A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber and having an outer surface, a spud mounted on the outer surface, a jacket surrounding the tank and having an inner surface spaced from the tank outer surface, an opening aligned with the spud, a margin around the opening and converging inwardly toward the tank, insulating material between the tank and the jacket, and a fitting threaded into the spud and having a tapered outer surface which engages the margin to form a seal against the insulating material.

The invention relates to foam insulated water heaters, and more particularly to an apparatus for sealing foam insulated water heaters.
A conventional foam insulated water heater includes a water tank having therein at least one opening. An internally threaded spud is welded or otherwise secured to the outer surface of the tank in alignment with the tank opening. An outer jacket surrounds the tank and has therein an opening aligned with the spud. A fitting extends through the opening in the outer jacket and is threaded into the spud. The fitting is adapted to be connected to a pipe or other component communicating with the interior of the tank via the spud.
It is known in the art to inject foam into the space between the outer jacket and the tank in order to insulate the tank. During injection of the foam, it is desirable to prevent the foam from flowing out of the opening in the outer jacket. To this end, it is known to connect to the spud a sealing apparatus which provides a seal between the spud and the jacket. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,810.

Apparatus for sealing a foam insulated water heater


Blade guards for power tools such as table saws are disclosed. The blade guard may include a shroud that pivots up and down to allow a workpiece to move past the guard, a dust collection channel, and a pivot joint which maintains the dust collection channel in an operable condition as the shroud pivots up or down. The guard may also include a wood stop and anti-kickback pawls. The blade guard may be part of a dust collection system and may be connected to a vacuum system by a conduit such as a flexible hose.

A table saw is a power tool used to cut a workpiece to a desired size or shape. A table saw includes a work surface or table and a circular blade extending up through the table. A person uses a table saw by holding a workpiece on the table and feeding it past the spinning blade to make a cut. A fair amount of sawdust is generated at the surface of a table saw as the blade cuts the workpiece and that dust can disperse into the surrounding environment. Dust from wood and many other products commonly processed in a workshop environment have been shown to pose a health risk to those who are exposed to the dust, especially if exposed to the dust on a regular basis. Thus, it is important to collect as much dust as possible at the time of cutting and thereby limit the dust that escapes into the environment. The blade guards disclosed in this specification include systems to collect sawdust.
The disclosed blade guards also include a shroud to substantially enclose the blade and protect against contact with the blade, a splitter or spreader to support the shroud and to keep a workpiece from shifting sideways and catching on the blade, an anti-kickback device such as a set of anti-kickback pawls configured to oppose a workpiece being thrown back toward a user, and/or a block to prevent a workpiece that is higher than the top of the blade from contacting the spinning blade.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system provides for high level disinfection or sterilization of an endoscope having a first portion adapted for immersion and a second portion not adapted for immersion. The system includes a container having a first basin sized and adapted to receive the first portion of the endoscope for immersion, a separate and adjacent second basin sized and adapted to receive the second portion of the endoscope, a wall between the first basing and the second basin, and a trough in an upper portion of the wall between the first basin and second basin through which a tube connecting the first portion of the endoscope and the second portion of the endoscope may extend.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for high level disinfection or sterilization of endoscopes through immersion into disinfecting or sterilization liquids and more particularly to the immersion of endoscopes having liquid sensitive portions.
After a thorough cleaning, high level disinfection or sterilization of an endoscope employing a liquid disinfectant or sterilant solution is frequently performed in a basin. The basin is filled with the solution and the solution is tested to ensure it is of sufficient concentration. The endoscope is immersed within the solution and all of the endoscope channels are filled with the solution. Typically, the basin is covered with a lid. The endoscope then soaks within the solution for a time period sufficient to achieve the desired level of disinfection or sterilization. After the immersion, the endoscope is processed to remove the sterilant and any rinsing liquids.
While many endoscopes are designed to be completely immersed, some endoscopes, such as those having ultrasonic scanners, have sensitive electronics which are not completely sealed from moisture. These electronics would be damaged through immersion and thus at least this portion of the endoscope is not suitable for immersion within the disinfecting or sterilization solution. Current immersion practice with such endoscopes involves leaving that sensitive portion outside of the basin and immersing the remainder of the endoscope. However, some of the disinfecting or sterilization solution may leak out along the flexible tubes of the endoscope to reach electronic portion and to reach surfaces upon which it has been placed. Since this solution by its very nature tends to be hazardous, such releases of solution from the basin are to be discouraged.


A segregated trash receptacle which employs a multi-position divider. Also disclosed in combination with the securing member for an upper portion of the divider is a plurality of upwardly extending fingers for securably engaging a flexible bag. A shaped hook member is also taught which includes a securing portion and bag receiving portion. The invention may be fashioned using a container or be produced in a kit form for attachment to existing containers.

Trash receptacles are found in every home and have remained unchanged in design for almost their entire history. They are normally sold in 5 gallon to 50 gallon sizes and often have either removable covers or covers that are hingedly connected to the body of the receptacle.
Lately, changing laws in many localities are radically changing the way people dispose of their trash. These laws reflect environmental concerns over rapidly filling landfills and the incineration of toxic wastes. Most of these laws now require the recycling of certain waste materials to reduce energy costs and especially, to reduce the deleterious effect on the environment these waste materials may cause. Typically, the homeowner is required to separate bottles, cans and newspapers from the rest of the household trash. This has created a storage problem for the average homeowner.
At the present time, the most common method of separating trash relies on the homeowner using a number of separate waste receptacles. This often requires one to carry the different waste products to different parts of the home (kitchen, closet, garage, basement) depending on the type of waste involved.
There are a number of other problems associated with the present methods of recycling. For those who previously had a single area in which a trash receptacle was kept (for example, in a kitchen cabinet beneath the sink), the area cannot be modified to accommodate the plurality of receptacles now required. For the people who use only small quantities of cans, bottles, etc., using a large trash can for each item is economically impractical and requires an excessive amount of storage space.
A primary method of overcoming the above noted problems has been the recent design of multi-compartmented trash receptacles. Receptacles of this kind can be seen in the patents issued to Papaianni (U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,489) and McDonough (U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,493). Both these patents show unitary trash receptacles that have compartments segregated from each other by a fixed divider. These containers, while alleviating some of the problems associated with recycling, suffer from certain other problems.
In both Papaianni and McDonough, the compartments can receive flexible, removable bags. The bags are suspended within the compartments by frictional engagement of the bag's top edge with the top lip of the container. As the bag is filled, the added strain on the top of the bag can lead to its inadvertent disengagement from the container lip and subsequent slippage into the interior of the compartment.
In addition, the fixed dividers do not allow any modification of the volumes of the segregated compartments that might be required for the convenience of the user to reflect individual needs. For instance, for the user who buys 3 liter soft drink containers, the portion of the waste receptacle devoted to the receipt of these containers should be wide enough to accept these extra-large containers. On the other hand, a user who only needs space to receive a few 12 ounce cans would only need a small volume devoted for these small containers.
Two final problems unsolved by the prior art are firstly, the lack of a usable method of partitioning large trash cans (30-50 gallon volume) so that they can be used to hold diverse items in separate compartments. Secondly, there is no teaching in the prior art of a modification to the receptacles that will allow the secure engagement of both plastic flexible bags of the variety now commonly used by supermarkets for the bagging of groceries and also, large trash bags.

Refuse container with multi-position divider


Provided is a plasma processing apparatus including: an electrostatic chuck configured to hold a substrate inside a vacuum container, a pulse power source configured to apply a pulse having positive and negative polarities as a bias voltage and a controller configured to control the positive and negative polarities of the pulse.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a plasma processing apparatus that processes a substrate by using plasma, and a plasma processing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As examples of a plasma processing apparatus, two types of plasma processing apparatuses that perform ion implantation using plasma are known.
Type 1: The application of a bias voltage is performed by using a high-frequency AC in order to reduce the influence of a resist pattern or the like on a substrate (refer to the pamphlet of WO2006/107044).
Type 2: The application of a positive bias voltage is performed by using a pulse power source (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-358129).
The type 1 is often used when the bias voltage is low. However, since AC voltage is applied, extra energy is implanted to the wafer, and the thermal load on the wafer increases.
The type 2 can adjust a positive potential not involved with ion implantation, and decrease the thermal load on the wafer.
However, although the ion implantation apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck (which may be hereinafter simply referred to as an ESC) that holds a substrate inside a vacuum container and performs temperature management of the substrate, the bias application method differs according to the type of the ESC. That is, examples of the ESC include a CR type (Coulomb type) that capacitively prevents current from flowing and a JR type (Johnsen-Rahbek type) that makes minute current flow.
When the CR type ESC is used, the current for ion implantation flows as a capacitance component without being influenced by substrate resistance due to upper and lower capacitors. On the other hand, when the JR type ESC is used, the current for ion implantation is influenced by a substrate resistance. However, when the substrate has a resist mask (a resist pattern) or the like that prevents the current from flowing, the current flows in the peripheral direction of the substrate through the position contacting the ESC, whereby the uniformity of the ion implantation is influenced. In general, the method of using the CR type ESC is rarely influenced by the resist mask or the like, and uniformity of the ion implantation can be stably obtained.
As for the bias application of the ion implantation apparatus that uses a pulse power source and is used to perform ion implantation, there are three types of parameter, that is, frequency, duty ratio, and voltage. However, such parameters are not particularly optimized in the current state, and in fact, desirable parameter values are determined through a test. For this reason, this method is not efficient.
When ion implantation is performed by using a pulse power source, the JR type ESC is used in many cases. This is because DC current does not easily flow in the CR type ESC. In this case, the frequency of the pulse power source is set to 10 kHz or less. As the upper limit of the frequency, the frequency (about 1 MHz or less) at which ions can be traced is set as the upper limit. However, even in the JR type ESC, the current of the capacitance component of the capacitor is mainly used at a high frequency (10 kHz or more).

Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method


The disclosure is directed to compounds and methods for preparing purified macrocyclic peptide using “catch-release” methods. These methods comprise reacting a free amino group of a resin-bound linear peptide with an azide- or alkyne-functionalized cap to form a resin-bound capped linear peptide having an azide- or alkyne-functionalized cap; cleaving the capped linear peptide from the resin to form a free capped linear peptide having an azide- or alkyne-functionalized cap; reacting the free capped linear peptide having an azide-functionalized cap with an alkyne-functionalized catch resin, or reacting the free capped linear peptide having an akynyl-functionalized cap with an azide functionalized catch resin, to form a catch-resin bound capped linear peptide; reacting the catch-resin bound capped linear peptide under conditions sufficient to effect macrocyclization of the linear peptide and release of the macrocyclic peptide from the catch resin.

Macrocyclic peptides represent an attractive molecular paradigm for expanding the diversity of chemical matter capable of treating human disease. See Yudin, A. K. "Macrocycles: lessons from the distant past, recent developments, and future directions." Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 30-49. Many potential therapies target protein-protein interactions, which have historically been perceived as "undruggable" due to the lack of success applying traditional small molecule approaches to these interactions. See Verdine, G. L. et al. The challenge of drugging undruggable targets in cancer: lessons learned from targeting BCL-2 family members. Clin. Cancer Res. 2007, 13, 7264-7270. In contrast to small molecule therapeutics, macrocyclic peptides possess a larger surface area, greater conformational flexibility and expanded chemical diversity, offering many potential weak binding sites to interact with the extended protein surface, interactions that can cumulatively lead to tight and highly specific binding. Thus, macrocyclic peptides are viewed as a potentially promising chemical modality to treat disease. See Hill, T. A. et al., Constraining Cyclic Peptides To Mimic Protein Structure Motifs. Angewandte Chemie—International Edition 2014, 53, 13020-13041. Several cell permeable and orally bioavailable macrocyclic peptides have been developed by judicious use of modifications such as backbone N-methylation. See Chatterjee, J. et al., N-Methylation of Peptides: A New Perspective in Medicinal Chemistry. Accounts Chem. Res. 2008, 41, 1331-1342; see also Rezai, T. et al. Conformational flexibility, internal hydrogen bonding, and passive membrane permeability: Successful in silico prediction of the relative permeabilities of cyclic peptides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 14073-14080; Biron, E. et al., Improving oral bioavailability of peptides by multiple N-methylation: Somatostatin analogues. Angewandte Chemie—International Edition 2008, 47, 2595-2599; White, T. R. et al., On-resin N-methylation of cyclic peptides for discovery of orally bioavailable scaffolds. Nat. Chem. Biol. 2011, 7, 810-817; Wang, C. K. et al., Rational design and synthesis of an orally bioavailable peptide guided by NMR amide temperature coefficients. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2014, 111, 17504-17509. One example in which these effects have been very well studied is cyclosporin A, a marketed immunosuppressive compound administered orally to prevent rejection in organ transplantation. See Borel, J. F. et al., Biological Effects Of Cyclosporin-A—New Antilymphocytic Agent. Agents Actions 1976, 6, 468-475; see also Schreiber, S. L.; Crabtree, G. R. The mechanism of action of cyclosporin A and FK506. Immun. Today 1992, 13, 136-142.
As a discovery platform, utilizing a nucleophilic cysteine displacement as a peptide macrocyclization motif is one of the most attractive ways for constructing and screening peptides. Bashiruddin, N. K.; Suga, H. "Construction and screening of vast libraries of natural product-like macrocyclic peptides using in vitro display technologies." Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2015, 24, 131-138; Kotz, J. Macrocycles by the trillions. SciBX 2012, 5. Thioether peptide macrocycles, as a class of compounds, were shown to be non-immunogenic (see Frey, A. et al., Immunization of mice with peptomers covalently coupled to aluminum oxide nanoparticles. Vaccine 1999, 17, 3007-3019) with improved redox stability inside cells, as compared to disulfide macrocycles. See Osapay, et al., Lanthionine-somatostatin analogs: Synthesis, characterization, biological activity, and enzymatic stability studies. J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 2241-2251. This approach is highly amenable to library-based approaches when coupled to mRNA display technology via genetic code reprogramming with nonproteinogenic amino acids. See Ito, K. et al., Technologies for the Synthesis of mRNA-Encoding Libraries and Discovery of Bioactive Natural Product-Inspired Non-Traditional Macrocyclic Peptides. Molecules 2013, 18, 3502-3528. The thioether macrocycle forms spontaneously at pH>7.5 through chemoselective nucleophilic displacement of an N-terminal chloro- or bromoacetyl "cap", installed via translation with an N-haloacetyl amino acid initiator, by a downstream cysteine. See Roberts, K. D. et al., Efficient synthesis of thioether-based cyclic peptide libraries. Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 8357-8360; see also Robey, F. A. et al. Automated Synthesis of N-bromoacetyl-modified peptides for the preparation of synthetic peptide polymers, peptide protein conjugates, and cyclic-peptides. Anal. Biochem. 1989, 177, 373-377. Utilizing this technology, several backbone thioether macrocyclic peptides such as CM11-1 (Yamagishi, Y. et al., Natural Product-Like Macrocyclic N-Methyl-Peptide Inhibitors against a Ubiquitin Ligase Uncovered from a Ribosome-Expressed De Novo Library. Chemistry & Biology 2011, 18, 1562-1570), Pakti-L1 (Hayashi, Y. et al. In Vitro Selection of Anti-Akt2 Thioether-Macrocyclic Peptides Leading to Isoform-Selective Inhibitors. ACS Chem. Biol. 2012, 7, 607-613), Epi-1 (Iwasaki, K. et al. A Fluorescent Imaging Probe Based on a Macrocyclic Scaffold That Binds to Cellular EpCAM. J. Mol. Evol. 2015, 81, 210-217), aCAP (Bashiruddin, N. K. et al. Construction and screening of vast libraries of natural product-like macrocyclic peptides using in vitro display technologies. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2015, 24, 131-138; Kodan, A. et al.; Structural basis for gating mechanisms of a eukaryotic P-glycoprotein homolog. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2014, 111, 4049-4054), S2iL5 (Morimoto, J. et al. Discovery of Macrocyclic Peptides Armed with a Mechanism-Based Warhead: Isoform-Selective Inhibition of Human Deacetylase SIRT2. Angew. Chem.—Int. Edit. 2012, 51, 3423-3427; Yamagata, K. et al. Structural Basis for Potent Inhibition of SIRT2 Deacetylase by a Macrocyclic Peptide Inducing Dynamic Structural Change. Structure 2014, 22, 345-352), MaL6 (Tanaka, Y. et al. Structural basis for the drug extrusion mechanism by a MATE multidrug transporter. Nature 2013, 496, 247), have been identified by selection against protein targets of interest, demonstrating the power of this platform for lead discovery. These results have made thioether macrocycles one of the lead chemotypes in this exciting new field.
Solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) is a key enabling technology to this new field. It provides a powerful tool for peptide synthesis and lead optimization of the thioether macrocyclic peptide hits generated by mRNA encoding libraries. However, while production on solid phase is facile, the crude peptide sequences often require significant purification, which places a substantial burden on purification platforms, which is frequently the rate-limiting step in the drug discovery process of peptide libraries. Additionally, peptides obtained from Fmoc-SPPS are often accompanied by several impurities traced back to each failed iterative step of the synthesis (denoted as failure sequences). While several potential mechanisms of impurity formation such as epimerization, insertion of additional amino acids, sequence deletions, aspartimide formation, sequential piperidine adduct formations, and degradation during resin cleavage can be minimized by judicious choice of SPPS conditions, it still remains that the generation of impurities is unavoidable. In particular, while the presence of backbone N-alkylation may imbue desirable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics properties, their presence exacerbates impurity formation via two mechanisms: 1) each site of N-alkylation in the backbone involves coupling onto a secondary amine, increasing the likelihood of deletion/truncation products (see Teixido, M. et al., Solid-phase synthesis and characterization of N-methyl-rich peptides. J. Pept. Res. 2005, 65, 153-166), and 2) backbone N-alkylation has been shown to lead to hydrolysis of the adjacent peptide bond during global acidic deprotection. See Urban, J. et al. Lability of N-alkylated peptides towards TFA cleavage. Int. J. Pept. Protein Res. 1996, 47, 182-189. Accumulation of the aforementioned impurities, tert-butylation of free cysteine during global cleavage, and the side products generated during cyclization, place a necessary burden on chromatographic purification in high-throughput drug discovery—where two stage purification is often needed to obtain purities required for screening.
Others have demonstrated the concept of "solid-phase assisted purification" to enrich a desired linear peptide sequence for proceeding single pass purifications. See Nessen, M. et al., Selective Enrichment of Azide-Containing Peptides from Complex Mixtures. Journal of Proteome Research 2009, 8, 3702-3711; Aucagne, V. et al., Towards the Simplification of Protein Synthesis: Iterative Solid-Supported Ligations with Concomitant Purifications. Angewandte Chemie—International Edition 2012, 51, 11320-11324; Zhang, M. C. et al., Purification of Synthetic Peptides Using a Catching Full-Length Sequence by Polymerization Approach. Org. Lett. 2014, 16, 1290-1293. In addition to specific limitations of each approach, such as modification of the final peptide with cyclooctyne and linker, low recoveries, and limitation to linear peptides, they all have the commonality of removing only the truncated failure sequences.
Thus, there is a need for solid-phase assisted purification methods that are capable of handling the breadth of impurities that are observed in practice, that are compatible with peptide macrocycles, and that can be adapted to a high-throughput setting.

