Heterostructures for use in optoelectronic devices are described. One or more parameters of the heterostructure can be configured to improve the reliability of the corresponding optoelectronic device. The materials used to create the active structure of the device can be considered in configuring various parameters the n-type and/or p-type sides of the heterostructure.

Development of electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as group III nitride based light emitting diodes (LEDs), with high efficiency and reliability depends on many factors. Such factors include: the quality of the semiconductor layers, active layer design, and contact quality. Designing high quality semiconductor layers is especially important for a number of electronic and optoelectronic devices including ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs). The quality of a semiconductor layer is determined by a number of dislocations in the semiconductor layer as well as the stresses present in the material. When the stresses become larger than threshold stresses, the reliability of a structure can be compromised due to the formation of carrier capturing defects during the operation of the device. The conducting characteristics of the device also can be altered during device operation due to formation of cracks and defects. Furthermore, a resultant junction temperature increase can further affect the reliability and efficiency of the device.
To reduce overall stresses in the device and further reduce dislocation density, careful selection of epitaxial layers is required. Additionally, carefully selected barriers and quantum wells are needed to produce the target emission wavelength without imposing too much stresses and strains on the active layer. Furthermore, controlling stresses in the p-type layers are essential in order to ensure the reliability of the device.
Previous approaches have sought to control stresses without sacrificing electrical properties of the device. In one approach, the semiconductor structure is grown on a native aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate. A benefit of growing on an AlN crystal substrate is a small lattice mismatch between the substrate and the remaining semiconductor layers. Nevertheless, fabricating on an AlN substrate is difficult and expensive. Furthermore, only relatively small size AlN substrates can be fabricated, resulting in a small device yield.
Currently, a standard approach includes epitaxially growing a group III nitride semiconductor on a substrate made of sapphire, silicon carbide (SiC), or the like. However, the lattice constant and the coefficient of thermal expansion are significantly different between the substrate and the epitaxially grown semiconductor layers. As a result, cracks, dislocations, and pits can develop in the semiconductor layers during the epitaxial growth. A quality of a semiconductor layer can be further affected by point defects, compositional inhomogeneities, and inhomogeneities in doping concentration.
To solve this problem, various techniques have been developed to mitigate the effect of the substrate by growing a buffer layer that can absorb substrate induced stresses, and generally provide a layer which is closely lattice matched with subsequent epitaxial layers. For example, one approach seeks to produce a highly crystalline group III nitride semiconductor layer, where crack formation is prevented, on a silicon substrate by providing an AlN-based superlattice buffer layer having multiple first layers made of AlxGa1-xN, where the Al content x: 0.5<x<1, and multiple second layers made of AlyGa1-yN, where the Al content y: 0.01<y<0.2, which are alternately stacked, between the silicon substrate and the group III nitride semiconductor layer.
In another approach for obtaining a highly crystalline group III nitride semiconductor layer, the group III nitride semiconductor layer is formed on a superlattice composite layer by forming an AlN buffer layer on a silicon substrate and sequentially stacking, on the AlN buffer, a composition graded layer having a composition graded such that the aluminum content decreases in the crystal growth direction, and a superlattice composite layer, in which high Al-content layers and low Al-content layers are alternately stacked.
In still another approach, the AlN buffer layer was grown using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on a sapphire substrate. Growth conditions were optimized using a two-step growth technique, in which the first-step growth was done at a low temperature (1200° C.) and followed by the second-step growth at a high temperature (1270° C.). At the first-step growth, the substrate was entirely covered by two-dimensionally grown AlN by decreasing a V/III ratio to 1.5, although microcrystalline islands were observed at V/III ratios of 1.2 and 4.0. The approach reportedly yielded an almost pit-free flat surface after the second-step growth.
Approaches have sought to control growth of the AlN buffer through optimization of MOCVD process. For example, in one approach, the growth condition of AlN buffer layer was studied to fabricate a high-quality AlN layer on a sapphire substrate. Trimethylaluminum (TMA) and ammonia (NH3) were used as precursors for Al and N, respectively. Prior to the growth, the substrate was cleaned in an H2 atmosphere at 1000-1100° C. for ten minutes. The AlN buffer layer was then grown at a V/III ratio of 2763 with the growth temperature varied from 800 to 1250° C., with a thickness of 5-50 nm. Finally, a 1 μm AlN layer was grown at 1430° C. with a V/III ratio of 584 under a pressure of 30 Torr.
An effect of the substrate on electron mobility can be demonstrated by measuring electron mobility in modulation-doped Al0.2Ga0.8N—GaN heterostructures grown on various substrates. For example, FIGS. 1A and 1B show electron mobility measurements for sapphire, conducting 6H—SiC, and insulating 4H—SiC substrates as a function of the sheet electron density, ns, at the heterointerface. As illustrated by these measurements, a slightly higher electron mobility is obtained on a SiC substrate than that on sapphire substrate. The higher electron mobility is likely attributed to higher quality layers grown on the SiC substrate as compared to sapphire, perhaps due to a lower lattice constant mismatch between AlGaN and SiC.
AlGaN/AlGaN heterostructures as well as AlGaN/GaN heterostructures have various traps associated with the dislocations created in the layers. For example, FIG. 2 shows various traps associated with such heterostructures according to the prior art.
Levels of stresses/strains in a heterostructure, such as an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure, depend on the layer thicknesses. For example, FIG. 3 shows relative strain in an Al0.25Ga0.75N layer grown on a thick GaN substrate according to the prior art. When the layer thickness is increased, the resulting stress is decreased due to formation of dislocations and other defects (e.g., stress relaxation). For example, prior to the abrupt interface, the strain is high. However, moving further away from the abrupt interface, the strain relaxes due to the presence of dislocations. To a good approximation, the stress depends linearly and proportionally to the strain within a layer. Consequently, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for an abrupt interface, the stress decreases rapidly, while the stress decreases more slowly for a graded interface.
A critical thickness of a layer can be defined as the thickness at which the dislocations become energetically favorable. For AlGaN layers, the critical thickness depends on the Al molar ratio. For example, FIG. 4 shows the dependence of the critical thickness on the aluminum molar ratio of an AlGaN layer in an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure according to the prior art. As illustrated, as the Al molar ratio increases, the stresses present due to lattice mismatch also increase, which results in a decreasing critical thickness of the AlGaN layer.

Group III nitride heterostructure for optoelectronic device


A connecting portion of a quick connector is provided with a pair of stop arms. Each of the stop arms has an arm body that integrally includes an overhanging stop portion and an engaging pawl on a leading end portion thereof. The connecting portion is inserted in a connecting hole formed in a fluid line component until the engaging pawl engages with an outwardly directed engaging projection of a mounting portion that is provided on an opening portion of the connecting hole. A checker has a main body that is provided integrally with verifying portions. Each of the verifying portions is formed with a receiving recessed portion for accommodating the overhanging stop portion therein when the checker is disposed on an outer circumference of the mounting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector construction that is adapted for connection of a fluid piping of a motor vehicle or the like, for example, a connector device for connecting a tube to a fuel pump of the motor vehicle, and a checker that is used for the connector device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A gasoline fuel piping of a motor vehicle is constructed by connecting a tube with a fuel pump that is provided on a gasoline fuel tank. The tube is connected with the fuel pump in such manner or mode that a connecting hole is formed in a cap of the fuel pump, a tube is fitted on and connected to a quick connector, and the quick connector with the tube thereon is inserted in and connected to the connecting hole. The quick connector to be used for connecting the tube and the fuel pump integrally has a cylindrical connecting portion and the tube fit-on portion that is formed bent on one end or a distal end of the connecting portion. And, the tube, for example, made of resin is tightly fitted on an outer circumference of the tube fit-on portion.
With respect to a connector mounting structure for mounting a quick connector to a fuel pump, etc., for example, known is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In the connector mounting structure of the Patent Document 1, a cap of a fuel pump is provided with a retainer holding portion (clip holding portion) on an outer surface thereof, on a periphery of an opening of a connecting hole (an opening portion) that is formed in the cap. First, a connecting portion of a quick connector is inserted rotatably in the connecting hole. A retainer of horse-shoe shape is inserted and installed to the retainer holding portion so as to engage with an outwardly directed flange-shaped stop portion (flange-shaped stopper portion) formed on the connecting portion, and thereby mounting of the quick connector is completed. This configuration allows to minimize a length or height of the quick connector raising from the cap. Further, when orientation of a tube extending from a fuel pump varies due to different vehicle types, the quick connector can be rotated freely in any direction corresponding to the orientation of the tube. This ensures general versatility to meet piping arrangement of various vehicle types.
Patent Document 1 JP-B, 2943722
By the way, in the mounting structure or a connector device according to Patent Document 1, the quick connector cannot be stopped from return movement only by inserting the connecting portion of the quick connector in the connecting hole. Thus, such measure are employed that another component, i.e., the retainer is inserted to the retainer holding portion to secure connection of the quick connector in locked state. However, if the retainer is forgotten to be installed, a piping is to be used while the quick connector is in condition to easily disconnect from the connecting hole. This may become a cause for leakage of a gasoline fuel. Or when the retainer is installed to the retainer holding portion while the connecting portion of the quick connector is incompletely inserted in the connecting hole, the retainer may enter in an axially inner side of the outwardly directed flange-shaped stop portion, and the retainer cannot serve as a stop with respect to the quick connector. Here, likewise exists a fear to cause leakage of a gasoline fuel.
Under the circumstances described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector device wherein a connector can be easily connected to a fluid line component and prevented from being incompletely connected thereto, and a checker to be used for the connector device.


