There is provided an aromatic hydrocarbon formaldehyde resin obtained by reacting an aromatic hydrocarbon compound (A) represented by the following formula (1) with formaldehyde (B) in the presence of an acidic catalyst.

There is made a study in which a biphenyl compound and formaldehyde are subjected to a condensation reaction to thereby obtain an aromatic hydrocarbon resin (see Non Patent Document 1).
It is further known that in the usual reaction condition in which an aromatic hydrocarbon formaldehyde resin is produced by a reaction of an aromatic hydrocarbon with formaldehyde, diarylmethanes formed from two molecules of aromatic hydrocarbons and one molecule of formaldehyde are produced, and remain as unreacted components also after modification, so that the mechanical strength and the thermal decomposition resistance of cured products obtained from the modified resin decrease. Then, there is made an attempt of suppressing the formation of the diarylmethanes by controlling the reaction condition (see Patent Document 1).

Aromatic hydrocarbon formaldehyde resin, modified aromatic hydrocarbon formaldehyde resin and epoxy resin, and methods for producing these

Abstract: wherein R represents an organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; m and n represent integers satisfying 1≦m+n≦10, m≧0 and n≧1.


A polarization resistant solar cell using an oxygen-rich interface layer is provided. The oxygen-rich interface layer may be comprised of SiOxNy, which may have a graded profile that varies between oxygen-rich proximate to the solar cell to nitrogen-rich distal to the solar cell. A silicon oxide passivation layer may be interposed between the solar cell and the SiOxNy graded dielectric layer. The graded SiOxNy dielectric layer may be replaced with a non-graded SiOxNy dielectric layer and a SiN AR coating.

Photovoltaic cells, commonly referred to as solar cells, are well known semiconductor devices that convert photons into electrical energy. FIG. 1 provides a cross-sectional view of a conventional solar cell 100 that includes a substrate 101 of a first conductivity type, the substrate frequently comprised of silicon, and a layer 103 of a second conductivity type formed on the substrate, commonly referred to as the emitter, thereby forming a p-n junction at the interface. Solar cell 100 also includes a rear surface electrode 105 that is in contact with at least a portion of substrate 101, and a front surface electrode 107 that is in contact with at least a portion of layer 103. When light falls on solar cell 100, electron-hole pairs are created, which are converted by the solar cell into electrical energy.
To enhance the performance of a conventional solar cell, typically a dielectric layer 109 is deposited on the front surface of the solar cell. Dielectric layer 109 serves dual purposes. First, it acts as an anti-reflection (AR) coating, thereby increasing the percentage of incident light that passes into cell 100, resulting in improved conversion efficiency. Second, it forms a passivation layer on the surface of layer 103. In some solar cells, dielectric layer 109 is comprised of a pair of layers; an inner passivation layer and an outer AR layer.
Solar cells are becoming commonplace in a wide range of applications, both due to the increase in energy costs and the growing environmental concerns associated with traditional energy sources. The switch to solar energy has been aided by the gradually improving performance of solar cells and the steady decrease in cell cost. In a typical application, for example a solar array for use on a residential or commercial roof-top or in a solar farm, a large number of solar panels are electrically connected together, each solar panel comprised of a large array of solar cells.
When a solar panel or an array of solar panels is put into operation, a high voltage in excess of 100V may exist between the panel frame or external grounding and one or more terminals of the individual devices. As a result, an electric field is generated that may create a charge on the dielectric layer or layers used in the fabrication of the cell, for example, passivation and AR layer 109 of FIG. 1. Over time, the accumulation of charge on the dielectric layer(s) leads to surface polarization, which, in turn, induces an electric field on the cell's p-n junction. As a result, shunt resistance and p-n junction characteristics are significantly degraded, leading to a major reduction in cell conversion efficiency and potentially complete cessation of cell power output. Accordingly, what is needed is a solar cell design that is resistant to surface polarization but does not significantly affect the fabrication process, the overall cell manufacturing cost, or the cell's performance. The present invention provides such a design.

Polarization resistant solar cell design using an oxygen-rich interface layer


Implementations for composite display cover are described and provide improved protection and durability to device displays as compared with conventional display protection technologies. The described composite display cover, for instance, utilizes an ultra-thin glass layer with a polymer film applied directly to the glass layer and a hard coat applied to the polymer film. The polymer film, for instance, is applied to the glass layer without an adhesive. Further, the composite display cover can be attached to a display, such as via an adhesive layer that adheres the glass layer to a surface of the display.

Devices such as smart devices, wireless devices (e.g., cellular phones and tablet devices), consumer electronics, and the like can be implemented for use in a wide range of industries and for a variety of different applications. Typically, such devices include some form of display screen for outputting visual content and for receiving input, such as touch input from a user. To accommodate modern devices that implement a variety of form factors and functional configurations, display technologies have evolved that seek to provide thin display profiles that are also durable. This is particularly challenging for flexible devices, such as folding devices that require a display that can fold into different configurations.


A masonry block wall bracing wall anchor having a threaded portion connected to an intermediate portion of the wall anchor with the intermediate portion having a vertical cross-section generally sized to fit between and substantially bridge the vertical thickness of a bed joint between two successive courses of masonry blocks and the threaded portion available for connecting by means of a washer and a nut to a side support that braces a masonry block wall during construction. The preferred embodiment has an upper transverse fracture groove and a lower transverse fracture groove through which after completion of the wall selectively can propagate a fracture line when the masonry block wall is completed. The fracture grooves can facilitate selective fracturing of the wall bracing wall anchor thereby allowing removal of a protruding threaded portion of the anchor that extends beyond the outer face of the masonry wall.

In modern society, efforts are ongoing to safeguard construction sites to prevent injuries to workers and lessen damage to components of the construction project. Often during its construction, a masonry block wall 2 on a construction site is braced by one or more angled side supports 28 to prevent lateral movement and potential collapse of the wall to the side.
A commonly used wall anchor in a bed joint 12 of a masonry block wall 2 for attaching of an angled side support 28 is a J-bolt wall anchor 18 having a threaded portion 20 joined to an intermediate cylindrical portion 22 that in turn is joined to an angled cylindrical portion 24. The j-bolt wall anchor 18 often has a diameter greater than the vertical thickness of the bed joint 12 between two successive courses of masonry block 4 with each block having one or more vertical cells 6; and in such instances, the j-bolt wall anchor is often placed in and through a mason enlarged portion of the bed joint with the angled cylindrical portion 22 retained within a hollow vertical cell of a block by a cementious mixture or a concrete aggregate slurry that is poured into a group of substantially vertically aligned vertical cells of a plurality of successive courses of masonry blocks and with the threaded portion protruding perpendicularly through the enlarged portion of the bed joint and extending outwardly sufficiently from an outer face of the wall for attaching to an upper wall mounting bracket 30 of an angled side support 28 by means of a washer 38 and a nut 40. The mason enlarged portion of the bed joint 12 includes an anchor receiving channel 10 chipped with a mason's hammer or other suitable tool in the lower edge of an overlying channeled masonry block 8 or chipped in the upper edge of an underlying masonry block to provide clearance in the channel and the bed joint for the emplacement of the intermediate cylindrical portion 22 of the j-bolt wall anchor 18.
Often a job specification for a masonry wall under construction requires the emplacing of one or more vertical rebar members 16 vertically through and within a group of one or more substantially vertically aligned vertical cells 6 of a plurality of successive courses of masonry blocks with the rebar members secured therein by a cementious mixture or a concrete aggregate slurry that is poured into the aligned vertical cells and that encircles the rebar members.
Often after the wall 2 is built, the mason or another worker is required to remove the J-bolt wall anchor 18 from the wall or to cut off the protruding threaded portion 20 of the J-bolt wall anchor with either process likely resulting in some damage to the wall that then must be repaired. Under the prior art, often the j-bolt wall anchor 18 would be cut off by a worker using an acetylene torch or using a powered hot saw resulting in damage to the wall that then would require significant labor time and expense to fix.
An object of the invention is to provide a masonry block wall bracing wall anchor that when the wall is completed can have its protruding threaded end portion quickly broken off by use of a simple hand tool such as a mason's hammer or a small sledge hammer with little or no damage resulting to the outer face of the wall. Use of the present invention a masonry block wall bracing wall anchor in the construction of a masonry block wall can save labor time and expense especially during removal of the protruding portions of the invention after the wall is completed over the labor time and expense necessary to remove or cut off the protruding portions of prior art wall anchors such as j-bolt wall anchors.


The present invention provides a method for automatic downhill speed control or ADSC adapted to automatically absorb grade-induced energy so that the vehicle operator is no longer required to take action to maintain generally constant vehicle speed. ADSC is preferably triggered if the throttle is released and the vehicle accelerates. The specific amount of throttle release necessary to trigger ADSC is variable but may, according to a preferred embodiment, be set at 85% throttle reduction. According to another preferred embodiment, ADSC is not triggered unless the throttle is released for a predetermined amount of time such as, for example, 5 seconds.

To prevent a vehicle from accelerating while traveling downhill, the operator of the vehicle generally must reduce the throttle and/or apply the brakes. It would therefore be desirable to automatically absorb the grade-induced energy so that the vehicle operator is no longer required to take action to maintain generally constant vehicle speed.


