The photographic objective optical system disclosed keeps an exit pupil stationary during focusing, thereby rendering it possible to maintain the angle between a ray of light incident upon the entrance pupil and the systems optical axis constant during focusing. This way variation of the angular field of view during focusing can be avoided.

This invention relates to photographic objectives and more particularly to objectives with means for limiting variation of the angular field of view during focusing. Still more particularly it relates to zoom lenses employing such means.
In known lens systems, the front member facing the object is usually made movable to effect focusing. This is particularly so in zoom lenses because of the need to provide for zoom members, namely, a variator and a compensator with an object point (an image point of the focusing member) at a constant location independently of the distance from the lens to the object so as to avoid displacement of a sharp image plane while zooming.
This method of focusing when employed in an objective lens system and in particular a zoom lens system causes a serious problem by varying the angular field of view. In most photographic situations, a change in the angular field of view in the object space is perceptible during focusing which gives the photographer an unpleasant visual impression.
Various solutions to minimize the range of variation of the angular field during focusing have been proposed. According to P. Angenieux (British Pat. No. 975,160) and Takano (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Sho 42-12103), the front member of the zoom lens is constructed from two lenses of negative and positive powers of which the frontmost negative lens only is made movable for focusing purposes for minimizing the angular field variation. According to G. H. Cook et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,534), the front member is divided into two parts and the front part is stationary during the focusing movement of the rear part. This reduces the angular field variation. According to Takeshi et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,845), the front member comprises negative, positive and positive lens groups of which only the second is moved toward the rear as focusing is effected down to shorter object distances so as to minimize the angular field of view. The principal aims of these focusing lens designs were to reduce the diameter of the front member and to shorten the object distance for close up adjustment. The minimization of the variation of the angular field may be considered as being secondary. What P. Angenieux, Takano, G. H. Cook et al and Takeshi et al have done in respect to the change in the angular field is, therefore, the mere reduction of the range of variation, and much variation remains.
Unlike these focusing methods, Tanaka has achieved the removal of the variation of the angular field by moving two lens groups which are arranged at the front of an optical lens system in a differential relation to each other such that the rear principal point of the lens system remains stationary in position during focusing, as disclosed in West-German Utility Model No. 7,908,085. However, it has been found that Tanaka's method, though suited for application in the lens system in which the rear principal point of the entire system is near the exit pupil, gives rise to errors when applied to a lens system in which the rear principal point and the exit pupil are substantially separated from each other.

Photographic objective which prevents variation in angular field of view during focusing


Systems and methods for generating an overview for videos by reconstructing a representation of underlying content and linking from points in the overview to specific points in the video. Mechanisms are provided to create three different types of navigable overviews for different types of how-to and instructional videos. A two-dimensional overview is generated when content is two-dimensional, such as instructional videos on electronic whiteboard or other flat content. The three-dimensional overview is created when the content is three-dimensional, such as how-to videos illustrating the use of specific three-dimensional tangible articles. In three-dimensional case, when 3D model is available, the video segments are directly linked to corresponding points on the model. When a model is not available, a rough overview is first created from the captured video and camera orientation metadata. When the user selects a specific location within the overview, the related video segment is automatically played to the user.

Technical Field
The disclosed embodiments relate in general to systems and methods for navigating video content and, more specifically, to systems and methods for generating and using navigable spatial overviews for video.
Description of the Related Art
Video is notoriously difficult to navigate. The timeline is the standard video navigation control, linking the location of a cursor in a slider to a temporal position in a video. The abstraction the aforesaid navigation control provides is useful for many reasons, including that users are able to rapidly jump to different time points within the video and maintain an awareness of when in the video they currently are. However, for many how-to and instructional videos, knowing where the user is can be just as important. While there exist certain interfaces enabling users to navigate objects directly in a video, there are no solutions focused on abstractions that allow users to navigate a video spatially the same way they can use a timeline video control to navigate temporally.
Therefore, the conventional video navigation techniques are deficient due to the lack of spatial navigation solutions, as for many how-to and instructional videos, it would be more desirable for users to navigate video content using a spatial abstraction rather than a temporal abstraction (i.e., the standard timeline interface).

Systems and methods for creating and using navigable spatial overviews for video


A method of producing a cold mix asphalt paving composition by:. (a) separating non-asphalt impurities from an asphalt rubble obtained from a reclaimed asphalt pavement to produce a purified asphalt rubble; PA0 (b) comminuting said purified asphalt rubble to obtain sized asphalt-aggregate mixture; PA0 (c) testing said sized asphalt-aggregate mixture to determine the percent of asphalt present in said asphalt-aggregate mixture; and PA0 (d) blending an asphalt emulsion with said asphalt-aggregate mixture in an amount so as to yield a cold mix asphalt pavement composition comprising from about 4.0% to about 6.5% by weight of asphalt.. The cold mix asphalt paving composition is used to coat roadway surfaces, parking lots, driveways, and the like. Once the cold mix asphalt paving composition has been applied to a surface, a top coat may be overcoated onto the cold mix asphalt pavement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to asphalt paving compositions for use in road building and the like. More particularly, this invention pertains to processes for making cold mix asphalt paving compositions containing reclaimed asphaltic pavement.
2. Background of the Related Art
Asphalt may be treated for use in paving compositions by using one of two conventional methods. These methods are appropriately called the "hot mix" and "cold mix" methods.
In the hot mix process, the asphalt is liquified at approximately 300.degree. F. to 350.degree. F. by heating. The viscosity of the asphalt decreases as the temperature increases and it becomes a liquid at a temperature sufficiently below its flash point. The melted asphalt is then mixed with aggregate. The aggregate must also be hot when it is combined with the liquid asphalt so it does not cool the asphalt and cause it to solidify. Therefore, hot mix plants incorporate a rotary kiln to dry the aggregate and heat it to a few hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The hot aggregate is then mixed with the liquid asphalt. The asphalt/aggregate mixture is stored until it can be transported.
In conventional cold mix processes, the liquid asphalt is in the form of an asphalt emulsion. The asphalt emulsion is then blended with a sized aggregate to form a cold mixture useful for asphalt pavement. The aggregate then cements into a hard pavement that is essentially identical to the hot mix bituminous asphalt.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,213, to Neville, teaches a process for producing an asphalt paving composition. The process comprises removing the used asphaltic material from the road surface, reducing the material in size, adding additional asphalt conditioner to the material, and curing the resulting mix. This process necessarily utilizes an asphalt conditioner having at least forty percent by weight of aromatic hydrocarbons.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,307 describes an apparatus for the cold, in-place recycling of asphalt paving of an asphalt roadway. The apparatus includes a cylindrical milling drum which serves to remove a thickness of the asphalt paving and break the same into particles as the apparatus moves forwardly along the roadway. The particles are lifted to a separating drum which separates the particles according to size. The relatively small particles are mixed with a suitable liquid additive and then discharged onto the roadway. A following paver then forms the discharged material into new paving. The oversized particles are discharged onto the roadway at a location in front of the milling drum.
In all of the prior art, asphalt pavement recycling processes, existing asphalt pavement is ground and immediately passed into a reconditioning process.
None of the prior art processes are applicable to the recycling of asphalt rubble that contains impurities such as dirt. Often when asphalt pavement is removed from the ground there is a large amount of dirt accompanying the broken, excavated asphalt rubble. Presently all such asphalt rubble is disposed by dumping it into a landfill. Due to the preciousness of available landfill space it is highly desirable, if not governmentally mandated, to recycle as much asphalt pavement as possible. It is also highly desirable to recondition asphalt with a conditioner having less than 20% of aromatic hydrocarbons to conform with air quality standards.
It is also desirable to provide a centralized asphalt reclamation site to which excavated asphalt rubble can be transported and dumped for recycling.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process to separate impurities from asphalt rubble and to process the separated asphalt rubble into a cold mix asphalt pavement.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cold mix asphalt pavement having a low amount of aromatic hydrocarbons in the added asphalt binder.

