The present application relates to methods of preparing a compound of formula I:

Fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of collagen in the extracellular matrix of the involved tissue. It is a long-standing and challenging clinical problem for which no effective treatment is currently available. The production of collagen is a highly regulated physiological process, the disturbance of which may lead to the development of tissue fibrosis. The formation of fibrous tissue is part of the normal beneficial process of healing after injury. In some cases, however, abnormal accumulation of fibrous material can severely interfere with the normal function of the affected tissue or even cause loss of function of the affected organ. A variety of compounds have been identified as anti-fibrosis agents via different mechanisms of action, including the suppression of collagen expression.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over 55; and diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause in people under 55. Both diseases are characterized by new blood vessel growth. Macular edema and Diabetic macular edema (DME) occur when fluid and protein deposits collect on or under the macula caused by leaking macular capillaries. Thrombosis of central retinal vein (CRV) and its branches is the second most prevalent vascular pathology after DR, and results in abrupt decrease in visual acuity and is accompanied by macular edema. Thus, anti-angiogenesis treatments are useful in combating all these conditions.
Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins through which cells attach and communicate with extracellular matrices and other cells. αv integrins are key receptors involved in mediating cell migration and angiogenesis. αv integrins have been shown to be involved in a number of diseases and conditions including ocular angiogenesis and fibrosis of organs. Expression of αv integrins is upregulated in various diseases or conditions, such as AMD and DR, and in mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) or retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) model. Also, αvβ3 is expressed in new vessels after photocoagulation, but not in normal choroidal vessels, in the laser-induced choroidal neovascularization model for AMD. Administration of αv integrin antagonists (e.g., a cyclic RGD peptide) has been shown to inhibit retinal and choroidal neovascularization. Angiogenesis inhibitors targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), other growth factors (e.g., fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)), chemokines (e.g., IL8, SDF1, G-CSF), receptors (e.g., CXCR1, FGF-R, P1GFR, PDGFR, Tie-receptors), intracellular mediators (e.g., c-kit kinase, PI3 kinase, PKC), and extracellular mediators (e.g., integrins, cadherins), as well as inhibitors of pro-angiogenic targets (e.g., phosphoinositide 3 kinase), have been investigated for the treatment of AMD and DR. However, application of these drugs is limited.
Thus, there continues to be a need for compounds, compositions, and methods for treating fibrosis, AMD, DR, DME, and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, that are safe, effective, and conveniently administered. The present application addresses the need.

Method of making tetrahydronaphthyridinyl nonanoic acid compounds

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.


A device for driving a plurality of light emitting diodes includes a plurality of light emitting diode groups in series; a current providing unit for providing a current to the plurality of light emitting diode groups; and at least one current path controller in parallel with a corresponding one of the light emitting diode groups for turning off the corresponding one of the light emitting diode groups in accordance with a control signal.

1. Field of the invention
Embodiments of the present invention relates to a light emitting diode, and more particularly to a light emitting diode for a liquid crystal display device. Embodiments of the invention are suitable for a wide scope of applications. In particular, embodiments of the invention are suitable for driving a light emitting diode for a liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, electronic display devices are widely used in information driven society. A variety of electronic display devices are being used in various industries. Accordingly, new types of electronic display industry have been and are being developed to satisfy the continually changing needs and requirements of the information driven society.
In general, the electronic display device transmits visual information by converting an electronic signal into an optical signal. For example, the electronic display device may include a light emitting display device, which uses light emission to display the optical signal. In another example, the electronic display device may include a light receiving display device, which uses reflection, scattering, and interference for modulating and displaying the optical signal.
The light emitting display device is called an active display device, examples of which are a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic electro luminescent display (OELD), and a light emitting diode (LED) display. The light receiving display device is called an inactive display device, examples of which are a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an electro phoretic image display EPID.
The CRT display device has been widely used as a display device for television or computer monitor for a long-time. However, the CRT is heavy, relatively bulky, and has a high power consumption. Recent improvement in semiconductor technology lead to the development of a flat panel display device, which is thin, light and consumes relatively less power. The flat panel display devices being developed include, for example, the LCD, the PDP, and the OELD. The LCD device is of particular interest for use in small electronic devices because it is slim, and thin, and has a low power consumption.
The LCD device includes an LCD panel including a first transparent insulating substrate having a common electrode, a color filter, and a black matrix; a second transparent insulating substrate having a switching element and a pixel electrode; and a liquid crystal material having an anisotropic dielectric constant injected between the first and second transparent insulating substrates. Different voltages are applied to the pixel electrode and the common electrode of the LCD device to adjust a magnitude of an electric field of the liquid crystal material and vary a molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material. Thus, the amount of light transmitted through the first and second transparent substrates is controlled by the voltage difference between the pixel and common electrodes to display a desired image on the LCD panel.
Because the LCD device is a light receiving display device, it cannot emit the light by itself. Accordingly, a backlight is provided in the back of the LCD panel. The backlight projects light on the LCD panel and maintains a uniform total brightness for the LCD display. The backlight may include a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL) as a light source.
However, the LED is gaining interest as a next generation light source for the backlight because of potential energy saving and quasi-permanent use compared with the CCFL and the EEFL. The use of LED as a backlight source has been so far limited to small-sized LCDs, such as in portable phones. However, recent improvement in the luminance of LEDs expands the use of LEDs as backlight source for mid-size to large LCD devices.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a device for driving an LED as a light source in a backlight of an LCD device according to the related art. Referring to FIG. 1, the light source for the backlight of the LCD device includes three LED groups D11 to D13, D21 to D23, and D31 to D33. Constant current providing circuits 10, 20, and 30 are provided to power the respective LED groups D11 to D13, D21 to D23, and D31 to D33, respectively. For example, the constant current providing circuit 10 powers the first LED group D11 to D13 The constant current providing circuit 20 powers the second LED group D21 to D23. The constant current providing circuit 30 powers the third LED group D31 to D33. A pulse width modulation signal providing circuit 40 drives the constant current providing circuits 10, 20 and 30. The three groups of LEDs D11 to D13, D21 to D23, and D31 to D33 divide the backlight into three backlight regions, the luminance of which is independently controlled by the respective current providing circuits 10, 20 and 30.
In the related backlight, the constant current providing circuits 10, 20, and 30 should be provided in proportion to the number of the divided backlight regions. Thus, the number of required electronic elements for driving the light emitting diode increases with the number of backlight regions. Hence, the cost of the related art backlight also increases in relation to a number of divided backlight regions. Moreover, the wiring structure of a printed circuit board (PCB) becomes increasingly more complex in relation with the number of backlight regions.


An analyser comprises a substrate (20) of diamond, sapphire or a polymer material; an array (10) of elongate capillary channels formed in the substrate; means (40) for driving a sample to be tested along one or more of the channels whereby the velocities of components of the sample along the channels depends on the relative molecular weights of those components; and a radiation source (100) and a radiation detector (30) disposed on either side of the channel array so as to detect the presence of material in the channels as interruptions in the radiation path between the radiation source and the radiation detector.

This invention relates to analysers. Embodiments of the invention relate to instruments for the determination of molecular characteristics, such as the length of nucleic acid in terms of base pairs, and the sequencing of genetic samples.
There are several current techniques for analysing materials such as DNA samples in an automated or semi-automated manner. One such technique which has been demonstrated for DNA analysis is the use of so-called microfabricated capillary electrophoresis (CE) chips.
These devices comprise a substrate in which a number of very fine capillary chancels are etched and filled with a gel material. A material to be analysed passes along the capillary channel wider the influence of an electric field. Components of the materialxe2x80x94for example, nucleic acidsxe2x80x94progress along the channel at different rates depending on the relative molecular weights of the components, leading to a separation by molecular weight.
Current techniques use photographic techniques to image radioactive or luminescent tags attached to the nucleic acids. This is a time consuming process. A quicker but expensive alterative is to use phosphor imagers to record the sequences. Furthermore, both processes use hazardous chemicals to tag the nucleic acids and the safe use and disposal of these is a major problem, requiring skilful scientific and technical input.
As mentioned above, all of these techniques are relatively slow. In any current emission technique, such as CE-laser induced fluorescence (CE-UP) the time-to-sequence depends on the separation gradient (i.e. the electric field) and the discriminator power (e.g. the capillary or electrophoresis gel) convolved with the size of the objects to be separated.
There is a need for an improved technique offering a faster response than current techniques and avoiding the use of hazardous materials.
PCT/GB96/01121 discloses an electrophoresis system in which material components are driven along quartz tubes. In effect, the shadow of the separated components is detected by directing an ultraviolet (UV) light from one side of the tubes towards a detector at the other side.
This invention provides analyser comprising: a substrate of diamond, sapphire or a polymer material; an array of one or more elongate capillary channels formed in the substrate; means for driving a sample to be tested along one or more of the channels whereby the velocities of components of the sample along the channels depends on the relative molecular weights of those components; a radiation source and a radiation detector disposed on either side of the channel array so as to detect the presence of material in the channels as interruptions in the radiation path between the radiation source and the radiation detector.
The invention addresses the above problems by providing a new selection of substrates offering many advantages over the glass, quartz and plastics of previous analysers. In particular, the whole apparatus can be miniaturised and the use of hazardous markers is avoided by detecting the xe2x80x9cshadowxe2x80x9d of separated components (e.g. DNA fragments).
Embodiments of the invention can provide an analysis technique which can be carried out while avoiding the use of mutagenic, toxic and carcinogenic chemiluminescent, bioluminescent and radiolabels, with associated benefits in running costs, safety and ease of disposal.
Embodiments of the invention can provide up to an order of magnitude increase in speed for DNA sequencing. For example, a sequence of 500 base pairs which might take 6 hours using a conventional electrophoresis technique could be achieved in 10 minutes using a prototype embodiment of the invention. The saving in time can arise because in current imaging techniques the images of bands identified by conventional labels is heavily smeared by the isotropic emission characteristics of the labels, whereas in embodiments of the present invention the image of a nucleic acid band is substantially the same size as the band, smeared only by diffraction.
Embodiments of the invention can further provide an improved detection sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio in sub-microlitre sequencing and imaging.
Embodiments of the invention can allow pre-programmed sequence recognition masks to accompany an installation, so that in principle a xe2x80x9cyes-noxe2x80x9d answer could be obtained by relatively untrained end-users. A sequence triage system results which, coupled to the potentially low cost of this technology, could result in the use of apparatus according to embodiments of the invention in doctors"" surgeries, schools and even on individual researchers"" desks.