A blow molded plastic bottle has a reinforced plastic bottom with a concave central portion and a bottom rim portion. A solid depending rib, formed at the pinch off seam, extends across the concave portion, and depending hollow ribs, formed in the concave portion at ninety degress to the solid rib, extend radially to the bottom rim portion. The hollow rims effectively reduce the depth of the bottom rim intermediate the seam junctions to reduce bulging of the concave base thereby preventing instability.

Plastic bottles are formed with concave bottoms in order to form an outer bottom rim by which the bottles can stand upright on a shelf. The plastic material in the bottles is made as thin as possible in order to minimize the quantity of plastic material so that the bottles can be produced at a cost which is competitive with other commercially produced bottles. Flat bottoms made of such thin plastic materials would bulge from the pressure of carbonated beverages and render bottles with such bottoms unstable when placed upright on a shelf causing the bottles to rock or fall over. Bottoms with concave center portions offer an improvement in shelf stability of the bottles, but the competition to reduce cost by using less material in the bottle has lead to many different types of reinforcements for concave bottoms to avoid bulging of the thinner concave bottoms.
One example of a prior art reinforced concave bottom is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,607 which shows a depending solid rib formed along the mold parting line at the pinched off end of a preform. This rib offers substantial support for the concave portion of the bottom to prevent bulging of the concave portion. However, bottles formed with such depending solid ribs are subject to standing instability due to bulging from internal bottle pressures in bottom rim portions which are disposed on opposite sides of the solid ribs.
Another example of prior art bottom reinforcement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,324 which has eight radially spaced hollow convex ribs extending from the concave portion to the rim portion of the bottom. While these hollow convex ribs result in increased resistance to bulging compared to a non-reinforced concave bottom, they do not produce the degree of bulge resistance that a solid rib formed at the pinch off seam can produce.

Plastic bottle with reinforced concave bottom


A thermal sensor is provided that includes a front-end component, an analog-to-digital converter and a digital backend. The front-end component including an array of current sources, a dynamic element matching (DEM) device, an analog chopper and two diodes to sense temperatures on the die. The front-end component to provide analog signals at two output nodes based on currents through the two diodes. The analog-to-digital converter to receive the analog signals from the front-end component and to provide an output signal. The digital backend to receive the output signal from the analog-to-digital converter and to provide a calculated temperature.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention may relate to a thermal sensor to sense a temperature of a die.
2. Background
Integrated circuits (ICs) may generate heat when powered by an electric source such as a power supply. ICs are generally susceptible to overheating which may cause the IC or a device, such as a microprocessor, in which the IC is employed to fail, to malfunction, to be uncomfortable for a user to handle, or to otherwise diminish the utility of the IC or the device. Controlling excess heating in ICs may become more of a problem as more powerful and more complex ICs are packaged in smaller and lighter IC packages. For example, computers are steadily increasing an amount and density of memory. Increases in clock speeds and device activity combined with increases in number and density of devices in one chip or die may further increase the heating of the devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A fuel injection pump for internal combustion engines has a pump cylinder, a pump plunger enclosing a pump work space and reciprocating in the pump cylinder, a fuel injection valve, a fuel injection line connectable with the pump work space and leading to the fuel injection valve, a fuel supply, a fuel duct connecting the pump work space with the fuel supply, an electrically actuated valve controlling the fuel duct, a filling duct connecting the pump work space with the fuel supply, so that the fuel flows through the fuel duct when the electrically controlled valve is open in a filling position as well as in an emptying position depending on a pump plunger movement.

The present invention relates to a fuel injection pump for internal combustion engines.
More particularly, it relates to a fuel injection pump which has a pump plunger enclosing a pump work space in a pump cylinder and a cam drive controlling the reciprocating movement of the pump plunger.
In such a known fuel injection pump a non-return valve opening into the suction space of a distributor fuel injection pump is arranged in the fuel duct downstream of the magnet valve in the flow direction toward the fuel tank. In addition, the rear of the non-return valve in the filling duct is connected with the fuel duct. The object of this arrangement is to prevent the non-return valve serving to fill the pump work space from opening in the event that the electrically actuated valve remains stuck in its closed position. This would cause an excess quantity of fuel to be delivered with each delivery stroke of the pump plunger since there exists between the electrically actuated valve and the non-return valve of the fuel duct a counter-pressure which is determined by the opening pressure of the non-return valve in the fuel duct and is greater than the opening pressure acting on the non-return valve in the filling duct. Accordingly, the internal combustion engine is protected from damage as a result of defective operation of the electrically actuated valve.
In other fuel injection pumps it is known to fill and also to empty the pump work space via the electrically actuated valve. In so doing, the electrically actuated valve must be outfitted with a sufficiently large opening cross section so that the injection phase can be terminated quickly and the pump work space can be filled from the fuel tank during its filling stroke at a constant pressure. This large cross section increases the cost of the electrically actuated valve which is preferably constructed as a magnet valve. Moreover, at a given electromagnetic force the actuating time increases with the opening cross section, which works to the disadvantage of an exact and quick control in all speed ranges of the internal combustion engine.

Fuel injection pump for internal-combustion engines


A magnetic device comprises a lead frame, a first core body and a coil. The lead frame has a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion. A first core body is disposed on the lead frame, wherein the first core body comprises a first through opening and a second through opening. A coil is disposed on the first core body, wherein the coil has a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first portion is electrically connected with the first terminal via the first through opening, and the second portion is electrically connected with the second terminal via the second through opening, respectively.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic device and, in particular, to a magnetic device with electrodes made of a lead frame.
II. Description of the Prior Art
As an inductor has gradually become smaller and thinner, it is not easy to position the coil accurately which will affect product yield. The electrodes of the inductor are exposed to the lateral surface of the inductor so that a fixed space must be kept in the circuit board to prevent short circuit. Moreover, with the shrinkage of product size, a bad C-face crack will result from a bent stress when the electrodes of the inductor are bent during the molding process.
So far there are some drawbacks in the various types of inductors disclosed in the prior arts. In JP4795489B1, the design of the inductor which needs many electroplating steps induces a lot of process steps; the material capable of be electroplated is limited; and the electrodes of the inductor are exposed to the lateral surface of the inductor. In CN201207320Y, the conductive wires bent to the bottom of the iron core induce that the iron core doesn't have a smooth surface. If pressure is still applied in package process, the iron core easily has a crack.
Accordingly, the present invention proposes a magnetic device and a manufacturing method thereof to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Magnetic device and method of manufacturing the same


A method for manufacturing E-paper array substrate and an E-paper array substrate are provided. The method for manufacturing E-paper array substrate uses two masks. Steps on a surface of the array substrate structure are eliminated, so as to facilitate a subsequent coating process of E-ink and enable a uniform distribution of a drain electric field. An E-paper array substrate is further provided.

With continuous development of technology, electronic and digital products are renewed more and more frequently and various new products are manufactured at the same time. E-paper is also called digital paper. As a resultant of a combination of information display characteristics of ordinary paper and characteristics of a computer display screen, the E-paper is a new product emerging in the digital product market in recent years. Since the E-paper can reproduce the display characteristics of the ordinary paper and is reusable, consumption in the ordinary paper may be reduced, and no great damage is caused to environment. In addition, the E-paper has many advantages such as motion picture display. Therefore, the E-paper will replace ordinary paper documents as a display means.
FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an E-paper. Active E-paper is mainly formed by an upper substrate 1, an E-ink layer 2, and a lower substrate 3. The E-paper display is a reflective display which needs no background light source and displays data by reflecting an environment light source. The E-ink layer 2 contains white pigment particles 21 and black pigment particles 22, in which the white pigment particles 21 having a good reflecting ability are used to display a bright state, while the black pigment particles 22 having a good absorbing ability are used to display a dark state. Since the E-paper needs no background light source, a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate driving the E-paper and a substrate driving a liquid crystal display (LCD) are of different structures. The manufacturing process of an array substrate driving the E-paper has gradually become mature in recent years, but is mainly based on a 5mask or 4mask process, with complex process and high cost. Someone has proposed to directly use a drain electrode as a driving electrode to simplify the above process, and fabricate the array substrate driving the E-paper only with a 2mask. FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of an E-paper array substrate in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, the array substrate fabricated by the 2mask process is formed by a glass substrate (Glass) 4, a gate electrode (Gate) 5, a storage capacitor bottom electrode (Cs bottom electrode) 6, an insulator layer (Insulator) 7, an amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer 8, an n+ a-Si layer 9, a source/drain (S/D) metal layer 10, and a passivation film (PVX) 11. However, such a method causes steps in the structure of the array substrate, for example, unevenness in the surface of the passivation film 11 in FIG. 2, which causes difficulties in the coating of E-ink during the subsequent process and non-uniform distribution of a drain electric field, thus affecting the display effect of the E-paper.

