The present invention generally provides methods for administering a composition having an ILK-based protein or peptide having a sequence that is at least 90% homologous to wild-type human integrin-linked kinase (ILK) protein for use in treating or administering to cardiac cells in vitro or in vivo. The ILK-based protein or peptide may further have a mutation or substitution at a position corresponding to amino acid position 211 of wild-type human ILK replacing the arginine (R) with an alanine (A). The present invention further provides compositions having polynucleotides encoding such proteins or peptides. Various vectors, delivery reagents and the like are also provided for use in delivering the compositions to cells. The compositions administered to cells in vitro or in vivo according to present methods may be used to treat, prevent, etc., heart failure, ischemic disease, cardiomyopathy, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of treatments for the prevention and/or healing of cardiac tissue against heart failure or ischemic conditions and the manipulation of cardiac cells in vivo or in vitro.
2. Related Art
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body. There can be many causes of heart failure in individuals. Common causes of heart failure may include myocardial infarction (heart attacks) and other forms of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, valvular heart disease, and cardiomyopathy.
For example, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heterogenous group of inherited and acquired disease characterized by cardiac dilation and reduced systolic function, usually evident in the second or third decade of life. Adult and childhood forms of DCM may be primary or idiopathic (50-70%), or secondary to sarcomeric gene mutations. DCM is an important and common cause of acute and chronic heart failure (HF), but also exhibits many pathophysiological features, such as loss of ventricular mass and replacement fibrosis, typical of HF of diverse causation, including end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy. DCM is characterized by enlargement of the cardiac chambers, decreased myocardial contractility and unspecific histopathological findings, such as myocyte loss, increased apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis. Mutations associated with DCM have been identified in genes including β-MHC, cMyBPC, cardiac actin, cTnT, cTnI, and cTnC among others.
Doxorubicin is an effective and frequently used chemotherapeutic agent for various malignancies. The major limitation of this class of highly effective chemotherapeutic drug is its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, resulting in the death of cardiomyocytes which often leads to irreversible myocardial dysfunction. Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DOXO-DCM) is a specific and lethal complication of chronic doxorubicin therapy for which there is no treatment other than transplantation. Although DOXO-DCM is a specific form of DCM, it shares many unifying pathophysiological features with DCM of diverse causation, including the findings of extensive fibrosis, fibroblast proliferation, and myocytic and myofibril loss, in association with dilated phenotype and profound biventricular dysfunction. Purported mechanisms of DOXO DCM include excessive oxidative stress, myocyte apoptotic loss, and down-regulation of contractile genes such as myosin light and heavy chains, troponin-I, and desmin proteins. Although anti-oxidants and vincristine have demonstrated various degrees of efficacy in murine models of DOXO cardiotoxicity, there are currently no non-toxic, clinically viable drugs available for this indication, and clinical evidence of congestive heart failure usually denotes a lethal outcome without transplantation.
Childhood idiopathic DCM is a rare but highly debilitating disease of multiple causes with profound morbidity and mortality. The 1- and 5-year rates for death or transplantation for children with DCM based on National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry are 39% and 53%, respectively, illustrating the inadequacy of current medical therapy. In 40% of children with symptomatic DCM, medical therapy fails within 2 years of diagnosis. The treatment for advanced heart failure resulting from childhood (and adult) DCM may involve escalating inotropic therapy, ventilation, and ultimately, deployment of ventricular assist devices (VADs) as a bridge to transplantation.
Currently there is no mechanism-based treatment available for Heart Failure, irrespective of etiology so that the prognosis of patients with chronic HF remains poor. New advances in the treatment of patients with DCM in the last decade rely on indirect methods to improve cardiac function, such as the combined use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin Π receptor (AR) antagonists, β-blockers, aldosterone antagonists and diuretics. Consequently, HF related mortality remains elevated, approaching 50% at 5 years in symptomatic patients, and constitutes, by disease category, a huge economic health care burden worldwide. Non-pharmacologic therapies, such as heart transplantation and the use of implantable assist devices, are considered only in the later stages of the disease, and access to such therapies is restricted to a fraction of patients who need them.
Thus, there continues to be an urgent need for the development of novel and specific anti-heart failure treatments for advanced heart failure of diversified etiologies.

Methods for treating or preventing heart damage with integrin-linked kinase (ILK) compositions


A double shot projectile launcher includes a hollow pistol-like body supporting a pair of forwardly extending hollow launch tubes having open ends. A pair of lightweight projectiles defining interior closed end passages are received upon the launch tubes. Each launch tube defines an annular detent groove which cooperates with an inwardly extending seal member on the projectiles to provide a sealing engagement and restraining force to improve launch performance. A compressible air bellows is supported on the upper portion of the gun body and is coupled to the launch tube through an air selection valve and trigger mechanism which permits the coupling of pressurized air from the bellows upon impact thereto to be directed selectively to either of the launch tubes through trigger positioning.

A great variety of toy playsets produced through the years have involved a launching of a projectile of one sort or another. In one variant of such playsets, a gun-like launcher supports one or more projectiles which are launched either through a spring-loaded launching mechanism or an air pressure driven launching device. The projectiles have enjoyed equally varied shapes and have included ping-pong balls, foam resilience balls, lightweight missiles and foam bodied arrows or missiles.
In the typical toy missile launcher using either a lightweight missile or foam bodied arrow for missile, a source of air pressure such as a pump or bellows is coupled to a hollow tube. The lightweight missile or foam bodied arrow in turn defines a cooperating closed end passage and is snugly fitted upon the hollow tube. The release of a burst of pressurized air into the hollow tube launches the arrow or missile.
One such product is presently marketed under the name of Nerf Bow 'N Arrow by Parker Brothers and includes a simulated bow and arrow having a center mounted plunger mechanism and a forwardly extending hollow launch tube coupled thereto. The plunger mechanism is spring-biased to its forward condition permitting the user to draw the plunger away from the bow center against the spring force storing spring energy therein. Upon release of the plunger, the spring force thrusts the plunger forward pressurizing air within the launch tube. A foam arrow received upon the launch tube via a closed end passage is launched in response to the pressurized air.
Another product presently marketed under the name Nerf Master Blaster by Parker Brothers sets forth a foam ball gun having a pair of launching barrels and a bidirectional plunger air pressure mechanism coupled to a movable handle. The plunger couples pressurized air to the upper barrel in one direction of motion launching a ball therefrom and to the lower barrel in the opposite direction of motion launching a foam ball therefrom. Rapid back and forth movements of the plunger provide alternating foam ball launches from the upper and lower launch tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,190 issued to Megargee sets forth an AIR PROPELLED PROJECTILE LAUNCHER having a gun-like housing defining a barrel formed of tubular resilient material. The rear barrel portion is sealed while the forward barrel portion receives a cylindrically shaped projectile. The projectile is tightly fitted within the cylinder bore and is launched therefrom when the user strikes the upper portion of the resilient barrel to deform the barrel and produce pressurized air therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,344 issued to Gedney sets forth an AIR GUN having a hollow barrel, a squeezably deformable handle and a trigger valve mechanism. The rapid squeezing of the handle and pressing of the trigger valve produces air pressure within the barrel which launches a projectile therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,873,677 issued to Traver sets forth a PROJECTILE SHOOTING GUN having an elongated barrel coupled to an upwardly extending tubular magazine and a generally disk-shaped air reservoir. The air reservoir defines an outwardly extending resilient convex surface. A plurality of projectiles are loaded into the magazine and are exposed one at a time to the cylinder bore. The positioned projectile is launched by the user's rapid strike against the resilient air housing deforming the resilient member and collapsing it inwardly.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,409,653 issued to Amdur sets forth a TOY ROCKET GUN having a supporting frame which receives and supports a tubular launcher. A collapsible air bulb is coupled to the launch tube which receives a launchable rocket. The rocket is launched by rapidly squeezing the air bulb.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,991,782 issued to Ayala sets forth a TOY having an elongated tubular plunger mechanism supporting a movable piston therein which is coupled to a handle at the opposite end. A simulated missile is coupled to the output end of the plunger assembly and restrained thereto. The rapid forward movement of the handle forces the piston into the plunger cylinder bore compressing the air therein and driving the missile from the launcher.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,993,297 issued to Bednar, et al. sets forth a TOY ROCKET having a tubular rocket launcher receiving a rocket having a closed end passage therein. An elongated flexible hollow tube extends downwardly from the launcher and terminates in a collapsible air bulb. The user holds and directs the rocket launcher while placing the bulb on the floor and rapidly collapsing the bulb with the user's foot to pressurize air and launch the missile.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,087,481 and 3,055,352 both issued to Foster and both entitled TOY GUN set forth similar toy gun structures having a gun-like hollow housing formed of a squeezable resilient material. A barrel portion within the gun housing receives a plurality of to-be-launched balls which are forced outwardly from the barrel under air pressure as the handle is squeezed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,246 issued to Wolfe sets forth a COMPRESSED AIR ROCKET PROPELLING DEVICE having a pair of telescoping tubular members each supporting a downwardly extending handle. A rocket having a closed end launch passage is received upon the forwardmost of the telescoping tubular members and is launched when the user rapidly draws the two handles together telescoping the inner tubular member into the outer member to produce pressurized air.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,171 issued to Ryan, et al. sets forth a TOY POP GUN HAVING AN AIR PUMP WITH A RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE MOVABLE CHAMBER CLOSURE MEMBER includes a pressurized chamber, a controlling trigger and a sounding membrane which cooperate to produce a popping sound when the trigger is pulled.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,340 issued to Breneman, et al. set forth a PNEUMATIC TOY VEHICLE PROPULSION SYSTEM having a hollow closed loop vehicle conducting tube within which a toy vehicle is driven by air pressure within the tube. An air bellows and valve mechanism is provided to pressurize the tube behind the toy vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,006 issued to Breslow, et al. sets forth a TOY ROCKET WITH PNEUMATIC LAUNCHER having a pivotable launch tube coupled to a collapsible air bulb. A lightweight rocket having a closed end launch tube is received upon the launcher tube and is launched therefrom as the user rapidly collapses the bulb.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,902 issued to Reynolds sets forth TOY PROJECTILE LAUNCHING APPARATUSES having a housing shaped to correspond to a machine gun or the like and including an upwardly extending magazine. A plurality of projectiles are stacked within the magazine and the bottommost projectile is aligned with the machine gun barrel. An air driven plunger assembly includes a plunger rod which is driven into the bottommost projectile to launch each time air pressure from a collapsible bellows is applied to the plunger assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,705 issued to Jacoby sets forth a TOY PROJECTILE LAUNCHING DEVICE having a miniaturized cannon defining a launching bore which receives a to-be-launched projectile. The breach portion of the cannon is equipped with an inflatable air bladder and a movable piston valve. A squeezable bulb is coupled to the piston valve and is operated to actuate the valve to either launch the projectile or inflate the bladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,249 issued to Fogarty, et al. sets forth a TOY GLIDER WITH PNEUMATIC LAUNCHER formed to comprise a bracelet worn upon the user's wrist. The launcher includes a forwardly extending launch tube on its upper portion and a hollow collapsible air bulb on its lower portion. A lightweight missile having a closed end passage is received upon the launch tube and launched therefrom in response to the user's rapid squeezing of the air bulb.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,081 issued to Moormann sets forth a COLLAPSIBLE BALL LAUNCHER having an elongated cylindrical barrel supporting a movable piston and piston rod therein. A handle is coupled to the outwardly extending end of the piston rod. A ball chamber defines a front constriction and is coupled to the piston end of the piston cylinder. A foam ball is received within the ball chamber and driven therefrom by the forward movement of the piston.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,065 issued to Fertig, et al. sets forth a TOY VEHICLE AND HANDHELD PNEUMATIC LAUNCHER having an elongated cylinder within which a movable piston and piston rod are supported. The piston rod extends outwardly from the cylinder and terminates in a handle while a pair of outwardly extending handles are supported on either side of the cylinder. A launch tube is secured to the opposite end of the cylinder and is coupled to the cylinder interior. A launchable vehicle includes a closed end passage received upon the launch tube which is launched as the piston is driven into the cylinder to pressurize the air therein.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have provided some measure of enjoyment and amusement for the user, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore interesting and improved projectile launchers.


