A dental tray having a body, at least two finger rest beams and a handle. The body has a predetermined shape and a plurality of body openings. The predetermined shape of the body accommodates the anatomical shape of the patient's mouth and receives the entire jaw and gingiva areas. The plurality of body openings positioned in the body to allow the impression materials to vent through the body openings to obtain the impression and to retain the impression materials onto the body. The handle is received on the body and has a predetermined configuration to facilitate ease of use and elimination of lip pressure. Each finger rest beams are received longitudinally on the bottom of the body. The combination of the handle and each finger rest beams are ergonomically designed to allow optimal stabilization pressure be exerted by the operator to the dental tray and impression material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new dental impression tray, used in combination with moldable material, for obtaining an accurate impression of the jaw and gingiva areas of the mouth of an edentulous patient.
2. Prior Art
In dentistry, an impression is often used to create an imprint likeness of an edentulous patient's jaw and gingiva areas in preparation for restoration of dental structures such as complete or partial dentures. The ability of the dental technician or dentist, hereinafter referred to as "operator", to obtain a satisfactory impression is influenced by the dental impression tray, hereinafter referred to as either "dental impression tray" or "dental tray", used in combination with moldable material, hereinafter referred to as "impression material", to obtain the impression.
The accuracy of the impression, to a large extent, will depend upon how well the dental tray is received in the patient's mouth. In order to gain a more accurate impression, numerous types of dental trays have been developed. Some dental trays are designed for numerous applications and are called standard dental trays. Some dental trays are specifically designed for a single purpose such as a dental tray designed for only one side of a patient's mouth. Some dental trays are designed for use with a patient that still has at least some of their teeth as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,973 B1, issued on Oct. 1, 2002 to Fetz et al. Some dental trays are adjustable to allow one dental tray to fit a large number of patients as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,315 B1, issued on Aug. 6, 2002 to Prestipino et al. Some dental trays are designed to allow impression material to be placed in the patient's mouth through the dental tray after inserting the tray in the patient's mouth as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,393 B2, issued on Nov. 4, 2003 to Trichas. Some dental trays, called enhanced trays, are larger devices that that help lift the patient's tongue up and away from the jaw and gingiva areas to assist with obtaining an impression. It is also very common for the dental trays in the prior art to require the use of adhesive to help retain the impression material onto the dental tray during the impression procedure. The adhesive is odorous and distasteful, making the use of adhesives unpleasant for the patient.
While each of the different trays in the prior art do address certain problems with obtaining an accurate impression, they also create new problems or do not work well with today's wide range of impression materials. One problem is that prior art causes excessive impression material to be expelled backward into the throat of the patient causing discomfort and sometimes gagging. Another problem is that the prior art are not built to match the anatomy of an edentulous patient's jaw and gingiva areas. This can lead to the dental tray deforming the patient's jaw and gingiva areas, thus preventing an accurate impression. This also leads to having to use excessive impression material to obtain a reasonable impression, which contributes to a patient's discomfort and gagging. Yet another problem is that the prior art does not work well with the entire range of impression materials that are now available from extralight to very heavy in density due to openings in the dental trays having either too small of openings or too large of openings. Where the dental tray has small openings, the dental tray does not distribute the medium to very heavy density impression materials well. Where the dental tray has large openings, the dental tray does not retain the extralight to medium density impression materials well. This causes the operator to use impression materials that work with the dental tray when other types of impression materials or a combination of different types of impression materials would provide better results. Yet another problem is that the prior art does not provide a means for uniformly distributing pressure to the dental tray to seat the dental tray and impression material in the patent's mouth. When inserting the dental tray and impression material in the patient's mouth, the operator must push on the tray to seat it around the jaw and gingiva areas. Since the prior art does not provide a way to distribute this pressure uniformly to the dental tray, often the dental tray will improperly seat deeper at the point where the pressure is applied and create an inaccurate impression. Yet another problem is that the prior art does not provide a way to allow the operator to keep their hand, wrist and arm in an ergonomically correct position while placing the dental tray and impression material in the patient's mouth and while placing pressure on the dental tray to seat the dental tray and impression material. At best, this can lead to the operator's fatigue, discomfort and loss of productivity; and, at worse, can lead to the operator becoming injured by having to repetitively place their hand, wrist and arm in awkward positions.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a new and improved dental tray that provides an accurate impression of an edentulous patient's jaw and gingiva areas by more closely matching the anatomy of the edentulous patient's mouth so that the patient's jaw and gingiva areas are not deformed or influenced by the dental tray and the impression material is retained by the dental tray during the impression procedure without the use of adhesives; by accommodating the use of the entire range of impression materials that are now available so that the best impression material or the best combination of impression materials can be used to obtain the impression; by providing a means to uniformly transfer pressure to the dental tray so that the impression material is correctly seated in the patient's mouth to obtain an accurate impression with less discomfort to the patient; and by providing a dental tray that allows the operator to maintain their hand, wrist and arm in an ergonomically correct and comfortable position while placing the dental tray and impression material into the patient's mouth and while seating the dental tray and impression material in the patient's mouth during the process of obtaining the dental impression of the edentulous patient.

Dental tray for obtaining dental impression of edentulous patient


Systems for cleaning electroplating system components may include a seal cleaning assembly incorporated with an electroplating system. The seal cleaning assembly may include an arm pivotable between a first position and a second position. The arm may be rotatable about a central axis of the arm. The seal cleaning assembly may also include a cleaning head including a bracket portion coupled with a distal portion of the arm. The cleaning head may be characterized by a front portion formed to interface with a seal of the electroplating apparatus. The cleaning head may define a trench along the front portion, and the cleaning head may define a plurality of fluid channels through the cleaning head, each fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels fluidly accessing a backside of the trench.

Integrated circuits are made possible by processes which produce intricately patterned material layers on substrate surfaces. After formation, etching, and other processing on a substrate, metal or other conductive materials are often deposited or formed to provide the electrical connections between components. Because this metallization may be performed after many manufacturing operations, problems caused during the metallization may create expensive waste substrates or wafers. One common problem is non-uniform formation of metal across a substrate surface.
Uniformity issues during metallization may be caused from a number of situations related to the process or the equipment. One example is plating on components of the chamber that are or become conductive, and which may cause local loss of metal on the substrate. Material may be plated on the contact ring, contact seal, or any other component that may be within the system. This errant formation may limit the amount of plating on the substrate, which can lead to insufficient plating, increased cost, and device failure.
Thus, there is a need for improved systems and methods that can be used to produce high quality devices and structures. These and other needs are addressed by the present technology.

Cleaning components and methods in a plating system


An application control method and a mobile terminal are provided. The method is applicable to a mobile terminal including a processor and an artificial intelligence (AI) module. Whether a current user is a registered user is detected by the processor when detecting that an application running on the mobile terminal belongs to a preset application set. A monitoring instruction carrying an identification of the running application is sent to the AI module by the processor when detecting that the current user is the registered user. A monitoring strategy of the running application associated with the registered user is acquired by the AI module, where the monitoring strategy includes a monitoring parameter and a corresponding monitoring parameter threshold. The running application is closed by the AI module when detecting that a value of the monitoring parameter of the running application is greater than or equal to the monitoring parameter threshold.

With the rapid development of smart phones, various applications, such as video applications, game applications, payment applications and the like, are installed in the smart phone to realize related functions.
At present, after an application of the smart phone is enabled by a user, the application runs on the smart phone all the time based on continuous operations of the user. Taking a game application as an example, when the user uses the game application for a long time, unless the smart phone experiences stuck or reboot or other anomalies, the game application will run on the smart phone all the time during usage of the user.

Application control method and mobile terminal

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for a method in a portable device for transliterating text. An image of the text is generated using a camera function in the portable device. The image is sent with an identification of a source language and a target language to a transliteration service using a wireless communications link. A response is received from the transliteration service, wherein the response contains a transliteration of the text in the target language. The transliteration is then presented on the portable device. The presentation may be, for example, text displayed on the portable device or in the form of speech presented audibly to the user.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for processing data. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for transliterating text using a portable device.
2. Description of Related Art
Today, people are very mobile with respect to business and leisure travel. People often travel to foreign locations to conduct business or for vacation. Travel to foreign locations may cause travelers a number of problems when they are able to speak and understand the local languages, but are not familiar with reading the local languages in the place they are visiting. Common problems faced by travelers include reading road signs, train schedules, bus schedules, restaurant menus, and phone books.
With these types of situations, speaking the language is insufficient because the traveler is unable to read the language. A traveler needs to be able to read and understand words for the particular language as well. For example, if a traveler is at a train station, signs on the platforms of train stations typically have a destination city displayed in the local language. It would be beneficial to avoid having to ask a person nearby to read the sign. The same situation is present with respect to road signs or names in a phone book.
One solution provided for a traveler is an electronic dictionary that includes an ability to convert from a source language to a target language. Many of these electronic translators, however, have a limited number of languages and usually do not include names for places. For example, an electronic translating device may allow a user to enter words in a source language, such as Spanish, and have those words translated into a target language, such as English. Such a conversion requires an extra step when the user is able to understand Spanish but is unable to read Spanish.
Further, when the word is a name, such as that of a city, a street, or a person, a Spanish to English translation may not be present. Also, many languages use characters that may not be recognizable to travelers, who cannot read the language. For a traveler who can say the name of a city, but cannot read the name, a translation of the text may be useless. In this situation a transliteration of text into a form that can be phonetically read by the traveler is appropriate. One example is in Japan, a traveler may be unable to read "Tokyo Station" on a train if the name is in Kanji form that the traveler cannot read although the traveler can pronounce and understand the name.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for providing transliteration of text from a source language to a target language.

