The retainer of the present invention is made of a composite material having a body made from a polymer, a layer of solid lubricant formed over the body by chemically coating the body with a porous layer of solid lubricant and impregnating the solid lubricant with another lubricant using conventional methods such as vacuum impregnation. The retainer is placed between an outer raceway and an inner raceway to form a self-lubricating bearing. The bearing made in this manner has high lubrication tolerance (i.e. it performs well in the absence of external lubrication). Because of its high lubrication tolerance, the bearing is suitable for use in various applications such as dental/medical hand pieces that are periodically sterilized and other applications which occasionally experience periods of lubrication starvation.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a self-lubricating ball bearing which is suitable for use especially in a high-speed application such as in a dental handpiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional bearing includes an outer raceway, an inner raceway and a retainer (also known as a cage or a separator) with balls placed between the outer raceway and the inner raceway. The retainer separates and positions the balls at approximately equal intervals around the bearing""s raceway. The retainer can be made from metallic or non-metallic materials. The non-metallic retainers are light weight, quiet, wear resistant and serve as an oil reservoir because of the material""s porous structure. Non-metallic retainers are particularly suitable for use in high-speed ball bearings.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,199,934 describes a conventional self-lubricating bearing having an outer raceway, an inner raceway and a metallic retainer. The retainer of the patent is formed of a composition containing silver, platinum, molybdenum disulfides, lead oxide and silicon dioxide such that the composition material itself acts as a solid lubricant.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,962 teaches a retainer made from polymeric material having a filler, such as a metallic sulfide, that has desirable lubricating properties. U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,891 teaches a retainer made from a melt-moldable fluororesin used with a raceway having an adhered to film of solid lubricant. U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,552 teaches the use of ceramic balls to reduce friction between the balls and other parts of the bearing. Conventional non-metallic retainers can be made from a polymer or phenolic material. The conventional polymer retainers can be made from, for example, polyamide, polyamideimides, polyetherethrketones, Vespel(trademark) or Meldin(trademark). However such retainers have limited grease and oil retaining properties due to insufficient porosity. On the other hand, conventional phenolic retainers have better porosity and therefore better lubrication retaining properties, but are not as strong mechanically as polymer retainers and break, for instance, upon being subjected to repetitive autoclave cycles.
None of the above mentioned patents teach the use of a solid lubricant in combination with another lubricant impregnated within the solid lubricant. Additionally, it is desirable to create a lubrication tolerant retainer with good mechanical properties for use in a ball bearing. It is also desirable to create a composite retainer from a strong polymer but with better lubrication retaining properties. Further, it is desirable to create a retainer which has a highly porous layer of solid lubricant capable of being impregnated with an additional lubricant.
The retainer of the present invention overcomes the aforesaid shortcomings of the prior art, while at the same time providing a wear resistant, mechanically strong retainer with a highly porous surface that is suitable for making lubrication tolerant bearings for use in dental handpieces and rotary tools.
The retainer of the present invention is made of a composite material having a body (or core) made from a polymer, and a layer of solid lubricant formed over the body by chemically coating the body with a porous layer of solid lubricant and impregnating the solid lubricant with another lubricant using a conventional method such as vacuum impregnation. The retainer is placed between an outer raceway and an inner raceway to form a self-lubricating bearing. The bearing made in this manner has high lubrication tolerance (i.e. it performs well in the absence of external lubrication). Because of its high lubrication tolerance, such a bearing is suitable for use in various applications such as dental/medical handpieces that are periodically sterilized, machine tool spindle motor applications which occasionally experience periods of lubrication starvation (such as at machine start-up), fan motors, DC motors, and stepping motors. It is also especially useful for any motor used in an environment hostile to a lubricant such as a vacuum environment or a high frequency occultation application in which lubricant is pushed off of the raceway surfaces by high frequency oscillation or high speed rotation.
Further features and advantages will appear more clearly on a reading of the detailed description, which is given below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Polymer-metal composition retainer for self-lubricating bearing


An onboard system determines the position of a vehicle from radio signals from a constellation of navigation satellites and periodically transmits to a traffic control center the position thus determined, a time label supplied by the constellation of navigation satellites and the identity of the vehicle. A central system for accurately locating at least one vehicle provided with a system of the above kind calculates the position at the current time as a function of the position and the speed vector of the vehicle and the time label transmitted by the vehicle. These systems can determine a position periodically and with great accuracy because the time label supplied by the constellation of navigation satellites can be used to compensate fluctuations in the transmission time between the vehicle and the traffic control center when the position is received in the traffic control center.

1. Field of the Invention
The object of the invention is to propose a system for accurately locating the position of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft. Air traffic control requires the position of each aircraft to be known. It is known in the art to use radar and transponders on board aircraft, each transponder responding to a radar pulse by transmitting the identity of the aircraft. A first drawback of radar is that not all of the surface of the earth is covered. A second drawback of radar is its relative inaccuracy. With air traffic constantly increasing, it is necessary to improve the accuracy with which the position of aircraft is determined in order to be able to reduce the spacing between aircraft. The maximum accuracy of radar is limited by various phenomena and decreases with distance, which makes it necessary to consider using other systems to determine the position of each aircraft with greater accuracy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art to use a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver on board aircraft to determine the position of the aircraft with very great accuracy by a method known in the art based on the reception of a plurality of signals transmitted by satellites NV of the Navstar constellation. It is known in the art to transmit the position of the aircraft automatically by radio to a ground station and then to an air traffic control center via a terrestrial transmission network dedicated to this service. However, this system has two drawbacks:
a dedicated network is very costly; and
the accuracy of the position transmitted is degraded by the fact that the transmission time between the aircraft and the control center is not perfectly constant: fluctuations in the transmission time correspond to position differences which are proportional to speed and which are therefore not negligible if an aircraft is travelling at 1000 kph, for example.
The invention provides an onboard system in a vehicle for locating the vehicle accurately, the system including:
means for determining the position of the vehicle from radio signals from a constellation of navigation satellites, and
means for periodically transmitting to a control center the position thus determined, a time label supplied by the constellation of navigation satellites and the identity of the vehicle.
The invention also provides a central system for accurately locating at least one vehicle provided with an onboard system of the above kind, the central system including means for calculating the position at the current time as a function of the position and the speed vector of the vehicle and the time label transmitted by the vehicle.
The above systems determine a position periodically with great accuracy because the time label supplied by the navigation satellite constellation enables fluctuations in the transmission time between the vehicle and the air traffic control center to be compensated when the position is received in the air traffic control center.

Onboard system in a vehicle and central system for locating the vehicle accurately


This copper alloy contains at least zirconium in an amount of not less than 0.005% by weight and not greater than 0.5% by weight, includes a first grain group including grains having a grain size of not greater than 1.5 μm, a second grain group including grains having a grain size of greater than 1.5 μm and less than 7 μm, the grains having a form which is elongated in one direction, and a third grain group including grains having a grain size of not less than 7 μm, and also the sum of α and β is greater than γ, and α is less than β, where α is a total area ratio of the first grain group, β is a total area ratio of the second grain group, and γ is a total area ratio of the third grain group, based on a unit area, and α+β+γ=1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copper alloy composed of fine grains whose form and orientation are controlled, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Background Art
As described in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-356728, there has hitherto been known a technique of refining grains, which includes subjecting a base metal including a copper alloy to a rolling treatment and an aging treatment thereby to disperse fine precipitates, using a rolling method after subjecting to a solution treatment, and subjecting to intensive working thereby to accumulate high-density strain in the base metal and to cause low temperature dynamic recrystallization (also referred to as dynamic continuous recrystallization).
When pure copper and a copper alloy are subjected to the above intensive working using such a technique, heat is generated during working to cause recovery or recrystallization, and thus it is difficult to accumulate desired strain in the base metal. Because the resulting work is thermally unstable after working, elongation of the copper alloy is improved by subjecting to an aging treatment or a strain relief annealing, while the strength tends to decrease.
In contrast, the copper alloy containing Zr changes the entire situation when subjected to the above-mentioned intensive working. When a base metal comprising a copper alloy containing Zr is subjected to intensive working, heat generated during working is less likely to cause recovery or recrystallization, thus making it possible to accumulate desired strain in the base metal. However, when the base metal comprising a copper alloy containing Zr is subjected to intensive working after it was once precipitated, the copper alloy exhibited less improvement in elongation.
In the case of comparing with the copper alloy obtained by forming precipitates after intensive working, it is inferior in stress relaxation resistance, and in spring properties. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an example of the precipitation state of a Cu—Zr based compound. As is apparent from FIG. 8, Cu—Zr based precipitates 83 are commonly formed at grain boundaries. Therefore, it is considered to be more effective for the Cu—Zr based precipitates 83 to be formed after increasing the surface area of grain boundaries 82 by refining grains 81 as compared with the case wherein grains 81 are refined after forming Cu—Zr based precipitates 83. In FIG. 8, the symbol 80 denotes a visual field of a microscope.
In addition, a copper alloy containing a high concentration of Ti, Ni, or Sn is used as a base metal having high work hardenability. However, such a copper alloy had a problem that intensive working is hardly conducted and productivity is low. It is known that, in a copper alloy containing a high concentration of Zr, excess Zr segregates at grain boundaries, thereby deteriorating plating properties.
It is known that, when the above-mentioned rolling method is applied to a copper alloy and the copper alloy is rolled at a rolling reduction of not greater than 90%, grains have a large grain size and the copper alloy exhibit small elongation even in the case of a copper alloy containing Zr which heat generated during working is less likely to cause recovery or recrystallization, let alone in the case of a copper alloy free from Zr. Not only in the case of a copper alloy free from Zr also in the case of a copper alloy containing Zr, an intensity ratio of crystal orientation {110}<112> to random orientation was less than 10, and an intensity ratio of crystal orientation {112}<111> to random orientation was greater than 20, as shown in FIG. 6.
Examples of the method for working treatment of a copper alloy include ECAP (Equal Channel Angular Pressing) method described in FURUKAWA, HORITA, NEMOTO, TG. Landon: Metal, 70, 11 (2000), pp. 971; ARB (Accumulative Roll Bonding) method described in NISHIYAMA, SAKAI, SAITO: Journal of the JRICu, 41, 1 (2002), pp. 246; Mechanical Milling method described in TAKAGI, KIMURA: Material, 34, 8 (1995), pp. 959; and multiaxis/multistage working method described in Preliminary Manuscript of 42nd Lecture of Japan Research Institute for Advanced Copper-Base Materials and Technologies, pp. 55; in addition to the above-mentioned rolling method.
Using the methods disclosed in the above documents, the copper alloy is subjected to a working treatment, thus making it possible to refine grains. However, since fine grains having a grain size of not greater than 1 μm are uniformly formed by these methods, a surface area of the grains drastically increases as compared with a conventional crystal structure, which leads to large stress relaxation due to grain boundary diffusion under the environment at high temperature higher than room temperature, thus resulting in poor stress relaxation resistance. When employing these methods, it was very difficult to reconcile an improvement in strength due to grain refinement, and stress relaxation resistance.
As described above, when the strength of the copper alloy is increased by the rolling method, a technique of increasing the rolling reduction has conventionally been employed. When the rolling reduction is set to a high value, the strength of the copper alloy increases, while the elongation decreases and bendability tends to deteriorate. Therefore, it has been desired to develop a copper alloy which is excellent in three respects, for example, strength, elongation, and bendability, and a method of controlling a crystal structure with excellent stress relaxation resistance.

