A apparatus for treating ballast water with acrolein which is to be connected to a main ballast water line of a ballast water unit, comprises a reactor device to which acrolein derivate and water is to be fed for generating an aqueous acrolein solution, a branch line which is connected to the main ballast water line for branching off a partial ballast water stream, and a mixing device which is connected to the branch line and an acrolein solution supply line from the reactor device and is designed for diluting the aqueous acrolein solution from the reactor device, and a feed device for supplying the aqueous acrolein solution from the mixing unit to the main ballast water line. In the method for treating ballast water with acrolein, an acrolein derivate and hydrolysis water are mixed in a reactor device for generating an aqueous acrolein solution, a partial water stream branched of from the main ballast water stream at an branching location, is mixed with the acrolein solution supplied from the reactor device and mixed thereby, and the partial ballast water stream treated with the acrolein solution is fed back to the main ballast water stream downstream of the branching location.

The invention pertains to a method and an apparatus for treating ballast water with acrolein, as well as a mixing device, a feed device and a reactor device for an apparatus for treating ballast water with acrolein.
It is already known that ballast water can be disinfected on ships by use of acrolein. Already by adding 5 to 15 ppm acrolein to the ballast water, bacteria, algae, zebra mussels and other organisms of the zooplankton can be killed, and, thereby, the transfer from one port to another one can be surely eliminated. The advantage of the use of acrolein is the sustain ability in particular with respect to larvae of zebra mussels, and the fact that acrolein disintegrates by itself within a few days, i.e. no new burden of the port basin by this biocide is encountered upon discharging of the ballast water in the port of destination.
These advantages are accompanied by the fact that the handling, the transportation and the storage of pure acrolein cannot be carried out on ships because acrolein is a highly poisonous liquid doing the effects of teargas, and that the personnel on board would be forced to carry out the handling of this biocide only with a complete ABC protective clothing and using gasmasks.
Aqueous solutions of acrolein are not poisonous and can be safely handled, however, such solutions can only be handled during a few days such that the use on ships is impossible because of logistic problems.
From DE-GM 20 2007 004 912, a apparatus is known in which the ballast water is pumped by means of a pressure rising pump through a water jet pump, and the low pressure zone of the water jet pump is hydraulically connected via a control valve to a reaction container which has separate inlet openings for acrolein acetal, acid and hydrolysis water applied on the outside. In the reaction container, an aqueous acrolein solution is generated which is mixed to the ballast water in the water jet pump such that the organisms in the ballast water are killed by the acrolein. In the apparatus of DE-GM 20 2007 004 912, acrolein acetal can be used directly without a previous mixing with a solution agent being necessary. The same is true for the acid used as a catalyst which acid can be dosed into the apparatus without previous dissolution with water. The hydrolysis water is taken from the water apply system on board. Although the problem with the handling, the transport and the storage of pure acrolein on ships is solved in this apparatus, there are problems of the dimensioning, in particular of the water jet pump and the reaction container, with increasing requirements of throughput.

Method and device for treating ballast water with acrolein


A sealing arrangement is disclosed for use in a pump. The sealing arrangement can include a first pump component having a first face surface. The first face surface can have a sealing protrusion thereon. A second pump component can have a second face surface positioned in confronting relation to the first face surface. The second pump component can define a sealing cavity for holding a fluid under pressure. The sealing protrusion is positioned to engage the second face surface when the first face surface is pressed against the second face surface so that the sealing protrusion seals against the second face surface to prevent movement of the fluid from the sealing cavity past the sealing protrusion. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Gear pumps often include a housing or plate that holds a set of intermeshing gears. As the gears turn, fluid moves between the gear teeth and the housing and is expelled out the pump due to the intermeshing of the gears. The gears are attached to shafts that run axially from the gear faces, and these shafts run on one or more bearing surfaces.
As will be appreciated, during operation it is desirable to seal the housing and plate components, including shaft sealing components, in a manner that prevents process fluid from leaking out of the pump. Often o-rings, gaskets or other sealants are disposed between the opposing sealing surfaces to prevent such leakage. In other cases sealing is achieved between a pair of opposing metal surfaces that are formed to be extremely flat and parallel and very smooth (i.e., they have a fine surface finish).
When using o-rings and gaskets, issues can arise when the operating temperature of the pump exceeds the maximum temperature of the sealing component or where the o-ring material is incompatible with the fluid being pumped (e.g., where the pumped fluid is corrosive or otherwise harsh). This can cause the sealing component to degrade or disintegrate, thereby affecting its ability to seal. When using metal-to-metal face seals, the two mating faces will not produce an effective seal at high pressure or low viscosity unless the surface finish of the opposing surfaces is very fine. The opposing surfaces must also be very flat and parallel. If a rough surface finish is used, or if the surfaces are not sufficiently flat and parallel, the joint will leak.
Thus, there is a need for a high temperature face sealing arrangement that eliminates the need for an o-ring, gasket or other secondary sealing component, and which can be used to effectively seal joints at high temperatures and pressures.


Heat insulation panels made from plates and the modified polyisocyanurate foams provided by a reaction of a polyisocyanate with a polyol composition mixture comprising a polyol, water, a trimerization catalyst, a carbodiimide catalyst, and an aromatic compound used as a chain extender. An amount of the aromatic compound used in the preparation is 0.5 to 10.0% by weight with respect to a total weight of the polyisocyanate and the polyol mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the manufacture of heat insulation (hereinafter insulation) panels comprising plates and modified polyisocyanurate foams, as insulation materials, provided by reacting a polyisocyanate, a polyol, an aromatic compound, and water in the presence of a carbodiimide catalyst and a trimerization catalyst.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The preparation of modified polyisocyanurate foams containing isocyanurate (a trimer of isocyanate) and carbodiimide linkages is well known in the art as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,657,161. Further arts such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,894,972; 3,928,256; 3,981,829; 3,998,766; and 4,166,164 disclose other well known catalysts: (i) furfuryl alcohols and a tertiary amine trimerization catalyst, (ii) a co-catalyst system of tertiary aminoalcohols and a tertiary amine trimerization catalyst, (iii) a catalyst system comprising alkanol amino triazine, hexahydrotriazine, and phenol or substituted phenol, (iv) oxyalkylated Mannich polyols, and (v) C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkali metal carboxylates as trimerization catalysts.
In general, the modified polyisocyanurate foams produced in these preparations have high friability and poor flame-retardancy for insulation materials. Thus phosphorous compounds containing active hydrogen have been employed to improve the flame-retardancy of the foams, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,893. The use of toluene diisocyanate has been employed in order to improve the friability and flame-retardancy of the foams and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,837.
In the foregoing preparations, chlorofluorocarbons were used as blowing agents. However, due to the prohibited use of chlorofluorocarbons in near future, processes of the preparation of the foams without the use of chlorofluorocarbons have been proposed in the arts disclosed by European Patent Publication EP 0381 324 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,305. These arts describe the use of phospholene oxides as carbodiimide catalysts and water so as to form carbon dioxide as a blowing agent. Unfortunately, the employment of water brings urea linkages which are spread unevenly and cause coagulation or domain in the foams. Thus the foams provided by these processes were friable and possessed insufficient adhesion strength for insulation materials.

Heat insulation panels manufactured from modified polyisocyanurate foams


A communication system comprising a plurality of transceivers each being connected to selected ones of data inputs and at least one unidirectional antenna, each of the transceivers having a first transmitter coupled to the unidirectional antenna transmitting first signals at a first frequency to others of the plurality of transceivers according to a predetermined protocol and a first receiver coupled to the unidirectional antenna receiving second signals at a second frequency from others of the plurality of transceivers according to the predetermined protocol, the first and second frequencies being different; and a relay having an omnidirectional antenna in focused communication with the unidirectional antennas of the plurality of transceivers, a second receiver coupled to the omnidirectional antenna to receive the first signals according to the predetermined protocol and a second transmitter coupled to the second receiver and the omnidirectional antenna to convert the first signals to the second signals and to transmit the second signals to the others of the plurality of transceivers according to the predetermined protocol, each of the first and second signals including digital data combined with a pseudo-random spreading code having N bits common to all of the plurality of transceivers where N equals a predetermined number greater than two.

