A method of separating polynucleotides, such as DNA, RNA and PNA, from a solution containing polynucleotides by reversibly and non-specifically binding the polynucleotides to a solid surface, such as a magnetic microparticle, having a functional group-coated surface is disclosed. The salt and polyalkylene glycol concentration of the solution is adjusted to levels which result in polynucleotide binding to the magnetic microparticles. The magnetic microparticles with bound polynucleotides are separated from the solution and the polynucleotides are eluted from the magnetic microparticles.

Preparation and manipulation of high quality DNA is a vital step in molecular biology. Although there are many methods reported for single and double stranded DNA isolations (Bankier, A. et al., Meth. Enz., 155:52-93 (1988); Birnboim, H. et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 7:1513 (1979); Ish-Horowicz, D. et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 9:2989 (1981); Kristensen, T. et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 15:5507-5516 (1987); Smith, V. et al., DNA Seq. and Mapping, 1:73-78 (1990)), there are few procedures that are rapid, low cost and procedurally identical for all DNA types, from PCR product to single copy BAC clone.

DNA purification and isolation using magnetic particles

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research


The present invention relates to an MDO heat-shrinkable film of a copolymer polyester having excellent thermal resistance. In particular, the present invention provides a copolymer polyester MDO (machine direction orientation) thermoresistant heat-shrinkable film that consists of a copolymer polyester resin including isosorbide and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol at an optimized content ratio as a diol component copolymerized with an acid component including terephthalic acid, and having a number average molecular weight of 18,000 g/mol or more, and can be used for labels, cap seals, direct packaging, etc. of various containers due to the high shrink initiation temperature.

Heat-shrinkable plastic products use heat-shrink properties, and are widely used for films such as shrink packaging, shrink labels, etc. Among them, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene, polyester-based plastic films, etc. have been used for labels, cap seals, or direct packaging of various containers, etc.
However, a film consisting of polyvinylchloride is subject to regulations because there is a problem of generating hydrogen chloride gas and dioxin-causing materials during incineration. Further, if the product is used as a shrink label of a PET container, etc., there is inconvenience in that the label and container should be separated when the container is recycled. A polystyrene-based film has good operation stability according to a shrink process and has a good product appearance, but due to poor chemical resistance, ink of a special composition should be used when printing thereon. Furthermore, it has a disadvantage in that it is shrinks by itself due to insufficient storage stability at room temperature, thus causing size deformation.
In addition, common heat-shrinkable films are produced by TDO (transverse direction orientation), wherein a label film is produced by the orientation of extruded resin in the transverse direction (opposite direction to the flow coming out during extrusion), introduced in the upper and lower direction of the container and attached, and then passed through a heat-shrink tunnel. Particularly, such a TDO (transverse direction orientation) film requires complicated processes of primary slitting, printing, secondary slitting, seaming or sealing, labeling, etc. Thus, there is a demand for the development of an MDO (machine direction orientation) shrink film that can simplify the complicated processes of film production and can be produced to be thinner.
Furthermore, in case a processing temperature when printing is high in the process of printing a shrink label prepared from a shrink film, or a container or film is exposed to heat such as injecting a high temperature (60° C. to 70° C.) beverage, etc. into the container using the label, shrinkage and deformation may be generated in the shrink label, and thus it may be crooked unlike the intended form of the label.
Therefore, there is a demand for studies on a copolymer polyester resin with improved thermal resistance that is shrunken through MD (machine direction) orientation instead of the conventional orientation method.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

MDO thermoresistant heat-shrinkable film


A method for fabricating a thermal inkjet head equipped with a symmetrical heater and the head fabricated by the method are provided. The method incorporates two thick photoresist deposition processes and a nickel electroplating process. The first thick photoresist deposition process is carried out to form an ink chamber in fluid communication with a funnel-shaped manifold and an injector orifice. The second thick photoresist deposition process forms a mold for forming an injector passageway that leads to the injector orifice. The nickel electroplating process provides an orifice plate on top of the inkjet head through which an injector passageway that leads to the injector orifice is provided for injecting ink droplets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an integrated micro-droplet generator and more particularly, relates to a thermal bubble type inkjet head that is equipped with a symmetrical, off-shooter heater and a method for fabricating the head.
2. Background
Since the advent of printers, and specifically for low cost printers for personal computers, a variety of inkjet printing mechanisms have been developed and utilized in the industry. These inkjet printing mechanisms include the piezoelectric type, the electrostatic type and the thermal bubble type, etc. After the first thermal inkjet printer becomes commercially available in the early 1980's, there has been a great progress in the development of inkjet printing technology.
In an inkjet printer, a liquid droplet injector is used as one of the key mechanisms. To provide a high-quality and reliable inkjet printer, the availability of a liquid droplet injector capable of supplying high-quality droplets at high-frequency and high-spacial resolution is critical.
Presently, there are two types of inkjet printers that are available in the market, the piezoelectric type and the thermal type. The thermal inkjet system, also known as thermal bubble inkjet system, thermally driven bubble system or as bubble jet system utilizes bubble to eject ink droplets out of an ink supply chamber, while piezoelectric printers utilize piezoelectric actuators to pump ink out from a reservoir chamber. The principle of operation for a thermal bubble inkjet system is that an electrical current is first used to heat an electrode to boil liquid in an ink reservoir chamber. When the liquid is in a boiling state, bubble forms in the liquid and expands and thus functioning as a pump to eject a fixed quantity of liquid from the reservoir chamber through an orifice and then forms into droplets. When the electrical current is turned-off, the bubble generated collapses and liquid refills the chamber by capillary force.
When evaluating the performance of a thermal bubble inkjet system, factors such as droplet ejection frequency, cross talk between adjacent chambers and the generation of satellite droplets are considered. Two of these performance requirements, i.e. the satellite droplets, which degrade the sharpness of the image produced and the cross talk between adjacent chambers and flow channels which decrease the quality and reliability of the inkjet system are frequently encountered. In order to improve the performance of a thermal bubble inkjet system, these drawbacks must be corrected.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a thermal bubble inkjet head that does not have the drawbacks or the shortcomings of the conventional thermal bubble inkjet head.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a thermal bubble inkjet head that is equipped with a symmetrical ring-shaped heater for generating bubbles.
It is another further object of the present invention to provide a thermal bubble inkjet head that is equipped with an ink chamber.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating a thermal bubble inkjet head that is equipped with a symmetrical heater.
It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a method for fabricating a thermal bubble inkjet head that is equipped with a symmetrical heater by utilizing two separate thick photoresist deposition processes and a nickel electroplating process.

Method of fabricating a thermal inkjet head having a symmetrical heater

Industrial Technology Research Institute


In a connection structure, a first electronic component having a first terminal pattern and a second electronic component having a second terminal pattern different in size and pitch from the first terminal pattern are anisotropically conductively connected by an anisotropic conductive film to a third electronic component having a terminal pattern corresponding to each of the first terminal pattern and the second terminal pattern. The anisotropic conductive film has at least one of a region in which conductive particles are regularly arranged, and a plurality of regions in which at least one of a number density, a particle diameter, and a hardness of the conductive particles in one region is different from that in the other region.

For example, in a liquid crystal display device, a plurality of types of electronic components are each connected to a single substrate by using respective anisotropic conductive films, such as by connecting both an IC chip and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) to the end portion of a glass substrate. In this case, an anisotropic conductive film adapted to each of a plurality of types of electronic components is used.
On the other hand, it has been proposed to connect two types of electronic components to a single substrate by using one sheet of an anisotropic conductive film (Patent Literature 1).