A brake beam assembly for railroad cars. The brake beam includes a clevis rotatably connected to a channel member with the clevis having depending tabs which allow the clevis to be positioned in a right hand or left hand orientation. The clevis is connected to a leaf spring which is positioned in the channel member to accommodate excessive force during braking. The brake head is connected to an adaptor which allows the brake head and shoe to float and accommodate wheel wear or the misalignment of the brake beam and wheelset.

Brake beams used in conjunction with railroad cars have previously been constructed as a one-piece item with the brake heads and the connecting arm rigidly attached to the main beam. These beams were manufactured in both right hand and left hand orientations to accomodate both sets of wheels on the railroad car.
The beams are connected to actuating mechanisms which generally shift the beams between an unbraked position with the brake shoes (which are connected to the brake heads) spaced from the car wheels and a braked position in contact with the wheels to slow and/or stop the train.
These previous brake beams contained no structure which relieved excessive pulling force on the connecting arm, nor did they allow the brake shoes to adapt to the proper attitude on worn train wheels. As a result, prior beams were not totally effective in stopping the train, and were frequently broken which required expensive repair and/or rebuilding. Also, the rigid connection of the connecting arm to the main beam required that separate tooling be used to construct a right hand beam as opposed to a left hand beam.


Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for reducing a computational burden of a blockchain provider. A data processing computer may facilitate an exchange of a data transfer message between respective applications of a first and second device. The data processing computer may maintain an electronic record according to the exchange. A net transfer value may be determined for the record and data comprising the net transfer value may be transmitted to a blockchain provider. Receipt of the data by the blockchain provider may cause the blockchain provider to update a ledger with the net transfer value.

Blockchain technology is becoming more common place. A "blockchain" can be a distributed database that maintains a continuously-growing list of records secured from tampering and revision. A blockchain may include a number of blocks of interaction records. Each block in the blockchain can contain also include a timestamp and a link to a previous block. For example; each block may include or be appended to a hash of the previous block. Stated differently, interaction records in a blockchain may be stored as a series of "blocks," or permanent files that include a record of a number of transactions occurring over a given period of time. Blocks may be appended to a blockchain by a blockchain provider after it completes the block and the block is validated. A blockchain may be distributed, and a copy of the blockchain may be maintained at one or more locations. In some examples, the blockchain can be used to verify transactions. The security of a blockchain may be obtained using a cryptographic scheme.
While utilization of a blockchain can bring many benefits, current techniques require each interaction record to be reported to the blockchain. Given the growing popularity of blockchain technology, it may prove difficult to manage and track each and every interaction between each and every connected device within a system. Accordingly, current techniques include inherent latency issues.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems, individually and collectively.

Techniques for secure blockchain management


A heater apparatus includes: a heater unit including a heater resistor; a first switching unit disposed on a downstream side of the heater resistor for on/off controlling a power supply path from a supply voltage; a second switching unit disposed on an upstream side of the heater resistor for on/off controlling the power supply path from the supply voltage; and a controller outputting first and second control signals for on/off controlling the first and second switching units, respectively. The first switching unit is switched on when the first control signal is high, and the second switching unit is switched on when the second control signal is low. The heater unit is switched on when the sensor temperature is equal to or lower than a first threshold, and is switched off when the sensor temperature is equal to or higher than a second threshold.

In recent years, there has been an increasing tendency of adopting liquid crystal panels as display devices on vehicles. In these liquid crystal panels, there is a configuration in which a cold-cathode tube is used as a back light which works as a light source. In general, the cold-cathode tube has a predetermined working temperature range, which is set to obtain a desired luminance. In particular, the cold-cathode tube has characteristics that the desired luminance cannot be obtained immediately after it is switched on, because the temperature in the interior of the cold-cathode tube is lower than the working temperature range set. Then, there have been proposed techniques in which the liquid crystal panel is controlled to be heated to the desired temperature by the use of a heater or the like (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an LCD heater apparatus 110 for controlling a liquid crystal panel to stay within a desired temperature range, and the block diagram summarizes briefly and illustrates the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 above. The LCD heater apparatus 110 includes a CPU 20, a heater control unit 140 and an LCD heater unit 70.
The CPU 20 includes a first port P10 and a second port P20 which are digital output ports for outputting a high or low signal, and an analog input port AN. Here, the second port P20 is not used. A thermistor 74 is connected to the analog input port AN via a sensor part 45 of the heater control unit 140.
The LCD heater unit 70 includes a heater 72 which is made up of a resistor, and the thermistor 74 which functions as a temperature sensor and is disposed in the vicinity of an LCD panel 80.
The heater control unit 140 includes the sensor part 45, a downstream-side controller 50, and a diode 41 for supplying power from a constant voltage power supply Vcc2 towards the heater 72. Specifically, an anode of the diode 41 is connected to the constant voltage power supply Vcc2, and a cathode of the diode 41 is connected to the heater 72. In addition, in a configuration in which the LCD heater apparatus 110 is installed on a vehicle, the constant voltage power supply Vcc2 is made to be interlocked with the on and off states of, for example, an ignition switch to supply power to the heater 72.
In the sensor part 45, a sensor resistor 43 and a capacitor 42 are connected in series between a constant voltage power supply Vcc1 and a ground potential. In addition, the thermistor 74 of the LCD heater unit 70 is connected between a connecting point T1 between the sensor resistor 43 and the capacitor 42 and the ground potential. In addition, the connecting point T1 is connected to the analog input port AN of the CPU 20. By this configuration, a change in resistance value of the thermistor 74 due to a change in temperature is inputted into the analog input port AN as a voltage change (partial pressures of the sensor resistor 43 and the thermistor 74), and the CPU 20 calculates a temperature in the thermistor 74 based on the input so made.
The downstream-side controller 50 is disposed on a downstream side of the heater 72 and includes a first switching device (a first switching unit) Tr1, a first resistor 52, and a second resistor 53. Specifically, the first switching device Tr1 is an n-channel FET (Field Effect Transistor), and a drain terminal D is connected to the heater 72, while a source terminal is connected to the ground potential. In addition, a gate terminal G is connected to the first port P10 via the first resistor 52. Resistance values of the first resistor 52 and the second resistor 53 are set in accordance with a voltage (a high voltage) that is applied to the gate terminal G and the switching characteristics of the first switching device Tr1. Additionally, when the first port P10 becomes high, the gate terminal G of the first switching device Tr1 becomes high, and the first switching device Tr1 is switched on. As this occurs, power is supplied from the constant voltage power supply Vcc2 to the heater 72, whereby the heater 72 heats the LCD panel 80. By this configuration, the CPU 20 on/off controls the downstream-side controller 50 (the first switching device Tr1) so as to control the supply of power to the heater 72 based on the temperature in the thermistor 74 sensed, whereby the LCD panel 80 is made to stay within the desired temperature range.
In addition, with a view to enhancing the display characteristics and enhancing the life of the LCD panel, there have been proposed techniques in which the temperature control is implemented in detail so that a back light of an LCD panel is turned off when the temperature of the back panel is low (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).


A method for manufacturing a display module includes preparing a display module comprising a plurality of layers and forming a through-hole in the display module. The forming the through-hole includes performing a first irradiation process of irradiating a first laser beam along a first boundary defining the through-hole, performing a second irradiation process of irradiating a second laser beam along a second boundary after the first irradiation process, and performing a third irradiation process of irradiating a third laser beam along a third boundary after the second irradiation process. A time interval between the first irradiation process and the second irradiation process may be different from a time interval between the second irradiation process and the third irradiation process.

