Pharmaceutically active substances are administered in aerosol form by applying to a mucosal surface of the body a composition comprising a medically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active substance, a biocompatible amphiphilac steroid and a bicompatible (hydro/fluoro)carbon propellant.

This invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical administration. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods for the administration of pharmaceutically active substances by permeation of mucosal surfaces of the body such as the mucosal linings of the nasal cavity or the bronchopulmonary system.
The mode of administration of a pharmaceutical product can have a very significant effect on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of the product. Furthermore, the mode of administration can have a significant effect on patient compliance inasmuch as patients are more likely to comply with medication regimens when the mode of administration is convenient and comfortable. The effect of the mode of administration on patient compliance is particularly strong where the patient must self-administer the drug on a chronic basis, e.g. in the case of insulin.
In terms of convenience and comfort, oral administration is generally the most preferred method. Unfortunately, many drugs cannot be administered orally due to extensive degradation of the drug which occurs in the gastrointestinal tract before the drug is transferred into the general circulation. Protein and polypeptide drugs are particularly prone to being degraded in the gastrointestinal tract by various hydrolytic and enzymatic means. Accordingly, protein and polypeptide drugs are generally not orally administrable.
The advent of recombinant DNA technology in recent years has made it possible to produce on a commercial scale virtually any polypeptide or protein whose structure has been elucidated. These include a multitude of substances which have great potential pharmaceutical value, but which were previously available from natural sources only in minute quantities suitable solely for research purposes Now that these protein and polypeptide drugs can be produced on a commercial scale, the inability to administer them in a convenient and comfortable manner is one of the few barriers to their becoming staple items of the pharmaceutical armamentarium for fighting or preventing disease. Until fairly recently, the only broadly applicable means for delivering protein or peptide drugs were the parenteral routes.
The aerosol administration of insulin to animals and humans via the respiratory system has been reported by several groups (Ayer, A. A., Antiseptic, 51, 1161 [1954]; Govinda-Rao, A. R., Indian J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 3, 161 [1959]; Wigley, F. M. et al., Diabetes, 20, 552 [1971]; Yalow, R. S. and Berson, S. A., Methods Biochem. Anal., 12, 69 [1968]). Shih-Wei Lee and John J. Sciarra reported the preparation of aerosol dosage forms containing insulin, fluorocarbon propellant and oleyl alcohol (to improve insulin suspension), however, no bioavailability results were given (J. Pharm. Sci., 65, No. 4, 567 [1976]). Unfortunately, due to the low level of bioavailability of aerosol-administered insulin, these delivery systems have not come into therapeutic use.
Recently, Martin Carey and coworkers developed a system for delivering drugs, particularly proteins and polypeptides, by intranasal or other transmucosal routes using low toxicity permeation enhancers of the amphiphilic steroid family, e.g. fusidic acid derivatives to promote efficient transport of the drug across the mucosal surface (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,548,922 and 4,746,508). The disclosed compositions, which are generally water-based, have been demonstrated to be useful for the intranasal delivery in humans and animals of a variety or proteins and peptides, including insulin, human growth hormone, salmon calcitonin, histerelin (an analogue of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone) and .beta.-endorphin.
In the aqueous composition of Carey et al. the fusidic acid derivative is present at a concentration above its critical micellar concentration. It is believed that the fusidic acid derivative forms micelles containing the drug and that these micelles are the entities which provide for penetration of the drug through the mucosa.
In some subjects, the fusidic acid derivative employed in the method of Carey et al. has exhibited mild irritation of the nasal tissues. The irritation is relatively mild by comparison with the discomfort associated with drug delivery by injection and varies considerably in degree from subject to subject. Furthermore, the irritation does not appear to be associated with significant, nontransient effects on the integrity of the intranasal mucosa. Nonetheless, it would be highly desirable to provide a composition for transmucosal drug delivery having the efficacy exhibited by the system of Carey et al., but without the concomitant irritation experienced by some subjects.
Another drawback associated with the compositions of Carey et al., as well as other systems for delivering proteins and polypeptides, is that they are, for the most part, aqueous systems. Unfortunately, proteins and polypeptides generally have limited stability in aqueous systems. Thus, it is necessary either to use the composition shortly after it is prepared or to provide the protein or peptide drug in lyophilized form for aqueous reconstitution at the time of use. Reconstitution of the composition is inconvenient and introduces the opportunity for errors in formulation or for the introduction of contaminants.
Another problem associated with intranasal delivery using aqueous systems results from the fact that they are usually applied by an applicator which provides mechanical pumping means for pumping the aqueous composition through a spray nozzle. The resulting spray pattern can vary considerably among individual users and from application to application, thus causing difficulty in controlling dosage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide compositions and methods for effectively administering pharmaceutically active substances, particularly protein or polypeptide drugs, across mucosal surfaces, without the mild irritation sometimes associated wIth prior art transmucosal delivery systems.
It is a further object of the invention to provide compositions and methods for administration of pharmaceutically active substances, particularly proteins or polypeptides, wherein the compositions have longer stability than aqueous compositions of the prior art and do not require reconstitution at the time of use.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide compositions and methods for transmucosal delivery of pharmaceutically active substances which allow delivery of uniform dosage from subject-to-subject and application-to-application.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the disclosure which follows.

Composition and method for administration of pharmaceutically active substances


The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for controlling video recording. The method is applied to a head-wearable device provided with a camera and a touch-control area, including: starting video recording in response to a multi-touch operation on the touch-control area; adjusting, in a process of the video recording, a zoom ratio for the video recording according to a moving track of a touch point corresponding to the multi-touch operation; terminating the video recording when it is determined that a recording termination condition is met, where the recording termination condition includes that the multi-touch operation disappears and a duration of the disappearing reaches a first preset duration. In the technical solution of the present disclosure, a series of operation of quickly starting video recording, zooming during recording, and terminating video recording can be completed through simple multi-touch operations, improving the efficiency of interactive operations and the user experience.

In order to facilitate users' lives, various intelligent electronic devices come into being. In recent years, more and more users choose to use intelligent head-wearable devices. In related technologies, the intelligent head-wearable devices can perform operations such as photographing, camera shooting, navigating, etc. How to simplify user operations in the process of interaction between users and intelligent head-wearable devices has become an urgent problem to be solved.

Method and apparatus for controlling video recording

BEIJING SUPERHEXA CENTURY TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.


A medical supportable variable tracheal tube ventilation device, having a tracheal tube main body having a telescopic length; the tracheal tube main body comprises a telescopic tracheal tube main tube achieved by compressible sections and a variable tracheal tube head coupled to one end of the tracheal tube main tube; the tracheal tube head is made of a material shapable according to different temperatures; the variable tracheal tube head is a compressed cone, and by airflow inflation, the compressed cone of the variable tracheal tube head expands and opens to the cylindrical shape; an outer side of the tracheal tube main body is sleeved with a tracheal tube sealing cuff, and the tracheal tube sealing cuff is disposed proximal to the variable tracheal tube head; another end of the tracheal tube main tube is connected with a tracheal tube connector.