Method and arrangement for providing a range gearbox with a planetary gear (1) for a motor vehicle that is configured to be connected to the output side of a basic gearbox. The ring gear (18) of the planetary gear is axially displaceable. The ring gear (18) can alternatively engage coupling rings (10, 16). A synchronizing ring (15) is intended to synchronize the rotational speed difference between the ring gear (18) and one or other coupling ring (10, 16). The synchronizing ring (15) and the coupling ring (16) are arranged coaxially outside the ring gear (18). Bars (25) for engaging the coupling ring (16) and bars (25, 25b) for driving said synchronizing ring (15) are arranged on the radially external side of the ring gear (18). The coupling ring (16) is arranged between the synchronizing ring (15) and the fork (27).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a gearbox for motor vehicles, which is arranged between a basic gearbox and a transmission leading to driving wheels. The gearbox includes an input shaft from the basic gearbox, an output shaft to a transmission, and a planetary gear arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft. The ring gear of the planetary gear is axially displaceable. A first coupling ring for engaging a high-range mode, and a second coupling ring for engaging a low-range mode are provided. Utilizing the coupling rings, the ring gear can alternatively engage at least one synchronizing means with at least one friction surface. The synchronizing means is configured to synchronize the rotational speed difference between the ring gear and one or other coupling ring by interaction with a corresponding friction surface arranged on each coupling ring. The gearbox is intended to be capable of shifting between two gearings and thus, together with the basic gearbox, doubling the total number of gearing possibilities.
2. State of the Art
In transmission systems for heavy-duty vehicles, for example trucks and buses, it is known to connect an extra gearbox to the basic gearbox of the vehicle for the purpose of doubling the number of gearing possibilities. Such a gearbox is usually referred to as a range gearbox or an auxiliary gearbox. The range gearbox usually comprises (includes, but is not limited to) a planetary gear, by means of which the gearing can be changed between a high-range mode and a low-range mode. In the low-range mode, use is made of the gearing in the planetary gear, whereas, in the high-range mode, no transmission takes place through the planetary gear. In order to facilitate shifting between high-range mode and low-range mode, it is known to design such planetary gears with synchronizing means, usually comprising synchronizing rings, spring means for pre-synchronizing and blocking means to prevent engagement before synchronous rotational speed has been achieved.
In order to reduce the number of component parts and also from the point of view of power distribution, it has been found to be advantageous to use the ring gear of the planetary gear as a coupling sleeve. The ring gear can, by axial displacement, and after synchronization of the rotational speed difference between the ring gear and coupling rings, be brought into engagement with the coupling ring concerned on either side of the planetary gear. In this way different gearings are obtained. An example of an axially displaceable ring gear is shown in SE 514231. In that case, the ring gear is provided at each axial end with synchronizing means, and the internal teeth of the ring gear are extended so as to be capable of being coupled together with a corresponding coupling ring with coupling teeth arranged on each side of the ring gear. The ring gear and the synchronizing means on each side thus occupy more space in the axial direction.
When the ring gear in SE 514231 is coupled together with the gearbox casing, low-range mode is obtained, and the gearing in the planetary gear is used.
In order to obtain a shorter shifting time when synchronizing the rotational speed for the low-range mode, a greater synchronizing torque is required compared with synchronization for the high-range mode. A large diameter of the low-range synchronizing device is thus desirable in order to obtain a greater synchronizing torque. The diameter refers to the position of the synchronizing friction surfaces. In the range gearbox of SE 514231, the inside diameter of the ring gear limits the possibility of a large synchronizing diameter and thus a great synchronizing torque. Another disadvantage of known devices is that the overall length is in many cases too great and that double sets of annular springs with associated synchronizing rings are required.
The object of the present invention is to make synchronization for the low-range mode act on as large a diameter as possible in order to obtain more rapid shifts and also to shorten the overall length of the gearbox and reduce the number of component annular springs and synchronizing rings, while retaining good functioning. The object is also, when the axial displacement of the ring gear takes place, to separate friction surfaces in the synchronizing device with a relative speed difference; that is to say, the synchronizing device which is not functioning at the time, and in this way reduce the friction losses.


It has been discovered by the inventors that the efficiency and data integrity of a storage device can be improved by dynamically adjusting certain operating parameters to optimal values during the operation of the storage device. In one embodiment, the physical properties of a storage device such as a hard disk drive are measured during the manufacturing process to determine the dependency of the storage device upon the environmental conditions in which the storage device is operating. The physical properties of the storage device and the effect the operating environment of the storage device has upon the storage device performance are determined, and optimal values for the write current of the storage device are stored in a lookup table. The temperature in which the storage device is operating is used as a reference into the data that resides in the lookup table. Optimal values for the precompensation delay may also be stored in the lookup table. During operation of the storage device, the temperature of the operating environment is sensed and used as a reference value into the lookup table. The optimal values of write current and precompensation delay corresponding to the sensed temperature are retrieved, and the write current and precompensation delay of the storage device are adjusted accordingly.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the operating parameters of a storage device used for storing computer data. More specifically, the present invention relates to dynamically adjusting the operating parameters of a storage device according to the sensed temperature of the storage device environment.
2. The Relevant Art
Computer systems generally utilize auxiliary memory storage devices having media onto which data can be written and from which data can be read for later use. A direct access storage device (DASD) incorporating rotating magnetic disks is commonly used for storing data in magnetic form on disk surfaces. Data is recorded on concentric, radially spaced tracks on the disk surfaces. Magnetic heads including write elements and read sensors are used to record the data on the disk and then read the data from the tracks on the disk surfaces. The write element and read sensor together are known as the magnetic read/write transducer.
Typically, the read/write transducer is located on a single aerodynamically shaped block of material (usually ceramic). This assembly, also referred to as the slider, flies above the surface of the disk at an extremely small distance (on the order of nanometers) as the disk rotates. The distance the lowest point of the transducer head flies above the disk surface is known to those familiar the art as the mechanical spacing of the DASD.
The write element of the transducer usually consists of an inductive transducing element having an electrical conductor winding around a magnetically permeable material. Data is written by driving a current through the conductor coil to create a magnetic field, causing a magnetic pattern representing the data to be placed on the disk surface. The current that is driven through the conductor coil is known as the write current. This current creates a changing magnetic field exiting the write head structure between the two poles formed by the write gap. The distance between this point (the write gap) and the magnetic center of the disk is known to those familiar with the art as the magnetic spacing of the DASD.
The disks used in current DASDs vary in the required field strength for writing data to them. The dominant factor that limits how easily data can be written to a disk is the coercivity of the disk. The coercivity of the disk refers to the required field strength created by the write head required to permanently change the magnetization direction of the disk. The lower the coercivity of the disk, the easier it is to write data onto the disk surface. Since the write field created by the write head is proportional to the write current under Bertram's theory of magnetic recording, less write current is required to drive the write head at lower coercivity levels.
The mechanical and magnetic spacing properties of a DASD do incur a variety of manufacturing variances (e.g. overcoating thickness, fly high variation, etc.), but once the DASD has been manufactured, for a given set of components, the variations are significantly smaller than over the population of all DASD assemblies. The coercivity of the disk, however, is a dynamic property of the disk drive. The coercivity of the disk is highly sensitive to changes in temperature as well as the flux changes attempted to be written. Current art DASDs do not take the full temperature range of the environment in which the DASD may operate into consideration when setting the write current to be used. This results in either too much or too little write current being applied to record data as the temperature of the environment in which the DASD is operating varies.
When too little write current is used, the written waveform might be substantially distorted or incomplete, leading to errors. When too much write current is applied, large fringe fields may occur at the sides of the write element. The fringe fields may cause a problem known as side writing, or curved transitions, leading to various degradations in the read-back performance. In order for DASDs to optimize storage space, the spacing between the tracks on the disk, or track density, needs to be as small as possible. The presence of fringe fields from too much write current limits the track density of a disk.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a dynamic write head current adjustment method and apparatus that is able to set the write current to an optimal value based upon the properties of the DASD and the environment in which the DASD operates.

Process of dynamically adjusting the operating parameters of a computer storage device according to environmental conditions

International Business Machines Corporation


A cutting tool is provided which may include a first blade and a second blade rotatably coupled to the first blade. The cutting tool may include a first handle rotatably coupled to the first blade, the first handle rotatable between a deployed position and a folded position, and a second handle rotatably coupled to the second blade, the second handle rotatable between a deployed position and a folded position. The cutting tool may also include a first rotation lock configured to hold the first handle fixed relative to the first blade. The first handle may be configured to be rotatable relative to the first blade in response to the first rotation lock being disengaged. The first rotation lock may be configured to be held in the disengaged position in response to the first handle being disposed between the deployed position and the folded position.

