An arrangement is disclosed for a motor controller, the arrangement including a number of power semiconductors and cooling elements, the cooling elements being connected to the power semiconductors for cooling them. The power semiconductors and the cooling elements are disposed around a center axis of the arrangement in such a manner that they demark a channel around the center axis from at least three sides, to which channel cooling surfaces of the cooling elements extend and in which the cooling medium is able to flow in the direction of the center axis, and the power semiconductors extend from the connections between the power semiconductors and the cooling elements substantially away from the center axis. The arrangement can further include at least one choke disposed in the channel demarked around the center axis.

An inverter is an electrical device enabling generation of a voltage with a variable frequency. One example of an inverter is a converter bridge implemented by IGB transistors (IGBT, Insulated-gate Bipolar Transistor) or other power semiconductors. Inverters have been used in connection with motors for controlling them with a variable frequency or, correspondingly, when electrical power is transmitted back to the network, whereby the inverter generates a voltage with a frequency that corresponds to the frequency of the network. Such an inverter feeding the network is referred to as a network inverter.
An inverter may also be a part of a frequency converter used for controlling a motor or another load, for example. Known frequency converters are formed of two converters, (e.g., a rectifier and an inverter) between which there is a direct-voltage or direct-current intermediate circuit. The rectifier and the inverter may also be positioned physically separated from each other and one rectifier may feed several inverters via a common intermediate circuit or, alternatively, several rectifiers may feed one inverter. An example of a rectifier is a diode bridge or a thyristor bridge.
Frequency converters can also include one or more choke devices. Examples of such choke devices used in or in connection with frequency converters include an input choke connected to the input of the rectifier of the frequency converter, and an output choke connected to the output of the inverter of the frequency converter.
Frequency converter structures presently in use include an input choke, an input bridge, a capacitor bank and an IGBT module. A structure-specific electrical circuit may also contain a brake power module (brake chopper) and an output choke (e.g. LC, LCL or LCR connection). Up to protection class IP20 (Ingress Protection), mechanical devices are constructed with one blower, in which the main flow of cooling medium, such as air, is conveyed to the cooling element of the power semiconductors and to other objects by the kind of distribution they use. The cooling element can, as a rule, be a one-part or a multi-part element, the parts being bunched together with support mechanics.
In protection class IP21 or in higher protection classes, the electronics space (what is called clean room) and the space for the cooling element (what is called dirty room) are separated from each other for practical reasons. In order for both spaces to have the right amount of air, both spaces can be provided with a blower of its own. The possible input choke can be positioned on the dirty side, either in a separate air space or in the space following the cooling element. Alternatively, the possible AC input choke may also be replaced by a DC choke connected to the intermediate circuit but in this case, too, the mechanical position of the choke is in the same place. The possible structure-specific output choke can be positioned mechanically in the same place as the input choke. In some structures, the possible chokes are positioned completely outside the device, in which case they can be, due to the cooling and their own support mechanism, larger in size than they would be if integrated.
Known inverter and frequency converter structures or motor controller structures can be problematic, for example, with regard to arranging the cooling. Although the size of the cooling element or elements has continuously been on the decrease owing to more accurate designing, smaller losses and physically smaller power semiconductors, the amount of air (or amount of another cooling medium) relative to the outer dimensions of the device has even increased. Also, distribution of a sufficient amount of air can be, for example, performed using a large blower at a low blasting rate, taking into account the power, sound and service life of the blower. For this reason, the space used by the cooling is, relative to the size of the device, rather large in known solutions. This is further emphasized in, for example, IP21 or higher protection classes.


Suture devices, particularly useful in endoscopic surgery, include a suture device made of bioabsorbable material having an elongate body member with a sharp distal end for penetrating tissue and means for locking the suture device in tissue to prevent forward and rearward movement and a suture device made of bioabsorbable material having a hinge-like joint for folding a distal portion at a precise location to be juxtaposed with a proximal portion for adjustable locking. Methods of using the suture devices for joining tissue sections, such as in tuboplasty, for closing anatomical lumens and for subcuticular suturing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surgical suture devices and, more particularly, to suture needle-like suture devices made of bioabsorbable materials particularly useful in endoscopic surgery and methods of suturing using such suture devices.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Suturing of bodily tissue is a time consuming part of most surgical procedures including both open surgery and endoscopic or closed surgery. By open surgery is meant surgery wherein the surgeon gains access to the surgical site via a relatively large incision, and by endoscopic surgery is meant surgery wherein the surgeon gains access to the surgical site via one or more portals through which endoscopes are introduced to view the surgical site and through which instruments, such as forceps, cutters, applicators and the like, are introduced to the surgical site. There are many common endoscopic surgical procedures, including arthroscopy, laparascopy (pelviscopy), gastroentroscopy and laryngobronchoscopy, for example. In the past, suturing has been accomplished with the use of a sharp metal suture needle attached to the end of a length of suture material, the suture needle being caused to penetrate and pass through the tissue pulling the suture material through the tissue. Once the suture material has been pulled through the tissue, the surgeon ties a knot in the suture material, the knotting procedure allowing the surgeon to adjust the tension on the suture material to accommodate the particular tissue being sutured and control approximation, occlusion, attachment or other conditions of the tissue. The ability to control tension is extremely important to the surgeon regardless of the type of surgical procedure being performed; however, knotting of the suture material is time consuming and tedious work, particularly in microsurgery and endoscopic surgery. That is, in microsurgery suturing is necessarily time consuming due to the small size of the suture needle and the suture material and the concomitant difficult manipulation required to pass the suture needle through the tissue and to tie a knot in the suture material. With respect to endoscopic surgery, suturing and tying knots represents an even more time consuming procedure due to the difficult maneuvers required. Accordingly, while endoscopic surgery would be preferred for most procedures, the advantages are often outweighed by the disadvantages caused by the length of time required to complete the endoscopic surgical procedure, which time is greatly extended due to the time required for suturing. Another disadvantage of suturing with a metal suture needle and suture material during endoscopic surgery is that the suture needle is difficult to hold and manipulate and can be easily dropped. Should the suture needle be dropped, open surgery with its attendant disadvantages must be performed to find and remove the needle.
There have been many attempts to provide devices to take the place of conventional suturing with a suture needle and a length of suture material; however, such prior art devices have essentially been staples, clips, clamps or other fasteners not providing the adjustable tension obtained by the surgeon while knotting a length of suture material U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,277 to Weston, U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,089 to Noiles, U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,326 to Beroff et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,746 to Aranyi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,926 to O'Holla, U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,202 to Duncan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,469 to Golden, No. Barkley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,741 to Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,280 to Dorband et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,917 to Barrows et al and U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,337 to Smith et al are representative of such prior art devices for use in place of conventional suturing. Many of these prior art devices are made of bioabsorbable materials such that the devices are absorbed over time into the bodily tissue and do not have to be removed after the bodily tissue has healed.
There exist many compositions useful as bioabsorbable materials, as represented by the above patents and by U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,773 to Schmitt et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,499 to Schneider, U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,087 to Shalaby et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,565, U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,591 to Kaplan et al and U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,921 to Koelmel et al which discuss characteristics of various bioabsorbable materials and medical devices desirably manufactured of such materials, such medical devices being of a type designed to be engaged in, embedded in or otherwise attached to various types of bodily tissue, such as bone, muscle, organs, skin and other soft tissue, to remain in place in the tissue until the device is absorbed into the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,497 to Lemole discloses a suture device formed of a needle with a piercing point extending from a latch cord carrying notches designed to pass through a latch collar, the latch cord being resilient to be curved upon itself to form a suture stitch without requiring tying of a knot; however, the latching function does not provide the same feel and tension control as knotting a length of suture material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,202 to Duncan uses similar structure in a tissue fastener device in that serrations or angled barbs are provided on spaced legs passing through tissue to be engaged by an apertured receiver or a flexible filament mesh. U.S. Pat. No. 3,123,077 to Alcamo discloses a surgical suture carrying raised projections or depressions or teeth such as barbs or spicules to snag or penetrate tissue to effectively hold a sewed incision or wound.
Endoscopic surgery is preferred over open surgery due to the greatly reduced trauma and wound healing time for the patient and due to concomitant cost savings associated with shorter hospital stays and performing surgery without general anesthesia and in non-hospital or out-patient surgery sites. Accordingly, there has been much effort spent to develop techniques for facilitating the suturing normally performed by use of a metal suture needle and a length of suture material. Alternative techniques proposed have included electrical coagulation, mechanical devices such as clips, clamps and staples, and lasers; however, no well accepted alternative has yet been found in that suturing and tying are essential and vital parts of most surgical procedures. That is, to date the proposed alternatives have had disadvantages, including increased risk to the patient, while not providing the surgeon with the advantages of suturing and tying and not being useful in a wide range of procedures to allow expansion of the areas in which endoscopic surgery can be effectively performed. Thus, there is a great need for suture devices, particularly useful in endoscopic surgery, that allow surgeons to suture and tie knots in a manner with which they are familiar without undue concern as to the loss of the suture needle and further for suture devices that allow controlled approximation of tissue and tying to produce controlled tension.

