A gaming machine, with which a plurality of players who join a game from the beginning can enjoy the game by the end of the game, is provided. The gaming machine is equipped with a rank determination means and a win/loss determination means to provide the gaming machine with an arrangement by which players provided with benefits are determined so as to be a combination of the player of the highest rank as determined by the above-mentioned rank determination means and players of ranks that are not in the order of results starting from the highest rank.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gaming machine, that executes a card game, such as poker, etc., utilizing a video screen,
2. Related Art
In a conventional gaming machine, with which a plurality of players participate and play a game competing with each other, a card game such as a poker game is carried out utilizing a video screen thereof. With such type of gaming machine, a specific number of cards are dealt to each player to make the player's hand, and if a combination that is set as a winning combination is included in the player's hand and if this combination is a combination that is set as a stronger winning combination than those of other players, a predetermined benefit is provided to the player.
With such a gaming machine, since the win or loss is determined by comparison of the game results of the respective players, the key to whether a player wins or loses and gains a large amount of benefit lies in how much better a game result a player achieves in comparison to other players.
Thus in a case where a game is arranged so that only one player will be a winner and be provided with benefit, each player plays the game while constantly intending to achieve a better game result than other players.
Meanwhile, Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-340646 proposes in a gaming machine, with which a plurality of players participate and play a game competing with each other, a game being carried out by players who may form a team and cooperate for the purpose of achieving good results.
This invention is arranged so that the team, to which the player who achieved the best game result belongs, becomes the winner, or points are given according to the rank of game results to a plurality of upper ranking players starting with the player who achieved the best result, and the team with the highest total points becomes the winner, and also, so that benefits can be provided to a plurality of players.
Even if, as in the above-described invention, arrangements are made so that a plurality of players will be winners who are provided with benefits, as long as how excellent a game result is achieved determines the win or loss and is the key to gaining a large amount of benefit, a player will still play the game while constantly intending to achieve a better game result than other players.
However, with a gaming machine, with which how excellent a game result is achieved determines the win or loss and is the key to gaining a large amount of benefit as described above, even if a player plays the game intending to achieve a better game result than the other players, since the win or loss will be affected by luck, the degree of expertise in the game, etc., there will be on one hand players who can achieve excellent game results and on the other hand many players who cannot achieve excellent results. Also, since a player, in the process of playing a game, will be playing the game while visually recognizing or predicting the position of his/her own game result with respect to those of other players, if the player comes to predict that he/she cannot achieve a game result that is better than the game results of other players, the player will, in many cases, lose the will to play the game.
Also, even in a card game where a plurality of players participate and play competing with each other as described above, only the player with the strongest hand can become a winner or, even in a case where a plurality of players can become winners, the winners will only be the plurality of upper ranking players starting with the player with the strongest hand. Thus in many cases, a player with only a weak hand who judges that there is no way of winning, may lose his courage to continue to play the game and quit without continuing the game to the end.
Furthermore, with such a card game as described above, the total amount of money bet by the respective players is paid to the winning player at the end of the game.
Thus in a case where there are many players who quit and do not continue to play a game until the end, the total amount of bet money to be gained by the winner decreases correspondingly, and even a player who has come to have a strong hand may thus deteriorate his motivation to continue to play the game.
Furthermore, it can be said that with a card game such as that described above, the various tactical interactions, which are developed among players from the point at which the hands are dealt to the point at which the contents of one's hands are revealed, make up a main point of interest of the game, and thus in case where there are many players who quit and do not continue to play the game to the end, a player may not be able to adequately enjoy the tactical interactions, which make up an interesting part of the game, and may lose interest in the game.
In view of the above points, it is preferable for a player that a gaming machine be one with which the opportunity to enjoy tactical interactions will not decrease and that the total amount of bet money gained by winning the game will not decrease due to players quitting the game.

Gaming machine, server and program for card game


A system and method include determining location information identifying a location of a portable information handling device, sorting a list of network profiles based on the location information, and scanning the list of sorted network profiles to identify an access point for connecting the portable information handling device to a network.

Laptop computers and other portable systems may be moved to different locations, which may result in a different network that is available to provide wireless services. When connecting to a wireless network, a computer system scans through all of the network profiles configured on the computer system and match them with detected network access points. While some systems may allow a user to prioritize the order in which the scanning occurs, the scanning still proceeds through the list. When the system is moved to a distant new location, the prioritized list may not have the available networks in the new location near the beginning of the list, resulting in a long scan of the list.

Location based network access point scanning


The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for signalizing the controlled deactivation of an assistance system during operation of motor vehicles (10) which are steerable by a steering manipulation device (36). The method is characterized in that the signalization takes place via a touch-sensitive signal generated in a controlled manner in the steering manipulation means (36). For this purpose, the arrangement includes actuating means (38, 78) which impresses a touch-sensitive signal on the steering manipulation device (36) with the signal being generated in a controlled manner.

A driver assistance system is an arrangement which supports the driver of a motor vehicle when guiding the vehicle. Known examples are: anti-blocking systems as well as drive dynamic control systems which support the driver in an unstable driving situation by brake intervention and/or motor interventions which operate to stabilize.
Further examples of driver assistance systems are arrangements which hold the speed of the vehicle and/or the distance to the ahead-traveling vehicle within desired limits.
Furthermore, systems are under development which support the driver for a transverse guidance of the vehicle. Such driver assistance systems are also characterized as lane-keeping systems and, as a rule, include sensor means which detect the distance of the motor vehicle to the edges of the roadway. This distance is controlled on the basis of these signals with the aid of an external force steering.
A driver assistance system of this kind is disclosed in German patent publication 198 21 163. According to this publication, the driver assistance system is deactivated from time to time in a controlled manner in specific driving states. A controlled deactivation takes place in a wanted manner differently from a disablement of the driver assistance systems because of a defect. These specific operating states correspond, for example, to situations for which the driver assistance system is not designed and in which the system can therefore not purposefully support the driver.
In order to signalize the deactivation to the driver, German patent publication 198 21 163 mentions also a "touch-sensitive" signalization in addition to optical and acoustic signals. According to this publication, such a signalization results when, because of the absence of a control of the steering by a track maintaining device, a corresponding force feedback announcement is no longer present. Stated otherwise, a touch-sensitive message to the driver as to a deactivated driver assistance system takes place in that a support function on the steering wheel is no longer perceptible. Such a signalization takes place passively without active generation of a touch-sensitive signal.
In general, several cases are conceivable wherein a driver assistance system for transverse guidance support switches off automatically. For example, the lane data becomes lost because no roadway markings are present. Furthermore, unclear lane data can be present, for example, double-white and yellow markings at a roadway construction site. In this case, the driver must immediately recognize the situation and again take over the driving task. When the driver assistance system for transverse driving support is at first active and is then switched off, there are two cases to be distinguished.
In a first case, the vehicle is on an ideal line. As a consequence, the transverse guidance support system outputs no actuating quantity. In this way, there is also no feedback of an actuating variable perceptible in the steering manipulation means which, in general, is a steering wheel. In this case, it can happen that the driver does not notice that the system is no longer available because the feel on the steering wheel without an applied force does not differ from the normal state. Acoustic or optical displays of the system switchoff may not be heard or can be overlooked.
A second case is present when the vehicle is not on the ideal line. In this case, the transverse guidance support system outputs an actuating variable which is perceptible in the steering wheel. When, at this instance, the transverse guidance support system is switched off abruptly, this can lead to dangerous driving behavior especially in the case of an unattentive driver when the driver realizes too late that the transverse guidance support system is no longer available. To avoid abrupt switchoffs, and for a safe and simultaneously comfortable function, one would select a continuous reduction of the additional torque on the steering wheel which results from the transverse guidance support. However, the switchoff can go unnoticed by the unattentive driver. If the driver in this case follows the reduced additional torque, which is still perceptible in the steering wheel, this can lead to a leaving of the driving lane because the still perceptible additional torque is no longer commensurate with the driving situation.

Method and arrangement for signalizing a deactivation of a driver assistance system


A wiring harness manufacturing method and a wiring harness manufacturing apparatus is provided, wherein manufacturing costs of a wiring harness is reduced. The wiring harness manufacturing apparatus (1) has a pair of wire stocking units (10a, 10b), a pair of cutting units (11a, 11b), a pair of joining units (12a, 12b), and a case insertion unit (13). Painting devices (14,15,16) are attached to one wire stocking unit (10a). Painting devices (17,18,19) are attached to one cutting unit (11a). Painting devices (18,19) are attached to one joining unit (12a). The painting devices (14,15,16,17,18,19) color the electric wire.

