Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch process including the steps of providing a reactor having a substrate element with a surface and a plurality of elongated micro-structures of catalyst material attached to the substrate surface The catalyst material includes at least one of cobalt, iron, or ruthenium and the micro-structures have a width of less than about 1 um and a length at least five times the width. A carbon compound and hydrogen are injected into the reactor such that at least a portion of the carbon compound and hydrogen contact the catalyst material. The carbon compound and hydrogen are reacted with the catalyst at a temperature between about 80° F. and about 200° F.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for obtaining responses to expressions of interest are disclosed. In one aspect, a computer system comprising computer hardware receives expressions of interest from users, where the expressions of interest comprise expression characteristics. The computer hardware further organizes the expressions of interest based on the expression characteristics to produce expressions of interest. The organized expressions of interest may be presented to one or more entities capable of responding to the organized expressions of interest and/or one or more entities that have an incentive to respond to the organized expressions of interest.

Abstract: An illumination device includes independent light sources and pivotable legs. In an embodiment, each independent light source includes a head having an illumination element; a body; a power source holder configured to receive a power source for powering the illumination element; a switch configured to control the independent light source; and an electrical circuit configured to place the independent light source and at least one other independent light source in an electrically coupled state. The switch may be configured to control an illumination state of both the independent light source and the at least one other independent light source when in the electrically coupled state. The illumination provided by the illumination device may be adjusted to different angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the illumination device by rotating each of the plurality of pivotable heads. The pivotable legs are movable between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration.

Abstract: A fluid manifold apparatus includes: (a) an array of spaced-apart manifold fittings, each manifold fitting aligned in a predetermined angular orientation. Each manifold fitting includes: (i) a tubular neck; (ii) a pair of spaced-apart tubular arms extending away from a first end of the neck; and (iii) a coupling connected to a second end of the neck; and (b) a plurality of curved tubes, each tube being coupled to one arm of each of two adjacent manifold fittings.

Abstract: A hammer includes a handle and a head. The handle includes a bottom end and an upper portion. The head is disposed on the upper portion of the handle. The head includes a bell portion at one end and a claw portion at the other end thereof. The handle, the bell portion, and the claw portion are separately formed structures. The handle and the claw portion are formed from stamped sheet metal. A weld connection is formed between the stamped sheet metal handle and the stamped sheet metal claw portion. A weld connection is formed between the stamped sheet metal claw portion and the bell portion.

Abstract: A shaft cover structure for use in an exciter is provided. The shaft cover structure comprises at least two sections located about a selected portion of a rotatable shaft. The sections are positioned such that adjacent circumferential ends of the at least two sections are spaced apart to define gaps therebetween. A recess extends from each circumferential end such that adjacent recesses define a slot. A spanning member is disposed in each of the slots such that the sections and the spanning members cooperate to form a continuous cover member that surrounds the selected portion of the shaft. A first holding structure secures the continuous member on the selected portion of the shaft.

Abstract: Described is a distributed copying technique that may be used in migrating large amounts of data from one or more source devices to one or more destination devices. The data source is divided into partitions. As Fibre Channel adapters (FAs) become available, each of the FAs may copy a partition of the data. In connection with specifying paths used for the distributed copying technique, a preferred path selection (source port-target port mapping) may be made by executing code in a controlling data storage system to perform discovery processing. The preferred path selection is used for the duration of the distributed copying unless the preferred path is unable to transmit data. A target port of the preferred path may be randomly selected from all accessible target ports, and/or in accordance with a specified portion of the target ports. Preferred paths may also be specified using an API (application programming interface).

Abstract: Described are techniques for overriding an existing device reservation. Discovery processing is performed by a first data storage system to locate a specified device. The discovery processing includes determining whether there is a reservation conflict for said device of a second data storage system. If there is a reservation conflict for the device, a command is issued from the first data storage system to the second data storage system during said discovery processing to create an override for said reservation conflict. The override causes processing to be performed at a subsequent point in time so that an existing reservation associated with the reservation conflict is overridden in connection with performing a first process on said first data storage system.