Cutting tools such as shears or scissors are common instruments for cutting a variety of materials ranging from paper and textiles to plastics and metals. The sizes and shapes of cutting tools may be configured based upon the material they are intended to cut. For example, small scissors may be used for various materials associated with sewing, such as threads or fabrics, or they may be used for cutting paper. Larger scissors or shears may be configured to cut through thicker or tougher materials, such as cardboard or fiber glass, for example.
Multipurpose tools are widely popular for their utility in a substantial number of different applications. As its name suggests, a multipurpose tool includes a number of tools carried by a common frame. A multipurpose tool may include different combinations of tools depending upon its intended application. For example, multipurpose tools that are designed for a more universal or generic application can include pliers, a wire cutter, a bit driver, one or more knife blades, a saw blade, a bottle opener or the like. Other multipurpose tools are designed to service more specific applications or niche markets and correspondingly include tools that are useful for the intended application. For example, multipurpose tools may be specifically designed for automobile repairs, hunting, fishing or other outdoor applications, gardening and the like.
One reason for the popularity of multipurpose tools is the capability provided by a multipurpose tool to provide a wide range of functionality with a single tool, thereby reducing the need to carry a number of different tools to perform those same functions. For example, a single multipurpose tool may be carried instead of a pair of pliers, one or more screwdrivers, a knife and a bottle opener. As such, the burden upon a user is reduced since the user need only carry a single multipurpose tool.
As multipurpose tools are frequently carried by users in the field, it is desirable for the multipurpose tools to be relatively small and lightweight while remaining rugged so as to resist damage. In order to reduce the overall size of a multipurpose tool, some multipurpose tools have been designed to be foldable. In this regard, foldable multipurpose tools are designed to move between a closed position and an open position. Generally, the closed position is more compact with the multipurpose tool frequently being carried in the closed position.
It may be desirable for the multipurpose tool to include additional functionality. As such, the present applicant has designed a multipurpose cutting tool having a compact configuration, even in instances in which the multipurpose cutting tool includes additional functionality.


An image display control apparatus enables determination as to whether or not an image file includes position information, and further, facilitates checking of positioning method of the position information. Accordingly, in the apparatus, positioning information in the image file is analyzed, and it is determined whether or not a positioning method indicating a positioning method for the position information is described. Further, when it is determined that the positioning method is described, the type of the positioning method is determined. Then an icon for discrimination of the presence/absence of positioning method and type of the positioning method is superimposed on a thumbnail of an image indicated with a corresponding image file.

Recently, some digital cameras and mobile terminals with a built-in camera are capable of recording position information as attribute information of image data obtained by image sensing. Further, some personal computer (PC) applications display image data where the above-described position information is recorded distinctively from image data where position information is not recorded. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-323543 discloses a technique of displaying an icon which indicates whether or not position information is recorded as attribute information of image data to be described, so as to distinguish such image data where position information is recorded from image data where position information is not recorded.
However, in the above-described conventional technique, while it is possible to know whether or not position information is recorded in image data, it is not possible to determine the positioning method used to acquire the position information.
There are a plurality of types of positioning methods to obtain position information. For example, in the case of a digital camera having a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, under a condition where a signal can be received from a GPS satellite, position information, obtained based on the signal, is recorded as attribute information of image data. Further, in the case of a digital camera or mobile terminal having a wireless LAN, position information, obtained from the nearest radio base station, can be recorded in image data. In addition, arbitrary position information may be recorded by manual operation with a console, in image data where no position information is recorded. There is a probability of erroneous input due to manual operation. As described above, plural sets of position information exist in view of accuracy and credibility. To check the accuracy and credibility of the position information, it is insufficient to merely determine presence/absence of position information.

Image display apparatus and control method therefor


An undercarriage telescopic support stand for use in conjunction with an automotive shop vehicle lift and is used by mechanics to perform undercarriage operation such as installing exhaust systems, shocks, struts and springs. The device provides a vertically adjustable shaft which can be adapted to reach and support an exhaust system, or other components located on the underside of a vehicle, at varying heights. The device is adjusted and held at the desired height through the use of an integral locking device

With the advent of a new style of service stations which can service a vehicle in a matter of minutes, the established automotive repair industry has had to adapt in order to keep pace and stay in business. To keep costs down and prices competitive, while maintaining a profit, the automotive repair industry depends on mechanics who can service a vehicle quickly and single-handedly. Because of the cost of and shortage of skilled labor, the automotive repair market requires that many times a sole mechanic must perform the desired task single-handedly and as efficiently as possible. However, with the increased speed and need for mechanics to work on vehicles single-handedly, safety becomes a concern.
While a vehicle is elevated, a mechanic can service the multitude of components located on the underside of a vehicle. Commonly, the mechanic elevates a vehicle to service the vehicle's exhaust system, brake system, suspension or to change fluids such as oil. Without the proper stand, a mechanic must either have another person hold the component being serviced, or hold the component himself while another person hands him tools required for the job. If, on the other hand, the mechanic uses a conventional stand, then he must nevertheless recruit another person to help him maneuver and adjust the stand to support the component or components being serviced. Generally, the other person assisting the mechanic is a mechanic also. Hence, instead of servicing another vehicle and increasing service sales, the mechanic's time is wasted and the amount of profits is drastically cut. In today's automotive repair industry this inefficiency can be fatal to many vehicle service businesses. To alleviate this problem various types of support stands have been utilized.
Generally, a support stand is utilized in automotive repair to hold or position components being serviced on the underside of a vehicle while the vehicle is elevated. A support stand also functions as a safety device by holding components in place and by providing a safety catch for components which can become dislodged and fall during servicing. For example, a support stand can be used to catch and hold in place the body of a muffler while the mechanic is removing or replacing the connecting pipes of an exhaust system.
However, conventional support stands generally require more than one person to operate safely. With many of the presently available stands, one person must hold the stand while the other person adjusts and maneuvers the stand. Other available stands are operational by one person, but these stands generally require the mechanic to use both hands to adjust and maneuver the stand into position. A mechanic generally does not have two free hands to use in order to operate the support stand because one hand is either holding tools or holding or positioning the component being serviced or installed. Frequently, the mechanic may not have another person around to ask for assistance and may find himself in an uncomfortable and unsafe situation.
Furthermore, many of the support stands used in automotive shops are also unsafe because of the way the locking device is designed. The locking devices used to fix the support stand at a desired height generally utilize a pin which the user inserts into the appropriate hole integrated onto the support stand bar. This type of device requires the use of both hands and is time consuming because it is difficult to get the pin into the hole. Other locking devices use notches and a latch or locking device that are difficult to operate and which are expensive. These past devices are unsafe because they can easily be jarred and released thereby causing substantial injury or can accidentally slip causing the same hazard.
To date, the ways of producing quality support stands, more pertinently their locking mechanisms, are expensive and inefficient. The expense is obviously reflected in the price of support stands. Because cost cutting is as important in today's automotive repair industry as is safety, many automotive repair shops elect to purchase support stand units of low quality, or go without them.
The patent to Elliott, U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,934, issued on Mar. 8, 1983 for a Lifting and Positioning Apparatus for Construction Panels, discloses a support device having a fixed strut, a movable strut and a guide and latch arrangement for retaining the struts in a parallel relationship. The apparatus disclosed in the patent to Elliott is intended to be used to lift and position sheet rock. Elliott's apparatus is unsuitable to safely hold or support components being serviced on the underside of a vehicle when the vehicle is elevated. Elliott's apparatus essentially uses two stands each having a rail upon which a panel is rested across. Elliott's apparatus could not efficiently be used by one mechanic to support components on the underside of a vehicle.
In the patent to Harrigan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,981, issued Jun. 4, 1985, for an Adjustable Telescopic Support, a support is disclosed which includes an elongated telescoping slide bar that is movable within the hollow core of a standard. The support includes a locking device incorporating an adjustable member threadable into the hollow core o f the standard and which frictionally engages the slide bar at a desired position. Harrigan's stand differs from the present invention in that, among other things, the locking device of the present invention quickly engages with one turn of a handle. In Harrigan's locking device, a handle must be rotated continuously until the end of the crank abuts the slide bar, thus taking up a significant amount of time. Further it would be extremely difficult for one person to hold the slide bar in proper position and at the same time rotate the crank over and over until secured. Additionally, Harrigan's mounting bracket would not safely support or hold small, curved components of the underside of a vehicle.
In the patent to Staples, U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,136, issued Nov. 28, 1967, for an Adjustable Support Device For a Vehicle, a support device is disclosed having an angled beam platform, a standard, a telescopic member in the standard and means to extend and hold the telescopic member. The locking device disclosed in the patent to Staples incorporates a pin which extends through holes integrated and aligned onto the standard and the member. The present invention differs from Staples' device in that, among other things, Staples' device is difficult and time consuming to lock via inserting a pin through two holes. The present invention can easily and quickly be locked by one person.
The patent to Petrie, U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,505, issued Apr. 11, 1967, for a Collapsible Stand, discloses a support stand having three portions: a first hollow elongated cylindrical tube member, a second hollow elongated cylindrical tube member that is inserted into the first member and threaded portion engaged with the second member. The device uses holes located on both of the hollow members, which may be aligned at a desired height and through which a bolt may be inserted as a locking device. Again, the locking device of Petrie is difficult and time consuming to engage with one hand while trying to hold the tube member in proper position.
The patent to Berg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,837, issued on Mar. 25, 1986 for a Locking Mechanism For Extendible Telescoping Tubular Members, discloses a locking device including at least one spring loaded lever that pivots about a fulcrum and which incorporates a ball-like end that engages registered openings in the telescoping tubular members. However, the locking device of Berg et al. consists of many components and requires the pressing of two plungers to disengage the device, whereas the present invention simply requires the turn of a handle to engage and disengage the locking device. Further, the locking device of Berg et al. is use in conjunction with a carpet stretcher and not on a vehicle support stand.
In the prior art discussed above, the support stands are either unsafe for the use of supporting components on the underside of a vehicle or are difficult and time consuming for one person to manipulate and lock. Therefore, there is a need for a safe and easy to operate apparatus for holding and supporting components found on the underside of an elevated vehicle while it is being serviced.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a device for use in conjunction with an automotive shop vehicle lift to support components located on the underside of that vehicle, while those or other components are being serviced, with increased safety for a mechanic.
Another object of the invention is to provide a maneuverable and easily adjustable device for holding and supporting components of varying heights located on- the underside of a vehicle while the vehicle is elevated.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an economical, safe and maneuverable device for holding and supporting components of varying heights on the underside of a vehicle while elevated, which is easily adjustable to the desired height by a person servicing the vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device to be used in conjunction with a support stand for holding and supporting components of varying heights and weights on the underside of a vehicle while elevated, which is easily adjusted and positioned with one hand by the person servicing the vehicle.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Undercarriage telescopic support stand for use with vehicle exhaust systems


