Polypeptide growth factors, methods of making them, polynucleotides encoding them, antibodies to them, and methods of using them are disclosed. Multimers of the polypeptides are also disclosed. The polypeptides, multimeric proteins, and polynucleotides can be used in the study and regulation of cell and tissue development, as components of cell culture media, and as diagnostic agents.

In multicellular animals, cell growth, differentiation, and migration are controlled by polypeptide growth factors. These growth factors play a role in both normal development and pathogenesis, including the development of solid tumors.
Polypeptide growth factors influence cellular events by binding to cell-surface receptors, many of which are tyrosine kinases. Binding initiates a chain of signalling events within the cell, which ultimately results in phenotypic changes, such as cell division, protease production, and cell migration.
Growth factors can be classified into families on the basis of structural similarities. One such family, the PDGF (platelet derived growth factor) family, is characterized by a dimeric structure stabilized by disulfide bonds. This family includes PDGF, the placental growth factors (PlGFs), and the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs). The individual polypeptide chains of these proteins form characteristic higher-order structures having a bow tie-like configuration about a cystine knot, formed by disulfide bonding between pairs of cysteine residues. Hydrophobic interactions between loops contribute to the dimerization of the two monomers. See, Daopin et al., Science 257:369, 1992; Lapthorn et al., Nature 369:455, 1994. Members of this family are active as both homodimers and heterodimers. See, for example, Heldin et al., EMBO J. 7:1387-1393, 1988; Cao et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:3154-3162, 1996. The cystine knot motif and xe2x80x9cbow tiexe2x80x9d fold are also characteristic of the growth factors transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-xcex2) and nerve growth factor (NGF), and the glycoprotein hormones. Although their amino acid sequences are quite divergent, these proteins all contain the six conserved cysteine residues of the cystine knot.
Five vascular endothelial growth factors have been identified: VEGF, also known as vascular permeability factor (Dvorak et al., Am. J. Pathol. 146:1029-1039, 1995); VEGF-B (Olofsson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:2567-2581, 1996; Hayward et al., WIPO Publication WO 96/27007); VEGF-C (Joukov et al., EMBO J. 15:290-298, 1996); VEGF-D (Oliviero, WO 97/12972; Achen et al., WO 98/07832), and zvegf3 (SEQ ID NO:32 and NO:33; co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 60/111,173, 60/142,576, and 60/161,653). Five VEGF polypeptides (121, 145, 165, 189, and 206 amino acids) arise from alternative splicing of the VEGF mRNA.
VEGFs stimulate the development of vasculature through a process known as angiogenesis, wherein vascular endothelial cells re-enter the cell cycle, degrade underlying basement membrane, and migrate to form new capillary sprouts. These cells then differentiate, and mature vessels are formed. This process of growth and differentiation is regulated by a balance of pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. Angiogenesis is central to normal formation and repair of tissue, occuring in embryo development and wound healing. Angiogenesis is also a factor in the development of certain diseases, including solid tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and atherosclerosis.
A number of proteins from vertebrates and invertebrates have been identified as influencing neural development. Among those molecules are members of the neuropilin family and the semaphorin/collapsin family.
Three receptors for VEGF have been identified: KDR/Flk-1 (Matthews et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:9026-9030, 1991), Flt-1 (de Vries et al., Science 255:989-991, 1992), and neuropilin-1 (Soker et al., Cell 92:735-745, 1998). Neuropilin-1 is also a receptor for PIGF-2 (Migdal et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273: 22272-22278, 1998).
Neuropilin-1 is a cell-surface glycoprotein that was initially identified in Xenopus tadpole nervous tissues, then in chicken, mouse, and human. The primary structure of neuropilin-1 is highly conserved among these vertebrate species. Neuropilin-1 has been demonstrated to be a receptor for various members of the semaphorin family including semaphorin III (Kolodkin et al., Cell 90:753-762, 1997), Sema E and Sema IV (Chen et al., Neuron 19:547-559, 1997). A variety of activities have been associated with the binding of neuropilin-1 to its ligands. For example, binding of semaphorin III to neuropilin-1 can induce neuronal growth cone collapse and repulsion of neurites in vitro (Kitsukawa et al., Neuron 19: 995-1005, 1997). Experiments with transgenic mice indicate the involvement of neuropilin-1 in the development of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and limbs. See, for example, Kitsukawa et al., Development 121:4309-4318, 1995; and Takashima et al., American Heart Association 1998 Meeting, Abstract #3178.
Semaphorins are a large family of molecules which share the defining semaphorin domain of approximately 500 amino acids. Dimerization is believed to be important for functional activity (Klostermann et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273:7326-7331, 1998). Collapsin-1, the first identified vertebrate member of the semaphorin family of axon guidance proteins, has also been shown to form covalent dimers, with dimerization necessary for collapse activity (Koppel et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273:15708-15713, 1998). Semaphorin III has been associated in vitro with regulating growth clone collapse and chemorepulsion of neurites. Semaphorins have been shown to be responsible for a variety of developmental effects, including effects on sensory afferent innervation, skeletal and cardiac development (Fehar et al., Nature 383:525-528, 1996), immunosuppression via inhibition of cytokines (Mangasser-Stephan et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 234:153-156, 1997), and promotion of B-cell aggregation and differentiation (Hall et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:11780-11785, 1996). CD100 has also been shown to be expressed in many T-cell lymphomas and may be a marker of malignant T-cell neoplasms (Dorfman et al., Am. J. Pathol. 153:255-262, 1998). Transcription of the mouse semaphorin gene, M-semaH, correlates with metastatic ability of mouse tumor cell lines (Christensen et al., Cancer Res. 58:1238-1244, 1998).
The role of growth factors, other regulatory molecules, and their receptors in controlling cellular processes makes them likely candidates and targets for therapeutic intervention. Platelet-derived growth factor, for example, has been disclosed for the treatment of periodontal disease (U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,316), gastrointestinal ulcers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,908), and dermal ulcers (Robson et al., Lancet 339:23-25, 1992). Inhibition of PDGF receptor activity has been shown to reduce intimal hyperplasia in injured baboon arteries (Giese et al., Restenosis Summit VIII, Poster Session #23, 1996; U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,687). PDGF has also been shown to stimulate bone cell replication (reviewed by Canalis et al., Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America 18:903-918, 1989), to stimulate the production of collagen by bone cells (Centrella et al., Endocrinology 125:13-19, 1989) and to be useful in regenerating periodontal tissue (U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,316; Lynch et al., J. Clin. Periodontol. 16:545-548, 1989). Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) have been shown to promote the growth of blood vessels in ischemic limbs (Isner et al., The Lancet 348:370-374, 1996), and have been proposed for use as wound-healing agents, for treatment of periodontal disease, for promoting endothelialization in vascular graft surgery, and for promoting collateral circulation following myocardial infarction (WIPO Publication No. WO 95/24473; U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,739). VEGFs are also useful for promoting the growth of vascular endothelial cells in culture. A soluble VEGF receptor (soluble flt-1) has been found to block binding of VEGF to cell-surface receptors and to inhibit the growth of vascular tissue in vitro (Biotechnology News 16(17):5-6, 1996).
In view of the proven clinical utility of polypeptide growth factors, there is a need in the art for additional such molecules for use as therapeutic agents, diagnostic agents, and research tools and reagents.
The present invention provides such polypeptides for these and other uses that should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.
The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide of at least 15 amino acid residues comprising an epitope-bearing portion of a protein of SEQ ID NO:2. Within certain embodiments, the polypeptide comprises a segment that is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Within other embodiments, the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of residues 19-179 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 19-257 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 52-257 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 19-253 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 52-253 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 19-370 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 52-370 of SEQ ID NO:2, residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2, and residues 180-370 of SEQ ID NO:2.
The invention also provides an isolated polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acids of the formula R1x-R2y-R3z, wherein R1 is a polypeptide of from 100 to 130 residues in length, is at least 70% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2, and comprises a sequence motif C[KR]Y[DNE][WYF]X{11,15}G[KR][WYF]C (SEQ ID NO:4) corresponding to residues 109-131 of SEQ ID NO:2; R2 is a polypeptide at least 90% identical to residues 180-257 of SEQ ID NO:2; R3 is a polypeptide at least 70% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2 and comprises cysteine residues at positions corresponding to residues 272, 302, 306, 318, 360, and 362 of SEQ ID NO:2, a glycine residue at a position corresponding to residue 304 of SEQ ID NO:2, and a sequence motif CX{18,33}CXGXCX{6,33}CX{20,50}CXC (SEQ ID NO:3) corresponding to residues 272-362 of SEQ ID NO:2; and each of x, y, and z is individually 0 or 1, subject to the limitations that at least one of x and z is 1, and, if x and z are each 1, then y is 1. There are thus provided isolated polypeptides of the above formula wherein (a) x=1, (b) z=1, and (c) x=1 and z=1. Within certain embodiments, x=1 and R1 is at least 90% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 19-179 of SEQ ID NO:2. Within related embodiments, x=1 and R1 comprises residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2. Within other embodiments, z=1 and R3 is at least 90% identical to residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2 or R3 comprises residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. Within other embodiments, x=1, z=1, and R3 is at least 90% identical to residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2; and x=1, z=1, R1 is at least 90% identical to residues 52-179 of SEQ ID NO:2, and R2 is at least 90% identical to residues 180-257 of SEQ ID NO:2. Within additional embodiments, x=1, z=1, and the polypeptide comprises residues 19-370 of SEQ ID NO:2 or residues 52-370 of SEQ ID NO:2. The isolated polypeptide may further comprise cysteine residues at positions corresponding to residues 308 and 316 of SEQ ID NO:2. Within other embodiments, the isolated polypeptide further comprises an affinity tag. Within a related embodiment, the isolated polypeptide comprises an immunoglobulin constant domain.
The present invention also provides an isolated protein comprising a first polypeptide operably linked to a second polypeptide, wherein the first polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acids of the formula R1x-R2y-R3z as disclosed above. The protein modulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metabolism, or migration. Within one embodiment, the protein is a heterodimer. Within related embodiments, the second polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of VEGF, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, zvegf3 (SEQ ID NO:33), PlGF, PDGF-A, and PDGF-B. Within other related embodiments, x=1, z=1, and the second polypeptide comprises residues 46-345 of SEQ ID NO:33; x=1 and the second polypeptide comprises residues 46-170 of SEQ ID NO:33; or z=1 and the second polypeptide comprises residues 235-345 of SEQ ID NO:33.
Within another embodiment, the protein is a homodimer.
There is also provided an isolated protein produced by a method comprising the steps of (a) culturing a host cell containing an expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: a transcription promoter; a DNA segment encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of (i) residues 52-370 of SEQ ID NO:2, (ii) residues 52-253 of SEQ ID NO:2, (iii) residues 180-370 of SEQ ID NO:2, and (iv) residues 258-370 of SEQ ID NO:2; and a transcription terminator, under conditions whereby the DNA segment is expressed; and (b) recovering from the cell the protein product of expression of the DNA construct.
Within another aspect of the invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide of up to approximately 4.4 kb in length, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide as disclosed above. Within one embodiment of the invention, the polynucleotide is DNA.
Within a further aspect of the invention there is provided an expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: (a) a transcription promoter; (b) a DNA polynucleotide as disclosed above; and (c) a transcription terminator. The vector may further comprise a secretory signal sequence operably linked to the DNA polynucleotide.
Also provided by the invention is a cultured cell into which has been introduced an expression vector as disclosed above, wherein the cell expresses the polypeptide encoded by the DNA polynucleotide. The cultured cell can be used within a method of producing a polypeptide, the method comprising culturing the cell and recovering the expressed polypeptide.
The proteins provided herein can be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle to provide a pharmaceutical composition.
The invention also provides an antibody that specifically binds to an epitope of a polypeptide as disclosed above. Antibodies of the invention include, inter alia, monoclonal antibodies and single chain antibodies, and may be linked to a reporter molecule.
The invention further provides a method for detecting a genetic abnormality in a patient, comprising the steps of (a) obtaining a genetic sample from a patient, (b) incubating the genetic sample with a polynucleotide comprising at least 14 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complement of SEQ ID NO: 1, under conditions wherein the polynucleotide will hybridize to a complementary polynucleotide sequence, to produce a first reaction product, and (c) comparing the first reaction product to a control reaction product, wherein a difference between the first reaction product and the control reaction product is indicative of a genetic abnormality in the patient.
The invention also provides a polypeptide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of: residues 1-302 of SEQ ID NO:54; residues 1-316 of SEQ ID NO:55; residues 1-317 of SEQ ID NO:56; and residues 1-303 of SEQ ID NO:57.
The invention also provides a method of activating a cell-surface PDGF receptor, comprising exposing a cell comprising a cell-surface PDGF receptor to a polypeptide or protein as disclosed above, whereby the polypeptide or protein binds to and activates the receptor.
The invention also provides a method of inhibiting a PDGF receptor-mediated cellular process, comprising exposing a cell comprising a cell-surface PDGF receptor to a compound that inhibits binding of a polypeptide or protein as disclosed above to the receptor.
The invention also provides a method of stimulating the growth of bone tissue, comprising applying to bone a growth-stimulating amount of a polypeptide or protein as disclosed above.
The invention also provides a method of modulating the proliferation, differentiation, migration, or metabolism of bone cells, comprising exposing bone cells to an effective amount of a polypeptide or protein as disclosed above.