Copper alloy and method of manufacturing the same


An intraocular lens (IOL) has an optic, a peripheral rim, and a reduced thickness region connecting the optic to the peripheral rim. The peripheral rim has a continuously curving outer edge that it does not include any tangents parallel to the optical axis either along its length or at the intersection of the outer edge with the anterior or posterior surfaces of the IOL.

The human eye in its simplest terms functions to provide vision by transmitting light through a clear outer portion called the cornea, and focusing the image by way of a crystalline lens onto a retina. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including the size and shape of the eye, and the transparency of the cornea and the lens. When age or disease causes the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because of the diminished light which can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens of the eye is medically known as a cataract. An accepted treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and replacement of the lens function by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). In the United States, the majority of cataractous lenses are removed by a surgical technique called phacoemulsification. During this procedure, an opening is made in the anterior capsule and a thin phacoemulsification cutting tip is inserted into the diseased lens and ultrasonically vibrated. The vibrating cutting tip liquefies or emulsifies the lens so that the lens may be aspirated out of the eye. The diseased lens, once removed, is replaced by an IOL.
A known difficulty for intraocular lenses has been that off-axis light rays can be reflected or transmitted into the visual field, producing undesirable photic effects. Edge designs for IOLs have been proposed to steer the unwanted light rays to different locations, but depending on the incident angle of the incoming light, this may not address the problem sufficiently and may inadvertently create new photic effects. The problems may be exacerbated in thin lens designs that use particular edge shapes for mechanical stability. There accordingly remains a need to reduce these undesired photic effects.

Edge design for reducing unwanted photic effects in intraocular lenses


An electromotive dual drive for adjustment of two different furniture parts of a piece of furniture includes a housing having opposite end sections. Each end section is formed with a shaft holder for receiving a pivot shaft of the piece of furniture. Two drive units are arranged one behind another in the housing in a longitudinal direction, with each drive unit including a drive motor, a transmission, and a spindle drive including a spindle which acts on an output member operably connected to a respective one of the pivot shafts. The spindles and/or the output members of the drive units are sized of different lengths, and the drive motor of one of the drive units and the drive motor of the other one of the drive units are spaced from the shaft holders, respectively, at different distances.

The invention relates to an electromotive dual drive for an adjustment of two different furniture parts of a piece of furniture having two drive units, each of which comprises a drive motor, a transmission and a spindle drive having respective a spindle and acting on an output member. Both drive units are arranged one behind the other in a common housing in the longitudinal direction of the housing. Shaft holders for a respective pivot shaft of the furniture, on which a respective output member acts, are formed on both end sections of the housing which are mutually opposite in the longitudinal direction.
Such electromotive dual drives are used, for example, in order to be able to adjust the head part and the foot part of a slatted frame in an electromotive manner. They can easily be mounted on the furniture, e.g. the aforementioned slatted frame of a bed, by inserting in each case one pivot shaft of the furniture into one of the shaft holders. For this purpose, the shaft holders are usually provided with cover slides, which can be removed in order to be able to insert the pivot shaft into the shaft holder with a pivot lever. After repositioning the cover slides, the entire dual drive is fixed to the shafts. The drive units act independently of one another via their spindle drive and the output member on the respective pivot lever for adjusting the furniture parts.
Such a dual drive is known, for example, from the printed publication EP 1 266 439 B1. In this dual drive, an elongated common housing for the dual drive is provided, wherein both drive units are constructed in a substantially mirror-image manner with respect to a mirror plane which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of extension centrally through the housing of the dual drive. The drive motors of both drive units lie adjacent to one another in a central section of the housing, wherein the drive spindles face to the outside in alignment with each other. In the respective end section of the dual drive, the output members, which are designed as pressure plates, act on pivot levers of inserted pivot shafts.
In the longitudinal direction, the housing of the dual drive of the printed publication EP 1 266 439 B1 is divided into several sections by this arrangement of the drive units. In addition to the outer end sections through which the pivot shafts extend and in which the pivot levers lie, three sections can be subdivided: a section lying between the motors or reduction gears assigned to them, as well as a respective section located in the region of the spindles. Each of these sections provides the possibility to accommodate electrical and/or electronic components of the electromotive drive in the housing.
In such a design of known dual drives, a control board of the electromotive drive is usually arranged between the motors, and a further circuit board is provided in the area of the spindles, on which end position switches are arranged which are actuated by the output member. If an integrated power supply unit is provided, the transformer of such a power supply unit preferably also finds its place in the area between the motors. A disadvantage of the subdivision of the available space into several sections is the increased production complexity, resulting from the necessity of having to fix several circuit boards in the housing and having to wire them together.
In addition, the described construction is disadvantageous in view of the space requirement of the dual drive during shipping. In the lateral direction, i.e. in the direction of the pivot shafts, the housing is usually formed in a narrow way. The drive motors have an axis of rotation which is parallel to the pivot shafts, wherein the motors project laterally beyond the remaining width of the housing. Motor covers (motor domes) are arranged in the region of the motors in order to accommodate or cover the protruding motors. Both motors face to the same side in order to avoid increasing the lateral projection of the housing even further. If the double drives lie side by side at the same height during dispatch, they need a stacking width which corresponds to their width in the area of the motors. If the motors are rotated in such a way that two respective dual drives with their motors are orientated toward one another, they must be displaced in their longitudinal direction in order to be able to be arranged in a space-saving manner with respect to their width. This arrangement, which is more effective with regard to the width, then leads to an increased space requirement in the longitudinal direction of the drives. The arrangement of two drives which is offset in the longitudinal direction is also disadvantageous with regard to the size of the packaging in the longitudinal direction since the dual drives in the longitudinal direction already have an unwieldy length. Furthermore, it is desirable to use standardized packaging sizes, e.g. on the basis of euro palettes. An arrangement with a significant offset in the longitudinal direction can prevent the use of euro palettes depending on the length of the dual drives.
An electromotive drive is known from the printed publication DE 20 2013 101 521 U1, in which troughs are formed in the housing, so that supplied additional components, such as a remote control for the electromotive drive for example, can be arranged in this trough without them protruding laterally beyond the cover of the motors. In this way, the free space remaining between two dual drives, which is caused by the protruding motor covers, can be used sensibly during the packing and dispatch of the dual drive. However, the fundamental problem still remains in that the width during packaging is essentially determined by the width of the housing in the region of the motors.


