A controlled release biocidal salt of a first component comprises a cation of a Nα—(C1-C22) alkanoyl di-basic amino acid alkyl (C1-C22) ester cationic biocidal molecule and a second component comprising an anion of a monomeric anionic molecule having insignificant biocidal activity. The salt is characterized such that when the salt is exposed to an aqueous medium, the salt partially dissolves thereby releasing biocidal ions in an amount sufficient to exceed the MIC or MBC of a target bacteria being controlled, and further characterized as leaving a residual reservoir of undissolved salt capable of releasing more biocidal ions as the salt is consumed or otherwise removed from the environment encompassing the target bacteria. The preferred cationic biocidal molecule comprises Nα-lauroyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (“LAE”).

The use of environmentally beneficial compositions, especially those that are referred to as "green", is important in choosing biocidal materials that have controlled release (also referred to as extended release) properties and also can be used as preservatives. The use of natural or naturally-derived materials is also very much of interest in topically applied and ingested compositions. It is also important that both green and naturally-derived materials be utilized in a composition that will provide antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and skin/hair beneficial properties as well as preservative capability and controlled release properties. If all of the components of a biocidal composition are GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) and are approved for food use, the resulting composition could also be ingested with little or no side effects. Since the use of food-grade materials are being promoted as a strategy of selecting ingredients that are intended to be applied to skin/hair, compositions utilizing GRAS ingredients would meet such need.
Many presently-used preservatives are not green and are not natural or naturally-derived and many are not approved for food use. There is a growing movement in the cosmetics industry to avoid the use of ingredients that cannot be eaten. Furthermore, commonly-used preservatives do not possess controlled release properties which would allow continuous release of the preservative at effective levels as the preservative is consumed. If a preservative composition having controlled release properties also included GRAS ingredients that have an antimicrobial component as well as a naturally occurring component that has skin/hair benefits, then such approach would be beneficial in reducing the potential irritation from hash chemicals while improving skin/hair health.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A filter assembly having a filter element that is self positioning into a preferential filtering position upon insertion into a tank which will contain the medium to be filtered (e.g., gasoline, oil, etc.).

Filters and filter assemblies are commonly used in applications where a liquid needs to be cleaned of particulate matter larger than a certain predetermined size. For example, in gasoline powered engines, a filter assembly may be used to remove particulate in the fuel that would otherwise clog and adversely affect the efficiency of the engine. The fuel filter assembly may have a first stage filter that removes larger particulate from the fuel and a second stage filter that removes smaller particulate from the fuel prior to the fuel being delivered to the engine. A typical vehicle fuel delivery system includes a fuel tank, a fuel pump, a fuel filter assembly and fuel lines through which the filtered fuel is pumped to the vehicle engine. The first stage fuel filter may be attached to an inlet of the fuel pump so that the fuel passes through the first stage filter immediately prior to entering the fuel pump. The filtered fuel is then pumped from the fuel pump to the second stage fuel filter which removes finer particulate from the fuel. The fuel then travels through a fuel line leading to the engine. A fuel regulator is also usually provided to control fuel pressure in the fuel line.
A mounting platform may be used upon which the fuel pump and fuel filters are mounted, the combination of which is typically referred to as a "fuel module". The mounting platform and components thereon are then inserted through an opening in the fuel tank to position the components within the fuel tank. The mounting platform is firmly secured to the tank and seals the opening closed. Should the fuel delivery components within the fuel tank need servicing, the mounting platform is simply detached from the tank and removed along with the fuel delivery components mounted thereto.
The dimensions of the fuel tank and the fuel delivery components described above varies according to the requirements of the vehicle design. A fuel delivery system for a motorcycle is therefore very different than a fuel delivery system for an automobile. A motorcycle requires much smaller fuel delivery system components and this is a critical design consideration of a motorcycle fuel delivery system designer. Thus, the various fuel system components must be designed with the specific space requirements of the vehicle application in mind. Other equally important design considerations include ease of assembly and positioning of the components for optimum effectiveness. For example, the fuel filter is a porous material whose effectiveness is directly correlated to its surface area and placement within the fuel tank. The larger the surface area, the more fuel is strained therethrough. Likewise, the more of the filter that is submerged in the fuel (whose level continuously changes between full and near empty), the more of the filter is utilized in straining the fuel and its effectiveness is thus optimized. While fuel filters have been designed with the forgoing in mind, there remains a need for a fuel filter, particularly for small fuel tank applications, whose assembly is relatively simple and includes features which automatically position the filter in the tank for optimum effectiveness.


A host system, such as a server, controls a plurality of different class storage devices on a network. The operating system on the host assigns a unique identification to each storage device using a standard protocol and maintains the identification in the operating system. This allows control of the storage devices without complications even though different classes of devices, using differing identification protocols, are assembled on the same network.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and system, including an operating system, for administering a plurality of storage devices, on a network, such as a storage area network which includes controllers. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and system for assigning identification signatures, described herein as Lun signatures, to different types of storage devices on the network to create a uniform signature methodology within an operating system on a host controlling the network. As a result, different classes of storage devices can be administered by the host on the same network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In networks, in particular, networks including plural storage devices or storage arrays distributed throughout the network, the storage devices typically are identified by unique signatures which are used to identify and configure the devices on a host such as a server. Depending upon the type of device, the signature provides a specific identification unique to that storage device, which is used by the host system controlling the network to enable different functionality, depending on the device, including the aforementioned identifying, configuring and administering of the specific device. For purposes of this disclosure, such signatures will generally be referred to as a logical unit number (Lun) signatures.
It is noted that conventionally, the term xe2x80x9cLun signaturexe2x80x9d has been used by EMC Corporation and others with reference to different types of storage arrays commercially available from EMC Corporation. While the term Lun signature is used herein for ease of reference and understanding in describing the system and method, it is noted that such term is not limited to the specific types of signatures used by EMC Corporation, and is intended to encompass any such type identification, providing similar functionality, as used in the industry to provide identification and allow configuring and administration of storage devices in a network, as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In the past, as technology has developed, different types of storage devices have used different protocols in assigning an identification signature for use in identifying, configuring and controlling such devices on a network. In a specific example, as already noted, such signatures have been employed in connection with storage arrays such as those originally commercially available under the name Clariion, from Data General Corporation, now EMC Corporation. The Clariion-type systems started employing the signature for a derived path identification on the network, and was known as a Lun signature. The Lun signature was specific to the storage processor identification for each storage array on the network. In this context, it will also be appreciated that by the term Lun signature as used herein, is meant the path identification, i.e., ID for a given adapter on a host system, to a specific storage array on a network.
Such signatures can be employed in systems employing a host, such as a server, administering a plurality of storage arrays on a fibre channel-type system, with the host communicating with the various storage arrays through a switch, or where all devices are physically connected without a switch in a loop, as well as on SCSI protocol based systems.
So long as a single type of storage array having a uniform Lun signature protocol is used on a network, it is easy to configure and operate the network. However, as different types of storage arrays use different types of Lun signatures, a performance problem arises, which also compromises data integrity as a result of supporting older styles of Lun signatures.
More specifically, one example of prior art methods of tracking Lun signatures within an operating system such as DG/UX, originally available from Data General and now from EMC Corporation, involves tracking Lun signatures solely with disk-based signatures, except for the aforementioned Clariion-type storage arrays. Storage arrays such as those available under the name Clariion, and other equivalent type arrays, are tracked using a unique vendor specific SCSI mode page which provides the vendor specific signatures of the storage processors (SPs) controlling the storage array.
As new technologies have been developed in fibre channel storage area networks, storage array network (SAN) and network attached storage (NAS) environments, it has become more difficult to accommodate tracking the prior art arrays which used disk-based signatures. More specifically, current technologies operate primarily on world wide name (WWN) based signatures, which are incompatible with the older signatures.
More specifically, prior to the introduction of SAN, every Lun signature on a disk-based signature type device was unique to the specific device. Therefore, if a Lun 0 was found for storage processors having IDs 1 and 2, for example, then there could not be another Lun 0 with the same storage processor (SP) ID. However, with SAN technology, there can be multiple Lun 0s in the same array configured, so a different method other than SP IDs is needed.
In other types of arrays such as those available from EMC Corporation under the name Symmetrix, they do not have SP IDs and only support the WWN standard. Thus, in the case where disk-based signatures are used, this results in both slow and potentially dangerous operations if disk-to-disk copying is done.
Thus, in accordance with the method and system described herein, the prior art problems of administering networks with differing types of storage devices and/or arrays, is avoided, along with other advantages provided by the system and method disclosed herein.
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method of configuring an operating system on a host. The host is connected on a network for administering a plurality of storage devices. The network has controllers thereon. The method involves, for storage devices which are storage arrays, and are on the network, and which support world wide name signatures, building a first class of unique Lun signature for each such storage device, which is based on the world wide name signature of each storage device. The Lun signature is built in the operating system, and in the controllers on the network.
For storage devices, which are storage arrays, and are on the network but which do not support world wide name signatures, but have storage processor based signatures, a second class of unique Lun signature is built for each such storage device based on the storage processor based signature of each such storage device, in the operating system and in controllers on the network.
For storage devices which are not storage arrays, and are on the network, a third class of unique Lun signature is built for each such storage device, in the operating system and in controllers on the network.
In a more specific aspect, each Lun signature has a predetermined structure which identifies the type of storage device associated therewith. If a specific storage device does not include a Lun 0, there is created a unique fake Lun 0 for the device, in the operating system and in controllers on the network. The Lun 0s in the operating system are used to support communications with storage devices on the network to allow the operating system to size the network. More specifically, a Lun signature is allocated for every path on the network.
In another aspect, there is described a host system, for example, a server, capable of administering a plurality of devices on the aforementioned type of network. The host system includes at least one processor, although it can be a NUMA class type host system with multiple processors. The host system includes programs configured for administering the network, and the programs include an operating system having a file system with a virtual device manager capable of assigning Lun signatures within the operating system to represent storage devices on the network based on the storage device class. The file system is capable of assigning Lun signatures within the operating system to: (1) storage devices, which are storage arrays which support world wide name signatures, by building a first class of unique Lun signature for each such storage array connected on the network, based on the world wide name signature of each storage device in the operating system, and in the controllers on the network; (2) for storage devices, which are storage arrays, on the network which do not support world wide name signatures, but have storage processors based signatures, by building a second class of unique Lun signature for such storage device, based on the storage processor based signature of each such storage device, in the operating system and on controllers on the network; and (3) for storage devices, which are not storage arrays, on the network, by building a third class of unique Lun signature for each such storage device, in the operating system and in controllers on the network.
In yet still another aspect, there is disclosed an operating system for use on a host system capable of administering a plurality of storage devices when connected thereto on a storage area network, with controllers on the network. The operating system includes a file system as previously described with reference to the host system.

