In an open flow network system in which there are a plurality of networks, in each of which one OFC (OpenFlow Controller) manages a plurality of OFSs (OpenFlow Switches), and a large network is formed by a combination of them, registration of a flow entry which forms a closed loop is prevented without a component and a procedure for cooperation of the plurality of OFCs. Specifically, after route calculation, the OFC temporarily registers an flow entry of a calculation result on a flow table of the OFS as the flow entry for a test. After that, the OFS flows the test packet according to the temporarily registered flow entry. When the test packet is routed without forming the closed loop, the OFS detects it and normally registers the flow entry for a first time. Detecting that the test packet forms a closed loop, the OFS deletes a temporarily registering flow entry and returns an error to the OFC.

As one of route control methods of the network communication, a route control method using an open flow (OpenFlow) technique which is a control protocol of communication equipment has been studied. A network in which the route control of the open flow technique is carried out is called an open flow network.
In the open flow network, a controller such as an OFC (OpenFlow Controller) controls the behaviors of switches such as OFSs (OpenFlow switches) by operating open flow tables of the switches. The controller and the switch are connected by a secure channel for control to control the switch by using a control message based on the open flow protocol.
The switch in the open flow network configures the open flow network, and is an edge switch and a core switch which are under the control of the controller. A series of steps of the packet from reception of a packet (communication data) in the edge switch on the input side in the open flow network to transmission by the output side edge switch is called a flow.
The open flow table is a table on which a flow entry which defines a predetermined action (process content) to be carried out to a packet group (packet series) matching to a predetermined rule (the match condition) is registered.
The rule of the flow entry is defined by various combinations of a part or all of a destination address, a source address, a destination port, and a source port to distinguish, which are contained in a header region of each protocol layer of a packet and can be identified. It should be noted that it is supposed that the above-described addresses contains a MAC address (Media Access Control Address) and an IP address (Internet Protocol Address). Also, in addition to the above, data of an ingress port is usable as the rule of the flow entry.
The action of the flow entry shows operations such as "outputting to a specific port", "discarding", "rewriting a header". For example, the switch outputs a packet to the port corresponding to this, if identification data (egress port number) of the output port is shown in the action of the flow entry, and discards the packet if the identification data of an output port is not shown. Or, the switch rewrites the header of the packet based on header data if the header data is shown in the action of the flow entry.
The switch in the open flow network executes the action of the flow entry to a packet group matching to the rule of the flow entry.
The details of the open flow technique are described to Non-Patent Literatures 1 and 2.
At present, the open flow technique is in a transition period from a research step to a practical use step. In such a situation, it would not be carried out to collectively replace existing legacy networks with the open flow networks. In many cases, a part of the existing network is replaced with the open flow compatible network and generally, a pilot test is carried out in a small-scale environment.
Also, usually, a large budget is not invested for such a pilot test, and the test is executed in a limited budget. In such a situation, in a "single controller type" of the existing technique, one new OFC must be prepared and it became an obstacle on the cost.
Also, it is ordinary that in the step of the pilot test, the OFC and the OFS are procured from various venders and a benchmark is taken. However, because the communication standard of the route calculation apparatus is not unified at present in an existing "route calculation apparatus cooperation method", a network cannot be built in which the products of various venders are mixed.
Also, on the other hand, in the current open flow network environment (open flow network system), because a small-scale environment for the pilot test is in a great part, enough consideration is not carried out to a problem which would be caused in the large-scale environment.
From such a situation, a technique is demanded which does not need a new apparatus, allows the mixture of the OFC and the OFSs of various venders, and also prevents formation of a closed loop in light-weight processing even in a large scale network.
(Configuration Example of Network)
A configuration example of the open flow network system will be first described with reference FIG. 1, before a conventional problem will be described.
There are a plurality of small-scale networks that one OFC manages a plurality of OFSs in the open flow network system shown in FIG. 1 and a large scale network is configured from a combination of the plurality of small-scale networks.
The open flow network system contains hosts (host computers) 10 (10-i, i=1 to x: x is a total number), the OFSs 11 (11-j, j=1 to y: y is a total number) and the OFCs 12 (12-k, k=1 to z: z is a total number).
In the small-scale network, one OFC 12 manages a plurality of OFSs 11. Each of the small-scale networks is connected with other small-scale networks through the OFSs 11 in an uppermost layer to configure a large-scale network.
The host 10-1, the host 10-2, the host 10-3, and the host 10-4 are connected with the OFS 11-2 and the OFS 11-3 by communications lines such as LAN cables. The OFS 11-2 and the OFS 11-3 are connected with the OFS 11-1 with communications lines such as the LAN cables. It is supposed that the OFC 12-1 carries out management such as route calculation for the OFS 11-1, the OFS 11-2, and the OFS 11-3 and flow entry registration. In the same way, the host 10-5, the host 10-6, the host 10-7 and the host 10-8 are connected with the OFS 11-5 and the OFS 11-6 by communications lines such as the LAN cables. The OFS 11-5 and the OFS 11-6 are connected with the OFS 11-4 by the communications lines such as the LAN cables. It is supposed that the OFC 12-2 carries out the management such as route calculation for the OFS 11-4, the OFS 11-5, and the OFS 11-6 and the flow entry registration. In the same way, the host 10-9, the host 10-10, the host 10-11 and the host 10-12 are connected with the OFS 11-8 and the OFS 11-9 by the communication lines such as the LAN cables. The OFS 11-8 and the OFS 11-9 are connected with the OFS 11-7 by the communications lines such as the LAN cables. It is supposed that the OFC 12-3 carries out management such as the route calculation for the OFS 11-7, the OFS 11-8, and the OFS 11-9, and the flow entry registration. The OFS 11-1 and the OFS 11-4 are connected with the OFS 11-7 by the LAN cables.
In this configuration, the OFC 12-1, the OFC 12-2 and the OFC 12-3 do not have any component and procedure to exchange data mutually. That is, for example, there is no component and procedure to detect what flow entry the OFC 12-3 registers on the OFS 11-7 from the OFC 12-1 and the OFC 12-2.
(Generation of Flow Entry)
A plurality of flow entries with the format shown in FIG. 2 are registered on each of the OFSs 11 (11-j, j=1 to y).
(Format of Conventional Flow Entry)
As shown in FIG. 2, the flow entry has three fields of a "rule" field (region), an "action" field, and a "statistic data" field, when it is largely divided.
A "rule" (match condition) such as a packet type, a packet source host address, a packet destination host address is written in the rule field. The data of "IPv4" (Internet Protocol version 4), "IPv6" (Internet Protocol version 6) and so on is written in the packet type field.
An "action" (processing contents) showing how to process when receiving a packet matching to the rule, such as "discard" and "transferring to the OFS 11-n (n is optional)" is written in the action field.
"Statistic data" such as a total number of the processed packets is written in the statistic data field.
As a first example, in some OFS, it is supposed that a flow entry is registered on a flow table, and in the flow entry, "192. 168. 10. *" is written in the rule field as a transmission source, and "discard" is written in the action field as the action. It should be noted that "*" is a wild card and means optional characters of an optional length (a character string equal to or more than 0 characters). That is, a part of "*" may be something. In this case, if "192. 168. 10" is contained in the head of the source IP address of the received packet, the received packet matches to the flow entry. When a packet from "192. 168. 10. 34" arrives at the OFS, the packet matches to the flow entry and discard processing is carried out.
As a second example, it is supposed that a flow entry is registered on a flow table and the flow entry has "*. *. *. *" written as a transmission source "192. 168. 20. *" written as a destination in the rule field, and "transfer to OFS 11-n" written in the action field. When a packet transferred from "192. 168. 10. 23" to "192. 168. 20. 25" arrives at the OFS, the packet matches to the flow entry and transfer processing is carried out so as to be transferred to the OFS 11-n. It should be noted that the OFS requests the OFC to register the flow entry when a packet matching to neither of the flow entries registered on the flow table is received. The OFC calculates an efficient route appropriately and registers a flow entry defining the route of the packet on the OFS. The OFS processes the received packet according to the flow entry.
