A generating control device for a hybrid vehicle includes a motor 13 for driving the hybrid vehicle, a battery 12 for driving the motor, a generator 11 for supplying the motor 13 and the battery 12 with electricity, an engine 10 for driving the generator 11 and a control unit 16. In operation, the unit 16 operates to change the operations of the generator 11 and the engine 10 in both of the normal generating mode and the battery protection mode. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the battery 12 of the hybrid vehicle and to ensure the fine driving performance.

The present invention relates to a generating control device for a hybrid vehicle which includes an engine, a generator driven by the output of the engine, a battery and a control unit for controlling operations of these elements.
In recent years, a series hybrid electric vehicle (SHEV) equipped with a generator-and an engine for driving it, has been developed in order to increase a cruising range of an electric vehicle. In this art, it is also known a system which is installed in the hybrid vehicle and which allows it to travel by electric energy supplied from a battery when the battery is charged fully. On the other hand, when the charged energy in the battery decreases, the system starts the engine in order to charge the battery by electric power supplied from the generator. Thereafter, when the charging amount reaches a prescribed value, the engine is inacivated.
In such a series hybrid electric vehicle, if the engine of the vehicle is used little in comparison with that of a gasoline-fueled automobile (not electrical car), the vehicle exhibits a low-pollution car on one hand. On the other hand, depending on methods of controlling the engine and the generator, there is a possibility to cause pollution problems equal to or greater more than those of the gasoline-fueled automobile.
Furthermore, it is supposed that, depending on the control method of the generator, repeated overcharging or overdischarging operations for the battery may cause the battery's life span to be shortened in comparison with that of an electric car, so that cost and time for exchanging the battery (or batteries) with another may be increased disadvantageously.
In the prior art, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-32852 discloses one of the conventional generating control devices for the hybrid vehicles. This generating control device operates to drive the generator for assisting the battery in response to loads of the drive motor in the hybrid electrical vehicle, while the device judges the loads according to the charged energy in the battery, an opening of an accelerator pedal, degree of slope etc. and adjusts an opening of a throttle valve.
In the above-mentioned conventional generating control device of the hybrid vehicle, however, the battery deteriarates quickly since the device is not able to determine if the battery cannot be charged or discharged.

Generating control device for hybrid vehicle


A climate control device having a cooling air outlet for cooled air, and a heated air outlet for heated air, wherein the air to be cooled is cooled by a cold side of a Peltier element arrangement and is blown out by a cooling air feed device via the cooled air outlet, and wherein the air to be heated is heated by a warm side of the Peltier element arrangement and is blown out by a heated air feed device via the heated air outlet. Each of the warm side and/or the cold side of the Peltier element arrangement is coupled to a coolant circuit, to which an air/fluid heat exchanger arrangement is connected. The device is used, for example, for cooling or ventilating a housing, particularly of a control cabinet.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a climate control device, having a cool air outlet for cooled air and a warm air outlet for warmed air. The air to be cooled is cooled in the cold side of a Peltier element arrangement and is blown out by a cool air conveying device through the cool air outlet. The air to be warmed is heated by the warm side of the Peltier element arrangement and is blown out by a warm air conveying device through the warm air outlet.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the prior art, climate control devices for housings, for example switchgear cabinet housings, are known, in which several Peltier elements which, when triggered electrically, respectively have a cold and a warm side, are arranged in the form of an array for increasing output. Fans are arranged on the cold side of this Peltier element arrangement, which convey the air to be cooled out of the interior of the housing and past the cold side.
Then the cooled air is blown through an outlet opening back into the space which is to be cooled. Fans are arranged on the warm side of this Peltier element arrangement, which convey ambient air past the warm side. The ambient air absorbs heat and is then blown back outside through an outlet opening.
The heat transfer between the air conveyed past the Peltier element arrangement and the cold, or respectively warm side of this arrangement, is limited. The cause of this is the limited heat absorption, or respectively heat absorption capability, of the air, and also the relatively high flow speed of the conveyed air. However, since, for example in switchgear cabinets, the stacking density of installed electronic devices continues to increase, and thus an increased cooling requirement of the installed devices exists, the cooling effect of the known climate control devices is no longer sufficient.
With the known climate control device, an improvement in the heat transfer can only be achieved by a more elaborate guidance of the air and a Peltier element arrangement of larger dimensions. Thus the costs of such a climate control device are considerably increased. Furthermore, a compact structure, such as is necessary in switchgear cabinet technology, for example, can no longer be provided by the known climate control device.
Also used as a cooling device, a climate control device can be used in a different capacity, depending on the connection of the lines conducting the air, as a heating device. In this case, the heating effect of the warm side of the Peltier element arrangement is used for heating the air. But, besides the limited cooling effect, the known climate control device only has a limited heating effect when used as a heating device.


A lithographic apparatus includes a positioner configured to position a first part of the apparatus relative to a second part of the apparatus, the positioner including a motor having a motor position dependent motor constant defining a relation between a motor input and a motor output, and a control system to drive the motor, the control system including a set-point generator to provide a reference signal based on a desired position of the first part relative to the second part, and a controller to provide a drive signal to the motor based on the reference signal, wherein the controller includes a compensator which is configured to at least partially compensate the drive signal for the motor position dependent motor constant. The invention further relates to a positioner, a method to optimize the positioning system, and a method to derive a motor position dependent motor constant.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. including part of one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Conventional lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at once, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
Commonly, and especially in scanners, the substrate and the patterning device are supported by a corresponding support structure, wherein the support structure is movable with respect to a frame. The frame may be a base frame or a metrology frame. The support structure is positioned with respect to the frame by a positioning system including a motor and a control system to drive the motor. Motors in general can be characterized by a parameter known as "motor constant". The motor constant defines a relation between motor input and motor output. Examples of a motor input are current, voltage, frequency, etc. Examples of a motor output are velocity, acceleration, force, torque, etc. Most of the time, the motor constant is assumed to be a constant parameter, explaining the name motor constant. However, in practice, motors exhibit a motor position dependent motor constant which can be divided into a constant average portion and a motor position dependent portion. Thus, when a person skilled in the art assumes a constant motor constant, he/she actually assumes the motor constant to be the constant average portion. The motor constant is motor position dependent due to for instance structural inaccuracies, tolerances, and/or deficiencies or inhomogeneous properties, such as material properties. Possible causes for the motor position dependency of the motor constant of an electromagnetic motor are:                1. variations in gap between magnets;        2. variations in size of the magnets;        3. variations in magnetic field strength and magnetization direction/orientation of the magnets;        4. non-ideal winding of coils;        5. different winding of different coils;        6. non-ideal commutation; and        7. local temperature effects.
As used hereinafter, the motor position is a relative position of different motor parts with respect to each other, e.g. a rotor with respect to a stator. If the motor is a rotational motor, the motor position after a 360° rotation is the same. It is possible that there is a one on one relation with a position of an object positioned by the motor. But especially after a rotation of 360° of a rotational motor, the object may be in a different position, while the motor position is the same. In an electromagnetic planar motor, the motor position is a position of one or more coils (also called actuator) with respect to an array of permanent magnets or the position of (an array of) magnets with respect to the coil(s). Note that the motor position is not limited to a one degree of freedom case, but can also be a multi degree of freedom position. With a degree of freedom is meant a translation (X, Y, or Z) or a rotation (Rx, Ry, or Rz)
The motor position dependent portion of the motor constant introduces disturbances in the positioning system which negatively influence the position accuracy of the positioning system. In many applications, the assumption of the motor constant being a constant parameter suffices, since the disturbances introduced, or the effect of the introduced disturbances, by the motor position dependent portion of the motor constant are most of the time small compared to a desired position accuracy of the positioning system. The motor position dependent portion can therefore be neglected. Also, the disturbances are only present while moving the motor from one motor position to another motor position and do not affect the position accuracy of the positioning system when the motor is stationary, i.e. the different motor parts do not move with respect to each other.
In a lithographic apparatus, and especially in so-called scanners, the position accuracy during movement of the motor is becoming more and more important. In a scanner, each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through the radiation beam in a given direction while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. Scanning of the substrate and/or pattern is done by moving the corresponding support structure with respect to the frame using a positioning system. With an increasing required positioning accuracy of the positioning system during scanning, the motor position dependent portion of the motor constant becomes a non-negligible disturbance factor. The motor position dependent portion of the motor constant not only affects the position accuracy of each positioning system, but also affects the mutual position accuracy between the substrate and pattern while scanning. A disturbance in the mutual position may result in overlay errors and/or imaging problems of the lithographic apparatus.

