The invention relates to sutures and surgical staples useful in anastomoses. Various aspects of the invention include wound closure devices that use amphiphilic copolymer or parylene coatings to control the release rate of an agent, such as a drug or a biological material, polymerizing a solution containing monomers and the agent to form a coating, using multiple cycles of swelling a polymer with a solvent-agent solution to increase loading, microparticles carrying the agent, biodegradable surgical articles with amphiphilic copolymer coatings, and sutures or surgical staples the deliver a drug selected from the group consisting of triazolopyrimidine, paclitaxol, sirolimus, derivatives thereof, and analogs thereof to a wound site.

An important consideration in performing surgery is the "hand" or "feel" of the suture being used to close wounds. These are reflected by the knot "tie-down" and "run-down" characteristics of the suture. Tie-down characteristics refer to the ease with which a surgeon can tie a knot, and the ability of the suture to remain knotted without unraveling. Run-down characteristics refer to the ability of a surgeon to make one or more "throws" of a knot in the suture and have it run down a suture to the knot site. Generally, these characteristics relate to the lubricity and stiffness of the suture; lubricity facilitates the tying of a knot whereas stiffness makes tying a tight knot more difficult and increases the probability of kinking of the suture and/or unraveling of the knot.
Multifilament sutures, such as braided or twisted sutures, have better softness and flexibility than monofilament sutures and can be more easily knotted. However, multifilament sutures can have a rougher surface or more "grabbiness" than monofilament sutures and significant dead space (interstices) between filaments. The dead space can be reduced by impregnating the suture with a filler material. Filler material can help lubricate the suture fibers and enhance flexibility.
Many sutures materials are bio-absorbable and susceptible to hydrolysis. For these sutures, extreme care must be taken to rigorously exclude moisture during storage. For example, the strength of polyglycolic acid sutures undergoes significant deterioration during long term storage in the presence of even small amounts of water. Prior to packaging, these sutures are heated for an extended period to remove essentially all the water. They are then promptly packaged in a moisture free environment.
Due to various drawbacks in this approach, other approaches to improving the storage stability of absorbable sutures have been proposed. For example, it has been proposed to use filler material to improve the storage stability of multifilament sutures. In one example, the filler material contains at least one water-soluble liquid polyhydroxy compound and/or ester thereof. It has also been suggested that the polyhydroxy compounds can improve the hand of the suture and are capable of dissolving a variety of useful drugs and can be used as vehicles to deliver drugs to a wound site.
At present, many biocompatible polymers are known. For example, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a water-soluble polymer showing excellent biocompatibility and has been frequently used in biomedical applications. Similarly, polysiloxanes are widely used in the biomedical field and have been the subject of intense study both in the academic field as well as in industry.
Amphiphilic polymer networks have also been identified as potentially useful biomaterials. Amphiphilic polymer networks are co-continuous assemblages of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer chains that are able to swell in both hydrophilic solvents (e.g., water) and hydrophobic solvents (e.g., a liquid hydrocarbon). Because these materials swell in water, they generally fall into a class of compounds known as "hydrogels".
The first amphiphilic membranes for biomaterials were developed over a decade ago. These were networks of hydrophilic polymers with the hydrophobic crosslinking agent, di-methacryl-telechelic polyisobutylene (MA-PIB-MA). Synthesis was accomplished by living carbocationic polymerization, which involves free radical copolymerization and can use a variety of inexpensive, commercially available monomers, for example, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and dimethyl acrylamide.
Kennedy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,572 discloses the synthesis of styryl-telechelic polyisobutylene and amphiphilic networks comprising the copolymerization product of the styryl-telechelic polyisobutylene with vinyl acetate or N-vinyl-2-pyrollidone. Kennedy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,204 discloses an amphiphilic copolymer network swellable in both water and n-heptane but insoluble in either, comprising the reaction product of an acrylate or methacrylate of a dialkylaminoalkyl with a hydrophobic bifunctional acryloyl or methacryloyl capped polyolefin. The preferred embodiment disclosed is an amphiphilic network having been synthesized by the free-radical copolymerization of a linear hydrophobic acrylate (A-PIB-A) or methacrylate capped polyisobutylene (MA-PIB-MA) with 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). In a continuation-in-part to U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,204, Ivan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,381 discloses various amphiphilic copolymer networks that are swellable in water and n-heptane that comprise the reaction product of a hydrophobic linear acryloyl- or methacryloyl-capped polyolefin and a hydrophilic polyacrylate or polymethacrylate, such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) and 2-hydroxyethylmethyl methacrylate (HEMA).
Hirt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,944 discloses a copolymer of controlled morphology comprising at least one oxygen permeable polymer segment and at least one ion permeable polymer segment, wherein the oxygen permeable segments and the ion permeable segments are linked together through a non-hydrolysable bond. The oxygen-permeable polymer segments are selected from polysiloxanes, perfluoroalkyl ethers, polysulfones, and other unsaturated polymers. The ion permeable polymers are selected from cyclic imino ethers, vinyl ethers, cyclic ethers, including epoxides, cyclic unsaturated ethers, N-substituted aziridines, beta-lactones, beta-lactanes, ketene acetates, vinyl acetates and phosphoranes.
U.S. application Ser. No. 09/433,660 discloses an amphiphilic network comprising the reaction product of hydrophobic crosslinking agents and hydrophilic monomers wherein the hydrophobic crosslinking agents are telechelic three-arm polyisobutylenes having acrylate or methacrylate end caps and wherein the hydrophilic monomers are acrylate or methacrylate derivatives.
Sutures and surgical staples can be used for anastamoses. Anatomoses involves the joining of veins or arteries. During anastamoses, damage to the neointimal layers of the veins and arteries (the interior layers) occurs through physical manipulation and the device used for joining. This damage affects the healing process and can result in the failure of an arterial or veinous graft. There remains a long felt need for more successful anastamoses procedures.

Sutures and surgical staples for anastamoses, wound closures, and surgical closures


A guidance system is provided for a cotton picker. The cotton pickers commercially on the market have lifting plates on each of the gathering heads to lift the lower limbs of the cotton plant. To make the wands of the detection of the position of the row operate satisfactorily the limbs are bunched together by bunching plates above the lifting plates. The effective width of the bunching plates is adjustable by an adjustment plate on top of the bunching plate. The wands are straps of metal made from plate rather than rods, as generally used for crop detection purposes. The wands are mounted for pivoting about a shaft which extends from the bunching plate to the lifting plate.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to agriculture and more particularly to agricultural harvesting vehicles. Farmers are the ones having ordinary skill in this art.
(2) Description of the Related Art
As set out in the BARNES et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,799, it is desirable to have a vehicle which can be guided along a designated path. Normally the designated path by which the vehicle will be guided will be a row, which might either be a series of stalks as described in the BARNES et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,873, or it might be a furrow as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,799. The issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,990 identified above illustrates a Row Follower to follow the stalks.
An encoder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,873 is used to measure the deviation of the Row Follower from the vehicle to indicate the corrections to be applied to the steering mechanism of the vehicle as more fully set out in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,799.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,764 describes an encoder housing commercially on sale at the time this application was filed to structurally mount the encoder and to protect it from rough handling and from moisture as well as dust and sand.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,990 as well as the U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,769 are concerned with stripping cotton. In the process of stripping cotton all of the fruit (generally called bolls) on the stalk are stripped therefrom. Other harvesters, and more particularly cotton pickers, are widely used which harvest only cotton from open bolls by snagging the cotton on rotating spindles. In this process it is normal for the gathering head to include a lifting plate which, at least partially, lifts the limbs of the cotton stalk from a low position upon the ground to bring them into a position to be harvested by the spindles. However, care is normally taken with cotton pickers to only pick the open cotton and, as far as possible, to avoid damage or to prevent the removal of the un-open bolls from the stalk.

Structure for and method of bunching limbs of cotton plants


A backlight unit includes side emitting-type LEDs, a light guide plate, and an LED board. The light guide plate includes a light entering end surface, a light exiting plate surface, and an opposite plate surface. The LED board includes a plate surface attached to an edge of the opposite plate surface. A gap in a range from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm is provided between light emitting surfaces of the LEDs and the light entering end surface. The edge of each light emitting surface is at a position ΔD1 mm inner than an edge of the light entering end surface with respect to a thickness direction of the light guide plate. An edge of each light emitting surface is at a position ΔD2 mm inner than an edge of the light entering end surface. ΔD1 and ΔD2 satisfy relational expressions: ΔD2≥ΔD1 and ΔD2≥0.1.

A liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been known as an example of a liquid crystal display device that includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight unit. The liquid crystal display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes side-surface emission type LEDs mounted on a circuit board that is disposed in a thinner section of a reflection sheet. Patent Document 1 describes that optical axes of the LEDs and a middle of the light guide plate with respect to the thickness direction of the light guide plate are closer to each other according to such a configuration. Therefore, efficiency of incident light from the LEDs to the light guide plate improves.

Lighting device including a side emitting type light source for improved light efficiency and display device


A pulse repetition frequency (PRF) expanded display and coincident gating ectronic intelligence gathering circuit for incorporating in radar receivers having the capability of gating the PRF signals of unknown origin to sort out signals having a particular PRF or band of PRFs with accuracy and resolution in a digital readout, with switching modes and switching positions to present several modes of intelligence about the PRF emitter.

