A control system for hybrid vehicle for extending a possible travelling distance of the vehicle in the event of clutch failure is provided. The control system is configured to select a first drive mode in which the vehicle is powered by an engine in case an estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in trouble is larger than a first threshold value, and to select a second drive mode in which the vehicle is powered by a motor in case the estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in trouble is smaller than the first threshold value. The control system is further configured to reduce an engine torque to be smaller than the estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in case the first drive mode is selected.

JP-A-08-295140 describes a hybrid vehicle in which torques of an engine and a first motor is delivered to driving wheels. The hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential gear unit including a first rotary element connected to an output shaft through a clutch, a second rotary element connected to the first motor, and a third rotary element connected to the driving wheels, and further provided with a second motor generating a torque delivered to the driving wheels from downstream side of the third rotary element. In the hybrid vehicle taught by JP-A-08-295140, a drive mode can be selected from a hybrid mode in which the clutch is brought into engagement to transmit torques of the engine and the first motor to the driving wheels, and an EV mode in which the clutch is brought into disengagement to transmit only torque of the second motor to the driving wheels.
Control systems for the hybrid vehicle thus having a clutch for selectively interrupting a torque transmission between the prime mover and the driving wheels are also described in JP-A-2012-081811, JP-A-2011-230706, JP-A-2010-188776 and JP-A-2009-274566 respectively. For example, JP-A-2012-081811 describes a control device configured to inhibit the EV running in which the driving wheels are rotated only by power of the motor, in case torques of the engine and the motor cannot be interrupted due to failure so as to avoid occurrence of secondary failure.
JP-A-2011-230706 describes a hybrid vehicle in which a clutch is disposed between an engine and a motor, and a gear train connects an output shaft of the motor and the driving wheels in series. In the hybrid vehicle, the power of the engine is transmitted to the motor so that the motor serves as a generator. According to the teachings of JP-A-2011-230706, therefore, the control device is configured to reduce a discharging amount of a battery while increasing a threshold value for determining a reduction in an SOC level, so as to prevent an excessive reduction in the SOC level in case torques of the engine and the motor cannot be interrupted by failure.
JP-A-2010-188776 describes a hybrid vehicle, in which a motor is connected to an output shaft of an engine, and a transmission is connected to an output shaft of the motor. In the hybrid vehicle of this kind, if the vehicle is powered only by the motor under a situation that a torque transmission of the engine and the motor cannot be interrupted due to failure, a power loss will be caused to rotate the engine passively. That is, the motor is required to generate a large power to keep propelling the vehicle. As a result, an electric consumption is increased and hence a cruising distance in a motor running mode is shortened. According to the teachings of JP-A-2010-188776, therefore, the engine is activated even if a condition of motor running mode is satisfied so as to reduce a power loss to rotate the engine passively, under a situation that the torque transmission of the engine and the motor cannot be interrupted due to failure. In this case, if the SOC of the battery is sufficient, the vehicle is allowed to be powered only by the motor without activating the engine.
JP-A-2009-274566 also describes a hybrid vehicle in which an output shaft of an engine is connected to a generator, an output shaft of the generator is connected to driving wheels through a clutch, and a motor to which power is applied from the generator is connected to an output side of the clutch. According to the teachings of JP-A-2009-274566, a so-called "series mode" in which a power of the engine is converted into electric power by the generator to power the vehicle only by the motor is inhibited when the clutch cannot be brought into disengagement by failure. By contrast, when the clutch cannot be brought into engaging completely while causing slip by failure, the vehicle is powered only by the motor without activating the engine.
JP-A-2013-001182 also describes a power transmission control device for a hybrid vehicle in which an output shaft of the engine is connected to an input shaft of the transmission trough a manual clutch, and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to a motor. According to the teachings of JP-A-2013-001182, the EV mode is inhibited or an output torque of the motor is restricted in the event of failure of a sensor of a clutch pedal.


The present invention is directed to benzo-fused heterocyclic derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by GPR120. More particularly, the compounds of the present invention are agonists of GPR120, useful in the treatment of, such as for example, Type II diabetes mellitus.

A diabetes mellitus epidemic is unfolding across the globe with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting a worldwide prevalence of 177 million patients with diabetes. It is estimated that the incidence of all forms of diabetes totals approximately 2.8% of the world population. The number of newly diagnosed diabetic patients is increasing by 4-5% per year. The total number of people with diabetes worldwide is projected to rise to 366 million (4.4% prevalence) in 2030. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 95% of all diabetes cases. Long-term complications of type 2 diabetes include atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, end-stage renal disease, retinopathy leading to blindness, nerve damage, sexual dysfunction, frequent infections, and difficult-to-treat foot ulcers, sometimes resulting in lower limb amputation. Diabetics are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease or have a stroke, 2 to 6 times more likely to have transient ischemic attacks, and 15 to 40 times more likely to require lower-limb amputation compared with the general population. The total estimated cost of diabetes in 2007 in the US was $174 billion, including $116 billion in medical expenditures. The largest components of medical expenditures attributed to diabetes are hospital inpatient care (50% of total cost), diabetes medication and supplies (12%), retail prescriptions to treat complications of diabetes (11%), and physician office visits (9%). This may be related to the lack of durable efficacy of current drug therapies for Type 2 diabetes (>50% Type 2 patients are not reaching the targeted blood glucose control with current oral medications after 5 years of treatment). There is a general consensus that a considerable need exists for improved awareness, diagnosis and new, more effective, drug therapies for diabetes.
GLP-1 is secreted from specific cells in the colon following a meal and is a key regulator of glucose homeostasis, linking the gut, brain and pancreas. GLP-1 potentiates insulin secretion, reduces glucagon secretion and preserves β-cell function whilst also improving satiety. Levels of post-prandial GLP-1 are reduced in type 2 diabetics and dramatically elevated following gastric by-pass surgery, contributing to the amelioration of type 2 diabetes in these patients. Approaches that prolong the half-life of GLP-1 (JANUVIA (Merck), GALVUS (Novartis)) or activate the GLP-1 receptor (BYETTA (Amylin)) have been recently approved for use in type 2 diabetes.
Hyperinsulinemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus results from peripheral insulin resistance, coupled with inadequate pancreatic insulin secretion and elevated glucagon levels. There is a strong correlation between obesity and peripheral insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Accumulation of free fatty acids in insulin responsive tissues other than fat (i.e. muscle and liver) results in tissue insulin resistance. Additionally, free fatty acids have a direct effect on the pancreas and in the colon and further stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion and GLP-1 release with acute exposure whereas chronic exposure of free fatty acids impairs insulin secretion and becomes toxic to the β-cell. In the liver, hyperinsulinemia per se has been linked to exacerbating insulin resistance by increasing liver fatty acid accumulation and hepatic glucose output creating a vicious cycle of disease progression. Current therapeutic strategies only partially address the complex pathology of free fatty acids in the exacerbation of diabetes. Agents that target both liver and pancreas function, directly or indirectly via GLP-1 release, either individually or in combination with current treatment, could significantly improve blood glucose control while maintaining β-cell function. Agents that potentiate GLP-1 release also have the ability to reduce weight, providing additional benefits.
GPR120 is a seven transmembrane g-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that is predominantly expressed in the intestine and adipose. GPR120 functions as a receptor for long chain free fatty acids (FFAs). Acute FFA stimulation of GPR120 in GLP-1 expressing cell-lines amplifies GLP-1 release. Administration of α-linolenic acid into the colon of mice increases GLP-1 and potentiates insulin release following a glucose challenge. In contrast to agonists of GPR40, the existing literature suggests that a GPR120 agonist would potentiate insulin secretion and reduce glucagon indirectly via GLP-1 release. GPR120 is also expressed in adipose, with expression induced during differentiation. Inhibition of GPR120 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes has been shown to reduce adipocyte differentiation. The role of the receptor in the adipose or in the taste cells of the tongue where it has also been found remains unclear.
GPR120 is a Gq coupled GPCR that acts a receptor for long chain fatty acids. It belongs to a family of lipid binding GPCRs that include GPR 40, 41, 43. Functionally, GPR120s closest homolog is GPR40. The cloned rat and mouse GPR120 receptors have been cloned and have >85% homology with the human receptor. GPR120 signals through Gq to elevate intracellular Ca+2 levels as well as activate MAP kinase signal transduction cascades. GPR120's activation of calcium flux and PKC activation is most likely how FFAs contribute to the release GLP-1 in the L-cell.
Although relatively little is known about GPR120 due to lack of potent, selective pharmacological tools or a documented metabolic phenotype of GPR120 knockout mice, the potential to elevate GLP-1 from a small-molecule perspective is attractive as a novel approach to unmet medical need in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and related disorders. The beneficial effects of elevating GLP-1 are already well validated in the clinic and in addition to improved glucose homeostasis, offer the potential of weight loss. Thus it is theorized that GPR120 agonists may be complementary to existing diabetes therapies that affect liver insulin sensitivity and those that preserve β-cell function.
There remains a need for GPR120 agonists for the treatment of disorders including, but not limited to obesity, Type II diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and the like.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Benzo-fused heterocyclic derivatives useful as agonists of GPR120


The invention provides methods of disintegrating or reducing the particle size of elemental materials, such as various forms of carbon, and organic crystals that contain minerals and that do not contain minerals. The method include the steps of entraining the material in a gas flow through an inlet of a housing, subjecting the flowing material to a plurality of alternating pressure increases and decreases within the housing, disintegrating the flowing material with the pressure increases and decreases, thereby reducing the mean particle size of the material, and discharging the disintegrated material though an outlet of the housing.

