A combined exerciser and physical fitness performance monitoring apparatus and related methods. The apparatus includes at least one fluid working device, such as a pneumatic ram, which serves to provide an adjustable load. The fluid working device is movable using an adjustable mount to vary the compression ratio and loading rate. The fluid working device is connected to a user interface, such as foot pedals or hand holds, using a connection linkage. The apparatus also preferably includes a load modifier which adjustably engages the connection linkage and allows the rate of mechanical loading to be varied. This construction allows a large range of loads and force rates to be achieved.

Physical exercise, therapy and rehabilitation contain a wide variety of apparatus directed at various specific muscle groups and special purpose applications. Many of the exercise machines are directed solely to the objective of providing the user with a workout of certain muscle groups. This is typically done with the goal being to develop certain physical aspects, for example, leg muscles, arm muscles, or general cardiovascular stamina.
There has also been somewhat different development in the area more properly considered physical therapy and/or physical rehabilitation machines. Rather than merely emphasizing development of muscles and general overall physical endurance, these more specialized machines monitor the performance of the user. Such physical monitoring machines may also be programmed to provide a certain level of force or resistance to a user in an effort to achieve a desired effect on the user. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,798, to Bond et al. describes a system which can be programmed to apply a predetermined load to the limb of a user of the apparatus. The apparatus of Bond is further provided with instrumentation to determine certain kinematics and kinetics of the user while using the apparatus.
Another example is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,224 Tsuchiya et al. which describes a method for measuring instantaneous leg power generated by the user of a physical therapy apparatus. Tsuchiya et al. provide for a display to communicate to the user the final measurement of the power generated by the user.
Despite these approaches there are a number of limitations in the art. One common limitation involves the relative inability of most physical therapy machines to apply a wide variety of different loads for use by different user's having differing physical therapy or exercising needs. The need for flexibility in loading is also indicated in some exercise machines for increasing strength and durability, wherein it is desirable to provide a machine which allows for more resistance to be required as the user develops strength and is more easily able to overcome the initial resistance setting of the machine. In a rehabilitative setting, it is desirable to provide a machine which is able to decrease the resistance in areas where damage to tissue may occur through overuse, or to increase resistance in areas where muscles are used which need to be developed. Likewise, in a developmental setting, it is desirable to be able to provide an exercise machine having higher resistance in those areas where muscles are used which are desired to be developed. Most prior exercise machines have had difficulty in adapting to these needs and other desires imposed by physical therapists and users. Although common exercise machines have been able to achieve a variety of loads, these machines do not provide meaningful monitoring capabilities. These machines also provide loading which may be disadvantageous for many rehabilitative exercises, and thus cannot be used in this capacity.
Another problem experienced with prior art machines is the difficulty in achieving varying load rate changes during a stroke or other exercise cycle. Although we typically think in terms that a physical movement involves a certain force, it is more typical that forces vary significantly, due either to the type of machine being used or the particular position and anatomy involved. The human anatomy is such that depending upon the particular position of a body part, the load which can be reasonably worked by the muscle groups involved may vary considerably. For example, the leg is capable of producing very large forces when the leg is nearly extended. This should be contrasted to a position wherein the knee is fully bent, wherein relatively less force can be developed by the leg. The rate at which loading changes is different for different muscle groups and varies between individuals. Various exercises may not be therapeutically suitable due to a derogatory effect caused at one extreme of motion, position or loading. Most prior exercise and physical monitoring systems have had little success in providing a wide range of loads while also providing variable loading rates to be achieved.
Prior designs have used several methods to try to achieve different objectives in loading and loading rates. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,452 to Ku describes an exercise machine having pneumatic cylinders which are coupled to a servomotor which controls a relief valve controlling the amount of air which the pneumatic cylinder may exhaust in a given time period By this means, the rate of exhaust and therefore the resistance imparted to the user may be varied by the servo. U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,437 to Ruis et al. describes an exercise machine having two hydraulic cylinders in a plane which allow for a variety of movements in the X-Y direction. By computer control of the hydraulic pressure within the cylinders, the machine can constrain the user interface to a predetermined path in the plane. The speed at which the user interface moves through the prescribed path may also be controlled by controlling the pressure in the hydraulic cylinders. The apparatus requires that a predetermined path and velocity be programmed into the computer prior to using the apparatus. This requirement greatly impedes use of the machine due to the complex setup requirements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,315 to Mortensen et al. describes an exercise machine having a pneumatic cylinder which may be charged with an initial variable pneumatic gas pressure. In this way, the resistive force which must be overcome by the user may be elevated or lowered, thus elevating or lowering the resistive pressure over the full range of the stroke of the user interface. For example, doubling the initial pressure would also double the maximum force, This can result in an unacceptable force level, Such an approach does not provide flexibility to independently vary loading rates and the magnitude of the loading.
Another significant problem is the need to provide physical monitoring machines which provide accurate and reliable information over the full range of motion developed by the user. Improvements are needed with regard to understanding more completely, the actual forces, torques, velocities and accelerations developed by a user. Such information has not been sufficiently available for either therapy, training or physical diagnostic purposes.
Many prior exercise and physical therapy machines have also not adequately performed to users' expectations because their construction and dynamic response capabilities may have a very noticeable effect on the users' performance. For example, machines which utilize large weights or other large masses suffer from inertial effects which prevent effective training at high velocities while also providing development of large forces. Training for running sprints and many other high speed maneuvers have been particularly difficult given the technology which has existed to date. This difficulty coupled with poor diagnostic techniques have hampered athletes and physically impaired individuals who need an exercise apparatus with a high degree of mechanical compliance with the ability to vary forces. In many situations these individuals also need accurate information indicating the muscular performance which they are able to develop.
The prior art exercise machines either do not allow the resistive force to be varied, allow for the resistive force to be varied only in one dimension, e.g., such as elevating the resistive force over the entire range, or require complex microcomputer control systems to achieve the desired variation in movement of path and rate of movement of the user interface. It is therefore desirable to have an exercise/rehabilitative machine which can provide a variable resistive force throughout the extensive range of the user. It is also desirable to achieve this objective in a simple manner to reduce cost and complexity of the apparatus.
It is further desirable to provide an exercise apparatus with instrumentation and programmable control which allows the user's performance to be calculated and immediately displayed to the user or to a therapist, thereby allowing immediate adjustments to be made and consequently the user's performance to be enhanced.
Thus there is a strong need in the art for an exercise and physical performance monitoring system which can provide a high degree of flexibility and mechanical compliance to allow exercising at a wide variety of loads, loading rates, and velocities. There is also need for such a machine which can be easily adjusted. There is further a need for such a machine which can be used to collect and display data of value in assessing physical performance, physical performance limitations, injuries, and to indicate muscular strength and more general physical conditioning.

Exerciser and physical performance monitoring system

Interactive Performance Monitoring, Inc.


