A light shielding member shields a part of a light radiated from a light source and passes a remaining part of the light. A reflection surface reflects the light that passes through the light shielding member forward of a vehicle as a light distribution pattern including a cutoff line on a driving lane side and a cutoff line on an oncoming lane side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlight.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional headlight for a vehicle currently in use radiates a light forward of a vehicle in a light distribution pattern including a cutoff line on a driving lane side that is on or near a horizontal line of a screen and a cutoff line on an oncoming lane side below the cutoff line on the driving lane side (hereinafter, simply "a light distribution pattern"). For example, a vehicle headlight disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-232903 consists of a light source, a light shielding member, and a reflection surface that reflects a light emitted from a light emitter of the light source and reflects a light distribution pattern forward of a vehicle. When the light emitter emits light, a part of the light from the light emitter is shielded by the light shielding member, and a remaining part of the light from the light emitter, i.e., a part of the light that is not shielded by the light shielding member, is reflected by the reflection surface. Then, the light is radiated forward of the vehicle in the light distribution pattern.
However, because the vehicle headlight forms the cutoff line by the light shielding member, a light density is high near the cutoff line. Therefore, the vehicle headlight may cause a glare on the oncoming lane side, although the forward visibility is improved.
A vehicle headlight disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. H05-87704 is designed to reduce the light density near a cutoff line of a light distribution pattern. However, with the vehicle headlight disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. H05-87704, a problem arises in forward visibility on the driving lane side while an improvement can be obtained on the glare occurring on the oncoming lane side.


In a coke drum an outlet arrangement is provided which allows removal of the coke from the drum without endangering the health or safety of workers heading or unheading the coke drum. Instead of using a manually removable bottom flange for the drum, a semiautomatic bottom flange removal system is provided. A spool is attached to the conventional, pre-existing, about 6 feet in diameter drum stationary bottom flange. The spool includes a tapered clamping surface. A new style removable bottom flange also includes a tapered clamping surface. The tapered clamping surfaces cooperate with clamp ring sectors movable by externally mounted hydraulic cylinders into contact with the spool and the flange, and other hydraulic cylinders mounted directly on the ring sectors move male locking surfaces into locking engagement with cooperating female locking surfaces formed on adjacent clamp ring sectors.