Method and system for administering storage devices on a network


A soft grip medical connector comprises a housing with an upstream end, a downstream end and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof. A flexible member comprises a valve portion integrally formed with a sleeve portion. The valve portion is positioned within a section of the housing and is configured to control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen. The sleeve is inverted to envelope at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments the gripping portion is integrally formed with the valve portion. In some embodiments, the connector is also generally configured to create a positive pressure in a catheter lumen upon removal of a syringe or other medical device from the upstream end of the connector. Methods of making a medical fluid connector generally comprise forming a valve member with a sleeve extending there from, and assembling the valve, sleeve and housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The inventions disclosed herein relate in general to the field of medical connectors, and in particular to needle-less medical connectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
The manipulation of fluids for parenteral administration in hospitals and medical settings routinely involves the use of connectors for selectively facilitating the movement of fluids to or from patients. For example, a connector may be attached to a catheter that leads to a tip positioned within a patient, and various connectors may be attached to one or more tubes and medical implements to control the fluid flow to or from the patient.
Needle-less connectors are typically structured so that a medical implement without a needle can be selectively connected to such a connector for providing fluid flow between a patient and a fluid source or receptacle. When the medical implement is removed, the connector closes, effectively sealing the catheter connected to the patient without requiring multiple injections to the patient and without exposing health care professionals to the risk of inadvertent needle sticks. The medical implement used with the connector may be a tube or other medical device such as a conduit, syringe, IV set (both peripheral and central lines), piggyback line, or similar component which is adapted for connection to the medical valve.
Many existing medical connectors can be relatively difficult to grasp by health care professionals during use. In most applications, medical connectors are designed to be relatively small to minimize the cost of manufacturing and to minimize the amount of fluid "dead space" inside the connectors. Moreover, most medical connectors include a housing with a hard, smooth outer surface. As a result, it is sometimes uncomfortable for health care professionals to tightly pinch their fingers around the connectors and firmly grasp them during medical procedures in a repetitious manner. Because health care professionals use such connectors very frequently during patient care, enhancements in their ability to effectively grasp the connectors can result in significant improvement in the time and effort required to use them. Additionally, the existing hard-surface medical connectors can be uncomfortable against a patient's skin. This discomfort can become especially pronounced when a patient requires frequent medical attention involving the use of medical connectors, such as hemodialysis.
Additionally, many existing medical connectors at least partially obstruct fluid flow with complex flow passageways including various turns, bends, and corners. These obstructions can result in a fairly low flow rate. The obstructions can also damage blood platelets.
Further, many existing connectors permit some degree of retrograde fluid flow upon the disconnection of these medical devices from the valve. These connectors typically include an internal space through which a fluid may flow from the medical implement to the catheter attached to the connector. When the medical implement is attached to the connector, it typically occupies a portion of this internal valve space, displacing a certain amount of fluid within the connector. When the medical implement is disconnected, a vacuum is created by the removal of the portion of the medical implement from the internal space of the connector, which tends to draw fluid up through the line from the patient toward the connector to fill the space left by the removal of the implement.
This regression of fluid has certain disadvantages. When the connector is attached to a fluid line leading to a patient, retrograde movement of fluid through the line towards the space in the connector has the effect of drawing a small amount of blood away from the patient in the direction of the connector. The blood thus drawn into the catheter may, over time, result in a clog in the catheter near its tip, potentially limiting the effectiveness of the catheter tip.
The likelihood of blood clogging the tip of a catheter is heightened when the inner diameter of the catheter is small. In parenteral applications, such smaller-diameter catheters are used frequently due to their numerous advantages. For example, smaller catheters reduce the trauma and discomfort caused by insertion into a patient. Because these catheters have small lumens, even a small suction force may draw fluid back a comparatively large distance through the catheter toward the connector.
Further, in some existing medical connectors, there are gaps between an internal sealing member and the outer housing of the connector. These gaps may allow bacteria, debris, or disinfectant solution to enter through the opening into the interior of the connector and potentially reach the flow of fluid to or from the patient.


A motorcycle trailer with an aerodynamic storage compartment and a two-wheel independent suspension. Swing arm suspensions for the wheels include swing arms pivotally mounted to the trailer above the wheel axle, wherein the swing arms are supported by wheel suspension shock absorbers. A suspension spring supported hitch design enables the motorcycle to rapidly move up and down independently of the trailer pitch velocity to reduce affecting the motorcycle. The aerodynamic storage compartment, the wheel suspension, and the suspension spring supported hitch help maintain a smooth ride for the motorcycle pulling the trailer and reduce the aerodynamic drag and associated fuel consumption and rear tire wear of the motorcycle, and the motorcycle aft frame fatigue.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to motorcycle trailers. More specifically, it relates to trailers that have an aerodynamically-designed storage compartment, a suspension spring assembly for the hitch and draw bar to reduce the impact on the motorcycle from the trailer's reaction to bumps, and to two-wheel independent suspension where each suspension mount on the trailer is above the axle of each tire. Such mounting of the swing arm reduces vertical acceleration associated with the wheel hitting a bump, resulting in decreased vertical forces on the trailer. In addition to the independent suspension, the suspension spring assembly for the hitch and draw decrease the transfer of vertical force to the motorcycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are a large number of motorcycle trailers on the market that try to have improved aerodynamic characteristics. One method to improve aerodynamics changes the shape of the trailer so that the front of the trailer has a somewhat pointed nose. This design causes the air to flow easily underneath or over the top of the trailer. However, the prior art designs typically leave the back end of the trailer square, which does nothing to direct the convergence of air around the back of the trailer. Another method of improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the trailer involves decreasing the size of the trailer such that it is smaller than the motorcycle so that the motorcycle diverts most of the wind. This approach has the obvious drawback of reducing the available cargo room.
While there is prior art using independent suspension systems to make the ride of the trailer smoother over rough roads, these suspension systems typically include swing arms that are below the wheel's axle. When the swing arm is below the wheel's axle, it must rise more steeply when it hits a bump and therefore there is a rougher ride due to higher vertical acceleration. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,001 (Wagner) shows a two-wheel independent suspension motorcycle cargo trailer. In this trailer, there is a low center of gravity and an independent suspension system for each wheel instead of a transverse common axle and suspension for both wheels. The low center of gravity and independent suspension were purported to reduce drag and provide a smoother ride. In Wagner, the wheel suspension consists of a swing arm and air shocks to reduce the effects of bumps in the road. However, the swing arm is mounted on the trailer in a location lower than the attachment to the wheel axle.
Finally, the motorcycle trailer currently on the market use a single rigid hitch and drag bar which resists the vertical motion of the motorcycle going over bumps. This mechanism transfers the vertical motion of the trailer to the motorcycle, which makes the motorcycle more difficult to control, reduces the enjoyment of the ride, and increases the fatigue of the rear frame of the motorcycle.


An oxidizing catalytic converter is provided in an exhaust passage of a diesel engine. A catalyst is formed by coating a wash coat comprising platinum onto a substrate The converter is divided into a high temperature part through which high temperature exhaust is circulated and a low temperature part through which low temperature exhaust is circulated, and the platinum particle diameter of the catalyst in the low temperature part is arranged to be less than that in the high temperature part. It is preferable that the wash coat amount of the low temperature part is less than that of the high temperature part. It is moreover preferable that the platinum amount in the low temperature part is greater than that in the high temperature part. In this way, the soluble organic fraction, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are effectively and continuously purged from the exhaust.

