A three-phase separator for separating off from a fluid gas and particles contained therein, includes at least one pair of two gas collection caps extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction (L) and each having a plate section. The plate sections converge in the downward direction. At the bottom ends the plate sections leave an inlet passage, elongated in the longitudinal direction, for the fluid containing particles and an outlet passage, elongated in the longitudinal direction, for settled particles. A discharge opening for fluid, opening into the settling chamber, is provided at a level higher than the inlet and outlet passages. The inlet passage and the outlet passage are located in the extension of one another, viewed in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention relates to a three-phase separator for separating off from a fluid gas and particles contained therein, comprising at least one pair of two gas collection caps extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction and each having a plate section, wherein the plate sections converge in the downwards direction and at the bottom ends of the plate sections leave at least one passage, elongated in the longitudinal direction, for the fluid and particles, which passage connects a reactor chamber below the plate sections to a settling chamber above the plate sections, and wherein a discharge opening for fluid, opening into the settling chamber, is provided at a level higher than said at least one passage.
A three-phase separator of this type is generally known. Inter alia, EP-A 244 029 and EP-A 949 463 may be mentioned. Three-phase separators of this type are widely used in installations for the biological purification of water. Such installations comprise a reactor in which a layer of bacterial flocs is provided. Feed means for the water to be purified open into the layer of bacterial floes and above the layer of bacterial flocs means are provided for allowing particles to settle, in particular bacterial flocs, and discharging purified water. The principle according to which such known installations operate is that effluent is fed into a reactor from the bottom and that this water streams upwards through a layer of bacterial floes, dissolved organic pollutants which come into contact with the bacteria being converted into methane and carbon dioxide. The gas produced in this way gives rise to turbulence, as a result of which bacterial floes swirl upwards. The liberated gas is collected below the gas caps of the three-phase separator in order then to be discharged. Settling of the bacterial floes initially entrained by the gas then takes place above the gas caps. These bacterial floes then fall back into the reactor chamber and purified water remains above the cap, which water is discharged.
When the fluid and bacterial floes pass between the gas collection caps a certain acceleration of the fluid takes place, as a result of which it becomes difficult, if not impossible, for the bacterial floes to settle back into the reactor chamber against that flow. In order to counteract this, the gas caps are usually positioned as far apart as possible; after all, a large gap reduces the said fluid acceleration. The disadvantage of placing the gas caps as far apart as possible is, in turn, that the gas bubbles are then also able to escape between the gas caps, which again causes the fluid velocity to increase and, moreover, also leads to inadequate capture of gas bubbles. In order to counteract this, several layers of gas caps are installed, the gas caps in an upper layer overlapping the gap between gas caps in a layer below. The various aspects result in constructions that contain a relatively large number of components and take up a relatively large amount of space.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved three-phase separator, which is of a simplified construction and which can be implemented with relatively little structural material.
The abovementioned aim is achieved with a three-phase separator of the type indicated in the preamble,
in that said at least one passage comprises an inlet passage for the fluid containing the particles to be separated off, as well as an outlet passage for particles which have settled in the settling chamber;
in that the inlet passage and the outlet passage are in the extension of one another, viewed in the longitudinal direction; and
in that the discharge opening, viewed in the longitudinal direction and from the inlet passage, is provided level with the outlet passage or beyond the outlet passage.
In the case of the three-phase separator according to the invention the fluid stream containing particles is forced to move horizontally after passage between two gas collection caps, in particular passage between the plate sections thereof. The reason for this horizontal movement is that the discharge opening has been displaced in the horizontal direction, i.e. the longitudinal direction, with respect to the inlet passage. During this movement the fluid velocity decreases as a consequence of the space through which the fluid has to flow, i.e. the settling chamber, becoming wider. As a consequence of the lower fluid velocity, the bacterial flocs settle and, after some horizontal displacement, pass through the outlet passage back into the reactor chamber located below the caps.
According to the invention it is advantageous if the surface area of the inlet passage is greater than the surface area of the outlet passage. When the surface area of the inlet passage is chosen to be greater than the surface area of the outlet passage, the inlet passage will offer lower resistance than the outlet passage to the upward fluid stream, as a consequence of which the rising fluid stream will automatically select the inlet passage as inlet, so that the outlet passage is able to allow the settled sludge to fall back into the reactor chamber via the outlet passage of smaller surface area.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the surface area of the inlet passage is at least 30%, preferably at least 60%, such as, for example, approximately 70%, greater than the surface area of the outlet passage. It has been found that with a difference of approximately 25% in the magnitude of the surface area although the three-phase separator does not function in the optimum manner it does function reasonably and that the separation capacity with regard to the entrained particles is good from a difference in width of 50% and that, in particular, very good results can be achieved with a difference in width of approximately 70%.
In order further to minimize the risk of incorrect fluid flow through the outlet passage, it is preferable according to the invention if the surface area of the inlet passage is at most 5xc3x97, preferably at most 3xc3x97, as large as the surface area of the outlet passage. In this way it is ensured that the outlet passage is sufficiently large to allow passage of the stream of separated particles, often also with some fluid as well in which the particles, as it were, can still float.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, viewed with respect to a first vertical touching a first bottom edge part of the one plate section, at the location of the inlet passage, the other plate section extends underneath said first bottom edge part to beyond said first vertical. In this way the underside of the inlet passage is screened by a continued projecting part of a plate section, so that rising gas bubbles are prevented from passing through the inlet passage, or at least it is made more difficult for them to do so. For the same reason it is advantageous if, viewed with respect to a second vertical touching a second bottom edge part of the other plate section, at the location of the outlet passage, the one plate section extends underneath said second bottom edge part to beyond said second vertical. The screening of the outlet passage by means of a section of a plate section continued beneath it, in combination with the screening of the inlet passage from the underside by means of a section of the other plate section continued beneath it, has the advantage that what is achieved at the same time is that the inlet passage and the outlet passage open in different directions (with respect to a vertical) and that it is thus made more difficult for particles flowing back into the reactor chamber via the outlet passage to be immediately entrained again so as to return to the settling chamber through the inlet passage.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the settling chamber is provided with a ceiling that closes off this settling chamber from above and that at the longitudinal edges on either side adjoins the respective caps and the discharge opening is provided in the ceiling and, preferably, the top of the discharge opening is covered by a discharge cap with an outflow opening opening in the horizontal direction. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when an aerobic reactor is placed on top of an anaerobic reactor, which aerobic and anaerobic reactors are then separated from one another by the three-phase separator.
According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to an installation for biological purification of effluent, comprising a three-phase separator according to the invention, wherein a layer of particles in the form of bacterial floes, such as sludge or granules, is present in the bottom of the reactor chamber and wherein a feed for the effluent to be purified opens into or below said layer. With the installation according to the invention it is particularly advantageous if the discharge opening is in communication with a further reactor chamber of, in particular, a biological reactor.

Three-phase separator and installation for biological purification of effluent


A repeatable runout (RRO) is accurately compensated for while moving a magnetic head radially across a disk surface. An iterative learning control algorithm is employed to determine appropriate feed-forward coefficients for an RRO compensation signal for each of a plurality of radial locations across the disk surface. The feed-forward coefficients are determined by performing multiple iterations of continuously moving the magnetic head across the disk surface along a target path while measuring a position error signal that indicates the radial error between the magnetic head and the target path. With each iteration, the iterative learning control algorithm computes new feed-forward coefficients for each of the plurality of radial locations, where the new feed-forward coefficients are selected to reduce the measured position error signal when employed to move the magnetic head along the target path.

Disk drives typically have disk synchronous repeatable runout (RRO), which is the offset between the ideal track location for a particular track and an actual track location, which is defined by servo burst information for the track formed on the disk. To accurately position a read or write head in the presence of such runout typically requires special RRO compensation algorithms. These algorithms inject a suitable control signal into a head actuator, so that the read or write head follows the desired RRO path with good accuracy. Because RRO is primarily induced by cyclically repeating phenomenon, such as disk eccentricity, clamping distortions, harmonic vibrations within the drive, and the like, the largest components of RRO error are harmonic in nature. Consequently, RRO compensation algorithms are designed to address the largest components of RRO by compensating for RRO that corresponds to various harmonics of disk rotational frequency.
Typically, RRO compensation algorithms minimize or eliminate RRO at a desired harmonic by determining the amplitude and phase of an appropriate sinusoidal compensation signal that is then injected into the head actuator. Alternatively, the sine and cosine components of the sinusoidal compensating signals may be used instead of amplitude and phase. In either case, such RRO compensation algorithms are typically adaptive, in that they continuously adjust the gain/phase or sin/cos compensation coefficients while the disk drive actuator servo system positions the read head on a certain disk drive track. However, the adaptation is typically slow, taking as many as several hundred disk revolutions to converge, and therefore is unable to converge to correct coefficient values when the read head is moved radially across the disk surface. As a result, the servo system cannot accurately compensate for RRO variation as the read head is moved across the surface of the disk radially, such as during seeks.
During some operations, it is desirable to minimize the magnitude of RRO while the head actuator is moving radially, i.e., moving across the stroke rather than servoing over a particular track. One such example is when a disk drive writes reference spirals on a disk as part of a spiral-based self-servo writing process. For an error-free and robust self-servo writing process, the reference spirals used should be precisely written on the disk surface, so that the drive can write servo wedges onto a surface of the disk with the necessary precision for proper operation of the drive. However, because existing RRO compensation algorithms may not provide sufficient head positioning accuracy while moving the head actuator radially to write reference spirals, such reference spirals can include an unacceptable level of error, thereby affecting operation of the drive. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method of accurately compensating for RRO when actuating a read or write head radially across a disk surface.

