Author: claimsbot

1. A method of identifying a device interconnected to a port of a storage system controller, comprising:
(a) scanning a first port of said storage system controller;
(b) in response to said scanning, determining that at least one device is connected to said first port;
(c) probing said at least one device that is connected to said first port;
(d) in response to said probing, determining capabilities of said at least one device connected to said first port; and
(e) based on said determined capabilities of said at least one device connected to said first port, setting an operating mode for said first port.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating mode of said first port is set to initiator in response to determining that every one of said at least one device has capabilities of a target device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating mode of said first port is set to target in response to determining that every one of said at least one device has capabilities of an initiator device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of devices are determined to be connected to said first port, wherein said operating mode of said first port is set to targetinitiator in response to determining that at least one of said number of devices has capabilities of an initiator device and at least one of said number of devices has capabilities of a target device.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(f) scanning a second port of said storage system controller;
(g) in response to said scanning, determining that at least one device is connected to said second port;
(h) probing said at least one device that is connected to said second port;
(i) in response to said probing, determining capabilities of said at least one device connected to said second port; and
(j) based on said determined capabilities of said at least one device connected to said second port, setting an operating mode for said second port.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said determining capabilities of said at least one device connected to said first port and said determining capabilities of said at least one device connected to said second port are performed at substantially the same time.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein said operating mode set for said first and second port are different.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(f) detecting a change related to said first port and in response to detecting said change, performing steps (a) through (e).
9. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a) through (e) are performed periodically.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one storage device interconnects to said storage system controller by a network comprising at least one of a Fibre Channel network, an iSCSI network, an Ethernet Network or an SCSI bus, and an SAS network.
11. A storage system controller for use in a storage device network, comprising:
(a) a first port;
(b) a processor, comprising:
(i) a scanning function running on the processor operable to scan the first port; and
(ii) an identification function running on the processor operable to probe devices connected to the first port, wherein the identification function determines operating parameters of the first port based on capabilities of the devices connected to the first port.
12. The storage system controller of claim 11, wherein the storage device network is at least one of a Fibre Channel network, an iSCSI network, an Ethernet Network or an SCSI bus, an Infiniband network, and an SAS network.
13. The storage system controller of claim 11, wherein the first port is determined to be an initiator port in response to identifying that all of the devices have capabilities of a target device.
14. The storage system controller of claim 11, wherein the first port is determined to be a target port in response to identifying that all of the devices have capabilities of an initiator device.
15. The storage system controller of claim 11, wherein the first port is determined to be a targetinitiator port in response to identifying that at least one of the devices have capabilities of an initiator device and at least one of the devices have capabilities of a target device.
16. The storage system controller of claim 11, further comprising a second port, wherein the scanning function is operable to scan the second port, and wherein the identification function is operable to probe devices connected to the second port and determine operating parameters of the second port based on capabilities of devices connected to the second port.
17. The storage system controller of claim 16, wherein the identification function identifies the first port as an initiator port and the second port as a target port.
18. The storage system controller of claim 11, further comprising a change detection function running on the processor operable to identify when a change has occurred with respect to the first port, wherein the change detection function communicates a change in the first port and in response to the communicated change, the identification function determines the operating parameter of the first port.
19. A storage system, comprising:
a storage system controller, including:
(a) at least a first port;
(b) a means for scanning said at least a first port;
(c) a means for probing and identifying capabilities of devices connected to said at least a first port; and
(d) a means for assigning an operating parameter to said at least a first port based on capabilities of said devices connected to said at least a first port as determined by said means for probing.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a network, wherein said network is at least one of a Fibre Channel network, an iSCSI network, an Ethernet, ESCON or FICON Network, an SCSI bus, an Infiniband network, and an SAS network.
21. The system of claim 19, wherein said first port is assigned to be an initiator port in response to identifying that all of said devices have capabilities of a target device.
22. The system of claim 19, wherein said first port is assigned to be a target port in response to identifying that all of said devices have capabilities of an initiator device.
23. The system of claim 19, wherein said first port is assigned to be a targetinitiator port in response to identifying that at least one of said devices has capabilities of an initiator device and at least one of said devices has capabilities of a target device.