A resistance adjustable of resistance mirror circuit having a master resistor R0, a reference current source terminal providing a current value I0 through the master resistor R0 to ground; a first transistor; a current mirror source terminal providing a current value n I0, through the first transistor to ground; an operational amplifier having a positive terminal connecting to a drain of the first transistor, a negative terminal connecting to the other terminal of the master resistor R0, and an output terminal connecting to a gate of the first transistor; a mirror resistor set composed of a plurality of transistors in parallel each other and having their source electrode connecting to ground. Each transistor of the mirror resistor set has a ratio of channel width over channel length being m-fold of that of the first transistor, where m, n is any positive numbers. Since gates of the transistors connect to the output terminal of the operational amplifier, each of the transistors therefore has an equivalent resistance Req=(1/nm)R0.

The present invention relates to a resistance equivalent circuit, and more particularly, to an equivalent circuit of resistance mirror consisting of current mirror circuits and a mirror resistor set.
In general, to modulate the electrical characteristics of analog integrated circuits is usually by means of the resistance, capacitance or inductance adjustment. Among of them the most preferably is conducted, by adjusting the resistance for its simple, common, low cost and easy to handle.
Whereas, to achieve a specified function, for example, tuning the central frequency of multistage band pass filter circuit systems and/or sub-systems from one position to another, each sub-system should have a consistent modulation. However, if it is done by individually adjusting each resistor of the system, It would be time consuming and detrimental to the precision of the system, even more causes the circuit failed. Therefore, to overcome above-mentioned drawbacks, it is desired to have a new circuit technique for band-pass circuit that a resistance mirror circuit contains a master resistor and slave resistors. The latter is then controlled in accordance with a resistance change of the master resistor.
The object of the present is thus to provide such desired circuit.
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a resistance mirror circuit having a set of adjustable resistors in accordance with a master resistance to meet different requirement of circuit application.
The present invention disclosed a resistance mirror circuit having a set of adjustable resistors with resistance in accordance with a master resistor. In the first preferred embodiment, the circuit comprises: (1) a master resistor R0, (2) a reference current source terminal providing a current value I0 through the master resistor R0 to ground;(3) a first transistor; (4) a current mirror source terminal providing a current value nI0, through the first transistor to ground; (5) an operational amplifier having a positive terminal connecting to a drain of the first transistor, a negative terminal connecting to the other terminal of the master resistor R0, and an output terminal connecting to a gate of the first transistor; (6) a mirror resistor set consisting of a plurality of transistors in parallel each other and having their source electrodes connecting to ground. Each transistor of the mirror resistor set has a ratio of channel width over channel length being m-fold of that of the first transistor, where m, n is any positive numbers. Since gates of the transistors connect to the output terminal of the operational amplifier, each of the transistors therefore has an equivalent resistance Req=(1/nm)R0.
The second embodiment according to the present invention comprises: (1) a master resistor having resistance R0; (2) a first transistor, having a ratio of channel width over channel length thereof equal to W/L; (3) a reference current source terminal providing a reference current I0, the reference current being through first transistor, and the master resistance R0 to ground; (4) a second transistor, having a ratio of channel width over channel length thereof equal to nW/L; (5) a third transistor having a ratio of channel width over channel length thereof equal to W/L; (6) a current mirror source terminal providing a mirror current value of nI0, in series connecting with the second transistor, the third transistor to ground, wherein the second transistor has a gate electrode connecting to a drain electrode, therefore the second transistor has the same current density and VGS voltage as the first transistor, where VGS voltage is voltage of the gate electrode to source electrode; (7) a mirror resistor set consisting of a plurality of transistors in parallel and with their source electrode connecting to ground, and each transistors having a ratio of channel width over channel length thereof equal to m W/L, wherein m are positive number; (8) an operational amplifier having a positive terminal connecting to a drain and a gate electrode of the second transistor, and output a signal to a gate of the third transistor and all gate electrodes of the transistors of the mirror resistor set; (9) a reference signal controlling a gate bias of said first transistor and feeding to a negative terminal of said operational amplifier so that a voltage across the master resistor R0 is equal to the source voltage of the second transistor, therefore, each transistor of the mirror resistor set has an equivalent resistance Req=(1/nm)R0.
The transistors in the present invention are not limited in depleted mode transistors or enhanced transistors.


A method for preparation of amorphous superlattice alloys consisting of lamellae based on periodic change in the composition by continuous conventional sputtering with a periodic change in the positions of substrates relative to a target or targets by rotating the substrate on a first axis and orbiting the substrate and first axis around a second axis parallel to the first axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a preparation method for amorphous superlattice alloys applicable to a variety of fields such as materials with specific magnetic and chemical properties.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The formation of atomic lamellar structures in which each layer consists of different pure elements is known, and the method for preparation of amorphous alloys by sputtering is also known. However, a method of forming an amorphous superlattice based on the repetition of two amorphous layers of different compositions is not known.
The method of forming a superlattice by alternating sputtering of two kinds of metals or alloys is well known. Instead of alternating sputtering of two kinds of metals or alloys, preparation of the amorphous superlattice alloys by continuous conventional sputtering has not been performed. However, there has been a strong demand development of a new method to form new superlattice alloys, that is, preparation of the amorphous superlattice alloys by continuous conventional sputtering.

Preparation method for amorphous superlattice alloys


A magneto-impedance element includes a magnetic sensitive member having a form of a line, whose electromagnetic characteristics vary depending on an external magnetic field, a pulse current flowing from one to another end portion thereof in an axial direction. A conductive layer is arranged on an insulating layer provided on an outer surface of the magnetic sensitive member. A connection portion, electrically connecting the magnetic sensitive member and the conductive layer, is arranged on the other end portion in the axial direction of the magnetic sensitive member. A detection coil, outputting an induced voltage corresponding to an intensity of an external magnetic field acting on the magnetic sensitive member when the pulse current flows in the magnetic sensitive member, is wounded around the conductive layer. A direction of the pulse currents flowing in the magnetic sensitive member and in the conductive layer are opposite each other.

As a conventional magnetic sensor (hereinafter referred to as an MI sensor) using a magneto-impedance element (hereinafter referred to as an MI element), for example, a magnetic sensor having a detection coil wound around an amorphous wire is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a MI sensor which causes a pulse current to pass through an amorphous wire and measures a first pulse of an induced voltage output from a detection coil to make it possible to sensitively detect an external magnetic field Hex. The MI element is also called a giant magneto-impedance element or a GMI element. The MI sensor is also called a giant magneto-impedance sensor or a GMI sensor.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-258517
As will be described below, a principle of magnetic field detection by the MI element will be explained with reference to FIG. 10.
As shown in the drawing, when a pulse current I passes through an amorphous magnetic wire 91, a magnetic field H is caused in a circumferential direction by the pulse current I. An induced voltage (dH/dt) is output from a detection coil 95. In the case where an external magnetic field Hx is applied in the state that the pulse current I flows, spins arranged in a circumferential direction of the amorphous magnetic wire 91 resonate and shake by θ. An induced voltage (dMθ/dt) generated by the spin resonance θ is output to the detection coil 95 overlapping the induced voltage (dH/dt). More specifically, in application of an external magnetic field Hx, an induced voltage (dH/dt+dMθ/dt) is output.
FIG. 11 is a waveform chart showing an output of an induced voltage to a pulse current of the MI sensor using the MI element. This is a waveform chart 101 showing a time variation of induced voltage in damped oscillation output from a detection coil when the pulse current I flows in application of the external magnetic field Hx.
FIG. 12 shows a waveform chart 102 showing a time variation in induced voltage caused only by the pulse current I without applying the external magnetic field Hx with respect to a peak characteristic of the first pulse in the waveform chart 101, a waveform chart 103 and a waveform chart 104, each showing a time variation in induced voltage when the external magnetic field Hx is applied (+Hx and −Hx).
As shown in FIG. 12, times (t) for zero crossing of the induced voltages when the first pulses damped in the waveform charts 102 to 104 are not equal to each other and have a phase difference. With respect to time t1 at which zero crossing is caused only by the pulse current I without applying an external magnetic field, time at which zero crossing occurs when an external magnetic field +Hx is applied is given by t1+Δta to cause a delay (Δta). When an external magnetic field −Hx is applied, the time for zero crossing is given by t1−Δtb, the zero crossing time is earlier (Δtb).
As a result, when the external magnetic field changes in polarity from +Hx to −Hx (FIG. 12), it is found that time at which an output voltage of the detection coil reaches a peak varies as zero crossing time varies. The present inventors devotedly studied the cause, and conceived the followings.
There is a phase difference in peak time between a time variation waveform of an output voltage by dH/dt which is a component caused by a pulse current and a time variation waveform of an output voltage by dMθ/dt which is a component varying (changing) depending on an external magnetic field. For this reason, an induced voltage waveform generated in the detection coil, which is a combination of two waveforms, has a phase difference with respect to peak time of an output voltage generated by dH/dt which is a component caused by the pulse current. A peak voltage of a time variation waveform in output voltage by dMθ/dt which is a component varying depending on the external magnetic field rises with an increase in external magnetic field. For this reason, a phase difference of an induced voltage waveform generated in the detection coil which is a combination of two waveforms is supposed to be changed with respect to peak time of an output voltage generated by dH/dt as the external magnetic field changes.
As will be described below, a known magneto-impedance sensor (hereinafter arbitrarily referred to as a MI element) uses the fact that a peak value of an output voltage of the detection coil is in proportion to an external magnetic field parallel to a magnetic sensitive member used in a magneto-impedance element (hereinafter arbitrarily referred to as a MI element).
In the MI sensor using the current MI element, on the basis of time t1 at which the pulse current rises as shown in FIG. 6 (described later), an analog switch is turned on-off for a short period of time at predetermined timing t2 at which a peak value is supposed to be given in an induced voltage waveform generated in the detection coil to detect a peak value of an output voltage generated in the detection coil corresponding to an external magnetic field. In this case, when a predetermined input current waveform and an output voltage waveform corresponding to the input current waveform are present, a sampling timeΔt is obtained by subtracting rise time t1 of the pulse current from a predetermined timing t2 at which a peak value is supposed to be given in the output voltage waveform (Δt=t2−t1).
In general, time at which an external magnetic field is applied such that a sampling time Δt is fixed in the absence of an external magnetic field (102 in FIG. 12) is also measured.
For this reason, when time at which an output voltage of the detection coil reaches a peak is varied by an external magnetic field as shown in FIG. 12, if the external magnetic field is applied, voltages are sampled at a timing deviated from time at which the output voltage reaches a peak value, so that sensitivity and linearity are deteriorated because the output voltage drops.
With a change in material characteristic of an electric resistance or the like of a magnetic sensitive member with a change in temperature, a pulse current flowing in the magnetic sensitive member changes. When the pulse current changes, a circumferential magnetic field H caused by the pulse current varies as a matter of course. Therefore, the circumferential magnetic field H caused by the pulse current independently of magnetization (M) of the magnetic sensitive member is varied by the change in temperature. According to this, deterioration in linearity and drift of an original point (in this example, a peak value of an output voltage generated without applying a magnetic field) occur.

