The present invention uses a flow restrictor in the form of a tube containing multiple capillary sized passages to minimize any discharge of toxic gases from compressed gas cylinders in the unlikely event of the control valve or regulator failure. The use of this arrangement to provide a flow restriction in combination with a regulator in the form of dispensing check valve provides a virtually fail safe system for preventing hazardous discharge of fluid from a pressurized cylinder or tank. The multiple capillary passage structure provides carefully sized openings that minimize any discharge of gas. Location of the inlet to the capillary tube at the midpoint of the cylinder can also prevent the discharge of liquid from the cylinder if the control valve system fails. Limiting the accidental discharge of fluid from the cylinder to gas phase fluids greatly reduces the uncontrolled mass flow rate at which fluid can escape from the cylinder. A diaphragm can control the movement of a check valve element to prevent discharge of gas from a tank unless a predetermined vacuum condition exists downstream of the check valve. This system is particularly useful in the delivery of arsine gas and provides multiple safeguards against accidental discharge.

Many industrial processing and manufacturing applications require the use of highly toxic fluids. The manufacture of semiconductor materials represents one such application wherein the safe storage and handling of highly toxic hydridic or halidic gases becomes necessary. Examples of such gases include silane, germane, ammonia, phosphine, arsine, stibine, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen selenide, hydrogen telluride, and other halide compounds. As a result of toxicity and safety considerations, these gases must be carefully stored and handled in the industrial process facility. The semiconductor industry in particular relies on the gaseous hydrides of arsine (AsH.sub.3) and phosphine (PH3) as sources of arsenic (As) and phosphorus (P) in ion implantation. Ion implantation systems typically use dilute mixtures of AsH.sub.3 and PH.sub.3 at pressures as high as 1500 psig. Due to their extreme toxicity and high vapor pressure, their use, transportation and storage raise significant safety concerns for the semiconductor industry.
Looking at arsine handling as a more specific example of how an extremely toxic gas is used by the semiconductor industry, arsine is typically stored in pressurized containers at about 250 psi. The handling of arsine cylinders in production environments presents a wide variety of hazardous situations. A leak in one 140 gram cylinder of arsine could contaminate the entire volume of a 30,000 square foot building with 10 foot high ceilings to the Immediate Danger to Life and Health (IDLH) level. If the leak were large, this could happen in just a minute or two, which would mean that for many hours there would be extremely deadly concentrations in the area near the source of the spill.
An arsine container typically uses a 500 cc gas cylinder with a valve at one end. Liquid arsine pumped at about 250 psi fills the cylinder to about 20% of its capacity (about 140 grams of arsine). Once filled, the valve is closed and a safety cap is installed on the valve outlet port. The cylinder is light (about 5 pounds) and the valve is strong compared to the weight of the cylinder so that dropping the cylinder onto the valve end from 10 or 20 feet above a concrete floor will not breach the integrity of the valve or cylinder. This strength of these small cylinders eliminates the need for the valve protection that usually appears on larger gas cylinders.
An end-user that receives the container will, in a well ventilated area, remove the safety cap, install the container, usually vertically, on the end-use apparatus, and open the valve. The container then dispenses liquid or gas arsine depending on the position of the valve end. If the valve end is down, arsine liquid will be dispensed. If the valve end is up, arsine gas will be dispensed. Regardless of valve position, end-user apparatus always uses arsine in gas phase whether discharged from the cylinder as a gas or converted from liquid to gas within the end-user apparatus.
The saturation pressure of liquid arsine at room temperature (22.degree. C.) is about 250 psi. This means that any leak in the container to apparatus connections or in the end user apparatus itself will have arsine exiting to atmosphere at 250 psi. Thus, connections that remain absolutely leak tight to 250 psi or better must join all parts of the apparatus and supply container. If the end user were to first open the valve and then remove the safety plug, the entire 140 grams of arsine could spill out in as little as one or two seconds, especially if the valve end were down. Such an event could happen if someone turns the valve handle full open hard with enough torque such that the handle sticks sufficiently to mislead someone else into thinking that the valve was closed. Removal of the safety cap or disconnection of the cylinder under the mistaken belief that the valve was closed could then result in a rapid release of arsine.
In view of the serious potential for injury or death that could result from an unintended release of these fluids, the prior art discloses systems for preventing such catastrophic release of toxic fluids. U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,221 teaches the storing and the subsequent delivery of arsine by contacting arsine at a temperature of from about -30.degree. C. to about +30.degree. C. with a zeolite to adsorb arsine on the zeolite for storage. Heating then dispenses the arsine from the zeolite at an elevated temperature of up to about 175.degree. C. The method of the '221 patent imposes a disadvantageous heating requirement on the arsine delivery. One problem with heating is that the storage vessel typically has a significant heat capacity. The heat capacity of the storage vessel introduces a significant lag time in the dispensing operation. Further, heating can decompose the arsine resulting in the formation of hydrogen gas with its potential explosion hazards. Thermal decomposition of arsine also causes an undesired increase in gas pressure for the process system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,528 provides a system for storage and dispensing of hydridic and halidic gases which operates at ambient temperature by using a pressure reduction to desorb toxic fluids from zeolite materials having high storage (sorptive) capacity for these gases. The '528 patent uses a dispensing assembly to provide a pressure below the interior pressure of the storage vessel. The reduced pressure desorbs the sorbate gas from the solid-phase physical sorbent medium. In order to retrieve a significant portion of the arsine off of the adsorbent, very low pressures must be used. When full, the dispensing pressure might be 600 torr. When half full it will be down to about 70 torr. Most mass flow controllers are only rated down to 150 torr operating pressure. At 150 torr 60% of the arsine on the adsorbent remains on the adsorbent. Some modifications to the customer's equipment may be necessary to install the very low pressure mass flow controllers required for utilizing more than 40% of the arsine in an adsorbent type cylinder.
Valve lock arrangements provide more direct means of limiting the flow of liquid from carrier gas storage devices. U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,693 specifically discloses the use of membrane and diaphragm elements to prevent liquid discharge in the delivery of dopines for the semi-conductor industry.
The use of tubes with multiple capillary passages presents problems of forming the capillary structure into an arrangement that is suitably connected to the container that requires the flow restriction. It is known in the art to make a multi-passage capillary assembly using hollow tubes with outer hexagonal profiles. The circular holes in such a bundle are ordered with no void space in the walls. One problem with bundling of hexagonal capillaries is that the glass is typically a low melting point lead glass. Lead glass can be easily cast or shaped through a die to form the required external hex pattern. However, the low melting point of the lead glass results in a structure that is stiff and easy to shatter. Generally, the lower the melting temperature of a glass the greater the modulus of elasticity (stiffness) of that glass. Lead glass with its low melting temperature has a somewhat higher modulus of elasticity than higher melting point glasses. Therefore, for a given strain (deformation), it has higher internal stresses and is accordingly more likely to fracture. Lead glass has a further problem of chemical erosion. But the biggest disadvantage to this approach is the resultant final shape of the assembly which is a hex. Since the ends of the multi-capillary need to be attached to other parts in a gas chromatograph, the hex shape causes difficulties in getting compression type fittings to interface.
The problem of making connections to capillary structures is not a trivial one. The fine diameters of tubing and the low tensile strength of capillary column materials, such as fused silica, makes the arrangement of capillary columns and of capillary connectors for the capillary tubes especially difficult. Although many methods and procedures for making such connections are possible the connections generally require bonding to a conduit that has a circular cross-section. A suitable connection arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,078.
The obvious solution is to make the outer cross section of the multi-capillary a circle for a more compatible fit to conventional compression fittings. This approach though confronts a mathematical problem that nobody has solved and that is: small circles in a larger circle do not pack in a uniform manner. This problem has presented itself in many different forms over the last several hundred years in stranded steel cables, in electrical conduits, etc. Simply put, circles packed together do not want to form an outer shape of a circle--circles packed together with the proper number of elements form hex shaped outlines.
It is a broad object of this invention to limit the release of toxic gases in the event of a valve or conduit failure.
It is an object of this invention to provide a multi-passage capillary assembly that has high ductility and a cross section compatible with the necessary fittings for sealing fluid flow through the capillary.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a multi-passage capillary assembly that provides a high degree of uniformity in the individual cross sections of the multiple capillaries and has an outer cross section of the assembly that is compatible with the necessary fittings for sealing fluid flow through the capillary passages.
A yet further object of this invention is to provide a discharge system that constrains the flow of gas during normal operation as well as during any kind of valve mishandling or valve failure.
A specific object of this invention is to provide safeguards for the delivery of arsine.

