Author: claimsbot

1. A matrix for use in the replication of a plastic element having a positive microstructure, comprising:
a first wear-resistant layer;
wherein said layer is supported by a carrier element and consists of an electrically conducting or semi-conducting material;
wherein said matrix is in the form of a singular structure mould cavity insert and is connected to a source of electrical heat energy via the first wear-resistant layer or a layer supporting the first wear-resistant layer by a connecting means;
wherein said carrier element acts as a heat insulator; and
wherein said carrier element has a thermal conductivity less than 2 Wm\xb0 K.
2. The matrix of claim 1, wherein the carrier element has a resistivity of less than 0.3 ohms\xd7mm2m.
3. The matrix of claim 1, wherein the carrier element has a resistivity of less than 0.03 ohms\xd7mm2m.
4. The matrix of claim 1, wherein the carrier element is capable of producing heat.
5. The matrix of claim 1, wherein the electrical heat energy is supplied by applying a voltage to the electrically conducting or semi-conducting material of the first wear-resistant layer.
6. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said carrier element comprises a polymer material that acts as a heat shield.
7. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said carrier element comprises a plastic composite.
8. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said first wear-resistant layer has a thickness ranging from about 1 to about 50 \u03bcm.
9. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said first wear-resistant layer is a metal layer.
10. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said first wear-resistant layer exposes an inverse microstructure on its surface having a depth variation ranging from about 0.1 to about 1000 \u03bcm.
11. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said carrier element comprises a polymer material that act as the heat insulator.
12. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said conducting or semi-conducting material has a resistivity of between 0.025 and 0.12 ohms\xd7mm2m.
13. A plastic element-producing machine, comprising:
a matrix, wherein said matrix comprising:
a first wear-resistant layer;
wherein said layer is supported by a carrier element and consists of an electrically conducting or semi-conducting material;
wherein said matrix is in the form of a singular structure mould cavity insert and is connected to a source of electrical heat energy via the first wear-resistant layer or a layer supporting the first wear-resistant layer by a connecting means;
wherein said carrier element acts as a heat insulator;
wherein said machine is a compression moulding, an injection moulding, or an embossing machine; and
wherein said carrier element has a thermal conductivity less than 2 Wm\xb0 K.
14. A method for the manufacture of a plastic element having a surface with a positive microstructure comprising the steps of:
(i) providing a matrix, wherein said matrix comprising:
a first wear-resistant layer;
wherein said layer is supported by a carrier element and consists of an electrically conducting or semi-conducting material;
wherein said matrix is in the form of a singular structure mould cavity insert and is connected to a source of electrical heat energy via the first wear-resistant layer or a layer supporting the first wear-resistant layer by a connecting means;
wherein said carrier element acts as a heat insulator;
wherein said carrier element has a thermal conductivity less than 2 Wm\xb0 K; and

(ii) replicating said plastic element on said matrix while supplying heat energy to the electrically conducting or semi-conducting material of the first wear-resistant layer during the filling of the matrix mould cavity with molten plastic.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein step (ii) is performed in a plastic element-producing machine based on replication of the matrix.
16. The method of claim 14, where said plastic element-producing machine is a compression moulding, an injection moulding or an embossing machine.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein said first wear layer is a metal layer.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein said plastic element is an optical disc.
19. A matrix for use in the replication of a plastic element having a positive microstructure, comprising:
a first wear-resistant layer;
wherein said layer is supported by a carrier element and consists of an electrically conducting or semi-conducting material;
wherein said matrix is in the form of a singular structure mould cavity insert and is connected to a source of electrical heat energy via the first wear-resistant layer or a layer supporting the first wear-resistant layer by a connecting means;
wherein said carrier element acts as a heat insulator; and wherein said carrier element comprises a plastic composite.
20. The matrix of claim 19, wherein the carrier element has a resistivity of less than 0.3 ohms\xd7mm2m.
21. The matrix of claim 19, wherein the carrier element has a resistivity of less than 0.03 ohms\xd7mm2m.
22. The matrix of claim 19, wherein the carrier element is capable of producing heat.
23. The matrix of claim 19, wherein the electrical heat energy is supplied by applying a voltage to the electrically conducting or semi-conducting material of the first wear-resistant layer.
24. The matrix of claim 19, wherein said first wear-resistant layer has a thickness ranging from about 1 to about 50 \u03bcm.
25. The matrix of claim 19, wherein said first wear-resistant layer is a metal layer.
26. The matrix of claim 19, wherein said first wear-resistant layer exposes an inverse microstructure on its surface having a depth variation ranging from about 0.1 to about 1000 \u03bcm.
27. The matrix of claim 19, wherein said conducting or semi-conducting material has a resistivity of between 0.025 and 0.12 ohms\xd7mm2m.
28. A plastic element-producing machine, comprising:
a matrix, wherein said matrix comprising:
a first wear-resistant layer;

