An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area. An alternative manifold assembly includes a nosecone extension adapter defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in a cylindrical portion for connection to an extender sheath, the opposite end of which is connected to a flue adapter defining an articulating joint for connection to a flue. Such an alternative manifold assembly is particularly adapted for use in elongated and curved tips with extenders. The detailed structure of the aspiration tubular connector and the irrigation connector is also shown.

This invention relates to an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and associated parts for such an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system. Still more particularly, this invention relates to the use of mating connections in such a system to allow easy, rapid, and foolproof connections to the irrigation, aspiration, and tissue relief ports in an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system. In addition, this invention relates to an improved transition member which allows an easy exchange of flues, articulation without leakage, and a swivel joint which permits use of curved ultrasonic members in an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system.
Ultrasonic surgical devices are known for performing a number of surgical procedures. A representative device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,363 describing a hand-held instrument having an operative tip vibrating at a frequency in the ultrasonic range, and in which a handpiece includes a transducer. Connections are provided on the handpiece to a source of treatment fluid and to a pump to withdraw suspended tissue particles in a fluid from an operative site.
The design of such ultrasonic surgical devices has depended not only on the technical and functional requirements of a resonant body, but also upon their surgical application. Thus, the parameters of the system, the length of the tip, and the tip stroke and diameter to be acceptable for a useful surgical device in various operative site areas have developed over the years, based upon experience with such devices. Attention has been paid in the art to the development of the various components in the system, with the result that an ultrasonic surgical aspiration instrument is well-known and used as a sophisticated high-technology surgical instrument.
Such a system has been developed and produced by the assignee of this invention which comprises an assembly of an acoustic vibrator, a nosecone, a flue, a handpiece and a manifold. The assembled system provides a source of irrigation fluid to an operative site and the aspiration of surgically-excised particles from the site under the control of precise and sophisticated instrumentation. A number of modifications to such a basic system have been made with respect to such items as the length and shape of the tip, its coupling with a transducer, the use of an extender (whether curved or straight), and others. Usually, the components for a surgical use are provided as a part of a sterile surgical kit to be used and discarded after each surgical procedure.
The acoustic vibrator assembly includes the combination of a transducer connected to a handpiece for providing a source of ultrasonic vibrations to a tip. When the tip is connected to the transducer, or to a straight or curved extender interposed between the tip and the transducer, provisions are made in the kit for connecting the components to a predetermined level of tightness. A nosecone assembly is then assembled from a nosecone which is provided with O-ring seals in grooves in the nosecone and slid over the acoustic vibrator until seated. A flue is slid over the tip and hand tightened to the nosecone to provide a passage within the flue and about the length of the tip for irrigation fluid from the nosecone to the tip. A nosecone adapter may be used with an extender flue to provide alternative length and shapes for the convenience of the surgeon and safety for the patient for particular operations. When used, the nosecone adapter is tightened to the nosecone and the extender flue is gently pushed over the tip of the nosecone so that the curve of the extender and flue match without the flue touching the tip. The body of the flue adapter is twisted to centralize the tip within the flue. Thereafter, the acoustic vibrator and the nosecone with the flue attached are inserted into a handpiece housing and seated so that the fluid manifold assembly may be completed.
An irrigation tube with a flexible applicator cable is fed through a slot in the nosecone and through an aspiration port on the exterior of the tip. By gently pulling the cable through the port in the tip, the aspiration tubing attaches to the aspiration port on the tip. The other end of the aspiration tubing is connected about a pump to control aspiration pressures and to a discard region for discarding extracted tissue. Metallic clips are provided to secure the aspiration tubing to the exterior of the handpiece housing. Thereafter, irrigation tubing is connected to the irrigation port on the nosecone for connection at its other end to a source of irrigation fluid, such as an IV bottle. Additional clips are provided to the handpiece cable to secure the manifold.
Thus, the assembled system is able to provide irrigation fluid from an irrigation fluid source through tubing to an irrigation port and through the nosecone into the area intermediate the tip and the flue to irrigate the surgical site adjacent the tip extending from the flue. Aspiration occurs from the operative site through an aspiration passage to the aspiration port and through the aspiration tubing to aspirate surgically-excised particles.
As can be seen from the above simplified description, several fluid connections must be made at the surgical handpiece and elsewhere to provide irrigation to and aspiration from the surgical site. While such prior designs were satisfactory, they utilized plain tubing ends which require skilled and special application techniques for making the connections. In addition, the assembly procedure was further complicated by the number of tips and extended options available to the surgeon. It thus remained a problem in the art to assure easy, rapid and foolproof connection of the irrigation, aspiration and tissue release ports to the correct tubing and location, since such connections are made in an operating room in preparation for surgery or during the surgical procedure itself in certain situations where modification or reconnection is needed.
Thus, it is a main objective of this invention to provide a mating component system for an ultrasonic surgical vibrator which uses quick-connecting devices to facilitate connection of the components and tubing to the irrigation, aspiration and tissue release ports.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved transition piece to permit an easy exchange of flues between a rigid flue and a ribbed flexible flue for easy connection to an assembly of a handle, nosecone, and tip.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide a nosecone extension which provides a rotating joint for assembly to a nosecone and an articulating joint for connection to either a rigid flue secured with or without an O-ring or to a ribbed flexible flue.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a ribbed flexible flue structure for convenient use with an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system of the type described.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a nosecone extension adapter for ready connection to an extender connected to an assembly of a handle, nosecone, and vibrator for receiving therein an extended tip and an extender sheath which is connected to the nosecone extension adapter for connection between the extender sheath and a flue adapter having an articulating joint for receiving either a ribbed flexible flue or a rigid flue as described.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide an aspiration tubulation connector for secure connection to an aspiration tube and quick, secure connection with limited motion to the aspiration port on the tip within a confined space in the interior of the handpiece.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a quick connect fitting for connection between an end of the irrigation tube and the irrigation tube fitting by turning and locking, and easy connection to an irrigation port on a transition member or nosecone extender.
It is a more general object of this invention to provide an ultrasonic surgical aspiration system with conveniently-usable components capable of easy assembly in diverse combinations while minimizing error in the assembly, which components are adapted for easy fluid connection.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the written description of the invention which follows.

Ultrasonic surgical system with aspiration tubulation connector


A hydraulic line is secured to a stiff conduit extending between aircraft frame members.

Commercial aircraft may include hydraulic systems installed inside wing assemblies. The hydraulic systems include hydraulic lines that are typically supported with brackets. The brackets are attached to ribs, spars, and skin panels.
The hydraulic lines are routed around pre-designed structures and obstacles. The lines are lengthened and multiple bends in the lines are made to traverse these obstacles.
The increased length increases pressure losses as fluid travels through the hydraulic lines. The hydraulic lines may be upsized to restore performance.
The brackets and the upsized, lengthened lines add weight to the aircraft. The added weight increases aircraft fuel costs.
The hydraulic lines and brackets are also time consuming to install. This increases aircraft fabrication and maintenance costs.
It would be desirable to reduce these costs.


This invention relates to an improved method of separating non-acid chemicals from a water rich stream produced during a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction.

In the specification that follows the term "NAC" is to be interpreted as meaning non-acid chemicals selected from the group including: acetone and higher ketones, methanol, ethanol, propanol and higher alcohols, i.e. oxygenated hydrocarbons excluding acids.
The term "hydrocarbons" is to be interpreted as hydrocarbons normally not soluble in water, such as, for example, paraffins and olefins.
The water-rich stream produced in a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Synthesis unit contains various oxygenates such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and the like, that are products of the FT synthesis reaction. These compounds are found (in part) in the water stream due to their partial or full solubility in water.
A distillation column is required to remove the non-acid chemicals (NAC's) such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and other non-acid compounds from the water-rich stream, so that the upgraded water can be treated further before it is released into the environment. The NAC-rich stream from the distillation column can be worked up further into products or may find alternative applications.
The fractionation between NAC's and water in the distillation column, which is commonly referred to as the Reaction Water Distillation (RWD) Column, is complicated by the extreme non-ideal behaviour between water and heavier organics present in the water stream, notably the C4 and heavier alcohols. This non-ideality makes these compounds easy to strip from the water-rich liquid phase below the feed tray, which is the purpose of the column. However, above the feed tray, as the water content of the liquid in the column decreases, the heavier alcohols become less volatile and tend to condense again.
The result is a tendency of the heavy alcohols to accumulate in the column, eventually to the point where a second liquid phase forms. This oxygenated hydrocarbon phase contains much more of the heavy alcohols and much less water than does the first phase. If the second liquid phase is left in the column, it provides a low-volatility path for heavy alcohols to migrate downward, until revaporized by rising vapour in the column. This results in circulation of oxygenated hydrocarbons such as, for example, heavy alcohols within the column, poor liquid distribution on the trays and eventual breakthrough of heavy material in the bottoms. Such a breakthrough will cause the bottom product to violate specifications on the bottom product and could cause problems in the downstream water treatment facility due to contamination.
Therefore, the oxygenated hydrocarbon phase formed inside the column is normally removed via a relatively small vapour stream in the bottom section, typically a few trays above the reboiler, of the column. This vapour stream is then condensed and separated into two phases. The water-rich stream is sent back to the column by either mixing it with the feed to the column or by feeding it to the column on its own. The oxygenated hydrocarbon phase is typically mixed with the overhead stream for further processing.
This vapour draw-off is however not sufficient to remove the oxygenated hydrocarbon phase to such an extent that it would not appear in the column any more. The vapour draw is only able to remove enough of the oxygenated hydrocarbon phase to inhibit breakthrough to the bottom product. A large circulation of the organic phase therefore still takes place within the column, making it a relatively inefficient way of separating the chemicals from the water.

