The present invention concerns a method for making an inhaled pharmaceutical composition with improved powder handling properties comprising a stearate, a method of preparing such a composition, and the use of such a stearate in a composition when dispensed into a receptacle for use in a dry powder inhaler receptacle.

The efficient dispersal of an active pharmaceutical ingredient is of utmost importance in the field of respiratory medicine. In this field, it is generally desirable to employ therapeutic particles with a size (i.e. geometric diameter) in the range of 1 to 10 μm or an aerodynamic diameter of 1-5 μm in order to be delivered to the lower respiratory tract. Particles above these sizes tend to impact in the regions of the upper airways and are removed by the mucocilliary escalator.
Pulmonary drug delivery, therefore, must overcome the technical challenges of working with fine particles but still operate within the constraints dictated by human anatomy.
To facilitate delivery of cohesive powders a number of solutions have been provided in the art.
Inhaler Devices
Firstly, inhalation devices have been developed for assisting with the delivery of cohesive micronised medicament to the lungs of patients. When a patient actuates a DPI device it produce an air stream, the flow of air produced by the patient's inspiratory manoeuvre lifts the powder out of the inhaler ("Fluidisation") and causes the separation of, inter alia, the drug from carrier ("De-agglomeration").
Dry powder inhalers can be divided into two basic types:    i) single dose inhalers, for the administration of pre-subdivided single doses of the active compound from a pre-metered dosage means such as a capsule or single blister tab;    ii) multidose dry powder inhalers (MDPIs), either with pre-subdivided single doses or pre-loaded with quantities of active ingredient where the drug is stored in a reservoir or blister pack/strip); each dose is created by a metering unit either within the inhaler or within the filling line prior to assembly.
On the basis of the required inspiratory flow rates (l/min) which in turn are strictly depending on their design and mechanical features, DPIs are divided in:    i) low-resistance devices (>90 l/min);    ii) medium-resistance devices (about 60 l/min);    iii) high-resistance devices (about 30 l/min).
The reported flow rates refer to the pressure drop of 4 KPa (Kilopascal) in accordance to the European Pharmacopoeia (EurPh).
For powder inhalers which release the medicament from pre-dosed units, e.g. capsules or blister packs, the same restriction applies for the low-friction operation of the filling apparatus for these unit doses. This low-friction operation is greatly improved with free flowing powder is used, for example by using large carrier particles.
Large Carrier Particles
Numerous approaches have been adopted to manipulate DPI particulate interactions. A further approach to improve the efficiency of most DPI formulations employs carrier particles as a means to overcome powder handling problems. The majority have focused on the physical properties of the carrier, specifically modifying the shape, size, or rugosity of the carrier. Other approaches have focused on producing uniform respirable drug particles by spray drying or supercritical fluid precipitation.
Lactose is the most common carrier used and can constitute more than 99% by weight of a DPI formulation. Lactose carrier particles are traditionally used as a flow aid and they assist with carrying the dose of the active into the lungs. The chemical and physical properties of lactose play an important role in DPI formulations. The selection of the specific grade of lactose is based on the inhaler device, the filling process and the required API release profile. Critically, DPI formulations need to be homogeneous however this is not the only parameter requiring consideration. The adhesion between carrier and drug particle should not be too strong because the drug will not be able to release from the lactose particle during inhalation. Likewise, it should not be so weak that the carrier separates from the carrier during routine powder handling. Furthermore, the drug should always be released from the carrier in the same way. One of the important parameters for the formulation is the particle size of the lactose.
Carrier particles or excipients, such as lactose, for inhaled therapeutic preparations also include significantly larger diameter particles (e.g. 50 to 300 μm) that typically do not penetrate into the respiratory tract to the same degree as the active ingredient.
The most common approach for describing formulations with multiple components (i.e. drug and carrier) is to use laser diffraction analysis. Machines such as the Malvern Mastersizser report results as sections namely the D10, D50, and D90 values based on a volume distribution. The D50, the median, is defined as the diameter (in microns) where half of the particle population, by volume, lies below this value. Similarly, the D90 is the value wherein 90 percent of the particle distribution, by volume, lies below the stated D90 value, and the D10 is the value below which 10 percent of the particle population resides on a volume basis.
The lactose particle size and distribution will also, in many instances, significantly influence pharmaceutical and biological properties, such as, for example, bioavailability. For example, it is well known that coarse lactose in crystalline form has a good flow rate and good physical stability whereas fine lactose powder, such as that produced by conventional fine grinding or milling, generally lacks good flow properties. Lactose prepared by conventional spray drying either lacks desired flow properties or contains too many large sized lactose crystals.
It is well known that one particular drawback associated with conventional means of producing pharmaceutical grade lactose relates to undesirable variations in particle size, morphology and distribution. Such production methods are particularly problematic in that they often lead to excessive and undesirable variations in the fine particle mass ("FPM") of the delivered pharmaceutical active.
Lactose morphology is believed to be another important parameter to control, and it is believed that the degree of surface roughness can influence the interaction between the lactose particle and excipient and as such is now often measured as part of the lactose selection criteria.
In general, it is preferable to use smaller particle sizes for the lactose or a blend of coarse and fine particles lactose because reduction in mean particle size of the lactose has been shown to increase the aerosolisation of various drugs but this smaller size selection is marred with poor flow properties. Therefore until now the routine approach has been simply to use as few fines particles as possible.
Small Particles
Fine particles are, by their nature, cohesive, and whilst simply blending the large carrier particles, additive particles and fine excipient particles together will result in occupation of the high-energy sites on the carrier particles by additive particles, the distribution of the additive particles over these sites will be determined by the amount of energy that is used in the processing step.
One explanation for this observation is that the fine lactose particles occupy areas of high energy on the carrier surface, such as the clefts. With these high energy sites occupied by the fine lactose particles, the drug particles will then preferentially adhere to the lower adhesion sites and consequently the drug will be more easily released. A further benefit of lactose fines is the surface area increases substantially and the potential payload of each carrier also increases.
Fine particles ("Fines") are characterized as particles with a D10 below 5 μm, D50 below 15 μm and D90 below 32 μm as determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis, for example a Spraytec with Inhalation Cell, Malvern Instruments, Malvern, UK. A balance, however, needs to be struck between desirable API detachment and premature detachment due to poor API adherence to the carrier. Whilst the presence of high lactose fines may increase the aerosol performance of a formulation, this comes at the cost of poor powder handling e.g. in conveying and filing processes.
Fine particles tend to be increasingly thermodynamically unstable as their surface area to volume ratio increases, which provides an increasing surface free energy with this decreasing particle size, and consequently increases the tendency of particles to agglomerate. The process of filling from hoppers, may result in the agglomeration of fine particles and adherence of such particles to the walls of the hoppers. This is a problem that results in the fine particles leaving the hopper as large, stable agglomerates, or being unable to leave the hopper and remaining adhered to the interior of the hopper, or even clogging or blocking the hopper. Poor flow from powder hoppers can adversely affect manufacturing operations. The uncertainty on the extent stable agglomerates formation of the particles between each dispension of the filler, and also between different hoppers and different batches of particles, leads to poor dose reproducibility. Furthermore, the formation of agglomerates means that the MMAD of the active particles can be vastly different with agglomerates of the active particles, on occasion, not reaching the required part of the lung.
As particles decrease in size, they become lighter resulting in a transition away from gravitational forces towards interparticulate forces becoming the predominate force. Conversely, as particles increase in size, they become heavier resulting in a transition away from interparticulate towards gravitational forces becoming the predominate force. Smaller particles, therefore, become overwhelmed by the forces of cohesion and adhesion which is why they adhere to one another and form agglomerates or aggregates. The likelihood of cohesion increases with decreasing particle size; particles smaller than 100 nm experience an element of cohesion. This degree of cohension increases with decreasing size.
Micronisation of the active drug is essential for deposition into the lower lungs during inhalation. As a general rule, however, the finer particles become, the stronger the forces of cohesion and/or adhesion between these particles. Strong cohesion/adhesion forces hinder the handling of the powder during the manufacturing process especially pouring and filling of powders. Moreover micronisation or the presence of micronized particles reduces the ability of the formulation to pour or flow freely under gravity ("flowability").
The effect of non-lactose fine excipients on FPD or FPF performance of ternary formulations has also been investigated. Fines of erythritol, glucose, mannitol, polyethylene glycol 6000, sorbitol and trehalose have all been found to increase either the FPD or FPF of a variety of drugs when added. Fines of different materials have produced varying increases in formulation performance compared to each other and to lactose fines, with lactose fines producing poorer, equal and better performance in various studies.
Lactose Fines
The beneficial aerosol effects of fines on an inhaled formulation have been demonstrated through the use of pre-treatment steps in which pre-existing (intrinsic) fine particles were removed from coarse lactose carrier by either air-jet sieving or air washing lactose held on a sieve. The removal of lactose fines was found to decrease the aerosol performance of formulations containing a variety of different drugs, which were blended by different techniques and aerosolised from different inhalers. Such results are in accordance with numerous studies which, when using various grades of carrier material, different inhalers and different drug found that those containing the highest proportion of intrinsic fines gave the greatest aerosol performance (Jones & Prices, 2006).
Consequently, the majority of research in this area has focused on the addition of lactose fines to blends of coarse lactose (typically a 63-90 μm size fraction) and drug. The fine lactose typically used had a volume median diameter (VMD) of 4-7 μm and the proportion added was typically in the range 1.5 to 10%, but proportions as high as 95% have been investigated (Jones & Prices, 2006). Fine lactose in an amount as high as 95% (w/w) leads to highly cohesive formulations.
In addition to pacifying active sites, the addition of fine additive particles may also lead to the formation of fine lactose agglomerates. These lactose agglomerate particles can remain adhered to the coarse carrier lactose during processing and handling and may dramatically reduce the inspirational energy requirements in entrainment and de-aggregation of the drug particles following aerosolisation.
Despite the beneficial aerosol performance imparted by lactose fines, the addition of fines to a formulation has been found to increase device drug retention, the effect has been attributed to either the decreased flowability of powders containing a higher proportion of fine particles. The increased adhesiveness of fine particles is thought to reduce flowability of the entire powder blend in formulations containing fines contents above 10% by weight of the entire formulation. Consequently, despite the beneficial aerosol improvement, there has been a reluctance to use a fines content above 5% by weight of the entire formulation because of the poor powder flow properties of such formulations. This is because lactose fines can increase the occurrence of powder bridging in an inhaled formulation. Powder bridging is the process whereby particles in a powder bed get stuck and jam against one another creating semi-permanent structures in the powder bed. Significant time and resource is required to identify, locate and disrupt these powder bridges before powder filling can resume. Sometimes these semi-permanent structures can break apart just prior to filling into a DPI. The powder surrounding these powder bridges is often not homogeneous resulting in atypical formulation (high or low API content) entering the blisters, capsules, reservoirs of the filling line.
WO 2011 067212 discloses a fine lactose fraction. The 'fine' lactose fraction is defined as the fraction of lactose having a particle size of less than 7 μm, such as less than 6 μm, for example less than 5 μm. The particle size of the 'fine' lactose fraction may be less than 4.5 μm. The fine lactose fraction, if present, may comprise 2 to 10% by weight of the total lactose component, such as 3 to 6% by weight fine lactose, for example 4.5% by weight fine lactose.
WO 1995 011666 describes a process for modifying the surface properties of the carrier particles by dislodging any asperities in the form of small grains without substantially changing the size of the particles. Said preliminary handling of the carrier causes the micronised drug particles to be subjected to weaker interparticle adhesion forces.
EP 0 663 815 describes the addition of finer particles (<10 μm) to coarser carrier particles (>20 vim) for controlling and optimising the amount of delivered drug during the aerosolisation phase.
