The present invention includes a method of providing a first substrate; forming an insulator over the first substrate; forming an opening in the insulator; forming a conductor over the insulator and in the opening; removing the conductor over the insulator with a first chemical-mechanical polish process to leave the conductor in the opening; and reducing thickness of the insulator with a second chemical-mechanical process to permit the conductor in the opening to protrude.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, and more specifically, to a method of forming raised contacts for a substrate.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In 1965, Gordon Moore first observed that the number of transistors per unit area on a chip appeared to double approximately every 18 months. Ever since then, the semiconductor industry has managed to introduce new designs and processes on schedule to deliver the improvement in device density projected by the so-called Moore""s Law. In particular, major enhancements in optics and photolithography have reduced the critical dimension (CD) that can be successfully patterned in the features on a chip or other substrate. At the same time, significant improvements in doping, deposition, and etch have decreased the concentration, depth, and thickness that can be precisely achieved across the substrate.
As device dimensions approach atomic dimensions, the fundamental limitations of physics will play increasingly larger roles in determining the performance and reliability of the devices on the substrate. In the past, issues of scaling have generally involved either the transistor in the front-end of semiconductor processing or the wiring in the back-end of semiconductor processing. However, it is becoming increasingly important to balance the scaling of the transistor and the interconnect on the substrate with the scaling of the interconnection between multiple substrates.
Thus, what is needed is a method of forming raised contacts for interconnection between substrates and a structure having such raised contacts.

Method of forming a raised contact for a substrate

Abstract: The present invention further includes a structure having such a conductor that protrudes.


A water proof and air tight fiber cable splice enclosure assembly includes a pair of housing members that are selectively releasably and sealingly clamped to each other to define a first storage volume and at least one keyhole slot connection area cooperative with an associated tie-down strap for connecting an optical fiber bundle to one of the first or second housing members. A set of arcuate wall members are formed on one of the housing members for defining an oval-shaped buffer cable storage space within the housing and an annular auxiliary cable storage space for storing an auxiliary length of the optical fiber bundle. An air valve is provided on one of the housing members for directing a flow of air into the storage space of the optical fiber splice case. The air valve is adapted to meter the flow of air into the space to below a predetermined threshold air flow rate. A pressure relief vent is provided on the enclosure to regulate air pressure accumulated within the storage volume to a pressure less than a predetermined maximum pressure threshold.

The subject invention is directed to a waterproof and airtight fiber cable splice enclosure assembly. Assemblies of the type under consideration are particularly well suited for enclosing and housing fiber optic cables such as loose buffer and unitube type cables and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, the apparatus could equally well be used with other types of cables or wires such as, for example, hybrid cables including copper wire, twisted pair wire or co-axial cables.
Many different types of fiber optic cable enclosures are known in the prior art. These prior enclosures are satisfactory to a greater or lesser degree but often have certain defects which make the them inconvenient to use or prevent them from being readily adaptable to changing environments and conditions. One example of an optical fiber splice case that presents a significant improvement over the earlier devices found in the prior art, however, is taught in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,933, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Many of the features described in my earlier patent are present in the novel device described herein to a greater or lesser extent and either directly or by equivalent structure. In addition to providing improvements over my earlier apparatus, the subject optical fiber splice case presents further significant improvements over prior art devices as well.
It is, accordingly, a primary object of the subject invention to provide a cable enclosure assembly that is easy to assemble and use in the field and which has a variety of different sizes with trays and internal supports that form an inner raceway. The volume of the device enables the enclosure to store buffer cable together with unitube cable within a single closure at the same time. In addition, the subject invention provides an enclosure that provides improved pull-out load carrying capability of the cable and further provides for improved air and water tight sealing between the cable and the housing. Still further, the subject invention provides an enclosure that allows for easy manipulation of cable tie-down straps by including an improved internal tie-down clip arrangement that enables the tie-down straps to be manipulated in the field from a front face side without removing the clips. The clip arrangement also eliminates the need to reorient the housing as was the standard practice in the past to gain access under the connection clips to guide the tie-down straps through the clips. A metered air valve is provided to permit the hermetic integrity of the housing assembly while preventing over inflation.

Optical fiber splice case with integral cable clamp, buffer cable storage area and metered air valve


A highly photosensitivity titanium oxide composition includes a plurality of nanosize particles including titanium dioxide and titanium suboxide. The particles are substantially non-stoichiometric (TiO2-x, wherein 0.1<x<0.3 at a surface of the particles, and in the bulk of the particles x is less than at the surface), provide a magnetic susceptibility value (X) of at least 0.8 10−6 cm3/g at 300 K, and are least 30% by weight rutile. A related method of forming a high photosensitivity titanium oxide composition includes the steps of providing a titanium chloride compound, such as titanium tetrachloride, an oxygen-containing gas and hydrogen, wherein a concentration of the hydrogen is in a stoichiometric excess (H2:O2) from 2.02:1 to 2.61:1. The titanium chloride compound is burned in the presence of oxygen from the oxygen-containing gas and hydrogen to form plurality of ultrafine particles comprising titanium dioxide and titanium suboxide. The method can include the steps prior to the burning step of mixing the titanium chloride compound, oxygen and hydrogen and heating the same to 50 to 100° C., such as from 70-100° C.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), also referred to as titania, is found in three known crystal forms, rutile, anatase and brookite. Anatase and rutile can be used industrially. There are various known methods of synthesis, compositional variants including admixtures, and thermal processing which can modify define the crystalline form(s) obtained.
Titania is the most widely used white pigment for the dye and paint industry, ceramics, paper, rubber, and plastic manufacturing. Titania is also used in the ointment and other cosmetics production, especially for UV protection.
Photocatalytic activity is generally the most important feature of Titania. Photocatalytic reactions do not lead to photocorrosion of the reagents and their composition remains unchanged unlike photochemical reactions, where semiconducting reagents undergo photocorrosion. Photochemical reagents absorb light and promote reactions between various substances in gaseous or liquid phases, or induce electrical current. Many semiconductors (including titania) exhibit such kind of photochemical activity. Semiconducting photocatalysis is a complex phenomenon with numerous promising spectro-optical, thermodynamic, kinetic, electrophysical and some other fundamental prospects. For instance, titania can be used as a basic material for the highly effective photocatalytic systems for transformation, conservation and utilization of the solar energy and for the hazardous waste neutralization and for other environment preservation solutions. Titania products also bring good prospects for the low-tonnage chemistry, for design and production of multi-functional materials (for example, materials containing thin-precipitated layer of nano-particles on various substrates), for production of the optical sensors and materials with non-linear optical properties.
These reasons promote numerous photocatalytic investigations. There has been reported water decomposition, which occurs on the surface of titania and produces ecologically friendly molecular hydrogen which can be used as a fuel. There are many successful investigation projects in the field of photocatalysis, as well as many surveys and general works. However, very low quantum yield of most photocatalytic systems is a serious shortcoming, which limits potential applications.
Simple photocatalytic semiconducting system includes donor (D) and acceptor (A) parts acting on the photocatalyst (e.g. titania). A closed photocatalytic loop can generally work only if acceptor accepts the excited electron from the conduction band (e−+A→A−) and the hole would transfer to donor (h++D→D+) after photogeneration of the electron-hole couple
Further transformation of the intermediates A− and D+ can run even without light and photocatalyst. Energetic properties of the photocatalytic system should correspond to each other. The electron-hole reactions can run if they are thermodynamically allowed, e.g. potential of the conductivity band should be more negative than the oxidation potential of D (ECB<EAred and EVB>EDox). Efficiency of reactions e−+A→A− and h++D→D+ (and the photocatalytic process itself) should rise as the gaps ΔEred=EAred−ECB and ΔEox=EVB−EDox widen.
The photogenerated electrons and holes can recombine. The recombination process competes with the above mentioned redox scheme and significantly lowers efficiency of any semiconducting photocatalyst (including titania). Therefore, photocatalytic systems are preferably modified (e.g. by insertion of the electrons and holes carriers, deposition of metals or metal oxides on semiconductors, using double-semiconductor heterostructures) to reduce recombination.
Titania can be obtained either in the crystalline or hydrated form through various methods and from various source compounds. Hydrolysis of the aqueous solutions of Ti(IV), hydrolysis of vapor or aerosol, thermodecomposition of alcoholates or coordination compounds of Ti(IV), and high temperature hydrolysis of TiCl4 are the most widely used methods for titania production. There are many industrial methods for titania production.
Titania can be used as a light-sensitive component for photo-layers and dielectric materials or as a photocatalyst for some redox reactions. Such compounds generally provide high photocatalytic activity and dispersibility.
Most industrial samples of titania comprise coarsely dispersed particles with low photocatalytic activity. There are some methods of production of fine disperse titania with reasonably high photosensitivity. However, such methods are generally inconvenient and laborious.
There is a method of production of superfine titanium dioxide disclosed in U.K. Patent 1052896 which discloses burning of titanium tetrachloride (preliminary heated up to 350° C.) in the gas mixture, which contains oxygen (or carbon dioxide) and hydrogen at 1200-1400° C. Oxygen content in the gas mixture is disclosed to be slightly stoichiometrically excessive relative to the hydrogen content in the gas mixture. In this way, the rutile type of fine titanium dioxide is obtained. However, the photosensitivity of the resulting product is very low and its specific photocatalytic activity (determined through the reaction of the methylene blue reduction) is only about 2.5-3.0×10−5 mg/ml·min·m2 at room temperature.