Methods and systems for toggling between media content that is provided from a content service provider and displayed on a display. The systems and methods prospectively determine a variety of content that may be of interest to the user and that will air at some point in the future. This includes different content that will be available at the same time. The systems and methods also determine toggle types and toggle triggers for the content. The occurrence of a toggle trigger while first content is being displayed results in switching the display to a different second content. The prospective content and associated toggle types and triggers are determined based on gathered information about the user.

Viewers of video content are faced with a vast amount of viewable content. Service providers often offer hundreds of different channels that each includes a variety of different content throughout the day. Often times a viewer does not get to see content of interest because they were not aware that it was available to them. It would be helpful for a viewer to be made aware of upcoming content that they may have interest in. The viewer would then be able to determine whether they want to watch the content.
Further, viewers are often faced with the dilemma of wanting to watch multiple different shows simultaneously for various reasons. For example, a television viewer may regularly watch shows that air during the same time. In another example, a viewer may want to watch two sporting events that are televised live at the same time. In instances when there are two conflicting shows, a viewer through a remote control can use the "previous channel" or "back" button to switch back and forth between channels. The viewer is required to manually switch between the shows when flipping back and forth in an attempt to simultaneously watch both shows. However, this methodology is more cumbersome when there are three or more shows of interest. Because a remote control usually does not provide for switching between three shows such as with the "previous channel" input, the user is required to enter the channel number on which the show is being aired each time they want to switch to a different displayed show. In these various embodiments, the user is required to input commands repeatedly as they switch back and forth between the shows of interest.

System and method to determine content items and associated toggle triggers for a viewer


A signal-based cable attenuation measurement device, system and methodology provides measurement of attenuation characteristics of a cable over a wide frequency spectrum. Located at a single location on a cable, a measurement device injects a signal on to the cable under measurement and receives the reflected signal, recording physical characteristics of the cable in response to the signal. A model, calibrated to estimate the effects of the cable with known impedances, evaluates the waveform generated from the cable""s response to the signal and computes attenuation of the cable as a function of frequency. In some circumstances, when low signal-to-noise effects result, normally at high frequencies in long cables, the attenuation of the cable is further fitted to the model to correct the errors that occur as a result of the low signal-to-noise effects.

The present invention relates to a network analysis device, system and methodology, and more particularly, to a network measurement device and a method that evaluates physical characteristics of network cables in response to a single to determine attenuation of open or shorted network cables from a single end of the network cables.
This invention relates generally to cable testing and troubleshooting and in particular to measuring the attenuation characteristics of cables.
Local Area Networks (LANs) include a large number of interconnected computers, work stations, printers, and file servers and other devices. A LAN is commonly implemented by physically connecting these devices with copper-conductor, twisted-pair LAN cables, the most common being an eight-wire cable which is configured in four twisted-wire pairs (commonly referred to simply as xe2x80x9ctwisted pairsxe2x80x9d) within a flexible wrapper that may include an electrostatic shield, with each end of the cable terminated in an industry-standard connector or terminator. A LAN that has been poorly installed, or has faulty cables or connectors, can result in data transmission errors. Therefore, the LAN must be tested to verify proper operation and performance.
Attenuation limit is a specified performance parameter that indicates the maximum signal loss allowable in a network system. Attenuation is the decrease in the power of a signal as it propagates along a cable. Alternatively, it may result from signal loss through a faulty connector or damage to the cabling. If the attenuation exceeds a specified limit, the network is not in compliance with performance specifications.
Traditionally, cable attenuation is calculated through measurement of the ratio between input and output amplitudes at different frequencies. A conventional methodology for measuring attenuation requires access to both ends of the cable under measurement. A standard configuration to implement this methodology typically involves a main testing/troubleshooting unit and a remote unit coupled via industry-standard connectors to opposite ends of the cable. The remote unit measures the signal at the other end of the cable in response to each stimulus signal received from the main unit positioned at the opposite end of the cable. The signal source is incremented in discrete steps across a range of frequencies, while making measurements of the input and output amplitudes at different frequencies. A ratio between the input and output amplitudes at different frequencies is compared with a worst-case attenuation versus frequency function specified for the cable under measurement to determine network compliance or that the attenuation limit for the cable has not been exceeded. However, this conventional method requires complex testing units that are coupled to both ends of the cable under measurement, which impedes cable testing after network installation.
The present invention is designed to overcome limitations in the prior art by providing a measurement and modeling approach that calculates cable attenuation from a single end location on a cable under measurement. Alternatively, the measurement device is located at a single non-end or intermediate location on a cable, between the network device terminating one end and the node terminating the opposite of the cable. The present invention discloses a system, device and methodology to calculate attenuation in network cables, simultaneously or separately, without the need to access and attach to both ends of the cable under measurement with apparatuses to produce the attenuation measurements. The far end of the cable is electrically open or shorted.
To implement the invention, a measurement device injects and samples responses to time domain reflectometer (TDR) signals. In one aspect of the invention, calibration waveforms, in terms of a voltage drop over a defined time domain, are sampled by a digitizer of the measurement device, recording the response of the signal exposed to known impedances connected to the measurement device. The present invention uses three calibration waveforms, namely VT(t), VS(t), and VO(t), to calibrate a model that estimates internal parameters inherent to a current source responsible for generating the TDR signal in a signal generator. In a second aspect of the invention, the actual cable under measurement is injected with a TDR signal and the response of the cable to the signal and its reflection from the open or shorted far end is sampled by the digitizer and recorded as a cable waveform, VC(t). VC(t) represents the voltage drop across the measurement or near end of the cable in response to the propagating TDR signal as a function of time.
Next, a model estimating the current source is calibrated using the calibration waveforms. The calibrated model estimates parameters A(f), B(f), and D(f) that represent the internal parameters of a current source used to generate the TDR signal. Using the modeled parameters of the current source and the cable waveform, impedance of the cable, ZC(t), is calculated pursuant to the model. From this information, attenuation, H(f)db of the cable under measurement is calculated and displayed as a function of frequency. In some cases, the attenuation of the cable requires further evaluation because of low signal-to-noise effects at high frequencies in long cables. Under such circumstances, the invention employs an additional model that fits the calculated attenuation of the cable at low frequencies to correct for abnormalities resulting in the attenuation data at high frequencies.