E-paper array substrate with storage capacitor electrode and manufacturing method thereof


A method and apparatus for mode-matching double-clad fibers. In some embodiments, a first fiber section that has a first core, wherein the first core has a first core diameter connects to a mode-field adaptor, wherein the mode-field adaptor includes a first portion having a central volume that has a substantially constant index-of-refraction radial profile and a diameter larger than the first core diameter, and a second portion that has a graded-index (GRIN) central volume, wherein the GRIN central volume has a central axis and a graded index-of-refraction radial profile having an index that gradually decreases at larger distances from its central axis and a length selected to focus light into the core of a second fiber wherein the second core has a diameter that is larger than the first core diameter, and wherein the second fiber section is double clad. Some embodiments are polarized.

High-power lasers require large core/mode field diameter fibers. Numerous methods exist to achieve good beam quality from large-core fibers, however many of these so-called large mode area fibers are difficult to make and are expensive.
A prime example of structures that achieve good beam quality from large-core fibers are photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). Such PCFs (which have only been demonstrated at 1-micron wavelengths) deliver excellent beam quality with large mode-field diameters (also called large mode-field area (LMA) fibers), however PCFs are extremely difficult to produce, difficult to cleave, and up to now impossible to fusion splice. Therefore, such fibers do not enable a true all-fiber assembly, which is very important when building highly robust laser systems.
In contrast, standard step-index fibers are simple to cleave and fusion splice and allow building of all-fiber laser systems. However, such fibers have typically degraded beam quality due to their high numerical aperture (NA), which is typically in the range of 0.15-0.22.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2008/0180787 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,916,386 on Mar. 29, 2011) by DiGiovanni et al. was filed Jan. 26, 2007 titled "High power optical apparatus employing large-mode-area, multimode, gain-producing optical fibers," and is incorporated herein by reference. DiGiovanni et al. describe optical apparatus that includes a multimode, gain-producing fiber for providing gain to signal light propagating in the core of the fiber, and a pump source for providing pump light that is absorbed in the core, characterized in that (i) the pump source illustratively comprises a low brightness array of laser diodes and a converter for increasing the brightness of the pump light, (ii) the pump light is coupled directly into the core, and (iii) the area of the core exceeds approximately 350 μm2. In one embodiment, the signal light propagates in a single mode, and the pump light co-propagates in at least the same, single mode, both in a standard input fiber before entering the gain-producing fiber, and a mode expander is disposed between the input fiber and the gain fiber. In another embodiment, multiple pumps are coupled into the core of the gain fiber. The pumps may generate light of the same wavelength or of different wavelengths. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, amplification of nanosecond optical pulses was demonstrated at 1545 nm in a single-clad Er-doped fiber having a core area of 875 μm2, wherein the core was pumped by a high-brightness Raman laser at 1480 nm; and the pulses had a record peak power of several hundred kW.
There is a need for improved laser systems, particularly systems that couple light into large-mode-area (LMA) optical-fiber lasers and/or optical-fiber amplifiers from a core of a small-mode area fiber, and mode match the light to the mode of the LMA fiber. There is also a need for such systems optionally having delivery fibers, and wherein such systems have improved beam quality (e.g., M2 that approaches 1) and have very high average and/or peak power.

Signal and pump mode-field adaptor for double-clad fibers and associated method


A modular battery includes a housing, a first battery cell having a first electrode surface, a second battery cell having a second electrode surface, and a pressurizable bladder forcing the first battery cell against the second battery cell.

Modular batteries are batteries which comprise two or more battery cells or cell modules or cells. A common example of a device using a modular battery is a hand held flashlight which may use for example two C cells.
Recently, modular batteries have become important in many applications, including hybrid electric vehicles ("HEV"), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles ("PHEV"), and other applications. When used in HEV, PHEV, and other applications, in addition to being durable, safe and cost effective, modular batteries are required to deliver a great deal of power.
Applications of modular batteries, like the hand-held flashlight, require the use of multiple battery cells connected in series. However, the modular batteries for HEVs and PHEVs, for example, may differ from the modular C cells used in a common flashlight.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009-0239130 A1 discloses a modular battery with interconnectors, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

High voltage modular battery with compression bladder


A gear pump for metering resins is provided having the surfaces of interacting internal metal parts coated with a metal-based material to prevent seizing of the interacting moving parts as a result of resin curing therebetween. Parts made from such materials as heat treated carbon steel and stainless steel are preferably coated with a nitride, carbide or oxide of such metals as tungsten, titanium, aluminum and chromium at a thickness of between about 2-5 microns. The coating is applied to the surface of any part that comes in heated contact with the surface of another relatively moving part. The resulting gear pump exhibits high wear resistance, longevity, and low maintenance requirements.

Metering gear pumps operate by squeezing out accurate volumes of liquid between meshing gears. Typically, the gears are mounted within stacked plates that are appropriately ported to receive liquid between the gears and discharge the liquid in one or more streams.
In highly accurate gear pumps useful for metering resins, for example, tolerances are critically maintained between pump bearings and shafts as well as between support plates (often referred to as "kidney plates") and gears. Theoretically, these part relationships maintain so-called "zero clearance." Due to the close tolerances maintained on the various internal components of the gear pump, frictional heat build-up can become a significant problem. At times, this can cause relatively moving parts to adhere to one another when dispensing materials such as certain epoxy resins. This problem is believed to be most prevalent in areas of the pump where there is little or no clearance between relatively moving parts and little or no flow of liquid, such as resin, to act as a lubricant or coolant. In this latter regard, undesirable temperature increases between the gears and the support plates can be prevented by resin flowing through such areas to essentially act as a lubricant or coolant. However, frictional temperature increases between a bearing surface and associated shaft, for example, may be much higher due to the combination of close dimensional tolerances and a low flow or amount of resin between these components. Particularly when both the bearing and associated shaft are formed of metal, this heat build-up can cause the associated bearings and shafts to adhere to one another and decrease pump performance. The resulting pump downtime and maintenance or replacement of the pump considerably increases costs to the user.
In one type of metering gear pump, the above-mentioned problem has been experienced between an idler gear and its associated shaft when these components move relative to each other, and also between the various shafts and their associated bearings or bushings, which also move relative to each other. While non-metallic parts, such as ceramic bushings, have been used to reduce the problem, the use of such parts throughout the pump may not be practical. This experience prompted the need to evaluate the effect of resins on the internal moving parts of a pump and, specifically, evaluate situations in which the internal parts move relative to each other with very close tolerances. Solving the problems related to heat build-up and particularly part adherence in such pumps will result in pumps requiring lower maintenance and having longer useful lives.


A fluid power gripper which contains a receiving space, in which two pistons are located able to be moved axially by fluid power in opposite drive directions, such pistons being kinematically coupled by a synchronization means. The synchronization means comprises first mesh means, which are provided on opposite mutually facing side surfaces of two mutually overlapping axial tails of the pistons. Furthermore the synchronization means comprises second mesh means provided on a body of revolution arranged between the two axial tails and having an axis of rotation extending athwart the longitudinal axis of the receiving space.

The invention relates to a fluid power gripper comprising a housing having a receiving space in which two pistons are located able to be moved by fluid power to perform oppositely directed axial drive movements, which pistons are connected or adapted to be respectively connected with a gripper element, a synchronization means, including a body of revolution, for synchronization of the drive movements of the two pistons, such synchronization means having first mesh means, provided on the two pistons, and second mesh means simultaneously in engagement with the first mesh means, such second mesh means being provided on the body of revolution, and axial tails provided on the two adjacent end regions of the two pistons, such axial tails overlapping one another axially and being opposite to each other with a clearance athwart the longitudinal axis of the receiving space, such tails furthermore bearing, on facing lateral surface thereof, the first mesh means, the body of revolution bearing the second mesh means being arranged in an intermediate space present between the two axial tails and being mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation extending athwart the longitudinal axis of the receiving space in relation to the housing