(Configuration of a Closed Loop)
Next, a case that a closed loop is formed in a network configuration of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
The network shown in FIG. 3 contains the hosts (20-i, i=1 to x), the OFSs 21 (21-j, j=1 to y) and the OFCs 22 (22-k, k=1 to z).
The host 20 (20-i, i=1 to x) is equivalent to the host 10 (10-i, i=1 to x) of FIG. 1. The OFS 21 (21-j, j=1 to y) is equivalent to the OFS 11 (11-j, j=1 to y) of FIG. 1. The OFC 22 (22-k, k=1 to z) is equivalent to the OFC 11 (11-k, k=1 to z) of FIG. 1. The hosts 20 (20-1, i=1 to x), the OFSs 21 (21-j, j=1 to y) and the OFCs 22 (22-k, k=1 to z) belong to the networks 200 (200-l, l=1 to w: w is a total number of the small-scale networks). The hosts 20-1, the OFS 21-1 and the OFC 22-1 belong to the network 200-1. The OFS 21-2, the OFC 22-2, the host 20-4, the host 20-5, the OFS 21-4 and the OFC 22-4 belong to the network 200-2. The host 20-2, the hosts 20-3, the OFS 21-3 and the OFC 22-3 belong to the network 200-3. The hosts 20-6, the OFS 21-5 and the OFC 22-5 belong to the network 200-4.
It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 1. 0" is assigned to the network 200-1. It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 2. 0" is assigned to the network 200-2. It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 3. 0" is assigned to the network 200-3. It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 4. 0" is assigned to the network 200-4. It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 1. 5" is assigned to the host 20-1. It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 3. 10" is assigned to the host 20-2. It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 3. 21" is assigned to the host 20-3. It is supposed that the network address of "192. 168. 4. 8" is assigned to the host 20-6. Also, it is supposed that a flow entry in which "a packet destined to "192. 168. 1. *" is transferred to the host, and packets destined to other addresses are transferred to the OFS 21-2" is registered in the OFS 21-1. Also, it is supposed that a flow entry in which "a packet destined to "192. 168. 2. *" is transferred to the host, and packets destined to other addresses are transferred to the OFS 21-3" is registered in the OFS 21-2. Also, it is supposed that a flow entry in which "a packet destined to "192. 168. 3. *" is transferred to the host" is registered in the OFS 21-3. Also, it is supposed that a flow entry in which "a packet destined to "192. 168. 2. *" is transferred to the host, and a packet destined to other addresses is transferred to the OFS 21-5" is registered in the OFS 21-4.
In this case, when issuing a packet destined to the host 20-2, the host 20-1 transmits the packet to the OFS 21-1 first. The OFS 21-1 transfers the packet destined to the host 20-2 to the OFS 21-2 according to the flow entry. The OFS 21-2 transfers the packet destined to the host 20-2 to the OFS 21-3 according to the flow entry. The OFS 21-3 transfers the packet destined to the host 20-2 to the host 20-2 according to the flow entry. Thus, the packet destined to the host 20-2 arrives at the target host. That is, a route which passes through the OFS 21-1, the OFS 21-2 and the OFS 21-3 is established for the packet from the OFS 21-1 to the host 20-2.
Also, when the host 20-4 or the host 20-5 issues a packet destined to the host 20-6, it transmits the packet to the OFS 21-4 first. The OFS 21-4 transfers the packet destined to the host 20-6 to the OFS 21-5 according to the flow entry. The OFS 21-5 transfers the packet destined to the host 20-6 to the host 20-6 according to the flow entry. That is, a route which passes through the OFS 21-4 and the OFS 21-5 is established for the packet destined to the host 20-6 from the host 20-4 or the host 20-5.
In such a case, how a packet which is issued from the host 20-3 ad destined to the host 20-6 is routed is considered. When the host 20-3 issues a packet destined to the host 20-6, it transmits the packet to the OFS 21-3 first. However, any flow entry matching to the received packet is not registered on the OFS 21-3.
Therefore, the OFS 21-3 issues an inquiry to the OFC 22-3 about handling of the packet. However, the OFC 22-3 does not have a component and a procedure to detect what flow entries other OFCs set to the OFS managed by them.
When it is adequate to transfer the packet to the OFS 21-4 based on a calculation result of a route for the packet according to a route calculation routine, the OFC 22-3 newly registers a flow entry in which "the packet destined to "192. 168. 3. *" is transferred to the host, and the packet destined to other addresses is transferred to the OFS 21-4" to the OFS 21-3. In this case, a route 24-1 of "OFS 21-3→the OFS 21-4" is established. The OFC 22-3 transfers the packet to the OFS 21-4. The OFS 21-4 transfers the packet to the host 20-6 through the OFS 21-5.
On the other hand, when it is adequate to transfer the packet to the OFS 21-1 based on the calculation result of a route according to the route calculation routine, the OFC 22-3 newly registers a flow entry in which the packet destined to "192. 168. 3. *" is transferred to the host and the packets destined to other addresses are transferred to the OFS 21-1, in the OFS 21-3. In this case, the route 24-2 of "OFS 21-3→the OFS 21-1" is established. The OFC 22-3 transfers the packet to the OFS 21-1. Because the packet matches to any of the existing flow entries in the OFS 21-1, the OFS 21-1 transfers the packet to the OFS 21-2. Because the packet matches to any of the existing flow entries, the OFS 21-2 transfers the packet to the OFS 21-3. Because the packet matches to the newly registered flow entry, the OFS 21-3 transfers the packet to the OFS 21-1. In this way, because the closed loop 25-1 of "OFS 21-1→the OFS 21-2→the OFS 21-3→the OFS 21-1" is formed, the packet does not arrive at the target host.
From the above, when there are not a component and a procedure which detect what flow entry is already registered in the OFSs managed by another OFC, there is a possibility that a closed loop is formed.
(Kind of Closed Loop)
It should be noted that as a kind of closed loop, there are two kinds of a pattern shown in FIG. 4A and a patterns shown in FIG. 4B. The host 30 (30-i, i=1 to x) shown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B is equivalent to the host 10 (10-i, i=1 to x) of FIG. 1. The OFSs 31 (31-j, j=1 to y) shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are equivalent to the OFSs 11 (11-j, j=1 to y) of FIG. 1.
(Pattern 1)
In the pattern shown in FIG. 4A, the OFS 31-1 receives a packet from the host 30-1, and the packet matches to any of the flow entries and then the OFS 31-1 transfers the packet according to the newly registered flow entry. As a result, the packet arrives at the OFS 31-2. The packet matches to any of the existing flow entries in the OFS 31-2 and the OFS 31-3, and is transferred according to the matching flow entry. As a result, because the packet returns to the OFS 31-1 through the OFS 31-2 and the OFS 31-3, the closed loop has been formed among the OFS 31-1, the OFS 31-2 and the OFS 31-3.
(Pattern 2)
In the pattern shown in FIG. 4B, the OFS 31-4 receives a packet from the host 30-2, and the packet matches to the newly registered flow entry and is transferred according to the newly registered flow entry. As a result, the packet arrives at the OFS 31-6 through the OFS 31-4 and the OFS 31-5. The packet matches to an existing flow entry in the OFS 31-6, the OFS 31-7 and the OFS 31-8, and is transferred according to the existing flow entries. As a result, the packet returns to the OFS 31-6 through the OFS 31-7 and the OFS 31-8. Thus, a closed loop has been formed among the OFS 31-6, the OFS 31-7 and the OFS 31-8.
(Conventional Measure to Closed Loop Formation)
Conventionally, a "single controller method" shown in FIG. 5 and a "route calculation apparatus cooperation method" shown in FIG. 6 are proposed and implemented to the closed loop formation problem.
(Single Controller Method)
In the "single controller method" shown in FIG. 5, an OFC 12-4 is additionally provided to integrate the OFC 12-1, the OFC 12-2 and the OFC 12-3, in addition to the elements of FIG. 1. For example, in this configuration, the OFC 12-1 issues an inquiry to the OFC 12-4 when calculating the route of the packet. The OFC 12-4 takes account of the routes already set in the OFC 12-3 and the OFC 12-4 and sets a flow entry to the OFC 12-2 so as not to form the closed loop. However, as a drawback of the "single controller method", if the network scale becomes large, a data amount of the flow entries set in the respective OFCs and combinations necessary for the route calculation are enormous, so that the load of the OFC 12-4 becomes heavy.
(Route Calculation Apparatus Cooperation Method)
In the "route calculation apparatus cooperation method" shown in FIG. 6, a route calculating section 121-1 operating on the OFC 12-1, a route calculating section 121-2 operating on the OFC 12-2, and a route calculating section 121-3 operating on the OFC 12-3 are provided in addition to the components of FIG. 1. The route calculating sections 121-1, 121-2, and 121-3 exchange data of registered flow entries, and adds a mechanism for calculating the route. For example, in this configuration, the OFC 12-1 inquires data of the related flow entries to the OFC 12-2 and the OFC 12-3 when calculating the route of the packet. However, in the "route calculation apparatus cooperation method", too, if the network scale becomes large, the number of communicating OFCs and the number of the route data received from each OFC become enormous. Also, because the calculation must be carried out to combinations of them, the load of the OFC 12-1 becomes heavy.