In the field of producing petroleum coke in an oil refinery, a process called delayed coking is in common and growing use. Heavy residual oil from the bottom of the fractionator column is heated to about 950 degrees F., some chemicals are added, and the fluid is pumped into a large alloy steel drum. The drum is commonly 25 to 27 feet in diameter and two to three times as tall. The liquid turns into hard coke inside the drum, when it becomes stagnant, by the hydrocarbon cracking process, releasing light hydrocarbon products and leaving coke as the low grade residual product in the drum. To remove the hard coke, it must be cut out of the drum with high pressure water, cutting the hard coke into pieces that can fall out the bottom of the drum.
To cut coke out of a drum that is full, a three foot flange is removed from the top of the drum and a six foot flange is removed from the bottom of the drum. A rotating combination drill bit and cutting head about 18" diameter is mounted on the lower end of a long hollow drill rod about 6" in diameter, and the drill bit is then lowered into the drum, on the drill stem, through the three foot flange opening at the top. A hole about 18" in diameter is drilled down through the entire vertical height of the coke in the drum, the drill bit coming out through the bottom of the hard coke mass. Then the rotating drill is raised back up a short distance into the hard coke mass, and high pressure water at about 2500 psi and more is pumped down the hollow drill rod, and out a group of positioned jet nozzles in the sides of the cutting head part of the drill bit. The nozzles shoot jets of water horizontally outwards, rotating slowly with the drill rod, and those jets cut the coke into pieces, which fall out the open bottom of the drum, into a pit. The drill is raised slowly up from the bottom the entire vertical height of the coke mass, cutting the coke out of the drum all the way up to the top, the coke falling out the six foot opening at the bottom of the drum. The drill rod is then withdrawn out the three foot flange opening at the top of the drum. The six foot flange at the bottom of the drum is then bolted back in place, along with the three foot flange at the top of the drum. The drum is then clean and ready for the next filling cycle with the heavy residual oil.
The process of removing and replacing the removable six foot flange or cover is called heading and unheading. The removable flange or cover is manually bolted on and unbolted from a stationary complimentary six foot flange at the bottom of the vessel, using air wrenches, on over seventy large nuts. It is dangerous work, with several risks associated with the procedures. There have been fatalities, and many burns suffered, and there is significant physical trauma associated with the manual work.
So unpleasant is the above-described work of unheading and heading of the six foot flange, it is frequently subcontracted by the refineries to outside contractors, who employ workers specialized in this difficult work. Other refineries have their own employees perform the work, but they rotate the workers frequently to other tasks, so as to minimize the effects of the harmful trauma.
For the above reasons, the oil refineries with delayed coker process units universally desire to automate the unheading procedure, to minimize the strenuous manual work and risk of accidents therefrom.
There are currently two known devices on the market to facilitate heading and unheading. One, a clam shell type of hinged bottom cover, swings down and away under hydraulic power, opening the bottom of the drum for the coke to drop out. It is very big and heavy, requires much structural support to be added to existing drums at considerable expense, and in many cases is even impossible to implement because of limited strength of the existing drums. Of great importance is the difficulty in this design to develop the required large force, typically about 1,000,000 pounds, required to hold the bottom flange to the bottom of the drum with sufficient force to develop the needed gasket squeeze. It has received very little acceptance. The other device has been sold in many refineries, and is the device of choice at present. It has a flange that is held up against the bottom of the vessel with tensioned bolts. Instead of tensioning them with a threaded nut, as in a bolt on the manually installed flanges, the bolts are tensioned by stretching them with an inflatable hollow ring of gas-filled metal. Then a mechanical locking ring is positioned so that the tension is maintained by the mechanical locks being put into place. The device is complicated, with several hundred moving parts, and is quite expensive, about $1,000,000 each. It also is very expensive to install, and takes a long time to complete all the work, at great cost in lost production. While new drums can be designed to use the device, it is difficult to add to existing installations.
The invention relates to an alternative device (and method) for removing and replacing flanges, particularly six foot flanges, for coke drums and the like, that is simple, compact, quick and easy to install, uses existing technology, is less expensive than prior art alternatives discussed above, and is particularly well suited to being retrofitted to existing drums (as well as usable in new installations). The invention seeks to make the heading and unheading of delayed coker drums safer for personnel to perform, by removing the source of severe work-related trauma to personnel. This is accomplished through a novel means of automated clamping of the removable six foot flange firmly to the stationary flange at the bottom of the drum. The invention also speeds up the procedure so that the cycle time for the process can be reduced, without compromise in safety or human effort. The invention also renders the addition of this new closure device onto the hundreds of existing coker drums to a simple, quick, and inexpensive procedure, as compared to the difficult, expensive, and time consuming requirement of the inflatable hollow ring device of the prior art described above. The invention dramatically increases the closure integrity, and therefore the safety, of the large gasket for the six foot flange; and the invention provides a mechanism that can be cleared easily, with an air hose or steam jet just before heading, of any fallen coke accumulations that commonly foul mechanisms of the prior art.
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for semi-automatically clamping and unclamping distinct elements together so as to effect ready removal of a closure for a drum, in place of the removable flange or closure described above, and without the drawbacks discussed above. In the preferred embodiment three or four clamping ring sectors are provided associated with a spool piece (adaptor) and revised closure flange which takes the place of the prior art removable closure flange, the spool piece bolted to the stationary drum flange and the revised closure flange being capable of being made from the prior art closure flange in existing installations. However two clamping ring sectors might be used in some installations, or more than three or four (e. g. 6-8). Powered devices, which may be controlled automatically or semi-automatically, move the clamping ring sections between a position in which they clamp the revised closure flange in place to the spool piece portion of the stationary flange on the drum, and a position in which they release the revised closure flange. The powered devices may comprise any powered actuators, including motors, solenoids, or the like, but preferably comprises linear actuators such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders with reciprocating piston rods. Other actuators, which also may include motors, solenoids, or the like, but preferably comprise linear actuators such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders with reciprocating piston rods, may be mounted on the drum or other stationary location to move the clamping ring sectors out of the way when clamping action is released, so that the revised closure flange may be supported by conventional existing vertically movable supports (e. g. fluidic cylinders). The method of the invention typically requires human intervention only to remove a small number of easily removed jamming pins, and to actuate the powered devices, all of which can be done safely and without significant or dangerous physical effort. The drum cleaning procedure may then be performed just as in the prior art procedure described above.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of modifying an existing substantially vertical coke drum to semi-automate heading and unheading, the coke drum having a bottom stationary flange having a plurality of substantially vertical openings through which bolts pass, and a bottom removable flange at least forty inches in diameter and having a plurality of substantially vertical openings therein to receive the bolts which pass through the stationary flange openings and having a conduit through which hydrocarbon fluids pass during coke production, the method utilizing a spool piece having a generally upwardly facing annular tapered clamping surface, a plurality of clamp ring sectors each having spaced first locking surfaces and generally downwardly and upwardly annular sector tapered clamping surfaces, a plurality of second locking surfaces; a plurality of first powered actuators for moving the second locking surfaces, and a plurality of second powered actuators for moving the clamp ring sectors. The method comprises the steps of: (a) detaching the bottom removable flange and hydrocarbon fluid conduit from the coke drum bottom stationary flange; (b) forming a generally downwardly facing annular tapered clamping surface on the bottom removable flange, to produce a revised removable flange, or replacing the bottom removable flange with a new flange having a generally downwardly facing annular tapered clamping surface, and a hydrocarbon fluid conduit; (c) attaching the spool piece to the drum stationary flange; (d) attaching the plurality of second actuators to the drum; (e) moving the revised or new movable flange into sealing engagement with the spool piece; (f) using the second powered actuators, moving the tapered clamping surfaces of the clamp ring sectors into contact with the tapered clamping surfaces of the spool piece and the revised or new removable flange; and (g) using the first powered actuators, moving the first locking surfaces into locking engagement with the second locking surfaces.
The tapered annular clamping surfaces of the revised or new bottom flange and spool piece may have a first radius of curvature, and the clamp ring sectors tapered annular sector clamping surfaces may have a second radius of curvature, approximately 2-13% greater than the first radius; and wherein step (f) may be practiced so as to cause a center portion only of each clamp ring sector tapered annular sector to contact the spool piece and revised or new bottom flange tapered annular clamping surfaces; and wherein step (g) may be practiced to cause the clamp ring sectors to bend to cause end portions thereof to come into contact with the spool piece and revised or new bottom flange tapered annular clamping surfaces and provide the desired effective clamping force at the center portion.
Step (c) may be practiced by connecting the bolts from the drum flange to the spool piece using nuts. There may also be the further steps of (h) unheading the drum by first moving the first powered actuators to move the first and second locking surfaces out of locking engagement with each other, and then (i) using the second powered actuators, moving the ring clamp sectors away from the drum while the revised or new bottom flange is supported by an external support, so that the bottom flange is free to move away from the drum upon movement of the external support.
There may also be the further steps of: (j) moving the bottom flange away from the drum so that an opening at least 30 inches (preferably at least 40 inches, more desirably at least 60 inches, most desirably about 72 inches) in diameter is provided in the bottom of the drum, (k) removing coke from the drum through the bottom opening (using the conventional techniques described above); and (l) repeating steps (e)-(g) to move and seal the bottom flange back into a position covering the opening in the bottom of the drum.
Typically, the first actuators comprise linear actuators connected to the first locking surfaces by a linkage, and each of the linkages is connected to a ring clamp sector using a removable jamming pin; and comprising the further step (j), before step (i), of removing the jamming pins.
According to another aspect of the present invention a coke drum assembly is provided comprising the following components: A substantially vertical coke drum having a top with a removable top flange, a bottom with a stationary first sealing structure, and a movable second sealing structure (e. g. a removable bottom flange with a hydrocarbon fluid conduit therein) larger than the removable top flange that is adapted to be moved from a first position sealingly connected to the first sealing structure, and a second position detached from the first sealing structure. The first and second sealing structures having, respectively, first and second tapered annular clamping surfaces. A plurality (preferably 3 or 4, although 2, or 5-8, may be provided) of clamp ring sectors, each sector having third and fourth tapered annular sector clamping surfaces for respectively engaging the first and second tapered annular clamping surfaces. A plurality of first locking structures each having first locking surfaces. Second locking surfaces formed in each of the clamp ring sectors, the second locking surfaces for cooperation with the first locking surfaces to hold the clamp ring sectors to each other so that the clamp ring sectors hold the second sealing structure with respect to the first sealing structure in the first position. A plurality of first powered actuators mounted to the ring sectors and the first locking structure for moving the first locking structures with respect to the second locking surfaces between a first position in which the clamp ring sectors are clamped together, and a second position in which the clamp ring sectors are movable apart from each other; and a plurality of second powered actuators distinct from the first actuators and connected to the clamp ring sectors to move the clamp ring sectors away from the first and second sealing structures when the first locking structure is in the second position. The stationary first sealing structure may comprise a bottom flange of the drum, and a spool piece extending downwardly from the bottom flange; and wherein the movable second sealing structure comprises a movable flange. Each of the first powered actuators preferably comprises a linear actuator, and each of the plurality of second actuators comprises a linear actuator operatively connected adjacent one end thereof to the drum and adjacent another end thereof to a the clamp ring sector. For example, each of the first powered linear actuators is connected to the first locking structure by a linkage, and the linkage is releasably connected to a the clamp ring section by a removable jam pin.
Preferably the first locking surfaces are male surfaces, and the second locking surfaces are female, although they may be switched, or mixed. To enhance clamping efficiency while minimizing the number of clamp ring sectors, preferably the first and second tapered annular clamping surfaces have a first radius of curvature, and the clamp ring sectors tapered annular sector clamping surfaces having a second radius of curvature, approximately 2-13%, preferably 5-10%, greater than the first radius so as to cause only a center portion of each clamp ring sector tapered annular sector to contact the first and second tapered annular clamping surfaces, and to cause the clamp ring sectors to bend to cause end portions thereof to come into contact with the first and second tapered annular clamping surfaces and provide the desired effective clamping force at the center portion.
In one preferred embodiment, each of the first locking structures comprises a relatively stationary locking surface spaced from a relatively movable locking surface, the relatively movable locking surface mounted on a pivotal link operatively connected a one of the first actuators. Also, typically the second movable sealing structure comprises a bottom flange generally circular in dimension and having a diameter of over about five feet 60 inches!, typically about 72 inches or even greater in diameter.
The invention is advantageous compared to other known clamping systems. For example the Grayloc.RTM. connector (available from Gray Tool Co. of Harvey, La.) connects a tapered inner surface clamp by bolts to tapered outer surface hubs (or hub pieces), with a distinct, ribbed, metal seal ring between the hubs. Thus operation is not semi-automatic, an extra large component (the ribbed seal ring) is provided, and known maximum size is 30 inch diameter hubs. The invention, on the other hand, uses only a thin, flat, metal gasket recessed in one or more main grooves formed in the spool piece and bottom flange, is used with 72" diameter clamped components, and is semi-automatic (virtually automatic) in operation. The main grooves may include relief grooves connected to a source of steam.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a semi-automatic clamping assembly comprising the following components: A stationary first sealing structure (e. g. a stationary bottom flange of a coke drum, with a spool). A movable second sealing structure (e. g. a bottom removable flange) that is adapted to be moved between a first position sealingly connected to the first sealing structure, and a second position detached from the first sealing structure, the second sealing structure having a diameter of over about thirty inches (preferably over 36 inches, more preferably over 60 inches, e. g. about 72 inches or more). The first and second sealing structures having, respectively, first and second tapered annular clamping surfaces. A plurality of clamp ring sectors, each sector having third and fourth tapered annular sector clamping surfaces for respectively engaging the first and second tapered annular clamping surfaces. A plurality of first locking structures each having first locking surfaces. Second locking surfaces formed in each of the clamp ring sectors, the second locking surfaces for cooperation with the first locking surfaces to hold the clamp ring sectors to each other so that the clamp ring sectors hold the second sealing structure with respect to the first sealing structure in the first position. A plurality of first powered actuators mounted to the ring sectors and the first locking structure for moving the first locking structures with respect to the second locking surfaces between a first position in which the clamp ring sectors are clamped together, and a second position in which the clamp ring sectors are movable apart from each other; and a plurality of second powered actuators distinct from the first actuators and connected to the clamp ring sectors to move the clamp ring sectors away from the first and second sealing structures when the first locking structure is in the second position.
The details of the components are preferably as described above with respect to an earlier aspect of the invention.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly for providing substantially leak-proof sealing of a volume (e. g. a coke drum) in general. The assembly comprises the following components: A volume having fluent material at a first pressure. First and second substantially annular flanges having face-to-face engagement along first and second surfaces thereof, the surfaces abutting the inner volume at a first end portion thereof, and abutting an exterior volume at a second end portion thereof. First and second main substantially annular grooves formed in the first and second surfaces, respectively. A relief groove formed in each of the main grooves. An annular metal gasket disposed in the main grooves, the gasket having a plurality of through extending openings therein extending from one relief groove to the other; and a passage extending through one of the flanges and connected to a source of steam at a second pressure, higher than the first pressure, so that steam is supplied to the relief grooves and if there is leakage between the first and second surfaces it is of steam.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for the heading and unheading of coke drums in a semi-automatic safe, easy, and quick manner. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from a detailed description of the invention, and from the appended claims .

Safe and semi-automatic removal of heavy drum closures


A conduit strap (10) is disclosed for installing a conduit (12) through an aperture (16) in a metal stud (14). The strap (10) will secure the conduit (12) in place without the use of any fasteners. The strap is installed by inserting a arm (26) through the aperture in the metal stud and then rotating the strap so that a portion of another arm (20) pass through the aperture and engages the back side of the stud to tightly secure the strap within the stud.