Cookie files are screened in a client machine, wherein a cookie file includes a cookie file source. A request from a subscriber is received at a server to send a list of untrusted cookie file sources to the client machine. The list of untrusted cookie file sources is downloaded from the server to the client machine. The downloaded list of untrusted cookie file sources is used to detect cookie files received at the client machine from cookie file sources on the downloaded list by comparing the cookie file source of any received cookie file to the untrusted cookie file sources on the downloaded list.

The interactive nature of the World Wide Web has proved to be a powerful marketing tool, allowing businesses and consumers to communicate on a one-to-one basis. A cookie file (also know simply as a "cookie") is a tool used on the web to facilitate and interpret this one-to-one interaction. Cookie files offer businesses the potential for more effective direct marketing of goods, services and information. For many e-businesses that operate over the Internet, cookie files are considered to be vital to the future success of on-line advertising and thus the generation of future business.
A cookie file is a small file that is stored on an individual's computer. The cookie file allows a website to tag the browser of the individual's computer with a unique identification. When the individual visits the website, a server at the website requests a unique identifier from the browser of the individual's computer. If the unique identifier is not received, the server delivers one, in the form of a cookie file, to the individual's computer, where it is stored for future access by that particular server.
Many cookie files used by on-line business actually benefit on-line computer users, such as by providing easy access to a website that an on-line computer user desires to interface with on a regular basis. Cookie files may be used by advertisers to avoid repeatedly showing the same advertisement (e.g., a banner) to the same on-line computer user. Additionally, cookie files make it easy for consumers to shop on their favorite websites. Once a consumer returns to a previously visited website where he or she purchased one or more items, the consumer can conveniently purchase additional items without having to re-enter his or her credit card number or shipping address, assuming that the consumer is using the same computer and a cookie file was stored in it during the consumer's first visit.
Cookie files are also used to track information about an on-line computer user's behavior. It is believed by many that cookie files invade a computer user's privacy because they reveal the user's identity and link it to the user's history of Internet usage. Thus, a cookie file may be used as a tool of surveillance by monitoring the computer user's browser and revealing website addresses that the computer user visits to the entity that "planted" the cookie file. Additionally, businesses that receive information obtained from using cookie files may share such information with other businesses. Thus a privacy issue may arise due to companies that abuse the technology of using cookie files. When linked to tracking databases, the storage of cookie files may reveal a particular person's most private information, such as their medical or financial history. Some companies further extend the privacy threat by cross-referencing cookie file identifiers with massive off-line marketing databases.
Several software programs have been developed and are on the market for the purpose of screening cookie files. Internet Explorer and Netscape allow a computer user to set the computer's browser such that all received cookie files are either automatically accepted (enabled) or rejected (disabled). In another user selectable browser mode, the computer user is prompted for a decision every time an individual cookie file is received.
There are software programs that let users create a profile of which types of cookie files they will accept. However, there is no guarantee that cookie files generated by companies with a history of abusing the use of cookie files will be screened out, nor is there a universal reference source for determining which cookie file sources should not be accepted. What is needed is a professional service that constantly researches and evaluates cookie file sources (e.g., websites), cookie files, consumer complaints and other statistical data, and develops and electronically distributes to subscribing computer users, on a periodic basis, a list of those cookie file sources that the service recommends should not be permitted to store cookie files in the subscribing user's computer. What is also needed is a user-friendly interface for enabling a user to easily and automatically modify the distributed list once it is received by the user's computer, such that the user may customize the list to meet his or her individual or organizational requirements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for network administration and local administration of privacy protection criteria