A data processor includes program registers with individual byte-location write enables. Bypass networks allow a precision pipeline to respond to read requests by accessing a program register or pipeline stage on a byte-by-byte basis. The data processor can thus write to individual byte locations without overwriting other byte locations within the same register. The data processor has an instruction set with instructions that combine two operands and yield a one-byte result that is stored in a specified byte location of a specified result register. Eight instances of this instruction can pack eight results into a single 64-bit result register without additional packing instructions and without using a read port to read the result register before writing to it. As plural functional units can write concurrently to different subwords of the same result register, a system with four functional units can pack eight results into a result register in two instruction cycles.

The present invention relates to data processing and, more particularly, to data processors that operate on data subwords in parallel. A major objective of the invention is to enhance performance while executing parallel subword operations.
Much of modern progress is associated with advances in computer technology, which has provided increasing performance while lowering costs. One of the ways that performance has improved has been to increase the word size, i.e., the maximum number of bits that can be treated as a single unit by a data processor. Early processors manipulated information one byte (eight bits) at a time, while modern processors are characterized by word sizes of 32-bits, 64-bits, or greater.
To take advantage of the large word sizes available, some modern processors include instructions that treat source and destination registers as being composed of multiple subword values, and operate on these subwords in parallel. Such "parallel subword" instructions are typically used for multi-media applications, where a given computation is typically done over a large number of small values (for example, 8-bit or 16-bit pixels). Having instructions that perform this computation on multiple values packed into a register (for example, eight 8-bit or four 16-bit values in a 64-bit register) in parallel takes full advantage of the data path widths in the processor, and accelerates the computation.
The performance advantages offered by parallel subword instructions can be offset by instructions required to pack the operand data. One common form of instruction stores a subword result in the least-significant subword location of a register, setting all other subword locations with default zeroes. Such results can be shifted relative to each other (filling vacated locations with default zeros) so that they can be combined by adding or ORing to achieve the desired packing. In the case of a 64-bit register and one-byte results, seven shift operations and seven additions can be required for packing. Thus, a total of fourteen instructions are required to pack the subwords so that a parallel subword operation can be performed.
Specialized packing instructions can reduce the number of additional instructions required to pack results initially stored in the same subword location of different registers. For example, "Mix" instructions implemented in the Itanium 2 processor effectively perform shifting and combining so that only seven mix instructions are required to pack eight one-byte results into a single 64-bit register.
If instead of storing all results in the same (e.g., least-significant) subword location, instructions store results in different subword locations, separate shifting instructions are not required. Thus, the instructions can specify different subword locations for their respective result registers, filling all unspecified subword locations of the result register with default zeroes. In that case, only addition or OR instructions are required to pack results. For example, seven OR instructions can be used to pack eight one-byte results into a single register.
By storing successive subword results in different subword locations of the same register, the need for separate packing instructions can be eliminated. However, this requires that each instruction preserve the contents of subword locations not used to store the result. This can be accomplished by reading the result register, modifying the contents so read by replacing the specified subword location with result data, and then overwriting the result register with the modified data.
While these "self-packing" instructions eliminate the need for the additional packing instructions, they do require that a read port be dedicated to reading the result register so that some of its contents can be preserved. The read port so used is thus unavailable for operand data, thus reducing the amount of data that can be processed per instruction. Where there are only two register read ports, which is typically the case for general purpose processors, only one port remains available for operand data. Since parallel subword instructions require at least two read ports for operand data, this approach is not compatible with such instructions in the context of a general-purpose processor.
While it is possible to design a processor with three read register read ports, this is considered excessive in the context of general-purpose processor design, where the number of register read ports is typically two. Thus, only the first three approaches to packing results are compatible with parallel subword and other two-operand instructions in the context of a general-purpose processor design. What is needed is an approach that minimizes the instruction count required to pack parallel subword instruction results while being compatible with two-operand instructions in the context of a general-purpose processor.

Data processor with individually writable register subword locations

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A disposable device for centrifugation of blood is used for separating or also washing constituents of the blood includes a centrifugation chamber with a revolving shaft and an opening through which the shaft passes, a rotational guide, a rotational driver, and at least one static member for admission/evacuation engaged in the centrifugation chamber. This member includes at least one channel for intake of the blood and at least one outlet channel for one of its constituents, and at least one admission channel for a pressurized gaseous fluid which opens out inside the centrifugation chamber. A gap is formed in the opening between the centrifugation chamber and the static member and allows the gaseous fluid to escape from the centrifugation chamber.

The present invention relates to a disposable device for centrifugation of blood, which is used to separate or also wash constituents of the blood. Such blood can be whole blood, for example, or blood from which the leukocytes have already been removed by filtration, or blood flowing from an operating site.
Centrifugation is the most commonly used technique for separating blood constituents, such as red blood cells, plasma, white blood cells and platelets, from blood originating directly from the donor, from a collection bag, from an operating site or from a blood sample. This is done using separators that are composed of a centrifugation chamber driven in rotation about a vertical shaft by a motor capable of turning at high speed, generally between 1,000 and 50,000 rpm. The blood is introduced continuously or non-continuously into the centrifugation chamber by way of an inlet channel that forms part of a fixed axial member of the centrifugation device.
Under the effect of the centrifugal force, the various constituents of the blood separate on account of their different densities. This separation takes place naturally in a predefined order, such that the blood constituent of greater density, namely the red blood cells, is always positioned at the greatest possible distance from the axis of revolution, whereas the constituent of lower density will always be situated nearer this axis than all the other constituents. By means of this separation in distinct layers, these constituents can be extracted separately by collectors that extend respectively into the stratification zones. In this way, each blood constituent is conveyed separately to an outlet channel situated in the fixed axial member of the device. Once they have been extracted from the centrifugation chamber via these outlet channels, they can be collected in separate bags or re-injected into the patient.
Such a device is described in more detail in patent application EP 05405037. When it is intended to be used in non-sterile environments, for example in blood transfusion centers or in a hospital environment, it is imperative to be able to guarantee the sterility of all the volumes through which the blood and its constituents will pass. To meet this requirement, the separation kits are made ready in a sterile package and are designed in such a way as to define a closed space that is hermetically sealed off to entry of any gas or fluid other than blood. To this end, the various bags for collecting the blood products are generally pre-connected to the separation kit.
The sterility of this assembly would not be complete unless a means was provided to ensure non-contamination of the centrifugation chamber at the place where the fixed and movable parts join, namely between the axial member for admission/evacuation and the centrifugation chamber. This means must satisfy two main criteria, namely that of guaranteeing the sterility of the centrifugation device, and also that of permitting high speeds of rotation of the centrifugation chamber while minimizing the heating between the fixed and movable parts of the device. This latter criterion is aimed at preventing heating of the blood by conduction within this device. The reason is that it is imperative to keep the blood at a temperature below 40° C. in order to avoid degradation of its constituents.
In an attempt to satisfy these criteria, various systems have been used, of which one example is the device described in document U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,413 and known to a person skilled in the art by the term "lasso". This system involves the provision of a flexible tube, of which one end is integrally connected to the center of the centrifugation chamber, and of which the other end is integrally connected to a fixed part of the device. The two ends of this tube give it the shape of a half loop that is rotated about the centrifugation chamber at a speed equal to half that of the chamber. This system allows a connection to be created between the tube and the centrifugation chamber without friction and without any heating other than that arising from the bending and twisting forces of the flexible tube as it rotates about itself. The main disadvantages of this device are that it is of complex construction, it involves awkward rotation of a tube about the centrifugation chamber, and this tube is subjected to a substantial tensile stress generated by the centrifugal force to which it is subjected.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,048 describes another device, which is much simpler to produce than the preceding one, and in which the junction between the fixed admission/evacuation conduits and the rotatable chamber is formed by a pair of components that between them have a very low coefficient of friction. The first component forms part of the fixed kit and, in order to guarantee the leaktightness of the connection, it bears against the second component, which is integrally connected to the centrifugation chamber. This coupling of the components can be effected by means of a V-ring made of polymer, turning on a metal washer, or can be formed by a ceramic ring bearing on a graphite ring. Although this system has the advantages of low production costs and of being simple to use, it nevertheless has the disadvantage of limiting the maximum speed of rotation of the chamber, because of the heating induced in the components rubbing against each other.
In order to reduce this heating, consideration has also been given to the idea of adding a plurality of ventilation fins arranged near the surface of friction of the two components rubbing against each other. The provision of such a ventilated joint inside a centrifugation device does indeed contribute to improving the dissipation of heat emanating from these components, but without being entirely satisfactory. Such a device is described in more detail in document EP 619,145.
In patent application EP 05,405,037, the leaktightness between the fixed and movable parts of the centrifugation device is effected by means of a tubular joint. One of the ends of this joint is fixed on a cylindrical portion of the fixed axial member, while the other end is introduced into an annular space of the neck of the centrifugation chamber, bearing against a convex surface of this neck. By virtue of this bearing, the tubular joint undergoes radial deformation which ensures the leaktightness of the centrifugation chamber. Although the diameter of the neck of the centrifugation chamber against which this joint rubs is a small diameter, the fact remains that heating is caused directly as a function of the speed of rotation of the chamber. With this system, the maximum speed of rotation is limited because of this heating. In addition, using chambers provided with a neck of greater diameter would again render unsatisfactory the use of this tubular joint for solving said problem of heating.