The present invention relates generally to methods for producing ultra-fine particles of amorphous elemental and compound materials in amorphous or crystalline form.
Small particle size material has a large surface to volume ratio. For this reason, chemical processes often work better by using small size particles for feed stock material. Small particle size is also important for pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements, which are taken up by the body more easily and effectively when in small particle sizes.
One such material with many industrial uses is carbon black, which is an amorphous form of pure carbon. Carbon black is useful as a carbon feed stock for chemical processes, e.g. in plastic production, in compounding of rubber, and in the production of inks and pigments. Typically, carbon black is produced by burning acetylene and other organic fuels under low oxygen conditions. This is energy intensive and creates gas by-products that are undesirable.
There is a growing interest in recovery of carbon from scrap material so it can be recycled in useful ways. One such source of carbon is from pyrolyzed scrap vehicle tires. Millions of kilograms of char (essentially pure carbon) are potentially available from tire xe2x80x9cwaste.xe2x80x9d Chars having different properties and characteristics can be made consistently by changing process parameters, such as pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, pyrolysis time, the rotating speed of the reactor, and the presence or absence of additives.
Such pyrolytic char particles typically range in size from about one micron to over one millimeter. Carbon particles of this size range are too large for use in compounding of tire tread rubber, plastics and other materials or for use as pigment in printers. The char must therefore be made into particle sizes of about one micron or less in order to generate carbon that can be used to produce new products. For most large volume uses, such fine particle sizes are desirable or required. Since thousands of tons of fine carbon particles are used in various industries, machines that can process large amounts of material are required.
Other hard materials that are crystalline or amorphous in form are generally difficult to grind into smaller particle sizes that would be useful for uses such as food processing or nutritional supplements. Such materials include crystals of organic molecules containing minerals and non-mineral containing organic compounds. For most of these materials a particle size of less than about 50 microns is highly desirable.
The invention provides methods for producing useful, small particle forms of both elemental and compounded materials using resonance disintegration. The materials may be in either amorphous or crystalline form. In most cases, a fine, flowable powder is produced.
In one aspect, the invention provides a continuous flow method of reducing the mean particle size of a particulate carbon material that consists of at least about 90% carbon by weight. The method includes entraining the carbon material in a gas flow through an inlet of a housing, subjecting the flowing carbon material to a plurality of rapid alternating pressure increases and decreases within the housing, disintegrating the flowing carbon material with the pressure increases and decreases, thereby reducing the mean particle size of the carbon material, and discharging the disintegrated carbon material though an outlet of the housing. The carbon material can comprise an amorphous form of carbon, such as carbon black or pyrolyzed carbon char, or a crystallized form of carbon, such as graphite. Processing as recited above appears to produce a more hydrophilic form of carbon particle. In one embodiment, the method can include coating the carbon particles with an adherent material, such as oil, while the particles are flowing though the housing.
In embodiments where the amorphous form of carbon is carbon char, the median volume distribution of the sizes of the discharged carbon particles is in a range of about 1.6-2.7 microns when dispersed in isopropanol. Such discharged carbon particles when dispersed in isopropanol are characterized by at least about 93% of the particles being below about 30 microns in size, by about 60-90% of the particles being below about 5 microns in size, and by about 5.3-16% of the particles being below about 1 micron in size. When dispersed in water, the median volume distribution of the sizes of the discharged carbon particles made from carbon char is less than about one micron, and preferably about 0.52-0.88 microns or less. When dispersed in water, the discharged carbon particles made from char are characterized by essentially 100% of the particles being below about 30 microns in size, by about 75% of the particles being smaller that about 5 microns in size, and by about 46-51% of the particles by volume being below about 1 micron in size.
When the elemental amorphous material is carbon black, the median volume distribution of the sizes of the discharged carbon particles is less than about 3 microns, and preferably from about 0.52-2.7 microns in size. The median volume distribution of the discharged carbon particles made from carbon black is about 0.52 microns when dispersed in water. The discharged carbon particles when dispersed in water are characterized by essentially 100% of the particles being about 5 microns or less, and by about 90% of the particles being about 1 micron or less.
The invention, in yet another aspect, provides a powdered form of amorphous carbon, consisting essentially of particles that when dispersed in water are characterized by essentially 100% of the particles having a size of about 5 microns or less, and by about 90% of the volume of the particles having a size of about 1 micron or less. The particles can be further characterized by having a median volume distribution of about 0.52 microns.
In still another aspect, the invention provides a powdered form of carbon char, consisting essentially of particles that when dispersed in water are characterized by essentially 100% of the particles being about 30 microns or less. The powdered carbon char particles can be further characterized by about 75% of the particles by volume being about 5 microns or less in size, and by at least about 46% of the particles by volume being about one microns or less in size
In another aspect, the invention provides a continuous flow method of reducing the particle size of crystals of an organic molecule, wherein the initial particle size of the crystals is at least about +80 mesh. The method steps include: entraining the crystals in a gas flow through an inlet into a housing; subjecting the crystals to a plurality of pressure increases and decreases while flowing through the housing; disintegrating the flowing crystals with the pressure increases and decreases, thereby reducing the mean particle size of the crystals; and discharging the disintegrated crystals though an outlet of the housing, wherein substantially all the discharged crystals have a particle size that is about xe2x88x92270 mesh. In some embodiments, wherein substantially all of the discharged crystals have a particle size that is less than about 20 microns. In other embodiments, most of the discharged crystals have a particle size that is less than about 4 microns.
The organic molecule can contain a mineral In certain features, the organic molecule is selected from the group consisting of calcium citrate, magnesium citrate and methylsulfonylmethane.
In other embodiments wherein the organic molecule does not contain a mineral. Such organic molecule may be selected from the group consisting of creatine monohydrate, ipriflavone, and zein.
The invention provides many advantages. The ultrafine carbon particles produced according to the invention have a very small size distribution, even smaller than carbon black, when dispersed in water. The small particle size and the easy dispersion in water makes these carbon particles particularly useful for making inks and dyes for use in ink jet and other types of printers. The fine particle size carbon material is also very useful as a feed-stock for compounding tread rubber, plastics, and the like.
The organic materials that are reduced in size are more easily put into solution than other forms of such compounds. This is advantageous when using these substances in food processing or as dietary food supplements. The smaller particle size enables these materials to be more readily absorbed in the body.
Other objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A gas concentration measuring apparatus for use in air-fuel ratio control of motor vehicle engines is provided which includes a laminated sensor element and a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit includes a current-measuring resistor, at least one amplifier, and A/D converters. The current-measuring resistor functions to measure a current signal flowing through the sensor element produced upon application of the voltage to the sensor element. The amplifier works to amplify the current signal to output it to one of the A/D converters to determine the concentration of the air-fuel ratio within one of a plurality of measurement ranges defined within the wide gas concentration measuring range. The amplification of the current signal results in expansion of the level of the input to the A/D converter, thus enhancing the resolution in determining the air-fuel ratio.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a gas concentration measuring apparatus which may be used in measuring the concentration of a preselected component of exhaust emissions of automotive engines, and more particularly to such a gas concentration measuring apparatus designed to ensure high resolution in measuring the concentration of gas over a desired range.
2. Background Art
As a typical one of the above type of gas concentration measuring apparatuses, an automotive air-fuel ratio measuring apparatus is known which works to measure the concentration of oxygen (O2) contained in exhaust emissions of motor vehicle engines as indicating an air-fuel ratio of a mixture. The result obtained is used in an air-fuel ratio control system consisting of an engine ECU etc. Stoichiometric burning controls to bring the air-fuel ratio near the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio under feedback control and lean-burn controls to bring the air-fuel ratio to within a given lean range under feedback control are being developed. In recent years, emission regulations or on-board diagnostic (OBD) requirements have been increasingly tightened. Improvement of the stoichiometric burning controls is, thus, being sought. Additionally, there is an increasing need for expanding an air-fuel ratio measurable range up to an atmospheric range as well as the lean range that is a typical air-fuel ratio controlling range. For instance, a sensor malfunction monitoring system is known to meet the OBD requirements which works to monitor a deterioration of a gas sensor such as clogging resulting in a decrease in sensor output current during a fuel cut-off (i.e., when exhaust gasses are equivalent to air) under a given operating engine condition. It is also essential to improve fuel efficiency as well as exhaust emissions. It is further essential to feedback-control a rich mixture at high load engine operating conditions.
Typically, lean-burn engines having a NOx occluding/reducing catalyst installed in an exhaust system encounter the problem in that a large amount of NOx is occluded in the catalyst during a lean-burn engine operation, which results in lowered ability of absorbing NOx emissions. Additionally, typical fuel contains sulfur, thus poisoning the NOx occluding/reducing catalyst. In order avoid these problems, the rich air-fuel ratio controls have been implemented to recovery the NOx absorbing ability or revive the sulfur-poisoned catalyst. For these reasons, the air-fuel ratio control system is required to expand the air-fuel ratio measurable range and enhance the accuracy of measuring the air-fuel ratio within such a range.
In general, oxygen sensors are known as air-fuel (A/F) sensors to determine an exhaust gas air-fuel ratio. Such sensors are of two types: one is a cup-shaped A/F sensor and the other is a laminated A/F sensor (also called a multilayered A/F sensor). The cup-shaped A/F sensor is equipped with a sensor element made up of a cup-shaped solid electrolyte body, a pair of electrodes affixed to outer and inner surfaces of the solid electrolyte body, and a diffusion layer surrounding the solid electrolyte body. The solid electrolyte body also has installed in an inner chamber thereof a bar heater which serves to heat the whole of the sensor element to kept it in a desired activate condition. The inner chamber of the solid electrolyte body forms an air duct leasing to the atmosphere.
The laminated A/F sensor is equipped with a sensor element made of a strip-shaped lamination of a solid electrolyte body, a diffusion layer, and an insulating layer which defines an air duct. The solid electrolyte body has affixed thereto a pair of electrodes which are opposed to each other. The insulating layer has a heater embedded therein.