Lactose fines are not the only component available for manipulating the high energy sites on carrier particles and they may be used in concert with other components.
Additives (FCAs)
Co-processing of carrier particles with low surface energy materials is a further alternative for increasing the aerosolisation efficiencies of dry powder inhaler formulations.
The primary role of these low surface energy materials is to modify the interfacial properties of the carrier particles to decrease drug-carrier adhesion. Also known as Force Control Agents ("FCA") these low surface energy materials include amino acids, phospholipids or fatty acid derivatives such as stearates, particularly magnesium stearate.
Magnesium stearate continues to be used as a tableting aide because of the stearate's glidant properties. Magnesium stearate has also been used to improve aerosol performance (Vectura), to improve resistance to moisture ingress into a formulation (Skyepharma) and to improve resistance to active degradation (Chiesi) by preventing contact with moisture.
Magnesium stearate's use in inhalable formulations leads to a general improvement in the fine particle fraction. This improvement in the inhalable fine particle fraction through the use of magnesium stearate enhances the dosing efficiency to the patient of the dry powder formulations administered by pulmonary inhalation due to an improvement of powder flowability from the dosing receptacle to the patient.
WO 2011 067212 discloses a pharmaceutical grade magnesium stearate, sourced from Peter Greven, complying with the requirements of Ph.Eur/USNF may be used as supplied with a mass median particle size of 8 to 12 μm.
WO 2011 067212 discloses magnesium stearate in a composition in an amount of about 0.2 to 2%, e.g. 0.6 to 2% or 0.5 to 1.75%, e.g. 0.6%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25% or 1.5% w/w, based on the total weight of the composition. The magnesium stearate will typically have a particle size in the range 1 to 50 μm, and more particularly 1-20 μm, e.g. 1-10 μm. Commercial sources of magnesium stearate include Peter Greven, Covidien/Mallinckodt and FACI.
WO 87/05213 describes a carrier, comprising a conglomerate of a solid water-soluble carrier and a lubricant, preferably magnesium stearate, for improving the technological properties of the powder in such a way as to remedy to the reproducibility problems encountered after the repeated use of a high resistance inhaler device. This teaching focuses exclusively on the ability of magnesium stearate to lubricate the inhaler components.
WO 1996 23485 discloses carrier particles which are mixed with an anti-adherent or anti-friction material consisting of one or more compounds selected from amino acids (preferably leucine); phospholipids or surfactants; the amount of additive and the process of mixing are preferably chosen in such a way as to not give rise to a coating. It is stated that the presence of a discontinuous covering as opposed to a "coating" is an important and advantageous feature. The carrier particles blended with the additive are preferably subjected to the process disclosed in WO 1995 011666.
WO 2000 028979 describes the use of small amounts of magnesium stearate for improving stability to humidity of dry powder formulations for inhalation.
WO 2000 033789 describes an excipient powder for inhalable drugs comprising a coarse first fraction, a fine second fraction, and a ternary agent which may be leucine.
Kassem (London University Thesis 1990) discloses the use of relatively high amount of magnesium stearate (1.5%) for increasing the 'respirable' fraction. However, the reported amount is too great and reduces the mechanical stability of the mixture before use.
Glidants
The role of the tabletting glidant is to improve the flowability of the powder. This is especially important during high speed tableting production. The requirement of adequate powder flow necessitates the use of a glidant to the powder before tableting. Traditionally, talc (1-2% by weight) has been used as a glidant in tablet formulations. The most commonly used tableting glidant is colloidal silica (about 0.2% by weight) which has very small particles that adhere to the surfaces of the other ingredients and improve flow by reducing interparticulate friction. Magnesium stearate, normally used as a tableting lubricant, can also promote powder flow of the tableting powder at low concentrations (<1% by weight). Concentrations above 1% by weight tend to adversely affect powder flow performance.
Lubricants
The function of the tableting lubricant is to ensure that tablet formation and ejection can occur with low friction between the solid and the die wall. High friction during tableting can cause a series of problems, including inadequate tablet quality and may even stop production. Lubricants are thus included in almost all tablet formulations.
Tableting lubrication is achieved by either fluid lubrication or boundary lubrication. In fluid lubrication a layer of fluid (e.g. liquid paraffin) is located between the particles and die wall and thus reduces the friction.
Boundary lubrication is a surface phenomenon because the sliding surfaces are separated by a thin film of lubricant. The nature of the solid surfaces will therefore affect friction. All substances that can affect interaction between sliding surfaces can be described as boundary lubricants and in the case of tableting, they are fine particulate solids.
A number of mechanisms have been discussed for these boundary lubricants. The most effective tableting tablet boundary lubricant is magnesium stearate because of its properties. The stearic acid salts, including magnesium stearate, are normally used at low concentrations (<1% by weight) in tablet manufacture.
Besides reducing friction, lubricants may cause undesirable changes in the properties of the tablet. The presence of a lubricant in a powder is thought to interfere in a deleterious way with the bonding between the particles during compaction, and thus reduce tablet strength. Similarly, lubricants cause undesirable changes in inhaled formulations, especially with respect to reducing the desired adherence of the drug to the carrier particle. These negative effects are strongly related to the amount of lubricant present, and a minimum amount is normally used in a formulation, i.e. concentrations of 1% or below. In addition, the way in which the lubricant is mixed with the other ingredients should also be considered. The sequence, total mixing time and the mixing intensity are also important criteria.
Anti Adherent
An antiadherent reduces the adhesion between the powder and the punch faces thereby preventing particles sticking to the tableting punch. Sticking or picking is the phenomenon whereby powders are prone to adhere to the punch. This problem is associated with the moisture content of the powder; higher moisture levels aggravate the problem. The occurrence is also aggravated if the punches are engraved or embossed. Many lubricants, such as magnesium stearate, have also antiadherent properties. However, other substances with limited ability to reduce friction can also act as antiadherents, such as talc and starch.
Agglomerations
A further method of improving the flowing properties of cohesive powders is to agglomerate, in a controlled manner, the micronised particles to form spheres of relatively high density and compactness. The process is termed spheronisation while the particles formed are called pellets. The active ingredient is mixed with a plurality of fine particles of one or more excipients; the resulting product is called a soft pellet.
Generally, flow of compositions comprising fine carrier particles is poor unless they are pelletised (e.g. AstraZeneca's product OXIS (registered trademark). However pelletisation has its own disadvantages including being difficult to perform and produces variable Fine Particle Fractions ("FPF").
The flow properties of the formulation can also be improved by controlled agglomeration of the powder. WO 2004 0117918 discloses a method of preparing a dry powder inhalation composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable particulate carrier, a first particulate inhalant medicament and a second particulate inhalant medicament. This application places particular importance in ensuring that any aggregates of the micronized active are broken up and the active ingredient was evenly distributed over the lactose carrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,998 discloses a therapeutic preparation comprising active compounds and a substance which enhances the absorption of the active in the lower respiratory tract, the preparation is in the form of a agglomerated dry powder suitable for inhalation.
GB 1,569,911 discloses the use of a binder to agglomerate a drug into soft pellets, which is extruded through a sieve to create agglomerates. The formation of soft pellets allows carrier particles to be omitted from the composition. U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,516 also discloses the formation of soft drug pellets to improve powder flow. U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,171 discloses spheronised agglomerates that are able to withstand processing and packaging but de-agglomerate into primary particles during inhalation.
EP 441740 discloses a process and apparatus for agglomerating and metering non-flowable powders preferably constituted of micronised formoterol fumarate and fine particles of lactose (soft pellets). Furthermore several methods of the prior art were generally addressed at improving the flowability of powders for inhalation and/or reducing the adhesion between the drug particles and the carrier particles.
GB 1 242 211, GB 1 381 872 and GB 1 571 629 disclose pharmaceutical powders for the inhalation in which the micronised drug (0.01-10 μm) is respectively mixed with carrier particles of sizes 30 to 80 μm, 80 to 150 μm, and less than 400 μm wherein at least 50% by weight of which is above 30 μm.
The prior art discloses several approaches for improving the flowability properties and the respiratory performances of low strength active ingredients. WO 1998 031353 claims a dry powder composition comprising formoterol and a carrier substance, both of which are in finely divided form wherein the formulation has a poured bulk density of from 0.28 to 0.38 g/ml. Said formulation is in the form of soft pellet and does not contain any additive.
Whilst the matter of improved aerosol performance appears has been adequately addressed by industry. There is still, however, a need for inhalable powders having improved dispersion of the API whilst maintaining superior handling and powder flow characteristics.
Poorly Flowing Powders
In multidose DPIs, cohesive/adhesive particulates impair the loading of the powder from a chamber, thereby creating handling and metering problems.
Poor flowability is also detrimental to the respirable fraction of the delivered dose because the active particles are unable to leave the inhaler. The active particles in a poor flowing powder are either adhered to the interior of the inhaler and/or they leave the inhaler as large agglomerates. Agglomerated particles generally cannot reach the bronchiolar and alveolar sites of the lungs because they are too large and impact in the oralpharyngeal cavity or upper airways. The extent of particulate agglomeration between each actuation of the inhaler and also between inhalers and different batches of particles, leads to poor dose reproducibility making these products unsuitable for patient use.
In this regard, it is well known that the interparticulate forces may be too high and prevent the separation of the micronised drug particles from the surface of the coarse carrier during inhalation. The surface of the carrier particles is, indeed, not smooth but has asperities and clefts, which are high energy sites on which the active particles are preferably attracted to and adhere more strongly.
In consideration of all problems and disadvantages associated with respect to the use of fine lactose, it would be highly advantageous to provide a formulation capable of delivering active ingredients using a DPI device that has excellent flowability.
The Carr index is used in pharmaceutics as a powder flow indicator. A Carr index greater than 25 is considered to be an indication of poorly flowing powder, and below 15, of acceptable flowability.
The Carr index is related to the Hausner ratio, another indication of flowability.
Packaging Lines
The efficiency and profitability of an inhaled product depends on the type of pack and the material selected for the chosen production line. For example, the filling speed for an inhaled formulation will depend on its characteristics: the dosing size, flowability, the propensity of the formulation to segregate, as well as the receptacle into which the powder will be dispensed. For a non-fragile easy-flowing powder, filling speeds for capsules are normally less than 300 000 doses per hour, with 3000 doses per minute for a blister strip (assuming 60 doses per strip and 50 strips per minute) and approximately 3000 doses per minute for a blister pack. Choosing a poorly flowing powder irrespective of the receptacle used could reduce the filling speed to well below these values, severely impacting on the commercial success.
Tablets and inhaled formulations require the ability to be confined into a predetermined space i.e. the filling machine. Tableting, however, requires that the dosage form remain intact and compact following pressing and dispensing into the receptacle. Inhalation, in contrast, presents a completely different technical challenge in that the dosage form is required to withstand a small amount of compaction to assist dispensing of the powder plug from the filling apparatus into the receptacle. Following dispensing into a receptacle this plug must then disintegrate otherwise the powder is not presented in an inhalable form. This dosage form elasticity required by inhaled formulations presents a significant challenge not yet solved in the art, especially when higher fines contents are used.
Acceptable aerosol performance is a crucial parameter for an inhaled formulations and a parameter that is routinely focused on by formulators. However, a formulation that does not readily and reproducible fill into a receptacle does not constitute commercially viable product.
In none of aforementioned documents have the features of the invention been disclosed nor do any of them contemplate the problem or contribute or to the solution of the problem according to the invention.
All the attempts at obtaining stable powder formulations with low strength active ingredients endowed with good flowability and high fine particle fraction according to the teaching of the prior art were unsuccessful as demonstrated by either the prior art or the control examples reported below. In particular, the prior art reports that the proposed solutions for a technical problem (i.e. improving dispersion of the drug particles) was detrimental to other parameters (e.g. improving flowability, mechanical stability) or vice versa.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of stearate in an inhalable formulation