Method of purifying a water-rich stream produced during a fischer-tropsch reaction


An air conditioner charging station withdraws refrigerant from an air conditioner, reclaims it by removing certain materials, and returns the reclaimed refrigerant to the same air conditioner from which it was withdrawn, and also provides new, make-up refrigerant to the air conditioner, in the amount necessary to make a full charge. A microprocessor provides a diagnostic capability, and includes tables of acceptable values of parameters, such as air discharge temperature, suction pressure, etc., for different automobile makes and air conditioner types; provision is made for adjusting the acceptable ranges of such values due to one or more ambient factors, of which ambient relative humidity may be one. The microprocessor, after comparing actual values to acceptable value ranges of the air conditioner operating values, displays possible causes of air conditioner malfunction on a video screen. Self-testing of both the microprocessor and associated electrical elements, and of mechanical elements such as conduits, valves and a scale is performed. The operator may command the microprocessor to display, in smaller print, a relatively large volume of detailed instructional material dealing with specific checking procedures or repair. A separator is provided which has a float-operated switch to limit the amount of liquid accumulated in it, and has an inlet spaced from the float, and a support for dessicant located above the maximum liquid level.

The present invention relates to an automatic air conditioner charging station for charging refrigerant and oil into air conditioner systems, such as automobile air conditioner systems.
A number of apparatus have been provided for automatically charging such air conditioners. Among those are Proctor et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,578, now U.S. Pat. Re. 32,451 and Proctor U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,112. The former patent discloses an air conditioner charging station having a weighing scale on which are mounted reservoirs for oil and refrigerant, and an electronic sequencing unit, or microprocessor, which senses the weight loss of the reservoirs as first oil is charged into the air conditioner and then refrigerant is charged into the air conditioner, the amount of each which is charged into the air conditioner being determined by an operator entering into the computer the required amounts of oil and refrigerant for a particular air conditioner. Proctor U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,112 discloses a system of that general type, in which there is provided a conduit connecting the high and low pressure side conduits, called a cross-over conduit, and having a solenoid operated valve in it, together with a solenoid operated dump valve for dumping refrigerant and oil.
Sparano U.S. Pat. No. 3,232,070 conducts withdrawn refrigerant through a compressor and condenser, and then to a drier strainer, from which it is placed into a storage tank.
Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,781 provides a refrigerant recovery system in which the refrigerant gas is cooled in order to remove liquid by causing condensation in a coil, prior to introduction of the refrigerant into a drier.
Koser U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,206 discloses a system which is capable of simultaneously connecting a refrigerant recovery and purification apparatus to the air conditioner systems of two vehicles, and includes a reclaim refrigerant tank mounted on a scale, and a tank for new refrigerant, one air conditioner system being recharged with reconditioned refrigerant while the other air conditioner system is having the refrigerant therein withdrawn for reclaiming.
Lower et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,364,236 and 4,441,330 provide a system in which refrigerant is withdrawn from an air conditioner and passes through a particulate filter, an evaporator, an oil separator, a compressor, a condenser, and to a reservoir, and thence to a purifier, purified refrigerant from the reservoir being charged into an air conditioner being serviced: a microprocessor is used to effect the sequencing of the operations.
Goddard U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,688 discloses a refrigerant recovery and purification system in which refrigerant is withdrawn from an air conditioner and passed through an oil separator and a filter-drier by a compressor and into a receiving tank for the reclaimed refrigerant. The refrigerant is delivered from the reclaim tank, for charging into the air conditioner. A purge valve and a high pressure switch for a condenser are provided to bleed off air when air pressure in the condenser-evaporator becomes excessive. Such excess pressure causes the compressor to be shut down.
Margulefsky et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,446 provides a system for rehabilitating refrigerant including a filtering tank with a disc-shaped filter.
Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,527 provides a refrigerant recovery and purification system which includes a compressor and an oil separator, and accumulators having heat exchange coils in them, the recovered refrigerant being placed in a storage tank: in this system, distillation is utilized to separate oil and other impurities from the refrigerant.
Cain U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,261,178 and 4,363,222 disclose a refrigerant recovery system in which refrigerant is withdrawn and directed to a cylinder on a scale: there is also disclosed a separate system in which a pump produces a vacuum in a tank, which is then connected with an air conditioner in order to remove part of the refrigerant from it.
Staggs et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,817 provides a refrigerant recovery apparatus which includes a compressor and filters, and a storage tank.
Saunders U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,306 provides a charging apparatus for charging a refrigeration system of the type having a capillary tube, and discloses an electrical circuit for controlling the charging, which circuit receives data relating to indoor and outdoor temperature, to suction line temperature and to suction line pressure.
There have been provided disclosures of a number of systems, for diagnosing the operation or servicing of air conditioners.
Motl U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,954 provides a system for testing or diagnosing an air conditioner using solenoid valves actuated by manually operated switches; the temperatures and pressures of the system are measured and readouts are provided by gauges.
Suzuki et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,940 discloses a self-diagnostic apparatus for an automobile air conditioner which utilizes a microprocessor, input signals to which include sensing the position of dampers in air flow ducts. Also, of general interest are Hara U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,409 and Iida U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,389.

Air conditioner charging station with same refrigerant return and method


A surgical fastener that has an urging part and a piercing part. The urging part is formed to urge the piercing part to move between open and closed positions. The piercing part includes a pair of piercing prongs that terminate at tips, which taper into a sharpened condition to pierce through skin tissue under manual force. The piercing prongs each having a different radius of curvature so that the tips overlap each other as the piercing part reaches the closed position and that spread apart from each other as the piercing part reaches the open position. At least one of the urging part and the piercing part including a mechanism that tends to urge the tips of the piercing prongs closer to each other as the piercing part moves to the closed position from the open position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to external skin wound fasteners that are employed for rapid closure of skin wounds by bringing sides of the wound into apposition. Apposition is a layered formation of superficial and deep soft tissues beginning at the skin surface. Hard tissue as cartilage, bone, enamel, dentin, and cementum may lie beneath the apposition and thus can benefit by being stabilized by fasteners securing the tissue above. The fasteners may be clips, clasps or uniters.
2. Description of Related Art
Skin wounds may be closed with surgical fasteners (clips and skin staples), sutures, Ethicon dermabond, or Gecko-inspired surgical tape.
Skin wounds of shallow depths (3.9 mm) are closed by skin staples, but cannot close deep wounds. Deep wounds are closed now with sutures in layers and only the surface is stapled with staples.
Ethicon dermabond is a skin bond glue—liquid that hardens in contact useful only for small tension free cuts (such as for children who are afraid of needles). Gecko-inspired surgical tape is made of a biodegradable elastic polymer and is suitable to patch wounds in organs such as the liver or heart.
Surgical fasteners (including clips and staples) and mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,311 permit the surgeon to rapidly close a wound with a mechanical fastener, which holds the tissue together while the wound heals. These present day surgical fasteners however reach only to shallow depths and cannot appose bulky tissue masses. Both metallic and non-metallic fasteners are in common use. Some of the non-metallic fasteners are formed from bio-absorbable resinous materials such as blends of lactic acid/glycolide copolymer. Plastic materials of this type are widely known and commercially available under the trade names of "POLYSORB" and "LACTOMER" plastic. Typically fasteners made from these materials lose a substantial portion of their tensile strength after a few weeks of exposure to human tissue. After deployment in a mammalian body, the fasteners fragment and the pieces are metabolized by the body and therefore dissolve over time.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,311, the principal advantage of surgical stapling is the speed with which a wound or incision can be closed. However, in certain surgical procedures it is desirable to close the skin wound with sutures lying completely in the dermis layer. This form of subcuticular suturing minimizes the occurrence of visible scarring. However, such subcuticular suturing is very tedious and is very time consuming to perform. Surgical staplers and clips are not available for performing this type of closure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,311 proposed a biodegradable surgical fastener having noninterlockable members. The fastener comprises a first arm and a second arm integrally interconnected to each other. Each arm has a distal prong such that each of the distal prongs are directed toward the other arm. Also proposed is a surgical fastener applicator for applying surgical fasteners having arms each with a prong. This staple-gun like applicator extrudes the biodegradable fastener horizontally to stay parallel to the skin surface in the dermis of the skin, and it is thus not meant to appose in vertically made deep tissue wounds.
Such an applicator comprises a fixed handle, a movable applicator lever mounted for motion with respect to said fixed handle, an applicator nose mounted to the fixed handle for storing a plurality of the fasteners and for positioning a fastener at the distal end of the applicator nose, spreader pins located proximate the applicator nose and contacting the fastener, and means connected to the spreader pins and the applicator lever for translating the movement of the applicator lever to the spreader pins. As the applicator lever is actuated, for example, when it is moved into the fixed handle, the spreader pins first apply pressure on the arms to spread apart the prongs of the fastener and subsequently release the pressure on the arms to allow the prongs to approach each other. The applicator can further have squeezer jaws located proximate the applicator nose and coupled to the movable applicator lever so that motion is translated from the applicator lever to the squeezer jaws when the applicator lever is actuated, for example, when the lever is moved into the handle. The squeezer jaws first open to allow the prongs to be spread apart by the spreader pins and subsequently close to apply pressure on the arms to bring the prongs of said fastener together after the spreader pins release the pressure on the arms to allow the prongs to approach each other.
It is desired to provide a surgical fastener suited for closing, at a rapid rate, deep wounds. It is further desired that such a surgical fastener be quickly removed when desired to do so. It is desired to not only close in the dermis, but for deeper wounds, to close fascia and muscle layers all at once if need be.