Comparing between the cup-shaped A/F sensor and the laminated A/F sensor structurally, we found the following problems and advantages. The volume or mass of a portion of the sensor element of the cup-shaped A/F sensor heated for activation is greater than that of the laminated A/F sensor, thus resulting in an increased time required to complete the activation at cold engine start-up, a difficulty in activating the sensor element early, and an increased electric power consumed by the heater. In contrast, the laminated A/F sensor has the advantages that it is easy to install the heater integrally in the sensor element and to decrease the volume of the sensor element to accelerate the activation thereof, which results in a decrease in electric power consumed by the heater. For these reasons, the laminated A/F sensors have become prevalent.
If the size of the sensor element of the laminated A/F sensors is decreased, the volume of the air duct needs to be decreased. The decrease in volume of the air duct requires decreasing an electric current flowing through the sensor element (will also be referred to as a sensor element current below). Specifically, when exhaust gasses of the engine are rich, the sensor is so controlled that oxygen (O2) contained in air within the air duct is pumped into a gas chamber of the sensor element filled with the exhaust gasses. If the sensor element current is great, it causes a pumped amount of the oxygen to increased, which requires the need for increasing the size of the air duct. It is, thus, necessary for decreasing the size of the sensor element to decrease the sensor element current. This may be achieved by decreasing the size of the electrodes or increasing a diffusion rate of the diffusion layer (e.g., decreasing the porosity of the diffusion layer).
FIG. 16 illustrates an example of conventional electric circuits designed to measure the sensor element current flowing through the laminated A/F sensor.
A reference voltage source 153 is connected to a positive (+) terminal of a sensor element 150 through an operational amplifier 151 and a current-measuring resistor 152. A voltage applying control circuit 155 is connected to a negative (−) terminal of the sensor element 150 through an operational amplifier 154. The voltage appearing at a terminal A leading to an end of the resistor 152 is kept identical with the reference voltage Vƒ. The sensor element current flows through the current-measuring resistor 152 to change the voltage appearing at a terminal B. For instance, when the exhaust gasses are on the lean side, the current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the sensor element 150, so that the voltage appearing at the terminal B rises. Alternatively, when the exhaust gasses are on the rich side, the current flows from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the sensor element 150, so that the voltage appearing at the terminal B drops. The voltage application control circuit 155 works to monitor the voltage at the terminal B and determine the voltage to be applied to the sensor element 150 (i.e., the voltage at a terminal D) as a function of the monitored voltage. The voltage at the terminal B is outputted as indicating the air-fuel ratio to a microcomputer (not shown) through an operational amplifier 156.
Keeping the sensor element 150 in a desired activate condition requires bringing an ac impedance Zac of the sensor element 150 into agreement with a given target value. Energization of a heater installed in the sensor element 150 is, thus, controlled as a function of a deviation of the impedance Zac from the target value. The determination of the impedance Zac is achieved by sweeping the voltage developed at the terminal D in an ac form through the voltage application control circuit 155, measuring a change in voltage ΔV at the terminal D, calculating a current change ΔI derived by dividing a change in voltage at the terminal B by a resistance value of the resistor 152, and dividing the voltage change ΔV by the current change ΔI(i.e., Zac=ΔV/ΔI).
Differences in sensor characteristic and solution in determining the air-fuel ratio between the above described cup-shaped A/F sensor and the laminated A/F sensor will be discussed below. It is assumed that an air-fuel ratio measurable range of the A/F sensors is between an air-fuel ratio of 11 to an air-fuel ratio in the atmospheric air (which will also be referred to as a free-air ratio below).
It is assumed that the cup-shaped A/F sensor is designed to meet electrical specifications as shown below.
When the exhaust gasses show the free-air ratio, the sensor element produces a current of 2.5 mA. When the A/F ratio is 11, the sensor element produces a current of −13 mA. The impedance Zac is 22Ω. The dc internal resistance Ri is 30Ω. The sensor control circuit, as illustrated in FIG. 16, has the following electrical specifications. A change in voltage used to measure the impedance Zac is ±0.3V. A current-measuring resistance is 63Ω. The reference voltage Vƒ is 2.5V.
When the exhaust gasses have a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the voltage appearing at the terminal B will be identical with that at the terminal A. An sensor output of the operational amplifier 156, i.e., the voltage at the terminal B has values, as indicated below, at the free-air ratio and an air-fuel ratio of 11, respectively.Output (free-air ratio)=2.5V+63Ω×25 mA=4.075VOutput(A/F=11)=2.5V+63Ω×(−13 mA)=1.681V
If the sensor output is inputted to a microcomputer through a 10-bit A/D converter to determine the A/F ratio, the measurement resolution within a range of an air-fuel ratio of 11 to the free-air ratio is(4.075−1.681)/5V×1024=490
If a change in the sensor element current per air-fuel ratio of one near the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is 2 mA, the measurement resolution is2 mA×63Ω/5V×1024=490
The determination of the impedance Zac is achieved by sweeping the voltage at the terminal D to negative and positive sides. The voltage appearing at the terminal B undergoes changes, as shown below, at the free-air ratio and an air-fuel ratio of 11 due to the change in voltage at the terminal D to the positive side.Voltage at B=4.075V+63Ω×(0.3V/22Ω)=4.934VVoltage at B=1/681V+63Ω×(0.3V/22Ω)=2.54V
The change in voltage at the terminal D to the negative side results in a change in voltage at the terminal B. When the air-fuel ratio is 11, the voltage at the terminal B has a minimum value as shown below.Voltage at B=1.681V+63Ω×(−0.3V/22Ω)=0.822V
It is found that when the voltage at the terminal D is changed to the positive and negative sides to determine the impedance Zac, a resultant value of the voltage at the terminal B lies within an operational voltage range (0 to 5V) of the A/D converter of the microcomputer. Specifically, the sensor control circuit, as shown in FIG. 16, is so designed that the impedance Zac can be determined correctly.
The laminated A/F sensor is, as described above, so designed to decrease the sensor element current. For instance, the sensor element current produced in the laminated A/F sensor is approximately one-tenth of that in the cup-shaped A/F sensor.
It is assumed that the laminated A/F sensor is so designed to meet electrical specifications as shown below.
When the exhaust gasses show the free-air ratio, the sensor element produces a current of 2.5 mA. When the A/F ratio is 11, the sensor element produces a current of −1.3 mA. The impedance Zac is 28Ω. The dc internal resistance Ri is 60Ω. The sensor control circuit, as illustrated in FIG. 16, has the following electrical specifications. A change in voltage used to measure the impedance Zac is ±0.3V. A current-measuring resistance is 185Ω. The reference voltage Vƒ is 2.5V.
When the exhaust gasses have a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the voltage appearing at the terminal B will be identical with 2.5V at the terminal A. An sensor output of the operational amplifier 156, i.e., the voltage at the terminal B has values, as indicated below, at the free-air ratio and an air-fuel ratio of 11, respectively.Output (free-air ratio)=2.5V+185Ω×2.5 mA=2.9625VOutput (A/F=11)=2.5V+185Ω×(−1.3 mA)=2.2595V
It will be apparent from the above that the laminated A/F sensor is so designed that the voltages at terminals B and D can be measured correctly to determine the impedance Zac. If the voltage at the terminal D is changed by 0.3V to the positive side to determine the impedance Zac, the voltage developed at the terminal B has values, as indicated below, at the free-air ratio and an air-fuel ratio of 11, respectively.Voltage at B=4.9446VVoltage at B=4.2416V
If the voltage at the terminal D is changed by 0.3V to the positive side to determine the impedance Zac, the voltage developed at the terminal B has a minimum value, as shown below, at an air-fuel ratio of 11.Voltage at B=0.277V
If the sensor output is inputted to a microcomputer through a 10-bit A/D converter to determine the A/F ratio, the measurement resolution within a range of an air-fuel ratio of 11 to the free-air ratio is(2.9625−2.2595)/5V×1024=144
It is found that the measurement resolution of the laminated A/F sensor is approximately 0.3 times that of the cup-shaped A/F sensor (i.e., 144/490=0.294).
If a change in the sensor element current per air-fuel ratio of one near the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is 0.2 mA, the measurement resolution is0.2 mA×185Ω/5V×1024=7
It is found that the measurement resolution of the laminated A/F sensor is approximately 0.3 times that of the cup-shaped A/F sensor (i.e., 7/25=0.28).
The reasons why the measurement resolution of the laminated A/F sensor is lower than that of the cup-shaped A/F sensor will be discussed below.
The sensor element current produced in the laminated A/F sensor is, as described above, decreased to approximately one-tenth of that of the cup-shaped A/F sensor. Thus, if the air-fuel ratio measurable range is between an air-fuel ratio of 11 and the free-air ratio, a range of the sensor element current in the cup-shaped A/F sensor is between −13 mA and 25 mA (=38 mA). A range of the sensor element current in the laminated A/F sensor is between −1.3 mA and 2.5 mA (=3.8 mA). An ac current produced when the impedance Zac is measured in the cup-shaped A/F sensor is 13.6 mA (=0.3V/22Ω). An ac current produced when the impedance Zac is measured in the laminated A/F sensor is 10.7 mA (=0.3V/28Ω). The current produced to measure the impedance Zac in the cup-shaped A/F sensor is 35.8% (13.6 mA/38 mA=0.358) of the sensor element current produced to measure the air-fuel ratio. The current produced to measure the impedance Zac in the laminated A/F sensor is 281.6% (10.7 mA/3.8 mA=2.816) of the sensor element current produced to measure the air-fuel ratio.
It is found that a ratio of the current to measure the impedance Zac to the sensor element current to measure the air-fuel ratio in the laminated A/F sensor is much greater than that in the cup-shaped A/F sensor. The resistance value of a resistor (i.e., the resistor 152 in FIG. 16) used to measure the sensor element current in the laminated A/F sensor must, therefore, be set smaller than that in the cup-shaped A/F sensor, which results in decreased resolution in determining the air-fuel ratio.
If the dc internal resistance value (or ac impedance Zac) of the sensor element of the laminated A/F sensor is increased, it will result in a decrease in current to measure the impedance Zac, so that a ratio of the current to measure the impedance Zac to the sensor element current to measure the air-fuel ratio is decreased. The increase in dc internal resistance of the sensor element, however, results in a change in sensor characteristic (see FIG. 3), which leads to a difficulty in controlling the voltage applied to the sensor element to measure the air-fuel ratio accurately. It is, thus, advisable that the dc internal resistance of the sensor element be not changed.
Japanese Patent First Publication No. 11-37971 teaches techniques for improving resolution in measuring the air-fuel ratio within a wide range. FIG. 17 illustrates a sensor control circuit installed in a gas concentration measuring apparatus as disclosed in the publication. The same reference numbers as employed in FIG. 16 refer to the same parts, and explanation thereof will be omitted here.
Two resistors 161 and 162 are connected in series to measure the current produced in the sensor element 150 (i.e., the sensor element current). A switch 163 is installed which establishes one of connections of the operational amplifier 156 to the terminals B and C selectively as a function of an instantaneous value of the air-fuel ratio. Specifically, when exhaust gasses have at the free-air ratio, the switch 163 closes between the operational amplifier 156 and the terminal C. The sensor element current is measured through the resistor 161 and outputted through the operational amplifier 156. When the exhaust gasses have the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the switch 163 closes between the operational amplifier 156 and the terminal B. The sensor element current is measured through the resistors 161 and 162 and outputted through the operational amplifier 156. This ensures the accuracy of measuring the air-fuel ratio over the wide range and improves it especially within a range in the vicinity of the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
The structure of FIG. 17, however, has the drawback in that in a case where the laminated A/F sensor is employed, a ratio of the current to measure the impedance Zac to the sensor element current to measure the air-fuel ratio is much greater than that in the cup-shaped A/F sensor, thus resulting in decreased resolution in determining the air-fuel ratio. The problem of the measurement resolution decreasing with a decrease in sensor element current is still standing unsolved.