Suture devices particularly useful in endoscopic surgery


A planet gear train based torque detector is provided with idler gears between an input shaft and an output shaft wherein a rotation of the input shaft rotates the idler gears which rotate the output shaft, and a force is applied to a tangent line between each idler gear and the input shaft; peripheral resilient members, each having a fixed first end and a second end for receiving force applied thereon by the revolution of idler gears; and at least one strain gauge, each attached on one resilient member for measuring a deformation at the resilient member due to the revolution of the idler gears. A torque between the input shaft and the output shaft is obtained by calculating the deformation. The resilient members parallel the input shaft.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to devices for monitoring stress and strain in rotating machineries and more particularly to a planet gear train based torque detector capable of measuring deformation of each resilient member and calculating torque output based on the deformations.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a rotating machinery is equipped with a torque sensor for measuring torque output. However, how to precisely measure torque output and mount a torque sensor in a limited space of the machinery is an issue to be addressed. Many patent literatures are disclosed for solving the issue. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,172,774 and 8,302,702; U.S. Publication Numbers 20100139432 and 20150135856; and Taiwan Utility Model Numbers M451,316 and M417,320 all disclose a strain gauge type sensing device for measuring torque output of a rotating machinery.
A typical strain gauge is a thin metal strip formed of metal wires having both ends attached to a torque responsive signal processing device. The strain gauge is mounted on a part of a rotating machinery. Resistance of the strain gauge may change in response to deformation formed on the part of the rotating machinery. Value of the torque can be determined based on the resistance change.
However, the torque sensing structure and its strain gauge attaching position is not ideal to detect the strain transferred from applied torque, at the meantime there exists a problem of oversized structure space. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,774 discloses a plurality of strain gauges arranged on a plurality of shear webs of a torque transmitting gear. Torque transmitted along the gear teeth can cause deformation of each shear web. However, the measured strain is the combination of normal strain and shear strain. Thus, torque applied on the gear cannot be correctly determined by measuring deformations of the shear webs. Thus, its torque measurement is not correct. More strain gauges are needed to measure normal and shear strains in order to increase correctness of the measurement. However, it can adversely increase the cost and the complexity. Further, a distance between the shear web mounted with the strain gauge and a center of the gear should be long enough in order to correctly measure normal and shear strains. However, it adversely increases size.
U.S. Publication No. 20100139432 discloses a transducer mounted on a housing and co-axially fixed to an axle. The transducer is shaped as a disc and has a hub co-axially fixed to the axle. The hub has a plurality of webs on a periphery. At least one strain gauge is attached on a hub of the disc mentioned before for measuring torque of the rotating axle. However, the disc has a low efficiency in transferring torque. That is, the force on the webs caused by the torque is distributed to all area of the disc. Thus, less deformation of the strain gauge is generated by the force. As a result, its torque measurement is not accurate. Further, it is not easy to reduce the size at radial direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,302,702 discloses attaching a strain gauge on a torque transferring element, and a ring gear mounted on a center of the torque transferring element for measuring torque of the ring gear by using the strain gauge. Torque is transferred from the center of the ring gear to the torque transferring element having the strain gauge attached. Thus, a bending moment is applied to an edge rib of the torque transferring element having the strain gauge attached. However, its torque measurement is not accurate due to the existence of the bending torque. Further, it is not easy to reduce the size at radial direction.
U.S. Publication No. 20150135856 discloses a force or torque sensor for measuring force or torque generated when a moving member encounters obstacles as a means of safety. The force or torque sensor also forms a hub coaxially connecting to a rotational element. Rims are provided on edge of the hub. A plurality of beams are provided on the edge of the rim and radial locations between the edge of the hub and the rim. A strain gauge is provided on each beam. Load on the beam is a bending load which can be expressed as a compressional force or tensional force. The strain gauge can sense strain formed on the beam, thereby measuring the force or torque. Above arrangement is not fully disclosed by the publication. Further, the provision of the strain gauge on each beam, for the purpose of increasing measurement correctness, greatly increases the structural complexity and is not economical. Further, it is not easy to reduce the size at radial direction.
Taiwan Utility Model Numbers M451316 and M417320 both disclose mounting a sleeve on a crank arm, and a strain gauge on the sleeve for measuring strain of the sleeve when torque is applied thereon. The strain is converted into a digital signal representing the strain and the signal is sent to an electric motor to control its output. It has the benefit of decreased size. However, additional devices such as a transformer and a wireless signal transmitter are required to be incorporated into the arrangement because the strain gauge is mounted on the moving device (sleeve). This adversely increases the structure size.
Notwithstanding the prior art, the invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.


The invention relates to switchable band filter apparatus for switching signals on-board a satellite, enabling signals of different and unforeseeable bandwidths to be switched between multiple input ports and multiple output ports. The invention also provides various payload architectures using such apparatus. Finally, the invention provides methods of implementing such apparatus and architectures for performing transparent switching of signals on-board a satellite.

With progress in satellite telecommunications, continuous growth is observed in satellite capacity in terms of the number of communications channels that can transmit in this way via the satellite, and also in terms of the throughput of each channel. In order to maximize the efficiency of a satellite in terms of service given for money invested, attempts are made to extend satellite lifetime as much as possible while simultaneously increasing both the quantity and the quality of the service that can be provided.
To this end, it is necessary to minimize the use of any resource that is necessary for implementing and operating the space segment of a satellite telecommunications system, and in particular: the mass and the size of the vehicle and its on-board equipment; and on-board electrical power consumption; and it has already become necessary to conserve radio spectrum which is a limiting resource of which ever-increasing use is being made.
Several of these criteria are facilitated by using a plurality of narrow beams for down links, each beam being formed to optimize its "footprint" on the ground, so as to waste a minimum amount of energy radiated outside the region of the earth which is to be served by the beam. The beams are formed by high-gain antennas on the satellite, each beam having the main lobe of its radiating antenna pointing towards its service region.
Thus, a major portion of state of the art telecommunications satellites use an increasing number of narrower and narrower beams for down links. Depending on the type of antenna used for forming these beams, their positions (ground coverage) may be fixed or variable (steerable). In all cases, this progress gives rise to a problem that is at the core of the present invention. The satellite needs to pick up a signal coming from a given location, and to retransmit it to another location on a down link. The problem which then arises is a switching problem whereby the signal from a given receive antenna is conveyed through the electronics of the payload to a particular transmit antenna. The problem becomes more complex with growth in the number of channels or signals to be processed simultaneously, multiplied by the number of different destinations for said signals.
By analogy with the past of terrestrial telecommunications by radio beam, the term "channel" is used to mean a band of frequencies about a central frequency. Also for reasons of past history, this term as used in space refers to the authorized subdivision of the transmission spectrum into channels that are 36 MHz or 72 MHz wide, that being the conventional bandwidth of transponders for applications in telephony or in television. In contrast, for switching purposes, the concept of a channel may be generalized to that of a path followed by a signal between a source and a destination. For satellites that are presently in orbit, this generalization of the concept "channel" coincides with the above conventional definition.
In the prior art, satellite payload systems are known that enable channel switching to be performed on board the satellite, between an input port and an output port. The need for this switching capacity is fundamental, e.g. to ensure redundancy for key components that may fail. For example, in the event of a power amplifier breaking down, it is necessary to be able to switch signals to another, backup amplifier so as to be able to continue to provide the link.
Conventionally, such switching is performed by electromagnetic switches on waveguide transmission lines for channels having a bandwidth of 36 MHz or 72 MHz. In such systems, it is important to minimize the number of switches and waveguide lines because of the weight and the bulk of such components. As a result, this constraint constitutes a major constraint in the prior art with respect to designing payload architecture. Thus, transmission systems have been designed to maximize the traffic that can be conveyed by an architecture of this type in channels of 36 MHz or 72 MHz.
In particular, in order to be enable to convey the calls of an increasing number of customers through a payload whose number of channels must remain the same throughout the life of the satellite, signal encoding systems such as time division multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division multiple access (FDMA) have been devised. Signals encoded in this manner can convey the calls of a very large number of customers simultaneously, providing the customers use the same waveguide switch configurations as exist on board the satellite. In general, the configuration represents a path between a receive antenna and a transmit antenna on board the satellite, and by extension a path between an up link beam and a different down link, thus between an originating geographical location and a different destination geographical location on the terrestrial globe.
This kind of system clearly lacks flexibility as soon as numerous users that are geographically dispersed desire simultaneously to communicate with geographical locations that are covered by different beams. In addition, different users have different requirements concerning the bandwidth necessary for their calls, with this depending on the required data rate. An object of the present invention is to provide communications apparatus that enables a larger number of users to be served simultaneously, even in the event of very wide geographical dispersion between the originating locations of the signals and the destination locations of said signals, and which thus makes it possible to serve with maximum efficiency the variable-bandwidth requests of the various users.