Fasteners that bring into apposition sides of wound


A remote control kit system for installation in a full-sized vehicle, the kit for remotely controlling the vehicle, the kit including an engine starter module servo, a steering module, a brake and throttle module, a gear shift module servo and a hand-held remote controller unit. The present invention also includes a method for installing such a system. A hand-held remote controller unit sends signals which are received by the simple mechanical actuators which in turn directs the vehicle to start, to turn, to shift gears, to brake and or to accelerate as required. No permanent modification to the existing vehicle is required.

The present invention is directed generally to a remotely controlled vehicle, and more particularly, to a remote control kit system for operating a factory-made full-sized automotive vehicle, the kit including an engine starter, a steering module, a brake and throttle module, a gear shift module and a hand-held remote controller unit and a method for installing such a system.
Remote controlled vehicles are used in military applications as targets and as means to check roadways for mines and other booby traps.
Remote control actuators for steering wheels have been used. Examples of such steering wheel actuators are described in the following patents:
NameU.S. Pat. No.Witt5,172,589Cordioli5,615,581Storck4,742,720
Robots have been used to control automotive vehicles. Examples of such robot controlled vehicles include the following patents:
NameU.S. Pat. No.Froelich5,835,867Froelich5,865,266Froelich5,991,674Shaffer5,821,718

Remote control kit system for full-sized vehicle


Use of compounds to inhibit hormone-sensitive lipase, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, methods of treatment employing these compounds and compositions, and novel compounds. The present compounds are inhibitors of hormone-sensitive lipase and may be useful in the treatment and/or prevention of medical disorders where a decreased activity of hormone-sensitive lipase is desirable.

The overall energy homeostasis of a mammalian system requires a high degree of regulation to ensure the availability of the appropriate substrate at the appropriate time. Plasma glucose levels rise during the post-prandial state, to return to pre-prandial levels within 2-3 hours. During these 2-3 hours, insulin promotes glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and decreases the release of free fatty acids (FFA) from adipocytes, to ensure that the two substrates do not compete with each other. When plasma glucose levels fall, an elevation in plasma FFA is necessary to switch from glucose to fat utilization by the various tissues.
In individuals with insulin resistance, FFA levels do not fall in response to insulin, as they do in normal individuals, preventing the normal utilization of glucose by skeletal muscle, adipose and liver. Furthermore, there is a negative correlation between insulin sensitivity and plasma FFA levels.
Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is an enzyme, expressed primarily in adipocytes, that catalyses the conversion of triglycerides to glycerol and fatty acids. It is through the regulation of this enzyme that the levels of circulating FFA are modulated. Insulin leads to the inactivation of HSL with a subsequent fall in plasma FFA levels during the post-prandial state, followed by the activation of the enzyme when the insulin concentration falls and catecholamines rise during the post-absorptive period. The activation of HSL leads to an increase in plasma FFA, as they become the main source of energy during fasting.
The activation-inactivation of HSL is primarily mediated through the cAMP-protein kinase A and AMP-dependent kinase pathways. There are compounds like nicotinic acid and its derivatives, that decrease the activation of HSL via these pathways and cause a decrease in lipolysis that leads to a reduction in the FFA levels. These drugs have a beneficial effect in the utilization of glucose and in the normalization of the excess triglyceride synthesis seen in patients with elevated FFA. However, since these pathways are used by other processes in the body, these drugs have severe side effects.
We have found compounds that specifically inhibit the lipolytic activity of HSL and lead to a decrease in plasma FFA levels. These compounds can be used to treat disorders where a decreased level of plasma FFA is desired, such as insulin resistance, syndrome X, dyslipidemia, abnormalities of lipoprotein metabolism.
One object of the present invention is to provide compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that inhibit the lipolytic activity of HSL. A further object is to provide compounds which have good pharmaceutical properties such as solubility, bioavailability etc.
Definitions
The following is a detailed definition of the terms used to describe the compounds of the invention.
"Halogen" designates an atom selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I.
The term "C1-6-alkyl" in the present context designates a saturated, branched or straight hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, tert-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl and the like.
The term "C2-6-alkyl" in the present context designates a saturated, branched or straight hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, tert-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl and the like.
The term "C1-6alkoxy" in the present context designates a group —O—C1-6-alkyl wherein C1-6-alkyl is as defined above. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, n-pentoxy, isopentoxy, neopentdxy, tert-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, isohexoxy and the like.
The term "C3-8-alkoxy" in the present context designates a group —O—C1-6alkyl wherein C3-8-alkyl is a saturated, branched or straight hydrocarbon group having from 3-6 carbon atoms. Representative examples of C3-6-alkoxy include, but are not limited to, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, n-pentoxy, isopentoxy, neopentoxy, tert-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, isohexoxy and the like.
The term "C2-6-alkenyl" as used herein, represent an olefinically unsaturated branched or straight hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one double bond. Examples of such groups include, but are not limited to, vinyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, allyl, iso-propenyl, 1,3-butadienyl, 1-butenyl, hexenyl, pentenyl and the like.
The term "C3-10-cycloalkyl" as used herein represents a saturated mono-, bi-, tri- or spirocarbocyclic group having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms. Representative examples are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, bicyclo[3.2.1]octyl, spiro[4.5]decyl, norpinyl, norbonyl, norcaryl, adamantyl and the like.
The term "C3-8-heterocyclyl" as used herein represents a saturated 3 to 8 membered ring containing one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Representative examples are pyrrolidyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, aziridinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and the like.
The term "aryl" as used herein represents a carbocyclic aromatic ring system being either monocyclic, bicyclic, or polycyclic, such as phenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, pentalenyl, azulenyl, biphenylenyl and the like. Aryl is also intended to include the partially hydrogenated derivatives of the carbocyclic aromatic systems enumerated above. Non-limiting examples of such partially hydrogenated derivatives are 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, 1,4-dihydronaphthyl and the like.
The term "aryloxy" as used herein represents an aryl which is linked via an oxygen atom, e.g. phenoxy, 1-naphthyloxy, 2-naphthyloxy and the like.
The term "heteroaryl" as used herein represents a heterocyclic aromatic ring system containing one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur such as furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, pyranyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 1,2,3-triazinyl, 1,2,4-triazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiadiazinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl (thianaphthenyl), indazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, benzisothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, purinyl, quinazolinyl, quinolizinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, azepinyl, diazepinyl, acridinyl and the like. Heteroaryl is also intended to include the partially hydrogenated derivatives of the heterocyclic systems enumerated above. Non-limiting examples of such partially hydrogenated derivatives are 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinyl, pyrrolinyl, pyrazolinyl, indolinyl, oxazolidinyl, oxazolinyl, oxazepinyl and the like.
The term "perhalomethyl" as used herein designates a methyl moiety substituted with three halogen atoms. Non-limiting examples of perhalomethyl are CF3, CCl3, and CF2Cl.
The term "perhalomethoxy" as used herein designates a perhalomethyl linked via an oxygen atom, e.g. —O—CF3, —O—CCl3, and —O—CF2Cl
The term "ring system" as used herein includes aromatic as well as non-aromatic ring moieties, which may be monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic, and they encompass moieties with zero, one or more hetereatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur. Non-limiting examples of such ring systems are aryl, C3-8-heterocyclyl and heteroaryl.
The term "heterocyclic system" as used herein includes aromatic as well as non-aromatic ring moieties, which may be monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic, and containing in their ring structure one or more heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Non-limiting examples of such heterocyclic systems are C3-8-heterocyclyl and heteroaryl.
Certain of the above defined terms may occur more than once in the structural formulae, and upon such occurrence each term shall be defined independently of the other.
The term "optionally substituted" as used herein means that the groups in question are either unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of the substituents specified. When the groups in question are substituted with more than one substituent the substituents may be the same or different.
The term "optionally covalently bound" as used herein means that the substituents in question are either not covalently bound to each other or the substituents are directly connected to each other by a covalent bond. A non-limiting example of such optionally covalently bound substituents is —NR1R2 wherein R1 is ethyl and R2 is propyl which provided that the substituents, ethyl and propyl, are optionally covalently bound may be ethyl-propyl-amino, 1-piperidyl, 3-methyl-1-pyrrolidyl or 2,3-dimethyl-1-azetidyl.
The term "hydrolysable group" as used herein means a group which can be hydrolysed at certain chemical conditions, i.e. an internal covalent bond in the group can be cleaved to give two compounds. A hydrolysable group does not have to be hydrolysed during carrying out the present invention. For instance, the hydrolysable group —C(═X)-L can be hydrolysed to give the products —C(═X)OH and HL, which means that the covalent bond between —C(X) and L is cleaved. Examples of hydrolysable groups are carbamates, esters and amides.
The terms "disease", "condition" and "disorder" as used herein are used interchangeably to specifiy a state of a patient which is not the normal physiological state of man.
The term "treatment" as used herein means the management and care of a patient having developed a disease, condition or disorder, as well as the management and care of an individual at risk of developing the disease, condition or disorder prior to the clinical onset of said disease, condition or disorder. The purpose of treatment is to combat the disease, condition or disorder, as well as to to combat the development of the disease, condition or disorder. Treatment includes the administration of the active compounds to prevent or delay the onset of the symptoms or complications and to eliminate or control the disease, condition or disorder as well as to alleviate the symptoms or complications associated with the disease, condition or disorder.
The term "effective amount" as used herein means a dosage which is sufficient in order for the treatment of the patient to be effective compared with no treatment.
The term "modulate" as used herein means to influence, i.e. to modulate a parameter means to influence that parameter in a desired way. Examples are to modulate insulin secretion from beta cells and to modulate the plasma level of free fatty acids.
The term "medicament" as used herein means a pharmaceutical composition suitable for administration of the pharmaceutically active compound to a patient.
The term "pharmaceutically acceptable" as used herein means suited for normal pharmaceutical applications, i.e. giving rise to no adverse events in patients etc.

