable of modifying a Foodstuff with light, and does not describe a method for modifying a Foodstuff with light. VanderSchuit describes illuminating Foodstuff for the purpose of providing a visual effect. While the present invention illuminates wine, it is not a purpose of the present invention to provide a visual effect; for example in an alternate embodiment, the present invention achieves the desired results in an externally opaque chamber without any visual effects. VanderSchuit describes ultraviolet light highlighting a color corresponding to a flavor of the edible, such as a light highlighting an orange color associated with an orange flavored candy highlight, and a light highlighting a cherry-flavored candy piece which can be red. However, VanderSchuit does not describe a means nor a method by which the flavor of a LS-Foodstuff is modified by a controlled exposure to an effective wavelength range of light. In addition, VanderSchuit does not describe a controlled means nor a controlled method to modify the flavor of a Foodstuff to meet a consumers preference. VanderSchuit describes the use of ultraviolet light for highlighting an edible reactive to ultraviolet light to produce a visually stimulating effect. However, VanderSchuit does not describe the use of ultraviolet light to modify the flavor of an edible. In addition, VanderSchuit does not disclose an apparatus capable of modifying a Foodstuff with light. Furthermore, VanderSchuit does not disclose a method capable of modifying a Foodstuff with light.
There are instances when the set of previously known Foodstuff processing techniques are not capable of processing a red wine to meet a consumer's preferences. The prior art does not disclose the conditions under which the characteristics of wine are modified by the illuminated beverage container to meet the consumer preferences for a light-processed wine. On the contrary, the prior art describes an illuminating light neither intended nor capable of meeting a consumer's preferences for photonic wine processing. Whereas, the present invention discloses the intentional irradiation with a plurality of controlled light-sources of an LS-Foodstuff, including red wine, to irradiation conditions that are capable of processing an LS-Foodstuff to produce operator preferred results.
The present invention addresses some of the problems, inadequacies, and limitations of known wine processing techniques, including, limited breathing time and/or aeration time, by providing the novel wine processing techniques of a photonic beverage processor. The photonic beverage processor can be used independently or in combination with other known wine processing techniques to modify the characteristics of the wine. For example, depending on consumer preferences the photonic beverage processor can be used during the breathing process for decanted wine, and/or the photonic beverage processor can be used while the wine is in a bottle prior to the breathing process. The present invention provides vintners, distributors, and consumers, an additional benefit of changing a wines organoleptic properties, whether the wine is bottled or not bottled. In addition, the distinctly different processes of wine breathing and light-processing wine are not direct substitutes for each other, since the two processes do not modify the wine organoleptic properties in the exact same manner, and therefore do not necessarily produce results that meet the user preference to the same degree. The present invention helps to solve the problem of sub-optimal breathing time by creating conditions under which the wine's organoleptic properties are partially modified prior to the bottle being opened, thus reducing the time needed for the wine to breathe according to meet the consumers desired preference. The present invention does not make wine breathing redundant, but breathing is optional or partial breathing is optional when used with the present invention to meet the preferred results of an individual operator preferred results. Vintners use of colored bottles does not predict the present inventions use of controlled light-sources for a controlled sequence of exposure to a plurality of light-sources to meet the light-processing preferences of a light-processor operator intending to light-process wine to meet a consumers preferences. The present invention avoids the detrimental effects of light-strike by providing controlled conditions of exposure of wine to a controlled light-source responsive to operator control to meet the intended consumers preferences for photonic processing of Foodstuff including red wine. Creating the conditions for light-strike is not an intention of the present invention, except in the situation where the operator intensionally uses the present invention to do so. The present invention overcomes the limitations of the illuminated wine glass by providing suitable conditions that modify a wines organoleptic properties in a controlled manner set by an operator to substantially meet the preferences of the intended consumer(s).
While sunlight may change the organoleptic properties of LS-Foodstuffs, the use of sunlight in an uncontrolled or unintentional manner would create random results; where some of the random results were spoilage, and other random results were not significant, and where a small portion would represent an improvement that met a consumers preferences.
In conclusion, insofar as I am aware, no food and beverage processing apparatus previously developed provides the photonic processing of combinations of one or more LS-Foodstuffs including, but not limited to, red wine, liquor, coffee, and chocolate.


A wire connector (2) comprising a cover (8) and a body (4) for carrying a wires (84) therebetween. A U-shaped connection element (6) includes a first leg (48) for engaging a wire (84) positioned within the body (4) and a second leg (52) sharpened to sever the end of the wire (84), wherein the body (4) and the cover (8) include co-operating latch structure (30,32), to define an open position, where the wire (84) may be inserted into the connector (2) and a crimped closed position where the body (4) and the cover (8) are fully telescoped together whereby the excess end of the wire (84) is severed and the connector element (6) engages at the wire at the end connection slots (50). In the closed position, the connection element (6) is accessible in a manner that enables a test probe (78) to engage the connection element (6) through cover means (72) which is provided in a normally biased closed position and that is retained in the closed position without the need for latch means.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically engaging at least one electrical conductor and severing the end thereof.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
There are numerous electrical connectors that perform a severing and a conductor engaging operation simultaneously during termination. Some examples are: U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,957; U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,767; U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,206; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,447.
In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,957 discloses a U-shaped connection element where the first leg of the U includes slot for engaging a wire in an insulation displacement (IDC) manner. The other leg of the U is sharpened such that it would cut the wire simultaneously with the termination by the first leg, whereby excess wire is removed and the wire is electrically engaged in response to a single movement of the connection element.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,767 discloses a wire connector having a body that carries a U-shaped connector element similar to that described above with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,957 and insulating cover that telescopes with the body in order to carry a wire into the connection slots of the connector element and against the sharpened second leg of the connector element to sever the end of the wire simultaneously with termination, wherein the body and the cover include co-operating latch structure to define an open position where wires may be inserted into the connector and a crimped closed position where the body and the cover are fully telescoped together whereby the excess end of the wire is severed and the connector element engages the wire at the connection slots thereof. It is further disclosed to include co-operating cover members to seal the end of the wire connector after the wire ends have been severed and displaced, thereby preventing contaminants from entering or sealing means, such as grease, from exiting. Finally, an inclined wall is provided in a supporting relationship with the sharpened blade of the connector element that ejects the wire and as the cover and body are telescoped together into the closed position.
While the afore mentioned connectors perform admirably it is desired to improve on a number of short comings. A first problem is with the co-operating cover members disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,767. These cover members involve a door formed as part of the cover and having its normal bias as the open position. In order to close the door and thereby seal the connector unit a user must displace the door such that co-operating latch structure upon the door and another component of the wire connector. This leads to the possibility that the installer may forget to close the cover or that if the latch members become dislodged the cover will open. Another disadvantage of the afore mentioned connector structure is that it is difficult to test the continuity of the electrical interconnection. The typical method of doing so would be after the cover and body are fully telescoped together, such that the connector element is engaged upon the wire and the wire ends have been severed, using a probe to touch the second leg of the connector element where it is now exposed by the vacated wire end. A problem with this procedure is that in order to assure a clean severance of the wire end, a sharpened second blade must extend completely across the channel such that a test probe may only be brought against the sharpened second leg and must be held in physical contact therewith. This procedure is difficult for the installer as both hands must be involved in holding the connector and in holding the testing device. A further disadvantage occurs when it is necessary to test the continuity of the interconnection of the connector described above once the cover door has been latched in place. In this instance it is necessary for the installer to first pry the co-operating latch members apart such that the door may be opened to provide access to the sharpened second leg of the connector element. This could lead to damage of the latch members whereby the connector door could not be completely closed and latched in position.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a connector of the type described above with a cover member that is normally biased to the closed position, thereby assuring the connector will remain sealed. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to maintain the closed position due to the elasticity of the hinge, thereby eliminating the need for co-operating latch members such that the cover means may be easily opened for later testing or access.
It would be advantageous to provide an electrical connector as generally described above with an access port that provides access to the U-shaped connector element in a manner that enables a test probe to engage and be positively retained with the connector element therein. It would be especially advantageous to include this access beneath the cover means that are used to cover the channels after removal of the severed wire ends.

