The invention concerns a light source unit of tunable spectral properties, having a pump light source and a phosphor element for a conversion of pump light into converted light intended for illuminating a target, wherein the phosphor element has at least two phosphor element sections interacting differently with pump light, and wherein the light source unit further comprises a deflecting unit, such as a zoom lens or a variable diffraction grating, for deflecting the pump light so as to vary a distribution of pump light incident onto the phosphor element with respect to the different phosphor element sections, in order to vary spectral properties of the combined converted light beam emanating from the light source unit.

There is an increasing need for high luminance colour-tunable light sources, in particular tunable white light sources, but also tunable ultraviolet and infrared light sources, in applications from illumination systems for surgical operating fields, spotlight and data projection systems to a fibre-optical illumination in medical and industrial endoscopy. Concerning white light of high luminance, bright discharge lamps are the state of the art being broadly used today. Recent developments are heading for a combination of solid-state light sources, in particular light emitting diodes (LED) and light converting phosphor elements. Therein, the typically blue or ultraviolet solid-state based light is converted to light having a longer wavelength by a transmission through the phosphor element.
In prior art, a high luminance solid state white light source is obtained for example by arranging a big number of white and colour LEDs in a two-dimensional array, wherein the output colour of such an LED aggregate is tuned by switching on and off the individual colour LEDs.

Colour-tunable light source unit with phosphor element


Generally described, an airtight building, or Construx Airtight Hybrid Building (CAHYB), includes an internal structural support, for example, a core anchored to a concrete foundation wall or a concrete slab, to form the structural frame of the airtight building, and a plurality of insulated metal panels to provide atmospheric stability such that the atmosphere within the airtight building may be controlled. In some configurations, the insulated metal panels are used as the outside perimeter wall. Structural caulking is applied to the interface between the core and the plurality of insulated metal panels to form a building with a degree of airtightness.

Specifications of certain buildings require a degree of airtightness for creating atmosphere-controlled environments. The level of airtightness is dictated by the designated commercial application, required tolerances, and certification level. Some examples of commercial uses for an airtight building include storage of fruit or vegetables, indoor cultivation (greenhouses), simulation of low or high altitude conditions, fire prevention, and pest control, among others.
Existing methods for constructing an airtight building generally involve two distinct construction phases. Phase one includes constructing a building structure in a traditional manner, and phase two includes modifying the conventional structure to achieve the desired level of airtightness specification. Modifications performed during the airtight phase may include installing specialized panels, drilling openings for air conditioning and various atmosphere control equipment, and sealing gaps with caulking compound and/or expanding/non-expanding foams.
Conventional airtight building methods have various disadvantages, including the costs and extended timeline incurred by having separate construction phases. In addition, airtightness may be prone to compromise due to normal expansion and/or contraction of the building materials and/or the building structure, such as through ground shift, wind, snow, or other natural forces. In some examples, gaps sealed with caulking compound may begin to re-split, fastener and pipe openings made through insulating panels can erode and leak, and/or insulating panels may become detached from the building structure and other components. Similarly, airtightness may be compromised when building walls sustain impact from equipment, for example, a forklift.

Methods and configurations of an airtight building


Described is a ratchet strap with a free end securing system. The ratchet strap has a strap with an attachment end and a free end and a strap winding shaft which is capable of receiving the free end in a wrapped relationship. A ratchet mechanism is included for simultaneously shortening the attachment end and the free end wherein the free end is drawn from the wrapped relationship with the strap winding shaft.

The present invention is related to an improved ratchet strap. More particularly the present invention is related to an improved ratchet strap wherein the free end is secured.
Ratchet straps are commonly used in many areas of commerce including, without limit, hauling freight. A ratchet strap typically has an end of fixed length and an end of variable length with a ratchet mechanism capable of reducing the length of strap between two points thereby tightly securing an item to a transport trailer or the like.
A typical ratchet strap is illustrated in top view in FIG. 1, without the strap, and in cross-sectional view in FIG. 2 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 2 with the strap in place. The ratchet strap, generally represented at 1, comprises a mandrel, 3, with a slot, 2, therein. In use a strap, 4, is slid into the slot until a suitable amount of slack has been removed between the mandrel and a hook, 5. The free end of the strap is that section extending away from the mandrel opposite the attachment side which comprises a hook. The length of the free end is longer if the strap is expanding across a small length but decreases as the strap extends across a larger length. The free end must be secured which is a constant problem in the art and a problem which is solved herein.
The ratchet mechanism is not particularly limited herein with the ratchet mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 being a sufficient representation to explain the invention.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 the mandrel has attached thereto a ratchet wheel, 6, with cams, 7, thereon. The cams are sufficient to allow a frame pawl, 8, to be persuaded away from the ratchet wheel upon rotation in one direction (clockwise as depicted in FIG. 2) but to oppose rotation in the opposite direction. The frame pawl is persuaded towards the ratchet wheel by a frame spring, 9. A mechanism is typically provided to allow the frame pawl to be disengaged with the cams of the ratchet wheel thereby allowing release of the strap.
A ratchet handle, 11, rotates the ratchet wheel, and attached mandrel. As the mandrel rotates a portion of the attachment end, and free end, of the strap wraps around the mandrel thereby tightening the strap around the item being secured. A ratchet pawl, 12, preferably slidably attached to the ratchet handle engages with the cams of the ratchet wheel. As the handle is moved in an arcuate motion in the direction of the arrow, 13, the mandrel rotates thereby wrapping strap there around. As the mandrel rotates a sufficient amount the counter-rotation is prohibited by the frame pawl engaging with successive cams. A ratchet spring, 14, persuades the ratchet pawl into engagement with the cams. As the handle is rotated back in a direction counter to arrow 13 the ratchet pawl is persuaded away from the cam until a position is reached wherein additional rotation of the sprocket can begin. A ratchet release handle, 15, is provided for persuading the ratchet pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel thereby allowing the strap to be released. The ratchet release handle and frame pawl release handle may be separate, integral or operable in a single operation. In one embodiment the ratchet pawl is withdrawn and the handle rotated to a position where the ratchet pawl release handle is engaged with a rest stop, 33, which also disengages the frame pawl thereby allowing for free rotation of the mandrel.
The handle, 11, comprises a pair of side supports, 17, with a grip, 18, extending there between. The handle forms a shape substantially in the shape of the letter "U" with the open end towards the mandrel.
Though ratchet straps are in widespread use they still have a major deficiency particularly, with regards to the free end of the strap. The present invention provides a solution to this long felt problem.


The timepiece includes means for adjusting the shake of a rotating part or wheel set, in particular a balance one bearing of which is arranged in a bar (4). This bar comprises a base (18) associated with a adjusting screw (34) one end (36) of which rests on the bottom plate. Rotating this adjusting screw varies the distance between the base and the bottom plate (14). The center of the adjusting screw is pierced for the passage of a tightening screw (32) for fixing the bar to the bottom plate. This adjusting screw is arranged in a hole (42) passing through the base (18) and can be rotated through the hole from the top face (46) of the bar in order to adjust the balance shake.

There is known from Swiss Patent No. 20552 in the name of J. L. Kurtz, filed on 1 Nov. 1899, a balance bar associated with means for adjusting the relative position of the two bearings in which the two ends of the balance staff or arbour respectively pivot. The balance bar described is of the simple type, i.e. with a single base secured to a bottom plate and a plate connected to one end of this single base and having at its other free end an aperture for arranging a bearing. The balance bar is secured to the bottom plate by a single screw passing right through the single base.
In this patent, the shake of the balance staff is adjusting by adjusting the height of the balance bar plate. Three regulating screws are provided for this purpose on the periphery of the tightening screw. The three regulating screws pass through the base of the bar and abut on the side of the bottom plate against three other complementary screws defining thus three points of abutment for the three adjusting screws. By screwing or unscrewing the three adjusting screws in a homogenous manner, it is thus possible to vary the height of the balance bar plate, i.e. to vary the relative distance of the plate to the bottom plate. According to this patent, the plate remains horizontal, i.e. parallel to the general plane of the bottom plate. Thus the watchmaker who adjusts the balance shake has to act on the three regulating screws by repeatedly rotating them in succession until the plate reaches a height that defines a proper shake for the balance. This is a significant drawback for assembling the timepiece and adjusting the balance shake. Moreover, three regulating screws increase the cost of the timepiece and their arrangement at the periphery of the tightening screw requires relatively large dimensions for the base of the bar. This raises a problem as to the design of the timepiece movement and in particular as to the arrangement of the balance bar.
A timepiece sold by the Rolex company is also known that has a system for adjusting the balance shake. In this timepiece, the balance bar is of the double type, i.e. having two bases arranged at the two ends of the bar plate and allowing the balance bar to be rigidly secured on either side of the bearing arranged substantially at the centre of the plate. The two bases are respectively secured to the bottom plate by two tightening screws. Each of the two tightening screws is screwed inside a cylinder driven into the bottom plate. This cylinder has an interior threading for the tightening screw and an exterior threading for an adjusting nut. The two bases of the balance bar are held abutting against the two nuts by the two tightening screws. A friction spring formed by a resiliently deformable washer is provided underneath the nut so as to hold the latter in position when it is not being actuated by a watchmaker. The two tightening screws are respectively provided at the periphery of the two respective bases so as to allow the adjusting nuts, which have flutes on the external lateral surface, to be rotated in order to facilitate activation thereof using a suitable tool and thus adjusting of the balance shake.
The system for adjusting the shake of a balance described above has certain drawbacks. First of all, it is relatively complex and expensive. Indeed, this system comprises two cylindrical parts, with an inner threading and an outer threading, which have to be driven into the bottom plate. Moreover, the system comprises two fluted adjusting nuts. Then, in order to adjust the height of the bar plate with the balance in place, the tightening screws have to be provided on the outer edge of the two bases and a free space must be left on the periphery of the two tightening screws in order to allow access to the adjusting nuts which come out laterally underneath the bases. This regulating system is thus relatively complicated and limits the possibilities for arranging the balance bar in the timepiece movement.
It is an object of the present invention to propose a device for adjusting the shake of a rotating part in a timepiece, in particular a balance, which is relatively inexpensive and enables the shake of the rotating part to be efficiently adjusting, without increasing the size of the bar concerned or limiting the arrangement of its peripheral area.

