An insertion type hand tool comprises a tool body having a handle and a connecting portion extended from the handle; the connecting portion having a combining groove; a driving portion having an engaging end corresponding to the connecting portion; at least one side of the engaging end being formed with an inclined side for resisting against the combining groove of the connecting portion so that the orientation of the driving portion is adjustable with respect to the connecting portion; one side of the engaging end near the driving portion having a flat side; the flat side being adjacent with an inclined side; and an elastic unit is installed in the engaging end of the driving portion so as to be positioned in a positioning hole of the connecting portion.

In the prior art, the handle and the head of a hand tool are arranged at the same plane and the handle is non-rotatable with respect to the head so that the orientation of the head with respect to the handle is unadjustable. However if the work environment is not so suitable for locating the hand tool, the hand tool cannot be operated conveniently.
Therefore, in one improvement, the head is folded with respect to the handle with a predetermined angle. However the bending angle between the handle and the head is fixed, Thus it is only suitable for some specific work environments.
Thus there are other hand tools being developed for overcoming the defect in the prior art designs, however all these hand tools can only make the head pivotally rotates with respect to the handle in one orientation, but it cannot rotate along a different orientation. Thereby the head is fixedly installed to the handle. It is un-replaceable. Thus if the driven object (for example a screw) is not suitable for the hand tool, another kind of hand tool must be prepared. Thus the use of the prior art is limited.


A three dimensional display and pocket calendar having first, second and third illustrated portions on the front thereof in which said first illustrated portion depicts a first chronological listing, said second illustrated portion depicts a second chronological listing and said third illustrated portion includes a business advertisement and in which said first chronological listing is a three-dimension raised embossing. The calendar may also include a pocket formed between the front and back sheets which includes windows for displaying information on an insert sheet inserted into the pocket.

Early calendars such as Sullivan U.S. Pat. No. 755,962 include an advertising card as well as an illustrated display. Abbott U.S. Pat. No. 1,764,236, Newberry et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,215 and Kytlica U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,615 disclose calendars having pockets for insert of material. Dick U.S. Pat. No. 1,495,953 is illustrative of a binder having a pocket for receiving an insert therein. Tatroe U.S. Pat. No. 1,891,695 provides a transparent cover such as a glass plate through which calendar information can be displayed. Capehart U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,814 and Malino U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,423 show calendars with magnetic means for securing the calendar to a magnetic surface or the like.

Three dimensional display and pocket calendars


A mechanized, non-disruptive plant touch, or contact, sensing system for detecting by touch, or contact, the precise location of plants and/or plant stems relative to a machine in motion, and then disengage the plant without significantly affecting the plant's health or development.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
An important challenge of studying plants on a large scale is automating precision, non-disruptive sensing of plants or certain plant parts in a growing area, e.g. a large research field comprising thousands of plants. Current methods include humans moving through the growing area, using their natural touch and vision to determine the location of plants, and/or plant parts, and to apply desired treatments and/or collect desired information. Humans are able to use an extremely complicated combination of visual and contact sensing, along with articulated, dexterous appendages to contact and manipulate plants without damaging them. However, automating plant contact sensing systems and method with a similar level of sensitivity, precision, and accuracy are currently prohibitively complex and expensive.
Although some known non-contact optical/imaging sensors are non-disruptive, they do not directly confirm the presence of a plant by contact, or touch, and are thus prone to errors whenever unintended objects cross the sensor/emitter path. This is especially true in the unpredictable setting of a typical outdoor crop research field, for example, when trying to distinguish individual plants from overhead after a thick, overlapping canopy has formed. Weeds, side branches, dead sticks, and/or other debris common to agricultural fields present further challenges to optical/imaging-based sensing systems as well.
Precision, non-disruptive plant contact sensing can be utilized in many instances. For example, in plant breeding and selection processes, genotypic and/or phenotypic data can be gathered from inoculated treated plants, e.g., corn plants, to assess crop performance, e.g., by testing a plant's tolerance to one or more particular environmental stresses and/or exogenously-applied treatments and/or tolerance to one or more pathogens, such as viral, bacterial or fungal pathogens. For example, by infecting corn stems with an agriculture treatment agent comprising a stem rot pathogens, the efficacy of genetic traits related to corn stem rot tolerance can be tested. Similarly, a non-disruptive plant contact sensor can be used to more effectively apply precision agriculture treatment agents to a plant to test the agent's effectiveness, for example, to test the effectiveness of a pesticide (e.g. an insecticide, fungicide, antimicrobial, and/or herbicide).
Known methods and systems for sensing the plants and/or applying an inoculant to infect the plant stems are typically tedious processes performed by manually injecting plants with the pathogen, manually spraying the pathogen on plants, or manually applying a solution containing a pathogen to a manually abraded stem. Such hand performed inoculation methods are typically unergonomic, the inoculation throughput rate is relatively low, and the accuracy/consistency of inoculation is often unpredictable.


A blood pressure monitor includes a cuff to be wound around a living body of a subject, a measuring unit for measuring blood pressure with said cuff wound around the living body of said subject, a detecting unit for detecting an inclination angle of said cuff, a specifying unit for specifying a current inclination level among a plurality of predetermined inclination levels upon measurement by said measuring unit, based on a result of detection by said detecting unit, a memory for storing therein the inclination level specified by said specifying unit, in association with blood pressure data measured by said measuring unit, and a notifying unit for providing notification of at least one past inclination level of the plurality of inclination levels stored in said memory and said current inclination level, in association with each other.

In recent years, as daily health management, importance has been placed on daily measurement and management of blood pressure values. Accordingly, household blood pressure monitors have been pervasive. Each of such blood pressure monitors records blood pressure values on daily basis, displays changes of blood pressure values with passage of time, and is therefore used for diagnosis for cardiovascular risks.
In order to ascertain the daily changes of blood pressure values, it is necessary to eliminate fluctuation factors having influence over the blood pressure values in such a blood pressure monitor.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-93355 (patent document 1) and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-112724 (patent document 2) disclose that TPO (Time, Place, Occasion) information for measurement or information about a measurement condition (such as alcohol drinking) is added to measurement information such as a measured blood pressure value. In this way, an influence of the TPO information for the measurement or the condition of measurement over the measurement value, as well as tendency thereof can be figured out.
Meanwhile, a subject's posture for measurement is important for accurate measurement of blood pressure. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-237802 (patent document 3) proposes a blood pressure monitor provided with an automatic cuff winding mechanism for automatically winding a cuff around an upper arm of a subject, so as to lead the subject into a natural posture during measurement without making the subject feel uncomfortable. In such a blood pressure monitor, constant winding strength is reproduced for each measurement, which ensures stable and accurate measurement and also eliminates the burdensome, cuff winding job, advantageously.
The invention of patent document 3 includes: a first enclosure rested on a table; a second enclosure, having an approximately cylindrical shape, located on the first enclosure in a non-use state, and having a cuff arranged on its inner peripheral surface, the cuff having a hollow opening to which a portion of a living body of a subject is inserted; and a connection mechanism for connecting the second enclosure with the first enclosure in a movable manner such that, upon application of the cuff to the subject, the second enclosure can move to come closer to the subject relative to the first enclosure. In this way, the blood pressure of the subject can be measured with the back straight, thus achieving accurate and stable measurement of blood pressure. Patent document 3 also discloses that upon the measurement, it is determined whether or not the inclination level of the second enclosure is within a predetermined optimal measurement range, and the subject is notified of a result of the determination. In this way, the subject can know whether or not the current inclination level falls within the optimal measurement range.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-93355
Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-112724
Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-237802


In an internal combustion engine, an oil return passage extending from a breather chamber can be formed without increasing the number of component parts and without increasing the size of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine (1) comprises an engine block (30) defining a cylinder (2); a case member (19) fastened to a lower part of the engine block to define a crank chamber jointly with the engine block; a bearing member (50) fastened to the engine block in the crank chamber to rotatably support a crankshaft; a breather chamber (113) defined in the engine block; an inlet passage (112) formed in the engine block to communicate the crank chamber with the breather chamber; a connection pipe (114) communicating the breather chamber with an intake device; and an oil return passage (150) formed at least in the bearing member, and extending from a bottom part of the breather chamber to an oil return port (147) opening at an outer surface of the bearing member. The oil return port may be provided in a lower part of the bearing member.

An internal combustion engine provided with a breather chamber for separating oil from blow-by gas in a cylinder block is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The internal combustion engine disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a pipe fitted in an end part of an oil return passage for returning the oil collected in the breather chamber to the crank chamber to extend the oil return passage. The tip end of the pipe is positioned centrally in the crank chamber so as to be above the surface of the oil stored in a lower part of the crank chamber without regard to the inclination angle of the internal combustion engine.