A bogie unit including at least one wheeled axle pivotally movable about a central vertical axis, a drawbar pivotally secured to a pivot point, and a control device connected to the axle and engaged with the drawbar, the control device being movable, at least to a limited extent, relatively to the drawbar, and permitting pivotal movement of the axle, at least to a limited extent, relatively to the drawbar.

This invention relates generally to a steering system for vehicles. The invention is particularly concerned with track vehicles but the scope of the specification is not to be confined to this particular application.
A four-wheeled bogie, or two single-axle bogies coupled together to form a "split bogie" system, requires at least one and a half times the guage width as the wheel base dimension to be properly guided by the rail tracks to prevent "jackknifing" of the bogie during operation. If this requirement is net and the bogie is run onto a sharply curved track, without means being provided for steering the axles relatively to each other, then the flanges of the wheels tend to bind to the inside surfaces of the rails as they are then geometrically incorrectly situated on the curved tracks. This results in a high rolling resistance and excessive wear of the wheels.

Goldfieds Engineering (Proprietary) Limited


There is provided a method for simulating at least one wet electroencephalogram (EEG) signal from at least one dry EEG signals, comprising: receiving at least one dry EEG signal measured by dry EEG electrode(s) applied to locations on a head of a patient corresponding to at least one of temporal lobe or frontal lobe, computing at least one simulated wet EEG signal by applying a trained statistical model based on at least one dry EEG signal, the at least one simulated wet EEG signal simulating wet EEG signals measured by a wet EEG electrode applied to at least one location corresponding to at least one of: central, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe, and providing the at least one simulated wet EEG signal for adjusting feedback of a neurofeedback treatment applied by a neurofeedback device.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to neurofeedback and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to systems and methods for processing electroencephalogram (EEG) signals of a neurofeedback treatment.
Neurofeedback is used as a treatment of various neurological and psychiatric disorders, for example, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, and epilepsy. The goal of neurofeedback is to train the patient to normalize EEG measurements that are abnormal relative to the healthy population. During neurofeedback training, the brain activity is measured in real-time and used as feedback to the patient. The feedback is commonly provided using video or sound used as positive feedback when the desired brain activity is recorded. In addition or alternatively, negative feedback is delivered when the recorded brain activity is undesirable. Over several training sessions the patient increases his\her awareness of how a normalized EEG pattern "feels" and how to control it.

Systems and methods for processing EEG signals of a neurofeedback protocol


A universal automated hands-free liquid dispensing system is provided that includes an expandable tube to fit different liquid containers, a pump to draw liquid out of the container and through the tube, and a sensor for detecting the presence of a user so that the user can receive liquid from the container without the need to touch the dispensing system. In some embodiments, a universal dispenser cap is also provided to fit over dispensers of varied neck and spout configurations and dimensions.