A method and a device are provided for contamination-free and/or sterile sealing between two interconnectable connecting elements having opposing openings. Interconnection allows transfer of a fluid between the openings. Sealing elements are arranged on the connecting elements around the openings, and protective films are provided, covering the sealing elements and the openings and adapted to be removed in the final interconnection. The sealing elements are each provided with at least one recess which extends wholly or partly around the associated opening and receives a gas. In use the sealing elements are moved into engagement with each other, interleaved with the protective films, to reduce the volume of the recesses and, thus, increase the pressure of the gas therein. During removal of the protective films, the gas flows out of the recesses to the environment to prevent penetration of contamination into the openings.

In many fields, of which a few have been mentioned above as examples, it is normally necessary to transfer fluids from one process unit, such as a vessel or bag of a conventional type or of a now more common disposable type, to another or to other equipment without these fluids risking to be contaminated with foreign particles, especially airborne bacteria and the like or gaseous air pollutants. In the fields above, there is, inter alia, a more or less continuous need for sampling of fluids, for instance for microbiological control, cell counting or various chemical analyses, or supply of regulating or active substances, for instance a pH buffer or a biological starter culture, in certain process steps in the manufacture of products in the respective fields. Whenever a new connection for the purposes above has to be made to transfer fluids from one vessel to another, there is a great risk of contamination of the fluids, especially in non-sterile spaces.
Such connection can occur by introducing a sterile needle connected to one vessel via a tube or pipe, into a sterile membrane connected to the other vessel. In the interconnection, the connecting components and/or the fluids are exposed to the risk of being contaminated with airborne bacteria, spores etc. and by incorrect handling of the connecting components.
To reduce the risk of contamination when interconnecting two or more vessels for transfer of fluids between them, instead of the above-described needle connecting device, a sterile connector has been suggested, inter alia, by U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,910, with a device for sealing between two interconnectable connecting means included in the sterile connector, with opposing openings to allow, when interconnected, transfer of a fluid between them. The device has sealing elements, which are arranged on the connecting means around the openings and are provided with protective films covering the sealing elements and the openings and being removable in the final interconnection. With the connecting means arranged end-to-end with the openings opposite each other, and with the sealing elements pressed against each other during elastic deformation, the protective films engaging each other are manually pulled off at the same time from the connecting means.
When pulling off the protective films, they are folded back on themselves, and even if they are very thin there arises in the folding area a small gap with a width corresponding to the width of the protective films. This gap "moves" in the pull-off direction and passes the area of the openings in the sealing elements and the connecting means, so that airborne contamination is entrained by the gap and risks entering the openings and contaminating the fluid.

Device and method for contamination-free and/or sterile sealing between at least two interconnectable connecting means


A safety device for a nasal spray applicator may include a two or three-point safety engagement feature to retain a protective cap or cover over the nasal spray applicator and to prevent or restrict actuation thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
Closure lids for dispensing containers, particularly child resistant lids and more particularly, closure lids with three-point locking features.
2. State of the Art
Dispensing containers are commonly used for dispensing contents in the form of liquids, pastes, or powders which may include medications, adhesives, and the like. It is often desired to limit access to the contents of such containers, so that children are not able to easily dispense the contents. Various child-resistant devices may be incorporated into dispensing containers. An improved child resistant closure is desired.


An optical disk image forming apparatus that forms an image on an optical disk, comprises: an optical disk drive that includes a rotating unit for rotating an optical disk and a laser light irradiating unit being movable in a radial direction of the optical disk; and a control unit that sets a plurality of pixel areas on the optical disk, allocates predetermined writing densities to the plurality of pixel areas, respectively, and controls the optical disk drive to irradiate the laser light onto each pixel area according to the allocated writing densities. When the allocated writing density is a halftone writing density, the control unit corrects the halftone writing density so as to be lighter darker than the allocated writing density.

The present invention relates to an optical disk recording apparatus that forms images, such as characters or pictures, on a label surface or a recording surface of an optical disk and an optical disk image forming method.
There is disclosed a technology for an optical disk recording apparatus that forms images, such as characters or pictures, on a data recording surface or a label surface of a recordable optical disk, such as CD-R or CD-RW, on which data can be recorded (for example, see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-367173
An optical disk recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 forms one pixel by plural tracks, in which multiple-values of the pixel are expressed by the number and arrangement of the tracks so as to obtain a multi gray-scale levels with binary recording system. When the image is formed on the optical disk with the above method of the optical recording apparatus, however, there is a problem that a viewer recognizes that density (gray scale level) of the original image seems is different from that of the image formed on the optical disk.

Optical disk image forming apparatus and optical disk image forming method


An encoded calibrating plate is fixed on the working environment of the robot arm and has a chessboard pattern with each square in the chessboard pattern being an encoding. The encoding indicates direction or position on the encoded calibration plate. A visual system of the robot arm captures an image of the encoded calibrating plate, calculates the coordinates encoding of the encoded calibration plate, and positions the visual system to calibrate a positioning error of the robot arm and the visual system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention presents a robot calibration apparatus and method for calibrating a robot arm, and more particularly, a robot calibration apparatus and method for calibrating a robot arm by determining moving errors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the rapid development of industrial production technology, factory production lines are having robot arms perform product handling, arrangement, or assembly in place of human laborers to increase speed of production, stabilize product quality, and reduce labor cost. The robot arms further includes the use of visual system to determine a position and orientation of an object. The visual system guides the robot arm to automatically and accurately grab an object in the production process. Therefore, a method to reduce positioning error of the visual system and a method to calibrate the accuracy of the movement of the robot arm have become an important topic.
FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a calibrating plate 10 for a robot arm according to a prior art. The calibrating plate has a chessboard having interchanging black squares 11 and white squares 12. During calibration of the robot arm using the calibrating plate 10, a visual system of the robot arm is used. The visual system comprises an eye in hand camera configured to guide the robot arm when grabbing an object and an eye to hand camera configured to monitor a working environment of the robot arm. When calibrating using the eye in hand camera fixed on the robot arm, the eye in hand camera is brought close to the standard calibration plate 10 by moving the robot arm to capture an image of the standard calibration plate 10. According to the captured image, the position of the robot arm relative to the standard calibration plate is calculated to complete the calibration of the robot arm.
There are several calibration methods using the standard calibration plate. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,175 is configured to use two cameras to capture images of the status of the standard calibration plate and perform comparison to calibrate the two cameras. Another example, CN102927908 is configured to use a laser apparatus to project light strip for performing alignment of standard calibration plate. The camera fixed on the robot arm is used to capture image of the light strip. The laser apparatus is moved to another position and another image of the light strip projected by the laser apparatus at another angular position is captured. The intersection of the two light strips from two different angular positions is used to calibrate position of the robot in a three-dimensional space.
However, the standard calibration plate of the prior art has a fixed number of black and white squares in the chessboard pattern. If the robot arm is set on a limited space and the distance between the robot arm and the standard calibration plate is fixed, the visual system arranged on the robot arm is not able to capture the entire image of the standard calibration plate. It would not be possible to determine the orientation and position of the visual system using the partial image of the standard calibration plate. Thus, it is hard to determine the correct position of the visual system relative to the standard calibration plate to perform calibration. Therefore, existing method of calibrating robot arm still has problems that need to be solved.