A push button switch includes a switch casing, and a printed circuit board with a switching element disposed thereupon. A push button is disposed in an opening of the switch casing. The push button includes a pushing portion, pushing projection, and an annular wall portion surrounding a periphery of the pushing projection. The pushing portion, the pushing projection, and the annular wall portion are configured of elastic material. The annular wall portion and the pushing projection are disposed in an interior of the switch casing such that the pushing portion projects outwardly from the opening portion of the switch casing. A distal end portion of the pushing projection is directed toward the switching element. The push button switch also includes a guide member configured to restrict movement of the pushing projection. The guide member is disposed inside the annular wall portion of the push button.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a push button switch that can be used, for example, as a kill switch mounted on a handle of a vehicle such as a motorcycle or an all-terrain vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known a push button switch which is configured such that a printed circuit board mounting a tact switch thereon is housed in the inside of a switch casing, the tact switch is covered with a rubber-made pushing member which changes over the tact switch to an ON state or an OFF state, and a push button cap having relatively high rigidity is mounted on the pushing member. The tact switch per se is a kind of push-type switch, which can be small in size and constitutes a switching element in which a contact point arranged in the inside of the switch is turned on by pushing and the switch is turned off when a pushing force is released. That is, the switch constitutes a switching element which is changed over between an ON state and an OFF state due to the pushing operation of the push button cap. Such a configuration is shown, for example, in Japanese Patent document JP-A-8 (1996) '7162.
There also has been known a push button switch which is configured such that a cantilever-type push button is formed by forming a slit in a lid portion which covers an opening portion of a switch casing housing a printed circuit board and a tact switch therein, the tact switch is changed over to an ON state or an OFF state using a pushing projection which is integrally formed on the push button in a projecting manner and, at the same time, a guide wall for restricting the falling of the pushing projection attributed to the movement of the pushing projection is integrally formed on the switch casing. Such a configuration is shown, for example, in Japanese patent document JP-A-2001-6484.


A vertical JFET is provided. The JFET is mixed with lateral channel structure and p-GaN gate structure. The JFET has a N+ implant source region. In one embodiment, a JFET is provided with a drain metal deposited over a backside of an N substrate, an n-type drift layer epitaxial grown over a topside of the N substrate, a buried P-type block layer deposited over the n-type drift layer, an implanted N+ source region on side walls of the lateral channel layer, and an source metal attached to the top of the p-layer and attached to the implanted N+ source region at the side. In one embodiment, the JFET further comprises a gate layer, and wherein the gate layer is a dielectric gate structure that enables a fully enhanced channel. In another embodiment, the gate layer is a p-type GaN gate structure that enables a partially enhanced channel.

Significant progress has been made in the research and development of next generation semiconductor devices. JFET is promising for high power and high temperature applications. Vertical JFET on bulk GaN with vertical drift region has been demonstrated. However, there are several issues. One issue is that source and p-type block layer typically not Ohmic. It would affect switch behavior and long-term reliability. The second issue is that regrowth of lateral and vertical channel often is high resistive due to counter doping during the regrowth. The third one is the source contact with the lateral channel needs to be enhanced.
These issues affect the reliability of the JFET. Improvement and enhancement are desired for JFET for an improved Ohmic contact, less resistive lateral channel layer, and better source contact with the lateral channel layer.

GaN lateral vertical JFET with regrown channel and dielectric gate


An inventive apparatus for closed circuit batch-RO desalination comprising a RO-skid with membrane elements and circulation means for the recycling of RO concentrate through membranes and a designed hydraulic-arm with a disc separating between a section of pressurized hydraulic fluid created by a high pressure hydraulic pump under fixed flow and variable pressure conditions and a section of RO recycled concentrates. The batch desalination sequence is completed when the entire hydraulic-arm volume is filled with hydraulic fluid and thereafter, desalination is stopped, said apparatus decompressed, brine removed and hydraulic-arm recharged with fresh feed before the initiation of a new batch sequence. The inventive apparatus enables RO desalination under the lowest energy and highest recovery prospects not possible by any other RO technique.

Closed circuit desalination (CCD) in apparatus of fixed, intrinsic volume under fixed flux and variable pressure conditions [Efraty, PCP/IL2005/000670, "CONTINUOUS CLOSED CIRCUIT DESALINATION APPARATUS WITHOUT CONTAINERS", and PCT/IL2004/000748 "APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CLOSED CIRCUIT DESALINATION UNDER VARIABLE PRESSUER WITH A SINGLE CONTAINER"] claimed a new class of low energy high recovery batch desalination processes which can be made continued on a consecutive sequential basis. Under CCD conditions, the flow rates of pressurized feed (QF), permeate (QP) and recycled concentrates (QCP) remain unchanged, QF=QP and the recycled concentrate mixed with fresh pressurized feed at module inlet. Power increase on recovery during CCD proceeds by cycles of fixed time duration (T) expressed by T=Vi/QCP; wherein, QCP stands for fixed cross flow of the circulation pump and Vi for the fixed intrinsic volume of the closed circuit, with batch sequence power demand on recovery expressing the average power over the number of cycles (n) required to reach the desired batch recovery. Specific energy (SE) of a defined cycle (n) during the CCD sequence may be expressed by SEn=T*Pn/(T*QP)=Pn/QP; wherein, Pn stands for the power demand of the defined cycle (n) and QP for the fixed flow rate of permeate, with batch sequence average (av-SE) on recovery expressing the average energy over the number of cycles (n) required to reach the desired batch recovery.
Very recently, Warsinger et al ["Energy efficiency of batch and semi-batch (CCRO) reverse osmosis desalination", Water Research 106 (2016) 272-282.] and Werber at al ["Can batch or semi-batch processes save energy in reverse-osmosis desalination?", Desalination 402 (2017) 109-122.] described batch-RO techniques with closed circuit apparatus comprising variable-volume high pressure tanks of declined volume on recovery of the lowest projected energy demand near the theoretical limits. Implementation of the batch-RO approach according to Warsinger et al citation of a provisional application ["Batch Pressure-driven Membrane Desalination with Closed Flow Loop and Reservoir Tank"] is made possible in an apparatus comprising a pressure-vessel with membrane elements in front and a permeate bladder in the rear, a circulation pump for concentrate recycling from outlet to inlet of said pressure vessel, and a high pressure pump for pressurizing the received permeates to said permeate bladder thereby, causing a declined closed circuit intrinsic volume as function of batch recovery If operated under fixed flow and variable pressure conditions, the cycle duration is shortened continuously with a declined accumulation of permeates per subsequent cycle which translates to a declined weight of subsequent cycles on the av-SE and the av-TDS of permeates.
The present patent application describes the implementation of the hydraulic-arm concept for batch-RO desalination of low energy and high recovery

Hydraulic-arm aided closed circuit batch-RO desalination apparatus of low energy and high recovery prospects


A rotating magnetic storage device is shown wherein the transducer and media are separated during operation by a thin film of low viscosity liquid lubricant that is recirculated from a reservoir within the head-media enclosure. Lubricant recirculation can be effected by capillary action using a wick, mechanical pumping and metering or distillation techniques. As compared to devices using air bearing separation, the transducer carrying slider has very small bearing surfaces which may be in the form of narrow rails or small depending foot elements. This enables fly heights of 2 microinches using a film of one micron thickness.

State of the art magnetic disk drives presently, and for some time have used a transducer carrying slider which flies over the media surface and is separated therefrom by a film of air. As recording densities become greater, the head is required to fly lower and the magnetic layer of the media becomes thinner. When the spacing between head and media is reduced from 25 or more microinches to fewer than ten microinches and the media magnetic layer thickness is reduced from as much as 50 to fewer than 5 microinches, the physical contact that occasionally occurs between head and media is of major concern.
To provide an acceptable rigid disk drive lifetime, the current technology employs a thin layer of a fluorocarbon lubricant applied to the magnetic medium during manufacture of the disk. This lubricant film is critically needed by the head/disk interface (HDI) to minimize wear to these components and significantly extend the lifetime of the disk drive to an acceptable level. A problem with this technology arises from depletion of the lubricant film with use. The loss of lubricant can be attributed to hydrodynamic ejection from the HDI due to air shear phenomena, thermal volatilization, thermal decomposition followed by bonding to the medium and lubricant spinoff.
These, and other wear processes at the HDI increase as the lubricant is lost and ultimately result in failure. The total wear to the HDI can be categorized into two distinct modes; first, a rapid wear rate that occurs during start/stop operations and second, a slower wear rate due to repeated high speed contacts at the HDI during normal file operations (disk at or near maximum speed). Wear associated with the start/stop process is only slightly dependent on head fly height, whereas for the latter case, a lowering of the fly height will dramatically increase the wear rate at disk drive operating speed (flyability). The increase for this latter case has been attributed to an increase in the collision frequency with disk asperities and debris (both foreign and from generated wear products). In this case, the presence of a lubricant film plays a critical role in protecting the HDI, but with the reduction in head fly height the lubricant film is also depleted more rapidly. Thus, for these reasons a reduction in flying height greatly increases the likelihood of early disk drive failure. The reason for reducing head flying height is to obtain an increase in the magnetic storage density. An additional problem encountered here is to also reduce the wear rate to the head gap. For these reasons, and because of their relationship to disk drive reliability, the current technology is limited by the achievable lowest flying height as a barrier to further increases in data storage density.
A proposed technique for providing a continuous lubricant supply for a magnetic media surface is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,969,435 and 3,005,675. In both patents a supply of lubricant is sprayed onto the disk or drum surface ahead of the area of contact between transducer head and media surface. This mode of placing a layer of lubricant on the media surface would not be compatible with the system of the present invention wherein a transducer is made to adjoin the media during relative motion therebetween with a separation of but 1 or 2 microinches. A later patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,351 attempts to overcome some of the problems associated with the earlier patented techniques by spraying water or a volatile liquid solvent ahead of the transducer to create a thin liquid film between the head and the recording media surface.