The disclosure herein relates to a display module with improved reliability, a method for manufacturing the display module, and a laser machining method.
A display device may include various electronic components such as a display panel for displaying an image, an input sensing member for sensing an external input, and an electronic module. The electronic components may be electrically connected to each other through signal lines variously arranged. The display panel may include a light emitting element for generating an image. The input sensing member may include sensing electrodes for sensing an external input. The electronic module may include a camera, an infrared sensor, and/or a proximity sensor. The electronic module may be disposed under the display panel.

Display module, method for manufacturing display module, and laser machining method


The present invention provides a positive electrode for a lithium rechargeable battery, a lithium rechargeable battery including the same, and a method of fabricating the lithium rechargeable battery. An antigelling agent is added in a positive electrode slurry to prevent gelation, and the positive electrode of the present invention is made with the antigelling agent added positive electrode slurry. During fabrication of the positive electrode by using a lithium nickel-based or manganese-based composite oxide for a positive electrode active material, gelation is prevented. A lithium rechargeable battery made with the positive electrode of the present invention shows a high capacity and excellent stability and reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positive electrode for a lithium rechargeable battery, a lithium rechargeable battery including the same, and a method of fabricating the lithium rechargeable battery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a positive electrode for a lithium rechargeable battery, a lithium rechargeable battery including the same, and a method of fabricating the lithium rechargeable battery, which has a high capacity and prevents gelation phenomenon that occurs during fabrication of a positive electrode by using a lithium nickel-based or manganese-based composite oxide for a positive electrode active material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As electronics, communication, and computer industries are rapidly developed in recent years, their equipments become small in size, light in weight, and highly integrated. Portable electronic equipments, such as camcorders, cellular phones, and laptop computers, have been popular. Accordingly, demand for a lightweight, durable, and reliable battery has increased. In particular, because a lithium rechargeable battery can be quickly charged, and its energy density per unit weight is three times higher than those of a lead acid battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, and a nickel-zinc battery, research and development have been intensively conducted on the lithium rechargeable battery.
The lithium rechargeable battery includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode has a positive electrode collector, and the negative electrode has a negative electrode collector. Positive electrode and negative electrode active material layers, which include intercalatable and deintercalatable materials of lithium ions, are formed on surfaces of collectors of the positive electrode and negative electrode. A separator is interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. An organic electrolyte is filled in a space formed between the positive electrode and negative electrode. The lithium rechargeable battery produces electric energy by oxidation and reduction reaction when the lithium ions are intercalated/deintercalated at the positive electrodes and negative electrodes.
A lithium metal has been used for a negative electrode active material of the lithium rechargeable battery. The lithium rechargeable battery, if the lithium metal is used, can be explosive in a short-circuit of the battery due to the formation of a dendrite. Therefore, a carbon-based material such as amorphous carbon or crystalline carbon is used as a substitution for the lithium metal.
For a positive electrode active material of the lithium rechargeable battery, a lithium composite oxide, which includes a transition metal and lithium having an intercalatable structure such as LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, and LiNiMO2 (M is two-valence or three-valence metal), has been mainly used. The lithium composite oxide such as LiCoO2 or LiNiMO2 (M is two-valence or three-valence metal) is made by mixing a lithium compound such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide with a cobalt compound such as cobalt oxide and cobalt carbonate or a nickel compound including NiM(OH)2 or its oxide. In the mixture for the lithium composite oxide, the ratio of Li to Co or Li to Ni is approximately 1:1, and the mixture is baked for 7 to 25 hours at temperature of 600° C. to 1000° C. In the lithium composite oxide made in the above mentioned processes, non-reacted lithium compound remains on the surface, and positive electrode active material slurry is formed, causing a gelation problem. Furthermore, the non-reacted lithium compound forms lithium carbonate by reacting with CO2 of the atmosphere, and the lithium carbonate is decomposed at a high temperature producing gas in the battery, which may degrade the characteristics of the battery.
In particular, if a high alkaline positive electrode active material is mixed with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) binder, then a continuous reaction of decomposing HF is progressed. It is speculated that this reaction is also accompanied by high-grade amine series such as γ-butyrolactone, which is an alkaline impurity of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) used as a solvent, methylamine, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine, or is accompanied by a polymer such as a dimer and a trimer, which is polymerized by the modification of the NMP. If active oxygen or water is contacted with the formed double bonding chain, functional groups are introduced, and viscosity increases during the mixing process of the slurry, and thus gelation phenomenon occurs. The increase of viscosity depends on the degree of hydrogen bonding and crosslinking between the functional groups. If the amount of the residual moisture in the PVdF binder solution is large, such a reaction is rapidly progressed.
Because a battery capacity per unit weight of the lithium nickel-based composite oxide or the lithium manganese-based composite oxide is higher than that of another lithium-containing metal oxide, lithium nickel-based composite oxide or the lithium manganese-based composite oxide has an advantage for the high capacity lithium rechargeable battery. However, because the lithium nickel-based composite oxide or the lithium manganese-based composite oxide has high alkalinity, and causes a gelation phenomenon of positive electrode active material slurry, it is practically difficult to use the lithium nickel-based composite oxide or the lithium manganese-based composite oxide in a rechargeable battery.
Japanese laid-open Patent Publication No. 1993-266889 proposes to minimize the formation of lithium carbonate by plasticizing Co and Li in the ratio of Co to Li that is lower than one. However, in case of using this method, a non-reacted Co or Ni compound remains, and the battery capacity decreases.
Japanese laid-open Patent Publication No. 1998-79244 proposes to make slurry by adding an organic acid during fabrication of slurry of an positive electrode active material. However, in case of using this method, the aforementioned problem is not sufficiently resolved because the active material absorbs CO2 or water before being fabricated into the slurry.
Japanese laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-123755 proposes to make neutral lithium salt on the surface of an active material by treating the surface with acid. However, in case of using this method, an electrochemical property of the battery, in particular a high rate discharge capability, deteriorates, because the surface of the active material is damaged and the amount of lithium used during actual charging and discharging operations is reduced.

Positive electrode for lithium rechargeable battery and lithium rechargeable battery including the same and method of fabricating the lithium rechargeable battery


A protective cover for a golf club which includes a cylindrical shaft cover having a cutout formed at the middle portion of the shaft cover, a slit extending longitudinally along the side wall of the shaft cover, and an unfolding groove or hinge extending longitudinally along the shaft cover opposite the slit. The shaft cover can be easily unfolded upon being bent at the cutout and can be easily recovered to its original state because it is made of a flexible resilient material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective cover for a golf club particularly adapted to protect the upper portion of the golf club, namely, the head and shaft of the golf club adjacent the head.
2. Background Discussion
Referring to FIG. 12, a golf bag is illustrated, in which golf clubs 1 are received. The golf bag, which is denoted by the reference numeral 21 in FIG. 12, is partitioned to receive separately a plurality of golf clubs therein. The golf bag 21 also has a slope at the entrance thereof so that the user can easily and conveniently extract golf clubs 1 from the golf bag 21 upon using those golf clubs. Golf clubs 1 are received in the golf bag 21 while being arranged together in parallel in such a manner that those having a shorter length are received in the front portion of the golf bag 21 whereas those having a longer length are received in the rear portion of the golf bag 21. Accordingly, the golf clubs 1 can be easily selected upon their use in accordance with their range. Meanwhile, when the user carries the golf bag 21, golf clubs 1 received in the golf bag 21 may move, so that they come into contact with one another.
Where golf clubs 1 are received in the golf bag 21 in a manner shown in FIG. 12, the head 2 of short club adjacent a longer club comes into contact with the shaft 3 of the longer golf club, frequently causing the shaft 3 of the longer golf club to be scratched. As a result, the paint layer on the surface of the shaft 3 being scratched is peeled off. This results in a degradation in the appearance of the golf club. In order to solve such a problem, a head cover illustrated in FIG. 13 has been proposed. As shown in FIG. 13, such a head cover has a head cover portion 4 adapted to enclose the head 2 of a golf club 1, and a shaft cover portion 5 adapted to enclose the upper portion of the shaft 3 of the golf club 1. The head cover is put on the golf club 1 before the golf club 1 is received in the golf bag 21. That is, the head cover is put on the golf club 1 by inserting the head 2 of the golf club 1 into an opening defined at the lower end of the shaft cover portion 5 under the condition in which the golf club 1 is inserted in an inverted state, until the head 2 is enclosed by the head cover portion 4 while the shaft 3 is enclosed by the shaft cover portion 5.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the shaft 3 of the golf club 1 from being damaged due to its movement occurring while carrying the golf bag, because the head cover encloses the head 2 and shaft 3. However, the dimensions of the opening of the head cover portion 4 are small relative to the dimensions of the head 2. Due to such a small dimensions of the opening, considerable effort is required to put the head cover on and take it off the head 2 of the golf club 1. In other words, it is very difficult to put the head cover on the golf club 1 rapidly, because the user must insert the head 2 of the golf club 1 into the opening of the head cover while widening the opening by hand. Upon taking off the head cover, a strong force is required to extract the head of the golf club through the narrow opening of the head cover.
Furthermore, when the golf club 1 with the head cover thereon is placed into the golf bag 21, its shaft cover portion 5 may come into contact, at the lower end thereof, with the head covers on other golf clubs already received in the golf bag 21, or with the upper ends of the partitions 21a shown in dotted lines provided in the golf bag 21. As a result, the head cover portion 5 of the head cover may shift upwardly due to contact of its lower end with such head covers on other golf clubs already received in the golf bag 21, or with the upper ends of the partitions 21a. When the head cover portion 5 of the head cover shifts upwardly at its lower end as mentioned above, the shaft 3 of the golf club 1 is exposed, so that it may come into direct contact with other golf clubs directly or with head covers on such golf clubs. For this reason, this still results in a degradation in the appearance of the golf club shaft due to wear.
FIG. 14 illustrates another conventional head cover. This head cover has a cover body 6 adapted to enclose both the head 2 and the lower portion of the shaft 3 of a golf club. The cover body 6 is longitudinally slitted along the cover body 6 to allow an easy insertion of the head 2 and shaft 3 of the golf club 1 into the head cover. The head cover also has a slide fastener attached to the slitted portion of the cover body 6. In the case of this head cover, the slide fastener 7 attached to the cover body 6 is open upon putting the head cover on the golf club 1. Thereafter, the head 2 of the golf club 1 is inserted into the head cover through the widen opening of the head cover. After the insertion, the slide fastener 7 is closed. Thus, the head cover is put on the golf club 1, so that it protects the head 2 and the lower portion of the shaft 3. However, this head cover still is inconvenient to use because the slide fastener 7 must be manipulated, opening and closing it every time the head cover is put on, or taken off, the golf club. Typically, the head cover is made of a thick fabric in order to provide a buffering function. For this reason, the head cover is bulky, so that it unnecessarily occupies a great deal of space. This leads to a bulky structure of the golf bag 21 itself. In contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,193 discloses a golf club head cover similar to that depicted in FIG. 13 with a portion adapted to enclose the head of a golf club, and a shaft cover portion extending downwardly from the head cover portion and serving to enclose the lower portion of the shaft of the golf club. This golf club cover has a different configuration from the head cover of FIG. 13, only in that it has a longitudinal slot formed in the shaft cover portion in order to insert conveniently the head and shaft of the golf club into the cover. However, this golf club cover still is inconvenient to use because the insertion of the head and shaft of the golf club into the cover is carried out under the condition in which the slot is widen.