The present invention relates to the technical field of medical equipment, and more specifically relates to a medical supportable variable tracheal tube ventilation device.
Tracheal intubation refers to the technique of placing a specific tracheal tube through the glottis into the trachea. This technique can provide optimal conditions for tracheal patency, oxygen ventilation, respiratory attraction and prevention of aspiration.
The tracheal tube in the prior art mainly comprises: a tracheal tube main body, an air outlet at one end of the tracheal tube main body, and an air inlet connectable with an oxygen tube at another end of the tracheal tube main body. During use, the tracheal tube main body is inserted into the upper respiratory tract of a patient through the glottis, and then being fixed, and the air inlet is connected to a ventilation device for assisted breathing of the patient, thereby satisfying the patient's demand for oxygen.
However, the inventors of the present invention discover that the tracheal tube according to the prior art is more irritative to the airway of a patient, who may find such irritation hard to bear, especially tracheal tube induced bucking and coughing reflexes experienced when the patient recovers from general anesthesia. Bucking and coughing reflexes can cause unstable circulatory dynamics, severe fluctuations in blood pressure, respiratory depression, increased abdominal pressure, all being the causes of bleeding and cracked wounds. Also, a long period of time inserted with the tracheal tube leads to airway infection.
Specifically, connection of an intraoperative ventilation device and an anesthesia device to a patient subject to perioperative general anesthesia is mainly achieved by a traditional tracheal tube or a laryngeal mask. Use of the laryngeal mask is an important means to relieve the hypersensitive reaction of the airway of the patient who is under general anesthesia, but there are also limitations to the use of the laryngeal mask, for example, it can only be used in surgeries that last for about 4 hours, patients found to have air leakage and with special postures are not suitable to use the laryngeal mask, and brain surgery patients are not suitable to use the laryngeal mask. Also, a long period of use of the laryngeal mask can be accompanied by oropharyngeal pain, hoarseness, and wheezing. Traditional tracheal tubes are still commonly used, but serious bucking and coughing reflexes will be induced by irritation of the tracheal tube when the patient recovers from general anesthesia. In recent years, attention is given to some methods dedicated to prevent brain injury caused by postoperative bucking and coughing responses induced by tracheal tube after brain surgery. Propofol can relieve bucking and coughing, but like all other drugs, drug metabolism increases workload of the liver; the use of opioid analgesics can effectively relieve pain, reduce bucking and coughing reflexes, but may increase the chances of postoperative nausea, vomiting and respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine can improve a patient's tolerance against the tracheal tube during recovery from general anesthesia, but drug metabolism increases the body workload and also affects circulatory function; the above anesthetic drugs are disadvantageous to the recovery of postoperative consciousness, and thus delay the patient's recovery. During recovery from general anesthesia in perioperative period wherein respiratory and swallowing reflexes are recovered, phlegm suction and extubation cause the tracheal mucosa to be directly stimulated by the tracheal tube, thereby possibly casing serious bucking and coughing reflexes which lead to severe fluctuation of hemodynamics that increases the concentrations of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine, increases peripheral vascular resistance, and increases pulmonary vascular resistance, of which the clinical manifestations are shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and a surge of blood pressure; and the resulting imbalance of myocardial oxygen supply and oxygen consumption can also cause complications such as myocardial ischemia, heart failure and arrhythmia; especially, cardiovascular accidents can be induced in patients with a history of hypertension or diabetes; moreover, bucking and coughing may create wounds and causes bleeding and cracking of wounds. Therefore, a series of complications caused by tracheal tube induced bucking and coughing reflexes during recovery from general anesthesia represent the focus of and also the difficulty in perioperative airway management and are receiving more and more attention. Bucking and coughing are characterized by a huge intra-thoracic pressure and a strong airflow. The intra-thoracic pressure can be transmitted to a wound surface through blood vessels, and thus causing the wound surface to bleed. Clinically, there are many drugs for preventing bucking and coughing or reducing the stress response to the tracheal tube, such as opioid analgesics, propofol, and dexmedetomidine, etc.; anesthetics can alleviate bucking and coughing, but delay the patient's recovery and the quality of recovery, and also increase the workload on liver and kidney for drug metabolism.
Taking cranial tumor surgery as an example, patients will experience bucking and coughing responses during recovery from anesthesia or during phlegm suction, and most of the bucking and coughing responses occur during removal of the tracheal tube. Bucking and coughing can cause wounds on the brain to bleed, and can cause brain swelling, cerebral hematoma, and elevated intracranial pressure, susceptible of causing secondary brain injury (SBI). In clinical anesthesia, the airway response induced by the tracheal tube on the body during recovery from general anesthesia is obvious, namely, serious bucking and coughing reactions are resulted, which lead to elevated concentration of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine, increased peripheral vascular resistance, and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. The instability of breathing and circulatory system is characterized by shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and a surge in blood pressure; the resulting imbalance of myocardial oxygen supply and oxygen consumption can also cause myocardial ischemia, which can affect organ perfusion and tissue oxygenation, and can be seriously harmful to patients with complications like hypertension or diabetes or patients with heart diseases due to resulting complications like severe myocardial ischemia, heart failure and arrhythmia. Therefore, researches on airway management during cranial surgery as well as a series of pathophysiological reactions such as bucking and coughing induced by tracheal tube after recovery are received with more and more attention.
In In clinical anesthesia of patients undergoing liver surgery, the airway response induced by the tracheal tube on the body during recovery from general anesthesia is obvious, namely, serious bucking and coughing reactions are resulted, which may also easily cause bleeding of wounds. Patients also with hypertension, diabetes, obesity and snoring are also susceptible to associated complications.
Therefore, the technical question desperately requiring a solution from a skilled person in the field of art is how to provide a safer medical supportable variable tracheal tube ventilation device which can minimize irritation to the airway caused by the tracheal tube during perioperative general anesthesia and which can effectively improve the patient's tolerance.

Medical supportable variable tracheal tube ventilation device


A sugar free chocolate coating for a frozen dairy dessert comprising aspartame, mannitol and polydextrose.

This invention relates generally to a chocolate coating for a dairy dessert and more particularly to a novel sugar free chocolate coating for use in conjunction with a sugar free frozen dairy dessert such as an ice cream bar, cone, or the like.
Consumer demand for lower calorie sugar free food items has led to the development of frozen dairy desserts in which all or a large portion of the normal sugar content is replaced by small amounts of artificial sweeteners such as sacharin and aspartame together with suitable bulking agents. The teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,492,131, 3,780,189 and 4,626,441 are pertinent to such developments and are incorporated herein for background purposes. In addition U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,322 discloses a low calorie chocolate coating wherein a low calorie arabinogalactan product may replace sugar on an equal weight basis. Reissue Pat. RE No. 30,722 discloses a conventional sugar chocolate coating.
However, this invention is directed to a specific need not addressed by those prior patents, that is, a sugar free chocolate coating containing aspartame (NutraSweet.RTM.) for use on a sugar free dairy dessert bar, the coating closely simulating the taste, texture, mouthfeel, and color characteristics of the sugar chocolate coating conventionally applied on the dessert bar.


A cover for a cooking vessel with a strengthened edge comprises a central portion having a downwardly depending skirt with an upper portion substantially the same outer diameter as the cooking vessel, a diametrically inwardly offset lower portion having a doubled wall thickness and a substantially horizontal offset portion formed between the upper and lower portions of the skirt. A method of forming a strengthened edge on a cover for a cooking vessel includes flattening an inwardly rolled bead formed on a cut edge of a downwardly depending skirt of a cover blank, the flattening process forming a diametrically inward offset in the lower portion of the downwardly depending skirt and mechanically sealing the cut edge of the skirt to the lower portion of the skirt.

This invention relates to removable covers for cooking vessels and specifically to a strengthened and improved downwardly depending edge for said covers.
In the art of designing cooking vessels, it is desirable to design a cover or lid for a cooking vessel that is both strong and light weight. Accordingly, covers for cooking vessels are generally formed of relatively thin material that has a high strength and rigidity. Examples of such materials are stainless steel and aluminum. It is also well known in the art that forming complex shapes or curves into the cover of a cooking vessel will make the cover stronger and more rigid. These complex shapes or curves may also make the cover for a cooking vessel more aesthetically pleasing.
One drawback to the use of relatively thin materials in a cover for cooking vessels is that a downwardly depending edge of the cover may become dented or otherwise deformed. These deformations occur as the result of normal use and as the result of accidents, such as dropping the cover on the floor. However, the maintenance of the shape of a downwardly depending edge of a cover is critical to the proper mating of the cover with a corresponding cooking vessel. If the edge becomes deformed the performance of the cooking vessel is reduced. One objective of the design of the present invention is to provide a strengthened edge for the cover of a cooking vessel. Another object of this invention is to provide a cover for a cooking vessel that is both strong and not susceptible to the build-up of volatile food substances. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for fabricating such a cover for a cooking vessel.


A method of echo cancellation for a signal transmission system in which the size of the step used to adapt filter coefficients is adjusted in accordance with the echo delay and in which stationary signals are avoided by determining when the mean and variance of coefficients obtained from a second order linear predictive coding analysis of successive far end samples exceed preset thresholds.

