Analyte sensors and methods for fabricating analyte sensors are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a planar flexible analyte sensor includes sputtering platinum onto a polyester base layer to form a layer of platinum. The method includes patterning the layer of platinum to form working electrodes and additional electrodes. Further, the method includes forming an insulating dielectric layer over the base layer, wherein the insulating dielectric layer is formed with openings exposing portions of the working electrodes and portions of the additional electrodes. Also, the method includes partially singulating individual sensors from the base layer, wherein each individual sensor is connected to the base layer by a tab. The method further includes depositing an enzyme layer over the exposed portions of the working electrodes and coating the working electrodes with a glucose limiting membrane.

The pancreas of a normal healthy person produces and releases insulin into the blood stream in response to elevated blood plasma glucose levels. Beta cells (β-cells), which reside in the pancreas, produce and secrete insulin into the blood stream as it is needed. If β-cells become incapacitated or die, a condition known as Type 1 diabetes mellitus (or in some cases, if β-cells produce insufficient quantities of insulin, a condition known as Type 2 diabetes), then insulin may be provided to a body from another source to maintain life or health.
Traditionally, because insulin cannot be taken orally, insulin has been injected with a syringe. More recently, the use of infusion pump therapy has been increasing in a number of medical situations, including for delivering insulin to diabetic individuals. For example, external infusion pumps may be worn on a belt, in a pocket, or the like, and they can deliver insulin into a body via an infusion tube with a percutaneous needle or a cannula placed in subcutaneous tissue.
As of 1995, less than 5% of Type 1 diabetic individuals in the United States were using infusion pump therapy. Currently, over 7% of the more than 900,000 Type 1 diabetic individuals in the U.S. are using infusion pump therapy. The percentage of Type 1 diabetic individuals that use an infusion pump is growing at a rate of over 2% each year. Moreover, the number of Type 2 diabetic individuals is growing at 3% or more per year, and growing numbers of insulin-using Type 2 diabetic individuals are also adopting infusion pumps. Additionally, physicians have recognized that continuous infusion can provide greater control of a diabetic individual's condition, so they too are increasingly prescribing it for patients.
An infusion pump system may include an infusion pump that is automatically and/or semi-automatically controlled to infuse insulin into a patient. The infusion of insulin may be controlled to occur at times and in amounts that are based, for example, on blood glucose measurements obtained from an embedded analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor, in real-time.
There are two main types of blood glucose monitoring systems used by patients: single point or non-continuous and continuous. Non-continuous systems consist of meters and tests strips and require blood samples to be drawn from fingertips or alternate sites, such as forearms and legs. These systems rely on lancing and manipulation of the fingers or alternate blood draw sites, which can be extremely painful and inconvenient, particularly for children.
Continuous monitoring sensors are generally implanted subcutaneously and measure glucose levels in the interstitial fluid at various periods throughout the day, providing data that shows trends in glucose measurements over a short period of time. These sensors are painful during insertion and usually require the assistance of a health care professional. Further, these sensors are intended for use during only a short duration (e.g., monitoring for a matter of days to determine a blood sugar pattern). Subcutaneously implanted sensors may lead to infection and immune response complications. Another major drawback of currently available continuous monitoring devices is that they require frequent, often daily, calibration using blood glucose results that must be obtained from painful finger-sticks using traditional meters and test strips. This calibration, and re-calibration, is required to maintain sensor accuracy and sensitivity, but it can be cumbersome as well as painful.
A typical glucose sensor works according to the following chemical reactions:

In equation 1, the glucose oxidase is used to catalyze the reaction between glucose and oxygen to yield gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The hydrogen peroxide reacts electrochemically as shown in Equation 2 and the resulting current can be measured by a potentiostat. These reactions, which occur in a variety of oxidoreductases known in the art, are used in a number of sensor designs.
In the case of three electrode design (working, counter and reference electrode), the reference electrode is not consumed and the as produced 02 (Equation 2) is reduced at the counter electrode as per reaction (3)O2+2H2O+4e−→4OH+  (3)
In the case of two electrode design (working and reference electrode only), the following reaction occurs at the reference electrodeAgCl+e−→Ag+Cl−  (4)
Here it is worth discussing the relative merits of the 2-electrode and 3-electrode designs. In the case of 3-electrode design, oxygen is consumed at the counter electrode which is also needed for the glucose oxidase (Equation 1). However, the Ag/AgCl reference remains stable; albeit sensor dependence on oxygen increases. In the case of 2-electrode design, sensor dependence of oxygen is lowered; albeit the AgCl is consumed over time (as per Equation 4) and thus one must provide enough amount of AgCl adequate for lifetime of the sensor.
As analyte sensor technology matures and new applications for sensor technology are developed, there is a need for improved analyte sensors, such as for continuous monitoring sensors for use over longer durations. Also, there is a need to develop advanced processes for sensor fabrication that will yield a factory calibrated analyte sensor without need for further external calibrations.
Further, there is a need for low cost, large scale production of analyte sensors, such as glucose sensors. Conventional batch processing is not amenable to high volume production or to significant cost reductions.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have an improved analyte sensor and related fabrication method that address the shortcomings of traditional sensor systems. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.


A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).

The invention relates to a vehicle occupant safety system.
Vehicle occupant safety systems comprising one or more airbags generally speaking serve for protecting a driver or occupants in the event of crash. The airbags prevent the driver or the occupants, especially their heads, from impacting on the steering wheel or controls and instruments and restrain the occupant.
Various types of said vehicle occupant safety systems are known from the state of the art. In a widespread type of said vehicle occupant safety systems, an airbag is arranged at the steering wheel for protecting the driver and/or an airbag is arranged in/on the instrument panel for protecting the passenger. Further airbags are usually arranged in the area of a roof rail. This is not possible in convertibles, for which reason further airbags are rather installed in the area of the instruments or of the A-pillar.
In the event of an angular frontal impact it is possible, however, that the driver's or the passenger's head hits the airbag at an angle or does not hit the airbag at all. If the vehicle occupant's head hits the airbag at an angle, the head can experience angular accelerations.


A plasma lighting bulb is disclosed. The plasma lighting bulb includes a bulb emitting light, being formed of a transparent material, and having a plurality of grooves having a predetermined depth formed on a surface of the bulb, and a metal formed in the grooves, wherein a cross-section of the grooves is formed of one of a semicircular shape, a V-shape, and a polygonal shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma lighting bulb, and more particularly, to a plasma lighting bulb blocking electromagnetic waves. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for providing a plasma lighting bulb that can efficiently block electromagnetic waves.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A plasma lighting system is a lighting device formed by sealing gas and a lighting material within a vacuum bulb and, then, forming plasma by using microwaves, thereby producing a light closest to natural light.
Since lighting occurs by the microwaves, in the plasma lighting system, high-frequency electromagnetic waves must be applied to the lighting bulb.
However, such electromagnetic waves have the tendency to be spatially diffused, thereby disturbing the peripheral devices. Accordingly, a plasma lighting system capable of blocking such electromagnetic waves is increasingly in demand.

Plasma lighting bulb with metal provided in grooves formed on surface thereof


In a driving device, a liquid crystal display having the driving device, and a method of driving the liquid crystal display, the driving device includes a signal controller, a voltage selector, a gray-scale voltage generator, and a data driver. The signal controller outputs a power-down signal indicating an imminent power-off. The voltage selector outputs a common voltage in response to the signal. The gray-scale voltage generator receives the common voltage to generate common gray-scale voltages having a same voltage level as that of the common voltage. The data driver generates common data voltages based on the common gray-scale voltages. The driving device controls a display panel so that the display panel displays a white image in response to the signal. Thus, an after-image after the power-off is removed, therefore improving the display quality of the display panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving device, a liquid crystal display having the driving device, and a method of driving the liquid crystal display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a driving device capable of improving display quality, a liquid crystal display having the driving device, and a method of driving the liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystal displays (LCD) that display an image using a liquid crystal layer are widely used as flat panel display devices in computers, televisions, digital cameras, cell phones and other electronic devices. An LCD typically includes a liquid crystal display panel and a driver circuit. The liquid crystal display panel displays an image in response to data voltages provided from the driver applied to its pixels. The driver receives an image signal and an image control signal from exterior source to generate the data voltages.
When data voltages each having the same polarity and the same voltage level are applied to a pixel in the liquid crystal layer during several consecutive frames, electric charges accumulate in the liquid crystal layer. If the accumulated electric charges are not completely discharged, a lingering after-image occurs.
For example, when a pixel in the LCD is turned OFF, the after-image remains, due to the non-discharge of the accumulated electric charge, and gradually disappears from the liquid crystal display panel, thereby causing deterioration of the image display quality of the LCD.