Pressurized container with restrictor tube having multiple capillary passages


A process is provided for removing hydrogen peroxide and oil out the exhaust gas emitted from a sterilization chamber, such as from a STERRAD(copyright) medical instrument sterilizer. The exhaust gas is passed through either alumina or a mass of metal wool, which sorbs the lubricating oil out of the exhaust gas, and then through alumina coated with a precious metal catalyst, such as Pd, Pt, Rh and alloys and compounds thereof, which decomposes the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. The precious metal coating on the alumina may be sufficiently discontinuous to allow residual lubricating oil in the exhaust gas to be sorbed into the alumina.

The present invention relates to a method and device for reducing the percentage of hydrogen peroxide in gas exhausting from a sterilization chamber containing hydrogen peroxide vapor.
A very common method for sterilizing medical instruments and devices comprises contacting the instruments and devices with vapor phase hydrogen peroxide. Several systems are available commercially to effect such sterilization, such as the STERRAD(copyright) Sterilization Systems available from Advanced Sterilization Products division of Johnson and Johnson Medical of Irvine, Calif. In general, such sterilization systems comprise a chamber into which the instruments to be sterilized are placed. Air within the chamber is evacuated and hydrogen peroxide in the vapor phase is admitted to the chamber. Some systems, such as the STERRAD(copyright), additionally induce a plasma upon the hydrogen peroxide sterilization gases. This enhances the sterilization and has the added benefit of disassociating the hydrogen peroxide molecules such that when the hydrogen peroxide plasma returns to its gaseous state, the molecules recombine to form simple oxygen and water vapor thereby lessening the need to deactivate the hydrogen peroxide before exhausting it from the sterilization chamber into the-environment.
Some systems forego the plasma and merely rely upon the hydrogen peroxide vapor to effect sterilization. A common practice for such systems, is to vent their exhaust to a vent exterior of the room housing the sterilizer, typically to a vent pipe on the roof. Little or no attempt is made to chemically alter the hydrogen peroxide and it leaves the vent in active form. A drain may be provided to collect any liquid hydrogen peroxide. Such a venting system inhibits movement of the sterilizer making it impractical to move between laboratories etc. as the vent requires the sterilizer to remain at a fixed location.
Even with most or all of the hydrogen peroxide being broken down by induction of a plasma, it is desirable to provide some means to deactivate hydrogen peroxide. For instance, the admission of hydrogen peroxide raises the pressure within the chamber and it is often desirable to further evacuate the chamber to lower the pressure. The evacuated gasses will thus contain a concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The STERRAD(copyright) sterilization system currently available employs a filter comprising copper wool over which gases being exhausted from the chamber are passed. Copper is a well-known catalyst for hydrogen peroxide, although a rather inefficient one. The contact between the hydrogen peroxide and the copper wool tends to break down at least a portion of any hydrogen peroxide exhausting from the chamber into water and oxygen.
Applicants have developed an improved method and devices for reducing hydrogen peroxide emissions from such a sterilization chamber.
A method, according to the present invention, is provided for cleaning gas exhausting from a chamber which contains a chamber gas comprising hydrogen peroxide. Gas exhausting from the chamber passes along a flow path from the chamber to an exit port. A bed of members coated with a precious metal catalyst for hydrogen peroxide is disposed within the flow path and the exhaust gas passes over the members and catalytically reacts therewith to convert the hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Thus, the exhaust gas reaching the exit has a substantially reduced amount of hydrogen peroxide compared to the chamber gas. Preferably, the precious metal catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, rubidium and compounds and alloys thereof.
Preferably, a vacuum pump is used to exhaust gas from the chamber. The bed may be located between the vacuum pump and the exit. If so, the members are preferably comprised of alumina, and more preferably the coating of precious metal catalyst on the members is sufficiently discontinuous to allow lubricating oil entrained within the exhaust gases to be absorbed into the alumina members whereby the amount of any such entrained lubricating oil available to deposit upon the catalyst and reduce an available surface area thereof is reduced. These members are preferably substantially spherical, although ovoid or other smooth shapes are desirable. When located downstream of the vacuum pump undue turbulence of the flow may enhance distribution of any entrained lubricating oil from the pump and hasten poisoning of the catalyst. A mass of metal wool disposed within the flow path upstream and adjacent the bed entraps within the wool oil entrained in the exhaust gas and diffuses the exhaust gas to enhance its distribution through the bed. Further, a portion of the bed adjacent the wool can be provided with alumina or other oil absorbent members without the precious metal coating to absorb entrained oil before it reaches the catalyst.
The bed can also be disposed between the chamber and the vacuum pump. The members may be provided with bores therethrough so that the exhaust gas flows through the bores to induce and enhance turbulence thereby enhancing the catalytic reaction. Preferably, such members are tubular. These members may be formed of a polymer such as polyethylene with the catalyst thereon.
A converter, according to the present invention, for cleaning gas exhausting from a chamber comprises a casing having a gas flow path therethrough, the flow path extending to an exit port on the casing. A connector on the casing connects to the chamber whereby gas exhausting from the chamber flows through the flow path. A bed of members coated with a precious metal catalyst for hydrogen peroxide is disposed within the flow path whereby hydrogen peroxide in gas exhausting from the chamber catalytically reacts with the catalyst to convert the hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.


A golf course indicator for providing information to golfers to help in club selection and understanding course layout. The indicator includes a generally planar upper surface which includes indicia for providing information to a golfer and a post mount for releasably attaching a post to the upper surface. The releasable attachment allows a post to be nondestructively removed from the post mount. A skirt is formed below the upper surface which ends at a bottom face and forms a hollow body. The upper face has a first area and the bottom face has a second area, the second area being greater than the first area to facilitate securing the device into the ground. The device is sized and shaped to fit into a hole in the ground. In a further embodiment the invention includes a post for mounting in the post mount, the post including a lower section sized and shaped to permit the post to be knocked out of the post mount without damaging either the post or the post mount.

It has been long recognized that choosing the right club, to make an approach shot to the green, is an essential part of the game of golf. Of course, because every player is unique, even two players hitting identical balls off identical clubs will tend to hit to different distances. Thus each player must identify and understand how far they are likely to hit each club that they might choose for a given shot. But knowing how far one hits the ball off a given club is of no use if one does not know how far away the target green is. Therefore golf courses tend to provide distance markers, beside or on the golf course fairways, to assist the golfer in measuring the distance from where the last shot came to rest and the target green.
Typically golf courses will provide markers at one or more of the distances of two hundred yards, one hundred and fifty yards and sometimes even at one hundred yards. Also, it is typical to provide yardages at other convenient marking places, such as on sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads are located according to watering needs and thus are only found at random locations on the course. Such random and widely spaced markers are not sufficiently convenient. Often time is wasted as a golfer locates his or her ball, retraces their steps back to the closest distance marker and the paces off the distance to the ball, thereby being able to determine the distance to the green and select what is hoped to be an appropriate club for them.
Due to rising popularity of the game of golf, more and more players are trying to play on golf courses. This is creating even greater need to keep play moving smoothly and efficiently. A delay by one group trying to gauge the distance to the green and pacing up and down from infrequent fairway markers has a frustrating compounding effect as the delay moves backwards through the course. A short delay on one part of the course tends to create ever larger delays for groups playing behind. Thus a number of systems have been proposed in the past to try to provide visible and frequent yardage markers to more quickly and easily provide the needed distance information to golfers in an effort to make it easier and quicker for the golfer to complete a round of golf.
Examples of such systems and devices may be found in the following prior patents:
______________________________________ Steere, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,262 Darling U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,166 Kirby et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,171 Cullen Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,125 Paulos U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,348 Zausmer U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,981 Vanderveer U.S. Pat. No. 2,154,966 ______________________________________
In one prior device, as shown by Jambor U.S. Design Pat. No. 367,238, there is provided a ground marker in the form of an inverted cup. This device is provided with a transparent top face under which various information, such as advertising may be placed. This device is provided with an outwardly projecting side edge which bears against the side of a hole. The device is intended to be removed to permit the advertising to be replaced at frequent intervals. Thus, a special tool is also taught for removing the device from the ground.
However, this prior device has several disadvantages. In the first place, the device is a multi-part device which is expensive to make and assemble. Further the device is bulky and difficult to transport and handle. The device is also located at ground level, but relies on the removal and reinsertion of the device to remain visible in growing grass. This could add greatly to the work of greens keepers who are not likely to want to or to have the time to go around the golf course pulling up and then reinserting the markers. Lastly, the prior device includes a raised lip around the top surface, which tends to trap dirt, grass clippings and the like on the top surface. This also requires attention to ensure that the markings remain visible.
What is desirable is to provide a more visible indication of the markers location such as by using an associated marking post. The form of a suitable marking post is another aspect that has received considerable attention lately. In addition distance marking such posts are conventionally used to provide marking for hazards or out of bounds areas. An ideal post is both highly visible and convenient and inexpensive to install. One approach is to provide posts which are capable of being ridden over by lawn cutting equipment, without needing removal. Examples of marking posts are taught in the following patents:
______________________________________ Sheaffer U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,257 Bailey U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,897 Hlavin U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,119 Bailey U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,940 Marthalor U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,060 Lamson U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,678 ______________________________________
However, these devices are expensive multi-part devices which may still create problems for lawn mowing equipment.

