An emitter includes at least one of: an inlet section including inlet members forming first and second openings having different sizes; a pressure reducing section including a first pressure reducing portion having a first pressure reducing configuration and a second pressure reducing portion having a second pressure reducing configuration being different; the pressure reducing section including at least one nonlinear rail portion; a pressure responsive section including at least one nonlinear rail portion; or a base including a first base portion having a first base configuration and a second base portion having a second base configuration being different, wherein at least one of the first base portion or the second base portion is positioned in one or more of the inlet section, the pressure reducing section, or an outlet section.

Drip irrigation hoses or tapes, including emitters, are commonly used in agricultural irrigation where the water quality is poor. The emitters clog when small particles in the water get trapped in the inlet portions of the emitters, and the hoses or tapes become dysfunctional until they are flushed or replaced, which is time consuming. The terms hose and tape may be used interchangeably herein.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, a need exists for drip irrigation hoses that do not easily clog.

Drip irrigation emitter with optimized clog resistance


Improved protection for a rechargeable battery from damage by being discharged below a cut-off voltage is provided. The measured voltage of a battery under load is lower than the measured voltage of the battery under no load. As the cut-off voltage for the battery is specified as a no load voltage, comparing the measured voltage of the battery under load to the cut-off voltage would result in stopping use of the battery with useable charge remaining. Through testing, a set of relationships for estimating the no load voltage of a battery under load has been determined. Using this set of relationships with battery measurements, an estimated no load voltage for the battery is determined. This estimated no load voltage is compared to the cut-off voltage. This allows for full use of the battery while stopping use of the battery when its voltage reaches the cut-off, thereby preventing damage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to rechargeable battery systems for electric vehicles, and more particularly, to protection for such a battery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electric vehicles commonly use a rechargeable battery to provide energy for operating the vehicle's motor. The battery is discharged as it is used. Discharging a rechargeable battery below a certain critical voltage, commonly known as a cut-off voltage, may result in permanent battery damage.
It is desirous to protect the battery from damage by sensing when the battery voltage is at the cut-off, and take steps such as disconnecting the battery from loads such as the electric motor in the vehicle, to prevent battery damage from occurring. It is equally desirous to allow the user or operator to use the battery fully. As should be apparent, these two objectives can be in conflict.
To protect the battery from damage, yet allow the battery to be used to its capacity, the battery must be monitored and action taken when the battery reaches its cut-off voltage.
A problem arises, however, in comparing the measured battery voltage to the cut-off voltage. The cut-off voltage specified by a battery manufacturer is a measurement made in a no load condition, when the battery is not operating devices such as motors, lights, or other electrical devices.
As explained further elsewhere herein, the measured voltage of a battery under load, when the battery is operating, for example, an electric vehicle with an electric motor, lights, and other equipment, is lower than the measured voltage of the battery when it is in a no load condition, as is the case when the battery is not supplying power to those devices.
Because the measured voltage of the battery under load is lower, stopping use of the battery when its measured voltage under load is below the cut-off voltage could stop use of the battery prematurely, when there is still useable energy left in the battery, for example, for operating the vehicle.
The measured voltage of a battery under load is lower than the measured voltage of the battery under no load because of the internal resistance of the battery.
This lowered voltage, or voltage drop, caused by the internal resistance of the battery is commonly referred to as sag. As the load on the battery increases, and current drawn from the battery increases, the sag caused by internal resistance increases, and the measured battery voltage decreases. This decrease makes comparison of the measured battery voltage to the cut-off voltage problematic. While such a comparison will protect the battery, it will also stop use of the battery prematurely, with useable charge remaining.
What is needed is a way to protect a battery from being discharged past its cut-off voltage while avoiding the problem of sag induced lower voltage measurements of a battery under load.

System and method for improved battery protection cutoff


Dispersants for aqueous coal suspensions containing. (a) lignin sulfonic acid and/or alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and/or ammonium salts thereof, PA0 (b) one or more alkyl ether phosphates corresponding to general formulae (I) and/or (II) below ##STR1## in which R is straight-chain or branched C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 alkyl or alkenyl radical, PA0 (c) optionally, other auxiliaries of the type typically present in such dispersants.. M is hydrogen, an alkali metal, ammonium, or an alkaline earth metal, and PA1 m and n are numbers of from 1 to 15, and

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dispersants containing lignin sulfonic acid and/or alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium salts thereof and to their use in aqueous coal suspensions.
2. Statement of Related Art
In view of the expected shortage of crude oil as a fuel due to the decline in natural reserves worth producing on the one hand and the need to use them as a chemical raw material on the other hand, energy-recovery processes in which aqueous coal suspensions are subjected to high-temperature combustion have recently been gaining in importance. Aqueous coal suspensions offer the major advantage over coal in solid, albeit finely divided, form in that they may be conveyed over relatively long distances at relatively low cost in transport systems known from the transport of crude oil, for example pipelines or overland pipelines. However, the disadvantage is that the dispersion medium, water, which is inert to combustion, reduces the gross calorific value of aqueous coal suspensions. So far as the coal content of aqueous coal suspensions is concerned, an excessive coal content has to be avoided with transportability in mind whereas as high a coal content as possible is desired with the gross calorific value in mind.
It is known from the prior art that aqueous coal suspensions may be provided with additives which improve fluidity during transport in pipelines, but which on the other hand allow an increase in the coal content of the aqueous coal suspensions and hence considerably increase the gross calorific value. Such additives also improve the combustion properties of the aqueous coal suspensions. For example, it is known from German Patent 27 27 943, from EP-B 0 050 412, from EP-A 0 089 766 and from EP-A 0 092 353 that organic dispersants selected from the group comprising organic sulfonic acids and/or alkali metal, alkaline-earth metal or ammonium salts thereof, more especially lignin sulfonic acid and corresponding salts thereof, may be incorporated in aqueous coal suspensions to improve their fluidity and, at the same time, to increase their coal content. Providing the coal used to prepare the coal suspensions has a suitable sieve analysis, it is possible to produce readily pumpable suspensions having coal contents of from 10 to 50% by weight.
However, it is generally desired to further increase the coal content in order to increase the gross calorific value of aqueous coal suspensions, because aqueous coal suspensions can ony be economically used for industrial combustion processes for energy recovery beyond a coal content of 65% by weight coal, based on the total weight of the suspension. In addition, it is desired to further reduce the viscosity of aqueous coal suspensions to provide for convenient transport even through pipelines of comparatively narrow cross-section.

Dispersants and their use in aqueous coal suspensions


The present disclosure provides isolated monoclonal antibodies (e.g., humanized and human monoclonal antibodies), or antigen-binding fragments thereof, that specifically bind to human natural killer cell inhibitory receptor group 2A (NKG2A) protein with high affinity and exhibit therapeutically desirable functional properties, such as for the treatment of, for example, cancer. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the anti-NKG2A antibodies of the invention are also provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies, expression vectors, host cells, and methods of treatment of, for example, cancer using the antibodies are further provided. Combination therapy, in which an anti-NKG2A antibody in the present disclosure is co-administered with at least one additional agent such as another antibody (e.g., anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and/or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies), is also provided.

Cancer is a global epidemic. According to the Global Health Data Exchange, cancer is one of the leading causes of disease and the second leading cause of death, causing about 17% of deaths worldwide. ("Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser, "Causes of 25 Death Share of deaths by cause, World, 2017", OurWorldInData.org, 2018). According to the World Health Organization, even in 2010, the economic impact of cancer was $1.16 trillion; in 2018, cancer accounted for an estimated 9.6 million deaths worldwide. ("Cancer." World Health Organization. World Health Organization, 2018). According to the National Cancer Institute estimates, in 2019, over 1.7 million new patients will be diagnosed with cancer, and over 600,000 patients will die from cancer in the United States. ("Cancer Stat 5 Facts: Cancer of Any Site." SEER Training Modules, U. S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 2019).
Traditional cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, amongst other therapies. In recent years, immuno-oncology or immunotherapy has emerged as a new option to treat cancer using the body's immune system. Immuno-oncology is different from traditional cancer treatments, which, for example, have tried to target tumors directly and/or to disrupt the tumor blood supply. Instead, immuno-oncology is designed to harness the patient's own immune system to help restore or to enhance the patient's anti-tumor immune response. Without an immuno-oncology approach, a patient's own immune responses frequently fail to prevent tumor growth for various reasons. For example, many tumors have developed specialized mechanisms to evade the patient's immune responses. Tumor cells may also lose the expression of antigens that may be recognized by the patient's immune system. In other cases, a tumor's rapid growth may even overwhelm the immune system's capacity to effectively control the tumor. (Abbas et al., "Chap. 18: Immunity to Tumors", in Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 9th ed. Elsevier, Inc., (2018)). Understanding how the immune system affects cancer development and how the immune system can be used to treat cancer has presented challenging, multi-faceted problems. For example, many patients do not respond to existing immuno-oncology treatments, and some develop resistance mechanisms, such as T cell exhaustion, which is when a T cell, a specific type of white blood cell, no longer functions properly. (Dempke et al., Eur. J. of Cancer, 74: 55-72 (2017)).
Patients need improved treatments for diseases such as cancer to improve upon traditional therapies, including currently available cancer immunotherapies. There is a great need for novel immuno-oncology agents used either alone or in combination with existing agents to improve patients' response rates and to overcome drug resistance.