The present invention related to automated liquid dispensers, and in particular dispensers that are configured to adapt to liquid containers of different sizes. For example, FIGS. 1A and 1B show a generic liquid container, which in one case may be a bottle 1 with a cap 2 in which the throat of the bottle is threaded 3 and the cap is configured with mating threads 4 to be secured to the top of the container. Embodiments of the present invention may be used with liquid containers such as that shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

Universal automated hands-free liquid dispenser pump


A semiconductor wafer has a device area where a plurality of semiconductor devices are respectively formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by a plurality of crossing division lines formed on the front side of the semiconductor wafer and a peripheral area surrounding the device area. The back side of the semiconductor wafer corresponding to the device area is ground to thereby form a circular recess and an annular projection surrounding the circular recess. In a chip stacked wafer forming step, a plurality of semiconductor device chips are provided on the bottom surface of the circular recess of the semiconductor wafer at the positions respectively corresponding to the semiconductor devices of the semiconductor wafer. The chip stacked wafer is ground to reduce the thickness of each semiconductor device chip to a finished thickness, and a through electrode is formed in each semiconductor device of the semiconductor wafer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor wafer processing method for manufacturing a stacked device chip composed of a plurality of stacked semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor device fabrication process, a plurality of crossing division lines called streets are formed on the front side of a semiconductor wafer to thereby partition a plurality of regions where devices such as ICs and LSIs are respectively formed. The semiconductor wafer is divided into chips along the division lines, thereby manufacturing a plurality of individual semiconductor devices. The semiconductor devices thus manufactured are widely used in various electrical equipment.
With a reduction in size and thickness of electrical equipment in recent years, it is required to also reduce the size and thickness of a semiconductor device package, and high-density mounting is therefore required. As a technique for integrating a plurality of semiconductor devices in one package, there is a three-dimensional mounting technique such that a plurality of semiconductor device chips are stacked in a vertical direction. In a conventional three-dimensional mounting technique, the semiconductor device chips are connected to each other by wire bonding or the semiconductor device chips and an interposer are connected to each other by wire bonding. The connection by wire bonding has a problem such that an inductance is increased by the length of wires and this technique is therefore unsuitable for high-speed transmission of signals. Another problem on wire bonding is such that the semiconductor device chips must be stacked without the contact of the wires, causing the difficulty in reducing the size of the package.
As a new three-dimensional mounting technique, there has recently been developed a stacking technique such that a plurality of semiconductor device chips are stacked on a semiconductor device wafer (Chip On Wafer) and a through electrode extending between a semiconductor device of each semiconductor device chip and each semiconductor device of the semiconductor device wafer is formed to connect these semiconductor devices to each other. To reduce the thickness of such a stacked chip package, it is desirable to reduce the thickness of each semiconductor device chip to be stacked on the semiconductor device wafer to 50 μm or less, for example. For the purposes of facilitating the handling of the semiconductor device wafer and reducing the risk of damage to the semiconductor device wafer, the semiconductor device wafer is attached to a substrate before reducing the thickness of the semiconductor device wafer and performing various processings.
In forming the through electrode, it is necessary to perform heat treatment such as an insulating film forming step including heating at about 450° C. and a reflow step including heating at about 200° C. Conventionally, after the semiconductor device wafer is attached to the substrate such as a glass substrate by using a heat-resistant adhesive, the semiconductor device wafer is subjected to a metal film forming step and heat treatment.


A colored container of polyester obtained by injection molding of a preform starting from colorless polyester granulate to which a particulate dyestuff composition is fed. The particulate dyestuff composition used is a particulate intimate mixture of a dyestuff and/or a pigment and a solid wax-like carrier having a melting point above 45.degree. C. The preform obtained is converted to the final shape by blow molding.

The present invention relates in the first place to a coloured polyester container obtained in a two-stage method in which, in a first stage, starting from polyester granular material, injection moulding is used to produce a coloured preform which is converted to the desired final shape in a second stage.
The production of coloured containers from polyester is known. In this connection, a holder is understood to mean any product which is capable of containing a quantity of liquid, semisolid or solid product and may be formed by a bottle, a beaker, a tank, a dish, etc.
In producing a coloured container from polyester, for example, a coloured bottle from polyester, a two-stage method is employed in which, in the first place, a coloured preform is produced which is converted to the desired final shape in a second stage by blowing. This manner of working provides the possibility of allowing the manufacture of the preform and the conversion to the final shape in the second stage to take place at different places. The preform is, for example, produced centrally in a plastic material processing industry; the standard preforms are then transported to the various customers who have installations for converting the polyester work piece by means of an enveloping mould into the final shape. Such a manner of working entails appreciable savings in the transport costs and is therefore frequently used. To produce a coloured container from polyester, the possibility is known of starting from colourless polyester granular material which, prior to being introduced into the injection moulding machine, is mixed with a product which contains a dyestuff and/or pigment and which is added in a quantity such that the desired colour concentration in the polyester is reached. The coloured product may, for example, consist of a homogeneous coloured polyester granular material which contains, for example, 10% dyestuff and/or pigment or a paste consisting of dyestuff and/or pigment and a viscous liquid, for example, glycerol.
A coloured polyester container which is obtained in the known manner described above has, however, the disadvantage that, starting from coloured polyester granular material as an additive, there is a restriction on the colour density range, while it is difficult to achieve a good colour homogeneity at high colour density. If a coloured paste is used, there is the disadvantage that, as a result of the incorporation of a liquid carrier in the polyester, a deterioration of mechanical properties of the polyester is observed, as a result of which the possible applications decline in number; moreover, the possibility exists that the liquid carrier used is leached out of the holder during use, which is undesirable for, for example, use with foodstuffs.
The object of the present invention is to provide a coloured polyester container which has a homogeneous colouring, which can be produced in a colour density between wide limits, the mechanical properties of which do not differ, or virtually do not differ, from those of a colourless container and in which the ability of any agents used to be leached out is minimumal.

An injection-blow molding method for manufacturing a colored polyester container


A method of increasing the fish catch in the ocean is to fertilize the ocean surface, creating a short-term phytoplankton bloom, which forms a fish attractive device (FAD). The FAD attracts the fish to a planned location for fishing boats to catch with reduced fishing effort. The bloom may be created by the short-term addition of a chelated iron fertilizer to the ocean surface, and may have a duration of from about 1 to about 2 months.

The field of the invention is the attraction of ocean fish to a planned location to enhance the return from fishing effort.
About two-thirds of the cost of wild fish caught in the open ocean is the effort of finding the fish and about one-third is the effort of catching and processing them. For this reason fishermen pride themselves on knowing where the fish congregate in order to gain a full trawl, long-line or net. One approach that fishermen take is scattering fish food or chum to attract migratory or pelagic fish, but this is expensive and short term. Fishermen have noticed that fish will congregate under floating patches of seaweed and under docks and floats. This has led to the use of fish attractive devices, called FADs. These are floats, about 100 square feet to 200 square feet in size, that provide a shadow in the ocean water to attract the fish, which then congregate there. These FADs are small and require deployment and retrieval by the fishing vessels.
A large FAD (Fish Attractive Device) can be achieved at low cost by fertilizing the ocean surface to create a bloom of phytoplankton of sufficient density to form a patch. These biological FAD patches may exist for about 1 to 2 months after creation.
A method of increasing the fish catch in the ocean may comprise the following steps: (1) testing an area of the surface of the ocean to confirm that each macronutrient is present at a first predetermined level that allows for the production of phytoplankton; (2) testing the area of the surface of the ocean to confirm that a first micronutrient is present at a second predetermined level which limits the production of phytoplankton; (3) testing the area of the surface of the ocean to confirm that the rate of diffusion is at a third predetermined level which allows for the production of a patch of phytoplankton; (4) applying a fertilizer comprising the limiting micronutrient to create a patch of phytoplankton in the area of the surface of the ocean; and (5) harvesting the fish underneath and in the area of the patch.
A method of creating an FAD in the ocean may be achieved by the following steps: (1) testing the water at the ocean surface to determine the nutrients that are missing or are in a limiting concentration; (2) applying a fertilizer that releases an appropriate amount of these missing or limiting nutrients in a form that remains available to the phytoplankton such that these nutrient do not leave the photic zone by precipitation to any appreciable extent; and (3) selecting an area of the ocean which has waters that do not rapidly mix either horizontally or vertically (the water should have a diffusion coefficient less that 6.7 square miles per day) and be in the general area of pelagic and migratory fish patterns. In oceans, sufficient sunlight to support the process of photosynthesis is present in only the about 100 to about 200 meters of water beneath the surface of the ocean. The term photic zone may be used to describe this area, where all of the ocean""s photosynthesis takes place. Below the photic zone, there is the aphotic zone where there is insufficient light to support photosynthesis.
A nutrient is present at a limiting concentration if the production of phytoplankton is reduced to a significant extent by the level of that nutrient in the ocean water. An appropriate amount of such a limiting nutrient is an amount needed to raise the concentration of that nutrient in the photic zone so that the bloom of phytoplankton is no longer reduced to a significant extent by the concentration of that nutrient. In most of the ocean the limiting nutrient is iron. Thus, a preferred fertilizer of the present invention comprises chelated iron. The preferred chelates include lignin acid sulfonate.
The diffusion rate varies in the ocean water. The method is preferably carried out in an area of the ocean that does not mix so rapidly that the patch is dispersed before the fish are attracted.
An appropriate amount of a missing micronutrient is an amount that permits the phytoplankton to bloom to a substantially greater extent as permitted by the macronutrients in the ocean water, which are usually nitrate, phosphate and silicate.
The number of fish that aggregate per unit of patch area may be used to determine optimum patch size. If the patch exceeds the optimum, then the return per unit of patch area will decrease, and if too small then the mixing and diffusion will obliterate the patch before the fish can aggregate to a significant extent.
The environmental effects of the fertilized patches are expected to be benign. Chelated iron is used as a dietary supplement for people and as a terrestrial iron fertilizer for gardens. Phytoplankton secrete chelating agents into the ocean water in an effort to keep iron available for making the chlorophyll required for plant growth. The chelated iron has a lifetime in the ocean water of about 40 days so the patch does not have to be revisited. Instead, a new patch may be created in a new location.