Space communications apparatus employing switchable band filters for transparently switching signals on board a communications satellite, payload architectures using such apparatus, and methods of implementing the apparatus and the architectures


Microfluidic devices are described that include a microfluidic channel, a first array of one or more magnets above the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the first array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the first array, and a second array of one or more magnets beneath the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the second array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the second array. The first array is aligned with respect to the second array such that magnetic fields emitted by the first array and second array generate a magnetic flux gradient profile extending through the channel. An absolute value of the profile includes a first maximum and a second maximum that bound a local minimum. The local minimum is located within the microfluidic channel or less than 5 mm away from a wall of the microfluidic channel. Methods of using the new devices are also described.

Magnetic cell separation is a technique in which magnetic fields are used to isolate cells within a fluid sample. Typically, magnetic particles are selectively attached to one or more desired cells using antibodies that bind to the cell surface. Cells having the attached magnetic particles then can be confined or deflected within a microfluidic device using an applied magnetic field to isolate the magnetically labeled cells from other analytes in the fluid sample. In some instances, the flow velocities, and thus the shear forces exerted on the cells, approach zero near the fluid channel walls of the device. This can result in the cells binding non-specifically to the walls, such that the cells aggregate, e.g., in the form of plaques on the walls. When large sample volumes are processed such plaque aggregation limits the sample volume that can be processed. In addition to clogging the device, the plaque aggregates can disrupt microfluidic device operation when large chunks of plaque break off ("burp") from the primary plaque aggregate on the channel wall. These chunks of plaque can contain hundreds or thousands cells and their behavior in the microfluidic device may be unpredictable and difficult to control.

Microfluidic sorting using high gradient magnetic fields


A probe card test interface is described. The probe card test interface includes a first frame configured to support a probe card circuit card assembly (CCA). The probe card CCA is configured to contact a semiconductor wafer with one or more test probes. The first frame is also configured to support a first group of electrical contact points, the first group of electrical contact point being electrically coupled to circuitry of the probe card CCA. A second frame is coupled to a test interface CCA, where the test interface CCA includes a second group of electrical contact points. A number of actuation devices are slidably mounted on the second frame. The actuation devices have a tip member configured to engage a lip of the first frame when the corresponding actuation device is moved to an engagement position. When all of the actuation devices are in the engagement position, simultaneous actuation of the actuation devices moves the first frame toward the second frame to couple the first and second groups of electrical contact points. The first group of electrical contact points is supported by the first frame such that the probe card CCA experiences little or no deflection during actuation of the actuation devices, thereby preventing damage to the probe card CCA.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to apparatus for testing semiconductor wafers, and more specifically to a system, method and apparatus for coupling a universal test interface with a probe card system for testing with a wafer prober.
2. Related Art
In a wafer prober, a probe card is an interface between an electronic test system and a semiconductor wafer. The purpose of the probe card is to provide an electrical path between the test system and the circuits on the wafer, thereby permitting testing and validation of the circuits. Testing is typically done before the circuits are diced and packaged.
During development of a probe card, cables are manually connected to and/or removed from any of several access test points on the probe card. The probes of the probe card are connected to a test head. The cost of a test head of a probe card can be on the order of $10,000-$50,000 or more. Manually connecting cables can be time consuming and cumbersome. Additionally, manual connecting of cables can result in irreversible damage to the sensitive probes of the very expensive test head.
Hundreds or even thousands of access point are desirable in testing. It would be desirable to have a universal interface for connecting possibly thousands of pins simultaneously to an electrical interface of the probe card. These thousands of pins can be connected to electrical cables in order to transmit signals to and from the wafer prober machine to the semiconductor wafer. However, the force required to plug thousands of pins of a test pad into the thousands of holes of the electrode pad of a probe card can take hundreds of pounds of force. If the test head of the probe card is in contact with the wafer, the hundreds of pounds of force could easily damage the fragile probes of the test head.


A surgical retractor comprising a base adapted to lie on the patient's skin, a handle slidably mounted with respect to the base, a tissue retracting blade extending from the handle, and a locking member movable from at least a first position to a second position to retain the tissue retracting blade in a selected position. A light guide illuminates the surgical site during use. An angle adapter can be mounted to the base to increase the angle of the tissue retracting blade with respect to the tissue. A method for accessing the saphenous vein to facilitate harvesting the vein is also disclosed comprising the steps of making a small incision in the leg of a patient, positioning a retractor on a patient's leg such that a retractor blade extends into the incision and a base lies on the surface of the patient's leg and pulling the retractor blade away from the patient to lift the tissue away from the underlying saphenous vein.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to a surgical retractor, and more particularly, to a surgical retractor which facilitates the harvesting of veins.
2. Background of the Related Art
In certain surgical procedures, it is necessary to remove an artery or vein from the patient. For example, in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), to re-route the blood flow to or from the heart to bypass a blockage in the coronary artery, an artery or vein is harvested from the patient and connected to the coronary artery to enable the unobstructed flow of blood.
In certain instances, e.g. when only a short graft is required, the mammary artery can be harvested and used for CABG. However, the mammary artery is oftentimes of insufficient length. Therefore, the patient's saphenous vein is most often utilized. The saphenous vein runs the length of the leg and is about 1/4 to 1 inch below the skin. The most common method of removing the saphenous vein currently performed by surgeons involves making an incision in the patient's leg extending the length of the section of the vein to be removed. Frequently, this requires an incision running the entire length of the leg, from the ankle to the groin, which can be over 40 inches in length. Once the leg is opened in this manner, the surgeon, utilizing a light source supported on headgear or a headband, dissects the vein from the surrounding tissue and ligates and severs the vein from its numerous branches along its length. The vein is then cut at both ends and removed from the patient for use as a graft attached to the coronary artery or aorta. After removal of the vein, the leg incision is sutured.
Such formation of a large leg incision has many disadvantages. It is time consuming, complicates the procedure, creates a large scar, and increases the risk of infection and skin necrosis. It also adds to the expense of the procedure by requiring additional surgeon time to close the leg incision. Moreover, it increases the patient's discomfort and prolongs the patient's recovery time. In fact, the recovery time from the leg incision can take even longer than the recovery time from the chest incision from the heart surgery.
The need for a less invasive method and instrumentation to remove the saphenous vein is recognized in the field. For example, in U.K. Patent No. 2,082,459, an apparatus is disclosed for harvesting the saphenous vein utilizing two small incisions. A center rod is inserted into the lumen of the vein, and the tubular body having a series cutting blades is introduced over the center rod and passed along the vein to cut the tributaries and fatty tissue around the vein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,346 to Mindlich discloses an apparatus which has a pair of knife blades extending from an elongate plastic tube. The tube has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the vein. In use, the tube is inserted through an incision, and guided over the vein by a flexible guide which is inserted through the vein. The tube is rotated as it is advanced so that the knife blades can sever the vein branches. Electrically conductive wires are coupled to the knife blades to cauterize the severed end of the branches. U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,840 to Knighton discloses an endoscope and method for vein removal under visualization. A dissecting tool is inserted through one of the endoscope channels to separate the blood vessel from the connective tissue and a forceps is inserted through a second channel to hold the vessel during the procedure. The endoscope is inserted through a small incision and the dissecting tool is advanced along the vein. When a side branch is encountered, the dissection tool is removed and a ligating-cutting tool is inserted through the channel to sever the side branch.
Each of the instruments of the prior art described above are complex and expensive. Furthermore, they require the procedure to be performed in a tight working space as the vein is not separated from the surrounding tissue and the instruments are wedged between the vein and the tissue.
It would be advantageous to provide an apparatus which could minimally invasively separate the skin (and subcutaneous tissue) from the vein to enable dissecting and ligating instrumentation to be inserted through small incisions to facilitate removal of the saphenous vein. It would also be advantageous to equip such apparatus with illumination capabilities to enable the surgeon to better visualize the vein as it is dissected. This would not only eliminate the need for the surgeon to wear cumbersome head gear, but would avoid the expense involved with the use of an endoscope as well as avoid the additional time required for the constant withdrawal and reinsertion of the instruments through the endoscope's working channels.


