All The Claims

1. A method for managing data versions, the method comprises:
receiving a first request to generate a first version of a source volume;
selectively updating a first control data structure that is indicative of changes of blocks of data associated with different versions of the source volume, in response to the first request, to reflect at least one latest modified block of data that was modified between a first point in time associated with the first version and between second point in time associated with a second version of the first source volume; wherein information representative of different versions of the source volume are stored in a target storage unit; and wherein blocks of data that remain unchanged between multiple versions of the source volume are shared between these multiple versions; wherein the first point in time follows the second point in time and wherein the at least one block data belongs to the volume; and selectively copying blocks of data from the source volume to the target volume in response to the content of the first control data structure.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the selectively updating the first control data structure, in response to the first request comprises updating the control data structure to reflect blocks of data that are not stored in the target storage unit but should be copied to the target storage unit.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first control data structure comprises a B-Tree per volume that is keyed by a key that comprises a data block identifier and a requested point in time.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the stage of selectively updating the first control data structure in response to the first request, comprises generating an empty entry in the B-Tree; wherein this empty entry is filled when the corresponding block of data is copied to the target storage unit.
5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving a request to retrieve a requested version of the volume and copying, to the target storage unit at least one block of data that belongs to the requested version if (i) the at least one block of data was not copied to the storage target unit and (ii) the at least one block of data was modified between a point in time associated with the requested version and a point in time associated with at least one previous versions.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein establishing a new version comprises establishing an incremental flash copy relation on the source and the copying is done using flash copy services.
7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising updating entries of at least one control data structure in a lazy manner.
8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising maintaining a third control data structure indicative of oldest version of blocks of data that are not copied to the target storage unit; wherein the third control data structure is indicative of blocks of data the belong to multiple versions.
9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising maintaining a third control data structure indicative of oldest version of blocks of data that are not copied to the target storage unit and maintaining a fourth control data structure indicative of second oldest version of blocks of data that are not stored in the target storage unit; wherein the third and fourth control data structures facilitate a direct access to their entries.
10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising maintaining a sixth data structure indicative of most updated versions of blocks of data that were successfully copied to the target volume.
11. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to: receive a first request to generate a first version of a source volume; selectively update a first control data structure that is indicative of changes of blocks of data associated with different versions of the source volume, in response to the first request, to reflect at least one latest modified block of data that was modified between a first point in time associated with the first version and between second point in time associated with a second version of the first source volume; wherein information representative of different versions of the source volume are stored in a target storage unit; and to selectively copy blocks of data from the source volume to the target volume in response to the content of the first control data structure; wherein blocks of data that remain unchanged between multiple versions of the source volume are shared between these multiple versions; wherein the first point in time follows the second point in time and wherein the at least one block data belongs to the volume.
12. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to update the control data structure to reflect blocks of data that are stored in the target storage unit as well as at least one block of data that is not stored in the target storage unit but will be copied to the target storage unit in response to at least one request to generate a future version of the volume.
13. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to selectively update a first control data structure that comprises a B-Tree per volume, wherein the B-Tree is keyed by a key that comprises a volume identifier and a requested point in time.
14. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to generate an empty entry in the B-Tree; wherein this empty entry is filled when the corresponding block of data is copied to the target storage unit.
15. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to receive a request to retrieve a requested version of the volume and copy, to the target storage unit at least one block of data that belongs to the requested version if (i) the at least one block of data was not copied to the storage target unit and (ii) the at least one block of data was modified between a point in time associated with the requested version and a point in time associated with at least one previous versions.
16. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to establish an incremental flash copy relation on the source and to copy using flash copy services.
17. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to update entries of at least one control data structure in a lazy manner.
18. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to maintain a third control data structure indicative of oldest version of blocks of data that are not copied to the target storage unit; wherein the third control data structure is indicative of blocks of data the belong to multiple versions.
19. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to maintain a third control data structure indicative of oldest version of blocks of data that are not copied to the target storage unit and maintain a fourth control data structure indicative of second oldest version of blocks of data that are not stored in the target storage unit; wherein the third and fourth control data structures facilitate a direct access to their entries.
20. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to maintain a sixth data structure indicative of most updated versions of blocks of data that were successfully copied to the target volume.
21. A storage controller comprising a system memory, a source cache and a target cache, wherein the storage controller is adapted to be coupled to a source target unit and to a target storage unit; wherein the storage controller is adapted to: receive a first request to generate a first version of a source volume; selectively update a first control data structure that is indicative of changes of blocks of data associated with different versions of the source volume, in response to the first request, to reflect at least one latest modified block of data that was modified between a first point in time associated with the first version and between second point in time associated with a second version of the first source volume; and to selectively copy blocks of data from the source volume to the target volume in response to the content of the first control data structure; wherein information representative of different versions of the source volume are stored in the target storage unit; and wherein blocks of data that remain unchanged between multiple versions of the source volume are shared between these multiple versions; wherein the first point in time follows the second point in time and wherein the at least one block data belongs to the volume.