Mechanical timepiece fitted with a device for adjusting the shake of a rotating part or wheel set


Filtering assembly for a feedthrough, for implantable medical devices, having operating conductive pin(s) and a ground conductive pin. The filtering assembly has:                first insulating substrate,        first conductive layer accommodated at first side of first insulating substrate and second conductive layer accommodated at second side of first insulating substrate opposing first side,        first conductive layer comprises a conductive ground ring accommodated that surrounds the circumference of one end of the operating conductive pins and capacitive element(s), wherein each of the capacitive element(s) provides on the first side a connection to the operating conductive pin(s) and on the second side a connection to the ground ring, wherein the ground ring is connected to the ground pin,        the second conductive layer comprises a ground plane providing connection to the ground ring of the first conductive layer and a connection to the ground pin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filtering assembly for a feedthrough, preferably for implantable medical devices, wherein said feedthrough comprises at least one operating conductive pin and a ground conductive pin and a respective feedthrough assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Feedthrough assemblies are generally well-known in the art for connecting electrical signals through the housing or case of an electronic instrument, for example of an active implantable medical device, such as a cardiac pacemaker, an implantable hearing device, a defibrillator, a neurostimulator, a drug pump or the like.
A known feedthrough assembly comprising a multitude of electrically conductive pins is disposed within a respective one of a multitude of openings in an insulator structure for feedthrough passage from the exterior to the interior of the electronic instrument. The end of each cylindrically formed pin of the multitude of electrically conductive pins protruding to the exterior of the electronic device is referred to as the first end of each pin and the opposite end of the each pin is referred to as the second end. The second end of the pin is electrically connected to an interior element of the electronic instrument transferring or receiving the electrical signals. The known feedthrough assembly further comprises an insulating element (in the following: header) having a supportive surface with a flange and/or a recess on the outer perimeter thereof. This supportive surface serves as a leakproof attachment of the feedthrough assembly to the housing.
Today it is often requested with regard to active implantable medical devices to decouple and/or shield undesirable electromagnetic interference signals (EMI signals) from the device wherein electromagnetic interference signals consist of a number of modulated carrier frequencies, for example the carrier frequency of a cellular phone.
In order to filter (decouple and/or shield) these undesirable electromagnetic interference signals it is well-known in the art that EMI feedthrough capacitors can be attached to the flanges of human implantable seals. These devices are generally designed with one or more monolithic ceramic feedthrough capacitors which are typically made of a barium titanate dielectric into which alternating active and ground electrode plates are embedded.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,248 B2 an EMI filtered connector is disclosed which provides a multitude of conductive terminal pins, a grounded conductive connector housing through which the terminal pins pass in a non-conductive relation, and an array of feedthrough filter capacitors each having a distinct first set of electrode plates (refers to a set of electrode plates which are distinctly separate and associated with a particular capacitor of the feedthrough filter capacitor array), a non-distinct second set of electrode plates (refers to those plates which are common to two or more of the distinct capacitors in the array of feedthrough filter capacitors) and first passage way through which a respective terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates. Further, at least one ground lead conductively coupled to the conductive connector housing and extending into a second passage way through the array of feedthrough filter capacitors in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates and a grounding ring conductively coupled to the ground lead and to the connector housing are provided.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,660 B2 describes feedthrough capacitors which are typically formed of a dielectric material having disposed therein in an alternating fashion ground electroplates and active electroplates. A passage way is provided through the capacitor which is lined with a metallization layer typically applied either by a thick film process or by selective electroplating. Additionally, metallization is applied about the periphery of the capacitor in a similar manner as the interior metallization. The exterior metallization provides the electrical contact to the ground electrode plate set. For conductively coupling the terminal pin and the first set of electrodes and for mechanically coupling the terminal pin to the feedthrough capacitor the feedthrough terminal assembly described in this document comprises a terminal pin which at least partially extends through the aperture. A conductive insert is disposed within the aperture. In one embodiment, the insert further comprises a resiliently flexible conductive contact spring which provides the electrical contact between the inside diameter of the feedthrough hole of the ceramic capacitor and the lead wire of a terminal pin.
The above mentioned state of the art feedthrough assemblies for EMI filtering have the disadvantage, that on the one hand they are expensive in manufacturing and on the other hand it is impossible to get reliable results in leakage testing because of their complicated structure. Additionally, the state of the art feedthrough assemblies can not easily be minimized.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,935 B1 a filtered feedthrough assembly is disclosed comprising a header having a supportive surface and a discoidal capacitive device with an upper and a lower side, wherein the lower side is connected or bonded to the supportive surface of the header. The discoidal capacitive device comprises a first set of electrode plates arranged to be suitable for parallel connections with the multiple electrically conductive terminal pins, a second set of electrode plates arranged to be suitable for series connections with the multiple electrically conductive terminal pins and a second set of openings defined through said discoidal capacitive device for the passage of the terminal pins, wherein electrically conductive patterns are disposed on said upper side of said discoidal capacitor and an electrical component is connected to said electrically conductive patterns. The discoidal capacitor is bonded to the supportive surface of the header with a conductive polyamide. This feedthrough assembly can be manufactured more easily and less expensively than the feedthrough assemblies above mentioned and allows for the integration of additional electronic components into the assembly. However, the direct connection or bonding of the discoidal capacitive device to the supportive surface of the header may cause difficulties in the manufacturing procedure and result in less reliability during its operation because the header and the discoidal capacitive device have different thermal expansion coefficient.
Therefore it is desirable to provide a multi-leaded feedthrough assembly and a filtering assembly therefore capable of reliably filtering EMI at the point of entry of the signals into the implantable medical device and which can be manufactured easily and inexpensively, tested with reliable results and allows for integration of further electrical components.

Filtering assembly and a feedthrough assembly

Abstract: Further directed to a feedthrough assembly comprising the inventive filtering assembly.


The invention is directed to an MLC manufacturing process in which the electrode paste is cast or printed onto a rigid substrate. The dried surface of the electrode is rendered smooth to remove surface asperities and the prints are then transferred to the dielectric substrate through a mask which patterns the electrode print on the surface.