Disposable device for centrifugation of blood


A method for chemical vapor deposition of a silicon-nitrogen based film onto a substrate includes introducing into a deposition chamber: (i) a substrate; (ii) a haloethylsilane precursor in the vapor state; and (iii) at least one nitrogen-containing reactant gas; and maintaining the deposition temperature within the chamber as from about 200.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to deposit a silicon-nitrogen based film on the substrate. Silicon-nitrogen based films are also included which are formed by chemical vapor deposition using a haloethylsilane precursor in a vapor state and at least one reactant gas comprising nitrogen.

Flat panel displays and integrated circuit (IC) structures use silicon-nitrogen (Si-N) based thin films for, among other uses, diffuision masks, oxidation barriers and dielectric layers. Current manufacturing technologies for producing these films use the reaction of silicon sources of the type silane (SiH.sub.4) or dichlorosilane (Cl.sub.2 SiH.sub.2) with ammonia (NH.sub.3) under thermal or plasma assisted conditions inorganic low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), sub-atmospheric pressure CVD (SACVD), or atmospheric pressure CVD (APCVD). Unfortunately, the thermal required temperatures in excess of 1000.degree. C., while plasma assistance still necessitates temperatures in excess of 750.degree. C.
The use of these inorganic thermal and plasma CVD technologies precludes efficient and safe production of Si-N systems due to the implicit restrictions in thermal budget, with processing temperatures exceeding 750.degree. C., and chemical stability, in view of the safety issues pertaining to the application of silane and similar chemistries. Their use requires stringent safety precautions as they can be pyrophoric, toxic, corrosive, or present other hazards. Plasma use, on the other hand, leads to the incorporation, in many cases, of excessive concentrations of hydrogen species, thus limiting the quality of the resulting Si-N thin films. Also, particulate generation in the CVD reactor, resulting from the reaction of silane-type chemistries with ammonia, poses significant tool reliability problems. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an alternative to use of silane and chlorosilanes as raw materials, and a need in the art for a CVD process which does not require plasma.
Alternatives to inorganic CVD techniques have been proposed, but either require difficult to access intermediates, use a high energy environment and/or result in a film in which the electrical properties are compromised. Examples of such alternative systems include that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,666 using trisilylamine ((SiH).sub.3 N) and an inert gas with optional ammonia; the system of diethylsilane and ammonia in an LPCVD system at 800.degree. C. as described In A. Hochberg et al., Mat. Res, Soc. Symp, 24, 509 (1991); and the system of cyclicsilazanes and ammonia in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process as described in B. Arkles, "Silicon Nitride From Organosilazane Cyclic And Linear Prepolymers," J. Electrochemical Soc., Vol. 133, No. 1, pp. 233-234 (1986
There is a need in the art for a method of producing silicon-nitrogen based thin films, such as (Sin.sub.x), where x is greater than zero but less than 2, which can operate below the high temperatures necessary for plasma techniques such that use of plasma is optional, which uses a system pressure preferably near atmospheric pressure (without plasma), which is efficient in throughput, and which eliminates the hazards associated with the use of silane and chlorosilanes as raw materials.

Silicon nitrogen-based films and method of making the same

The Research Foundation of State University of New York


A method and apparatus of providing a personalized light source in conjunction with a sound system includes mounting a personalized light source on a support for supporting at least one speaker next to a wearer's ear. The personalized light source includes an effective light source mounted at the distal end a semi-flexible stem. The stem allows the effective light source to be aimed as desired by the wearer and may be extended from or retracted into the support.

The many personalized devices that have been invented in modern society provide an amazing amount of freedom and convenience to users. For example, cellular telephones allow users to make and receive calls from almost any location. Laptop computers allow users to write, work, play games, etc. while traveling or while away from the home or the office.
Additionally, a battery-powered personal stereo with headphones allows a user to take his or her favorite compact discs or audio tapes virtually anywhere. In combination with the headphones, the user can use a personal stereo to listen to music, a recorded book or any other audio program without disturbing other people who may be nearby. In addition to recorded programming, a personal stereo with headphones may include or consist of a radio frequency tuner and be used to receive and listen to radio broadcasts.
With these many portable, battery-powered, personal devices, users have a vastly increased freedom to make optimal use of their time and to do those activities they would like to do at any time and place they choose.
As mentioned, one of the great advantages of personal stereos with headphones is that an audio program can be heard without disturbing other people who may be in the immediate vicinity. This is a particularly useful advantage in that many people find it pleasant to listen to music, for example, while performing other activities such as writing, reading, traveling or exercising. As these activities may frequently be performed with others nearby, it is advantageous that audio programming can be individually selected and heard only by the wearer of the headphones. Thus, the user's desire to hear the audio programming can be satisfied without requiring those nearby to listen as well.
However, other people may be disturbed not only by hearing an unwanted audio program, but also by an ambient light level which is greater than desired. For example, while sleeping most people prefer a low light level and a low noise level. For example, someone desiring to read and listen to music in the same vicinity as someone who is trying to sleep may disturb the sleeper. The sleeper may have the desired noise level if the reader listens to the music through headphones, but the sleeper may be disturbed by the light the reader requires to see the reading material being studied.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus to enable a user to simultaneously listen to an audio program and have a sufficient light level for an activity such as reading without disturbing a companion who may desire both a low noise and low light level.
In another example, it may be noted that exercise is extremely popular in modern society and extremely beneficial to individual health and fitness. Aerobic forms of exercise such as jogging, biking, and walking are particularly popular and beneficial.
As noted, many individuals enjoy listening to music or other audio programming while exercising. This is made possible by battery-powered personal stereos which provide the desired music or other audio programming wherever the runner, biker or walker may go.
Unfortunately, due to heavily loaded schedules or to avoid the heat of the day, many people choose or are required to take their exercise early in the morning or late in the evening when the ambient outdoor light level is low. Under such circumstances, the use of a personal stereo can increase the danger the exerciser is subject to. For example, the personal stereo may prevent the exerciser from hearing the approach of a vehicle and taking appropriate precautions.
Accordingly, there is a further need in the art for a method and apparatus that increase the safety of those who choose to listen to a personal stereo while exercising in low ambient light levels.

Method and apparatus for providing personalized light source and sound system


A quick connect is provided to releasably connect two objects while allowing a limited pivot motion between the two connected objects.

The present disclosure relates apparatus/devices that allow two objects to be quickly connected to each other and disconnected from each other, while allowing the objects to pivot relative to each other while connected, and in more particular applications to such devices when used to connect a tool holder/pouch to a tool belt.


A multi-core optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of core parts, a common cladding, and a coating. Particularly, in order to improve a spectral efficiency per unit sectional area, optical properties typified by the number of core parts, a sectional area of the entire multi-core optical fiber, the sum of power coupling coefficients to a core part n from all the other core parts, and a transmission loss, a non-linear refractive index, an effective area, and a chromatic dispersion of the core part n with the largest crosstalk from other core parts are set so as to satisfy a predetermined relation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-core optical fiber, a multi-core optical fiber cable, and a multi-core optical fiber transmission system.
2. Related Background of the Invention
A multi-core optical fiber having a structure in which each of core parts extending along the central axis (fiber axis) is covered by a common cladding is expected as an optical transmission line that can transmit a large volume of information. For example, in K. Imamura et al., ECOC2010, P1. 09 (Non Patent Literature 1) and K. Takenaga et al., ECOC2011, Mo. 1. LeCervin. 2 (Non Patent Literature 2), a variety of studies have been conducted for the purpose of transmitting a larger volume of information, regarding the multi-core optical fiber of this kind.

Multi-core optical fiber, multi-core optical fiber cable, and multi-core optical fiber transmission system


A crytography method of encrypting data is disclosed. The method provides for creating or selecting a master key. Thereafter, the data to be encrypted is segmented into data blocks of equal or variable lengths. For each data block a sub-key of an arbitrary starting position is selected from a pre-defined set of arbitrary positions and of matched or unmatched length from the master key, where the master key length is selected from a pre-defined set of arbitrary lengths. Having acquired the sub-key for each data block, each data block is encrypted using its sub-key and an encryption algorithm.

