A musical tone visualizing apparatus includes at least an image memory for storing plural images relating to players and/or musical instruments of an orchestra, a display unit for displaying the images on a display screen thereof and a display control circuit for controlling the display unit so that displayed images can be varied in response to an inputted musical tone signal or inputted performance information outputted from an electronic musical instrument, for example. Hence, it is possible to move the players and musical instruments in response to performance of the electronic musical instrument, and it is also possible to selectively enlarge one display image of the player and musical instrument whose tone volume is the largest. Thus, the displayed images can be automatically varied in response to the performance of the electronic musical instrument.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a musical tone visualizing apparatus, and more particularly to a musical tone visualizing apparatus which can change the contents of display images in response to, e.g, the scale and kinds of musical instruments for generating musical tones.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, it has been known that there is an apparatus for detecting a parameter such as tone volume or frequency (i.e., tone pitch) of a musical tone to be generated in response to performance of a musical instrument so that the contents of a display screen of a video display unit can be controlled based on the parameter. By using such apparatus, it becomes possible to effectively enjoy music from a visual aspect in addition to an auditory aspect.
However, such conventional apparatus controls the display screen by use of only the parameter such as, e.g., the tone volume frequency. Hence, it is disadvantageous in that the contents of the display screen do not match with the contents of musical tones in some cases.

Musical tone visualizing apparatus which displays an image of an animated object in accordance with a musical performance


A projector includes: a laser light source that emits laser light; a condensing optical system that collimates the laser light; a holographic recording medium that, when laser light for reproduction is incident thereupon, emits a reproduced holographic optical image on the basis of a holographic image; a light modulation element that modulates the reproduced holographic optical image and emits the result to a projection optical system as an optical image for projection; a projection optical system that projects the optical image for projection; and a focal depth adjustment unit that adjusts a focus depth of the ray bundle projected by the projection optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projector and an image capturing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Inventions of various types have been disclosed in which laser light is utilized as the light source for a projector. The merit of using laser light as the light source for a projector is that it becomes possible to perform projection with a great degree of focusing freedom, since it is possible to obtain very large focusing depth. On the other hand, the demerit of using laser light as the light source for a projector is that speckle noise occurs, and sometimes this exerts a negative influence upon the projected image.
In the past, there was a method of projection, including vibrating a holographic recording medium, increasing the diameter of a ray bundle of laser light that is incident upon this holographic recording medium, irradiating the reproduced hologram optical image upon a light modulation element, and projecting the resulting image. With this method, speckle noise is almost perfectly eliminated, due to the fact that the holographic recording medium is vibrated, and due to the fact that the projection numerical aperture is made larger by increasing the diameter of the laser light ray bundle. It should be noted that, there was no disclosure regarding the position of the entrance pupil of the projection optical system (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Publication 2010-197916).

Projector having holographic recording medium and light modulation element


Traffic signals that adapt to traffic conditions are provided with countdown timers. These countdown timers count down from some number towards zero, and indicate the approximate duration remaining before a traffic signal changes state. Since the traffic signal is continuously adapting to traffic conditions, the exact time before a state change occurs is not known in advance. Using a countdown algorithm, the countdown timers imperceptibly modify the countdown sequence in real time so that the traffic signal state change coincides approximately with the moment the countdown reaches its minimum count.

Traffic signals ran on fixed timings when they were first invented. Recently traffic signals that adapt to traffic patterns have been created. This includes systems such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,127,811, 10,078,965, 9,613,530, 9,595,193, 9,818,297, 9,472,097, and 8,212,688. These systems change traffic signaling timings based on traffic data.
Count down timers that count down to the time at which a signal will change from GO to STOP or STOP to GO are used in many locations in the world. These timers create driver comfort by signifying in advance when the next change may occur. They also improve driver readiness, thus reducing the total time spent at the traffic signal. To implement countdown timers, it is necessary to know in advance when the next signaling change will occur.

Adaptive traffic signal with adaptive countdown timers


A method is provided for detecting urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle and includes determination if an exhaust gas's temperature is reached, if the result of determination is positive, stoppage of urea injection, and determination of the quantity of NOx in the exhaust gases on the outlet of the selective catalytic reduction system. A comparison is performed between the quantity of NOx determined on the outlet of the selective catalytic reduction system and a theoretical quantity or a measured quantity of NOx produced by the internal combustion engine. If the comparison shows that the quantities are different, it is considered that urea deposits are present in the exhaust line. A vehicle is also disclosed.

The invention concerns a method for detecting the presence of urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle. The invention also concerns a method for eliminating urea deposits in an exhaust line of a vehicle. The invention also concerns an automotive vehicle adapted to perform such methods.
Because of environmental issues, automotive vehicles such as trucks are often equipped with pollution reduction systems. The aim of some of those systems is to reduce the quantity of Nitrogen oxides (NOx), in the exhaust gases of the vehicles. Reduction of NOx (mostly NO and N02) is often realized with a chemical reaction involving ammonia injected in gas exhaust systems.
As storage and carriage of ammonia in an automotive vehicle is not safe, ammonia can be brought by the injection of urea, or of an aqueous solution thereof, in order for it to decompose into ammonia and react, in a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR), with NOx to produce ideally nitrogen and water.
In order to obtain ammonia from urea, several factors need to be combined, and especially temperature must be high enough for the decomposition reaction to work properly. If the temperature is not high enough, or if other factors are not present, the decomposition reaction may produce solid compounds which may accumulate in the gas exhaust pipes in the form of solid deposits. These solid deposits can obstruct the pipes and induce performance and security issues. For instance, the deposits in the exhaust pipes can reduce the power of the vehicle, or lead to over-pressures in the exhaust line. Those deposits need to be cleaned regularly. In the following, those solid deposits will be referred to as urea deposits although their exact composition may vary and may not comprise only urea, but also intermediate products of the decomposition reaction of urea into ammonia.
It is known that the urea solid deposits can be decomposed to ammonia when exposed to a temperature exceeding a certain threshold, typically around 350° C. Such a reaction will be referred herein as the thermal elimination of the urea solid deposit. Automotive combustion engines produce high temperature exhaust gases, but the temperature of the exhaust gases may vary considerably depending on the engine load. Moreover, temperature of the exhaust gases will inevitably decrease along the exhaust line due to their flowing through various devices such as turbines or particle filters, or simply due to heat exchange between the exhaust line and its environment. Therefore, especially if the SCR system is located downstream in the exhaust line, the potential urea deposits may be exposed to a suitable temperature for their thermal elimination only during a fraction of the operating time of the engine. During that fraction of time, no substantial deposit will be formed, and previously formed deposit will be "naturally" thermally eliminated. On the other hand, outside of that fraction of time, not only urea deposits will not be eliminated, but further deposit may be formed.
Various techniques are known to "artificially" enhance the exhaust gas temperatures of an engine, for example by modifying the engine operating conditions or by heating the exhaust gases with a heating device. Unfortunately, these techniques all have in common an increased energy consumption, and particularly a fuel over-consumption. Known methods execute a forced thermal elimination of the urea deposits by artificially increasing the exhaust gases temperature at regular intervals, and for a predetermined period of time, irrespective of whether urea deposits have formed in the exhaust line, and irrespective of the amount of deposit to be eliminated. For instance, such methods initiate a predefined forced thermal elimination period each time a given distance has been covered by the vehicle since the last forced elimination.
In order to avoid a fuel over-consumption, some methods detect urea deposits in the exhaust pipes and initiate the regeneration reaction only when needed. It is known, for instance from US-A-200810271440, to measure pressure variations in exhaust pipes and/or SCR system to detect urea deposits. Results given by this solution lack precision and are difficult to exploit.
Thus, known techniques of detection do not permit to precisely conclude about presence or not of urea deposits in exhaust pipes at a given time.
This invention aims, according to an aspect thereof, at proposing a new method for detecting and eliminating urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle, which permits to determine precisely if urea deposits are present in exhaust pipes, in order to begin the cleaning of the pipes only when needed, and to stop it when the cleaning is finished.
To this end, an aspect of the invention concerns a method for detecting urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle, equipped with an internal combustion engine, a selective catalytic reduction system, mounted on the exhaust line, adapted to convert NOx produced by the internal combustion engine, and an injection system adapted to inject urea in the exhaust line, upstream the selective catalytic reduction system. This method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
a) determination if an exhaust gases temperature is reached,
b) if the result of determination made at step a) is positive, stoppage of urea injection,
c) determination of the quantity of NOx in the exhaust gases on the outlet of the selective catalytic reduction system,
d) comparison between the quantity of NOx determined at step c) and a theoretical quantity or a measured quantity of NOx produced by the internal combustion engine,
e) if step d) shows that said quantities are different, considering that urea deposits are present in the exhaust line.
Thanks to an aspect of the invention, urea deposits in the exhaust pipes are detected by the difference between the quantity of NOx downstream the internal combustion engine and downstream the selective catalyst reduction system. In fact, regeneration reaction of urea deposits is used to detect presence of deposits. The precision of this detection permits to start a cleaning procedure only when needed, avoiding fuel over-consumption in the case cleaning is done by burning deposits.
According to further aspects of the invention which are advantageous but not compulsory, such a method can include the following features:
The theoretical quantity of NOx produced by the internal combustion engine is determined on the basis of the operating conditions of said internal combustion engine.
The quantity of NOx produced by the internal combustion engine is determined through the use of a sensor in an exhaust pipe of said exhaust line upstream of said selective catalytic reduction system.
The method is initiated only if a given distance has been covered and/or a given time period has elapsed since the last detection of presence of urea deposits.
The quantity of NOx determined at step c) is a mean value computed over a given period of time.
A given quantity of ammonia or ammonia precursor is stored, prior to step b) in a portion of the selective catalytic reduction system, then the quantity of NOx is determined at step c) after release of the given quantity of ammonia or ammonia precursor in the selective catalytic reduction system.
The method comprises, prior to step a), a further step of:
f) altering the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine or otherwise heating the exhaust gases to raise the exhaust gases temperature.
At step d), comparison is made by comparing a NOx conversion rate value (Rm) to a minimum threshold.
The invention also concerns, according to an aspect thereof, a method for eliminating urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle, said method implementing the aforementioned method for detecting urea deposits. This method also comprises a step of:
f) if at step e) one can consider that urea deposits are present in the exhaust line, cleaning of the exhaust line.
According to further aspects of the invention which are advantageous but not compulsory, such a method for eliminating urea deposits may incorporate one or several of the following features:
The detection method is performed during the cleaning of the exhaust line.
If at step e) one cannot consider that urea deposits are present in the exhaust line, the cleaning of the exhaust line is stopped and the urea injection system is reactivated.
The invention also concerns an automotive vehicle with which the above-mentioned method can be implemented. More precisely, the invention concerns an automotive vehicle equipped with a selective catalytic reduction system mounted on an exhaust line of the vehicle and adapted to convert NOx produced by an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, an injection system adapted to inject urea in the exhaust line, upstream the selective catalytic reduction system, a NOx sensor mounted in the exhaust line, downstream the selective catalytic reduction system, and an exhaust gases temperature sensor upstream the selective catalytic reduction system. This vehicle is characterized in that it comprises also means adapted to stop operation of the urea injection system, to compare a quantity of NOx measured by the NOx sensor to a theoretical NOx quantity or a measured NOx quantity produced by the internal combustion engine, and to perform cleaning of the exhaust line on the basis of the result of the comparison between said quantities.
According to further aspects of the invention which are advantageous but not compulsory, such a vehicle may include the following features:
The means to stop operation of the urea injection system, the means to compare and the means to perform cleaning are included in an electronic control unit.
The electronic control unit is adapted to compute a theoretical value of the quantity of NOx produced by the internal combustion engine, on the basis of the operating conditions of the engine.
The electronic control unit is adapted to control the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine.
The vehicle comprises means to store ammonia or an ammonia precursor in the selective catalytic reduction system.

