At least one unique collection of storage artifacts can be specified to indicate that the storage artifact is a member of the unique collection. Each storage artifact can be a discrete object comprising digitally encoded content that is stored as a node within a tree structure of a tangible storage medium. The collection can be referenced by a set of different storage artifacts to form a collection of related storage artifacts. Each storage artifact can correspond to different collections, wherein membership within a collection is independent of a storage path within the tree structure. A file management action relating to the storage artifact can be performed. The file management action can be dependent upon the storage artifact being a member of the unique collection.

The present invention relates to the field of storage artifacts and, more particularly, to collections for storage artifacts of a tree structured repository established via artifact metadata.
Currently, no effective way exists for users to relate files in a tree structured data store to each other irrespective of the location, type of the artifact, or application. That is, often users want to relate a set of heterogeneous files to each other for a specific purpose. The users can want this set of files to be independent of any specific application (i.e., independent of an office suite, a document management solution, etc.). For example, a user may utilize a word processing program to write a document for a specific activity, may use a spreadsheet program for numerical analysis for the same activity, may use a presentation program for discussion on the activity, and may use an email program to solicit feedback from others. Each of these programs utilizes different types of files.
To resolve this challenge, a user may attempt to store all of these files within a single folder, which can be problematic when multiple users collaborate on the same activity. That is, it is easy for the various files to become out of date, for users to forget to update the folder, and for other manual organizational problems to arise. Some of these problems can be situationally resolved using a corporate document management system. Other times, however, a set of coordinating users will lack suitable permissions to access the same corporate management system, so file sharing and maintenance is still challenging. Document management systems and their constraints can even aggravate document maintenance problems on occasion, especially when multiple different entities are collaborating, which use different document management systems. Different entities can even use different and incompatible operating systems, computing platforms, and file management systems. Thus, database systems that centrally maintain necessary correspondences between files are prone to problems and shortcomings by their very nature, due to platform, operating system, and/or application incompatibilities.
Another problem with existing file management systems is that a single file can be related to more than one context, grouping, or activity. A strict hierarchy of nodes used by most tree structured repositories cannot accommodate these multiple different groupings. A work around that is often used to overcome this limitation is the use of shortcuts, which are files that reference other files. Placeholders can be placed in a hierarchy structure at a desired place, which is different from the location of the referenced file. This structure is prone to corruption and can be difficult to maintain. That is, it is common for shortcuts to have "broken links" to the files to which they point. Processing overhead to track all links to specific files, which can be moved and otherwise manipulated without the links automatically being updated in most cases, can be significant.

Collections for storage artifacts of a tree structured repository established via artifact metadata

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Seal integrity indicators for sterilization containers are provided. For example, a seal indicator may indicate whether the container is sufficiently sealed to prevent an ingress of contaminants into the container. If the container is sufficiently sealed, the seal indicator is visible, but if not, the seal indicator is not visible. Thus, the seal indicator undergoes a change in state when the sterilization container transitions from unsealed to sealed, or vice versa, such that a user may ascertain whether the container is properly sealed to maintain the container's sterility. An exemplary seal indicator includes an invertible projection formed with the container gasket that is not visible from outside the container until inverted, due to force applied by the lid, to extend through an opening in the container body. Closure mechanisms for sterilization containers also are provided.

Personnel in a sterilization station, such as the Central Service Room (CSR) or the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) of hospitals, are commonly charged with the responsibility of packaging surgical supplies to ensure that the sterility of the packaged contents is maintained from sterilization to the point of reuse. Several activities are involved in the task of sterile supply delivery to the operating room and other units, such as a cardiac catheterization lab, emergency room, labor and delivery room, intensive care unit, pediatric care unit, specialized burn care units, and other surgical or medical units.
Many of the surgical instruments and supplies used in an operating room (OR), or other surgical or medical unit, are reusable. These supplies typically include such things as clamps, scalpel blade handles, retractors, forceps, scissors, surgeon's towels, basins, and the like. All of these supplies must be collected after each procedure, decontaminated, washed and dried before placing into a sterilization packaging system, and sterilized before they can be used again in another procedure. The sterilization packaging systems used must be of the size and shape to accommodate the items to be sterilized, must be compatible with and withstand the physical conditions of the sterilization process, and must be capable of maintaining the sterility of their contents post-sterilization.
Typical means of sterilizing instruments include, among others, autoclaving with steam, exposure to ethylene oxide gas, and exposure to hydrogen peroxide plasma, as is done with the STERRAD® Sterilization System from Advanced Sterilization Products, Irvine, Calif. or as done with V-PRO® Low Temperature Sterilization Systems using Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP®). After the package and its contents have been sterilized, the sterilization package typically is stored until it is needed for a surgical or other medical procedure.
Common sterilization packaging systems include sealable pouches, sterilization wraps, and rigid containers. As an example, a rigid sterilization container will permit the entry of sterilizing vapor/gas or other medium to sterilize the contents of the container while denying the ingress of contaminants such as bacteria and other infection causing materials or their vehicles after sterilization. As such, rigid sterilization containers generally provide a consistent barrier against the ingress of contaminants. Typical rigid containers have a base and a lid with a locking mechanism and a filtered port-opening, which may include natural or synthetic filter media (woven, non-woven, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc.), valves, a MircoStop labyrinth, etc., where the sterilant ingresses and egresses, and a gasket usually is incorporated into the lid to help establish a seal between the lid and base. However, it is difficult to detect if the seal of typical rigid sterilization containers is properly formed. That is, with the seal gasket integrated within the sterilization container's lid, it is difficult to ascertain that the seal has properly formed for maintaining the sterility of the container contents post-sterilization. Further, it is difficult to detect if the seal gasket is damaged, which could hinder the gasket in the sterilization container from creating an adequate seal against contamination reaching of the contents. Therefore, without opening the container, one typically does not know if sterility has been maintained from when the sterilization container left the sterilization station to when the contents of the container are needed, e.g., in the OR.
Consequently, there is a need for a sterilization container that overcomes the shortcomings of known containers. In particular, an indicator for relatively quickly indicating to a user whether a sterilization container is or is not properly sealed, without requiring the user to open the container, would be advantageous. A sterilization container incorporating a visual seal indicator would be desirable. A sterilization container seal indicator that does not require a high compression force at the time of container closure to activate or deploy the seal indicator, to indicate that the container is sealed, also would be beneficial. Further, a seal indicator that does not require a high compression force for activation or deployment yet is not formed from a relatively low durometer material would be useful.

Seal integrity indicator for a sterilization container


The present invention provides an apparatus and method for enhancing the system response of a photodetector array based spectrometer. For a spectrometer with a given system response curve, secondary light sources are provided to improve the system response in the spectral ranges where the dynamic range is less than at the peak of the curve. In one embodiment, multiple light sources can be combined by means of multiple branches of fibre optic bundles. The secondary light sources may be used in combination with suitable shaping filters and/or masks to further flatten the system response.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for enhancing the system response of a photodetector array based spectrometer.
The performance of a spectrometer is generally determined by the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the system in the entire operating spectral range. Ideally, the spectrometer should provide a constant and high S/N ratio over the range. However, due to various technical limitations in prior art spectrometers, it has been very difficult or impossible to achieve a constant, high S/N ratio over a wide range mainly because of spectral variations in available light intensity and spectral variations of detector sensitivity. In scanning type spectrometers, this problem can be at least partially resolved with A suitable electronics design, exhibiting a response which may vary depending on signal level to secure the best S/N ratio at each measurement point. However, in photodetector array based instruments, where the complete spectrum is registered simultaneously applying constant electronic gain, the above approach cannot be used. Consequently, a new approach to providing a relatively constant and high S/N ratio across the entire operating spectral range is needed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of enhancing the system response of a photodetector based spectrometers which addresses some of the limitations of prior art instruments.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for improving the system response of a photodetector array based spectrometer having a main light source with a primary spectral component, comprising the steps of: (i) determining a system response curve for said spectrometer over said spectrometer""s operating spectral range; (ii) identifying at least one spectral band at which the system response curve falls below a predetermined value; and (iii) adding at least one secondary light source with a secondary spectral component complementary to said at least one spectral band identified in step (ii) so as to produce a combined spectral output which provides a modified system response curve which is at or above said predetermined value at said spectral band.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of filtering said combined spectral output so as to reduce peaks in the system response curve.
In another embodiment, the method may further comprise the step of masking said photodetector array so as to equalize the system response curve.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a light source for a photodetector array based spectrometer, said light source comprising a primary light source producing a primary spectral output which results in a characteristic system response curve, said light source further including at least one secondary light source producing a secondary spectral component which combines with said primary spectral output, whereby, said combined spectral output results in a more uniform system response curve that is flatter than the system response curve obtained when a primary light source alone is used.
In one embodiment, the secondary light source is a broadband light source having a shaping filter.
In another embodiment, the secondary light source is a narrow band light source.
In yet another embodiment, the narrow band light source is selected from the group consisting of a narrow band fluorescent light source, a light emitting diode, and a laser.
In a further embodiment, the multiple light sources are combined by means of multiple branches of fibre optic bundles.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention are given by way of illustration only. Various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