A sonic generator comprises a resonant bar, a housing and magnetic excitation units connected between the resonant bar and the housing. The magnetic excitation units are connected to the bar at highly stressed points using a mounting connection which is a sleeve having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the bar. A resilient elastomer such as urethane is mounted between the sleeve and the resonant member. The sonic generator may be used for grinding purposes and, in particular, may be used to grind material exceptionally fine with reduced power consumption. The bar is substantially unrestrained so as to allow substantially free vibration.

Sonic generators used to convert electrical energy into acoustic and kinetic energy for transmission to fluid mediums are known. Such devices are illustrated, for example, in U.K. Patent Specification 2,152,728 to Bodine and U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,515 to Robinson.
The sonic generators there disclosed, however, suffer disadvantages. For example, the apparatus taught by Bodine in the aforementioned U. K. patent utilizes resonant drives similar to the types described in Bodine's U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,633,877, 3,684,037, 3,360,056 and 4,265,129. Such drives limit the upper range of frequencies such units can transmit to a fluid medium. Since the transmission of acoustic power between the resonant bar and the fluid is less efficient at lower frequencies, the frequency limitation lowers the acoustic efficiency of the Bodine apparatuses. Bodine also necessarily utilizes a coupling between his orbiting mass oscillators and his resonant bar which attempts to isolate the inertial forces of the vibrating bar from the oscillators. Without such a coupling, the magnitude of the forces generated are sufficient to cause relatively rapid failure of the orbiting mass oscillator drive motors, be they hydraulic or electric.
The above-identified Robinson reference teaches restraining a resonating bar with steel bushings at respectively oppositely located end portions of the bar. Such supports cause energy to be lost through the steel bushing support structure which energy would be better utilized in the fluid medium. This is so since Robinson's method does not allow for free and unrestrained vibration of the resonant member. Rather the resonant member is forced to assume a specific mode shape by the steel retaining bushings. Robinson's structure also imposes a very high stress concentration on the resonant member both at the support point and at the point of maximum bending stress. Such stress concentration can eventually cause unnecessary damage to the resonant member and/or premature failure. It also limits the mechanical stresses that can be sustained by the member without failure.
Existing vibratory grinders generally consist of a rigid housing containing the grinding media such as steel balls mounted on a spring system for support and vibration isolation. The vibration is transmitted through a rotating unbalanced shaft that is rigidly attached to the body of the grinding unit or through an electric motor using an integral unbalanced weight mounted directly to the housing.
The unbalanced shaft embodiment is typically driven by a standard electric motor through a cardan shaft to isolate the motor from the vibration or the eccentric weight which is integral to the electric motor. If the latter, the electric motor vibrates with essentially the same intensity at the grinder itself.
When inducing vibration with an eccentric weight, forces are introduced which must be transmitted from the rotating member through bearings to the body of the grinder. These forces increase with the square of the vibration frequency which practically limits the frequency of the vibration to 30 Hz in commercial scale applications because of the very large force required to vibrate the mass of the grinder unit as the frequency increases. As the rotational frequency increases, the roller bearing becomes limited in load carrying capacity.
When existing vibratory designs are referred to as resonant grinders, it merely means that the vibration frequency corresponds to the natural frequency of the spring-mass system used to isolate the grinder. Resonant operation of such grinders will increase the energy efficiency in the system. However, it is difficult to obtain the necessary vibration amplitude for the grinder with the required spring stiffness for the large grinding masses.


Disclosed herein is an improved gas gate for interconnecting regions of differing gaseous composition and/or pressure. The gas gate includes a narrow, elongated passageway through which substrate material is adapted to move between said regions and inlet means for introducing a flow of non-contaminating sweep gas into a central portion of said passageway. The gas gate is characterized in that the height of the passageway and the flow rate of the sweep gas therethrough provides for transonic flow of the sweep gas between the inlet means and at least one of the two interconnected regions, thereby effectively isolating one region, characterized by one composition and pressure, from another region, having a differing composition and/or pressure, by decreasing the mean-free-path length between collisions of diffusing species within the transonic flow region. The gas gate preferably includes a manifold at the juncture point where the gas inlet means and the passageway interconnect.