Non-chromatographic purification of macrocyclic peptides by a resin catch and release


A light emitting device includes a plurality of oblong flexible substrates, each flexible substrate comprising a sheet-shaped base body and a wiring pattern formed on one face of the base body, and each flexible substrate having a plurality of light emitting sections disposed thereon; a plurality of a reflective layers, each reflective layer being disposed at a periphery of a respective light emitting section above a respective flexible substrate; an insulating reflective sheet made of a light reflecting resin, the reflective sheet having a plurality of through holes located such that the light emitting sections and at least a portion of the reflective layers are exposed via the through holes; and a plurality of adhesive members, each adhesive member adhering a respective flexible substrate to the reflective sheet in regions where the reflective layer is not formed.

The present disclosure relates to a light emitting device that includes a flexible substrate.
A light emitting device employing a flexible substrate that includes a reflective film covering a wiring pattern disposed on the sheet base material has been proposed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-131084 (Patent Document 1) discloses, as an example of the reflective film, an insulating white ink referred to as a white resist made of a silicone-based resin containing a titanium oxide.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-278016 (Patent Document 2) discloses an electronic device constructed by securing an LED substrate to a metal sheet support using substrate holders, the LED substrate having a plurality of LEDs mounted on one face and a reflective sheet made of a synthetic resin having through holes at the positions corresponding to the LEDs.


Apparatus for producing the Fourier coefficients of a time and/or space-varying input signal utilizes a bank of delay filters whose outputs are selectively connected to the inputs of a bank of accumulating circuit each of which produces one of the desired Fourier coefficients. Each of the delay filters produces an output signal which is the weighted average of one or more samples of the input signal, the samples being equally spaced in time over the period of the input signal. The accumulating circuits, equal in number to the number of harmonics in the desired Fourier series, each produce a weighted sum of the output(s) of selected delay filters which are interconnected with the accumulating circuits in accordance with the so-called Mobius function. The apparatus may employ either general purpose or special purpose digital or analog processing circuits, and is particularly suitable for implementation with VLSI fabrication techniques. Futher circuit simplification may be achieved by preprocessing the input signal into a delta modulated bipolar signal to reduce the number of internal data paths and to permit the signal averaging function to be implemented with a simple up-down counter.

This invention relates to high speed signal processing circuits and more particularly to special purpose VLSI coprocessing circuits for performing Fourier analysis and synthesis.
Spectacular advances have been made in recent years in the development of general purpose signal processing VLSI chips based on a microprocessor type of architecture. Though the development has been very rapid, the next generation of signal processing chips will require some innovative changes. One such change is the use of special-purpose coprocessors for basic operations such as narrow band filtering and Fourier analysis.
When performing real time signal processing, the continuous flow of data together with the complexity of the computations that have to be performed make it difficult to design a general purpose system which will perform a specific task efficiently. On the other hand, if an efficient algorithm for a specific task is found, there must be a suitable match between algorithm and VLSI layout if the solution is suitable for realization in hardware.
It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to efficiently and accurately perform a large class of signal processing tasks (including Fourier analysis, narrow-band filtering, and beamforming) by means of very large scale integration (VLSI) devices.

Signal processing apparatus for generating a fourier transform

Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations


An information transmission method related to the field of communications technologies includes: generating an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, where the OFDM symbol includes a pi/2-BPSK modulated data signal and a pi/2-binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated phase tracking reference signal (PTRS); and sending the OFDM symbol. This method may be applied to an uplink single carrier transmission scenario or a downlink single carrier transmission scenario.

Factors such as a Doppler effect, a central frequency offset (CFO), and phase noise may cause a phase error to data signal reception in a communications system, resulting in performance degradation or even failure of the communications system. To resolve this technical problem, a transmit end device may insert a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) into a data signal. A receive end device first estimates a phase error of the PTRS, and then obtains a phase error of the data signal through operations such as filtering and/or interpolation, thereby implementing phase error compensation for the data signal.
In a communications system, a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a single carrier is relatively low, and therefore, a single carrier may be used for an uplink waveform. However, during data signal transmission using a single carrier, if a PTRS is inserted into a data signal, a PAPR of the communications system may be increased, and therefore an advantage of the single carrier cannot be well utilized.

Information transmission method and apparatus


A method and device for comminuting a thermoplastic polymer, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer, and for producing therefrom pulverulent materials with a predefined grain distribution, includes the following steps: comminuting the thermoplastic polymer, which is provided in lump form, into a starting powder in a comminuting device, and subsequently screening this starting powder at least once until a predefined grain distribution has been attained. A release agent, which reduces the tack and capability for agglomeration formation of the starting powder, is fed into the comminuting device during the comminuting step.

A device for manufacturing such pulverulent materials is known from DE 20 2016 106 243 U1. Here, a hot melt of the plastic starting product is supplied to a nozzle device from which the melt exits and separates into small droplets that fall down.
They are cooled down by means of cryogas and collected in a lower area. This is followed by screening and packaging.
Furthermore, it is known to first dissolve the plastic starting product in a solvent and to obtain the particles therefrom; e.g. to atomize or spray the obtained solution and to keep the obtained droplets in isolation until the solvent has substantially evaporated. In this method, it is not necessary to bring the plastic to a higher temperature, so that chemical changes are not to be expected in this respect. However, the solvent acts on the plastic.
Devices and methods for grinding and producing powders are in use in the industry. WO 2007/008480 A1 describes a method for grinding at cryo-temperatures and producing a powder; the known prior art of cryo-grinding is described in detail on several pages in the introduction to the description. EP 2 957 598 A1 discloses a method for producing polyamides converted into powder by cryogenic grinding. A screening process then takes place.
A cryogenic temperature is generally understood to be a temperature below minus 150° C. For the application at hand, temperatures below −50° C. are to be included, which also includes cooling using dry ice CO2.
It is also possible not to carry out the comminuting step at low temperatures. Grinding at low temperatures is generally necessary if the glass transition temperature of the polymer is below −20, particularly below 30° C., because otherwise, the respective polymer cannot be comminuted normally.
The above-mentioned methods are examples for comminuting plastic starting material into pulverulent plastic. Further comminuting methods are known from the prior art.
When comminuting, the pulverulent final product as demanded and desired by the market is generally not obtained immediately. The market specifies a size and distribution of the desired pulverulent materials as they are required, for example, for a particular 3D printer. In order to obtain the correct grain distributions, the pulverulent plastics (the starting powder) obtained from the comminuting step are screened at least once. Several screening processes may be carried out one after the other. In this case, the grain distribution is also dependent on the way in which comminuting and screening are carried out. The at least one screening process is adapted to the comminuting process and adjusted thereto. It is also adapted to the predefined grain distribution.
Depending on the selected comminuting process, the obtained pulverulent material has a characteristic shape of the individual particles or granules. The typical shape may deviate to a greater or lesser extent from the ultimately desired spherical shape. For example, the granules may be non-round, e.g. have appendages (tails), be relatively flat (platelets), be rod-shaped or the like. This affects the screening process and the screening result. It is possible to carry out a process of rounding the granules after the comminuting step and before the screening step. In this regard, reference is made to DE 10 2017 100 981 by the applicant, for example.
As the method was carried out in practice, it was found that problems caused by the comminuting step arise during the screening process, particularly if the starting powder was obtained from a thermoplastic elastomer, e.g. by grinding soft TPU, and exhibits a particular tack. The throughput of the device is frequently greatly reduced. The screening device tends to clog. An economically sound screening process frequently cannot be carried out.

