Author: claimsbot

1. A computer network for backing up a job that was interrupted during a backup process, comprising:
means for identifying the job that was interrupted during the backup process;
means for using the interrupted job to build a list of one or more volumes that still need to be backed up;
means for generating a catalog containing a partially backed up volume from the list of volumes that still need to be backed up;
means for retrieving an object from the one or more volumes stored in a client computer;
means for determining whether the object is listed in the catalog;
means for determining whether the object is partially backed up if the object is listed in the catalog; and
means for writing the data contained in the object to one or more storage devices if the object is partially backed up or is not listed in the catalog, wherein the means for using the interrupted job to build the list of volumes comprises:
means for building a second list of volumes associated with the job that was interrupted during the backup process; and
means for removing from the second list of volumes associated with the interrupted job a third list of volumes that had been completely backed up.
2. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the partially backed up volume is the first volume listed on the volumes that still need to be backed up.
3. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the catalog is a disk-based catalog.
4. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the object is a container object.
5. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the means for generating the catalog comprises means for storing one or more objects listed in one or more persistent records of one or more temporary catalog files to the catalog.
6. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the means for determining whether the object is partially backed up comprises means for determining that the object is partially backed up if the object is the last object listed in the catalog.
7. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the means for generating the catalog comprises means for identifying the partially backed up volume using one or more persistent records of one or more temporary catalog files and an amount of data previously written to the storage devices.
8. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform functions comprising:
retrieving, for backup to a backup system, an object from one or more volumes stored in a client computer;
sending to the backup system at least one query for querying a catalog of the backup system, wherein the catalog comprises: a partially backed up volume, wherein the catalog is generated from a list of one or more volumes that still need to be backed up, and wherein the list is built from at least one job that was interrupted during at least one backup process;
determining, via the at least one query, (i) that the object is not listed in the catalog or (ii) that the object is listed in the catalog and partially backed up; and
writing the data contained in the object to one or more storage devices when the object is partially backed up or is not listed in the catalog.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions further include instructions which, when executed cause the processor to perform functions comprising:
identifying the at least one job that was interrupted during the at least one backup process; and
building the list of one or more volumes that still need to be backed up using the interrupted job.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of instructions further include instructions which, when executed cause the processor to perform functions comprising:
avoiding writing the data contained in the object to the one or more storage devices when the object is completely backed up.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of instructions further include instructions which, when executed cause the processor to perform functions comprising:
removing, from the list of one or more volumes, one or more volumes that were completely backed up.
12. A method comprising for recovering from interruption of a backup process, the method comprising:
retrieving, for backup to a backup system, an object from one or more volumes stored in a client computer;
sending to the backup system at least one query for querying a catalog of the backup system, wherein the catalog comprises: a partially backed up volume, wherein the catalog is generated from a list of one or more volumes that still need to be backed up, and wherein the list is built from at least one job that was interrupted during at least one backup process;
determining, via the at least one query, (i) that the object is not listed in the catalog or (ii) that the object is listed in the catalog and partially backed up; and
writing the data contained in the object to one or more storage devices when the object is partially backed up or is not listed in the catalog.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: avoiding writing the data contained in the object to the storage devices when the object is completely backed up.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the catalog is a disk-based catalog.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the object is a container object.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the partially backed up volume is a volume listed first on the list of one or more volumes that still need to be backed up.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
Identifying, at a server computer of a backup system, the at least one job that was interrupted during the at least one backup process;
building, at the server computer as a function of the at least one job, the list of one or more volumes that still need to be backed up; and
generating the catalog at the server computer from the list of one or more volumes that still need to be backed up.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein building the list of one or more volumes comprises: removing, from the list of one or more volumes, at least one volume that was backed up completely.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the catalog comprises: storing, to the catalog, one or more objects listed in one or more persistent records of one or more temporary catalog files.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the catalog further comprises: discerning the partially backed up volume from (i) one or more persistent records of one or more temporary catalog files and (ii) an amount of data that was written to the storage devices.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein determining that the object is partially backed up comprises: rendering the object as partially backed up when the object is listed last in the catalog.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A secured cable system comprising:
(a) an inner secured cable;
(b) a cable security system comprising:
i. a first security tape including a tape portion upon which a plurality of detection lines are arranged; and
ii. a detection box in electrical or optical communication with each of the detection lines in the first security tape;
iii. wherein the security tape is spiral wrapped about the inner cable in a first direction along a length of the inner cable, the security tape being overlapped upon itself.