Method for detecting urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle, method for eliminating urea deposits and automotive vehicle adapted to such methods


A golf club head composed of an outer shell made of a fiber-reinforced resin and a core made of a syntactic foam and formed in the outer shell, wherein the syntactic foam comprises a matrix resin with glass microballoons as a main component and whiskers mixed therein.

The present invention relates to a golf club head made of a fiber-reinforced resin, and more particularly, to a golf club head having the durability of its club head body improved by increasing the impact fracture strength of its core.
Most wooden golf club heads made of a fiber-reinforced resin are composed of an outer shell made of a fiber-reinforced resin and a core made of a rigid polyurethane foam formed in the outer shell which are unitarily bonded by molding. However, the rigid polyurethane foam has a defect since it has a low compression strength. When it is compression-molded together with the outer shell in a molding die under a high pressure, it is crushed to form voids on the surface of the outer shell. A method of overcoming this defect was proposed in which the rigid polyurethane foam is replaced with a syntactic foam composed of a mixture of a matrix resin with glass microballoons. To relieve the psychological uneasiness of the golfer when he hits a ball, it is desirable to design a golf club head to have a largish size. In such a largish golf club head, the specific gravity of the core must be reduced. However, when the amount of the glass microballoons in the matrix resin is increased in order to reduce the specific gravity of the core made of the syntactic foam, the impact fracture strength of the core is reduced and the golf club head is apt to be cracked disadvantageously.


A method of controlling a hybrid working machine having a hydraulic pump driven with the output of an engine and the output of a motor generator includes calculating the input side power of the hydraulic pump and controlling the output of the motor generator based on the calculated power.

Common hybrid working machines drive a hydraulic pump with the output of an engine (internal combustion engine) and do work with the generated hydraulic pressure. The engine is assisted with an electric motor to be driven with efficiency. The electric motor is driven mainly with electric power from a battery. The battery is allowed to be charged and discharged. In the case of assisting the engine, the battery is discharged to supply electric power to the electric motor. On the other hand, in the case of not assisting the engine, the battery is charged with electric power from a generator driven by the engine or regenerated electric power from a hydraulic load. Thereby, it is made possible to assist the electric motor by keeping the battery constantly charged to a certain level.
Thus, in hybrid working machines, it is possible to assist the engine with the electric motor. Therefore, the maximum output of the engine is reduced so that the engine may be reduced in size. If an output greater than the maximum output of the engine is required of the hydraulic pump, the request is met by assisting the engine with the electric motor.
By using a motor generator for the electric motor, the electric motor function and the generator function may be combined into one. In this case, it is necessary to control whether to execute the assist function as an electric motor or to execute the power generating function as a generator.
Therefore, it has been proposed to determine the output of the hydraulic pump by operations and to perform switching control over whether to cause a motor generator to operate as an electric motor or to operate as a generator by comparing the determined hydraulic pump output with a threshold. (See, for example, Patent Document 1.)
Further, in hybrid working machines, a variable displacement hydraulic pump is often used in order to allow a generated hydraulic pressure to vary in accordance with a hydraulic load's request. (See, for example, Patent Document 2.)

Method of controlling hybrid working machine and method of controlling pump output of hybrid working machine


A switching power supply that can accurately detect a period during energy is supplied from a primary side to a secondary side of a transformer with a simple circuit configuration is provided. A first switching element and a second switching element are serially connected to opposite output ends of a full-wave rectifier rectifying an AC voltage from an AC power source. A current resonant capacitor, a resonant reactor, and a primary winding of a resonant transformer are serially connected to opposite ends of the first switching element. A rectifying and smoothing circuit rectifies and smoothes a voltage of a secondary winding, a control circuit alternately turning on and off the first switching element and the second switching element based on an output voltage of the rectifying and smoothing circuit, and a resonant period detection circuit detects a period, during which energy is transmitted from a primary side to a secondary side, based on a voltage of an auxiliary winding tightly coupled with the secondary winding, and outputs a resonant period detection signal.