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A closed loop reciprocating fluid circuit apparatus for mechanically powered and electromechanically powered dock levelers, which may be mounted at a forward edge of a dock leveler to selectively engage the dock leveler during pivotal downward movement of a deck, is provided. The apparatus may include a header extending from a fluid chamber (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder), where the header may selectively engage the deck, within the range of dock leveler heights, including below dock level and above dock level operating positions. The hydraulic cylinder may be vertically oriented and coupled to a fluid accumulation chamber, such that vertical movement of the header in response to the deck's downward movement causes fluid displacement into the accumulation chamber. That displacement may be in a horizontally oriented fluid chamber having a piston that reacts to the fluid transfer. Alternatively, that displacement may be into a resilient fluid chamber such as a bladder housed within a suitable container, or a fluid chamber such as a fluid reservoir with a breather, for air volume compensation. The hydraulic cylinder and header may be urged to the extended position, for example by extension springs acting on a piston within the fluid accumulation chamber, or by a pull chain or latch coupled to the cylinder and the upward movement of the deck. A flow control valve, e.g., a velocity fuse or solenoid valve, is connected between the cylinder and the fluid accumulation chamber to respond to free fall of the deck. Resetting to normal operation after free fall detection may occur after load removal from the deck and by movement of the cylinder to the opposite direction or by electrical control input to the control valve.

Dock levelers are commonly used at loading docks to bridge the gap between a parked vehicle and the loading dock. An approaching vehicle comes to rest near the loading dock, but with some open space between the vehicle's cargo bed and the loading dock's edge. The dock leveler is able to engage the vehicle's bed to provide a continuous driving surface to the dock and thereby facilitate loading and unloading. Given the size and weight of fork-lifts, this driving surface should be smooth and able to support substantial weight.
Dock levelers typically include a frame formed within the pit of a loading dock and a deck pivotally attached to an end of that frame. The deck is movable from a "stored" position, also known as a dock level position, wherein the deck is even with the warehouse or building floor, and a range of operating positions both above and below this position. The range of operating positions is useful to engage vehicles of different bed heights. The range is also useful to maintain engagement with the bed as its height fluctuates with the reaction of the vehicle's suspension during loading and unloading.
At the front end of the deck is a lip pivotally connected to the front end of the deck for movement between a pendant, or stored, position and an extended position. In the extended position, the lip may bridge the gap between the deck and the bed of the parked vehicle to form a continuous driving surface. Typically, in this configuration, the engagement between the vehicle bed and the lip is the only thing supporting the deck against falling.
During engagement, the lip and deck are able to ride with the vehicle bed as that bed floats, for example, as different downward forces are exerted on the vehicle's bed and the vehicle's suspension system. Although the freedom of movement is desirable, it presents some serious problems.
With certain levelers, if the vehicle prematurely pulls away, and in particular with a load on it, the support for the dock leveler is removed, and a free fall condition may be created. The entire deck may fall hitting the pit or the dock leveler frame, potentially causing injury to any fork truck operator on the deck, and secondarily damaging equipment and cargo. In addition to the damage from the impact, the fallen deck plate is left at a steep sloping angle creating a further potential hazard at the dock's edge.
Attendant to preventing free fall, manufacturers have devised numerous techniques for preventing this uncontrolled fall of a deck from premature departure. Different types of dock levelers offer different types of free fall protection.
Mechanical levelers typically use springs to raise the deck from the stored position to a preparatory position. A "hold-down" device normally holds the leveler down against the upward bias of these springs, but may be released to raise the deck. Once the deck reaches the preparatory position, the lip is moved to its extended position, and a subsequent downward rotation of the deck will place the lip on the bed of the vehicle. With mechanical levelers, personnel must "walk down" the deck of the dock leveler to a position wherein the lip rests on the bed of the vehicle.
To limit free fall, mechanical levelers (as well as other levelers such as air operated levelers) use so-called 'safety legs,' i.e., legs that serve to stop the leveler from free falling beyond a certain position. Typically, the safety legs extend from the bottom of the deck and engage a fixed-height pedestal disposed in the pit or on the frame. Contact between the safety leg and the pedestal arrests any further downward movement of the deck. Thus, if a vehicle prematurely departs with a load on the deck, the deck will only "free fall" until the safety legs engage their pedestals. In a mechanical leveler application, if there is no load on the deck, the upward bias of the springs prevents downward movement of the deck. But if there is a load on the deck during premature departure, the weight of that load may cause the free fall of the deck.
There are various safety leg designs. And while these various designs offer different approaches and different advantages over one another, they are all incomplete. One limitation is that safety legs block the deck of a dock leveler from freely floating to below dock positions, with changes in vehicle bed height. If, for example, the weight of a fork truck forces the vehicle bed and deck downward, as occurs increasingly more frequently during loading and unloading of air ride suspension vehicles, the safety legs will engage the stopping pedestal and block the deck from further downward movement. If the vehicle bed moves further, e.g., as a result of the fork truck's weight entering the vehicle, then the lip engaging that bed will form a very steep angle from the bed to the deck. In essence, the deck will be suspended above the vehicle bed, by the length of the safety legs and pedestals, as the lip is acutely angled.
In this position, a fork truck may be forced to negotiate this steep slope during loading and unloading. As a result, the steep slope on the lip acts as a backstop or impediment to fork truck movement and, indeed, may prevent the fork truck from driving back onto the deck entirely. This condition, typically referred to in the industry as "stump out" is an inconvenience, and represents a potential safety hazard to the fork truck operator who does not notice the significant slope of the lip. Stump out can endanger dock personnel and damage the lip and lip hinge.
A number of different safety leg designs have been implemented to try and address stump out. Ultimately none have been successful. To allow the deck of the dock leveler to freely ride with the vehicle bed without being limited in downward movement, retractable safety legs have been designed. The legs are retracted rearwardly during normal dock leveler operation, including below-dock float of the deck. But once a free fall condition on the deck is detected, the legs are to be released from the retracted position and moved into place for engaging the pedestal. While such designs may function in theory, they fall short of performing that task completely and reliably.
Retractable safety leg attempt to balance two competing goals. They retract to allow free movement of the deck during normal operation; yet, they should also deploy fast enough to prevent complete free fall of the deck during premature departure of a vehicle. In theory, these safety leg designs should require a deployment mechanism that is faster than the deck's free fall. In practice, they do not. The various mechanical and other safety leg release mechanisms fail to prevent free fall in many situations, because either the mechanisms take too long to detect free fall or the safety legs take too long to release to prevent free fall.
In an attempt to skirt around this race to the bottom, i.e., where a safety leg must deploy in time to prevent complete free fall, some safety leg designs will allow a partially retracted leg to still engage a pedestal, for example, by placing multiple engaging stops (or stairs) on the pedestal. The safety leg can engage the stop nearest to it, even when in the retracted position. These and other similar designs attempt to lessen the deployment distance of the safety leg.
Still other designs attempt to trigger deployment before the vehicle has actually pulled away from the lip of the dock leveler. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,016 ("Safety Leg System For a Dock Leveler"), Springer described a system having a leg control member that will sense a vehicle prematurely pulling away from a dock and release a safety leg biased toward the deployed position, while a portion of the lip is still in contact with a vehicle bed. Thus, in theory, the release of the safety leg may happen before the vehicle has even moved completely away from the lip's edge. This design and other designs attempt to reduce the amount of time required between complete free fall and full deployment. Other designs sense lip fall, for example, by relying upon lip movement to trigger safety leg deployment.
Still other designs rely upon the speed of a deck's fall. One such design includes a safety leg attached to a roller, where under normal operating conditions, the roller rides along an engagement surface. When enough downward force is applied to the deck, for example, during free fall, the roller is retracted and the safety leg is exposed for engagement in a multiple-locking-position pedestal.
None of the these designs are satisfactory, because inevitably they all limit the extent to which a deck can travel below the dock position and still have protection against free fall. It would be advantageous to be able to provide a safety leg, or similar, system that does not suffer from the disadvantages of stump out and still allows for full range free float on the deck during normal operation.