High-resolution gas concentration measuring apparatus


A pant-like, prefastened, disposable absorbent article having side seams which include a front ear passively bonded to a back ear, wherein the front ear is releasable from the back ear desirably without tearing or damaging the back ear. The tearable front ear has a basis weight less than a basis weight of the back ear.

Absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants or incontinence garments desirably provide a close, comfortable fit about the wearer and contain body exudates. Moreover, absorbent articles, after being soiled, optimally can be removed from the wearer in a convenient and clean manner without undesirably soiling the caregiver, the surrounding area or the clothes of the wearer. In certain circumstances, it is also beneficial for such absorbent articles to be capable of being pulled up or down over the hips of the wearer to allow the wearer or caregiver to easily pull the article on and easily remove the article if it has not been soiled. Given the various shapes and sizes of wearers of absorbent articles, it would also be beneficial for the caregiver or the wearer to be able to adjust the fit of the waist opening of the article.
Conventional diapers are not provided in a prefastened condition and typically include a front waist portion and a back waist portion that are releasably connected about the hips of the wearer by conventional fasteners such as adhesive tape fasteners or hook and loop fasteners. For example, conventional fasteners typically include a pair of fasteners, such as adhesive tape tabs, located on the outermost corners of the diaper in the back waist region of the diaper and a complimentary fastener, such as a taping panel, located on the exterior surface of the outer cover of the diaper in the front waist portion of the diaper. In such a configuration, the diaper is positioned between the legs of the wearer while the wearer is lying down, and the adhesive tape tabs are releasably attached to the taping panel to secure the back waist portion to the front waist portion of the diaper, to secure the diaper about the waist of the wearer. Such conventional diapers are not easily fastened about and removed from the wearer after use without undesirably soiling the caregiver. Further, such conventional diapers are not provided in a pant-like, prefastened configuration and, thus, are not configured to be pulled up or down over the hips of the wearer when the fasteners are attached. Moreover, the fasteners on such conventional diapers generally are difficult to disengage and reattach to further adjust or conform the waist opening of the diaper to the waist of the wearer. Such disengagement and reattachment can also be difficult to accomplish when the wearer is active.
Several attempts have been made to provide absorbent articles that effectively contain body exudates, are capable of being pulled up and/or down over the hips of the wearer and provide for easy cleaning and removal after being soiled. For example, some conventional absorbent articles, such as conventional training pants, include integral side panels that connect the front waist portion to the back waist portion of the absorbent article. The side panels can be made stretchable such that the waist opening of the absorbent article can expand to allow the absorbent article to be pulled up or down over the hips of the wearer if desired.
However, many of these absorbent articles have not been completely satisfactory. For example, absorbent articles such as training pants have not always been able to achieve a close conforming fit to the wearer while still being able to expand enough to be pulled up and down over the hips of the wearer. Often such training pants fit the waist of the wearer loosely, which can undesirably result in leaks. As a result, many of these articles have not contained bodily exudates as effectively as conventional diaper-type articles that can be adjusted to achieve a more conforming fit to the wearer. Moreover, the inspection and removal of soiled absorbent articles that have integral side panels, such as conventional training pants, have not always been completely satisfactory. For example, the side panels have been difficult to tear when attempting to remove the article from the waist of the wearer instead of pulling the article down over the hips of the wearer.
Accordingly, despite the attempts to develop improved absorbent articles, there remains a need for absorbent articles that are adjustable to conform to the wearer for effective containment of bodily exudates, are capable of being pulled up and/or down over the hips and buttocks of the wearer, are readily secured about and removed from the wearer in a convenient and clean manner and are easily inspected by the caregiver to determine whether the article is soiled.


A clasp having a bushing and two hooks that face each other. Each hook has a bend, a shank, a sleeve that is rotatably coupled to the bushing, and ridges and grooves that engage with ridges and grooves on the other hook to latch the clasp in various positions. The bends contact each other along a plane of contact. The sleeve and bend of each hook are disposed on opposite sides of the plane of contact to bias the ridges and grooves towards each other.