Magneto-impedance element and magneto-impedance sensor including detection coil


The present invention is concerned with a novel composition of matter—a cyclic peptide derived from computer modeling studies that modulates the structure and function of the HIV main envelope protein gp120. The compound is capable of binding to the CD4-binding region of gp120 (this defines it as a CD4 mimic), and can be used for the purposes of: (1) controlling and preventing HIV infections, (2) detecting, isolating and purifying gp120. Contrary to examples of prior art that involved CD4 mimics being either small molecules or macromolecules, the present invention is concerned with the class of “large small molecules” that may offer a satisfactory balance between the activity and drug-like properties. Modified variants of the prototype compound that can be reasonably considered its derivatives are also claimed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with a novel composition of matter—a designer, cyclic peptide that modulates the structure and function of the HIV main envelope protein gp120. The invention is related to the fields of medicinal chemistry, biochemistry and virology.
2. Description of Related Art
HIV-1—the virus responsible for the AIDS pandemic, infects the host's cells by means of receptor-assisted endocytosis. The viral glycoprotein gp120 and the cell's CD4 protein are implicated in the initial stage of attachment of the virus to the cell (Kwong et al. 1998). Following this initial attachment, gp120 undergoes a major conformational rearrangement (Myszka et al. 2000), exposing the chemokine co-receptor binding site and triggering subsequent stages of the fusion process, (Wyatt and Sodroski, 1998).
Haim et al., 2009, have shown that the inhibition of HIV-1 virus by the soluble form of CD4 (sCD4) and its certain less active, small molecule mimics, occurs due to premature triggering of the conformational change in gp120. The activated state of gp120, primed for binding to the co-receptor, is transient and its life span is measured in minutes. Afterward, it undergoes a further, irreversible conformational change, leading to a loss of binding competency. The induction of the activated conformation of gp120 by soluble CD4 mimics (SCMs) causes a moderate increase of the CD4-independent HIV infectivity at certain SCM concentrations range. At higher concentrations, the inhibitory effect is predominant. The possibility to trigger premature, spontaneous and irreversible deactivation of the viral protein responsible for the infectivity, by targeting the highly conserved region of this protein, is an elegant and attractive paradigm for the development of anti-HIV therapeutics, especially considering the independence of such drugs on the co-receptor tropism of particular HIV strains.
In addition to their role as antiviral drugs, SCMs have the potential to be used as immunostimulants, either amplifying the natural immune response, or the response induced by anti-HIV vaccines. This potential results from the observations that CD4-independent strains of HIV have an increased susceptibility to neutralizing antibodies (Kolchinsky et al. 1999, Kolchinsky et al. 2001, Thomas et al. 2003). This independency is caused by the exposure of the normally hidden epitopes that are responsible for co-receptor binding. Both sCD4 and SCMs cause precisely this effect: they trigger the conformational change of gp120 and expose the CD4-induced epitopes. Thus, in addition to being classical entry inhibitors, SCMs are expected to increase the susceptibility of the virus to the immune response of the infected organism.
Before the above-described mechanism of gp120 inhibition by sCD4 and SCMs has been recognized, it was speculated that the inhibition may occur due to competitive binding or via triggering the shedding of gp120, but regardless of the mechanism, efforts were undertaken to develop gp120-modulating molecules. While no SCMs currently are on the market, several compounds are at different stages of development. Relevant references include: include: Zhao et al. 2005, Stricher et al. 2008, Lin et al. 2003.
While the general purpose to controlling HIV infections, and the chemical nature of the compounds disclosed in the present invention makes them related to retrocyclins (Cole et al. 2002), it should be noted that retrocyclins are CD4 antagonists, whereas the compounds that the present patent application is concerned with, are, by their design, gp120 antagonists.

Designer cyclic peptides—HIV gp120 antagonists and their applications


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an interconnect provided on a first interlayer insulating film covering a semiconductor substrate in which an element is formed, a cap layer provided on the upper surface of the interconnect, and a barrier film provided between the interconnect and a second interlayer insulating film covering the interconnect. The interconnect includes a high-melting-point conductive layer, and the width of the interconnect is smaller than the width of the cap layer. The barrier film includes a compound of a contained element in the high-melting-point conductive layer.

In interconnection in a semiconductor device, copper (Cu) is mainly used as a low-resistance interconnect material for forming interconnects (wiring lines) and vias (plugs).
In interconnect structures used in most advanced semiconductor devices, interconnects and vias are increasingly miniaturized. The miniaturization (scaling-down, shrinking) has presented the following problems in the interconnect structures: increased resistivity due to interfacial inelastic scattering of electrons, increased current density, and deteriorated reliability due to stress migration or electromigration.
Furthermore, in addition to the above problems, the size dependence of electrical resistance becomes noticeable along with the increasing miniaturization in a low-resistance interconnect material such as Cu that has a long mean free path.
Moreover, the interconnect using Cu has a damascene structure. Therefore, in addition to Cu as the interconnect material, a barrier metal film is formed in an interconnect trench (damascene trench) in which the interconnect material is embedded. As a result, an effective sectional dimension (sectional area) that contributes to the electrical conduction of the interconnect decreases as compared with the dimension of the formed interconnect trench.
In a DRAM, a flash memory, or a memory having a cross point structure, it may be preferable to use high-melting-point and low-resistance materials for a gate electrode and an interconnect of a transistor in regard to the manufacturing process of the above-mentioned memories.

Semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufacturing method


A method for cleaning a distributor plate in a fluidized bed polymerization reactor system according to one embodiment includes, in a first mode, operating with about a normal, baseline value of superficial gas velocity in a fluidized bed polymerization reactor system having a reactor vessel, a recycle line, and a distributor plate in the reactor vessel near an inlet of the reactor vessel. In a second mode, the superficial gas velocity is increased above the baseline value of the first mode to a level sufficient to raise the temperature of the cycle gas at the inlet above an average temperature of the cycle gas at the inlet in the first mode, and to a level sufficient to dislodge foulant from holes in the distributor plate.