Various kinds of electronic equipment are carried on a motor vehicle. Therefore, the wiring harness is arranged on the motor vehicle so that electric power from a power source and control signals from a computer can be supplied to the electronic equipment. The wiring harness has electric wires and connectors attached to end portions of the electric wires.
The electric wire has a conductive core wire and an insulative covering portion covering the conductive core wire. The electric wire is a so-called covered or sheathed wire. The connector has a conductive terminal fitting and an insulative connector housing. The terminal fitting is attached to an end portion of the electric wire and is electrically-connected with the core wire of the electric wire. The connector housing is formed in a box-shape and accommodates the terminal fittings.
When the wiring harness is manufactured or assembled, the electric wire is firstly cut in a fixed length, and the terminal fitting is attached to the end portion of the electric wire. The electric wires are connected as the need arises. Subsequently, the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. Like this, the above-described wiring harness is manufactured or assembled.
With regard to the electric wire of the wiring harness, the thickness of the core wire, material (for example, from view point of heat-resistance) of the covering portion, and service conditions should be distinguished. Here, the service conditions mean systems such as an air-bag system, an antilock brake system, and a power transmission system in which the electric wires are used.
The electric wires of the wiring harness are variously colored and marked for distinguishing the above systems. When the prior art wiring harness is manufactured, the above coloring and marking are carried out in a process of manufacturing the electric wire by forming the core wire from conductive metal such as copper.
On the other hand, various demands arise from users for the motor vehicle. That is, the motor vehicle is expected to have various kinds of electronic equipment. Consequently, the wiring harness sometimes consists of not less than 100 of the electric wires. Therefore, a factory to manufacture or assemble the wiring harness has to stock not less than 100 of electric wires, while making the stock control of the electric wires having each article number. And therefore, the cost for stocking the electric wires tends to increase.
Further, for example, the electric wire with a determined article number needs to be set in a device to cut off the electric wire in a fixed length. However, since there exists a lot of article numbers of the electric wires, a mistake in the article number of the electric wire would arise. Therefore, the yield of the wiring harness is reduced, thereby causing reduction of the productive efficiency of the wiring harness.
In order to solve such problems, the applicant of the present invention has suggested a wiring harness manufacturing method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412. In this wiring harness manufacturing method, the electric wires are colored and marked just before each of the wire manufacturing step, the cutting step, the cover removing step, the terminal-crimping step, and the case insertion step.
With respect to the above prior art wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412, however, the coloring and the marking are carried out just before each of the steps of manufacturing or assembling the wiring harness as above.
Therefore, in the wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412, a device for coloring and marking the electric wire has to be provided on each of a wire cutting unit, a covering portion removing unit, a terminal crimping unit, and a terminal inserting unit. The prior art wiring harness manufacturing method also requires installation or mounting work of the above coloring and marking device between each two units, and requires the wiring harness to be set on each coloring and marking device.
Like this, in the wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412, the number of the coloring and marking device increases, which therefore increases the space for manufacturing the wiring harness.
And also, the coloring and marking work totally requires long time, which lowers the productive efficiency of the wiring harness. Like this, the wiring harness manufacturing method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.61-245412 requires high manufacturing costs of the wiring harness.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a wiring harness manufacturing method and a wiring harness manufacturing apparatus, wherein the above drawbacks of the prior art wiring harness manufacturing method and apparatus have been solved and therefore manufacturing costs of the wiring harness can be reduced.

Method and device for manufacturing wire harness


The present invention relates to a transgenic fish having at least one genomically integrated expression cassette containing a 5′-regulatory nucleotide sequence responsive to hormones, particularly estrogenic hormones, connected in a functional manner upstream of a nucleotide sequence encoding a reporter protein. The present invention further relates to methods of using the transgenic fish for various purposes, including, for example: (1) identifying estrogenic endocrine disruptors; (2) monitoring estrogen-like activity of test samples; (3) identifying anti-estrogenic endocrine disruptors; and (4) investigating the effects of endocrine disruptors on liver regeneration. Expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic cells of aquatic animals are also disclosed.

Many chemical substances that have been regarded as safe are found to have the activity to disrupt the endocrine system and cause adverse effects in organisms. The wide presence of these kinds of chemicals in the environment has raised attention and concern worldwide. Because of the increasing reports of the estrogenic effects of these substances on male organisms, most of the research efforts have been directed to estrogen-like endocrine disruptors.
It is important to have a rapid, sensitive, economical, and quantifiable method to identify chemical substances that can mimic estrogen or interfere with the estrogen endocrine system, and that can assist in evaluating the biological effects of these chemical substances on organisms. Of the current available methods, in vitro cell line assays and in vivo transgenic fish assays have been investigated. Cell line assays can be rapid and sensitive, but they cannot provide information on toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic effects of test substances on organisms. Currently, transgenic fish assays can overcome some of the deficiencies of the cell line assays. However, current transgenic fish assays are limited in that they cannot be used to monitor endocrine disruptors in freshwater species, and they cannot be used in a marine environment.


An apparatus comprises at least one processing device having a processor coupled to a memory. The processing device is configured to implement a first ledger node of a first cloud. The first ledger node of the first cloud is configured to communicate over one or more networks with a plurality of additional ledger nodes associated with respective additional clouds. The first ledger node is further configured to obtain a transaction associated with a valuation of a data asset. The first ledger node is further configured to broadcast the valuation transaction to the additional ledger nodes. A cryptographic block characterizing at least the valuation transaction is generated and entered into a blockchain distributed ledger collectively maintained by the first and additional ledger nodes. The first and additional ledger nodes collectively maintain the blockchain distributed ledger on a peer-to-peer basis without utilizing a centralized transaction authority.

Information processing systems today commonly implement a cloud computing paradigm. Cloud computing is a model for enabling on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., compute, storage, input/output, and network) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. A given cloud infrastructure upon which data and one or more software programs (e.g., applications, services) are hosted is typically referred to as a "cloud." A "multi-cloud" architecture is one that employs multiple clouds in a single heterogeneous network architecture. Some cloud infrastructures are within the exclusive control and management of a given enterprise, and therefore are considered "private clouds." The term "enterprise" as used herein is intended to be broadly construed, and may comprise, for example, a business or any other entity, group, or organization. On the other hand, cloud infrastructures that are used by multiple enterprises, and not necessarily controlled or managed by any of the multiple enterprises but rather are respectively controlled and managed by third-party cloud providers, are typically considered "public clouds." Examples of available public cloud infrastructures include, but are not limited to, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud®, Google AppEngine®, and Windows Azure® Services Platform.
Many enterprises today find it cost effective to utilize a mix of public and private clouds to host their data, applications, and/or services. However, the use of public clouds and multi-cloud architectures in general limits or otherwise prevents enterprises from utilizing functionalities that they may otherwise have access to in their private cloud environment.

Distributed ledger for peer-to-peer cloud data asset valuation


The present invention provides a novel crystalline form of Valbenazine dibesylate, Valbenazine dibesylate Form APO-I, compositions and processes for the preparation thereof, and the use of this crystalline form in the treatment of hyperkinetic disorders, including tardive dyskinesia.

Valbenazine (1), or (2R,3R,11bR)-1,3,4,6,7,11b-hexahydro-9,10-dimethoxy-3-(2-methylpropyl)-2H-benzo[a]quinolizin-2-yl-L-valine ester, in the form of a ditosylate salt, is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in INGREZZA™, which is indicated for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia.

Valbenazine (1) is disclosed in WO 2008/058261 A1 as one compound in a group of tricyclic compounds exhibiting inhibition of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). Various Valbenazine salts, and crystalline forms thereof, are disclosed in WO 2017/075340 A1, WO 2017/112857 A1, WO 2018/067945 A1 and WO 2018153632 A1.
For example, WO 2017/075340 A1 discloses the results of counterion screening involving treatment of Valbenazine with 18 different acids to form salts, including the marketed salt form, Valbenazine ditosylate, and Valbenazine dibesylate, among others.
WO 2017/112857 A1 describes a method for the preparation of Valbenazine ditosylate utilizing Valbenazine dihydrochloride salt as an intermediate (see Scheme 1). In this preparation, the compound of Formula (A) is coupled with t-butoxycarbonyl (BOC)-protected L-valine to provide the compound of Formula (B), which is deprotected with hydrogen chloride to provide Valbenazine (1) as a dihydrochloride salt. The dihydrochloride salt is converted to Valbenazine ditosylate by liberation of Valbenazine (1) using a base, followed by treatment with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate. However, this approach for the preparation of Valbenazine ditosylate, which requires the formation of an intermediate dihydrochloride salt, is inefficient.