22. The storage controller according to claim 21 wherein the storage controller is adapted to update the control data structure to reflect blocks of data that are not stored in the target storage unit but should be copied to the target storage unit.
23. The storage controller according to claim 21 further adapted to maintain a third control data structure indicative of oldest version of blocks of data that are not copied to the target storage unit.
24. The storage controller according to claim 21 further adapted to maintain a third control data structure indicative of oldest version of blocks of data that are not copied to the target storage unit and maintaining a fourth control data structure indicative of second oldest version of blocks of data that are not stored in the target storage unit; wherein the third and fourth control data structures facilitate a direct access to their entries.
25. The storage controller according to claim 21 further adapted to maintain a sixth data structure indicative of most updated versions of blocks of data that were successfully copied to the target volume.
26. The storage controller according to claim 21 wherein the first control data structure comprises a B-Tree per volume that is keyed by a key that comprises a data block identifier and a requested point in time.
27. The storage controller according to claim 26 further adapted to generate an empty entry in the B-Tree; wherein this empty entry is filled when the corresponding block of data is copied to the target storage unit.
28. The storage controller according to claim 21 further adapted to receive a request to retrieve a requested version of the volume and copy, to the target storage unit at least one block of data that belongs to the requested version if (i) the at least one block of data was not copied to the storage target unit and (ii) the at least one block of data was modified between a point in time associated with the requested version and a point in time associated with at least one previous versions.
29. The storage controller according to claim 21 further adapted to establish an incremental flash copy relation on the source and the copying is done using flash copy services.
30. The storage controller according to claim 21 further adapted to update entries of at least one control data structure in a lazy manner.
31. A method for providing a service to a customer, the method comprises:
receiving, over a network, a first request to generate a first version of a source volume;
selectively updating a first control data structure that is indicative of changes of blocks of data associated with different versions of the source volume, in response to the first request, to reflect at least one latest modified block of data that was modified between a first point in time associated with the first version and between second point in time associated with a second version of the first source volume; wherein information representative of different versions of the source volume are stored in a target storage unit; and wherein blocks of data that remain unchanged between multiple versions of the source volume are shared between these multiple versions; wherein the first point in time follows the second point in time and wherein the at least one block data belongs to the volume; and selectively copying blocks of data from the source volume to the target volume in response to the content of the first control data structure; and
providing, over the network, in response to a request to retrieve a requested version of the volume, the requested version of the volume.
32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the selectively updating the first control data structure, in response to the first request comprises updating the control data structure to reflect blocks of data that are not stored in the target storage unit but should be copied to the target storage unit.
33. The method according to claim 31 wherein the first control data structure comprises a B-Tree per volume that is keyed by a key that comprises a data block identifier and a requested point in time.
34. The method according to claim 31 wherein the stage of selectively updating the first control data structure in response to the first request, comprises generating an empty entry in the B-Tree; wherein this empty entry is filled when the corresponding block of data is copied to the target storage unit.
35. The method according to claim 31 further comprising copying, to the target storage unit at least one block of data that belongs to the requested version if (i) the at least one block of data was not copied to the storage target unit and (ii) the at least one block of data was modified between a point in time associated with the requested version and a point in time associated with at least one previous versions.

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 temperature insensitive diode-pumped solid state laser, the laser comprising:
a. a pair of reflectors for defining a laser cavity;
b. a wavelength stabilized pump laser diode for emitting pump light at a pump wavelength into the laser cavity;
c. a laser gain crystal disposed in the laser cavity for absorbing the pump light and for producing a laser output;
d. an optical beam splitter for tapping a portion of the laser output;
e. a photo detector for detecting a power of the tapped laser output and for outputting a signal representing the detected power; and
f. a feedback control system for receiving the signal from the photo detector and for controlling a drive current of the pump laser diode based on the signal from the photo detector.
2. The solid state laser of claim 1, further comprising an optical filter for blocking the pump wavelength in the laser output.
3. The solid state laser of claim 1, wherein the pump wavelength of the pump laser diode is stabilized using a wavelength locking mechanism.
4. The solid state laser of claim 3, wherein the wavelength locking mechanism comprises a volume Bragg grating.
5. The solid sate laser of claim 1, wherein the feedback control system increases the drive current of the pump laser diode when the detected signal on the photo detector decreases and decreases the drive current of the pump laser diode when the detected signal on the photo detector increases.