On substrates 2a, 2b of a chiral nematic liquid crystal optical element 1, transparent electrodes 3a, 3b and electrical insulation layers 4a, 4b are formed, and further resin layers 5a, 5b having a pencil hardness of “B” or less are formed on the electrical insulation layers by a spin coating method so as to be in contact with a liquid crystal layer 7. When the surface hardness of the resin layers is to be measured, a glass substrate on which a resin layer is formed by screen-printing is prepared as a test piece, and the test piece is fitted to a pencil-scratching tester. The surface hardness is measured by scratching the test piece with two kinds of testing pencil selected from testing pencils having 17 grades of density.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal optical element provided with liquid crystal which exhibits two or more optically stable states in a non-voltage-application time.
2. Description of the Background
A chiral nematic liquid crystal optical element (hereinbelow, referred to as CL-LCD) has a phase-change type mode. It provides selective reflection in a planar state (hereinbelow, referred to as PL) and provides a scattering state in a focalconic state (hereinbelow, referred to as FC). By applying a predetermined voltage across the electrodes, the liquid crystal can be transformed into PL or FC. For example, when it is transformed from FC to PL, the liquid crystal is once rendered to be a homeotropic state (a state that liquid crystal molecules are aligned vertically to the substrate plane, and hereinbelow, referred to as HO), and then, it is transformed into PL. Then, the liquid crystal is stable in PL or FC even in a non-voltage-application time, and either state can be maintained.
Description will be made as to an optical display state. In FC, a slightly scattering state of incident light is produced, and in PL, a selective reflection of incident light is produced. Further, by adjusting the helical pitch (λAVG) of the liquid crystal layer, an operation mode of "transmittance-scattering" or a color display utilizing colors of selectively reflected light can be effected.
Electrodes for CL-LCD, and a display state of it and so on are described already in U.S. Ser. No. 09/813,988 (preliminary application No., filed on Mar. 22, 2001), and the relation of a driving method and a display state thereof and so on are described already in U.S. Patent Application filed on Apr. 2, 2001 by Makoto Nagai et al (no application number given yet). The present application refers to and includes portions relating to these applications.
Next, description will be made as to a unique problem of CL-LCD originated from a memory state. The state of CL-LCD is made to be a memory state in FC or PL, and it is left for a predetermined time in a non-voltage-application state. Then, even when a voltage corresponding to a new image is applied so as to change the display, a "image-sticking phenomenon" wherein the previous display remains takes place.
In the following, such image-sticking phenomenon will be explained by taking a dot matrix type CL-LCD having 160 row electrodes and 160 column electrodes as an example. In this case, it is assumed that "an alignment layer" in contact with the liquid crystal layer at an inner side of the substrates is made of the same material as used for a TN or STN liquid crystal display element. Generally, since a surface of an aligning layer in the TN or STN liquid crystal display element is subjected to an aligning treatment by rubbing, a material having a high surface hardness (for example, 3H-6H in a pencil hardness test method) is used. In CL-LCD too for example, the same technique is used. As a concrete example on an aligning layer in contact with the liquid crystal layer, there is known a case of providing polyimide or a case without using any aligning layer (U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,863).
Then, a background portion of a display area of dot matrix type is made to be FC, and portions corresponding to characters, figures and so on are made to be PL. An example of displaying a character of "A" is shown in FIG. 4(a). After such predetermined image has been provided, the application of a voltage is stopped, and the display panel is left for a long time in a incubator of 60° C.
Then, a voltage which makes the liquid crystal in the whole display area to be HO is applied. When the liquid crystal in the whole area becomes HO, the display in the whole area is extinguished. When a voltage is applied subsequently so that the liquid crystal in the whole area becomes FC, the whole area does not provide an uniform color but the character of "A" which has been previously displayed remains slightly, and the character is observed as shown in FIG. 4(b). Further, even in a case that the liquid crystal of the whole area is made to be PL via HO after the panel has been left for a long time, the display of "A" remains.
On the contrary, the image-sticking phenomenon takes place even in the following case. Namely, the liquid crystal in the background portion is made to be PL, and the liquid crystal in the portions corresponding to characters and so on is made to be FC. The display panel in such states is left for a long time, and then, a display in the whole area is extinguished by applying a voltage by which the state of the liquid crystal in the whole area of display becomes HO (the liquid crystal itself is in a transparent state). Subsequently, the whole display area is changed to PL or FC. In particular, the image-sticking phenomenon is apt to be observed in a case that a display state wherein the liquid crystal corresponding to the background portion is FC and the liquid crystal corresponding to characters and so on is PL is left for a long time, and then, the liquid crystal in the whole display area is made to be FC.
Further, image-sticking takes place as well in a case of CL-LCD having segment type electrodes. For instance, the image-sticking occurs when a display state wherein a display portion is PL and a background portion is FC is maintained for a long time, and then, such display is changed to another display.
In FIG. 5(a), all 7 segments are ON to display a character of "8". A color display in combination of black in a background portion in FC and a selective reflection in a visible range in a segment portion in PL, is provided. In FIG. 5(b), when a character of "5" is newly displayed, upper right and lower left segment portions are lit weakly.
However, when a display is performed in combination of PL and FC in CL-LCD, a PL portion is generally light and the most high visibility is obtainable. Accordingly, in a case of the segment type display in FIG. 5, a possibility of causing erroneous recognition is relatively lower than the case of the dot matrix type in FIG. 4.
The image-sticking phenomenon remains slightly even after a voltage for providing HO has continuously been applied and a state that the entire display area is erased has been continued for several hours. Further, a display state having a image-sticking phenomenon (hereinbelow, referred to as image-sticking) could not be completely erased even after an isotropic state which is caused by heating the liquid crystal has been continued for several hours.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide CL-LCD capable of preventing the occurrence of image-sticking even though the liquid crystal is left for a long time while the state of the liquid crystal is constant. Further, the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal optical element having excellent function without changing largely the conventional manufacturing method, and a test method for the liquid crystal optical element.

Liquid crystal optical element and test method for its boundary layer


A method for heat treatment of steel and a system thereof is provided. First the steel is austenitized at a suitable temperature and then the temperature is rapidly brought down to the austempering temperature. Here the cyclic austempering is carried out between two austempering temperatures by modulating the temperature with controlled heating and cooling and the controlled temperature modulation is obtained by controlling the temperature-time profile in a batch furnace or by controlling the zone temperatures in a continuous furnace. This method of cyclic austempering reduces the austempering time, reduces the energy consumption and emissions, enhances the productivity and reduces the process cost.

Austempering is a commercially important heat treatment operation, where strong and tough bainitic steel is produced in a single heat treatment. During the austempering process, the steel is first austenitized and then cooled rapidly to just above the martensite start temperature until bainite nucleates and grows, usually until the transformation stops and then it is cooled to room temperature. Due to the sluggish solid state transformation kinetics, industrial austempering necessitates isothermal holds of 2 to 24 hrs, depending on the size and composition of steel. The conventional austempering process is carried out at a constant (isothermal) temperature. The duration of the austempering process as well as the resultant microstructure depends on the holding temperature and component size.

Method for efficient heat treatment of steel


A driving apparatus comprises: an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts in an extending direction of a given fiducial line; a driving shaft that is fixed to one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction; a driven body that is frictionally engaged with the driving shaft; a holder that holds, through an adhesive, the electromechanical conversion element from lateral sides with respect to the extending direction; and a flange member that is provided on the driving shaft between (i) a moving region of the driven body on the driving shaft and (ii) the electromechanical conversion element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving apparatus which is favorably used for driving a lens or the like in a mobile phone provided with a camera, a compact digital camera, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the related-art driving apparatus in the above described technical field, there has been known a driving apparatus including an electromechanical conversion element which is expanded and contracted in an extending direction of a given fiducial line, a driving shaft which is fixed to one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction of the given fiducial line, a driven body which is frictionally engaged with the driving shaft, and a holder for holding the other end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction of the given fiducial line (See JP-A-2002-142470, for example).
In the driving apparatus of this type, a driving pulse having a sawtooth waveform is inputted to the electromechanical conversion element, whereby the electromechanical conversion element is deformed in a state where its expansion speed and contraction speed are different from each other. When the electromechanical conversion element is deformed at a low speed, the driven body rests still with respect to the driving shaft by friction force, and on the contrary, when the electromechanical conversion element is deformed at a high speed, the driven body moves with respect to the driving shaft by inertia. Therefore, by repeatedly inputting the driving pulse having the sawtooth waveform to the electromechanical conversion element, it is possible to intermittently move the driven body at a small pitch.
However, in the driving apparatus as described above, the other end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction of the given fiducial line is fixed to the holder. For this reason, there is such a problem that the holder resonates with the expansion and contraction of the electromechanical conversion element, and the driven body will not be reliably moved. In order to solve such problem, an art of holding the electromechanical conversion element from lateral sides with respect to the extending direction of the given fiducial line is advantageously employed (See JP-A-2007-74889, for example).
However, in the driving apparatus which employs the art of holding the electromechanical conversion element from the lateral sides with respect to the extending direction of the given fiducial line, there is such anxiety that the adhesive for holding the electromechanical conversion element by the holder may flow out to the moving region of the driven body on the driving shaft, and as the results, the movement of the driven body may be hindered.