The present invention relates to communications systems and more particularly to a digital radio communications system capable of being employed in a small geographic area, such as a local area network, and in a large geographic area, such as a long distance communications system.
A local area network is a data communications system which links computers, word processors, printers and other related equipment as well as digitally encoded audio signals within a small geographic area. The local area networks allow computers to exchange information. A local area network enables computers to share resources and communicate with computers in other networks, including minicomputers and mainframe computers. In a local area network, information processing devices, such as desktop computers, have access to one another and to hard disk storage, databases, communications software and printers. The use of local area networks has grown at a rapid rate in the past decade as computer systems have become prevalent in the workplace.
Local area networks consist of both hardware and software. In its common form, a local area network has the following elements: (1) network interface units, which functionally and physically connect workstations to the network, may be a printed circuit card inserted into the computer, or may be a separate box attached with a plug to the computer; (2) software, which manages and coordinates the flow of information on the network; (3) file server computer, which acts as the system control unit; and (4) in the past twisted pair wire, coaxial cable or fiber optic cable have been employed to link the components of the local area network.
In a conventional local area network, network interface cards embedded in each computing device control the transmission of data. As originally configured, data is transmitted over coaxial cable, twisted pair wire or fiber optic cable.
In order for a local area network to function properly, all connected devices must obey rules or "protocols" that govern access to the network and control communications with other devices in the local area network. The International Standards Organization (ISO) has developed a framework for network protocols so that incompatible devices will be able to communicate. The ISO model separates the communications and computing services provided by local area networks into seven hierarchical layers. Standards for the two lowest layers in the ISO model, the physical layer and the data link layer, set parameters for media, transmission speed, physical architecture and access method of the local area network. The five higher layers in the ISO model, the software layers, address the methods by which information is reliably transmitted between sending and receiving systems, and the way such information is processed and presented to the user. The data link layer forms a bridge between hardware and software in the local area network. The software layers control the exchange of information.
Local area networks generally use three basic architectures: star, ring and bus. In a star type network, each device is connected with a separate link through a central file server. An example is ATT's STARLAN. In a ring, such as IBM's TOKEN RING, devices are connected to one another in a closed loop. In a bus architecture, devices are attached to a single open-ended cable. Examples are ETHERNET and ARCNET.
While originally local area networks had their computers connected to one another through twisted pair wires, coaxial cables or fiber optic cables, more recently the computers have been connected in a local area network by the means of radio frequency (RF) waveforms. Such a radio communications system for a local area network has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,983. In this patent there is disclosed a local area network using RF waves rather than wires to connect users to a central node or station. The users timeshare different RF frequencies for transmission and reception. In this local area network, the users operate one at a time, do not employ focused antennas and the interference and multipath fading is overcome by employing diversity techniques.
The communications system of the present invention is not limited to local area networks, but rather can also be used in long distance communications systems of the type employing relay stations for line-of-sight communications over a large geographic area or employing an orbiting satellite as the relay station for the long distance communication system. A satellite communication system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,435 which discloses a satellite communication system where each terminal of a system transmits data to a satellite repeater or relay station on a carrier signal which has a frequency different for each terminal and each terminal of the system receives data on a carrier signal which is different for each terminal and different for each of the transmitted carrier signals.


The present invention is one or more implementations is a method of fabricating a semiconductor for improved oxide thickness control, defining a process tool, determining and evaluating performance variables, determining a performance impact factor and thereafter modifying control of the process tool in the fabrication process to operate in direct relation to the determined results of the present invention. The present invention sets forth definitive advantages in reducing engineering time, improving process controls and improving cycle-times.

Demand for semiconductors, wafers, integrated circuits and semiconductor devices (i.e., collectively "semiconductors") continues to rapidly increase. With the continued market demand, there remain market pressures to increase the number of wafers that can be processed, reduce the geometries of finished wafers and their associated chip footprints, and increase component counts in the reduced geometries. Being able to sustain and meet the market demands with a reliable and consistent offering is a challenge however, in part because wafer manufacture is an environment that is both process sensitive and equipment intensive.
The fabrication of wafers (i.e., fabrication, fab, or fab environment) requires advanced processing equipment, unique toolings and extensive research efforts. Process tools (i.e., toolings) in these environments may often run in parallel or have multiple components to produce similar products (i.e., yields or outputs). Yet these same process tools, even when of the same manufacturer or source, may have unique variances in their individual performances which may create substantial or measurable differences in the quality of the products produced if unaccounted for.
A process tool may include a furnace, a furnace having a plurality of chambers, a furnace bank, a furnace tube, a processing chamber in which a wafer is acted upon, a processing activity point in a fab line where a wafer may be received or acted upon, and the like. In other aspects, a process tool may further include a controller or control mechanism for controlling a process tool and the tool's acts or actions with respect to the fab activity, in response to one or more commands, instruction sets, hardware or software commands, or other control-based directions of the controller.
As a result, in a traditional approach, it is often attempted to match the tool performance characteristics (TPCs), including machine characteristics, between process tools performing similar operations in one or more fab operations. With this approach, it is incorrectly believed that matched TPCs between similar process tools, even if identical in manufacturer and type, will result in identical or near-similar yields from each of the matched process tools. Unfortunately, even with matched process tools, yields are often subject to significant variance in what may otherwise appear to be an identical fab process.
An attempt to improve upon the traditional approach has also proven unfavorable where oxidation time of a particular process tool is adjusted in relation to the yield result so as to achieve a desired yield output and characteristic. Unfortunately, even with this attempted improvement, the traditional approach remains faulted as these time adjustments are limited to a single fab process for a single fab recipe on a particular process tool. This approach is not suited to accommodate typical fab production runs and foundry services having tens or hundreds of distinct processes being performed across tens or hundreds of process tools.
FIG. 1A depicts an example of a typical wafer 100 produced by a process tool in a process. In FIG. 1A, the wafer 100 has elements which may vary with respect to the type of process tooling and fab process undertaken in its manufacture, including a substrate 120 and a memory cell area 130. A memory cell often includes two or more field oxide areas (i.e., isolation regions) 110 which are often grown areas of oxide formed by a local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) process.
The LOCOS process is in effect an isolation scheme commonly used in metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) and complementary MOS (CMOS) technology in which a thick pad of thermally grown SiO2 separates adjacent devices such as P-channel MOS and N-channel MOS transistors. Local oxidation is often accomplished by using silicon nitride to prevent oxidation of silicon in predetermined areas, and silicon is typically implanted between a silicon nitride region to form channel stops.
From FIG. 1A, the memory cell 130 is formed above an active area 140 of the substrate 120 and is situated typically between the adjacent field isolation regions 110. The memory cell 130 typically comprises a gate insulation layer 135 (i.e., tunnel oxide layer), a floating gate electrode 145 (often of polysilicon), a composite inter-poly insulation layer 150, and a control gate electrode 160 (often of polysilicon). In many implementations of the example of FIG. 1A, the insulation layer 150 is also known as an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer as it is often comprised of a layer of silicon dioxide 151, a layer of silicon nitride 152 and a layer of silicon dioxide 153, though other variations are also known.
From FIG. 1A, the thickness and dielectric constants of the floating gate electrode 135 and the layers of each of the ONO layer (i.e., 151, 152 and 153) may affect the overall performance of the memory cell and the associated integrated or electronic circuitry, depending on their thickness and formation details. Similarly there are also other characteristics of the memory cell related to physical structures, thickness, conductivity, uniformity, capacitance, band voltage, resistance, and growth impacts due to temperature and/or pressure during the deposition process, which may affect performance which directly results from a process tool's operation on the wafer (i.e., collectively "performance variables," "performance variances" or "performance characteristics").
Further, in the semiconductor fabrication field in particular, APC (advanced process control) may be employed in device manufacturing below 100 nm. The APC activities typically will need a stable thermal process, such as the one that significantly reduces wafer-to-wafer, batch-to-batch, and furnace-to-furnace differences, such that minimizing parameter variance is important when fabs process the same recipe, in multiple tools, for productivity and cycle time.
In a traditional furnace or furnace bank, there may exist more than one furnace tube in which a predetermined number of furnace tubes perform a similar process. FIG. 1B depicts a typical eight-tube furnace bank arrangement 190.
By example, the furnace bank of FIG. 1B is a process tool having two four-furnace banks at 191a and 191b, totaling eight similar separate tubes (i.e., furnace tubes) (191a, 191b, 191c, 191d, 191e, 191f, 191g, and 191h), each arranged to perform a furnace-based activity on a wafer set in the fab process. In a typical arrangement 190, each tube is arranged to receive a set of silicon wafers (192a, 192b, 192c, 192d, 192e, 192f, 192g, and 192h) which are typically received by the respective tube of the arrangement 190. In FIG. 1B, by example, wafer set 192h is about to be received into the proper bay area of furnace tube 191h, while all other wafer sets have been properly positioned in their respective tube bay. At 193a, 193b, 193c, 193d, 193e, 193f, 193g, and 193h are controllers each of which controls its respective furnace tube along 194a or 194b. A heat source is also an integral feature of a typical furnace (not shown). Once the wafers are inserted into the their respective tubes, the wafers are acted upon in accordance with the designated process, and thereafter removed. Once removed, yield variations of the wafers may be determined and compared.
Variances in the yield (e.g., produced semiconductor or memory cell) are often quantitatively determinable, even after attempting to traditionally match process tool or machine TPCs between similar process tools. Some of the yield variances can be determined quantitatively in the produced wafer's film thickness, stress, and dopant percentages, each of which is also directly associated with predictable comparative performances of the produced wafer.
With these traditional approaches, there are a number of limitations, however.
For instance, since yield variations and the associated results are uniquely dependent on at least both their respective process tools and specific fab recipes, in high capacity operations having substantial furnaces and recipe demands, significant numbers of recipes and/or equipment may need to be uniquely tailored and tuned for each process step. In such operations, even after these unique tunings are performed, further tunings may further be required in each tool every time there is even a minor adjustment needed to a tool, a recipe, or process.
In yet other instances, the traditional approaches are limited for furnace oxidation sequences where the oxidation time is varied for the same single recipe. With this approach, different oxidation times will yield oxides having different characteristics as each of the oxides in their respective tools are in effect growing at different rates and are therefore different. As a result time and temperature are not accurately controlled in the process sequence which is contrary to what is desired.
Therefore, optimally producing high-quality products in fab environment yielding consistency in produced wafers, fewer performance variances in process steps and reduced steps for recipe and process-specific tool variations, is desired. Additionally, limiting such performance variances commonly across a set of similar process tools, and in particular, improving consistency in yield output for similar-functioning but different process tools in a fab environment is also needed. Further, it is highly is desired to be able to match multiple differing line tools, such as furnaces, to develop consistency in process controls for oxide thickness control and particularly that of gate oxides.
The present invention in accordance with its various implementations herein, addresses such needs.