The present invention is useful in apparatus for continuously fabricating photovoltaic devices on a web of magnetic substrate material by depositing thereonto successive amorphous-silicon alloy semiconductor layers in each of at least two adjacent, interconnected deposition chambers. The composition of each layer is dependent upon the particular gases introduced into and isolated from each of the deposition chambers. More particularly, the deposition chambers are operatively interconnected by a gas gate which includes a relatively narrow passageway (1) through which the web of substrate material passes; and (2) adapted to substantially isolate the processes gases introduced into the first chamber from the process gases introduced into the adjacent deposition chamber. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,332 to Nath et al., assigned to the assignee of the instant application and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, it has been determined that despite the relatively small size of the gas gate passageway, dopant process gases introduced into one deposition chamber back diffuse into the adjacent chamber, thereby contaminating the process gases introduced thereinto and the semiconductor layer deposited in said adjacent chamber. The '332 patent disclosed apparatus (namely ceramic magnets positioned above the gas gate passageway for urging the magnetic substrate upwardly) by which the height dimension of the passageway could be reduced. The reduction in the height dimension of the passageway provided for a corresponding reduction of the back diffusion of dopant gases for a given flow rate, thereby decreasing the contamination of the process gases introduced into the intrinsic deposition chamber.
However, because the magnets urge the substrate into sliding contact with the upper passageway wall, frictional abrasion between the wall and the unlayered side of the substrate causes problems with the deposition apparatus such as, for example, wear of the upper passageway wall of the gas gate. Also, abraded particles of substrate and passageway wall material collect in the passageway and deposition chambers causing scratching of the layered side of the substrate and co-depositing with the semiconductor material, which causes short circuiting due to the protruding particles which cannot be fully covered by a one micron thick semiconductor alloy layer. The abrasion, in addition to being detrimental to the semiconductor layer and the equipment, limits the minimum thickness of the web of substrate material which can be realistically used due to possible tearing.
Additionally, as was disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,438,724 and 4,450,786 each to Doehler et al., both assigned to the assignee of the instant application and the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, when the web of substrate material is urged against the upper wall of the passageway, the passageway is divided by the web of substrate into a relatively narrow upper portion, between the substrate and the upper passageway wall, and a relatively wide lower portion, between the substrate and the lower passageway wall. Also, irregular spacing between the substrate and the upper passageway wall occurred because waffling (warping) of the web of substrate material could not be entirely eliminated by the attractive force of the magnets. Much of the warping of the substrate is caused by heating of the substrate in the deposition chambers. The process gases, being inherently viscous (and especially viscous at the elevated deposition temperatures employed with glow discharge deposition processes), are unable to travel through the narrow upper portion with sufficient velocity to prevent cross-contamination of process gases from one deposition chamber to the other. It was to the end of decreasing the amount of cross-contamination of process gases through the narrow upper portion between the unlayered side of the substrate and the upper passage wall that the '724 and '786 patents were directed.
In the past, considerable efforts have been made to develop processes for depositing layers of amorphous semiconductor alloy material, each of which can encompass relatively large areas, and which can be doped to form p-type and n-type materials for the fabrication of p-i-n-type photovoltaic devices which are, in operation, substantially equivalent to their crystalline counterparts. For many years such work with amorphous silicon or germanium films was substantially unproductive because of the presence therein of microvoids and dangling bonds which produce a high density of localized states in the energy gap. Initially, the reduction of the localized states was accomplished by glow discharge deposition of amorphous silicon films using silane (SiH.sub.4) gas and hydrogen gas as precursors. The material so deposited is an intrinsic amorphous material consisting of silicon and hydrogen. To produce a doped amorphous material, phosphine gas (PH.sub.3) for n-type or diborane gas (B.sub.2 H.sub.6) for p-type conduction, is premixed with the silane gas. The material so deposited includes supposedly substitutional phosphorus or boron dopants and is shown to be extrinsic and of n or p conduction type.
It is now possible to prepare greatly improved amorphous silicon alloy materials, that have significantly reduced concentrations of localized states in the energy gap thereof, while providing high quality electronic properties by glow discharge as is fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,898 to Ovshinsky et al., and by vapor deposition as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,374 to Ovshinsky et al., both assigned to the assignee of the instant application and the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. As disclosed in these patents. fluorine introduced into the amorphous silicon semiconductor operates to substantially reduce the density of localized states therein and facilitates the addition of other alloying materials, such as germanium. Activated fluorine readily diffuses into, and bonds to, amorphous silicon in a matrix body to substantially decrease the density of localized states therein. This is because the small size of the fluorine atoms enable them to be readily introduced into an amorphous silicon matrix. The fluorine is believed to bond to the dangling bonds of the silicon and form a partially ionic stable bond with flexible bonding angles, which results in a more stable and more efficient compensation or alteration than could be formed by hydrogen, or other compensating or altering agents which were previously employed.
The concept of utilizing multiple cells, to enhance photovoltaic device efficiency, was discussed at least as early as 1955 by E. D. Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,498. The multiple cell structures therein discussed utilized p-n junction crystalline semiconductor devices. Essentially the concept is directed to utilizing different band gap devices to more efficiently collect various portions of the solar spectrum and to increase open circuit voltage (V.sub.oc). The tandem cell device has two or more cells with the light directed serially through each cell, with a large band gap material followed by a smaller band gap material to absorb the light passed through the first cell or layer. By substantially matching the generated currents from each cell. the overall open circuit voltage is the sum of the open circuit voltages of each cell while the short circuit current remains substantially constant.
Due to the beneficial properties attained by the introduction of fluorine, amorphous alloys used to produce cascade type multiple cells may now incorporate fluorine to reduce the density of localized states without impairing the electronic properties of the material. Further band gap adjusting element(s), such as germanium and carbon, can be activated and are added in vapor deposition, sputtering or glow discharge processes. The band gap is adjusted as required for specific device applications by introducing the necessary amounts of one or more of the adjusting elements into the deposited alloy cells in at least the photocurrent generation region thereof. Since the band gap adjusting element(s) has been tailored into the cells without adding substantial deleterious states, the cell material maintains high electronic qualities and photoconductivity when the adjusting element(s) are added to tailor the device wavelength characteristics for a specific photoresponse application.
It is of obvious commercial importance to be able to mass produce photovoltaic devices. Unlike crystalline silicon which is limited to batch processing for the manufacture of solar cells, amorphous silicon semiconductor alloys can be deposited in multiple layers over large area substrates to form solar cells in a high volume, continuous processing system. Continuous processing systems of this kind are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,440,409; 4,542,711; 4,410,558; 4,438,723; and 4,492,181 each of which is assigned to the assignee of the instant application and the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. As disclosed in these patents, a substrate may be continuously advanced through a succession of deposition chambers, wherein each chamber is dedicated to the deposition of a specific semiconductor layer. In making a solar cell of p-i-n-type configuration, the first chamber is dedicated for depositing a p-type amorphous silicon semiconductor alloy material, the second chamber is dedicated for depositing an intrinsic amorphous silicon semiconductor alloy material, and the third chamber is dedicated for depositing an n-type amorphous silicon semiconductor alloy material. Since each deposited semiconductor alloy material, and especially the intrinsic semiconductor alloy material must be of high purity, the deposition environment in the deposition chamber is isolated from the doping constituents within the other chambers to prevent cross-contamination of doping constituents into the intrinsic process gases in the intrinsic chamber. In the previously mentioned patents, wherein the systems are primarily concerned with the production of photovoltaic cells, isolation between the chambers is accomplished by gas gates through which (1) a unidirectional flow of process gases between deposition chambers is established, and (2) an inert gas may be "swept" along the web of substrate material. The gas gate disclosed in previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,332 contemplated the creation of a plurality of magnetic fields adapted to urge the magnetic web of substrate material against a wall of the gas gate passageway opening so that the height dimension of the passageway opening could be reduced. The reduced height of the opening correspondingly decreased the quantity of process gas, which would otherwise diffuse from the dopant deposition chambers to the intrinsic deposition chamber, without correspondingly increasing the risk that the amorphous semiconductor layers deposited on the substrate would contact and be damaged by a wall of the gas gate passageway opening.
While the magnetic gas gate disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,332 reduced the height dimension of the passageway opening, and thereby correspondingly reducing the diffusion of dopant gas, this gas gate design caused two additional problems, (1) the aforementioned problems of frictional, and (2) it divided the passageway into wide and narrow portions, as discussed hereinabove. Regarding the latter of these problems, the velocity of the inert sweep gas and residual process gases traveling through the wide lower portion is sufficiently great to substantially prevent cross-contamination of dopant gases into the intrinsic chamber. However, due to the viscosity of the process gases, the drag on the sweep gases along (1) the upper passageway wall and (2) the unlayered surface of the substrate (which define the relatively narrow upper portion of the passageway) results in a relatively low velocity flow therethrough. Accordingly, an undesirably high amount of dopant process gas is able to diffuse into the intrinsic chamber through the narrow upper portion.
The problem of cross-contamination was reduced in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,438,724 and 4,450,786 by providing a plurality of elongated grooves (extending the entire length of the gas gate passageway opening) from the dopant deposition chamber to the adjacent intrinsic deposition chamber in the wall of the passageway opening above the web of substrate material. In this manner, a plurality of spaced, relatively high velocity flow channels were provided in the space between the unlayered surface of the web of substrate material and the upper wall of the passageway opening. Because the channels were relatively high, the sweep gases and residual process gases flowed unidirectionally therethrough at substantial velocities despite the drag incurred as said gases contacted the passageway wall and the substrate surface. While the gas gate of the '724 and '786 patents reduced the problem of cross-contamination through the aforementioned narrow upper section, it failed to reduce the problem of frictional abrasion between the unlayered side of the substrate and the upper passageway wall.
The magnetic roller gas gate of our copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/903,417, filed Jun. 24, 1992 and hereby incorporated by reference, substantially reduced the frictional abrasion between the unlayered side of the substrate and the passageway wall without substantially increasing in the cross-contamination of process gases between deposition chambers.
While the magnetic roller gas gate of the '417 application reduced the frictional abrasion problem and did not increase the cross contamination problem, the gas gates of the prior art cannot be used to operatively interconnect regions having a pressure differential between the chambers of greater than about 10%. However in many instances, it is desirable, if not essential, to interconnect two processing chambers having pressure differentials of greater than an order of magnitude (i.e., such as pressures of 10.sup.-1 and 10.sup.-3 Torr respectively). Therefore, it is an object of the instant invention to fabricate a gas gate which incorporates the reduced frictional abrasion of the substrate and low cross contamination of the magnetic roller gas gate of the '417 application and has the additional ability to be used to interconnect regions having pressure differentials greater than about one order of magnitude.
Although the foregoing discussion dealt with a single dopant deposition chamber and an adjacent intrinsic deposition chamber, it should be apparent that other deposition chambers may be operatively connected by the gas gates of the present invention. For example, a p-type deposition chamber may be connected on one side of the intrinsic deposition chamber and an n-type deposition chamber may be connected to the other side of the intrinsic deposition chamber so as to produce a p-i-n type semiconductor device. Alternatively, a plurality of these triads of deposition chambers could be interconnected to produce a plurality or p-i-n-type cells. Similarly, a chamber in which the transparent conductive oxide layer (discussed hereinafter) is added atop the uppermost amorphous semiconductor alloy layer may be operatively connected by the improved gas gates, disclosed herein, to the final deposition chamber. Since it would be undesirable to have gaseous constituents or other contaminants introduced into the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) deposition chamber (typically at a pressure of about 10.sup.-3 Torr pressure) cross-contaminated into the RF glow-discharge dopant deposition chamber (typically at a pressure of about 1 Torr pressure), the improved gas gate of the present invention can also be employed between the TCO chamber and the final dopant deposition chamber. For that matter, the improved gas gate of the instant invention is applicable between all chambers of the continuous production apparatus so as to produce high quality amorphous photovoltaic devices.

Magnetic roller gas gate employing transonic sweep gas flow to isolate regions of differing gaseous composition or pressure


The present invention includes an LED lighting assembly containing: a housing; one or more solid state lighting units contained within the housing and actuated by alternating current power; a night light contained within the housing and operably communicating with the solid state lighting units, the night light actuated by direct current power in the absence of light from the solid state lighting units; one or more light emitting diodes contained within the night light; and a battery source for powering the night light in the event of power interruption.