Closed loop formation preventing system and closed loop formation preventing method


A speaker driver including a frame and a magnet assembly positioned within the frame. A sound radiating surface may be suspended over the magnet assembly. The sound radiating surface may include a top face and a bottom face, and the bottom face may face the magnet assembly. A suspension member may suspend the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly. The suspension member may include a top side connected to the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to the magnet assembly. A voice coil extends from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface.

In modern consumer electronics, audio capability is playing an increasingly larger role as improvements in digital audio signal processing and audio content delivery continue to happen. There is a range of consumer electronics devices that are not dedicated or specialized audio playback devices, yet can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones are ubiquitous. These devices, however, do not have sufficient space to house high fidelity speakers. This is also true for portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and, to a lesser extent, desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. Such devices typically require speaker enclosures or boxes that have a relatively low rise (i.e. height or thickness as defined along the z-axis), as compared to, for instance, stand alone high fidelity speakers and dedicated digital music systems for handheld media players.


An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body, and a plurality of developing devices to develop a color image on the photosensitive body. The plurality of developing devices include fixed-position developing devices, of which positions relative to the photosensitive body are fixed, and moveable developing devices, of which positions relative to the photosensitive body are changed. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus can be manufactured compactly, by mounting four developing devices, e.g., for yellow, magenta, cyan and black for the color printing such that three developing devices stand by at the respective development positions and one developing device variably moves to the development position so that the photosensitive body is reduced in diameter when compared to a conventional photosensitive body which opposes four developing devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a multi-pass type image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus is an apparatus that prints an image on a printing medium, e.g., paper, according to an input image signal. One type of the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, is an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus which is configured such that a laser beam is scanned across a photosensitive body that is charged with a predetermined electric potential to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive body. The electrostatic latent image is developed into a visible image by supplying a developer (i.e., toner, or toner and carrier) to the electrostatic latent image, and the visible image is then transferred onto and fixed to paper.
Typically, toners of four colors of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black B are used in the color image forming apparatus, and accordingly four developing devices are needed to adhere the toners of four colors to the electrostatic latent image.
There are two types of image forming apparatuses used when forming a color image. One type of image forming apparatus is a single-pass type in which four developing devices are respectively provided with four photosensitive bodies. The other type of image forming apparatus is a multi-pass type in which four developing devices hold one photosensitive body in common.
One example of the conventional multi-pass type image forming apparatus is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-633097. The conventional multi-pass type color image forming apparatus is configured such that the exposure, development and transfer of the respective colors associated with each color toner are repeated on one photosensitive body to overlappingly form a color image on an intermediate transfer medium, and the color image is transferred onto and fixed to paper.
However, the above conventional multi-pass type color image forming apparatus has a problem such that the photosensitive body needs to have a diameter large enough to accommodate all four developing devices to be positioned near the photosensitive body at one time, thereby, placing limitations when manufacturing the image forming apparatus compactly.


We disclose a new switch-barrel system for firearms, particularly centerfire rifles, which permits the ready exchangeability of barrels upon a single action/stock assembly. Barrels may be quickly and easily exchanged under field conditions using a minimum of simple, lightweight equipment, without removing the action from the stock. Barrels of many different weights and calibers may be used on a single firearm, leading to great versatility. Barrels are free-floating in a manner similar to most benchrest rifles, ensuring uniform barrel harmonics upon firing. The system relies on a secondary set of fine-pitched threads and a locking ring to effect the securing of the barrel to the action, which acts to repeatably draw all barrels into invariable coaxial alignment with the action, thus insuring a return to essentially the same point of impact. The system is adaptable to a broad range of existing firearms, and does not require a proprietary action. It does not significantly alter the lines of fine sporting arms, and adds only a minimum of bulk. It does not require hardened setscrews or other securing devices which can easily mar barrel steel. It permits firearms to be broken down for transport in more compact containers, and is self-correcting for wear in the securing and headspacing relationships.

