A method, computer program product, and a publication-subscription broker server computing system for filtering one or more messages for transmission to a subscriber computing system according to an individual information request criteria using binary decision diagrams. The computer program product contains instructions that implement the disclosed method. The publication-subscription broker server contains a computer process that implements the disclosed method. The method constructs an evaluation graph for each individual information request criteria specified for each subscriber, identifies logical implications from one or more binary decision diagrams from a first information request criteria to one or more corresponding binary decision diagrams within a second information request criteria, receives one or more messages to be filtered, evaluates a first information request criteria based upon information within the received messages, evaluates one or more information request criteria based upon information within the received messages using the identified logical implications between one or more binary decision diagrams within the information request criteria being evaluated and one or more binary decision diagrams previously evaluated, and transmits the received message to the subscriber computing system corresponding to an information request criteria evaluated to be satisfied by information contained within the received message.

The growth of the Internet and related communication networks has given rise to increasingly larger numbers of distributed information processing systems in which individual users obtain information from a ever increasing number of sources. Because of the large number of data sources, one class of distributed information processing systems being developed to provide users with control over this large amount of data are publication/subscription ("pub/sub") systems. These pub/sub systems typically include a broker server system that receives or obtains information from these data sources and forwards information to each subscribing user when the information satisfies criteria specified by each subscribing user.
Typically, each subscribing user specifies that he or she wants to receive information regarding a particular topic, such as a stock price for a particular publicly traded stock. The subscribing user may, for example, specify that he or she wants to receive all information related to the stock when the information relates to the price of the stock being not within a specified range of values. The subscribing user may choose the range to be centered upon the current price for the stock where the upper end of the range states a price where the stock should be sold to obtain a certain level of profits, and where the lower end of the range states a price that would limit the user's losses to an acceptable level. The broker system obtains the current trading price for the particular stock from a data source such as a stock ticker.
The broker system receives all of the stock trading information in the above example from one or more data sources as a sequence of messages. Each message received must be compared with the information request criteria to determine whether each individual message is to be sent to each user. As the number of subscribing user desiring to use such a broker system increases, and as the number of messages to be processed by a broker system increases, the processing needed to be performed by the broker system quickly becomes unmanageable. As both of these system parameters increase, the processing demand placed upon the broker system increases to a point well beyond the capacity of real-world processing systems.
As a result, the processing performed by the broker system needs to be modified to allow the processing performed by the broker system to scale at a much slower rate as both the number of subscribing users increases as well as the number of messages, and thus the amount of possible information processed for possible forwarding to users, increases. In many cases, current publication and subscription systems use a brute force processing methodology in which the information request criteria is individually processed for each subscribing user. The process of serving additional subscribing users and processing additional messages is scaled by using additional broker systems operating in parallel. Adding additional processing systems is expensive to install, operate, and maintain. Therefore, a process that slows the rate of growth of the processing performed as the number of users and number of messages increases is needed to assist in the use and exploitation of publication/subscription systems.

Inverse query decisions using binary decision diagrams and sub-expression implications


The invention relates to a method for monitoring condition of a rope of a hoisting device, which rope comprises one or more load bearing members oriented to extend parallel with longitudinal direction of the rope throughout the length thereof. The method comprises measuring strains of one or more portions of a load bearing member of the rope; and comparing the measured strains of one or more portions of a load bearing member of the rope with at least one reference. The invention also relates to a hoisting device implementing the method.

In hoisting devices such as elevators, one or more ropes are used as the means by which the load to be hoisted is suspended. Ropes of an elevator are normally either round in cross section or belt-shaped. Each elevator rope typically includes one or more load bearing members that are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the rope, each forming a structure that continues unbroken throughout the length of the rope. Load bearing members are the members of the rope which are able to bear together the load exerted on the rope in its longitudinal direction. The load, such as a weight suspended by the rope, causes tension on the load bearing member, which tension can be transmitted by the load bearing member in question all the way from one end of the rope to the other end of the rope. Ropes may further comprise non-bearing components, such as a coating, which cannot transmit tension in the above described way. The coating can be utilized for protection of the load bearing members and/or facilitating contact with rope wheels and/or for positioning adjacent load bearing members relative to each other, for example. The coating can be made of polymer material. The load bearing members are typically made of twisted steel wire cords but they can be also made of twisted aramid cords or composite material wherein the fibers are embedded in a polymer matrix.
In prior art, the condition of the load bearing members has been inspected by monitoring electrical properties of the load bearing members, such as the resistance of a circuit formed partially by the load bearing members or the resistance of a circuit formed partially by conductor wires embedded inside the load bearing members.
It has been now found out that prior art inspection methods, such as those monitoring electric properties, do not reliably reveal all kinds of damages in all kinds of ropes. It has been found out that certain internal cracks, and particularly internal delamination of a single load bearing member made of composite material, are difficult to be noticed by existing inspection methods. It has been noticed that this is due to that delamination does not affect all the properties of the rope sufficiently to enable early noticing thereof. This is because a delamination forms a crack extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the rope. Therefore delamination is not easily visible outside. Moreover, the conductive cross-sectional area is usually not considerably affected by delamination, whereby electrical properties such as resistance of the load bearing member, for instance, may not be changed enough for noticing delamination. Due to challenges in prior art solutions, a need for an improved method for condition monitoring has been risen.


A method for producing an ultrathin chemically toughened glass article is provided that includes: providing an ultrathin glass sheet with a first surface and a second surface joined by at least one edge, having a thickness between the first and the second surface, chemically toughening the ultrathin glass sheet to produce an ultrathin toughened glass article. The method includes applying an edge pre-treatment to the at least one edge, preferably all edges, of the ultrathin glass sheet prior to the chemical toughening in order to reduce and/or blunt edge defects and to increase resistance to breakage of the ultrathin glass sheet during the chemical toughening.

1. Field of Invention
The invention concerns a method for producing an ultrathin chemically toughened glass article, comprising providing an ultrathin glass sheet with a first surface and a second surface joined by at least one edge, having a thickness between the first and the second surface, and chemically toughening the ultrathin glass sheet to produce an ultrathin chemically toughened glass article. The invention further concerns an ultrathin chemically toughened glass article and an ultrathin glass sheet as semi-finished product for the use in a method for producing an ultrathin chemically toughened glass article.
2. Description of Related Art
The market of consumer electronics often requires thinner and thinner glass articles to keep minimizing the volume and weight of the final product. Here and in the following, the terms "glass" and "glasses" include both glasses and glass ceramics.
Thin glass can be obtained by grinding a thicker glass such as e.g. a borosilicate glass to the desired thickness. However, sheet thicknesses lower than 0.5 mm are difficult to achieve by grinding and polishing of thicker glass sheets. Glass thinner than 0.3 mm, or even with a thickness of 0.1 mm, such as D263®, MEMpax® available from SCHOTT®, can be produced by down-drawing methods. Also, soda lime glass with a thickness of 0.1 mm can be produced by special float processes. Unlike thicker glasses, the handling and processing of ultrathin glass sheets is difficult since with decreasing thickness, the strength of the glass is getting lower and lower resulting in an increasing probability of breakage.
A major challenge for applying thin or ultrathin glass substrates in electronic appliances therefore lies in the difficult handling of ultrathin glass sheets during production and processing. For thin glasses, some methods have been proposed to overcome these difficulties. U.S. Pat. No. 6,815,070 proposes coating thin glass with organic or polymer films to improve the resistance to breakage of the glass sheet. There are, however, disadvantages in this method since e.g. the improvement in strength is not sufficient and cutting of the coated glass sheets requires adopting special processes. In addition, the polymer coating has disadvantages regarding thermal durability and optical properties of the glass.
A well-known method for strengthening glasses is the chemical toughening of glass, in particular establishing a surface compressive stress by introduction of larger ions via ion-exchange. US 2010/0009154 e.g. describes a thick glass of 0.5 mm or thicker with an outer region of compressive stress with a depth of at least 50 μm achieved by ion-exchange in a surface layer. The compressive stress is at least 200 MPa. The step of forming a central tensile stress (CT) and the compressive stress in the surface region comprises successively immersing at least a portion of the glass in a plurality of ion-exchange baths. It has been shown that, similar to thick glasses, thin and ultrathin glasses can also be strengthened via chemical ion-exchange (e.g. US2014/050911 or PCT/CN2013/072695).
Unlike thicker glasses, however, the yield of chemical toughening for ultrathin glasses is comparatively poor. This is a direct result of the increasing probability of breakage of glass sheets during the chemical toughening as the thickness of the glass is decreased. On the one hand, surface compressive stress can help ultrathin glass to resist e.g. mechanical impact by hitting or striking from the outside. On the other hand, the extra surface compressive stress in ultrathin glasses can lead to self-breakage or can make the glass prone to breakage during handling or the chemical toughening. Changes in clamping forces due to different thermal expansion of the clamps and the glass sheets during toughening can e.g. easily induce breakage. The thinner the glass sheet gets, the more severe these problems become.
At the same time, it is a constant requirement e.g. in the market of consumer electronics, in particular in respect of wearable devices as e.g. smart phones or tablets, to provide glass articles with very high bending strengths and durability which can resist the mechanical stress and impacts occurring during daily use. In view of the desired reduction in volume and weight, there is a demand for ultrathin glass articles which have the necessary strength and flexibility e.g. for sufficient protection of the underlying components.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an ultrathin toughened glass article and a method for producing such a glass article, which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it is the object of the invention to provide an ultrathin toughened glass article which has an improved lifespan and which can be easily and cost effectively produced and a method for producing such a glass article. It is another object of the invention to provide an ultrathin toughened glass article and a method for producing such a glass article that allow for a high yield, in particular during chemical toughening. It is a further object of the invention to provide an ultrathin glass article that has a high durability, in particular under mechanical stress, and a method for producing such a glass article.