Accurate repeatable runout compensation in disk drives during seeks


The invention relates to a method and device for obtaining a determined flow resistance of a flow channel, especially an opening in a component. The method involves the following steps: a liquid flows through the flow channel; a characteristic depending on the flow resistance of the flow channel in the component is determined; and the flow channel is machined by means of a working method until said characteristic reaches a pre-determined nominal value.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and device for obtaining a determined flow resistance of a flow channel, in particular of an opening in a component.
This invention relates in general to the machining and sizing of flow channels, in particular of openings or mouths, and preferably of small openings, where it is necessary to achieve a critical flow resistance, as well as the correct balancing of flow resistances in a number of such flow channels.
(2) Description of the Related Art
The significance of the impedance of a flow channel is well known. Examples include, among other things, fuel injector nozzles, spray nozzles, the flow of cooling air through components of turbines, the dosing of lubricating oil for precision bearings etc. In many such applications an exact dosing of flows is of very great significance, but as a result of manufacturing limitations it likewise involves significant problems. Even very small differences in the manufacturing tolerances can cause major changes in the flow resistance and in the flow.
Moreover, parts are frequently cast or fabricated from a material that is selected for specific properties such as its conductivity or insulating action for heat or electricity, low weight, a coefficient of expansion during heating or cooling, cost etc., although there is a different set of requirements regarding the inside surface of the opening. These special requirements for the inside of the passage can be met by plating or coating with a metal that has the desired characteristics. Plating can be done by electroplating or electroless (autocatalytic) plating, while the coating can also be done by vacuum metallizing or the use of a carrier gas or another such technology. Electroless plating or vacuum metallizing is generally used to plate or coat the inner surface of castings, borings etc., where secondary cathodes for a uniform electroplating are difficult to place.
Parts with flow openings for a fluid are manufactured by a variety of casting and machining operations. For example, high-quality precision molding methods can be used for the fabrication of these parts. Nevertheless, there are certain differences in the dimensions of such parts, in particular with regard to wall thicknesses, which are due to minor alignment errors in the core or the result of a displacement of the core, as well as fluctuations in the surface characteristics, in particular the roughness of the surface, small pits, nicks, grooves, blisters or positive metal. In the extreme case, a very small crack in the core can result in a thin wall which projects into an inner passageway. All these factors can significantly alter the flow of the fluid.
Machining methods that are in current use, such as electrical erosion machining and laser drilling, or less common technologies such as drilling by means of an electron beam, electrical current and STEM drilling (an ECM technology that uses an acid fluid) are not sufficiently precise to prevent significant changes in the flow resistance. Even the most accurate of these methods, electroerosion machining, will not achieve a perfectly uniform flow resistance, because the length of an internal passageway can vary as a result of the machining method used, and can in turn cause fluctuations in the overall length of the hole and of the flow resistance, regardless of the uniformity of the diameter of the hole. Furthermore, non-uniform conditions are unavoidable in electroerosion machining and can result in variations in the size, shape, surface and condition at the edge of the hole.
Openings to be plated or coated must be sufficiently oversized to leave room for a corresponding thickness or the plating or of the coating, and the ultimate precision depends on the exact calculations for the plating or coating rates and on the accuracy of the drilling and plating operations. The product that can be achieved using current technology is not sufficiently uniform for most precision industrial applications. Thus there are restrictions on the choice of methods available to the manufacturer for the fabrication of the overall part from materials that have the properties desired for the opening or for the embedding of drilled parts with specified properties in castings that have been realized to receive them. These technologies have the precision problems related to drilling described above. The plating of openings that are bored into a material with metal that has different characteristics or even with the same metal, which results in a precision flow, opens up a whole new range of possibilities in the manufacture of many parts.
In many applications, the variances that are inherent to the drilling operations can be accepted within broad limits, and the related compromises regarding freedom of design, construction and performance are simply accepted as inevitable. For example, the delivery of measured quantities of fuel in internal combustion engines by pressure injection of the fuel requires the measured discharge of the flow through nozzles.
Greater accuracy in the regulation of the flow will make possible an improved utilization of the fuel, as well as increases in the economy and precision of the operation of the engine. The realization of fuel dosing systems of this type in current use is frequently based on the measurement of the actual flow resistance and a distribution of the inventories in ranges of flow parameters, to achieve an at least approximate matching of parts in an inventory within a range of deviation of specified tolerances. A method of this type is extremely complex on account of the significant inventory requirements. A significant number of parts also fall outside the range of the allowable deviations and must be reprocessed at great expense or rejected.
In the past, fuel injection nozzles were fabricated so that the critical dosing openings for the flow were formed by electroerosion machining, Because a number of components have flow channels that are becoming increasingly smaller and must be calibrated, i.e. set to a specified flow resistance, homogenization, essentially of the inlet edge of the flow channel, is becoming increasingly important, because the smaller the dimensions of the flow channel, the less appropriate mechanical machining methods become.
Another example in which the flow resistance of an opening is of critical importance is the creation of a cooling flow through gas turbine components such as turbine blades.
Turbine blades manufactured using precision casting techniques are typically cast or drilled (by means of laser drilling, STEM drilling or electroerosion machining) so that a number of holes are created that typically have a nominal diameter of approximately 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm and extend from the internal passageway to the vicinity of the leading edge of the profile, the trailing edge of the profile or any point along the blade profile.
To cool the blades, cooling air is displaced from the interior through the numerous holes into a current of high-temperature combustion gas. During this process, holes in the inner walls of the blades apportion the distribution of the cooling air. It is obvious that changes in the flow resistance can result in differences in the cooling action, which can lead to hot spots that alter the thermal equilibrium inside the components and the engine itself and can influence both the performance and the useful life of the components. The use of cooling air should be minimized, however, because the excessive use of cooling air reduces the efficiency of the engine by "stealing" energy from the compressor stage. When components of this type are used, a more precise control of the flow resistance of these passageways can result in a significant gain in efficiency of both the components and the units in which said components are integrated.
In addition to heads for fuel injector nozzles, spray nozzles, for the flow of cooling air through components of turbines and for the delivery of measured quantities of lubricating oil for bearings, there are numerous other uses of passageways or openings that are used to regulate or control a flow in which this invention can be used.
EP 0 441 887 B1 describes a method of the prior art for the treatment of openings to achieve a determined flow resistance in which a working fluid with which an opening is being machined flows through an opening and at a constant pressure the flow rate that varies during the machining is measured. In the alternative, the flow rate could be maintained constant while the varying pressure could be measured. As soon as the flow rate reaches a determined value or the pressure drops to a determined value, the machining process is interrupted. Of course, with this method flow resistances of the opening with regard to a fluid can be set accurately, although the specification of a constant pressure or a constant flow rate turns out to be complicated and time-consuming.
The object of this invention is therefore to create an improved method to achieve a specified flow resistance of a flow channel and a simplified device that is suitable in particular for the performance of the method, by means of which a flow channel of a component can be accurately calibrated with respect to its flow resistance and which specifically uses structurally less complex and expensive means than similar methods of the prior art.

Method and device for obtaining a determined flow resistance of a flow channel by means of a measuring bridge


A multilayer molded product is formed by a multilayer molding apparatus including: a plurality of injection units on the part of a fixed platen; a moving platen caused to open and close the molds by a mold clamping unit; and a rotary platen mounted with different mold cavities on its surfaces facing the fixed platen and the moving platen respectively and having a mechanism enabling to move between the fixed platen and the moving platen in a mold opening/closing direction in conjunction with a mold opening/closing operation, stop at an arbitrary position, and rotate. The multilayer molded product is formed according to a multilayer molding method of switching the cavity to be formed by a mold core mounted on the fixed platen and a mold cavity mounted on the rotary platen by rotating the rotary platen, and performing injection-filling into the respective cavities from the plurality of injection units in accordance with preset injection patterns.

