A cerebral interface system has a housing mechanism configured to be at least partially spaced in a cavity formed in the subject""s skull; an attaching mechanism for attaching the housing mechanism to the subject""s skull; a sealing mechanism for providing a fluid-tight seal between the housing mechanism and the subject""s skull; a control mechanism spaced within the housing mechanism; a communication mechanism with one or more sensors embedded in the subject""s brain connecting the control mechanism to the subject""s brain; and a power source spaced within the housing mechanism. Preferably, an inner wall thereof is substantially aligned with the surrounding inner surface of the subject""s skull and an outer wall thereof is substantially aligned with the surrounding outer surface of the subject""s skull, or may include an auxiliary portion extending tangentially outwardly from the cavity formed in the subject""s skull and having substantially the same profile as the subject""s skull thereunder. The system may include a communication link wirelessly connecting the control mechanism to external apparatus for transmitting or receiving information related to detecting, predicting, controlling, or aborting abnormal brain activity of the subject. Alternatively, the control mechanism may be self-contained without need for such external apparatus. An output mechanism is provided that is activatable by the control mechanism. The attaching mechanism may include removable fastening means. The housing mechanism is preferably constructed of titanium. The invention also comprises a method for practicing the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of neuroscience and, more particularly without limitation, to a subfield of neuroprostheses for housing devices in close proximity to the brain.
2. Glossary of Terms and Useful Definitions
The term xe2x80x9celectroencephalogramxe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cEEGxe2x80x9d) refers to voltage potentials recorded from the scalp and encompasses any recordings obtained from a source outside the dura mater. The term xe2x80x9celectrocorticogramxe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cECoGxe2x80x9d) refers to voltage potentials recorded intracranially, e.g., directly from the cortex. xe2x80x9cEKGxe2x80x9d is an abbreviation for the term xe2x80x9celectrocardiogram,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cEMGxe2x80x9d for the term xe2x80x9celectromyogramxe2x80x9d which records electrical muscle activity, and xe2x80x9cEOGxe2x80x9d for the term xe2x80x9celectrooculogramxe2x80x9d which records eye movements.
The term xe2x80x9creal-timexe2x80x9d as used herein describes a system with negligible latency between input and output.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9couter tablexe2x80x9d refers to the outer bony sheet of the skull in contact with the scalp; the term xe2x80x9cinner tablexe2x80x9d refers to the inner bony sheet of the skull in contact with the outermost brain membrane or xe2x80x9cduraxe2x80x9d; and the term xe2x80x9cdiploexe2x80x9d refers to the part of the skull between the outer table and inner table that provides nutrients and minerals necessary for developing and maintaining the skull.
3. Description of the Related Art
Humans and animals have several normal states of behavior, such as wakefulness and sleep, as well as multiple sub-states, such as attentive wakefulness and REM sleep. Abnormal states of behavior in humans and animals include reversible states, such as seizures, and progressive irreversible states, such as dementia.
Recent advances in the field of clinical neurosciences have opened a new era for the use of and need for implantable therapeutic devices. For example, the use of prostheses, for the diagnosis or treatment of neurologic illnesses, is rapidly growing and will continue to expand as new applications are found. As new technological developments take place, so does the opportunity to improve current designs or performance, decrease power requirements or cost, or minimize complications associated with chronic implantation. For instance, a device to electrically stimulate brain regions, via chronically implanted electrodes for Parkinson""s disease, has been recently approved for commercial use by the Food and Drug Administration. Implantable devices to detect and control abnormal brain states, such as epileptic seizures, are currently under development (see Osorio et al., Epilepsia 39(6):615-627, 1998).
Currently, brain devices, such as the one used for Parkinson""s disease, are implanted under the collarbones at a substantial distance from the brain. For example, the use of wires or conductors to carry a signal into or out of the brain, requires a special, time consuming procedure and careful placement of wires and connectors to avoid scalp/skin erosion, a common and serious complication which often requires removal of the device with loss of benefit to the subject. More specifically, such an approach has several significant disadvantages: (i) the long conductors for connecting the device to electrodes implanted in the brain require tunneling under the scalp and skin, thereby requiring prolonged surgical and anesthesia for installation; (ii) the tract along the conductors often becomes infected requiring, in many cases, that the conductors be explanted with consequent cessation of treatment to the subject; (iii) the conductors often erode the overlying scalp, forcing removal of the cables so that healing can take place but, at the same time, removing the means for warning of or treating impending abnormal activities; (iv) the conductors often fracture since they are subjected to torsional and other forces generated by normal head/neck movements with consequent corrective surgery to replace the faulty conductors; and (v) in the case of telemetered signals, closer proximity of the emitter to the receiver would increase fidelity of the transmitted signals and decrease power requirements, hence prolonging battery life and decreasing frequency of surgical replacement procedures.
The placement of prior art brain devices outside the skull, such as in the infraclavicular regions, is due to lack of space between the brain and the skull to position such devices and also to the inability to convert virtual into real spaces without affecting the integrity of the skull. Indeed, while the brain is closely apposed to the inner table of the skull, leaving no usable space to safely house any device, the skull has several properties that enable conversion of virtual into real space for use of the integrated ergonomic placement of devices. These properties, which have not been heretofore exploited, include:
a) sufficient wall thickness to allow housing of access systems/electronic components partially or completely within the confines of the two tables of the skull;
b) high tensile strength; and
c) semi-circular configuration allowing equal distribution of forces over its surface.
In addition, scalp tissue has the elasticity or deformability necessary for accommodation of housing devices.
Accurate and reproducible prediction of behavioral or biologic signal changes associated with abnormal brain activities has not been generally possible as such events typically occur unpredictably. This limitation has been recently overcome, making it possible to accurately predict various types of brain states, such as epileptic seizures, etc., as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,868.
Thus, what is needed is a cerebral interface system that permits spacing essential mechanisms, which perform these or other tasks in close proximity to a subject""s brain.
The present invention includes improvements for enabling simultaneous accessibility between the brain of a subject and the outside world for direct application of measures to monitor and analyze the brain activity of the subject, to predict or detect changes in such brain activity, and to allow warning, recording, preventing, and/or controlling undesirable changes in such brain activity, such as the activity changes associated with an epileptic seizure, for example.
The present inventive cerebral interface system for sensing and/or controlling normal or abnormal brain activity in a subject includes: a brain access mechanism comprising a housing mechanism configured to be spaced in a cavity formed in the subject""s skull; an attaching mechanism configured to attach the housing mechanism to the subject""s skull; a sealing mechanism configured to provide a fluid-tight seal between the housing mechanism and the subject""s skull; a control mechanism or signal processor, such as a properly programmed microprocessor, spaced within the housing mechanism; a communication mechanism, which may include one or more sensors implanted in the subject""s brain, configured to communicatingly connect the subject""s brain to the control mechanism; and a power source configured to operatively power the apparatus.
Preferably, the housing mechanism includes an inner wall having an inner surface substantially aligned with the inner table of the subject""s skull. The inner wall may include one or more ports such that a connector or connectors of the communication mechanism can extend through the port or ports into the subject""s brain. For this arrangement, the sealing mechanism may include a fluid-tight seal between the connector or connectors and the inner wall. The sealing mechanism may include a bio-compatible coating, a layer of resilient bio-compatible materials such as silicon, polyurethane, or plastic encircling the housing mechanism, etc.
The housing mechanism, which is preferably oval shaped, may include an outer wall having an outer surface that is substantially aligned with the outer table of the subject""s skull. In that event, the housing mechanism may include a flanged edge configured to be spaced in abutting engagement with an outer surface of the outer table of the subject""s skull. Alternatively, the housing mechanism may comprise an auxiliary housing portion that extends tangentially outwardly from the cavity formed in the subject""s skull. Some of the control mechanism may be spaced within the auxiliary housing portion. Preferably, the auxiliary housing portion has substantially the same profile as the subject""s skull thereunder, with the peripheral edges thereof grading into an outer surface of the subject""s skull.
The brain access mechanism may include a communication link configured to connect the control mechanism in wireless communication with an apparatus external to the subject. The control mechanism, in conjunction with the communication mechanism and the communication link, may be configured to transmit signals from the subject""s brain to the external apparatus, which may be configured to detect and predict abnormal brain activity of the subject. Further, the system may include an output mechanism, with the control mechanism, in conjunction with the communication link, configured to receive output signals from the external apparatus, and, in response to the output signals indicating such detection and/or prediction, activate the output mechanism in response thereto. Alternatively, the control mechanism, in conjunction with the communication mechanism, may be self-contained and configured to operatively detect and predict abnormal brain activity of the subject. In that event, the control mechanism may be configured, upon detecting and predicting abnormal brain activity of the subject, to operatively activate the output mechanism.
The attaching mechanism may include removable fastening means, such as one or more screws advanced into the subject""s skull. The housing mechanism, auxiliary housing portion, and preferably removable fastening means are preferably constructed of titanium.
In other words, the present invention involves the transformation of a virtual space of the skull into a real space for the safe ergonomic placement of an access system for interfacing with the brain of a subject. This access system includes a housing for encasing the components necessary for analyzing signals indicative of the subject""s brain activity state and for providing means to detect or predict changes in such brain activity state, as well as for providing means to prevent or control such changes in activity state, including treatment of abnormal states. The present invention includes, without limitation improvements in the fields of neurology, neurosurgery, bioengineering, and biocybernetics, which enable real-time analysis of biologic signals, such as those related to an EEG signal and/or an ECoG signal of a subject. Such signals are rapidly, accurately, and automatically analyzed by the present invention in order to, for example:
a) predict or detect and signal the occurrence of an abnormal brain activity, such as an epileptic seizure, in real time or essentially contemporaneously with the arrival of the EEG or ECOG signal at a signal processor;
b) predict behavioral changes typically associated with such abnormal activity;
c) download or telemeter the detection or prediction outputs to devices for warning, therapeutic interventions, and/or the storage of data; and/or
d) apply responsive measures to prevent or control such abnormal activity in the brain of a subject.
The bi-directional cerebral interface system, described herein, provides for the safe, ergonomic, cost-effective and energy efficient implantation of a housing device for automated sensing and control of changes in brain states, considerably improving the state of the art.
The principal objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing a brain access or cerebral interface mechanism mountable in a cavity formed in a subject""s skull; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having a housing mechanism preferably constructed of titanium; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having an auxiliary housing portion extending tangentially outwardly from such a cavity; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having a sealing mechanism for providing a fluid-tight seal between a housing mechanism thereof and the subject""s skull; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having a control mechanism, such as a programmed signal processor or microprocessor, spaced therein; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having a communication mechanism for connecting a control mechanism thereof to the subject""s brain; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having a power source; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having an inner wall aligned substantially co-planar with the surrounding inner surface of the subject""s skull; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having a communication link for wirelessly connecting a control mechanism thereof to external apparatus; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism having a control mechanism for activating an output mechanism; providing such a cerebral interface mechanism securable to the subject""s skull by removable fastening means; and generally providing such a cerebral interface mechanism that is effective in operation, reliable in performance, capable of long operating life, and particularly well adapted for the proposed usages thereof.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification and wherein are set forth exemplary embodiments of the present invention to illustrate various objects and features thereof.