This invention relates to data encrypting and decrypting apparatus and to data encrypting and decrypting methods. It relates particularly but not exclusively to cryptographic systems which use variable keys, systems which use variable length data blocks, and systems which use variable encrypting and decrypting algorithms.
Cryptography typically involves converting data from an understandable form into an encrypted form which cannot be understood by persons other than the intended recipient, and transmitting the data to the recipient who deciphers the data. It is useful in many applications, including confidential business communications, Internet commerce, military intelligence, and electronic financial services. In each of these applications, it is essential that communications be secure against eavesdropping and unauthorised access.
Encryption of data is usually accomplished by applying an algorithm to that data, and decryption is accomplished by applying the inverse of that algorithm. In many cases, the encryption step involves a xe2x80x9cpass phrasexe2x80x9d or key, which is combined with the data according to the algorithm to create the encrypted message, so that it is necessary for the recipient to know both the key and the inverse algorithm in order to decrypt the message.
Cryptography typically serves two purposes. One of these is to ensure that only the intended recipient receives a secret message. This is accomplished by ensuring that only the intended recipient has the key and inverse algorithm necessary to decrypt the message. The other purpose is xe2x80x9cmessage authenticationxe2x80x9d, which provides assurance to the recipient that the message really did come from the sender. This is accomplished by ensuring that only the sender has the key and algorithm necessary to encrypt messages which make sense when decrypted by the key and inverse algorithm.
One common form of cryptography is public key cryptography, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,218,582 and 4,200,770 by Martin E Hellman, Bailey W Diffie and Ralph C Merkle. This involves finding a pair consisting of an algorithm and an inverse algorithm, for which it is impossible (or xe2x80x9ccomputationally infeasiblexe2x80x9d) to determine the inverse algorithm from the original algorithm. One set of such algorithm/inverse pairs is known as the RSA algorithm and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,829 by Ronald L Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard M Adleman. The person who creates the algorithm/inverse pair distributes the algorithm publicly but keeps the inverse secret. Anyone can then send a secret message to that person by encrypting the message with the algorithm (or xe2x80x9cpublic keyxe2x80x9d). Only the person with the inverse algorithm (or xe2x80x9csecret keyxe2x80x9d) can decrypt any such message. Conversely, message authentication can be achieved if the person encrypts a message with the secret key. Any other person can use the public key to decrypt the message and confirm that it came from the secret key holder.
Public key cryptography is susceptible to xe2x80x9cspoofingxe2x80x9d, in which a person pretends to be someone else, and sends out a public key under that other person""s name. Moreover, because the algorithm/inverse pairs tend to be complex, this method of cryptography typically requires considerable computing resources and is comparatively slow.
Another common type of cryptography is known as DES. This is a block cipher which is the US Data Encryption Standard. A block cipher involves partitioning the message into blocks, perhaps with some padding to fill out the final block, and then encrypting and transmitting each block. DES uses a 64-bit block with a 56-bit key. DES is one of many different types of secret key cryptography, which depends upon the secret key being sent by a secured channel from the transmitter to the receiver so that it is kept secret from the rest of the world.
There are various different ways in which a person may attempt to break an encryption code without first having had access to the key and/or algorithm. One of these approaches is known as the xe2x80x9ccodebook attackxe2x80x9d, and it involves building a codebook of all possible transformations between original message text and encrypted data. This approach can work if there are patterns in the encrypted data which correspond with patterns in the message text. A codebook attack can in some instances be effective against DES cryptography.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new cryptographic method. Another object is to provide a cryptographic method which is less computationally intensive than methods based on current methods like the DES and RSA algorithms. Another object is to provide a cryptographic method which is more secure and flexible. Another object is to facilitate the transmission of data securely in real time with minimum delay or latency.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of encrypting data includes the following steps:
(a) creating or selecting a master key;
(b) segmenting the data into data blocks of equal or variable lengths;
(c) for each data block selecting a sub-key of arbitrary starting position and of matched or unmatched length from the master key; and
(d) encrypting each data block using its sub-key and a selected or associated encryption algorithm.
When an encrypted message is to be sent to a recipient, it is preferred that the master key be kept secret and provided to the recipient by a secured channel. However, this is not essential, as the master key can be public if the sub-keys or sub-key selection process are kept secret.
The master key may be created or selected in any suitable manner. It may consist of a pass phrase, or it may be generated from a pass phrase according to an algorithm which is available to both message sender and receiver.
The master key or pass phrase may also be a file or file seriesxe2x80x94text, graphic, image, audio, movie, multimedia or any binary file. Where the master key is a binary file, the file may be one that is in private, restricted, limited or closed distribution. This file might be a file that is linked to a user or group, such as a binary file containing finger-print, voice, image or other user-specific and/or user property information.
In cases where the binary file is readily and publicly available, it may be in the form of a public key or pass phrase, as described above. It can also be a multimedia file, containing data for a movie, video, image, audio, graphics, or a large text file or a non-alphabetic-based language file (e.g. Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, etc.) represented in a format that is readable to the system. The binary file can also be a common file that is part of the operating system or an application program.
Binary files of these types, although easily accessible, typically are large in volume (Kbyte to Mbytes). They can be downloaded from a site on the network or transferred via some other means, secured or otherwise. This downloading might be done on a periodic basisxe2x80x94monthly, weekly, daily or even hourly, or aperiodically, as and when needed.
The master key, if added security be needed, can be amended or replaced in the midst of its use. This event might be triggered by an algorithm.
The step of segmenting data into blocks may involve separating the data into equally-sized blocks, as occurs in the DES method, or it may involve separating the data into data blocks of variable arbitrary length. The use of variable length data blocks is preferred because it increases the degree of difficulty in attacking the encryption system, particularly if the length of each data block when encrypted bears no relationship to the length of the data block before encryption.
Sub-keys may all be of the same length, but it is preferred for the sake of maximising security that they be of variable length. They may be a selection of contiguous bits from the master key, or they may comprise non-contiguous bits determined according to a pre-arranged pattern, such as every second bit from the sub-key start position, or skipping every third byte, etc. It is preferred for the sake of convenience that sub-keys be comprised of contiguous bits.
The step of selecting a sub-key from the master key may involve selecting a sub-key starting position from a pre-defined set of arbitrary positions and selecting a sub-key length from a pre-defined set of arbitrary lengths. Thus, for example, there may be a table of randomly-selected starting positions and a table of randomly-selected lengths. Sub-key selection may proceed simply by moving through the table in linear sequence. Variations include changing sub-key only on every second or third data block, skipping every second table entry, etc. In arrangements where sub-key selection proceeds in order through a pre-defined table, provided the message sender and receiver already both have the same tables, there is no need for communicating the particular selections for starting positions and lengths for each data block. Alternatively, instead of moving through the table in sequence, sub-key selection may involve choosing random numbers n and m, where n designates the nth entry in the first table and m designates the mth entry in the second table. In this arrangement, the tables form part of a seed (preferably secret) which has previously been created and shared between message sender and recipient. The message sender can let the receiver know the sub-key simply by specifying (n,m), and the receiver extracts the sub-key from the master key by locating the nth entry in the starting position table and the mth entry in the length table from the seed, and applying those values to the master key.
A sub-key start position is an indicator of the number of bits or bytes (or other data units) which are ignored in the master key before data is taken for the sub-key. The sub-key length is a measure of the number of bits or bytes (or other data units) which are taken from the master key for use in the sub-key, starting from the sub-key start position. If a sub-key length is longer than the amount of data in the master key after the sub-key start position, the master key can xe2x80x9cwrapxe2x80x9d, so that the remaining data for the sub-key is obtained from the start of the master key.
In the invention as it has been described so far, different data blocks are encrypted by reference to different sub-keys. Security can be further enhanced by also using different algorithms for encrypting different data blocks. This makes attacks particularly difficult because the attacker must identify not only a separate sub-key for each data block but also a separate algorithm. The algorithms may be any suitable types of bit manipulation, processing or encryption algorithms. An algorithm might alternatively or additionally effect an action such as a change or amendment in the master key (which may be conditional or otherwise, in part or in whole), with the change or amendment occurring during the encryption/decryption process.
A set of algorithms may be identified and stored in a randomly ordered table in a seed together with a sub-key start position table and a sub-key length table, as described above. Different or replicated algorithms may be used for different data blocks simply by progressing through the table in linear or parallel fashion one at a time, or in some predetermined pattern such as changing algorithm for every third data block or skipping every fourth algorithm. Alternatively, and more preferably, different algorithms are selected from the table in an arbitrary order. In this arrangement, where the seed has earlier been communicated to the receiver via a secured channel, the message sender can identify the sub-key and algorithm for each data block in the simple format (n,m,p) where n indicates the nth entry in the sub-key start position table, m indicates the mth entry in the sub-key length table, and p indicates the pth entry in the algorithms table.
Where a seed is used as well as a master key, it is only necessary for either the seed or the master key to be kept secret. The master key could be made public, or readily available to the public, such as an image or movie archive file from a widely accessible web site, and persons other than the intended recipient would still be unable to determine the particular sub-keys and/or algorithms used in encrypting a particular message. Alternatively, the seed could be made public, and persons other than the intended recipient would be unable to determine the master key. For increased security, it is preferred that both the master key and the seed be kept secret.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of encrypting data includes the following steps:
(a) creating or selecting a master key;
(b) segmenting the data into data blocks of equal or variable lengths;
(c) for each data block selecting an encryption algorithm;
(d) encrypting each data block using its encryption algorithm.
As has been described above, the encryption algorithm selected for each data block may be selected from a pre-defined set or sub-set of suitable algorithms. The pre-defined set may consist of a table, so that the pth algorithm in a table can be identified in a message simply as (p), without disclosing to an interceptor any information about the nature of the algorithm itself. Such a table preferably has been communicated securely previously, or forms part of a seed which has previously been communicated secretly between the message sender and receiver. Alternatively, the seed may be communicated via a secret communication channel after the actual message has been communicated, or, less preferably, the seed may be communicated as part of the message transmission.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a method of communicating data in a secure manner from a message transmitter to a message receiver includes the following steps:
(a) creating a seed which includes a set of arbitrary sub-key start positions, a set of arbitrary sub-key lengths, and a set of suitable encryption algorithms;
(b) communicating the seed to the message receiver over a secured channel;
(c) creating or selecting a master key;
(d) communicating the master key to the message receiver over a secured channel;
(e) dividing the data into data blocks of arbitrary equal or variable length;
(f) for each data block, selecting from the seed a sub-key start position, a sub-key length (which may be matched or unmatched in length to the corresponding data block), and an encryption algorithm;
(g) using the sub-key start position and length for each data block to derive from the master key a sub-key for that data block;
(h) encrypting each data block using that data block""s sub-key and encryption algorithm;
(i) transmitting each encrypted data block to the receiver together with a sub-key start position index number, sub-key length index number and encryption algorithm index number for each data block, enabling the receiver to derive the appropriate sub-key and encryption algorithm and thereby to decrypt the data block.
The seed may be communicated to the message receiver over any suitable type of secured channel. One way of doing this is over a public key cryptography system. Given that many messages may be sent using the one seed, the additional computing resources used in sending the seed in this manner may be justified. Another way of doing this is via a physical delivery by a courier of the seed on computer storage media or in printed form. It will be appreciated that there are numerous other possible types of secured channels.
The master key may also be communicated over any suitable type of secured channel. It is especially preferred, for the sake of added security, that different secured channels, or at least different times of delivery, be used for the master key and the seed. In one suitable arrangement, the master key may be based on a pass phrase. The pass phrase may be combined with part or all of the seed according to a predetermined algorithm to generate the master key. In this case, the secured channel chosen to communicate the pass phrase may be a telephone call, with the pass phrase being spoken.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, apparatus for encrypting data includes:
(a) a data block creating processor, which accepts a stream of data as its input, and outputs the data in the form of blocks;
(b) a random selector, which selects a sub-key start position and a sub-key length;
(c) a sub-key selector, which accepts as inputs a master key, the sub-key start position and sub-key length, and derives from these a sub-key;
(d) an encryption processor, which accepts as inputs a sub-key and a data block (not necessarily of matched length), and uses the sub-key to encrypt the data block according to an encryption algorithm.
The data block creating apparatus may operate in any suitable manner. It may create data blocks of fixed or random lengths, with random lengths being especially preferred, for the reasons discussed above.
The random selector may operate in any suitable manner. It may select a sub-key start position and sub-key length directly, or, more preferably, it may select these by randomly selecting table entry numbers, where selections of pre-defined suitable start positions and lengths have previously been entered in randomly-ordered tables. Thus the sub-key can be defined concisely by two table entry numbers, which themselves bear no resemblance to the sub-key start position or length values.
It is preferred that the random selector also selects an encryption algorithm from a group of suitable algorithms. In such arrangements, the encryption processor may accept the encryption algorithm as one of its inputs. Alternatively, the apparatus may further include a plurality of encryption processors, each embodying an encryption algorithm, wherein the random selector also selects an encryption processor, with the selected encryption processor being the processor which encrypts the data block according to its encryption algorithm.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, apparatus for encrypting data includes:
(a) a data block creating processor, which accepts a stream of data as its input, and outputs the data in the form of blocks;
(b) a plurality of encryption processors, each embodying an encryption algorithm; and
(c) a random selector, which selects one of the encryption processors, so that the selected encryption processor encrypts the data block according to its encryption algorithm.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, apparatus for encrypting data includes:
(a) a data block creating processor, which accepts a stream of data as its input, and outputs the data in the form of blocks;
(b) a random selector, which selects an encryption algorithm from a group of suitable algorithm;
(c) an encryption processor, which accepts as inputs the encryption algorithm and the data block, and uses the encryption algorithm to encrypt the data block.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, apparatus for communicating data in a secure manner from a message transmitter to a message receiver, includes:
(a) a data block creating processor, which accepts a stream of data as its input, and outputs the data in the form of blocks;
(b) a random selector, which selects a sub-key start position, a sub-key length, and an encryption algorithm;
(c) a sub-key selector, which accepts as inputs a master key, the sub-key start position and sub-key length, and derives from these a sub-key;
(e) an encryption processor, which accepts as inputs a sub-key, an encryption algorithm and a data block, and uses the sub-key to encrypt the data block according to the encryption algorithm; and
(f) apparatus for transmitting each encrypted data block to the receiver together with a sub-key start position index number, sub-key length index number and encryption algorithm index number for each data block, enabling the receiver to derive the appropriate sub-key and encryption algorithm and thereby to decrypt the data block.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, apparatus for communicating data in a secure manner from a message transmitter to a message receiver, includes:
(a) a data block creating processor, which accepts a stream of data as its input, and outputs the data in the form of blocks;
(b) a plurality of encryption processors, each embodying an encryption algorithm, and each of which accepts as inputs a sub-key and a data block, and uses the sub-key to encrypt the data block according to its algorithm;
(c) a random selector, which selects, for each data block, a sub-key start position, a sub-key length, and an encryption processor;
(d) a sub-key selector, which accepts as inputs a master key, the sub-key start position and sub-key length, and derives from these a sub-key;
(e) apparatus for transmitting each encrypted data block to the receiver together with a sub-key start position index number, sub-key length index number and encryption algorithm index number for each data block, enabling the receiver to derive the appropriate sub-key and encryption algorithm and thereby to decrypt the data block.
It will be appreciated that the invention is suitable for the generation of digital signatures. A digital signature is a portion of code appended to a digital document or used to encode the document or a part thereof, in order to prove to the recipient that the document is a genuine communication from the person or organisation who applied the digital signature. If only the receiver and the sender have access to a secret encryption and decryption process, and the receiver receives a validly encoded message, the receiver can be certain that the message was sent by the sender. Digital signatures are important in fields such as electronic commerce, where it is necessary to make legally binding electronic transactions.
The invention will hereinafter be described in greater detail by reference to the attached drawings which show an example form of the invention. It is to be understood that the particularity of those drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an encryption process according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the contents of a seed for use in the process of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory illustration of the operation of the sub-key parts of the seed of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates the extraction of a sub-key from a master key in the process of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 illustrates the principle of multiple xe2x80x9choppingxe2x80x9d sub-keys extracted from the master key in the process of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a further graphical illustration of multiple xe2x80x9choppingxe2x80x9d sub-keys extracted from the master key.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory illustration of the operation of the securithm numbers part of the ed of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is a graphical illustration of multiple xe2x80x9choppingxe2x80x9d securithms in the process of FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a step-by-step illustration of the encryption of one data block in the process FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 provides a more detailed explanation of one of the algorithm steps of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 illustrates the correspondence between data blocks in the original message and data blocks in the encrypted message.
FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of generic apparatus suitable for accomplishing the process of FIG. 1.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the inputs and outputs of the encrypting process of FIG. 1 and a corresponding decrypting process.