The field of the invention relates in general to firearms and more particularly, to a firearm for readily accepting a wide variety of interchangeable barrels.
Existing firearm designs which provide for a single action and stock to accept a variety of different barrels suffer from a number of deficiencies and impracticalities which render them generally undesirable to consumers and users. Among such deficiencies and impracticalities are the following.
In certain existing switch-barrel rifles, methods of barrel attachment unduly reduce the dimensions and weaken the barrel in the chamber area, thereby limiting the range of useable cartridges and increasing the likelihood of extraction difficulties and problems in the reloading of fired cartridges.
Some existing switch barrel methods of attachment also do not provide for repeatable installation. Also, conventional methods for providing interchangeable barrels do not fully secure the barrel in the action, thus severely compromising disposed accuracy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,527 relies upon a set screw through the receiver ring which engages the barrel threads to prevent rotation. There are significant problems with this approach.
In order to assure proper machinability and smooth interior finish, virtually all commercially available barrels are made from relatively unhardened steel, with Rockwell "C" hardness ranges in the high 20's and low 30's. In contrast, set screws, because of the very nature of the work they do, are always hardened to a much greater degree. Thus, a set screw such as the one used in U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,527 must be screwed in against the soft barrel threads and will deform those threads quite easily, leading to difficulty in removing the barrel and other operational problems.
Another disadvantage of conventional methods for securing a barrel to an action in switch-barrel rifles is that there must be some clearance between the threads of the female action and the male barrel threads, or it will be impossible to screw the action and barrel together. A conventional side engaging set screw will always thrust the installed barrel to the other side, opposite the set screw to some degree. This results in a barrel which will not always be in uniform coaxial alignment with the action. Virtually all barrel threads are less than one inch in length, and many are three-quarter inch or less. A side deflection of only 0.001 inches in a span of 0.750 inches will produce a point of impact deflection of 4.8 inches at 100 yards. Such a conventional method for attaching a barrel produces an utterly unsatisfactory situation from an accuracy standpoint.
Other existing methods of barrel attachment may unduly reduce the size and weaken the barrel in the chamber area, thereby limiting the range of useable cartridges and increasing the likelihood of extraction difficulties and problems in the reloading of fired cartridges. Such conventional methods of barrel attachment are also conducive to damage and deformation of the barrel. For example, many conventional sporting rifles have a muzzle diameter of no more than 0.550 inches. This means that male hexagonal wrenches used to disengage such barrels under this scheme are, for practical purposes, limited to about 5/16th inch across the flats. Machine screws using this tightening method are universally highly hardened, while the steel of a rifle barrel is comparatively quite soft and easily deformed. Over time, this method of attachment results in a barrel that becomes battered and disfigured in the area of the wrench engagement.
Other known methods of barrel attachment do not provide for repeatable installation and do not fully secure the barrels in the action, thus compromising accuracy. Such barrel attachment in certain cases has resulted in heavy or bulky components which compromise accuracy due to the inability of the barrel to be truly free floating and to vibrate at a natural resonant frequency when fired. The most accurate small arms in the world (known as "bench rest rifles") virtually all have free floating barrels. That is, there is no contact between the forearm and the barrel. A free floating barrel insures that barrel harmonics remain as uniform as possible from shot to shot and thereby eliminate any tendency of the forearm to transfer a variable external load to the barrel. Accordingly, a free floating barrel allows the barrel to vibrate at its natural resonant frequency. When the barrel is clamped or otherwise engaged so that its natural resonant frequency may be altered shot-to-shot, repeatable accuracy becomes impossible to achieve.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,517,328 addresses the foregoing problem by providing a design comprising a barrel within a barrel. The replacement barrel is secured to the primary barrel at the muzzle. However, there are both safety related and practical reasons why this design is not adaptable to modem large caliber, high pressure rifle loads. Modem high velocity rifle cartridges normally operate at pressures of up to 60,000 pounds per square inch and frequently generate muzzle energies of 3,000 foot pounds or more. For this reason, barrels must be very strong over the chamber section, and must be rigidly locked to the action/bolt assembly during firing. A barrel diameter over the chamber of at least 0.950 inches is generally considered minimal for such high velocity cartridges. Even this configuration has yielded ruinous barrel deformation with certain high pressure magnum loads. Since the replacement barrel under the attachment scheme of U.S. Pat. No. 1,517,328 must be inserted from the muzzle, the outside barrel or sleeve must be well over one inch in diameter for its entire length. This leads to an unaesthetic, bulky and grossly heavy firearm, totally unsatisfactory for many applications.
The conventional switch barrel apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,517,328 also requires clearance between the inner and outer barrels. The stresses generated upon firing will cause the inner barrel to vibrate at its own resonant frequency and to be displaced in an unpredictable manner within the outer barrel. This further destroys reliable accuracy.
Even high quality steel is somewhat elastic. For this reason, firearm designers working with high intensity cartridges will condense the locking together of the bolt, action, and barrel in order to avoid excessive stretching during firing. Excessive stretching leads to a wide range of operational difficulties, including hard extraction, short cartridge case life and poor head space control. Most center fire rifles designed for high pressure cartridges accomplish the locking function within a span of two inches or less. However, the design of a switch barrel rifle applying the conventional technique of U.S. Pat. No. 1,517,328 would yield a locking span of approximately two feet, a totally undesirable and impractical configuration.
A further conventional method of providing a firearm with multiple interchangeable barrels is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,938. Barrel installation is accomplished through conventional threads on the firearm's frame and barrel, modified only slightly and secured by two set screws mounted perpendicular to the barrel's axis. However, recognizing that there must be clearance between the barrel threads and frame threads, such set screws when tightened act to thrust the barrel laterally within the frame, creating inconsistencies in a bullet's point of impact. The fact that U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,938 relies upon two set screws, each acting independently and in opposition to the other, means that there will be a large positional variation as to potential lock-ups, thus creating an unsatisfactory arrangement when accuracy is important. In addition, the arrangement shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,938 deals exclusively with revolving cylinder type firearms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,217 provides a reversible barrel concept wherein an underlug is machined or otherwise installed on both ends of the barrel to engage with a locating pin. This requires a separate manufacturing step which adds significantly to the complexity and thus the cost of producing a rifle barrel.
Also, since there must be a firing chamber at each end of the barrel, the barrel must have a heavy chamber section at each end. This disadvantageously produces an ungainly, bizarre appearing barrel profile and generates unacceptably high weight for certain applications. There is no feasible means for providing a reliable barrel crown. There is broad agreement among experts in firearm fabrication that, in order to provide a reliable crown, the profile of the crown must depart the line of the bore by an angle of at least 30.degree. and up to 90.degree.. The design of U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,217 necessarily uses a firing chamber throat as a crown. Virtually all throats are machined to an angle of 1.5.degree. to 3.5.degree. from the line of the bore, far too shallow to provide an accurate crown.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,889 provides another barrel within a barrel concept that is adaptable only to larger gauge shotguns. Very few shotguns currently in production are designed to withstand the pressures generated by high velocity rifle cartridges, thus effectively limiting the potential use of this conventional design to shot shells and low powered metallic ammunition. The conventional design of U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,889 is also only adapted to break-open firearms, which are not desirable from an accuracy standpoint.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,418 is another conventional system permitting barrel switching. It relies on a longitudinally slit receiver ring with a lateral clamping mechanism. As a consequence it requires its own unique receiver design which is not adaptable to other rifles.
All but one of the embodiments disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,418 require that the action be removed from the stock in order to effectuate a barrel change. This is disadvantageous in that the process of removing the action becomes time consuming and offers greater potential for parts loss. A further embodiment relies on a lever within a separate forearm to provide the barrel clamping function, acting upon helical cams laterally mounted within the receiver ring. This adds weight, complexity and cost to the system. Moreover, a modest pull on the forearm would disengage the barrel clamp, producing a dangerous condition and destroying accuracy if the rifle is being fired at that moment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,167 shows another conventional device for mounting barrels to actions and makes as a secondary claim the ability to quickly change barrels. However, this conventional technique requires a separate barrel extension be machined for each barrel. Such barrel extensions must be carefully machined and hardened and then correctly installed on their respective barrels, adding substantially to costs. This design also requires that the barrel reside within the barrel extension, which must in turn reside within the receiver. Thus, this design requires that the barrel must be smaller than a typical diameter, or that the receiver must be larger than is typical.
The conventional interchangeable barrel apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,167 further requires a slip fit between the barrel extension and the receiver. Similarly, a slip fit also must exist between the threaded bushing and the barrel. Thus, the barrel may be secured in any number of slightly different positions within the action. As earlier noted, a shift of only 0.001 inch in the short span of a receiver ring can produce a point of impact of over 2 inches at 100 yards. Such a result is inconsistent with repeatable accuracy.
A further conventional method for interchanging barrels is the so-called Gamman Switch Barrel system. The Gamman system requires either a threaded adapter, which threads into the action to be used in lieu of the barrel, or a specially machined action. The barrel is then specifically machined to fit within this adapter. Both adapter and barrel require that large stop-collars be incorporated into each; these collars bear against each other where the barrel is properly attached to the action. A spring-loaded plunger mounted on the adapter parallel to the axis of the barrel engages a notch on the barrel's stop-collar. A threaded dust cover is then secured over the joined stop-collar. The Gamman scheme suffers from undue complexity and is unavoidably both bulky and heavy since it relies on the addition of a significant volume of metal to the existing barrel and action.
The additional weight added to the barrel and action makes the Gamman system disadvantageous for both lightweight sporting rifles and weight limited target rifles. The system is also fundamentally aesthetically unappealing. For example, a large lump of metal is added forward of the receiver ring, which destroys the normally sleek lines of a fine sporting rifle. A large notch must be cut out of the forearm to accommodate the stop-collar assembly, thereby yielding an unwelcome interruption of the stock's profile.
The aforementioned stock cut weakens the stock significantly in both the vertical and lateral planes. This increases both the risk of stock breakage and a tendency of the forearm to deflect under pressure. Another disadvantage of this system is its apparent inability to provide an adapter which reasonably fits within the action. Because the barrel threads must fit within the adapter, which must itself fit within the action, the barrel threads must be reduced in diameter to an unreasonably small size (approximately 0.750 inches). In contrast, virtually all centerfire rifles designed for cartridge heads of 0.473 and above have barrel threads of at least 0.980 inches in diameter, thereby providing a much greater margin of safety and resistance to unwelcome expansion when being fired.
Further, the Gamman system requires a comparatively large amount of high precision machining in order to achieve its operational objectives. This makes it very expensive in relative terms. For example, the price of a barrel conversion is presently quoted at approximately $1,365. For this sum it would be possible to purchase a good quality factory target rifle with optical sights as well as precision gunsmithing work. Therefore, this method is not cost effective.
Another conventional method for attaching different barrels to an action is the so-called Savage barrel nut method employed by Savage Manufacturing Company. This involves a barrel set-nut having the same interior threads as the receiver, which threads are used to lock the barrel and action together in the correct relationship. However, since this method uses the comparatively coarse barrel threads, it lacks the same degree of mechanical advantage possessed by the subject invention, and in practice, requires a high degree of torque in locking together the barrel and action. This produces an unwelcome degree of difficulty in disassembling the barrel and action, thereby rendering this method unsuitable for switch-barrel use. Additionally, such disassembly cannot take place with the action in the stock, due to the design of the locking barrel set nut. This fact makes the spanner/nut engagement subject to slippage during a barrel removal operation, and makes this method unsuitable for repeated barrel switching. The Savage, Inc. barrel nut method is merely an inexpensive way of quickly setting headspace on mass-produced actions and barrels. Thus, such an engagement system cannot accommodate the expedient switching of barrels of different calibers.
Another system for attaching a barrel to an action is embodied in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,260. This is a system providing for a "take-down" rifle (one which may be readily broken in two and conveniently packed). However, it relies on an interrupted thread design, which disadvantageously weakens the action-to-barrel joint. Additionally, the barrel must be firmly attached to the stock fore-end, eliminating the possibility of a free-floating barrel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,260 has a tensioning nut, but it does not have the benefit of separate fine-pitch threads, relying instead on an extension of the standard barrel threads. Therefore, such a system lacks mechanical advantage. In addition, the tensioning nut bears against a barrel bracket rather than the action itself, which design limits the adjustment to less than 0.001 inch. U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,260 teaches a complex and comparatively costly system; if a user wished to have additional calibers for the same action, each barrel/forearm assembly is presently priced at $1,000.00. Thus, such a system requires either an expensive proprietary action, or extensive and costly modifications to a very limited range of commercially available actions.
In order to overcome the disadvantages and shortcomings of conventional switch barrel rifle systems, what is needed is a method and apparatus for securely locking a barrel to an action without deforming the barrel in any fashion and thus preserving barrel accuracy. Such a method and apparatus ideally would provide an invariant coaxial alignment of the action and barrel. That is, upon the removal and reinstallment of a given barrel, the rifle must automatically return to its target zero position.
What is needed is a convenient and speedy method and apparatus for barrel disassembly and interchangeability with barrels of different calibers without compromising weight as well as accuracy of the recipient firearm, and without the requirement for heavy or bulky tools, or complex and time-consuming procedures.
It also would be desirable to provide a switch barrel rifle capable of interchanging a plurality of barrels such that the barrels are kept in a completely free-floating mode in a manner similar to the majority of precision bench rest rifles. This advantageously would preserve accuracy of the highest order while permitting interchangeable barrels of different calibers to be used in the same firearm.
What is also needed is a fast and reliable method and apparatus for enabling interchangeable barrels to be employed with a wide variety of currently available actions and not require a complex, proprietary action.
What is also needed is a method and apparatus for securely holding the interchangeable barrels in the action, yet without deformation, such that accuracy is maintained.
It also would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus enabling the ready exchangeability of barrels without removing the action from the stock, (a necessarily time-consuming procedure which can increase the potential for parts loss).
What is also needed is an interchangeable barrel arrangement which retains the typical architecture of directly attaching the barrel to the action. This advantageously would aid in strength, compactness and lightness.
A method and apparatus enabling the ready interchangeability of barrels should accommodate free-floating barrels having a wide variety of possible weights and diameters. It also would be advantageous if the system could be readily adaptable to a variety of currently produced actions without requiring significant modification to those actions. It also would be desirable to provide a solid, repeatable lock-up of the barrel to the action such that the means for joining the barrel to the action would not come loose under heavy usage.