Bi-directional cerebral interface system


In order to facilitate the assembly of a tire component like an Off the Road tire shoulder wedge, it is proposed to extrude this component with a high tack compound coating at its periphery by using a dual extruder which otherwise can extrude the tire component with a first high tack compound coating on one side, combined with an assembly for the extruder comprising a splice bar, a holder and a die which are designed to provide a channel deriving and guiding a portion of the high tack compound of the extruder to the stream of compounds before extrusion through the die, on a side opposite to the first coating, thereby providing a coating at almost the whole periphery of the component.

The use of shoulder wedges in off the road tires is commonly known. They are used for reinforcing the shoulder portions and the sidewalls of a tire. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tire and illustrates under the reference sign S a shoulder wedge integrated in the tire. Such wedges like the other tire elements are typically extruded and assembled together.
Some of these tire components require the application of cement based on organic solvents which dissolve the surface of rubber after extrusion. The contact surfaces are refreshed by, for example, wire brushing with the application of organic solvents during the building of the tire.
The application of volatile organic solvents in mass leads to a high level of emission and requires investing in expensive solvent treatment units. Such treatment units will indeed be required in the near future for meeting environmental legislation.

Assembly and a method for extruding a tire component


A cable winding system carried by a vehicle for extending and retracting cable responsive to vehicle movement. The cable frictionally engages a controllably powered sheave and is guided into a horizontally disposed coil by a cylindrical guide arm having a vertically directed opening adjacent the sheave and a downwardly, radially and circumferentially directed opening adjacent the coil. The guide arm is freely rotatable about a vertical axis so that as cable is extended and retracted the guide arm rotates to guide the cable between the coil and sheave. The powered sheave directs cable from the vehicle through an instrumented fairlead which, through a control system, controls the operation of the sheave. The fairlead is pivotally mounted about a horizontal pivot axis so that the head pivots in one direction as the cable is tensioned and in the opposite direction as the cable tension is relieved. The control system measures the angle of the fairlead and may also measure the vehicle speed to cause the sheave to extend cable as the fairlead moves rearwardly and/or the velocity of the forward vehicle is increased and to retract cable as the fairlead moves forwardly and/or the forward velocity of the vehicle is reduced. Also included is a failsafe system for applying the brakes of the vehicle when the supply of cable in the coil falls to a predetermined value or when the fairlead pivots to a point indicative of excessive cable tension and the rotational velocity of the powered sheave is below a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to storage mechanisms for flexible conduits and cables, and more particularly, to a vehicle mounted system for winding a flexible conduit or cable in a horizontal coil and automatically extending and retrieving cable responsive to vehicle movement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicles which are electrically powered through a multi-conductor umbilical chord are commonly used in underground mines. These vehicles are generally load-haul and dump type mining machines. One problem with such vehicles is the need to extend the cable as the vehicle moves forwardly and retract cable as the vehicle moves rearwardly. This function has generally been accomplished in the past by winding the cable on a reel or drum which is rotatably mounted on a transverse horizontal axis. The power is transferred from the cable to the vehicle drive motor through slip rings such as utilized by conventional AC motors. The slip rings must be custom designed to fit within the relatively small available volume. The reel is generally powered by an electric or hydraulic motor. The hydraulically powered varieties are generally either dual pressure systems or constant tension systems.
The dual pressure system continuously applies a torque to the reel, but the torque is lower for cable extension or a stationary condition than for cable retrieval. For proper functioning of the system the low torque setting must be large enough to keep excessive cable sag or slack from developing. The minimum cable tension is 100 pounds.
The constant tension system applies a constant torque to the reel. The value of the torque is not critical, but again it must be large enough to keep slack or sag from developing in the cable. The minimum cable tension for the constant tension system is 150 pounds. These conventional reel systems exhibit many problems which are alleviated by the inventive cable winding system. A principal problem with the prior art technique is the need to employ slip rings which quickly deteriorate in the severe environmental conditions of a mine. Additionally, the high inertia of the reel and particularly the cable wound thereon reduces the transient response of the cable retracting and extending system. Good transient response can only be maintained, then, by providing a fairly high cable tension. Yet, a relatively high cable tension in itself causes problems. As the cable is wound on the reel with a tension, the inward force exerted by the cable on the reel continues to build up thereby preventing the cable from being adequately cooled and excessively compressing the underlying cable. Also, the cable often catches on irregular contours in a mine, and the cable tension causes violent whipping of the cable as the cable is released, thereby posing a serious safety hazard. Cable whipping also occurs when the vehicle stops or reverses direction suddenly, although this problem is less severe with the constant tension system than the dual pressure system.
Another problem with conventional reel systems is that they must receive cable from the rear so that the cable is often severely damaged by backing over the cable with the vehicle. For these reasons, conventional vehicle mounted cable storage devices have not been entirely satisfactory.
Another approach to the problem of extending, retracting and storing umbilical cable in a mining vehicle is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,551 issued to Jamison et al. The Jamison et al device includes a pair of selectively driven rollers engaging the cable therebetween. The rollers convey the cable to and from a rectangular storage box through a slot without guiding the cable in a specific arrangement. A constant torque is applied to the rollers thereby maintaining the tension in the cable constant. Thus the Jamison et al devices does not solve most of the above mentioned problems.

Winding system for flexible conduits and cables


A motorized film-transporting mechanism for roll film cameras has a motor-circuit switch arranged in the path of movement of a film sensor so as to be closed when a film is present in the camera. A film counter is biased to zero position when the camera back is opened. When a film is present in the camera and the back is closed, the motor is automatically energized to advance the film by a length corresponding to two film frames so as to move this usually spoiled (light-blackened) film length out of the way. The motor is then automatically de-energized and all components are in readiness for subsequent picture-taking and incremental film advance by one film frame each. When all exposures have been made the film is rewound by the motor which shuts down when rewinding is completed.