A conventional current-resonant switching power supply is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, a full-wave rectifier 2 (corresponding to an input rectifier circuit) rectifies an AC voltage from an AC power source 1 and outputs a full-wave current-voltage to a smoothing capacitor 3. The smoothing capacitor 3 smoothes the full-wave current-voltage of the full-wave rectifier circuit 2.
A series circuit of a first switching element Q1 formed by a MOSFET or the like and a second switching element Q2 formed by the MOSFET or the like is connected to the opposite ends of the smoothing capacitor 3. A rectifier (diode) 6 is connected in parallel to the first switching element Q1, and a rectifier 7 is connected in parallel to the second switching element Q2. A voltage resonant capacitor Crv is connected in parallel to the first switching element Q1.
A series circuit of a current resonant capacitor Cri, a reactor Lr, and a primary winding P1 of a resonant transformer T is connected in parallel to the first switching element Q1. A resonant circuit is formed with the voltage resonant capacitor Crv, the current resonant capacitor Cri, the resonant reactor Lr, and the primary winding P1 of the resonant transformer T.
The primary winding P1 and a secondary winding S of the resonant transformer T are wound so that a common mode voltage is generated respectively, and a rectifying and smoothing circuit formed with a rectifier D0 and a smoothing capacitor 14 is connected to the secondary winding S of the resonant transformer T. The rectifying and smoothing circuit rectifies and smoothes a voltage (ON/OFF controlled pulse voltage) induced by the secondary winding S of the resonant transformer T and outputs a DC output to a load 16.
A voltage detection circuit 15 is connected to the opposite ends of the smoothing capacitor 14, to detect an output voltage of the smoothing capacitor 14, and outputs the detected voltage to a control circuit 11a. The control circuit 11a controls the voltage of the load 16 to maintain a constant voltage by turning on and off alternately the first switching element Q1 and the second switching element Q2 according to PWN control, based on the detected voltage from the voltage detection circuit 15. In this case, the first switching element Q1 and the second switching element Q2 are alternately turned on and off by applying the voltage to respective gates of the first switching element Q1 and the second switching element Q2.
The operation of the thus formed conventional resonant switching power supply is explained with reference to timing charts in FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a timing chart of a signal in respective units of the switching power supply. FIG. 3 shows a timing chart of the respective signals indicating in detail a period during which energy is transmitted from the primary side to the secondary side of the resonant transformer in the switching power supply. FIG. 4 is a detailed timing chart in periods T1 to T10 of the signal in the respective units of the switching power supply.
In FIGS. 2 to 4, reference sign IP1 denotes a current flowing to the primary winding P1, VQ1 denotes both terminal voltage of the first switching element Q1, IQ1 denotes a current flowing to the first switching element Q1, VQ2 denotes both terminal voltage of the second switching element Q2, IQ2 denotes a current flowing to the second switching element Q2, VD0 denotes a voltage of the rectifier D0, ID0 denotes a current flowing to the rectifier D0, VP1 denotes both terminal voltage of the primary winding P1, and VS denotes a both terminal voltage of the secondary winding S. The resonant reactor Lr is sufficiently smaller than an exciting inductance Lp of the primary winding P1, and the voltage resonant capacitor Crv is sufficiently smaller than the current resonant capacitor Cri.
In the period T1, the first switching element Q1 is turned OFF, and the second switching element Q2 has just been changed from ON to OFF. A resonance current IP1 passes through a path extending along the resonant reactor Lr, the primary winding P1, the voltage resonant capacitor Crv, the current resonant capacitor Cri, and the resonant reactor Lr by the energy stored in the resonant reactor Lr and the exciting inductance Lp of the resonant transformer T. The voltage resonant capacitor Crv discharges due to the resonance of the exciting inductance Lp of the resonant transformer T, the resonant reactor Lr, and the voltage resonant capacitor Crv, and hence, the voltage VQ1 drops and the voltage VQ2 rises.
In the period T2, both the first switching element Q1 and the second switching element Q2 are turned OFF. The voltage resonant capacitor Crv finishes discharge, and the voltage VQ1 is zero and the voltage VQ2 is equal to the both terminal voltage of the smoothing capacitor 3. The resonance current IP1 continues to pass through a path extending along the resonant reactor Lr, the primary winding P1, the rectifier 6, the current resonant capacitor Cri, and the resonant reactor Lr. At this time, the first switching element Q1 is turned ON, and phase shifts to the period T3. In the period T3, the first switching element Q1 is turned ON, and the second switching element Q2 is turned OFF.
The current IP1 continues to pass through a path extending along the resonant reactor Lr, the primary winding P1, the first switching element Q1, the current resonant capacitor Cri, and the resonant reactor Lr while decreasing, and when the current becomes zero, the phase shifts to the period T4.
In the period T4, the first switching element Q1 is turned ON, and the second switching element Q2 is OFF. The flow direction of current IP1 is reversed, and the resonance current passes through a path extending along the primary winding P1, the resonant reactor Lr, the current resonant capacitor Cri, the first switching element Q1, and the primary winding P1, and magnetic flux of the transformer T is reset.
In the periods T1 to T4, the current IP1 and the current IQ1 flow due to the resonance of the exciting inductance Lp of the resonant transformer T, the resonant reactor Lr, and the current resonant capacitor Cri.
In the period T5, the first switching element Q1 is OFF and the second switching element Q2 is OFF. The current IP1 passes through a path extending along the primary winding P1, the resonant reactor Lr, the current resonant capacitor Cri, the voltage resonant capacitor Crv, and the primary winding P1. The current resonant capacitor Crv is charged due to the resonance of the exciting inductance Lp of the resonant transformer T, the resonant reactor Lr, and the voltage resonant capacitor Crv, and the voltage VQ1 rises and the voltage VQ2 drops.
In the period T6, both the first switching element Q1 and the second switching element Q2 are OFF. The voltage resonant capacitor Crv is charged up to the voltage of the smoothing capacitor 3, so that the voltage VQ1 becomes equal to the voltage of the smoothing capacitor 3 and the voltage VQ2 becomes zero. The resonance current IP1 continues to pass through a path extending along the primary winding P1, the resonant reactor Lr, the current resonant capacitor Cri, the smoothing capacitor 3, the rectifier 7, and the primary winding P1. In the period T7, the second switching element Q2 is turned ON, and the first switching element Q1 is still OFF. The resonance current continues to pass through a path extending along the primary winding P1, the resonant reactor Lr, the current resonant capacitor Cri, the smoothing capacitor 3, the second switching element Q2, and the primary winding P1. In the periods T5 to T7, the current IP1 and the current IQ2 flow due to the resonance of the exciting inductance Lp of the resonant transformer T, the resonant reactor Lr, and the current resonant capacitor Cri.
In the period T8, the second switching element Q2 is turned ON and the first switching element Q1 is OFF. The resonance current IP1 and the current IQ2 pass through a path extending along the second switching element Q2, the primary winding P1, the resonant reactor Lr, and the current resonant capacitor Cri, and the current ID0 starts to flow to the secondary side rectifier D0. In the period T9, the second switching element Q2 is ON and the first switching element Q1 is OFF. The current IP1 and the current IQ2 pass through a path extending along the current resonant capacitor Cri, the resonant reactor Lr, the primary winding P1, and the second switching element Q2.
In the periods T8 and T9, the current IP1 and the current IQ2 flow due to the resonance of the resonant reactor Lr and the current resonant capacitor Cri. In the periods T8 and T9, energy is transmitted from the primary winding P1 to the secondary winding S of the resonant transformer T. At this time, the current ID0 transmitted from the primary side to the secondary side rises while drawing an arc, and at a certain point, starts to drop and becomes zero when a resonance period t1 (corresponding to the periods T6 to T9) has passed. The energy transmitted to the secondary side is rectified and smoothed by the rectifier D0 and the smoothing capacitor 14, and the DC power is supplied to the load 16.
In the period T10, the second switching element Q2 keeps the ON state, and the current IP1 and the current IQ2 pass through a path extending along the current resonant capacitor Cri, the resonant reactor Lr, the primary winding P1, and the second switching element Q2, but the current ID0 stops to flow. In the period T10, the current IP1 and the current IQ2 flow due to the resonance of the exciting inductance Lp of the resonant transformer T, the resonant reactor Lr, and the current resonant capacitor Cri. When the period T10 (corresponding to the period t2 decided based on an oscillating frequency or a duty ratio) has passed, the second switching element Q2 is turned OFF and the first switching element Q1 is turned ON, and the phase shifts to a reset period t3 (corresponding to the periods T1 to T5).


An inclined body positioning and support system is presented comprising an internal foundational wedged support encased in a chamber, an internal ventilation/comfort material encased in a chamber, first and second internal elongated positioning and support chambers each encasing a fill material, and an external cover. The foundational wedge chamber encases a respective first and second wedge plateau overlapped by the respective first and second elongated support material chamber to form a respective first and second transitional.

Many medical afflictions hinder an individuals ability to successfully enjoy a painless, restful sleep. In some cases, body positioning and support combined with upper body elevation offer enough relief to facilitate a less painful and more restful sleep.
Often this body repositioning is accomplished with multiple pillows. However, the pillows may shift position and/or be difficult to properly place, particularly by an individual experiencing pain on movement. Persons with limited mobility mobility limiting conditions, or conditions which are relieved by elevation may not have the coordination and/or strength or may be experiencing too much pain to manipulate multiple pillows to achieve the desired positioning.
Accordingly, there is still a continuing need for improved body support designs. The present invention fulfills this need and further provides related advantages.

Inclined body positioning and support system


A device for removing the anus of slaughtered animals, which device comprises: a cutting device (14) for cutting out the anus (9) of a slaughtered animal transported by the transporting means (10, 11, 12), which cutting device comprises: a displaceable carriage (24); and a rotatably drivable and axially displaceable, substantially cylindrical blade (32) carried by this carriage (24) and having a leading cutting edge and a blunt locating pin (33) placed coaxially of this blade (32), wherein during removal of an anus (9) the centreline (34) of the blade (32) is substantially stationary relative to the slaughtered animal being processed, is characterized by positioning means for positioning the carriage (24) such that the centreline (34) of the blade (32) extends through the anus (9) of the slaughtered animal, which positioning means comprise two drives which can move the carriage in two respective non-parallel directions; measuring means for measuring the position of the anus of a slaughtered animal for processing; and control means which receive position information from the measuring means and control the two drives on the basis thereof.