Ultrathin chemically toughened glass article and method for the production of such a glass article

SCHOTT GLASS TECHNOLOGIES (SUZHOU) CO. LTD.


A composite anode active material includes matrix particles including lithium titanate; and at least one nanoparticle dispersed in the matrix particles. The at least one nanoparticle includes at least one selected from the group a metal capable of forming alloys with lithium and a non-transition metal oxide.

1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a composite anode active material, a method of preparing the composite anode active material, and an anode and lithium battery including the composite anode active material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Carbonaceous materials such as graphite are representative examples of anode active materials for lithium batteries. Graphite has excellent capacity retention characteristics and excellent voltage characteristics. In addition, graphite does not vary in volume when it is used to form an alloy with lithium. Therefore, anode including graphite may increase the stability of a battery. Graphite has a theoretical electrical capacity of about 372 mAh/g and a high irreversible capacity.
In addition, metals capable of forming alloys with lithium may be used as an anode active material for lithium batteries that has a higher electrical capacity than that of carbonaceous materials. Examples of metals capable of forming alloys with lithium include silicon (Si), tin (Sn), aluminum (Al), and the like. These metals have a very high electrical capacity. For example, a theoretical storage capacity of Si is 4,200 mAh/g. Such metals undergo volumetric expansion during charging and discharging of the batteries, thereby electrically isolating the active material within the electrode. In addition, an electrolyte decomposition reaction becomes severe, due to an increase in specific surface area of the active material. Moreover, a lithium battery including metals capable of forming alloys with lithium exhibits reduced capacity retention characteristics. For example, when the batteries are repeatedly charged and discharged, Si particles in the anode active material repeatedly aggregate with each other and are repeatedly crushed; therefore, Si is electrically disconnected from a current collector. Furthermore, metals capable of forming alloys with lithium are thermally unstable and thus problems such as thermal runaway may occur.
Therefore, there is a need to develop a method of manufacturing a lithium battery that includes a metal capable of forming alloys with lithium and has high capacity, excellent lifetime characteristics, and high thermal stability.

Composite anode active material, method of preparing composite anode active material, and anode and lithium battery including composite anode active material


The invention relates to a device for the injection of recirculated exhaust gases from a vehicle engine, in particular a diesel engine, the injection device comprising a plurality of injection ports (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4), provided in a portion of the material of the injection device, each injection port (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4) having a cross section and a height extending through the thickness of the material. According to the invention, the cross sections and/or the heights of at least two of the injection ports (26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4) are different.

Already familiar are inlet gas supply modules comprising in addition a valve which permits the injection of a proportion of the exhaust gases emitted by the engine, referred to as recirculated exhaust gases, into the distribution box.
Such a distribution box thus permits a mixture of cooled air arriving from the heat exchanger and of recirculated exhaust gases arriving from the valve to be distributed towards the cylinders of the engine.
For this purpose, the distribution box comprises a cavity defining a space inside which the cooled air arriving from the heat exchanger and the recirculated exhaust gases arriving from the valve are mixed.
In order to inject the recirculated exhaust gases into this space, a distribution box of this kind includes an injection channel of substantially cylindrical form and pierced by a plurality of injection ports, or injectors.
Already familiar is a distribution box, of which the injection ports all have the same diameter and are arranged linearly along the injection channel opposite the cylinders of the engine, the admission of the gas into the injection channel taking place, via the valve, at one of the extremities of the injection channel.
It has been found that, in such a distribution box, as the recirculated exhaust gases advance inside the injection channel, the static pressure and thus the injection flow of the recirculated exhaust gases diminishes for each successive cylinder, with the result that the injection flows and thus the recycling rates and the temperatures of the gases are uneven between the cylinders. In addition, this may cause the obstruction of some of the injection ports by particles contained in the recirculated exhaust gases.

Device for the injection of recirculated exhaust gases, distribution box and supply module comprising said device


For a metering vibrating pump in a variable flow rate condition, a system and a device is provided for supplying desired liquid quantities comprising a memory circuit (36) set by a supply or energization starting signal (38), a counter (24) counting a certain pump stroke number detected by a piston position detector (12) for detecting the position of a piston in the pump, a numerical comparator (28) comparing the numbers emitted by the counter (24) with preset numbers formed by a numerical digital combinator (32) for outputting a reset signal for the memory circuit (36); the memory circuit (36) starts the pump operation when it is set and stops the operation when it is reset.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a control device for supplying desired liquid volumes by means of a metering pump even if, owing to external reasons, the flow rate of the pump would be variable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In many industrial processes connected with automatic processing or packaging, such as automatic filling of containers or cans, and as in many manual or automatic machines for distributing beverages and specifically warm beverages such as coffee percolators and automatic machines for preparing and distributing the warm beverages, there is the problem of supplying desired liquid volumes which are not always equal to each other, but which must be selected every time in a simple and immediate way.
A very simple and primitive but rather precise, method for supplying desired liquid volumes, would be to fill in with the liquid a number of containers having a known capacity and then to draw the liquid from the containers in order to have them completely emptied. This method has the drawback of requiring a certain number of container, having calibrated volume which, when in the case of a wide metering range may be untollerably high, adding encumbrance drawbacks and reducing the metering accuracy because of long connecting ducts introducing hardly evaluable and controllable supplementary capacities. This drawback can be partially overcome by using, just one graduated container (such as a graduated glass) allowing as many different capacities as is the number of graduations on the container. This solution is however less precise in the metering because of unavoidable inaccuracies in calibrating the graduated container and in detecting the liquid level in the container. A more practical method, fully independent from calibrated containers, would be that of using a positive displacement pump such as, for example a piston pump, having a constant stroke length and powered by a motor through a crank and link assembly, calibrated so as to stop after a preset number of strokes, estimated for example by counting, the number of revolutions made by the motor. Such a method can produce rather accurate meterings, but the use of an expensive device such as the positive displacement pump and the problem of carefully stopping the pump at the expected time, adds rather high costs and can lead to such an expensive device which can not be installed in all apparatus, because the expense of such a solution is not always bearable.
A third method is to use piston pumps of the vibrating type comprising an electromagnet provided with a movable core rigidly connected to a piston movable within a cylinder whereby for any displacement of the movable core a like displacement of the piston corresponds thereto. These pumps are also termed "electromagnetic pumps".
In such a kind of pump, in order to cause an alternative displacement of the piston, the coil winding of the electromagnet can be supplied with an alternating current or, better, with an unidirectional pulsating current, such as that obtained by rectifying just a halfwave of a usual a.c. electric current. It is to be pointed out that when a current pulse is applied to the electromagnet of the above mentioned vibrating pump, the movable core is attracted within the electromagnet, causing a suction stroke of the piston and compressing a spring which is thus loaded during the suction stroke and is released when the current through said electromagnet is switched off giving a compression stroke. Thus, if the pump operates under unchanging conditions, i.e. having to overcome always the same resistance due to the backpressure, frictions, dilatations, wears, etc. . , its stroke remains constant and every pump stroke provides a constant liquid flow rate.
Under such ideal conditions, being that the liquid flow is constant for every pump stroke, in order to obtain a desired liquid volume, it is sufficient to calculate the corresponding number of pump strokes and thus the number of current pulses applied to the electromagnet from the desired volume divided by the volume delivered by a single pump stroke.
As a consequence, in order to have a desired liquid volume delivered it is sufficient to apply a corresponding number of current pulses to the pump electromagnet. In order to count the number of current pulses applied to the pump electromagnet, it is sufficient to derivate from the voltage across the electromagnet coil, pulse signals to be counted by a digital counter starting with the first pulse received when a voltage begins to be applied to the electromagnet and, stopping after having counted a pulse number corresponding to the desired volume, care being also taken to stop the voltage application to the electromagnet, whereby the pump does affect just the desired stroke number to obtain the desired liquid volume. This system, by means of which pulses are generated from the network alternating current at the fixed frequency thereof, is basically objectionable owing to the resistances, to be overcome by the pump, which affect its stroke and thus the volume delivered by each single pump stroke. Specifically if the backpressure to be overcome by the pump varies, the flow rate thereof does also vary, and decreases when the backpressure increases. The main related drawback is that, the pump stroke number being the same, different liquid volumes are delivered depending on the backpressure to be overcome and thus not only the liquid volume delivered by the given pump stroke number can vary depending on the application, but it can also vary for the same application if the pump must inject a liquid in a pressurized vessel overcoming an increasing backpressure or anyhow variable resistances due to variable flow rate adjustments must be overcome, so that even for the same application the simple counting of the current pulses applied to an electromagnet cannot any longer reliable.
As above mentioned the pump stroke variation as caused from the resistances to be overcome, originates from the fact that the vibrating pump comprises a piston which is moved by a movable core electromagnet for withdrawing the core when the electromagnet is energized by a current, providing a suction stroke of the piston, and releasing it under the action of a spring loaded during the withdrawing motion, when the current through the electromagnet is switched off; if the pumps are supplied with current pulses having fixed a repetition frequency, it may occur that, in case rather high resistances must be overcome, as for backpressure increases, the compression stroke of the pump is not ended before the arrival of next current pulse and, as a suction stroke begins before the end of the preceeding compression stroke, the length of the latter compression stroke is reduced and the volume delivered by the same number of pump strokes is correspondingly reduced.
In order to obviate such a serious problem, it has been suggested to feed the pump with current pulses having a variable frequency, the beginning of which is controlled by a specific position of the piston within the cylinder so that a suction stroke always begins when the preceeding compression stroke is completely ended, thus ensuring a compression stroke having constant length and thus a constant flow rate of said pump so that an equal pump stroke number corresponds to an equal volume of delivered liquid.
A pump according to the above mentioned feature is described in the Italian utility model application No. 21796 B/84 having the same inventor as the present application and filed on May 15, 1984. In the application there is described a vibrating pump provided with a piston position detector for detecting the piston position which is energized by the piston taking a determined position within the pump cylinder or body, allowing the application of a current pulse to the pump electromagnet only when the piston reaches the position, the piston position detector controlling a driving circuit for the electromagnet and sending also a pulse signal to a digital counter whose counting is increased by one unit every time the piston reaches the position in the pump casing. The counter emits a stopping pulse to the driving circuit, which had been started by a starting control, when a desired counting corresponding to the volume to be delivered by the pump is reached.
The pump of the above mentioned utility model application is rather satisfactory as a metering pump in variable flow rate condition, leading to rather precise metering, specifically in the automatic field of the beverage automatic distributing machines and particularly in the field of the coffee preparing machines. However, it has the main drawback of allowing just one desired metered liquid volume to be delivered, unless a plurality of counters is adopted emitting a stopping signal for the electromagnet at the end of different countings corresponding to different metered volumes.