The installation of an oxidation catalyst in an exhaust passage to purify the soluble organic fraction (SOF), hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) from particulate matter (PM) in the exhaust of a diesel engine, is disclosed in for example the Toyota Technical Review Vol. 43, No. 1 published in May, 1993.
FIGS. 9A-9C show one example of such a diesel engine oxidation catalyst 13. The catalyst 13 comprises a honeycomb type substrate 14 of cordylite, and a wash coat 15 supported on the substrate 14, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The wash coat 15 comprises an alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) base material, and platinum (Pt) or palladium (Pd) adsorbed on the base material. The substrate 14 and wash coat 15 comprise a plurality of longitudinal partitions 16 as shown in FIG. 9C, and exhaust gas passes through spaces enclosed by these partitions 16.
The main components of PM are oil in fuel, SOF due to unburnt fuel, dry soot produced by dehydration of fuel, and sulfate (SO.sub.4) due to sulfur in fuel. The dry soot and sulfates comprise an insoluble organic fraction (ISF).
The proportions of these components vary according to the engine combustion system. In the case of a precombustion chamber type diesel engine:
SOF=10-40%, dry soot=60-90%, sulfates=1-3%.
In the case of a direct injection type diesel engine:
SOF=30-60%, dry soot=40-70%, sulfates=1-3%.
The performance of an oxidation catalyst varies according to the catalyst inlet temperature, as shown in FIGS. 11A-11C. A Pt type oxidation catalyst has a high oxidizing activity for HC as shown in FIG. 11A, but the same is true for SO2. Therefore, when the exhaust temperature is high, sulfates which are oxidation products of SO.sub.2 are produced in large quantity as shown in FIG. 11C, and the decrease of PM at high temperature is consequently lessened as shown in FIG. 11B.
A Pd type catalyst, on the other hand, has a low oxidizing activity for HC and SO.sub.2. Hence, even when the temperature increases, not much sulfate is produced as shown in FIG. 11C, and the reduction of PM due to decrease of SOF is therefore maintained even at high temperature. These catalysts reduce PM and SOF even at exhaust temperatures where oxidizing activity is low, as shown in FIG. 11B, but this is due to the fact that PM and SOF are adsorbed on the catalyst and build up on it.
FIGS. 12A and 12B compare a Pt type oxidation catalyst with a Pd type oxidation catalyst regarding the amount of dry soot and SOF which are adsorbed or built up on the catalyst when the exhaust temperature conditions are varied.
When using a Pt type oxidation catalyst, at the exhaust temperature of 200.degree. C. or higher, the amount of dry soot built up decreases, and at 300.degree. C. or higher, there is almost no build-up. Using a Pd type oxidation catalyst on the other hand, since its oxidizing activity is low, dry soot build-up begins to decrease only at 300.degree. C. or higher. SOF adsorption also depends on the exhaust temperature, but not on whether the catalyst has high or low activity, and at 200.degree. C. or over, there is practically no SOF adsorption on the catalyst. This is due to the fact that SOF vaporize at 200.degree. C. or higher temperatures.
FIG. 13 shows a conversion rate with respect to temperature of a Pt type oxidation catalyst on which PM (SOF) has been adsorbed or built up at a low exhaust temperature at which the catalyst has a low oxidizing activity. It is seen from this figure that adsorption or build-up of PM (SOF) largely decreases oxidizing activity relative to HC and CO. When the temperature reaches 200.degree. C. and over, CO is converted since SOF which had been adsorbed or built up is vaporized and released from the catalyst. When the temperature reaches approximately 280.degree. C., SOF which had been adsorbed or built up suddenly burns, restoring the oxidizing activity of the catalyst with respect to HC and CO. Hence, catalyst performance relative to each component is largely affected by the exhaust temperature.
FIG. 14 shows an exhaust temperature frequency in the 10/15 running mode of a vehicle carrying a direct injection type diesel engine. It is seen that the time required to reach the oxidizing activity temperature is less at the downstream under-floor position than in the upstream exhaust manifold position.
FIG. 15A shows the relation between the capacity of a Pt type oxidation catalyst and PM adsorption/build-up performance at an exhaust temperature of 150.degree. C. where the oxidizing activity is low. FIG. 15B shows this relation in more detail. FIGS. 16A and 16B are similar graphs but showing a PM oxidation performance at an exhaust temperature of 250.degree. C.
From these graphs, it is seen that PM adsorption/build-up performance increases the higher the catalyst capacity. It is also seen that although oxidizing activity increases to some extent with increase of catalyst capacity, it is steady above a certain capacity.
FIG. 17A is a graph showing the relation between catalyst capacity and rate of sulfate increase for a conventional Pt type oxidation catalyst. FIG. 17B shows sulfate increase rate characteristics when space velocity (SV) is varied for a Pt type oxidation catalyst. As the space velocity increases for the same exhaust flowrate if the catalyst capacity is kept low, increase of sulfate can be suppressed. In practice however, a certain catalyst capacity is required to enhance HC and CO oxidizing activity, hence the oxidizing activity and sulfate suppression performance are in a mutually conflicting relationship with one another.
Oxidation catalysts for diesel engines therefore have the above characteristics. In view of the need to satisfy the aforesaid conflicting demands of high oxidizing activity with respect to HC and CO, and suppression of sulfate, and in view of the difference of temperature and capacity between upstream and downstream, conventional oxidation catalysts for diesel engines therefore comprised for example a Pd type catalyst having a low oxidation activity and a separate Pt type catalyst of low capacity, i.e. having a high space velocity, installed in the upstream part of the exhaust.
This construction however fails to adequately resolve the following issues:
1. Even when the Pt catalyst is of low capacity, it produces a large amount of sulfate. PA0 2. As the Pd catalyst has a low oxidizing activity, it has only a low effect in reducing HC and CO. PA0 3. Catalyst performance cannot be maintained due to PM build up.


The present invention provides animated toys adapted to imitate multiple personas.

The present invention relates generally to animated toys, and more particularly to those toys adapted to imitate multiple personas.
In recent years animation in children's toys has become very popular. Animated toys may include a system for generating motion, typically driven by small rotating motors that connect to gears, pulleys, or levers. Some animation systems also include electronics for controlling the animation, and for controlling speech. Examples of such toys, including those that imitate common household pets such as dogs, cats, or dragons, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,808,142; 4,850,930; 4,900,289; 4,923,428; 5,074,821; 5,281,180; 5,324,225; 5,501,627; 5,636,994; 5,655,945; 5,802,488; 5,912,454; 6,149,490; and 6,322,420; and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 20020016128 and 20020078363. The disclosures of each of those patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference.


A computer adapter card (204) includes a plurality of setup registers (224-226) for receiving setup parameters during initialization of the computer system. Each of the setup registers of an adapter card is accessed at the same address as the corresponding setup register of all other adapter cards in the system. The adapter card is designed to be connected to a computer bus (201) that does not include individual setup lines for each of the adapter cards in the system. To select an individual adapter card, each adapter card includes a register (214) for storing a programmable adapter card number, a plurality of switches (218) for selecting a switch selectable adapter card number, and a comparator (216) for comparing the programmable adapter card number to the switch selectable adapter card number. When an adapter card is initially installed in the computer system, the user sets the switches to correspond to the number of the adapter card slot into which the card is inserted. Thus, the switches of each adapter card in the system are set to a unique switch seleted number. When the comparator detects a match between the programmable and switch selectable adapter card numbers, and when the adapter card is placed in the setup mode, the setup registers (224-226) of the selected adapter card are enabled, such that the computer system can write setup parameters to, and read setup parameters from the setup registers of the selected adapter card.