Positioning system, method, and lithographic apparatus


An image forming apparatus includes: a main body frame placed on a placement surface; an image forming unit provided at an upper portion in the main body frame and forms an image on a recording medium; and an accommodation unit provided at a lower portion in the main body frame and accommodates the recording medium to be fed to the image forming unit, wherein the main body frame includes an upper frame that supports the image forming unit, and a lower frame that has a rigidity lower than the rigidity of the upper frame, supports the upper frame from below, and supports the accommodation unit, the upper and lower frames are covered with a cover member, and a combining unit is provided between the upper frame and the cover member, and combines the cover member with the upper frame without being restricted by the lower frame.

A related art image forming apparatus is disclosed. The related art image forming apparatus includes a main body frame that is placed on a placement surface, an image forming unit that is provided at an upper portion in the main body frame and forms an image on a recording medium, and an accommodation unit that is provided at a lower portion in the main body frame and accommodates the recording medium to be fed to the image forming unit.
The main body frame includes an upper frame that supports the image forming unit, and a lower frame that supports the accommodation unit. The upper frame is provided on the lower frame. Each of the upper and lower frames is a housing where a pipe frame, side plates, reinforcing plates, stays, and the like are combined.
Further, the rigidity of the lower frame, which supports the accommodation unit, is lower than that of the upper frame that supports the image forming unit. Accordingly, manufacturing costs are reduced. Furthermore, even when the lower frame is deformed by being placed on a placement surface having irregularities, high positional accuracy of the image forming unit is maintained by suppressing the deformation of the upper frame supporting the image forming unit and the deterioration of image quality at the time of image formation is prevented.

Image forming apparatus in which an upper frame and cover member are combined


The object of the present invention is to provide a method of efficient delivery into a brain and central nervous system, and to provide a method of efficient delivery with a viral envelope. The present invention provides a system for introducing a biomolecule into a cell comprising A) a biomolecule; B) a viral envelope; and C) glycosaminoglycan. Further, the present invention provides a method for delivering a biomolecule into a brain, comprising the steps of: A) transiently closing an artery of the head portion or cervical portion; and B) introducing a biomolecule into the brain during the closing of the artery of the head portion or the cervical portion.

A number of virus and non-virus methods have been developed to introduce genes into cultured cells or biological tissues for the purposes of gene function analysis, gene therapy, and similar applications (Mulligan, Science, 260, 926 to 932, 1993; and Ledley, Human Gene Therapy, Vol. 6, 1129 to 1144, 1995). Virus methods are most effective for the delivery of genes into cells. However, virus vectors may raise problems due to the co-introduction of gene elements essential for parent genes derived from the parent virus, expression of virus genes, an immunogenicity, and the like. On the other hand, a liposome method, which is a non-virus method, has a lower level of cytotoxicity and immunogenicity than virus methods, but also tends to have a lower level of gene introduction efficiency into biological tissues that that of virus vectors.
Hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) was first reported as fusing Ehrlich tumor cells (Okada, Biken Journal, 1, 103-110, 1958), then the mechanism of its ability to fuse cell membranes (hereinafter referred to as "fusion activity") was clarified and the possible use of it as a gene introduction vector has been studied. It is known that HVJ has a high level of immunogenicity, and particularly induces Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) when a large amount of NP protein is produced (Cole G. A. et al., Journal of Immunology, 158, 4301 to 4309, 1997). It is also likely that HVJ inhibits protein synthesis in hosts. To avoid these problems, a technique was devised in which a liposome including a gene or protein is fused with HVJ which has been inactivated by ultraviolet irradiation to prepare a fusion particle (HVJ-liposome) This technique made it possible to introduce a gene non-invasively into cultured cells or organisms (U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,237; Dzau et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 11421 to 11425, 1996, and Kaneda et al., Molecular Medicine Today, 5, 298 to 303, 1999). However, the technique requires preparation of two different vehicles, a liposome and a viral envelope, which complicates the technique. The fusion particle of a liposome and HVJ disadvantageously has an average diameter about 1.3 times that of HVJ and a fusion activity one-tenth that of HVJ. In addition, for conventional HVJ-based vectors, there are some tissues in which it is not possible to introduce genes, or if it is possible, it is only possible with very low efficiency.
The present inventors have provided various novel inactivated virus envelope vectors for introducing a gene or oligonucleotide into cultured cells or organisms (WO01/57204). Specifically, by packaging genes into envelopes of various envelope viruses (e.g., HVJ, etc.), whose genomes are previously inactivated, the resultant viruses can be used as vectors capable of introducing genes into cultured cells or biological tissues with simplicity and high efficiency. These viral vectors are also less toxic to cells.
The present inventors have developed a method for producing an inactivated viral envelope at an industrial scale which is inexpensive, effective and secures a good quality product, by employing the use of an alkylating agent.
In the present days, although some treatments exist for many diseases, diseases and disorders of the brain is a field where few solutions are found. Further, demand for such treatment and prevention is increasing very year.
Among encephalopathies, cerebral occlusive disease caused by atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries or Moyamoya disease, often causes chronic hypoperfusion of the brain. Although such a condition leads not only to cerebral ischemic events, but also to neuropathological changes including dementia (Kalaria R N, Bhatti S U, Lust W D, Perry G., Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1993; 695; 190-3.; Kudo T, Takeda M, Tanimukai S, Nishimura T., Stroke. 1993; 24:259-64; discussion 265.; Kurumatani T, Kudo T, Ikura Y, Takeda M., Stroke. 1998; 29:1058-62.; and Sekhon L H, Morgan M K, Spence I, Weber N C., Stroke. 1994; 25:1022-7), an effective treatment of hypoperfusion has not yet been established.
Recently, preclinical studies have demonstrated that angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) can stimulate the development of collateral arteries in an animal brain ischemia model (Harrigan M R, Ennis S R, Masada T, Keep R. F., Neurosurgery. 2002; 50:589-98; Lyons M K, Anderson R E, Meyer F B., Brain Res. 1991; 558:315-20.; and Yoshimura S, et al., Hypertension. 2002; 39:1028-34.), a concept called therapeutic angiogenesis. The efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis using gene transfer of angiogenic growth factors has been reported in human patients with critical limb ischemia or myocardial infarction (Baumgartner I, et al., circulation. 1998; 97:1114-23.; Losordo D W, et al., Circulation. 1998; 98:2800-4.; Symes J F, et al., Ann Thorac Surg. 1999; 68:830-6; discussion 836-7.; and Rosengart T K, et al., Circulation. 1999; 100:468-74.). Accordingly, possible therapeutic angiogenesis should be possible for the treatment of patients with cerebral ischemia, if safe and effective gene transfer methods were developed for human treatment. From this viewpoint, the current gene transfer techniques are not ideal. Gene transfer to the central nervous system (CNS) can be achieved by using various viral vectors including adeno-associated virus (AAV) (Fan D, et al., Neurosci Lett. 1998; 248:61-4), retrovirus (Franceschini I A, et al., J Neurosci Res. 2001; 65:208-19), adenovirus (Miyaguchi K, Maeda Y, Collin C, Sihag R K., Brain Res Bull. 2000; 51:195-202.) and herpes simplex virus 1 (Johnson P A, Yoshida K, Gage F H, Friedmann T., Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1992; 12:95-102.). These vector systems have advantages and disadvantages for human gene therapy. Although these methods are efficient for in vivo gene transfer into CNS, numerous problems such as safety and production are yet to be resolved toward human gene therapy.
In order to solve these problems, we have developed and used HVJ (Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan =Sendai virus) envelope vector, which is a novel non-viral vector system, as mentioned above. This vector system was developed based on HVJ-based gene transfer of the first generation using a viral envelope and liposome (Yamada K, et al., Am J Physiol. 1996; 271:R1212-20; Kaneda Y, et al., Exp Cell Res. 1987; 173:56-69.) (HVJ liposome methods). The first generation HVJ vector has great potential with regards to transfection to the CNS of rat and primate (Yamada K. et al. ibid; Hagihara Y. et al., Gene Ther. 2000; 7:759-63.). However, there are some deficiencies in that it requires complicated procedure to prepare the vector, and has difficulties in its storage. A HVJ-envelope (HVJ-E) vector, a novel non-viral vector system, merely uses an envelope of HVJ for transfer of a foreign gene.