Method and apparatus to transliterate text using a portable device

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and processes disclosed may be used to produce a high purity isobutane stream and a high purity 1-butene stream from mixed C4 streams having disparate starting compositions.

Various processes have been disclosed to produce a high purity isobutene stream from a mixed C4 stream. Many of these include the etherification of isobutene to produce methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE), which may be separated from the remaining C4s and then back cracked to form a pure isobutene stream. Such processes may be disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,628,880 and 5,321,163, among others.
The separation of the isobutene in the form of MTBE allows the separation and recovery of butenes (1-butene and 2-butene).

Co-production of high purity isobutane and butene-1 from mixed C4s


A communication method and apparatus using analog and digital hybrid beamforming are provided. The method includes receiving a first message including a measurement and selection condition for hybrid beamforming from a Base Station (BS), measuring channels of a plurality of BS transmission beams, selecting at least one BS transmission beam based on channel measurements, transmitting report information about the selected at least one BS transmission beam to the BS, receiving from the BS a second message, estimating an effective channel matrix for the selected final BS transmission beam according to the measurement and report condition, determining feedback information for digital beamforming of the BS based on the effective channel matrix, transmitting the determined feedback information to the BS, and receiving a data burst from the BS according to a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) mode and/or a configuration scheduled based on the feedback information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a beamforming-based wireless mobile communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a communication method and apparatus using analog and digital hybrid beamforming.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development trend of wireless communication systems is toward higher data rates to satisfy ever increasing demands for wireless data traffic. For example, wireless communication systems are being developed toward increased spectral efficiency based on communication schemes such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), and the like in order to increase data rates.
As demands for traffic have accelerated due to increased demands for smartphones and tablet Personal Computers (PCs) and the resulting rapid growth of applications requiring a large amount of traffic, it is difficult to satisfy the soaring demands for wireless data simply by increasing spectral efficiency.
To avert the problem, recent interest has focused on a millimeter-wave wireless communication system. When wireless communication is provided in a millimeter-wave frequency band, propagation loss, such as path loss and reflection loss, is increased in view of the spectral nature of the millimeter-wave frequency band and the resulting shortened propagation distance reduces service coverage. Therefore, the millimeter-wave wireless communication system may expand service coverage by mitigating the path loss of waves using beamforming and thus increasing the propagation distance of the waves.
The two types of beamforming schemes are digital beamforming (or Transmit (Tx) pre-Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (pre-IFFT) beamforming/Receive (Rx) post-Fast Fourier Transform (post-FFT) beamforming) and analog beamforming (or Tx post-IFFT beamforming/Rx pre-FFT beamforming). Digital beamforming uses a plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) paths based on Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and a digital precoder or codebook in the digital domain, and analog beamforming uses a plurality of analog/RF devices (e.g., a phase shifter, a Power Amplifier (PA), and a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA)) and an antenna configuration. While digital beamforming requires an expensive Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) or Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and increases implementation complexity in order to increase a beamforming gain, analog beamforming has limitations in terms of efficient use of frequency resources or maximization of beamforming performance.
Since a wavelength is shortened in a millimeter-wave band, analog beamforming using an antenna array with a number of antenna elements arranged in a small space, such as a Uniform Linear Array (ULA) or a Uniform Planar Array (UPA), is suitable. However, the analog beamforming has limitations in its effectiveness in terms of efficient use of resources, the increase of user or system throughput through MIMO schemes such as Single User MIMO (SU-MIMO), Multiple User MIMO (MU-MIMO), or spatial multiplexing, and the increase of Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) or reliability through diversity or additional digital beamforming, as described before.
Accordingly, there exists a need for supporting a hybrid beamforming which is a combination of analog beamforming and digital beamforming, for efficient MIMO/beamforming.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Communication method and apparatus using analog and digital hybrid beamforming


A dielectrophoretic heat engine with temperature-dependent dielectric matter and energy conversion method exploiting the thermodielectrophoretic effect for effectively and efficiently converting thermal energy into work or other useful forms at any physical size or scale.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to thermodynamic heat engines and heat cycles for the conversion of heat or thermal energy directly into work or more useful forms.
2. Description of Prior Art
As sensors and actuators become smaller, there is a continuing and growing need for micro-power sources that efficiently convert heat energy into more useful forms at very small physical scales. The technology to build extremely small heat engines is available, but there are currently no heat engines or heat cycles that work efficiently, if at all, at such small physical dimensions.
Fossil fuels are a non-renewable energy source that must be used wisely. Unfortunately, all known and currently available heat engines and thermodynamic heat cycles prevent the efficient conversion of energy from valuable non-renewable resources. That means we are consuming precious, non-renewable energy resources today in inefficient thermodynamic processes and whatever energy is wasted in those processes is lost forever.
Some ferroelectric materials, such as barium titanate (BT) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT), experience a drastic change in the dielectric constant, or relative permittivity, when heated to a temperature, called a Curie point, of the particular material. The dielectric constant increases in magnitude very rapidly just before the Curie temperature is reached, and it drops again sharply as the temperature increases further. There have been attempts in the past to use this characteristic of ferroelectric materials for the conversion of heat directly into electricity where the ferroelectric material is used as the dielectric in a parallel-plate capacitor. Hoh describes and claims in U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,687 dated Mar. 29, 1966 and entitled "Energy Converter" an invention exploiting what was defined as the "thermo-dielectric effect" which utilizes the rise or fall in the dielectric constant of dielectric matter in a capacitor as it is heated or cooled. Hoh anticipated using the increase or decrease in voltage and thus, the amount of energy gained in an energized capacitor with isolated electric charges when it is heated or cooled for the direct conversion of thermal energy into electricity. Ferroelectric direct-conversion devices of this nature are impractical because a capacitor that has a dielectric with temperature-dependent permittivity must be physically moved through a heat cycle. Some devices even require a cyclical heat source. Moreover, the conversion efficiency of such devices is very low because getting heat effectively into and out of the dielectric material of the capacitor has proven to be a difficult task.
3. Objects and Advantages
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a heat engine that does not require a cyclical heat source, has a minimum of moving parts, and converts thermal energy into kinetic energy or more useful forms very efficiently at even the smallest physical scales. Moreover, it would also be advantageous to provide a heat engine and heat cycle using the wide variation of the dielectric constant, or relative permittivity, of certain materials around a Curie temperature that results from heating or cooling the materials. A heat engine that first converts thermal energy efficiently into motion or kinetic energy would also be advantageous over the less efficient methods available for converting thermal energy directly into electricity.
A dielectrophoretic heat engine uses the extreme variation in the dielectric constant of a ferroelectric material, such as barium titanate (BT) or lead zirconate titanate (PZT), at temperatures near a Curie point, or a Curie temperature, of the material, but in a different and more efficient way to convert heat energy directly into mechanical energy. Simply put, a capacitor that has a dielectric with temperature-dependent permittivity is not physically moved through a heat cycle to produce electricity as was done previously, but the dielectric moves instead under the influence of an electric field in a different heat cycle, and the resultant kinetic energy of the moving dielectric can then be converted to electricity. Adequate explanation of the dielectrophoretic heat engine and associated heat cycle, which are the objects of the present invention, requires a definition and understanding of a new principle. The "thermodielectrophoretic effect" is hereby defined as the tendency of an electric field to attract and draw in matter with a temporary higher relative permittivity, while simultaneously rejecting or displacing other matter with a temporary lower relative permittivity from the same electric field, where the variance in relative permittivity between the two sections of matter is caused by a temporary temperature difference between the sections of matter. In other words, dielectric matter with a temperature-dependent permittivity is used as the working substance in a heat engine where the heat cycle consists of heating and cooling sections of the dielectric matter so that sections of dielectric matter with a temporary higher permittivity are drawn into an electric field while other sections of dielectric matter with a temporary lower permittivity are simultaneously displaced from the same electric field. The result of the drawing in or displacement of, sections of dielectric matter with a temperature-dependent permittivity results in a net movement or motion in one direction of the dielectric matter into and through the electric field.
Consider the example of a square parallel-plate capacitor in which a square dielectric plate is inserted part way into the gap between the electrode plates. Using the conventional approximate equations for the properties of a parallel-plate capacitor, it can readily be shown that the electrostatic field pulls the dielectric slab toward a central position in the gap with a force, F, given byF=V2(e1−e2)a/2d, where V is the potential applied between the electrode plates, e1 is the permittivity of the dielectric slab being drawn into the electric field, e2 is the permittivity of air that is being displaced from between the electrodes, a is the length of an electrode plate, and d is the thickness of the gap between the plates. Typically, the force is small from a macroscopic human perspective. However, the above equation shows that the force depends on the ratio between the capacitor dimensions but does not depend on the size. In other words, the force remains the same if the capacitor and the dielectric slab are shrunk to very small dimensions (nanometer size). At the same time, the masses of all components are proportional to the third power of their linear dimensions. Therefore, the force-to-mass ratio and, consequently, the acceleration that can be imparted to the dielectric slab are much larger at very small physical scales than at the macroscopic scale. The present invention exploits this effect, and thus, engines can be built that are more powerful, efficient, and effective than other heat engines at very small physical scales. Certain substances, such as barium titanate (BT) and lead zirconate titanate (PZT), exhibit a temperature-dependent permittivity near a Curie temperature, Tc. For that matter, the permittivity varies greatly within a span of a few degrees above or below Tc. Furthermore, the Curie temperatures of some substances can be permanently altered with the addition of certain quantities of other substances, such as lead or strontium. Usually, the addition of lead increases the Curie temperature, and the addition of strontium tends to decrease the Curie temperature. That means a variety of substances can be made by doping which exhibit a continuum of Curie temperatures ranging from extremely high temperatures down to room temperature or below. The present invention exploits the concept of temperature-dependent permittivity along with the ability to create substances where each substance exhibits a different Tc in order to increase conversion efficiency by cascading heat engine stages where each stage uses dielectric matter with a slightly different Curie temperature as the working substance.
4. Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the heat engine and associated heat cycle as described above, several advantages of the present invention are:                (a) to provide heat engines capable of converting heat with relatively small variations in temperature directly into mechanical energy or motion;        (b) to provide heat engines that have multiple stages with working fluid material used in the engine having different Curie temperatures in order to attain very high Carnot efficiencies;        (c) to provide simple heat engines which have relatively few moving parts and which can be produced cost-effectively;        (d) to provide heat engines that can be constructed to operate at any physical scale;        (e) to provide relatively powerful heat engines which are cost-effective, lightweight, and small;        (f) to provide heat engines capable of converting low-grade heat near room temperatures directly into mechanical energy or motion;        (g) to provide means and methods of cooling electronic circuits and components with very small dimensions;        (h) to provide means and methods for pumping or moving matter very efficiently at small physical scales.