Anti-human natural killer cell inhibitory receptor group 2A protein (NKG2A) antibodies


The “Gheorghe Vasilescu” lubrication apparatus comprises a shaft having a passageway and a sump for storing a lubricant. The sump has a cylindrical form and includes a ring of lugs arranged on an inner surface of the sump. The apparatus further includes a lubricant pickup tube having a first end connected to the passageway and a second end having an intake orifice. The lubricant pickup tube is substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis. The lubricant pickup tube and the shaft are configured to rotate together as one assembly about the shaft axis so that the lubricant pickup tube is capable to pick up the lubricant from sump due to the centrifitgal force arising during such conjoint relative rotation. The passageway is configured to deliver the lubricant from the sump to an outer surface of the shaft.

One of the most important conditions defining correct machinery operation is regular bearing lubrication. The insufficient amount of a lubricating material (or a lubricant) or an incorrectly chosen lubricating material inevitably leads to early bearing wear and loss of bearing service life, as well as inefficient operation and unnecessary energy waste.
Lubrication determines bearing longevity on equal terms with a bearing material. The role of lubrication has especially become more essential with the advent of complex friction assemblies, such as vehicle engines, turbines, electrical motors, rotors, machineries, etc., and with the increase of their operation intensity consisting in raising rotary frequencies, loads, and temperature.
The primary function of a lubricant is to reduce friction between two moving solid state surfaces by providing a uniform lubricant layer in the space separating them. Typically, lubricant-to-surface friction is much less than surface-to-surface friction in a system without any lubrication. Thus, the use of the lubricant reduces the overall system friction.
As a result of friction reduction, the lubricant may reduce the amount of wear that occurs during operation, reduce operating temperatures, minimize corrosion of metal surfaces, and may assist in keeping contaminants out of a bearing system, and improves system efficiency. Lubricants have many properties that can be mixed and matched to meet different operating needs. For example, there are different chemicals that can be added to allow a machinery to efficiently run at extreme temperatures. The lubricant can also be made more effective in protecting machinery surfaces under extreme pressures. By looking at the demands of the machinery, one can properly identify the type of lubricant best suited for its proper function.
Traditionally, various techniques can be utilized to perform bearing lubrication using proper lubricants. Conventional devices for providing lubrication include port holes, grease packs, oil slingers, hydraulic pumps, and others. Port holes are generally machined radially through input shafts for ducting oil inwardly to bearings. Grease packs are simply large masses of grease in which pocket bearings are packed during assembly of machineries. Oil slingers and hydraulic pumps involve mechanical pumping actions for providing forced oil flow to bearings.
Port holes are deficient in high speed lubrication of input shafts because oil travels inwardly to bearings only during slow rotation or stoppage of shafts. At high rotation speeds, centrifugal forces throw the oil outwardly rather than inwardly through the port holes, thus starving bearings at high speeds when lubrication becomes more critical.
Grease packs are successful at low speeds and under low loading conditions. However, under increased speed and loading conditions grease packs deteriorate rapidly and are, therefore, unsuitable for long-term bearing lubrication.
Oil slingers and hydraulic pumps are more successful than port holes and grease packs under high speed and load conditions. However, slingers and pumps are generally more expensive, and often work against rather than with centrifugal forces in the movement of lubricant to bearings. In addition they typically require either a separate or derived power source, thus reducing overall system efficiency.


The present invention provides compounds of the following structure, wherein R1-R9, R15, and n are defined herein.

The present invention provides rapamycin derivatives and their use in the treatment of neurological disorders.
Ischemic stroke, which accounts for 83% of all stroke cases (the remaining 17% are of the hemorrhagic-type) occurs in approximately 700,000 Americans each year, which equates to roughly 1 stroke every 45 seconds. Ischemic strokes occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. The underlying condition for this type of obstruction is the development of fatty deposits lining the vessel walls, called atherosclerosis. These fatty deposits can cause two types of obstruction: 1) cerebral thrombosis, which refers to a thrombus (blood clot) that develops at the clogged part of the vessel and 2) cerebral embolism, which refers generally to a blood clot that forms at another location in the circulatory system, usually the heart and large arteries of the upper chest and neck. A portion of the blood clot breaks loose, enters the bloodstream and travels through the brain's blood vessels until it reaches vessels too small to let it pass. Current therapies to treat ischemic stroke are limited. To date, the only approved drug for ischemic stroke is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), rt-PA, which acts as a thrombolytic, has a limited therapeutic window of opportunity (3 hours), therefore allowing only 1-2% of all stroke patients to receive treatment. There are no marketed neuroprotectants agents for ischemic stroke.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is neuropathologically characterized by the selective degeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons of the substantia nigra. PD is a progressive disease with a mean age at onset of 55, although 15% of patients are diagnosed before the age of 50. It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans have PD. Some of the classical signs of PD are resting tremor on one side of the body, generalized slowness of movement (bradykinesia), stiffness of limbs (rigidity), gait or balance problems (postural dysfunction). Current PD medications treat symptoms, whereas none prevent or retard DAergic neuron degeneration.
Given their clinical importance, prototypical molecules that clearly exhibit both neuroprotective and/or neuroregenerative activities have been highly sought after. Neurotrophins are a family of proteins that have extraordinary therapeutic properties in pre-clinical models of neurodegeneration. Although experimentally promising, clinical development of neurotrophins was met with severe obstacles and setbacks, such as the inability to deliver these large proteins to target population of neurons, instability of the proteins, and non-specific activity.
What is needed in the art are further compounds useful in treating neurological disorders.

Rapamycin derivatives and the uses thereof in the treatment of neurological disorders

Abstract: These compounds are useful in treating neurological disorders or complications due to stroke or head injury, and as neuroprotective and neuroregenerative agents.


A low density, flexible, resilient, absorbent open-cell thermoplastic foam includes a combination of thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene ionomer, stiff polymer, and surfactant selected to provide various advantageous properties. The foam is useful in personal care absorbent articles, medical absorbent articles, absorbent wiping articles, and a variety of other applications.

This invention is directed to a low density absorbent open-cell thermoplastic foam that is flexible and resilient. The foam is useful to produce a wide variety of personal care, health and medical care products.
Previous attempts to foam thermoplastic materials using thermoplastic elastomer, such as styrene block copolymer, often have not yielded low density open-celled materials. The properties of low density have been enhanced using a crosslinking agent which crosslinks the materials during extrusion. The crosslinking substantially hardens the foam and requires additional processing skills. Also, the possible existence of residual crosslinking agent makes this process less desirable for foams used in personal care, health and medical care products, which contact the human skin.
PCT International Publication WO 02/18482 discloses a thick extruded open-cell foam formed of a composition consisting of 4.5-75 parts by weight ethylene ionomer resin, 0.5-3.0 parts by weight polyolefin resin having a melting point exceeding 120° C., and 20-95 parts by weight of one or more polymers selected from the group of ethylene-propylene rubbers, styrene elastomers and polyethylene resins having a melting point of 120° C. or lower, wherein the foregoing polymers add up to 100 parts by weight. The foam is useful for packaging material, bags, fruit trays and other containers, and has shock absorption properties. While the described foam has flexibility, it possesses enough rigidity for these applications. Also, while the described foam may absorb some water, due to its open-cell structure, water absorption is not a primary function.
There is a need or desire for a low density, flexible, resilient, absorbent open-cell thermoplastic foam suitable for use in personal care, health and medical care products, many of which require softness and absorbency as primary features.

Low density flexible resilient absorbent open-cell thermoplastic foam


A suppository applicator for inserting suppositories into body cavities comprises a tubular body having an open end and a closed end. A plunger is slidably disposed in the tubular body for reciprocal movement between a withdrawn position and an extended position and a combined spring is situated between the plunger and the closed end of the applicator to urge the plunger toward its extended position. The tubular body is formed with a longitudinal slot along its side which has a notch that extends from the slot to engage a latch on the plunger and hold the plunger in its withdrawn position. The open end of the tubular body is shaped to stationarily hold a suppository against the withdrawn plunger until the suppository is to be inserted into the body cavity. When the latch is released, the spring pushes the plunger against the suppository to insert the suppository into its desired placement in the body cavity.

