Author: claimsbot

1. An optical pickup apparatus, comprising:
a supporter;
a movable section that includes a lens and is adapted to move in a focusing direction along an optical axis direction of the lens and in a tracking direction intersecting the focusing direction, the movable section connected to the supporter via a resilient member; and
a stopper including a focusing direction restricting section that is formed as a projection having facing sides on which mutually-facing surfaces of projected portions of the movable section are adapted to abut, the projected portions spaced apart from each other in the focusing direction, and a tracking direction restricting section that is formed as a wall section disposed at positions away in the tracking direction from the projected portions by a predetermined distance such that tip ends of the projected portions are adapted to abut on the wall section, the focusing direction restricting section and the tracking direction restringing section integrally formed from a synthetic resin.
2. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the resilient member includes a plurality of resilient members each formed linearly,
the projected portions are a plurality of resilient member fixtures each for fixing a tip end of each of the resilient members.
3. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the projection projects from the wall section.
4. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the projection and the wall section respectively include a pair of projections and a pair of wall sections so as to be provided on both lateral sides of the movable section.
5. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
a linking section is provided for linking the pairs of projections and wall sections, and
the pairs of projections and wall sections and the linking section are integrally formed.
6. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the linking section includes a projected piece projecting toward the movable section, the projected piece engaging with a dent that is formed in advance on the base.
7. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a base on which the supporter is mounted,
a positioning groove for positioning the stopper is formed on the base, and
the stopper includes a positioning claw that engages with the positioning groove.
8. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the positioning claw is formed on a lateral side of the stopper and biased toward the positioning groove.
9. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
the positioning groove has a longitudinal direction that is substantially orthogonal to the focusing direction and the tracking direction, and
the stopper is slid along the longitudinal direction of the positioning groove to be engaged therewith.
10. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the positioning claw includes a plurality of positioning claws formed at positions that allow the positioning claws to engage with the longitudinal direction of the positioning groove.

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 batter composition comprising:
a) a structure-providing amount of a flour replacement ingredient comprising native starch in an amount of 70% by weight or more, and a protein source in an amount of 30% by weight or less, weight percentages based upon weight of the flour replacement ingredient;
b) a sweetener in an amount effective to provide a water activity of 0.94 or less; and
c) a fat source;
wherein the batter composition has a pH of 6.5 or higher.
2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the native starch is present in an amount sufficient to provide a flour replacement ingredient-to-sweetener ratio in the range of 1:1 to 1.4:1.
3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the native starch comprises wheat starch, corn starch, potato starch, tapioca starch or a combination of any of these.
4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the flour replacement ingredient further comprises modified starch in an amount of 5% by weight or less, based on total weight of the batter composition.
5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the protein source comprises gluten, wheat protein, soya protein, sodium caseinate, gelatin, milk protein, whey protein, or a combination of any of these.
6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the flour replacement ingredient further comprises a fiber source.
7. The composition according to claim 6 wherein the fiber source comprises 20% or less by weight of the flour replacement ingredient.
8. The composition according to claim 6 wherein the fiber source comprises wheat fiber, gum, vegetable gums such as alginates, carrageenan, dextran, furcellaran, pectin, gelatin, gum agar, locust bean gum, gum ghatti, guar gum, gum tragacanth, acacia, gum arabic, xanthan gum, karaya gum, tara gum, cellulose derivatives; soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, wood pulp cellulose, seed husks, oat hulls, citrus fiber, pea fiber, corn bran, soy polysaccharide, oat bran, wheat bran, barley, rice bran, gellan gum, or a combination of any of these.
9. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the batter composition has reduced polyphenol oxidase activity as compared to a batter composition that comprises a structure-providing amount of flour.
10. The composition according to claim 9 wherein the batter composition has a polyphenol oxidase activity of 0.1 AU0.1 g or less.
11. The composition according to claim 1 further comprising a leavening system.
12. The composition according to claim 11 wherein the leavening system comprises a chemical leavening system.
13. The composition according to claim 12 wherein the chemical leavening system comprises dimagnesium phosphate trihydrate as a major acidic leavening agent, in combination with a basic leavening agent.
14. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition is formulated for storage at refrigerated or ambient temperatures.