Wire cutting electrical connector having test probe access


A pusher mechanism for attachment to the carriage, saw guard, or other appropriate point of a rotary-blade stone slab saw. Using either signals from a controller of a modern slab saw or self-generated sensor information, the pusher is actuated at a precise time in the cutting process and applied an outward pressure on the severed slab to ensure that the slab is directed away from the saw blade. While a pneumatic cylinder is typically used, either hydraulic, electro-mechanical, or mechanical mechanisms may also be used to accomplish the push-away function.

The production of finished stone products, for example facing stone, stone tiles, and other thin, flat stone configurations, begins in a quarry where large blocks of stone are separated from the earth using a variety of techniques, some dating back to antiquity. Once quarried, large blocks of stone must be further processed, typically very close to the point where the stone was quarried. This is primarily because of the difficulty in moving large blocks of stone as well as the noise, dirt, and waste produced by the post quarrying processes.
One process typically used to produce thin, flat, stone products is slab sawing. Several different techniques are known and used for slabbing large stone blocks. One is gang sawing wherein a gang of spaced-apart fixed saw blades is mounted in a frame which is reciprocally moved across a stone block. Upon completion of the gang sawing process, parallel slabs of stone are produced. Diamond covered belts or cables may replace the saw blades.
Gang saws have at least two disadvantages. First, the thickness of the stone slabs produced is fixed by the design of the saw frame. Consequently, producing different thickness slabs is problematic. The second disadvantage of a gang saw is speed. Gang saws are significantly slower than rotary blade slabbing saws.
Rotary blade slabbing saws are not unlike radial arm saws well known in the woodworking arts. These saws are typically gantry saws that move on rails over a series of large stone blocks, slabbing each block as required. Having diamond tipped blades as large as 12 feet in diameter, these monster saws cut slice after slice off a stone block. Modern versions of these saws may be computer-controlled and laser guided. A modern, high-tech example of such a saw is the Eagle II traveling bridge diamond saw manufactured by Park Industries of St. Cloud, Minn.
Regardless of how new the technology incorporated, rotary blade slabbing saws have one severe limitation. At the completion of each cutting pass, a severed stone slab remains adjacent the saw blade. If the severed slab topples backward (i.e., towards the saw blade), or perhaps worse, the previously-cut, vertically standing groups of slabs collectively fall backward like dominoes into the blade, the expensive blade is invariably damaged, possibly beyond repair, resulting in lost time and cost. Because the saw blades often cost several thousand dollars each, this is a significant problem. Even if blade damage is avoided, the slabs may subsequently be re-sawed thereby ruining them.
Moreover, slab sawing operations are often performed at night, the day typically being spent in the actual quarrying operations. Once the stone blocks are positioned and the slab saws are set up, slab sawing requires little operator intervention. Except for the aforementioned potential toppling problem, slab saws may therefore run virtually unattended.
Two approaches to the aforementioned problem have heretofore been offered. First, the slab saws may be adjusted to stop their cutting pass slightly short of the end of the slab, thereby avoiding complete severance of the slabs. This leaves the slabs still connected to their adjoining slabs and the problem of a slab tipping into the saw blade is therefore avoided. Unfortunately, at some point in time, the cuts must be completed. This is a tricky operation at best; a slight misalignment of the saw blade compared to the original saw kerf can ruin one or more slabs. This operation is also very labor intensive requiring an expert saw operator to successfully complete each cut.
Another approach to the potential blade damage problem is by keeping a skeleton crew of attendants on duty during slab sawing operations. As the saw nears completion of a cut, the operator stands by and manually exerts force on the nearly severed slab to ensure that it moves away from the blade at the completion of the cut. As previously mentioned, slab sawing operations are typically performed at night near the quarry site. Such sites are remote and are typically the epitome of inhospitality. The large amounts of water used during the sawing and other quarrying operations create a virtual quagmire. The saws are extremely noisy and the sites are rarely well lighted. In addition to the undesirable environment, being in close proximity to the saw blades is dangerous. Quarry operators report dismal records of success with this approach to protecting the saw blades.
It would, therefore, be advantageous to provide an unattended, foolproof, automatic apparatus to ensure that at the completion of the sawing operation, a severed stone slab tilt or fall away from the saw blade.

Slab pushing attachment for a stone slab saw


A flat-panel display controller generates signals to cause display of images on TFT and STN type flat-panel displays. The display controller includes dither logic and frame rate control logic. The dither logic performs dynamic and distributed dithering on pixel data to generate smooth 16 gray-shade images on the display. The dynamic and distributed dithering capabilities are programmable. Dynamic dithering is programmable to specify, two-phase, four-phase or eight-phase mixes.to generate signals for use by TFT and STN type flat-panel displays. The frame rate control logic is responsive to the dither logic and performs frame rate control on the dithered signals using stored values indicative of average pixel luminescence to generate 256 gray-shades.

Portable computers typically include what is called generically a flat panel display. Flat-panel type displays can take a variety of forms, the most common of which is the liquid crystal type display. Liquid crystal displays include active matrix type which are also called TFT (Thin Film Transistor) type and passive matrix type which are also called STN (Super Twisted Nematic) type. Both of these are available in monochromatic or color versions. Such flat panel displays are driven by a controller which is typically a portion of an integrated circuit chip and also is referred to as a display controller or an LCD controller.
Liquid crystal displays have a number of well known characteristics which must be overcome by the associated controller. One characteristic is that if the various display pixels (picture elements) are excited so that adjacent picture elements are excited in the same phase, undesirable visual artifacts appear, degrading the quality of the resulting image. These artifacts include visual flickering, and a streaming motion. Frame Rate Control (FRC), which involves introduction of a phase shift for excitation of adjacent pixels in certain types of LCD controllers, is one technique for reducing certain of the aforementioned characteristics.
STN type displays are typically characterized by a panel response time which indicates the response of the panel to stimulation of the pixels contained therein. Displays with faster response times are generally capable of providing more visually pleasing images and innovations in panel technology are leading to STN panels with response times of approximately 150 milliseconds (ms) and faster to response times of 100 ms. TFT panels are characterized by a faster response time of approximately 60 ms. However, the above described frame rate control technique tends to cause increased flickering in panels with fast response times. In addition, in certain TFT and STN panels, such as those employing pseudo 256 gray-shade display, roughness in the form of dither patterns can appear on the panel. It would therefore be desirable to have a flat-panel display controller which adequately compensates for the aforementioned characteristics to provide visually pleasing images on an associated flat-panel display.