In a gas phase process for production of polyolefins such as polyethylene, a gaseous alkene monomer (e.g., ethylene, propylene, etc.), hydrogen, co-monomer and other raw materials are converted to solid polyolefin product. Generally, gas phase reactors include a fluidized bed reactor, a compressor, and a cooler. The reaction is maintained in a two-phase fluidized bed of granular polyethylene and gaseous reactants by a fluidizing gas, which is passed through a distributor plate near the bottom of the reactor vessel. The reactor vessel is normally constructed of carbon steel and rated for operation at pressures up to about 30 bars (or about 3.0 MPa). Catalyst is injected into the fluidized bed. Heat of reaction is transferred to the circulating gas stream. This gas stream is compressed and cooled in an external recycle line and then is reintroduced into the bottom of the reactor where it passes through a distributor plate. Make-up feed streams are added to maintain the desired reactant concentrations.
Operation of most reactor systems is critically dependent upon good mixing in the fluidized bed for uniform reactor conditions, heat removal, and effective catalyst performance. Good mixing is required to ensure that the catalyst is well distributed within the bed so that the reaction rate and resulting heat generation is relatively uniform, thereby minimizing the possibility of localized temperature excursions (or "hot spots") within the bed.
The process must be controllable, and capable of a high production rate. In general, the higher the operating temperature, the greater the capability to achieve high production rate. However, as the operating temperature approaches the melting point of the polyolefin product, the particles of polyolefin become tacky. This can cause the fluidized bed (as a whole) to become cohesive, or sticky. If the temperature exceeds certain limiting temperatures (dependant on the melting point of the polymer involved) the degree of stickiness in the fluidized bed may become excessive, causing poor fluidization and mixing. In some cases, the sticky polymer and resulting lack of mixing can lead to localized temperature excursions of sufficient magnitude to cause the formation of particle agglomerates (or chunks) of fused polymer in the reactor. In other cases, the sticky polymer and poor mixing can promote the formation of polymer sheets on the interior walls of the reactor.
Poor mixing of the fluidized bed (and the consequent potential for chunk or sheet formation) may also be caused by distributor plate fouling. Distributor plate fouling is one of the leading causes of downtime with commercial fluidized bed polymerization reactor systems. Fouling is generally caused by deposition of polymer resin in the numerous small holes in the distributor plate, resulting in reduced fluid flow therethrough or complete blockage thereof. As mentioned above, good mixing of the fluidized bed is needed for uniform temperature control. As the holes in the distributor plate become partially or fully blocked, the ability of the cycle gas entering the fluidized bed to carry heat away from the reacting materials is reduced. Moreover, "hot spots" can develop in areas of low fluid velocity in the fluidized bed (particularly those areas immediately above the partially or fully blocked holes). The net result is the formation of fused chunks of polymer within the fluidized bed, and/or the formation of sheets along the vessel wall and along other parts of the reactor system. These chunks or sheets will eventually fall onto the reactor distributor plate, further interrupting fluidization, circulation of gas, and withdrawal of the product from the reactor. The result is a forced reactor shutdown to clean the system. The formation of chunks or sheets can therefore be a significant "discontinuity event", impacting operations of commercial reactor systems. To minimize the possibility of chunk or sheet formation, it is important to prevent or minimize distributor plate fouling.
More recently, a particularly problematic form of plate fouling (termed hyperfouling) has been observed, which can occur during reactor startup. While the precise cause is not completely understood, high levels of entrainment static (measured in the cycle gas system) are observed upon initiation of catalyst feed to the reactor. This static is attributed to entrainment of catalyst particles from the fluidized bed and consequent triboelectric charging of the catalyst particles by frictional contact with the walls of the recycle system. The charged catalyst particles can be driven to the reactor walls by forces of static attraction, where they can accumulate (especially under the plate and/or top head of the reactor) and fuse to form foulant. This mechanism is supported by the observation of temperature spikes (above net reactor temperature) in the bottom bell of the reactor (below the distributor plate).
Conventional wisdom is that low cycle stream velocities (and correspondingly low superficial gas velocities in the fluidized bed) reduce distributor plate fouling by minimizing entrainment of solids in the cycle stream, thereby minimizing contact of such solids with the distributor plate.
Current methods for removing distributor plate fouling require shutting down the reactor and physically removing the foulant from the holes, such as with a drill. Not only are such shutdowns costly in terms of lost production, but may also pose a danger to the operator entering and working in the reactor system.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to reduce and/or remove distributor plate fouling without requiring system shutdown.

Methods for cleaning the distributor plate in a fluidized bed reactor system


An integrated circuit having a CML driver including a driver biasing network. A first output pad and a second output pad are connected to a voltage pad. A first driver is connected to the first output pad and the voltage pad. A second driver is connected to the second output pad and the voltage pad. A first ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the first output pad, and the first driver. A second ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the second output pad, and the second driver. The first ESD circuit biases the first driver toward a voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the first output pad, and the second ESD circuit biases the second driver toward the voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the second output pad.

The present disclosure relates to Integrated Circuits for current mode logic drivers to improve electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.
For high-speed differential operation in the GHz range, current mode logic (CML) drivers are typically used for their large attainable bandwidth. These are simple resistively loaded differential amplifiers. As technology scales supply voltage, transistor threshold voltage, breakdown voltage reduces. The lower breakdown voltage of the devices makes them susceptible to the electrostatic discharge (ESD) stress. Lower threshold voltages of the transistors make them conduct large current at small overdrive voltages. This current can exceed the current limit of the salicided driver transistor, leading to failures. Methods are needed for increasing the ESD design window without adding significant ESD device capacitance or area. Unfortunately, decreased ESD window as technology scales smaller leads to increased ESD device area and capacitance. Furthermore, increasing signaling speeds decreases the capacitance budgets at transceivers.
Recently, failure of driver NFETs was discovered in the CML driver topology during pad-to-pad or pad-to-ground electrostatic discharge (ESD) stress. It has been observed that during pad-to-pad ESD stress, one of the driver transistors of the CML driver turns on putting the entire ESD stress across its partner (the other driver transistor of the CML driver). In a CML driver structure, an ESD zap is applied at one pad and ground connection is applied to the other pad to create an ESD stress test. In operation, one of the drivers of the CML driver structure turns on, discharging the current mode (CM) node of the CML driver to 0V. This puts most of the ESD stress on its partner device, which can cause drain-source shorting on the partner driver transistor, leading to ESD failures.
Conventional technologies, such as shown in FIG. 1, provide a circuit that includes an RC clamp. In some prior circuits, such as for ESD protection for high-speed receiver circuits, a biasing circuits attempts to prevent oxide breakdown in a receiver by increasing source impedance. The tail current source may be disabled by the bias network. In another prior circuit that uses biasing to prevent drain breakdown, the circuit increases allowable pad voltages during an output-to-output stress by preventing drain breakdown using a bias network. A problem with this circuit is that it decreases allowable pad voltage for output-to-Vss stress.

Structure and method for dynamic biasing to improve ESD robustness of current mode logic (CML) drivers

International Business Machines Corporation


A planet wheel carrier for a planetary gear includes a carrier body for supporting shafts of planet wheels and a slide bearing for rotatably supporting a first end of the carrier body with respect to a frame of the planetary gear. The carrier body includes oil channels for conducting oil to bearings of the planet wheels. The slide bearing includes an oil channel for conducting oil from an oil channel of the frame to the oil channels of the carrier body. The planet wheel carrier includes one or more conical roller bearings for rotatably supporting a second end of the carrier body with respect to the frame. Thus, the slide bearing conducts pressurized oil to the rotating planet wheel carrier whereas the conical roller bearings receive axial forces directed to the planet wheel carrier.

A planetary gear comprises a planet wheel carrier, a sun shaft, a gear ring, and planet wheels supported by the planet wheel carrier so that the planet wheels are meshing with the sun shaft and with the gear ring. Bearings of the planet wheels can be splash lubricated so that the bearings are surrounded by droplets of oil when the planetary gear is operating. It is also possible that the bearings are lubricated with pressure-feed lubrication so that the planet wheel carrier comprises oil channels for conducting oil to the bearings. The pressure-feed lubrication is advantageous because an oil circulation path that comprises the above-mentioned oil channels can be provided with an oil filter so as to keep the oil clean. Furthermore, the oil circulation path can be provided with temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the oil to be in a desired temperature range. Furthermore, the above-mentioned oil channels can be designed so that the oil is directed to most critical places in the bearings and other parts of the planetary gear.
An inherent challenge related to pressure-feed lubrication of the kind mentioned above is the need to supply oil from a stationary part of a planetary gear to a rotating planet wheel carrier. On one hand, oil leakage which takes place in an oil supply connection between the stationary part and the rotating planet wheel carrier should be so small that sufficient oil pressure can be maintained in oil channels of the planet wheel carrier. On the other hand, an oil supply connection where the leakage is sufficiently small has its own challenges. In cases where the oil supply connection is contactless, clearances of the oil supply connection between the stationary part and the rotating planet wheel carrier have to be small and thus there is a risk of unintentional mechanical contacts which may damage the surfaces touching each other. In cases where the oil supply connection comprises a seal element having mechanical contacts with both the stationary part and the rotating planet wheel carrier, the seal element may increase the need for maintenance work and thereby the operating costs of the planetary gear.

Planet wheel carrier for a planetary gear


An indoor basketball backboard and hoop positioned in an unfolding mode in a cater-corner orientation to maximize play area and in proximity to a door to cause opening movement of the door to restore by folding the backboard and hoop into a flat storage condition on the back of the door.

It is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,355 for Basketball Hoop Structure that the diagonal expanse of a rectangular room provides an optimum play area in facing relation to the structure which, in turn, in the prior art has dictated a location directly in the corner of the room. The tradeoff however is that a door is never provided directly in a room corner and thus the door cannot be used as a support for the basketball backboard and hoop, although it is desirable for this end use.

Cater-cornered basketball backboard and hoop


A system and method for implementing a flat volume model for software application audio signals is provided. A computer system generates a flat volume characteristics tree based upon current hardware/software values from an audio setting hierarchy. The computer system processes the flat volume characteristics tree and converts the optimized values into new audio hierarchy settings. The computer system can generate user interfaces representative of the flat volume settings for the software application. Adjustments to the flat volume settings result in modification to the flat volume characteristics tree and the audio setting hierarchy.