The invention relates to a device for removing the anus of slaughtered animals, which device comprises:
a cutting device for cutting out the anus of a slaughtered animal transported by the transporting means, which cutting device comprises:
a displaceable carriage; and
a rotatably drivable and axially displaceable, substantially cylindrical blade carried by this carriage and having a leading cutting edge and a blunt locating pin placed coaxially with this blade,
wherein the centre line of the blade during removal of an anus is substantially stationary relative to the slaughtered animal being processed.
Such a device is disclosed in the following prior art.
NL-A-7606104 relates to a device wherein the carriage can swing in a vertical plane.
FR-A-2 640 465 likewise relates to a device wherein the carriage can perform a swinging movement relative to a fixed pivot line.
Both cited publications relate to a technique wherein the carriage can perform a horizontal displacement and can perform a swinging movement in the vertical plane relative to a subsequently selected new horizontal position. Once a desired position is reached the rotatably driven cylindrical blade is displaced forward along its centre line to cut out the anus.
The art according to both mentioned publications is found to provide an insufficiently accurate positioning, wherein "misses" occur regularly. Such an error has the consequence that contamination of usable meat of the slaughtered animal can arise or that usable meat is cut away by the cutting device, while it is possible that the anus for removal is not completely cut out. The device for removing the anus can form part of a slaughter house line at a processing stage in which the rough pro-processing has . already taken place, such as killing the animal and removing hair and cleaning. The device therefore forms part of the so-called "clean" slaughter line, in which errors are not acceptable.
EP-A-0 259 939 relates to a device in which the slaughtered animal is mechanically positioned relative to the cutting device. A pivotal movement of the cutting device in a vertical plane also takes place here.
WO-A-89/10060 relates to a device wherein a pig is placed and held in a determined position, the cutting device is then moved vertically and can subsequently pivot in vertical plane round a pivot axis.

Device for removing the anus of slaughtered animals


The invention relates to a novel process for preparing (S)-pantoprazole using a chiral zirconium complex or a chiral hafnium complex.

Pyridin-2-ylmethylsulphinyl-1H-benzimidazoles and compounds of a closely related structure, as known, for example, from EP-A-0005129, EP-A-0166287, EP-A-0174726 and EP-A-0268956, are, owing to their H+/K+-ATPase-inhibitory action, of considerable importance in the therapy of diseases associated with an increased secretion of gastric acid.
Examples of active compounds from this class of compounds which are commercially available or in clinical development are 5-methoxy-2-[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)methylsulphinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (INN: omeprazole), (S)-5-methoxy-2-[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)methyl-sulphinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (INN: esomeprazole), 5-difluoromethoxy-2-[(3,4-dimethoxy-2-pyridinyl)methylsulphinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (INN: pantoprazole), 2-[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridinyl)methylsulphinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (INN: Iansoprazole), 2-{[4-(3-methoxypropoxy)-3-methylpyridin-2-yl]methylsulphinyl}-1H-benzimidazole (INN: rabeprazole) and 5-methoxy-2-((4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridylmethyl)sulphinyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-b)pyridine (INN: tenatoprazole).
The abovementioned sulphinyl derivatives which, owing to their mechanism of action, are also referred, to as proton pump inhibitors or abbreviated PPI are chiral compounds. The process usually used for preparing the PPI is the oxidation of the corresponding sulphides. This oxidation gives—unless particular measures are taken—a racemic mixture comprising about the same proportions of the two enantiomers (stereoisomers), i.e. the (+)- and (−)-form or the (R)- and (S)-form of the PPI.
Since enantiomers are thermally relatively stable, i.e. they do not racemize on storage—in particular in solid form—there has in the past been no lack of efforts to separate PPI enantiomer mixtures or to prepare the PPI enantiomers in more or less pure form.


A pipeline coupling comprises first and second substantially annular connecting pieces at each end of a length of pipe, an internally threaded nut on the first connecting piece and a corresponding external thread on the second connecting piece, and a sealing ring for location between adjacent ends of two lengths of pipe to be connected, a sealed connection between the two lengths of pipe being effected by screwing the nut onto the external thread to draw the connecting pieces axially towards one another and to compress the sealing ring therebetween. A substantially annular locking ring is mounted on the second connecting piece to be axially movable therealong but rotatably fixed relative thereto, the locking ring and nut being provided with corresponding projections and recesses adapted to engage with one another to prevent relative rotation between the two connecting pieces, releasable means retaining the projections and the recesses in engagement with one another.

This invention relates to pipeline couplings and has particular, though not exclusive, application to the coupling of lengths of pipe to form pipelines for conveying fluids at high pressure in oil exploration, oil production and related industries.
Such pipelines commonly comprise a series of interconnected lengths of steel pipe, adjacent lengths of which may be interconnected with one another by any one of a number of different coupling arrangements dependent upon the location and application of the pipeline in question.
One known coupling arrangement comprises a flat annular plate welded or screwed to each end of each length of pipe, said lengths being interconnected by means of a series of angularly-spaced nuts and bolts passing through abutting plates on the adjacent ends of the lengths to be connected, a gasket or ring type seal being located between the abutting plates.
Coupling arrangements of this type, which it will be appreciated are somewhat time-consuming to effect and dismantle, are commonly used on installations of a permanent nature where the time involved in installing or replacing the coupling is not of importance.
A further known coupling arrangement comprises a clamp surrounding the adjacent ends of two lengths of pipe to be interconnected, said ends having tapering external flange portions formed therearound, and the internal surface of the clamp having corresponding internal tapered regions formed thereon for co-operation with said flange portions on the pipe lengths. On tightening of the clamp, which may consist of two or more components, around the ends of the pipe lengths by means of associated nuts and bolts, said lengths are drawn axially towards one another to compress a seal located therebetween and to effect the joint.
Clamp couplings of this general type are more compact than the above-detailed flange couplings and are therefore used in locations where space is at a premium and where the weight of the coupling is to be taken into account. However, again, clamp couplings of this type take time to install and replace and are therefore only appropriate in permanent or semi-permanent installations.
It is sometimes necessary for pipeline couplings to be quickly and easily released or effected and, in such a situation, it is common practice to use a union incorporating an internally-threaded nut on one component co-operating with an external thread on the other component.
A preferred coupling of this nature is the so-called hammer lug union. Such a union comprises a male connecting piece at one end of a length of pipe and carrying thereon an internally-threaded nut the outer wall of which is provided with a series of radially-projecting, circumferentially-spaced lugs, and a female connecting piece at the other end of the length of pipe, said female connecting piece being externally threaded and housing therein an annular sealing ring.
Interconnection of two lengths of pipe is effected by locating the end of the male connecting piece of one length into the female connecting piece of the other length, drawing the nut over the male connecting piece and onto the correspondingly-threaded portion of the female connecting piece and tightening the nut onto ..said female connecting piece by hammering tangentially on the lugs of the nut. Sealing is achieved by co-operation between the abutting ends of the two connecting pieces and the seal, over-compression of the seal being prevented by metallic interference of the two connecting pieces.
It will be appreciated that such an arrangement enables extremely quick making and breaking of the connection, such hammer lug unions therefore being used in temporary or semipermanent installations where speed of connection or disconnection is of essence. However, their reliability is not such that they can be used in permanent installations.


A folder gluer for folding a cardboard sheet having first through fourth panels connected through connecting portions and a glue tab and joining the first and fourth panels at the glue tab is disclosed. The folder gluer includes a pair of pressing members movable relative to one another in a cardboard sheet width direction perpendicular to a cardboard sheet feed direction for pressing the connecting portions of the first and fourth panels which are being folded, a detector disposed upstream in the feed direction from the pair of pressing members for detecting a passage of the cardboard sheet being fed in the feed direction and generating a detection signal, and a controller for determining, based on the generation of the detection signal from the detector, a timing at which the pair of pressing members are caused to move relative to one another and press on the connection portions of the first and fourth panels after the first and fourth panels are folded to 90° and before being folded to 180°.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folder gluer, and more particularly to a folder gluer for folding and joining a cardboard sheet having four panels and a glue tab.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, cardboard sheet box-forming machines perform slotting and creasing; slots and creases are formed on cardboard sheets extending in the feed direction. Cardboard sheets for forming a box have four panels and a glue tab. A folder gluer is one processing device within a cardboard box making machine, by which two panels in a cardboard sheet are folded 180° and that folded single panel is glued to a glue tab. Two panels are folded by being brought into contact with a folding bar or a folding belt as a cardboard sheet is fed at high speed. During this folding, the two panels spread apart on the upstream side in the feed direction due to contact friction resistance with the folding belt or the like, splaying in fishtail form so that their folding direction skews away from the creases formed on the cardboard sheet.
In order to correct for the above fishtail-splaying folded portion after the fact, the conventional folder gluer disclosed in JP-2007-185799A is furnished with a pair of pressing plates movable in the width direction of the sheet, perpendicular to the feed direction. The pair of pressing plates press the splayed folded portions in the sheet width direction. A sensor is placed upstream of the pair of pressing plates in the feed direction, and detects the passing of the front edge of the cardboard sheet. After the elapse of a predetermined time following detection of passage of the front edge of the cardboard sheet by the sensor, the pair of pressing plates move in the sheet width direction and apply an instantaneous strong pressure to the outside edge of the folded portions. In the folder gluer of JP-2007-185799A described above, the instantaneous pressing operation by the pair of pressing plates is carried out after the two panels on each side of the cardboard sheet are folded to 180° and before the two panels are glued on the glue tab.