A system and method for allowing users to associate various e-mails within at least one of the user's mailboxes under a common discussion topic or “thread” for organizational purposes. This user-controlled organization may be carried out regardless if the e-mails which are desired to be associated are from different senders and/or have different subject headings. An e-mail message may be associated to/designated under a user-defined discussion topic or associated to another e-mail. At the user's discretion, information about the e-mail's associated discussion topic and/or associated e-mails may be stored and kept locally with the user's mailbox, or alternatively, information about the e-mail's associations may be transmitted when that e-mail is sent to a recipient user.

Nowadays, it is commonplace for a computer e-mail user to receive several dozen or more e-mails in any given day. As a result, a user's "inbox" can quickly fill up with numerous e-mails and become difficult to manage.
One attempt at a solution is to have the user organize e-mails into folders. This may work well when the user is receiving a large number of e-mails over a long period of time which are all associated. For example, a user might put all e-mails associated with a given project in the same folder. However, this method presents some drawbacks. One problem is that it is cumbersome to create new folders for each discussion topic, especially when the topic is something that is likely only relevant for a few days. Another problem is that a user can only view e-mails in a single given folder; e-mail programs do not allow a user to view the contents of all folders simultaneously.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for efficiently and effectively associating e-mails under a common discussion topic for organizational purposes in a convenient manner that overcomes the limitations and problems of the prior art.


According to one embodiment, a BBU includes an array of battery cells, a DC/DC converter coupled to the battery cells, and a first switch logic coupled to the battery cells and the DC/DC converter. The first switch logic is configured to switch the BBU to operate between a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first mode, the first switch logic causes the output voltage of the DC/DC converter to be provided to an external load. When operating in the second mode, the first switch logic causes the output voltage of the DC/DC converter to be coupled to an internal load for the purpose of determining the health of the battery cells.

Battery energy storage as one of the energy storage methods is significant important in various applications, such as, electrical vehicles (EVs), consumer electronics, micro grids, solar and wind power, and data center backup units. It provides essential energy to support the applications either as the only source or as a backup when the main power source is not available. Thus, it is extremely important to guarantee its availability and functionality.
In intelligent data centers, a battery backup unit (BBU) in electronic racks is an important device to provide alternative power to the server when the main power supply is out of service. Lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used battery type for a BBU. However, because the backup time of a BBU is relatively short (e.g., less than few minutes) and the discharging current is very high, the degradation of Li-ion cells will affect the available capacity. As a result, the backup time duration with high current may not be satisfied. In order to guarantee a safe, reliable and high efficient operation condition, the failure detection of the BBU is necessary. There has been a lack of efficient ways to determine the health of battery cells, particularly, in electronic racks of a data center.

Self-inspection topology design for battery energy storage


Provided is a method of purifying a macrolide, especially tacrolimus, that includes loading macrolide onto a bed of sorption resin and elting with a suitable eluent such as a combination of water and tetrahydrofuran.

Macrolides are multi-membered lactone rings having one or more deoxy sugars as substituents. Erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin are macrolides that have bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity.
Tacrolimus (FK 506) is also a macrolide antibiotic that is also an immunosuppressive agent. More potent than cyclosporin, tacrolimus reportedly has a selective inhibitory effect on T-lymphocytes.
Pimecrolimus is a macrolactam and a ascomycin derivative that reportedly inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by T cells and mast cells. The Merck Index 1331 (Maryadele J. O'Neil et al. eds., 13th ed. 2001). Pimecrolimus is reportedly used as an immunosuppressant. Id.
Sirolimus, another macrolide, is reported to be an immunosuppressant. Sirolimus has been administered with cyclosporin and corticosteroids after transplantation to avoid graft rejection. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference 568 (Sean C. Sweetman ed., Pharmaceutical Press 33rd ed. 2002).
Everolimus, a derivative of sirolimus, is reported to be an immunosuppressant used in organ transplantation. Martindale at 539.
The macrolides are typically obtained by fermentation, although synthetic routes to some are known. Macrolides, as obtained, typically contain several impurities that can be detected by various means, for example high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Presence of impurities in a pharmaceutical compound is undesirable, and health authorities in many jurisdictions (e.g. the Food and Drug Administration in the United States) have established guidelines relating to acceptable levels of impurities in pharmaceuticals. The need for and commercial utility of methods of reducing the level of impurities in any pharmaceutical are self-evident.

Teva Gyógyszergyár Zártkörúen Múkó´dó´Résvénytársaság


A differential mode surge protection apparatus includes first and second solid state protection devices in series between respective input and output connection points. The apparatus may be provided in conjunction with a common mode protection apparatus such as an isolation transformer. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided integrated into a single miniaturized protection package. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a surge arrestor arranged to supplement protection conferred by the first and second solid state protection devices. The surge arrestor is capable of being triggered prior to breakdown of either the first or second solid state protection devices. The apparatus may be incorporated into digital processing cards such as LAN cards and also into cables to conveniently provide differential mode protection.

Wherever electronic circuitry is coupled to an external cable run, a risk of damage to the circuitry, due to the transmission of transient overvoltages by the cable run, may occur. Such overvoltages may be due to any one of several factors. For example, lightning, electrostatic discharge, or malfunction of equipment at a remote end of the cable may be responsible. Several techniques exist for isolating circuitry from potentially damaging surges. These include, inductive coupling as shown in FIG. 1, capacitive coupling, and opto-isolation as shown in FIG. 2. Isolation transformers are usually used to implement inductive coupling.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical arrangement whereby a cable including a pair of conductors 2 and 4 terminate on an isolation transformer 6 which is connected to a load 12. In the event of a common mode voltage surge, the potential on both conductors 2 and 4 typically varies in the same manner, thereby causing substantially zero net current to flow through the primary coil 8 of transformer 6. As a result, the common mode transient does not induce a fault current in secondary coil 10, and so isolation transformer 6 provides common mode protection to load 12.
However, in the event that a voltage transient affects one of conductors 2 and 4 substantially more than the other, then a surge current typically flows through primary coil 8 and induces a transient voltage across the output terminals of secondary coil 10. The surge current may damage the isolation device and may also damage the equipment that is intended to be protected. Consequently, while an isolation transformer provides a good measure of protection from common mode transients, it does not provide protection from differential mode surges.
One area where isolation transformers are used significantly is in the implementation of local area computer data networks (LANs). With reference to FIG. 3, a digital processing card in the form of a network interface card (NIC), or as it is often called a "LAN card," couples to J8-45 plug 22 of LAN cable 16 by means of J8-45 socket 18. LAN card 14 includes an isolation transformer module 20 that couples socket 18 to a data processing chip 24, which in turn communicates with the central processor 26 of a workstation by means of PCI slot connectors 28. Those PCI slot connectors 28 are received into a PCI connector, 30 which is in turn mounted on a mainboard 32 of the workstation.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the prior art card of FIG. 3, wherein like indicia are used to refer to like components. The card receives and transmits data pulses by means of respective balanced twisted pair wires that are enclosed in LAN cable 16 and that terminate on the RX+ and RX−pins and TX+ and TX− pins of J8-45 socket 18.
Isolation module 20 includes a pair of transformers 20A and 20B which respectively provide isolation for processing chip 24 from transients on the transmit and receive twisted pairs. As previously explained, isolation transformers 20A and 20B usually provide considerable immunity from damaging common mode transients but not from differential mode transients. For example, in the event of a voltage transient occurring at the RX+ pin but not on the RX− pin, that transient most likely will be transmitted across the isolation transformer and may damage processing chip 24.
It is therefore desirable to provide a convenient means for addressing the problems posed by differential mode transients as discussed above.