Highly photosensitive titanium dioxide and process for forming the same


A video camera system with autonomous target tracking sets a measuring frame on an object with high accuracy using a hue signal and a brightness signal without being affected by intensity and direction of the light source. A display screen is divided into divided areas and for each divided area, a lightness divided area in which the values of the brightness signal are within prescribed ranges of luminance and a skin color divided area in which the values of the hue signal are within prescribed ranges corresponding to skin color are extracted. Based on the extraction result, the position of the object on the screen determined and the measuring frame is set without being affected by intensity and direction of the light source. Thereafter, the object is continuously centered within the measuring frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video camera system and is suitably applied to the automonous target tracking apparatus in which the field of view of a video camera can track the center of the object, such as a human face model.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, for an autonomous target tracking apparatus of a video camera, a first automonous target tracking method which memorizes the peak value of high frequency element of brightness signal in the measuring frame and automatically tracks its movement as the feature of the target has been proposed.
Moreover, a second automonous target tracking method, regarding brightness signals of the front and back fields in the measuring frame, whereby a motion vector is formed by taking the key point matching and assuming that the motion vector in the measuring frame represents the movement of the target, has been proposed.
The first automonous tracking method has an advantage that the general construction is simple, but for example, in the case where there is a background tree with a man in the measuring frame, the man cannot be tracked automatically since high frequency element of the tree is the biggest peak at this point.
Furthermore, because basically the first automonous tracking method basically utilizes peak signals, it is easily affected by noise and as a result, there is a possibility that automatic tracking cannot be performed in the photographic environment with low brightness. Also, it is possible that the object with poor contrast cannot automatically be tracked because a high frequency element cannot be extracted.
Furthermore, according to the second automonous tracking method, it is difficult to distinguish whether the calculated motion vector is caused by unintentional movement of hands of video camera or the movement of the object, and in practice there is a possibility that it functions erroneously.


A socket for electrical parts includes driving mechanisms that move pressing members from a depressed position to a retired position when an operating member is vertically shifted. The operating member includes racks each of which has rack gears in the vertical direction. Follower gears engageable with the rack gears are also provided. The follower gears have different distances from the rotational pivot to the pitch circle. When the operating member is depressed, the follower gear with a longer distance from the rotational pivot to the pitch circle is engaged with one of the rack gears.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket for electrical parts that is used for performance tests on electrical parts such as IC packages.
2. Related Art
An example of sockets for electrical parts of a known type is described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-42063A. According to the description, a semiconductor device is placed on a semiconductor-device-holding plate, and handling member is depressed. In accordance with this downward movement of the handling member, the semiconductor-device-holding plate is shifted outside of the side wall of the socket and thus detached from the semiconductor device. On the other hand, in accordance with the downward movement of the handling member, a pressing member depresses the peripheral portion of the semiconductor device and thus the semiconductor device is fitted on the bottom wall of the socket.
According to such a socket for electrical part, in accordance with the downward movement of the handling member, the pressing member is rotationally moved through a rack and a pinion to press the semiconductor device and thus the stroke of the handling member is long. Moreover, the pressing member is rotationally moved at a predetermined speed. Therefore, as the rotation speed of the rack and pinion increases, the test time can be shortened but the chance of giving a shock to the electrical part might increase at the time of pressing. On the other hand, as the rotation speed of the rack and pinion decreases, the chance of giving a shock to the electrical part is diminished but the test time is prolonged.
Due to the limited rotational movement of the rack and pinion, the pressing portion of the pressing member moves in an arc. Therefore, the pressing portion depresses the electrical part obliquely, not perpendicularly, and may thus scratch the upper surface of the electrical part.


A combined gas turbine-Rankine cycle powerplant with improved part load efficiency is disclosed. The powerplant has a gas turbine with an organic fluid Rankine bottoming cycle which features an inter-cycle regenerator acting between the superheated vapor leaving the Rankine turbine and the compressor inlet air. The regenerator is used selectively as engine power level is reduced below maximum rated power.

It is known that the thermal efficiency of gas turbines and combined cycle gas turbine-Rankine cycle engines is significantly reduced when they are operating at reduced loads. This reduction of efficiency is particularly evident when a constant drive speed is required, such as with electric generator service.
Various mechanisms have been applied to gas turbines to reduce the part-power efficiency reduction, such as multiple rotors, variable flow path geometry, and cycle regeneration. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,150,487 and 3,703,807 have attempted to improve part-power efficiency of combined cycle gas turbine with exhaust heat-driven steam Rankine bottoming cycle powerplants by selectively heating the compressor inlet air as the power level is reduced. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,487, the inlet air is heated by a preheater supplied with low pressure steam extracted from the Rankine vapor generator, or by direct mixing of a portion of the gas turbine exhaust gases with the compressor inlet air. In the latter case, the gases are extracted upstream of the steam vapor generator. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,807, a portion of the exhaust gases is recirculated to the compressor inlet in the same manner, except the recirculated products are extracted from the exhaust stack downstream of the vapor generator.
An object of the present invention is to provide a combined cycle powerplant which operates at high efficiency under part load conditions, and is an improvement over known powerplants. A further objective is to provide a means of improving the part load efficiency of a combined cycle gas turbine engine when operating at a constant speed and varying load. Still further objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure and claims in view of the accompanying drawings.

Combined gas turbine-rankine turbine power plant


A microwave receiver is constituted by an antenna having a reflector and a primary radiator, and a converter having an unbalanced input terminal. A core conductor projected from the unbalanced terminal of the converter is extended inside the reflector through a bore formed therein so as to function as the primary radiator of the antenna. The converter is fixed directly to the wall of the reflector.

The present invention relates to microwave receivers. In conventional microwave receivers, the converter and the antenna are installed separately and connected to each other by means of an input connector connected to the antenna, output connector connected to the converter and a coaxial cable therebetween.
Therefore, in such conventional receivers, large losses of signal gain are caused by the cable and the connectors to considerably deteriorate impedance matching.


A self-releasing lift hook includes a main cylinder with a main piston slidable in the cylinder and defining a main chamber above the piston and a main chamber below the piston. A hook is connected to one of the cylinder and the piston, and a lift ring is connected to the other. A coil spring biases the piston in a direction which causes the hook and the ring to approach each other, so that when a load is placed on the hook, the hook and ring move apart and cause energy to be stored in the spring. A main passage through the piston, incorporating a check valve, allows fluid to flow between the main chambers when the hook and ring are moving apart, but restrains such fluid flow when the hook and ring approach each other. A bleed passage is provided through the piston to allow slow transfer of fluid from one side to the other of the piston. A hydraulic accessory is activated by an increase of fluid pressure in the chamber that decreases in volume when the hook and ring approach each other, and a mechanical connection, activated by the hydraulic arrangement, causes a load attachment to be disengaged from the hook.

Crane-supported hooks are widely used for moving heavy loads to or from docks, ship decks, solid land, the sea bottom, and so on. It is of great advantage if, upon "touch down" of the load, the hook will automatically release itself from the load by pushing a cable or shackle out of engagement with the hook, in such a way that it will stay out of engagement for a period of time such as 10 seconds. This is particularly useful when the location of the "touch down" of the load is not easily reached by a person in order to disconnect the hook from the load. Similar problems arise when the load and the place of "touch down" are moving in an uncontrolled manner towards or away from each other, for example from one ship to another ship, from a helicopter, for lowering lifeboats, and so on. By providing immediate release of the load from the hook, there is no danger that the load will be lifted again, and no likelihood of smashing or pounding. The safety aspect of this provision is particularly highlighted when handling bombs, torpedoes, radio equipment, wounded personnel, etc.