Protective cover for golf club with slit shaft portion

22-102, Hanyang Apartment, Songpa-Dong, Songpa-Ku


A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope sensor has a sensing mass and a quadrature error compensation control loop for applying a force to the sensing mass to cancel quadrature error. To detect fault, the quadrature error compensation control loop is opened and an additional force is applied to produce a physical displacement of the sensing mass. A quadrature error resulting from the physical displacement of the sensing mass in response to the applied additional force is sensed. The sensed quadrature error is compared to an expected value corresponding to the applied additional force and a fault alert is generated if the comparison is not satisfied.

A capacitive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope sensor is a complex electromechanical structure that includes two masses that are moveable with respect to a stator body and are coupled to one another so as to have a relative degree of freedom. The two mobile masses are both capacitively coupled to the stator body. A first one of the mobile masses (referred to as the driving mass) is dedicated to driving and is kept in oscillation at a resonance frequency. The second one of the mobile masses (referred to as the sensing mass) is drawn along in oscillating motion due to the coupling to the driving mass. In the case of a rotation of the structure with respect to a predetermined gyroscope axis with an angular velocity, the sensing mass is subjected to a Coriolis force proportional to the angular velocity itself. A change in capacitance with respect to the sensing mass is sensed in order to detect the angular motion (rotation).
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a MEMS gyroscope sensor 10. The sensor 10 includes a MEMS microstructure 12 with a stator body, a driving mass 14 and a sensing mass 16. For simplicity, the MEMS microstructure 12 illustrates the case of a uniaxial gyroscope in which only one sensing mass 16 is present, although the configuration and operation is equally applicable to multi-axial gyroscopes with multiple sensing masses. The driving mass 14 is elastically constrained to the stator body so as to be able to oscillate about a rest position according to one degree of freedom shown by the X-axis (also referred to as the driving axis). In this regard, the driving mass and stator body define a resonant mechanical system with a resonant frequency. The sensing mass 16 is mechanically coupled to the driving mass 14 so as to be driven in motion according to the same degree of freedom (i.e., in the X-axis). Moreover, the sensing mass 16 is elastically coupled to the driving mass 14 so as to oscillate in turn with respect to the driving mass according to another degree of freedom shown by the Y-axis (also referred to as the sensing axis).
The driving mass 14 and sensing mass 16 are capacitively coupled to the stator body. In particular, the driving mass 14 is capacitively coupled to the stator body through a set of driving capacitors 20 which are connected to drive actuation electrodes and a set of drive sensing capacitors 22 which are connected to drive sense electrodes. The driving capacitors 20 are configured to respond to an applied differential oscillating drive signal Ds by applying an electrostatic force to induce oscillatory movement of the mobile masses in the X-axis. The drive sensing capacitors 22 are configured such that their capacitance depends in a differential way on the position of the driving mass 14 with respect to the stator body relative to the X-axis. The sensing mass 16 is capacitively coupled to the stator body through a set of sensing capacitors 24 which are connected to sensing electrodes. The sensing capacitors 24 are configured such that their capacitance depends in a differential way on the position of the sensing mass 16 with respect to the stator body relative to the Y-axis, and thus signals generated by the sensing capacitors 24 are indicative of movement relative to the Y-axis.
An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is electrically connected to the MEMS microstructure 12. The ASIC of the sensor 10 includes a driving circuit 30 having an input coupled to the drive sense electrodes for the drive sensing capacitors 22 to receive a differential drive sense signal Dss and an output coupled to the drive actuation electrodes for the driving capacitors 20 to apply the drive signal Ds. This coupling in feedback forms an oscillating microelectromechanical loop that is configured to keep the driving mass 14 in oscillation at the resonance frequency with a controlled amplitude. The ASIC of the sensor 10 further includes a sensing circuit 40 having a first input coupled to the drive sense electrodes for the drive sensing capacitors 22 and a second input coupled to the sensing electrodes for the sensing capacitors 24. The sensing circuit 40 receives a differential sense signal Ss generated by the sensing capacitors 24 and indicative of displacement of the sensing mass 16 relative to the Y-axis, demodulates the differential sense signal Ss in response to the differential drive sense signal Dss generated by the drive sensing capacitors 22, and outputs a signal indicative of sensed angular velocity (AVout) as a result of that demodulation.
Imperfections in the elastic connections between the mobile masses 14 and 16 and the stator body may result in oscillation which does not perfectly align with the X-axis. This defect may produce a force having a component directed along the Y-axis and, as a result thereof, introduce a signal component at the input of the sensing circuit 40 with a phase offset of 90° relative to the modulated angular velocity component. This is referred to in the art as quadrature error.
To address the issue of quadrature error, the system 10 includes quadrature error compensation control. The sensing mass 16 is further capacitively coupled to the stator body through a set of quadrature error compensation capacitors 26 connected to quadrature error compensation electrodes. The quadrature error compensation capacitors 26 are configured to respond to an applied quadrature error compensation signal QCs by applying an electrostatic force on the sensing mass 16 to counteract the force which induces the quadrature error. The ASIC of the sensor 10 further includes a quadrature error compensation circuit 50 having an input coupled to the sensing electrodes for the sensing capacitors 24 to receive the differential sense signal Ss, an input configured to receive a quadrature-phase drive sense signal qDssd and an output coupled to the quadrature error compensation electrodes for the quadrature error compensation capacitors 26 to apply the differential quadrature error compensation signal QCs. This coupling in feedback forms a microelectromechanical loop that is configured to ensure that the induced oscillation of the sensing mass 16 has no quadrature error.
As with practically any integrated circuit device, the MEMS gyroscope sensor 10 and, in particular, the MEMS microstructure 12 is subject to wear over time which can reduce reliability and jeopardize operation. This is a critical concern because it is well known to utilize the MEMS gyroscope sensor in safety critical applications such as with the passenger safety system of an automobile. For example, the MEMS accelerometer sensor may operate to assist with electronic stability control functions, mechanical fault detection and crash detection (for triggering airbag deployment and/or seat belt tensioning). It is accordingly imperative that the MEMS gyroscope sensor function properly and that a damaged or inoperative sensor be promptly detected. There is accordingly a need in the art for techniques for self-testing of the MEMS gyroscope sensor, for example, at the time of vehicle start-up, in order to ensure proper sensor operation.

MEMS gyroscope self-test using a technique for deflection of the sensing mobile mass


A surface-guiding photonic device includes a planar, tempered glass, comprising a bulk layer and a tempered superficial layer contiguous with the bulk layer. The superficial layer is at least partly exposed to air and has an intrinsic gradient refractive index in a direction z perpendicular to a main plane of the glass, whereas the bulk layer has a refractive index that is essentially constant along direction z. The average refractive index of the superficial layer is larger than each of: (i) the average refractive index of the bulk layer; and (ii) the refractive index of air. The glass can include lateral structures, e.g., trenches, extending parallel to the propagation direction y, so as for the device to have a rib waveguide-like configuration. The lateral structures form recesses in the superficial layer, so as to laterally confine radiation propagating in the tempered superficial layer, by total internal reflection.

