A method of applying a protective polymeric coating to a substrate has the steps of mixing a cellulose acetate buterate and a plasticizer and a corrosion inhibitor together to form a solid mixture, heating the solid mixture so as to form a liquid state, painting the substrate with the liquid state, and drying the liquid state on the substrate for a period of time. The step of painting can include spraying the liquid state of the mixture onto the substrate. The plasticizer is an epoxidized fatty acid ester. The corrosion inhibitor is epoxidized canola oil. Additionally, epoxidized soil bean oil, silica amorphous and titanium dioxide can be mixed together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the coating of metal structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to corrosion-proof coatings that can be sprayed upon substrates and metal structures. Additionally, the present invention relates sprayable polymeric coatings that can be used in association with bolted, jointed, or operable metallic components.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Metallic structures that are used for infrastructure and industry can be the victims of the effects of oxidization. This oxidization can cause the structures to degrade and, in some cases, completely lose structural integrity.
The factors that cause the degradation of metallic structures can include galvanic corrosion, atmospheric corrosion and chemical corrosion. In particular, with reference to FIG. 1, at the interface between the water droplet, carbon steel and air, oxidation will exist. This will commence the reduction of the metal surface. An electron flow from the anode to the cathode will occur. The metal or metals of a structure serve as the anode, the cathode and the necessary metallic conductor between the two. Water, or moisture in the soil, provides the electrolyte required to complete the cell circuit. Such cells develop their driving force or electrical potential for differing conditions at the interfaces between the anode and cathode of metal and the electrolyte. these differences fall into three categories: (1) dissimilar metals comprising the anode and the cathode; (2) inhomogeneity of a single metal which causes one area to be anodic to another area; and (3) inhomogeneity of the electrolyte.
In the past various processes have been used for protecting such metal structures. Galvanizing, powder coating, painting or other chemical or physical adaptation of the metals can occur during the production process. Corrosion control can also take place "in the field" as to prolong the life of metallic structures. The methods for corrosion protection tend to fail after a short period of time when the product is installed.
Generally, in order to eliminate corrosion, the basic rule of thumb, is that is necessary to remove one element in the corrosion triangle in order to prevent corrosion. Generally, the application of coatings is utilized so as to achieve the removal of an element from the corrosion triangle. Unfortunately, coatings and paint have many disadvantages. Typically, coatings and paint will tend to degrade after only six months because of the porous nature of the coatings. It is very labor intensive to remove or repair when in service. A great deal of time is required for conventional protective coatings. Since coatings need to be applied, cured, and dried. Many times, this time period can be in excess of eight hours. During this time period, moisture or other contaminants, have a chance to set and degrade the integrity of the coatings before they are dried. Many coatings contain harmful hydrocarbons and solvents. Which can have an adverse ecological impact. Spreadable coatings generally create approximately 40% non-recoverable waste at the point of application. Everyday damage to the paint or epoxy coating tends to create a failure to the integrity of the entire coating. As such, complete removal and reapplication would be required. The removal of protective paint or epoxy coatings can actually be damaging to the surface they are intended to protect. Often, solid coatings will need to be removed by using solvents and abrasive tools or machinery. This can be damaging, costly, and can create hazardous waste. Generally, most protective coatings will need to be combined with other products in order to offer proper protection, especially for complex structures or where connections/joints are used. Complex structural shapes, such as bolted flanges, or operable components, such as valves, have many different surface area crevices. These can provide a breeding ground for corrosion since moisture can build up and pool for a long periods of time. Generally, painting and coatings will not work because the paint cannot cover or the seal crevices.
In certain circumstances, products other than paint and coatings are utilized to provide such protection. In particular, petrolatum-impregnated tape can be used to wrap around bolts and connections. This petrolatum-impregnated tape is not ecologically or environmentally safe, nor will it create an airtight seal around the structure. As such, it is necessary to rely upon active corrosion inhibitors in order to battle the effects of corrosion. Corrosion will occur naturally because of the porous nature of the tape.
In the past, various patents and patent applications have been issued relating to protective coatings. For example, an early patent was U.S. Pat. No. 2,180,427 issued on Nov. 21, 1939 to Moncrieff et al., for corrosion prevention. This is a liquid composition that contains a nitrogen base which normally has a corrosive action on ions and an alkaline earth metal compound which is convertible by aqueous carbon dioxide into water-insoluble carbonate. When the compound is present in sufficient amounts it can materially inhibit the corrosive action of the nitrogenous base on iron.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,426,379, issued on Aug. 20, 1947 to Swain at al., provides a coating composition containing cellulose acetate. This coating composition is an aqueous emulsion of about 10 parts of a melamine-formaldehyde resin prepared by reacting one mol of melamine with six mols of formalin and reacting the condensation product thereof with butanol. The composition has about 90 parts of cellulose acetate and about 100 parts at a fatty oil-modified phthalic glyceride resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,599,384, issued on Jun. 3, 1952 to Gross at al., teaches a solid stick corrosion inhibitor and a process for preventing corrosion of oil and gas well equipment. This composition has a corrosion-preventing inhibitor, a weighting material and three non-related amorphous solids.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,503 issued on Jul. 15, 1958 to Salo at al., provides a corrosion-resistant coating that comprises 5 to 40% methylol phenyl allyl ether, 60 to 95% cellulose acetate butyrate, a solid basis and a solvent mixture consisting of toluene xylene, butyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and butyl acetate.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,892,725, issued on Jun. 30, 1959 to A. J. Rosenthal, describes a corrosion inhibitor. This corrosion inhibitor is obtained by extruding a 15 to 27% solution of cellulose triacetate in a volatile solvent containing at least 80% of methylene chloride and water. An acetylenic alcohol is incorporated into the solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,927,031, issued on Mar. 1, 1960 to A. J. Rosenthal, describes another type of corrosion inhibitor having a solution consisting of a halogen-containing organic solvent of a lower alkanoic acid ester of cellulose and a stabilizing proportion of a member selected from the group consisting of hydroxy lower alkyl amine nitrate and a cadmium salt of a water-insoluble fatty acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,866, issued on Nov. 30, 1965 to A. J. Rosenthal, describes a corrosion inhibitor having a solution and a halogen-containing organic solvent of a lower alkanoic acid ester of cellulose in a small amount sufficient to substantially inhibit the corrosion of metals of an organotin carboxylate. The carboxylate is non-corrosive to metals and does not have a particular affinity for the cellulose ester.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,244 issued on Apr. 7, 1970 to J. C. Cessna, discloses an encapsulated corrosion inhibitor in the form of a free-flowing dry powder of rupturable capsules having a particle size in the range of about 0.1 to 2,000 microns in diameter and having an inner core of a corrosion inhibitor for heat exchange liquid encapsulated within a rupturable outer sheath of a film former. The corrosion inhibitor is present in the capsules in an amount not exceeding about 99% by weight.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,051, issued on Oct. 1, 1974 to L. Cerveny, provides a removable or stripable anti-corrosive coating composition. This composition comprises of cellulose acetobutyrate, plasticizers therefor, a corrosion inhibitor in the form of at least one adduct of chromic acid with carbonic acid imine diamide and organic solvent. The composition is made by dissolving the corrosion inhibitor in organic solvent, adding the plasticizer to the solution and then bringing the solution into contact with cellulose acetobutyrate while agitating to form a homogeneous composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,174, issued on Jan. 14, 1992 to E. J. VanBuskirk, teaches a protective coating composition for use on metals. This coating composition is a combination of a base-neutralized acid-functional copolymer and a wax lubricant. The removability of the coating is enhanced through the use of phosphoric acid as an additive to the coating composition.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0119252, published on Aug. 29, 2002 to A. Haycox, describes a substance and method for creating a sheath-like protective coating. The substance is brought from a solid state into a liquid state. In the liquid state, it can be sprayed onto a surface. After spraying, it will return the a solid state so as to form a coherent body, free of perforations and of a high degree of toughness. The sheath-like protective coating can be pulled off the surface as a whole or at least in large sections. The substance is of such a nature that it can be repeatedly liquefied by the application of heat and solidified by the removal of heat.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0171212, published on Jul. 17, 2008 to Shedlosky et al., discloses a protective coating for metals. This protective coating has a crosslinked polyester that is removable with a basic composition.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that can be sprayed upon a substrate.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sprayable polymeric coating that can be applied to inhibit wide variety of corrosion issues.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that can be used for bolted or jointed unctions, connections or other operable metallic components.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that is reliable and sustainable.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that can be a standalone product.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that extends the longevity of the protection.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that can be easily and quickly applied.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that can dry rapidly.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that is removable and reusable.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that is ecologically safe.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a polymeric coating system that can be easily repaired.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.