An image sensor package and image sensor chip capable of being slenderized while enhancing the reliability with respect to physical impact are provided. The image sensor package includes an image sensor chip provided with a pixel domain at a central portion of an upper surface thereof, a substrate disposed at an upper side of the image sensor chip so as to be flip-chip bonded with respect to the image sensor chip, provided with a hole formed at a position corresponding to the pixel domain, and formed of organic material, a printed circuit board at which the substrate provided with the image sensor chip bonded thereto is mounted, and a solder ball configured to electrically connect the substrate to the printed circuit board.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an image sensor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image sensor may be a semiconductor device configured to detect information on a subject and to convert the detected information into an electrical image signal. An image sensor may be installed in a digital camera or a camcorder, as well as in a tablet PC or a mobile phone. Thus, the market thereof is rapidly expanding. The image sensor may include a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and/or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon).
Optical electronics device such as the image sensor may be packaged so as to be connectable to a higher-level package such as a larger circuit assembly. An image sensor package may be configured to provide an electrical connection to a larger circuit assembly, protect an image sensor chip from surrounding environment, and allow direct and/or reflective light to be transmitted. The light may enter the image sensor package at a sensing circuit located at the image sensor chip.
As the semiconductor industry continues to develop, various packaging methods are being developed by semiconductor manufacturers to produce semiconductor components that are smaller, faster, and reliable. Particularly, in a market in which a light weight, slim, simple, and miniaturized product are demanded by the consumer including a mobile phone provided with a camera mounted thereto, an image sensor package applied with a Chip-On-Board (COB) method or a Chip-On-Glass (COG) method is being widely used.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an image sensor package provided with a conventional Chip-On-Board method applied thereto.
As illustrated on FIG. 1, an image sensor package 100 provided with a conventional Chip-On-Board method applied thereto includes an image sensor chip 110, a printed circuit board (PCB) 140 on which the image sensor chip 110 is mounted, support members 130 installed at border portions of the printed circuit board 140, and a transparent substrate 120 attached to the support members 130.
The image sensor chip 110 includes a pixel domain 110a provided at a central portion of an upper surface thereof, and bonding pads 111 provided at outer sides of the pixel domain 110a.
As illustrated on FIG. 1, the image sensor package 100 provided with a conventional Chip-On-Board method applied thereto is manufactured as the bonding pads 111 formed at an upper surface of the image sensor chip 110 are connected to bonding pads 141 formed at an upper surface of the printed circuit board 140 by use of bonding wires 150, after the image sensor chip 110 is attached to an upper surface of the printed circuit board 140 by using die adhesive. The transparent substrate 120, which is provided with a glass-like material capable of physically protecting the image sensor chip 110 and the bonding wires 150, is attached to the support members 130, while configured in a way that light may be transmitted therethrough.
The Chip-On-Board method has a high cost of production due to a wire bonding process. The overall height or the thickness of the image sensor package 100 is increased due to the height of the bonding wire, which is approximately in the range between 700 μm and 800 μm. Thus, producing a slenderized image sensor package is difficult.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image sensor package provided with a conventional Chip-On-Glass method applied thereto.
As illustrated on FIG. 2, the image sensor package 100 provided with a conventional Chip-On-Glass method applied thereto includes an image sensor chip 210, a transparent substrate 220 disposed facing an upper portion of the image sensor chip 210 and electrically connected to the image sensor chip 210, a printed circuit board 240 at which the transparent substrate 220 is mounted, and a solder part 230 configured to electrically connect the image sensor chip 210, the transparent substrate 220, and the printed circuit board 240 to one another. The solder part 230 includes solder sealing rings 232 configured to prevent a foreign substance from being introduced into the sealing domain having the pixel domain 210a of the image sensor chip 210, a plurality of solder bumps 231 configured to electrically connect the image sensor chip 210 to the transparent substrate 220, and a plurality of solder balls 233 configured to electrically connect the transparent substrate 220 to the printed circuit board 240.
The image sensor chip 210 includes a pixel domain 210a provided at a central portion of an upper surface thereof, and solder sealing ring pads 212 and solder bump pads 211 provided at outer sides of the pixel domain 210a.
The transparent substrate 220 provided with glass-like material includes metallic wiring 221 selectively formed at a lower surface thereof, insulation films 223 formed on the metallic wiring 221 and configured to insulate the metallic wiring 221, and solder sealing ring pads 222 formed at a predetermined domain of the transparent substrate 220.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image sensor package 200 having a conventional Chip-On-Glass method applied thereto is manufactured as the image sensor chip 210 is mounted at the transparent substrate 220 in a way that the pixel domain 210a formed at a central portion of an upper surface of the image sensor chip 210 is facing a lower surface, which is a wiring forming surface, of the transparent substrate 220. Then the transparent substrate 220, provided with the image sensor chip 210 mounted thereto, is mounted at the printed circuit board 240. The image sensor chip 210 is electrically connected to the transparent substrate 220 through the solder bump 231, and the transparent substrate 220 and the printed circuit board 240 are electrically connected to each other through the solder balls 233.
The Chip-On-Glass method does not require the wire bonding process, which is used at the Chip-On-Bonding method, and thus the processing cost may be reduced, and since no bonding wire is being used, slenderization of the image sensor package may be possible. However, the image sensor package manufactured with the Chip-On-Glass method may be vulnerable to physical impact due to the low elastic strain of the image sensor chip and the transparent substrate.


A fragrance dispenser utilizing a fragrance dispensing wheel is described. The fragrance wheel is directly mounted onto a rotatable motor shaft, the motor being powered by either conventional A.C. or D.C. current, or by a photovoltaic cell. Absorbent panels on the wheel direct ambient air in response to motor rotation. When powered by photovoltaic cell fragrance is dispensed in an economic and safe manner in proportion to room lighting.

This application is a substitute application for my earlier U.S. application, Ser. No. 663,113, filed Mar. 1, 1991, now abandoned.
This invention relates to a fragrance dispenser and method for fragrance dispensing, and in particular wherein fragrance is dispensed by means of a fragrance dispensing wheel.
It is often desirable and necessary to change the characteristics of ambient air in an enclosed environment, as, for example, a room. This can be accomplished by employing an aromatic substance dispenser in the room to mask an offending odor, or to dispense an insecticide, and so on. A common requirement is for air freshening in lavatories and bathrooms where special safety requirements and intermittent lighting may prevail. To add to safety and economy under these conditions various devices incorporating fans to move quantities of air across a fragrance dispenser have been suggested, as is evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,240 and 4, 568,521. U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,240 teaches the use of a battery powered fan to move air across a fragrance dispenser in response to a photoelectric cell. U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,521 teaches the use of a photovoltaic cell providing power to a motor connected to a fan to move air around a fragrance dispenser, the photovoltaic cell being mounted adjacent to a light bulb.
While these inventions add economy and safety for modifying ambient air in these environments, the instant invention offers important additional improvements. For example, in both of the above cited inventions a motor driven fan is required to move sufficient air across a fragrance dispenser in order to significantly effect the quality of the ambient air. And in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,521 the photovoltaic cell which powers the fan must be mounted adjacent a light bulb, the motor and fan combination necessarily going on and off in synchrony with said light bulb.
In the instant invention the aromatic substance to be dispensed is absorbed by a multi-paneled fragrance wheel mounted directly onto a motor shaft. The motor may be powered by conventional A.C. current, by battery, or most conveniently by photovoltaic cell. Ambient air is modified immediately as the wheel rotates on the motor, aromatic modifiers being dispensed in proportion to ambient lighting in the case of the photovoltaic cell powered motor rotation.

Fragrance dispenser and method for fragrance dispensing


An apparatus for cleaning surfaces, particularly both vertical surfaces, of a plug of a coke oven door. The apparatus has a pair of rotary scrapers adapted to be moved up and down in contact with both vertical surfaces of the plug. Each rotary scraper incorporates a screw type cutter for a higher cleaning efficiency. In order to facilitate the precise location of the coke oven door in relation to the scrapers, the cleaning apparatus further has a door holding device adapted to receive the coke oven door at a position in front of the scrapers and to convey the same to the cleaning position. Also, the cleaning apparatus has a scraper cleaning device adapted for fitting the spiral groove of each scraper to move along the latter as the scraper is rotated, thereby to remove tar or the like deposits from the spiral groove of the scraper.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a coke oven door and, more particularly, to an apparatus for scraping and removing tar, coke or other deposits from the plug portion of the coke oven door projected into the coke oven.
Generally, the coke oven door has a plug portion which is projected into the coke oven during operation of the latter. A large amount of tar, coke or the like contaminants deposits to the side surfaces of the plug portion during operation, so that it is necessary to clean the coke oven door by removing these deposits from the side surfaces of the plug portion of the coke oven door detached from the coke oven. The coke oven door has a large height well reaching several meters and, hence, a considerably large weight. Therefore, conventionally, the coke oven door is detached from the coke oven by means of a specific machine for detaching and attaching the door. The door detaching/attaching machine then conveys the coke oven door to a door cleaning apparatus with which the door is cleaned mechanically while being held by the detaching/attaching machine.
There have been proposed and used various types of cleaning apparatus for mechanically cleaning the coke oven door.
One of the known coke oven door cleaning apparatus has a plurality of tabular scraper blades carried in the form of a train by an endless chain adapted to be driven around the plug portion of the coke oven door keeping the scraper blades in contact with the latter so as to mechanically scrape off the deposits.
Another known cleaning apparatus has a radial cutter type scraper having a plurality of radial plate-shaped scraper blades attached to a rotary shaft and extending in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, the scraper being adapted to be rotated and moved along the side surface of the plug portion of the coke oven door to scrape off the deposits.
These known cleaning apparatus, however, have a drawback that the tar, coke or the like deposits scraped off from the plug portion of the coke oven door are inconveniently deposited and accumulated on the scraper or cutter blades. The tar, coke or the like attaching to the cutter or scraper blades can hardly be removed and considerably deteriorates the efficiency of the cleaning work. The tar component or the like deposits on the plug portion of the coke oven door is soon solidified as the latter is cooled to make the cleaning difficult or materially impossible, thereby resulting in various troubles and failures.
Usually, the coke oven door cleaning apparatus is mounted together with the coke oven door detaching/attaching machine on a coke pusher machine or a coke-guide trolley adapted to run along a coke oven battery. Conventionally, it has been necessary to correctly locate the coke oven door by the door attaching/detaching machine, in relation to the cleaning apparatus. Thus, the conventional apparatus require a troublesome preparatory work in advance to the cleaning operation and, in addition, the desired cleaning effect is often failed due to incorrect positioning of the coke oven door in relation to the cleaning apparatus. Further, the coke oven door has been often damaged due to a collision with the cleaning cutter as a result of an erroneous operation of the detaching/attaching machine.