In WO 2018/067945 A1, Valbenazine salts and crystalline forms thereof with the following acids are disclosed, including the p-toluenesulfonate, fumarate, stearate, palmitate, sulfate and methanesulfonate salts. These salts and crystalline forms are reported to be suitable for use in pharmaceutical compositions and medical treatments. The ditosylate salt of WO 2018/067945 A1 is prepared by treatment of the same BOC-protected compound of Formula (B) shown in Scheme 1 with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate, rather than hydrogen chloride, to effect deprotection and salt formation.
In WO 2018/153632 A1, Valbenazine ditosylate, dihydrochloride and crystalline forms thereof are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof in the treatment of movement disorders. The Valbenazine salts are prepared by treatment of Valbenazine free base form with the corresponding acid.
Numerous salts of Valbenazine have been disclosed, many of which are reported to be suitable for incorporation into pharmaceutical compositions and for use in the treatment of movement disorders, including tardive dyskinesia. In particular, reports of the suitability of the Valbenazine ditosylate salt and the Valbenazine dihydrochloride salt are more prevalent than other Valbenazine salts. However, both the ditosylate salt and the dihydrochloride salt of Valbenazine are reported to exist in multiple crystalline forms, several of which are reported to undergo form conversion depending on the levels of atmospheric humidity. The tendency of the known crystalline forms to undergo form conversion following exposure to moisture limits their usefulness in commercial products since it requires specialised practices to avoid conversion during drying, handling, storage, and formulation activities.
Furthermore, many methods reported for the preparation of Valbenazine salts and crystalline forms thereof are inefficient, comprising either a) treatment of Valbenazine free base form, obtained by deprotection of a synthetic precursor, with the corresponding acid, or b) conversion of a first salt, obtained by deprotection of a synthetic precursor with a first acid, to a second salt by treatment with a second acid.
Different crystalline forms of the same compound may have different crystal packing, thermodynamic, spectroscopic, kinetic, surface and mechanical properties. For example, different crystalline forms may have different stability properties such that a particular crystalline form may be less sensitive to heat, relative humidity (RH) and/or light. Different crystalline forms of a compound may also be more susceptible to moisture uptake, resulting in a potential alteration of physical characteristics of the form such as flowability, density or compressibility, which can lead to problems during formulation/tabletting and/or to changes in dissolution rate of the formulated drug product. For example, unintended absorption of moisture by a hygroscopic crystalline form of a drug substance can alter its compressibility during tabletting, resulting in a softer tablet having a faster dissolution rate following administration. A particular crystalline form may provide more favourable compressibility and/or density properties, thereby providing more desirable characteristics for formulation and/or product manufacturing. Differences in stability between solid forms of a drug may result from changes in chemical reactivity, such as differential oxidation. Such properties may provide for more suitable product qualities, including a dosage form that is more resistant to discolouration when comprised of a specific crystalline form. Particular crystalline forms may also have different solubilities, thereby providing different pharmacokinetic parameters, which allow for specific crystalline forms to be used in order to achieve specific pharmacokinetic targets.
Although general approaches to crystalline form screening of active pharmaceutical ingredients are known, it is well established that the prediction of whether any given compound or salt will exhibit polymorphism is not possible. Accordingly, it is not possible to extend generalities to the number and kinds of crystalline forms that can exist for Valbenazine salts, or to what methods will be suitable for the preparation of any given crystalline form. Furthermore, prediction of the properties of any unknown crystalline forms, and how they will differ from other crystalline forms of the same compound or salt, remains elusive (Joel Bernstein, Polymorphism in Molecular Crystals).
There exists a need for novel forms of Valbenazine in the form of salts and crystalline forms thereof having improved properties for use in providing drug products comprising Valbenazine, and commercially amenable processes for their manufacture.

Crystalline form of Valbenazine dibesylate


An integral penetrating surgical drain device is taught that is formed of a flexible tube having a first imperforated end section, a second perforated end section, and a penetrating element mounted to the first end section, whereby the drain device may be used to exit the drain tube from the body cavity and through the body wall and to complete connection to a suction drain unit, without the necessity of removal or attachment of other elements to the drain device.. A method of emplacing an integral penetrating surgical drain device having a penetrating element and an integral tubular member with the diameter of the penetrating element being no greater than the diameter of the tubular member, within a body cavity, is also taught comprising the steps of placing a surgical drain, having a first imperforated section and a second perforated section formed thereto with a hollow needle mounted to the first section, within a surgical opening of a body cavity; inserting the hollow needle with the first imperforated end section out through the body wall; closing the surgical opening; and inserting the hollow needle mounted to the imperforated section into a suction unit.

Various surgical drain designs have previously been used to drain body cavities in connection with surgical procedures, and various methods of emplacing the drain tubing have been practiced in the past. Drain tubes are generally formed with a first imperforate hollow section and a second perforated hollow section having spaced drain holes that extend through its walls. It is known in the prior art to use a solid sharpened rigid rod or trocar sealed partially within and to an imperforate end of a tube or catheter to position a drain tube within a body cavity, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,474 to Sheridan. The trocar is swaged or press fit into the hollow tube to form an integral connection therewith.
After insertion into the body, the trocar with the imperforate section of tubing is passed from the body cavity through the body wall to a position wherein the rod or trocar and a portion of the imperforate section extend away a distance from the body and the perforated section remains inside the body wall. The outwardly extending portion of the imperforate section of tube is then severed at a location near the trocar and the severed trocar is disposed of. The resulting imperforate section of tube (or catheter) is then secured to an appropriate additional vacuum drain device to complete assembly of the suction type drain device.
Alternatively, use of a sharpened hardened plastic end on a flexible catheter tube, to permit body penetration by the hardened end, is illustrated in Sheridan U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,474. Once body penetration is achieved by this device, the hardened sharp end is severed to permit the catheter tube to be connected to a suction drain device by use of an additional structure.
A catheter having a plurality of drain openings for use within body openings is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,297 to Mueller, which discloses a multitude of radially spaced, axially aligned slits and spaced round perforations that extend through the catheter wall. U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,585 to McDonald, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,477 to Smith, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,562 to Wittes, et al also teach the use of spaced round holes that extend through the catheter walls.
Several techniques have been utilized to achieve the mounting of drain catheters to solid metallic trocars or other similar devices to enable body wall penetration including bonding with resins or swaging, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,562 to Wittes, et al., or U.S. Pat. No. 2,665,689 to Butler. It is also known to join silicone or plastic tubing over a smooth metal element by selecting a diameter for the plastic tubing that is capable of a degree of classic expansion to enable it to slide over the metal tubing to form a relatively firm connection.
Prior to the present invention, the positioning of a perforated section of a drain device or catheter within a patient's body, while having an imperforate extension of the catheter connected to an external drain system, involved in the steps of sealing a heavy metal cutting tool or trocar partly within the imperforated end of a flexible catheter or drain device, inserting a heavy metal cutting tool and catheter into a surgical opening, puncturing the body cavity wall to move the cutting tool and a portion of the imperforate section to a position extending outside of the body, severing and discarding the end of the catheter or drain device containing the heavy metal cutting tool, assembling an additional separate connecting device to the imperforate end of the catheter or drain device and then joining the connecting device to a suction unit.
The emplacement of existing surgical drain systems requires numerous steps, including the use of a separate device in addition to the drain device, the removal of the cutting device from the drain and then coupling the altered drain to a hollow connecting device. The additional structure and number of steps required by existing systems, to accomplish the same end result, likewise increase the risk of accidental puncture by contaminated sharpened devices as well as increasing the cost of the drain unit. The use of a heavy metal cutting tool, trocar or similar device, to form a perforation through the body cavity wall of a much larger diameter than the diameter of the catheter, creates an additional opening, of a size considerably larger than the diameter of the drain tubing itself, through the body wall, in the area of the surgical procedure. This, in effect, is an unnecessary size opening since in existing devices, the trocar has no function other than perforating the body, and is subsequently removed and discarded.

Integral penetrating surgical drain device


The invention relates to a method for producing a supply voltage, in particular for digital circuits, in a motor vehicle from a relatively high input voltage of more than 12 volts, in particular from a vehicle power supply system voltage of 42 volts, in which an intermediate voltage at a level between the vehicle power supply system voltage and the supply voltage is produced from the vehicle power supply system voltage in a normal mode by means of a DC/DC converter (5), and the supply voltage is produced from the intermediate voltage by means of at least one linear regulator (9, 9xe2x80x2, 9xe2x80x3), in which the DC/DC converter (5) is switched off and is bridged by means of a bypass circuit (11) in a parking mode, so that the supply voltage is produced directly by the at least one linear regulator (9, 9xe2x80x2, 9xe2x80x3), and to a voltage supply circuit for this purpose.