An information handling system includes a host including a central processing unit, a first management controller (MC) enabled to communicate with the host, and a network interface resource (NIR) in communication with the host and operable to enable the information handling system to communicate via an external network. The NIR includes a unified management module (UMM) operable to receive and route a local management packet, sent from the host, to the first management controller via a first unified management bus (UMB) and further operable to receive and route a remote management packet, sent from a remote resource via the external network, to the first management controller via the first UMB.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option for processing and storing information is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, educational, governmental, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information.
Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
One type of information handling system is commonly referred to as a server or server system. As suggested by its name, a server system might be described as an information handling system that provides a service to one or more other information handling systems. Server systems include, as examples, application servers dedicated to running specified software applications, database servers that provide database services, file servers that provide file services, web servers that communicate with HTTP (Hypertext transfer protocol) clients to receive and respond to HTTP requests, and numerous other types of servers.
An increasingly important aspect or feature of a server system is its system management resources including remote management resources. Although system management concepts are not exclusively applicable to server systems, they are particularly prevalent in such systems and the exemplary implementations of system management resources presented herein emphasize system management resources in the context of server systems. It is understood, however, that the system management features described herein may also be appropriate for other classes of information handling systems including, as examples, desktop systems, mobile systems including notebook or lap top systems and hand held systems.
System management features and requirements are growing at a rapid pace, as standards bodies such as the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) develop specifications to increase the interoperability of products developed by independent software and hardware vendors. Of particular focus among DMTF working groups and leaders in the server product space is the ability to manage servers out-of-band (OOB). OOB management refers to system console access provided, even in the event of primary network subsystem (hard and/or software) failure. OOB management can be done via a console server or via a remote access card (RAC) which has its own processor, memory, battery, network connection, and access to the system bus. OOB management is highly desirable because it permits system management when the primary data bus of the system, sometimes referred to as the system bus, fails. In band (IB) management, in contrast, generally refers to the use of the system bus to manage a system. OOB offers the prospect of managing a system precisely when the system is in need of management, i.e., when the system is not working.
In addition to the OOB/IB distinction, system management is also differentiated by whether the management is local or remote. For purposes of this disclosure, local management generally refers to management commands, messages, and the like that are generated by a central processing unit of a server and sent to a management controller. Remote management, as suggested by its name, refers generally to a management paradigm in which management commands, messages, and the like are transmitted and generated by a remote information handling system, i.e., an information handling system having processing and storage resource that are distinct from the processing and storage resources of the managed system. The remote information handling system and the managed system are also generally located in different locations.
Conventional implementations of system management generally implement local management using dedicated interfaces that may include drivers, hardware, and firmware. In contrast, remote management generally employs a conventional Ethernet-based IP interface, which is typically provided by a network controller (e.g., a conventional network interface card or NIC). In such remote management implementations, the NIC provides a direct path between the external network to which the remote resource is connected and the management controller embedded in the managed system, i.e., a path from remote resource to management controller that does not include the system bus of the managed system.
Differences in the implementations of local management and remote management are undesirable because host management software must address the management controllers differently depending on whether the management is local or remote. Moreover, it is challenging to provide full management support to servers having multiple instances and/or types of management controllers using conventionally implemented network controllers. Communication between two management controllers, for example, generally requires a dedicated inter-controller interface because conventional network controllers cannot simultaneously maintain interfaces for two different management controllers.

Information handling system employing unified management bus


An aluminum alloy for heat exchangers, the alloy, comprising a base compostion selected from a group consisting of Al-Mg-Si composition containing 0.1 to 0.8 wt % of Mg, 0.2 to 1.0 wt % of Si and 0.3 to 1.5 wt % of Mn; pure-Al composition; Al-Mg composition containing 0.05 to 1.0 wt % of Mg; and a Al-Zn composition containing 0.05 to 2.0 wt % of Zn. The alloy further comprises 0.01 to 0.3 wt % of Fe and/or 0.01 to 0.3 wt % of Ni, wherein the balance are aluminum of purity of 99.9% or higher and unavoidable impurities contained therein, and content of Cu as one of the impurities is controlled to be 0.05 wt % or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aluminum alloy used to manufacture tubular elements or other members of heat exchangers such as those incorporated in radiators, car heaters, intercoolers or the likes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The aluminum alloy "A3003" has been used in general to manufacture structural elements such as the tubular elements which allow a heat exchanging medium to flow therethrough, because the alloy "A3003" is easy to treat in the manufacturing processes.
Higher contents of impurities such as iron (Fe) in the aluminum alloy A3003 cause inferior corrosion resistance thereof at room temperature or near temperatures close thereto. Efforts have been made to improve the corrosion resistance at such lower temperatures, by making the impurity contents as low as possible. However in this case, there arises a new problem that intercrystalline corrosion takes place at higher temperatures including 100.degree. C., i.e., the boiling temperature of water and near temperatures close thereto. Corrosion of such a type causes cracks in the tubular elements.
In view of those problems and particularly in a case in which water or other corrosive heat-exchanging medium is likely to be employed for the heat exchangers in radiators or the likes, tubes of aluminum alloy A3003 are used as "cores" of tubular elements and their inner surfaces are covered with a lining layer of another aluminum alloy such as "A7072" or "A5005". The alloy A7072 functions as a sacrificial anodic layer, and the other alloy A5005 is comparatively highly corrosion-resistant.
These aluminum alloys A7075 and A5005 used as the lining layer are also not satisfactory because their corrosion resistance becomes worse at or near room temperature with a rich content of Fe, and because a lower Fe content reduced to improve the corrosion resistance at lower temperatures will give rise to the problem of intercrystalline corrosion at higher temperature of or near 100.degree. C.
There has been still another problem that the mechanical strength is often lowered for instance to about 4 Kgf/mm.sup.2 as a value of .sigma.0.2 ( tolerable load ) after the structural members of heat exchangers made of the alloy "A3003" are soldered to each other. Thus, walls constituting the tubular elements or other members are to be inevitably made thicker to assure sufficient strength thereof. Therefore, manufacturers have inevitably had to accept a larger size, an excessive weight and a higher manufacture cost of the known heat exchangers. The abovementioned problems have occurred not only in the tubular elements but also in the other structural members of heat exchangers made of such aluminum alloys.


A system for recovering water from exhaust gasses, including a chamber having a first section for diverting and cooling a portion of the exhaust gases, and a second section for removing drinking water from the cooled gases. The first section slows down the flow rate of the diverted portion of exhaust gases and includes spaced apart helical tubes through which is passed a cooling fluid. The second section includes spaced apart helical tubes having a fluid permeable sidewall for travel of water from the exhaust gasses into the interior of the tubes of the second section. The tubes of the second section are coated on the exterior thereof with a porous material that promotes migration of drinking water from the exterior to the interior of the tubes.

Improvement is desired in the recovery of low acidic and low corrosive water with drinking water from exhaust gases. The combustion of hydrocarbons generates steam and water. Also, injecting water for reducing the NOX emissions can contribute additional water to exhaust gases. The water, whether in liquid or steam form, is expelled through the exhaust system as waste. While in the exhaust system, steam and water combines with other chemicals, creating toxic caustic pollution. A condensate from such an exhaust gas is also very acidic and corrosive.
There have been a number of attempts to remove and reclaim water from exhaust gases. These attempts typically depend on condensation by using a heat exchanger, cooled externally or by refrigeration or both. Water is collected in condensing collectors and trapped for removal. But the condensate created by such heat exchangers is also very acidic and corrosive and cannot be used as drinking water or for cooling purposes, such as in a radiator for the combustion in machines, as the corrosive nature of the water will corrode the radiator.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and apparatus that improves the removal of low acidic and low corrosive water from exhaust gases.


A surgical microscopy system is provided wherein an optical coherence tomography facility is integrated into a microscopy system. A beam of measuring light formed by collimating optics of an OCT system is deflected by a beam scanner, traverses imaging optics, and is reflected by a reflector such that the beam of measuring light traverses an objective lens of microscopy optics and is directed to an object region of the microscopy optics. A position of the beam of measuring light being incident on the reflector is substantially independent on a direction into which the beam of measuring light is deflected by the beam scanner. When traveling through the beam scanner, the beam of measuring light is comprised of a bundle of substantially parallel light rays.