A signal generator generates amplitude noise on a selected segment of a test signal. A user interface is used for selecting a segment of the test signal and an associated power level for applying amplitude noise at a selected power level to the test signal segment. A signal processing unit compiles the selected power level of the selected segment with the test signal to generate digital data representative of the test signal with selected segments having amplitude noise. A waveform generator receives the digital data and generating a test signal output having amplitude noise at selected segments of the test signal. The method includes the steps of: selecting a segment of the test signal to add amplitude noise; selecting a power level for the amplitude noise; and applying the amplitude noise at the selected power level to the selected segment of the test signal.

The present invention relates generally to the generation of test signal and more particularly to a signal generator and user interface for adding noise to selected portions of the test signal generated by the signal generator.
To check the operation of an electrical circuit under test, a test signal is provided to the circuit under test. A signal generator is an apparatus that provides such at test signal for checking the operation of the circuit under test. The signal generator has controls for setting-up the test signal according to user settings. The output signal from the electrical circuit may be observed by a measurement instrument, such as an oscilloscope or the like.
Various manufacturers provide user interfaces for setting-up test signals. One Example is the WinIQSIM™ Simulation Software, manufactured and sold by Rohde & Schwarz. The simulation software provides a user interface for setting-up digitally modulated signals and adding impairments to the signals. The user interface has a multi-carrier block diagram as shown in FIG. 1A having various blocks for defining parameters and setting impairments to the signal. Clicking on one of the blocks, such as the Data Source block, opens a data source dialog window as shown in FIG. 1B where the user can define data parameters or import a data file. Once the user has set the parameters of the data source, the user clicks the OK box and the dialog box closes. Clicking on the Modulation Setting block as shown in FIG. 2A opens a Modulation dialog window as shown in FIG. 2B where the user can set the modulation parameters of the signal. Clicking on the OK box closes the Modulation Setting dialog window. Clicking on the Noise block as shown in FIG. 3A and setting the Noise "On" opens a Noise dialog window as shown in FIG. 3B where the user can set noise levels for the signal. Clicking on the OK box closes the Noise dialog window.
A drawback to the above described user interface is that the noise impairment is applied to the total signal and is not to selected portions of the signal, such as the Preamble, Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Header, Payload or selected symbols within a WiMedia ultra wideband signal as defined by the WiMedia Alliance. Keeping selected portions of the WiMedia ultra wideband signal free of noise, such as the Preamble, allows the user to better discriminate the contribution of the added noise in the received signal, allowing the user to setup appropriate demodulation and channel equalization schemes.
What is needed is a user interface for use with a signal generator that allows a user to add noise to selected portions of test signal, such as pseudo random noise, additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and the like. The user should be able to select the location of the noise within the signal and set the level of noise to be produced.

Signal generator and user interface for adding amplitude noise to selected portions of a test signal


A rotary power tool is provided having a remotely actuated chuck device. The chuck is mounted onto the end of a drive spindle that extends from the casing of the power tool. The chuck includes an outer sleeve member that is axially movable relative to the drive spindle between a gripping and release position. A chuck actuating device is provided having a first member engaged with the outer sleeve member and which extends generally radially outward from the drive spindle or chuck. The first member is movable in a direction so as to move the outer sleeve member between the gripping position and release position. A solenoid and a biasing mechanism engage the first member so that the chuck device is movable between the gripping and release positions.

The present invention relates to a rotary power tool, particularly a router, having a chuck device for holding a tool bit to a drive spindle wherein the chuck device is remotely actuated.
There are a number of well known types of power tools, including routers, wherein a chuck is mounted on the end of a rotatable drive spindle for holding a tool bit to the drive spindle. In many applications of these tools, it is necessary to manually manipulate or engage the chuck in order to change out the tool bit. A number of chuck devices utilize an axially movable outer sleeve member to actuate the chuck. For example, many such chuck devices have an axially movable outer sleeve that moves between a gripping position wherein the chuck grips upon a tool shank inserted into the chuck, and a release position wherein the chuck releases the tool shank inserted therein. Such chuck devices are commonly referred to as "quick-change" chucks. For example, one such chuck is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,366. Additional examples of such chucks are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,692,073; 2,807,473 and 3,521,895. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/067,569 describes another type of sleeve actuated chuck.
In certain operating environments, particularly with high speed routers, there is limited space in the critical area of the chuck device and tool bit to actuate the chuck for removal or insertion of the tool bit and the operation of changing out the tool bits can be potentially dangerous. With many conventional tools, the chucks are actuated by an external mechanism, such as a wrench or other tool. There is, however, a trend in the industry to incorporate quick-change chucks with such tools, particularly routers, to eliminate the necessity of external tools for operating the chucks and to take advantage of the obvious benefits of the quick-change chucks. However, the operation of actuating these quick-change chucks may also be cumbersome and potentially dangerous, especially where the operator must insert his hands next to the cutting edges of the tool bit.
The present invention provides an apparatus for remotely actuating a quick-change chuck device on rotary power tools, particularly routers, in a safe and quick manner.

Electronic lever for remotely actuating a chuck device


Glatiramer acetate containing compositions and drug products can be manufactured using methods that include a step of measuring one or both of the alpha helical content of the glatiramer acetate and the random coil content of the glatiramer acetate. These measurements can be compared to particular values or ranges for one or both of alpha helical and random coil content. The results of the comparison can be used in determining whether a given batch of glatiramer acetate should be used to manufacture a glatiramer acetate-containing drug product. The measurement of alpha helical content of the glatiramer acetate and the random coil content can be carried out using various methods, including circular dichroism.

Glatiramer acetate (GA), marketed commercially as COPAXONE®, consists of the acetate salts of synthetic polypeptides containing four naturally occurring amino acids: L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tyrosine, and L-lysine, with a reported average molar fraction of 0.141, 0.427, 0.095, and 0.338, respectively. Chemically, GA is designated L-glutamic acid polymer with L-alanine, L-lysine and L-tyrosine, acetate (salt). Its structural formula is:(Glu,Ala,Lys,Tyr)x.xCH3COOH(C5H9NO4.C3H7NO2.C6H14N2O2.C9H11NO3)x.xC2H4O2CAS—147245-92-9
Other than molecular weight and amino acid composition, which are specified in the approved label for the product, the label and other available literature for COPAXONE® does not provide detailed information about the physiochemical characteristics of the product.

Structure assessment of heterogeneous polypeptide mixture


A signal transmission line disposed with a conductive plastic material layer is provided, which relates to the field of signal transmission line technologies, and specifically to electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection of the signal transmission line. The signal transmission line at least includes a metal wire disposed with an insulation layer, a conductive plastic material layer is disposed outside the metal wire disposed with the insulation layer, and an insulation outer coating layer is disposed outside the conductive plastic material layer. A conductive plastic material layer is used as a shielding layer for EMI protection. The conductive plastic material is also called conductive polymer plastic and has characteristics such as good conductivity and good antistatic property.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of signal transmission line technologies, and specifically to electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection of the signal transmission line.
2. Related Art
With the development of the modern electronic information technology, the EMI exists everywhere. The EMI directly or indirectly causes an electronic device or an electrical apparatus to generate an incorrect control signal or causes interruption of a normal control signal. In the present age, the microelectronic technical product is developed rapidly, so the EMI protection is very important. At present, the vast majority of signal transmission lines depend on a metal braid layer as a shielding layer for EMI protection. The metal braid layer has a high cost and is easily corroded, and the shielding effect is not easily controlled.