This invention relates to film transporting mechanisms in general, and to motorized film transporting mechanisms in particular.
Still more specifically, the invention relates to electrically driven motorized film transporting mechanisms.
A roll film camera using an electric motor to transport film, is known from German Published Application OS No. 2,256,795. A motor-controlling switch is closed in response to the insertion of film into the camera and automatically opens when no film is present in the camera. When roll film is inserted into a camera a film portion located ahead of the first film frame and having a length corresponding to that of two film frames, is usually unavoidably exposed to light and thus spoiled for exposure purposes. This length must therefore be advanced in the camera to move it out of the way and place the first unspoiled film frame in picture-taking position. A problem with the aforementioned prior-art camera is that it has no provision for effecting automatic advancement of the film by this two-frame length on closing of the camera back, i.e. of the rear cover which closes the film chamber. Film rewinding after completion of the picture-taking is not possible in this camera, either.
A miniature camera is known from German Pat. No. 1,232,820 in which closing of the camera back automatically places the film counter into operative position, whereas opening of the back causes the film counter to return to zero (starting) position. However, motorized transport of the film by a two-frame length on closing of the camera back, and motorized film rewinding on completion of picture-taking, is not disclosed in this reference either.


According to the present invention, recording laser beam is shot from a semiconductor laser to form a mark set which comprises a pair of marks on the track of an optical recording medium in the track width direction thereof and first information which has been coded corresponding to the interval between the paired marks in the mark set is recorded on the track of the optical recording medium. At the same time, the plural mark sets are formed on the track of the optical recording medium in the track length direction thereof and second information which has been coded corresponding to the interval between these mark sets is recorded on the track of the optical recording medium. The track of the optical recording medium is scanned in the track width direction thereof with reproducing laser beam shot from a semiconductor laser and .+-. first-order diffraction beam of an optical interference pattern which is created from the paired marks in the mark set thus scanned is detected to reproduce the first information. At the same time, the track is scanned in the track length direction thereof with the reproducing laser beam and zero-order diffraction beam of an optical interference pattern which changes corresponding to the interval between the plural mark sets thus scanned is detected to reproduce the second information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording and reproducing method and a apparatus for the same and, more particularly, it relates to a multi-value information recording and reproducing method and an apparatus for the same intended to increase its recording density.
2. Description of the Related Art
CDs and laser disks of the read-only type (ROM), Te-metal thin films and organic pigment films of the write-only type (WORM), and magnetooptic films and Calkogenite phase change films of the reversible type (E-DRAW) are used as the conventional recording media employed by this kind of the method and apparatus. In a case where a certain information is to be recorded on one of these recording media, recording laser beam converged to a wavelength is shot onto the recording medium and run thereon in the track length direction thereof to form plural marks thereon at a certain interval. Information which has been coded corresponding to the interval between these marks is recorded on the recording medium. In a case where the certain information is to be reproduced from the recording medium, the recording medium is scanned in the track length direction thereof to detect diffraction beam which changes depending upon whether or not the marks are present on the track of the recording medium.
The following various methods have been proposed these days to increase the recording density: Methods of changing the reflection factor of each of the marks step by step. of changing the depth of the mark, of changing the size of the mark, changing the interval between the marks, and of making small the interval between the tracks. In addition, there is a method of recording information on each of plural layer films which form the recording medium to increase the recording density. These methods mentioned above are intended to straight increase pieces of information recorded by changing a mark step by step.
Japanese Patent Disclosure Sho 61-129748 discloses a further method, whereby a set of information is converted to a pattern (or optical interference or diffraction pattern) at a certain area different in surface contour and recorded on the recording medium and whereby the optical interference or diffraction pattern created by the converted pattern is obtained as the set of information at the time of reproduction.
In the case of these multi-value information recording methods, however, it is difficult to adjust the state of mark recording step by step to accurately detect signals applied from the marks and the extent to which information can be multi-valued is limited to 2 to 4 values. Further, the method of recording a set of information at a certain area as a pattern is used by the simple systems which carry out neither tracking nor focusing, but the recording density achieved by the method is low. Therefore, this method cannot be applied to those systems which are intended to achieve high recording density. Further, it is supposed that the recording medium is made large in size to make pieces of information recorded more in value, but when pieces of information are made more and more in value, the whole of the system must be made large in size.

Optical recording and reproducing method and apparatus for the same


A method is disclosed for responding to the detection of an obstacle in the path of a mobile machine as the mobile machine traverses the path at a work site. The method includes the steps of scanning a field of interest, detecting the presence of an obstacle, and determining a set of parameters as a function of the mobile machine, the obstacle, and the work site. The method also includes the steps of determining a level of predictability of motion of the obstacle, defining ranges of a plurality of zones as a function of the level of predictability and the parameters, and initiating an action in response to the obstacle being in one of the zones.

Mobile machines are used to perform a variety of tasks. As an example, in an earthworking environment such as a mining site, mobile machines, e.g., off-road mining trucks, haul material throughout the site.
For repetitive tasks such as above, it is becoming advantageous and desirable to operate the mobile machines autonomously. The environment in which the trucks operate may be harsh, and more efficient operations may be attained if the human fatigue factor is eliminated.
As an example of using off-road mining trucks autonomously, U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,883, issued to Shaffer et al., provides an exemplary disclosure of a system for autonomous operations of mobile machines. In this patent, Shaffer et al. disclose a fleet of off-road mining trucks operating autonomously at a mining site. Parameters such as position determination, navigation, path planning, and machine control are performed without the aid of human operators.
An important factor in enabling a mobile machine to operate autonomously is the ability to detect obstacles in the machine's path of travel, and to respond in an acceptable manner when obstacles are detected. The normal course of action when encountering an obstacle is to stop the mobile machine and notify a fleet manager to remove the obstacle. However, this is not always the most efficient course of action. Under some circumstances, stopping the mobile machine may not be necessary, particularly when the obstacle is moving and may soon be out of the path of the mobile machine.
An appropriate response to the detection of an obstacle may vary dependent on the location of the obstacle relative to a mobile machine. A more efficient method for responding to a detected obstacle would be to vary the response as a function of the detected obstacle being in one of a plurality of zones relative to the location of the mobile machine. As an example of using zones of detection, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,633, Nakajima et al. disclose the use of a series of zones in the scan pattern of an obstacle detector, each of the zones having a corresponding "rate of danger" of an obstacle detected in the zone. A method for alerting an operator to the presence of an obstacle varies in response to a determination of which zone the obstacle is in.
However, the disclosure of Nakijima et al. does not account for the detected obstacle moving from one zone to another, or to predicting the movement of the obstacle between zones. Responding appropriately and efficiently to the detection of an obstacle, more particularly a moving obstacle, would improve greatly if the movements of the detected obstacle were predictable and could be responded to prior to the obstacle entering a zone.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Method for determining a desired response to detection of an obstacle


The present invention relates to a bristle roller for automatic motor vehicle washing systems comprising a cylindrical body on the surface of which there are distributed a plurality of bristles. The main feature of the invention is that the bristles are made from strips of a thin layer of polypropylene, polythene, plastic materials and copolymers thereof.

The present invention relates to a bristle roller for automatic motor vehicle washing systems.
As is known, in automatic systems for washing motor vehicles and the like, presently used are rollers which have, on their outer cylindrical surface, a plurality of bristles made of yarns of polythene, which are caused to slidably contact the surface of the motor vehicle to be washed, so as to remove dirt therefrom.
From experimental tests, it has been found that in these rollers there occurs a micronized wear of the bristles because of the sliding contact of the bristles with the motor vehicle body, and this generates a very fine powder which is deposited on the motor vehicle body so as to form a powder film, the removal of which is very difficult.
This fact is particularly deleterious since, in addition to quickly wearing the bristles, it is susceptible to damaging the motor vehicle painted surface.
In this connection, it should be moreover pointed out that conventional bristles applied to conventional bristle rollers have a low strength.
The mentioned prior bristle rollers, moreover, are susceptible to be easily broken by the wedge-like profiles of sport motor vehicles or other motor vehicles having particular aerodynamic profiles.
Under these conditions, prior bristle rollers frequently damages the motor vehicles or are damaged thereby.
In fact, the prior filaments or bristles, because of their fine construction, penetrate frequently between parts of the motor vehicle body or plastic spoilers, or between the windshield wipers so as to remove and eject into the encompassing space all of the things entrapped by the bristles.
Under these conditions, frequently there are also broken the rear windows and mainly those which have not been mounted as series fittings, and which are usually provided with a steel stem, unless they are suitably bent so as to abut against the motor vehicle body.
On the contrary, the washing rollers made with the subject bristles, because of the greater consistency thereof, allow to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