A leaky digital integrator comprising an accumulator circuit including an adder having first and second adder input terminals and an adder output terminal, and a shift register coupling the adder output terminal back to the second adder input terminal and to an integrator output terminal; a ternary signal detection circuit coupled to the integrator output terminal and operative to develop one of three decay factor signals depending upon whether the integrator output signal level is above, equal to or below a predetermined reference level; and switching apparatus having a first switched terminal which is periodically coupled at a first rate to the first adder input terminal to input update data signals to the accumulator circuit and a second switched terminal which is periodically coupled at a second rate to the first adder input terminal to input decay data signals to the accumulator circuit such that the circuit as a whole performs according to the equation EQU a.sub.i (t)=Da.sub.i (t-1)+.DELTA.a.sub.i (t). where a.sub.i (t) is the integrator output at time t, D is the decay factor and .DELTA.a.sub.i (t) is the update increment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to circuitry for use in the equalizer devices of digital communications systems, and more specifically to an adaptive leaky digital integrator circuit having particular application in the instability compensation network of an equalizer circuit of the type used in modem devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in communication technology that during transmission of digital data to a remote receiver, the transmitted signal often suffers amplitude and phase shift distortions that in many cases make the signal very difficult to decode after it has been received. In order to compensate for such nonlinearities caused by the transmission media, and particularly in systems in which the media is a telephone channel, it has become common practice to utilize equalizing circuitry in the receiver front end.
A typical band-limited telephone channel can be characterized by its transfer function H(f) which is the Fourier transform of the channel impulse response h(t). In FIG. 1 of the drawing, a typical impulse response (in discrete time) is illustrated which shows the substantial inter-symbol interference which can occur if an attempt is made to signal at a rate which is too high. In discrete time a telephone channel can be modeled by a feed-forward or transversal filter such as that shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Note that the tap values correspond to the impulse response at the corresponding delay values.
The harmful effects of inter-symbol interference can be removed however by processing the received signal using an adaptive equalizer having a transfer function H.sup.-1 (f). Thus, the series combination of the transfer functions H(f) and H.sup.-1 (f) is equivalent to multiplication by 1. That is, in the noise free case, the output of the equalizer is the same as the channel input, i.e., the transmitter output. FIG. 3 illustrates an overall system block diagram in which x(t) is the received signal and y(t) is the processed signal.
It may be shown that any equalizer transfer function can be realized by the linear transversal filter schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. In such circuit the equalizer output is given by ##EQU1## where a.sub.i represents the tap coefficients of the transversal filter and x(t) is the channel output, i.e., the equalizer input. Note that it may be more computationally efficient to use feedback or partial feedback (and partial transversal) equalization. However, for the present explanatory purposes, it suffices to consider a transversal equalizer.
Designing an equalizer to produce the transfer function H.sup.-1 (f) is an optimum strategy provided one knows H(f) and can compute H.sup.-1 (f). Unfortunately, in practice H(f) is seldom known and in effect must be learned. However, rather than learning H(f) and computing H.sup.-1 (f), it has been found that the least mean square (LMS) algorithm can be applied directly to computing the tap coefficients. The LMS algorithm states that at any time "t" the i.sup.th tap coefficient a.sub.i (t) can be related to its time predecessor a.sub.i (t-1) by the equation EQU a.sub.i (t)=a.sub.i (t-1)+.DELTA.a.sub.i (t)
where .DELTA.a.sub.i (t) is proportional to ##EQU2## In the above expression e(n) is the equalization signal which is given by e(n)=m(n)-y(n) and m(n) is the detector output signal. Thus, a simple cross correlation can be used to update the tap coefficients in such a fashion that the equalizer produces the inverse of the channel transfer function.
However, adaptive equalizers used in telephone line data modems can have stability problems in that for channels which are narrowband for the signaling rate, the equalizer tap coefficients may drift away from the optimum values. Note that if in the above equation a.sub.i (t-1) has an error, that error is also present in a.sub.i (t), a.sub.i (t-1), etc. That is, there is no mechanism for causing the error to be "forgotten." A reference to instability correction by G. Underboeck entitled "Fractional Tap-Spacing Equalizer and Cosequences for Clock Recovery in Data Modems," may be found in IEEE Trans Communications, Vo. COM-24, No. 8, pp. 856-864 (August 1976).
One method of combatting this problem is to replace the ideal integrator normally used in implementing the tap coefficient update algorithm stated above. More specifically, the update equation is modified by including a decay factor .beta. in the time predecessor component; that is, by making EQU a.sub.i (t)=.beta.a.sub.i (t-1)+.DELTA.a.sub.i (t).
For reasonable performance, the parameter .beta. should be quite close to but less than 1; e.g., 0.999.
In FIG. 5 of the drawing, a prior art equalizer and its adaptive tap coefficient network is shown at 10 which includes a shift register 11, a correlator 12, commutator switches 13 and 14, a multiplier 15, an accumulator 16 and a plurality of leaky integrators I.sub.1 -I.sub.n provided in the tap coefficient update circuits. Note that as illustrated within the dashed lines, the integrator I.sub.1, for example, includes an adder 17, a shift register 18, a multiplier 19 and a ROM 20. An update increment .DELTA.a.sub.i (t) is input to each integrator I from the correlator 12 and is added in adder 17 to the delayed coefficient a.sub.i (t-1) after it has been multiplied by a decay factor .beta. which is extracted from the ROM 20.
The difficulty with this theoretically sound approach for implementing a leaky integrator is that it requires one multiplication per tap coefficient per input sample processed by the equalizer. For many practical systems, this requires an excessive number of multiplications per second and thus an inordinant increase in the complexity and cost of the system.
Prior art references discussing leaky integrators are Delta Modulator Systems by R. Steele, Halsted Press, John Wiley & Sons (ISBN 0-470-82104-3), p. 304; Linear Systems in Communication and Control by D. K. Frederick and A. B. Carlson, John Wiley & Sons (ISBN 0-471-27721-5), p. 449; and Digital Processing of Signals by Gold and Rader, McGraw Hill, Library of Congress No. 69-13606, pp. 23-24.


An intraocular lens with an iris retention loop that is attached to an optical section of the lens by a pair of shank sections. Each shank section has a noncircular cross sectional area to provide a more flattened contact surface for engaging an inner edge of the iris. Such structure reduces cutting of the iris when the iris is stretched over these shank sections to retain the lens in the eye.

Intraocular lenses are frequently surgically implanted in the eye to replace the natural lens that has been removed. The removal of the natural lens is a typical surgical procedure to repair a cataract.
A typical intraocular lens has a magnifying optical section usually made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) to which is attached retention loops or other structure for securing the optical section to the eye. One common procedure is to implant the optical section in the anterior section immediately in front of the iris. A plurality of retention loops are secured to a rear of the optical section by upstanding shank sections. The iris loops are placed behind the iris, and the shank sections engage an inner edge of the iris to prevent lateral shifting of the lens in the eye so that it can properly focus. The Fedorov et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,616 shows schematically how an intraocular lens is attached to the iris.
Because the iris retention loops and shanks are of an extremely small diameter, i.e. 0.005 to 0.010 inch, their circular cross section in the shank area tends to cut into the inner edge of the iris in the same manner as a wire cheese cutter. This is a particular problem when the iris is stretched over the shank sections.