This invention pertains to computer systems and, more particularly, to a computer system capable of accepting one or more adapter cards in which each adapter card has one or more setup registers that are addressable at the same address as corresponding setup registers of other adapter cards.
The use of adapter cards is a well known technique for expanding the capability of a computer system. For example, if a computer user needs the capability to send and receive data, an adapter card specifically designed for modem communications can be inserted into the computer to provide, in conjunction with appropriate communications software, the required data communications capability.
Generally, personal computers are equipped with a plurality of "slots" into which adapter cards can be inserted. The essential element of each slot is a connector that is connected to an address and data bus within the computer. The adapter card includes a mating connector, usually a printed circuit board edge connector, that can be inserted into one of the computer's adapter card connectors, i.e., one of the computer's slots.
To prevent interference with other adapter cards that may already be in the system, as well as interference with various resources within the computer, each adapter card must be provided with certain "setup" parameters, such as the specification of the port address through which the card communicates over the bus. In the IBM AT.TM. computer (the bus architecture of which has come to be known as the ISA or Industry Standard Architecture) setup parameters are specified by the setting of switches, such as dual-in-line or "DIP" switches, or the use of jumpers that are located on the adapter card. The difficulty in establishing setup parameters through the use of switches and jumpers is that the user must carefully choose, usually after reading the instruction manual for each adapter card in the computer, the setup parameters for each card to ensure that one adapter card does not interfere with another.
To overcome this drawback, the IBM Micro Channel.TM. architecture uses a system in which each adapter card includes a plurality of programmable setup registers, called Programmable Option Select or "POS" registers. The particular setup parameters are determined automatically by a setup program that is supplied with each Micro Channel computer, which in turn uses information that is provided on a reference diskette that is supplied with each of the adapter cards. These setup parameters are programmed into the POS registers of each of the adapter cards, usually immediately after power on and during system initialization.
In a conventional Micro Channel adapter card, there are eight POS registers, POS0-POS7, some of which may be read only registers. Each POS register of each adapter card is addressed at the same address as the corresponding POS register of every other adapter card. More specifically, in the Micro Channel architecture, POS registers 0-7 are addressed at I/O addresses 100-107 (hex) respectively. To read from or write to the POS registers of a particular adapter card, the Micro Channel bus includes a separate setup line for each adapter card slot in the system. Thus, to setup the adapter card that is physically located in the first slot of the computer, the system is placed in the setup mode and the first setup line is activated (while all other setup lines remain in the inactive state). After properly selecting a particular adapter card, the processor can then individually address each one of the POS registers of the currently selected card. For a more detailed explanation of the POS registers of the Micro Channel architecture, the reader is referred to U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,320.
It would be desirable if the Micro Channel architecture's automatic setup procedure could be used in an ISA bus computer. However, current adapter cards for ISA bus computers do not include setup or POS registers, and if they did, the ISA bus does not include separate setup lines for each card slot. Accordingly, the invention described below includes an adapter card for an ISA bus computer (or other bus that does not include separate setup lines for each adapter card) that has setup or POS registers. These setup registers are addressed in a manner similar to the POS registers of a Micro Channel adapter card, that is, the address of each setup register of each adapter card is identical to the address of the corresponding setup register of every other adapter card. More importantly, this invention also includes a means for addressing the setup registers of each individual adapter card, despite the fact that the setup registers of each adapter card share common addresses, and despite the fact that the bus does not include separate setup lines for each adapter card.

Computer system with automatic adapter card setup


The present invention provides a precoated metal sheet excellent in the coating material adhesion and having little affect on environment. The precoated metal sheet of the invention is a precoated metal sheet comprising a metal or plated metal sheet having stacked on the surface thereof at least a coat layer and an organic resin layer, the metal or plated metal sheet mainly comprising zinc and aluminum and the coat layer mainly comprising one or both of a metal oxide and a metal hydroxide each using a metal species exclusive of chromium.

Many of the metal sheets used for home appliances, building materials and automobiles are precoated for the purpose of enhancing the design properties and corrosion resistance. For such a metal sheet, a chemical conversion treatment, called a chromate treatment, is applied as a pretreatment to coating in many cases, because the chromate-treated film exhibits excellent corrosion resistance owing to the self-repairing function of hexavalent chromium contained in the film and excellent coating material adhesion owing to the hydrous oxide containing hexavalent chromium.
However, with recent increase in the concern for the global environment, it is required to suppress the elution of hexavalent chromium and, if possible, not to use the chromate treatment.
Against such a background, a technique called resin chromate obtained by compounding an organic resin and chromate has been reported in JP 5-230666 A. By this technique, the elution of hexavalent chromium can be decreased but cannot be completely prevented.
On the other hand, various chromate-free treatments having a performance comparable to the chromate treatment have been recently developed. A representative example thereof is a technique of covering the metal surface with an organic resin having a chelate-forming ability to intensify the bonding force between the cover film and the metal surface. For example, JP 11-29724 A discloses a chromate-free treatment using an aqueous resin containing a thiocarbonyl group-containing compound and a phosphate ion and further containing a water-dispersible silica. However, the coating material adhesion is not necessarily satisfied in uses where severe working is applied.
As described above, a chromate-free treatment with a coating material adhesion at a high level has not been developed and its urgent development is being demanded.

Precoated metal sheet with little affect on environment


An elliptic motion driving apparatus for a step screen in which the elliptic motion of an elliptic motion driving unit is transferred to a driven link so as to make steep movable plates, connected by a movable column, perform elliptical movement in a longitudinal direction of the movable column, includes a driving rotation cam combined to a power transmission shaft rotating in linkage with a worm reduction gear of a driving motor, a horizontal motion eccentric shaft axially combined to the driving rotation cam so that a horizontal eccentric bearing of the horizontal motion eccentric shaft moves horizontally along a horizontal motion guiding rail, and a vertical motion eccentric shaft combined to the horizontal motion eccentric shaft through an eccentric rotation cam so that a vertical eccentric bearing of the vertical motion eccentric shaft moves vertically along a vertical motion guiding rail as the horizontal motion eccentric shaft rotates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a step screen for conveying solid particles upwards and securely removing them from wastewater flowing through an aqueduct without any special restrictions in the installation condition, and more particularly to an elliptic motion driving apparatus for a step screen, which enables movable plates to move elliptically so that impurities in wastewater may be drawn and securely carried as they stand on each movable plate even though the step screen is installed at an inclination more than 45xc2x0 to the ground of the aqueduct.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a step screen is used to convey and eliminate adulterated things in wastewater flowing through a sewage aqueduct such as a sewage disposal plant or industrial wastewater disposal plant. To carry and remove impurities, the step screen has a plurality of lattice plates which are composed of toothed steps configured a set of stairs at a certain angle. The plates are classified into two types; movable and stationary plates, which are arranged in turn. A movable plate is elevated one step per one cycle so as to convey the caught impurities. Thus, the impurities are screened and conveyed without any dissipation or loss of disintegration from their initially filtered state.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional step screen installed with a common inclination of 45xc2x0 on an aqueduct bottom 10, FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and side views of the conventional step screen, respectively. FIGS. 4 and 5 are a sectional view of a circular motion driving unit 50 and a side view of a driven link 60 for transferring circular motion of the circular motion driving unit 50 to a movable column 45 linked to movable plates 20.
As shown in the figures, the conventional step screen is commonly installed at 45xc2x0 on the aqueduct bottom 10 through which wastewater passes. In the step screen, the movable columns 45 linked to both sides of the circular motion driving unit 50 along fixed frames 40 composing both sides of the screen may circularly move to a longitudinal direction. At the same time, the movable plates 20 arranged inside the fixed frames 40 perform circular movements so that impurities 70 (see FIG. 7) pushed upward onto the next steps of the stationary plates by movable plates 20 may be successively moved upward along the stationary plates by each circular turn of the movable pates.
In other words, the movable plates 20 perform circular movements so that the inclination of the steps of lattice plates (see FIG. 6) has an angle of about 45xc2x0 to a horizontal level of the aqueduct bottom 10. For that reason, as an eccentric rotation cam 51 connected through a power transmission shaft 53 to a driving motor 65 at an upper portion of the screen rotates, the circular motion of the circular motion driving motor 50 is transferred to an eccentric shaft 52. The circular motion of the circular motion driving unit 50 also makes a driven link 60, axially connected to the eccentric shaft 52 through a link bar 61, move in a circular motion. At the same time, the corresponding longitudinal movable column 45 is moved circularly so that the movable plates 20 on the whole may perform in a regular circular motion between each pair of stationary plates 30.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the conventional step screen, the downward portion 21 of each toothed step 20 projected at the side view of the movable plates 20 is perpendicular. Thus, when the screen is inclined to a 45xc2x0 angle to the aqueduct bottom 10, the movable plates 20 of the conventional step screen may push upward and convey impurities 70 in a stable manner while maintaining horizontally the terrace portion 22 of each toothed step 20, whose section is triangularly projected at the longitudinal side view of the movable plates 20, as shown in FIG. 7. However, if the screen is installed at an angle of more than 45xc2x0, the terrace portion 22 of each toothed step 20 inclines downward below the horizontal level. So there still remains a structural difficulty that the screen is not suitable for moving impurities 70 at a steep inclination.
In addition, the conventional step screen in which the movable plates 20 circularly moves at an inclination of 45xc2x0 is effective only at an installation angle of 45xc2x0 to the aqueduct bottom, which requires more setup space than a rake classifier (filter) with an installation angle of 75xc2x0. Even more, when the installation environment requires an incline of more than 45xc2x0 to the screen, the construction design should be changed by a large degree.
Furthermore, the conventional screen supports the movable column 45 only at two points, namely top and bottom, in the circular motion of the movable plates 20. Thus, if there is a large screen requiring a long movable column 45 for a deep aqueduct, the allowable aqueduct depth is limited to 2.7M due to structural limitations. In addition, the method of driving the movable plates 20 in a circular motion also has the problem that the movable plates 20 cannot perform movement proper to push upward the impurities onto the next steps of the stationary when the toothed step is steeply inclined.
The present invention is designed to overcome the structural problems of the prior art caused by the circular motion of the movable plates which maintain a step angle of about 45xc2x0, and an object of the invention is to provide an elliptic motion driving apparatus for a step screen, in which the toothed steps of movable and stationary plates maintain an inclination over 45xc2x0 even when the screen is installed at a steep incline of more than 45xc2x0, so that movable plates having such toothed steps may move elliptically to push upward and convey impurities in wastewater in a stable manner.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an elliptic motion driving apparatus for a step screen in which the elliptic motion of an elliptic motion driving unit is transferred to a driven link so as to make steeper movable plates, connected by a movable column, rotate elliptically regularly in a longitudinal direction of the movable column, which includes a driving rotation cam, one end of which is combined to a power transmission shaft rotating in linkage with a worm reduction gear of a driving motor; an eccentric shaft for horizontal motion, axially combined to the other end of the driving rotation cam so that a horizontal eccentric bearing of the eccentric shaft for horizontal motion moves horizontally along a horizontal motion guiding rail as the driving rotation cam rotates; and an eccentric shaft for vertical motion combined to the eccentric shaft for horizontal motion through an eccentric rotation cam so that a vertical eccentric bearing of the eccentric shaft for vertical motion moves vertically along a vertical motion guiding rail as the eccentric shaft for horizontal motion rotates.