Process for the preparation of a cold mix asphalt paving composition


The method and apparatus for treating a gas and a liquid, typically in water, comprises discharging the water radially outwardly from a rotating head and using the water movement to draw air into an intake to be scrubbed, humidified and cooled by the water, before exiting.

Fluid used in large scale air conditioning and related applications, typically a liquid and gas mixture of water and air, is often treated or scrubbed to clean it. This treatment can include filtering, humidifying and cooling the fluid.
One system for such treatment of air in mine ventilation, directs a spray of chilled water at rotating fan blades, which blades drive the air for use in ventilation. The water impacts the blades and cools the air by contact. The system requires sophisticated waterproofing of the fan drive and also results in rapid wear of the blades.
The use of a thrown fluid movement for pumping fluid is known, and one example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,911,137 to M. L. Edwards. Edwards utilises a rotary impeller in a primed sump to draw fluid through a hollow shaft, and discharge it radially to drive the fluid. The pumping fluid and the driven fluid are usually not the same and the essence of the pumping action is that the fluids mix at low relative velocities and pumping energy.
Another kind of impeller is known in use with a vacuum pump, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,290 to Schaefer. et al. In the Schaefer device, a pair of rotating spiral tubes within a vessel are used to draw water from a sump at the vessel bottom, and throw the water radially outwardly at the vessel top, to draw air out of the vessel and create a vacuum therein.

Method and apparatus for treating a gas or liquid


A planar-type loudspeaker incorporating a substantially planar diaphragm constructed from a pre-expanded cellular plastic material, such as polystyrene, in which separate portions of the diaphragm have different densities. The higher density portion is designed for the reproduction of high frequencies, and the lower density section is used for the reproduction of low frequencies. In one embodiment, the diaphragm is formed by laminating together a pair of diaphragm members having the different densities to define a single sound producing region, to which a single voice coil assembly is coupled. In another embodiment, the diaphragm is formed as a unitary, one-piece structure having separate but contiguous sound producing regions, each with its own density material and voice coil assembly for reproducing a specified frequency range of sound.

This invention relates generally to loudspeakers and, more particularly, to planar-type loudspeakers having a substantially flat diaphragm.
Dynamic-type loudspeakers typically include a relatively stiff diaphragm that is coupled to an electromagnetic driver assembly, which basically comprises a voice coil and a permanent magnet. Such loudspeakers are usually mounted so as to occupy an opening in an enclosure or baffle. The interaction of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and the magnetic field of the voice coil that is produced when a changing current is passed through the voice coil causes the loudspeaker diaphragm to vibrate. Vibration of the diaphragm causes movement of air, which in turn produces sound.
The loudness of the sound produced by a loudspeaker is related to the volume of air moved in front of the loudspeaker by vibration of the diaphragm. Generally, the greater the volume of air moved by the diaphragm as it vibrates, the greater the loudness. The efficiency of the loudspeaker can be measured by the loudness of sound produced relative to the electrical energy provided as an electric current through the voice coil.
For maximum efficiency and sound fidelity, it is known to provide loudspeaker systems with multiple diaphragm/voice coil assemblies. Each diaphragm/voice coil assembly is typically sized and constructed for optimal performance over a specific frequency range. For example, one diaphragm/voice coil assembly may be designed to reproduce low frequencies from about 100 to 500 Hz., while another diaphragm/voice coil assembly might be designed to reproduce high frequencies from about 500 to 20,000 Hz. The combination of all the specific-frequency diaphragm/voice coil assemblies, or drivers, generally produces a more accurate, less distorted sound when compared with systems having a single diaphragm/voice coil assembly to reproduce all of the sound frequencies.
For decades, conventional loudspeaker diaphragms have had a cone-type construction made from pressed paper or the like. In more recent years, certain advances in dynamic loudspeaker design have been provided by the advent of planar diaphragm loudspeakers. Such loudspeakers include a relatively stiff and substantially planar (or flat) diaphragm that is mounted in a frame and that is coupled at its rear surface to the speaker voice coil, such that the voice coil acts like a piston, pressing on the rear surface of the diaphragm and causing sufficient vibration of the diaphragm to efficiently produce sound. Examples of such planar diaphragms are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,003,449, and 4,997,058, both issued in the name of Jose J. Bertagni.
Typically, a planar diaphragm is constructed of a pre-expanded cellular plastic material, such as polystyrene or styrofoam. The frequency response of a planar diaphragm generally is determined by the type and density of its material, and the area, thickness and contour of its sound producing region. Typically, in the design of such a diaphragm, the designer chooses a suitable type and density of material, and then experiments with different sizes and configurations for the diaphragm to achieve an acceptable degree of fidelity in the reproduction of sound in both the low and high frequency ranges.
Some of the advantages provided by planar diaphragm loudspeakers over loudspeakers utilizing conventional cone-type diaphragms include greater dispersion of sound and economy of manufacture. A further advantage is that the front surface of the diaphragm can be molded to take on the appearance of a relatively large acoustic tile, permitting unobtrusive installation of the loudspeaker in ceilings of commercial structures formed of like-appearing acoustic tiles. Alternatively, the diaphragm's front surface can be molded smooth and flat, and a number of such diaphragms can be joined together in a contiguous and seamless array to create a sound screen upon which video images can be projected, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,707, also issued in the name of Jose J. Bertagni.
One way in which high fidelity sound reproduction has been realized over a wide range of frequencies with unitary, one-piece planar diaphragms has been to form channels in the rear surface of the diaphragm to define different frequency sections having prescribed areas, thicknesses and contours. Each section of the diaphragm is coupled to a different voice coil such that each section and voice coil combination can be used for reproducing a specific range of sound frequencies relatively independently of the other sections of the diaphragm. A rigid frame member in contact with the diaphragm along the boundary between adjacent sound producing regions can be used to isolate them from one another.
Although existing planar diaphragm loudspeakers have been generally satisfactory, there has been need for improvement. One disadvantage of unitary diaphragms is that the density of material selected for them has represented a compromise between the low frequency and the high frequency ranges. Planar diaphragms tend to respond more efficiently to high frequencies when the diaphragms are formed of higher density material; conversely, planar diaphragms tend to respond more efficiently to low frequencies when formed of lower density material. The solution was the choice of an intermediate density material that was deemed adequate, but not optimal for both low and high frequency ranges.
Moreover, it would be a great advantage to install planar diaphragm loudspeakers within building walls of residential structures. The nature of the diaphragm material would then allow it to become a seamless part of the wall surface, so that the loudspeaker could be completely hidden in the wall or ceiling and made totally unobtrusive. Existing techniques, however, have been unable to provide planar diaphragm loudspeakers with satisfactory frequency responses in designs that are small enough to fit within the normal spacing between wall studs or ceiling rafters in conventional residential construction.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there exists a need for improvement in planar diaphragm loudspeakers that will enable better frequency response and efficient reproduction of sound, as well as more compact designs requiring less space for installation and operation. The present invention fulfills these needs.

