Abstract: Garbage collection is performed for a virtualized storage system whose virtual address space is addressed in extents. Valid data in source extents is copied via a cache into destination extents. Once all valid data in a source extent is copied into one or more destination extents, the source extent may be reused. A source extent is released for reuse only after the one or more destination extents that received the valid data copied from the source extent are determined to be full, and the valid data copied from the source extent to the destination extent via the cache is flushed out of the cache.

Abstract: The angle piece head drives an instrument for operating on dental roots and includes a body having a generally cylindrical cavity and an instrument-holding core in the cavity. The core is shaped to receive and hold the instrument and moves axially and pivotally. The instrument-holding core includes a groove having an offset engaging therewith. The offset engages with one or the other of the two edges of the groove such that the rotation thereof transmits an alternating axial movement to the instrument while enabling same to rotate about the axis of the instrument. The groove includes two portions that extend on either side of a median area. For each portion, the height, namely the distance that separates the two edges, increases from the median area to each end of the groove.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling supply of electrical energy from power source(s) through a plurality of electrical conductors adjacent to a common electrolyte solution are disclosed. The power source(s) are controlled to apply potential difference waveform(s) between pairs of electrical conductors formed from the plurality of electrical conductors such that the potential difference waveform(s) have a magnitude that exceeds a threshold overpotential for the pairs of electrical conductors in the electrolyte solution while sums of an absolute value of a potential difference across a double layer associated with the first electrical conductor in a pair and an absolute value of a potential difference across a double layer associated with a second electrical conductor in the pair is maintained below the threshold overpotential. Some or all electrical conductor(s) can be coupled to the power source(s) using respective capacitor(s).

Abstract: A rotary position sensor assembly (10) for detecting the angular position of the rotor (104) of a motor. The assembly (10) includes at least one sensor (12) and a sensor target (14) which is moveable relative to the sensor (12). The sensor target (14) comprises a tubular body (16) with a plurality of integrally-formed radially-extending sections (18). These sections (18) include two radial upper edge portions (24) which are supported by a radially-extending support which is set back from the edge portions (24). Each of the two upper edge portions (24) provide a target for the sensor. A sensor target (14) for use in a position sensor assembly (10), a method of production of the sensor target (14), and an electromechanical actuator which utilises the rotary position sensor assembly (10) are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a phase change memory that includes a phase change material, such as a chalcogenide material, in series with a heating element that comprises multiple thermal interfaces are described. The multiple thermal interfaces may cause the heating element to have a reduced bulk thermal conductivity or a lower heat transfer rate across the heating element without a corresponding reduction in electrical conductivity. The phase change material may comprise a germanium-antimony-tellurium compound or a chalcogenide glass. The heating element may include a plurality of conducting layers with different thermal conductivities. In some cases, the heating element may include two or more conducting layers in which the conducting layers comprise the same electrically conductive material or compound but are deposited or formed using different temperatures, carrier gas pressures, flow rates, and/or film thicknesses to create thermal interfaces between the two or more conducting layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling supply of electrical energy from power source(s) through a plurality of electrical conductors adjacent to a common electrolyte solution are disclosed. The power source(s) are controlled to apply potential difference waveform(s) between pairs of electrical conductors formed from the plurality of electrical conductors such that the potential difference waveform(s) have a magnitude that exceeds a threshold overpotential for the pairs of electrical conductors in the electrolyte solution whilst sums of an absolute value of a potential difference across a double layer associated with the first electrical conductor in a pair and an absolute value of a potential difference across a double layer associated with a second electrical conductor in the pair is maintained below the threshold overpotential. Some or all electrical conductor(s) can be coupled to the power source(s) using respective capacitor(s).

Abstract: The angle piece head drives an instrument for operating on dental roots and includes a body having a generally cylindrical cavity and an instrument-holding core in the cavity. The core is shaped to receive and hold the instrument and moves axially and pivotally. The instrument-holding core includes a groove having an offset engaging therewith. The offset engages with one or the other of the two edges of the groove such that the rotation thereof transmits an alternating axial movement to the instrument while enabling same to rotate about the axis of the instrument. The groove includes two portions that extend on either side of a median area. For each portion, the height, namely the distance that separates the two edges, increases from the median area to each end of the groove.

Abstract: A process for forming an image on a substrate, comprises depositing ink compositions of at least two colors onto the substrate to form the image, and fixing the image to the substrate, wherein the ink is deposited using an electrostatic printhead, which ejects chargeable marking particles dispersed in a carrier fluid by using an applied electric field to first concentrate and then eject the marking particles, and wherein all of the ink compositions are deposited onto the substrate before the image is fixed. An ink composition suitable for use in the invention comprises: 45-95% by weight of a carrier liquid; 6-40% by weight of insoluble chargeable marking particles; and 0.4-10% by weight of a soluble dispersant, characterized in that the ink does not contain an agent that can fix the marking particles to a substrate.

Abstract: A supplemental step assembly for a vehicle having a vehicle step includes a step which has a first end and an opposite second end. A first side member has a first step end which is connectable to the first end of the step, and an opposite first vehicle step end which is connectable to the vehicle step, the first step end being offset from the first vehicle step end. A second side member has a second step end which is connectable to the second end of the step, and an opposite second vehicle step end which is connectable to the vehicle step, the second step end being offset from the second vehicle step end. The supplemental step assembly can be connected to the step of the vehicle in either an upward projecting direction or a downward projection direction. The supplemental step assembly provides an additional step which reduces the vertical step height and facilitates entry of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat resistant fat based confection. The heat resistance of the confection may be conferred either via inclusion of a polyol and at least one other thermal structuring component in the fat based confection, or via preparation of a premix comprising the polyol and at least one other component of the confection, or a combination of these. Methods of making the fat based confection, and packaged fat based confections, are also provided.