Method of increasing the fish catch in the ocean


A wireless communication device comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an axis. The first portion comprises a patch antenna that includes an antenna plate and a ground plate that are separated by a dielectric. The antenna plate has orthogonal antenna elements that are configured to transmit and receive cross-polarized wireless signals. The second portion is configured to be handheld by a user. The axis is coupled to the first portion and the second portion. The axis allows the user to rotate the first portion and the second portion relative to one another to open and close the wireless communication device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to communications, and in particular, to patch antennas for wireless communication devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wireless communication devices are used by millions of people to communicate as they move around. These wireless communication devices provide many communication services, such as telephony and Internet access. To provide these communication services, wireless communication devices include antennas that exchange wireless communication signals with network systems. Some wireless communication devices have two antennas to provide wireless signal diversity. Wireless signal diversity is desirable, because if one wireless signal fades, the other wireless signal can still reach the receiving antenna.
In one antenna design, two antennas are arranged in parallel. For example, a "flip" type telephone may have two vertical antennas that are arranged in parallel in the upper portion of the telephone. Unfortunately, this antenna design has poor de-correlation. With poor de-correlation, the wireless communication signals from each antenna are too similar to provide adequate diversity. As a result, this type of antenna design does not effectively support advanced antenna techniques that require good de-correlation.
In another antenna design, two antennas are arranged perpendicular to one another. For example, a "flip" type telephone may have two perpendicular antennas, one in the upper portion of the telephone, and the other in the lower portion of the telephone. Unfortunately, this antenna design has poor equivalent gain. With poor equivalent gain, the signal strength in the channels of the wireless communication signal is different across the channels. As a result, this type of antenna design does not effectively support advanced antenna techniques that require good equivalent gain.
One example of an advanced antenna technique is referred to as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO). MIMO antennas exchange multiple wireless communication signals for increased throughput as compared to a single channel. MIMO antennas provide excellent reliability and improved throughput by providing diverse signal paths. However, MIMO antennas require good equivalent gain and good de-correlation. Unfortunately, the antenna designs described above do not effectively support MIMO. Patch antennas with cross-polarized elements have good equivalent gain and good de-correlation. Thus, cross-polarized patch antennas could support advanced antenna techniques, such as MIMO. Unfortunately, current parch antennas are too large for use in relatively small wireless communication devices.

Wireless communication device with a patch antenna supporting cross-polarized active elements


The present invention relates to a reconfigurable child receiving device that includes a seat portion and arcuate leg members that support the seat portion above a supporting surface. The seat portion is further supported by arcuate cross members that extend between the leg members and are pivotally connected to the leg members. The arcuate cross member can each be individually pivoted upward above the leg members or downward below the leg members. The pivotal connection between the leg members and the cross members enables the reconfigurable child receiving device to be configured into four different modes of use. In a first mode, both arcuate cross members are pivoted upward above the leg members to allow the device to rock on the leg members in a first direction. In a second mode the second cross member is pivoted downward to prevent rocking in the first direction and to secure the seat portion in a relatively upright configuration. In a third mode the first arcuate cross member is pivoted downward to prevent the device from rocking in the first direction and to support the seat portion in a generally reclined position. In a fourth mode, both arcuate cross members are pivoted downward below the leg members and into contact with the supporting surface to enable the device to rock in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction.

The present invention relates to a seat supported by arcuate leg members on which the seat may rock back and forth in a first direction. More particularly, the legs of the child receiving seat of the present invention include arcuate, pivotable, cross members that pivot relative to the leg members to allow the rocker to rock in multiple directions.
Young children have a need to be physically stimulated. Gentle rocking in a parent's arms is one of the most basic parental stimulations. In order to provide relief to a parent from the continuous holding and rocking of a child, some child receiving devices simulate the motion of a parent's arms. Child receiving devices such as rockers generally include curved support members that support the seat portion of the rocker above a supporting surface on which the curved support members rock. Some rocking seats rock from front to back while others rock from side to side. Likewise, some children prefer front to back rocking, while others prefer side to side rocking, and still others enjoy both types of rocking at different times.
There is therefore a need to develop a rocking seat that can provide both a front-to-back rocking motion as well as a side-to-side rocking motion. Furthermore, there is a need to provide a rocking seat that is easily convertible between a front-to-back rocking mode and side-to-side rocking mode.

Reconfigurable child receiving rocker device


A heat dissipation structure for LED lighting includes a light shade, at least one LED module, a wind guide member and a light seat. The light shade has a first opening and a second opening. The light shade further has at least one first extension section between the first and second openings. The LED module is inlaid in the first extension section. The light seat is connected with the light shade to form at least one perforation therebetween. The wind guide member serves to directly suck in airflow through the perforation to dissipate the heat generated by the LED module. The heat of the LED module is carried out of the first opening so as to lower the temperature of the LED module. Accordingly, the heat dissipation structure is free from any radiating fin assembly so that the total weight is reduced and the heat dissipation efficiency is enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a heat dissipation structure for LED lighting, and more particularly to a heat dissipation structure for LED lighting, which has better heat dissipation efficiency and lighter weight.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various green products meeting the requirements of energy saving and carbon reduction have been more and more respected. Following the rapid advance of manufacturing technique of light-emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as LED), various LED products have been widely applied in various fields as illumination devices, such as LED car lights, LED streetlights, LED desk lamps and LED lightings.
When high-power LED emits light, LED also generates high heat. The heat must be efficiently dissipated. Otherwise, the heat will locally accumulate where the light-emitting component is positioned to cause rise of temperature. This will affect the normal operation of some components of the product or even the entire product and shorten the lifetime of the product.
Taking a conventional LED lighting as an example for illustration, the conventional LED lighting lacks any heat dissipation structure for dissipating the heat. Therefore, after a long period of use, the heat generated by the LED will accumulate in the LED lighting without being effectively dissipated. This will lead to burnout of the LED due to overheating. To solve this problem, some manufacturers have developed improved LED lightings with heat sinks inside for dissipating the heat. However, the heat sinks still cannot provide satisfactory heat dissipation effect. Therefore, some manufacturers have developed heat dissipation structures with fans for LED lightings.
Please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B. A conventional heat dissipation structure for LED lighting includes a light seat 10, a light shade 11, a fan 12, a radiating fin assembly 13 and an LED module 14. The light seat 10 is assembled and connected with the light shade 11. The light seat 10 has an internal receiving space 101. The fan 12 is disposed in the receiving space 101 in a position distal from the light shade 11. The radiating fin assembly 13 is arranged between the fan 12 and the light shade 11. The LED module 14 is positioned between the radiating fin assembly 13 and the light shade 11. The LED module 14 is attached to the radiating fin assembly 13. The light shade 11 covers the LED module 14. When the LED module 14 emits light, the light passes through the light shade 11 and is projected outward. At this time, the LED module 14 generates heat. The radiating fin assembly 13 serves to absorb the heat and the fan 12 blows airflow to the radiating fin assembly 13 and the LED module 14 to dissipate the heat. However, the radiating fin assembly 13 has a considerable weight. This leads to increase of total weight of the LED lighting. Also, it is inconvenient to assemble the components of the LED lighting.
According to the above, the conventional heat dissipation structure for LED lighting has the following shortcomings:
1. The total weight is increased.
2. It is hard to assemble the components.