The invention relates to a method and to a voltage supply circuit for producing a supply voltage from a relatively high supply voltage.
Voltage supply circuits and voltage or current supply modules such as these are used, for example, in vehicle technology.
The change in the vehicle power supply system voltage from 12 volts to 42 volts in future passenger vehicles and at the same time a requirement for a supply voltage for controllers, that is to say using digital circuit technology, at a known voltage of, for example, 5 volts, 3.3 volts or else 2.5 volts, is resulting in a number of problems.
By way of example, the linear fixed voltage regulators which are used in a 12 volt vehicle power supply system architecture for producing a previously normal supply voltage of 5 volts cannot be used owing to the considerably greater voltage difference that will occur in future passenger vehicles and the power loss that this will result in the linear regulator, since it will then no longer be possible to use these without additional cooling measures which, disadvantageously, would result in considerable additional costs. It is likewise impossible, for cost reasons, to use specific, expensive linear regulators optimized for this purpose.
A further requirement in vehicle technology is that some digital circuits or controllers, for example the controller which is responsible for central locking, remote control etc., need to operate in a daytime mode as well, in which the vehicle is in some circumstances parked for a lengthy time. This situation is taken into account by means of a standby mode for some controllers which have to remain active at least cyclically, while other controllers, which are not required, are switched off completely. The standby current in an operating mode (parking mode) such as this is in the xcexcA range, for example about 100 xcexcA, in contrast to a normal mode in the mA range, for example about 200 mA.
In order to reduce the thermal power loss in linear regulators, EP 0 805 540 A1 therefore proposes that a DC/DC converter be connected upstream of the linear regulators, in this way reducing the current consumption from the battery as well as the (thermal) power loss.
However, this circuit (which is used in a conventional 12 volt vehicle power supply system architecture) still has the disadvantage when used in a vehicle power supply system with a higher voltage, such as 42 volts, in that, in consequence, it is no longer possible to satisfy the standby current requirement in a parking mode, at least without using undesirable costly special components or cooling measures.
The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method for producing a supply voltage as well as a voltage supply circuit for carrying out such a method, which methods also satisfy the standby current requirement in a parking mode or standby mode in a cost-effective and simple manner.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for producing a supply voltage, in particular for digital circuits, in a motor vehicle from a relatively high input voltage of more than 12 volts, in particular from a vehicle power supply system voltage of 42 volts,
a) in which an intermediate voltage at a level between the vehicle power supply system voltage and the supply voltage is produced from the vehicle power supply system voltage in a normal mode by means of a DC/DC converter, and
b) the supply voltage is produced from the intermediate voltage by means of at least one linear regulator, wherein
c) the DC/DC converter is switched off and is bridged by means of a bypass circuit in a parking mode, so that the supply voltage is produced directly by the at least one linear regulator.
The object can further be achieved by another method for producing a supply voltage during a first and second operation mode from a relatively high input voltage comprises the steps of:
a) during the first operation mode:
generating an intermediate voltage at a level between the high input voltage and the supply voltage from the high input voltage in a normal mode by means of a first converter, and
generating the supply voltage from the intermediate voltage by means of at least a second converter,
b) during the second operation mode:
switching off the first converter and bridging the first converter by means of a bypass circuit, so that the supply voltage is produced directly by the at least one second converter.
One embodiment is a voltage supply circuit having at least one linear regulator and having a DC/DC converter which is connected upstream of the at least one linear regulator, in order to produce a relatively low supply voltage, in particular for digital circuits, via an intermediate voltage from a voltage of more than 12 volts, in particular from a vehicle power supply system voltage of 42 volts, characterized in that the voltage supply circuit has a bypass circuit in order to bridge the converter in a parking mode.
Yet another embodiment is a voltage supply circuit having two operation modes comprising:
a first converter receiving a high supply voltage generating an intermediate voltage;
a second converter receiving the intermediate voltage for generating a supply voltage;
a control circuit for either turning on the first converter or for turning off the converter and feeding the high supply voltage directly to the second converter.
The control circuit may comprise a bypass circuit for bridging said first converter and may further comprises a current sensor for sensing the output current of the first converter to switch from the first to the second operation mode. The first converter can be a DC/DC converter and the second converter can be a linear regulator.
Since, according to the invention, the supply voltage or output voltage for digital circuits, in particular at a level of 5 volts, 3.3 volts, 2.5 volts or less, is produced solely by one or more linear regulators in a standby mode, the requirement for a very low standby current in the xcexcA range can be satisfied, since the power loss in a linear regulator remains with a low supply current in the xcexcA range even when there is a relatively large voltage difference between the input and output or supply voltage, and hence only insignificantly increases the standby current, which is already produced or consumed by the controller in the standby mode, to an overall standby current.
According to the invention, this is achieved by bridging, for example by means of a bypass circuit and in particular bypass transistor, the converter which is connected upstream of the linear regulator or the linear regulators, in which case the converter can advantageously be switched off in this mode, in order to further reduce the current consumption.
A wide range of different implementation options may be used for bridging the converter and for switching it off and on, for example coupling to the ignition lock or to a controller which is responsible for this, or coupling it to other events which may possibly be linked to one another and by means of which it is possible to distinguish between a standby or parking mode and a normal mode.
In one embodiment of the invention, the activation as well as the deactivation of the bypass, and, possibly, additionally the associated switching on and off of the converter, are carried out by means of a load current threshold value switch, which switches the converter on and the bypass off when the load current in the output or supply circuit, or a value which is proportional to thisxe2x80x94for example a load current threshold value in the intermediate circuit or side circuits from itxe2x80x94exceeds a predefined threshold value, and switches the bypass on and the converter off when the threshold value (parking mode) is undershot.
In another embodiment of the invention, the bypass and the converter are controlled by a microcontroller to which events such as xe2x80x9ccontroller switching to the standby modexe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cengine switched offxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9ccurrent regulator between the battery and the generator switched to battery modexe2x80x9d etc. are supplied as a signal, so that the control of the bypass and of the converter is dependent on one event on its own or in a specific combination (by means of appropriate software).
In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, this control function is carried out by means of a wake-up ASIC, which can carry out the same tasks in the same way as described above for the microcontroller but, in contrast to the microcontroller or microprocessor, depends directly on the vehicle power supply system voltage instead of on the supply voltage of the voltage module in the standby mode and, in consequence, can provide a standby mode even when not only the converter but also the linear regulators are completely switched off.
In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, different supply voltages can be produced by means of a number of linear regulators from the intermediate voltage which is produced by the converter in order, for example, to appropriately supply different circuit groups of a controller with different input voltages. In this case, the linear regulators may be followed by a logic circuit, which monitors the output voltages and/or supply voltages and produces a reset signal when a specific error or fault occurs, and switches off one or all of the output voltages depending on the requirements of the microcontroller that is used. Further advantageous refinements of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

Method and system for producing a supply voltage during a first and second operating mode


A tuned mass damper is designed for a machine tool head that moves in the X, Y, and Z directions and rotates around a C-axis that is coincident with the axis of an arm that supports the head. The damper comprises a pair of damper masses symmetrically arranged around the head. Each damper mass has a center of gravity which is approximately in the geometric center of the mass. A resilient mounting is provided for each of the damper masses allowing the damper masses to damp out vibration in the X and Y directions regardless of the orientation of the head.

Precision machine tools often have vibration which has to be damped out in order to obtain the best performance out of the tool. In a multi-axis machine tool, the vibration of the tool is the greatest at the far end of the unsupported mass, i.e., at the head of the tool, since this is where the greatest absolute motion occurs. This is also the location where the mass of a mass damper could be minimized. However, the head of the tool is a difficult area to mount a tuned mass damper, since the space is limited and the head must move in 2 or 3 linear axes, and in 1 or 2 rotary axes.

Symmetrical head mounted tuned mass damper


A building entrance box providing an interface between a signal transmission media cable having a first plurality of filamentary signal transmission elements and a second plurality of individual filamentary signal transmission elements. In a first embodiment, moisture infiltration is reduced by providing potting material in a transition region between a splice chamber of the box and a connector chamber of the box. In another embodiment, a plastic protector panel is specifically shaped to reduce condensation and to reduce the effects of any condensation. Modular protector panels mounted in the box are automatically grounded when mounted to a conductive chassis plate and are so arranged that input and output wires are isolated from each other. Mounting of stacked boxes in a predetermined alignment is effected by a first embodiment of a bracket assembly having a variable overall length but a fixed horizontal alignment, and by a second embodiment of a bracket which is breakable by an installer to achieve a desired bracket length.

This invention relates to a building entrance box and, more particularly, to a wire potting arrangement which reduces the infiltration of moisture from the splice chamber to the connector chamber of the box.
Where telephone wires enter a building, there is usually provided a building entrance box. The incoming wires, which are typically contained within one or more multi-wire cables, enter a splice chamber in the box, where they are connected to wires which go to a protector field, in a connector chamber of the box, providing protection against lightning, high voltage and high current, and then connections are made within the connector chamber to an output wire connector field. At the connector field, connections are made to wires which extend through the building to output jacks at various locations in the building.
When such a box is used in an outdoor application, moisture can enter the box through the opening provided for the incoming cables. This moisture can pass from the splice chamber to the connector chamber and can condense on the underside of the protector field and the connector field, where it can short out terminals. To prevent such problems, in the past the underside of the protector field and the connector field have been potted. This is a time consuming and costly procedure, requiring a large amount of potting material.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved manner of reducing the infiltration of moisture from the splice chamber to the connector chamber.