Intraocular lens with noncircular eye engaging retention means


A molded filter element is fabricated by the method comprising the steps of: preparing a plastic composition of a powder-grain adsorbent of 100 weight parts, an emulsion type synthetic resin binder of 5-20 weight parts having a film-making capability at room temperature, an aqueous high-polymer binder of 0.5-5 weight part, and water of the amount sufficient to change the compound of these agents into a composition having its own shape holding property; pressure-filling said plastic composition in a mold composed of plural members to provide a molded filter element; evaporating water until the molded filter element has a shape-holding strength in a state where at least one member of said mold is removed; and heat-treating the molded filter element at a temperature of 110.degree.-160.degree. C. Thus, the molded filter element permits filtering and adsorption/removal of impurities to be performed simultaneously, and can have a large breaking strength, uniform openings, a small flow resistance and a large adsorption capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a cartridge type filter for adsorbing and removing the component solved in water or aqueous solution to be purified, and more particularly to a molded filter element having two kinds of functions of filtering and adsorption.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, with an increase in used amount of water, deterioration of water quality has become problematic. In order to solve this problem, usually, the water has been filtered using a water purifier and a small amount of impurities contained in the water has been adsorbed and removed. In industrial use also, cleaning water of a high degree of purity has been required in many cases. The adsorbent in the water purifier used for water purification has been usually used as a cartridge type in which granular activated-carbon and/or zeolite are filled in container such as a tube-like case or sack.
However, the adsorption unit of the filling cartridge type is likely to have a non-uniform filling density so that it causes "channeling" during filtering, thus providing insufficient adsorption capability. As the case may be, the following accident is likely to occur. Namely, while the adsorbent is used, the purified water may be polluted by powder which flows out because of the collapse of the adsorbent.
In order to obviate such a defect, an adsorbent unit has been proposed in which nonwoven cloth of activated carbon fiber is wound around a porous hollow-cylinder. Although this adsorbent has advantages of uniform opening or space rate and adsorption force and less fluctuation, it has disadvantages of large bulk, small adsorption capacity per volume and high production cost.
In Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. Sho 60-91216 (1985), a filter element has been also proposed, in which the inner and outer surfaces of a cylindrical porous adsorption material are covered with an adsorbent fiber layer and filter cloth (The cylindrical porous adsorption material can be made by thermally molding mixed adsorption particles and thermally-soluble fiber). Such a porous adsorption material, however, has disadvantages of complicated structure, difficult control of the opening rate and high production cost due to use of particular materials.

Method of fabricating molded filter element


The invention provides an aqueous SC formulation comprising: a) 50 to 80% w/v pyrimethanil; b) 0.2 to 5% w/v of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer surfactant; and c) 0.2 to 5% w/v of a naphthalene formaldehyde condensate surfactant. We have found that formulations according to the invention surprisingly do not solidify when milled during manufacture and also exhibit a low propensity to crystallise when stored for prolonged periods.

This application is a 371 of PCT/GB99/02437 filed Jul. 9, 1999.
This invention relates to liquid formulations of pyrimethanil and methods for their preparation. In particular, the invention relates to suspension concentrate (SC) formulations that contain high proportions of solid pyrimethanil.
Commercial SC formulations comprising the fungicide pyrimethanil include Mythos(copyright) and Scala(copyright). Typically these formulations contain not more than 40% w/v pyrimethanii. Increasing the amount of pyrimethanil in these formulations above 40% would be advantageous, since it would reduce the cost of transporting a given amount of active ingredient. These savings would be particularly significant where pyrimethanil is transported to remote places where distribution is difficult, such as to tropical zones. However, increasing the concentration of pyrimethanil in these formulation leads to milling problems during manufacture and crystallisation during storage.
It is therefore an object of the invention to devise an SC formulation system containing concentrations of pyrimethanil significantly greater than 40% without experiencing the abovementioned problems.
According to a first aspect, the invention provides an aqueous SC formulation comprising a) 50 to 80% w/v pyrimethanil, preferably 60 to 80% w/v; b) 0.2 to 5% w/v of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer surfactant, preferably 0.3 to 1.5%; and c) 0.2 to 5% w/v of a napthalene formaldehyde condensate surfactant, preferably 0.3 to 1.5%.
We have found that formulations according to the invention surprisingly do not solidify when milled during manufacture and also exhibit a low propensity to crystallise when stored for prolonged periods.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word xe2x80x9ccomprisexe2x80x9d, or variations such as xe2x80x9ccomprisesxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccomprisingxe2x80x9d will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers including method steps.
Preferably component b) has a molecular weight of 6000 to 14000, especially 9000 to 13000. Further, component b) contains 20 to 80% w/w of polyoxyethylene, especially 40 to 80%. In particular, the molecular weight of component b) is nominally 12000 and the amount of polyoxyethylene is nominally 70% w/w.
Preferably component c) is a salt, particularly the sodium salt.
Preferably the formulation also comprises a dispersant, such as a polymethyl methacrylate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer, preferably having a molecular weight of 20000 to 30000, in amounts of 1 to 10% w/v, preferably 3 to 8%.
A particularly preferred SC formulation comprises a) approximately 60% w/v pyrimethanil, b) approximately 0.5% w/v of an ethenylenoxy-propyleneoxy block co-polymer surfactant, c) approximately 1% w/v of sodium naphthalene formaldehyde condensate surfactant, d) approximately 5% w/v polymethyl methacrylate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer, e) approximately 6% w/v propylene glycol and f) approximately 37.5% w/v water.

Suspension concentrate formulation containing pyrimethanil


The invention is system for displaying contiguous, ultra-wide, digital information in automated transportation systems both in vehicles and stations. The invention is meant to replace LED matrix signs in said automated transportation systems, displaying existing functional messages while adding full color images and videos for dynamic content and advertising delivery without the need to modify the existing mechanical, electrical communication infrastructure where applicable.

Transportation systems are becoming increasingly more automated, self-driven or otherwise operated without the need for regular human intervention. Many systems exist today in the form of Automated People Movers (APMs)—train-like systems that operate within in defined circuits or paths at regular intervals to transport passengers from place to place. At airports, APMs are a critical component of a passenger's journey from terminal to terminal transporting passengers from one area of the airport to another in the fraction of the time that it may take to walk between the same two points.
Automated transportation systems are typically comprised of multiple vehicles traveling different directions between multiple stations at different fixed locations. As passengers attempt to navigate these sometimes, complicated systems, audible and visual cues and information may appear both within vehicles and stations to aid passengers in their journey. Information may consist of simple messages such as "Next Train Approaching", "Next Stop, Terminal A", "Doors Closing", etc. and is usually generated by the automated control system. (FIG. 1.)
Given the unique construction of the vehicles and stations, limited space is available for traditional digital signage which is of the standard 3:2, 4:3,5:3,5:4,7:5 and 16:9 aspect ratios. To accommodate this unique space limitation, LED matrix displays are typically incorporated. These types of displays consist of a matrix of individual LEDs of single or multiple colors spaced evenly to provide a method to form letters words and limited resolution images. Since these signs are made up of discreet LEDs, panels of ultra-wide aspect ratios may be constructed to fit the unique constraints of APMs. Although useful, LED matrix-style signs cannot display high resolution, full color images and video. When presenting information in international languages, many characters such as Kanji-based text are poorly rendered and hard to read. (FIG. 2.)
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are a better solution for displaying full-color graphical information including, images, video and high-resolution language characters such as kanji-based symbols. The problem with implementing standard LCD panels to replace the LED matrix style systems is that this would require multiple 16:9 ratio panels strung together in a row to provide the same or similar display area. Although this method provides higher resolution, full color and video capabilities it also results in dead space between panels and a more complicated information management system. By placing two or more LCD panels side by side there are physical constraints of the LCD panel that require control signals and mechanical fixation of the LCD stack up that does not allow the pixels on the edge of one panel to be placed next to the edge pixels on another panel with an inter-pixel distance less than or equal the regular pixel pitch of either panel. This larger spacing between edge pixels creates a visual separation (or separations) within the overall panel. (FIG. 3.)

System for displaying contiguous, ultra-wide, digital information in automated transportation systems