Slider bearing design for near contact magnetic recording

International Business Machines Corporation


The import address table of a software module is verified in order to prevent detouring attacks. A determination is made regarding which entries in the IAT must be verified; all of the entries may be verified or some subset of the entries that are critical may be verified. For each external function, the external module containing the external function is loaded, if it is not already loaded. The function address in the exported function table is found. That address is compared to the address for the function in the IAT. Additionally, the external module, in one embodiment, is verified to ensure that it has not been modified. For a delay load IAT, a similar procedure is followed; however the delay load IAT may be periodically checked to ensure that the delay load IAT entries are either valid (indicating that the external function has been bound) or in their initial state (indicating that no binding has yet occurred).

Generally, computer applications run by executing object code. The object code controls the actions of the computer systems on which it is run. Such code may be made public or otherwise made accessible by its authors, for example by publishing the original source code that was compiled to create the object code. The original authors may also choose to make the code more usable by other programmers by including "debug symbols" which are data files which help to describe the structure of the object code so that users of the code can debug their own programs. However, for some uses, it is advisable to protect code from examination by possible adversaries. For example, where the code represents the best available implementation of a particular algorithm, the code itself may represent a trade secret. In another example, where code is used to secure content, it may be useful to protect the code in order to ensure the security of the content from an adversary. In order to protect users of an application from unauthorized tampering with the code, a number of security precautions may be utilized.
Some of these security measures are physical. For example, a user purchasing software on a CD-ROM may be able to verify that the CD-ROM is a legitimate copy of the software by inspecting holograms or other security devices on the packaging.
Module authentication, in which the integrity, and security, of software is protected against tampering, provides a level of protection against malicious changes to the software such as code patching, redirection, and software breakpoints.
One form of module authentication is to ensure that read-only content contained in the software module is unchanged. This may be done via static module authentication. Static module authentication is the process of verifying the persistently stored image of the module, which in some cases can be thought of as the "on-disk" module. For example, one mechanism to check the module on-disk may be accomplished by hashing the file and comparing the resulting hash value with a pre-computed hash value of the file that has been signed by a trusted signatory.
The process of hashing (also known as computing a digest), is a standard cryptographic technique for identifying data with a relatively unique, but substantially smaller representation than the original data. The algorithm can be performed on a binary source of arbitrary length, in this case, a file, and the result of the hashing computation is a smaller, usually fixed-size piece of binary data known as a hash, hash value, or digest. For example, FIPS SHA-1 (Federal Information Processing Standards Secure Hash Algorithm 1) produces a 20-byte long hash regardless of the amount of data that is processed. A good hashing algorithm, like SHA-1, will produce significantly different hash values even for minute changes in the source data, or binary file in this case.
According to cryptographic number theory, there is essentially no way to predict what changes to a file could be made while still producing the same hash value. Therefore, it is infeasible to make a modification to a file to insert malicious changes and maintain the same hash of the modified file. Therefore, the hash of a file can be compared to a stored hash in order to validate that no modifications have been made. In order to prevent an adversary from changing the stored pre-computed hash as well as the module being validated, the validity of the stored hash must be verifiable. For example, the table of stored hashes may be signed by a trusted signatory.
However, many software modules use functionality in other software modules known as dynamic link libraries or DLL's. In order to run, some software modules which reference functions contained in other software modules include an import address table (IAT). The IAT is a table of addresses for functions that are imported by a module. The "on-disk" initial values of the import address table (IAT) are updated by the operating system (OS) loader once the module is loaded into memory and function addresses are resolved against DLL export tables to point to the locations of functions in other modules.
Thus, dynamic linking of external DLL's is implemented through the IAT. This process is referred to at "binding". References to functions implicitly linked in the software module are specified in the module's import data. At load-time, the operating system loader refers to the import table to determine which external functions in which DLL's must be bound. These references to external functions are centralized in the IAT so that binding is efficient. The table of addresses that is the IAT is used to provide a level of indirection between calls to external functions within a module and the external function call sites in other modules. That is, the IAT represents a single point of modification for the loader for all external references from a module. In other words, the OS loader must only update the addresses in the IAT instead of modifying every reference to each imported function spread throughout the software module, which can be several references for each imported function. At load time, the loader will determine where each imported function is located (e.g. a DLL file), load into memory the file, if necessary, containing the function, compute the location of the external function in the file, and place the address for the function in the IAT of the calling module. The file containing the external function contains an export table which is consulted by the loader to determine the proper address for the external function.
Because the IAT changes at load-time to include the actual addresses for functions which will be needed by the software module, and the locations of those functions can only be determined at run-time after the containing modules have been loaded into memory, the in-memory IAT can not be authenticated by trivial comparison with the version of the IAT in the on-disk image. However, because the IAT is not authenticated, then an adversary may "detour" calls to external functions, exposing potentially sensitive data to an attacker. For example, a software module SM may call to function A. The OS loader loads the DLL file containing function A and inserts the proper address for function A into the IAT of SM. An adversary may write a function FAKEA, which calls function A by passing the data from the call from software module SM to function A and returns any returned data from function A to the software module SM. At this point, the adversary has the ability to examine all data both passed from and returned to function A. In addition, the adversary has the ability to manipulate that data in order to possibly change the behavior of the function call, leading to unintended program behavior. This might, for example, be used to subvert security measures and access checks. This is known as "IAT detouring" and when used as a reverse engineering technique is in some cases referred to as a "man-in-the-middle" attack.
Several well-known and publicly available software programs, such as the "Detours" program, provide simplified mechanisms for program instrumentation through IAT modification. In addition, there are other programs that also perform such IAT modification for altruistic purposes. For example, virus checkers and accessibility tools may make use of IAT detouring to insert themselves into the code path of important function calls. Thus, in the case of a virus scan, a call to a function may allow the file containing the function to be virus scanned. In the case of an accessibility tool, data to be displayed on a monitor may be enlarged or otherwise used in order to provide greater accessibility.
Obviously, however, IAT detouring can expose sensitive information and jeopardize the security of sensitive code. In cases, such as in the digital rights management context, it may be important to either prohibit such IAT detouring or limit the functions which can perform it to authorized modules.
In addition to the IAT, a delay load IAT may be present. Such a table performs a function similar to the IAT's function by storing addresses for imported functions. However, binding for the delay load IAT occurs only when an imported function is called for the first time by a module. This late binding can sometimes result in a performance improvement when loading the module because the binding process is bypassed. Thus, the cost of binding an imported function is only incurred if the function is actually called by the application module. The performance benefit is most noticeable in cases where many functions are imported but few are actually used during a particular session of the process. For example, the cost of binding spell checking functions in a word processor program is unnecessary if the spell checker is never used during a particular word processing session. The delay load IAT is subject to the same possible detouring described with reference to the IAT.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a system that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.


A system and method for mapping exceptions from a first programming model to a second programming model is disclosed. The system comprises a first device operating a first programming model and a second device operating a second programming model. The first device sends an instruction to, or invokes the second device to execute an instruction. As a result, a fault occurs during execution of the instruction in the second programming model. An exception based on the fault is raised, and returned to the first device. The system further comprises a fault mapping module configured to receive the exception from the first device. The fault mapping module attempts to determine the type of exception received. This determination may be accomplished by comparing an identifier within the exception with one or more predetermined identifiers that indicate exception type. The fault mapping module is also configured to interpret the exception according to a set of mapping data to generate an interpreted exception recognizable by the first programming model if the exception is determined to be of a predetermined type.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to error detection. More specifically, the disclosure relates to fault detection in a computing environment.
2. General Background
In a computer system, faults, errors, and failures are typically represented by an exception in the system. The exception handling or raising mechanism typically does not contain information that an external device such as a client, based on a different programming model or language can handle appropriately. When one programming model expects a fault in a certain format, there is a requirement to map an exception from a target system to one understood by the programming model.
The need to perform a mapping between the exception to a known fault and how that mapping is plugged in cross programming model invocations and executed are technology specific and implementation specific. There can be a framework and pluggability introduced that keeps the programming models separate, but allow for faults to be mapped and handled accordingly.
The Java to Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) mapping techniques currently used are similar to this approach, but are executed at design time. It is also specific to two systems only, Web Services interfaces interacting with Java type programs.