This invention generally relates to a new process for making monolithic multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCs). The process involves a calendering step in which lumps or other imperfections are removed from the dried electrode print. This step enables use of thinner dielectric layers and the achievement of higher values of capacitance per unit part volume.
Multilayer ceramic capacitors consist of a plurality of interleaved and staggered layers of an electrically conductive film of metal (termed "electrode"), formed by the deposition (usually be screen printing or variations thereof) of a thick film paste (termed an "electrode composition") and electrically insulating layers of a ceramic oxide (termed "dielectric"), formed by laying a cast dielectric tape or by casting a dielectric slurry over the dried electrode. Such capacitors are well-known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,389,420, for example, describes the structure, manufacture and properties of monolithic multilayer ceramic capacitors.
The electrode composition is usually a dispersion of finely divided precious metal powders such as palladium, silver, gold, or platinum or their mixtures in a vehicle which is usually solely organic in nature. Dispersions of non-precious metals such as copper and nickel have also been shown to have utility in electrode compositions. The vehicle is usually composed of a mixture of a polymeric resin which imparts viscosity to the composition and appropriate solvents for processing compatibility, particularly with respect to drying. Other organic additives are usually made to the vehicle to control paste rheology. Typical electrode composition metal concentrations range from 40 to 70% by weight, with the remainder being vehicle. Electrode compositions are deposited, usually be screen printing techniques, on dried dielectric layers, then dried to remove solvents and leave a mixture of metal powders and resin from the vehicle.
The dielectric layer is usually composed of finely-divided oxide powers dispersed in a resin. Barium titanate (BaTiO.sub.3) and other oxides such as neodymium titanate (Nd.sub.2 Ti.sub.2 O.sub.7) and magnesium titanate (MgTiO.sub.3) are used. Additions are usually made to these oxides to control various electrical characteristics, particularly to maximize dielectric constant while controlling the temperature dependence of dielectric constant and electrical insulation resistance, among other properties. The resin is present in the dielectric layers to facilitate handling and printing of electrodes on the layers.
Multilayer ceramic capacitors are manufactured by building up an interleaved configuration of electrode and dielectric layers, dicing individual parts out of the build-up then subjecting the parts to a slow burnout then high temperature firing. Burnout is done to remove the organic resin in the electrode and dielectric layers to avoid rapid outgassing and rupture of the parts. Firing is done to a peak temperature to both densify the dielectric for maximum dielectric constant and physical strength, and to react the chemical constituents of the dielectric such that other desired electrical characteristics are achieved. During the firing step, the powder grains in the electrode layers also sinter and densify so as to produce a continuous, highly electrically conductive metal film.
Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors are made using two primary manufacturing processes: the "dry stack" and "wet stack" processes. An excellent review of MLC manufacturing processes is given in a paper by Adair et al., "A Review of the Processing of Electronic Ceramics with Emphasis on Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Fabrication" in Journal of Materials Education, Vol. 9, pages 71-118 (1987). Both processes relate to the manner in which the dielectric layer is formed over the electrode lying underneath it. In the dry stack process the dielectric is cast into a tape from a slurry of dielectric powder, solvents, and pliable resins. The tape is placed over the dried electrode print, a subsequent electrode is printed on the tape, dried, and another tape is placed, etc. The dry stack process is limited in the thinness of the fired dielectric layer which can be achieved since the tape must be of sufficient thickness for handling. The "wet stack" process utilizes slurries of dielectric powder, solvents and resins, but involves casting, printing, or pouring the dielectric slurry directly over the dried electrode. The wet stack process is inherently capable of forming thinner dielectric layers since the requirements of tape handling are avoided.
A principal trend in MLC industry, and in electronics in general, is towards smaller components with higher electrical values per unit part volume. There are several ways to achieve this goal in multilayer ceramic capacitors. One way is to utilize ceramic dielectrics with higher dielectric constants. This is, however, limited by fundamental limitations with the solid state chemistry of the dielectrics. Another method is to have the capacitors contain as many electrically active layers as possible. This is limited by both physical restraints in the allowable part thickness and the tendency for high layer count parts to delaminate during burnout and/or firing.
A third way to achieve higher values of capacitance per unit part volume is to make the dielectric layers thinner so as to reduce the distance between electrodes of opposite polarity. This is possible using the finer dielectric powders now available and conventional tape casting or wet stack technology. The principal limitation, however, is the smoothness of the printed electrode.
In current MLC electrode paste technology, it is not unusual for a dried electrode surface to have asperities or lumps of metal protruding above the bulk of the print. In some cases these lumps can extend up to 15 microns above the print surface. If a dielectric tape of 20 microns dried thickness is placed over such a lump, the lump may protrude through the tape and come into contact with the opposing electrode. Such contact will result in an electrical short in the capacitor. Even if interelectrode contacts as described do not immediately occur, long term part reliability may still be questionable.
Reliability is a prime concern in multilayer ceramic capacitors. Electronic designers require high degrees of reliability in every component comprising an electrical circuit. In particular, they rely heavily on the reliability of the simpler passive components such as capacitors being higher than other components to compensate for lower degrees of reliability in other components.
The dried electrode lump problem is exacerbated when the wet stack MLC manufacturing process is used. In this process the dielectric layer is applied in liquid form over the dried electrode. Any lumps or other imperfections existing in the dried electrode can easily poke through the wet layer and contact the electrode of opposite polarity on the other side of the cast dielectric. The dried electrode lump problem is particularly daunting in the case of the wet stack manufacturing process because this process facilitates making thin dielectric layers.
There are two possible means to eliminating the lump problem in dried electrodes. One is to optimize the process used to disperse the electrode metal powder in the electrode organic vehicle. Techniques such as three-roll-milling, sand-milling, and high speed dispersion are used. Such techniques, however, always have some degree of impact character associated with their dispersion action. Impact can cause the individual grains comprising the electrode powder to aggregate into larger grains which ultimately can become lumps in the printed and fired electrode. This is exacerbated when malleable precious metal powders are used, as is the case for the dispersion of Pd and Pd/Ag powders in MLC electrodes. Even when such dispersion processes are optimized to control powder grain aggregation, there always exists the probability that some powder aggregation will occur. With the high levels of reliability required of MLCs in the present, and in the future, such probabilities are unacceptable.
Another way to eliminate the lump problem is to eliminate, or at least control, the number and size of the lumps present in the powder in the electrode while the powder is being precipitated. Even with an optimized powder dispersion technique, any aggregates present in the starting powder will only be dispersed into the organic vehicle and not broken up into smaller sized grains. It is unlikely, however, that control of such lumps can be achieved using purely chemical techniques during powder precipitation.
Ultimately some physical (non-chemical) means of controlling electrode lumps is needed to enable use of thinner dielectric layers in multilayer ceramic capacitors.

Multilayer ceramic capacitor manufacturing process


A method of communication by a first device is provided. The method includes selecting, by the first device, one path of a plurality of paths to a destination device by each device including the first device within a network, the one path being selected based on information of available links, generating link setting information needed to transmit a packet to the destination device through a second device based on information of a second device included in the selected path, generating a first packet by inserting path information into the packet based on the link setting information, and transmitting the first packet to the destination device through the second device.

In current network technology, all functions related with a network are performed in one device. Furthermore, the same functions which need to be processed only one time are consecutively performed for each device. For example, existing available network devices perform an individual traffic operation for only the links connected to respective devices. As such, the current network is very complicated, is not flexible, increases costs, and when there is a problem in the network, it is difficult to resolve the problem.
In order to resolve such problems, there is a need for a new network structure, and a software defined networking (SDN) structure is being considered as one solution to this problem.
The SDN is a technology, which separates hardware from software and controls the network. Generally, a network device is not controlled by various software sets by separating hardware from software. However, in a network which uses SDN, software which meets the user's needs and environment may be developed or introduced, and thus it is possible for each individual to implement an optimized network environment by selecting only functions which are needed in the network environment.
However, currently available network devices are not SDN compatible, and thus there is a need for a technology of controlling the network by using SDN technology in the network including a device which does not use the SDN technology.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Communication method and apparatus in a network including a plurality of devices


The present invention provides compounds of formula (I): compositions comprising such compounds; the use of such compounds in therapy (for example in the treatment or prevention of a disease, disorder or condition ameliorated by inhibition of a dopamine transporter); and methods of treating patients with such compounds; wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R9a, R9b, R9c, R9d, R9e, R9f, m, n, A, L and B are as defined herein.