The present invention relates to an underwater propelling device (10) i                a stator (20) comprising circumferential arrayed coils (35) and being adapted to generate a controlled electromagnetic field along an axial direction,        a shaftless propellant rotor (30) comprising:                    at least two magnetized ring-shaped plates, respectively an upper magnetized plate (31) and a lower magnetized plate (32), coaxially spaced-apart along said axial direction and perpendicular thereto such that said circumferential arrayed coils (35) are positioned therebetween, each plate (31, 32) defining a central aperture (31a, 32a) and having a circumferential array of radially extended magnetized poles (34) embedded therein, said magnetized poles (34) generating a magnetic field which interacts with the electromagnetic field of the stator (20) so as to cause the rotation of said plates (31, 32) about a central axis (ZZ′) parallel to said axial direction,            at least one ring-shaped propeller (33) defined by its outer periphery and its inner periphery, said propeller being received inside the central apertures (31a, 32a) of said plates (31, 32) and fixedly secured thereto,            a plurality of propeller blades (35) projecting inward from the inner periphery of said propeller (33), said blades (35) producing a thrust along the central axis (ZZ′) when the plates (31, 32) rotate,wherein the rotor (30) is axially separated from the stator (20) by a gap, preferably less than 3 mm, so as to permit the formation of a hydraulic film inside said gap, said hydraulic film being adapted to provide lubrication of the rotor, thus reducing friction between the rotor and the stator, and to transmit the axial thrust force of the rotor to the stator.

Unmanned underwater vehicles are known for a long time. In particular, a toy submarine boat has been disclosed in the document U.S. Pat. No. 741,581. More recently, such vehicles have been used as drones for carrying out a variety of tasks in the underwater environment, e.g. pipeline surveys and investigations or military tasks. An example of such an application has been disclosed in the document WO 2014/113121.
Unmanned underwater vehicles often have small or miniature dimensions so as to permit their easy handling and their storage inside limited space. However, such miniature dimensions can increase the vulnerability of the underwater vehicles to debris intrusion or to fishing lines becoming tangled in the propeller of said vehicles, which could significantly reduce their performance and, in the worst case, lead to their deterioration and loss of the vehicle. Additionally, it can be challenging to ensure that the moving parts of a propulsion system are water- and pressure proof with high reliability. Dynamic seals around motor shafts can wear out quickly, particularly when exposed to suspended sand particles or other particulates in the water. Exposed metal parts are also affected by corrosion when exposed to water, especially in salt water. A failed seal generally results in rapid water ingress which will damage internal components, and decrease vehicle buoyancy, which may lead to a complete loss of the entire vehicle.
Different solutions to these problems have been proposed in the past.
One solution to render the electric motor of the propelling device of said vehicles water- and pressure-proof is to use O-rings and dynamic seals which may wear quickly. Filling the motor with oil to resist external pressure decreases stress on the seal and mitigates the risk of water ingress, but it increases friction within the narrow magnetic gap of the motor, may release oil into the environment and requires regular maintenance to replace lost oil. Alternatively, a magnetic coupler between the motor and the propeller can be used which adds bulk and complexity and limits torque.
A first aim of the present invention is therefore to provide an underwater propelling device for miniature underwater vehicles, wherein the above mentioned drawbacks are avoided.
A second aim of the present invention is to provide an underwater propelling device having a compact and low profile structure so as to reduce drag caused by the bulk of the motor, thus improving the underwater vehicle's performance, particularly when the propelling device is used as an attitude control thruster and mounted perpendicularly to the main direction of travel of the underwater vehicle.
A third aim of the present invention is to provide an underwater propelling device that can be easily manufactured.

Underwater propelling device for underwater vehicle

Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)


The device for determining the center of gravity of an object measures the moments of the object (e.g., golf club head, or other irregularly shaped object) as it is positioned in three mutually orthogonal axes. As the weight of the object is known, the moments may be divided by the weight to determine the precise arm from the scale to the center of gravity of the object. A line is marked across the exterior surface of the object along each orthogonal axis, with the intersection of the lines defining the center of gravity of the object. A programmable electronic scale is preferably used, but other mechanical and electronic scales may be used as well. The knowledge of the precise location of the center of gravity of the object enables a technician to add or remove weight in precise amounts and locations to adjust the center of gravity precisely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to weight measurement scales and the like. More specifically, the present invention is a device for determining the center of gravity of an object that includes a weight scale and apparatus, which may be a programmable electronic load scale, for determining the arm and moment of an object of known weight secured thereto, in three mutually orthogonal axes. This information is used to determine the center of gravity of the object along each axis, thereby determining the center of gravity of the three-dimensional object.
2. Description of the Related Art
The determination of the center of gravity of an irregular three-dimensional solid object can be a complex project. Yet, there are many fields in which it is quite important, if not critical, to know the precise center of gravity of an object. An example of such a field is the game of golf, or more particularly the adjustment and modification of clubs used in the game.
As the game has evolved over the years, a number of relatively fine nuances have been discovered which aid the accuracy of the player. Among these is the discovery or realization of the importance of the precise placement of the center of gravity of the club head. Many, if not most, club heads may be adjusted insofar as their mass and/or center of gravity is concerned, particularly so-called "metal woods," i.e., larger club heads formed of a hollow metal shell which serve the function of the older style drivers and related clubs having heads formed primarily of wood. For example, if the center of gravity is positioned too far outwardly toward the "toe" of the club, that portion of the club head will tend to lag behind the center of the club head during the swing, resulting in a slice or fade tendency. The opposite effect, i.e., a hook or draw, occurs when the center of gravity of the club head is positioned inboard of the center of the club head. Vertical and forward and rearward placement of the center of gravity also affects the path and angle of the club head during the swing, and the corresponding path of the ball at and after impact, primarily affecting the loft of the ball.
While the above points are reasonably well known in golf and can be used to "fine-tune" an individual club or set of clubs (including some irons), the precise center of gravity of the club head must be known before it can be adjusted with any degree of precision. In other words, regardless of the accuracy of the location and amount of weight added or subtracted to or from a club head, the result is imprecise if the starting point was not precisely known.
Thus, a device for determining the center of gravity of an object solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Device for determining the center of gravity of an object


A semiconductor laser device having a lower cladding layer, an active layer and an upper first cladding layer stacked on a compound semiconductor substrate in this order, a ridge-shaped upper second cladding layer provided on the upper first cladding layer, a current blocking layer provided on both sides of the upper second cladding layer, and a contact layer provided on the upper second cladding layer. A current interrupting layer or layers formed of an insulating material are provided between the upper second cladding layer and the contact layer, in the vicinity of at least one of a laser emission end face and a reflective end face, which are both end faces of the device in the longitudinal direction of the upper second cladding layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser device used for optical disk apparatus such as a CD-R/RW drive, a DVD-RAM drive and the like, and to a method of producing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
It has been tried to increase the recording speed of optical recording apparatus, and, for example, CD-drives of 16-time speed recording have been put into practical use. In such optical recording apparatus of a high recording speed, it is necessary to momentarily start up high output laser light. As examples of lasers capable of fulfilling such required characters, there are ridge type semiconductor lasers produced by using compound semiconductors.
A semiconductor laser device is a light emitting device for inwardly reflecting light generated by recombination of electrons and holes at both of the end faces of the device, and thereby causing laser light oscillation. On both of the end faces of a semiconductor laser device, namely, a laser emission end face and a reflective end face, protective layers of alumina or the like are respectively formed for protecting the same.
However, in the process of producing a semiconductor laser device, the end faces of the device are oxidized, before the protective layers are formed, resulting in forming a number of non-radiative recombination centers on the laser emission end face and the reflective end face. At the time of laser light emission, current is injected throughout the length of the device from the laser emission end face to the reflective end face. At this time, on the laser emission end face and the reflective end face, non-radiative recombination occurs to cause heat generation. When band gap becomes small due to the heat generation, laser light absorption increases, further to cause a temperature rise. With this being repeated, so-called COD (Catastrophic Optical Damage) occurs to melt the end faces of the semiconductor laser device, so that the device is finally broken.
When the optical output of a semiconductor laser device is raised, COD occurs at a certain level (destructive optical output level). Therefore, when using a semiconductor laser device, the optical output thereof must be set lower than the destructive optical output level.