Elliptic motion driving apparatus for a step screen


Example techniques related to battery-powered playback devices. In an example, a first battery-powered playback device receives audio content from a network device and forwards the audio content to a second playback device for synchronous playback of the audio content with the second playback device, plays back the audio content, detects that a battery level of a battery of the first playback device has fallen below a predefined threshold, and ceases the forwarding of the audio content after the battery level of the battery of the first playback device has fallen below the predefined threshold. After the battery level of the first playback device has fallen below the predefined threshold, the second playback device receives the audio content from the network device, forwards the audio content to the first playback device for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and plays back the audio content in synchrony with the first playback device.

Digital music has become readily available due in part to the development of consumer level technology that has allowed people to listen to digital music on a personal audio device. The consumer's increasing preference for digital audio has also resulted in the integration of personal audio devices into PDAs, cellular phones, and other mobile devices. The portability of these mobile devices has enabled people to take the music listening experience with them and outside of the home. People have become able to consume digital music, like digital music files or even Internet radio, in the home through the use of their computer or similar devices. Now there are many different ways to consume digital music, in addition to other digital content including digital video and photos, stimulated in many ways by high-speed Internet access at home, mobile broadband Internet access, and the consumer's hunger for digital media.
Until recently, options for accessing and listening to digital audio in an out-loud setting were severely limited. In 2005, Sonos offered for sale its first digital audio system that enabled people to, among many other things, access virtually unlimited sources of audio via one or more networked connected zone players, dynamically group or ungroup zone players upon command, wirelessly send the audio over a local network amongst zone players, and play the digital audio out loud across multiple zone players in synchrony. The Sonos system can be controlled by software applications running on network capable mobile devices and computers.
Along with consumers' increased preference for digital audio, many consumers have an increased preference for "going green." One common step taken by people attempting to "go green" is to reduce the amount of energy they consume. For example, consumers who are going green may make a conscious effort to turn off a light whenever they leave a room. Additionally, people may only purchase electronics that are rated to be "energy efficient." Other such examples of "going green" exist as well.
In view of this growing trending preference, some electronics developers are making efforts to "go green" as well. In the context of electronic devices within a network (e.g., a networked audio system), going green may have many challenges. For instance, certain devices may perform tasks that generally require the consumption of a relatively high amount of energy. Thus, if using conventional approaches, "going green" may be undesirable and possibly even impractical in certain networks and/or certain environments.
In addition, the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating example embodiments, but it is understood that the inventions are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

Synchronous playback with battery-powered playback device


A method of and system for selecting users for a rollout process of a feature is carried out by receiving an indication of the rollout process for the feature being rolled out, accessing a rollout plan, the rollout plan including a plurality of stages for the rollout process, and selecting users from a user population for each of the plurality of stages of the rollout process. Selecting the users from a user population includes examining a property to determine if a user in the user population is indicated as opted into being a late-stage receiver, and upon determining that the user is opted into being the late-stage receiver, excluding the user from the user population for one or more early stages of the rollout and including the user into the user population in one or more late stages of the rollout process.

In recent years, development and improvement of software applications has been occurring more frequently and rapidly. As a result of the rapid development cycle, new features are often developed and rolled out to users frequently. Because a new feature is likely to have unknown defects or design flaws, new features are sometimes not provided to all users at the same time. Instead, a new feature may be rolled out in stages to different groups of users. For example, a small percentage of users may receive the new feature first. Once this group has utilized the feature for a given time period and if they have not encountered significant problems, the feature may be provided to a next group of users. This process may be gradually ramped up until all users receive the new feature. In this manner, if errors and defects are encountered, they can be corrected before the feature is rolled out to other users. As a result, only a fraction of the user group may be affected by potential malfunctions of the new feature.
Part of the process of rolling out new features in stages involves determining which groups of users and/or enterprises receive the new feature at each stage. Today, this is done by randomly selecting a given percentage of users for each stage. As a result, an uneven number of users may be selected from different types of users (e.g., consumer or enterprise). Furthermore, the current mechanisms do not take into account specific circumstances of users or tenants.
Hence, there is a need for improved systems and methods for selecting users for different stages of rolling out a new feature.

Method and system for selection of users in feature rollout


A process for separating a feed gas mixture into a more strongly adsorbable component and a less strongly adsorbable component in a plurality of adsorbent beds containing an adsorbent selective for the more strongly adsorbable component using pressure equalization between beds after initial depressurization to provide a purge gas, using countercurrent evacuation wherein at least two adsorption beds are countercurrently evacuated simultaneously in overlapping countercurrent evacuation steps in the plurality of adsorption beds, and using a combination of less strongly adsorbable component and feed gas mixture to repressurize the adsorbent bed. Oxygen product can be recovered from air at high recovery using the process.