This invention relates to radar PRF measurement and sorting of unknown electromagnetic emitters and more particularly to PRF digital readouts.
All electronic intelligence (ELINT) gathering systems require on-board signal processing if useful information is to be derived from complex electromagnetic environments. Intercepted electromagnetic signals can be classified and sorted according to signal parameters such as radio frequency (RF), pulsewidth, and PRF. Signal separation using RF as a sorting parameter has been used quite successfully; however, it is now common for many different types of emitters to use the same RF band. For most ELINT environments the second most useful sorting parameter is the PRF. Unfortunately, the processing equipment available to the Fleet operator has been very meager in terms of PRF accuracy and resolution. If an operator sets out to monitor activity at a certain PRF, about the only PRF filter available has been that between his ears. The pulse analyzers available have been analog scale devices with little more than 5% accuracy and even this accuracy has been doubtful for multi-signal environment.

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


An apparatus for use in sensing electrical current in a conductor includes a flux concentrator and one or more magnetic flux sensors. The flux concentrator includes main sections which are formed of a magnetic material. One or more intermediate sections, formed of a nonmagnetic material, extend between the main sections of the magnetic flux concentrator. The main sections and intermediate section of the magnetic flux concentrator cooperate to at least define an opening through which a portion of the conductor extends.

The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for use in sensing electrical current in a conductor and more specifically to an apparatus which utilizes a sensor which is responsive to magnetic flux emanating from a conductor to provide an output signal which varies as a function of the current in the conductor.
Current transformers or toroids have previously been utilized to sense the amount of current passing through a conductor. Current transformers are relatively large in volume and mass. Several different size current transformers are required to accommodate various current levels. Current transformers are frequency sensitive and must be derated to thoroughly compensate for a continuous thermal current factor.
It has previously been suggested that a magnetic flux sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, could be utilized to provide an output signal which varies as a function of the amount of current being conducted through a conductor. Hall effect sensors have been positioned at different distances from the conductor. The use of magnetic flux sensors, such as Hall effect sensors, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,520; 4,587,509; 5,172,052; and 5,416,407.


An ultrasonic imaging apparatus for obtaining a tomogram image of an object to be diagnosed on a monitor is provided. The apparatus includes electroacoustic transducers, a phasing unit, a phase detection unit, a reference signal generating unit, and an adding unit. Electroacoustic transducers are provided in a lie along a surface of the object, emit ultrasonic waves to the object, detect the ultrasonic waves reflected therefrom, and convert them to electric signals as detection signals; a phasing unit is operatively connected to the electroacoustic transducers for receiving the detection signals, delaying them in accordance with distance between the electroacoustic transducers and the object, and phasing them to match the phase of detection signals. In addition, a phase detection unit is operatively connected to the electroacoustic transducers and a phasing unit for detecting the error of phase contained in the detection signals output from the electroacoustic transducers or the phasing unit, wherein the amount of delay previously set in the phase unit is corrected in accordance with the error; a reference signal generating unit is operatively connected to the phase detection unit for supplying a reference signal having the same frequency as that of the detection signal thereto; and an adding unit is operatively connected to the phasing unit to accumulate the detection signals phased by the phasing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging apparatus for obtaining a tomogram image of an object by using ultrasonic waves. The present invention is used mainly as a medical instrument for diagnosis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus is widely used as a medical instrument for obtaining a tomogram image of an object, for example, internal organs of a human body. Basically, the ultrasonic image apparatus has a plurality of electroacoustic transducers aligned along the surface of the object. The electroacoustic transducers emit ultrasonic waves to the object and detect the ultrasonic waves reflected therefrom. The detected ultrasonic waves are added to each other after a phasing process (i.e., matching all phases of detection signal) in accordance with a predetermined delay process for ultrasonic waves to obtain the phased detection signal, i.e., strengthened detection signal. After the above processes, it is possible to obtain an image signal focused at one particular point in the object. When electrically scanning the electroacoustic transducers, the focused point is straightly scanned so that it is possible to obtain the tomogram image of the object. Further, when controlling the time difference (below, the amount of delay), the focused point is curvedly scanned so that it is possible to obtain the tomogram image of the object.
In this case, a propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave is slightly different within the object caused by the medium forming the object. That is, the propagation speed for the adipose tissue is different from that of the muscle tissue. Accordingly, the delay process is very important for adjusting the different propagation speed of the ultrasonic waves to obtain the clear tomogram image of the object. That is, when the propagation speed is not uniform within the object, it is impossible to obtain a clear tomogram image of the object. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide the means for preventing the deterioration of the tomogram image caused by nonuniformity of the propagation speed of the ultrasonic waves within the object.


A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle, said method includes: permanently supplying an entire exhaust gas of a drive aggregate of the drive device to a turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger of the drive device via a variable turbine geometry and providing compressed air by means of a compressor coupled with the turbine for the drive aggregate; operating in at least one operating mode of the drive device in each operating point of the drive aggregate an electric machine, which is mechanically operatively connected with the turbine and the compressor, as a generator for braking the turbine; and braking the turbine by means of the electric machine the stronger the further a throttle flap arranged fluidly between the compressor and the drive aggregate is opened, while maintaining the operating point of the drive aggregate constant.

The invention relates to a method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle.
The drive aggregate serves for example for driving a motor vehicle, i.e., for providing a torque that is directed towards driving the motor vehicle. The drive device has the rive aggregate and the exhaust gas turbocharger. The exhaust gas turbocharger is assigned to the drive aggregate. Exhaust gas generated by the drive aggregate is thus supplied to the exhaust gas turbocharger or its turbine. The exhaust gas flows through the turbine, wherein kinetic energy and/or enthalpy of the exhaust gas is converted into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy serves for driving the compressor of the exhaust gas turbocharger, which is coupled with the turbine or mechanically operatively connected with the turbine.
The compressor compresses air, in particular fresh air, which is subsequently provided to the drive aggregate. The air compressed by the compressor may also be present in the form of an exhaust gas-air-mixture when an external exhaust gas recirculation is provided. The drive aggregate is for example configured as an internal combustion engine. As an alternative it can also be configured as a fuel cell. The exhaust gas turbocharger is or can be electrically supported. For this purpose the electric machine is provided, which is coupled or mechanically operatively connected with the turbine or the compressor. By means of the electric machine a torque can thus be provided which acts on a rotor assembly of the turbine or the compressor.
It would be desirable and advantageous to provide a method for operating a drive device, which has advantages compared to known methods and in particular enables increasing the efficiency of the drive device.

Method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle and corresponding drive device


A method and system of placing cells of an IC design using partition preconditioning. In one embodiment, cells of an integrated circuit design are grouped to model curvature of an objective function. The grouping produce a plurality of cell clusters. The model formed may be a binary tree. The curvature of the objective function for each of the cell clusters is estimated. Interactions between said cell clusters are described as a relation. A set of preconditioning values which achieves a separation of variables of the relation is determined. The preconditioning may be applied to a conjugate gradient placement process to advantageously decrease the number of iterations required to produce an optimized placement of the cells.

The rapid growth in complexity of modem electronic circuits has forced electronic circuit designers to rely upon computer programs to assist or automate most steps of the design process. Typical circuits today contain hundreds of thousands or millions of individual pieces or "cells." Such a design is much too large for a circuit designer or even an engineering team of designers to manage effectively manually.
One of the most difficult, complex and time-consuming tasks in the design process is known as cell placement, or, more simply, "placement." The placement problem is the assignment of a collection of connected cells to positions in a 2-dimensional arena, such that objective functions such as total wire length, etc., are minimized.
Conventionally, both the X and Y coordinates of the cells are determined simultaneously. There are many well-known tools commercially available to accomplish this task, for example, the "Physical Compiler" commercially available from Synopsys of Mountain View, Calif.
Modern chip design methods often involve combining both large design elements with smaller design elements. For example, a large element may be a random access memory, or RAM, which may be designed by an automated memory compiler. Other examples of large design elements include intellectual property blocks, or "IP blocks." Such IP blocks may implement complex functions, for example a processor core or a communications design, e.g., a UART, which were designed previously and made available for integration into future designs.
The smallest design element is typically a cell, which may implement a basic logic function, for example a NAND gate. Such cells may be used to integrate existing IP designs or memory blocks together, and/or to implement new designs.
It is not unusual for a large element to be three to six orders of magnitude larger than the smallest elements. For example, it is not uncommon for a RAM (random access memory) block or cell to comprise a chip area equivalent to the area of 75,000 to 100,000 individual cells.
Modern integrated circuit designs may comprise hundreds of thousands to several million individual cells that need to be placed efficiently. Even with powerful computer systems, the time required for a placement "run" may be measured in days. A successful integrated circuit design may take several such placement runs, interleaved with other design activities, for example, wiring and post-layout simulation.
The time required for a placement process is typically not linear with respect to the number of cells to be placed. For example, a typical placement process may require on the order of N1.5 time to process a design, where N is the number of cells. For example, a design of one million cells may take approximately 31 times as long to place as a design of one hundred thousand cells, an increase of only ten times the cell count.
Unfortunately, the processing requirements to place new chip designs are outpacing the rate of processing speed increases made available through advances in the computing arts. Consequently, improvements in integrated circuit design methods, especially for the placement problem, are highly sought after.