Using various embodiments, methods and systems for secure Bluetooth Low Energy communications, in an unconnected state, are described herein. In one embodiment, conventional BLE transmitting device data can be supplemented with authentication information, including a message authentication field which enables receivers to determine if the received beacon/transmitted BLE peripheral data is genuine. In another embodiment, the authentication data can also include a time varying value field in order to prevent unintentional acceptance of transmitting device data from unauthorized replicated BLE peripherals. In one embodiment, the transmitting device computes an authentication tag using at least a secret key known to the receiving device and transmits the authentication tag to the receiving device. The receiving device can compute an authentication value using the secret key and other transmitting device information and determine if the transmitting device data is genuine by comparing the computed authentication value and the received the authentication tag.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a radio frequency (RF) transmission technology and a communications protocol which facilitates low power communications between devices, especially mobile devices with limited battery life. BLE is widely implemented in consumer electronics devices, including Smartphones and tablets that can act as transmitting or receiving devices.
An advantage of BLE, when compared to Wi-Fi (i.e., IEEE 802.11), is that BLE devices have lower power consumption and lower cost of implementation (due to the lower system complexity and minimal infrastructure needs). Efficient data packet format and protocol design are important in designing BLE inter-device communication system because packets consume network bandwidth and device power, especially during transmission, both of which are usually very limited in typical BLE operating environments.
While typical Bluetooth communications occur in a paired (connected) state, BLE technology lets devices exchange information in a non-connected state, that is, the devices need not to be paired. BLE technology allows non-connected devices to communicate by transmitting and receiving data packets having a particular data format. Each BLE packet can be between 80 to 376 bits in length, and has a preamble, access address, Packet Data Unit (PDU), and a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) calculated over the PDU. In the unconnected state, a BLE data packet can be transmitted as a BLE advertising packet or optionally as a BLE scan response packet. Advertising packets and scan response packets both share the same data format as mentioned above, and both are transmitted as advertising events. Similarly, in the unconnected state, a receiver can transmit a BLE data packet as scan response request packet to a BLE enabled transmitter.
Recently, BLE technology, at least due to the above mentioned advantages, has been implemented in wireless beacons for communication with portable or mobile wireless devices. Beacons are BLE technology based devices that transmit information (broadcast message) at regular intervals in order that receivers (receiving devices) may receive the beacon data and perform specific actions, depending on the determined location characteristics. The determined proximity or location information may be very coarse, for example, simply a determination of a receiver being in-range or out-of-range of a specific beacon, or the information may be more specific so as to permit range estimation between a specific beacon and receiver.
The beacon transmits the advertising packet data at regular intervals. It is a form of broadcast data, without a specific intended receiver. For example, a retailer may wish to provide a special offer or coupon, which may appear on the Smartphone receiving device, to customers who are physically present at a retail location. The beacon, in general, does not create the offer directly but the detected position of the receiving device with respect to the beacon can cause the action to occur. Transmitted beacon data may be received by many receivers simultaneously, and for mobile devices, the determined characteristics may rapidly change as the location of the receiving devices varies with respect to the beacon location.
In the non-connected state, a BLE technology based beacon transmits advertising data packets and can transmit scan response data packets when requested. The size of the available payload data in the BLE advertising data packets is relatively small, up to thirty one (31) bytes. Generally, most of the payload data is occupied by the advertising data the transmitting device intends to communicate to the receiving device. The advantage of using a scan response mode of operation (i.e., active scanning) is that it permits additional (extra) information to be transmitted from the beacon. A scan response packet is transmitted by the transmitting device when the receiving device transmits a scan response request data packet. The scan response data packet thus allows an additional thirty one (31) bytes to be sent from the beacon to the receivers while still in the non-connectable advertising mode.
However, a shortcoming of wireless beacon implementations is that they do not protect against unauthorized copying, alteration and use of the replicated beacon data ('spoofing'). The beacon advertising data can be replicated using a BLE scanning device and to copy the beacon parameters into another beacon's configuration. The replicated beacon can then be used to trigger location-based services and provide misleading position data to receivers. Since BLE operates in an unlicensed frequency band, there are no significant technological or legal barriers to creating a large number of unauthorized beacons by copying beacon values from known operating beacons and provide misleading position data to receivers. The problem is further exacerbated because highly integrated BLE transceiver devices are inexpensive, and are easily available. Thus, what is needed is techniques, methods, and/or systems that can securely authenticate the data packets transmitted by a BLE technology operable device while preserving the low bandwidth utilization of the BLE connectionless state (i.e., only advertising and scan response packets). Furthermore, such techniques, methods, and/or systems need to be able to detect (and prevent) the unauthorized replication of data between communication of BLE enabled transmitters and receivers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The claimed subject matter describes a novel technique to measure the beam profile using an area detector. In one embodiment, a set of one-dimensional beam profile measurements is performed by taking two images under the same source conditions but at two different positions of the detector, with each position of the detector shifted by a certain distance in the direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional profile measurement. In further embodiments, a set of two-dimensional beam profile measurements is achieved by determining a second set of one-dimensional profiles from the same sampling points in a second direction and building a two-dimensional map of the beam profile by correlating the first one-dimensional profile measurement with the second one-dimensional profile measurement.

The usage of area x-ray beams is common in the field of x-ray imaging and external radiation treatment to generate images of a target volume. For many imaging applications, a beam of x-rays or other radiation particles is directed from a radiation source and through a target volume or object. The traversing particles of the beam are collected in an imager or detector positioned on the far side of the target volume with respect to the source, and the data acquired by the acquisition (reception) of the particles in the imager may be subsequently used to generate an image of the target volume.
Certain characteristics of the particular beam used in acquiring the images are also critical to many applications, and may have a significant impact on the quality of the images and the treatment generated by the X-ray beams. For example, many digital X-ray imaging applications which include conventional scatter correction and dose verification techniques require knowledge of the spatial distribution of the flux intensity (also known as the beam profile) of the radiation beam used during the application. In addition, the beam profile data can also be used to facilitate calibration for X-ray detectors (e.g., gain calibration), and flat panel detectors in particular. Unfortunately, the generation of non-uniform beam fields is common in many radiology and medical imaging devices. This non-uniformity, when not properly calibrated for, can cause unintended artifacts in generated images which may significantly impact the quality of a generated image.
Non-uniformity of the beam field can be attributed to a variety of factors which include non-uniform directionality of Brehmsstrahlung radiation and the varying attenuation properties of the x-ray tube components (e.g. the Heel effect) and its associated housing. Ideally, in an ideal imager where the detector pixels each have a uniform response, the beam profile should approximate a flood field image (e.g., no object in the path of the beam). In practice however, practically all detectors also have gain variations caused by inherent imperfections in the sensors and the associated electronic circuitry. These gain variations must be calibrated out to create images that are sufficiently uniform and artifact-free. Unfortunately, conventional gain calibration techniques also remove flux intensity variations. Thus, after calibration, the flood field measurement will be a uniform signal, rendering any information regarding flux intensity variations lost.
One conventional approach of determining the beam profile involves performing a raster scan of the beam field with a small (e.g., single point) detector, determining the flux intensity of the beam at each designated point, and subsequently combining the results to form the beam profile. However, this approach suffers from several significant drawbacks: the scanning mechanism is cumbersome and the measurement time required is often lengthy since many beam pulses are required. Moreover, geometric pointing inaccuracies and global flux intensity variations from scan-to-scan can limit the accuracy of the final result. Another conventional method of determining the beam profile is by measuring the beam field using a large area of a detector. While more time-efficient than using a single point of a detector, the inherent non-uniformity among one or more pixels of the x-ray detector can detrimentally affect the accuracy of a beam profile thus measured.

System and method for measuring X-ray beam profile using an area detector


The present invention provides an air handling system that receives air from a primary air source and distributes that air in a room defining an enclosed space. The system is mounted in the ceiling of the room and generally comprises first, second, third, and fourth inductor units interconnected downstream to the primary air supply and which define first, second, third, and fourth areas, respectively, wherein the induced air flows through each of the inductor units, through a series of converging nozzles, and into each units first, second, third, and fourth areas, respectively, and an air diffusing mechanism positioned adjacent to the first, second, third, and fourth areas which directs the induced air in first, second, third, and fourth directions, respectively. The inductors are generally arranged in a square configuration with the diffuser extending in the square space bound thereby.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to air handling and distributing devices, and more particularly to such devices of the inductive type that distribute air in an enclosed space in a Coanda or Venturi type flow pattern.
2. Description of Prior Art
Traditional induction systems generally comprise one or two inductors that diffuse air into an enclosed room and distribute the air arbitrarily throughout the room. The air flow pattern generally causes the air to rise and recycle back through the inductors. The source of the air can be an externally positioned air conditioning unit that directs the conditioned air through a piping arrangement and into the inductor units. The inductors then cause the received air to pass through a series of nozzles (generally converging nozzles so as to accelerate the air flow), and out of the indicator and into the room through a diffuser. The air circulates around the room and is recycled back through the and into the induction unit where it passes over a series of cooling/heating tubes. After passing over the heating/cooling tubes, the recycled air is combined/mixed with the conditioned air passing out through the nozzles and is pushed back into the room. While such a system is operable, it produces an inefficient and inconsistent air flow in the room.
3. Objects and Advantages
It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide an induced air handling and distributing system that produces an efficient and consistent air flow in a room.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an air handling and distributing system that can be retrofit into existing spaces, and replace prior art type systems.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.
In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides an air handling system that receives air from a primary air source and distributes that air in a room defining an enclosed space. The system is mounted in the ceiling of the room and generally comprises first, second, third, and fourth inductor units interconnected downstream to the primary air supply and which define first, second, third, and fourth areas, respectively, wherein the induced air flows through each of the inductor units, through a series of converging nozzles, and into each units first, second, third, and fourth areas, respectively, and an air diffusing mechanism positioned adjacent to the first, second, third, and fourth areas which directs the induced air in first, second, third, and fourth directions, respectively. The inductors are generally arranged in a square configuration with the diffuser extending in the square space bound thereby. Louvers mounted about the periphery of the diffuser and positioned in spaced relation below the open areas direct the air flow emitted from the inductor units at predetermined outward angles. As the air flowing through each of the four inductors is roughly equal to one another, the air handling system generally distributes an equal flow of air in every direction throughout the room.
The air flow pattern initially extends in a horizontal path along the ceiling and away from the unit. The path then transitions to a vertically downward direction, until the floor forces the air to circulate upwards and in a direction towards the unit. A small portion of the air may pass by a temperature/humidity (or other air condition) sensor and be redirected to an externally mounted air conditioning unit (which is the primary air source for the air handling system, and which based on the re-circulated and sensed air, can then readjust its conditioning elements to maintain the primary air flow at predetermined temperature/humidity/other air condition levels). The remainder of the air will pass upwards through the diffuser and back into the inductor units. Once in the inductor units, the air passes over a series of heating/cooling tubes, and into the open areas below the nozzles. The re-circulated air is then mixed with the accelerated air flow coming through the nozzles and directed back into the room.