The invention relates in general to the field of surface-guiding photonic devices and related devices. In particular, it concerns a surface-guiding photonic device fabricated from a planar, tempered glass.
Photonic devices, such as sensors, are known, which involve a glass substrate. Out-of-plane confinement of light is achieved thanks to additional layers of materials or laser-written features, located under the glass substrate. Such devices allow surface guiding of light and ensure small optical losses.
For example, buried glass photonic devices (written with femto-laser pulses) are known, which allow low optical losses (˜0.027 dB/cm). Minimizing propagation losses is desired, in order to reduce power dissipation and hence thermal dissipation of the light, and, in turn, maintain efficient optical guiding, with little light scattering.

Surface-guiding photonic device with tempered glass

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Pharmaceutical formulations comprise a mono- or di-aminopyridine active agent for administration on a once- or twice-daily basis for use in the treatment of neurological diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. The formulations, which are suitable for oral or percutaneous administration of the active agent, include the active agent in a carrier effective to permit release of the mono- or di-aminopyridine at a rate allowing controlled absorption thereof over, on the average, not less than a 12 hour period and at a rate sufficient to achieve therapeutically effective blood levels over a period of 12-24 hours following administration.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative and inflammatory neurological disease which affects the central nervous system, more specifically the myelin sheath. MS causes demyelination of nerve fibres resulting in short-circuiting of nerve impulses and thus a slowing or blocking of transmission along the nerve fibres, with associated disabling symptoms.
Alzheimer's disease is a major cause of dementia in the elderly. It may be described as a progressive pathological deterioration in personality, memory and intellect consistent with a generalised atrophy of corresponding brain centres. The emotional state, behaviour, cognitive function and thought processes of sufferers are all adversely affected. A minor disimprovement in memory which gradually becomes more apparent is the first indication of the onset of the disease.
The incidence of the condition is slightly less than 1% of the general population of the U.K. but rises to 5% in the over-65's and to 20% in the over-80's.
The biochemical basis and neuropathology of the disease are better understood than its aetiology. The possibility of a genetic link is being investigated, as are suggestions that aluminium is a causative factor.
Treatments available to date are of, at best, limited value and the progression of the disease is irreversible. Death normally occurs less than a decade after the illness first presents itself (Barker, S. and Branford, D.; Pharm. Journal Jan. 26, 1991, pp 116-118).
4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) has been found to improve the conduction of nerve impulses, thereby, alleviating symptoms in MS patients. 4-AP has been found to slow the potassium ion flow in nerve impulse transmission and, thereby, is effective in restoring conduction in blocked demyelinated nerves. In clinical trials carded out by Davis. F. A. and Stefoski, D. of The Rush Multiple Sclerosis Centre, U.S.A., 4-AP has been administered orally in multiple daily doses over 2-5 days to MS patients with mild to marked improvements being noted and minimal side effects.
3,4-Di-aminopyridine (3,4-DAP) has also been found to improve specific neurological deficits and visual evoked response latencies in MS patients when administered orally in multiple daily doses. Bever, C. T. JR; Leslie, J.; Camenga, D. L.; Panitch, H. S.; and Johnson, K. P., Ann. Neurol. 27(4), pp. 421-427 (Apr. 1990).
4-AP has also been found to improve the mental functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease. This effect is believed to be related to the potassium channel blocking action of 4-AP which in turn enhances calcium influx into the neuron thus prolonging nerve action potential and increasing transmitter release. Wesseling et al., N. Eng. J. of Meal. 310 (15), pp. 988-989 (April 1984).
In the use of a drug for long-term therapy it is desirable that the drug be formulated so that it is suitable for once- or twice-daily administration to aid patient compliance. Further, in view of the nature of neurological diseases, it can be appreciated that there is a need for an improved dosage form. However, such a formulation must result in a controlled release of drug to the systemic circulation and therapeutically effective blood levels throughout a given treatment period.
Another problem with long-term therapy is the requirement of determining an optimum dose which can be tolerated by the patient. If such a dose is not determined this can lead to a diminution in the effectiveness of the drug being administered.
It is an object of the present invention to provide preparations suitable for the long-term administration of a mono- or di-aminopyridine active agent.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the use of a mono- or di-aminopyridine active agent in a manner which enables one to achieve a tolerable state for said drug in a subject being treated therewith.

Formulations and their use in the treatment of neurological diseases


A technique for configuring programmable integrated circuits. The technique involves preconditioning or predefining the outputs and I/Os of a programmable integrated circuit before the device is programmed or reconfigured. When the device is programmed, the outputs and I/Os of the programmable integrated circuit will be driven to the preconditioned or predefined states. The technique may be implemented in conformance with the IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan architecture standard. Standard IEEE 1149.1 instructions may be used. The technique may also be used during in-system programming of programmable integrated circuits.

The present invention relates to the field of programming or configuring programmable integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention provides a technique for preconditioning or predefining the outputs of a programmable integrated circuit before the integrated circuit is programmed or configured.
Programmable, or reconfigurable, integrated circuits are well known to those in the electronic art. Programmable integrated circuits include RAM memories, SRAM memories, EEPROM memories, Flash memories, programmable logic devices (PLDs), and many others. In particular, programmable logic devices are also well known to those in the electronic art. Such programmable logic devices are also commonly referred as PALs (Programmable Array Logic), PLAs (Programmable Logic Arrays), FPLAs (Field Programmable Logic Arrays), EPLDs (Erasable Programmable Logic Devices), EEPLDs (Electrically Erasable Programmable Logic Devices), LCAs (Logic Cell Arrays), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and the like. Such devices are used in a wide array of applications where it is desirable to program standard, off-the-shelf devices for a specific application.
Programmable integrated circuits are programmed and reprogrammed (or reconfigured) to store particular data or perform a particular function. For example, EEPROMs may be programmed to store a data for a digital system. EEPROMs may be (electrically) erased and reprogrammed many times, as needed, to store different or additional data. Furthermore, serial EPROMs may be programmed to hold data for configuring PLDs. Serial EPROMs may be reprogrammed, as needed, for configuring the PLDs differently.
As a further example, PLDs are generally known in which many LABs are provided in a two-dimensional array. Further, PLDS have an array of intersecting signal conductors for programmably selecting and conducting logic signals to, from, and between the LABs. LABs contain a number of individual programmable logic elements (LEs) which provide relatively elementary logic functions such as NAND, NOR, and exclusive OR. PLDs are programmed to provide particular logic functions. PLDs may be reconfigured many times to provide additional or different logic functions.
While such programmable integrated circuits have met with substantial success, such devices also meet with certain limitations, especially during the programming of such devices. Programmable integrated circuits are typically reprogrammed in a reconfiguration mode. In the reconfiguration mode, data is inputted into the integrated circuit to indicate the configuration of the logic elements, LABS, interconnect, and other components. This data may be input in different forms such as parallel bits or serial bits. In the reconfiguration mode, the outputs (which may include bidirectional I/Os) of the device will typically be in undefined states. For example, the outputs (and I/Os) may be logic high, logic low, or even at high impedance.
Furthermore, since the user generally does not and cannot control the state of the outputs during reconfiguration mode, the programmable integrated circuit may potentially damage itself or other components when it is being configured.
In particular, when entering the reconfiguration mode, the outputs of the programmable integrated circuit may be in states, possibly undefined, that may conflict with the devices, sources, or other components that are coupled to those outputs. For example, during the reconfiguration mode, an output of the programmable integrated circuit may become shorted with another component, which may result in serious damage to the devices.
This problem may be especially significant in the situation of in-system programming (ISP). ISP programming is a technique where a programmable integrated circuit is configured or programmed while resident in the system (e.g., remains a component in a digital system). The programmable integrated circuit need not be removed from the circuit board. ISP programming allows greater flexibility when reprogramming programmable circuits. For example, the configuration information in a programmable circuit may be upgraded as needed without requiring the removal and installation of components, or disassembly of the system. In fact, the programmable circuit may be reconfigured while the rest of the system is in normal operation.
Potential problems, however, may arise when using ISP programming. For example, a programmable integrated circuit is resident on a printed circuit board (PCB) of a digital system. The programmable integrated circuit may even be soldered to the board. During ISP programming, the programmable integrated circuit will be programmed while it remains on the PCB. Thus, during ISP programming, the programmable integrated circuit may not be easily isolated or decoupled from the other components of the system. Hence, because the outputs may be at undefined or unexpected states, damage may result to the programmable integrated circuit itself or other components in the system.
As can be seen, an improved technique for configuring and programming programmable integrated circuits is needed, especially a technique where a user can specify the output and I/O states before configuring the device.

Technique for preconditioning I/Os during reconfiguration


The described invention discloses an innovative hydroconversion-processing configuration for converting bitumen or heavy oils to produce a transportable synthetic crude oil (SCO). The innovative processing scheme disclosed herein maximizes the synthetic crude oil yield at a minimal investment compared to currently known methods.