The metal two by four stud is commonly used in construction, particularly in building-out office space. Electrical conduits are run through the studs through rectangular square apertures in the studs. These conduits are commonly tied or secured to the studs to meet safety code regulations. Securing the conduit to the studs is time-consuming and labor intensive typically requiring one or more screws to be installed at each stud. It therefore adds to the cost of building construction.
Some attempts have been made to provide for more efficient attachment of a conduit passing through a stud. Erico Products, Inc., manufacturers of Caddy Fasteners, manufactures a through the stud conduit support which is an hanger intended to be secured to the stud by a single self-tapping screw. The support is similar to a hook with the conduit resting in the inside of the hook.
However, a more effective device is needed to attach conduit to studs than is presently available. This device should be inexpensive and easy to use and have a minimum of manual labor required.


Security is provided in a network system. A message is received from a user, which message requires authentication of the user. An authentication message is sent indicating the identity of the user to an initial software security agent. The software security agent, on receipt of the authentication message, determines whether information relating to the user is stored on a security database associated with the software security agent, and, if so, the software security agent adds an authentication key to the authentication message. The authentication message is sent on to one or more further software security agents. The prior noted steps are repeated with the further software security agent(s) and, if user-related stored security information is found, adding an authentication key to the authentication message and sending the authentication message on to one or more further software security agents until the number of keys associated with the authentication message equals a predetermined number N. When the number of associated keys equals N, the authentication message is sent to the initial software security agent which then grants the required permission to the user.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the field of network security and in particular networked user authentication systems.
2. Related Art
One industry standard for achieving strong user authentication to network services is the Kerberos system, as described in Miller S. P., Neuman B. C., Schiller J. I., & Salitzer J. H. "Kerberos Authentication and Authorisation System", M.I.T Project Athena, Cambridge, Mass., December 1987. Kerberos uses a trusted third-party authentication service in which each client trusts the Kerberos central server to authenticate other clients. Timestamps are used on each client-server communication to prevent or at least reduce the chance of a replay attack.
The Kerberos server maintains a database of its clients and their private keys and an encrypted password for users. Any network services or clients requiring authentication must register with the Kerberos server. The private keys are then negotiated at registration. Kerberos can also provide secure session management based on session keys. The Kerberos system has proven to be a useful authentication platform but suffers from the need for a single centralised server, which is frequently the target of attacks, since access gives full control of a network. It also requires expert administration for its maintenance.
Some preliminary agent based work in this field has already demonstrated the effectiveness of agent managed security methods, although primarily in the area of intrusion detection, (e.g. Filman R., and Linden T., "Communicating Security Agents", Proc. WET ICE 1996, Yialelis, Lupo & Sloman 1996, Balasubramaniyan J., Jose Omar Garcia-Fernandez, Spafford E., and Zamboni D. "An Architecture for Intrusion Detection using Autonomous Agents", Department of Computer Sciences, Purdue University; Coast TR 98-05; 1998). In particular work by Heirlier G. G., Wong J. S., Honavar V., and Miller L. "Intelligent agents for intrusion detection". In Proceedings, IEEE Information Technology Conference, pages 121-124, Syracuse, N.Y., September 1998, demonstrated a multi-agent network defence system in which software agents monitor low-level network activity and report it to higher-level software agents for analysis.
In the system proposed by Crosbie and Spafford (1995) (Crosbie M. and Spafford E. "Defending a Computer System using Autonomous Agents", In 18th National Information Systems Security Conference, October 1995), a similar distributed set of agents monitors network traffic and machine activity, including CPU utilisation. Their system also has agents exchanging anomaly reports between each other and decisions to raise an intrusion alert are based on the combined evidence from a number of agents. This system also utilises a form of machine learning based on Genetic Programs in order to recognise new patterns of attack. Work by Carver et al (2000) (Carver C. A., Hill J. M., Surdu J. R., and Pooch U. W., "A Methodology for using Intelligent Agents to provide Automated Intrusion Response," IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Information Assurance and Security Workshop, West Point, N.Y., Jun. 6-7 2000, pp. 110-116), demonstrates the use of a distributed heterogeneous group of agents as an IDS solution. The focus is on dynamic and adaptive response to varying levels of security threats.
Qi He and Sycara K. P. and Zhongmin Su, "A Solution to Open Standard of PKI", book, Australasian Conference on Information Security and Privacy, pages 99-110, 1998 demonstrates the use of encrypted KQML message exchange among a networked group of agents, which is used as a secure PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) certificate management scheme.
One commercial system, which utilises a similar web and agent based authentication method is the 'ProviderTrust' Web Access system from seqID Ltd. This is a single agent system, designed to provide authentication within a single Intranet domain. Rothke B., "Security Strategies for E-Companies, an insiders view", Information & Security Magazine, October 2001, describes another security system.
In summary, existing systems suffer from several failings, e.g. centrally based key management, which is a potential target for malicious attacks; limited scalability, due to centralised processing of the user database; high operational cost due to the frequent manual intervention required, to reset passwords, and revoke or issue digital certificates.


A method and apparatus for terminal configuration management, wherein the method includes: receiving, by a first near field communication (NFC) terminal, configuration management data from a second NFC terminal; and performing, by the first NFC terminal, configuration update on the first NFC terminal according to the configuration management data. After receiving, by the first NFC terminal, the configuration management data from the second NFC terminal, the method further comprises: performing, by the first NFC terminal, configuration function verification on the configuration management data; transmitting, by the first NFC terminal, in a case where the configuration function verification performed on the configuration management data has failed, error information corresponding to the configuration management data on which the verification has failed to the second NFC terminal; and receiving, by the first NFC terminal, a solution corresponding to the error information from the second NFC terminal.

With the introduction and rapid development of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, products with NFC function, such as mobile phones having NFC function, NFC routers, NFC home gateways, NFC media players, etc, have gradually entered into people's lives. Features of NFC, such as easy, secure and fast wireless communication, greatly enrich and facilitate the use of end products. NFC operating modes may be divided into three types: card mode, point-to-point mode, and card reader mode. However, in the NFC point-to-point mode, there is no relevant technical proposal for performing configuration management between NFC terminal products through configuration data interaction. The NFC terminal configuration management method in existing art generally adopts the following steps: connecting, by an NFC terminal product to be configured, to a computer through a wired or wireless connection; entering into an Internet Explorer (IE) configuration page based on the computer; and changing configuration items. Disadvantages for the above method are strictly demand for environment, information security being not guaranteed, and complicated operations.

Method and apparatus for receiving a solution when configuration function verification fails in a terminal


A tool for removing a gas cap from the gas-receiving tube of a vehicle.

Few gasoline service stations offer full service. Automobile operators or their passengers have to fill their own gas tanks. Proper sealing of evaporative fumes to minimize pollution has led most automotive manufacturers to design gas tank caps that include a feature that ensures proper tightening of the cap. The user must rotate the gas cap until it emits an audible click. Furthermore, the gas cap is generally recessed behind an access panel door that opens on the rear panel or one of the rear quarter panels of the vehicle to help prevent loss of the gas cap. For anyone with weak wrists or forearms, removing and properly retightening the gas cap with these restrictions can be very difficult.
In addition, gas-filling nozzles on most self service pumps include an automatic safety shut-off feature that stops the delivery of fuel when the tank is full, and a feature (auto fill), which allows the filling nozzle trigger to be set at several different delivery rates without the user continuously holding onto the trigger. Often the auto fill detents or setting plates on the filling nozzle are broken or missing thus requiring the consumer to manually hold the trigger until the tank is full.
Many vehicles have a tether that connects the gas cap to the access door. One end of the tether is attached to the gas cap tang, usually in a location along the top edge of the tang.
Prior art patents that have recognized these problems include U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,797 issued May 29, 2001 to John J. Hurford for "Fuel Cap Extension"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,785 issued Apr. 27, 1999 to Richard J Shaw et al. for "Automobile Gas Cap Removal Tool"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,701 issued Dec. 23, 1997 to David L. Cotten, Jr. for "Tool For Removing Vehicle Gas Tank Cap"; Des. 387,255 issued Dec. 9, 1997 to Ray G. Rhoton for "Combined Gas Cap Removal and Tightening Device". These prior art tools cannot be mounted on a gas cap tang having a tether. The tether prevents these tools from receiving the tang.
The preferred tool of this invention comprises either a single body or a multiple-part assembly composed of plastic compounds for fitting over the male tang on an automotive gas cap to assist in removing and retightening the gas cap, and for holding a gas-filling nozzle trigger open at various delivery rates.
The preferred tool has an extension handle outside of the recessed access panel area of the gas cap to give the user access for turning the tool. Further, the tool provides the user a handle spaced from the gas cap turning axis for producing greater leverage.
The multiple-part tool is foldable to minimize the space required to store the tool.
The preferred embodiment is a one-piece plastic tool. Another embodiment is a two-piece tool. Both tools can either engage the tang, or straddle the access door.
The preferred tool easily loosens and tightens gas caps that require a double click for tightening. The tool fits over or under the gas cap tether, regardless of the caps original position. To remove the gas cap, place the gas cap tang in the tool opening and turn counter-clockwise. To tighten the gas cap, first turn the cap clockwise by hand until it starts to resist. Then, turn the tool clockwise until you hear two or more clicks. Keep turning to a convenient spot for loosening the gas cap next time. If not needed while filling, store the tool on the access panel door.
The preferred tool can be used to hold the fill nozzle open whenever you find a broken nozzle detent mechanism. Simply insert the fill nozzle into the gas filler neck, squeeze the trigger to start the flow of gasoline, and then insert the flat portion of the tool between the trigger and the flat in the bottom portion of the nozzle handle.
The tool of this invention, composed of plastic compounds, provides a channel and openings that allow the tool to be safely stowed on the gas cap access panel door of the vehicle without damaging the vehicle finish.
The tool of this invention provides a ledge and a perpendicular stop in combination with an opposed cam surface that allows the tool to be inserted in the gas-filling nozzle assembly at various angles to hold the gas-filling nozzle trigger at different rates of delivery, thus allowing automatic filling of the vehicle without manually holding the gas-filling nozzle trigger.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Tool for removing automobile gas cap and for holding gas-filling nozzle open