Method and device for comminuting a plastic and for producing powdered material from said plastic


The present invention provides polarized electrodes that ensure a satisfactory packing ratio of activated carbon particles and conductive particulates and favorable contact between these and an electrolyte, and demonstrate high capacitance. The present invention relates to the following electrode materials for polarized electrodes:                (1) electrode materials for polarized electrodes containing a rubber-based emulsion, activated carbon particles, conductive particulates, and a surfactant; and        (2) electrode materials for polarized electrodes containing a dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene, activated carbon particles, conductive particulates, and a surfactant, wherein the solid content is 25% by weight or more.

Conventionally, carbon electrodes containing activated carbon particles are used as polarized electrodes for electric double layer capacitors. The carbon electrodes are generally manufactured by applying electrode materials containing activated carbon particles onto a conductive substrate, and drying the laminate. A currently known method for manufacturing polarized electrodes includes applying onto a conductive substrate electrode materials obtained by dispersing activated carbon particles, conductive particulates, etc. in a dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene (referred to as "PTFE", hereinafter) as a binder; and drying the laminate.
The capacitance of an electric double layer capacitor varies depending on the area (effective area) where the activated carbon particles and the conductive particulates contained in the polarized electrodes contact with the electrolyte. More specifically, the capacitance is closely related to the packing ratio of the activated carbon particles and conductive particulates in the polarized electrodes. Therefore, to increase the capacitance, the packing ratio of the activated carbon particles and conductive particulates needs to be improved.
In a slurry method which includes dispersing activated carbon particles, conductive particulates, a binder, etc. in a dispersion medium to prepare slurry-like electrode materials; and forming an electrode layer of the polarized electrode using the same, the capacitance of a polarized electrode is generally proportional to the solid content of the electrode materials. Therefore, to increase the capacitance of the polarized electrode, electrode materials with high solid content need to be prepared in the slurry method.
In general, however, the electrode materials with high solid content cannot exhibit favorable application properties in many cases since such electrode materials are thickened due to a high degree of interaction between the binder and the solid content, such as activated carbon particles, conductive particulates, etc. For example, according to the conventional slurry method, when the solid content is 25% by weight or more, the viscosity of the electrode materials is about 6,000 cP (the viscosity being measured under atmospheric conditions at 25° C. with a Brookfield viscometer). Thus, a high viscosity makes it difficult to demonstrate good application properties.
Therefore, in the slurry method, the solid content of the electrode materials in view of ease of preparation, ease of applying, etc. is preferably adjusted to be about 20% by weight.
In recent years, lightweight and miniaturized polarized electrodes have been demanded, and thus the development of high capacity polarized electrodes for lightweight and miniaturized designs is called for. Thus, it is desired to produce practical polarized electrodes using electrode materials with a solid content of about 30% by weight. The development of electrode materials with low viscosity and excellent application properties (e.g., slurry flowability) even when the solid content thereof is 30% by weight or more needs to be realized.

Method for preparing an electrode material for a polarized electrode


Various embodiments provide a system comprising a regulator and one or more low-drop-out linear regulators for improved efficiency. In one embodiment, a system comprises a regulator and one low-drop-out linear regulator comprising a pass transistor, and furthermore, another transistor matched to the pass transistor except for size. The matching transistor provides information regarding the source-drain voltage drop of the pass transistor. A controller circuit makes use of this information to set the regulator's output voltage to improve the efficiency of the system. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

In battery operated equipment, long battery life is very important. One factor influencing battery life is the efficiency of the voltage regulators used to power the different subsystems in the equipment. Switching regulators (SWR) provide among the highest efficiency, and they are widely used. However, switching regulators are relatively expensive and take-up a relatively large amount of printed circuit board area. As a result, linear low drop out regulators (LDOs) are widely used where lower efficiency can be tolerated. This results in systems that typically have a few SWRs and a large number of LDOs.
The LDOs operate with reasonably high efficiency if the difference between their input voltage, Vin, and output voltage, Vout, is small relative to Vout. This voltage difference is referred to as an overhead voltage Vovh, where Vovh=Vin−Vout. Neglecting ground current, the efficiency, Eff, may be expressed as followsEff=(Pout/Pin)˜(Vout/Vin)=Vout/(Vout+Vovh)=1/(1+Vovh/Vout).
If LDOs are used between the battery and the subsystems, the efficiency changes as the battery voltage decreases through the discharge cycle. The efficiency starts out low for a fully charged battery, and increases as the battery voltage, Vbat, decreases toward its minimum voltage.
Combining an SWR and LDO in a cascade fashion, where the SWR's input is the battery voltage and the SWR's output voltage provides the LDO's input voltage, is often used to improve the overall efficiency. An advantage of such a combination is that, as the LDO operates from the regulated output voltage of the SWR, the LDO's overhead is relatively constant and may be chosen low enough so as to provide a reasonably high overall efficiency for the combination. There also are advantages inherent to linear regulators, such as, for example, low noise, low ripple, and fast transient response. The output voltage of the SWR, Voswr, is typically set to Vout+Vovh, where Vovh is a fixed voltage. The SWR's control loop may either control the Voswr to equal Vout+Vovh, or regulate the Voswr so as to provide the required constant Vovh by forcing the difference of Voswr and Vout to be Vovh.
FIG. 1 shows one prior art solution, where the Voswr is controlled to be equal to Vref2=Voutmax+Vovh. This solution is sensitive to the Vout tolerances, and should be designed for Voutmax. The switching regulator is typically a buck regulator, but it may other types of regulators, such as a boost regulator or a buck-boost regulator, for example.
FIG. 2 shows the different voltages in a SWR-LDO regulator combination. It shows the different components of Vovh. The largest component is denoted as Vdsmin. This is the minimal drain-source voltage of PFET pass device 106 that ensures that device 106 operates in its saturated (pentode) region. (PFET stands for p-channel field-effect transistor.) This is important because operating the pass device in this region provides the LDO with high ripple rejection and good load transient response. Using a drain-source voltage larger than Vdsmin may be good for ripple rejection, but will result in a decrease in efficiency. If the drain-source voltage of the pass device 106 is lower than Vdsmin, the pass device operates in its triode mode with greatly reduced ripple rejection and degraded load transient response.
The value of Vdsmin depends on process parameters, temperature, output current and pass device size. In many prior art solutions Vovh, is chosen to be large enough to cover Vdsmin under worst case process parameters, junction temperature, highest output current, and smallest pass device size. Typically, Vdsmin may vary two to three times over the full parameter space. Designing Vdsmin for the worst case may result in a system that has lower than optimal efficiency for most cases and under most operating conditions.
The next, typically much smaller component of Vovh is the SWR's ripple voltage, denoted as Vswrripple/2 in FIG. 2. Switching regulators generate a ripple voltage at their output due to their switching nature. This is typically expressed as a peak-to-peak (pp) ripple voltage around their DC output voltage. Half of this pp ripple voltage, Vswrripple/2, is part of Vovh. Vswrripple depends on the SWR's external storage components, such as capacitor C 108 and an inductor (not shown), and also depends upon the switching frequency. The next component of Vovh is the maximum load transient excursion of Voswr during the maximum specified positive load transient, Voswtrmax. Voswtrmax depends on the inductor (not shown) of the SWR, the value and ESR (equivalent series resistance) of the capacitor C 108, and the speed of its control loop. The final component, dVoswr, is the maximum deviation of Voswr from its nominal value due to component tolerances, temperature variation, and static line and load regulation. If the Voswr is set by this Vovh above the Voutmax, the LDO's pass device should operate in its saturated (pentode) region under all operating and ambient conditions with high efficiency, high ripple rejection and good load transient response.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative prior art implementation. In this implementation, the control loop of the SWR regulates the Voswr to be Vovh above the actual Vout of the LDO. This is accomplished by Error amplifier 102 forcing Voswr=Vout+Vovh. An advantage of this solution, compared to the one shown in FIG. 1., is that Voswr tacks the actual Vout with the constant Vovh overhead. As the tolerance of Vout is not part of the Voswr control loop, Voswr and Vout are closer to each other, resulting in higher efficiency. However, a disadvantage of this solution is that the overhead, Vovh, is constant and should be designed to meet worst case conditions over process, temperature, tolerances, and LDO operating conditions. This often results in over-design and lower efficiency for most operating conditions.