In the health care industry, it is well known that there are many ways by which medication can be administered to a patient. For example, medicine can be either swallowed, inhaled, injected or inserted into a body cavity. When it is necessary for the medicine to be gradually absorbed into the body, suppositories which can be inserted into an appropriate body cavity have been particularly effective.
When suppositories are used, physicians ofttimes use manual applicators to assist in inserting the suppository into the body cavity because they provide a safe, reliable and hygenic means for controlling the insertion of the suppository. Additionally, applicators can be used by the patient as a convenient aide for self-insertion when a physician is not needed. To accomplish their purpose, most applicators typically incorporate a tube which holds the suppository while a plunger is manually advanced through the tube to push the medicine into the cavity. Sometimes, however, manual force on the plunger is inadequate for the accomplishment of the task.
In veterinary medicine, manual pressure is often ineffective because of the uncooperative nature of the particular animal. For example, to prevent an animal from spitting out the medicine, veterinarians use spring loaded applicators to shoot the suppository past the soft-pallet in the animal's throat. The spring driven plunger supplies a quick, forceful thrust to the suppository which propels the medicine into the animal's esophagus before it can be disgorged by the animal. One such spring applicator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 199,849 to Middleditch. This particular applicator comprises a tapered tube with a spring driven plunger positioned inside the tube. Once the plunger is retracted, a clip holds it in position until the suppository is ready to be released. The applicator is then placed in an animal's mouth and the plunger is released to propel the suppository down the animal's throat before it can be regurgitated.
As implied above, it is sometimes desirable to insert suppositories into the body cavity of a human being such as the rectum or the vagina. Although conventional spring applicators may work well for the injection of medicinal suppositories into the mouths of animals, due to the violent nature of the forces that are applied, use of these applicators can be painful or even dangerous when used for anal or vaginal insertion on humans. Consequently, manual applicators, as opposed to spring loaded applicators, have been more often used for inserting suppositories into humans. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,538,678 to Blinn employs a tapered tube similar to Middleditch, except that the plunger is manually operated. Unfortunately, manual applicators are subject to the inexperience of the user. Consequently, the force applied on the plunger can be unpredictable and even ineffective. On the other hand, while the applicators that use a mechanical force are more reliable in providing a predictable result, they tend to propel the suppository with a sudden, peaking force which makes anal insertion uncomfortable and which runs the risk of traumatizing the anal canal.
The present invention recognizes the desirability of a suppository applicator which provides a constant, but gentle force on the plunger in order to minimize the danger of tearing or injuring the rectal wall. The present invention also recognizes that this can be accomplished by mechanical means once the bolus of medicine is placed at the cavity orifice.
In light of the above, the present invention provides a suppository applicator which can be repetitively operated to hygenically insert suppositories into body cavities with consistency. The present invention also provides a mechanical suppository applicator that has a prolonged useful life. Further, the present invention provides an applicator that inserts suppositories into a body cavity with ease under a substantially constant linear force. Additionally, the present invention provides a suppository applicator which is simple to sue, is easily manufactured and is comparatively costeffective.


A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for monitoring data traffic on a network is disclosed. In an embodiment, this includes obtaining intrinsic data from at least a portion of the traffic, obtaining extrinsic data from at least a portion of the traffic, associating the intrinsic data with the extrinsic data, and logging the intrinsic data and extrinsic data. The portion of the traffic from which the intrinsic data and extrinsic data are derived may not be stored, or may be stored in encrypted form.

This invention relates to a system and method for logging and archiving network data traffic. Business and legal requirements may require monitoring of network data traffic, which may include data packets flowing across the network. For example, anti-terrorism laws may require an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to maintain logs of all Internet traffic of its customers for a prescribed time period. The goals of such laws are to assist law enforcement agencies to investigate potential terrorist activities, including planning and financing. Other goals may include investigating potential lawbreakers and thwarting child pornographers and other internet predators. Investigations into illicit behavior are often hampered because such log data is routinely deleted in the normal course of business. Furthermore, the value of the current log is limited due to the fact that it contains very basic metadata (data about data) and nothing about the data traffic payload. Corporations may use this data to help them better manage their networks and to identify anomalous or unwanted network traffic. This data, however, is subject to the same limitations as described above.
Storing the entire network traffic is technically feasible, but this approach would come at great cost in terms of storage and archival. In addition, the laws of some countries may prohibit inspection of people's data without court approval or other authorization on a case by case basis. Furthermore, even if the entire traffic data were retained, there is no method to efficiently and effectively search the data. In the US, legislation has been enacted and new legislation is proposed to permit limited surveillance in the form of logging. Such logging may keep the names of an ISP's customers and their IP addresses, the IP addresses of the sites to which they connected, and the dates and times of their connections. Because the goal is investigative, the paucity of data limits the value of the log. For example, if investigators were to have the entire network traffic available for inspection, including the payload, the quality of their data would improve significantly, thus aiding their investigation. However, this is not feasible, due to various laws prohibiting such surveillance. In corporate use, the cost associated with storing all network traffic may not be justifiable.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for monitoring network traffic.

Monitoring and logging voice traffic on data network


A fitting consisting of a cap having a tube projecting radially or along the longitudinal axis of the injector, for connecting the injector supply tube, the cap being fitted in idle and fluidtight manner, via the interposition of an O-ring, on to a union on the injector; and a pair of coaxially-mating half rings fitted in axially integral manner partly on the cap and partly on the union, and held together by a retainer ring snapped externally on to the same.

The present invention relates to a perfected fitting between the fuel supply tube and injector of a vehicle internal combustion engine.
The fuel injectors of internal combustion engines are generally connected to the supply tube using fittings substantially consisting of a cap having a coaxial tube for connecting the supply tube, and fitted in fluidtight manner, via the interposition of a sealing ring, on to a union on the injector. The same union is fitted, inside an annular groove, with a clip connected at the assembly stage to the cap for securing this integral with the union.
Fittings of the aforementioned type present a number of drawbacks. In particular, they are not always easy to assemble; do not permit automated on-line assembly; and are fairly cumbersome, due to the supply tube only being connectable coaxial with the injector.


A chip device with a number of individually powered parts, such as photoreceptors. A mesh is provided to provide power to the individual photoreceptors. The mesh may be provided for ground and power and/or both. The mesh may be on different layers, so that one portion of the mesh is exactly over the other portion of the mesh. The mesh takes up a portion of real estate on the chip in between the individual photoreceptors, in locations where image sensing parts cannot be located. In an embodiment, the mesh can be intentionally broken at various locations to optimize the path length.

Image sensors include a number of picture elements or pixels. Each pixel obtains one portion of a final acquired image. The pixels are in different physical locations on the semiconductor substrate chip that forms the image sensor. Each of the pixels includes a circuit that individually obtains a portion of the image. Hence, each of these pixel circuits must receive power.
The power is typically applied from the outside of the chip, and shuttled across the chip to each of the pixels. As the power is delivered across the chip, each area over which the power passes effectively forms a resistance. The resistance leads to a voltage drop. Therefore, power delivered to portions which are further away from the spot where the power is sourced may have a lower voltage, as compared with other portions which are closer to the edge of the chip.
It is important to supply consistent amounts of power throughout the whole chip. Any variation in the supply power, e.g., the voltage across the chip, may produce effects in the final image which is obtained by the chip. For example, a pixel circuit which receives a slightly lower voltage may show up as slightly brighter than other pixels or slightly less bright than other pixels. Since this variation will be consistent from frame to frame, the change may be very noticeable.
As the image sensor chips become larger, it becomes more difficult to maintain a constant voltage everywhere on the chip. For example, chips which have 2000-3000 columns may have a voltage drop across the extent of the chip.
Conventionally, a relatively large diameter power supply line is run to attempt to minimize the effects of the voltage drop.

Power grid abutting a photoreceptor element and having a break in a geometric location to shift power flow of the grid


A dimming controlling circuit for LED includes: a switch configured to connect a main circuit and a power grid; a switch-on duration controlling circuit configured to output a switch-on duration controlling signals according to action times of the switch; a switch-off controlling circuit configured to output a switch-off controlling signal according to a comparison result of the voltages of the switch-on duration controlling signal and of a signal from a terminal of a switch transistor in the main circuit; a switch-on controlling circuit configured to generate a switch-on controlling signal after a first preset duration since receiving the switch-off controlling signal; and a logic unit configured to output a switch transistor controlling signal.

LED lamp has gradually become a new generation of illuminations because of advantages such as low energy consumption, energy-saving, fast response and longer service life etc. However, dimming controlling for LED lamp is still a realistic problem.
The current dimming technology for LED lamp includes linear dimming, PMW (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming and silicon controlled dimming, all of which are realized by adding some circuits inside driving chips of the LED and adding peripheral components cooperating with the circuits. For example, the linear dimming may be realized by adjusting an adjustable resistances and the PMW dimming may be realized by adding some PMW chips, both of which need adding some extra components. Although the silicon controlled dimming may replace incandescent lamps or halogen lamps by LED lamps, it works under a chopped wave mode and an output voltage may not be a sine wave and thus a lot of harmonic waves may be created and may cause serious damages to a power grid.
Since the above-mentioned methods of dimming need adding extra components outside chips, structures of the lamps may be complicated, manufacture costs may be high, and operations of the lamps may be inconvenient.