A conventionally-known multilayer molding apparatus used for forming a multilayer molded product in which plural materials or plural colors of resins are stacked includes: a fixed platen; a moving platen free to move toward and away from the fixed platen in a mold opening/closing direction; a rotary platen provided between the fixed platen and the moving platen to be movable in the mold opening/closing direction and rotatable; and two injection machines facing the fixed platen and the moving platen respectively. Male molds of the same shape are mounted on the surfaces of the rotary platen facing the moving platen and the fixed platen respectively, and female molds to be combined with the male molds of the same shape on the rotary platen to form cavities of different shapes are mounted on the fixed platen and the moving platen respectively. (See Patent Document 1)
Known another multilayer molding apparatus includes: a fixed mold having two pairs of mold cavities having different shapes; a fixed platen mounted with the fixed mold in a horizontal direction; two injection machines provided in parallel with the apparatus's longer direction and capable of performing injection-filling into the respective mold cavities of the fixed mold; a moving mold having a mold core to be combined with the two pairs of mold cavities of the fixed mold having different shapes to form different cavities; a mold holder for guiding the moving mold by a displacing cylinder such that the moving mold slides in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the mold opening/closing direction; and a moving platen mounted with the mold holder and free to move toward and away from the fixed platen in the mold opening/closing direction. (See Patent Document 2)

Multilayer molding apparatus and multilayer molding method


A rear roof visor is provided as an apparatus that is designed to prevent sunlight from obscuring a driver's vision through a vehicle's rear window. The rear roof visor accomplishes this by preventing sunlight from being reflected off of a surface positioned underneath the visor. The rear roof visor is constructed utilizing a durable translucent material that allows the driver to see through the visor if needed. The visor is particularly formed and shaped in order to cooperatively function with the vehicle's aerodynamic characteristic reducing disruptive airflow. The rear roof visor attaches to the vehicle through the use of mounting brackets and a mounting lip. The mounting brackets and the mounting lip are specially formed in order to fit a vehicle's particular contours. Additionally the mounting brackets and the mounting lip utilize adhesive couplers in order to securely retain the visor to said vehicle.

It is well known that sunlight has the potential to impair a person's vision while driving a vehicle. Normally, the visual impairment caused by sunlight is nothing more than a temporary nuisance yet it is responsible for hundreds of car accidents a year. The visual impairment caused by sunlight is a result of the sun shining directly into the driver's eyes or as a result of the sunlight shining on a reflective surface that then reflects the light into the driver's eyes. While both situations are unpleasant the latter can be solved through the use of a visor which prevents blocks sunlight and prevents it from being reflected by a surface positioned underneath the visor.
Although there are several prior art that describe a visor mounted to a vehicle in order to prevent visual impairment to the driver, the majority of the prior art accomplish this in a disadvantageous manner. Since the vehicle mounted visors are designed to prevent sunlight from being reflected off of a surface positioned underneath the vehicle mounted visor, the vehicle mounted visors are provided as overhanging structure positioned over a vehicles window. While the overhanging structure prevents sunlight from reflecting off of the surface underneath it, the overhanging structure inevitably obscures are portion of the driver's field of view through the window.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a rear roof visor that is able to prevent sunlight from being reflected off of a surface positioned underneath the visor while not obscuring the driver's field of view. The rear roof visor accomplishes this through a unique construction that utilizes a durable translucent material that is transparent allowing the driver to see through the visor if needed. The visor is additionally provided with particular formed shaped that cooperatively functions with the vehicles aerodynamics in manner that reduces disrupting airflow. The rear roof visor attaches to the vehicle through the use of mounting brackets and a mounting lip that incorporate an adhesive coupler in order to retain the visor to the vehicle.


There is provided a positioning device including a geomagnetism detection section which detects geomagnetism, an acquisition section which acquires a matching area obtained by checking values of a total magnetic intensity and a magnetic dip of the geomagnetism detected by the geomagnetism detection section against geomagnetic information including values of a total magnetic intensity and a magnetic dip which are associated with an absolute position, and an identification section which identifies a current location based on the area acquired by the acquisition section.

The present disclosure relates to a positioning device, a positioning method, a program, and a recording medium.
Services based on position information have been in widespread use, particularly car navigation systems using positioning information obtained by a GPS (Global Positioning System). In particular, a portable navigation device has been arrived on the market recently, and a smartphone having various types of positioning functions has been in widespread use. Accordingly, the position information will be used in wider fields.
For the measurement of position information, absolute positioning and relative positioning are used. The absolute positioning measures a uniquely determined position (absolute position). Further, the relative positioning measures a relative position with respect to a specific position. Examples of the absolute positioning include GPS measurement, Wi-Fi positioning, and measurement of positions using position information of a base station. For example, JP 2008-215924A discloses a positioning device which measures a current location using information of latitude determined from the magnetic dip in addition to the GPS measurement.

Positioning device, positioning method, program, and recording medium


In an amplifying circuit using a grounded-emitter high frequency signal amplifying bipolar transistor, the value of impedance of a bias circuit as seen from the base terminal of the bipolar transistor is made optimum in the baseband frequency. More specifically, the resistance value of a base ballast resistor Rbias connected to the base terminal of the bipolar transistor is set to a range within ±50% of [Vt/Ibq−(β·Re+Rb)] being “ideal resistance value”, where Ibq is static base current, β is the gain of the transistor, Re and Rb are parasitic resistance of the emitter terminal and base terminal, respectively, and Vt is voltage defined by (kT/q).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high frequency power amplifying circuit technology, and more particularly to a power amplifying circuit for a modulated high frequency signal having amplitude fluctuations, such as an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) signal used in wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) signal used in CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile telephony.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, signal processing techniques used in radio communications are a digital modulation/demodulation scheme; and schemes using modulation involving signal amplitude fluctuations have become a mainstream technique from a viewpoint of improving frequency use efficiency. For example, QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) is used in CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile telephony; OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) digital modulation scheme is used in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) communication standard "802.11a/g"—compliant wireless LAN (Local Area Network). Signals handled in these modulation schemes are each a signal involving amplitude fluctuations.
In order to output as radio wave with no "distortion" such a signal involving amplitude fluctuations, there is needed a linear high frequency power amplifying circuit which has a constant gain irrespective of the amplitude of input signal. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-193435 (Patent Document 1) has proposed a high frequency amplifying circuit which corrects the bias applied to the transistor in accordance with "distortion components" contained in an input signal, whereby satisfactory linearity can be maintained over a broad band.
In general, as the linear high frequency power amplifying circuit, there has been broadly used a "class A amplifying circuit" which amplifies the whole input signal. However, in the class A amplifying circuit, even when a small signal is inputted, power consumption does not decrease, so its power efficiency is significantly low when used as an amplifying circuit for a signal having amplitude fluctuations. Particularly, this presents a large practical problem that battery drain is noticeable when a class A amplifying circuit is used as the high frequency power amplifying circuit of a mobile radio communications device using a battery as its power source.
To avoid this drawback of class A amplifying circuit, a class AB or class B amplifying circuit can be used. However, in both the class AB amplifying circuit and class B amplifying circuit, the operating point of transistor moves as input electric power varies, so the gain exhibits non-linearity (deviation from a proportional relation between input and output) such as a variation depending on input electric power. To avoid this problem, the "distortion factor correction" technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be used; but in this case, the scale of a control circuit for performing such correction is large, thus increasing manufacturing cost, which is an additional problem.