Signal transmission line disposed with conductive plastic material layer

Shenzhen Luxshare Precision Industry Co., Ltd.


A system delivering a prosthetic heart valve includes a delivery handle, a heart valve, and a valve holder. The delivery handle includes a rod, a button, and a valve holder attachment interface, where the button is configured to move between a first position and a second position along an axial length of the rod, and the valve holder attachment interface is mechanically coupled to the button and configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The heart valve includes a prosthetic valve. The valve holder is connected to a proximal end of the heart valve and includes a boss, a holder ring, and a handle attachment interface. The holder ring includes the heart valve mounted thereto and is coupled to the boss, and the handle attachment interface is formed on the boss and is configured to receive and mate with the valve holder attachment interface.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to prosthetic heart valves, and more particularly, to systems for delivering prosthetic valves.
2. Description of the Related Art
A heart of a mammalian animal is a hollow muscular organ having left and right atria and left and right ventricles, each provided with its own one-way valve. A natural heart includes aortic, mitral (or bicuspid), tricuspid and pulmonary valves, and each valve has leaflets to control a directional flow of blood through the heart. The valves are each supported by an annulus that comprises a dense fibrous ring attached either directly or indirectly to the atrial or ventricular muscle fibers. Over time, the heart (e.g., the valve) may become diseased or damaged. To repair the heart, the valve may undergo a valve replacement operation. In one operation, the damaged leaflets of the valve are excised, and the annulus is sculpted to receive a replacement valve, such as a prosthetic heart valve. Although various types and configurations of prosthetic heart valves for replacing diseased natural human heart valves are known, such valves conventionally comprise a valve and a sewing ring supporting valve leaflets and commissure posts.
Prosthetic heart valves are typically coupled to a valve holder, which aids in the delivery and implantation of the valve into the patient. Due to various factors such as the particular valve to be replaced and the particular configuration of the prosthetic to be implanted, various types of specialized holders have been developed. Generally, valve holders are designed to enable a surgeon to precisely position a prosthetic heart valve within the heart passageway or in another area of the heart. Valve holders are also used to securely hold the prosthetic heart valve in place until suturing is completed and the sutures are tied off.
In the case of implantation of some prosthetic valves, such as a mitral valve, an elongate handle connects to the valve holder. The handle is grasped and manipulated by the surgeon to maneuver the valve to its desired implantation position. The handle is then cut away, and the sewing ring is sutured to the native valve annulus with the valve holder remaining attached to protect the valve.
Although conventional handles are suitable for delivering prosthetic valves to desired locations within a patient, they may be improved. In particular, conventional handles including valve holders attached thereto may obstruct a surgeon's view during a suturing operation. Additionally, conventional handles that are required to be cut away from the valve holder may be difficult to maneuver during delivery and/or suturing.

Systems and delivery handles for delivering prosthetic heart valves disposed on valve holders


Method of making a cross metathesis product, the method comprising at least step (X) or step (Y): (X) reacting in a cross metathesis reaction a first compound comprising a terminal olefinic group with a second compound comprising a terminal olefinic group, wherein the first and the second compound may be identical or may be different from one another; or (Y) reacting in a ring-closing metathesis reaction two terminal olefinic groups which are comprised in a third compound; wherein the reacting in step (X) or step (Y) is performed in the presence of a ruthenium carbene complex comprising a [Ru═C]-moiety and an internal olefin.

It is known that of all ruthenium carbene complexes comprising a [Ru═C]— moiety such as a [Ru alkylidene]-moiety decomposition of the ruthenium methylidene is most significant. This ruthenium methylidene is significant since it is the propagating species in alkene metathesis involving 1-alkenes (α-olefins, terminal olefins) due to the formation of ethylene. The ruthenium methylidene species (Ru═CH2 species) may be formed in metathesis reactions with e.g. a Grubbs catalyst. The ruthenium methylidene decomposes thermally, e.g. when heated in benzene at a temperature of 55° C. to produce a dinuclear ruthenium hydride. This decomposition temperature is comparable to that used in routine cross metathesis reactions. Accordingly, cross metathesis reactions in which ruthenium methylidene complexes are generated are hampered due to thermal decomposition of the complex resulting in activity loss towards metathesis. The main reaction is then alkene isomerization caused by the dinuclear complex rather than metathesis. Said unwanted isomerization was suppressed by using benzoquinone as an additive in case of metathesis of allylic ethers and long-chain aliphatic alkenes (Hong, S. H., Sanders, D. P., Lee, C. W., Grubbs, R. H., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 17160-17161).
It is further known that catalysts with high stability may usually suffer from poor reactivity in metathesis reactions. This will need to be balanced with increased metathesis reactivity. This is of particular relevance in industrial applications.


In general, the present disclosure is directed to methods for synthesizing vanadium oxide nanobelts, as well as the corresponding chemical composition of the vanadium oxide nanobelts. Also described are materials which can incorporate the vanadium oxide nanobelts, such as including the vanadium oxide nanobelts as a cathode material for use in energy storage applications (e.g., batteries). The vanadium oxide nanobelts described herein display structural characteristics that may provide improved diffusion and/or charge transfer between ions. Thus, batteries incorporating implementations of the current disclosure may demonstrate improved properties such as higher capacity retention over charge discharge cycling.

Growing demand for energy and awareness to protect our environment have sparked rapid development of clean, renewable energy technology in recent decades as an effort to reduce the use of conventional fossil fuels. However, the production of renewable power can be hampered by unpredictable and/or intermittent availability, thus promoting widespread adoption requires developing an effective "buffering" (e.g., energy storage) technology to smooth out possible fluctuations. Rechargeable batteries have long been deemed one of the most promising "buffering" solutions. The significant advances in lithium ion battery (LIB) technology in the past decades has revolutionized portable consumer electronics. However, a further penetration of LIB into the large-scale, stationary energy storage (SES) market is hindered by the concerns over operational safety and cost, primarily due to the use flammable organic electrolytes and expensive electrode materials. New battery technologies suited for SES applications are, therefore, needed.

Methods for synthesizing vanadium oxide nanobelts and applications as cathode materials for batteries


The present invention provides a method of coating microneedles by which the microneedles mounted on a microneedle device are coated accurately and easily in a mass-producible manner. In this method, a microneedle device (22) with a plurality of microneedles (21) is mounted on a table (23), while a mask plate (25) with a plurality of apertures (24) is fixed to a frame member (26), and a coating solution (27) is drawn in the direction of arrow A on the mask plate (25) using a spatula (28) to fill the apertures (24) with the coating solution. The microneedles (21) are inserted in the apertures (24) before or after the filling of the apertures (24) with the coating solution (27) to coat the microneedles (21).