Methods, systems, and devices are described for modulating data for optical transmissions and demodulating data from optical transmissions. During modulation, bits are mapped to symbols using an 8-ary modulation scheme. The modulation scheme may be based on 8 Phase Shift Keying (8-PSK), Dual Polarization 8-PSK, or 7-1 PSK for which one of the symbols is located at or near the origin of the constellation. Streams with the symbol-mapped bits are modulated onto a waveform in the digital domain that is converted into a waveform in the analog domain before is output for conversion to an optical signal. The streams may be filtered at baseband with at least one discrete pulse-shaping filter. During demodulation, pulse-shaped data received from an optical signal and comprising symbol-mapped bits based on the 8-ary modulation scheme is sampled. The sampled data is filtered with at least one discrete pulse-shaping filter, and then equalized and demodulated.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for digital modulation and demodulation of data in a fiber optic communications system.
Fiber optic channels in network communications systems are well known and are considered effective for data transmission, allowing relatively high bandwidth data communication. Optical fiber used in such channels is flexible and can be bundled as cables, and is generally considered to be appropriate for long-distance communications because light propagates through the fiber with little attenuation compared to electrical cables. Typical present day commercial optical fiber systems transmit data at rates of 10 or 40 Gigabit-per-second. Each fiber can carry multiple independent channels and each of the channels uses a different wavelength of light. This technique, which is known as wavelength-division multiplexing or WDM, enhances the net data rate of an optical fiber. For some dense WDM systems, for example, there may be as many as 80 independent channels with each channel having a 50 Gigahertz channel spacing.
As more capacity is continually desired for networks, a demand for increased data transmission rates exists. As data rates increase in fiber optic systems, however, various optical phenomena begin to manifest and act to limit data transmission rates. Moreover, non-linearities and phase noise issues can affect the performance of certain modulation schemes at the higher data transmission rates.

High data rate optical transport network using 8-PSK


A computer receives event information associated with a user. The computer determines one or more social media contacts associated with the event, wherein the social media contacts are further associated with the user. The computer determines one or more terms utilized by the determined one or more social media contacts. The computer detects an input by the user, wherein the input includes one or more characters. The computer determines one or more autocomplete suggestions based on the one or more terms utilized by the determined one or more social media contacts.

In the digital age, the utilization of search engines has become a necessary and essential way of browsing the internet, searching through an inbox of an email client, and utilizing other similar programs. Presently search engines often provide auto-complete suggestions for a user search field based on various factors such as a cached historic popular queries. Providing a user with an auto-complete option saves the user time and provides an overall better experience.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optimized autocompletion of search field

International Business Machines Corporation


A data processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive data, a first processing unit configured to perform predetermined processing on the received data, a second processing unit configured to perform the predetermined processing on the received data, a first control unit configured to perform control so that the data processing apparatus operates in one of a first operation mode for supplying power to both the first processing unit and the second processing unit and a second operation mode for discontinuing a supply of power to the first processing unit while supplying power to the second processing unit, and a second control unit configured to perform control so that the first processing unit performs the predetermined processing if the data processing apparatus operates in the first operation mode and that the second processing unit performs the predetermined processing if the data processing apparatus operates in the second operation mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and a control method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
When data processing is performed by software, a central processing unit (CPU) bears a heavy burden. Thus, a conventional data processing apparatus generally includes a hardware accelerator that performs data processing.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-354064 discusses an apparatus including a processing unit that performs protocol processing by hardware and a processing unit that performs protocol processing by software.
Internet protocol security (IPSec) processing has been conventionally performed by a data processing apparatus. Here, an "IPSec" refers to a protocol used for performing authentication processing and encryption processing in a network layer, which is the third layer of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model.
If a data processing apparatus is provided with a hardware accelerator for performing IPSec processing, the processing load on a CPU can be reduced. However, in this case, it is necessary to always keep the data processing apparatus powered on, which may increase the power consumption of the entire system.

Data processing apparatus and method for selectively powering on a processing unit based on a correct port number in the encrypted data packet


A defibrillation system includes an electrode set to contact a biological subject, and a portable electronic device supporting mobile wireless communications and coupled to the electrode set. The portable electronic device includes a processor and a memory unit. The memory unit stores program instructions which, when executed by the processor, enables the processor to obtain an electro-cardiac signal of the biological subject through the electrode set, and output a discharge command according to the electro-cardiac signal for delivering an electrical shock to the biological subject through the electrode set.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a defibrillation system, and more particularly to a defibrillation system including a portable electronic device that supports mobile wireless communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) may result in cardiogenic sudden death within a few minutes if first aid is not immediately provided.
Defibrillation is an effective treatment for pulseless VT and VF. Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are commonly found in public places in some countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan, thereby promoting survival rate of cardiac dysrhythmia.
However, while people may suffer from VT/VF anywhere, the AEDs are only disposed at crowded places.

Defibrillation system and method and defibrillator electrode device


An EUV radiation source (12) that generates a sheet (36) of a liquid target material that has a width that matches the desired laser spot size (28) for good conversion efficiency and a thickness that matches the laser beam/target interaction depth. The EUV source (12) includes a reservoir (10) containing a pressurized cryogenic liquid target material, such as liquid Xenon. The reservoir (10) also includes an array (14) of closely spaced orifices (16). The liquid target material is forced through the orifices (16) into a vacuum chamber as separated liquid stream filaments (20) of the target material that define the sheet (36). The liquid streams freeze to form an array of frozen target filaments (20). A laser beam (24) is directed to a target area (28) in the vacuum chamber where it irradiates the stream of filaments (20) to create a plasma (30) that emits EUV radiation (32).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a laser-plasma extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation source and, more particularly, to a laser-plasma EUV radiation source that generates a thin sheet of a cryogenic target material or a linear array of closely spaced filaments of a cryogenic target material, where the sheet or the array of filaments has a width that corresponds to a laser spot size providing a desired conversion efficiency and a thickness that corresponds to a laser/target interaction depth.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Microelectronic integrated circuits are typically patterned on a substrate by a photolithography process, well known to those skilled in the art, where the circuit elements are defined by a light beam propagating through a mask. As the state of the art of the photolithography process and integrated circuit architecture becomes more developed, the circuit elements become smaller and more closely spaced together. As the circuit elements become smaller, it is necessary to employ photolithography light sources that generate light beams having shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies. In other words, the resolution of the photolithography process increases as the wavelength of the light source decreases to allow smaller integrated circuit elements to be defined. The current trend for photolithography light sources is to develop a system that generates light in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) or soft X-ray wavelengths (13-14 nm).
Various devices are known in the art to generate EUV radiation. One of the most popular EUV radiation sources is a laser-plasma, gas condensation source that uses a gas, typically Xenon, as a laser plasma target material. Other gases, such as Krypton, and combinations of gases, are also known for the laser target material. In the known EUV radiation sources based on laser produced plasmas (LPP), the gas is typically cryogenically cooled to a liquid state, and then forced through a nozzle into a vacuum chamber as a continuous liquid stream or filament. The lowered temperature of the liquid target material and the vapor pressure within the vacuum environment cause the target material to quickly freeze. Cryogenically cooled target materials, which are gases at room temperature, are required because they do not condense on the EUV optics, and because they produce minimal by-products that have to be evacuated by the vacuum chamber. In some designs, the nozzle is agitated so that the target material is emitted from the nozzle as a stream of liquid droplets having a certain diameter (50-100 xcexcm) and a predetermined droplet spacing. Some designs employ sheets of frozen cryogenic material on a rotating substrate, but this is impractical for production EUV sources because of debris and repetition rate limitations.
The target stream is illuminated by a high-power laser beam, typically from an Nd:YAG laser, that heats the target material to produce a high temperature plasma which radiates the EUV radiation. The laser beam is delivered to a target area as laser pulses having a desirable frequency. The laser beam must have a certain intensity at the target area in order to provide enough heat to generate the plasma.
It is desirable that a EUV source has a good conversion efficiency. Conversion efficiency is the measure of the laser beam energy that is converted into recoverable EUV radiation. It has been shown that to provide a good conversion efficiency, the laser beam spot size at the target area must be larger in diameter than the distance the plasma expands during each laser beam pulse. Further, the target size must be larger than the laser spot size in order for the target to intercept all of the laser energy. For targets that are droplets or cylindrical filaments, the desired laser spot size that provides good conversion efficiency is orders of magnitude larger than the depth that the laser beam enters into and interacts with the target material (5-10 xcexcm deep) to generate the plasma. Therefore, as the size of the droplet or filament is increased, more of the target material is unused or unvaporized because of the limits of the laser interaction depth into the droplet or filament.
EUV radiation must be produced in a vacuum chamber. The remaining target material is pumped out of the chamber in its gas phase after it has been exposed to the laser beam. Thus, it is not practical to simply increase the diameter of the droplet or filament to the laser spot size that provides the desired conversion efficiency because of the system mass flow constraints. For example, for a target droplet of 500 xcexcm and a laser pulse of 750 mJ, only 0.2% of the mass of the droplet is used for making the EUV radiation, and the remaining 99.8% of the mass of the droplet is left over as debris that must be evacuated from the chamber. The vacuum pumps of the system set the practical upper limit for the total mass flow of cryogenic target material into the chamber.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an EUV radiation source is disclosed that generates a flowing sheet or a linear array of filaments of a liquid target material that have a width that matches the desired laser spot size for good conversion efficiency and a thickness that matches the laser beam/target interaction depth. In one embodiment, the EUV source includes a reservoir containing a source of a pressurized cryogenic liquid target material, such as liquid Xenon. The reservoir also includes an array of closely spaced orifices. The liquid target material is forced through the orifices into a vacuum chamber as closely spaced liquid stream filaments of the target material. The liquid streams freeze to form an array of frozen target filaments. A laser beam is directed to a target area in the vacuum chamber where it irradiates the sheet of filaments. The width of the laser beam at the target area covers most of the width of the array of filaments to provide a high conversion efficiency. In an alternate embodiment, the orifices are replaced with an elongated slot that generates a frozen sheet of target material having a desired width and thickness.
Additional objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Linear filament array sheet for EUV production