Compounds and uses thereof for decreasing activity of hormone-sensitive lipase


A radio frequency apparatus and a voltage generating device thereof are provided. The voltage generating device includes a first switch and a second switch. A first terminal of the first switch receives a first voltage. A control terminal of the first switch receives a second voltage. A first terminal of the second switch receives the second voltage. A control terminal of the second switch receives the first voltage. A second terminal of the second switch and a second terminal of the first switch are coupled to an output node, wherein the output node outputs an output voltage related to at least one of the first voltage and the second voltage.

Many radio frequency (RF) electronic products (e.g., mobile phones, wireless pagers, wireless infrastructure, satellite communication devices, television equipment, and/or other radio products) are configured with a RF circuit (e.g., RF switch) and other elements. A driving circuit could change a transmission path of the RF switch according to a control signal of the system. How to use the voltage of the control signal to generate a power voltage of the driving circuit is one of the technical issues.
It should be noted that, the content in the paragraph "Description of Related Art" are intended to assist understanding the invention. Part of the content (or all content) disclosed in the paragraph "Description of Related Art" may not be the conventional technology known by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The content disclosed in the paragraph "Description of Related Art" may not mean the content is known by a person of ordinary skill in the art before application of the invention.

Radio frequency apparatus and voltage generating device thereof


A hunting assembly for dragging game or predators such as coyotes or bobcats. A belt or waste strap which carries one, two, or more drag pouches or other containers is secured around the hunter's waist. A drag cord with a loop at the end thereof is retained and carried by each of the containers. The drag cords are extended from the containers for dragging the game or predators to the hunter's vehicle or camp or to any other location.

When hunting game or predators such as coyotes or bobcats, it will often be necessary for the hunter to drag the game or predators a considerable distance to the hunter's vehicle or camp or to some other location.
One device used heretofore for dragging coyotes is referred to as a coyote handle. The coyote handle typically comprises a rope or other dragging cord which is connected at one end to a hand grip which is formed, for example, from a piece of wood or bone. A loop is provided in the other end of the dragging cord for placement around the animal's head, muzzle, and/or front feet.
Another type of coyote dragging device, referred to as a coyote drag, comprises a drag rope or other dragging cord which extends from a shoulder strap. The left or right arm of the hunter is inserted through the shoulder strap for placement of the shoulder strap on the hunter's shoulder.
Yet another type of dragging device, typically used for larger game, comprises a rope or other dragging cord which extends from an upper body harness or vest which is placed around both of the hunter's shoulders.
Unfortunately, each of these prior devices occupies the hunter's hand, arms, and/or shoulders, thus preventing or restricting the use of the hands, arms, and/or shoulders for other purposes such as carrying a rifle and/or other items, wearing a back pack, wearing or placing other items on the hunter's upper body, moving brush or limbs while walking, clearing obstacles from the path, etc.
A need therefore exists for an effective, low cost device for dragging game or predators which will also free the hunter's hands, arms, shoulders, and upper body for other purposes.

Dragging apparatus and assembly for hunters


Personalized information is received at an alarm clock device by configuring the alarm clock device with an identifier for which a user identity profile has previously been established for purposes other than for configuration of the alarm clock device. Upon satisfaction of user-defined alarm criteria, the identifier is submitted. Subsequent to the submission of the identifier, information is received that is personalized to a user identity of the alarm clock device based on the user identity profile.

Throughout the day, for example, in the morning before work or school, many people use an alarm clock or a television to receive news, weather, and traffic. Typically, users tend to suffer through an entire news segment to hear the particular content of interest. General purpose personal computers (PCs) are becoming more commonplace in homes, enabling users to obtain more directed and relevant news without delays. However, general purpose PCs tend to be more costly and bulky than conventional alarm clocks, making them less desirable for distribution throughout the home. Furthermore, the average user must modify their behavior in order to use a general purpose PC as an alarm clock and to obtain news in this fashion.


An aqueous dispersion of polyurethane composites is made by forming a mixture of urethane prepolymer or polymer, ketone functional molecule/oligomers, and hydrazine functional molecule/oligomers; and dispersing the mixture so made in aqueous medium.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,121 disclosed a method for preparing an aqueous polyurethane dispersion, comprising (a) preparing a prepolymer with free NCO groups by reacting an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate with a polyol, and an anionic compound; (b) dispersing said prepolymer in water; (c) reacting said water-dispersed prepolymer with a diamino hydrazide as a chain lengthening agent; and (d) reacting the prepolymer of step (c) in said dispersion with formaldehyde to affect crosslinking.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,662 disclosed an aqueous self crosslinkable coating composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of at least one polyurethane and having hydrazine (or hydrazone) functional groups and carbonyl functional groups disposed therein to provide a self crosslinking reaction, in which the polyurethane polymer takes part, via azomethine formation during and/or after film formation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,136 disclosed an aqueous polymer dispersions essentially containing a copolymer of a) from 85 to 98.5% by weight of methacrylates, b) from 0.5 to 4% by weight of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid, c) from 0.5 to 4% by weight of acrylamide and/or methacrylamide, d) from 0.5 to 4% by weight of an α,β-ethylenically  di-unsaturated or polyunsaturated compound and e) from 0 to 3% by weight of a carbonyl-containing α,β-ethylenically unsaturated compound, a process for their preparation, and their use for coating wood.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,861 and 5,623,016 disclosed an aqueous, auto crosslinking polymer dispersion binder(s) comprising polyhydrazides and carbonyl-containing polyurethane-vinyl hybrid polymers and also, if desired, conventional additives are useful in base coatings, aqueous coatings, adhesives and printing inks.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,861 disclosed a storage stable, aqueous polyurethane-polyacrylate hybrid dispersions, which are self crosslinkable at room temperature and contain A) 10 to 95 wt. %, of a polyurethane dispersion, B) 5 to 90 wt. %, of a polymer prepared in the presence of component A) from a mixture of vinyl monomers containing 0.5 to 20 wt. %, based on the total resin solids content of the hybrid dispersion, of a vinyl monomer containing acetoacetoxy groups and C) an at least difunctional primary or secondary amine, which is present in an equivalent ratio of amino groups to acetoacetoxy groups of 0.5:1 to 1.1:1, in which the wt. % of components A) and B) add up to 100, based on the total weight of components A) and B). The invention also relates to one-component coating compositions containing these hybrid dispersions as binders and to substrates coated with these coating compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,576,702 disclosed waterborne polyurethane dispersions are prepared by reacting (1) at least one polyisocyanate; (2) at least one active hydrogen containing compound, such as a polyol or a polyamide; and (3) preferably also at least one water-dispersibility enhancing compound having water-dispersion enhancing groups, in order to form an isocyanate terminated prepolymer. The prepolymer subsequently is (1) optionally neutralized by reaction with at least one neutralizing agent, (2) dispersed in water, and then (3) chain extended by reaction with at least one of water, inorganic or organic polyamine having an average of about 2 or more primary and/or secondary amine groups, or combinations thereof. At least one plasticizer is introduced into the reaction mixture at any time during prepolymer formation or before the prepolymer is dispersed in water. The plasticizer substantially or completely replaces other organic diluents or solvents. Various types of plasticizers may be employed, including reactive plasticizers.