High frequency power amplifying circuit and high frequency electronic component using the same


An equipment control system includes a control device, and a control program in which present-round defrosting operation start time can be changed appropriately. An integrated controller controls a defrosting operation to remove frost adhered to showcases, in which the defrosting operation is started at a fixed or varying time interval. The integrated controller stores past record data based on required time for past defrosting operations for different environmental conditions. The integrated controller includes an environmental condition acquisition unit for obtaining present environmental conditions; a database control unit for obtaining required time for a present-round defrosting operation based on the past record data corresponding to the present environmental conditions from among the stored past record data; and a start time changing unit for changing start time of the present-round defrosting operation based on the obtained required time from the scheduled start time.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an equipment control system for equipment such as a refrigeration device for cooling a space to be cooled, a control device for controlling the refrigeration device, and a control program used in the control device.
2. Description of Related Art
A refrigeration device for cooling a space to be cooled such as a showcase installed in a store, such as a supermarket or a convenience store, has been widely used in the past. The space to be cooled for example indicates an inside of the showcase for displaying merchandises. At a cooling unit of such a cooling device, moisture in the air adheres as frost, and therefore, a defrosting operation is performed periodically in which the temperature within the space to be cooled is raised and the frost adhered to the refrigeration device is removed. Here, the frost adhered to the refrigeration device indicates, for example, the frost adhered to the cooling unit of the refrigeration device and the frost adhered to the wall surface inside the showcase. By periodically removing the frost adhered to the cooling device, a good cooling performance of the refrigeration device can be maintained.
It is common that the defrosting operation is performed from its start until a predetermined termination condition is met. Here, the termination condition is for example that the temperature within the space to be cooled reached a given temperature. Therefore, when the time required for the defrosting takes longer, it is considered that a larger amount of frost is adhered to the refrigeration device at the time of the defrosting.
In view of this, Japanese patent Laid-Open No. 5-272860 proposes a method to change start time of a present-round defrosting operation from scheduled start time in accordance with the time required for the last defrosting operation. In particular, if the last defrosting operation took a long time, it is considered that it has a tendency to have a large amount of adhered frost, and the start time for the present-round defrosting operation is advanced from the scheduled start time. Also, if the last defrosting operation took a short time, it is considered that it has a tendency to have a small amount of adhered frost, and the start time for the present-round defrosting operations is delayed.
However, the defrosting operation is started at certain frequencies, such as in the four-hour or six-hour interval, and therefore, there is an instance in which environmental conditions such as the in-store temperature and the in-store humidity at the time of the last defrosting operation may differ greatly from the environmental conditions at the time of the present-round defrosting operation. Here, the environmental conditions at the time of the defrosting operation are the conditions that affect the required time for the defrosting operation. For example, in a case of the showcase, the amount of adhered frost varies in accordance with the in-store temperature, the outdoor air temperature, the in-store humidity, and so on.
Therefore, in the method of Japanese patent Laid-Open No. 5-272860 in which the start time for the present-round defrosting operation is changed according to the time required for the last defrosting operation, there was a problem that the tendency prediction for the amount of adhered frost may not be accurate, and the start time for the present-round defrosting operation may not be appropriately changed from the scheduled start time when the environmental conditions at the time of the last defrosting operation differ greatly from the environmental conditions at the time of the present-round defrosting operation.
Thus, the present invention was made to solve such a problem and provides the equipment control system, the control device and the control program that can change the start time of the present-round defrosting operation appropriately even when environmental conditions at the time of the last defrosting operation differ greatly from the environmental conditions at the time of the present-round defrosting operation.

Refrigeration equipment with control system and device for controlling defrosting operation


A bikini brace has an inner surface that corresponds to a digital representation of an injured limb. The bikini brace can wrap around a length of the limb in a helical manner. The body of the bikini brace may be a single piece structure that is fenestrated to provide air circulation to the injured limb.

A problem with braces is that they can be complicated to secure to the patient's body, uncomfortable to wear and unattractive to look at. Many braces have thick padding that is secured around the injured limb and a rigid structure that prevents the brace from moving which immobilizes the limb. Because of these issues, many patients tend to not wear braces that have been fitted to the patients by their physicians. What is needed is an improved and simplified brace that is easily placed on the patient's body, comfortable to wear and more attractive than existing braces.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A frequency setting unit for a radio telecommunications network comprising a first, reference base station transmitting signals at a first frequency, and a second base station transmitting at a second frequency; the frequency control unit comprising: a radio receiver for receiving signals from the first base station; analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency; and feedback apparatus responsive to the decoding apparatus and coupled to the second base station for adjusting the second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to setting an operating frequency in a network. The network could be a wireless telecommunications network such as a cellular radio network.
2. Discussion of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows schematically the configuration of a typical wireless cellular telecommunications network. The network comprises a number of base-stations (BSs) 1, 2, 3 etc. Each base-station has a radio transceiver capable of transmitting radio signals to and receiving radio signals from the area of an associated cell 4, 5, 6. By means of these signals, the base-stations can communicate with a terminal 9 which may be a mobile station (MS) in the associated cell. That terminal itself includes a radio transceiver. Each base station is connected via a base station controller (BSC) 7 to a mobile switching centre (MSC) 8, which is linked in turn to the public telephone network (PSTN) 10. By means of this system a user of the mobile station 9 can establish a telephone call to the public network 10 via the base station in whose cell the mobile station is located. The location of the terminal 9 could be fixed (for example if it is providing radio communications for a fixed building) or the terminal could be moveable (for example if it is a hand portable transceiver or "mobile phone").
In networks that operate according to the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) standard base stations must maintain a relative frequency accuracy of 5×10−8 on the air interface between them and mobile stations. One way to achieve this accuracy would be to provide a highly accurate clock at each base station. However, clocks of the required accuracy would generally be too expensive for this approach to be economical.
In commercial networks the normal solution is to implement a single central highly accurate reference clock (11 in FIG. 1) for the network. A clock signal from this clock is then conveyed as a pulse train (illustrated at 12) along the national telephone backbone, and then along the GSM infrastructure (via the MSC and the BSC) to each base station. The central reference clock typically has a relative frequency stability of 10−11 over 24 hours. However, the transmission chain to a base station can be long, and this introduces jitter and wander in the clock signal as received by the base station. The base station typically relies on receiving the signal with an accuracy of 1.5×10−8 at its 2 MBit/s PCM (pulse code modulated) Abis interface. The transcoder inside the base station typically has a 16 MHz clock (divided down to 2 MHz). This is phase locked to the received PCM clock pulses, jitter and wander above 2 Hz is filtered out, and the signal is averaged over a period of approximately 15 minutes. Having been cleaned in this way the 2 MHz clock signal has an improved accuracy and serves as a reference clock for a 26 MHz clock for the base station. All frequencies and timing on the air/radio interface of the base station are ultimately derived from this 26 MHz clock.
This method has a number of drawbacks. First, it relies on there being a continuous stream of pulses to the base station. If the network carrying the pulse fails then the frequency transmission chain from the fixed network to the base station is broken and accurate synchronisation of the radio network is lost. Also, if part of this transmission chain to the base station runs across a non-clocked network then there may be very significant jitter in the pulse train received at the base station. This is a particular concern for systems where the radio network is integrated with a packet-based network such as the internet or an intranet, which is used to carry traffic between the base station and the external telephone network. One example of such a system is the WIO/GIO (Wireless Intranet Office/GSM Intranet Office) system under development by the applicant. In that system it has been proposed that the BSC should be implemented as a distributed unit, with its components being interconnected over an IP (internet protocol) based network such as a company's intranet. IP-based protocols may then be used for all communications, for instance by employing the H.323 protocol for transmission of speech, and signalling. IP networks are not clocked since they operate asynchronously, and accordingly transmission times are highly variable and unpredictable. The components of the proposed WIO/GIO system that are most important in the present context are the A-gateway to the MSC and the IMC (Intranet Mobile Clusters) which each connect to one base station with a PCM or HDSL (High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line) link, since these would conventionally be expected to be used for transmission of the PCM clock pulses to the base stations. Transmission and network access times are highly variable and unpredictable on IP networks. On a single LAN, transmission times typically are below 10 ms in low traffic situations. In an extensive intranet, transmission times can be higher. Access times are always negligible if the network is not congested. Providing additional cables for carrying a clock signal works against the primary reason for using the intranet: making better use of an existing network.


An automated discrete fluid sample analyzer includes a sample preparation module. The sample preparation module includes a well configured to receive a sample deposited by a pipettor and a sample preparation device in fluid communication with the well. The fluid sample is transferred from the well to the sample preparation device, and the sample preparation device prepares the fluid sample. The pipettor then aspirates the prepared fluid sample. The prepared fluid sample may be transferred from the sample preparation device back to the well, and the pipettor aspirates the prepared fluid sample from the well. In one embodiment, the sample preparation device includes a receptacle having a catalyst disposed therein. The catalyst may include a noble metal catalyst, such as cadmium. In another embodiment, the sample preparation device includes an ultraviolet lamp configured to apply ultraviolet light to the fluid sample. In yet another embodiment, the sample preparation device includes a heater configured to heat the fluid sample. In another aspect, a fluid sample is agitated to place more of the fluid sample in contact with the catalyst.