An ion exchange chromatography apparatus includes a first stationary phase and a second stationary phase. The first stationary phase has at least one complexing agent functional group capable of forming a complex with at least one ion present in a sample that contains at least two ions when the sample contacts the first stationary phase. The second stationary phase is distinct from the first stationary phase and has at least one non-complexing agent functional group capable of exchanging with the ions present in the sample, other than the one complexed by the complexing agent functional group.

The present invention relates to a novel liquid chromatography apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved chromatographic apparatus and a method for performing ion-exchange chromatography such as anion or cation exchange chromatography. The apparatus includes a first stationary phase with exchangeable complexing agents. The apparatus also includes a second stationary phase different and distinct from the first stationary phase. The second stationary phase has exchangeable standard ion exchange groups. Cation exchange functional groups include sulfonates, carboxylates, and phosphonates. Anion exchange functional groups include quaternary amines, alkanol quaternary amines, trimethylammonium, alkyl quaternary ammoniums, and others. The apparatus provides desirable separation characteristics and selectivity for numerous cationic species including alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, ammonium, amines, and the like and for anionic species such as fluoride, chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, bromate, chlorite, chlorate, borate, silicate, formate, dichloroacetate, perchlorate, chromate, oxalate, thiosulfate, iodide, thiocyanate, monofluorphosphate, acetate, citrate, selenite, arsenate, selenate, tungstate, molybdate, etc.
The separation of cations from a mixture of different cations is typically accomplished by cation-exchange chromatography using a cation-exchange stationary phase with ionic, acidic groups as the cation exchangers. Cation-exchange chromatography is a known technique for the analysis and separation of cations in solutions. The technique typically includes a chromatographic separation step using an eluant solution containing an electrolyte. During the chromatographic separation step, cations of an introduced sample are eluted through a chromatography column that comprises an insoluble stationary phase having functional cation-exchange groups. Cations traversing through the column and contacting the stationary phase are then capable of exchanging at these functional cation-exchange sites. Cations that interact with the cation-exchange sites for longer periods elute from the chromatography column after cations that interact with those sites for shorter periods. For the most part, ionic acidic groups such as sulfonate, carboxylate, or phosphonate groups or mixtures thereof are used as the primary functional groups of typical cation-exchange columns.
Depending upon the type of functional group that is linked to the stationary phase of a typical cation-exchange chromatography column, different cation elution profiles are obtained. For example, standard cation-exchange chromatography columns that use a mixture of carboxylate and phosphonate functional groups provide an elution profile where lithium elutes from the column first followed in order by sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and finally calcium. Some cationic species, however, elute in peaks that overlap with other cationic species that elute either immediately before or immediately after. As a result, the separation is less than desired. Moreover, when one cationic species is present at significantly higher concentrations than another cationic species, separation of the two from a mixture of them may be very difficult. For example, many environmental and industrial samples contain relatively high levels of sodium in comparison to the levels of ammonium (at times, it may be in a ratio of about 5000:1, sodium to ammonium). A typical cation chromatography column has a difficulty in separating the sodium from the ammonium so that analysis of each can be conducted.
Similar issues arise with respect to the separation of anions from a mixture of different anions. An apparatus and method to enhance the separation capabilities of ion-exchange chromatography columns, therefore, would be very useful.
Recently, it has been found that particular complexing agents, crown ethers, may be useful in cation chromatographic separation. Crown ethers are macrocyclic polyether compounds that are capable of selectively forming complexes with a variety of different cationic species. These compounds are referred to as xe2x80x9ccrownsxe2x80x9d because their chemical structures resemble the shape of the regal crown and because of their ability to xe2x80x9ccrownxe2x80x9d cationic species by complexation. The ability of a crown ether molecule to complex with a cation is dependent upon the size of the hole formed by macrocyclic structure and, as a result, crown ethers of different sizes exhibit significantly different specificities for the complexation of cations. For example, some crown ethers readily form complexes with potassium and ammonium. The cation complexation characteristics of many crown ether molecules have been well documented in the literature.
Crown ether compounds have been used in the mobile phase to improve, for example, the separation between sodium and ammonium. A disadvantage to this use is that crown ethers are considered to be toxic and require special handling and disposal practices.
Accordingly, it has been suggested to incorporate crown ether compounds as part of chromatographic stationary phases. Cation-exchange resins based solely upon crown ether functional groups, however, often exhibit poor chromatographic efficiency due to the slow rate of binding and release of the cation from the crown ether macrocycle structure and may be too selectively xe2x80x9ccation-specificxe2x80x9d for many applications.
One solution is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,994, which describes the use of synthetic resin particles having both crown ether functional groups and standard non-crown ether cation-exchange functional groups such as sulfonates, carboxylates, or phosphonates that are attached to the same synthetic resin particles. This patent refers to such resin as bifunctional cation-exchange resin. In other words, the single resin particle contains two differing functional groups, a crown ether functional group, and a non-crown ether functional group.
One disadvantage to this approach is that not all chromatographic analyses require the use of a crown ether to achieve effective separation. Therefore, in those situations, one must replace the so-called bifunctional cation-exchange resin with, for example, a standard non-crown ether cation exchange resin. As a result, a number of different columns will be required, which increases the complexity and cost of the system. Another disadvantage is that the crown ether compounds may not have the selectivity desired for the separation of one or more ions.
The present invention addresses these disadvantages by providing an apparatus that has a first stationary phase with at least one complexing agent and a second stationary phase; distinct from the first stationary phase, with non-complexing agent functional groups. In one aspect of the present invention, the first and second stationary phases may be placed in series. One advantage to this aspect is that one can easily switch modes by simply selectively flowing the eluant (and/or the sample) through either the first stationary phase or the second stationary phase or through both the first and the second stationary phases.
In accordance with the present invention, a novel ion-exchange chromatography apparatus provides an enhanced ability to separate ions from a mixture of different ions. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention is useful for separating cations from a mixture of different cations. The apparatus and method of the present invention are particularly useful in enhancing the separation of cations that elute from standard sulfonate-, carboxylate- or phosphonate-based chromatography columns at approximately the same time and/or in detecting the presence of a trace amount of one cation in a large excess concentration of another different cation. The apparatus and method allows the normal elution profile of some cationic species to be shifted so that the elution of that species is delayed to provide for enhanced cationic separation. The present invention, therefore, provides a novel apparatus and methods that provide unique separation characteristics for numerous cationic species including alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, ammonium, amines, and the like.
Similarly, in another embodiment, the present invention is useful for separating anions from a mixture of different anions. The apparatus and method of the present invention are particularly useful in enhancing the separation of anions that elute from standard quaternary amine or quaternary ammonium based chromatography columns at approximately the same time and/or in detecting the presence of a trace amount of one anion in a large excess concentration of another different anion. The apparatus and method allows the normal elution profile of some anionic species to be shifted so that the elution of that species is delayed to provide for enhanced anionic separation. The present invention, therefore, provides a novel apparatus and methods that provide unique separation characteristics for numerous anionic species including but not limited to fluoride, chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, bromate, chlorite, chlorate, perchlorate, chromate, oxalate, thiosulfate, iodide, etc.
In this regard, one aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for use in ion-exchange chromatography that comprises a first stationary phase and a second stationary phase that is distinct from the first stationary phase. The first stationary phase includes at least one complexing agent. Where the apparatus or method is used to separate cations, the complexing agent may be selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acid chelating agents, such as tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N-hydroxyethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), porphyrins, porphine, dimercaprol, nitrilotriacetic acid, morpholine, vinylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, and crown ethers. Where the apparatus or method is used to separate anions, the complexing agent may be selected from the group consisting of crown ethers (such as benzo-18-crown-6, dibenzo-14-crown4, dibenzo-21-crown-7), cryptands, calixarenes, pyridine, unithiol, neutral Lewis Acid host molecule containing tin, mercury complexing agents, and mixtures thereof.
The complexing agent is attached to the first stationary phase and is capable of forming complexes with at least one ion present in a sample in contact with the first stationary phase. Non-complexing agent functional groups are attached to the second stationary phase and are capable of interacting with ions present in a sample in contact with the second stationary phase. As used in the following specification and claims, the term xe2x80x9cattachedxe2x80x9d includes bonding, coating, chemically binding and /or reacting, as well as other known means for attaching the complexing agents and the non-complexing agent functional groups to the respective stationary phase.
As used in the following specification and claims, the phrase xe2x80x9cnon-complexing agent functional groupsxe2x80x9d includes the known ionic, acidic groups as cation exchangers such as carboxylate, phosphonate, and sulfonate groups as well as the known ionic anion exchangers such as quaternary amines, alkanol quaternary amines, trimethylammonium, alkyl quaternary ammoniums, and others. The phrase is meant to exclude the complexing agents described above and in the following specification.
In one aspect of the present invention, the first stationary phase comprises a first group of support particles and the second stationary phase comprises a second group of support particles that are distinct from the first group of support particles.
In one embodiment, the first group of support particles and the second group of support particles are contained in a single column. In a second embodiment, the first group of support particles and the second group of support particles are contained in separate columns. The columns are arranged such that the eluant (and sample) successively contacts either the first group of support particles and then the second group of particles or the second group of support particles and then the first group of support particles.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for separating a first cation from a second different cation in a sample that comprises at least the first and second cations. The method comprises contacting an eluant (and a sample containing cations) with a first stationary phase having complexing agent functional groups attached to the first stationary phase and with a second stationary phase having non-complexing agent functional groups attached to the second stationary phase, such that the first stationary phase and the second stationary phase are distinct. In one embodiment, the first stationary phase is provided in a first column and the second stationary phase is provided in a second column in series with the first column, such that the eluant (and the sample) successively contacts the first stationary phase and then the second stationary phase.
Similarly, another aspect of the present invention provides a method for separating a first anion from a second different anion in a sample that comprises at least the first and second anions. The method comprises contacting an eluant (and a sample containing anions) with a first stationary phase having complexing agent functional groups attached to the first stationary phase and with a second stationary phase having non-complexing agent functional groups attached to the second stationary phase, such that the first stationary phase and the second stationary phase are distinct. In one embodiment, the first stationary phase is provided in a first column and the second stationary phase is provided in a second column in series with the first column, such that the eluant (and the sample) successively contacts the first stationary phase and then the second stationary phase.