Data encrypting and decrypting apparatus and method


A header arrangement has an elongated, lower, and substantially horizontal flange with a downwardly open U-shape for embracing a wall structured along at least part of the length of the lower flange, an elongated, and substantially vertical web connected along and extending upwardly from the lower flange, and an elongated, upper, and substantially horizontal flange connected along an upper edge of the vertical web and also having a U-shape. Web stiffeners and end stiffeners are engaged to the flanges and web to brace the header arrangement against static and dynamic loads.

The present invention relates in general to the field of building components and construction, and in particular to a new and useful header arrangement for use in metal and non-metal buildings.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/801,068 filed Mar. 15, 2004 is incorporated here by reference, and discloses the inventor's previous invention of a Metal Building Construction. This prior patent application, among other times, discloses metal building panels that advantageously interlock at Z-shaped structures provided at the opposite vertical edges of each panel.
Virtually all buildings include openings through their walls in the form of windows, doors and other needed openings of various heights and widths. Since these openings necessarily weaken the static or vertical load bearing capacity of the wall, at least in the area of the opening, measures must be taken to increase the strength of the wall above each opening. The aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/801,068, solves this problem by connecting shorter metal panels that are of similar construction to the longer wall panels, in a side-by-side arrangement to span each opening. For windows, a similar combination of shorter panels is also provided below each window.
In more conventional wooden stud wall and other building constructions, this problem is solved using headers in the form of strong, wide and heavy wooden beams that span the top of each opening and provide the needed load support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,602 for a Structural Panel for Pre-fabricated Buildings, discloses a structural member having an elongated panels with generally Z-shaped portions that nest with each other. Flanges of the nested panels cooperate to form a receptacle for a stud or joist to form a wall, floor or ceiling combination, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,136 for a Prefabricated Structure Panel discloses a structural member having elongated panels with Z-shaped, nested portions and reinforcing members at the top and bottom of plural nested panels, along with top and bottom plates.
A need remains for a header arrangement that is light in weight and strong in construction, and particularly although not exclusively, suited for metal building construction.