A curved display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a display medium located between the first substrate and the second substrate, scan lines, data lines, pixel structures, color filter patterns, shielding patterns, and filling structures. Each pixel structure is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines, and includes an active device and a pixel electrode. The color filter patterns are disposed corresponding to the pixel structures. The shielding patterns are disposed parallel to the data lines, gaps are provided between the shielding patterns and the scan lines, and the shielding patterns are disposed corresponding to junctions of two adjacent color filter patterns. The filling structures are disposed corresponding to the gaps.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display panel, and more particularly to a curved display panel.
Related Art
As technologies advance, display technologies also keep developing. Lightweight, thin, short, and small flat panel displays (FPDs) gradually replace conventional thick and heavy cathode ray tube (CRT) displays. Nowadays, because of the characteristics of FPDs being lightweight and thin, the FPDs are arranged on nonplanar surfaces of many buildings or electronic devices. To fit nonplanar surfaces, display panels also need to have particular curvature accordingly, and therefore a curved display panel is also proposed. In a process of the curved display panel, two planar substrates are aligned and assembled and then bent together to form a curved surface. However, after members on the two substrates are bent, the alignment between the two substrates also displaces, causing a light leakage problem in the curved display panel.

Display device and driving method thereof


Methods and systems to record amplitudes of an interference pattern of a source light at successive rows of a focal plane array as an interferometer traverses the source light, while varying an optical path difference of the interferometer. A fixed frame rate of the focal plane array may be selected such that each in-track row of the focal plane array provides a different point along the interferogram, for the same ground location.

Imaging systems include scanner systems, staring systems (also known as step-staring systems), and time-delay integration (TDI) systems. Scanning systems include push broom scanners (also known as an along-track scanners), and whisk broom scanners (also known as across-track scanners). Scanning arrays are constructed from linear arrays (or very narrow 2-D arrays), that are rastered across a desired field of view using a rotating or oscillating mirror to construct a 2-D image over time. A TDI imager operates in similar fashion to a scanning array except that it images perpendicularly to the motion of the camera. A staring array is analogous to the film in a typical camera, in that it directly captures a 2-D image projected by a lens at an image plane. A scanning array is analogous to piecing together a 2D image with photos taken through a narrow slit. A TDI imager is analogous to looking through a vertical slit out the side window of a moving car, and building a long, continuous image as the car passes the landscape.
There is a demand for satellite-based hyperspectral imaging data collected over a wide area of the earth at fine spatial resolution. Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS) instruments provide relatively high quality hyperspectral data. Conventional FTS system are operated as a step-stare systems, which require relatively fast focal plane array (FPA) frame rates to collect an interferogram while staring. This tends to the maximum size of the FPA, and thus requires fast step-staring to achieve a wide swath width. The resulting short stare time negatively impacts signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and increases instrument complexity. As a result, FTS is normally not used for wide swath widths. Instead, dispersive systems are used, which provide inferior data quality, and tend to have higher cooling needs.
In the drawings, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Push-broom Fourier transform spectrometer


A doll includes a doll body supporting a head upon which a substantially blank featureless face surface is formed of a washable material. A stencil mask is configured to be received upon the face surface and defines a faceplate generally conforming to the blank face surface. The faceplate defines a plurality of shaped apertures located upon the faceplate to correspond to the general locations of facial features. A plurality of feature stamps, each having shaped flanges corresponding to the aperture shapes of the faceplate apertures support feature image stamps which may be passed through the apertures to imprint upon the face surface of the doll.

This invention relates generally to dolls and toy figures and particularly to methods and apparatus for enhancing dolls and toy figures.
Dolls and toy figures are perhaps among the oldest types of toys known and recorded in history. From initial simple handmade crude replicas of humans and animals through today""s complex batter-powered electronically controlled and operated dolls and toy figures, a virtually unending development and improvement process has been in progress. Often the term xe2x80x9cdollsxe2x80x9d is utilized, for the most part, referring to human-like figures while the term xe2x80x9ctoy figuresxe2x80x9d is generally descriptive of a variety of additional figures both human-like and animal-like as well as action figures and fantasy figures. While the distinction between dolls and toy figures may have some purpose in many instances, with respect to the present invention, the term dolls as used herein refers and applies to virtually any type of doll or toy figure collectively. The invention relates generally particularly to dolls having facial features.
As dolls became commercial products, practitioner""s in the toy arts endeavored to improve the interest and play value of such dolls. With the increasing and continuing popularity of dolls, practitioner""s in the toy arts have produced a virtually endless variety of dolls. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,553 issued to Goozner sets forth a BLANK-FACED CHILD""S DOLL having a doll assembly which includes a stuffed doll body supporting a head which in turn supports a blank face portion of a single uniform color. The face portion is void of any facial features and is formed with slight concave depressions suggesting the locations of eyes and a mouth. The surface of the blank face portion is made to except the markings of crayons or similar nonpermanent drawing materials. As a result, a child user is able to draw facial features thereon. Such features are removable with a wiping cloth as desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,985 issued to Cearfoss sets forth a DOLL WITH A FACE FLAP OVERLYING A MARKABLE FACE PLATE which includes a permanently imprinted doll-face upon a flap overlying a blank face plate both of which are supported on the doll""s head. When the flap is moved to its downward position the doll is played in a conventional manner. Conversely, the flap is raised, the blank face plate is revealed allowing the child user to draw face designs thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,386 issued to Kinberg sets forth a READILY ERASABLE DOLL FACE ASSEMBLY having a doll body supporting a head portion in a substantially conventional fabrication. The head is further provided with a readily erasable face made from a sheet of translucent synthetic resin coated with or incorporating an iridescent dye. The iridescent dye is brought into intimate contract with the face plate under pressure and releasably adheres thereto. As a result, a child user is able to employ a conventional stylus or the like to draw erasable lines or features upon the face plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,927 issued to Newman sets forth MEANS AND METHOD OF SHOWING FEELINGS applicable to a doll form. The doll is configured to receive and support interchangeable faces having different expressions depicted thereon to provide expression of feelings.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,378 issued to George et al. sets forth a REALISTIC DOLL HEAD SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFORE utilized in producing dolls having facial appearance of particular children. The user employs ten facial characteristics set forth in a chart to select those facial characteristics most closely resembling the facial appearance of a child. The facial characteristics that are selected comprise seven face shapes as well as variations of skin tone, eye color, eyelash color, eyebrow color and shape as well as hair color, cut, length and style. The selected characteristics are then applied to the doll head to produce a one of a kind doll closely resembling the selected child.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,501 issued to Girelli sets forth a DOLL""S HEAD AND METHOD OF FABRICATIONS utilizing a first sheet of polyester capable of stretching in two perpendicular directions together with a first lining of polyester fabric which are attached to opposite sides of a first thick sheet. In response to heat and pressure molding, a face portion of a doll and an integral neck extension are formed. The crown portion of the doll is sewn to the face portion and neck extension.
In a related art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,738 issued to Bardeen et al. sets forth a STENCIL AND KIT FOR TRANSFERRING IMAGES AND METHOD THEREFORE which is adapted for use in transferring image to a substrate where the image is formed by an ensemble of individual features. The stencil comprises a sheet of flexible material having a plurality of apertures formed therein. The apertures are organized in aperture sets such that the apertures in each set outline a respective individual feature. The aperture sets together define the predetermined image to be transferred. Examples are shown in transferring a stenciled image to objects such as a vegetable.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,425 issued to Nelson et al. sets forth a BOARDER, CORNER AND CUTOUT TEMPLATE for guiding a writing or cutting implement to form a plurality of patterns.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,305 issued to Yasoshimi sets forth a STENCIL CASE AND STENCIL SET IN A CASE which stores ink pads, stencil brushes and stencils. The case includes a base and a lid providing several ink pads storage slots for storing different colors of ink pads in parallel within the base.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,893 issued to Casale sets forth a SHAPE RETAINING STENCIL FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE PLACEMENT for use in placement of images upon non flat objects and surfaces. The stencil is formed of a shape retaining material on which a plurality of apertures defining a pattern have been formed. The material is placed against the non flat surface and marks are made through the apertures of the sheet onto the surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,950,537 issued to Fixen and U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,900 issued to Volk set forth examples of stencil kits.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,783 issued to Harper; U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,627 issued to Imamaki and U.S. Pat. No. 3,234,681 issued to De Lucia set forth various activity set materials having general relationship to the present invention.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, interesting and amusing doll""s and doll center play sets.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved doll. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved doll having an associated play set which facilitates changing or augmenting the features of the doll. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved doll having changeable features which is particularly suited for use by young children.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a doll comprising: a doll body having a head defining a face surface; a stencil mask having a faceplate shaped to generally overlie the face surface and defining a plurality of apertures; and a plurality of feature stamps each having a raised image of a feature to form a stamp for imprinting a facial feature when the feature stamp is moved through one of the apertures to contact the face surface, the stencil mask functioning to locate the imprinting of facial features upon the face surface.