Dielectrophoretic heat engine and method of energy conversion


A garbage bin includes a bin body, a bin head, an inducting window, a garbage inlet disposed on the bin head, a bin cover disposed on the garbage inlet, an upright shaft and a driving unit for making the upright shaft rotate. The upright shaft is connected to the driving unit, and the bin cover is connected to the upright shaft, in which the connecting point is not at the center of the bin cover. The advantages of the invention is that the rotating shaft of the bin cover is the upright shaft on the bin head, so when the bin cover rotates about the upright shaft, the bin cover opens horizontally about the upright shaft, so that the driving force is small, the energy consumption is low, and a user's hand is prevented from touching by the bin cover.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container, such as a garbage bin, wherein the bin cover is actuated by induction and is horizontally moved to open up the bin body.
2. Description of Related Arts
The existing induction bin generally comprises a bin body and a bin head detachably supported on the bin body, such that the object, such as the trash, can be disposed out of the bin body when the bin head is detached from the bin body. The induction bin further comprises a bin cover movably coupled at the bin head and an induction unit operatively actuating the bin cover between an opened position and a closed position. When the induction unit detects an object within a sensing range, such as littering the trash, the bin cover is automatically actuated at its opened position. Otherwise, the bin cover is normally retained at its closed position. Since the user does not need to touch or contact the bin cover in order to operate of the bin cover, the automate bin cover brings lots of convenience and enhances the hygienic purpose of littering. However, such existing bin has a major drawback that the bin cover is pivotally and upwardly folded from the closed position to the opened position. In other words, when the induction unit detects the object with the sensing range, the bin cover is forced to upwardly fold so as to open up the bin body. Therefore, when the induction unit is activated, the operation requires a relatively larger the actuating power to not only pivotally lift up the bin cover but also overcome its own weight of the bin cover as well. Therefore, the operation requires a relatively larger actuating power and consumes lots of electrical power so as to shorten the service life span of the battery. The existing induction bin is always non-operated due to the insufficient electrical power of the battery. In addition, the user's hand will accidentally touch or contact the bin cover when the bin cover is pivotally folded to its opened position.


An electrical heater control system reduces flicker. The system includes an electrical heating system; an AC (alternating current) power source for supplying AC current to the electrical heating system; an AC power control device connected between the electrical heating system and the AC power source for controlling the supply of AC current to the electrical heating system; and a controller unit coupled to the AC power control device for activating the device at zero crossings of the AC power to minimize flicker in AC current supplied to the electrical heating system from the AC power source.

This invention relates in general to AC (alternating current) Power Control; and more specifically to the simple control and distribution of AC power to heater loads typically found in X-ray film processing equipment, dual laminator, roller heaters, splicer heaters, dual fuser roller heaters, and other temperature controlled heating equipment. The technique of the invention reduces the AC line voltage fluctuations caused when high power is applied to the heaters and provides power management options and temperature control.
New European EMC regulations (FY2001), require that all electrical equipment meet the requirements for EN-61000-3-3, xe2x80x9cLimitation of voltage fluctuations and flicker in low-voltage systems for equipment with rated current equal to or less than 16 amperesxe2x80x9d. To comply with these new regulations, equipment that requires continuous switching of AC power for its normal operation may require significant modifications in the manner in which electrical power is distributed to the system over a period of time. The proportional control heating systems found in various types of photographic film processing equipment are continuously switching AC power on and off to precisely maintain the temperatures of the processor chemistry baths and film drying system. The typical control systems utilized in this equipment will switch the AC power frequently over a period of time, to maintain the required temperature to the loads for each heater sub-system in the film processor. To maintain a close temperature control in a heater sub-system within a film processor, it is not uncommon for the power to the heating elements to be switching over 100 times per minute. Limiting the voltage fluctuations and flicker in this type of equipment will require an AC power control system that can minimize the number and the magnitude of each switched AC power demand over the measurement time period as specified in EN-61000-3-3. A typical power distribution system of this type can be considerably more complex and may increase the amount of heat dissipated in the film processing equipment. A simple methodology is needed that provides a controlled amount of power to the heating elements as needed to reach and maintain the required temperature of the equipment heater sub-systems and to minimize the amount of switched AC power transitions.
Electrical equipment, that minimizes multiple surges of power from the AC main power, has been designed to convert the alternating current to direct current and store this energy in large banks of capacitors or batteries for distribution, as needed, by the intended load. This type of system generally provides an even flow of power to the equipment and greatly minimizes the effects of the demand on the AC main power for continuous surges of power. These power distribution systems are generally much more complex, with lower reliability, in their operation and require a much larger physical space than is required by a conventional power supply and heater control system. They will increase the amount of heat that is dissipated in the system because the efficiency of the power conversion from AC to DC power will always be less than 100%. There is a need for a solution to these problems.
According to the present invention, there is provided a solution to the problems discussed above.
According to a feature of the present invention, there is provided a design consisting of two AC power control devices, both of which are connected in series between the AC main power and a single heater element load. One device will allow only the positive portion of the AC power to pass through it to the heater load. The second device will only allow the negative portion of the AC power to pass through to the load. By properly controlling both these devices the system can provide 100%, 50%, or 0% of the AC power to be applied to the heater load. To minimize the number of times that the AC power is switched, as required to meet the requirements of EN 61000-3-3 (Flicker), the heating system duty cycle and period may also be adjusted as required by hardware logic or via a software algorithm in the controller unit of the AC power heating control system.
According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided an electrical heater control system with reduced flicker comprising: an electrical heating system; an AC (alternating current) power source for supplying AC current to said electrical heating system; an AC power control device connected between said electrical heating system and said AC power source for controlling the supply of AC current to said electrical heating system; and a controller unit coupled to said AC power control device for activating said device at zero crossings of said AC power to minimize flicker in AC current supplied to said electrical heating system from said AC power source.
The invention has the following advantages.
1. Reduces voltage fluctuations on the AC main power line.
2. Reduces electromagnetic interference caused from high switching currents.
3. Provides half power or fall power to the load with minimal power dissipation from the device.
4. Provides the ability to increment the AC sine wave power to a load from 0, xc2xd, and full power steps, or multiple power steps when used with multiple series or parallel heater loads.
5. Utilizes a device that switches on and off at the zero crossing of the AC sine wave, resulting in reduced EMI.
6. Requires a minimum of space to locate the half wave control devices.
7. Minimum cost of components to implement.
8. Increases reliability.
9. Reduces/minimizes temperature swings, providing increased temperature control.