Bristle roller for automatic motor vehicle washing systems

26040 Roncadello Di Casalmaggiore, (Cremona)


An inkjet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate, a substantially cylindrical ink chamber storing ink and formed in an upper portion of the substrate, and a manifold supplying ink to the ink chamber in a bottom portion of the substrate, a channel-forming layer disposed between the ink chamber and the manifold and having an ink channel communicating between the ink chamber and the manifold, a nozzle plate stacked on the substrate and having a nozzle at a location corresponding to the central part of the ink chamber, a heater formed to surround the nozzle of the nozzle plate, and electrodes electrically connected to the heater to supply current to the heater. Therefore, the quantity of ink stored in an ink chamber can be increased. Also, when bubbles grow, the cylindrical ink chamber confines an ink flow area to ink ejectors, thereby reducing a back flow of the ink. Further, the quantity of ink supplied to the ink chamber can be adjusted by varying the number of ink channels formed in the channel-forming layer, thereby improving frequency characteristics of the inkjet printhead.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet printhead and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a bubble-jet type inkjet printhead having improved structures of an ink chamber and ink channels, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink ejection mechanisms of an inkjet printer are largely categorized into two types: an electro-thermal transducer type (bubble-jet type) in which a heat source is employed to form bubbles in ink to eject the ink, and an electro-mechanical transducer type in which ink is ejected by a change in ink volume due to deformation of a piezoelectric element.
According to a bubble growing direction and a droplet ejecting direction, electro-mechanical transducer types are classified into top-shooting, side-shooting, and back-shooting types. In a top-shooting type printhead, bubbles grow in the same direction that ink droplets are ejected. In a side-shooting type printhead, bubbles grow in a direction perpendicular to the direction that ink droplets are ejected. In a back-shooting type printhead, bubbles grow in a direction opposite to a direction in which ink droplets are ejected.
A bubble-jet type inkjet printhead needs to meet the following conditions. First, a simplified manufacturing process, a low manufacturing cost, and mass production must be allowed. Second, in order to produce high quality color images, creation of minute satellite droplets that trail ejected main droplets must be prevented. Third, when ink is ejected from one nozzle or an ink chamber is refilled with ink after the ink ejection, a cross-talk between the nozzle and its adjacent nozzle through ink which is not ejected, must be prevented. To this end, a back flow of ink, that is, a phenomenon that ink flows in an opposite direction to a normal ejection direction, must be avoided during the ink ejection. Fourth, for a high speed printing, a refill cycle after the ink ejection must be as short as possible. That is, an operating frequency must be high.
Considering the above conditions, the performance of an inkjet printhead is closely associated with structures of the ink chamber, ink channels, and a heater, the type of formation and expansion of bubbles, and the relative size of each component.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional inkjet printhead disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,457.
Referring to FIG. 1, an ink chamber 15 having a hemispherical shape is formed in an upper portion of a substrate 10 made of silicon, etc., and an ink supply manifold 16 supplying the ink chamber 15 with ink is formed in a lower portion of the substrate 10. An ink channel 13 communicating with the ink chamber 15 and the ink supply manifold 16 is formed between the ink chamber 15 and the ink supply manifold 16.
A nozzle plate 20 having a nozzle 11 through which an ink droplet 16 is ejected, is disposed on a surface of the substrate 10 to form an upper wall of the ink chamber 15. The nozzle plate 20 includes a thermal insulation layer 20a and a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) overcoat layer 20b.
In the nozzle plate 20, an annular heater 12 surrounding the nozzle 11 is formed in the vicinity of the nozzle 11. The annular heater 12 is located at an interface between the thermal insulation layer 20a and the CVD overcoat layer 20b. Meanwhile, the heater 12 is connected to an electric line (now shown) through which a current pulse is supplied to the annular heater 12.
In the above-described configuration, in a state that the ink chamber 15 is filled with ink supplied through the manifold 16 and the ink channel 13, if the current pulse is supplied to the annular heater 12, heat generated by the annular heater 12 is transmitted through the underlying thermal insulation layer 20a, and the ink under the heater 12 is boiled to form a bubble B. Thereafter, as the heat is continuously generated from the annular heater 12 so that the bubble B expands, a pressure is applied to the ink contained in the ink chamber 15, and the ink around the nozzle 11 is ejected in a form of an ink droplet 18 through the nozzle 11. Then, new ink is introduced through the ink channel 13 to refill the ink chamber 15.
In the conventional inkjet printhead, since the ink chamber 15 has the hemispherical shape and is formed on the substrate 10 by isotropically etching, the degree of accuracy and reproducibility of the inkjet printhead deteriorates when the ink chamber 15 is manufactured. Also, the amount of ink contained in the ink chamber 15 is relatively small in view of a volume of the ink chamber 15. Also, the hemispherical ink chamber 15 is configured such that the ink may be easily ejected to the ink channel 13 in a case where the ink around the annular heater 12 is pushed away by a bubble pressure caused when the bubble B is formed. When the ink is ejected, and when the bubble B is contracted, it is difficult to smoothly refill the ink chamber 15 with the new ink.
Although the ink channel and the nozzle are aligned to make an ink flowing direction substantially linear, a problem occurring in the aforementioned conventional inkjet printhead is that the ink flow is not smooth during the ink ejection. This results in undesirable frequency characteristics of the inkjet printhead.
Since only a single ink channel is formed for each ink chamber, it is difficult to adjust a transferring amount of ink passing through the ink channel. A manufacturing process of such an ink channel is also complicated.

Inkjet printhead and manufacturing method thereof


A container for a waste heat utilization circuit may include a housing that defines a housing interior such that the housing interior can be flowed through by a working medium. A sheath may be arranged in the housing interior for accommodating an auxiliary medium. The sheath may be fluid-tight and heat-conductive at least in certain areas. The sheath may define a sheath interior of variable volume.

In internal combustion engines, in particular in piston engines, mechanical driving power is generated by burning a fuel. In so doing, a majority of the chemical energy contained in the fuel is released as heat, which frequently remains unused. Frequently, even a portion of the usable driving power must be used for cooling the internal combustion engine and its units. With a waste heat utilization device, the waste heat occurring in an internal combustion engine can be used, for example, in order to provide further driving power or electrical energy. Hereby, the overall energy efficiency of the internal combustion engine can be improved.
Such waste heat utilization devices are known for example from EP 2 573 335 A2 and from DD 136 280.
Waste heat utilization devices can be configured as a circuit process in the form of a so-called Carnot process. The so-called Clausius-Rankine process is a special Carnot process. In such a Clausius-Rankine process, a working medium circulates in a waste heat utilization circuit. In the waste heat utilization circuit there is situated an evaporator for evaporating the working medium, which extracts heat for this from the internal combustion engine. Downstream of the evaporator there is situated in the waste heat utilization circuit an expansion machine for the relieving of the working medium to a low pressure. Downstream of the expansion machine there is situated in the waste heat utilization circuit a condenser for the liquefying of the working medium. Downstream of the condenser, a compression machine is to be found in the waste heat utilization circuit for compressing the working medium to a high pressure. From the compression machine, the working medium arrives at the evaporator again. In relieving the pressure of the working medium in the expansion machine, thermal energy is converted into mechanical driving energy, which can be used directly as mechanical driving power, or can be converted into electrical energy by means of a generator. The heat for the evaporating of the working medium can be extracted for example from the waste gas of the internal combustion engine. A pump arranged downstream of the condenser in the waste heat utilization circuit serves for the conveying of the working medium.
It proves to be disadvantageous in such a conventional waste heat utilization circuit that undesired cavitation effects can be brought about through the working medium in the pump. These can lead to a damage to the components of the pump which are mechanically in contact with the working medium. In extreme cases, this can even result in a destruction of the pump.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a device for use in a waste heat utilization circuit, which counteracts the formation of undesired cavitation effects in the pump which is driving the working medium.
This problem is solved by the subject of the independent claim(s). Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Container for a waste heat utilization circuit


The present invention relates to crystalline forms of cabozantinib succinate (Form A) and cabozantinib acetate (Form A-1) and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said crystalline forms and their use as anti-cancer medicaments.