Sprayable polymeric coating system for the protection of complex metal structures against corrosion


A method and apparatus for manufacturing preform panels having at least one preform for repairing interconnects, particularly for repairing meander-like interconnects with a preform plated with hard solder. The metal has at least the steps of: providing at least two successive punch events with a die; and performing a predetermined feed (V) between a metal band and the die between the two punch events, whereby the length of the feed (V) is greater than a die width of the die, a length of the die being shorter than a width of the metal band, and the preform being formed by a residual web of the metal band after the two successive punch events. The apparatus for manufacturing preform panels having at least one preform from a metal band has at best: a receptacle plate on a carriage for the acceptance of the metal band; a die with a means for hold-down; a motor for generating a predetermined feed between the die and the metal band; at least two positioning pins for positioning the metal band on the receptacle plate; and a die-plate that cooperates with the die that is perpendicularly movable up and down and with its hold-down means.

The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing preform panels having at least one preform for repairing meander-like, trapezoidal interconnect tracks with preforms plated with hard solder whose width lies in the range from, for example, 50 through 70 .mu.m. Preforms on this order of magnitude usually have an overall thickness of about 20 through 30 .mu.m.
The repair of interconnects is carried out with preforms that are congruent with the interconnect interruption. Preform panels are manufactured for simplifying the repair procedure, a plurality of preforms having all possible configurations of an interconnect being contained in these preform panels. Such a preform is selected for its congruency and is punched from the preform panel in correspondingly symmetrical fashion relative to the interruption. The subsequent repair occurs in a further, independent process.
German Patent 22 51 997 discloses a method that is essentially directed to the material properties of a fine band and the coating thereof with hard soldering for repair of the interconnect. The interconnects under consideration here have a width between 100 and 150 .mu.m and a height of about 50 .mu.m. The critical difference compared to the interconnect generation that must now be manipulated is in the halving of the interconnect width and in the design thereof in the form of meander-like structures. Punching methods that were previously known and that are based on a positive punching principle, i.e. whose dies have the same width and contour of the preform to be punched, encounter their limits for the dimensioning set forth herein, whereby the one die, for example, would have to have a width of 60 .mu.m. Such dies are inadequate to meet the stresses when punching cover bands or cover bands plated with hard solder and are subject to breaking.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing preform panels with preforms for repairing interconnects


In an embodiment, a semiconductor memory card includes a lead frame including external connection terminals, a lead portion, a chip component mounting portion and a semiconductor chip mounting portion, a chip component mounted on the chip component mounting portion, a memory chip disposed on the semiconductor chip mounting portion, and a controller chip. A rewiring layer is formed on a surface of the memory chip. The lead frame is resin-sealed. An electric circuit of the controller chip and the memory chip on the lead frame is formed by the lead portion, the rewiring layer and a metal wire connected to electrode pad of the chips, the lead portion, and the rewiring layer.

A semiconductor memory card having a NAND-type flash memory or the like built therein is being downsized while having larger capacity. In order to realize the reduction in cost of the semiconductor memory card, it has been studied to mount semiconductor chips such as a memory chip and a controller chip that constitute the semiconductor memory card on a lead frame having external connection terminals. On the lead frame, chip components such as a capacitor and a fuse, in addition to the semiconductor chips, are mounted. In the semiconductor memory card using the lead frame, the entire lead frame except surfaces of the external connection terminals is resin-sealed together with the semiconductor chips and the chip components.
When the lead frame is applied as a circuit substrate for the semiconductor memory card, there is a worry that a problem based on a structure of the lead frame arises. For example, the lead frame has a limitation in a formation of circuit compared with a wiring board, so that it may be difficult to form a circuit of the memory chip and the controller chip only by the lead frame and bonding wires. Further, although a thickness of the semiconductor memory card is specified by various standards, heights of the semiconductor chip and the chip component are not uniform, and the height of the chip component is generally higher than that of the semiconductor chip. When the lead frame is resin-sealed together with the semiconductor chips and the chip components under such a condition, a covering property of a sealing resin layer with respect to the chip components may be lowered, or a warpage of the semiconductor memory card and a positional displacement of the lead frame may occur at the time of performing resin sealing.


A switching device includes: a first terminal contact; a first fixed contact arranged at the first terminal contact; a contact bridge; a contact bridge carrier arranged at the contact bridge and having a barrier; a first movable contact arranged at the contact bridge; a second terminal contact; a second fixed contact arranged at the second terminal contact; a second movable contact arranged at the contact bridge; and a magnetic drive assembly including a coil and an armature, the armature being coupled to the contact bridge. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device. The second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in the switched-on state of the switching device.

The switching device may be configured for switching DC currents, especially for switching higher DC currents. The switching device may be used in the field of electric mobility as well as in photovoltaic systems, battery storage systems or uninterruptible power supplies.
Additionally, a switching device may be required to switch off short-circuit currents, for example larger than 10 kA. Since a space is limited in an electric vehicle, the switching device should be realized in a compact form.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,024 A describes a magnetic enhanced arc extinguisher for switching assemblies having rotatable permanent magnets in housings mounted to fixed contacts. A contactor comprises two stationary contacts, two contact pads which are attached to the stationary contacts, a movable contact arm, two movable contacts at the movable contact arm and an electromagnetic solenoid with an armature. The stationary contact has a bended form. A load current that flows through the stationary contact, the contact pad, the movable contact and the movable contact arm has a U-form in the switched-on state.
Document EP 3349231 A1 refers to an electro-mechanic connector. The connector comprises two terminal contacts, two fixed contacts arranged at the terminal contacts, a contact bridge, two movable contacts arranged at the contact bridge and a magnetic drive assembly with an armature.
Document US 2016/0217951 A1 is related to a switching device with permanent-magnetic arc extinguishment. A contact bridge is disposed on a contact carrier made of electrically insulating material.

Switching device and method for operating a switching device


A distributed debug system including processing elements connected to perform a plurality of processing functions on a received data unit, a debug trap unit, a debug trace dump logic unit, and a debug initiator unit is provided. At least two of the processing elements include a debug trap unit that has a first debug enable input and output, and a first debug thread. The first debug thread holds at least a first debug trap circuit having a match signal output connected to the first debug enable output. The first debug trap circuit filters a part of the data unit, compares a filtering result with a debug value, and provides a match signal to the match signal output. The debug trace dump logic unit dumps debug trace data to a buffer associated with the data unit on reception of a match event. The debug initiator unit includes a debug initiator output connected to the first debug enable input of the debug trap unit of one processing element, and a debug initiator input connected to the first debug enable output of the debug trap unit of another processing element.

An embedded system is a computer system designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions, often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device. For debugging in an embedded system that holds distributed Processing Elements (PE) it is desired to get high visibility of internal data flows to analyze and debug decision points. For example, such a system is typical for streaming data processing such as streaming media processing, e.g. streaming video or audio. For example, communication accelerators with PCD (Parse, Classify and Distribute) steps carried out on the stream of packets may serve as an example for a system for streaming data processing. However, debugging a system having distributed processing elements is difficult due to for example the need for observing complex debug conditions in each PE and at the same time tracking propagation of conditions between different PE and may lead to either huge amounts of debug trace data or incomplete data.
A PE may be any device or circuit configured for data processing, for example any type of processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processor unit (GPU), any general purpose processor, a microcontroller unit (MCU), any multi core networking device, multi core processor, a processor core or a functional area on a processor or other semiconductor device, as well as a data parser, or any type of decoder or encoder circuit, just to name a few.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,478 shows a dedicated debugging facility for tracing hardware and software faults in a distributed digital system. Each processing node contains an event data capture circuit and each capture circuit is associated with a corresponding local trace data memory. In this local history buffer system the trace data is continuously accumulated in each PE local memory in order to provide history debug data in case of a system fault, therefore allowing for a post processing procedure. The association of distributed trace data between PE is achieved by timestamp sorting during software analysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,776 B2 shows a system for generating trace data in a computing system. The trace data is stored without direct association of trace data to data units in a common place defined at configuration by a single, not distributed, debug trace entity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,676 shows a programmable hardware event monitoring method. It describes an on chip logic analyzer function that selects predefined hardware events that have been predefined at design stage and can be used as part of an equation to trigger a debug trace.


A cleaning device, which is included in a process cartridge or an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning member including a brush rotary body that is disposed in contact with an image carrier provided in an image forming apparatus and that removes toner on the image carrier and holds the toner thereon, a toner conveying rotary body to collect and convey the toner removed by the cleaning member, a flicker contacting the cleaning member to flick off the toner held on the cleaning member, and an agitator that has a free end contacting the toner conveying rotary body and vibrating due to rotation of the toner conveying rotary body. The agitator further has a trajectory being formed between the opening and the toner conveying rotary body by movement of the free end. Alternatively, the free end of the agitator is disposed facing the flicker.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a cleaning device, a process cartridge incorporating the cleaning device and an image forming apparatus incorporating the cleaning device.
2. Related Art
Electrophotographic image forming apparatuses typically include a cleaning device having a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade therein. Residual toner that is cleaned and collected by the cleaning brush and the cleaning blade from a photoconductor is regarded as waste toner and is conveyed by a toner conveying screw provided in the cleaning device to a waste toner container. For example, the toner cleaned by the cleaning brush is flicked off by the flicker in a toner conveying screw direction and is discharged as the waste toner by the toner conveying screw.
In a device using the toner, a spiral-shaped or coil-shaped toner conveying member is rotated to contact and vibrate an agitator in order to prevent toner blocking. Specifically, the agitator vibrates to flick off the toner accumulated between conveying members by vibration of the agitator, thereby preventing occurrence of toner blocking caused by cohesion of toner to the toner conveying member.