A sealed line structure equipped with a heater block for a process chamber for use in manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The structure includes a housing member, a movement prevention member is constructed of a lock nut, a clamp ring and an elastic unit, and a power line or a thermocouple line is sealed by the configuration of the housing member, the movement prevention member, a cover member, and a connector member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a sealed line structure for use in a process chamber for manufacturing semiconductor devices.
A claim of priority is made to Korean Patent Application 2004-32100, filed on May 7, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Semiconductor devices are generally manufactured through a series of manufacturing processes such as deposition, photolithography, etching, ion implantation, and polishing.
The deposition process, for example, forms a layer on a semiconductor substrate in a process chamber. During the deposition process, flow volume and pressure of process gases, internal pressure of the process chamber, and temperature of the semiconductor substrate are important process factors, which must be monitored.
In a conventional multi-purpose process chamber, a plate on which a semiconductor substrate is mounted is heated, or the plate itself emits heat so as to heat the semiconductor substrate.
In a system using a heater block, a power source is directly applied to the heater block. A thermocouple gauge, used as a temperature sensing unit, is connected to the heater block to monitor the temperature of a semiconductor substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,697, for example, discloses such a system.
On a heater block, an electrostatic chuck or vacuum chuck is adapted so that a semiconductor substrate is positioned and heated, or the heater block itself is equipped to chuck and directly heat the semiconductor substrate.
A power source to heat the heater block is usually disposed outside of the process chamber. An electric wire is connected to the heater block and disposed in a tubular shaped power line. It is important to seal the lead power source at the connection point with the process chamber. In addition to the electric wire, a thermocouple gauge, which monitors the temperature of the heater block, is also equipped together thereof. Specifically, one end of the electric wire is fixed to the heater block through a power line, while, the thermocouple line is adapted to attach or detach from the process chamber.
The interior of the process chamber must be under vacuum pressure during a manufacturing process, while the outside of the process chamber is under atmospheric pressure. If the connection point at the process chamber through which the electric wire is guided into the interior thereof has an air leak, the air leak may cause errors during the manufacturing process.
FIG. 1 illustrates a connection structure for a power line 2 connected to a heater block 1. FIG. 1 also shows a thermocouple line 3 connected to heater block 1. Both power line 2 and thermocouple line 3 are generally divided into upper and lower portions which are formed of different materials.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the central portion of power line 2 and thermocouple line 3, openings 2a, 3a are formed, through which an electric wire or a thermocouple gauge is inserted, respectively. The upper portion of the lines is covered with aluminum alloy material. The lower portion of the lines is threaded and formed of stainless material. The lines are generally shafts having a tubular shape. The upper end portions of the lines are fixed to heater block 1.
Power line 2 and thermocouple line 3 have a complicated sealing structure to maintain an airtight seal with the outside environment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of power line 2 is exposed to the outside environment through a through-hole 4a formed in a process chamber wall 4. The lower portion of power line 2 comprises an O-ring 5, an adapter 6, a gasket 7, a bellows 8, and a flange collar 9, and together they are coupled to chamber wall 4 with a plurality of bolts 10 as shown in FIG. 3.
Power line 2 should seal the interior of the process chamber from the outside. However, air leaks occur because the upper portions of power line 2 made of aluminum alloy slowly erodes due to process gases used during the manufacturing processes, or air leaks occur due to welding defects.
Air leaks cause pressure in the process chamber to change, which creates process defects, and decreases production yield and productivity.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a sealing structure for a line capable of preventing air leaks.

Sealed line structure for use in process chamber


The present invention relates to systems and methods for configuring a data storage system. One method adds a Fibre Channel device to the loop by beaconing first and second ports, displaying instructions to connect a cable, receiving an indication the cable is connected, enabling the first port, initiating a LIP, and verifying whether the cable is connected. Another method removes a Fibre Channel device from the loop by beaconing the second port, bypassing the first port, initiating a LIP, beaconing the first port, displaying instructions for disconnecting the cable, and receiving an indication the cable is disconnected. A system includes means for displaying instructions to add a Fibre Channel device on the loop and a management controller for beaconing first and second ports, displaying instructions to connect a cable, receiving an indication that the cable is connected, enabling the first port, initiating a LIP, and verifying whether the cable is connected properly. Another system includes means for displaying instructions to remove a Fibre Channel device from the loop and a management controller programmed for beaconing the second port, bypassing the first port, initiating a LIP, beaconing the first port, displaying instructions to disconnect a cable, receiving an indication that the cable is disconnected, and verifying whether the cable is disconnected.

The present invention relates to guided configuration of data storage systems.
This application incorporates herein by reference as follows:
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/264,603, Systems and Methods of Multiple Access Paths to Single Ported Storage Devices, filed on Oct. 3, 2002;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/354,797, Methods and Systems of Host Caching, filed on Jan. 29, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,979 B2;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/397,610, Methods and Systems for Management of System Metadata, filed on Mar. 26, 2003;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/440,347, Methods and Systems of Cache Memory Management and Snapshot Operations, filed on May 16, 2003;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/600,417, Systems and Methods of Data Migration in Snapshot Operations, filed on Jun. 19, 2003;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/616,128, Snapshots of File Systems in Data Storage Systems, filed on Jul. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,313 B2;
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/677,560, Systems and Methods of Multiple Access Paths to Single Ported Storage Devices, filed on Oct. 1, 2003; and
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/696,327, Data Replication in Data Storage Systems, filed on Oct. 28, 2003.
A data storage system may include one or more hosts, management controllers, and data storage subsystems connected to each other using Ethernet or Fibre Channel (FC). FIG. 1 illustrates a data storage system 10 that includes a number of cables between the hosts 200 and 230, the management controllers 110 and 220, and the data storage subsystems 250 to 270. Each host may communicate with each data storage subsystem through a Fibre Channel arbitrated loop (Fibre Channel loop). Redundant Fibre Channel loops ensure multiple communication paths from a host to a data storage subsystem. The data storage subsystems 250, 252, 254, and 256 connect directly to the hosts 200 and 230, while data storage subsystems 260 and 270 are daisy chained to the data storage subsystems 250 and 252. Thus, misconnections at one data storage subsystem affect others.
The modular nature of a data storage system permits trained personnel to add and remove components to configure the data storage system to meet changing requirements. However, the cabling ports of the hosts and data storage subsystems are close to each other and users may insert cables in the wrong ports. Due to the number of connections, there are many opportunities for error. Although Fibre Channel cabling can be connected during operation, it must be done accurately and in the correct sequence to avoid disrupting data access. If configuring data storage systems could be made sufficiently easy and reliable, users could do it themselves when desired without the need for trained personnel.