An apparatus and method for improving flexibility in a user. The apparatus may include: a base frame having forward lateral, medial, and rear lateral supports; a post having a flexible joint and an upper extremity support; and a user support assembly having forward, rear, foot supports. If desired, the post may provide a plurality of non-fixed, upper extremity positions and recoiling from same. The user support assembly may provide a plurality of non-fixed pivot points for conducting compounded progressive stretching of at least one muscle group.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for exercising by a user and more specifically to apparatus and methods for conducting flexibility or stretching exercises.
2. The Background Art
In most accounts, cultural belief in the necessity of physical fitness programs for the general population is a relatively new concept in history. The concept of conducting a regular physical fitness program emerged in the first half of the 20th Century and popularity of such programs has steadily progressed. The need for regular physical fitness may be a reflection of the fundamental shift from agrarian to industrial and urban societies over the previous 100 years. As the need to hunt, cultivate, and gather food has been reduced within a culture, the amount of physical activity associated with these activities has correspondingly decreased.
The decrease in overall physical activity has led to the development of numerous public health concerns. Currently, obesity and musculoskeletal disorders are two of the most pressing health problems in the United States. Lack of or reduced physical activity may be a significant factor in both of these conditions as well as many other health related conditions. Currently available prior art methods and apparatus have been variously successful and unsuccessful in meeting these challenges. The development and availability of effective, economical, and safe apparatus and methods for improving physical fitness is needed and of paramount importance to society.
Societal efforts to investigate and improve physical fitness began in earnest in the 1950s. Shortly after the introduction and general acceptance of television in the 1950s, the first television based exercise programs appeared. One of these programs was hosted by fitness expert, Jack La Lanne. Also, in 1954, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was founded to promote scientific investigation, research, and education in sports medicine and exercise science. In addition, ACSM helps to set and maintain standards for physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life.
Two important characteristics, cardiovascular fitness (i.e., aerobic conditioning) and muscular strength fitness (i.e., anaerobic conditioning), have subsequently long been recognized in the prior art as goals for physical fitness programs. Prior art apparatus and methods to improve muscle strength and anaerobic conditioning include, for example, training with free weights (e.g., dumbbells, barbells, universal machines); resistance training; and isometric training.
Prior art apparatus and methods directed to improving cardiovascular fitness have largely focused on exercises replicating walking, jogging, stair climbing, rowing, and the like. Recently, ACSM released a position stand indicating that flexibility should be considered as a third major component to fitness and exercise programs (see, ACSM Position Stand on The Recommended Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness, and Flexibility in adults, Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 30, No. 6, pp. 975-991, 1998 incorporated herein by reference).
Although numerous apparatus exist for improving cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength, few prior art apparatus are directed solely to improving flexibility in a user. Apparatus and methods for improving flexibility include Pilates programs, antdyonizer, floor exercise programs, dance bars mounted on walls, and web-like cages with multiple placement sites for limbs. These prior art methods require that at least one portion of a users body be anchored or fixed to a specific point.
Moreover, many apparatus use positions that require that muscles be stressed in supporting the body while ostensibly being stretched. Muscles and tendons should have no stress (be unloaded) and relaxed when stretched. Accordingly, a limitation exists on the overall amount and quality of flexibility exercise achieved using available apparatus and methods for improving flexibility and range of motion.
In addition, the available prior art apparatus and method do not target all muscle groups or each group in turn in a user. Instead, muscle groups are not considered, may be disproportionately extended, or may be disproportionately loaded, all effectively limiting the utility of stretching. Moreover, they lack a dynamic movement that allows more than one muscle group to be stretched or have a limitation on the total range of motion that can be achieved in a user.
What are needed are effective, economical, and safe apparatus and methods for improving physical fitness by focusing on dynamic flexibility and stretching in a user and allowing greater range of motion to be achieved. What are also needed are effective, economical and safe apparatus and methods to provide unloaded, relaxed, stretching; in preparation for aerobic exercises, strength training, or therapies for decreasing obesity. Such are particularly needed for reducing harmful lower back conditions caused by other stretching methods that require one muscle group to support itself or others to accomplish stretching.

Stretching exercise apparatus and methods


A hydraulic pressure supply apparatus includes a variable displacement pump which is controlled to change its discharge flow rate and pressure in accordance with a condition of a load side. The pump is communicated with the load side through a conduit to which an accumulator is communicated through a proportional pressure reducing valve controlled so that its regulating pressure is higher than the pressure required in the load side and is lower than a target discharge pressure of the pump. Furthermore, when the pressure in the conduit is lower than the regulating pressure of the valve, the valve is opened and regulates the pressure in the conduit by allowing higher pressure flow from the accumulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in a hydraulic pressure supply apparatus, and more particularly to a hydraulic pressure supply apparatus which includes a variable displacement pump and an accumulator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
JP-A-59-151601 discloses a hydraulic circuit which controls discharge pressure of a pump to a value slightly higher than a load side pressure detected by a pressure sensor. Due to this control, the pump is operated to decrease its power loss while supplying a proper pressure to the load side. Furthermore, in order to improve the pump in size and weight while further improving the power loss of the pump, another hydraulic circuit has been proposed. Such a hydraulic circuit is disclosed in JP-A-60-176737 wherein the hydraulic circuit includes an accumulator to a supply conduit which communicates a pump and a load side such as a hydraulic cylinder. The accumulator is operated to supply working fluid to the load side when the load side requires a flow rate which is greater than a maximum flow rate by the pump. With this conventional circuit, when the load side requires a small flow rate, the pump supplies all fluid required in the load side. When the load side requires a great flow rate, the accumulator supplies fluid to the load side in addition to the supplement by the pump.
However, in the event that the load side requires a large flow rate, the pump is increased in its discharge flow rate and simultaneously supplies fluid to the accumulator for charging since the above-discussed accumulator is always communicated with the pump. This degrades performance of the system in the supplying operation of working fluid to the load side.


A system for forming keel openings in tibial bone includes a plurality of templates having different sizes, each template having a top surface, a bottom surface and a central opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The system includes a bone cutting instrument for forming the keel openings and a guide having a leading end that is adapted to be coupled with the templates so that the leading end of the guide is aligned with the central openings in the templates. The guide includes a plurality of slots extending toward the leading end thereof for guiding advancement of the bone cutting instrument through the central openings in the templates. Each slot is associated for use with one of the differently sized templates.

The present invention generally relates to implants and more specifically relates to method and apparatus for preparing bone for receiving an implant.
The use of prosthetic implants to replace damaged natural joints, or portions of such joints, in the body has become widespread as medical and technological advances have joined to provide improved materials and configurations for prosthetic implants and innovative procedures for implanting these devices. The basic objective of such devices and procedures is to provide a repaired joint of maximum effectiveness, with a minimal intrusion into the body. Component parts of these prosthetic implants are utilized to replace portions of a natural joint which have become damaged, either through injury or disease, and it is usually necessary to remove portions of the natural joint beyond merely the damaged portions in order to enable stable and secure fixation of the component parts to the natural bone. In addition, access to damaged joints is limited and the necessity for reaching the areas to be worked upon can affect the extent of intrusion required to complete an effective implant.
Improved methods for implanting a prosthetic device are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,838, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. In certain preferred embodiments of the '838 patent, a method for preparing a seating surface for an implant includes positioning a guide on bone, the guide having a guide slot following a path geometrically similar to the peripheral boundary of the seating surface, inserting a cutting device through the guide slot at any selected location along the path of the guide slot, and translating the cutting device along the guide slot to cut an outline groove in the bone coincident with the peripheral boundary of the seating surface. The guide is removed from the bone, and portions of the bone lying within the area delineated by the outline groove are removed to establish the seating surface. The methods disclosed in the '838 patent provide numerous advantages including minimizing the amount of natural bone that must be removed and attaining accuracy in the delineation of the area, depth and contour configuration of the prepared surfaces of the bone that will receive the implant
In spite of the above advances, there remains a need for improved methods and apparatus for preparing bone for receiving implants and implanting the prosthetic devices.


Process for the production of contact strips on substrates, especially on plates of mineral glass. These substrates are provided with an electrically conductive surface coating which is coated on the side facing away from the substrate with at least one surface layer of a dielectric material. For the production of the contact strips, a noble metal suspension in a liquid is deposited according to the invention on the surface layer in the pattern of the contact strips. Then the substrate with the pack of layers is exposed to a heat treatment at at least 100.degree. C. until a lowered total resistance occurs through the conductive surface coating between the contact strips.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for producing contact strips on substrates, especially on plates of mineral glass, which have an electrically conductive surface coating which is covered on the side facing away from the substrate with at least one surface coating of a dielectric material.
2. Discussion of Related Art
The products of such a process often serve, especially when the substrates consist of plates of mineral glass, as the windshields or back windows of motor vehicles. The electrically conductive surface coating, which in this case usually consists of a thin metal coating of high transparency in the visible part of the light spectrum, can be used as a heating resistance for the purpose of melting frost and evaporating moisture due to condensation. It is therefore necessary to provide the resistance coating with appropriate terminal contacts which will assure the most uniform possible distribution of the heat over the entire substrate surface and prevent local overheating in the immediate area of the terminal.
It is additionally desirable, especially in automobile glazing, for the surface coating to reflect the longer-wave-length portion of the sunlight spectrum--the so-called thermal radiation. This thermal radiation is especially undesirable in modern passenger cars with sloping and therefore large-area windshields and back windows, because they can heat the interior of the motor vehicle to intolerable temperatures.
Plates, including those of mineral glass, having such spectral transmission and reflection characteristics, are disclosed in EP-PS 35 906, DE-OS 33 07 661 and EP-OS 104 870. These publications correspond to respective U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,413,877 to Suzuki et al, 4,548,691 to Dietrich et al, and 4,462,883 to Hart. In the known plates, a silver layer having on one or both sides a diffusion barrier composed of a thin metal coating is sandwiched between two oxide layers of which one is a surface layer which protects the metal layers against chemical and/or mechanical attack. While the metal layers, especially the silver layer, have a sufficient electrical conductivity to serve as a heating resistance (at least as long as the plate is not heated to temperatures above 150.degree. C), the oxide surface layer is a definite insulator which prevents electrical contact with the metal layer or layers underneath it. It is extremely difficult to remove the relatively hard oxide surface coating to a defined thickness for the purpose of providing the metal layer beneath it with contact strips.
Therefore the invention is addressed to the problem of devising a process for the production of contact strips on substrates of the kind described above, which will result in a reliable and stable contact with the electrically conductive surface coating.
The solution of the stated problem is achieved according to the invention in the process outlined above by applying a noble metal suspension in a liquid to the surface coating (of a dielectric material) in the pattern of the contact strips, and exposing the substrate to a heat treatment at least 100.degree. C., until a lowered total resistance occurs through the conductive surface coating between the contact strips.
Noble metal suspensions of this kind are commercially obtainable, for example under the name "Leitsilber 200" of the firm Demetron in Hanau, Federal Republic of Germany.
It is known through the book by Dr. A.F. Bogenschuetz, "Oberflaechentechnik und Galvanotechnik in der Elektronik," Eugen G. Leuze Verlag, Saulgau/Wuerttemberg, 1971 edition page 298, to use paste-like suspensions of finely divided silver powder in a lacquer substance in order to make electrical contacts on insulating substances. It is also known through the same literature that the conductivity of such suspensions can be substantially improved by thermal aging. Leitsilber (conductive silver) is a silver colloidally dissolved in lacquer, which is applied and dried. An alternative method is to suspend silver powder in a casting resin (Araldit) in order to improve adhesive strength.
Such suspensions are also suitable for the purpose of the present invention. However, when a noble metal suspension of this kind was applied to a set of layers of the kind described above, it was surprisingly found that the noble metal, especially silver, diffuses through the dielectric layer and into the electrically conductive surface coating (of silver for example) on account of the heat treatment, and enters into an intimate bond or interlock with the said layers, which not only assures a stable passage of current, but also an excellent strength of adhesion of the contact strips in question.