The present invention relates to the etching, activation and deposition of a first metal or metal alloy layer onto non-conductive polymers. The non-conductive polymer is etched with an aqueous solution comprising 0.75 to 3.6 g/l permanganate ions in 60 to 80 vol.-% sulfuric acid, activating with a solution comprising a noble metal and depositing a first metal or metal alloy by immersion-type or electroless (autocatalytic) plating. The first metal or metal alloy layer obtained has a high adhesion on the non-conductive polymer and serves as a plating base for electroplating further metal and/or metal alloy layer(s) thereon.

The traditional technique of wet-chemical metallisation consists of etching the surface of non-conductive polymers with chromic acid solutions, catalytic activation with a solution comprising a noble metal, and the wet-chemical metallisation to obtain a first metallic layer, usually a first layer of copper or nickel (alloys).
Etching is required to provide hydrophilic properties to the surface of the non-conductive polymers which are important to adsorb sufficient amounts of noble metal from the aqueous activator solution and ensure a good adhesion between the first metallic layer and the non-conductive polymer.
Activation with a solution comprising a noble metal is carried out in order to start wet-chemical deposition of a first metal or metal alloy layer onto the surface of the non-conductive polymer. This first metallic layer then serves as the plating base for depositing one or more metallic layers thereon by electroplating.
The main disadvantages of the traditional technique is the carcinogenicity of chromic acid (hexavalent chromium) used for etching the surface of the non-conductive polymer.
The US application 2005/0199587 A1 discloses an acidic etching solution for non-conductive polymers comprising 20 to 70 g/l potassium permanganate. The optimum concentration of potassium permanganate is about 50 g/l. When the permanganate ion concentration is lower than 20 g/l the solution is ineffective, whereas the upper margin of concentration is limited by the solubility of potassium permanganate. After etching, the activation is carried out with palladium salt solutions containing amines as complexing agents and later the non-conductive polymer is processed with a reducing agent, e.g. a borohydride, a hypophosphite or a hydrazine solution.
In case of a high permanganate concentration in the etching solution (recommended about 50 g/l and about 40 vol.-% of sulfuric or phosphoric acid), permanganate decomposes easily especially at an elevated temperature of e.g. 37° C. At this temperature, the etching solution becomes ineffective after 4 to 6 h. The wettability of the non-conductive polymer then is not high enough for adsorbing a sufficient amount of noble metal from the aqueous activator solution. Furthermore, the adhesion between non-conductive polymer and plated metallic layer(s) decreases significantly. In addition, the insoluble permanganate dissociation products are enriched in the etching solution and can contaminate the surface to be plated.
The patent LT 5645 B discloses a method for applying a first metallic layer onto a non-conductive polymer. The aqueous etching solution applied in the first step contains 70 to 90 wt.-% sulfuric acid and 0.0001 to 0.01 wt.-% (0.001 to 0.1 g/l) permanganate. An ionogenic activator solution comprising palladium ions and urea is applied in the second step followed by wet-chemical deposition of a first metallic layer.
An etching solution for poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK), the solution comprising 1 wt.-% (10 g/l) potassium permanganate, five volume parts (56 vol.-%) of concentrated sulfuric acid, two volume parts of 85% orthophosphoric acid and two volume parts of water is disclosed in the article "Permanganic etching of PEEK" (R. H. Olley, D. C. Bassett, D. J. Blundell, Polymers, 27: 344-348, 1986). However, neither an activation step nor the deposition of a first metallic layer thereon is disclosed in this document. This etching solution was used in Example 4 (comparative) of the present invention.
A method for metallization of a polymer surface is disclosed in in the patent application EP 1 001 052 A2. The polymer surface is etched with a "mild" acidic solution comprising an oxidant. Next, the surface is activated with an aqueous solution of a metal salt selected from cobalt-, silver-, tin and lead salts followed by contacting the surface with a sulfide solution and deposition of a first metallic layer.

Method for depositing a first metallic layer onto non-conductive polymers


A magnetic recording medium including a substrate having a surface, an orientation control layer disposed above the surface of the substrate, an underlayer disposed above the orientation control layer, and a recording layer having an hcp crystal structure and disposed on a surface of the underlayer. The recording layer is epitaxially grown on the surface of the underlayer to define a plurality of crystal grains, wherein the crystal grains have c-axes that are inclined in a plurality of random directions, but wherein each random direction defines an angle with respect to the surface of the substrate that is within a range that is greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees. A magnetic storage apparatus including such a magnetic recording medium is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to magnetic recording media, methods of producing the same and magnetic storage apparatuses, and more particularly to a magnetic recording medium that includes a recording layer having Co as a main component and crystally oriented in a predetermined direction, a method of producing such a magnetic recording medium, and a magnetic storage apparatus using such a magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, magnetic storage apparatuses that are provided in personal computers and dynamic image recording apparatuses for home use, such as magnetic disk drives, have large storage capacities that exceed 100 GB, mainly for the purpose of recording dynamic images. The demands for even larger storage capacities and lower costs of the magnetic disk drives are likely to increase.
Presently, utilizing the in-plane (or longitudinal) magnetic recording technique in the magnetic disk drive, the recording density has been increased considerably to increase the storage capacity. Further, the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the magnetic disk has been improved, and the sensitivity of the magnetic head has been increased. As a result, it has become possible to realize an in-plane recording density that exceeds 100 Gbit/in2.
In the conventional in-plane magnetic recording technique and perpendicular magnetic recording technique, it is necessary to reduce the size of the crystal grains of the ferromagnetic material forming the recording layer, in order to further improve the S/N ratio at high recording densities. However, when the crystal grain size is reduced, the magnitude of the magnetization recorded in the recording layer, that is, the remanent magnetization, gradually decreases with lapse of time. In other words, the thermal stability of the recorded magnetization decreases. In order to solve this problem, a ferromagnetic material having a large anisotropic field for the recording layer can be used.
However, a new problem is introduced in that the recording becomes more difficult, that is, the recording performance deteriorates. The larger the anisotropic field of the ferromagnetic material, the larger the recording magnetic write field intensity needs to be. Moreover, the recording magnetic field intensity that can be generated by the magnetic head is limited by the material used for the write head magnetic pole. For this reason, the ferromagnetic material that can be used for the recording layer also becomes limited, and sets the limit to the achievable recording density.
In another approach to increase the recording density, a magnetic recording medium having a recording layer with the axis of easy magnetization inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the substrate surface has been theoretically proposed in Kai-Zhong Gao and H. Neal Bertram, "Magnetic Recording Configuration for Densities Beyond 1 Tb/in2 and Data Rates Beyond 1 Gb/s", IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 38, No. 6, November 2002. According to this first proposed magnetic recording medium, the angle formed by the axis of easy magnetization of the recording layer and the direction of the recording magnetic field is selected, so as to reduce the recording magnetic field intensity that is required to reverse the magnetization. In addition, by using this first proposed magnetic recording medium, it is expected that a high recording density will be realized for both the in-plane magnetic recording technique and the perpendicular magnetic recording technique. In this first proposed magnetic recording medium, it is required that the inclination direction of the magnetization of the columnar crystal grains of the recording layer is uniformly oriented in a track longitudinal direction or a track width direction. The S/N ratio of this first proposed magnetic recording medium is expected to be higher than 12 dB from the conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium, at the recording density of 1 Tbit/in2. This improvement in the S/N ratio is made possible by the fact that the anisotropic field of the recording layer can further be improved than that of the conventional perpendicular magnetic recording medium.
For example, a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-227745 proposes a magnetic recording medium having at least a soft magnetic back layer and a recording layer, wherein the axis of easy magnetization of the recording layer inclined with respect to a normal to the magnetic recording medium. High resolution and S/N ratio are expected of this second proposed magnetic recording medium, without deteriorating the thermal stability of the recorded magnetization. When forming the recording layer of this second proposed magnetic recording medium, a mask plate for limiting incident grains is provided between a target and a substrate, so that only the incident grains from a direction inclined in one direction with respect to the normal to the substrate are deposited.
However, the first proposed magnetic recording medium is proposed in theory only, and Kai-Zhong Gao and H. Neal Bertram do not disclose a particular method of realizing the magnetic recording medium in which the axis of easy magnetization of the recording layer is inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the substrate surface.
On the other hand, the second proposed magnetic recording medium requires a deposition apparatus to be modified, which consequently increases the production cost. In addition, the crystal growing direction is inclined with respect to the direction of the normal to the substrate of the second proposed magnetic recording medium, by controlling the incident direction of the incident grains. The direction of the axis of easy magnetization becomes the crystal growing direction. In other words, it is difficult to control the direction of the axis of easy magnetization, because the direction of the axis of easy magnetization is controlled by the incident direction of the incident grains.