Heat dissipation structure for LED lighting


The present disclosure relates to an emergency response system having an emergency response system server, a patient database, a communication system, and many patient response devices (PAD) for many patients. Each patient and each PAD are registered at emergency response system server and patient information is stored in patient database. When emergency occurs to a patient carrying PAD, patient presses an emergency button on PAD and PAD initiates an emergency call to emergency dispatch center to notify patient's GPS location and patient information. live emergency responder connects to one or more patient's helping hands and a medical facility to coordinate immediate medical assistance to the patient based on the patient information received and retrieved from the patient database. Patient specific medical assistance instructions are sent to patient, patient takes patient specific emergency medicines stored in PAD. The patient continues to communicate with the live emergency responder until ambulance arrives.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), of the 56.9 million deaths worldwide in 2016, more than half (30.7 million or 54%) were due to these top three causes related to heart conditions, including ischemic heart diseases, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary. Ischemic heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary are the world's biggest killers, accounting for a combined 18.2 million deaths in 2016. These diseases have remained the leading causes of death globally in the last 15 years.
Major of deaths from ischemic heart disease and stroke are preventable if patients call emergency medical care to get the patients to the emergency care in shortest time possible and take the appropriate medications immediately when patients start to notice some of symptoms of heart attacks and/or stroke. The most important things for a patient to survive include: the patient has access to and takes appropriate medications, the patient receives immediate professional care, and the patient is transferred to medical facilities as soon as possible before irreversible damages to the heart muscle and/or brain tissue occur.
Therefore, it is desirable to have an emergency response system to ensure: the patient receives immediate medical care by trained professionals, the patient receives and takes appropriate medications, and nearby emergency dispatch centers are notified, and ambulance and medical emergency staff arrive at the scene in shortest possible time.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed needs still exist in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Emergency response systems and methods of using the same


A high voltage lateral double diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (LDMOS) comprises a substrate; an epitaxy layer on the substrate; a drift region on the epitaxy layer; and a drain region and a source region at two ends. At least one pair of n-type and p-type semiconductor regions is arranged alternately above the interface of the substrate and the epitaxy layer and firmly attached to a lower surface of the drifting region; the n-type and p-type semiconductor regions are firmly closed to each other and arranged to form a lateral PN junction; and the p-type semiconductor region and the drifting region form a vertical PN junction. The n-type and p-type semiconductor regions are also totally called “a reduced surface field (RESURF) layer in body”, and the LDMOS device with a RESURF layer in body effectively solves conflict between raising reverse withstand voltage and reducing forward on-resistance of the current LDMOS devices.

With rapid development of semiconductor industry, Power Integrated Circuit (PIC) has being used in multiple fields, such as a motor control, a panel display drive control, and a control of driving computer peripheral equipment. Among the power devices adopted in the PIC, a high voltage device, Lateral Double Diffused MOSFET (LDMOS), is paid more attention due to its characteristics of high working voltage, simple technology, facilitation for compatible with low voltage Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) circuit in technology and the like. However, for semiconductor high voltage power device made of material of Si, the forward on-resistance of the LDMOS device is greater than that of the Vertical Double Diffused MOSFET (VDMOS), and the greater the forward on-resistance, the larger the dimension of the device. Thus, the manufacturing cost is increased.
Referring to FIG. 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional LDMOS device, the LDMOS device includes a substrate 1, an epitaxial layer 2, a drift region 3, a drain region 4, a well region 5, a source region 6, an oxide layer 7, a source 8, a gate 9, a drain 10 and a substrate electrode 15. In the case that the LDMOS device is of n type, the substrate 1 and the well region 5 are of p type, the epitaxial layer 2 is of n type, the drift region 3 is of n− type, and the drain region 4 and the source drain 6 are of n+ type. In the case that the LDMOS device is of p type, the substrate 1 and the epitaxial layer 2 are of p type, the well region 5 is of n type, the drift region 3 is of p− type, and the drain region 4 and the source drain 6 are of p+ type. The drift region 3 for enduring the voltage endurance in the LDMOS needs to be lightly doped. On the other hand, to decrease the forward on-resistance of the LDMOS device, the drift region 3, as a current channel, needs to be heavily doped. This results in the contradiction between the breakdown voltage BV and the on-resistance Ron. Taking the common Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) device as an example, the relation between the breakdown voltage BV and the on-resistance Ron are as follows:
            R      on        =                            L          D                          q                                                                          μ            n                                          N            D                              =              5.39        ×                  10                      -            9                                                        (            BV            )                    2.5                                                                    (                      for                                                                          N                                      -                                    type                                                                          MOS                    )                                R      on        =                            L          D                          q                                                                          μ            p                                          N            D                              =              1.63        ×                  10                      -            8                                                        (            BV            )                    2.5                                                                    (                      for                                                                          P                                      -                                    type                                                                          MOS                    )                    Where LD is the length of the drift region, ND is the concentration of the drift region, μn and μp are the mobility of the electron and the hole respectively, and q is the electron charge. As can be seen, the on-resistance of the MOS device is directly proportional to the length of the drift region, and is inversely proportional to the concentration of the drift region. That is to say, the shorter the length or the higher the concentration, the smaller the on-resistance. As one of the MOS devices, the LDMOS device has the common characteristic of the MOS device. Therefore, to ensure certain voltage endurance, the length of the drift region 3 of the LDMOS device should not be designed to be too short; and the concentration thereof should not be designed to be too high, otherwise breakdown may occur nearby the PN junction of the well region 5 under the gate 9, decreasing the inverse voltage endurance of the LDMOS device.

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China


The invention is a compact multifunction logic circuit, offering low power operation and compact layout. It has utility in computer graphics processing circuitry. Internal and external data and inverse data inputs are provided to the three passthrough gates 21E, 21F and 21G. The circuit is designed so that one and only one of the passthrough gates 21E, 21F and 21G is activated at any given time. Therefore, even though all three passthrough gates 21E, 21F and 21G have inputs supplied by the outputs of NOR 22, XOR 20 and NAND 23 only one of the three gate outputs is passed to the final output node 19.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention has to do with electronic circuitry which can be used, for example, in computer graphics processing. In particular, this is a compact logic circuit which can perform a selection of functions and be integrated on the same substrate as random access memory (RAM) device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An introduction to the device is now presented, with reference to FIG. 1. A multifunction logic circuit L is included, for example, as part of a RAM. It performs a logic function on logic signals D and M, D and M having either a high or low logic level, and stores the output in STORE, which typically might be a RAM cell under access. In this case the logic function is determined by specific design criteria. Multifunction logic circuit L takes as inputs an existing stored bit M, an input data bit D (taken through a RAM input port, not shown), and control signals C.
Typical logic functions include CLEAR, the output low, and SET, the output high, as well as various combinations of AND, OR, and XOR on inputs M, D, and inversions thereof. A logic function in effect until another selection is made. remains in effect until another selection is made. The logic operation is performed whenever data is written through the RAM input port.
This device has great utility in computer graphics applications, where a graphic field mapped in RAM is altered by rastering new values into selected RAM locations.


In an approach for testing a software application on a target system, a computer provides a test framework being executed on a test framework system, the system being coupled with the target system via network and receives a test scenario by the test framework, the scenario including information regarding a software application to be tested, the target system on which said software application should be executed and regarding one or multiple protocols supported by the target system. The computer interprets information included in said scenario by said test framework and deriving properties associated with at least one software application to be generated based on said information interpretation. The computer then generates an executable software application in a programming language, said application being adapted to the target system by using said derived software application properties. The computer triggers execution of said application thereby obtaining test results, and evaluates said results.