Liquid chromatography apparatus having two stationary phases


A printing system is provided that dynamically adjusts the method of printing an image based on the lightness or darkness of the medium upon which the image will be printed. The reflectivity of the medium upon which an image is to be printed is determined, and the way in which the image will be printed is adjusted based on the determined reflectivity of the medium. For lighter colored mediums, on which sufficient contrast will be provided, the image can be printed directly onto the medium. For darker colored mediums, on which the ink used to print the image will not provide enough contrast with respect to the medium to produce a reliably readable image, the method of printing the image is modified to ensure that sufficient contrast is always provided to produce a reliably readable image.

Mail processing systems for printing postage indicia on envelopes and other forms of mail pieces have long been well known and have enjoyed considerable commercial success. There are many different types of mail processing systems, ranging from relatively small units that handle only one mail piece at a time, to large, multi-functional units that can process thousands of mail pieces per hour in a continuous stream operation. The larger mailing machines often include different modules that automate the processes of producing mail pieces, each of which performs a different task on the mail piece. The mail piece is conveyed downstream utilizing a transport mechanism, such as rollers or a belt, to each of the modules. Such modules could include, for example, a singulating module, i.e., separating a stack of mail pieces such that the mail pieces are conveyed one at a time along the transport path, a moistening/sealing module, i.e., wetting and closing the glued flap of an envelope, a weighing module, and a metering module, i.e., applying evidence of postage to the mail piece. The exact configuration of the mailing machine is, of course, particular to the needs of the user.
Typically, a control device, such as, for example, a microprocessor, performs user interface and controller functions for the mailing machine. Specifically, the control device provides all user interfaces, executes control of the mailing machine and print operations, calculates postage for debit based upon rate tables, provides the conduit for the Postal Security Device (PSD) to transfer postage indicia to the printer, operates with peripherals for accounting, printing and weighing, and conducts communications with a data center for postage funds refill, software download, rates download, and market-oriented data capture. The control device, in conjunction with an embedded PSD, constitutes the system meter that satisfies U.S. information-based indicia postage meter requirements and other international postal regulations regarding closed system meters. The United States Postal Service (USPS) initiated the Information-Based Indicia Program (IBIP) to enhance the security of postage metering by supporting new methods of applying postage to mail. The USPS has published draft specifications for the IBIP. The requirements for a closed system are defined in the "Performance Criteria for Information-Based Indicia and Security Architecture for Closed IBI Postage Metering System (PCIBI-C), dated Jan. 12, 1999. A closed system is a system whose basic components are dedicated to the production of information-based indicia and related functions, similar to an existing, traditional postage meter. A closed system, which may be a proprietary device used alone or in conjunction with other closely related, specialized equipment, includes the indicia print mechanism.
The PCIBI-C specification defines the requirements for the indicium to be applied to mail produced by closed systems. An example of such an indicium is illustrated in FIG. 1. The indicium 10 consists of a two-dimensional (2D) barcode 12 and certain human-readable information 14. Some of the data included in the barcode can include, for example, the PSD manufacturer identification, PSD model identification, PSD serial number, values for the ascending and descending registers of the PSD, postage amount, and date of mailing. In addition, a digital signature is required to be created by the PSD for each mail piece and placed in the digital signature field of the barcode. Verification of indicium is performed by the postal service scanning a mail piece to read the 2D barcode and verifying the information contained therein, including the digital signature. If the verification is unsuccessful, indicating that the indicium may not be authentic, the mail piece may not be delivered.
Since postal services accept indicia printed by mail processing systems as conclusive proof of payment of the amount of postage indicated, such devices are in effect machines for printing money. As a result postal services have imposed high standards for the print quality of indicia images produced by such machines, to ensure that the postal verification equipment can properly read and decode the barcodes included in the indicium. Many postal services, such as, for example, the United States Postal Service (USPS), specify acceptable contrast ratios that must be provided between images printed on a mail piece and the mail piece for the images to be properly read. Even if an indicium is valid, if the verification equipment is unable to read the indicium due to poor contrast ratio or print quality, verification will not be possible. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the printing systems utilized by the mail processing systems are capable of consistently producing high quality images that have sufficient contrast with the background to increase the read rates of such images.
In recent years, ink jet printing systems have been utilized in mail processing systems. Ink jet printing systems, as used herein, includes any form of printing wherein print control signals control a print mechanism to eject ink drops to produce a matrix of pixels, i.e. picture elements, to represent an image. An ink supply, typically in the form of a reservoir, supplies ink to the print mechanism. In highly-controlled environments, e.g., on a single substrate matched to the printing method, it is possible to consistently achieve high quality prints that will achieve high barcode read rates. Mail processing systems, however, are not controlled environments, as printing will be performed on a variety of substrates, e.g., mail pieces, having different characteristics. Currently, the ink used in mail processing systems is manufactured to be as dark as possible to provide the greatest contrast with respect to a typical mail piece upon which an indicium will be printed, such as, for example, a white or off-white mail piece. For darker colored mail pieces or glossy mail pieces, however, the contrast between the ink used for printing and the background may be insufficient for the indicium to be properly read.
Thus, there exists a need for systems and methods for improving print quality on mail pieces that do not have sufficient contrast with the ink used to print an image to increase the read rates of images printed on such mail pieces.

System and method for improving print quality on mail pieces having low reflectivity


A system and method for managing alert notifications in an automated patient management system is presented. One or more settings specifying patient data collection periodicity are defined. One or more patient data sources operating on a remotely managed patient and selected from at least one of a physiological sensor and a therapy delivery device are also defined. One or more triggers associated with a condition occurring in relation to at least one such patient data evaluateable subsequent to collection are defined. Finally, a notification scheme executable upon detection of at least one such trigger is determined to provide an external indicator of the condition occurrence.