Cleaning device, process cartridge incorporating same, and image forming apparatus incorporating same


A screen control device includes: a storage unit storing a content of a function used in a process executed in a information processing apparatus in association with setting information set to a setting item of the function; a function selection unit configured to calculate a usage frequency of each function stored in the storage unit, and select at least one function based on the usage frequency; a setting item determination unit configured to determine a setting item for receiving an input from a user from setting items relating to a function selected by the function selection unit based on setting information stored in the storage unit; a display controller configured to display a screen enabling to receive an instruction to execute the function selected by the function selection unit and a screen receiving an input to a setting item determined by the setting item determination unit from a user.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a screen control device, an image forming apparatus, and a computer readable medium.
(ii) Related Art
Recently, as multiple functions are incorporated in an image forming apparatus, a number of buttons to receive various settings are located on an operation screen that receives instructions to the image forming apparatus from the user. This makes the operation to the image forming apparatus, which a user carries out to execute a desired process, complicated and cumbersome.

Screen control device, image forming apparatus, and computer readable medium


A switching power converter provides regulated voltage to a load according to a desired regulation voltage. The switching power converter includes a transformer coupled to a switch and a switch controller for generating a control signal to control switching. The switch controller monitors a sensed voltage representing the output voltage of the switching power converter. The switch controller controls switching of the switch to operate the switching power converter in a continuous conduction mode while the sensed output voltage indicates that the output voltage is less than a first threshold voltage. The switch controller controls switching of the switch to operate the switching power converter in a discontinuous conduction mode while the sensed output voltage is above the first threshold voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a power converter, and more specifically, to a power converter having a switch controller controlling the switching cycles at start-up and/or power on reset (POR).
2. Description of the Related Art
Power converters typically require error circuitry that provides an "error" signal between the output voltage of the power converter and a reference voltage, in order to regulate the output voltage. The error circuitry should provide a magnitude and a sign (positive or negative) of the output voltage relative to a reference voltage. The power converter can use the error signal to properly regulate the output voltage by increasing or decreasing the amount of power delivered to the output of the power converter in response to the error signal.
Conventional power converters typically generate an error signal by sensing the output voltage as an analog value, deriving the difference between the sensed output voltage and the reference voltage as an analog value and amplifying it. Conventional power converters may also use an analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter) to generate the error signal depending upon the control scheme. Other conventional power converters may use analog error amplifiers to generate the error signal.
In many conventional isolated switching power converters, the output voltage is directly sensed on the secondary side of a transformer and compared to a reference voltage fixed so that the output voltage of the power converter is regulated to a target level. Alternatively, other conventional isolated switching power converters do not sense the output voltage directly, and instead sense a voltage on the primary side of the transformer. The sensed primary-side voltage is compared to a reference voltage fixed so that the output voltage of the power converter is regulated to a target level. These isolated switching power converters are commonly referred to as primary-only feedback converters.
In the case of primary-only feedback converters, there may be situations where during certain switching cycles, the output voltage may differ dramatically from the regulated target voltage as set by the reference voltage. One example of this occurrence is during the initial start-up of the switching power converter. The initial start-up phase is especially difficult for primary-only feedback converters because they do not directly sense the output voltage. When the output voltage differs dramatically from the regulated target voltage during start-up, the sensed primary side voltage provides an inaccurate representation of the output voltage. As a result, conventional primary-only feedback converters may be slow to reach the regulated target voltage after start-up. The problem may worsen when the secondary output stage of a primary-only switching converter is coupled to an output filter stage that includes high capacitance electrolytic capacitors, thus further slowing the startup cycle. If the controller of the primary-only switching power converter fails to raise the output voltage in a controlled manner from 0 VDC to the regulated output voltage level within a maximum amount of time, damage may be caused to any electronic device(s) connected to the power converter.
Another major function of the controller is to sense and detect abnormal and/or fault conditions, and to provide a safe operating mode for the switching converter until the fault condition is removed. At the start-up mode, the output voltage, typically starting at 0 VDC, is significantly lower than the desired regulated output voltage level. The capacitive load based on the output filter capacitors also impacts the rise time of the output voltage. The condition of the output voltage being significantly lower than the desired regulated output voltage level can also be observed in a fault condition where there is a short circuit of the output of the switching converter. As a result, conventional primary-only switching converters are susceptible to false fault detection. This may prevent the switching converter from start-up even when a fault condition does not exist.
One conventional solution to the above described problems is to configure the controller to deliver the maximum amount of energy to the secondary until the output reaching the regulation point is detected. However, this conventional solution is still problematic because it may cause output voltage over-shoot, and subsequent output voltage ringing.

Adaptively controlled soft start-up scheme for switching power converters


The CV-CAD (computer vision-computer-aided design) model is an enhanced CAD (computer-aided design) model that integrates local and global computer vision data in order to represent an object not only geometrically but also in terms of computer vision. The CV-CAD model provides a scalable solution for intelligent and automatic object recognition, tracking and augmentation based on generic models of objects.

Despite the strong research advances in computer vision and pattern recognition of the last decades, marker-less vision-based applications are rare in industrial environments. This is mainly due to the expensive engineering step needed for their integration into an existing industrial workflow. Typically, an expert decides which algorithm is most suited for each specific application. The decision is generally based on not only the geometry and the appearance of the object to be recognized by the application, but also the illumination conditions and the optical sensor (the camera and the lens) that are used.
For example, when the object is piecewise planar and textured, the expert may select methods based on feature point detection and/or template-based tracking to recognize the object in a single image or an image sequence. He manually tests different visual feature detectors and descriptors, and then selects the method that provides the optimum recognition results for the object. When tracking should also be performed, he typically also needs to choose the planar polygons in the CAD model to consider in the template-based tracking. The problem is that the result of such an engineering step typically cannot be used for other objects, for example, if the industrial object is not piecewise planar and not well textured.
Consequently, most of the engineering steps are not general and cannot be easily adapted to new applications. In fact, they are often only valid for limited object categories, restricted viewpoints (even within the same category of objects), special illumination conditions or camera resolutions and lenses. Therefore, in practice, once one of these parameters changes, the engineering step must be performed again.
There are already many computer vision methods available that are working on 2D structures and perform a feature matching. One such method is the "scale-invariant feature transform" (SIFT) detector and descriptor [1]. A version modified towards speed is the "speeded up robust features" (SURF) method [2]. Certain other descriptors based on classification were also published, like randomized trees [3], randomized ferns [4], and a boosting method [5]. Closer to the concept of agents, which is explained below, are the feature detectors like the "Harris affine" or "Hessian affine" detectors [8], "intensity-based regions" (IBR) [9], "edge-based regions" (EBR) [9], "maximally stable extremal regions" (MSER) [10], "salient regions" [11] and others, which where summarized and evaluated in [6]. Although they don't provide matching methods, they give an approximate transformation as soon as a matching has been established. Another type of features is edges. Edge features are more difficult to handle, but also some methods have been published [7], [11]. Contrary to the approach of the present invention, all these algorithms are not incorporated into CAD models and don't make use of the additionally available geometric data.


The invention relates to compositions for vaginal or, alternatively, oral administration and to the use of such compositions for stabilizing the vaginal, or, alternatively, the intestinal acidity and establishing favorable conditions for the inhibition of pathogens and the growth of lactobacilli in the urogenital, or, alternatively, gastro-intestinal tract.