24. The system of claim 19, further comprising at least a second port wherein said means for scanning is operable to scan said at least a second port, wherein said means for probing is operable to probe devices connected to said at least a second port, and wherein said means for assigning is operable to assign an operating parameter to said at least a second port based on capabilities of said devices connected to said at least a second port.
25. The system of claim 19, further comprising a means for detecting change operable to identify when a change has occurred with respect to said at least a first port, wherein said means for detecting change communicates a change in said at least a first port and in response to said communicated change, said means for probing probes said devices connected to said at least a first port.

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 bus bar made by punching a metal plate, comprising:
a power input portion;
a plurality of output portions; and
a routing portion routed from the power input portion to the plurality of output portions,
wherein the routing portion includes: a trunk portion and a plurality of branch portions branching off from the trunk portion to the output portions, and
wherein a width of the trunk portion is gradually narrower as extending away from the power input portion.
2. The bus bar as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the branch portions are folded with respect to the trunk portion, and in a development condition, at least one of the branch portions is extended parallel to the trunk portion.
3. An electrical junction box having the bus bar as claimed in claim 1.
4. An electrical junction box having the bus bar as claimed in claim 2.

1. A RF ablation system for tissue ablation, comprising:
an RF ablation probe comprising rigid tube with a closed distal end adapted for insertion into the body of a patient, said probe having a distal tip with an electrically and thermally conductive outer surface, and an RF conductor in electrical communication with the closed distal end of the rigid tube, for deliver of RF energy to the body of the patient through the distal end of the rigid tube;
an electrically and thermally insulating sleeve or coating disposed over the rigid tube, proximal to the distal end of said rigid tube
a Joule-Thomson cooler comprising a counter-flow heat exchanger disposed within the rigid tube, with an outlet in communication with the space within the closed distal end of the rigid tube;
a thermo-sensor disposed within the distal end of the rigid tube,
a reservoir of high pressure cooling gas aligned to supply cooling gas to the Joule-Thomson cooler;
a second insulating sleeve disposed with the rigid tube, said insulating sleeve providing an exhaust pathway for cooling gas exiting the Joule Thomson cooler.
means for controlling cooling gas flow to the Joule-Thomson cooler and delivery of RF energy to the ablation probe, in order to limit temperature at the surface of the probe while delivering RF energy into the body of the patient.

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. An afterburning, recuperated, positive displacement, external combustion, open cycle heat engine; said engine comprising:
a. positive displacement compressor means for compressing ambient air to a peak pressure while using cooling means to remove heat from said positive displacement compressor means whereby the compression work is minimized;
b. counterflow heat exchange recuperator means for receiving said air at peak pressure from said compressor means and for heating said air using recuperative heating means;
c. positive displacement expander means for receiving said heated air at peak pressure from said recuperator means and for producing work by expanding said heated air to a low pressure while using insulation means to contain heat within said expander means whereby said expansion work is maximized and whereby the mechanical bearings, seals, and lubricants of said expander means are isolated from the high temperature of said heated air and whereby said mechanical bearings, seals and lubricants can obtain long life without needing to be constructed of expensive, temperature resistant, materials;
d. afterburner means for receiving said expanded air at low pressure from said positive displacement expander means, introducing a fuel to said air to form a combustible air-fuel combination, and igniting said air-fuel combination to generate hot combustion gases at a flame temperature; said hot combustion gases being used to provide said recuperative heating means through said counterflow heat exchange recuperator means;
e. connection means whereby said compressor means receives said compression work from a portion of said expansion work from said expander means;
f. control means for changing the speed and power of said engine by regulating the flow rate of said air while simultaneously adjusting the flow of said fuel whereby the speed and power of said engine is controlled and whereby said flame temperature is maintained nearly constant.
2. The engine of claim 1 wherein the fuel is a liquid.
3. The engine of claim 1 wherein the fuel is a gas.
4. The engine of claim 1 wherein the fuel is a solid.
5. The engine of claim 1 wherein said positive displacement compressor means is an inter-cooled rotary compressor such as a Roots blower or scroll compressor.