N-{4-[(6,7-dimethoxy-4-quinolinyl)oxy]phenyl}-N′-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,1-cyclopropanedicarboxamide (international non-proprietary name (INN): cabozantinib) represented by chemical structure
is a RET, MET, KIT and VEGFR2 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It is currently marked for the treatment of thyroid cancer under the brand name Cometriq. Cometriq capsules contain cabozantinib as its (L)-malate salt. Cabozantinib is classified as a BCS class II compound having a low solubility and high permeability. The malate salt shows an enhanced solubility when compared with cabozantinib free base.
The above mentioned compound will be referred to in the present application by its international non-proprietary names, i.e. cabozantinib. A salt of cabozantinib will be referred to as cabozantinib salt e.g. cabozantinib succinate or cabozantinib succinic acid salt.
International patent application WO2005/030140 discloses cabozantinib. Further the application discloses processes for the preparation of cabozantinib, pharmaceutical preparation of cabozantinib and therapeutic application thereof.
Patent application CN 104109124 discloses a cabozantinib 0.5 malate crystal, pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic applications thereof for the treatment of tumor associated diseases. The crystal is characterized by a power X-ray diffraction pattern comprising the diffraction peaks at 2theta angles: 5.48, 10.88, 15.24, 21.97, 24.56 when measured using Cu-Kalpha radiation.
International patent application WO2010/083414 discloses the (L)-, (D)- and (D,L)-malate salts as compounds (I), (II) and (III). WO2010/083414 further discloses the polymorphic Forms N-1 and N-2 of compounds (I) (II) and (III). The (L)-malate salt is reported to be non-hygroscopic and having chemical stability.
Example 1 of WO2010/083414 provides a concrete process for the preparation of cabozantinib free base. Example 2 provides a concrete process for the preparation of cabozantinib (L)-malate crystalline Form N-1 comprising a final crystallization step from acetonitrile as the solvent. The XRPD spectrum of (L)-malate crystalline Form N-1 is also disclosed. Example 4 provides a concrete process for the preparation of cabozantinib (L)-malate crystalline Form N-2 comprising a final crystallization step from a binary system of solvents wherein the solvents are tetrahydrofuran and methyl isobutyl ketone. Seeds are required for crystallization of Form N-2. The XRPD spectrum of (L)-malate crystalline Form N-2 is also disclosed. Form N-2 has been selected for commercial development.
Hence, the cabozantinib (L)-malate salt exists in two polymorphic forms that need to be controlled in the formulation of the drug. WO2010/083414 discloses in Table 1 on page 9 that there was no salt formation between cabozantinib and acetic acid or succinic acid.
In view of the above mentioned drawbacks, there is the need to provide forms of cabozantinib with physicochemical properties which render them suitable for pharmaceutical formulation; in particular solid forms with a balanced profile of appropriate physicochemical properties such as suitable solubility, chemical stability, favorable morphology, improved filterability, appropriate hygroscopicity. There is, as well, the need for pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same.

Cabozantinib salts and their use as anti-cancer agents


The invention is directed toward a measuring apparatus for measuring performance characteristics of a recording unit including a recording medium on which one track is divided into a plurality of sectors. The measuring apparatus includes a writing means for writing a write signal with a write parameter, a first control means for changing the write parameter value for respective sectors, a reading means for reading out the write signal written by the writing means with a read parameter and measuring the read-out write signal as a read signal, and a second control means for controlling the read parameter so as to produce predetermined read parameter values for respective sectors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measuring apparatus for use in a recording unit, in particular, to a measuring apparatus for measuring performance characteristics of a recording unit including a recording medium of a hard disk, a floppy disk, or an optical disk such as CD, DVD, a magneto-optical disk (of ROM, write once type, rewriting type) or the like and components such as a head for recording a data signal on the above recording medium and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Upon testing either a fixed type magnetism fixture magnetic disk drive unit (referred to as a hard disk unit hereinafter) for driving a hard disk, the above hard disk, or a magnetic head, there is the practice of evaluating the performance characteristics of the above hard disk, the testing process includes the following steps:
(a) inserting a spindle into a center hole of the hard disk and supporting the magnetic head so as to electromagnetically couple the magnetic head with the surface of the hard disk in a non-contact manner;
(b) executing either a data writing process or a data reading process on the hard disk by means of the magnetic head while rotating the spindle by means of a spindle motor; and
(c) evaluating the performance characteristics of the hard disk unit including the hard disk.
As performance evaluation items, the following ones can be enumerated. The performance evaluation items includes the followings:
(a) a track average signal amplitude (Track Averaged Amplitude: referred to as a TAA hereinafter);
(b) an asymmetry of a signal amplitude;
(c) a pulse width (PW);
(d) an asymmetry of a pulse width;
(e) a base line;
(f) a non-linear type bit shift amount (Non-linear Transition bit shift: NLTS);
(g) an overwrite characteristic (OverWrite: OW);
(h) a bit error rate (Bit Error Rate: BER);
(i) a margin, and so on.
The evaluation items of the TAA for a read signal from the hard disk are shown in FIG. 10.
When evaluating the performance of a hard disk, it is required to set parameters for measurement, and the parameters includes the followings:
(a) a position of a magnetic head (referred to as a head position hereinafter);
(b) a head angle (skew);
(c) a spindle rotation speed;
(d) a signal frequency;
(e) a write data pattern;
(f) a write current amount;
(g) a write compensation amount (concretely, a amount of compensation for compensating for the write change timing);
(h) an MR (Magnetic Resistance) head bias current, and so on.
In this case, the signal frequency, the write data pattern, the write current amount, the write compensation amount, the head position and the MR head bias current are write parameters for the hard disk, while the head position, the head angle and the MR head bias current are read parameters for the hard disk.
A procedure in measuring the above evaluation items has a sequence of parameter setting, writing onto a disk, reading out and evaluating the characteristics of the read signal. FIG. 11 shows signal waveforms of a write signal and a read signal. Conventionally, it has been a common practice to obtain a parameter dependency of the measured values of the evaluation items by changing set values of the above-mentioned parameters in small steps and repetitively executing a similar measurement.
For example, FIG. 12 shows a dependency of the TAA on a write current amount Iw. According to the conventional technique, such a measurement has been executed by writing data with fixed one parameter for one rotation of the disk when the spindle is rotated by one turn, and reading out the written data during another turn, thereby obtaining the measurement data for one point in FIG. 12. By repeating this sequence a plurality of times while changing the parameter, a graph as shown in FIG. 12 is obtained according to the measuring method based on the conventional technique (referred to as a first prior art hereinafter). That is, according to the conventional technique, one parameter has been set per one revolution of the track.
There is sometimes such a case that the state of a read element is disadvantageously changed by a magnetic field in the writing stage, then consequently, this leads to an unstable characteristic (referred to as instability hereinafter). This phenomenon may be a kind that occurs only once per several times or another kind that occurs as a variation every measurement. Therefore, in measuring such a characteristic, it is a common practice to repeat the write and read operations many times, and then statistically evaluate the measured values of read signals. When measuring the above-mentioned instability by a conventional technique (referred to as a second prior art hereinafter), statistic data including the average value and the variance of the measured value data are obtained, as shown in FIG. 13, by executing a plurality of times, a process including the steps of, first of all, writing desired data on the whole track of the disk, writing data which will be abandoned for a part of the track, and thereafter reading out the data on the rest of the track.
The above-mentioned prior art measuring method and measuring apparatus have had such a problem that the measuring time is relatively long.
Furthermore, when executing the measurement by switching the measurement item upon evaluating the performance characteristics of a hard disk, it takes much measuring time according to the prior art methods in an attempt at viewing the influences on the parameters requiring a significantly long time for convergence. As the parameters requiring a significantly long time for convergence, there can be enumerated the frequency, the head position and so on. For example, FIG. 21 shows a relationship between the head position and the read signal amplitude, where the relationship is called the track profile. Such a measurement (referred to as a third prior art hereinafter) takes a long time for moving the head position as compared with that of the rotation of the spindle, and this leads to such a problem that the measuring time is elongated.

Measurement apparatus for use in recording unit provided with control means for controlling write and read parameters


The invention comprises a light curing device with a light source (30) and a light guiding device, in particular a light guiding rod (18) with a light entry surface (31) that extends next to the light source (30) if regarded in the emission direction of the light source (30), and with at least one sensor (36) that is arranged next to the light entry surface (31), and with a control device (32) that is arranged within a handpiece (14) of the light curing device (10). The light curing device (10) further comprises a base station (12) of the light curing device (10). The base station (12) is provided with a second light source (24) and a second light sensor (26) for the bidirectional optical communication with the handpiece (14), which bidirectional communication takes place through the light guiding device (light guiding rod), in particular in the frequency range of visible light or UV light and in particular in a modulated manner.