The present invention relates to automated discrete fluid sample analyzers and, more particularly, to sample preparation in automated discrete fluid sample analyzers.
Analysis of a fluid sample typically requires measuring a volume of the sample, applying one or more reagents, buffers, or catalysts to the sample, and assaying the sample using a device such as a calorimeter, photometer, or the like. For example, in the testing of fluids (e.g., water) for nitrate content, a predetermined amount of the fluid is combined with a predetermined amount of a buffer (e.g., ammonium chloride). The fluid sample is then applied to a catalyst, such as cadmium, to reduce the nitrates into nitrites. After reduction, the fluid sample is then assayed using a colorimeter to determine the nitrite content of the sample, which correlates to the nitrate content. Where a large number of samples are to be analyzed, manually performing this process can be time consuming, costly, and inconsistent.
Out of the need to reduce costs and improve consistency, Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) was developed. With CFA, a series of fluid samples, each of which may be mixed with one or more reagents and/or buffers, are pumped through a tubing path. Each fluid sample within the tubing path is separated from adjacent fluid samples by air bubbles, which act to clean the tubing path between fluid samples. The tubing path may include a tube formed from a catalyst, such as cadmium, through which each fluid sample flows to reduce the fluid sample. The series of fluid samples continues along the tubing path where each fluid sample in the series is individually assayed using a device such as a calorimeter photometer, or the like.
The advent of CFA has improved productivity and consistency. Unfortunately, lengthy start-up and shut-down times make CFA time consuming for small analysis runs. In addition, operator technique in setting up and performing each analysis run plays a significant role in the quality of the data obtained using CFA.
To further reduce costs and improve consistency, automated discrete analysis techniques were developed. Automated discrete analysis techniques use computer-controlled automation to perform steps similar to those of the manual method. For example, a computer-controlled robotic arm may be used to position a probe of a pipettor to aspirate or deposit a fluid sample, buffer, or reagent into or out of any of a plurality of sample receptacles, a plurality of reagent receptacles, and a plurality of reaction cuvettes. This is a "discrete" analysis technique because each sample is deposited in a discrete reaction cuvette, which is then subjected to an assaying device such as a calorimeter photometer, or the like.
Automated discrete analysis techniques provide many advantages over CFA. First, because the analysis is discrete, certain variables associated with CFA (e.g., developing and maintaining correct bubble patterns, obtaining baseline readings, and carryover between samples) are eliminated. As a result, operator technique is not as critical with automated discrete analysis as it is with CFA. Moreover, because these variables are eliminated, consistency between analyses is improved. Second, the start-up and shut-down times for analysis runs is eliminated. Finally, because pipettors may be used in lieu of peristaltic pumps, variability due to pump tube elongation is eliminated.
However, for certain assays, discrete analysis requires that the samples be prepared either prior to placing them in the sample receptacle or that the run be stopped and the samples removed and prepared prior to continuing the run. For example, in the testing of fluids (e.g., water) for nitrate content, the samples must be reduced before they are assayed. With discrete analysis systems, this requires manually removing the sample, performing the reduction, and replacing the sample. This manual step can be time consuming and inconsistent.
One recent technique used to overcome this limitation is to place a cadmium tube in the fluid sample flow path within the pipettor. When the fluid sample, which is typically mixed with a buffer, is aspirated into the pipettor, the fluid sample comes in contact with the cadmium tube and the nitrates in the fluid sample are reduced.

Method and apparatus for sample preparation in an automated discrete fluid sample analyzer


A stable sampling clock signal is supplied from a VCO circuit which is able to operate in a synchronous manner with an external sync signal that does not posses good phase stability while also providing an enlarged range of variable frequency output. The VCO circuit of this invention comprises an oscillation output circuit, such as NAND or NOR circuit, having one input connected to receive an external sync signal and having its output for providing the desired oscillation or sampling clock frequency. A control voltage circuit is connected to the other input of the oscillation output circuit and to the output of the oscillation output circuit. A variable capacitance means, such as a variable capacitance diode, is included in the control voltage circuit and a control voltage is connected to the variable capacitance means to vary the capacitance of said control voltage means and stabilize the phase of said oscillation frequency output regardless of instantaneous variations in the phase of said external sync signal.

This invention relates generally to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit adapted for use in digital processing of video, audio or other such signals.
Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a block diagram of an arrangement for a conventional sampling clock generating phase locked loop (PLL) circuit which generates horizontal sampling clocks of a video signal. A horizontal sync signal 24 is provided at the input of the circuit as a reference signal for phase comparator (PC) 20. The frequency of the signal at the output 26 of voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 22 is divided at N frequency divider 23 and placed on line 25 which is an input to phase comparator or detector 20. The horizontal sync signal 24 is compared with divided signal 25 in comparator 20 to produce a phase compensation value, which is then converted into a DC voltage component in low pass filter (LPF) 21. This DC component is feed back to VCO 22 to maintain its output in phase with reference signal 24 thereby producing an output frequency signal 26 from VCO 22 in phase with input frequency signal 24 having desired sampling clock characteristics. However, this PLL circuit does not effectively lock to the input reference signal particularly relative to applications where the horizontal sync signal contain inferior phase stability such as in laser disc apparatus, video tape apparatus, other such mechanical video devices, such as a laser disc player or a video tape deck, or the like and digital video processing circuits and the like. As a result, the sampling clock signal at output 24 is not continually maintained or stabilized in phase with input sync signal and there results an unsteadiness in the displayed picture commonly referred to as "jitter". In other words, technically, jitter is the fluctuation or change in the active sync pulse width so that the overall phase relation among a group of sync pulses, for example, is not uniform.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a VCO that is capable of an output of a sampling clock signal synchronized with a horizontal sync signal even if the stability in phase of the horizontal sync signal is not good and, further, enables the sampling clock frequency to be readily changed without narrowing the variable frequency range of the PLL circuit.


When performing a printing operation, methods and devices automatically increase a marking material quantity setting when an excessive speed variation condition of a transfer surface is present and an excessive background marking condition is absent. Alternatively, the methods and devices automatically increase tension of the transfer surface and decrease a marking material quantity setting when the excessive speed variation condition is present and the excessive background marking condition is also present. Otherwise, these methods and devices automatically provide a message on the graphic user interface of a printing device when the excessive speed variation condition is present, the marking material quantity setting is at a marking material quantity maximum setting, and the tension of the transfer surface is at a tension maximum. The message provides instructions to use a different type media or initiate a service call.

Systems and methods herein generally relate to printing devices, and more particularly to methods and devices that adjust the tone reproduction curve (TRC) and intermediate transfer belt/photoreceptor belt tension to control printing errors.
When running large, thick sheets in a printing device, an undesirable "short paper path" condition can occur. The short paper path condition occurs when a sheet is simultaneously held by two immediately adjacent nips in the paper path. Thus, a short paper path condition occurs, for example, when the leading edge of a sheet of media enters a fuser of an electrostatic printer, while the trailing edge of the sheet is still in the transfer nip. When the sheet is simultaneously held by both nips, disturbances can be transferred to other areas of the printing device, producing printing errors. Structures in which the short paper path condition can occur are sometimes referred to as dual nip systems.
The short paper path condition can be compounded if the large sheet is also thick, because the media leading edge entry into the fuser may become unstable. This instability can manifest itself as a stalling of the fuser or a speed-up of the fuser, as the control systems attempts to swallow the thick media. This stalling/speed-up is problematic, and because the transfer nip is simultaneously engaged with the fuser nip, the short paper path condition can send a series of disturbances back to the imaging units. These disturbances may manifest themselves as bands, which may be visible in colors, especially darker colors, such as magenta and black.

Adjusting tone reproduction curve and belt tension to control printing errors


A bow stabilizer/vibration dampener incorporating one or more attachment rails for mounting a variety of accessories to the stabilizer for use in conjunction with the bow or other target sighting device. The rails are adjustable side to side at their ends and are preferably of the picatinny or weaver rail configuration. Anywhere from one to four (or more) accessory rails may be positioned symmetrically or asymmetrically on the stabilizer. In addition, the invention anticipates application of the adjustable rail structures positioned in other locations on the bow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stabilizers and vibration dampening mechanisms associated with bows and the like. The present invention relates more specifically to a bow stabilizer that incorporates one or more attachment rails for mounting a variety of accessories to the stabilizer for use in conjunction with the bow.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various stabilizer configurations are known in the art that are mounted to the forward oriented face of a bow to incorporate a variety of weights and balances that are used to stabilize the bow during use. The present invention improves upon existing bow stabilizer designs by incorporating one or more mounting rails into the structure of the stabilizer so as to permit the placement of accessories, such as sight lasers, lights, and other targeting components onto the bow. In addition, the present invention contemplates adjustable accessory mounting rails that may be positioned on other parts of the bow not associated with the stabilizer. The structure and use of the stabilizing device of the present invention is disclosed in the attached drawings.

Bow stabilizer with integrated adjustable accessory mounting rails


The invention relates to a process of preparing substituted pentacenes, to novel pentacenes prepared by this process, to the use of the novel pentacenes as semiconductors or charge transport materials in optical, electrooptical or electronic devices including field effect transistors (FETs), electroluminescent, photovoltaic and sensor devices, and to FETs and other semiconducting components or materials comprising the novel pentacenes.