Conventionally, a microneedle device is known as a device for enhancing transdermal drug absorption. The microneedles of a microneedle device aims to puncture the outermost layer of the epidermis, the corneum, and various sizes and shapes are proposed in the hope of a noninvasive administration method (e.g., Patent Document 1).
Similarly, various drug application methods using a microneedle device are proposed. Known examples include that a drug is coated on a microneedle surface; a groove or hollow is provided in a microneedle to allow a drug or a biological component to penetrate therethrough, a microneedle itself is mixed with a drug, etc. (e.g., Patent Document 2).
Thus, as a way of effectively facilitating transdermal drug absorption using a microneedle device, there is a method by which a drug is coated on a part of the surface of a microneedle device. In particular, when a drug is coated on a part of a microneedle device (especially only on microneedles), all or most of an applied drug is delivered into the body and hence such a method is useful as a very efficient and accurate administration method.
Further, since these proposed microneedle devices are all provided with extremely small protrusions having a height of about several tens to several hundreds micrometers, it can be easily assumed that a transdermal drug absorption and efficiency greatly vary depending on drug applications.
Patent Document 3 discloses a microdroplet coating method using the ink jet method, etc., by which droplets are selectively released to only microneedles.
However, the document does not describe a method by which only a part (microneedles) of a microneedle device is coated by precise position control and release control. In the typical ink jet methods, the releasable amount is a picoliter order, thereby limiting an amount coatable at a time. Further, the viscosity of a coating solution is limited to the lower side (<50 cps). For this reason, it is thought to be difficult to selectively coat only microneedles in a highly reproducible manner.
Patent Document 4 discloses a method of selectively coating only the tip of a microneedle with a solution containing a drug. More specifically, the method controls the level of a drug to be coated by immersing a microneedle in the coating solution controlled at a given depth. The depth of a coating solution is controlled using a cylindrical roller and the liquid viscosity of the solution is limited to about 500 cps or lower, thereby achieving a quantitative coating. This method enables the selective coating of a drug only to microneedles and is hence considered useful as a method of coating a drug quantitatively. However, since the viscosity range of a coating solution is limited to a low viscosity range (about 500 cps or lower), a drug amount coated by a single immersion is limited to a certain extent. As a result, when a coated amount must be controlled, particularly when a large amount of drug needs to be coated, the immersion-drying cycle must be inevitably repeated a number of times.
When the operation of shifting a coating solution by rolling using a cylinder is repeated, the concentration of the coating solution is liable to increase gradually. Further, when an attempt is made to coat a drug only on an microneedle by this method, it is quite predictable that the capillary phenomenon occurs depending on the surface tension of a coating solution used, causing the wicking phenomenon wherein the solution extends to the basal surface (root portion) of microneedle or to the bottom of microneedle substrate.
Patent Document 5 discloses a coating method using a removable mask phase. In this method, using phase-separable solvents having different volatilities as masking materials, a physiologically active substance is coated on the tip of a microneedle by volatilizing the solvents step by step. This method enables the drug coating only on a microneedle, but it is expected that the drying step requires some time depending on drugs and the residual mask phase on the microneedle is also concerned.
Patent Document 6 discloses a coating method of coating needles on the microneedle substrate and developed based on the dip coating method. This method employs a mask (physical mask) having apertures formed thereon corresponding to the pitch of microneedles in order to prevent the wicking phenomenon caused by the surface tension of a coating solution from occurring, and controls the coating amount by controlling the surface position of the coating solution and the contact level of microneedles. However, in this method, since the reservoir storing the coating solution is directly connected to the mask apertures in which the microneedles are inserted, the level of coating amount is liable to vary significantly depending on the position of inserting the needles. Even when the insertion level is strictly controlled, it is essential to maintain the balance between the surface tension of coating solution and the surface energy of needles. When this balance is lost, the coating level and amount to the microneedles may change. Further, the coating solution level with respect to the mask surface must be strictly controlled which requires a power unit to always maintain the solution at a constant level.    Patent Document 1: National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2001-506904    Patent Document 2: National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2004-504120    Patent Document 3: National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2004-520152    Patent Document 4: WO02/074173A1    Patent Document 5: WO2006/055799A1    Patent Document 6: WO2006/138719A2


A dispensing and handling system for solutions is disclosed. The system includes a container (11) for mixing, storing and dispensing a use solution (44) through a spigot (17). The container (11) is mounted upon a cart (12), and is interconnected to a water supply conduit (16) and a concentrate solution tube (14). The concentrate solution (15) is contained within containers or bags (13). An aspirator (26) is permanently mounted within the storage container (11). The water conduit (16) and pick-up tube (14) are releasably connected to the storage container (11) by means of a quick-connect assembly (35). Also disclosed is a method for storing and handling solutions.

In janitorial settings which require a significant amount and number of specialized cleaning solutions, the liquid cleaning products are purchased on a concentrated basis, and then are diluted to the proper strength at the site where they will be used. This type of general system is employed by a wide variety of users, e.g., hotels, hospitals, restaurants, etc. Several dispensing systems have been developed for mixing and diluting the concentrated cleaning product. The dispensers usually feature at least some of the following components: a container for the concentrated cleaning product, an intermediate-sized storage container for the diluted cleaning product, a method to dose concentrate into the storage container, and a water supply line to dilute the concentrate.
The dispensing systems cover a wide range in terms of their complexity. That is, the method of dilution may be rather simple and manual in nature, but requires a great deal of operator experience. On the other hand, the dispensing system may be quite complex, requiring a mechanical device to dilute the concentrates. Such complex systems are often necessary where different cleaning products and different dilution ratios are utilized for different cleaning applications. These dispensing systems typically require several separate water lines, each water line corresponding to a different type of cleaning concentrate. From this conventional type of dispensing center, small-sized spray bottles are filled and taken to the point of usage by the janitorial personnel.
However, the cost of these conventional dispensing stations is relatively high, because of their complexity and because backflow preventors are generally required for each water connection by applicable plumbing codes, and pressure regulators are necessary to control use solution concentrations within an acceptable range. Other necessary flow control devices also add to the cost of conventional dispensing systems; for example, a pick-up probe and foot valve must be employed in order to withdraw the concentrate from a rigid container.
In addition, because of the permanent hook-up of each concentrate dispenser to its own water line and because of the size of the dispensing station, it is not possible to move the dispensing station itself close to the point of usage. This results in inconvenience for the janitorial staff, who must repeatedly return to the dispensing station in order to refill their spray bottles. It also limits the user's flexibility in substituting different types of cleaning concentrates to meet different types of requirements.
An aspirator is employed with some dispensing systems to withdraw the concentrated cleaning solution from its container. With conventional systems, each water line requires a separate aspirator, and the aspirators are located outside the storage container in a variety of places, such as mounted to the concentrate container or mounted upon the wall adjacent to the dispensing station. These locations of the aspirator add to the complexity and space requirements of the dispensing system.
Another drawback of many conventional systems is that the dilution of the concentrate is inaccurate, resulting in a cleaning product having either too high or too low of a concentration. Many systems have no way of controlling and checking the dilution, so that inaccurate mixing by the janitorial personnel often occurs. Using too much concentrated liquid cleaner is wasteful, unnecessary, and expensive. Over-use of these products also hampers thorough rinsing and leaves messy residues. On the other hand, utilization of too little cleaning concentrate in the use solution will not clean adequately.
The present invention solves these and many other problems associated with currently available dispensing systems.

Chemical solution dispensing and handling system


A dishwasher appliance is provided with a silverware basket. The silverware basket has features for creating an offset between a door of the appliance or a wall of the appliance and the silverware basket. The offset can permit debris and/or washing fluid to flow between the silverware basket and the door or the wall of the appliance.

Dishwasher appliances generally include a cabinet with a wash tub therein. The wash tub defines a wash chamber. A rack assembly can be slidably received within the wash chamber and configured for receipt of articles (e.g., plates, cups, and/or bowls) for washing. A spray arm assembly configured for applying wash fluid to the articles in the rack assembly can also be mounted within the wash chamber.
Certain dishwasher appliances also include a silverware basket configured for receipt of articles (e.g., forks, knives, spoons, and/or other utensils) for washing. The silverware basket can be mounted within the wash chamber in various configurations. For example, the silverware basket can be mounted within the rack assembly, on a front of the rack assembly, and/or on a door of the appliance.
Mounting the silverware basket on a front of the rack assembly can give a consumer an impression that the rack assembly has a greater capacity compared to mounting the silverware basket within the rack assembly. However, when the silverware basket is mounted on the front of the rack assembly, the door of the appliance can impact the silverware basket when the door is moved to a closed configuration. More particularly, the door can remain in contact with the silverware basket when the door is in the closed configuration and the dishwasher appliance is in operation.
When the silverware basket is in contact with the door during operation of the dishwasher appliance, food, dirt, and/or other debris can become lodged between the door and the silverware basket. In a similar manner, such debris can become lodged between the silverware basket and other walls of the dishwasher appliance when the silverware basket is mounted within the wash chamber in another configuration. Also, when the silverware basket is in contact with the door during operation of the dishwasher appliance, washing fluid may be impeded from reaching areas below the silverware basket.
To avoid such debris collection, silverware baskets can incorporate a bumper that creates a standoff between the silverware basket and the door or wall of the cabinet. The standoff can allow washing fluid and debris to flow past the silverware basket along the door or wall of the cabinet. However, such standoffs can be visually unappealing to consumers. For example, a bumper projecting from the silverware basket can be visually intrusive and unattractive.
Accordingly, a silverware basket for a dishwasher appliance with features for creating standoff between the silverware basket and a door or wall of the appliance that can be aesthetically pleasing to consumers would be useful.