The world's higher quality light natural crude oils are those generally having an API gravity greater than 30° with sulfur content less than 0.5 percent. These high quality light natural crudes cost the least to refine into a variety of highest value end products including petrochemicals and therefore command a price premium. More important, however, world refinery capacity is geared to a high proportion of light natural crude oils with an API of 30° or higher.
It is generally accepted that world supplies of light crude oils recoverable by the conventional means of drilling wells into reservoirs and the use of nature's pressure, or by pumping to recover the oil, will be diminished to the extent that in the coming decades these supplies will no longer be capable of meeting the world demand.
To find relief from oil supply shortage it will be necessary to substantially increase processing of the vast world reserves of coal and viscous oil, bitumens in tar sands and kerogens in oil shale. These sources of crude oil remain largely unexploited today although recovery of oil from tar sands is in practice in Canada. The development of technology for the production of synthetic oil as an alternative to the light crude oil found in nature continues to be plagued by the large capital investments required in recovery and production facilities and a long wait for return on investment. In addition, large expenditures are required to construct or retrofit refineries for synthetic oils recovered from heavy oils and bitumens. In addition, present synthetic oil plants for processing heavy oils, or bitumens from tar sands, have focused more on the development of systems for recovery and production than on energy efficiency, maximization of yield and high environmental processing standards. Except for South Africa's Sasol process, which benefits from low cost labor used in coal mining, straight coal liquefaction is not yet cost competitive with synthetic oil produced from tar sands bitumen or heavy oils.
It is therefore of considerable importance that methods are found to produce synthetic crudes to replace the rapidly depleting reserves of light natural crudes available from conventional sources and at a cost at least approaching these crudes and competitive with the crudes being recovered at higher cost from under the sea or from frontier areas such as the extreme north with its rigorous climate. It is also important that synthetic crudes are comprised in desired proportions of a mixture of aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic components as these three families of compounds comprise essential feedstock to refinery capacity producing today's transportation fuels and feedstocks for the petrochemical industry.
Accordingly, applicants have disclosed an invention which is an innovative hydroconversion processing configuration for converting these heavy oils and/or bitumens to produce a transportable synthetic crude oil. In the invention, the atmospheric residue from the heavy oil or bitumen feedstock is only partially processed in the hydroconversion unit, there is no secondary hydrotreating nor is there any heavy unconverted residue or coke to dispose of using this novel process.
The entire heavy oil or bitumen feedstock is first fractionated in a crude still and thereafter a portion of the straight run atmospheric and/or vacuum residue created in the fractionation process is fed to an ebullated-bed hydroconversion reactor along with a hydrogen stream. The ebullated-bed reactor operates at relatively high severity and gives a conversion rate of greater than seventy (70%) percent. The converted products (975° F.) from the ebullated-bed reactor is thereafter mixed with straight-run distillates, by-passed heavy oil, bitumen atmospheric residue, and unconverted vacuum residue to create the final synthetic crude product.
These and other features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing.

High conversion partial upgrading process


Drip chambers are described herein. A drip chamber comprises an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber body. The chamber body defines a chamber volume in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The chamber body is movable between a collapsed configuration having a first volume and an expanded configuration having a second volume. The second volume is larger than the first volume, and the chamber body is configured to be moved from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration to draw in a medical fluid from the inlet into the chamber volume to prime the drip chamber.

Medical treatments often include the infusion of a medical fluid (e.g., a saline solution or a liquid medication) to patients using an intravenous (IV) catheter that is connected through an arrangement of flexible tubing and fittings, commonly referred to as an "IV set," to a source of fluid, for example, an IV bag. Prior to operation, components of the IV set can be primed with medical fluid.


The invention relates to a device (100, 200) for use in the detection of the power that passes through an electronic device, comprising means (110) for division of the power that enters the device into a first and a second branch. Each branch receives a predetermined proportion of the total input power with a predetermined phase difference between the signals that go into the branches, and the device comprises a first power detector (140) for the first branch and a means (130) for summation of the power in the two branches. The invention is characterized in that the device (100, 200) further comprises a second power detector (150) for the second branch, and in that the means (130) for summation can be controlled with regard to which branch and thereby to which power detector (140, 150) the sum of the power is diverted, and in that the device comprises, in one of its branches, means (120) for said control of the summator.

The present invention relates to a power detector with increased detection range, intended primarily for use in radio links at higher frequency ranges.
In radio transmitters it is very important to be able to detect and control transmitted power, for example in order to be able to ensure that the transmitted power does not exceed permitted limit values, or in order to be able to transmit with just enough power for the receiving party to detect the signal with sufficient strength. On account of new advanced modulation forms, such as different variants of QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), for example 64-QAM or 128-QAM, it has also become extremely important to be able to control the output power with great accuracy over a wide dynamic range.
In order to detect transmitted power, so-called power detectors are used. A problem with known power detectors is that they have a limited dynamic range.
An aim of the present invention is thus to provide a power detector that can provide good accuracy over a wide dynamic range, in order to enable it to be used in different modulation types, for example different variants of QAM, for example 64-QAM and 128-QAM.
This aim is achieved by the present invention by the provision of a device for use for the detection of the power that passes through an electronic device, comprising means for division of the power that enters the device into a first and a second branch, each branch having a predetermined proportion of the total input power with a predetermined phase difference between the signals that go into the branches. The device according to the invention comprises in addition a first power detector for the first branch and a means for summation of the power in the two branches, and in addition the device comprises a second power detector for the second branch. The means for summation can be controlled with regard to which branch and thereby to which power detector the sum of the power is diverted, and the device comprises, in one of its branches, means for the said control of the summator.
The fact that the device according to the invention comprises two branches with a power detector per branch, and the fact that the sum of the power can be diverted to either branch, means that the two power detectors can be calibrated for different, preferably overlapping, parts of the dynamic range to be covered. In this way, if, for example, the first power detector is being used at a particular moment and detects that the power is about to go over into the range that is covered by the second detector, the power is diverted to the second detector, and vice versa. The fact that the two power detectors can be used for different dynamic ranges means in addition that, using two power detectors with limited dynamics, the invention can still achieve good accuracy over a wide dynamic range.
The means for division of the power and the means for summation both comprise suitably a summator, which makes it expedient to use a controllable phase shifter in the means for controlling the summator.
The invention can be used both in a transmitter of electromagnetic energy and in a receiver of electromagnetic energy, and also comprises a method for the use of a device according to the invention.

Power detector with increased detection range


The present invention discloses a non-freezing refrigerator which can keep the contents in a non-frozen state by an electric field. The non-freezing refrigerator includes a setting unit for selecting and setting a magnitude and frequency of a voltage, a generating unit for generating an electric field according to the voltage having the set magnitude and frequency, and applying the electric field to a storing space for storing the contents, and a freezing cycle for cooling the storing space. The contents are kept in the non-frozen state below a phase transition temperature.

In general, an electrostatic atmosphere is made in a refrigerator, and meats and fishes are thawed in the refrigerator at a minus temperature. In addition, fruits are kept fresh in the refrigerator.
This technology uses supercooling. Supercooling means that a molten object or a solid cooled below a phase transition temperature in a balanced state is not changed.
This technology is mentioned in Korea Laid-Open Patent Official Gazette 2000-0011081 disclosing an electrostatic field processing method, an electrostatic field processing apparatus, and electrodes therefor.
FIG. 1 is a structure view illustrating a conventional apparatus for thawing and freshness keeping. A cooling device 1 includes an insulation 2 and an outer wall 5. A temperature control device (not shown) is installed in the cooling device 1. A metal shelf 7 installed in the cooling device 1 has a two layer structure. Vegetables, meats or marine products are mounted on each layer for thawing, freshness keeping or ripening. The metal shelf 7 is isolated from the bottom of the cooling device 1 by insulators 9. A high voltage generating device 3 can generate 0 to 5000V of DC and AC voltages. The inner surface of the insulation 2 is covered with an insulating plate 2a such as vinyl chloride. A high voltage cable 4 for outputting the voltage of the high voltage generating device 3 accesses the metal shelf 7 through the outer wall 5 and the insulation 2.
When the user opens a door installed on the front surface of the cooling device 1, a safety switch 13 (refer to FIG. 2) is turned off to block the output of the high voltage generating device 3.
FIG. 2 is a circuit view illustrating the high voltage generating device 3. 100V of AC is supplied to a primary side of a voltage adjusting transformer 15. Reference numeral 11 denotes a power lamp and 19 denotes an operation state lamp. When the door 6 is closed and the safety switch 13 is on, a relay 14 is operated. The operation of the relay 14 is displayed by a relay operation lamp 12. Relay contact points 14a, 14b and 14c are closed by the operation of the relay 14, and 100V of AC is applied to the primary side of the voltage adjusting transformer 15.
The applied voltage is adjusted by an adjusting knob 15a at a secondary side of the voltage adjusting transformer 15. The adjusted voltage is displayed on a voltmeter. The adjusting knob 15a is connected to a primary side of a boosting transformer 17 at the secondary side of the voltage adjusting transformer 15. The boosting transformer 17 boosts a voltage at a rate of 1:50. For example, when 60V of voltage is applied, it is boosted to 3000V.
One end O1 of the secondary side output of the boosting transformer 17 is connected to the metal shelf 7 isolated from the cooling device 1 through the high voltage cable 4, and the other end O2 of the output is grounded. Since the outer wall 5 is grounded, if the user contacts the outer wall 5 of the cooling device 1, he/she does not receive an electric shock. In FIG. 1, the metal shelf 7 exposed in the cooling device 1 must be maintained in an insulated state. It is thus necessary to separate the metal shelf 7 from the walls of the cooling device 1 (the air performs insulation). If the contents 8 mounted on the metal shelf 7 contact the walls of the cooling device 1, the current flows to the ground through the walls of the cooling device 1. Drop of the applied voltage is prevented by adhering the insulating plate 2a to the inner walls. When the metal shelf 7 is not exposed but covered with vinyl chloride, an electric field atmosphere is made in the whole cooling device 1.
The conventional cooling device 1 controls only the magnitude of the voltage applied to the metal shelf 7 to supercool the foods. Accordingly, supercooling occurs at −5° C., to prevent freezing of the foods. In the case that the magnitude of the voltage is varied, a minimum temperature for generating supercooling is −5° C. The foods cannot be supercooled below −5° C.
In addition, the conventional art suggests generation of the non-frozen state using supercooling, but does not suggest the arrangement structure, shape and control of an electrode and a storing space for maintaining the non frozen state.