An improved threaded connection, in which a first part having a female thread is threadably engageable with a second part having a male thread. The first and second parts have different strengths in at least the area of the thread turns, and the thread turns have cross-sectional areas that differs from the cross-sectional areas of gaps between the thread turns.

The present invention relates to an improved threaded connection.
Threaded connections are known—see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,707. Threads employed in such connections can be formed, for example, using metric ISO standard thread, which has gained widespread use.
With conventional threaded connections, the use of materials of different strengths for the male threads and female threads can result in damage to the threaded part formed from the lower-strength material when the threaded connection is overtightened. For this reason, it is standard practice for technical specifications to include the highest permissible tightening torques for threaded connections in order to avoid damage. In many cases, however, such as, for example, when replaceable cartridges are being screwed on, as in the case of air dryers in compressed-air brake systems for commercial vehicles, or even oil filters, it is standard practice to tighten the threaded connection by hand, without using a preadjustable torque wrench. Also, it is generally desirable in other applications of threaded connections to prevent accidental damage, such as can occur due to incorrect adjustment of a torque wrench or inadvertent failure to use a torque wrench.


A jewelry item is provided to include a ring-shaped spring and a ring-shaped chain. The ring-shaped chain has a plurality of chain links, each of which is slidably attached to the ring-shaped spring. Each chain link has a plate with a first surface facing the spring and a second surface opposite to the first surface. Each chain link further has a seat and a hook opposite to each other. The hook is inserted into a seat of a subsequent chain link so as to lock the chain links to each other while allowing the chain links to reversibly slide from a compressed position to an expanded position with respect to each other.

The present disclosure relates to a jewelry item. Such jewelry item can be for example a ring adapted to be word on a finger of a user, a bracelet or any other kind of chain-like item. Such jewelry items are usually decorated with cut stones or gems for aesthetic reasons.
As it is known in the field of jewelry, the jewelry item has to adapt to the size of the body part of the owner, for example a finger in case of a ring. Historically, adapting the jewelry item was a complex and lengthy operation, often requiring the work of a skilled jeweler or goldsmith. In order to partially overcome this drawback, it has been known for some time to craft jewelry items as chains comprising a plurality of links. These links have each a first and second edge, and the first edge of each link is designed to couple with the second edge of the next link. Usually, the first and second edge are secured by a pin or similar device, so that they can rotate with respect to each other.
The kind of known jewelry items described above can be lengthened or shortened by adding or removing links. A disadvantage of such jewelry items is that, while they usually do not need a skilled goldsmith to change size, they still have a somewhat complex structure. This complicates assembly, disassembly as well as replacement, addition or removal of links.
Additionally such jewelry item, particularly in case of rings, cannot be adapted to small changes in size because, while each link is relatively small, its addition or removal still produce a big change in size.


Disclosed are a novel class of anti-androgenic compounds including saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, their derivatives, and synthetic analogs, according to the following formula: EQU CH.sub.3 --(CH.sub.2).sub.a --(CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH).sub.b --(CH.sub.2).sub.c --COOH,. wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each either hydrogen or a halogen; wherein a and c are integers from 0-9; wherein b is an integer from 1-6, provided that EQU 12<a+c+(3.times.b).ltoreq.22.. Also disclose are methods of synthesis of these compounds, and their use in treating disorders associated with androgenic activities. Also disclosed is the use of known compounds not previously known for their anti-androgenic activity in treating disorders related to androgenic activities.