Oxygen is a commodity chemical in the industrial gas industry. It has numerous applications including waste water treatment, glass melting furnaces, and the steel industry. One of the most common methods of oxygen production is by cryogenic distillation of air. However, this technology is not competitive for small size oxygen plants (<100 TPD O.sub.2). The technology of choice for this size range is adsorption. There is a need in the marketplace to produce oxygen at low capital and energy costs by adsorptive gas separation.
Adsorptive processes are extensively used in the industry to produce oxygen from air for small size oxygen plants (<100 TPD O.sub.2). There are two major categories of these processes--pressure swing adsorption processes (PSA) and vacuum swing adsorption processes (VSA). The pressure swing adsorption processes carry out the adsorption (feed) step at pressures much higher than ambient and adsorbent regeneration at pressures close to ambient. The adsorbent beds go through secondary process steps, such as pressure equalizations, depressurizations, blowdowns, and purge or various combinations of these during the cycle. Some of the O.sub.2 -PSA processes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,430,418; 3,636,679; 3,717,974; 3,738,087; 4,326,858; 4,329,158; 4,589,888; 4,650,501; 4,948,391; 4,969,935; 4,981,499; and U.K. Patent GB 2,227,685A.
These processes tend to be energy intensive and more suitable for smaller oxygen plants producing less than 40 tons of oxygen per day and preferably less than 20 tons of oxygen per day. A subset of O.sub.2 PSA processes is a rapid pressure swing adsorption (RPSA) process. As the name implies, this process involves similar steps as a PSA process, but carries out these steps very quickly. Some examples of this process are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,194,892 and 4,406,675. Again, this process tends to be energy intensive and suitable for oxygen plants even smaller than O.sub.2 PSA's.
Primary reasons for high energy consumption in PSA processes are: (1) O.sub.2 recovery from these processes is low, and (2) the entire feed stream has to be compressed up to the adsorption pressure. These inefficiencies are somewhat circumvented in vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) processes. In these processes, adsorption is carried out at pressure close to ambient and adsorbent regeneration is carried out at sub-atmospheric levels. The adsorbent beds go through several secondary steps with the primary aim of increasing oxygen recovery and reducing adsorbent inventory per unit of product gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,463 describes an O.sub.2 VSA process comprised of the steps of: adsorption, evacuation and product repressurization. The process consists of two trains of two adsorbent beds in each train. The beds on the feed end of each train remove water and carbon dioxide from air, and the beds on the product end of each train remove nitrogen from air. Oxygen produced from the process is stored for later use as product and repressurization gas in a tank.
GB Patent 1,559,325 describes several two and three bed O.sub.2 VSA processes. The two bed O.sub.2 VSA processes have the steps: adsorption, evacuation, and product repressurization with the addition of purging the bed during evacuation and repressurizing it after evacuation with gas being continuously produced by the bed on adsorption step. The three bed options have similar steps with the addition that all the effluent gas from a bed toward the end of its adsorption step is fed to the bed which has finished product repressurization and is ready to go on to the air feed step. Effluent from the second bed is also withdrawn as oxygen product. A vacuum pump operates continuously in the three bed options, and the product take off is also continuous. GB Patent 1,594,454 describes the control strategy for O.sub.2 VSA process disclosed in GB Patent 1,559,325.
Japanese patent application 59-255060 (255,060/84) describes a four bed O.sub.2 VSA process with the process steps: adsorption, cocurrent depressurization, evacuation, vacuum purge, pressure equalization, and product repressurization. In this process, the gas obtained during the cocurrent depressurization step is used for the pressure equalization steps and then vacuum purge.
U.K. Patent application GB 2,154,895A describes three bed O.sub.2 VSA processes with process steps: adsorption, cocurrent depressurization, evacuation, vacuum purge, pressure equalization(s), and simultaneous feed repressurization with product end to product end pressure equalization. The cocurrent depressurized gas is used for pressure equalization(s) and vacuum purge.
Japanese patent application 1984-[Showa 59]-35,141 describes a three bed O.sub.2 VSA process with these steps: adsorption, evacuation with continuous purge, and repressurization. In this process, vacuum purge and repressurization are carried out by product oxygen.
U.K. Patent GB 2,109,266B describes three and four bed O.sub.2 VSA processes comprised of steps: adsorption, provide purge gas, evacuation, vacuum purge, and product repressurization steps. The purge gas used for vacuum purge step is provided either by cocurrent depressurization of the bed, which has finished its adsorption step, or by continuing the feed to the bed on its adsorption step but directing all the effluent from this bed to the bed on a vacuum purge step.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,525 suggests an improvement to O.sub.2 VSA processes by heating the feed mixture by heat exchange with the vacuum pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,377 outlines a three bed O.sub.2 VSA process with steps: adsorption, simultaneous cocurrent depressurization and evacuation, evacuation, product end to product end pressure equalization by gas from the product end of the bed on simultaneous cocurrent depressurization, and evacuation step and product repressurization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,723 describes an adsorptive process for oxygen production where adsorption is carried out at superambient pressure. This is followed by countercurrent depressurization, evacuation and product repressurization to adsorption pressure. Part of the gas discharged during the countercurrent depressurization step may also be used for pressure equalization with a bed before the product repressurization step.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,710 describes a two bed O.sub.2 VSA process with a product storage vessel. Process cycle steps are: adsorption, cocurrent depressurization, simultaneous cocurrent depressurization and evacuation, evacuation, vacuum purge by product, vacuum purge by gas obtained in a cocurrent depressurization step, simultaneous pressure equalization and product repressurization, and simultaneous feed and product repressurization. Gas for product repressurization and product purge is obtained from the product storage vessel. Gas for pressure equalization is obtained from the bed on simultaneous cocurrent depressurization and evacuation step.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,735 and European patent application 0 273 723 describe a three bed O.sub.2 VSA process with steps: adsorption, feed to feed or dual end pressure equalization, cocurrent depressurization, evacuation, vacuum purge by gas obtained in cocurrent depressurization step, product repressurization from bed on feed step, simultaneous feed repressurization and feed to feed or dual end pressure equalization.
European patent application 0 354 259 outlines various options for a two bed O.sub.2 VSA process: adsorption, cocurrent depressurization, evacuation, pressure equalization with gas obtained in cocurrent depressurization step and feed repressurization. Some options include vacuum purge by product gas from the bed on adsorption step.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,935 describes a three bed O.sub.2 VSA process with steps: adsorption, simultaneous cocurrent depressurization and countercurrent evacuation, countercurrent evacuation, vacuum purge by product, product end to product end pressure equalization followed by product end to feed end pressure equalization using cocurrently depressurized gas and product repressurization.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,271 describes an O.sub.2 VSA process with the steps: adsorption, simultaneous cocurrent depressurization and countercurrent evacuation or feed, countercurrent evacuation, simultaneous product to product pressure equalization and feed repressurization, or vacuum purge, simultaneous feed and product repressurization and feed repressurization.
French Patent WO91/12874; PCT/FR91/00164 describes a two bed O.sub.2 VSA process with basic process steps of adsorption, depressurization, evacuation, vacuum purge by product, pressure equalization and repressurization. Three variations are outlined.
European Patent 0 449 448 A1 outlines a two bed process with steps: adsorption, simultaneous evacuation and cocurrent depressurization, evacuation, product purge under vacuum, pressure equalization and product repressurization.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,849 describes a pressure swing adsorption process which has simultaneous overlapping beds on its adsorption process step, but other process steps are not recited to overlap one another in parallel beds.
Despite the prior art, a need still exists for an O.sub.2 VSA process with higher oxygen recovery (i.e. lower energy costs) and lower adsorbent requirement per unit of oxygen production (i.e. lower capital costs) than the current processes in the large size range (greater than 100 tons per day). The present invention outlines a multi-bed (an at least four) bed vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process to produce oxygen from air at higher oxygen recovery and lower adsorbent requirement per unit of oxygen product than current O.sub.2 VSA processes.

Extended vacuum swing adsorption process


A polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (1) a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and (2) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence in which the third amino acid of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted by another amino acid and having insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) activity; a DNA encoding said polypeptide; a vector containing said DNA; a host cell containing said vector; and a method for preparing a recombinant protein using said polypeptide.

Animal cells have been frequently used as host cells for producing recombinant proteins because animal cells allow complex post-translational modification and/or folding that could not be achieved with bacterial cells when they are used for producing pharmaceutically useful proteins by genetic engineering techniques.
When a natural protein produced by an animal cell was to be obtained by culturing the animal cell or when a desired protein was to be prepared by culturing an animal cell transformed with a gene encoding the desired protein, the culture medium had to be supplemented with 5-20% of an extract, normally derived from a mammal for the growth of the animal cell, specifically a serum such as fetal calf serum, in addition to basic nutrients such as salts, sugars, amino acids and vitamins. However, this entailed the following disadvantages: 1) such sera derived from mammals are expensive, 2) stable growth can not be achieved due to variation in quality among lots, 3) there is a possibility of contamination with viruses and/or mycoplasmas, and 4) the isolation/purification of the desired protein as the cell product from the culture medium may be complicated. Thus, there has been a need for a technique capable of inexpensively producing recombinant proteins by culturing animal cells in serum-free media.
In order to produce a protein in a serum-free medium, a growth factor contained in a serum must be added, and when e.g., CHO cells are cultured, cell proliferation and survival rate are improved to achieve long-term culture and/or large-scale culture, normally by adding human IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1).
The mature form of IGF-1 is a single chain polypeptide of 70 amino acids discovered as a polypeptide having insulin-like activities and has a structure similar to that of proinsulin. IGF-1 has a cell-proliferating effect and insulin-like metabolic activity and counts as one of the most important growth factors for the growth of individuals. IGF-1 is produced in the liver under the action of a growth hormone (GH) secreted from the hypophysis and thought to promote the growth of a remote target bone tissue and to show metabolic activity in muscle and adipose cells.
Recently, IGF-1 has been produced in various cell culture systems, and IGF-1 was reported to have not only a proliferating effect on these cells but also various physiological activities, in addition to the endocrine effects as described above. Moreover, noting the cell proliferation-promoting effect of IGF-1, a method for preparing a recombinant protein by transferring a DNA encoding a polypeptide having a proliferation-promoting effect such as human IGF-1 into an animal cell culture system producing the recombinant protein was proposed (US 2002/0102650 A1).
Various growth factors such as IGF-1 are used as recombinants derived from humans, but these are very expensive, and it is therefore desirable to decrease a content of IGF-1 to reduce production costs.

Nucleic acids encoding hamster 1GF-1 proteins and methods thereof


A method, computer system, and a computer program product for deep tagging a recorded review session is provided. The present invention may include identifying a recording segment referencing an artifact in a recorded review session. The present invention may also include generating a bi-directional link between the identified recording segment and the referenced artifact.

The present invention relates generally to the field of computing, and more particularly to engineering lifecycle management.
Software development is a collaborative process relying on the efforts of cross-discipline teams. With software development projects, it is common practice to share and review the work done by each team on regular intervals. These review sessions enable stakeholders to understand the work in progress, facilitate the communication of architecture and design, speed decision-making, and improve the quality of the project. However, often times, scheduling conflicts may prevent a project collaborator or other stakeholder from attending one or more review sessions. Current solutions lack the ability to capture the discussions from these review sessions in a meaningful way for anyone who was not able to attend.