System and method for matching silicon oxide thickness between similar process tools


A liquid pump includes a motor and an impeller. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a base body and a shaft sleeve unit supporting the rotor for rotation. The shaft sleeve unit includes a fixing member fixed in the base body, a bearing received in the fixing member and surrounding the rotary shaft, and a resilient buffering member disposed between the fixing member and the bearing. The impeller is coupled to the rotor.

In home appliances such as washing machines or dish washers, liquid pumps are used to pressurize and deliver water so as to introduce clean water into the appliances for cleaning the clothes or dishes in the appliances, and finally discharge the wash water out of the appliances.
In liquid pumps, an effective support to the rotary shaft of the motor is needed to ensure coaxiality of the rotor, maintain smooth operation of the rotor and reduce the noise.

Shaft sleeve having a bearing and a resilient member formed with protrusions and grooves


A converter for satellite broadcast reception superior in productivity and inexpensive with reduced material cost is provided. In this converter, a waveguide is formed by bending a metallic plate and is integrally provided with a holding portion which is positioned outside the waveguide. An insulating portion of a probe is held by the holding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a converter for satellite broadcast or communication reception to receive a circularly polarized wave comprising a vertically polarized wave and a horizontally polarized wave.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional converter for satellite broadcast reception will be described below with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16, of which FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the conventional converter for satellite broadcast reception, FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14xe2x80x9414 in FIG. 13, FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a principal portion, explaining a mounted state of a probe, and FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a principal portion, showing a mounted state of a circuit board.
As best seen in FIGS. 13-14, a housing 31 and a waveguide 32 are formed integrally using a metallic material such as die-cast aluminum or zinc. The housing 31, which is formed in a generally rectangular box shape, comprises a bottom wall 31a, side walls 31b formed upright so as to enclose the bottom wall 31a while allowing an upper side to be open, a receptacle portion 31c enclosed with the side walls 31b, a vertical through hole 31d (see FIG. 15) formed in a position close to one end portion of the bottom wall 31a, and stepped portions 31e formed by cutting out peripheral edges of upper ends of the side walls 31b. The waveguide 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape relatively small in diameter and is projected from the bottom wall 31a at the position of the through hole 31d. The waveguide 32 comprises a generally cylindrical portion 32b having an opening 32a for introducing a polarized wave, a hollow portion 32c formed centrally in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion, and a holding portion 32d formed as a semi-cylindrical recess within the cylindrical portion 32b, the holding portion 32d extending toward the opening 32a from a peripheral edge position of the through hole 31d formed in the housing 31, as shown in FIG. 15.
As best seen in FIG. 15, a probe 33 for catching a horizontally polarized wave is made up of a cylindrical insulating portion 33a formed of, for example, a fluorine resin, polyethylene, or Teflon, and a linear central conductor 33b piercing through the center of the insulating portion 33a and formed of a metal such as brass or nickel. The central conductor 33b has one end portion 33c which is bent approximately at right angles and an opposite end portion 33d which is rectilinear.
As shown in FIG. 16, a single rectangular circuit board 34 formed by an insulating board comprises a thin flat plate portion 34a, three vertical through holes 34b formed near a side edge of the flat plate portion 34a, bridge portions 34d and 34e which are formed in T shape, and a small hole 34c formed near the through hole 34b. A copper-clad earth conductor 35 is formed on a lower surface of the circuit board 34 except the lower surface portion where the bridge portion 34e is formed. A lower surface of the bridge portion 34d functions as a short-circuit rod for the probe 33.
A probe 36 for catching a vertically polarized wave is formed as a conductive pattern on an upper surface of the flat plate portion, extending from an intersecting point of the bridge portions 34d and 34e toward the flat plate portion 34a, and is connected to a circuit pattern (not shown) formed on an upper surface of the flat plate portion 34a. The through hole 31d formed in the housing 31 and the through holes 34b formed in the flat plate portion 34a are opposed to each other and the opposite end portion 33d of the central conductor 33b of the probe 33 is inserted through the hole 34c formed in the flat plate portion 34a. In this state the circuit board 34 of the above configuration placed on the bottom wall 31a of the housing 31 and is fixed by a suitable means. The opposite end portion 33d of the central conductor 33b projected above the circuit board 34 is soldered to a circuit pattern by solder 37.
As shown in FIG. 14, a short-circuit wall 38 is formed in a box shape using a metal such as die-cast aluminum or zinc and is secured to the circuit board 34 by a desired means, e.g., caulking, so as to cover the through holes 34b formed in the circuit board. A bottom portion 38a of the short-circuit wall 38 functions as a short-circuit portion for the probe 36.
A cover 39, which is constituted by a single rectangular metallic plate (see FIGS. 13 and 14), is placed on the stepped portions 31e (see FIG. 15) of the side walls 31b of the housing 31 and is fixed by a suitable means. The receptacle portion 31c (see FIG. 14) of the housing 31 is hermetically sealed and the interior thereof is shielded electrically.
In the conventional converter for satellite broadcast reception, however, since the waveguide 32 and the holding portion 32d are formed integrally by die-casting aluminum for example, the material cost is high and it takes a considerable time for the manufacture, that is, the productivity is poor.
Besides, since the holding portion 32d is formed (see FIG. 15), the mold used for die casting is complicated and expensive, thus giving rise to the problem that the converter becomes expensive.
Further, it is necessary that the insulating portion 33a of the probe 33 be press-fitted into the holding portion 32d of the waveguide 32; besides, the press-fitting work is performed in the hollow portion 32c which is narrow. Consequently, a considerable time is required for the manufacture, that is, the productivity is poor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a converter for satellite broadcast reception which is superior in productivity and inexpensive.
According to the first means adopted by the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems there is provided a converter for satellite broadcast reception, comprising a box-shaped metallic housing, a cylindrical waveguide, and a probe attached to the waveguide, the probe having a cylindrical insulating portion and a central conductor piercing through a central part of the insulating portion, the waveguide being formed by bending a metallic plate and being integrally provided with a holding portion positioned outside the waveguide to hold the insulating portion of the probe.
According to the second solving means adopted by the invention, the insulating portion of the probe is held grippingly by both an outer surface of the waveguide and the holding portion.
According to the third solving means adopted by the invention, the holding portion is provided with a retaining piece for locking a free end side of the holding portion to the waveguide.
According to the fourth solving means adopted by the invention, the holding portion covers the probe throughout the whole in the longitudinal direction of the insulating portion which is exposed from the waveguide.
According to the fifth solving means adopted by the invention, the holding portion covers the probe throughout the whole in the longitudinal direction of the central conductor which is exposed from the waveguide.
According to the sixth solving means adopted by the invention, the insulating portion with the central conductor installed therein is formed with a slot in the longitudinal direction thereof, and one end portion of the central conductor is bent along the slot.
According to the seventh solving means adopted by the invention, an outer surface of the insulating portion of the probe includes a flat surface, and the probe is held by the holding portion in an abutted state of the flat surface against an outer surface of the waveguide.
According to the eighth solving means adopted by the invention, the flat surface formed as a part of the outer surface of the insulating portion is perpendicular to an extending direction of one end of the central conductor, and the probe is held by the holding portion in an abutted state of the flat surface against the outer surface of the waveguide.
According to the ninth solving means adopted by the invention, an insertion hole for insertion therein of the central conductor is formed in the waveguide, and with the central conductor inserted into the insertion hole, the insulating portion of the probe is placed on the outer surface of the waveguide so as to straddle the insertion hole.

Converter for satellite broadcast reception with an externally held probe


A full bridge LLC resonant converter can include: a full bridge circuit including a first input node and a second input node; a LLC resonant tank circuit connected to the first input node and the second input node; a transformer winding part connected to the LLC resonant tank circuit; a rectifier circuit connected to the transformer through a first output node and a second output node; and a capacitor connected between the first input node and the first output node. The LLC resonant tank circuit can include a resonant capacitor connected to the first input node, a resonant inductor connected to the resonant capacitor, and a magnetizing inductance connected between the resonant inductor and the second input node.