The present invention relates generally to compounds, compositions and methods regulating the actions of androgens and other steroid hormones by modulating the activity of 5.alpha.-reductase. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of these compounds to treat disorders that are caused by excess androgen action in cells or organs. 2. Description Of The Related Art
A. Steroid Hormones and Their Receptors
Androgens are one of the six major classes of steroid hormones. Steroid hormones form complexes with specific receptor proteins in selective cells of target organs [Jensen et al., Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci.(USA), 59:632 (1968); Liao, Intl. Rev. Cytology 41:87 (1975); Gorski, et at., Ann. Rev. Physiol. 42:17 (1976)]. Steroid receptors are members of a superfamily of transcription factors that can regulate gene expression, and this function is dependent on the binding of a specific hormonal ligand to an appropriate receptor [Evans, Science 240:889 (1989); Beato, Cell 56:335 (1989); O'Malley, Mol. Endocrinol. 4:363 (1990)].
Studies of the specificity and affinity of steroid hormones for their receptors have contributed greatly to the understanding of the relationships among steroid and receptor structures and biological activity, target organ specificity, and the mechanism of action of many antihormones, including "competitive antiandrogens". "Competitive Antiandrogens" are defined herein as those antiandrogens that interact with receptors and competitively prevent receptor binding of active androgens [Fang and Liao, Mol. Pharmacol. 5:428 (1969); Liao et al., J. Biol. Chem. 248:6154 (1973); Liao et al., Endocrinology 94:1205 (1974); Chang and Liao, J. Steroid Biochem. 27:123 (1987); Liao et al., J. Steroid Biochem. 34:41 (1989)], although it should be noted that some compounds with an antiandrogenic activity may act by a different mechanism.
B. Androgen Actions
Androgen, produced in the testis, stimulates the differentiation of the male reproductive organs, including the penis, scrotum, prostate, seminal vesicles, epididymis, and vas deferens. With the onset of puberty, an increase in the production of androgen promotes the growth of these tissues. Androgen is required for spermatogenesis and accelerates skeletal muscular growth and bone formation. In the central nervous system, it stimulates libido and produces feedback inhibition of gonadotropin secretion. In skin, androgen increases the size of sebaceous glands and apocrine glands and converts villus hairs in the axillae, pubic region, and the beard to form coarser and longer terminal hairs. Androgen causes thickened vocal cords and lowers the pitch of the voice. Androgen also stimulates hematopoiesis. Uses of androgen known to the medical arts include, for example, treatment of hypogonadism and anemia [Synder, Ann. Rev. Med. 35:207 (1984); Mooradian et at., Endocrine Rev. 8:1 (1987)]. The abuse of androgen among athletes to enhance performance is well known [Strauss and Yesalis, Annu. Rev. Med. 42:499 (1991)].
Androgen is also known to promote the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) [Wilson, Am. J. Med. 68:745 (1980)], prostate cancer [Huggins and Hodges, Cancer Res. 1:293 (1940)], baldness [Hamilton, Am. J. Anat. 71:451(1942)], acne [Pochi, Annu. Rev. Med. 41:187 (1990)], hirsutism, and seborrhea [Hammerstein et at., J. Steroid Biochem. 19:591 (1983); Moguilewsky and Bouton, J. Steroid Biochem. 31:699 (1988)]. Approximately 70% of males in the United States over the age of 50 have pathological evidence of BPH [Carter and Coffey, The Prostate 16:39-48 (1990)]. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in males in the United States [Silverberg and Lubera, Cancer Statistics, 40:9 (1990); Gittes, New England J. Medicine 324:236 (1991)]. Male-patterned baldness can start as early as the teens in genetically susceptible males, and it has been estimated to be present in 30% of Caucasian males at age 30, 40% of Caucasian males at age 40, and 50% of Caucasian males at age 50. Acne is the most common skin disorder treated by physicians [Pochi, Ann. Rev. Med. 41:187 (1990)] and affects at least 85% of teenagers. In women, hirsutism is one of the hallmarks of excessive androgen action [Ehrmann and Rosenfield, J. Clin. Endoerinol. Metab. 71:1 (1990)]. The ovaries and the adrenals are the major sources of androgen in women.
Differential Actions of Testosterone and 5.alpha.-Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
In men, the major androgen circulating in the blood is testosterone. About 98% of the testosterone in blood is bound to serum proteins (high affinity binding to sex-steroid binding globulin and low affinity binding to albumin), with only 1-2% in free form [Liao and Fang, Vitamins and Hormones 27:17 (1969)]. The albumin bound testosterone, the binding of which is readily reversible, and the free form are considered to be bioavailable, and account for about 50% of total testosterone. Testosterone enters target cells, apparently by diffusion. In the prostate, seminal vesicles, skin, and some other target organs it is converted by a NADPH-dependent 5.alpha.-reductase to a more active metabolite, DHT. DHT then binds to androgen receptor (AR) in target organs [Anderson and Liao, Nature 219:277 (1968); Bruchovsky and Wilson, J. Biol. Chem. 243:2012 (1968); Liao, Int. Rev. Cytology 41:87 (1975)]. The DHT-receptor complexes interact with specific portions of the genome to regulate gene activities [Liao et al., J. Steroid Biochem. 34:41 ( 1989)]. Testosterone appears to bind to the same AR, but it has a lower affinity than DHT. In tissues such as muscle and testes, where 5.alpha.-reductase activity is low, testosterone may be the more active androgen.
The difference between testosterone and DHT activity in different androgen-responsive tissues is further suggested by findings in patients with 5.alpha.-reductase deficiency. Males with 5.alpha.-reductase deficiency are born with female-like external genitalia. When they reached puberty, their plasma levels of testosterone are normal or slightly elevated. Their muscle growth accelerates, the penis enlarges, voice deepens, and libido toward females develops. However, their prostates remain non-palpable, they have reduced body hair, and they do not develop acne or baldness. Females with 5.alpha.-reductase deficiency do not have clinical symptoms [Imperato-McGinley, Trend Genet 2:130 (1986)].
The findings in 5.alpha.-reductase deficient patients suggest that inhibitors of 5.alpha.-reductase would be useful for the treatment of prostatic cancer, BPH, acne, baldness, and female hirsutism. Clinical observations and animal experiments have indicated that spermatogenesis, maintenance of libido, sexual behavior, and feed-back inhibition of gonadotropin secretion do not require the conversion of testosterone to DHT [Brooks et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 169:67 (1982); Blohm et at., Endocrinology 119:959 (1986); George et at., Endocrinology 119:959 (1989)]. This is in contrast to other hormonal therapies which abolish the actions of both testosterone and DHT.
Treatments of androgen-dependent skin and prostatic diseases by 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors would be expected to produce fewer side effects than the presently available hormonal therapies. These include castration, estrogen therapy, high doses of superactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone such as Luprolide, and the use of competitive antiandrogens which inhibit AR binding of testosterone and DHT, such as flutamide, cyproterone acetate and spironolactone. The long term efficacy of `competitive antiandrogens` is also compromised by their block of the androgenic feedback inhibition of gonadotropin secretion. This results in elevated gonadotropin secretion, which in turn increases testicular secretion of testosterone. The higher level of testosterone eventually overcomes the action of the antiandrogen.
D. Biological Importance of 5.alpha.-Reductase
Excessive DHT is implicated in certain androgen-dependent pathological conditions including BPH, ache, male-pattern baldness, and female idiopathic hirsutism. It has been shown that 5.alpha.-reductase activity and the DHT level are higher in the presence of BPH prostates than that of the patients with normal prostates [Isaacs, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 56:139 (1983); Siiteri and Wilson, J. Clinical Invest. 49:1737 (1970)]. 5.alpha.-Reductase activity is reported to be higher in hair follicles from the scalp of balding men than that of nonbalding men [Schweikert and wilson, Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 38:811 (1974)].
In a given individual, 5.alpha.-reductase activity is found to be higher in balding skin than from hairy skin [Bingham and Shaw J. Endocr. 57:111 (1973)]. Some idiopathic hirsute women have a normal circulating level of testosterone, but their affected skin has a higher 5.alpha.-reductase activity than that of nonhirsute women [Serafini and Lobo, Fert Steril 43:74 (1985)]. An increased 5.alpha.-reductase activity has also been reported for skin with acne [Sansone and Reisner, J. Invest. Dermat. 56:366 (1971)].
Genetic evidence also supports the suggestion that DHT plays an important role in the development of BPH and the above skin conditions. In males with hereditary 5.alpha.-reductase deficiency, their prostates remain small or nonpalpable after puberty. They do not develop acne, temporal hairline recession, or baldness. Compared to their fathers and brothers, they have scanty beards and reduced body hair.
E. Steroidal 5.alpha.-Reductase Inhibitors
The most potent inhibitors of 5.alpha.-reductase developed so far are steroids or their derivatives. Among these the 4-azasteroidal compounds (Merck Co.) are the most extensively studied [Liang et al., J. Steroid Chem. 19:385 (1983); Rasmusson et al., J. Med. Chem. 29:2298 (1986)]. These inhibitors are 3-oxo-4-aza-5.alpha.-steroids with a bulky functional group at the 17.beta.-position, and act by reversibly competing with testosterone for the binding site on the enzyme.
The A-ring conformation of these compounds is thought to be similar to the presumed 3-enol transition state of the 5.alpha.-reduction of 3-oxo-.DELTA..sup.4 -steroids. A prototype for 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors is 17.beta.-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl-4-methyl-4-aza-5.alpha.-androstan-3-one (4-MA), which behaves as an inhibitor of 5.alpha.-reductase in vivo, decreasing the prostatic concentration of DHT in intact male rats or in castrated male rats given testosterone propionate. 4-MA attenuated the growth of the prostate of castrated rats induced by testosterone, but had much less of an effect in rats given DHT [Brooks et al., Endocrinology 109:830 (1981)].
When dogs are treated with 4-MA, the prostate size decreases [Brooks et al., The Prostate 3:35 (1982); Wenderoth and George, Endocrinology, 113:569 (1983)]. Topical applications of 4-MA to the scalp of the stumptail macaque, a primate model of human male pattern baldness, also prevented the baldness which normally occurs at puberty in these monkeys [Rittmaster et al., J. Clin Endocrinol. Metab. 65:188 (1987)]. These results also suggest that the growth of the prostate in rats and dogs, and baldness in the stumptail macaque depend on DHT.
On the other hand, studies in rat pituitary cultures showed that complete inhibition of testosterone conversion to DHT by 4-MA did not affect testosterone inhibition of LH release, indicating direct action of testosterone in this system [Liang et al., Endocrinology 115:2311 (1984)].
Another potent inhibitor is Proscar (Merck Co.) (finasteride, MK-906, or 17.beta.-N-t-butylcarbamoyl-4-aza-5.alpha.-androst-1-en-3-one). The inhibitor has no significant affinity for the rat prostate AR. In clinical trials, Proscar decreases the plasma level of DHT and the size of the prostate and also improves urinary flow in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia [Vermeulen et al., The Prostate 14:45 (1989); Rittmaster et al., J. Androl. 10:259 (1989); Gormley et at., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 70:1136 (1990); Imperato-McGinley et at., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 70:777 (1990)]. In stumptail macaque monkeys, Proscar administered orally at 0.5 mg/day, alone or in combination with topical 2% minoxidil, reduced serum DHT level, and reversed the balding process by enhancing hair regrowth by topical minoxidil [Diani et at., J. Clin. Endocr. and Metab. 74:345 (1992)]. The effects of Minoxidil and Proscar were additive.
Among other steroidal compounds shown to inhibit 5.alpha.-reductase are 4-androstane-3-one-17.beta.-carboxylic acid [Voigt et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260:4890 (1985)] and 4-diazo-21-hydroxymethyl-pregnane-3-one [Blohm et at., Biochem. Biophy. Res. Commun. 95:273 (1989)], and 3-carboxy A-ring aryl steroids [Brandt et at., J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 37:575 (1990)].
F. Biological Effects of Fatty Acids and Lipids
Since treatments of androgen-dependent skin and prostatic diseases by 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors can produce fewer side effects than the hormonal therapies which indiscriminately inhibit all androgen actions, it is desirable to provide different types of 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors. This invention deals with the use of natural and synthetic fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives as 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitors for therapeutic agents.
It is known that polyunsaturated fatty acids can correct the effects of fatty acid deficiencies that manifest as dermatitis, kidney necrosis, infertility, and cardiovascular diseases [Herold and Kinsella, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 43:566 (1986); Phillipson et at., Eng. J. Med. 312:1210 (1985); Ziboh and Miller, Annu. Rev. Nutr. 10:433 (1990)] and also can exhibit anti-tumor activities [Begin, Proc. Nutrition Soc. 49:261 (1990); Karmali et at., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 73:457 (1984)]. Many unsaturated fatty acids are essential components of mammalian membranes, typically in the acylated form of triglycerides and phospholipids [Lands, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 34:313 (1965)].
Arachidonic acid serves as a specific precursor in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes [Needleman et at., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 55:69 (1986)]. These metabolites of unsaturated fatty acids are mediators of inflammation. Unsaturated essential fatty acids have been implicated as dietary factors that influence acne. However, no firm support for this view has developed, and no successful treatment based on this idea has appeared [Downing et at., J. Am. Acad. Dermatology 14:221 (1986)]. Synthetic retinoids and AR binding competitive antiandrogens have been used to obtain therapeutic improvement of acne in some individuals. These anti-acne agents increase the proportion of linoleic acid in sebum in parallel with clinical improvement [Wright, Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 38:229 (1989)].
G. Biochemical Effects of Fatty Acids and Lipids
Several membrane-associated enzymes (e.g., 5'-nucleotidase, acetyl CoA carboxylase) have been shown to be affected by the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of dietary fat, and to alter the physicochemical properties of cellular membranes [Zuniga et al., J. Nutr. 119:152 (1989); Szepsesi et at., J. Nutr. 119:161 (1989)]. Various types of phospholipases in rat ventricular myocytes are modulated differentially by different unsaturated fatty acids in the culture media [Nalboone et at., Lipids 25:301 (1990)]. In addition, treatment of cerebral cortical slices [Baba et at., J. Neurochem. 42:192 (1984)] or intact retina [Tesoriere et al., J. Neurochem. 51:704 (1988)] with unsaturated fatty acids can enhance adenyl cyclase activities.
Very few studies, however, have been directed to the elucidation of the mode of action of free fatty acids on enzymes in cell-free systems. Certain cis-unsaturated fatty acids, at 50 .mu.M, were shown to stimulate protein kinase C activity [Dell and Severson, Biochem. J. 258:171 (1989); Khan et at., Febs Letter 292:98 (1991)] and to inhibit steroid binding to receptors for androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and progestins [Vallette et at., J. Steroid Biochem. 263:3639 (1988); Kato, J. Steroid Biochem. 34:219 (1989)]. No evidence has been presented to show that unsaturated fatty acids can affect steroid receptor binding of steroid hormones in vivo in an animal or human.
Fatty acids fluorinated at .alpha., .beta., and .omega. positions [Gershan and Parmegiani, J. Med. Chem. 10:186 (1967); Pattison and Buchanan, Biochem. J. 92:100 (1964); Gent and Ho, Biochemistry 17:3023 (1978)] and .omega.-oleic acids [Tosaki and Hearse, Basic Res. Cardiol. 83:158 (1988)] have been identified in plants and microorganisms, and have been chemically synthesized. Many of these fluorinated acids are toxic. Degradation of some fluorinated fatty acids can yield fluoro-acetic acid, which can be incorporated into fluorocitrate and can then block aconitase action. This can cause inhibition of the citric acid cycle and cellular energy production [Hail, New Phytol. 71:855 (1972)]. Fluorinated fatty acids are often useful in the studies of fatty acid degradation, metabolism and transport in biological systems [Stoll et al., J. Lipid Res. 32:843 (1991)], and biophysical studies of protein-lipid interaction and membranes functions [Gent et al., Biophys. J. 33:211 (1981)].
Biotin is a cofactor of major carboxylases which are necessary for orderly production and metabolism of fatty acids. Alopecia caused by biotin-deficiency can be completely treated by biotin administration to patients. Oral administration and cutaneous application of unsaturated fatty acids can also improve biotin-dependent dermatological conditions including scalp hair growth [Munnich et al., Lancet 2:1080 (1980); Mock et al., J. Pediatrics 106:762 (1985)]. The fatty acid effect is apparently due to supplementation of the deficient fatty acids and not related to regulation of androgen action involved in male pattern-alopecia.