Guided configuration of data storage systems


A speaker apparatus includes a speaker, and a circuit to operate the speaker. The speaker apparatus further includes a speaker box having an opening to enclose a back of the speaker; a casing accommodating the speaker box combined with the speaker and the circuit therein, and communicating with an outside so as to dissipate heat from the circuit; and a duct penetrating the casing and the speaker box so as to emit back sound of the speaker. The present invention provides a speaker apparatus, which has high heat-dissipating efficiency, can be manufactured in various designs, and prevents a user from being burned.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speaker apparatus, and more particularly, to a speaker apparatus having an improved structure to dissipate heat, which is generated from an internal circuit thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A speaker apparatus converting electrical energy into sound energy typically comprises a speaker and a casing part, which encloses the speaker. The speaker may have various structures and functions as are necessary. For example, the speaker apparatus may include a circuit such as an amplifier to amplify sound. Further, more recently, various speaker apparatuses for use in a home theater system have been developed.
In the case where the speaker apparatus includes the circuit, such as an amplifier, which generates a relatively large amount of heat, there is provided a radiator to dissipate the heat from the circuit.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional speaker apparatus 101 comprises a speaker 103 generating bass sound, a casing 110 enclosing the speaker unit 103, a circuit 105 placed inside the casing 110, a duct through which back sound of the speaker 103 is emitted, and a radiator 170, which conductively dissipates the heat from the circuit 105 by conduction.
The casing 110 encloses the speaker 103, having a hole formed by the duct 150 to emit the back sound of the speaker 103, in consideration of the quality of sound.
The circuit 105 comprises elements such as a transistor, so that a relatively large amount of heat is generated therefrom. Therefore, the radiator 170, exposed to the outside of the speaker, is attached on the circuit 105.
Thus, the conventional speaker apparatus 101 maintains the quality of sound by enclosing the speaker 103 with the casing 110, and dissipates the heat from the circuit 105 by attaching the radiator 170 on the circuit 105.
However, in the conventional speaker apparatus 101, the heat from the circuit 105 is dissipated by conduction through the radiator 170, so that heat-dissipating efficiency is relatively low and high temperature air is likely to be generated inside the casing 110, wherein the high temperature air causes the elements placed inside the casing 110 to be damaged or displaced.
Further, in the conventional speaker apparatus 101, the radiator 170 should be exposed to the outside of the casing 110, so that the radiator 170 limits design of the casing 110. Also, a user may get burned because of the hot radiator 170.


A method, system and computer program product for managed object replication and delivery redirects, directly or indirectly, a client's request for an object that is not available at a best or optimal handling edge server of a network to a parent server that has the requested object. So, where the requested object is not available at the handling edge server, the client's request is redirected directly to the parent server that can provide the requested object to the client or indirectly via one or more parent servers to a parent server that can provide the requested object to the client. The method, system and computer program product further intelligently replicates the object to the edge server if the object is popular enough. Likewise, an object is removed from an edge server when it is no longer popular. All redirection and replication operations are preferably transparent to the end-user and do not degrade the quality of service.

This present application is a continuation application claiming priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/887,053 entitled "MANAGED OBJECT REPLICATION AND DELIVERY," filed on Oct. 19, 2015 which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/073,938 entitled "MANAGED OBJECT REPLICATION AND DELIVERY," filed on Feb. 14, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,167,036, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. This invention relates in general to the field of computer networks. Particularly, aspects of this invention pertain to managed object replication and delivery over a network.


In x-ray fluorescence systems, the screening prevents the bringing of the measurement spot into the correct position in relation to the x-ray beam using the naked eye. The use of a television camera with a screen as well as illuminating devices makes the measuring system expensive and complicates the use of the system. According to the invention, this is avoided in that use is made of an illuminated device, which operates using an optical system and which reproduces, by convergent light beams at their intersection, the correct height position, lateral position and forward/rearward position of the measurement object when the tray carrying the measurement object has been moved to a forward position away from the x-ray beam.

Such measuring systems are known per se.
Such measuring systems include an x-ray tube for emitting x-rays along a first geometric longitudinal axis, a proportional counter tube for receiving radiation backscatterred from the measurement object, and a carrier for supporting the measurement object and for bringing the measurement object into the geometric longitudinal axis. See, for example, DE-PS 3,239,379. There are, however, also measuring systems which are larger in terms of size and which are fully encased for reasons associated with radiation protection. These then include, for example, the device according to FIG. 1 of the prior art in a relatively large container.
In this case, of course, the positioning of the measurement object on the carrier presents difficulties. In order to see from outside where the measurement object is situated, use has been made of expensive devices with very many complicated optical elements. For example, a camera has been used, which had a chip i.e. an image converter as used in video cameras, which is also known as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), and the camera was connected by leads to a video viewing screen. In addition, some illuminating means were provided in the measurement space, so that it also became warm in the measurement region; this damages the proportional counter tube. Furthermore, the attempt to operate using cold light sources only shifts the problem, since these again involve an additional expenditure.

Positioning device for an x-ray thickness measuring system


The general field of the invention is that of display systems including an image projector and an associated display screen, said display system being intended for use by an observer situated at a specified location, said display screen having two transparent and substantially parallel faces, and said display screen having on at least one of its transparent faces a plurality of regularly distributed optical patterns. The image projector according to the invention illuminating the screen at a plurality of angles of incidence determined by the position and size of the display screen, and said angles of incidence being centered on an average angle of incidence, the optical patterns have at least one curved reflective surface orientated so as to reflect the light rays having at least the average angle of incidence in one or more directions corresponding to said specified location of the observer. A plurality of embodiments are described.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is that of display devices projecting an image on a semi-transparent screen. These devices can be used to display an image facing the user in superimposition on the exterior landscape. One of the possible fields of use is the presentation of information in vehicles, and more precisely in aircraft cockpits, particularly those which have large glazed surfaces.
2. Description of the Prior Art
These display systems enable the user's attention to be kept on his surrounding environment, while providing him with instantaneous access to additional information. In the case of vehicle driving, having information is displayed in the visual field of the external environment means that the user avoids having to look for this information on screens which are conventionally located on his dashboard or instrument panel.
There are various technical solutions for projecting an image on a semi-transparent screen. The most commonly used is shown in FIG. 1. It consists in projecting the image emerging from a projector P emitting in the visible spectrum on to the surface of a transparent diffusing film E. The diffuser diffuses the projected image towards the eye Y of the observer, while remaining relatively transparent, thus providing a view of the exterior. The compromise between transmission and diffusion is not easily found. Diffusing films are used for the projection of advertising on to glazed walls of shops. However, the technique is mainly used at night, that is to say at low ambient light levels. In the daytime, the results of this technique are mediocre. This is because, as shown in FIG. 2, the film E diffuses the sunlight S in all directions (shown by striped straight arrows in FIG. 2). The transmission of the exterior light is represented by a sequence of chevrons in this figure. In these conditions, the film appears milky, the transparency is limited, and the performance of the projected image in terms of reflection and luminosity is poor and unsatisfactory.
The present applicant has therefore proposed, in the application FR 2 986 624 entitled "Optical projector with semi-transparent projection screen", a display screen including a plurality of light-diffusing patterns regularly distributed over a transparent surface, these patterns possibly including a reflective treatment. By comparison with the preceding systems, the semi-transparent screen of this projector has high transparency combined with high luminosity of the projected image, while also having limited diffraction.
However, the light rays emerging from the projector and diffused by the screen all have a known angle of incidence. Similarly, the solar illumination can only come from certain directions, as certain parts of the cockpit form a natural mask. The prior screen is isotropic. It does not make a fine allowance for the variations in the angle of incidence of the light rays from the projector so as to optimize the performance in terms of diffusion towards the observer's eye.

Display device comprising a screen having a network of three dimensional reflective microstructures


A system and method is directed to providing an n-dimensional entity for encoding and storing data securely. A user provides a cursor position within the n-dimensional entity, and a user seed to a pseudo-random number generator. The user seed may be combined with a fingerprint of a computing system in which the invention operates. The n-dimensional entity is populated with bits from the pseudo-random number generator. Bits within the n-dimensional entity are associated with actions to be performed at each cursor position. Subsequent cursor directions within the n-dimensional entity are determined using a random number generator. Plaintext is bitwise translated to a direction and an offset from the cursor position to a bit matching the plaintext bit within the n-dimensional entity. The offset is employed to modify a row of truly random bits in an encoded array.

A major problem in securing any computing system is determining a safe place to store and hide sensitive information. No matter how many 'lockboxes' are wrapped around this information, one is often still left with the problem of hiding the master key to the outermost lockbox.
It is generally accepted that a safe place to hide this master key is somewhere other than on the system being secured. This is exemplified by the use of smart cards, remote key servers, and the like, for securing the system that contain the master key. However, such approaches remain problematic where there is no remote storage mechanism available.
Storing the master key on the same computing system that it secures, also introduces numerous security concerns. Because, no current hiding place is perfectly secure, anything saved in a persistent store on the same computing system can be located, and hence is vulnerable to analysis, and attack. For example, many computer systems have at least one user that has super-user, or other administrative privileges, which makes many operating system security approaches ineffective for hiding the master key. Moreover, a persistent store and supporting code may be moved from one computing system to another, making it readily available to a hacker. Additionally, a hacker may repeatedly send data to traditional encryption tools that one may employ to secure the master key. In this manner, one may dynamically determine how the master key is secured, making such encryption tools even less effective. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a method and system for protecting the master key, and similar sensitive information. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations, and others, that the present invention has been made.

System and method for n-dimensional encryption


A computer program product can include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a unified container. The unified container can include a header structure, wherein the header structure has a fixed length and specifies a number of section headers included in the unified container. The unified container can include a plurality of section headers equivalent to the number of section headers specified in the header structure. The unified container can include a plurality of data sections corresponding to the plurality of section headers on a one-to-one basis. The plurality of data sections includes a first data section including a hardware binary and a second data section including a software binary. The hardware binary and the software binary are configured to program a programmable integrated circuit. Each section header specifies a type of data stored in the corresponding data section and specifies a mapping for the corresponding data section.