Semiconductor laser and method of producing the same


In one embodiment, mirroring communication from a second source storage device to a second target storage device in a data mirroring system is disabled when mirroring communication from a first source storage device to a first target storage device is disabled. In another embodiment, information is stored in a data mirroring system identifying at least one subset of a plurality of mirrored source storage devices for which a consistent representation of data is desired to be maintained on at least one corresponding subset of a plurality of target storage devices. In yet another embodiment, at least one of a plurality of mirrored source storage devices is placed in one of a first state, a second state, and a third state. In response to a source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to a mirrored source storage device in the first state, the command chain is permitted to commit and data written by the command chain is transferred to a corresponding target storage device. In response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to a mirrored source storage device in the second state, the command chain is prevented from committing. In response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to a mirrored source storage device in the third state, the command chain is permitted to commit without transferring data written by the command chain to a corresponding target storage device.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for maintaining consistency of data stored in a group of mirroring devices.
A number of computer system configurations mirror information stored in source storage devices to target storage devices that can be disposed at locations remote from the source storage devices. An example of such a computer system is a data mirroring system 100 discussed below in connection with FIG. 1.
In the data mirroring system 100 of FIG. 1, one or more host CPU""s 102 are coupled (via one or more communication links 114) to a source storage system 104. In the example shown, the source storage system 104 includes a plurality of xe2x80x9csourcexe2x80x9d storage devices 110a-f. The source storage devices 110a-f can be included in a single source storage system 104 as shown in FIG. 1, or multiple source storage systems 104 can be employed, and the source storage devices 110a-f can be distributed across the multiple source storage systems. Each source storage system 104 may, for example, comprise a storage system from the SYMMETRIX line of disc arrays available from EMC Corporation, Hopkinton, Mass.
The data stored in the source storage devices 110a-f may be crucial to the operation of the host CPU(s) 102. Therefore, a contingency solution is desirable in the event that a problem is experienced with any of the source storage devices 110a-f to ensure that the data stored thereby is not lost, and to minimize the risk of the host CPU(s) 102 being down due to problems with the source storage devices 110a-f. Potential problems with the source storage devices 110a-f may include, for example, hardware or software errors that may make stored data unrecoverable. Additionally, catastrophic events such as an earthquake or other natural disaster could result in the destruction of one or more of the source storage devices 110a-f.
One solution for protecting the data stored in the source storage devices 110a-f is to mirror the data in a corresponding set of xe2x80x9ctargetxe2x80x9d storage devices. The data mirroring system 100 of FIG. 1 is an example of such a system, wherein the source storage system 104 is coupled (via links 112a-f) to a target storage system 106. The target storage system 106 includes a plurality of target storage devices 116a-f corresponding, respectively, to the source storage devices 110a-f in the source storage system 104. As data is written to any of the source storage devices 110a-f, it is also written to a corresponding one of the target storage devices 116a-f in the target storage system 106. If one of the source storage devices 110a-f is destroyed or experiences an error that renders stored data unrecoverable, the data can be retrieved from the corresponding one of the target storage devices 116a-f. The target storage devices 116a-f can be included in a single target storage system 106 as shown in FIG. 1, or multiple target storage systems 106 can be employed, and the target storage devices 116a-f can be distributed across the multiple target storage systems 106. As with the source storage system(s) 104, each of the target storage systems 106 may, for example, be a storage system from the SYMMETRIX line of disc arrays available from EMC Corporation, Hopkinton, Mass.
When each of the source and target storage systems 104 and 106 is implemented using one or more of the SYMMETRIX line of disk arrays available from EMC Corporation, a feature called SYMMETRIX Remote Data Facility (SRDF) can be employed to implement the connection therebetween. SRDF is described in numerous publications available from EMC Corporation, including the SYMMETRIX Remote Data Facility Product Manual, P/N 200-999-554, rev. B, June 1995. SRDF is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,347 (Yanai).
In the illustrative data mirroring system 100 of FIG. 1, first, second, and third sets of source storage devices 110a-b, 110c-d, and 110e-f, respectively, in the source storage system 104 are in communication (via links 112a-b, 112c-d, and 112e-f, respectively) with corresponding first, second, and third sets of target storage devices 116a-b, 116c-d, and 116e-f in the target storage system 106. The links 112 are referred to herein as xe2x80x9cmirroring links,xe2x80x9d and the term xe2x80x9cmirroring communicationxe2x80x9d is used herein to refer to communication between source and target storage systems 104 and 106 over the mirroring links 112 that permits the target storage devices 116a-f to mirror data stored by the source storage devices 110a-f. As shown in FIG. 1, the source storage devices 110a-b, the mirroring links 112a-b, and the target storage devices 116a-b constitute a first mirroring group 108a; the source storage devices 110c-d, the mirroring links 112c-d, and the target storage devices 116c-d constitute a second mirroring group 108b; and the source storage devices 110e-f, the mirroring links 112e-f, and the target storage devices 116e-f constitute a third mirroring group 108c. A xe2x80x9cmirroring groupxe2x80x9d is a group of storage devices in the source and target storage systems 104 and 106 between which data can be transferred via a common set of mirroring links 112. Generally, storage devices 110 and 116 do not share any mirroring links 112 with storage devices 110 and 116 in other mirroring groups 108.
To perform a write operation to the source storage system 104, a host CPU 102 transmits an xe2x80x9cI/O command chainxe2x80x9d to the source storage system 104. Each I/O command chain can include one or more commands directed to a particular logical volume stored by the source storage system 104. A logical volume is a unit of information that the host CPU 102 perceives to correspond to a single physical storage device, but that may be mapped within the source storage system 104 to physical storage space on one or more source storage devices 110. An I/O command chain for a write operation (xe2x80x9ca write-requesting command chainxe2x80x9d) includes various instructions for the source storage system 104 receiving the I/O command chain, as well as the data to be written during the operation. The host CPU 102 generally receives only a single message back from the source storage system 104 in response to its sending of a write-requesting command chain. This message generally indicates either: (1) that the I/O command chain has been xe2x80x9ccommittedxe2x80x9d (i.e., processed successfully) by the source storage system 104, or (2) that an error occurred preventing the I/O command chain from being committed by the source storage system 104. Typically, the source storage system 104 will not provide the xe2x80x9cI/O command chain committedxe2x80x9d message back to the host CPU 102 unless and until the data has been written successfully to one or more of the source storage devices 110, or to a temporary storage space (such as cache) in the source storage system 104.
One of the purposes for mirroring data in the target storage system 106 is that if the data on the source storage system 104 is rendered unrecoverable, the data can be retrieved from the target storage system 106. Thus, it is desirable to ensure that the data stored in the target storage system 106 is internally consistent, and reflects an accurate mirror of the data stored in the source storage system 104 at some particular point in time. If the data in the target storage system 106 does not represent an accurate mirror of the data in the source storage system 104 for a given point in time, the data in the target storage system 106 cannot be reloaded onto the source storage system 104 to place the source storage system 104 back into a valid state. For example, if the data stored in the source storage system 104 and mirrored on the target storage system 106 is included in a database, but the information stored in target storage system 106 does not reflect an accurate picture of the database at a given point in time, then if an error is encountered that prevents the database from being recovered from the source storage system 104, the target storage system 106 cannot be used to recover the database because the data stored thereby is not an accurate reflection of the state of the database at any particular point in time.
In a data mirroring system such as the data mirroring system 100 shown in FIG. 1, Applicant""s have recognized that malfunctions with the mirroring links 112a-f that result in the loss of mirroring communication between the source and target storage systems 104 and 106 for one of the mirroring groups 108a-c can cause a data consistency problem to arise under certain circumstances. Suppose, for example, that all of the mirroring links 112a-b for the mirroring group 108a were to malfunction so that mirroring communication over the mirroring links 112a-b was disabled, thereby preventing updates to the source storage devices 110a-110b from being transferred to the target storage devices 116a-b. Suppose further that mirroring operations were to continue normally over the mirroring links 112c-d and 112e-f for the mirroring groups 108b and 108c, respectively, so that updates to the source storage devices 110c-f would continue to be transferred to the target storage devices 116c-f. If, under these circumstances, the data stored in either of the target storage devices 116a-b was logically related to the data stored in any of target storage devices 116c-f (e.g., if they stored potions of the same database), then the data stored in the target storage system 106 would not represent a valid state of the data stored in the source storage system 104 at any particular point in time. Therefore, if the source storage system 104 were to fail in the above-described situation, the data on the target storage system 106 could not be used to place the source storage system 104 back into a valid state for any particular point in time.
The above-described problem may be better understood in light of the following illustrative situation in which the host CPU(s) 102 write xe2x80x9cdependentxe2x80x9d data units to respective source storage devices 110 when mirroring communication is disabled for only one of the source storage devices 110 to which the dependent data units are being written. A second unit of data is dependent on a first unit of data if the second unit of data is a function of the first unit of data so that, if the first unit of data is altered, the second unit of data must also be altered if it is to accurately reflect the current value of the first unit of data. For example, if first, second, and third units of data represent values xe2x80x9cA,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cB,xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cA +B,xe2x80x9d respectively, then the third unit of data is dependent on both the first and the second units of data, whereas the first and second units of data are not dependent on one another.
Using this simple example of dependent data units, in the situation described above wherein mirroring communication is disabled over the mirroring links 112a-b but is enabled over the mirroring links 112c-f, if the host CPU(s) 102 initially write the first unit of data (i.e., the value xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d) to the source storage device 110a in the mirroring group 108a (xe2x80x9cthe disabled mirroring groupxe2x80x9d), and subsequently write the third unit of data (i.e., the value xe2x80x9cA+Bxe2x80x9d) to the source storage device 110c in the mirroring group 108b (xe2x80x9can operational mirroring groupxe2x80x9d), then both the first and third units of data would be written to the source storage system 104, but only the third unit of data (and not the first unit of data) would be written to the target storage system 106. As a result, the target storage system 106 would store an updated value of xe2x80x9cA+B,xe2x80x9d without also storing an updated value of xe2x80x9cA.xe2x80x9d This inconsistency can pose problems if it becomes necessary to recover the data from the target storage system 106.
One technique that has been used in the past to avoid the above-described data inconsistency problem has been to prevent the source storage system 104 from committing any write-requesting command chain from a host CPU 102 to a source storage device 110a-f if that source storage device 110a-f is a member of a mirroring group 108 that is unable to engage in mirroring communication across its mirroring links 112. Using this technique, since each write-requesting command chain directed to a source storage device 110 in a disabled mirroring group 108 is not committed by the source storage system 104, the host CPU 102 transmitting the I/O command chain will repeatedly attempt (unsuccessfully) to perform the write operation.
It should be appreciated that application programs executing on the host CPU(s) 102 typically will not begin execution of an instruction that is dependent upon a unit of data updated by a previous instruction until the previous instruction completes, which requires that the I/O command chain that implements the previous instruction has been committed by the source storage system 104. Therefore, by preventing write-requesting command chains directed to source storage devices 110a-f for which mirroring communication has been disabled from committing, it is ensured that no later instructions dependent on the data to be written by those write-requesting command claims will be executed, thereby avoiding the above-discussed data inconsistency problem. In this respect, the data stored in the target storage system 106 will be a valid mirror of the data stored in the source storage system 104 at the point that the mirroring group became disabled.
It should be appreciated that although the above-described technique avoids a data inconsistency problem, it does so by preventing I/O command chains directed to source storage devices 110 within a disabled mirroring group from ever completing. As a result, the CPU 102 that initiates the I/O command chain will repeatedly attempt (unsuccessfully) to execute the command chain, eventually resulting in a crash of the application or other program that includes the command chain.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for use in a data mirroring system involves disabling mirroring communication from a second source storage device to a second target storage device when mirroring communication from a first source storage device to a first target storage device is disabled.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a source storage system for use in a data mirroring system includes at least first and second source storage devices to be coupled to at least one host to enable the at least one host to perform write operations to the first and second source storage devices, and further to be coupled to at least first and second target storage devices, respectively, to enable mirroring communication from the at least first and second source storage devices to the at least first and second target storage devices, and at least one controller to, responsive to mirroring communication from the first source storage device to the first target storage device becoming disabled, disable mirroring communication from the second source storage device to the second target storage device.
According to another aspect of the invention, at least one computer-readable medium has a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor included in a data mirroring system, cause the at least one processor perform a method including a step of disabling mirroring communication from a second source storage device to a second target storage device when mirroring communication from a first source storage device to a first target storage device is disabled.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for use in a data mirroring system involves instructing at least one source storage system to disable mirroring communication from a second source storage device to a second target storage device in response to at least one host receiving an indication that mirroring communication from a first source storage device to a first target storage device is disabled.
According to another aspect of the invention, at least one computer-readable medium has a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one host processor included in a data mirroring system, cause the at least one host processor to perform a method including a step of instructing the at least one source storage system to disable mirroring communication from a second source storage device to a second target storage device in response to the at least one host processor receiving an indication that mirroring communication from a first source storage device to a first target storage device is disabled.
According to another aspect, a host for use in a data mirroring system includes at least one controller to be coupled to at least first and second source storage devices to perform write operations to the at least first and second source storage devices. The at least one controller is configured to, responsive to receiving an indication that mirroring communication from the first source storage device to a first target storage device is disabled, instruct at least one source storage system in which the at least first and second source storage devices are included to disable mirroring communication from the second source storage device to a second target storage device.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for use in a data mirroring system involves storing information in the data mirroring system identifying at least one subset of a plurality of mirrored source storage devices for which a consistent representation of data is desired to be maintained on at least one corresponding subset of a plurality of target storage devices.
According to another aspect of the invention, a host for use in a data mirroring system includes at least one memory, and at least one controller to store information in the at least one memory identifying at least one subset of a plurality of mirrored source storage devices for which a consistent representation of data is desired to be maintained on at least one corresponding subset of a plurality of target storage devices.
According to another aspect of the invention, a source storage system for use in a data mirroring system includes at least one memory, and at least one controller to store information in the at least one memory identifying at least one subset of a plurality of mirrored source storage devices for which a consistent representation of data is desired to be maintained on at least one corresponding subset of a plurality of target storage devices.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for use in a data mirroring system involves placing at least one of a plurality of mirrored source storage devices in one of a first state, a second state, and a third state. In response to a source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the first state, the command chain is permitted to commit and data written by the command chain is transferred to a corresponding one of a plurality of target storage devices. In response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the second state, the command chain is prevented from committing. In response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the third state, the command chain is permitted to commit without transferring data written by the command chain to the corresponding one of the plurality of target storage devices.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a source storage system for use in a data mirroring system includes a plurality of mirrored source storage devices to be coupled to at least one host to permit the at least one host to perform write operations to the plurality of mirrored source storage devices, and further coupled to a plurality of target storage devices to enable mirroring communication from each of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices to a corresponding one of the plurality of target storage devices, and at least one controller to place at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices in one of a first state, a second state, and a third state, wherein, in response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the first state, the at least one controller permits the command chain to commit and transfers data written by the command chain to the corresponding one of the plurality of target storage devices, wherein, in response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the second state, the at least one controller prevents the command chain from committing, and wherein, in response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the third state, the at least one controller permits the command chain to commit without transferring data written by the command chain to the corresponding one of the plurality of target storage devices.
According to another aspect of the invention, at least one computer-readable has a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor included in a data mirroring system, cause the at least one processor to perform a method including steps of: (A) placing at least one of a plurality of mirrored source storage devices in one of a first state, a second state, and a third state; (B1) in response to a source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the first state, permitting the command chain to commit and transferring data written by the command chain to a corresponding one of a plurality of target storage devices; (B2) in response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the second state, preventing the command chain from committing; and (B3) in response to the source storage system receiving a write-requesting command chain directed to the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices when the at least one of the plurality of mirrored source storage devices is in the third state, permitting the command chain to commit without transferring data written by the command chain to a corresponding one of the plurality of target storage devices.