LLC resonant converters have several desired features, such as high power, high power density, and high efficiency, thereby broadening the appeal of these converters. Existing LLC resonant converters can be classified as a half bridge resonant converter or a full bridge resonant converter according to a switching input circuit. While the number of switches in the half bridge resonant converter is half of that in the full bridge resonant converter, the half bridge resonant converter has twice the current of the full bridge resonant converter. Thus, the half bridge resonant converter is widely used in flat panel TVs and personal computers, and the full bridge resonant converter is used in application requiring high primary currents, such as photovoltaic applications and solar micro inverters. However, LLC resonant converters generate large common mode (CM) electromagnetic interference (EMI), which is a big drawback in a variety of applications.

Loop noise balance technique for CM EMI noise reduction of the full bridge LLC resonant converter

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED


A frame assembly for a door light is formed with inner and outer half-frames sandwiching a translucent panel. The half-frames are separately and similarly formed of sheet material, each with a plurality of substantially similar side members defining a closed polygon. Each side member includes, in cross-section, a flat portion for supporting the frame in an opening in a support, a face portion extending from the flat portion towards the center of the polygon, a third portion extending inwardly from the face portion toward the other half-frame and to a position adjacent the translucent panel, a fourth portion extending from the third portion parallel to the face portion and away from the center of the polygon, and a fifth portion extending inwardly from the fourth portion toward the other half-frame and about a peripheral edge of the translucent panel. Fasteners couple the half-frames and secure the half-frames in the support opening. Each half-frame is formed from an elongated strip of sheet material which is bent along fold lines extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip to form the various portions and then bent at an intermediate mitered notch to form a corner. The ends of the strip are also mitered to form a mitered frame corner.

Doors used as replacements or for new construction are conventionally produced of sheet metal. These doors, particularly when used as outside entrances, as opposed to interior doors, preferably have one or more window sections. These window sections are known as lights and are formed in the door. Numerous frame assemblies have been proposed for use as door light frames.
Door light frames conventionally comprise inner and outer half-frames which sandwich a translucent panel therebetween and support the panel within an opening formed in the door. Each half-frame is formed separately and has a plurality of side members defining a close polygon. Usually, the side members of each frame are separately formed and then attached together by welding, for example, U.S. Pat. No.a 3,004,641 to Johnson, or by corner attaching members, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,691 to Hansen et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,526 to Sherlock et al. These conventional methods of forming half-frames are difficult, time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, these side frames are relatively weak at their side member connections. When the side members are welded together to form the half-frames, such welding prevents the use of pre-painted metal strips for forming the frames and require finishing operations after the frame is formed.
Another disadvantage of conventional door systems involves the use of differently formed members for the inner and outer half-frames. Manufacturing and assembly costs are significantly increased by using two differently formed half-frames to produce the frame assembly.
Numerous fastener systems have been used to secure the half-frames together and to the door. Arrangements including threaded fasteners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,430,836 and 4,413,397 to McKann, the subject matter of each patent being incorporated herein by reference. However, these arrangements require the relatively precise relative positioning of the fastener parts or of the holes in the half-frames for the fastener parts. The fastener means are not readily adjustable to permit realignment of the fastener mechanism during assembly. Further, these mechanisms use the fastener mechanism for supporting the frame, which supporting complicates assembly.
Conventional door light frame systems often are difficult to adequately insulate. Thermal insulation can be a significant problem, particularly for metal frames which may readily conduct heat between the inner and outer half-frames.
Some conventional door light frame systems are disadvantageous in that the fastener means are exposed on the outer half-frame. Such exposure requires special treatment to obscure that fastener end, thereby complicating assembly.


An evaluation apparatus for evaluating a transfer characteristic of a controlled object of a controller is disclosed. The evaluation apparatus includes a response detection section that detects an input/output response of a control system, based on a signal detected in the control system. The control system includes the controller and the controlled object. The evaluation apparatus further includes a transfer characteristic calculating section that calculates the transfer characteristic of the controlled object, based at least on the input/output response.

A disk apparatus such as a hard disk apparatus may have an inaccurate head positioning signal attributable to mechanical resonance of the head positioning mechanism or the like. In a system where the head positioning process is controlled in discrete time, when a disturbance component of a frequency equal to or greater than a Nyquist frequency is applied, a sampled head positioning signal may cause an aliasing component to appear. Depending on the type of frequency region where the aliasing component appears, the aliasing component may cause adverse effect on the head positioning control.