This invention relates to echo cancellers used in the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
In the public switched telephone network, echo signals arise from impedance mismatches. Despite care in impedance matching, central office hybrids (which convert between 2-wire subscriber lines and the 4-wire circuits used for inter-office transmission) give rise to residual echo even when the end-to-end circuit delay is only moderate. In order to achieve more complete echo suppression, echo cancellers are employed at each end of the 4-wire transmission path between remote hybrids. An echo canceller has one of its legs positioned to receive the signal incoming from the distant end of the 4-wire path and to pass it through unchanged to its adjacent hybrid""s receive leg.
To overcome the echo, the echo canceller adaptively adjusts the coefficients of a finite impulse response (FIR) filter to model the echo path so that an estimate of the echo can be subtracted from the signal being returned to the distant end. The echo canceller adapts its filter based upon a comparison of the far end signal and the echo of the far end signal injected into the transmit leg by its adjacent hybrid. The adaptation process is can be a stochastic gradient step method which uses a rough (noisy) estimate of the gradient, g(n)=e(n)xc3x97(n), to make an incremental step toward minimizing the energy of the echo signal in the transmitted signal. This is the classic LMS process.
Once the adaptation process has adjusted the FIR filter""s coefficients sufficiently to provide a reasonable approximation of the impulse response of the echo path, the system is said to have xe2x80x9cconverged.xe2x80x9d However, when the transmit path contains speech intended to be transmitted to the far end, such speech will tend to interfere with the convergence of the filter adaptation program. Accordingly, the filter should not be adjusted from samples taken when both parties are talking; a condition referred to as xe2x80x9cdouble-talkxe2x80x9d, since such samples do not accurately represent the echo path and will cause the filter adaptation program to diverge from a correct solution. Prior art patents, such a U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,953,420; 5,606,550; 5,390,250; 5,193,112 and 4,894,820, have recognized the importance of blocking filter adaptation when double talk is detected. However, because it takes a finite time to detect the double talk condition, some near end samples containing near-end speech may have already been used to update the FIR coefficients. Use of such samples will tend to prevent the adaptation program from properly converging. It would be extremely advantageous to rapidly detect the double talk condition and, during the interval that it takes to do so, to furnish the filter adaptation program with appropriate coefficient values for the FIR filter.
Detection of the double-talk condition is further complicated when the echo path has significant delay. Under circumstances of significant delay, the echo of the far signal, as perceived at the near end input to the echo canceller, may arrive after the far signal has disappeared, for example at the end of a syllable. When this happens the echo of the far signal appearing at the near end input, when the far signal has already disappeared from the far end input, will be mistaken as a double-talk condition and halt the adaptation of the FIR filter coefficients.
Besides double-talk, there is another condition that will adversely affect adaptation. The tone signals employed in the PSTN, as well as the tones emitted by modems, have the ability to cause an echo canceller to fail to converge properly. It would be advantageous to detect such tones as well as any stationary signals such as periodic background noise that may be caused by a motor, fan, or engine that present themselves and to prevent the adaptation program from being adversely affected by them.
The typical impulse response of the echo path is of a diffuse nature whose value deteriorates with time over a period termed the echo tailxe2x80x9d. To make matters more complex, it is possible that multiple echo sources can be present in the network whose echo tails may change with time. A good echo canceller should adapt to an echo path and cancel the echoes from all the echo sources in the network within an appropriate convergence time. This requires that the number of independent echo tails be determined so that the echo path can be properly modeled for each such tail. While at first glance it would see appropriate to sample the echoes to find the largest amplitudes signals, it turns out that the largest amplitude signals that are found may not belong to independent echoes. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to be able to determine which amplitude samples belong to which echoes so that the echo path can be properly modeled.
In accordance with the principles of the invention, a xe2x80x9cfast attackxe2x80x9d method rapidly detects the onset of a double talk condition by monitoring the rate of change of near end signal amplitude and by changing the time constant used to compute its average power. Filter coefficients that may have been modified during the time it takes for the fast attack method to change the time constant are discarded, and filter coefficient values that were obtained during a previous, better converged state of the filter are substituted.
Further in accordance with the invention, not only tonal signals, but any signals which have a high degree of auto-correlation are preventing from disrupting convergence of the filter adaptation program by autocorrelating successive far end samples to obtain three autocorrelation coefficients (CORRi for i=0 . . . 2). Then, an LPC analysis is performed on the three autocorrelation coefficients to obtain two reflection coefficients RC0 and RC1 where RC0=xe2x88x92CORR1/CORR0 and RC1=(CORR2*CORR0xe2x88x92CORR12)/(CORR02xe2x88x92CORR12). A highly correlated signal tends to have a lower value of RC1 while a stationary signal should have little variation in both RC0 and RC1. The mean, MRC, and the approximate variance, VRC, are monitored to detect signals above a preset threshold.
Further in accordance with the invention, the echo tails from multiple time variant echo sources are adaptively suppressed by determining which echo amplitudes correspond to echoes from independent sources. An array CC[0 . . . (Txe2x88x921)] is formed by cross-correlating the far signal with the normalized near signal. The local maximum amplitudes are found in the CC array for every group of 16 samples in the array. A resulting Peak array (which has {fraction (1/16)} the number of samples as the CC array) is formed. The decimated (peak) array is searched under the assumption that the peak amplitude in an independent tail will be found close to the beginning of the tail. Once a peak has been identified in the decimated array, all of the elements associated with that peak are flagged so that they will not again be searched. The result of this procedure is a set of flags that indicate the areas which will be adapted by the FIR filter adaptation program.
Further in accordance with the invention, the amount of delay affects the computation of the step size used in normalization of the LMS adaptation of filter coefficients and for updating cross-correlations. When the echo delay is short, a measure of the most recent value of the inverse of the far end power (IABSY)2 is used. When there is significant delay, the square of the most recent value of IABSY is no longer a fair measure of the far end power that corresponds to the echo caused by a past component of the far end signal. Accordingly, instead of using (IABSY)2 to normalize the step size, the product of the most recent value of IABSY and a previous value of IABSY that corresponds to the echo delay is taken from the history array (IABSYH) and used to form the product IABSY*IABSYH for computing the step size.


A variety of lighting devices are provided to provide hands-free illumination to enable illumination without needed to hold a flashlight. The hands-free lighting includes lighted headgear, lighted eyeglass frames, lighted clothing, or a lighted head band.

Often an individual desires a light source focused to illuminate an area while performing a task or a light source directed in a general outward direction for visibility. Holding a flashlight is an option, but such lighting devices are often cumbersome and may detract from the task being completed because the flashlight must be held. As a result, hands-free lighting is often used because the individual desiring illumination does not need to hold the light source. Common types of hand-free lighting include light sources mounted to headgear or eyeglasses.
Lighted headgear may include illumination sources mounted to hats. Often the light source is oriented outwardly in such a manner so that the wearer can be seen by others or oriented downward to provide light forwardly of the wearer so as to illuminate an area in the wearer's field of view. Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,618 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,150 to Hanley provide examples of such lighted hats. Often, the light source is one or more LEDs. Such LED lighted headgear, which may include LEDs mounted to a typical baseball-style cap, are convenient for hands-free lighting in a number of recreational activities, such as camping, hunting, fishing, jogging, or the like. Lighted headgear often include separate components such as one housing to hold the battery and other electrical components and a separate housing or assembly to contain the illumination source. Such separate housings may detract from the traditional style of the hat or create a profile that is different than traditional hats. In addition, lighted headgear also requires the use of batteries to illuminate the light source; however, such traditional batteries eventually need to be replaced.
Light sources on eyeglasses, on the other hand, usually include mounting arrangements of the light source, which may also be an LED, on either the cross-frame or temple of the eyeglass so as to provide illumination forwardly of the wearer. In such configuration, lighted eyeglasses are typically used to provide directed or focused light so that an area immediately forward of the wearer, e.g., 12-24 inches from their eyes, can be illuminated such as for reading typical sized print rather than used to direct light further beyond this reading distance, such as for safety purposes.
Eyeglass frames, however, are often fragile, bulky, and elongated. Such configuration results in a structure that is difficult to carry and easily broken. Such is the case with lighted eyeglasses because such frames are usually carried in a pocket until the hands-free lighting is needed. While the temples of the eyeglass frames usually pivot inwardly toward the cross-frame members and/or lenses so that the frame may be folded up in a more compact size, the folded frame is still elongated and fragile and often broken if kept in pockets of clothes that are being worn.


A face mask according to the present disclosure includes a main body for being worn to cover a wearer's mouth and nose and right and left adjustable straps affixed along respective right and left lateral extents of the main body, each adjustable strap including a continuous length of material having opposing first and second ends and a first loop formed at the first end, wherein the second end is threaded through the first loop to form an ear loop for being positioned around an ear of the wearer such that, in use, the second end is pulled to tighten the ear loop to adjust the fit of the face mask. In some implementations, the main body may include a middle portion disposed between elastic fabric side portions.

Current studies suggest that certain viruses (e.g., coronaviruses) can persist on surfaces and can be transmitted through respiratory droplets. Current studies also suggest that personal protective equipment (PPE) is effective at mitigating the spread of viruses. While PPE is less critical in outdoor environments where physical separation (e.g., social distancing) can be practiced, indoor environments such as hospitals, schools, airports and vehicles are high-risk environments for viral transmission due to confined spaces, recirculated air, and close proximity of people, often for long time durations.
Face masks have been proven effective at mitigating the spread of viruses due to their ability to block small respiratory droplets that are projected when coughing, sneezing, and speaking. To be effective, their use must be continuous when physical separation is not possible, and they must remain in tight-fitting engagement on the face covering both the mouth and nose of the wearer. Conventional face masks typically include either non-elastic straps that tie together behind the head, or elastic ear loops which engage the ears. While the former can be adjusted by untying and retying the straps, doing so requires working behind the head and thus it is difficult for most wearers to achieve a correct fit, especially children, the elderly, and those with limited manual dexterity. While the latter is easier to install, elastic ear loops tend to be undersized to accommodate different head sizes and therefore pull the ears forward and become uncomfortable over time for most wearers. Importantly, neither solution allows the face mask to be lowered away from the face and then raised back into position while being easily adjusted to achieve the correct fit.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved face mask that is easily adjustable, comfortable to wear, and provides better face coverage, among other advantages.