It is well known that useful, well-tolerated non-pathogenic bacteria, the so-called human natural microbiota, predominate in the intestine, the vagina and in the urethra/bladder in the healthy state, whereas the overgrowth of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, viruses and protozoa often leads to dysbiosis infections in these organs.
The terms "aerobic bacteria" and "anaerobic bacteria" are commonly used to describe, respectively, those microorganisms requiring air and those unable to grow in the presence of air.
Notably, some of the non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria, which can be found in the vagina, can be defined as "non-facultative anaerobe", i.e. they can grow both in the presence and in the absence of air and are basically unaffected by oxidative conditions in the growing medium. Non-limiting examples of such non-facultative anaerobic bacteria are E coil and Staphylococcus aureus, which are known to cause a vaginal condition commonly indicated as "aerobic vaginitis".
Other microorganisms which can be found in the vagina are "obligate anaerobes", i.e. they do not grow in the presence of free oxygen and may actually be killed in the presence of oxygen or of oxidative conditions. Anaerobic organisms like Gardnerella vaginalis, an obligate anaerobe, migrating from the perineum into the vagina, or acquired through sexual intercourse can cause a dysbiosis with few symptoms, followed by a full blown bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is the most common vaginal infection. BV constitutes a serious risk to premature labor in pregnant women and increases the risk to sexually transmitted infections (Ref. 1). In such cases of vaginal dysbiosis or vaginal infections caused by anaerobes the pH of the vaginal milieu increases from the physiological values of 3.5-4.5 to values reaching 5-6 or even higher. This increase in pH is a critical clinical parameter used in the diagnosis of BV and one of the main cause of the risks associated with BV. The fermentative action of the lactobacilli Döderlein microbiota on the metabolites of glycogen and other carbohydrates present in the vagina and yielding mainly lactic acid as well as other organic acids to a lesser extent and results in the low pH value of vaginal fluids. In addition, certain strains of the Gram-negative E.coli, originating from the bowel and migrating first to the vagina and, afterwards to the urethra/bladder are the most common cause of urethritis/cystitis in sexually active women. This same E.coli can also cause dysbiosis in the vagina, a condition called aerobic vaginitis, which is also accompanied by a perturbation of the vaginal microbiota, a decrease in vaginal acidity and an increase of the corresponding pH value (Ref. 2).
Another pathogen causing vaginal infections, in particular during pregnancy, is the yeast Candida that behaves opportunistically and often co-exists with lactobacilli.
Candida is the only yeast organism which behaves as a facultative anaerobe, i.e. it is basically unaffected by the presence or the absence of air and of oxidative conditions.
These infections are usually cured by anti-infective treatment directed against the pathogens that are intended to be successfully eradicated in the course of such therapy, at least to a certain degree. However, in about as much as in 70% of the cases, the patient experiences a relapse or a reinfection within 3 months after a primary treatment (Ref. 3), because either the pathogens were not adequately killed or because of the lack of protection through the restored indigenous vaginal microbiota. This microbiota is actually often damaged as a consequence of the anti-infective therapy. The indigenous vaginal microbiota, historically referred to as Döderlein microbiota, is sensitive to many anti-infective agents and in particular antibiotics. It is often perturbed or even eradicated by the anti-infective therapy and is therefore unable to inhibit the proliferation of the ever present opportunistic, often pathogenic, organisms. As a consequence, a bacterial vaginosis treated by a narrow-spectrum antibiotic specific against anaerobes like clindamycin could lead to a yeast infection, as the Lactobacillus-depleted vaginal microbiota can no longer inhibit the opportunistic yeasts.
The possibility of applying exogenous Lactobacillus directly to the vagina to treat the dysbiosis or the infection of the vagina had already been suggested by the physician who discovered them, Albert Döderlein himself, in his pioneering book in 1892 (Ref.4). This concept has since then been widely developed in the scientific and patent literature and recently comprehensively reviewed (Ref. 5).
WO 2009/123982 A2 relates to methods and compositions for Lactobacillus replacement therapy, i.e. to colonize vaginal mucosa with a desired microbial species by contacting a vaginal wall with a dried formulation of live microbial cells.
WO 2016/020861 A1 relates to film or sponge compositions, and to a method for the prevention and treatment of vaginal infections, wherein said film or sponge comprises at least a mucoadhesive polumer, at least one probiotic and/or prebiotic and at least one active compound such as an antifungal or antibiotic agent in pharmacologically effective amounts.
In recent years, the inventors prompted thorough investigations about the properties of previously unknown Lactobacillus strains of human vaginal origin relevant to the competition with the most common urogenital pathogens. In particular, the inventors investigated mechanisms involving the interaction of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and further agents, which were found to explain the exceptionally strong and specific antibiotic-like activity of, e.g. Lactobacillus gasseri against pathogenic Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia (Ref. 6) and the activity of L. jensenii and L. crispatus against uropathogenic E.coli (Ref. 7). The approach as described in the mentioned papers and patents (Ref. 8) has further the advantage of using strains isolated from the same tract of perfectly healthy women for a therapeutic application targeting the urogenital tract. Thereby, possible problems with the tolerability of exogenously administered Lactobacillus strains can be to a large extent reduced in comparison to the use of such strains that are not from human origin and not from the urogenital tract of healthy young women. For strains of non-human origin, the question of the safety and tolerability in therapeutics, e.g., urogenital applications, is not clear a priori and must therefore be assessed a posteriori.
To provide suitable compositions for a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the inventors studied the different formulations used in probiotic products and/or described in the literature. In one published approach (Ref. 9) the inventors claim that the use of skim milk resp. skim milk preparations and derivatives called LGF (Lactobacillus growth factor) or NGF (natural growth factor) favors the growth of the desired Lactobacillus by, at the same time, inhibiting the growth of the unwanted uropathogens. Such dedicated growth factors to be used for vaginal applications were also to be found in microbiological growth media, according to the same inventors. The most used such growth medium for Lactobacillus strains is actually the MRS (DeMan-Rogosa-Sharp)-medium (Ref. 10). Besides minerals and vitamins, this broth contains also peptones, sources of carbon and especially nitrogen of chemically ill-defined composition. Other inventors as well recommend the use of complex proteinaceous substances like skim milk and albumin in the preservation matrix of a vaginal medicament containing Lactobacillus strains (Ref. 11).
In our view, while formulations containing natural nutrients such as skim milk or peptones might be useful for special applications, they are not suitable as ingredients in Lactobacillus-containing pharmaceutical formulations for vaginal applications. This is because, first, they are of biological (especially animal) origin, and, second, these natural ingredients have often a chemically ill-defined composition and, thus, they carry an increased risk of causing adverse effects in patients as explained further below. Further, from the point of view of a selective efficacy, these NGF might not achieve the desired effect to inhibit the growth of uropathogens. Not only Lactobacillus strains, but also numerous pathogens can grow in such a rich ingredient (with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and the like) as skim milk after having been in contact and mixed with the vaginal fluid. Pathogens such as E.coli grow sometimes quicker in milk than in a nutrient broth.
Taking 2 pathogens commonly found in the urogenital microbiota, S. aureus and E. coli, both of which also grow several logs in about 20 hours when inoculated in a medium specific for Lactobacillus such as MRS (Table 1), similar results being obtained also with skim milk (not shown in the following).
TABLE 1Growth performance of the 2 pathogens in MRS broth.PathogenTime (h)OD600 nmpHcfu/mlE. coli CCOS 49200.056.5Approx. 108203.055.12.3 × 1010S. aureus CCOS 46100.056.5Approx. 108188.8.131.52 × 1010
Even starting at a relatively high concentration of 108 cfu/ml these pathogens can further grow in MRS by several logs, only to be stopped after about 20 hours in the end by the low pH they generated. That is, a so-called growth medium highly specific for Lactobacillus can also promote the growth of dangerous pathogens. To inhibit the growth of such pathogens, an effective and selective inhibitor has to be added to the formulation.
Therefore, if a subject primarily harbors healthy Lactobacillus strains present in sufficient quantities in the vagina, it might be appropriate to administer L as these indigenous Lactobacillus bacteria can metabolize them. However, it will be inappropriate to administer to a dysbiotic vagina, already infected, or in deficit of beneficial Lactobacillus, LGF of any kind or such unspecific growth factors, as these might boost the growth of the pathogens present instead of that of the rare Lactobacillus strains. A dysbiosis or an infection could even get worse under such treatment with LGF, which risk should be avoided.
In conclusion: skim milk preparations or components of Lactobacillus growth media like MRS might under some circumstances sustain the growth of eubiotic, indigenous vaginal Lactobacillus. However, in general, they are not suitable as therapeutic, ingredients of pharmaceutical formulations to be applied in a dysbiotic vagina, as they have low selectivity for Lactobacillus and are not well-defined chemically. The present invention is intended to overcome these drawbacks.
Owing to the production of lactic and different aliphatic acids by the physiological Döderlein (i.e. vaginal) microbiota vaginal fluids exhibit an acidic pH between 3.5 and 4.5 in average, which appears to be optimum for vaginal homeostasis, as Lactobacillus spp. may still grow at this pH whereby most of the pathogens and opportunistic microbes are inhibited. Above pH 4.5, pathogens can easily grow, however below pH 3.5, the growth of the Döderlein Lactobacillus themselves becomes increasingly inhibited. This acidic vaginal fluid as brought about by the fermentation by the Döderlein microbiota of endogenous carbohydrates like the metabolites of glycogen is the very biochemical foundation of the defense mechanism of the vagina against infections and of primary importance for women's reproductive health (Ref. 12).
Considering these factors, it is not surprising that in the literature, references are found (e.g. Ref. 13) regarding the inclusion of an unspecified pH buffering agent in vaginal composition. In another application (Ref. 14) a composition is recommended that contains a buffering agent (chemically not defined in the mentioned reference) in order to stabilize the acidic degree of the vagina in the range pH 3.5-5.0.
However, the present inventors found that the sole acidic pH is not sufficient to prevent the growth of the pathogens in all cases. Experiments conducted in the inventors' laboratories (shown hereunder) indicate that even below pH 5, relevant pathogens like S. aureus and E.coli can rapidly grow. The medium used contained lactose as a carbon source and 15% MRS as growth-start promoter.
In conclusion: the importance of the acidic vaginal pH is unchallenged in the scientific community and several authors have recognized the usefulness of adding a buffering agent to a pharmaceutical formulation devised for vaginal application. The pH-range must thereby be clearly defined according to physiology in the range between 3.5 and 4.5. The value of pH 4.5 at the upper limit of the physiological range is deliberately chosen, as it is well tolerated by the patients. More acidic values pH around 4 or lower can cause discomfort such as itching and burning as the vaginal epithelium is more sensitive in cases of dysbiosis and infections.
Furthermore, the buffering agent chemical composition and dosages must be indicated in the pharmaceutical recipe for, e.g., a capsule. Finally, the buffer must be such as to exert its action shortly after the intravaginal administration and to last, at least, until the next administration, i.e. between 12 and 24 hours.
Besides the acidic buffer and the nutrient factors expounded in the above section there are also other factors playing a role in the design of an effective pre- or pro- or symbiotic formulation for vaginal application. One such factor is the redox potential of the vaginal fluid after application of the device.
As we shall show, this is of relevance especially in the case of bacterial vaginosis (BV) where the pathogens are obligate anaerobs (Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella bivia, Atopobium vaginae, . . . ). The redox potential can indeed influence the growth of these last-mentioned pathogens.
The effect of redox potential on the growth and survival of micrororganisms in the vaginal flora is shown in FIG. 3 (according to ref. 22, Eschenbach et al 1985)
Finally, another potentially dangerous microbe is the fungus Candida albicans, which is very often present as an opportunist in the vaginal flora. The authors will present a method to control the growth of the fungus without inhibiting that of the vaginal lactobacilli.
The present invention is aimed at providing a solution that addresses these objectives.