Placing cells of an IC design using partition preconditioning


The present invention relates to a cardboard notching machine which mainly consists of a body, a transmission group, a roller group, an adjustment group, and a forming group. The roller group is driven by the transmission group so as to feed in cardboards for notching and the forming group has forming cutters for notching cardboards, allowing the notching of cardboard to be performed and completed in one step on the notching machine according to the present invention. Due to the adjustment of gaps between the rollers of the roller group by means of the adjustment group, the forming cutters form notches in a vibrating manner which gives the notches more accurate depth and more smooth surfaces.

When making and binding general stamp albums and/or document binders, such as those shown in FIG. 7, it usually requires to form notches or grooves 7 on the thick cardboards used to make the albums and/or binders first, as shown in FIG. 8, so as to facilitate the folding and binding before an album, a book case, or a binder is formed. Normally, the notching or grooving of cardboards is done with notching or grooving machines. FIG. 11 illustrates an example of conventional cardboard notching machines wherein a motor 6 is used to drive the machine and a transmission belt 61 is used to feed in the cardboards, furthermore, a roller 62 is used to adjust the tension of belt 61. As shown in FIG. 12, inside each of such conventional cardboard notching machines, there are several sets of parallelly and symmetrically arranged forming tools 64 above the machine table 63, depending on the number of notching positions required and predetermined. When such a conventional notching machine is operated to do cardboards notching, the cardboards must be pre-pressed on a marking press in advance to form notch marks to facilitate the notching by forming tools 64 later. To do the notching, feed in a marked cardboard into the notching machine as shown in FIG. 12. When the cardboard is fed to the right forming tool 64, it is first notched to form deeper marks; when the cardboard further moves to the left forming tool 64, it is then grooved to form the notches with desired depth.
The drawbacks of such notching machine include:
1. A pre-marking of notch is first required on another marking press, i.e., a two-step process is required to complete the notching; and
2. The notched depth is not easily under control, because the forming tools 64 are fixedly mounted on the machine table 63 and the cardboards are fed with transmission belt 61 and are chiselled by the forming tools 64 while they pass through the same. The notches so obtained usually have rough surface and burs and therefore have reverse influences on the appearance of finished products of albums or binders.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to positively develop a notching machine for cardboards to eliminate the drawbacks existed in the conventional notching machines.


Provided is a relay system having a first node and a second node, and a third node and a fourth node provided opposing thereto with connected by VLAN paths, in which the first node notifies, via a second VLAN path, the fourth node of the APS packet in which a state of a first group is stored. The third node notifies, via a third VLAN path, the second node of the APS packet in which a state of a second group is stored. The second node and the fourth node use a fourth VLAN path and exchange the state of the first group and the state of the second group, and, when the states of the first group and the second group are SF-W of a first VLAN path and the self apparatus is master, switch the first VLAN path to the second VLAN path or the third VLAN path.

A link aggregation (hereafter, simply referred to as LAG) conforming with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.3ad has been known. The LAG is standardized as a technology for ensuring bandwidth of the transmission paths that form a network by a use of a plurality of physical links (physical lines) aggregated into one logic link (logic line). Further, in recent years, the LAG has been widely employed as a technology for ensuring redundancy in the transmission path.
However, while being able to cope with a failure that has occurred on a path that forms a transmission path by ensuring redundancy of the transmission path, the LAG is unable to cope with the failure that has occurred in a communication node that is a communication apparatus such as a switch and the like forming the network. Therefore, the MC-LAG (Multi-chassis LAG) has been proposed in which the LAG is applied with the technology for ensuring the redundancy of the communication node such as the Split Multi-Link trunking, the vPC (virtual Port Channel), and the like (refer to, for example, Non-patent Literature 1, Non-patent Literature 2, and Non-patent Literature 3). The MC-LAG is a technology for both ensuring the redundancy of the transmission path of one side (an access network side described later) and ensuring the redundancy in the communication node.
The MC-LAG will be described below. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a network built with the MC-LAG. A network 100 illustrated in FIG. 25 is formed with an access network 107A accommodating a communication node 102A, an access network 107B accommodating a communication node 102B, and a core network 108.
In the network 100, a communication node group 103A is located in the boundary between the access network 107A and the core network 108, and a communication node group 103B is located in the boundary between the access network 107B and the core network 108. The communication node group 103A includes communication nodes 110A and 110B (hereafter, referred to as boundary node(s)) that mutually monitor their states. Similarly, communication node group 103B includes boundary nodes 110C and 110D that mutually monitor their states. It is noted that the communication node group includes a plurality of logically integrated boundary nodes and thus operates as if it were one boundary node.
The communication node 102A and the communication node group 103A are connected by the LAG by a path connecting the communication node 102A to the boundary node 110A and a path connecting the communication node 102A to the boundary node 110B. In the connection between the communication node 102A and the communication node group 103A, either one of these two paths is used as an active path and the other is used as a backup path according to the control by the LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol).
Similarly, the communication node 102B and the communication node group 103B are connected by the LAG by a path connecting the communication node 102B to the boundary node 110C and a path connecting the communication node 102B to the boundary node 110D. In the connection between communication node 102B and the communication node group 103B, either one of these two paths is used as an active path and the other is used as a backup path.
Further, the communication node group 103A and the communication node group 103B are connected by four VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) paths. The four VLAN paths include a path 104A, a path 104B, a path 104C, and a path 104D. The path 104A is a VLAN path connecting the boundary node 110A to the boundary node 110C. The path 104B is a VLAN path connecting the boundary node 110A to the boundary node 110D. The path 104C is a VLAN path connecting the boundary node 110B to the boundary node 110C. The path 104D is a VLAN path connecting the boundary node 110B to the boundary node 110D. In the connection between the communication node group 103A and the communication node group 103B, either one of these four VLAN paths is used as an active path and the remaining paths are used as backup paths according to the control by the LDP (Link Distribution Protocol).
For example, when there is no failure occurring in any of the boundary nodes 110A to 110D and the paths 104A to 104D, the communication nodes 102A and 102B communicate using the VLAN path routing the boundary node 110A, the path 104A, and the boundary node 110C as the active path.
Here, it is assumed that a failure occurs in the boundary node 110C, for example. In this case, the communication node groups 103A and 103B and the communication node 102B select the backup path routing the boundary node 110A, the path 104B, and the boundary node 110D as the VLAN path connecting the communication nodes 102A and 102B according to the control by the LDP. The communication nodes 102A and 102B switch the path to the selected backup path and start a communication. As a result, the communication nodes 102A and 102B are able to avoid the disconnection of the communication due to the failure of the boundary node 110C.
Further, because the MC-LAG is a technology in which the LAG implementing the link redundancy is expanded, the link redundancy of the access network side in FIG. 25 is also implemented. For example, when a failure occurs in the link between the communication node 102B and the boundary node 110C, the link between the communication node 102B and the boundary node 110D is turned to be active and also the boundary node is switched from 110C to 110D. This allows the communication node 102B to maintain the connection to the core network 108 even when a failure occurs in the link of the access network 107B side.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-11082
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-78893
Patent Literature 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-232427
Non Patent Literature 1: "draft-ietf-pwe3-redundancy-02.txt", online, searched on Oct. 25, 2008, URL <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/pwe3/draft-ietf-pwe3-redundancy/draft-ietf-pwe3-redundancy-03-from-02.wdiff.html>
Non Patent Literature 2: "draft-ietf-pwe3-redundancy-bit-02.txt", online, searched on Oct. 25, 2008, URL <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/pwe3/draft-ietf-pwe3-iccp/draft-ietf-pwe3-iccp-02-from-01.diff.html>
Non Patent Literature 3: "draft-ietf-pwe3-iccp-02.txt", online, searched on Oct. 25, 2008, URL <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/pwe3/draft-ietf-pwe3-iccp/draft-ietf-pwe3-iccp-02-from-01.diff.html>
Non Patent Literature 4: "Split Multi-Link Trunking", online, searched on Oct. 25, 2008, URL <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split multi-link trunking>
In the network 100 illustrated in FIG. 25, however, no mechanism for implementing the redundancy of the paths 104A to 104D in the core network 108 side is provided. Thus, in general, the redundancy of the paths 104A to 104D is implemented by providing two paths each between opposing boundary nodes 110 in the core network 108 side. That is, in FIG. 25, two paths need to be provided to each of the paths 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D, which therefore requires eight paths in total. Thus, there is a problem of the increased line cost.
One of the aspects of the present technique is to provide a communication system, a communication method, and a communication apparatus that allows for implementing the redundancy to the path in the configuration in which one path is provided between each pair of the opposing boundary nodes in the core network side.