A universally usable method for specific detection of target nucleic acid sequences, which method can be performed very rapidly and also simply and furthermore which does not need any expensive instrumental systems. The method is intended to be suitable as a molecular genetic rapid test and to respect the requirements of diagnostic specificity assurance. In this regard it is important that only one specific amplification product be detected and that amplification artifacts can be unambiguously discriminated. A nucleic acid amplification kit suitable for performing this method.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a test kit for detection of specific nucleic acid sequences with the steps of amplification, hybridization by means of probes, and detection of the hybridization event; wherein the detection of the hybridization event takes place on a solid phase outside the reaction vessel for amplification/hybridization.
Description of the Related Art
Genetic diagnostics has become an indispensable tool of modern medical laboratory diagnostics, forensic diagnostics, veterinary medical laboratory diagnostics or food and environmental diagnostics.
Genetic diagnostics was revolutionized with the invention of PCR technology, with which it is possible to amplify any arbitrary nucleic acid sequence specifically.
The use of PCR covers a diversity of methods, which in combination with the PCR technology additionally permit specific detection of completed amplification. Especially the requirements of an exact genetic diagnosis must make use of methods that ensure that a generated amplification product also corresponds to the target sequence that is specifically to be detected. The widespread use of visualization of a PCR product by means of gel electrophoresis is not sufficient for this purpose.
One possibility for detection of specific nucleic acid sequences in a way that in principle can be achieved very rapidly and without great experimental time and effort is what are known as real-time PCR methods. In this case the amplification reaction is directly coupled with the actual detection reaction.
A widely used method for detection of specific nucleic acids is light cycler technology (Roche). For this purpose Roche has developed special hybridization probes, consisting of two different oligonucleotides, each labeled with only one fluorochrome. The acceptor is located at the 3′-end of the one probe and the other oligonucleotide has a donor at the 5′-end. The probes are chosen such that they both bind to the same DNA strand, the distance between acceptor and donor being permitted to be at most 1 to 5 nucleotides, so that what is known as the FRET effect can occur. The fluorescence is measured during the annealing step, in which only light of this wavelength is detectable as long as both probes are bound to the DNA. In this system the melting point of both probes should be identical. Because of the use of two hybridizing probes in addition to the primers used, the specificity of this detection system is extremely high.
A further real-time PCR application for detection of specific nucleic acid targets can be performed with what are known as double-dye probes, which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,210,015 and 5,487,972 (TaqMan probes), both of which are incorporated by reference. Double-dye probes carry two fluorochromes on one probe. The reporter dye is located in this case at the 5′-end and the quencher dye at the 3′-end. In addition, a phosphate group is also located at the 3′-end of the probe if necessary, so that the probe cannot function as a primer during elongation. As long as the probe is intact, the released light intensity is low, since almost the entire light energy produced after excitation of the reporter is absorbed and transformed by virtue of the spatial proximity of the quencher. The emitted light of the reporter dye is "quenched", or in other words extinguished. This FRET effect is preserved even after the probe has bonded to the complementary DNA strand. During the elongation phase, the polymerase encounters the probe and hydrolyzes it. The ability of the polymerase to hydrolyze an oligonucleotide (or a probe) during strand synthesis is known as 5′-3′ exonuclease activity. Not all polymerases have 5′-3′ exonuclease activity (Taq and Tth polymerase). This principle was first described for the Taq polymerase. The principle is known as the TaqMan principle. After probe hydrolysis, the reporter dye is no longer located in spatial proximity to the quencher. The emitted fluorescence is now no longer transformed and this fluorescence increase is measured.
A further option for specific detection of amplification products by means of real-time PCR technology consists in the use of intercalating dyes (ethidium bromide, Hoechst 33258, Yo-Pro-1 or SYBR Green™ and the like). After being excited by high-energy UV light, these dyes emit light in the lower-energy visible wavelength region (fluorescence). If the dye is present as a free dye in the reaction mixture, the emission is very weak. Only by intercalation of the dye, whereby it fits into the small furrows of double-strand DNA molecules, is the light emission greatly intensified. The dyes are inexpensive and universally usable, since in principle any PCR reaction can be followed in real time with them. In addition, they have high signal strength, since every DNA molecule binds several dye molecules. From the advantages, however, there also results an extreme disadvantage for application: In principle it is not possible by means of intercalating dyes to distinguish between correct product and amplification artifacts (such as primer dimers or defective products). While primer dimers and other artifacts are being formed, they naturally also bind intercalating dyes and thus lead to an unspecific increase in fluorescence even in negative samples. However, a clear differentiation between specific amplification event or artifact is absolutely necessary. In order to achieve this in any case, what is known as a melting-point analysis is performed at the end of the actual PCR reaction. For this purpose the reaction mixture is heated in steps of 1 degree from 50° C. to 90° C. The fluorescence is measured continuously during this process. The point at which double-strand DNA melts is characterized by a decrease (peak) of the fluorescence of the intercalating dye, since the intercalating dye dissociates from the single-strand DNA. When the PCR is optimally adjusted, a melting-point peak that tapers sharply is to be expected. This melting point represents the specific product to be expected. Products of different sizes and products of other sequences have different melting points.
When the fluorescence is plotted graphically against temperature, the fluorescence decrease of the two products can be perceived as two separate melting points. Thus this system gains specificity and makes it possible to distinguish a specific amplification product from artifacts. In this way it is possible to distinguish even between homozygotes (single peak) and heterozygotes (two peaks).
Furthermore, it is also possible to achieve quantitation of the targets to be detected by means of REAL-time PCR applications.
As already explained, the described methods fulfill the need for specific detection of an amplification product.
A great disadvantage, however, is that they are implemented on very expensive instrumental platforms, which have to unite the process of amplification and that of subsequent optical detection, in a manner corresponding to the problem, in one hardware solution. Furthermore, many of these described detection methods are still based on real-time tracking of the amplification process. On the basis of this strategy, even workup of the measured fluorescence values takes place in the course of the amplification reaction. It is clear to those skilled in the art that, in this connection, an enormously large body of analysis algorithms must also be integrated into real-time systems. Ultimately this explains the high financial expenditure that must be invested for the use of real-time PCR systems, Also ultimately, the operation of such instrumental systems requires a high degree of expertise.
Besides the described diagnostic detections based on REAL-time PCR, however, alternative variants for specific detection of nucleic acids also exist.
An example of less expensive methods for detection of nucleic acids in this connection is PCR-ELISA. In this method, the DNA sequence to be examined is amplified and the generated DNA fragment is then covalently immobilized on a solid phase (such as microtiter plates or strips), denatured to a single strand and hybridized with a sequence-specific probe. Successful binding of the probe can be visualized with an antibody-mediated color reaction. Another variant is based on immobilizing the probes on a solid phase, denaturing the PCR product and then bringing it into contact with the immobilized probe. Detection of a completed hybridization event takes place by analogy with the first variant of the method.
In principle, PCR-ELISA methods are easy to perform, but they comprise multiple procedural steps. Besides the time needed to perform the PCR, therefore, several hours of working time are also needed to perform the subsequent detection method. Such a method usually needs 8 hours and therefore is also not suitable as a rapid test.
Furthermore, some items of equipment are also needed, such as a temperature-control station, what is known as a washer, or even a measuring instrument for detection of the hybridization signal. Furthermore, other special instruments or special consumable materials may also be necessary.
Further simple methods for detection of amplification products are based on amplification of the target sequences and subsequent hybridization of amplification products on a membrane. These methods also have several variants known to those skilled in the art. Once again, however, these methods are also laborious to perform, need a large number of procedural steps to be performed and therefore are not suitable as rapid tests. This then also applies to the use of biochip strategies, which use hybridization of PCR products with hybridization probes for detection of the specificity. These methods also are laborious and associated with very expensive instrumental platforms.
A distinct reduction of working steps is disclosed in Korean Patent 1020060099022 A (Method and kit for rapid and accurate detection and analysis of nucleotide sequence with naked eye by using membrane lateral flow analysis).
In this case what is known as a lateral flow method is used to detect nucleic acids. This method also makes use of the technology of hybridization of nucleic acids on a solid phase. Advantageously, a lateral flow method has a small, handy test format (strip test).
In contrast to the above patent specification, a very fast detection method, which also makes use of detection of amplification products by means of a test strip and is commercially available, is in turn based on a completely different principle. In this case the PCR reaction is performed with a biotinylated primer and a non-biotinylated primer. After the PCR has been performed, there is obtained a PCR product that is therefore biotin-labeled at one end. Detection is achieved using a test strip (for example of the Millenia Co.), which contains two separate binding sites: a streptavidin site for coupling the biotin-labeled DNA strand and an FITC binding site for functional control of the test strip.
Detection of the PCR product is achieved by denaturing the PCR mixture on completion of the PCR and hybridizing it with a probe complementary to the biotin-labeled DNA strand. The probe is FITC-labeled.
For detection, the PCR mixture is mixed with a running buffer and applied on the test strip. According to the description of the test, the biotinylated DNA strand binds to the streptavidin binding site of the strip. Detection takes place via the FITC labeling of the probe hybridized with the DNA strand. A typical signal in the form of a strip is developed. This signal is supposed to be the specific detection of the amplification product. However, the method does not combine hybridization of the probe with the PCR process but instead performs the latter process as a separate procedural step. However, the method suffers from a fundamental and dramatic error source.
Detection of the target nucleic acid to be detected is not specific. The reason is that artifacts such as primer dimers are formed during PCR and naturally also bind specifically to the streptavidin binding sites of the test strip, and so they can cause a positive reaction just as does a specific PCR product.
International Document WO 2004/092342 A2 describes the technology of the lateral-flow assay, which is incorporated by reference. As examples of application to molecular biology, there are used already known and in some cases commercially available technologies, which are adapted to the lateral-flow assay of that invention. In Example 1 of WO 2004/092342 A2, one of the RT reactions and subsequent amplification is performed with two labeled primers. This method may lead to false-positive results due to primer-dimer formation and mispriming. The second option (FIG. 20d-e) represents a subsequent hybridization with two labeled probes. The problem of primer-dimer formation and mispriming is not acknowledged in that publication.
The important problem of false-positive results due to primer-dimer formation was correctly recognized in the publication of Kozwich, et al. (Development of a novel, rapid integrated Cryptosporidium parvum detection assay. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. (2000) 66 (7) 2711 7, page 2712, right column, 2nd par., FIG. 3), incorporated by reference. The solution of the problem (nested PCR with the labeled and non-labeled primers) differs in principle from the solution of the present invention, for which protection is applied for herewith (one labeled primer and one labeled probe). The solution proposed in the publication of Kozwich, et al. excludes the formation of primer dimers only as a matter of probability but not of principle. The mispriming that occurs so often is also not completely excluded as an error source in the solution proposed by Kozwich, et al.
All of the described alternative methods for detection of nucleic acid sequences without REAL-time PCR technologies therefore also have a substantial common feature, regardless of the considerable manual working effort that is still necessary. The necessary hybridization reaction between PCR product and specific probe always takes place outside the PCR process. This feature is at the base of all of these methods. A major advantage of REAL-time PCR technologies, however, is precisely that the processes of amplification and specific hybridization take place in one reaction vessel, and so the processes of amplification and hybridization are not disconnected. Furthermore, amplification artifacts frequently lead to a false-positive signal in these cases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and rapid test for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences


The present invention is a controllable surface based upon a 1:3 piezoeleic composite (sometimes referred to as a 1-3 composite or a 1/3 composite). The 1:3 piezoelectric composite has a first planar electrode plate, a first plurality of piezoelectric rods fixed to and extending normally from the first planar electrode plate, a second plurality of piezoelectric rods fixed to and extending normally from the first planar electrode plate, and a second planar electrode plate, coupled to the first plurality of piezoelectric rods and decoupled from the second plurality of piezoelectric rods, essentially parallel to and opposing the first planar electrode plate. The first plurality of piezoelectric rods act as actuators, and urge the first planar electrode plate in a direction normal to said plate in response to an actuator signal (applied as a bias between the two planar electrode plates). The second plurality of piezoelectric rods act as accelerometers, and generate an accelerometer signal in response to an accelerating force acting upon the first planar electrode plate. The controllable surface also includes an accelerometer mass, fixed to the second plurality of piezoelectric rods, for providing inertial mass to the second plurality of piezoelectric rods.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to active surface control, and more particularly to an active surface control system using a 1:3 piezoelectric composite in an active surface control system, and a method for making the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Active surface control entails controlling the vibration in a surface by monitoring vibration in the surface with one or more sensors, and correcting this vibration with one or more actuators, typically with a negative feedback loop sending a correction signal to the actuators based upon the signal from the sensors. Usually, it is desired to cancel vibrations in the controlled surface, thereby providing a vibration-free surface. In other applications, it is desired to maintain vibration in the controlled surface at some preselected level.
Structural vibration and acoustic studies have revealed the extraordinarily complex nature of point-excited structures and of single-location monitoring. The use of large area actuators and sensors significantly reduces this complexity. Large area uniform actuators tend to couple primarily in the perpendicular direction, and tend not to excite extraneous modes or waves. Likewise, sensors that integrate response over a large area tend to extract only perpendicular wave components.
Unfortunately, construction of large area integrating sensor/actuator combinations are currently very costly. To obtain a good average response, a very large number of acceleration sensors must be used. Currently, these accelerometers must be fabricated as single units and separately wired, a costly endeavor.

Smart actuator for active surface control

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Each priority order signal (a code signal having a plurality of digits) is processed at each gate circuit in the following manner. The level of a K-th digit input code signal among the priority order signals is checked and the level of a K-th order judgement result signal is fed-back from a judgement circuit. In the first case where the former level is "0" and the latter level is "1", "0" (or "1") is outputted as the (K+1)-th, (K+2)-th, . . . order output signals and supplied to the judgement circuit. In the cases other than the first case, the inputted (K+1)-th digit input code signal is outputted as it is as the (K+1)-th order output signal and supplied to the judgement circuit. The judgement circuit performs a logical OR (or NAND) operation for each order and the results are outputted as judgement result signals.