Generally described, a variety of computer software applications output audio data as part of the function of the software application. Examples of software applications outputting audio data include multi-media software applications for playing various media, presentation software applications for generating audio data as part of a presentation, and other software applications that generate some type of audio signal as part of a user interaction. In one typical computing system environment, audio signals from the software applications are processed along various stages in a computer system before reaching the speakers and being converted to sound audible by a user. The various stages in the computer system can be thought of as an audio setting hierarchy having one or more levels. Each level in the audio setting hierarchy corresponds to a volume setting control that can have an impact on the overall volume of audio signals generated by a software application. Accordingly, the overall output volume of the audio signals generated by a software application corresponds to the product of the volume settings for each level of the audio setting hierarchy.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrative of a set of conventional user interfaces for manipulating audio hierarchy settings in a computer system. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first audio setting control corresponds to a volume control setting at the software application level. A second audio setting control corresponds to a mute control also at the software application level. The first and second audio setting controls are typically associated with user interface display 100 associated with the particular software application generating the audio signals. In an illustrative example, the first and second control can be represented as a slider bar 102 for adjusting the volume setting and mute control 104 on the display 100. Further, although the first and second audio setting controls 102 and 104 are illustrated as being associated with a particular software application, these controls may be omitted from software applications.
With continued reference to FIG. 1, a third audio setting control 108 corresponds to a volume control on a channel level for processing all audio signals generated by all the instantiated software applications. A fourth audio setting control 110 corresponds to a mute control for the same channel level as the third audio setting control 108. In one audio setting hierarchy, this level is often referred to as channel volume. There may be multiple channels, and each of them may carry a different name, such as "wave channel." The third and fourth audio setting controls 108, 110 are typically not directly associated with any particular software application and would be used to cumulatively control the overall output volume of audio signals from all the software application. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the third and fourth audio setting controls are typically associated with some type of centralized user interface display 106 and can be represented as a slider bar 108 for adjusting the volume setting and mute control 110 on the display.
With still continued reference to FIG. 1, a fifth audio setting control 112 corresponds to a main volume setting processing all audio signals generated by all the channels in the software application. In a typical audio setting hierarchy, this level is often referred to as a main volume or master volume. A sixth audio setting control 114 corresponds to a mute control for the same main volume level as the fifth audio setting control 114. Similar to the third and fourth audio setting controls, the fifth and sixth audio setting controls are typically not directly associated with any particular software application and are used to adjust volume setting for all audio channels being processed by a computer system. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fifth and sixth audio setting controls are typically associated with some type of centralized user interface display 106 and can be represented as a slider bar 112 for adjusting the volume setting and mute control 114 on the display.
One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that a user manipulation of any one of the six illustrated audio setting controls can effect the overall output volume of a particular software application's audio signals. Accordingly, regardless of the number of levels in the typical audio setting hierarchy, no one control has the effect of offering full control of the overall output volume of the particular software application's audio signals. While each control can reduce the overall output volume, controls cannot increase output volume beyond the limitations set by the other controls. In particular, if a "mute" or "zero volume" control is being utilized, adjusting any other volume controls will show no effect. Additionally, in many situations, a computer user may have multiple software applications instantiated at one time such that the multiple software applications are capable of generating audio signal data. In order to obtain the maximal output volume for any application affected by the wave channel, the user has to maximize the volume settings of that channel. However, a user manipulation of some of the audio setting controls can also have the undesirable effect of modifying the overall output volume of audio signals of the other software applications. For example, a user manipulation of the third or fourth audio setting controls (e.g., the wave channel controls) would have the effect of adjusting the overall output volume of all the software applications audio signals being processed through the wave channel. Because so many audio settings controls can effect the overall output volume of the software application audio signals, users often cannot determine which audio setting control will achieve a desired result. For example, a user may manipulate the volume slide bars of a main audio control, channel audio control and software application volume control to increase overall output volume only to discover that one of the mute controls is negating the settings of the volume slide bars. Accordingly, the current set of interfaces for controlling audio setting controls can be inefficient in presenting a user with a representation of audio signal overall output volume for a software application and for controlling audio signal overall output volume for multiple software applications.
Thus, there is a need for a system and method for modeling audio signal overall output volume as product of various audio settings controls.

System and method for implementing a flat audio volume control model


A flexible container lid requiring only one hand to secure objects in an associated container is provided. The lid has a lid aperture providing a medial passageway from which a plurality of narrow openings radially extends so that the lid aperture expands as objects are urged onto it and the flexible lid moves from a flat condition to a bowed condition. Thereby accommodating items that are larger than the centrally located medial passageway by using the narrow openings in conjunction with the medial passageway to expand the size of the entire lid aperture in the bowed condition as the portions of the lid that define each narrow opening simultaneously move way from each other, respectively. Furthermore, the lid returns to its starting flat condition covering the associated container once an item has been placed therein, obviating the need for a user to initially remove the lid from the container.

The present invention relates to container lids and, more particularly, to a flexible container lid providing a lid aperture having a medial passageway from which a plurality of narrow openings radially extends so that the lid aperture expands as objects are urged onto it and the flexible lid moves from a flat condition to a bowed condition, thereby requiring only one hand to secure objects within an associated container.
Traditional storage containers/trashcans, such as Tupperware®, require two hands to open its lid: one hand may be used to secure a base of the storage container while the other hand must be used to remove the lid from perimeter of the storage container. Additionally, traditional lids may be difficult to secure back onto the container without using the same process in reverse. This makes it difficult to store trash or small items while conducting other activities, such as driving. Which tempts people to forgo using a secure lid, which in turn leads to the loss or spillage of the items retained within the container.
As can be seen, there is a need for a flexible container lid that requires only one hand to secure objects in an associated container by providing a lid aperture having a medial passageway from which a plurality of narrow openings radially extend so that the lid aperture expands as objects are urged onto it and through it, as the flexible lid moves from a flat condition to a bowed condition.


An ECU includes a plurality of motor driving circuits for driving at least one motor, a plurality of computers and a plurality of clock circuits. A first computer, which is at a synchronization signal transmission-side, transmits a synchronization signal to a second computer, which is at a synchronization signal reception-side. The first computer and the second computer execute a plurality of specific periodic processes, which are processes executed at cycle periods (for example, 200 μs, 400 μs) of different natural number multiples of a cycle period (for example, 200 μs) of the synchronization signal and need be synchronized. Each timing of the plurality of specific periodic processes is determined based on one synchronization signal.

The present disclosure relates to a motor control apparatus for controlling driving of a motor by a plurality of computers, and a motor drive system including the motor control apparatus.
Conventionally, in a motor control apparatus that controls driving of a motor with a plurality of computers, each computer synchronously executes a plurality of periodic processes having different processing cycle periods.

Motor control apparatus and motor driving system


A method and system for simulating living tissue which is to be monitored by a pulse oximeter that provides red and infrared light flashes, the system including structure for: converting the red and infrared light flashes of the pulse oximeter into electrical signals; modulating the converted electrical signals to provide modulated electrical signals; and converting the modulated electrical signals to light flashes and transmitting the converted light flashes to the pulse oximeter for detection so that the pulse oximeter responds to the converted light flashes as it would to light flashes modulated by a living tissue.