The present invention relates to light assemblies that incorporate a night-light and/or an emergency light within an LED (light emitting diode) light tube assembly. Alternatively, the novel LED light assembly of the present invention may be designed into a single light source having a multi-functional light. During the day, the LED light tube will function as the primary light source, operating all the LEDs within the light tube assembly. During the night, the LED light tube will function as a night light, operating only a limited number of LEDs to avoid complete darkness within the space and during a power loss, operating the same number of LEDs to again avoid darkness. The inventor contemplates that these concerns may most efficiently be managed during the construction of a new home or new commercial building.
Presently, there are various conventional light fixtures that incorporate emergency lighting, and are powered by AC energy with battery backup. When the power is unexpectedly interrupted due to a storm or other event, the emergency lighting automatically illuminates. Cost is one issue related to most of these conventional emergency lighting systems as they are very expensive.
Yet another issue for a conventional stand-alone emergency lighting system that may contain incandescent, fluorescent or halogen lamp and may be powered by expensive, alkaline, sealed lead battery modules is the relatively short charge time. Many of these conventional systems are generally only designed to provide at a maximum between one to three hours of effective emergency lighting. Not only is this approach expensive, this presents a concern for emergency generated power outages that last longer than three hours.
Yet another issue is that current design trends favor the spatial and aesthetic benefits typically provided by fluorescent tubes, even though fluorescent tubes cost more to operate than LED assemblies.
Yet another concern is the cost of illuminating conventional lighting such as incandescent, fluorescent, or halogenated light sources.
Fixtures using fluorescent tubes or LED light tubes as its source of lighting are common in homes, offices and retail stores. Fluorescent tubes may typically use 60-80% more energy than LED light tubes. Fluorescent lighting system are not practicable for such emergency lighting due to their high voltage and alternating current requirements making a battery backup difficult during power failure. It is therefore an ongoing effort to improve LED lighting sources to provide adequate lighting for longer periods while reducing the manufacturing and operating costs.
Typical LED light tube assemblies currently on the market operate only as a primary light source for the home and the work place. As a way to provide night lighting within a space, owners typically would leave on several light fixtures during the night. As energy costs continue to grow, owners are looking for other options to reduce energy cost. The present invention would mitigate the need of leaving several light fixtures on during the night, saving energy cost for the owner. The present invention may also provide additional operating time during a power failure, at the same time improving the light quality of the night-light at night.
It would therefore be an improvement in the art to provide an LED tube lighting assembly that resolves the aforementioned concerns.

Abstract: In yet another aspect of the invention, a lighting unit contains: a housing or elongated tube; one or more light emitting diodes contained within the housing or elongated tube; and a battery source contained within the housing or elongated tube, the battery source configured to selectively power the light emitting diodes with direct current energy.


There is described a light beam deflection apparatus in which the distortion of the polygon mirror is reduced, and the mounting accuracy of the polygon mirror is improved. The light beam deflection apparatus includes a base plate, a coil being stationary relative to the base plate and a mirror unit being rotatable with respect to the base plate. The mirror unit includes a polygon mirror, a rotating disk to mount the polygon mirror, a rotating yoke fixed to the rotating disk, a magnet attached to the rotating yoke and located opposite the coil and a buffer member inserted into a gap between the polygon mirror and the rotating yoke.

The present invention relates to a light beam deflection apparatus which incorporates a polygon mirror and is employed for, e.g., a laser printer, a bar-code reader, a laser copier, etc.
In the conventional light beam deflection apparatus, the polygon mirror rotates at a high rate, by means of a rotating disk linked to the polygon mirror. The rotating disk includes permanent magnets arranged on it and is driven by driving coils fixed on a base plate. The rotational torque of the polygon mirror is generated by the magnetic forces between the permanent magnets and the driving coils.
In the abovementioned apparatus, however, since the rotating disk, on which the permanent magnets and the polygon mirror are mounted, is joined to a rotatable axis, the reference surface on which the polygon mirror is attached is liable to be distorted when the permanent magnets are mounted on the rotating disk. Owing to this shortcoming, the distortion and/or an inclination of the polygon mirror surface has been relatively high.
To prevent the distortion of the polygon mirror, it is required to employ an adhesive which causes little distortion of the polygon mirror when the permanent magnets are adhered onto the rotating disk. Generally speaking, however, an adhesive causing little distortion is liable to be lower in the reliability of its adhesion, due to the weakness of its adhesive force.


A method for manufacturing a needle-shaped body, including supplying a first aqueous solution to an intaglio plate, supplying a second aqueous solution to the intaglio plate, drying the first and second aqueous solutions in the intaglio plate such that a dried body is formed on the intaglio plate, and separating the dried body from the intaglio plate such that a needle-shaped body including a needle-shaped projection and a support base which supports the needle-shaped projection is obtained. The intaglio plate includes a recess corresponding to the needle-shaped projection, the first aqueous solution is supplied to fill at least a portion of the recess, the first aqueous solution and the second aqueous solution are immiscible, the first aqueous solution forms a projection side layer in the needle-shaped body, and the second aqueous solution forms a support base side layer on the projection side layer in the needle-shaped body.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a needle-shaped body and a needle-shaped body.
Background Art
A transdermal absorption method as a method for penetrating a delivery agent such as a medicine from a skin surface and administering the delivery agent into a body has been used as a method that enables easy administration of the delivery agent without causing any pain to a human body.

Needle-shaped body and method for manufacturing needle-shaped body


A solid electrolytic capacitor which is easy to make and a method of making the same are provided. In a solid electrolytic capacitor in accordance with the present invention, a substrate on which a capacitor device is mounted includes anode electrode parts and cathode electrode parts of a lead frame, and a resin plate, whereas parts exposed from the upper face of the resin plate construct anode electrode terminals and cathode electrode terminals. Therefore, this substrate can easily be made by mold-sealing the anode electrode parts and cathode electrode parts with the resin plate. Consequently, the solid electrolytic capacitor in accordance with the present invention using such a substrate can also be made easily.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid electrolytic capacitor and a method of making the same.
2. Related Background Art
In general, capacitor devices used in solid electrolytic capacitors are made by employing a metal (so-called valve metal) such as aluminum, titanium, or tantalum capable of forming an insulating oxide film as an anode; anode-oxidizing a surface of the valve metal, so as to form an insulating oxide film; then forming a solid electrolyte layer made of an organic compound or the like substantially functioning as a cathode; and providing a conductive layer such as graphite or silver as a cathode.
As a substrate used for a solid electrolytic capacitor, a composite material substrate constituted by a composite material (FR4) made of a glass cloth and an epoxy resin is employed in general (see the following Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-102252). This composite material substrate is subjected to processing such as printing of wiring patterns and forming of via holes as appropriate, whereby a carrier substrate for actually carrying a capacitor device is obtained The above-mentioned capacitor device is carried on thus obtained carrier substrate, and the capacitor device and the carrier substrate are integrally sealed by molding.

Solid electrolytic capacitor and method of making same


In an example embodiment, a system of lifting, lowering and rotating a display may include a housing, a rotator, and a hoist. The rotator may be configured to selectively rotate the housing such that a display functionally coupled to the housing is rotated. The rotator may include an anchor and a rotating portion. The anchor may be configured to be attached to an elevated surface. The rotating portion may be configured to be functionally coupled to the housing, and configured to rotate relative to the anchor. The hoist may include a member and a hoist motor. The hoist motor may be configured to selectively rotate the member such that a cable functionally coupled to the member is wound about the member when the member is rotated in a first direction, and the cable is unwound from the member when the member is rotated in a second direction.

It may be desirable to exhibit displays at an elevated position. To do so, displays may be attached to an elevated surface such as a ceiling in a way that allows the display to be located at the desired elevation. However, the process of changing an elevated display may include challenges not normally experienced with a display located at or near ground level. Changing some displays may require that a person be elevated to the level of the display. For example, using a ladder or a lift. Elevating a person to the display may prompt safety concerns and slow the process of changing displays. Some displays may be changed using an elongated device, often allowing the person changing the display to remain on the ground. However, safety concerns and speed issues may still remain when displays are changed using an elongated device. Some display products may allow an elevated display to be raised and lowered such that the display may be changed from ground level and raised to the desired elevation after the display has been changed.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.


An effector for an aircraft has an effector body and a stealth sheath enclosing the effector body at least in part. The stealth shell is attached to the effector body and embodied so as to be separated from the aircraft and from the effector body during flight of the aircraft carrying the effector.

In aircraft, low detectability in relation to adversarial sensor systems is gaining increasing importance, particularly in the military sector, but also in civil aviation. The radar backscatter cross-section (RBCS) can be one important characteristic value for the detectability of an aircraft in that it constitutes a measure for the relationship of energy irradiated by a generic radar system to the energy reverberated or reflected back to the radar system. The RBCS depends strongly on the outer geometry of the aircraft. Accordingly, a substantial contribution to the RBCS can result from external loads attached to the aircraft, such as weapons, sensor containers and/or external tanks.
Particularly, the backscattering of an electromagnetic radar wave can be determined by two phenomena. From an electromagnetic perspective, an external load on an aircraft consists of the interaction of a supporting structure, also called a pylon, and the actual external load. A radar wave that strikes the aircraft can be reflected, on the one hand, directly on the external load and/or the pylon and be reflected back to the adversarial radar system, on the other hand, through multiple reflection with other structural components of the aircraft.
In order to reduce the RCBS-increasing effects of external loads, stealth aircraft often have weapons bays and/or payload containers in which weapons and/or other payloads can be carried along on the interior of the aircraft. In aircraft without a stealth geometry, however, such weapons bays and payload containers are usually not present and are also difficult to retrofit.