6. The solid state laser of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of nonlinear crystals for converting a first wavelength of the laser output to a second wavelength.
7. The solid state laser of claim 6, wherein said plurality of nonlinear crystals are cut or positioned with different spatial orientations to operate in different temperature ranges.
8. The solid state laser of claim 6, wherein said plurality of nonlinear crystals are composed of different materials and thickness to operate in different temperature ranges.
9. A method for operating a diode-pumped solid state laser having a pump laser diode, a laser cavity, a laser gain crystal, and a plurality of nonlinear crystals such that the laser operates in a temperature-insensitive manner, the method comprising the steps of:
a. stabilizing a wavelength of the pump laser diode using a wavelength locking mechanism;
b. optimizing crystal orientations of the plurality of nonlinear crystals for wide temperature range operation; and
c. controlling a current of the pump laser diode in response to the temperature induced laser power variation.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelength locking mechanism comprises a volume Bragg grating.

1. A system for limiting medium movement on an imaging apparatus, the system comprising:
an imaging surface; and
a moveable surface disposed to be moved to sandwich the medium between the imaging surface and the moveable surface, and at least one air passage opening disposed to pass air through the moveable surface.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a compressible pad disposed upon the moveable surface so that when the moveable surface is moved to sandwich the medium adjacent the imaging surface, the pad is between the moveable surface and the medium, wherein the pad includes at least one air passage opening corresponding to the at least one air passage opening through the moveable surface to pass air through both the pad and the moveable surface.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an axis about which the moveable surface can be rotated.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein more than one air passage opening is disposed through the moveable surface, and the air passage openings are disposed about the moveable surface to provide for increased volumes of air to be passed through the moveable surface at distances along the moveable surface from the axis over volumes of air passed through the moveable surface at distances along the moveable surface closer to the axis.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein there is at least one air passage opening provided between projections extending from the moveable surface to pass air away from the moveable surface.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the projections are cylindrical.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging apparatus is selected from the group consisting of scanners, copiers, facsimile machines and printers.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one air passage opening is provided by at least one opening in a fabric disposed on the moveable surface.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one air passage opening includes at least one turn to attenuate light from being passed through the moveable surface onto the imaging surface.
10. A system for limiting medium movement on an imaging apparatus, the system comprising:
an imaging surface;
a moveable surface capable of being moved to sandwich the medium between the imaging surface and the moveable surface; and
at least one air passage opening disposed adjacent the imaging surface to allow air to pass when the moveable surface is moved.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one air passage opening has at least one turn.
12. A method for limiting movement of a medium on an imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
positioning the medium against an imaging surface;
moving a moveable surface to sandwich the medium between the imaging surface and the moveable surface; and
passing air through at least one opening disposed to reduce forces acting on the medium that are caused by air currents generated adjacent the imaging surface when the moveable surface is moved.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein more than one opening is disposed through the moveable surface so as to provide for passage of increased volumes of air to be passed through the moveable surface at distances along the moveable surface from an axis about which the moveable surface is rotatably moved over volumes of air passed through the moveable surface at distances along the moveable surface closer to the axis.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one opening is provided between projections extending from the moveable surface.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one opening is disposed through said moveable surface.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one opening is disposed adjacent the imaging surface.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one opening to pass air includes at least one turn.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one opening includes an opening that is disposed adjacent the imaging surface.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings disposed through a fabric disposed over a larger opening through the moveable surface.
20. A system for limiting medium movement on an imaging apparatus, the system comprising:
a moveable surface means for movement to sandwich the medium between an image scanning surface and the moveable surface means; and
at least one air passage opening means for passing air when the moveable surface means is moved.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein more than one air passage opening means are disposed through the moveable surface means, and the air passage opening means are disposed in the moveable surface means for passing increased volumes of air through the moveable surface means at distances along the moveable surface from an axis about which the movable surface means is rotated over volumes of air passed through the moveable surface means at distances along the moveable surface means closer to the axis.
22. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one air passage opening means includes at least one turn means for attenuating light from being passed through the moveable surface onto the imaging surface.

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 crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, said crop engaging element comprising:
a hollow mounting structure having a ramp portion terminating in a flat top portion that is provided with at least one hole;
a rasp bar comprising a base having a flat bottom surface and a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said top surface, each of said plurality of fins having a fin longitudinal axis, and said base being provided with at least one mounting holes through which a threaded fastener is passed to mount said rasp bar to said hollow mounting structure;
a leading mounting flange and a trailing mounting flange that extend from said hollow structure for mounting the crop engaging element to the rotor, wherein one of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one circular mounting apertures and the other of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one mounting apertures in the form of a slot through which mounting bolts are passed to mount the crop engaging element on the rotor.