The present invention relates to a surgical microscopy system having an optical coherence tomography (OCT) facility. In particular, the present invention relates to a surgical microscopy system having an OCT facility, wherein a beam of measuring light is scanned across an object to be analyzed by the OCT facility.
An OCT system is for example known from EP 0 697 611 A2. A broad-band OCT-light source generates OCT-measuring light comprising different wavelengths within a certain bandwidth. A principal wavelength generated by the OCT-light source and the bandwidth of the OCT-light source determine the coherence length of the OCT-measuring light. There is a reciprocal relationship between the bandwidth of the OCT-light source and the coherence length of the OCT-measuring light generated by the OCT-light source. Two different parts of the OCT-measuring light can interferometrically only be superimposed, if a difference of optical path lengths traversed by the two different parts of OCT-measuring light is smaller than the coherence length of the OCT-light source.
Typically, a first part of the OCT-measuring light is reflected by a reference surface, such as a plane mirror, to traverse a controllable optical path length. The second part of the OCT-measuring light is directed to an object to be investigated and is reflected at regions in different depths of the object. Thus, this second part of the OCT-measuring light reflected at the object is comprised of a number of OCT-measuring light portions that have traversed different optical path lengths depending on the depth of the region of the object at which they were reflected.
In time domain OCT the reference surface is displaced, for example using a continuous movement or in a stepwise manner, such that the different OCT-measuring light portions reflected from the object interferometrically superimpose with the first part of the OCT-measuring light reflected by the reference surface at positions of the reference surface, where the OCT-measuring light portions reflected from the object have traversed an optical path length substantially equal to the optical path length traversed by the reflected first part of the OCT-measuring light. This allows to gain structural information of the object in an axial (i.e. depth) direction defined by the direction of incidence of the OCT-measuring light at the object.
To obtain structural information along an axial direction not only at a single point of the object, the second part of the OCT-measuring light needs to be scanned across a laterally extended region at the object. To achieve this, typically a scanning system is utilized including for example two mirrors spaced apart that are rotatable about axes perpendicular to each other. Thereby it is possible, to obtain a three-dimensional representation of a volume portion of the object below the surface of the object. This three-dimensional representation is in particular valuable for a surgeon to locate structure portions within the volume of the object to be manipulated, in particular useful during opthalmologic surgeries. These surgeries may be directed to regions of an anterior portion of the eye or may be directed to regions of a posterior portion of the eye. In particular, imaging the cornea by OCT and adjacent regions or imaging the retina by OCT have found widespread demand during opthalmologic surgeries.
An optical microscopy system includes an objective lens and an ocular system to image an illuminated region of an object. For this, a user may look through the ocular system to directly image the object region to his or her retina, or may look at an image acquired by a CCD camera. A CCD acquired image may be displayed to a desk monitor or may be displayed for example to a head-mounted display. In a number of known optical microscopy systems the beam path of the system is parallel downstream of the objective lens. This allows in a simple way to provide a stereoscopic optical microscopy system, wherein light emanated from the object under slightly different angles is guided downstream the objective lens to two tubular bodies harboring two oculars for the left and the right eye of the observer. Thereby, an enlarged stereoscopic imaging of the object is possible. A stereoscopic optical microscopy turns out to be indispensable for opthalmologic surgeries.
It is known for example from EP 0 697 611 A2 to combine an optical microscopy system with an OCT system. In this system, the light beam of the OCT system traverses the objective lens of the optical microscopy system. However, in this system it is difficult to arrange a reflector which deflects the OCT-measuring light beam of the OCT system in order to guide it to and traverse the objective lens of the optical microscopy system, thus to be incident on the object without impairing the performance of the optical microscopy system.
An object of the present invention is to provide a microscopy system that integrates an optical microscopy system and an OCT system that reduces the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a microscopy system combining an optical microscopy system and an OCT system, wherein a capability and performance of the optical microscopy system is not impaired by the presence of the OCT system and vice versa.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an optical system enabling microscopic examination, OCT and measurement of a wavefront of wavefront measuring light returned from an object.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a surgical microscopy system particularly suitable for opthalmologic surgeries.

Surgical microscopy system having an optical coherence tomography facility


A motion actuated switch for operating a signalling apparatus for emitting a light or sound signal from within a novelty article, in which a switch body is defined by a cap attached to plate and the switch body being mountable within the novelty article. The plate has an electrically conductive first contact. At least a portion of the cap has an electrically conductive second contact. The cap and the plate define a cavity within the switch body. An electrically conductive sphere is disposed within the cavity for free movement therein and sized for at least momentarily contacting the first contact and the second contact upon motion of the novelty article. The switch is in electrical communication with a signalling apparatus by a first lead attached to the first contact and a second lead attached to the second contact. Upon closing the switch by imparting motion to the switch body, the electrically conductive sphere moves at least momentarily into electrically touching contact with the first and second switches. Novelty article preferably comprises a container for holding fluids for drinking while the motion actuates switch triggers the signalling apparatus to generate a signal during movement of the container. The novelty article can be an action toy or other novelty article.

It has been found that sales of goods, such as drinks, foods, convenience articles, and other goods sold to consumers, may be increased, promoted or facilitated, by including with the goods a premium separate from the goods being purchased. The premium induces the sale of the goods by offering to the consumer a perceived additional value at little or no additional cost to the consumer over the ordinary cost of the article. The additional value may take the form of a rebate, credit, discount, or second article. For example, toiletries and perfumes frequently are sold in combination with premium articles such as a separate container having a sample of related goods, a carrying case, or other similar articles.
The use of premiums is a marketing technique often used in combination with advertising and promotional campaigns in support of major motion pictures. Often there are "tie-ins" of goods or services offered by other companies. The companies involved pay licensing fees for the right to advertise, market, and sell "tie-in" products and services. The use of premiums as "tie-ins" for sales of goods is typically used in the "fast food" industry for inducing sales of foods. Fast food stores typically offer a children's meal together with a premium as an inducement to the parents through their children to purchase foods at the store for the child, and preferably, for the parent also, thereby increasing the overall sales of the store. The premium typically is enclosed in a separate container and placed with the food products in a bag for delivery to the consumer.
Often the premium is a novelty item associated with the advertising and marketing program of another, such as a major motion picture. The novelty article takes the form of a figurine, toy, or article related to or involved with the motion picture or similar promotion for consumers. In addition, the containers used for the fast food also typically include features in support of the marketing and promotional program. These features include story and illustrations related to the particular subject of the promotional program. For example, many such advertising and marketing programs provide special drink cups and bags with illustrations which tie-in or are associated with the promotional program.
The illustrations on the drink cups generally depict an action scene or other exciting incident from the tie-in program. Attention to key elements of the scene or incident is directed through the use of color and shapes. Heretofore it has not been practical to use a signalling device such as a light or sound to direct the attention to portions of the illustrated scene.
Novelty articles however have included switched signalling devices for generating lights and sounds. These novelty articles include toy vehicles, such as toy emergency police or fire vehicles and road construction equipment, and other toys, including monster-type creatures and action characters. The lights and sounds generally are initiated for brief durations by a button-switch located on an exterior surface of the toy.
Such switched devices however have not been entirely satisfactory during use. For example, the signal generating device must be re-actuated frequently by the user of the toy during play in order to continue the lights and sounds.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an improved switch for actuating signalling devices in novelty articles during use.

Motion sensing switch mounted in a novelty device for generating a signal during movement

Room 2801, New Trend Centre, 704 Prince Edward Road East


A micro-spray cooling system for a plurality of heat sources includes an evaporator contacting the heat sources and comprising a plurality of actuators corresponding to the heat sources, a condenser connected to the evaporator, and at least one driving circuit connected to the actuators to drive some or all of the actuators sequentially according to a predetermined timing to cool the heat sources. The refrigerant in the evaporator is sprayed by the actuators to thermally contact the heat sources, evaporated by heat from the heat sources, condensed in the condenser and re-enters the evaporator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to micro-spray cooling, and in particular to a micro-spray cooling system with piezoelectric actuators to vibrate and spray refrigerant.
2. Description of the Related Art
The speed of a computer depends on processing speed of a central processing unit, which generates heat, which must in turn be dissipated by various methods.
A conventional method for heat dissipation employs fins for heat conduction and fans for heat convection. Fans and fins cannot, however, satisfy the requirements for heat dissipation of many current high speed desktop computers. Nor are they able to satisfy the requirement of heat dissipation over 100 W for a compact laptop. As heat can be absorbed by a refrigerant as latent heat during phase change, the phase change method is preferred.
As heat dissipation modules for a laptop must be as flat as possible to conserve height and space, a heat pipe is applicable therein. The heat pipe, however, is a passive cooling device which depends on heat convection by phase change and is not capable of actively controlling heat dissipation.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Various techniques are described to authenticate the identity of a proxy in a client-proxy-server configuration. The configuration may have a client-side and a server-side SSL session. In the server-side session, if the proxy has access to the private keys of the client, the proxy may select a client certificate from a collection of client certificates and send the selected certificate to the server to satisfy a client authentication request of the server. If the proxy does not have access to the private keys, the proxy may instead send an emulated client certificate to the server. Further, the client certificate received from the client may be embedded within the emulated client certificate so as to allow the server to directly authenticate the client, in addition to the proxy. An emulated client certificate chain may be formed instead of an emulated client certificate. Similar techniques may be applied to the client-side session.

The secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol (hereinafter, "SSL") provides secure communication between two devices, typically a client and a server, through authentication of one or more of the devices, encryption of the communication to prevent eavesdropping, and an integrity check to prevent modification of the communication while it is in transit between the two devices. Much of the discussion below also applies to the transport layer security (TLS) protocol, the successor of SSL, other protocols that use X.509 certificates, and other protocols that use the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), although for conciseness, the following discussion will focus on SSL.
As depicted in FIG. 1, SSL begins with a handshake between the client 10 and the server 30, and is followed by a bulk data transfer between the two devices. In the handshake, the client 10 sends a "client hello" message (i.e., a connection request) that lists the ciphers supported by the client (step 102). The server responds with a "server hello" message that records the strongest cipher (out of the client's list) that is supported by the server (step 104). In addition, the server transmits a digital certificate, which binds an identity of the server (e.g., the server name) to a public key of the server (step 104). The server certificate is typically issued by a certificate authority (CA) which certifies the authenticity of the server certificate by signing the server certificate with its private key.
In the case of mutual authentication, the server may also require client authentication (e.g., required for some on-line banking operations), and if so, sends a client certificate request to the client (step 104). The client verifies that the server certificate is valid by verifying the CA's signature (e.g., decrypting the encrypted CA signature with the CA's public key), and verifying that the CA is listed in the client's list of trusted CAs (step 106). If the certificate is valid, the client generates a master secret (also called a secret key), encrypts it with the server's public key, and sends the result to the server (step 108). If the server requests client authentication, the client also sends the client's digital certificate, which binds an identity of the client (e.g., the client name) to a public key of the client (step 108). The client certificate is also typically issued by a certificate authority (CA) which certifies the authenticity of the client certificate by signing the client certificate with its private key.
If the server receives a client certificate, it verifies the CA's signature on the client certificate with the CA's public key, and also verifies that the CA that issued the client certificate is included in the server's list of trusted CAs (step 110). The server also decrypts the master secret with its private key (step 110). The client proves to the server that it holds the private key corresponding to the client certificate with a certificate verify message, which has a hash signed with the client's private key. The hash is computed on all the messages exchanged between the client and server until then, and therefore is a known value to both the client and server.
The client and server then convert the master secret to a set of symmetric keys called session keys. The session keys are known to both the server and client and are used to encrypt and decrypt the subsequent communication between the server and client. The SSL handshake concludes and is followed by a bulk data transfer (step 112) over the communication link encrypted by the session keys.
While SSL allows two parties' communication to be protected against interception from eavesdroppers, the same security mechanism also prevents any attempts by an authorized party (e.g., network administrator) to filter and block the communication of inappropriate and/or not permitted information (i.e., adult content, classified information, etc.) As a result, proxies have been specially designed to filter even encrypted communication between a client and server, often only after obtaining the client's and/or server's permission to do so. Examples of such proxies include Web proxies, data loss prevention (DLP) systems, specialized threat detection solutions, and network intrusion prevention systems (NIPS). These proxies essentially break an SSL connection into two SSL connections: a client-side SSL session between client 10 and proxy 20, and a server-side SSL session between proxy 20 and server 30, as depicted in FIG. 11. These proxies are able to decrypt the encrypted communication and filter the communication in clear text between a client and a server.
While the filtering of encrypted communication by a proxy exists today, there are certain challenges, related to the authentication of devices, created by having a proxy filter SSL communication. These challenges are addressed by embodiments of the present invention, as described below.

Exchange of digital certificates in a client-proxy-server network configuration


A fuel injector testing system has a sleeve that mechanically isolates one or more test volumes in a fuel injector. The sleeve has interfaces on an inside surface. The interfaces sealably engage the O-rings on the fuel injector. An air displacement mechanism is connected to the sleeve. The air displacement mechanism adds or removes air from the test volumes. The pressure within each test volume is checked to determine whether there is any air leakage from the test volume.

Internal combustion engines convert the chemical energy from a fuel into mechanical energy. The fuel may be petroleum-based, natural gas, another combustible material, or a combination thereof. Most internal combustion engines inject an air-fuel mixture into one or more cylinders. The fuel ignites to generate rapidly expanding gases that actuate a piston in the cylinder. The fuel may be ignited by compression such as in a diesel engine or through some type of spark such as the spark plug in a gasoline engine. The piston usually is connected to a crankshaft or similar device for converting the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotational motion. The rotational motion from the crankshaft may be used to propel a vehicle, operate a pump or an electrical generator, or perform other work. A vehicle may be a truck, an automobile, a boat, or the like.
Many internal combustion engines use a fuel injection system to deliver fuel to the cylinders. Fuel injection systems usually have a fuel injector for each cylinder. The fuel injector usually sprays a measured amount of fuel in the cylinder. In diesel engines, the fuel pressure typically is increased for injecting the fuel near or at the end of the compression cycle. Fuel injectors for diesel engines usually have actuating mechanisms such as a piston to increase the pressure of the fuel. The actuating mechanisms in the fuel injector may be mechanically or hydraulically activated and may be electronically controlled.
Some diesel engines use hydraulically activated electronically controlled unit injection (HEUI) fuel system to inject fuel into the cylinders. A HEUI fuel injection system generally has a fuel injector for each cylinder of the engine. Each fuel injector usually has a control valve, an intensifier, and a nozzle in an injector housing. The control valve starts and stops the fuel injection. The intensifier increases the fuel pressure. The nozzle controls the injection of fuel into the cylinder. The fuel injector generally has a cylindrical configuration with the control valve at one end, the intensifier in the middle, and the nozzle at the other end. The injector housing usually is mounted to the cylinder head of the engine.
To begin fuel injection, the control valve provides high pressure oil to the intensifier. The control valve has a poppet valve connected to an electric solenoid. When energized, the solenoid opens the poppet valve to permit high pressure oil to flow along a passageway into a piston chamber of the intensifier. The high pressure oil may have a pressure in the range of about 500 psi (3 MPa) through about 4,500 psi (31 MPa). When de-energized, the solenoid closes the poppet valve to end the fuel injection.
The intensifier uses the high pressure oil to increase the pressure of the fuel. The intensifier has a piston positioned in the piston chamber. The piston is connected to a plunger that is positioned in a fuel chamber. The high pressure oil entering the piston chamber causes the piston to move the plunger against the fuel in the fuel chamber. The movement of the plunger increases the pressure of the fuel significantly. The fuel pressure may reach a pressure in the range of about 15,000 psi (103 MPa) through about 25,000 psi (172 MPa). The high pressure fuel flows through another passageway to a needle valve in the nozzle.
The nozzle uses the high pressure fuel to control the fuel injection into the cylinder. The high pressure fuel causes the needle valve to open. The high pressure fuel then exits the nozzle through an orifice. The nozzle usually is positioned adjacent to the cylinder for the high pressure fuel to enter the cylinder.
During operation, a fuel injector's piston and other actuating-related components may become worn or scored. Other mechanical difficulties may develop. The difficulties may affect the performance fuel injector and thus the cylinder in the engine.
During engine repairs or maintenance, one or more fuel injectors may be replaced due to operating difficulties with a cylinder. Many service technicians use a vehicle's on-board computer to determine whether to replace a HEUI fuel injector. The on-board computer may determine a HEUI fuel injector needs to be replaced even though the fuel injector is working or can work properly. Cylinders with HEUI fuel injectors are difficult to diagnose using the vehicle's computers and other electronics. The computers typically make comparisons from cylinder to cylinder to determine which cylinders may be contributing less than the other cylinders. These comparisons are not very accurate regarding the fuel injectors because other factors may cause the poor cylinder performance. These factors include the mechanical condition of the engine, the fuel quality at the time of the test, and the like. Some technicians also may replace a fuel injector as part of a general diagnostic approach when there is any mechanical problem or concern with a cylinder. After replacement, the used fuel injector may not be reinstalled in the engine even when the cylinder continues not to work properly. There are fuel injector test devices for testing fuel injectors outside the engine. Many service technicians do not have access to these test devices. The test devices tend to be more expensive and may be bulky to use.