Method and apparatus for maintaining consistency of data stored in a group of mirroring devices


A fluid warming cassette for use in a fluid warming system includes a first sheet and second sheet joined with a flexed tensioning rod to form a fluid container with a periphery in which the flexed tensioning rod is disposed to tension the fluid container. The fluid container includes a fluid channel with inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the fluid channel. Preferably, the rod is flexed into an open-ended shape such as a “U” shape. So flexed, the rod tensions the fluid container, adding structural stability to the fluid warming cassette.

Fluid warming apparatuses, designed to warm and administer parentarel fluids and blood products (hereinafter "fluids"), are in common use. Generally, such fluids are heated and administered using fluid warming systems. A parenteral fluid warming system usually includes a warming unit into which a fluid warming cassette is placed. The fluid warming cassette includes a fluid container with a structure designed for handling and for being received and supported in the warming unit. The fluid container includes a fluid channel and is typically made of plastic film material and/or thin metal.
In use, the cassette is placed into the warming unit to heat the fluids as they flow through the fluid channel. Heat is transferred to the fluid through the fluid container from a heat source such as heated metal plates, heated liquid, or heated gas. Metal plate, "dry heat" exchanger warming units are widely known.
In such systems, heat transfer from the warming unit to the fluid warming cassette is typically by conduction, with the heat source including, for example, one or more metal plates brought into contact with the warming cassette. There are systems that operate by conduction between a bath of heated water and a fluid warming cassette. Still other systems operate by convection, disposing a fluid warming cassette in a flow of heated air. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that heat transfer in such systems is a complex process that actually compounds conduction, radiation, and convection. Therefore, characterization of a mode of heat transfer to a fluid warming cassette actually denotes the principal mode of transfer and does not necessarily exclude contribution by one or more additional modes.
To increase the thermal efficiency and temperature responsiveness of a fluid warming system in which a fluid warming cassette is disposed for conductive heat transfer from warming plates, the distance between the heater plates is usually very small. This implies that a fluid warming cassette should be a thin, flat container, constructed from selected materials. Plastic film materials are commonly used in the manufacture of disposable fluid warming containers. One such design is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/415,558, entitled "PRESSURE TOLERANT PARENTERAL FLUID AND BLOOD CONTAINER FOR A WARMING CASSETTE", invented by Augustine et al., filed on Oct. 8, 1999, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Since these fluid containers are thin, it would be difficult to insert one into a conductive warming unit simply by sliding it between the warming plates. The container may kink or tear when being slid into or out of such a small space. As a result, the fluid container needs some type of structural support, usually a frame. A frame adds rigidity to the fluid container so that the fluid warming cassette can be handled, and also inserted into and removed from the warming unit. Together, the fluid container and frame form a fluid warming cassette, a modular unit of equipment designed to be received in, or inserted into, a larger warming unit.
The frame of a fluid warming cassette comprehends numerous elements, including a handle portion that extends outside of the warming unit when the cassette is seated in the unit in order to provide something that can be grasped to manipulate the cassette for insertion and extraction. This type of construction adds steps to the process for manufacturing fluid warming cassettes, leading to higher manufacturing costs.
It would be advantageous if a simplified, effective, low cost fluid warming cassette could be developed for a "dry heat" parenteral fluid warming system in which the cassette is received between heating plates of a warming unit for conductive heat transfer therefrom.
It would be advantageous if a cassette fluid container could be invested with enough stiffness for insertion between close-set parallel warming plates of a warming unit, yet be thin enough to efficiently transfer heat by conduction from the plates to the fluid, without the requirement of an expensive frame.
It would be advantageous if the fluid warming cassette were provided with a keying mechanism that prevents it from being inserted either upside down, or backwards in a warming unit. It would further be advantageous if the cassette is provided with a stop that prevents the cassette from being inserted too far into the warming unit.
It would also be advantageous if the fluid warming cassette had a portion that extended outside the warming unit for convenient handling. It would further be advantageous if the extended portion and the keying mechanism of the fluid warming cassette were the same.