System and method for fault mapping of exceptions across programming models

International Business Machines Corporation


The semiconductor device includes a command decoder and a voltage generation circuit. The command decoder may be suitable for decoding external command signals to generate a preparation signal and a voltage control signal. The voltage generation circuit may be suitable for generating a read voltage signal used in a read operation and a program voltage signal used in a program operation in response to the preparation signal. In addition, the voltage generation circuit may terminate generation of the read voltage signal and the program voltage signal in response to the voltage control signal.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to semiconductor devices.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor devices may be typically categorized as either volatile memory devices or nonvolatile memory devices. The volatile memory devices lose their stored data when their power supplies are interrupted. In contrast, the nonvolatile memory devices retain their stored data even when their power supplies are interrupted. The nonvolatile memory devices may include various memory cells. For example, the nonvolatile memory devices may be classified into flash memory devices, ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) devices, magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices, phase change random access memory (PRAM) devices or the like according to a memory cell structure.
The flash memory devices among the nonvolatile memory devices may be categorized as either NOR-type flash memory devices or NAND-type flash memory devices according to a memory cell array scheme. All of memory cell transistors of the NOR-type flash memory devices are directly connected to bit lines and word lines in parallel. Thus, the NOR-type flash memory devices may exhibit a relatively fast random access time. In contrast, each of the NAND-type flash memory devices includes a plurality of cell strings connected to bit lines in parallel, and each cell string includes a plurality of memory cell transistors which are connected in series. That is, each cell string is electrically connected to a bit line through a single bit line contact. Thus, the NAND-type flash memory devices may exhibit a relatively high integration density.

Semiconductor devices and reduction of operation times


Quick attachable and detachable mounting arms for ceiling fans. A first version has flat headed fasteners initially attached to one end of mounting arms, with key-hole slots in the endshield of the ceiling fan motor. The user raises the mounting arm so that the flat headed fasteners fits through the larger openings in the keyhole slots and then pulls the mounting arm outward until the arm locks in place by the smaller opening portions of the keyhole slots. Rubber type gaskets and washers help lock and hold the mounting arms in place. The flat headed fasteners can also be located on the endshields with the keyhole slots on mounting arms. A second embodiment includes inwardly deformable springably snapable Fasteners that can be located on the ends of the mounting arms which can deform inwardly and expand after passing through slots on the endshield of the rotor. Alternatively, the fasteners can be located on the bottom of the endshield with the receiving slots on the ends of the mounting arms. The different versions can include guide posts for allowing only one single fastener to be needed. A third embodiment allows the inwardly bendable snapable fasteners to be removable with screws.

Most conventional ceiling fans are similarly installed. FIG. 1 shows a partial side view of a conventional ceiling fan unit 1 that encompasses a general prior art ceiling fan system. In FIG. 1, ceiling fan motor 10 has a rotor component 20 that rotates about a central axis beneath motor 10, which is in turn connected to a housing 5 that is attached beneath a ceiling 2. A plurality of fan blades 30 are connected to the rotor 20 by mounting arms 40. Each mounting arm 40 has one end 42 connected to an end 32 of each fan blade 30, and a second end 44 having at least two through-holes 45 therethrough, so that conventional fasteners such as screws 50 pass through the through-holes 45 to mateably thread into threaded holes 25 in the bottom of rotor 20.
Usually most conventional directions have the installer first connect and hang the motor 10, rotor 20 and housing 5 to a ceiling. More often than not the installer is usually perched on a stool or ladder. Next, many directions have the installer attach the fan blades 30 to their respective mounting arms 40. Finally, one of the last steps is to connect the blade 30 and respective mounting arm 40 to the rotor 20 on the motor.
To finish this final assembly step takes great dexterity, patience, balance and time. In order for a single person 60 to be able to complete this final step, the installer 60 needs to hold in one hand 62 the fan blade 30 and already attached mounting arm 40, and to position a screw driver 70 to the heads of screws 50 with the other hand 64. The installer must be able to balance the mounting screws 50 on the tip of the screw driver 70, insert the screws upwardly through the holes 45 in the mounting arm, making sure not to accidentally drop the screws 50 and then screw the screws 50 into the mating holes 25 on the rotor 20 all while still holding the blade 30 and arm 40. This assembly requires the installer to have to constantly hold both hands 62 and 64 raised high above their head, while again standing on a stool or on a ladder.
Many problems occur from this traditional method of having one person installing a ceiling fan. Screws 50 can and do accidentally fall and become lost causing more time and more expense to finish the installation. The installer 60 often has to constantly re position the blade 30 and arm 40 in order to be able to properly line up the through-holes 45 in the mounting arms 40 with their respective mating holes 25 in the bottom of rotor 20. The blade 30 and mounting arm 40 have been known to fall on and cause injury to the user 60 during assembly. Additionally, the user can lose their balance and injure themselves as well as falling off the ladder and stool. Additional problems also occur after installation. For example, uneven tightening of each of the plural fasteners that connect the mounting arm to the motor has resulted in wobble effects when the ceiling fan system is running. Thus, the current operation of assembly has become known as a frustrating, undesirable, difficult, tedious, time consuming and sometimes dangerous task.
To merely add a second worker to help in the assembly installation may solve some of the problems above, but would add additional cost and labor expense to the installation project.
In addition to the difficulty of having to screw the blade arms onto the ceiling fan motor endshield, the endshield contains unsightly screw heads that detract from the appearance of the ceiling fan itself. Another problem with using screw type fasteners is that the fasteners themselves can loosen causing the blade arms and connected blades to accidentally fall resulting in damages to surrounding property and people beneath the ceiling fans.
Additionally, ceiling fan blades and their blade arm supports need to be cleaned to remove dirt and dust buildup. Existing fan blades and blade arms are hard to remove from the ceiling mounted motors. Thus, fan blades and their respective blade arms are left mounted on the ceiling mounted motors. Current techniques have relied on manually holding brushes directly to the ceiling mounted blades and blade arms which inherently tires the muscles in the cleaner's neck, shoulders, arms and hands. This messy cleaning with brushes causes the dirt to fail on both the cleaner and furniture and flooring beneath the fan.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Quick install blade arms for ceiling fans


The invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding Streptococcus pneumoniae IgA protease and an isolated polypeptide comprising Streptococcus pneumoniae IgA protease and methods of use thereof.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a major cause of both acute bacterial pneumonia and acute purulent meningitis in humans. This organism efficiently colonizes the mucosal surface of the human nasopharynx, which colonization is the initial step in the pathogenesis of respiratory tract infection (Tuomanen et al., 1995, New Engl. J. Med. 332:1280-1284). S. pneumoniae is highly adapted to its human host since natural infection of other host species, even in the carrier state, is unusual. An important factor in the ability of this organism to establish a presence on mucosal surfaces is its effective evasion of local host defenses.
It is known that S. pneumoniae encodes a proteolytic enzyme which specifically cleaves the heavy chain of human immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1 ), the predominant class of immunoglobulin present on mucosal membranes (Kett et al., 1986, J. Immunol. 136:3631-3635; Kilian et al., 1979, Infect. Immun. 26:143-149; Male, 1979, Infect. Immun. 62:254-261). However, the gene encoding S. pneumoniae IgA1 protease has not been identified and the protein product has not been isolated or purified. IgA1 protease has been characterized in a number of bacteria including Neisseria gonorrhoreae (Pohlner et al., 1987, Nature (London) 325:458-462), Neisseria meningitides (Koomey et al., 1984, Immun. 43:101-107; Plaut et al., 1975, Science 190:1103-1105), Haemophilus influenzae (Bricker et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:2681-2685; Poulsen et al., 1989, Infect. Immun. 57:3097-3105), Bacteroides melanogenicus (Mortensen et al., 1984, Infect. Immun. 45:550-557), and Streptococcus sanguis (Gilbert et al., 1988, Infect. Immun. 56:1961-1966; Gilbert et al., 1991, Infect. Immun. 59:7-17). Although each of these enzymes hydrolyses human IgA1, they represent several classes of enzymes having different catalytic activities (e.g., they comprise a serine protease, a thiol-activated protease and a metalloprotease) and have distinct cleavage sites within the heavy-chain hinge region of IgA1. The independent evolution of several distinct classes of enzymes with a similar biological function points to the importance of inactivation of IgA1 for the successful colonization of the mucosal surface by these pathogens.
There is a paucity of information on the nature of the IgA1 protease encoded by S. pneumoniae. A recent survey of 114 isolates of S. pneumoniae revealed that at least 94% of the isolates possessed the ability to hydrolyze human IgA1 (Lomholt et al., 1995, Infect. Immun. 63:4238-4243). Similar to the situation in S. sanguis and S. mitior, S. pneumoniae cleaves a single peptide bond between Pro.sub.227 and Thr.sub.228, in the heavy chain of both human and great ape IgA1, the only known substrates for this enzyme (Gilbert et al., 1988, supra; Qiu et al., 1996, Infect. Immun. 64:933-937). S. pneumoniae IgA1 protease exhibits marked antigenic variation, in that at least seventeen antigenic forms have been identified (Lomholt et al., 1995, supra).
Treatment of infection by S. pneumoniae generally involves administration of the antibiotic penicillin since the great majority of S. pneumoniae are fully sensitive to it. However, given the recent emergence of penicillin-resistant and mulitdrug-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae, other antibiotics such as erythromycin are also prescribed (Klugman, 1990, Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 3:171-196). The fact that strains of this organism have evolved which are resistant to antibiotic therapy accentuates the need for prevention by vaccination of S. pneumoniae-induced disease, for the identification of new antibiotic targets in S. pneumoniae, and for the development of antibiotics directed against those targets which are capable of inhibiting the growth and/or pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae in the human host.