Driving device, liquid crystal display having the same, and method of driving the liquid crystal display


A hybrid module includes a first, motor-side pre-assembly group and a second, transmission-side pre-assembly group. A separating clutch is arranged between the motor-side pre-assembly group and the transmission-side pre-assembly group, via which the pre-assembly groups can be connected in a torque-transmitting manner.

Hybrid modules having an electric machine arranged in an axially parallel configuration between an internal combustion engine and a transmission are known per se from the general prior art.
Precisely with axially parallel hybrid systems, there is the problem that the installation space must be used even more efficiently than previously. Nevertheless, it is desirable that a module should be flanged between the transmission and the internal combustion engine and that it should be possible to use it for a very wide variety of engine/transmission combinations.

Hybrid module for a drive train of a motor vehicle, hybrid unit and method for assembling a hybrid module


A hydrophobic precipitated silica having a BET of less than 110 m2/g, a CTAB of less than 150 m2/g, a BET/CTAB ratio of less than 3, a carbon content of greater than 3.1%, a pH of 9.7 to 10.5, a DBP of less than 230 g/(100 g), and a methanol wettability of more than 50%. The hydrophobic precipitated silica is used in compositions including defoamers, silicone rubber and HTV crosslinkable silicone rubber compositions. The hydrophobic precipitated silica is also useful as a flow assistant and carrier or anti-blocking agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hydrophobic precipitated silicas of high pH and low silanol group density, to a process for preparing them and to their use, such as in defoamers, fillers or carriers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hydrophobic precipitated silicas and processes for preparing them are known. Hydrophobicization is accomplished generally by populating the surface of a hydrophilic precipitated silica with suitable organic compounds. Examples of such hydrophobic or partly hydrophobic precipitated silicas are disclosed in patents EP 0 798 348, U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,493 and EP 1 281 735, EP 1 281 733 and EP 1 281 735 disclose hydrophobic precipitated silicas with a pH of 5-9, while WO 2003014020 discloses those having a pH of more than 9.5.
The use of hydrophilic and hydrophobic precipitated silicas in defoamer formulations is likewise known (Pigments Technical Bulletin 42, DEGUSSA, June 1986). Utility in defoamer formulations imposes exacting requirements on the precipitated silicas. Thus they ought to be readily and effectively dispersible into the defoamer formulation and ought to lead to a rapid knockdown time (response time), complete knockdown (immediate effect) and long holddown (service life). Knockdown describes the ability of the defoamer to reduce the height of the foam immediately following addition, down to a defined height of the foam. Holddown characterizes the service life of the defoamer, i.e., the duration of its activity. Specifically a measurement is made of the time taken for the foam to regain a defined level. Alongside these the knockdown time characterizes the time taken to reach knockdown, relative to the foam maximum. Prior art precipitated silicas have unsatisfactory values for some if not all of the stated parameters.

Hydrophobic precipitated silica for defoamer formulations


A first surface layer made of compound semiconductor material is defined in a surface area of a substrate. A first intermediate layer is formed on the surface layer, the first intermediate layer being made of compound material having Ga as a III group element and S as a VI element and having a thickness of at least two monolayers or thicker. A first electrode is formed on the first intermediate layer, being electrically connected to the first surface layer with an ohmic contact.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and its manufacture method, and more particularly to a semiconductor device with ohmic contacts on a compound semiconductor and its manufacture method.
b) Description of the Related Art
An SiO.sub.2 film formed on the surface of a silicon substrate is a good insulating film with a low density of surface states. It is difficult, however, to form a good insulating film with a low density of surface states on the surface of a compound semiconductor. For example, although SiN, SiO.sub.2, Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 and the like have been studied as materials of an insulating film to be formed on the surface of GaAs, it is difficult to lower the density of surface states.
Since a good interface between a compound semiconductor and an insulating film cannot be obtained, it is difficult to form an FET (MISFET) of a metal/insulator/semiconductor structure by using a compound semiconductor such as GaAs. In order to solve this interface problem between semiconductor and insulator, other structures have been adopted, such as a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) and an FET (MESFET) of a metal/semiconductor structure using Schottky contacts between a gate electrode and the semiconductor without forming a gate insulating film between the channel region and the gate electrode.
A potential barrier between GaAs and metal becomes nearly constant (about 0.8 eV) independent from the work function of metal, because of the pinning effect of GaAs. Therefore, an energy level difference becomes large between the Fermi level of metal and the level at the lower end of the conduction band of GaAs, and the electrical resistance of an ohmic contact between n-type GaAs and metal is likely to increase.
As an approach to lowering the resistance, a method of processing the surface of GaAs with a solution of (NH.sub.4)S.sub.x or NaS is now being studied. This process bonds Ga atoms exposed on the GaAs surface with S atoms, forming Ga--S bonds. The GaAs surface is covered with S atoms of approximately one atomic layer and is made chemically stable. With this method, a photoluminescence intensity increases and the potential barrier at an interface between the GaAs and the metal becomes dependent upon a metal work function.
The pinning effect can be eliminated by covering the GaAs surface with S atoms of approximately one atomic layer. However, deposition of an SiN film, an SiO.sub.2 film or the like on the S atom layer considerably lowers the photoluminescence intensity and suppresses the pinning effect elimination. In addition, deposition of a metal layer on the S atom layer makes metal atoms in the metal layer react with GaAs during heat treatment, so that the pinning effect elimination is suppressed.
FETs using a compound semiconductor, typically GaAs, have been used as high frequency electronic devices. For example, GaAs MESFETs are widely used for a mobile communications system such as cellular phones, and HEMTs for a satellite broadcasting reception antenna.
Needless to say, high frequency FETs are required to have high gains and low noises. A breakdown voltage is also an important factor for determining operation ratings. One factor of determining a breakdown voltage of FET is a surface trap level at the interface between a semiconductor layer and a passivation film of FET.
Generally, the density of surface states at the interface between the compound semiconductor and an insulating film used as a passivation film is higher than that at the interface between an Si and an SiO.sub.2 film, as described above. In order to prevent any trap caused by the surface trap level near the gate electrode of an FET, a buried gate structure has been used conventionally. The breakdown voltage is mostly influenced by the surface trap level.
With the buried gate structure, the gate electrode is buried in a channel layer of a compound semiconductor or in a cap layer. The side walls of the gate electrode directly contact the channel layer or cap layer. Since the interface between the channel or cap layer and an insulating film can be positioned remotely from the channel region under the gate electrode, traps by the surface trap level can be prevented.
The density of surface states can be lowered by depositing an insulating film after the surface of the compound semiconductor is cleaned sufficiently.
With the buried gate structure, the side walls of the gate electrode contact the channel or cap layer. It is therefore necessary to suppress leakage current from flowing through the contact area. From this reason, the impurity concentration of the channel or cap layer cannot be made high.
With the method of depositing an insulating film after the surface of the channel layer is cleaned, it is difficult to lower the density of surface states to a sufficiently low value.
The property of ohmic contacts of a high speed semiconductor device directly influences the device performance. It has been therefore desired to form an ohmic contact having a low contact resistance and an excellent ohmic contact property.
The structure and manufacture method of a conventional ohmic contact will be described, by taking as an example an n-type GaAs typical to a group III-V compound semiconductor. For example, in order to form an ohmic contact on an n-type GaAs, AuGeNi alloy is deposited on GaAs to make an alloy of AuGeNi and GaAs and form an ohmic contact layer. If n-type dopants are diffused at a high concentration near the surface layer of GaAs, the Schottky barrier layer can be made thin and tunneling of electrons through this layer becomes easy. This tunneling current realizes an ohmic contact. It is difficult, however, to control the diffusion of Ge by heat treatment. In order to improve the controllability and reliability of manufacturing processes, it is desired to form an ohmic contact of non-alloy without performing heat treatment.
An ohmic contact of non-alloy may be formed by eliminating the Fermi level pinning and contacting GaAs with a metal having a low work function to lower the Schottky barrier.
From this viewpoint, the present inventors have tried to form an ohmic contact of non-alloy. The present inventors also disclosed in JP-A-8-248170 a method of lowering the density of surface states of GaAs to 5.times.10.sup.10 eV.sup.-1 cm.sup.-2 by depositing a GaS layer on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) using as a source material tertiary-butyl-gallium-sulfide cubane ((t-Bu)GaS).sub.4.