Flat-panel display controller with improved dithering and frame rate control


Disposing an additional sleeve-shaped structure, which is also called a sleeve, on a first radiator of both resonant radiators of a dipole antenna so that a cavity is formed between the additional radiator and a second resonant radiator of the dipole antenna. An effective bandwidth of the dipole antenna is increased significantly by a capacitance effect caused by the cavity so that more channels can be received by a general digital television broadband antenna while the dipole antenna is applied on the digital television broadband antenna.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dipole antenna, and more particularly, to a dipole antenna formed on a substrate for transmitting a signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The usage of a general dipole antenna is determined by the effective bandwidth of the general dipole antenna. The broadest usage of the general dipole antenna is the integrated digital television broadband antenna applied on a general digital household appliance. As is well known in the art, digital household appliances typically require a bandwidth between 460 MHz and 860 MHz. However, the general dipole antenna barely achieves the required bandwidth of the general digital household appliance because of its structural limitations. The effective bandwidth of the general digital household appliance barely reaches roughly twenty percent of the required bandwidth. Additionally, this limitation results in significant limitations in the effective bandwidth of an integrated digital television broadband antenna and the usage of the general digital household appliance.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a diagram of a conventional dipole antenna 100. The dipole antenna 100 is formed on a substrate 102 for transmitting a first signal. As shown in FIG. 1, the dipole antenna 100 comprises a first radiator 104, a feeding line 106, a signal source 108, a ground line 110, and a second radiator 112. The feeding line 106 is connected to an end of the first radiator 104. The signal source 108 is connected to the feeding line 106 and utilized for providing the first signal. The ground line 110 is connected to the signal source 108. The second radiator 112 is connected to an end of the ground line 110. The dipole antenna 100 transmits and receives signals via the resonance between the first radiator 104 and the second radiator 112. In other words, the first radiator 104 and the second radiator 112 are a pair of resonant radiators. The lengths of the first radiator 104 and the second radiator 112 affect the bandwidths of transmitting and receiving signals. Therefore, the lengths of the first radiator 104 and the second radiator 112 are set to be a quarter of the wavelength of the first signal thereby providing efficient power consumption as the dipole antenna 100 transmits the first signal. The dipole antenna 100 thus transmits the first signal in a specific effective bandwidth. However, the specific effective bandwidth is only capable of reaching twenty percent of the required bandwidth as mentioned previously. Therefore, it is apparent that new and improved devices are needed for solving said problem.


A glass optical element including: a first surface which is formed by transcription of the first transfer surface of the molding die; a second surface which is formed by transcription of the second transfer surface of the molding die and is facing the first surface; and a side surface of the outer periphery formed by transcription of the side transfer surface of the molding die; wherein the glass optical element is characterized by further containing: a first free surface which is formed without contacting with any of the surfaces of the molding die and is connecting the first surface and the side surface of the outer periphery; and a second free surface which is formed without contacting with any of the surfaces of the molding die and is connecting the aforementioned second surface and the side surface of the outer periphery.

In recent years, a glass optical element has been employed over an extensive range as a digital camera lens, optical pickup lens for DVD, camera lens for mobile phone and coupling lens for optical communications. Such a glass optical element is often manufactured by a press molding method wherein a softened glass material is compression-molded by a molding die.
The level of performances required of a glass optical element is getting increasingly higher to catch up with the trend for more compact size and higher accuracy of various types of optical equipment. At the same time, there has been an increasing demand for a further reduction in manufacturing costs. Studies are being made on a method where the optical surface and the circumferential side surface of the glass optical element are simultaneously formed by molding.
As one of such methods, a method is known wherein a molding glass material of a predetermined mass and shape is prepared, this molding glass material and a molding die having a side transfer surface for forming a side of the outer periphery of a glass optical element are heated to the temperature that allows deformation of the glass, and then a glass optical element is produced by compression molding (U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,023).
Two molding methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,023 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are diagrams showing the cross section of a molding die in the step of compression molding. FIG. 7 shows a molding die used in the first method, while FIG. 8 represents the molding die employed in the second method. In the first method, a molding die made of an upper mold 1, lower mold 2, and side transfer member 3 as shown in FIG. 7 is employed, and the upper mold 1 moves downward until the glass fills up a cavity (a space having the shape of a glass optical element inside the molding die), whereby pressure is applied to the glass (hereinafter referred to as "conventional method 1"). The thickness of a glass optical element 4 is determined by the volume of glass. In the second method, a molding die made of an upper mold 5, lower mold 6 and side transfer member 7 as shown in FIG. 8 is utilized, and the upper mold 5 stops at the position in contact with a side transfer member 7. Since the cavity is not completely filled with glass, some portions of the free glass surface 9 not being restricted by the mold are contained in the glass optical element 8 in this molding method (hereinafter referred to as "conventional method 2"). The thickness of the glass optical element 8 is determined by the thickness of the side transfer member 7.
In the meantime, differently from the method of using the molding glass material of a predetermined mass and shape, a method of compression molding is proposed. According to this proposal, a molding die made up of an upper mold, lower mold and side transfer member is heated, and the molten glass is dropped onto the lower mold. While the temperature is in the range wherein glass can be deformed by pressure, compression molding is provided using a molding die (Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publications No. 2003-292327 and US2004/0231362).
However, in the aforementioned conventional method 1, the upper mold moves down until the cavity is filled with glass. This has caused such problems as quality failures wherein burrs and nicks are produced on both ends on the side of the outer periphery (the boundary between the surface transferred by the upper mold and the side surface of the outer periphery, and the boundary between the surface transferred by the lower mold and the side surface of the outer periphery).
In the aforementioned conventional method 2, some portions of the free glass surface not restricted by the die are contained in the glass optical element, such a problem as a burr or nick does not occur. However, since the movement of the upper mold 5 is restricted by the side transfer member 7, this method involves a serious defect wherein pressure applied to the glass optical element cannot be maintained in the step of cooling and shrinkage. Thus, this method has been unable to produce an optical element having a high precision optical surface.
For the optical element having a small diameter or the optical element wherein the optical surfaces on the front and rear have a similar shape, there has been a demand for such an arrangement that both ends on the side surface of the outer periphery are shaped differently to distinguish between the front and rear of the optical element. However, in the aforementioned conventional methods 1 and 2, it has been difficult to make a difference in the shape of the aforementioned portion, and the shape of this portion cannot be used to distinguish between the front and rear of the optical element.
Further, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-292327 and 2004-339039 also fail to disclose a glass optical element manufacturing method that provides a high precision optical surface and prevents a quality failure such as a burr or nick from occurring on both ends on the side surface of the outer periphery.