15. The composition according to claim 14 wherein the batter composition is stable at refrigerated temperatures for a period of at least 60 days.
16. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the batter composition has a Hunter Lab color value of 30 or greater at 5 days storage at ambient temperatures.
17. The composition according to claim 1 further comprising flour in an amount of 5% by weight, based on weight of the batter composition.
18. A flour replacement ingredient for use in providing structure to a batter, the flour replacement ingredient comprising:
a) at least 70% by weight of native starch,
b) protein source in an amount of 30% by weight or less,
c) fiber source in an amount of 20% by weight or less,
weight percentages based on total weight of the flour replacement ingredient.
19. A method of formulating a batter composition comprising:
a) providing a flour replacement ingredient comprising starch and protein source,
b) combining the flour replacement ingredient with sweetener and fat source to provide a batter composition,
wherein the starch of the flour replacement ingredient includes at least native starch, and can further include modified starch in an amount in the range of 0 to 5% based on total weight of the batter composition, and wherein the amount of modified starch in the batter composition is selected to provide a desired viscosity to the batter composition,
and wherein the flour replacement ingredient is present in an amount sufficient to provide structure to the batter.
20. A batter composition comprising:
a) a structure-providing amount of flour or flour replacement ingredient;
b) sweetener in an amount effective to provide a water activity of 0.94 or less;
c) fat source; and
d) a chemical leavening system,
the chemical leavening system comprising a basic leavening agent and an acidic leavening agent, wherein dimagnesium phosphate trihydrate comprises at least 75% by weight of the acidic leavening agent.
21. The batter composition according to claim 20 comprising a flour replacement ingredient, the flour replacement ingredient comprising at least 70% by weight native starch and 30% or less of a protein source, weight percentages based on total weight of the flour replacement ingredient.
22. The batter composition according to claim 21 wherein the flour replacement ingredient further comprises modified starch in an amount of 5% or less, based on weight of the batter composition.
23. The batter composition according to claim 21 wherein the flour replacement ingredient further comprises a fiber source.
24. A food package kit comprising:
a) a container suitable for microwave cooking;
b) at least one batter composition disposed in the container, the batter composition comprising a flour replacement ingredient comprising at least 70% by weight native starch and 30% by weight or less of a protein source; a sweetener in an amount effective to provide a water activity of 0.94 or less; and a fat source, wherein the flour replacement ingredient is present in a structure-providing amount.
25. A food package kit comprising:
a) a container suitable for baking in an oven; and
b) at least a batter composition located proximate to the container, the batter composition comprising a flour replacement ingredient comprising at least 70% by weight native starch and 30% by weight or less of a protein source; a sweetener in an amount effective to provide a water activity of 0.94 or less; and a fat source, wherein the flour replacement ingredient is present in a structure-providing amount.
26. The food package kit according to claim 25 further comprising a retaining element for maintaining the batter composition proximate to the container.
27. A batter product comprising two or more batter compositions of claim 1 which have been co-extruded so as to form the batter product.
28. A filled product batter composition comprising a batter composition of claim 1 which has been co-extruded with a filling so as to form the filled product batter composition.