Compositions and methods for treatment of streptococcus pneumoniae infection


The present disclosure relates to video encoding or decoding for splitting a picture into a plurality of tiles in order to encode video efficiently. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a video encoding method for encoding a picture split into a plurality of tiles includes encoding first information indicating whether to merge some of the plurality of tiles; when the first information is encoded to indicate tile merging, generating one or more merge tiles by merging some of the plurality of tiles, each of the merge tiles being defined as one tile; encoding second information indicating tiles merged into each of the merge tiles among the plurality of tiles; and encoding each of the merge tiles as one tile without restriction on encoding dependencies between the tiles merged into each of the merge tiles.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Recently, video size, resolution, and frame rate are gradually increasing, and there is increasing demand for video content such as games or 360-degree video (hereinafter referred to as "360° video") in addition to existing 2D natural images generated by cameras.
360° video is images captured in various directions using a plurality of cameras. In order to compress and transmit video of various scenes, images output from multiple cameras are stitched into one 2D image. The stitched image is compressed and transmitted to a decoding apparatus. The decoding apparatus decodes the compressed image and then maps the decoded image to a 3D space to reproduce the image. The 360° video can be transformed into various projection formats according to the coding formats so as to be encoded. Examples of projection formats include Equirectangular Projection, Cube Map Projection, and Truncated Square Pyramid Projection.
In the case of 360° video, images displayed on the screen must change according to change in the user's viewpoint, and therefore there is a limit to improving coding efficiency according to conventional compression techniques, which are based on 2D video. In order to enhance video encoding and decoding efficiency of 360° video, video needs to be encoded and decoded by setting a region of interest (ROI) in the projected video of 360° video according to the user's viewpoint and differentiating image qualities of the ROI and the other region. To this end, a structure (e.g., a tile structure) capable of splitting a picture into multiple regions and independently encoding and decoding each region is needed. However, the picture splitting structure according to the conventional compression techniques is not flexible enough to set an ROI.

Apparatus and method for video encoding or decoding


A graphic processor which controls reading, writing and transfer of graphic data for a display memory that stores graphic data. The processor includes a first unit which stores first address information for addressing the display memory and first pixel address information which points a pixel position in a word specified by the first address information, a second unit which stores second address information for addressing the display memory and second pixel address information which points a pixel position in a word specified by the second address information, a third unit which shifts graphic data of multiple pixels included in two consecutive words to extract continuous 1-word graphic data, and a fourth unit which implements drawing computations pixel-wise concurrently for one word depending on the number of pixels included in a word. Even if transfer source graphic data lies across two consecutive words, the processor fetches the source data in single reading, processes the data word-wise at once, and stores the result in the display memory.

This invention relates to a graphic processor based on a bit-map method and, particularly, to a graphic processor suitable for graphic data transfer and conversion processes in a display memory.
Conventional graphic processors having their graphic processing functions, fabricated in integrated circuits, are disclosed in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 727,850 filed on Apr. 26, 1985 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 686,039 filed on Dec. 24, 1985. These graphic processors are designed to express graphic data corresponding to one picture element or pixel by using a plurality of bits.
Generally, a graphic processor deals with data in word units, e.g., 32-bit words, and the number of bits used to express a pixel is less than the number of bits of a word in many cases. Accordingly, when a graphic processor of 32-bit word processes graphic data in the form of 4-bits per pixel, it can treat a maximum of eight pixels with one word.
The above mentioned graphic processor of patent application Ser. No. 727,850, even though it has a 32-bit word structure, deals with graphic data in units of an pixel. Therefore it needs to repeatedly perform a writing operation or transfer operation for plurality of of times the number of which depends on the number of pixels even when writing or transferring graphic data of consecutive pixels within a word. This imposes a problem of an increased number time that there must be access to the display memory in which graphic data is stored, and as a result a lowering of the processing speed.
Graphic processors of this type are intended to display, in many cases, graphic figures in color or multiple tones, and when such color or multi-tone graphic data is printed on a black-and-white printer, the graphic data needs to be converted into 2-level (or binary) graphic data. Conversely, in the case of a combination of a black-and-white graphic figure on a processor and a color printer, the 2-level graphic data needs to be converted to multi-tone graphic data.
These data conversion processes are conventionally implemented pixel-by-pixel on a software basis, which expends several .mu.s to several tens .mu.s per pixel. This imposes a problem of considerable time consumption in data conversion for all pixels.
A graphic processor which implements enlargement, reduction, rotation, etc. for the original image data, while interpolating the original image data is known. An example of the interpolation process for image data including enlargement and reduction of figures is described in an article entitled "Performance Evaluation of Various Enlargement/Reduction Methods for 2-level Image Data and Method of Improving the Processing Speed", pp. 920-925 in the publication of Information Processing Society of Japan, Vol. 26, No. 5, published in Sep. 1985. In this known technique to accelerate the process, the integral coordinate interval of transfer source data is divided four ways in each of the x and y directions. Further, interpolated data, each determined from whether the four pixels are black or white around an intermediate coordinate position corresponding to the transfer destination coordinates, is prepared as a table in advance.
The above-mentioned prior art is pertinent to the interpolation of 2-level image data (monochrome image data), and does not deal with the color image interpolation in which a pixel is expressed in a plurality of bits. Therefore, the enlargement and reduction process for color image data is compelled to base the interpolation on the software using a CPU or the like, which imposes a problem in enhancing the speed of the process.

Graphic processor suitable for graphic data tranfers and conversion processes


The invention provides a method and system for responding to digital vehicle requests. After a telematics unit receives a voice query and converts the voice query to a compressed digital signal, the signal is transmitted to a call center node. The signal is then parsed at the call center node to determine an inquiry. The call center node may then formulate at least one response to the inquiry and transmit the at least one formulated response in a digital format over the wireless network to the telematics unit. The at least one formulated response is then translated to an analog format at the telematics unit.

Communication devices that communicate between a vehicle, an interactive application, and an advisor on a remote node presently accomplish this through a circuit switched voice connection. Upon a user's request from a vehicle, an analog voice input is encoded into a digital signal intended for a human recipient. This signal cannot be maximally compressed due to the need for a human advisor to understand the request—maximally compressed signals may not be comprehensible to humans. The encoded digital signal must then be converted into an analog signal once it reaches the analog voice connection channel. The analog signal is then once again converted to a digital signal when it passes to the computer system of the remote node from the voice connection channel. The signal then must again be converted into an analog format for the human recipient. The same process of conversion must then be done in reverse in order to send a response from the remote node to the vehicle's user.
The multiple conversions from digital to analog format and vice versa are costly and time consuming. In addition, having a person as an end recipient does not allow maximum compression of the vehicle's user request. Moreover, Voice over IP technology is beginning to be implemented into vehicles to replace analog communications.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a method and system for responding to digital vehicle requests that overcomes the above disadvantages.

Method and system for responding to digital vehicle requests


A memory system distributes across multiple pages of a flash memory bits of a DRAM data word, the data word having a number of bits equal to a width of a row of a DRAM memory, and the bits of the data word all from a same row of the DRAM memory.

Flash memory technologies provide large amount of inexpensive solid state digital memory storage, but in some instances suffer from higher failure rates than other memory technologies. Flash memories may be organized into pages. For example, each page may be 2048 bytes, e.g. two kilobytes. The pages may be organized into blocks. For example, one block may contain sixty-four pages. When a page catastrophically fails, due to physical exhaustion of the storage capability for example, it may be difficult or impossible to reconstruct and recover the data for the failed page. This may be the case even when the storage data comprises error-correcting codes, which under certain circumstances enables data to be recovered even when a few bits are incorrectly stored, e.g. corrupted.

Flash memory organization for reduced failure rate


The invention relates to a method of screening for precursor lesions which can lead to cervical malignancy, methods of detecting and typing human papilloma virus infections, and reagents of use in these methods.