2. The secured cable system of claim 1, wherein the detection lines are arranged in a parallel relationship onto the tape portion.
3. The secured cable system of claim 2, wherein a spacing between the detection lines is up to about 5 millimeters.
4. The secured cable system of claim 1, wherein the detection lines are electrical conductors.
5. The secured cable system of claim 1, wherein the detection lines are fiber optic cables.
6. The secured cable system of claim 1, wherein the detection box is a time domain reflector.
7. The secured cable system of claim 1, wherein the overlap factor is at least about 75%.
8. The secured cable system of claim 1, wherein the cable security system includes a second security tape including a tape portion upon which a plurality of detection lines are arranged, the second security tape being wrapped about the first security tape in a second direction opposite the first direction.
9. The secured cable system of claim 8, wherein the detection box is a time domain reflector.
10. The secured cable system of claim 8, further comprising a loopback that places the first security tape detection lines in electrical or optical communication with the second security tape detection lines.
11. The secured cable system of claim 10, wherein the detection box is a continuity detector.
12. A cable security system for protecting an inner cable, the cable security system comprising:
(a) a security tape configured to be spiral wrapped about the inner cable, the security tape including a tape portion wherein:
i. a plurality of first detection lines are arranged in a first pattern on a top side of the tape portion;
ii. a plurality of second detection lines are arranged in a second pattern on a bottom side of the tape portion.

(b) a detection box in electrical or optical communication with each of the first and second detection lines in the first security tape;
13. The cable security system of claim 12, wherein the first detection lines are arranged in a straight parallel pattern onto the top portion of the tape portion.
14. The cable security system of claim 13, wherein the second detection lines are arranged in a zigzag pattern onto the bottom portion of the tape portion.
15. The cable security system of claim 12, wherein the number of first detection lines is equal to the number of second detection lines.
16. The cable security system of claim 15, wherein each of the first detection lines is connected to one of the second detection lines.
17. The cable security system of claim 12, wherein the first and second detection lines are electrical conductors.
18. The cable security system of claim 12, wherein the first and second detection lines are fiber optic cables.
19. The secured cable system of claim 12, wherein the detection box is a time domain reflector.
20. The secured cable system of claim 12, wherein the detection box is a continuity detector.
21. A secured cable comprising:
(a) an inner cable; and
(b) a first security tape comprising:
i. a first tape portion;
ii. a first plurality of detection lines arranged onto the first tape portion, the first plurality of detection lines being configured for electrical or optical communication with a detection box;

(c) wherein the first security tape is helically wrapped about the inner cable in a first direction such that the tape portion is overlapped upon itself along a length of the inner cable.
22. The secured cable of claim 21, wherein the first security tape further comprises a second plurality of detection lines arranged onto the first tape portion.
23. The secured cable of claim 22, wherein the first plurality of detection lines are arranged on a first side of the first tape portion and the second plurality of detection lines are arranged on a second side of the first tape portion.
24. The secured cable of claim 23, wherein the first plurality of detection lines are arranged in a straight parallel orientation and the second plurality of detection lines are arranged in a zigzag orientation.
25. The secured cable of claim 22, wherein an equal number of first and second detection lines are provided on the tape portion.
26. The secured cable of claim 25, wherein each of the first detection lines is in electrical or optical communication with one of the second detection lines.
27. The secured cable of claim 21, wherein the inner cable is covered by at least two overlapped layers of security tape along a length of the inner cable.
28. The secured cable of claim 21 further comprising:
(a) a second security tape comprising:
i. a second tape portion;
ii. a second plurality of detection lines arranged onto the second tape portion, the second plurality of detection lines being configured electrical or optical communication with the detection box;

(b) wherein the second security tape is helically wrapped about the first security tape in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

We claim:

1. An interconnect assembly for printed circuit boards used in automotive vehicles, said assembly comprising:
a female portion including a housing containing a plurality of female terminals, said female terminals defining an insertion axis and having a spring clip portion oriented along said insertion axis and a contact top where the spring clip portion bends to create a first angle between the insertion axis and contact top bend; and
a male portion containing a plurality of male pins being coupled together by a retainer, each of said male pins including a straight portion, a first end to be mounted to the printed circuit board and a second end to engage one of said female terminals, said second end defining an angled portion with respect to a longitudinal axis of said male pin, said angled portion further defining a second angle, wherein said second angle in said male portion is substantially similar to said first angle in said female portion.