Communication system, communication method, and communication apparatus


A liquid applicator includes: an applicator body in which a storage tank for storing a paint is incorporated; brush elements, made up of multiple fiber bundles embedded on a base, parallel to each other in the axial direction so that the fiber bundles are directed forwards; and a valve element provided in the storage tank for allowing supply of the paint to the brush elements in the applying portion. This liquid applicator further has inside its front barrel, a blocking element formed with a liquid flow passage so as to block the paint supplied from the storage tank whilst partly allowing the paint to be supplied to the tip side of the front barrel by way of the flow passage.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid applicator for application of a liquid paint such as a liquid foundation or the like, and in particular relates to a liquid applicator having fiber bundles embedded therein.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, there have been various types of applicators for applying liquid paints such as liquid foundations and the like, which comprise a storage tank portion for storing a paint and an applying portion having a number of fiber bundles embedded on a base so as to supply the fiber bundles with the paint from the storage tank portion. In a typical configuration, a shut-off valve mechanism is provided between the storage tank portion and the applying portion so as to deliver the paint to the applying portion, as appropriate.
It is difficult, however, for an applicator using such fiber bundles to supply a multiple number of fiber bundles with a uniform amount of paint. That is, there occur problems in that the paint retention of the fiber bundles may differ one from another, causing uneven application on the applied surface, or in that if an excessive amount of paint is supplied to the fiber bundles the paint may drip therefrom.
To deal with these problems, a liquid applicator 100, for example, has been proposed by Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Sho 63 No.115479, in which, as shown in FIG. 1, a storage tank portion 120 has a shut-off valve mechanism 122, which permits a paint to be supplied to an applying portion 111 as appropriate while applying portion 111 delivers the paint thus supplied, to fiber bundles 111a by way of a liquid impregnated material 115 having continuous pores. With this method, the paint can be gradually supplied to fiber bundles 111a via liquid impregnated material 115, so that is it possible to prevent an abrupt excessive supply of the paint and occurrence of uneven paint application on the applied surface.
Further, in the prior art, the way a liquid is supplied is different dependent on the viscosity of the liquid used.
In a case, for example, where a liquid having a relatively high viscosity of 1000 mPaxc2x7s or greater is used, the liquid can be directly supplied to applying portion 111 from storage tank portion 120 without causing any splash when the liquid is ejected. On the other hand, when a liquid having a relatively low viscosity of 100 mPaxc2x7s or lower is used, provision of liquid impregnated material 115 such as sponge or the like between storage tank portion 120 and applying portion 111 as stated above makes it possible to retain the liquid at applying portion 111 and hence prevent spatter when the liquid is ejected.
However, when a liquid having a viscosity ranging from 100 to 1000 mPaxc2x7s is used, if the liquid is directly supplied from storage tank portion 120 to applying portion 111, the problem of the liquid splatter occurs when the liquid is ejected. In contrast, when the liquid is supplied by way of liquid impregnated material 115 as stated above, another problem occurs in that the liquid clogs the pores in liquid impregnated material 115, disabling air replacement, which makes ejection of the liquid difficult.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above conventional problems, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liquid applicator of a simple configuration which can supply a liquid to its applying portion without causing any uneven application on the applied surface or causing any liquid drip due to excessive supply and can still prevent occurrence of splatter when the liquid is ejected.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows:
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a liquid applicator includes: an applicator body in which a storage tank portion for storing a liquid is incorporated; an applying portion disposed on the front end side of the applicator body, in which a plurality of fiber bundles are embedded parallel to each other in the axial direction so that the fiber bundles are directed forwards; and a shut-off valve mechanism disposed in the storage tank portion for allowing supply of the liquid to the applying portion, and is characterized in that the applying portion includes a blocking element formed with a liquid flow passage so as to block the liquid supplied from the storage tank portion whilst partly allowing the liquid to be supplied to the tip side by way of the flow passage.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the liquid applicator having the above first feature is characterized in that the applying portion includes a base formed with an open portion at the approximate center through which the blocking element is arranged and having fiber bundles embedded around the open portion.
In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the liquid applicator having the above second feature is characterized in that the blocking element has a bar-like or plate-like configuration substantially parallel to the direction of the liquid to be ejected and has a hold to be kept by the base when the blocking element is set to the open portion.
In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, the liquid applicator having the above third feature is characterized in that the blocking element has a cutout that opens toward the storage tank side, forming an approximate U-shape in the plan view and is configured so that when the blocking portion is set to the open portion, part of the cutout is positioned further to the front side beyond the open portion, creating fluid communication between the tip side of the applying portion and the storage tank side by way of the cutout.
According to the present invention the following effects can be obtained.
That is, since the liquid applicator is configured so that the liquid is supplied from the storage tank portion to a number of fiber bundles in the applying portion by way of a shut-off valve mechanism, it is possible to achieve appropriate supply of the liquid to the applying portion without causing any uneven liquid distribution across the fiber bundles.
Further, since the applying portion has a blocking element formed with a liquid flow passage so as to block the liquid supplied from the storage tank portion whilst partly allowing the liquid to be supplied to the tip side by way of the flow passage, it is possible to achieve the optimal amount of liquid supply by forming a passage in conformity with the liquid viscosity. Thus, regardless of a liquid having a high or low viscosity, it is possible to supply the liquid to the fiber bundles without causing spatter.
Since the applying portion includes a base formed with an open portion at the approximate center through which the blocking element is arranged and having fiber bundles embedded around the open portion, the liquid supplied through the open portion from the blocking element can be uniformly distributed across the fiber bundles.
Since the blocking element has a bar-like or plate-like configuration substantially parallel to the direction of the liquid to be ejected and has a hold to be kept by the base when the blocking element is set to the open portion, the blocking element can be formed in a simple manner and can be mounted to the applying portion with a simple means.
Since the blocking element has a cutout that opens toward the storage tank side, forming an approximate U-shape in the plan view and is configured so that when the blocking portion is set to the open portion, part of the cutout is positioned further to the front side beyond the open portion, creating fluid communication between the tip side of the applying portion and the storage tank side by way of the cutout, it is possible to bring the liquid supplied from the storage tank portion to the front end side of the applying portion.


A backlight module including a substrate, a light source, a porous optical film, and a wavelength conversion optical layer is provided. The light source is located on the substrate. The porous optical film is disposed over the light source and has a plurality of emission structures, and the porous optical film distributes light generated by the light source to be emitted through the emission structures located at different positions of the porous optical film. The porous optical film has a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, the central region is disposed corresponding to the light source, and an area of the central portion is A. The wavelength conversion optical layer is located between the light source and the porous optical film, and a vertical projection area of the wavelength conversion optical film is B, where 0.49≤A/B≤5.

A liquid crystal display usually comprises a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module, wherein the backlight module mainly functions to provide a surface light source required for the liquid crystal panel to display. Generally, depending on the position of the light source, the backlight module can be divided into direct type and edge-lit type. The light source of the direct type backlight module is disposed directly below the backlight module, usually for a liquid crystal display of large size, and the light source of the edge-lit type backlight module is disposed at a side of the backlight module, usually for a liquid crystal display of small size.
In order to prevent non-uniform brightness formed on a liquid crystal display, an optical film is generally used to uniformize the brightness of the entire images and to maintain the entire images brightness without compromising the light source brightness. Optical films are mainly used in the existing technology to achieve the purpose of light uniformization and concentration. However, phenomena such as deformation (shrinkage) of an optical film and blue light leakage caused by the disposition of the optical film and the light source and the distance therebetween all result in poor brightness uniformity of images in the existing methods. Therefore, how to maintain the brightness uniformity of images is the theme for researching at present.

Backlight module with porous optical film and a wavelength conversion layer disposed above a light source where the optical film has a plurality of light emission structures


A display device of the present invention includes: an illumination device that emits light; first and second substrates provided opposite each other; and the first substrate being disposed closer to the backlight device than the second substrate is; and a plurality of microlenses (2) provided on the surface, opposite the backlight device, of the first substrate, the plurality of microlenses converging light (7) emitted from the illumination device, the first substrate having a plurality of pixels (Px) disposed in a matrix, each of the pixels including: a transparent region (Tr) through which light passes; and a reflective region (Rf) from which light is reflected, wherein the light (7) emitted from the illumination device is converged onto the transparent region (Tr) through the microlens (2), wherein an uneven section (19) with convexities and concavities is provided between the neighboring microlenses (2) on the surface of the first substrate which surface is opposite the illumination device (3). With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a display device which enhances efficiency in utilization of light emitted from the illumination device (backlight) and increases luminance of the display device without such display problems as bright lines and moiré.