A pump having a drive unit with an electric motor, a hydraulic unit connected to the electric motor, and an integrated control unit operatively connected to the electric motor and configured for monitoring and controlling the pump. An integrated pressure sensor, connected to the control unit, has a fixed reference pressure. The control unit determines a liquid level of a liquid surrounding the pump based on a relation between an actual value of the pressure sensor and a reference value. A method for calibrating the pump comprises initiating pumping, continuing pumping until the liquid level is equal to a predetermined calibration level, determining the actual pressure value when the liquid level is equal to the predetermined calibration level, and calibrating the pump by setting a new reference pressure value corresponding to the actual pressure value.

In mines, on construction sites, and the like applications, there is almost always a need to remove water in order to secure a dry enough environment at the working site. In mining/tunneling applications a lot of drilling water is used when preparing for charging before blasting and if the drilling water is not removed at least the lower parts of the mine will become flooded. Surface water and groundwater will also add up to accumulation of water to be removed. It is customary to use drainage pumps to lift the water out of the mine, and the water is lifted stepwise from the lower parts of the mine to different basins located at different depths of the mine. Each step/lift may for instance be in the range 25-50 meters in the vertical direction and the length of the outlet conduit, i.e. the transport distance, in each step/lift may for instance be in the range 100-300 meters. In mining applications a considerable amount of sand and stone material is suspended in the water, in some applications as much as 10%.
Generally the personnel, as well as the actual process at the working site, requires a constant low liquid level and therefor it is often decided that the drainage pump should be in constant operation even though there is momentary only little water available. Thus, in some applications the drainage pumps are in constant operation, irrespective of water being pumped or not. Constant operation of the drainage pump may damage the drainage pump and result in excessive energy consumption. If there is no or little inflow of water to the pit/dent housing the drainage pump, the drainage pump will start to heat the water, an operational mode referred to as boiling. During boiling, the elevated temperature in the drainage pump and in the water is especially harmful for the seals, and eventually all water will become evaporated. The combination of high operational speed and snoring accelerates pump wear and significantly shortens the operative life of the drainage pump. Constant operation is good and inevitable when there is a constant inflow to the pit/dent housing the pump.
In other applications, the drainage pump is operated in an automatic ON/OFF-operation, i.e. the pump is stopped when the water level surrounding the pump is low, for instance the pump is stopped when the pump is snoring or is stopped by means of a level sensor. The pump is snoring when a mixture of air and water is sucked into the inlet of the pump. The pump is stopped to decrease the use of energy when the pump is not able to perform any positive duty, and to spare the pump from additional wear.
Independently on operational mode it is important to know at least some specific liquid levels with high accuracy, in order to efficiently minimize wear and energy consumption during operation of the pump. The better knowledge about the momentary liquid level of the liquid surrounding the pump the more detailed and sophisticated methods for control the pump can be used. If the liquid level is high the pump might need to operate at maximum operational speed, at other liquid levels the pump can be run at reduced operational speed, and when the liquid level is low the pump should be stopped or the operational speed significantly reduced.
Conventionally a pump is equipped with external level sensors detecting when the liquid level reaches a pump start liquid level and a pump stop liquid level, respectively. These level sensors are of so-called discrete type, i.e. I/O. The external level sensors may be constituted by conventional floating level sensors that will detect a pump start liquid level when tilted a first angle and that will detect a pump stop liquid level when tilted a second angle. However, these floating level sensors may become prevented from floating freely due to solid matter in the liquid or by other external obstacles and thereby not able to detect the liquid level correctly. Some known pumps have other discrete type level sensors integrated into the pump.
In order to operate the pump more efficiently it is known to have external level sensors of analogous type, such as gauge pressure sensors. This kind of level sensor measure the pressure acting against the level sensor, and the measured pressure correspond to a submerged depth of the level sensor in relation to the liquid level. However, in order to provide accurate data, i.e. to compensate for air pressure differences in the atmosphere, such a level sensor solution also requires a reference gauge pressure sensor located above the liquid level. Se for instance U.S. Pat. No. 8,036,838. These pressure sensors are expensive. Thereto, the pressure sensor detects the submerged depth of the pressure sensor and not of the pump as such. Thus it is vital, and at the same time almost impossible, to know the exact mutual location/orientation of the drainage pump and the external/detached pressure sensor. Thereto it is not suitable to have this type of external pressure sensor attached to the drainage pump since the risk of damage to the pressure sensor due to the rough environment/handling of the drainage pump is imminent.
Pumps, especially drainage pumps, which are truly mobile and configured to be located in various pits/dents in tough environments, there is an obvious disadvantage to have external level sensors.


A method for scheduling a computational task is proposed. The method includes receiving, at a server, a request for executing a computational task from a client device. The method further includes forwarding the computational task to a processing device if a predetermined condition is fulfilled. The predetermined condition can be based on an execution time or on a security level of data of the computational task, for example.

Cloud computing services performed by servers within data centers experience continuously rising interest. Cloud computing models enable providing computing resources to a plurality of client devices. In the cloud computing model, clients can collect data and send requests to a cloud server for further processing. The cloud server handles the requests and sends corresponding responses or results to the clients.
Cloud computing models can be used for smart home applications as well as for a plurality of other customer or business applications. For example, a user can use speech interaction with a voice assistant of a smart home device or a user can use face authentication to access his confidential account. The examples can involve uploading user data to the cloud server, allocating computational resources in the cloud server to process the user data, and sending back the result to the user from the cloud server. Potentially, by using cloud computing, the user may experience latency due to limited network bandwidth and long data round trip times. The user may also experience latency because the cloud server may not be able to timely handle his requests due to limited server compute capacity. Moreover, the user may worry about the privacy of his personal data.

Method for scheduling a computational task, a method for processing a computational task, a computer readable storage medium, a computer program, a residential gateway, and a server


Two spectrally distinguishable GFPs are used as reporters in mammalian cells to simultaneously and independently analyze the expressions of two transcriptional elements. The two GFPs, encoded by single stably integrated transcriptional elements, are readily and quantitatively detectable by FACS or flow cytometry. One of the GFP mutants (S202F, T203I, V163A) retains only the major excitation peak of wild-type GFP, while the other (S65T, V163A) retains only the minor excitation peak of wild-type GFP. Both variants have emission peaks overlapping that of wtGFP. The first mutant is excited at 406 nm using a Kr ion laser, while the second mutant is excited at 488 nm using an Ar ion laser. Emissions from both GFPs are measured at about 515 nm. The mutant excited at 406 nm can be used in conjuction with a fluorescein-based assay such as FACS-Gal. Applications include drug screening, measurements of temporal orders of gene expression, analysis of signal transduction pathways, and measurements of protein-protein interactions using two-hybrid systems.