Abstract: A device for recovering a liquid disposed on a solid surface is provided. The device for recovering a liquid comprises a suction device for providing suction to a pickup head and a blowing device for providing an airflow to the pickup head. The pickup head comprises at least an input port for receiving an airflow and a blower opening for providing the airflow to the solid surface. A blower deflector directs the airflow through the blower opening at an acute angle to the solid surface. The airflow and an airborne portion of the liquid is received at a suction opening which is in fluid communication with at least an output port for being connected to a suction device providing suction. The received airflow with the airborne portion of the liquid is provided through the at least an output port. A divider is disposed between the blower opening and the suction opening. A separator is in fluid communication with the suction device and the at least an output port of the pickup head.

Abstract: A remote server is arranged to respond to a request from a user terminal for the download of a media file to cause a unique water-marked copy of a media file to be generated and sent to the user terminal. At the same time the remote server is arranged to access a seal server, which causes an electronically sealed record of the transaction to be generated and stored in a download database. Subsequently, if a suspect media file is identified the sealed record provides evidence of the original transaction which led to the water-marked copy of the media file being issued and hence the original source of the unauthorised copy of the file. Control of distributed media files can be enforced by imposing penalties in the event that unauthorised copies corresponding to the distributed water-marked media files are identified.

Abstract: A process for forming an image on a substrate, comprises depositing ink compositions of at least two colours onto the substrate to form the image, and fixing the image to the substrate, wherein the ink is deposited using an electrostatic printhead, which ejects chargeable marking particles dispersed in a carrier fluid by using an applied electric field to first concentrate and then eject the marking particles, and wherein all of the ink compositions are deposited onto the substrate before the image is fixed. An ink composition suitable for use in the invention comprises: 45-95% by weight of a carrier liquid; 6-40% by weight of insoluble chargeable marking particles; and 0.4-10% by weight of a soluble dispersant, characterised in that the ink does not contain an agent that can fix the marking particles to a substrate.

Abstract: A device for recovering a liquid disposed on a solid surface is provided. The device for recovering a liquid comprises a suction device for providing suction to a pickup head and a blowing device for providing an airflow to the pickup head. The pickup head comprises at least an input port for receiving an airflow and a blower opening for providing the airflow to the solid surface. A blower deflector directs the airflow through the blower opening at an acute angle to the solid surface. The airflow and an airborne portion of the liquid is received at a suction opening which is in fluid communication with at least an output port for being connected to a suction device providing suction. The received airflow with the airborne portion of the liquid is provided through the at least an output port. A divider is disposed between the blower opening and the suction opening. A separator is in fluid communication with the suction device and the at least an output port of the pickup head.

Abstract: An architecture for error log processing is provided. Each error log is given a defined priority and mapped to an error recovery procedure (ERP) to be run if the log is seen. The system has a plurality of software layers to process the errors. Each software layer processes the error independently. Errors are reported to a higher software stack when error recovery fails from the lower stack ERPs and recovery is non-transparent. If the system host identified for error processing fails, the control of the ERP is transferred during the failover process. Non-obvious failed component isolating ERPs are grouped to be run together to assist in isolating the failed component. Prioritization of the error systems may be based on a plurality of criteria. ERPs are assigned to run within a particular software stack.

Abstract: An architecture for error log processing is provided. Each error log is given a defined priority and mapped to an error recovery procedure (ERP) to be run if the log is seen. The system has a plurality of software layers to process the errors. Each software layer processes the error independently. Errors are reported to a higher software stack when error recovery fails from the lower stack ERPs and recovery is non-transparent. If the system host identified for error processing fails, the control of the ERP is transferred during the failover process. Non-obvious failed component isolating ERPs are grouped to be run together to assist in isolating the failed component. Prioritization of the error systems may be based on a plurality of criteria. ERPs are assigned to run within a particular software stack.

Abstract: The invention provides a drop-on-demand printer having a row of ink ejection locations for ejecting plural ink droplets, each ejection location having an associated ejection electrode for causing electrostatic ejection of the droplets from the respective ejection location. An intermediate electrode system has one or more rows of intermediate electrodes 3 spaced from the ejection locations between the ejection locations and a substrate on to which the droplets are printed during use. Plural conductive tracks 5 are provided, each corresponding to a respective intermediate or ejection electrode 3 and supplying a voltage to an electrode in use. Tracks 5 have a resistive element 14 either disposed immediately adjacent the corresponding electrode or actually forming the electrode 3.

Abstract: An ejection apparatus for ejecting material from a liquid at a plurality of ejection locations (4) disposed in a row, has a plurality of channels (11) through each of which liquid flows in use to or from a respective ejection location at an open end of the channel. An ejection electrode (7) is disposed at each ejection location by means of which an electric field is created in use to cause the ejection of material from the liquid. An electrically conductive path (12) exists to each ejection electrode for supplying a voltage to the ejection electrode (7) in use. The channels (11) are isolated from one another and the electrically conductive paths (12) are separated from the channels over substantially the whole of their length.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand printer having a row of ink ejection locations (2) for ejecting plural ink droplets, each ejection location (2) having an associated ejection electrode (40) to which a voltage is applied for causing electrostatic ejection of the droplets from the respective ejection location (2); a guard channel (5) disposed between adjacent ejection locations (2), each guard channel (5) having an electrode (50) disposed therein; and control means for applying a voltage to said guard channel electrodes (50), said applied voltage being the average of the voltages applied in operation over a given time to the adjacent ejection location electrodes.