System and device for supplying desired liquid volumes by means of a metering pump in variable flow rate condition


A locking entry door latch equipped with a positive locking dead bolt and a latch bolt. The latch includes a housing, a sliding latch bolt mechanism, a sliding dead bolt mechanism, a center bolt to resist longitudinal loading, a strike assembly with a precatch that holds the door latched when it is not completely closed and a final catch for the latch bolt and dead bolt, a locking mechanism and inside and outside operating handles. Both the locking mechanism and the operating handles are independently operable from inside or outside the vehicle.

Typically on motor homes and travel trailers the main entrance door leading into the living quarters and other restricted areas is secured with a latch equipped with a locking mechanism that can be operated from inside or outside the vehicle.
It is common practice to have large numbers of these locks all keyed alike. The reason for this is to reduce the number of different keys the manufacturer and dealer have to contend with while the vehicle is in their possession. It is more convenient for a dealer to unlock a number of vehicles with one master key when showing to customers than to locate and carry around a separate set of keys for each vehicle on the lot.
Unfortunately this practice offers very little security against unauthorized entrance into the motor home, so in addition to the locking door latch a separate dead bolt is installed in each door. The dead bolt is designed to be keyed to a higher number of key configurations, to reduce the chance of a key from one motor home being able to unlock the dead bolt of the door of another.
The dead bolt can be kept unlocked while on the dealers lot so he can enter any vehicle with a master key, yet the additional security is available for the final owner when required.
This arrangement of a latch bolt lock and a separate dead bolt lock appears to offer the easy access needed by the dealer and the security and peace of mind required by the final owner of the vehicle, but creates other problems in the way of added costs for the additional security.
Having to install two separate units in each door means higher costs, due to the additional labor and materials required for the additional inventory, door preparation and installation, all of which is paid for by the customer in the way of higher product cost.


An apparatus and a method for stabilizing sloped embankments is disclosed which utilizes interlocking barrier elements to form a step-like, cascading barrier to erosion and to provide an inexpensive, easy-to-install and aesthetically attractive landscaping wall, planter or landscaping island. The scallop or channel-like shape of the barrier elements creates filler spaces which may be filled with concrete, soil or other filler materials and in which vegetation may be planted. A row of barrier elements within the system may be locked in place by slip restraint devices which function to prevent vertical slippage of the rows. Adjacent barrier elements on the front most row are held together by frontal locking elements. Also disclosed is a barrier element, system and method. The barrier elements have complementary male and female portions. The connectors allow for use of a single barrier element shape to inexpensively create cascading slope armoring barriers, barrier walls and containment structures.

Often when landscaping terrain, it is desirable to create a change in elevation between two distinct land areas using a steep slope or an encompassing embankment. The grade or angle of the slope or embankment rising off a horizontal plain often exceeds the natural angle of repose of the slope or embankment. This makes the slope or embankment susceptible to the erosion or sloughing off of its surface due to its own weight or erosion of its surface by water from rain or irrigation. The instability of a steep slope or embankment surface makes it difficult to maintain. Furthermore, such an unstable surface hinders the growth of stabilizing vegetation.
Typically, stabilization of a steep slope or embankment is accomplished by covering the surface with a structural facing keyed into the toe of the slope. This serves to control sloughing and/or erosion. Another approach has been to replace the slope with a structural retaining wall having a relatively vertical face. However, these types of solutions are often aesthetically displeasing and restrictive to the landscaper because they force the shape of the slope or embankment to conform to the surface shape and texture of the chosen surface protection structure and restrict the growth of vegetation (a natural slope stabilizer) over the surface of the slope or embankment.
Additionally, the above solutions (and others) may require construction skills beyond that of the amateur landscaper; they may be permanent structures requiring continuing costly maintenance; or they may be cost prohibitive due to the manufacturing or construction costs.
A number of devices attempt to resolve the problems associated with stabilizing sloped embankments. Among these are U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,254 to Meheen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,649 to Sciortino, U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,962 to Meheen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,353 to Bourdo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,815 to Pickett, U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,287 to Hooper et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,527 to Wagenaar, U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,555 to Bokeler, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,111 to Doernemann.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,254 to Meheen et al. discloses a modular assembled retaining wall which is constructed by founding a plurality of precast tie-back elements in laterally spaced relationship along a grade line. This, however, necessitates considerable reshaping of the embankment because the tie-back means extend vertically back into the embankment, thus requiring either that they be driven back into the soil or that a substantial amount of soil be used to cover each horizontal tier as it is created.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,649 to Sciortino discloses pre-manufactured modular blocks which may interlock to form breakwaters, harbor dams and the like. The modular blocks involve a cylindrical element and a wing arranged substantially at half height of the cylindrical body. The wing is provided with an open cavity arranged to embrace the cylindric element of similar blocks. These modular blocks, however, provide no means whereby vegetation could be grown were they used for stabilizing an embankment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,962 to Meheen discloses a cascade wall structure made up of generally rectangular members with end ribs and curved panels having curved ends which interlock with curved surfaces on the ribs of the members for creating a variety of wall structures for different purposes and uses. These devices, however, are relatively complex and therefore may lack utility for persons not experienced in construction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,353 to Bourdo discloses a shoreline prevention bulkhead system which employs a series of interlocking fiberglass panels. Each panel has elongated male and female interlocking elements extending along the opposite side edges such that, by introducing one end of the male interlocking element of a first panel into an adjacent panel and sliding the interlocking elements together, a secure panel joint is achieved. However, these panels do not allow for any sloping of the embankment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,815 to Pickett discloses a barrier structure including at least one panel disposed to extend generally along a fence line, the panel having an engaging element for pivotal joining of the panel to a member of the structure. Again, like Bourdo and Hooper, using a panel to form a barrier effectively precludes sloping of the embankment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,287 to Hooper et al. discloses plastic panels and a ground erosion barrier made therefrom. The panels are configured in a stretched Z-shape cross sectional design with opposed male and female interlock edges for mating association with adjacent panel strips. As with the Bourdo device described above, this barrier does not allow for any sloping of the embankment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,527 to Wagenaar discloses a building block that requires conforming the slope or embankment surface shape both vertically and horizontally to the constant vertical slope built into the system and a strict adherence to installing the system in stacked level layers. In addition, the block prohibits the growth of vegetation within the limits of the systems surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,555 to Bokeler discloses a structural set of angle elements fitting into one another. The set consists of a system of commonly shaped elements having only an incremental ability to conform to changes in the vertical grade of a slope and requires a strict adherence to the installation of the system in stacked level layers. Both of these attributes will require conforming the slope or embankment's surface shape to that of the installed system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,111 to Doernemann discloses an adjustable erosion control wall including a plurality of individual panels, each panel having a tongue projecting from one end and a groove formed in the opposite end. The panels of the retaining wall are pivotally and vertically slidably connected with the tongue of one panel engaged within the groove of an adjacent panel. This device possesses the same weaknesses as those discussed immediately above.
The above reference summaries are only representative of the elements disclosed in each reference. Each reference should be read individually for what it actually teaches. The references described above are considered pertinent to the disclosure and are hereby incorporated by reference. However, in spite of the existence of these devices for stabilizing embankments, controlling erosion and other similar uses, most of these devices are either too complex or too expensive for lay people to implement, or are composed of assemblies of vertical panels, which precludes any sloping of the embankment as might be desirable in various landscaping implementations. Further, these devices are not overly versatile in that they are only usable for earthen embankment stabilization.