Circuit and method combining a switching regulator with one or more low-drop-out linear voltage regulators for improved efficiency


An automatic, lockable, and releasable range-taking cable connection for use in pole line application utilizes a pair of spring loaded gripper elements movable on inclined planar surfaces within a housing, with the gripper elements connected to a retractor mechanism that translates rotational motion of a retractor into axial movement of the grippers to release the same from the cable. A rotatable locking sleeve or cap is used to secure the gripper elements in locked position when in normal use.

Devices are known in the art which purport to grip a cable inserted therein and they are to some extent useful. The devices known to the inventor are, however, non-range taking and provide no means for insuring that the cable remains within the holder when subjected to impact or severe vibration or loss of tension in the cable, such as may occur when a pole is hit by a vehicle, when lines are crossed by fallen trees, or when violent gusty winds occur. The known devices employ a housing having a frusto-conical cavity therein within which a set of conical segments are free to move axially. The conical segments have a combined outer diameter which causes them to wedge against the housing at a predetermined minimum diameter, and when so wedged, the sides of the segment abut to form a cone with an axial bore therethrough. As will be appreciated, this structure imposes a strict limit on the cable size which can be properly gripped for a given device. Accordingly, prior practice has been to build a plurality of devices of varying size to handle a variety of cable sizes.
Yet another problem with the prior art are two opposite extremes which may occur in operation. One extreme occurs when the gripper elements become so tightly wedged in the housing that they cannot be removed, thus the device is not reusable. The other extreme occurs when the tension in the cable is lost and the grippers move into a larger volume inside the housing such that the gripping action is lost and the cable escapes the gripper or moves axially in the device. When tension is restored to the cable, obviously untoward results may occur.


Method and apparatus providing asynchronous neural stimulation pseudo-randomly varying at least one of a plurality of stimulation parameters. Neural stimulation may be monitored and compared with a target. Parameters may be varied to more closely match stimulation target. A range for at least one parameter may be established and the parameter varied within the range. A finite sequence of values within the range may be generated or selected. An average of the finite sequence of values may approximate the stimulation target.