Protection devices and methods for preventing the flow of undesirable differential mode transients


The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for applying metallic, ceramic or composite thin film coatings onto parts, components and tools (e.g. gas turbine engine compressor blades or cutting tools) by a cathodic arc deposition technique. The method and the apparatus allows for a continually changing structure of the applied film by nanoimplanting atoms, molecules, compounds or other chemical species and structures of different materials thus coating a substrate during a single process. Furthermore, during the same process it allows for creating a coating with specific parameters as required. For instance: hardness, smoothness, corrosion resistance, erosion resistance.

The present invention relates to an arc source for a cathodic arc physical vapor deposition system. The cathodic arc vacuum evaporation technique is used to deposit metallic, ceramic and composite coatings on the following; cutting tools, punching and forming tools and injection molding tools. It is further applied in optical and decorative applications, medical tools and implants, automotive and aerospace industries. It's becoming widely used in aircraft, generators and tank gas turbines.
Each of these applications requires different coating properties. Parameters like: yield strength, toughness, hardness, adhesion, surface roughness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and erosion resistance have to be specifically chosen, the coating is then designed based on those requirements.
For example helicopter turbine engine compressor blades used in harsh desert conditions require erosion resistance. Gas turbine engines ingest sand and dust which erode the leading edges of the airfoils. Large particles roll over the blades' frontal surface. Engine power begins to deteriorate rapidly leading to early blade replacement and decreased fuel economy. Engine operating life is reduced.
Modern surface engineering requires nanotechnology adjustments to create the state of the art thin films. Instruments of surface engineering have to be more and more sophisticated to generate nanostructure, nanocomposite, single or multi layers and super lattices.
There is a couple existing patents which provide methods of modifying physical vapor deposition coating.    U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,592 presents a method for coating where the composition of the deposit is changed by introducing a gas during the deposition to produce a hardness gradient in the deposit.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,245 describes zirconium nitride coating for turbine blades to provide erosion resistance.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,211 presents nonstoichiometric titanium nitride coating.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,753 discloses substoichiometric zirconium nitride coating.    U.S. Pat. No. 6,797,335 provides method of deposition of erosion and corrosion resistant coatings on machine components.    U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,092 presents a coated turbine airfoil having an improved impact and erosion resistance.    U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,338 provides hard, ductile coating system.    U.S. Pat. No. 7,229,675 discloses a method of forming a multilayer coating by combining and simultaneously or consecutively using of various technologies.    U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,986 presents multilayered resistant coating for gas turbines.
These methods are using several known arc evaporation sources.    U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,848 describes a beam gun for use in creating an arc discharge between an anode and a cathode.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,845 provides an arc evaporation apparatus having an annular cathode.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,262 provides a cathode with unitary design, consisting of a plurality of layers of different metals.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,452 presents an electrode apparatus with a coolant cavity for actively and efficiently cooling substantially the entire lower surface of the electrode.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,980 provides a large surface cathode arrangement with a consumable cathode plate that is connected via an intermediate plate with high electrical and thermal conductivity to a base plate.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,235 discloses a cathodic arc metal deposition apparatus that prevents the deposition of metal droplets with the metal ions being deposited.
Many methods of efficient utilization were provided.    U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,231 shows a cathode using a magnetic field for retaining the cathode spot on the surface of the cathode.    U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,179 presents an apparatus which is maintaining the cathode spot using a shield.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,686 provides a cathode, a cylindrical anode and a focusing solenoid arranged coaxially with the cathode.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,867 discloses an apparatus which performs more efficient utilization of the electrode using a magnetic field to spread plasma over the evaporative surface.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,221 describes an apparatus having a solenoid coaxially disposed relative to the consumable cathode and having a tubular anode.    U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,477 discloses an apparatus in which the track of the arc is controlled with a magnetic field established with the permanent magnet that is moved in a closed path relative to the cathode.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,896 discloses a cathodic arc in which random motion of an arc spot is extinguished by a shield surrounding a circumferential side of the cathode with a gap.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,136 describes an apparatus which is controlling and steering the arc in a desired path as necessary to produce coatings of the desired compositions using magnetic fields generated to provide arc path control and modulation for efficient cathode utilization.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,421 presents an apparatus for the production of coatings, including a rectangular cathode plate, primary and auxiliary anodes and static and dynamic magnetic stabilizing subsystems.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,754 provides a plasma enhancement apparatus includes a magnet disposed about a magnet axis and defining an aperture for plasma.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,088 discloses a magnetic field cathode for arc discharge vaporizers.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,559 presents a cathodic arc which is maintaining the cathode spot using an insulating ring.    U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,185 shows a cathodic arc which produces a magnetic field for steering the arc around an evaporative surface.    U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,829 provides an apparatus for driving the arc around an axially extending evaporative surface of the cathode.    U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,074 discloses an apparatus which is creating a magnetic field of a distinctive cusp shape to trap and focus plasma particles.    U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,405 presents an evaporation source with a magnetic field generating source which can reduce the number of molten particles arriving at a substrate and deviation of occurrence of arc spots can be suppressed.    U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,645,354 and 6,929,727 provide an arc coating apparatus having a steering magnetic field source comprising steering conductors.    U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,623 discloses an arc deposition apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic coils for guiding plasma.    U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,509 presents an arc source which comprises an insulated counter-electrode and/or an AC magnet system.    U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,145 describes a cathodic arc with external current switching contacts to improve coating uniformity.    U.S. Pat. No. 7,828,946 discloses a magnetic guide that controls an electric arc between an anode and a cathode.
What is needed is an apparatus which can combine all known surface engineering techniques in the cathodic arc physical vapor deposition technology and generate high quality coatings with a relatively simple and economical method of production.

Arc PVD plasma source and method of deposition of nanoimplanted coatings


In various embodiments, communication apparatuses and methods for providing robust communications are disclosed. For example, an apparatus may establish an air interface in accordance with an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) protocol. According to another particular aspect, the apparatus establishes an air interface in accordance with a Fast Low-Latency Access with Seamless Handoff Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (FLASH-OFDM) protocol.

I. Field
This disclosure generally relates to wireless communication. More particularly, this disclosure relates to methods and systems for the design and implementation of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and Mobile IPv6 in a Fast Low-latency Access with Seamless Handoff-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (FLASH-OFDM) system.
II. Background
OFDM is a multi-carrier modulation technique that effectively partitions the overall system bandwidth into multiple orthogonal sub-bands, which are also referred to as tones, sub-carriers, bins, and/or frequency channels. With OFDM, each sub-band is associated with a respective sub-carrier that may be modulated with data.
OFDM is widely used in various wireless communication systems, such as those that implement the well-known IEEE 802.1a and 802.11g standards. IEEE 802.1a and 802.1g generally cover single-input single-output (SISO) operation whereby a transmitting device employs a single antenna for data transmission and a receiving device normally employs a single antenna for data reception.
It may be appreciated, that due to the specific structuring of the addresses and communication schemes detailed above, there is a need in the communication and Internet community for methods and systems which maintain the functionally of these systems within a FLASH-OFDM system. Accordingly, new methods and apparatuses are desirable to efficiently integrate the various protocols within a FLASH-OFDM environment.

Advanced internet protocol with flash-OFDM methods and systems


A graft copolymer having metalloporphyrin ionophores covalently attached in a manner that prevents dimer formation is provided. A method of making the graft copolymer comprises polymerizing a functionalized metalloporphyrin monomer, which includes a polymerizable group, with a co-monomer. Methods for synthesizing the polymerizable metalloporphyrin monomers are provided. The graft copolymer can be incorporated into anion-selective membranes for use in anion-detecting sensors, which have improved longevity and response times.