Systems and methods for facilitating communication with autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, the autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system includes a first point-of-presence (POP) interface configured to obtain a first communication associated with a first autonomous vehicle and to route the first communication associated with the first autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system includes a first security system configured to authenticate the first autonomous vehicle. The first POP interface is separate from the first security system. The autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system includes a first data center system configured to receive the first communication associated with the first autonomous vehicle that is authenticated and to provide data to the first autonomous vehicle. The first POP interface is separate from the first data center system. The autonomous vehicle telecommunications network system can include a similarly configured second POP interface, second security system, and second data center system.

Vehicles can be configured to send and/or receive data from systems that are remote from the vehicles. For example, an autonomous vehicle can be capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input. In particular, an autonomous vehicle can observe its surrounding environment using a variety of sensors and can attempt to comprehend the environment by performing various processing techniques on data collected by the sensors. Given knowledge of its surrounding environment, the autonomous vehicle can navigate through such surrounding environment. Autonomous vehicles can send and/or receive data from remote systems to help with such operations.


The invention relates generally to methods and compositions for the cryopreservation and/or vitrification of tissue including articular cartilage and the preparation of said tissue for clinical or research use, including but not limited to joint replacement and the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis.

There is much need for the preservation of cells and tissues, for instance, in the preservation, research and transplantation of articular cartilage or joints. Certain conditions can benefit from whole or partial joint replacement, such as osteoarthritis. Furthermore, osteochondral allografting of large joint defects (due to injury or disease) can maintain joint function and decrease the incidence of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, the use of such procedures is limited by the availability of appropriate tissue.
Cryobiology is the study of the effects of extremely low temperatures on biological systems, with a major application being the storage of cells and tissues for research and transplantation to treat injury and disease. Cryopreservation is currently the only method available to preserve long-term function and viability of mammalian cells and tissue. Many tissue types have eluded successful cryopreservation. Currently, there are no effective cryopreservation techniques for articular cartilage (AC). Vitrification is one potential method but current processes are unsuccessful due to inadequate cryoprotectant agents (CPAs) permeation and toxicity of these CPAs.

The Governors of the University of Alberta


A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawTwentyThree’ characterized by having very large, bi-conical fruit with medium sweetness and high yield is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated 'DrisStrawTwentyThree' and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry variety was discovered in Hillsborough County, Fla. in December 2007 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent '1M16' (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent '87K286' (unpatented). A single plant was selected for asexual propagation via tissue culture and vegetative cuttings in Shasta County, Calif. in 2007.
'DrisStrawTwentyThree' underwent further testing in Hillsborough County, Fla. for five years (2007-2011). The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. 'DrisStrawTwentyThree' has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawTwentyThree’


A status indicator indicates an operating state, including an electrical malfunction, of an electrical load that is located and controlled from locations remote from a monitoring location.

The present invention relates to a device for indicating the operating state of an electrical load and, more particularly, to a device for indicating an operating state of a load located and controlled at locations remote to a monitoring location.
Many industrial, commercial and residential environments incorporate electrical loads that are widely distributed geographically and often sited in difficult to access locations. However, the operation of these loads, for example, small fan motors or lights can be important to maintaining a safe environment or the successful completion of a process that may involve costly or hazardous equipment or materials and monitoring their operation is frequently desired.
In many applications, the operation of a remotely located electrical load is monitored and controlled from a central control. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical arrangement for controlling and monitoring the operation a remote load from a central controller. A remote control and status monitoring device 10 includes a start/stop relay 12 that is energized or otherwise controlled by digital output from the controller 14. Power from a power source 16, such as a utility transmission line, is provided by a wire 18 which is interconnected to the start/stop relay 12 of the device 10. The start/stop relay 12 is likewise interconnected to an internal sensor, namely, a current transformer 20 by a wire 22. The output of the internal sensor 20 is interconnected to a load 24 by a wire 26. The load 24 is interconnected to the source 16 by a wire 52. Accordingly, a loop for current flow is provided by wire 18, the start/stop relay 12, the wire 22, the internal sensor 20, the wire 26, and the wire 52. When the start/stop relay 12 is open, as a result of a first DIGITAL OUT signal from the controller 14, the power to the load 24 is interrupted by the open circuit. However, when the start/stop relay 12 is closed (short circuit), as a result of a second DIGITAL OUT signal from the controller 14, power is provided to the load 24. Accordingly, the controller 14 may control power to the load 24 by energizing and de-energizing the start/stop relay 12. The device 10 also provides a feedback signal to the controller 14 indicating whether current is flowing to the load. The internal sensor 20 is a current transformer that senses current flowing in wire 22 and outputs a signal to operate a solid state switch 21. The solid state switch 21 opens or closes providing a signal (DIGITAL IN) to the controller 14 in response to a flow of current to the load. The controller 14 can determine the operating condition of the load from the combination of the DIGITAL IN signal indicating whether current is flowing to the load and the DIGITAL OUT signal generated by the controller 14 indicating whether or not a closed load circuit should be expected and, therefore, whether current should be flowing to the load.
While the remote control and status monitoring device illustrated in FIG. 1 provides satisfactory monitoring of the operational status of a centrally controlled, remotely located load, in many environments it is desired to monitor the status of a remotely located load that is controlled from a location. that is remote from the monitoring location. For example, building security may desire to know whether lights controlled from a light switch on a remote floor or in a remote room are operating properly. Likewise, a person monitoring geographically distributed industrial machinery may desire to know the operating status of a cooling fan that is mounted on an machine located in a remote or inaccessible portion of an industrial facility and which is controlled by a local thermostat. While the output of a current sensor, such as the internal sensor of the remote control and status monitoring device 10, can be used to indicate whether current is flowing to a remote load, the information provide by a current sensor is insufficient to determine whether the load is malfunctioning because there is no information indicating whether the load circuit is closed and, therefore, current flow to the load should be expected. The operating state of a remotely controlled light in a remote room or a cooling fan for a remotely located machine requires knowledge of the state of the load controlling switch as well as knowledge of the current flow to the load.
What is desired, therefore, is a device for signaling the operating state of an electrical load located and controlled at locations remote to the monitoring location.


The present application relates to method of arresting telescopic endwise relative movement in a medical device between an end portion of an elongate member, preferably being a cylinder, and an end portion of a tube, preferably being a cylindrical tube, that receives the end portion of the elongate member. The method is of particular use in the construction of stent delivery systems. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a length of deformable blocking material; imparting relative endwise movement to draw the blocking material, into the gap and reversing the direction until the blocking material length suffers deformation.

In diverse fields of engineering, there exists a requirement to engage two tubular members in permanent or semi-permanent relation. Welding, glueing, swaging and brazing are all known techniques for attaching tubes. However, each of these techniques is subject to a failure threshold; as the strain on the joint increases, the probability of failure increases, and having failed, the joint requires a repetition of the joining process to reform. Such failure may be detrimental or dangerous in the context of the application of the joint, and repair may be difficult.
One field in which the failure of welded, swaged or glued joints is particularly disadvantageous is in the construction of medical devices, particularly catheters. Catheters are tubular structures which are navigated through body cavities to perform some diagnostic or therapeutic function at a specific location within the body. If a joint in a catheter fails, there is risk not only of failure of the process for which the catheter is used but also of further risks due to the presence of a structurally compromised and thus unpredictable foreign body inside a patient's body. The presence of such risks restricts the use of catheterization techniques to cases where the risks can be justified.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method of forming a joint between at least two tubular catheter elements which is able to resist such sudden failure modes.