Robot calibration apparatus for calibrating a robot arm


Some implementations disclosed herein provide techniques and arrangements for recovery of data stored in memory shared by a number of processors through information stored in a cache directory. A core of a processor may initiate access (e.g., read or write) to particular data located in a first cache that is accessible to the core. In response to detecting an error associated with accessing the particular data, a location in the processor that includes the particular data may be identified and the particular data may be copied from the location to the first cache.

In certain situations, a processor may detect errors with respect to data stored in memory shared between the processor and one or more additional processors. Error recovery techniques may be utilized to recover the data. In many instances, error recovery techniques add bits to the data in order to recover the data if an error occurs. However, these error recovery techniques may be memory intensive and/or may consume a large amount of power.

Recovering from data errors using implicit redundancy


A central bearing for a bow-shaped rear axle of a motor vehicle is formed of three elastic elements. One central elastic element is arranged directly on a bearing axis support and is pressed by a bearing sleeve. Two additional exterior elastic elements are connected with this bearing sleeve and are supported on a bearing disk which is held on the bearing axis support by a press fit.

This application claims the priority of German application No. 197 40 077.9, filed Sep. 12, 1997, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a central bearing for a rear axle of a motor vehicle, and more particularly, to a central bearing having elastic elements which are arranged on a bearing axis support, are clamped into a bearing sleeve and are held in a bearing console which is connected with an axle tube of the rear axle.
DE 44 19 221 C1 describes a central bearing for a motor vehicle rear axle which is connected with an axle tube. DE 40 33 569 A1 describes an axial bush bearing which, clamped into a bearing sleeve, comprises elastic elements arranged on a bearing axis support.

Central bearing for a motor vehicle rear axle


A system and method for storage and retrieval of objects. The objects are stored on a permanent medium in a manner to allow for fast recovery of the objects from the medium. The objects are stored in a format that is structurally equivalent to the format of the objects on a volatile medium, such as memory of a general-purpose computer. Objects are stored according to a data relationship with other objects. The objects may be stored as a stream of objects and offset references. Offset references are converted to actual memory addresses as objects are retrieved into the volatile medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to object-oriented software systems, and more particularly, to the storage and retrieval of objects.
2. Related Art
Object-oriented programming methods are the primary programming methods used by the computer software industry. Object-oriented programming methods allow programmers to create complex systems by reusing common mechanisms. Specifically, object-oriented programming is a method of implementation in which programs are organized as cooperative collections of objects, each of which represents an instance of an object model, and whose models are members of a hierarchy of models united via inheritance relationships. Object-oriented systems are designed according to these object models, commonly referred to as classes. Objects are created, or instantiated, by creating in memory an instance of a class. Object models encompass principles of abstraction, encapsulation, modularity, hierarchy, typing, concurrency and persistence. Examples of object-oriented programming languages include C++, Java, Smalltalk, Eiffel, Ada, and CLOS, among others. Objects and object-oriented programming concepts are well-known and are described in more detail in the reference entitled Object-Oriented Analysis and Design With Applications, Second Edition by Grady Booch, Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, 1994, incorporated herein by reference.
An object has both state and behavior. That is, an object stores data, interacts with other objects, and many include one or more methods associated with that object. An object method typically performs some function with respect to data. Primitive data for an object includes simple storage types such as integer or character data types. A simple object comprises simple storage types. A general compound object is a combination of simple objects, simple storage types and other compound objects. A fundamental concept of object-oriented programming is to define a construction mechanism that allows a compound object to be built from simpler objects. A compound object has all of the operational characteristics of the simpler existing object class plus any modifications to behavior or data.
An object generally has a size which defines an area of storage locations that an object could use to store information related to the object. The size of the object is typically known by a compiler for the programming language. The size of the object is the aggregation of immediate data, references to data, and access to a function table defined for the class. Immediate data is data that is defined within the structure of the object. References are generally pointers to data. The size of immediate data is known by the compiler while references are typically pointers to data located elsewhere. Generally, a pointer is an identifier that indicates a location of an item of data.
Referenced data may be fixed or variable size. For an object with a reference to data it is usually not always the object responsibility to know whether the data that is referenced is fixed or variable in size. The referenced data contained by an object may be a reference to a block of data of fixed sized, a block of data of variable size or a reference to some other object or an instance of some other object. Typically, a general storage mechanism accounts for storage elements including immediate data, referenced data and object references and object instances.
An object may be derived from another object. The instance data of a derived object has as a subset instance data of the base object and also a function table of the base object. This relationship is defined as xe2x80x9cinheritance.xe2x80x9d From the derived object""s point of view the instance data of the base object appears to be immediate data. The size of the base instance data is known apriori. The base object is cognizant of whether the base instance data is purely immediate data (no references) or whether there is a mix of references and or immediate data. The derived object has no direct access to the base instance data. The derived object may access the base instance data by the base function table.
A derived object may override the functionality of a base object function. In this situation, the derived function is called if a request is made directly on the derived object. A xe2x80x9cvirtualxe2x80x9d function is a special case of derivation. A class definition declares that a function is to be virtual. By so doing, the class includes a function that may be overriden by the derived class. If a base object reference is called with a function that is overriden by a derived class object instance, the derived function is called and the base object assumes the personna of the derived class. If the function is not virtual, the base function calls the function from the base class function table whether the derived object class provides an override function or not. A virtual function table is maintained by the computer system in memory as a result of code generated by the C++ compiler at compile time. An object that includes methods that are virtual has a compiler-generated table that is not visible to the user. The virtual function table is evolved as a derived object is constructed and devolved as a derived object is destructed.
When an object is realized in memory, it is said to be instantiated. Instantiation of objects is performed by functions known as constructors. Constructors operate on volatile memory and define the way to initialize an object of its class. The content of an object has two major components: (1) data comprising the instance data of the class and (2) an object function table that defines methods of the class. The data comprising the object is generally in one of two forms: (1) immediate data and (2) a reference to data located elsewhere. An object class may have one or more constructors that defines how an instance of the object is to be built in volatile memory.
Each constructor has a unique parameter passing argument list which defines how the object is to be constructed. The user calls the constructor with an argument set that matches one of the defined sets of arguments to initialize an object with the desired constructor. Defining functions such as constructors, with the same name that operate on different types is called overloading, and is well-known in C++. The constructor usually allocates memory for the object according to the size of the object and initializes all data that forms the immediate data area of the object. Each object class has a special function table entry for a function, referred to as a destructor, that is called when the object is destroyed. The destructor is utilized to release all system assets that the object utilizes. One of the main purposes of the destructor is to release memory that was allocated by the object on its behalf during some phase of computation.
A derived object is created by calling a constructor in a manner analogous to the original base class. The derived object calls a base class constructor by invoking a base constructor with a matching set of arguments from a base class constructor set. The base class is intialized before any instance data of the derived object is initialized or before the code in the constructor written by a user is called.
Object-orientation programming languages allow data to be abstract, that is, defined by the user. Further, object-oriented languages allow objects to inherit properties from other objects. In particular, inheritance permits a programmer to create objects that inherit data and methods from other objects. Objects in an inheritance relationship are said to have a hierarchical relationship. Generally, software systems include many objects in an object hierarchy.
Objects may include a number of different data types. Examples of these types are integer (int) and character (char). Some data types such as integer and character are built-into a programming language such as C++. There are also types referred to as abstract data types that are user-defined, such as those complex data types defined by class definitions in an object-oriented programming language. Data types and the C++ language are described in more detail in the reference entitled C++ Programming Language, Third Edition by Bjarne Stroustrup, Addison-Wesley, 1997, incorporated herein by reference.
Objects are said to be either dynamically or statically bound to a data type. Both static and dynamic terms refer to the times when names of objects are bound to types. Static binding means that the types of all variables and expressions are fixed at the time of compilation; dynamic binding means that the types of all variables are not known until runtime.
An object takes up some amount of space in memory and exists for a particular amount of time. Persistence in an object-oriented system allows a programmer to save state and class of an object across time and space. More specifically, persistence is defined as the property of an object through which its existence transcends time (i.e. the object continues to exist after its creator, such as a software program, ceases to exist) and/or space (i.e. the object""s location moves from the address space in which it was created).
Programming languages such as C++ and object-oriented databases provide an ability to store and retrieve runtime objects from memory. Generally, objects are persisted from volatile to non-volatile types of memory. Volatile memory or storage is storage that loses its data when power is removed from the system. An example of volatile memory device is a RAM device of a general purpose computer. In contrast, non-volatile memory or storage holds information when power is removed from a system. Examples of non-volatile memory include magnetic media such as hard disks or diskettes or optical media such as optical disks. Generally, media is defined as the means by which data is transmitted or stored. Other types of volatile and non-volatile media are available.
In C++, there are three fundamental ways of using volatile memory. In static memory, an object is allocated a predefined amount of memory for the duration of the software program. Automatic memory is an area in which function arguments and local variables are allocated. Automatic memory is automatically created and destroyed and is referred in the art to as xe2x80x9cthe stack.xe2x80x9d Free store is a type of memory which is explicitly requested by the program and where a program can the free store memory once the program is done with it (such as through using C++ new and delete operators). Free store (also referred to as xe2x80x9cthe heapxe2x80x9d) grows throughout the lifetime of the program because no free store memory is returned to the operating system. Objects may be instantiated on the stack or heap, depending on the implementation.
One such programming language that provides persistence functions is the Visual C++ language available from the Microsoft Corporation. The Visual C++ language includes an archive function which allows a programmer to create persistent objects. Also, Microsoft provides what is known in the art as the Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) programming library which is used by object-oriented programmers to create software programs. These and other objects may be persisted to non-volatile media by using the conventional archive function.
Basic steps involved in conventional recovery of objects from non-volatile media include (1) allocating memory for an object, (2) accessing non-volatile media (such as a file on disk storage), (3) copying data from non-volatile media to internal memory buffers of a volatile image of the file, and (4) copying elements of data from the volatile memory image of the file to the internal contents of the object. This process is performed for each individual object, and may take long periods of time for systems with large numbers of objects.
In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided which eliminates steps of conventional archival of objects, thereby saving time in their recovery. Improved response time during recovery provides a competitive advantage for software systems that use large numbers of objects, such as computer-aided design systems and systems having complex graphical user interfaces, among others. In some complex software systems, thousands of objects are not uncommon.
According to various aspects, the number of memory allocations is reduced and the number of data transfers from non-volatile medium to the internals of the object is reduced. Also, additional processing of immediate data of objects is not required. Also, the need to recover each of the individual elements defined by the simple storage types is eliminated. As a result, individual allocation steps for each individual objects are eliminated; a single allocation operation is performed which bypasses the need to make the individual allocation requests to memory allocators. In another aspect, a system and method is provided that conforms with standard operations generated by commercially-available compilers.
In one aspect, a storage and retrieval system and method is provided that stores a collection of objects on a permanent medium in such a way as to allow for fast recovery of the object contents from the medium. A major objective is high performance in reconstitution of the objects. The objects that exist in a volatile memory state are stored on a non-volatile medium so that the objects may be recovered later in volatile memory. The objects that are reconstituted from the non-volatile medium have equivalent computational behavior as an original collection that resides in volatile memory. Alternatively, objects may be persisted to volatile memory as well. That is, the objects may be stored on volatile memory in the same format as the non-volatile memory format and moved electronically to some other location for reconstitution elsewhere without ever being persisted to non-volatile memory.
In another aspect, a data structure is provided that includes a plurality of objects. The plurality of objects may be serialized as a stream. The data structure may be used to represent a document composed of objects. Alternatively, the objects may be transmitted over a communications network.
In another aspect, a computer program product is provided that comprises a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to store objects, the computer program being adapted to cause the computer to perform steps of a) storing, in a data stream, data of a first object having a reference to a second object; b) storing, in the data stream, a reference to the location second object in the data stream; and c) storing, in the data stream, data of the second object.
Further features and advantages of the present invention as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most one or two digits of a reference numeral identifies the drawing in which the reference numeral first appears.