Silverware basket for a dishwasher appliance


According to the various aspects, a multi-chip semiconductor package includes a package substrate, an interconnect frame extending beyond a first side edge of the package substrate, the interconnect frame including a bottom surface positioned over and coupled to a top surface of the package substrate, a first semiconductor device positioned at least partially over and coupled to the interconnect frame, and a second semiconductor device positioned on the bottom surface of the interconnect frame alongside of the package substrate. The interconnect frame further includes a redistribution layer and a frame construct layer, and a plurality of vias coupled to the redistribution layer, with the frame construct layer further includes a recessed area, and the first semiconductor device is positioned in the recessed area.

With the continued miniaturization of 2.5/3D semiconductor packaging, there are challenges of increased package z-height and creating the real-estate footprint needed for the various components in a highly integrated, multi-chip package. The reduced package footprint also causes signal lines/trace routing congestion. In addition, there are concerns from electrical performance impairments, e.g., signal latency, attenuation losses and extensive power loop inductance between the transceiver integrated circuit (IC) die, and electrical performance trade-off due to reference plane (e.g., power supply or ground reference plane) discontinuities. Energy losses along transmission lines and impedance discontinuities may cause signal integrity degradation that can impact the functionality of high data-rate applications, e.g., serial de-serial (SerDes) buses operating at ≥20 GHz (Nyquist frequency) or double data-rate (DDR) memory buses operating at ≥6.4 GHz.
To address some of these concerns, the form-factor miniaturization and/or improved electrical performance solution has included using embedded technology (e.g., embedding active silicon devices and passive devices), passive bridge interconnects, and/or decoupling capacitors architectures. However, for package z-height reduction through embedded active silicon and/or passive devices, there may be an additional challenge of dissipating heat from a crowded package.


Devices and methods for assisting with slicing items, such as food items, are disclosed. The devices may be referred to as press and slice devices. Such devices may include a base and a lid. The base and lid may each include a flexible layer, and flexible layers may be configured to hold the items being sliced when the lid and base are pressed together. The lid may include a handle to, for example help the user hold the lid and protect the user's fingers. The base may include a foot made of a material with a higher coefficient of friction than the material of the base to, for example help secure the base to the surface the device is being used on. The lid and base may include a mechanism for positionally securing the lid relative to the base, such as using a post and slot system.

When cutting and slicing items, such as food items (e.g., fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, breads, etc.) or non-food items (e.g., molding clay, children's dough, etc.), it may be desirable to slice the items as quickly and/or as accurately as possible. In some cases, it may also be desired to cut numerous small items at once, to, for example, save time and effort. Items can be cut by hand without any additional implements or the items may be cut using existing implements. However, such known techniques typically produce inconsistent results (e.g., disproportionate portions) and/or they are limited to one or a few particular items (e.g., a bagel slicer intended to assist with slicing bagels, an apple slicer intended to assist with slicing apples, an egg slicer intended to assist with slicing eggs, etc.). In addition, such known methods may crush the items being sliced (or otherwise deform the items in an undesired manner) when, for example, the items are being held to assist in slicing them. This issue is particularly exacerbated when dealing with items of varying shape, size, and/or consistency. Further, such known methods may be dangerous, where, for example, they do not provide adequate protection or clearance for hands and fingers when slicing the items.


A method is provided that includes forming conductive or semiconductive features above a first dielectric material, depositing a second dielectric material above the conductive or semiconductive features, etching a void in the second dielectric material, wherein the etch stops on the first dielectric material, and exposing a portion of the conductive or semiconductive features. Numerous other aspects are provided.

The invention relates to a method for reducing dielectric overetch when making contact to conductive features. The method makes use of etch selectivities between different dielectric materials.
In semiconductor devices, it is known to etch through a dielectric material to make electrical contact, for example by way of a via, to a conductive feature such as a line which is covered by the dielectric material. Once the void is etched and a portion of the conductive line is exposed, it is filled with a conductive material such as tungsten.
The etch is ideally aligned with the buried conductive feature. The etchant is generally selective between the dielectric material being etched and the material of the conductive feature, and thus will stop when the conductive feature is reached. If the etch is misaligned, some portion of the etched region may not fall on the conductive feature, instead continuing past the conductive feature into fill dielectric, and excessive overetch may occur in this misaligned region. This overetch may reach a conductive feature on another level, causing an undesired electrical short when the via is filled. To avoid excessive overetch due to misalignment, it is usual to widen the conductive feature in the region where the contact is to be made, forming a wider area, sometimes called a landing pad.
Use of a wider landing pad in dense arrays may decrease device density, however. It is desirable, therefore, to etch through dielectric material to form electrical contacts to buried conductive features without compromising density or risking excessive overetch.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for reducing dielectric overetch when making contact to conductive features


Methods and user equipment (UE) for data demodulation. A UE comprises a receiver (Rx), a transmitter (Tx), a demodulator, a decoder, a processor, and a memory. An order message can be received by the receiver from a radio network node. The order message orders the UE to utilize both additional pilots and common pilots. In response to the receiver receiving the order message, the transmitter may return an ACK message to the radio network node. The receiver may also be configured to receive data from the radio network node. The memory stores computer program code which, when run in the processor, causes the demodulator to demodulate received data utilizing additional pilots in addition to common pilots. Furthermore, the memory and the computer program code are configured to, together with the processor, cause the demodulator to demodulate received data utilizing only common pilots when the decoder is unsuccessful in decoding received data demodulated by utilizing additional pilots in addition to common pilots.

This section is intended to provide a background to the various embodiments of the technology that are described in this disclosure. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section should not be interpreted to be prior art by its mere inclusion in this section.
The international patent application PCT/SE2013/050336 which was filed on Mar. 26, 2013 by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ.), proposes a method performed by a radio network node, wherein the radio network node is configured to communicate over an air interface with a wireless terminal (also known as mobile station and/or user equipment (UE)). The method proposed in PCT/SE2013/050336 comprises scheduling pilots, including common pilots transmitted for channel estimation, for transmission over the air interface to the UE. The method further comprises making a determination whether additional pilots for data demodulation are also to be transmitted to the UE in addition to the common pilots transmitted for channel estimation. A corresponding method performed by the UE is also proposed. This method comprises making a determination regarding which pilots transmitted from the radio network node are to be utilized by the UE, the pilots transmitted from the radio network node including common pilots for channel estimation and additional pilots for data demodulation.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example signaling diagram used for signaling demodulation pilots. The radio network node (e.g., an evolved NodeB (eNB)) transmits common pilots continuously for Channel State Information (CSI) estimation (act 110). The UE may compute, estimate or otherwise determine CSI such as Channel Quality Information (CQI), Precoding Control Index (PCI), and Rank Information (RI) and report back (act 120) to the radio network node, e.g. over a High Speed-Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH). Once the CSI report is received by the radio network node, the radio network node can determine whether only the common pilots are sufficient for data demodulation, or whether the additional pilots are also desirable. For example, this determination can be made based on parameters such as Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR), block error rate (BLER), UE location, modulation and code rate, etcetera. The determination can e.g. be made by a pilot determination controller or a scheduler of the radio network node. If it is determined or otherwise concluded that additional pilots are needed or desirable, the radio network node can signal (i.e. transmit) information indicative of the need or desire to use additional pilots to the UE (act 130). For example, this information can be transmitted using a High Speed Shared Control Channel, HS-SCCH, order message. HS-SCCH order messages are known to persons skilled in the art and will therefore not be further detailed herein. If the UE is capable of decoding the HS-SCCH order message, the UE transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) message to the radio network node 100, e.g. over a HS-DPCCH (act 140). Subsequently, upon receipt of such ACK message, the radio network node transmits data to the UE 200 (act 150). The data includes the additional pilots. The data can e.g. be transmitted over a High Speed-Physical Data Shared Channel, HS-PDSCH. The UE then uses the additional pilots for demodulation until again informed by the radio network node. Act 160 is intended to reflect another, or new, order message over the HS-SCCH. Act 170 illustrates subsequent transmission of data over a downlink data channel, such as a High Speed-Physical Data Shared Channel (HS-PDSCH).

Methods and user equipments for data demodulation


An apparatus for the recovery of fine particulate material of the type that uses a tube sheet arrangement and a multiplicity of centrifugal separation devices provides improved separation by extending a skirt to confine a particle outlet stream and raise its superficial velocity. The separation arrangement partially confines a downwardly directed flow of particles and gas from the separator thereby raising the effective superficial velocity of the particle stream without increasing the portion of the gas steam that exits with the recovered particles. As a result the device provides a greater recovery of particles without increasing the quantity of gas that accompanies the separated fine particles without the need for complete confinement of the particles that exit the separator.