The spirocyclic derivatives of the present invention are inhibitors of human dopamine active transporter protein (DAT) and have a number of therapeutic applications, particularly in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, affective disorders, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, Tourette syndrome, Angelman syndrome, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, pain, obsessive-compulsive disorder, movement disorders, CNS disorders, sleep disorders, narcolepsy, conduct disorder, substance abuse (including smoking cessation), eating disorders, and impulse control disorders.
Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter which has a fundamental role in cognitive, affective, motor, motivational and reward-related functions. Following evoked action potentials DA is released into the synaptic cleft and this DA signal is extinguished by reuptake of DA into pre-synaptic neurons by DAT and by amine diffusion and local metabolism via enzymatic degradation. Dysfunction of the dopaminergic system is implicated in numerous CNS disorders and consequently DAT has been the focus of research into a number of these conditions and strong associations exist between abnormal DAT expression and/or function and disease.
Several marketed drugs have pharmacological activity at DAT, but none are selective and potent DAT inhibitors. Stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate have multiple pharmacological activities including effects on synaptic levels of DA, noradrenaline (NE) and serotonin (5-HT). Despite their therapeutic potential in conditions such as ADHD, they also carry unwanted side effects such as abuse potential (1), cardiovascular effects (2), appetite suppression (3) and sleep disturbance (4).
Other non-selective DAT inhibitors are also used to treat CNS disorders. Bupropion which is prescribed as an antidepressant and a smoking cessation aid has a significant DAT component to its pharmacological activity, although it carries an increased seizure risk. Similarly Modafinil which is prescribed as a treatment for narcolepsy, excessive daytime sleepiness and shift work sleep disorder has been shown to inhibit DAT as part of its pharmacological mechanism of action. Multiple compounds have been developed that target the other monoamine transporters either selectively as inhibitors of the serotonin transporter (SERT) (Citalopram, Fluoxetine) or noradrenaline transporter (NET) inhibitors (Atomoxetine, Reboxetine) as well as dual serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (Venlafaxine). Drugs that inhibit SERT and NET have been burdened with multiple adverse side effects such as nausea (5), sexual dysfunction (6), increased suicide risk (7) for drugs that elevate 5-HT levels and elevated heart rate and blood pressure (8, 9) for drugs that increase noradrenaline levels. This makes a selective and potent DAT inhibitor, with a neurochemical profile distinct from that of stimulants, a highly desirable compound for the treatment of CNS disorders.
ADD and ADHD are neurodevelopmental psychiatric, behavioural and cognitive disorders characterised by concentration deficits, inner restlessness/hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These are the most common behavioural disorders amongst children, with a prevalence of 5-10% of the general population. It is widely believed that the symptoms of these disorders result from a dopaminergic and/or noradrenergic hypofunction. There is a wealth of information showing that the core symptoms of ADHD are influenced by changes in dopaminergic function (10) and hence a DAT inhibitor which would raise synaptic DA levels, should be efficacious. Current treatments for ADD/ADHD include the stimulants amphetamine and methylphenidate. These compounds have pharmacological activity for DAT, amongst other activities, and it is believed that their efficacy is derived from the elevation of corticostriatal DA and NE. These drugs are not selective DAT inhibitors however, and as such cause rapid, transient and marked release of DA from synaptic terminals which has been associated with their unwanted side effects, such as abuse potential. This neurochemical profile is distinct from that of a selective and potent DAT inhibitor which causes a slower increase in dopamine which is sustained for a much longer duration. This different neurochemical profile has been associated with less reinforcing effects and subsequently lower abuse potential (11). In addition to the neurochemical evidence for a likely therapeutic benefit of DAT inhibitors in ADHD, several studies have shown associations between DAT polymorphisms and overexpression of DAT in ADHD (12). Preclinical models of ADHD symptoms have shown that like amphetamine and methylphenidate a selective DAT inhibitor will decrease impulsive behaviour in rodents (13) further supporting the potential for efficacy of DAT inhibitors. Collectively this evidence provides compelling data to believe that selective DAT inhibitors will be efficacious in ADD/ADHD and other disorders characterised by poor impulse control (such as Trichotillomania, pathological gambling, Kleptomania and disorders with comorbid impulse control such as Parkinson's disease) or inattention.
Tourette's syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by motor and/or phonic tics. It normally presents during childhood and is poorly treated with drugs. Studies have postulated that one aspect underlying Tourette's is dopaminergic dysfunction whereby tonic/phasic dysfunction results in reduced synaptic DA levels and consequently higher levels in axon terminals leading to increased stimulus dependent release. Further studies have shown that post-mortem tissue from Tourette's patients showed elevated levels of DAT in the frontal lobe (14) and that polymorphisms in DAT are associated with the occurrence of Tourette's. This was further supported in a clinical study of drug naïve children which showed and increased specific/non-specific DAT binding ratio in those with Tourette's (15). These findings suggest that a selective DAT inhibitor may provide symptomatic relief for Tourette's patients.
Other neuropsychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder have also been associated with DAT. OCD patients have been shown to have an increased specific/non-specific DAT binding ratio (16) and this ratio was altered following treatment with SSRIs which are commonly used to treat OCD. Similarly abnormal dopamine function and/or dopamine turnover have been implicated in ODD, conduct disorder and other related behavioural disorders (17) and polymorphisms in DAT have been implicated as a risk factor for externalising behaviour in children. Studies showing that children with conduct disorder display disrupted reinforcement signalling and a response to reward have also suggested that modulation of synaptic dopamine levels could be a therapeutic option for these disorders presenting the opportunity to use a selective DAT inhibitor to treat these behavioural disorders.
Sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, cataplexy, excessive daytime sleepiness and shift work sleep disorder can interfere with an individual's normal mental and physical wellbeing. Several of these disorders are treated with drugs that have pharmacological activity at DAT. Modafinil is widely used to treat narcolepsy and its therapeutic potential has been related to occupancy of DAT). Other treatments for sleep disorders include amphetamine, methamphetamine and methylphenidate, all of which have pharmacological actions at DAT. Preclinical studies have shown that the wake promoting effects of several of these compounds and a selective DAT inhibitor are abolished in DAT knockout mice. Together these data support the use of a selective DAT inhibitor in the treatment of sleep disorders.
Mood disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, seasonal affective disorder, melancholic depression, catatonic depression, postpartum depression and dysthymia represent a major medical and social burden on society and are amongst the most common of all CNS disorders. Treatment for these disorders is currently inadequate with low levels of efficacy and poor responder rates to currently available therapies. In addition many of the drugs that are the current standard of care carry unwanted side effects. SPECT studies in patients suffering from major depressive disorder have shown that there is an increased binding of DAT in depressed patients and that this was reversed following successful antidepressant treatment (18,19). In addition to this marketed antidepressants such as Nomifensine have a significant DAT inhibitory component to their mechanism of action. Preclinical studies investigating the behavioural phenotype of DAT knockout mice in tests for antidepressant activity have shown that genetic removal of DAT function results in antidepressant-like behaviour. This evidence is supportive for a therapeutic benefit for DAT inhibitors in mood disorders.
A comorbid symptom of depression and an unwanted side effect of many commonly used antidepressants is sexual dysfunction (20). Bupropion a commonly prescribed antidepressant with a significant DAT inhibitory component to its mechanism of action has been shown to result in fewer sexual dysfunction related side effects than other antidepressants (21). Furthermore Bupropion has been shown to reverse the sexual dysfunction caused by SSRIs. Preclinical studies have shown an effect of Bupropion on sexual behaviour in rats which is supported by clinical evidence that the drug is effective in treating women suffering from hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Amphetamine has also been shown to increase sexual behaviour in male and female rats and has also been shown to reverse sexual impairment in female rats. This evidence for drugs that have pharmacological activity at DAT is an indicator that a selective and potent DAT inhibitor would be a suitable therapy for antidepressant induced sexual dysfunction as well as for treating sexual dysfunction in non-depressed patients.
DAT polymorphisms have been implicated in anxiety disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (22). The non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor Phenelzine which elevates dopamine levels in the brain amongst its actions has been shown to reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Bupropion which has a significant DAT inhibitory component to its mechanism of action is also prescribed for patients with anxiety disorders and has been shown to be efficacious in patients with panic disorder, further supporting the potential of DAT inhibitors in these conditions.
Movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) are common neurological disorders which have been treated with therapies that result in elevated brain dopamine. PD is characterised by a loss of dopaminergic neurones in the nigrostriatal pathway and a subsequent loss of dopamine. Drugs such as L-DOPA which is converted to dopamine in the brain have been shown to alleviate the motor symptoms of both PD and RLS. Given that DAT inhibitors also increase dopamine levels it is reasonable to assume that they would also provide therapeutic benefit in movement disorders which have been shown to have a dopaminergic component. Further support for this hypothesis is given by the fact that methylphenidate, a stimulant which has DAT inhibition amongst its pharmacological activities has shown to be clinically efficacious in PD patients, both in motor (23) and non-motor symptoms (24,25).
Addiction and substance abuse are closely linked to dopamine and reward circuits in the brain. These substance dependencies include alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, cocaine dependence, cannabis dependence, amphetamine dependence (or amphetamine-like), hallucinogen dependence, inhalant dependence, polysubstance dependence, phencyclidine (or phencyclidine-like) dependence, and nicotine dependence. Preclinical studies using the selective DAT inhibitor GBR12909 and other benztropines have shown that these compounds can block the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse, such as cocaine. GBR12909 has been shown to block the neurochemical effects of cocaine (26, 27) as well as that of amphetamine. Furthermore compounds which have been demonstrated to be DAT inhibitors are effective in smoking cessation. This provides evidence that a high affinity, selective DAT inhibitor could block the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse and be an effective medication to treat addiction.
Dopamine is also known to have a role in eating disorders such as Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Eating disorders such as BED are known to have multiple components including impulse control, reward circuits and cognition, all of which are under the influence of dopaminergic signalling. It has been shown that BED sufferers have abnormal brain dopamine responses, which regulates motivation for food intake (28). In addition BED and obese patients show an abnormal frontostriatal dopamine signalling as compared to healthy controls (29). Preclinical models have shown that stimulation of the nucleus accumbens, which receives major dopaminergic input, attenuates binge eating behaviour in rats and that this effect is blocked by dopaminergic antagonists. This indicates that increased synaptic dopamine is a potential therapeutic opportunity for eating disorders such as binge eating disorder. Preclinical data has shown that food intake is modulated by drugs which modulate synaptic dopamine levels and specifically by compounds with affinity at DAT (30). DAT has been specifically implicated in BED and other eating disorders due to polymorphisms in DAT being associated with eating disorders (31). This hypothesis is further supported by the efficacy of drugs with DAT inhibition as part of their mechanism of action in clinical trials of BED and other eating disorders (32). Together this is supportive for the therapeutic potential of a selective DAT inhibitor in eating disorders such as BED.
Dopamine has a well-documented role in cognition and particularly in cognitive deficits seen in patients suffering from diseases characterised by abnormal dopaminergic signalling such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia (33). This coupled with the fact that cortical dopamine D1 receptor function is linked to NMDA mediated glutamate signalling implies that cognitive processes would be expected to be enhanced by DAT inhibitors.
Chronic or persistent fatigue is a symptom which is common to several diseases and can be persisting or relapsing (34). Disease states that are associated with fatigue include chronic fatigue syndrome, post-viral fatigue syndrome, HIV, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myasthenia gravis, sarcoidosis, cancer, chemotherapy treatment, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, spondyloarthropathy, fibromyalgia, arthritis, infectious diseases, diabetes, eating disorders, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders, stroke, mood disorders, drug and alcohol abuse. Clinical studies have shown that multiple drugs with DAT inhibition as part of their mechanism of action are effective in combating fatigue in chronically ill patients (35). Drugs such as modafinil, methylphenidate and bupropion which share DAT inhibition as a common pharmacological mechanism of action have been shown to be efficacious in fatigue associated with cancer, chemotherapy, sarcoidosis, ALS, depression, bipolar disorder, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, HIV and chronic fatigue syndrome. This evidence is supportive of likely efficacy for a selective and potent DAT inhibitor in fatigue associated with the diseases mentioned above.
The multiple potential applications for a selective and potent DAT inhibitor have resulted in numerous chemical series being described in the literature. A particular issue has been pharmacological selectivity, with many previously described structural classes of DAT inhibitors suffering from significant off target pharmacology, which has limited their development. A particular issue is the affinity of DAT inhibitors described in the literature for ion channels. Vanoxerine has been shown to have significant activity at multiple ion channels resulting in a cardiovascular safety risk that has hampered its development (36).
The compound showed potent functional activity at multiple sodium, calcium and potassium channels which would be an undesirable profile for a drug to treat CNS disorders. In addition to off target ion channel pharmacology DAT inhibitors (particularly those of the benztropine class) have been shown to have pharmacological activity at multiple other receptors such as the serotonin receptor 5-HT2, the muscarinic receptor M1 and the histamine receptor H1 (37,38,39). These significant secondary pharmacological activities may introduce unwanted side effects to potentially therapeutically beneficial DAT inhibitors. This makes the selectivity profile of DAT inhibitors of particular importance.
Therefore there remains a need to develop new DAT inhibitors, especially inhibitors that are selective over noradrenaline and serotonin, that will have utility to treat a wide range of disorders, in particular to treat depression, ADHD and eating disorders. Preferred compounds will possess a good pharmacokinetic profile and in particular will be suitable as drugs for oral delivery. Particularly preferred compounds will additionally display selectivity over noradrenaline and serotonin.