Nervous system disorders affect millions of people, sometimes causing death or degradation of life. Central and peripheral nervous system disorders include epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Other nervous system disorders include mental health and psychiatric disorders, which also affect millions of individuals and include anxiety (such as general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)), mood disorders (such as major depression, bipolar depression, and dysthymic disorder), sleep disorders (narcolepsy), obesity and anorexia.
Epilepsy is the most prevalent serious neurological disease across all ages. Epilepsy is a group of neurological conditions in which a person has or is predisposed to recurrent seizures. A seizure is a clinical manifestation of neurological activity indicative of a nervous system disorder, and results from excessive, hypersynchronous, abnormal electrical or neuronal activity in the brain. This electrical excitability of the brain may be likened to an intermittent electrical overload that manifests with sudden, recurrent and transient changes of mental function, sensations, perceptions and/or involuntary body movement. Because seizures are unpredictable, epilepsy affects a person's employability, psychosocial life and ability to perform otherwise standard tasks such as operating vehicles or heavy equipment.
Over time seizure repetition may result in neuronal cell loss at or near the seizure focus (such as with hippocampal sclerosis) and the neuronal network involved in seizure propagation. If the cell loss is significant, the firing patterns of the neural network may change, becoming less complex and/or chaotic. Such loss of irregularity in neuronal network firing patterns has been postulated to give rise to seizures.
Treatment therapies for epilepsy and other nervous system disorders can include any number of possible modalities alone or in combination including, for example, electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, drug infusion, and/or brain temperature control.
Devices and methods to therapeutically stimulate the body, e.g., the human body, are well known in the art. Some of these devices and methods vary, at least to some degree, the electrical stimulation provided.
Some devices and methods have multiple stimulation sites and modification which stimulation sites are activated at any given time. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,023, Rise, Patterned Electrical Tissue Stimulator, Medtronic, Inc., discloses a patterned electrical tissue stimulator includes a current source and analog multiplexers connected to an array of electrodes attached to the body. Microprocessor control of the multiplexer and the current source provides automatic selection of electrode stimulation pairs whereby spatial patterns of electrical stimulation are produced. Temporal summation and temporal patterns of electrical stimulus are provided through microprocessor control of the current source.
Also U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,064, Pomeranz et al, Electrotherapy Acupuncture Apparatus and Method, and European Publication No. EPO160753A1, European Application No. 84302741, Pomeranz et al, Electrotherapy Acupuncture Apparatus and Method, International Medical Machines, Inc., published Nov. 13, 1985, disclose a circuit for electrotherapy and electronic acupuncture, in which a pulse train is produced having negative pulses of a repetition rate of between 100 and 500 Hertz, arranged in groups having a repetition rate of between 1 and 50 Hertz. A positive bias is provided so that the integral of the pulse train signal is zero. The signal is randomly switched sequentially from one skin stimulus site to another with application times which can be adjusted between about 1 and 20 seconds (or more), to reduce or prevent brain habituation. Optionally there is a rest period between applications of the signal, in which no signal is applied to the skin sites.
Other devices and methods make at least one parameter of an electrical stimulation signal a function of another parameter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,603, Morawetz et al, Medical Stimulator With Stimulation Signal Characteristics Modulated as a Function of Stimulation Signal Frequency, Empi, Inc., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,908, Morawetz et al, Medical Stimulator With Stimulation Signal Characteristics Modulated as a Function of Stimulation Signal Frequency, Empi, Inc., disclose transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) apparatus which include first, second, and third oscillators. The first oscillator produces a first train of pulses at a main frequency. The second oscillator produces a second train of pulses at a modulation frequency. Output levels of the second train of pulses vary as a function of the modulation frequency. A frequency control simultaneously controls both the main and modulation frequencies. The third oscillator is responsive to the first and second oscillators and produces a third train of pulses at the main frequency. Intensity and frequency of the pulses of the third pulse train are modulated as a function of the output levels of the second train of pulses. An output driver responsive to the third oscillator converts the third train of pulses into a train of stimulation pulses having electrical characteristics adapted to be applied to a human body to suppress pain.
In another apparatus, electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve is based upon a detected biological condition. U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,277, Sjostrand et al, Apparatus For Influencing the Systemic Blood Pressure in a Patient By Carotid Sinus Nerve Stimulation, LKB Medical AB, discloses a system for reducing and controlling the blood pressure of a hypertensive patient has electrical pulse stimulation of the carotid sinus nerves controlled by the arterial blood pressure of the patient in such a manner that the number of stimulation pulses within each heart cycle is determined by the arterial means blood pressure whereas the distribution of stimulation pulses over the heart cycle is a function of the arterial pulse wave shape with the pulse frequency being greater during the first portion of the heart cycle.
In still other devices and methods, electrical stimulation provided is varied according to predetermined criteria. U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,111, Sato, Electric Therapeutical Apparatus With Audio Frequency Band Alternating Current, discloses an electric therapeutic method and apparatus for medically treating diseases caused in the human body by utilizing natural phenomena that organisms including human being endowed with natural curative properties, that alternating current (generally referred to as biological electric current) is found in live cells and that the more active the vital action in cells, the more intensive biological current flows therein, through the introduction of alternating current into affected cells having abnormalities in their functions to activate the vital actions thereof, thereby enhancing the natural curative properties which such cells are originally endowed with. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,881, Wickham, Muscle Stimulator, Telectronics Pty., published Oct. 5, 1976, discloses an improved muscle stimulator, particularly suited to long term rhythmic stimulation for the selective development of musculature otherwise asymmetric or retarded in relative development. To minimize the subjects' awareness of stimulation, to permit nocturnal use, and to minimize battery consumption, the energy content of each pulse train is modulated by a progressive increase of pulse width up to a maximum, followed by a progressive decrease of pulse width, thus yielding a gradual contraction and relaxation of the muscle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,151, Keller, Jr., Electronic Pain Control With Scanned Output Parameters, Stimtech, Inc., discloses a device in which a first oscillator. dictates the pulse duration and frequency of stimulating signals; the oscillator output wave form is coupled to an output amplifier stage, and thence to the patient. A scanning oscillator provides a substantially linear ramp voltage, which in turn controls pulse duration, pulse frequency, and pulse intensity modulators. In turn, these modulators appropriately establish conditions within the first oscillator and the output stage whereby the output parameters are scanned through respective predetermined ranges, thereby periodically achieving optimum stimulating conditions.
Electrical stimulation may be determined by a predetermined formula. U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,749, Sakano, Change Control Method Using Three-Dimensional 1/F Fluctuation, Recording Medium Storing the Method, and Change Control Device Using Three-Dimensional 1/F Fluctuation, Toyo Sangyo Co., discloses a method for controlling changes in stimulation of every sort and kind including electrical stimulation, utilizes a three-dimensional 1/f fluctuation. The method is a change control method for controlling changes in stimulation to an object using a three-dimensional 1/f fluctuation and includes the steps of causing changes based upon 1/f fluctuation periods in the X-Z plane of a X-Y-Z space, causing changes based upon 1/f fluctuation periods in the X-Y plane of the space, superposing the caused changes of the previous steps, and applying the superposed caused changes to the object. This makes it possible to realize a low-frequency device free of problems attributable to the tolerance in neural response. A recording medium used to store the change control method, and a change control device using a three-dimensional 1/f fluctuation are also disclosed. Changes based on 1/f fluctuation periods in the X-Z plane and changes based on 1/f fluctuation periods in the X-Y plane are superposed on each other. In the case where stimulation is changed so as to avoid monotonous application of stimulation, for example, in a massaging device, it is possible to perform control for providing three-dimensional changes in the stimulation in which changes occur in both the vertical and horizontal directions, in addition to changes in the stimulation based on two-dimensional 1/f fluctuation periods at a single stimulation point. Thus, it becomes possible to effect control for stimulation changes which are natural and comfortable to an extent that they are closely correspond to the human physiology.
Still other devices and methods provide varied electrical stimulation in a variety of ways.
UK Published Patent Application No. 2 163 355A, Simonin, A Device For Aesthetic Skin Treatment, published Feb. 26, 1986, discloses a device for the aesthetic treatment of the skin and which essentially comprises a pulse generator, of which the positive and negative outputs are each connected to a plurality of fine solid skin penetrating needles which are fitted to the ends of respective flexible connecting wires. The device is applicable in particular to the treatment of the wrinkles of the skin of an individual. The needles are inserted into individual sockets inside insulating shrouds.
United States Published Patent Application No. 2002/0055762A1, Gliner, System and Method for Varying Characteristics of Electrical Therapy, U.S. Ser. No. 09/751,503, published May 9, 2002, discloses a system and method for providing percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy to a patient. A method in accordance with one embodiment to the invention can include coupling an electrode to the recipient, applying electrical pulses to the probe, and varying a characteristic of the pulses applied to the recipient. For example, the pulses can be automatically varied from a value of no more than about 4 Hertz to a value of no less than about 10 Hertz and back over a period of greater than 6 seconds. The frequency variation can be repeated for a number of periods during the course of a session, or the frequency characteristics can change with subsequent periods. Characteristics of the electrical pulses can be changed depending on the duration of the session. The method for varying characteristics of the electrical pulses can be automatically implemented by a computer.
PCT Patent Application No. WO 02/30509A2, Gliner, System and Method For Varying Characteristics of Electrical Therapy, Vertis Neuroscience, discloses a system and method for providing electrical nerve stimulation therapy to a recipient. A system in accordance with one embodiment to the invention can include electrode means (such as a percutaneous electrode) coupleable to a recipient. The system can further included signal generating means for applying an electrical signal to the electrode means. The signal generating means can include frequency varying means for applying the electrical signal to the electrode means at a plurality of frequencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,350,797, Morland et al, Means For Producing Electric Impulses, discloses an apparatus for treatment of nerves and muscles by means of electric impulses, especially for artificial innervation of muscles, for instance for therapeutic purposes. The apparatus according to the invention is especially adapted for use in the training of muscles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,594, Miller et al, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, Med General, Inc., discloses a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator in which a unijunction transistor relaxation oscillator is used to produce variable frequency, variable width pulses. The relaxation oscillator drives a two stage transistor amplifier and the output therefrom is transformer coupled to a set of output electrodes which are adapted to be placed on the area of a patient to be treated. The amplitude of the signals applied to the patient as well as the rate and duration thereof are controllable so that the patient may adjust the nerve stimulation to suit his particular needs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,059, Fravel et al, Urinary Incontinence Stimulator System, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, discloses a urinary incontinence stimulator system using an intra-anal electrode which provides a recurring series of pulses of varying duration and frequency to the electrode with each of such series of pulses spaced from the succeeding series by a rest period when no pulses are provided to the electrode.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,211, Bartelt et al, Microprocessor Controlled Electronic Stimulating Device Having Biphasic Pulse Output, Staodyn, Inc., discloses an electronic stimulating device is disclosed, with the stimulating device particularly illustrated being a transcutaneous nerve stimulating (TENS) device for effecting suppression of pain by nerve fiber stimulation. Biphasic constant current output pulses are applied to a user through electrode pairs non-invasively positioned at the skin of the user. Microprocessor generated control pulses control generation of the biphasic output pulses at a biphasic output stage associated with each electrode pair, and the generated biphasic output pulses are capacitively coupled from each output stage which also includes a bleeder network for effecting capacitor discharge. Stimulation may be continuously applied at a level selected by the user or may be applied in timed varying intensities the maximum level of which is selectable, and displays of intensity and sensed faults, including low battery voltage, are also provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,304, Matthews, Electro-Therapy Apparatus, and British Patent No. 2255719A, Matthews, Electro-Therapy Apparatus, published Nov. 11, 1992, disclose an electro-therapy apparatus includes at least two electrodes adapted to feed oscillating current to selected sites on or beneath the epidermal or mucous surface remote from a treatment site. A common return electrode is provided at the treatment site which is subjected to the sum of the currents from the two feed electrodes. The feed electrodes may be contact feed electrodes or capacitative feed electrodes. The feed electrodes may operate at different frequencies so that the treatment site is stimulated by the beat frequency. This may be at or about 80 or 130 Hertz, if an anaesthetizing effect is required.
Still further, some devices and methods use a random or pseudo-random variation of electrical stimulation parameters.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,945, Kosugi et al, Method and Randomized Electrical Stimulation System For Pain Relief, Clinical Engineering Laboratory, discloses a system for generating electrical pulses for relieving the pain of the patient comprising a pulse generator and a controller for modulating the parameters of the output pulses of the pulse generator to fluctuate in accordance with the 1/f rule; i.e., the spectral density of the fluctuation varies inversely with the frequency.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,152, Barbara, Electrotherapeutic Apparatus With Body Impedance Sensitive Intensity Regulation, discloses an electrotherapeutic device embodying means for generating random, infrasonic and other varying signals, and applying the amplified signals to the human body for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The intensity of the applied signals is controlled by means responsive to changes in the impedance of the patient's body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,000, Butler et al, Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulator With Pseudorandom Pulse Generator, Gatron Corporation, discloses an aphasias and other neurologically based speech and language impairments are treated by means of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator. Preferably an irregular pulse train is applied by means of a pseudorandom pulse generator to the stimulator electrodes. The trapezoidal, monophasic pulses mimic typical physiological wave forms and the average pulse rate is in the order of the alpha rate. A series of pulses has a zero DC level which enables the nerves to repolarize, and a current source in the stimulator reduces the effects of such variables as skin resistance. The base pulse rate, pulse width and pulse amplitude can be adjusted to meet the particular needs of a patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,432, Moline-Negro et al, Electric Nerve Stimulator Device, Neurotronic Ltd., discloses an electric nerve stimulation device and apparatus for suppressing organic pain and other functional disorders of the nervous system without noxious sensation and substantially free from the adaptation phenomenon which usually results from subjecting receptors and nerve cells to uniform stimulating signals. The device includes a pulse generator to produce bipolar rectangular waveforms at preselected repetition rate and of a preselected width during a given first time period. Electronic circuits are connected to the post generator to deliver rectangular waveforms at a repetition rate which is chosen by a pseudo-random function for a second time period which is also chosen by a pseudo-random function. Further circuitry is provided to inhibit delivery of pulse waves for a third period of time. This third period of time is chosen by a pseudo-random function, thereby substantially eliminating noxious sensations and adaptation of nerve cells to stimulation during suppression of the organic pain. Electrodes are connected to the output of the device to apply the waveforms to nerve fibers to be stimulated thereby.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,422, Rise, Method and Apparatus For Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders By Electrical Brain Stimulation, Medtronic, Inc., discloses techniques for stimulating the brain to reduce the effects of neurodegenerative disorders by means of an implantable signal generator and electrode. A sensor is used to detect the symptoms resulting from the disorder. A microprocessor algorithm analyzes the output from the sensor in order to regulate the stimulation delivered to the brain.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,212, Weijand, Nerve Evoked Potential Measurement System Using Chaotic Sequences For Noise Rejection, Medtronic, Inc., discloses a measurement system for measuring signals evoked in response to stimulus pulses applied to a nerve, muscle or like physiological portion of a patient. The measurement system is characterized by delivering stimulus pulses at randomly generated intervals, and enabling the sense circuitry to track the timing of the stimulus pulse generation so as to aid in discriminating the evoked response pattern from surrounding noise. Specifically, after each stimulus pulse a delay is timed out for a time corresponding to the expected latency between the delivered pulse and the arrival of the evoked response at another location. The delay signal is then used to initiate time out of a window which controls operation of the sensing circuit for a window duration corresponding to when the evoked response pattern is appearing. Limiting the sensing operation to the window duration enables tracking of the response pattern, and minimizes power consumption. The sensed evoked response signals are further processed to provide control signals for adjustment of the delay and window, thereby optimizing the sensing operation. The measurement system is suitably part of a larger implantable stimulus system, which includes the ability to adjust pulse-to-pulse interval, or rate, and also pulse output level as a function of measured evoked response patterns. In a further embodiment, the stimulus system involves steering of stimulus pulses to selected nerve fibers or muscle tissue, and the measurement system provides feedback for adjusting the steering parameters.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,929, Giordano, Sequentially Generated Multi-Parameter Bioelectric Delivery System and Method, discloses a device and method for electro-stimulation. The user can select an overall treatment protocol of current frequencies and amplitudes to be applied for specified dwell periods defining a sweep cycle. The user can select for one or more periods in the cycle a frequency/amplitude to be applied to elicit a response such as a muscle contraction or the like. The device protocols may be selected to elicit responses while conserving power, to provide for heating without eliciting a response or to hop between frequency/amplitude combinations to produce the desired effect.
United States Published Patent Application No. 2003/0135248A1, Stypulkowski, Variation of Neural-Stimulation Parameters, U.S. Ser. No. 10/044,405, Medtronic, Inc., published Jul. 17, 2003, and PCT Published Patent Application WO 2003/059,441, Stypulkowski, Variation of Neural-Stimulation Parameters, Medtronic, Inc., disclose techniques for varying stimulus parameters used in neural stimulation to improve therapy efficacy, minimize energy consumption, minimize undesired side effects, and minimize loss of therapeutic effectiveness due to physiologic tolerance to stimulation. Neural stimulation is provided having a stimulation amplitude, a stimulation frequency, a stimulation pulse duration, an electrode-firing pattern, and a set of electrode-firing-polarity conditions. At least one of the stimulation parameters is pseudo-randomly varied. A second stimulation parameter is changed based upon having pseudo-randomly varied the first stimulation parameter and based upon a predetermined relationship specifying how changes in the first parameter affect desirable values for the second parameter.
Therapy directed to the network, which is capable of restoring complexity of network firing patterns, may be beneficial in preventing seizures. To achieve this, asynchronous electrical stimulation may be directed at the seizure focus site, or applied indirectly to nearby neurons connected via projection pathways (e.g. thalamus). The effect of asynchronous stimulation is twofold: to activate neurons that would otherwise remain silent; and, to increase the firing rate of existing neurons in the network.