Magnetic recording medium, method of producing the same, and magnetic storage apparatus


A movable connector including a stationary housing to be fixed to a substrate, a movable housing configured capable of moving relative to the stationary housing, and a terminal including a stationary-side retained portion retained at the stationary housing, a movable-side retained portion retained at the movable housing, and an elastically deformable movable portion positioned between the stationary-side retained portion and the movable-side retained portion. Retention of the stationary-side retained portion with respect to the stationary housing is achieved by performing insert molding. Retention of the movable-side retained portion with respect to the movable housing is achieved by performing press-fitting.

Movable connectors such as the movable connector 20 of Patent Document 1 are known.
This movable connector 20 includes a stationary housing 21, a movable housing 22, elastically deformable terminals 23 that each have one end and another end press-fitted into and respectively retained at these two housings, and fixing fittings 24 that are press-fitted into and retained at the stationary housing 21. These elements include a protrusion 22d provided to each of the two ends of the movable housing 22, and a recess 21e corresponding to the protrusion 22d provided to each of the two ends of the stationary housing 21. The fixing fittings 24 are disposed on the stationary housing 21 so as to cover the recesses 21e.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2014-67706

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Systems and methods are provided for a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions is configured to provide a configuration wizard. The configuration wizard is configured to display, via a single screen, a first input-receiving control configured to receive a user input and a second input-receiving control configured to receive the user input. The configuration wizard is also configured to display a display area configured to display a first parameter value associated with a device. The first input-receiving control is displayed as active and the second input-receiving control is displayed as inactive. The second input-receiving control is displayed as active based on a first dependency.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to software that controls devices, and more particularly to software wizards that may dynamically change parameters.
Certain devices such as sensors, pumps, valves, and the like, may be controlled by a controller using electrical signals. For example, the controller may use a communications bus to send and receive signals from the various devices. The controller and communications bus may be connected to a central control interface where a user can electronically interact with the devices. Each device may have many possible operations and settings, such as functions or parameters that a user may set up during initial configuration and adjust throughout the lifetime of the device. It would be beneficial to provide for techniques useful in improving the adjustment of the device.


According to an exemplary embodiment, a memory device may include a memory cell array that includes memory cells connected to word lines arranged in sequential order depending on a sequential change of a row address, a row decoder that, for each row address input to the row decoder, scrambles a first bit of the row address and a second bit of the row address depending on a selection signal, thereby forming a scrambled row address, decodes the scrambled row address, and selects a word line from the word lines based on the scrambled row address, and an anti-fuse array that includes an anti-fuse in which a logical value of the selection signal is programmed. A first word line and a second word line of the word lines may be adjacent to each other, and a difference between a first value of the row address corresponding to the first word line and a second value of the row address corresponding to the second word line may be a value corresponding to the first bit.

The present disclosure relates to a memory device, and more particularly, relates to a memory device scrambling an address.
A memory device may include memory cells arranged at intersections of word lines and bit lines. As the capacity and the degree of integration of the memory device increase, a gap between word lines and a gap between bit lines may decrease. In the case where a memory cell is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell, a threshold voltage of a transistor may be set to be high for preventing a leakage current of a capacitor. To turn on the transistor, a higher voltage than a power supply voltage may be applied to a word line. When a high voltage is frequently applied to word lines which are adjacent to each other, an error may occur in data stored in memory cells.
Since a host may randomly access a memory device, the host may frequently access memory cells which are adjacent to each other. Accordingly, there is a desire for a memory device that prevents or minimizes a pass gate effect (PGE), disturbance, coupling, etc. which may occur due to a frequent access to memory cells which are adjacent to each other.


A mass transit vehicle system for improving the efficiency and flexibility in developing scalable mass transit systems. The mass transit vehicle system includes a drive unit for providing locomotive force for the system and includes steerable front wheels for facilitating turning the system and a motor for generating said locomotive force, a passenger section for carrying a plurality of passengers which is couplable to said drive unit and includes at least two wheels for facilitating moving the passenger section with the drive unit, and a mating section for facilitating coupling of the passenger section to the drive unit and providing an environmental barrier such that an interior of the passenger section and an interior of the drive unit are in environmental communication, but are protected from an external environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mass transit systems and more particularly pertains to a new mass transit vehicle system for improving the efficiency and flexibility in developing scalable mass transit systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of mass transit systems is known in the prior art. More specifically, mass transit systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 2,399,929; U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,306; U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,192; U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,417; U.S. Pat. No. 2,263,578; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 1,567,277.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new mass transit vehicle system. The inventive device includes a drive unit for providing locomotive force for the system and includes steerable front wheels for facilitating turning the system and a motor for generating said locomotive force, a passenger section for carrying a plurality of passengers which is couplable to said drive unit and includes at least two wheels for facilitating moving the passenger section with the drive unit, and a mating section for facilitating coupling of the passenger section to the drive unit and providing an environmental barrier such that an interior of the passenger section and an interior of the drive unit are in environmental communication, but are protected from an external environment.
In these respects, the mass transit vehicle system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of improving the efficiency and flexibility in developing scalable mass transit systems.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of mass transit systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new mass transit vehicle system construction wherein the same can be utilized for improving the efficiency and flexibility in developing scalable mass transit systems.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new mass transit vehicle system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the mass transit systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new mass transit vehicle system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art mass transit systems, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a drive unit for providing locomotive force for the system and includes steerable front wheels for facilitating turning the system and a motor for generating said locomotive force, a passenger section for carrying a plurality of passengers which is couplable to said drive unit and includes at least two wheels for facilitating moving the passenger section with the drive unit, and a mating section for facilitating coupling of the passenger section to the drive unit and providing an environmental barrier such that an interior of the passenger section and an interior of the drive unit are in environmental communication, but are protected from an external environment.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new mass transit vehicle system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the mass transit systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new mass transit vehicle system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art mass transit systems, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new mass transit vehicle system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new mass transit vehicle system which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new mass transit vehicle system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such mass transit vehicle system economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new mass transit vehicle system which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new mass transit vehicle system for improving the efficiency and flexibility in developing scalable mass transit systems.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new mass transit vehicle system which includes a drive unit for providing locomotive force for the system and includes steerable front wheels for facilitating turning the system and a motor for generating said locomotive force, a passenger section for carrying a plurality of passengers which is couplable to said drive unit and includes at least two wheels for facilitating moving the passenger section with the drive unit, and a mating section for facilitating coupling of the passenger section to the drive unit and providing an environmental barrier such that an interior of the passenger section and an interior of the drive unit are in environmental communication, but are protected from an external environment.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


A method and device for detecting or monitoring the treatment status of a selected physiological state or disease condition. The device has a subarray of genes which show a statistically significant change in gene expression level when compared with the control expression levels for that gene. The method involves applying a reporter-labeled messenger nucleic acid fraction to the array in the device, and comparing the pattern of gene expression on the array with that produced by labeled messenger nucleic acid from control cells. Also disclosed is a method of constructing the array.