Generally, follow-up for patients suffering from chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure or respiratory insufficiency, occurs in-clinic once every three to twelve months, or as necessary. Although mandatory, the clinic visits are also often the only one-on-one interpersonal contact that occurs between the patient and his or her physician or healthcare provider, absent complications or other health-related issues. In-clinic visits allow a clinician to manage those patient medical devices and sensors that may require specific attention, for example, implantable medical devices (IMDs), such as pacemakers or defibrillators, or home-based sensors, such as Holter monitors, although certain patient medical devices and sensors, such as scales and blood pressure cuffs, seldom require clinical follow-up. Where appropriate, devices and sensors are interrogated using a conventional programmer, which retrieves stored event data and device settings and allows reprogramming to modify or upgrade operational behaviors. However, due to limited onboard storage, the patient data received through in-clinic interrogations from the devices and sensors is limited in quantity and represents a "snapshot" of patient wellness, frequently far removed in time from the occurrence of an event of potential medical interest.
Alternative follow-up methods, such as transtelephonic monitoring, can enable a healthcare provider to provide limited remote patient management on a more frequent, often monthly, basis. In addition, dedicated remote patient management devices, such as repeaters, have enabled healthcare providers to remotely perform follow-up monitoring on a daily basis using a data communications network, such as the Internet. Nevertheless, these devices require patients to remember to initiate remote sessions and impose the need to confirm patient data receipt on the clinician. Additionally, substantially all received patient data must be reviewed by a clinician to ensure prudent health care provisioning, which frequently requires specific clinical expertise as a service separate from a general clinical practice.
Therefore, there is a need for an approach to providing automated patient management of remote patients through highly configurable patient data collection and evaluation and alert notification. Preferably, such an approach would relieve clinicians from the drudgery of confirming patient compliance and the routine review of detectable non-critical conditions.

System and method for managing alert notifications in an automated patient management system


An ignition control module for an internal combustion engine is incorporated directly into an existing ignition module package design and thereby preserves stock appearance, and is cooperative with stock magnetos, distributors and coils. The module incorporates both ignition pulse generation and adjustable rev limiting. A pushbutton switch allows manual selection of a preferred RPM to rev limit to, and the selection may be carried out under the hood while the engine is running. A plurality of light emitting diodes display the selected rev limit RPM by flashing a corresponding LED, and when not being used to select rev limit RPM, display the engine RPM in bar graph format. A digital flywheel is provided to reduce adverse affect of mechanical jitter in distributor mechanical parts, to improve timing of individual sparks. Dwell and timing curves are programmed into a microprocessor, and may be changed through external input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an ignition control device for an internal combustion piston engine. More particularly, an ignition module having a stock appearance and cooperative with stock magnetos, distributors and coils enables maximum torque and power of the engine while simultaneously controlling a maximum revolution rate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many drivers of collector cars such as stock antique and classic cars desire to protect, and where possible, improve the performance of their vehicles in an unobtrusive manner, most preferably maintaining the stock appearance not only of the body of the vehicle, but also of the engine compartment as well. Of particular interest to the present disclosure is the setting of maximum engine RPM (Rotations Per Minute) limits.
Unfortunately, and for a variety of reasons, an engine may be turned too quickly. For exemplary purposes only, and not limiting the present disclosure thereto, slip during acceleration, a slipping or blown clutch, a missed gear, failure to engage the clutch before fully opening the throttle, component failure such as a transmission failure, carelessness, and other such factors can lead to excessive engine RPMs. This can lead to engine failure, and may even result in an explosion or flying debris that can endanger bystanders. The aforementioned and other events that can lead to excessive RPMs can be further compounded by already high RPMs such as frequently occur during a race or upon traversing inconsistent or unpredictable surfaces such as ice or snow-packed roadways.
Typical stock ignition systems deliver electrical charge to engine spark plugs at energy levels well below component tolerances. Such stock ignition systems also do not usually provide over-rev protection. As a result, the operation and performance of the engine is compromised.
Recognizing a need for improved ignition systems, early pioneers developed a variety of electronic ignition systems that could provide improved control over the ignition spark. Exemplary of these are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,052,967 by Colling et al, entitled "Digital electronic ignition spark timing system" and 4,790,280 by Umehara et al, entitled "Ignition apparatus", the contents and teachings of each which are incorporated herein in entirety.
One popular approach to an electronic ignition is the capacitive discharge ignition (CDI) system. Exemplary are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,046,125 by Mackie, entitled "Capacitive discharge ignition system"; 4,538,586 by Miller, entitled "Capacitive discharge ignition with long spark duration"; 4,620,521 by Henderson et al, entitled "Modular, programmable high energy ignition system"; 5,526,785 by Masters, entitled "Electronic ignition system"; 5,531,206 by Kitson et al, entitled "Capacitative discharge ignition system for internal combustion engines"; and 6,196,208 by Masters, entitled "Digital ignition", the contents and teachings of each which are incorporated herein in entirety. One feature of these CDI systems is the ability to store energy in the capacitor and release that energy at desired times, assisting with the generation of an intense spark within the combustion chamber.
An additional development in electronic ignition systems is the incorporation of a computing device to programmably control spark. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the terms microprocessor, microcontroller, computer, computing device, CPU, and any other terms for electronic devices that permit software or programmed control over the system will be understood to be equivalent. Exemplary patents that illustrate computing devices within an ignition system, the contents and teachings of each which will be understood to be incorporated herein by reference in entirety, include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,673 by Mackie, entitled "Electronic ignition system for internal combustion engines"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,311 by Venieres et al, entitled "Process and device for limiting the running speed of an internal combustion engine with electronic ignition"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,033 by Hosoe et al, entitled "Ignition timing control system for internal combustion engines"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,120 by Tobinaga et al, entitled "Ignition control system for an internal combustion engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,367 by Aoki et al, entitled "Method for controlling ignition timing of internal combustion engine and apparatus therefor"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,995 by Erhard, entitled "Ignition process, arrangement and apparatus for internal combustion engines with a magneto"; 5,445,121 by Kai, entitled "Engine operational control unit"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,395 by Young et al, entitled "Ignition system and method of programming an ignition system"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,428 by Heath et al, entitled "Method and system for engine ignition for timing controlled on a per cylinder basis"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,692 by Umemoto et al, entitled "Ignition control system"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,915,777 by Fukushima et al, entitled "Control system for general-purpose engine"; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,282 by Andersson et al, entitled "Independent timing retard for engine speed limiting".
Recognizing the particular importance of rev limiting, some inventors have designed rev limiting circuitry that will operate in association with an ignition system, for exemplary purposes to disable selected sparks, thereby selectively preventing combustion from occurring within one or more cylinders during a crankshaft revolution. Exemplary patents, the contents and teachings of each which will be understood to be incorporated herein by reference in entirety, include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,978 by Kanno, entitled "Over-revolution preventing apparatus for internal combustion engines"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,859 by LeFevre, entitled "Low cost, temperature stable, analog circuit RPM limiter"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,258 by Gudgeon et al, entitled "Engine revolution limiter"; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,050,899 by Masters et al, entitled "Slew rate revlimiter".
Additional patents and published applications, the contents and teachings of each which will be understood to be incorporated herein in entirety, include: U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,103 by Swiden, entitled "Engine-condition-responsive cutoff apparatus"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,833 by Mann et al, entitled "Device for the control of the traveling speed of a motor vehicle"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,970 by Dretzka et al, entitled "Marine propulsion unit having ignition interruption means to assist transmission shifting"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,150 by Foster, entitled "Engine including means for retarding sparking operation to control engine overspeed"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,613 by Nakayama, entitled "Three wheel motorcycle with reverse mechanism"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,315 by Tobinaga et al, entitled "Ignition control system for an internal combustion engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,941 by Yamagata, entitled "Ignition system"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,560 by Umehara, entitled "Rotating speed control apparatus for an internal combustion engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,187 by Kato, entitled "Ignition system for internal combustion engines"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,585 by Remmers, entitled "Electronically assisted engine starting means"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,624 by Hirano, entitled "Ignition control for an engine to prevent overheating and backfiring"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,385 by Staerzl, entitled "Engine overspeed control"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,770 by Yano et al, entitled "Ignition controller"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,550 by Nagano et al, entitled "Method for determining the control values of a multicylinder internal combustion engine and apparatus therefor"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,840 by Kanno et al, entitled "Ignition system for marine propulsion unit"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,191 by Okuda, entitled "Tachometer signal generating device"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,383 by Demizu et al, entitled "Ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,821 by Fukui et al, entitled "Vehicle speed governor"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,318 by Yokotani et al, entitled "After-burning preventive ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,319 by Ikeda et al, entitled "Engine speed control apparatus"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,996 by Fiorenza, entitled "Microprocessor-based engine speed limiter"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,526 by Hamburg et al, entitled "Engine air/fuel control with adaptive learning"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,189 by Uraki et al, entitled "Engine revolution control apparatus having overspeed governing capability"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,132 by Olsen et al, entitled "Engine limiter for powered vehicles"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,609 by Kustosch, entitled "Method and device for controlling the drive unit of a motor vehicle"; EP0501746 by Nagano et al, entitled "Altitude determination system and engine control system using the same."; EP0618359 by Werner, entitled "Ignition system with device to limit revolutions and stabilise idling for a combustion engine."; EP0693625 by Mizuno et al, entitled "An ignition timing control device for an engine"; EP0866222 by Inagaki, entitled "Ignition timing control system for industrial engines"; EP1167730 by Kanamaru et al, entitled "Device for controlling rotational speed of internal combustion engine"; EP1179672 by Ogawa et al, entitled "Control system and method for internal combustion engine."; and EP1288493 by Ohno et al, entitled "Ignition timing control system and method, and engine control unit for internal combustion engine".
In addition to the foregoing, Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition copyright 1983, is incorporated herein by reference in entirety for the definitions of words and terms used herein.
In spite of the substantial development that has occurred in this field, there remains a need for a device that minimizes the likelihood of over-revving of an engine and which is most preferably incorporated directly into an existing ignition module package outline. This is particularly true in the case of collector cars, such as stock antique and classic cars, where cars are commonly judged not just on performance, but also on the maintenance of original or stock appearance.