Abstract: A shaft cover structure for use in an exciter is provided. The shaft cover structure comprises at least two sections located about a selected portion of a rotatable shaft. The sections are positioned such that adjacent circumferential ends of the at least two sections are spaced apart to define gaps therebetween. A recess extends from each circumferential end such that adjacent recesses define a slot. A spanning member is disposed in each of the slots such that the sections and the spanning members cooperate to form a continuous cover member that surrounds the selected portion of the shaft. A first holding structure secures the continuous member on the selected portion of the shaft.

Abstract: An illumination device includes independent light sources and pivotable legs. In an embodiment, each independent light source includes a head having an illumination element; a body; a power source holder configured to receive a power source for powering the illumination element; a switch configured to control the independent light source; and an electrical circuit configured to place the independent light source and at least one other independent light source in an electrically coupled state. The switch may be configured to control an illumination state of both the independent light source and the at least one other independent light source when in the electrically coupled state. The illumination provided by the illumination device may be adjusted to different angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the illumination device by rotating each of the plurality of pivotable heads. The pivotable legs are movable between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration.

Abstract: Described are techniques for use with online data copying or migration. Data is pushed from a source to a target device while one or both of the source and target devices are available for use by one or more host systems. The host systems may perform I/O operations to the source and/or target devices while the data migration is ongoing if a copy session is defined on the data storage system(s) of the source and/or target devices. A copying operation performs data migration from the source to the target device. A migration vector is used to indicate which portions of the source have been migrated. A change vector may be associated with each of the source and/or target devices to indicate portions that have been modified in order to perform a differential copy operation.

Abstract: Described is a distributed copying technique that may be used in migrating large amounts of data from one or more source devices to one or more destination devices. The data source is divided into partitions. As Fibre Channel adapters (FAs) become available, each of the FAs may copy a partition of the data. In connection with specifying paths used for the distributed copying technique, a preferred path selection (source port-target port mapping) may be made by executing code in a controlling data storage system to perform discovery processing. The preferred path selection is used for the duration of the distributed copying unless the preferred path is unable to transmit data. A target port of the preferred path may be randomly selected from all accessible target ports, and/or in accordance with a specified portion of the target ports. Preferred paths may also be specified using an API (application programming interface).

Abstract: Described are techniques for use with an error handling policy for a data storage system. Error handling criteria may be specified for controlling behavior of the data storage system upon the occurrence of an internal processing error occurring when performing an ancillary task associated with a data operation received by the data storage system. The error handling criteria may include a threshold counter value, and one or more of: a device, a specific device location or address, and a host. An error may be conditionally returned to the host upon the occurrence of an internal processing error in accordance with the error handling criteria.

Abstract: Described is a distributed copying technique that may be used in migrating large amounts of data from one or more source devices to one or more destination devices. The data source is divided into partitions. As Fibre Channel adapters (FAs) become available, each of the FAs may copy a partition of the data. A copy indicator value indicates the last partition delegated to an FA for copying. The last FA to complete copying is responsible for ensuring completed copying of any other data partitions delegated to an FA which has died during migration of the other data partitions. In the event that the last FA dies prior to completing its processing, additional steps are performed by other remaining FAs to copy all data partitions not known to be successfully migrated.

Abstract: An electronic audio circuit operates a piezoelectric audio transducer whose emitted sound is directed at a parabolic reflecting dish to produce an increased sound output.

Abstract: A fluorine gas discharge laser electrode for a gas discharge laser having a laser gas containing fluorine is disclosed which may comprise a copper and copper alloy cathode body having an upper curved region containing the discharge footprint for the cathode comprising copper and a lower portion comprising a copper alloy, with the facing portion of the electrode if formed in a arcuate shape extending into straight line portions on either side of the arcuate portion, the straight line portions terminating in vertical straight sides, with the boundary between the copper including at least the arcuate portion, the electrode may comprise a bonded element machined from two pieces of material the first made of copper and the second made of a copper alloy bonded together before machining.

Abstract: Piezoelectric alarm devices are held in a plastic housing with flat bladed electrical terminals carried on the outside of the housing. These terminals are being replaced by a pluggable terminal block assembly which can be readably integrated into the housing. The assembly includes a header which is encapsulated in the housing.