Method for introducing a biological molecule using a viral envelope and heparin and system therefore


Compounds of Formulas I-II are described,

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death and the present breast cancer therapies achieve meaningful clinical results in only 30-40% of patients. (F. Labrie et al., J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biology, 69 51-84 (1999)). Estrogens are well recognized to play the predominant role in breast cancer development and growth and much effort has been devoted to the blockade of estrogen formation and action (V. C. Jordan and W. J. Gradishar, Molec. Aspects Med., 18, 187-247 (1997)). However, expression of the HER-2 receptor is also a significant factor associated with breast cancer morbidity. (D. J. Slamon, et al, Science, 244, 707-712, (1989)). It is also becoming clearer that crosstalk between estrogen and growth factor receptor pathways occurs and likely is a factor in the pathology and treatment of breast cancer. (Y. Kinoshita and S. Chen, Cancer Res., 63, 3546-3555, (2003))
The most widely used therapy for breast cancer, which has shown benefits at all stages of the disease, is the use of an antiestrogen such as tamoxifen. Over thirty years of clinical trials with tamoxifen have not only proven its clinical merits but also highlighted the need for a next generation of drugs that are potentially more efficacious and have fewer side-effects, especially the serious side-effects related to estrogen agonist properties (K. Dhingra, Investigational New Drugs 17, 285-311 (1999))
"Tanshen", the rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of coronary heart diseases, particularly angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. It has also been applied for hemorrhage, dismenorrhea, miscarriage, swelling, and insomnia (S. Y. Ryu et al., Planta Medica, 63, 339-342 (1997)). Neo-tanshinlactone (1) was originally isolated from this TCM. Its structure is unique compared to those of other constituents isolated from S. miltiorrhiza.

Neo-tanshinlactone and analogs as potent and selective anti-breast cancer agents

Abstract: along with methods of using such compounds for the treatment of cancer and pharmeutical formulations thereof.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


A repair device for sealing a hole in a wall and enabling its repair without the need for numerous tools and processes, the device comprising; a body portion having at least two plate members each having a front face and a rear face; at least one hinging means hingedly connecting the at least two plate members to each other; a biasing means engaging the at least two plate members to bias the plates apart into an open flat position such that the relative front faces of each of the at least two plate members substantially share the same plane; and at least one attachment means mounted on a front face of the at least two plate members; wherein the repair device allows for insertion into the hole in a folded position and release to the open flat position and the attachment means provide attachment to the wall adjacent the hole.

Holes in walls and ceilings are an eyesore but repairs to them can often be difficult. One method of repairing a hole in a wall involves placing a wire mesh over the hole, securing it and covering the mesh with a plaster or similar material. However, this method does not provide a repaired surface that is flush to the wall and is restricted to plasterboard walls.
Another solution is to fill the wall with solid material, such as wood, and then remove any gaps to make it sealed. This option would only be suitable on walls what can be painted again to provide an attractive and uniform finish. Also the finished surface may not be flush at the repair point with the surrounding wall.
If the hole is small enough, some expanding foams can be used to fill it. This foam needs to dry before it can be covered over with paint or plaster. Before the covering layer is applied the foam will need time to cure and it then may need to be sanded back to create a flush finish. The nature of the foam is such that it can result in a small dent in the wall which may require further filling after the initial foam has dried. Also the foam may be porous and when covering with paint or plaster may result in some being absorbed by the foam providing a finish that is not appealing to the eye.
A large obstruction, such as a painting, can be used to cover the hole. This is not a repair though, rather it is only hiding the hole from other's view. Once the occupants of the building re-arrange their decor or move out of the building, the hole will be exposed again.
Covering the hole with tiles is a more permanent covering solution, but offers similar problems to using a removable obstruction. If the tiles are removed during a change of decor, the hole will be revealed and will still need repairing if the wall is not to be re-tiled.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a repair device which provides a simple means for sealing a hole and enabling its repair without the need for numerous tools and processes.


A particle separating system for supplying a cam shaft phase adjuster with cleaned lubricating oil. The phase adjuster includes a stator, a rotor connectable to a cam shaft, and a control valve for hydraulically adjusting the rotational angular position of the rotor relative to the stator. The particle separating system includes an oil separator arranged in the flow of the lubricating oil, upstream of an oil gallery of an engine supplied with the lubricating oil, exhibiting a separation efficiency of at least 50% for particles having a size P1 and a separation efficiency of at least 90% at a size P2>P1; a particle separator arranged downstream of the oil separator and upstream of the phase adjuster or control valve, to clean the lubricating oil for the phase adjuster. The particle separator exhibits a separation efficiency of 50% at a size P3, where P1<P3<100 μm.

Hydraulic cam shaft phase adjusters are typically supplied with engine lubricating oil which serves as a pressure medium in the phase adjuster for adjusting the phase position of a cam shaft relative to a driving crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The phase adjuster adjoins the lubricating oil cycle of the engine and is therefore supplied with the lubricating oil via the so-called main oil separator of the lubricating oil cycle. Despite cleaning in the main oil separator, it is common to arrange a filter screen in the phase adjuster in order above all to keep original dirt away from the phase adjuster.
EP 2 578 818 B1, which incorporated by reference. discloses arranging a filter screen in the region of the pressure port of a control valve of the phase adjuster. Arranging filter sleeves around the working ports of the control valve is also known. Since the installation spaces are small and there is simultaneously a requirement for as little pressure loss as possible, but also because of a requirement for the mechanical stability of the filter screen to be sufficient, filter media which are used include metal fabrics, plastic fabrics or thin perforated (metal) sheets. The mean mesh size or aperture width of the screen apertures is significantly above 100 μm and typically around 200 μm and more. Despite cleaning in the main oil separator and in the phase adjuster, malfunctions in the phase adjuster and frictional wear on the parts of the phase adjuster which can be moved relative to each other are a problem.
Through systematic experiments using different dirt mixtures, so-called misuse experiments, the inventors have discovered that even solid particles having particle dimensions of less than 100 μm cause frictional wear, above all on the hydraulic functional components of the control valves and on the bearing of the magnetic anchors of the electromagnetic valve actuators, and also directly cause malfunctions in these components of phase adjusters. There is for example the danger of such particles leading to a blockage of the valve piston in a control valve of a phase adjuster. Sand and corundum particles have also in particular proven problematic. During the production of engines, such particles can enter the oil channels of the cylinder crankcases as casting sand and blasting material and, despite the lubricating oil in the main oil separator being cleaned and despite the filter screens additionally arranged in the phase adjusters, have a certain statistical likelihood of leading to malfunctions in the phase adjuster.


This invention relates to an electric refrigerator or freezer. The cabinet comprises one or several hermetically sealed heat insulated spaces (14) which are wall or door panels of the cabinet. The space or spaces communicate with a vacuum creating device (18) via an evacuation conduit (17). A vacuum creating device is a permanently installed unit in the cabinet which is arranged to be activated when or after the cabinet has been installed by the user of the cabinet. After a long period of running the vacuum device creates a suitable underatmospheric pressure in the space or spaces (14).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an electric refrigerator or freezer and specifically to insulating walls therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is previously known to use different types of insulation material for refrigerator and freezer cabinets in order to achieve as good insulation characteristics as possible for walls and doors of the cabinet. Usually foamed plastic materials having open as well as closed cell structures are used between inner and outer metal plates and/or plastic shells in the walls, but it has also been suggested to use different types of insulating powder materials.
In order to reduce the power consumption of the cabinets, it has also been suggested to use so called "vacuum panels" in the walls and the doors. See for instance EP 188806. When manufacturing these panels a powder or cellular material is surrounded by a diffusion-tight layer which is placed between the outer and the inner shell of the wall, after which the space containing the powder is evacuated and sealed. By means of this method it is, however, in industrial processes, difficult to reach sufficiently low pressures to maximize the insulation characteristics, since the evacuation process is very time consuming and is not well suited for mass fabrication. It should in this connection be mentioned that the time which is needed for evacuation to a pressure of about 1 mbar during the conditions mentioned above is about 15 hours, whereas the production time for a refrigerator is about 20 minutes. The evacuation time cannot be improved by using a pump with a higher capacity, since the evacuation time is determined by the narrow communication passages which are present in the powder or cellular material. Of course, there also is a risk that, during the life time of a refrigerator, which is 15-20 years, there will be a leakage through the diffusion-tight layer which means that the contribution which the vacuum gives to the insulation characteristics disappears.
It is also previously known, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,041, to use vacuum insulated wall elements for large mobile refrigerating chambers in which the wall elements are connected to a vacuum pump. However, these vacuum pumps are of a conventional type and hence relatively power demanding and expensive. Their use can, with regard to costs and energy consumption, only be suggested for the type of large equipment which is described in the above-mentioned publication.
Further, FR 2628179 describes hermetically sealed wall elements which, in a way which is not described in detail, are connected to some kind of vacuum source. The pressure which is created, 50-100 mbar, is rather high and within such an interval that it can not in any significant way contribute to increase the heat insulating characteristics.