Glass optical element and method for manufacturing the same


An apparatus and method for supporting mobility of a mobile terminal in a wireless local area network (LAN) environment deploying mobile IP are provided. The method for registering a mobile node using a virtual mobile node comprises: detecting whether or not a mobile node traveling among a plurality of networks is connected; and registering information on the mobile node whose connection is detected, with an agent relaying communication between the mobile node and a correspondent agent. By doing so, even when a mobile IP module is not installed, the mobile node can perform wireless communication seamlessly between networks in a wireless LAN environment deploying mobile IP.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless local area network (LAN) deploying mobile internet protocol (IP), and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for supporting mobility of a mobile terminal.
2. Related Art
As mobile terminals such as mobile phones, notebook PCs, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) become more popular and widely utilized, development has focused on allowing users to use mobile terminals to access the Internet from anywhere and to enable mobile terminals to communication with each other and/or other computers, fixed and mobile. In particular, many researches have been conducted regarding technology capable of providing seamless communication when a mobile terminal travels among a plurality of networks without restarting its applications and without disrupting any ongoing communications. An example of this technology is known as mobile internet protocol (IP) which is an Internet standards-track protocol used to provide node mobility in the Internet and to define how digital information (which can be grouped into bundles called "packets") is exchanged between two or more mobile terminals in the Internet.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an example wireless local area network (LAN) environment deploying mobile IP.
Referring to FIG. 1, the wireless LAN environment deploying mobile IP includes a mobile node (MN) 11, a home agent (HA) 12, a foreign agent (FA) 13, and a correspondent node (CN) 14 connected, via a distribution system such as the Internet.
The mobile node (MN) 11 is a host traveling among a plurality of networks. A network to which the mobile node (MN) 11 is first connected is referred to as a "home network", and the IP address of the mobile node (MN) 11 in the home network is referred to as a "home address." Such a mobile node (MN) 11 can change its point-of-attachment to the Internet from one network to another while maintaining any ongoing communications and using only its IP home address.
The home agent (HA) 12 is a router having information on the mobile node (MN) 11, situated in the home network of the mobile node (MN) 11. In particular, when the mobile node (MN) 11 moves out of the home network and is positioned in a foreign network, the home agent (HA) 12 relays the communication between the mobile node (MN) 11 and the correspondent node (CN) 14 based on this information.
The foreign agent (FA) 13 is a router which is connected to the mobile node (MN) 11 when the mobile node (MN) 11 moves out of the home network, and is positioned in a foreign network. The IP address of the mobile node (MN) 11 in the foreign network is referred to as a "care of address" (COA). The correspondent node (CN) 14 can be a host, or a client station, communicating with the mobile node (MN) 11.
Referring to FIG. 1, the operations of the wireless LAN environment deploying mobile IP will now be described as follows.
In operation 1, the mobile node (MN) 11 moves out of the home network into a foreign network. In operation 2, the foreign agent (FA) 13 broadcasts an agent advertisement including network information.
In operation 3, the mobile node (MN) 11 receives the agent advertisement broadcast by the foreign agent (FA) 13, when moved into the foreign network, and based on the network information included in the agent advertisement, detects that it is located in a foreign network. Also, the mobile node (MN) 11 obtains a COA, binds the home address and the COA of the mobile node (MN) 11, and registers the binding result in the home agent (HA) 12.
In operation 4, the home agent (HA) 12 transmits a response to the registration requested from the mobile node (MN) 11.
In operation 5, the correspondent node (CN) 14 transmits packets with a destination set to the home address of the mobile node (MN) 11.
In operation 6, the home agent (HA) 12 intercepts all packets destined to the home address of the mobile node (MN) 11, and by setting the COA of the mobile node (MN) 11 as the new destination of the packets, performs tunneling of packets to the mobile node (MN) 11 at its current location, i.e., to the COA of the mobile node 11.
As described above, in order to deploy mobile IP, routers such as the home agent (HA) 12 and the foreign agent (FA) 13 must support the mobile IP, and each mobile node (MN) must include a separate mobile IP module. When an office is built for networking, for example, the router is one of a small number of infrastructure facilities, which can be easily installed to support the mobile IP. However, there are many types of user terminals and network products, and users are usually reluctant to install additional functions that may affect the operation of existing functions. As a result, it can be very difficult to install a mobile IP module in every mobile node.
Because of this problem, the mobile IP has not been widely used, and therefore, new network products have been introduced to provide WLAN services to mobile nodes do not have the mobile IP function. An example of these network products is a WLAN switch from Airespace, Inc., as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a wireless LAN environment in which typical WLAN switches are installed to monitor the movement of a mobile node between different networks.
Referring to FIG. 2, the wireless LAN environment in which the WLAN switch is installed includes a mobile node 21, general hosts 22, 23, 24, and 26, access points ("APs") 24 and 27, WLAN switches 28 and 29, and data sensor switches 210 and 211 located in different networks, i.e., a first wireless LAN or a second wireless LAN.
The MAC address of the mobile node 21 is registered in advance in the WLAN switches 28 and 29. The WLAN switches 28 and 29 are connected to the first wireless LAN and the second wireless LAN, respectively, to detect the movement of the mobile node 21 by referring to the MAC address and perform tunneling between the WLAN switches 28 and 29.
However, even when the WLAN switches are used, supporting the mobility of the mobile node 1 can only be made possible in an area in which a device such as the WLAN switch is installed, and can not be made possible in other types of WLAN environments, such as, Bluetooth. Moreover, it is very inconvenient to register the MAC address of the mobile node 21 in advance in the WLAN switches 28 and 29.
Accordingly, there is a need to create a wireless LAN environment deploying mobile IP in which a mobile node can travel among a plurality of networks while maintaining any ongoing communications seamlessly, even when a mobile IP module is not installed therein.

Method and apparatus for registering mobile node in a wireless local area network (LAN) environment


Data communications are carried out between portable information terminals through infrared radiation with an energy source which may be either a battery in each of the portable information terminals or an external power supply therefor, at a data transmission rate which is relatively low when the portable information terminal is operated by the battery. If the power source is the incased battery, the data transmission rate is switched to a low rate, data to be transmitted are compressed, and the respective numbers of bits "0" and "1" contained in the compressed data are compared with each other. If the number of bits which require a greater amount of electric energy for transmission is greater than the other number of bits, then the value of bits is inverted. Data indicative of the low data transmission rate, the compression of the data, and whether the value of bits has been inverted or not are coded into header data which are added to the compressed data for transmission. The data transmission rate is adjusted, the compressed data are expanded, and the inverted value of bits is inverted back by a controller in response to the header data at the receiver side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for carrying out data communications between portable information terminals, and more particularly to a method of and an apparatus for carrying out data communications between portable information terminals through a wireless communication medium such as infrared radiation with an energy source which may either be a battery of limited capacity housed in each of the portable information terminals or an external power supply of unlimited capacity.
2. Description of the Related Art
One known portable information terminal, as disclosed in Japanese patent application laid-open No. 63-246048, which is used in a wireless signal transmission system which employs a wireless signal such as a radio signal for transmitting data between main and auxiliary units, transmits data at different transmission rates depending on the condition in which the wireless signal is propagated. Such a portable information terminal is usually powered by a battery, and communicates with another terminal through a wireless communication medium such as infrared radiation. Generally, the portable information terminal consumes a large amount of electric energy for wireless communications through infrared radiation, and the incased battery of the portable information terminal has a limited capacity because the portable information terminal is relatively small in size and light in weight. Consequently, the portable information terminal which effects wireless communications through infrared radiation cannot be used continuously for a long period of time due to the limited battery capacity.
The wireless signal transmission system disclosed in the laid-open no. 246048/1985 is capable of increasing the reliability of data transmission by varying the data transmission rate according to the propagation condition of the wireless signal. However, the disclosed wireless signal transmission system gives no solution to prevent the high consumption of the electric energy of the portable information terminal without degrading the efficiency of the data transmission.