A splice connector assembly configured to conduct more than 1 kilowatt of electricity includes a terminal having a connection portion configured to interconnect with a corresponding mating terminal. The terminal also has an attachment portion. The attachment portion has a planar shape. The attachment portion is attached to a first wire electrical cable and is also attached to a second wire electrical cable. The first cable has a different cross-sectional area than the second cable. The splice connector assembly also includes a dielectric housing defining a cavity in which the terminal is disposed.

Wiring assemblies in electric or hybrid electric vehicles typically include high power circuits (exceeding 1 kilowatt) that interconnect a power source, such as a battery pack, to various high-power components in the vehicle. The high-power circuits typically have a wire cable with a large cross-sectional area (e.g. 95 mm2) connected directly to the power source by a connector having a cable terminal. The high-power circuit also contains a Y-splice device connecting the wire cable with the large cross-sectional area to two wire cables each having a smaller cross-sectional area, e.g. 75 mm2 and 25 mm2. Various examples of these Y-splice devices can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,887,529, 9,906,003, 9,917,434, and 9,928,939. However, this high-power circuit construction has the drawbacks of the cost of the Y-splice device and the labor cost and time to assemble the Y-splice device into the high-power circuit. The Y-splice device has the further drawback of requiring packaging space within the vehicle which is typically at a premium.
Therefore, a high-power circuit configured to connect a power source to multiple high-power devices that eliminates at least some of the drawbacks of the current circuits described above remains desired.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.


A turbo-molecular pump includes a base 3; a rotor 4 rotatably supported thereon; a stator 400 disposed around the rotor 4; and a tubular casing 2 configured to accommodate the stator 400. The stator 400 includes multiple stages of stator blades 43 and spacers 48 alternately stacked one upon another on a flange surface 31 of the base 3. At least one of the spacers 48 is provided with a circular ring part 483 continuously formed thereof covering the outer circumferential surface of other spacers 48 inside the casing 2.

There is known a turbo-molecular pump having a rotor that rotates at high speeds in a casing with a means that prevents energy generated by breakage of the rotor from being transmitted to the casing outside the rotor (cf., for example, Patent Reference 1). The one disclosed in Patent Reference 1 is provided with double inner casings inside the outer casing.
Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-82379 (especially FIG. 2)


The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for resuming the evaluation of initial Filter Criteria (iFC) at a specific point. Two new parameters are defined for inclusion in the service logic of application servers and serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) servers. The first parameter, an iFC index parameter, is a number which indicates an index to a current specific position in the iFC evaluation. The S-CSCF may insert the iFC index parameter into route headers of SIP messages that originate from the S-CSCF to the application servers. The second parameter, an iFC resume parameter, is based on the iFC index parameter or another number along with an original dialog identifier, which the application servers may insert into route headers of SIP messages that originate from the application servers to the S-CSCF to indicate a desire to resume operations at the specific position in the iFC evaluation.

The Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) refers to a core network that supports multimedia services based on a future evolution of 3G networks, where there exists only a single core network supporting convergent voice and data services, i.e., multimedia services. The multimedia services are based on Voice over Internet Protocol for signaling and media transport. An IMS core network consists of a variety of standardized functional elements, including, but not limited to, one or more instances of a Call Session Control Function (CSCF), Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF), Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Media Gateways (MGW), and application server (AS). Signaling within the IMS core network is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) using any interface compatible with the Internet Protocol (IP). Herein, IMS is defined as the system specified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Telecommunications and Internet converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Networking (TISPAN).
In the IMS core network, there is a SIP signaling interface between Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) and the application server that is known as the IP multimedia Service Control (ISC) Interface. One driver for the ISC interface is for the S-CSCF to include a specific application server in the SIP signaling path based on initial Filter Criteria (iFC), i.e., subscriber data. The iFC is defined on the Home Subscriber Server and passed to the S-CSCF for a subscriber being served by the S-CSCF. Each iFC defines conditions, known as Service Point Triggers (SPT), associated with a SIP message and the identity of the application server to contact if the conditions are met. Also, each iFC has a priority that determines the order which multiple application servers would be contacted when multiple iFC conditions are met. Each application server may pass the SIP request back to the S-CSCF for continued iFC analysis or may provide a final SIP response which ends the iFC analysis.
When an application server is invoked via the iFC interface, there may be a situation in which the application server needs to provide a final response to a received SIP request to perform an intermediate action, in addition to the need to give the SIP request back to the S-CSCF to continue with the iFC analysis when it completes the intermediate action. Illustratively, an intermediate action for an application server may be to play an announcement to an originating party of a SIP INVITE request or perform an interactive voice response exchange before continuing to route the call request towards the destination. Disadvantageously, this situation is not easily accomplished with the current standardized definition of the ISC Interface. The application server may send a new instance of the SIP request to the S-CSCF, but the S-CSCF will start the iFC analysis from the beginning.
One prior art alternative is for each application server with service logic to resume processing after providing a final response to the SIP request. When the application server sends the new instance of the SIP request, the application server may include a special parameter or header. The service provider could modify the iFC for all application servers that match the conditions and have higher priority such that a negative condition is added in the service point triggers. Disadvantageously, this alternative is cumbersome and may not work when large numbers of application servers are involved and complex conditions are defined.

Mechanism to resume filter criteria at a specific point


Methods, systems, and apparatuses for sidelink communication are disclosed. A WTRU may receive a first SCI element from a second WTRU within a group. The WTRU may receive a first RCI element within a first set of resources scheduled by the first SCI. The first RCI may include information about which WTRU in the group is scheduled to use a second set of resources. The WTRU may determine, based on the first RCI, that one or more subresources within the second set of resources are available. The WTRU may transmit data in the one or more subresources. The first SCI and the first RCI may be received in a first reservation period and the one or more subresources may be in a second reservation period.

Vehicular ("V2X") communication is a mode of communication in which wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) may communicate with each other directly. While in coverage, WTRUs may receive assistance from a network to start transmitting and receiving V2X messages. While out of coverage, WTRUs may use one or more pre-configured parameters to start transmitting and receiving V2X messages.