Methods and compositions for inhibiting 5.alpha.-reductase activity


A liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal panel for displaying images, a first frame, a second frame, and a first optical component. The first frame receives the liquid crystal panel. The second frame has a plurality of lamps for transmitting light to the liquid crystal panel. The first optical component is disposed on the first frame and between the second frame and the liquid crystal panel. The second frame is detachable from the first frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a back light module of a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a back light module of a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a housing which can be easily detached.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the advance of electronic technology, especially for the popularity of portable electronic products, the requirements of light, compact and low-energy consuming display are gradually increasing. With the advantages of low-energy consuming, low-heat dissipation, light weight and non-luminescence display, liquid crystal displays (LCD) have been widely used in the electronic products and even have replaced the traditional CRT displays.
Referring to FIG. 1, it depicts a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD). In general, the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel 10 which has two substrates and liquid crystal material sealed therebetween, a back light module 20 disposed under the liquid crystal display panel 10, and a front frame 11.
The back light module 20 is used to distribute the light transmitted from a light source uniformly over the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 10. There are several kinds of back light modules for the liquid crystal display, such as a direct back light type (or direct type) and an edge light type. For the liquid crystal display in large dimensions, the back light module of the direct type is widely used because of its easy installation and its low cost.
The back light module 20 of the direct type, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a housing 70 which has a reflective sheet 60 disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 70, lamps 50, such as a fluorescence cathode tube, disposed at the bottom portion of the housing 70, a diffuser plate 40 disposed on the upper surface of the housing 70, and a plurality of optical films 30, such as a prism sheet and a diffuser sheet, disposed on the diffuser plate 40. The lamps 50 are spaced apart from each other and disposed within the display area of the liquid crystal panel 10, not shown. Since the light source, i.e. the lamps 50, is a linear light source, the lamps 50 cannot provide light evenly illuminating the liquid crystal panel 10. Therefore, the diffuser plate 40 and the optical films 30 have to be provided and disposed between the lamps 50 and the liquid crystal panel 10 so as to form a panel light source device having uniform luminance.
Many back light modules have been disclosed in the prior art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,781 B2 issued to Kitada on Jun. 18, 2002 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,417,833 B1 issued to Takemoto et al. on Jul. 9, 2002, which are all incorporated herein by reference.
For the well-known technology, the lifetime of the lamp of the back light module is the shortest of all the parts or elements of the liquid crystal display. If the lamp malfunctions, the frame, the liquid crystal panel, the back light module frame, the optical film, and the diffusing sheet of the liquid crystal display have to be detached from the liquid crystal display to replace the lamp. This procedure, which is difficult and complex, must be carried out in the cleaning room, or the liquid crystal panel or the optical film will be contaminated and the liquid crystal display will be degraded. Further, the liquid crystal display in large dimensions will be unable to be serviced on site without the cleaning room.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a liquid crystal display having detachable lamps for facilitating the service and the repair.

Liquid crystal display and light source device thereof


An autotransfusion apparatus for collecting salvaged blood includes an upper chamber for collecting blood and a lower chamber for receiving blood from the upper chamber. The upper chamber is subjected to a vacuum to withdraw blood from a patient. Particles and lipids are removed from the collected blood by a particle filter and a lipid separator. A selector valve located between the vacuum port and the lower chamber, and between the lower chamber and a vent, selectively couples lower chamber either to the vacuum source or the vent. The lower chamber receives blood from the upper chamber through a pressure-operated drain valve only when the lower chamber is coupled to the vacuum source. Coupling the lower chamber to the vent while the upper chamber is subjected to the vacuum source causes a pressure differential between the chambers, closing the pressure-operated drain valve. This allows the upper chamber to remain under a vacuum and continuously collect blood while the lower chamber drains blood into a blood bag.

When a patient loses a significant amount of blood from a wound or operation site, that blood must be replaced. Due to the risk of blood-transmitted diseases, however, it is desirable to limit the amount of donated blood that is infused. This can be accomplished by collecting the blood lost by the patient, processing the blood with a recovery system to remove any bone chips, blood clots or lipids within the collected blood, and then reinfusing it back into the patient. Salvaging a patient's own blood limits the amount of donated blood the patient must receive, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to disease.
Blood-recovery systems typically suction blood from the wound or operation site through a suction hose leading to a collection reservoir, which is also connected to a vacuum source. The vacuum draws blood into the reservoir via the suction hose. Ordinarily, the path from the hose to the reservoir passes through one or more blood filters. Once the collection reservoir is full, the blood is drained into a collection bag for reinfusion or later use. Generally, in order to drain the blood from the reservoir, it is necessary to break the vacuum within the reservoir by, for example, venting the reservoir to the atmosphere. In many blood-recovery systems, this operation necessarily interrupts the flow of blood since a vacuum is necessary to draw blood into the reservoir.
Various attempts have been made to provide apparatus capable of collecting blood from a patient continuously. U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,613, for example, describes a device that can continuously collect blood from a patient while simultaneously draining the processed blood from the reservoir. The '613 device employs three chambers separated from each other by a series of valves. The middle chamber serves as a transition chamber between a lower-pressure collection chamber and a higher-pressure drainage chamber. This configuration permits isolation of the lower-pressure collection chamber from the higher-pressure drainage chamber, enabling the collection chamber to remain under a constant vacuum even as blood is drained from the drainage chamber. This type of device is complex and requires an extra chamber, thereby increasing its size.
Another apparatus for continuously collecting and reinfusing blood is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,780. That device has a two-chambered reservoir and a rotatable manifold. The manifold can be positioned to allow one chamber to collect blood while the other chamber is reinfusing blood into the patient. This approach is also complex due to the number of parts required.
A simpler apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,376. With this device, blood is collected under vacuum in a collection chamber that empties into a blood bag. When the weight of the blood collected in the collection chamber exceeds the pressure exerted by the vacuum in the collection chamber, blood drains into the lower bag. A problem with this design is that the vacuum in the collection chamber must be weak enough to allow blood to drain into the blood bag. If the vacuum in the collection chamber exceeds the weight of the blood contained in the collection chamber, no blood will drain into the blood bag.


The present invention is provided to suppress occurrence of free flow. An infusion pump includes: a sliding clamp closing and releasing an infusion tube; a pump body including a tube attachment portion to which the infusion tube is to be attached detachably and forcibly transferring liquid in the infusion tube; and a door pivotably supported by the pump body so that the tube attachment portion is openable and closable by the door. The pump body includes: a clamp attachment portion into which the sliding clamp having the infusion tube set therein is to be inserted and set; and a release operator being operated in the clamp attachment portion to transfer the sliding clamp from a close mode to a release mode, the release operator being configured to be locked, in response to opening movement of the door, so that the release operator is inoperable for releasing, and to be unlocked in response to closing movement of the door.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an infusion pump for forcibly transferring liquid in an infusion tube by pressing the infusion tube radially.
2. Description of the Related Art
Examples of known techniques of this kind include, such as those described in JP-A-2016-59535, an infusion pump device that operates as follows. That is, with the infusion pump device, an infusion tube (10) with its flow path closed by a roller clamp (11) is set in an accommodation portion (20) of an infusion pump device (2), and a door (21) is closed. Then, the flow path is released by operation of the roller clamp (11), and the pump finger (20b) is driven so that a medical fluid and/or the like flows through the infusion tube (10). Note that the numerals in the parentheses above correspond to the reference signs described in JP-A-2016-59535.

Adamant Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd.


A multi-level vehicle servicing system includes site-erectable units each with four levels, to facilitate vehicle repairs by several technicians at the same time. Each unit includes vertical structural members, horizontal supports, flooring, tool storage, parts storage, panels, stairs, ladders, ramps, lifting mechanisms to raise the vehicle off its wheels, and mechanisms to facilitate removal of heavy repair components to other levels below. Lighting, power, compressed air, fluid delivery and extraction, and fire suppression systems are integrated in the system of components. The system is erected on a conventional building floor and is free-standing, independent of the building structure itself. The modular apparatus is installed without major modifications to an existing building of appropriate size and structural compatibility. Several of the four-level units can be stacked and any number may be combined in any horizontal configuration.