In recent years, there has been development of organic semiconducting materials in order to produce more versatile, lower cost electronic devices. Such materials find application in a wide range of devices or apparatus, including organic field effect transistors (OFETs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), photodetectors, photovoltaic (PV) cells, sensors, memory elements and logic circuits to name just a few. The organic semiconducting materials are typically present in the electronic device in the form of a thin layer, for example less than 1 micron thick.
Pentacene has shown promise as an organic semiconducting material. Pentacene has been described as requiring a highly crystalline structure in order to provide a molecular orientation which results in good charge mobility. Thus, in the prior art, thin films of pentacene have been vapour deposited, due in part to the fact that pentacene is rather insoluble in common solvents. However, vapour deposition requires expensive and sophisticated equipment. In view of the latter problem, one approach has been to apply a solution containing a precursor pentacene and then chemically converting, for example by heat, the precursor compound into pentacene. However, the latter method is also complex and it is difficult to control in order to obtain the necessary ordered structure for good charge mobility.
Soluble pentacene compounds comprising silylethynyl groups, like 6,13-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)pentacene have recently been described in the prior art as organic semiconducting compounds [1,2]. This compound exhibits high performance as the semiconducting layer in an organic field-effect transistor (OFET), with mobility of 0.4 cm2/Vs and current on/off ratio of 106 measured [3]. Meanwhile, significant work has been undertaken by various groups to design and prepare soluble pentacene materials that offer even higher performance in terms of semiconducting properties, and that also show enhanced processability and environmental stability.
However, the properties of the bis(silylethynyl)pentacenes described in prior art still leave room for further improvement. For example, pentacene type molecules degrade in the presence of air and light due to a photooxidation process [21,22].
One aim of the present invention was to provide further pentacene compounds that are useful as organic semiconducting materials.
In prior art 6,13-bis(trialkylsilyethynyl)pentacenes with additional substituents in 1-, 2-, 3-, 8-, 9-, 10- and/or 11-position are disclosed [23]. By adding substituents in these positions, which are prone to the above-described photo-oxidation process, it is possible to hinder the degradation. This leads to polyacenes that are useful as charge transport and semiconducting materials and have improved solubility and charge carrier mobility and improved stability especially against air, heat and light. Furthermore, when these substituted polyacenes are provided in a formulation together with an organic binder, improved semiconducting materials with good processibility are obtained which do still show a surprisingly high charge carrier mobility.
The inventors of the present invention have now found that especially pentacenes with substituents in 1-, 4-, 8- and 11-position do unexpectedly show high charge carrier mobility, good solubility in standard organic solvents, and good processibility.
However, it was also found that such substituted pentacenes are difficult to synthesize. Generally, pentacene ring-network precursors have previously been constructed using either the Aldol condensation [4] or the Cava reaction [5]. However, the inventors have found that for 1,4,8,11-tetrasubstituted 6,13-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)pentacene both the Aldol and Cava methodologies yield little success in constructing the pentacene ring-network precursors in high and reproducible yields. Therefore a more successful alternative method is high desirable.
Thus, another aim of the present invention was to find an improved synthesis method for 1,4,8,11-substituted pentacenes. Other aims of the present invention are immediately evident to the expert from the following detailed description.
It was now found that these aims can be achieved by providing methods and materials as claimed in the present invention. In particular, this invention relates to a new synthetic route to prepare 1,4,8,11-tetrasubstituted pentacene, which circumvents the key drawbacks of the previous routes based around the Aldol condensation or the Cava reaction. Furthermore, it provides novel 1,4,8,11-tetrasubstituted pentacenes with improved properties, especially high charge carrier mobility, high solubility and good processibility.

Process for preparing substituted pentacenes

MERCK PATENT GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG


Apparatus including elongate longitudinally aligned housing with an upper web defining a cavity within the housing wherein the web includes a threaded opening to threadedly receive a threaded portion of the elongate shank. The elongate shank includes a sponge member at a lower terminal end thereof wherein the sponge member receives moisture from fluid contained within the cavity. Modifications of the invention include an intermediate cap including spaced rods overlying the threaded opening to permit squeezing of excess moisture from the sponge. Further, the elongate shaft may include a plurality of spaced openings defining a lower opening and upper opening to permit the shaft to contain fluid and provide continuous remoistening of the sponge during use.

1. Field of the invention
The field of the invention relates to envelope sealer apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved envelope sealer apparatus wherein the same provides for an easily manipulated shaft member to receive moisture from a fluid container for continuous moistening of envelopes for their sealing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various envelope sealing apparatus has been utilized in the prior art. Heretofore however such organizations have been of a relatively cumbersome structure and have typically utilized exposed moistening surfaces that are of cumbersome storage and positioning during periods of non-use. The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing an organization that includes a self contained reservoir of fluid arranged in a free standing position removed from inadvertent spillage during periods of non-use. Examples of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 611,934 to FLETCHER where an envelope moisture and sealer includes a lower receptacle and a sponge surface defining a reactive surface to an overlying plate to effect sealing of an envelope flap positioned therewithin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,430 to GELMAN provides for a portable envelope sealing device wherein a lower base member includes a recess positionable against a flap of an envelope to effect moistening of the flap for sealing of the envelope.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,117,387 to HUMPHREY provides for an envelope sealing device wherein a wick like member is positionable upon an overlying plate to draw moisture from an underlying reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,767,908 to ZUCKERMAN, JR. provides for an envelope sealer vertically arranged with a slot to direct an envelope flap therethrough for moistening of the flap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,123 to AUERBACH provides for an envelope flap moistening apparatus with a slotted opening to provide a brush member to direct a flap into contact with an underlying sponge that is in communication with a fluid reservoir for moistening and subsequent sealing of the envelope flap.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved envelope sealer apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A method for treating cerebral edema or complications thereof is disclosed. The method comprises administering a herbal medicinal composition to a subject in need, wherein the herbal medicinal composition comprises 1.3-5.3 parts by weight of Chaihu, 2.2-8.8 parts by weight of Hunagqing, 1.8-7.0 parts by weight of Panxia, 1.8-7.0 parts by weight of Chishaoyao, 0.5-1.8 parts by weight of Dahuang, 1.3-5.3 parts by weight of Zhishi, 2.2-8.8 parts by weight of Hungtsao, 4.4-17.5 parts by weight of Fuling, 1.8-7.0 parts by weight of Chuling, 2.2-8.8 parts by weight of Zerxie, 1.8-7.0 parts by weight of Changchu, 1.3-5.3 parts by weight of Mahuang, 1.8-7.0 parts by weight of Dansheng, 2.2-8.8 parts by weight of Chuanxiong, 2.2-8.8 parts by weight of Wuchuyu, 2.2-8.8 parts by weight of Tienma, 1.3-5.3 parts by weight of Ginseng, and 1.3-5.3 parts by weight of Chuanchi.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for treating cerebral edema or complication thereof using an herbal medicinal composition. More particularly, the herbal medicinal composition for treating cerebral edema or complication thereof used in the present invention can prevent brain tissue from being hypoxia and weakened blood vessels, decrease brain tissue damage, abolish the cranial nerves dissolution, and decrease size of intracranial tumor.
2. Description of Related Art
Medical terminology named cerebral edema, intracranial hypertension, or intracranial tumor haven't been specified in ancient documents of Chinese medicine definitely. There are no systemic studies for the pathogenesis or mechanism regarding to this disease reported by ancient physicians of Chinese medicine. However, according to the clinical syndrome observation and cognition of transformation and prognosis, "headache", "dizziness", "vertigo", "epilepsy", "head disorder", "stroke", "raged syncope", "acute syncope", "sudden syncope" and "hematic syncope" shown in ancient documents of Chinese medicine can be directed to this disease. Since intracranial tumor developed in human head is considered as a systemic disease involved in whole human body, both the local pains as well as systemic pathology in patients has to be concerned during treatments.
Cerebral edema is highly related to intracranial hematomas. While intracranial tumor is developed severely, necrosis and hemorrhage is frequently found in tumors, resulting in progressed obstructive edema and large area edema of brain tissue existed around tumor and exhibiting intracranial hypertension. Brain volume is increased due to the increased fluid content in brain tissue, and this symptom is called cerebral edema. In other words, the abnormally increased water content in brain leads to the brain tissue become larger and heavier. As a result, the raised intracranial pressure and cerebral hernia may be occurred in patient, and even cause the patient death.
Now, intracranial tumors treatment is often held through Western medicine, comprising: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy is usually conducted as treating manner, in which mannitol or glycerol is used as the most common dehydrant agent. However, those dehydrant agent may change oxygen, H2O, and electrolyte contents in blood, and consequently increase side effects such as heart and kidney burden. Generally, for patients having the intracranial tumor size over 5 cm or severe symptoms like squeezing optic and auricular nerve, surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy are major treating manner.
Nevertheless, cerebral edema is easily formed or getting worse after radiotherapy. Meanwhile, complications are shown after performing radiotherapy, for example, headache, dizziness, nausea, cramps, fatigue, skin inflammation and infection, hair loss and so on. These complications increase the risk for treating intracranial tumor, and patients suffer from terrible pain caused by these complications. Therefore, it is necessary to find safe and efficacious medicines or methods for treating cerebral edema or complication thereof caused by radiotherapy.