A programmable integrated circuit (IC) refers to a type of IC that includes programmable circuitry. An example of a programmable IC is a field programmable gate array (FPGA). An FPGA is characterized by the inclusion of programmable circuit blocks. Examples of programmable circuit blocks include, but are not limited to, input/output blocks (IOBs), configurable logic blocks (CLBs), dedicated random access memory blocks (BRAM), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks (DSPs), processors, clock managers, and delay lock loops (DLLs).
Circuit designs may be physically implemented within the programmable circuitry of a programmable IC by loading a configuration bitstream into configuration memory of the programmable IC. In the case where the programmable IC includes an embedded processor, program code to be executed by the embedded processor is also loaded into the programmable IC.

Unified container for hardware and software binaries


An ultrasound imaging method for use in the presence of contrast agents is disclosed in which acoustic waves are transmitted at a fundamental transmission frequency and are focused on at least one scan line. Acoustic beams reflected from the body under examination and the contrast agents are separated into harmonic and subharmonic components along with the fundamental frequency component. The amplitudes of these components compared to determine whether the reflecting material is either body tissue or the contrast agent.

In diagnostic ultrasonic imaging, several modes are known for processing electroacoustic return signals. These different modes have the purpose of displaying different types of tissues or objects that may be more or less echogenic.
Static tissues typically have a good echogenicity and are optimally detectable by ultrasonic imaging at the fundamental frequency by using B-mode imaging. In this mode, as is well known, the envelope of the return signal is detected, and the envelope amplitude is correlated to a grey scale, thereby forming an image. B-mode images at the fundamental transmission frequency are high-quality images, as the transmitted signal may consist of a broadband pulse, i.e. a very short pulse, which ensures an optimized resolution.
Static tissues, and particularly soft tissues, also generate nonlinear reflected signals. The generated return signal not only contains a fundamental component, i.e. at the same frequency as the transmitted beam, but also comprises nonlinear components, as components at the second or higher-order harmonics of the fundamental transmission frequency.
Highly perfused tissues or blood flows or other body flows are poorly echogenic, i.e. generate reflection contributions well below the intensity of the reflection contributions generated by static tissues. This limitation was accordingly obviated by using substances that amplify the reflection response and are introduced in the blood flows. These substances, known as contrast agents, have a strongly nonlinear reflection response, and therefore generate return signal contributions at the second harmonic of the transmitted beam fundamental frequency. The harmonic imaging mode, developed for contrast agent ultrasonic imaging, removes the fundamental frequency contributions of the return signal and used the second harmonic components generated by contrast agents for image reconstruction.
Nevertheless, as mentioned above with respect to soft tissues, these tissues also generate nonlinear contributions to the return signals, such that it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between return signals in blood flow from soft tissue and return signals due to the presence of contrast agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,098 teaches an ultrasonic imaging method which does not only use a certain frequency of the return signal, but acquires the whole spectrum of the received signal frequencies. As this spectrum is characteristic for each type of tissue, this method permits the identification of the type of tissue that generated the reflected signal at a predetermined scanning depth and to differentiate tissue contributions from contrast agent contributions in the return signal.
From documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,290,647 and 6,117,082, it is known to use another characteristic of contrast agents to differentiate the contrast agents from tissue in ultrasonic imaging. In deed, when the transmitted signal is exposed to an appropriate mechanical pressure, contrast agent return signals may be excited, thereby creating signal components at a subharmonic of the transmitted signal frequency. Such subharmonic frequency is not substantially present in the reflected signals generated by physiological tissues. The two documents show that ultrasonic imaging of regions that carry contrast agents may be performed by using components of the subharmonic signal, alternatively or in addition to the harmonic component of the return signal.
Nevertheless, the excitation of the subharmonic components of the return signal generated by contrast agents requires the transmitted pulses to be relatively long, and such time length of transmitted pulses causes an image quality degradation in terms of resolution, as well as the presence of side lobes and generation of artifacts. On the other hand, traditional B-mode images, obtained by using the linear component of the return signal permits, as mentioned above, the generation of high quality images.
It shall be further noted that the use of contrast agent signals is not generally designed for B-mode imaging, but for imaging in a narrow sense, and especially for detecting the presence of contrast agents and possibly the perfusion characteristics thereof, or for determining the speed or amount of flow.
Due to the above, the methods taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,290,647 and 6,117,082 involve a number of image quality restrictions. Problems also arise in the excitation and reception of subharmonic signals, as the band widths of ultrasonic probes are generally insufficient to ensure the reception of harmonic and subharmonic frequencies of the fundamental transmission frequency.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ultrasound imaging method combined with the presence of contrast media in the body under examination


A sleeve structure and method are provided for use with a cryogenic specimen container which is maintained at a cryogenic temperature below -80.degree. C. to allow for labeling of the specimen container. The sleeve structure includes sidewalls defining a cylindrically shaped interior chamber sized for telescopically receiving a lower portion of a cryogenic specimen container in nested engagement. The sleeve structure has a locking mechanism for holding the sleeve structure in removably secured engagement with specimen container when the specimen container is in nested engagement with the sleeve structure. Identification markings are secured to an exterior side of the sleeve structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cryogenic specimen containers. More particularly, the invention pertains to a cryogenic specimen container and labeled sleeve combination and method of using same to label stored specimens while said specimens are maintained at temperatures of -80.degree. C. or below.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various forms of cryogenic specimen containers are known in the art. One commonly used form are known as centrifuge tubes, which are often formed of polypropylene to withstand g-forces up to 13,000.times.G and greater. The tubes are provided with a removable screw cap which is often equipped with a silicone O-ring to maintain its sealing properties at cryogenic temperatures often as low as -180.degree. C.
While centrifuge tubes provide a sufficient means for storing blood serums, blood specimens and the like, these tubes once stored at a cryogenic temperature can become difficult to label for identification purposes. The importance of proper labeling for the identification of specimens is well known in the medical and scientific communities. To this end, various labeling and coding methods are known. For example, cap inserts can be provided in various colors use for in color-coding specimens by inserting the cap insert onto the screw cap of the centrifuge tube. Further, tubes can be imprinted with a white write-on space that allows a user to write thereupon.
While such prior art devices and techniques provide a means for labeling tubes, these devices and techniques fail to provide a means for labeling tubes which are maintained at a cryogenic temperature. Adhesive in the form of adhesive labels, as well as ink will not adhere to tubes at cryogenic temperatures. Further, cap inserts do not provide sufficient space to allow a user to provide necessary identification, such as in the form of a printed bar code.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the method and combination of the present invention solves the aforementioned problems and employs a number of novel features that render it highly advantageous over the prior art.

Cryogenic specimen container and labeled sleeve combination and method of using same


A device containing a temperature-sensitive material comprises a first part containing the material, a second part which engages the first part and allows, or can be disengaged or displaced to allow, the material to be dispensed or utilised, a locking means, and a temperature-sensitive activator for the locking means that is activated at a predetermined temperature, and thereby irreversibly prevents the material from being dispensed or utilised should it become frozen or exposed to temperatures below a predetermined limit.

The quality and efficaciousness and in some instances safety of certain pharmaceutical products and other non-durable products deteriorate when frozen or exposed to temperatures below a predetermined limit. Certain vaccines, if frozen, suffer a loss of potency which cannot be restored, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the vaccine and increasing the risk of adverse events, such as sterile abscesses, following immunization. Vaccines damaged by freezing include Diphtheria Toxoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Liquid Hib Conjugate, Pertussis, Pneumococcal Conjugate, Poliovirus (inactivated), Tetanus Toxoid, Typhoid (inactivated) and combinations containing these vaccines. Other pharmaceutical products, including insulin and certain morphine suspensions for injection, are also damaged by freezing. The freezing point for a given vaccine or other pharmaceutical product is dependent on a number of factors including temperature, rate of temperature change, duration of exposure, supercooling effects and vibration.
A number of indicators have become available that undergo a colour change when exposed to freezing temperatures. FREEZEmarker®, produced by the Temptime Corporation (USA), and Freeze Watch™, produced by the 3M Corporation (USA), are label-type devices designed to be affixed to or placed within the packaging for products that can be damaged when exposed to freezing temperatures and inform the user, by means of a colour change, if a freeze event has occurred. Freeze-tag produced by Berlinger and Company AG (DE) and FreezeAlert produced by Sensitech Inc (USA) are battery operated electronic temperature monitoring devices that inform the user, by means of an electronic display, if a freeze event has occurred. Freeze indicators of these types are designed to activate, subject to a tolerance of accuracy, at a predetermined temperature in line with the assumed freezing point of the vaccine or other pharmaceutical product with which they are to be packaged. However, they do not take into account factors such as rate of temperature change, supercooling effects and vibration that may affect the freezing point of the vaccine or other pharmaceutical product. They also suffer the disadvantage that the user is relied upon to correctly interpret and act in accordance with the indication provided.
To ensure product quality and efficacy and to safeguard the health and safety of consumers, a need therefore exists to prevent the use of certain nondurable products if frozen or exposed to temperatures below a predetermined limit.
W02006/077087 discloses a device for dispensing ice cream. The device comprises a container having an aperture through which material in the container can be dispensed, a closure for the aperture that is biased by a spring into a closed position, and a connecting temperature-sensitive element that is rigid below a predetermined temperature, whereby the closure can be opened, and non-rigid above that temperature, so that the element does not connect the container and the closure and the latter cannot be opened. This effect is designed to be reversible.
WO02/056820 discloses a closure cap apparatus for a medicament container. The device comprises a container having an aperture through which material in the container can be dispensed and a closure for the aperture which utilises the change in shape of a shape-memory-alloy from a second shape to a first shape to prevent access to the contents of the container should the container be exposed to a temperature above a predetermined limit. The effect is designed to be irreversible but does not prevent access to the contents of a container which deteriorate when frozen or exposed to temperatures below a predetermined limit.