Barrier element, system, method and connector therefor


A pneumatic circuit for use in causing rapid, upward movement of a piston and cylinder device in a glass machine incorporates a supplementary valve which connects an upper part of the cylinder to exhaust for part of the upstroke, and through a restrictor valve to exhaust towards the end of the upstroke.

A widely used machine for the manufacture of glass containers is the I.S or individual section machine which comprises a series of sections arranged alongside each other and operating out of phase with each other. Each of these sections comprises a number of mechanisms comprising an operating member which is moved, at appropriate times, into appropriate relationship with glass forming mechanisms of the section. Examples of such mechanisms are baffle, funnel and blowhead mechanisms.
Conventionally these mechanisms are operated by pneumatic piston and cylinder devices combined with a cam mechanism so that the operating member is moved from an out-of-the-way position, arcuately and downwardly into its operating position and subsequently, upwardly and arcuately, from its operating position to its out-of-the-way position.
It will be understood that the timing of the movements of these operating members affects the cycle time of the section, and this is particularly the case with the blowhead mechanism. In the operation of a section a gob of glass is supplied to a parison mould and formed into a parison. The parison is then transferred, usually by an invert mechanism, to a blow mould. When the invert mechanism has released the parison to be supported in the blow mould, the blowhead is moved into position over the blow mould and serves to supply air under pressure to the parison to blow it into the required shape. The time taken to move the blowhead from its operative position to its out-of-the-way position critically affects the cycle time as on the one hand it is desirable that the blowing time at the blow mould is sufficiently lengthy and on the other hand until the blow head is out of the way it is not possible to open the blow moulds and remove the blown containers.
It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a pneumatic circuit controlling the movement of the blow head which is faster than existing circuits for effecting the movement from operative to out-of-the-way position.
While this movement of the blow mould is particularly critical, it will be understood that it may frequently be desirable to have quick movement of the funnel and baffle into and out of their operative positions, and the circuit may conveniently be utilised with these mechanisms also.


The present magnetically bound media with reattachable pages exemplarily comprise a magnetic binding, one or more reattachable pages, and one or more conductive metals attached to the pages and magnetically attracted to the magnetic binding. Thus, a user of the magnetically bound media may disengage one or more of the pages from the magnetic binding and reintegrate those pages into the magnetic binding in any order. This allows for customization of information presentation, sequence, and selection. The small size of the magnetic binding also affords a smaller minimum apparatus size and a quicker means with which to remove, rearrange, and reintegrate pages. Furthermore, the magnetic binding permits pages to be secured in a more professionally presentable manner without punched holes. In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic binding is a cylindrical or a prismatic, rectangular neodymium or samarium alloy secured within the bound media by a magnet cover or clasp.

Bound media, or media which makes use of a binding to hold together one or more pages, is an incredibly valuable means with which to store information. This media can be highly structured and order specific. Books, for instance, typically follow a standard order, usually beginning with a table of contents, and thereafter comprising any number of pages often broken up into subsections or chapters before the book ends. The information within the books typically progress linearly, as reading material generally follows from preceding information and leads into forthcoming information.
However, currently existing bound mediums, including books, journals, or textbooks, cannot address the problem that arises when one or more pages are either mistakenly or purposefully removed from the medium, yielding disjointed information. Traditional binding is designed to keep pages bound within a medium, but is not equipped to allow for reattachment, replacement, or rearrangement of pages should a page disengage from that binding.
To illustrate the problem, imagine a schoolbook. Schoolbooks are often reused for a number of years and utilized by a plethora of students. Understandably, pages may become ripped out or otherwise damaged over the years. Presently, no plausible solution exists to restore the schoolbook to its former condition. It may be possible to purchase individual pages, though these pages cannot simply be integrated into the completed binding. Thus, students may be forced to learn material with crucial information absent from the schoolbook. Alternatively, the school may be forced to purchase an entirely new schoolbook.
Another issue that may arise with a typical bound medium is when an individual such as a student, a business person or a professional uses or creates such a medium to give a presentation. For example, a professional wishing to bind a presentation to enhance the look or make it appear polished may, after binding, decide to present the information in a different order, but may have to fumble through the bound pages to present in the desired order. The rigid binding may not allow the individual to alter the presentation's order so as to present it in a logical and linear fashion.
One solution to the issue illustrated above may be to use a ringed binder, thus allowing for the order of pages in a presentation to be rearranged. For example, the three rings may be opened at their peak to allow for removal and rearrangement of pages. However, such binders are necessarily large and bulky irrespective of the number of pages they may contain. Rearrangement of pages in a ringed binder is slow and cumbersome, as it requires manually opening the rings, taking out a page, closing the rings, finding the appropriate spot to insert the detached page, opening the rings, and finally reinserting the page. Moreover, pages in a ringed binder are likely to tear over time in the areas where the holes are punched in the pages. Eventually, when such tears reach the edge of the page, the page may no longer be secured by the ringed binder and the binder's utility is severely diminished. Additionally, the requirement that such pages be three-hole punched severely limits the professional applicability of the ringed binding, as books and other similar media are seldom if ever three-hole punched. Instead, they are unadulterated and permanently bound, thus reintroducing the problems first presented.
There is a need in the art to address the issues discussed thus far. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed, i.e. magnetically bound media allowing for a combination of the unadulterated, professional look of traditional binding, and the customizable and reattachable functionality of ringed binding. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.

Magnetically bound medium with reattachable pages


The present invention relates to a dental care composition containing (a) at least one panthenol compound, (b) at least one retinol compound, and (c) at least one antibacterial compound. The composition is particularly useful for reducing inflammation of the gums.