International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC


A semiconductor device includes a plurality of chips comprising a plurality of first moisture-proof rings individually surrounding said plurality of chips, a second moisture-proof ring surrounding the entire plurality of chips, and a wire for connecting said plurality of chips to each other.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor device comprises active elements such as a MOS transistor 2, a wiring layer 3 formed of a conductor, a plug 5, and interlayer insulting film 4 formed on a semiconductor wafer 1.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the condition where a plurality of integrated circuits 6 having an identical circuit pattern (hereinafter referred to as chip) are formed on a single wafer 1. Such a wafer 1 is diced along the scribe line 7 provided between the chips 6 to thereby separate them into individual chips. At the side wall surface of each chip 6 separated by the dicing process, a cross-section of the interlayer insulating film 4, such as is shown in FIG. 1 is exposed. The interlayer insulating film 4 such as silicon oxide has the nature to absorb moisture from the atmosphere. If moisture from the external atmosphere enters the inside from the side wall surface of the chip 6, the problem arise that a wiring layer 3 and a plug formed of conductor are corroded and characteristics of the integrated circuit are thereby deteriorated.
The technology to surround the external circumference of chip 6 with a moisture-proof ring is known. Such a moisture-proof ring is continuously formed along the external circumference of the individual chips 6 in order to shield the path from which the moisture content may enter into the chip 6.
FIG. 3 is a partly enlarged plan view of a plurality of chips formed on a wafer. Each chip 6 comprises elements such as a MOS transistor, a region where an internal circuit 8 having a wiring layer is formed, and a moisture-proof ring 9 formed surrounding the internal circuit 8. A scribe line 7 is provided between chips 6.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A′ in FIG. 3. On the surface of wafer 1 in the internal circuit 8 region, a MOS transistor 2 is formed. Also, in the region of the internal circuit 8, a multilayer wiring structure including the wiring layers L1 to L6 connected to the MOS transistor 2 and the plugs P1 to P6 connecting the wiring layers is formed. Between the wiring layers, the interlayer insulating layers D1 to D8 are formed. On the interlayer insulating film D8, a passivation film 20 is formed.
The moisture-proof ring 9 is constituted with a laminated layer of the moisture-proof ring conductor patterns LS1 to LS6 formed of a conductive layer identical to that of the wiring layers L1 to L6 and the moisture-proof ring conductor patterns PS1 to PS6.
The moisture-proof ring 9 has a layer structure identical to that of the multilayer wiring structure of the internal circuit 8 and may also be formed simultaneously with the internal circuit 8 using common processes in the art. In many cases, the moisture-proof ring is fixed to a predetermined potential such as ground potential.
Research has been conducted into a device constituted by joining a plurality of chips with wires on the wafer, in place of separating chips with the dicing process, utilizing a semiconductor process where a plurality of identical chips are formed.
FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) are explanatory diagrams of the method to connect a plurality of chips by wires on a wafer. FIG. 5(A) is a reticle for manufacturing devices where every chip is to be individually diced. The reticle 10a includes the region where an internal circuit pattern 8 is formed and the region of a scribe line 7. A plurality of chips having an identical circuit pattern are formed on the wafer using the reticle 10a. The scribe line 7 is formed between the chips and each chip is separated by the dicing process.
FIG. 5(B) is a reticle for manufacturing a single device by connecting the adjacent chips with wires on the wafer. The structure of the internal circuit 8 is identical to that of the internal circuit 8 of the reticle shown in FIG. 5(A). In the region 8c provided at a part of the scribe line 7, the connecting wire is formed to connect the adjacent chips. The chip-to-chip connecting wires are formed simultaneously with the wiring of the internal circuit 8 by utilizing reticle 10b. In this case, the dicing is not performed along the scribe line 7 between chips.
In this specification, a device constituted by individually separating the chips is called a single-core device, while a device constituted by separating the chips in units comprising a plurality of chips is called a multi-core device.
In the course of business, a manufacturer of semiconductor devices is requested to manufacture single-core devices or multi-core devices in accordance with requirements from users. It is desirable for manufacturers to prepare reticle sets required in order to realize manufacture and supply of reticles within a short period of time even in the case where a single-core or multi-core device request maybe issued.
For manufacture of a single-core device, it is required to prepare a set of reticles including a moisture-proof ring pattern surrounding each chip. For example, in the case of a device having six-layers of wiring, about 15 reticles are required for the wiring process. Modifications are required for the structure of the moisture-proof ring of a multi-core device and a set of reticles which are different from those used for the single-core device must be prepared. About 15 reticles required for the wiring must be additionally prepared.
As such, a set of reticles required for manufacturing both the single-core device and the multi-core device are about 30 reticles in total, and the cost required for preparation of these reticles becomes very expensive.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


The CPU of the image forming apparatus sets up an ADF reading magnification in the ADF driving unit including the motor and the motor driver referring to the first magnification conversion table in the memory of the system unit when reading a document image while a document is being moved. Further, the reading magnification that is also in the ADF driving unit is also set in the specific document detection unit. The specific document detection unit makes the pattern matching as to whether the read image data is that of a specific document using the magnification dictionary (specific image data) that is set and outputs a detection signal as the result of the matching to the CPU. As that time, the CPU controls the output of the applicable read image data by a printer according to the detection signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a color copier, etc. equipped with a device to make the judgement as to whether input images are specific documents such as banknotes, securities, etc. and an image forming method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional color multi-functional image forming machine, when the copying is made, a document was placed and fixed on a document table and a document image was read by moving a scanner (hereinafter, this operation is described as a fixed document reading). Further, in a color multi-functional image forming machine, a means to detect a specific document and a means to smear away the whole surface of the image data when a specific document is detected by this detecting means in order to prohibit the copying of the specific document.
In recent years, with the speed-up of the color copying process, a system with an automatic document feeder (hereinafter, described as an ADF) installed to a color multi-functional image forming machine to read document images by a reading device while moving the document is increasing used.
In the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-37595, a technology to make the judgement as to whether input images are specific documents such as banknotes, securities in a color copier using an ADF equipped with a specific image discriminator is disclosed.
However, a system equipped with an ADF to read images of documents, which are being moved, is susceptible to color shift by vibrations or other factors when compared with a conventional system to read fixed documents using a scanner that is moving. Accordingly, there is such a fear that a recognition rate of a specific document sensor retained by a color multi-functional image forming machine may drop depending upon kinds of specific documents such as banknotes, securities, etc.
On the other hand, a reading magnification (a reading speed) of a color multi-functional image forming machine equipped with such an ADF is normally adjusted for a simple body of scanner or a simple body of ADF at the time when an apparatus is assembled or installed so that the set copying magnification comes to agree with a copied image output from a printer. Definitely, when a document is read actually using an ADF and a scanner and the copied image is output by the printer, the magnifications of the scanner and the ADF are finely adjusted, respectively and the magnification of the copied image is adjusted properly. For example, when a magnification being set with a control panel is 100%, the scanner magnification is set to 99%, or the ADF magnification is set to 98% so that the image outputted by the printer may become 100%.
Furthermore, since the reading magnification read by the scanner or ADF was different as described above when the magnification inputted from the control panel is set as a specific document detection unit, there was a problem that a recognition rate further falls.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method


The invention relates to an optical drive (10) and a method for determining a reading and/or writing position of an optical drive (10). The optical drive (10) in accordance with the invention comprises control means (12) and at least three PLL units (20, 22, 24), wherein the control means (12) are adapted to control the three PLL units (20, 22, 24) to try to lock on to three different frequencies characteristic for an optical disc (26). The method in accordance with the invention comprises the step of controlling at least three PLL units (20, 22, 24) to try to lock on to three different frequencies characteristic for an optical disc (26). If the optical disc (26) is a Blue Ray Disc, the three different frequencies can be the HFM frequency, the wobble frequency, and the expected HF frequency.

Optical drives usually are equipped with a laser which generates a laser beam that is focused on the optical disc by at least one lens. The lens can be moved in radial and vertical (focus) directions by or together with an actuator. These movements caused by the actuator are only small. To make it possible to cover the whole relevant area of the optical disc with the focused laser beam, the laser as well as the actuator are part of a so called optical pick up unit which is mounted on a sledge that is moveable in radial directions. The focused laser beam is reflected by the optical disc and reaches a photo detector. The photo detector usually consists of several photo diodes that generate electrical signals on the basis of the amount of light which they receive. These electrical signals are processed and filtered in various ways. It is known to feed output signals into (among others) two PLL units and into a servo system.
PLL stands for Phase Lock Loop and such a PLL unit is used to try to determine the frequency of an incoming signal. To determine the frequency of the incoming signal within a certain frequency range, the PLL unit tries to lock on to the incoming signal by a lock on process. At the end of this lock on process the PLL unit can inform whether it was able to lock on to the incoming signal, and, if yes, the frequency of the incoming signal. In principle the lock on process can be executed in two ways. With the so called auto-lock process the PLL unit performs the lock on process autonomously. With the so called preset process the target or presetting frequency is provided to the PLL unit, wherein the presetting frequency is typically in the middle of the expected frequency range. The presetting process is usually faster than the auto-lock process.
For example in connection with Blue Ray Discs, the task of one PLL unit can be to detect the frequency of the HF signal (if present), and the task of the other PLL unit can be to detect the frequency of a wobble signal associated to a wobbled pre-groove.
The servo system is used to let the focused laser beam follow the track. This is realized by moving the lens by or with the actuator in radial and vertical directions and by moving the sledge carrying the actuator. The movement of the sledge can be monitored such that the actual position of the sledge is known during operation. However, as regards the actual position of the lens, the position information available for the sledge is not very accurate. This is particularly due to the fact that the motor assigned to the sledge works in discrete steps and that the actuator does also influence the position of the lens.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an optical drive and a method capable to accurately determine the reading and/or writing position, particularly—but without being limited thereto—when a Blue Ray Disc (BD) is used.