Non-luminous display devices that use light emitted from an illumination device to perform a display include liquid crystal display devices, electrochromic display devices, and electrophoretic display devices. Among these, liquid crystal display devices are widely used, for example, in personal computers and mobile phones.
A liquid crystal display device applies a driving voltage to each of picture element electrodes regularly arranged in a matrix so as to change optical properties of a liquid crystal layer corresponding to an opening of the picture element. As a result, the liquid crystal display device displays images and characters thereon.
In a liquid crystal display device, TFTs (Thin Film Transistors), for example, are provided on a plurality of pixels as switching elements, respectively, in order to individually control the pixels. Also, lines are provided in order to supply a predetermined signal to the switching elements.
However, with a TFT (switching element) provided on each pixel, the luminance deteriorates since the pixel area decreases. Furthermore, the switching element and the line cannot be smaller than a certain size due to restrictions that arise from the electric properties and the manufacturing technology. An example of the restrictions arising from the manufacturing technology is the limitation of etching accuracy in photolithography in the order of 1 μm to 10 μm. Therefore, with development of a liquid crystal display device reduced in size with high definition, the following problem becomes significant: The smaller a pixel pitch, the lower open area ratios, and the lower luminance.
As a measure of solving the problem of a low luminance, there is a method in which a light-converging element is provided corresponding to each pixel in a liquid crystal display device so that light emitted from an illumination device is converted onto a transparent region of each pixel. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a semi-transmissive (transmissive-reflective) liquid crystal display device having a transparent region and a reflective region, wherein a light-converging element such as a microlens is provided.
A semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device has been developed in recent years to be used suitably in a bright environment for mobile phones, for example. A semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device has a pixel including (a) a transparent region that performs a display in a transmissive mode with the use of light emitted from a backlight, and (b) a reflective region that performs a display in a reflective mode with the use of ambient light. Display can be performed in the transmissive mode, the reflective mode, or both modes together, depending on the environment in which the liquid crystal display device is used.
In such a semi-transparent liquid crystal display device, a reflective region needs to be large to some extent so that a predetermined brightness is secured in performing a display reflectively. This results in decrease in area ratio of the transmissive region to the pixel, thus decreasing luminance in the transmissive mode.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method for converging light with a high degree of efficiency. According to the method, a semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device includes (i) a reflective plate having an opening and (ii) a light-converging element, such as a microlens, both of which are provided on one surface of a substrate disposed on the backlight side, which surface is on the liquid crystal side. As a result, light which is projected from the backlight into the microlens is converged onto an opening provided on the reflective plate.
According to the arrangement described in Patent Document 2, the reflective plate and the microlens are disposed on the same surface of the substrate and on the liquid crystal side. This makes it possible to contain the reflective plate inside, optimize a distance between the microlens and the reflective plate, and fine alignment between the opening of the reflective plate and the microlens.
Patent Document 3 discloses the following method for increasing light conversion efficiently. According to the method, the base of a microlens is circular or hexagonal. The microlenses and transmissive regions of pixels are arranged in a staggered pattern, and the microlenses are in a one-to-one correspondence with the transmissive regions. Further, the focal point of the microlens is placed at the center of the transmissive region of the pixel. As a result, light-converging efficiency of the microlens (efficiency in utilization of light projected from an illumination device) is improved.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-109417 (published on Apr. 23, 1999)    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-333619 (published on Nov. 22, 2002)    Patent Document 3. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-255318 (publicized on Sep. 10, 2003)

Display device and liquid crystal display device


Mobile terminals having a plurality of planar inverted-F antennas placed in close proximity of each other and methods of fabricating and using such mobile terminals are provided. Generally, planar inverted-F antennas, such as dual band CDMA, GPS, and Bluetooth antennas, cannot be placed in close proximity of each other without having interference. Accordingly, notch filters are provided in a dual band CDMA antenna to mitigate the interference and to facilitate isolation between the antennas.

The development and refinement of wireless communication services and devices continues to occur at an extremely rapid pace. One problem associated with wireless communication devices relates to determining a physical location of a device. It can be highly desirable to locate a wireless communication device for a variety of purposes, such as when there is reason to believe that a subscriber associated with the device is experiencing an emergency situation, or when the device has been misplaced. Position location is also desired in applications such as personnel and asset tracking, information services, gas/food/lodging locations services, and entertainment. A solution to such problem must be carefully considered within cost, size, and power consumption limitations of wireless communication systems and devices.
When an individual calls 911, for emergency assistance, the call is typically passed along by a telecommunications carrier to a local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which is responsible for dispatching police, fire and medical services. For a caller from a landline telephone, the PSAP can precisely identify the caller's location and telephone number even if the caller does not know his or her location. However, there is a dilemma when the caller is a wireless telephone user.
Today, wireless subscribers make a significant number of emergency calls. The PSAPs, however, are unable to pinpoint the location of these callers. Many wireless networks do not provide the PSAP with Automatic Number Identification (ANI) or Automatic Location Identification (ALI). Without the caller's ANI and ALI, the PSAPs have no means for re-establishing contact with these callers or identifying the location of the caller. This is important in case the call is cut off and cannot be reestablished by the caller, or for the PSAP to establish the nearest appropriate emergency facility to send. Furthermore, in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requiring mobile communications operators to detect the position of a cellular telephone calling 911.
However, on a mobile phone or terminal, there is generally one portion of the phone that is desirable for GPS antenna placement. In a talk position, the desirable antenna placement for GPS is in a same area as that of the mobile phone's dual band antenna. A problem is that the close proximity of the GPS antenna to the dual band antenna means that any noise or spur from the dual band antenna, falling in the GPS band, may severely desensitize the GPS receiver. This can lead to non-compliance with the FCC directive, e.g., the inability to acquire and process GPS signals—such is the case even if the GPS and dual band antennas perform well independently.
In addition to position location, mobile phone service providers are building out infrastructure to provide much more than just voice functionality to mobile handsets. Higher data rates and multiple frequency bands for GSM, PCS, 802.11 and Bluetooth are needed to allow interactive game playing, near-real time streaming video, audio downloads of music and even formation of ad-hoc networks with other nearby users or devices. This presents an additional problem of adding another antenna to the mobile phone or terminal.
One solution to the aforementioned problems is to situate the internal antennas at different locations in the mobile phone or terminal. However, in such situation, at least some of the antennas will not be at an optimal location, as they might be covered by the user's hand. Another solution is to switch off a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) module's transmitter during Global Positioning System (GPS) operation. However, this is also undesirable, as the modules are not able to function at the same time. Accordingly, an improved system or methodology for antenna configuration is desired.

Notch filters in planar inverted-F antennas for placing a plurality of antennas in close proximity


The present invention is directed to a RIM process and an isocyanate reactive composition for use therein. The isocyanate composition includes an amine terminated chain extender and an aromatic amine terminated polyether of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an n-valent group obtained by the removal of hydroxyl groups from an n-hydroxy group containing polyhydroxyl compound having a molecular weight of from about 300 to about 12,000,. R.sub.1 represents hydrogen or an inert substituent, PA0 R.sub.2 represents hydrogen, an amine group, or an inert substituent, and PA0 n represents an integer from 2 to 4.

Reaction injection molded (RIM) polyurethanes are well known in the art and have met with substantial commercial success. U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,543 describes the use of relatively high molecular weight hydroxyl group containing materials, aromatic diamines as chain extenders, and isocyanates for the production of RIM parts.
More recently, the activity in the art has been towards the production of polyurea RIM parts. Typically, these parts are made from relatively high molecular weight polyethers which contain amine groups, diamine chain extenders, and isocyanates. Typical of the materials used and the technologies known in the art are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,396,729, 4,433,067, 4,444,910, 4,530,941, 4,774,263 and 4,774,264. As is known in the art, RIM parts are generally produced from two separate streams. One stream generally contains the isocyanate component, while the other stream contains the amine-containing polyether and the amine chain extender. Amine-containing polyethers where the amine groups are attached to aromatic groups are generally too viscous for use in conventional RIM machinery, while amine-containing polyethers where the amine groups are attached to aliphatic moieties are too reactive to be used alone with conventional aromatic isocyanates. One object of the present invention was to provide a mixture of amine-containing reactant and amine chain extender having a substantially reduced viscosity and thus improved flow characteristics. Additionally, this improvement in flow properties would have to be achieved without adversely affecting the physical properties of the final RIM part.
Compounds having terminal aromatic amine groups and having the general structure: ##STR2## are known. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,250, X is defined as oxygen or sulfur, n is an integer of from 2 to 8, and R is defined as an n-valent radical obtained by the removal of hydroxy or mercapto groups from an n-valent polyether or polythioether having a molecular weight of from 600 to 10000. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,940 and 3,929,863 describe similar compounds where R is based on a polyol or polythiol having a molecular weight of less than 600. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,975,428 and 4,016,143 describe similar compounds prepared by reacting isatoic anhydride with a compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups and at least one tertiary nitrogen group and having a molecular weight of from about 119 to about 1000. Similar compounds are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,136,091, 4,169,206, 4,186,257, 4,228,249 and 4,260,557. Para-substituted compounds are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,504,648 and 4,515,981. Finally, similar para-, meta- and di-meta-substituted compounds are broadly suggested in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,328,322 and 4,732,959. While all of these references describe that the compounds disclosed can be used to manufacture polyurethane products, none describe the use in a polyurea RIM process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,416 and U.S. application Ser. No. 183,556, filed on Apr. 19, 1988, and U.S. application Ser. No. 266,725, filed on Nov. 3, 1988, describe similar compounds where the aromatic group is connected via ether groups. Both references broadly suggest the use of such amines in a RIM process.


A control apparatus controls a timer activated irrigation system. A catch pan has a vertically extending wall and a floor. The wall defines a top thereof. The wall and floor define a basin. The catch pan has an overflow construction into which water from the basin can flow. The catch pan is pivotally mounted about a substantially horizontal axis. A biasing structure is adapted to bias a portion of the catch pan spaced from the pivot upwardly. When water in the basin is below a selected depth the upwardly biased portion of the catch pan rotates upwardly into a first orientation. When water in the basin is at least the selected depth the upwardly biased portion of the catch pan rotates downwardly into a second orientation. Water collecting structures collect irrigation water and rain water and deliver them to the basin. A cover structure prevents rain from flowing into the basin other than via the rain collecting structure. A control structure controls the irrigation system so as to replace local cumulative ET by adjustment of frequency of irrigation, lengths of irrigation cycles and/or flow rate of irrigation water during irrigation cycles.