Metalloporphyrins have been used as ionophores in anion-selective electrodes for many years. They yield selectivity patterns that deviate from the Hofmeister sequence because of the selective axial ligation of the metal. Different metal ions and different porphyrin structures show selectivity for different anions. For example, the use of In (III)(25), Mn(III)(2, 8, 18), Sn(IV)(9, 20), Ru(II)(17), and Co(III)(2, 16, 17, 21) porphyrins has led to the design of a variety of anion sensors with analytically useful selectivities for chloride, thiocyanate, salicylate, thiocyanate, and nitrite/thiocyanate, respectively. However, several of the metalloporphyrin-based anion-selective electrodes exhibit much larger response slopes than the theoretical Nernstian slope.
This "super-Nernstian" behavior has been reported to originate from the dimerization of the electrode response. Therefore, metalloporphyrin-based membranes must normally be metalloporphyrins via hydroxide ion bridges. Briefly, the membranes are considered to respond to two ions, for example chloride and hydroxide, simultaneously, which, theoretically, results in a pH codependence of measured in pH-buffered samples.
The electrode slopes for the metalloporphyrin-based membranes often change with different amounts of ion exchanger used in the membranes. (3, 25, 32) The super-Nernstian response slope has been explained on the basis of the extremely small, and drastically changing, concentration of uncomplexed ionophore in the membrane. As the concentration of sample anion is increased, for example, hydroxide ions are expelled from the membrane on the basis of the ion-exchange equilibrium. This process starts breaking down the porphyrin dimers, which are held together by hydroxide bridges. (31) Consequently, the concentration of uncomplexed ionophore in the membrane starts increasing, which leads to a decrease in the uncomplexed chloride concentration in the membrane. This membrane concentration decrease upon increasing the sample concentration leads to the apparently super-Nernstian response slope.
Others have argued that the super-Nemstian slope described above indicates a higher sensor sensitivity and may therefore be beneficial. However, it was reported that the response time of such membrane electrodes is prohibitively slow. (30) Moreover, the response model demands that the membrane should be cross-responsive to another ion as well, in this case to OH− (or H+). To our knowledge, no experimental evidence has yet been presented in the literature that would support this second point, at least for the InIIIoctaethylporphyrin studied here (see FIG. 1 for structure).
The properties and applications of the well-established chloride ionophore, indiumIIIoctaethylporphyrin (In(OEP)Cl), in ion-selective electrodes and optodes have been studied extensively. This ionophore may easily form dimers via hydroxide ion bridges in polymeric membranes. The monomer-dimer equilibrium has been used for the preparation of a chloride-sensing optode. Still, the dimerization of metalloporphyrins leads to several disadvantages in ion sensors.
While ISE membranes based on metalloporphyrins should suffer from a pH cross response, the formation of indium porphyrin dimers also leads to a much reduced sensor lifetime. (36) The dimeric species is not very soluble in plasticized PVC membranes and crystallization easily occurs once the membranes or films contact an aqueous solution.
Alternative matrixes for solid-state sensors such as polyurethane (23) and silicon rubber (35) have been studied for preparing metalloporphyrin-based ion-selective membranes. Unfortunately, similar to plasticized PVC membrane, the sensors also showed super-Nernstian responses and a short lifetime. Only the In(OEP)Cl-based polyurethane membrane was reported to exhibit a Nernstian slope to chloride ion but not to other more selective anions. The formation of the dimers in these membrane matrixes was confirmed by the appearance of the Soret band at 390 nm for the dimeric species when the membranes were soaked in aqueous solution. (23)
The covalent attachment of ionophores to a methacrylate copolymer has been studied by a number of research groups (4, 15, 22) and by our own laboratory (27). Recently, a methyl methacrylate and decyl methacrylate copolymer was developed for preparing plasticizer-free ion sensors (28) in order to overcome the disadvantages of plasticized PVC membranes, including the leaching of plasticizer in miniaturized sensing configurations. (5, 9, 33, 34)

Long lived anion-selective sensors based on a covalently attached metalloporphyrin as anion receptor


A convertible top architecture for a series of vehicles of a common platform is disclosed, the vehicles having roof styles of different shapes or passenger spaces of different lengths, the top designed to cover the different length passenger spaces, the top characterized by a rear rail, top cover and backlight that are unique to each length passenger space or roof style and further including common componentry for the remainder of the top regardless of the length of the passenger space or roof style.

While rigid hardtops comprise the roof system for most motor vehicles, there is a continuing demand for retractable tops, both soft and hard, for sportier "convertible" versions. Generally, the annual volume requirements for convertibles are low and the structural requirements are different enough from the standard rigid hardtop model that a special off-line or modular production facility is employed for build-up and assembly of convertible options. Different attachment points for the various types of roofs are usually required as well as hinging or sliding mechanisms for retracting the convertible top. A portion of the trunk of the vehicle is usually employed to store the retracted top in its collapsed form.
Roof systems for most vehicles are rigid metal sections, which are welded in place and provide a portion of the structural integrity of the vehicle. It is also common in the automobile industry to employ fabric soft top convertible roofs or retractable hardtop convertible roofs, which are movable from an extended position above a passenger compartment to a retracted position near the vehicle trunk. The traditional retractable hardtop roof system employs a plurality of rigid roof panels, which can slide or be hinged and retracted for storage into the rear passenger compartment or trunk of the vehicle. A more popular convertible roof system comprises a fabric-covered frame, which can fold and retract in a like manner taking up much less space in the vehicle.
However, to accommodate a variety of roof shapes or vehicle styling, as between a "notchback" (steeply angled rear window) and "fastback" (more slanted rear window) design on a vehicle platform, separate and different mechanisms must be provided to the assembly plant. Each of these mechanisms has its own subassemblies and attendant tooling and assembly details which do not allow the use of a single convertible top mechanism to accommodate both options.
Convertible or retractable soft and hardtops may be used in vehicles having a variety of roof styles, including a shorter passenger space with only two (front) seats and a storage space behind them, or in vehicles having a longer passenger space and four seats (two in front, two in the rear). Furthermore, these vehicles may differ in the amount of space available behind the rear seat for storage of the retracted top. In order to provide the ceiling over the passenger space, retractable mechanisms including a plurality of longitudinally spaced bows supporting a top cover are provided, spaced apart from one another. Each length of top or style of roof is unique in the componentry that makes up the mechanism and in component dimensions, which when combined with low sales volume may add significant cost to the vehicle.
In order to reduce the cost of the convertible roof or top for these lower volume options, it is desirable to provide a single basic mechanism which may include only a few application-specific components which are unique to a specific style of vehicle or length of roof, and wherein most of the components of the roof system are common.
In this manner, by providing unique components for the rearmost portion of the roof system, the remainder of the forward componentry may be commonly used for a number of convertible top configurations for a vehicle platform, allowing the rear shape of the roof to be styled differently from one vehicle application to another while carrying over most of the mechanism.
There are numerous patents which address convertible soft tops and retractable hardtops for vehicles, however, in each case a top which is specially designed to accommodate only that style of body is described, rather than a common architecture with a few unique (rearmost) components which allow the top to accommodate any length or style of vehicle as provided by the present invention. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,048,021, 6,199,936, 6,213,534, 6,390,532B1, 6,422,637B1, 6,439,642, 6,499,792, 6,722,724, 6,726,269 and 6,796,597 are directed at convertible soft tops and retractable hardtops for motor vehicles and are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are included herein by reference.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a roof architecture that allows the installation of a mechanism including primarily common components and only a few unique or dedicated rearmost components which may close the open space of a number of similar vehicles varying primarily in roof styling or configuration.
It is further object of this invention to provide a mechanism which includes a few rearmost unique components and a majority of common components which may be used to provide roof systems of different configurations.
It is further object of this invention to provide a convertible top architecture which may provide reduced tooling and piece costs by requiring only a few unique components which allow the tops to be used in multiple vehicle applications.
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which, for purposes of illustration only, show several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

Single convertible top mechanism architecture which will accept multiple roof configurations


A liner assembly (100) includes a drill string (120) to drill a borehole (105) in a formation (110). The liner assembly further includes a liner assembly releasably coupled to the drill string to move with the drill string in the borehole while the drill string drills, and to be released from the drill string in the borehole after the drill string drills to a depth.

The present disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, more particularly, to a single trip liner setting and drilling assembly.
Liner hangers may provide the functions of sustaining the weight of the liner below and isolating pressure differentials above and below the liner. Certain conventional liner running methods require drilling through the reservoir, often inducing losses in the depleted interval, then pulling out of the hole and finally running the liner again risking losses. In view of drilling and completion costs, efficient approaches to drilling and completing new wells and sidetracking existing wells are desirable to decrease cost and enhance production.
While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted and described and are defined by reference to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, such references do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure.

Single trip liner setting and drilling assembly and methods


A node arranging apparatus includes: a node arranging unit that arranges, in a virtual three-dimensional space, nodes indicated by inter-node information stored in an inter-node information storage unit; a node moving unit that moves each node using a movement amount and a movement direction of that node determined by arrangement relationship of that node with a first plane, arrangement relationship with another node arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space, and arrangement relationship with at least one other node associated therewith by the inter-node information and arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space; a display information generating unit that generates display information of a node connection image where nodes are projected and connected; and an output unit that outputs the display information. The node moving unit repeatedly performs at least once the node moving process until a predesignated condition is satisfied.