Fluid warming cassette with a tensioning rod


A system, method, and computer program product for sharing bandwidth by a plurality of devices in a wireless personal area network or a wireless local area network. A media access control protocol frame includes a beacon signal sent from a coordinator including coordination information to each of the devices of the WPAN, an optional contention access period, and a contention free period that includes an additional shared period that is managed as a slot cycle time division multiple access period, a polling period, or as management period. The coordination information includes a device-unique start time indicator and a transmission duration defining a guaranteed time slot within the contention free period of the frame for each of the networked devices. Each of the network devices sleeps while not receiving the beacon and not transmitting data during their guaranteed time slot, thereby reducing power consumption as compared to slot cycle time division multiple access or polling schemes which require listening by all devices during the contention free period.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to wireless personal area networks and wireless local area networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems, methods, devices, and computer program products for sharing bandwidth among multiple users in a wireless personal area network or wireless local area network environment.
2. Discussion of the Background:
The International Standards Organization's (ISO) Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) standard provides a seven-layered hierarchy between an end user and a physical device through which different systems can communicate. Each layer is responsible for different tasks, and the OSI standard specifies the interaction between layers, as well as between devices complying with the standard. One of the layers of the OSI model is the data link layer. The data link layer is responsible for placing data into frames that can be communicated at the physical layer of the model and for receiving acknowledgement frames. The data link layer is responsible for error checking as well as retransmission of frames that are not received and acknowledged. The data link layer includes two sublayers, a logical link control sublayer, and a media access control (MAC) sublayer.
In a wireless personal area network (WPAN) or a wireless local area network (WLAN) multiple devices communicate with one another while sharing the bandwidth allocated to the network. Because multiple devices are sharing the same bandwidth, it is necessary to coordinate the use of that bandwidth. A MAC protocol defines how that bandwidth is to be shared among the devices of the WPAN or WLAN.
One MAC protocol proposed for WPANs has taken the form of a slot cycle time division multiple access (TDMA) scheme. In a slot cycle TDMA scheme, each device transmits data in an allocated time slot per cycle. The amount of data that can be transmitted within that time slot is based on a variable slot size managed by a coordinator of the WPAN. In such slot cycle TDMA schemes, the coordinator determines the size of the slot to allocate to a particular user based on the frame size of the data that the user is using.
FIG. 1 illustrates an approach for planning bandwidth allocation in a slot cycle TDMA system. As shown in FIG. 1, a two-dimensional matrix 101 is populated for planning the sharing of the bandwidth by the devices in the network. The two-dimensional matrix represents time on one axis and the usage of bandwidth on the other axis. The partially populated matrix shown in FIG. 1 illustrates that user 1 requires ⅓ of the available bandwidth. Users 2 and 3, on the other hand, each require ⅙ of the available bandwidth. Users 4, 5, 6, and 7, each require 1/12 of the available bandwidth. On the right hand side of FIG. 1, is a fully populated matrix 102 showing two complete cycles 103, 104 for sharing the available bandwidth among seven users. Each row of the matrix represents one frame, and each four frames represent one cycle. It is clear from the fully populated matrix that user 1 is occupying ⅓ of the available bandwidth whereas users 2 and 3 are each occupying ⅙ of the available bandwidth, and users 4, 5, 6, and 7 are each occupying 1/12 of the available bandwidth.
FIG. 2 shows a more a detailed view of a frame in a slot cycle TDMA scheme such as that described in regard to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a beacon 201 and a contention access period 202 is transmitted prior to the data fields of a first frame. The period of time between beacons 201 is fixed, and there may be multiple frames transmitted between subsequent beacons 201. A superframe includes not only the beacon 201 and the contention access period 202, but each of the frames sent after that beacon 201 and before a subsequent beacon 201 is sent. The frame shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the first frame of cycle one 103 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, information from users 1, 2, and 4 are transmitted in this frame, which corresponds to the top row of the matrix 102 shown in FIG. 1. Prior to each user's transmission, a request to send (RTS) is transmitted by the user and a clear to send (CTS) is sent by the coordinator to the user telling the user that it is ok to transmit their data. As shown in the frame of FIG. 2, each portion of the frame corresponding to user data 204 is preceded by an RTS/CTS pair 203.
The beacon 201 is used by the controller to maintain synchronization with the users communicating with that controller. The contention access period 202 is the period in which all control messages between the controller and the users are transmitted, for example, it is in this period of time that a user would request to attach to the group sharing the bandwidth being controlled by the particular controller.
FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary frames for carrying out the bandwidth allocation shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the frames can be grouped into two groups corresponding to superframe one 301, and superframe two 302. Each of the superframes includes a beacon and a contention access period, followed by successive groups of RTS/CTS pairs and their associated user data. Frames 1 and 3 of superframe two 302 illustrate the concept of a mini slot 303. A mini slot occurs when a user does not use the time slot reserved for them. For example, in frame 1 of superframe two 302 the time slot after user 1 was reserved for user 2 (as indicated in the second cell of the first row of the matrix 102 corresponding to cycle two 104 shown in FIG. 1). Similarly, the mini slot 303 in frame 3 of superframe two 302 corresponds to the time slot reserved for user 6 (as shown by the third cell of the third row of the matrix 102 corresponding to cycle two 104 in FIG. 1).
A slot cycle TDMA scheme requires that each node connected to a coordinator listen to the beacon 201 in order to receive coordination information pertaining to the present superframe. However, each node must continue to listen throughout the superframe so as to monitor the channel for the presence of RTS/CTS pairs corresponding to each particular node's time slot. Each node must keep track as the connected nodes use each time slot. For example, if a particular node has been assigned a time slot beginning at a set time, that user must track RTS/CTS pairs corresponding to those users occupying time slots before that user. This must be done so that users can adjust their assigned slot start time to account for users who have not used their allocated time slot. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, user 2 did not use its assigned time slot in the first frame of superframe two 302, as indicated by the presence of a mini slot 303. In this situation, user 4 must be listening so as to detect the absence of a CTS, which would have been sent by the controller to user 2 in response to an RTS request sent to the controller by user 2. In the examples shown in FIG. 3, user 2 never requested to use its time slot, and therefore, the mini slot (silent period) must be detected by user 4, so that user 4 can move up its scheduled start time so that the time allocated to user 2 that is not being used is not wasted. Once user 4 detects a mini slot, user 4 can send an RTS to the controller requesting permission to begin its transmission. The controller will send the CTS to user 4 authorizing user 4 to begin its transmission since the controller is aware that user 2 has forfeited their time slot. Accordingly, inherent with a slot cycle TDMA scheme, is the need for each user to listen to the controller at all times, not only in order to receive the initial slot assignment, but also to track the use of the allocated slots by each connected user. Furthermore, each user must transmit an RTS to the controller prior to each transmission.
The requirement to listen to the controller at all times, and to transmit an RTS to the controller prior to each transmission impacts the power consumption of each of the individual users. Moreover, since each user must track the use of each frame, the result is that the coordination of a time frame is not handled entirely by the coordinator, but rather, is a distributed function shared by not only the coordinator, but also each user connected to the coordinator. A slot cycle TDMA scheme also requires that the coordinator listen at all times so that corresponding CTS messages may be sent in response to each of the RTS messages received by the individual users.
FIG. 4 illustrates another disadvantage to slot cycle TDMA systems. Because the allocated slots are of a variable length, it is possible to have a situation where one user dominates the available bandwidth. Slot durations in slot cycle TDMA systems are determined based on the packet sizes of the data being transmitted by the users of the network. As shown in the example of FIG. 4, user 1 requires a slot in each frame of the superframe. However, if user 1 is transmitting large packets of data, it cannot be said that providing user 1 with ⅓ of the slots is synonymous with allocating user 1 with ⅓ of the bandwidth. Depending on the size of the slots, it is quite possible that a situation of slot cycle "unfairness" will exist, wherein one user is dominating the available bandwidth to a degree not proportional to the number of slots allocated to that user.
FIG. 5 illustrates a polling scheme for sharing bandwidth among several users. As shown in FIG. 5, rather than exchanging an RTS/CTS between the individual users and the coordinator, the coordinator polls the individual users prior to each allocated slot. Polling schemes suffer similar disadvantages to those described above in the context of the slot cycle TDMA scheme, such as, for example, the need to listen to the coordinator at all times.