A variety of methods for analyzing gene products and gene expression are available. Northern blot is one widely used method for monitoring gene expression (Sambrook et al). In this method, a cellular RNA fraction, typically total mRNA, is electrophoretically separated on a gel and the separated RNA species are transferred to a blot substrate. The RNA species are then hybridized with one or more labeled probes of interest, e.g., a labeled RNA or cDNA fragment on the substrate. The purpose of the method is to detect the size range and/or relative quantity of an expressed RNA species complementary to the labeled probe.
In general, sensitivity in the Northern blot is limited to mRNA species present at a level of about 1:10,000 of the total mRNA using radioactive detection, and Northern blots require up to 50 micrograms of mRNA per lane. Northern blots are labor intensive and in general not well suited to diagnostic applications.
The amplification step often required in Northern analysis may bias the relative abundance of discrete cDNA species in a complex mixture. Although methods which allow for reliable quantitation of the RT-PCR process (Piatak, et al) have been proposed, these are not practical for analysis of large numbers of genes.
It has also been proposed to analyze patterns of gene expression by hybridizing a gene of interest to colony blots of different cDNA libraries, where the frequency of hits provides a measure of "differential display" of the gene in the different tissues from which the cDNA libraries were originally made (Maser et al). This method requires the fabrication of a cDNA library and the labor-intensive analysis of unordered dot blots from the colony hybridizations.
Recently, there has been considerable interest in monitoring gene expression using tag sequencing. Here a cDNA library from a specific tissue type or disease state is made from poly A mRNA. Individual cDNA clones with inserts of 1-2 kb are selected at random and a "tag" of around 200 bases of each cDNA insert is sequenced. An expression profile is generated in the form of a computer database of the tag sequences for thousands of cDNA clones from the cDNA library (Orr). Computer analysis of expression profiles can determine which genes are differentially expressed in a specific tissue type or disease state. To date, however, the use of tag sequences has been limited by lack of information about the functional roles of most tag sequences, and in fact, assigning functional roles to tag sequences represents one of the challenging problems of the Human Genome Project.
In view of these limitations in identifying and quantitating gene expression levels for large numbers of expressed genes, it has not been practical heretofore to employ multi-gene expression as a sensitive test for cell status, e.g., in a disease state, or as a method for monitoring the effect of therapeutic treatment on diseased-state cells.

Method for analyzing gene expression patterns

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A vehicle frame includes a frame rail, a shock tower bracket, and a cable. The frame rail is elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The shock tower bracket is connected to the frame rail. The cable is connected to the frame rail and the shock tower bracket. The cable extends transverse to the vehicle-longitudinal axis from the frame rail to the shock tower bracket.

During an offset frontal impact of a vehicle, a direction of the impact is offset from major structural components of the vehicle. Offset front impacts can be simulated with a small offset rigid barrier (SORB) frontal crash test. For example, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) sets a standard for a SORB frontal crash test in which the vehicle impacts a rigid barrier at 40 miles/hour with 25% of an outer portion of the vehicle overlapping the rigid barrier.
During the offset frontal impact, a wheel may rotate relative to a suspension arm, e.g., about a king pin axis or a steering axis, to a position in which the wheel is oriented with a front portion of the wheel being positioned outboard relative to a rear portion of the wheel. In this position, the wheel may be trapped between a bumper beam of the vehicle, the suspension arm, and a rear of a wheel well of the vehicle. As the bumper beam moves toward the rear of the wheel well, the bumper and/or other components of the vehicle may force the wheel toward a passenger compartment of the vehicle.


According to an aspect, a portable photographing device includes: an image capturing unit; a projecting unit for projecting an image; and a storing unit for storing an image captured by the image capturing unit. The projecting unit projects any of a first image captured by the image capturing unit, a second image related to the first image, and a third image obtained by synthesizing the first image with the second image as a projection image into a region which is different from an image capturing region of the photographing unit. The storing unit stores the first image in the projection of the projection image or the first image after the projection of the projection image.

A portable photographing device for photographing an image includes a digital camera, a digital video camera and the like. A device for projecting an image onto a wall surface or a screen includes a so-called projector. As the projector, a device of a so-called stationary type is a mainstream, in which a power is supplied from a commercial power supply thereto and the device is used in a fixing state into a predetermined position. The projector of the stationary alone type projects an image onto a wall surface or a screen in a certain place in the fixing state. On the other hand, in recent years, a portable projector which is small-sized and is easy to carry is proposed as the projector.
Patent Literature 1 describes a portable electronic apparatus having an image capturing function and a projector function, including an photographing device for picking up a subject image and outputting an image signal, a projector device for projecting an image formed on a light image forming element, image change detecting means for detecting a change in the image signal, indicating means for giving an instruction related to an operation of the projector device corresponding to a region in which the change in the image signal is detected, a display device capable of displaying an image obtained by pickup of the photographing device, and display control means for controlling a display content to be displayed on the display device and causing the display device to carry out a display corresponding to the instruction.
Furthermore, Patent Literature 2 describes a portable terminal device for projecting an image onto a touch panel or a key button by means of a projector. The portable terminal device described in the Patent Literature 2 projects a character, a numeral, a mark or the like which is allocated to each portion of the touch panel in the case of an input mode.


A semiconductor memory device includes multiple first electrode layers stacked in a first direction, multiple second electrode layers stacked in the first direction, a first columnar body extending through the multiple first electrode layers in the first direction, a second columnar body extending through the multiple second electrode layers in the first direction, a connection part connecting the first columnar body and the second columnar body, and a spacer film having an island configuration surrounding the connection part. The multiple first electrode layers and the multiple second electrode layers are arranged in the first direction, and the connection part and the spacer film are provided between the multiple first electrode layers and the multiple second electrode layers.

Semiconductor memory devices in which memory cells are three-dimensionally arranged are being developed. For example, a NAND nonvolatile memory device includes the multiple electrode layers stacked on a conductive layer, and a semiconductor film and a charge storage film provided in a memory hole extending through the multiple electrode layers; and memory cells are provided at the portions where the memory hole extends through the electrode layers. The memory capacity of such a memory device can be increased by increasing the layer number of electrode layers. However, as the layer number of the electrode layers increases, it becomes difficult to form the memory hole that extends through the multiple electrode layers.
In contrast, a method can be used in which a first memory hole is formed to extend through multiple first electrode layers, and then, a second memory is formed to extend through multiple second electrode layers stacked on the first electrode layers so that the second memory hole communicates with the first memory hole. Although the difficulty is reduced thereby in the etching for forming a memory hole extending through the electrode layers stacked with the large layer number, there may be cases where a charge storage film formed in the first memory hole is subjected to the process damage due to the misalignment of the second memory hole.


A power delivery system includes a circuit board, a power consuming module and a dc--dc converter. The printed circuit board has on it a first signal connector, a pair of first contacts to which a first voltage is supplied, spaced from said connector, and fasteners spaced from said pair of first contacts. The power consuming module has a second signal connector, mating with the first signal connector, and has respective upper and lower power pads for receiving low voltage power. The dc--dc converter converts the first voltage to a lower voltage. The dc--dc converter has a pair of second contacts contacting said pair of first contacts, surfaces mating with said fasteners and holding the converter on the printed circuit board such that said second contacts are in firm contact with said first contacts, and a laterally extending connector having upper and lower contacts supplying the lower voltage and engaging the upper and lower power pads of the power consuming module.

This invention relates to power delivery to electronic circuits in general and more particularly to an improved power delivery system for supplying power to a power consuming module.
Along with the development of higher levels of integration in integrated circuits, power requirements have increased. This is particularly true with current microprocessor and associated integrated circuits or chips recently developed and now being developed. These chips, which are operating at higher speeds, consume greater amounts of power than previously.
In a typical computer system, a large printed circuit board known as a motherboard is provided. The motherboard contains a certain number of basic components and is supplied with voltage from a power supply, typically at a higher DC level (e.g., 12 volts) than required by the components on the motherboard. The motherboard includes connectors for daughter boards which can be plugged in to provide different capabilities for the computer. Such boards, for example may provide an interface to disk drives and CD ROMs, modem interfaces for local area networks, etc. Typically, these circuits operate on the 12 volts which is on the board or on reduced voltages of 5 volts. Power consumption is not typically very high. Current processors however have been designed to operate at lower voltages, e.g., 3.3 volts. Because of the increased capability and speed of these processors they consume a large amount of power despite their lower voltage. Their operation at a lower voltage requires a dc-to-dc power converter to reduce the voltage. Typically, this dc-to-dc power converter is soldered to the mother board or plugs into a connector on the motherboard. The lower voltage is then conducted through conductors or traces on the motherboard to a connector for the component requiring the lower voltage, e.g., a processor. This same connector also provides signal connections. In current systems, one or more processors and in some cases associated chips are mounted on a board or module. This module then plugs into the connector on the motherboard. Since the voltage required by the processor is lower, and the power consumption is high, the currents which must be supplied to the module become particularly large. As a result, it is difficult to establish a low resistance, low inductance path on the motherboard from the dc-to-dc converter board to the multi-chip module. This is particularly true since the prior art arrangement requires that the high current pass through two connectors, one from the dc-to-dc converter into the motherboard and another connector from the motherboard through the module connector to the module. Also, the prior art arrangement presents difficulties in manufacture because the dc-to-dc converter becomes an additional component that must be tested with the remaining components on the motherboard.
Thus, there is the need for an improved arrangement for delivering power to a power consuming module requiring high amounts of power at a lower voltage, which voltage must be converted from a higher voltage.