Heating control system which minimizes AC power line voltage fluctuations


The present invention relates to melanocortin receptor agonists of formula (I), which is useful in the treatment of obesity, diabetes and male and/or female sexual dysfunction

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) derived peptides are known to affect food intake. Several lines of evidence support the notion that the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) of the melanocortin receptor (MC-R) family, several of which are expressed in the brain, are targets of POMC derived peptides involved in the control of food intake and metabolism.
Evidence for the involvement of MC-R in obesity includes: i) the agouti (Avy) mouse which ectopically expresses an antagonist of the MC-1R, MC-3R and MC-4R is obese, indicating that blocking the action of these three MC-Rs can lead to hyperphagia and metabolic disorders; ii) MC-4R knockout mice (Huszar et al., Cell, 88:131-141, 1997) recapitulate the phenotype of the agouti mouse and these mice are obese; iii) the cyclic heptapeptide MC-1R, MC-3R, MC-4R, and MC-5R agonist melanotanin-II (MT-II) injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV) in rodents, reduces food intake in several animal feeding models (NPY, ob/ob, agouti, fasted) while ICV injected SHU-9119 (MC-3R, MC-4R antagonist; MC-1R and MC-5R agonist) reverses this effect and can induce hyperphagia; and
iv) chronic intraperitoneal treatment of Zucker fatty rats with an α-NDP-MASH derivative (HP228) has been reported to activate MC-1R, MC-3R, MC-4R and MC-5R and to attenuate food intake and body weight gain over a 12 week period.
Five MC-Rs have thus far been identified, and these are expressed in different tissues. MC-1R was initially characterized by dominant gain of function mutations at the extension locus, affecting coat color by controlling phaeomelanin to eumelanin conversion through control of tyrosinase. MC-1R is mainly expressed in melanocytes. MC-2R is expressed in the adrenal gland and represents the ACTH receptor. MC-3R is expressed in the brain, gut and placenta and may be involved in the control of food intake and thermogenesis. MC-4R is uniquely expressed in the brain and its inactivation was shown to cause obesity. (A. Kask, et al., "Selective antagonist for the melanocortin-4-receptor (HS014) increases food intake in free-feeding rats, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 245:90-93, 1998). MC-5R is expressed in many tissues including white fat, placenta and exocrine glands. A low level of expression is also observed in the brain. MC-5R knock out mice reveal reduced sebaceous gland lipid production (Chen et al., Cell, 91:789-798, 1997).
MC-4R appears to play a role in other physiological functions as well, namely controlling grooming behavior, erection and blood pressure. Erectile dysfunction denotes the medical condition of inability to achieve penile erection sufficient for successful intercourse. The term "impotence" is often times employed to describe this prevalent condition. Synthetic melanocortin receptor agonists have been found to initiate erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction (H. Wessells et al., "Synthetic Melanotropic Petide Initiates Erections in Men With Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction: Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Crossover Study," J. Urol., 160: 389-393, 1998). Activation of melanocortin receptors of the brain appears to cause normal stimulation of sexual arousal. Evidence for the involvement of MC-R in male and/or female sexual dysfunction is detailed in WO 00/74679.
Diabetes is a disease in which a mammal's ability to regulate glucose levels in the blood is impaired because the mammal has a reduced ability to convert glucose to glycogen for storage in muscle and liver cells. In Type I diabetes, this reduced ability to store glucose is caused by reduced insulin production. "Type II Diabetes" or "non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM) is the form of diabetes, which is due to a profound resistance to insulin stimulating or regulatory effect on glucose and lipid metabolism in the main insulin-sensitive tissues, muscle, liver and adipose tissue. This resistance to insulin responsiveness results in insufficient insulin activation of glucose uptake, oxidation and storage in muscle and inadequate insulin repression of lipolysis in adipose tissue and of glucose production and secretion in liver. When these cells become desensitized to insulin, the body tries to compensate by producing abnormally high levels of insulin and hyperinsulemia results. Hyperinsulemia is associated with hypertension and elevated body weight. Since insulin is involved in promoting the cellular uptake of glucose, amino acids and triglycerides from the blood by insulin sensitive cells, insulin insensitivity can result in elevated levels of triglycerides and LDL which are risk factors in cardiovascular diseases. The constellation of symptoms which include hyperinsulemia combined with hypertension, elevated body weight, elevated triglycerides and elevated LDL is known as Syndrome X.
Spiropiperidine and piperidine derivates have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,534 B1, WO 01/70337, WO 00/74679 and WO 01/70708 as agonists of melanocortin receptor(s), which can be used for the treatment of diseases and disorders, such as obesity, diabetes and sexual dysfunction.
In view of the unresolved deficiencies in treatment of various diseases and disorders as discussed above, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel piperazine derivatives, which are useful as melanocortin receptor agonists to treat obesity, diabetes, and male and female sexual dysfunction.


A nozzle includes an inlet, an outlet, and an axial centerline. A shroud surrounding the axial centerline extends from the inlet to the outlet and defines a circumference. The circumference proximate the inlet is greater than the circumference at a first point downstream of the inlet, and the circumference at the first point downstream of the inlet is less than the circumference at a second point downstream of the first point. A method for supplying a fuel through a nozzle directs a first airflow along a first path and a second airflow along a second path separate from the first path. The method further includes injecting the fuel into at least one of the first path or the second path and accelerating at least one of the first airflow or the second airflow.

Gas turbines are widely used in commercial operations for power generation. Operating that gas turbine at higher temperatures generally increases the thermodynamic efficiency of the gas turbine. However, higher operating temperatures often produce localized hot spots in the combustors near the nozzle exits if fuel and air are not well mixed prior to combustion. Localized hot spots may increase the chance for flame flash back and flame holding. Flame flash back and flame holding may occur with any fuel and are especially associated with high reactive fuels, such as hydrogen fuel, which has a much higher burning rate and much wider flammability range than fuels having a lower reactivity. Flame flash back and flame holding should be avoided during operations as the nozzles may be burnt at such events. In addition, uneven fuel/air mixing with the localized hot spot increases the generation of NOx, and uneven fuel/air mixing with the localized cold spots increases the emission of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons, all of which are undesirable exhaust emissions.
A variety of techniques exist to allow higher operating temperatures while minimizing localized hot spots and undesirable emissions. For example, various nozzles have been developed to more uniformly mix the fuel with the working fluid prior to combustion. A more uniform fuel mixture allows the gas turbine to operate on a near fully premixed combustion that produces fewer hot spots and generates lower emissions. Flame holding and flame flash back happen when the flame burning velocity is higher than the local flow velocity. To prevent flame holding or flash back, flow velocity needs to be increased which often requires an additional pressure drop across the nozzles, and the pressure drop across the nozzles detracts from the overall thermodynamic efficiency of the gas turbine.
Therefore, the continued need exists for an improved nozzle that can support increasingly higher combustion temperatures and high reactive fuels while minimizing localized hot spots, flame holding, and the pressure drop across the nozzle.

Apparatus and method for a gas turbine nozzle


A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array, a Y decoder, a program register, a sense amplifier, a verification circuit and a path control circuit. The memory cell array includes a first memory cell. The first memory cell is connected with a bit line. The Y decoder includes a first decoding element. The first decoding element is connected between the bit line and a data line. The program register is connected with the data line, and generates a control voltage to the first memory cell. The sense amplifier is connected with the data line, and generates a read data. The verification circuit is connected between the sense amplifier and the data line, and generates a rewrite data. The path control circuit is connected with the data line, and receives a write data and the rewrite data.

As known, a non-volatile memory device can retain the stored data for a long time. Even if the electronic device with the non-volatile memory device is powered off, the stored data are not lost. For assuring the accuracy of the write data in the non-volatile memory device, it is necessary to perform a verification operation on the write data after the program operation on the non-volatile memory device is completed. If the result of the verification operation fails, it is necessary to perform the program operation on the non-volatile memory device again until the result of the verification operation on the write data passes.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 9,805,776 discloses a memory device, a peripheral circuit and a single-byte data write method thereof.
The present invention provides a non-volatile memory device with a novel structure and a peripheral device thereof.

Non-volatile memory device and associated peripheral circuit with data verifying and rewriting functions


A memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A plurality of stacked structures extending along a first direction is formed on a substrate. Each of the stacked structures includes a plurality of first insulating layers and a plurality of second insulating layers. The first insulating layers are stacked on the substrate and the second insulating layers are respectively disposed between the adjacent first insulating layers. A plurality of trenches extending along the first direction is formed in each of the stacked structures. The trenches are respectively located at two opposite sides of each of the second insulating layers. A first conductive layer is filled in the trenches. A plurality of charge storage structures extending along a second direction is formed on the stacked structures and a second conductive layer is formed on each of the charge storage structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a memory and a manufacturing method thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a memory having relatively high memory density and a manufacturing method of the memory.
2. Description of Related Art
A non-volatile memory can maintain the stored data even after the power is off, and thus the non-volatile memory has become a mandatory memory in many electronic products, so as to ensure the normal operation when the electronic products are booted.
Together with the size reduction of electronic devices, dimensions of the memory containing memory cell arrays are decreased. However, the existing photolithography technology imposes restrictions on the size reduction of a normal two-dimensional memory cell array (e.g., reduction of the distance between adjacent memory cells). Besides, the reduced size of the memory cells gives rise to the decrease in the memory density.
In order to improve the data storage capacity of the memory, a three-dimensional memory cell array has drawn attention in the industry. Unfortunately, the process of forming the current three-dimensional memory cell array is rather complicated, and the size reduction of the three-dimensional memory cell array is still subject to the existing photolithography technology.