Face mask with adjustable straps and quick release fastener


Methods and a circuit for writing to an SRAM memory cell of an array are discussed that provide improved static noise margin, and minimal risk of data upsets during write operations. The write method first rapidly raises the wordline to a lower read voltage level for access, then after a time delay that allows the cells in the selected row to establish a stabilizing differential voltage on the associated bitlines, raises the wordline voltage to a boosted or higher write voltage level. An SRAM bitline enhancement circuit may also be utilized in association with the SRAM memory array and writing method, for enhancing the differential voltage produced by an SRAM memory cell of the array on associated first and second bitlines of the array of conventional SRAM cells (e.g., a conventional 6T differential cell). In one implementation, the SRAM bitline enhancement circuit comprises a half-latch or a sense amplifier connected to associated bitline pairs of the array for amplifying the differential voltage.

Current trends in the semiconductor and electronics industry require memory devices to be made smaller, faster and require less power consumption. One reason for these trends is that more personal devices are being manufactured that are relatively small and portable, thereby relying on battery power. In addition to being smaller and more portable, personal devices are also requiring increased memory and more computational power and speed. In light of all these trends, there is an ever increasing demand in the industry for smaller, faster, and lower power dissipation memory cells and transistors used to provide the core functionality of these memory devices.
Semiconductor memories can, for example, be characterized as volatile random access memories (RAMs) or nonvolatile read only memories (ROMs), where RAMs can either be static (SRAM) or dynamic (DRAM) differing mainly in the manner by which they store a state of a bit. In SRAM, for example, each memory cell includes transistor-based circuitry that implements a bistable latch, which relies on transistor gain and positive (e.g., reinforcing) feedback so that it can only assume one of two possible states, namely on (state 1) or off (state 2). The latch can only be programmed or induced to change from one state to the other through the application of a voltage or other external stimuli. This arrangement is desirable for a memory cell since a state written to the cell will be retained until the cell is reprogrammed.
DRAMs on the other hand implement a capacitor that is either charged or discharged to store the on (state 1) or off (state 2) state of a cell. Capacitors discharge over time, however, and DRAMs must therefore be periodically 'refreshed'. Also, a bistable latch can generally be switched between states much faster than the amount of time it takes to charge or discharge a capacitor. Accordingly, SRAMs are a desirable type of memory for certain types of applications.
SRAM is typically arranged as a matrix of memory cells fabricated in an integrated circuit chip, and address decoding in the chip allows access to each cell for read/write functions. SRAM memory cells use active feedback from cross-coupled inverters in the form of a latch to store or "latch" a bit of information. These SRAM memory cells are often arranged in rows so that blocks of data such as words or bytes can be written or read simultaneously. Standard SRAM memory cells have many variations.
The basic CMOS SRAM cell generally includes two n-type or n-channel (nMOS) pull-down or drive transistors and two p-type (pMOS) pull-up or load transistors in a cross-coupled inverter configuration, with two additional nMOS select or pass-gate transistors added to make up a six-transistor cell (a 6T cell). Additionally, application specific SRAM cells can include an even greater number of transistors. A plurality of transistors are utilized in SRAM requiring matched electrical characteristics to provide predictable cell switching characteristics, reliable circuit performance, and minimize array power dissipation.
As transistor scaling trends continue, however, it becomes increasingly difficult to design a compact SRAM cell that has both adequate static noise margin (SNM) and also can be written into over the desired operating range of temperature, bias conditions, and process variations. The trip voltage (Vtrip) is essentially a measure of this ability of a cell to be written into. There is generally a trade-off between designing a cell to be stable (high SNM) and to be readily written into (high Vtrip). For example, if the pass gate is too strong relative to the drive transistor, SNM is degraded. If the pass gate is too weak relative to the load transistor, Vtrip is degraded. Also, if the load is too weak relative to the drive transistor, SNM is degraded. Generally, therefore, whatever improves SNM, also degrades Vtrip, and vice versa.
In addition, during write operations, the cells in the unaddressed columns in the accessed row are subject to upset, so any special bias conditions for the write operation must not lead to upset of the unaddressed cells. Thus, the current balance in cell design values often involves a trade-off that may translate to a higher incidence of data upsets and/or slower access times during cell read and write operations.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of writing data into an SRAM cell in a manner that provides optimum static noise margin, while minimizing data upsets and power dissipation during write operations in the fabrication of SRAM memory devices.

Memory array with a delayed wordline boost


A riveting fastener and panel assembly having improved torque resistance. The riveting fastener includes a tubular riveting barrel portion having a free end and a body portion having a diameter greater than the barrel portion. The tubular barrel portion is received through an opening in a panel and preferably deformed radially outwardly, and the body portion is driven into the panel adjacent the panel opening deforming the panel. The improvement comprises a plurality of spaced cavities in the body portion preferably having an arcuate inside surface opening radially outwardly with the opening to the cavities having an area greater than the inside surface area of the cavity. The panel is permanently deformed into the cavities as the body portion is driven into the panel, thereby forming a mechanical interlock between the body portion and the panel preventing relative rotation of the riveting fastener in the panel assembly.

Riveting fasteners are commonly used in mass production applications. In applications where the rivet is also a fastener, such as an externally threaded bolt, anti-rotation or torque resistance means are typically provided, particularly in mass production applications. In automotive applications, for example, the riveted fastener must be able to withstand the torque of an air gun or pneumatic driver. The torque the fastener must withstand without loosening will, however, depend upon the particular application and the size of the fastener.
In a stud-type "PIERCEFORM" fastener, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,838, assigned to the assignee of the present application, an 8 mm bolt must be able to withstand 24 to 34 N.M. (Newton meters). A 10 mm bolt must be able to withstand a torque of 50 to 70 N.M. in automotive applications. 70 N.M. is equal to about 52 foot pounds. During assembly, the air gun or pneumatic driver is generally set at about 70 N.M. to threadably attach a nut on a 10 mm "PIERCEFORM" bolt. Therefore, if the bolt does not withstand a torque of 70 N.M., the self-riveting bolt will be twisted in the panel, destroying the assembly.
The self-riveting fasteners of the type described herein include a body portion and an integral tubular barrel portion having a circumference less than the body portion. The barrel portion is preferably driven into the panel as the barrel portion is riveted to the panel. In a stud-type "PIERCEFORM" fastener, the body portion preferably includes a radial surface or flange and a stud portion integrally joined to the body portion extending in coaxial alignment with the barrel portion, as disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,838. More commonly, anti-rotation protrusions or nubs are provided either on the barrel portion, adjacent the body portion, or on the flange portion adjacent the barrel portion as disclosed, for example, in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,143, also assigned to the assignee of the present application.
Although they are somewhat effective in resisting rotation, these anti-rotation protrusions or nubs create stress risers in the panel and reduce the thickness of the panel which may result in failure of the fastener and panel assembly, particularly under torque in mass production applications. As stated above, where the riveting fastener is a stud-type fastener, a nut is normally driven onto the threaded stud by a pneumatic driver. However, it has been found that anti-rotation protrusions or nubs result in inconsistent torque resistance of the fastener and panel assembly. This may be due to collapsing deformation of the nubs, the stress risers described above, thinning of the panel or incomplete deformation of the panel into the spaces between the nubs or protursions. As the nubs are driven into the panel, the wall thickness of the panel is reduced, resulting in cracks or stress risers. The fastener may loosen in assembly or during use under dynamic loads, particularly vibration. In an attempt to overcome the above-mentioned problems associated with anti-rotation nuts, channels have recently been used as anti-rotation means in nut-type fasteners.
The problem of providing secure anti-rotation means for self-riveting and self-piercing and riveting stud fasteners of the type described above remains, particularly in mass production applications of such fasteners where a nut fastener is driven onto the riveted fastener with a pneumatic driver. This problem has not been solved with torque resistance nubs or protrusions and therefore the need remains for a more secure torque-resistant mechanical interlock between the fastener and the panel.

Riveting fastener with improved torque resistance


Process for the preparation of thin moncrystalline or polycrystalline semiconductor material films, characterized in that it comprises subjecting a semiconductor material wafer having a planar face to the three following stages: a first stage of implantation by bombardment (2) of the face (4) of the said wafer (1) by means of ions creating in the volume of said wafer a layer (3) of gaseous microbubbles defining in the volume of said wafer a lower region (6) constituting the mass of the substrate and an upper region (5) constituting the thin film, a second stage of intimately contacting the planar face (4) of said wafer with a stiffener (7) constituted by at least one rigid material layer, a third stage of heat treating the assembly of said wafer (1) and said stiffener (7) at a temperature above that at which the ion bombardment (2) was carried out and sufficient to create by a crystalline rearrangement effect in said wafer (1) and a pressure effect in the said microbubbles, a separation between the thin film (5 ) and the mass of the substrate (6).