A circuit includes a noise generator and a delay element. The output of the noise generator couples to the input of the delay element. The output of the delay element is coupled to a first input of a logic circuit, and the output of the noise generator is coupled to a second input of the logic circuit. The output of the logic circuit is coupled to a first control input of a waveform storage circuit. The waveform storage circuit is configured to produce a first digital waveform on its output responsive to a first logic state on the output of the logic circuit and to produce a second digital waveform on its output responsive to a second logic state on the output of the logic circuit. A sequencer has a sequencer output coupled to the second control input of the waveform storage circuit.

Radio frequency (RF) sampling digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are becoming more widely used. For example, RF sampling DACs are becoming increasingly used in wireless base stations. RF sampling DACs avoid the need for mixers in the RF/analog portion of the wireless base station's transmitter. Wireless base stations have stringent requirements related to spurious emissions. For example, the worst-case tolerable spurious level may be −85 dBc. Many current steering DACs are implemented as a set of thermometric current sources and a set of binary-weighted current sources. Each current source may force current through a corresponding resistor. Current source mismatches (both static and dynamic) in the DAC can limit its spurious performance due, for example, to high Integral Nonlinearity (INL). The third harmonic distortion (HD3), the fifth harmonic distortion (HD5), and intermodulation distortion (often, IMD2 or IMD3) may be impacted by current source mismatches. In turn, adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) may be worsened and spectral emissions may occur which may impose design hardships on filters to filter out the spurious emissions.

Dither generation for radio frequency sampling digital-to-analog converters


A sealing device includes: a housing; a seal ring configured to be axially displaceably inserted along an inner circumference of the housing, the seal ring including a front-end surface and a rear-end surface which defines packing mounting space; a packing configured to establish sealing between the housing and the seal ring, the packing being disposed in the packing mounting space; and spring means disposed on the rear-end surface side of the seal ring to elastically bias the seal ring toward the front-end surface side.

Recently, the automobile industry has been actively developing fuel-efficient vehicles in consideration of environmental problems. For the purpose of improving the fuel performance, what has been developed is a flow control valve which controls fluid such as oil or coolant. The flow control valve is equipped with a valve-use seal.
A conventionally known valve-use seal is a sealing device 111 shown in FIG. 5 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-96747, hereinafter referred to as "Patent Literature 1"). In the conventional sealing device 111, a front-end surface 113a of a seal ring 113 which is elastically biased by a spring means 115 is pressed against an outer surface 121a of a valve rotor 121, to establish sealing between the seal ring 113 and the valve rotor 121. A packing 114 disposed between a housing 112 and the seal ring 113 establishes sealing against a clearance c between the housing 112 and the seal ring 113.
Note that, the outer surface 121a of the valve rotor 121 is often a spherical or cylindrical surface. Correspondingly, the front-end surface 113a of the seal ring 113 is also a spherical or cylindrical surface.

Sealing device and method for assembling same


A completion system includes an outer completion string having at least one sand screen arranged thereabout, one or more control lines extending externally along the outer completion string, a service tool arranged within the outer completion string and having an inner tubing that defines a valve conduit, and a valve arranged within the service tool. The control lines have one or more gauges operatively coupled thereto and arranged adjacent the at least one sand screen. The one or more gauges are configured for real-time monitoring and reporting of well environment parameters. The valve is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, fracturing fluid is allowed to circulate through the at least one sand screen and the valve and into the valve conduit. In the second position, the valve prevents the fracturing fluid from entering the valve conduit.

The present disclosure relates to the treatment of subterranean production intervals and, more particularly, to gravel packing and fracturing of multiple production intervals with a multi-zone completion system and monitoring downhole parameters in real-time during such operations.
In the production of oil and gas, drilled wells can reach depths of 31,000 feet or more below the ground or subsea surface. Offshore wells may be drilled in water exhibiting depths of 10,000 feet or more. The total depth from an offshore platform to the bottom of a drilled wellbore can be as much as eight miles. Such extraordinary distances in modern well construction can cause significant challenges in equipment, drilling, and servicing operations.
For example, tubular strings can be introduced into a well in a variety of different ways. It may take many days for a wellbore service string to make a "trip" into a wellbore, which may be due in part to the time-consuming practice of making and breaking pipe joints to reach the desired depth. Moreover, the time required to assemble and deploy any service tool assembly downhole for such a long distance is very time consuming and costly. Since the cost per hour to operate a drilling or production rig is very expensive, saving time and steps can be hugely beneficial in terms of cost-savings in well service operations. Each trip into the wellbore adds expense and increases the possibility that tools may become lost in the wellbore, thereby requiring still further operations for their retrieval. Moreover, each additional trip into the wellbore oftentimes has the effect of reducing the inner diameter of the wellbore, which restricts the size of tools that are able to be introduced into the wellbore past such points.
To enable the fracturing and/or gravel packing of multiple hydrocarbon-producing zones in reduced timelines, some oil service providers have developed multi-zone completion systems that enable operators to perforate a large wellbore interval at one time, then make a clean-out trip and run all of the screens and packers at one time. As will be appreciated, this minimizes the number of trips into the wellbore and rig days required to complete conventional fracture and gravel packing operations in multiple pay zones.
Achieving a full gravel pack is desirable for long-term reliability of sand control operation in such hydrocarbon-producing zones. Various techniques, such as shunt tubes or beta wave attenuators can be used for achieving a full gravel pack. During gravel packing and fracturing operations, it may prove advantageous to obtain real-time wellbore monitoring.

Multi-zone completion systems and methods


A wellbore fluid having a non-aqueous continuous liquid phase that exhibits an electrical conductivity increased by a factor in order of 104 to 107 compared to conventional invert emulsion comprises from about 0.2% to about 10% by volume of carbon black particles and one or more emulsifying surfactant(s) selected from the class including nonionic emulsifiers of Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) less than about 12, and anionic surfactants wherein the counter-ion (cation) is any of alkali metal, ammonium, or hydrogen ions. This wellbore fluid can be used for drilling or completing a well and can be used for providing enhanced information from electrical logging tools, measurement while drilling, logging while drilling, geosteering and the like.