This invention relates to dental care and cleaning preparations which counteract inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) through a special combination of active ingredients.
Dental care preparations are primarily intended to remove food residues, discoloration and firmly adhering bacterial films from the surface of the teeth. In addition, attempts have been made to counteract diseases of the teeth and gums such as, for example, caries, gingivitis and parodontosis by incorporating special additives, for example fluorine compounds or antimicrobial agents, in dental care preparations.
A particularly stubborn disease which, unless successfully treated, can lead to the loosening and loss of teeth is periodontitis which, in its initial stages, is manifested in inflammation and bleeding of the gums (gingivitis). It is caused by bacteria which colonise the dental pockets and which are difficult to control by mechanical cleaning of the teeth with a toothbrush.
Attempts have been made to counteract inflammation of the gums by addition of antibacterial agents to toothpastes and mouthwashes. In most cases, however, conclusive results cannot be obtained in this way. Although certain non-cationic bactericidal agents, particularly from the group of chlorinated diphenylethers, have proved to be particularly effective, these compounds are not able on their own effectively to combat persistent inflammation of the gums.
A process for treating the periodontal tissue with a pharmaceutical composition containing a vitamin A derivative is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,817. Toothpastes containing vitamin A have also been commercially available for some time (Aronal(copyright)).
It has now been found that the anti-inflammatory properties of, in particular, toothpastes already containing an antibacterial component can be significantly improved by addition of a combination of a panthenol or pantothenate and a retinol or retinol derivative.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a dental care preparation with anti-inflammatory properties containing polishing components, fluorine compounds, humectants, binders, a water-insoluble non-cationic bactericidal component and water, characterized in that it contains a combination of panthenol or a salt of pantothenic acid and retinol or a retinol derivative to improve it anti-inflammatory properties.
Dental care preparations in the context of the present invention are tooth powders, toothpastes, liquid tooth creams and tooth gels. Tooth. pastes and liquid tooth cleaning preparations are particularly suitable.
Suitable polishing components are, in principle, any of the known toothpaste abrasives, more particularly those which do not contain any calcium ions. Accordingly, particularly suitable polishing components are silicas, aluminium hydroxide, aluminium oxide, sodium aluminium silicates, organic polymers and mixtures of these abrasives.
However, calcium-containing polishing components such as, for example, chalk, calcium pyrophosphate or dicalcium phosphate dihydrate may be present in quantities of up to 5% by weight.
The total content of polishing components is preferably in the range from 5 to 50% by weight, based on the dental care preparation.
Toothpastes and liquid dental cleaning preparations which contain silicas as polishing component are particularly preferred. Suitable silicas are, for example, silica gels, silica hydrogels and precipitated silicas. Silica gels are obtained by reacting sodium silicate solutions with strong aqueous mineral acids to form a hydrosol, ageing to form the hydrogel, washing and drying. If drying is carried out under moderate conditions to a water content of 15 to 35% by weight, the so-called silica hydrogels known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,680 are obtained. Drying to water contents below 15% by weight results in irreversible shrinkage of the previously loose structure of the hydrogel to the dense structural of the so-called xerogel. Silica xerogels are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,230.
A second particularly suitable group of silica polishing agents are the precipitated silicas. Precipitated silicas are obtained by precipitation of silica from dilute alkali metal silicate solutions by addition of strong acids under conditions which preclude aggregation to the sol and gel. Suitable processes for the production of precipitated silicas are described, for example, in DE-OS 25 22 486 and in DE-OS 31 14 493. A particularly suitable precipitated silica is that produced in accordance with DE-OS 31 14 493 which has a BET surface of 15 to 110 m2/g, a particle size of 0.5 to 20 xcexcm (at least 80% by weight of the primary particles should be below 5 xcexcm in size) and a viscosity in the form of a 30% glycerin/water (1:1) dispersion of 30 to 60 Pa.s (20xc2x0 C.) and which is used in a quantity of 10 to 20% by weight, based on the toothpaste. In addition, particularly suitable precipitated silicas of this type have rounded corners and edges and are commercially obtainable under the name of Sident(copyright) 12 DS (DEGUSSA).
Other precipitated silicas of this type are Sident 8 (DEGUSSA) and Sorbosil AC 39 (Crosfield Chemicals). These silicas are distinguished by a weaker thickening effect and a slightly larger mean particle size of 8 to 14 xcexcm for a specific BET surface of 40 to 75 m2/g and are particularly suitable for liquid tooth creams. These should have a viscosity (25xc2x0 C., shear rate D =10 sxe2x88x921) of 10 to 100 Pa.s.
By contrast, toothpastes which have a far higher viscosity of more than 100 Pa.s (25xc2x0 C., D=10 sxe2x88x921) require a sufficiently high percentage content of silicas with a particle size of less than 5 xcexcm, preferably at least 3% by weight of a silica with a particle size of 1 to 3 xcexcm. Accordingly, besides the precipitated silicas mentioned, even finer so-called thickening silicas with a BET surface of 150 to 250 m2/g, for example the commercial products Sipernat 22 LS or Sipernat 320 DS, are preferably added to such toothpastes.
Another polishing component which may be present in a quantity of about 1 to 5% by weight is, for example, aluminium oxide in the form of lightly calcined alumina containing xcex3- and xcex1-aluminium oxide. A suitable aluminium oxide such as this is commercially obtainable under the name of xe2x80x9cPoliertonerde P10 feinstxe2x80x9d (Giulini Chemie).
The dental care preparations according to the invention may contain sodium fluoride, zinc fluoride, tin(II) fluoride, amine fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate, for example, as fluorine compounds. A quantity of 0.01 to 0.2% by weight fluorine in the form of the compounds mentioned should preferably be present.
Glycerin, sorbitol, xylitol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or mixtures thereof may be used as humectants. The dental care preparations according to the invention preferably contain a mixture of glycerin, sorbitol and polyethylene glycol in a ratio by weight of 10:(8-12):(0.1-1) as humectant.
Suitable binders and consistency factors are, for example, natural and synthetic water-soluble polymers such as, for example, carrageen, tragacanth, guar, cellulose and nonionic derivatives thereof such as, for example, hydroxyethyl cellulose or methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose. Agar agar, xanthan gum, pectins, water-soluble carboxyvinyl polymers (for example Carbopol(copyright) types), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and relatively high molecular weight polyethylene glycols (with molecular weights of 103 to 106 D) are also suitable as binders and thickeners.
Suitable non-cationic bactericidal components are, for example, phenols, resorcinols, bisphenols, salicylanilides and halogenated derivatives thereof, halogenated carbanilides and p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters. Particularly preferred antimicrobial components are halogenated diphenylethers, for example 2,4-dichloro-2xe2x80x2hydroxydiphenyl ether, 4,4xe2x80x2-dichloro-2xe2x80x2-hydroxydiphenyl ether, 2,4,4xe2x80x2-tribromo-2xe2x80x2-hydroxydiphenyl ether and 2,4,4xe2x80x2-trichloro-2xe2x80x2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (Triclosan). They are preferably used in quantities of 0.01 to 1% by weight in the dental care preparations according to the invention. In one particularly preferred embodiment, Triclosan is used in a quantity of 0.01 to 0.3% by weight.
D-panthenol [Dxe2x88x92 (+)xe2x88x92 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-di-methylbutyramide] corresponds in its biological activity to pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid (Rxe2x88x92(+)xe2x88x92 Nxe2x88x92(2,4-dihydroxy-3,3-dimethylbutyryl-xcex2-alanine) is an intermediate stage in the biosynthesis of the coenzyme A and is classed as a vitamin B complex (B3). These substances are known to promote the healing of wounds and to have a favorable effect on the skin. Accordingly, they have also occasionally been described in connection with toothpastes. The dental care preparations according to the invention preferably contain 0.05 to 5% by weight of panthenol or a salt of pantothenic acid.
Retinol (3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)-2,4,6,4-nonatetraen-1-ol is the international generic name for vitamin A1. Instead of retinol itself, one of its derivatives with similar biological activity, for example an ester or retinoic acid (tretinoin), one of its salts or its esters may also be used. A retinol ester, more particularly a fatty acid ester of a C12-22 fatty acid, is preferably used. Retinol palmitate is particularly suitable. Where a retinol ester, for example retinol palmitate with an activity of 1.7xc2x7106 I.U. per g is selected, it is preferably used in a quantity of 0.001 to 0.1% by weight. Where other retinol derivatives are used, a quantity corresponding to a concentration of 103 to 106 I.U. (International Units) per 100 g is recommended.
Besides polishing components, fluorine compounds, humectants and binders, preferred dental care preparations according to the invention preferably contain
0.01 to 1% by weight of a halogenated diphenyl ether,
0.05 to 5% by weight of panthenol or a salt of pantothenic acid and
0.01 to 0.1% by weight of a retinol ester, preferably retinol palmitate.
Besides the compulsory components mentioned, the dental care preparations according to the invention may contain other auxiliaries and additives known per se. An additive which has long been known as a toothpaste component is particularly effective in the dental care preparations according to the invention, namely: calcium glycerophosphate, the calcium salt of glycerol-1-phosphoric acid or glycerol-2-phosphoric acid or glycerol-3-phosphoric acid, the mirror-image isomer of glycerol-1-phosphoric acid, or a mixture of these acids. This compound has a remineralizing effect in toothpastes because it yields both calcium and phosphate ions. Calcium glycerophosphate is preferably used in quantities of 0.01 to 1% by weight in the dental care preparations according to the invention. Overall, the dental care preparations according to the invention may contain typical auxiliaries and additives in quantities of up to 10% by weight.
The organoleptic qualities of the dental care preparations according to the invention may be improved, for example, by addition of flavoring oils and sweeteners.
Suitable flavoring oils are any of the natural and synthetic flavors typically used for oral and dental care preparations. Natural flavors may be present both in the form of the natural essential oils isolated from drugs and in the form of the individual components isolated therefrom.
Suitable flavoring agents are, for example, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, eucalyptus oil, aniseed oil, fennel oil, caraway oil, menthyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, anethol, vanillin, thymol and mixtures of these components.
Suitable sweetening agents are, for example, saccharin sodium, sodium cyclamate, sucrose, lactose, maltose, fructose.
Other typical auxiliaries and additives for toothpastes are:
surfactants, preferably anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, nonionic surfactants or a combination of several different surfactants
solvents and solubilizers, for example lower monohydric or polyhydric alcohols or ethers, for example ethanol, 1,2-propylene glycol, diethylene glycol or butyl diglycol
pigments, for example titanium dioxide
dyes
buffers, for example primary, secondary or tertiary alkali metal phosphates or citric acid/Na citrate
other wound-healing or anti-inflammatory agents, for example allantoin, urea, azulene, camomile-based active principles, acetylsalicylic acid derivatives or thiocyanate
other vitamins such as, for example, ascorbic acid, biotin, tocopherol or rutin
mineral salts such as, for example, manganese, zinc or magnesium salts.