Optical drive and method for determining a reading and/or writing position


A direction-limiting device for a stroller includes a mounting seat, a wheel assembly, and a direction-limiting device. The mounting seat includes a base coupled to a frame of a stroller. The wheel assembly includes a frame having a positioning hole. The direction-limiting mechanism includes a press button and a positioning member. When the press button is in an initial position, a lower end of the positioning member is disengaged from the positioning hole to allow free pivotal movement of the wheel assembly relative to the base. When the press button is pressed and then released, the lower end of the positioning member is engaged in the positioning hole, allowing joint movement of the wheel assembly and the base. Thus, even moving on a rugged road or hitting a bump on a road, the stroller will move straightly forward or rearward without the risk of turning over.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a direction-limiting device. In particular, the present invention relates to a direction-limiting device for a stroller or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A stroller is convenient to users having a child for outdoor activities. A typical stroller comprises a pivotable wheel assembly to allow steering of the stroller. However, in a case that the stroller is moving rectilinearly on a rugged road or hits a bump on a road at a high speed, the stroller may turn suddenly and thus turn over, leading to injury to the child in the stroller.


Providing uniform universal remote configuration is described herein. In different aspects, the techniques may include sending an identification (ID) request to a remote control and receiving an ID response from the remote control in response to the ID request. The ID response may be used to configure a device to process a plurality of control signals from the remote control.

Remote controls are used to selectively control an assortment of devices including televisions, video devices, audio devices, and other electrical/mechanical devices. An increasing supply of devices which may be operated using remote controls has led to an increased demand for universal remote controls. Universal remote controls that operate multiple devices or replace and/or supplement existing remote controls have become increasingly popular. Typically, a universal remote control is configured with a device code that identifies the device that the remote control will operate. For example, a user may look up a device code from an instruction manual for the remote control, or other source, which lists device codes for other manufacturers and/or devices. The device code may be entered into the remote control, which in turn allows the remote control to properly communicate with the desired device.
The list of devices that are controlled by universal remote controls is continually expanding. For example, a new manufacturer may enter the consumer electronics market and use a new device code that is not yet established for a particular universal remote control. In addition, new hardware devices are continually entering the market which provide higher resolution video or improved audio playback, whereas such devices may include features not anticipated by current universal remote controls. These situations often make configuring a remote control difficult or impossible.
Therefore, there remains an unmet need to simplify configuration of a universal remote control while allowing new devices to be controlled with preceding universal remote controls.


A receptacle that is adapted to be suspended from a support member includes a housing and a lid to enclose the interior thereof. A flexible cable is secured to the housing and extends though a passageway in a mounting member on the lid so that the lid can move between an open and a closed position. A latch mechanism is associated with the mounting member and can release to allow the lid to slide on the cable and can latch to resist sliding movement of the lid thereby to open the housing for access and close it for use.

Since the domestication of animals, in general, humans have taken upon themselves the care and maintenance of a variety of living things. Such living things include, for example, animals, birds and insects. Often, people desire to provide care and maintenance for wildlife, such as wild birds, wherein either feeding stations or houses are provided for the birds. As such, a wide variety of feeders and nesting facilities have been developed and employed in the past. In some cases, these feeders and nesting facilities are suspended from a support member such as a tree branch or a structural beam.
Where feeding stations, e.g. birdfeeders, are provided for living things, such feeding stations typically are in the form of a receptacle that includes a food reservoir for containing solid or liquid nourishment. An access opening is provided to allow access for filling the reservoir, and a lid is typically provided to close the reservoir after it has been filled. One disadvantage in many prior art structures is that the receptacle must be taken down from its support in order to refill the reservoir. Moreover, the connecting structures of the lid to the housing are sometimes unwieldy, especially where a large feeding receptacle is employed. Therefore, a more convenient structure for interconnecting a lid to a receptacle is useful and would provide advantages over the prior art when the lid structure is easily moveable between open and closed positions.
Accordingly, there remains a need to provide a new and improved receptacles for the care and maintenance of living things, such as bird houses, bird feeders, insect feeders, bird baths and the like. The present invention is directed to meeting these needs by providing a locking finial that secures a lid to a housing to form the receptacle.

Locking finial and receptacle incorporating the same


A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Fisnics Salice’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large salmon pink and white bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Fisnics Salice'.
The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillscheid, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and moderately vigorous New Guinea Impatiens cultivars with large and attractive flowers.
The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2002 in Hillscheid, Germany of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K02-9114-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number K01-8593-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal in March, 2003.
Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal since June, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘Fisnics Salice’


Methods of performing a plurality of operations within a region of a part utilizing an end effector of a robot and robots that perform the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include collecting a spatial representation of the part and aligning a predetermined raster scan pattern for movement of the end effector relative to the part with the spatial representation of the part. The methods also include defining a plurality of normality vectors for the part at a plurality of predetermined operation locations for operation of the end effector. The methods further include moving the end effector relative to the part and along the predetermined raster scan pattern. The methods also include orienting the end effector such that an operation device of the end effector faces toward each operation location along a corresponding normality vector and executing a corresponding operation of the plurality of operations with the operation device.

Robots may be utilized to perform a variety of different operations with and/or on a part. As an example, robots may be utilized to assemble one or more components of an aircraft. Historically, robots are effective at performing operations on a part with a well-defined, and quantitatively known, geometry. In such examples, numeric descriptions of the part may be provided to the robot, and the robot may utilize this information to control motion of the robot, locations at which the operations are performed, and the like. Utilizing a robot on parts, or in environments, that are not well-defined and quantitatively known presents unique operational challenges and may increase costs substantially. As an example, it may be necessary to manually train the robot to navigate to various locations on the part and/or to perform desired operations at the various locations. Thus, there exists a need for improved methods of performing a plurality of operations within a region of a part utilizing an end effector of a robot and/or for robots that perform the methods.


The present invention refers to an apparatus for dispensing capsules, preferably single-use, disposable capsules for the production of beverages, brews and the like, intended for use in connection with automatic food-product vending machines. The inventive capsule dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of receptacles adapted to accommodate capsules in a stacked arrangement, at least a rotary pick-up device provided with two or more compartments distributed about the axis of rotation thereof for removing the capsules from the receptacles, and a conveyor. The capsule dispensing apparatus is characterized in that between the at least a pick-up device and the conveyor there is arranged a distribution tray including a plurality of guide partitions adapted to enable the capsules to undergo a rotary motion.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to an apparatus for dispensing capsules, preferably single-use, disposable capsules for the production of beverages, brews and the like, intended for use in connection with automatic food-product vending machines.
II. Description of the Related Art
As used in this specification, the term "capsules" shall be understood as referring to and defining cylindrically or substantially frusto-conically shaped envelopes provided with an annular rim.
Nowadays, automatic food-product vending machines, in which a capsule containing a food substance is used by the machine to either simply and readily dispense it upon request by a buyer or produce a beverage, are increasingly found in the marketplace.
As far as to the first above-mentioned mode of use of the capsules by a vending machine is concerned, there are capsule dispensers known in the art, in which a rotary pick-up device comprising a plurality of compartments withdraws a capsule from a capsule stack stored in a container. The capsule that is picked up in this way is simply dropped, i.e. allowed to fall onto a conveyer that will then carry it towards a point in the machine where the buyer is able to collect it.
On the contrary, in the case that the capsule is used to produce a beverage, capsule dispensers of the above-cited kind cannot however be used, since the brewing unit or, anyway, the unit in which the beverage is prepared must receive the capsule in a precisely defined orientation thereof in order to not only prevent the vending machine from undesirably incurring jamming or similar risks, but also ensure correct brewing of the product contained in the capsule.
For these applications, therefore, the need arises for efficient dispensing means to be provided, which are able to pick up a capsule from a storage container and deliver it towards a point of use in a well-defined orientation thereof.
The complexity of such a dispenser from a construction point of view and the kind of motions that the same dispenser has to impart to the capsule depend essentially on the manner in which the capsules themselves are stored in the automatic vending machine. In the case that such capsules are stored in bulk, i.e. loosely in a container, the dispenser must be provided with complicated orienting means that, as they pick up a capsule, are effective in disposing the same according to the proper orientation accepted by the brewing unit. On the contrary, in the case that the capsules are stored in a pre-established order, such as stacked upon each other, in the storage container, it is not sufficient for as capsule to be picked up by means of a pick-up device, and to be then dropped freely onto the brewing unit, such as this has occurred in dispensers of the kind described hereinbefore.