wherein said layer is supported by a carrier element and consists of an electrically conducting or semi-conducting material;
wherein said matrix is in the form of a singular structure mould cavity insert and is connected to a source of electrical heat energy via the first wear-resistant layer or a layer supporting the first wear-resistant layer by a connecting means;
wherein said carrier element acts as a heat insulator; and
wherein said machine is a compression moulding, an injection moulding, or an embossing machine; and
wherein said carrier element comprises a plastic composite.
29. A method for the manufacture of a plastic element having a surface with a positive microstructure comprising the steps of:
(i) providing a matrix, wherein said matrix comprising:
a first wear-resistant layer;
wherein said layer is supported by a carrier element and consists of an electrically conducting or semi-conducting material;
wherein said matrix is in the form of a singular structure mould cavity insert and is connected to a source of electrical heat energy via the first wear-resistant layer or a layer supporting the first wear-resistant layer by a connecting means;
wherein said carrier element acts as a heat insulator;
wherein said carrier element comprises a plastic composite; and

(ii) replicating said plastic element on said matrix while supplying heat energy to the electrically conducting or semi-conducting material of the first wear-resistant layer during the filling of the matrix mould cavity with molten plastic.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein step (ii) is performed in a plastic element-producing machine based on replication of the matrix.
31. The method of claim 30, where said plastic element-producing machine is a compression moulding, an injection moulding or an embossing machine.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein said first wear layer is a metal layer.
33. The method of claim 30, wherein said plastic element is an optical disc.