Irrigation system controllers deliver water for set periods of time on a fixed schedule. The frequency of delivery can be manually adjusted and the time period can be adjusted. For example, the frequency can be set at once every three days and the time period can be set at one hour. This schedule will remain in effect to supply an average need until changed by the user. Also, it is possible to adjust the water flow rate during a water delivery period, i.e., the amount of water being delivered per minute.
If there is a period of cool overcast days with some local showers it may be that the average three day allowable soil moisture depletion will not occur for seven rather than three days following the previous irrigation cycle. Regular fixed irrigation schedules will then overwater, causing delayed plant growth, a boost in fungus growth and a waste of water.
The user can make a guess as to the degree of moisture depletion and adjust manually by changing the frequency or duration of the irrigation cycle, or the rate of delivery of water during an irrigation cycle, but this requires constant monitoring of micro-climate changes and seasonal changes. The soil moisture depletion is measured by and coincides with cumulative evapotranspiration numbers--a measure of the inches of precipitation needed for replacement of the depletion, occurring over a given period of time, usually of a turf grass field as a standard. The desired situation is a matching of the amount of water delivered, whether delivered naturally or by an irrigation system, with the evapotranspiration of a particular field planted with a particular crop (The term crop as used herein includes not only fruit and vegetable products which might be intended for human or animal consumption but also decorative crops such as lawns, shrubs, trees and the like). The prior art has not provided an adequate and inexpensive answer to this problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,345 to Ross, Jr., et al discloses a simple mechanical system which utilizes a bucket to receive a small portion of the irrigation water flow and to act as a counterweight which shuts off an irrigation valve when sufficient water has been collected in the bucket. The system of this patent will serve to prevent activation of an irrigation system when there is sufficient rain or sufficient into-the-air-sprinkled irrigation water to fill the bucket. The system is exposed and can be readily damaged, for example by vandals. There is no provision for adjusting the rate of evaporation of the captured water and no control of the amount of water which can enter the bucket. It is not adaptable for irrigation systems which do not spray irrigation water into the air but instead flow it through ditches or deliver it below the surface of the soil.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,201 of Geiger discloses a misting control that includes a liquid collecting and sensing element that has a screen element which collects only a thin film of water. The sensing element pivots about an axle in response to the presence of the thin film of water and activates or deactivates the misting system via a terminal block.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,117 to Gallacher discloses an irrigation control system having a receptacle that is mounted for vertical movement in response to the level of water in the receptacle. Movement of the receptacle is also dependent upon a spring mounted beneath the receptacle. The receptacle is filled when the irrigation system is on via water from a pipe. The receptacle may also be able to collect rain water.
Other arts have utilized pivotally mounted tanks or containers balanced at one end by a spring to determine the level in a tank. U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,200 to Miller, et al and U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,605 to Graham each disclose such systems. Such systems are not used, however, for control of activation of irrigation systems. The Miller, et al patent is concerned with a level indicator for a thermoplastic melting apparatus and the Graham patent is concerned with a level indicator for a fluid power transmission system.
There are two factors which make up evapotranspiration (ET). These factors are evaporation (E) from the soil and from plant surfaces and transpiration (T), i.e., the evaporation that takes place within plant leaves and the vapor that diffuses into the air through the stomata on the leaf surfaces. The ET on any particular day is a function of the weather, season, crop age, crop size and surface roughness. Generally, values for reference evapotranspiration (Eto) are available for different locations throughout the country. The ETo approximates the actual ET of a large field that is not water stressed. ETo can be directly measured but is often calculated from weather data. Other information which is available relates to a crop coefficient (Kc) which will allow values to be determined for the daily evapotranspiration for a particular crop (ETc). The relationship is ETo x Kc is equal to ETc. Publications which discuss the determination of daily reference ETo include Determining Daily Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo), Leaflet 21426, Turfgrass Evapotranspiration Map Central Coast of California, Leaflet 21491, and Estimating Water Requirements Of Landscape Plantings--The Landscape Coefficient Method, Leaflet 21493, all published by the Cooperative Extension University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
It will be noted that the prior art systems for controlling irrigation have generally not been adjustable or designed to take into account the evapotranspiration of a specific region having a specific crop growing thereat.

Timer activated irrigation system control


A paintball or other gelatin capsule has a printed image applied to its shell before encapsulation using a gelatin ribbon printing machine. The printing machine includes a motor driven cylindrical casting drum, a cylindrical print roll having a pattern formed on and around its outer periphery, said print roll being positioned relative to said casting drum so that said gelatin ribbon is sandwiched in between and in contact with both said casting drum and said print roll and so that the print roll is rotary driven by said casting drum solely through frictional contact with the gelatin ribbon. A rotary ink roller is in contact with the print roll to drives the ink roller solely through frictional contact between said print roll the inking roller. A doctor blade is configured to scrape excess ink from said inking roller. A method of printing on a gelatin capsule is also provided.

Considering the wide use of encapsulation by modern industry, there is a need to mark capsules with indicia or a pattern for identification or aesthetic purposes. Marking capsules in their final state is difficult and expensive, requiring extra labor and chemicals that may cause adverse effects to consumers. Thus, printing on the gelatin ribbon prior to the encapsulation process is more a cost-effective and accepted practice.
There is known U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/236,669 for "Method and apparatus for printing a ribbon for packaging gelatin capsules" invented by Cruttenden, Holland, Tidy, and Rowe. This application uses a transfer station to mark the gelatin ribbon prior to encapsulation. The transfer station comprises a print roll (a flexographic printing plate wrapped around a cylinder) that picks up ink off an inking roller immersed in an ink tray. The transfer station is located along the gelatin ribbon's path between the casting drum and the oiling station. The print roll is in contact with the passing gelatin ribbon, driven by a motor at the same speed as the ribbon and depositing indicia or a pattern onto said ribbon. However, this application presents several disadvantages over the present invention. Firstly, it is over twenty times more expensive than the present invention: it requires sensitive and complex components such as a stepper motor, an encoder, prologic controls, speed controllers, air cylinders, and a gear drive assembly. Secondly, this application requires electricity and an air compressor to function. Considering the multitude and inter-dependence of components, this application is more prone to failure and down-time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of printing an image on a gelatin capsule


An analog reproducer unit for a seismic exploration vessel includes a discriminator for checking the repetition rate of recorded strobe pulses to discriminate valid strobe pulses from noise. The valid strobe pulses are used to store digital samples in a digital memory. These digital samples are retrieved from a magnetic record produced in an on-bottom seismometer unit.

This invention relates to an analog reproducer unit for the exploration vessel which retrieves seismic records produced in an ocean-bottom seismometer.
T. J. G. Francis et al, "Marine Geophysical Researches" (1975), 195-213, describe three ways of retrieving seismic information from the ocean floor. A self-contained instrument may be attached by a rope to a surface ship or buoy; a transducer package may telemeter its data to a surface ship buoy or land station for recording; and a completely independent instrument of the "pop up" type may record data in its self-contained memory. The latter type instrument has been referred to as an on-bottom seismometer. These instruments have the advantage that they are easier to place on a particular bottom feature; the instrument is more secure from being tampered with than one which is connected to a surface buoy, and less system generated noise is associated with this type of instrument than one employing a mooring or a telemetry link.
Attempts to use ocean-bottom seismometers for refraction surveys have generally used a continuously running tape recorder to record the data. Avedik et al, "Ocean Bottom Refraction Seismograph (OBRS)", Marine Geophysical Researches 3 (1978), 357-379, describes an ocean bottom seismometer used for refraction surveys. In this system the seismic data are encoded with pulse width modulation. A tape recorder is set to start at a preset time. This tape recorder runs continuously at a very low speed to record the pulse width modulated data. U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,658--Avedik et al discloses and claims some features of this unit.
Johnson et al, "A Direct Recording Ocean Bottom Seismometer", Marine Geophysical Researches 3 (1977), 65-85, describes another system using a continuously running tape recorder.

On-board analog reproducer unit for ocean-bottom seismometer


In one aspect, kits for constructing an apparatus are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate desirable modularity, adjustability, and reconfigurability. A kit for constructing an apparatus described herein comprises a plurality of modular blocks and fastening sleeves, sleeve pins and coupling pins for connecting the modular blocks to one another. A modular block comprises a series of first apertures for receiving one or more of the fastening sleeves and series of second apertures for receiving the sleeve pins to secure the fastening sleeves in the first apertures, wherein the second apertures intersect the first apertures.

Many tools, modules, components, and laboratory equipment devices are generally usable in a wide variety of configurations and orientations. As a result, it is often desirable to customize support structures, holders, fasteners and similar assemblies for particular applications. However, in many applications, customized assemblies or structures require custom-made parts or components, which can be costly and/or time consuming to design and manufacture. Further, many custom arrangements are not suitable for certain other applications, configurations, or orientations. In addition, customized apparatus, assemblies, structures, holders and/or fasteners can require adjustable settings for optimal utility. Therefore, there exists a need for improved components for constructing such apparatus, apparatus constructed with improved designs, and improved methods for constructing apparatus.