Building entrance box with localized wire potting


A fuel additive formulation, method of use, and method of producing the fuel additive formulation are described. The fuel additive of the present disclosure comprises a mixture of nitroparaffins comprising nitropropane and nitromethane, a lubricant, and an aromatic hydrocarbon. The fuel additive formulation is substantially free of nitroethane. The combustion in an internal combustion engine of a fuel containing the additive results in reduced emissions relative to the combustion of a fuel not containing the additive.

For some time, others have worked to improve the performance and reduce the adverse environmental effects of internal combustion engines. As the increased use of automobiles and trucks in the United States has offset reductions in auto emissions, legislators, regulators, the petroleum and automobile industries, and various other groups have sought new ways to address air pollution from cars and trucks. As part of that effort, these groups have increasingly focused on modification of fuels and fuel additives. Perhaps the best known fuel modification relating to air pollution control is the elimination of lead, used as an antiknock compound, from gasoline.
The 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act contain a new fuels program, including a reformulated gasoline program to reduce emissions of toxic air pollutants and emissions that cause summer ozone pollution, and an oxygenated gasoline program to reduce carbon monoxide emissions in areas where carbon monoxide is a problem in winter. Environmental agencies, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), have promulgated various regulations compelling many fuel modification efforts.
With respect to the oxygenated gasoline program, the most commonly used oxygenates are ethanol, made from biomass (usually grain or corn in the United States), and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), made from methanol that is usually made from natural gas. Oxygenates such as ethanol and MTBE increase a fuel's octane rating, a measure of its tendency to resist engine knock. In addition, MTBE mixes well with gasoline and is easily transported through the existing gasoline pipeline distribution network.
Both ethanol (as well as other alcohol-based fuels) and MTBE have significant drawbacks. Ethanol-based fuel formulations have failed to deliver the desired combination of increased performance, reduced emissions, and environmental safety. They do not perform substantially better than straight-run gasoline, and also increase the cost of the fuel.
Adding either ethanol or MTBE to gasoline dilutes the energy content of the fuel. Ethanol has a lower energy content than MTBE, which in turn has a lower energy content than straight-run gasoline. Ethanol has only about 67% the energy content of the same volume of gasoline and it has only about 81% of the energy content of an equivalent volume of MTBE. Thus, more fuel is required to travel the same distance, resulting in higher fuel costs and lower fuel economy. In addition, the volatility of the gasoline that is added to an ethanol/gasoline blend must be further reduced in order to offset the increased volatility of the alcohol in the blend.
Ethanol also has a much greater affinity for water than do petroleum products. It cannot be shipped in petroleum pipelines, which invariably contain residual amounts of water. Instead, ethanol is typically transported by truck, or manufactured where gasoline is made. Ethanol is also corrosive. In addition, at higher concentrations, the engine must be modified to use an ethanol blend.
Ethanol has other drawbacks as well. Ethanol has a high vapor pressure relative to straight-run gasoline. Its high vapor pressure increases fuel evaporation at temperatures above 130° Fahrenheit, which leads to increases in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
Finally, although much research has focused on the health effects of ethanol as a beverage, little research has addressed ethanol use as a fuel additive. Nor has ethanol been evaluated fully from the standpoint of its environmental fate and exposure potential.
MTBE has its share of drawbacks as well. MTBE was first added to gasoline to boost the octane rating. In line with the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, MTBE was added in even larger amounts as an oxygenate to reduce air pollution. Unfortunately, MTBE is now showing up as a contaminant in groundwater throughout the United States as a result of releases (i.e., leaking underground gasoline storage tanks, accidental spillage, leakage in transport, automobile accidents resulting in fuel releases, etc.).
MTBE is particularly problematic as a groundwater contaminant because it is soluble in water. It is highly mobile, does not cling to soil particles, and does not decay readily. MTBE has been used as an octane enhancer for about twenty years. The environmental and health risks posed by MTBE, therefore, parallel those of gasoline. Some sources estimate that 65% of all leaking underground fuel storage tank sites involve releases of MTBE. It is estimated that MTBE may be contaminating as many as 9,000 community water supplies in 31 states. A University of California study showed that MTBE has affected at least 10,000 groundwater sites in the State of California alone.
The EPA also has determined that MTBE is carcinogenic, at least when inhaled. Other unwelcome environmental characteristics are its foul smell and taste, even at very low concentrations (parts per billion). The environmental threat from MTBE may be even greater than that from an equivalent volume of straight-run gasoline. The constituents of gasoline considered most dangerous are the aromatic hydrocarbons: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (collectively, BTEX). The BTEX aromatic hydrocarbons have the lowest acceptable drinking water contamination limits. Both ethanol and MTBE enhance the environmental risks posed by the BTEX compounds, apart from their own toxicity. Ethanol and MTBE act as a co-solvent for BTEX compounds in gasoline. As a result, the BTEX plume from a source of gasoline contamination containing ethanol and/or MTBE travels farther and faster than one that does not contain either oxygenate.
The BTEX aromatic compounds have relatively lower solubility in water than MTBE. BTEX compounds tend to biodegrade in situ when they leak into the soil and ground water. This provides at least some natural attenuation. Relative to the BTEX compounds, however, MTBE biodegrades at a significantly lower rate, by at least one order of magnitude, or ten times more slowly. Some sources estimate that the time required for MTBE to degrade to less than a few percent of the original contaminant level is about ten years.
Other initiatives have involved efforts to formulate a cleaner burning-reformulated-gasoline (RFG). For example, Union Oil Company of California (UNOCAL) has secured a number of U.S. patents that cover various formulations of RFG, including Jessup, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,393, for Gasoline Fuel (Feb. 22, 1994); Jessup, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,567, for Gasoline Fuel (Jan. 14, 1997); Jessup, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,866, for Gasoline Fuel (Aug. 5, 1997); Jessup, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,126 for Gasoline Fuel, (Nov. 17, 1998); Jessup, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,521 for Gasoline Fuel (Feb. 29, 2000). The UNOCAL patents specify various end points in the blending of gasoline, and purport to reduce emissions of selected contaminants: Carbon monoxide (CO); Nitric oxides (NOx); Unburned Hydrocarbons (HC); as well as other emissions.
These various problems have impaired the efficacy or cost-effectiveness of each of these various alternatives. Alcohols have not resolved the performance and emission needs for improved motor fuels. MTBE imposes unacceptable environmental (soil and groundwater) and public health problems. Reformulated gasoline has been controversial and expensive. Accordingly, there remains a substantial and unmet need for an improved gasoline formulation that enhances (or at least does not impair) performance, while reducing emissions and the environmental and public health risks from motor fuels. The fuel additive according to an embodiment of the present disclosure satisfies those needs.
Applicant previously discovered a fuel additive that was the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,319,294 and 7,491,249, herein incorporated in their entirety. This formulation, known as "MAZ," is shown in the table below.
TABLE 1"MAZ" FormulationWeight ComponentPercent (Wt. %)1-Nitropropane 40-60%Nitroethane 10-30%Nitromethane 10-30%Toluene  2-8%Lubricant 0.5-3%
Nitroparaffins have been used in prior fuel formulations, for different engine applications, without achieving the results of the present disclosure. For example, nitroparaffins have long been used as fuels and/or fuel additives in model engines, turbine engines, and other specialized engines. Nitromethane and nitroethane have been used by hobbyists. Nitroparaffins have also been used extensively in drag racing, and other racing applications, due to their extremely high energy content.
The use of nitroparaffins in motor fuels for automobiles and trucks, however, has several distinct disadvantages. First, some nitroparaffins are explosive and pose substantial hazards. Second, nitroparaffins are significantly more expensive than gasoline—so expensive as to preclude their use in automotive and truck applications. Third, nitroparaffins have generally been used in specialized engines that are very different than gas and diesel engines. Fourth, the high energy content of nitroparaffins requires modification of the engine, and additional care in transport, storage, and handling of both the nitroparaffin and the fuel containing the additive. Further, in some fuel applications, nitroparaffins have had a tendency to gel. The high cost, and extremely high energy content of nitroparaffins, has precluded their use as an automotive and/or truck fuel. Moreover, the extreme volatility and danger of explosion from nitromethane taught away from its use as a motor fuel for automobiles and/or trucks.

Additive formulation and method of using same


A microneedle array includes a microneedle unit that includes microneedles; and a microneedle unit support member that includes an opening, guides both ends of the microneedle unit through inclined grooves, and arranges tips of the microneedles so as to project through the opening in an inclined manner.