An apparatus for enhancing the cooling of a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) includes a planar body having opposing surfaces, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing ends. An engagement flange is connected to the bottom edge of the body. A first clip leg is connected to the engagement flange. The first clip leg includes a tab arranged to engage one mounting latch recess of the DIMM. A second clip leg connected to the engagement flange. The second clip leg includes a tab arranged to engage the other mounting latch recess of the DIMM.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer cooling, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for enhancing the cooling of dual in-line memory modules.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) are a dominant form of packaging dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules in computer server applications. Multiple DIMMs are normally placed in parallel, on a narrow pitch (9 to 12 mm), and in close proximity to high-powered CPU processors. Multiple DIMMs may be configured in a variety of capacities and form factors, creating a mixture of differing airflow geometries in the same system. A system with a 12 DIMM capacity may be populated with 12 DIMMs. However, a system with 12 slots may include only 4 DIMMs and 8 vacant slots. As another example, a system with 12 slots may include eight single-high and four double-high DIMM form factors.
Vacant slots and/or mixtures of DIMM card heights present regions of relatively low air flow impedance in parallel with much more restrictive flow channels. The effect of this imbalance, since air takes the path of least resistance, is flow starvation in regions of higher DRAM density. This flow starvation may result in component overheating, reduced reliability, and loss of function.
Existing solutions include increasing fan/blower flow delivery and obstructing the open channels with foam blocks or other filler designs. The drawbacks of increasing fan output to offset the flow bypass imbalance include increased acoustic noise level, increased electrical power consumption, increased air moving device size and cost, and increased bearing temperatures. The drawbacks of complete obstruction of open channels with foam blocks or the like include increased overall system pressure drop, which results in the same disadvantages as listed above for increasing fan output, and increased heating of downstream or upstream components, as the mass flow rate is reduced as a result of increased pressure drop. Typically, the flow through the DIMM bank area is passed serially through a high-power CPU region and therefore cannot be overly restrictive.
Existing DIMM fillers provide some degree of flow balancing; however, they do not handle combinations of multiple height DIMMs, and they lack any means of focusing the flow over a hub chip. In order to provide the same amount of cooling to a hub chip, prior art fillers require much higher airflow rates. On-DIMM hub chips are a relatively recent addition to memory DIMMs, having been added to increase memory speed and capacity as processor architectures increasingly improve bandwidth access to memory. Overheating of memory DIMMs is currently a problem for DDR2 DIMMs and is expected to get worse for the next generations of DIMMs (DDR3 and DDR4) because DRAM device powers and CPU preheat are increasing, while the industry allowable temperature limit for single-refresh DRAMs remains fixed at 85° C.

Enhancing the cooling of dual in-line memory modules

International Business Machines Corporation


A closed loop buoyancy system wherein a device housing the system is submerged in a liquid filled container, the device dives to the bottom of the container, remains for a regulated amount of time, and then floats back to the surface of the liquid.

For over 400 years Cartesian divers have been used to illustrate to students the physical principles of density and buoyancy. Classic Cartesian divers are named for the French scientist Rene Descartes. In a classic Cartesian diver, an external gas chamber is filled with liquid. In classroom experiments this is typically done in a 1.5 liter plastic soda bottle. The squeezing of the bottle then exerts pressure on the liquid. Inside the container is housed a smaller container, i.e. the "diver." The diver has air trapped inside of it. With pressure exerted on the external liquid in the outer container, the squeezed liquid does not compress, but the air trapped inside the diver does. With the change in volume of trapped air, the diver then rises or sinks relative to the pressure of the outer liquid.
An object is buoyant in water due to the amount of water is displaces or "pushes aside." If the weight of the water that is displaced by an object in water exceeds the weight of the object, then the object will float. As pressure is applied to the outer liquid, pressure is also applied to the air pocket trapped inside the diver, thereby reducing the size of the air pocket. As the bubble size reduces, the driver becomes less buoyant and begins to sink. As the pressure is released, the air bubble grows and becomes more buoyant, causing the diver to rise back to the top of the liquid.
A submarine uses this principal in a slightly different way. The submarine contains ballast tanks that can be filled or emptied of air. The air that moves to and from these tanks is at the current pressure of the water outside of the submarine. A submerged submarine that is at a steady state, neither rising nor sinking, will rise when air is introduced into the ballast tank or sink when air is removed from the ballast tank because this movement of air causes changes in the submarine's buoyancy.
The prior art involving the use of these physical principles utilize an outside container that absorbs the pressure change, thereby effectuating the falling and rising of the diver. A Cartesian toy that allows the floating diver to move in a horizontal direction as well as the classic vertical direction is disclosed by Seefluth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,782, but this invention is limited to the exertion of pressure upon the outside liquid container itself. This limits the usefulness of the diving device outside of the context of closed, relatively small liquid containers. Currently, there is nothing on the market that allows an object to dive in a large body of water, such as a bathtub, swimming pool, pond or lake that will then wait for a period of time before resurfacing. Therefore, a need exists for such a system.


An optical element is provided that may be used for collecting optical radiation incident at large angles of incidence. The element may include a grating window formed of grating elements that may collect large incident angle radiation and reflect that radiation, e.g., under total internal reflection in a substantially normal direction. A lens or lens array may be used to collect the internally reflected radiation and focus that radiation to a detector. Example detectors include infrared detectors. The element may be formed to collect, reflect, and redirect optical radiation incident at angles above 45° as measured from a surface normal to a detector oriented substantially at normal incidence. The detected signal from the optical element may be used to control systems within an aircraft or other vehicle capable of flight. In another application, the optical element may also be used to project optical radiation at the same large angles by replacing the detector elements with light sources, such as light emitting diodes.