The invention relates to software test automation. More specifically, the invention relates to a software test automation method for multiple platforms, multiple protocols and multiple programming languages.
A test framework may need to run applications compiled, linked, and executed on a remote software system that has a different platform than the test framework itself is running on. Further such software systems may have multiple protocols, for instance, a database system may allow a client to connect to the database via multiple remote network protocols such as JDBC or ODBC, while also allowing native compiled applications to connect to the database using local protocols or software system specific protocols. These specific protocols may in turn have different implementations when native applications are compiled in different programming languages such as COBOL or C. Each of these software system protocols should be tested to ensure they each follow their respective expected behavior. However, this would require that every single test scenario has to be duplicated in multiple programming languages and protocols, which would cause excessive implementation and maintenance costs. Further, some protocols may require you to compile test scenario code on a remote system in multiple programming languages before it can be run, which inhibits test automation via multiple protocols.
A known manual solution is to manually implement applications in the language required by the protocol A up-front and locally compile these applications and execute them on the target software system. To test other protocols of the target software system, a user may need to write applications in a language different than the protocol A and execute them from a remote platform separate from the target platform. The significant drawback is that this solution requires manual steps when applications have to be tested via all generic and system specific protocols. In addition to this, a user has to implement the same test scenarios in different formats for every protocol, which can be error-prone and inefficient.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for operating a base station to service data communications in a cell/sector of a digital cellular wireless system. Data user forward link transmit power within the cell/sector is allocated. A data user Fundamental Channel (FCH) forward link transmit power reserve level upper limit (fd,max) and a data user FCH forward link transmit power reserve lower limit (fd,min) are set. A data user FCH forward link transmit power reserve level (fd) is initialized. The base station is operated to allocate FCHs to data users within the cell/sector, deallocate FCHs to data users within the cell/sector, allocate SCHs to data users within the cell/sector, and to deallocate SCHs to data users within the cell/sector. The SCHs are allocated so that the data user FCH forward link transmit power reserve level is maintained. Based upon at least one current data user operating condition in the cell/sector fd is adjusted. Operation prevents fd from violating fd,max or fd,min.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to cellular wireless systems; and more particularly to the transmission of data communications in cellular wireless systems.
2. Related Art
Cellular wireless systems support wireless communication services in many populated areas of the world. While cellular wireless systems were initially constructed to service voice communications, they are now called upon to support data communications as well. The demand for data communication services has exploded with the acceptance and widespread use of the Internet. While data communications have historically been serviced via wired connections, wireless users are now demanding that their wireless units also support data communications. Many wireless subscribers now expect to be able to "surf" the Internet, access their email, and perform other data communication activities using their cellular phones, wireless personal data assistants, wirelessly linked notebook computers, and/or other wireless devices. The demand for wireless system data communications will only increase with time. Thus, wireless systems are currently being created/modified to service these burgeoning data communication demands.
Significant performance issues exist when using a wireless system to service data communications. Wireless systems were initially designed to service the well-defined requirements of voice communications. Generally speaking, voice communications require a sustained bandwidth over a period of several minutes. Data communications, on the other hand, have very different performance requirements. Data communications are typically bursty, discontinuous, and may require a relatively high bandwidth during data transfer, which may be very short (on the order of a few seconds). To understand the difficulties in servicing data communications within a wireless system, consider the structure and operation of a cellular wireless system.
Cellular wireless systems include a "network infrastructure" that wirelessly communicates with wireless subscriber units within a respective service coverage area. The network infrastructure typically includes a plurality of base stations dispersed throughout the service coverage area, each of which supports wireless communications within a respective cell (or set of sectors). The base stations couple to base station controllers (BSCs), with each BSC serving a plurality of base stations. Each BSC couples to a mobile switching center (MSC). Each BSC also typically directly or indirectly couples to the Internet.
In operation, a wireless subscriber unit communicates with one (or more) of the base stations. A BSC coupled to the serving base station routes voice communications between the MSC and the serving base station. The MSC routes the voice communication to another MSC or to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). BSCs route data communications between a servicing base station and a packet data network that may couple to the Internet.
The wireless link between the base station and the wireless subscriber unit is defined by one of a plurality of operating technologies and standards, e.g., AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, GSM, etc. These operating standards, as well as new 3G and 4G operating standards, define the manner in which the wireless link may be allocated, setup, serviced and torn down. These operating standards must set forth operations that will be satisfactory in servicing both voice and data communications. Each of these next generation systems will be called upon to support high-speed data communications.
In currently deployed digital cellular networks, e.g., 1xRTT networks, both voice and data communications are supported via wireless digital communications. Depending upon particular service provider criteria, base station resources within a cell/sector are divided between voice and data users. In most systems, the service provider desires to limit call blocking for voice users. To accomplish this goal, the number of Walsh codes and the amount of transmit power that may be allocated to data users is limited. 1xRTT systems support two types of forward links for data service, Fundamental Channels (FCHs) and Supplemental Channels (SCHs). FCHs provide the basic data service to data users. SCHs are bursty higher bandwidth channels that are rapidly allocated and deallocated as cell/sector conditions permit. A data user is "blocked" when it cannot be allocated a FCH, i.e., when sufficient data user resources are unavailable for such an allocation.
In order to address this undesirable operation, in 1xRTT systems, each base station is controlled to reserve a certain percentage of available data user resources for FCHs. One technique involves reserving a percentage of available forward link transmit power in a base station for FCHs. Another technique involves reserving Walsh codes for FCH allocation. However, neither of these techniques considers cell/sector loading and the unique needs of wireless subscriber units operating in such a cell/sector.
A need therefore exists for allocation of available data user cell/sector resources among data users to increase throughput but to minimize data user blocking.

Automatic adaptation of fundamental channel reserved power threshold


A headache rack for pickup trucks and similar vehicles is disclosed which comprises a three panel construction including a center panel connected between left and right side panels. Each of the left and right side panels is mounted to an upright side rail coupled to one of the side walls of the truck bed, and to a cross bar extending generally horizontally between the side rails. Adjustment structure is provided to adjust the overall lateral dimension of the three panels in order to accommodate truck beds of different width.

Rack systems for mounting ladders, equipment and other loads to the bed of pickup trucks and similar vehicles are well known in the prior art. Most systems of this type generally comprise a framework of four or more upright side rails, two of which are mounted atop or alongside one of the side walls of the truck with the other two located on the opposite side wall. Cross bars are connected between aligning side rails on opposite side walls so that they span the bed of the truck in position to support equipment, materials or other loads in an elevated position above the truck bed.
Headache racks may comprise or form part of rack systems of the type described above. Typically, headache racks include structure located in between the upright side rails of the rack system, and extending to the cross bar, so as to form a barrier in between the cab of the truck and its bed. This protects the occupants of the truck from the load being carried, and enhances the structural integrity of the rack system so that heavier loads may be supported.
A number of pickup trucks are currently available, and the lateral dimension of the beds of such vehicles varies from model-to-model and among the different manufacturers. A common problem with vehicle rack systems generally, and headache racks in particular, is their lack of adjustability in the lateral direction, i.e. in the direction between the side walls of the truck bed. One size does not fit all trucks. While it is possible to fabricate headache racks for truck beds of any given width, that is impractical because retailers do not have the space to inventory or display a large number of different size racks.


The invention provides a method of assembling together two thin plane parts (1, 2) by friction welding. A main sheet (19) made of a material having high thermal conductivity is held against the parts (1, 2) for assembly. The main sheet (19) picks up the heat induced by the friction of a welding pin (5) against the parts (1, 2) for the purpose of forming the weld bead (17), and it dissipates this heat by radiation. Temperature regulation of the welding operation is obtained by the main sheet (19), ensuring that no localized excess heating occurs in the welding zone. The main sheet (19) is based on copper and presents a thickness that is less than the thickness of the parts (1, 2).

Welding techniques include techniques performed by friction, such as friction stir welding (FSW). Such a technique is advantageous for assembling together metal parts for assembly that are plane or shaped, such as plates, sheets, or other analogous parts. The parts for assembly are held adjacent to each other and pressed against an anvil, by clamping or by some other analogous technique. The term "anvil" is used to designate any member suitable for forming a working surface or analogous member, with the parts being clamped thereto so that they are pressed against the anvil either directly or indirectly. By analogy, when welding parts that are shaped, the anvil may be itself be shaped to be complementary to the profile of the parts for assembly, so as to allow them to be pressed thereagainst. The parts are held pressed against the anvil by means of clamps, being located edge to edge in order to form the weld bead in the zone where the edges are adjacent to each other, corresponding to a weld zone. The parts may be put into abutment as a result of putting corresponding edge faces of the parts into contact with each other, or they may overlap, with a margin of one part lapped on a margin of the other part, in particular a part that includes a rabbet or the like for this purpose. A chuck has a shoulder and a welding pin provided with roughness in relief, which roughness is formed at its free end opposite from its end held by the chuck. The roughness in relief may be arranged as a thread, or as a section of polygonal shape for the free end of the welding pin. Placing the welding pin into contact with the adjacent edges of the parts and then organizing relative movement therebetween serves to form a weld bead and consequently to assemble the parts together. The weld bead is obtained by heating the parts under the effect of rubbing applied locally thereto by the welding pin in the weld zone. In addition, the shoulder presents a surface state that contributes to heating the parts for welding by friction. More particularly, friction with the welding pin and the shoulder leads to the material from which the parts are made heating up so as to obtain a desired pasty state for said material, with the materials of the two parts then mixing together. The two parts are then joined together by the continuous dynamic recrystallization of the material in the weld zone.
A problem arises in achieving accurate control over the temperature to which the parts are subjected during the welding operation. It is necessary to reach a determined welding temperature threshold in order to obtain a weld bead, but without that deforming the parts that are being assembled together. This problem becomes particularly difficult to solve when the parts for welding together are thin, and by way of indication they may present a thickness of the order of one millimeter or one-and-a-half millimeters, and/or for metal parts made of a material that presents poor thermal conductivity. Under such circumstances, friction welding induces localized heat generation very quickly because of the welding pin rubbing against the parts. This heat generation is particularly significant when the chuck is controlled in force, with the shoulder constituting a depth gauge by being pressed into contact with the parts. This localized and rapid temperature rise is likely to reach the melting temperature of the material from which the parts are made, and as a result, failing to obtain the desired pasty state, and more particularly not obtaining stable viscous spreading of the material constituting the parts as is required for the recrystallization step. It can thus be seen that a difficulty to overcome lies in obtaining temperature regulation in the weld zone of the material from which the parts are made, in particular when the metal parts are thin and even more so when they are made of a material presenting low thermal conductivity, or of respective materials that are different. Such temperature regulation is made more difficult to obtain when the welding pin is controlled in force with the shoulder that is associated therewith being pressed against the parts for welding.
In this field, it is conventional to implement a transient step for evaluating the dynamic characteristics specific to the welding pin prior to performing the welding operation. These characteristics relate in particular to the speed of rotation of the chuck and the speed of relative movement in translation between the welding pin and the parts along the weld zone. This transient step consists in placing the parts for welding together on the anvil and then in starting the weld bead over a required distance of the order of up to thirty centimeters in order to define as well as possible the ranges for the speeds of rotation of the chuck and for the speeds of relative movement in translation. Once the resulting welding conditions are satisfactory, the modeling of these dynamic characteristics is defined so as to obtain determined welding conditions, e.g. given the thickness of the parts for assembly, and the material from which they are made, the characteristics specific to the welding pin, and/or the environment of the welding zone. Nevertheless, when the parts are thin and/or of low thermal conductivity, or indeed of different thermal conductivities, the transient step is not sufficient to define in reliable and satisfactory manner the operations that are necessary for obtaining stable viscous spreading of the material in the weld zone. In addition, this transient step may be ineffective in the event of the parts for assembly being of respective thicknesses that vary along the weld bead that is to be formed. It is then necessary to reduce the speed of rotation and the speed of said relative movement in translation, thereby degrading the productivity of the welding operation.
Friction-welding techniques performed on parts of small thickness and/or low thermal conductivity require the welding pin to be controlled very precisely. When assembling together plane metal parts it is commonly preferred for the welding pin to work in an optimized force situation in order to increase the heating of the parts for assembly. Nevertheless, such working conditions are not suitable for parts of small thickness and/or low thermal conductivity because of the risk of the weld bead collapsing during welding. In addition, although controlling the welding pin in force can be satisfactory in terms of productivity and/or the advantage obtained by the shoulder acting as a depth gauge, it can also lead to increasing the risks of the welding pin breaking and of tending to cause the parts to stick to the anvil, which is to be avoided. As a result, for parts that are of small thickness and/or of low thermal conductivity, it is preferable in the end to perform the welding operation with the welding pin being controlled in position, i.e. using a chuck that does not have a shoulder since that tends to give rise to too great a temperature rise while forming the weld bead.
It can thus be seen that in this field there is a need to reconcile high rates of production throughput with rigorous control over the heating of the parts in order to obtain a weld bead that presents recrystallization characteristics, and thus mechanical qualities, that are satisfactory.
For example, document EP 1 048 390 (Fokker Aerostructures) proposes a friction-welding method that consists in optimizing the concentration of heat in the weld zone. In order to influence the distribution of heat produced by friction and to obtain such a concentration of heat in the weld zone, it is proposed to interpose massive cross-members between the clamps and the parts for assembly, said cross-members having a thermal conductivity coefficient that is analogous to that of the parts for assembly. An element of thermally insulating material is interposed between the parts for assembly and the anvil, and the welding pin is controlled in force to optimize the production of heat. The heat produced is typically concentrated in the immediate contact zone between the welding pin and the parts for assembly, by avoiding heat dispersion. The heat concentration capacity obtained in the welding zone enables production speeds to be considerably increased with minimum energy consumption. Such a solution for improving productivity is nevertheless not suitable for use with parts of small thickness because of the above-mentioned risks associated with the localized and rapid heat generation that is induced.
Proposals have also been made in U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,448 (Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian et al.) to interpose a heater element between the parts and the anvil, in the welding zone and overlapping both parts, which heater element is formed by a plate extending along the weld bead that is to be formed. The heater element is incorporated in a frame, with the frame and the face of the anvil that supports the parts being flush. The frame also has cooling means, in particular ducts that convey a cooling liquid. The cooling means serve to control the temperature to which the heater element heats, and thus enables temperature to be raised in controlled manner, thereby avoiding localized zones of heat generation around the weld zone, and thus preserving the parts from deformation.
It should be observed that document U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,097 provides a welding method that does not make use of friction welding, and that does make use of an orifice facing the bottom faces of the parts for welding, the orifice being filled with a powder that encourages welding.