A machine for milling fence rails and the like having a pair of opposed milling units, each having a cutter head with a conically shaped inner surface, cutting knives arranged to taper material inserted into the heads to the shape of the inner surface and to form a projecting tine that is also tapered.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fence rails and a method of and apparatus for manufacturing the same. The apparatus is related to horizontal milling machines.
2. Prior Art
Means for interconnecting horizontal fence rails to vertical posts are well known. Many devices have been proposed in the past to hold the rails in position to the posts. The Simpson-Strong Tie Company, lnc., of San Leandro, Calif., has manufactured a light-gauge fence bracket which they refer to as their Strong Tie FB model. The Simpson Company has also patented a sloped, adjustable hanger which is protected by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,230,416, 4,291,996 and 4,423,977, as well as other patents that may be pending. However, these devices have the disadvantage of being expensive to use in large quantities, are labor costly in their installation and require the handling of many fasteners i.e., nails or screws to mount such devices. They also have the disadvantage of requiring availability of at least two devices, i.e., one device for a perpendicular installation with relationship of the rail to the post and another device for an angular installation where the rail comes into the post at an angle.

Fence rail and method and apparatus of manufacturing the same


A wireless communication apparatus that includes a first antenna section having a first power feed point; a second antenna section having a second power feed point; a first electrically conductive plate extending between the first antenna section and the second antenna section; a second electrically conductive plate disposed substantially in parallel with the first electrically conductive plate and extending between the first antenna section and the second antenna section; and a short-circuiting member that electrically short-circuits the first electrically conductive plate and the second electrically conductive plate to each other such that a slit is formed by a part of a periphery of the first electrically conductive plate and a part of a periphery of the second electrically conductive plate.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an antenna device, and relates in particular to (but is not limited to) a wireless communication apparatus that adopts a MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output) antenna device.
2. Description of Related Art
A service called "LTE" (Long Term Evolution) is known as one of specifications for high-speed data communication for cellular phones. When seen from a technical viewpoint for an antenna, the LTE has the following characteristics.
That is, the LTE is intended for a communication system called "MIMO", in which a plurality of antennas are used for transmission and reception to achieve high-speed data communication. A wireless communication apparatus such as a portable terminal that adopts the MIMO normally uses two antennas. It is desired that the two antennas should ideally have equal antenna characteristics.
An index called "correlation" between the antennas serves as a key point of the antenna characteristics for the MIMO. It is known that a large value (coefficient) of correlation (that is, a high degree of correlation) between the antennas reduces the communication speed.
The frequency band that is currently or planned to be used for the LTE service in various countries exists over a wide range, and it is desired that both a lower band and a higher band of an existing cellular system should be broadened.
For example, in a service in 700-MHz band in the United States, it is significantly difficult to reduce the correlation between the antennas. This is because a lower frequency causes a high-frequency current to flow through the entire substrate of a portable terminal, which brings the antennas into an operation mode similar to that of dipoles to make the directivity of the antennas less dependent on the design of the antennas. Hence, if it is attempted to improve the correlation by varying the directivity by changing the design of one of the antennas, it is considerably difficult to obtain desired results.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-17047 proposes a multi-antenna that can be applied to a mobile communication system that is less affected by mutual coupling. The multi-antenna includes a plurality of power feed elements respectively connected to a plurality of power feed points on a circuit substrate, and a single or a plurality of parasitic elements connected to the circuit substrate in the vicinity of an arbitrary power feed point.


A process is disclosed for the preparation of an essentially tetramer-free, substantially stroma-free, polymerized, pyridoxylated hemoglobin. Also disclosed is an essentially tetramer-free, substantially stroma-free, polymerized, pyridoxylated hemoglobin product capable of being infused into human patients in an amount of up to about 5 liters.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for preparing red blood cell substitute products, i.e., hemoglobin products. It further relates to an acellular red blood cell substitute comprising an essentially tetramer-free, cross linked, polymerized, pyridoxylated hemoglobin solution which is free of stromal contaminants.
2. Description of Related Art
For a number of years, blood banks have provided whole blood for replacement during surgery, because of trauma, or for other situations. However, whole blood obtained from human donors is not suitable for a variety of uses. In particular, the use of whole blood is problematic because of the requirement for donor-typing, stability and shelf-life problems and toxicity caused by viruses and other contaminants. These problems are especially pertinent to emergency situations, such as the use of blood by the military. Consequently, much effort has been devoted to the development of substitutes for whole blood obtained from human donors. This development has resulted in various modifications to blood from human or other mammalian sources. Stroma-free hemoglobin is known in the art to have oxygen transport and reversible oxygen (or ligand) binding capacities. Since toxicity problems have precluded use as a blood substitute, stroma-free hemoglobin has required further modifications to provide a nontoxic, useful pharmaceutical product.
These modifications include (1) rendering hemoglobin free or substantially free of stroma and stromal contaminants; (2) pyridoxylation; (3) polymerization or cross-linking; (4) removal of tetramer; and (5) modification with carbon monoxide or other ligands.
However, hemoglobin solutions prepared by these techniques, while capable of carrying sufficient quantities of oxygen to support life, have been plagued with many undesirable side effects and properties. For example, a major troubling side effect is a decrease in kidney performance. These changes were thought to be due to the presence of unwanted contaminants such as bacterial endotoxin or fragments of red cell membranes (stroma). While contaminants such as these can indeed produce renal alterations, hemoglobin solutions essentially free of the above contaminants still produce substantial renal dysfunction. The cause for the renal dysfunction has been ascribed to physiologically unacceptable amounts of unpolymerized hemoglobin tetramer. Other undesirable side effects of the infusion of tetrameric hemoglobin are vasoconstriction, hemoglobinuria, depression of heart rate, elevation of mean arterial blood pressure and extravasation of infusate especially into the peritoneal cavity.
In practice, no known hemoglobin-derived blood substitute has been successful in totally avoiding toxicity problems. These products also have unacceptably low half-lives after administration to human patients. Such half-lives require replacement of blood volume repeatedly over short periods of time. Consequently, there is a substantial need for hemoglobin products that are non-toxic to patients and have substantial half-lives after administration. Of course, these products must be capable of reversibly transporting oxygen to tissues in a manner similar to that achieved by whole blood.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for preparing an acellular red blood cell substitute


An acoustic composite comprises a flow resistive substrate having a solid acoustic barrier material bonded to at least a portion of a major surface of the flow resistive substrate; wherein the acoustic barrier material has a density greater than about 1 g/cm3 and the acoustic composite has a porosity between about 0.002% and about 50%.

Sound absorbers have been widely used in a number of different applications for absorbing sound. Known sound absorbers include, for example, fiber-based sound absorbers (for example, sound absorbers comprising fiberglass, open-cell polymeric foams, or fibrous materials) and perforated sheets. Microperforated films, for example, can function in the medium to high frequency absorption ranges with relatively good performance in the 800 Hz range and up.
Most sound absorbers, however, do not handle transmission loss well. Relatively low frequency transmission loss is therefore typically controlled using lots of mass (for example, steel plates, lead, concrete, or gypsum board).


A system and method of generating one or more integration tests are disclosed herein. A computing system receives a URL from a client device. The URL corresponds to a website hosted by a third party server. The computing system generates a recurrent neural network model for testing of the website. The one or more variables associated with the recurrent neural network model are defined by a genetic algorithm. The computing system inputs code associated with the website into the recurrent neural network model. The recurrent neural network model learns a plurality of possible paths through the website by permutating through each possible set of options on the website. The recurrent neural network mode generates, as output, a plurality of integration tests for at least the test website. The computing system compiles the plurality of integration tests into a format compatible with a testing service specified by the client device.

Testing a website through a web interface is often difficult, either requiring testers to manually test the site, developers building integration tests, or merely skipping the tests altogether. Such operations are typically costly, as it takes either a long time to build unit tests, or companies lose money for having broken site links, forms, and the like.


The present invention relates to mesoporous calcium phosphate-citrate nanoparticles, optionally comprising a lipid membrane, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The present invention further relates to a method of synthesizing the mesoporous calcium phosphate-citrate nanoparticles. The present invention relates to their use as drug delivery system. The present invention further relates to medical uses as bone or teeth cement, bone material or taste or non-taste masked carrier or delivery system. The present invention relates to the use of the mesoporous calcium phosphate-citrate nanoparticles in the diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer. The present invention further relates to the use of the mesoporous calcium phosphate-citrate nanoparticles in fertilizer or absorber of metal ions from wastewater and/or water.