Papillomaviruses (PVs) cause epithelial rumours in humans which vary in severity depending on the site of infection and the HPV (human papilloma virus) type involved (Laimins-, 1993; Villiers de, 1994). Low risk types such as HPV 1 or HPV63 (Egawa et al. 1993a: Egawa et al. 1993b) cause benign cutaneous warts which progress to malignancy only rarely, while high risk viruses such as HPV 16 and HPV31 cause flat warts at mnucosal sites, and are associated with high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer (Schneider, 1994). Formation of an HPV-induced tumour is thought to require infection of an epithelial basal cell, and the expression of viral early proteins in order to stimulate cell proliferation. The late stages of the virus life cycle, which ultimately lead to the production of infectious virions, are initiated only as the infected cell migrates through the upper differentiated layers of the epidermis. Viral and cellular events which influence HPV late gene expression have not been characterised as. until recently, there has been no convenient system for mimickina productive infection in vitro (Laimins, 1993)
Studies on naturally-occurring warts have revealed the virus to encode three late proteins—L1 and L2, which are virion coat proteins (Doorbar et al, 1987), and E1^E4, a non-structural late protein of unknown function (Doorbar et al, 1986). In HPV1-induced warts the E1^E4 protein is first expressed in cells of the lower spinous layer, and assembles into distinctive cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions. During terminal differentiation it is post-transcriptionally modified by phosphorylation (Grand et al, 1989) and by removal of sequences from the N-terminus (Doorbar et al, 1988; Roberts et al, 1994). The E1^E4 proteins of high risk viruses have been poorly characterised, because it has been thought that HPV16-induced lesions contain only small numbers of productively infected cells, and that these contain only low levels of E4 (Doorbar et al, 1996b: Crum et al, 1990). A single Mab (TVG 402) to HPV16 E1^E4 has been used to locate the protein to the cytoplasm but was reported not to work well on paraffin-embedded archival material (Doorbar et al, 1992). Furthermore, polyclonal antibody studies on the E4 proteins of mucosal viruses have yielded conflicting results. One study has supported the above findings (Crum et al, 1990), while another has indicated that the protein is located to the nucleus (Palefsky et al. 1991).
In many countries there are screenig prograrmes to detect the presence of cervical carcinoma at an early stage. Generally such prdgrammes operate by obtaining cervical smears from women potentially at risk of developing cervical cancer, with the resulting smears routinelv beinz examined bv conventional histopathological techniques. These techniques are laborious and time-consuming, require considerable experience to interpret results correctly, and frequently give rise to relatively large percentages of false positive results, causing unnecessary alarm. False negatives can occur when screening is carried out by inexperienced personnel and can lead to the classification of pre-cancerous lesions as normal. There is thus a need for an improved cervical cancer screening method.
It is well known that there is a very strong correlation between HPV-infection and development of cervical carcinoma: over 90% of women with cervical carcinoma show evidence of HPV infections of the cervix. Accordingly, one possible alternative to conventional histopathological examination of cervical smears is to examine samples for evidence of HPV infection. For example, there have been numerous proposals to screen for cervical carcinoma by performing DNA hybridisation assays on samples, using nucleic acid probes specific for HPV sequences. Such hybridisation assays are generally favoured by those skilled in the art, because of the ready availability of suitable reagents and because of their high specificity.
Thus, for example in Fields Virology (Fields et al, [Eds.] Virology Vol. 2, p 2099, 3rd Edn. (1996) Raven Press, New York), an authoritative virology text book, it is stated that "Diagnosis of an HPV type in a tissue requires nucleic acid hybridization studies".
In contrast, screening for cervical carcinoma by detection of expression of HPV polypeptides has generally been disregarded, being considered unsuitable for a number of reasons, primarily because of the difficulty in obtaining suitable reagents and, more significantly, many HPVs produce very little virus protein in mucosal infections, making detection difficult, uncertain and unreliable. Thus, in Fields Virology (cited above) it is state that "immunologic detection of viral capsid antigens" is "of limited value". The possibility of immunologic detection of other viral antigens is not even considered. If one were to develop a screening method based on detection of expression of viral proteins, the most likely choice of target would be those proteins which are best-characterised, such as L1 or L2. The function of E4 protein is at present unknown. Its expression pattern in cervical lesions has not been determined conclusively in the prior art so the molecule has not been an obvious choice for selection as a target for detecting HPV infection.


A valve combination is proposed for use in plumbing applications which is suitable as a replacement for conventional solenoid valves with a plunger armature. The valve combination consists of a main valve (10), embodied as a diaphragm valve, a servo valve (14) integrated into a cable connector head (12), and a fluidic coupling (16) between the cable connector head (12) and the main valve (10). The cable connector head (12) is provided with an electrical quick connector (18).

The valves used at present in plumbing applications generally are direct acting solenoid valves with a plunger armature. The functionality of such valves can be impaired by deposits of limescale, iron oxide and other substances, dissolved in the water, between the moving parts, and in particular between the armature and the armature guide tube. Particularly at risk are metallic surfaces subject to high temperatures caused by contact with hot water or by electric power dissipation in the solenoid valves.
Less problematic in this respect are servo-controlled diaphragm valves. No connector technology is available, however, neither on the fluidic nor on the electrical side, for suitable servo valves, in particular flipper valves, which meets the requirements of plumbing applications: The connections must be reliable and easy to install without the need for special tooling, they must be easily dismantled for maintenance purposes, and they must be able to withstand high mechanical stresses.


A printing process for the transfer of printing substance (8) from an ink carrier (2) onto an imprinting material, in which the printing substance (8) undergoes a change in volume and/or position by means of an induced procedure of an energy-releasing apparatus, and thereby a transfer of a printing point onto the imprinting material takes place. The invention further includes a printing machine suitable for practicing the process.

The present invention relates to a printing process for the transfer of printing substance from an ink carrier onto an imprinting material, the printing substance undergoing a change in volume and/or position by means of an induced procedure of an energy-releasing apparatus, and thereby a transfer of a printing point onto the imprinting material takes place, as well as a printing machine for this.
By a printing process is meant primarily a process for the reproduction as often as required of text and/or image patterns by means of a printing plate which is re-inked after each impression. In general, a distinction is made here between four basically different printing processes. Firstly, the relief printing process is known, in which the printing elements of the printing plate are raised, while the non-printing parts are recessed. This includes for example letterpress printing and so-called flexographic or aniline printing. Furthermore, flatbed-printing processes are known in which the printing elements and the non-printing parts of the printing plate essentially lie in one level. These include offset printing, but also processes known more in the artistic field, such as e.g. lithographic printing. In the case of offset printing, strictly speaking the inked drawing on the printing plate is not printed directly onto the imprinting material, but is first transferred onto a rubber cylinder or a rubber blanket and only then is the imprinting material printed from this. Where in the following reference is made to imprinting material, however, this is to be understood as both the actual imprinting material, i.e. the material to be printed on, and a chosen transfer means, such as e.g. a rubber cylinder. A third process is the so-called gravure printing process in which the printing elements of the printing plate are recessed. This includes a series of manual techniques, such as e.g. copper engraving and etching. A gravure printing process used industrially is rotogravure printing. Finally, a porous printing process is also known which is sometimes also called the screen-printing process, in which at the printing positions the ink is transferred onto the imprinting material through screen-like openings of the printing plate.
These printing processes are all characterized by the fact that they require a printing plate which is more or less costly to produce, with the result that these printing processes operate economically only with very long print runs, usually well over 1000 units. Thus for example when producing a relief printing plate, a screen film of the pattern to be printed must initially be created which is copied onto the material of the printing plate by means of a light-sensitive layer. As the non-printing parts of a relief printing plate must be recessed relative to the printing parts, the metal printing plates are then etched or plastic printing plates are washed out. However, these printing plates can be used only for the printing of a specific pattern. If another pattern is to be printed, a new relief printing plate must be produced.
For the printing of short print runs, printers are already used which in general are connected to an electronic data processing system. In general, these use digitally triggerable printing systems which are in a position to print individual printing points as required. Such printing systems use various processes with different printing substances on different imprinting materials. Some examples of digitally triggerable printing systems are: laser printers, thermal printers and ink jet printers. Digital printing processes are characterized by the fact that they do not require printing plates.
An electro-thermal ink jet printing process is known for example from GB 2 007 162, in which the water-based ink is briefly heated in a suitable ink jet by electrical pulses until it boils, with the result that a gas bubble suddenly develops and an ink droplet is shot out of the jet. This process is generally known by the term "bubblejet". However, these thermal ink printing processes have the disadvantage that on the one hand they consume a great deal of energy for the printing of an individual printing point and on the other hand they are suitable only for printing inks which are water-based. Furthermore, every single printing point must be triggered separately by the jet. In contrast, piezoelectric ink printing processes suffer from the disadvantage that the required jets are easily blocked, with the result that only special and expensive inks can be used for this.
In addition, it is known from DE 195 44 099 that with the help of a laser beam or electro-thermal heating means, solid printing substances can be melted and thereby transferred. A transparent cylinder is homogeneously provided with small cells on the surface. These cells are then filled with molten liquid ink and wiped using customary processes. The ink to be printed is then melted in a targeted manner from the inside through the cylinder by firing a laser beam or by electro-thermal processes and is thus drained and thereby a printing point is set. Also in this process, the choice of printing substance is very limited because it is necessary for the printing process that the printing substance shows a phase transition from the solid into the liquid phase as quickly as possible and in an energy-saving manner. Furthermore, in this printing process the filling of the cells with meltable ink is problematic.
Finally, it is known from DE 197 46 174 that a laser beam, through very short pulses in a printing substance which is located in cells of a printing roller, induces a procedure with the result that the printing substance undergoes a change in volume and/or position. The printing substance thereby spreads over the surface of the printing plate and it is possible to transfer a printing point onto an imprinting material moved up against same. However, in this process it is disadvantageous that the filling of the cells is very difficult due to the small diameter of the cells.

Method of printing and corresponding print machine


A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a battery comprises an electrode having at least one nanostructured surface. The nanostructured surface is disposed in a way such that an electrolyte fluid of the battery is prevented from contacting the electrode, thus preventing discharge of the battery when the battery is not in use. When a voltage is passed over the nanostructured surface, the electrolyte fluid is caused to penetrate the nanostructured surface and to contact the electrode, thus activating the battery. In one illustrative embodiment, the battery is an integrated part of an electronics package. In another embodiment, the battery is manufactured as a separate device and is then brought into contact with the electronics package. In yet another embodiment, the electronics package and an attached battery are disposed in a projectile that is used as a military targeting device.