Method of and apparatus for data communications between portable information terminals


A brake apparatus of a vehicle may include a detector configured to detect driving information including an operation status of a brake pedal, a vehicle speed, and a vehicle deceleration, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) configured to control a braking force supplied to wheels of the vehicle by detecting slip generated at the wheels, and a controller configured to determine a braking status of the vehicle from the operation status of the brake pedal detected by the detector, the vehicle speed, and the vehicle deceleration, and configured to selectively perform ABS control or pitch motion control for reducing a pitch motion of the vehicle according to the braking status of the vehicle.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brake apparatus of a vehicle and a method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a brake apparatus of a vehicle and a method that can reduce braking distance by minimizing a pitch motion generated when the vehicle quickly brakes.
Description of Related Art
Generally, in a hydraulic pressure brake system, a hydraulic brake pressure generated by operation of a brake pedal is supplied to each wheel, thereby a vehicle is braked. At this time, a slip between the tire and a road occurs when a braking force that is larger than a static friction force is supplied to a tire.
As is known, a dynamic friction coefficient is less than a static friction coefficient. In order to exhibit optimal brake effect, slipping between the tire and the road must be prevented. In addition, locking up of the brake during slipping must be prevented.
Thus, an antilock brake system (ABS) is used for preventing slip and locking up by controlling hydraulic brake pressure supplied to each wheel. The ABS includes a plurality of solenoid valves controlling the hydraulic brake pressure transmitted to each hydraulic pressure brake, an accumulator, an electric control unit (ECU) controlling a hydraulic pressure control apparatus, and electric/electronic devices such as a hydraulic pressure pump.
The ABS detects a slip generated by operation of a brake on a slippery road or during quick braking, and reduces, sustains, or increases the hydraulic brake pressure such that the vehicle can obtain optimal cornering force and stop at a shortest distance while maintaining steering stability.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, since a mass center of a vehicle body is positioned at a higher position compared to a suspension, a pitch motion (in other words, a 'nosedive') in which a front portion of the vehicle body falls toward the ground is generated when a driver strongly presses a brake pedal for quick braking.
At this time, when the ABS is operated, a high hydraulic brake pressure is formed at driving wheels by a hydraulic pressure control apparatus, and braking distance becomes longer as the hydraulic brake pressure supplied to the driving wheels is reduced, thereby deceleration is reduced. Therefore, there is a problem that a braking distance becomes longer.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Brake apparatus of vehicle and method thereof


An oil level regulator is disclosed for use in a refrigeration system which has an oil reservoir and at least one compressor with a crankcase for containing oil. The regulator has a body with an interior fluid chamber for receiving oil. An inlet communicates with the fluid chamber of the body and is connected by a conduit to the oil reservoir of the system. An outlet communicates from the fluid chamber through a conduit through to the crankcase of the compressor. A level detecting mechanism is disposed within the fluid chamber for detecting an oil level therein. The level detector mechanism includes a solenoid assembly which is actuated by the detector mechanism when the oil level within the chamber is determined to be at or below a predetermined level. A microprocessor is provided on the regulator which communicates with the detector mechanism and the solenoid assembly. The microprocessor includes a delay timer for actuating the switch mechanism after a delay time period has passed from detection of a low oil level in order to provide fluid to the interior chamber. The microprocessor also includes a latching timer for holding the solenoid assembly in a position for feeding oil into the fluid chamber for a latching time period after an oil level is detected which is at or above the first predetermined level.

The present invention relates generally to a fluid level regulator. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oil level regulator for controlling the oil level in a compressor crankcase.
Mechanical oil level control systems and regulators are generally known for controlling the oil level in a compressor crankcase. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,246,244 discloses a prior oil level control system for a refrigeration compressor. An oil level regulator is desirably capable of adjusting the oil level of the associated crankcase within predetermined oil level limits. The oil level regulator disclosed in the aforementioned patent is not adjustable.
Adjustable mechanical regulators are generally known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,208, incorporated herein in its entirety, relates to such a device. That device includes a float which is connected at its side to a pivotable lever. Responsive to the oil level, the float travels along an arc, the float motion being constrained by the attached lever. The lever is operable to open or close a valve to control a flow of oil through an inlet. The inlet includes a vertically adjustable position to which the valve, lever and float assembly are attached. This assembly is adjustable with a separate adjustment pin which extends vertically through the top of the regulator housing to the valve. The pin is threaded to the valve so that the rotation of the pin from outside the regulator causes vertical adjustment of the valve assembly. Because the float has an amount of horizontal travel along its arc, the width of the conventional regulator must be sized accordingly. Therefore, a regulator design is desirable which is compact and simple to adjust.
An oil level regulator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,499, incorporated herein in its entirety, for controlling the oil level in the crankcase of one or more refrigeration compressors or the like. The regulator has a closed chamber for containing the oil. A float-controlled switch is operable to actuate a solenoid valve for introducing liquid into the chamber as necessary to maintain the oil level in the chamber and the compressor crankcases. The regulator actuates an indicator, such as a light or an audible alarm, when a low-oil condition is present. Also, the regulator terminates operation of the compressor at a critically low oil level in order to prevent damage from inadequate lubrication.
These types of regulators include no time delay or controlled feed cycle. In some instances, too much oil or too little oil may be fed to a crankcase under varying operation conditions. In other cases, the introduction of high pressure oil may cause the float switch to bounce causing abbreviated feed cycles of a fraction of a second or false alarms. This lack of a feed cycle renders such regulators poorly suited to high-pressure oil systems. Additionally, many of these prior art regulators include 24-volt power systems which require a customer to supply relay and time delay features to open the compressor control circuit and shut off the compressor. Further, such regulators reset immediately upon the oil level in the compressor reaching a set point. Such designs allow the compressor to run without correcting the initial oil level problem or cause.


A system for switching between computer hardware configurations is provided. The system may include multiple processors and an operating system that facilitates switching between a lock step or fail-over processing operation configuration and a multiprocessor operation configuration.

The increasing complexity and sophistication of present day hardware systems has led to an increase in the opportunity for operating errors. Many computing system failures stem from hardware errors. Processors, caches, and memories are becoming larger, faster, and more dense, while being increasingly used in adverse environments, such as high altitudes, in space, and in industrial applications. Hardware errors may be characterized as hard errors and transient (soft) errors. Hard errors are those that require replacement (or relinquished use) of a component. Typically, such errors are the product of physical damage. Transient or soft errors are those that result in an invalid state in the hardware that is normally correctable. A typical processor's silicon can have a soft-error rate of 4000 FIT (1 FIT equals 1 failure in 109 h), of which approximately 50% will affect processor logic and 50% the large on-chip cache. Due to increasing speeds, denser technology, and lower voltages, these errors are likely to become more probable than other single hardware component failures.
Techniques such as Error Correction Codes (ECC) and Chipkill (as described by Timothy J. Dell, "A White Paper on the Benefits of Chipkill-Correct ECC for PC Server Main Memory" IBM Microelectronics Division, July 1997) have been used in main memories to correct some errors. Unfortunately, such techniques only help reduce visible error rates for semiconductor elements that can be covered by such codes (large storage elements). With raw error rates increasing with technological progress and more complicated interconnected memory subsystems, ECC is unable to address all the soft-error problems. Presently available hardware and software provide little to no support for recovery from errors not covered by ECC, whether detected or not.
One solution to provide increased reliability of hardware systems, and processors in particular, has been fail-over technology or lock stepping. In this system, a second processor operates to check the progress of a first processor, and take over the operation in the event of a failure. While this system may provide increased reliability, the cost is that a second processor must be dedicated to the fail-over support of a first processor.
Alternatively, an operating system may utilize a multiprocessor mode, whereby the operating system divides tasks among and between a plurality of processors. The overall processing speed of such a device is increased for a given operation, since the individual arithmetic and logic operations that make up a larger operation may be performed in parallel. Multiprocessing is most effective when the application software being run is designed for multiprocessing. This design preferably involves structuring the software such that it may be broken into smaller routines that can be performed independently. Even where software does not lend itself well to being broken into such discrete units for multiprocessing, the operating system may still make use of the additional processors through multitasking, where the operating system would assign different applications to different processors.
One problem with presently available processing systems and the software that drives these systems is that they may not switch between a multiprocessor mode and a fail-over processing mode.

Apparatus and methods for switching hardware operation configurations

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.