Urogenital medical device formulation based on suitable biochemical compositions for the stabilization of the acidity and the redox state of the vaginal fluid


A control system, that includes a primary controller and various auxiliary controllers, is configured to facilitate a built-in self-test (BIST) of a system-on-chip (SoC). The primary controller is configured to initiate a BIST sequence associated with the SoC. Based on the BIST sequence initiation, each auxiliary controller is configured to schedule execution of various self-test operations on various functional circuits, various memories, and various logic circuits of the SoC by various functional BIST controllers, various memory BIST controllers, and various logic BIST controllers of the SoC, respectively. Based on the execution of the self-test operations, each auxiliary controller further generates various status bits with each status bit indicating whether at least one functional circuit, at least one memory, or at least one logic circuit is faulty. Based on the status bits generated by each auxiliary controller, a fault diagnosis of the SoC is initiated.

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic circuits, and, more particularly, to a system and a method for facilitating a built-in self-test (BIST) of system-on-chips (SoCs).
An SoC typically includes various BIST controllers to execute self-test operations of the SoC, and a control system to control operations of the BIST controllers. The control system includes a primary controller and various auxiliary controllers coupled between the primary controller and the BIST controllers. The primary controller controls operations of the auxiliary controllers. Further, each auxiliary controller controls operations of BIST controllers coupled therewith. For example, to execute a BIST of the SoC, the primary controller enables one or more auxiliary controllers, and each auxiliary controller enables the corresponding BIST controllers coupled therewith. The BIST controllers may then execute various self-test operations on associated circuits-under-test and generate a set of result bits to initiate a fault diagnosis of the SoC.
Typically, the control system is capable of controlling exclusively a single type of BIST controller (e.g., a memory BIST controller). The SoC, however, includes various other types of BIST controllers (e.g., functional BIST controllers and logic BIST controllers). This limits a degree of the BIST facilitated by the control system. The control system is further required to configure the BIST controllers for executing corresponding self-test operations, thereby leading to a significant programming overhead on the control system. Further, the primary controller is coupled with the auxiliary controllers in a synchronous manner (i.e., by way of a synchronous interface). Such a synchronous coupling results in a significant increase in a design complexity of the control system. The design complexity of the control system further increases with the scalability of the SoC. Therefore, there exists a need for a technical solution that solves the aforementioned problems of existing control systems that facilitate a BIST of SoCs.

System and method for facilitating built-in self-test of system-on-chips


An opening flap comprises a frame and a flap articulated thereto. A lift arm is provided, which is articulated by a principal energy accumulator. A secondary energy accumulator is articulated between the lift arm and the flap. The principal energy accumulator delivers the opening motion of the flap into a position before the dead center thereof. The secondary energy accumulator, which is distinctly weaker, delivers the subsequent opening motion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an opening flap, in particular flue gas escape flap, comprising a frame; a flap that is articulated to the frame; a holding device for keeping the flap in a closed position; a lift arm which is mounted for pivoting about a first joint that is stationary relative to the frame; a principal energy accumulator, a first end of which is articulated to a second joint that is stationary relative to the frame, and a second end of which is articulated to the lift arm by a third joint at a distance from the first joint; and a secondary energy accumulator, a first end of which is articulated to the lift arm between the first and the second joint, and a second end of which is articulated to the flap. The invention further relates to an opening mechanism for an opening flap according to the invention.
2. Background Art
Flue gas escape flaps are employed predominantly for safety reasons in industrial buildings. They are supposed to be opened for fresh air and, possibly, light to enter; on the other hand, they must open automatically when for instance in the case of a fire or the like. Usually the flaps are held by a rope, by means of which they can also be shut. If the rope is loosened from its holding device at an easily accessible place, the flap will open automatically by means of an opening mechanism. By means of the rope it can be closed against the force of the opening mechanism. The rope is fixed to the flap by means of a holding device, for instance a lock with a safety fuse. This holding device unlocks in the case of fire so that the flap will open automatically. Gas springs are used as opening mechanisms for small flaps; they are articulated to the frame on the one hand and to the flap on the other. In the case of big flaps, it has been found that gas springs are not suitable. This is due to the fact that the opening mechanism must overcome not only the dead weight of the flap, but must be able also to lift comparatively heavy snow loads on the flap and force them aside upon pivoting beyond the proper upper dead center. Therefore, it has become a habit that pneumatically actuated piston-cylinder drives should be used instead of gas springs as opening mechanisms for big flaps; for opening, supply takes place from a pressure gas source, for instance a CO2 pressure cylinder.
DE 33 38 092 C3 describes a flap of the generic type, in which the additional energy accumulator is directly articulated to the lift arm, which results in extraordinarily bulky design. Moreover, the directions of application of force are rather unfavorable, opening heavy flaps being hardly, or not at all, possible.
It is an object of the invention to embody an opening flap of the generic type in such a way that big and heavy flaps can be opened by simple means.
According to the invention, this object is attained by the features which consist in that a double-armed lever is articulated to the lift arm by a pivot joint, to a first end, turned towards the principal energy accumulator, of which lever the secondary energy accumulator is articulated by its first end, and to a second end, turned towards the flap, of which lever is articulated a first end of a tie which is articulated by a second end relative to the frame. The measures according to the invention help attain that, at the beginning of the opening process when maximum load must be overcome, the principal gas spring exclusively or at least predominantly does the opening job, the secondary gas spring only serving as a forcing lever, transmitting the opening forces from the lift arm to the flap. The principal gas spring is completely extended only when the flap has been opened sufficiently far for a load of snow that might lie on it to have slipped off and any wind power has been overcome. Then the secondary gas spring takes the job of completely opening the flap as far as by an angle of approximately 140xc2x0 as against the closed position of the flap. This design is appropriate in particular for heavy flaps to be lifted. In keeping with the improved opening mechanism according to which the double-armed lever and the tie are arranged and designed such that, at the beginning of the opening motion of the flap, the first end of the secondary energy accumulator is moved counter to a direction of extension of the secondary energy accumulator, pivoting the double-armed lever, and according to which the pivoting motion of the double-armed lever reverses as the opening motion of the flap proceeds, provision is made for a type of transmission by means of which to accomplish a certain reducing effect at the beginning of the opening motion when major opening forces are needed and a certain multiplication as the opening motion proceeds and the required forces decrease.
The advantageous embodiment, according to which a stop is provided on the lift arm within the pivoting travel of the double-armed lever, ensures that the length of extension of the principal gas spring is restricted and the opening mechanism in the way of a transmission cannot tip over.
The further development, according to which F12xe2x89xa7F16, and in particular 6 F16xe2x89xa7F12xe2x89xa72 F16, and especially 10 F16xe2x89xa7F12xe2x89xa72 F16, applies to the extension force F12 of the principal energy accumulator in relation to the extension force F16 of the secondary energy accumulator, has regularly proved to be of advantage, favorably aiding in the specified repartition of forces.
With gravity acting on the flap in the final stage of the opening motion, the embodiment, according to which the secondary energy accumulator is a gas spring that is damped in the direction of extension, is as a rule of special advantage.
Furthermore, an opening mechanism is protected, including the features according to the invention.