The present invention relates in general to motor vehicle repair and servicing systems, and in particular to a multi-level motor vehicle repair system that can be shipped as components and assembled on site without major building modification. The system includes integration of a parts storage and a parts delivery method to the work area so that parts storage is no longer a remote and separate function.
There is an increasing need for more efficient use of manpower and building area due to economic pressure to reduce operating costs of motor vehicle repair facilities. Economies gained by combining work operations at the vehicle repair lift and work bay have been documented by the development of other multi-level service applications which require building modification to accomplish a complete and proper installation. For example, some servicing systems require a full-depth pit, 6 or 7 feet in depth, within which the service worker stands to change oil, lubricate the automobile or perform other services at the underside of the vehicle. Others require half-depth pits which are used in conjunction with a ramp and lift system which elevate the vehicle an amount sufficient to allow work on the vehicle from in the pit.
As examples of previous vehicle servicing systems, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,054,580, 5,033,489, 4,724,875, 4,618,029, 4,284,173, 4,188,985, 3,942,297, 3,756,419, 3,599,382, 3,552,521, 2,898,641, 2,009,384, 1,722,818, 1,357,022, 835,059.
Other examples of automotive servicing systems, permitting a worker to service the vehicle from below and from other positions, include a metal framework designed to be positioned in a basement, below a vehicle-supporting floor, produced by Unilube Systems, Ltd. of Arlington, Tex.; and a half-pit vehicle lift servicing system marketed under the name Autop by Stammhaus Franz Hornstein GmbH and Co. Kg of Heilbronn, Germany.
Prior vehicle servicing apparatus and systems have not provided a conveniently used three-level or four-level servicing facility which is on-site erected from individual transported components into a facility which is placed on a floor, not requiring a basement or pit, with the vehicle or vehicles supported on an upper level which is a part of the erected structure. The prior art also failed to provide for convenient location of parts and servicing equipment at a lowermost level at which a number of service personnel are located and can get convenient access to the parts and equipment.


Disclosed is an improvement to the method for the detection of creatinine in which creatinine, in aqueous solution, is contacted with a dry reagent system of an indicator for creatinine. The assay is carried out at a pH above about 11.5 which is maintained by an alkaline material. The improvement involves packaging the reagent system with a material capable of absorbing CO.sub.2 and at least some ambient water vapor. This inhibits the formation of carbonic acid thereby reducing the neutralization of the alkaline reagent system during storage to increase the shelf life and decrease the variability of the system.

Creatinine is the end metabolite when creatine becomes creatine phosphate and is used as an energy source for muscle contraction. The creatinine produced is filtered by the kidney glomeruli and then excreted into the urine without reabsorption. The determination of creatinine in body fluids is useful for diagnosing muscle diseases or various kidney diseases such as nephritis and renal insufficiency.
The first practical test for the determination of creatinine in urine or serum, known as the Jaffe method, involves the formation of the red-yellowish brown colored creatinine picrate by the bonding of picric acid and creatinine in an alkaline solution. A more recent method for creatinine determination is reported by Benedict and Behre in J. Biol. Chem., 113:515 (1936) which involves the reaction of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid DNBA with creatinine in an alkaline medium. Each of these reactions require a high pH, i.e. greater than about 11.5 and typically from about 12 to about 14, in order to deprotonate the creatinine in order for the system to operate properly. Strongly basic substances such as alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides are typically used to maintain a suitably high pH in these reagent systems.
The dried creatinine reagent system comprising an indicator which forms a colored reaction product at an elevated pH and an alkaline reagent to raise the pH to the desired level when the reagent is rehydrolyzed can be applied to an absorbant carrier such as filter paper or a porous film. Typically, the reagent system is applied to the carrier in the form of separate solutions, aqueous for the alkali and organic for the indicator, with evaporation of the solvent to leave the residual dry reagent dispersed in the carrier. This sort of system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-287261 which also discloses treating the strip with an alkali soluble carboxylic acid derivative polymer to inhibit degradation of the strip by the strong alkali.
There are available diagnostic devices for the determination of protein, particularly human serum albumin (HSA), in urine. The determination of HSA in urine has clinical significance for the detection of the early stages of nephropathy which is an abnormal state of the kidney. A high percentage of individuals suffering from insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) eventually secrete HSA at levels above those of the upper end of the normal population. This stage of "microalbuminuria" becomes progressively worse and typically leads to nephropathy. Since the kidney damage at the stage of microalbuminuria can be controlled or reversed by administering appropriate therapy, it is well recognized that measuring microalbuminuria is part of the comprehensive care of IDDM and NIDDM.
Other urine bound proteins, e.g. IgG, alpha-1-microglobulin, Bence-Jones protein and N-acetyl-b-D-glucoseaminidase, are useful as markers to detect and differentiate prerenal, glomeruler and postrenal forms of microalbuminuria. Proteinuria, which is indicated if the protein concentration in urine is greater than 30 mg/L, is the common symptom for a variety of different kidney diseases. Accordingly, there is a need on the part of nephrologists, diabetologists and cardiologists for test methods that are sensitive, specific and quantitative for the determination of these proteins in urine.
In order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of urinary protein assays and minimize the problem of high urine flow rate resulting in urine dilution, protein/creatinine ratios are used in urine protein assay results to normalize the urine concentration. Typical protein analyses involve immunoassays such as radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, latex assisted immunoassay and immunoturbidimetric assay. Since the commonly used Jaffe and Benedict-Behre creatinine assays are run at a high pH, the common practice in clinical laboratories is to run the protein and creatinine assays separately and then combine the values obtained from these assays to generate the protein to creatinine ratio. Since patients with high urine flow rates tend to have artificially low protein values due to the urine's dilution and since creatinine is a good marker for dilution of urine, the use of the protein/creatinine ratio eliminates the problem of urine dilution and gives a more accurate reflection of the true protein excretion rate.
In U.S. Pat. 5,385,847 there is disclosed a device which permits the determination of protein and creatinine in a single urine sample in a reaction vessel in which there is carried out an immuno assay for the protein in the vessel's first reaction zone followed by the creatinine determination in a second reaction zone which contains a dried indicator for the determination of creatinine as well as the dried basic reagent which is necessary for raising the pH of the reaction medium when the reagents are rehydrated by introduction of the liquid sample to be tested into the second reaction zone.
Whether the dry creatinine reagent (indicator and alkaline material) be in the strip form or located in the device of the '847 patent, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, there exists a storage problem due to the formation of carbonic acid from atmospheric moisture and carbon dioxide in the area of the dried alkali which, over time, can cause its neutralization thereby limiting or destroying its ability to induce the high pH necessary for the determination of creatinine in the test fluid. Typically, these devices have been packaged with a desiccant to reduce moisture in the system to thereby inhibit the formation of carbonic acid. Examples of such desiccants include molecular sieves, silica gel, sodium sulfate, magnesium chloride, lithium chloride and triethylene glycol. The use of a desiccant which serves merely as a drying agent has not proved entirely satisfactory which observation caused us to search for a more satisfactory class of desiccant.
Soda lime, a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide, is described in Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 4.sup.th Edition, as a general absorbant for acid gases. In Kirk-othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3.sup.rd Edition, there is described on pages 674-678 of Volume 16 a sodium chlorate based generator for the production of oxygen. The generator comes equipped with a filter system which includes soda lime for the removal of byproduct CO.sup.2 from the oxygen stream.

Use of CO.sub.2 absorbant for stabilization of dried alkaline reagent in creatinine assay