There are provided a polarizer rotating device and a satellite signal receiving apparatus having the same. The satellite signal receiving apparatus includes a feedhorn that receives a satellite signal; a low noise block down converter that processes the signal received by the feedhorn; a skew compensating device that is provided at the low noise block down converter or the feedhorn and rotates the low noise block down converter or the feedhorn to compensate for a skew angle when the satellite signal received by the feedhorn is a linearly polarized wave; a polarizer that receives a linearly polarized signal and a circularly polarized signal of the satellite signal; and a polarizer rotating device that rotates the polarizer when the satellite signal received by the polarizer is a circularly polarized wave. In such a simple structure, the linearly polarized wave and the circularly polarized wave are all received to be processed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polarizer rotating device for a multi polarized satellite signal and a satellite signal receiving apparatus having the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a polarizer rotating device for a multi polarized satellite signal and a satellite signal receiving apparatus having the same with which it is possible to process a linearly polarized wave and a circularly polarized wave of a satellite signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A reflector antenna has been widely used in satellite communication, a high-capacity radio communication, or the like. The reflector antenna is configured to focus a received signal into at least one focal point by using a principle of a reflecting telescope. In general, a horn antenna or a feedhorn may be provided at the focal point of the reflector antenna. Here, a parabolic antenna may be typically used as the reflector antenna.
The received signal is reflected from the reflector antenna to be transmitted to the feedhorn, and the feedhorn transmits the signal, which has been input to the feedhorn, to a low noise block down converter (LNB) through a waveguide. Then, the low noise block down converter converts the signal, which has received from the feedhorn, into a signal of an intermediate frequency band to transmit the converted signal to an external video playing media such as a TV set-top box. Here, the low noise block down converter is a device that corresponds to a first stage of receiving a signal and is referred to as a kind of electronic amplifier. Some noise is additionally introduced in the low noise block down converter, and the noise introduced in the low noise block down converter is amplified to be transmitted to the next stage. Such noise needs to be minimized in order to maintain an optimal system, and the low-noise block down converter is designed to have a minimum noise level in order to stabilize the entire satellite signal receiving system.
Meanwhile, a conventional low noise block down converter capable of processing a satellite signal of a specific band receives any one signal of a linearly polarized signal and a circularly polarized signal depending on polarization properties of signals received from a satellite.
In a satellite antenna provided on land, since the polarization property is determined depending on regions, a low-noise block down converter for a circularly polarized wave or a low-noise block down converter for a linearly polarized wave is used depending on the determined polarization property. Accordingly, the low-noise block down converter need not be replaced. Unfortunately, the polarization property of the satellite is changed along with the movement of a ship between nations or between continents such that the circularly polarized wave is changed to the linearly polarized wave or the linearly polarized wave is changed to the circularly polarized wave. Thus, a marine satellite antenna needs to selectively receive the linearly polarized wave or the circularly polarized wave. Disadvantageously, in order to selectively receive the linearly polarized wave or the circularly polarized wave, since it is necessary to replace the low-noise block down converter, there is a troublesome work.
In particular, since a marine satellite tracking antenna has a complicated device including a radome and is provided under antenna circumstances of shaking due to waves, if there is a lack of specialized knowledge about the assembly and disassembly of the marine antenna, it is difficult to manually replace a low noise block down converter for a circularly polarized wave and a low noise block down converter for a linearly polarized wave. In order to solve such a problem, there has been suggested an apparatus capable of receiving both the linearly polarized wave and the circularly polarized wave. However, such an apparatus has a large size unsuitable for a marine antenna or an antenna for a ship. Further, it is required that waveguides for individually receiving the linearly polarized wave and the circularly polarized wave are provided at the apparatus and a feedhorn antenna is moved to correspond to the individual waveguides. Thus, there is a demerit that the structure thereof is complicated.
In addition, when a conventional feeding system for a linearly polarized wave and a conventional feeding system for a circularly polarized wave are simply connected, it is difficult to commercialize the systems due to large loss caused by interference between the linearly polarized wave and the circularly polarized wave. When the feeding systems are separately attached, there is a problem that a manufacturing cost is excessively increased.
Furthermore, when a linearly polarized satellite signal is received, it is necessary to implement a function for automatically compensating for a skew angle in order to compensate for loss caused by a polarization angle caused between the linearly polarized satellite signal and a polarized wave received by the antenna. In other words, when the linearly polarized satellite signal is received, it is difficult to implement a function of controlling the skew angle by compensating for an error between a direction of the linearly polarized satellite signal and a polarization direction of the low noise block down converter for a linearly polarized wave and automatically aligning the low noise block down converter. Due to Faraday rotation caused when the linearly polarized signal transmitted from the satellite passes through the ionosphere, the skew angle is caused between the antenna at the transmission side and the low noise block down converter at the reception side. Since the skew angle causes polarization loss to attenuate the magnitude of the signal, it is necessary to compensate for the skew angle. The reason why the skew angle is caused is briefly explained below. Since all satellites exist above the equator of the earth and the earth is round, as the linearly polarized wave propagates toward the polar regions of the Earth, the linearly polarized wave is curved to cause the skew angle.
In order to receive a signal from the satellite that uses the linearly polarized wave depending on a position of the moving body such as a ship, it is required that the antenna is rotated by the skew angle to compensate for the skew angle. However, in such a method, since the antenna is rotated, there is a problem that the size of the antenna is increased, the manufacturing cost thereof is increased, and large power loss is caused.
For example, in Europe or Asia that uses the linearly polarized signal, in order to receive the linearly polarized satellite signal, there is an inconvenience that the antenna is rotated to compensate for the skew angle. Meanwhile, when the skew angle is not compensated, there is a problem that loss of the satellite signal is caused. In addition, since a moving body such as a ship, an airplane or a vehicle does not have a space enough to provide receiving apparatuses for respectively processing the linearly polarized wave and the circularly polarized wave, there is a great demand for a technology capable of receiving all the multi polarized waves by a single signal receiving apparatus and selectively receiving the circularly polarized wave or the linearly polarized wave while occupying a minimum operation space.

Polarizer rotating device for multi polarized satellite signal and satellite signal receiving apparatus having the same


An imaging device has a gantry designed to movie along the floor of a room in which the imaging device is installed. The imaging device has a supply unit that includes a transfer arrangement to transfer power and/or data and/or coolant between a stationary supply source and the movable gantry. The supply unit is arranged in or on the floor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a supply unit for a movable gantry of an image acquisition device, particularly a medical image acquisition device. The supply unit serves to transport power and/or data and/or coolant between the movable gantry and a stationary connection point (generally designated as a supply source in the following).
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the following, a movable gantry ("sliding gantry") means a structural unit that has at least one approximately annular housing (gantry) that is in penetrated by a tunnel, as well as components accommodated in the housing that enable an image acquisition. The entire gantry housing is movable, such as on rails recessed into the floor. For image acquisition purposes, the gantry is moved with respect to a patient bed associated with the gantry such that the bed is caused to protrude into the tunnel.
Such sliding gantries are presently used primarily in (x-ray) computed tomography systems (CT systems). An essentially annular mount (also designated as a ring collar) is supported inside the housing, on which mount are attached an x-ray source and a radially opposite x-ray detector. This mount rotates around the tunnel in a known manner to acquire slice images (tomograms) of a patient on the patient bed.
In a typical image acquisition method, projection images of a subject to be imaged (thus of the patient on the patient bed) are acquired slice-by-slice in a typical image acquisition method during successive feed of the gantry along the tunnel axis, and the projection images are electronically stored as image data. Finally, slice images or three-dimensional volume data sets of the subject to be imaged are calculated at a control and evaluation computer (associated with the gantry) by numerical back-projection of the acquired projection images. The acquisition of a series of projection images is also designated as a "scan" in the following.
Such a sliding gantry is frequently used in connection with an operation on the patient when an image acquisition is to take place in the course of the operation, and when a dedicated CT table cannot be used.
To operate the CT system, it is necessary to supply the sliding gantry with power and to transfer data (in particular image data acquired in a scan) as well as control signals between the gantry and the control and evaluation computer. In a liquid-cooled CT system, it is also necessary for a liquid coolant to be supplied to the gantry and discharged from it again.
In a conventional design, all conduits (for power, data and/or coolant) are directed from the gantry via a cable column into a component known as a ceiling module. The ceiling module is an (oblong) housing arranged near the ceiling (of an operating room, for example). This housing is arranged approximately parallel to the travel direction of the gantry. In the following, a device designated as a "power routing chain" is accommodated inside the housing.
Such a known power routing chain is a flexible module that directs and protects a conduit accommodated therein, and the power routing chain establishes a connection between the stationary supply source an a connection point with the gantry, whose location varies.