Separators of the type that arrange a plurality of multiple tube-type separators in a parallel flow arrangement for removal of particular material from fluid streams are well-known. U.S. Pat. No. 2,941,621 and 2,986,278 and 3,061,994 generally disclose such separators and the individual tubular centrifugal separators contained therein. These arrangements house the inlets to the separators between upper and lower tube sheets that also retain upper and lower portions respectively of the tubular separation elements. Specific design criteria for such arrangements are well known. Other variations of the individual centrifugal separators and the separator layout itself can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,368 and 5,690,709.
These separators are commonly used to separate fine, particulate material from high temperature streams associated with the use of fine, particulate catalyst. One such process is the fluidized catalytic cracking process. The fluidized catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons is the principal process for the production of gasoline and light hydrocarbon products from heavy hydrocarbon charge stocks such as vacuum gas oils or residual feeds. The FCC process is carried out by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst made up of a finely divided or particulate solid material. In the FCC process large hydrocarbon molecules associated with the heavy hydrocarbon feed are cracked to break the large hydrocarbon chains thereby producing lighter hydrocarbons. These lighter hydrocarbons are recovered as product and can be used directly or further processed to raise the octane barrel yield relative to the heavy hydrocarbon feed. The basic components of the FCC process include a reactor, a regenerator and a catalyst stripper. The reactor includes a contact zone where the hydrocarbon feed is contacted with a particulate catalyst and a separation zone where product vapors from the cracking reaction are separated from the catalyst. The catalyst is transported like a fluid by passing gas or vapor through it at sufficient velocity to produce a desired regime of fluid transport. During the cracking reaction, coke will be deposited on the catalyst. Coke interferes with the catalytic activity of the catalyst by blocking active sites on the catalyst surface where the cracking reactions take place. Catalyst is traditionally passed to a regenerator for purposes of removing the coke by oxidation with an oxygen-containing gas. Oxidizing the coke from the catalyst surface releases a large amount of heat, a portion of which escapes the regenerator with gaseous products of coke oxidation generally referred to as flue gas.
The flue gas generated by combustion of coke from the FCC catalyst produces a high temperature gas stream that, after passage through cyclone, still retains a substantial amount of fine catalyst particles that must be removed prior to further treatment or energy recovery from the flue gas. The multiple tubular separator arrangements are particularly suited to the removal of this very fine particulate material.
Application of multiple tubular separators for removal of dust and particulate material from such high temperature fluid streams has required further consideration and special arrangements. FIGS. 1 through 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,500 and of U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,766 each show a separator arrangement that is suitable for the usual high temperature operations of processes such as the FCC process. The three different arrangements of U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,768 and 3,415,042 each suspend multiple centrifugal separators from an inner housing to accommodate different expansion rates between the internals of the separator and an outer housing. Internal insulation normally covers the inside of the outer housing to reduce its wall temperature thereby increasing its strength for pressure containment, but reducing its expansion relative to the internals.
FIGS. 1 and 3 of both of the above patents show a completely closed inner housing contained within an outer housing vessel. In these two arrangements the inner housing retains the separation elements in a closely conformed housing that introduces a number of design complexities to the overall arrangement. Complexities associated with these arrangements involve the use of expansion elements, additional inlets or outlets, and purge requirements for retaining all of the separate centrifugal separators in a completely enclosed housing. In some cases the complexity of the separators can impose additional pressure drop from the total system.
FIG. 2 of the '766 patent and of the '042 patent shows a less confined separator arrangement. The generally simplified arrangement of the separator shown in FIG. 2 has lead to its adoption in different forms in most commercial applications.
To provide flexibility for the radial growth of the tube sheets supporting the tubular separators, the more open separator arrangement results in a significant space between the wall of the containment vessel and the closest outlet of the tubular separators. Up until this time, the containment of the gas stream below the outlets of the tubular separators in this type of arrangement has received little attention. This is particularly true in the arrangement of the more open-type separator as shown in the above mentioned FIG. 3.
It is a constant goal in the use of the multiple tube separators to improve separation efficiency. Separators will usually operate with a separation efficiency of over 60%--with some providers of such separators claiming efficiencies up to 90%. The separation efficiency is defined as the difference between the particles entering the separator and the particles leaving through the fluid outlet of the separator divided by the rate of particles entering the separator. The efficiency related to selected particle size ranges and the overall efficiency are both important for evaluating the operation of a separator with the efficiency in particular particle size ranges being particularly important in many applications.

Multiple separator arrangement for fluid-particle separation


A device-side connector (10) is connected to a wire-side connector (50) by being mounted into a shield case (14) of a device (11) including a base member (12) and the shield case (14) fixed to the base member (12), and includes first terminals (21), a first housing (25) fixed in position with respect to the base member (12) and configured to hold the first terminals (21), second terminals (22) connected to the first terminals (21) via flexible conductive members (23), and a second housing (33) configured to hold the second terminals (22) and engageable with the first housing (25) with a predetermined clearance (CL) defined therebetween by the engagement of engaging frames (30) of the first housing (25) and engaging protrusions (40A) of the second housing (33).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a connector is known which prevents a trouble in connector connection due to a dimensional accuracy error or the like (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-277217).
A trouble due to a dimensional accuracy error or the like occurs not only when a connector is connected. Specifically, there is a case where a connector 1 is fixed to a base member 2 via an inner device 3 and a shield case 4 covering the inner device 3 is also fixed to the base member 2 as shown in FIG. 15, for example, in a device such as an inverter of a vehicle. In this case, if it is attempted to mount the shield case 4 on the base member 2 to guide the connector 1 into a tubular opening 5 of the shield case 4, a trouble such as inability to pass the connector 1 into the tubular opening 5 may occur in mounting the shield case 4 due to a dimensional accuracy error or the like between the tubular opening 5 and the position of the connector 1.
The present invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to provide a connector capable of preventing a trouble in mounting a case.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating potentially combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures from aqueous solutions. The method employs the concept of utilizing a liquid phase carryover as a combustible gaseous diluent and subsequently, upon separation of the gaseous and liquid phase components, incorporates the addition of a diluent gas to minimize the combustive/explosive potential of the separated gaseous phase component. In a preferred embodiment, the separating apparatus comprises a primary separator, a screen atomizer, a pressure-and-flow control system and a secondary separator.

The present invention relates to a gas-and-liquid phase separating system. More particularly, it deals with a multi-stage system that safely separates potentially combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures from aqueous solutions.
The present invention may be utilized where two or more gases, that could combustibly or explosively react and which are soluble in an aqueous medium, are generated. For example, the presence of more than 4% O.sub.2 concentrations in H.sub.2 or more than 6% H.sub.2 concentrations in O.sub.2 result in gaseous mixtures with high combustive and/or explosive potentials.
Gas-and-liquid phase separators, which employ a plurality of stages for separating various mixtures, are well known in the art. Yet, none to date have addressed the problem of separating potentially combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures from aqueous solutions.
Rotary gas/water phase separators have been used in the past for removing a small amount of liquid from a gas stream. The rotary-type separator requires externally supplied energy to spin a drum and a pitot tube pickup to remove the effluent water. However, the high liquid volume that is present in many applications presents an efficiency constraint to the rotary-type separator. In addition, the mechanical wear, physical size and sound level of this device makes it less than completely desirable even for moderate to small liquid-volume applications.
Centrifugal separators are well known in the art and are effective when large volumes of solution are introduced, traveling at relatively high velocities. They have been employed as primary separators and in combination with other separation technologies. But, they too do not address the problem of separating potentially combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures from aqueous solutions.
The present invention teaches that the use of an effective amount of an ionized and conductive aqueous solution as a gaseous diluent or liquid phase carryover in a multi-stage separating system substantially eliminates the potential for electrostatic ignition of combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures. The conductive properties of aqueous solutions, i.e. seawater, will prevent the buildup of electrostatic charges thereby eliminating a major cause of combustive and/or explosive conditions.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method for the safe separation of potentially combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures from aqueous solutions.
It is another object to use the concept of a liquid phase carryover to insure that a safe mixture is maintained by taking advantage of the quenching properties of the liquid phase to reduce the propagation of a combustive and/or explosive reaction.
It is still another object to provide pressure reduction of the gas/liquid mixture followed by gas/liquid phase separation in the presence of a diluent gas flow, which serves to dilute the concentration of the gaseous components to below their respective combustive/explosive concentration limits.
It is a further object to provide a unique separating apparatus which carries out the aforementioned method.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent when the following descriptions are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for the safe separation of combustible and/or explosive gaseous mixtures from aqueous solutions


Methods, systems, and computer-readable media herein disclose providing or sharing access to an asset. A request for sharing the asset from a consuming party may be received. The asset may be verified as a registered asset. The request may be sent for approval by a provisioning party. The request may include details about a transaction for which sharing the asset has been requested and a specification of the asset requested for sharing. Approval may be provided with restriction parameters. In turn, a first digital token may be generated. A request for the transaction may be received from the consuming party. Transaction details may be verified against the restriction parameters. A second digital token associated with the asset from an asset custodian may be received. A request to perform the transaction may be sent to the asset custodian. A confirmation of a processed transaction from the asset custodian may be received.