Disclosed herein is visible light communication technology having improved reception performance regardless of dimming control of lighting based on VPPM signals. A visible light communication apparatus includes a preamble generator for generating a preamble signal, a header generator for generating a PHY header, which includes information about the physical layer of a transmission packet and dimming information including the target dimming level of the transmission packet, a fixed dimming VPPM modulator for modulating the PHY header into a first VPPM signal according to a predetermined ratio, a transmission unit signal processor for generating transmission data by performing signal processing for data to be transmitted, a variable dimming VPPM modulator for modulating the transmission data into a second VPPM signal having the target dimming level of the transmission packet, and a signal synthesizer for forming the transmission packet by combining the first and second VPPM signals.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for visible light communication and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for visible light communication that have improved reception performance regardless of dimming control of lighting based on VPPM signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
A visible light communication system that uses lighting such as LEDs or the like is a system for transmitting and receiving information based on lighting that emits visible light. Therefore, wireless communication must be performed under the condition in which basic functions of the lighting are still satisfied. Because one of the important functions of lighting is to control the brightness of the lighting, that is, a dimming function, the visible light communication system must have not only a wireless communication function using visible light but also a dimming function. In connection with visible light communication, techniques for controlling the brightness of lighting include an amplitude dimming method and a Variable Pulse Position Modulation (VPPM) dimming method. The amplitude dimming method adjusts the brightness of a light source by varying the amplitude of a signal in an OOK modulation technique, and the VPPM method provides a brightness control function by changing the width of a pulse.
VPPM is a new modulation method devised from a 2-PPM method and a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) method in order to prevent the occurrence of intra-frame flickering and to control the brightness of a light source, and is one of the modulation methods for visible light communication adopted in the IEEE 802.15.7 standard. The 2-PPM method represents bit "0" and "1" depending on the position of a pulse as shown in FIG. 1 and provides the same average brightness for both "0" and "1" as being similar to optical power in Manchester code. Therefore, this method may prevent the occurrence of intra-frame flickering. Also, the PWM method controls the brightness of a light source by varying the width of a pulse, and is commonly used in current LED lighting. Meanwhile, the VPPM method is similar to the characteristic of 2-PPM in that it represents bit "0" and "1" depending on the position of a pulse, and is similar to a PWM method in that the width of a pulse may change depending on the brightness desired by a user. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, an optical waveform modulated to have a 50% pulse width using the VPPM scheme is the same as a waveform modulated using 2-PPM. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates a mechanism for controlling brightness using a VPPM method, and shows an example in which, when a digital signal "001" is modulated using the VPPM technique, the brightness is changed depending on the variation of the pulse width, even for the same data. Additionally, the VPPM technique divides a level of the pulse width into smaller levels, whereby it is possible to provide maximum brightness similar to that of LED lighting having the same specifications. Also, because the brightness is adjusted depending on the pulse width on the time axis rather than the amplitude of a pulse, a LED light source may be prevented from being damaged and color variation of the light source may be avoided.
Meanwhile, in the digital wireless communication system, a signal may be transmitted by a packet unit or a frame unit. FIG. 3 shows a packet structure generally used in the digital wireless communication system. A preamble is a signal used for detecting a received packet and performing synchronization on the receiver side. In other words, the preamble functions to detect the packet signal in the signals entering the input unit of the receiver and to indicate the start of the packet. After the preamble, a PHY header is located. The PHY header (Physical Layer Fields) contains physical layer information for easily demodulating the modulated transmission data. The physical layer information, generally used in visible light communication, includes a packet length, a channel coding scheme, a line coding scheme, and the like, and these pieces of information are contained in the PHY header and transmitted. Data to be transmitted through the physical layer follows the PHY header, and the data is expressed as Payload in terms of the physical layer.
Recently, with respect to visible light communication, research for improving the performance of reception of VPPM signals is actively being conducted.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2010-0060900 discloses a method for enabling visible light communication without impeding the brightness control function of lighting in a lighting device using LEDs, but does not disclose technology for improving the performance of reception of VPPM signals.

Apparatus and method for visible light communication

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


Pouches are advanced broadwise by carriers each having two laterally spaced clamps for gripping the side margins of the pouch. The clamps are supported by pivoted linkages which enable the clamps to be moved laterally toward and away from one another for the purpose of opening and closing the mouth of the pouch as the pouch is advanced through the filling and top sealing stations of a packaging machine.

This invention relates to a carrier for holding an envelope-type pouch and for advancing the pouch through the various stations of a packaging machine. Devices for holding and advancing pouches are disclosed in Canfield U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,524 and in Lense et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,402. In the disclosures of these patents, the pouch is advanced in an edgewise direction and is gripped at its leading and trailing edges by two separate clamping devices which are carried on a chain. One of the clamping devices is adapted to be shifted along the chain and toward and away from the other clamping device in order to first open the top of the pouch preparatory to the pouch being filled with product and then to close the top of the pouch preparatory to the top being sealed.


A system and method for the extraction of americium from radioactive waste solutions. The method includes the transfer of highly oxidized americium from an acidic aqueous feed solution through an immobilized liquid membrane to an organic receiving solvent, for example tributyl phosphate. The immobilized liquid membrane includes porous support and separating layers loaded with tributyl phosphate. The extracted solution is subsequently stripped of americium and recycled at the immobilized liquid membrane as neat tributyl phosphate for the continuous extraction of americium. The sequestered americium can be used as a nuclear fuel, a nuclear fuel component or a radiation source, and the remaining constituent elements in the aqueous feed solution can be stored in glassified waste forms substantially free of americium.

The present invention relates to the separation of actinides, including for example americium, from radioactive waste solutions.
A number of nuclear processes generate spent nuclear fuel with high levels of radioactive decay. At present, spent nuclear fuel is stored among reactor sites in approximately 39 different states across the U.S., and largely without recycling or reprocessing. For example, as much as 59,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel are in temporary storage, growing at a rate of 2,300 tons per year. Over the past several decades, however, efforts have been underway to centralize the disposal of current and future spent nuclear fuel into a single repository. To maximize the capacity of a single repository, methods have been proposed to recycle portions of spent nuclear fuel, thereby minimizing the quantity of spent nuclear fuel intended for long term storage.
For example, processes such as Uranium Extraction (UREX) and Plutonium Uranium Recovery by Extraction (PUREX) have been developed to extract uranium and/or plutonium from spent nuclear fuel for use in commercial reactors using liquid-liquid reprocessing techniques. After these extraction processes, however, a number of highly radioactive constituents remain. After UREX reprocessing, for example, the remaining constituents include plutonium (Pu) and several minor actinides, including americium (Am), neptunium (Np) and curium (Cm). Am constitutes approximately 73% of all the minor actinides present after fifty years of storage. In addition, Am-241 generates approximately 75% of the emitted heat after 250 years of storage, while its decay daughter, Np-237, is the principal source of radiotoxicity among the remaining minor actinides.
The amount of spent nuclear fuel that can be stored in any single repository is generally constrained by the amount of decay heat and radiotoxicity generated by the constituent actinides. As the decay heat and radiotoxicity of constituent actinides increase, the spacing between storage units within the repository must also increase. Thus, it is generally desirable to eliminate or severely reduce the presence of actinides, and most significantly Am, from spent nuclear fuel.
Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved system and method for the separation of actinides from spent nuclear fuel. In particular, there remains a need for an improved system and method for the separation of americium from an aqueous waste solution to minimize the heat decay and radiotoxicity of spent nuclear fuel for long term storage solutions.

Supported liquid inorganic membranes for nuclear waste separation


A lubricated friction speed change gearing of the type which employs a plurality of cylindrical rollers mounted between a fixed outer race and a rotatable inner race in a compressed and elastically deformed condition, and a spider member having spider arms which are inserted between adjacent pairs of the rollers, thereby transmitting rotary power between the inner race and the spider member with change of rotational speed, wherein the spider members have substantially plane rigid surfaces which contact the outer surfaces of the rollers.

The present invention relates to a speed change gearing, and, more particularly, relates to a lubricated friction speed change gearing which transmits rotational power in a speed changing manner by utilizing planetary movement of a plurality of cylindrical rollers interposed between outer and inner races.
Such a friction speed change gearing having the aforementioned basic structure is known, and is practically used in accordance with various particular designs. In some old designs of this gearing, the spider member, which engages the cylindrical rollers mounted between the inner and outer races so as to take out reduced speed rotary power or so as to put in rotary power for its speed to be increased, was formed to have a bearing shaft at the tip end of each of its spider arms, adapted to engage a roller through a hole along its central axis, in a manner similar to the engagement of a bearing structure composed of a bearing shaft and a rotary hub. In this structure, however, when the gearing was operated at high speed, so that the rollers were rotated at even higher speed, a large quantity of heat was generated at the bearing portions, and, since the heat was not effectively dissipated, there was a danger that the bearing portions would undergo heavy wearing and/or burn sticking.
This problem with regard to the rotary contact between the cylindrical rollers and the spider arms is more difficult to solve because the cylindrical rollers are compressed and elastically deformed between the outer and inner races so as to become slightly elliptical, in order to generate traction force, based upon elastic fluid lubrication between the rollers and the inner and outer races, and therefore the cylindrical rollers do not provide any uniformly cylindrical bearing bores for receiving the bearing shaft portions of the spider arms. In order to avoid this problem it has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 49793/73 (Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 135073/74), one of the inventors of which is one of the inventors of the present invention, to construct a lubricated friction speed change gearing of the type which employs a plurality of cylindrical rollers mounted between inner and outer races and a spider member having spider arms each mounted between each two adjacent rollers so as to come into sliding contact with the outer surfaces of the cylindrical rollers. In this prior proposition the bearing surfaces of the spider member which slidingly contact the outer surfaces of the cylindrical rollers are each formed as a concavely curved surface which generally follows the convexly curved outer surface of the cylindrical roller, in order to provide the well known general slide bearing structure which forms a thin clearance extending along the two co-operating bearing surfaces for maintaining an oil film.
Further, in view of the fact that a lubricated friction speed change gearing of the type herein discussed which employs a plurality of cylindrical rollers mounted between inner and outer races can provide a high transmission efficiency, because the engagement between the cylindrical rollers and the inner and outer races is rolling engagement, which is inherently less subject to friction loss than is sliding engagement, and that in such a lubrication friction speed change gearing the sole sliding engagement, incorporated between the cylindrical rollers and the spider member, has a great influence on the overall transmission efficiency of the device, in order to accomplish further improvement in this regard, in the assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,668, it has been proposed to construct the spider member to have bearing shoes at its bearing portions where it contacts the rollers, the major portion of each of said shoes being capable of slight displacement relative to the body of said spider member, so as to form a gap capable of changing its shape between said portion of said shoe and the one of said rollers with which said shoe is in contact, so that the lubricant cushion is adapted to a wide range of operating conditions.

Lubricated friction speed change gearing