Aqueous dispersions of polyurethane compositions


A load adjustment device with which the power of an internal combustion engine can be controlled has a driver (4) which is coupled with an accelerator pedal (1). The driver cooperates via a control element with a setting member (throttle 9) which determines the power of the internal combustion engine. The control element has a first control-element part (8a) and second control-element part (8b) which can be decoupled from each other in order to be able to control the setting member (9) independently of the driver (4) via an electric setting drive (14). Within the second control-element part (8b) there is present, in accordance with the invention, a step-up transmission (torque converter 30a) for movement on the setting drive side, the torque converter being developed as a spiral. An emergency operation spring (20) urges the second control-element part (8b) in direction of maximum idle position into an idle emergency position, and transfers the setting member (9) into an emergency operating position, upon a failure of the electric setting drive or of a device (17) electronically controlling the load adjustment device. An auxiliary spring (31) is pretensioned in the direction of minimum idle position to overcome a deactivated electric setting drive.

The present invention relates to a load adjustment device having a control element which acts on a setting member which determines the output of an internal combustion engine, the control element cooperating with a driver which is coupled to an accelerator pedal and, in addition, being controllable by an electric setting drive which cooperates with an electronic control device.
Load adjustment devices, for instance load adjustment devices which cooperate with carburetors or injection pumps, must satisfy the requirement of optimal regulation of the internal combustion engine over the entire range of loads. For this purpose, a complicated construction or control of the corresponding load adjustment device is required. Thus carburetors, for instance, in addition to the actual means for the formation of the mixture, have additional devices such as leaning, starting, idling, accelerating and economizing devices, etc. These means complicate the construction of the carburetor and result in a high expense for structural parts, in particular, for instance, additional injection nozzles, pumps, special developments of the nozzle needles, separate air feeds are necessary, entirely aside from the high control requirements connected therewith.
It is particularly important in load adjustment devices to control the state of load upon idling, at which only minimum power is given off by the internal combustion engines. But, as compared with certain circumstances, particularly in motor vehicles, there may be load-consuming devices which require extensive power, such as fans, rear-window heating, air conditioning, etc. In order to take these possible power requirements into account, control of the load adjustment device between a maximum idle position and a minimum idle position is necessary. Upon failure of the control, an emergency idle position of the setting member or control member is to be assured.
In contradistinction to the problem described above, load adjustment devices of the type indicated are used, as a general rule, in cases where the accelerator pedal and the setting member are electronically connected to each other. The accelerator pedal is coupled with the driver and the latter is coupled with the control element. Furthermore, a desired-value detection element which is associated with the driver and an actual-value detection element which cooperates with the desired-value detection element and acts on the electric setting drive are provided. The electric setting drive is adapted to be controlled by the electronic control means as a function of the values detected. The electrical connection of accelerator pedal and setting member with the electronic control means interposed between them makes it possible to set desired-value positions predetermined by the accelerator pedal and the driver connected with it with reference to the actual values indicated by the position of the control element and of the setting member. The values are checked for the existence or absence of plausibility conditions, so that if certain plausibility conditions are present or absent, the possibility exists of acting, via the electronic means by control of the electric setting drive, on the setting member, which may be developed, for instance, as throttle valve or injection pump, in order to correct it. Thus, for instance, action by the electronic control means may be provided in order to avoid wheel slippage upon starting as a result of the giving of excessive power through the gas pedal. Other automatic interventions in the load adjustment device are, for instance, conceivable in connection with automatic shifting processes of a transmission, a speed-limiting control, or the above-mentioned idling control of the internal combustion engine.


A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: preparing a substrate including a display unit and peripheral parts; forming a cutting line on an encapsulation sheet to correspond to a boundary line between the display unit and the peripheral parts, wherein a size of the encapsulation sheet corresponds to that of the substrate; adhering the substrate and the encapsulation sheet together; removing the peripheral parts of the substrate; and cutting the encapsulation sheet along the cutting line. According to the method, a step height is not generated between the substrate and the encapsulation sheet when cutting the substrate and thus cracks may be avoided. Accordingly, products may be stably produced.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments according to the present invention relate to a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus and an encapsulation sheet used in the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in organic light-emitting display apparatuses, a display unit, which displays an image, is formed on a substrate, and an encapsulation sheet covers and protects the display unit.
In this structure, the display unit is formed on the substrate. Then, a bonding process, in which the substrate is bonded to the encapsulation sheet so as to seal the display unit, and a cutting process, in which a residue (e.g., a portion not bonded to the encapsulation sheet) at the periphery or circumference of the substrate is cut according to a product standard after the bonding, are performed.
However, when sizes of the substrate and the encapsulation sheet are different from each other and thus resulting in a step height, a crack may be generated in the substrate during the cutting process. That is, in general, in cutting a substrate, an encapsulation sheet functions as a support that opposes a force exerted during the cutting from the opposite side. However, the periphery of the substrate protrudes from the circumference of the encapsulation sheet when the size of the encapsulation sheet is smaller than that of the substrate, and thus, the periphery of the substrate is not supported by the encapsulation sheet. Accordingly, stress is concentrated on the step height during the cutting, and thus a crack may be easily generated in the substrate. Consequently, products may not be stably produced and there is a need for a solution to this problem.

Method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display apparatus and encapsulation sheet used in the method


A communication system for processing information for distribution, including: a central data station, a plurality of user stations, each of the user stations including a plurality of components forming a secure path for the proper distribution of the information, a communication link interconnecting the user stations with the central data stations, the central data station including means for periodically interrogating a user station for determining the operational status of each of the components, means located within the central data station for indicating an error condition in any one of the components, and means at the central data station for transmitting a condition signal from the central data station to the user station for indicating the error condition.