The present invention relates to hooks that may be attached to cords, ropes, or webbing for trying, bundling, or securing objects. Example applications include bungee cords, tie-downs, tarp straps, cargo cords, and stretch cords (hereafter simply referred to as bungee cords, collectively, regardless of whether the cord is elastic or inelastic). A bungee cord is generally a segment of cord with a rigid hook on one or both ends. The cord may be made of any suitable material, for example rubber, polyurethane, thermoplastic, nylon, polypropylene, polyester, and so on. The hook may be made of any suitable material, for example metal and/or plastic, it may be stamped, cast, or molded, and it may have practically any shape, size, and strength.
The shank, gape, and throat of a hook determine the size and type of objects that can be grappled. For example, a hook having a shallow throat (a short bend) may have difficulty securely attaching around an object, but it may be easy to insert into a small-diameter hole. On the other hand, a hook having a deep throat (a long bend) may easily attach around an object, but at may be difficult or impossible insert into a small-diameter hole.
Many standard "S" and "C" hooks have deep throats, and are therefore not suntan for all applications. Consequently, some bungee cords have hooks that are specially shaped for certain applications. In contrast, some bungee cords have a generic fitting in place of a hook so that any hook that has a complementary fitting can be connected to the cord.
Sometimes the hooks of bungee cords may tangle with each other and with the cords when stored together in bin. To help prevent this, some bungee-cord designs permit the hooks to interlock or nest together for storage.
Many S and C hooks, as well as snap hooks and carabiners, do not provide an adequate grip to hold onto when stretching a bungee cord. A bungee cord that recoils when a user loses his grip may cause injury. Additionally, a user's finger may be pinched between a hook and an object if he pulls on the hook by curling his finger around it. Consequently, some hook designs have a pull tab on the shank that can be gripped with a finger.
Finally, a notable limitation of standard S and C hooks is that they may detach from an object due to slack in the cord, shifting of an object, or vibrations. Hooks such as carabiners and snap hooks address this limitation by providing a pivoting or sliding gate that creates an enclosed loop. The gate of such a hook may pivot within the plane of the hook inwardly or outwardly; the gate may pivot above or below the plane of the hook; or the gate may slide or translate. The gate may be biased by a spring, magnet, flexible member, and so on. The gate may be a stout straight member or the gate may resemble a hook itself, for example in clasps that comprise two opposing parallel contacting jaws that pivot about a shared joint.
Hook assemblies comprising parallel contacting opposing jaws may include one or more stop mechanisms to prevent one jaw from rotating beyond some angle relative to the other jaw. Such hook assemblies may also include one or more retention mechanisms to retain the hook assembly in a closed or opened position. A retention mechanism may be a bump or ridge on the surface of one jaw that engages with a dimple or notch on a surface of the other jaw.
Four issues of hook devices have been described above: (1) a hook having either too deep too shallow of a throat; (2) a hook tangling with cords and other hooks; (3) a hook lacking an adequate grip; and (4) a hook accidentally detaching from an object. This disclosure teaches an improved hook assembly that addresses one or more of these issues.

Hook device with rotatable opposing jaws


A method of treating a disc plate. has the following operations of: molding a mold disc plate through an injection molding; and spinning the mold disc plate at a high spin speed. The spinning operation has at least one of the following two sub-operations of: reducing a warp of the mold disc plate with a centrifugal force caused during the spinning operation, and reducing a temperature of the mold disc plate during the spinning operation. Moreover, an apparatus of treating a disc plate has: a conveyer for conveying a mold disc plate obtained through an injection molding; a disc bench for receiving the mold disc plate conveyed with the conveyer; and a spin driver for spinning the disc bench when a temperature of the mold disc plate is higher than 90xc2x0 C., to thereby spin the mold disc plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating a disc plate. More specifically, the present invention relates to the method and the apparatus for reducing a warp of an optical disc such as a digital video disc (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cDVDxe2x80x9d) and a compact disc. Especially, the warp is the one that is caused to a disc plate (of the optical disc) which has been molded through an injection molding. With the thus reduced warp, the disc plate is flattened.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an optical disc plate such as a DVD plate and a compact disc plate is molded through an injection molding.
As is seen in FIG. 14(A), FIG. 14(B) and FIG. 14(C), there is provided a method of molding a disc plate 1. A resin material is injected into a pair of a first metal mold 10 and a second metal mold 11 for an injection molding. After the injection molding, the resin material is molded into a mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 which is to be solidified to become the disc plate 1. At this point in time, a predetermined information is recorded on one of two surfaces of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2. After this, as is seen in FIG. 14(B), the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11 are separated from each other (opened). Then, a takeout arm 12 of a takeout mechanism (not shown) moves forward into an area between the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11, to thereby securely absorb the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 which is high in temperature and is still soft. After this, the takeout arm 12 moves backward, to thereby take the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 out of the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11.
Then, as is seen in FIG. 14(C), in a predetermined position, the thus taken out mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is fixedly absorbed directly with a conveyer arm 13 of a conveyance mechanism. The conveyer arm 13 conveys the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 to a cooling stage 14 (next operation).
More specifically, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. On the first surface, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is fixedly absorbed to a tip end 12A of the takeout arm 12. On the second surface, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is fixedly absorbed to a tip end 13A of the conveyer arm 13. Simultaneously with the absorption of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 to the tip end 13A, the tip end 12A releases (namely, stops absorbing) the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2. Then, the conveyer arm 13 turns by substantially 180xc2x0 with the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 fixedly absorbed to the tip end 13A. Thereafter, the conveyer arm 13 conveys the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 to the cooling stage 14. The mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is cooled with the cooling stage 14, to thereby solidify the resin material of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2. After the solidification, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is referred to as the disc plate 1. The solidification temperature for solidifying the resin material is, for instance, about 90xc2x0 C.
As described above, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 soon after being taken out of the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11 is high in temperature, and is sufficiently soft. Therefore, during the sequential operations of i) cooling, ii) solidification of resin material, and iii) becoming the disc plate 1, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 causes a considerable deformation such as warp. Conventionally, various methods are taken so as to reduce the warp by adjusting conditions of the injection mold as below:
i) Adjust temperature of the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11 of a mold machine.
ii) Set up temperature difference between the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11.
iii) Adjust pressure for injecting the resin material.
Even if the warp of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is small and reduced through the conventional methods as described above, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 causes the warp during the time the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is taken out of the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11, and during the time the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is conveyed to the cooling stage 14. The thus caused warp is attributable to the following repeated description, that is, xe2x80x9cThe mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 soon after being taken out of the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11 of the mold machine is high in temperature and is sufficiently soft.xe2x80x9d Moreover, the thus caused warp grows during the cooling operation.
The warp is more specifically described in FIG. 15(A), FIG. 15(B) and FIG. 15(C). The mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is taken out of the first metal mold 10 and the second metal mold 11 of the mold machine. As is seen in FIG. 15(A), the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is fixedly absorbed to the tip end 12A of the takeout arm 12. Moreover (otherwise), the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is fixedly absorbed to the tip end 13A of the conveyer arm 13. The mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is high in temperature and is sufficiently soft. Therefore, the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 causes the warp when the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is absorbed substantially in the center area of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2, in such a manner that the warp is bent opposite {(rightward in FIG. 15(A)} to an absorption side. Especially, the DVD having a thickness of about 0.6 mm (thin) shows the warp (bend) more outstanding than the compact disc having a thickness of about 1.2 mm. Moreover, as is seen in FIG. 15(B), the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is turned by the takeout arm 12 at a comparatively high speed with the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 absorbed by the takeout arm 12, and the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is conveyed by the conveyer arm 13 at a comparatively high speed with the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 absorbed by the conveyer arm 13. The above turn and conveyance of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 causes a wind pressure, to thereby warp the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2. Moreover, as is seen in FIG. 15(C), the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 is cooled on a disc bench 15 of the cooling stage 14. The mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 has such a dead weight as to, as the case may be, cause the warp during a cooling time on the disc bench 15. Still furthermore, some other cooling stages having different constitution cause a partial deformation of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 during the cooling time.
The above warp is caused around a center hole (not shown) of the mold disc plate 1xe2x80x2 radially outward, to thereby form substantially a point symmetry. Some other warps run in such a manner as to form a bilateral symmetry (rightward and leftward) with respect to one to three line(s) through the center hole. The above warps become more obvious as production cycle time of the disc plate 1 is shortened, to thereby encourage the warp (more complicated and larger) of the disc plate 1.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for treating a disc plate.
More specifically, it is the object of the present invention to obtain the disc plate having a warp or a deformation within an allowable limit (tolerance), or to obtain the disc plate which is substantially free from the warp or the deformation. For obtaining the above disc plate, a mold disc plate is spun, during the time the resin material of the mold disc plate is soft (in other words, before solidification of the resin material), at such a high speed as to cause a centrifugal force. Simultaneously with this, the mold disc plate is cooled down. The centrifugal force helps reduce the warp and the deformation.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating a disc plate. The method comprises the following operations of: molding a mold disc plate through an injection molding; and spinning the mold disc plate at a high spin speed. The spinning operation comprises at least one of the following two sub-operations of: reducing a warp of the mold disc plate with a centrifugal force caused during the spinning operation, and reducing a temperature of the mold disc plate during the spinning operation.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus of treating a disc plate. The apparatus comprises: a conveyer for conveying a mold disc plate obtained through an injection molding; a disc bench for receiving the mold disc plate conveyed with the conveyer; and a spin driver for spinning the disc bench when a temperature of the mold disc plate is higher than 90xc2x0 C., to thereby spin the mold disc plate.
The other objects and features of the present invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus of treating a disc plate