It has been known for long that light curing devices consisting each of one handpiece and one base station, have to be calibrated, as the optical system of the light curing device as provided in the handpiece, may comprise certain manufacturing spreads.
This includes both the light source that mostly consists of a plurality of LED chips that are arranged next to one another and collectively emit light, and also the light guiding rod, but also a converging lens provided between the LED chips and the light guiding rod, or an additional attachment that is provided at the front end of the light guiding rod.
Light guiding rods are often interchangeable in order to enable a sterilization by autoclave, and each light guiding rod comprises a special transmission characteristic, with the consequence that also in this regard certain manufacturing spreads are present.
In order to achieve a constant light curing result, light curing devices therefore must be calibrated and parameterized.
On the other hand, only a limited space is available for the operating elements at the handpiece. In case of pistol-shaped light curing devices, but also in case of rod-shaped light curing devices and their handpieces, usually a trigger button is provided, and an additional operating function may be provided by pressing longer or repeatedly pressing briefly the trigger button.
Moreover, a display element in the form of a LCD display that is spatially quite limited, is provided that provides specific basic information to the user, and, where appropriate, also display LEDs are provided that visualize the light curing operation.
For the transmission of information between the light curing device and the associated base stations it is provided according to DE 103 19 010 B4 to provide the charging plug-in contacts for charging the accumulator of the handpiece, or, if applicable, additional contacts via which information between the light curing device and the handpiece can be transmitted.
This kind of data transmission is basically well suited for handpieces in pistol-shape. In case of handpieces having the shape of pins, the charging contacts are usually disposed at the lower side of the handpiece, and are to abut on the corresponding counter contacts at the charging tray of the base station. This quite free bearing indeed enables a quite reliable charging operation, even if short-term interruptions of the contact occur in the case of vibrations of the base station; those do not impair the charging cycle.
However, there may arise disruptions with the data transmission that—without respective plausibility checks etc.—may affect the reliability of the calibration and parameterization of the handpiece.
In contrast thereto, the invention is based on the object of providing a light curing device according to the preamble of claim 1, which light curing device may be reliably calibrated and/or parameterized, in particular if it is present in pin shape.


An organic light emitting device and a display device including the same, the organic light emitting device including a first electrode; a light emitting layer on the first electrode; an electron transport layer on the light emitting layer; and a second electrode on the electron transport layer, wherein the electron transport layer includes a buffer layer, the buffer layer a buffer compound represented by the following Formula 1,

1. Field
Embodiments relate to an organic light emitting device and a display device including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flat display devices are largely classified into a light emitting type and a light receiving type. The light emitting type may include a flat cathode ray tube, a plasma display panel, and an organic light emitting display (OLED), etc. The OLED, as a self-emitting type display device, may have a wide viewing angle, good contrast, and fast response speed.
Accordingly, the OLED gets the limelight and may be applied to a display device for a mobile device including a digital camera, a video camera, a camcorder, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, an ultra-slim notebook, a tablet, or a personal computer, or a large electronic/electrical product such as an ultra-thin TV.
The OLED may realize colors according to a principle in which holes and electrons injected into first and second electrodes are recombined to emit light in an organic light emitting layer when excitons generated from combinations of the injected holes and electrons decay from the excited state to the ground state.

Organic light emitting device and display device including the same


Disclosed are embodiments of a vessel configured to contain a secondary magnetic induction field therein for melting materials, and methods of use thereof. The vessel can be used in an injection molding apparatus having an induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel. The vessel can have a tubular body configured to substantially surround and receive a plunger tip. Longitudinal slots or gaps extend through the thickness of the body to allow and/or direct eddy currents into the vessel during application of an RF induction field from the coil. The body also includes temperature regulating lines configured to flow a liquid within. The temperature regulating lines can be provided to run longitudinally within the wall(s) of the body between its inner bore and outer surface(s). A flange may be provided at one end of the body to secure the body within an injection molding apparatus.

Some injection molding machines use an induction coil to melt material in a boat before injecting the material into a mold. In horizontally disposed injecting molding machines, for example, material can be melted in a boat that is positioned for horizontal injection. Some machines have utilized a boat that is substantially U-shaped; that is, a boat that includes body with a base and side walls extending partially upwardly therefrom but that end around a midpoint or equator. This configuration results in a low-walled vessel design that resembles a partial portion (e.g., lower half) of a tube (as opposed to a fully enclosed, round tube) with an open top portion designed for exposure to a magnetic field from the induction coil in order to melt material therein. This low-walled boat design can reduce both boat and plunger tip life. Also, the U-shaped design is subject to molten metal to flow over its sides during melting or during plunging of the metal. Further, because the plunger tip is minimally captured on top, it has some play in the direction perpendicular to the bore, which can result in it digging into a lip of the walls or cutout region, causing wear. Poor control of a plunger-tip to boat wall gap can allow penetration of flash into a gap that is too large on the bottom or sides of the tip during injection. Also, metal flash can build up at an edge of the cutout region in such a U-shaped boat. The boat may be unstable and have a greater tendency to flex. Moreover, heating in a U-shaped boat utilizes primary and secondary fields from an induction coil; such boat designs can suffer from excessive heating at its top edges, causing the boat to expand and curve if cooling is insufficient.
In some skull melting machines, a vertically positioned concentrator-type cage melter, surrounded by an induction coil, can be used to melt materials. Skull melters may have a vertically enclosed tubular configuration, for example, or may have a number of segments or fingers positioned in a substantially circular or tubular configuration, having multiple slots or openings therebetween, connected to a solid bottom, for example. FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 show a cross-sectional side view, a top view, and a plan view of an exemplary skull melter, as known in the art. This type of skull melter can create a semi-levitated melt. The intense stirring generated by the magnetic field in the skull melter fuses any high melting temperature charge components and homogenizes the melt in both chemical composition and temperature. This can translate into faster melt down, better mold filling (for castings) and a higher quality product.
When melting materials in an injection molding system, uniform temperatures in ranges appropriate to the meltable material should be implemented and maintained in order to produce quality molded parts. Utilizing effective vessels during melting can improve such quality.


Provided is a coin storage cassette capable of preventing a coin payout failure without requiring a change in the structure of conventional coin handling apparatuses, even when an adapter tube for changing the apparent inner diameter of a coin tube is mounted.

In general, a coin handling apparatus which determines authenticity of thrown coins to selectively store genuine coins according to denomination, and pays out the selectively stored coins as changes is mounted inside an apparatus such as a vending machine, a money-changer, and a service apparatus.
A detachable coin storage cassette (coin storage cassette, hereinafter) mounted to this coin handling apparatus is detachable to the coin handling apparatus, and is mainly constituted by a unit tube formed of a plurality of coin tubes which are arranged linearly and in parallel and have respectively different inner diameters, a coin base adhered to a lower region of the unit tube with screws, etc., and a payout slide which is slidably supported between the lower edge of the unit tube and the coin base and extracts the coins positioned in the lowest bottom layers of the plurality coin tubes one by one.
This coin storage cassette furthermore comprises latching mechanism for locking the upper portion of the coin storage cassette to the coin handling apparatus main body or releasing the upper portion from the main body, and a handle formed in the front face of the coin storage cassette so that fingers are inserted into the handle and hooked at the time of removing and mounting, and, the coin storage cassette can be removed while the coin handling apparatus is kept mounted to the apparatus, by the operation of the latching mechanism for releasing the connection between the coin handling apparatus main body and the coin storage cassette.
In contrast, in some conventional coin handling apparatuses, malfunction of coin handling apparatuses caused by human errors are prevented by arranging two detection means for detecting the setting state and the type of the coin storage cassette in the apparatus main body.
Furthermore, full state detection means having a lever protruding at the upper edge inside the coin tube is further arranged so that it can be detected when the coins stored inside the coin tube are full.
By the way, a coin storage cassette piles and stores coins in the above unit tube according to each denomination, and thus, exclusive coin tubes formed with the size according to the diameter and thickness of each stored denomination are respectively required.
Therefore, in the case of conventional coin storage cassettes, when they were used in various countries in the world where coin diameters were varied, or when combination of applied denomination was changed according to the purpose, as many integratedly formed unit tubes having respectively different inner diameters as the number of the corresponding countries and the purposes had to be manufactured.
Also, in the case of coin handling apparatus already mounted to a vending machine, etc. and used, when acceptable coins had to be changed, an integratedly formed unit tube having the inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the changed coin had to be newly manufactured. These issues were the reasons for the increase of the cost for manufacturing coin handling apparatuses.
In contrast, instead of independently manufacturing integratedly formed unit tubes, it is technically known to store various coins by mounting a spacer inside the coin tube so that the inner diameter of the coin tube is changed.
For example, it is technically known to change the inner dimeter of the coin tube by inserting a cylindrical shaped adapter tube having a flange at its upper edge into each coin tube (Patent document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3672705).
However, in the art in Patent document 1, the adapter tube entirely covers the inner wall face of the coin tube at the mount reception side, and thus, a conventional coin handling apparatus fails to allow a lever of the full state detection means to intrude into the coin tube. Therefore, the coin handling apparatus main body needs to be improved.
Moreover, in the art in Patent document 1, due to the lack of means for restricting the upward movement of the adapter tube, unless the adapter tube is securely mounted to the coin tube, the coins may not be aligned and stored inside the coin tube and a payout failure may occur.
On the other hand, as an art in which the inner wall face of the coin tube is not entirely covered, it is technically known to guide stored coins toward the full state detection sensor side by the use of a spacer having a half-moon shaped cross section (Patent document 2: Japanese Patent No. 4242786). This art allows the distance between the store coins and the full state detection sensor to be maintained even after the spacer is mounted and, thereby the full state detection sensor can detect the stored coins.
However, in the art in the Patent document 2, since the spacer is mounted with an L-shaped hook, unless the spacer is securely mounted, the coins may not be aligned and stored inside the coin tube and a payout failure may occur.
Also, when coins with smaller diameter are guided toward the side where the full state detection sensor is arranged, the coins with small diameter are caught while standing at the hole for paying out coins, arranged in the coin base on the side where the full state sensor is arranged, and thereby, a coin payout failure may occur.