2. The crop engaging element of claim 1 wherein said hollow mounting structure is a single structure of unitary construction.
3. The crop engaging element of claim 1 wherein said hollow mounting structure, said rasp bar, said leading mounting flange and said trailing mounting flange are a single structure of unitary construction.
4. The crop engaging element of claim 1 wherein said fin longitudinal axes are substantially parallel.
5. The crop engaging element of claim 1 further comprising:
a rear wall;
wherein said trailing mounting flange is provided with at least one gusset extending between said trailing mounting flange and said rear wall.
6. The crop engaging element of claim 5 wherein said rear wall is open forming a rectangular frame.
7. A crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, said crop engaging element comprising:
a hollow structure having a ramp portion terminating in a flat top portion that is provided with a rasp bar, said rasp bar comprising a base having a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said surface, each of said plurality of fins having a fin longitudinal axis; and
a leading mounting flange and a trailing mounting flange extend from the hollow structure for mounting the crop engaging element to a rotor, wherein one of said mounting flanges is provided with a first mounting aperture and the other of said mounting flanges is provided with a second mounting aperture through which mounting bolts are passed to mount the crop engaging element on the rotor.
8. A crop processing rotor for a rotary agricultural combine or a rotary pharmaceutical combine, said crop processing rotor comprising:
a cylindrical drum; and
a plurality of crop processing elements mounted to said cylindrical drum, each of said crop processing elements comprising the crop engaging element of claim 1.
9. A rotary agricultural or pharmaceutical combine comprising:
a concave; and
a crop processing rotor assembly comprising the crop processing rotor of claim 8, said crop processing rotor being rotatably mounted in said concave.
10. A method for improving the ability of a rotary combine to gently thresh a crop and to gently convey the crop through the threshing section of the rotary combine, said method comprising:
introducing the crop to the threshing section of the rotary combine; and
rotating within said threshing section a rotor upon which are mounted a plurality of crop engaging elements, each said crop engaging element comprising a single, unitary, hollow structure having a ramp portion terminating in a flat top portion that is provided with at least one hole, a rasp bar comprising a base having a flat bottom surface and a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said top surface, and said base being provided with at least one mounting hole through which a threaded fastener is passed to mount said rasp bar to said hollow structure, and a leading mounting flange and a trailing mounting flange that extend from the hollow structure for mounting the crop engaging element to the rotor, wherein one of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one circular mounting aperture and the other of said mounting flanges is provided with at least one mounting aperture in the form of a slot through which mounting bolts are passed to mount the crop engaging element on the rotor.
11. A method for improving the ability of a rotary combine to gently thresh a crop and to gently convey the crop through the threshing section of the rotary combine, said method comprising:
introducing the crop to the threshing section of the rotary combine; and
rotating within said threshing section a rotor upon which are mounted a plurality of crop processing elements, each said crop engaging element comprising the crop engaging element of claim 1.
12. A crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, the rotor having a plurality of radial planes, said crop engaging element comprising:
a hollow structure having a ramp portion terminating in a top portion;
a rasp bar that is attached to said top portion, said rasp bar comprising a base having a curved convex top surface and a plurality of fins extending from said surface, each of said plurality of fins having a fin longitudinal axis;
whereas said fin longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to one another and are oriented at an angle relative to one of the radial planes of rotation, said angle being in the range of about forty-one to about fifty-nine degrees or in the range of about sixty-one degrees to about eighty-nine degrees.
13. The crop engaging element of claim 12 wherein said angle is about fifty degrees.
14. The crop engaging element of claim 12 wherein said angle is about seventy degrees.
15. The crop engaging element of claim 12 wherein said angle is in the range of about forty-two degrees to about fifty-eight degrees.
16. The crop engaging element of claim 12 wherein said angle is in the range of about sixty-two degrees to about eighty-eight degrees.
17. A crop engaging element for the rotor of a rotary combine, the rotor having a plurality of radial planes, said crop engaging element comprising:
a rasp bar mount that is attached to the rotor, said rasp bar mount having a ramp portion and a rasp bar portion, said rasp bar having a plurality of fins, each of said fins having a longitudinal fin axis, each longitudinal axis being disposed at an angle relative to one of said radial planes;
wherein said angle is in the range of about forty-two degrees to about fifty-eight degrees or about sixty-two degrees to about eighty-eight degrees.
18. The crop engaging element of claim 17 wherein said angle is about fifty degrees.
19. The crop engaging element of claim 17 wherein said angle is about seventy degrees.
20. The crop engaging element of claim 17 wherein said rasp bar mount and said rasp bar portion make up a single, unitary cast metal structure.