Conventional digital transactions facilitate electronic payment, such as money transfers, payment asset charges, e-commerce transactions and any other types of transactions. However, in multiple circumstances, payees may be unbanked people (e.g., children that need money to buy something) or may have no payment asset (e.g., lost asset). Payment fund transfers may be expensive, time-consuming, heavily regulated, and cumbersome for financial institutions. Thus, there is need for an improved approach.
In some instances, a person may need to delegate his or her right or obligation associated with an asset and/or account, to another person for any reason. The delegation of the rights or obligations may in certain instances be impossible without a physical transmission of such asset and/or account or credentials for access to the asset and/or account. However, such persons may be in different places. Thus, there is need for an improved approach.

Automated digital method and system of providing or sharing access


A system including a mobile device, a user of the mobile device, a computer system having a telecommunication module for telephonically communicating with the mobile device, a user of the computer system, and a security server is provided. Also provided is a method, at a mobile device, of authenticating a user of the mobile device during a telephone call having the steps of obtaining a user authentication input, obtaining validation of the user authentication input, initiating a telephone call with, or receiving a telephone call from, the computer system, and if the user authentication input is successfully validated, sending a token generated for the telephone call with the computer system via data-over-voice frequency signaling during the telephone call thereby providing an indication that the user authentication input has been successfully validated to the computer system.

The present disclosure relates generally, but not exclusively, to methods and systems capable of validating the identity of the user of a mobile telephone.
When a consumer conducts a telephone call with a consumer services representative, such as an issuing bank consumer services representative, it is often a requirement that the identity of the consumer be validated.
Conventionally, this involves the consumer services representative asking a series of security questions in order to verify the identity of the consumer. This process can be lengthy and inefficient. In addition, the consumer may not be able to answer all the questions due to missing data, which can increase consumer frustration.
Alternatively, and in some cases additionally, the telephone number from which the consumer is calling is identified by the consumer services representative and compared with any telephone numbers that the consumer services representative has on record which are known by the consumer services representative to be associated with the consumer. This requires the consumer services representative to have access to a consumer profile or record, for each of their consumers, which must contain the consumer telephone number. Unfortunately, this does not obviate the need for security questions as only the telephone number is validated. There is limited value, in terms of security, in validating the telephone number alone as the identity of the consumer making the telephone call is not directly validated.
Short Message Service (SMS) validation is a further known method for validating the identity of the consumer. Conventional SMS validation requires the consumer services representative to issue a validation code to a mobile device known to belong to a particular consumer via SMS. The consumer is required to return the code to the consumer services representative via some conventional means, such as through an online portal or spoken during a telephone call with the consumer services representative, so as to prove that the consumer is in possession of the mobile device to which the SMS has been sent. This requires the consumer services representative to have a consumer profile for each consumer which must contain the consumer telephone number. Additionally, means for generating and sending a code to the consumer via SMS, such as a SMS gateway in communication with a server, are also required.
The SMS validation process also does not eliminate the need for security questions as the consumer services representative would first need to know enough information about the consumer so as to be able to obtain the correct consumer record in order to be able to obtain the telephone number to which the SMS code should be sent. Additionally, only the consumer's possession of the mobile device is directly validated. There is only limited value, in terms of security, in validating the consumer's possession of the mobile device alone as the identity of the consumer making the telephone call is not directly validated.
The above methods of validating the identity of the consumer are all limited in that they are inefficient and provide only limited security. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and system for validating the identity of a consumer during a telephone call to a consumer services representative.

Mobile device user validation method and system


Image defogging method and system, the method including: constructing a pixel-based dark channel map of a fogging image; constructing a local area-based dark channel map of the image; acquiring a final dark channel map of the image; acquiring intensity values of R, G, B channels of a pixel having a maximum grey value of all pixels in an area, covered by a brightest area in the local map, in the fogging map, as R, G, B components of an air light value of the image; acquiring a transmission map of the image by using the final map, a maximum value of the components of the air light value, and a defogging parameter; and acquiring intensity values of the channels of pixels in a defogged image by using the transmission map, the air light value, and the intensity values of the R, G, B channels of the pixels in the image.

In the case that the weather is bad, the visibility and color of an image are usually degraded by the fog in the atmosphere. It is usually needed to improve the quality of images and videos captured in the weather by defogging. The processing of removing the fog in an image is called image defogging. Image defogging is very useful for navigation and surveillance in the case that the weather is bad.
Currently, there are many image defogging methods, in which an image defogging method based on dark channel prior is a method having the best effect. The dark channel prior is obtained by making statistics on outdoor non-foggy images, i.e. most non-sky local areas in an outdoor non-foggy image have a pixel, the intensity value of at least one color channel of which is very low (usually close to 0). A defogging model established by utilizing the dark channel prior can directly estimate the thickness of the fog, and can restore a fogging image to a high quality image after removing the interference of the fog (called defogged image for short).
In the image defogging method based on dark channel prior, the intensity value J of an input fogging image is solved by using the intensity value I, the air light value A, and the transmission map t of the fogging image. In a traditional image defogging method based on dark channel prior, it is usually needed to optimize the transmission map by soft matting. However, the processing of soft matting needs very complex computation and thus is difficult to implement in real time.


The present invention provides an apparatus for measuring a location and a distance of an object by using a camera including: a camera module for photographing an external image; a parameter setup unit for setting internal and external parameters of the camera module; an image processor unit for receiving a captured image of an image photographed from the camera module, extracting a target object within the captured image, and extracting specific point coordinates of the extracted target object; and a location and distance calculating unit for calculating three-dimensional object location information in a two-dimensional camera coordinate system through the internal and external parameters of the camera module and coordinates of the target object, and calculating distance information from the location information of the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring a location and a distance of an object by using a camera, more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for measuring a location and a distance of an object by using only one camera, in which specific point coordinate's of a target object are extracted from an image photographed by the camera, three-dimensional location information is calculated by using the extracted point coordinates, and then distance information is extracted from the three-dimensional location information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various industry fields have been applied technologies which can recognize a front object on a plane and catch distance information and location information of the recognized object. Especially, with the application of the technologies to automobiles, there is a tendency to develop and popularize various technologies that can sense location and distance information of an object on a front of the automobile on the move, and guide an optimal running condition to a driver.
For example, technologies for sensing location and distance information of an object may be applied to technologies for preventing front and rear collision in an intelligent automobile system. At present, the continuously developed technologies enable an automobile system to provide not only auditory sensing information, but also visual sensing information through a camera when a front object or a rear object is sensed, so that the driver can recognize the distance and location information of the object with ease.
In a conventional scheme for implementing such auditory or visual sensing information, the approximate location of a front object or a rear object is sensed through either ultrasonic waves or lasers, the sensed information is transmitted to a main controller, and then a driver acquires the transmitted information by the auditory information.
However, in this case, since the distance and location information is determined by information retro-reflected to the object, the auditory information alone is provided. Further, only simple information for determining existence or non-existence of obstacles caused by objects within a specific distance is provided. Therefore, the conventional technologies fail to meet user's demand.
In order to solve such problems, there have been provided a technology for photographing a front image or a rear image through a camera, and transferring the photographed image to a driver while providing visually sensing information of the front object or the rear object.
A scheme for providing visual sensing information through a camera has an advantage in that it can sense an external object more easily than a scheme for providing auditory sensing information, but has a disadvantage in that it is necessary to generate three-dimensional information through combination of two or more pieces of photographed information, in order to catch location information and distance information of an object through a camera. In this case, since the camera itself provides two-dimensional information, two or more cameras are used to take a photograph at the same time.
However, in a conventional scheme for providing visual sensing information by using a camera, it is necessary to use two or more cameras for extraction of three-dimensional information, and to extract location and distance information of an object by combination of an image gathered from two or more cameras. Therefore, there are disadvantages in that it is complicated to provide the information, and it is necessary to use an additional image processing device.