Optical sensors employ optical elements that are used in the collection of optical radiation and direct such collected optical radiation to an optical sensor element for measurement of sensor specific characteristics based on that collection. To collect such incident optical radiation, optical sensors typically use an optical window or lens as the initial optical element, although other optical elements may be incorporated between the window and the sensor element. A window generally acts as a barrier to protect the following optics from adverse environments, such as excess temperature or pressure. The optical surfaces of the window are flat and may be parallel, or tilted at a slight angle relative to each other to form an optical wedge. A window with parallel optical surfaces does not change the divergence angle of the incident optical radiation. An optical wedge will slightly change the direction of incidence and the divergence angle of the incident optical radiation. Additionally, one or both of the optical surfaces of a lens are curved and act to change the divergence angle of the incident optical radiation to effectively direct the incident radiation onto the active area of the sensor.
Optical elements are most commonly used for collecting axial optical radiation, i.e., optical radiation incident over a range of angles near the axis of the surface normal of the initial optical element. In many optical sensor applications, this angular extent is limited by the acceptance angle of conventional optical elements. Such optical elements are typically limited to an acceptance angle of about 30° (half cone angle). In optical terms this represents a numerical aperture of about 0.5, defined as the sine of the half cone angle, or an f number of approximately 1, where the diameter of the optical element equals its focal length. In some sensor applications, however, it is desirable to have optical elements that are able to detect non-axial, i.e. off-axis radiation at large angles of incidence, for example from 60 to 80°. This is difficult using conventional optical elements.
When optical radiation is incident on an optical window element at large angles of incidence, although the angle of incidence is reduced inside the window element, as prescribed by Snell's Law, the exit angle of the optical radiation is the same as the incident angle. This means that sensors placed behind a planar window must be oriented so that the sensor element surface normal is parallel to the optical axis of the incident optical radiation. And, in practical sensor applications, such placements lead to unacceptably large packaging volumes, especially when multiple sensors are employed.
Another problem with the use of conventional optical elements at large angles of incidence is Fresnel reflection. As is well-known, Fresnel reflections cause a loss of transmitted radiation at transmissive surfaces due to a reflection from the same surface that increases in magnitude as the angle of incidence increases. For materials of higher refractive index, such as semiconductor materials, these Fresnel reflections can result in sizeable losses of optical radiation. As a result of the foregoing, optical sensor designers are limited in their ability to design effective off-axis optical radiation sensors.
Many types of optical radiation detector have small surface areas, and practical sensor designs usually require small packaging volumes. In conventional optical radiation configurations, this requires the use of a lens with a short focal length. Such lenses are also subject to Fresnel losses. Additionally, they introduce focusing errors such as large optical aberrations for optical radiation at high angles of incidence. These aberrations increase as the f number of the lens is decreased and as the refractive index is increased. This is especially true of semiconductor materials such as silicon or germanium that have extremely high refractive indices compared to air. These focusing errors can significantly reduce sensor performance and impact the effectiveness of the overall system to perform its intended function.
Large lenses with short focal lengths have an almost hemispherical shape. This makes them heavy and difficult to fabricate. Furthermore, in aircraft applications, weight and airflow disturbance considerations require a lens that is similar in profile to the immediate surface contour of the external vehicle. To address this, lenses with a faceted structure, known historically as Fresnel lenses have been used. If such facets are configured to be linear, a cylindrical Fresnel lens is formed that acts in a similar fashion to a conventional cylindrical lens. A collimated beam incident along the optical axis of the lens is bought to a line focus. If, instead, the facets are configured in a circular pattern, a spherical Fresnel lens is formed that acts in a similar fashion to a conventional spherical lens. A collimated beam incident along the optical axis of the lens is bought to a point focus.
These generally flat lenses collect substantially axial radiation, i.e., radiation over an angular sensitivity range that includes a surface normal, and use that collected radiation for imaging or illumination purposes. Some have recently proposed Fresnel lenses that include binary optical structures formed of discrete steps, which may be formed via photomasking techniques. Yet, these Fresnel lens share operation and design with the other classes of lens. They are designed for collection of axial or near axial radiation, not off-axis radiation collection. Other grating structures have been proposed, including diffraction gratings, for example, and large-scale plastic grating structures. But such structures operate by refraction and exhibit some of the alignment and distortion phenomena discussed above, especially for off-axis radiation.
Others have suggested the use of discrete microprisms for side illumination in instrument displays. But, the radiation in such structures is deflected by a complex arrangement of prisms that makes uniform collection and transmission of light over a sensing area very difficult. Further, the microprism structures are not periodic structures.
There have also been suggestions for arrays of microlenses, in applications such as micro-scale chemical analysis, fiber optic coupling and stereoscopic displays. These are imaging-type optical elements that operate by refraction and, as a result, can exhibit losses and distortions compared to the ideal, desired operation. Non-imaging microstructures have also been suggested for light concentration onto detector arrays using reflective devices, but again the devices are designed to collect light incident substantially on axis, not off axis. Plus, these structures do not focus light and may direct light back out of the collection aperture at large angles of incidence.
Combinations of diffraction gratings and lenses have also been proposed to correct for the chromatic aberration of conventional lens in applications such as photography, image projection and telescopes. But there is no capability to collect off-axis radiation, as they are limited to axial collection.
None of the various known optical elements are able to effectively collect off-axis, especially near grazing incidence, light in a low-loss system. Either from limitations on the angles of the light that can be collected or from the losses that affect that light once collected (e.g., Fresnel reflections), these optical elements present design limitations to sensor manufacturers.

Optical element for efficient sensing at large angles of incidence


The ink supply has an ink reservoir, a valve, a pressurizable chamber, and an outlet. The refilling is accomplished by directing ink from the outlet into the reservoir while the chamber is otherwise unpressurized so that the valve remains slightly open to permit the refill flow therethrough.

The present invention relates to a method for refilling a reusable ink supply having a pressurized chamber.
A typical ink-jet printer has a pen mounted to a carriage that traverses a printing surface, such as a piece of paper. The pen carries a print head. As the print head passes over appropriate locations on the printing surface, a control system activates ink-jets on the print head to eject, or jet, ink drops onto the printing surface and form desired images and characters.
To work properly, such printers must have a reliable supply of ink for the print head. Many ink-jet printers use a disposable ink pen that can be mounted to the carriage. Such an ink pen typically includes, in addition to the print head, a reservoir containing a supply of ink. The ink pen also typically includes pressure regulating mechanisms to maintain the ink supply at an appropriate pressure for use by the print head. When the ink supply is exhausted, the ink pen is disposed of and a new ink pen is installed. This system provides an easy, user friendly way of providing an ink supply for an ink-jet printer.
However, in a printer using an ink pen, the entire ink pen, including the reservoir and ink supply, is moved with the print head. This requires a trade-off. If the ink pen has a large reservoir and ink supply, it is heavier and is more difficult to move quickly. This may limit the speed with which the printer can print--an important characteristic of a printer. On the other hand, if the ink pen has a small reservoir and ink supply, it will be depleted more quickly and require more frequent replacement.
The problems posed by size limitations of the ink reservoir have been heightened by the increasing popularity of color printers. In a color printer, it is usually necessary to supply more than one color of ink to the print head. Commonly, three or four different ink colors, each of which must be contained in a separate reservoir, are required. The combined volume of all of these reservoirs is limited in the same manner as the single reservoir of a typical one-color printer. Thus, each reservoir can be only a fraction of the size of a typical reservoir for a one-color printer.
Furthermore, when even one of the reservoirs is depleted, the ink pen may no longer be able to print as intended. Thus, the ink pen must typically be replaced and discarded, or at least removed for refilling, when the first of the reservoirs is exhausted. This further decreases the useful life of the ink pen.
As can be appreciated, the print head and pressure regulating mechanism of the ink pen contribute substantially to the cost of the ink pen. These mechanisms can also have a useful life expectancy far longer than the supply of ink in the reservoir. Thus, when the ink pen is discarded, the print head and pressure regulating mechanisms may have a great deal of usable life remaining. In addition, in multiple color ink pens, it is unlikely that all of the ink reservoirs will be depleted at the same time. Thus, the discarded ink pen will likely contain unused ink as well as a fully functional print head and pressure regulating mechanism. This results in increased cost to the user and a somewhat wasteful and inefficient use of resources.
To alleviate some of the shortcomings of disposable ink pens, some ink-jet printers have used ink supplies that are not mounted to the carriage. Such ink supplies, because they are stationary within the printer, are not subject to all of the size limitations of an ink supply that is moved with the carriage. Some printers with stationary ink supplies have a refillable ink reservoir built into the printer. Ink is supplied from the reservoir to the print head through a tube which trails from the print head. Alternatively, the print head can include a small ink reservoir that is periodically replenished by moving the print head to a filling station at the stationary, built-in reservoir. In either alternative, ink may be supplied from the reservoir to the print head by either a pump within the printer or by gravity flow.
However, such built-in reservoirs are frequently difficult and messy to refill. In addition, because they are never replaced, built-in ink reservoirs tend to collect particles and contaminants that can adversely affect printer performance.
In view of these problems, some printers use replaceable reservoirs. These reservoirs, like the built-in reservoirs are not located on the carriage and, thus, are not moved with the print head during printing. Replaceable reservoirs sometimes are plastic bags filled with ink. The bag is provided with a mechanism, such as a septum which can be punctured by a hollow needle, for coupling it to the printer so that ink may flow from the bag to the print head. Often, the bag is squeezed, or pressurized in some other manner, to cause the ink to flow from the reservoir. Should the bag burst or leak while under pressure, the consequences can be catastrophic for the printer.
One particular replaceable reservoir reliably supplies ink to the print head, yet is not complicated and can be manufactured simply and inexpensively. This reservoir is also easily recyclable.
The replaceable reservoir has an ink supply that has a main reservoir for holding a supply of ink. The main reservoir, which is typically maintained at about ambient pressure, is coupled to a variable volume chamber via a valve that allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and limits the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet opens to establish a fluid connection between the chamber and the pen.
The chamber can serve as part of a pump to supply ink from the reservoir to the pen. In particular, when the volume of the chamber is increased, ink is drawn from the reservoir through the valve and into the chamber. When the volume of the chamber is decreased, ink is forced from the chamber through the fluid outlet to supply the print head.
The reservoir includes flexible plastic walls supported by a rigid frame. The frame is carried by a chassis which also carries the variable volume chamber and the fluid outlet.
The present invention is particularly directed to a method for refilling an ink supply of the type described above. This allows the ink supply container to be reused.
The present method involves supplying refill ink into the ink supply container through the fluid outlet that otherwise, during normal operation, serves to direct the ink from the supply to the pen.
Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the invention which is presented by way of example and not as a limitation of the present invention.

Method for refilling an ink supply for an ink-jet printer