A right-angle header (10) includes a main housing (50) and a post locating member (200) securable thereto along a rear face thereof and including an array of post-receiving passageways (222,224,236,238) extending vertically therethrough to a mounting face (30), including post-locating portions at least at the mounting face. Contacts (100,130,140,160) include contact sections (118,120,142) exposed for mating across the mating face, body sections (102,132,144) including a right-angle bend, and post sections (110,110',148) which extend through the apertures of the post locating member (200) and beyond the mounting face for insertion into through-holes of a circuit board (40) upon mounting the header (10) thereto. The post-locating portions of passageways (222,224,242) are referenced to a structure (270) of the post locating member defining a datum, instead of to the passageways (52,54,56) of the main housing and are dimensioned to assure that all post sections (110,110',148) will be positioned to enter even off-center through-holes (36,38) and permit float therewithin of the post sections for incremental lateral adjustment to pass through the through-holes.

There are many electrical connectors, generally referred to as headers, known in which a plurality of contacts in an array are retained in a housing in a plurality of rows, each contact extending from a first contact section exposed at a mating face for mating with complementary contact sections of contacts of another connector, to and including a post section extending to a board-mounting face of the connector from a right-angle bend. Thus a plurality of posts coextend below the mounting face arrayed in rows and are arranged to be inserted into respective through-holes of a printed circuit board for electrical connection to conductive traces of the board. Each board includes an array of through-holes spaced apart in a standard pattern at fixed spacings from each other, and the array of post sections of the connector must coincide with the standard hole pattern in order for the post sections to be inserted into respective holes during mounting of the connector.
One such connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,334 in which the contacts are initially inserted into respective housing passageways while still having a linear shape; the post sections extend from the housing and are thereafter bent to define the requisite right-angle bends. A plate section extends from the housing oriented to be parallel to the circuit board, and as the post sections are being bent, they are urged into channels of the plate section until the posts are fully bent, whereafter the channels are designed having stop features at selected locations along their lengths to locate and hold the post sections in the fully bent position. Such plate section provides positioning of the post sections generally corresponding to the hole array, with the plate section molded with the channels defined at a desired spacing in one direction, and the channel retention features located at desired spacings inwardly from the channel entrances so that the post sections are thus positioned in the orthogonal direction, altogether achieving generally accurate X,Y positioning of the posts.
The connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,041 includes a separate retainer plate removably mounted on the housing of the connector. The plate includes openings through which the bent tails of the right-angle contacts extend for positioning the tails in a predetermined pattern. An upstanding front edge includes a rib which snaps into a groove into a rearwardly facing surface of the housing as an array of fingers are received upwardly into a slot across the bottom surface of the body of the housing, which engage central portions of respective contacts behind annular collars thereof for retention of the contacts in the housing passageways. Side edges of the plate include arms which snap into grooves on vertical walls of the housing along the rear face to retain the plate on the housing. The round apertures of the plate are said to accurately support and position the cylindrical contact tails close to their ends.
It is desired to provide a connector which precisely locates the post sections of its right-angle contacts.
It is further desired to provide such a connector which is moldable so that not only the contact sections of the mating face are precisely positioned but also the post sections of the mounting face are precisely positioned, in view of well-known limitations of accuracy in insertion molding of plastic housings.

Right-angle board-mountable electrical connector with precision terminal positioning


An optical disk apparatus uses a laser driver which can measure the frequency of the high-frequency superimposed current of the semiconductor laser simply and accurately. The apparatus includes a semiconductor laser which emits a laser beam onto the optical disk, a laser driver which drives the semiconductor laser with a current, with the high-frequency current being superimposed thereon, and measures the frequency of the high-frequency current, and a main controller which controls the frequency of the high-frequency current produced by the laser driver by using the frequency measured by the laser driver.

The present invention relates to an optical disk apparatus which records and reproduces information on an optical disk, and particularly to a laser driver which is useful for improving the quality of reproduced signal and to an optical disk apparatus which uses the laser driver.
Optical disk information reproduction apparatus based on the semiconductor laser adopts the high frequency superimposition scheme in which a high-frequency current is superimposed on a d.c. current for driving the semiconductor laser in order to reduce the laser noise which emerges due to the interference between the semiconductor laser and the reflected light from the recording medium. However, despite the use of the high frequency superimposition scheme, there was found a phenomenon of the presence of a significant residual laser noise. A study conducted recently revealed that this phenomenon is caused by the relaxation oscillation which arises when the semiconductor laser undergoes the high-frequency modulation such as the case of high frequency superimposition scheme, and that the resulting laser noise is dependent on the superimposed frequency. A method of setting the superimposed frequency in consideration of the laser noise caused by the relaxation oscillation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei 11-54826.
FIG. 7 shows a measurement result of the relation between the laser noise and the frequency and amplitude of the superimposed high-frequency current. The laser noise was managed to be within the allowable level by setting the superimposed current within region A or B on the graph of FIG. 7. However, the high frequency superimposing circuit has its operational efficiency falling as the frequency rises, resulting in an increased heat dissipation. The semiconductor laser operating at a higher temperature produces a larger laser noise in general, and therefore the region B located in the higher frequency range is not suitable for use. Another region C shown by hatching in FIG. 7 necessitates the reduction of unwanted radiation or electromagnetic interference (EMI) by means of an expensive shielding structure to meet the regulation, and therefore this region is avoided. On this account, for the fulfillment of both the reduction of laser noise and the reduction of EMI, the superimposed current needs to be set within the region A and at the same time outside the region C, i.e., the superimposed current must be within range D in terms of frequency and within range E in terms of amplitude.
FIG. 4 shows by block diagram a laser driver which controls the superimposed current. The laser driver is made up of a semiconductor laser drive circuit 1, an oscillator control circuit 3 and oscillator 4 which form a high frequency superimposing oscillator, and an adder 6. At information reproduction, the semiconductor laser drive circuit 1 releases a laser driving d.c. current 2 and the adder 6 superimposes the output (high-frequency current 5) of the oscillator 4 to the laser driving d.c. current 2, so that a resulting current drives a laser diode 8. The oscillator 4 has its output frequency and amplitude controlled by the oscillator control circuit 3, which is responsive to an oscillator control signal 31 provided by an external microcomputer. Based on this function, the prior art method sets the frequency and amplitude of the superimposed current to meet the above-mentioned conditions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Laser driver, optical disk apparatus using the same, and laser control method


A dimming circuit for dimming a current flowing through a light emitting device, having: a multi-function pin, configured to receive a dimming signal; wherein when the dimming signal is an analog voltage signal, an amplitude of the current flowing through the light emitting device is regulated based on the dimming signal; when the dimming signal is a pulse signal and a frequency of the dimming signal is in a first frequency range, a duty cycle of the current flowing through the light emitting device is regulated based on the dimming signal; and when the dimming signal is the pulse signal and the frequency of the dimming signal is in a second frequency range, the amplitude of the current flowing through the light emitting device is regulated based on the dimming signal.

To meet the different brightness requirements of different applications, light emitting device dimming is necessary. The brightness of a LED (Light-emitting Diode), which is a widely adopted light emitting device today, depends on an average current flowing through the LED. That is to say, LED dimming could be realized by regulating the average current flowing through the LED. Currently, two techniques of regulating the average current flowing through the LED are popular, one is regulating an amplitude of the current flowing through the LED, and the other one is regulating a duty cycle of the current flowing through the LED.
In real applications, different dimming signals could be combined to realize LED dimming. However, multiple dimming signals may increase the complexity of a dimming circuit, and will need multiple dimming pins to receive the multiple dimming signals, which increase the size and cost of the dimming circuit.

Flexible dimming circuit and a method thereof

Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.


An animal feeder device comprises a trough to receive water and a feed shelf to support particulate feed thereon supported spaced above the trough for accommodating access to a head of one of the animals to the trough. A feed hopper directs feed onto the shelf through a plurality of discharge chutes corresponding to respective feeding stations along the trough. Water is supplied to the trough by a level control arranged to maintain water level in relation to the trough at a set point level.