Planar-type loudspeaker with dual density diaphragm

Bertagni Electronic Sound Transducers, International Corporation


An optical system mounted on a helmet (29) for superimposing a collimated image of a display object on the external view of the helmet's wearer comprising: display object means (1a, 1b) mounted on the helmet for generating a display; a concave collimator (6a, 6b) for collimating light from said display; an optical relay unit (3a, 3b) located in the forehead region for generating an intermediate image of said display in the focal plane of the collimator; a reflecting surface (4a, 4b) for reflecting display light from the relay unit towards the collimator; and an inclined combiner (5) essentially transparent to incoming display light and to the wearer's external view, for reflecting display light reflected from the collimator towards the viewer's eye.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compact optical systems, especially to portable optical systems adapted to project images across the wearer's field of view. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to the provision of head-up display images for aircrew, and provides a means by which an optical system may be employed to convert an image provided by a small cathode ray tube (CRT), matrix array or other light source (typically mounted on the flying helmet) into a collimated, head-up form suitable for the display of information. Other possible applications of the invention are in connection with military and high-performance vehicles.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
There is an increasing need for this provision in both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, the information to be displayed being required to complement the electronic display facilities installed in the aircraft cockpit. Whilst any presentation of information in a head-up format (in accordance with established criteria) will enhance operator performance, a particularly useful facility provided by head-mounted displays would be the display of information superimposed over the viewer's outside view in whatever direction the viewer's head was pointing.
Unfortunately, severe inertia and volume constraints are placed on the provision of equipment supported on the human neck, and in this respect particularly strict limits are imposed for fast-jet applications where a need for greater head freedom compounds difficulties already aggravated by the effects of high-g manoeuvres. Other requirements, essential for fast-jet operation, such as the provision of safe ejection and birdstrike protection, are not needed in rotary wing operations which are restricted to a much smaller flight envelope with no requirement for emergency ejection (in the same sense). For the latter applications it is therefore relatively straightforward to supply more facilities and to achieve a higher technical performance.
Nevertheless for all these applications there is a demand for maximum performance for the minimum size and weight, and this invention is intended to provide apparatus which is physically acceptable and can provide a good optical performance and range of facilities.
Certain proposals have been made for projecting a head-up display from helmet-mounted components, such as those described in EP-A-11,024, and for the design of individual components, such as eye position sensors as described in EP-A-408,344, but hitherto no proposal has been made for a system which effectively integrates the optical components in a way which meets the requirements set out above.

The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


A light fixture which indicates the time of day includes a clock mechanism having a movable hand and an electrically operated illumination device arranged relative to the clock mechanism for casting a shadow of the hand on a surface. A light sensing device senses the ambient light intensity at the fixture location and it is operatively connected to the illumination device to increase the intensity of the illumination device in response to an increase in ambient light intensity and to decrease the intensity of the illumination device in response to a decrease in ambient light intensity.

This invention relates generally to decorative light fixtures and more particularly to an improved light fixture which casts a shadow of a movable hand or the like for indicating the time of day.
Interior decorating schemes often use indirect lighting to accent certain room or wall locations or to provide background lighting generally. In certain applications, it may be advantageous as well as aesthetically attractive to provide a light fixture which performs a dual function of both providing light and indicating the time of day. This can be accomplished by having the light cast a shadow of a movable clock hand or the like onto the surface illuminated by the light.
A problem of such an arrangement, however, is that a light of sufficient intensity to cast a visible shadow of a clock hand at night, for example, when there is little ambient light intensity, may be insufficient to cast a visible shadow of the clock hand during the day when the ambient light intensity is greatest. Simiarly, a light of sufficient intensity to cast a visible shadow of a clock hand under daylight conditions may be too bright for purposes of a decorative light fixture during the evening when the ambient light intensity is dim.
Shadow clocks have been previously known as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,433 for example. However, there has never heretofore been provided a fixture capable of casting a generally uniform shadow of a movable clock hand under varying conditions of ambient light intensity nor a clock which is capable of providing a light intensity which is satisfactory for decorative purposes for both daytime exposure to the sun and nighttime darkness.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved light fixture for indicating the time of day.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a light fixture including a device for sensing the ambient light intensity.
A further object is to provide such a light fixture including an illumination device connected in an electrical circuit for varying the intensity of the illumination device in accordance with ambient light intensity.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a light fixture wherein the operative elements thereof are concealed behind a decorative cover.
Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a time telling light fixture which is economical to manufacture, refined in appearance and efficient in operation.


Photovoltaic cells having improved performance are fabricated from polycrystalline silicon containing copper segregated at the grain boundaries.

Self sufficiency in energy is a stated national goal. Most of the proposed means to achieve this goal are either environmentally unacceptable or are not feasible, especially those not depending on fossil fuel sources. Of the available alternatives, solar energy is the most abundant, inexhaustable single resource available. However, capturing and utilizing solar energy is not simple. Methods are being sought to convert solar energy to a concentrated, storable form of energy. A known method, photosynthesis, converts somewhat less than 1% of the sun's energy at the earth's surface to a solid fuel, i.e., plant materials, which when accumulated and transformed over geologic ages yielded fossil fuels. Current rates of use of these fossil fuels, and the particular geographic distribution and political control of major petroleum resources pose problems for nations that are net petroleum consumers. An alternate method yielding a simpler fuel, at a higher conversion, has long been desired.
One method of converting solar energy to a usable form being prominently considered is the deployment of large arrays of photovoltaic solar cells, especially in the sunbelt areas such as the southwestern and western regions of the United States. The most promising candidate for the solar cell is a doped silicon sheet material and silicon is one of the most plentiful elements in the earth's crust. However, the economic feasibility depends on processing cost and presently the most efficient cells are produced from single crystalline silicon. Photovoltaic cells have recently been produced from lower cost polycrystalline silicon but the efficiency of these cells are not as high as those produced from single crystalline cells.

Copper doped polycrystalline silicon solar cell

Lovelace; Alan M. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of


A programmable fiber optic delay system employs multiple programmable fiber optic delay lines, and switches among the delay lines for inclusion in an overall delay path. Switching among the delay lines is coordinated with the programming of those lines so that only a delay line with a settled delay program is included in the overall delay path. Each delay line consists of a plurality of fiber optic segments of varying length. The line's delay is programmed by switching in particular segments whose aggregate lengths correspond to a desired delay period. The multiple delay lines are used to simulate target speed and distance for use in testing a radar system. The programming of each individual delay line and the switching between lines is preferably controlled by a computer resident in the target simulator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to radar test systems, and more particularly to test systems capable of simulating target movement relative to the radar set.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern radar systems employ complex waveforms and need to have their performance completely tested (from end to end) under controlled conditions. Test systems used to simulate a moving target are generally designed to return a copy or simulated copy of a transmitted radar pulse, after delaying or simulating the delay of the pulse by a period of time corresponding to the round-trip transit time to the target, with the addition of an expected Doppler frequency shift. The delay parameters are updated at regular intervals, corresponding to the target velocity and the desired range resolution, to simulate target movement.
The general approach to testing using delayed transmitted radar pulses has been to put a large target (such as a corner reflector or repeater) out at a distance from the radar so that a long delay is achieved because of the round trip time to this simulated target. This technique suffers from the fact that the radar signal is perturbed by the outside environment that is not under the control of the tester, and has several undesirable features. Excessive losses at radio frequency (RF) rule out the feasibility of using coaxial cables to provide long delay times. Surface acoustic wave delay lines are also lossy, with a limited RF bandwidth and delay time capability. Simulated target generators for radar testing can employ digital RF memory (DRFM) to simulate a moving target. Such a system employs sampling and analog-to-digital conversion techniques to store sampled waveform data of the transmitted radar pulses. However, DRFM introduces undesired frequency spurs (spectral impurities), has a reduced dynamic range and bandwidth because of the need for analog-to-digital conversion, and requires complex circuitry that has a relatively high power consumption. Also an RF target generator system can generate a simulated delayed radar pulse by using reference signals from the radar to generate the pulse in the same way the radar generates the signal that goes to the radar transmitter.
A recirculating fiber optic delay line/memory has also been proposed in P. R. Herczfeld, I. Koffman, A. S. Daryoush, R. Saedi, B. Even-Or and R. Markowitz, "A Fiberoptic Recirculating Delay Line", Proc. SPIE, Vol. 996, pp. 116-123 (1988). In this type of system the RF signal circulates repeatedly around a fiber optic loop, and is tapped off after the desired delay period. Although it employs a regenerative process to overcome losses, the noise buildup associated with the regeneration limits the number of recirculations and the technique needs perfecting.
A fixed fiber optic delay line is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,029 to Newberg et al., and assigned to Hughes Aircraft Company, the assignee of the present invention. While this is a low loss delay mechanism, it incorporates a fixed delay that cannot be adjusted, and therefore can be used to simulate only a fixed target distance without any target movement.