Established anticancer chemotherapeutics (such as cisplatin, doxorubicin, fluorouracil) are injected into the bloodstream or administered as tablets by swallowing. To successfully treat cancer cells the patient must receive high doses of chemotherapeutics. Because the conventional chemotherapeutics are not able to distinguish well between cancerous or healthy tissue, the patient usually suffers from strong side effects.
Recent strategies in chemotherapy are based on the principle of transporting the chemotherapeutics directly to the cancerous cells and therefore specifically attack the cancer cells while the healthy cells survive. Cancerous cells exhibit modified proteins on the cell membrane that enables a targeted recognition of the cells. With so-called antibody-drug conjugates (Chari et al., 2014), one active chemotherapeutic molecule per antibody can be transported to cancer cells. To enhance the efficiency of the targeted transport, nanoparticles have attracted increasing attention. For example, mesoporous silica particles, polymer constructs, liposomes, dendrimers or DNA origami objects have been investigated in this context. Nanoparticles can be transported to cancer cells either passively (e.g. through the EPR-effect) or they can interact more specifically with certain cell types through targeting. Nanoparticles can be taken up by cancer cells through endocytosis. The internalized particles or their cargo must then escape from the endosome to release the encapsulated drug and to kill the cancer cell. Generally, in case of transport through nanoparticles, the delivery system remains in the cell and must be degraded or removed from the body as extrinsic material. Furthermore, the toxic substances delivered to the cancer cells remain in the body and could lead to damage before their removal or if they leak out of the drug delivery system. In addition to epithelial cancer cells, mesenchymal cancer cells present a serious issue in oncology. They enable the tumor to recover after conventional chemotherapy and may spread the tumor all over the body by creating metastases. Only very few substances are known for the successful treatment of this mesenchymal cancer cell type (e. g. salinomycin, etoposide, abamectin, nigericin) (Gupta et al., 2009).
The transport system, so called drug delivery vehicles, benefits from certain characteristics such as high porosity/capacity for efficient loading with drug molecules, good biocompatibility and biodegradability, and a suitable size and shape for efficient cell uptake. Several materials, such as mesoporous silica particles, liposomes, polymer constructs, or dendrimers have been published that are intended to combine the above requirements within one drug delivery system.
These systems need to be designed such that premature release of the toxic drugs is prevented. As mentioned above, targeting, endocytosis and endosomal escape need to be achieved to ensure effective delivery of the drugs to the target cells. Specifically, endosomal escape has been achieved with photochemical methods (Mackowiak et al., 2013; Schlossbauer et al., 2012), temperature dependent mechanisms (Schlossbauer et al., 2010) or pH-responsive systems (Varkouhi et al., 2011; Behr et al., 1997).
Generally, the backbone of the drug delivery system remains in the body and must be degraded and removed from the body as extrinsic material.
Therefore, a major goal in the development of drug delivery systems is to increase the biocompatibility of the backbone. As an example, the PEGylation of silica nanoparticles has been investigated to eliminate hemolysis (Lin and Haynes 2010) or to avoid the activation of the immune system (He et al., 2010).
The utilization of drug delivery systems opens up many possibilities in cancer treatment, for example: the protection and transport of sensible drug molecules, the easy exchangeability of drugs, the reduction of dosage, the increase of circulation time, the increase of drug concentration at the targeted site, and the opportunity to design a personalized medication. Generally speaking, it would constitute a major advance in drug delivery if highly toxic substances could be avoided altogether.
Recently, apatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, the main inorganic component of natural bone and teeth, has been discussed as a new promising platform for advanced drug delivery applications due to its high biocompatibility and non-toxicity (Iafisco et al., 2009; Dorozhkin and Epple, 2002; Palmer et al., 2008). Furthermore, apatite is known to be biodegradable (Arcos and Vallet-Regi, 2013) and as a result could solve the problem of eliminating the transport material from the body. However, calcium phosphate-based materials suffer from some drawbacks regarding applications in drug delivery systems. The maximum known surface area for calcium phosphate-based compounds is published to be 315 m2 g−1 which limits the loading capacity (Chen et al., 2014). Nevertheless, porous calcium phosphate based compounds were loaded with docetaxel (Chen et al., 2014; Ding et al., 2015), silybin (Chen et al., 2015) ibuprofen (Zhao et al., 2012) and doxorubicin (Rodriguez-Ruiz et al., 2013).
Next to loading drugs into the network of porous calcium phosphate particles, there have been investigations on co-precipitation methods of Ca2+- and PO43−-ions with Gemcitabine, siRNA, or proteins (Li et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2013). The co-precipitated particles were delivered to cells, endosomal release due to the proton sponge effect was observed, and the function of the drug was proven. With an approach like this, the used molecules must be stable and soluble under the reaction conditions of co-precipitation. Because most drug molecules are not very soluble in water and therefore not suitable for water based co-precipitation methods, the authors (Li et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2013) introduced a water-in-oil based synthesis approach.
However, if an exchange of the drug is desired, the reaction conditions must be adjusted again because all molecules take part in the reaction and may influence the required synthesis conditions and the properties of the particles. Moreover, the shape of the calcium phosphate based nanoparticles plays an important role regarding cell viability. The toxic effect of calcium phosphate nanoparticles was investigated for non-porous plate-, rod-, or needle-shaped, as well as spherical morphologies on two human cell lines (Zhao et al., 2013-a). Cell death was more pronounced with plate- and needle-shaped than with spherical- or rod-shaped structures at concentrations above 100 μg mL−1. In another publication cell death was observed with non-porous, rod-like particles on gastric cancer cells, cervical adenocarcinoma epithelial cells and hepatoma cells, whereas no cell death was observed for normal human hepatocyte cells at concentrations higher than 125 μg mL−1 (Tang et al., 2014). Below these high concentrations there has been no sign for cell death in either of these publications. The influence of the particle synthesis with respect to their toxicity was investigated in another publication on a macrophage cell line, and toxicity was highest for an autoclave synthesis approach with gel-like rod-shaped nanoapatite at concentrations higher than 125 μg mL−1 (Motskin et al., 2009). In contrast, nanocrystalline apatite is said to be biocompatible to a final concentration of 100 μg mL−1 (Delgado-Lopez et al., 2012). Therefore, the definition of biocompatibility with respect to calcium phosphate based nanoparticles still appears to be controversial.
In some instances, citric acid has been used as a synthetic aid for the preparation of crystalline calcium phosphate particles and nanoparticles. In the corresponding prior art, none of these particles and nanoparticles combine amorphous structure and internal mesoporosity. In contrast, they form agglomerates or aggregates having textural pores between the constituent domains of the agglomerates or aggregates. This textural porosity differs significantly from mesoporosity resulting from holes inside individual particles.
For example, Mitsionis et al. (2010) disclose the effect of citric acid on the synthesis of high temperature-sintered calcium phosphate ceramics, consisting of crystalline calcium phosphate with textural porosity.
For example, Chinese patent application no. CN 104 355 297 A describes crystalline calcium phosphate, namely hydroxyapatite, particles or nanoparticles that are made of dried bulk material consisting of intergrown nanoscale crystallites. CN 104 355 297 A describes a method for synthesizing a microemulsion of hydroxyapatite, wherein said method utilizes cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or citric acid as tension-active agent, which is not used as structure directing template. The resulting bulk material consists of inorganic materials without the included organic materials of a hybrid compound. Textural porosity generated by agglomeration of crystalline particles with aperture diameters of 19.56-40.13 nm are described. The surface structure of the crystalline bulk material thus contains "holes" at which compounds or drugs can be absorbed. Therefore, the generated pores are not within the single colloidal stable nanoparticles but result from the agglomeration of intergrown nanoscale domains at the external surface.
For example, Chinese patent application no. CN 101 428 779 A describes hollow nanostructured crystalline hydroxyapatite and a preparation method thereof. Citric acid and EDTA are used as sequestrants to avoid precipitation of calcium phosphate at pH 5.2.
Furthermore, Jacobs et al. (2013) disclose non-porous sodium citrate stabilized calcium phosphate nanoparticles for the sustained delivery of the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. In these nanoparticles citrate is loosely attached and/or coordinated to the outer surface of the nanoparticles and protects and/or stabilizes the calcium phosphate, e.g. from agglomeration or degradation. The chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin is only absorbed on the outer surface of the nanoparticles without a functional triggered release mechanism.
There is a need in the art for improved means and methods for targeted delivery of compounds, in particular for biocompatible drug delivery systems, such as for targeted and controlled release particularly in cancer treatment.

Mesoporous calcium phosphate-citrate nanoparticles and uses thereof


A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate with a device region. The method also includes forming a transistor in the device region. The transistor includes a gate having first and second sides along a gate direction. The transistor also includes a first doped region adjacent to a first side of the gate, a second doped region adjacent to a second side of the gate, and a channel under the gate. The transistor further includes a channel trench in the channel of the gate, wherein the channel trench is along a trench direction which is at an angle θ other than 90° with respect to the gate direction.

Lateral Double-Diffused (LD) transistors have been widely employed in high voltage applications. One factor which affects the performance of the LD transistors is the gate to drain capacitance (Cgd). For example, lower Cgd enables faster switching of LDMOS drivers.
Conventional techniques in achieving low Cgd can result in increased drain-to-source on-resistance (Rdson), which, in turn, undesirably decreases switching speed.
The disclosure is directed to transistors with fast switching speed.