6. The engine of claim 1 wherein said positive displacement compressor means is at least one reciprocating compressor cylinder means comprising at least one compressor intake valve and at least one compressor exhaust valve and a reciprocating compressor piston connected by a compressor connecting rod to a compressor crankshaft and wherein said positive displacement expander means is at least one reciprocating expander cylinder means comprising at least one expander intake valve and at least one expander exhaust valve and a reciprocating expander piston connected by an expander connecting rod to an expander crankshaft, with said connecting means accomplished by compressor and expander crankshafts being mechanically coupled for proper operation of said engine during one revolution of said crankshafts whereby said linked crankshafts transmit shaft work output to a load.
7. The engine of claim 6 having at least two of said expander cylinders so arranged on said crankshaft that at least one of said expander pistons is always on the exhaust stroke whereby the flow of said expanded air to said afterburner means is continuous with resulting steady state combustion.
8. The engine of claim 6 wherein said expander piston and said expander cylinder have thermal isolation extension means whereby the piston ring seals on said expander piston can operate at a low temperature with conventional oil for lubrication and whereby conduction heat loss from said expander air through said expander piston and cylinder is reduced.
9. The engine of claim 6 wherein the cylinder head of said expander is a two piece assembly wherein the first piece contains the seats for said intake and exhaust valves and is exposed to said high temperature air and wherein the second piece is isolated by insulating means, and wherein heat conduction through the stems and guides of said intake and exhaust valves is minimized by thermal isolation means whereby the seals and operating mechanism for said intake and exhaust valves operate at a low temperature with conventional oil for lubrication and whereby conduction heat loss from said expander air through said expander cylinder head is reduced.
10. The engine of claim 1 wherein said compressor cooling means comprises external cooling fins from which the heat of compression is removed by a blower powered by said connecting means.
11. The engine of claim 1 wherein said compressor cooling means comprises external cooling jackets through which is circulated a coolant that removes the heat of compression via a radiator.
12. The engine of claim 6 wherein said reciprocating compressor cylinder means is a staged reciprocating compressor comprised of at least two series cylinders and an inter-cooler whereby removal of heat of compression is improved.
13. The engine of claim 1 wherein said compressor means is a commercially available air compressor.
14. The engine of claim 8 wherein said low temperature for said piston ring seals is maintained by external cooling fins through which the small amount of heat conducted through said piston extension and said expander cylinder is removed by convection and radiation.
15. The engine of claim 9 wherein said low temperature for said seals and said operating mechanism for said intake and exhaust valves is maintained by external cooling fins through which the small amount of heat conducted through said cylinder head thermal isolation means is removed by convection and radiation.
16. The engine of claim 8 wherein said low temperature for said piston ring seals is maintained by external cooling jackets through which is circulated a coolant that removes the small amount of heat conducted through said piston extension and said expander cylinder by coolant convection.
17. The engine of claim 9 wherein said low temperature for said seals and said operating mechanism for said intake and exhaust valves is maintained by external cooling jackets through which is circulated a coolant that removes the small amount of heat conducted through said cylinder head thermal isolation means by coolant convection.
18. The engine of claim 6 wherein a portion of said reciprocating expander means is comprised of an appropriate commercially available engine block comprising said low temperature portion of said reciprocating expander cylinder, said expander cylinder cooling means, and said expander crankshaft whereby the expander means can be completed by the simple addition of said expander piston with said piston extension, the high temperatureinsulated portion of said expander cylinder and said two piece expander cylinder head.
19. The engine of claim 1 further comprising an electrically driven start blower and start valve for starting said engine by a starting method comprising the steps of:
a. admitting a continuous air stream from said start blower via said start valve to said afterburner;
b. introducing a fuel to said air to form a combustible air-fuel combination;
c. igniting said air-fuel combination to generate hot combustion gases at a flame temperature;
d. circulating the hot gas stream from said afterburner through said recuperator until said recuperator has warmed to operating temperature;
e. cranking said engine until said engine begins to run on its own;
f. turning off said starter blower and closing said start valve as said engine begins normal operation.