Method for treating cerebral edema or complication thereof


This invention provides for a method for improving the success rate of in vitro fertilization in women hosting abnormal vaginal microbiota. The method comprises the steps of: (i) selecting a woman suspected of hosting abnormal vaginal microbiota (AVM); (ii) administering to the woman a suitable antibiotic administered in an amount and duration effective to reduce the quantity of abnormal vaginal microbiota hosted by the woman; (iii) administering to the woman via vaginal administration an amount of Lactobacillus species in an amount sufficient to colonize the vaginal mucosa; and, (iv) transferring an embryo to the woman.

Generally, healthy vaginal microbiota is dominated by Lactobacillus species, which are gram positive rods that play an important role in resisting infection via production of lactic acid and acidification of the vagina, or by production of other antimicrobial products, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The species of Lactobacillus most commonly isolated from the reproductive tracts of women worldwide include L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and L. iners. See, e.g., Antonio et al., (1999) J. Infect. Dis. 180:1950-1956; Vasquez et al., (2002) J. Clin. Microbiol. 40:2746-2749; Vallor, A. C., et al. J Infect Dis. 2001 Dec. 1, 184(11):1431-6; Ravel, J., et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA. 2011 Mar. 15, 108 Suppl 1:4680-7. L. crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri are capable of producing H2O2, whereas L. iners strains generally do not produce H2O2. These species are phylogenetically and functionally different from food and/or environmental Lactobacillus species. These facultative anaerobes metabolize glucose to lactic acid, contributing to the maintenance of a low vaginal pH (4.0-4.5) that accounts for a major part of the non-specific host defense of the vagina. The H2O2-producing strains (e.g. L. crispatus and L. jensenii) are more protective than those that do not produce H2O2 (L. iners). Indeed, it has been demonstrated that women with predominant vaginal Lactobacillus microbiota have a 50% lower frequency of gonorrhea, chlamydial infections, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis. Therefore, beneficial lactobacilli associated with normal vaginal microbiota can be considered to provide a protective "biofilm." See, e.g., Falagas et al., (2006) Drugs, 66:1253-1261.
In most healthy women of child-bearing age, the vaginal microbiota exhibits low microbial diversity and is dominated by 107-109 colony forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus per gram of fluid, while the vagina is acidic and contains low levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Unfortunately, some women of childbearing age lack or have low levels of vaginal Lactobacillus, which can be due to the fact that the vaginal microbial ecosystem is dynamic and can be affected by the menstrual cycle, medications, general health status, sexual and hygiene practices, and contraception. Loss of the dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species leads to a more diverse abnormal microbiota populated with facultative and strict anaerobes, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae, higher vaginal pH, and higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., bacterial vaginosis).
BV is typically diagnosed using the Amsel's critera which include the symptoms such as homogeneous, white vaginal discharge having a fishy odor and a pH>4.5 and the presence of clue-cells (squamous epithelial cells covered with adherent bacteria), or the Nugent score, based on a Gram-stained vaginal smear (Amsel, R. et al. (1983) Am. J. Med. 74:14-22 and Nugent, R. P. et al. (1991) J. Clin. Microbiol. 29:297-301). However, not all women show symptoms of BV. In fact, one recent study indicated that up to 50% of BV cases are asymptomatic (Ravel, J. et al. (2013) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108 Suppl 1:4680-4687).
Lower genital tract infections involving the presence of abnormal vaginal microbiota, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are some of the most common clinical problems among women of childbearing age. Abnormal vaginal microbiota, specifically bacterial vaginosis (BV), is one of the most common genital infections in pregnancy. The presence of abnormal vaginal microbiota during pregnancy is linked to preterm delivery, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality. Women with bacterial vaginosis diagnosed during the second trimester of pregnancy are 40 percent more likely to give birth to a premature, low-birth weight infant than women without bacterial vaginosis. See, e.g., Hay, P. E. et al. (1994) BMJ. 308:295-298; Hillier, S. L. et al. (1995) N. Engl. J. Med. 333:1737-1742; Larsson, P. G. et al. (2000) Acta. Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 79:390-396; Svare, J. A. et al. (2006) BJOG 113:1419-1425; Thorsen, P. et al. (2006) Acta. Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 85:906-911; and Brocklehurst, P. et al. (2013) Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 1: CD000262.
Furthermore, bacterial vaginosis has also been found in approximately 19% of the infertile female population. See, e.g., Haahr, T. et al. Hum. Reprod. 2016 Apr., 31(4):795-803. The BV studies conducted in infertile women suggest that the presence of AVM impacts female fertility and is negatively correlated with the clinical pregnancy rate in IVF patients (Haahr, T. et al. Hum. Reprod. 2016 Apr., 31(4):795-803; Mangot-Bertrand, J. et al (2013) Microbia Infect. Dis. 32:535-541; Salah, R. M. et al. (2013) Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 167:59-63). The present invention addresses these and other needs in the context of IVF procedures.


A method of generating a variable demetallized pattern in a holographic web and a security device using such method. A holographic microstructure pattern is imparted to an oligomer disposed on a surface of a substrate. A metal layer, such as aluminum, is deposited to the holographic microstructure pattern of the substrate and then covered with a variable resist pattern. The variable demetallized pattern in the holographic web is then generated by removing the metal layer not covered by said variable resist pattern.