System and method for storing and retrieving objects


A valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, the valve seal having a valve seal body member having a curved annular upper surface conforming to the spherical periphery of a spherical rotary valve, the valve seal body member having a centrally disposed aperture there through defined by an inner circular side wall, the valve seal body member further having an outer circumferential side wall having a plurality of mounting ribs for the positioning of lateral sealing rings, the valve seal body member further having a plurality of vertical axial throughbores formed between the inner circular side wall and the outer circumferential side wall for pressure equalization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine of the piston-cylinder type having a spherical rotary valve assembly for the introduction of the fuel/air mixture to the cylinder and the evacuation of the exhaust gases, and is particularly directed towards pressure equalizing valve seals for such rotary valve assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The Applicant herein has directed considerable attention to the internal combustion engine of the piston-cylinder type and in particular to the replacement of the poppet valve system, including the poppet valve, springs, mountings and associated cam shaft, with a spherical rotary valve assembly for the introduction of the fuel air mixture into the cylinder and for the evacuation of the exhaust gases. Applicant is the named inventor in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,576, "Internal Combustion Engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,261, "Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Internal Combustion Engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,527, "Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Internal Combustion Engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,232, "Valve Seal for Rotary Valve Engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,558, "Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Internal Combustion Engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,814, "Spherical Rotary Valve"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,739, "Spherical Rotary Valve Assembly for Use in a Rotary Valve Internal Combustion Engine"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,676 B1, "Cooling System for Rotary Valve Engine". The aforementioned U.S. patents are incorporated herein as if set forth in length and in detail.
The present invention which is the subject to this application relates to the valve seal which is positioned between the spherical rotary valve and the cylinder. The upper surface of such valve seal being the surface upon which the spherical periphery of the spherical rotary valve contact during rotation.
Applicant has adapted the spherical rotary valve assembly to high compression diesel engines which operate on natural gas and which in many instances operate on natural gas directly from the well head. Due to the high compression of the engine and the combustion of unrefined natural gas, significant force is affected against the valve seal and this force is transmitted to the spherical rotary valve which in rotation contacts the upper surface of the valve seal, forming the seal. This additional force generated from the high compression and combustion of natural gas produces excessive friction and wear which is not required in order to form the seal between the spherical rotary valve and the valve seal. It is thus necessary to somehow eliminate this additional force and/or pressure or to equalize it in some manner such that it does not affect the rotation of the spherical rotary valve and its sealing contact with the upper surface of the valve seal.

Pressure equalizing valve seal for spherical rotary valve engine


The invention relates to zirconium-based alloys and methods for manufacturing thereof and may be used in nuclear power engineering. The invention, as claimed, solves the task of obtaining a zirconium-based alloy used for manufacturing fuel rods for the nuclear reactor core, which possess improved engineering and operational properties. The said zirconium-based alloy contains its components in the following weight percent ratio: niobium—0.9-1.1, oxygen—0.05-0.09, zirconium—the rest, and has the structure consisting of alpha-zirconium with oxygen irregularity zones not exceeding 30 nanometers, zirconium sub-oxide of non-stoichiometric composition, and beta-niobium. The inventive method of manufacturing the said alloy includes making stock of zirconium-containing material and niobium pentoxide as oxygen-containing and niobium-containing materials, stock treatment and manufacturing an ingot having the above composition.