This invention relates to mail processing, and specifically to improvements in mail processing systems, which will relieve central postage facilities of certain mail handling tasks.
The U.S. currently has the world's largest postal system. The U.S. Post Offices currently handle in excess of 100 billion pieces of mail per year, about half the total volume handled throughout the world. The servicing of mail delivery involves three essential steps; collection, sorting and delivery. Collection takes place through a series of post offices spread throughout the U.S. The U.S. has about 30,000 post offices that provide mail services in addition to 9,000 smaller postal centers which provide some kind of some type of mail service. Postal employees typically take letters and packages from mail box facilities to the nearest local office where it is accumulated for the sorting procedure. At the post office, postal clerks remove collected mail from sacks, bundle packages and segregate mail by size and class into separate categories. The mail travels by truck from local post offices to a central facility known as a sectional center. The U.S. has 264 sectional centers, some of which serve hundreds of local post offices. The sectional center processes nearly all the mail coming or going from its region. At the sectional center, high speed automated equipment sorts large volumes of mail. The postal service currently uses two sorting systems. One system is devoted to letters and other first class mail, and the other system, for bulk mailing is used to sort packages, magazines advertising, circulars and other large mails. The letter sorter process involves manually moving mail sacks onto moving conveyor belts, which carry the mail to a machine called an edger-feeder which sorts it according to envelope size. The postal service regulates the size of envelopes to make such mechanical sorting easier. The edger-feeder feeds the letters into another machine known as a facer-cancellor. Sensing devices of the facer-cancellor determine where the stamp is located on the envelope, and enable the machine to arrange the letters so that they all face in the same direction. The cancelling portion of the mechanism then cancels the stamp by printing black lines and the like over it so that it cannot be used again. The machine also prints a postmark on the envelope, including the date, the name of the sectional center, an abbreviation for the state and a three, four or five-number zip code. In addition, the postmark records the time period during which the letter wa received at the post office. A computerized machine known as a zip mail translator sorts the postmarked letters according to the their destination post office. Postal workers selectively activate the machine's keyboard to send each letter on a conveyor belt into one of hundreds of bins. Each bin holds mail for a different post office. Mail addressed to locations outside the regions served by the sectional center are transported by truck, airplane or train to other sectional centers for further sorting. Finally, postal clerks hand sort mail for the area served by the sectional center into bundles for each delivery route. The zip mail translators in some postal areas have been replaced by more advanced computerized machines called optical character readers which read the zip code on the letter, and pass the mail to another machine that places a series of marks known as bar codes onto the envelope. Additional mechanisms read the bar code and sort mail according to the regions indicated by said bar code. Mail addressed to locations within the regions served by the section center is sorted again by other bar code readers according to destination post office and then according to delivery route. An expanded nine-number zip code, chiefly for use by high-volume mailers, enables the post office to substantially reduce some of this essential time consuming and extensive sorting services. The same processes apply to sorting bulk mail. Current estimates indicate that the foregoing processing tasks necessarily involve in excess of half a million employees. Cost of maintaining and supporting sorting services at the central post office facilities, even including large scale use of automated equipment, has become staggering. Projections of substantial increases in volumes of mail being transporting through central facilities, even with the advent of private delivery, telecommunications services, facsimile services and the like indicate that a rapid expansion will be required of such facilities. Since the postal service is a private corporation and is expected to become self-supporting, rapidly advancing postal rates place greater and greater burdens on both users and the postal service in order to support such volumes of mail. In recognition of capabilities of certain high volume users to provide services to central postal facilities, which services may improve efficiency and reduce the amount of processing time required by the central serving facilities, the U.S. Postal Service offers substantial reductions in rates, provided that a user comply with certain requirements which will allow the U.S. Postal Service to take advantage of certain user-provided facilities to reduce its own work load. The concept of work sharing, wherein a user provides certain of the processing activities prior to delivering the mail to the central postal facilities has been proposed and is therefore a positive innovation in the field of mail processing which may have a substantial impact in the future implemention of mail services.
However, placing a burden on the user to provide certain of the facilities and services which the U.S. central post office facilities now provide is an equally heavy burden for the user, and must be done in a manner which permits the user to realize substantial savings with its own increased work load by taking advantage of the reduced postal service rates while not exceeding the reduction in rates by the serving costs of providing such services on its own.
The Postal Service has already recognized the ability of users to preprocess certain kinds of mail and will accept mail in bulk delivered from a processor along with certification that its procedures have been complied with, and will accept such certification as prima facia justification for reduction in postal service rates. Thus, for example, manifest systems, wherein a manifest is provided to the central post office representative of a group of documents preprocessed by the user, are already known and do allow the user to realize a substantial reduction in rate. One form of such a system is described in a commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,701, filed Sept. 5, 1986 However, a large number of additional services, aside from manifesting services, may also be provided by the user and accepted as such by the central processing facility of the postal service in exchange for rate reductions. These additional services, however, require interface communications between the central service and the user so as to maintain within the user's facility information regarding internal postal procedures, such as rates, volume, quantity discounts and the like in order for the central post office facility to accept as valid a certification by the user that certain procedures mandated by the Postal Service have been complied with. The automation of such processing, through the use of telephone or other data communication links, is essential to the successful operation of such a system. The use of communication interfaces are known. However, the problems with maintaining integrity of such a system, allowing for maintenance, or the ability to locate mailpieces within a system, or the ability to train new users remains a serious limitation.
It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a system and apparatus within a user facility which will both operate and maintain, in current fashion, certain preprocessing facilities which can be certified and accepted as properly performed via such certification by the central processing facilities of the U.S. Postal Service in order to qualify for substantial reductions in rate.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a self-contained apparatus which will operate substantially without the intervention of human operators, to automate the internal processing facility at a user location while maintaining sufficiently proper standards with regard to U.S. Postal Service requirements so as to provide certification in a manner acceptable to postal authorities.
It is another object of the present invention to implement a user operated certification system with sufficient security consideration to satisfy the U.S. Postal Service of the integrity of a user operated service sharing facility.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and apparatus within a user facility which will both operate and maintain, in current fashion, certain preprocessing facilities which can be certified and accepted as properly performed via such certification by the central processing facilities of the U.S. Postal Service in order to qualify for substantial reductions in rate by the use of bidirectional communication links, and in so doing to utilize the communication link to augment and update data base facilities at the user and base stations so that facilitation of user limited facilities may be expanded beyond the user capacity by interaction with the larger central station.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and apparatus within a user facility which will utilize the communication facilities of the system employed herein to implement inspection services, diagnostic analysis and repair procedures.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and apparatus within a user facility which will utilize an article certification as a code line through a communication link to track an individual piece of mail.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and apparatus within a user facility which will enable a central facility to permit the transmission of graphic material for the purpose of inclusion within a postage metering application.

Central postage data communication network


A sample compressor applies pressure to a sample collector and a sample application zone of a test strip to transfer a sample from the sample collector and a binding partner of an analyte to the sample application zone in a lateral flow device. At least one of the binding partners of the analyte is not located on the test strip prior to use of the lateral flow device. The test strip may be a universal test strip with no molecule that specifically binds the analyte is located on the test strip. The sample compressor may be a universal sample compressor also with no molecule that specifically binds the analyte on the sample compressor. The lateral flow device may also include one or more enhancement elements, where the enhancement elements bind to the analyte sandwich to increase a detection signal in the test zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of point of care tests. More particularly, the invention pertains to lateral flow assays.
2. Description of Related Art
Lateral flow assays are a subset of assays combining various reagents and process steps in one assay strip, thus providing a sensitive and rapid means for the detection of target molecules. Antibody-based lateral flow immunoassays are available for a wide range of target analytes and can be designed for sandwich or competitive test principles. Generally, high molecular weight analytes with several epitopes are analyzed in a sandwich format whereas small molecules representing only one epitope are detected by means of a competitive assay. The first tests were made for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Today there are commercially available tests for monitoring ovulation, detecting infectious disease organisms, analyzing drugs of abuse, and measuring other analytes important to human physiology. Products have also been introduced for veterinary testing, environmental testing, and product monitoring.
In the prior art, the mobile labeled receptor (also known as the tracer or the test conjugate herein) in these assays is either dried on the test strip, contained in an external eluting solution (such that it can be pre-mixed with the sample prior to application on the test strip), or part of the elution media.
European patent publication EP0582231, published Feb. 9, 1994, entitled "SOLID PHASE ASSAY", discloses an assay with a porous solid support with a first portion that contacts a sample that may include an analyte of interest. The sample flows through the solid support, and the analyte, if present, combines with a tracer, which is reversibly bound on the solid support. The sample and the tracer initially travel in a direction perpendicular to the first portion (e.g. vertically) via capillary flow. The tracer and analyte then continue to travel by capillary flow through the material to a second portion that includes an immobilized binder, which binds to the analyte in a sandwich immunoassay format. Travel to the second portion occurs in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tracer and sample initially travel (e.g. laterally). All travel of the sample and tracer occur due to capillary flow through the device. Although travel occurs vertically and laterally, there is a single flow path. The sample, the tracer, and the immobilized binder are all in the same flow path.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0224701, published Sep. 27, 2007, entitled "COMBINATION VERTICAL AND LATERAL FLOW IMMUNOASSAY DEVICE", discloses immunoassay devices, kits, and methods for determining the presence or absence of an analyte in a liquid sample using a combination of vertical flow and lateral flow. The device includes a tracer pad with a labeled receptor that is vertically juxtaposed with a binder support medium. The device disclosed in this publication is multi-sectioned, but, similar to EP0582231, only has a single flow path. The sample, the labeled receptor, and the binder support medium are all in the same flow path.

Multiplanar lateral flow assay with sample compressor


Autonomous and lightweight vehicle intended to transport a city dweller combined with the use of public transportation. Formed by one motorized wheel on which the user maintains, through speed, his or her lateral balance, and longitudinal balance is ensured by automatic functioning driven by an accelerometer. The footrests and the guide supports that tightly hold the leg are retractable. Driving does not require the use of the hands. The entire device goes into a bag, e.g. a backpack, and weighs less than 4 kg.