N-(hetero)aryl-substituted heteroyclic derivatives useful for the treatment of diseases or conditions related to the central nervous system


A string inverter for use with a photovoltaic array includes at least one string-level DC input channel for receiving DC power from the photovoltaic array, and at least one input-output channel for connecting the string inverter to a battery pack. The string inverter also includes a DC to AC inverter having an AC output, and a switch configured to control a flow of power through the string inverter. When the switch is in a first state, AC power can flow from the string inverter to a load side of a customer utility meter and one or more back-up loads, in a second state, power can flow from the load side of a customer utility meter to the one or more back-up loads bypassing the string inverter, and in a third state, all circuits coupled to the output of the string inverter are electrically disconnected from the string inverter.

Due to decreasing costs, state and federal tax incentives, and increased evidence and awareness of the correlation between CO2 emissions and climate change, photovoltaic or "solar" power systems are becoming increasingly popular with consumers, businesses and utility companies. A basic solar power system consists of an array of solar panels connected together on one or more strings, a combiner for combining the outputs of the one or more strings, one or more string inverters for converting the combined direct current (DC) output from the strings to alternating current (AC), and a physical interface to AC grid power—typically on the load side of the utility meter, between the meter and the customer's main electrical panel.
The next step in the evolution of solar power system is on-site energy storage. Energy storage is important for a number of reasons. First, it provides a potential source of power when the grid is unavailable (outage). Second, in states and/or countries where the customer is unable to be compensated for sending power back to the grid or is compensated below the retail rate, it allows the customer to store the energy generated during the day—specifically when the solar array is generating the most power—and then consume that power after the sun has set reducing the customer's peak demand. Third, it allows the customer to supply power back to the grid at a time when the grid needs power the most. Localized energy storage can help utilities stabilize the grid by supplying power to enhance demand response, shave demand peaks, and shift loads to times of lower demand. Fourth, it provides a mechanism for storing grid power when demand is lower (i.e., when there is a surplus of power), smoothing utility companies' power demand curve from the bottom up. Fifth, by enabling customers to store energy onsite, it may be possible to bill customers for energy supplied to back-up loads when the grid is unavailable (e.g., during an outage).

Hybrid inverter power control system for PV string, battery, grid and back-up loads


A speaker housing for mounting at least one speaker therein is disclosed. The speaker housing includes a speaker enclosure sealed to a speaker cover. The speaker enclosure includes an opening for sealing a connector attached to a crossover printed circuit board assembly thereto. The connector protrudes through the opening in the speaker enclosure while the printed circuit board to which it is attached compresses a compressible gasket against a wall surrounding the opening in the speaker enclosure, sealing the connector thereto. The chassis wiring is coupled to the connector providing an inexpensive sealed interface between the electronics chassis and the crossover board assembly.

Conventional projection televisions are typically housed, in heavy wooden cabinets and are accompanied by high performance loudspeakers. Such heavy wooden cabinets usually have isolation enclosures formed therein to accommodate the high performance loudspeakers.
Presently, however, the market is demanding smaller television cabinet sizes while at the same time desiring larger screen sizes. Improvements in technology have made lightweight optics packages possible, resulting in the production of larger television screens. To meet the demand for smaller television cabinets, these improved projection television packages are being mounted in compact, stylized television cabinets known as "direct view" television cabinets. The direct view cabinets are typically constructed using injection-molded plastic parts that are lighter and more aesthetically pleasing than heavy wooden cabinets.
Injection-molded plastic parts typically used to accommodate the high performance speakers include a speaker housing having a speaker enclosure sealed to a speaker cover. However, a notch is generally molded between the speaker cover and the speaker enclosure to allow chassis wiring to reach an internal crossover PCB (printed circuit board) assembly. Use of the notch compromises the seal between the speaker enclosure and the speaker cover, since the chassis wiring does not completely fill the notch so that deterioration of the sound quality may occur.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a sealed interface between the electronics chassis and the crossover board assembly.

Speaker assembly for a television cabinet


A networked electronic coupon management system is disclosed for managing electronic coupons. The system includes tightly integrated database, application server, and client components facilitating performing electronic coupon definition, issuance, and redemption operations. The operations include creating electronic coupons, wherein each electronic coupon includes a unique coupon ID, creating customer accounts, wherein each customer account comprises a unique customer ID; creating manufacturer accounts, wherein each manufacturer account comprises a Unique ID; and creating retailer accounts, wherein each retailer account comprises a unique retailer ID; and assigning a unique electronic coupon ID to a unique customer ID. Thereafter the system validates the electronic coupon with a product purchase transaction by a customer associated with the unique customer ID. Furthermore, funds transfers associated with the product purchase transaction are tracked, and historical transactional level data is maintained for all customer, manufacturer and retailer accounts.

Marketers in the top 14 consumer categories spend $300 Billion annually to reach consumers through promotion ($228BN) and advertising ($97BN). The inefficiency of the paper-based process results in a higher-than-necessary cost per redemption for marketers and causes many coupon users, frustrated by the time and effort required, to simply give up. Today, shoppers must sort through the hundreds of paper coupons they receive in newspapers, magazines and the mail, cut out the coupons that are of interest, store them, remember to take them to the grocery store, and finally redeem them by handing the paper coupons to a cashier at checkout. The billions of paper coupons ultimately redeemed are handled by up to 8 pairs of hands before they are finally routed back through a clearinghouse to the manufacturer. 76% of the United States population uses coupons from Sunday newspaper inserts, retailers' fliers, magazines, in/on packages and online coupons, each year. (84% of females and 68% of males use coupons). In 2005, 323 billion paper coupons were distributed however less than 1% was redeemed. Despite the problems associated with paper coupons marketers continue use them because coupons are an effective promotional tool with very predictable costs and results and no proven paperless replacement.

Integrated system and method for managing electronic coupons


A buoyant support for a watercraft comprises a rigid, elongated support surface, and an inflatable member folded along its length in a substantially deflated condition to form a relatively compact, resilient mass secured to and overlaying the surface. A cover or the like retains the inflatable member in its folded, overlaying condition. In an emergency the inflatable member is inflated to provide the buoyant support. In the folded condition the device may act as a fender for the watercraft.

Many devices have been heretofore contemplated for providing buoyant support to a watercraft. Devices of a broadly similar nature to those contemplated herein generally comprise elongated members which may be of the rigid, foam filled type, or which are inflated, and which are secured along the length thereof to the outside of the hull of the watercraft above the waterline.
A disadvantage of such devices is that in order to provide the requisite support for a foundered watercraft, they must be relatively large, and generally speaking they will have a diameter at least as large as that of a fender normally employed on a watercraft of a size on which such buoyant device is used. Accordingly, buoyant devices that are permanently inflated must be structured not only to perform the desired function of providing buoyancy in an emergency, but also to withstand use as fenders if they are to be durable. Moreover, both permanently inflated and foam filled buoyant support devices tend to drag in the water when the watercraft is under way, particularly where the watercraft has a low freeboard, or where heeled in the wind, thereby adversely affecting the performance of the watercraft.
Where the buoyant support device is permanently inflated or foam filled, it does not provide any visual indication that an emergency condition may exist, and other signalling means must be employed for this purpose.

Emergency floatation device for watercraft


A component subsystem and a method for authenticating the component subsystem. The component subsystem may be installed in a host device. The method can include an authentication protocol, wherein the host device sends a test voltage value to the component subsystem which, in turn, generates a test voltage based on the test voltage value. The test voltage is applied to a test cell that includes a wordline, a bitline, and a memory film. A response voltage is read from the bitline and compared to an expected value. If the response voltage matches the expected value, host device and/or component subsystem functionality is enabled. If the response voltage does not match the expected value, the host device and/or component subsystem functionality is disabled.