1. A system for acquiring rights to lease a floating production system, wherein the system comprises:
a. a leassee client device for use by a leassee of the floating production system;
b. a leassor client device for use by a leassor of the floating production system; and
c. a database server system communicating with the leassee client device and the leassor client device, wherein the database server system comprises a processor, a database storage in communication with the processor, IO ports in communication with the processor for communication with a network, and wherein the database storage comprises:
i. information on floating production systems;
ii. information on bid requests;
iii. information on tender offers for floating production systems; and
wherein the database server system further comprises:
i. computer instructions enabling potential leassees to specify technical requirements for floating production systems using a leassee client device;
ii. computer instructions for formulating a leassor distribution list by the potential leassee to receive an invitation to tender;
iii. computer instructions for formulating a bid request and transmitting the bid request to each leassor on the leassor distribution list via their respective leassor client devices;
iv. computer instructions enabling leassors to use their respective leassor client devices to tender offers regarding the lease of floating production systems related to the bid request; and
v. computer instructions for enabling leassees to automatically match multiple leasing conditions offered by the leassors including a best commercial fit, a best technical fit, and the availability of the drilling rig, based on the invitation to tender.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network accessible secure qualifications bulletin board to enable leassors with their respective leassor client devices to provide information to the leassee and receive information from the leassee, wherein the information is selected from a member of the group consisting of: leassee bid document alternatives, leassee bid document exceptions, and combinations thereof.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the network accessible secure qualifications bulletin board is on a second database server connected to the database server system.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the network accessible secure qualifications bulletin board further comprises a reporting and data storage module.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the reporting and data storage module comprises information developed in the system, wherein the information comprises a member of the group consisting of: initial bid requests, clarifications requested for the bid process, negotiation information developed during the bid process, final bid request, tender offers, summaries of a leassee’s selection process for the floating production system, and combinations thereof.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the database storage further comprises a member selected from the group consisting of: information on equipment used on drilling rigs, information on leassors with drilling rigs, and information on awards based on tender offers, and combinations thereof.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system further comprises computer instructions for making an award to the leassor which offers the multiple leasing conditions that most closely matches the bid request.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network accessible secure information bulletin board to enable leassors to use their respective leassor client devices to request a member selected from the group consisting of: clarification of the bid request, additional information on the bid request, and combinations thereof, and to receive information, clarification, and combinations thereof from that network accessible secure bulletin board.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the bid request comprises a link to a secure system website for leassors to determine interest and if the leassor has an interest in the bid request, to download information for review.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system permits the leassee to select operating rates to be addressed by the leassor for the floating production system.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system permits the leassee to select a member from the group consisting of: insurance requirements required by the leassor for the floating production system, safety requirements for the floating production system, contract terms and conditions of the floating production system contract, and combinations thereof.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system permits the potential leassee to select a schedule of responsibilities between leassor and leassee for the floating production system.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system permits the leassor to indicate a list of deficient equipment.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the bid request addresses a plurality of floating production systems.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system provides a specified time period for a leassor to reply to the tender offers.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system enables a plurality of leassees to use their respective leassee client devices to tender a joint offer regarding the floating production system in the bid request.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the leassor client devices and leassee client devices comprise a member selected from the group consisting of: a computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a Blackberry\u2122, a satellite phone, similar communication tools adapted to communicate with the World Wide Web, and combinations thereof.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the database server system is in communication with the leassee client devices and the leassor client devices using the World Wide Web.
19. The system of to claim 1, further comprising computer instructions to edit or modify a member selected from the group consisting of: the distribution list, technical specifications, bid request, response to bid request, tender offer and final offer.
20. The system of claim 1, wherein a floating production system comprises a semi-submersible floater, a riser, a catenary mooring system, a subsea system, export pipelines, and production facilities.

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 wind turbine, comprising: a rotatable frame; a plurality of airfoils mounted to the rotatable frame, wherein the airfoils extend parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame; a wind block positioned to restrict airflow over at least a portion of the rotatable frame; at least one drive wheel in contact with the rotatable frame; and at least one air duct for directing air flow from a front of the rotatable frame towards a back of the rotatable frame, wherein the at least one duct comprises a pair of air ducts on opposite sides of the rotatable frame.
2. A wind turbine, comprising: a rotatable frame; a plurality of airfoils mounted to the rotatable frame, wherein the airfoils extend parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotatable frame; a wind block positioned to restrict airflow over at least a portion of the rotatable frame; at least one drive wheel in contact with the rotatable frame; and at least one air duct for directing air flow from a front of the rotatable frame towards a back of the rotatable frame, wherein the at least one air duct is at least partially received within a hollow interior of the rotatable frame.
3. The wind turbine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotatable frame comprises: a first circular rotatable member; and a second circular rotatable member, wherein the airfoils span between the first and second rotatable members.
4. The wind turbine of claim 3, wherein the first and second rotatable members are parallel to one another.
5. The wind turbine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotatable frame rotates around a horizontal axis.
6. The wind turbine of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the airfoils are horizontal.
7. The wind turbine of claim 1 or 2, wherein air flow perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable frame causes the rotatable frame to rotate.
8. The wind turbine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind block restricts airflow over at least one half of the rotatable frame.
9. The wind turbine of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: at least one alignment wheel positioned to urge the rotatable frame into contact with the drive wheel.