FIG. 4 is the block diagram showing a priority order judging device according to a background art. In FIG. 4, each channel 1, 1, . . . outputs a priority order code signal 2 (2a to 2c), 2 (2a to 2c), . . . (refer to FIG. 5). Each decoder 3, 3, . . . decodes the priority order code signal 2, 2, . . . to output it as a priority decode signal 4 (4a to 4h), 4 (4a to 4h), . . . (refer to FIG. 5). A judgement circuit 5 judges the priority order of the priority order decode signal 4, 4, . . . and outputs the highest priority order signal as a judged priority order signal 6 (6a to 6h). An encoder 7 encodes the judged priority order signal 6 and outputs it as judgement result code signals 8, 9 and 10.
The decoders 3, judgement circuit 5 and encoders 7 may be those generally used, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. These circuits are generally used, so a detailed description for them is omitted. As seen from FIG. 5, the decoder 3 is constructed of three inverters 2A.sub.1 to 2A.sub.3 and eight NOR gates 3B.sub.1 to 3B.sub.8. As seen from FIG. 6, the judgement circuit 5 is constructed of eight NOR gates 5A.sub.1 to 5A.sub.8. The NOR gate 5A.sub.1 is inputted with signals 4a, 4a, . . . of the decode signals 4, 4, . . . . The NOR gate 5A.sub.2 is inputted with signals 4b, 4b, . . . of the decode signals 4, 4, . . . . Similarly, the last NOR gate 5A.sub.8 is inputted with decode signals 4h, 4h, . . . of the decode signals 4, 4, . . . . The NOR gates 5A.sub.1 to 5A.sub.8 output judged priority order signals 6a to 6h, respectively. As seen from FIG. 7, the encoder 7 is constructed of an inverter 7A, six NOR gates 7B.sub.1 to 7B.sub.6, and the NOR gates 7C.sub.1 to 7C.sub.3.
The order judging device according in the background art has been constructed heretofore as described above. It is therefore necessary to provide the decoder 3 for each channel, and the encoder 7 for outputting the judgement result code signals 8, 9 and 10, resulting in a large circuit scale of the device. Further, the priority order decode signals 4, 4, . . . outputted from the decoders 3, 3, . . . and the judged priority order signals 6 outputted from the judgement circuit 5, are decode signals so that a number of signal lines for the signal transfer between circuits becomes necessary. A number of signal lines require a large space. Furthermore, the judgement circuit 5 itself becomes complicated because the highest priority order signal should be found among a number of priority order decode signals inputted from a number of signal lines.


A ceiling panel clip to engage the grid structure of a drop ceiling and thereby hold panels of a drop ceiling in place.

A drop ceiling typically comprises a support structure for supporting ceiling panels of the drop ceiling below an existing ceiling. The support structure includes hangers for suspending ceiling frame members from the existing ceiling. The ceiling frame members, usually in the shape of an inverted T, comprise a vertical web for connection to the hangers and a horizontal web for supporting the ceiling panels on either side of the vertical web. The vertical web includes an enlarged crown with lower crown shoulders. In such a conventional drop ceiling, the panels are often held in place by their own weight or with the use of ceiling panel clips that engage the upper surface of the ceiling panels and hold the panels against the horizontal web of the ceiling frame members.


A method comprising: receiving a first description of a first file, the first description including properties of at least a derived image included in or referred to by the first file; determining, based on the properties of the derived image, whether to obtain the derived image; and in response to determining to obtain the derived image, obtaining the first file comprising the derived image.

The ISO base media file format (ISOBMFF) specifies a generic structure for the storage and transport of timed media such as audio, video, and teletext. Recently, work has been initiated towards extending ISOBMFF's capabilities to enable the handling of still images and image sequences also. To enable storage and transport of image sequences, the Image File Format has been defined in ISO/IEC 23008-12 also known as MPEG-H Part 12, the definition being based on the ISO base media file format.
Among other properties, the Image File Format supports derived images. An item is a derived image, when it includes a 'dimg' item reference to another item. A derived image is obtained by performing a specified operation, such as rotation, to specified input images. The operation performed to obtain the derived image is identified by the item_type of the item. The image items used as input to a derived image may be coded images or they may be other derived image items.
A Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) is an extension to an email protocol which makes it possible to transmit and receive different kinds of data files on the Internet, for example video and audio, images, software, etc. An internet media type is an identifier used on the Internet to indicate the type of data that a file contains. Such internet media types may also be called as content types. Several MIME type/subtype combinations exist that can contain different media formats. Content type information may be included by a transmitting entity in a MIME header at the beginning of a media transmission. A receiving entity thus may need to examine the details of such media content to determine if the specific elements can be rendered given an available set of codecs. In the absence of the parameters described here, it is necessary to examine each media element in order to determine the codecs or other features required to render the content.
The Image File Format specifies two MIME types, one for images and image collections, and another one for image sequences. The format of the codecs parameter is specified for these MIME types. However, the specification lacks the consideration for derived images, which may lead to various problems, such as the player consuming time for assessing if it is capable of composing the derived image before performing the operations.

Apparatus, a method and a computer program for image coding and decoding


A method of providing an ultrasound image via an ultrasound apparatus including a medical tool that is inserted into an object, the method includes: obtaining a plurality of steering images corresponding to a plurality of steering angles, selecting one of the plurality of steering images based on brightness information of the medical tool in each of the plurality of steering images, detecting a steering angle corresponding to the selected steering image, obtaining an ultrasound image including the medical tool by using the detected steering angle, and displaying the obtained ultrasound image on a screen.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to methods and ultrasound apparatuses for providing an ultrasound image including a medical tool (for example, a needle) inserted into a human body.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus transfers an ultrasound signal from a body surface of an object to a predetermined portion inside the body, and obtains an image of a cross-section of a soft tissue or blood flow based on information of an ultrasound signal reflected by an internal tissue.
The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus is compact and inexpensive, and can display an image in real-time. Also, the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus does not expose users to X-rays, etc. and thus is very safe, and accordingly, is widely used together with other imaging diagnosis apparatuses such as an X-ray diagnosis apparatus, a computerized tomography (CT) scanner, a magnetic resonance image (MRI) apparatus, and a nuclear medical diagnosis apparatus.
Generally, for diagnosing a tumor, an ultrasound biopsy is performed by cutting a portion of a patient's tissue and directly observing the cut tissue with the naked eyes or by using a microscope. During the biopsy, an operator should be able to detect a trajectory of a needle and the accurate location of a needle end.

Method and ultrasound apparatus for providing ultrasound image


A contoured A-coil heat exchanger is provided which enhances cooling capacity of the heat exchanger by increasing the volume rate of airflow therethrough. The two slabs of the A-coil each have discrete upper and lower sections, with the upper section of each slab having a greater number of rows of tubes than the lower section thereof, so that the lower section of each slab is narrower than the corresponding upper section. Therefore, the condensate collecting channel of a drain pan used with the heat exchanger can be made commensurately narrower because the channel need only be wide enough to accommodate the lower sections with fewer tube rows than the upper sections. The narrower channel allows the area of the drain pan central opening to be larger for a given size drain pan, thereby increasing the volume rate of airflow through the central opening and through the heat exchanger. The lower section of each slab preferably has sufficient height along a major dimension thereof to allow an axis projecting vertically downwardly from a lowermost portion of an outer side of each upper section to fall within the drain pan channel, so that condensation draining from the upper section of each slab is effectively captured.

So-called tinned tube heat exchangers are widely used in a variety of applications in the fields of air conditioning, refrigeration and the like. Typically, such heat exchangers are comprised of plural rows of tubes in which a first heat transfer fluid, such as water, oil, air or a vapor compression refrigerant, flows while a second heat transfer fluid, such as air, is directed across the outside of the tubes. To improve heat transfer, a plurality of fins comprising thin sheets of metal are placed on the tubes. Each fin has multiple holes through which the tubes pass generally at right angles to the fins. The fins are arranged in parallel, closely spaced relationship along the tubes to form multiple paths for the second heat transfer fluid to flow across the fins and around the tubes.
One type of tinned tube heat exchanger is the so-called A-coil heat exchanger, which is comprised of two coil slabs coupled at their respective upper ends and diverging downwardly therefrom to define a generally "A" shape. Each slab typically has plural rows of heat transfer fluid carrying tubes in parallel array and plural fins through which the tubes are laced. The fins define inner and outer sides of each slab and a plurality of airflow passages between the corresponding inner and outer sides. The inner sides of the respective slabs are in generally facing relationship. The top, front and back of the heat exchanger are closed so that air to be cooled is constrained to flow outwardly through the slabs. Such A-coil heat exchangers are typically used as indoor heat exchangers and may be mounted above or below a furnace housing. The respective lower ends of the coil slabs are adapted to be received within a pan for collecting condensate drainage from the heat exchanger. The pan typically has a central opening positionable in registration with the closed top of the heat exchanger. Air to be cooled flows through the central opening into a region of the heat exchanger between the slabs and then outwardly through the slabs. The pan has a continuous channel for collecting condensate drainage from the heat exchanger. The channel should have sufficient width (along a minor dimension thereof) to accommodate the lower ends of the respective coil slabs. The greater the thickness of the slab (as measured between the inner and outer sides of the slab) the greater the width of the channel that is required to accommodate the lower end of the slab. Generally, the thickness of each slab is a function of the number of tube rows on the slab. The size of the drain pan usually depends on the width of the furnace housing with which the heat exchanger is mounted. For a given sized drain pan, the greater the width of the condensate collecting channel, the smaller will be the central opening in the drain pan.