A recombinant prototrophic micro-organism such as a yeast is provided which over-expresses the activity of an enzyme catalysing the conversion of glucose-1 phosphate to glucose-6 phosphate in the galactose uptake and metabolism pathway. Suitably the increased enzyme activity is due to over-expression of the gene PGM2. This produces increased uptake of galactose and increased ethanol production when the organism is grown on a galactose containing medium.

Galactose is an abundant sugar in many different raw materials for industrial fermentation processes. Thus, galactose is one of the sugars present in lactose, the primary sugar of whey. It is also present in raffinose, a sugar present in beet molasses. Furthermore, it represents 3-18% of the sugars present in hemicellulose from various plant sources. Galactose can be metabolized by most micro-organisms. However, the rate of uptake of galactose is for most organisms substantially lower than the uptake of the sugars glucose, fructose and mannose. For exploitation of galactose as a raw material for industrial fermentations in the production of low value added products like ethanol, lactic acid and citric acid the slow uptake rate of galactose represents a fundamental problem.
Within the last decade metabolic engineering has been successfully applied for optimisation of several industrial fermentation processes (Nielsen, 2001). Recombinant DNA techniques have facilitated the ability to genetically modify suitable host systems, and this has resulted in recombinant strains that have reduced by-product formation with a resulting increase in the overall yield of product. For many industrial processes—especially those involving low-value added products—the yield is certainly important, but it is also important to have a high rate of conversion of the substrate into the product. This requires optimisation of the flux through the central carbon metabolism, which has been attempted for glycolysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Schaff et al., 1989) and in other micro-organisms. These attempts have, however, largely failed for two major reasons. First, control of flux through central carbon metabolism is often distributed over many enzymes, so an increase in flux requires increased activity of many (or all) enzymes in the pathway. Second, regulation of glycolysis—both at the genetic and at the enzymatic level—is generally believed to be very rigid making it difficult to modulate flux through amplification of individual enzyme activities.
One way to solve these problems may be over expression of many (or all) genes encoding the enzymes in a given pathway. However, this may impose a physiological burden on the cell by draining pools of nucleotides or amino acids, or by slowing down transcriptional or translational efficiency. This may have metabolic consequences in other parts of metabolism, which negatively affects the overall performance of the cell. Furthermore, high levels of all the enzymes in the pathway may lead to significant changes in metabolite levels, which may result in down-regulation of some enzymes.
In fungi the uptake and metabolism of galactose is via the Leloir pathway (see FIG. 1). In this pathway galactose is first transported into the cell by a specific permease. In the next step the sugar is phosphorylated into galactose-1-phosphate, a reaction that is catalyzed by a specific kinase. In the next step of the pathway galactose-1-phosphate reacts with UDP-glucose and forms glucose-1-phosphate and UDP-galactose, a reaction that is catalyzed by galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. Regeneration of UDP-glucose from UDP-galactose is catalyzed by a separate enzyme involved in the pathway—UDP-glucose 4-epimerase. Glucose-1-phosphate is the end product of the Leloir pathway, but in the further catabolism of galactose this sugar phosphate is further converted into glucose-6-phosphate, which may be further processed via the Embden Meyerhof Parnas pathway or the Pentose Phosphate pathway. The conversion of glucose-1 phosphate to glucose-6 phosphate is catalyzed by the enzyme phosphoglucomutase (PGM). As glucose-1 phosphate is used as precursor for trehalose, glycogen and glucan biosynthesis, PGM also plays a role during metabolism of glucose, but here it catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6 phosphate to glucose-1 phosphate.
The galactose metabolism is subjected to dual control, being induced by galactose and repressed by glucose. Regulation has been extensively studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae, which preferably uses glucose as energy and carbon source over galactose. In this yeast the genes involved in galactose metabolism, often referred to as the GAL genes, are subjected to glucose repression to a much larger extent than other genes controlled by glucose such as the MAL genes and the SUC genes (Johnston and Carlson, 1992; Klein et al., 1998). The structural GAL genes subjected to this dual control are the GAL2 gene, encoding galactose permease, the GAL1 gene, encoding galactokinase, the GAL7 gene, encoding galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, and the GAL10 gene, encoding UDP-glucose 4-epimerase. Transcription of these structural GAL genes is enhanced 1000-fold after de-repression by glucose and induction by galactose (Melcher, 1997). In S. cerevisiae phosphoglucomutase is often referred to as the Gal5 protein, but as there are two isoforms of the enzyme a more correct description of this enzyme is designation of each isoform encoded by the two genes PGM1 and PGM2. Both these genes are not under the same tight control as GAL1, GAL2, GAL7 and GAL10, as their transcription are only increased threefold in the presence of galactose (Oh and Hopper, 1990). This is likely a consequence of the high basic level of expression of the PGM2 gene at non-induced conditions independent of the positive transcriptional activator Gal4 (Oh and Hopper, 1990), which may be due to the role of phosphoglucomutase in the glycogen, trehalose and glucan biosynthesis. In fact phosphoglucomutase is generally believed to be in excess as it can equilibrate the pools of glucose-1 phosphate and glucose-6 phosphate (Zubay, 1988). Furthermore this enzyme has a high affinity for its substrates (Daugherty et al. 1975). For these reasons gene products of PGM1 and PGM2 are generally not believed to exert any degree of flux control in the Leloir pathway, which is consistent with the situation of the glycolysis where no single enzyme has been shown to exert any significant flux control.
The system involved in regulation of the expression of the structural GAL genes is illustrated in FIG. 2. The regulatory GAL gene products comprise Gal3 and Gal4 that are necessary for induction of the GAL genes. The protein Gal4 acts as a transcriptional activator of the GAL genes by binding to specific sequences upstream of the coding region (Johnston, 1987). The GAL80 gene encodes a protein that binds to Gal4 and prevents this protein from activating transcription. Recent in vitro studies strongly indicated that Gal3 interacts with Gal80 and the interaction of Gal3 with Gal80 is believed to relieve the interaction between Gal80 and Gal4 which covers the activating domain of Gal4, and hence, transcriptional activation of the GAL genes is possible (Platt and Reece, 1998). Another regulatory gene recently devoted to the group of GAL genes is the GAL6 gene, which has been shown to be regulated by galactose (Zheng et al., 1997). GAL6 is regulated in similar way as GAL80 and the gene product has a negative impact on expression of the GAL genes, but the actual mechanism of action within the GAL system still remains to be elucidated. Finally, Mig1-mediated glucose repression also imposes control over the GAL system (Johnston and Carlson, 1992). The Mig1 protein takes part in a protein complex with the proteins Ssn6 and Tup1, which binds to the GAL1 promoter and the GAL4 promoter (Keleher et al., 1992; Treitel and Carlson, 1995; Frovola et al., 1999) and hence preventing transcription of these two genes. Repression of the latter gene has a major effect by down-regulation of the whole GAL system.
Ostergaard et al. (2000) report on modulation of the regulatory GAL system for improving the uptake and metabolism of galactose. They constructed and analysed a number of recombinant strains with alteration in the expression of regulatory genes. The best effect was obtained by deleting the three genes MIG1, GAL80 and GAL6 whereby the galactose uptake rate increases 41%. A positive effect was also found by over expression of GAL4 resulting in a 26% increase in the galactose uptake rate. Deletion of GAL6 alone results in a 24% increase in the galactose uptake rate, whereas deletion of MIG1 and GAL80 alone increases the galactose utilisation with 15% (Ostergaard et al., 2000). Based on these findings it was speculated that deletion of negative regulatory genes like MIG1, GAL80 and GAL6 and over expression of the gene GAL4 encoding the positive transcriptional regulator results in an co-ordinated and balanced increased expression of the structural GAL genes GAL1, GAL2, GAL 7 and GAL10 leading to an increased flux through the Leloir pathway.
Masuda et al (2001) investigated the effect of lithium on the metabolism of galactose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in particular on the phosphoglucomutase activity due to transcription of the PGM2 gene. One of the constructs they used was an auxotrophic (leucine and histidine requiring) strain over expressing PGM2. Such a strain would be unsuitable for commercial use because of its auxotrophic nature and would not be able to grow on minimal media (i.e. media not supplemented to supply the amino acids required by the auxotrophic strain. This strain is used in Masuda et al. only as a basis for comparison in the investigation of the effect of lithium with a view to better understanding the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of lithium in treating manic depressive disorder in humans. PGM2 over expression was used only to demonstrate that this could overcome the suppression of PGM2 activity otherwise produced by lithium stress. No beneficial result relevant to the normal cultivation of S. cerevisiae was reported.
In the present invention we applied genome-wide transcription analysis using DNA arrays to identify differently expressed genes in three of the strains with different galactose utilisation capacity studied by Ostergaard et al. (2000). Based on this analysis we identified PGM2 to be an important gene for ensuring a high galactose uptake rate.