The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp for motor vehicle headlights which is provided with an annular flange (127) for mounting the high-pressure discharge lamp in the lamp holder of the motor vehicle headlight. According to the invention, the annular flange (127) is fixed on the base (125) by means of a snap or latching connection and is adapted to the lamp holder of motor vehicle headlights for halogen incandescent lamps. As a result, the high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention can be inserted in motor vehicle headlights for halogen incandescent lamps.

The invention relates to a high pressure discharge lamp for motor vehicle headlights.
A high-pressure discharge lamp for a motor vehicle headlight is disclosed, for example, in European Laid-open Specification EP-A 0 786 791. The high-pressure discharge lamp described in this document has a discharge vessel in which there are arranged electrodes for generating a light-emitting gas discharge, an outer bulb surrounding the discharge vessel, and a plastic base which is provided with the electric terminals of the high-pressure discharge lamp and in which the lamp vessels are fixed. The base is provided with a flange which serves to mount the high-pressure discharge lamp in a motor vehicle headlight for high-pressure discharge lamps. The mounting position of a headlight lamp is usually defined by mutually coordinated positioning means on the annular flange and on the lamp holder of the motor vehicle headlight This purpose is usually served by three asymmetrically constructed reference noses integrally formed on the annular flange, which extend radially outwards and engage in corresponding cutouts in the lamp holder of the motor vehicle headlight. In addition, the reference noses also serve as coding means for the type of lamp. Thus, in the case of commercially available headlight lamps such as, for example, H4 or H7 halogen incandescent lamps, the annular flange is constructed differently in a corresponding fashion in order to exclude confusion when the lamp is changed.
It is the object of the invention to use the simplest possible means to retrofit high-pressure discharge lamps which are intended for mounting in motor vehicle headlights specifically designed for them, in such a way that they can be mounted in motor vehicle headlights for halogen incandescent lamps.
The high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention is provided for use in a motor vehicle headlight, and has at least one transparent lamp vessel and means for generating a light-emitting gas discharge as well as a base which is provided with electric terminals and in which the at least one transparent lamp vessel is fixed The base is provided with an annular flange for the purpose of mounting the high-pressure discharge lamp in the holder of a motor vehicle headlight, the annular flange being adapted according to the invention to the holders of motor vehicle headlights for halogen incandescent lamps, and being fastened on the base by means of a snap or latching connection.
High-pressure discharge lamps can be retrofitted in a simple way by means of the above-named measures such that they can also be mounted in motor vehicle headlights for halogen incandescent lamps. For example, the annular flange is coordinated with the holder of the motor vehicle headlight for an H7 lamp or an H4 lamp. In this case, the high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention can be operated as a motor vehicle headlight lamp instead of an H7 lamp or an H4 lamp in the H7 lamp holder or H4 lamp holder of the motor vehicle headlight. According to the invention, the annular flange is fixed on the base of the high-pressure discharge lamp by means of a snap or latching connection. Surprisingly, it has been proved that the snap or latching connection between the base and the annular flange ensures a reliable fastening of the flange on the base and, moreover, also ensures adjustment of the luminous means in the headlight reflector. There is consequently no need for any complicated changes on the base in order to retrofit the high-pressure discharge lamp. Moreover, the same tools can be used to produce the annular flange as are used to fabricate the corresponding halogen incandescent lamp.
The above named snap or latching connection is advantageously formed by a groove arranged in the base and a plurality of lugs which are arranged on the annular flange and are provided for engaging in the groove. The groove is preferably arranged in the outer wall of the base, and can therefore also still be provided subsequently by milling in the case of already fabricated high-pressure discharge lamps. The lugs arranged on the annular flange have a spring action and therefore ensure in a simple way that the annular flange can be snapped or latched into the groove in the base. The lugs are preferably arranged in an annular manner and extend radially inward, and the free ends of the lugs define the diameter of the annular opening or the inside diameter of the annular flange. In order to be able to establish the mounting position of the high-pressure discharge lamp uniquely, the base and the flange advantageously have means which are coordinated with one another and prevent rotary movements of the annular flange with reference to the base. It is preferred for this purpose to provide one of the lugs of the annular flange with a cutout in which a web arranged in the groove engages.
The base of the high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention advantageously consists of an electrically insulating material, preferably of a plastic, in order to ensure an adequate high voltage strength The annular flange advantageously consists of a metal, preferably of a stainless steel or of German silver. As a result, the annular flange has a high mechanical stability. Moreover, as already mentioned above, in this case the same tools can be used to manufacture the annular flange as are used to fabricate halogen incandescent lamps.
Metal fastening means anchored in the base are provided for holding and/or adjusting the at least one lamp vessel in the base. In the region of these fastening means, the annular flange advantageously has cutouts which extend the annular opening of the flange, in order to avoid electric flashovers, corona discharges or leakage currents between the fastening means and the annular flange.
In the high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention, the annular opening of the annular flange is advantageously arranged relative to the positioning means of the annular flange, which determine the mounting position of the high-pressure discharge lamp in the headlight, in such a way that after the mounting of the high-pressure discharge lamp in the motor vehicle headlight the longitudinal axis of the at least one lamp vessel is displaced in a fashion parallel to the optical axis of the headlight reflector. The convection-induced curvature of the light-emitting discharge arc in the case of its optical imaging in the reflector is taken into account by means of this measure.
If the high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention is used as a substitute for an H4 lamp in an appropriate motor vehicle headlight, the high-pressure discharge lamp according to the invention is advantageously provided with a means for shielding light, in order to generate the light distribution corresponding to the passing beam. The means for shielding light is preferably constructed as a metal sheet partially surrounding the at least one lamp vessel. For reasons of fabrication, the metal sheet is preferably fastened on the annular flange or constructed in one piece with the annular flange. In the latter case, the annular flange and the metal sheet can be produced jointly in a single deep-drawing process.

High-pressure discharge lamp for motor vehicle headlights

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur elektrische Gluhlampen mbH


Cellulosic fibers intrafiber crosslinked with a polymeric polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent are disclosed. In one embodiment, the polymeric polycarboxylic acid is polyacrylic acid and, in another embodiment, the polycarboxylic acid is polymaleic acid. Methods for forming cellulosic fibers having stable intrafiber crosslinks and for forming crosslinked cellulosic fibers having low knot level are also disclosed.