Glazing having contact strips on a substrate


Provided are a laminate which is capable of forming an excellent organic semiconductor pattern, a kit for manufacturing an organic semiconductor, which is used to manufacture such a laminate, and a resist composition for manufacturing an organic semiconductor, which is used for the kit for manufacturing an organic semiconductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminate, a kit for manufacturing an organic semiconductor, and a resist composition for manufacturing an organic semiconductor. Specifically, the present invention relates to a laminate including an organic semiconductor film, a protective film, and a resist film in manufacture of an organic semiconductor, a kit for manufacturing an organic semiconductor which is used to manufacture such a laminate, and a resist composition for manufacturing an organic semiconductor which is used for the kit for manufacturing an organic semiconductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electronic devices using an organic semiconductor have been widely used. An organic semiconductor has an advantage that it can be manufactured by a simpler process than that of a device using an inorganic semiconductor such as silicon of the related art. In addition, it is considered that material characteristics can be easily changed by changing the molecular structure, the variations of materials are abundant, and functions or elements which have not been obtained by an inorganic semiconductor can be realized. For example, an organic semiconductor can be applied to electronic devices such as an organic solar cell, an organic electroluminescence device, an organic light detector, an organic field effect transistor, an organic electroluminescence light emitting device, a gas sensor, an organic rectifier device, an organic inverter, and an information recording device.
Patterning of an organic semiconductor has been performed using printing technology, but there is a limit to fine processing when the patterning is performed using printing technology. Further, the organic semiconductor tends to be easily damaged.
JP2006-41317A discloses a method of patterning an organic semiconductor layer including: a process of forming an organic semiconductor layer; a process of laminating- and forming a protective layer that protects the organic semiconductor layer from a mask layer on the organic semiconductor layer; a process of laminating and forming the mask layer having a predetermined pattern on the protective layer; and a process of patterning the protective layer and the organic semiconductor layer to have the same shape by performing etching that makes the mask layer into a mask, in which the material of the organic semiconductor layer is different from that of the mask layer, and the protective layer is formed by an organic polymer compound having hydrophilicity or an insulating inorganic compound.

Laminate, kit for manufacturing organic semiconductor, and resist composition for manufacturing organic semiconductor

Abstract: The laminate includes an organic semiconductor film, a protective film on the organic semiconductor film, and a resist film on the protective film, in which the resist film is formed of a photosensitive resin composition that contains a photoacid generator (A) which generates an organic acid of which a pKa of the generated acid is −1 or less and a resin (B) which reacts with an acid generated by the photoacid generator so that the rate of dissolution in a developer containing an organic solvent is decreased.


Generating records of a tangible object in blockchain may be performed by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions. The instructions, when executed cause a computing device to associate a unique physical tag with a tag identifier. The unique physical tag includes a substrate having a plurality of optically readable indicia disposed at random positions and having a fixed positional relationship within the substrate. The instructions, when executed cause the computing device to associate the tangible object with the unique physical tag including the tag identifier, by generating a record of the tangible object as a block in a blockchain uniquely associated with the tag identifier, where the blockchain is managed by one or more devices on a decentralized network.

This invention describes a method and process for creating provenance of an object using physical tags that are associated with addresses and processes in a blockchain. Blockchain systems have been proposed for a variety of application scenarios, including applications in the financial industry, healthcare, emerging markets, and so forth. An early example of a blockchain was a cryptocurrency. The cryptocurrency was generated when new blocks were created on the blockchain to confirm transactions of the cryptocurrency. The new blocks may confirm the transfer of cryptocurrency generated in earlier blocks. The blocks on the blockchain were cryptographically proofed and linked to earlier blocks and served as an immutable record of the events in a trustless decentralized peer-to-peer network. For example, a cryptocurrency (e.g., bitcoin) is represented as a chain of events that transfers ownership from one party to another party on a blockchain without an intermediary. Each event transferring ownership from one party to another is cryptographically proofed by including the public key of the new owner. Also, each event is digitally signed with the current owner's private key.
A new block in a blockchain is filled with cryptographically proofed events until the block reaches a specified size limit. A hash digest of all the event identifiers within the block and the block header of the previous block are added as the first event in the block. Each block of events may be secured by participants on a peer-to-peer network. Participants collect new events to create the new block, validate the events on the new block by verifying the cryptographic proofs of each event to verify the cryptocurrency was not spent earlier, and finally solve a mathematical puzzle based on the hash digest, previous block header and a random number.

Records of a tangible product in blockchain


In a method for correcting clutch data used for controlling the operation of a friction clutch connected with an electronically controlled transmission system, the clutch data includes meet position data stored in a memory and the stored meet position data is compared with a first learned meet position data obtained after power is applied to the transmission system. The old data stored in the memory is replaced with the first learned meet position data when the difference between the old data and the first learned meet position data is greater than a prescribed value. The old data is corrected by the use of the old data and the learned data when the difference is not greater than the prescribed value even if the learned data is the first learned meet position data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for correcting data used for controlling the operation of a vehicular clutch, and more particularly to a method for correcting learned data for clutch control operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art there has been widely used a clutch control system for controlling the operation of a friction type clutch in which the clutch is coupled with an actuator and the amount of operation of the clutch is controlled by the actuator in accordance with an electric control signal generated by a control unit. The clutch control system of this type is employed in, for example, a vehicle automatic transmission system. In the case where the operation of the clutch is controlled by the use of the clutch control system of this type, precise clutch data corresponding to the relationship between the position of a member for operating the clutch and the amount of operation of the clutch is required to ensure appropriate clutch control operation. However, variation in this relationship arises because of variation in manufacture, and also with the passage of time due to the wear of the clutch disc and the like.
Accordingly, if precise control of the clutch is required, it is necessary to carry out appropriate correction of the clutch data representing the relationship by, for example, a learning operation. In the prior art, for correcting such clutch data, the meet position of the clutch pressure plate, at which the rotation of the input shaft of the transmission starts because of the transmission of torque through the clutch owing to the meeting between the pressure plate and the associated clutch disk, is determined by a learning operation which is, for example, conducted each time the selector is set to its neutral (N) position, and the clutch data necessary for controlling the clutch is corrected by the use of the resulting learned data to obtain the corrected or up-dated clutch data.
In general, in the case where the clutch data is corrected on the basis of the learned data as described above, the newly obtained learned data is not directly used for the correction as it is. Instead, the clutch data is corrected by the use of up-dated data obtained by processing the newly obtained learned data in accordance with, for example, the moving-average method, so that even if the learned data includes a large degree of error, the error is not directly reflected in the correction of the clutch data.
However, the foregoing conventional method has a disadvantage in that the correction value is determined by taking into account the learned data obtained previously even if the newly obtained learned data represents precisely the data required for the correction of the clutch data, as may be the case, for example, following the adjustment or replacement of the link mechanism between the clutch and the associated actuator. In such circumstances faulty data correction is first carried out and then the clutch data is gradually corrected so as to approach to the appropriate value. Accordingly, in this case, improper clutch data is provided for controlling the operation of the clutch for a long time and the clutch is not controlled properly until the clutch data reaches the appropriate data.