Microneedle arrays provided with a plurality of microneedles are manufactured, for example, by a method to which a manufacturing process of semiconductors, such as etching, is applied. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of this kind to which the manufacturing process of semiconductors is applied. The microneedle manufactured by this method is formed to be perpendicular to a flat surface (skin).
Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 20, when a skin 203 is attempted to be pierced with a microneedle 201, since the surface of the skin 203 is deformed, the sufficient piercing cannot be performed, and as a result, a problem occurs that a liquid medicine 205 leaks out to the surface of the skin 203. In such a case, the microneedle 201 may be depressed more strongly against the skin 203 so as to be pierced, but this causes discomfort and pain to a patient.
Note that, in consideration of relieving the pain of patient during injection and effective injection of the liquid medicine 205, the preferable piercing depth of the microneedle will be around 100 to 500 μm under the skin.
In order not to cause discomfort and pain to the patient, and at the same time, in order to prevent the leakage of the liquid medicine 205 out to the surface of the skin 203, the microneedle 201 may be inclined relative to the skin 203 to perform piercing. Accordingly, the microneedle 201 can intrude into the skin 203 so as to prevent the leakage of the liquid medicine 205 out to the skin 203, and at the same time, since the tip of the microneedle 201 reaches only the shallow portion from the surface of the skin 203, the pain of the patient can be relieved.
Note that, Patent Document 2 discloses an example in which a syringe is inclined relative to the skin surface to perform piercing. Patent Document 2 shows a micro syringe of which needle can perform piercing at the angle of 45° or more relative to the skin surface.

Microneedle array and microneedle array device


An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a search request sent from an external apparatus, a search unit configured to search for a device matching a search condition included in the search request, a determination unit configured to determine an attribute of a device, and a transmission control unit configured to perform control so that information regarding the device is sent to the external apparatus as a search result in response to the search request when the device matching the search condition has a first attribute and so that the information regarding the device is not sent to the external apparatus as a search result in response to the search request when the device matching the search condition has a second attribute.

In general, devices such as printers connected to networks can be used from client personal computers (PCs) over the networks. A client PC first finds a device on a network and then installs therein driver software for using the found device. Several techniques for searching for a device on a network have been available. In some techniques, search request packets are sent via broadcast or multicast. Broadcast and multicast are methods by which data is sent to a plurality of devices present in a network. In those techniques, a client PC sends a search request packet via broadcast or multicast, and a device that receives the search request packet sends a search response packet to the client PC. Thus, the device is found.
Further, a large scale network can be constructed by connecting networks to each other via connection devices such as routers. In such a network, broadcast or multicast routing may affect the traffic of the overall network and routers are generally operated so that such routing is avoided. Segmented networks created by routers are referred to as subnetworks or subnets and broadcast and multicast routing are generally available within a subnet. In such an environment, broadcast- or multicast-based network device search technology prevents a search request packet sent from a client PC from passing through a router. In a network environment where a plurality of subnets are connected via routers, therefore, it is difficult for a client PC to find a device present in a different subnet.
Accordingly, search systems that allow search for a device in a subnet using a client PC in another subnet have been developed. In an example of such search systems, a search server (discovery proxy (DP)) is located on a network. A client PC sends a search request message including a search condition to a DP, and the DP searches for a device on behalf of the client PC in response to the search request message (see, for example, Patent Citation 1).
The search system of the related art described above allows a client PC to search for all devices present in a subnet different from that in which the client PC is present. In practice, however, usage differs from one device to another. For example, some devices are permitted to be accessed from a client PC within the same subnet and other devices are permitted to be accessed from outside the same subnet. For instance, in an intranet where a subnet is provided for each section, a device can be accessed only from a specific section and another device can be accessed from all the sections. With the use of the method of the related art described above, however, all devices may be accessible (or searchable) from outside subnets regardless of such a situation.    Patent Citation 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-216107

Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and control method therefor


The disclosure provides faucets, faucet assemblies and methods for delivering liquid through a faucet. The faucet includes a faucet body having a first open end configured for connection with a faucet base, a second open end for receiving a faucet handle, and a faucet body portion having an opening therein. The faucet body has an inner wall defining a passage extending therethrough. The faucet also includes a faucet handle and a spray handle having a first end section and a sprayer end section. The first end section is configured to be detachably connected to the faucet body portion, and the spray handle has an inner wall and a passage extending therethrough which is in open communication with the passage through the faucet body. The faucet also has a hose connection that can receive a hose for delivering liquid to the spray handle. The hose connection may be in the sprayer end section of the spray handle. The faucet may also include a mechanism for liquid flow control and/or a pull-down diverter in liquid communication with the hose connection for aerated or spray flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to faucets including pull out sprayers for spraying a wide area at angles, particularly with respect to such pull-out spraying faucets that are used for kitchen sink use.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known in the art to use diverter valves and mechanisms to switch a faucet sprayer from regular, aerated water flow to a spray-head spray. Such diverters come in various configurations including a pull-down diverter mechanism, wherein the user pulls downward on the diverter mechanism at the end of a faucet to create a spray or "shower" effect.
Kitchen faucets typically have a direct aerated water flow. Water enters kitchen faucets through a copper inlet tube or flexible hose, which generally has a metallic connector linking into the body of the faucet for delivering water flow to the portion of the faucet body having the faucet outlet. In some cases, the water outlet hose from the hot and cold mixer is split below the body and base plate of the faucet to provide a divided and separate hose and direction of flow, generally including a diverter mechanism to allow a side stream of water to enter a hand-held sprayer mechanism separate and apart from the faucet body. Many such hand-held sprayers are located on one side of the faucet assembly with a separate opening in the sink base outside of the faucet base plate. When the handle of the hand-held sprayer is actuated, it operates a diverter mechanism that diverts flow from the portion of the hose directing water to the faucet body to the hand-held sprayer portion and away from the direct faucet stream.
More recently, an improvement was developed to avoid use of significant additional parts below the surface of the sink or use of a divided and separate hose section, by making the faucet body itself capable of performing the spray function as well by virtue of a multi-part combination spray-head and faucet assembly, wherein a sprayer handle portion of the faucet is detachable from the body of the faucet. This allows for a hand-held sprayer portion to detach from the faucet body and be separated therefrom by a flexible hose that runs through the faucet body and attaches at the faucet-facing end of the hand-held sprayer portion. The hose is typically connected via a reinforced metallic coupling nut/threaded connection to the rear (or faucet-body facing end) of the detachable hand held sprayer. Thus, when the hand-held sprayer portion is pulled outwardly from the faucet, the hose pulls up through and out of the faucet body with the sprayer, and water then flows through the faucet body within the extended hose and coupling nut connection into the hand-held sprayer and outwardly through a reinforced interior of the hand-held sprayer to a diverter mechanism, if any. Use of such diverters for switching from a shower spray to a direct aerated spray are generally operated by push button mechanisms located on the top portion of the hand-held sprayer, by a diverter switch or diverter handle.
Such faucets, while useful over prior art faucets having wholly separate spray functions, so as to become multifunctional and compact regarding the space required for use, still typically require many working parts, and have reasonably high manufacturing costs for forming a reinforced hand-held sprayer portion as well as for preparing various required metallic connectors and internal pieces. In addition, many of the push-button and switch mechanisms for existing hand-held sprayers fail over time and/or do not work smoothly. In many cases, they are positioned, such that while the user is holding the nozzle head, it is easy to put pressure inadvertently on the diverter actuator and shut off the shower sprayer while in use.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved combination faucet assemblies that provide diverse features using less space, particularly for kitchen faucets, while providing a compact, detachable configuration and hand-held sprayer, and easy actuation of the shower spray to aeration diverter function, but which are also inexpensive to manufacture and are also durable and reliable.


A parking assist apparatus characterized by including: a camera (1) for taking an image of a backside of a vehicle; a display unit (6); a movement distance detecting unit (2) for detecting a distance of vehicle movement; a steering angle detecting unit (3) for detecting a steering rudder angle; and an anticipated-course calculation unit (5) for calculating an anticipated course of the vehicle in backing movement according to the steering rudder angle, wherein the parking assist apparatus further includes a display control unit (4) configured to superimpose on the image taken by the camera a discontinuous line including successive marks (PA1, PA2 . . . / PB1, PB2 . . . ) as the anticipated course and display the superimposed image on the display unit (6), and when the vehicle moves the display control unit (4) is configured to shift the marks according to the distance of the vehicle movement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a parking assist system for backing a vehicle up into a place to be parked.
2. Description of Related Art
In general a backing operation of a car is more difficult than a regular operation of a car because it is difficult for a driver to estimate the distance between the car and other obstacles, and the backing operation itself is difficult, and there is trouble seeing backward. To solve this problem there is on the market a parking assist apparatus including a camera disposed on the rear portion of a car for photographing backward and a display disposed in the inside of the car, wherein the display is configured to show images photographed by the camera during a backing operation so that assist the driver of the car visually. Recently for more convenience there is proposed another parking assist apparatus configured to calculate "anticipated course" of the wheels based on a rudder angle of a steering wheel and display a target line corresponding to a necessary moving distance superimposed on an image photographed by a camera. In such parking assist apparatus, the anticipated course laterally shifts linking to the steering operation, and thereby the movement of the car in terms of the lateral direction can be easily recognized by the driver (e.g. JP2003-112590A).
However, according to such conventional parking assist apparatus, longitudinal movement of the car cannot be easily recognized by a driver, especially when only an image of an asphalt road surface is displayed.