The user of public transportation must deal with a variety of constraints: his or her hands are full with objects to be transported, briefcase, school bags, errand items, etc. Public transportation is cramped and overcrowded; the sidewalk is busy; the stairs are narrow and steep; the public thoroughfare is governed by strict rules. After arriving at his or her destination, he or she must deal with social constraints whether at work or at school, and it can be difficult to change shoes and clothes. In addition, he or she must be able to use the aid in his or her usual attire.
It is also impossible to travel on the subway or train every day with a bicycle. It is difficult to go down stairs in roller skates; electric skateboarding are prohibited on public thoroughfares, such as a scooter; and even a vehicle such as the Segway®, designed for short-range city trips, turns out to be cumbersome on the sidewalk and not transportable on the subway and bus.
The state of the art comprises the Segway®, a platform aid comprising two wheels, rechargeable batteries, a central inertial stabilization device, and a handlebar that is integrated with the platform. This platform is not sufficiently compact to move along without difficulty on the sidewalk. It is too slow to move along on the road and, finally, its weight, in the order of 30 kg, prevents it from access to public transportation.
Patent DE 100 27 466 describes a unicycle onto which the pedestrian climbs on two pedals, rests his or her hands on a shaft that transmits the longitudinal inclination to the frame of the unicycle. An electronic device reads the longitudinal inclination of the unicycle by means of an electronic inclinometer and monitors the position of the wheel to maintain the balance of the user's center of gravity in order to prevent him or her from falling in accordance with an inverse tilt effect. The device moves forward as soon as the user inclines the shaft forward. The wheel exhibits a square shape so that the user is stable laterally. Because of this, path is guided within the longitudinal axis. The means for turning is not described, it is understood that it is necessary to briefly stand on the ground in order to convey lateral torque. Of course, turning the shaft cannot ensure rotation because the pedals and the shaft are integrated via the fork.
Patent DE 100 27 466 thus does not meet the criteria of the invention to the extent that it requires the user to hold the shaft with at least one hand, and what is more it does not permit agile and harmonious steering to the extent that only longitudinal travel is provided for. Finally, the electronic device controlling the motor is served by an inclinometer, which is a different solution than that adopted by the invention.

Motorized transport vehicle for a pedestrian


An air horn and method of using such a horn is rechargeable by a conventional air pump for use when the air, acting as a propellant, is depleted from its container connected to the horn. The device may be connected to a bicycle or may be used, for example, on a boat. The device is sounded by depressing an activator or an actuator which releases air into a membrane of the horn to vibrate a diaphragm. When air is depleted from the container, an adapter having an inlet valve connected thereto permits connection of a conventional pump or a built-in pump for refilling.

The present invention generally relates to an aerosol type device for sounding a horn to be used on a boat, attached to a bicycle, hand-operated personal use, or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a device in which a container is filled with compressed air which may be released by a user to sound the horn.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a horn which may be repetitively filled with compressed air by pumping air using a conventional tire pump, built-in pump or the like, into the container.
Horns are known in the prior art connected to a container generally containing chemical gases which act as a propellant. Such horns are generally shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,785,335 and 4,970,983.
Chemical gases which are used as a propellant in a horn, however, require cooling in order to change the gases to a liquid state. A safety hazard results when sounding the horn since the gases often flow out in a liquid state. As a result, a user may potentially suffer from frost bite when the liquid contacts his body. This may be especially prevalent when the container is not held in a vertical, upright position.
In addition, chemically propelled horns when sounded repetitively over a short time span may stop working as a result of cold gases freezing a membrane of the horn. Narrow air passages may cause pressure of the gases flowing through the entire unit to decrease as well. Therefore, the reliability of the horn for repetitive use over a short time span is hampered.
Another drawback of chemically propelled horns is they may only operate in temperatures above 33.degree. F. Finally, known chemically propelled horns typically use chlorofluoro-carbon (CFC) as a propellant which when dispensed from the horn are destructive to the ozone layer. Other "friendlier" gases to the environment are also known for use in chemically propelled horns but are typically highly flammable and, therefore, extremely dangerous.
In addition, these known horns are not capable of being refilled for reuse. Instead, when the gases are depleted from the container, the container must be thrown away and replaced or often the entire horn assembly may require replacement.

Rechargeable air horn and method of using the same


The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides comprising functional steroid hormone and juvenile hormone receptors, in particular isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode polypeptides comprising the Lucilia cuprina and Myzus persicae ecdysone receptors and juvenile hormone receptors. The present invention further provides functional recombinant steroid and juvenile hormone receptors and recombinant polypeptide subunits thereof and derivatives and analogues thereof. The present invention further provides screening systems and methods of identifying insecticidally-active agents which are capable of agonising or antagonising insect receptor function, or alternatively or in addition, which modify the affinity of said receptors for their cellular stimuli (eg. insect steroids or juvenile hormones) or analogues thereof, or alternatively or in addition, which act as insecticides by virtue of their ability to agonise or antagonise the activity of insect hormones.

International Patent Application No WO91/13167 (applicant, The Board of Trustees of Leyland Stanford University, and hereinafter referred to as WO91/13167) describes the identification, characterization, expression and uses of insect steroid receptors and DNA sequences encoding same and, in particular, the identification, characterization, expression and uses of the steroid receptor of the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster.
It has been found by the present inventors that the limited homology between the D. melanogaster steroid receptor-encoding gene sequences and the steroid receptor-encoding sequences derived from other insects, in particular those derived from diptera such as the Australian sheep blowfly L. cuprina, hemiptera such as aphids, scale insects and leaf hoppers, coleoptera, neuroptera, lepidoptera, and ants, as well as from helminths and protozoa, prevents the routine isolation of DNA sequences encoding steroid receptors and/or juvenile hormone receptors from these latter-mentioned organisms.
Moreover, the present inventors have discovered that the D. melanogaster steroid receptor described in WO91/13167 is temperature-sensitive, showing reduced activity at temperatures above 30° C., such as at temperatures about 37° C., particularly at low concentrations of the receptor. Accordingly, the D. melanogaster steroid receptor described in WO91/13167 is of limited utility at physiological temperatures applicable to animal or bacterial cells. Moreover, wherein it is desirable to produce a biologically-active steroid receptor using in vivo or in situ expression systems, which expression systems routinely utilise cells or tissues in the temperature range of about 28° C. to about 42° C., the D. melanogaster steroid receptor is also of limited utility.
In work leading up to the present invention, the present inventors developed a novel screening protocol, involving the utilisation of highly-degenerate oligonucleotide probes and primers derived from the amino acid sequences of the DNA-binding domains of the D. melanogaster and Chironomus tentans ecdysone receptor polypeptides, to identify nucleotide sequences encoding novel steroid receptor polypeptides and novel insect juvenile hormone receptor polypeptides. The present inventors have further identified specific regions within these novel polypeptides which are suitable for use in preparing a surprising range of novel steroid receptor polypeptide derivatives and insect juvenile hormone receptor polypeptide derivatives. The novel steroid receptor polypeptides and novel insect juvenile hormone receptor polypeptides of the present invention, and derivative polypeptides thereof, and assembled steroid receptors and insect juvenile hormone receptors derived from said polypeptides and derivatives, and nucleic acid molecules encoding same as exemplified herein, provide the means for developing a wide range of insecticidally-active agents, as well as methods for the regulated production of bioactive molecules. In particular, the present invention provides the means for developing specific ligands which bind to and either agonise or antagonise the steroid receptors and/or juvenile hormone receptors and/or polypeptide subunits thereof as described herein, thereby functioning as highly-specific insecticides, offering significant commercial and environmental benefits.
The present inventors have been surprisingly successful in characterizing the ecdysone receptor and juvenile hormone receptor derived from insects of the orders Diptera and Hemiptera, and polypeptide components thereof and functional derivatives of said polypeptides and receptors, particularly in light of the extreme difficulties in dealing with these organisms. The nature of these molecules was unknown prior to the present invention.
The various aspects of this invention overcome the problems associated with Drosophila ecdysone receptors which lack thermal stability. Moreover, those aspects of the invention pertaining to methods of screening for insecticidally active agents do not involve competition assays which are generally complex, and often inaccurate or difficult to calibrate.

Genetic sequences encoding steroid and juvenile hormone receptor polypeptides and insecticidal modalities therefor

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


A brake-by-wire control system for aircraft brakes is presented. The system includes a hardware based discrete component control path and a software control path, the two operating in parallel. Each of the paths monitors the same input, with the hardware path being configured to enable the shutoff valve driver and the software path being configured to inhibit the shutoff valve driver, depending upon the status of the inputs. As a consequence, a failure in a single path in the braking system cannot enable the brake system so as to allow for inadvertent braking.

In aircraft braking systems it has always been desirable that inadvertent braking be prevented. In the mechanical braking systems of the past, the likelihood of inadvertent braking has been minimal, since brake metering valves simply do not fail in a "pressure applied" or braking mode. However, the advent of electrical or "brake-by-wire" systems has given rise to concerns that a hardware or software failure could result in undesired brake application. A primary concern in such systems is that a software fault might inadvertently apply brakes. In such brake-by-wire systems, the prior art has taught the use of dual software and dissimilar hardware approaches to achieving this redundancy. However, such approaches increase the cost of the braking systems and necessarily decrease their reliability Since the redundancy necessarily requires the implementation of more hardware and/or software, the maintenance problems are aggravated. It is also known to employ a single software system with a hardware monitor to set the hydraulic pressure at the brake and provide appropriate responsive action with respect thereto, but such systems suffer the same shortcomings, and which enables the brake valves with hardware.
There is a need in the art for a simple fail safe brake-by-wire system for aircraft that does not aggravate the reliability factor by significantly increasing the amount of hardware and software employed.