Many beneficial devices or structures in myriad applications rely on batteries as a power source. As shown in FIG. 1, illustrative liquid-cell battery 101, is characterized by an electrolyte liquid 102 which provides a mechanism for an electrical charge to flow in direction 103 between a positive electrode 104 and a negative electrode 105. When such a battery 101 is inserted into an electrical circuit 106 with illustrative load 108, it completes a loop which allows electrons to flow uniformly in direction 107 around the circuit 106. The positive electrode thus receives electrons from the external circuit 106. These electrons then react with the materials of the positive electrode 104 in reduction reactions that generate the flow of a charge to the negative electrode 105 via ions in the electrolyte liquid 102. At the negative electrode 105, oxidation reactions between the materials of the negative electrode 104 and the charge flowing through the electrolyte fluid 102 result in surplus electrons that are released to the external circuit 106.
As the above process continues, the active materials of the positive and negative electrodes 104 and 105, respectively, eventually become depleted and the reactions slow down until the battery is no longer capable of supplying electrons. At this point the battery is discharged. It is well known that, even when a liquid-cell battery is not inserted into an electrical circuit, there is often a low level reaction with the electrodes 104 and 105 that can eventually deplete the material of the electrodes. Thus, a battery can become depleted over a period of time even when it is not in active use in an electrical circuit. This period of time will vary depending on the electrolyte fluid used and the materials of the electrodes.

Electrowetting battery having a nanostructured electrode surface


A rotary atomizer head 1 with a bell-shaped atomizer head body 2 and a functional member 4 removably attachable thereto, which can be more easily and reliably positioned, and cleaned. The functional member 4 has a front wall 12 that has paint outlets 24, a sidewall 14 of the paint space S extending continuously in a circumferential direction, and a plurality of legs 16 having claws 16a, which engage with a circumferential groove 18 formed in a peripheral wall 8 of a central recess 6 of the atomizer head body 2. The peripheral wall 8 of central recess 6 has an inclined wall. The sidewall 14 has an outer circumferential surface 14a and an inner circumferential surface 14b, wherein the peripheral wall 8 and outer circumferential surface 14a have complementary configurations.

Nowadays where electrostatic paint applicators are in widespread use, such machines having a rotary atomizer head are widely used in the field of car body coating, for example. These paint applicators are called rotary-atomization-type paint applicators. As disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 8, the rotary atomizer head is an assembly of an atomizer head body and a functional member disposed in a central portion of the atomizer head body. Paint is supplied to the rotary atomizer head through a feed tube, and atomized by the rotary atomizer head that rotates at a high speed. For this intended role of the rotary atomizer head, it is required to have a highly precise rotational balance.
For internal cleaning of the rotary atomizer head, there have been developed techniques for easier disassembling and reassembling of the rotary atomizer head. Patent Document 1 discloses a rotary atomizer head that is configured to attach the functional member to the atomizer head body by access from behind. It is proposed in Patent Document 1 to form a paint outlet in the atomizer head body and to make a paint chamber of the rotary atomizer head, which is a chamber for receiving paint supplied from a feed tube, by cooperation of the atomizer head body and the functional member attached to the atomizer head body from behind.
Patent Documents 2 et sec. disclose rotary atomizer heads configured to attach a functional member called a "hub member" to the atomizer head body by access from its front face. Patent Document 2 proposes to fix the hub member in a central recess of the atomizer head body via an elastic ring. More specifically, the rotary atomizer head disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a circumferential groove (first circumferential groove) formed in a circumferential wall surface of the central recess of the atomizer head body and another circumferential groove (second circumferential groove) formed in a circumferential surface of the hub member. By laying the elastic ring in the first and second circumferential grooves to be commonly grasped by these grooves, the hub member is removably fixed to the atomizer head body.
With the rotary atomizer head disclosed in Patent Document 2, the hub member can be easily removed from the atomizer head body for the purpose of cleaning, and attached again to the atomizer head body after completion of the cleaning.
Patent Document 3 discloses another existing rotary atomizer head that can be disassembled and reassembled. The rotary atomizer head disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a step formed at the front end of the peripheral wall of the central recess of the atomizer head body, and a disc-shaped hub member fittingly engages with this step. More particularly, the disc-shaped hub member has elasticity and flexibility owing to natures of its shape and material, and it can get in fitting engagement with the step of the atomizer head body with the elasticity and flexibility. Further, a retaining circumferential ridge is formed on the circumferential surface of the step of the atomizer head, or the circumferential surface of the step is tapered to decrease its diameter forward, as a measure for preventing the hub member from being disengaged forward of the atomizer head body. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a rotary atomizer head having a spoon-cut groove formed in the bottom of the central recess of the atomizer head body and having an inclined wall surface extending continuously from the spoon-cut groove and enlarging its diameter gradually forward. The above-mentioned disc-shaped hub member has a plurality of paint outlets formed to align concentrically in the outer circumference thereof. The paint outlets extend tangentially to the inclined wall surface.
Patent Document 4 proposes to attach permanent magnets on a disc-shaped hub member and an atomizer head body for receiving the hub member, such that the disc-shaped hub member can be fixed to the atomizer head body with the attraction of the permanent magnets.
Patent Document 5 proposes to use a disc-shaped hub member having a number of legs, which can be removably fixed to the atomizer head body by engagement of free ends of the legs with a circumferential groove in the central recess of the atomizer head body in order to removably secure the hub member to the atomizer head body. In addition to this, Patent Document 5 proposes to provide a clearance between the outer circumference of the disc-shaped hub member and the atomizer head body to use it as a paint passageway.
One problem of the rotary atomizer head disclosed in Patent Document 2, which relies solely upon a resistance force produced by the elasticity of the elastic ring for fixing the hub member to the atomizer head body. Another problem of this rotary atomizer head, which relies on the elasticity of the elastic member for fixing the hub member in position, is a difficulty for a user to be sure that the hub member has taken its proper position when he should attach it to the atomizer head body. Still another problem of this atomizer head is that the elastic ring deforms when the rotary atomizer head rotates at a high speed, and thereby degrades in its sealing performance.
To interpose the elastic ring between the atomizer head body and hub member means that a relatively large clearance exists between the atomizer head body and hub member. Therefore, the technique proposed by Patent Document 2 can be considered to admit inrush of paint through the clearance. When paint should be changed to another color, the rotary atomizer head needs internal cleaning without being disassembled. However, it is difficult to remove paint having entered the clearance between the atomizer head body and the hub member by the internal cleaning. Because of this and other reasons, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 has not yet been put into practice.
Patent Document 3 proposes to put the disc-shaped hub member in fitting engagement with the step portion of the atomizer head body and to form the retaining circumferential ridge on the circumferential surface of the step portion of the atomizer head, or to taper the circumferential surface of the step to decrease its diameter forward, as a measure for preventing the hub member from being disengaged forward of the atomizer head body. This invention of Patent Document 3 has not yet been put into practice as well.
Patent Document 4 proposes to secure the disc-shaped hub member and atomizer head body to each other by the attraction force of permanent magnets. Because of this structure, this technology is disadvantageous in that the materials of the disc-shaped hub member and the atomizer head body are limited to nonmagnetic ones (aluminum).
In Patent Document 5, it is disclosed that the disc-shaped hub member is fixed by engagement of the legs of the hub member with the circumferential groove formed in the peripheral wall of the central recess of the atomizer head body and that paint outlets are formed in each interval between every adjacent legs in the clearance between the outer circumference of the disc-shaped hub member and the peripheral wall of the central recess. Therefore, when the rotary atomizer head is cleaned with a cleaning liquid supplied to the rotary atomizer head, paint having adhered to the circumferential groove and legs will remain unremoved. Because of this problem among others, Patent Document 5 explains in detail how to remove the hub member from the atomizer head body when the atomizer head should be disassembled for cleaning.

Rotary atomizer head of electrostatic paint applicator


An assembly for mounting a plurality of modular heat exchangers between respective pairs of fluid openings in parallel opposed faces of an inlet header and an outlet header, including modules providing generally axial flow between the headers, each of which modules has an axially extending sleeve defining a fluid opening on one end and an end flange defining a fluid opening on the opposite end, and an end chamber having an axially flexible end wall and forming a connection between either or both of the end sleeve and the end flange and the heat exchanging portion of the module, the assembly including compressible sealing members attached to the end sleeve and the end flange and compression type mounting brackets by which the sealing members are compressed to seal the interface and provide a demountable connection between the module and the headers.

The present invention pertains to a mounting assembly for a replaceable heat exchanger module and, more particularly, to a mounting assembly for axially flexible heat exchanger modules which accommodates axial movement of the module during installation and as a result of thermal expansion and contraction during use.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,979,560, 4,981,170 and 5,042,572 disclose various heat exchanger constructions, all of which are adapted to be made in a modular form in a manner in which they are separately and easily demountable from an array of such modules for replacement. A heat exchanger unit utilizing an array of such modules is particularly attractive for use as a radiator in the cooling system of a large vehicle, such as a truck or an off-the-road construction vehicle. Such vehicles are not only more susceptible to cooling system damage because of the environments in which they operate, but vehicle downtime is usually extremely critical and costly. The above identified patents describe modular heat exchange units which, if damaged in use, can be initially shunted out of the cooling system until a replacement module is available without taking the vehicle out of operation. A damaged module is easily removable and the replacement module may be as easily installed in a simple, fast and cost effective manner.
In accordance with an improved mounting assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 986,988, filed Dec. 8, 1992, a rubber vibration damper and shock load absorber is positioned between the axially flexible portion of each heat exchanger module and the mounting bracket by which the module is attached to a common cooling fluid header. The rubber cushioning means dampens the transmission of vibrations from the heat exchanger frame to the module and prevents excessive deflection of the module under severe external structural loads imposed on the frame, while allowing the necessary axial movement of the module to accommodate mounting and thermal expansion.