Lateral double-diffused high voltage device


Techniques are provided for controlling spinal cord stimulation (SCS) or other forms of neurostimulation. In one example, SCS treatment is delivered to a patient and nerve impulse firing signals are sensed along the spinal cord following the SCS treatment. The nerve impulse signals are analyzed to determine whether the signals are associated with effective SCS and then the delivery of additional SCS is controlled to improve SCS efficacy. For example, the nerve impulse signals can be analyzed to determine whether the signals are consistent with a positive patient mood associated with pain mitigation and, if not, SCS control parameters are adjusted to improve the efficacy of the SCS in reducing pain. In other examples, heart rate variability (HRV) is also used to control SCS. Still further, adjustments may be made to SCS control parameters to improve antiarrhythmic or sympatholytic effects associated with SCS. Techniques employing baseline/target calibration procedures are also described.

SCS is a type of neurostimulation primarily intended to manage chronic pain, particularly within the back, neck, arms or legs. Benefits of SCS or other forms of neurostimulation may include: a reduction in pain; a reduction or elimination of the use of pain medications; and increased activity levels and an improved overall quality of life. Neurostimulation has been used to manage pain that comes from failed back surgery syndrome or post-laminectomy syndrome and other neuropathies. To this end, an SCS system may be implanted within the body to deliver electrical pulses to nerves along the spinal cord. Some patients describe the resulting sensation as a gentle massaging sensation or, in some cases, simply the absence of pain. The SCS system typically includes a small generator device similar to a pacemaker but equipped to send electrical pulses to leads mounted along the nerves near the spinal cord. The generator is usually implanted in the abdomen or buttock area. The stimulation leads may include either thin wires or paddles for delivering electrical pulses to the nerves along the spinal cord. Thin wire leads, also referred to as percutaneous leads, may be implanted within the epidural space. Paddle leads are instead typically implanted during a surgical procedure where a small amount of bone is removed from one of the vertebra. An external controller, similar to a remote control, is provided to allow the patient to control or adjust the neurostimulation.
As such, SCS for chronic pain treatment is essentially a "one way" stimulation system that delivers stimulation with a certain amplitude, pulse width, frequency and duration. The clinician and patient can typically adjust only a few parameters to improve efficacy. There are usually no clear guidelines on what parameters should be adjusted, and by what amount, to improve the SCS. In addition, pain perception can be very subjective. Overtreatment and under-treatment of patients using SCS is also a risk. Perhaps most importantly, conventional SCS systems offer no objective feedback indicative of the efficacy of the stimulation in reducing pain. Still further, the use of SCS for emerging applications, such as an antiarrhythmic therapy or as a sympatholytic agent, may require feedback not based on perceivable pain but rather on objective physiological parameters or measurements. Moreover, issues can arise due to "adaptation," i.e. the same stimulation effective at implant might not be as effective at a later time.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide techniques for more objectively assessing the efficacy of SCS and for controlling further SCS to improve stimulation efficacy and aspects of the invention are directed to these ends. Patients with implantable SCS devices may also have implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices implanted therein such as pacemakers, ICDs or cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRTs). Accordingly, it would also be desirable to provide techniques for allowing pacemakers or other devices to measure quantitative parameters within the patient representative of the efficacy of SCS for use in controlling or guiding further SCS therapy. It is to these ends that other aspects of the invention are directed.

Systems and methods for controlling spinal cord stimulation to improve stimulation efficacy for use by implantable medical devices


The present invention addresses the generation of a controlled clock source for use in trimming VCDL delay line output clocks. In this trimming process, adjustments are made for static variations in these output clocks. The invention's use of a controlled clock source eliminates the need for this trimming process to be conducted in real time and reduces the expense of the circuitry required.

Various signal processing applications require the use of a multiphase clock in which clock signals are uniformly distributed in phase. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the use of such a clock in a Clock Data Recovery (CDR) circuit. Contained in the overall CDR circuitry are essentially two loops, a first loop 130 in which phase locking to data occurs and a second loop 140 in which a multiphase clock is used to provide proper alignment of clock phases between 0° and 360°.
As depicted in FIG. 1, a reference clock signal 110 is supplied to a Voltage Controlled Delay Loop (VCDL) component 120. An internally available clock, derived from the reference clock 110, is used by a data sampling component 160 to oversample incoming data 150. Based on the results of this oversampled data, the internal clock is delayed so that it provides data sampling adjusted to the center of the "eye" pattern of the received serial data 150. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of sampling of a received digital data signal wherein S0 and S1 depict sampling times corresponding to the center of the eye pattern. Times T0 and T1, are transition points which are used by the system to determine these proper sampling times. In a VCDL system, phase of the sampling clock is constantly adjusted to keep up with phase deviations of incoming data.
One well-known problem in the prior art is the timing variations that occur within the second loop 140 itself that must be properly resolved before accurate data sampling is attained. There exist two components of these timing variations:
1. Static Variations:                Static variations are due to static phase offsets resulting from clock edge placement errors. These errors are caused by fixed error sources such as (a) semiconductor device fabrication variations, (b) circuit mismatches and (c) layout asymmetries.
2. Dynamic Variations:                The dynamic variations are due to deterministic jitter, random jitter, or periodic jitter.
Static variations are due to physical mismatches. Such variations are a significant source of timing errors that are conventionally addressed with a calibration process. The position of the clock edges are measured with averaged phase timing measurements using histogram counters. The resulting histogram of these count values indicates the variation of the clock phases. The mitigation of these variations, or clock phase trimming, is performed by equalizing the histogram count values. In particular, this mitigation is typically performed by tuning adjustable tail currents within the clock buffers.
One example of such a histogram technique is described in a November 2001 Stanford dissertation thesis entitled "PRECISION CMOS RECEIVERS FOR VLSI TESTING APPLICATIONS" by Daniel K. Weinlader, said thesis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In Weinlader's process, as in other conventional techniques, the trimming process has to be performed in real time and accordingly, the following components are typically required:                (a) a controlled ppm (part per million) generator,        (b) a high speed phase comparator,        (c) a high speed counter and        (d) complex histogram processor.As a result, this solution is expensive and can not be practically implemented in many commercial products.

Statically controlled clock source generator for VCDL clock phase trimming


A pocket leg that has a cylindrical body, a base, and a top that forms a pool ball pocket is provided. The pocket leg can be used to form a rectangular pool table with six pockets constructed with six pocket legs. To each pocket leg are attached two brackets. The brackets of the four pocket legs that define the corners of the pool table are perpendicular to each other and the brackets of the two pocket legs that are centrally located are parallel to each other. Six brace pieces fit into the brackets and form the base of a table. The table also includes a top, apron and bumper railing. Pocket legs can be used to form a rectangular pool table with eight or more pockets. The pocket legs can form square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or other polygonal shaped pool tables.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pool table system for use in connection in playing a game such as pool and has particular utility in connection with providing means to add additional pockets to the playing surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of pool tables with different configurations is known in the prior art. Some patents describe unconventional table configurations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,157,662 to McCoy et al described an L-shaped billiard table. U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,141 to Cartee described a pool table with 16 pockets. U.S. Pat. No. D661,760S described a dodecagonal table with six pockets. U.S. Pat. No. D653,297S described a cruciform billiard table. U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,788 to Gill et al described a hexagonal table. Other patents describe tables where part of the table is convertible. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,959,515 to Cruz described a table convertible from a rectangular to circular playing surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,140 to Pappas described a table with movable rails. U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,147B2 to Shih described an easily assembling structure for a billiard table.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a pool table system easily convertible to numerous shapes and sizes.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved pool table configuration system.


A Ni plating is applied on a base metal in a metal strip form, and a brightener-free Sn-(1 to 4% by mass)Cu plating is applied on the Ni plating. The metal strip is heat-treated at a temperature at or above the melting point (solidus line) of a Sn-(1 to 4% by mass)Cu alloy to form a Cu-Sn compound layer or a Cu—Ni—Sn-compound layer on the Ni plating layer and a Sn layer or a Sn—Cu-ally layer on the Cu—Sn compound layer or the Cu—Ni—Sn-compound layer. The metal strip is further fabricated into a connector.

The present invention relates to: a terminal constituting an electric connector, in particular a connector terminal fitted for electrical connection to another member such as an FPC (Flexible Print Card), an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable) and the like; a metal strip constituting the terminal; and a method of manufacturing the metal strip. In particular, the present invention relates to a lead-free plated connector terminal of a narrow pitch to which lead-free plating is applied and a metal strip constituting the terminal.

Metal strip, connector, and method of manufacturing metal strip


The object of the present invention is to suction all powders and granular materials in a container such as a drum to transport them. The powders and granular materials have low flowability, since over time they have been compacted due to their own weight or vibrations from the outside or humidity. The machine (1) for suctioning powders and granular materials comprises movable tables (2, 3) that the container that stores the powders and granular materials is mounted on and that horizontally move, a device (8) for driving the tables, a double-layered suction nozzle (11) that is located above the tables and is connected to a suction source, a device (12) for moving the nozzle up and down in the container mounted on the tables, and a controller for controlling the devices, wherein, while moving the tables, the suction nozzle is inserted in proper positions in the container to suction the powders and granular materials.