Opening flap, in particular flue gas escape flap, and opening mechanism therefor


A capacitor charging circuit does not include a Zener diode and makes it possible to integrate a large number of circuits and elements within a semiconductor integrated circuit. The capacitor charging circuit includes a flyback transformer having a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a tertiary coil, a switching element that turns the current that flows through the primary coil on and off, a capacitor that is charged by a current produced in the secondary coil through the on-off action of the switching element, and a charge control circuit that controls the on-off action of the switching element. When the switching element is off and a voltage produced at a first end of the tertiary coil is larger than a reference voltage corresponding to the predetermined voltage of the charge voltage of the capacitor, the on-off action of the switching element is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a capacitor charging circuit for charging a capacitor via a flyback transformer, and a strobe apparatus that lights a light emitting tube via the capacitor charging circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional strobe apparatuses of this type are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-152987, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-359095 and the like. FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional strobe apparatus of this type. The strobe apparatus 101 includes a capacitor charging circuit 102 and a light emitting tube 3. The capacitor charging circuit 102 includes a flyback transformer 110 having a primary coil 111, one end of which is connected to the input power source VCC, and a secondary coil 112 that outputs a secondary coil current from one end, a switching element 114 that is an N-type MOS transistor connected to the other end of the primary coil 111, for turning on and off the primary coil current Ia that flows in the primary coil 111, a resistor 115 for measuring the primary coil current Ia, one end of which is connected to the source of the switching element 114 and the other end of which is connected to ground, a capacitor 117 that is charged via a rectifier diode 116 by the secondary coil current Ib that is produced through the on-off action of the switching element 114 and flows through the secondary coil 112, a serial connection circuit including a resistor 119 and a Zener diode 118 arranged in parallel to the capacitor 117 for measuring the charge voltage of the capacitor 117, a diode 120 for measuring the secondary coil current Ib, the cathode of which is connected to the other end of the secondary coil 112 and the anode of which is connected to ground, a resistor 121 with a high resistance value that biases the cathode of the diode 120 to ground potential, and a charge control circuit 122 that inputs the voltage at one end of the resistor 115 to input terminal A, the voltage at the cathode of the diode 120 to input terminal B, and the voltage at the point of connection between the Zener diode 118 and the resistor 119 to input terminal C, and outputs from output terminal D the on-off signal of the switching element 114 generated based on these voltages. This charge control circuit 122 starts when a command signal to begin the on-off action of the switching element 114 is sent from the strobe control circuit (not shown) that controls the strobe apparatus 101 as a whole. The light emitting tube 3 is lit by discharging the charge that has accumulated in the capacitor 117.
In this capacitor charging circuit 102, when the switching element 114 is on, the primary coil current Ia increases linearly, and energy is stored in the flyback transformer 110. This primary coil current Ia is detected by the voltage at one end of the resistor 115 (the voltage of the input terminal A). When the current reaches a predetermined current value, the switching element 114 turns off by the charge control circuit 122. When the switching element 114 is off, the secondary coil current Ib flows in the secondary coil 112 decreasing linearly. The capacitor 117 is charged via the rectifier diode 116, and the energy stored in the flyback transformer 110 is decreased. The secondary coil current Ib is detected by the voltage at the cathode of the diode 120 (the voltage of the input terminal B). When this current reaches a value close to zero, the switching element 114 is turned on by the charge control circuit 122. Then the primary coil current Ia increases linearly again and energy is stored in the flyback transformer 110.
By repeating the on-off action of the switching element 114 in this way, the charge voltage of the capacitor 117 gradually increases but the upper limit of this charge voltage is fixed by the breakdown voltage of the Zener diode 118. Until the charge voltage of the capacitor 117 reaches the breakdown voltage, no current flows in either the Zener diode 118 or the resistor 119. When the charge voltage of the capacitor 117 does reach the breakdown voltage, a current flows through the Zener diode 118 and the charge voltage of the capacitor 117 is maintained at a constant level. At this time, a current also flows through the resistor 119. The voltage at the point of connection between the Zener diode 118 and the resistor 119 (i.e., the voltage of the input terminal C of the charge control circuit 122) increases, whereupon the charge control circuit 122 determines that the charge voltage of the capacitor 117 is sufficient and stops the on-off action of the switching element 114. In this way, the capacitor charging circuit 102 is controlled once the charge voltage of the capacitor 117 reaches a predetermined voltage, thereby preventing any wasted current consumption.
However, the Zener diode used in the capacitor charging circuit 102 described above is not suitable for being integrated within a semiconductor integrated circuit since high voltages are applied to it at both ends. For this reason, a stand-alone standard component of the Zener diode is commonly used. The large size of such a stand-alone standard component means that it takes up a large area on the printed circuit board and also results in higher costs.

Capacitor charging circuit and strobe apparatus comprising same


A particulate, urea-containing composition and use of an additive for producing a particulate, urea-containing composition and methods of producing a particulate, urea-containing composition.

There are a variety of methods known in the prior art for producing particulate, urea-containing compositions. In the past, urea particles have been produced customarily by means of spray crystallization, where a substantially water-free urea melt (water content from 0.1 to 0.3 wt %) is sprayed from the upper part of a spray crystallization tower into an ascending stream of air at ambient temperature, with the droplets solidifying to form crystals (prills). The diameters of the resultant prills are relatively small, and their mechanical strength is low.
Further known methods for producing particulate, urea-containing compositions use drum or plate granulating units, or else what are called spherodizer drums, for producing the particles.
Urea particles having larger particle diameters and better mechanical properties are nowadays usually produced by granulation of a substantially water-free urea melt or of an aqueous urea solution in a fluidized bed, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,589. In these granulation methods, an aqueous urea solution having a urea concentration of 70-99.9 wt % is introduced, in the form of very finely dispersed droplets having an average diameter of 20-120 μm, into a fluidized bed of urea particles, the temperature being selected such that the water in the solution sprayed onto the urea particles undergoes evaporation and urea is deposited on the particles, thus producing granules having a desired particle size of 2.5 mm or more.
Because this method produces relatively large quantities of fine dust, particularly if the urea solution used has a water content of more than 5 wt %, it is common to employ granulating additives which reduce this dusting. The result of adding these additives is that the granular particles and particularly their surface remain plastic, meaning that round particles having a smooth surface and good mechanical stability are obtained as a result of their rolling movements and collisions.
The resulting granules therefore have high compressive strength and impact resistance, a low tendency toward dusting through abrasion, and also, even on prolonged storage, only a low tendency toward caking. Such granulating additives are employed, however, not only in fluidized bed granulation, but also in other methods referred to above.
Granulating additives employed are customarily formaldehyde or water-soluble adducts and/or condensation products of formaldehyde and urea, but must be added in relatively large quantities and have toxicity properties which render their handling not unproblematic. Formaldehyde emissions pose an acute risk to health and environment, although the introduction of urea-formaldehyde prepolymers such as UF80 or UF85 has reduced such risks. Moreover, the issue of health risks also arises in connection with chronic exposure to formaldehyde vapors, which cannot be avoided entirely even by the use of such prepolymers.
A further problem affecting the granulation of urea-containing particles is the production of dust, referring here to particles having a diameter of less than 0.5 mm. This production of dust is attributable substantially to three sources. A first is the abrasion of the granules owing to movements and collisions of the particles, in the fluidized bed, for example, with the amount of dust produced being substantially dependent on the mechanical properties of the granules. Furthermore, the nozzles or the liquid distributors used in the other methods each generate drops with a certain distribution of diameters, with the finest drops then solidifying before they strike the urea particles, meaning that the dust thus formed leaves the granulator again with the outgoing air. Lastly, a third source is the dust resulting from the comminution of oversized granular particles, this dust customarily being transferred directly into the granulator again in the methods and units according to the prior art. 10 to 20 wt % of the comminuted particles have a diameter of less than 1 mm, and a large fraction of this is dust. Accordingly, this fraction of comminuted particles means that 1% to 1.5% of dust is returned to the granulator per metric ton of end product, and 3-5% of the total dust per metric ton of end product from an industrial unit is attributable to the granulator.
In order to avoid or reduce the disadvantages identified above, various alternatives to formaldehyde and its water-soluble adducts and/or condensation products have been investigated, but in each case are also hampered by restrictions and/or disadvantages.
Reference may be made, for example, to the use of alkali metal lignosulfonates, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,302, or to the use of glyoxal or carbohydrates. In the resulting urea product, and depending on the production method, however these alternatives lead to a yellowish or brownish discoloration, which in many cases is undesirable. On the other hand, the use of surface-active substances such as, for example, mixtures of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol as granulating additives likewise leads to problems, since these additives have a tendency to foam, as for example when the additive is mixed with the melt or in the scrubbers where the treated urea dust is dissolved and impacts the efficiency of the scrubbers. The tendency of these substances to form foam also has consequences for the end product, moreover, this product having a relatively low density and being rejected by the market. Overall, therefore, any tendency toward foaming on industrial application of the urea granules is unacceptable.
Thus a need exists for a method for producing particulate, urea-containing compositions, wherein the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated or at least diminished.

Urea-containing fertilizers and process for production thereof


The present invention relates to a detergent composition for preparing an envelope type detergent, the detergent composition including: a) a non-ionic surfactant; b) an anionic surfactant; c) a film forming water-soluble polymer; d) an alkali builder; and e) a plasticizer, and an envelope type detergent prepared therefrom.