As a conventional technique, there is a known flow data generating method performed using: a first storage part in which a group of two-item relationship data is stored where each record thereof has first item data, second item data, and data indicating type of two-item relationship between the first item data and the second item data; and a second storage part in which a position in the first storage part of each value stored as the first item data or the second item data is stored as positional data; the method including the steps of: extracting, from the group of the two-item relationship data in the first storage part, first two-item relationship data in which first item data is taken as data that is a starting point of flow data; associating the starting point as a parent node and the second item data of the first two-item relationship data as a child node; adding the two-item relationship type of the first two-item relationship data to an arc between the nodes; searching for third two-item relationship data having second item data of second two-item relationship data as first item data, from the group of the two-item relationship data in the first storage part, referring to the positional data in the second storage part; associating the first item of the thus extracted third two-item relationship data as a parent node and the second item data of the third two-item relationship data as a child node; and adding the two-item relationship type of the extracted two-item relationship data to an arc between the nodes; wherein this process is repeated to generate a subtree in which the second item data of the first two-item relationship data is taken as a root. See, for example, JP 2004-246879A at page 1 and FIG. 1.
However, such a conventional technique is problematic in that multiple nodes cannot be properly and easily arranged.
For example, according to such a conventional technique, if the number of nodes increases or the connection relationship between the nodes becomes complicated, the connected nodes are arranged to be distributed in a wide range, or the lines connecting the nodes and the like cross each other, resulting in a problem that the connection relationship between the nodes is not easily viewable. Furthermore, if a parent node cannot be specified, there is a problem that the node may not be properly arranged.

Node arranging apparatus, node arranging method, and storage medium


A method of administering a mobile client device is provided. In an example, notice is received of a device being physically present at a location of interest, an executable work flow or script for implementing a corresponding change to the device is prepared in response to the physical presence notice, and the executable work flow or script is transmitted to the device upon an occurrence of the device initiating a communication with a network so as to enable an agent resident on the device to implement the corresponding change. In an example, a device detector remotely receives a response signal from a vicinity of the device, the response signal being generated and transmitted in response to a corresponding interrogation signal. In an example, the interrogation signal is an RFID interrogation signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer networks and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for administering mobile client devices across locations.
2. Description of the Background Art
Modern businesses employ thousands of employees, many of which may be obliged to travel on a regular or semi-regular basis between and among different company offices or other company business locations. Like many other employees, such "mobile employees" are usually equipped by their respective companies with one or more mobile devices, such as PDAs, mobile phones, laptops, or other computer-related devices. Each mobile device is usually commissioned as a company asset by an information technology (IT) department representative of the respective company before being assigned to the particular employee. Unlike most other employees, however, mobile employees cannot necessarily take for granted that such devices will function smoothly and/or properly each time they operate them at a new or different office or business location. At least one reason for this is that a device that has been made to comply with applicable local standards for operation at one location will often, upon migrating to another location, be found to be deficient with respect to different applicable local standards for making the same connection. For example, upon migrating from one location to another, a set of changes to the device having to do with one or more of the device's configuration settings, such as a time zone setting, various network settings, a preferred file and backup server setting, etc., may be required. Also, or in the alternative, one or more other actions with respect to the mobile device, such as enabling or disabling particular applications resident on the device, or adding/downloading or removing/offloading one or more tools, utilities, data files, etc., may be required as a result of device migration.
Unfortunately, it is not always particularly easy or straightforward for mobile employees to implement the necessary changes to their devices each and every time they move to a location. IT department representatives are usually available via phone to help such mobile employees to implement such changes, or to implement such changes in person, or via remote operation. Nevertheless, such scenarios can still tend to unfold in ways that are frustrating and inconvenient for the mobile employee, who is usually otherwise ready to begin work but must endure the inevitable delay of reconfiguring their device for correct operation. There is a need, therefore, to address the above-mentioned problems.

Method and apparatus for administering mobile client devices across locations


A drug for the release of active substances to the skin, which has an increased deuterium portion as compared to the natural isotope distribution.

The present invention relates to the transdermal application of deuterated drugs. Although the transdermal application of drugs undoubtedly has great advantages, there is the disadvantage that the amount of drug that can be absorbed via the skin is limited. Thus, when the therapy by dermal application began, attempts were made at the same time to find a way of increasing the capacity of drugs to penetrate through the skin. The development of penetration enhancers which are added to drugs for dermal application was regarded as a solution for this problem first. These substances change subjacent skin structures, at least for a short time, and can result in undesired side effects in unfavorable cases. Other possibilities of increasing the absorption of active substances is to remove the stratum corneum by a laser treatment or by repeated sticking and tearing-off adhesive strips, the so-called "stripping". The drawback of this method is the fact that not only the desired penetration of the active substance into the human body is facilitated but also that of all other substances as well as of micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungus spores. Another way of improving the dermal absorption is to use current. As is known to medical experts, this process, known under the term "iontophoresis", cannot be applied without pain. The same applies to the so-called "spiked patch". This administration form is fixed to the body by means of cannulae penetrating the horny layer of the skin. The active substance release takes place through said cannulae which simultaneously serve as fixation aids.
The dermal application of so-called "pro-drugs" seems at first to be an interesting alternative. In this case structural elements of drugs which are considered to be particularly unfavorable for the dermal absorption, e.g., phenolic hydroxyl groups, are derivatized, e.g., esterified. The characteristic feature of the chemical modification of pro-drugs is the fact that the derivatization is extremely unstable so that the drug underlying the pro-drug is quickly and completely formed in vitro. However, it is known to the skilled artisan that this actually neat idea can only rarely be realized in practice, since the intended quick and complete metabolic degradation does not take place in vivo. Thus, some toxicological questions arise with respect to the pro-drugs which still require extensive pharmacologic studies.
By way of trial, radioactively labeled drugs were applied transdermally in the past, in order to facilitate the determination of the extremely low blood levels frequently occurring after transdermal application; an exchange of radioactive components under in-vivo-conditions was not intended to take place.

Deuterated active substances in transdermal application


First data to be sent by a first party to a second party is encrypted using an encryption key that is formed using at least a hash value generated by a keyed hash of at least one condition that typically serves as an identifier of an intended recipient of the first data. The encrypted first data is provided to a data recipient who requests a decryption key from the trusted party. The trusted party is responsible for verifying that the recipient meets the specified conditions before providing the decryption key. A valid decryption key is only provided if the correct conditions have been supplied to the trusted party.

Identifier-Based Encryption (IBE) is an emerging cryptographic schema. In this schema (see FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings),a data provider 10 encrypts payload data 13 using both an encryption key string 14, and public data 15 provided by a trusted authority 12. This public data 15 is derived by the trusted authority 12 using private data 17 and a one-way function 18. The data provider 10 then provides the encrypted payload data <13> to a recipient 11 who decrypts it using a decryption key computed by the trusted authority 12 based on the encryption key string and its own private data.
A feature of identifier-based encryption is that because the decryption key is generated from the encryption key string, its generation can be postponed until needed for decryption.
Another feature of identifier-based encryption is that the encryption key string is cryptographically unconstrained though it is usually used to specify conditions serving to "identify" the intended message recipient and this has given rise to the use of the label "identifier-based" or "identity-based" generally for cryptographic methods of this type.
To ensure that the conditions are met before a recipient can read the payload data 13, the trusted authority 12 is arranged only to provide the decryption key to the recipient 11 (over a secure channel) if satisfied that the conditions included in the encryption key are met.
The foregoing encryption-decryption method exhibits a number of potential drawbacks.
More particularly, the conditions are transmitted in clear which may be undesirable particularly where the conditions are identifiers of the intended data receiver. In certain circumstances, it is better for the conditions not to be included in the encryption key but to be provide by the data receiver to the trusted authority. However, this runs the risk of the data receiver modifying the conditions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved cryptographic methods and apparatuses.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A character pattern generation apparatus for a serial printer, comprises an input buffer for storing a character code and attribute data; contour data storing means for storing contour data representing a contour of a pattern correspondingly to the character code, the contour data including starting point coordinate data, end point coordinate data, and line type data; means for reading the contour data from the contour data storing means according to the character code stored in the input buffer; operation means for calculating new starting point coordinate data and new end point coordinate data, according to the degree of magnification which is designated by the attribute data, the starting point coordinate data and the end point coordinate data, to output coordinates of a starting point and coordinates of an end point, the starting point and end point being in a current pass area; contour reproducing means for joining the coordinates of the starting point with the coordinates of the end point output from the operation means by a line the type of which is designated by the line type data, to reproduce punctual coordinates of a contour; and means for converting the punctual coordinates of the contour from the contour reproducing means into bit data to output the converted bit data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a character pattern generation apparatus for producing dots based on outline data indicative of a contour of a character or a figure, and more particularly to a character pattern generation apparatus suitably used for a serial printer which prints a piece of outline data by a plurality of printing passes.
2. Prior Art
An outline font has various advantages in that, since a character or a pattern to be printed is stored in the form of its contour data, the amount of memory capacity can be reduced to store the data as compared with bit map data representing a character or a pattern by dots, and in that the quality of a printed character is not deteriorated even when the size of the character is reduced or magnified.
When a serial printer prints a pattern which is spread over an area greater than a width of a printing pass, the serial printer performs a plurality of printing passes to complete the printing of the pattern while feeding a sheet in such a manner that the interline space is zero.
When a figure which is indicated by an outline font is printed by the above-mentioned printing method, coordinates of reference points constituting the outline font are converted into coordinate values in accordance with a degree of magnification which is designated by attribute data. The coordinate values are converted into bit map data. Then, only bit data which correspond to a first printing pass are extracted, and the printing is performed for the first printing pass. Then, bit map data in accordance with the degree of magnification are generated from the same outline data in the same manner as described above, and only bit data corresponding to a second printing pass are extracted, and then the printing for the second printing pass is performed. The above process is sequentially repeated.
As described above, bit map data in accordance with a degree of magnification designated by attribute data are generated for each printing pass. Then, only the part of bit data which corresponds to the current printing pass is segmented. Therefore, the operation of converting the outline font data into bit data is required even for a portion not related to the printing, with the result that it takes a prolonged period of time to output bit map data. Moreover, in order to store bit data for all the area of the magnified character, a memory having a large capacity is required.