Reporter/marker genes have found wide use in the study of cellular genetic regulation and gene function. In studies of genetic regulation, a regulatory element (e.g. promoter or enhancer) fused to a reporter gene is transfected into cells. The amount of reporter molecule subsequently generated reflects the transcriptional activity of the regulatory element.
Reporter genes can be used to measure, among others, transcriptional activities of synthetic enhancers (e.g. enhancers formed by multimerization of a single nuclear binding site motif), and protein-protein interactions using two-hybrid systems.
In studies of gene function, marker molecules distinguish cells expressing transfected/infected genes from uninfected cells. A gene of interest is co-transfected with a marker gene. Cells expressing the gene of interest are identified by the presence of marker molecule. The marker molecule and the product of interest can be expressed as a protein fusion. Alternatively, the marker molecule and the product of interest can be expressed as distinct proteins from a transcriptional fusion having an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES).
With the recent development of reporter genes detectable by flow cytometry, it has become possible to analyze the expression of a transcriptional element within an individual mammalian cell. However, there is no currently available method of independently analyzing two transcriptional elements within a mammalian cell.
The articles by Nolan et al. in PNAS USA 85:2603-2607 (1985) and Fiering et al. in Cytometry 12: 291-301 (1991), herein incorporated by reference, describe FACS-Gal, a fluorogenic assay that permits the detection and isolation of individual cells expressing lacZ. The gene lacZ encodes the enzyme .beta.-galactosidase, which cleaves the non-fluorescent substrate fluorescein-di-.beta.-galactopyranoside to release fluorescein. For further information on FACS-Gal and some of its uses, see also the article by Kerr and Herzenberg in Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology 2(3):261-271 (1991), herein incorporated by reference.
Another type of reporter gene previously used for FACS analysis of mammalian cells is described in an article by Rice et al. in PNAS USA 89(12):5467-5471 (1992). A gene encoding a plasma membrane surface receptor is transfected into cells that do not endogenously express the receptor. Fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies bind to receptor present on the cell surface, and can be detected by flow cytometry. Several difficulties have precluded the widespread use of receptor-encoding reporter genes, including the unquantitative nature of the detection, and the potential interference of the receptor with normal signal transduction pathways.
Recently, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, isolated from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, has become available as a potential reporter or marker in procaryotes and eucaryotes. The gfp gene encodes a protein which fluoresces when excited by violet or blue-green light. GFP is unique among reporters in that the GFP fluorophore spontaneously forms intracellularly without added cofactors, and in that it provides a direct readout of gene expression. The use of GFP eliminates the need for introducing a substrate into live cells, and for evaluating complex enzyme-substrate kinetics. For information on GFP see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,084, herein incorporated by reference, and the articles by Peters et al. in Dev. Biol. 171:252-257 (1995), Rizzuto et al. in Curr. Biol. 5:635-642 (1995), and Cubitt et al. in Trends in Biochemical Sciences 20:448-455 (1995). The Cubitt et al. article includes a summary of reports of GFP expression in various procaryotic and eucaryotic systems.
GFP is a 238-amino acid protein, with amino-acids 65-67 (Ser, Tyr, and Gly, respectively) thought to be involved in the formation of the chromophore. For information on the structure of wtGFP, see the article by Yang et al. in Nature Biotechnology 14(10):1246-1251 (1996). FIG. 1-A shows a proposed biosynthetic scheme for the GFP chromophore. Only some of the expressed protein folds into a fluorescent form. For a given quantity of GFP within a cell, the GFP brightness depends on the quantum yield of the protein and on the fraction of protein correctly folded.
FIG. 1-B shows the excitation and emission spectra of wtGFP. Wild-type GFP has a major excitation peak at 395 nm, a minor excitation peak at 475 nm and a single emission peak at 509 nm. The two excitation peaks presumably reflect two distinct states (protonated and unprotonated) of the fluorophore. Illumination of wtGFP with UV or violet light results in photobleaching, and in photoisomerization from the state maximally excited at 395 nm to the state maximally excited at 475 nm. Photobleaching decreases the absolute magnitude of both excitation peaks, while photoisomerization reduces the relative magnitude of the major excitation peak. For data on photobleaching and photoisomerization of GFP, see the above-incorporated article by Cubitt et al.
A number of GFP mutants having altered excitation and emission spectra when expressed in E. coli are described in articles by Heim et al. in PNAS USA 91:12501-12504 (1994) and in Nature 373:663-664 (1995), herein incorporated by reference. Table 1 provides a summary of some characteristics of GFPs expressed in E. coli, as disclosed in the two Heim et al. articles.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Excitation Emission Mutation maximum maximum Relative fluorescence (%) ______________________________________ None 396 nm 508 nm =100 Ser-202 to Phe 398 nm 511 nm 117 (w/395 nm exc) Thr-203 to Ile Ile-167 to Val 471 nm 502 nm 166 (w/475 nm exc) Ile-167 to Thr 471 nm 502 nm 188 (w/475 nm exc) Tyr-66 to His 382 nm 448 nm 57 (w/395 nm exc) Tyr-66 to Trp 458 nm 480 nm Not done Ser-65 to Thr 489 nm 511 nm .about.600 Ser-65 to Cys 479 nm 507 nm .about.600 ______________________________________
Wild-type GFP as well as GFP mutants of various colors can be readily and quantitatively detected in bacteria, by fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. In mammalian cells, however, analysis of GFP fluorescence has proven relatively difficult, primarily because of the relatively high levels of autofluorescence in mammalian cells, and the high temperatures at which mammalian cells are grown. Molecules such as pyridine nucleotides, flavin nucleotides and flavoproteins fluoresce upon ultraviolet or blue excitation, and can obscure GFP fluorescence. Mammalian cell autofluorescence is particularly bright for UV excitation. Moreover, mammalian cells are typically grown at 37.degree. C., well above the temperature that yields maximal GFP fluorescence. The high temperatures at which mammalian cells are grown hinder the proper folding of GFP. For information on the temperature dependence of GFP fluorescence, see the article by Ogawa et al. in PNAS USA 92:11899-11903 (1995), herein incorporated by reference.
Wild-type or S65T GFP fluorescence can be qualitatively detected by flow cytometry in transiently transfected mammalian cells containing multiple copies of GFP expression vectors (data not shown, also reported in the article by Ropp et al. in Cytometry 21:309-317 (1995), herein incorporated by reference). However, the relative dullness of GFP in mammalian cells and the spectral overlap of wtGFP with available mutants have impeded the simultaneous detection by flow cytometry of multiple GFPs within an individual mammalian cell.
Ropp et al. describe an analysis by spectrofluorometry and flow cytometry of mammalian cells expressing wtGFP or S65T-GFP. The article also contains data on green autofluorescence for UV, violet, and blue green excitation in mammalian cells. The dullness of the described GFPs, and the similarity of the responses of wtGFP to blue and violet excitation would preclude the simultaneous flow cytometry analysis of wtGFP and S65T-GFP in mammalian cells. The two variants could not be used to distinguish cells expressing a single GFP variant from cells expressing both variants. Also, the two variants could not be used to independently analyze the expression of two transcriptional elements within mammalian cells.
Bender et al. (Bender, Kahana, Hudson, and Silver, personal communication) have isolated a number of mutants that show increased fluorescence in E. coli. In particular, one of the mutants (V163A) identified by Bender et al. retains the spectral properties (wavelengths of the excitation and emission peaks) of wild-type GFP but shows a 17-fold increase in fluorescence intensity in E. coli.

Two-reporter FACS analysis of mammalian cells using green fluorescent proteins

The Board of Trustees Of The Leland Stanford Junior University


Disclosed herein is an interface which users can intuitively operate. A control signal input system includes a display device which displays a graphical user interface including plural control items for controlling a device, the control items being displayed in a predetermined layout; and an input device having an input unit operable to make a selection from control items displayed on the display device, the input unit having a shape, wherein the shape of the input unit corresponds to the layout of the control items.

The present invention relates to a control signal input system and a control signal input method for inputting control signals of electronic devices.
Many of conventional home-use AV (audio visual) devices are equipped with remote controllers. Remote controllers transmit remote control signals to the bodies of the AV devices by means of infrared rays. Users can control switching of channels and increase/decrease of sound volume from remote places from the AV devices.
A remote controller is ordinarily provided with plural buttons on the surface thereof. For example, a television remote controller is provided with buttons such as channel buttons, volume buttons, and video switches. The buttons one-to-one correspond to contents of operations. When a button of channel 1 is selected, the screen switches to the channel 1. When a button to increase sound volume is selected, the volume increases. This kind of input/select scheme is called a push-type selection scheme. With push-type remote controllers, AV devices can be operated simply by selecting buttons. Therefore, even users who are weak in machines can easily operate AV devices (e.g., see Jpn. Pat. Appl.n Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-274298).
In recent years, AV devices have become more multifunctional. A television disclosed in the publication No. 2003-274298 is added with a function to select automatically a genre of a broadcasting program. According to this publication, a button to operate the added function is added to a remote controller. A television also disclosed in this publication is added with buttons, e.g., buttons of genres 1 to 9, a genre registration button, and a timer reservation button. If buttons are thus added, a huge number of buttons have to be provided.
Some conventional remote controllers have a small display. For example, when a menu key of a remote controller is selected, a menu according to upper classification is displayed. Further, a menu according to middle classification, an aimed select item, or the like is selected from the displayed menu. By thus hierarchizing select items, a large number of functions can be set. However, a search for an aimed item on the small display may be a burden to users.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is desirable to provide a control signal input system which can be intuitively operated by users, and a control signal input method thereof.

Control signal input system and control signal input method


An internal combustion engine has a cylinder head mounted to an engine block that at least partially forms a plurality of cylinder combustion chambers. The cylinder head has multiple intake ports and multiple exhaust ports. Engine valves regulate the passage of gas into and out of the combustion chamber. Cam-operated engine valves are mechanically coupled to a rotating cam directly or through one or more of a variety of components that assist in transforming the rotational kinetic energy of the cam to linear motion of the engine valves. One of the exhaust valves and one of the intake valves are mechanically coupled to the cam. Electrohydraulic actuators actuate separate intake and exhaust valves of a particular cylinder. The electrohydraulic actuators are in fluid communication with a high pressure fluid source.

Valve actuation systems typically involve a rotating cam that actuates engine valves directly or through mechanical devices such as rocker arms, including deactivating rocker arms and variable lift rocker arms, pushrods, hydraulic lash adjusters and tappets. Such valve actuation systems are dependent on lift provided by cam lobes in order to actuate a valve from a seated position. Such dependence is exhibited in both exhaust and intake valves. However, opening and closing of both exhaust and intake valves independently of the position of the cam can be beneficial for certain types of engine operation.