A dynamic damper in a lighting driving circuit for limiting an inrush current includes a damper circuit and a timing circuit comprising capacitor. The damper circuit is connected to the timing circuit. When an input voltage is provided to the dynamic damper, the capacitor begins to be charged and the capacitance-voltage of the capacitor rises. The damper circuit enters to a first working state and generates a dynamic damper resistor value. When the capacitance-voltage of the capacitor is greater than a first threshold voltage, the damper circuit enters to a second working state and the dynamic damper resistor value begins to decrease. When the capacitance-voltage of the capacitor is greater than a second threshold voltage, the damper circuit enters to a short-circuit state, and the dynamic damper resistor value decreases to zero to facilitate the normal work of the power source converter.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a dynamic damper, more particularly to a dynamic damper for limiting an inrush current and a lighting driving circuit comprising the dynamic damper.
2. Related Art
In a lighting driving circuit for driving a lighting element, a dimmer is generally used to adjust the brightness of the lighting element. The dimmer may be a triode for alternating current (TRIAC) or a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR). The brightness of the lighting element may be adjusted by adjusting the current, voltage, or phase of the input AC power source.
FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a lighting driving circuit with dimmer according to the prior art. The lighting driving circuit 100 in FIG. 1 includes an AC power source 110, a dimmer 120, a rectifier 130, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter 140, and a converter 150. The lighting driving circuit 100 is configured to provide current to drive the lighting element 160. However, the use of the dimmer 120 will cut off the leading edge or trailing edge of the AC voltage provided by the AC power source 110. As a result, the subsequent device may receive a suddenly rise voltage. Furthermore, inrush and vibrating current may occur in the input current due to the EMI filter 140. When the input current vibrates, the dimmer 120 will be in an abnormal cut-off state and thus the lighting element 160 will flicker.

Dynamic damper and lighting driving circuit comprising the dynamic damper


A nebulizer includes a piezoelectric transducer for aerosolizing a drug solution in a disposable cup module disposed above the transducer. Acoustic waves generated by the transducer propagate sequentially through transmitting medium, a first barrier, coupling medium, and a second barrier that forms part of the cup module, and into the interior of the cup module. The transducer at least partially comprises silver. The silver fluidly contacts the transmitting medium to discourage bacteria growth in the transmitting medium. The device includes electronics components that drive the transducer and measure an electrical characteristic associated with the transducer during operation. The electronics components measure changes in the electrical characteristic to determine when the drug solution level falls below a predetermined threshold, and deactivates the device accordingly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nebulizers, and more particularly to devices and methods for maintaining the cleanliness of nebulizers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional ultrasonic nebulizers nebulize a drug solution by transmitting acoustic waves from an acoustic wave generator to the drug solution. Some of these devices transmit the acoustic waves from the acoustic wave generator to the drug solution through an acoustic wave transmitting medium. Typically, these devices provide a barrier between the acoustic wave transmitting medium and the drug solution chamber. The barrier seals the drug solution from fluid communication with the transmitting medium, while allowing the acoustic waves from the acoustic wave generator to pass through the transmitting medium and into the drug solution. One potential drawback to such devices is that the drug solution chamber may need to be cleaned at appropriate times and/or intervals (e.g., after use, between use with different drugs, between use of the nebulizer by different patients).

Disposable drug solution cup for an ultrasonic nebulizer


A nut plate fastener includes a basket and a nut. The basket includes a web that extends laterally between a plurality of lipped flanges. The web and the lipped flanges form a channel that extends longitudinally through the basket. The web includes a fastener aperture, with an elongated cross-sectional geometry, that extends vertically through the web. The nut is arranged within the channel and aligned longitudinally with the fastener aperture. The lipped flanges retain the nut laterally and vertically within the channel.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to mechanical fasteners and, more particularly, to a nut plate fastener.
2. Background Information
A nut plate fastener is typically utilized in a bolted joint for connecting a plurality of bodies together. One such nut plate fastener includes a gang channel nut, a nut basket, and a bolt with a head and a shaft. The nut is arranged within a channel of the basket, and secured to the basket such that the nut does not rotate within the channel. The basket is connected to one of the bodies with a plurality of rivets. The shaft extends from the head, through respective circular bolt holes in the bodies and a circular bolt hole in the basket, and into the nut. Such a nut plate fastener, however, typically cannot adjust for an axial misalignment between the bolt holes in the bodies beyond differences in the diameters of the shaft and the bolt holes.
There is a need in the art for an improved nut plate fastener.

Nut plate fastener with elongated fastener aperture


Subsea system (100) and method of installing the subsea system (100), the method comprising the steps of: —preparing a first foundation (1′) comprising at least a first dedicated position for receiving a first subsea station (3′, 13′), —providing the first foundation (1′) with at least a first guide system (4′), —installing the first foundation (1′) at a subsea location, —preparing at least a first subsea station (3′, 13′) comprising a first flow module (5′) for connection with a pipeline (6), —installing the at least first subsea station (3′, 13′) with the first flow module (5′) in the first dedicated position on the first foundation (1′), —preparing a pipeline (6) and providing the pipeline (6) with at least a first T-connection (7′) at a determined calculated position corresponding to the first dedicated position on the first foundation (1′), —installing the pipeline (6) and allowing the pipeline (6) to rest on the first guide system (4′) on the first foundation (1′) such that the first T-connection (7′) is arranged at or in the proximity of the first dedicated position on the first foundation (1′), —preparing a first piece of pipe (8′) and connecting the first T-connection (7′) of the pipeline (6) with the first flow module (5′) on the first subsea station (3′, 13′) using the first piece of pipe (8′).

The development of subsea production systems started with dedicated production manifolds for each satellite well. The production manifold was arranged at a platform for processing and further transport. Once the hydrocarbon discoveries entered deeper water depths, a common manifold system for a plurality of subsea wells became the standard solution for subsea processing of hydrocarbons from said wells, either as part of a template/manifold system or a manifold/satellite system.
Furthermore, normally the connections between flow modules on respective Xmas Trees are connected via a pipeline to a common manifold, and each pipeline must be connected to the flow module on one end thereof and to the manifold on the other end thereof.
The prior art includes NO 315721B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,362.
NO 315721B1 discloses a subsea production system comprising a pipeline with a T-connection for collecting hydrocarbons at the seafloor. The pipeline is pre-installed subsea. Then a pipe spool together with a guide base for a riser is installed subsea. The well is drilled and the Xmas Tree is installed. The pipe piece is then connected to the T-connection on the pipeline and production through the pipeline can start.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,362 discloses a subsea station or installation in which one or more rigid elongated base templates are adapted to be permanently positioned on a sea floor. Along each side of the base means and mounted about a vertical pivotal axis are a plurality of spaced flowline support arms of generally V-shape for supporting a flowline alongside the base means. During installation, each support arm may be pivoted about its pivotal axis to lie generally within the plane of the top and bottom side tubular members. The arms may be rotated through 45 degrees to extend outboardly from the base means after the base means has been positioned on the seabed.
Thus, an objective of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the drawbacks associated with the prior art solutions.
More specifically, an objective of the present invention is to render the use of a manifold for collecting production pipelines from the Xmas Trees or processing systems or production systems superfluous.
Another objective of the invention is to ease the installation of pipelines subsea.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a system and method for easy swapping of a Xmas Tree from production to injection.
Another objective is to reduce, or even eliminate, the need for seabed preparations for the pipelines.

Subsea system and method of installing a subsea system


A variable-crown roll is disclosed, which comprises a curved arbor, and a plurality of antifriction bearings which are mounted on said arbor, said bearings being asymmetrically disposed with respect to the lengthwise center of said arbor, and bearings on one side of the lengthwise center of said arbor being symmetric with respect to said bearings on the other side of the lengthwise center.