This invention relates to non-aqueous wellbore fluids and in particular concerns wellbore fluids which are electrically conductive. The invention also relates to the use of said wellbore fluids for drilling or completing subterranean wells such as oil and gas wells. In the process of rotary drilling a well, a drilling fluid or mud is circulated down the rotating drill pipe, through the bit, and up the annular space between the pipe and the formation or steel casing, to the surface. The drilling fluid performs different functions. It removes cuttings from the bottom of the hole to the surface, suspends cuttings and weighting material when the circulation is interrupted, controls subsurface pressure, isolates the fluids from the formation by providing sufficient hydrostatic pressure to prevent the ingress of formation fluids into the wellbore, cools and lubricates the drill string and bit, maximises penetration rate etc. An important objective in drilling a well is also to secure the maximum amount of information about the type of formations being penetrated and the type of fluids or gases in the formation. This information is obtained by analysing the cuttings and by electrical logging technology and by the use of various downhole logging techniques, including electrical measurements.
The required functions can be achieved by a wide range of fluids composed of various combinations of solids, liquids and gases and classified according to the constitution of the continuous phase mainly in two groupings: aqueous (water-based) drilling fluids, and non-aqueous (mineral oil or synthetic-base) drilling fluids, commonly called xe2x80x98oil-based fluidsxe2x80x99.
Water-based fluids constitute the most commonly used drilling fluid type. The aqueous phase is made of fresh water or, more often, of a brine. As discontinuous phases, they may contain gases, water-immniscible fluids such as diesel oil to form an oil-in-water emulsion, and solids including clays and weighting material such as barite. The properties are typically controlled by the addition of clay minerals, polymers and surfactants.
In drilling water-sensitive zones such as reactive shales, production formations or where bottom hole temperature conditions are severe or where corrosion is a major problem, oil-based drilling fluids are preferred. The continuous phase is a mineral or synthetic oil and commonly contains water or brine as discontinuous phase to form a water-in-oil emulsion or invert emulsion. The solid phase is essentially similar to that of water-based fluids and these fluids too contain several additives for the control of density, rheology and fluid loss. The invert emulsion is formed and stabilised with the aid of one or more specially selected emulsifiers.
Although oil-based drilling fluids arc more expensive than water-based muds, it is on the basis of the added operational advantage and superior technical performance of the oil-based fluids that these are often used for the drilling operations.
An area where oil-based muds have been at a technical disadvantage, because of their very low electrical conductivity, is in electrical well-logging. Various logging and imaging operations are performed during the drilling operation, for example while drilling in the reservoir region of an oil/gas well in order to determine the type of formation and the material therein. Such information may be used to optimally locate the pay zone, i.e. where the reservoir is perforated in order to allow the inflow of hydrocarbons to the wellbore.
Some logging tools work on the basis of a resistivity contrast between the fluid in the wellbore (drilling fluid) and that already in the formation. These are known as resistivity logging tools. Briefly, alternating current flows through the formation between two electrodes. Thus, the fluids in the path of the electric current are the formation fluids and the fluid which has penetrated the formation by way of filtration. The filtercake and filtrate result from filtration of the mud over a permeable medium (such as formation rock) under differential pressure.
Another example where fluid conductivity plays an important part in the drilling operation is in directional drilling where signals produced at the drill assembly have to be transmitted through an electrically conductive medium to the control unit and/or mud telemetry unit further back on the drill string.
At present the use of resistivity logging tools is limited mainly to cases where a water-based drilling fluid is used for the drilling operation (the very low conductivity of the base-oil in the case of oil/synthetic-base muds precludes the use of resistivity tools in such fluids). Although the brine dispersed in the oil phase is electrically conductive, the discontinuous nature of the droplets prevents the flow of electricity. Indeed, the inability of these emulsions to conduct electricity (until a very high potential difference is applied) is used as a standard test of emulsion stability. To that extent it is worth bearing in mind that the electrical conductivity of the oil base is typically in the range 10xe2x88x926 to 5xc3x97102 xcexcS.mxe2x88x921 at a frequency of 1 kHz while an electrical conductivity of not less than 10 xcexcS.mxe2x88x921 and preferably of no less than 103 xcexcS.mxe2x88x921 is desirable for electrical logging operations. So there is a need to increase the electrical conductivity of the fluid by a factor in the order of 104 to 107.
A few attempts to make oil-based drilling fluids electrically conductive for the purpose of electrical logging have been reported though none of them has been a commercial success. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,542,020, 2,552,775, 2,573,961, 2,696,468 and 2,739,120, all to Fischer, disclose soap-stabilised oil-based fluids comprising an alkaline-earth metal base dissolved in up to 10% by weight water. Fischer claims to reduce the electrical resistivity to below 500 ohm-m which corresponds to an increase of conductivity to xcexa greater than 2000 xcexcS mxe2x88x921. However, those fluids happen to be very sensitive to contaminants and greater amounts of water lead to unacceptable increase of the fluid loss. In essence these fluids relied on the residual or added water content to dissolve the salts/surfactants. Moreover, the continuous oil phase fails to exhibit any increase of its electrical conductivity and there is no reference to what happens to the filtrate which under optimum conditions is made up essentially of the continuous oil phase.
Twenty five years later, U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,329 disclosed an oil-external micro-emulsion made with sodium petroleum sulfonate and reported of resistivity  less than 1ohm-m (xcexa greater than 1 S mxe2x88x921). In such a micro-emulsion, the sodium petroleum sulfonate forms micelles that contain water and the clay so that the clay has to be added as a dispersion in water and cannot be added as dry powder. It should be also emphasised that a micro-emulsion is distinctly different from a standard emulsion, being thermodynamically stable, smaller in size, higher in surface to volume ratio and forming both filtercakes and fluid filtrate of a different nature. Obtaining the necessary combination of bulk properties and non-damaging rock interactions is more difficult than for a standard direct or invert emulsion fluid, and such fluids are not generally favoured for drilling oil wells.
Although the prior art contains formulations for making oil-based drilling fluid conductive, the methods so described adversely affect other mud properties, another reason why none have been successfully commercialised.
The aim of this invention is thus to provide a non-aqueous wellbore fluid which exhibits a substantial electrical conductivity.
When mixed in an article at sufficient concentrations, carbon black is known to impart electrical conductivity to otherwise insulating materials such as plastics or elastomers. The extremely small carbon black particles ( less than  less than 1 micron) are known to form an interconnecting network which allows the conduction of electricity. Such articles can thus, for instance, avoid the build up of static electricity or shield against electromagnetic interference.
However, when carbon black was added to a conventional invert emulsion oil-based drilling fluid or mud (hereinafter referred to as OBM), little or no useful increase in conductivity was observed.
More specifically it has been found that the calcium soaps of fatty acids such as tall oil fatty acid will interact with the network of carbon particles, decreasing the particle-particle attractive forces by adsorbing onto the particles. Similarly, invert emulsifiers or wetting agents having primary, secondary, tertiary amine groups or quaternary ammonium groups have been found to adsorb similarly and disrupt the conductive network of carbon black particles. Examples of such amine-containing products include fatty alkyl amidoamines, fatty alkyl imidazolines, fatty alkylamidoamines further reacted or cross-linked with di- or tri-basic acids such as maleic acid. Such calcium fatty acid soaps and amine-functional products are in very common use in all invert emulsion drilling fluids known to the applicants.
This invention has discovered that when carbon black is mixed in an OBM containing certain types of emulsifiers and oil-wetting agents, high levels of electrical conductivity can be obtained at advantageously low concentrations of carbon black.
Surprisingly, it has been found that in spite of the very high surface area and adsorption capacity of carbon black, certain invert emulsifiers and oil-wetting agent types do not disrupt the electrically conductive carbon black network.
In accordance with the invention, an electrically conductive invert emulsion wellbore fluid comprises from about 0.2% to about 10% by volume of carbon black particles and one or more emulsifying surfactant(s) selected from the class including: nonionic emulsifiers of Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) less than about 12, and anionic surfactants wherein the counter-ion (cation) is any of alkali metal, ammonium, or hydrogen ions.
All non-ionic surfactants found to date of an Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) suitable to promote invert emulsification, do not destroy the conductivity. These include the diethanolamides based on higher fatty acids of more than 12 carbon atoms such as oleic acid or tall oil fatty acid (TOFA), alkoxylated higher fatty alcohols, alkoxylated alkylphenols, and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block polymers. Generally, the more suitable HLB values are less than 10, but occasionally in combination with other emulsifiers, higher HLB values up to a maximum of 12 can be useful.
The other suitable classes of surfactants are anionic surfactants of sufficiently lipophilic character where the anionic surfactant is in the form of an alkali metal soap, the ammonium soap, or as the free acid. Polyvalent metal ion (e.g. calcium) soaps of these anionic surfactants are excluded because they have been found to disrupt the conductive network of carbon black particles, presumably by adsorption through ion-bridging by the polyvalent cation. The most preferred anionic surfactants are sulphonates such as alkane suiphonates, alpha-olefin sulphonates, alkylarene sulphonates, polyolefin sulphonates, and acyl taurates, all characterised by the carbon number of the hydrophobic moiety being at least about 12.
Other suitable anionic emulsifiers or wetting agents include the alkali metal or ammonium salts, or the free acid of fatty acids of 12 or more carbon atoms, phosphate esters of ethoxylated alcohols of 12 or more carbon atoms, phosphate esters of ethoxylated alkylphenols of 14 or more carbon atoms, and alkylarninomethylene phosphonic acids wherein the alkylamine precursor contains 12 or more carbon atoms.
The total dose of emulsifiers is preferably in the range of 0.5% to 10%, based on the total weight of the wellbore fluid.
A preferred carbon black in this invention has a significantly higher specific surface area (i.e. at least 500 m2/g) than the conventional carbon black. A very suitable grade has a specific surface area of about 1500 m2/g compared to 100-300 m2/g of the conventional black. This gives the carbon black particles a higher ability to form an interconnecting network of particles which leads to a thixotropic rheological effect and a significant increase in conduction of electricity.
The most important attribute of this invention is that the electrical conductivity of the fluid is increased by a factor of the order of 104 to 107. This allows the successful application of many electrical logging techniques and the transmission of electrical telemetry signals when organic liquid-based wellbore fluids fill the borehole. Another object of the present invention is therefore a method of providing enhanced information from electrical logging tools, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), logging-while-drilling (LWD), geosteering and the like wherein the efficiency is enhanced by the improved electrical conductivity wellbore fluids of the invention.
In this invention it has been found that electrically conductive, oil-based drilling fluids can be provided which maintain the performance advantages expected from known oil-based (or synthetic organic liquid-based) drilling fluids. Therefore, the fluids of this invention minimise adverse interactions with drilled rock formation, such as clay formation swelling or dispersion, hole collapse, or the undesirable dissolution of underground salt formations. They also provide the performance advantages expected from oil-based fluids with regard to enhanced lubricity, reduced differential sticking of drill pipe, and good stability at high temperatures.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wellbore fluid also comprises material capable of precipitating or complexing polyvalent metal cations such as the ions of calcium, magnesium and iron which may contaminate the wellbore fluid. This is to prevent the metal cation from forming a soap with emulsifiers which then adsorbs on the surface of carbon black particles and interferes with the conductive network.
Examples of precipitating materials are dissolved anions such as phosphate, carbonate or silicate. Examples of suitable complexing agents are the alkali metal or ammonium salts, or the free acids, of citric acid, gluconic acid. glucoheptanoic acid, ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid, nitrolotriacetic acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, diethylenetriarnine pentaacetic acid, hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid, nitrolotrismethylenephosphonic acid, aminomethylene phosphonates based on ethylene diamine or diethylene triamine or higher ethyleneamines, and polyphosphates such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate
The continous non aqueous phase may be selected from any refined or synthetic fluid known to be suitable as a wellbore fluid base liquid such as crude oil, hydrocarbon refined fractions from crude oil such as diesel fuel or mineral oil, synthetic hydrocarbons such as n-paraffins, alpha-olefins, internal olefins, and poly-alphaolefins; synthetic liquids such as dialkyl ethers, alkyl alkanoate esters, acetals; and natural oils such as triglycerides including rape-seed oil, sunflower oil and mixtures thereof. Low toxicity and highly biodegradable oils will be generally preferred especially for offshore drilling.
The discontinuous liquid phase is water or a brine and is present from about 0.5% to about 70% by volume of the emulsion.
In order to provide other properties required from wellbore fluids, the wellbore fluids of this invention may further contain any known wellbore fluid additives such as clay, organoclay, or polymeric viscosifiers, filtration reducers such as lignite derivatives or powdered gilsonite filtration reducers, asphalts, asphaltites or polymers swollen, by the oil, weighting agents such as finely divided barytes or hematite, lubricating additives, or any other functional additive known to those skilled in the art. These additives aim to provide a drilling mud that has the following characteristics:
be fluid and produce affordable pressure drop in surface pipes and drill string
have a yield stress suitable for supporting/transporting mud solids and drill cuttings
be chemically, thermally and mechanically stable
provide hole stability
provide good lubricity
prevent excessive fluid loss to the formation