Correcting method for data used for control operation of vehicular clutch


The present invention is directed to an auxiliary power unit for use with a vehicle, typically a truck. The truck has a cab and a sleeper to which the auxiliary power unit provides auxiliary air conditioning and heating. The truck also has a cab evaporator, a sleeper evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and a plurality of refrigerant lines, a cab heater, a sleeper heater, and a plurality of coolant lines. The auxiliary power unit has an auxiliary evaporator and a plurality of auxiliary refrigerant lines. The auxiliary evaporator is arranged in series with the sleeper evaporator and the sleeper heater. The auxiliary refrigerant lines are separate and distinct from the truck's plurality of refrigerant lines. The auxiliary power unit also has a plurality of auxiliary coolant lines which are interconnected with the truck's plurality of coolant lines. The interconnection is accomplished in such a way that the auxiliary power unit can provide heat to the sleeper heater when the truck engine is running or when the truck is not running. If the coolant becomes excessively hot, a by-pass thermostat and valve direct the coolant to an auxiliary radiator. The auxiliary power unit has an auxiliary control panel in the sleeper to provide control of the heating and cooling in the sleeper when the truck engine and/or auxiliary engine is running.

Auxiliary power units for providing auxiliary cooling, heating, and power to a vehicle are known. Auxiliary power units are often used by cross-country truckers. Trucks used by cross-country truckers are generally equipped with a sleeper compartment located behind a truck cab so that the trucker has a convenient place to sleep while enroute.
The truck has a main engine, hereinafter referred to as the truck engine, a heating system typically including a heater in the cab of the truck and a heater in the sleeper, and an air conditioning system typically including an evaporator for the cab of the truck and one for the sleeper. When the trucker parks the truck to rest or sleep, heating and air conditioning in the sleeper is provided by running the truck's engine. It is highly inefficient, however, to run the truck's engine merely to provide heating and air conditioning. It is much more efficient to use auxiliary power units, which usually have a small auxiliary engine, to provide power for heating and cooling.
In cold weather, trucker's often idle the truck's engine while the vehicle is parked. This is done to keep the truck's motor oil, diesel fuel, and engine warm so that it will restart. It is known to use an engine to keep the truck's engine warm by interconnecting the cooling system of the auxiliary engine to the truck's engine.
The auxiliary power units available can also generate electric power for various other truck accessories, such as lights and electric power receptacles.
Various approaches for providing auxiliary air conditioning, heating, and/or power are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,663 to Nijjar and U.S. Pat. No. RE 33,687 to Greer. In some of these approaches, a separate air conditioning system including its own engine, compressor, condensor, evaporator, and fan are installed. In yet other systems the truck's fan and evaporator are operated by an auxiliary engine having its own compressor and condenser.
In systems which use the truck's fan and evaporator, the truck's refrigerant lines and the auxiliary refrigerant lines are interconnected so that the auxiliary compressor can pump refrigerant through the truck's refrigerant lines. This means that both the auxiliary refrigerant compressor and the truck's refrigerant compressor are on the same system of refrigerant lines. With this arrangement, one of the refrigerant compressors would be seriously damaged if both compressors are run simultaneously. To prevent damage to one of the compressors, a switching mechanism has been used in auxiliary power units, prior to the present invention, so that when one compressor is activated, the other is turned off. Even with the switching mechanism, however, having two compressors on the same system of refrigerant lines can lead to failure of one of the compressors because lubricant in the refrigerant tends to migrate and collect in one of the compressors, thereby under-lubricating the other. Moreover, if a leak develops in the refrigerant lines, this might result in a loss of refrigerant for the entire system. Additionally, if the evaporator of the truck's air conditioning system is inoperable, air conditioning cannot be provided by operation of the truck's engine or the auxiliary engine.
When installing auxiliary power units, prior to this invention, a plurality of auxiliary coolant lines were interconnected with a plurality of standard coolant lines in the truck. The interconnection was provided so that the auxiliary power unit could provide heated coolant to the heating units within the truck by way of the truck's coolant lines.


A ski lift for an airplane having skis has a body transversely rotated with a shaft on a ski and an axle secured to the body rotatably supporting a wheel. A bar secured to the body engages the ski to limit rotational movement of the body and locate the axle and wheel in engagement with a support surface laterally of the vertical plane of the shaft to retain the ski above the support surface. A handle is used to manually rotate the body and angularly move the axle and wheel.

Light aircraft used in winter environments having snow, slush and ice covered air fields, landing and takeoff areas and lakes have landing gear equipped with snow skis. The skis have elongated bodies with generally flat bottom surfaces that slide along snow and ice surfaces. Airplane taxi roads, parking and fueling areas and hangers are normally cleared of snow and ice exposing the bare ground, roadway surface and hanger floor. Airplanes equipped with snow skis are not normally taxied on hard surfaces as the airplanes can nose over due to the resistance to movement of the skis along these hard surfaces. Also, the skis can be damaged as they slide along the hard surfaces. Combination snow skis and wheels have been designed to allow use of the skis on snow and ice surfaces and wheels on hard surfaces. The wheels remain attached to the skis during takeoff, flight and landing of the airplane. Examples of combined airplane landing gear having combined snow skis and wheels are illustrated in the following U.S. patents.
R. Sulnier in U.S. Pat. No. 2,106,934 discloses an airplane landing gear having combined skis and wheels. A plurality of linkages connect the skis to horizontal beams mounted on the axles for the wheels. Hydraulic cylinders are operated to raise and lower the skis relative to the wheels to allow the airplane to be either supported on a surface with the skis or wheels. The wheels are permanent parts of the landing gear.
F. J. Ditter in U.S. Pat. No. 2,733,026 discloses an aircraft ski connected to a wheel movable to a down position to retain the ski in an elevated position above a support surface whereby the wheel supports the aircraft on the surface. A piston and cylinder assembly connected to a crank arm functions to selectively raise and lower the wheel relative to the ski.
W. K. Landes in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,065 discloses an aircraft ski having a generally flat runner portion and a raised pedestal portion surrounding a landing wheel receiving well accommodating a landing wheel. An axle assembly for the wheel is journaled on ski trunnions secured to the pedestal portion of the ski. A shock cord and safety cable attached to the toe and heel of the ski controls the attitude of the ski. The ski is a flotation device that prevents the wheel from bogging down in snow, swampy areas and muskeg. The wheel is a permanent part of the landing gear.
R. J. Schneider in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,151 discloses an aircraft ski associated with a steerable castering tail wheel. The ski has a pedestal straddling the wheel. A wheel axle pivotally attaches the ski pedestal to the landing gear. The wheel is a permanent part of the landing gear.


In a structure or device having a pair of electrical conductors separated by an insulator across which a voltage is placed, resistive layers are formed around the conductors to force the electric potential within the insulator to distribute more uniformly so as to decrease or eliminate electric field enhancement at the conductor edges. This is done by utilizing the properties of resistive layers to allow the voltage on the electrode to diffuse outwards, reducing the field stress at the conductor edge. Preferably, the resistive layer has a tapered resistivity, with a lower resistivity adjacent to the conductor and a higher resistivity away from the conductor. Generally, a resistive path across the insulator is provided, preferably by providing a resistive region in the bulk of the insulator, with the resistive layer extending over the resistive region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to high voltage structures or devices including structures or devices for storing or transmitting electrical energy, and more particularly to reducing electric fields at the edges of conductors on insulators in these high voltage structures or devices.
2. Description of Related Art
When an insulator is placed between two conductors, typically metal, and the conductors are energized with high voltage, the electric field in the insulator reaches a maximum at the edges of the conductors. This enhanced field causes the insulator to fail at significantly lower electric potentials than it would without such field enhancement. The problem becomes more serious as the thickness of the conductors decreases, setting a limit on the electric field gradients that can be achieved, with a resulting limit on the ability to build compact high voltage systems.
The field enhancement is internal to the insulator material itself. A failure of the material would result in an internal bulk breakdown of the material. The cause of the field enhancement is the sharp edge of the conductor. The potential around this sharp edge discontinuity changes very rapidly by comparison to other regions away from the edge so the net result is an increased electric field. Breakdowns of this type occur very rapidly.
Various structures or devices for storing or transmitting electrical energy, e.g. capacitors, transmission lines, and accelerator components (e.g. Blumlein pulse generators), are constructed with pairs of conductors separated by insulators. These conductors generally form electrodes or transmission lines. For high voltages to be placed on these electrodes or transmission lines, the underlying insulator must not break down. The higher fields produced at the edges of the conductors decrease the voltage that can be placed across the conductors before breakdown occurs.
To make the structures or devices compact, the components, both conductors and insulators, must generally be made as thin as possible, requiring high gradients across the insulators. This magnifies the problem created by the field enhancement at the conductor edges.
Prior approaches to deal with the problem have generally focused on geometrical solutions. These have included rounding the edges of the conductors and using multiple dielectrics. However, these techniques have not been totally effective in combating the enhanced edge fields.

Resistive foil edge grading for accelerator and other high voltage structures

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


One embodiment is directed to a baseband controller for use with a plurality of radio points to provide wireless service to user equipment (UE) using a wireless interface. The baseband controller makes use of a hybrid virtualized architecture comprising special-purpose hardware configured to implement at least some of the LAYER-1 functions for the wireless interface and a virtual platform configured to implement some of the functions for the wireless interface. Such a baseband controller can be used in dual connectivity radio access networks.