Modular designs of electronic devices such as printers, copiers, etc., allow for replacement of component or electronic subsystems by the end user. These component subsystems or "customer-replaceable unit monitors" (CRUMs) can include ink and toner cartridges, xerographic modules, fuser assemblies, as well as other electronic device subsystems. While end-user replacement of components is convenient and cost effective for the consumer, components that are not produced by the original equipment manufacturer (i.e., non-OEM components) or licensed suppliers may be of low quality, have problems with compatibility, and can create warranty issues with results that are unsatisfactory to a consumer.
In particular, substandard counterfeit components may, illegally, include manufacturer markings and trademarks that lead the consumer to believe the component is produced by an OEM. In addition to diverting sales revenues away from the OEM, early failure of the counterfeit component may result in decreased brand loyalty.
While a replaceable component may be manufactured by the OEM to include anti-counterfeiting measures, the revenue potential of counterfeit components is high and black market suppliers are increasingly sophisticated and well funded. Holographic markings and seals may be accurately recreated and encrypted electronic signatures can be broken, and thus have limited success in preventing copying of components. Security measures must be continually improved to ensure that customer-replaceable products remain protected from counterfeiting.
A new security measure that has improved resistance to copying and counterfeiting would be a welcome addition to the art.

Security enhancement of customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM)


Provided is an ultraviolet-curable silicone composition including: (A) a non-terminal epoxy group-containing organopolysiloxane, (B) an organopolysiloxane containing epoxy groups at the two terminals of the molecular chain, and an onium salt photoinitiator capable of generating cations upon irradiation with ultraviolet light. The silicone composition of the present invention yields a cured film that exhibits excellent ultraviolet-curability and can be readily peeled from a pressure-sensitively adhesive material. In particular, the silicone composition yields a cured film that exhibits a tight release force relative to pressure-sensitive adhesives such as acrylic-based pressure-sensitive adhesives, and also exhibits minimal fluctuation in the release force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultraviolet-curable release agent composition, which due to the releasability of the cured film thereof, can be used as a treatment agent for the back surface of a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, or as a coating material for a release sheet, such as a release paper, a release plastic film, or a release metal foil, for use with pressure-sensitive adhesive labels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of ultraviolet-curable silicone compositions have been proposed. In recent years, a multitude of curing methods have been proposed in which an epoxy group-containing silicone is cured using an onium salt photoinitiator as a catalyst (see patent references 1 to 3). This type of curing method is less susceptible to curing inhibition caused by oxygen than curing methods that utilize a radical reaction, and because the curing reaction proceeds favorably in air, these compositions are now being used as treatment agents for the back surface of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, and as coating materials for release sheets, such as release papers, release plastic films, or release metal foils, for use with pressure-sensitive adhesive labels.
For example, a packaging tape comprises a substrate tape and a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated on one side of the substrate tape, and further comprises a release coating on the opposite side of the substrate tape. The packaging tape is wound before use into a roll such that the pressure-sensitive adhesive coating comes into contact with the release coating. The packaging tape is unwound for use by peeling the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer side thereof off the release coating side. A minimum force required to peel the release coating from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is referred to as "release force".
Furthermore, packaging tapes are widely used in automatic taping operations, and these automatic taping machines are designed to operate with tapes of uniform release force. If the value of this release force is small, then the fluctuation in the release force at the time of release is minimal, but if the release force is large, then the fluctuation in the release force tends to increase. If this fluctuation in the release force is too great, then the automatic taping machine, which has been designed on the premise of a uniform release force, may be unable to function normally. Furthermore, if this fluctuation in the release force is too great, then peeling noises tend to occur. Reducing such peeling noises is usually desirable in terms of maintaining a favorable working environment.
For the reasons outlined above, a release agent that exhibits a tight release force with minimal fluctuation in the release force upon peeling has been greatly sought.    [Patent Reference 1] GB 2 123 842 A    [Patent Reference 2] EP 0 391 162 A2    [Patent Reference 3] US 2003/0232900 A1


A method of storing and accessing pictures in a multi-field video operation includes storing a first portion of a first field in first page of a first bank of a DRAM; storing a first portion of a second field in the first page of the first bank; reading the first page of the first bank; and performing the multi-field video operation according to the first portions of the first field and the second field. Another method includes storing a first field in a first bank of a DRAM; storing a second field in a second bank of the DRAM; reading a first portion of the first field from the first bank of the DRAM and reading a first portion of the second field from the second bank of the DRAM; and performing the multi-field video operation according to the first portions of the first field and the second field.

The invention relates to storing pictures into a memory and subsequently accessing the pictures, and more particularly, to efficiently storing and accessing pictures in multi-field video operations to reduce system cost.
There has been a rapid evolution from analog video technology to digital video technology because of the advantages that digital video has to offer. Digital video can be stored and distributed more cheaply than analog video because digital video can be stored on randomly accessible media such as magnetic disc drives (hard disks) and optical disc media known as compact discs (CDs). Once stored on a randomly accessible media, digital video may become interactive, allowing it to be used in games, catalogs, training, education, and other applications.
One of the newest products to be based on digital video technology is the digital video disc, sometimes called "digital versatile disc" or simply "DVD." These discs are the size of an audio CD, yet hold up to 17 billion bytes of data, 26 times the data on an audio CD. DVD storage capacity (17 Gbyte) is much higher than CD-ROM (600 Mbyte) and a DVD can deliver the data at a higher rate than CD-ROM. Therefore, DVD technology represents a tremendous improvement in video and audio quality over traditional systems such as televisions, VCRs and CD-ROM.
However, a major problem in utilizing DVD and other digital video technology to display motion pictures is that the sources of motion pictures come at different frame speeds. For example, standard film is shot at a rate of 24 Hz while a television broadcast using the National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard updates motion at 60 Hz. Converting the motion picture into digital video through a process called scan-rate conversion often produces a noticeable reduction in resolution as well as distortions known as motion artifacts.
Deinterlacing processes are used for video scan-rate converting, and an exemplary application of deinterlacing is used in TV systems as a reverse process for interlacing. To transmit a video signal in an "interlaced" format (or read the signal in interlaced format from memory), One kind of methods is that the odd field of each frame is transmitted (or read) before the even field of the frame. In other words, all the odd-numbered active video lines of the frame are transmitted (or read) before any of the even-numbered active video lines are transmitted (or read). When a video signal in such interlaced format is displayed on a video monitor, all of the odd lines appear on the monitor before any of the even lines appears on the monitor.
To transmit (or read) a video signal in a "progressive" format, the active video lines of a frame are transmitted (read) in consecutive order (line "1," followed by line "2," followed by line "3," and so on). When a progressive-format signal is displayed on a video monitor, the lines appear on the screen in this same consecutive order (with an odd line appearing immediately before each even line).
Therefore, the above mentioned deinterlacing is a very important image format transformation process. Generally speaking, high quality deinterlacing functions always require the use of a large amount of memory and high memory bandwidth. Because, in the deinterlacing process, it is possibly required to store a large amount of field picture data, cost effective memory components such as dynamic random access memories (DRAM) are often utilized. Note, either off-chip DRAMs or embedded DRAMs are both commonly employed for deinterlacing. Furthermore, because access of large sized DRAMs may result in memory system congestion, system designers are typically required to use higher speed DRAM devices, or to use a system with other memory modules with larger amounts of local buffering support to pre-fetch or temporarily store data of the memory to prevent temporary loss of data access.
FIG. 1 shows how four fields 101, 102, 103, 104 are utilized to complete deinterlacing according to a typical deinterlacing process. The deinterlacing process needs to use data for at least one field picture to produce a frame picture. For example, in FIG. 1, data of four field pictures 101, 102, 103, 104 is required to be passed to a deinterlacing unit for further processing.
FIG. 2 shows how the data of the four fields 101, 102, 103, 104 of FIG. 1 are typically stored in a memory 200. As mentioned, traditionally speaking, the deinterlacing process requires taking a plurality of field pictures and providing a linear mapping method to store these field pictures in a memory such as a DRAM. A raster scan method can be utilized to read the data from the memory for transfer into a deinterlacing unit for further processing.
A typical deinterlacing unit includes a plurality of local line buffers to store current pixel data that is required to be used during the deinterlacing process. Different field data is then alternatively transferred into the local line buffers of the deinterlacing unit from the memory 200 throughout the deinterlacing process. For example, a portion of the data of a first field 101 will first be transferred to a local line buffer, then data of a second field 102, third field 103, and fourth filed 104 is sequentially transferred to the local line buffers. Afterwards, new data from the first field 101 is transferred into the line buffer and the process repeats. This type of alternating access of data of different fields while moving the data into the local line buffers means that it is very easy to encounter DRAM page misses while accessing the DRAM memory 200. As the probability of page misses increases, the efficiency of DRAM bandwidth usage is reduced. This results in the efficiency of the entire system also being degraded, and of the actual time required by the deinterlacing process to complete to be further extended. For example, experiments show that losses due to one time DDR DRAM page miss can reach 10%-75%, which mainly depends on data bus widths and burst lengths. In DDR2 DRAM, one page miss can further reach to 33.3%-250%.