Programmable fiber optic delay line, and radar target simulation system incorporating the same


A system may include a processor and a memory. The processor and the memory may communicate with each other in a balanced code multiphase signal transmission scheme. The processor and the memory may include interface circuits, respectively. The interface circuit may generate data based on multiphase symbols. For example, the interface circuit may include a decoding block which generates 5-bit data based on 2 symbols which are successively inputted.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments generally relate to a communication system, and more particularly, to an interface circuit for communication and a system including the interface circuit for the communication.
2. Related Art
Electronic products for personal uses, such as a personal computer, a tablet PC, a laptop computer and a smart phone, may be constructed by various electronic components. Two different electronic components in the electronic products may communicate at a high speed to process a large amount of data within a short time. The electronic components may generally communicate through interface circuits. The electronic components may communicate in various schemes, and a serial communication scheme is an example.
As the performances of electronic components are improved, necessity for a communication scheme capable of increasing a bandwidth and reducing power consumption is being increased. In order to meet such necessity, various new serial communication schemes are suggested in the art, and improved interface circuits for supporting the new serial communication schemes are being developed.

Interface circuit for communication, and system including the same


A banknote separation apparatus, for a banknote bundle receiving machine, includes a guide unit, a pickup roller unit, a pickup roller raising/lowering unit, a feeding roller unit and a gate roller unit. The guide unit is provided on a route along which a banknote bundle inputted into the banknote bundle receiving machine is moved. The pickup roller unit is provided above the guide unit in a spaced-apart relationship with the guide unit and configured to separate a banknote from the banknote bundle and to feed the banknote. The pickup roller raising/lowering unit is configured to raise or lower the pickup roller unit. The feeding roller unit is provided on a back side of the pickup roller unit. The gate roller unit is provided under the feeding roller unit and configured to maintain a predetermined distance from the feeding roller unit.

Generally, an automated teller machine (ATM) is an automatic apparatus capable of providing financial services such as receiving/dispensing of bills and checks or the like in an unmanned manner using a card or a bankbook without intervention of a bank teller regardless of time and location.
In recent years, the use of automated teller machines is increasingly expanded not only in a financial institute such as a bank or the like but also in a convenience store, a department store and a public place.
Depending on the receiving and dispensing of banknotes, the automated teller machines may be classified into a banknote dispensing machine, a banknote receiving machine and a banknote receiving/dispensing machine. Recently, the automated teller machines are used for various applications such as receiving/dispensing of bills, receiving/dispensing of checks, updating of bankbooks, paying fees by giro, selling of tickets, and the like.
In a conventional automated teller machine, there are separately provided an apparatus for receiving and dispensing checks and an apparatus for receiving and dispensing bills. These apparatuses are separately mounted to a body of the automated teller machine.
Specifically, one or more bills can be received and dispensed through the bill receiving/dispensing apparatus, and one or more checks can be received and dispensed through the check receiving/dispensing apparatus. When the bill receiving/dispensing apparatus and the check receiving/dispensing apparatus are separately provided in this manner, the overall size of the automated teller machine is increased. This poses a problem in that it is difficult to efficiently utilize a space.
Meanwhile, the size of checks is often set to a uniform size. However, in some foreign countries, checks are provided in different sizes. For example, personal checks issued by a person may be different from business checks issued by a business entity. In this case, there is a problem in that it is impossible to receive and dispense a bundle of checks having different sizes.
Furthermore, when bills and checks (hereinafter referred to as "banknotes") are received and dispensed in the form of a bundle, there may be posed a problem that the banknotes are caught in a feeding unit in the course of simultaneously feeding several banknotes. As a result, the process of receiving and dispensing banknotes may be delayed or may not be performed.
Accordingly, a demand has existed for the development of a banknote bundle receiving/dispensing machine capable of simultaneously receiving and dispensing banknotes in the form of a bundle, capable of making the machine slim and capable of being used in many countries having different banknote standards.
Reference Document: Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2010-30085

Banknote separation apparatus and method for banknote bundle receiving machine


An indexable turning insert includes two opposing larges sides formed by a support center part and a plurality of cutting parts projecting outwardly therefrom, each having a cutting edge extending between the sides and being spaced apart around the outer perimeter of the center part for indexing, has four the cutting parts. Each cutting part has a clearance side extending on one of the sides of the insert from the cutting edge of the cutting part towards the center part while making clearance angles in two dimensions with respect to the cutting edge, and the cutting edge of each cutting part makes an angle being below 90° by less than the clearance angles with the other of the sides of the insert.