Apparatus and method for measuring location and distance of object by using camera


As a combination of sliding members of a vibration member and a driven member in a vibration driven motor or actuator, one member adopts an aluminum alloy containing dispersed Si (silicon), and the other member adopts a PTFE resin filled with polyimide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration driven motor or actuator for relatively moving a vibration member and a member urged against the vibration member by a travelling vibration wave generated in the vibration member and, more particularly, to a material of a sliding member in an urging contact portion.
2. Related Background Art
The principle of a vibration driven motor or actuator utilizing a travelling vibration wave will be briefly described below. A vibration member (stator) is constituted by fixing two groups each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in the circumferential direction on one surface of a ring-shaped elastic member having a total length corresponding to an integer multiple of a given length .lambda. and formed of an elastic material. In each group, the piezoelectric elements are arranged at a pitch of .lambda./2 to have opposite polarities so as to alternately exhibit opposite expansion/contraction characteristics, and the two groups of elements are arranged to have a shift corresponding to an odd-number multiple of .lambda./2 therebetween. Electrode films are provided to the two groups of piezoelectric elements. When an AC voltage is applied to either group (to be referred to as an A phase hereinafter) alone, the vibration member generates, over the entire circumference thereof, a standing wave (wavelength .lambda.) of a bending vibration having loop positions at the central points of the piezoelectric elements in the two groups, and at points separated therefrom at every .lambda./2 intervals, and having node positions at the central points between two each adjacent loop positions. When an AC voltage is applied to the other group (to be referred to as a B phase hereinafter) alone, a standing wave is similarly generated, but the loop and node positions of the wave are shifted by .lambda./4 from the standing wave generated by the A phase. When AC voltages having the same frequency and a temporal phase difference of 90.degree. therebetween are simultaneously applied to the A and B phases, since the standing waves of the two phases are synthesized, a traveling wave (wavelength .lambda.) of a bending vibration vibrating in the circumferential direction is generated in the vibration member. At this time, each point on the elastic member having a given thickness makes an elliptic motion. Therefore, when, e.g., a ring-shaped movable member (rotor) is urged against one surface of the elastic member, the movable member is rotated upon reception of the circumferential frictional force from the elastic member. It is known that when a plurality of radial grooves are formed in the circumferential direction on a surface, opposite to the piezoelectric element fixing surface, of the vibration member so as to increase the number of circumferential components of the elliptic motion, a neutral plane of a vibration is moved toward the piezoelectric element fixing surface, and the rotational speed is increased if the amplitude remains the same, thus remarkably improving motor efficiency. These grooves also have an effect of receiving a wear powder.
Based on the above-mentioned principle, the vibration driven motor or actuator has the following merits.
1) The motor has a holding torque in a non-energization state, and does not cause hunting.
2) Since the motor has a small inertia and a large driving torque, the rising and falling times of rotation are short (mechanical time constant is small).
3) Since all points on the circumference generate equal driving force, no cogging occurs.
With these merits, the vibration driven motor or actuator is suitable for high-precision rotation and high-precision positioning. However, since the motor utilizes the frictional force and the resonance of vibrations, it also suffers from the following demerits.
1) Since a sliding portion is worn, motor performance changes due to a change in frictional surface over time.
2) Since the resonance state and the coefficient of friction depend on temperature, temperature characteristics of motor performance are poor.
3) Since the heat generation amount is large relative to the volume of the motor, a considerable temperature rise occurs, and an adhered layer may be softened or damaged (peeled).
Therefore, in consideration of these merits and demerits, aluminum, phosphor bronze, stainless steel, or the like is used as needed as a material of the motor so as to satisfy the following requirements:
1) The motor must have high wear-resistance characteristics (to maintain motor performance for a long period of time).
2) The motor must have a high heat conductivity (to improve heat dissipation, thereby preventing a change in motor characteristics upon a change in temperature and a thermal damage to the motor).
3) The elastic member must have a thermal expansion coefficient close to that of an electro-mechanical conversion element (e.g., a piezoelectric element) (to prevent a damage to an adhered layer caused upon a change in temperature).
4) The movable member must have a light weight (to decrease the inertia).
In order to prevent a temperature rise as much as possible, a material having a high heat conductivity is preferable, and in order to realize a compact, lightweight structure and, especially, to decrease the inertia, a material having a low density is preferable. As a material having both these characteristics, an aluminum material is preferable.
As a material used in combination with the above-mentioned material, there are proposed composite resins causing a relatively small wear, and resins added with fillers having a reinforcement effect such as a fiber, a whisker, and the like, or added with fillers having a lubrication effect such as polytetrafluoroethylene ( PTFE ), molybdenum disulfide, graphite, and the like.
Since PTFE has a very low coefficient of friction even in a non-lubrication state, it is popularly used as a sliding material. PTFE molecules are transferred to a member contacting thereto due to the laminar peeling effect caused by a molecular coupling state, and cause friction between the PTFE molecules themselves, thus obtaining a stable low coefficient of friction. At the same time, the PTFE itself is worn considerably, and easily causes a creep. Therefore, the PTFE has a demerit of poor start performance after it is left for a while. As countermeasures against a wear and creep, PTFE filled with glass fiber, carbon fiber, aromatic polyester powder, polyimide powder, or the like has been proposed. However, since most of such fillers have certain hardness, a member to be brought into contact with the PTFE must be selected to have certain surface hardness so as to prevent a wear.
However, when the vibration driven motor is slid while a normal Cu-, Mg-, or Si-based aluminum material is in contact with the above-mentioned filled PTFE, aluminum as the base material is worn under the attack of the filler, and a wear powder of the aluminum is produced between the sliding surfaces. For this reason, transfer of the PTFE is disturbed, and only a wear occurs. Therefore, the sliding surface of the aluminum is subjected to various hardening treatments to prevent production of a metal wear powder.
However, in order to perform such a hardening treatment, pre- and post-surface treatments are required, resulting in a disadvantage in terms of cost. In addition, a hardened layer comprising an oxide film formed by plating or anodic oxidation easily falls off from a sliding portion, and the fallen powder is caught in the sliding portion, thus often causing a severe wear.


A male/female quick-connect system is provided which is adapted to sealingly couple to the opening of a container of liquid product. The female component of the system is adapted to couple to any standard 3/4" plumbing fitment and/or 1/4" ID standpipe and is self-venting so that any stock container can be used without modification. The male component which sealingly couples to the female component is provided with a barbed tip adapted to receive a variety of feed line sizes. A one-way elastomeric valve is disposed in the male member which only allows product to flow therethrough when the male component is coupled to a source of vacuum thereby preventing product from flowing back into the container. A shipping plug is provided which sealingly couples to the female component during shipping and/or storage of a container of liquid product which, in one preferred embodiment, is adapted with a one-way vent valve to allow excess pressure to be expelled from within the container while preventing outside contaminants from entering therein.

The present invention is generally directed to liquid dispensing apparatus and, more particularly, to a quick-connect/disconnect coupling for the transfer of liquid chemicals which are unsuitable for contact with human skin from a container via a vacuum feed line connected to a pump.
Presently, when a vacuum feed line is used while pumping a liquid chemical product from a container, the feed line is inserted directly into the container and immersed in the liquid. During pumping, the container remains open and the liquid is exposed to the atmosphere, which allows the release of hazardous fumes and allows evaporation as well as product spillage. When the pump evacuates the container of its liquid, the user must pull out the feed line in order to then reseal the container to seal any hazardous fumes therein. Further, when the feed line is removed from the container product residue often remains thereon, thus risking exposure of the product to the user's skin or clothing. When the pump is shut off, any product remaining within the feed tube will often backflow out the end of the tube, risking a spillage hazard.