The present invention relates to a variable-crown roll for use in multi-roll rolling mill.
In the rolling of plates, it is important that the plate profile (the thickness distribution in the widthwise direction) be rectangular, that the plate thickness be always constant, and it is particularly important that good shape control be carried out, i.e., that the flatness of the rolled plate be constant. Various new types of rolling mills have been developed in order to meet these requirements. In order to improve the flatness and profile of a plate, it is necessary to compensate the deflection of the work roll, and for this purpose, the work roll bending method, the back-up roll bending method, the double chock bending method, the roll skew method, the roll shift method, the variable-crown roll method (sometimes referred to as the VC roll method), and the like have been developed.
Of these methods, the variable-crown roll method is particularly economical because a conventional rolling mill can be adapted so as to perform variable-crown rolling merely by replacing a conventional roll of the rolling mill with a variable-crown roll. Variable-crown rolls have been effectively employed in combination with existing roll benders for improving the flatness and profile of rolled plates.
In a conventional variable-crown roll, a sleeve is mounted on an arbor by shrink fitting. High-pressure oil is introduced into a pressure chamber at the center of the roll, and the sleeve is made to expand. The limit to the stress which can be applied to the sleeve restricts the amount of roll crown which can be produced to a relatively small value. For example, with a large-sized variable-crown with a diameter on the order of 1500 mm, the maximum amount of expansion which can be achieved is roughly 0.2-0.4 mm/radius. This amount of roll crown is adequate for normal rolling of soft thin sheets. However, when rolling thick plates, even if a conventional variable-crown roll is combined with a bender, the amount of crown which is obtainable is inadequate. In particular, in a roughing mill for hot rolling of aluminum or steel or a rolling mill for thick steel plates, roll crown on the order of 2-3 times the above-described amount is required. Furthermore, even when rolling sheets, if the material being rolled is a hard material or an alloy steel which has a high resistance to deformation, the amount of roll crown obtained with a conventional variable-crown roll can be inadequate.
Some of the above-described rolling methods allow a large amount of control, but they have problems such as that equipment costs are high and that modification of conventional equipment so as to perform these methods takes much time. accordingly, there has been a desire for the development of a new kind of roll which, like a variable-crown roll, can merely replace a conventional roll, and which provides high performance, is simple, and is also economical.
Multi-roll mills including Sendzimir rolling mills employ eccentric rolls to obtain roll crown. These rolls, however, have not been utilized as a back-up roll or work roll for rolling mills such as 4-high rolling mills, 6-high rolling mills, and 2-high rolling mills.
In addition, the above-described multi-roll mills are for the purpose of shape control during cold rolling, and they have not been utilized for performing profile control during hot rolling.
For example, in a Sendzimir rolling machine, an outermost back-up roll of which is shown in cross section in FIG. 12, a plurality of eccentric rings 3 arranged in the longitudinal direction are mounted on an outermost back-up roll 2 (As-U-Roll) which supports an unillustrated, small-diameter work roll. The roll crown in the longitudinal direction of the roll is adjusted by adjusting the rotational angle of each eccentric ring.
In a differential roll speed rolling mill, a bridle roll of which is shown in cross section in FIG. 13, as indicated by reference FIG. 4, is used as eccentric rolls for performing tension control. The envelope of crown 6 is changed from concave to convex by changing the rotational angle of a shaft 5, whereby the distribution of tensile force applied to a strip is varied (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Specification No. 61-276704(1986)).
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Specification No. 61-7003 (1986) discloses a mechanism in which a thin sleeve covers a roll which is divided into a plurality of ring-like sections, each of which is mounted on an arbor and is eccentric with respect to the axis of the arbor. The degree of eccentricity of the sections gradually increases towards the lengthwise center of the arbor. Roll crown can be varied by adjusting the position of each of the divided sections of the roll.
However, with that mechanism, stepped portions are inevitably formed each in the divided roll sections, so when the roll is used as a back-up roll for a work roll, some portions of the back-up roll always remain not in contact with the work roll. As a result, stress concentrates in the corners of the outer periphery of the sleeve of the back-up roll, and the corners of the sleeve can easily form scratches in the sleeve and the work roll. Even if the corner of each of the divided roll sections is made round, this problem is only slightly mitigated and can not be completely solved. It is possible to reduce the size of the stepped portions in the divided roll sections by dividing the roll into a larger number of sections, resulting in a smaller step between each section of the roll. However, doing so increases the complexity of the structure of the roll and makes maintenance more difficult.
British Patent 2,094,687 discloses a back-up roll which comprises an arbor and a rotary sleeve which is supported by the arbor through a bearing. The arbor has protrusions in its surface which vary in axial length around the arbor periphery. These protrusions make it very difficult to mount a sleeve on the arbor. In addition, it is impractical to control the crown of a roll with this roll arrangement since the bearing is positioned parallel to the axis of the arbor.


An automated merchant banking apparatus (10) which is operative to carry out banking transactions commonly required by merchants. The apparatus includes a user interface (18) which includes a plurality of input and output devices. The apparatus further includes an item accepting depository (54) for accepting deposit items containing currency, instruments or other items of value. The apparatus includes cameras (58,326) for capturing images of a user and deposit items input by the user. The user and item inputs are stored in associated relation in a storage device. The images of the user and the deposit item are also output to the user simultaneously through a display (424) to assure the user that a record of the deposit transaction has been made.

This invention relates to automated banking machines. Specifically this invention relates to an automated banking machine for carrying out banking transactions of the types commonly carried out by merchants.
Automated banking machines are known in the prior art. The common type of automated banking machine is an automated teller machine (ATM). Automated teller machines have been developed to carry out banking transactions most commonly carried out by consumers. Such transactions include the withdrawal of funds from accounts, the deposit of funds, transfers of funds between accounts, the payment of bills and other types of banking transactions commonly carried out by consumers. Other types of automated banking machines that have been developed perform functions such as ticketing, the dispensing of travelers"" checks and the providing of credit to a user for the purchase of merchandise. For purposes of this description an automated banking machine shall be considered to be any machine that carries out transactions involving transfers of value.
Automated banking machines generally have been ill-equipped for use by merchants. Merchants have requirements for different transaction types than the transactions that are commonly carried out by consumers. For example, ATMs commonly dispense one or two denominations of notes. Usually the consumer is not given any choice as to the denomination of notes they will receive from an ATM. This is because ATMs traditionally control the mix of bills dispensed to suit what is available. In contrast, merchants often require many denominations of notes so that they may make change for their customers. Merchants also commonly require specific quantities of notes of particular denominations. For example, a merchant may need many tens, fives and ones to provide as change. A merchant may not need many twenty or fifty dollar denomination notes because these are not needed to provide change as frequently.
ATMs commonly do not dispense or accept coins. Merchants often require coins for the conduct of their business. Merchants who need to provide change may require substantial quantities of coins in various denominations to serve their customers. Some merchants may also need to deposit coins received from customers into the bank. This would particularly be true for merchants who operate coin accepting machines. Most ATMs do not accept deposits of coins.
Merchants may also have a need to exchange currency for coins or to change one form of value for another. Conventional ATMs do not provide such capability. This has often required merchants to deal with live tellers. This can be inconvenient as banks are commonly open only during limited hours. Banks are also consolidating, which has resulted in the closing of many branches. Closed branches are often replaced with ATMs to serve consumers. However, the closing of branches makes it more difficult for merchants to find a full-service branch with human tellers who can serve their special needs.
Merchants also commonly maintain longer hours than banks. As a result, there is often a need for a merchant to deposit the day""s receipts after the bank is closed. Night depositories have been installed in banks to enable merchants to place their receipts within the bank while the bank is closed. Night depositories are commonly installed through an exterior wall of a bank building so that items that have been deposited cannot be readily accessed by unauthorized persons. Some night depositories also require a key so they can be opened to insert deposits. Merchants authorized to deposit their receipts in the bank may access the night depository using a key provided to them by the bank.
A drawback associated with using night depositories is that the merchant receives no record of what has been deposited. If on the next business day the bank fails to find the merchant""s deposit or if what the bank determines was deposited does not agree with the records of the merchant, disagreements may result. Disputes may also arise as to whether the person who is given the obligation to make the deposit actually did so. As the person in charge of making the deposit is provided with no record from a night depository as to what they deposited, such persons may be suspected of theft. For this reason, merchants commonly only entrust their most senior and trusted people to make deposits into night depositories. This can be costly because it diverts valuable resources of the merchant which could be better used for other purposes.
Thus, there exists a need for an automated merchant banking apparatus and method that satisfies the banking needs of merchants on an automated and more convenient basis.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for carrying out banking transactions commonly required by merchants.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that both dispenses and receives currency in the form of notes and coins.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can exchange currency or credit for notes or coins.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that accepts deposits of notes, cash, coins, credit slips, checks or other instruments.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that provides an operator with written documentation of the transactions they have conducted.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for carrying out merchant banking transactions that has an improved user interface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that dispenses rolled coins and which provides for retracting coins which are not taken by a user.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for conducting merchant banking transactions that includes a novel enclosure which is compact, secure and attractive.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and system that notifies different selected entities of a variety of conditions or requirements which exist at the apparatus.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which communicates transaction messages to a remote computer which includes information as to the denominations of notes and coins which make up a deposit or withdrawal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of operating an automated merchant banking apparatus.
Further objects of the present invention will be made apparent in the following Best Modes For Carrying Out Invention and the appended claims.
The foregoing objects are accomplished in an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus and method of the present invention by an automated merchant banking apparatus. The apparatus includes a user interface. The user interface includes output devices such as a screen and/or audio speakers. The interface further includes input devices such as a card reader, a keypad, function keys and/or a touch screen. The interface is operative to provide instructions to and to receive inputs from users. The interface is operatively connected to one or more terminal processors which are in operative connection with one or more data stores. The data stores include instructions for operating the apparatus in response to various inputs and conditions. The data store further includes records pertaining to transactions conducted using the apparatus as well as data corresponding to connected computers and systems with which the apparatus may exchange messages for carrying out transactions.
The terminal processor is in operative connection with a variety of transaction function devices. The transaction function devices include a note dispenser which selectively dispenses several common varieties of currency notes. The terminal processor is further in operative connection with a note acceptor. The note acceptor is operative to identify and validate a number of different denominations of currency notes. Valid currency notes are accepted into the machine and the user is afforded a corresponding credit.
The merchant banking apparatus of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes a rolled coin dispenser. The rolled coin dispenser dispenses coin rolls in various denominations. The rolled coin dispenser is operative to present coins to a user. If the user fails to take any of the presented rolls a mechanism retracts them into the machine.
The merchant banking apparatus of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes a depository. The depository is operative to receive deposit envelopes in some exemplary embodiments. In other embodiments the depository is operative to receive instruments such as checks, and to cancel such checks and to generate and store images of the deposited instruments.
The merchant banking apparatus of an exemplary embodiment further includes a bag depository. The bag depository is operative to accept and secure the deposited parcels containing cash, coin, credit slips, checks and the like.
The exemplary form of the invention enables a merchant user to receive selected quantities and denominations of coins and notes: The user may pay for these notes either with cash, which is accepted by the note acceptor, or by using a card based account, such as an account associated with a debit or credit card. The user may also make deposits in the form of envelopes or instruments into the depository. A user may further make deposits of large parcels into the bag depository. Using the interface of the machine, the user is enabled to specify precisely what is deposited into the machine and is provided with detailed receipts concerning the deposit. The user is further afforded the opportunity to obtain multiple receipts for a single deposit so that the user may deliver at least one of the receipts to their employer to evidence the making of the deposit, and also maintain at least one for their records in the event the one provided to their employer is lost.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention further provides a visually reproducible record associated with deposit transactions. This includes in the case of bag deposits, for example, concurrent images or combined images of both the user making the deposit as well as what is deposited. These concurrent images are presented to the user on the screen of the device at the time of the deposit to provide the user further assurance that the deposit is documented. Such records pertaining to deposits may be stored along with transaction information as stored data in the memory in the apparatus, or at another location. This enables the operator of the apparatus to review both transaction and visual image data pertaining to such transactions.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention further enables the operator of the merchant banking apparatus to monitor levels of dispensed items such as currency and coin. Appropriate entities are given notice selectively concerning the need to replenish such items. Similarly, the exemplary embodiment of the invention monitors the level of deposits accepted by the note acceptor, envelope or instrument depository and bag depository. Appropriate personnel are selectively given notice of the need to service or take action to remove accumulated deposits.
The exemplary form of the automated merchant banking apparatus and method enables merchants to carry out transactions on an automated basis that are necessary to support their business activities. Transactions can be carried out at the convenience of the merchant to conform to their hours of operation. Further, the automated merchant banking apparatus of the exemplary embodiment is secure yet relatively economical to produce and operate. The apparatus can be deployed in locations convenient to many merchants.