Electronic ignition module with rev limiting


An exhaust gas system is provided for a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) engine. The exhaust gas system includes an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a catalyst operable in a temperature range to catalyze exhaust gas produced in the TRU engine and flown through the exhaust system. The exhaust gas system further includes temperature sensors respectively disposed to sense exhaust gas temperatures upstream of and downstream from the catalyst, at least one of first, second and third valves which are proportionally controllable to moderate amounts of air provided to the TRU engine, fuel provided to the TRU engine and air provided to the catalyst, respectively, and a controller. The controller is configured to compare sensed exhaust gas temperatures with the temperature range and issue a proportional signal to the at least one of the first, second and third valves in accordance with results of the comparison.

The following description relates to transport refrigeration units (TRUs) and, more specifically, to a system of exhaust gas temperature control for use with a TRU engine.
An engine system for a TRU typically includes a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine having a mixer at an inlet thereof and an exhaust manifold that directs exhaust to a catalyst (i.e., inside a catalytic converter) and then to an exhaust outlet. CNG, which is drawn from a supply tank and flows through a lock-off valve and a pressure regulator, is received by the inlet along with air from an air cleaner so that it can be combusted within the CNG engine. The lock-off valve is controlled by an output/input (O/I) steady state signal that is either on or off to allow CNG to flow or not, respectively.
With the typical configuration described above, operations of CNG engines provide for hot exhaust gas temperatures and employ the catalyst within a catalyst exhaust system to comply with emissions regulations. This catalyst exhaust system needs to run in a proper temperature range (e.g., ˜300° C.-˜800° C.), however, to allow for proper catalyst efficiency and insufficient exhaust gas temperatures lead to catalyst operations that do not comply with emissions regulations whereas over-temperature conditions can damage the catalyst material.


A ballast for discharge lamp. The ballast for discharge lamp for utilizing high frequency voltage is generated by alternatively switching two switching elements to light the discharge lamp. The ballast includes a primary winding of a switching transformer to which the high frequency voltage is applied; a secondary winding of a switching transformer for alternatively switching the two switching elements according to reverse electromotive voltage generated by application of high frequency voltage to the primary winding; and a stabilizer for stabilizing reverse electromotive voltage generating at the secondary winding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ballast for a discharge lamp, and more particularly to a ballast for a discharge lamp adapted to prevent a flicker effect and acoustic resonant phenomenon generated in the lighting of high voltage discharge lamp, such as a metal lamp, sodium lamp and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a discharge lamp is lighted and after the lamp is lighted in a conventional ballast for discharge lamp, there is a problem in that the voltage and a current difference are generated due to discharge and resonant frequency variation, resulting in acoustic resonant phenomenon and flicker effect.
Particularly, there is another problem in that a voltage or a current characteristic differs a little bit even in discharge lamps of identical design that one manufactured by the same company, and such difference frequently changes resonant frequency of the discharge lamps, and there is great difficulty in solving the acoustic resonant phenomenon and flicker effect.


The constitution of a probe for measuring light scattering according to this invention is as follows: a light input optical fiber 4 and a scattered light measuring optical fiber 6 for collecting and transmitting scattered light are inserted into a main body of the probe 3; the optical fiber 4 is passed through a hole provided in the probe 3 for measuring light scattering to extend outward; an end portion of each of the optical fibers 4, 6 is covered with a ferrule 66 or 67; an end of each of the ferrules 66, 67 is cut into the shape of a truncated cone such that a part of or the entire end face of the optical fiber 4 or 6 remains; and the ferrules 66, 67 are held by a support body 70 and the like in such a manner that the end faces of the optical fibers 4, 6 are disposed to be adjacent to each other at a predetermined angle with a predetermined distance in between. Accordingly, the end portions of the optical fibers can be reinforced and protected by the ferrules even when they have poor strength. In addition, cutting the ends of the ferrules into the shape of a truncated cone allows the distance between the end faces of the optical fibers to be reduced.

The present invention relates to a probe for measuring light scattering which performs light scattering measurements by illuminating a sample with light and detecting light scattered from inside a scattering volume.
An instrument for measuring light scattering refers to an instrument that measures fluctuation, or change with time, in intensity of scattering light caused by motion of particles present in a fluid (Brownian Motion), thereby determining the diffusion coefficient and hydrodynamic size of the particles.
In a conventional instrument for measuring light scattering, measurements are carried out by illuminating a cell shaped as a cylinder or a rectangular parallelepiped filled with a sample fluid with a laser beam through a lens, passing scattered light emitted from the sample through a light-receiving system in which the observation volume is limited by a pinhole or the like, and measuring the scattered light by means of a photodetector such as a photo multiplier.
In the above instrument for measuring light scattering, the light path length in the cell of the sample fluid is long. Accordingly, as the concentration of particles in the solution increases, scattering by the scattered light, or multiple scattering, occurs in the cell, making it impossible to obtain accurate information on the scattered light.
In order to overcome this inconvenience, there has been proposed a structure of a probe for measuring light scattering (R. R. Khan, H. S. Dhadwal, and K. Suh, Applied Optics 33(25), 1994), in which an end of a light input optical fiber and an end of a light receiving optical fiber are disposed in the cell at a predetermined angle in close proximity to each other. This probe for measuring light scattering allows the observation volume to be small, thereby precluding the problem of multiple scattering.
In the above mentioned probe for measuring light scattering, a micro lens or a graded-index fiber for bringing the focus of each optical fiber onto the intended position is disposed at the end face of each of the light input fiber and the light receiving fiber. Accordingly, high accuracy is required for positioning each optical fiber at each lens, making it difficult to keep the product quality at a practical level.
The basic structure of an optical fiber comprises a core that propagates light, and a cladding with a small refractive index surrounding the core, which is further covered with a resin coating for protection.
Relating to this, an invention has been disclosed as PCT International Publication No. WO00/31514, in which the cladding is exposed by removing the resin coating around the optical fiber, or the core is exposed by removing the cladding as well so that the distance between the end faces of the cores is made as small as possible so as not to be affected by multiple scattering.
However, in such a structure with the cladding or the core being exposed, the following problems arise: it is impossible to keep the strength of the optical fibers, adjustment of the positions of the cores is difficult, and light leaks from the cladding.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a probe for measuring light scattering that is easy to produce, and capable of measuring intensity of scattered light with high accuracy and high reliability.
A probe for measuring light scattering in accordance with the present invention comprises a light input optical fiber for transmitting light for illuminating a sample therewith, and a scattered light measuring optical fiber for collecting and transmitting scattered light. An end portion of each of the optical fibers is covered with a ferrule, an end of the ferrule being cut into the shape of a truncated cone such that a part of or the entire end face of the optical fiber remains. The ferrules are held by the probe for measuring light scattering in such a manner that the end faces of the optical fibers are disposed to be adjacent to each other at a predetermined angle with a predetermined distance in between.
Being arranged as above, the end portions of the optical fibers can be reinforced and protected by the ferrules even when they have poor strength. In addition, the distance and angle between the end faces of the optical fibers can be easily maintained by holding the ferrules. The ferrules also prevent light from leaking from the claddings.
Furthermore, as a result of cutting the ends of the ferrules into the shape of a truncated cone, bubbles in the sample fluid are less likely to adhere to the ends of the optical fibers. Also, the distance between the end faces of the optical fibers can be reduced in this arrangement as compared with cases where the ferrules are not tapered.
The angle and distance between the end faces of the optical fibers are preferably adjustable through the ferrules by an adjustment member. By this arrangement, it is possible to control the scattering volume to be a desired volume.
This adjustment can be performed precisely and easily by the use of screws.
The optical fibers are preferably single-mode optical fibers. This allows measurements to be performed in a condition where the coherence is improved.
The ferrules preferably have cladding portions of the optical fibers inserted therein excluding coating portions of the optical fibers. This makes it possible to taper the ends of the ferrules such that the cladding portions or the cladding portions and core portions inside thereof are cut obliquely. Accordingly, reducing the distance between the end faces of the optical fibers can be easily accomplished.