The invention relates to an indexable turning insert comprising two opposing large sides formed by a support centre part and a plurality of cutting parts projecting outwardly therefrom, each having a cutting edge extending between the sides and being spaced apart around the outer perimeter of the centre part for indexing, as well as a cutting tool comprising an indexable turning insert and an insert holder.
The invention is generally directed to turning inserts for carrying out any type of turning machining upon a rotating work piece, and it is particularly directed to such turning inserts for non-longitudinal turning, such as parting-off, grooving and transverse turning.
When using such a turning insert one cutting edge thereof is utilized for the turning operation until it is worn out or otherwise fails, such as is broken, whereupon the insert is moved, and put in a new position in an insert holder, i.e. indexed, for utilizing another of the cutting edges of the insert.
It is from the cost point of view desired to have, as many cutting parts and by that cutting edges as possible on such a turning insert, but an increased number of such cutting edges results at the same time in a reduced maximum depth of grooves when using the turning insert for grooving.
WO 03/070403 A1 discloses an indexable turning insert of the type defined in the introduction, which has 5 cutting edges making it comparatively attractive from the cost point of view, but it may only be used for obtaining comparatively shallow grooves when grooving and not be used for transverse turning, since the support centre part will then hit the work piece.
No known indexable turning insert of the type defined in the introduction being able to be used for transverse turning has more than 3 cutting edges making these inserts less attractive from the cost point of view.
It is desirable to provide an indexable turning insert of the type defined in the introduction being improved in at least some aspect with respect to such turning inserts discussed above.
According to an aspect of the invention, such an indexable turning insert which is further wherein:
it comprises four the cutting parts,
each cutting part has a clearance side extending on one of the sides of the insert from the cutting edge of the cutting part towards the centre part while making clearance angles in two dimensions with respect to the cutting edge,
the cutting edge of each cutting part makes a working lead angle being below 90° by less than the clearance angles with the other of the sides of the insert, and
every second of the cutting parts as seen in the direction of the outer perimeter of the insert have the clearance side on a same first side of the sides of the insert and the other two cutting parts have their clearance side on a second side of the sides of the insert for forming couples of mutually indexable cutting parts.
By combining the extension of each cutting edge with the clearance side and clearance angles of the cutting part in this way transverse turning may be carried out on a work piece having any dimensions in spite of the fact that the turning insert has four cutting edges making it more attractive from the cost point of view than known indexable turning inserts for such transverse turning. The turning insert according to the invention may also be designed to obtain a substantial depth when carrying out parting-off and grooving operations.
According to an embodiment of the invention the clearance angles of each cutting part are 2°-8°, 3°-6°, 3.5°-4.5° or substantially 4°. It has turned out that such clearance angles in two dimensions of the cutting parts of a turning insert according to the invention are suitable for combining with the angle made by the respective cutting edge for reliably obtain the behaviour of the insert aimed at while giving the cutting parts with cutting edges the longest possible life time.
According to another embodiment of the invention the angle made by the cutting edge of each cutting part with the other of the sides of the insert is below 90° by 1°-5°, 1.5°-3° or substantially 2°. These are suitable such angles for the extension of each cutting edge.
According to another embodiment of the invention the angle made by the cutting edge of each cutting part with the other of the sides of the insert is below 90° by a value of 40%-60% preferably substantially 50% of the clearance angles. This makes it possible to efficiently utilize the magnitude of the angles for the clearance side and the cutting edge for obtaining reliable operation of the insert over a long life time of each cutting edge.
According to another embodiment of the invention the insert has for each the large side the support centre part and the two cutting parts having the clearance side on the other large side extending in the same plane, and these planes for the two large sides extend in parallel with each other. This design of the insert with the cutting parts extending in the same plane as a support centre part on each large side of the insert on one hand facilitates the achievement of the proper operation of the insert when used for transverse turning, and on the other makes it possible to use the compression-moulding technique for manufacturing the insert, which is substantially less costly than injection moulding used for known turning inserts of corresponding type.
According to another embodiment of the invention the cutting parts are spaced apart for obtaining an indexing by rotating the insert substantially 180° about an axis being perpendicular to the opposing large sides. Thus, such indexing makes it possible to utilize two of the cutting edges, and the other two cutting edges may be used by turning the insert for mutually changing the direction of the two large sides thereof or moving the insert to another side of an insert holder of a cutting tool then changing possible transverse turning from left to right or conversely.
According to another embodiment of the invention the insert has one first lateral recess separating two adjacent cutting parts for forming lateral support surfaces of the insert facing away from a centre of the insert, and the insert has two the first lateral recesses, one between every second cutting part as seen in the direction of the outer perimeter. Such a recess may efficiently co-operate with a support wall having a complementary extension in a holder for the insert for firmly and by that reliably hold the insert in exact position during turning operation.
According to another embodiment of the invention the insert has at least one lateral support surface facing away from the centre of the insert between adjacent the cutting parts having no the first lateral recess therebetween, which then makes it possible to keep the insert properly in position in an insert holder by acting thereupon also in the direction towards this lateral support surface, such as by applying a pressure thereupon jamming the insert in place.
According to another embodiment of the invention the insert has an appearance with a butterfly-like character as seen in directions perpendicularly to the large sides, and each cutting edge may then form a wing tip of the butterfly. This type of appearance of the insert will make it easy to handle by reliably put it in proper positions and holding it in these positions.
According to another embodiment of the invention two adjacent of the cutting edges are pointing in substantially the same direction being substantially opposite to the direction in which the other two cutting edges point, which may also facilitate the handling of the insert.
According to another embodiment of the invention the extension of the clearance side of each cutting part from the cutting edge thereof towards the centre part is more than 5 mm, more than 6 mm or 7-12 mm. A turning insert with the features according to the invention may in spite of the existence of four cutting edges in this way be given parting-off depths of these values when carrying out parting-off or grooving.
The invention also relates, according to an aspect thereof, to a cutting tool comprising an indexable turning insert and an insert holder in which the insert holder is configured to hold the insert while keeping one the cutting edge to be presently used for cutting in parallel with an axis of rotation of a work piece to be machined. This means that the cutting tool may be used for transverse turning to the centre of a work piece in spite of the dimensions thereof and also for efficient parting-off and grooving.
According to an embodiment of the invention the insert holder comprises a body with a second recess having a bottom configured to form a support surface for one of the large sides of the insert, and this bottom is inclined with respect to outer surfaces of the body by an angle corresponding to the magnitude by which the angle of the cutting edge made with the other of the sides of the insert is below 90°. This makes it possible to firmly hold the insert in proper place and to use the insert, holder for such inserts having different thicknesses, i.e. different dimensions of their cutting edges.
According to another embodiment of the invention the insert holder comprises a body having a second recess for receiving the insert and a member configured to apply a pressure to the insert for keeping it in the second recess, and the member is then preferably configured to apply pressure on a lateral support surface of the insert for efficiently holding the insert by the holder.
According to another embodiment of the invention the tool comprises an insert, and the second recess in the body has a lateral support wall having an extension being complementary to the first lateral recess of the insert for supporting the insert received in the second recess of the holder.
According to another embodiment of the invention the second recess has a wall configured to form a support for lateral support surfaces of a the insert located opposite to the lateral support surfaces upon which the member is configured to apply a pressure, so that the insert may be efficiently jammed between the wall thereof and the member.
According to another embodiment of the invention the second recess is provided with a lateral aperture configured to accommodate the cutting edge of the insert located, oppositely to the one to be presently used for cutting, so that this cutting edge not used may be protected and not harmed when not in use.
According to another embodiment of the invention the insert holder is configured to hold a the insert received in a second recess thereof with only substantially the cutting part with the cutting edge to be presently used for cutting projecting with a clearance region thereof freely from the holder. Thus, the parts of the insert participating in supporting and holding the insert in the holder are completely independent of the cutting parts with cutting edge and clearance side thereof, so that the insert may be properly arranged in the holder for carrying out a turning operation with a cutting edge even if the cutting part of another cutting edge has been broken.
According to another embodiment of the invention the insert holder comprises a body provided with second recesses for receiving a the insert therein on opposite sides of the body and for holding the insert inclined in opposite directions by an angle being of a magnitude corresponding to how much the angle of the cutting edge made with the other of the sides of the insert is below 90° with respect to the respective side of two mutually parallel sides of the body. This means that the tool may be used for both left and right transverse turning without changing the position of the holder but only moving the insert from one second recess to the other.
The invention also relates to a use of an insert according to the invention for a tool according to the invention for parting-off and/or grooving and/or transverse, turning of a work piece as well as a method for manufacturing a turning insert according to the invention, which includes a step of compression-moulding material to the shape of the insert'.
Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the invention appear from the following description.

Indexable turning insert and a cutting tool comprising such an insert


A water valve may comprise a valve shell, and a rotating base is installed in the valve shell. A lower end of the rotating base is sequentially connected to a driving valve piece and a fixed valve piece which are installed in the valve shell. A center of a top portion of the rotating base comprises a valve rod upwardly protruding out of the valve shell. The rotating base is configured to engage with the driving valve piece, and through operating the valve rod, the rotating base driven by the valve rod is adapted to drive and have synchronous rotation with the driving valve piece so as to change the relative positions between the driving valve piece and the fixed valve piece and then to control on/off operation of a faucet, ratio of hot and cold water and the amount of water flow.

Water equipment is usually available for cold water and hot water, and warm water is also provided by mixing cold water and hot water. The ratio of mixing cold water and hot water is always adjustable by a user such that the user can have warm water in different temperatures he/she needs. The mixing control of cold water and hot water is mainly accomplished through the rotation of a water control valve.
However, the conventional water valve is disadvantageous because: the conventional water control valve usually can only connect to one water source. Thus, when the cold water and hot water are needed simultaneously, it is necessary to install a water divider between pipes of the water control valves, the cold water source and the hot water source, or a user needs to additionally install a pulling handle on the water control valve. As a result, it will greatly increase the complexity of the whole water pipeline, and also when water is needed, the user has to operate between the two water control valves and water divider, which leads to inconvenience in use of water equipment. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved design for a water valve to overcome the problems presented above.


This invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug and to the pharmacological use of the composition in treating conditions of pain and neurologic or psychiatric disorders. The composition produces a combination product having improved properties, requiring less of each ingredient and producing a synergistic effect.