Method of joining tubing for use in medical catheters


A planar extensible structure in a flat planar flex circuit can be extended out of the plane of the circuit by a distance of more than the width of the structure to carry fluids, electrical signals or optical signals into and out of the circuit. The planar extensible structure may be an Archimedes spiral, a parabolic spiral, a polygonal spiral, a non-spiral extensible shape, or other extensible shape. The invention can be used to siphon fluid samples from each well in a multiple-well microtiter plate into a microfluidic manifold for utility in chemical and biochemical analysis. The invention can also be used to allow electrical interconnect between adjacent circuits or circuit boards, and can allow signals carried in optical fibers to be transferred between optical circuits in different planes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluidic, electrical, electronic, and optical flex circuits and connections thereto.
2. Background of the Invention
Flex circuits, also known as flexible circuits, flexible printed circuit boards, and flexible printed wiring, are circuits made in or on flexible substrates, which substrates are substantially planar in shape. The flexible substrates may be bent and folded in order to accommodate three-dimensional shape requirements.
Flex circuits were first described by Albert Hanson of Berlin, Germany in British Patent 4,681 issued in 1903. The patent is noted in "Flexible Circuitry—Technology Background and Important Fundamental Issues"by Joseph Fjelstad, available on the internet at http://www.tessera.com/library.cfm, which article also provides a good overview of electrical flex circuit technologies. Further overview material on flex circuits is provided by the same author, Joseph C. Fjelstad, Pacific Consultants LLC, Mountain View, Calif., in "Tutorial: An Overview of Flexible Printed Circuit Technology,"Chip Scale Review Online, January-February 2001, available as a link on the internet at    http://www.chipscalereview.com/issues/0101/homeissue.html and given in full at    http://www.chipscalereview.com/issues/0101/tutorial—01.html.
Hanson's 1903 patent described the production of flexible flat conductors on a sheet of insulating paraffin-coated paper. Today, flex circuits are typically made using polyimide such as DuPont® Kapton™ as the flexible insulating material, although many other materials including paper, polyamide, polyester terephthalate (PET), random-fiber aramid (Nomex), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) may be used. Embedded within or upon the flex circuit can be electrical leads and electrical devices such as microchips. Recessed within the surface of the flex circuit can be fluid wells and trenches, while embedded within the flex circuit can be fluid capillary channels. Embedded within or upon the flex circuit can also be optical devices including fiber optic elements, optical gratings, optical sources, and optical receivers. If the flex circuit has only electrical leads it is often called an electrical flex circuit, while if it has fluid wells, trenches, or capillary channels it is often called a fluid flex circuit or a microfluidic circuit. If it has optical elements it can be called an optical flex circuit or a flexible optical circuit; see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,902,435; 6,005,991; 6,069,991; 6,088,498; and 6,222,976. Fluid flex circuits and microfluidic circuits can include electrical elements; see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,645,702; 5,658,413; 5,804;022; 5,882,571; and 6,093,362. The advantageous three-dimensional nature of flex circuitry is well known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,206, "Foldable Printed Circuit Board."
Connecting an external electrical, fluid, or optical path to a flex circuit typically requires entering the plane of the flex circuit from some out-of-plane direction. This simple objective has historically been very challenging and has required complex structures. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,033,628; and 6,194,900 in which the connectors to a flexible fluid circuit substrate require separate assembly.
The problem of fluid interconnections has been addressed by Hans-Peter Zimmerman (see, e.g., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/570,948, application date May 15, 2000 entitled "Coupling to Microstructures for a Laboratory Microchip"). Zimmerman describes flexible structures that can bend out of the plane of a flexible substrate, but the bending of such structures is only simple cantilever bending. One disadvantage associated with simple cantilever bending is that it is impossible, for example, to space sample introduction siphons at the 4.5 mm well spacing centers of a standard 384-well microtiter plate, because the 12 mm reach required is greater than the 4.5 mm spacing so that there is simply no room to place all of the required cantilever siphons. In order to get dense interconnections an improved structure is required.
Flex circuits have been fabricated incorporating bending structures that are more complicated than simple cantilevers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,719 by the present inventor describes a method of folding a polyimide flex circuit that results in a structure that remains in the original plane of the flex circuit. However, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,719 does not teach a method or apparatus for reaching out of the plane of the circuit, nor does it teach any method or apparatus for out-of-plane interconnection.
Regarding electrical interconnections, several schemes are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,961,709; 5,197,889; 5,452,182; 5,812,378; 5,859,472; 5,900,674; 5,938,452; 5,973,394; 6,029,344; 6,033,433; 6,046,410; 6,092,280; and RE34084 for achieving dense interconnections between circuits, but none of these schemes exhibit the simplicity of fabrication that can be obtained if the interconnection structure can be fabricated within the structure of the flex circuit.
Regarding optical interconnections, the art of optical flex circuits is fairly young in development. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,835,646; 5,902,435; 5,981,064; 6,005,991; 6,069,991; 6,088,498; 6,091,874; and 6,097,871. However, the art of optical interconnections does not provide solutions for simple and dense optical interconnections between face-to-face adjacent planar optical flex circuits. It is often most important in an optical interconnect to avoid losing the light from a fiber due to bending or kinking of the fiber. It is of secondary importance to achieve a long reach from the substrate plane.
Planar springs are taught to some degree in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,950,846; 3,968,336; 3,979,568; 4,066,860; 4,548,086; 4,919,403; 5,082,997; 5,525,845; 5,555,972; and 5,673,785. In particular a planar spiral spring extending out of the plane of the substrate is taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,066,860 and 5,673,785. However, the patents do not teach or allude to isolating an electrical lead or other conveying element on or in the spring. Additionally, the spring cannot be extended to a distance greater than the width of the spring.
Thus, there still exists a need for a flexible structure that can reach out of the plane of a flexible substrate, for purposes of interconnection and sample transfer, which can be spaced on the flexible substrate at a center-to-center distance smaller than the distance by which it reaches out of the plane, and which is simple to fabricate.


A solid state disk packaging line, for packaging solid state disks, includes a stacking tray conveying system, a packaging system, a packaging box conveying system, and a packaging box packaging system. The packaging system includes a packaging box loading device, a sealing bag loading device, and a packaging machine. Two sides of the packaging system provided with the packaging machine are connected with the stacking tray conveying system and the packaging box conveying system respectively. The packaging machine receives stacking trays, and loads the stacking trays into a packaging box, and then transfers the packaging box to the packaging box packaging system via the packaging box conveying system. The packaging box with the stacking trays loaded therein is sealed by the packaging box packaging system. The packaging line packages and seals the packaging box without manual work which protects solid state disks, avoids doing damage, and improves production efficiency.

Solid state disks are quickly accepted by users and gradually replace mechanical hard disks due to compact size and high reading speed. Solid state disks are more resistant than the mechanical hard disks, light collisions do not cause data loss, and solid state disk has a longer service life than the mechanical hard disk, however, on the one hand, solid state disk is more expensive than the mechanical hard disk; on the other hand, once solid state disk is damaged, all data will be lost and cannot be retrieved. Thus, the solid state disks need to be securely packaged for shipping.
Since the solid state disks to be packaged have a variety of different specifications, it is necessary to confirm solid state disk specifications before packaging so that the solid state disks are matched with the product labels outside the packaging box.
Thus, it is necessary to provide an automatic solid state disk packaging line in order to avoid the problem of poor production efficiency, production being damaged, as well as product labels lacking agreement to solid state disk caused by manual packaging.

WORLD PRECISION MANUFACTURING (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.


A safety syringe comprises a barrel, which has a body forming a receiving hole, a stop portion in the receiving hole. A needle holder has a hole therein, an elastic lock piece formed a claw at distal end, and a dragged portion. The needle holder is received in the receiving hole of the barrel for the claw can lock with the stop portion of the barrel. A supporter, which is slidable received in the hole of the needle holder for supporting the elastic lock pieces to make the needle holder fixed secured in the barrel. And a plunger set has a bumper to move away said supporter and withdraw said needle holder.

The present invention relates to a hypodermic syringe, and more particularly to a safety syringe, which is easy to draw the needle back after injection but the needle holder is fixed secured in the barrel when injecting.
A conventional safety syringe, which can draw the needle into the barrel, usually provides the needle holder a little position force for the needle holder is easy to run back into the barrel while an external force is exerted on the needle holder.
There were many inventions to fix the problem as described above, such as provides double locking devices to secure the needle holder. These inventions usually have complex structure and sometime they can not work correctly.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a safety syringe, which can fixed secure the needle holder in the barrel.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a safety syringe, which is easy to draw the needle holder into the barrel.
According to the objective of the present invention, a safety syringe comprises a barrel, which has a body, a receiving hole in the body, a front opening at an end of the body and a stop portion in the receiving hole. A needle holder has a hole therein, an elastic lock piece has a claw at distal end, and a dragged portion. The needle holder is to mount a needle. The needle holder is received in the receiving hole of the barrel for the claw can lock with the stop portion in the receiving hole. A supporter, which has a aperture, is slidable received in the hole of the needle holder. And a plunger set has a bumper to move away the supporter and withdraw the needle holder.
For better use, the plunger set may comprises a plunger and a stopper.

Safety syringe having needle holder capable of fixing secured and easy to drawback