The invention relates to zirconium-based alloys and methods for manufacturing thereof and may be used in nuclear power engineering.
E110 alloy is known in the art, which is widely used in the core of nuclear reactors, comprising 1.0 percent by wt. of niobium (Specifications TU95.166-98 "ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS IN INGOTS"). The mass content of oxygen present in E110 alloy as a natural impurity does not exceed 0.05 percent by wt. and is due to its presence in the original stock components.
In spite of good operational performance, the said alloy has some disadvantages, in particular high thermal and radiation creepage (see, M. I. Solonin, Yu. K. Bibilashvili, A. V. Nikulina et al. "The Condition of and Prospects for Development of Works on Fuel Rods and Materials for Water-Cooled Reactors in Russia". Collection of Reports Presented at the Fifth Inter-Industry Conference on Science of Reactor Materials. V.1, p. 3-32, Dimitrovgrad, GNTs RF NIIAR, 1998).
M5 alloy is known in the art, which contains, in percent by wt.: niobium—0.81-1.2, oxygen—0.090-0.149, zirconium—the rest ("Update on the Development of Advanced Zirconium Alloys for PWR Fuel Rod Claddings". J. P. Mardon, G. Garner, P. Beslu, D. Charquet, J. Senevat. International Topical Meeting on Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance. Portland, Oreg. Mar. 2-6, 1997. Published by the American Nuclear Society, Inc. La Grange Park, Ill. 60526, USA). This publication shows a positive effect of the sulfur impurity in M5 alloy on creepage of fuel rod cladding materials.
An optimized composition of M5 alloy is known, which contains, in addition to doping components, in percent by wt.: niobium—0.81-1.2, oxygen—0.090-0.180, at the presence of the following impurities: iron—150-600 ppm, silicon—25-120 ppm, sulfur—0-35 ppm; zirconium—the rest (Jean-Paul Mardon, Daniel Charquet and Jean Senevat "Influence of Composition and Process on Out-of-Pile and In-Pile Properties of M5 Alloy". Twelfth International Symposium on Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry. ASTM. Jun. 15-18, 1998, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). The structure of the said alloy includes intermetallic compounds having dimensions from 100 to 200 nanometers of Zr (Nb, Fe, Cr)2 with the hexagonal lattice (a=0.54 nanometers, c=0.86 nanometers) and comprising 41±4 wt. percent of niobium and 18±3 wt. percent Fe+Cr. And the intermetallic compounds Zr (Nb, Fe, Cr)2 are present in the alloy containing 100 ppm of iron and 15 ppm of chrome.
In the said modifications of M5 alloy it is very difficult to ensure a stable chemical composition through the ingot volume due to the complexity of obtaining a uniform distribution of doping additives, in particular sulfur, having very small concentrations in an ingot. Furthermore, the presence of large (100-200 nanometers) intermetallic compounds Zr (Nb, Fe, Cr)2 in the alloy structure results in the alloy manufacturability.
A zirconium-based alloy containing 0.8-1.3 wt. percent of niobium is known, which comprises, in parts per million: iron—50-250, oxygen—1,000-1,600, carbon<200, silicon<120 and unavoidable impurities (RF Patent # 2155997, IPC7 G 21 C 3/06, 3/07, publ. on Sep. 10, 2000. Bull. #25).
The said alloy, however, is used only for manufacturing tubular claddings and tubular guides for nuclear fuel rods and may not be used for manufacturing bars, sheets and other products. Furthermore, manufacturing tubes of the said alloy required that significant number (four or more) cold rolling stages be used.
A zirconium-based alloy is known, which is used for manufacturing fuel rods for nuclear reactors cores stable to creepage and corrosion under the influence of water and steam (RF Patent # 2199600 for the invention "A zirconium-based alloy stable to creepage and corrosion induced by water and steam, a method for manufacturing thereof, and its application in a nuclear reactor", publ. on May 20, 1999, Bull. # 14). The said alloy contains 0.7-1.3 wt. percent of niobium, 0.09-1.16 wt. percent of oxygen and 8-100 ppm of sulfur.
A method of manufacturing the said alloy is also known, according to which zirconium dioxide or sulfur-containing zirconium dioxide is added, while making the stock, to the source material. Then, an ingot of the alloy, which has the above composition, is melted. The said alloy and the method of manufacturing it are most close to the claimed invention.
The said alloy is disadvantageous in that its capability to plastic deformation is lowered due to a high (more than 0.09 wt. percent) oxygen content. This forces to develop complex technologies for pressure-processing the alloy on a special equipment. Moreover, when manufacturing the said alloy it is difficult to ensure a uniform distribution of sulfur present in an insignificant quantity through the ingot volume (Elaine Hiruo, FRAATOM: SMALL MATERIALS DIFFERENCE MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY M5 SUPERIOR TO E110. Nuclear Fuel—Apr. 16, 2001-13).
When using the known method of manufacturing the alloy, it is difficult to ensure a uniform distribution of oxygen through the ingot volume. This is conditioned by the fact that, when melting the alloy, zirconium dioxide is used, which has the melting temperature about 1,000° C. higher that the melting temperature of zirconium, as the oxygen carrier. Moreover, the zirconium dioxide dilution rate in the melt is much lower that the alloy rate of crystallization. These factors contribute to non-uniform distribution of oxygen in ingots, which may result in its poor manufacturability during the subsequent hot and cold deformation, since oxygen-enriched parts of the ingot act as the stress concentrators.

Zirconium-niobium oxygen-containing alloy and method for producing said alloy

Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo “Chepetskiy Mekhanichesky Zavod”

The Federal State Unitarian Enterprise “A.A. Bochvar All-Russia Research Institute of Inorganic Materials”


A rating of the quality of the presence information of a user at a communication device is determined by an aggregation client by determining a direct indicator of presence of a user at the communication device, determining a presence likelihood at the communication device, determining a time delay characteristic related to input on the communication device, and determining a quality of presence rating based on these factors. A graphical or numerical indication of the quality of presence rating is sent to other users' communications devices.

The present invention relates generally to presence detection and more particularly to establishing presence ratings.
In computer and telecommunications networks, "presence" is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner (e.g., a user of a communication device) to communicate. A user's communication device provides presence information (e.g., a presence state) to appropriate presence information outlets. This information can be made available for distribution to other users to convey the availability for communication. Presence information has wide application in many communication services, specifically instant messaging, mobile and wired telephone systems, conference services, voice over IP (VOIP), and other collaboration applications.
Presence Incorporating Systems (PIS) provide presences status information related to users of such systems. The system displays or otherwise provides presence information to other users. A user communication device (e.g., via client) may publish a presence state to indicate its current communication status. This published state informs other users that wish to interact with the user of the availability and willingness to communicate. The most common use of presence is to display an indicator icon on instant messaging clients, typically from a choice of graphic symbol with an easy-to-convey meaning and a list of corresponding text descriptions of each of the states.
Exemplary presence states include "free for chat", "busy", "away", "do not disturb", "out to lunch", user defined text or images, etc. Generally, these are "explicit" presence states. That is, they are set by a user and are static until an alternate state is set, until the user's client is powered down, or until another predetermined condition is met (e.g., expiration of a time limit, etc.).
Additionally and/or alternatively, "implicit" presence states are used. Implicit presence states are states that are not set by the user, but are determined by some other means—generally determined based on use or disuse of a particular user device. For example, a user state may be automatically set to "available" as soon as the client is started and may again be automatically set to "away" when the client is unused for a predetermined period of time.
The use of explicit presence information is unreliable because a user may forget to change or update status information. The use of implicit presence information is unreliable because the time-based updating of presence information does not account for modern usage of multiple devices.
Accordingly, improved systems and methods for presence information generation are required.

System and method for quality of presence


A method for improving color quality in an object created by a solid freeform fabrication system keeps a colorant in an ejected material near a surface of the object.

Solid freeform fabrication is a process for manufacturing three-dimensional objects, for example, prototype parts, models and working tools. Solid freeform fabrication is an additive process in which an object, which is described by electronic data, is automatically built, usually layer-by-layer, from base materials.
Several principal forms of solid freeform fabrication involve a liquid ejection process. There are two main types of solid freeform fabrication that use liquid-ejection: binder-jetting systems and bulk-jetting systems.
Binder-jetting systems create objects by ejecting a binder onto a flat bed of powdered build material. Each powder layer may be dispensed or spread as a dry powder or a slurry. Wherever the binder is selectively ejected into the powder layer, the powder is bound into a cross section or layer of the object being formed.
Bulk-jetting systems generate objects by ejecting a solidifiable build material and a solidifiable support material onto a platform. The support material, which is temporary in nature, is dispensed to enable overhangs in the object and can be of the same or different material from the object.
In both cases, fabrication is typically performed layer-by-layer, with each layer representing another cross section of the final desired object. Adjacent layers are adhered to one another in a predetermined pattern to build up the desired object.
In addition to selectively forming each layer of the desired object, solid freeform fabrication systems can provide a color or color pattern on each layer of the object. For example, inkjet technology can be employed in which a number of differently colored inks are selectively ejected from the nozzles of a liquid ejection apparatus and blended on the build material to provide a full spectrum of colors. In binder-jetting systems, the binder may be colored such that the functions of binding and coloring are integrated. In bulk-jetting systems, the build material may be colored. On each individual layer of the object, conventional two-dimensional multi-pass color techniques and half-toning algorithms can be used to hide defects and achieve a broad range of desired color hues in the completed object.
One of the on-going deficiencies of the solid freeform fabrication techniques described above is inaccurate color reproduction in fabricated objects. In particular, colorants (dyes or pigments) soak below the surface of the object as it is fabricated, causing the apparent colors of the object to become faded as more air and build material come between the colorant and an observer. Additionally, when two or more different colorants are used in adjacent portions of an object, bleeding occurs as one colorant invades into another colorant and the border between the colorants becomes ragged.
In some previous solid freeform fabrication systems that employ ink-jet technology to add color to the object being fabricated, color has been added by printing a desired color throughout each layer of the object being fabricated. In other solid freeform fabrication systems a desired apparent coloring in an object is obtained by varying the color of successive layers that are nested inwardly from a surface of the object.