Mounting assembly for a modular heat exchanger


A hands-free adjustable bib includes a bib, a support plate, a pair of hand shaped holders, and a container adjustment assembly. The pair of hand shaped holders is adjustably connected to the container adjustment assembly. The container adjustment assembly is adjustably mounted to the support plate, opposite of the pair of hand shaped holders. The support plate, which functions as a platform for the pair of hand shaped holders and the container adjustment assembly, is connected to a chest portion of the bib so that the pair of hand shaped holders can be extended towards a neck loop of the bib. Consequently, the pair of hand shaped holders secures a container while the neck loop secures the bib the user's neck.

Infant care and special needs people are a demanding task that requires a lot of patience and attention. For example, other than watching an infant at all times, the caregiver must tend to the infant's entertainment, hygiene, and feeding schedules. Playing with an infant and changing the diapers of an infant requires a lot of movement and toys or supplies. Feeding an infant or a special needs person however is one task that does not require as much physical movement. However, a caretaker must uphold or constantly bring the food or milk to the infant's mouth.
It is there for an objective of the present invention to provide a hands-free adjustable bib for securing a container as the present invention serves to lessen the amount of work while feeding an infant or a special needs person. The present invention upholds a container adjacent to user's mouth and eliminates the use of hands, wherein the container can be a beverage container, a baby bottle, a cup with a straw, and so on. More specifically, the present invention comprises a bib, a pair of hand shaped holders, and a container adjustment assembly. The bib functions as a traditional bib and secures around the user's neck. The pair of hand shaped holders is designed to secure the container and connected to the bib through the container adjustment assembly. The container adjustment assembly that is rotatable and flexible allows a responsible adult to properly adjust the container according to user's requirement, physical limitation, or physical capabilities. For example, the present invention may rest the beverage bottle on the infant's chest while the infant sips on the nipple of the baby bottle. Since the pair of hand shaped holders resembles a left human hand and a right human hand, the infant is more comfortable with the present invention even though the caretaker is not physically and continuously feeding the infant.

Hands-free adjustable bib for securing a container


A microtome, or an ultramicrotome having the specimen arm operating through an opening in the cryo chamber wall in a manner substantially free of the mechanical influence of a conventional seal is disclosed. An elongated slot permits movement of the specimen arm while minimizing the clearance between the sides of the arm and chamber wall reduces loss. Inner and outer baffles can be used to further reduce loss.

The invention relates to a microtome, in particular an ultramicrotome and specifically the seal which prevents escape of the cryogen contained inside the freezing chamber through the opening of the freezing chamber wall where the specimen carrier arm is guided through.
For cryogenic preparation of samples, in particular biological samples which are subject of microscopic or electron microscopic examinations after preparation, it is necessary to maintain both sample and knife at a low temperature during preparation. Cryogenic sample preparation is typically therefore performed in a microtome or ultramicrotome attached freezing chamber which typically is accessible from the top and in which a desired low temperature is provided by introduction of a gaseous cryogen. In order to hold the temperature consistent and to avoid penetration of damp air from above into the freezing chamber, it is necessary to continuously introduce cryogen.
For the production of thin and ultra-thin slices at low temperature a tool such as a knife is commonly attached to the bottom of the freezing chamber and the specimen to be cut is attached to a carrier arm, which is moveable upwards and downwards relative to the stationary knife. To obtain precision cuts, it is necessary to have at least two requirements:
a) the carrier arm must have a very rigid configuration; and PA1 b) the movement of the carrier arm during the cutting procedure cannot influence the atmosphere of the freezing chamber, in particular by allowing large amounts of cryogen to escape and causing a change of temperature inside the freezing chamber.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to design a carrier arm capable of holding and maneuvering a specimen inside the freezing chamber, which extends and is driven outside of the freezing chamber, and that complies with the above requirements.
There have been several attempts to solve this problem. For example, it is known to design the carrier arm like a bridge so that the arm reaches in an U-shape over the edge of the freezing chamber and the specimen is held at the low end of the U of the carrier arm inside the freezing chamber (so-called Christensen Bridge; U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,420). This configuration has the disadvantage that the arm, because of its U-shape, tends to lose its original shape, and has the tendency, particularly during operations involving increased cutting force, to deform, resulting in decreased cut quality. A similar design was disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application No. 07/523,054.
According to another solution, the carrier arm is introduced through an opening into the chamber. The opening is excessively large to allow for the up and down movement of the carrier arm necessary for the cutting process. To avoid escape of cryogen, the edge of the opening is sealed to the carrier arm by means of a very thin and flexible membrane (DE-PS 1,622,996). The disadvantage of this design is the fact that the cold membrane exerts unwanted forces on the carrier arm, which has a disturbing influence on the up and down movement of the carrier arm and thus negatively influences the quality of the cut.
In another known design which introduces the carrier arm through an opening in one of the freezing chamber walls, the opening is configured as a "maze" where a number of disc shaped members located on the carrier arm extend into separate chambers for each membrane (U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,941). The membranes are moveable in the direction of the carrier arm. The membranes are arranged at the outside of the end of the carrier arm and moveable in its direction. Contact of the membranes with the respective chamber wall cause unwanted forces to occur during vertical movement of the carrier arm, resulting in vibration of the carrier arm and therefore negatively influencing the quality of the cut.
One object of the present invention is to provide a seal for the carrier arm of a microtome or ultramicrotome, which does not adversely influence movement of the carrier arm, yet at the same time prevents excess escape of cryogen, thereby maintaining the chamber atmosphere.

Carrier arm seal for a microtome of ultramicrotome


The present invention relates to a coated substrate comprising: a substrate; a soft coating provided on at least a part of at least one face of the substrate; a protective sol-gel coating provided on at least a part of said face above the soft coating, to a process for making such coated substrate and to glazing units comprising such coated substrate.

A large part of soft coatings such as solar control or insulating low-E coatings present a low emissivity and are used in glazing for their IR reflecting ability, allowing a precise energy control of the glazing, thereby reducing heat loss and/or avoiding over-heating of a glazed structure. Unfortunately, the limited mechanical, chemical and corrosion resistance of most soft coatings limits their use. Indeed, such coatings can be easily damaged by exposure to the environment during their production or during their lifetime. Mechanical actions such as contact or friction with other materials or objects can create scratches or mars. Modifications of the chemical environment (humidity, temperature . . . ) or contact with chemicals like detergent or everyday life products leads to a degradation of the soft coating surface. The result of such deteriorations could be both aesthetic and functional. This is particularly true for soft coatings that rely on metal-based infrared reflecting layers. Even if some soft coatings, without metal-based infrared reflecting layers can be used on exterior faces of glazing, their durability does not reach that of hard coatings produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
During the production of coatings on glass sheets, the coated sheets are often scratched due to one or more of: (a) rubbing up against other sheets or the like during shipment; (b) pliers used by glass handlers during and/or proximate cutting or edge seaming steps; (c) abrasion caused by gloves worn by glass handlers; (d) brushes during washing step; and (e) other types of rubbing/abrasion caused during any step at fabricator premises. Additionally, corrosion is also a significant cause of damage and is often caused by high humidity conditions, acid rain, and/or other materials which tend to collect on the coated articles during transport, storage and/or handling.
While the aforesaid types of damage often occur prior to heat treatment (e.g., tempering), the tempering of the coated sheets typically magnifies such damage. For example, a minor bit of corrosion which was caused pre-tempering can lead to a significant blemish upon heat treatment which causes the coated sheet to be scrapped.
Many applications or markets are demanding soft coatings, particularly solar control or insulating low-E coatings for their opto-energetic properties and their ability to block a portion of the IR spectrum. However, the limited mechanical, chemical and/or corrosion resistance of soft coatings limits their use in simple glazing, for interior or exterior use, or in the case of multiple glazing their use in external positions, i.e. on the external faces of the glazing.
A known method to obtain a glazing with a protected low-E coating is to make use of energy saving window films such as those commercialized by Nitto under the names Penjerex® PX-7060S or Penjerex® PX-8080. These adhesive films contain a low-E coating protected by a polyester film. However, for durability reasons, such films can only be used on the face of the glazing in contact with the interior of a building, they are not heat treatable and oblige the windows maker or the end user to install them on site.
Deposition of a sol-gel coating on a low-E undercoat on glass is disclosed in US20070243391. The sol-gel coating aims at efficiently blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiations and comprises very high amounts of cerium oxide as UV blocker. US20070243391 is silent about the mechanical, chemical and corrosion protection of the low-E coating and the impact of this sol-gel coating on the emissivity of the low-E coating.
Thus, there is a need to develop coated substrates, particularly glass substrates provided with a soft coating having improved mechanical, chemical and corrosion resistance while not significantly impacting the emissivity and/or the aesthetics of the coating.