The present invention relates to novel colchicine derivatives having antiproliferative, antineoplastic, antiinflammatory and muscle relaxant activities; said derivatives include novel colchine nitrogen amides for use either as such or after derivatization of the hydroxyl at C.sub.3 of the aromatic ring and at C.sub.10 of the tropolone ring. These novel compounds have a cytotoxicity on human tumoral cell lines comparable with colchicine but, in comparison with the latter, they are much more active on cells resistant to the usual antiblastics. The compounds can be included in pharmaceutical formulations useful for the intravenous, oral and topical administrations.

Colchicine is a known pseudo-alkaloid widely used for a very long time in therapy for the treatment of gout, a pathology on which it acts very quickly and specifically, even though it should be used for short times due to its toxicity. A colchicine derivative, namely thiocolchicoside, is widely used to treat contractures and in inflammatory conditions on skeletal muscles. In addition, colchicine is a very potent antiblastic agent, which acts block the formation of the mitotic spindle during cell division; this latter aspect has been investigated thoroughly for any antineoplastic activity and a great deal of colchicine derivatives have been prepared for this purpose. Colchicine as such and a number of its derivatives could not be used clinically due to their high toxicity, and therefore their unacceptable risk/benefit ratio. Only one colchicine derivative, demecolcine, is used in some degree in oncology for the treatment of certain leukemia forms. It would thus be desirable to have compounds which possess higher activity, lower toxicity and higher therapeutical index. More specifically, in the antineoplastic field, researches have been focused on the search for products having, besides a normal cytotoxicity, a cytotoxicity aimed at cell lines resistant to the known, usual antiblastic medicaments.

Colchicine derivatives, the use thereof and formulations containing them


A modular wire grid rack system is provided that includes a pair of storage racks, each storage rack having a plurality of intersecting wire rods, and a plurality of posts connected to the storage racks and separating the storage racks. An intermediate storage assembly is locatable between the pair of storage racks and includes a retaining element configured to be seated on one of the posts and a shelf arm, in the installed disposition of the intermediate storage assembly, a load imposed on the shelf arm by a supported object urges the angular ends of the channel engaging protrusion of the retaining element to move toward one another, thereby reinforcing the strength and stability of the seating of the retaining element on the respective post.

Wire grid rack systems are a type of storage arrangement that includes a number of vertical posts collectively supporting wire grid racks. One type of configuration of wire grid rack systems involves modular "knock-down" storage arrangements and these have seen extensive use in both retail and residential environments. Such modular "knock-down" storage arrangements are typically comprised of generally four-sided shelves made up of intersecting wire rods, with each shelf separated and supported by a post at each corner above and below the respective shelf. The user assembles the shelving system by engaging a set of four posts to each of the four corners of a shelf, placing a second shelf on top of the posts, engaging another set of posts to the second shelf, and so on until the shelving system has the desired number of shelves. The shelving system can be disassembled (i.e., "knocked down") merely by disengaging the posts from the shelves, and the posts and shelves can then be stored in a compact manner (e.g., in a box) for storage or transportation.
These modular "knock-down" storage arrangements have become popular because they are typically easy to assemble into an initial storage configuration. However, it is desirable that users can re-configure such modular "knock-down" storage arrangements to more suitably store a different mix of items at a later time after the initial set up. Additionally, it is desirable that users can more fully utilize the available space occupied by the storage arrangement via, for example, providing opportunities to store items in unoccupied areas within the confines or "footprint" of the storage arrangement.
One drawback in re-configuring modular "knock-down" storage arrangements from their initial storage configuration to another configuration is that it is often necessary to at least partially disassemble the storage arrangement and this can involve substantial effort and/or careful use of tools, U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,139 to Chen notes that some conventionally known sectional racks of this type require fastening tools to erect or disassemble the racks. However, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,139 to Chen, improvements have been made to such sectional racks and fastening means and tools are no longer needed in the erection and disassembling thereof. Reference is had to FIG. 1 which is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion of a prior art wire grid rack system that, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,139 to Chen, includes vertical posts 10 having a plurality of horizontally spaced annular grooves 13 provided on their outer surfaces, and shelves 12 connected to the vertical posts 10 through two-part connecting members 11. The two parts of the connecting member 11 may be opened or closed relative to each other. A radially inward projected rib 14 is annularly provided along an inner surface of the connecting member 11 at the proper position, such that, when the two parts of the connecting member 11 are in a closed position, it may be put around the vertical post 10 at a predetermined position by engaging the rib 14 with one of the grooves 13. The connecting member 11 in the closed position has a downward and outward inclined outer surface, making it look like a truncated cone. The shelf 12 has short sleeves 15 provided at four corners thereof (only one corner is shown in FIG. 1). Each sleeve 15 has a downward and outward inclined inner surface corresponding to the inclined outer surface of the connecting member 11. The sleeves 15 are separately put around the connecting members 11 mounted on the vertical posts 10 to, on the one hand, force the connecting members 11 toward the vertical posts 10 and, on the other hand, connect the shelves 12 to the vertical posts 10. In the above-described sectional rack, each shelf 12 is connected to the vertical posts 10 by putting four sleeves 15 thereof around four connecting members 11 mounted on the posts 10. If it is intended to increase or decrease the number of shelves 12 of the rack, it is necessary to temporarily remove the top shelf 12 from the rack before other layers of shelves 12 could be adjusted. According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,139 to Chen, it is inconvenient for the user to temporarily remove the top shelf 12 from the rack before other layers of shelves 12 are adjusted.
Thus, storage arrangements have been proposed that ease the transition from their initial storage configuration to another configuration. Still more flexibility has been sought, however, so that the variety of items that can be stored, and the accessibility of such stored items, can be increased. To this end, U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,697 to Lim et al notes that storage bins can be used to hold articles and objects, with the storage bins placed on the shelves of a modular "knock-down" storage arrangement in an organized manner. However, according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,697 to Lim et al, the use of conventional storage bins has certain disadvantages including, for example, the disadvantage that conventional storage bins are not secured to the shelves, so that a storage bin might slide about the shelf on which it is supported, especially if it is advertently pushed or tipped by a user or another object. This pushed or tipped storage bin may fall off a shelf, causing damage to the contents and possible injury to a person. U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,697 to Lim et al discloses a storage bin that can be engaged to the shelves of a modular "knock-down" storage arrangement in a manner which allows for safe and convenient access to the contents stored in the storage bin.
Despite the continued improvements to the above-described storage arrangements, a need exists for a shelf assembly that can be easily assembled and that can be easily installed at different heights without the need for any tools.

Shelf assembly particularly suitable for wire grid rack systems having racks at fixed vertical spacings


Protection for the transmission of higher amplitude outputs required of differential amplifiers formed by thin oxide transistors with limited maximum voltage tolerance used where compliance with communication protocol standards requires handling voltages which may, in transition, exceed desirable levels is provided by limiting the voltage across any two device terminals under power down conditions.