Method of improving color quality in an object produced by solid freeform fabrication

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The performance of optical fiber Raman devices can be increased by substitution of a broadband reflector (typically a multilayer dielectric mirror) for some of the narrowband reflectors (typically fiber Bragg gratings) that are conventionally used to define the optical cavities of the device. The device exemplarily is a Raman laser or amplifier, and in preferred embodiments a broadband reflector reflects all the Stokes-shifted wavelengths, such that the cavities are defined by the single broadband reflector and by a multiplicity of appropriately selected narrowband reflectors. Optionally the broadband reflector also serves to reflect the pump radiation.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,404 (incorporated herein by reference) discloses cascaded optical fiber Raman lasers and amplifiers (collectively "devices"). The devices comprise one or more pairs of reflectors, spaced apart, with reflectors of each pair having the same center wavelength. The reflectors typically are in-line refractive index Bragg reflectors "written" in SiO.sub.2 -based optical fiber with Ge-containing core, each pair of reflectors providing an optical cavity in the fiber. Cavities that are neighbors in wavelength differ in wavelength by one Stokes shift, the longer wavelength lying within the Raman gain spectrum. See "Optical Fiber Communications", S. E. Miller et al., editors, Academic Press 1979, p. 127 for the Raman gain spectrum of silica. Radiation that is resonating in one of the optical cavities will be referred to as a "Stokes line". See also U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 08/897,195, filed Jul. 21, 1997 by DiGiovanni et al., and Ser. No. 08/871,023, filed Jun. 6, 1997 by W. A. Reed et al., both incorporated herein by reference.
The optical fiber Raman devices comprise means for coupling pump radiation of wavelength .lambda..sub.p into the optical fiber, and are adapted for emission of radiation of a wavelength longer than .lambda..sub.p. For further detail on the prior art devices, see the '404 patent and the '195 patent application.
In many potentially important applications of cascaded optical fiber Raman devices, the number of reflector pairs exceeds two. For instance, a laser having 1.5 .mu.m output and utilizing 1.1 .mu.m pump radiation typically requires 5 reflector pairs. Not only is a device with so many reflectors difficult to manufacture since the members of each pair of reflectors have to have essentially the same center wavelength, but the unwanted attenuation due to the multiplicity of reflectors can be significant. For instance, a Stokes line can experience up to 0.5 dB loss as the radiation passes through the reflectors for the other wavelengths.
Cascaded Raman devices are potentially desirable for high power applications, e.g., lasers as pump sources for rare earth doped fiber amplifiers, or for free space communications, and amplifiers as amplifiers in optical communications systems. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have available devices having higher output power and/or lower threshold than prior art cascaded Raman devices. This application discloses such devices.
As is known to those skilled in the art, the Stokes shifts are determined by the Raman gain spectrum of the fiber material and by frequency-selective elements, e.g., fiber Bragg gratings, that determine the amount of wavelength shift.

Article comprising an improved cascaded optical fiber Raman device


The present invention achieves technical advantages as an operational amplifier (30) having both a high slew rate and a full power bandwidth with low distortion by providing resistors (R6, R7, R9, R10) in place of active loads coupled to a differential pair (Q22, Q25, and Q23, Q24) of transistors in a folded cascode input stage (34). By utilizing passive resistors instead of active loads, no saturation occurs during high slew rate signals. The present invention achieves technical advantages of higher slew rate and lower noise without sacrificing power consumption.

High speed operational amplifiers (op amps) are required to have high slew rates so that the full power bandwidth is higher and as a consequence lower distortion is achieved at higher frequencies and/or higher signal amplitudes. Unfortunately, current solutions increase full power bandwidth by sacrificing noise performance in the amplifier thus limiting the resolution of the output signal.
An example of such a solution is the widely known class AB input stage shown at 10 in FIG. 1. The input stage 12 is fast, but its noise performance is not as good when compared to single differential pair inputs. The reason for this is the amount of transistors that are required at the input, shown at transistors Q1 to Q8. Lower noise can be achieved in this input stage 12, but at the expense of quiescent current or more general power.
An alternative solution is shown in FIG. 2 at 20 and uses a dynamic biasing scheme that provides extra current to a differential pair in a folded cascode input stage, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. This circuit 20 accomplishes the task of having higher full power bandwidth without sacrificing noise performance and power in the amplifier. In this design the amount of current available during a high slew signal is limited by the active loads feeding the folded part of the circuit, shown at transistors Q82 and Q62. These two transistors run out of VCE during a fast signal and therefore they will enter in the saturation region, decreasing the linearity of the amplifier.
This limitation calls for a new dynamically biased circuit that does not suffer from saturation during high slew signals and yet maintains low noise operation without trading off power.

Ultra fast, low noise operational amplifier with dynamic biasing


The present invention relates to combination therapy for cancer with a WT1 peptide vaccine and temozolomide.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to combination therapy for cancer with a WT1 peptide vaccine and temozolomide. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a WT1 peptide, characterized by being used in combination with temozolomide.
Background Art
WT1 gene (Wilms' tumor 1 gene) is a gene identified as a causative gene for Wilms' tumor that is a childhood renal cancer, and encodes a transcription factor having a zinc finger structure. WT1 gene was initially considered to be a tumor suppressor gene. However, subsequent studies revealed that it rather functioned as an oncogene in a hematopoietic organ tumor and a solid cancer.
It has been shown that the in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with a WT1 peptide induces cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for the peptide, which kill hematopoietic organ tumor or solid cancer cells endogenously expressing WT1. Various WT 1 peptides capable of inducing WT1-specific CTLs, which are expected to be used for cancer immunotherapy, have previously been identified (Patent Literatures 1 to 11). Phase I and phase II clinical trials for cancer immunotherapy using WT1 peptides have also been conducted (Non Patent Literatures 1 to 4).
The presence of helper T cells specific for a cancer antigen is reported to be important for the efficient induction of CTLs. Helper T cells are induced and activated by recognizing a complex of an MHC class II molecule in antigen-presenting cells and an antigen peptide to thereby promote the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of B cells and subsets of other T cells. Therefore, it is considered to be useful in cancer immunotherapy to activate the immune system through the induction of helper T cells by an antigen peptide that binds to an MHC class II molecule; a plurality of WT1 peptides having such a function have also previously been reported (Patent Literatures 12 to 14 and Non Patent Literature 5).
Gliomas are primary brain tumors arise from glial cells. What are considered to be malignant among gliomas are glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma is a tumor occurring most frequently and having high malignancy among primary brain tumors and is a poor-prognosis disease having a life expectancy of 12 to 14 months and a 5-year survival of 5%. Surgery is the first choice for the treatment of newly-diagnosed malignant glioma; however, it is standard therapy therefor to perform radiation therapy and the administration of temozolomide as a chemotherapeutic agent against postoperative residual tumor cells because the glioma shows a marked tendency for invasion and is difficult to completely remove. However, its therapeutic results are not satisfactory with a median overall survival (OS) of 14.6 months, a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 6.9 months, and a median 2-year survival of 26% (Non Patent Literature 6).
Most chemotherapeutic agents nonspecifically affect not only tumor cells but also normal cells at a proliferative phase, and lymphocytes proliferated and activated by antigen stimulation are also similarly affected. Therefore, the immune system of a patient receiving chemotherapy is considered to be suppressed; regarding the simultaneous combined use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, concerns exist about deleterious effects of chemotherapy on CTLs, i.e., cell-killing effects on CTLs in addition to the same effects on cancer cells. No therapy involving the combined use of cancer peptide vaccine therapy and temozolomide has previously been reported.

Combination therapy with WT1 peptide vaccine and temozolomide

International Institute of Cancer Immunology, Inc.