Semiconductor device with ohmic contacts on compound semiconductor and manufacture thereof


A fire suppression system for a use in a fire zone is provided. The fire suppression system includes a case, a fire extinguishing container, a battery assembly, a control assembly and a sensor device. The sensor device is configured to detect a potential fire hazard within the fire zone and signal the discharge of a fire extinguishing material outside the case and into the fire zone upon the detection of a potential fire hazard. The fire suppression system can further include a smoke generating container configured to release a smoke generating agent outside of the fire zone upon the detection of a potential fire hazard in order notify operators and systems of a potential fire hazard occurring within the fire zone.

Fire protection and extinguishing systems are commonly implemented in areas where there are concerns of potential fire hazards. Such fire protection systems are particularly important in cargo compartments for aircrafts, freight carriers and other transports because they carry potentially hazardous, combustible and/or flammable cargo that can cause a fire hazard or fuel an already existing fire hazard. Traditional fire protection systems for cargo compartments are typically permanently installed systems located within the cargo compartment and designed to discharge a fire extinguishing material throughout the entire cargo compartment upon the detection of a fire. They are usually intended to cover the burning cargo inside the cargo compartment and create an oxygen-depriving medium, create an inert atmosphere inside the cargo compartment, create a cooling medium, such as provided by water misting technology, or retard a fire's propagation.
However, these traditional built-in systems pose cost and reliability concerns. The costs to develop, certify, and maintain built-in systems are often substantial. The reliability of some of these built-in systems is unknown unless developed and analyzed simultaneously with a proper Safety Assessment. Further, cargo compartments (and the cargo contained therein) are typically subject to very rough treatment and storage conditions, thus requiring fire-extinguishing systems to be protected and durable and not susceptible to damage as result of inadvertent contact during loading, unloading and transport of the cargo in the cargo compartment.
In addition, cargo is often transported through the use of individual cargo containers, often called unit load devices (ULDs). These ULDs are loaded with cargo and then transferred into the cargo compartment of the aircraft, freight carrier or other transport. As a result, in the event of a fire caused by certain cargo, the fire occurs within a specific ULD and thus a fire protection system installed within the cargo compartment is an ineffective and inefficient fire protection means.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a fire extinguishing system that is lightweight, self-contained, durable and easily movable, and that can be selectively placed in a ULD (or similar container) that is loaded into a cargo compartment and poses an increased risk of a potential fire hazard. Further, there is a need in the art for such a fire extinguishing system that incorporates appropriate battery protection means in compliance with FAA requirements and other federal, state and local rules and regulations.
Similarly, semi-trucks, trailers and other transportation vehicles commonly have cargo and materials that pose a fire risk. Thus, there is a need in the art for a fire extinguishing system that can be configured to be installed in the trailers of semi-trucks to protect the cargo and contents of the trailer. Further, as more and more cars and trucks are being offered with a hybrid or all electronic drive systems, there is a concern of the battery bundles being ignited and burning after a crash, a particular shortcoming has been observed in side impact collisions. Once the lithium (or other long range) batteries are exposed or broken, there is the chance of spontaneous ignition and the fires of these metals are very difficult to extinguish. Thus, there is a need in the art for a fire extinguishing system that can adequately contain and extinguish such a fire in over-the-road trailers and the battery enclosures of hybrid or electric cars. Yet further, electronic housings, warehouses, storage facilities, wind turbines, and the like can also house or contain cargo, inventory or materials that pose a fire risk. Thus, there is a need in the art for a fire extinguishing system that can adequately contain and suppress a fire and protect in these areas.
The aforementioned problems and needs similarly apply to many other situations where fire protection is a concern. For example, wind turbines have electrical, battery storage and mechanical compartments at risk of starting a fire within the wind turbine. Storage units and facilities, particularly battery storage units, are also susceptible to fires. Such units and facilities are commonly used to house a large number of batteries configured for storing the energy generated by wind turbines and solar panels. Thus, a need exists for a fire suppression system capable of suppressing fires started in these wind turbines, storage units and facilities along with many other types of accessible or inaccessible fire zones.


A mechanism is provided for presenting a software application to a plurality of users in a cloud computing environment. For example, an application that was designed for use by a single user is provided in a cloud based platform without re-architecting the application. Using a web-based interface, multiple cloud users may launch and execute the application. The various instances of the application are provided to the cloud users as if the application were designed as a multi-user application.

An increasingly popular form of networking may generally be referred to as remote presentation systems, which can use protocols such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) to share a desktop and other applications executing on a server with a remote client. Cloud computing refers to a computing environment for enabling on-demand network access to a shared pool of computing resources. Many cloud computing services involve virtualized resources such as those described above and may take the form of web-based tools or applications that users can access and use through a web browser as if they were programs installed locally on their own computers.
Many applications are designed for use by a single user. For example, AutoCAD was designed as a single tenant application and intended to be used by a single user and not multiple users simultaneously. In contrast, a web based multi-tenant application such as Bing is intended to be accessed simultaneously by millions of users.


A dolly apparatus, comprising a platform, a plurality of bars coupled with the platform, a handle configured to connect the plurality of bars to each other, and a plurality of casters coupled with the platform. The dolly apparatus has the versatility to accommodate various types and sizes of ladders and transports each of them from one spot to another with relative ease and minimal effort.

Building facilities such as high-rise towers, government installations, industrial plants, commercial establishments, etc., maintain a multitude of ladders of varying types, grades, and sizes as standard property equipment for use in the day-to-day operations. Whether to change a light bulb, replace air filters, run electrical wires, investigate ceiling leaks, or work on any height related issue in general, a ladder of the appropriate type and size would most likely be needed and summoned for. And to do this, the conventional way of moving or transporting a ladder within the premises of a facility is by simply lifting and carrying it around manually by hand from one spot to another. This method is typically awkward, tedious, unsafe, and burdensome particularly if the ladder is oversized and the distance of travel involved is considerably far. Thus, users have resorted to using devices that presumably help ease in the process. One example is the use of shoulder straps attached to the ladder. This method is ineffective since it does not really relieve the user from the weight of the ladder. Others have used wheeled devices such as flat carts, tool carts, drywall carts, furniture dollies, and even service tables with wheels but these solutions are all equally awkward, difficult to use, and unable to meet the needs of the industry. Other solutions attempt to install wheels directly on to the ladder or have some kind of wheeled contraption that attach and detach from the ladder, but these solutions fail likewise because, apart from being impractical, their application is limited to only a couple of types of ladders. They are also less desirable because they require assembly and disassembly each use and they are hard to maneuver around once installed and put to use.


Provided is a washing machine motor capable of efficiently generating torque by improving a winding factor of coils with a relatively simple configuration. The washing machine motor (12) has an outer rotor (20), an inner rotor (30), and a stator (60). The outer rotor (20) and the inner rotor (30) share coils (63) of the stator (60), and a composite current is supplied to the coils (63) such that the outer rotor (20) and the inner rotor (30) are independently driven. The outer rotor (20) has forty eight outer magnets (24) arranged such that the N and S poles thereof are continuously and alternately aligned in the circumferential direction thereof. The inner rotor (30) has forty-two inner magnets (34) arranged such that the N and S poles thereof are continuously and alternately aligned in the circumferential direction thereof. The stator (60) has thirty-six I-shaped cores (61) and the coils (63).

The techniques related to the first to tenth embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 to 4.
<Patent Document 1>
Patent Document 1 discloses a dual rotor type motor. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of independently driving an inner rotor and an outer rotor by a composite current that combines currents corresponding to the respective rotors. However, the motor of Patent Document 1 is for an automobile, and a stator of the motor is constituted by the number of independent cores that are larger than the number of poles of the inner rotor and the outer rotor.
<Patent Document 2>
Patent Document 2 discloses a motor for rotating and driving a drum and a pulsator of a washing machine in a direct-drive type (a type in which the drum and the pulsator are directly driven by a motor without passing through a complicated transmission mechanism).
The motor of this washing machine has a structure in which an outer rotor type washing motor (to drive the pulsator) and an inner rotor type dewatering motor (to drive the drum) are disposed inside and outside. Two stators for the washing motor and the dewatering motor are provided in a stator unit disposed between the rotors of the two motors.
During the washing operation in which the washing process and the rinsing process are performed, a large amount of water is filled in the drum, so that the motor is required to have a high torque at a low speed. On the other hand, during the dewatering operation, since the water in the drum is removed, the motor can be driven at a low torque, but a high-speed rotation is required for the motor. Therefore, the washing machine motor is required to have a specific output performance corresponding to the low speed-high torque and the high speed-low torque.
Accordingly, in this washing machine, the dewatering motor which does not require a high torque is arranged in the form of an inner motor, and the washing motor is arranged in an outer rotor shape in which the outer diameter of the rotor is large and high torque is obtained, thereby realizing the appropriate output performance.
During the washing process and the rinsing process requiring high torque, the washing machine controls the pulsator to rotate while reversing forward and reverse in a state in which the drum is kept from rotating in the same manner as in the conventional control.
During the dewatering process, rotations of the washing motor and the dewatering motor are shifted from each other. When the rotational speeds of the two motors are different from each other by a predetermined speed or more, the motor having the smaller rotational speed is controlled to become similar to the rotational speed of the other motor.
In the dewatering process, the washing motor and the dewatering motor are synchronously operated, and at the timing when the washing motor reaches the predetermined rotational speed, only the dewatering motor is driven and the supply of current to the washing motor is stopped so that the washing motor is in the rotation-free state.
<Patent Document 3>
Patent Document 3 discloses a method of manufacturing a stator of a dual rotor type motor.
Specifically, eighteen stator cores wound with coils are formed by winding a coil on a prismatic stator core having insulator members (insulating materials) mounted on both ends thereof. In the state where the eighteen stator cores wound with the coils are arranged in the circumferential direction, the both ends of the stator cores are sandwiched between a pair of annularly shaped gallery plates and the gallery plates are fixed with bolts or nuts while performing insulation measures, thereby forming a stator skeleton structure.
In order to fix the stator core to an appropriate position, convex portions extending in the axial direction are formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the stator core. When these convex portions are fitted in the concave portions provided in the stator molding container, the stator skeleton structure is inserted into the stator molding container. Thereafter, when the space between the stator molding container and the stator skeleton structure is filled with resin, a resin molded product is formed.
Since the convex portions remain in the resin molded product, when the convex portions are mechanically removed, the stator is completed.
<Patent Document 4>
Patent Document 4 discloses a vertical type washing machine in which a drum is rotated during a washing process or a rinsing process. In this washing machine, since both the drum and the pulsator are driven by a single motor, during the washing process or the rinsing process, in contrast to the conventional control, only the drum is rotated while reversing the forward and backward directions in a state in which the pulsator is fixed and is not rotated. Further, during dewatering process, the pulsator is released from the fixation, the drum is rotated at a high speed in a state in which the pulsator is rotatable.

Washing machine motor and washing machine having same


A sensor assembly includes a sensor and a sensor housing that supports the sensor and that operably engages a connector. The sensor housing includes a first retainer and a second retainer. The first retainer includes a tapered surface that tapers relative to the longitudinal axis, and the tapered surface abuts against the aperture surface of the connector to guide the sensor housing as the sensor housing moves substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis into the aperture. The sensor housing is engageable with the connector to receive the connector between the first retainer and the second retainer and to limit relative movement of the sensor housing and the connector in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second retainer abuts against the aperture surface of the connector to limit relative rotation of the sensor housing and the connector about the longitudinal axis.

Sensors can be used for detecting various characteristics. For instance, vehicles can include temperature sensors, air-flow sensors, pressure sensors and various other sensors for detecting temperature, air-flow rate, pressure, and other characteristics for maintaining proper function of the vehicle.
In order to function properly, these sensors generally are installed in a specific orientation. For instance, in the case of a temperature sensor intended to detect temperature of a fluid flowing within a pipe, the sensor can be fixed to the pipe and oriented normal to the flow path of the fluid. If the sensor is offset from this position (e.g., at an acute angle relative to the flow path), the sensor might inaccurately detect the fluid temperature, thereby potentially causing malfunction of a component/system.
However, some sensors may not be securely coupled, and the orientation of the sensor may change over time. Moreover, installing the sensor and ensuring that the sensor is initially oriented correctly may be difficult and/or time consuming.


An electrical interconnection system has a plug connector (1) and receptacle connector (2). The plug connector (1) includes an insulated housing (13); a number of terminals (12) received in the insulated housing (13), said the contacts being separated into two distinct sets along longitudinal direction and apart from one another vertically; an attraction member (1) assembled to the insulated housing. The receptacle connector (2) includes an insulative housing; a number of contacts (24) separated into two distinct sets along vertical direction and received in the insulative housing; a magnetic block (22) assembled to the insulative housing. The plug connector (1) and the receptacle connector (2) are securely coupled together via a magnetic attraction between the magnetic member and the attraction member thereof. The contacts of the receptacle connector contact the terminals of the plug connector, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to an electrical interconnection system, and more particularly to an electrical interconnection system using magnetic attraction as retention means.
2. Description of Related Art
An electrical interconnection system is widely applied in electronic devices for signal transmission or power delivery. In order to prevent mated electrical connectors of the electrical interconnection system from being separated away from each other when they are in working status, a mechanism latch device is used to retain them together. However, the latch device may deform if it is improperly used or some other reasons, thus the latch device couldn't ensure that the mated electrical connectors are coupled together securely.
U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20070072443 disclose an electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force to maintain contact. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one or both of the plug and receptacle can be a magnet, which is preferably a permanent rare earth magnet although electromagnets may also be used. The magnetic element on the plug or receptacle that does not include a magnet is composed of ferromagnetic material. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship. However, the plug or the receptacle only has a row of contacts, and an electrical connector has two rows or more rows of contacts are needed in some applications.
Hence, an improved electrical interconnection system is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.

Electrical interconnection system using magnetic retention


In the case of a printing press having an impression cylinder for cooperation with at least one transfer cylinder, such as a blanket cylinder, for applying a printing image to a web, a higher degree of quality and greater ease of operation are made possible by having a wiping device with a wiping cloth for engaging the impression cylinder and possibly a bend roll. The wiping device is arranged to act on a part of the periphery of the impression cylinder not having the web of paper trained about it.

The invention relates to a printing press and more specifically to a web feed rotary press, comprising at least one impression cylinder arranged to cooperate with at least one transfer cylinder for transfer of the printing image to the web to be printed with an apparatus for preventing soiling of printing material.
In arrangements of this type it frequently occurs that the side of the web engaging the impression cylinder carries a fresh printed image which has not had sufficient opportunity to dry so that there is a risk of the ink soiling the impression cylinder. Experience has shown that solvent contained in the ink collects on the impression cylinder and softens and detaches more and more ink from the printed image on the web. The consequence of this is that the ink deposited on the impression cylinder will be transferred back onto the web in an undesired manner with the result that the web will be soiled and has to be thrown away as reject material. So far it has thus been necessary to halt the press from the to time in order to clean the impression cylinder by hand with a rag. This was not only an awkward operation to perform but furthermore did not prevent any further fouling of the impression cylinder.

Apparatus for preventing soiling from printing material


The present invention discloses a splitter plate and an electronic apparatus. The splitter plate includes a splitter plate main body, and further includes a turnover positioning apparatus, and the turnover positioning apparatus is hinged on a side of the splitter plate main body; the turnover positioning apparatus is configured to, after a half-height board is assembled to a subrack, abut against the half-height board and connect to the subrack to fasten the half-height board to the subrack.

The micro telecommunications computing architecture (micro telecommunications computing architecture, referred to as MTCA hereinafter) is an industrial standard that applies to communications devices. A computer device based on the MTCA standard has the advantages of a compact structure and layout, low power consumption and a small occupied space, and excellent scalability, popularity and interchangeability. A subrack of the computer device based on the MTCA standard is used to install boards, and the boards generally include a circuit board, a front panel fixed on the circuit board, and an electronic component connected to a connector of the circuit board. The boards are classified to a full-height board and a half-height board based on the installation size. The full-height board is directly inserted into an upper chute and a lower chute, and is electrically connected to the subrack through the connector; the half-height board is assembled to the subrack through a splitter plate that is with a chute in the middle and is set in the subrack.
The following method is generally used to assemble the half-height board to the subrack: The splitter plate is set in the subrack and is located at one side of a surface that is formed by the upper chute and the lower chute. In the middle of the splitter plate, an upper supporting chute corresponding to the upper chute and a lower supporting chute corresponding to the lower chute are set; the upper supporting chute, the lower supporting chute, the upper chute, and the lower chute have the same structure; a raised barb is set at entries of the chutes so that the barb coordinates with a locking spring plate set on a handle of the half-height board to fix the half-height board to the subrack.
After the half-height board is assembled to the subrack through the splitter plate, because the half-height board is fixed to the subrack only through the locking spring plate and the barb, the half-height board is not securely fixed, and it is possible that the assembled half-height board sways, and therefore the connector of the half-height board is not well connected to the connector of the subrack. Therefore, the connection between the half-height board and the subrack is not reliable.


A memory system includes a non-volatile memory and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to carry out an atomic write operation in the non-volatile memory in response to an atomic write command, and selectively carry out one of a first operation and a second operation corresponding to address mapping between a logical address and a physical address of the non-volatile memory, along with the atomic write operation. When the first operation is selected, the controller circuit starts to update the address mapping after receiving a notification that writing of all data of the atomic write operation has been completed. When the second operation is carried out, the controller circuit starts to update the address mapping before receiving the notification.

Recently, memory systems including a non-volatile memory are becoming more widely used. A solid state drive (SSD) including a NAND-type flash memory is one type of such memory system. The SSD is used as the main storage in various information processing devices.
An Atomic Write function is known as a function employed to maintain consistency of data stored in a memory system. If a data write is requested as an Atomic Write, the entire data writing must be completed, or must be cancelled even after data are received and data writing has already started. After such cancellation, the memory system is returned to a state as if no data write request was received. The Atomic Write function guarantees that the state of the memory system returns (rolls back) to a state before the data write, if the data write is cancelled before completion. The rollback of the Atomic Write function is also referred to as cancellation of the Atomic Write. According to the Atomic Write function, if a data write is requested as Atomic Write, the data writing is entirely committed or entirely cancelled.

Memory system that carries out an atomic write operation


A composite electronic component that includes a first electronic component that includes a first element body, a first functional element that is provided inside the first element body, and first outer electrodes that are provided on one surface of the first element body and are electrically connected to the first functional element. A second electronic component includes a second element body, a second functional element that is provided inside the second element body, and second outer electrodes that are provided on one surface of the second element body and are electrically connected to the second functional element. A resin body, in which the first electronic component and the second electronic component are buried, exposes the first outer electrodes and the second outer electrodes from the resin body.

An example of a composite electronic component of the related art is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-130694. This composite electronic component includes a substrate, a coil element that is arranged on one surface of the substrate, and a capacitance element that is arranged on another surface of the substrate. A first surface of the coil element is arranged on the one surface of the substrate, and a first surface of the capacitance element is arranged on the other surface of the substrate. When the composite electronic component is to be mounted on a mounting substrate, connection terminals are provided on the second surface of the capacitance element on the opposite side from the first surface, and the connection terminals are connected to the mounting substrate.
In the composite electronic component of the related art, the substrate has to be provided in order to integrate the coil element and the capacitance element with each other, and therefore the composite electronic component cannot be reduced in size. In addition, when the composite electronic component is to be mounted on a mounting substrate, connection terminals have to be provided on the second surface of the capacitance element, and this takes time and labor for the work involved.

Composite electronic component and manufacturing method for same


A microfabricated fluidic unidirectional valve includes a microfabricated elastomer material having a flow through channel. The microfabricated fluidic unidirectional valve also includes an elastomer flap attached to the elastomer material in the flow through channel. The elastomer flap forms a seal in the flow through channel to prevent fluid from flowing in a first direction through the flow through channel and to allow fluid flow in a second direction through the flow through channel.

The present invention relates to microfabricated fluidic systems and methods for regulating the flow of fluid to provide switches, logic gates, latches, pressure sources, analog devices, capacitors, unidirectional valves, pressure multipliers, and devices that perform mathematical functions.
Microfabricated fluidic chips may be used for biological assays. For example, microfabricated fluidic chips may be used to perform biological assays using external control lines that control the opening and closing of on-chip fluidic valves. The on-chip fluidic valves control the flow of fluids in biological assays. The valves are opened and closed using macroscopic pressure sources that are located off-chip, and which are connected through control lines to the chip. In complex assays, a large number of macroscopic control lines is cumbersome and undesirable. Previously known electrical actuating devices have not been able to provide sufficient force by themselves to open or close a fluidic valve.
It would therefore be desirable to provide pressure sources and control lines on-chip that control the opening and closing of on-chip valves so that macroscopic control lines exiting the chip are minimized or eliminated. Previously known on-chip systems have not been adequate to provide control of numerous on-chip valves. Each valve requires a pressure differential between the input and the output to control the valve. Numerous valves coupled together to perform complex functions would require very large pressure differentials to drive all of the cascaded valves. Pressure sources that generate such very high pressure differentials are difficult to manufacture on a microfabricated chip.
Furthermore, such cascaded valve systems do not allow for the introduction of feedback elements. A feedback element is one whereby a (downstream) output pressure, which is controlled by an upstream valve or is controlled by a valve which is controlled by the upstream valve (and so on), in turn controls the function of the upstream valve. The elimination of the possibility of feedback precludes the construction of entire classes of analog devices and digital logic devices (e.g., latches).
It would also be desirable to provide numerous microfabricated fluidic switches on-chip that open and close channels without the need for large pressure differentials.
It would also be desirable to provide devices that perform logic functions, signal latching, mathematical functions, and other complex functions on-chip.
It would also be desirable to provide microfabricated fluidic switches on-chip that incorporate the feed back of information from a downstream part of the circuit to an upstream part.

Microfabricated fluidic circuit elements and applications


An image replay system includes a digital camera and an image replay device. The image replay device includes an image recording unit that acquires image information from the digital camera and records it upon a recording medium, a replay unit that replays the image information recorded upon the recording medium, and a transmission unit that transmits to the digital camera usage condition data related to the usage conditions of the image replay device. The digital camera includes a data acquisition unit that acquires the usage condition data from the image replay device, and a control unit that controls the digital camera on the basis of the usage condition data that has been acquired by the data acquisition unit.

The following type of image management device is known. With this image management device, reference images are stored for each photographic subject, for recognizing the photographic subject of an inputted image, and the photographic subject in the inputted image is recognized by comparing the reference images with the inputted image. And display of the image is performed according to the result of this recognition of the photographic subject (Patent Reference #1).    Patent Reference #1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 2002-169809.

Image replay system, digital camera, and image replay device


A pipe switch for two-cylinder thick-material sludge pumps comprises a pivot pipe (1) pivotable in front of a wear plate (8). A wear ring (22) is disposed axially slidable to a limited amount against the spring force of a rubber-elastic sealing ring (3) on the cylinder-side end of the pivot pipe (1). At least one stabilization ring (26', 26"), made of steel, is connected and attached to the sealing ring (3). Said stabilization ring (26', 26") is disposed in the region of one of the two front faces of the sealing ring (3). This measure achieves a permanently sealing and wear-balancing effect even in case the sealing rings exhibit an elongated extended cross-sectional form in the axial direction.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a pipe junction switch for two-cylinder thick-material pumps with a pivot pipe pivotable in front of a cylinder-side wear plate furnished with openings, where a wear ring is disposed axially shiftable to a limited amount on the cylinder-side end of the pivot pipe.
2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention Including Prior Art
Pipe switches of this kind which carry a wear ring, which is automatically hydrostatically adjusting and which is designated as automatic ring, are known for example the German Patent DE-PS 2,614,895 and German Patent DE-PS 3,103,321. According to the references, the wear ring and/or the pivot pipe includes annular turned grooves for receiving of the rubber-elastic sealing ring. However, in practical situations, it can be hardly avoided that the material to be transported passes and penetrates into the intermediate space between the sealing ring on the one hand and the pivot pipe or, respectively, the wear ring on the other hand. This generates the danger that the sealing ring is pushed radially inwardly and out of the intermediate space between the pivot pipe and the wear ring and thereby the sealing and wear-balancing effect of the sealing ring deteriorates. Consequently, it is frequently only possible to a limited amount to transport stiff-plastic, fine-grained material such as, for example, fine mineral pastes, as they are employed and encountered in ore mining or in the mineral oil industry, with the known pipe switch pumps. If the material to be transported changes in its compositions frequently and substantially between coarse and fine grains, as occurs for example in the clearing of rivers from mud and in the transportation of overburden in mining and tunnel construction, undesired sealing problems occur for this reason again and again in the case of the use of pipe switch pumps.

Pipe junction switch for two-cylinder thick-material pump


According to various aspects, antenna elements are provided for multi-band sleeve dipole antenna assemblies for use with wireless application devices. The antenna elements generally include first and second radiating elements. The first radiating elements may be tuned for receiving electrical resonant frequencies within a first frequency bandwidth. The second radiating elements may be tuned for receiving electrical resonant frequencies within a second frequency bandwidth different from the first frequency bandwidth.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Wireless application devices, such as laptop computers, are commonly used in wireless operations. And such use is continuously increasing. Consequently, additional frequency bands are required to accommodate the increased use, and antenna assemblies capable of handling the additional different frequency bands are desired.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional multi-band antenna assembly 1. The illustrated antenna assembly 1 generally includes a chassis 3, a sleeve 5, and a solid, non-tubular cylindrical radiating element 7. The antenna element 7 has different diameters and includes first and second cylindrical radiating elements 9, 11, which have aligned centerline longitudinal axes. The first radiating element 9 is positioned adjacent the sleeve 5 and is held to the sleeve 5 by a heat shrink wrap 13. The first radiating element 9 also includes a larger diameter than the second radiating element 11. A coaxial cable 15 extends through the chassis 3, couples to the sleeve 5 at a forward location of the chassis 3, and then couples to the first radiating element 9 for use in operation of the antenna assembly 1.

Multi-band dipole antenna assemblies for use with wireless application devices


A method for focusing the shooting lens of a motion picture or video camera onto a moving or stationary object, which is imaged on a monitor of a display instrument is provided.

The invention relates to a method for focusing the shooting lens of a motion picture or video camera and to a device for carrying out the method.
In order to adjust the image sharpness or to focus shooting images or shooting sequences, which are shot by a motion picture camera via a shooting lens, it is known to connect a sharpness setting instrument, which is operated manually by an image sharpness or camera assistant in order to unburden the cameraman, to the shooting lens. Either the sharpness setting instrument is connected mechanically to the lens ring for image sharpness adjustment of the shooting lens, or an electric motor-driven drive unit arranged in a horizontal or vertical arrangement on the shooting lens transmits a torque via a toothed pinion onto the outer teeth of the image sharpness lens ring for sharpness adjustment according to EP 0 575 022 B1.
At the same time, in EP 0 942 305 A1 a device coupled to the lens ring for determining the actual status of the lens ring position, which determines the real position of the lens ring relative to the lens and converts this into a measurement output signal, may be provided in conjunction with the drive unit for adjusting the position of the image sharpness lens ring.
According to EP 0 574 105 A1, the drive unit for image sharpness adjustment may be driven via a control system which comprises a plurality of motor units coupled to the lens rings of the shooting lens of a motion picture camera according to EP 0 575 022 B1 for zoom, focus and iris adjustment, into which position transducers are integrated, and one or more hand operating units with which both adjustment values and distance limits can be adjusted in analogue and/or electronic fashion. The motor units and the hand operating unit are connected together via a serial control and data bus.
As an alternative according to DE 196 29 484 A1, a connection may be established between the drive units and position transducers, coupled to the lens rings of the shooting lens of the motion picture camera, with one or more hand operating units for zoom, image sharpness and iris adjustment via wireless control and monitoring of camera functions and therefore for image sharpness adjustment, in which a camera-side control and acquisition unit is connected via line connections to the focus, zoom and iris drive unit and contains a radio modem, which transmits control signals to and receives them from a remote operating control unit. The user-side control unit comprises a hand wheel for focusing or image sharpness adjustment, which is backed by a scale on which the range limits for image sharpness adjustment can be set. A potentiometer connected to the hand wheel specifies absolute values as setpoint values for adjusting the image sharpness on the shooting lens, which are transmitted via the radio transmission link to the camera-side control and acquisition unit that adjusts the motor or drive unit connected to the image sharpness lens rings to the setpoint position specified by the user-side control unit for adjusting the image sharpness lens rings.
In the methods and devices cited above, the focusing or distance setting of the shooting lens is carried out manually by specifying a corresponding distance setpoint value, which is either measured by means of a tape measure or estimated for example with the aid of marking points surveyed before shooting.
Since manual focusing of a shooting lens is susceptible to error and can be carried out only with difficulty in special shooting situations, for example with very long or very short distances and with very fast image sharpness changes, DE 42 05 397 A1 discloses automatic focusing of a shooting lens in which an autofocus instrument acquires the distance between a shooting object and the motion picture camera by means of an ultrasound or laser rangefinder and sets the image sharpness, required for focusing the shooting image or shooting sequence, on the shooting lens of the motion picture camera.
Since the entire image content does not always lie at the focus when shooting a subject or a scene, the problem of aligning the distance measurement instrument at the object to be focused inside a shooting image arises in automatic focusing instruments.

Method for focusing the shooting lens of a motion picture or video camera

Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG


The present invention relates to a strut for a turbine center frame of a jet engine, in particular a gas turbine, with a first end for disposition on an internal structure of the turbine center frame and a second end opposite the first end for attaching the strut on a housing or an internal boundary wall of the turbine center frame, and on the second end at least one flange-like element with at least one first aperture is removably arranged with at least one first aperture for accommodating or passing through an attachment means. The invention further relates to a turbine center frame for a jet engine, in particular a gas turbine as well as a method for producing a turbine center frame of a jet engine, in particular a gas turbine.

Turbine center frames in jet engines, in particular with a gas turbine of an aircraft engine, are arranged between the high-pressure turbine and the low-pressure turbine. The turbine center frame (TCF) is a structural component and has the function to form a flow path between the high-pressure turbine and the low-pressure turbine and to structurally connect the bearing chamber of at least the high-pressure rotor with the housing. In addition, the turbine center frame serves for the distribution of cooling air flow for the low-pressure turbine. In this context, profiled struts which hold a bearing chamber for the turbine rotor, cross the gas duct. For this reason, the struts are encased with components that are similar to guide vanes. In this context it was found to be economical, if the struts are cast together with the bearing chamber and/or the internal structure of the turbine center frame. In this case, however, the strut casing must be able to be mounted radially across the struts from the outside. But since the free ends of the struts are mounted on a housing or on an inner boundary wall of the turbine center frame, they normally have a thick spot in this area or a flange, which defines the width of the strut casing with this type of assembly. For this reason, with these types of struts, only strut casings can be used that are correspondingly wide and are not flow optimized, which is a disadvantage. This however reduces the efficiency of the gas turbine, since relatively high flow losses occur. To prevent this, in the case of other known turbine center frames, a single-piece design of the struts with the internal structure, i.e. as an integrally cast bearing support, for example, is dispensed with. This on the other hand will increase the production costs of the turbine center frame, however.

Strut for an intermediate turbine housing, intermediate turbine housing, and method for producing an intermediate turbine housing


A device for transferring materials and product with respect to a worktable (13) of a processing machine (1), including stackers (5R, 5L) provided with a plurality of pallet shelves (3) to and from which material and product pallets are passed and discharged, and a pallet carrying elevator (75) disposed in a vertically movable manner with respect to the stackers, for supporting and moving the material and product pallets with respect to the shelves (3), the pallet carrying elevator (75) being provided at an upper portion with a work holding device (109) and at a lower portion with a supporting device (95) for supporting and releasing a processing pallet (Pk) to pass and discharge it (Pk) with respect to worktable (13) of the processing machine.

Conventionally, an automated structure or warehouse which serves as a stacker for storing pallets carrying materials or products, is known. The automated warehouse is disposed apart a certain distance from a processing machine which may be, for example, a laser processing machine. Accordingly, when the material is taken out of the automated warehouse to be processed into products by the processing machine, the material is transferred from the automated warehouse to the processing machine through a loading device. In addition, the products processed by the processing machine are transferred therefrom to the automated warehouse through a unloading device, at present.
By the way, as is mentioned above, the loading and unloading devices are demanded and arranged to be used in the prior art, for transferring the materials and products between the stacker and the processing machine, and therefore it causes a problem that relative the is required both for moving the materials from the stacker to the processing machine and for discharging the products from the processing machine to the stacker.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved transfer device for transferring materials and products with respect to a processing machine adjacent to which a stacker is disposed, wherein pallets for carrying the materials or products are automatically passed to and discharged from the stacker as well as processing machine for relatively short time and as a result working efficiency or productivity of the processing machine is increased.

Device for transferring materials and product with respect to a processing machine


Production of hollow carbon fibers and hollow carbon particles includes baking and carbonization of polymer particles having a specified volume after deformation. A metal-deposited carbon fiber with metal deposited inside and/or outside the hollow carbon fiber is applicable to electron discharge devices. The thickness and crystallinity of the graphite layer can be freely controlled. Since almost no by-product is generated, separation and refining using a solvent is not required. A hollow carbon particle of desired shape can be produced at a high yield rate. The hollow carbon fiber represented by a carbon nano-tube can be controlled in such a way that a low resistance and uniform shape are provided so that there is an increase in the amount of electrons discharged from the hollow carbon fiber. Use of this hollow carbon fiber as an electron discharge source provides an excellent electron discharge device characterized by stable pixels.

The present invention relates to a hollow carbon fiber, a hollow carbon particle, a production method thereof, and composite of the fiber and resin.
The hollow carbon fiber represented by a carbon nano-tube is several nm to several hundred nm in diameter and several nm to several dozen nm in length, and the wall thereof is cylindrical in form and is made of several to several dozen graphite walls (layers).
Such a hollow carbon fiber has attracted attention for such conspicuous characteristics as mechanical strength, hydrogen storage properties and electric field discharge properties, and studies have been made on its practical application.
Japanese Patent No. 2845675 discloses a method in which carbon is coagulated subsequent to its evaporation by arc discharge in an inactive atmosphere; Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication NO.109310/2000 discloses a method in which at least one of X-rays, microwaves and ultrasonic waves are applied to carbon material including —C° C— and/or —C═C—; and Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication NO. 95509/2000 discloses a method wherein a carbon nano-tube is made to grow by contact between carbon vapor and a non-magnetic transition metal.
In any of these production methods, however, the yield of the intended carbon nano-tube is low, and the by-product of carbonaceous material similar to carbon black and amorphous carbon cannot be avoided. When a metallic catalyst is used, it is necessary to refine the reaction products, and a metallic catalyst cannot be removed completely by refining, with the result that the aforementioned hydrogen storage properties and electric field discharge properties are reduced. Such disadvantages cannot be avoided in the prior art.
Further, the aforementioned production methods are practically incapable of controlling the number of wall layers, the diameter and the length of the hollow carbon tube represented by a carbon nano-tube. It has been very difficult to attain a uniform shape and uniform characteristics.
A hollow carbon particle represented by fullerene is several nm to several hundred nm in diameter, and the wall comprises several nm to several dozen graphite layers, including a five-membered ring or seven-membered ring.
Hollow carbon particles have attracted attention for such conspicuous characteristics as mechanical strength, hydrogen storage properties and electric field discharge properties, and studies have been made on its practical application. In the conventional method of its production, carbon is coagulated subsequent to its evaporation by arc discharge in an inactive atmosphere, and it is then separated and refined.
However, the yield of fullerene is low, and the by-product of carbonaceous material similar to carbon black and amorphous carbon cannot be avoided. Further, separation and refining using a solvent, such as benzene, are essential, and a remarkable reduction in productivity has been unavoidable.
Further, the aforementioned production methods are practically incapable of controlling the number of wall layers, the diameter and the length of the hollow carbon particles represented by fullerene.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hollow carbon fiber and production method


A bushing assembly for supporting a substrate within a processing chamber is generally provided. In one aspect, the bushing assembly comprises a tubular body having an outer perimeter and an aperture extending therethrough, a first ring having a first inner edge, the first ring disposed in the aperture in an upper portion of the tubular body, and a second ring having a second inner edge, the second ring disposed in the aperture in a lower portion of the tubular body. In another aspect, the first inner edge has a first radius of curvature, and the second inner edge has a second radius of curvature. In another aspect, a first inner edge diameter, a second inner edge diameter, the first radius of curvature, and the second radius of curvature are selected such that a support pin extending through the aperture contacts the bushing assembly on at most two points.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to large area substrate processing systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a bushing for a support pin for large area substrates.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thin film transistors have been made on large area glass substrates or plates for use in monitors, flat panel displays, solar cells, personal digital assistants (PDA), cell phones, and the like. These transistors are made by sequential deposition of various films including amorphous silicon, doped and undoped silicon oxides, and silicon nitride in vacuum chambers. The film deposition may take place in a single deposition chamber, or the substrate being processed may be transferred between multiple deposition chambers.
In large area substrate processing systems, the substrate being processed typically rests on a substrate support, such as a susceptor, situated within the chamber. To facilitate transfer of the substrate between deposition chambers, support pins may extend through an upper surface of the substrate support and may be raised and lowered with respect to the substrate support so that the substrate may be spaced apart from the substrate support. This spacing allows a transfer mechanism, such as a robot blade, to slide underneath and lift the substrate off the substrate support without causing damage to the substrate support or the substrate.
The support pins are typically rigid, vertical posts of fixed height which extend through the substrate support. During processing, the substrate is placed on the support pins and the support pins are lowered in relation to the substrate support, placing the substrate in contact with the substrate support. After film deposition is complete, the support pins may be raised in relation to the substrate support, lifting the substrate from the substrate support.
A conventional support pin may include a holder or bushing, such as a slide bushing or roller bushing, which is designed to provide lateral support to the support pin and to facilitate movement of the support pin through the bushing along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the substrate support. Conventional slide bushings are typically fabricated from materials which have relatively low melting points, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Consequently, these bushings are unsuitable for use in processing environments of greater than about 250° C. Roller bushings, on the other hand, include moving parts, such as bearings and rollers. Consequently, these bushings are expensive to produce and prone to failure. Additionally, roller bushings may contact a support pin at as many as eight points. The resulting friction created between the support pin and the bushing, as well as friction created between moving parts within the bushing, may produce unwanted particles that can contaminate the substrate during processing. These issues are exacerbated by the increasingly high temperatures required for thin film deposition processes. At such temperatures, the thermal expansion of various components may cause increased friction and binding, and materials may reach softening points, leading to deformations which may result in device failure. Bushing failure may lead to broken panels, increased chamber maintenance costs, and decreased throughput due to chamber downtime.


The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting or preventing viral infection, which comprises an effective dose of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical composition, a functional food, and a feedstuff additive capable of inhibiting viral infection and preventing viral diseases, which comprise poly-gamma-glutamic acid having an infection-inhibiting effect against viruses, such as an influenza virus, inducing respiratory infection or systemic infection, as an effective ingredient.

Influenza virus belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family, and has 8 RNA fragments, PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NP, NA, M and NS. It is basically composed of a virus envelope having lipid bilayer structure, and an interior nucleocapsid surrounded by external glycoprotein or RNA combined with nucleoprotein. The internal layer of a virus envelope is mainly composed of matrix proteins, and the external layer thereof is composed of lipid materials mostly derived from a host. Among them, two proteins constituting a coat protein, i.e., hemagglutinin (hereinafter referred to as HA) and neuraminidase (hereinafter referred to as NA) are important immunogens in inducing immune antibodies, and they are characterized by being transformed through the process of antigenic shift and drift. Since this transformation of an influenza virus enables the virus to avoid the immune system against other influenza virus of the same subtypes, and generally, immunity induced by an influenza virus only lasts for a short period of time and thus immunity should be induced against a predicted pandemic virus every time. Influenzas are divided into three groups A, B, and C.
An influenza virus induces a bad cold which is an acute respiratory disease, and symptoms thereof are shown after latent period of 1˜5 days. Infected people show no symptom in the beginning, but later, they show symptoms such as fever, chill, ache, anorexia and the like. In some cases, it causes viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia and the like, which can lead to death. During the past 250 years, there were at least 10 major influenza pandemics, and influenza epidemics caused by type A virus occur at an interval of 2˜3 years. Since flu (influenza) is a viral infection of the respiratory system, it is highly contagious and has a high ratio, of inapparent infection so that many people are infected at one time. It frequently occurs in children of 5˜9 years old and in old people of more than 55 years old, and usually breaks out the most between fall and spring. Since it is hard to control influenza infections and most of the influenza infections are inapparent infections, it is not necessary to isolate patients. An influenza vaccine, which is an inactivated vaccine mixed with various vaccines, has some side effects and lasts only for 3˜6 months, so that children and old people, who are highly susceptible to influenza, should be vaccinated yearly against flu.
Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a mucous polymer produced by microorganisms. Specifically, PGA is produced from the genus Bacillus strain isolated from Chungkookjang (Korean traditional fermented soybean food prepared using rice-straw), Natto (Japanese traditional fermented soybean food), Kinema (fermented soybean food prepared in Nepal), etc. γ-PGA produced from the genus Bacillus strain is an edible, water-soluble, anionic and biodegradable polymer substance, which can be used as a raw material for humectants, moisturizers and cosmetics. Recently, studies on the use of γ-PGA in developing materials substituting for non-degradable polymers and heat-resistant plastics by esterification, and producing water-soluble fibers and membranes, are being actively performed in developed countries.
Meanwhile, the present inventors obtained a patent relating to a method for producing γ-PGA using a halophilic Bacillus subtilis var. chungkookjang that produces γ-PGA with high molecular weight (Korean Patent Registration No. 500,796). Also, they obtained patents relating to an anticancer composition, an immune adjuvant and an immune enhancing agent, which contain γ-PGA (Korean Patent Registration Nos. 496,606; 517,114; and 475,406).
Accordingly, the present inventors have made extensive efforts to develop a foodstuff additive, a functional food, and a pharmaceutical composition, which have no side effects, is not harmful to the human body and have an infection-inhibiting effect against viruses, such as influenza, inducing respiratory infection or systemic infection, and as a result, found that viral infection could be inhibited when a livestock, to which γ-PGA is administered, was exposed to viral infection, thereby completing the present invention.

Composition for preventing virus infection comprising poly-gamma-glutamic acid

Abstract: The composition containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid as an effective ingredient according to the present invention, is effective for use as an animal feedstuff additive or a pharmaceutical agent for preventing influenza virus infection and various viral diseases as well as a pharmaceutical composition and a functional food to promote human health.

KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY


A wireless transmitter adapter (206) can provide wireless data transmission capability to a battery-operated biosensor meter (100), such as a blood glucose meter, originally configured for hardwired data downloads. In some embodiments, the wireless transmitter adapter (206) can be configured to replace a bio-sensor meter's battery cover (106). The wireless transmitter adapter (206) can include wireless transmitter circuitry (700), a connector (218) configured to be received in a biosensor meter's communications port (112) to electrically couple to the meter's processor circuitry (107), and one or more electrical contacts (625a, 625b) configured to electrically couple to the biosensor meter's one or more batteries (102a, 102b) to power the wireless transmitter circuitry (700). In other embodiments, the wireless transmitter adapter (206) can be configured to surround at least a portion of a biosensor meter (100) and to include its own battery compartment (804) to separately provide power to the wireless transmitter circuitry (700). Methods of providing a wireless transmitter adapter (206) for battery-operated biosensor meters (100) are also provided, as are numerous other aspects.

Biosensor meters, such as blood glucose meters, can be used to detect and/or monitor an amount or concentration of an analyte such as glucose in a fluid sample such as blood. Users of biosensor meters may need to test a fluid sample several times a day while at home, work, school, and/or various other places. Battery-operated biosensor meters allow users to carry the biosensor meters with them and to use the meters almost anywhere. Many known battery-operated biosensor meters rely on a proprietary cable, such as, e.g., a USB (universal serial bus) or RS232 cable, for connecting the biosensor meter to a computer or like device for downloading measurement data from the biosensor meter. Such cables, however, are easily misplaced, forgotten, or lost, and thus may delay or prevent a user from downloading measurement data from the biosensor meter. A need therefore exists to provide known battery-operated biosensor meters with an alternative to hardwired downloading of measurement data.

Wireless transmitter adapters for battery-operated biosensor meters and methods of providing same


A shield case is configured for supporting a memory card. The shield case includes a recessed portion, and a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge arranged around the recessed portion. The first edge forms a first support plate. The second edge forms a second support plate. The first support plate and the second support plate cooperatively support the memory card.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, and particularly to an electronic device with a card connection mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices such as digital cameras and cellular phones often have the ability to receive a memory card to expand data storage capacity. A memory card connector is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the electronic device to communicate with the PCB. Although conventional memory card connectors satisfy basic requirements, there is still a need for an improved card connection mechanism.

Electronic device with card connection mechanism

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


The invention provides compositions and methods for the detection of Factor XIa or Tissue Factor (TF) activity in a sample using an antibody based clotting time prolongation assay. The invention provides methods for detection of FXIa or TF activity in a sample using a fluorogenic substrate. Further provided herein is a correlation between elevated levels of FXIa and/or TF with inflammation, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, aortic stenosis, stroke, or transient ischemic attack. The frequency of FXIa and TF activity was substantially lower in individuals with stable coronary artery disease and no history of myocardial infarction. No FXIa or TF activity was observed in healthy individuals.

Inflammatory processes and enhanced procoagulant activity are closely related to the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Plaque disruption and subsequent thrombosis are the leading cause of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and sudden death. Pro-inflammatory cytokines cause a disruption of normal function of the arterial endothelium leading to the up-regulation of adhesion molecules, which contribute to plaque growth. Circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are increased in ACS patients and are predictors of the onset and outcome of coronary artery disease (CAD). One of the functions of cytokines is stimulation of tissue factor (TF) expression, which is a potent initiator of the coagulation cascade and plays a major role in plaque thrombogenicity. It has been also suggested that thrombin-driven and contact pathway-independent activation of factor (F) XI can play a role in cardiovascular disease. For example, Minnema et al. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2000; 20(11):2489-2493) reported that 24% of patients with acute myocardial infarction and 8% with unstable angina pectoris had evidence of FXIa presentation in their plasma Minnema's assay was based upon the immunochemical detection of FXIa in complex with C1 inhibitor; one of the numerous serine protease inhibitors present in plasma, suggesting that potentially only a fraction of FXIa present in plasma was detected by this procedure.
The detection of FXIa in plasma is complicated by controversies related to the efficiency of various plasma protease inhibitors towards FXIa. Wuillemin and coworkers suggest that 47% of FXIa added to plasma forms a complex with C1 inhibitor (Wuillemin W A, et al., Blood 1995; 85(6):1517-1526), whereas Scott et al. report that only 8% of FXIa is involved in the complex formation with this inhibitor. (Scott C F, et al., J Clin Invest 1982; 69(4): 844-852)

Methods of detection of factor XIa and tissue factor

The University of Vermont and State Agriculture College


A control valve includes a valve body, which defines first, second, and third valve passageways. The valve body also defines a supply passageway. The control valve includes a first spool movable relative to the valve body between first and second positions. The control valve includes a second spool movable relative to the valve body between open and closed positions. The supply passageway is in fluid communication with the first valve passageway when the first spool is in the first position. The supply passageway is in fluid communication with the second valve passageway when the first spool is in the second position. The supply passageway is in fluid communication with the third valve passageway when the second spool is in the open position. The second spool precludes fluid flow between the supply passageway and the third valve passageway when the second spool is in the closed position.

Control valves can be used to control many types of devices. For example, in a vehicle, a control valve can be used to control a variable cam phaser. A variable cam phaser is operatively coupled to a camshaft. The camshaft can actuate the intake and exhaust valves of an engine. During operation of the engine, the control valve can control the variable cam phaser. The variable cam phaser can in turn control the rotation of the camshaft, relative to the crankshaft, to adjust the timing of intake and/or exhaust valve events. Adjusting valve timing based on engine operating conditions may enhance engine performance and minimize engine emissions.


A character input device according to one or more embodiments may include a controller including a suggestion controller and a display controller, and a database. The database stores a normal predictive conversion suggestion, a group including a plurality of group conversion suggestions each having a common element, and a symbol representing an attribute that classifies the plurality of group conversion suggestions by a characteristic different from the common element in the group. The suggestion controller may detect a reading of an input character and detects, in response to the reading of the input character at least partially matching a name of the group, the symbol representing the attribute of the group. The display controller may display the normal predictive conversion suggestion and the symbol.

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-254259 ("Patent Literature 1") describes a Chinese character (kanji) converter. The kanji converter described in Patent Literature 1 stores category information indicating an attribute of each application program. The kanji converter described in Patent Literature 1 determines the order of conversion suggestions to appear based on the category information.

Character input device, character input method, and character input program stored on computer-readable storage medium