The present invention relates to a process for the production of thin semiconductor material films, preferably applicable to the production of monocrystalline films.
It is known that for producing monocrystalline semiconductor films there are various methods and processes, which are often complex and expensive to carry out, because although it is relatively easy to produce polycrystalline or amorphous material films, it is much more difficult to produce monocrystalline films.
Among the methods used for producing monocrystalline films are those used for producing socalled "silicon on insulator" substrates, where the aim is to produce a monocrystalline silicon film resting on a substrate electrically insulated from the film.
By crystal growth heteroepitaxy methods make it possible to grow an e.g. thin film silicon crystal on a monocrystalline substrate of another type, whose lattice parameter is close to that of silicon, e.g. a sapphire substrate (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) or calcium fluoride substrate (CaF.sub.2). (cf. ref. 5) (identified below).
The SIMOX process (name used in the literature) makes use of high oxygen dose ion implantation in a silicon substrate for creating in the silicon volume a silicon oxide layer separating a monocrystalline silicon film from the substrate mass (cf. ref. 1).
Other processes make use of the principle of thinning a wafer by chemical or mechanochemical abrasion. The most successful of the processes in this category also use the etch-stop principle, which makes it possible to stop the thinning of the wafer as soon as the requisite thickness is reached and in this way it is possible to ensure a uniformity of thickness. This procedure e.g. consists of p-type doping of the n-type substrate over the thickness of the film which it is wished to obtain and then chemically etching the substrate with a chemical bath active for the n-type silicon and inactive for the p-type silicon (cf. refs. 2 and 3).
The main applications of monocrystalline semiconductor films are silicon on insulator substrates, self-supporting silicon or silicon carbide membranes or diaphragms for producing X-ray lithography masks, sensors, solar cells and the production of integrated circuits with several active layers.
The various methods for producing thin monocrystalline films suffer from the disadvantages associated with the production procedures.
Heteroepitaxy methods are limited by the nature of the substrate, because the lattice parameter of the substrate is not precisely the same as that of the semiconductor, the film having numerous crystal defects. In addition, these substrates are expensive and fragile and only exist with limited dimensions.
The SIMOX method requires a very high dose ion implantation requiring a very heavy and complex implantation machine. The output of such machines is limited and it would be difficult to significantly increase it.
Thinning methods are not competitive from the uniformity and quality standpoints except when using the etch-stop principle. Unfortunately, the creation of said etch-stop makes the process complex and in certain cases can limit the use of the film. Thus, if the etch-stop is produced by p-type doping in a n-type substrate, any electronic devices produced in the film would have to adapt to the p-type nature of the film.

Process for the production of thin semiconductor material films


Systems, methods, and media for extracting and processing entity data included in an electronic document are provided herein. Methods may include executing one or more extractors to extract entity data within an electronic document based upon an extraction model for the document, selecting extracted entity data via one or more experts, each of the experts applying at least one business rule to organize at least a portion of the selected entity data into a desired format, and providing the organized entity data for use by an end user.

Optical character recognition (OCR) tools may be utilized to recognize and expose recognized characters in a scanned document. Oftentimes OCR technologies can be used to convert a scanned document into a text file or other word processor compatible file formats. While OCR tools are known, automatically extracting entity data (objects) from these scanned documents is often a difficult undertaking, even with documents that utilize a standard layout or format. Additional difficulties may be encountered when scanning processes obscure or blur text within the document, along with OCR character recognition errors, such as when characters are mistakenly or erroneously recognized. For example, when the characters of "r" and "n" exist next to one another they may be mistakenly recognized as "m." Exemplary recognition errors may arise due to font characteristics applied to the characters, as well as other formatting errors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hierarchical information extraction using document segmentation and optical character recognition correction


A vehicle control device includes a depression amount detection unit, a depression speed detection unit, a reaction force setting unit, and a reaction force generation unit. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force in a manner of separating characteristics into advancement characteristics and return characteristics. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force with respect to a depression amount in such a way that, in main advancement characteristics except for both ranges corresponding to start of depressing and end of depressing among advancement characteristics, a degree of increase of a value of a reaction force relatively decreases, as a depression amount increases until a predetermined ratio with respect to a maximum depression amount of an accelerator pedal reaches, and a degree of increase of a value of a reaction force relatively increases, as a depression amount increases after the predetermined ratio reaches; and sets a value of the reaction force in such a way that a value of the reaction force decreases, as a depression amount decreases.

Conventionally, in a case of a vehicle mounted with a drive-by-wire engine, since accelerator pedal and output control equipment such as a throttle valve and a fuel injection device are not connected to each other by a cable, a reaction value according to a depression amount is applied to a driver by an electric actuator.
Since a depression amount of an accelerator pedal and a reaction force value are set to have a substantially proportional relationship, generally, a driver recognizes a depression amount of an accelerator pedal by a reaction force value to be applied from the accelerator pedal. Therefore, there is proposed a reaction force control device configured such that a driver's operation of depressing an accelerator pedal is guided depending on a driver's preference or a driving environment by changing a reaction force value of the accelerator pedal.
A vehicle driving operation assist device of Patent Literature 1 dynamically generates a driving intention sequence of a plurality of virtual drivers in a predetermined time zone in the past including a current point of time, calculates a driving operation amount sequence approximation degree representing a sequential approximation degree between a driving operation amount of a virtual driver and a driving operation amount of an actual driver for each driving intention sequence, estimates an actual driver's driving intention by comparing a plurality of driving operation amount sequence approximation degrees, and estimates an actual driver's state on the basis of the estimated driving intention.
In a case of an operation of depressing an accelerator pedal, a reaction force command value of the accelerator pedal is speedily lowered, as an elapsed time from a point of time when a driver intends to change a lane until a driver's driving intention is estimated to be changing a lane increases.
Further, there is also proposed a technique for setting reaction force characteristics of an accelerator pedal, taking into consideration perception characteristics of a human by the present applicant.
A vehicle accelerator pedal control device of Patent Literature 2 includes a reaction force setting means having a three-dimensional map, which is defined by a depression amount of an accelerator pedal, a depression speed of the accelerator pedal, and a reaction force value to be applied to a driver; and a depression speed detection means for detecting a depression speed of the accelerator pedal, wherein the reaction force setting means sets reaction force characteristics in such a way that a reaction force value of the accelerator pedal decreases, when a depression speed is high, as compared with a case where a depression speed is low.
Thus, it is possible to set reaction force characteristics suitable for a driving environment or a driving intention, while alleviating burden and incongruity of a driver.
A driver's operation of depressing and returning an accelerator pedal may be regarded as plantar flexion motion and dorsiflexion motion of an ankle joint in terms of muscle activity.
As illustrated in FIG. 26, an operation of an accelerator pedal by an ankle joint mainly involves an anterior tibialis muscle t, a soleus muscle s, and a gastrocnemius muscle g.
The anterior tibialis muscle t is a single articular muscle (one articular muscle) which performs dorsiflexion motion of an ankle joint, and the soleus muscle s is a single articular muscle which performs plantar flexion motion of an ankle joint. The gastrocnemius muscle g is a bilateral muscle which performs plantar flexion motion of an ankle joint and performs flexion motion of a knee joint. Among these skeletal muscles, a single articular muscle depends on a mechanical force ratio, and has a resistance to weight of raising a body against a gravitational force. Further, a bilateral muscle suppresses mechanical energy consumption, controls a direction of an external force, and has so-called propulsion capability of propelling a body in a specific direction.
Since a skeletal muscle has viscoelastic properties as mechanical properties, it is known that the skeletal muscle can be expressed by a two-element model constituted of a series elastic element and a contraction element; an elastic modulus of a series elastic element increases, as a muscle tension increases; there is a hyperbolic relationship between a load and a speed of a contraction element: and stiffness of the entirety of muscle has a linear relationship with respect to muscle activity.


One implementation of the present disclosure is a method for dynamically controlling an alarm of a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method includes initiating NPWT, comparing an initial pump duty to a threshold value to determine a dressing application quality, monitoring a leakage rate of the NPWT, setting a leak threshold value based on the dressing application quality, determining leakage event occurrences in response to the leakage rate exceeding the leak threshold value at multiple times, adjusting the leak threshold value based on at least one of a number of the leakage events over the time period, a time duration between sequentially occurring leakage events of the leakage events, and the dressing application quality, and causing a user interface device to display a leak alert in response to the leakage rate exceeding the adjusted leak threshold value.

The present disclosure relates generally to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices and more particularly control algorithms for NPWT devices. It would be desirable to provide a NPWT device which dynamically adjusts one or more criteria for leak alarms to reduce a frequency of alarms and tailor the leak alarms to the specific dressing application.

Negative pressure wound therapy leak alarm system


A wireless communication antenna system includes: a radio-frequency circuit configured to couple to a printed circuit board; a broadside radiator configured and disposed to radiate first millimeter-wave energy at a first boresight away from a broadside surface of the printed circuit board; an end-fire radiator configured and disposed to radiate second millimeter-wave energy at a second boresight away from a side surface of the printed circuit board; and at least one flex cable each including a substrate, the at least one flex cable including a plurality of signal conductors coupled to the radio-frequency circuit; where at least one of the broadside radiator or the end-fire radiator is a cavity radiator; and where respective signal conductors of the plurality of signal conductors are disposed to excite the broadside radiator and the end-fire radiator.