A centralized radio access network (C-RAN) can be used to implement base station functionality for providing wireless service to various items of user equipment (UE). Typically, for each cell implemented by the C-RAN, one or more baseband units (BBUs) (also referred to here as "baseband controllers" or simply "controllers") interact with multiple remote units (also referred to here as "radio points" or "RPs"). Each baseband controller is coupled to the radio points over front-haul communication links or a front-haul network.
One conventional approach to implementing a baseband controller employs special-purpose hardware. One example of implementing a baseband controller 100 using special-purpose hardware is shown in FIG. 1. In this example, the baseband controller 100 is used for providing wireless service to user equipment using a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless interface.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the special-purpose hardware comprises a system on a chip (SoC) 102. In this example, the SoC 102 comprises a multi-core general purpose processor, a multi-core digital signal processor (DSP), and application-specific hardware accelerators for certain LTE L1 functions.
FIG. 1 illustrates the functional partitioning of the baseband controller functionality and mapping to the various subsystems of the SoC 102.
As shown in FIG. 1, the baseband controller functionality is partitioned into LTE LAYER-3 Control Plane functions 104, LTE LAYER-2 Control Plane functions 108, less-time-critical LTE LAYER-2 User Plane functions 106, time-critical LTE LAYER-2 User Plane functions 110, and the LTE LAYER-1 functions 112 implemented in the baseband controller 100 (also referred to here as the "upper LAYER-1 functions 112").
Also, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the baseband controller 100 further comprises a timing system 114 that is used to synchronize the other nodes in the C-RAN to a master clock. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the timing system 114 implements the Precision Time Protocol (PTP).
The baseband controller 100 communicate with the wireless service provider's Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 128 using the LTE S1-C and LTE S1-U interfaces, respectively. In FIG. 1, control plane communications are illustrated using dashed lines and user plane communications are illustrated using solid lines.
The LTE LAYER-3 Control Plane functions 104, in this example, include the LTE Radio Resource Management (RRM) functions 116, LTE Radio Resource Control (RRC) functions 118, LTE Self-Organizing Network (SON) functions 120, and LTE Cell Management functions 122.
The LTE LAYER-2 Control Plane functions 108, in this example, include the LTE Media Access Control (MAC) scheduler ecosystem 130. The less-time-critical LTE LAYER-2 User Plane functions 106, in this example, include the LTE Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) functions 124. The time-critical LTE LAYER-2 User Plane functions 110, in this example, include the LTE Radio Link Control (RLC) functions 132 and LTE MAC functions 134.
The LTE LAYER-3 Control Plane functions 104, LTE LAYER-2 Control Plane functions 108, less-time-critical LTE LAYER-2 User Plane functions 106, and time-critical LTE LAYER-2 User Plane functions 110 are mapped to the general-purpose processor of the SoC 102 and are implemented in software that is executed by the general-purpose processor of the SoC 102. Also, in this exemplary embodiment, the timing system 114 is mapped to the general-purpose processor of the SoC 102 and is implemented in software that is executed by the general-purpose processor of the SoC 102.
The upper LTE LAYER-1 functions 112 are mapped to the DSP and the application-specific hardware accelerators of the SoC 102, with some of the upper LTE LAYER-1 functions 112 implemented in software that is executed by the DSP and some of the upper LTE LAYER-1 functions 112 (for example, encoding and decoding) implemented using the application-specific hardware accelerators (under control of the DSP software).
The baseband controller 100 also comprise one or network interfaces (not shown) that couple the baseband controller 100 to the front-haul network or communication links used for communicating with the radio points. For example, where the front-haul network is implemented using a switched ETHERNET network, the baseband controller 100 comprises one or more ETHERNET network interfaces for communicating over the front-haul switched ETHERNET network.
In practice, as the number of users served by the baseband controller 100 increases, the general-purpose processor of the SoC 102 can become the bottleneck—both with respect to the control plane functions (in particular, the MAC scheduling functions) and user plane functions. Scaling a baseband controller 100 implemented using special-purpose hardware typically involves migrating the baseband controller 100 to a more powerful version of the special-purpose hardware. This approach, however, depends on proprietary hardware and the vendors that supply it providing the more powerful version of the special-purpose hardware when needed. Also, generally, solutions based on proprietary special-purpose hardware typically do not benefit from the economies of scale and faster improvements in processing power experienced by less-specialized, general-purpose platforms.

Baseband controller for centralized radio access network (C-RAN) implemented using hybrid virtualization architecture


A red blood cell storage composition includes a composition of red blood cells and biochemistry altering reagents, the biochemistry altering reagents being present at a concentration so as to reduce the percent hemolysis of the red blood cells during the freeze-thaw cycle below that of the percent hemolysis of the red blood cells in the absence the biochemistry altering reagents. The red blood cell storage composition preferably includes reagents selected from: modifiers of glycolytic/metabolic components, modifiers of antioxidant potential, effectors of intracellular ionic distribution, modifiers of membrane fluidity, modifiers of cytoskeletal structure, effectors of the cyclooxygenase second messenger pathway, effectors of the lipoxygenase second messenger pathway, effectors of the hexose monophosphate second messenger pathway, effectors of the phosphorylation second messenger pathway, modifiers of specific messenger molecules, and combinations thereof.