Cellulose products such as absorbent sheets and other structures are composed of cellulose fibers which, in turn, are composed of individual cellulose chains. Commonly, cellulose fibers are crosslinked to impart advantageous properties such as increased absorbent capacity, bulk, and resilience to structures containing cellulose fibers. High-bulk fibers are generally highly crosslinked fibers characterized by high absorbent capacity and high resilience.
Crosslinked cellulose fibers and methods for their preparation are widely known. Tersoro and Willard, Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives, Bikales and Segal, eds., Part V, Wiley-InterScience, New York, (1971), pp. 835-875. Most commonly, the term "crosslinked cellulose fiber" refers to a cellulose fiber having intrafiber crosslinks, i.e., crosslinks between individual cellulose chains within a single cellulose fiber. Generally, intrafiber crosslinks are formed by curing a crosslinking agent in the presence of the fibers. "Curing" refers to covalent bond formation (i.e., crosslink formation) between the crosslinking agent and the fiber. Crosslinking agents are generally bifunctional compounds, and in the context of cellulose crosslinking, these agents covalently couple a hydroxy group of one cellulose chain to another hydroxy group on a neighboring cellulose chain. Many crosslinking agents have been utilized in cellulose crosslinking achieving varying degrees of success.
Common cellulose crosslinking agents include aldehyde and urea-based formaldehyde addition products. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,224,926; 3,241,533; 3,932,209; 4,035,147; and 3,756,913. While these crosslinking agents have been widely used in some environments, their applicability to absorbent products that contact human skin (e.g., diapers) has been limited by safety concerns. These crosslinkers are known to cause irritation to human skin. Moreover, formaldehyde, which persists in formaldehyde-crosslinked products, is a known health hazard and has been listed as a carcinogen by the EPA. Accordingly, the disadvantages associated with formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-derived crosslinking agents has prompted the development of safer alternatives.
Other aldehyde crosslinking agents are also known. For example, dialdehyde crosslinking agents (i.e., C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes and preferably glutaraldehyde) have also been utilized in the production of absorbent structures containing crosslinked cellulose fibers. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,118 and 4,822,453. While these dialdehyde crosslinkers appear to overcome the health risks associated with formaldehyde crosslinkers, these crosslinking agents suffer from commercial disadvantages related to the costs of producing dialdehyde crosslinked fibers.
Cellulose has also been crosslinked by carboxylic acid crosslinking agents. Certain polycarboxylic acids have been used to provide absorbent structures that have the polycarboxylic acid reacted with fibers in the form of intrafiber crosslink bonds. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,137,537, 5,183,707, and 5,190,563 describe the use of C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acids crosslinking agents. These C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acids are low molecular weight polycarboxylic acids that contain at least three carboxyl groups, and have from two to nine carbons in the chain or ring separating two of the carboxyl groups. Exemplary C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acids include 1,2,3-tricarboxypropane, 1,2,3,4-tetracarboxybutane, and oxydisuccinic acid. A particularly preferred C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 poly carboxylic acid is 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-tricarboxypropane, also known as citric acid. Unlike the aldehyde-based crosslinking agents noted above, these polycarboxylic acids are nontoxic and, for the preferred polycarboxylic acid citric acid, the crosslinking agent is commercially available at relatively low cost. Moreover, while the aldehyde-based crosslinking agents form relatively unstable acetal crosslinked bonds, C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agents provide relatively stable ester crosslinks.
While some of the disadvantages associated with the crosslinking agents noted above have been overcome by the development and utilization of new and improved crosslinking agents, crosslinking agents are generally characterized by their relatively narrow cure temperature range. The length of time at a particular cure temperature is also a factor in crosslinking fibers. The narrow cure temperature range of traditional crosslinking agents, such as those noted above, is due to their chemical reactivity. Most crosslinking agents have bifunctional reactivity and will undergo crosslinking at a temperature sufficient to cause the functional groups of the crosslinking agent (e.g., the aldehyde group of formaldehyde, or a carboxylic acid group of citric acid) to react with crosslink sites of the cellulose fiber (i.e., a hydroxy group). Generally, crosslinking occurs rapidly once a temperature sufficient to effect bond formation between the agent and fibers is reached.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a crosslinking agent that allows for greater flexibility in the production of crosslinked fibers having specific, desirable properties. More specifically, there exists a need for a safe and economical crosslinking agent curable over a wide temperature range to provide crosslinked fibers having a correspondingly wide range of crosslinking and associated advantageous absorbent properties.
Despite the advantages that polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agents provide, certain crosslinked cellulosic fibers, particularly cellulosic fibers crosslinked with low molecular weight polycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, tend to lose their crosslinks over time and revert to uncrosslinked fibers. For example, citric acid crosslinked fibers show a considerable loss of crosslinks on storage. Such a reversion of crosslinking generally defeats the purpose of fiber crosslinking, which is to increase the fiber's bulk and capacity. Thus, the useful shelf-life of fibers crosslinked with these polycarboxylic acids is relatively short and renders the fibers somewhat limited in their utility.
The loss of crosslinking results in a loss of the advantageous properties imparted to the fibers by crosslinking. Aged fibers, that is, fibers that have been subject to crosslinking reversion, can be characterized as having relatively lower bulk, diminished absorbent capacity, and lower liquid acquisition capability compared to the same fibers as originally formed.
Accordingly, there exists a need for stable intrafiber crosslinked cellulose fibers that offer the absorbent properties and advantages afforded by traditional crosslinked fibers and that also retain their intrafiber crosslinks over time and in storage to provide a crosslinked fiber having a substantial useful shelf-life. The present invention seeks to fulfill these needs and provides further related advantages.

Absorbent composite containing polymaleic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers


An apparatus and method for supporting an object. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a support structure, a positioning system, and a retention system. The positioning system may be associated with the support structure and configured to position the support structure with respect to a number of linear axes. The retention system may be associated with the support structure. The retention system may be configured to retain a portion of an object and move the portion of the object towards a platform such that the portion of the object substantially conforms to a shape of the platform.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to installing panels on structures and, in particular, to attaching a wing skin to a wing box. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a modular and reconfigurable support system for use in supporting, positioning, and loading a wing skin underneath a wing box for attachment to the wing box.
2. Background
The wing of an aircraft may be formed using a wing box and two wing skins. One wing skin may be attached to the upper side of the wing box, while the other wing skin may be attached to the lower side of the wing box. Depending on the implementation, a wing skin may be attached to a support structure of the wing box, ribs, spars, stringers, and/or one or more other types of components used to form a wing. Some currently available systems for supporting and loading a wing skin to the lower side of a wing box may create obstacles that limit access to the wing skin and/or wing box by personnel and/or equipment. For example, without limitation, the obstacles presented by this type of support system may present challenges for an operator to access certain portions of the wing skin and/or wing box without running into the support system and/or other equipment.
Further, some currently available systems for supporting and loading a wing skin may be less ergonomic than desired. For example, these currently available systems may require that operators work at a higher work height than desired and/or work from raised platforms. Consequently, performing operations, such as drilling operations, fastening operations, tacking operations, and/or other operations, may be more difficult and/or time-consuming than desired with these types of support systems.
In particular, some currently available systems may require that drilling operations and assembly operations be performed around obstructions created by these support systems. This type of setup may create zones in which personnel may not enter and/or in which work cannot be performed. The system requirements and complexity of the automated tools that may be used with these types of currently available systems may be greater than desired.
Additionally, some currently available support systems may not be reconfigurable. In other words, a support system used for loading wing skins for one type of aircraft may be unable to load wing skins for a different type of aircraft.
Further, these types of support systems may require dedicated tooling, which may increase the cost of using these types of support systems more than desired. The dedicated tooling may be configured for specific types of aircraft, geometry, and/or other factors. Altering a support system to accommodate different types of aircraft and/or different types of geometry may be more difficult than desired and, in some cases, not possible.
Additionally, some support systems may not integrate lifting the wing skins with the handling of the wing systems. For example, in some cases, a dedicated numerically-controlled (NC) lift system may be needed to elevate the tooling needed to assemble a wing skin to a wing box up to the wing box. Using this type of numerically-controlled lift system may be more expensive than desired and may obstruct access to portions of the wing skin and/or the wing box more than desired. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that take into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.

Modular and reconfigurable support system


An integrated circuit has an optical waveguide configured to carry a plurality of optical channels, which in a particular embodiment are optical clock signals generated by an optical clock generator. The integrated circuit includes an optical crossbar having a first output, a second output, a first optical ring resonator, and a second optical ring resonator. In a further embodiment, the optical crossbar is an optical crossbar switch and an output path in the optical crossbar switch includes another tunable optical ring resonator and an intermediate waveguide, which allows isolating the output from any optical channel on the on-chip optical waveguide by tuning the first ring resonator to a first wavelength, and tuning the other ring resonator to another wavelength.

Integrated circuits ("ICs") are typically fabricated on a substrate ("wafer") of silicon or other semiconductor material. The substrate includes many ICs, which are separated into individual dies ("chips"). Modern ICs have many layers of patterned metallization, and millions of individual electronic devices, such as transistors, on each chip. Electrical interconnections between the devices and between functional blocks on the chip are made using metal traces and vias. However, as the dimensions of the patterned metal interconnections shrink, resistance-per-length increases, which increases delay and power consumption. Other problems, such as cross-coupling and electromagnetic interference ("EMI") also arise.
One approach to remedy delay, or latency, is to more closely space electronic repeaters along an interconnect line. This is undesirable because repeaters take up area on the chip and consume additional power. Repeaters also make it more difficult to route signal lines.
Optical signaling has been proposed as an alternative to electrical interconnections for use in ICs. A basic optical signaling system is described in On-Chip Optical Interconnects by Kobrinsky et al., INTEL TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, v. 8, issue 2 (May 10, 2004), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Optical signal networks can provide high-bandwidth, low-latency interconnects that are relatively immune to EMI. However, conventional on-chip optical signal networks were found to not reveal significant advantages over copper-based networks because certain optical components are not available for incorporation into a CMOS IC.
It is desirable to provide optical components for use in a CMOS IC that provides advantageous use of an on-chip optical network.