Methods for efficient resource usage between cooperative vehicles


A frequency offset of a received signal comprising a number of subsequently received data symbols is estimated. A first estimate is determined from a calculated change in phase of the received signal between two received symbols having a first time distance between them. At least one further estimate is determined from a calculated change in phase of the received signal between two received symbols having a different time distance. A frequency periodicity is determined for each estimate from the distance between the two received symbols from which the estimate was determined. A set of integer values is determined for each estimate so that frequency values calculated for each estimate as the frequency periodicity multiplied by the integer value added to the estimate are at least approximately equal to each other, and a corrected estimate of the frequency offset is determined from the integer values.

In mobile communication systems, there is a need to estimate and compensate for frequency offsets. These offsets can be caused by, e.g., low precision clocks or temperature variations, but also Doppler shifts generated when a user equipment is moving towards or away from a base station.
Thus, Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) algorithms are used to alleviate these problems. To estimate the frequency offset, different methods can be used, depending on the type of communication system.
In Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), the frequency offset can, e.g., be estimated by comparing the phase change of received pilot symbols between two different symbols. Under the assumption that the channel is constant during that time, the frequency offset can be estimated by correlating two received pilot symbols. The argument of the result then gives the frequency offset. However, this argument will be a number between −π and π, and therefore the result will only be correct if the absolute value of the phase change between the two different symbols due to the frequency offset is less than π. Thus there is a limit to the frequency offset that can be detected for a given distance between the two different symbols. The larger the distance between the two different symbols is, the lower is the frequency offset that can be detected.
Thus if the distance between the two different symbols is large, the precision of the estimate is good. However, the larger the distance is, the lower the Nyquist frequency for the frequency offset is. The Nyquist frequency gives the highest frequency offset that can be estimated.
As an example, the pilots in Third Generation (3G) Long Term Evolution (3G LTE), which uses OFDM as multiple access technique in the downlink, could be placed on symbol 0 and 4 in each slot of seven symbols. Thus the shortest distance between two pilots is three symbols, and the Nyquist frequency, i.e. the highest frequency offset that can be estimated without exceeding the π limit for the absolute value of the phase change, can be calculated to 2.33 kHz. However, larger frequency offsets, which can thus not be correctly estimated, may well occur.
Thus to work in e.g. a high-speed train scenario, with Doppler frequencies of 1300 Hz with the base station close to the track, the algorithm has to be capable of rapid frequency changes. In particular, since the user equipment in order to conserve battery power may use cycles in which reception is discontinued, the frequency change can be viewed as a frequency jump of 2600 Hz between two measurements. The same applies for other communication systems in which a frequency offset is estimated from a phase change of a received signal over a given time span.
There is a need for an algorithm that is able to handle larger frequency offsets in communication systems.


A statistical method and device for customer flow volume. The method comprises: obtaining video image information in a preset monitoring area; performing video analysis on the video image information and determining a movement direction of a first target person appearing in the preset monitoring area according to an analysis result; obtaining, through statistics, incoming or outgoing customer flow volume of the actual detection area according to the determined movement direction of the first target person; reading a first terminal identifier, detected by a WiFi detector, of a WiFi terminal apparatus carried by the first target person; judging whether the first terminal identifier is present in a preset terminal identifier database for non-customer personnel; if so, decreasing the incoming or outgoing customer flow volume by 1; otherwise, making no change to the incoming or outgoing customer flow volume.

In the related art, when obtaining, through statistics, customer flow volume entering/exiting a certain site, a webcam IPC for obtaining, through statistics, the video customer flow volume generally requires to judge whether a certain person in a video is entering or exiting according to the movement direction of the person, thereby it is possible to obtain the number of incoming persons and the number of outgoing persons of a certain area and then obtain the number of the remaining persons by subtracting the number of outgoing persons from the number of incoming persons, wherein the accuracy rate of the number of incoming persons and the number of outgoing persons obtained using this technology can substantially reach more than 95%.
However, this technology lacks a further determination of personnel information, resulting in that the number of incoming persons is increased by 1 as long as someone enters, the number of outgoing persons is increased by 1 as long as someone exits, and it is unable to identify who enters or exits. In an application for obtaining, through statistics, customer flow volume in a store, if clerks of the store pass the doorway again and again, the number of incoming persons and the number of outgoing persons will continuously increase in the customer flow volume statistics, resulting in a distortion of statistical results of the customer flow volume, i.e. there is a deviation between the obtained statistical value and the actual customer flow volume, and finally the managers of the store cannot make correct decisions due to the existing obvious deviation in statistical information of the obtained customer flow volume.
With respect to the above problem, no effective solution has been proposed at present.

Method and device for calculating customer traffic volume

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.


One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, from an application, information for storage in a storage management system, wherein the storage management system comprises a plurality of storage layers, each storage layer having a different performance and a different cost than the other storage layers; labeling the information with one of a plurality of labels relevant to the application; assigning the information a performance tolerance value based upon the label of the information, wherein the performance tolerance value comprises an estimate of the performance requirement required by the application storing the information; determining a storage layer for storage of the information, wherein the determining comprises identifying one of the plurality of storage layers corresponding to the label of the information and updating metadata of a logical volume corresponding to the information with the performance tolerance value; and sending the information to the determined storage layer.

Information is frequently stored in a storage management system having a plurality of storage tiers or layers. For example, an application may store information in the storage management system for later access. This allows the application to have access to the information, but does not require that the application locally store the information. Each of the tiers or layers of the storage management system provides benefits and drawbacks. For example, the storage layers having a higher performance (those that are able to provide responses very quickly to access requests) have a higher cost to the application that stored the information in the storage layer. Conversely, a storage layer that has a lower cost does not provide responses to access requests as quickly. As applications access the information in the storage layers, the storage management system may move the information across storage layers based upon the number or frequency of accesses to the information and how recent the access to the information is. For example, if the application frequently and recently accesses the information, the storage management system may move the information to another layer having a higher performance so that the information can be provided more quickly.

Storage layer selection based upon information assignment

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Disclosed herein is a gasket mounted between power modules for separating a coolant passage, the gasket is inserted between an upper power module formed with a cooling passage on a lower surface thereof and a lower power module formed with a cooling passage on an upper surface to seal coupling surfaces of the upper power module and the lower power module, wherein a circumference of an upper surface of the gasket is closely attached on the lower surface of the upper power module, a circumference of a lower surface of the gasket is closely attached on the upper surface of the lower power module, and the cooling passage of the upper power module and the cooling passage of the lower power module are separated up and down by the gasket.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a gasket applied to an eco-friendly vehicle; and, particularly, to a gasket mounted between power modules for separating a coolant passage, which has both a function to separate a coolant passage and a function to prevent a coolant leak.
2. Discussion of the Related Technology
An eco-friendly vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle generates power through a drive motor, and includes the drive motor and power modules, such as inverters, LDCs (Low DC/DC Converters), and high-voltage batteries, to power the drive motor.
Since such power modules have heating elements such as a variety of switching elements, transformers, and IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar mode Transistors), there is a need for a cooling device to cool heat generated by operations of the power modules.
A water cooling device and an air cooling device are applied depending on a position in the vehicle. For example, the water cooling device is applied to a so-called engine room in the front of the vehicle, whereas the air cooling device is applied to a trunk room in the rear of the vehicle.
The water cooling device, which circulates a coolant, is applied to the power modules such as the LDCs and the inverters mounted in the front of the vehicle. For the purpose of size reduction of the cooling device, an improvement in cooling efficiency thereof, and the like, a cooling passage is shared between two power modules which are arranged adjacent to each other.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, cooling passages are respectively formed on a lower surface of an LDC 10 and an upper surface of an inverter 20, and then a passage separation plate 130 is mounted between the cooling passages. Subsequently, the LDC 10 is bonded to the inverter 20 by applying a sealant 140 on an interface surface therebetween. A coolant introduced from the outside flows through the cooling passage formed on the lower surface of the LDC 10 and the cooling passage formed on the upper surface of the inverter 20, which are separated up and down by the passage separation plate 130, and is then gathered to be discharged to the outside. Consequently, it may be possible to obtain an increase in optimization and efficiency. Here, the cooling passage formed on the upper surface of the inverter 20 may be provided with a heat radiation fin, and cooling passage formed on the lower surface of the LDC 10 may also be provided with a heat radiation fin, as shown in FIG. 1.
However, according to a seal structure of the cooling passage in the eco-friendly vehicle of the prior art as described above, operation pace is deteriorated by sealing the cooling passage using the sealant 140 which needs a considerable time during curing after being applied on the interface surface, also it is difficult to eliminate the sealant 140 at the time of generation of seal failure. Therefore, there is a problem in that the LDC 10 or the inverter 20 is easily damaged in the course of eliminating the sealant 140, and thus the damaged LDC 10 or inverter 20 should be discarded.
In addition, there is a need to precisely seat the special passage separation plate 130 between the LDC 10 and the inverter 20, and this is performed separately from the seal operation using the sealant 140. Accordingly, the operation to mount the passage separation plate 130 is additionally involved, thereby deteriorating operating efficiency.

Gasket mounted between power modules for separating coolant passage