The present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition useful in the treatment of pain. More particularly, this invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug.
Throughout this disclosure, various publications are cited and are herein incorporated by reference to describe more fully the state of the art to which this invention pertains.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,589 discloses a class of analgesic cycloalkanol-substituted phenol esters having a basic amine group in the cycloalkyl ring. The compound (1R,2R or 1S,2S)-2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanol, commonly known as tramadol, is specifically disclosed therein. A series of articles pertaining to the pharmacology, toxicology and clinical studies of tramadol are found in Arzneim. Forsch., (Drug Res.), 1978, 28(I), 114. Tramadol produces its analgesic effect through a mechanism that is neither fully opioid-like nor non-opioid-like (Driessen, et al., Arch. Pharmacol., 1990, 341, R104). The Abstracts of the VIth World Congress on Pain, Apr. 1-6 (1990), disclose that tramadol hydrochloride is an orally active pure agonist opioid analgesic. However, clinical experience indicates that tramadol lacks many of the typical side effects of opioid agonists, e.g., respiratory depression (W. Vogel et al., Arzneim. Forsch., (Drug Res.), 1978, 28(I), 183), constipation (I. Arend et al., Arzneim. Forsch., (Drug Res.), 1978, 28(I), 199), tolerance (L. Flohe et al., Arzneim. Forsch., (Drug Res.), 1978, 28(I), 213) and abuse liability (T. Yanagita, Arzneim. Forsch., (Drug Res.), 1978, 28(I), 158). When given at a dose of 50 mg by rapid i.v. injection, tramadol may produce certain side effects unique to tramadol including hot flushes and sweating. Despite these side effects, tramadol""s xe2x80x98atypicalxe2x80x99 combination of non-opioid and opioid activity makes tramadol a very unique drug. Tramadol is currently marketed as an analgesic.
Opioids have for many years been used as analgesics to treat severe pain. They, however, produce undesirable side effects and, as a result, cannot always be given repeatedly or at high doses. The side effect problems are well documented in the literature. See, for example, T. Reisine and G. Pasternak in xe2x80x9cGoodman and Gilman""s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeuticsxe2x80x9d, 9th edition; Hardman et al.; McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996; Chapter 23; pages 521-555 wherein it is disclosed that morphine and its congeners, e.g., codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone are opioid agonist analgesics that exhibit side effects such as respiratory depression, constipation, tolerance and abuse liability.
To reduce the side effect problems of opioids, opioids have been combined with other drugs, including non-opioid analgesic agents, which lower the amount of opioid needed to produce an equivalent degree of analgesia. It has been claimed that some of these combination products also have the advantage of requiring less of each ingredient while producing a synergistic analgesic effect. Compositions including combinations of opioid analgesics with drugs other than analgesics exhibit a variety of effects, i.e., subadditive (inhibitory), additive or superadditive (A. Takemori, Annals New York Acad. Sci., 1976, 281, 262). A combination of morphine and methadone, another opioid analgesic, exhibits an additive effect (R. Taber, et al., J. Pharm. Expt. Thera., 1969,169(1), 29). U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,400 discloses that the combination of dihydrocodeine, an opioid analgesic, and ibuprofen, a non-opioid analgesic, provides superadditive effects when the components are within certain ratios. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,587,252 and 4,569,937 which disclose other ibuprofen opioid combinations. Superadditive analgesia with a 1:125 mixture of butorphanol:acetaminophen (an opioid analgesic combined with a non-opioid analgesic) has been reported, whereas a 1:10 mixture did not show any statistically significant superadditive analgesia (A. Pircio, et al., Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn., 1978, 235,116).
As an analgesic, tramadol has been combined with both opioid and non-opioid analgesic drugs. Such compositions have exhibited synergistic effects in treating pain while using less of each ingredient to produce an equivalent degree of analgesia. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,803 discloses the composition of tramadol and a NSAID, particularly ibuprofen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,744 discloses tramadol plus any of oxycodone, codeine or hydrocodone and U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,691 discloses tramadol in combination with acetaminophen.
As a class, anticonvulsant drugs are not known to be useful in the treatment of pain. However, certain anticonvulsant drugs have been found useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain. U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,006 discloses a class of anticonvulsant drugs including the 2,3,4,5-bis-O-(1-methylethylidene)-xcex2-D-fructopyranose sulfamates known as topiramate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,007, which is herein incorporated by reference, further discloses topiramate as useful for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
In addition, anticonvulsant drugs have been combined with non-toxic blockers for the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Such compositions have been described as useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain. For example, WO 98/07447 broadly discloses the combination of a neuropathic pain alleviating amount of an anticonvulsant drug, including gabapentin, lamotrigine, valproic acid, topiramate, famotidine, phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, phenytoin, mephenytoin, ethotoin, mephobarbital, primidone, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, methsuximide, phensuximide, trimethadione, benzodiazepine, phenacemide, acetazolamide, progabide, clonazepam, divalproex sodium, magnesium sulfate injection, metharbital, paramethadione, phenytoin sodium, valproate sodium, clobazam, sulthiame, dilantin, diphenylan or L-5-hydroxytrytophan and an anticonvulsant potentiating amount of a non-toxic blocker for the NMDA receptor. This reference, however, does not teach the synergistic composition of the present invention.
Anticonvulsant drugs combined with NSAIDS or narcotic analgesics have also been described as useful in the treatment of pain. WO 99/12537 discloses a composition of the anticonvulsant compounds gabapentin or pregabalin in combination with the NSAID naproxen or with narcotic analgesics. Combinations of anticonvulsants and other drugs with opioid analgesics have been suggested (Donnadieu, S., et al., Pain Relief, Presse Medicale, 1998, 27/39, 2062-2069). These references, however, also do not teach the synergistic composition of the present invention.
Heretofore, no reference has disclosed a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of the centrally acting analgesic tramadol and an anticonvulsant drug demonstrating that such a composition has a synergistic effect while using less of each ingredient for treating conditions of pain and neurological or psychiatric disorders in mammals.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to produce a combination product with a tramadol material having improved properties. It is also an object of the present invention to produce a combination product with a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug wherein the combination has a synergistic effect while using less of each ingredient. It is another object of the present invention to produce a combination product with tramadol hydrochloride and an anticonvulsant drug selected from, but not limited to, topiramate, gabapentin, lamotrigine or RWJ-333369; wherein the combination has a synergistic effect while using less of each ingredient. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for treating conditions of pain and neurological or psychiatric disorders in mammals.
Briefly, according to the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug, wherein the tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective 50% effective dose (ED50) values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 300:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:300.
An embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug, wherein the tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 100:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:100.
Another embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug, wherein the tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 30:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:30.
The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is exemplified by a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug topiramate, wherein the tramadol material and topiramate are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 20:1.
The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is also exemplified by a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin, wherein the tramadol material and gabapentin are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 2:1 to about 20:1.
The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is further exemplified by a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug lamotrigine, wherein the tramadol material and lamotrigine are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:2 to about 1:8.
The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is still further exemplified by a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug RWJ-333369, wherein the tramadol material and RWJ-333369 are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 20:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:20.
The present invention also provides a method for treating a condition of pain or a neurological or psychiatric disorder in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition for treating the condition of pain or the neurological or psychiatric disorder comprising a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug, wherein the tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 300:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:300.
An embodiment of the method of the present invention comprises administering a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug, wherein the tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 100:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:100.
Another embodiment of the method of the present invention comprises administering a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug, wherein the tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 30:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:30.
The method of the present invention is exemplified by administering a therapeutically effective dose of the pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug topiramate, wherein the tramadol material and topiramate are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 20:1.
The method of the present invention is also exemplified by administering a therapeutically effective dose of the pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin, wherein the tramadol material and gabapentin are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 2:1 to about 20:1.
The method of the present invention is further exemplified by administering a therapeutically effective dose of the pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug lamotrigine, wherein the tramadol material and lamotrigine are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:2 to about 1:8.
The method of the present invention is still further exemplified by administering a therapeutically effective dose of the pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a tramadol material and the anticonvulsant drug RWJ-333369, wherein the tramadol material and RWJ-333369 are present in a ratio based on a fraction of their respective ED50 values, which ratio is from about 1:1 to about 20:1 or from about 1:1 to about 1:20.

Composition comprising a tramadol material and an anticonvulsant drug


The exercise machine in the present disclosure utilizes novel machine mechanics that accommodate and adjust to the spines shifting axis of rotation. Through the use of a multiple, articulating axes a back exercise machine or device that promotes pure and isolated spinal flexion and extension with no need for mechanical anatomical restraint to succeed has been created. Using these mechanics when users attempt to extend their trunk, the device adjusts to the natural shifting axis of rotation of the spine thereby dis-involving the contribution of the hip extensor muscles. In other works, the exercise back machine of the present disclosure is designed to accommodate the complex biomechanics of the spine and to facilitate targeted strengthening of the spinal erectors and deep intrinsic spinal muscles.