The non-invasive monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO.sub.2) by pulse oximetry is used in many clinical applications. For example, SaO.sub.2 monitoring is performed during surgery, in critical care situations, for hypoxemia screening, in the emergency room, and in the field. The instruments are small and lightweight, making them ideal for neonatal, pediatric and ambulatory applications. Because this instrument is capable of providing continuous and safe measurements of blood oxygenation non-invasively, the pulse oximeter is widely recognized as one of the most important technological advances in bedside monitoring. In 1986, the American Society of Anesthesiologists recommended pulse oximetry as a standard of care for basic intraoperative monitoring, and in 1988, the Society for Critical Care Medicine recommended that this method be used for monitoring patients undergoing oxygen therapy. The mandatory or voluntary use of pulse oximetry by regulatory agencies and professional organizations is likely to continue.
Because pulse oximeters are small, easy-to-use and readily available, they have become widespread in the last decade. The high costs associated with health care make the use of non-invasive pulse oximetry very attractive as it permits effective oxygen monitoring without the expensive clinical laboratory analysis of blood samples.
Oxygen saturation measurements rely on the difference in optical absorbance of deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) and oxyhemoglobin (HbO.sub.2), as shown in FIG. 1. HbO.sub.2 absorbs less light in the red region (ca. 660 nm) than does Hb, but absorbs more strongly in the infrared region (ca. 940 nm). If both wavelengths of light are used, their opposite change in light absorbed as HbO.sub.2 varies versus Hb produces a sensitive index of blood oxygen saturation. The "functional hemoglobin saturation" is defined as: EQU Functional SaO.sub.2 ={[HbO.sub.2 ]/[HbO.sub.2 +Hb]}.times.100% (1)
Pulse oximeters thus employ two discrete wavelengths of light, which are passed through a given tissue (typically a finger). The amount of transmitted light for each wavelength is detected and subtracted from the incident light to determine the amount absorbed. From the ratio (R/IR or "red/infrared") of the amount of light absorbed at each wavelength, the blood oxygen saturation is calculated from a predetermined algorithm. If these were the only conditions of the measurement, the calculated saturation value would in some degree reflect the mixture of arterial and venous blood flowing through the tissue. However, in pulse oximetry the time-variant photoplethysmographic signal, caused by increases in arterial blood volume due to cardiac contraction, is used to determine the arterial blood oxygen saturation (FIG. 2). The advantage of this method is that the oxygen saturation values of the relatively constant flow of arterial and venous blood, as well as the constant absorption of light by the tissue, are discarded.
The SaO.sub.2 values are derived by analyzing only the changes in absorbance caused by the pulsating arterial blood at a red wavelength (e.g., 660 nm), where the absorbance of HbO.sub.2 is less than that of Hb, and a second reference infrared wavelength (e.g., 940 nm), where the absorbance of HbO.sub.2 is slightly larger than Hb. Because the transmitted light intensities depend on the sensitivity of the detector and the individual intensities of the light sources (light-emitting diodes, or LEDs), and because tissue absorption can vary a great deal between individuals, a normalization procedure is commonly used. This normalization involves dividing the pulsatile (AC) component of the red and infrared photoplethysmograms (which is a result of the expansion and relaxation of the arterial blood) by the corresponding non-pulsatile (DC) component of the photoplethysmogram (which is due to the absorption of light by tissue, non-pulsatile arterial blood, and venous blood). This scaling process results in a normalized red/infrared ratio (R/IR) which is virtually independent of the incident light intensity. R/IR can thus be expressed as: EQU R/IR=[AC.sub.red /DC.sub.red ]/[AC.sub.ir /DC.sub.ir ] (2)
Pulse oximeters are calibrated empirically by correlating the measured ratio of normalized AC/DC signals from the red and infrared photoplethysmograms with blood SaO.sub.2 values obtained from a standard in vitro oximeter. A typical relationship between the normalized R/IR ratio and SaO.sub.2 is shown in FIG. 3. At approximately 85% SaO.sub.2, the amount of light absorbed by Hb and HbO.sub.2 is nearly the same, so the normalized amplitudes of the red and infrared signals are equal, and R/IR is 1. For properly functioning instruments, further calibration should not be required in the field because the optical properties of blood are fairly similar among different individuals.
Pulse oximeter probes consist of LEDs for two separate and discrete wavelengths (e.g., 660 and 940 nm) and a photodiode light detector. Three different light levels are measured by the photodiode: the red (660 nm) light level, the infrared (940 nm) light level, and the ambient light level. These three light sources are detected separately by a single photodiode by sequencing the red and infrared light sources on and off, allowing an interval when both are off in order to detect (and subtract out) ambient light. An example from the commercially available Ohmeda model 3700 pulse oximeter is shown in FIG. 4. Sequencing the red and infrared LEDs at a frequency that is an integer multiple of the power line frequency allows the system to operate synchronously with flickering room lights. For example, fluorescent lights generate a 120 Hz flicker on 60 Hz power. The sequencing avoids potential interference of light flickers on the photodiode that would distort or disguise the tiny pulse signals of arterial pulse flow. The light timing sequence shown in FIG. 4 cycles 480 times per second at 60 Hz power; 16 of the red-infrared-off sequences are used to calculate SaO.sub.2 every 0.033 second. These signals are used differently by different pulse oximeter manufacturers, as described below.
The response time of the instrument depends on the number of data points averaged before a final SaO.sub.2 reading is displayed. There are two basic approaches to this averaging, one of which relies on the time average of the peak-to-peak amplitudes of each pulse (FIG. 5A). This method depends on the patient's heart rate and is relatively slow as the signals are available for averaging only once every heartbeat. Another approach is to average a large number of step changes along the steep slopes of the photoplethysmogram (FIG. 5B). In this case, the response time in the instrument is shorter because there are many more data points between successive heartbeats; also, the accuracy and stability of the measured SaO.sub.2 values are usually improved by this approach. The accuracy of pulse oximeters has been extensively studied and has been found to be generally acceptable for a large number of clinical applications. Most manufacturers claim that their instruments are accurate to within .+-.2% in the SaO.sub.2 range of 70-100% and within .+-.3% for SaO.sub.2 values between 50 and 70%, with no specified accuracy below 50% saturation.
Most pulse oximeters offer other display features in addition to SaO.sub.2, such as the pulse rate and displays to indicate the pulse waveform and relative pulse amplitude. These help the user to partially assess the quality and reliability of the measurement. For instance, if the patient's actual heart rate does not agree with that displayed by the pulse oximeter, the displayed SaO.sub.2 value is brought into question. In addition, the shape and stability of the photoplethysmographic waveform often serves as an indication of possible motion artifacts.
Although pulse oximeters offer such advantageous features as described above, are now mandatory for all anesthesias and tens of thousand's of oximeters are in clinical use, doctors and hospitals have no way of knowing if the oximeters are working correctly. Until the present invention, there has not been a simple method or device for verifying oximeter operation despite a clear and pressing need. Manufacturers sometimes provide simple electronic simulators to test the electronic circuitry of their oximeters, but these do not test the performance of the optical sensor and therefore are inadequate. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,968,137 and 5,166,517 are examples of prior art methods and devices for testing pulse oximeters.


The invention relates to a novel type of segmented backplane for multiple microprocessor module boards. The modules are connected to a plurality of backplane segments. Each backplane segment includes connectors for attachment of the microprocessing modules, and a bus segment. When the backplane segments are connected together, the bus segments form a continuous bus. The microprocessing modules carry out their intra-module communication entirely within their own backplane segment without communication through the bus. However, all inter-module communication is carried out through the bus.

Many bus schemes have been developed to enable multiple microprecessors to communicate with each other with and also with shared memory and peripherals. Typically, these processors communicate over a single bus. Various popular bus architectures have reached some level of industry popularity, including the Multibus and VMe-bus. The multiple processors, as well as a variety of peripherals, shared memory and transmission nodes for local area networks are all connected to the same bus.
What that means, however, is that only one processor can communicate with shared memory or peripherals on any given bus cycle. When a processor asks for permission to transmit onto the bus, first it must wait intil the bus is free, and after that, while it is using the bus, all other processors must wait their turns. Obviously such a prior art system requires a "traffic cop", known as a bus arbitrator, to be sure that only one processor at a time uses the bus. Otherwise, total confusion would reign. In other words, if a first processor is talking to shared memory, no other processor may talk either to shared memory or to other peripherals or to another processor while the bus is being used by the first processor. Obviously, therefore, as is well known, the bus creates a bottleneck in the overall data processing speed of a multi-processor system.

Segmented backplane for multiple microprocessing modules


The present disclosure describes a self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixture having a compressive strength of at least 25 MPa at 28 days of age. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided an SCC mixture, comprising: a mixture of coarse aggregate (CA), fine aggregate (FA), very fine aggregate (VFA), cementitious materials including Portland cement or Portland limestone cement, an ASTM C494 Type F polycarboxylate ether high range water reducer, and water, wherein the VFA has a particle size distribution in which 95% to 100% passes a 2.5 mm sieve and in which 20% to 100% passes a 75 μm sieve.

Workability of concrete refers to the effort (or energy) required to manipulate a freshly mixed quantity of concrete with minimum loss of homogeneity. The manipulation may refer to pumping, placing, consolidation and/or finishing of the concrete. Workability of concrete is quantified in terms of "slump" or "slump flow". The slump flow test has been standardized as ASTM C 1611, "Slump Flow of Self-Consolidating Concrete." Slump and slump flow are measurements of concrete rheology and is determined using a slump cone. A slump cone is standardized measurement cone having a predefined volume and angle. FIG. 1A illustrates a standard slump cone 100 which includes a top opening 102 and a bottom opening 104.
The slump cone 100 is used by placing the slump cone 100 on a flat surface and filling the slump cone 100 with fresh concrete through the top opening 102 as shown in FIG. 1B. The slump cone 100 is completely filled and any excess concrete at the top of the slump cone 100 is scraped off. The slump cone 100 is lifted directly upwards. The concrete 110 slowly spreads out over the flat surface without the support of the slump cone 100 to hold the concrete 110 in place. The spreading action causes the height of the concrete 110 to decrease to a height 112 from an initial height 116 corresponding to the height of the slump cone 100. The distance 114 represented by the change in height of the concrete 110 is referred to as the "slump". The "slump" is indicative of the yield value of the concrete. The concrete 110 ultimately spreads out over the flat surface to form a crude disc or pancake shape as shown in FIG. 1C. The diameter 118 of the disc formed by the concrete 110 is referred to as the "slump flow".
Another measurement of the workability of the concrete is the T50 test. The T50 test quantifies the viscosity of the concrete 110 and measures the amount of time in seconds for the concrete in the slump flow test to spread to a diameter of 50 cm or 500 mm). The T50 test has been standardized as ASTM C 1611. The T50 time is indicative of the viscosity of the concrete. The slump, slump flow and T50 are used to assess the rheological properties of the concrete and predict how it will flow or move under the force of gravity or positive force into a desired shape or position.
Conventional concrete has a slump flow of 80 mm to 120 mm. The placement and finishing of concrete floors in residential and commercial applications using a conventional concrete is difficult, labour intensive and time consuming due to this low slump. Conventional concrete having a minimum compressive strength of 25 MPa is typically designed to have a maximum slump flow of 100 mm; however, water is added in the field to raise the slump flow to 200 mm to improve the workability of the concrete, and in particular the placeability of the concrete. The consequences of adding extra water to increase the water/cement ratio, is to decrease ultimate strength and increase shrinkage.
SCC is a type of concrete characterized by a low yield, moderate viscosity which can be used to ensure a uniform suspension of aggregate during transportation, placement and finishing until the concrete sets. SCC has properties which are desirable in the construction of the concrete floors in residential and commercial applications; however, known SCC compositions are more costly to produce than conventional concrete and provide a surface which is prone to tearing and peeling in response to mechanical working/finishing (smoothing and/or hardening) such as when power troweled. This results in surface defects such as blisters and delaminations which are unacceptable for most applications.
Accordingly, a SCC mixture is desired which is comparable in cost to conventional concrete used in residential and industrial floor construction but which requires less time to place and finish, thus increasing the productivity of the concrete supplier and user.