2. The interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein said first angle is 121 degrees and said second angle is 121 degrees.
3. The male pins of claim 1 wherein said pins are substantially square.
4. An interconnect assembly for printed circuit boards used in automotive vehicles, said assembly comprising:
a female portion including a housing containing a plurality of female terminals, said female terminals defining an insertion axis and having a spring clip portion oriented along said insertion axis and a contact top where the spring clip portion bends to create a first angle between the insertion axis and contact top bend; and
a male portion of an interconnect containing a plurality of male pins with a straight portion on said pins surrounded by a housing at a bottom end of said pins and an arced portion on a mating end of said pin wherein the rise in the male pin surface along said arced portion creates a second angle on said male portion that is substantially similar to said first angle in said female portion.
5. The male pins of claim 4 wherein said pins are substantially square.
6. The interconnect assembly of claim 4 wherein said first angle is 121 degrees and said second angle is 121 degrees.
7. An interconnect assembly for printed circuit boards used in automotive vehicles, said assembly comprising:
a female portion including a housing containing a plurality of female terminals, said female terminals defining an insertion axis and having a spring clip portion oriented along said insertion axis and a contact top where the spring clip portion bends to create a first angle between the insertion axis and contact top bend; and
a male portion of an interconnect containing a plurality of male pins with a straight portion on said pins surrounded by a housing at a bottom end of said pins and a protruding portion on a mating end of said pin wherein the protruding portion contains an angled surface on a trailing side of said protruding portion that is angled up from the straight portion of said male pin wherein the angled surface and the straight portion create a second angle on said male portion that is substantially similar to said first angle in said female portion.
8. The male pins of claim 7 wherein said protruding portion is cut out in its center to allow compression of said protruding portion during insertion into said female mating interconnect.
9. The male pins of claim 7 wherein said protruding portion is angled on a leading edge to allow easier insertion to said mating female interconnect.
10. The male pins of claim 7 wherein said pins are substantially square.
11. The interconnect assembly of claim 7 wherein said first angle is 121 degrees and said second angle is 121 degrees.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for manufacturing a probe card, comprising:
a first step of preparing a probe substrate, a plurality of probes each having an attaching portion and a probe tip portion, and plate-like first and second positioning members collaboratively positioning relative positions of the probe tip portions of the plurality of probes, wherein the first and second positioning members respectively have a plurality of first and second through holes that penetrate the respective positioning members in their thickness directions and in which the probe tip portions can be inserted and can perform parallel movement relatively between an inserting position at which the mutually corresponding first and second through holes are communicated and at which insertion of the probe tip portions of the corresponding probes is allowed in a state where the first and second positioning members are piled on each other and a clamping position at which edge portions of the first and second through holes collaboratively clamp the probe tip portions in a state where the probe tip portions are inserted in the first and second through holes;
a second step including placing the first and second positioning members at the inserting position and inserting the probe tip portions of the corresponding probes into the first and second through holes of the first and second positioning members placed in the inserting position;
a third step of making the first and second positioning members perform parallel movement relatively from the inserting position to the clamping position in a state where the probe tip portions are inserted in the first and second through holes to position the relative positions of the plurality of probe tip portions; and
a fourth step of fixing the attaching portions of the probes in relation to the probe substrate to hold the probes in the probe substrate in a state where the probe tip portions are clamped by the first and second positioning members.
2. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 1, wherein each of the attaching portions is formed in a columnar shape having a circumferential surface, and the probe substrate has a plurality of third through holes penetrating in its thickness direction and allowing insertion of the attaching portions of the probes, and
wherein the first step further includes forming a metal layer having higher wettability than that of the attaching portion at a part of the circumferential surface of the probe and forming a layer of a hot-melt material to cover the metal layer and at least a part of the circumferential surface exposed form the metal layer,
the method further comprising, between the first step and the second step, a fifth step including inserting the attaching portion of each of the plurality of probes into each of the plurality of third through holes of the probe substrate so that at least a part of the metal layer may be located in the third through hole and melting the hot-melt material of each attaching portion and thereafter solidifying the hot-melt material in a state where the hot-melt material contacts the part of the metal layer and a part of a wall surface of the third through hole to temporarily hold each probe in the probe substrate,
wherein the fourth step includes, in a state where each of the probe tip portions is clamped by the first and second positioning members, melting the hot-melt material solidified in the fifth step and thereafter solidifying the hot-melt material in a state where the hot-melt material contacts the part of the metal layer and the part of the wall surface of the third through hole to fix the probe to the probe substrate.
3. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 2, further comprising a sixth step including preparing a wiring board with a plurality of coupling portions formed on one surface thereof, arranging the probe substrate on the one surface of the wiring board, and jointing one end portions of the attaching portions projecting from the third through holes to the corresponding coupling portions formed on the wiring board; and
a seventh step for removing the positioning members from the probes after the sixth step.
4. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 2, further comprising the sixth step for removing the positioning members from the probes after the fourth step, and
a seventh step including preparing a wiring board with a plurality of jointing portions formed on one surface thereof, arranging the probe substrate on the one surface of the wiring board, and jointing the one end portions of the attaching portions projecting from the third through holes to the corresponding coupling portions formed on the wiring board.
5. A method for manufacturing a probe card, comprising:
a first step of manufacturing a plurality of bar-like probes, wherein each probe has a probe main body portion extending in an up-down direction, a probe tip portion extending downward from a lower end of the probe main body portion, an attaching portion extending upward from an upper end of the probe main body portion, and a layer of a conductive jointing material provided on an outer surface of an upper portion of the attaching portion;
a second step including preparing a probe substrate having a plurality of first through holes penetrating in its up-down direction and arrayed on the probe substrate at least in a row and inserting the attaching portion of each of the plurality of probes into the corresponding first through hole;
a third step including inserting the probe tip portions of the corresponding probes into second through holes provided respectively on at least two plate-like positioning members piled in their thickness directions at least in a row and thereafter relatively displacing the adjacent positioning members to two-dimensionally position the probe tip portions of the probes against the probe substrate; and
a fourth step of softening the conductive jointing material to eliminate a stress generated in the probes by positioning of the probe tip portions of the probes against the probe substrate.
6. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, further comprising, after the second step, a fifth step of melting the jointing material and solidifying the molten jointing material to fix the attaching portion of each probe in the first through hole of the probe substrate.
7. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, wherein the probe tip portion of each probe and each second through hole of each positioning member have rectangular cross-sectional shapes, and
wherein the third step includes piling the adjacent positioning members so that the corresponding second through holes of the adjacent positioning members may be aligned to one another and relatively displacing the adjacent positioning members in a diagonal direction of the rectangle of the second through hole to maintain the adjacent positioning members in a state where the rectangle of the probe tip portion and each communicating part of the second through holes of the adjacent positioning members are in equal shapes, and where the probe tip portion is clamped by edge portions of the second through holes.
8. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, wherein each probe has at a border between the probe main body portion and the probe tip portion a step abutting on an outer edge of the second through hole of the positioning member when the probe tip portion is inserted into the corresponding second through holes.
9. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, wherein the first step includes manufacturing a probe plate, the probe plate having the plurality of probes and a tab integrally coupling the probes and detachable from each probe at the proximity of the probe tip portion of each probe, and
wherein the third step includes separating the tab from each probe before the probe tip portion is inserted in the second through holes.
10. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, wherein each probe has a leading portion extending upward from the upper portion of the attaching portion, and
wherein inserting the attaching portion into the first through hole includes inserting the attaching portion of each probe into the first through hole from a side of the leading portion,
the method further comprising, after the second step, a step of removing the leading portion of the probe from the attaching portion, and after the fourth step, a step of removing the positioning members from the probes.
11. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of first through holes are arrayed in plural rows,
wherein the first step includes manufacturing a plurality of probe plates, each probe plate having the plurality of probes and a tab integrally coupling the probes and detachable from each probe at the proximity of the probe tip portion of each probe, and
wherein the third step includes separating the tab from each probe before the probe tip portion is inserted in the second through holes.
12. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, further comprising a sixth step including arranging the probe substrate on one surface of a wiring board and jointing the upper portions of the attaching portions projecting from the first through holes to a plurality of coupling portions formed on the one surface of the wiring board.
13. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, wherein each probe has at a border between the probe main body portion and the attaching portion a step abutting on an outer edge of the first through hole of the probe substrate when the attaching portion is inserted into the first through hole.
14. The method for manufacturing a probe card according to claim 5, wherein the probe main body portion of each probe has a curve bent or curved in an equal direction.