In general, the laundry is washed by introducing a detergent into a washing machine, and consumers directly weigh the detergent based on the amount of laundry regardless of the type of detergent. Most consumers are using a detergent based on a standard amount of detergent used depending on the amount of laundry, which is suggested as a method of using a detergent, but it is actually difficult to exactly determine the amount of laundry and the standard amount of detergent used, and users arbitrarily measure the amount of detergent and use the detergent. Accordingly, there is a problem in that a desired washing effect cannot be obtained because the detergent is used excessively or sparingly. Further, due to the problems associated with a space and costs, the laundry is usually gathered and stored until a pile of the laundry reaches a predetermined level, and then the laundry is classified and introduced into a washing machine to wash the laundry, and the odor and touch from the laundry stored during the classifying process cause discomfort and cumbersomeness.
A detergent for being introduced into a washing machine is available in the form of a powder, a liquid, a capsule, a sheet, and the like. The powder type detergent has a problem in that the powder is scattered or the powder phase remains on the laundry, and the liquid type detergent has a disadvantage in that consumers are hesitant to use the liquid type detergent due to the relative heavy weight. In order to improve the problems, capsule type and sheet type detergents using a polymer film material are currently available.
The polymer film material is a material of which the use in daily products has been recently rapidly increased, and has been widely used in the field of the household products including medicines, cosmetics and detergents. For example, the polymer film material has been used as a base material such as a transparent film for packaging food, a skin-attachable sheet for medical use or skin improvement, a capsule-type detergent, and a sheet-type detergent.
The capsule-type detergent and the sheet-type detergent are detergents using a water-soluble film, and numerous researches and developments for the detergents have been conducted because the detergents can be conveniently divided into smaller sizes and can alleviate disadvantages of powder detergents and liquid detergents.
Specifically, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2012-0021449 discloses a sheet for laundry, in which a film forming water-soluble polymer including detergent ingredients and softener ingredients distributed among polymer chains thereof is solidified in the form of a film. Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1999-0030414 discloses a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film, a gelatin film, a starch film, a cellulose film, and the like as a material for a disposable hermetic sealing type detergent which contains a one-time standard use amount in a bag in order to prevent a powder detergent from being scattered and protect water quality by inducing consumers to use a suitable amount. Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-0067668 discloses a technology of packaging a liquid cleaner with a water-soluble film.
However, when a detergent is divided and packaged by using water-soluble polymer films, there are problems in that a hermetically sealed portion is broken open in a process of storing or transporting the detergent, and as a result, there are problems in that a phenomenon in which contents therein are leaked out occurs, active ingredients ooze out from the surface of the film, and the storage stability of product significantly deteriorates. Further, a water-soluble film is used as a packaging material for detergent and thus is designed so as to secure the stability against moisture in the atmosphere and the durability of contents therein. For the reason, there is a problem in that it takes considerable time to dissolve a detergent at a temperature of water typically used during the laundry, and the film containing the detergent is not completely dissolved, and as a result, residues of the film remain. A sheet type detergent can significantly alleviate disadvantages of the capsule type detergent, but has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to use an appropriate amount of detergent according to the laundry, and still has a problem caused by storing the laundry until the laundry is laundered.


The present invention includes compositions and methods of treating and preventing prostate and urinary problems in human males. Additionally, methods of digestive system improvement, blood circulation system improvement, liver and kidney system improvement and urinary system improvement are included.

The prostate is a male reproductive gland, which is located below the bladder and adjacent to the rectum. A normal sized prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and encircles at least part of the urethra (which is the tube used to empty the bladder of urine). Fluid is produced by the prostate gland which then becomes part of the semen.
With age, the prostate gland may enlarge and ultimately block the urethra or bladder. This blockage can cause pain and difficulty in urination and sexual activity may be effected. While not malignant, this condition is called benign hyperplasia (hereinafter "BPH"), and may need to be corrected with surgery. Additionally, many of the symptoms of BPH are also symptoms of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is a disease manifested in malignant (cancerous) cells in the prostate tissues. This disease is found mainly in older men. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, weak flow of urine, interrupted flow of urine, frequent urination (especially at night), difficulty urinating, pain or burning during urination, blood in urine, blood in semen, pain in the back, hips or pelvis, and painful ejaculation.
There are several tests for detecting prostate cancer including but not limited to digital rectal examination, PSA test (a lab test that measures the prostate-specific antigen (hereinafter "PSA") levels in a blood sample), transrectal ultrasound, and biopsy.
PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland and is often found in increased amount in the blood of prostate cancer victims. Other reasons for elevated PSA levels include infection of the prostate, inflammation of the prostate, or BPH.
PSA levels of less than about 2 ng/ml are associated with a very low risk of cancer. PSA levels from about 4 to about 10 ng/ml are borderline. It is estimated that about 20% to about 30% of men with PSA levels in this range have prostate cancer. About 40% to about 60% of men with PSA levels greater than about 10 ng/ml, are estimated to have prostate cancer. Healthcare professionals usually follow up the PSA test with transrectal ultrasounds and/or biopsies.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (hereinafter "TCM") does not usually address prostate cancer. See, e.g., Department of TCM Formulas, Beijing TCM University, ed. 195; Tang Tou Ge Jue Bai Hua Jie (Modern Chinese Version of Ancient TCM Formulas), p. 109-121, and 166-176 (Beijing, PRC); People's Hygienic Press; Shanghai TCM University ed. 1998; Fang Ji Xue (TCM Formulas), p. 98-107 (Hong Kong); Commercial Press; Lu, Henry C., 195 Chinese Natural Cure, p. 245-271 (Toronto); Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers; and Wang, Jinhong ed., Effective TCM Formulas for Neurological and Endocrinological Diseases, p. 237-240, and 280-295 (Jiangsu, PRC).
Other forms of medicine, other than TCM, utilize PSA levels to gauge levels of cancerous activity. TCM is only now beginning to examine liver and kidney system (including, but not limited to kidney, liver and gallbladder) and urinary system (including but not limited to urinary and reproductive organs) problems. These problems may be assessed through, but are not limited to, checking acupuncture points, pulse readings and physical examination of the tongue. Additionally, physical symptoms include but are not limited to swollen prostate and pain or burning during urination.
Conventional (non-TCM) prostate cancer treatments have undesirable side effects. These include but are not limited to incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Combining these side effects with the uncertain impact of treatment on the chance for survival, heightens the need for other treatment and prevention methods.
Prostate and urinary related problems such as, but not limited to, swollen or enlarged prostate, high PSA, pain and/or burning sensations during urination and prostate cancer may be prevented and/or treated by the present invention.