Automated merchant banking apparatus and method


A micro switch is disclosed in the invention, which can be assembled and manufactured easily. Through a conjoining portion formed between a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion of resilient element that are used for switching on/off the electrical contact, and through a positioning portion that is for conjoining to the resilient element and is provided in the concave slot of the pushbutton corresponding to the conjoining portion, the first conductive portion of resilient element can then often keep in a contact manner with the first contact portion of first conductive terminal extending to the acceptance room. In addition, a pressing portion corresponding to the pushbutton will apply downward force on the second conductive portion so that the second conductive portion will move downwards to touch the second contact portion of second conductive terminal extending to the acceptance room. Thus, a micro switch that is easy to be assembled is then formed.

The invention relates to a micro switch and, more particularly, to a micro switch having bi-directional operation to switch on/off the electrical contact point.
A conventional small-sized micro switch with bi-directional operation for switching on/off the electrical contact point utilizes terminals that have first and second conductive portions protruding from the sidewall opposite to the acceptance room. When in a free state, the first conductive portion is not in contact with the first movable contact portion of the coil spring. Conversely, when the switch is activated, the operation portion of pushbutton will be pressed down, which in turn will cause the coil spring to move, making a contact with the first movable contact portion. Unlike the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion often contacts the second movable contact portion of coil spring. Therefore, in order to prevent the pushbutton from shifting or detaching caused by pushing-up resilience generated by the coil spring when the pushbutton is trying to get back to its original free state after a switching on/off action, the pushbutton has to contain a first brake element that is extending from the location of pivot point axis so that the pushbutton can perform positioning for itself at the location where the pivot point axis departs. On the other hand, the main body of micro switch has a second brake element formed at the main body thereon. The second brake element will touch the first brake element of pushbutton when the first brake element receives force from the coil spring and begins to rotate relative to the shut direction. After that, positioning a free-state pushbutton can then be performed.
However, regarding to the above-mentioned positioning method, since the volume of micro switch is very small, it is not an ideal method to form another tiny brake element because the brake element cannot provide good strength, neither can it be manufactured with good degree of precision. Therefore, the yielding of product will not be good enough if the method is applied, and the cost of assembling labor will also increase since product precision control cannot be well performed, either.
Moreover, if product precision is not good enough, or if the coil spring becomes fatigued because the downward-pressing process is too long, the often-in-contact manner between the second conductive portion and the second movable contact portion of the coil spring will then fail to be kept. Consequently, the switching-on-for-conducting made by the electrical contact point cannot be generated when the pushbutton is pressed down; that is, the small-sized switch has lost its function of conducting-at-pressing. In other words, the lifespan of micro switch is shortened.
To solve the above problems, the object of the invention is to provide a micro switch that is easy to be assembled and manufactured without taking the trouble to change volume for the existing product as well as to go through complicated manufacturing process and product precision control. Through a conjoining portion formed between a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion of resilient element that are used for switching on/off the electrical contact point, and through a positioning portion that is for conjoining to the resilient element and is provided in the concave slot of the pushbutton corresponding to the conjoining portion, the first conductive portion of resilient element can then often keep in a contact manner with the first contact portion of first conductive terminal extending to the acceptance room. In addition, the second conductive portion can move downwards to contact the second contact portion of second conductive terminal extending to the acceptance room because the second conductive portion is pressed by a pressing portion provided corresponding to the pushbutton. Therefore, a micro switch easy to be assembled is formed.


A method and system for determining that a given channel defined by a first protocol radio link is overloaded, transmitting a first type of message to a wireless communication device operating on the first protocol radio link, and thereafter transmitting a message of a second type to the wireless communication device via a second protocol radio link. The message of the first type is encoded to cause the wireless communication device to switch from operating on the first protocol radio link to operating on the second protocol radio link and to cause the wireless communication device to switch back to operating on the first protocol radio link upon receipt of the message of the second type. The wireless communication device may present the message of the second type to a user of the wireless communication device.

Many people use wireless communication devices, such as cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), to communicate with radio access networks (RANs). These wireless communication devices and networks typically communicate with each other over a radio frequency (RF) air interface (or radio link) according to a wireless protocol such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), perhaps in conformance with one or more industry specifications such as IS-2000. Wireless networks that operate according to the IS-2000 specification are often referred to as "1xRTT networks," which stands for "Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology networks." Another protocol that may be used is a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol known as Evolution Data Optimized (Ev-DO), perhaps in conformance with one or more industry specifications such as IS-856, Revision 0 and IS-856, Revision A. Other protocols may be used as well, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), perhaps in conformance with Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.16, and/or any others.
These networks typically provide services such as voice, Short Message Service (SMS) messaging, and packet-data communication, among others, and typically include a plurality of base stations, each of which provide one or more coverage areas, such as cells and sectors (i.e., individual areas of a cell that allow the cell to carry more calls). When a wireless communication device is positioned in one of these coverage areas, it can communicate over the radio link with the base station, and in turn over one or more circuit-switched and/or packet-switched signaling and/or transport networks to which the base station provides access.
Wireless communication devices and base stations may conduct communication sessions (e.g. voice calls and data sessions) over a pair of frequencies known as carriers, with the base station transmitting to the wireless communication device on one of the frequencies, and the wireless communication device transmitting to the base station on the other. This is known as frequency division duplex (FDD). The base-station-to-wireless-communication-device link is known as the forward link, whereas the wireless-communication-device-to-base-station link is known as the reverse link.
Furthermore, using a sector as an example of a coverage area, base stations may provide service in a given sector on one carrier, or on more than one. An instance of a particular carrier in a particular sector is referred to herein as a sector/carrier. In a typical CDMA system, using a configuration known as radio configuration 3 (RC3), a base station can, on a given sector/carrier, transmit forward-link data on a maximum of 64 distinct channels at any time, each corresponding to a unique 64-bit code known as a Walsh code. Of these channels, typically, 61 of them are available as traffic channels (for bearer traffic, for example user data), while the other 3 are reserved for administrative channels known as the pilot, paging, and sync channels.
When a base station instructs a wireless communication device assigned to a given sector/carrier to use a particular traffic channel for a communication session, the base station does so by instructing the wireless communication device to tune to one of the 61 traffic channels on that sector/carrier. It is over that assigned traffic channel that the base station will transmit forward-link data to the wireless communication device during the ensuing communication session. And, in addition to that forward-link channel, the traffic channel also includes a corresponding Walsh-coded reverse-link channel, over which the wireless communication device will transmit data to the base station.
During various network operating conditions, such as during an overload condition in which an above-average number of users are communicating via the network and/or are attempting to communicate via the network, a given channel of the base station (for example, a paging channel) may become overloaded. To overcome the overload condition, the base station may shed certain types of messages available for sending over the given channel such that the shed messages are not communicated during the overload condition. Shedding the messages may result in overcoming the overload condition. However, shedding the messages may reduce network performance because the network may not transmit the shed messages.

System and method for switching from a first radio link to a second radio link for sending or receiving a message via the second radio link