System, method, and computer program product for sharing bandwidth in a wireless personal area network or a wireless local area network


In a trailer hitch connecting a towing vehicle and an trailing vehicle, each "coupling" member of each vehicle has a support component and an attachment component. An adapter is interposed between and attached to the support component and the attachment component of one member. The adapter has a guide plug telescoped with the support component and an adjustment portion coupled to the attachment component and hinged to the guide plug for lateral movement. A pair of angled faces on the adapter serve to cam the components into axial alignment as the towing vehicle and the trailing vehicle are brought closer together. The adapter is capable of both axial and lateral, swinging movement for easy vehicle attachment.

Trailer hitches are in wide use for towing many kinds of trailing vehicles, e.g., boat trailers, autos and the like, behind another vehicle. As used herein, the term "trailer" refers to any type of vehicle, whether or not capable of self-propulsion, which is to be towed or is under tow by another vehicle.
Most such hitches use a spherical ball attached to one of the vehicles and a hollow, hemispherical coupler attached to the other. To hitch the vehicles together, the ball and coupler are brought into precise alignment, the coupler lowered onto the ball and the coupler latching lever pressed into place. And such hitches are available in a wide variety of sizes and ratings (and corresponding hitch component weights) to suit a broad range of requirements.
A major disadvantage of conventional hitches is that they are rigid. That is, they are made in such a way that once mounted to the vehicle, the spherical ball is in a fixed position with respect to such vehicle. Similarly, the coupler is in a position which, at least laterally and axially, is fixed with respect to the vehicle on which it is mounted. As a consequence, the ball and coupler must be precisely vertically aligned before the coupler can be lowered onto the ball for hookup. This is not a particularly imposing task if the trailer is lightweight and/or if two people, a driver and an observer, participate in the task.
However, trailers are often very heavy and, frequently, hookup is desired to be made by a single person working alone. And trailer hitches are often employed by elderly retired persons who, even working in pairs, are physically unable to perform the heavy pulling and tugging required to make a hookup with a conventional hitch and a heavy trailer.
Thus, conventional hitches are distinctly disadvantageous for the elderly and/or for persons working alone.
Yet another disadvantage of conventional hitches relates to the fact that to achieve precise alignment of ball and coupler, the observer is virtually required to stand between the vehicles as the towing vehicle is backed toward the trailer. Of course, this may present some risk to the observer if the driver of the towing vehicle is not extremely careful.
Earlier patents depict efforts to resolve some of these concerns. For example, the hitch shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,854 (Hill et al.) has a bottom plate and upper cover plate shaped like a truncated triangle. A bar-like coupling arm fits into and slides in the space lateral swinging movement and axial movement to align the ball and the ball-hitch receiver.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,028 (Scrivner) shows a hitch very similar to that shown in the Hill et al. patent. That is, it has a flat drawbar which moves axially and laterally between top and bottom plates. Axial movement is both made possible and limited by a pin-and-groove arrangement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,355 (Jeffes) shows a coupling with a hollow outer member and an inner member having portions shaped like the gripping end of a ball bat. The inner member can move axially in the outer member and when partially or fully extended, can also move laterally and vertically.
The hitch shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,272 (Putnam, Jr. et al.) has an arm which hooks to a hitch ball on a towing vehicle and a rectangular-section, tube-like slide which fits into a guide tube on a trailer. The arm and slide are connected together by a universal joint which permits the arm to move laterally and up/down with respect to the slide. When the slide is fully outwardly extended (in what the patent calls a "prehitch" arrangement), a spring-biased pin on the trailer tongue engages the rear end of the slide and prevents disconnection.
In using such hitch, prehitching is performed first. Then the towing vehicle is driven forward and the towed vehicle, then supported on its own caster wheel(s), is drawn to an approximately aligned position. The towing vehicle then backs for final alignment and connection. Final alignment is aided by a pair of angled lateral sides on the arm.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,549 (Williams, Jr.) shows a hitch, the elongate shank unit of which is attached to a trailer ball socket before the trailer and the towing vehicle are coupled together. A hollow, tube-like receiving unit is attached to the towing vehicle and has a funnel-like mouth. As the towing vehicle is backed, the extended, rounded end of the shank unit is guided by the mouth into the receiving unit for later locking.
The hitch shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,564 (Williams, Jr.) is closely similar to that shown in the Williams, Jr. patent noted above. A modification is that the shank unit shown in the '564 patent has a pair of stop blocks limiting unit travel at a location where pin engagement holes in the shank unit and the receiving unit are aligned. In both of the Williams, Jr. patents, aligned attachment is by backing the towing vehicle rather than by hand manipulation.
The hitch shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,387 (Schuck) has an outer housing formed of parallel top and bottom plates and flared sides. An inner housing slides inward and outward within the outer housing and like the arrangement of the Scrivner patent discussed above, sliding movement is both permitted and limited by a pin-and-groove arrangement. The Schuck patent suggests that the inner housing (and the tongue within it) can be swung from side to side for alignment only when the inner housing is drawn fully outward. So constructed, the Schuck hitch is capable of aligned connection only along an arc, not axially.
U.K. Patent Application GB 2 069 430 shows sighting rods for aligning a towing vehicle with a trailer.


The speed of a high-pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine may be determined using known centrifugal pump affinity relationships for a fuel pressure apparatus, fuel pressure apparatus input and output pressures, and gear ratios for a mechanical linkage between the high-pressure turbine and the fuel pressure apparatus. The technique avoids wear-related variations in gas pressure based measurements and also applies to fuel pressure apparatus using both single pump and multiple pump configurations.

Gas turbine engines are complex and finely tuned machines. Generally, such an engine is composed of a low pressure compressor and an associated low pressure turbine, the speed of the low pressure turbine is typically designated N1. The gas turbine engine also includes a high pressure compressor and associated high pressure turbine, the speed of which is typically designated N2.
Accurate knowledge of N2 is an important factor to maintaining efficient and high performance in gas turbine engines. However, N2 speed is difficult to measure directly. The most common indirect measures involve measuring various engine air pressures and interpolating N2. This process can produce wide variations in results, particularly over time due to engine wear.

High pressure turbine speed calculation from fuel system hydraulic pressures


A rotary cutter of a wood planing machine includes: a rotary shaft that has alternately disposed fan-shaped vanes and fan-shaped grooves; and blades secured respectively to the fan-shaped vanes. Each of the fan-shaped vanes has a leading face and a trailing face. Each of the blades is attached securedly to the trailing face of the respective fan-shaped vane. The leading face of each of the fan-shaped vanes and the trailing face of an adjacent one of the fan-shaped vanes converge toward a center portion of the rotary shaft so as to define a respective one of the fan-shaped grooves, and cooperatively define an angle therebetween. The angle is greater than 60 degrees and less than 120 degrees.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotary cutter for a wood planing machine, more particularly to a rotary cutter including a rotary shaft with a fan-shaped cross-section.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional wood planing machine that includes a base 6, a worktable 7 mounted on the base 6 and adapted to support a workpiece 9 thereon, and a rotary cutter 8 mounted rotatably on the base 6 underneath the worktable 7. The rotary cutter 8 includes a shaft 80 that is formed with a plurality of recesses 801, and a plurality of blades 81, each of which is mounted securely on the shaft 80 and each of which is disposed in a respective one of the recesses 801.
The conventional wood planing machine is disadvantageous in that woodchips cut from the workpiece 9 cannot be removed smoothly and that the woodchips tend to accumulate on the rotary cutter 8 during a cutting operation, which has an adverse effect on cutting of the workpiece 9.

Rotary cutter for a wood planing machine