Method of assembling metal parts by friction welding, with the welding temperature being controlled using thermally conductive elements


The present disclosure relates to a hinge and support member arrangement for providing a hinged connection between a bonnet and a body structure of a vehicle. The hinge and support member arrangement comprises a hinge mechanism providing a hinged connection for opening and closing of the bonnet, and a support member adapted to be attached to the body structure of the vehicle and further adapted to carry a fender. In addition, the hinge mechanism is adapted to be connected to the body structure via the support member. The disclosure further relates to a support member for use in such a hinge and support member arrangement and a vehicle comprising such a hinge and support member arrangement.

In a vehicle, such as a car, there are normally provided hinges between a bonnet and a body structure of the vehicle in order to be able to open the bonnet to get access to the engine compartment. It is further known to use deployable bonnets, i.e., bonnets which are adapted to take a deployed position in case of a collision with a pedestrian in order to mitigate the consequences of such a collision. The hinges are usually made of metal, since they should be able to carry the load of the bonnet as well as take up possible forces in case of a collision. The body structure of the vehicle provides mechanical stability of the vehicle, which e.g., is important in case of a collision. The hinges and front fenders of the vehicle are attached to beams of the front part of the body structure of the vehicle. For a conventional vehicle model, not only the fenders but also the body structure is specifically adapted for that particular vehicle model. As a consequence, a vehicle model differing from another vehicle model as regards the shape of the fenders, also differs from that other vehicle model as regards the shape of the body structure, since the shape of the body structure is adapted to, among others, the shape of the fenders and the location of the hinges.


A high-load linear actuator includes a driving mechanism, a worm shaft, a worm wheel assembly, a lead screw, a telescopic pipe and an outer pipe. The driving mechanism includes a base and a motor. The base has a supporting portion and an accommodating portion. The motor is fixed to the supporting portion. The worm shaft extends from the motor into the supporting portion. The worm wheel assembly includes a worm wheel and two bearings for supporting the worm wheel in the accommodating portion. The worm wheel is engaged with the worm shaft. The lead screw is disposed through the worm wheel and driven by the motor for rotation. The telescopic pipe slips on the lead screw to be threadedly connected therewith. The outer pipe slips on the telescopic pipe. The rotation of the lead screw drives the telescopic pipe to linearly extend or retract relative to the outer pipe.

As the economic development of our society advances and people eat high-nutrition high-calorie foods more often, our average body weight increases constantly, so that medical apparatus or electric chair related manufacturers keep designing and introducing improved linear actuators for the aforementioned equipments to meet market requirements.
The conventional linear actuator mainly uses driving components such as a motor together with a worm shaft and a worm wheel to drive and rotate a lead screw, while driving a telescopic pipe screwed with the lead screw and extending or retracting the telescopic pipe linearly. The foregoing components are combined to constitute a linear actuator.
Since the conventional linear actuator can be used for a low-load medical apparatus, it cannot satisfy incremental product requirements of a high-load linear actuator if safe load and lifespan are taken into consideration. Furthermore, a linear actuator applied to a high-load equipment has a telescopic pipe moving at a speed which will affect the comfort and safety of users. Therefore, the conventional linear actuator requires improvements.
In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a feasible solution in accordance with the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.

Driving apparatus for high-load linear actuator


The present invention relates to a catalyst precursor for forming a molybdenum disulfide catalyst through a reaction with sulfur in heavy oil and to a method for hydrocracking heavy oil by using same. According to the present invention, the yield of a low-boiling liquid product with a high economic value in the products by heavy oil cracking can be increased, and the yield of a relatively uneconomical gas product or coke (toluene insoluble component), which is a byproduct, can be significantly lowered.

In general, coke is prepared by carbonizing coking coal used in the steel industry. Here, a high-boiling point organic matter having a high carbon ratio is obtained, which is called coal tar, and in order to recycle produced coal tar, usually carbon black, naphthalene, pitch, and the like are produced by a pyrolysis process at a high temperature of 1200 K or higher. The thus-produced carbon black, naphthalene, pitch, and the like are usually used as a tire or a cement admixture. However, these carbon black, naphthalene, pitch, and the like have a relatively low added value and the range of use is limited.
Thus, various studies on a method of using coal tar produced in the steel industry by adding a higher value to the coal tar have been conducted. In addition, due to a trend that crude oil becomes heavy and an increase in an impurity content in crude oil worldwide, a production proportion of a residual oil produced from a petroleum refinery is also increased, which causes a large increase in the burden of a post-treatment process such as conventional desulfurization equipment. Meanwhile, referring to a worldwide energy demand forecast report suggested by Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, it is predicted that a demand for residual fuel is to be greatly decreased, while a demand for light oil is to be greatly increased. Accordingly, as a technology of converting a low-grade heavy oil into a high-quality heavy oil which may have no restrictions on an impurity content and guarantee a high yield, interest in a slurry phase hydrocracking reaction technology is greatly increasing.
Commercial catalysts which are applied to the slurry phase hydrocracking reaction may be largely classified into a heterogeneous iron oxide-based catalyst and a homogeneous organic metal dispersed catalyst, depending on a mixed form with a high-grade oil.
Among them, the heterogeneous iron oxide-based catalyst may be economically supplied, but a reaction temperature and a reaction temperature which are adjusted by an excessive hydrogen supply may be optimized under relatively severe conditions, resulting in high facility investment and operating costs.
In order to solve the problem, a catalyst including a transition metal and an organic compound ligand allowing a uniform distribution in a reactant has been devised. As an example, Non-patent Document 1 (Fuel, 185, 442-448(2016)) discloses a catalyst having palladium supported on magnetite and a slurry phase hydrocracking reaction of a heavy oil utilizing the catalyst. However, the conventionally known catalyst as such has a problem of producing about 3 wt % of coke as an impurity, which is a relatively large amount.
Thus, a catalyst for a hydrocracking reaction for higher quality of a low-grade heavy oil and a catalyst precursor therefor are currently still in demand.

Catalyst precursor for hydrocracking reaction and method for hydrocracking heavy oil by using same

KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION OF SUNCHON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY