A method for monitoring the glucose level in a body fluid uses an apparatus which includes a conjugate of glucose oxidase and a fluorescent dye coated onto an optical fiber in contact with the body fluid, a source of excitation light and a fluorescence emission detector. Glucose is oxidized by oxygen in the body fluid causing a decrease in oxygen concentration at the enzyme. The fluorescent dye is sensitive to oxygen quenching so that, when the oxygen concentration decreases, fluorescence emission increases in direct proportion to the glucose concentration in the fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to monitoring glucose levels, and more particularly relates to an implantable glucose sensor and a method for using same for detection or quantitation of an elevated glucose level in a body fluid.
2. Background Description
Over five million Americans have diagnosed diabetes and another five million are estimated to have undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder manifested by degenerative disease of the blood vessels, kidneys, retina and nervous system and is characterized by the body's abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are normally digested to glucose in the gut, the glucose being absorbed into the circulatory system and carried to most cells of the body where, it is utilized as the principal source of nutrition. In one form .of diabetes, the glucose cannot enter the liver, muscle and fat cells in normal amounts for storage or energy use and as a consequence builds up in the blood and urine. Abnormally high blood glucose levels may lead to the accumulation of toxic ketone metabolites often leading to coma and death.
Glucose is normally present in the blood stream at a level of about 0.8 to 1.0 mg/ml and is maintained within this narrow range by a continuous moment to moment sensing and correction of the glucose concentration by hormones released from the pancreas. If glucose concentration in the blood stream rises above the normal range, insulin is released and causes metabolism of glucose which lowers the concentration. If the glucose concentration falls below the normal range, glucogen is released to raise it to normal. The pathological condition of diabetes is primarily due to a long term hyperglycemia resulting from reduced insulin production or release.
Many diabetics control their disease merely by diet and weight control. Others require drug treatment, generally insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent, to control blood glucose levels. Oral administration of insulin is not practical because it is destroyed by proteolytic enzymes in the gastro-intestinal tract. Injected insulin provides only partial control of the degenerative effects of diabetes, apparently because periodic injections do not closely correspond to changing metabolic requirements consequent to fluctuating blood glucose levels. For this reason, a variety of methods have been proposed for rapid and accurate assessment of blood glucose levels.
Glucose measurement systems known in the art are generally based on the oxidation of glucose by oxygen in the presence of glucose oxidase. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,452,887 to Kitajina et al., and 4,390,621 and 4,460,684 to Bauer exemplify a chromogenic system in which hydrogen peroxide formed during the oxidation oxidizes a substrate in the presence of peroxidase to produce a color which is measured.
Conversion of the chemical energy of the oxidation reaction to electrical energy, which is measured at electrodes, is the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,392,933 to Nakamura et al., 4,436,094 to Cerami, 4,431,004 to Bessman et al. and 4,317,817 to Busby.
Cerami, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,299, discloses an indicator element, such as a dye, as part of a complex containing a carbohydrate or a lectin. The indicator remains undetected until released from the complex by glucose in direct proportion to the glucose concentration.
Boehringer Mannheim Diagnostics (Indianapolis, IN) recently marketed an in vitro enzyme-based blood glucose monitoring system, (Accu-Chek.TM. Chemstrip bG.TM.), which may be read colorimetrically or photo-electronically.
Fiber optic probes for determination of oxygen pressure in a body fluid have been described. Peterson et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,870, disclose an implantable device for measurement of partial oxygen pressure in a blood stream based on oxygen quenching of fluorescence.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,099 to Buckles discloses a dual fiber optic device useful in a method for measuring glucose concentration. Oxygen permeable sheaths containing an oxygen quenchable fluorescent dye surround optical fibers, one of the sheaths containing glucose oxidase. The enzyme oxidizes glucose and thereby lowers oxygen concentration which is detected by reduced quenching of the fluorescence emission from the dye.
Prior art methods and devices disclosed to date for glucose measurement all suffer from deficiencies such as insufficient accuracy, speed or use of methodology or equipment which is impractical for an implantable device. There remains a definite need for a simple and accurate method for glucose monitoring using a small, light and compact apparatus. It is toward fulfillment of this need that the present invention is directed.


A remotely monitorable shipping container including a shipping container body having associated therewith at least one door and at least one door latch having a latch locking element arranged for locking engagement with a door mounted locking element, at least one wireless communicator mounted in a secure location within the shipping container and being operative to wirelessly transmit information to a remote monitor regarding the status of an electronic seal mounted onto the locking element for confirming locking of the at least one door, and at least one wireless antenna mounted within a protected enclosure on the outside of the shipping container for transmitting the information from the at least one wireless communicator.

The present invention relates to shipping and transportation of goods and more particularly to remotely monitorable shipping containers.
The following U.S. Patents are believed to represent the current state of the art:
4,750,197, 5,056,837; 5,097,253; 5,127,687; 5,169,188; 5,189,396; 5,406,263; 5,421,177; 5,587,702; 5,656,996 and 6,069,563.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved remotely monitorable shipping container.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a remotely monitorable shipping container including a shipping container body having associated therewith at least one door and at least one door latch having a latch locking element arranged for locking engagement with a door mounted locking element, at least one wireless communicator mounted in a secure location within the shipping container and being operative to wirelessly transmit information to a remote monitor regarding the status of an electronic seal mounted onto the locking element for confirming locking of the at least one door, and at least one wireless antenna mounted within a protected enclosure on the outside of the shipping container for transmitting the information from the at least one wireless communicator.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the at least one wireless communicator includes a transceiver. Preferably, the latch locking element includes a tamper-resistant remotely monitorable electronic seal including a shaft portion, a socket arranged to engage the shaft portion in a monitorable manner, whereby disengagement of the socket and the shaft portion results in a monitorable event, and a wireless communicator associated with at least one of the shaft portion and the socket and being operative to provide a remotely monitorable indication of the monitorable event.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the remotely monitorable shipping container also includes at least one sensor operative to sense at least one condition within the shipping container and wherein the at least one wireless transmitter and the at least one wireless antenna are operative to wirelessly transmit information regarding an output of the at least one sensor to a remote monitor. Preferably, the at least one sensor senses at least one of motion, carbon dioxide, infrared emissions and temperature. Additionally, the at least one wireless communicator also transmits information regarding the status of the cargo, which is placed in the shippings container body.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment, the remotely monitorable shipping container also includes at least one GPS antenna for receiving signals relating to location of the shipping container and location reporting circuitry responsive to an output from the at least one GPS antenna for providing information to the at least one wireless communicator indicating location of the shipping container. Preferably, the at least one wireless communicator includes at least one RF transmitter. Additionally, the at least one wireless communicator includes at least one long range transmitter. Preferably, the at least one wireless communicator includes a transmitter communicating via at least one of cellular, radio and satellite communication networks.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a shipping container communications system which includes a remotely monitorable shipping container including a shipping container body having associated therewith at least one door and at least one door latch having a latch locking element arranged for locking engagement with a door mounted locking element, at least one wireless communicator mounted in a secure location within the shipping container and being operative to wirelessly transmit information to a remote monitor regarding the status of an electronic seal mounted onto the locking element for confirming locking of the at least one door, and at least one wireless antenna mounted within a protected enclosure on the outside of the shipping container for transmitting the information from the at least one wireless communicator. The shipping container communications system also includes at least one remote communicator communicating with the at least one wireless communicator. Preferably, the at least one wireless communicator includes at least one transceiver, communicating with the at least one remote communicator. Additionally, the at least one remote communicator includes at least one of a presence sensor and communicator, a remote monitor, and an electronic seal.


The present invention comprises methods and compositions of dielectric materials. The dielectric materials of the present invention comprise materials having a dielectric constant of more than 1.0 and less than 1.9 and/or a dissipation factor of less than 0.0009. Other characteristics include the ability to withstand a wide range of temperatures, from both high temperatures of approximately +260° C. to low temperatures of approximately −200° C., operate in wide range of atmospheric conditions and pressures (e.g., a high atmosphere, low vacuum condition such as that found in the outer-space as well as conditions similar to those found at sea level or below sea level). The dielectric materials of the present invention may be used in the manufacture of composite structures that can be used alone or in combination with other materials, and can be used in electronic components or devices such as RF interconnects.

Composite or laminate structures are the basis for many applications in the electronics industry. Advances in printed wiring board laminates have lead to faster, smaller, lighter and cost effective electronic components for use in applications such as radar, antennas, telephony, computer board components, wireless and cellular technology, RF interconnects, and microwave devices. The characteristics of the materials used to make the composites affect the technical abilities and applications for which the composite or laminate structure can be used.
A variety of composite structures are used in the electronics industry. Technical requirements for such composites include the structural integrity of the finished structure, the ability of the individual components to withstand the rigors of assembly, the ability of the assembled structure to withstand a variety of processing conditions, such as those used in making printed wired circuit board (including, e.g., the ability to withstand high temperature conditions as experienced during soldering operations and the ability to interconnect layers by means of plating through vias), the performance properties of the components used and the finished structure (including the dielectric constant, resistance to environmental conditions such as moisture, atmosphere, harsh chemicals, and heat), costs of the components, and costs associated with the manufacture of the finished article.
One component of a laminate is the dielectric material that is used. A dielectric material is an insulating material that does not conduct electrons easily and thus has the ability to store electrical energy when a potential difference exists across it. The stored energy is known as an electric potential or an electrostatic field which holds electrons. The electrons are discharged when the buildup of electrons is sufficiently large. Common dielectric materials include glass, mica, mineral oil, paper, paraffin, polystyrene, plastics, phenolics, epoxies, aramids, and porcelain. The characteristics of the dielectric are determined by the material from which it is made and its thickness.
In electronic circuits, dielectric materials may be employed in capacitors and as circuit board substrates. Conventionally, dielectric constant materials are used in radar or microwave applications and also for circuit miniaturization as the speed of propagation of signal at a constant frequency is proportional to the inverse of the square root of the dielectric constant of the medium through which it passes. Low dielectric constant materials are used for high speed, low loss transmission of signals as such materials allow faster signal propagation, and less space is required in circuitry design or in conductive layers. Low dielectric materials also have radar and microwave applications. If the combination of materials is such that the loss tangent for a material of a given frequency signal is very low, the circuit board will allow very efficient transmission or splitting of the signal without electrical loss related to the hysteresis loop. If a whole circuit were built on low dielectric material, one could amplify the signal only a certain amount at each mounted transistor, and because of the lower power involved, the assembly would reduce the build up of excessive heat and temperature. Consequently, the amplification would be spread over a large space. If all of the dielectric material had a high dielectric constant, there would be more loss at signal splits so that more transistors would be necessary to maintain a specific signal to noise ratio, and more power would be required to operate these components.
One of the common materials used in the production of printed circuit boards, which are used in antennas and other elements of cellular and wireless technology, is glass fiber and/or woven glass materials that are coated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), cyanate ester, Aramids, and/or PTFE films. These materials have been used because they can be manufactured readily. However, they are more expensive than many other higher dielectric printed circuit materials, and require multiple steps to manufacture. They are also relatively heavy due to its density of about 2.5 gm/cm3. Furthermore, these materials generally have a dielectric constant no lower than about 2.17.
Efforts have been made to provide materials that are lighter and have lower dielectric constants. Such efforts include making a structure in which a microballoon-filled adhesive is used to bond metal foil directly to a rigid polyisocyanurate foam. While potentially useful in manufacturing individual antennas, the method is limited in that there is no true barrier to attack of the foam surface by process chemistries (both aqueous and organic) typical of printed wiring board manufacturing processes once the copper has been etched away. This results in degradation of and/or inconsistency in electrical properties and performance. Another known weakness with the polyisocyanurate foam is degradation when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Thus, this method cannot be used in the high volume continuous manufacturing necessary to produce a product economically.
Other problems also arise during the manufacturing process. For example, scientists have attempted to resolve the issue of degraded electrical performance by using a polyurethane film adhesive to bond copper foil directly to a rigid Baltek polystyrene foam core at 350° F. However, such treatment led to the partial structural collapse of the foam and did not result in an impermeable barrier between the copper and the foam. The resultant product had pinholes in the film/bonding layer, which resulted in the penetration of etch chemicals during processing. Another attempt was to coat the foam itself with a ceramic-filled resin system known to have good electrical properties. Again the foam collapsed due to heat and pressure, resulting in a material that was too dense and the seal between the copper and the foam was still inadequate to eliminate etchant penetration and entrapment in the foam structure. Other composites also have been investigated, such as polyethylene in closed and open cell forms. The results indicate that the material structure and integrity of the product was compromised in these studies. Many of these polyethylene and polystyrene foam materials also cannot survive processing required to plate connecting holes.
There is a need for a dielectric material that has at least one of the desirable characteristics, such as, a low dielectric constant, a low loss tangent, the ability to withstand a wide range of temperatures, the ability to operate in wide range of atmospheric conditions and pressures, and capable of being used in the manufacture of composite structures that can be used alone or in combination with other materials. Such completed assemblies could form electronic components used in electronic devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and compositions for dielectric materials


A children's ride-on vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a body having a seat assembly configured to support a child; and a drive assembly adapted to selectively drive rotation of at least one driven wheel in a plurality of drive configurations, and including a motor assembly comprising at least one electric motor, at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child supported by the seat assembly and adapted to selectively actuate the motor assembly, a battery assembly adapted to selectively energize the motor assembly, and a detection system adapted to detect whether an accessory is coupled to the body. The drive assembly being adapted to restrict driving of the at least one driven wheel to less than all drive configurations of the plurality of drive configurations based on the detection system detecting whether the accessory is coupled to the body.

The present disclosure is directed to detection systems adapted to detect one or more conditions, such as whether an accessory is coupled to the body of a children's ride-on vehicle, and children's ride-on vehicles including one or more of those systems. Patents and patent application publications that may be related to the present disclosure include U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,358,252; 3,700,059; 4,513,837; 4,522,420; 4,627,633; 4,638,880; 5,029,894; 5,149,121; 5,338,204; 5,421,600; 5,816,354; 5,859,509; 6,165,044; 6,296,266; 6,419,256; 6,494,283; 6,588,788; 7,163,213; 7,165,643; and 7,207,588, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006/0131089 and 2006/0260877. The complete disclosures of the above patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Children's ride-on vehicles having detection systems


A current sensor packaged in an integrated circuit package to include a magnetic field sensing circuit, a current conductor and an insulator that meets the safety isolation requirements for reinforced insulation under the UL 60950-1 Standard is presented. The insulator is provided as an insulation structure having at least two layers of thin sheet material. The insulation structure is dimensioned so that plastic material forming a molded plastic body of the package provides a reinforced insulation. According to one embodiment, the insulation structure has two layers of insulating tape. Each insulating tape layer includes a polyimide film and adhesive. The insulation structure and the molded plastic body can be constructed to achieve at least a 500 VRMS working voltage rating.

Safety isolation is an important consideration in the design of any electrical product that can expose its users to potentially hazardous voltage levels. Manufacturers of such products need to ensure that their products are designed to adequately safe-guard against electrical shock.
In any safety isolation scheme, there is a certain amount of insulation required to create a protective isolation barrier between primary and secondary circuits. A primary circuit is a circuit that is directly connected to line voltage and therefore clearly has the potential to reach hazardous voltage levels. A secondary circuit is not electrically connected to the primary circuit (that is, there is no conductive connection between the secondary circuit and primary circuit) but could experience hazardous voltage levels if insulation fails.
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has developed a safety standard called UL 60950-1 (second edition), which specifies a high level of safety isolation to protect against risk of injury due to electric shock. The UL 60950-1 standard is based on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard, IEC 60950-1 (second edition). The UL 60950-1 standard defines five categories of insulation: functional insulation; basic insulation; supplemental insulation; double insulation; and reinforced insulation. Functional insulation does not protect against electrical shock. Basic insulation is a single level of insulation that provides basic protection against electric shock. Supplemental insulation is independent insulation that can be applied in addition to basic insulation to reduce the risk of electrical shock in the event of a failure of the basic insulation. Double insulation comprises both basic insulation and supplemental insulation. Thus, basic insulation provides a single layer of insulating barrier between primary and secondary circuits, whereas double insulation provides two layers of insulating barrier between primary and secondary circuits. Reinforced insulation is a single insulation system that provides electrical shock protection equivalent to double insulation.
If a secondary circuit is not user-accessible, a basic level of isolation protection, that is, basic insulation, may be acceptable. Safety needs for products that include user-accessible secondary circuits, on the other hand, demand two levels of protection provided by double insulation or its equivalent in reinforced insulation.
Although the UL 60950-1 standard is intended for use with information technology equipment, it has been adopted for many other products and is considered the premier standard for product designs that require galvanic isolation. One product that requires galvanic isolation is the current sensor. Some current sensors use a magnetic field transducer (for example, a Hall effect or magnetoresistive transducer) in proximity to a current conductor. The magnetic field transducer generates an output signal having a magnitude proportional to the magnetic field induced by a current that flows through the current conductor.
The magnetic field transducer is sometimes provided as an integrated circuit (IC) in an IC package that also contains a current conductor. Illustrative current sensors of this type are sold under part numbers ACS712 and ACS758xCB by Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. of Worcester, Mass. 01615, the Assignee of the subject application.
Various parameters characterize the performance of such current sensors, including sensitivity. Sensitivity is related to the magnitude of a change in output voltage from the magnetic field transducer in response to a sensed current. The sensitivity of a current sensor is related to a variety of factors. One important factor is the physical separation between the magnetic field transducer and the current conductor. Integration of the current conductor into an IC package allows for close and precise positioning of the current conductor relative to the magnetic field transducer.
At present, to meet the more stringent requirements for double or reinforced insulation, applications that use such integrated circuit current sensors rely on basic insulation provided by the current sensor's package assembly, e.g., molding plastic or other insulation, in conjunction with an external, supplemental level of insulation provided by the use of a discrete opto-isolator or similar device.

Reinforced isolation for current sensor with magnetic field transducer


A device for depositing a layer, which has been structured by the application of a mask, on a substrate, includes an adjusting device for adjusting the position of a mask support with respect to a support frame. The device also includes, a mask lifting device, by which the support frame, together with the mask support, the adjusting device and a mask assembly, can be vertically displaced from a mask changing position into a processing position. The device also includes a substrate holder lifting device, by which the substrate holder can be vertically displaced from a loading position into a processing position. Restraining means, which include a V-groove and a spherical surface, restrain the substrate holder in the processing position on the support frame. The spherical surface, formed by a ball element of the support frame, is supported on flanks of the V-groove that is formed by the substrate holder.

The inventive device is used for the deposition of OLEDs onto flat substrates, consisting, for example, of glass. Such a device uses a source arrangement, as described, for example, in WO 2012/175128 A1, to convert powdery organic initial materials into a vapor. The vaporized initial materials are transported with a carrier gas to a gas inlet device, as described, for example, in DE 10 2014116 991 A1. The gas inlet device is a showerhead. It has an extended surface, which extends essentially over the entire substrate to be coated. In a gas outlet plane of the gas inlet device, there are a multiplicity of gas outlet openings, through which the vapor enters the process chamber. To avoid condensation of the vapor in the region of the gas inlet device, the gas inlet device is heated. Below the gas inlet device is located the process chamber, the bottom of which is formed by a substrate holder. The substrate lies on the substrate holder. As described in DE 10 2010 000 447 A1, the substrate holder can be brought in a vertical direction from a loading position into a processing position. In the processing position, a mask held by a frame lies on the substrate. It takes the form of a shadow mask, which during the coating process rests in contact on the wide face of the substrate facing the gas inlet device. By this means a structured layer is deposited. The deposition process is essentially a condensation of the vapor on the parts of the surface of the substrate not covered by the mask. For this purpose, the inventive substrate holder is actively cooled, for example, by passing a coolant through it. The cooling of the substrate surface, and also of the mask, takes place by a heat flow from the mask, or from the substrate surface, through the substrate into the substrate holder. When the substrate is changed, the contact between the mask and the substrate is removed, which reduces the heat dissipation and causes the mask to heat up. This causes a distortion of the mask geometry due to the thermal expansion. To avoid this, the aforementioned DE 10 2010 000 447 A1 proposes a shielding plate, which is positioned between the inlet device and substrate holder when changing substrates or masks.
Devices for the vertical displacement of a substrate holder and a support frame for a mask arrangement are also known in the art, for example from WO 2007/023533, KR 2014 0100119, KR 2014 0115484 and WO 2006/090748. The support frame and the substrate holder can essentially be vertically displaced independently of each other, wherein during operation of the device, the support frame of the mask lifting device is firstly vertically displaced from a mask changing position to a processing position by the mask lifting device, and the substrate holder is then displaced from a loading position into a processing position by the substrate holder lifting device. The vertical displacement path can be several decimeters. This long displacement path contrasts with structural dimensions of the mask of a few microns. Due to unavoidable vibrations, and also unavoidable tolerances, reproducible positioning of the substrate holder relative to the support frame is only possible with difficulty. Furthermore, by virtue of the long vertical arms forming the support columns, vertical vibrations of the support frame relative to the substrate holder, and thus of the mask relative to the substrate holder, cannot be avoided.

Substrate holder arrangement with mask support


A method and system for creating improved search queries using pre-arranged controlled vocabularies, word groups, and word types. The invention is called a search builder. The search builder is a server-based program, which houses numerous individual topic oriented search builder modules. Each module is focused on a special topic of interest. Each search builder module leads users through a series of word groups, where a user may select words to be added to a query, which will ultimately be sent to a search engine or searchable database.

The present invention relates in general to Internet and intranet web page service providers and, in particular, to systems and methods for creating search word queries for use with online search engines and searchable content rich databases.
1. Technical Field
The invention is a method and system for creating improved search queries using pre-arranged controlled vocabularies, carefully selected topics, carefully selected word groups, and carefully selected word types. The invention is called a search builder. The search builder is a server-based program, which houses numerous individual topic oriented search builder modules. Each module is focused on a special topic of interest. Each module helps people select the exact terms to be used in a search query. The search query is then transmitted to a search engine or searchable database.
The field of search engines is fairly well known. Common search engines include those developed by Google, Verity, Inc., Alta Vista, Fast, Inc., and Lycos. By using a search engine, a user can retrieve needed information on a focused area of interest. The search engine typically retrieves documents satisfying the specified terms in a search query. A browser program is typically used to access the Internet and the myriad of web sites and search engines that are commonly available. Web browsers are also commonly used to access corporate, government or private intranets. The typical web browser includes provisions for navigating a web site through a graphical user interface used for both transmitting and receiving search queries, and presenting search query results. Web browsers can be found in a variety of commercial formats (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, etc).
A typical search query input by a user is processed by an online search engine, which then access an indexed database of web pages which are sent back to the user in the form of a list of ranked web pages that respond to the users query words, based on some algorithm used by the search engine to rank and order results. The quality of the search results is dependent upon the words that are entered into the search engine.
Most search engines do not provide help or guidance in selecting the specific words to be used in the selection of the words used in a query. They typically present a graphical interface advanced search form with empty text boxes and written guidance in text on using the advanced search options, which describes the use of Boolean logic and technical syntax.
Most search engine users tend to use very few words in their search query. Most search word queries submitted by users of search engines contain only one or two words. This produces excessive results with large numbers of web sites that contain irrelevant information. It is difficult for a user to formulate a specific query capable of producing relevant results without the user having a more detailed knowledge of a given search topic or subject area. The difficulty is even more acute when a person of lay knowledge searches in a subject area containing technical terminology, knowledge, data, acronyms, or jargon. They simply do not know the language of the field to search effectively and efficiently. Even with expert and experienced knowledgeable users, they may know the field, but they may not appreciate or understand the differences between search engines, the nuances of advanced search that exists between search engines, that certain search engines and databases are better than others, or that getting better results requires use of specific syntax.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is little related prior art that specifically focuses on improving search query word selection.
Within the realm and spectrum of existing search engines, there are generally two types of search query options: simple search and advanced search. With a simple search, the user is presented a single search box consisting of a data entry form known as a text box in which one or more words may be entered.
With advanced search, the user is presented with one or more text boxes, and is given instructions on what will happen if the user enters a search word. With some advanced search engines options, the user is given a drop down menu that instructs the search engine to use certain Boolean operatives on whatever words are entered in the text box. Thus at Google.com, and most every popular search engine on the Internet, the general search option is simply a blank text box. The advanced search options allow a user to enter words of choice and the search will be conducted on xe2x80x9call the wordsxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cwith any of the wordsxe2x80x9d, as an xe2x80x9cexact phrasexe2x80x9d or with xe2x80x9cnone of the wordsxe2x80x9d. The search may also be conducted in any language or in a specified language, of in any file format, or on a specific file format, or within some specified time frame. The advanced search options at most of the search engines all focus on what is done with the words that are entered, rather than on what words are selected in the first place.
One new and recent innovation is clustering which assists users who enter search queries by surveying the indexed listing of web site results and summarizing the topics that the results cover, suggesting related terms and new directions for a follow on search, which can then be clicked on to get more results. The Alta Vista Prisma, and Vivisimo are examples of search engines and search tools that use this type of technology. These programs analyze and operate on the results of the web search, rather than on the query words themselves. Some programs search through the results from a search and create a summary listing of the metadata terms found in the search. They bring this back to the user to help them reiterate a better search.
A slightly different prior art approach focuses on analyzing the content of web pages and results that result from a search query from multiple search engines. Available search tools still do not help users select the words to use in queries but rather take whatever words are used and use metasearch tools to organize and cluster results from one or more search engines or searchable databases. (examples, Vivisimo, Copenic, Bullseye by Intelliseek).
Search engine expert Avi Rappaport has conducted extensive research on search tools and addressed various aspects of the field of queries. The most relevant developments are in the field known as faceted metadata search. In a recent paper she wrote:
Metadata is information about information: more precisely, it""s structured information about resources. This can be a single set of hierarchical subject labels, such as a Yahoo or Open Directory Project category. More often, the metadata has several facets: attributes in various orthogonal sets of categories. This is often stored in database record fields and tables, especially for product catalogs. The current spectrum of web sites that utilize faceted metadata include:
Music stores: songs have attributes such as artist, title, length, genre, date . . .
Recipes: cuisine, main ingredients, cooking style, holiday . . .
Travel site: articles have authors, dates, places, prices . . .
Regulatory documents: product and part codes, machine types, expiration dates . . .
Image collection: artist, date, style, type of image, major colors, theme . . . . In each of these cases however, there is no single way to provide navigation for everyone: users have such disparate needs. One person might want to look through all the U2 albums, while another is looking for classical guitar or 1940s jazz releases.
Other approaches to structured data access methods include Parametric Search Traditional field-based or parametric search engines for structured data which have used a command line or provided a form to fill out, and Advanced Search. These require a lot of knowledge on the searcher""s side; the searcher must know the values or choose from a popup menu. If they include too many parameters, they will probably not find any records that match their requirementsxe2x80x94a dead end. The possible values are hidden from the searcher, so all the work the editorial staff has done in defining and assigning attributes is lost.
Full text search engines are another approach Full text search engines can index all HTML metadata or gather data from multiple database fields or tables. Full text search wipes out the value of the metadata: a number 3 is just a number, not a size, price, product ID or other meaningful number, as it is in context of the tagged page or database record. Similarly, it""s hard to know whether a recipe, for example, has chili pepper as a significant ingredient or minor flavoring. While many searches are just fine without that information, there are other cases where providing that context would be extremely helpful. Ms Rappaport has also reviewed the present status of Faceted Metadata Search Resources and identifies work in progress by various organizations.
UC Berkeley professor Marti Hearst is investigating how faceted metadata can provide a dynamic information-architecture context for browsing and searching on web sites. Ms. Rappaport and her colleagues have surveyed and discussed the development of search tools but none have identified or developed a search tool like the present invention. The closest working models identified to date are for product databases and not for search engines or searchable databases.
Mr. Lou Rosenfeld, has also surveyed search engine tools and technology, recently observed that integration of algorithms to search to summarize and organize retrieved results, with a manual approach to query building is the future. But he observes that the problems in designing controlled vocabularies to meet users needs and satisfy user expectations is a huge issue because of the diverse needs of the users of the Internet. Rosenfeld has observed that data is factual in nature while web contact is language. Unlike data in product databases, web content is textual, and the language of web sites is ambiguous. He has also observed that there are too many individual topics out there, and that it is exceedingly difficult to create controlled vocabularies and useful thesauri to cover all users"" needs. He has surveyed the field and concludes that the chances of finding a silver bullet solution are slim. The prior art does not include any web sites using a search builder method of pre-arranged controlled vocabularies at all.
The conclusion is that there is no prior art that has refined and developed a query builder using pre-arranged controlled vocabularies and an advanced search interface to search engines and searchable databases for web results. Therefore it would be useful to provide an approach to improving word selection and the creation of more precise, detailed and on point search queries, and a system that can be used to quickly create, refine, and modify search queries for submittal to search engines and searchable databases, in an interactive online search.
The system generally operates in a distributed computing environment comprising individual computer systems interconnected over a network such as the internet, although the system could function equally well on a stand alone computer system.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more servers are interconnected with a plurality of clients over an internetwork, and with a plurality of personal computers, over an intranetwork. The server systems include a memory (not shown), which is loaded into a server suite. The server suite provides the controls and functionality for an Internet service provider. For example, the server suite publishes web pages, thereby making each web page available to clients and PC""s over the internetwork and intranetwork, respectively. In accordance with the present invention, the server suite further comprises a search builder program, web page, and user interface as further described hereinbelow.
The search builder program is coupled to a custom administrative program and database into which is compiled the information needed to operate the program. The form of the data structures used in these lists are further described hereinbelow. The search builder topics, word groups, word types, and search query word lists are entered individually as ordered lists.
The server is also interconnected to secondary storage which can comprise any form of conventional random or non-random access storage device, such as a hard rive, CD ROM or tape system with fixed or removable media, as is known in the art.
Each web page is accessed by end users via web browsers operating on clients"" personal computers over the internetwork or on personal computers on an intranetwork. Each client and PC includes user interface devices, such as keyboards and monitors (not shown) as is known in the art, by which mouse clicks, types text and commands, search queries and other communications are input and search page results are output.
An exemplary example of a server system suitable for use with the present invention is an Intel Pentium based computer system having the following characteristics: 64 MB RAM, 1.0 GB hard drive, and network server connectivity. In the present invention, the server system is a proprietary server system suite written for and used exclusively by One World Telecommunications, Kennewick, Wash., which provides similar functionality to the Microsoft Windows NT Server Suite. The proprietary server system suite supports a simple page creation programming language that requires no knowledge of HTML programming or FTP uploads.
The foregoing aspects and many of the advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and system for creating improved search queries


A system and method for accelerating information transfers from an encrypted memory to a requesting device in a system utilizing a decryption engine is provided. The decryption engine fetches and decrypts a first information block having a greater byte count than the number of bytes of requested information. A current address, corresponding to a storage device address of the decrypted first information block residing at the output of the decryption engine, is compared to a requested address. The requested address corresponds to a storage device address of a second information block of which the requested information is a subset thereof. The second information block has a byte count equivalent to the byte count of the first information block which was decrypted by the decryption engine. A new block fetch of encrypted information from the encrypted storage device is initiated when the current address and the requested address are unequal. When the current address and requested address are equal, a new block fetch is unnecessary as the requested information is accessed from the first information block currently available at the decryption engine output.

Cryptography, the science of keeping data secure, has expanded significantly in the private sector over the last decade. What was once almost exclusively the domain of the military is now practiced by private citizens and business entities worldwide to ensure secrecy of information and messages. Rights of privacy, business and political strategies are just a few of the many reasons why data encryption may be desired. The proliferation of computer use and global computer networks has caused the demand for secure computer practices to increase dramatically.
Various encryption techniques have resulted from the great demand for information security. Other encryption techniques have existed for quite some time, and although were originally conceived for use by the military, are used extensively by the public. Once such encryption technique is the data encryption standard (DES) which has been a worldwide standard for over 20 years. DES inputs a 64-bit block of plaintext, and outputs a 64-bit block of encrypted data using a digital key. The same algorithm that is used to encrypt the information is also used to decrypt information that was DES encrypted.
Many encryption techniques, such as DES, work as block ciphers which encrypt and decrypt data in blocks of a predetermined number of bits. For example, DES encrypts and decrypts data in 64-bit blocks which therefore requires a 64-bit input. However, there are many situations where a smaller data segment is being used. For example, where a 16-bit data segment is to be read from an encrypted memory, 64-bits are read into the DES engine to perform the decryption. This results in inefficiencies which directly affect the speed of the system.
It would be desirable for users to be able to use known encryption standards such as DES without accepting an efficiency penalty. Some prior art systems have simply accepted this penalty in accessing information of lesser byte counts than the encryption block supports. Other prior art systems have incorporated cache memories to store blocks of decrypted data. However, cache memory is complex and expensive.
The problem of fixed-size encryption/decryption algorithms is particularly evident in the context of computer power up and initialization. In less sophisticated computer systems of the past, information stored in boot ROMs (read-only memories) may have been held to a minimum. In today's computer systems, the boot ROM may involve very complicated algorithms in which information security may be desired. Encrypting the information stored in the boot ROM can provide this security, but at a cost. Because many computer systems access boot ROM information in segments much less than the 8-byte input required in decryption engines such as DES, each data segment requested results in eight bytes being fetched from the boot ROM to the decryption engine. This is very inefficient, particularly where only one or two bytes were requested at a time. If each successive boot ROM request of one or two bytes requires fetching eight bytes, the resulting inefficiency can cause significant delay during the bootstrap process.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method to allow utilization of encryption/decryption techniques that operate on data widths larger than the data width of the requested data, without suffering the aforementioned efficiency penalties. The present invention provides a solution to this and other shortcomings of the prior art, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

System and method for accessing information decrypted in multiple-byte blocks


Disclosed is a technology related to an apparatus for controlling or analyzing a power converting module, and more particularly, to a technology for improving imbalance of power quantities processed by a plurality of power converting modules. Relative power quantities processed by the modules are detected through a common circuit element installed in an input terminal or an output terminal shared by the plurality of modules, without detecting information acquired through current or voltage sensors individually installed in respective modules, and control values of the respective modules may be compensated for through the detected relative power quantities or may be output in a form where a user can easily identify them.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling or analyzing a power converting module, and more particularly to a technology for improving an imbalance of power quantities processed by a plurality of power converting modules.
2. Description of the Prior Art
According to demands for standardization of power converting devices, a lot of module complex type power converting devices for converting power as much as desired by using several power converting modules in parallel have been developed. Of course, converting the required power by connecting several power converting modules in parallel is not only because of the demands for standardization. In order to optimally design the part requiring a power conversion or due to the limit of available components, the plurality of power converting modules are used in the module complex type in many cases.
One problem of the module complex type power converting device is that it is difficult to guarantee the same lifetime to several modules constituting the module complex type power converting device. The corresponding module may be broken due to a problem occurring in only one component mounted to one module or only the corresponding module may be broken due to a problem such as overloads occurring in one module. In this case, power may be converted somewhat only by the remaining modules. However, in a particular case, entire modules may become useless since required power is not converted.
The largest reason why one module included in the module complex type power converting device is first broken is that power quantities processed by each module are different from each other and thus one module is frequently used. Although two modules including A and B modules are designed to process the same power quantities, when the A module processes more power for certain reasons, a component of the A module is more easily aged (further consumes its lifetime) than that of the B module, and the A module brakes first.

Apparatus and method for controlling a plurality of power converting modules and apparatus and method for analyzing power quantity imbalance


A contact device for an electrical component, particularly a connector, comprising at least one contact element, said contact element having a first contact portion located within said component and second contact portion projecting downwardly beyond said component and adapted to be connected to a conductor, in particular a conductor of a printed circuit board, by soldering, wherein the first contact portion consists of a resilient metallic material and the second contact portion consists of a shape memory alloy, the alloy having a transformation temperature which is significantly higher than the operation temperature of the contact device, the contact device being located or oriented such that it deforms towards said conductor above said transformation temperature.

In the design of electrical or electronic circuitry, considerable saving of space can be realized by placing the electrical or electronic components directly on the printed circuit board, particularly by connecting the contacts of the components directly to printed conductors on the surface of the printed circuit board. In this case, it is not necessary to provide apertures in the printed circuit board to accommodate pin contacts projecting from the component.
Prior art contacts suffer from mechanical stresses at the soldering joints caused by the connection of the contacts to the printed circuit boards. During the soldering process, heat applied may result in bending of the printed circuit board so that mechanical stresses may result at the soldering joints after cooling. Due to the irregularities of the printed circuit boards such as roughness, the components to be soldered must be pressed against the printed circuit board to assure that all contact portions safely engage the conductors of the printed circuit board. After soldering, stresses are left in the external contact portions at the soldering joints.
Soldering is usually carried out at temperatures up to 250.degree. C. Due to different temperature expansion factors, the parts shrink differently which also results in stresses on the solder joints after cooling. Temperature variations also build up stresses at the soldering joints.
The mentioned problems occur particularly where a connector is provided with a large number of contact elements.
British patent application GB 2 173 652 and European patent application EP 0 200 449 teach to make the contact portions to be soldered flexible in a specific manner. This reduces the mechanical stresses at the soldering joints to some extent, however, the main problems mentioned above are not solved.
As will be explained in more detail, the present invention makes use of alloys having a so-called shape memory. Such alloys are generally described by "Legierungen mit Formgedachtnis", Vol. 259 Kontakt & Studium Werkstoff by Dieter Stockel, expert verlag. In such alloys, the martensitic texture transforms into an austenitic texture above a transformation temperature. A re-transformation into the martensitic texture takes place when the temperature goes below the transformation temperature, with a temperature hysteresis taking place; i.e., the re-transformation begins at a predetermined temperature below the transformation temperature. If such a shape memory alloy is trained in a suitable manner, the shape trained is attained again when the alloy is heated up to the transformation temperature.
In the mentioned book, also the application of such alloys to electrical contacts is described. A suitable shaped part of such an alloy co-operates with a contact element of resilient material. The interconnection between complementary contact elements is made when the part having the shape memory is in the martensitic phase and is deflected by the spring force of the contact element. In the austenitic phase, the spring force of the contact element is overcome by the shape memory alloy and thus establishes an intimate contact between the contact elements. Such a contact device eliminates the use of solder material. In such applications, the transformation temperature is reached at room temperature.
Japanese patent application (1984) 218757 discloses the use of shape memory material for the leads of semi-conductors. In this case, the shape memory serves to straighten the leads so that they can be threaded into holes of a printed circuit board.
From the Japanese patent application (1990) 30197, it is known to use a shape memory alloy for the leads of a component to be connected to a printed circuit board and to bend the leads after the insertion into the holes of the circuit board in order to retain the components in the holes through friction. If thereafter the leads are heated up to transformation temperature, e.g. during soldering, the leads straighten so that the solder may flow completely around the leads.
Japanese patent application (1990) 116151 discloses to combine leads of a shape memory alloy with an element of resilient material. The resilient material biases the lead away from the printed circuit board, and the memory alloy material of the lead deflects the element towards the printed circuit board above the transformation temperature.

Contact device for an electrical component and method for manufacture

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A transfer switch including a lockout-tagout assembly and lockout-tagout method are provided. An example method includes a latch of a transfer switch actuating a first switch, wherein actuating the first switch sends an inhibit signal to an electronic controller of the transfer switch. The example method further includes the latch actuating a second switch, wherein actuating the second switch opens operator cutoff thereby preventing function of an operator assembly of the transfer switch. Still further, the example method includes, after the latch actuating the first switch and the second switch, locking the latch so as to mechanically prevent the source contact from closing.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for locking and tagging out electrical equipment. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a mechanical assembly for use with an electric power switching transfer switch.
Automatic transfer switches are typically used as an integral component in a power-distribution system having additional upstream and downstream electrical equipment. Automatic transfer switches are used to switch loads between a normal power source and an alternate emergency power source. The normal power source may, for example, be the local power utility company, and the alternate emergency power source may, for example, be a backup power generator.
Electrical equipment typically requires periodic maintenance. For instance, electrical equipment often requires cleaning, repairs, testing, and/or adjustments. Further, some electrical equipment may require replacement. Consequently, there is a need to provide service personnel with means to create a safe working environment by disconnecting electricity to the equipment which the service personnel are servicing. One way to accomplish this disconnecting of electricity is to disconnect power with a circuit breaker where contacts can be opened and the operator mechanism can be padlocked in the "open" position to prevent accidental closing of contacts. Preventing the closing of contacts would prevent re-energizing the circuit. In general, facilities with electrical equipment have a specific procedure which establishes the minimum requirements for lockout of energy sources that could cause injury to service personnel. This procedure is commonly referred to as a lockout-tagout procedure.
Unlike circuit breakers, however, typical automatic transfer switches are not provided with means to perform lockout-tagout procedures. Consequently, to service equipment downstream from the switch, an additional breaker is required to be installed downstream from the automatic transfer switch and ahead of the equipment to be serviced.


A transmission system having slave stations for processing data received from the master station and generating system common data, a particular slave station is provided to backup the master station when it fails. The system common data is sent to the master station and also the particular slave station. The particular slave station not only automatically detects the failure of the master station but also executes the polling of the other slave stations in place of the master station on the basis of the system common data stored in the particular slave station.

(a) Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a system which includes a master station and a plurality of slave station. The present invention is useful as a building maintenance system. The system is capable of executing application method at the slave stations in accordance with application methods at the slave stations in accordance with instructions previously transmitted from the master station. The system is also particularly designed as a backup processing system to backup the master station when it fails.
(b) Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a building maintenance system of the prior art. In FIG. 1, 1 designates a master station and 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n, designate slave stations. The master station 1 and the slave stations 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n are mutually connected through communication line 3.
Master station 1 receives particularly important data such as the power failure/power recovery signals and fire/extinguishing signals from building common facilities 4. The slave stations 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n send control signals to the devices 5, such as air-conditioning facilities, lighting facilities and so forth, and receive operation information from these devices.
Particular building maintanance data 4', such as temperature and humidity of open air and seasonal mode, i.e., four-season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) information, is input to the nearest slave station (for example, 2-1). The master station 1 is connected with a display unit 6 and keyboard 7 or printer 8.
In such a system, the application programs which are processed in the master station are also processed in the slave stations for dispersion of the risk of failure of the processor (CPU) in the master station 1 and failure of the master station 1 itself. Namely, the master station 1 previously loads the schedule data to respective slave stations 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n to control the ON/OFF state of devices 5 at predetermined times based on the schedule data received from the master station 1. Such control is called the schedule ON/OFF control.
An operation flowchart of the operations of the slave station for the schedule ON/OFF control of the prior art is shown in FIG. 2. In case the master station 1 is operating normally, the NO route is selected in the step a1. Therefore, the slave stations 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n store or set the system common data sent from the master station 1 as stored data in step a2. In step a3, to execute the application function is executed based on the stored data.
However, if the master station 1 fails, the prior art described above does not distribute the system common data which is fetched only in the master station 1 to the slave stations 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n. Therefore, the application programs in the slave stations 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n continue the processings based on the data last distributed by the master station 1 (refer to the YES route of step a1 in FIG. 2), resulting in the following problems.
If a fire breaks out in the building while the master station 1 is defective, the devices 5 for air-conditioning must be stopped, as a rule, during the fire. However, this cannot be achieved since the fire information is not extended to the slave stations 2-1, 2-2, . . . , 2-n when the master station 1 fails. It is probable that the slave stations may even start the devices 5 on the basis of the stored data last received from the master station 1.
If the master station 1 stops while temperature and humidity control for the air-conditioning are carried out in the slave stations, the master station 1 no longer collects maintanance data for air-conditioning of the external air, humidity and seasonal mode. As a result, the maintenance data for air-conditioning is no longer distributed from the master station 1, such data is generally input only from the one inlet to the system and it is therefore essential for safe and effective control of the air-conditioning system. If supply of such data stops, then the slave station can only continue the processing with the lastest data received from the master station 1. Hence, it is no longer possible to execute the control in accordance with the environmental condition. It is also undesirable from the point of view of energy, conservation.

Transmission system with backup function


This invention relates to new ceramic electrostrictive compositions having superior electrical properties, a process for the preparation of the new electrostrictive compositions and applications for the new compositions. Specifically, a solid solution composition of lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate--(barium titanate or stronium titanate) has exhibited desirable electrostrictive properties. This composition shows a diminished dependence of dielectric constant on temperature.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to new ceramic electrostrictive compositions, a process for the preparation of the compositions into an electrostrictvie material and specific applications for the electrostrictive material.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
The electrostrictive effect relates to a lattice phenomenon in the crystal lattice of materials. Particularly, the electrostrictive effect comes from the direct attraction and repulsion of anions and cations in a crystal lattice, said attraction and repulsion resulting from the application of an external electric field. The attraction and/or repulsion in the crystal lattice results in a physical distortion of the lattice. This lattice distortion causes a displacement or strain in the material. Stated quantitatively, the strain in an electrictive material is proportional to the electrostrictive coefficient multiplied by the square of the electric field. The relationship between strain and polarization and the relationship between strain and dielectric constant are shown below in Equations 1a and 1b, wherein S=strain, Q=electrostrictive coefficient, K=dielectric constant (relative permittivity at the applied field), .SIGMA.o=permittivity of free space, P=polarization and E=applied electric field: EQU S=QP.sup.2 [Equation 1a] EQU S=Q(K.SIGMA.o).sup.2 E.sup.2 [Equation 1b]
The electrostrictive effect should not be confused with the piezoelectric effect, or more particularly, the converse piezoelectric effect. In the converse piezoelectric effect the amount of strain which occurs in a piezoelectric material is equal to the piezoelectric strain coefficient multiplied by the electric field. The relationship between strain and applied electric field is shown below in Equation 2, wherein S=strain, d=piezoelectric strain coefficient and E=applied electric field. EQU S=dE [Equation 2]
Moreover, a single material can exhibit both the piezoelectric effect and the electrostrictive effect. To exemplify how a material can show both the piezoelectric and the electrostrictive effect, reference is made to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified curve for a material which exhibits both a piezoelectric effect and an electrostrictive effect. Particularly, FIG. 1 shows the relationship between dielectric constant and temperature for such a material. The temperature at which the dielectric constant is the highest, at a specific frequency, is known as the Curie Point Temperature (hereinafter referred to as T.sub.C). On the low temperature side of T.sub.C (i.e., the "A" portion of FIG. 1) the material is ferroelectric (i.e., the material is non-isotropic). When the material is ferroelectric, it typically has a tetragonal or rhombohedral crystal structure and is capable of being poled. Thus, individual domains within the material will attempt to align themselves with an externally applied electric field causing the otherwise randomly oriented dipoles of the polycrystalline material to be oriented. Such orientation results in a net distribution of positive and negative charges in the polycrystalline material (i.e., a dipole). Piezoelectric materials can then be utilized for such applications as transducers for sound (e.g., microphones, alarm systems), high power ultrasonic generators (e.g., sonar, ultrasonic cleaning), pick-ups and sensors (e.g., record players), resonators and filters (e.g., radio, television), and the like.
However, on the high temperature side of T.sub.C (i.e., the "B" portion of FIG. 1), the material is paraelectric (i.e., the material is isotropic). When the material is paraelectric, it typically has a cubic crystal structure. It is the paraelectric phase of particular ceramic compositions which is the focus of this application.
Lead magnesium niobate (hereinafter referred to as PMN) was discovered to be ferroelectric as early as 1961. In approximately 1980, the electrostriction phenomenon was discovered to exist in PMN. However, pure PMN has a T.sub.C which occurs at approximately -20.degree. C. Moreover, the dielectric constant for PMN is very temperature dependent which means that a slight deviation from the temperature at which T.sub.C occurs leads to a large change in the dielectric constant. Thus, attempts have been made to modify the pure PMN system with dopants. For example, PMN has been doped with between 8-10 mole percent lead titanate (hereinafter referred to as PT). By doping PMN with PT, thereby resulting in a PMN-PT solid solution, the T.sub.C was raised to a higher temperature and the resulting dielectric constant for the PMN-PT solid solution was higher than the dielectric constant of pure PMN. Thus, the strain which can be developed in the PMN-PT system is higher than the strain which can result in the pure PMN system because the dielectric constant for the PMN-PT system is higher at T.sub.C. Accordingly, because strain is proportional to the square of the dielectric constant in an electrostrictive composition, a small change in dielectric constant can have a dramatic impact on the resultant strain in the material. Thus, PMN doped with 8-10 mole percent of PT results in a material which has a T.sub.C closer to room temperature. This shifting of T.sub.C is very important for the following reasons.
If an electrostrictive material is to be used at room temperature, it is desirable for that material to exhibit a T.sub.C at or near room temperature. This permits maximization of the dielectric constant and thus maximization of strain. However, for many applications a constant environmental temperature, such as room temperature, cannot be assured. Thus, in reference to FIG. 1, it is clear that for known electrostrictive materials the dielectric constant is largely dependent upon temperature. Accordingly, all previously known applications for electrostrictive materials have been restricted to environments which have a substantially constant temperature. However, if it is desired to use electrostrictive materials for applications in which constant environmental temperatures cannot be assured, then the known prior art compositions are inadequate.
For example, in reference to FIG. 1, if the environmental temperature to which the electrostrictive material is exposed changes as little as 20.degree. C., the dielectric constant could be reduced in value by 1/3-1/2. This would be undesirable from an application perspective because such changes in dielectric constant would result in fluctuating measurements. Alternatively, the calibration or control devices connected to the electrostrictive material would have to be very complex to compensate for such fluctuations in dielectric constant, otherwise, any measurements taken would be unreliable. In other words, all known electrostrictive compositions suffer from the drawback that even if a high dielectric constant can be achieved for a particular temperature, if the environmental temperature varies slightly from T.sub.C, then, the dielectric constant also varies resulting in an unreliable system.
There are also known various manufacturing processes for the formation of an electrostrictive ceramic material. Such processes include the conventional mixing of oxides. However, as is the case in many electroceramic compositions, many investigations continue in an effort to determine an optimum process for forming electrostrictive ceramic materials.

Electrostrictive ceramic material including a process for the preparation thereof and applications therefor


The actuating unit comprises a piston element (21) slidable in a cylinder element (20) and connectable to a closure rod (16) slidable in an injection duct (14) between an extended position in which it blocks an injection hole (15) and an injection position in which it is retracted into the injection duct. The piston element (21) has an engaged seat (46, 47) which can house a head end portion (16a) of the rod (16). The engagement seat is shaped so as to allow the piston element (21) to be translated transversely relative to the axial direction of movement of the rod (16) in order to release the piston element (21) from the rod.

This is a Nailkona Stage Entry under 37 C.F.R. xc2xa7 371 of PCT/EP00/04503, with an international filing date of May 18, 2000, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a unit for actuating the rod of a closure element in a mould for the injection-moulding of plastics material.
An injection-moulding mould provided with a conventional actuating unit is shown in partial section in FIG. 1. A heated nozzle 10 is mounted beneath a heated plate 11 in order to receive the molten plastics material from a supply duct 12 and to inject it into a moulding cavity 13 through an injection duct 14 and a lower injection hole 15.
A closure rod 16 slides coaxially inside the injection duct 14, the axial position of the rod 16 being controlled by an upper actuating unit, generally indicated 17 and housed in a cavity 18 formed in an upper plate 19. The actuating unit 17, which is pneumatically operated, comprises a cylinder 20 in which a piston 21, to which the upper end 16a of the rod 16 is connected, can slide vertically.
The vertical movement of the piston 21 and of the rod 16 is brought about by sending an operating fluid (air) alternately through an inlet duct 22 and an inlet duct 23 which are formed in the upper plate 19 and communicate with the cavity 18 in upper and lower positions, respectively, in order to admit the operating fluid to the cylinder 20 through a duct 24 or a duct 25, so as to raise or lower the piston 21. As is known, in the lowered position (not shown), the lower end 16b of the rod 16 blocks the injection hole 15 whereas, in the raised position (as shown in FIG. 1), the injection hole is open to allow plastics material which is injected from the duct 14 of the nozzle 10 to pass through to the moulding cavity 13.
To prevent the injected material From reaching the actuating unit 17, a tempered steel sealing bush 26 is provided and is housed in a cavity 27 in the hot plate 11; the sealing bush 26 is fitted on the slidable rod 16. A reaction ring 28 is interposed between the hot plate 11 and the upper plate 19. A closure cover 29 is fixed to the upper plate 19 to restrain the actuating unit 17 at the top.
A conventional actuating unit of this type requires numerous seals; in addition to two seals 30 and 31 between the piston 21 and the cylinder 20, there is a seal 32 between the cover 29 and the upper plate 19, there are two seals 33 and 34 between the upper plate 19 and the stationary cylinder 20, and there is a further seal 36 mounted on an enlarged element 37 acting as a stop for the rod 16.
Injection moulds provided with actuating units configured as described above have a disadvantage of a practical nature when it is necessary to perform adjustment or maintenance operations on one or more closure rods, for example, when it is necessary to replace a worn rod or to clear an injection duct of accumulations of waste. For example, in order to gain access to an injection nozzle, it is necessary to remove the upper plate 19 and with it all of the closure units of the various injection nozzles of which there may be a considerable number (48 or more) in cases in which the mould comprises several nozzles and numerous moulding cavities. During the removal of the upper plate 19, all of the rods of the various closure units are thus removed.
Since an operation of this type is performed hot to enable the rods to be removed, the plastics material tends to rise through the sealing bushes 26 and thus to be deposited on surfaces which should, however, remain clean. Once the maintenance or adjustment operation has been performed on the nozzle or nozzles which required it, it is therefore necessary to clean the surfaces on which plastics material has been deposited during the operation, for all of the nozzles of the mould, before the upper plate with the respective rods and closure units is reassembled.
As will be understood, the removal of the upper plate, complete with closure units and rods, is a complex operation but, above all, careful cleaning at many points of the mould as referred to above requires long periods of inactivity of the apparatus and is therefore expensive.
Moreover, during the reassembly of the closure units, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the various seals, ensuring that they are positioned correctly before closing the mould again.
An object of the invention is to provide an actuating unit in which the piston can be released from its rod easily without requiring the latter to be removed from the nozzle.
An object of the present invention is to propose an actuating unit which is easy to install and to maintain, and which can prevent the problems of the prior art discussed above.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an actuating unit having an improved and simplified system for adjusting the travel of the closure rods; in particular, the adjustment of the travel and the removal of the rod of a particular actuating unit should be independent operations.
This further object is achieved, again according to the invention, by an actuating unit having the characteristics defined in claim 4.
Yet another object of the invention is to mould products which do not bear obvious marks on their surfaces in the regions of the injection points when these points lie on surfaces which are not perpendicular to the closure rod.

Unit for actuating the rod of a closure element in a mould for the injection-moulding of plastics materials


The present invention relates to an actuator including a supporting portion including a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, and a part of a planar electrolyte member disposed therebetween, and having terminals configured to apply a voltage between the first and second electrodes; a displacement portion; and an intermediate portion disposed between the supporting portion and the displacement portion and including a third electrode on the electrolyte member and a conductive connecting member. The third electrode includes linear members and a conductive material. The linear members have major axes thereof extending in a direction crossing a direction from the supporting portion toward the displacement portion. The third electrode has conduction paths through which a current flows in the crossing direction. The conductive connecting member is electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes and electrically connects the conduction paths together.

Recently, actuators using organic polymers have been developed.
PTL 1 discloses an elongated actuator, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, having a pair of electrodes formed of cast films (single-films) of a conductive material (carbon nanotubes (CNTs)), an ionic liquid, and an organic polymer. An electrolyte layer formed of an ionic liquid and an organic polymer is disposed between the pair of electrodes. This actuator bends when a voltage is applied between terminals between which an end of the actuator in the longitudinal direction is held. The applied voltage causes electrons or holes to move into the electrodes to induce a potential difference between the electrodes so that ions migrate from the electrolyte layer into the electrodes. This changes the volume of the electrodes, thus bending the actuator.


A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and systems and methods of using an RFID tag. The RFID tag is a multi-planar tag that may be incorporated with an object, such as a container or pallet. The tag and/or the tag/object combination may then be used in a method to track the location of the object. The multi-planar tag permits an object to be more easily tracked and increases the reliability of the tracking method.

To achieve highly efficient inventory and transport operations, it is beneficial to accurately track the movements of pallet loads, containers and other objects to be located and/or transferred as they are transported to and from various locations. In a worldwide inventory and transport business, a container, pallet of other object may, at any given time, be located at a manufacturer, in a warehouse, on a truck or ship, or may already be delivered to the final destination. In a worldwide system, the goods to be transported are picked up from one location, transported via truck, train and/or ship and then delivered. Due to the extremely high volume of containers, pallets or other objects, shipped everyday, it is difficult to keep track of these objects.
Additionally, once goods have been delivered to a particular destination, such as a warehouse, the goods may be located at various locations in the warehouse, such as storage locations, stocking locations, staging areas, and loading docks. In typical inventory and transport operations, the operator of a transport vehicle, such as a fork truck, reach truck, lift truck or pallet truck, receives a set of printed stocking or picking orders, typically generated by a computer, and executes the orders by visually identifying the loads and locations and transporting the loads to and from the locations specified on the orders. In such a system, especially in large-scale warehouses with a large number of locations and loads to handle, there are numerous opportunities for errors.
Some warehouse management operations use bar codes that are affixed to the loads or that mark specific locations. In a typical example of such a system, the operator uses a hand-held bar code scanner to read the bar code on the loads and, in some cases, on the stock locations. Although such a system is an improvement over purely visual processes, it may be difficult to completely implement, due partly to the need for direct line of sight, close proximity, and proper alignment between the scanner and barcodes. It also requires the operator to participate in the load-identification process. In some case, the operator may need to exit the transport vehicle to scan the barcodes manually, slowing down warehouse operations. Certain locations, for example high storage shelves and loading docks, often are particularly difficult places for using bar codes because of the need for close proximity between the codes and the reader. As a result, loads in those areas are often visually identified instead.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponders (tags) have been proposed as an alternative to bar codes. RFID tags are operated in conjunction with RFID base stations for a variety of inventory-control, security and other purposes. Typically an item having a tag associated with it, for example, a container with a tag placed inside it, is brought into a "read zone" established by the base station. The RFID base station transmits an interrogating RF signal that is modulated by a receiving tag. That is, the RFID base station generates a continuous wave electromagnetic disturbance at a carrier frequency and this disturbance is modulated to correspond to data that is to be communicated via the disturbance. The modulated disturbance, or signal, communicates the information at a rate, referred to as the data rate, that is lower than the carrier frequency. The receiving tag modulates the RF signal in order to impart to the signal information stored within the tag and then transmits the modulated, answering, RF signal to the base station.
In a typical conventional system, RFID tags containing information associated with the identities of inventory items to be tracked are attached to the inventory items. An RFID interrogator is used to detect the presence of an RFID tag and read the identification information from the tag. A typical RFID interrogator includes an RF transceiver for transmitting interrogation signals to and receiving response signals from RFID tags, one or more antennae connected to the transceiver, and associated decoders and encoders for reading and writing the encoded information in the received and transmitted RF signals, respectively. The interrogator may be a portable device, that may be brought near the tags to be read, or it may be a stationary device, that reads the tags as they are brought to the interrogator, as in the case of tagged library books being returned to a return station that is fitted with an interrogator. RFID tags may also be affixed near a location as a location marker. After detecting both a tag attached to an inventory item and a location marking tag, a processing unit associated with the interrogator may determine that the inventory item is positioned near the tagged location. While these conventional object tracking systems are capable of keeping a record of the inventory items and sometimes their locations, they are not effective for tracking and/or managing the movement of the inventory items.
There also exist warehouse inventory tracking systems that include fixed RFID interrogators at various locations to detect RFID-tagged items when they are positioned near the interrogator-equipped locations. For example, there are warehouses with RFID interrogators positioned at or near the loading dock gates. Such systems are capable of tracking the arrival of tagged items at the various locations, but are not capable of detecting errors remote to these locations. For example, if a fork truck picked up a wrong load because the truck was driven to a wrong pick-up location, the error would not be detected until the load had reached the gate. This delayed error detection negatively impacts the overall efficiency of warehouse operations. Additionally, outfitting each of the numerous loading dock gates with an interrogator is not cost effective.
RFID tags are categorized as either active or passive. Active RFID tags are powered by an internal battery and are typically read/write, i.e., tag data may be rewritten and/or modified. An active tag's memory size varies according to application requirements. The battery-supplied power of an active tag generally gives it a longer read range. The trade off is greater size, greater cost, and a limited operational life (that may yield a maximum of 10 years, depending upon operating temperatures and battery type).
Passive RFID tags operate without a separate external power source and obtain operating power generated from the reader. Passive tags are consequently much lighter than active tags, less expensive, and offer a virtually unlimited operational lifetime. Read-only tags are typically passive and are programmed with a unique set of data (usually 32 to 128 bits) that cannot be modified.
Read-only tags most often operate as a license plate into a database, in the same way as linear barcodes reference a database containing modifiable product-specific information. And, because they do not include a battery, "read-only" passive tags are typically much more "environmentally-friendly".
Although field-powered passive tag RFID systems provide cost, reliability, and environmental benefits, there are obstacles to the efficient operation of field-powered passive tag RFID systems. In particular, it is often difficult to deliver sufficient power from a base station to a field-powered passive tag via an interrogating signal. The amount of power a base station may impart to a signal is limited by a number of factors, not the least of which is regulation by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). An RFID tag may employ a resonant antenna in order to best utilize the signal power available to it. Unfortunately, a resonant antenna may require a good deal more area than is available to an RFID tag in many applications.
Additionally, one of the primary advantages of all types of RFID systems is the non-contact, non-line-of-sight nature of the technology. Tags may be read through a variety of substances such as snow, fog, ice, paint, crusted grime, and other visually and environmentally challenging conditions, where barcodes or other optically read technologies would be useless. RFID tags may also be read in challenging circumstances at remarkable speeds, in most cases responding in less than 100 milliseconds. However, even though line-of-sight is not required, in instances where the tag is blocked by other containers and/or wherein the non-line-of-sight is used to read the tag, the range of the tags is reduced, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the tags and leading to situations wherein a container or series of containers may become "lost" during transport.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a system that provides increased accuracy to the process of object identification, movement and tracking throughout a transport, inventory, or other similar operation. There is a need for such a system that is adaptable for use with all of the wide variety of locations that are involved in inventory and transport operations, such as stocking locations, storage racks, floor lanes, warehouses, trucks, ships, and shipping docks.
The present invention is directed to alleviating one or more of the aforementioned problems, and meeting one or more of the above-identified needs.


A wireless charging method and terminal are disclosed. A voltage threshold supported by power management chip and output voltages supported by a charger and corresponding output current upper limit values are acquired. A voltage conversion coefficient is determined with the voltages and the threshold. A charging request to the charger is sent, which includes requested voltage which is maximum output voltage among the output voltages not higher than a product of the voltage threshold and reciprocal of the voltage conversion coefficient and a requested current being not higher than the output current upper limit value corresponding to the requested voltage. A charging signal is generated under excitation of a signal from the charger. With the voltage conversion coefficient and a current conversion coefficient being the reciprocal of the voltage conversion coefficient, voltage and current conversion is performed on the charging signal to obtain an input signal of the chip.

Along with development of wireless charging technologies, more and more terminals including various wearable equipment and intelligent terminals start to use the wireless charging technologies. Typically, a charged terminal, as a wireless charging receiver, converts a wireless signal sent from a wireless charging transmitter into a corresponding charging signal. The charging signal provides an input signal of a power management chip to enable the power management chip to charge a battery of the terminal.

Method and terminal for wireless charging

Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.


A feed material for livestock is effective in prevention and/or treatment of pathogenic infections in livestock and/or in increasing efficiency in livestock production.

The growing demand for livestock products worldwide requires novel strategies that increase the efficiency of livestock production. Optimization of nutrient utilization is an essential element in such strategies. Consumer and governmental focus on food safety, lowering environmental impact, better animal welfare and prudent antimicrobial use generate additional demands on livestock production.
One particular area of attention in livestock production is the eradication of pathogens, such as Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria. Salmonella is one of the most important causes of foodborne infections in humans, mainly due to the consumption of poultry meat or contaminated eggs. The agricultural sector attempts to reduce the number of Salmonella infections by different measures such as vaccination, intensive hygienic measures and/or administration of antibiotics, probiotics, acidifiers, or short- and medium-chain fatty acids and salts thereof.
Recently, the bacteriostatic effects of volatile short-chain fatty acids on gram-negative bacteria have attracted attention. The group of volatile short-chain fatty acids consists of biodegradable weak organic acids that are able to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms without significantly affecting the intestinal microflora. It has been shown that volatile short-chain fatty acids may inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli hemolytic strains by 50 percent. A number of short chain fatty acid compositions have been developed for use as a feed additive in order to achieve reductions of pathogens in animals.
EP1354520 describes a feed additive which is a microcapsule comprising n-butyric acid in a matrix comprising a lipidic structure (wax) and its preparation by spray-cooling. According to EP1354520 micro-encapsulation of butyric acid is useful in particular to counteract the difficulties associated with the volatility and rancid smell of butyric acid, which create difficulties in the handling as a feed additive. It is also suggested in EP1354520 that the formulation is stable against gastric degradation.
F. Van Immerseel et al. (2005 Poultry Science 84: 1851-1856) compared the effect of butyric acid with butyric acid embedded in a fat matrix when used as a feed additive for poultry. They reported that colonization of caeca by Salmonella and fecal shedding of Salmonella was significantly lower in the group which was administered butyric acid embedded in a fat matrix.
WO2007/124949 describes the use of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid compounds as feed additives.
BE1023491 describes a feed additive comprising butyric acid in a wax matrix comprising microcrystalline wax, and its production by melt extrusion.
The present disclosure provides animal feed additives possessing improved effectiveness in preventing or treating pathogenic infections in livestock and/or in increasing efficiency in livestock production.

Abstract: Enteral administration of polysaccharide butyryl esters to livestock animals results in increased butyrate concentrations in the lower intestinal tract. This leads amongst others to a reduced presence of pathogens in the lower intestinal tract and feces and superior growth performance results compared to other butyrate formulations or products. The feed material provides polysaccharide butyryl esters, compositions, such as feed additives and/or feed, having the polysaccharide butyryl esters, as well as the uses of the polysaccharide butyryl esters as feed additive, e.g. for preventing or treating pathogenic infections in livestock and/or in increasing efficiency in livestock production.


A display device, which includes a plurality of unit pixels, includes a plurality of first electrodes respectively corresponding to the plurality of unit pixels, an insulating layer which includes a plurality of through holes, a light emitting element layer, and a second electrode. Each of the plurality of through holes have inner surfaces including a forwardly tapered surface, which is inclined in a direction of enlarging the apertures toward a light emitting direction, and a reversely tapered surface, which is inclined in a direction of reducing the apertures toward the light emitting direction. The forwardly tapered surface is formed between the unit pixels arranged side by side in the first direction. The reversely tapered surface is formed between the unit pixels arranged side by side in the second direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device and a method of manufacturing a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, needs for slim display devices have been increased along with informatization development. Slim display devices such as liquid crystal display devices, plasma displays, and organic electro-luminescent (EL) display devices have been put into practical uses. In addition, research and development for increasing resolution and display quality and for reducing manufacturing cost of each type of slim display devices has been actively conducted.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2014-179163, for example, there is disclosed the structure in which a two-layer partition wall, which has a reversely tapered shape on a lower layer side and a forwardly tapered shape on an upper layer side, is formed to partition a part of a cathode electrode by the partition wall on the lower layer side. It is disclosed that, with this structure, moisture contained in an organic layer can be released, and degradation of elements, such as a reduction in brightness due to moisture, is reduced.
Moreover, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-85167 to be described below, for example, there is disclosed the structure in which a sectional shape of a partition wall is a parallelogram shape, and in which an acute edge portion is formed at one side edge of an upper end surface so that a cathode material to be formed into a film thereon by vapor deposition or the like is partitioned at the acute edge portion. It is disclosed that, with this structure, a plurality of electrically isolated cathodes can be formed without using a mask or the like, and a load in manufacturing steps is reduced.

Display device and method of manufacturing a display device