Abstract: 1: An upper rear notch 61 is formed on the back face side of the adapter tube 6, projection-shaped attachment portions 64 are formed on opposing outside portions of the adapter tube 6, and groove-shaped attachment reception portions 32 are formed in the coin tube 21, each attachment portion 64 being engaged into a respective one of the attachment reception portions 32, and the attachment reception portions 32 restricting top-to-bottom and front-to-rear movement of the adapter tube 6; and the adapter tube 6 is detachable from the rear side of the coin storage cassette 1, while a cover 4 is widely opened. 2: The upper rear notch 61 is formed on the back face side of the adapter tube 6 so as to communicate with the upper edge, and a lower front notch 62 is formed on the front face side of the adapter tube 6 so as to communicate with the lower edge, so that the +coins are guided backward in the upper edge and guided forward in the lower edge.


This garment for a woman who has a need to breast feed an infant may be in the form of a hospital gown, blouse, dress, or any other type of upper body covering clothing normally worn by a woman. The garment, made of flexible material, has a vertical inwardly facing pleat centered on and along the upper front in the vicinity of the breasts of a wearer. The pleat includes and is formed by a pair of exposed exterior fold lines and a pair of normally hidden interior fold lines, with an inwardly facing pleat face disposed between the interior fold lines. Along a portion of the interior fold lines are normally hidden openings which are positioned to allow an infant access to the breasts of the wearer. A pair of movable breast cover panels are attached along opposite side of the inwardly facing pleat face. The movable breast cover panels are adapted to be moved away from the normally hidden openings to expose the breasts of the wearer for breast feeding an infant when the exterior fold line portion of the pleat is folded away from the center of the garment to make the normally hidden openings visible. When the wearer is not breast feeding an infant, the cover panels are held in place in a manner which covers and conceals the breasts of the wearer from view through the openings, even when the wearer leans forward, or when the garment otherwise droops away from her upper body.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a piece of upper body clothing to be worn by a mother who will be engaged in breast feeding an infant.
2. Background of the Invention
In the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 907,290 to Rouff; 1,098,155 to Knapp; 1,206,480 to Stagg; 2,911,650 to Gerich; 4,280,228 to Sulzman; 4,458,365 to Wood; 4,566,136 to Echols; 4,601,068 to Frechette; and 4,660,227 to Abramson, various types of nursing garments, nursing blouses, and nursing gowns are disclosed. Each of these prior art garments have openings therein through which an infant may obtain access to the breast of the wearer for feeding. In substantially every one of these prior art garments the openings have some form of mechanical closure using, for example buttons, snaps, zippers, Velcro hook and loop material, and the like. None of the above mentioned prior art patents disclose or teach a nursing garment which may be made in various styles, patterns, and shapes, and which has a vertical pleat centered on and along the length of the front of the garment, which pleat includes and is formed by a pair of exposed exterior fold lines and a pair of hidden interior fold lines with an inwardly facing pleat face disposed between the interior fold lines, and with a normally hidden opening along a portion of each interior fold line positioned to provide an infant access to the breasts of the wearer. Furthermore, none of the above described prior art provides such a garment having a pair of movable breast cover panels connected to opposite sides of such a normally hidden inwardly facing pleat face, which cover panels are held in place by interior connections to conceal the breasts of the wearer from view through the openings during normal wearing conditions.


A luggage article may include first and second opposing panels each forming a major face panel, first and second opposing side panels each forming a minor face panel and first and second end panels. The panels together may form an article defining an enclosed space. At least one panel of the major face panels the minor face panels, or the end panels may define a groove adjacent to the periphery thereof. The luggage article may further include a first frame structure having a first frame member. The first frame member may define a ring structure positioned about the periphery of the at least one panel. The first frame member, the at least one panel, and at least one adjacent luggage panel may be joined together by a fastener positioned through the first frame member.

Luggage items, such as soft side suitcases, may include wire or extruded plastic reinforcement beads, honeycomb boards and/or other reinforcing panels as shape retaining structures and anchor plates for components, such as wheels and handles. A soft material, such as fabric, is wrapped around the shape retaining structure and joined thereto by sewing. Such construction of luggage articles presents a particular unique challenge. Specifically, the shape retaining structures and anchor plates have to be robust enough to form the shape of the luggage article especially under heavy loading of the luggage article. On the other hand, the shape retaining structures and anchor plates must also be light and compact so as to maximize the weight and volume that the luggage article can carry. Further, the shape retaining structures and anchor plates must also be simple to assemble and relatively cheap to produce to minimize cost.
Another challenge that has been identified with conventional soft side luggage construction is the high labor input and material cost involved because various pieces of fabric materials are first joined along the edges thereof and then turned inside out for assembly. Such construction also makes it difficult to create a straight finish.
Documents that may be related to the present disclosure in that they include various approaches to luggage construction include CA 2447113, GB2339679B, U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,010, U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,157, U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,834B2, US2004/0079604A1, US20070045071, US2006/0249344A1, and US2012/0247897A1. These proposals, however, may be improved.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved luggage construction, in particular an improved luggage frame structure, which addresses the above described problems and/or which more generally offers improvements or an alternative to existing luggage structures and construction methods.


A fault diagnostic device comprises vibrating means for vibrating a winding by feeding current having a predetermined frequency; detecting means for detecting physical value given in said winding by the vibration; and indicating means for indicating the result of the detection by said detecting means whereby a diagnosis of fault can be performed in high reliability.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fault diagnostic device for a winding of an electric machinery and apparatus for detecting fault or undesired holding condition of the winding of the electric machinery and apparatus (hereinafter referring to as electric instrument) such as a winding in a stator, a rotor or an armature of a rotary electric machine.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Recently, it is significant to improve electric instrument such as rotary electric machines in view of an increase of a capacity of an electric instrument and a compact light weight size. Thus, windings of the electric instruments should be used in severe conditions. In such conditions, higher reliability is required for electric instruments especially rotary electric machines in view of power demands and supply shortage and prolonged period for periodical inspection, etc.
On the other hand, an increase of a capacity of a rotary electric machine and a prolonged period for exchange of a rotary electric machine should be considered in view of economical depression. Superannuated (overaged) rotary electric machines have been used.
It is quite important to perform diagnoses of fault of windings or undesired holding condition of windings by non-destructive inspection in view of confirmation of reliability of windings of old instruments and fault prevention and maintenance thereof.
In the diagnoses of fault of windings of electric instruments such as rotary electric machines, appearance inspections, hammering inspection, etc. have been carried out so as to find fault of the windings. Therefore, in the inspection, it mostly depends upon operator's experience. In such manner, it is not enough to give objectivity of informations or data for finding fault of the windings. It is difficult to measure directly values for functions and accordingly, various methods of finding substituted values have been carried out. Therefore, it has required to work for experimental measurements for a long period in order to consider it from certain data by inductive methods. There is no possibility to estimate a feature condition by the result of consideration of data measured for the inspection or the study of the condition.

Fault diagnostic device for winding of electric machinery and apparatus


In some aspects, the present invention embodies both the method and apparatus for converting a pattern of irradiation to a visible image. An embodiment of the present invention provides an array of micro-electro-mechanical sensors with each sensor includes a deflectable micro-cantilever, responsive to absorbed incident radiation and to an applied repulsive electrostatic field. Associated circuitry senses a change in an output signal of the sensor as it responds to incident radiation incident upon the cantilever and provides a biasing force to deflect the cantilever and maintain the detector output signal at a desirable level. The biasing element may be a piezoelectric element, a heater or a pair of electrodes and the corresponding biasing stimulus may be stress (expansion), heat, or electrostatic change. The stimulus compensates for the effect of the infrared radiation and maintains the chosen detector output level at the same level.