Electrolux Research & Innovation Aktiebolag


A vertical closed loop link chain vacuum conveyor is provided. A conveying frame extends along a lane-like longitudinal conveying path. The frame has a vertical and longitudinally offset closed loop section. The closed loop section has a change in elevation including a decline and an incline, change in direction, and a central vacuum plenum. A multi-flex link chain is in guided support and travel in the conveying frame while running in trained contact about a link chain drive assembly. The multi-flex link chain is in evacuated communication with a suction generator is in ducted communication with the vacuum plenum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to link chain conveyor systems. In particular, it relates to a vertical loop multi-flex vacuum link chain conveyor for use in inverting an open-ended container while running along a conveying path.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conveyor assemblies for transporting open-ended container shells are well known. Such systems often include guide rail track assemblies for guiding the containers along the conveying path. At some point along the conveying path it is also desirably to cause the container to rotate, or invert, for cleaning or coding.
In the prior art, certain conveyor assemblies are designed to include a system of bar-like rail guide members which are bent and connected is a box-like configuration which spirals along as it travels down the conveying path. With this construction, the containers are forced, or gravity feed, through the guide rails in order to axially rotate the cans while traveling along a conveying line. The cans are typically rotated, or inverted, so that the open ends of the can shells may be exposed to a cleaning agent, such a pressurized stream of ionized air or rinse water.
However, certain problems exist in the use of such spiral track systems. Initially, there is an increasing demand upon container processing facilities to treat aluminum container shells differing in height and diameter to encompass the wide range of capacities which are currently in use. For example, in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, for soft drinks, beers and ready mixed spirit drinks, the most universally used diameter is slightly in excess of 65 mm. European countries mostly use a much narrower size of 52 mm for soft drinks and some beers. More recently, the European size has emerged in the United States and Australasian markets with the appearance of energy drinks, such as RED BULL™, which is a product of European origin. One practical difficulty brought about by the use of these differing standard sizes is that the container processing facilities conveyor lines are often designed with at least two separate branching track lanes, running substantially Parallel to one another, where one of each lane is specifically designed to receive a container having a specific diameter and height. This process design requires an additional amount of space, together with an increase in both maintenance and cost which is especially concerning when taking into consideration that only one branch of the line is in use for any given run.
A second problem which is encountered with the prior art methods is that, in use, such systems are also complicated in manufacture and design, and generate a high degree frictional wear on both the component parts of the track system and the container shells. Moreover, because the prior art track rail systems rely on either a forced or gravity fed flow of the containers through the rail sections, the conveyance flow rate of the containers through the system is a rate limiting factor for the entire processing facility.
Therefore, what is needed is a single track conveyor system which is adaptable for use in conveying and inverting containers which are differing in dimension, but which is also simple in manufacture and design, low in cost, durable in construction, and which is also capable of conveying containers through the conveying lanes at a high rate of speed. The present invention satisfies these needs.


A performance adder for providing a running total of performance values within an integrated circuit chip. The performance adder is triggered by various performance events as determined through multiplexer logic for detecting occurrence of a particular performance event. The multiplexer logic can also trigger the performance adder through atomic, edge, toggle, or on/off signals related to the performance events or through a logical function of a combination of performance events. The performance adders can be used to compute average latency of a component in the circuit.

Performance incrementers are often used to track internal operation of an integrated circuit chip to determine its performance. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art performance incrementer 10, used to count and maintain a running total of various events within a circuit. Performance incrementer 10 includes a multiplexer 14 that receives on lines 16 a plurality of performance events from various locations within a circuit to be monitored. A mode select line 15 determines which of the performance events are transmitted to performance incrementer 10 through multiplexer 14. The transmitted performance event is input to a control line 20 for a multiplexer 12 for use incrementing a value within a register 11.
In particular, multiplexer 12 receives as inputs the value of register 11 on line 18 and an incremented value through incrementer logic 13 on line 17. Therefore, when the signal selected_event_increment on line 20 is high (logic "one"), multiplexer 12 transmits the signal on line 17 through to register 11. The input on line 17 is equal to the output of register 11 incremented by one through incrementer logic 13. The output of register 11 on line 19 thus represents a performance incrementer final value. This value is equal to a running total of the number of performance events that have occurred as detected through multiplexer 14.
A common performance metric that can be tracked using performance incrementer 10 includes bandwidths. Typically, for a metric such as bandwidth, performance incrementer 10 increments on each cycle for detecting a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer pushing or popping an entry, or detecting a bus having valid data through the performance event signals input to multiplexer 14.
It is also desirable to track latencies within a circuit. However, latencies tend to be more difficult to monitor and usually require higher level software algorithms to infer the latencies based on the bandwidths attained. Use of software results in a higher level of abstraction in performance analysis, and thus it is usually not possible to determine precise latencies within a chip using software algorithms. Furthermore, latency varies for each transaction flowing through a system.
Therefore, in order to track the latency of all transactions in a particular "snapshot" of time, a separate performance incrementer is needed for each transaction. Most systems can have thousands or even millions of transactions in the duration of time during which latencies are desired to be measured, making it infeasible to include enough performance incrementers to track them all. Also, traditional performance incrementer 10 typically cannot track other types of performance metrics such as average depth in FIFOs or flow control credits, or an average number of cache entries used.
Accordingly, a need exists for a circuit which provides for more versatility in tracking the occurrence of various performance events within a circuit.

Performance adder for tracking occurrence of events within a circuit

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Embodiments of the invention include a controller apparatus, system and method for transferring data between data storage devices within a computer system. The inventive controller apparatus includes device interface logic for connecting the controller to a plurality of data storage devices, e.g., a hard disk device and a CD-RW device, and host interface logic for connecting the controller to a host or host computer via a bus such as a PCI bus. The host includes a number of other components, e.g., a host memory, connected thereto. The controller includes switching circuitry that allows data to be transferred directly from the source data storage device to at least one destination data storage device, i.e., without the transferred data passing from the controller through the bus to the host and/or the host memory. The switching circuitry includes the appropriate buffering circuitry and multiplexing circuitry to transfer data directly from the source device to the destination device in a manner that relieves the host, the host memory, and the bus between the host and the controller of much of the data transfer responsibilities during most data transfer operations. Also, inventive controller reduces the time required for data transfer and allows the data transfer components to dissipate less power. According to alternative embodiments of the invention, the enhanced controller also includes data verification logic for verifying the integrity of the data transfer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to controllers such as Serial ATA (SATA) host controllers. More particularly, the invention relates to enhanced controllers that reduce data transfer tasks of the host and the host memory to reduce the amount of data transfer on the interface between the host and the controller.
2. Description of the Related Art
Within the world of computers and computer architecture, data storage devices and their interfaces have become more sophisticated in their manufacture and operation, thus resulting in increased rates of data transfer and storage. The rate at which data is transferred between devices such as computer hard disks and drives such as Compact Disc Read/Write (CD-RW) drives is increasing proportionately greater than the increase in cycle time (clock speed) of the memory of the host computer. For example, data storage devices using the disk drive interface standard known as Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA), also known as Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), currently have transfer rates of at least 2.4 Gigabits per second (Gb/s). The ATA standard, which has evolved into the standard known as Serial ATA (SATA or S-ATA), is characterized by the integration of the device controller on the device itself.
Data transfer between devices typically involves the transfer of data from a first device to the host memory, and then the transfer of data from the host memory to a second device. Data storage devices connect to the host computer by interfacing with a controller, e.g., a host controller, usually via an interface cable such as an IDE cable. The controller, e.g., an ATA controller or an SATA controller, interfaces with the host computer and its memory via a bus, e.g., a PCI bus or a PCI Express bus. A PCI bus is an interface bus manufactured and operated according to the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus standard.
Accessing data from data storage devices at the relatively high data transfer rates mentioned above puts a load on the host, the host memory, and the bus connecting the host to the controller. Moreover, other devices and their interfaces, e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Firewire interfaces, compete for data transfer time on the bus connected to the host and the host memory.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an improved controller apparatus and method that reduce the use of the host, the host memory and the bus between the host and the controller during data transfer operations by offloading tasks conventionally required of the host, the host memory and the bus between the host and the controller.