Herbal composition for treatment of digestive and urinary disorders


A method of forming a thermally bonded, nonwoven polypropylene fabric is provided and includes passing a web of thermally bondable skin-core polypropylene fibers through a calender nip under heat and pressure to produce a nonwoven fabric having elongation. The patterned calender roll is embossed with a plurality of spaced and staggered lands particularly dimensioned, configured and oriented to provide the desired bonding spot size and spacing between the bonding spots such that when utilized in the calender roll, an improved soft polypropylene fabric or cover sheet having a high elongation results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to thermal bonding of nonwoven fabric, especially high elongation nonwoven fabric, and to calender rolls for producing such nonwoven fabric as well as to nonwoven fabrics and articles including nonwoven fabrics.
2. Description of Background Information
Nonwoven fabrics are typically made by making a web, and then thermally bonding the fibers together. For example, staple fibers can be converted into nonwoven fabrics using, for example, a carding machine, and the carded fabric can be thermally bonded. The thermal bonding can be achieved using various heating techniques, including heating with heated rollers, hot air and heating through the use of ultrasonic welding.
When heated rollers are utilized to bond the carded fabric, typically there is utilized one roll that is smooth and a calender roll that includes bonding spots thereon. The material to be thermally bonded is fed through a nip between the smooth roll and the calendar roll, with sufficient heat being applied to obtain thermal bonding of the material.
Conventional thermal bonding calender rolls, such as embossed calender rolls, are configured with a plurality of lands to provide bonding spots to provide maximum machine direction strength and cross direction strength, while preferably providing a soft feel or touch to the material, especially when forming the thermal bonded material or fabric from synthetic materials. Such thermal bonded fabric is often used to form nonwoven cover stock, which is typically used for hygiene products, such as a top sheet of a diaper. In such applications, one face or side of the cover stock material is placed in contact with a human body, for example, placed on the skin of a baby. Therefore, it is desirable that the face in contact with the human body exhibit softness.
The conventional processes utilize embossed thermal bonding calender rolls designed with a plurality of spaced lands that form bonding spots to provide a soft touch, as well as maximum machine direction and cross-direction strength. However, most of the prior art card-produced nonwoven fabrics do not have acceptable stretch characteristics.
There is therefore a need to produce nonwoven fabric having a high degree of elongation, especially with acceptable strength.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved methods of manufacturing thermal bonded, nonwoven, fibrous web materials of high elongation, preferably with acceptable strength.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a thermal bonding calender roll that will produce thermally bonded nonwoven material with high stretch or elongation.
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing thermally bonded fabric having high elongation, comprising forming a web of thermally bondable polypropylene fibers; passing the web over a heated calender roll having a patterned surface including a plurality of rows of lands, with each of the lands having an upper surface, with upper surfaces of lands in adjacent rows being staggered such that they do not overlap one another in a machine direction; and thermally bonding the fibers at bond points located about the upper surfaces of the lands such that fibers extending substantially in the machine direction will only have one bond point for adjacent rows.
The polypropylene fibers are preferably skin core polypropylene fibers.
The web can be provided as a carded fibrous web, or as a plurality of continuous filaments.
The elongation of the nonwoven fabric is at least about 120%, preferably greater than about 140%, more preferably greater than about 160%, even more preferably greater than about 180%, even more preferably greater than about 200%, even more preferably greater than about 250%, and most preferably greater than 300%.
The passing of the web over a heated calender roll can comprise passing the fibrous web between a pair of cooperating rolls in a calender nip, at least one of the pair of rolls having the patterned surface and comprising a cylindrical roll having an outer cylindrical surface including a plurality of lands; the lands being arranged on the outer cylindrical surface in a plurality of spaced apart rows; each of the lands comprising a tapered shape including a base, preferably substantially rectangular, tapering to an upper surface, which is preferably substantially rectangular; the upper surface including short sides oriented in the machine direction of about 0.036 cm to 0.066 cm in length, preferably about 0.043 cm to 0.059 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.051 cm, and long sides of about 0.071 cm to 0.133 cm in length oriented in a cross direction, preferably about 0.087 cm to 0.117 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.102 cm; adjacent rows of the lands being spaced apart a distance, with respect to the centers of the lands, of about 0.157 cm to 0.291 cm, preferably about 0.190 cm to 0.258 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.224; upper surfaces of lands in adjacent rows being staggered such that upper surfaces in adjacent rows do not overlap with one another in a machine direction providing a plurality of spaced apart bond points capable of bonding fibers extending substantially in the machine direction at only one bond point for adjacent rows; and the plurality of lands providing a bond area up to about 20%, preferably from about 5% to 20%, more preferably about 8% to 15%, even more preferably about 8% to 12%, with a preferred value being about 11%
The upper surfaces of the lands can be substantially rectangular. Moreover, the bases can overlap in the machine direction in adjacent rows.
Centers of the lands in each row are spaced apart by a distance of about 0.142 cm to 0.264 cm, preferably about 0.173 cm to 0.233 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.203 cm, and centers of the lands in adjacent rows are spaced apart by a distance of about 0.071 cm to 0.133 cm, preferably about 0.087 cm to 0.117 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.102 cm. The lands are constructed and arranged such that a straight fiber lying at an angle of greater than 15% with respect to the machine direction, more preferably about 35xc2x0 to 55xc2x0, and even more preferably 45xc2x0, is positioned in a space between the lands, whereby the fiber is not be bonded.
The lands are preferably of a truncated pyramidal shape, preferably having substantially rectangular bases with short sides about 0.075 cm to 0.139 cm in length oriented in the machine direction, preferably 0.091 cm to 0.123 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.107 cm, and long sides about 0.111 cm to 0.205 cm in length oriented in the cross direction, preferably about 0.134 cm to 0.182 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.158 cm, and tapered side walls extending between the base and the upper surface at an angle a of about 14xc2x0 to 35xc2x0, preferably about 17xc2x0 to 26xc2x0, more preferably about 17xc2x0 to 23xc2x0, with a preferred value being about 20xc2x0.
The lands can have a height of about 0.053 cm to 0.099 cm, preferably about 0.065 cm to 0.087 cm, with a preferred value being about 0.076 cm.
There is also provided a method of manufacturing thermally bonded fabric having high elongation, comprising forming a web comprising thermally bondable skin-core polypropylene fibers; passing the web over a calender roll having a patterned surface including a plurality of rows of lands, with each of the lands having an upper surface, with upper surfaces of lands in adjacent rows being staggered such that they do not overlap one another in a machine direction; applying heat and pressure to the fibrous web at a location of the calender roll to thermally bond the fibers at bond points located about the upper surfaces of the lands such that fibers extending substantially in the machine direction will only have one bond point for adjacent rows.
The present invention is also directed to the calender roll and to polypropylene fabrics formed by the methods.

Method and apparatus for thermal bonding high elongation nonwoven fabric


An apparatus for brewing coffee or the like with microwave energy comprising a receptacle for receiving a brewed beverage, and a generally funnel-shaped reservoir having an open upper end, a closed lower end and an aperture near the closed lower end. A flange extends outwardly from the reservoir and is operable to position the apparatus over the receptacle wherein the aperture is disposed over the receptacle. A valve is provided to control flow of liquid from the reservoir and is operable to allow flow upon the existence of a predetermined condition in the reservoir.

The present invention relates generally to a microwave coffee maker and more particularly to a device for quickly brewing individual servings of coffee. Various devices for brewing coffee in microwave ovens are known. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,272 to Bouladon; 4,104,957 to Freedman et al.; 4,381,696 to Koral; 4,386,109 to Bowen et al.; and, 4,642,443 to Jorgensen et al., each disclose an appliance for brewing coffee or the like in a microwave oven. Each of these appliances, however, is generally directed to brewing large volumes of coffee, and are not convenient for quickly brewing individual servings or small quantities. U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,835 to Welker discloses a single serving microwave brewing cup. The disclosed device is basically comprised of a cup for receiving water and coffee particles and a lid or cover having filtering openings therein. The Welker patent basically discloses a socalled "pot method" method of making coffee in which water and coffee grounds are heated together. With respect to the disclosed device, the coffee and water are placed within the cup and are heated by microwaves. The brewed beverage is poured from the cup through the filtering openings in the cover, the coffee particles being retained in the cup by such filtering openings. While such device is capable of quickly brewing coffee in a microwave oven, several variables affect the strength and flavor of the resultant brewed coffee. More specifically, while the amount of ground coffee and water used within the device will clearly affect the flavor and strength of the brewed coffee, so too will the temperature of the water and the period of time the coffee particles remain immersed in the heated water. In this respect, the device disclosed in the Welker patent provides no inherent means for controlling the brewing time of the coffee once the water has reached a brewing temperature.
The present invention overcomes these and other problems and provides a microwave device for brewing a single serving of coffee or the like wherein the brewed beverage is separated from the flavoring particulate after a predetermined brewing period.


A package including a tray (10) provided with a base (11), a plurality of sidewalls (12, 13, 14, 15) extending upwardly and slightly outwardly from said base (11), a primary flange (20) integrally joined to the upper edges of the sidewalls (12, 13, 14, 15) and extending outwardly all around the upper periphery of the sidewalls (12, 13, 14, 15), a rim (21), i.e., a downward flap extending downwardly and tapering slightly outwardly from the outer periphery of the primary flange (20), and a secondary flange (22), i.e., an overhanging portion extending outwardly from the lower edge of the rim (21), said tray being characterized in that a plurality of strengthening ribs (23) extend substantially vertically along the rim (21) and outwardly with respect to the tray body. The trays (10) according to the present invention have an improved rigidity and improved resistance to deformation and bending, improvements that have been achieved without increasing the amount of plastic material used for the manufacture of the tray (10) but relying only on a specific geometry thereof.

Packaging trays are widely used at the retail level, particularly in connection with the packaging of food products. Products, such as meat, are typically packaged in trays, either pre-made or thermoformed in-line in a continuous web of thermoplastic material. Said trays are then closed by means of a flexible lid, which is sealed thereto, to guarantee the package hermeticity, and, in case of in-line thermoformed tray, the end packages are finally separated from the continuous web. In this type of packaging a continuous objective is to reduce the thickness of the plastic packaging material used for the trays, for both cost and environmental reasons. This objective however needs to be reached while still providing trays that are resistant to deformation during the industrial high speed packaging processes, as any deformation of the tray does jeopardize the hermeticity of the seal, and that do not bend when the end package is grasped and lifted, as this may prejudice safe handling at any step of the distribution chain. With the solid trays actually on the market and in particular with the in-line thermoformed trays, this is often a problem, and in particular it is a real and serious problem when the lid which is sealed to the tray is a heat-shrinkable film as the shrinkage of the lid in the packaging process will exert a certain shrink force on the tray walls and increase the risk of deformation and/or bending. A manner known to increase the rigidity of a tray without increasing its thickness is to add to the polymer material used for the manufacture of the tray an inorganic fill. This however would lead to opaque trays while the current trend is for transparent trays, as this would allow the customers to visually inspect the product they are buying from all sides and somehow guarantee their quality.
Accordingly there is still a need in the art for a thermoplastic solid tray, which may be available also as a transparent tray, endowed with an improved rigidity and improved resistance to deformation and bending, where these improvements are achieved without increasing the amount of plastic material used for its manufacture but relying on a specific geometry thereof.