Wireless communication devices are increasingly popular and increasingly complex. For example, mobile telecommunication devices have progressed from simple phones, to smart phones with multiple communication capabilities (e.g., multiple cellular communication protocols, Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH® and other short-range communication protocols), supercomputing processors, cameras, etc. Wireless communication devices have antennas to support communication over a range of frequencies.
It is often desirable to have multiple communication technologies, e.g., to enable multiple communication protocols concurrently, and/or to provide different communication capabilities. For example, as wireless communication technology evolves, mobile communication devices may be configured to communicate using different frequencies, including frequencies below 6 GHz often used for 4G communications or certain WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communications, and millimeter-wave frequencies, e.g., above 25 GHz, for 5G communications or other WLAN communications. Communication modules may include arrays of millimeter-wave radiators and/or may use a multi-layered substrate, e.g., to provide arrays, such as wideband, dual-polarization millimeter-wave radiator arrays, and to support signal and power routing to a radio-frequency integrated circuit coupled to the module. These modules may be too thick to attach to existing circuitry (e.g., a printed circuit board) within form factor requirements, e.g., housing size of a mobile phone or tablet computer. Further, the size of the modules may limit location of the modules relative to the circuitry, and may thus limit 4G, 5G, WLAN, etc. communication coverage provided by the modules.


Non-symmetrical port timing techniques in combination with the 90 degree phase difference between the pumping and combustion chamber of the two stroke migrating combustion chamber engine variant are disclosed as a special cycle of operation which allows a high degree of self supercharging and attendant performance advantages. Other embodiments include; protected fuel injection provisions, externally located induction rotor valves/counterweights to achieve better volumetric efficiency and complete dynamic balance and a technique to improve engine mechanism durability.

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines and specifically to an internal combustion engine having a migrating combustion chamber (MCC). More particularly, this invention describes a special cycle and specific features which allow the MCC engine to operate on this cycle as a self supercharged two stroke cycle engine. This cycle will be disclosed including a detailed description of the timed events between the interrelated chambers required to obtain superior performance in terms of power to weight ratio, fuel efficiency and low emissions over its full load range.
The present invention utilizes the basic two stroke cycle mode of operation as taught in the original MCC engine U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,178. In this early patent, a rudimentary self supercharged MCC engine was disclosed. The engine of the present invention incorporates several significant improvements and a more clearly defined cycle of operation to improve its simplicity of operations and improve performance. Since this initial patent was issued, other variants of operation have been incorporated and patented. These variants are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,325,331 and 4,437,437 which teach how the engine operates in a full expansion mode. These patents teach that if the hot, high pressure combustion gases are expanded down to and below atmospheric pressure, the exhaust will be very quiet and cool, and the over expansion process will help reduce the exhaust emissions. Recent data has shown that the emissions from these engines is significantly better than the current two stroke engines which power the small hand held devices such as; weed cutters, blowers and chain saws. However recent emission requirements being mandated by CARB (California Air Resources Board) and the EPA have practically eliminated the possibility of the small two stroke continuing to be used for these applications in its present form.
Accordingly, the present invention describes an advanced supercharged MCC two stroke variant of the original MCC engine patent. This engine possesses superior performance in terms of higher power to weight ratio, low emissions and excellent fuel economy due to several features as disclosed in this invention. These features are addressed as follows.
Non-symmetrical port timing is provided to allow the pumping (supercharging) chamber to achieve a very high volumetric efficiency. Supercharging of the primary combustion chamber is made possible by the 90 degree phase of the pumping chamber and non-symmetrical porting relative to the combustion chamber. These features in combination with precise port timing will provide superior scavenging control to achieve very low emissions. Also, since this engine utilizes a significant boost pressure and limited expansion it will possess a hot exhaust, appropriate for operating a compact catalytic converter. Further, the supercharging feature will decrease the effective friction and surface to volume ratio. Both of these improvements will increase the thermal efficiency. Additional embodiments of this invention utilize a rotary valve in the crankshaft eccentric to provide non-symmetrical timing required for high volumetric efficiency. Other embodiments include non-symmetrical porting arrangement utilizing a separate rotary valve for each pumping chamber, complete dynamic balance provisions and protected fuel injection provisions for even lower emissions capability. Finally, a feature incorporated as an improvement to the mechanism will contribute to longer mechanical longevity. This embodiment uses a sliding support for the center of the combustion chamber member (CCM) which is located between the center of the CCM and the center of the front or rear power blocks. This feature will eliminate all sliding contact between the CCM and center power block. The object is to negate all sliding contact between the two hot surfaces of the inside center power block and the end of the CCM which are directly exposed to the hot combustion. This feature will also simplify the lubrication requirement of the engine.
The small two stroke engines used on hand held tools such as weed cutters, leaf blowers and chain saws are under heavy attack by environmental agencies such as the EPA and CARB due to their enormous exhaust emissions. The primary problem is the ejection of up to 30 percent of the fuel (hydrocarbons) directly out the exhaust port. The impact of this is so serious that some companies are adapting the much cleaner but more expensive four stroke engines to these hand tools in an attempt to comply with the newer clean air regulations. Although the four stroke engine will come much closer to satisfying the emission regulations, the substitution of the four stroke engine will add a significant burden on the operator in terms of a larger, heavier unit. A further disadvantage will be the additional shaking forces associated with the less frequent but stronger power impulses of the four stroke engine to achieve the same power level.
More recent adaptation of the two stroke engine for automobile applications utilize some form of direct fuel injection into the combustion chamber after the exhaust port has closed to keep the fuel from being lost out of the exhaust port as occurs with the two stroke used on the hand tools. Unfortunately, complexity and cost keep the direct injection technique from being implemented into the small two strokes to reduce their emissions to acceptable levels. Even for automotive applications in which add on catalytic converters are required to control emissions, the fuel injected two strokes are still having trouble obtaining the very low emission levels under all load conditions required by the future standards for the automotive applications. Thus, the age old simple two stroke has received a number of complex refinements, too expensive for small applications and quite possible not quite good enough to qualify it as an ultra clean engine for future automotive use.
The MCC engine of the present invention features a supercharged mode of operation utilizing a boost pressure and precisely timed exhaust closing to dramatically enhance its ability to achieve lower emissions over its entire load range resulting in a higher power to weight and size ratio than the fuel injected two stroke.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a supercharging mode of operation in which fuel injection is not required to achieve the lower emissions standards for small engine application.
Another object of this invention is to obtain superior and complete scavenging of the exhaust products with the added benefit of producing additional pressure from the supercharging to counteract the back pressure of the catalytic converter in expelling the residual exhaust gases out of the combustion chamber and through the converter.
Yet another object of this invention is to improve the volumetric efficiency of this engine by incorporating a rotary valve. A rotary valve will provide non-symmetrical timing of the mixture into the pumping chamber so that a precise opening and closing angle can be selected to achieve the best possible filling of the chamber. A second method of induction timing utilizes two externally driven rotary valves, one for each pumping chamber, to provide even better volumetric efficiency and concurrently to incorporate a means to achieve complete dynamic balance with externally mounted counter weights.
A further object of this invention is to provide a higher thermal efficiency and lower Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) due to this advanced cycle of operation. Supercharging results in a smaller engine relative to the standard two stroke engine for the same power output. This results in achieving a lower effective mechanism friction and also a lower effective surface to volume ratio due to the smaller physical size of the engine.
A further object of this invention is to achieve a simpler method of fuel injection after exhaust port closing. This method is incorporated to achieve the ultra low emission levels required for automotive and larger engine applications. A method of protecting the injection hardware from the high combustion temperatures and pressures will also be disclosed in which the engine utilizes the movement of the MCC engine mechanism itself to protect the injection hardware during the combustion and expansion segment of the cycle.
Yet a further objective is the incorporation of an improvement to the mechanism to improve durability and simplify lubrication requirements.
This invention accordingly utilizes the supercharged two stroke variant of the MCC mechanism as initially described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,178 as a basis for providing several important improvements developed for the engine which significantly improves its simplicity and performance. It has been found that non-symmetrical timing for interchamber and functional relationships is required to achieve the high performance levels of the currently described invention. Two specific examples of improvements in this regard are the exhaust blow down angle versus its closing angle and the start of induction of mixture into the pumping chamber versus its closing angle. In contrast to the non-symmetrical port timing now found to be desirable, the initial MCC patent provided near symmetrical timing events for both the exhaust and induction functions timing diagrams. This updated cycle of operation which utilizes the non-symmetrical timing for achieving an advanced self supercharged MCC engine will be described in detail.
A first significant improvement is the incorporation of the non-symmetrical port timing for the admission of the fuel mixture into the pumping chamber. It was found thai a simple rotor valve located in the eccentric of the crankshaft provided this degree of control. This non-symmetrical feature allows longer admission of the mixture into the pumping chamber past its bottom dead center (BDC) position than can be provided by the slide port arrangement as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,178. This feature yields a significant improvement in the volumetric efficiency of the pumping chamber and consequently increases the degree of supercharging available resulting in higher power and efficiency and lower emissions. The non-symmetrical porting feature also allows the start of induction to be delayed past top dead center (TDC which is the position of minimum chamber volume) to a point in which the pumping chamber pressure is less than the induction manifold pressure to keep the left over high pressure mixture generated during the high pressure charging of the combustion chamber from blowing back into the induction manifold and consequently back through the carburetor.
A second aspect of this non-symmetrical feature is the incorporation of externally driven rotary valves directly into the center power block to add an even higher degree of performance in terms of further improved volumetric efficiency and also the means to achieve complete dynamic balance of the engine by the incorporation of counterweights to the rotor valve shafts. The dynamic balancing arrangement is similar to the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,437 FIGS. 59 through 63.
The overall effect of the higher degree of supercharging is to reduce the engine's physical size compared to a crankcase scavenged two stroke engine of the same power. The smaller physical size results in lower equivalent mechanism friction and a smaller equivalent surface to volume ratio.
The standard crankcase scavenged two stroke engine does not offer the self supercharging feature of the MCC engine since it can not continue to pump the fuel mixture into the combustion chamber after the exhaust port closes. It can only displace a volume of mixture approximately equal to the combustion chamber volume above the exhaust ports. The MCC engine's ability to continue pumping mixture into the combustion chamber after the exhaust port closes qualifies it as a true supercharged variant of the MCC engine. The present invention in which non-symmetrical port timing controls the admission of mixture into the pumping chamber to enhance its volumetric efficiency is a significant addition to further enhance the performance of the MCC two stroke engine. The nomenclature assigned to the supercharged variant of the MCC engine is pressurized induction, single expansion or PISE.
A third aspect of the present invention to further improve its fuel economy and reduced its exhaust emissions is the provision of a method to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the exhaust port closes. Such a provision consists of an injector located in the center power block, in which after injection is completed, is covered by the movement of the CCM to protect it from exposure to the very hot combustion gases. Taking advantage of the normal movement of the CCM by having it cover the fuel dispensing nozzle during the hot, high pressure portion of its movement will simplify the injection hardware since it will not be exposed to the direct high pressure and temperature of combustion.
Yet a fourth aspect of this invention is disclosed to improve durability by incorporating a center slide for the CCM. This feature represents a major improvement in the mechanics of the MCC engine and allows simpler lubrication provisions required for sustained high speed operation.
Accordingly the intent of this invention is to describe a special cycle of operation which can be achieved by a self supercharged MCC two stroke engine. Also, key features will be described which make it possible for this engine to operate on this cycle and to achieve a high degree of performance.