Controller apparatus and method for improved data transfer


A baking toaster for providing baked items, the baking toaster having a liftable upper housing section and a lower housing section, wherein the liftable upper housing section is closable against the lower housing section. A pair of interchangeable baking pans are each seated in the lower and upper housing sections, and are releasable from the baking toaster via a latching mechanism. At least one heating element is disposed in at least one of the upper and lower housing sections, and there is a timer mechanism for enabling a user to pre-set a baking cycle for a specific amount of time, which automatically shuts off the heating element at the end of the pre-set baking cycle, for the convenience of the user and for providing safety against overheating of the baking toaster, thereby also preventing burning of the baked items.

Sandwich toasters are well known, and can be found in many households and food establishments. The toasters are very convenient; they are portable, light and easy to use and they are faster than using a toaster oven. In recent years appliances were made which resemble a sandwich toaster but are used for baking cakes. These products bake waffles, muffins, donuts etc., quickly, but require constant supervision because the user does not know by looking at the cover of the appliance when the cake is ready. Furthermore, these appliances can become hazardous once they are turned on for long periods of time, because they become over-heated.
The compact size of this type of appliance dictates that its construction be well-suited to high heat temperatures applied directly to its interior surfaces, with exterior housing materials designed to withstand these heat levels and allow safe operation and handling of external parts such as the cover which opens to allow insertion of baking material, and control devices mounted on the cover.
Timer controllers are well-known in the art, and are typically provided by low-cost mechanical devices which operate on a spring provided as a thin elongated metal band wound in a flat coil configuration. These are based on a mainspring which uses a spiral torsion spring of metal ribbon—commonly spring steel, wound in a spiral. The winding mechanism uses a ratchet and pawl arrangement to prevent the spring from unwinding. When the spring is wound, thereby winding the flat coil with stored energy, this device automatically unwinds itself in accordance with a mechanically driven gear, to provide constant torque so that its release of spring energy can be controlled in accordance with a desired time cycle. Kitchen timers are typically based on these type of devices.
A problem with the use of these types of kitchen timers is the mainspring metal ribbon is subject to metal fatigue, which would tend to make it break or perform with reduced accuracy. Temperature is a factor in the proper operation of these devices, and excess temperatures can cause thermal distortion of the mainspring coil.
Due to the high heat levels of interior portions of the baking toaster appliances, it has not been considered possible to apply mainspring timer controllers to these appliances, as their operation would be adversely affected. Generally therefore, no low-cost mechanical timer controllers are available on these appliances and the problems associated with over/underbaking due to lack of supervision and control remain.
However, there are known small cooking appliances that do have a timer, such as a pizza maker. The pizza maker is distinguishable from a baking toaster, since the former has a round metal body which is not covered by an insulating housing. The body, as a result, is too hot for the touch when the appliance is operated, therefore it has a plastic handle for lifting and closing the cover. The timer is placed on the rear end of the plastic handle, because the handle is the only place on the pizza maker that a timer can function. On any other surface area of the pizza maker, a timer would become overheated and will malfunction. Because of its metal body, a pizza maker has less heat build-up internally, since the metal body enables heat dissipation to the external surrounding air.
Therefore, it would be desirable to overcome the disadvantages of prior art relating to baking toaster operation, due to lack of supervision and control.


A composition and method for the prevention and treatment of diarrhea in domesticated animals, comprising sterilized cells of aerobic bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Escherichia, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, or Streptomyces, a cell homogenate of said sterilized cells, a cell wall component-containing fraction of said homogenate or mixtures thereof. In particular species of Corynebacterium glutamicum and Brevibacterium lactofermentum as well as strains thereof, such as A.T.C.C. 13060 and A.T.C.C. 13869, respectively, are useful in the treatment of diarrhea in domesticated animals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel compositions for the prevention and treatment of white diarrhea or diarrhea in livestock, poultry, pet animals, etc.
2. Discussion of the Background
White diarrhea or diarrhea in suckling pigs during the lactation period is currently one of the most serious problems for swine breeders. About 45 to 70% of swine 2 to 9 weeks of age which are suckling during the lactation and weaning periods suffer from white diarrhea or diarrhea. The economic loss is extremely serious to swine breeders, resulting in a serious problem in the breeding industry. This tendency is also noted in advanced countries. In order to prevent and treat this disease, antibiotics such as sulfa agents or the like are generally used, but in recent years the use of antibiotics has been restricted due to the appearance of resistant bacteria and the internal persistence of the chemicals.
For the prevention and treatment of white diarrhea/diarrhea in livestock or poultry, live bacterial compositions have been developed for use as agents other than antibiotics. In live bacterial compositions, useful live bacteria are directly administered to livestock or poultry, where the bacteria are retained in the intestine of livestock or antagonize enterotoxic bacteria, e.g., Escherichia coli, to eliminate the enterotoxic bacteria, during passage of the live bacteria through the intestine. As a result, the enterobacteria microflora is improved so that white diarrhea or diarrhea of livestock is prevented and treated. In order to exhibit this effect, it is necessary that the bacteria be alive. Thus, for purposes of enhancing physicochemical stability of the live bacterial composition in feed and the living animal body, there are reported examples of using spore forming bacteria (cf. Veterinarian and Stockbreeders' News, No. 695, page 343, 1979; Journal of Japanese Veterinary Association, 30, 645 (1977)), and an example of utilizing multi-drug resistant bacteria, taking into account the use in combination with antibiotics as feed additives (Bifidobacteria Microflora, 4, 15 (1985).
However, few live bacterial agents are known to have excellent stability. In addition, the effect is very slow since the mechanism of exhibiting the effect is attributted to elimination of harmful bacteria due to antagonism against the harmful bacteria.
On the other hand, there has been proposed a composition for the prevention and treatment of white diarrhea/diarrhea in livestock or poultry containing as an effective ingredient the enzymatically digested product of cell walls of Bifidobacterium thermophilum which is considered to be an intestinal bacteria useful for livestock (cf. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-108717). It is also reported that among cell wall degradation products of bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, a peptide glycan is the effective ingredient (cf. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-265231). The mechanism of its activity is quite dissimilar to that of conventional live bacterial agents since the activity is thought to be exhibited due to activation of the immune system of livestock thereby enhancing the ability of livestock to protect itself from infection. These reports are concerned with a method which comprises culturing useful bacteria inherently present in the intestine of livestock, withdrawing the effective component alone and again returning the effective component to the host. The Bifidobacterium used in this method is a strict anaerobe which requires anaerobic operations for incubation of bacterial cells so that the operations become complicated. In addition, expensive raw materials such as vitamins, etc. are required for its growth and cell yield is poor, resulting in high costs.
The agents for the prevention and treatment of white diarrhea/diarrhea by activation of the immune system of livestock are free of the problems of drug resistant bacteria or internal persistence of drugs, unlike antibiotics, and are more highly effective than live bacterial agents. However, such agents are less practical because of difficulty in handling bacteria and the poor yield of bacterial cells.

Composition for the prevention and treatment of diarrhea in livestock


A short circuit indicator module is disclosed for an electrical switching device, in particular for a circuit breaker. The electrical switching device is configured to interrupt a current flow in the event of a short circuit and/or an overload in a subordinate power circuit. The module includes a housing, a display facility for indicating tripping of the electrical switching device in the event of a short circuit and a movable unlatching element, it being possible for the display facility to be activated by a movement of the unlatching element and the unlatching element being configured to form a functional connection between the short circuit indicator module and the electrical switching device. The module is configured to test the activatability of the display facility of the short circuit indicator module and/or to test the functional connection between the short circuit indicator module and the electrical switching device.

Electrical switching devices, for example circuit breakers or molded case circuit breakers, in particular have the task of decoupling one or a number of consumers in the event of a fault in a voltage supply network. Conventional types of fault here are the occurrence of a short circuit or the occurrence of an overcurrent. A thermomagnetic overcurrent detection unit is often used in the electrical switching devices, being embodied to trip in the event of a short circuit and in the event of an overcurrent, thereby ensuring decoupling from the voltage supply network.
When such a thermomagnetic overcurrent detection unit is used, it is however not easy for the user to determine the reason for the fault responsible for tripping the electrical switching device. The user is not given any information about whether a short circuit or an overcurrent has caused the isolation of the power circuit. To determine the reason for the fault, it is therefore necessary to examine the subordinate power circuit for possible causes.
If no obvious short circuit is found, the user will in particular assume an overcurrent to be the reason for the thermomagnetic overcurrent detection unit of the electrical switching device tripping. However if this judgment is wrong and a short circuit that is not obvious was the reason for the electrical switching device tripping, reactivation of the electrical switching device can have fatal consequences for the user. The short circuit still present in the subordinate power circuit means that the thermomagnetic overcurrent detection unit will trip again immediately. Disadvantageous consequences for the user, even injury, can result.
An insertable indicator switch module for an electrical switching device configured as a switch, in particular a low voltage circuit breaker, is known from DE 10 2010 022 596 A1, indicating the reason for tripping when the electrical switching device trips in the event of a short circuit. Since this indicator module, which can in particular be retrofitted, is only activated when a fault is due to a short circuit, said reason is also indicated to the user in the event of a short circuit. The user of the electrical switching device is therefore informed that there is a short circuit in the subordinate power circuit.
The user trusts that a short circuit in the subordinate power circuit can reliably be indicated as the reason for the electrical switching device tripping by such an indicator switch module. In the case of an electrical switching device which has been retrofitted with such an indicator module in particular, the user cannot however be certain that the indicator module and the electrical switching device interact in the intended manner.