Various optical detectors such as infrared radiation detectors are available in today's electronics industry. Many techniques for converting infrared radiation to visible images are also known. One such example of an infrared imager available in today's art includes a deflectable microelectromechanical (MEM) cantilever device formed of a bi-material on a semiconductor substrate. The bi-material portion of the micro-cantilever device is formed of two different materials sharing a contiguous surface, and having mismatched thermal coefficients of expansion (TCE). Examples of such bi-material MEM micro-cantilever devices and methods for forming the same, are as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,238 issued to Sauer et al. and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,140,646 and 6,420,706, issued to Lurie et al.
The bi-material MEM micro-cantilever devices presently available in the art, bend, or deflect, when infrared radiation is absorbed upon an absorber element of the micro-cantilever heating the bi-material section of the micro-cantilever, thereby urging one of the bi-materials to expand at a greater rate than the other bi-material, thereby causing the micro-cantilever to deflect, or bend. The terms bend and deflect may be used interchangeably hereinafter.
When infrared radiation is incident upon such a micro-cantilever being used as an optical detector, it is desired to produce a visible image having an intensity which varies directly with the intensity of the incident infrared radiation. As a micro-cantilever device bends in response to such incident infrared radiation, it approaches a physical limitation to its degree of bending. For example, if a micro-cantilever device is fabricated so as to bend downward in response to incident infrared radiation, the physical limitation is reached when the micro-cantilever touches the substrate over which it is formed. For a micro-cantilever device chosen to bend upward in response to incident infrared radiation, this, too, will reach a physical limitation point past which it can no longer bend. As such, when this point of the physical limitation of bending is approached, the micro-cantilever device is more resistant to bending and therefore, less responsive to additional infrared radiation. An increased amount of incident infrared radiation will not cause the same extent of bending as when the micro-cantilever is in the rest position. While a significantly higher dose of infrared radiation may force the micro-cantilever to bend slightly more towards its physical limitation, the degree of this bending will not be proportional, so the device will not be linear in this region. Thus, the linear range of the device is limited.
Moreover, after the physical limitation point is reached, additional incident infrared radiation will simply not cause any further bending. This limits the dynamic range of the device. Since the intensity of an optical image ultimately produced from such a device, is based on the degree of bending, it can be seen that such a device having a poor dynamic range and limited linearity, produces an image having the same shortcomings.
Various methods for sensing the degree of bending are available in the art. Examples of such methods include optically measuring the distance between the micro-cantilever and the substrate, and electrically measuring the capacitance of a capacitor which includes an electrode formed in the substrate and another electrode formed in the micro-cantilever above the substrate. Various methods for producing a visible image having an intensity based upon the extent of bending are also known.

Micro-bolometer having an adjustable dynamic range


The present invention provides a digital signal processor (DSP) to peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus interface/bridging system. The system includes an intermediate bus; a bridge module that is coupled between the PCI bus and the intermediate bus. The bridge module includes a PCI interface and an intermediate bus interface and an IDMA channel coupled between the PCI interface and the intermediate bus interface. A control module is coupled between the bridge module and the DSP circuit, said control module having an intermediate bus control circuit and a DSP control circuit having a slave port controller coupled to the slave port (HPI) of the DSP and a master port controller coupled to the master port (EMIF) of the DSP circuit, whereby the master port continues to transfer data from the DSP circuit to the PCI bus when an additional master circuit is asserted on the PCI bus. The system provides a direct connect solution that also provides arbitration for multiple DSPs.

This invention relates to the field of bus bridging systems and more particularly to a method and apparatus for bridging one or multiple digital signal processors with a peripheral component interconnect bus.
The use of a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus in the embedded systems market is increasing at a rapid pace. PCI originated in the personal computer (PC) industry where it was developed to relieve the input/output (I/O) bottleneck in graphics-oriented personal computer interfaces. However, despite its origins in the PC market, PCI is expanding into industrial and embedded systems applications and has emerged as the de facto local bus standard. This is primarily due to the motivation of designers of high performance embedded systems to leverage component volumes from the PC industry to lower the cost of their products. Large segments of the embedded systems market are rapidly standardizing on PCI, but are facing technical challenges in adapting their processing platforms to PCI architecture.
The ability of digital signal processors (DSPs) to perform high-speed arithmetic, input/output (I/O) and interrupt processing operations has made them popular in communications applications. Currently, DSPs are used in a broad range of embedded consumer and industrial communications products (e.g. cellular phones, modems, call processing systems, wireless base stations, video conferencing systems, routers, etc.). Multiprocessor configurations are also widespread, particularly in communications servers that must support diverse functions and a large number of channels.
The current challenge is to bridge these two merging technologies and provide full function PCI interface solutions for DSPs. In general, a DSP includes a host port interface (HPI) and an external memory interface (EMIF). The HPI is generally a 16 bit slave and the EMIF is generally a 32 bit master (e.g. for the Texas Instruments C6201(trademark) DSP). Traditional solutions involve interfacing directly with the HPI of the DSP. Further, traditional bridging solutions do not provide support for multiple DSPs interfacing with a PCI bus.
object of the present invention is to provide a system for bridging a digital signal processor to a PCI bus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for bridging multiple digital signal processors to a PCI bus.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for bridging communications between a first communication endpoint equipped with a two port digital signal processor (DSP) circuit having a DSP master port and a DSP slave port and a second communication endpoint equipped with a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus module having a PCI master port and a PCI memory connected to a PCI bus. The apparatus being comprised of an intermediate bus operably connected to the DSP master port and the DSP slave port and a regulating means connecting the PCI bus module to the intermediate bus for regulating access to the intermediate bus and data transfer between the first and second communication endpoints.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of carrying out a read transaction over a communications bridge between one communication endpoint equipped with a digital signal processor (DSP) circuit having a DSP master port and a DSP slave port and another communication endpoint equipped with a peripheral component Interconnect (PCI) module having a PCI master port and a PCI slave port, an Intermediate bus being operably connected to the DSP master port, the DSP slave port, the PCI master port, and the PCI slave port. The read method consists of regulating access to the intermediate bus for data transfer between a requesting master port and a requested slave port and transacting date for reading by the requesting master port from the requested slave port.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of carrying out a write transaction over a communications bridge between one communication endpoint equipped with a digital signal processor (DSP) circuit having a DSP master port and a DSP slave port and another communication endpoint equipped with a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) module having a PCI master port and a PCI slave port, an intermediate bus being operably connected to the DSP master port, the DSP slave port, the PCI master port, and the PCI slave port. The write method consists of regulating access to the intermediate bus for data transfer between a requesting master port and a requested slave port and transacting date for reading by the requesting master port from the requested slave port.

Method and apparatus for bridging a digital signal processor to a PCI bus


Method and apparatus for characterizing a population of cells or particles such as blood cells or viruses by automatic means in a flowing stream which comprises: Novel suspending and dispensing means; controlled dispensing of a plurality of portions of the sample population; modification of the suspending milieu, mixing each portion with a different test reagent to elucidate a particular character of the sample; novel electrical separation means; separation of components of said mixture into different streams by said separation means; means for serially measuring properties of at least one of said separated streams to provide a series of measurements relating the reaction of the population to a plurality of different reagents for detailed characterization of said population.. Method and apparatus for characterizing liquids by automatic means in a flowing stream by reaction with specific binding sites on a population of cells or particles employing novel electrical separation means to separate components of the reaction mixture into separate streams, followed by measurement of at least one separated component stream.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to method and apparatus for characterizing a population of particles such as red blood cell typing for blood banking, while blood cell typing for histocompatibility or virus identification with specific antibodies, and other agents which bind with cells. The invention further relates to exploitation of specific cell receptors for analysis of the cells or samples reacting with the cells in an automatic analyzer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In blood banking, the characteristics of red blood cells (blood typing) are usually determined by mixing a plurality of aliquots of the red cell suspension with different reagents and visually inspecting for agglomeration of cells. An automatic red cell typing system employing a flowing stream is manufactured by Technicon Corp. In this apparatus, the cell suspension is mixed with different reagents and the agglomerated cells are separated from disperse cells by decantation. Once again, the criterion of reaction is presence of agglomeration after mixing with a particular reagent.
In microbiology, organisms are generally characterized by their growth behavior in selected media. However, some identification is done by testing reaction with a panel of specific antibodies. The end point is often a form of precipitation. There are binding sites (receptors) on certain cells that are specific for certain ligands. These receptors are often the mechanism through which the ligand (often a hormone) performs its physiological functions. Cell receptor analysis often employs reaction of an aliquot of the cell population with radioactive ligand followed by separation of cell bound from free ligand. The radioactivity in one or both separated components is then measured. This is all done manually. The ligands are often vital hormones. Quantitation of both the ligand and the cell receptor are becoming important in clinical diagnosis. As the demand for such analysis increases, the manual procedure will give way to automation.

Method and apparatus for characterization of cells, particles, and liquids