A presentation device comprises an image capture portion for capturing an image of a subject and generating a raw image thereof; a detection portion adapted to analyze whether a first marker is present in the raw image, and if the first marker is present in the raw image, to detect an existing position of the first marker within the raw image; a storage portion for storing a positional relationship of a synthesis position at which a mask image for masking at least a portion of the raw image is synthesized with the raw image relative to the existing position of the first marker; a synthesized image generation portion adapted to determine the synthesis position according to the positional relationship with the detected existing position, and to synthesize the mask image at the determined synthesis position within the raw image to generate a synthesized image; and an output portion for outputting the synthesized image.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a presentation device adapted to capture and generate an image of a document, and to display the image on an external display device.
2. Related Art
Certain conventional presentation devices, such as those disclosed in JP-A-2005-72744, JP-A-2004-20889, and JP-A-2002-94856, have a function for masking portions of a captured image. This function can be utilized, for example in the course of a lecture in a classroom, for the purpose of presenting an exam sheet to students while concealing the correct answers.
According to the prior art however, each time that the mask function is to be used, it is necessary to select an area for masking by operating a remote control or a control console on the unit, which makes operation cumbersome. Moreover, because the selected mask area is fixed over the image, if the document to be captured is moved, portions of the document may be masked or exposed unintentionally.


A footwear structure includes an outsole having outwardly projecting heel and metatarsal bulges joined by a resticted channel, the bulges and channel all opening at an interior surface of the outsole. A flexible bladder is disposed against the interior surface of the outsole and has a generally horseshoe-shaped pocket straddling the heel cavity of the outsole and a pair of matatarsal pockets respective disposed upon opposite lateral sides of the metatarsal cavity of the outsole, the ends of the bladder heel pocket being respectively joined to the metatarsal pockets by restricted passageways to from a closed fluid-containing system. The bladder pockets are respectively accommodated in recesses in an inner surface of a midsole which is secured to the interior surface of the outsole for closing the outsole cavities and restricted channel to form another closed fluid-containing system.

This application relates to footwear and, in particular, to sole and heel structures for shoes, boots or the like. The application relates in particular to footwear structures incorporating fluid-filled cavities for providing cushioning, forward thrust and the like.
Various types of footwear structures having fluid-containing cavities or systems have heretofore been provided. Some of the structures have included a molded outsole with cavity-defining bulges therein which are closed by an overlying midsole, communication between the bulges being provided through narrow, restricted channels or passageways to accommodate movement of fluid back and forth between the cavities. Other structures have incorporated closed, flexible bladders with expandable fluid-filled pockets, which may also be interconnected by narrow restricted passageways. In some prior structures, the pockets of such bladders have been accommodated in cavities in an outsole and/or a midsole. All of these prior arrangements have incorporated, essentially, only a single closed fluid-containing system.
There is disclosed in this application a footwear structure which avoids the disadvantages of prior structures while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An aspect is the provision of footwear structure which is characterized by improved cushioning and lateral stability, while affording shock absorption and forward thrust.
An important aspect is the provision of a footwear structure which includes two separate fluid-containing systems.
Another aspect is the provision of a footwear structure of the type set forth, wherein the fluid-containing systems are disposed within a structure including an outsole, a midsole and a flexible bladder.
Another aspect is the provision of a footwear structure of the type set forth, wherein at least one of the outsole and the midsole includes cavities for accommodating bladder pockets.
A still further aspect is the provision of a footwear structure of the type set forth, in which each of the fluid-containing systems includes cavities or pockets which are disposed outside the cavities or pockets of the other system.
Another aspect is the provision of a method of forming a footwear structure of the type set forth.

Footwear structure with outsole bulges and midsole bladder


Described is a preamp flex cable for use in a hard drive. The flex cable incorporates a stiffener layer operable to provide a mechanical support, an insulating layer provided over the stiffener layer and having at least one via provided therein to expose the stiffener layer, and at least one conductive layer provided over the insulating layer. The at least one conductive layer forms an electrical circuit and at least one heat removing element that extends through the via and establishes a contact with the stiffener layer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to thermal management of electronic components and more specifically to thermal management of components within a hard disk drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a typical hard drive configuration, a preamplifier is mounted on a flexible (flex) cable, connecting the hard disk drive head circuits with the preamplifier, which performs initial amplification of the signals received from the hard disk drive heads. Existing methods for connecting (mounting) preamplifier (preamp) chips on the flex cables of hard disk drives suffer from the lack of good heat conduction of the heat generated by the preamp to the E-block of the drive or convection path to the ambient air flow. As a result, an overheating condition may occur, resulting in a failure of the preamp and the entire hard drive, or a reduction in data throughput performance.
FIG. 1 depicts a general view of a typical preamp flex cable 100 of a hard disk drive. A preamp 101 is mounted onto the flex cable 100, and an underfill 102 is injected below and around the preamp 101, as shown in FIG. 1. The flex cable 100 also includes head circuit mounting areas 103, on which the head circuits of the hard disk drive connect electrically by solder flow, ultrasonic bonding, or other suitable means. The underfill 102 is typically made of a material having both sufficient stiffness to protect the underside BGA solder bumps, and reasonable heat conducting properties, and serves to facilitate the transmission of the heat generated by the preamp to the body of the flex cable.
FIG. 2 is a close-up cross-section view of the preamp 201 and the underfill layer 202. This figure also shows various layers that constitute the flex cable 200. Specifically, the flex cable 200 incorporates an aluminum stiffener 230, which provides mechanical support for the various flex cable layers and the electrical components mounted thereon and an interconnecting traces 250 for facilitating electrical connections between the preamp 201 and various other electrical components attached to the flex cable 200. A circuit fabrication process employing the subtractive method of patterning the interconnecting traces 250 is common for this application. The interconnecting traces 250 are insulated from the stiffener 230 using insulating base layer 220, which can be implemented using polyimide or kapton materials. A base adhesive layer 215 laminates together the base layer 220 with the interconnecting traces 250. Another insulating (polyimide or kapton) cover layer 240 is disposed on top of the copper interconnecting traces 250 and serves to insulate the electrical connections of the flex cable 201 from other components of the hard disk drive. A cover adhesive layer 235 laminates together the base adhesive layer 215 with cover layer 240, atop the interconnecting traces 250. Stiffener adhesive layer 225 attaches stiffener 230 to the circuit base layer 220.
As can be seen from FIG. 2, during the operation of the hard disk drive, to reach the aluminum stiffener 230, the heat generated by the preamp 201 has to travel through the insulating polyimide or kapton layer 220 and base adhesive layer 215. The chief problem with the conventional flex cables is that the polyimide or kapton material of the insulating layer 220 has very poor thermal conductivity properties (about 0.15 W/m-C), which results in poor heat flow between the preamp 201 and the aluminum stiffener 230, which, in turn, may cause the overheating of the preamp 201.
FIG. 3 depicts generally the same view of the flex cable 300 as FIG. 2, except that the underfill 302 is not shown. The removal of the underfill 302 exposes the contact pads 310 that make the electrical contact to the preamp. The contact pads 310 are patterned within the copper interconnecting traces 350 that are laid over the base layer 320, which is made of an insulating material, such as polyimide or kapton. As can be understood from FIG. 3, because of the presence of the thermo-insulating layer 320 underneath the preamp 301, the only path for heat conduction from the preamp is either to the ambient air, which is very low, or via the contact pads laterally outward. Interconnecting traces 350 are small in cross-section and are able to conduct only a slight amount of heat, which unfortunately still stays isolated from the stiffener as a heat sink. Also, since heat can be conducted only via the contact pads, it increases the stress load on the contact pads and may lead to their premature failure.
FIG. 4 depicts the same flex cable, but with the preamp removed for clarity. In accordance with the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the top insulating cover layer of the flex cable is marked with numeral 440. Below this layer, there is the cover adhesive 435 and conductive traces 450, which form the contact pads. Solder bumps 455 are provided, via assembly level solder flow, on the contact pads 410 to facilitate both the electrical and mechanical connections. The conductive traces 450 overlay a base adhesive 415 and insulating base layer 420, which is adhered to a stiffener 430 via stiffener adhesive layer 425.
As stated above, the conventional flex cable configuration shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 suffers from poor heat transfer away from the preamp, which may result in its overheating and failure. Thus, new, more efficient flex cable configuration is necessary.