Blood is composed of plasma and cellular constituents and plays a prominent role in several key physiological systems of the human body, including immunology, hemostasis, and tissue oxygenation. Movement of the respiratory gases oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is the chief function of erythrocytes or red blood cells. This facilitated movement of O2 and CO2 is carried out by hemoglobin, an iron-containing, multi-subunit protein contained within red blood cells. The necessity for encapsulating hemoglobin within the red blood cell is twofold. First, hemoglobin has very specific binding parameters to ensure delivery of these critical molecules to the proper sites. By regulating the concentration of cofactors and free ions, the red blood cell provides the proper environment for optimum uptake and release of O2. Secondly, free heme has toxicity effects on both the renal and hepatic systems and can lead to conditions such as hemoglobinuria.
The red blood cell structural components which confine the hemoglobin are comprised of the membrane bilayer and the cytoskeleton. The membrane itself contains choline and amino phospholipids, cholesterol, and integral membrane proteins. Along the inner surface of the membrane lies the cytoskeleton. This mesh-like skeleton is composed of long, filamentous spectrin molecules joined together at foci of F-actin and protein 4.1 complexes. This cytoskeletal mesh is linked to the membrane through protein-protein interactions such as the ankyrin/protein 4.2 mediated connection of spectrin and the integral membrane protein Band 3, and possibly via direct protein-lipid interactions. Through these connections, the cytoskeleton provides the red blood cell its stability and shape. In the absence of proper binding within the cytoskeletal mesh or the connection of the cytoskeleton to the membrane, a critically weakened red blood cell results. Several human diseases have been identified stemming from either an absence of a specific protein or a defective protein interaction. Most of these defects lead to morphologically abnormal red blood cells and severe hemolytic anemias.
A wide variety of injuries and medical procedures require the transfusion of whole blood or a variety of blood components. Blood transfusions are routinely used to increase oxygen delivery capacity and circulatory volume in patients. Safe, quick, and easy access to transfusable red blood cell units is not only important for trauma victims with massive blood loss, but also for patients undergoing elective surgery or who have diseases, such as several types of hereditary hemolytic anemias, which result in a loss of circulating red blood cells. The ability to store red blood cells for extended time periods ensures that a supply of transfusable red blood cells will be available when needed. Potential uses include storage of unique serotypes, units intended for autologous transfusion and stockpiling general blood types for emergency situations. Limitations in the current storage methodologies have led, in part, to occasional shortages of blood supply, resulting in postponement of elective surgeries and calls for donations from blood banks and hospitals.
Currently, two methods are approved for extended storage of red blood cells. The majority of red blood cell units are stored in citrate phosphate-dextrose at 4° C. For example, when donor blood is received at a processing center, erythrocytes are separated and stored by various methods, generally as a unit of packed erythrocytes having a volume of from 200 to 300 ml and a hematocrit value of 70 to 90. However, due to metabolic depletion and subsequent physical degradation, these cells may be stored no longer than 42 days. Furthermore, while 70% of these stored cells remain in circulation following transfusion, true O2 delivery capability has not been demonstrated.
During storage, human red blood cells undergo morphological and biochemical changes, including decreases in the cellular level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), changes in cellular morphology, and progressive hemolysis. The concentration of ATP, after a brief initial rise, progressively declines to between 30 and 40% of its initial level after six weeks of storage. Morphological changes occur during storage, ultimately leading to the development of spicules which can bud off as vesicles, radically changing the surface-to-volume ratio of the cells and their ability to deform on passing through narrow channels. The fluidity of the cell membrane of red cells, which is essential for the passage of red cells through the narrow channels in the spleen and liver, is loosely correlated with the level of ATP. The concentration of ATP and the morphology of red cells serve as indicators of the suitability of stored cells for transfusion.
The second method is frozen storage at −80° C. using 40% (w/v) glycerol as a cryoprotectant. However, this additive penetrates the membranes of many biological cells and possesses unwanted properties when infused into humans. While this method can be used for up to 10 years of storage, the glycerol must be washed out prior to transfusion. The washing procedure utilizes costly equipment and is time and labor intensive. Additionally, a significant level of hemolysis (10-15% typically) occurs during the wash procedure. Finally, since this procedure is also considered to compromise the sterility of the red blood cell units, post-wash storage is significantly limited. Consequently, this method of storage is only used for blood with extremely rare factor types and autologous and directed donation units which will not be used within a 42 day period. As of 1992, the most recent data available, approximately 14% (nearly 2 million units) of the available supply of transfusable red blood cells were discarded. The ability to cryopreserve red blood cells without the added expense and time of washing, or at least reducing the number of washing cycles necessary, would enable salvage of a significant percentage of these discarded units, thereby providing a further buffer against blood product is shortages.
Current theories of red blood cell cryopreservation consider ice formation and propagation to be the primary, if not the sole factor affecting cell recovery and viability following storage. Consequently, investigation of methods to cryopreserve red blood cells only consider slight variations of traditional cryoprotectant methodologies. Prior methods for the preservation, storage, and transfusion of red blood cells are explained in Horn, Sputtek, Standl, Rudolf, Kuhnl, and Esch, Transfusion of Autologous, Hydroxyethyl Starch-Cryopreserved Red Blood Cells, Anesth. Analg. 1997; 85; 739-745. However, temperature-induced modulation of cellular biochemistry is a well recognized phenomenon by experts in this field. The descriptions herein provide methods of utilizing the red blood cell biochemistry to overcome cold-induced imbalances which would normally lead to cellular hemolysis following cryopreservation. Through these methods, the level of non-specific cryoprotection against ice formation may be reduced.
Two general procedures are currently available for the frozen preservation of living cells in terms of the cryoprotectant used. One utilizes the addition of high concentrations of low molecular weight penetrant solutes. Due to toxicity and osmotic problems, specialized equipment and techniques are required to remove the solutes following thawing. The second utilizes high molecular weight polymers which do not enter the cells. Post-thaw processing in this case is logistically simpler but storage must be at very low temperature, typically in liquid nitrogen. The formation of ice, which is a prime concern in any method of cell cryopreservation, is initiated by ice crystal nuclei. As the temperature falls and water crystallizes to ice, the cell is progressively dehydrated and at some point cell injury results. The nature of the dehydration injury is believed to be the result of membrane stresses leading to membrane rupture. This form of injury can be prevented by the addition of solutes at a multi-molar concentration so that the amount of ice formed is insufficient to result in damaging cell dehydration.
For many years it has been known that certain molecules may be cryoprotective. It is necessary for these penetrating cryoprotectants to reduce the amount of extracellular ice formed and thereby reduce cell dehydration, while at the same time increasing the intracellular concentration to make intracellular crystallization less likely. Such a solute, to be useful, must be non-toxic at high concentration and must freely penetrate the cell. Both glycerol and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) have been used for this purpose. Glycerol is remarkably non-toxic at high concentrations but penetrates cell membranes slowly and is therefore difficult to introduce and remove. Dimethylsulfoxide penetrates rapidly but becomes increasingly toxic as concentrations exceed 1M (about 7%). Large molecular weight polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), dextran, and more recently hydroxyethyl starch (HES), do not enter the cell, and the mechanism by which they confer cryoprotection has been the subject of speculation.
As stated above, in order to prolong the storage of red blood cells it is necessary to store the cells or treat them in some manner that prevents a decline in ATP, and, if possible, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), in addition to protection against ice crystal damage. Typically, such solutions contain phosphate, glucose, and adenine which function to prolong shelf-life by maintaining the level of ATP in the cells. In addition, glycolytic activity is enhanced in red blood cells if the intracellular pH measured at 4° C. is about 7.4 The effective osmolality of the suspending solution is another factor of importance in extending red cell storage time. It has been shown that hypotonically induced increases in mean cell volume substantially reduce hemolysis and improves red cell morphology during storage. Although the mechanism has not been proven, it is possible that osmotic swelling increases cell surface tension, thereby opposing the shape changes usually associated with stored red cells. Although the hypotonicity of the additive solution is limited by the danger of hemolysis during the addition of the solution, red cells, which are normally bi-concave disks, can swell to nearly twice their normal volume at an external osmolality of approximately 170 mOsm before they hemolyze. If the additive solution is too hypotonic, the red cells will burst (hemolyze). As a result, solutions that are too hypotonic cannot be used. While maintenance of ATP and 2,3-DPG are generally thought of with reference to 4° C. storage, maintaining the concentration of these metabolites is important for post-thaw storage. For the effects on ATP levels, hemolysis, potassium leakage, and shedding of microvesicles, on the maintenance and storage of red blood cells, see Greenwalt, Rugg, and Dumaswala, The Effect of Hypotonicity Glutamine, and Glycine on Red Cell Preservation, Transfusion 1997; 37; 269-276.
The goal of extended red blood cell storage is to maintain the metabolic and morphologic characteristics so that the in vivo parameters (oxygen delivery capacity and circulatory half-life) are comparable to fresh, non-frozen red blood cells. Additionally, the level of hemolysis during the storage cycle must remain within acceptable levels to allow direct transfusion of the thawed red blood cell unit without complications from hemoglobin toxicity. These goals can be accomplished using the method of this invention. The method described herein provides the advantages of both currently approved storage methods—extended storage time in the frozen state and immediate availability as in refrigerated storage.
Hospitals and blood banks would greatly benefit from a directly-transfusable frozen red blood cell product. Most current investigational approaches to accomplish this attempt to merely replace glycerol with a non-toxic, transfusable cryoprotectant. However, results have shown that most cryoprotectants need to be used at concentrations which may not be transfused or their protective qualities are not enough to maintain hemolysis at acceptable levels for transfusion. Additionally, most procedures require storage at −193° C. in liquid nitrogen vapor. This would be expensive and difficult to incorporate into current blood banking procedures, making extended storage at temperatures below −80° C. impractical.
The invention described herein addresses the noted problems of storage, morphological changes, metabolic changes, and long term functional effectiveness of red blood cells. Further, the present invention achieves unexpected and surprising results in the preservation of red blood cells through treating with the compositions and methods of this invention and which previously would have been considered impossible.

Composition for cryopreservation comprising nicotinamide, glycerol and red blood cells


A method and system for multicasting messages to wireless terminals. A multicast radio-packet link is established between a packet gateway and a base station system respectively for each cell sector served by the packet gateway. Each multicast link has an active state when any wireless terminals in the corresponding cell sector are in a multicast state prepared to receive multicast messages, and an inactive state when no wireless terminals in the corresponding cell sector are in the multicast state. When the packet gateway receives a multicast message, it sends the message over each active multicast link but not over any inactive multicast link. Thus, a single copy of the multicast message can conveniently be sent just to each of the cell sectors that is currently serving at least one wireless terminal that is in a multicast state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless networks and, more particularly, to a method and system for multicasting messages to wireless terminals in such networks.
2. Description of Related Art
In a typical cellular wireless network, a geographic area is divided into cell sectors. Each cell sector defines a geographic area in which wireless terminals (such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and/or other devices) operate. The wireless network normally has a base transceiver station (BTS) assigned to one or more cell sectors. The BTS produces a radio frequency (RF) radiation pattern over the one or more cell sectors. The RF radiation pattern allows the wireless terminals located in the one or more cell sectors to exchange signals with the BTS over an air interface.
The wireless network typically has a plurality of BTSs. The plurality of BTSs communicates concurrently with a base station controller (BSC) that aggregates signals received from the plurality of BTSs. The plurality of BTSs and the BSC is commonly referred to as a base station. And the wireless network may have a plurality of base stations. The plurality of base stations in the wireless network is referred to as a base station system (BSS).
Each BSC in the wireless network may communicate with a packet gateway and a mobile switching center (MSC). The packet gateway and the MSC function to set up and connect calls with other entities. For example, the packet gateway may set up and connect calls with a server or other entity on an Internet protocol (IP) network, and the MSC may set up and connect calls with a telephone on a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Generally, the BSC will assign a traffic channel to each wireless terminal for transmitting and receiving signals over the air interface. Additionally, the packet gateway establishes a radio-packet (R-P) link with the BSC. The R-P link carries signals between the packet gateway and the BSC. The packet gateway establishes a separate R-P link for each wireless terminal in the wireless network, and in this regard, the signals carried by each R-P link are associated with a particular wireless terminal. The R-P link is referred to as the A10/A11 link in the code division multiple access (CDMA) network architecture.
In some instances, a server in the wireless network may send information to wireless terminals in the wireless network. The information may be of interest to users of the wireless terminals. For example, the information might be sports scores, weather reports, and advertising messages. The server may insert the information into a message and send the message to one or more wireless terminals.
In order to facilitate convenient distribution of a given message to multiple wireless terminals, the packet gateway may maintain a list of wireless terminals authorized to receive a copy of the message. A single copy of the message may then be sent to the packet gateway, and the packet gateway may determine from its list which wireless terminals are authorized to receive a copy of the message. The packet gateway may then transmit a copy of the message respectively to each such wireless terminal, via the wireless terminal's respective R-P link (to the BSS, which then transmits the message to the wireless terminal). In this way, the wireless network is able to send the message to multiple wireless terminals in response to just one copy of the message being sent to the packet gateway.

Method and system for multicasting messages to wireless terminals