Back pain is the number one cause of disability in industrialized nations. Research indicates that 80% of people in the United States will experience back pain at some point in their lives. While much back pain spontaneously subsides within 45 days of acute onset, pain which lasts more than 45 days is chronic due to the increases in difficulty ameliorating this pain. Furthermore, research has indicated then for prevention and reduction of chronic pain, isolated strengthening of the lumbar musculatures is vital. In some studies there has been more than an 80% success rate at reducing pain that is chronic following a course of intensive and isolated lumbar strengthening. These results are irrespective of pathological diagnoses as long as the diagnoses are not absolute contraindication for back exercise. Research indicates that devices which do not promote isolated lumbar motion may not be effective at providing strengthening benefits.
Typical back machines do not facilitate lumbar muscle exercise due to incongruent mechanics between the device itself and human users. In particular, typical back machines only have a single machine axis which is adequate if the machine is trying to accommodate the biomechanics of the elbow or the knee which has a simple axis. However, a single axis machine does not accommodate or encourage the spine to flex and extend when loaded and instead the torso simple rotates around the hip. Furthermore, typical back machines use very uncomfortable skeletal restraints to prevent the pelvis from of the user from rotating and thereby forces the spine to flex and extend.
Additionally, typical back machines rotate around a single axis or point like an oval or a circle. The machine rotates around that axis as in a circle, but that path of motion that is created is not congruent with spinal mechanics and as a result it inappropriately encourages the torso of the user to simply rotate around the hip joint circumventing the spinal function that is desirable.
An example of a machine which has been shown to effectively promote lumbar strengthening have incorporated elaborate and uncomfortable skeletal restraint mechanisms to essentially wrestle the user's anatomy into compliance with some degree of spinal motion and muscular loading is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
In addition to the machine in FIGS. 1A and 1B being intimidating and uncomfortable these types of machines are very expensive (e.g. $40,000) making them effective but impractical.
In view of the above, what is needed is a back machine that utilizes three axes of rotation that work together in concert to offer a biomechanically adaptive work arm which enables the multi-segmental spine of a user to flex and extend and accommodates the radical shifts in virtual axes of motion about the spine by encouraging or allowing true spinal flexion and extension without the skeletal restraint. In other words, a back machine that fosters and facilitates isolated spinal flexion and extension exercise for the effective muscular loading of muscles that flex and extend the spine is needed.


The present invention is directed to promoter fragments isolated from maize and particularly to a 4.7 kbp upstream promoter region designated ZRP2 of a ZRP2 genomic DNA clone, specific fragments thereof designated ZRP2(2.0) and ZRF2(1.0) and functional equivalents thereto. The promoter has particular utility in driving root preferential expression of heterologous genes that impart increased agronomic, horticultural and/or pesticidal characteristics to a given plant. This invention is also directed to DNA molecules including said promoters and transformed plant tissue including a DNA molecule comprising a promoter of the invention operably linked to a heterologous gene or genes and the seeds thereof.

The selection of a promoter in the genetic engineering of a heterologous gene is often a critical factor in obtaining expression of the desired gene. It is the nucleotide sequence of the promoter at the 5' end of a structural gene which is either directly or indirectly recognized and bound by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase during the initiation of transcription of the gene. It is generally recognized by those skilled in the art, that the localization of gene expression is desirable in a tissue-specific manner.
Expression of tissue-specific plant genes has been identified genetically and by their differential expression in various organs, for example: embryo-specific gene expression of seed storage proteins including, glycinin, legumins, zeins, and glutenin; fruit ripening gene expression including polygalacturonase; and differential expression of root nodulation genes in leguminous plants including nodulin. It would be desirable to regulate tissue specific heterologous gene expression with a promoter which was preferential to the specific tissue where expression was required. The ability to control levels of gene expression is very important and expression of the protein product may impart increased agronomic, horticultural and/or pesticidal characteristics to a given crop plant.

Iowa State University, Research Foundation In


The invention pertains to a propeller pocket for reducing the draft of propeller driven marine craft, and the propeller pocket of the invention utilizes an increasing vertical dimension in the direction of the craft stern, the pocket being defined by planar surfaces, and the water within the pocket being "gathered" as the water approaches the stern to minimize cavitation at the propeller. The pocket is advantageous for use with either inboard, inboard/outboard or outboard driven installations and provides increased drive efficiencies with a reduction in hull draft.

The desire to reduce the draft of propeller driven marine craft has long existed, and a variety of proposals has been made for reducing the hull draft while accommodating a propeller, examples being shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 872,389; 1,007,583; 1,059,806; 3,469,549 and 3,744,446. Various concepts are used with such propeller pockets such as tunnels, channeling devices, and varying cross section configurations. While a number of the proposed designs do offer advantages of one aspect or another, many shallow draft tunnels and channels are unacceptable for high speed watercraft in that cavitation problems at the propeller are aggravated, steering is adversely affected, and installation of the propeller shaft and driving gear is difficult.
It is an object of the invention to provide a propeller pocket for relatively high speed watercraft which may be used with either inboard, inboard/outboard, or outboard propeller drives, and wherein propeller cavitation is minimized.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shallow draft pocket for propeller driven watercraft wherein the configuration of the pocket may be incorporated into a wide variety of hull forms, and the installation of inboard driving gear is simplified.
A further object of the invention is to provide a shallow draft pocket for propeller driven marine craft wherein the pocket configuration aids in supplying the propeller with water with a minimum of turbulance wherein cavitation at the propeller is substantially eliminated within normal operating speed ranges.
In the practice of the invention the shallow draft pocket is defined by a plurality of planar surfaces formed in the watercraft hull adjacent the stern. A planar transition surface obliquely oriented upwardly and rearwardly intersects an upward obliquely defined surface which extends toward the hull's stern. The lateral sides of the upper surface are intersected by obliquely disposed side surfaces upwardly converging and intersecting the upper surface to form a uniformly decreasing upper surface width in the direction of the stern. The upper surface engages a deflection surface intersecting the stern which is, preferably, slightly obliquely oriented to the horizontal in a downward direction, and the resultant water flow of these surfaces provides an adequate supply of water, at low turbulence, to the propeller region.
In an inboard powered installation, a propeller shaft recess intersects the pocket upper surface and includes a surface substantially perpendicularly disposed to the propeller axis, and the presence of this recess, plus the presence of a positioning depression located adjacent the upper surface, greatly aids in simplifying the installation of an inboard propeller drive within the pocket of the invention.


A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space therein, a door that opens and closes the storage space, and a hot water module including an instantaneous heater for heating water. The hot water module measures a flow rate of water along with a temperature of water introduced to the instantaneous heater to ensure the proper amount and temperature of water is dispensed.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
2. Background
Refrigerators are home appliances for storing foods at a low temperature. Such a refrigerator has one or both of a refrigerating compartment storing foods in a refrigerated state and a freezing compartment storing foods in a frozen state. In recent years, a dispenser is mounted on a front surface of a refrigerator door to dispense drinking water without opening the refrigerator door. In addition, an ice maker for making and storing ice cubes may be provided in a door or a storage space of refrigerator. Thus, the ice cubes may be dispensed through the dispenser.
In the related art, there is a hot water supply system for a cold and hot water dispenser. For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0112060 discloses a device and method for supplying hot water. The related art discloses a method of controlling an instantaneous heating device applied to the hot water supply system of the cold and hot water dispenser. For example, a technology is disclosed for regulating an amount of inflow water according to a target water temperature, an inflow water temperature, and heating capacity of a heater.
According to the related art, a water flow sensor measures a flow rate of water passing through an inflow valve, and an opening degree or opening/closing of the inflow valve is controlled again by using the measured flow rate as feedback information. There is a high variation in flow rate measured by the water flow sensor, and an error in the water flow sensor itself is non-negligible. As a result, it is difficult to a water temperature desired by consumer in spite of precise control. In such a control method, there is a considerable variation in temperature of the first cup for hot water.
Due to this limitation, a heater is additionally feedback-controlled in the related art to attain a desired water temperature, and yet the desired water temperature is not attainable. In addition, a heating time of an instantaneous heating device has a constant value or depends upon an external input, and thus, it is difficult to control a water temperature as desired. Further, since the timing of water discharge is not determined, consumers may not obtain water with an accurate temperature. In the related art, hot water with an accurate temperature may not be supplied due to this limitation. In addition, it is not possible to secure safety in a heater.