International Business Machines Corporation


A semiconductor device in which electrostatic discharge damage during manufacturing steps is prevented. More specifically, a semiconductor device in which electrostatic discharge damage during a step in which the formation of a pixel electrode is completed is prevented. A semiconductor device of the invention comprises a light emitting element, a driving transistor and a protection means disposed between the light emitting element and the driving transistor. The protection means comprises as least one of a resistor element, a capacitor element and a rectifier element. More specifically, the protection means is disposed between a pixel electrode of the light emitting element and a source electrode or a drain electrode of the driving transistor. It is to be noted that the rectifier element is an element having a rectifying function and corresponds to a diode or a transistor whose drain electrode and gate electrode are connected to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device using a semiconductor element such as a transistor, and more specifically relates to a semiconductor device provided with a protection means in order to prevent electrostatic discharge damage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Static electricity builds up, developing due to friction, contact and the like with air and objects such as conductors, semiconductors and insulators. When there are an excess of charges on these materials, electrostatic discharge is caused, and in the case where this condition occurs on a free node such as an input terminal, minute semiconductor elements formed on a substrate are degraded or destroyed. This is referred to as electrostatic discharge damage. In order to prevent such electrostatic discharge damage, a circuit formed on a substrate (hereinafter referred to as an internal circuit) is connected to an external IC (hereinafter referred to as an external circuit) via a protection circuit and an FPC. The protection circuit detects voltage and current supplied from the external circuit to the internal circuit, and controls the voltage and current to prevent the internal circuit from being damaged when a malfunction occurs.
In recent years, a semiconductor device including a light emitting element has been actively developed. This semiconductor device has the features such as fast response, superior dynamic display and wide viewing angle, as well as the advantages of a conventional liquid crystal display device. The semiconductor device comprises a plurality of pixels each including a light emitting element and a transistor, and in each of the pixels, the transistor connected in series to the light emitting element controls light emission or non-light emission of the light emitting element.
As a transistor for driving the light emitting element, a crystalline semiconductor (polysilicon) is preferably used because of the high field effect mobility. A transistor using polysilicon, however, tends to have variations in characteristics due to defects in crystal grain boundaries. Accordingly, the drain current of the transistor differs in each pixel even when the same signal voltage is inputted, leading to variations in luminance. In order to reduce such variations in luminance, a driving transistor may be operated in a saturation region to supply a drain current corresponding to a voltage VGS between a gate and a source (see Patent Document 1 for example).
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-108285

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A method for initiating a second service in dependency of a first service using individually configured event-driven state-machines includes executing the first service in a first communication space; transmitting a first event to an operator unit in dependency of the first service; triggering a first event-driven state-machine of the operator unit by the first event; generating a second event by the first event-driven state-machine; transmitting the second event to at least one of the first communication space and a second communication space; and initiating the second service in the at least one of the first communication space and the second communication space by the second event.

There are a large number of different communications spaces, e.g. telephone networks, thousands of intranets, heating systems, a car, an intelligent house, millions of private computers, a model railroad, a computer game, a net game, billions of television receivers, audio and video players, media servers and mobile devices, a virtual reality, the office suites on personal computers, a robot, the control room of a plant, a user browsing a Web page, a cruise liner, a further telephone network, an airport, a satellite, a supermarket and so on. Common to all of them is, that specific information are exchanged and that within each communication space the information transfer methods are optimized according certain, in the main communication space specific criteria. Due to the fact that those optimization criteria differ obviously as the case arises, each communication space is good at internal information transfer, but ill-suited when one thinks of external communication options.
Furthermore, it is well known that there are examples where two communication spaces can communicate among themselves (apart from Internet connections or similar), but those communications are well-regulated by using well-defined interfaces with well-defined, barely extendable protocols. So e.g. a network of a mobile telephone operator is connected with networks of other operators in this vein. But these interfaces are laid out for very specific purposes in almost all cases. There is currently no universal and flexible method in order permit two (or more) arbitrary communication spaces to bring (supplementary) inter-workings about.

Method and program for initiating a second service in dependency of a first service


A valve opening/closing handle lock mechanism provided in a valve having a manually operated valve opening/closing handle (1) is capable of maintaining the security of the valve by preventing the valve from being opened or closed by accident or with malicious intent after completion of a proper opening/closing operation of the valve by means of the handle (1). The handle lock mechanism comprises a locking cap (4) mounted on the handle (1). The locking cap (4) functions to prevent the handle (1) from being operated, extends from the handle (1) to a handle mount portion (3) of the valve so as to cover the corresponding portion of the valve with the locking cap (4), and is provided with: an opening (5) through which an end portion of the handle (1) passes outward; or, a longitudinal groove through which the end portion of the opening/closing handle (1) slidably passes outward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve opening/closing handle lock mechanism of a valve or shut-off cock, and more particularly to a valve opening/closing handle lock mechanism of a valve or shut-off cock, wherein the handle lock mechanism is provided in a valve or shut-off cock of a type incorporated in a flow passage of a fluid such as water, a liquid chemical, a gas and the like, wherein the valve opening/closing handle lock mechanism is manually operated to open and close the flow passage, and prevents the valve or shut-off cock from being opened or closed by accident or with malicious intent after completion of a proper opening/closing operation of the valve or shut-off cock.
2. Description of the Related Art
Used in various types of plants are various types of valves or shut-off cocks for opening/closing a flow passage of a fluid such as water, a liquid chemical, a gas and the like. Each of these valves or cocks is manually operated by means of a valve opening/closing handle. In the valve opening/closing operation of each valve or cock, the valve opening/closing handle is turned or rotated horizontally or vertically relative to a main body of the valve or shut-off cock (hereinafter referred to as the valve).
In installation, the valve is projected from the fluid passage or circuit outward. Due to this, there is a fear that: a worker moving along the fluid circuit is accidentally brought into contact with a valve opening/closing handle of the valve; and, performs a valve opening/closing operation of the valve by mistake. Further, since it is possible for anyone to perform a valve opening/closing operation of a conventional type of the valve (see Japanese Patent application Laid-open No. 2002-147646), there is a fear that the valve is operated with malicious intent or improperly operated by a person not skilled in the art after completion of a proper opening/closing operation of the valve. Consequently, up to the present day it is hard to keep the security of the valve.
As described above, in the conventional manually-operated valve provided with the manually-operated valve opening/closing handle, there is a problem or fear that: the valve opening/closing handle of the valve is accidentally or improperly operated by mistake or by accident, or operated with malicious intent after completion of a proper opening/closing operation of the valve, which makes it hard to keep the security of the valve in operation.

Valve opening/closing handle lock mechanism


A process is disclosed for optimizing process flows in a facility, for example, a refinery, having stores, for example an oil tank, with a minimum and maximum fill level. Different raw materials, such as different types/grades of crude oil, are supplied sequentially in a predetermined quantity of batches at predetermined time periods and transported to the stores. The batches are then processed in at least one processing facility, such as a crude oil distillation plant, into primary products which are stored in additional stores and are optionally available for processing in another production stage or for delivery. The optimal sequence for supplying and processing the batches in the predetermined time period is determined by sequentially optimizing the rank order of each batch so as to minimize or eliminate the sum of infeasibilities, such as overfill and underfill time intervals, for the stores and the additional stores.

The present invention relates to a process for optimizing a process flow, and more particularly to optimizing a process flow in a facility having storage facilities (stores) for various raw materials which are supplied to the stores and are processed sequentially.
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
Production in industrial processes in general and in the oil industry in particular, is realized in several sequentially arranged planes. Each of these stages includes the actual production step and storage of the produced quantities in specifically provided storage facilities, subsequently referred to as stores or tanks, which are then available for the next production step. The following scenario applies to the production system of a refinery for crude oil:
Crude oils of different composition are purchased in minimum quantities (batches), for example in a petroleum port, are delivered, transported to the refinery, for example, pumped through pipelines, stored on the refinery premises, and then distilled into final products (kerosene, gasoline, oil, gas), which are again stored. Storage tanks are provided exclusively for specific grades of crude oils and/or end products.
The selection of the sequential order (sequence) of the processing of the batches results in different utilization rates of the storage tanks and distillation facilities. Certain hypothetical sequences can also cause infeasibilities, such as time periods when the stores are overfilled and underfilled, or the pumping power is exceeded.
It is therefore an objective to determine a sequence for the processing of batches which minimizes or eliminates these infeasibilities.
Calculating the possible permutations of N, for example 15, batches would require N!, for this example 15! or approximately 1012 computations, making computation within an acceptable time no longer possible.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide a process which obviates prior art shortcomings and which allows optimization of resources (stores, crude oils, facilities) for refining desired end products, and is able to specifically prevent infeasibilities and optimize sequences with the least computational effort.


A pneumatic tire comprises a belt layer 7, a band layer 9, and a noise damper 10 made of a sponge material and attached to a radially inner surface TS of a tread 2. The width WA of the noise damper 10 is of from 40%-70% of a ground contacting width TW of the tread. The band layer 9 has an overlapping portion 12 in which two band plies 9A, 9B are radially overlapped; and the overlapping portion 12 covers an axially outer region of the belt layer 7 with a cover width WB of from 10%-25% the ground contacting width TW. An axially inner end 12i of the overlapping portion 12 is spaced a distance LC of from 5%-20% the ground contacting width TW from an axially outer end E of the noise damper 10.