On-chip programmable optical crossbar switch


A method and a multiprotocol network CD-ROM server for providing computer network users possibility to share information on CD-ROM, regardless of other file servers and their locations. The CD-ROM server is a self contained piece of hardware. It provides users connected to different computer networks, using various network protocols, shared access to information of any CD-ROM disc inserted into a connected CD-ROM drive.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to CD-ROM (Compact Disc ReadOnly Memory) servers, and in particular to a method and a multiprotocol network CD-ROM server to provide for users, connected to different computer networks using various network protocols, shared access to information from any CD-ROM disc inserted into a connected CD-ROM drive.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today, all kinds of information is available on CD-ROM discs: from software applications, image collections, illustrations and multimedia shows to encyclopedias, statistics, etc. Companies can use compact discs at low cost to store their own sales material, presentations, documentation, or any other company specific information. One problem is to make all these resources available to all users as in an organization. Users may be located in different workgroups, with different needs, and may even be using different computer systems with different software environment platforms.
CD-ROMs can be shared in many ways. In a small group of people, discs can be interchanged between computers with CD-ROM drives. In workgroups, one computer with a CD-ROM drive can be shared, giving several users access to the currently installed disc. CD-ROM drives and towers may even be connected to an existing file server. A regular PC could also be dedicated as a CD-ROM server.
CD-ROM sharing methods described above have limitations and cause problems. With local CD-ROM drives on every computer, no control over all CD-ROMs is possible, and no all-time access, no unlimited network, no multiple platform support, no flexible placing of CD-ROM drives (just local), and no easy disc updates and administration are provided. If workgroup sharing of computers with CD-ROM drives is used, the same problems and limitations remain, as if local CD-ROM drives on every computer are used, except that the unlimited network and the flexible placing of CD-ROM drives are within a workgroup. As described above, the CD-ROM drives can be connected to an existing file server. If this configuration is used, control over all CD-ROMs is provided, the all time access depends on the server, the network is unlimited, the multiple platform support depends on the server, the flexibility in placing CD-ROM drives is at the file server, and it depends on the server, whether easy disc updates and administration are possible. If a regular PC is dedicated as a CD-ROM server control over all CD-ROMs is possible. All-time access and unlimited network are provided, but multiple platform support is not provided by default, and no flexible placing of CD-ROM drives is possible since a PC is needed as server.
State of the art CD-ROM servers intended to provide users connected to a network are completely dependent on the functionality of a regular file server, and consequently they can not work as a stand-alone device.

Method and a multiprotocol network CD-ROM server for sharing information on CD-ROM


A system and method to manage data associated with a merchant system to provide in response to a search query from an end user system. The system and method generate a custom entity type including one or more fields comprising first data corresponding to the merchant system. An update to the first data of the custom entity type can be received and an updated custom entity type is generated. The updated custom entity type is distributed to multiple business listing provider systems configured to provide search results associated with the merchant system in response to a search query from an end user system. The system and method can also generate a search experience interface including multiple input fields. The search experience interface is displayed to an end user to receive search terms via the first input and the second input field in response to a single search action.

Historically, an enormous amount of time, money, and effort has been expended by merchants (e.g., businesses and individuals) in order to publish information (e.g., advertisements) regarding their products and services to consumers (e.g., end users) in an electronic environment. For generations, various media have been used to realize such business matters. The pervasive nature of open networks, such as the Internet, has provided a global means to attract new customers and retain old customers.
The end users may use a search engine to obtain merchant-related information published and accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet). Search engines are software programs that search databases, and collect and display information related to search terms specified by an end user. The merchant's interaction with the search engine is an important factor in the merchant's ability to reach end users and provide the end users with quality information about the merchant that is responsive to the end user's search query.


Retroviral vector constructs are described which have a 5' LTR, a tRNA binding site, a packaging signal, one or more heterologous sequences, an origin of second strand synthesis and a 3' LTR, wherein the vector construct lacks retroviral gag/pol or env coding sequences. In addition, gag/pol, and env expression cassettes are described wherein the expression cassettes lack a consecutive sequence of more than 8 nucleotides in common. The above-described retroviral vector constructs, gag/pol and env expression cassettes may be utilized to construct producer cell lines which preclude the formation of replication competent virus.

Retroviruses are RNA viruses which can replicate and integrate into a host cell's genome through a DNA intermediate. This DNA intermediate, or provirus, may be stably integrated into the host's cellular DNA. Retroviruses are known to be responsible for a wide variety of diseases in both man and animals, including for example AIDS and a wide variety of cancers.
Although retroviruses can cause disease, they also have a number of properties that lead them to be considered as one of the most promising techniques for genetic therapy of disease. These properties include: (1) efficient entry of genetic material (the vector genome) into cells; (2) an active efficient process of entry into the target cell nucleus; (3) relatively high levels of gene expression; (4) minimal pathological effects on target cells; and (5) the potential to target particular cellular subtypes through control of the vector-target cell binding and tissue-specific control of gene expression. In using a retrovirus for genetic therapy, a foreign gene of interest may be incorporated into the retrovirus in place of normal retroviral RNA. When the retrovirus injects its RNA into a cell, the foreign gene is also introduced into the cell, and may then be integrated into the host's cellular DNA as if it were the retrovirus itself. Expression of this foreign gene within the host results in expression of foreign protein by the host cell.
Most retroviral vector systems which have been developed for gene therapy are based on murine retroviruses. Briefly, these retroviruses exist in two forms, as proviruses integrated into a host's cellular DNA, or as free virions. The virion form of the virus contains the structural and enzymatic proteins of the retrovirus (including reverse transcriptase), two RNA copies of the viral genome, and portions of the cell's plasma membrane in which is embedded the viral envelope glycoprotein. The genome is organized into four main regions: the Long Terminal Repeat (LTR), and the gag, pol, and env genes. The LTR may be found at both ends of the proviral genome, is a composite of the 5' and 3' ends of the RNA genome, and contains cis-acting elements necessary for the initiation and termination of transcription. The three genes gag, pol, and env are located between the terminal LTRs. The gag and pol genes encode, respectively, internal viral structures and enzymatic proteins (such as integrase). The env gene encodes the envelop glycoprotein (designated gp70 and p15e) which confers infectivity and host range specificity of the virus, as well as the "R" peptide of undetermined function.
An important consideration in using retroviruses for gene therapy is the availability of "safe" retroviruses. Packaging cell lines and vector producing cell lines have been developed to meet this concern. Briefly, this methodology employs the use of two components, a retroviral vector and a packaging cell line (PCL). The retroviral vector contains long terminal repeats (LTRs), the foreign DNA to be transferred and a packaging sequence (y). This retroviral vector will not reproduce by itself because the genes which encode structural and envelope proteins are not included within the vector genome. The PCL contains genes encoding the gag, pol, and env proteins, but does not contain the packaging signal "y". Thus, a PCL can only form empty virion particles by itself. Within this general method, the retroviral vector is introduced into the PCL, thereby creating a vector-producing cell line (VCL). This VCL manufactures virion particles containing only the retroviral vector's (foreign) genome, and therefore has previously been considered to be a safe retrovirus vector for therapeutic use.
There are, however, several shortcomings with the current use of VCLs. One issue involves the generation of "live virus" (i.e., replication competent retrovirus; RCR) by the VCL. Briefly, RCR can be produced in conventional producer cells when: (1) The vector genome and the helper genomes recombine with each other; (2) The vector genome or helper genome recombines with homologous cryptic endogenous retroviral elements in the producer cell; or (3) Cryptic endogenous retroviral elements reactivate (e.g., xenotropic retroviruses in mouse cells).
Another issue is the propensity of mouse based VCLs to package endogenous retrovirus-like elements (which can contain oncogenic gene sequences) at efficiencies close to that with which they package the desired retroviral vector. Such elements, because of their retrovirus-like structure, are transmitted to the target cell to be treated at frequencies that parallel its transfer of the desired retroviral vector sequence.
A third issue is the ability to make sufficient retroviral vector particles at a suitable concentration to: (1) treat a large number of cells (e.g., 10.sup.8 -10.sup.10); and (2) manufacture vector particles at a commercially viable cost.
In order to construct safer PCLs, researchers have generated deletions of the 5' LTR and portions of the 3' LTR of helper elements (see, Miller and Buttimore, Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:2895-2902, 1986). When such cells are used, two recombination events are necessary to form the wild-type, replication competent genome. Nevertheless, results from several laboratories have indicated that even when several deletions are present, RCR may still be generated (see, Bosselman et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:1797-1806, 1987; Danos and Mulligan, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 81:6460-6464, 1988). In addition, cell lines containing both 5' and 3' LTR deletions which have been constructed have thus far not proven useful since they produce relatively low titers (Dougherty et al., J. Virol. 63:3209-3212, 1989).
One of the more recent approaches to constructing safer packaging cell lines involves the use of complementary portions of helper virus elements, divided among two separate plasmids, one containing gag and pol, and the other containing env (see, Markowitz et al., J. Virol. 62:1120-1124; and Markowitz et al., Virology 167:600-606, 1988. One benefit of this double-plasmid system is that three recombination events are required to generate a replication competent genome. Nevertheless, these double-plasmid vectors have also suffered from the drawback of including portions of the retroviral LTRs, and therefore remain capable of producing infectious virus.
The present invention overcomes the difficulties of recombination and lower titer associated with many of the prior packaging cell lines, and further provides other related advantages.


Fiberballs for filling uses in pillows, cushions and for like support purposes, from blends of slickened fiberfill of regular denier, to provide support and resilience, mixed with minor amounts of lower denier slickened fibers to provide optimum aesthetics.