The demetallization of metallized films is a known process. It is a technique used in the packaging industry to create patterns of metallized areas on various packaging substrates. It is also used in the holographic security industry as a technique to enhance the security-providing attributes of holographic films and laminates. Other applications include flexible circuit board design, flexible antennas for RFID tags and similar patch style antennas, wavelength-specific electromagnetic shielding, and others where demetallization serves as a method to achieve desired functionality or graphic qualities. The technology described herein relates to the demetallization of holographic webs, but the disclosed technology is in no means limited to holographic webs only. Non-holographic metallized webs can be effectively processed using the disclosed technology, as well as substrates that are processed in sheet or other non-continuous forms. For simplification, the description is limited to metallized holographic webs. It should be understood that the security and other features created by the application of the technology to holographic webs can also, in part, be realized with the application of the technology to non-holographic materials as well.
The demetallization of metallized holographic films is used in applications where it is imperative that the holographic material be nearly impossible to duplicate by unauthorized persons. Such holographic films and products are used in currencies, security identification cards, passports, tamper indicating labels, various documents of value, and similar products. Importantly, demetallization of holographic overlaminates and other products creates a degree of transparency in the holographic substrate itself as a direct function of the amount of metal removed, further modified by the "negative" shape or pattern created by the removal of the opaque, reflective metal layer. This technique effectively counteracts physical contact copying of holograms due to the localized differences in diffraction efficiency and also provides see-through and other capabilities as is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,707, 5,128,779, 5,142,383, 5,145,212 and 5,411,296, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
For example, if on a metallized holographic substrate the metal coating were to be removed in a fine checkerboard or other appropriate pattern, 50% of the substrate would remain reflective and 50% of the substrate would become effectively transmittive, on average. Although the holographic microstructure itself has not been removed in these transmittive areas, the impinging light is diffracted with such lower efficiency than it is in those areas that retain the reflective metal backing that there is no discernible trace of the holographic image. Under close examination it is seen that the holographic surface is still intact but since the entire holographic surface is typically brought into contact with an adhesive layer which adheres the hologram to the underlying document, the similarity of the diffractive indices of the non-metallized holographic surface areas and the adhesive layer serve to optically eliminate the diffractive surface. This is often referred to as "indexing out" a surface. Therefore, due to the elimination of the reflective and diffractive means in 50% of the active area and the preservation of the reflective and diffractive means in the remaining 50%, when such a demetallized film is overlaid on a document the holographic information and the document surface information are both simultaneously visible. In such an application, it is desirable to have at least some areas with a sufficiently fine checkerboard pattern so as to be below or near the resolution threshold of the human eye, or at least of a mean constituent size no greater than the smallest discrete object of information on the document. This prevents unwanted obscuring of document data with relatively large areas of opacity on the holographic overlay. With demetallized holographic overlay devices, still higher levels of document security can be obtained by creating very fine, anisotropic designs such as guilloche, text, company logos, or any other pattern that would be difficult to imitate due to its very high resolution and spatially localized diffractive effect. Another level of security can be achieved with the inclusion of demetallized watermark patterns. The widely accepted technique of holographic film demetallization consists of the following:
First, a holographic image is imparted onto or into a substrate using known means. This would, for example, consist of coating a web of polyester with an ultraviolet radiation-curable varnish and bringing a nickel holographic shim into contact with the varnish while a UV light cures, or hardens the varnish. The nickel holographic shim, being a transmission hologram created originally in photoresist, has on its surface a holographic microstructure that is cast into the varnish as the varnish is cured while in contact with the shim. This process is done repeatedly and/or continually on the web of polyester.
Continuing with the example, the roll of varnish-coated polyester is then coated with a thin layer of aluminum in a vacuum chamber to an optical density of approximately 1.8. The aluminum is applied directly to the holographic side of the web and conforms exactly to the microstructure, creating a reflecting transmission hologram that has very high diffraction efficiency.
This roll of metallized, holographic polyester is then printed with a patterned coating resist, where "resist" can be any form of a substance that is unreactive with corrosive (caustic or acidic) solutions or environments. In the case of an aluminum metallization, the resist must be especially non-reactive to caustics, such as NaOH. The printed design is typically applied to the metallized web with a flexographic, gravure, or lithographic printing technique. The design, then, like printed patterns on other materials, repeats with a certain frequency. The print cylinder circumference or more generally, the length of the print plate in the web direction typically dictates this frequency.
The printed web is then brought through a corrosive bath, such as a diluted NaOH bath at an elevated temperature, where the aluminum is etched from the surface only where there is no local protective overlaying of resist. The web is then brought through at least one rinse bath where the excess caustic is removed and neutralized (in the case of a NaOH bath, an HCl solution will produce salt water as an end agent when mixed proportionately with the NaOH).
Once the caustic has been neutralized and removed from the web, there is left behind a pattern of aluminum that exactly represents the footprint of the printed resist pattern. The resist pattern typically remains on the web. The demetallized, holographic web is then further processed as necessary.
The above technologies and similar variations are known and used in the security holographic industry to create difficult-to-counterfeit documents. Described hereinbelow is an inventive improvement upon the aforementioned and similar technologies. The improved technology is not limited to a pattern of demetallization that must continually repeat as a function of the printing plate or device. The improved technology is, in fact, continually variable.

Continually variable demetallization of metallized films and similar objects


A filter sheet is provided which comprises a self-supporting fibrous matrix having immobilized therein particulate filter aid and particulate ion exchange resin, wherein said particulate filter aid and particulate ion exchange resin are distributed substantially uniformly throughout a cross-section of said matrix. A process for removing ionic impurities from a photoresist solution is also provided which comprises passing the photoresist solution through said filter sheet to remove ionic impurities therefrom.

This invention relates to a filter sheet and process for purifying a photoresist composition employing said filter sheet and, more particularly, to the removal of ionic contaminants from photoresist compositions utilizing said filter sheet, said filter sheet comprising a self-supporting fibrous matrix having immobilized therein particulate filter aid and particulate ion exchange resin.
Photoresist compositions are used extensively in integrated circuit manufacture. Such compositions typically comprise a light-sensitive component and a polymer binder dissolved in a polar organic solvent. Typical photoresist compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,178,986, 5,212,046, 5,216,111 and 5,238,776, each incorporated herein by reference for disclosure of photoresist compositions, processing and use. Impurity levels in photoresist compositions are becoming an increasingly important concern. Impurity contamination, especially by metals, of photoresists may cause deterioration of the semiconductor devices made with said photoresists, thus shortening these devices"" lives. Impurity levels in photoresist compositions have been and are currently controlled by (1) choosing materials for photoresist compositions which meet strict impurity level specifications and (2) carefully controlling the photoresist formulation and processing parameters to avoid the introduction of impurities into the photoresist composition. As photoresist applications become more advanced, tighter impurity specifications must be made.
Efforts to remove dissolved ionic contaminants from organic liquids, such as photoresist compositions, are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,210 discloses an ion exchange media containing a modified polysaccharide material and a modified silica or modified particulate polymeric material, said modified materials including a polysaccharide and silica or particulate polymer material covalently bonded to a synthetic polymer having chemical groups capable of coupling to the polysaccharide, silica and/or particulate polymer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,284,930 and 5,288,850 disclose processes for removing metals from photoresist vinyl phenol polymer solutions which entail passing the solutions through an ion-exchange column comprising a strongly acidic cation exchange resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,624 describes a method for removing ionic and suspended particulate impurities from a liquid by passing the liquid through a bed comprising a mixture of powdered ion exchange resin particles, ion exchange fibers and relatively inert fibers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,714 describes a process whereby organic solutions are treated to remove contaminants immediately prior to use of the solution (xe2x80x9cpoint-of-use purificationxe2x80x9d). The process involves the use of contaminant removal means at the point of end use of the solution, the contaminant removal means containing a bed comprising ion exchange resin, activated carbon or mixtures thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,278 discloses a method of removing charged particles from a liquid stream by passing the liquid stream through a filter sheet which is conditioned by pre-coating an ion exchange material on the surface of the filter sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,802 discloses a method of removing ionic impurities from a photoresist which involves dissolving the photoresist in a solvent, contacting the resulting photoresist composition resist component with a fibrous ion exchange resin and separating the ion exchange resin bearing the metal impurities from the photoresist composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,127 describes a process for purifying an acid catalyzed photoresist which comprises passing the photoresist through a column containing a weak acid cation exchange resin and a strong base anion exchange resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,052 discloses a process for producing novolak resins containing low levels of metal ions. The process entails passing novolak resin through an anion exchange resin which has been treated with deionized water and mineral acid followed by passing the solution through a cation exchange resin which has been treated with deionized water and mineral acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,315 discloses a process for removing dissolved heavy metal ions from an organic solution which involves passing the organic solution through a bed containing cation exchange resin having chelating groups on the resin or slurrying the organic solution with a solution containing the chelating exchange resin.
Filter media previously employed in the filtration of photoresists are known which comprise a self-supporting matrix of celluose fibers having immobilized therein particulate filter aid and binder resin. Such filter media are sold under the tradename Zeta Plus(copyright) EC Series (CUNO, Inc., Meriden, Conn., U.S.A.) and do not contain ion exchange resin embedded therein.
In accordance with the present invention, a filter sheet is provided which comprises a self-supporting fibrous matrix having immobilized therein particulate filter aid and particulate ion exchange resin, wherein said particulate filter aid and particulate ion exchange resin are distributed substantially uniformly throughout a cross-section of said matrix. It has been surprisingly discovered that the filter sheet of this invention exhibits a significantly higher ion exchange capacity compared to the ion exchange capacity of the ion exchange resin alone, notwithstanding the fact that the other major constituents of the subject filter sheet, namely, the fibers utilized to form the fibrous matrix and the particulate filter aid, possess little or no ion exchange capacity themselves. Further in accordance with the present invention, a process for removing ionic impurities, e.g., metal cations, from an organic liquid, e.g., a photoresist solution, is provided which comprises passing the ionic impurity-containing organic liquid through the filter sheet to provide a purified photoresist composition. The process of this invention results in the reduction of ionic impurities down to low parts per billion levels in photoresist compositions.

Filter sheet and process for purifying photoresist composition employing the filter sheet


Techniques for linking and browsing media on a television (TV) are provided. A selected program, which is associated with a channel of the TV, is detected and additional content, which is associated with that channel and/or the selected program, is dynamically acquired from one or more external sources. The additional content is formatted as links and simultaneously presented within a display of the TV along with the selected program that continues to play on the TV. Furthermore, activation of any link results in the additional content being dynamically acquired and presented within the display.

Today's television (TV) experience is essentially linear; meaning that a user watching a particular channel is presented with time-sequenced information for that channel. Non-linearity may be introduced by switching channels; thereby, moving to usually completely unrelated content. Efforts to group content together, such as by organizing a theme within channel guides only identify a very loose correlation between such content.
Furthermore, current Interactive TV (ITV) may provide embedded links in a vertical blanking interval (VBI), but this contains only one link that takes the viewer to that content identified by that link.
Thus, it is desirable to permit a TV viewer to experience information in a non-linearity fashion and to consume that information in a variety of convenient manners.

Linking and browsing media on television