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 pneumatic brake booster for a motor vehicle, comprising a piston (22) mounted between a control rod (24) and a push rod (34), the control rod being terminated by a distributor plunger (28) guided translationally in a housing (48) of the piston, and a three-way valve (30) mounted in the piston (22) around the control rod (24) and comprising a shutter (56) engaging with a seat of the piston (22) and with a seat (70) of the distributor plunger (28), a cylindrical sleeve (46) mounted in an axially sliding manner in said housing (48) around the distributor plunger (28), and means (52) which permanently urge the sleeve (46) elastically toward the shutter (56) of the three-way valve in order to move said shutter away from a seat (70) on the distributor plunger (28) and to increase the supply of atmospheric air to a working chamber (16) of the booster, means (58, 58\u2032) for axially locking the sleeve (46) when the shutter (56) is in a moved-away position, and means (66) for unlocking the sleeve which are sensitive to the speed of movement of the control rod (24) and of the distributor plunger (28) in the direction of braking and which unlock the sleeve (46) when this speed is at least equal to a predetermined value, characterized in that the means for axially locking the sleeve (46) are arranged in the housing (48) of the piston between the distributor plunger (28) and the piston (22) and comprise an elastically deformable element (58, 58\u2032) for retaining the sleeve (46), said element (58, 58\u2032) being mounted in an annular groove or slot in the body (42) of the piston (22).
2. The booster according to claim 1, characterized in that a part (64) of the retaining element (58) bears on a ramp or oblique surface (66) of the distributor plunger (28) so that it can be moved away from said plunger and release the sleeve (46) when the distributor plunger (28) is moved axially toward the push rod (34) with respect to the piston (22).
3. The booster according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining element (58) is formed by a spring steel wire stirrup comprising at least one kink housed in said groove in the housing (48) of the piston and at least one kink (62) housed in a notch or slot in the sleeve (46).
4. The booster according to claim 3, characterized in that the retaining element (58) comprises at least two opposed kinks (62) housed in notches or slots in the sleeve (46).
5. The booster according to claim 4, characterized in that the sleeve (46) is able to slide axially in a sealed manner in the housing (48) of the piston (22).
6. The booster according to claim 5, characterized in that the sleeve end rim (54) intended to be applied against the shutter (56) forms a sealing seat for the shutter.
7. The booster according to claim 6, characterized in that the retaining element (58) limits the axial movement of the sleeve (46) toward the shutter (56) of the three-way valve.
8. The booster according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises means (72) borne by the piston (22) to limit the axial movement of the distributor plunger (28) with respect to the piston (22) toward the shutter (56) of the three-way valve and to define a rest position for the distributor plunger (28).
9. The booster according to claim 8, characterized in that said movement-limiting means comprise a rod or a clip (72) engaged in openings (74, 76) in the cylindrical walls of the piston (22) and in the sleeve (46) and are able to move axially over a limited travel with respect to the piston (22).
10. The booster according to claim 9, characterized in that said movement-limiting means (72) also form means for returning the sleeve (46 ) to an axial-locking position in the housing (48) of the piston, in which the sleeve (46) is moved away from the annular shutter (56) of the three-way valve.
11. The booster according to claim 10, characterized in that the means (72) for limiting the movement and for defining a rest position for the distributor plunger (28) are substantially in the same transverse plane as the means (58\u2032) for axially locking the sleeve (46).
12. The booster according to claim 11, characterized in that the means (72) for limiting movement and for defining a rest position for the distributor plunger (28) and the means (58\u2032) for axially locking the sleeve (46) are mounted by elastic snap-fastening on the body (42) of the piston.
13. The booster according to claim 12, characterized in that a washer (80, 86, 94) is interposed with an axial clearance between the end of the distributor plunger (28) and a reaction disk (40) mounted between the piston (22) and the push rod (34), this washer (80, 86, 94) being housed in a recess (82) in the end of the piston (22) and being applied against the bottom of this recess in order to transmit a reaction force while the distributor plunger (28) is returning to a rest position or non-braking position.
14. The booster according to claim 13, characterized in that the washer (80) is a flat washer and transmits a reaction force to the piston (22).
15. The booster according to claim 13, characterized in that the washer (86) is guided in axial translation in a ring (88) guided in axial translation in the recess (82), the ring having an axial length which is greater than that of the washer, and the washer (86) transmits a reaction force to the distributor plunger (28).
16. The booster according to claim 13, characterized in that the washer (94) comprises an axial cylindrical tail (96) which transmits a reaction force to the distributor plunger (28).