Electrically conductive non-aqueous wellbore fluids


Structural damage repair elements including inserts and a structural damage repair kit is provided. The structural damage repair elements typically include two or more layers of materials having an adhesive therebetween that are subsequently compressed together. The structural damage repair kit includes a chemical molding agent, an optional jig, one or more structural damage repair elements and a sealant. Both hollow and solid elongated objects, as well as relatively flat, curved objects may be repaired with the kit. The structural damage repair elements include rods, wafers, and/or adhesive saturated inserts.

Objects comprised of or coated with fiberglass, carbon fiber, wood, etc. may develop or incur surface fractures or through-fractures. Surface fractures are typically breaks, cracks, splits, etc., that occur or develop in the surface of an object, but do not extend entirely through the wall of an object (i.e., a hockey stick (shaft, hozel, or blade), a boat hull, etc.). Through-fractures are those breaks, cracks, splits, etc. that extend entirely through the wall of an object.
Conventional repair kits and methods of repair generally involve removing the fractured section altogether, replacing the fractured section and/or repairing the fracture. However, these kits and methods compromise the structural integrity of the object to be repaired because the repair does not restore and/or enhance the structural integrity of the repaired object, but rather, either creates one or more shear points where the replaced or repaired material contacts the original material or provides a temporary repair that is weaker than the original material. These conventional repair kits and methods of repair compromise the repaired section of the object and potentially compromise the safety of the person(s) using the repaired object. Additionally, these conventional repair kits and methods of repair are very costly, very labor intensive, and can drastically alter the appearance or performance of the repaired area.
In addition, objects made or formed from hollow support pieces and/or objects typically do not provide similar strength and support as compared to the same objects which are made of the same materials, but are solid in design and not hollow. However, hollow formed objects offer many advantages over solid formed objects including, but not limited to, hollow formed objects typically use less overall material and therefore are lighter in weight, more maneuverable and easier to transport. Additionally, because less material is used in the construction of hollow objects, these hollow objects typically cost less money to produce.
While objects that are hollow offer the above advantages, these hollow objects, when in use, may undergo sudden impact or extreme flexural stress, and may also undergo structural stress with use over time. Therefore, these hollow objects may develop fissures, develop cracks and/or fracture into multiple pieces. Once the hollow object is cracked or fractured, replacing the cracked section of the object, or completely replacing the fractured section of an object may either be very costly, or in many cases, not possible. In order to obtain a hollow object that is comparable in support and strength to the original uncracked or unfractured hollow object, a user is left with either purchasing, if possible and if available, a new hollow piece to replace the cracked or fractured piece of the object, or the user must replace the entire object all together. Both of these options are very costly and may take significant amounts of time.
Accordingly, there is a need for structural damage repair kits that provide great strength and yet are cost-effective. These elements and the kit should restore and/or enhance the structural integrity of fractured objects, reduce any potential shear points and typically cost much less than conventional repair kits and are much less labor intensive than conventional repair kits and methods.

Structural damage repair elements and kit


Online video can now be supplied with hyperlinks that are associated with and move with objects in the video. However, online video players tend not to report an accurate frame number, and this results in poor synchronisation of the movement of the hyperlink and the object. We propose that a subset of the pixels in the frame be used to encode a numeric frame identifier.

Online video is now an established communication tool, being used for social purposes and for commercial marketing and other purposes. Indeed, the success of online video is such that content-enabled video services are being developed, allowing functionality to be co-delivered with the video such as clickable hyperlinks within the video frame, such as external links that lead the viewer to a specific website or other internet address, or popouts to display text or images, or play video or audio alongside or instead of the video previously being played.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,620,914 discloses the incorporation of clickable hyperlinks into a viewable video, sending the hyperlink data in a separate stream alongside the video data. The two are then re-united in the video player and the hyperlinks are displayed over the video data, allowing a user to click the hyperlink as and when desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,817,822 discloses a motion tracking system for such hyperlinks. This allows a user to associate the hyperlink with a specific feature in a frame of the video, following which the motion tracking system detects movement of that feature in subsequent frames and adjusts the position of the hyperlink accordingly. As a result, the hyperlink appears to "float" over the feature and follow it as it moves in the video. The hyperlink can therefore be associated with the feature, such as a link offering more information on or an opportunity to purchase the item forming that feature. Multiple hyperlinks can then be safely added to a video or video segment, with the meaning of each hyperlink remaining clear to a viewer at all times.


A method for controlling a water heater comprising: receiving report information transmitted by a user-wearable device at a predetermined frequency; determining whether a user is coming back according to user location information included in the report information; and if the user is coming back, turning on a return water pump to permit water outputted from a water outlet of the water heater to return to the water heater through a water return port. The present disclosure determines a movement direction and the user location by using report information transmitted by the user-wearable device. If the user is coming back, the return water pump is turned on to permit water to return, so that the user can take a hot bath immediately after arriving home, thereby improving user's experience.

With the improvement of life quality of people, taking physical exercise has become a first choice in leisure time, and people usually need to take a bath after taking part in physical exercises. Usually, there is a certain distance from the water tank of the water heater to the shower head, therefore, the cold water in the water pipe needs to be discharged before the hot water is discharged, which will cause waste of water resources.
In order to save water resources, a water heater with the function of water return is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, cold water enters the water tank of the water heater 1 through the water inlet 11 of the water heater 1 and is heated and hot water flows out of the hot water outlet 12. The user adjusts the proportion of the hot water and the cold water entering through the cold water outlet 21 by adjusting the mixing valve 2 so that the mixed water will finally flow out of the shower head 3. In order to avoid the defect that the cold water is discharged first when the user takes a bath, the return water pump 4 is provided on the pipe between the hot water outlet 12 of the water heater 1 and the water return port 13. When the return water pump 4 is turned on, the cold water in the pipe between the hot water outlet 12 and the mixing valve 2 can return to the water tank of the water heater 1 through the water return port 13 and be heated, thereby ensuring that hot water can directly flow out of the shower head when the user takes a shower and avoiding waste of water resources.
However, the user cannot operate the return water pump before finishing the physical exercise and going home, and it will take some time for the water to return, therefore the user cannot take a hot bath immediately after arriving home, making the user's experience worse.

Method and apparatus for controlling water heater, water heater, and controlling system thereof

GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES (WUHAN) CO., LTD

GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI


An outside air temperature (OAT) diagnostic system includes an ambient temperature monitoring module that receives (i) an OAT signal from an OAT sensor and (ii) an intake air temperature (IAT) signal from an IAT sensor of an engine. The ambient temperature monitoring module compares the OAT signal to an IAT signal and generates a first difference signal. A performance reporting module determines whether the OAT sensor is exhibiting a fault and generates an OAT performance signal based on the first difference signal.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Onboard diagnostic (OBD) controllers (i.e. diagnostic controllers on a vehicle) need to satisfy certain regulations and manufacturer requirements. For example, the OBD controllers are required to perform diagnostic tests on received signals. The diagnostic tests are performed to determine whether the signals pass or fail predetermined requirements. A malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is illuminated, for example, when a fault is detected.
An outside air temperature (OAT) sensor system is used to report ambient air temperatures. The OAT system includes an OAT sensor that detects ambient air temperature. Information provided by the OAT sensor is provided to a non-OBD compliant controller, for use by various vehicle systems. As information from the OAT sensor system is not OBD compliant, the information can not be provided to and used by an OBD compliant controller.

Outside air temperature sensor diagnostic systems for a vehicle