Short circuit indicator module for an electrical switching device and electrical switching device


A holder 1 has a shank portion 2 provided with a pocket 4 having the shape of a nearly rectangular solid. The pocket 4 is placed at a position relatively close to the tip of the tool. In the cross section of the shank, the pocket 4 has a width of 50% to 100% of the shank diameter or width, a height of 20% to 50% of the shank height, and a length of 50% to 250% of the shank diameter or height. A weight 5 is inserted into the pocket 4 such that the weight is movable but unable to rush out. The weight 5 has the shape of a nearly rectangular solid and is made of a material having a specific gravity comparable to or greater than that of the material of the shank portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a low-cost vibration-suppressing cutting tool that can significantly reduce chatter vibrations mainly in cutting operations in which chatter vibrations cause problems.
2. Description of the Background Art
It has been well known that chatter vibrations can be suppressed by a method that uses inertia by incorporating a damper or similar member into a holder. In particular, in a boring bar for cutting an inside diameter, the size of the holder is limited by the hole diameter of a workpiece. Consequently, the amount of over-hang must be increased by using a slender shank. This structure tends to generate chatter vibrations. As a result, the prior art on the vibration-suppressing cutting tool mainly relates to a boring bar. Therefore, the following explanation is made by mainly referring to the boring bar as an example.
For example, the published Japanese patent application Tokukai 2003-136301 has disclosed the following method. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a hole 21 is drilled from the rear end of a shank portion 2 of the holder. A damper 22 is inserted into the hole 21 to place it at the tip portion of the holder near the cutting corner. A bar-shaped core 23 made of cemented carbide is inserted into the remaining portion of the hole 21. Another published Japanese patent application, Tokukaihei 6-31507, has disclosed a vibration-suppressing cutting tool in which a deep hole is formed at the center portion of the holder to house a weight.
As described above, an example of the conventional vibration-suppressing cutting tool has a deep hole drilled in a long holder to insert a damper so that it can be placed at the deepest portion of the hole. This structure increases the machining cost for producing an inside diameter-cutting holder, in particular, which has a long, small-diameter shank, because the hole must be drilled by using a gun drill or the like. Another example of the conventional vibration-suppressing cutting tool has a large hollow portion for inserting the weight of the damper. This structure decreases the stiffness of the holder. In addition, the complicated structure poses a problem of increasing the cost.
In addition, the complicated structure of these holders also poses the following problems: (a) the diameter of the shank of the holder is limited, and therefore the cutting diameter of the inside-diameter cutting is limited, and (b) the cutting condition to achieve the vibration-suppressing effect is limited.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises method and/or equipment to program a video or audio appliance, such as a video recorder, with tuning data such as the channel number, frequency or the like, required to receive television and/or radio transmissions, whereby the tuning data specific to a station can be entered into a program memroy of the video or audio appliance and be assigned to a program number or other program identification indicia. The tuning data and its assignment to a program number or other program identification are loaded automatically from a program memory of an already programmed video or audio appliance, such as a television set. In addition, apparatus is included for automatically loading the current time, for example, from videotext decoder unit. An advantage of the disclosed method and equipment is that the user is given a simple means of programming video or audio appliances with the tuning data required to receive television and/or radio broadcasts and/or the current time.

Methods and equipment for programming audio and video appliances are known, particularly in the video recorder field. Usually when a recorder is first connected to an existing video system, individual program numbers or other program identification indicia are assigned to respective tuning data, for example, the specific frequencies or channel numbers, required to receive transmissions from stations which are receivable at that locality. The tuning data is stored in a so-called program memory. The recorder is then "programmed" with certain basic data. Thereafter, if it is desired to set the tuner of the recorder to receive a certain station, the user need not enter the corresponding transmission frequency or channel number. Rather, it suffices to enter the program number assigned. Via the program memory, the recorder then determines the transmission frequency or channel number belonging to the desired program and adjusts the tuner accordingly.
In the methods and equipment known, however, a disadvantage is apparent in that entering the channel numbers or frequencies and their assignments to respective program numbers is time consuming and can be a source of errors.
A source of additional control errors also arises if the individual components of an audio/video home entertainment component system including, for example, radio and television receivers and recorders, have different assignments of frequencies or channel numbers to program numbers.
Thus, there is a desire to provide users with a simple means of programming audio and video appliances with required tuning data for receiving radio and television broadcasts.

Programming method and/or equipment for audio or video appliances


In an SAW filter on one side of a piezoelectric substrate are formed a pattern portion constituted by a conductor and provided on the outer circumferential portion of the surface acoustic wave device, and a conductor removing portion formed between the surface acoustic wave device and the pattern portion. The shape of the surface acoustic wave device is formed by the conductor removing portion and the surface acoustic wave device remains non-conductive with the pattern by the conductor removing portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a SAW filter adapted to a communication apparatus and the like, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to figures illustrating a surface acoustic wave device for use in a conventional SAW filter and a method of manufacturing the same, FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a state where a conventional surface acoustic wave device is formed on a piezoelectric substrate, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first process according to a method of manufacturing the conventional surface acoustic wave device, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second process according to the method of manufacturing the conventional surface acoustic wave device.
Next, configuration of the conventional surface acoustic wave device will be described with reference to FIG. 10. On one side of a piezoelectric substrate 51 are provided one surface acoustic wave device 52 constituted by a conductor and a pair of reflectors 53 disposed at both sides of the surface acoustic wave device 52 and constituted by a conductor.
In addition, the surface acoustic wave device 52 includes a pair of opposite interdigitated electrodes 52a and 52b and connecting electrodes 52c and 52d connected to the pair of interdigitated electrodes 52a and 52b. In addition, on the one side of a piezoelectric substrate 51 are provided a conductor removing part 54a at most of the places except for the surface acoustic wave device 52 and the reflector 53 and an inter-electrode removing part 54b with no conductor between the pair of interdigitated electrodes 52a and 52b (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-374137).
In this manner, however, in the conventional SAW filter, since the conductor removing part 54a is provided at most of the places of the piezoelectric substrate 51 except for the surface acoustic wave device 52 and the reflector 53, it is a difficult process with low productivity and increased costs to provide the conductor removing part 54a.
Next, a manufacturing method of the conventional SAW filter will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. First, the piezoelectric substrate 51 having a conductor pattern 54 formed on the entire of the one side of the piezoelectric substrate 51 is prepared, and then, as shown in FIG. 11, the pair of interdigitated electrodes 52a and 52b made when the inter-electrode removing portion 54b is provided and the pair of reflectors 53 are formed by a photolithography process.
At this time, since the pair of interdigitated electrodes 52a and 52b and the pair of reflectors 53 are connected to the conductor pattern 54 to prevent pyroelectric breakdown and thus have the same potential as the conductor pattern 54, no pyroelectric breakdown occurs when the photolithography process is performed.
Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the connecting electrodes 52c and 52d connected to the pair of interdigitated electrodes 52a and 52b are formed on the conductor pattern 54. However, similarly, since the pair of interdigitated electrodes 52a and 52b have the same potential as the conductor pattern 54, no pyroelectric breakdown occurs when the photolithography process is performed.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the SAW filter is completed by forming the conductor removing part 54a by a photolithography process in the conductor pattern 54 at a place except for the surface acoustic wave device 52 and the reflectors 53 (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-374137).
However, in the conventional method of manufacturing the conventional SAW filter, since the conductor removing part 54a for removing the conductor pattern 54 is provided at most of the places of the piezoelectric substrate 51 except for the surface acoustic wave device 52 and the reflectors 53, it is a difficult process with low productivity and increased costs to provide the conductor removing part 54a.
As described above, in the conventional SAW filter and the method of manufacturing the same, since the conductor removing part 54a for removing the conductor pattern 54 is provided at most of the places of the piezoelectric substrate 51 except for the surface acoustic wave device 52 and the reflectors 53, it is a difficult process with low productivity and increased costs to provide the conductor removing part 54a.