This invention relates to a semiconductor differential amplifier and a method of protecting the amplifier against undesirable effects of transitional power events.
Integrated circuits based on semiconductor manufacturing process are well known. Such devices are understood to be formed by providing a suitable base and then forming electrical circuit components on the substrate. Such devices are understood to be formed with many such components on a single substrate, with such components functioning as transistors, resistors and other elements. Input/output (I/O) controllers, as one example only, are so formed and have components of the types described formed on the substrates supporting the components. This technology is well known and needs no further description here.
Many such integrated circuit devices or chips use as one type of component a differential amplifier. Differential amplifiers have been long recognized in the art, to the extent that there exist entire texts devoted to the characteristics and design of such amplifiers and their inclusion in large scale integrated circuits. The interested reader is referred to such texts for a deeper understanding of the invention here to be described.
Differential amplifiers function due to the imposition of voltages there across, and serve, among other purposes, to amplify the differences between two input voltages (hence the name) and to remove noise otherwise present in signals by operating in so-called common mode. One difficulty encountered with integrated circuits formed by the use of certain technologies is that voltages may be applied across a differential amplifier which result in either signal distortion beyond acceptable limits or damage to the components forming the amplifier. This is particularly true where an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip is made by a technology which is only capable of offering thin oxide transistors with limited maximum voltage tolerance and the element is used in a circumstance where compliance with communication protocol standards requires handling voltages which may, in transition, exceed desirable levels. Even if thick oxide devices are available in a given technology, and might be less susceptible to voltage problems, those devices are often incapable of the speed necessary to support the applications in question.
As device geometries shrink, the maximum supported power supply voltage also decreases. While this allows digital technology to have a higher maximum operating speed, IC I/O must continue to meet minimum output amplitude as dictated by communication standards. Achieving large output amplitudes often requires higher power supply voltages which, when imposed across a minimum geometry device, impair longevity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Serial link output stage differential amplifier and method

International Business Machines Corporation


A touch panel including a substrate, a touch sensing array, connecting lines, extending portions, a first electrostatic discharge protection circuit, and a second electrostatic discharge protection circuit is provided. The substrate has an active region and a periphery region. The touch sensing array is disposed in the active region. The connecting lines and extending portions are disposed in the periphery region. An end of each of the connecting lines is respectively connected to the touch sensing array by the corresponding extending portion. The first electrostatic discharge protection circuit is disposed in the periphery region and located between the outermost connecting line and the edge of the corresponding substrate. The second electrostatic discharge protection circuit is disposed in the periphery region and located between the innermost connecting line and the touch sensing array. The second electrostatic discharge protection circuit overlaps with the extending portions on the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The application relates to a touch panel, and more particularly to a touch panel having electro-static discharge protection.
2. Description of Related Art
In the past few years, with rapid development and application in information technology, wireless mobile communication, and information appliance, conventional input devices such as a keyboard or mouse for a lot of information products are now replaced by a touch panel as an input device for the products to be easier to use, more compact, and more human.
A touch panel can be roughly categorized into a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, an optical touch panel, a surface acoustic wave touch panel, and an electromagnetic touch panel based on the way it senses. Compared with other types of touch panels, the capacitive touch panel has the advantages of short response time, favorable reliability, high definition, etc. and is therefore widely used in various types of handheld electronic apparatus.
Generally, damages caused by the electrostatic discharge (ESD) possibly happen to an electronic product at any time when the electronic product is manufactured, packaged, tested, delivered, even finally shipped and used, which leads to high risk of malfunction. The touch panel is also likely to be damaged by electrostatic discharge. Therefore, an ESD protection circuit is usually made for the touch panel for protection. Nevertheless, the width of the ESD protection circuit causes the border size of the touch panel to be increased, which does not meet the requirement that current electronic products tend to be designed with small sizes.


Moieties, including a 2'-methoxyoxalamido and N-succinimido moieties, were incorporated into a compound, particularly an oligonucleotide molecule. The moieties were shown to be useful precursors for the post synthetic introduction of various functional additives.

A precursor strategy is a system by which a single precursor is used to manufacture a variety of different products. The use of a precursor strategy is quite common in synthetic organic chemistry.
As used herein, a precursor is a molecule capable of reacting with different compounds, such as modifiers, to produce a number of different products. A precursor molecule comprises a core and one or more reactive moieties. The "core" is the part of the compound that does not generally change and the part that often, but not necessarily, possesses some specific properties critical for the desired application. Thus, the core is generally untouched upon reaction with a modifier.
A "reactive moiety" is a group that reacts in a highly effective, preferably quantitative, and specific manner with a particular modifier to form a particular product or with a mixture of modifiers to form a pool of products. If a core part of a precursor contains some functionalities that are also capable of reacting with the modifier, these functionalities must be protected.
A precursor strategy will work successfully only if some demands are fulfilled. These demands include the following:
1. If a precursor is a complex molecule and is prepared by multi-step synthesis, the precursor reactive moiety or moieties must be stable in all conditions used during the synthesis after its introduction. However, this rule is not applicable if a reactive moiety is introduced at the very last step of the precursor synthesis. PA1 2. It is highly desirable for the yield of the reaction between a precursor reactive moiety and a modifier to be close to quantitative. This is especially important when the precursor contains more than one reactive moiety. PA1 3. The core part of a precursor must be stable in the conditions of transformation, that is, the conditions under which the precursor reacts with a modifier. PA1 4. One or more a modified site, that is, parts of a product molecule that are formed after reaction between a precursor reactive moiety and a modifier, must tolerate the deprotection conditions if a deprotection step is necessary to prepare a desired product. PA1 5. It is desirable for the transformation time to be relatively short. PA1 reacting a first compound containing a first moiety selected from the group consisting of --COCOOCR.sub.3, --COCR.sub.2 CR.sub.2 CO--, --COCR.dbd.CRCO-- and --COSSCO-- with a second compound containing a primary or secondary amine, which may or may not be an amino substituted nucleoside or nucleotide, to form a third compound containing a second moiety selected from the group consisting of --NRCOCOOCR.sub.3, ##STR1## said first moiety attaching to a nitrogen of the amine to form said second moiety, wherein each R independently represents H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; PA1 reacting a protonated nucleophile (HNu) with the second moiety of said third compound to form a fourth compound containing a third moiety selected from the group consisting of: --NRCOCONu, --NHCOCR.sub.2 CR.sub.2 CONu, --NHCOCR.dbd.CRCONu and --NHCOSSCONu. PA1 reacting a compound containing a first moiety selected from the group consisting of --COCOOCR.sub.3, --COCR.sub.2 CR.sub.2 CO--, --COCR.dbd.CRCO-- and --COSSCO-- with a first monomer containing a primary or secondary amine, which may or may not be an amino substituted nucleoside or nucleotide, to form a second monomer containing a second moiety selected from the group consisting of --NRCOCOOCR.sub.3, ##STR2## said first moiety attaching to a nitrogen of the amine to form said second moiety, wherein each R independently represents H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; PA1 reacting said second monomer with at least one other monomer to form an oligomer or polymer; PA1 reacting a protonated nucleophile (HNu) with the second moiety to form a third moiety in said oligomer or polymer, said third moiety being selected from the group consisting of: --NRCOCONu, --NHCOCR.sub.2 CR.sub.2 CONu, --NHCOCR.dbd.CRCONu and --NHCOSSCONu.
Oligonucleotides bearing various functionalities have become common place tools in molecular biology and diagnostics. Goodchild, J., "Conjugates of Oligonucleotides and Modified Oligonucleotides: A Review of Their Synthesis and Properties," Perspectives in Bioconjugate Chemistry, pp. 77-99 (1993). One of the most efficient routes to the synthesis of functionally modified oligonucleotides (FMOs) is the introduction of a precursor, that is, a nucleotide monomer bearing a reactive moiety, into the oligonucleotide. At the end of solid phase synthesis, the precursor reacts with a desired linker or modifier. This strategy enables one to synthesize a wide variety of FMOs from a single parent oligonucleotide.
MacMillan, A. and Verdine, G., "Engineering Tethered DNA Molecules by the Convertible Nucleoside Approach," Tetrahedron, 47: 2603-2619 (1991), and Ferenz, A. and Verdine, G., "Aminolysis of 2'-Deoxyinosine Aryl Ethers: Nucleoside Model Studies for the Synthesis of Functionally Tethered Oligonucleotides," Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 11: 1749-1763 (1992), have elaborated a convertible nucleoside strategy to prepare functionally tethered oligonucleotides (FTOs). This convergent strategy is based on the use of O-substituted deoxyuridine and deoxyinosine as convertible nucleosides. Upon treatment with aqueous amines, precursor oligonucleotides containing convertible nucleosides undergoes a transformation giving rise to a FTO.
Buhr et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,786, described the incorporation of a 2'-deoxy-2'-O-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-cytidine into an oligonucleotide. After solid phase synthesis and deprotection, the ester group, which is a reactive moiety, can be hydrolyzed to a carboxy group by treatment with NaOH or derivatized to an amide or substituted amide by a reaction with NH.sub.3 or a primary aliphatic amine.
Hebert et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 35: 9509-9512 (1994), reported the N-acylation of a DMT-hydroxymethylpyrrolidinol precursor with a number of carboxylic acids. N-substituted DMT-hydroxymethylpyrrolidinols were further phosphitilated and used for the preparation of phosphodiester oligomer combinatorial libraries.