Doll having face stencil and stamp applied features


A breathing circuit is provided for conveying an inspiratory gas from a gas dispensing apparatus to a patient, and for conveying an expiratory gas from the patient. The circuit includes a corrugated expiratory tube having a first end and a second end. The expiratory tube has a relaxed length. A corrugated inspiratory tube is provided which is disposed generally colinearly and interiorly of the expiratory tube. The inspiratory tube has a first end disposed adjacent to the first end of the expiratory tube, a second end disposed adjacent to the second end of the expiratory tube, and a relaxed length greater than the relaxed length of the expiratory tube such that the inspiratory tube normally exerts a longitudinally directed pressure on the circuit. A first end coupling member is fixedly coupled to both the inspiratory tube and the expiratory tube. The first end coupling member is generally transparent and hollow, and has an interior and an exterior. The first end coupling member is generally more rigid than the expiratory tube. A second end coupling member is fixedly attachable to the second end of the expiratory tube. The second end coupling member includes a positioning member receiving portion. A positioning member for positioning the second end of the inspiratory tube relative to the positioning end receiving portion of the second end coupling member is also provided.

For years, medical science has administered various gases to patients. Primarily these gases include anesthetics that are administered to patients during surgery, and oxygen or air that is administered to patients either post-operatively, or at other times for therapeutic reasons.
The gas to be administered is typically contained within a sealed container. The sealed container includes an outlet port and a valve for controlling the flow of gas through the outlet port. A breathing circuit is provided for transporting the gas from the outlet port to an element such as a face mask that is in contact with a patient.
Various types of breathing apparatus and circuits have been used in the past.
Richardson and Field U.S. Pat. No. 746,380 discloses a device that was patented in 1903 for administering anesthetics. The Richardson device includes a mouth part and a nose part. The mouth and nose parts are separately connected by means of a bushing or tubular fitting. The device includes a gas receptacle which has a flexible tube at one end, and is secured in place by an elastic band or strap.
A more recent prior art breathing circuit is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of Fukunaga U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,235. This illustrated device comprises a typical "circle-type" breathing circuit that includes a source of gas, a conduit extending therefrom, and a carbon dioxide absorber which receives expiratory gas through a conduit. Reprocessed gas moves out of the outlet after having passed through the carbon dioxide absorbing granules. As the reprocessed gas moves out of the outlet, it joins fresh gas from the source, as the fresh gas is arriving through the conduit. The merged gases then pass through the one-way inspiratory valve and the flexible hose into the common inlet-outlet pipe as inspiratory gas to the inlet means, and then to the patient's respiratory system. The expiratory gas is returned through the inlet pipe, but is then passed through the return hose, a one-way expiratory valve, past a reservoir bag and into the carbon dioxide absorber.
One difficulty with circle-type devices such as the prior art device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of Fukunaga is that they are cumbersome and inefficient. To overcome the problems of such circle-type systems, UNILIMB systems have been developed wherein an inspiratory tube and an expiratory tube have been designed to be coaxial with each other, so that one (usually the inspiratory tube) fits inside the other (usually the expiratory tube). With such an arrangement, manipulation becomes less complicated, and the surgical theater becomes less cluttered as the anesthesiologist has one less breathing tube to deal with. Examples of such UNILIMB type circuits are shown in Fukunaga U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,235 and Paluch U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,737.
Paluch discloses an anesthesia breathing apparatus which includes concentrically oriented double tubular inhalation and exhalation lines, having one of the tubes positioned interiorly of the other tube. In Paluch, the inhalation (inspiratory) tube is the corrugated inner tube, and the corrugated exhalation (expiratory) tube is disposed exteriorly of the inhalation tube. A fitting is provided at the machine end of the tube and another fitting is provided at the patient end of the device. A face mask is coupled to the fitting at the patient end of the device.
Fukunaga relates to an anesthesia system breathing circuit of the coaxial type. Fukunaga's device includes an inspiratory tube which is disposed interiorly of the expiratory tube. The difference of the diameter of these two tubes is such that a sufficient volume of expiratory air may pass between the outer wall of the inspiratory tube and the inner wall of the expiratory tube. In the Fukunaga device, the outer tube is preferably constructed as a corrugated tube, while the inner tube is preferably extruded of a vinyl type smooth bore material. A first terminal element is provided at one end of the tubes, and a second terminal element is provided at the other end of the tubes.
Although the above discussed devices most likely perform their intended function in a workman-like manner, room for improvement exists. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a breathing circuit which improves upon the known coaxial-type breathing circuits by eliminating some of the problems and drawbacks found with prior, known coaxial-type breathing circuit systems.

King System Corporation Division of Barco Molding, Inc.


A dot printer is disclosed for effecting printing by ejecting ink in dots such that under a normal print speed mode, in which the dot density is high, a standard amount of ink is ejected per dot. Under a high print speed mode, or draft mode, in which the dot density is low, a greater amount of ink is ejected per dot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dot printing system preferably for used in an ink-jet printer or the like in which printing is effected not only in a mode for performing normal printing, but also in a mode for effecting high speed printing, a so-called draft mode, using a reduced number of dots.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an ink-jet printer is provided with a so-called draft mode under which the number of dots of the ejection ink from a nozzle is reduced, for example, to half the number of dots used to make a character pattern under the normal mode.
Printing can be performed at high speed, though the printed pattern is coarse, under the draft mode of such an ink-jet printer. Accordingly, printing under the draft mode is selected when it is desired to have quick printing wherein a reduction in print quality can be tolerated such that the printed patterns have low resolution and insufficient darkness.
In other words, according to the above-described known art, since printing is effected using a reduced number of dots under the draft mode, the amount of ink to be ejected per area of a sheet of paper on which patterns are printed is smaller in the draft mode than in the normal mode. Accordingly, the densities or the darkness of the patterns printed in the draft mode are reduced. As a result, the pattern of the character or picture image printed under the draft mode is poor when compared with that printed under the normal mode.


In one aspect, a photonic device includes a first region having a first doping type, where the first region is divided into an upper portion made of silicon-germanium and a lower portion made of silicon. The device further includes a second region having a second doping type. The first region and the second region contact to form a vertical PN junction.

The present disclosure generally concerns the manufacturing of electronic components, and more particularly the forming of PN junctions. The present disclosure more particularly applies to PN junctions used in light signal modulators.
Optical fibers enable transferring data in the form of light signals which are then converted into electric signals.
Each optical fiber is associated, upstream in the transmission direction, with a modulator and, downstream, with a photodiode. The modulator enables to modulate a characteristic of the light signal transmitted in the optical fiber so that it is representative of the data to be transmitted.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a modulator 10. Modulator 10 receives at a first input 12 a light signal supplied by a constant source. The modulator further comprises terminals 14 and 16 having a voltage V applied therebetween. In the example of FIG. 1, terminal 14 is coupled to a source of application of a potential V, and terminal 16 is coupled to ground. Modulator 10 supplies an output 18 with a light signal having its phase shift φ(V) depending on voltage V.
Voltage V for example varies between a high voltage representing a logic value 1 and a low value representing a logic value 0. Voltage V, and thus the phase shift of light signal φ(V), are then representative of data in binary format.

Photonic devices and methods of fabrication thereof