Modular kit for construction of apparatus including positioning mechanisms

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE


A method and system for viral marketing is described. Using the method and system, recruiters may be associated with recruits. Recruiters may be compensated based on activities of recruits. The traceability of a recruit to a recruiter permits analysis of efficacy of the recruiter and recruitment techniques employed. The improved traceability is achieved due to the ability to trace any recruited user associated with an identifier of the recruiter.

1. Field
The present invention is related to search engine technologies including human-assisted search engines and, more particularly, to method and system for viral marketing of a search service.
2. Description of the Related Art
Viral marketing techniques have become a popular method for marketing products. The systems work on the ability to give away a service such as email (hotmail or Gmail for example) in order to generate a user base. Viral marketing works on a few simple principles. There must be an easy way to tell others about the service. The service must be able to scale rapidly to accommodate user growth. People must have a basic motivation to spread the service, such as socializing, or being popular due to being the first kid to find the cool new band, etc. It must utilize existing communication resources such as email, blogs, IM, telephone mail, etc. so that the message passes rapidly to large numbers of people. Lastly, it should utilize resources which are outside the perimeter of the service itself.
Such techniques have propagated many types of services. Popular sites such as YouTube™, Facebook® and products like Adobe® Acrobat®, or the Netscape® Navigator internet browser were enabled by viral marketing techniques. However, such systems do not attempt to provide a 'genomic path' wherein the person who recruits a user can be recognized for the person's recruitment effort. Likewise, there is no metric to determine which methods of getting the word out were most effective since any user looks just like every other user.
Marketing methods which provide traceability of recruitment allow recruitment efforts to be recognized and compensated. In addition, the effects of marketing campaigns can be measured. However, such techniques have not been applied to viral marketing.
In light of the above and other problems there is a need for a method and system for traceable viral marketing.

Method and system for promotion of a search service


A microarray apparatus is provided which contains at least one chip having source and drain electrodes positioned on an array of carbon nanotube transistors which allows for electronic detection of nucleic acid hybridizations, thereby affording both increased sensitivity and the capability of miniaturization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus containing microarray binding sensors having biological probe materials using carbon nanotube transistors and various methods for detecting binding of biological target materials thereto.
2. Description of the Background
DNA microarrays are powerful tools in molecular biology, and generally contain an array of hundreds to tens of thousands of genes spotted on a solid substrate, and which is used to identify and quantify unknown gene samples. The microarray technique is predicated upon the property that nucleic acid hybridization is highly specific, i.e., cytosine binds only to guanine and thymine to adenine. Thus, a specific sequence of nucleic acids, for example, 5′ ATCATC3,′ will preferentially bind with its complementary sequence, 3′ TAGTAG5.′
DNA microarrays are invaluable techniques for high throughput monitoring of gene expression at the transcription level, determining genome wide DNA copy number changes, identifying targets of transcription factors, sequencing and, more recently, for profiling micro RNA (miRNA) levels in cancer. The central dogma in molecular biology is that DNA is transcribed to ribonucleic acid (RNA), and the information in the RNA is used to make proteins, by a process called translation. Since the function and metabolism of the cell is regulated by the protein produced in the cell, many diseases caused by gene mutations, such as cancers, can be studied by monitoring the gene expression. Thus, the identification and quantification of genes is of particular interest. It is important to know the particular gene or genes that contribute to a certain phenotype, and also the amount of the gene that signifies the level of the gene expression. There are diseases, however, which are not necessarily caused by gene mutation or change in DNA sequence, but which are caused by an abnormal amount of the gene or abnormal level of gene expression. High throughput gene identification enables researchers to quickly identify the genes that undergo mutations in a certain disease. Comparative gene expression compares the level of gene expression, between a cancerous cell and a healthy cell, for example. In a typical DNA microarray experiment that relies on fluorescent detection, comparative gene expression is done by labeling the genes in one cell with one color of fluorescent reporter molecules, and genes in the other cell with another. The relative intensity of each color is a direct measure of the abundance of the genes from the two cells. Given the versatility of DNA microarrays, the impact thereof on healthcare is expected to be quite significant if DNA microarrays can be deployed widely and inexpensively. It will enable rapid diagnosis of diseases, as well as enable drugs to be tailored to each patient to achieve highest effectiveness.
The first reported DNA microarray was fabricated on nylon membranes using cDNA clones and utilized radioactively labeled targets for detection. Since then, many large-scale DNA microarray platforms have been developed, which have included, double-stranded cDNA, single stranded short 25mers (Affymetrix), mid-sized 30mer (Combimatrix) or long 50-70mers (Nimblegen or Agilent) oligonucleotides. All of these methods rely upon various combinations of enzymatic amplification of the nucleic acid and fluorescent labeling of targets, hybridization, and amplification of signal followed by detection by optical scanners.
In a microarray experiment, an array of known single stranded DNA sequences, called probes, is immobilized on a substrate and later exposed to an unknown set of target genes (or single stranded DNA sequences) that have been chemically tagged with fluorescent molecules. In places on the array where the probe and target sequences are complementary, hybridization occurs and the locations of these specific binding events are reported by the fluorescent molecules.
A major hurdle of using DNA microarray as a clinical tool is that the technique is laborious, requires complex protocols, requires large amounts of reagents, and suffers from low signal to noise ratio and rapid optical degradation. While significant strides have been made in fluorescent-based DNA microarray technology, the methodologies are often time-consuming and in addition rely on the determination of fluorescence intensity and the sensitivity is thus limited by the ability to detect small numbers of photons. Moreover, fluorescent molecules suffer from photobleaching, which means that the fluorescent molecule will stop to fluoresce after receiving a certain amount of excitation.
A variety of DNA detection schemes has been reported in the literature. The detection mechanisms involve detection of the existence of the reporter molecules or tags, such as radioisotopes, fluorophores, quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, or enzymes, for example. A brief survey of known fluorescent based DNA microarray, and other label-free electronic field effect DNA detection schemes is described below in subsections 1) and 2).
1. Fluorescence-Based Microarrays
Typically, microarrays are microscope glass slides spotted with thousands of different genes. The array does not have built-in reader. The detection is performed using a fluorescence scanner after hybridization with fluorescent-tagged target DNA. There are two ways to make microarrays: (i) spotting cDNA or oligonucleotides onto the substrate with a robotic spotter, or (ii) direct oligonucleotide synthesis on the solid support. A robotic spotter uses thousands of capillary pins dipped into wells containing different kind of genes and transports the genes onto a functionalized solid substrate to create gene spots. Another approach, such as the one employed by affymetrix, uses direct oligonucleotide synthesis on the substrate. The ingredients are solutions of the four nucleotides: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine which bear light sensitive protecting group. The process starts with a quartz wafer that is coated with a light-sensitive chemical compound that prevents coupling between the wafer and the first nucleotide of the DNA probe being created. Lithographic masks are used to either block or transmit light onto specific locations of the wafer surface. The exposed spots are now ready to couple with a nucleotide. The surface is then flooded with a solution containing either adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine, and coupling occurs only in those regions on the glass that have been deprotected through illumination. The coupled nucleotide also bears a light-sensitive protecting group, so the cycle of deprotection and coupling until the probes reach their full length, usually 25 nucleotides.
2. Field Effect DNA Detection
In general, many field effect based biomolecule detection schemes resemble the structure of ISFET (ion sensitive field effect transistor), which was first introduced by Bergveld in 1970. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 17(1): 70-71 (1970). ISFET is similar to the conventional MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor), except that the metal layer is replace by an ion-sensitive membrane, an electrolyte solution and a counter electrode. EISFET (electrolyte-insulator-silicon FET) is another acronym that refers to the same structure. The drain source current is modulated by field effect from the ions that can reach the oxide. ISFET technology has been so well-developed that it has made its way to the market as pH meters. Souteyrand et al. is the first to demonstrate label-free-homo-oligomer DNA (18-mer and 1000-mer of poly(dA)DNA) hybridization detection using silicon ISFET. Journal Physical Chemistry B, 101(15): 2980-2985 (1997). They observed a shift in the flat-band potential of the underlying semiconductor in response to the increase of surface charges induced by hybridization between the complementary homo-oligomer strands. Several other papers demonstrating successful field effect DNA detection using silicon ISFET structure are mentioned below. Pouthas et al. demonstrated field effect detection of 5 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM of 20-mer oligonucleotide and emphasized the need for low ionic buffer. Physical Review E, 70(3): 031906 (2004). Fritz et al. were able to detect in real time as dilute as 2 nM of 12-mer oligonucleotide. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 99(22): 14142-14146. They utilized poly L-lyssine (PLL) to immobilize the probe DNA, and claimed that real time rapid hybridization at low ionic buffer (23 mM phosphate buffer) was enable by the positively charged PLL surface that compensated for electrostatic repulsion between complementary DNA strands. Peckerar et al. demonstrated detection of 1 fM 15-mer DNA. IEEE Circuits & Davies Magazine 19(2): 17-24 (2003).
Thus, current methods for detecting DNA rely upon various combinations of enzymatic amplification of nucleic acids and fluorescent labeling of targets, which entail enzymatic manipulation of the nucleic acid being tested and chemical labeling, respectively. These methods are both time consuming and afford limited sensitivity.
Further, while more recently, DNA microarray technology has been deployed as a tool for monitoring gene expression patterns and profiling of micro RNA (miRNA) in normal and cancerous tissue, quantification of changes has typically been optically-based. While this technique is highly sensitive, use of optical methods impedes progress in both system miniaturization and in direct interfacing with data collection electronics.
Hence, a need exists for a method of detecting DNA that overcomes these disadvantages.