Methoxyoxalamido and succinimido precursors for nucleophilic addition to nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides


The manufacture of magnetic disks for disk drives requires formation or servo tracks in a concentric pattern on the disk. Certain types of beam apparatuses for forming feature patterns on a disk shaped substrate, such as might be used in hard disk manufacture, however, provide spiral patterns. A ramp type deflection signal therefore is used to deflect the beam so as to form one circular pattern during each rotational cycle, and thereby convert the spiral pattern to a pattern comprising a series of circles.

A magnetic disk drive, such as a hard disk drive, stores data on one or more disks coated with a magnetic medium. For read/write purposes, the surface of the magnetic medium carries a number of generally parallel data tracks, which on a disk type medium, are arranged concentrically with one another about the center of the disk.
An actuator arm positions a transducer or "head" over a desired track, and the head writes data to the track or reads data from the track. As the disk rotates, the actuator arm moves the head in a radial direction across the data tracks under control of a closed-loop servo system, based on position information or "servo data", which is stored within dedicated servo fields of the magnetic medium of the disk. The servo fields can be interleaved with data sectors on the disk surface or can be located on a separate disk surface that is dedicated to storing servo information. As the head passes over the servo fields, it generates a readback signal that identifies the location of the head relative to the center line of the desired track. Based on this location, the servo system moves the actuator arm to adjust the head's position so that it moves toward a position over the desired track and/or a desired location within the track of current interest.
One requirement in the manufacture of such a hard disk drive relates to the formation of the servo patterns on the magnetic disk, which must be in concentric circular patterns. Systems for forming the servo tracks on magnetic disks have used both stepped translation mechanisms with laser beams and continuous translation mechanisms with electron beams.
FIG. 10 is a simplified diagram useful in explaining a prior technique for forming the concentric servo track patterns, using a rotating turntable and a beam jogging mechanism. During processing, the disk 1 rests on a turntable (not separately visible in the illustrated orientation) that rotates about the axis of the turntable and the disk but is otherwise stationary. The stationary turntable rotates continuously in the direction of arrow A, thereby rotating the disk under movable laser beam, represented by the circular spots 3. The translational position of the beam along the disk radius remains stationary, for one rotation while a circular exposure is made. The beam may be modulated during the exposure cycle. As a result, the beam forms servo signals along one of the circular tracks 15 (represented by solid lines), as the disk rotates through one revolution. Then the beam is turned off (as represented by the intermediate square spots between track circles), and during the next disk rotation, the translation mechanism jogs the laser beam to the position for the next track. This process, of applying the beam to form servo signals on one track during one rotation, and then jogging the beam to its next position while the beam is off during the subsequent rotation, repeats through successive alternate disk rotations, until all of the concentric servo tracks 15 have been formed on the disk 1.
This system of jogging the laser beam during alternate rotations requires a mechanical arrangement to move the laser beam or relevant components of the beam optics. The jogging mechanism may be mechanically complex, and it takes time to jog the beam to the next active spot 3. One disadvantage is that two rotations are needed for each recording pass, one pass for the actual servo track recording and one pass to jog the beam to the new position before the start of recording of the next servo track. Consequently, the formation of the desired servo patterns takes an excessive amount of time. A second disadvantage of existing systems of this type is that the translation mechanism, to jog the beam, does not allow for micro-stepping of the beam, hence, the equipment imposes a limit on the possible spacing between the circular servo patterns.
An alternate approach, developed for use with an electron beam (although equally applicable to a laser beam) and using movement of the turntable, produces a spiral or helical pattern, not a pattern of concentric circles. FIG. 11 shows the translation in such a system, and FIG. 12 shows the resulting spiral servo pattern. Again, during processing, the disk rests on a turntable (not separately visible in the illustrated orientation). In this case, however, the beam remains stationary at spot 5. In the example, the turntable rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow B (although it could also rotate in the opposite direction), but here, the turntable also moves laterally in the direction of translation represented by the arrow T. With such disk translation, at the start of processing, the disk will be in the position represented by the circle 7. As the turntable moves the disk in the translation direction T, the disk moves until it approaches and reaches it's ending position, as represented by the circle 9.
Throughout the process, the turntable continuously rotates and translates the disk under the stationary electron beam at spot 5. The electron beam approach does not require interruption to step the translation. Also, this technique can produce smaller variations in the translation and thus smaller spacings between turns of the continuous servo pattern. However, the continuous rotation and translation results in recorded spirals 13 on the disk 11, essentially winding from a start point near the periphery of the disk to a point near a central opening 17, as shown in FIG. 12. As noted above, servo patterns on magnetic disks require concentric circles 15 (see FIG. 10). Hence a need exists for a technique to adapt the continuous translation approach (with the stationary beam) to produce a concentric circular pattern 15 required for servo regions of a magnetic disk for a hard disk drive or the like.

Manufacture of concentric patterns from spiral source


The invention relates to an ink jet recording medium having two coating layers on a base substrate. The surface coating layer of the medium primarily comprises inorganic particulates and the underlayer coating layer of the medium primarily comprises polymeric materials.. More particularly, this invention relates to an ink jet recording medium that performs well within a full environment range.

Recently, ink jet printing technology has been used for presentation, graphic arts, engineering drawing and home office applications. The performance requirements for ink jet media used for these applications are quite stringent. The media have to provide fast drying, good color fidelity, high image resolution, and archivability. In addition, the media must perform at different environmental conditions and be capable of being produced at an acceptable cost.
There are many commercial products and proposed designs available in the field. Both inorganic materials and organic polymers have been used in these designs. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,264,275, 5,275,867, 5,104,730, 4,879,166, 4,780,356 proposed designs using porous particles such as pseudo-boehmite, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,503,111, 3,889,270, 4,592,951, 5,102,717, 3,870,549, 4,578,285, 5,101,218 and 5,141,599 proposed designs using organic polymers such as poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(alkyl vinyl ether-maleic acid), a mixture of gelatin and starch, a water insoluble polymer containing a cationic resin, poly(ethylene oxide), and crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol). Although some of these designs improved some properties, none of them meets all functional performance requirements of a commercial ink jet recording medium. More importantly, none of these designs perform satisfactorily in a full environment range, of from low to high relative humidities (RH). For example, prior known media using inorganic particulates cause ink migration at high humidity and poor handling properties, and prior known media using organic polymers did not reliably give good image resolution and often gave low optical density at low humidity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,275 discloses a composite consisting of both inorganic particulate and organic polymer layers. However, this design uses three coating layers on a surface of a base substrate, with the designed product containing two different inorganic particulate layers.