Fail safe electrical brake control system for aircraft


The present invention provides a series compensator and a control method. The series compensator includes a series transformer, a series transformer bypass device, a voltage source converter, a high-speed converter bypass device, a high-speed switch, and a reactor. The reactor and the high-speed switch are connected in parallel to form a current limiting module; one winding of the series transformer has two ends connected in series to a line, and the other winding thereof is sequentially connected to the current limiting module and the high-speed converter bypass device; the voltage source converter and the high-speed converter bypass device are connected in parallel; and at least one winding of the series transformer are connected in parallel to at least one series transformer bypass device. The series compensator of the present invention indirectly provides the current limiting module, so as to effectively limit the short-circuit current of a system, reduce the fault current to which the compensator is subjected, and improve the reliability of an alternating current system and the series compensator. Moreover, the current limiting module has a low voltage level, and the high-speed switch has a small breaking current, thereby providing good industrial applicability.

With the expansion of the capacity and scale of power systems, the level of the short-circuit fault current in the power systems has also continued to increase, and short-circuit faults have become increasingly destructive to the power systems and electrical devices connected thereto. On the other hand, with the interconnection of large-scale power systems and the use of various new devices, the scale and complexity of the power systems are increased while power generation and transmission become more economical and efficient. The continuous increase in user loads requires power flow control methods to improve existing power transmission capabilities. Complex power exchange between the booming smart grid and the electricity market requires frequent power flow control, and the requirements of the power systems for power flow control and short-circuit current limitation are increasing.
At present, in the scheme of limiting the short-circuit current of the systems, a fault current limiter is adopted to quickly change impedance parameters of a faulty line, limit the short-circuit current to a low level, so that the existing breakers cut off short-circuit faults without exceeding the interrupting capacity thereof. However, the disclosed fault current limiters include resonant fault current limiters, solid-state fault current limiters, and superconducting fault current limiters, etc., which are all directly installed on high-voltage lines. The fault current to which the current limiting device is subjected is relatively large, and the corresponding breaking switch or device of the current limiting device has a large current during breaking, thus affecting the reliability of the device. In the prior art, the use of a series compensator can optimize and regulate system power flow. However, the series compensator cannot control the current in the case of a system fault, and a serious fault would affect the safety of the series compensator device. Therefore, there is a need for a compensator that can optimize the system power flow and limit the short-circuit current of the systems more safely and reliably.


A simple exemplary embodiment can leverage the ability of the touchscreen or touchpad device to distinguish between a fingernail and a palm-side fingertip press as binary distinctions. This can be done via long nails or alternatively, by rotating a hand to invert the finger. The binary distinction can be used to perform different functions. For example, a fingertip press could be the functional equivalent of a left-click on a mouse, and a fingernail press could be the equivalent of a right-click. Another example using a simply binary distinction could be that a fingertip press while typing will result in lower case, and fingernail press while typing will result in upper case. Another example, using a binary distinction, would interpret a light touch for right-clicks or upper case characters and a heavy touch for left-clicks or lower case characters.

A touchpad, which is also known as a track pad, is an input device that includes a special surface that is capable of translating the motion and position of a user's finger to a relative position on, for example, a screen. Touchpads are becoming even more abundant on laptop computers, and also can be used as a substitute for a computer mouse when, for example, there is limited space. Touchpads vary in size but are rarely made larger than 40 square cm with their size generally being proportional to the device which with they are associated. They can also be found on personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable media players, laptops, netbooks, and the like.
In general, touchpads operate either based on capacitive sensing and/or conductance sensing. The most common technology used entails sensing the capacitance of a finger, or the capacitance between sensors. Because of the property being sensed, capacitance-based touchpads will not sense the tip of a pencil or other similar implement. Gloved fingers will generally also be problematic, and may cause problems when a user is trying to operate the device.
Touchpads, similar to touchscreens, by their design, are able to sense absolute positions, with precision being limited by their size. For common use as a pointing device, the dragging motion of a finger is translated into a finer, relative motion of the cursor on the screen, and analogous to the handling of a mouse that is lifted and put back on a surface. Buttons comparable to those present on a mouse are typically below, above, or beside the touchpad with a button serving in a similar manner to that as the buttons on a mouse. Depending on the model of the touchpad and drivers behind it, you may also be able to click by tapping your finger on the touchpad and a drag with tap followed by a continuous pointing motion (a click and a half). Touchpad drivers can also allow the use of multiple fingers to facilitate functionality corresponding to the other mouse buttons, commonly a two-finger tapping is correlatable to the center button of a mouse.
Some touchpads also have "hot spots" which are locations on the touchpad that indicate user intentions other than pointing. For example, on certain touchpads, moving the finger along an edge of the touchpad will act as a scroll wheel, controlling the scroll bar and scrolling the window that has the focus vertically or horizontally depending on which edge is stroked. Some companies use two-finger dragging gestures for scrolling on their track pads, with these typically being driver dependent functions that can be enabled or disabled by a user. Some touchpads also include tap zones which are regions whereby a tap will execute a predetermined function. For example, the function could be pausing of the media player or launching of an application.
There are two principal technologies that are used in touchpads. In a matrix approach, a series of conductors are arranged in an array of parallel lines into layers, separated by an insulator and crossing each other at right angles to form a grid. A high frequency signal is applied sequentially between pairs in this two-dimensional grid array. The current that passes between the nodes is proportional to the capacitance. When a virtual ground, such as a finger, is placed over one of the intersections between the conductive layer, some of the electric field is shunted to this virtual ground point, resulting in a change in the apparent capacitance at this location.
In the capacitive shunt method, the pad senses the changing capacitance between a transmitter and a receiver that are on opposite sides of the sensor. The transmitter creates an electric field which osculates typically between 200 and 300 khz. If a ground point, such as finger, is placed between the transmitter and receiver, some of the field lines are shunted away, thereby decreasing the apparent capacitance. These changes in capacitance are then used as input from the device.
There are also touchpads that have advanced functionality, such as letting users scroll in an arbitrary direction by touching the pad with two fingers instead of one, and then moving their fingers across the pad in the direction they wish to scroll. Other enhanced functionality includes the ability to allow users to do various combinations of gestures, such as swiping four fingers up or down to activate a particular application.
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touch or contact to the display of the device by a finger, fingers, or a hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a pen. In general, any screen that allows a user to interact physically with what is shown on the display, via direct manipulation, is typically categorized as a touchscreen.
Touchscreens typically have two main attributes. The first is that the touchscreen enables one to interact with what is displayed directly on the screen, where it is displayed, rather than indirectly with a mouse or a touchpad. Secondly, a touchscreen allows a user to interact with the display without requiring any intermediate device, again, such as a stylus, mouse, or the like, that would usually be held in the hand. These devices are often seen in tablet PCs, and are also prominent in many digital appliances such as PDAs, satellite navigation devices, mobile phones, mobile entertainment devices, video games, and the like.
There are a number of technologies that support various touchscreens, such as resistive technologies, surface acoustic wave technologies, capacitive technologies, surface capacitance technologies, projected capacitance technologies, strain gauge technologies, optical imaging technologies, dispersive signal technologies, acoustic pulse recognition technologies, and coded LCD (bi-directional screen) technologies.

Multi-mode touchscreen user interface for a multi-state touchscreen device


Described are methods and mechanisms for managing data within a calendaring framework. The method includes receiving task data, which is distributed into one or more tasks associated with a category, and receiving time slot data, which defines one or more time slots within the calendaring framework and associates each category with at least one time slot. The method additionally includes determining a location for each task within the one or more time slots that are associated with the same category based on a task prioritization value, and determining a location for each action item within the one or more time slots that are associated with the same category based on the task location determination, an action item prioritization value, and an estimated completion time. The method further includes populating the time slots within the calendaring framework with the action items based on the action item location determination.

The invention relates generally to the field of data management, and more particularly to data management within a calendaring framework.
Computing devices allow users to increase efficiency by using any of the conventional software products available in today's market, for example word processing software, spreadsheet software, email management software, productivity software, and the like. For example, conventional productivity programs allow a user to keep a calendar of meetings and task lists. Some advanced productivity programs allow the automated scheduling of meetings by including data in e-mail messages that can automatically create an entry on the user's calendar. Existing productivity programs sometimes allow a user to attempt to automatically schedule a meeting with other individuals if the program has network access to the calendars of those other individuals.
However, existing productivity programs largely ignore the need for a user to allocate time to perform tasks that may need performing. Indeed, with most existing productivity programs, a user's task list action items cannot even be viewed on the calendar at all even if due dates and other date information is provided. An adequate system for prioritizing and scheduling tasks has eluded those skilled in the art, until now.

System and method for managing data within a calendaring framework