Hybrid cam-camless variable valve actuation system


Compositions in compressed form consisting essentially of a chloroisocyanurate compound and a disintegrating amount of a natural water-soluble gum selected from the group consisting of seed gums and microbial gums. The novel compositions when placed in water readily disperse the chloroisocyanurate compound to provide rapid and controlled increases in concentrations of available chlorine to water bodies such as swimming pools, spas, or hot tubs.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is related to compositions for sanitizing water bodies. More particularly, this invention is related to rapidly disintegrating compositions containing chloroisocyanurate compounds for sanitizing water bodies.
2. Description of Related Art
Trichloroisocyanuric acid is a known commercial compound for sanitizing water bodies such as swimming pools by providing available chlorine when dissolved in the water. When placed in a water body such as a swimming pool, trichloroisocyanuric acid dissolves slowly to release its available chlorine concentration and sanitize the water body. The solubility rate, for example, for tablets containing 14 grams of trichloroisocyanuric acid in water at 21.degree. C. is about 0.27 gram per hour.
When increased solubility in water is required, other chloroisocyanurates, such as dichloroisocyanuric acid, or alkali metal salts of dichloroisocyanuric acid and their hydrates can be employed.
Alternatively, to increase the solubility rate of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), mixtures have been prepared with alkali metal salts, such as alkali metal carbonates and bicarbonates which react with TCCA in the presence of water to form an alkali metal dichloroisocyanurate.
Mixtures of trichloroisocyanuric acid with water soluble alkali metal salts such as alkali metal phosphates, including trisodium phosphate and tetrasodium phosphate, as well as sodium borate and sodium silicate are also known as sanitizing agents.
Separately, South African patent No. 73-9740, issued to Henkel & Cie teaches making readily soluble tablets by mixing dichloroisocyanuric acid or its alkali metal salts with starches such as potato, maize, wheat or rice starch, or starches which have been chemically partially reduced, peptized, or carboxymethylated. These tablets are used for the production of bleaching and disinfecting solutions, for example, for textiles, cleansing and rinsing preparations, alkaline bottle cleaners and mechanical dish washer preparations. The tablets can contain from 2.5 to 18 percent by weight of the starch and 80-97 percent by weight of sodium or potassium dichloroisocyanurate. It has been found, however, that in tablets oxidation of the starch occurs which reduces the stability of these mixtures.

Chloroisocyanurate compositions which rapidly disintegrate


When a current input to a step-up voltage device of an electric power steering apparatus is equal to or higher than a first threshold current and an input voltage applied to the step-up voltage device is lower than a first threshold voltage, the step-up voltage device of the electric power steering apparatus discontinuously switches an output voltage to a voltage lower than a rated step-up voltage. When the input voltage becomes lower than a second threshold voltage which is lower than the first threshold voltage, the step-up voltage device sets the output voltage to a voltage equal to the input voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power steering apparatus in a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electric power steering apparatus, an electric motor generates an assist torque in accordance with a steering torque and transmits the torque to a steering shaft, and thereby reduces the steering torque. Generally, a vehicle of 2000 cc engine requires a current of 60 A or more. Therefore, a voltage higher than a battery voltage of the vehicle is required in order to gain a larger output voltage. An electric power steering apparatus which includes a step-up voltage apparatus for stepping up a battery voltage and drives the motor with a step-up voltage is disclosed. Further, the electric power steering apparatus discloses that, when an input voltage continues to be lower than a predetermined value for a predetermined time, an output voltage is gradually lowered at a predetermined inclination (as shown in JP-H08-127355).
However, a conventional step-up voltage device outputs a uniform step-up voltage (20V) when an input voltage (battery voltage) is in a range of a rated voltage (10 V to 16 V). The device reduces the output voltage at a predetermined inclination when the input voltage is equal to or lower than the range of the rated voltage. Accordingly, even a motor stops and a large mount of current flows, the step-up output voltage continues to be output until the input voltage is out of the range of the rated input voltage. Even if the input voltage is lowered, the output voltage is lowered at the predetermined inclination, which causes the current in the device to be delayed in lowering. Generally speaking, a voltage is likely to drop when a current from a worn-out battery increases. Consequently, when a current from batteries increases and a voltage drops, an electric circuit driven by the battery cannot properly operate. Further, when a large amount of current is taken out of a worn-out battery, the battery is likely to be damaged due to an internal voltage drop.


A method and apparatus for allocating registers when compiling code is provided. In response to determining there are insufficient registers associated with a first functional unit of a processor to allocate to a region of code, instructions associated with the region designated for execution on a first functional of processor that may be executed by second functional unit are detected. Those instructions generated for execution on the first functional unit are replaced with the instructions executed on the second functional unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the optimization of code generated by a compiler, and in particular, to functional unit switching for the allocation of registers for the code being compiled.
2. Description of Related Art
An important function of an optimizing compiler is allocating physical registers to be used when code generated by the optimizing compiler is executed. Physical registers are actual hardware registers supported by the particular platform on which the code is executed. In some situations, code can be executed in the available physical registers without requiring any additional physical registers. However, in other situations, the execution of code requires more than the number of available physical registers. For example, for a sequence of instructions that performs a series of calculations, the number of intermediate values (e.g. variables, intermediate computations) which must be maintained may exceed the number of available physical registers. In this situation, another approach for allocating physical registers must be employed.
One such approach used by contemporary optimizing compilers is a multi-pass approach. In one pass, a set of virtual or "symbolic" registers is assigned to code. Virtual registers are sometimes considered to be infinite in number, but for practical reasons, are usually limited to some fairly large number. During a subsequent pass, the set of virtual registers are assigned to a set of physical registers. For situations when the number of virtual registers is less than or equal to the number of physical registers, assigning the set of virtual registers to the set of physical registers is relatively simple. However, when the number of virtual registers exceeds the number of available physical registers, then the set of virtual registers must be mapped to the set of physical registers. In the context of compilers, mapping a set of virtual registers to a set of physical registers refers to determining an assignment of the set of virtual registers to the set of physical registers so that all computations specified by this code can be performed in the set of physical registers.
One approach for mapping a set of virtual registers to a set of physical registers is known as the graph coloring approach which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,678 issued to Chaitin on Feb. 18, 1986. Generally, the graph coloring approach involves constructing and analyzing a register interference graph for each portion of the code. The register interference graph includes a number of nodes which represent the virtual registers. Pairs of nodes in the graph are connected when two variables represented by the nodes cannot simultaneously share a physical register at some point in time during the execution of the code, effectively representing a conflict between the two nodes.
The register interference graph is then analyzed and nodes having fewer connections than the number of available physical registers are removed from the graph. If all of the nodes can be removed from the graph, then a coloring can be determined. That is, all of the virtual registers can be mapped to physical registers. However, sometimes the register interference graph contains one or more nodes having more connections than the number of available physical registers. This means that the number of available hardware registers is insufficient to store all of the intermediate values specified by the code. Thus, some intermediate values must be stored in another storage medium such as memory.
The process of temporarily storing data to another storage medium such as memory is referred to as "spilling." Generally, spilling involves performing a spill operation, followed by one or more reload operations. The spill operation causes some specified data to be stored from a physical register into another storage medium, such as a runtime stack in memory. Each reload operation causes the specified data to be loaded or copied from the other storage medium into a physical register. Reload operations are typically performed when the specified data is required for a calculation.
In terms of the register interference graph, a spill is reflected in the graph by disconnecting a node from all other nodes and removing that node from the graph. Then the graph is rebuilt and analyzed again. This process is repeated until a mapping of the set of virtual registers to the set of physical registers is determined.
The high level approach for mapping a set of virtual registers to a set of physical registers according to the graph coloring approach is illustrated by the flow chart of FIG. 1. After starting in step 100, a register interference graph is built in step 102. Then in step 104, the register interference graph is analyzed. As previously described, analyzing the register interference graph involves removing any nodes which have fewer connections to other nodes than the number of available physical registers.
In step 106, a determination is made as to whether the register interference graph can be colored. As previously discussed, if all of the nodes can be removed from the graph, indicating that there are no conflicts, then the graph can be colored. If so, then the process is complete in step 108. On the other hand, if in step 106 the graph cannot be colored, then in step 110, one of the virtual registers is spilled, which eliminates the spilled register as a conflicted node in the graph. In step 112 the register interference graph is rebuilt and then steps 104 through 112 are repeated until the register graph is colored.
The Problem
Although the spilling approach allows a set of virtual registers to be mapped to a set of physical registers, the approach does have some disadvantages. One disadvantage is that write and read operations to secondary storage mediums, such as runtime stacks, often take more time to execute than write and read operations to central processing unit (CPU) registers. Furthermore, additional instructions must be executed to perform the spill and reload operations. This increases the overall time required to process a sequence of instructions which provide for the spilling of data.
Consider the example illustrated by FIGS. 2A and 2B. A code block 200 includes code 202 which defines a variable X. Code block 200 also includes code 204, 206, 208 and 210, which use the variable X. Code block 200 may also include other code which is not illustrated.
FIG. 2B illustrates code block 200 which has been modified to reflect the spilling of variable X. Specifically, code 212 has been added immediately following code 202, to perform a spill operation on the variable X. As previously discussed, spilling a variable involves writing the variable from a physical register to another storage medium, such as a runtime stack in memory.
In addition, code 214 has been added immediately before code 204 to perform a reload operation on the variable X, which causes the variable X to be reloaded into a hardware register as X'. Code 204 then uses the reloaded variable X'. Similarly, code 216 has been added immediately before code 206 to reload the variable X as X", which is then used by code 206. Also, code 218 and 220 have also been added to reload the variable X as X'" and X"", respectively.
As is illustrated by code block 200 in FIG. 2B, the spilling of variable X involves both writing the variable X from a physical register to a memory location (a spill operation), but also reloading the variable X in each instance where the variable X is used in code block 200. This can adversely affect performance when a reload operation is added to a portion of code which is repeated many times, such as a loop.
In view of the need for spilling virtual registers to allow the mapping of a set of virtual registers to a set of physical registers, there is a need for an approach for allocating a set of virtual registers to a set of physical registers that reduces spilling.

Functional unit switching for the allocation of registers