Ground vias for enhanced preamp heat release in hard disk drives


A control circuit controls driving of an LED and a current-controlled device controls current through the LED. The current-controlled device has a control node. The control circuit has a driving circuit and a fault detector. In the driving circuit, a first comparator compares a current-setting signal with a sensing signal to generate a first comparison signal. Based on the first comparison signal, a buffer generates a driving signal to the control node and drives the current-controlled device. Within the fault detector, a second comparator compares the first comparison signal with the driving signal, generating a second comparison signal. A third comparator compares the driving signal with a threshold voltage, generating a third comparison signal. A fourth comparator compares the sensing signal with the current-setting signal, generating a fourth comparison signal. A decision maker enables or disables the driving circuit according to the second, third, and fourth comparison signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control circuits for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and particularly to a related integrated circuit and method for controlling LEDs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have a very good electro-optical conversion rate, which is higher than fluorescent lamps, cold-cathode fluorescent lamps, and light bulbs. Thus, the current trend is to replace these types of lamps with LEDs. For example, LEDs have already gradually replaced CCFLs as a backlight source in liquid crystal display (LCD) panels.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an LED voltage supply circuit. Grid AC power goes through power management circuit 12, is transformed by transformer 14, and outputted through terminal OUT as output voltage VOUT. Through voltage divider 18, 20, Zener diode LT431, and photocoupler 16, output voltage VOUT is fed back to power management circuit 12, so as to regulate output voltage VOUT. N LED chains CLED1 . . . CLEDN are connected to output voltage VOUT as light sources. Controllable current sources I1 . . . IN have approximately the same internal circuitry, each corresponds individually to one of the LED chains CLED1 . . . CLEDN, and controls LED chain brightness by controlling current flowing through each LED chain.
FIG. 2 illustrates one configuration of controllable current source I1 of FIG. 1. Error amplifier EA1 controls power transistor M1, and changes current flowing through LED chain CLED1 and sense resistor CS1, in an attempt to make voltages of sensing signal VSENSE1 and current-setting signal VLEDBIAS the same. Sense resistors CS1 . . . CSN have approximately the same resistance. If sensing signals VVSENSE1 . . . VSENSEN have voltage approximately equal to current-setting signal VLEDBIAS, it can be deduced that current flowing through each LED in FIG. 2 is approximately the same.
Short and open circuits among the circuit components, including LED current sources, lead to abnormal operation, and can even cause mortal danger. For example, if the sense resistor CS1 of FIG. 2 is shorted (resistance is zero), brightness of LED chain CLED1 will be overly bright, or LED chain CLED1 may even burn up. Thus, errors should be detected as early as possible, so as to implement appropriate protection measures.

Circuit for light emitting diodes, related integrated circuit and control method


A fluorescent light fixture is provided which includes a housing with an inwardly extending L-shaped tab. This inwardly extending L-shaped tab engages a channel in a removable socket assembly. The channel of the socket assembly can be slid into the tab so that the socket assembly, along with the sockets themselves, is in a protected position within the housing. The channel is expanded so as to permit the rotating of the socket assembly thereby bringing the sockets into position to engage fluorescent light bulbs when desired.

The present invention relates to fluorescent-type lighting fixtures, particularly to fixtures with removable fold-out lamp socket assemblies.
Fluorescent-type light fixtures are well-known in the prior art. However, such conventional fixtures are deficient in that the socket assemblies into which the ends of the bulbs are placed are fragile, and in precarious positions during shipping. Further, such conventional fixtures are deficient in not allowing the fast and reliable replacement of the sockets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,132 allows replacement of the socket assemblies, but requires an awkward rotating and securing of the socket assemblies which is made more difficult by the bending or deformation of the socket assembly or of the fixture itself.
It is therefore an object of this invention to allow a socket assembly to be securely fastened to but remain easily removable from a fluorescent light housing.
It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a fluorescent light fixture which can be transported with the socket assembly in a secure or folded position.
It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a socket assembly which can be easily attached to a fluorescent light fixture without deforming the fixture.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide such a socket assembly and fixture apparatus which can be easily manufactured.

Fluorescent-type fixture having removable fold-out lamp sockets


A stackable, nestable, multi-level tray or basket useful for storing and transporting baked goods is provided which includes a floor and a pair of upstanding side walls configured for stacking identical trays as well as allowing the stacking of a tray with smaller, overall dimensions. The structure enables identical trays to slide on to each other in stacked or nested configurations. A multi-level tray includes sidewalls with a plurality of upright stacking posts extending from the floor to a vertical strip of material. Each stacking post flares out at its top end to a cantilevered, extending flat portion. Trays of smaller overall dimensions than the disclosed tray can be advantageously stacked on these extending flat portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a slide-on type stackable, nestable, multi-level bread tray or basket (the terms tray and basket are interchangeably used herein) especially used for storing baked goods, such as cake, buns, and bread loaves therein. The slide-on, multi-level inventive baskets or trays hereof are advantageously configured to receive and support a second, complimentarily configured tray thereon in either stacked or nested manner, and also allow the stacking of a basket with smaller, overall dimensions.
2. Related Art
It is well known in the operation of bakeries to provide a rigid supporting container in the form of a tray or basket to protect baked goods from damage incident to handling, transport and storage thereof. In most recent years, bakeries have produced a variety of different baked goods, such as loaves, cakes, and hamburger buns. Each of these products is conventionally produced in different product heights, resulting in the need to economically protect all such goods while avoiding the necessity of having different trays or baskets for each product.
As a result, there have been developed a number of different multi-level, stacking trays or baskets which are advantageously designed to stack or nest at different levels according to the height of the product contained therein. For example, a second tray could be superposed over a first tray at a first, lower level for hamburger buns, and at a second, upper level for loaves of bread. Examples of different stacking trays include those shown in the following U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,740 to Bockenstette; U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,070 to Stahl; U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,623 to Carroll et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,327 to Stahl et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,103 to Tabler; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,451 to Apps.
A difficulty inherent in prior known baskets has been their inability to nest or stack at alternate levels without aligning the upper basket directly over the lower basket. Those problems have largely been overcome by the slide-on, multi-level basket of prior application Ser. No. 07/950,005, filed Sept. 24, 1992 and entitled Slide On Multi-Level Basket, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The Slide On Multi-Level Basket of said application enables a second basket to slide on to the first basket before dropping into either of its stack or nest positions.
However, a limitation inherent in existing slide-on, multilevel baskets is the requirement that only baskets of similar configuration and overall dimensions can be stacked or nested. Whereas in actual practice, there is a frequent need to stack a basket of smaller overall dimensions on top of one of a larger slide-on, multi,level basket; thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a solution to this need.

Stackable and nestable multi-level bread tray


A mixer assembly for mixing two air streams in a ventilation system. The mixer assembly comprises a mixing chamber, which comprises an inlet and an outlet and a mixing chamber wall delimiting the mixing chamber, and also a shroud, which surrounds the mixing chamber wall, at least in certain portions. The shroud forms and delimits an intermediate space between the mixing chamber wall and the shroud. The mixer assembly also comprises a filter element, which fluidically connects the intermediate space to a surrounding area of the mixer assembly, the intermediate space being fluidically connected to the mixing chamber. Fluid can thus flow through the filter element into the intermediate space and further into the mixing chamber. A stowage space with a mixer assembly, an aircraft with such a stowage space and a method for producing a mixer assembly in an aircraft are also described.

In conventional aircraft, a mixing chamber for mixing fresh air with recirculation air is usually accommodated in the belly of the aircraft, where the recirculation air is extracted directly and conveyed into the mixing chamber. In order to ensure the most uniform possible extraction on both sides of the aircraft and in order to create a redundancy of the ducting components, two intake lines each with a filter element are arranged at the mixing chamber.
FIG. 1 shows by way of example a view of a conventional mixing chamber 20 with two symmetrically arranged intake lines 21, at the ends of which a filter element 22 is respectively attached. The air cleaned by the filter elements 22 is conducted by way of the intake lines 21 to the lower region of the mixing chamber 20. There, it can be mixed with fresh air from fresh-air lines 24. In the upper region, the mixed air is fed to the corresponding mixed-air lines. For example, the mixed air may be conducted into an aircraft cabin, a cockpit and/or a cargo hold.
The filter elements 22 are arranged in the space of the aircraft in such a way that on the one hand they are easily accessible, in order to make it easier for them to be exchanged, and on the other hand they receive recirculation air from both sides of the aircraft space, in order to make it possible for the recirculation air to be conducted uniformly and symmetrically around the passenger cabin arranged thereabove.

Mixer assembly with surrounding filter element, stowage space with mixer assembly, vehicle with a stowage space and method for installing a mixer assembly