Methods of storing and accessing pictures


A coating system for a fluorescent lamp, and fluorescent lamps provided therewith. The coating system includes a phosphor-containing coating containing a mixture of phosphors that contain less than 10% weight rare earth phosphors. The phosphor-containing coating emits visible light having a color rendering index of at least 87 when excited by UV radiation.

The present invention generally relates to lighting systems and related technologies. More particularly, this invention relates to fluorescent lamps and coating systems utilized by fluorescent lamps to generate visible light.
Fluorescent lamps have been in use and commercialization since the 1930s. More recently, both consumers and producers have voiced increased concerns for energy efficiency and environmental impact of products, spanning all industries, including the lighting industry. As such, fluorescent lights have seen an increase in usage due to their increased energy efficiency when compared to conventional incandescent lights. Fluorescent lights see a great deal of competition from light-emitting diode (LED) lights, due to a potential for greater efficiency and luminosity of LEDs. Significant effort and research have been made in the interest of improving fluorescent light lumen output without increasing power requirements or significantly increasing material costs.
A nonlimiting example of a fluorescent lamp 10 is schematically represented in FIG. 1. The lamp 10 is represented as having a sealed glass tube comprising of a glass envelope or shell 12 enclosing an interior chamber 14. The chamber 14 is preferably at very low pressure, for example, around 0.3% atmospheric pressure, and contains a gas mixture having at least one constituent that can be ionized to generate radiation that includes ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. According to the current state of the art, such a gas mixture includes one or more inert gases (for example, argon) or a mixture of one or more inert gases and other gases at a low pressure, along with a small quantity of mercury vapor. Electrodes 16 inside the chamber 14 are electrically connected to electrical contact pins 18 that extend from oppositely-disposed bases 20 of the lamp 10. When the contact pins 18 are connected to a power source, the applied voltage causes current to flow through the electrodes 16 and electrons to migrate from one electrode 16 to the other electrode 16 at the other end of the chamber 14. In the process, this energy converts a small amount of the liquid mercury from the liquid state to a charged (ionized) gaseous (vapor) state. The electrons and charged gas molecules move through the chamber 14, occasionally colliding with and exciting the gaseous mercury molecules, raising the energy level of the electrons in the mercury atoms. In order to return to their original energy level, the electrons release photons.
Due to the arrangement of electrons in mercury atoms, most of the photons released by these electrons are in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. This is not visible light, and as such for the lamp 10 to emit visible light these photons must be converted to a visible light wavelength. Such a conversion can be performed by a coating 22 represented in FIG. 1 as disposed at the interior surface of the glass shell 12. The coating 22 contains phosphor powders and is often separated from the glass shell 12 by a UV-reflecting barrier layer 24 of, for example, alumina (Al2O3). The UV radiation emitted by the ionized mercury vapor is absorbed by the phosphor composition within the coating 22, resulting in excitation of the phosphor composition to produce visible light that is emitted through the glass shell 12. More particularly, when electrons of the phosphor atoms are struck by photons, the electrons become excited to a higher energy level and emit a photon to return to their original energy level. The emitted photon has less energy than the impinging photon and is in the visible light spectrum to provide the lighting function of the lamp 10. The color and luminosity of the lamp 10 are largely the result of the phosphor or phosphors used in the coating 22.
The apparent, or perceived, color of a light source can be described in terms of color temperature, which is the temperature of a black body that emits radiation of about the same chromaticity as the radiation considered. A light source having a color temperature of 3000K has a larger red component than a light source having a color temperature of 4100K. As additional examples, a fluorescent lamp having a perceived "warm white" color may have a CCT of approximately 3000K, whereas a fluorescent lamp having a perceived "cool white" color may have a CCT of approximately 4000K. Another measure of fluorescent lamp performance is the color rendering index (CRI). The CRI of a light source does not indicate the apparent color of the light source, but instead is a quantitative measure of the ability of a light source to reproduce the colors of objects faithfully in comparison with an ideal or natural light source. CRIs can only be accurately compared among two light sources having the same CCT. The highest possible numeric CRI value is 100. Incandescent lamps, which are essentially blackbodies, have CRIs of 100. Typical LEDs have CRIs of 80 or more, with CRIs of up to 98 being claimed, whereas fluorescent lamps typically have CRIs in a range of about 50 to about 90. In this regard, a high CRI for fluorescent lamps can be considered to be about 80 and higher, particularly at least 87.
Because fluorescent lamps utilize phosphors to produce visible light, the CRI and CCT of a fluorescent lamp is strongly influenced by the particular amounts of phosphors used and their compositions. Significant improvements in the CRIs of fluorescent lamps have been achieved with rare earth phosphors, in particular, phosphors containing one or more rare earth elements generally considered to include the fifteen lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium. Though fairly abundant, rare earth elements are becoming increasingly prohibitive to procure due to the majority of known rare earth reserves being found in limited locations, and the need to separate individual rare earth elements or compounds from relatively low concentrations found in various mined compounds. In addition, demand for rare earth elements has increased in a wide variety of technologies, for example, medical technologies, wind turbines, hybrid automobiles, televisions, smart phones, and computers. As such, the use of rare earth elements in phosphor coatings of fluorescent lamps has or may become increasingly cost-prohibitive, and effective alternative solutions are being sought. However, suitable alternatives preferably should not detrimentally affect the CRI or CCT of a fluorescent lamp.

Fluorescent lamp with high color rendering index and coating systems therefor


A multi-stage phase mixer circuit includes: a first phase mixer configured to receive first and second input clock signals and output a first intermediate clock signal according to control of a first coarse control signal; a second phase mixer configured to receive the first and second input clock signals and output a second intermediate clock signal according to control of a second coarse control signal; and a third phase mixer configured to receive the first and second intermediate clock signals and output an output clock signal according to control of a fine control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a multi-stage phase mixer circuit, and more particularly, to a technology for equalizing phase differences between two adjacent output clock signals generated by performing a phase mixing operation with respect to two or more input clock signals through a multi-stage process including two or more stages.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an integrated circuit chip, a phase mixer is frequently used to accomplish desirable characteristics such as a seamless boundary switching in a phase locked loop (PLL) or a delayed locked loop (DLL) that synchronizes a chip internal clock signal with an external clock signal.
A phase mixer refers to a device that receives two clock signals having the same frequency and different phases and mixes the received clock signals. The phase mixer outputs a clock signal having the same frequency as the two input clock signals and a phase between the phases of the two input clock signals through the phase mixing operation. A weight may be applied to adjust the phase of the output clock to a value close to one of the phases of the two input clock signals. For example, when the weight is 0, the phase of the output clock signal may be equalized to the phase of one input clock signal, and when the weight is 1, the phase of the output clock signal may be equalized to the phase of the other input clock signal.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional phase mixer circuit 100. The phase mixer circuit of FIG. 1 includes three inverters 110, 120, and 130, and is configured to receive first and second input clock signals In1 and In2, respectively, and generate an output clock signal Out. The first and second inverters 110 and 120 have input terminals to receive the first and second input clock signals In1 and In2, respectively, and output terminals shorted to each other to perform a mixing operation. The first and second inverters 110 and 120 also respectively receive the weight control codes C<1:N> and C<1:N> having a complementary relationship with each other. Here, the weight control code C<1:N> indicates a binary code value composed of N-bit binary numbers, and the weight control code C<1:N> is composed of N-bit inverted binary numbers of the weight control code C<1:N>. For example, when N is 3 and C<1:N> is "0 0 0", C<1:N> becomes "1 1 1". An input terminal of the third inverter 130 is coupled to a common output terminal of the first and second inverters 110 and 120, and an output terminal of the third inverter 130 is used as an output terminal Out of the phase mixer.
FIG. 2 illustrates that, when N is 3, an output waveform Out of the phase mixer is changed depending on the weight control codes C<1:N> and C<1:N>. For example, when the binary code values of the weight control codes C<1:3> and C<1:3> are ('0 0 0', '1 1 1'), the output waveform Out of the phase mixer is identical to that of the first input clock signal In1. Then, as the binary code values are increased one by one, the output waveform Out of the phase mixer continues moving toward the input waveform of the second input clock signal In2. When the binary code values of the weights C<1:3> and C<1:3> reach ('1 1 1', '0 0 0'), the output waveform Out of the phase mixer becomes identical to the waveform of the second input clock signal In2.
In general, it is desirable that a phase mixer has an equal delay difference between two adjacent output clock signals corresponding to two successive N-bit binary numbers of a weight control code, in order to increase a resolution of the output clock signal while reducing jitter. As illustrated in FIG. 2, however, it can be seen that delay differences between the two adjacent output clock signals are not equal to each other due to a drivability difference between pull-up and pull-down units of the first and second inverters 110 and 120, but the output waveforms converge toward an intermediate value of the weight control code. That is, the phase difference between the adjacent output clock signals around the intermediate value of the weight control code is smaller than that around the minimum or maximum value of the weight control code.