1. A system for facilitating a secure database, the system comprising:
a memory having stored therein computer executable components;
a first component that creates a table with a security descriptor column;
a second component that creates a security descriptor store associated with the table, wherein the security descriptor store comprises at least one security descriptor that includes access information, permission that identifies a kind of access associated with the at least one security descriptor, and one or more principals to whom the at least one security descriptor applies, wherein the one or more principals include at least one of one or more user names, one or more groups of users, one or more user identifiers, or one or more types of users;
a third component that populates at least one row of the table with a security descriptor identifier;
a fourth component that receives a query and user context information;
a fifth component that associates a row of the table with security information, wherein the table comprises at least one row and at least two columns, wherein one of the at least two columns stores a security descriptor associated with the row of the table, wherein the security descriptor associated with the row of the table identifies the security information stored in the security descriptor store, wherein the security descriptor associated with the row of the table is included in all access paths to the table, and wherein access paths to the table include at least one of following: an access path to the table stored as an un-ordered collection; an access path to a clustered index on the table; an access path to a non-clustered index on the table; or an access path to materialized views defined on the table;
a sixth database engine component that provides a response to the query, wherein the response comprises rows, if any, that satisfy the query, and wherein the security information associated with the row of the table is satisfied by the user context information;
a seventh query component that determines an optimal way to answer the query based on a cost-based optimization strategy, wherein the query is optimized prior to providing the response; and
a processor that executes the computer executable components.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the access information includes whether access is granted or denied.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the permission that identifies the kind of access associated with the at least one security descriptor includes no access permission, read only access permission, and readwrite access permission.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein information stored in the security descriptor associated with the row comprises a kind of access granted or denied to a principal.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein information stored in the security descriptor store comprises a kind of access.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein information stored in the security descriptor store comprises a principal to whom the security information applies.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one security descriptor is an ordered set of access control entities.
8. A computer-implemented method for facilitating a secure database, the method comprising:
creating a table with a security descriptor column;
storing the table in a memory utilizing a processor;
creating a security descriptor store associated with the table, wherein the security descriptor store comprises at least one security descriptor that includes access information, permission that identifies a kind of access associated with the at least one security descriptor, and one or more principals to whom the at least one security descriptor applies, wherein the one or more principals includes at least one of one or more user names, one or more groups of users, one or more user identifiers, or one or more types of users;
populating at least one row of the table with a security descriptor identifier; receiving a query and user context information;
associating the at least one row of the table with security information, wherein the table comprises one or more rows and at least two columns, wherein one of the at least two columns stores a security descriptor associated with the at least one row of the table, wherein the security descriptor associated with the at least one row of the table identifies the security information stored in the security descriptor store, wherein the security descriptor associated with the at least one row of the table is included in all access paths to the table, and wherein an access path to the table includes at least one of following: an access path to the table stored as an un-ordered collection; an access path to a clustered index on the table; an access path to a non-clustered index on the table; or an access path to materialized views defined on the table;
providing a response to the query, wherein the response comprises rows, if any, that satisfy the query, and wherein the security information associated with the at least one row of the table is satisfied by the user context information; and
providing a query optimizer that determines an optimal way to answer the query, wherein the query is optimized prior to providing the response, and wherein the query optimizer employs a cost-based optimization strategy.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a response to the query comprises:
for each row of the table accessed, determining whether a security descriptor associated with the row is satisfied by the user context information.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the database is provisioned independent of the security information stored in the security descriptor.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the access information includes whether access is granted or denied.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the permission that identifies the kind of access associated with a security descriptor includes no access permission, read only access permission, and readwrite access permission.

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 water heater control system for a water heater comprising:
a system controller;
at least one relay electrically connected to the system controller;
at least one thermal sensor electrically connected to the system controller to monitor water temperature in the water heater;
at least one heating element electrically connected to the at least one relay, the at least one heating element capable of beating water in the water heater to a first predetermined temperature,
wherein the system controller maintains the water temperature between the first predetermined temperature and a second predetermined temperature during at least one predetermined time of day, the predetermined time of day being determined by the system controller based on water use from the water heater, the second predetermined temperature being higher than an ambient temperature and lower than the first predetermined temperature.
2. The water heater control system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is programmable.
3. The water heater control system of claim 2, wherein a user may program at least two temperature cycles into the system controller.
4. The water heater control system of claim 1, wherein the controller has a visual display.
5. The water heater control system of claim 1, wherein the system controller may be remotely programmed.
6. A method for controlling water temperature in a water heater comprising the steps of:
heating water in the water heater to a first predetermined water temperature;
monitoring the water temperature in the water heater at at least one location;
determining a time of day; and
energizing at least one heating element to raise the water temperature in the water heater to the first predetermined temperature when the water temperature at the at least one location falls below a second predetermined water temperature only when the time of day is within at least one predetermined time period.
7. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 6, wherein the second predetermined water temperature is above an ambient temperature.
8. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined time period is programmed by a user.
9. The method for controlling water temperature in a water beater according to claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined time period is based on use of hot water from the water heater and determined by a controller associated with the water heater.
10. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:
energizing the at least one heating element to raise the water temperature to a third predetermined temperature after the water temperature falls below a fourth predetermined temperature when the time of day is not within the at least one predetermined time period.
11. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 10, wherein the third predetermined temperature is lower than the second predetermined temperature and higher than the fourth predetermined temperature.
12. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 10, wherein the at least one predetermined time period is based on use of hot water from the water heater and determined by a controller associated with the water heater.
13. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 10, wherein the at least one predetermined time period comprises at least two predetermined time periods in a single 24 hour period.
14. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 13, wherein the at least two predetermined time periods are of different durations.
15. The method for controlling water temperature in a water heater according to claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined time period is less than 6 hours long.