Conventionally, to suction and transport powders and granular materials that have a poor flowability, the containers for them are rotated on a horizontal stage. An L-type nozzle for suctioning them is inserted from the top. The powders and granular materials can be suctioned by moving the nozzle up and down or laterally (see Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-130743).
However, for suctioning compacted powders and granular materials, since the powders and granular materials that have been compacted are robust or hard, a lump that is larger than the diameter of the nozzle may clog the nozzle. Thus the lumped powders and granular materials must be crushed into small particles to be suctioned. If one tries to crush the lump for suctioning it while the nozzle is inserted into the powders and granular materials, a large lateral force will be applied to the tip of the nozzle, to thereby break the nozzle. Therefore, the nozzle is slowly lowered to suction the powders and granular materials little by little.
Further, the same situation as above occurs when a drum is inclined and rotated so that the powders and granular materials that gathered at the bottom are suctioned (see Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-072954). If the nozzle is inserted into the powders and granular materials, a large lateral force will be applied to the tip of the nozzle, to thereby break it. In addition, since the powders and granular materials are not fluidized, a dead space is formed at a part where the nozzle does not reach. Thus the powders and granular materials are not all suctioned. If air is exhaled into the dead space, the powders and granular materials are violently scattered.
Thus a machine for suctioning all the powders and granular materials that are stored in a container, such as a drum, is needed.

Machine, a system, and a method for suctioning powders and granular materials


A device for coupling a printed circuit board assembly to a computer chassis is described. The device may include a base. The device may include at least two posts. The posts may be located on opposite sides of the base. The posts may couple the device to the computer chassis. The device may include at least one prong. The prong may extend upward from the base. The prong may couple the device to the printed circuit board assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the field of coupling printed circuit board assemblies (e.g., motherboard assemblies) to a computer chassis. Certain embodiments relate to a device used for coupling a printed circuit board assembly to a computer chassis.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, printed circuit board assemblies (e.g., motherboard assemblies) have been mounted to a computer chassis using screws. The screws are used to directly mount a printed circuit board assembly to the computer chassis. Screws have to be screwed in using a screwdriver or other suitable tool. Using tools in such a small environment can be difficult and time consuming. Additionally, losing screws during installation is a common occurrence. In some cases, screws may become loose after installation. Such screws may become lost and/or cause damage or malfunction of the computer apparatus.
A printed circuit board assembly mounted to a computer chassis by screws may undergo flexing and/or other stress that can cause warping and eventual failure of the printed circuit board assembly. For example, warping of the printed circuit board assembly could break circuit lines on the board, which may cause failure of the circuit board. Straining or flexing of the printed circuit board assembly may be caused by cables or other connectors coupled to the assembly putting pressure on the assembly. Removing the straining, flexing, or warping of the printed circuit board assembly may improve the reliability and the lifetime of the printed circuit board assembly.

Printed circuit board assembly retention and support device


Local address return services reduce the burden on central address return servers. A local client determines whether an intermediary Network Address Translator (NAT) resides between a local NAT and a public Internet network. The local address return service is enabled when no intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and the public Internet network. The local address return service is disabled and the central address return service is used when an intermediary NAT resides between the local NAT and the public Internet network. In one embodiment, the local client is a Simple Traversal of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) Through Network Address Translators (NATS) (STUN) client and the local and central address return services are STUN servers.

FIG. 1 shows a private network 15 that includes endpoint devices such as computers 16A and 16B and a Voice Over IP (VoIP) Internet phone 18. The devices 16A, 16B and 18 in the private network 15 are connected to the public Internet 14 through a Network Address Translator (NAT) 20 and modem 21. The public Internet 14 is also connected to other endpoint devices such as computer 24 and other Internet phones 26.
The NAT 20 is designed for Internet Protocol (IP) address simplification and conservation, by enabling the private IP network 15 to use non-registered IP addresses to connect to the public Internet 14. The NAT 20 operates as a router, usually connecting two networks together, and translates the private (not globally unique) addresses used in the private network 15 into legal public IP addresses before packets are forwarded onto public network 14. As part of this functionality, NAT 20 can be configured to advertise only one address for the entire private network 15 to the outside world.
In this example, the computers 16A and 16B, and phone 18, communicate over Internet network 14 using the public IP address 38 provided by the NAT 20. The NAT 20 receives a packet 30A from one of the connected devices, such as IP phone 18. The packet 30A includes a source address 32, destination address 34, and a payload 36. The NAT 20 reformats packet 30A into packet 30C by replacing the source address 32 with the NAT's public IP address 38 and a port number 40. The NAT 20 then forwards the reformatted packet 30C to an endpoint associated with the destination address 34, such as IP phone 26.
The IP phone 26 sends packets back to the IP phone 18 that include the IP address 38 and port number 40 for the NAT 20. The NAT 20 receives the packets and forwards the packets to the local private address 32 associated with IP phone 18.
The NAT 20 does not work until one of the private network devices 16A, 16B or 18 sends packets out to another device on the Internet 14. For example, IP phone 26 cannot connect to phone 18 until the private address 32 of phone 18 is first linked with the public IP address 38 and port number of NAT 20.
For this reason, the NAT 20 cannot be used with some IP applications. For example, IP peer-to-peer multimedia connections, such as those established in a VoIP call, include a signaling phase. During the signaling phase, the originating endpoint, such as IP phone 18, may need to send a public IP address and port number to a call signaling server, such as a Signal Initiation Protocol (SIP) or Quake server. However, the IP phone 18 does not know the public IP address 38 and port number used by the NAT 20.
Simple Traversal of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) Through Network Address Translators (NATS) (STUN) is an operation described in Request for Comment (RFC) 3489 which is herein incorporated by reference. A STUN server 22 enables an endpoint device to discover the public IP address and port number of the NAT 20. For example, the IP phone 18 can send an IP packet 30A to the STUN server 22. The NAT 20 again replaces the source address 32 with the public IP address 38 and port number 40 before forwarding the reformatted packet 30B to the STUN server 22.
The STUN server inserts the public NAT address 38 and port number 40 into the payload 44 of a return packet 30D and sends the return packet back to NAT 20. The NAT 20 then forwards the packet 30D back to the IP phone 18. The IP phone 18 can then use the IP address 38 and port number 40 in the payload 44 for VoIP signaling.
The devices 16A, 16B and 18 contact the public STUN server 22 for every new NAT binding, that is, for every phone call. This places a heavy reliance on the STUN server 22 and prevents STUN reliant applications from operating while the STUN server 22 is unavailable. For example, the phone 18 cannot make a VoIP call while STUN server 22 is down.
The present invention addresses this and other problems associated with the prior art.

Method and apparatus for discovering internet addresses


The present disclosure provides a display substrate, a driving method thereof and a display device. The display substrate includes a touch region. Multiple touch electrodes are arranged in columns at the touch region, and the touch electrodes in each column are connected together. At a touch detection stage, the 5 touch electrodes in each column at the touch region are disconnected from the touch electrodes in the other columns, and at a display stage, the touch electrodes in the columns at the touch region are connected together and serve as common electrodes.

Touch screens are becoming more and more popular due to such advantages as convenient operation, multiple functions, declining price and increasing yield. The touch screens may include add-on touch screens and in-cell touch screens. For the add-on touch screen, a touch panel is arranged in front of a display panel. The touch panel includes a viewable region corresponding to a display region of the display panel, and a user may achieve touch-control by touching the viewable region. For the in-cell touch screen, a touch function is integrated into the display panel. A protective glass screen is attached onto a surface of the display panel, and the user may operate by touching the glass screen with his finger.
In order to simplifying a manufacture process as well as reducing thickness of the display panel, a common electrode in an existing display substrate may further serve as touch electrodes.

Display substrate, driving method thereof and display device for connecting touch electrodes with a common voltage

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A compressed switch data storage for a network system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of network channels to transfer data, and devices coupled to the plurality of network channels. The devices provide or receive data. The system also includes a switch. The switch has a memory for storing compress data, and a plurality of ports coupled to the plurality of network channels. The switch routes data from one port to another port according to a destination port address.

The present disclosure generally relates to network switching and more specifically, to compressed data storage in network switching.
Networking allows computers to share resources, access information, communicate via e-mail, share data, and transfer files. However, networking technology and digital data transmission have been subject to a number of bandwidth and speed limitations due to a growing population of network users. Other factors that contribute to congestion include faster CPUs, faster operating systems, and more network-intensive applications.
Switching alleviates congestion in networks such as the Local Area Network (LAN) by reducing traffic and increasing bandwidth. The term switching refers to a technology in which a device, referred to as a switch, connects two or more network segments. A switch receives a packet of data from one segment, examines the embedded address information, and transmits the data packet to designated destinations on other segments.
The received data packet is often stored for a short period of time before being forwarded to the destination. The storage area is referred to as a packet buffer or packet data memory.

LAN switch with compressed packet storage