Multi-stage phase mixer circuit using fine and coarse control signals


A hex nut formed from cutting and deforming a rigid planar material and having an integral attachment surface continuous with the deformable planar material allows attachment of the hex nut to any suitable surface. A rigid planar material such as a piece of flat metal is cut according to a particular pattern. The particular pattern includes each of the sides of the hex nut and one or more attachment surfaces as a continuous shape. The flat metal is then deformed, or bent, along certain lines to form a hex nut, or other polygonal shaped object. The attachment surface or surfaces, which extend from the sides of the hex nut, are then secured to a surface of a rotatable object, such as by adhesion or spot welding, or other suitable methods. In this manner, the hex nut can be engaged by a receptacle such as a wrench for rotating the hex nut and consequently, the object which is attached through the attachment surface.

Hex nuts are known which are used to secure a variety of items via a threaded member such as a bolt. The hex nut includes a cylindrical, threaded interior which corresponds to the threads on the threaded member. Rotation of the hex nut about the threaded member drives the hex nut along the threaded member, typically towards another hex nut or blunt portion such as a bolt head. Securing of the items occurs by evacuating a hole in the items to be secured. The hole is larger than the threaded member, yet smaller than the hex nut or blunt portion. The threaded member is inserted through the hole in each of the items, and the hex nut rotated to drive the hex nut along the threaded member. As the hex nut is rotated, the items are frictionally engaged between the hex nut and the blunt portion. As the hex nut is further rotated, the frictional forces become substantial, tending to compress and shear the hex nut and the items so secured, thereby securing the items.
As the frictional forces increase, additional rotational torque is required to continue rotating the hex nut. Often a receptacle such as a wrench is employed to engage the hex nut. The receptacle engages the sides of the hex nut in close proximity such that the hex nut cannot rotate independently while engaged in the receptacle. Such a receptacle is typically attached to a extended member such as a handle or rod. The extended member allows additional leverage to be applied to the rotation of the hex nut via the receptacle. In this manner, the hex nut allows substantial rotational torque to be applied through a common receptacle such as a wrench.
In many contexts, however, the additional rotational torque provided by a hex nut would be desirable. Many items, such as automotive oil filters, threaded fluid containers, and others, employ threaded communication with an item. Traditional hex nuts, however, are freestanding objects, and cannot be used to direct rotational torque to another object. An attempt to fasten a hex nut to an object to be rotated is likely to have insufficient surface area to provide attachment sufficient to transfer the rotational torque to the object. Factors such as differences in materials and the available fastening area on the surface of the hex nut are likely to result in a fastening that is insufficient to transfer the rotational torque without shearing off the hex nut from the surface of the object to be rotated. Further, manufacturing costs are likely to be infeasible for more substantial fastening.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an engageable member in a hex nut or other polygonal shape which has an integral attachment surface for attachment to a rotatable object; which is fabricated from an integral, continuous material to increase strength and reduce manufacturing cost, and which can withstand the torque generated from a rotating receptacle by which it is engaged.
An engageable member defined by a plurality of continuous rigid surfaces can be formed from a rigid, deformable planar material. A plurality of linear deformations in the planar material between each of the rigid surfaces define a convex edge in the deformable planar material, such that each of the rigid surfaces is substantially opposed to at least one other of the rigid surfaces. At least one integral attachment surface is also formed from the deformable planar material such that it is continuous with at least one of the rigid surfaces and adapted to be attached to a rotatable object.
The engageable member appears as a hex nut or other polygon formed from cutting and deforming the rigid deformable planar material and has an integral attachment surface continuous with the deformable planar material to allow attachment of the engageable member to any suitable surface. The rigid planar material such as flat metal is cut according to a particular pattern. The particular pattern includes each of the sides of the engageable member and one or more attachment surfaces in a continuous shape. The flat metal is then deformed, or bent, along certain lines to form an engageable member having the shape of a hex nut, or other polygonal shaped object. The attachment surface or surfaces, which extend from the sides of the hex nut, are then attached to a surface of a rotatable object, such as by adhesive, spot welding or other suitable method. In this manner, the hex nut can be engaged by a receptacle such as a wrench for rotating the hex nut and consequently, the rotatable object which is attached through the attachment surface.

Method of forming a hex nut from a planar material


A camshaft phaser control system including a camshaft target wheel, the target wheel having first and second teeth for measuring camshaft oscillatory instability. The trailing edge of the first tooth coincides with the negative camshaft oscillation peak, and the trailing edge of the second tooth coincides with the positive camshaft oscillation peak. During each camshaft rotation, each tooth initiates an input signal to generate first and second input signals in known fashion. During crankshaft rotation, a third input signal is generated corresponding to the rotational position of the crankshaft. From these signals, operational camshaft oscillatory instability is computed by an engine monitoring system (EMS). Any deviation from the operational instability while the engine is operating is a direct measurement of oscillatory instability of the camshaft about its nominal holding position. A change in oscillatory instability is inferred as system malfunction, permitting defensive action to be taken by the EMS.

The present invention relates to camshaft phasers for internal combustion engines; more particularly, to schemes for controlling the action of such camshaft phasers; and most particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling such action, including a novel target wheel for measuring the phaser instability within a camshaft revolution, and a means for compensating for shifts in measured instability.
Camshaft phasers for varying the valve timing of internal combustion engines are well known. A phaser typically comprises a rotor element attached to the end of a camshaft and variably displaceable rotationally within a stator element driven by the engine crankshaft. Phasers typically are actuated by pressurized oil derived from the engine""s main oil supply and selectively directed to chambers within the phaser to alter the phase relationship between the rotor and stator, and hence between the camshaft and crankshaft.
A torque-imposed instability is known in the art that can cause the phase relationship to vary from nominal during a 360xc2x0 rotational cycle of the camshaft. In opening an engine valve, the valve follower leaves the base circle portion of the camshaft lobe and begins to climb the rising edge of the eccentric portion, imposing a resistive (negative) torque on the camshaft. At some further position of camshaft rotation, the resistive torque reaches a maximum negative torque, then returns to zero, and then becomes an assistive (positive) torque as the follower descends the falling edge of the eccentric portion of the lobe, as the valve closes. This negative-positive fluctuation repeats itself during subsequent rotational cycles of the camshaft lobe. Because of mechanical and hydraulic lash in the system, and as a result of the fluctuating torque, the actual rotor position with respect to the stator may be significantly different from intended during valve opening and closing. The difference between the maximum negative and positive angular departures from nominal is known in the art as xe2x80x9cphaser instabilityxe2x80x9d. A typical cam phaser in good working order exhibits a characteristic and repeatable level of operational phaser instability due to the inherent mechanical and hydraulic lash in the system. However, an undesirable shift in the predictable level of phaser instability can result in sub-optimal valve phasing relative to crankshaft rotation.
What is needed is means for measuring the level of instability continually during engine operation, detecting when the level of instability changes, and causing the cam phaser and engine to take predetermined action when measured instability exceeds a predetermined threshold level.
It is a principal object of the present invention to detect when the level of instability in a camshaft phaser changes.
It is a further object of the invention to alarm such changes and to cause the phaser to take predetermined action to minimize potential problems such as engine malfunction and emissions increase.
Briefly described, a camshaft phaser control system in accordance with the invention includes a target wheel mounted on a phaser rotor which in turn is rotatable with the camshaft. Alternately, the target wheel may be machined in an end of the camshaft or otherwise fixed to the camshaft in known fashion. (For purposes of illustration, the target wheel described herein is mounted on the phaser rotor). As a reference point, the phaser control system also includes a means for detecting the rotational position of the crankshaft.
The target wheel is provided with first and second signal-initiating means, preferably in the form of trailing or falling edges of a first and second tooth on the target wheel, for measuring camshaft oscillatory instability. A first tooth is angularly placed with respect to one of the cam lobes such that the falling edge of the first tooth coincides with the peak excursion of the negative camshaft oscillation. The second tooth is angularly placed with respect to the same cam lobe such that the falling edge of the second tooth coincides with the peak excursion of the positive camshaft oscillation. Such peaks are readily determined via a torsion meter applied to a test engine, in known fashion.
The target wheel is mounted on the phaser rotor or on the camshaft such that, during camshaft rotation, the trailing edge of the first and second tooth initiates a signal to generate first and second signals in known fashion. In addition, equally spaced teeth are placed radially about the axis of rotation of the crankshaft to detect the rotational position of the crankshaft to serve as a reference point for the phaser control system.
The signals are transmitted to an electronic monitoring system which, in turn, by algorithm, measures phaser instability. This measurement is taken, for example, every camshaft rotation so that if a shift in phaser instability occurs, which can signify degraded phaser performance, the electronic monitoring system can take defensive actions.
Locating the teeth at the specific positions with respect to the cam lobe provides three important benefits. First, the system thus measures the maximum oscillatory instability in phaser performance, and therefore any increase in instability amplitude may be inferred as system malfunction. Second, such placement also maximizes the sensitivity of the system to such malfunction. Third, such placement makes the system least sensitive to changes in angular location of the peaks, which may shift as much as ten crank angle degrees with changes in engine speed.
The EMS is programmed in known fashion to change the duty cycle of the phaser, to limit phaser operation, or even to disable phasing, based on the magnitude of the instability. The system continues to monitor the level of instability. Should instability fall below the threshold limit, normal phasing operation is resumed.

Engine phaser control system using phaser instability measurement