A pneumatic tire having high-speed durability shown in FIG. 5 is well known, for example. Such a pneumatic tire comprises a belt layer (B) and a band layer (A) disposed radially outside the belt layer (B) and including a band ply (a) formed of a spirally wound organic fiber band cord such as nylon cord and the like. The band layer (A) covers at least an axially outer end B1 of the belt layer (B). FIG. 5 shows the band layer (A) which covers the entire width of the belt layer B. This band layer (A) may prevent a lifting of the belt layer (B) caused by a centrifugal force while the tire is high speed traveling, especially may prevent the lifting at the axially outer end B1 which is a free end. Therefore, this pneumatic tire may reduce strain and heat generation in a tread shoulder portion Ys and may improve high-speed durability.
Moreover, the pneumatic tire may have high circumferentially rigidity in the tread portion due to binding force of the band layer (A). Therefore, this pneumatic tire has an effect of enhancing vibration characteristics.
In recent years, a pneumatic tire which includes a band layer formed of two band plies is proposed. Such a tire may improve vehicle exterior noise such as a pattern noise in addition to the high-speed durability due to high binding force of the band layer.
In order to reduce an internal vehicle noise such as a road noise, Patent documents 1 and 2 propose a pneumatic tire having a circumferentially extending belt-like noise damper made of a sponge material attached to a radially inner surface of a tread portion thereof, for example. This noise damper absorbs a resonance sound energy of columnar resonance generated in a tire cavity and inhibits the columnar resonance causing the road noise so as to reduce the internal vehicle noise.
However, as the result of research, the inventor of the present invention noticed a new problem that the shoulder wear resistance of the tread portion, vehicle exterior noise, or high-speed durability deteriorates when such a noise damper was used for the tire with the band layer (A) of two band plies.


An improved instrument display for a saddle type vehicle wherein the display is mounted in a recess in the handlebar cover in an adjustable manner to be effectively viewed by riders of widely varying stature. Two embodiments of adjustment mechanisms are disclosed.

This invention relates a meter display for a saddle type vehicle and more particularly to an improved and adjustable meter display for such vehicles.
There is a very popular type of vehicle that is provided with a seat on which an operator may sit in a saddle type fashion with his feet disposed at a lower level. Normally this type of vehicle has two wheels and the front wheel is dirigible by means of a handlebar assembly carried at the upper end of the front wheel suspension system. It is desirable to provide a display in the vicinity of the handlebar mechanism for displaying information such as vehicle speed, engine speed or other conditions to the rider. However, there is a great difference in the size and stature of the persons that ride these type vehicles. When the display is of the liquid crystal type, the angle of incidence to the rider""s eyes is very important. Hence, it is difficult to provide such a display that can be viewed by the multiple types of riders that ride this type of vehicle.
It is, therefore, a principal object to this invention to provide an improved adjustable display for the instruments of a vehicle of this type.
However, the display normally receives signals from one or more sensors placed at various positions on the vehicle. These sensors then transmit their signals through one or more wire harnesses to the display unit. It is important that the wire harnesses not be subject to considerable bending or flexure as may result from adjustment of the display. In addition, if the display is adjusted, it may expose parts of the display that will appear unsightly or alternatively could leave gaps in the viewing area that would be objectionable.
It is, therefore, a still further object to this invention to provide an improved compact and yet neat adjustable display for a vehicle of this type and wherein the display face may be adjusted without opening gaps that would expose components, which should be concealed.
This invention is adapted to be embodied in a vehicle having a seat upon which a rider is seated with his feet extending forwardly and downwardly. A handlebar assembly is provided at the front of vehicle for steering of the vehicle in its path of movement. A cover is associated with the handlebar and defines an internal recess in which a liquid crystal display is mounted for adjustment about an axis that extends transversely to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle so as to accommodate viewing by a variety of different size riders.

Meter display device for saddle type vehicle


A method for secure device-to-device communication using multilayered ciphers is provided. A selected cipher is employed to generate a pair of encryption/decryption keystreams for enabling multilayered encryption/decryption on a pulsed-index communication (PIC) packet(s). In examples discussed herein, a first layer encryption/decryption is performed by encrypting/decrypting a PIC data(s) (PD(s)) in the PIC packet(s) based on a first of the pair of encryption/decryption keystreams. In addition, a second layer encryption/decryption is performed by encrypting/decrypting selected control information (e.g., information related to encoding/decoding the PD(s)) in the PIC packet(s) based on a second of the pair of encryption/decryption keystreams. By performing multilayered encryption/decryption on the PIC packet(s), it is possible to defend against malicious attacks in single-channel device-to-device communication without compromising such key performance indicators (KPIs) as complexity, latency, power consumption, and footprint.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to offer advanced machine-to-machine connectivity among devices, sensors, and systems. Low-end gadgets are expected to be ubiquitous and would constitute a larger percentage of nodes in an IoT network. These low-end nodes may include small microcontrollers and processors with very low power consumption, appropriate data rates, small foot print and reliable communication links. To preserve data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity in the IoT network, the low-end nodes, sensors, and actuators should only interact with authorized devices and/or users.
Pulsed-index communication (PIC) is a low-power, single-channel protocol that can be adapted to support single-channel IoT communications without requiring clock and data recovery (CDR). PIC may achieve higher date rates, lower power consumption, and smaller footprints as compared to other available single-channel protocols. In this regard, the PIC protocol can be adapted to support a variety of IoT use cases, including building instrumentation, wearable healthcare, and urban monitoring.
Notably, the single-channel communications enabled by the PIC protocol need to be secured to preserve data authenticity and integrity in the IoT network. Although there has been a significant amount of development in the field of light-weight IoT cryptography (e.g., both symmetric and public key techniques), many of the light-weight symmetric key block ciphers are not well suited for single-channel communications in the IoT network due to hardware constraints and/or software overheads. As such, it may be desirable to extend the PIC protocol based on reliable and efficient encryption/decryption mechanisms to support secure single-channel communication in the IOT network.

Method for secure device-to-device communication using multilayered cyphers

Khalifa University of Science and Technology


An endoscope apparatus includes at least one endoscope, a peripheral device having a light source, and a detachable connecting device to connect the endoscope to the peripheral device. The emission time or illumination duration of the light source is measured and stored in the peripheral device. An indicating device is used to display the stored emission time or illumination duration independent of the connection between the endoscope and the peripheral device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscopic apparatus which includes an endoscope and peripheral device to which the endoscope can be detachably attached.
2. Description of the Related Art
The light source for an endoscope is required to supply light to a light guide and is essential to the endoscope. Further, in the case where the endoscope is a so called electronic endoscope, in which the image is transmitted via electric signals through a solid state image sensor, a video processor for accessing video signals from the solid state image sensor is also essential to the endoscope.
Such support devices such as the light source and video processors described above are themselves expensive and large in size, so an endoscope is detachably attached to such a support (peripheral) device so that various types of endoscopes may be used with a single support device.
Not only is an endoscope susceptible to wear, but it is also inserted into the human body and it is therefore necessary to check the endoscope every 100 hours or once every 50 to 100 uses in order to keep it in perfect working order.
However, since various types of endoscopes are applied to a single light source, a single video processor or the like by replacing one endoscope with another as stated above, it is impossible to calculate the amount of time or the number of times that every endoscope is used with a single light source or a video processor.
Therefore, it is unknown how many hours or how many times each endoscope is used after its initial use or after it is inspected or maintenanced, which sometimes leads to a worn or faulty endoscope being used.

Endoscopic apparatus having a peripheral light source


A roll type stock feed apparatus having first and second support shafts mounted on a frame with the axes of the first and second shafts in parallel relation and disposed in a plane transverse to the feed path, a first roll mounted on the first support shaft with the roll is axis coaxial with the first shaft axis, and a second roll is mounted on the second support shaft for limited longitudinal tilting movement relative to the second shaft axis. Roll drive mechanism is provided for driving the first and second rolls to advance stock along the feed path and includes a first toothed coupling member mounted on the second roll and having annularly arranged teeth coaxial with the second roll axis and a second toothed coupling member having annularly arranged teeth coaxial with the second shaft axis, the teeth on the first and second coupling members having working clearance therebetween sufficient to accommodate limited tilting movement of the second roll relative to the second roll axis. Guides are provided to substantially prevent tilting movement of the second roll in a direction crosswise of a plane containing the first and second shaft axes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,015 discloses a roll type stock feed apparatus for advancing strip stock such as the metal strip used to form lead frames for integrated circuit chips, in which the lower roll is mounted for tilting movement at a location intermediate the ends of the lower roll so that the lower roll can rock back and forth as needed to automatically balance the forces applied across the width of the strip. In this prior stock feed apparatus, the tiltable force-balancing roller was not powered and accordingly all tractive force for feeding the strip stock, including accelerating and decelerating the strip stock during intermittent feed, had to be provided by the upper roll.
It is also known, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,107 to provide a roll type stock feed apparatus for intermittently advancing strip stock such as lead frames, in which both rolls are driven in timed relation with each other. However, neither of the rolls in this patent are mounted for tilting movement to automatically balance the forces applied across the width of the strip.

Strip stock feed apparatus with balance force feed roll