Self supercharged two stroked cycle and engine having migrating combustion chambers


A toner cartridge recharging tool has a base that includes a workholder to receive and prevent significant axial movement of a toner cartridge. There is also a guide slot mount and a swivel arm mount attached to the base. The toner cartridge is inserted between a pair of receiving members and the adhesive strip seal is wrapped over the insertion tongue. The tongue guide shoe and the tongue itself are fit into the two guide slots and the swivel arms are engaged with a protrusion on the tongue guide shoe. Movement of the arm thus forces the insertion tongue into the thin slit in the side of the toner cartridge and, when the movement of the arm or arms is reversed, the adhesive strip seal is left in place.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reloading toner cartridges so as to make them reusable as new. One particular problem associated with reloading cartridges is to properly seal the toner storage chamber in order to prevent toner spillage during handling and transportation. With the advent and popularity of laser printers there has arisen a large demand for toner to supply these printers. Most printer manufacturers have chosen to supply replacement toner in the form of complex toner cartridges which are custom fitted to their particular brand of printer. These cartridges are generally complex and expensive moldings often carrying integral parts of the printer mechanism as a part of their embodiment. The theory was that it would be easy to sell these expensive toner cartridges to users because that was the only way they could get their expensive printer to print. These "throwaway cartridges" represented a significant waste of labor and energy not to mention the additional burden placed on our landfill sites with more non-biodegradable waste. The integral printer parts included with some throwaway cartridges commonly include the finely machined and finished transfer drum along with its bearings and drive gear. The wear and tear encountered by these peripheral parts rarely justifies their replacement upon every toner exhaustion. Since the cartridges were designed to be throwaway in nature there has been no forethought given to the ease with which they might be refilled and resealed.
As time went on and more and more laser printers began to be used, the users began to tire of the $100.00 charge for a refill cartridge every time their laser printer needed toner ink. Entrepreneurs began to refill used toner cartridges with fresh toner and sell the recycled product at far below the cost of a new replacement product. The semi-automation of the recycling process is the next logical step in the progression. This invention semi-automates one important area of the toner cartridge recycling process.
One of the most difficult and perplexing tasks involved in recycling toner cartridges has been resealing the cartridge toner chamber after refilling so as to prevent messy spillage and leakage of the toner during shipping and handling. This is because the factory applied seal is made at a point of partial assembly of the cartridge, whereas the required points of sealing are effectively covered and hidden when the cartridge is fully assembled. One such commonly occurring, but difficult, task involves a situation where an adhesive sealing tape must be applied across a long, relatively wide toner opening wherein the only access to that opening is a tiny slot originally designed to be just large enough to remove the thin strip of adhesive tape. This invention fills an important need by providing a tool for admirably performing that task with ease and dispatch.
It is to be understood from the outset that the scope of this invention is not limited to these fields or to the specific examples of potential uses presented hereinafter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several United States Patents have been granted which strive for solution of the above mentioned problems or otherwise show some features similar to those of this invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,065 issued to Sernevi on Jul. 21, 1981, shows a pusher rod 17 for inserting foam rubber strips into the ends of tubing members so as to form semipermanent plugs. The disclosure is considered pertinent to the apparatus of the instant invention only in so much as it teaches the insertion by pushing of a flaccid material into a relatively confined opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,845 issued to Maclauchlan on Sep. 1, 1992, shows a pusher 20 for inserting end caps into cigarette boxes. Again the only pertinence to the instant invention is the use of a pusher to insert an object into a relatively inaccessible location.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,851 issued to Williams on Jul. 15, 1986 there is shown a method of filling a dry toner cartridge. The relevance of this patent to the instant invention is in its discussion of grasping the tail 30 of the heat sealed tape and pulling it to break the seal between the tape and the flange 18, thus allowing the toner particles to discharge into the hopper.
None of the above prior art, taken singly or in combination, anticipates or makes obvious the invention claimed herein.