When raising hogs, it is common to initially feed the hogs a feed mixture consisting of milk, sugar, whey and other ingredients. As milk is costly, it is desirable to reduce the milk content gradually over a period of a few weeks so that the hogs can subsequently be raised primarily on a feed mixture comprised of whey and other ingredients. The feed mixture is typically available in various forms including chop in which the feed mixture has a generally powder like consistency or crumbling in which the feed mixture is in a pellet form. Chop is desirable due to its ease of mixing and low cost to prepare; however in certain types of feeders when there is milk content in the chop, the chop does not flow suitably to the feed trough for access by the hogs. In such instances during the initial few weeks when there is milk content in the feed mixture it is generally known to be required to provide the feed mixture as crumbling in a pellet form for ease of dispensing despite the additional cost associated with manufacturing the feed mixture into a pellet form.
One example of a feeder unit for livestock, and in particular hogs is U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,266 belonging to Kleinsasser et al. in which a feed trough includes a shelf supported above the trough and a water supply below the shelf for directing water through valves actuated by the pig into the trough. A hopper positioned above the shelf directs material continuously onto the shelf to be retained on the shelf by the repose angle of the feed. The pig can thus eat directly from the shelf in a dry condition or can brush the feed into the through for mixing with the water and eating in a wet condition. In normal use the hopper is generally fixed relative to the shelf such that the feed mixture in the form of chop with milk content can plug up in the hopper. Furthermore the animal actuated water valves result on occasion that too much water is dispensed in an uncontrolled manner into the trough to spoil a considerable amount of food and waste water. Furthermore it is best if the feed is taken in a dry condition with the pig drinking as little water as possible since of course the water tends to fill the pig and reduce the amount that it wishes to eat.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,831 belonging to Brunse discloses a further example of a feeder with a dry feed shelf and a separate water compartment in which can be mixed with the feed, however the water supply relies again on animal actuation and accordingly no limitations are placed on the amount of water being dispensed so that excess water can overflow and cause considerable food and water spoilage as well as interfering with encouraging the pig to eat as much dry food as possible.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,801 to Rovira Badia et al. discloses a further example of a livestock feeding assembly in which a dry feed and wet feed area are provided, however water dispensing is again controlled by the animals without limitation so as to potentially cause food spoilage and overflowing of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,206 belonging to Knippelmeir discloses a water tray drinker for pigs comprising a tray which is divided into water compartments by divider walls of different height. An adjustable water supply mechanism including a vacuum valve can be adjustably positioned relative to the tray for automatically filling one or more of the compartment portions depending upon the vertical placement of the water supply mechanism. No feed trough is disclosed.


A portable multi-functional modular water filtration unit having configurable modules that can be adapted to render environmental water potable or to isolate contaminants from groundwater or water from other sources such as backwash from reverse osmosis water purification units (ROWPU) or shower and laundry water ("gray water") such that the water may be recycled or discharged in full compliance with applicable laws. Plural treatment tanks as well as inlet and outlet filters are coupleable via pressure gauge bearing quick connect fittings in series and parallel arrangements, to allow changes of filter elements (for replacement or substitution of a different active material) and to accommodate flow in filtration arrays. The water purification system specifically addresses the changing water purifying needs that arise during troop deployment, training and maneuvers, disaster relief and environmental cleanup.

A large amount of the natural water on the Earth is sea water or brackish water that is not suitable for human consumption due to the presence of salts and sediments. So-called fresh water may likewise be unsuitable for human consumption, for example containing deleterious compounds, bacteria or other microorganisms. Furthermore, groundwater can become polluted by the actions of man. In such instances it is known to treat the water by filtration and chemical treatment steps.
Filtration involves passing water through a filter medium that stops pollutants and passes pure water. The filter medium must be cleaned or replaced when its capacity is met. A highly effective mobile filtration apparatus used by the military is the reverse osmosis water purification unit or "ROWPU."
Reverse osmosis is a method that effects the separation of solutes from a solution by causing the solvent to float through a membrane at pressures higher than the normal osmotic pressure. This is possible because of the phenomenon of osmosis. Osmosis is a phenomenon manifested by the diffusion of a solvent (such as water) through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of greater osmotic pressure (i.e., greater concentration of dissolved substance) to an area of lower osmotic pressure (i.e., lesser concentration of dissolved substance). In reverse osmosis, the solvent diffuses through a membrane filter leaving dissolved substances, such as salts and other contaminants, behind.
Reverse osmosis purification equipment is readily sized for a particular application simply by providing the requisite area of membrane and a suitable pump. Therefore, reverse osmosis purification units are ideally suited for use at remote sites, and are conveniently transported on trucks or trailers.
These units are available in various capacities and typically are carried on trucks having such pumps and conduits as necessary to filter water from available sources. In this apparatus, water is forced through a membrane that passes pure water and concentrates pollutants in the water on the upstream side of the membrane. In addition, it is periodically necessary to flush or backwash the ROWPU filtration membranes to release collected contaminants from the membrane. As the concentration of the contaminants in the raw water increases to a given limit, the throughput through the ROWPU decreases for a given pump head pressure. Also, the membrane may become caked with contaminants on the high pressure side.
As a byproduct of filtration and/or backwashing, the water on the upstream side of the membrane, known as "brine," carries a higher concentration of contaminants than the source water. Depending on the time used and the extent of contaminants in the source water, the concentration of contaminants in the brine or backwash can be sufficient to render the water unfit for discharge into natural watercourses, which could become polluted. As a result, part of the water carrying capacity of a mobile military unit is devoted to transporting brine and backwash to municipal or similar fixed installations for water treatment.
Conventionally, during military operations, the backwash is captured in hard walled water tankers. Once one tanker is filled, the composition of its contents are determined via well known analytical methods. The contents of the tanker are then chemically treated. The tanker's contents are analyzed a second time. This process continues until the contents in the tanker are brought into compliance with EPA limits for sewer system disposal. Once in compliance, the contents are taken to a sanitation disposal site and discharged. The process of collecting and transporting brine and backwash, and treating and safely discharging it, requires the commitment of time and equipment. For example, it is conceivable that several tankers may need to be staged and available for collection and transport functions, each having at least one associated person on duty, in order to support the continuous operation of a ROWPU. What is needed is a multi-functional modular water filtration unit that can be adapted to treat different brine compositions, and which can be used in the field to render brine and backwash sufficiently pure to be discharged in the same area where the source water was collected, or at least to meet the minimum environmental protection standards for discharge into municipal sewage systems. By treating the brine and backwash in the field, the present invention eliminates the costs of batch hauling and discharge fees associated with conventional means of treatment, reduces the risks of spillage and substantially decreases the man hour and equipment requirements associated with conventional treatment means.
The multi-functional modular water filtration unit as described herein may be easily interfaced to optimize throughput capacity versus extent of filtration, using parallel and serial configurations of filtration elements interconnected by reconfigurable fittings. in a similar manner, the filtration media can be conveniently and effectively modified to facilitate operation in a variety of circumstances and for different specific pollutants. In a preferred arrangement, a modular brine/backwash filtration unit coupled to a ROWPU can be configured using the filtration elements to treat backwash from an ROWPU sourced by a natural watercourse or municipal supply; to treat sanitary waste water from showers, laundry facilities and the like; to treat water potentially containing nuclear or biological contaminants; to remove chemical contaminants such as fuels; and to pre-treat municipal source water supplies, for example to eliminate chlorine that tends to damage reverse osmosis membranes.

Portable multi-functional modular water filtration unit


An enzymatic sterilization system is disclosed which is effective against viruses and other organisms. Methods are disclosed to increase the rate of and reduce the cost for sterilization with this chemistry as compared to the prior art. Methods are disclosed to formulate a sterlizing chemistry which actively maintains a sterile environment over a defined period of time.

The ability to render all pathogens found in the environment inactive has been defined as sterilization. The requirements for a sterilization process can and will vary dramatically depending upon the particular application of interest. The ability of a given process to inactive or kill bacteria, fungi, viruses and naturally found hydrated spores is adequate function to qualify as a sterilant in most real world applications.
The disinfecting properties of peroxidase reactions have been well known for many years. In 1924 Hanssen (F. S. Hanssen, Brit. J. Exptl. Pathol. 5, 271 (1924)) ascribed the bactericidal properties of fresh milk toward Bacillus to "oxidizing" enzymes. In 1931 Kojima (S. Kojima, J. Biochem. 14, 95(1931)) described the ability of peroxidase to "accentuate" the bactericidal properties of its substrates. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,231; 4,473,550 and 4,588,586 describe methods, utilizing the disinfecting ability of peroxidase systems, which effect a bactericidal environment for contact lens material and which serve as disinfection protocols in applications involving the oral cavity. This specification describes peroxidase mediated viral inactivation, methods to increase the rate at which a peroxidase based system effects sterilization and methods to decrease the cost per unit volume of said sterilization. In addition, this application delineates formulations and methods of application for said formulations which results in a rapid sterilization due to a peroxidase based chemistry wherein said composition subsequently has a substantially increased ability to actively maintain a sterile environment over a defined period of time as compared to the art described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,231; 4,473,550 and 4,588,586.