SAW filter and method of manufacturing the same


In a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine fuel is delivered into a fuel rail by a high-pressure pump. The quantity of the delivered fuel is influenced by a quantity control valve operated by an electromagnetic operating device. At least one parameter of a braking pulse of the electromagnetic actuating device depends on an efficiency of the electromagnetic actuating device and/or on a supply voltage of a voltage source and/or on a temperature, in particular of a component of the fuel injection system or of the internal combustion engine.

DE 101 48 218 describes a method for operating a fuel injection system using a quantity control valve. The known quantity control valve is implemented as a solenoid valve which is operated electromagnetically by a solenoid and has a magnetic armature and corresponding path-limiting stops. The known solenoid valve is open in the energized state of the coil. However, such quantity control valves, which are closed in the currentless state of the solenoid, are also known from the market. In the latter case the solenoid is triggered using a constant voltage or a clocked voltage (pulse width modulation, "PWM") to open the quantity control valve so that the current in the solenoid increases in a characteristic manner. After switching off the voltage the current drops again in a characteristic manner, so that the quantity control valve closes (in the case of a valve that is closed when currentless) or opens (in the case of a valve which is opened when currentless).
In the case of the valve which is closed when currentless, as disclosed in DE 101 48 218, to prevent the armature from striking against the stop at full speed during the opening movement of the quantity control valve, which could result in distinct noise development, the electromagnetic operating device is energized again in a pulsed manner shortly before the end of the opening movement. As a result of this current pulse, a braking force is exerted on the armature even before it comes in contact with the stop. The braking force reduces the speed, thereby minimizing the noise of stopping.

Method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine


A lifting device comprises four pairs of hoisting cables arranged in a V-shape relative to one another for lifting and lowering a load suspension apparatus at which they engage and which are taken off from drivable cable drums. The free lengths of the hoisting cables of two longitudinal pairs of cables lie in longitudinal planes which are located at a distance from one another, and the free lengths of the hoisting cables of two transverse pairs of cables lie in transverse planes which are located at a distance from one another and which extend at right angles to the longitudinal planes. Two mechanically separate hoists are provided for the hoisting cables of the two longitudinal cable pairs and for the hoisting cables of the two transverse cable pairs, each of the hoists is drivable by its own driving motor, and the driving motors are controlled by a common control device.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a lifting device with four pairs of hoisting cables arranged in a V-shape relative to one another for lifting and lowering a load suspension apparatus at which they engage and which are taken off from drivable cable drums, the free lengths of the hoisting cables of two longitudinal pairs of cables lie in longitudinal planes which are located at a distance from one another, and the free lengths of the hoisting cables of two transverse pairs of cables lie in transverse planes which are located at a distance from one another and which extend at right angles to the longitudinal planes.
b) Description of the Related Art
A known lifting device of the type mentioned above is used in container cranes, whose purpose is to stack containers in several layers, to load and unload trucks, and so on. The cranes are controlled entirely in a fully automatic or semi-automatic manner. The container or the load suspension apparatus carrying the container must be positioned accurately within a range of centimeters. This calls for a load suspension which is as stable as possible and which ensures that no uncontrollable pendulum movements can occur due to the influence of external forces. A design that has proven itself in this respect comprises a cable shaft or cable tower having four pairs of cables, each pair being formed by cables arranged in a V-shape relative to one another. The free lengths of two longitudinal cable pairs lie in longitudinal planes located at a distance from one another, and the free lengths of two transverse cable pairs lie in transverse planes which are located at a distance from one another and extend at right angles to the longitudinal planes.
In the previously known lifting devices of the type mentioned above, two cable drums are disposed at right angles to one another, one cable drum being used to wind up and wind off the longitudinal cable pairs and the other to wind up and wind off the transverse cable pairs. One of the two cables of a cable pair runs from the cable drum directly to the load, and the other runs from the cable drum to the load over a deflection pulley to form the V-shaped arrangement of the two cables. The two cable drums are driven synchronously by a common driving motor via an associated transmission to raise and lower the load suspension apparatus in a desired manner.
In another previously known lifting device with a cable shaft or cable tower of the type described above, all of the cables of the cable pairs are wound on a central cable drum and run over or around corresponding cable rollers (deflection pulleys) to form the V-shaped cable pairs. The central cable drum is driven by a driving motor via a transmission for lifting and lowering the load suspension apparatus.
These previously known lifting devices are disadvantageous in that the adjustments of the lengths of the individual cables are very time-consuming. On the one hand, the adjustments for the cable lengths determine the geometry of the suspension of the load suspension apparatus, and this load suspension apparatus must be suspended centrically as far as possible. Further, the cable lengths must match each other as exactly as possible so that the cables are loaded as uniformly as possible, because different cable tensions shorten the lifetime of the cables. Changes in cable tensions come about over the course of operation so that the cable adjustments must be repeated occasionally. Also, the ratios of the cable tensions can change depending on the operating state so that an optimal adjustment for all operating states may no longer be possible at all.
The size of the different hoisting cable loads is determined particularly by the following influences: positional tolerances of the cable drums and cable pulleys; deformations of the carrying frame for the hoist and parts thereof and deformations of the load suspension apparatus; diameter tolerances and concentricity tolerances of the cable drums, diameter tolerances and concentricity tolerances of the cable pulleys around which the hoisting cables run; diameter tolerances of the cables; differences in the stretching behavior of the cables; different cable lengths and the consequent different elongation behavior; the accuracy of the cable adjustments.
Since uniform cable tensions are crucial in determining the lifetime of the hoisting cables, the greatest possible precision is required for the manufacture and placement of the structural component parts. The cables must come from the same batch so that the diameter and stretching behavior are as identical as possible. Maintenance costs are high, and the lifting device is not available during the time-consuming maintenance work. The expected lifetime of the cables is still relatively low even when these criteria are met.


A printing sub-system including same including a pixilated photoconductive member (such as a photobelt) is disclosed. Electrically isolated cells hold surface application material above the photoconductor. The surface application material is first charged. Charge on the surface application material in an individual cell may then be discharged by exposure of a region of the photoconductor proximate that cell to light from an optical addressing system. The surface application material is brought into proximity of an image receiving member such as paper, which is either charged or proximate a charge source. Charged surface application material in a cell may then be electrostatically transferred from the cell onto the image receiving member, while discharged surface application material remains in the cell. The subsystem may form a part of a complete printing system using many existing components. Among other advantages, viscous liquid surface application material may thereby be printed.