A content receiving apparatus includes a network interface receiving first content from a first transmitting apparatus and receiving second content from a second transmitting apparatus, and a controller selecting the first content based on a user's input, from the first content and the second content, in which the controller increases a first bandwidth of a bandwidth of the network interface, which is allotted to the first transmitting apparatus, and decreases a second bandwidth of the bandwidth of the network interface, which is allotted to the second transmitting apparatus, based on an increased first bandwidth.

Recently, a home network integrating various transmission routes such as wired local area network (LAN), wireless LAN, WiFi (registered trademark), WiFi Direct, etc. is widely installed in home. Also, as a digital living network alliance (DLNA) guideline is established, various AV devices such as TV receivers or home servers are connected to a home network to transmit or receive content such as an image or voice. Accordingly, contents stored in a home server may be viewed or listened through a TV receiver installed in another room or a tablet terminal moved to a certain place in a house.
Home network may be connected to a wide area network such as the Internet. A TV receiver connected to a home network through an extended IP network may simultaneously received a plurality of contents (data stream) distributed in real time by various content providers. (For example, please see Patent document 1)
A standard protocol specification for distributing content in real time via an IP network includes a real-time transport protocol (RTP)/an RTP control protocol (RTCP) or a real-time streaming protocol (RTSP). In RTP/RTCP or RTSP, a receiving apparatus regularly sends a receiving report to a transmitting apparatus, and the transmitting apparatus changes a transmission rate according to the receiving report sent by the receiving apparatus. Accordingly, particularly in a network interface such as wireless LAN in which a receiving state varies time to time, the transmission rate is optimized according to a varying network environment so that the receiving apparatus may always receive content in an optimal state.
However, in RTP/RTCP or RTSP, since adjustment of a bandwidth between transmitting apparatuses is not specified, if contents are independently distributed in a plurality of sessions, it is a problem that a bandwidth is occupied by a particular session. For example, in a network environment having a bandwidth of 20 Mbps, when a bandwidth of a transmitting apparatus (A) is 19 Mbps, a bandwidth to be allotted to another transmitting apparatus (B) is only 1 Mbps so that the transmitting apparatus (B) cannot distribute content with a sufficient quality. Also, when a transmission rate of the transmitting apparatus (B) varies, packet loss is generated in streaming data of the transmitting apparatus (A). As a result, both the transmitting apparatuses (A) and (B) may not transmit contents with a sufficient quality. Furthermore, when the transmitting apparatus (A) is disconnected, the bandwidth to be allotted to the transmitting apparatus (B) is increased so that the transmitting apparatus (B) can distribute content with a sufficient quality. However, if one desires to receive content again from the transmitting apparatus (A), re-receiving of content takes time because session between the transmitting apparatus (A) and the receiving apparatus (B) needs to be re-established and buffering of data needs to be performed again.

Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving content


A device for regulating a flow of gas toward user equipment, which comprises a first regulation stage and a second regulation stage arranged downstream in a direction of flow of the gas to be controlled, further comprising a flow limiter interposed between the first and second regulation stages and adapted to intervene if the second stage malfunctions.

The present invention relates to a device for regulating the flow of gas toward user equipment.
As is known, in order to regulate the pressure of the flow of gas toward user equipment, regulation devices have long been used which generally have a first regulation stage, normally located outside the building, downstream of which a second regulation stage is placed.
With the current situation, in case of failure or malfunction of the second regulation stage, the gas is sent, by means of a venting valve, toward a discharge port that is different from the outlet port for connection to the user equipment.
In current conditions, in case of malfunction the entire flow of gas is in practice dispersed, with obvious damage both as regards the economical aspect and as regards the occurrence of potential dangers.

Device for regulating the flow of gas toward user equipment


A camera of the kind performing a preliminary flashing action before flash photographing for the purpose of preventing the red-eye phenomenon is arranged to give indications to enable the photographer to know selection of a preliminary flashing mode when this mode is selected and execution of the preliminary flashing action when the preliminary flashing action becomes feasible.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera system having a preliminary flash device for preventing a red-eye phenomenon prior to a shutter release in addition to a flashing means provided for flash photography.
2. Description of the Related Art
The camera of the kind having a flashing means for artificially emitting an illumination light to cover a shortage of light quantity in photographing has been well known and requires no exemplification here.
The flash photography which is to be carried out with the above-stated flashing means sometimes brings about a phenomenon called a red-eye phenomenon. This phenomenon causes the color of the pupil of a photographed person to become red in the photograph taken. To prevent the red-eye phenomenon, a red-eye preventing device has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO 58-48088. This device is arranged to cause the pupil of a person being photographed to be closed by the light of preliminary flashing made prior to shooting.
The above-stated red-eye preventing flashing must be arranged to continue at least one sec, for attaining a sufficient effect, because the reaction of the human eye is slow. Therefore, there has been proposed some camera that is arranged to inhibit a shutter release until the lapse of a given period of time required for the red-eye preventing preliminary flashing.
The conventional camera mentioned above is provided with a preliminary flashing means for preventing the red-eye phenomenon and is arranged to inhibit a shutter release for the given period of time, so that the red-eye phenomenon can be prevented for shooting. However, this camera has presented a problem in respect to operability, because: The arrangement to inhibit the shutter release not only irritates the photographer but also causes the photographer to feel misgivings that the camera might be out of order.
Another problem with the above-stated camera arranged to make preliminary flashing for preventing the red-eye phenomenon resides in that, in performing an action called "AE lock" for storing a light measurement value, the light measurement value might not be accurately stored if the AE lock is made during the process of the preliminary flashing.

Camera having preliminary flash device for preventing red-eye


Provided is a method of bioremediation of organic contaminated water within an annulus of an oil lubricated shaft, the method includes: (a) introducing into the annulus of said oil lubricated shaft an amount of a bioremediation combination including (i) a microbial cocktail capable of biodegrading the organic contaminants and (ii) nitrogen source, such that said bioremediation combination is brought into contact with water suspected of being contaminated in said annulus; and (b) supply into said annulus oxygen source for a time sufficient for biodegradation of at least a portion of said organic contaminants in the water within the annulus.

References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,692
U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,290
International Patent Application publication No. WO2004/094316
International Patent Application publication No. WO2007/093993.
Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

Method for bioremediation of contaminated water


A filter has a conduit having an opening for flow of fluid into the conduit, a pump for pumping fluid into the conduit through the opening, electrodes spaced apart from each other across the opening such that fluid flowing through the opening passes between the electrodes; and an AC electrical source for the electrodes, the source of AC electrical energy having a frequency and voltage such that an electric field created by the AC electrical energy in the area around the electrodes imposes a negative dielectrophoretic force on target particles carried by the fluid, the negative dielectrophoretic force being opposed to the direction of fluid flow through the opening and having sufficient strength to prevent the target particles from passing between the electrodes into the conduit. The filter is mounted in a bioreactor for filtering viable cells and retaining them in culture medium.

High cell density perfusion cultures has become the method of choice in in vitro animal cell cultivation for the production of numerous therapeutic proteins such as HBAg(hepatitis B surface antigan), tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), etc. which are of great commercial value. The major advantage of perfusion compared with the other popular types of cell cultures (e.g. batch or fed-batch) is the much higher productivity per culture volume. This is owing to the very high cell densities (10-fold or higher) that can be achieved.
High cell densities can only be attained with the use of an efficient cell filtration device, located in the effluent stream of the bioreactor. The role of that device is to prevent the entrainment of the viable cells outside of the bioreactor during the replenishment of the spent culture medium with fresh medium. A successful cell filter should be able to fulfil as many as possible of the following requirements: (1) Minimal cell damage or effect on cell growth and productivity. (2) Selective retention of the viable cells only. Nonviable cells must be removed from the culture, since they lyse and release undesirable components into the culture environment. (3) High cell retention efficiency. (4) Uninterrupted operation for long periods of cultivation. (5) Low energy consumption. (6) Simplicity in operation and maintenance. (7) Scale-up capabilities for large scale production units. (8) Compact structure. (9) Cost effectiveness.

Filter for perfusion cultures of animal cells and the like

University Technologies International, Inc.


An assembly adapted to be disposed within an oil or gas wellbore and including first and second completion joints, each including a base pipe, a shunt tube disposed along the base pipe, and a tubular outer shroud disposed about respective portions of the shunt tube and the base pipe; a jumper tube coupling the shunt tube of the first completion joint to the shunt tube of the second completion joint; and a tubular sliding shroud disposed about at least one of the first and second completion joints and adapted to slide longitudinally to a run-in position, in which the tubular sliding shroud is disposed about the jumper tube and respective portions of the first and second completion joints, thereby covering the jumper tube. A method and apparatus are also provided.