DNA taggants in which the nucleotide sequences are defined according to combinatorial mathematical principles. Methods of defining nucleotide sequences of the combinatorial DNA taggants, and using such taggants for authentication and tracking and tracing an object or process are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
Taggants utilizing DNA nucleotide sequences, and methods of making, combining and using such taggants.
2. Description of Related Art
There is an increasing commercial and national need for safe, covert and information-rich marker or "taggant" technology, which can be used in applications such as protecting the public interest, preventing product counterfeiting and piracy, and providing an evidentiary basis to enforce intellectual property rights or defend against unwarranted product liability litigation. There is a need for taggant technology that can generate and detect millions of distinct taggants, and decipher the billons of distinct ways that these taggants can be combined. This need is illustrated in the following broad examples.
The United States Department of Commerce indicates that counterfeiting and piracy cost the U.S. economy between $200 billion and $250 billion per year, are responsible for the loss of 750,000 American jobs, and pose a threat to public health and safety. The FDA alone has seen an 800% increase in the number of new counterfeit drug cases between 2000 and 2006. The Center for Medicine and the Public Interest estimates the sales of counterfeit drugs will reach $75 billion in 2010. The counterfeiting of the drug heparin has been linked to the deaths of between 81 and 149 people in the U.S., and resulted in hundreds of allergic reactions.
Heretofore, a number of patents and publications have disclosed the use of taggant technology, wherein small quantities of certain substances are used as taggants (markers or labels) for tagging, authenticating, tracking, and/or tracing other materials, items, or processes. Among such disclosures are the following, all of which are incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,505 to Dollinger discloses methods for tagging and tracing materials using nucleic acids as taggants. In particular, Dollinger discloses a method for tagging a material by treating the material with a nucleic acid taggant so that the nucleic acid attaches to the material in an amount sufficient for subsequent detection. The nucleic acid taggant comprises a specific nucleotide sequence or has a distinct composition of specific nucleotides to facilitate tracing.
International patent application publication WO/2000/061799 of Minton et al. discloses a method of marking a material and subsequently detecting that it has been marked. The method comprises adding or applying a marker comprising a nucleic acid tag to the material, sampling a portion of the material containing the marker, and detecting the presence of nucleic acid tag in the sample. The method is characterized in that the quantity of the nucleic acid tag present in the sample is determined to provide an indication of the quantity of marker present in the material.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,445 to Welle discloses a method for identification tagging, and in particular, identification tagging of ammunition. An isotopic taggant is deposited in a layer at the interface between the ammunition primer and propellant so that, as the ammunition is fired, the taggant is dispersed throughout the propellant. The taggant is thus contained in the gunshot residue formed during the firing, and can be read by analysis of residue particles. Reading may be accomplished by employing a binary coding system and a system of authentication tags. The required large number of unique identification tags are obtained by using a fragmented coding system wherein each particle encodes only a portion of an ammunition serial number.
These and other taggant systems notwithstanding, certain problems remain unaddressed in the use of taggants to monitor bulk materials, items, and processes for their manufacture. Depending upon the particular application, a taggant needs to satisfy a broad range of requirements, some of which heretofore have been in conflict with each other. The following is a list of attributes that are desirable in a taggant and/or a set of taggants:    1. Having tens of thousands of unique "signatures" (numerical sequences) in the set of taggants for authenticating, and/or tracking and tracing a large number of targets with a large quantity of aspects (i.e. bits of data).    2. "Deeply layerable," i.e. it should be possible to tag an object with multiple taggants (either simultaneously or over time), wherein the object has undergone a series of manufacturing process steps, and/or is comprised of multiple materials possibly from multiple production batches, and/or is comprised of items that may be from multiple manufacturing plants or suppliers. These are exemplary characteristics; an object may have other characteristics that can be correlated with taggants. The "layered taggants" can be provided on or in the object to represent its various characteristics. The identity of each of the taggant in the layered collection of multiple taggants must be recoverable from the object, and capable of being detected, and analyzed and decoded such that the object can be authenticated, and/or its production history tracked and traced.    3. Nano-scale (i.e. on the order of nanometers dimensionally). This enables taggants to be applied to extremely small structures or items, as well as being covert.    4. Highly covert, i.e. undetectable to an observer, or even undetectable by analysis when it is known or suspected that a taggant is present, but no knowledge of the taggant nature or code is available.    5. Detectable at a parts-per-trillion concentration. This enables low cost use, in that a very small amount of taggant is required to be applied on or in an object to enable subsequent authentication and/or track and trace. Additionally, this attribute facilitates highly covert use.    6. Efficiently decodable, so that the information contained in a taggant, or layered taggants, is easily and quickly accessed.    7. Inert, non-reactive, so that they can be used in a broad range of environments with no interaction with chemicals, heat, light, etc. that are present in an ambient environment.    8. Ingestible, so that they can be used on ingestible products, such as medications.    9. Environmentally safe, so that in use, they do not contaminate an environment or product to which they are applied.    10. Not harmful to internal combustion engines.    11. Useable in solution. By being soluble in a common liquid medium, they can be easily applied in small quantities by simple dispensing equipment.    12. Useable in solids or on solid surfaces, so that they can be easily integrated into an object, or applied to the object.    13. Inexpensive, so that the cost of the taggant is insignificant compared to the cost or value of the product to which it is applied.
In summary, there is both a market need and, in some instances, a legislative imperative for track, trace-back, and authentication technologies. In the field of pharmaceuticals, for example, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) of 2007 directs the FDA to identify and validate effective technologies for the purpose of securing the drug supply chain and for the development of standards for the identification, authentication, and tracking and tracing of prescription drugs.
It is an extremely challenging problem to provide a taggant or set of taggants that has all of the above attributes, or even a large majority of them, in order to satisfy the stringent requirements of complex applications such as pharmaceuticals. To the best of the Applicant's knowledge, there is no taggant currently available which has all of the above listed attributes. There remains a need for such a taggant for providing protection of products and/or processes in fields such as agriculture, banking, defense, environmental protection, homeland security, law enforcement, consumer products, transportation, and public health.
More specifically, as will be explained subsequently herein with regard to the art of DNA taggant technology, small taggant libraries of DNA taggants having relatively short sequences are of limited use in practical applications; and substantially larger desirable taggant libraries having longer sequences needed for bit depth (information content) are extremely difficult to synthesize and are cost-prohibitive. What is needed in this art is a set of DNA taggants that are sufficiently short that they can be provided cost-effectively, while also containing the desired large amount of information in a particular application.

Combinatorial DNA taggants and methods of preparation and use thereof


An image capturing lens system includes five lens elements with refractive power, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has negative refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof, wherein the image-side surface of the fifth lens element has at least one inflection point, and the surfaces thereof are aspheric.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an image capturing lens system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a compact image capturing lens system applicable to portable electronic products.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, with the popularity of mobile products having camera functionalities, the demand of miniaturized optical systems has been increasing. The sensor of a conventional optical system is typically a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensor. As the advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies have allowed the pixel size of sensors to be reduced and compact optical systems have gradually evolved toward the field of higher megapixels, there is an increasing demand for compact optical systems featuring better image quality.
A conventional optical system employed in a portable electronic product mainly adopts a four-element lens structure lens structure. Due to the popularity of mobile products with high-end specifications, such as smart phones and tablet personal computers, the requirements for high resolution and image quality of present compact optical systems increase significantly. However, the conventional optical systems with four-element lens structure cannot satisfy these requirements of the compact optical systems.
Other conventional compact optical systems with five-element lens structure enhance image quality and resolution. However, the refractive power of the five-element lens structure is often not well distributed which is not favorable for correcting the chromatic aberration and spherical aberration of the optical systems. Moreover, the refractive power of the five-element lens structure is thereby not balanced and cannot satisfy the requirements of the optical systems featuring high image quality accordingly.
As a result, there is an increasing demand for compact optical systems featuring good chromatic aberration and spherical aberration correction abilities as well as balanced refractive power.


An open ended container with locking lid can provide a number of features. The lid and the container have cooperating threads. The lid has also has a locking mechanism connected to the lid, such as from a downwardly extending wall. The container has an opening, in some embodiments accessible from above, such as with downwardly and possibly linearly biased engagement members of the locking mechanism. In fact, some embodiments have one or more openings as a portion of satellite ring.

Locking lid and container configuration have been the subject of many efforts. In addition to the applicant's earlier efforts, many of which have been patented, others such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,902,620, 6,176,381, 5,544,768 and others show various locking configurations in which the locking mechanism is secured to the container and engages teeth on the lid. Additionally, some techniques have been employed for providing a tamper indicator and is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,165. All these prior art designs are various ways of achieving the various objectives, however, the applicant believes that there is still room for improvement in the art of containers with locking lids.


A magnetically levitated high-speed spindle assembly (20) is provided for forming non-circular holes (22) in workpieces (24) or non-circular surfaces on pins. The non-circular holes (22) can be formed with dimensionally varying axial trajectories at high speeds and with great accuracy. This is accomplished by supporting a rotating spindle (26) between first (58) and second (60) magnetic bearing clusters and independently controlling these bearing clusters (58, 60) to move a shaping tool (32) at the end of the spindle (26) in a predetermined orbital path (B). A multiple input-multiple output control strategy is used to control spindle (26) movements in the X and Y axes. The tilt angle between the cutting edge (34) of the shaping tool (32) and the orbital path (B) is maintained perpendicular under this multiple input-multiple output control of the magnetic bearing clusters (58, 60) to further improve shaping precision and spindle (26) stability during high-speed operations.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to magnetically levitated high-speed spindle assemblies for shaping non-circular surfaces, and more particularly toward such an assembly for forming a non-circular hole in a workpiece.
2. Related Art
Some production applications require the formation of non-circular holes. For example, in the manufacture of pistons for an internal combustion engine, the so-called pin holes formed for the wrist, or gudgeon pin often have a slight trumpet shape opening toward the center for accommodating flex in the wrist pin. Additionally, this trumpet shape of the pin hole is optimally designed with a slight ovality to further account for distortion in the wrist pin as it moves through its various cycles. This trumpet shape and non-circular cross section of the pin hole must be formed to exacting tolerances. For example, tolerances in the range of 3 to 5 microns is often required for these types of applications.
There are industrial methods for creating such non-circular holes to exacting tolerance specifications, including hydraulically actuated milling tools and electro chemical machining techniques. The prior art has also suggested boring non-circular shapes using a special machine tool spindle equipped with active magnetic bearings. Active magnetic bearings act upon the principle that the rotating spindle is formed of or with a ferromagnetic material that is supported in a magnetic field generated by an electromagnet stator. A control system, with appropriate power amplifiers, modulates the magnetic field to maintain the spindle in the desired radial position while it rotates. This radial position can be maintained even under changing load conditions.
The advantage of an active magnetic bearing system resides in its ability to control spindle movement and intentionally introduce deviations in the spindle rotations to thereby move the shaping tool in a desired path. Numerous shortcomings and limitations in the prior art nevertheless exist. For example, the non-circular hole shapes which can be produced, particularly in 3 dimensions, is especially limited. And further, the ability to precisely control the position of the tool cutting edge and thereby yield tolerance variations less than 5 microns is not reliable. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages and limitations.

Magnetically levitated high-speed spindle for shaping irregular surfaces