Apparatus for generating character pattern for serial printer


Blood removal system for removing blood for diagnostic purposes including a housing, a lancet guide, and a lancet drive with a drive spring. The lancet drive comprises a cocking device, in order to tension the drive spring, a drive rotor that is driven by the drive spring, and an output-side coupling mechanism, by means of which the rotational movement of the drive rotor is converted into the puncturing movement.

In order to withdraw a minimal amount of blood from body parts (generally, a finger or an ear lobe) for analytical-diagnostic purposes, lancets are used, which are pricked into the corresponding body part for producing a wound. Because this procedure is manually performed, specially trained personnel are necessary. However, the puncture is connected with substantial pain.
Blood removal systems which comprise a pricking apparatus and associated lancets, specially adapted to the lancets, have also been used. In a housing of the pricking apparatus, a lancet drive is located, by means of which a lancet is mechanically stuck into the skin. A spring serves as a driving element for the puncturing movement. At the beginning of the development, very simple constructions were used, in which the lancet was directly attached to an end of a compression spring arranged in an elongated housing (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,110).
These types of blood removal system were, however, not suitable to meet the high demands required when a routine monitoring of analytical values of blood is necessary. This is particularly true for diabetics, who must control their blood sugar levels frequently, in order to maintain their blood sugar levels as constant as possible within predetermined nominal limits by means of adapting insulin injections to the requirements (which, depending on the nutrient absorption, the bodily activity, etc., can vary strongly). By comprehensive scientific research, it was demonstrated that by means of an intensive therapy with at least four blood analyses per day, a dramatic decrease of the most severe consequences of diabetes mellitus (for example, a retinal pathology with resulting blindness of the patient) can be achieved.
This intensive therapy requires that the blood removal is connected with the least possible pain. Numerous different blood removal systems were developed with the aim to achieve this goal.
A blood removal with very little pain is achieved by blood removal systems, whose lancet drive includes a drive rotor, which on one side (the input side) is coupled with the drive spring in such a manner that it can be driven thereby to rotate about an axis of rotation. On the other side (output side) it is coupled via a coupling mechanism with the lancet, in such a manner that the rotation of the drive rotor resulting from the tension releasing movement of the drive spring is converted to a puncturing movement whereby the lancet is moved with high speed, until its point or tip exits from the exit opening, thereby producing a wound in the body part which is pressed against a contact surface surrounding the exit opening. The lancet is guided by a lancet guide on a predetermined (in practice, straight) puncture path.
A blood lancet device with such a rotor drive is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,879. Its rotor is driven by means of a coaxial helical spring. The rotational movement of the rotor is converted into the required linear movement of the lancet via a con-rod drive.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,584, a blood removal system is described, which, likewise, operates with a rotor drive. The drive rotor of this system rotates about an axis of rotation, which coincides with the axis of the longitudinally extending, "pencil-shaped" apparatus. A rotational spring that is coaxial with the rotor serves as the drive. The output-side coupling mechanism for converting the rotational movement into the translation movement of the lancet is formed by a curve controller. The form of the control curve makes it possible to cock the apparatus, without the lancet tip exiting from the housing. The rotation of the rotor part about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus leads to very little vibration and stabilizes the puncturing process. A newer version of a blood removal system with a drive rotor that rotates about the apparatus longitudinal axis is described in EP 1034740 A1.
A further embodiment of a rotor drive is described in EP 1090584 A2, in which a drive rotor is used, which rotates about an axis that runs transverse to the direction of puncture. Here the rotation of the drive rotor is caused by the force of the drive spring pressing against a specially formed pressure surface of the rotor. In this manner, it is possible that the rotor rotates in the same direction of rotation both during cocking as well as upon tension release of the lancet drive. Also in this case, the output-side coupling mechanism preferably comprises a curve controller. The construction requires fewer components than the previously discussed rotor drive. It requires, however, a relatively wide housing shape, which is considered less favorable by many users.
In spite of the extensive development work, which has led to the previously discussed and numerous further designs, a large interest exists in a blood removal system, which, at the same time, fulfills, to the extent possible, the difficult and partially opposing requirements (minimal pain, simple operation, compact, most slim structure, and simple, cost-effective construction).


Apparatus for treating a web with treatment fluid comprises a two part housing defining a recess for receiving the web and a fluid distribution system for supplying treatment fluid to the recess. The fluid distribution system comprises a series of passages connected in a whiffletree configuration for dividing and subdividing the treatment fluid to supply treatment fluid to the recess at a plurality of locations across the recess to uniformly treat the web with the treatment fluid. In another embodiment the processor comprises a pair of plates defining a recess for receiving a web. The plates have at least one pair of elongated liquid injection openings extending transversely of the recess on opposite sides of the web respectively in juxtaposed relationship for injecting liquid into the recess. The plates further include at least one pair of elongated evacuation openings extending transversely of the recess on opposite sides of the web respectively in juxtaposed relationship for evacuating liquid from the recess. A whiffletree liquid distribution system is associated with each of the openings to supply liquid to the injection openings and to evacuate liquid from the evacuation openings.

In fluid supply systems for single sheet flow cell processors it is customary to provide fairly large tubes along the supply and drain sides of the flow cell to provide a center fed manifold flow distribution. When fluid enters the system it enters the supply manifold at the center and immediately begins spreading out through the adjacent small slit in to the cell. As the fluid works its way along the supply manifold, it spreads out through more of the slit, eventually completely filling the cell. Those areas of the flow cell furthest from the supply receive the incoming fluid last. Such a prior art cell and its fluid distribution pattern is depicted in FIG. 1 of the drawings.
The above described flow cell processor possesses a number of disadvantages. It is difficult to design, dependent on flow rates and fluid characteristics and does not achieve uniform processing due to variations in the fluid path length to various parts of the processor and variable pressures in the supply manifold. As indicated in FIG. 1 the path variations and/or variations in pressures within the supply manifold results in a generally arcuate fluid front resulting in increased processing in the center regions relative to the edge regions and differential lateral fluid flow.
Similar non-uniform fluid distribution can occur in parallel plate processors of the type disclosed in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 07/633,505 and 07/633,521 which are cross referenced above. In a parallel plate processor fluid is injected into a web processing channel through at least one elongated slit extending transversely of the channel. If fluid is supplied to the slit by a central circular opening then areas of the slit furthest from the central opening will receive fluid last and at slightly lower pressures. As a result the fluid entering the channel from the slit will have an arcuate flow pattern similar to that depicted in FIG. 1. Thus the fluid discharged from the slit will reach the central region of the web prior to the edge regions and flow at the center region will remain at a higher rate due to the higher pressure to produce non uniform processing.