Apparatus for microarray binding sensors having biological probe materials using carbon nanotube transistors

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


A movable handle includes a movable member and a seat, both of which can be made of a plastic, a metal or a composite material. The movable member includes a main body and a bent portion. The main body can be bar-shaped, block-like, ball-shaped, wedge-shaped or in any other suitable shape, and the bent portion can be bent inward, outward or in any other direction relative to the main body. The main body of the movable member is movably assembled to the seat, and the seat is connected to a first object, such that the movable member is indirectly connected to the first object via the seat and can be turned or moved upward and downward or leftward and rightward on and relative to the first object.

Conventionally, the mounting structure on a handle for connecting the handle to a chassis of an electric product or some other object usually includes a threaded hole provided near an end of the handle and a through hole provided on the chassis or the object. A screw is extended from a rear side of the through hole to be locked to the threaded hole on the handle, such that the handle is fixed to the chassis or the object. With the above mounting structure, the handle connected to the chassis or the object is not permitted to move, such as to rotate or to move upward and downward or leftward and rightward, relative to the chassis or the object. To provide a movable handle, other special assembling structure must be additionally designed. In the case of a conventional movable handle assembling structure that involves a relatively complicated structure, it requires increased manufacturing cost and is therefore less competitive in the market. On the other hand, in the case of a conventional movable handle assembling structure that involves only simple screws or nuts, the screw heads or the nuts will have one side in contact with one surface of the handle. When the handle is operated and turned, it tends to bring the screws or the nuts to rotate along with it to finally cause loosened screws or nuts. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to develop a movable handle that has simple structure and does not require high manufacturing cost, and can be turned or be moved upward and downward or leftward and rightward without the problem of causing loosened screws or nuts.


Disclosed is a system for adjusting a voltage balancing of cells in a lithium ion multicell battery pack. The system comprises a vertical interface outputting inputs of a reading balance signal defining a voltage reading period and a balance period and a reading hold signal holding a cell voltage when reading a voltage; an interface outputting an address clock for designating an address of a cell to be controlled and an input of a balance hold signal for independently reading a cell voltage within a voltage balance period; and a control section of a cell balancing adjusting circuit connected to the vertical interface and the interface and receiving signal outputs therefrom to adjust a balancing of cells.

In general, a battery power supply unit is an electric power source supplying an energy to a related electronic device and a multicell battery pack is applied as the supply unit. By using the multicell pack, rather than a single cell, it is possible to apply a high voltage or to increase a capacity. However, since the cell itself has charge/discharge characteristics, a voltage of each cell tends to be unbalanced as time goes by.
The voltage difference between the cells in the battery pack may generate an un-balancing between the battery cells, thereby causing a capacity loss of the battery pack. With regard to this, it has been developed various battery balancing systems and methods for balancing each cell so as to prevent overcharges of all battery cells and to uniformly charge the cells.
For example, there is a method of allowing a current to flow to a high voltage cell of cells in a battery pack through a resistance and the like so as to adjust a battery balancing. Although this method is simple, it has a disadvantage that a discharge current is increased and heat is much generated if the number of unbalanced high voltage cells is increased. In addition, the method has also a disadvantage that the balance is adjusted to a cell having the lowest voltage of the cells in the battery pack.
In addition, there is a method of allowing a charge current to flow to a low voltage cell of cells in a battery pack so as to adjust a balancing. This method uses a DC-DC converter and has advantages that an efficiency is generally high and heat is less generated.
However, the method has also a disadvantage that a cell voltage of the entire battery pack becomes lower than its original lowest voltage if the number of low voltage cells is increased.
Further, there is a method of detecting a voltage irrespective of whether a balance current flows in a cell or nor when detecting voltages of cells in a battery pack. This method has disadvantages that there occurs a voltage drop due to the balance current and a voltage cannot be correctly detected in a system of adjusting a balance with a high current or a system of commonly using a path in which the balance current flows and a voltage detection path.
For example, in case that a balance current flows to a cell, a terminal voltage of the cell is complicatedly changed due to a change of the balance current. Accordingly, when there is a cell in which the balancing current flows, if a voltage is read irrespective of the balancing current, voltage values of the respective cells are differently read even though all the cells are balanced.
The above case is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system commonly using a path in which a balance current flows and a voltage detection path in a lithium ion cell battery of the prior art and FIG. 2 is a view showing voltage values read in a lithium ion cell battery of the prior art.
Referring to FIG. 1, in case that load current flows through a load device 5 in a voltage balancing adjusting apparatus according to the prior art, terminal voltages of cells are sensitively changed according to variances or magnitudes of the load current. In addition, in case that it is performed a boost balancing for a cell (B1) and a buck balancing for a cell (B2) by a balance current control section 4, when voltages of cells (B1, B2, B3, B4) are detected, voltage values of the respective cell terminals are differently read even though voltages of all cells are substantially balanced. As a result, a CPU 3 decides that each of the cells is unbalanced, and thus outputs a balance control signal to control a balance current control section 4.
Referring to FIG. 2, if the cell terminal voltages are read when the balance current does not flow in the battery balancing system, it can be seen that the terminal voltages of the cells (B1, B2, B3, B4) are constantly balanced. Accordingly, the CPU 3 decides that the voltage of the cell terminal is balanced. However, if the cell terminal voltages are read when the balance current flows, the CPU 3 decides that the voltages of the cell terminals are out of balance.
Like this, if the CPU 3 reads the terminal voltages of the cells when the balance current flows, the read voltage values of the cells may be different due to a voltage drop resulting from the balance current.
Accordingly, the battery balancing system according to the prior art has diverse condition limitations. For example, it performs a voltage balancing only when the system itself is not operated. Due to the limitations, the voltage balancing operation becomes complicated, an unnecessary time is consumed and an accuracy of the voltage balancing is decreased.
Therefore, it is required a battery balancing system or method capable of eliminating a voltage reading error of cells in a cell system, rapidly performing a voltage balancing and increasing an accuracy of a voltage balancing.

System for controlling voltage balancing in a plurality of lithium-ion cell battery packs and method thereof


A portable nuclear fuel cartridge comprising a unitary support structure and a plurality of nuclear fuel assemblies that collectively form a nuclear fuel core. The nuclear fuel core is integrated into the unitary support structure to collectively form a self-supporting assemblage than can be lifted as a single unit. In another aspect, the invention is a method of fueling and/or defueling a nuclear reactor utilizing a nuclear fuel cartridge that is loaded and/or unloaded from the nuclear reactor as a single unit. In another aspect, a nuclear reactor core is provided that comprises a nuclear fuel core comprising; a plurality of first nuclear fuel assemblies, each of the plurality of first nuclear fuel assemblies having a first transverse cross-sectional configuration; and a plurality of second nuclear fuel assemblies, each of the plurality of second nuclear fuel assemblies having a second transverse cross-sectional configuration that is different than the first transverse cross-sectional configuration.

A typical nuclear reactor core in a light water reactor comprises tightly packed "nuclear fuel assemblies" (also referred to as nuclear fuel bundles) of square cross section. Each nuclear fuel assembly is an assemblage of multiple "nuclear fuel rods" which are sealed hollow cylindrical metal tubes (e.g. stainless steel or zirconium alloy) packed with enriched uranium fuel pellets and integral burnable poisons arranged in an engineered pattern to facilitate as uniform a burning profile of the nuclear fuel assembly (in both the axial and cross sectional/transverse directions) as possible. Heretofore, in prior systems, each of the nuclear fuel assemblies are handled individually and loaded/unloaded from the stationary nuclear reactor located inside the reactor vessel one at a time, which has proved to be a cumbersome and time consuming process. Periodically, spent nuclear fuel assemblies are removed and unloaded on a piecemeal basis from the nuclear reactor core, which are then placed in a spent fuel pool for temporary storage. These spent nuclear fuel assemblies are later moved from the spent fuel pool to a fuel storage facility using transport canisters (such as multi-purpose canisters) and/or casks. New nuclear fuel assemblies are then inserted and loaded on a piecemeal basis into the nuclear reactor core. As can be imagined, this process requires lengthy unit refueling outages to complete all of the necessary nuclear fuel assembly replacements.
The leakage of neutrons from the periphery of the fuel core is minimized by a so-called "reflector," which, as its name implies, serves to reflect the outgoing neutrons back towards the core. The reflector girdles the core, minimizing its physical space with the peripheral fuel assemblies. The square shaped fuel assemblies however, are not conducive to making efficient use of all available space within the core circumscribed by the reflector leaving unused regions between the core and reflector.
In view of the above, an improved reactor core is desirable. Additionally, improved apparatus and methods for fueling and/or defueling nuclear reactors are also desirable.

Nuclear fuel core, nuclear fuel cartridge, and methods of fueling and/or defueling a nuclear reactor