A selectively heatable steering wheel has an electrically activated heating element disposed within a hollow interior of the wheel. The heating element includes an electrically conductive resistance wire for generating heat, a metallic foil sheath positioned around the element so as to provide a desired level of insulation, and a protective plastic sheath disposed around the foil sheath which operates as a protective covering for the foil sheath during an insertion of the sheath within the hollow interior of the wheel. The plastic sheath is provided with improved heat conductive properties through the use of radially directed, through-extending metallic wires which are randomly positioned throughout the sheath and which operate to conduct heat directly from a surface of the heating element to an interior wall surface of the steering wheel's hollow interior.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle steering wheels and more particularly pertains to a heated steering wheel which is provided with improved heat conduction means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of heated steering wheels is known in the prior art. This is evidenced by the granting of a number of patents relating to various functional and structural aspects of such heated steering wheels. However, a review of the known prior art patents relating to heated steering wheels shows that such wheels either utilize heating elements directly embedded within molded steering wheels so as to provide a direct heat conducting function, or in the alternative, insulated heating elements are disposed within hollow interiors provided in the tubular structures of the wheels. These insulated heating elements provide a better degree of heat insulation so as to prevent damage to a steering wheel; however, the provided insulation frequently results in a very slow heating of the wheels, as well as a loss of control of maintaining a desired surface heat. As such, there exists a need for improved insulated conductors which can be disposed within the hollow interior of a steering wheel wherein such insulated conductors would be provided with means for improving heat conduction between the insulated heating element and the steering wheel per se. In this respect, the present invention substantially addresses this need.

Heated steering wheel with a plurality of radially extending wires for affording suitable heat conductivity


The present invention relates to an improved rotor balancing system which allows for fine tune onsite adjustment for turbomachinery. The rotor balancing system comprises a rotor element having a row of locating slots and a device for reducing windage effects caused by the locating slots and protruding anti-rotation pins. In a preferred embodiment, the device for reducing windage effects comprises at least one balancing ring which partially or fully covers the locating slots and internal slots for engaging and.disengaging that does not protrude outbound of the ring. Each balancing ring is preferably provided with two integrally formed anti-rotation members for engaging the locating slots. Each balancing ring is also preferably provided with a slot in a weighted portion of the ring for receiving a tool for positioning the balancing ring in a desired position. A method for positioning the balancing ring on a rotor element using the slot and the tool is also described herein.

The present invention relates to a rotor balancing system for turbomachinery which safely secures balancing rings to a rotor element while reducing windage effects caused by locating slots on the rotor element and to a method for positioning a balancing ring on a rotor element.
In rotating machinery, it sometimes becomes necessary to trim the balance of one of the rotor elements after the machinery has been initially balanced for assembly and has been operating in service. Typically, the machinery must be disassembled, completely or partially, to permit rebalancing or trim balancing of the offending rotor element. With aircraft gas turbine engines, it is desirable to be able to quickly and easily trim balance a compressor rotor after an airfoil has suffered foreign object damage and the damaged blade or blades have been blended in without removal of the engine from an aircraft.
It is known in the prior art to provide a construction for trim balancing a rotating piece of machinery which construction includes an annular rotor element having an outer face and an inner circumference, locating slots around the inner circumference of the rotor element, at least one annular groove within the rotor element behind the rotor element face, balance ring means positioned in the at least one annular groove, which balance ring means is split and has a weighted mass at one end thereof, and tab means connected by pin means to the balance ring means at the weighted mass end, which pin means extends through the rotor element locating slots, and the tab means being mounted on the pin means so as to be external of the rotor element. The construction also includes a casing structure means associated with the rotor element, which casing structure means has an opening therein through which tool means may be inserted to contact the tab means and deflect the pin means inward a controlled distance to free the pin means from the locating slots and permit a circumferential relocating of the balance ring means. Such a trim balancing construction is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,167 to Tiernan, Jr. et al.
One of the deficiencies of the Tiernan, Jr. et al. construction is that the locating slots act similar to rotating blades, turning and heating up the air in the cavities as the rotor element rotates. As a result, heated air is injected into the flow path. The mixture of hot cavity air and cooler flow path air reduces the overall fan efficiency. Additionally, the air pumping (windage) caused by the locating slots forces more air into the flow path. The air impinges with engine core flow reducing overall engine air flow. In addition the locating pin increases windage since it protrudes outboard of the balance ring and acts as a paddle turning air. Subsequently, this adds to the reduction in engine air flow.
Another deficiency in the present design is the ability to fine tune adjust the rotor trim balance. The anti-rotation pin slop and large disk engagement slot decrease the trim balance fine tune adjustment.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotor balancing system which reduces windage effects caused by rotor element components.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotor balancing system as above having at least one counterweight balancing ring which substantially eliminates air cavity pumping (windage) caused by locating slots machined into a turbomachinery rotor.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotor balancing system as above which has an integral structure for securing the counterweight balancing rings to the rotor element.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for positioning a counterweight balancing ring on a rotor element.
The foregoing objects are achieved by the rotor balancing system and the method of the present invention.
In accordance with the present invention, a rotor balancing system for turbomachinery comprises a rotor element having a row of locating slots and means for reducing windage effects caused by the locating slots. The windage reducing means comprises at least one balancing ring secured to the rotor element which at least partially covers said locating slots to reduce windage effects.
In another aspect of the present invention, each balancing ring is provided with anti-rotation means for securing it to the rotor element. The anti-rotation means in a preferred construction comprises two integrally formed anti-rotation members for engaging two locating slots on the rotor element.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, each balancing ring is provided with a slot machined into its weighted end. When a tool is placed in the slot and pushed radially inboard, the balancing ring can have its anti-rotation members disengaged from the locating slots and can be rotated to a new position.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method for positioning a balancing ring on a rotor element is provided. The method comprises providing a rotor element having a row of locating slots and at least one interior annular groove, inserting into the at least one interior annular groove at least one split balancing ring having a weighted end, a slot machined into the weighted end, and means for engaging the locating slots in the rotor element, and inserting the tool into the slot in the weighted end of the at least one balancing ring to disengage the at least one balancing ring from the rotor element and rotate the at least one balancing ring to a balance position.
The rotor balancing system of the present invention adds more disk engagement slots on the disk and an integral anti-rotation pin design sized closely to the disk slot. The result is more capability for fine tuning the trim balance.

Rotor balancing system for turbomachinery


A Connector Position Assurance (CPA) device for ensuring mating of a male header connector with a female housing includes a body portion, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm is attached to the body portion, extended from the body portion, and includes a locking groove proximate a distal end thereof. The second arm, which includes a locking latch, is spaced apart from the first arm, attached to the body portion, and extended from the body portion. When the CPA device is guided along the female housing, the locking groove and the locking latch lock onto complementary protrusions on the female housing in a pre-lock position, only to be dislodged upon contact of a sloped surface at the distal end of the first arm with the male header connector during insertion of the male header connector into the female housing to proceed to a final-lock position.

Connector Position Assurance (CPA) devices are commonly used in electrical connectors in order to ensure that the connector bodies are properly locked and mated together. Half-mated connections can be avoided by having a pre-locking mechanism that makes it impossible for the CPA device to be pushed into a final locking state unless the electrical connectors are mated in the desired manner.
One conventional method employed in the art to disengage the CPA device from a pre-lock position, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,101, for example, utilizes a lock in the header side, which, if damaged, may affect the effective locking capability of the primary locking system of the connector. Additionally, as the CPA device is in a stressed state when full mating and locking are accomplished, thermal effects under a long-term influence of high temperature conditions can increase the likelihood of material creep. This can affect material integrity and, ultimately, the functionality of the CPA device.
Disengagement of the CPA device from the pre-lock position can be accomplished through modification of the header to include special disengagement features. However, CPA devices often require standard headers, such as headers conforming to United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) footprint. Therefore, in CPA devices where modification of headers is precluded, effective locking requires appropriate design of CPA devices, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,074.

Unstressed connector position assurance device and connector assembly