Metabolically engineered micro-organisms having improved galactose uptake


A semiconductor memory apparatus having a write training function includes a storage unit that stores write data or read data output from a memory cell block and outputs data according to an output control signal, and a control unit that controls the output control signal to be generated at different timings according to whether or not a write training signal is activated.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to semiconductor circuit technology, and in particular, a semiconductor memory apparatus having a write training function.
2. Related Art
In a graphic processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as "GPU") of a chipset that requires a high-speed data processing, a write training operation is performed to secure stability of the data processing before general data processing is performed.
The write training operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1D.
During a normal write operation, as shown in FIG. 1A, data that is center-aligned with respect to a reference clock REFCLK is input.
During a write training operation, as shown in FIG. 1B, the reference clock REFCLK is shifted, such that data is aligned with an edge of the reference clock REFCLK.
However, in some cases during the write training operation, data may not be aligned with the edge of the reference clock REFCLK according to strobe timing.
The gist of the write training operation is as follows. When data is faster than the reference clock REFCLK as shown in FIG. 1C, or when data is slower than the reference clock REFCLK as shown in FIG. 1D, the reference clock REFCLK is advanced or delayed such that data is aligned with the edge the reference clock REFCLK as shown in FIG. 1B. Then, the reference clock REFCLK is shifted to the original state again, thereby exhibiting an optimum setup/hold characteristic during the normal operation.
The write training operation is performed under the control of a chipset that uses a semiconductor memory apparatus. The semiconductor memory apparatus needs to support a function of storing data output from the chipset and outputting the stored data to the chipset.
However, the semiconductor memory apparatus according to the related art does not have hardware and software functions for supporting the write training function. Even if a software function is provided to support the write training function, when temporary data for the write training operation is written in a memory cell, which is basically provided in the semiconductor memory apparatus itself, original data may be changed.

Semiconductor memory apparatus with write training function


This invention relates to antigenic conjugate molecules comprising the capsular polysaccharide of Group B streptococcus type II which are covalently linked to protein. This invention further relates to antigenic conjugate molecules comprising the capsular polysaccharide of Group B streptococcus type V which are covalently linked to protein. This invention also relates to vaccines and methods of immunizing mammals, including humans against infection by Group B streptococcus type II (GBS II) and/or Group B streptococcus type V (GBS V). Multivalent vaccines comprising the conjugate molecules of this invention and antigens to other pathogenic bacteria are also claimed.

Infections due to group B streptococci (GBS) are the most common single cause of sepsis and meningitis in newborns in developed countries (3, 31). Recent reports from some centers in the United States reflect a lower mortality (9 to 13%) than in series from the 1970s, perhaps as a result of earlier diagnosis and intensive care (1, 10). Nonetheless, fatal infections still occur, and equally important, up to 50% of survivors of GBS meningitis have chronic neurologic injury ranging from deafness and mild learning disabilities to profound motor, sensory, and cognitive impairment (3). Prevention rather than improved diagnosis or therapy is likely to have the most significant impact in further reducing GBS-related morbidity and mortality.
Because GBS capsular polysaccharide-specific antibodies appear to protect both experimental animals (23, 24) and human infants (4, 5) from GBS infection, some of the polysaccharides have been purified and tested in healthy adults as experimental vaccines (6). Were a safe and efficacious GBS vaccine available, it could be administered to women before or during pregnancy to elicit antibodies that would transfer to the fetus in utero and provide protection against neonatal infection. Of the three GBS polysaccharides (types Ia, II, and III) tested in volunteers, type II had the highest rate of immunogenicity, eliciting a type II-specific antibody response in 88% of previously nonimmune recipients (6). Although a variety of GBS serotypes have previously been recognized as contributing significantly to the percent of patients with GBS infection, type V has not been considered to be responsible for a significant percent of GBS infection. In neonates, the level of specific antibody required for protection against type II GBS infection is not precisely defined but has been estimated at 2 or 3 .mu.g/ml (6). In a vaccine recipient who achieves an antibody response only slightly above the minimum required for protection, the amount of maternal antibody transferred across the placenta may be inadequate to protect a premature infant, because of the incomplete transfer to the fetus of material immunoglobulin G (IgG), or an infant with late-onset infection, since the half-life of maternal IgG antibodies in the newborn is about 25 days (13). Many of the infants in these two groups of patients might be protected if the magnitude of the specific antibody response to vaccination were higher. The transfer of maternal IgG to the fetus increases throughout the third trimester, so a higher maternal antibody level would provide protection earlier, i.e., to a more premature infant (16). Similarly, higher maternal levels would result in longer persistence of maternal antibodies in the infant, thereby providing protection against late-onset disease, as well.
The immunogenicity of several bacterial polysaccharide antigens has been increased by the attachment of suitable carrier proteins to polysaccharides or to derivative oligosaccharides (2, 14, 17-19, 22, 27, 29, 30, 34). Desirable properties of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines include enhanced immunogenicity of the polysaccharide, augmented hapten-specific antibody response to booster doses, and a predominance of IgG class antibodies. Recently, we have been successful in developing a GBS III-Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine by using the side chain sialic acid moieties as sites of directed protein coupling (33). The III-TT vaccine elicited GBS type III-specific, opsonically active antibodies, while the unconjugated type III polysaccharide was nonimmunogenic in rabbits (33).

Group B streptococcus type II and type V polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines


A method and apparatus for producing a breathable coated fabric is disclosed. The method involves coating a fabric substrate with a resin then opening pores in the resin by directing a flow of air through the fabric substrate and resin coating. The pores provide breathability of the coated fabric and allow for a vapor or moisture transmission rate about ten times that of a resin coated fabric without pores.

It is conventional in the fabric production industry to apply a resin or elastomeric latex coating to a fabric substrate to produce a fabric with a protective coating. The protective coating provides durability to the fabric and also protects the wearer against cuts or abrasions frequently encountered in a work environment. Such a coated fabric is typically sewn to form an article of clothing, such as a glove.
Prior art coated fabrics, however, suffer from the undesirable feature that they are not breathable. These prior art fabrics are produced with a continuous coating of a elastomeric latex or resin, thus resulting in a fabric which does not allow vapor or moisture transmission. As a result, perspiration which develops while the fabric is worn builds up on the user and cannot evaporate. Such a fabric is uncomfortable and may slip, cause overheating, or stick to the user.
Mechanical perforation of the coated fabric has been attempted in order to provide a degree of breathability. The macroscopic perforations produced by this mechanical process, however, provide breathability at the expense of sacrificing the desired physical protection properties of the coated fabric. The perforations are locations where the coated fabric may snag or be torn on sharp or unfinished surfaces, subjecting the wearer to the risk of injury from these hazardous objects. Perforations also reduce the strength of the coated fabric, making the fabric even more susceptible to tears or premature deterioration.
In another prior art product, a hybrid fabric is produced with one or more strips of an uncoated fabric substrate sewn together with a coated fabric. The coated fabric section provides protective features while the uncoated strip allows a degree of vapor and moisture transmission. Such a hybrid fabric is used in the prior art for the production of general purpose work gloves. The finger and palm portions of the gloves will have protective coating, a panel along the back of the hand will be uncoated and may consist of a lightweight nylon mesh. Although the uncoated nylon mesh strip provides some degree of breathability, large portions of the glove remain unbreathable, particularly in the finger sections where breathability is highly desirable. In a typical environment of use, it cannot be easily predicted where on the surface of the fabric the protective coating will, or will not, be required. Thus, either the protective qualities of the fabric are sacrificed to obtain better breathability, or the breathability features are sacrificed to provide an increased area of protection.
Another disadvantage of such a hybrid coated fabric is the additional production cost required to separately sew uncoated strip or panel. The uncoated strip requires an additional production step, results in increased labor costs, and complicates the fabric sewing process. Oftentimes, the production process of a hybrid fabric will not lend itself to automation, thus depriving the manufacturer of realizing the substantial financial rewards of producing fabric on a large-scale fully automated system.

Method and apparatus for producing a breathable coated fabric