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixture having a compressive strength of at least 25 MPa at 28 days of age


A system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a probe configured to collect a sample gas stream, a pressure reduction section, a heated sorbent trap section, and a control loop. The pressure reduction section has a critical orifice and a heater configured to heat the critical orifice. The heated sorbent trap section is configured to receive a first portion of the sample gas stream, and the control loop is configured to receive a second portion of the sample gas stream.

This disclosure relates to a system for testing mercury levels in gas, such as high pressure natural gas.
Mercury occurs naturally in geological hydrocarbons such as oil and gas, but the concentrations of mercury vary. High concentrations of mercury in gas can accumulate in processing equipment, which may increase exposure risk for those around the equipment. In some applications, such as natural gas pipes, the gas is sampled in order to report mercury concentrations.
Known mercury sampling systems use a sorbent trap to collect samples for testing, but in order to test the sample, the pressure of the gas needs to be reduced to accommodate the maximum operating pressure of the sorbent trap sampling system components. Such mercury sampling systems generally include a diaphragm regulator to reduce pressure upstream of a sorbent trap.


A method of recovering a metal from a low-grade ore which is subjected to cyanide leaching to produce a PLS which contains a metal cyanide which is removed from the PLS by ultrafiltration and nano-filtration, and then acidified and sulphidised to produce a metal sulphide from which the metal is extracted, and hydrogen cyanide which is recycled to the cyanide leaching step.

This invention relates to a method of recovering metals from low grade ores and residues. More particularly, the invention is concerned with increasing the economic viability of recovering base or other metals by means of cyanide leaching of low grade ores and residues by providing a method for the effective recovery of cyanide, contained in a lixiviant to the leach process, which allows for the recovered cyanide to be recycled.
Without being restrictive "low grade ores", as used herein, includes oxide and sulphide ores, especially ores containing high acid-consuming gangue materials such as calcite, dolomite, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, manganese and iron.
The recovery of base metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt and zinc from low grade ores by means of sulphuric acid leaching is often considered uneconomical, at least for the following reasons:    1. the amount of acid, which is a costly reagent, consumed during the leaching of gangue materials such as the aforementioned is relatively high;    2. base metal ores or residues containing sulphides are not leached efficiently in sulphuric acid and, for most sulphide materials, an oxidant such as ferric must be employed. The cost of the oxidant is normally unacceptably high; and    3. during sulphuric acid leaching precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum are not leached and an acid residue must be further processed by cyanidation to recover these metals.
Although the cyanidation of low grade ores can be very effective in recovering base metals and precious metals, the high levels of free cyanide that are required to ensure effective leaching have a detrimental effect on the economic viability of the process.
Several methods for recovering cyanide, following a cyanidation process, have been developed so that the recovered cyanide can be recycled in order to make the cyanidation process more economical. One method, referred to as the SART process, used for recovering gold from copper-gold ores, has shown promise.
A basic flow sheet of the SART process is shown in FIG. 1. The process includes the following steps: leaching the ore with cyanide to form a solution which is subjected to a first solid/liquid separation step to produce a pregnant leach solution (PLS) and solids; acidification of the PLS using H2SO4; followed by sulphidisation by means of the addition of H2S, to produce a solution containing a metal sulphide complex, which is subjected to a second solid/liquid separation step, such as activated carbon filtration or ion exchange, to form a filtrate and a filtered liquor. Copper, gold and silver are recovered from the filtrate and the pH of filtered liquid is adjusted before recycling to the leaching step. The solids from the first solid/liquid separation step are washed and subjected to a cyanide destruction step to form a detoxified product which is disposed of in a slimes dam.
The SART process is primarily used for gold recovery. To the applicant's knowledge the SART process has not been considered for the treatment of low grade base metal ores or residues, for the quantity of base metal which would be recovered would not normally justify the high cost of the reagents.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method which, at least partially, addresses the problem associated with these high costs.

Method of recovering base metals from low grade ores and residues


Providing a vehicle damper device enabling acquisition of hysteresis torque with a simple structure.

A vehicle damper device is well known that includes a disc plate rotatable around an axial center, a hub member rotatable around the same axial center as the disc plate, and an elastic member interposed between the disc plate and the hub member. A vehicle damper device is also well known that includes a hysteresis mechanism consisting of a friction element between the disc plate and the hub member as in a torque variation absorbing device described in Patent Document 1. A torque variation absorbing device 1 described in Patent Document 1 is disposed with a mechanism generating two-stage hysteresis toques. In a damper device 3 of Patent Document 2, a friction material disposed on a tip of a hub member 25 is pushed when the hub member 25 and a side plate 23 are relatively rotated, thereby generating hysteresis torque. FIG. 9 of Patent Document 3 depicts a second damping device 514 consisting of a friction ring 532, a spring clamp 530, circular plates 524, 525, etc.

Abstract: When the stoppers 96 and 97 are actuated and the relative rotation is regulated between the plates 90, 92 and the disc plate 56, a slip occurs between the plates 90, 92 and the hub member 58. As a result, a friction force is generated between the plates 90, 92 and the hub member 58, and a hysteresis torque is generated based on this friction force. Since this configuration can be achieved by simply providing the plates 90, 92, the clip 94, and the stoppers 96, 97, the hysteresis torque can be acquired with a simple configuration without a significant design change.


Systems for secure data monitoring utilizing secure private set intersections are disclosed. In embodiments, program instructions are executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to: generate a garbled circuit program compiled into a first half and a second half; send the second half of the garbled circuit program to a client server of a client; receive social network data from a social network provider; index, utilizing the first half of the garbled circuit program in cooperation with the second half of the garbled circuit program at the client server, the social network data based on predetermined intent categories; and generate search results, utilizing the first half of the garbled circuit program in cooperation with the second half of the garbled circuit program at the client server, based on client data at the second half of the garbled circuit program.

The present invention relates generally to data monitoring and, more particularly, to secure data monitoring utilizing secure private set intersection.
Safety personnel may have multiple sources of data available to them, but do not necessarily have the resources, time or computing skills required to analyze the data for actionable concerns. Tools that exist today to support safety personnel require back end information technology (IT) personnel to provide technical support, and budgets (e.g., local level budges) may not be able to support such personnel. Moreover, IT personnel are generally not the best personnel to act on safety concerns, and there is a need to provide pertinent safety information directly to safety personnel trained to act on such information.
Safety products or solutions that do not preserve the privacy of the client using the product have the potential to expose "areas of focus" of the client to others. Therefore, a mechanism is needed that will obfuscate topics being searched or monitored by safety personnel from those who have no need for the information. Ideally, such a mechanism would obfuscate all parameters of interest to a client, including for example, time, intent, geographical location, actors involved, sensitive physical locations (e.g., properties to be protected), etc.

Secure data monitoring utilizing secure private set intersection

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A system for producing food products may include an inner tube configured to extrude a first component, and an outer tube provided about the inner tube to define an annular space through which a second component is extruded, the inner and outer tubes (alone or in conjunction with a nozzle or other extrusion mechanism defining an outlet. Additionally, a collagen head can be configured to apply a layer of collagen gel over the second component. The inner and outer tubes are sized, and flow rate may be configured such that an initial diameter of the first component exiting the outlet is substantially smaller than a final diameter of the first component, and an initial thickness of the second component exiting the outlet is substantially greater than a final thickness of the second component.

There are many challenges associated with providing food products having multiple components and/or one or more layers, where one or more of the components or layers act as a carrier for one or more inclusions for the food product.
Accordingly, various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to improved systems and methods for food product extrusions and similar food products.

Systems and methods for food product extrusion