Rapid sterilization enzymatic process with persistence


Removing protections on a session-key protected design include receiving a double encrypted vendor private key and an encrypted session key. The double encrypted vendor private key is decrypted into a single encrypted vendor-private key using a user private key, and the single encrypted vendor-private key is decrypted into a vendor private key using a vendor pass phrase. The encrypted session key is decrypted into a session key using the vendor private key, and the session-key protected design is decrypted into a plain design using the session key.

System-level integration of electronic circuit designs often relies on reuse of previously created designs, from either within an enterprise or from a commercial vendor. Libraries of pre-developed blocks of logic have been developed that can be included in system circuit design. Such library modules include, for example, adders, multipliers, filters, and other arithmetic and DSP functions from which system designs can be readily constructed. The engineering community sometimes refers to these previously created designs as "design modules," "cores," "IP cores" (intellectual property cores), or "logic cores," and such terms are used interchangeably herein. The use of pre-developed logic cores permits faster design cycles by eliminating the redesign of circuits. Thus, using cores from a library may reduce design costs. Logic cores can include an optimally floor-planned layout targeted to a specific target device. Alternatively, a logic core can include source code or schematics that describe the logic and connectivity of a design.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1735 V2 cryptography standard provides an approach for protecting logic cores from unauthorized access, According to the IEEE 1735 V2 standard, a core vendor and a tool provider cooperate to provide protection against attacks on the logic core. A core vendor is a party providing a logic core to an end user to include in an electronic circuit design. The core vendor has an interest in protecting the logic core from attacks that can include theft of intellectual property embedded in the logic core or insertion of malicious code, such as a Trojan horse. A tool provider is a party who supplies an electronic design automation (EDA) tool to the end user for processing the logic core in combination with logic developed by the end user. An EDA tool may alternatively be referred to herein as a design processing tool.
In adhering to the IEEE 1735 V2 standard, the core vendor encrypts the logic core by a symmetric key (K), producing a data block. The vendor's public-private key pair is then used to protect K, producing a key block. The vendor delivers the encrypted data block and protected key (key block) to the end user. The tool provider makes the EDA tool available to the end user, and the EDA tool has access to the vendor's private key. To decrypt the protected logic core, the end user invokes the EDA tool and the EDA tool uses the tool provider's private key to decrypt the protected key and obtain the symmetric key K. The EDA tool then decrypts the logic core using K.
Though the IEEE 1735 V2 standard has been followed by many core vendors and tool providers, the standard does not provide failsafe protection. A report entitled, "Standardizing Bad Cryptographic Practice," by researchers at the University of Florida identified a number of vulnerabilities in the IEEE 1735 V2 standard. If successfully exploited, the vulnerabilities could result in theft of logic cores or corruption of designs, such as through the injection of Trojan horses or other malicious code.


A circuit for driving an ultrasonic motor which is driven by being applied with multi-phase alternating voltages comprises: a digital oscillator for providing a signal having a frequency higher than that of said alternating voltages; a frequency divider for dividing the frequency of the output signal of the digital oscillator into a desired frequency to provide a basic clock signal; a plurality of presetting circuits, each of independently presetting a delay time for generating a plurality of delay clocks which are delayed with respect the basic clock by different delay times; a plurality of delay circuits, each connected with a respective one of the delay time presetting means for generating a plurality of different delayed clock which are delay with respect to said basic clock by different periods of delay time in accordance with the preset delay time; and voltage generators which generates multi-phase alternating voltages from the basic clock and plurality of the delayed clocks for applying the multi-phase alternating voltages upon the ultrasonic motor.

An ultrasonic motor which is driven by generating travelling vibrational waves by means of electro-mechanical energy conversion element such as piezo-electric element, electrostrictive element, magnetostrictive element has been well known. The ultrasonic motor using a piezo-electric element as a driving source for ultrasonic vibration will be briefly explained. A multiplicity of piezo-electric elements are polarized so that adjacent piezo-electric elements have opposite polarities and the elements are divided into two groups. Stators are secured to an elastic member at an interval of .lambda./4+n.lambda. (wherein .lambda. denotes a wave length of a travelling wave and n denotes an integer). When different alternating voltages Vo sin.theta. and Vo cos.theta. which have the same amplitude and are different by 90.degree. (.pi./2) in phase at a resonant frequency determined by the shape and material of an oscillator comprising the elastic member and piezo-electric elements are applied to each group of electrodes of the respective piezo-electric elements of the stator, an elastic travelling wave is excited on the surface of the elastic member. Each material point on the surface of the elastic member at which the travelling wave is excited performs elliptical vibration in a direction opposite to the travelling direction. Therefore, if a rotor which is in frictional contact with the elastic member is placed around the apex of the peak of the travelling wave, the rotor will be moved in a direction of elliptical vibration. This is a principle of an ultrasonic motor.
Among the ultrasonic motors, the travelling wave type ultrasonic motor and the hybrid oscillator type ultrasonic motor in which vertical vibration and torsion vibration are synthesized require more than one phase alternating voltage. In these ultrasonic motors, theoretically it will suffice to render the phase difference between voltages constant.
However, if there are variations in operating parameters of the finished motors and phase difference between electrical and mechanical vibrations, it will not always suffice to provide a constant phase difference between voltages. Since inappropriate phase difference invites a decrease in energy conversion efficiency and motor output, a circuit may be provided for driving an ultrasonic motor in which phase difference between voltages is adjustable. One example of such driving circuit is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho/62-171475.
The disclosed ultrasonic motor driving circuit effects relative movement between first and second structural members by applying phase different alternating voltages to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element mounted on a first structural member via first and second driving electrodes, respectively to induce travelling vibration waves on the first member. The driving circuit includes a circuit for detecting a deviation between the phase difference between the driving voltages detected at the first and second driving electrodes and a given phase difference and a circuit for regulating the phase differences between alternating voltages applied to the first and second electrodes in response to the output from the deviation detecting circuit.
In order to digitally preset the phase difference between alternating voltages at the regulating circuit in response to the output from the circuit for detecting the deviation of phase difference between alternating voltages, the output frequency of a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) is divided by 32 by a frequency dividing circuit, so that signals which are shifted in phase by 11.25.degree. (360.degree..div.32) are obtained.
However, phase shift resolution would assume at least only 11.25.degree. if an ultrasonic motor is formed as that disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho/62-171475 in which oscillation output of VCO is divided by 32 by a frequency dividing circuit so that signals are phase-shifted by 11.25.degree. (360.degree..div.32). In order to obtain a higher resolution, the oscillation frequency should be increased. In case of a VCO, an increase in oscillation frequency shortens the period of electrical charging and discharging. Therefore, the capacitance used for VCO should be decreased so that the value of the charged and discharged electric current becomes lower.
This provides a lower immunity of the driving circuit to disturbance noise. Since power of several watts to several tens of watts is supplied to the ultrasonic motor, the noises from the supplied power make the oscillation frequency of the VCO unstable. The circuit per se becomes very sensitive to changes in characteristics of the charging and discharging parts, such as capacitors, resistors and transistors. Slight changes in temperature conditions will cause large changes in the oscillation frequency.
If the driving frequency is represented as fo, the oscillation frequency of a VCO is 32fo in case of the aforementioned Unexamined Patent Publication. For example, if fo is 40 kHz, the original oscillation frequency would be 1.28 MHz. The resolution of phase shift is only 11.25.degree. as mentioned above even at such a high frequency oscillation. For a higher resolution, a higher oscillation frequency is necessary. Considering the circuit stability, it is very hard to obtain an oscillation frequency not less than 1 MHz by VCO.
Various functions are often required and restrictions are imposed on the application of an ultrasonic motor. In some type of ultrasonic motor, such as the afore-mentioned travelling wave type ultrasonic motor an optimum driving frequency varies depending upon external conditions such as temperature and external load. The frequency on starting should be preset higher than the driving frequency, otherwise the motor may not be started.
The speed of the ultrasonic motor should often be controlled. In order to control speed of the motor, frequency, phase and power and the like should be appropriately changed.
In case where a plurality of ultrasonic motors such as a motor for winding film and a motor for driving a lens are independently provided in a camera, two ultrasonic motors do not work simultaneously. Accordingly, only one driving circuit suffices if it is capable of appropriately switching the frequency and phase of the driving voltages. Accordingly, an ultrasonic motor driving circuit which is capable of readily switching the frequency, phase and output power is necessary to meet the various requirements by making the best use of the characteristics of the ultrasonic motor.
Addition of the afore-mentioned capabilities to a conventional circuit for driving an ultrasonic motor does not only provide a large and complicated scale of circuit, but also it requires a large space which the circuit occupies and invites high cost. Furthermore it provides more adjusting positions and a more complicated adjusting process, resulting in big problems in mass production. Countermeasure for changes in characteristics of the circuit due to aging of the parts should be taken. This also promotes the necessity of more precise parts and complicated circuits.