In the process of completing an oil or gas well, a tubular is run down-hole and used to communicate fluids between the surface and the formation. During production, a well-screen assembly may be utilized to control and limit debris such as gravel, sand, or other particulates from entering the tubular and being communicated to the surface. The well-screen assembly is coupled to the tubular and includes several completion joints connected in series with one another. A gravel-packing operation may be utilized to form the filter around the well-screen assembly within the wellbore. During the gravel-packing operation, a slurry containing a particulate material is communicated from the surface to the wellbore. The particulate material is packed around the well-screen assembly to form a permeable mass, through which fluid is permitted to flow. Shunt tubes may be disposed longitudinally along the completion joints of the well-screen assembly to provide an alternate flow path for the slurry during the gravel-packing operation. The shunt tubes are in communication with the wellbore and operate to reduce sand-bridging during the gravel-packing operation, i.e., blockages formed in the wellbore by accumulated particulate material, which could inhibit the flow of the slurry around the well-screen assembly. The shunt tubes are susceptible to damage when the tubular and well-screen are run down-hole from the surface. However, a significant amount of time and tools are needed to install components capable of adequately protecting the shunt tubes before the completion joints are run down-hole. Therefore, what is needed is a system, assembly, method, or apparatus that addresses one or more of these issues, and/or other issues.

Shunt system with shroud secured by a locking member


A device for converting the visual and/or auditory into tactile representations includes imaging equipment for converting light and/or sounds, including spoken text, into electrical signals, processing equipment for processing the electrical signals, and a tactile display for converting processed electrical signals into tactile images. The tactile images are felt by the user enabling them to obtain visual or auditory information by touch about the world around them that would otherwise be obtained through vision and/or hearing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of imaging and robotic or machine implemented vision.
2. Background Information
Robotic vision is a growing field of research and development. Various image processing systems have been developed for guiding autonomous vehicles and the like through simple and complex obstacle courses. While robotic vehicles may be useful for transporting visually impaired individuals, they do not provide the individual with sensory information about the obstacles the robotic vehicle is navigating, nor control over the course the vehicle takes.
Visually impaired individuals are often able to self-navigate on foot through the use of various sensory clues, through the auditory, e.g., the sounds of traffic, or the tactile, e.g., the feel of objects tapped by a cane held in the hand. The sense of touch in a visually impaired individual may be heightened, and visually impaired individuals can "read" through the use of braille. If the person is also hearing impaired, the sense of touch may be additionally heightened.

Apparatus for converting visual images into tactile representations for use by a person who is visually impaired


A pyrido[3,2,1-jk]carbazol derivative represented by the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group which may be substituted with a halogen atom or with a 4-methyl-1-piperidinyl group, a hydrazino group or a ##STR2## group, Y represents an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an amino group, an alkanoylamino group or alkyl group, and n is 0, 1 or 2; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof having antimicrobial, anti-cancer and antiviral activities, and a process for preparing the same.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pyrido[3,2,1-jk]carbazol derivatives represented by the formula (I) hereinafter defined and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antimicrobial, anti-cancer and antiviral agents, a process for preparing the same and a pharmaceutical composition containing pyrido[3,2,1-jk]carbazol derivative.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known that certain types of polyheterocyclic compounds exhibit antimicrobial activities. For example, Gerster et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,609 discloses substituted derivatives of 1,2-dihydro-6-oxo-6H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinoline which are useful as antimicrobial agents or as intermediates for the preparation of antimicrobial agents.
Also, Gerster et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,896,131; 3,985,882; 3,969,463; 4,001,243 and 4,014,877 disclose 6,7-dihydro-1-oxo-1H, 5H-benzo[ij]quinolizine derivatives having antimicrobial activities.
However, the pyrido[3,2,1-jk]carbazol derivatives of the present invention are structurally different from these quinoline and quinolizine compounds.


The present invention relates generally to catheters for performing medical procedures including percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. More particularly, the present invention relates to guide catheters, diagnostic catheters and balloon catheters with an improved shaft design. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a catheter shaft comprising an elongate support member having an outer surface, the elongate support member preferably defining a lubricious liner; a first layer disposed over the lubricious liner, a second layer disposed over the first layer, a third layer disposed over the second layer, a fourth layer disposed over the third layer, and a fifth layer disposed over the fourth layer. In preferred embodiments, the first and third layers comprise an ultraviolet-curable epoxy which is cured to desired degrees at select axial locations on the shaft to provide desired stiffness.

The use of intravascular catheters has become an effective method for treating many types of vascular disease. In general, an intravascular catheter is inserted into the vascular system of the patient and navigated through the vasculature to a desired target site. Using this method, virtually any target site in the patient's vascular system may be accessed, including the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vasculature. Examples of therapeutic procedures utilizing intravascular catheters include percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Catheters can also be used in other body lumens or organs for treatment and diagnosis, including the fields of neurology, urology and gastroenterology.
Intravascular catheters and other common catheters are often used in conjunction with a guidewire. A guidewire may be advanced through the patient's vasculature until it has reached a target location. Once in place, a catheter may be threaded onto the guidewire and urged distally until the distal end of the catheter reaches a target location.
One type of common catheter is a guide catheter which can be utilized during coronary angioplasty procedures to aid in delivering a balloon catheter or other interventional medical device to a treatment site in a vessel or other lumen within the body. In one application, a routine coronary angioplasty procedure, a guiding catheter is introduced into a peripheral artery and advanced over a guidewire through the aorta until the distal end of the guide catheter is engaged within the appropriate coronary ostium. Next, a balloon dilatation catheter is introduced over the guidewire and through the guide catheter. In order to function efficiently, guide catheters generally have a relatively stiff main body portion and a relatively flexible distal portion, including a soft distal tip. The stiff main body portion gives the guide catheter sufficient pushability and torqueability to allow the guide catheter to be inserted percutaneously into a peripheral artery or other lumen and advanced adjacent a desired site. However, a distal portion of the guide catheter requires sufficient flexibility so it can track over a guidewire and be maneuvered through a tortuous path to the treatment site.
A second type of common catheter is an angiographic or diagnostic catheter which can be used in evaluating the progress of disease, such as coronary artery disease. Angiography procedures are used to view the patency of selected blood vessels. In carrying out this procedure, a diagnostic catheter is advanced over a guidewire through the vascular system of the patient until the distal end of the catheter is steered into the desired body lumen site. As with the guide catheter, variation in stiffness over the length of the catheter is desired to aid in achieving access to a desired site through the tortuous anatomy.
Another common type of catheter is a balloon dilatation catheter which is adapted for use with a guidewire and typically classified as over-the-wire (OTW) or single operator exchange (SOE) in design. An OTW catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending from the distal tip of the catheter to the proximal end of the catheter. SOE catheters were developed in response to difficulties encountered when exchanging OTW catheters. Accordingly, SOE catheters have a relatively short guidewire lumen relative to the length of the catheter. Therefore, the length of guidewire extending beyond the body of the patient need only be slightly longer than the guidewire lumen of the catheter.
When in use, intravascular or other catheters enter a patient's vasculature or other body lumen at a convenient location and then are urged to a target region. Once the distal portion of the catheter has entered the patient's vascular or other system, the physician may urge the distal tip forward by applying longitudinal forces to the proximal portion of the catheter.
Frequently the path taken by a catheter through the vascular or other system is tortuous, requiring the catheter to change direction frequently. In some cases, it may even be necessary for the catheter to double back on itself. In order for the catheter to conform to a patient's tortuous vascular system, it is desirable that intravascular catheters be flexible, particularly near the distal end.
Further, while advancing the catheter through the tortuous path of the patient's vasculature or other system, physicians often apply torsional forces to the proximal portion of the catheter to aid in steering the catheter. Torsional forces applied at the proximal end must translate to the distal end to aid in steering. It is, therefore, desirable that the proximal portion of an intravascular catheter have a relatively high level of torqueability to facilitate steering.
The need for this combination of performance features suggests that it would be desirable for a catheter shaft to have variable flexibility along the length of the catheter. More specifically, it would be desirable for a catheter to have increased flexibility near the distal end of the catheter shaft and greater stiffness near the proximal end.
One approach used to balance the need for pushability and torqueability while maintaining adequate flexibility has been to manufacture a catheter that has two or more discrete tubular portions over its length, each having different performance characteristics. For example, a relatively flexible distal section may be connected to a relatively rigid proximal section. When a catheter is formed from two or more discrete tubular members, it is often necessary to form a bond between the distal end of one tubular member and the proximal end of another tubular member. This method requires substantial manufacturing steps to assemble the various sections and makes it difficult to manufacture the entire shaft utilizing coextrusion technology. Further, the shaft design is limited by the predetermined flexibility characteristics of each section and can include relatively abrupt changes in flexibility at material changes. A need, therefore, exists for catheter shafts that can be easily manufactured, such as by coextrusion, and yet are capable of having a variable stiffness without assembling components of the shaft.

Catheter incorporating a curable polymer layer to control flexibility and method of manufacture