Polyester fiberfill has become widely used and well accepted as a relatively inexpensive filling material for pillows, quilts, sleeping bags, apparel, furniture cushions, mattresses and similar articles. It has generally been made of polyethylene terephthalate staple (i.e. cut) fibers that have been cut from filaments crimped in a stuffer box-type of crimper. The deniers (or dtex) of the fibers have generally been of the order of 5-6, i.e. a significantly higher denier per filament (dpf) than cotton fibers and polyester textile fibers used in apparel; this is because an important requirement for most filling material has been its resilience. The fibers may be hollow or solid, and may have a regular round or another cross section, and are cut to various lengths according to the requirements of the end-use or the process.
Polyester fiberfill is often "slickened", i.e. coated with silicones and more recently with polyethylene terephthalate/polyether segmented copolymers, to reduce the fiber/fiber friction. A low fiber/fiber friction improves the hand of the finished article made from the fiberfill, producing a slicker and softer hand, and contributes to reducing a tendency of the fiberfill to mat (or clump together) in the article during use.
Polyester fiberfill staple has generally been processed by being opened and then formed into webs which are cross-lapped to form a wadding (also referred to as a batt) which is used to fill the article. The performance of articles that have been filled using this technique has been satisfactory in many end-uses for many years, but could not fully reproduce the aesthetics of natural fillings such as down and down/feather blends. Such natural fillings have a structure that is fundamentally different from carded polyester fiberfill batts; they are composed of small particles with no continuity of the filling material; this allows the particles to move around within the ticking and to adapt the shape of the article to the user's contours or desires. We believe that the ease with which down and feather fillings can move around plays a key role in their recovery from compression after being compacted, by simple shaking and patting. This virtue is referred to as refluffability.
Contrary to down and feather, the carded polyester fiberfill batts have a layered structure, in which the fibers are parallelised, and are loosely interconnected within each web and between the layers so they cannot be moved around and refluffed in a similar way to down and feather. Polyester fillings have, however, some advantages over natural fillings, particularly in regard to washability and durability. Accordingly, Marcus has developed a fiberfill product composed of small, soft polyester fiber clusters or fiberballs which keep their identity during wear and laundering and enable the user to refluff the article filled with the fiberfill. These clusters combine the good mechanical properties and washability of polyester fiberfill with the refluffability of down or down/feather blends.
Although some particulate products had been produced commercially on modified cards from standard fiberfill, such products were prepared for different end-uses, and did not have the properties required for manufacture of high quality bedding or furniture articles. Steinruck disclosed one such modified card and process for making "nubs" in U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,980.
Marcus made his new fiberballs using fibers with specific characteristics as feed for a new fiberball-making process. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,618,531 and 4,783,364 (referred to above) disclosed preferred fiberball products and a process to produce them from spiral crimp (including omega crimp) feed fibers, which can be rolled under mild conditions due to their potential for spontaneous curling. These products have been commercially successful in the U.S. and Europe, mainly in bedding and furniture cushions. Marcus demonstrated that such "spiral crimp", which some people prefer to refer to as "helical crimp", was important for achieving the desired fiberball structure, i.e. in providing a desired random arrangement of the fibers within each fiberball, and in achieving a desired low cohesion between the surfaces of neighboring balls. Commercial fibers with standard mechanical crimp did not produce fiberballs having the desired fiberball structure which provides good durability, high filling power and low cohesion, which are key requirements for refluffable filling products.
To optimize the filling power (i.e. to increase the bulk) and durability (i.e. to lower the amount of bulk lost during use), and particularly the durability to laundering, we believed that the entangled fibers forming the fiberball structure should be randomly distributed, should have a uniform density throughout the structure, and should be sufficiently entangled to keep the fiberball identity through laundering or during normal wear. To achieve optimum filling power and durability, we believed it to be important that each such fiber within the fiberball should have its bulk fully and individually developed, so that it could fully contribute (to the filling power and to the durability). To achieve this structure, on which depends the performance of the fiberballs, Marcus used fibers which tend to spontaneously curl, so that a good, consolidated structure could be produced under very mild forces. In the aforesaid patents, Marcus disclosed a preferred way to achieve this desired fiberball structure and properties by using fibers with helical crimp as feed fibers and an air tumbling process to roll the fibers under mild forces. The resulting products are characterized by a random distribution of the fibers within the fiberball, by being at least 50% round (having a ratio of the largest dimension to the smallest dimension of less than 2:1) and by having a low cohesion which was not shown in prior products. Marcus did not produce acceptable fiberballs under the same conditions using commercial fibers with standard mechanical crimp.
The feed fibers used by Marcus to make his new fiberballs were relatively unusual, unavailable and/or expensive in some markets, in which by far the majority of polyester staple fiber were crimped mechanically, generally by a stuffer box technique. After Marcus disclosed the value of using fiberfill in the form of a fiberball, rather than as parallelised fibers in a carded batt-type structure, it was desirable to find out why standard mechanically crimped fibers did not make good fiberballs, and to provide a feed fiber other than what Marcus used. Snyder et al in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/840,285 (referred to above) disclosed another process and apparatus for making fiber clusters, and succeeded in processing mechanically crimped feed fiber into satisfactory fiber clusters. An important object of parent applications 07/589,960, now U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,112,684, and 07/820,141 (referred to above) was to provide such mechanically crimped feed fiber that has the capability of being processed into such clusters, sometimes termed fiberballs. As expressed therein, the principles of the parent invention can also be applied to making clusters from fibers other than polyester fiberfill.
Removable, refluffable cushions are now typical in modern furniture styling. This has created a new need for refluffable fiberfill, so the cushions can be replumped. Furniture also requires filling products having more support and filling power than bedding or apparel. This sometimes requires fibers of higher denier, such as may require different crimping conditions from fibers of the order of 5-6 denier or dtex.
Accordingly, as disclosed in the parent applications, it was found that fiberballs with comparable properties could be produced from certain mechanically crimped fibers which have specific crimp configurations. An important characteristic is believed to be a potential to curl spontaneously that is similar in this respect to that of the spiral crimped fibers used as feed fibers by Marcus. Suitable feed fibers have been used with combinations of primary and secondary crimp with specific ranges of frequency and amplitudes. The precise ranges of values required will depend on various considerations, such as the denier and configuration of the feed fiber, and the process technique used to make the balls. The frequency and amplitude of the secondary crimp, especially, and good heat setting of this secondary crimp, are believed to be key requirements for making fiberballs.
Accordingly, one aspect of the parent invention was to provide refluffable fiberballs having a uniform density, and a random distribution and entanglement of fibers within each ball characterized in that the fiberballs have an average cross-section dimension of about 2 to about 20 mm, and that the individual fibers have a length in the range of about 10 to 100 mm and are prepared from fibers having a primary crimp and a secondary crimp, said primary crimp having an average frequency of about 14 to about 40 crimps per 10 cm and said secondary crimp having an average frequency of about 4 to about 16 crimps per 10 cm, and having an average amplitude from the fiber longitudinal axis of at least 4 times the average amplitude of the primary crimps.
Also provided were fiberballs having a random distribution and entanglement of fibers within each ball, said fibers being a blend of load bearing fibers and binder fibers, which optionally contain a material capable of being heated when subjected to microwaves or a high frequency energy source, characterized in that the fiberballs have an average diameter of from about 2 mm to about 20 mm and the individual fibers have a length of about 10 to about 100 mm, the load-bearing fibers having primary crimp and a secondary crimp, said primary crimp having an average frequency of about 14 to about 40 crimps/10 cm and the said secondary crimp having an average frequency of from about 4 to about 16 crimps/10 cm, and whereby the average amplitude of the secondary crimp is at least 4 times the average amplitude of the primary crimp.
Further provided were processes for making the aforesaid fiberballs as more fully described therein.
Additionally provided were molded structures prepared from fiberballs which contain binder fibers.
Other aspects of the invention were preferred feed fibers for making the fiberballs, and processes involved in making suitable feed fibers.
Accordingly, processes were provided for mechanically crimping a tow band of polyester filaments of lower denier (about 4 to about 10 dtex) per filament in a stuffer box crimper at a crimper loading of about 13 to about 26 ktex per inch of crimper width, and for heat-setting the crimped tow band to provide crimped filaments having a primary crimp with an average frequency of about 14 to about 40 per 10 cm and a secondary crimp with an average frequency of about 4 to about 16 per 10 cm, and an average amplitude at least 4.times. the average amplitude of the primary crimp and for converting the resulting crimped tow band into cut fiber to provide feed fiber for a process for making fiberballs from such feed fiber, and for making such fiberballs by an air-tumbling process or by using a ball-making machine equipped with card clothing, e.g. of the modified roller-top type, or as disclosed, e.g., by Snyder et al. in U.S. application Ser. No. 07/840,285, and preferred mechanically-crimped feed fiber for use in such ball-making machines and processes. Similar processes provided for polyester filaments of higher dtex, with crimper loadings, e.g., up to about 34 ktex per inch, correspondingly. The appropriate crimp need not be induced only by use of a mechanical crimper of the stuffer box-type, for example, but alternative methods of inducing the appropriate structure, were also contemplated.