The present disclosure is related to image marking methods and apparatus, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for electrophotographic gravure printing.
Electrophotography (or Xerography) is a well-known printing technology. In one common form of electrophotography a charged receptor surface is exposed to an image to be printed. The charge on the receptor surface is modified (e.g., discharged) where it is exposed to the image. The different charge states (e.g., charged or discharged) are used to selectively retain a charged pigment material (e.g., ink or toner). For example, where the receptor surface is exposed to light and thereby discharged no pigment material remains. The pigment material remaining on the receptor surface is transferred to a desired substrate, such as paper, where it may be fused or dried on the substrate.
Generally, electrophotographic systems utilize a dry, powdered pigment material referred to as a toner. These systems generally require that the substrate be charged, and that the toner be fused to the substrate, often by heating the substrate, after transferring the toner from the receptor surface to the substrate. There is, however, a desire for methods and systems for printing with different types of surface application materials (such as inks, adhesives, surface finish treatments, protective coatings, electrically conductive regions, etc.) and on a wider variety of substrates.
For example, one common family of alternative pigment material are liquid-based inks, such as used in ink-jet and other forms of printing well-known today. In many modern printing applications, the inks used are comprised of charged pigment particles suspended in a solvent carrier.
Ink-based printing systems require relatively low viscosity inks. The viscosity of the ink affects the printing throughput, the function of transferring to and fusing the image on a substrate, the internal operations of the printing system, the cleaning of the printing system and so forth. Thus, these systems generally are limited to using inks with a viscosity of for example less than 100 centipoise (cp). However, there are many applications for which a higher viscosity ink is advantageous, such as permitting the use of a wider variety of inks and substrates, reduced cost, etc.
A number of printing techniques accommodate high viscosity inks. Gravure printing is one example of a well-known printing technology that can accommodate a relatively wider range of ink viscosities. According to this technique, an image carrier (most often a drum) is provided with a pattern of relatively very small recessed areas or cells. An ink is spread over the image carrier such that ink is retained in the cells, but not on the lands between the cells. An image-receiving substrate is brought into pressured contact with the ink-bearing plate or drum. The ink wicks out of the cells and onto the substrate, where it is dried, thereby imparting a marking onto the substrate. Gravure printing can accommodate higher viscosity inks, but the image is not variable from printing to printing—the gravure pattern is a permanent part of the image carrier.
The present disclosure is focused on a combination of electrophotography and gravure printing to obtain digital (or variable) gravure printing. There have been efforts to combine these different printing technologies. For example, WO 91/15813 (Swidler) discloses an electrostatic image transfer system by which the negative or reverse of a desired image is first exposed onto the surface of a photoreceptor, then that image is transferred to a toner roller, where the image is reversed to create the desired image on the toner roller. This image on the toner roller may then be transferred to a substrate and fused.
Another reference is U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,315. According to this reference, a gravure member is used to form an image on a substrate. The gravure member includes a number of evenly spaced cells with interstitial surface lands. A photoconductor is formed on the surface lands only (i.e., no photoconductive material within the cells). Pigment material is deposited within the cells. The photoconductor is exposed to an image, and in the regions of exposure the charge on the photoconductor is dissipated. In cells adjacent charged lands, the pigment material forms a concave meniscus, and in cells adjacent discharged lands the pigment material forms a convex meniscus, due to the electric field effects on the surface tension of the pigment material. The image is then transferred from the gravure member to a conductively backed image-receiving web brought into contact with the gravure member. Where there is a conductive difference between land and conductive backing, and the pigment material is convex within a cell, the pigment material in the cell is transferred to the receiving web. Where the meniscus of the pigment material is concave within a cell and there is no conductive difference between land and web backing, no pigment material is transferred. The image may then be transferred from the web to a substrate. However, due to the meniscus effects, and the fact that electrostatics are required to pull the pigment material out of the cells and onto the receiving web, the pigment material must be of a relatively low viscosity. Furthermore, the reference teaches using a separate photoreceptor and gravure member, requiring cleaning of the ink off of the photoreceptor for every printing pass.
Another application of electrophotography to a gravure-like process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,550. According to this reference, pigment material is disposed in cells and provided with a negative charge. A positively charged photoreceptor is image-wise exposed such that certain regions are discharged and others retain the positive charge. The photoreceptor and the pigment containing cells are brought proximate one another such that the opposite charge therebetween causes the pigment material to transfer from the cells to the photoreceptor where the photoreceptor retains the positive charge but not where it is discharged. The pigment on the photoreceptor may then be transferred to substrate. Again, however, the pigment material must be of a relatively low viscosity for the electrostatic force to be sufficient to pull the pigment material from the cell to the photoreceptor. This reference also teaches using a separate photoreceptor and gravure member, requiring cleaning of the ink off of the photoreceptor for every printing pass.
An improved system and method to perform variable data printing of viscous inks would permit digital production printing in, among other fields, the commercial graphic arts and packaging markets. The ability to use viscous liquid inks would provide numerous advantages, including use of higher density/viscosity pigment, lower fixing energy (no fusing), larger substrate latitude, and lower ink spreading or dot gain. Furthermore, the ability to perform variable data printing of other surface application materials such as other forms of pigments, adhesives, surface finish treatments, protective coatings, electrically conductive regions, etc. would expand existing markets and provide new opportunities for printing materials. In general, limits on exiting printing techniques such as ink-jet printing imposed by the viscosity of printing materials can be addressed and overcome.

Digital gravure printing with a pixilated photoconductor


An energy-storage arrangement for, e.g., an electric or hybrid vehicle includes an energy-storage device including energy-storage cells arranged in a housing. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet for a temperature-control fluid, that may provide for direct temperature control of the energy-storage cells in the housing. The energy-storage arrangement further includes a temperature-control-fluid circuit, in which the housing, a pump for conveying the temperature-control fluid, and a heat-transfer device are arranged. A water-separator for separating or discharging water from the temperature-control fluid may be provided in the temperature-control-fluid circuit.

Vehicles that are propelled, in particular, by purely electromotive means ordinarily possess by way of energy-storage device a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which displays considerable evolution of heat in the course of rapid charging and discharging processes, and in which this heat has to be dissipated, in order to be reliably able to avoid an overheating of the energy-storage device. For the purpose of cooling the energy-storage devices, so-called indirect cooling or direct cooling is optionally employed. In the case of indirect cooling, a transfer of heat ordinarily occurs via a cooling plate bearing against a respective energy-storage cell in planar manner. In the case of direct cooling, the energy-storage cells are flowed around directly by temperature-control fluid—for instance, cooling oil. Direct cooling displays a distinctly higher efficiency than indirect cooling, and is therefore preferred. Since in the case of direct cooling the temperature-control fluid, or cooling oil, is in direct contact with the energy-storage cells, said fluid has to be electrically non-conducting, in order to be able to reliably rule out a short circuit. However, this is a very demanding requirement.
From US 2013/0260195 A1 a generic energy-storage device for an electric or hybrid vehicle is known which exhibits a housing in which energy-storage cells are arranged. The housing itself possesses an inlet and also an outlet for temperature-control fluid for direct temperature control—in particular for direct cooling—of the energy-storage cells.
The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for an energy-storage arrangement of the generic type, which, in particular, enables a reliable operation of said arrangement.
In accordance with the invention, this problem is solved by the subject-matter of the independent claim(s). Advantageous embodiments are the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

Energy-storage arrangement for an electric or hybrid vehicle


A method for forming a laminated structure including an amorphous carbon film on an underlying layer includes forming an initial layer containing Si—C bonds on a surface of the underlying layer, by supplying an organic silicon gas onto the underlying layer; and forming the amorphous carbon film by thermal film formation on the underlying layer with the initial layer formed on the surface thereof, by supplying a film formation gas containing a hydrocarbon compound gas onto the underlying layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor processing technique for forming a laminated structure including an amorphous carbon film on an underlying layer present on a target object, such as a semiconductor wafer. The term "semiconductor process" used herein includes various kinds of processes which are performed to manufacture a semiconductor device or a structure having wiring layers, electrodes, and the like to be connected to a semiconductor device, on a target object, such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate used for an FPD (Flat Panel Display), e.g., an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), by forming semiconductor layers, insulating layers, and conductive layers in predetermined patterns on the target object.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a hard mask formed of a laminated structure including an amorphous carbon film is often used as an etching mask in manufacturing semiconductor devices.
For example, Patent Document 1 (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOHYOU Publication No. 2007-523034) discloses a hard mask of this kind formed of an amorphous carbon film.
However, amorphous carbon films are poor in adhesiveness to an underlying layer present therebelow or a film to be formed thereon.

Method for forming laminated structure including amorphous carbon film


Aspects of articulating devices and methods are disclosed. An exemplary articulating device may comprise an interior core with a reinforcing extending along a central axis, an exterior layer bonded to the interior core by an interface, and a lumen extending through the exterior layer, exterior of the reinforcing element, and parallel to the central axis. A steering wire may be moveable in the lumen to articulate a distal end of the device relative to the central axis in response to a force applied to the steering wire. Related methods of manufacturing an articulating device are also described.

Medical devices are commonly used to access remote regions of the body for diagnostic, surgical, or therapeutic purposes. In some examples, endoscopes may be inserted through a body lumen to access the colon, esophagus, stomach, urethra, bladder, ureter, kidneys, lungs, bronchi, uterus, and/or or other organs. In other examples, catheters may be inserted through the circulatory system to access treatment sites near the heart, or through the urinary system to access sites near the kidney.
Body lumens come in various shapes and sizes. Some medical devices may be introduced into the body through a large body lumen (such as the urethra) and passed through a narrower body lumen (such as a ureter) to reach a treatment site (such as the interior of a kidney). Some body lumens are naturally formed to curve, loop around, or even wind back, while other body lumens are surgically formed by tunneling tools and, thus, irregularly shaped. A device with a steerable shaft is advantageous when negotiating any of these body lumens. Such a device should be flexible enough to permit steering, yet rigid enough to prevent buckling.
Wires may be used to steer the device through a body lumen. In some devices, the wires are routed through the interior of the device, potentially increasing its outer diameter. Because the device may be pushed through the body lumen, even small increases in the outside diameter of the device may complicate access to some treatments sites by preventing passage of the device through a preferred body lumen. In other devices, the wires may be routed through a structure inside of the device, such as a sleeve, which may further increase the outer diameter of the device. These structures also may decrease the usable interior space of the device. Given that most body lumens are narrow, even small decreases in the usable interior space of the device may limit its usefulness by, for example, reducing the size of one or more working lumens extending through the device, and/or the type of tool usable therewith.
The articulating devices and methods described herein may rectify some of the deficiencies described above, and address other aspects of the prior art.